Document Document Title
US07859905B2 Semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming dummy cells 611, to 618 at a position adjacent to a reference cell 412, and implanting an impurity into the dummy cells 611, to 618 using a mask that covers the reference cell 412. Here, the process of implanting the impurity is carried out so that the impurity exudes out of the dummy cells 611, to 618 to the reference cell 412.
US07859904B1 Three cycle memory programming
Methods include performing a soft bulk programming operation in the memory array in a first cycle, performing a bulk erase operation in the memory array in a second cycle and, in a third cycle, selectively inhibiting one or more memory cells in the memory array while applying a programming voltage to the memory array.
US07859901B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of blocks each including a memory cell unit, and a selection transistor which selects the memory cell unit, and a row decoder including a first block selector and a second block selector each of which includes a plurality of transfer transistors which are formed to correspond to the plurality of blocks and arranged adjacent to each other in a word-line direction wherein the diffusion layers are formed to oppose each other in the first block selector and the second block selector, and a width between the diffusion layers of the first block selector and the second block selector adjacent to each other in the word-line direction is made larger than a width between the diffusion layers in each of the first block selector and the second block selector adjacent to each other in the word-line direction.
US07859897B2 Semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof
A memory includes: memory cells including floating bodies, wherein in a data holding state, a potential of the first gate electrode is set to be higher than one of potentials of the source and drain layer and lower than the other of the potentials of the source and drain layer so that electric charges flow in the body region, and a potential of the second gate electrode is set to be higher as an absolute value than those of potentials of the source layer, drain layer, and first gate electrode so that electric charges flow from the body region, and in the data holding state, the memory cell is kept in a stationary state that a first amount of the electric charges flowing in the body region per unit time is substantially the same as a second amount of the electric charges flowing from the body region per unit time.
US07859896B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device for high-speed reading and which has a high data-retention characteristic is provided. In a semiconductor device including a memory array having a plurality of memory cells provided at intersecting points of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, where each memory cell includes an information memory section and a select element, information is programmed by a first pulse (reset operation) for programming information flowing in the bit line, a second pulse (set operation) different from the first pulse, and information is read by a third pulse (read operation), such that the current directions of the second pulse and the third pulse are opposite to each other.
US07859891B2 Static source plane in stram
A memory array includes a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction cells arranged in an array. Each magnetic tunnel junction cell is electrically coupled between a bit line and a source line. The magnetic tunnel junction cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by passing a write current passing though the magnetic tunnel junction cell. A word line is electrically coupled to a gate of the transistor. The source line is a common source line for the plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions.
US07859890B2 Memory device with multiple capacitor types
An integrated circuit includes a memory array portion and a support circuitry portion arranged on a semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Data storage capacitors are located in the memory array portion and extending through the insulative layer. Non-data storage capacitors are located in the support circuitry portion and terminating above the insulative layer.
US07859887B2 Multilevel nonvolatile memory device containing a carbon storage material and methods of making and using same
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory cell includes applying at least one initialization pulse having a duration of at least 1 ms, followed by applying plural programming pulses having a duration of less than 1 ms. The cell includes a steering element located in series with a storage element, and the storage element includes a carbon material.
US07859886B2 Resistance memory element and method of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor memory device
A resistance memory element memorizing a high resistance state or a low resistance state in a memory region and switched between the high resistance state and the low resistance state by an application of a voltage includes a resistance memory layer 42 of a resistance memory material, an electrode 38 and an electrode 40 arranged, sandwiching the resistance memory layer 42. The electrode 38 and the electrode 40 are formed on the same surface, whereby the manufacturing process of the resistance memory element can be simplified.
US07859882B2 Resistive memory device and method of writing data
A resistive memory device is provided. The resistive memory device includes word lines arranged in M rows, bit lines arranged in N columns, local source lines arranged in M/2 rows, and resistive memory cells arranged in M rows and N columns. Each of the resistive memory cells includes a resistance variable element having a first electrode connected to a corresponding bit line, and a cell transistor having a first terminal connected to a second electrode of the resistance variable element, a second terminal connected to a corresponding local source line, and a control terminal connected to a corresponding word line. The local source line is commonly connected to the second terminals of the cell transistors of the two neighboring rows.
US07859879B2 Memory module
A memory module, includes a memory module board and a plurality of memory devices on the memory module board. The memory module board includes one or more first input terminals configured to receive first signals to individually control the memory devices, and one or more second input terminals configured to receive second signals to commonly control the memory devices. Each of the memory devices includes a plurality of first signal input units configured to receive the first signals through one or more first input pins, a plurality of second signal input units configured to receive the second signals through one or more second input pins, and a plurality of dummy units, the dummy units being respectively connected to the first signal input units in parallel, and being configured to receive the first signals through one or more third input pins and to compensate for a signal line load.
US07859877B2 Apparatus to detect patterns in data
In a method for detecting patterns, a plurality of data patterns is stored in a memory, and a data block from a stream of data is received. A first subset of the data block is compared in parallel to the plurality of data patterns. A second subset of the data block is compared in parallel to the plurality of data patterns, wherein the second subset partially overlaps the first subset. At least one signal is generated that indicates a detected data pattern in the data block.
US07859871B2 Method for controlling inverters
The invention relates to a method for controlling the voltage and power of several HF inverters (2), connected in parallel at the output, of an electrically isolated inverter assembly as well as for distributing the load to these HF inverters (2) each consisting of at least one DC-DC converter (3), one intermediate circuit (4) and one DC-AC converter (5), with a command variable (Ui′) being formed for each HF inverter (2) so as to preset a nominal value for control of an intermediate-circuit voltage (UZKi) at the intermediate circuit (4) of the HF inverter (2). The load of each HF inverter (2) is determined by a control unit (13) by measuring the current or power required, an internal resistance of the HF inverter (2) is simulated via which internal resistance a virtual voltage drop (UVR) is caused which depends on the load determined and is used for controlling the voltage (UZKi) of the intermediate circuit (4) so as to produce a purposive change in the output voltage of each HF inverter (2).
US07859870B1 Voltage clamps for energy snubbing
A power converter generates direct voltage and includes a phase-shifted PWM bridge with first and second controllable switches connected as a half-bridge with a first tap, for generating AC at the first tap. An output transformer includes a primary winding coupled to the first tap. A full-wave rectifier is connected to a secondary winding of the output transformer. A filter is coupled to the full-wave rectifier for producing filtered output direct voltage. Resonances create surges which may undesirably result in energy loss. A second transformer includes a primary winding coupled to receive the resonant surges and a secondary winding at which transformed surges appear. A second rectifier is coupled to the secondary winding of the second transformer, for rectifying the surges. The energy of the surges is returned or coupled to the source or load. In one embodiment, the full-wave rectifier is a bridge rectifier.
US07859869B2 Forward converter transformer saturation prevention
A control circuit for use in a power converter in one aspect limits the magnetic flux in a transformer of a switching power converter. A first controlled current source has a first current that is substantially directly proportional to an input voltage to be applied to a winding of the transformer. A second controlled current source has a second current that is substantially directly proportional to a reset voltage to be applied to the winding of the transformer. A first switch is adapted to charge an integrating capacitor with the first current while the input voltage is applied to the winding of the transformer. A second switch is adapted to discharge the integrating capacitor with the second current when the reset voltage is applied to the winding of the transformer. A third switch is adapted to remove and to prevent application of the input voltage to the winding of the transformer.
US07859864B2 Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device has lower correction circuit losses, and enables adjustments without affecting overcurrent limiting or other characteristics. An integrated circuit IC for power supply control generates a switching signal based on a feedback signal from a feedback circuit and a voltage signal from a current detection input terminal, and outputs the switching signal from an output terminal to a switching element. A voltage controlled oscillator is provided which, when the load is judged to be light based on the magnitude of the feedback signal, lowers the switching frequency. The correction circuit is connected between the output terminal of the integrated circuit and the signal input terminal for current detection, acts only when the switching element is on, and has the function of further lowering the switching frequency set in the integrated circuit.
US07859858B2 Locking hinge design
In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a top case having a top surface and a side surface and a bottom case having a bottom surface and a side surface. The top case comprises a flange protruding from the side surface, the flange having at least one extended surface. The bottom case has an aperture having portions extending from the bottom surface to the side surface. The portion of the aperture extending along the bottom surface is configured to have sufficient width to allow the entire flange to pass through. The side surface of the bottom case has a vertical post such that the base section of the flange passes through the portion of the aperture on the side surface while vertical post retains the at least one extended surface.
US07859854B2 Electronic apparatus
In-vehicle electronic equipment includes an operation display panel, an opening-closing mechanism, a housing unit, a photosensor, and a control device. The opening-closing mechanism selectively moves the operation display panel to an open position and a closed position. The housing unit is configured to house an electronic device together with a connector connected to the electronic device. The photosensor detects whether an electronic device is housed in the housing unit. The control device controls the opening-closing mechanism. When the photosensor detects that no electronic device is housed in the housing unit while the operation display panel is in the open position, the control unit controls the opening-closing mechanism not to bring the display unit to the closed position.
US07859851B2 Flexible printed circuit and bracket structure for hard disk drive
A flexible printed circuit board and a bracket structure for the hard disk drive. The flexible printed circuit board includes a base layer, a circuit layer provided on the base layer, a cover layer provided on the circuit layer, and a filter layer interposed between the base layer and the circuit layer. Also, the bracket structure includes a flexible printed circuit board for driving an actuator, a bracket connected to the flexible printed circuit board, and a filter interposed between the flexible printed circuit board and the bracket. Thermal asperity caused by fine particles in the hard disk drive is prevented so that performance deterioration of the hard disk drive is prevented and reliability thereof is improved.
US07859849B2 Modular heatsink mounting system
In one example, a host system includes a PCB, a plurality of rails disposed on the PCB, and a connector disposed on the PCB. The PCB, rails and connector define a slot configured to receive an optoelectronic module. The host system further includes means for removably mounting a modular heatsink to the host system such that the host system directly contacts the optoelectronic module when the optoelectronic module is fully inserted into the slot. The means for removably mounting has a standardized arrangement such that any modular heatsink having a mounting arrangement that is complementary to the standardized arranged can be removably mounted to the host system.
US07859848B1 Heat spreader and method of making the same
A heat spreader having at least two adjoining strips of pyrolytic graphite material is made by cutting a strip from a sheet of pyrolytic graphite in the z direction. Thermal conductivity in the xy plane of the graphite sheet is greater than in the z direction. The z direction cut provides strips which are then each individually oriented 90 degrees such that the thickness direction of the original pyrolytic graphite sheet becomes the width or length of the cut strip. A face on the side of a first strip adjoins a face on the side of a second strip. Due to the greater thermal conductivity in the xy plane of the strips as compared to in the z direction heat transfers more rapidly in the length and thickness direction of the strips than across adjoining sides of the oriented strips.
US07859846B2 Low thermal resistance power module assembly
A power module assembly (400) with low thermal resistance and enhanced heat dissipation to a cooling medium. The assembly includes a heat sink or spreader plate (410) with passageways or openings (414) for coolant that extend through the plate from a lower surface (411) to an upper surface (412). A circuit substrate (420) is provided and positioned on the spreader plate (410) to cover the coolant passageways. The circuit substrate (420) includes a bonding layer (422) configured to extend about the periphery of each of the coolant passageways and is made up of a substantially nonporous material. The bonding layer (422) may be solder material which bonds to the upper surface (412) of the plate to provide a continuous seal around the upper edge of each opening (414) in the plate. The assembly includes power modules (430) mounted on the circuit substrate (420) on a surface opposite the bonding layer (422). The power modules (430) are positioned over or proximal to the coolant passageways.
US07859845B2 Phase change material cooling system
A cooling system may comprise an array of plates, an array of channels, a conduit system, and a phase change material. The array of channels may have a number of a first type of channels alternating with a number of a second type of channels. The conduit system may be capable of circulating coolant through the number of the first type of channels. The phase change material may be located within the number of the second type of channels.
US07859844B2 Energy storage cooling system
An energy storage pack cooling system including upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks thermally connected to respective upper and lower terminals of energy storage cells above and below upper and lower ends of an enclosure of an energy storage cell pack; and a blower and cooling assembly that circulates a heat transfer fluid past the upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks outside of the enclosure to cool the energy storage cells without circulating the heat transfer fluid past energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells enclosed within the enclosure.
US07859843B2 Heat dissipation structure
A heat dissipation structure includes an electronic device, and a cooling device mounted to the electronic device. The electronic device includes a housing, and a heat generating element mounted in the housing. The housing defines an opening. The cooling device comprises a shell abutting against the heat generating element through the opening, a number of fins extending from the shell, a fan mounted to the shell, an air intake, and an air outlet. The air intake and the air outlet are located outside the housing.
US07859840B2 Portable heat dissipation device with cross flow fan
A portable heat dissipation device is provided for operation with various devices of different purposes for heat dissipation therefrom and includes an enclosure and an air flow generation device. The air flow generation device is set in a given chamber inside the enclosure to effect flowing of air, causing air to enter through an inlet opening defined in a top of the enclosure and forcing the air flowing out through an outlet opening defined in a front wall of the enclosure. The portable heat dissipation device, when applied to remove heat, provides high performance of heat dissipation and effectively extended time interval of operation to thereby extend the lifespan of the device.
US07859839B2 Storage apparatus, fan device, and controller unit device
The invention proposes a cooling structure of a storage apparatus in which cooling air in a chassis is stirred or evened out without affecting the layout in the chassis. The storage apparatus includes fan devices that introduce outside air to heat areas generated from heat generating members arranged on a logical substrate which constitutes a controller unit section for inputting and outputting a data to and from a hard disk drive in response to a data I/O request from a host system, cool the heat areas by stirring the cooling air therein or by causing the cooling air to blow evenly thereon, and discharge the outside air passed through the heat areas to the outside.
US07859838B2 Arrangement for placing a frequency converter in a cabinet
An arrangement and method for placing a frequency converter in a cabinet, wherein the frequency converter is fitted in an instrument cabinet having a frame and walls, wherein the frame (101) of the instrument cabinet is of modular construction, and wherein the frequency converter is integrated in the instrument cabinet to form one or more frequency converter modules, each of which comprises a frame part and electric components in such manner that the electric components of the frequency converter are ready installed in the instrument cabinet frame at least mainly before being brought to the site of utilization.
US07859836B2 Laptop table
Disclosed herein is a laptop table including a laptop station, on which a laptop computer is disposed. The laptop station has a connection port set and a power supply unit integrally mounted therein. The connection port set and the power supply unit of the laptop station is connected to an external port set and a power supply unit of the laptop computer. A data storage unit, such as a hard disc drive, a flash memory set, and a CD/DVD ROM drive, is integrally mounted in the laptop station. The laptop station is disposed on a supporting plate of a movable exclusive table, which can be moved and the height of which can be adjusted, such that the laptop station and the supporting plate can be engaged with or disengaged from each other by an engagement unit.
US07859835B2 Method and apparatus for thermal management of a radio frequency system
A thermal management system includes an air duct assembly comprising a supply air duct having an air inlet opening, a return air duct having an air exit opening and a plurality of distribution air ducts configured to be in fluid communication with the air inlet opening of the supply air duct and with the air exit opening of the return air duct. A fan is disposed within the air duct assembly to direct air from the air inlet opening of the supply air duct through the supply air duct and out the air exit opening of the return air duct. The fan and supply duct are disposed to direct air over a first surface of a heat sink. A second opposing surface of the heat sink is disposed over and configured to be in thermal contact with a plurality of active circuits disposed on a first surface of a radio frequency (RF) multi-layer printing wiring board (PWB).
US07859834B2 Disk array apparatus
A disk array apparatus including a rack-shaped basic frame, and a plurality of disk boxes that can be inserted into and pulled out of the basic frame depth-wise. Each disk box has: disk drive connectors for connecting a plurality of disk drives arranged in a matrix on a platter substrate, which is the bottom face of the disk box, roughly parallel to the depth direction of the basic frame; and a cooling module for cooling the disk drives. The disk box is a hermetically sealed structure.
US07859833B2 Function expansion device and electronic device system
A function expansion device has a housing containing an electronic component and a locking mechanism having a lock-releasing member attached to the housing and movable between a locking position in which the member contacts the housing and a lock-releasing position to which the member moves in response to a lock-releasing operation. The locking mechanism locks an electronic device so that it cannot be removed when the lock-releasing member is in the locking position and unlocks the electronic device in response to an operation of moving the lock-releasing member from the locking position to the lock-releasing position. The housing and the lock-releasing member have respective holes which communicate with each other when the lock-releasing member is in the locking position.
US07859831B2 Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel and a holder that directly or indirectly holds the electro-optical panel. At least a part of the holder is formed of a metallic plate, and the at least part of the holder includes a turned-down portion formed by folding a part of a base portion of the metallic plate. The end of the turned-down portion forms a step that holds another component.
US07859830B2 Mobile quick-keying device
The present invention relates to making data entry on a handheld device quicker and easier, while still being able to interact with the software/firmware in a familiar way. In particular, we disclose a device and method for text entry that uses a combination of keys on the front and back of a device held in two hands. Keys on the back are utilized in a manner that takes advantage of the muscle memory associated with QWERTY keyboards. Particular aspects of the present invention are described in the claims, specification and drawings.
US07859829B2 Electrolytic capacitor and method of producing the same
An electrolytic capacitor includes a cathode body. The cathode body includes a conductive solid layer having particles of conductive solid, formed using a dispersion including particles of conductive solid and a solvent. The particles of the conductive solid in the dispersion have a first particle size distribution peak and a second particle size distribution peak satisfying μ1>μ2, where μ1 and μ2 are the average particle size of the first and second particle size distribution peaks, respectively, in particle size distribution measurement. Accordingly, there is provided an electrolytic capacitor reduced in ESR, and further having high withstand voltage and low leakage current.
US07859828B2 Electrolytic solution for electrolytic capacitor, and electrolytic capacitor using the same
An electrolytic solution for use in an electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element and a casing containing the capacitor element, the capacitor element including a pair of electrodes, and a conductive separator (E) which is formed with a conductive polymer layer (F) containing a dopant agent (H) on its surface and is interposed between the pair of electrodes, the conductive separator (E) and the pair of electrodes being rolled up in an overlapped state with each other, and spaces between the pair of electrodes being impregnated with the electrolytic solution, wherein an acid component (D) and a base component (C) as electrolytic components to be contained in the electrolytic solution are at such a molar ratio that the acid component (D) is excessive. By use of the electrolytic solution, increase in the ESR with the elapse of time in an electrolytic capacitor is suppressed.
US07859823B2 Multi-layered ceramic electronic component
In a sintered ceramic body including side gap portions arranged between sides of first and second internal electrodes and first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body and between sides of the effective layer portion and the first and second side surfaces of the sintered ceramic body, regions of the side gap portions at least adjacent to the first and second internal electrodes are Mg-rich regions each having a Mg concentration greater than that of the effective layer portion.
US07859822B2 Monolithic ceramic capacitor
A capacitor body includes a capacitance-forming section including an alternately arranged plurality of internal electrodes and plurality of dielectric ceramic layers and outer layer sections disposed on the upper or lower face of the capacitance-forming section (28). The outer layer sections include an outermost layer and a second layer (31) inwardly located therefrom. The second layer has a thermal expansion coefficient greater than that of the outermost layer by 1×10−6/° C. to 3×10−6/° C. The outermost layer has a thickness of 50 to 80 μm. The second layer has a thickness of 20 to 50 μm. The arrangement prevents cracks from being formed in a monolithic ceramic capacitor when external electrodes are formed by baking and cooling, and cracks caused by fatigue failure due to low-stress cycles such as heat cycles are prevented from reaching internal electrodes.
US07859815B2 Electronic control systems and methods
An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared. Lockout circuitry is used to prevent one protection circuit from tripping after the other circuit has already tripped from a fault condition. The protection circuitry output is desirably configured such that it can bypass and override the normal turn on and turn off impedance and act virtually directly on the gates of the MOSFETs. Preferably, the system has a high efficiency switching type power supply in parallel with a low frequency controllably conductive device.
US07859813B2 Shutoff system for pool or spa
A control system for a bathing installation which has one or more electrically powered devices. A line voltage service is connected through a GFCI to power the electrically powered devices, the GFCI adapted to interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault. A trip circuit may induce a ground fault and trip the GFCI in response to a trip signal, thereby disabling application of electrical power to the electrically powered devices. An electronic circuit is responsive to a fault condition for generating the trip signal.
US07859812B2 Power IC with an over-current protection circuit and method thereof
A power IC with an over-current protection receives an input voltage and converts the input voltage into an output voltage to a load. The present invention controls a power transistor to provide an output current to the load, and uses the output control unit to control the power transistor. Furthermore, the over-current protection circuit has a constant current limit threshold and a fold-back current limit threshold for controlling the power transistor. When the output current is larger than the constant current limit threshold, the output current is clamped to a constant current value to descend the output voltage to a rated value. When the output current is larger than the fold-back current limit threshold, the output current is limited to a low current value to descend the output voltage to zero. Thereby, the inner circuit of the power IC and the load are protected.
US07859806B2 System and method of electrostatic discharge protection for signals at various voltages
System and method for protecting an integrated circuit. The system includes a first transistor coupled to a first voltage and a second voltage, a second transistor coupled to the gate of the first transistor and the first voltage, a third transistor coupled to the gate of the second transistor and the first voltage, and a capacitor coupled to the gate of the second transistor and the second voltage. The first voltage is provided to the integrated circuit, the gate of the third transistor is configured to receive a first control signal, the gate of the second transistor is configured to receive a second control signal, and the second control signal is capable of turning off the second transistor a time period after the third transistor is turned off.
US07859805B2 Electrostatic breakdown protection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device therewith
A protection circuit according to the present invention includes: a diode (D1) having an anode thereof connected to a gate signal input terminal and a cathode thereof connected to the gate of an output transistor (N1); a resistor (R1) having one end thereof connected to the gate signal input terminal and the other end thereof connected to ground; a PNP bipolar transistor (Qp1) having the emitter, base and collector thereof connected to the gate of the output transistor (N1), the one end of the resistor (R1) and ground, respectively. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent, without the need for electric power, an open-drain output transistor from erroneously turning on as a result of an electrostatic pulse or the like being applied thereto, and thus to protect the output transistor from electrostatic breakdown.
US07859804B1 ESD protection structure
This relates to a sense circuit to detect an ESD event and turn on an SCR to discharge the ESD event. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit comprises a resistor in the signal path to/from an I/O buffer, a sense circuit in parallel with the resistor, an SCR connected between ground and a node between the resistor and the I/O pad, and an I/O buffer connected between ground and the other end of the resistor. When the sense circuit detects a significant voltage drop across the resistor, it injects current into the SCR, thereby turning on the SCR and discharging the ESD event.
US07859800B2 Magneto-resistive effect element magnetic disk device having magneto-resistive effect film and method of forming a CPP-type magneto-resistive effect element having a soft magnetic layer composed of columnar crystal
A magneto-resistive effect element is provided with a first soft magnetic layer, a magneto-resistive effect film formed directly on the first soft magnetic layer. and a second soft magnetic layer formed on the magneto-resistive effect film. The magneto-resistive effect element is configured as allowing electric current to flow in the thickness-wise direction. The first soft magnetic layer is composed of columnar crystals. The magneto-resistive effect film has an anti-ferromagnetic layer. The anti-ferromagnetic layer is formed directly on the first soft magnetic layer.
US07859798B2 Magnetic thin film having non-magnetic spacer layer that is provided with SnO2 layer
A magnetic thin film has: a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed with respect to an external magnetic field; a free layer whose magnetization direction is changed in accordance with the external magnetic field; and a non-magnetic spacer layer that is sandwiched between said the pinned layer and the free layer, wherein sense current is configured to flow in a direction that is perpendicular to film surfaces of the pinned layer, the non-magnetic spacer layer, and the free layer. The non-magnetic spacer layer has a first layer which includes SnO2, and a pair of second layers which are provided to sandwich the first layer, the second layers being made of a material which exhibits a higher corrosion potential than Sn.
US07859796B2 Disk drive and arm coil support assembly
A disk drive and an arm coil support assembly are to be provided which enables a trace to be disposed with a simple construction without the need of machining arms. In one embodiment, a trace for connection between a head and an FPC is disposed on an opposite surface of each of arms and opposite to a confronting surface of each of the arms which confronts a recording surface of a disk. The trace is bent nearly vertically in the vicinity of a connection between a coil support which supports the arms, and holds a VCM coil and the arm and is connected to the FPC. The coil support includes a force mechanism having a gap for insertion therein of the trace and also having a pressure portion spaced through the gap from the surface on which the trace is disposed. The force mechanism prevents wafting of the trace from the opposite surface of the arm caused by the bending of the trace.
US07859795B2 Outer actuator arm constrained layer dampers
Outer arm constrained layer dampers to improve actuator dynamics are disclosed. One embodiment provides a housing and disk pack mounted to the housing and having a plurality of disks that are rotatable relative to the housing. In addition, an actuator is coupled to the housing, the actuator having a plurality of suspensions arms for reaching over the plurality of disks. A first damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a top outside suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In addition, a second damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a bottom suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In so doing, vibration modes involving deformation of the top suspension arm and the bottom suspension arm are damped.
US07859790B1 Transducers for perpendicular recording with write pole tip angled toward media
A write pole tip for a magnetic head has a trailing edge that is closer than a leading edge to a perpendicular recording medium, so that the write signal strength of the trailing edge is greater than that of the leading edge. Such an angled pole tip can write a sharp magnetic pattern with the trailing edge, reducing erroneous writing. A layer of physically hard material such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) may adjoin the trailing edge, the physically hard material layer protruding slightly after polishing of the media-facing surface due to its resistance to lapping. This can form an acute corner of the write pole tip adjacent to the physically hard material layer. The trailing edge may be longer than the leading edge, and the write pole tip may have a trapezoidal shape.
US07859789B2 System including a hard disk drive and stray magnetic field sensor and associated method
A system includes a host device and a disk drive interfaced with the host device are described as well as an associated method. The disk drive includes a magnetic media for storing information using an actuator arrangement to perform a data access by moving at least one head proximate to the magnetic media. The information may be subject to corruption when the disk drive is exposed, during the data access, to a given stray magnetic field having a given minimum magnetic field intensity. The given stray magnetic field will not corrupt the information on the magnetic media with the actuator arrangement positioned away from the magnetic media. A stray magnetic field protection arrangement is configured for detecting an ambient magnetic environment for use in causing the actuator arrangement to park responsive to the detection of at least the given minimum magnetic field intensity.
US07859781B2 Head IC that adjusts the amplitude level of a read signal of a head
A head IC, which adjusts an amplitude level of a read signal of a head, for outputting to a read channel having an AGC amplifier, includes: a differential amplifier; an AGC circuit; external gain setting sections; and a switch. Since the AGC amplifier is disposed in the head IC, the amplitude from the head is automatically adjusted in the head IC, and the signal level, which enters the input dynamic range of the AGC amplifier of the read channel, can be adjusted. The AGC amplifier can be operated as a fixed gain amplifier using a gain value which is set from the outside, so the power consumption can be minimized even if automatic adjustment is performed.
US07859780B2 Systems and methods for on-the-fly write pre-compensation estimation
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for write pre-compensation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide systems for on-the-fly estimation of write pre-compensation values. Such systems include a magnetic storage medium, a read/write head assembly disposed in relation to the magnetic storage medium, and an analog to digital converter that receives an analog signal from the read/write head assembly corresponding to a data set stored on the magnetic storage medium and provides a series of digital samples corresponding to the data set. The storage devices further include a read data processing circuit that receives the same series of digital samples and provides a user data output, and a pre-compensation value calculation circuit that receives the series of digital samples and provides an updated write pre-compensation value.
US07859778B1 Deterministic phase mismatch correction in servo position estimation systems
A method includes estimating a phase difference between components of a position signal in a servo position estimation system, and correcting the phase difference of the components of the position signal to provide a phase-compensated position signal.
US07859777B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital video and audio information
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving digital information including video information and audio information. The video information is compressed by a first compression method and the audio information is compressed by a different second compression method for transmission on a transmission path.
US07859774B2 Objective lens actuator and a disc apparatus using the same therein
An objective lens actuator which drives an objective lens in a focusing direction and a tracking direction, so as to focus lights on a recording surface of an optical disc, as a recording medium of information. The objective lens actuator includes a magnet, a lens holder which is configured to hold the objective lens thereon, and four pieces of tracking coils which are disposed in a line on a side surface of the lens holder for holding the objective lens thereon, facing to the magnet.
US07859772B2 Composite optical element and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention belongs to a technical field related to a composite optical element including a first optical component and a second optical component coupled to the first optical component. In a composite optical element 1 including a first optical component 10 and a second optical component 20 coupled to the first optical component 10, shape accuracy of the second optical component 20 is improved to prevent reduction in optical performance. A ring member (106) is placed on a peripheral portion of a lens surface (10b) of the first optical component (10), the ring member (106) having a height h1 from the lens surface (10b) substantially uniform in a circumferential direction of the first optical component (10).
US07859770B2 Fixed-focus lens
A fixed-focus lens including a first lens group and a second lens group is provided. The first lens group is disposed between a magnified side and a reduced side and includes a first lens and a second lens arranged in sequence from the magnified side to the reduced side. The refractive powers of both the first lens and the second lens are negative, and the first lens is an aspheric lens. The second lens group is disposed between the first lens group and the reduced side and includes a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens, an eighth lens, and a ninth lens arranged in sequence from the magnified side to the reduced side. The refractive powers of the seven lenses from the third lens to the ninth lens are respectively positive, negative, positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive in sequence.
US07859769B2 Optical method and system for extended depth of focus
An imaging arrangement and method for extended the depth of focus are provided. The imaging arrangement comprises an imaging lens having a certain affective aperture, and an optical element associated with said imaging lens. The optical element is configured as a phase-affecting, non-diffractive optical element defining a spatially low frequency phase transition. The optical element and the imaging lens define a predetermined pattern formed by spaced-apart substantially optically transparent features of different optical properties. Position of at least one phase transition region of the optical element within the imaging lens plane is determined by at least a dimension of said affective aperture.
US07859767B2 Zoom lens and imaging device having the same
A zoom lens including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power, and a rear group including at least one lens group, the zooming operation being performed by changing a spacing of the lens groups, wherein the zoom lens has an aperture stop and, when the second lens group is taken as a first focus group and a sub-lens group constituting a portion of one lens group of the rear group is taken as a second focus group, the lens structure and the movement amount of the first and second focus groups are set appropriately.
US07859762B2 Aberration correction apparatus
An aberration correction apparatus comprising a liquid crystal device which includes a first electrode layer that is formed with regions divided concentrically, a second electrode layer that is formed with regions divided concentrically, and a liquid crystal that is sandwiched in between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and which transmits an incident light beam therethrough, an objective lens which condenses the light beam transmitted through the liquid crystal device, and a liquid-crystal-device drive circuit which drives the liquid crystal device, wherein the liquid-crystal-device drive circuit impresses a potential which belongs to a predetermined region included in a liquid crystal characteristic that is a relationship between potentials impressed on the respective electrode layers sandwiching in the liquid crystal therebetween and a phase change magnitude of the light beam transmitted through the liquid crystal, on the concentric regions formed in the first electrode layer, and it impresses a potential which belongs to a region included in the liquid crystal characteristic and exhibiting a smaller phase change magnitude per unit drive voltage than in the predetermined region, on the concentric regions formed in the second electrode layer, whereby an aberration of the light beam is corrected.
US07859759B2 Film, backlight displays, and methods for making the same
In one embodiment a film can comprises a surface comprising a plurality of prism structures. Each prism structure has a lateral modulation in the w direction of less than or equal to ±20% of an average pitch of the prism structures. The plurality of prism structures can have a variation in the w direction of prism peak height that is discrete and/or continuous. In one embodiment, a method for making a film can comprise forming a plurality of prism structures on a surface. The plurality of prism structures can have a lateral modulation in the w direction of less than or equal to ±20% of an average pitch of the prism structures, and wherein the plurality of prism structures have a variation in the w direction of prism peak height that is discrete and/or continuous.
US07859757B2 Lens-array, exposure device, image forming apparatus and reading apparatus
A lens array includes a plurality of lens groups each of which includes lenses so disposed that optical axes thereof are aligned with each other. The lens groups are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the optical axes. A light-blocking portion is provided for shielding each of the lens group from light having passed through any lens of other lens group. A largest diameter D of the lens and an arrangement interval P at which the lens groups are arranged satisfy the relationship: P
US07859749B2 Confocal microscope for imaging of selected locations of the body of a patient
A confocal imaging microscope, especially for the cellular imaging of the skin at selected locations, is ergonomic in use, compact, and positionable at the locations thereby providing for patient comfort during imaging. The head (28) contains an integrated assembly of the optical and mechanical components of the microscope. The assembly includes a main chassis plate (82). The optical components are mounted principally on one side of the plate while a PC board (130) is mounted on the opposite side of the plate. The board (130) mounts the electronic components, including interfaces, a microprocessor (222), and drivers (206, 208, 210) for motors (105, 106, 108) which control scanning and may also control fine positioning of the locations being imaged. The head (28) is detachable from the arm for manual disposition which is useful when imaging, not only the skin but other tissues, especially for research in investigating living processes at the cellular level.
US07859747B2 Infrared zoom lens and infrared camera
A small-sized and low-cost infrared zoom lens while maintaining the brightness of an image and relevant arts to the infrared zoom lens is provided. The infrared zoom lens 1a is made up of first to third lens groups G1 to G3 formed of zinc sulfide. The first lens group G1 is made up of one or two lenses and has a positive refractive power. The second lens group G2 is made up of one or two lenses and has a negative refractive power. The third lens group G3 is made up of two or more lenses and has a positive refractive power as the whole lens group and also includes a positive meniscus lens with a convex face pointed at the object side as a final lens on the image surface side. At the zooming time, the second lens group G2 is moved along the optical axis. At least one of the lens surfaces of the first to third lens groups G1 to G3 is a diffraction surface. At least one of the lens surfaces of the first and third lens groups G1 and G3 is an aspheric surface.
US07859741B2 Variable iris using charged opaque particles
The present invention relates to a variable iris using charged opaque particles, and to a method for operating such a variable iris.According to the invention, the variable iris has a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, which are separated by one or more ribs to form a cell confining charged opaque particles, the first transparent substrate being provided with at least a first electrode and a second electrode both being adapted to be connected to a voltage source for acting on the charged opaque particles, and at least a third electrode adapted to be connected to the voltage source for acting on the charged opaque particles, the voltages applied to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode being controllable to have the same or opposite signs. The variable iris further has a pulse driver for applying voltage pulses to the electrodes.
US07859739B2 Interferometric modulator array with integrated MEMS electrical switches
An interferometric modulator array is integrated with collapsible cavity MEMS electrical switches. The electrical switches may have similar physical geometry as the display elements. The switches may form row or column select functions for the display.
US07859737B2 Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle
An interior rearview mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including a reflective element having a transparent substrate and a multi-zone mirror reflector established at a surface thereof. The mirror reflector includes at least a first zone and a second zone, and wherein at least one metallic reflective layer is commonly established at the surface and across the first and second zones of the mirror reflector. A display device is disposed behind the second zone of the mirror reflector and, when the display device is operating to emit display information, emitted display information passes through the second zone of the mirror reflector for viewing by a driver operating the equipped vehicle. The second zone has a degree of transmissivity of light therethrough that is greater than a degree of transmissivity of light through the first zone of the mirror reflector.
US07859734B2 Light scanning device and image forming apparatus
A light scanning device includes: a light source which emits a light beam; an oscillating mirror which oscillates rotationally to reflect the light beam; an optical system which is configured to convert the light beam reflected by the oscillating mirror to be scanned over a scanning line on a target at a constant speed when an oscillation amplitude of the light beam by the oscillating mirror is a reference value; a detection unit which detects the light beam at least one position; a modulation controller which controls modulation of the light beam based on external data; and a timing correction unit which corrects a modulation timing based on two consecutive detection times of the light beam detected by the detection unit and detection times of the light beam detected by the detection unit when the oscillation amplitude is the reference value.
US07859733B2 Multiharmonic galvonometric scanning device
A scanning apparatus for a printer or similar instrument. A multiharmonic oscillator is used to provide a composite motion of a laser beam or other light beam to scan an imaging surface. The multiharmonic oscillator may have multiple sections each having a different resonant frequency. One section includes a reflector that intercepts the light beam, and drive electronics move the reflector so the light beam scans the imaging surface. Linear and complex non-linear motions of the light beam may be achieved. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology may be used to fabricate the oscillator.
US07859731B2 Illumination apparatus for display device using hologram-based light guide plate (LGP)
An illumination apparatus and method for a display device designed such that light is incident on a hologram or hologram pattern at an angle for which diffraction efficiency is the highest. The illumination apparatus includes at least one point light source which emits light and a light guide plate (LGP) which has the at least one point light source disposed on a side thereof and a hologram pattern on a top surface which permits the light incident from the point light source to exit from the top surface. The side of the LGP facing the point light source is inclined such that the light is incident obliquely on the hologram pattern at an altitude angle which provides high diffraction efficiency.
US07859730B2 Printer with scanner function, and its control method and control program product
When text is taken in with a scanner, the reflection of the light from a sheet of paper, etc. causes a tinge on the sheet of paper. The tinge around each letter is printed as minute dots, and the outlines of printed letters are blurred and the clearness or distinctness of the letters are decreased.When printing text taken in through a scanner unit 30, by reducing (or reducing to zero) the ratios of occurrence of small dots in a gradient range “n” or “m” of the data for printing (CMYK signals) generated from image data (RGB signals), or converting such ratios of occurrence of small dots into the ratios of occurrence of large dots based on the weight ratio, the blur of each letter that may be caused by the small dots can be reduced, and the clearness and distinctness of each letter can be improved.
US07859729B2 Color image processing system and method thereof
The present invention is to provide an image processing system and the method thereof capable of maintaining gradient characteristics near a black point of an output image, when performing color matching in a color printer, even if a source profile has a lower minimum lightness value of output color gamut. In the present invention, when a condition is matched by comparing the minimum lightness points of the source profile and output color gamut, a correction color conversion table is generated by correcting the minimum lightness point of the output color gamut to a correction target value set in advance. Color conversion is performed for an input image using the correction color conversion table.
US07859727B2 Image-gathering apparatus and method
The invention is to provide a light-focusing for image-gathering device that receive the light coming from the image of an object being scanned. The light-focusing for image-gathering device is comprised of: at least one reflection mirror, an imaging device and at least one raster (optical grate). The reflection mirror has plural concave surfaces that are arranged appropriately, and the concave surface provides the light being focused and reflected to a predetermined route. The imaging device receives the light reflected from at least one reflection mirror and converts it into electronic signal. The raster has plural pervious holes, of which positions are just respectively corresponded to each concave surface. The raster is located in the light-path route between the imaging device and at least one reflection mirror. When an image data of an object being scanned that can be divided into receivable image-and-light signal of the object being scanned and un-receivable image-and-light signal of the object being scanned is gathered executively, the un-receivable image-and-light signals of the object being scanned are first removed, then the adjacent receivable image-and-light signal of the object being be scanned is connected together to obtain a complete image output data.
US07859725B2 System and method for monitoring unauthorized dissemination of documents and portable media
A method for enforcing a distribution policy associated with an electronic document comprising the steps of: sending the document to an output device; determining said distribution policy associated with said document; instructing a marking module to embed a marking indicating at least the existence of said distribution policy on an output form of said electronic document produced by said output device, said marking being readable to enforce said associated marking policy.
US07859724B2 Image tiling in ink jet printing systems
A system or method of removing whitespace between tiled or repeated patterns generated during a printing operation. The system takes an initial image and determines if there exist extraneous bits of whitespace around the edge of actual image. Once this information is established, the printer application program uses that information to alter the tiled output accordingly to produce a seamless image with repeated or tiled patterns of the actual image.
US07859722B1 Preserving pure gray colors in a workflow
Systems and methods, including computer software products, for processing gray colors in a conversion between color spaces involve identifying a lookup table used to convert a color value from a first color space to a second color space. The method includes identifying a pure gray color value from a first plurality of color values, determining a corresponding pure gray color value in the second color space substantially equivalent to the pure gray color value from the first plurality, and replacing a corresponding non-pure gray color value with the corresponding pure gray color value. The method includes identifying near gray color values in the second plurality of color values that are located in relatively close proximity in the lookup table to the corresponding pure gray color value in the second color space. The method also includes modifying the lookup table by replacing the near gray color values using a smoothing function.
US07859721B2 Smoothly changing gray levels in color transforms
Systems and methods, including computer software products, for processing gray colors in a conversion between color spaces involve identifying a non-pure gray color value in a color space that represents a substantially gray color. The methods further include converting the non-pure gray color value to a corresponding pure gray color value in the color space. The methods also include determining a first difference vector between the non-pure gray color value and the corresponding pure gray color value. The methods further include determining a distance between the corresponding pure gray color value and a selected color value. The corresponding pure gray color value represents a nearest pure gray color value to the selected color value. The methods also includes determining a correction factor based on the first difference vector and the distance and applying the correction factor to the selected color value to produce a corrected color value.
US07859718B2 Image output device, color correction method, and computer readable medium storing program for color correction
An image output device includes: a color conversion processing unit that converts output-use image data into image data of a standard CMYK color space; and a color correction processing unit that conducts color correction of the image data of the standard CMYK color space outputted from the color conversion processing unit, wherein the color correction processing unit includes a K correcting unit that conducts correction of the K component of the image data and a CMY correcting unit that conducts correction of the CMY components of the image data.
US07859715B2 Printing control device, printing control method, and medium recording printing control program
A second printing control unit is provided. If the setting information is the information of setting for avoiding the use of Cl ink (uncolored ink), the second printing control unit refers to the same color conversion table as is used by a first printing control unit. Thereby the second printing control unit color-converts input image data into image data comprising gradation data corresponding to at least the amounts of colored inks in C, M, Y, R, V, and K consumed. The second printing control unit can carry out such control as to cause a printer (printing device) to use only the C, M, Y, R, V, and K colored ink and print a print image, using the image data.
US07859702B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus is provided capable of preventing that an operator collects a print result object of which the print job he or she has not sent, and that a user's own print result object is taken by others away from the record medium holding section. The image forming apparatus is used for forming an image onto a record medium which has an identification information section to provide identification information, and includes a print job management information storing section for storing print management information sent from a information processing apparatus per print job to correspond to the identification information; a record medium holding section for keeping print result objects. In the apparatus, the identification information read out from a print result object and print job management information of a print job, are collated.
US07859701B2 Telecommunications device configured to print and sense coded data tags
A telecommunications device includes a printer configured to print visible information and invisible coded data tags on print media. An image sensor is configured to sense the printed data tags. A contact sensor includes a switch that is configured to close through contact so that the image sensor can sense at least one data tag. A controller decodes information relating to the sensed data tag. In one embodiment, the printer includes a replaceable printhead cartridge defining ink supply reservoirs, and a quality assurance integrated circuit is configured to authenticate the integrated circuit.
US07859700B2 Image forming apparatus associating with other apparatuses through network
In an image forming apparatus, screen information for displaying a plurality of function options available for a predetermined process is generated. A screen generating program and option information showing the plurality of function options is transmitted in response to an request from an apparatus that is connected through a network and the user uses. The predetermined process is conducted by using a hardware resource when receiving the setting parameter indicating the function option set by the user from the plurality of the function options that the apparatus displays by executing said screen generating program, from the apparatus.
US07859697B2 Image transmission apparatus
An image transmission apparatus for transmitting image data to a designated destination including, a mode selection section for receiving a transmission mode selection, and a destination selection section for receiving a destination selection, wherein the destination selection section enables to select a destination according to the transmission mode selected by the mode selection section.
US07859696B2 Image reading apparatus and image processing method therefor, image formation apparatus, image processing system and printing time shortening method therefor
An image reading apparatus connected, through a communication interface, with an image formation apparatus that carries out image formation of a document file in a form of a prescribed format, which includes: a reading section that reads originals, and generates image data for each original; a document file generation section that generates the document file including image data generated from one sheet of original in the reading section; and an output section that outputs the document file generated in the document file generation section to the image formation apparatus through the communication interface.
US07859695B2 Remote copying method and computer program
In the network system, which includes a scanner apparatus and a printer apparatus connected to network, the scanner apparatus scan the image of a plurality of pages of an original document, and the scanned image data is transmitted to the printer apparatus before the completion of scanning all of the plurality of original document pages.
US07859694B2 Data processing device
To provide a technology enabling a terminal device to use various functions provided in a data processing device without the use of a device driver. A multifunction device executes a process for implementing a function indicated by instruction data when such instruction data is stored in a shared area of the RAM. Here, the shared area of the RAM in which the instruction data is stored can be recognized by a personal computer connected to the multifunction device as a storage area that can be accessed through the file system, which is a function provided as a standard feature of the operating system. Accordingly, operations of the multifunction device can be controlled from the personal computer end simply by storing instruction data in the shared area via the operating system, eliminating the need for a special device driver to control the operations of the multifunction device.
US07859693B2 Printing system with power saving mode
In a printing system 10 connected to a host computer 20 as an upper system via a serial bus, communication control information used in a shift from a power saving mode to a normal transfer mode are previously in a response controlling portion 147 before a CPU 151 in a printing controlling portion 12 is shifted into the power saving mode, and then the response controlling portion 147 can receive the data based on the set communication control information without intervention of a CPU 151 in the cancel of the power saving mode.
US07859692B2 System and method for developing a configuration for a combination of two or more printshops
A system is provided for forming a print shop configuration with a first set of equipment, the first set of equipment being derived from a second set of equipment from a first print shop and a third set of equipment from a second print shop. The system includes a manager and application, the manager and application working together to generate a list of at least some of all possible print shop configurations that could be formed with a selected number of cells. The cells are populated with selected pieces of equipment from the second and third sets of multiple pieces of equipment. A criterion is used to select, from the list of possible print shop configurations, the print shop configuration with the first set of equipment.
US07859691B2 Printer having Bi-level operational modes
A process enables a user to alter all the operational modes of a printer through a single parameter selection. The process includes selecting a group of operational parameter sets for a print process, the group selection being made with reference to one of an operational mode and a characteristic parameter; and selecting a set of operational parameters from the selected group of operational parameter sets, the set selection being made with reference to the other of the operational mode and the characteristic parameter.
US07859689B2 Methods and apparatus for analyzing electronic documents and digital printing systems
Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying print settings and printer factors that may affect the entire print job, and reporting such print settings and printer factors. Methods and apparatus are also provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying any objects in the print job that have associated predetermined attributes, and reporting the print objects that have any such predetermined attributes.
US07859686B2 Lithographic apparatus and method for calibrating the same
A measurement system configured to measure a position of an object in a lithographic apparatus, includes at least three position detectors configured to detect the position of the object, the at least three position detectors each including a single or multi-dimensional optical encoder to provide at least six position values, the optical encoders being coupled to the object at different locations within a three dimensional coordinate system, wherein at least one position value is provided for each dimension of the three dimensional coordinate system, and wherein the measurement system is configured to calculate the position of the object within the three dimensional coordinate system from a subset of at least three of the six position values and to calculate an orientation of the object with respect to the three dimensional coordinate system from another subset of at least three of the six position values.
US07859667B2 Slide misload detection system and method
A system and method for determining whether one or more slides are loaded properly within a cassette. Each slide includes one or more transparent regions and one or more non-transparent regions. The slides are between a light source and a sensor. The light source generates light that is directed towards the sensor through the slides. If the sensor is able to detect light from the light source, then the slides are properly loaded in the cassette. Slides are not properly loaded if the light is blocked by a non-transparent region before reaching the sensor. The sensor or a separate controller can generate a signal or data to provide an indication to a user or to processing equipment that the slides are or are not properly loaded. For example, a speaker or an indicator light can be used to provide an indication to the user. The signal or data can also be used for other functions, such as displaying a message on a screen indicating whether the slides are properly loaded.
US07859666B2 Electric field sensor
The present invention relates to an electric field sensor including: a light source (1); an electro optic crystal (7) which is applied with an electric field based on a signal under test, in which a birefringent index changes according to the electric field, and which changes a polarization state of light incident from the light source according to the birefringent index and emits the light; and a detector (9, 17, 19, 21) that detects an electric signal according to the change of the polarization state of the light emitted from the electro optic crystal (7). Further, the electric field sensor includes: a signal electrode (11) for applying the electric field based on the signal under test to the electro optic crystal (7); a counter electrode (12) that forms a pair with the signal electrode (11); and an auxiliary electrode (61) that is electrically connected to the counter electrode (12), and that forms a capacitance with ground.
US07859665B2 Polarization analyzing system, exposure method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A polarization analyzing system includes a data collector collecting information on resist patterns formed over step patterns by first and second lights, the first and second lights being polarized parallel and perpendicular to the step patterns, a residual resist analyzer obtaining first and second relations between a ratio of a space to a line width of the resist patterns and the first and second residues, the first and second residues remaining at orthogonal points of the step patterns and the resist patterns, and a direction chooser choosing an optimum polarization direction reducing residues by comparing the first and second relations.
US07859659B2 Spectroscopic scatterometer system
Before the diffraction from a diffracting structure on a semiconductor wafer is measured, where necessary, the film thickness and index of refraction of the films underneath the structure are first measured using spectroscopic reflectometry or spectroscopic ellipsometry. A rigorous model is then used to calculate intensity or ellipsometric signatures of the diffracting structure. The diffracting structure is then measured using a spectroscopic scatterometer using polarized and broadband radiation to obtain an intensity or ellipsometric signature of the diffracting structure. Such signature is then matched with the signatures in the database to determine the grating shape parameters of the structure.
US07859655B2 Method involving a pointing instrument and a target object
A first method determines a position of a point of interest on a target object surface in a target object coordinate system using orientation and distance measurements of a pointing instrument in an instrument coordinate system. A second method determines an orientation of a pointing instrument in an instrument coordinate system for the instrument to be aligned with a point of interest on a target object surface having a target object coordinate system, wherein a position of the point of interest in the target object coordinate system is known. A third method controls orientation of a laser beam of a laser in an instrument coordinate system for the laser beam to trace an image on a target object surface having a target object coordinate system, wherein positions of points for the image on the surface of the target object in the target object coordinate system are known.
US07859653B2 Detecting strain in birefringent materials using spectral polarimetry
A method, computer program product and system for analyzing multispectral images from a plurality of regions of birefringent material, such as a polymer film, using polarized light and a corresponding polar analyzer to identify differential strain in the birefringent material. For example, the birefringement material may be low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, nylon, or cellophane film. Optionally, the method includes generating a real-time quantitative strain map.
US07859651B2 Optical range finder
The invention relates to an optical range finder comprising a light transmitter for the transmission of measurement light into a monitored space, a light receiver for the reception of measurement light reflected or remitted by an object in the monitored space, and an evaluation circuit to determine the time of flight of the measurement light from the output signal and to determine the distance of the object therefrom. In accordance with the invention, a PIN diode circuit is provided between the light receiver and the evaluation circuit and is electrically connected to them, with the PIN diode circuit damping the current output signal of the light receiver. The invention furthermore relates to an optical range finding method which can be carried out with the optical range finder in accordance with the invention.
US07859649B2 Laser range sensor system optics adapter and method
An adapter and method for through the lens (TTL) laser range sensor probes enables use of a TTL probe of a given exit pupil size to be used with a shared objective lens requiring a entrance pupil size, as entered from the laser range sensor, that is different from the TTL probe exit pupil size. Embodiments of the adapter include optics, such as a first lens and a resolving second lens that expand or contract the TTL laser radiation depending on whether the first lens is a diverging, a negative focal length lens, or a converging, positive focal length lens, and the second lens is converging or diverging, respectively, in a Galilean arrangement. Embodiments also provide a Keplerian arrangement, can function with non-collimated radiation, and can include mirrors to yield a more compact adapter. Additional embodiments include at least one adjustable lens element between the first and second lenses, the at least one adjustable lens element being connected to an actuator for movement along the optical path. The adapter can be arranged in a folded configuration in which mirrors are used to form a more compact adapter.
US07859646B2 Interferometric method for improving the resolution of a lithographic system
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for writing an arbitrary, two-dimensional pattern using interferometric lithography and classical techniques includes the steps of: (1) creating a pixel array defined by a number of pixels having specific coordinates; (2) mapping pixel information based on the desired pattern, the pixel information including a list of which pixels are activated to define the desired two-dimensional pattern; (3) controlling a relative strength of each pixel for indicating a feature height of a portion of the desired two-dimensional pattern; and (4) controlling a degree that one pixel is shifted in an x-direction and a y-direction relative to original coordinates of the pixel in order to define the desired two-dimensional pattern pixel by pixel.
US07859643B2 Apparatus for moving curved-surface mirror, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus for moving a spherical mirror in which at least three actuators move the spherical mirror, at least five position sensors sense the position of the spherical mirror, and a controller calculates coordinates of a center of curvature of the spherical mirror with three-degrees-of-freedom, based on positions sensed by the at least five position sensors. The controller controls driving of the at least three actuators in accordance with a difference between the calculated coordinates and predetermined coordinates, so that the center of curvature of the spherical mirror is held fixed to the predetermined coordinates.
US07859642B2 Apparatus and method for exposing edge of substrate
An apparatus and method for exposing an edge of a substrate are disclosed, in which an exposure time period for exposing the edge of the substrate is reduced. The apparatus for exposing an edge of a substrate includes a loading unit loading the substrate, and an edge exposure unit exposing the edge of the substrate loaded by the loading unit using each of a long side exposure unit and a short side exposure unit. Therefore, since the edge of the substrate is exposed using each of the long side exposure unit and the short side exposure unit, it is possible to reduce the edge exposure time period, thereby improving productivity. In addition, since no rotation of the substrate is required, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus. Moreover, since the apparatus is provided in an in-line type, it is possible to easily draw the substrate using a conveyer.
US07859639B2 Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof using three mask process
A LCD device includes a gate line on a substrate and a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor source and drain electrodes; a common line parallel to the gate line; a common electrode extended from the common line and a pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode wherein the gate line and the common line have a first conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and the common electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of the common line; and the gate line, the source electrode and the drain electrode have a second conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and the pixel electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of the drain electrode.
US07859636B2 Liquid crystal panel and fabrication method thereof
A liquid crystal panel and method for fabricating the same are provided. A plurality of photo spacers and ball spacers are disposed between a color filter substrate and an array substrate. The device for simultaneously applying photo spacers and ball spacers exhibits the ability to eliminate force impact and overcome problems such as touch mura and sound mura.
US07859635B2 Liquid crystal display panel and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display panel includes two substrates fixed together by a seal member with their main surfaces opposed to each other, liquid crystal sealingly stored in a region surrounded by the two substrates and the seal member, and a plurality of columnar spacers arranged in a region surrounded by the two substrates and the seal member. A number density of the columnar spacers in a low-density region near the inner side of the seal member is smaller than that in a high-density region inside the low-density region. The substrate with the spacer has the substrate and the spacer formed on the substrate. The spacer has at least a first spacer portion, and a second spacer portion formed above the first spacer portion. An upper portion of the first spacer has a larger diameter than a bottom of the second spacer portion.
US07859614B2 Light emitting diode package having dual lens structure and backlight for liquid crystal display device implementing the same
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device in which low power LEDs with a dual lens structure re configured for application in a backlight device to increase the optical efficiency at low power, thus enhancing the brightness, such LCD device including: a lower cover; PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) disposed on the lower cover for receiving power from the exterior; a main body mounted on the PCBs; R, G and B LED (Light Emitting Diode) devices disposed on the main body for emitting light; a first lens having a first curvature and mounted on the main body and housing the R, G and B LED devices; a second lens covering the outside of the first lens and having an inner curved surface with a second curvature having a varying radius of curvature, and an outer curved surface with a third curvature, wherein the second curvature of the inner curved surface is gradually increased from an edge portion toward a central portion; and a liquid crystal panel spaced apart from the second lens by a certain interval and to which light is provided.
US07859613B2 Liquid crystal display device having a light source disposed on a lateral side of a light guide plate
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device connecting between an inverter and a lamp without a solder, the liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal display panel; a light source providing light to the rear of the liquid crystal display panel, and comprising a light source body in the shape of the column and a light source electrode disposed at the both ends of the light source body; an inverter providing power for the light source; a light source wire connecting between the inverter and the light source electrode, and having a connecting terminal ring-shaped at the one end; an electric conduction terminal having an electrode inserting cavity for accommodating the light source electrode at the one end and a coupling cavity for coupling with a coupling means passing through the connecting terminal ring-shaped at the other end; and a coupling member having a electric conduction terminal accommodating hole exposing the electrode inserting cavity and the coupling cavity of the electric conduction terminal by accommodating the electric conduction terminal. Thus, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device enhanced the production and efficiency on the assembly process.
US07859607B2 Apparatus and method for assembling liquid crystal display
A method for assembling a liquid crystal display includes steps of disposing a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module and blowing an ionic flow into the space between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight module to clean the surfaces of them. In addition, the method can be proceeded by an apparatus for assembling the liquid crystal display. The apparatus comprises a fastening device, a hoist platform, and an ionic particle-removal device. The fastening device has several vacuum suckers used to attach the surface of a liquid crystal panel and the panel is held and fixed. The hoist platform is disposed vertically under the fastening device to carry a backlight module and thus to adjust the distance between the liquid crystal panel and the backlight module. The ionic particle-removal device, which is disposed at a lateral part of the hoist platform and the fastening device, is capable of blowing an ionic flow to remove the particles and electrostatic charges attached on the surface of the liquid crystal panel and the backlight module simultaneously during assembly.
US07859606B2 Semiconductor device
It is an object of the present invention to connect a wiring, an electrode, or the like formed with two incompatible films (an ITO film and an aluminum film) without increasing the cross-sectional area of the wiring and to achieve lower power consumption even when the screen size becomes larger. The present invention provides a two-layer structure including an upper layer and a lower layer having a larger width than the upper layer. A first conductive layer is formed with Ti or Mo, and a second conductive layer is formed with aluminum (pure aluminum) having low electric resistance over the first conductive layer. A part of the lower layer projected from the end section of the upper layer is bonded with ITO.
US07859604B2 Pad area and method of fabricating the same
A pad area and a method of fabricating the same, wherein the pad area is formed on a substrate to contact a chip on glass (COG) or a chip on flexible printed circuit (COF) with the substrate. Changing a lower structure of the pad area increases contact points between conductive balls and an interconnection layer or reduces a step difference between an interconnection layer and a passivation layer to enhance and ensure electrical connection.
US07859599B2 Broadcast receiving device and method for simultaneously receiving two different programs
A broadcast receiving device includes a receiver configured to selectively receive two programs; an analyzer configured to analyze sound volume levels of the two programs for a certain time; and an adjuster configured to adjust the relative sound volume levels of the two programs, when the analysis indicates that there is a difference between the sound volume levels of the two programs, so as to control the difference between the sound volume levels to within a predetermined reference level difference.
US07859598B2 Receiving apparatus
When, for any channel registered in a channel table, a detecting means detects that no program is being broadcast, a registered channel changing means changes the channel registered in the channel table to a channel for which the detecting means has detected that a program is being broadcast.
US07859597B2 Audio/video entertainment system and method
The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for programming and/or charging one or more audio/video devices such that the audio/video devices will be programmed and charged to receive transmitted audio and video signals associated with an event, allowing a user to use the audio/video device to observe the sights and sounds of the event. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cart with a docking port for each of a plurality of personal audio/video devices, a charger configured to charge the power source of each personal audio/video display device, and programming logic configured to program each of the personal audio/video devices.
US07859594B2 Display driving signal processor, display apparatus and a method of processing display driving signal
Disclosed herein is a display driving signal processor and a display apparatus. A display driving signal processor includes: input means; number-of-horizontal pixels converting means; second clock generating means; and output means. A display apparatus includes: an image displaying portion; input means; number-of-horizontal pixels converting means; second clock generating means; and output means.
US07859592B2 Television lens apparatus
According to an aspect of the present invention, at least parts or all of the windows for tarry lamps are located in the outside of the front cover by constructing the front cover portion between the top face and left-hand side face of the front cover, and the front cover portion between the top face and right-hand side face of the front cover as the inclined planes respectively. That is, since the windows for tarry lamps are not covered by the front cover as conventional ones, visibility from the external improves.
US07859589B2 Imaging apparatus, and exposure control apparatus, method, and program
An imaging apparatus for capturing an image using a solid-state imaging device includes the following elements. One or more signal correction units correct an image signal obtained by capturing the image on a color component basis. A luminance detection unit detects luminance information from image signals obtained at locations prior to and subsequent to at least one of the signal correction units. An exposure control unit controls an exposure adjustment mechanism on the basis of the luminance information detected by the luminance detection unit.
US07859586B2 Solid-state imaging device, its production method, camera with the solid-state imaging device, and light receiving chip
Provided is a light-receiving chip whose transparent protection plate has an area equal to or smaller than an area of the light-receiving chip, and which does not require a base portion for mounting. Provision of the light-receiving chip contributes to reduction in size and weight of cameras. In addition, provision of a solid-state imaging apparatus having excellent productivity contributes to reduction in price of cameras. A solid-state imaging apparatus (10) having: a solid-state imaging device (11) (a light-receiving chip) provided with a plurality of light-receiving cells arranged either one dimensionally or two dimensionally on one main surface of a base substrate; and a transparent protection plate (12) provided to cover a light-receiving area (18) (the plurality of light-receiving cells), where an area of the transparent protection plate is equal to or smaller than an area of the light-receiving chip, and a space (20) is formed between the light-receiving cells and the transparent protection plate.
US07859585B2 Portable terminal having camera lens assembly
A portable terminal is disclosed, having a first housing, a second housing that is rotatably combined with the first housing and moves toward or away from the first housing while facing the first housing, and a camera lens assembly provided on the second housing. The second housing moves toward or far from the first housing as it is rotated with respect to a predetermined hinge axis. The hinge axis provides a rotation axis of a lens housing of the camera lens assembly, the rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the camera lens assembly and passing through the center of the camera lens assembly. The lens housing and the second housing rotate with respect to the first housing as the second housing is moved toward or away from the first housing and the lens housing are rotated with respect to the second housing by a user when desired.
US07859584B2 Camera system
A camera system 100 has an imaging optical system L, an imaging component 45, a liquid crystal monitor 16, and an image display controller 15. The liquid crystal monitor 16 allows a plurality of images acquired by the imaging component 45 to be displayed. The image display controller 15 controls the display component to display an image A1, which is part of the image acquired by the imaging component 45, as a reference image A on the liquid crystal monitor 16, and to display part of the image acquired by the imaging component 45 at a different timing from that of the image A1 as a comparative image B on the liquid crystal monitor 16. The image display controller 15 controls the display component to display the image A1 as a reference image A in a state of being inverted around a symmetry axis 51a.
US07859583B2 Solid-state image capture device, analog/digital conversion method for solid state image capture device, and image capture device
A solid state image capture device includes a pixel array unit having unit pixels including a photoelectric conversion element disposed in a matrix shape and analog/digital conversion means for converting an analog pixel signal read from the unit pixel of the pixel array unit into digital data. The analog/digital conversion means includes a comparator unit for converting a magnitude of the pixel signal into information in a time axis direction, a counter unit for performing a count process during a time period from a start time of a comparison process at the comparator unit to an end time of the comparison process, a multi-phase clock generate unit for generating multi-phase clocks having a constant phase difference, a latch unit for latching logic states of the multi-phase clocks, and a decode unit for decoding latch data of the latch unit to obtain a value lower than a count value.
US07859581B2 Image sensor with charge binning and dual channel readout
An image sensor includes: (a) a plurality of light measuring elements arranged in an array and at least a portion of the elements have a color filter mated with the light receiving elements which permits selective color reception by the light measuring elements; (b) a plurality of floating diffusions respectively mated with the plurality of light receiving elements; and c) an output structure electrically connected to two or more of the floating diffusions; wherein the at least two light receiving elements receiving the same color are transferred to the output structure substantially simultaneously.
US07859580B2 Method and apparatus for anisotropic demosaicing of image data
A method and apparatus for determining missing color pixel values in image data. Pixel values are interpolated in a horizontal or a vertical direction based on gradient scores and optionally chroma and local statistical scores. Several techniques for refining the interpolation direction determination are also disclosed, including applying a low-pass filter, applying one or more digital filters, and growing an interpolation direction region to nearby pixels. A technique for interpolating corner pixel values is also disclosed.
US07859577B2 Auto exposure controlling device and method
An automatic exposure (AE) controlling device and method are provided. According to the method, an electric shutter (ES) value and an analog gain control (AGC) value can be calculated through a proportional integral control method according to a brightness value of an inputted image frame. Then, AE compensation on a present image frame can be performed using the calculated ES value and AGC value.
US07859575B2 Imaging device and driving method thereof
There is provided an imaging device which eliminates complexity in reading an image in low resolution and reading an image in high resolution and realizes prevention of decrease in frame rate. The device includes a pixel region including a plurality of pixel elements and imaging an incident light of an object as an image and a reading unit for thinning out a pixel element from the pixel region to read a thinned out image in low resolution and reading a partial image in resolution higher than the thinned out image from a partial region of the pixel region (a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register), wherein the reading unit reads the thinned out image and the partial image from mutually different pixel elements and reads the thinned out image and the partial image as different imaging frames.
US07859574B1 Integrated camera image signal processor and video encoder
An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to perform image signal processing using encoding related information. The second circuit may be configured to encode image data using image signal processing related information, wherein said first circuit is further configured to pass said image signal processing related information to said second circuit and said second circuit is further configured to pass said encoding related information to said first circuit.
US07859573B2 Methods and apparatuses for image exposure correction
Methods and apparatuses for image exposure include capturing a first image under a first illumination condition, determining a luminance of the first image at a plurality of sectors, capturing a second image under a second illumination condition employing an artificial light source, determining a luminance of the second image at the plurality of sectors, and determining if the artificial light source should be used to capture a final image using the luminances of the first and second images at the plurality of sectors. If the artificial light source is to be used, an output level of the light source is determined.
US07859571B1 System and method for digital video management
A digital video management system which provides live digital video signals from a number of cameras to a number of client terminals, via a computer communications network, in real time. The system stores live video signals in response to a video recording trigger which may be either a schedule, an event, or an operator action. The invention is particularly suitable for use in integrated security and process control environments.
US07859570B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a photodetector element for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from a remote controller and outputting a received signal, a conversion unit for converting the received signal outputted from the photodetector element into a binarized pulse signal and outputting the signal, a decode unit for converting the pulse signal outputted from the conversion unit into code data and outputting the code data, and a control unit for performing a control operation in accordance with the code data. The electronic apparatus further includes a measuring unit for measuring a pulse width of a pulse signal outputted from the conversion unit in a state where the infrared signal from the remote controller is not received at the photodetector element, and a judging unit for judging whether the pulse width measured by the measuring unit is equal to or longer than a predetermined time for determining a stable reception environment.
US07859569B2 Real-time image stabilization
An apparatus and method for stabilizing image frames in a video data stream. A weighted average or centroid of the intensity or hue associated with pixels vs. the horizontal and vertical position of each pixel is calculated for a reference frame in the video data stream. A corresponding centroid is calculated for a subsequent frame in the stream. This image frame is then translated so that the centroid of the subsequent frame and the centroid of the reference frame coincide, reducing artifacts from shaking of the video capture device. Alternatively, the video stream frames may be divided into tiles and centroids calculated for each tile. The centroids of the tiles of a subsequent frame are curve fit to the centroids of tiles in a reference frame. An affine transform is then performed on the subsequent frame to reduce artifacts in the image from movements of the video capture device.
US07859564B2 Video surveillance system
Viewing a three dimensional area from numerous camera angles at different exposures using intensity and chromaticity data at the different exposures to create a pixel model for each pixel. A current image is compared with the background model to find pixels that have changed from their pixel model. These novel pixels are processed using contiguous region detection and grouped into foreground figures. For each camera, software extracts features from each foreground figure. A central processor maintains an object model for each foreground figure. A graphical user interface displays the relative location of foreground figures in a world model. The location and identification of the foreground figures is checked against a table of permissions so as to selectively generate an alert. If a figure leaves or is about the leave a cell, the invention accounts for its approximate position and notifies adjacent cells of the expected arrival of the foreground figure.
US07859558B2 Optical scanning device, control method thereof, and image forming apparatus therewith
An optical scanning device is disclosed, including: a light deflection part, an imaging optical element, a variable focus optical element, and a focal point control device. The light deflection part repeatedly deflects and scans a light flux emitted from a light source on a scan surface. The imaging optical element forms an image in a vicinity of the scan surface with the light flux. The focal point control device changes a focal distance of the variable focus optical element, which is arranged in an optical path from the light source to the light deflection part, in executing each of deflection scans, and correct an image misalignment on the scan surface due to an optical path difference for each scan angle.
US07859554B2 Apparatus, methods, and systems for multi-primary display or projection
An apparatus, methods, and systems for multi-color projection or display for video or lighting applications. One aspect of the present invention comprises an algorithm for utilizing at least four primary light sources to represent a projected pixel color. The algorithm and associated system can be applied to both a natively monochromatic light source or traditional light sources filtered for their colored components. The algorithm can be used for either color sequential or parallel modes of operation. The algorithm takes input pixel data represented in a universal color coordinate system, performs a color transform, and disperses the results among parallel display devices or sequentially to a single device such that each pixel is presented by the combination of four or more primaries.
US07859553B2 Image navigation in a mobile station
An image navigation apparatus in a mobile station comprises a tilt sensor unit adapted to sense a tilt of the mobile station based on information related to a distance between a reference point and a target point on a displayed image. The image navigation apparatus also comprises a processing unit operatively coupled to the tilt sensor, adapted to move the displayed image according to the tilt sensed by the tilt sensor. The image navigation apparatus may further comprise a display unit operatively coupled to the processing unit, adapted to show movement of the displayed image according to the tilt sensed by the tilt sensor. The tilt of the mobile station may comprise at least one of a tilt degree and a tilt direction.
US07859552B2 Image processing apparatus
A image processing apparatus includes a first image converting section for converting an original image into an output resolution image, a second image converting section for converting the original image into an intermediate resolution image, a similarity information generating section for detecting a plurality of similar areas, in a block in the intermediate resolution image corresponding to a predetermined partial area in the output resolution image, that resemble the partial area, and for generating similarity information including a position of each of the plurality of similar areas in the intermediate resolution image and a weight of the position, a texture generating section for generating a texture image by combining high-frequency components of the intermediate resolution image at the position according to the weight, and a texture blending section for blending the output resolution image and the texture image to generate output image.
US07859551B2 Object customization and presentation system
A method for generating a personalized presentation, comprising providing an Internet browser user interface for selecting an image and a surrounding context; receiving the selected image and surrounding context by an Internet web server; accounting for the user activity in a financial accounting system; and delivering the selected image and surrounding context to the user. The surrounding context may comprise a physical frame for a picture, with a printed version of the selected image framed therein. The accounting step may provide consideration to a rights holder of the selected image, or provide for receipt of consideration from a commercial advertiser. A plurality of images may be selected, wherein the context defines a sequence of display of the plurality of images.
US07859550B2 Item data management over a data network for physical items in the control of a user
An item data management server to capture, store, organize, and present information regarding a plurality of physical items in the control of a user. The item data management server is coupled to a user terminal via at least one data network.
US07859548B1 Offloading cube map calculations to a shader
Systems and methods for performing cube mapping computations using a shader program may reduce the need for fixed function cube mapping computation units in graphics processors. Therefore, die area is used more efficiently since a general purpose processing unit may be configured using shader program instructions to perform the cube mapping computations and other computations. The general purpose processing unit is configured to perform floating point computations to identify the cube map face that will be read and process the cube map coordinates. A fixed function unit is also configured to identify the cube map face that will be read to avoid passing the cube map face information from the general purpose processing unit to the fixed function unit.
US07859547B2 Display parameter adjusting method and apparatus for scene change compensation
A method and an apparatus for adjusting a display parameter are provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating a scene change value between a current frame and a previous frame; (b) setting a first weight according to the scene change value; (c) calculating an original parameter of the current frame; (d) providing a display parameter of the previous frame; (e) calculating a display parameter of the current frame according to the first weight, the original parameter, and the display parameter of the previous frame.
US07859544B2 Data federation system, and control method and control program thereof
The present invention allows highly efficient high-speed data processing based on dynamic data federation among a plurality of data display means, without increasing the data volume in the individual data display means. A user data display section has a classification and component specific information table, which is extracted from a three-dimensional component database and a two-dimensional component database, and a component attribute data table associated thereto. A federation control section controls data federation among a three-dimensional component data display section, two-dimensional component data display section and user data display section. A jump section acquires the classification or component specific information using the classification and component specific information table, retrieves the three-dimensional component database or two-dimensional component database by controlling the three-dimensional component data display section or two-dimensional component data display section, and displays an image display screen of the three-dimensional component data or two-dimensional component data of the retrieved component.
US07859543B2 Displaying images
Displaying an image is described. A method for displaying an image includes determining, for each of multiple images, metric associated with the image. The multiple images are displayed in a view in which each of the multiple images is associated with at least one visually perceivable attribute that reflects at least the determined metric. The attributes that reflect the metrics are logically independent of the metrics. In one implementation, the metric relates to a significance value associated with the image. In one implementation, the visually perceivable attribute relates to a size with which the multiple images are displayed in relation to each other.
US07859538B2 Converting deformation data for a mesh to animation data for a skeleton, skinning and shading in a runtime computer graphics animation engine
Animation of an object from a character modeling and/or animation tool is converted from a representation used by that tool to a representation used in a runtime animation system, such as a game engine. Such a tool typically represents the object using a source structure and a source skin. The runtime animation engine typically uses a target structure, target skin and shading to represent animation of an object. In addition to transferring motion of the object from its source structure to the target structure, deformation and shading also are converted. Low resolution information about the deformation of the source skin is converted into a set of skinning weights for associating the target skin with virtual bones added to the target structure and animated deformation data for each frame of animation. High resolution detail from the deformation of the source skin is converted into a set of normal maps, one or more masks and animated mask parameters for use by one or more shaders.
US07859535B2 Displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions
An article of manufacture for displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions on a road system includes creating a graphical map of the road system which includes one or more segments. The status of each segment on the graphical map is determined such that the status of each segment corresponds to the traffic flow data associated with that segment. An animated traffic flow map of the road system is created by combining the graphical map and the status of each segment.
US07859532B2 Generating character images based upon display conditions
In a 2D and 3D character determining process, the contents of display status information indicating a display status of a non-player character, such as a display position and display brightness, is confirmed. It is then determined whether or not the display status of the non-player character satisfies a non-display condition. In the case where it is determined that the non-display condition is satisfied, it is determined that the character is not drawn in a virtual three-dimensional space. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the display status of the non-player character satisfies a 2D display condition. In the case where it is determined that the 2D display condition is satisfied, it is determined that the character is drawn as a two-dimensional character. In the case where it is determined that the 2D display condition is not satisfied, it is determined that the character is drawn as a three-dimensional character.
US07859531B2 Method and apparatus for three-dimensional graphics, and computer product
A graphic apparatus that draws an object three-dimensionally using a level plane and a height-axis perpendicular to the level plane includes a receiving unit, a calculating unit, and a drawing unit. The receiving unit receives vertex data identifying a position of a top surface of the object on the level plane. The calculating unit calculates a modulation coefficient of luminance for the top surface based on a normal vector for the top surface and a light-source vector indicating a direction of a light source on the level plane. The drawing unit draws the top surface using the vertex data and the modulation coefficient, and a top surface of another object using the modulation coefficient.
US07859526B2 Active matrix emissive display and optical scanner system, methods and applications
An active matrix emissive display (ED) is disclosed that also includes optical scanning capability. Each display pixel is independently addressable and independently internally driven for light generation. Each display pixel is also given the ability to be coupled to detection circuitry in order to sense currents or voltages that are optically generated or leaked by its internal LED when exposed to light (and thus acting in a photodiode capacity). Since the intensity of the light illuminating the diode determines the magnitude of generated currents and/or voltages or leakage current through the diode (when reverse biased), these sensed currents or voltages give an indication of the intensity of the light striking the pixel. In this manner, active matrix ED pixels are configured to serve the dual purpose of being able to generate and detect light.
US07859524B2 Liquid crystal display and driving device thereof
The present invention discloses a data driver and a liquid crystal display including the same capable of solving the problems on the liquid crystal display and of decreasing the number of input pins of an external side by generating gamma reference voltages at internal or external side.According to the present invention, a digital gamma storage is provided with digital gamma data for each of R, G and B through predetermined data bus from an external device on the basis of a predetermined gamma load signal, and a gamma reference voltage generator generates gamma reference voltages for gray display, which are used in converting display data into analog data, for each of R, G and B independently, on the basis of the stored digital gamma data for each of R, G and B. A digital-to-analog converter converts image data for each of R, G and B into analog voltages to output them on the basis of the generated gamma reference voltages.As a result, it is possible to solve the problems on image quality of the liquid crystal display as well as to decrease the number of input pins of the external side by generating the gamma reference voltages for each of R, G and B without receiving them from an external device to control so that each of the R, G and B has an independent gamma curve.
US07859520B2 Display device and driving method thereof
Each pixel of a display device has a current supply circuit, a switch portion, and a light emitting element. The light emitting element, the current supply circuit, and the switch portion are connected in series between a power supply reference line and a power supply line. The switch portion is switched between ON and OFF using a digital video signal. The amount of constant current flowing in the current supply circuit is determined by a control signal inputted from the outside of the pixel. When the switch portion is ON, a constant current determined by the current supply circuit flows in the light emitting element and light is emitted. As a result, a low-cost display device can be provided in which the light emitting element can emit light at a constant luminance even when the current characteristic is changed by degradation or the like, which is fast in writing signals in pixels, which can display in gray scales accurately, and which can be reduced in size with a low cost, as well as a driving method of the display device.
US07859518B1 Interface for interaction with display visible from both sides
A portable viewing and computing apparatus. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a bus, a memory unit coupled to the bus, and a processor coupled to the bus. The memory unit is for storing data and instructions. The processor is for processing data and instructions. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device coupled to the bus. The display device is comprised of a viewing panel viewable from a front side and a back side. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device controller coupled to the bus. The display device controller is for sensing the orientation and rotation of the display device, and in response thereto, for controlling and rendering data on the display device.
US07859516B2 Information processing apparatus, scroll control apparatus, scroll control method, and computer program product
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus including a display unit and an inclination detection unit detecting an inclination of its main body includes a direction instruction unit, a reference inclination storage unit, an inclination difference output unit, and a scroll unit. The direction instruction unit instructs a scroll direction in which a display range of the display unit is to be moved. The reference inclination storage unit stores, as a reference inclination, an inclination in the scroll direction among inclinations detected by the inclination detection unit. The inclination difference output unit outputs a difference between the reference inclination and an inclination in the scroll direction. The scroll unit moves the display range on the display unit according to the difference outputted from the inclination difference output unit.
US07859515B2 Continuous click apparatus of mobile communication terminal and method for executing the same
A mobile communication terminal including an input unit including a plurality of certain keys, a calculator which calculates an interval between a consecutive selection of one of the certain keys, and a processor which executes a predetermined function if the calculated interval is within a threshold time. Further, the predetermined function is set to correspond with the consecutive selection of the one certain key within the threshold time and being different than a function associated with a single selection of the one certain key.
US07859511B2 DC-DC converter with temperature compensation circuit
A DC-DC converter includes a temperature compensation circuit arranged between a feedback differential amplification circuit and an output voltage detection circuit to compensate the variation of the voltage level of the DC output voltage of the converter caused by ambient temperature changes. The temperature compensation circuit includes a temperature detection circuit that detects the ambient temperature and, in response thereto, generates a temperature signal; and a current source circuit that is connected between a feedback signal input terminal of the feedback differential amplification circuit and the output voltage detection circuit. The current source circuit, based on the temperature signal, generates an electrical current and a compensation voltage proportional to the electrical current. The compensation voltage is applied to the DC output voltage to thereby regulate the voltage level of the DC output voltage. The temperature signal is a temperature signal of positive temperature characteristics and/or a temperature signal of negative temperature characteristics.
US07859510B2 Liquid crystal display device
A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor are provided. In the first transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a first wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fifth wiring. In the second transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a third wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a sixth wiring. In the third transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fourth wiring. In the fourth transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to the second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the sixth wiring; a gate terminal is connected to the fourth wiring.
US07859508B2 Liquid crystal driving circuit and liquid crystal display device including multiple shift registers and an enable switch to allow partial driving
A liquid crystal drive circuit in which the degradation of the element is minimized in partial drive even for the GOG circuit configured by amorphous silicon, and a liquid crystal display device including the same are provided. The liquid crystal driving circuit includes a first shift register and a driving means. The first shift register advances through the line address of a pixel array to display an image, and outputs an enable signal only to drive the display target line. The driving means outputs a line drive signal corresponding to the enable signal to drive the line enabled by the first shift register.
US07859503B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
In driving a liquid crystal display device having an alignment regulating structure for regulating liquid crystal, when the display state of the pixel is to be changed from a dark display to a bright display, a difference between the magnitude of a voltage Vd4 applied to the liquid crystal of the pixel at the beginning of the first frame and the magnitude of a voltage Vd3 applied to the liquid crystal of the pixel in the second frame or a subsequent frame, is set to be greater than a voltage Vod that decreases in the first frame due to an increase in the liquid crystal capacitance of the pixel.
US07859500B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display including a pair of substrates, with a liquid crystal sealed therebetween. A plurality of gate bus lines and a plurality of drain bus lines are provided on one of the substrates, along with a pixel electrode, which includes first and second sub-pixel electrodes. A common electrode is provided on the other substrate. The first sub-pixel electrode is electrically connected to a first of the drain bus lines via a TFT. There is also a storage capacitor bus line that overlaps the first sub-pixel electrode, but does not overlap the second sub-pixel electrode, and an electrode that overlaps the storage capacitor bus line and the first sub-pixel electrode at a location where the storage capacitor bus line overlaps the first sub-pixel electrode, as well as a connection line that connects the electrode to the second sub-pixel electrode and has a portion overlapping the first sub-pixel electrode.
US07859498B2 Display device having multiplexing resistors within resin layer
A display element for a display device includes a display mechanism and a resin layer. One or more busbars and one or more multiplexing resistors are disposed within the resin layer. The multiplexing resistors are communicatively connected to one or more address lines to permit the display element to be addressed by selective assertion of the address lines in a multiplexing manner.
US07859491B2 Pixel circuit of organic light emitting display
The pixel circuit of an organic light emitting display includes a first transistor to a seventh transistor, a first capacitor, a second transistor and an organic light emitting diode. The first capacitor stores the data signal from the first, second and third transistors, and the second capacitor stores the threshold voltage of the fourth transistor from the fifth transistor. Voltages stored in the first and second capacitors are combined by the sixth transistor, and the fourth transistor generates a driving current corresponding to a combined voltage of the voltages stored in the first and second capacitor. The seventh transistor transmits the driving current and the organic light emitting diode emits light corresponding to the driving current.
US07859490B2 Current drive device
The current drive device of the present invention includes: a current source transistor for allowing a preset drive current to flow to a drain; a cascode transistor cascode-connected to the current source transistor; a switch circuit for switching ON/OFF flow of the drive current through the drain of the cascode transistor and a circuit to be driven; and a bypass circuit for allowing the drive current to flow therethrough to bypass the switch circuit and the circuit to be driven when the switch circuit is OFF.
US07859486B2 Ambient light sensing circuit and flat panel display including ambient light sensing circuit
An ambient light sensing circuit includes a transistor, a first storage capacitor coupled to the transistor and adapted to compensate for a threshold voltage of the transistor, a second storage capacitor coupled to the first storage capacitor, a photodiode coupled to the first storage capacitor and the second storage capacitor and adapted to change a coupling voltage of the first and second storage capacitors based on ambient light incident thereon, a first switch adapted to selectively apply the first power supply voltage to the output load coupled to the transistor, and a second switch coupled to a first electrode of the transistor and the output load, and adapted to allow a charge stored in the storage capacitor to be discharged through the transistor based on the coupling voltage of the first storage capacitor and the second storage capacitor.
US07859485B2 Plasma display panel
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel. The plasma display panel of the present invention is divided into three or more regions. Address electrodes located in each region are classified into electrode groups. Each of the electrode groups is supplied with a driving signal from an additional data driver. Therefore, high speed driving is made possible during the address period and voltage drop in the electrodes can be compensated. Furthermore, since a discharge period can be relatively extended, the display quality can be improved.
US07859477B2 J-pole antenna
A J-Pole antenna disclosed including: shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-Pole antenna. A shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-pole antenna aids in attaching the antenna to a connector and allowing for a reduction in the size of the antenna and connector. The shunt segment also makes the antenna shorter while preserving the same gain and impedance performance as a conventional J-Pole antenna. A connector plate and connector may be used with the antenna having the shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-Pole antenna. A protective enclosure may be used with the J-Pole antenna and allowing a radiating antenna segment of the J-Pole antenna to extend from the protective enclosure.
US07859475B2 Antenna positioning system
An apparatus for positioning and controlling a spherical, inflatable antenna includes a driven rotating table disposed in the horizontal plane which supports and drives a horizontal arm member to which is hingedly connected first and second upright support members at either end. The upright support members include journal bearings attachable to the surface of an inflatable antenna.
US07859474B1 Active antenna tuning circuitry
The present invention is a tunable multi-element network for providing impedance transformation. The network may include a first switched capacitor power load modulator circuit and a second switched capacitor power load modulator circuit. The network may further include a series inductive component configured for connecting to at least one of the first power load modulator circuit and the second power load modulator circuit. The network may be further configured for connection to a transmit antenna and a power amplifier. The network may be further configured for receiving an arbitrary impedance from the antenna. The network may be further configured for synthesizing an arbitrary capacitive reactance based on a dynamically controllable phase angle between a switch drive signal provided by the network and an incident Radio Frequency (RF) signal. The network may be further configured for matching the antenna impedance to the power amplifier via the arbitrary capacitive reactance.
US07859467B2 Radio machine antenna device and portable radio machine
An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device for a radio apparatus in which the amount of energy (SAR) absorbed by a head of a human body can be reduced without lowering the power of radio waves transmitted during a call. There is provided a board 108 serving as a base plate of an antenna element, an antenna element 102 disposed in a longitudinally end portion of the board 108 through a feeding portion 107, a conductor plate 109 disposed substantially in parallel with a main surface of the board 108 and disposed on the opposite side to a surface having a sound hole of a receiver portion, and a plurality of short-circuit conductors 110 disposed on a lower end portion of the conductor plate 109. The conductor plate 109 is short-circuited to a lower end portion of the board 108 through the short-circuit conductors 110.
US07859464B2 Robust low-frequency spread-spectrum navigation system
Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A process includes providing a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; locking the plurality of transmitters to a common timing reference; transmitting a signal from each of the plurality of transmitters. An apparatus includes a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; wherein each of the plurality of transmitters comprises a packet generator; and wherein the plurality of transmitters are locked to a common timing reference.
US07859462B2 Locating a roving position receiver in a location network
The system comprises a positioning-unit device (PUD) that receives, from other PUDs and other signal sources, one or more positioning signals, which each have carrier, code and data componcuts. In response to the received positioning signals and using their known locations, the PUD generates a unique positioning signal, which similarly has carrier, code and data components, all of which are respectively chronologically synchronized to the counterpart components of the received positioning signals. Once synchronized, other PUDs entering the network use the unique positioning signal as a reference, providing a time-coherent network of positioning signals that propagate a reference timebase over a geographical area. The invention also includes a roving position receiver that generates both code and carrier-based single point position determinations by making respective range measurements for each of the received chronologically synchronized code and carrier components, without the requirement for differential correction or absolute time accuracy within the network.
US07859461B2 Method for detecting navigation beacon signals using two antennas or equivalent thereof
A method for detecting a plurality of navigation beacon signals by using either two antennas or a synthetic aperture antenna for receiving a plurality of distinct measurements, and combining the plurality of distinct measurements using a plurality of antenna weight components to form an interference cancellation beam. In one embodiment, the plurality of antenna weight components is determined by eigenvalue processing. In another embodiment, the plurality of antenna weight components is determined by simplified processing. In another aspect, a single antenna is used for receiving an originally received measurement. A copy of the originally received measurement is made and processed to achieve the proper time delay to emulate spatial diversity. The originally received measurement and the processed copy are combined to form an interference cancellation beam.
US07859458B2 Transmitting device, receiving device and method for establishing a wireless communication link
A method for establishing a wireless communication link between a first communication device having a beam antenna to be steered to different positions and a second communication device. The method includes transmitting a link request signal from the first communication device to the second communication device via the beam antenna. The link request signal includes information relating to a current position of the beam antenna. The method further includes obtaining, in case the link request signal is received in the second communication device, channel quality information representative of a current transmission path.
US07859444B2 D-A converter and D-A converting method
Provided is a DA converter that converts an input digital signal into an analog signal, comprising an integrator that outputs an integration value of the digital signal for each cycle of a constant period; a level comparing section that makes a comparison to detect whether the integration value output by the integrator is in an excessive state of being greater than a prescribed reference value; a feedback section that subtracts a predetermined value from the integration value, based on the comparison result from the level comparing section; a timing information generating section that generates, for each cycle, timing information of a change point, at which a transition to the excessive state occurs, with units of temporal resolution shorter than the constant period, based on the integration value output by the integrator for the cycle and the integration value output by the integrator for an immediately prior cycle; a timing generating section that generates a pulse signal with units of temporal resolution shorter than the constant period based on the timing information; and a signal processing section that generates the analog signal based on the pulse signal.
US07859443B2 Sigma-delta converter and signal processing method
A sigma-delta converter comprises a sigma-delta modulator (SDM) with a signal processing block (SP) and a quantizer (QNT), as well as a stage adaptation element (DCC). The signal processing block (SP) is designed for deriving a modulated signal (MOD) in dependence on the respective signals at a signal input (SIN) and at a feedback input (FIN). The quantizer (QNT) comprises a quantization input (QIN) that is coupled to the signal output (SOT) and a quantization output (QOT) that is coupled to the feedback input (FIN), wherein the quantizer is designed for deriving a first quantized signal (Q1) from the modulated signal (MOD) by quantization with a first number of stages and for outputting this first quantized signal at the quantization output (QOT). The stage adaptation element is coupled to the quantization output (QOT) on the input side and to a converter output (COT) on the output side and is designed for deriving a second quantized signal (Q2) with a second number of stages that is smaller than the first number of stages from the first quantized signal (Q1).
US07859435B2 Method for rate increase and method for rate reduction
A method for a rate increase and a method for a rate reduction of a sampling input sequence into a sampling output sequence is provided. The sampling input sequence is subjected to signal processing. Signal processing maps a spreading with a first factor and an interpolation and a decimation with a second factor to generate the sampling output sequence with use of a counter. The counter and the signal processing are clocked with the higher rate, in each case, of the sampling input sequence or the sampling output sequence, respectively.
US07859428B2 System and method for electronic road signs with in-car display capabilities
The present invention is method and system for delivering road sign content information to a mobile computing device for display to the driver of a vehicle. The system consists of a wireless communication network in communication with a mobile computing device operationally coupled to a dashboard display device or a vehicle head's up display device. The wireless communication network further comprises a plurality of meshed network sign transmitting devices placed along predetermined intervals along the highway. Each sign-transmitting device is capable of transmitting road sign content information to the mobile computing device for display to the driver.
US07859426B2 Electromagnetic wellbore telemetry system for tubular strings
A coaxial transmission line for an electromagnetic wellbore telemetry system is disclosed. An inner conductive pipe is disposed inside an axial bore of the outer conductive pipe. An insulator is positioned between the outer conductive pipe and the inner conductive pipe. In a specific embodiment, the inner conductive pipe is perforated or slotted.
US07859418B2 Apparatus, system and method for sensing to locate persons in a building in the event of a disaster
An apparatus, system and method that assesses the number and location of persons in a building. The invention may include none, one, two or more emitters, at least one sensor that senses reflected radiation indicative of a modification to the emitted radiation from multiple ones of the at least two emitters, and a communicative network, wherein sensing data from the at least one doppler sensor is forwarded to a remote central hub that manipulates the sensing data to an indication of the number and the location of the persons in the building. The sensors of the present invention may be, for example, doppler sensors, or any like sensor that senses biologically caused fluctuations within a monitored environment.
US07859416B2 Method and system of attaching a RFID tag to an object
Methods and systems of attaching a RFID tag to an object. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a substrate having a pendant portion and an attachment portion, a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit disposed on the substrate, and a tag antenna coupled to the RFID circuit and disposed on the substrate. The attachment portion of the substrate is configured to couple to an object and the pendant portion is configured to extend away from the object.
US07859413B2 Immobilizer systems including digital car radio with RFID repeater and RFID starter fob
An RFID equipped vehicle includes a computer system for controlling operating functions of the vehicle, an RFID fob for use by an operator of the vehicle, an RFID emitter for use by a passenger of the vehicle, and logic means associated with the computer system for determining when the RFID fob of the operator is out of range of the vehicle and the passenger RFID emitter is within range of the vehicle so that the computer system may notify the operator that the passenger has remained in the vehicle.
US07859403B2 Monitoring and alarming system and method
A system and method for selectively communicating data from a remote facility to a central computing device via one or more communication networks and/or protocols. Measurement data for a particular operation is collected and stored by a field device at the remote facility. The field device compares the collected measurement data to stored threshold data to detect an alarm event or transfer event. If an alarm event is detected, the RTU transfers an alarm message to a user via a first communication network. If a transfer event is detected, the RTU transfers a transfer message to the user via a different communication network. If a no-event is detected, the field device continues to collect and store measurement data for the particular operation.
US07859400B2 Method and apparatus for automatic registration of a patient-bound medical unit
A method for automatic registration of a patient-bound medical device with a remote data processing system, physician identification data being transmitted to the patient-bound medical device, the physician identification data being combined together with device identification data to form a registration message, the registration message being transmitted from the patient-bound medical device to the data processing system, and the data processing system checking the data contained in the registration message and, in case of success, performing the registration, as well as apparatuses for this purpose.
US07859394B1 Shift light system and method
A shift light system and method are described. The shift light system has an RGB illumination device that has configurable illumination states with one or more illumination states coupled to a processing unit wherein the one or more illumination states having one of a different color and a different color sequence that correspond to one or more states of the vehicle as indicated by the at least two vehicle generated signals.
US07859391B1 Auxiliary brake light system for automobiles and associated method
An automated leading-vehicle message warning system for notifying a trailing vehicle of an unsafe traveling condition preferably includes a vehicle speedometer sensor and a vehicle brake system sensor. The warning system also may include a mechanism for determining whether a real-time traveling condition between the leading and trailing vehicles is a safe traveling condition by detecting whether the trailing vehicle is traveling at a minimum safe linear distance directly behind the leading vehicle upon receipt of input signals from a speedometer sensor and a vehicle brake system sensor. The warning system may also include a plurality of transducers housed in the leading vehicle that may be selectively toggled to respective activate modes such that each of the transducers generates and transmits a unique warning signal when the trailing vehicle fails to maintain the minimum safe distance from the leading vehicle during the unsafe traveling condition.
US07859389B2 Transmitter modulation switching
An example receiver/transmitter for a passive start and entry system switches between amplitude shift keyed modulation and frequency shift keyed modulation to maintain clear uninterrupted and dependable communication with a remote transmitter in the presence of interfering signals. The receiver/transmitter is switched to receive incoming FSK signals in response to the RSSI becoming saturated by undesired signals. The switch to FSK signal modulation occurs by signaling the remote transmitter to change over and begin sending FSK modulated signals. The FSK modulated signals are then received without significant interference.
US07859387B2 Backscatter transponder
A backscatter transponder for an HF communication system with modulated reradiation, is provided that includes an antenna for receiving high-frequency carrier signals, wherein the antenna has reflective characteristics, a control unit for providing transponder-specific parameters, and a modulator that can be driven by the control unit. The modulator altering the reflective characteristics of the antenna in accordance with at least one transponder-specific parameter.
US07859383B2 Spiral inductor with multi-trace structure
A spiral inductor with a multi-trace structure having an insulating layer disposed on a substrate. A first spiral conductive trace with multiple turns is disposed on the insulating layer, wherein the outermost turn and the innermost turn of the first spiral conductive trace have a first end and a second end, respectively, and one of the first and second ends is connected to ground. A second spiral conductive trace with a single turn is disposed on the insulating layer and adjacent to the first spiral conductive trace, wherein the second spiral conductive trace is electrically connected to the turn that is connected to the ground and belongs to the first spiral conductive trace. The first spiral conductive trace has a relative outside and a relative inside, wherein the end of the first spiral conductive trace connected to ground and the second spiral conductive trace are located at different sides respectively.
US07859381B2 Autotransformer using printed wireboard
An autotransformer for use in low frequency, high power applications that uses a stack of printed wire boards constructed of a top, inner, and bottom layer including electrical trace windings circumventing the transformer core and formed in the inner layer for direct thermal contact with a heat sink interface providing a uniform and consistent heat path down to the heat sink plate. The autotransformer further includes a board to board connection employing solder cups to electrically connect between predetermined printed wire board traces. The printed wire board autotransformer also may use a non-planar interface for thermal interface with a non-planar heat sink plate surface.
US07859377B2 Coil component
A coil component is provided, and the coil component for an inductor is deformable dependent on flex of a flexible printed board due to elapse of time when mounted thereon, and has high resistance against dropping impact and has an inductance value. The coil component includes an anisotropic compound magnetic sheet which is layered on at least any one or both of the upper surface and the lower surface of an air core coil formed spirally in a plane and which is composed of flat or needle-shaped soft magnetic metal powder, which has a major axis and a minor axis and is dispersed in a resin material, the major axis of which corresponds to an in-plane direction of the air core coil.
US07859375B2 Electromagnet
An electromagnet comprising a plurality of coils of superconductive material, monolithically embedded in an embedding material, which is solid at the temperature of operation of the superconductive electromagnet, and a method for producing an electromagnet comprising a plurality of coils of superconductive material, comprising the steps of winding coils of superconductive material, retaining the coils at predetermined relative positions, and monolithically embedding the plurality of superconducting coils in an embedding material, which is solid at the temperature of operation of the superconductive electromagnet.
US07859373B2 Contact device
A contact device including a pair of fixed terminals 2 with a fixed contact 2a each, a movable armature 3 with movable contacts 3a which contact to or separate from the fixed contacts 2a, a movable shaft 4 connected to the movable armature 3 at its one end, a movable core 8 secured to the opposite end 4b side of the movable shaft 4, a movable core receiver 7 slid onto the movable shaft 4 so that it faces a surface 8b on the movable armature side of the movable core 3 to receive the movable core 8 driven by an electromagnetic mechanism, an impact absorber 17 disposed on a surface 7a on the movable armature side of the movable core receiver 7 to absorb an impact generated when the movable core 3 hit the movable core receiver 7, and a stopper 16 (a movement restriction member) disposed on a surface on the movable armature side of the impact absorber 17 to restrict a movement of the impact absorber 17.
US07859370B2 Electrostatic actuator
A switch with an actuator has two supporting columns on a substrate, and a rocking plate on the supporting columns. The rocking plate is pivoted by (pivotally mounted on) the two supporting columns. The rocking plate is made of conductive material, so that it can be subjected to electrostatic force of an adsorption electrode. In the switch, it is not necessary to provide a narrow beam to support the rocking plate, because the rocking plate is pivoted by the supporting columns. Therefore, the switch is a long-life microswitch.
US07859367B2 Non-coplanar high-speed interconnects
In one example embodiment, a high-speed package includes first and second layers and a multi-channel non-coplanar interconnect. The first layer includes first and second sets of coplanar transmission lines. The second layer includes third and fourth sets of coplanar transmission lines. The multi-channel non-coplanar interconnect includes first and second channels. The first channel connects the first set of transmission lines to the third set of transmission lines. The second channel connects the second set of transmission lines to the fourth set of transmission lines.
US07859365B2 Low frequency process-variation-insensitive temperature-stable micromechanical resonators
Disclosed are micromechanical resonators having features that compensate for process variations and provide improved inherent temperature stability. Exemplary resonators may comprise comb drive resonators or parallel-plate drive resonators. The resonators comprise a (silicon-on-insulator) substrate with resonator apparatus formed therein. The resonator apparatus has one or more anchors connected to the substrate, at least one excitation/sense port that is electrically insulated from the substrate, and a resonator. The resonator comprises one or more flexural members connected to the one or more anchors that are separated from the substrate and separated from the excitation/sense port by gaps. A mass is coupled to flexural members, is separated from the substrate, and comprises a grid. Process compensation is achieved using a resonator mass in the form of a grid of lines that form holes or lines through the mass, wherein widths of lines of the grid are approximately ⅓ the width of the flexural members. Temperature stability is provided using silicon dioxide on at least one of the surfaces of the flexural members.
US07859363B2 Component comprising at least one filter that operates with acoustic waves
A component includes a first filter configured to work with acoustic waves. The first filter includes a first sub-filter on a first chip and a second sub-filter on a second chip separate from the first chip. The first filter if a different type of filter, has a different layer structure, or has a different layer thicknesses for at least one layer in comparison to the second filter.
US07859360B2 Method and system for controlling MEMS switches in an integrated circuit package
Methods and systems for controlling MEMS switches in an integrated circuit package are disclosed and may include controlling one or more arrays of MEMS switches utilizing a control chip. The arrays of MEMS switches and one or more circuit components may be integrated in and/or on a multi-layer package. The control chip may be bonded to the multi-layer package. The circuit components may be coupled to the arrays of MEMS switches via electrical traces embedded in and/or deposited on the multi-layer package. The control chip may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. The MEMS switches may be actuated electrostatically or magnetically. The circuit components may include integrated circuits, inductors, capacitors, surface mount devices, and/or transformers.
US07859357B2 Non-reciprocal circuit device
A non-reciprocal circuit device includes a yoke that is small-sized, has a simple structure, has sufficient adhesive strength, and can achieve favorable performance characteristics. The non-reciprocal circuit device includes a planar yoke, permanent magnets, a ferrite to which a DC magnetic field is applied by the permanent magnets, and first and second center electrodes located on the ferrite. The planar yoke is located on the upper surface of the ferrite-magnet assembly through an adhesive layer. On the rear surface of the yoke, protrusions are arranged in a lattice manner, and the protrusions increase the adhesive strength and facilitate the flow of a high-frequency field generated from the second center electrode.
US07859355B2 Regulated capacitive loading and gain control of a crystal oscillator during startup and steady state operation
An oscillator circuit and system are provided having a peak detector that can determine a peak voltage value from the oscillator. The peak voltage value can then be compared against a predetermined voltage value by a controller coupled to the peak detector. The comparison value is then used to change a bias signal if the peak voltage value is dissimilar from the predetermined voltage value. A variable capacitor or varactor can be formed from a transistor and is coupled to the oscillator for receiving the bias signal upon a varactor bias node. The bias signal is used to regulate the capacitance within the varactor as applied to the oscillator nodes. Another controller can also be coupled to the peak detector to produce a second bias signal if the peak voltage is dissimilar from a second predetermined voltage value. The second bias signal can then be forwarded into an amplifier having a variable gain to regulate the gain applied to the oscillator. The combination of a varactor and variable gain amplifier regulate the negative resistance applied to the resonating circuit during startup and steady state operations to ensure a relatively fast startup, and to maintain optimal loading and accurate steady state amplitude after startup has completed.
US07859353B2 Oscillator and driving circuit and oscillation method thereof
An oscillator, a driving circuit and an oscillation method are provided. The driving circuit and a crystal are coupled in parallel to generate a clock signal. The driving circuit includes a buffer unit and a control unit. The buffer unit is coupled in parallel to the crystal, and used to amplify an oscillation signal outputted from the crystal to generate the clock signal. The control unit is coupled to the buffer unit, and used to generate a control signal to the buffer unit. The control unit determines a voltage level of the control signal by detecting whether the clock signal or the oscillation signal satisfies an oscillation condition of the crystal, so as to control a gain value of the buffer unit. Therefore, noise of different frequency bands loaded into the clock signal can be avoided.
US07859351B2 Driver device, physical quantity measuring device, and electronic instrument
An oscillation driver circuit includes a current-voltage converter which converts a current value of an oscillation signal in an oscillation loop into a voltage value, and a comparator which outputs a signal corresponding to the result of comparison between the output signal from the current-voltage converter and a given reference signal. The comparator has an output current limiting function. The oscillation driver circuit causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations based on the output from the comparator.
US07859350B1 Microfabricated ion frequency standard
A microfabricated ion frequency standard (i.e. an ion clock) is disclosed with a permanently-sealed vacuum package containing a source of ytterbium (Yb) ions and an octupole ion trap. The source of Yb ions is a micro-hotplate which generates Yb atoms which are then ionized by a ultraviolet light-emitting diode or a field-emission electron source. The octupole ion trap, which confines the Yb ions, is formed from suspended electrodes on a number of stacked-up substrates. A microwave source excites a ground-state transition frequency of the Yb ions, with a frequency-doubled vertical-external-cavity laser (VECSEL) then exciting the Yb ions up to an excited state to produce fluorescent light which is used to tune the microwave source to the ground-state transition frequency, with the microwave source providing a precise frequency output for the ion clock.
US07859349B2 Fully integrated tuneable spin torque device for generating an oscillating signal and method for tuning such apparatus
The present invention is related to a device and corresponding methods for generating an oscillating signal. The device comprises a means for providing a current of spin polarised charge carriers, a magnetic, e.g. ferromagnetic, excitable layer adapted for receiving the generated current of spin polarised charge carriers thus generating an oscillating signal with a frequency Vosc and an integrated means for interacting with said magnetic, e.g. ferromagnetic, excitable layer such that a selection of said oscillation frequency is achieved. No external field needs to be applied to select or tune the frequency. Different types of integrated means can be used, such as e.g. means inducing mechanical stress in the magnetic, e.g. ferromagnetic, excitable layer, means inducing exchange bias interactions and means inducing magnetostatic interactions.
US07859348B2 Crystal device for surface mounting
A crystal device for surface mounting, in which a metal cover is jointed to the metal ring by seam welding, satisfies relationships A2/A1
US07859347B2 Self refresh oscillator and oscillation signal generation method of the same
A self refresh period signal generator includes: a voltage detection unit for detecting a voltage level of a power supply voltage in order to generate a plurality of period control signals according to the detected voltage level; and an oscillation unit for generating a ring oscillation signal having a constant period determined by a resistance of a period control resistor when a self refresh signal is activated, wherein the resistance of the period control resistor is controlled according to logic levels of the plurality of period control signals.
US07859344B2 PLL circuit with improved phase difference detection
In an ADPLL composed of a digital circuit, a technique improving phase difference detection in a vicinity of a phase difference of 0 (zero) is provided. A feedback loop comprises a PFD comparing phases and frequencies of a reference signal and a feedback signal, a TDC converting an output of the PFD into a digital value, a DLF removing a high frequency noise component from an output of the TDC, a DCO controlled based on an output of the DLF and a DIV frequency-dividing an output the DCO and outputting the feedback signal. An offset value is added at any portion of the feedback loop, a phase of the feedback signal is controlled and a value other than 0 is inputted to the TDC even when the ADPLL is locked.
US07859342B2 Differential amplifier circuit, operational amplifier circuit, light-receiving amplifier circuit using the same, function selection circuit, and light-receiving circuit using the same
A differential amplifier circuit, an operational amplifier circuit, and a light-receiving amplifier circuit using the same are provided, by which the influence of an on resistance of an analog switch is reduced during the switching of gain resistances. An NPN transistor Q2 having an emitted connected in common is connected to an NPN transistor Q1 of a differential amplifier circuit including the NPN transistors Q1 and Q3, PNP transistors Q4 and Q5, and a constant-current source I1, and analog switches ASW-1c and ASW-2c are inserted and connected to the collectors of the NPN transistors Q1 and Q2 and connected to the base and collector of the PNP transistor Q4 and the base of the PNP transistor Q5. Further, analog switches ASW-1b and ASW-2b are connected to the bases of the NPN transistors Q1 and Q2, respectively.
US07859340B2 Metal-oxide-semiconductor circuit designs and methods for operating same
Complimentary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) circuits made with core transistors are capable of reliable operation from an IO power supply with voltage that exceeds the reliability limit of the transistors. In embodiments, biasing of an operational amplifier is changed in part to a fixed voltage corresponding to the reliability limit. In embodiments, switched capacitor networks are made with one or more amplifiers and switches including core transistors, but without exposing the core transistors to voltages in excess of their reliability limit. In embodiments, operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) include core transistors and operate from IO power supplies. Level shifters for shifting the levels of a power down signal may be used to avoid excessive voltage stress of the OTAs' core transistors during turn-off. Non-level shifting means may be used to clamp output voltages and selected internal voltages of the OTAs, also avoiding excessive voltage stress of the core transistors during turn-off.
US07859336B2 Power supply providing ultrafast modulation of output voltage
A circuit for use with a power amplifier that amplifies an input signal. The circuit may comprise an amplitude correction circuit and an open-loop switching regulator. The amplitude correction circuit may be configured to generate a corrected envelope signal from an input envelope signal that represents an envelope of the input signal. The open-loop switching regulator may be connected to the amplitude correction circuit and may be for powering the power amplifier based on the corrected envelope signal. According to various embodiments, the corrected envelope signal generated by the amplitude correction circuit is a function of the input envelope signal and an error voltage of the open-loop switching regulator.
US07859332B2 Amplification circuit and method therefor
In one embodiment, an amplification circuit charges a filter capacitor (14) and an input capacitor (12) with a substantially constant current and subsequently forms a delay prior to operating the amplification circuit to amplify input signals.
US07859330B2 Optimized uplink efficiencies for transmission of satellite data
Systems and methods for characterizing amplifiers. A system for characterizing an amplifier in accordance with the present invention comprises a Gaussian signal source for generating a signal in the frequency domain, a notch filter, coupled to the Gaussian Noise source, wherein the notch filter has a notch at a specified frequency and a frequency bandwidth, the frequency bandwidth encompassing the specified frequency, an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform device, coupled to an output of the notch filter, a normalization device, coupled to the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform device, an amplifier under test, coupled to the normalization device, for amplifying the signal generated by the Gaussian signal source, and a measurement device, coupled to an output of the amplifier, for measuring a power output of the amplifier in the frequency bandwidth and a noise output at the specified notch frequency, and for calculating the ratio between the power output and the noise output.
US07859328B2 Substrate stress measuring technique
A system, including: a first current mirror having a first current, formed of multiple devices disposed on a substrate, where, when a stress is present, a behavior of a device of the multiple devices forming the first current mirror depends on a direction in which the device of the multiple devices forming the first current mirror is disposed on the substrate; a second current mirror having a second current, formed of multiple devices disposed on the substrate, where, when the stress is present, a behavior of a device of the multiple devices forming the second current mirror depends on a direction in which the device of the multiple devices forming the second current mirror is disposed on the substrate; and a device for measuring a ratio of a difference between the first current and the second current to a sum of the first current and the second current.
US07859326B2 Switching power supply device, semiconductor intergrated circuit device and power supply device
A switching power supply device performs a stable operation with fast response for a semiconductor integrated circuit device. A capacitor is provided between the output side of an inductor and a ground potential. A first power MOSFET supplies an electric current from an input voltage to the input side of the inductor. A second power MOSFET turned on when the first power MOSFET is off allows the input side of the inductor to be of a predetermined potential. A first feedback signal corresponding to an output voltage obtained from the output side of the inductor and a second feedback signal corresponding to an electric current flowed to the first power MOSFET are used to form a PWM signal. The first power MOSFET has plural cells of a vertical type MOS-construction.
US07859323B2 Negative output regulator circuit and electrical apparatus using same
A negative output regulator circuit (24) is provided with clamp circuits CLP (X1, X2, Q1, Q2), which detect a current generated when the output of a negative voltage (VM) is stopped and fixing the voltage of an output end (T2) at a prescribed value. Generation of a positive voltage at an output terminal is suppressed without increasing chip size nor making the sequence complicated.
US07859321B2 Monitoring the temperature dependence of the external capacitors of a charge pump and improved charge pumps based thereon
Apparatus (40) comprising a multistage charge pump (10) having an output (41) for connecting a load (Cout, KL). The charge pump (10) comprises m gain stages for charging and discharging m external stage capacitors (C) in order to provide an output voltage (Vout) at the output (41) that is about m times higher than a supply voltage (Vdd) of the charge pump (10). The charging and discharging is influenced by switches inside said charge pump (10) that are controlled by a switching signal having a switching frequency (fosc). A monitoring circuit (20) is provided that monitors temperature-induced changes of the value of an external reference capacitor (Cref). Furthermore, means (30) for adjusting the switching frequency (fosc) are employed in order to compensate variations of the gain of said charge pump (10) that are caused by the changes of the value of the m external stage capacitors (C).
US07859319B2 Setup/hold time control circuit
A setup/hold time control circuit includes a reference signal output unit that sets any one of multiple ports as a reference port and buffers a signal input through the reference port to output as a reference signal. The setup/hold time control circuit also includes a plurality of comparative signal output units that set the remaining ports as comparative ports. The comparative signal output unit synchronizes signals that are input from the comparative ports with the reference signal and outputs the signals as internal signals. The setup/hold time control circuit improves high speed operation of a semiconductor memory device by improving upon the setup/hold time difference between multiple ports.
US07859315B2 Driver circuit
A driver circuit facilitates reducing noises and losses and improving the driving performances thereof without connecting a series circuit of capacitor and a resistor to the gate of IGBT. The driver circuit includes a slope setting circuit that sets the gate voltage waveform of IGBT; and an operational amplifier that includes a non-inverting input terminal, to which an output voltage V* from slope setting circuit is inputted, and an inverting input terminal, to which a divided voltage Vgsf divided by resistors is inputted; and the operational amplifier outputs an output voltage Vout, proportional to the difference between the output voltage V* and the divided voltage Vgsf, to the gate of IGBT.
US07859313B2 Edge-missing detector structure
An edge-missing detector structure includes a first detector, a first delay unit, a first logic gate, a second detector, a second delay unit, and a second logic gate. After being input separately into the edge-missing detector structure, a first reference signal and a first clock signal are detected by the first and second detectors and then subjected to cycle suppression by the first and second logic gates, respectively, so as to generate a second reference signal and a second clock signal which present a phase difference less than 2π. Moreover, the edge-missing detector structure generates a compensative current corresponding to the number of occurrences of cycle suppression. Thus, a phase-locked loop (PLL) using the edge-missing detector structure can avoid cycle slip problems and achieve fast acquisition of phase lock.
US07859307B2 High speed transient active pull-up I2C
An I2C-bus compatible device when functioning as a clock master comprises a transient active pull-up I2C (“TAP-I2C”) logic module having high side driver transistors, e.g., P-channel field effect transistors (FETs), coupled between a positive supply voltage and respective serial data (“SDA”) and serial clock (“SCL”) lines on the I2C bus. The high side output driver transistors for the SDA and SCL lines are sequentially pulsed on by the TAP I2C logic module for brief periods to first precharge the capacitance of the SDA line and then precharge the capacitance of the SCL line during low to high logic level transitions thereof. Precharging the capacitances of the I2C bus lines will also accelerate bus transfer operations for all I2C compatible devices since the capacitances of the I2C bus lines will be charged much faster through the low impedance active pull-up driver transistors then through the passive pull-up resistors.
US07859303B2 Nonvolatile programmable logic circuit
A nonvolatile programmable logic circuit using a ferroelectric memory performs a nonvolatile memory function and an operation function without additional memory devices, thereby reducing power consumption. Also, a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory is applied to a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), thereby preventing leakage of internal data and reducing the area of a chip.
US07859302B2 Programmable system on a chip for power-supply voltage and current monitoring and control
A programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit device includes a programmable logic block, at least one user non-volatile memory block, and voltage-measuring and control analog and digital circuits on a single semiconductor integrated circuit chip or a flip chip, face-to-face, or other multiple die configuration. The programmable system-on-a-chip integrated circuit with voltage-measuring, current-measuring and control circuitry performs voltage measurement and control functions and can be used to control and monitor external power supplies connected to external loads.
US07859297B1 Impedance conversion in data communication
Disclosed in various embodiments are a circuit and method for driving a signal. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a passive impedance conversion network and at least two signal drivers coupled to the passive impedance conversion network. Each of the signal drivers includes a signal input coupled to a common signal input node.
US07859291B2 Method of measuring on-resistance in backside drain wafer
A method of measuring on-resistance in a backside drain wafer includes providing a wafer having a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor each having a source and also sharing a drain provided at a backside of the wafer, and then forming a current flow path passing through the first and second MOS transistors, and then measuring a resistance between the sources of the first and second MOS transistors. Accordingly, an on-resistance in a backside drain wafer can be measured without using a chuck.
US07859290B2 Apparatus and method for measuring effective channel
An apparatus and a method for measuring an effective channel. The apparatus includes an automatic measurement system including a testing terminal for a substrate, a switching matrix disposed at one side of the automatic measurement system, a leakage current measuring device and a capacitance measuring device electrically connected to the switching matrix by a predetermined terminal, and a controller which controls the automatic measurement system, the leakage current measuring device, and the capacitance measuring device.
US07859289B2 Method for measuring interface traps in thin gate oxide MOSFETS
A method for measuring interface traps in a MOSFET, includes measuring charge pumping current of a pulse wave form for various frequencies over a predetermined frequency range, creating plotted points of the measured charge pumping current versus the predetermined frequency range, determining the total number of interface traps participating in the charge pumping current by calculating the slope of a best fit line through the plotted points.
US07859285B2 Device under test array for identifying defects
A device under test (DUT) array provides defect information rapidly and systematically. The DUT array includes a plurality of test units arranged in a matrix, a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of word lines. Each test unit has a first terminal and a second terminal. Each second terminal of the test unit is electrically connected to a ground point. The first terminals of the test units are electrically connected to the bit lines. The word lines are coupled to the test units. Defects in the each test unit can be identified by providing voltages to the bit lines and the word lines. Accordingly, defects in various devices of an integrated circuit can be detected rapidly and systematically by applying signals to the DUT array.
US07859284B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor device module
To provide a semiconductor module and a semiconductor device enabling more accurate testing of the connection state of the internal wiring between the semiconductor devices. The semiconductor device has switches SW11 through SW13 that connect a test terminal TT to one end side of wires to be tested, and transistors M21 through M23 that supply a ground potential VSS to the other end side of the wires to be tested. When a power source potential VDD is supplied to one end of the wires to be tested and a ground potential VSS is supplied to the other end of the wires to be tested, a current path can be formed including the wires to be tested. If a power source potential VDD is supplied to the wires to be tested and a ground potential VSS is supplied to the wires which are not to be tested, a difference in potential can be generated between the wires to be tested and the rest of the wires, which makes it possible to detect a short circuit failure.
US07859282B2 Electrical connecting apparatus
An electrical connecting apparatus for use in electrical measurement of a device under test comprises a supporting member and a flat plate-like probe base plate. On one surface of the probe base plate are provided multiple probes abutting on electrical connecting terminals of the device under test undergoing an electrical test. Also, on the other surface of the probe base plate is formed a securing portion provided with a screw hole opened at the top portion. It further has a generally cylindrical spacer and a screw member passing through the spacer and whose tip end is screwed in the screw hole of the securing portion. As for the spacer, movement in the axial direction is restricted in relation to the supporting member by a restricting means. The spacer has a head portion whose underside is mounted on the other surface of the supporting member and a body portion communicating with the head portion at one end, arranged to pass through a through hole formed in the supporting member, and whose other end is arranged to abut on the top face of the securing portion.
US07859280B2 Probe card for testing semiconductor devices
A probe card is disclosed that is easily assembled and maintained and configured to prevent the controlled level of a space transformer from changing due to various causes such as a thermal deformation during a test process. The probe card includes an installation member where probe tips are provided and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed on the installation member. A reinforcement member is fixed to a top surface of the PCB, and a contact member is disposed between the PCB and the reinforcement member. The contact member and the installation member are fixed by a connect member inserted into an insert hole formed at the PCB, and a control bolt provided for controlling the level of the installation member is inserted into control holes formed at the installation member, the PCB, and the reinforcement member sequentially in a bottom-to-top direction. Due to a convex-up top surface of the contact member, the contact member continues to contact the reinforcement member even though the installation member and the contact member are inclined while controlling the level of the installation member.
US07859276B1 Non-destructive validation of semiconductor devices
A process for performing non-destructive monitoring of a semiconductor device that permits detection of additional circuitry that is not part of the original, intended design. This permits verification that additional circuitry, for example malicious circuitry, has not been added to the semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the monitoring is performed at the die level before the die is packaged into a complete semiconductor device. The monitoring is non-destructive so that the semiconductor die is not destroyed during the monitoring process.
US07859270B2 Method for correcting differential output mismatch in a passive CMOS mixer circuit
A passive CMOS differential mixer circuit with a mismatch correction circuit for balancing the electrical characteristics of the two output paths. Once the output paths of the differential circuit are balanced, or matched as closely as possible, second order intermodulation product generation can be inhibited or at least reduced to acceptable levels. The mismatch correction circuit receives a digital offset signal, and generates one or more voltage signals to be selectively applied to the signal paths of the passive differential mixer circuit. The voltage signals can be adjusted back gate bias voltages applied to the bulk terminals of selected transistors to adjust their threshold voltages, or the voltage signals can be adjusted common mode voltages applied directly to a selected signal path. Since the differential mixer circuit is passive, no DC current contribution to noise is generated. The switching transistors of the mixer circuit can be maintained at minimal dimensions to reduce switching signal drive loading, resulting in lower power consumption and higher operating frequencies than if larger switching transistors were use
US07859269B1 Pade' approximant based compensation for integrated sensor modules and the like
Methods and systems using Pade' Approximant expansion ratios provide mappings between nonlinear sensors and a more linear output domain. The method includes (a) generating a variably amplified version of the input signal in accordance with a produced and variable gain defining signal; (b) generating an output signal that exhibits a substantially linear dependency from a sum of a supplied offset signal and the variably amplified version of the input signal; (c) multiplying the output signal by a supplied gain correction factor to produce a feedback gain correction signal; and (d) using the feedback gain correction signal to produce the variable gain defining signal.
US07859266B2 Method of detecting soil structure using voltage slope and measuring earth resistance
A method of accurately measuring earth resistance even when the composition state of soil that affects the installation of a metering device for measuring earth resistance is unknown. The method comprises measuring a potential at a first potential electrode point, measuring a potential at a second potential electrode point, calculating a voltage slope corresponding to a change rate of potential difference, using a potential difference between the first and second potential electrode points, and setting a potential point according to voltage slope characteristics and measuring earth resistance. A measurement approximating an accurate value of earth resistance can be performed even when soil composition characteristics are unknown at a site.
US07859258B2 Magnetic sensor and magnetic sensor module
Magnetoresistive effect elements are provided with an element unit having an elongated shape in which an element length L1 is formed to be longer than an element width W1. The element unit has a fixed magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer laminated via a non-magnetic layer on the fixed magnetic layer. A magnetism direction of the fixed magnetic layer faces an element width direction (Y direction) of a sensitivity axis direction. First soft magnetic bodies formed to have a width size W2 and a length size L2 are arranged in a non-contact manner on both lateral sides of the magnetoresistive effect element. The length size L2 is longer than the element length L1, and the first soft magnetic body has an extension part extending in an element length direction from both sides in the element length direction of the element unit.
US07859255B2 Matching of GMR sensors in a bridge
A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device includes MR elements electrically connected to form a bridge circuit and one or more non-functional (or “dummy”) MR elements for improved matching of the bridge circuit MR elements.
US07859254B2 Clock generation circuit, analog-digital angle converter using the same, and angle detection apparatus
Two-phase resolver signals output from a rotation angle detector are squared by first and second squaring circuits. The squared signals are added by an adding circuit. The DC component of the output signal from the adding circuit is removed by a filter. The output signal from the filter is compared with a reference potential by a comparator to generate a rectangular-wave signal. The phase of the rectangular-wave signal is corrected a phase shifter. The frequency of the output signal from the phase shifter is divided by 2 by a frequency dividing circuit in synchronization with an excitation signal supplied to the rotation angle detector to generate a synchronous clock.
US07859250B2 Sensor for measuring the position of an actuator
A sensor measures the position of an actuator of an internal combustion engine, wherein the actuator is electromotively driven by means of a drive connection. The housing of the actuator accommodates at least one position sensor which detects the position at the drive connection. At least one position sensor is connected to a circuit with an operating voltage source and receives signals from at least one position sensor. The circuit and the at least one position sensor are connected via a cable that conducts voltage and signals. The circuit comprises also at least one current measuring device connected in series to the operating voltage source. A current change is transmitted via the cable by means of the signals generated by the at least one position sensor depending on the position of the actuator.
US07859243B2 Enhanced cascode performance by reduced impact ionization
The conventional cascode circuit can be improved by adding another transistor in series. The added transistor may use the body effect to reduce supply voltage variations across the cascode transistor as the supply voltage varies. The added transistor reduces impact ionization in the cascode transistor.
US07859241B2 Photovoltaic power generation controller and power evaluation method in photovoltaic power generation control
A photovoltaic power generation controller, in which minute power change is detected even with a low-resolution AD converter, thereby being capable of performing maximum power point tracking control with high accuracy, is provided. In the photovoltaic power generation controller of the invention, a control circuit 44 shifts switches 41 to respective output A sides of a voltage detector 8 and a current detector 9; gives a low-frequency ripple component to an operating voltage of a solar cell 1 while increasing modulation factor D by predetermined variation width d, to start maximum power point search from an open circuit voltage side; confirms a maximum power point passage when: an operating point oscillates in the vicinity of the maximum power point; and a power value, which is output by a power detector 43, after update of the modulation factor becomes smaller than a power value before update of the modulation factor; and switches the switches 41 to respective output sides of amplifiers 23 and 24 to continue the maximum power point tracking control.
US07859239B2 Switching regulator and method of adjusting pulse width
A switching regulator switches according to an input signal and performs PWM control with a PWM pulse signal. The switching regulator includes a pulse width limiting circuit that includes a reference current source, a constant current source, a capacitor, an inverting block including a first switch circuit to supply a constant current to the capacitor and a second switch circuit to discharge a voltage across the capacitor to a ground, a determination circuit to determine whether the voltage across the capacitor becomes a given value or greater, and a limiting circuit to limit a pulse width of the PWM pulse signal. The inverting block further includes either a third switch circuit configured to pass the given constant current or a switching control circuit configured to cause the first and second switch circuits to pass the given constant current regardless of the PWM pulse signal.
US07859234B2 Switch circuit to control on/off of a high voltage source
A switch circuit to control a high voltage source is presented. It includes a JFET transistor, a resistive device, a first transistor and a second transistor. The JFET transistor is coupled to the high voltage source. The first transistor is connected in serial with the JFET transistor to output a voltage in response to the high voltage source. The second transistor is coupled to control the first transistor and the JFET transistor in response to a control signal. The resistive device is coupled to the JFET transistor and the first transistor to provide a bias voltage to turn on the JFET transistor and the first transistor when the second transistor is turned off. Once the second transistor is turned on, the first transistor is turned off and the JFET transistor is negative biased.
US07859233B1 Apparatus and method for start-up for a synchronous switching regulator
A synchronous switching voltage regulator circuit is provided. After the first PWM pulse or at the end of a soft-start, a gradual transition is made from asynchronous rectification to fully synchronous rectification. The gradual transition to synchronous rectification is made by gradually increasing the time that the synchronous switch is enabled to be on.
US07859232B2 Apparatus and method for improved power flow control in a high voltage network
An apparatus for controlling a power flow in a high voltage network. A phase shifting transformer includes a tap changer.
US07859230B2 Voltage regulation to reduce ripple in a power generation system
Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing alternating current ripples in direct current electrical power generation systems with one or more regulated permanent magnet machines. Ripple suppression is achieved, in one aspect, by modulating the control current of a regulated permanent magnet machine.
US07859228B2 Generating method and apparatus to generate electric power by using temperature difference
A generating method or apparatus can generate an electric power by using a temperature difference. The generating apparatus includes a higher temperature portion, at least one coil, a lower temperature portion, and at least one magnet. Thus, the magnet is heated or cooled by a temperature difference between the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion, and the magnetic force of the magnet changes at a predetermined Curie temperature, so that the magnet is movable reciprocally between the iron core of the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion by a temperature difference between the higher temperature portion and the lower temperature portion to change a magnetic flux in the iron core and to produce a pulse voltage or current in the coil successively so as to generate an electric power.
US07859227B2 State-of-charge adjusting apparatus
The state-of-charge adjusting apparatus which enables to shorten a time to reach a capacity equalization is provided. A CPU extracts a block consisting of a plurality of unit cells connected continuously to each other, the plurality of the unit cells each having a voltage higher than a target voltage, and connects both ends of each block to a discharge resistance to make each block discharge. Thereafter, the CPU extracts a unit cell having a voltage higher than the target voltage and connects both ends of the extracted unit cell to the discharge resistance to make the extracted unit cell discharge until the voltage of the extracted unit cell reaches the target voltage.
US07859223B2 Battery montoring apparatus and daisy chain interface suitable for use in a battery monitoring apparatus
A battery monitor for monitoring the performance of at least one battery within an array of batteries, comprising: a data acquisition device for measuring at least one parameter of the at least one battery associated with the battery monitor, a first data interface operable to exchange data with a first device, and a second data interface operable to exchange data with a second device.
US07859217B2 System and method for operating a soft starter in conjunction with a single to three phase static converter
A motor controller system comprises solid state switches for connection between a single phase to three phase static converter and motor terminals for controlling application of three phase power to the motor. Sensors sense power from the static converter. A control is connected to the sensors and the solid state switches for controlling operation of the solid state switches to run the motor. The controller includes a three phase detection scheme for preventing operation of the solid state switches in the absence of desired three phase power from the static converter. A motor start scheme disables the three phase detection scheme for a select time after a motor run signal.
US07859216B2 Stepper motor apparatus and method for controlling stepper motor
The object of the invention is to provide a stepper motor apparatus and a method for controlling a stepper motor, and particularly relates to a stepper motor apparatus for driving a pointer and a method for controlling the stepper motor. When an ignition switch is turned on, CPU 12 starts to feed a driving signal into the stepper motor in order to cause the stepper motor to rotate in a backward direction. Upon detecting that a protrusion 9 is in abutment with a stopper 10 on the basis of induced voltage generated on excitation coils 5 and 6, CPU stop rotation of the stepper motor 3 by maintaining the driving signal's phase at which the abutment is detected. Subsequently, CPU 12 feeds the driving signal into the stepper motor 3 in order to drive the stepper motor 3 to rotate in a direction where the protrusion 9 is driven against the stopper 10, and then stops rotation of the stepper motor 3 in a forward direction by maintaining a predetermined phase at which the driving signal arrives. Thereafter, CPU 12 drives the stepper motor to rotate such that a pointer 1 homes in on its commanded position θi.
US07859215B2 Motor controller, control system, and control method
A motor controller includes a reference signal generator; an A/D converter performing A/D conversion of the cosine and the sine signals outputted from a resolver; a first amplitude calculator calculating cosine and sine signal amplitudes based on twice-A/D converted cosine and sine signals respectively; a second amplitude calculator calculating averages of the cosine and the sine signals, and that calculates the amplitude of the cosine signal from a difference between the cosine signal average and a latest A/D converted cosine signal, and that calculates the amplitude of the sine signal from a difference between the sine signal average and a latest A/D converted sine signal; a synthesizer synthesizing the cosine and sine signal amplitudes obtained by the first and the second amplitude calculators respectively; a rotational angle calculator calculating a rotational angle based on the synthesized cosine and sine signal amplitudes; and a PWM controller.
US07859213B2 Control device and control method
A control device for controlling a recovery from a locking of a motor includes: a switching unit which supplies a motor current from a current supplying unit to the motor; and a driving control unit which supplies a PWM control signal to the switching unit to control a driving of the switching unit. The driving control unit supplies the PWM control signal with a low duty ratio lower than a regular duty ratio to the switching unit when the locking of the motor is detected depending on a variation in temperature of the switching unit. The driving control unit supplies the PWM control signal with the regular duty ratio to the switching unit when a cancel of the locking of the motor is detected depending on a variation in inter-terminal voltage of the motor.
US07859212B2 Electric drive system with redundancy
Circuit configurations for controlling an AC motor drive system wherein the control systems include redundancy features to compensate for possible failed system components.
US07859210B2 Semiconductor device for driving motor, three-phase motor and motor driving apparatus with the semiconductor device and fan motor
In order to prevent a short circuit of top and bottom arms of a motor driving IC when noise is added to six control signals for controlling six switching elements, there is provided a semiconductor device for driving a motor, being sealed with resin as one package and comprising: six switching elements for driving a three-phase motor; three output terminals for outputting voltages to the three-phase motor; at least one driving circuit for driving the six switching elements; three control signal input terminals; and a function) of generating six control signals for control of the six switching elements based on three control signals inputted through the three control signal input terminals.
US07859209B2 Control device for synchronous motor
A control technology for a synchronous motor for suppressing rotational pulsation caused by variation in individuals without making a control algorithm complex is provided. In a motor drive system which is a control device for a synchronous motor, in order to suppress the pulsation component of N times as high as the AC frequency for driving the synchronous motor, a controller in which the phase property of the disturbance response of the controller with respect to the pulsation frequency is within ±45° is arranged. Therefore, the torque pulsation component generated from distortion in induction voltage or variation between phases is suppressed.
US07859205B2 Motor drive apparatus and motor drive method
To reduce noise by limiting a current peak value to a predetermined value or less and by smoothing the waveforms of drive currents during the current limitation, switching control means (30) according to the present invention turns ON all of one-side drive transistors selected from the high-side drive transistors (21, 22 and 23) and the low-side drive transistors (25, 26 and 27) of power supply means (20) for a predetermined period, and turns OFF all of the other-side drive transistors for a predetermined period in response to a current control signal for the current peak value to a predetermined value or less.
US07859203B2 Delay unit for door with a door closer, door closer with a delay unit, and door with a door closer having a delay unit
The Objective of the present invention is to provide a delay unit for door with a door closer, which is capable of automatically closing the door after the elapse of a certain time since the door was opened and can be installed in case that the door closer is embedded inside the building and thereby being not exposed.The objective is solved by providing a delay unit 5 for door with a door closer comprising: a first sensor for detecting the door 2 opened to the first angle A, a lock unit 7 for electrically lock/unlock of the rotation of the rotation axis 3 of the door 2, a timer, a first sensor, and a control means, with which the first sensor, lock unit 7, and timer is connected, for controlling the lock unit 7 based on the signals from the first sensor and timer.
US07859202B2 Power management for multi-module energy storage systems in electric, hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles
An electric energy storage system (EESS) for providing a power management solution for a multi-subsystem energy storage in electric, hybrid electric, and fuel cell vehicles. The EESS has a controller that determines when to draw power from each subsystem as needed by the vehicle.
US07859199B1 Magnetic chicane for terahertz management
The introduction of a magnetic electron beam orbit chicane between the wiggler and the downstream initial bending dipole in an energy recovering Linac alleviates the effects of radiation propagated from the downstream bending dipole that tend to distort the proximate downstream mirror of the optical cavity resonator.
US07859196B2 Solid state lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus includes a solid state lamp including one or more solid state lighting elements, and a power circuit including a current limiting device electrically connected to the lamp. The current limiting device configured to impose a maximum threshold on the current delivered to the lamp, wherein the current limiting device functions as essentially a constant current source. The lighting apparatus includes a housing for the power circuit and lamp, as a module unit.
US07859194B2 Short arc lamp driver and applications
A short arc lamp driving circuit includes a trigger boosting circuit, a flash current control circuit, and a closed loop exposure control and calibration circuits that, when combined, can produce short pulses of light with short time separation, quasi-continuous illumination light, and meanwhile, an extremely large dynamic range of delivered and/or calibrated light power or energy.
US07859192B2 Method for operating high-pressure lamps without hotstarting and luminaire having two high-pressure discharge lamps
High-pressure discharge lamps can only be restarted in the hot state at a very high starting voltage. In order to avoid hotstarting, a method for operating high-pressure discharge lamps without hotstarting comprises two high-pressure discharge lamps (12a, 12b) being provided in one luminaire. The two high-pressure discharge lamps are driven as follows: When the luminaire is switched off, the first lamp is switched off, and the second lamp is set to be in a standby state for the period of time for the recovery of the first lamp or remains in such a state, in which it is not switched off. When the luminaire is switched on again during this period of time, the second lamp can assume the operating state again immediately without being started. If the luminaire is not switched on again, the second lamp is likewise switched off once the period of time has elapsed.
US07859190B2 Phosphor layer arrangement for use with light emitting diodes
Phosphor layer arrangement for use with light emitting diodes. In an aspect, a light emitting diode apparatus is provided that includes a least one light emitting diode, an encapsulation covering the at least one light emitting diode, a lens having a phosphor layer formed upon a bottom surface, the lens positioned to cover at least part of the encapsulation, and an air gap between the phosphor layer and the encapsulation. In an aspect, a light emitting diode lamp is provided that includes a package, a least one light emitting diode, an encapsulation covering the at least one light emitting diode, a lens having a phosphor layer formed upon a bottom surface, wherein the lens is positioned to cover at least part of the encapsulation, and an air gap between the phosphor layer and the encapsulation.
US07859188B2 LED device having improved contrast
A light-emitting diode device, including a substrate; and a reflective electrode and a semi-transparent electrode formed over the substrate and an unpatterned white light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the semi-transparent electrode, the reflective electrode, semi-transparent electrode, and unpatterned white-light-emitting layer forming an optical microcavity, and wherein either the reflective or semi-transparent electrodes is patterned to form a plurality of independently controllable light-emitting elements with at least one light-emitting element having no color filter. Color filters are formed over a side of the semi-transparent electrodes opposite the unpatterned white light-emitting layer in correspondence with the light-emitting elements, the color filters having at least two different colors. Additionally, a reflected-light absorbing layer is located over all of the light-emitting elements.
US07859187B2 Display device and method for fabricating the same
It is an object of the invention to provide a display device which can be manufactured by a simplified manufacturing process by which the efficiency in the use of material is improved. It is a further object of the invention to provide a manufacturing method of the display device. It is another object of the invention to provide a fabrication technology for improving adhesion of a pattern. In view of the above problems, according to the present invention, a pattern is formed by a droplet discharge method. Particularly in the invention, base pretreatment is performed before/after a pattern is formed by a droplet discharge method. As a result of such base pretreatment, adhesion of a pattern can improved, and the pattern may be made finer.
US07859186B2 White organic light emitting device
A white organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, a charge generation layer arranged between the anode and the cathode and an organic layer arrangement arranged between the anode and the cathode, the organic layer arrangement including a green light emitting layer, a blue light emitting layer, and a red light emitting layer, one of the green light emitting layer, the blue light emitting layer, and the red light emitting layer includes a first light emitting layer and second light emitting layer, the charge generation layer being arranged between the first light emitting layer and the second light emitting layer.
US07859185B2 Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device comprising a solid-state light source (3), at least one conversion element (4) and a light-scattering element (6), wherein the solid-state light source (3) is provided to emit a first part (511) of a primary radiation for entry into the light-scattering element (6) and a second part (512) of a primary radiation for entry into the conversion element (4) for at least partial conversion into at least one secondary radiation (521, 522), the light-scattering element (6) is provided to generate a mixed radiation (5) having a Lambertian light distribution pattern from the first part (511) of the primary radiation, the secondary radiation (521, 522) and a portion of the second part (512) of the primary radiation that has not been converted in the conversion element (4), and the first part (511) of the primary radiation leaves the light-emitting device without having passed the conversion element (4).
US07859184B2 Electron beam apparatus and image display apparatus using the same
There is provided a new electron beam apparatus which improves the instability of an electron emission characteristic and provides a high efficient electron emission characteristic. The electron beam apparatus includes: an insulating member having a recess on its surface; a cathode having a protruding portion extending over the outer surface of the insulating member and the inner surface of the recess; a gate positioned at the outer surface of the insulating member in opposition to the protruding portion; and an anode positioned in opposition to the protruding portion through the gate.
US07859183B2 Flat light emitting lamp capable of emitting light from the side thereof and liquid crystal display device having the same
A flat-type fluorescent lamp includes upper and lower glass substrates facing each other; a spacer glass having a zigzag shape between the upper and lower glass substrates for providing a plurality of discharge areas; first and second electrode parts at ends of the upper and lower glass substrates along a longitudinal direction thereof; first and second reflective sheets respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of the spacer glass; and a plurality of first fluorescent substances formed on the upper glass substrate and a plurality of second fluorescent substances formed on the lower glass substrate.
US07859177B2 Spark plug for internal-combustion engines
A spark plug for an internal-combustion engine is provided wherein the central and ground electrodes exhibit a long service life and wherein the fatigue strength at high temperatures is improved. The ground electrode is made from an alloy comprised of nickel (Ni) as a primary component, chromium: 20-30% by weight, iron: 7-20% by weight, aluminum: 1-3% by weight, titanium: 0.05-0.5% by weight, manganese: not higher than 0.1% by weight, silicon: not higher than 0.1% by weight, and carbon: not higher than 0.5% by weight. The alloy further includes at least one specific element selected from zirconium, yttrium, neodymium, cerium, lanthanum and samarium. Further, the total content of the specific element group is 5% or more of the aluminum content and is not higher than 1% by weight.
US07859176B2 High-pressure discharge lamp assembly
A high-pressure discharge lamp assembly has a discharge lamp (1) and a concave reflector (11) arranged around a longitudinal axis (30). The discharge lamp is closed in a gastight manner and comprises a first and second end portion (3, 4) and an ionizable gas filling, and in which a pair of electrodes (5, 6) is arranged. A first and a second current-supply conductor (7, 8) are connected to the pair of electrodes and issue to the exterior of the discharge lamp (1). The first end portion of the discharge lamp extends through an opening (14) arranged in a center section of the reflector. A conduction member (9) is connected to the second current-supply conductor and extends through the opening in the center section of the reflector. The conduction member is connected to a contact member provided on a surface of the reflector facing away from the discharge lamp.
US07859174B2 Metal vapor discharge lamp
A metal vapor discharge lamp comprising an arc tube, an airtight tube housing the arc tube, and a base bonded to one end of the airtight tube with use of an adhesive, wherein the airtight tube is covered by a protective tube to improve safety as compared to a case where the protective tube is simply bonded to the base with an adhesive. The protective tube is fixed to the base with a double fall-off prevention structure, and latched to the base when a force including gravity and inertia acts on the protective tube toward the closed end of the protective tube in the axial direction thereof. The above-described structure eliminates the need of arranging the protective wall for securing the safety on the side of a lighting device on which the metal vapor discharge lamp is to be fixed, thereby preventing the lighting device from becoming large in size.
US07859172B2 Piezoelectric resonator, manufacturing method thereof and lid for piezoelectric resonator
A piezoelectric resonator includes a piezoelectric resonator element having a resonating arm and a metal film that is formed on the resonating arm; a package including a bottom part on which the piezoelectric resonator element is fixed and a frame wall that surrounds the bottom part, and having an opening above the bottom part; and a lid including a frame in which a through hole is provided and an optically transparent part that has an upper face and a lower face of the frame and is disposed at the through hole, the through hole penetrating a front face and a back face, the lower face of the optically transparent part being disposed so as to oppose the metal film, and the lid closing the opening of the package such that the lid overlaps with the bottom part and the frame wall, the through hole having a curved inner wall face whose curved face is coupled with at least one of the front face and the back face at least one opening edge of the front face and the back face and a vertical inner wall face that is provided vertical to the front face and the back face and in a part of a thickness direction of the frame, and the optically transparent part being provided so as to contact closely with at least a part of the vertical inner wall face and at least a part of the curved inner wall face.
US07859164B2 Armature laminations
A DC motor, has a stator housing accommodating a permanent magnet stator; a rotor, rotatably mounted confronting the stator, the rotor having a shaft, a rotor core fitted to the shaft and having asymmetric laminations, a commutator fitted to the shaft adjacent one end of the rotor core, and windings wound about poles of the rotor core and terminated on the commutator; and brush gear comprising brushes in sliding contact with the commutator for transferring electrical power to the windings, wherein the cogging torque order for the motor is greater than twenty. Preferably, the cogging torque order is 28, 36 or 44.
US07859160B2 Electric machine with concentrated windings
The electrical machine (1) has a stator (2), which has slots (6) distributed about the periphery, between which a tooth (7, 8) is placed, and in which a winding system (9) with at least one winding phase is placed. Each winding phase contains at least one coil group. Each coil group contains a first single coil (10) and at least one additional coil (11). All single coils (10, 11) of each coil group are electrically connected in series. Each of the additional single coils (11) is arranged in an offset manner with an offset angle (φmk,i) in relation to the first single coil (10). The respective offset angle (φmk,i) is calculated according to: formula (I) in which k ε {1, 2, . . . (n−I, i ε {0, 1, . . . (6−pN−1)}, n being a group coil number of all single coils (10, 11) of the respective coil group, k being a coil index of the additional single coils (11), i being a position index, and pN being an effective pole number. The teeth (7, 8) at least partially differ from one another in their respective shape or in their respective extension in the peripheral direction.
US07859154B2 Thermally operated rotatable component restraint system
A turboalternator system includes a turboalternator having a rotatable member operatively engaged to a bearing set, a radial support element, and a contact structure engaged with the radial support element. The rotatable member defines a first end, a second end and an axis of rotation. The turboalternator system is configured to be thermally adjustable such that in a first thermal condition the contact structure is at a first radial position with respect to the axis of rotation and contacts the rotatable member to provide support, and in a second thermal condition the contact structure is at a second radial position with respect to the axis of rotation that is spaced further from the axis of rotation than the first radial position. The contact structure includes a ring having a groove formed in an outer diameter surface thereof, and the radial support element engages the groove in the contact structure.
US07859148B2 Motor having brush holder comprising brush retaining portion and base member in which brush retaining portion is loosely fit
A brush holder includes a base member and a retaining member mounted on the base member. The retaining member includes a first brush retaining portion and a first coil retaining portion. A first choke coil is electrically connected to a first brush. The first choke coil includes a first coil terminal extending to the outside of the first coil retaining portion. The base member includes a connector portion, a first conductive member, and a first coil terminal support portion. The first conductive member extends from the connector portion and is electrically connected to the first coil terminal at a first connecting portion. The first coil terminal support portion supports the first coil terminal between the first connecting portion and the first coil retaining portion.
US07859147B2 Electronic module for rotating electrical machine
An electronic module for a rotary electrical machine which applies to any type of polyphase rotary electrical machine, synchronous or asynchronous, such as alternators or alternator starters, and also whether it is a case of electrical machines for motor vehicles and driven for example by belt, with cooling by air, liquid or any other solution that can be envisaged.
US07859144B1 Low frequency electromagnetic motor to create or cancel a low frequency vibration
Electromagnetic motor with a piston that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include a piston internal or external the stator. The piston includes one or more magnetic flux producing elements in all embodiments, with some embodiments having a ferro-magnetic plate on either side of the flux producing element. Further, in all embodiments the stator includes three magnetic flux producing elements with either two coils with one or more magnets therebetween or with the two coils and a coil magnet substitute therebetween. All embodiments provide positive piston return to a center at rest position. In all embodiments the piston is centered with respect to the stator resulting from either magnetic interaction between the piston and stator magnets, or between the piston magnet and the stator magnet substitute coil.
US07859141B2 Electrical machine and use thereof
The invention relates to an electrical machine of the transversal-flux type. The machine comprises a stator and a movable element. The stator has a plurality of stator elements with magnetic flux conductors and an electric winding extending in a closed winding path through each magnetic flux conductor. The movable element comprises a number of permanent-magnet members and is movable in relation to the stator along a movement path. The winding path comprises a first current-carrying section extending along the movement path. Each magnetic flux conductor forms, together with one of the permanent-magnet members, a closed magnetic flux circuit around said current-carrying section. Each permanent-magnet member comprises a primary magnet with a magnetic direction across the movement path. Adjacently located permanent-magnet members are separated from each other by an intermediate member comprising at least one secondary magnet that has a magnetic direction essentially across the magnetic direction of the primary magnet.
US07859138B2 Drive circuit
A drive circuit for a switching circuit has a high-side drive circuit to turn on/off, according to a control signal, a switching element QH arranged on a high side of a DC power source Vin and a low-side drive circuit to turn on/off alternately with the switching element QH according to the control signal a switching element QL arranged on a low side of the DC power source and connected in series with the switching element QH. Ends of an auxiliary power source Vcc1 are connected in series with a switch element Qn1, a capacitor C1, and a switch element Qn2. Both ends of the capacitor C1 are connected in series with a switch element Qp1, a capacitor C2, and a switch element Qp2. A control circuit alternately turns on/off the switch elements Qn1 and Qn2 and the switch elements Qp1 and Qp2. The capacitor C2 provides the high-side drive circuit with source power.
US07859133B2 Portable apparatus of emergency power supply and battery charger
The present invention relates to a portable apparatus combining a battery charger with an emergency power supply, including: a hand-held body; an AC input section, a battery section; a DC output section; an LED display section; and a control circuit section. Accordingly, the inventive portable apparatus combining a battery charger with an emergency power supply functions as an adapter for supplying electric power to an electronic device and a charger for charging a battery contained therein when being applied with an external power supply, and functions as an emergency power supply for supplying proper electric power to the electric device using a built-in charged battery when being not applied with the external electric power supply.
US07859126B2 Systems and methods for tethered wind turbines
According to some embodiments, an airborne body extends horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point. The body may be, for example, at least partially filled with a gas. Two or more vanes may be provided airborne with the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis, are operable to cause rotation about the axis. Moreover, one or more tethers may be coupled to anchor the body to a third point, and one or more electrical generators may be airborne with the body to convert rotational energy produced by the rotation about the axis into electrical energy. According to some embodiments, each vane comprises a horizontal blade panel attached to and extending along the body.
US07859121B2 Wiring board and method of manufacturing the same, and electronic component device using the wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring board is provided with an external connection terminal to which an electrode terminal of an electronic component is to be connected. The external connection terminal is formed so that a portion thereof is electrically connected to a pad portion exposed from an outermost insulating layer on an electronic component mounting surface of a wiring board body and so that an air gap is kept between a portion of the external connection terminal, to which the electrode terminal of the electronic component is to be connected, and the insulating layer.
US07859120B2 Package system incorporating a flip-chip assembly
A package system including providing a first semiconductor die; mounting a second semiconductor die on the first semiconductor die using an inter-die interconnect to form a flip-chip assembly; and attaching the flip-chip assembly on a package substrate with a contact pad, a test connection, a z-bond pad, and a die receptacle, with the first semiconductor die in the flip-chip assembly fitting inside the die receptacle.
US07859118B2 Multi-substrate region-based package and method for fabricating the same
A multi-substrate region-based package and a method for fabricating the same are provided. An active surface of a chip is divided into a plurality of functional regions, and each of the functional regions is electrically connected to a corresponding substrate via bonding wires. Each of the functional regions has a separate system, and the circuit layout thereof is not limited by the substrate or other systems but can be flexibly and independently designed, thereby allowing the package to be made smaller and thinner. Each set of the functional region and its corresponding substrate functions as an independent unit, such that the substrates are not affected by each other, thereby providing good compatibility, improved reliability and reduced packaging area.
US07859115B2 Semiconductor package for improving characteristics for transmitting signals and power
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip having a first region and a second region. Bonding pads are formed and through-holes are defined in the first and second regions. Insulation layers are formed on sidewalls of the through-holes, and through-electrodes formed in the through-holes and connected with corresponding bonding pads. The insulation layers formed in the first and second regions have different thicknesses or dielectric constants.
US07859113B2 Structure including via having refractory metal collar at copper wire and dielectric layer liner-less interface and related method
Structures including a refractory metal collar at a copper wire and dielectric layer liner-less interface, and a related method, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a structure includes a copper wire having a liner-less interface with a dielectric layer thereabove; a via extending upwardly from the copper wire through the dielectric layer; and a refractory metal collar extending from a side of the via and partially along the liner-less interface. Refractory metal collar prevents electromigration induced slit voiding by improving the interface around the via, and prevents void nucleation from occurring near the via. Also, the refractory metal collar provides electrical redundancy in the presence of voids around the via and dielectric layer liner-less interface.
US07859112B2 Additional metal routing in semiconductor devices
Memory devices, such as DRAM memory devices, may include one or more metal layers above a local interconnect of the DRAM memory that make contact to lower gate regions of the memory device. As the size of semiconductor components decreases and circuit densities increase, the density of the metal routing in these upper metal layers becomes increasingly difficult to fabricate. By providing additional metal routing in the lower gate regions that may be coupled to the upper metal layers, the spacing requirements of the upper metal layers may be eased, while maintaining the size of the semiconductor device. In addition, the additional metal routing formed in the gate regions of the memory devices may be disposed parallel to other metal contacts in a strapping configuration, thus reducing a resistance of the metal contacts, such as buried digit lines of a DRAM memory cell.
US07859110B2 Solder resist material, wiring board using the solder resist material, and semiconductor package
The present invention provides a solder resist material, which can suppress the warpage of a semiconductor package upon exposure to heat or impact even when used in a thin wiring board and meets a demand for size reduction in electronic devices and a higher level of integration, and a wiring board comprising the solder resist material and a semiconductor package. The solder resist material of the present invention can effectively suppress the warpage of a semiconductor package through a fiber base material-containing layer interposed between resin layers. The fiber base material-containing layer is preferably unevenly distributed in the thickness direction of the solder resist material.
US07859108B2 Flip chip package and method for manufacturing the same
A flip chip package includes a substrate and a semiconductor chip. The substrate includes a substrate body, a metal wiring having a terminal part some of which is disposed in the substrate body, a solder resist pattern formed on the substrate body with an opening for exposing the terminal part, and an organic anti-oxidation layer for covering the terminal part. The semiconductor chip has a bump formed through (e.g., penetrates) the organic anti-oxidation layer and is electrically connected to the terminal part. The present invention prevents oxidation of the terminal part and allows easy coupling of a bump of a semiconductor chip and the terminal part of the substrate, since an anti-oxidation layer including an organic matter is formed over a surface of a terminal part including copper which is easily oxidized.
US07859107B1 Solder attach film and assembly
A solder attach film includes a first cover film, a flux layer, a solder layer, and a second cover film, and it can be treated or kept in a roll shape. A solder ball forming method using the solder attach film includes preparing a semiconductor package or a semiconductor die, adhering the solder attach film, gridding, and reflowing. In the solder attach film adhering operation, the first cover film and the second cover film are removed, and the flux layer is adhered to electrically conductive pads of the semiconductor package or the semiconductor die. Subsequently, in the reflowing operation, the flux layer is volatilized and removed, and the solder layer is fused and fixed to the electrically conductive pads, so that solder balls are formed.
US07859103B2 Semiconductor module and inverter device
A semiconductor module includes a base plate; a plurality of substrates placed on one surface of the base plate, with each substrate of the plurality of substrates including a switching element, a diode element, and a connection terminal area; and a parallel flow forming device that forms parallel coolant flow paths that are provided so as to be in contact with the other surface of the base plate.
US07859102B2 Multi-layer stacked wafer level semiconductor package module
A stacked wafer level semiconductor package module includes a semiconductor chip module including first and second semiconductor chips each having a rectangular shape. The first semiconductor chip has first pads disposed along a first short side of a lower surface thereof. The second semiconductor chip has second pads disposed along a first short side of a lower surface thereof. The first and second semiconductor chips are stacked so as to expose the first pad and the second pad on one side of the stacked first and second semiconductor chips. The package also includes a substrate having a first connection pad facing the first pad and a second connection pad facing the second pad. The package also includes a first connection member for connecting the first pad to the first connection pad, and a second connection member for connecting the second pad to the second connection pad.
US07859096B2 Semiconductor device
The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor, the semiconductor device including a first semiconductor chip disposed on a substrate, a first sealing resin sealing the first semiconductor chip, a built-in semiconductor device disposed on the first sealing resin, and a second sealing resin sealing the first sealing resin and the built-in semiconductor device and covering a side surface of the substrate. According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-quality semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor, in which downsizing and cost reduction can be realized.
US07859095B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Of three chips (2A), (2B), and (2C) mounted on a main surface of a package substrate (1) in a multi-chip module (MCM), a chip (2A) with a DRAM formed thereon and a chip (2B) with a flash memory formed thereon are electrically connected to wiring lines (5) of the package substrate (1) through Au bumps (4), and a gap formed between main surfaces (lower surfaces) of the chips (2A), (2B) and a main surface of the package substrate (1) is filled with an under-fill resin (6). A chip (2C) with a high-speed microprocessor formed thereon is mounted over the two chips (2A) and (2B) and is electrically connected to bonding pads (9) of the package substrate (1) through Au wires (8).
US07859092B2 Package structures
A package structure includes a substrate, a first die and at least one second die. The substrate includes a first pair of parallel edges and a second pair of parallel edges. The first die is mounted over the substrate. The first die includes a third pair of parallel edges and a fourth pair of parallel edges, wherein the third pair of parallel edges and the fourth pair of parallel edges are not parallel to the first pair of parallel edges and the second pair of parallel edges, respectively. The at least one second die is mounted over the first die.
US07859089B2 Copper straps
A copper strap for a semiconductor device package having a contact electrically connected to a die electrode, a leg portion electrically connected to a lead frame, a web portion positioned between the contact and the leg portion and connected to the leg portion and a connection region connecting the web portion to the contact. The contact includes a body having a plurality of formations, each of the plurality of formations having a concavity and an opposing convexity positioned to generally face the die electrode.
US07859088B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method, wafer, and wafer manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method capable of making in-plane temperature distribution on a wafer uniform at heat treatment time. Before heat treatment is performed by irradiating the wafer with lamp light from the side of a device formed area where semiconductor devices are to be formed, an SiN film with certain thickness the reflection factor of which is equal to the average reflection factor of the device formed area is formed in an edge portion outside the device formed area. By doing so, reflection factors on the surface of the wafer irradiated with lamp light can be made uniform and uniform temperature distribution on the wafer can be obtained at heat treatment time. As a result, in-plane variations in the characteristics of semiconductor devices on the wafer can be made small and high-quality semiconductor devices can be manufactured.
US07859086B2 Nitride semiconductor single crystal substrate, and methods of fabricating the same and a vertical nitride semiconductor light emitting diode using the same
A nitride semiconductor single crystal substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a method for manufacturing a vertical nitride semiconductor device using the same. According to an aspect of the invention, in the nitride semiconductor single crystal substrate, upper and lower regions are divided along a thickness direction, the nitride single crystal substrate having a thickness of at least 100 μm. Here, the upper region has a doping concentration that is five times or greater than that of the lower region. Preferably, a top surface of the substrate in the upper region has Ga polarity. Also, according to a specific embodiment of the invention, the lower region is intentionally un-doped and the upper region is n-doped. Preferably, each of the upper and lower regions has a doping concentration substantially identical in a thickness direction.
US07859085B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming embedded passive circuit elements interconnected to through hole vias
A semiconductor die has a first insulating material disposed around a periphery of the die. A portion of the first insulating material is removed to form a through hole via (THV). Conductive material is deposited in the THV. A second insulating layer is formed over an active surface of the die. A first passive circuit element is formed over the second insulating layer. A first passive via is formed over the THV. The first passive via is electrically connected to the conductive material in the THV. The first passive circuit element is electrically connected to the first passive via. A third insulating layer is formed over the first passive circuit element. A second passive circuit element is formed over the third insulating layer. A fourth insulating layer is formed over the second passive circuit element. A plurality of semiconductor die is stacked and electrically interconnected by the conductive via.
US07859081B2 Capacitor, method of increasing a capacitance area of same, and system containing same
A capacitor includes a substrate (110, 210), a first electrically insulating layer (120, 220) over the substrate, and a fin (130, 231) including a semiconducting material (135) over the first electrically insulating layer. A first electrically conducting layer (140, 810) is located over the first electrically insulating layer and adjacent to the fin. A second electrically insulating layer (150, 910) is located adjacent to the first electrically conducting layer, and a second electrically conducting layer (160, 1010) is located adjacent to the second electrically insulating layer. The first and second electrically conducting layers together with the second electrically insulating layer form a metal-insulator-metal stack that greatly increases the capacitance area of the capacitor. In one embodiment the capacitor is formed using what may be referred to as a removable metal gate (RMG) approach.
US07859080B2 Electronic component comprising a coil conductor and a capacity element
The invention provides an electronic component which has an improved breakdown limit value of withstand voltage and improved insulation properties and which can be made compact and provided with a multiplicity of layers and a great capacity. The electronic component includes a first conductor having a bottom conductor formed on a substrate and a raised conductor formed to protrude from the bottom conductor, a dielectric film formed on the raised conductor, and a second conductor formed on the dielectric film to constitute a capacitor element in combination with the raised conductor and the dielectric film.
US07859078B2 Thin film transistor device and method of manufacturing the same
A first insulating film is formed. Then, a gate electrode of a low voltage drive thin film transistor and a mask film for covering a region constituting a channel of a high voltage drive thin film transistor are formed with a molybdenum film on the first insulating film. An impurity is implanted into a semiconductor film while using the gate electrode and the mask film as a mask, thereby forming a high density impurity region. Thereafter, the impurity is activated by performing a thermal process under a condition at 500° C. and for 2 hours, for example. Subsequently, the mask film is removed and a second insulating film is formed. A gate electrode of the high voltage drive thin film transistor is formed with an aluminum alloy on the second insulating film.
US07859077B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: an n-type MOS transistor and a p-type MOS transistor connected in series; and a first gate extending via an insulating film above a channel of the n-type MOS transistor and a channel of the p-type MOS transistor. By providing light to the first gate, electrons and holes are generated, at least one of either of the electrons and holes passes through above the channel of the n-type MOS transistor and at least one of the either of the electrons and holes passes through above the channel of the p-type MOS transistor, whereby the n-type MOS transistor and the p-type MOS transistor are switched.
US07859075B2 Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor for minimizing a dark level defect is disclosed. The image sensor includes an isolation layer formed on a substrate. A field region and an active region are defined on the substrate by the isolation layer. A photodiode is formed in the image sensor in such a structure that a first region is formed below a surface of the substrate in the active region and a second region is formed under the first region. A first conductive type impurity is implanted into the first region and a second conductive type impurity is implanted into the second region. A dark current suppressor is formed on side and bottom surfaces of the isolation layer adjacent to the first region, and the dark current suppressor is doped with the second conductive type impurity. The dark current suppressor suppresses the dark current to minimize the dark level defect caused by the dark current.
US07859073B2 Back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup device and camera module using the same
The present invention provides a solid-state image pickup device including an image pickup pixel section which is provided on a semiconductor substrate and in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element and a field-effect transistor are arranged, and a peripheral circuit section for the image pickup pixel section. An interconnect layer driving the field-effect transistor in the image pickup pixel section is formed on a first surface side of the semiconductor substrate. A light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element is located on a second surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The solid-state image pickup device includes a first terminal exposed from the second surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first terminal and connectable to an external device on the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate.
US07859066B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has a plurality of memory strings each including a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells serially connected. The memory string includes a columnar semiconductor portion extending in the vertical direction from a substrate, a first charge storage layer formed adjacent to the columnar semiconductor portion and configured to accumulate charge, a first block insulator formed adjacent to the first charge storage layer, and a first conductor formed adjacent to the first block insulator.
US07859063B2 Semiconductor device using SOI-substrate
According to a feature of the present invention, a semiconductor device includes a SOI substrate, including a semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a silicon layer formed on the insulating layer. A drain region and a source region are formed in the silicon layer so that the source region is in contact with the insulating layer but the drain region is not in contact with the insulating layer.
US07859061B2 Halo-first ultra-thin SOI FET for superior short channel control
Superior control of short-channel effects for an ultra-thin semiconductor-on-insulator field effect transistor (UTSOI-FET) is obtained by performing a halo implantation immediately after a gate reoxidation step. An offset is then formed and thereafter an extension implantation process is performed. This sequence of processing steps ensures that the halo implant is laterally separated from the extension implant by the width of the offset spacer. This construction produces equivalent or far superior short channel performance compared to conventional UTSOI-FETs. Additionally, the above processing steps permit the use of lower halo doses as compared to conventional processes.
US07859060B2 Ultra thin silicon on insulator
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for fabricating an ultra thin silicon on insulator. One embodiment of a method for fabricating an ultra thin silicon on insulator includes providing a silicon layer, saturating the silicon layer with at least one reactant gas at a first temperature, the first temperature being low enough to substantially prevent the occurrence of any reactions involving the reactant gas, and raising the first temperature to a second temperature, the second temperature being approximately a dissociation temperature of the reactant gas.
US07859055B2 Thin film transistor
To provide: a thin film transistor which can be operated with a low threshold and has a high transistor withstand voltage; a production method of the thin film transistor; and a semiconductor device, an active matrix substrate, and a display device, each including such a thin film transistor. The present invention is a thin film transistor including a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode on a substrate in this order, wherein a cross section of the semiconductor layer has a forward tapered shape; the gate insulating film covers a top surface and a side surface of the semiconductor layer; and the gate insulating film has a multilayer structure including a silicon oxide film on a semiconductor layer side and a film made of a material with a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of silicon oxide on a gate electrode side; the gate insulating film satisfies 0.5≦B/A where a thickness of the gate insulating film on the top surface of the semiconductor layer is defined as A and a thickness of the gate insulating film on the side surface of the semiconductor layer is defined as B.
US07859053B2 Independently accessed double-gate and tri-gate transistors in same process flow
A method for fabricating double-gate and tri-gate transistors in the same process flow is described. In one embodiment, a sacrificial layer is formed over stacks that include semiconductor bodies and insulative members. The sacrificial layer is planarized prior to forming gate-defining members. After forming the gate-defining members, remaining insulative member portions are removed from above the semiconductor body of the tri-gate device but not the I-gate device. This facilitates the formation of metallization on three sides of the tri-gate device, and the formation of independent gates for the I-gate device.
US07859045B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes exposing a photoresist using an exposing mask provided with a light-shielding pattern having two or more narrow width portions, developing the photoresist to form a plurality of stripe-shaped resist patterns, selectively etching a first conductive film using the resist pattern as a mask, forming an intermediate insulating film on the first conductive film, forming a second conductive film on the intermediate insulating film, and forming, by patterning the first conductive film, the intermediate insulating film, and the second conductive film, a flash memory cell and a structure constructed by forming a lower conductor pattern, a segment of the intermediate insulating film, and a dummy gate electrode in this stacking order.
US07859042B2 Nonvolatile memory devices
Methods of fabricating a nonvolatile memory device include forming a trench mask pattern on a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region. Substrate trenches defining active regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate in the first region and the second region using the trench mask pattern as a mask. Device isolation layer patterns are formed on the semiconductor substrate including the trench mask pattern and substrate trenches. The device isolation patterns fill the substrate trenches in the first region and in the second region. First and second openings are formed exposing top surfaces of the corresponding active regions in the first and second regions by removing the trench mask pattern. The second opening has a greater width than the first opening. A first lower conductive pattern is formed in the first opening and has a bottom portion in a lower region of the first opening and an extended portion extending from the bottom portion to an upper region of the first opening. The extended portion has a smaller width than the bottom portion. A second lower conductive pattern is formed filling the second opening.
US07859041B2 Gate structure of semiconductor device
A gate structure of a semiconductor device comprising a silicon substrate having a field oxide film, a plurality of gates formed by sequentially stacking a first gate dielectric film, a first gate conductive film, and a gate silicide film on the silicon substrate. a thermal oxide film formed on a side of the first gate conductive film, a plurality of trenches formed between the gates, a second gate oxide film formed on an interior wall of each trench; and a second conductive film formed in a spacer shape on a predetermined region of the second gate oxide film, and on a side of the first gate conductive film, the gate silicide film and the thermal oxide film.
US07859039B2 X-shaped semiconductor capacitor structure
A semiconductor capacitor structure includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first set of via plugs, a second set of via plugs, and a dielectric layer. The first metal layer includes a first portion, a plurality of parallel-arranged second portions, a third portion, and a plurality of parallel-arranged fourth portions. The second metal layer includes a fifth section, a plurality of sixth sections, a seventh section, and a plurality of eighth sections. The first set of via plugs electrically connects the plurality of second sections to the plurality of sixth sections. The second set of via plugs electrically connects the plurality of fourth sections to the plurality of eighth sections.
US07859037B2 Checkerboarded high-voltage vertical transistor layout
In one embodiment, a transistor fabricated on a semiconductor die is arranged into sections of elongated transistor segments. The sections are arranged in rows and columns substantially across the semiconductor die. Adjacent sections in a row or a column are oriented such that the length of the transistor segments in a first one of the adjacent sections extends in a first direction, and the length of the transistor segments in a second one of the adjacent sections extends in a second direction, the first direction being substantially orthogonal to the second direction. 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.
US07859032B2 Solid-state imaging device and method for driving the same
During an exposure time period (long accumulation time period) of a low shutter speed shooting mode, a second reference voltage Vss2, which is different from a first reference voltage Vss1 (a ground voltage) corresponding to a reference voltage of a peripheral circuit, is applied to a well (5) where a photoelectric converter section (2) and a drain region (4) are formed, whereby generation of dark electrons at a portion of a surface of the well (5) below a gate electrode (6) is suppressed. A polarity of the second reference voltage Vss2 is positive in the case where a conductivity type of the well (5) is a P-type, and is negative in the case of an N-type.
US07859025B2 Metal ion transistor
A metal ion transistor and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the metal ion transistor includes a cell positioned in at least one isolation layer, the cell including a metal ion doped low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric material sealed from each adjacent isolation layer; a first electrode contacting the cell on a first side; a second electrode contacting the cell on a second side; and a third electrode contacting the cell on a third side, wherein each electrode is isolated from each other electrode.
US07859024B2 Integrated circuit having efficiently packed decoupling capacitors
An integrated circuit includes a substrate having a semiconducting surface (605) and a plurality of standard cells arranged in a plurality of rows including at least a first row (610) and a second row (615) immediately above the first row. The first row (610) include at least a first decap filler cell (602) including a first active area (612) and a field dielectric outside the first active area (612) having a portion with a full field dielectric thickness portion 621 and a portion with a thinned field dielectric (622), and at least a first MOS transistor (618) having a gate electrode (619) on a thick gate dielectric (613) on the first active area (612) connected as a decoupling capacitor. The second row (615) includes a second decap filler cell (601) including an active area (632) and a field dielectric portion (621) and thinned field dielectric portion (622), at least a second MOS transistor (638) having a gate electrode (639) on the thick gate dielectric (613) on the second active area (632) connected as a decoupling capacitor. The thinned field dielectric (622) extends from the first decap filler cell (602) to the second decap filler cell (601) across a border (608) between the first and second decap filler cell. A method of forming an integrated circuit including high efficiency decap filler cells includes the step of gap filling a thick gate dielectric mask.
US07859020B2 Nitride semiconductor device, Doherty amplifier and drain voltage controlled amplifier
A nitride semiconductor device includes a substrate, a stacked semiconductor structure formed over the substrate and including a electron channel layer of an undoped nitride semiconductor and an electron supplying layer of an n-type nitride semiconductor formed epitaxially over the electron channel layer, the n-type nitride semiconductor having an electron affinity smaller than an electron affinity of said undoped nitride semiconductor and a two-dimensional electron gas being formed in the electron channel layer along an interface to the electron supply layer, a gate electrode formed over the stacked semiconductor structure in correspondence to a channel region, and source and drain electrodes formed over the stacked semiconductor structure in ohmic contact therewith respectively at a first side and a second side of the gate electrode, the stacked semiconductor structure including, between the substrate and the electron channel layer, an n-type conductive layer and a barrier layer containing Al formed consecutively and epitaxially.
US07859014B2 Semiconductor device
The present invention provides a semiconductor device capable of suppressing current collapse, and also of preventing dielectric breakdown voltage and gain from lowering so as to perform high-voltage operation and realize an ideal high output. On a substrate (101), there are formed a buffer layer (102) made of a first GaN-based semiconductor, a carrier traveling layer (103) made of a second GaN-based semiconductor and a carrier supplying layer (104) made of a third GaN-based semiconductor. A recess structure (108) is made by eliminating a part of a first insulation film (107) and a part of the carrier supplying layer (104). Next, a gate insulation film (109) is deposited, and then a gate electrode (110) is formed so as to fill up the recess portion (108) and cover on over an area where the first insulation film (107) remains so that its portion on the drain electrode side is longer than that on the source electrode side. Such a recess structure is employed so as to provide the high-output semiconductor device capable of performing the high-voltage operation.
US07859005B2 Method for the production of a semiconductor component comprising a planar contact, and semiconductor component
In a method for producing a semiconductor component, in particular a semiconductor structure having a surface structure or topography which is produced by means of electronic components (2) on a substrate (1), at least one electronic component (2) is applied to a substrate (1), and an isolation layer (3) is applied to the topography which is produced by means of the at least one component (2) on the substrate (1). Contact-making openings (5) are then produced in the isolation layer (3) at contact points (8, 9) for the at least one electronic component, the isolation layer (3) and the contact points (8, 9) in the contact-making openings (5) are planar-metallized, and the metallization is structured in order to produce electrical connections (4), with the isolation layer (3) having a glass coating.
US07859000B2 LEDs using single crystalline phosphor and methods of fabricating same
Methods for fabricating LED chips from a wafer and devices fabricated using the methods with one method comprising depositing LED epitaxial layers on an LED growth wafer to form a plurality of LEDs on the growth wafer. A single crystalline phosphor is bonded over at least some the plurality of LEDs so that at least some light from the covered LEDs passes through the single crystalline phosphor and is converted. The LED chips can then be singulated from the wafer to provide LED chips each having a portion of said single crystalline phosphor to convert LED light.
US07858999B2 Light-emitting chip device with high thermal conductivity
This invention provides a light-emitting chip device with high thermal conductivity, which includes an epitaxial chip, an electrode disposed on a top surface of the epitaxial chip and a U-shaped electrode base cooperating with the electrode to provide electric energy to the epitaxial chip for generating light by electric-optical effect. The epitaxial chip includes a substrate and an epitaxial-layer structure with a roughening top surface and a roughening bottom surface for improving light extracted out of the epitaxial chip. A thermal conductive transparent reflective layer is formed between the substrate and the epitaxial-layer structure. The electrode base surrounds the substrate, the transparent reflective layer and a first cladding layer of the epitaxial-layer structure to facilitate the dissipation of the internal waste heat generated when the epitaxial chip emitting light. A method for manufacturing the chip device of the present invention is provided.
US07858998B2 Semiconductor light emitting devices including flexible silicone film having a lens therein
Semiconductor light emitting devices include an alumina substrate, a light emitting diode on a face of the substrate and flexible silicone film that includes a silicone lens on the face of the substrate. The light emitting diode emits light through the silicone lens.
US07858996B2 Method for growth of semipolar (Al,In,Ga,B)N optoelectronic devices
A method of fabricating an optoelectronic device, comprising growing an active layer of the device on an oblique surface of a suitable material, wherein the oblique surface comprises a facetted surface. The present invention also discloses a method of fabricating the facetted surfaces. One fabrication process comprises growing an epitaxial layer on a suitable material, etching the epitaxial layer through a mask to form the facets having a specific crystal orientation, and depositing one or more active layers on the facets. Another method comprises growing a layer of material using a lateral overgrowth technique to produce a facetted surface, and depositing one or more active layers on the facetted surfaces. The facetted surfaces are typically semipolar planes.
US07858992B2 Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, method of fabricating it, and semiconductor optical apparatus
A nitride semiconductor laser device has a nitride semiconductor substrate that includes a dislocation-concentrated region 102 and a wide low-dislocation region and that has the top surface thereof slanted at an angle in the range of 0.3° to 0.7° relative to the C plane and a nitride semiconductor layer laid on top thereof. The nitride semiconductor layer has a depression immediately above the dislocation-concentrated region, and has, in a region thereof other than the depression, a high-quality quantum well active layer with good flatness and without cracks, a layer that, as is grown, readily exhibits p-type conductivity, and a stripe-shaped laser light waveguide region. The laser light waveguide region is formed above the low-dislocation region. This helps realize a nitride semiconductor laser device that offers a longer life.
US07858991B2 Light emitting device with magnetic field
A light emitting device with magnetic field includes a light emitting device, a thermal conductive material layer and a magnetic layer. The thermal conductive material layer is coupled with the light emitting device to dissipate heat generated by the light emitting device. The magnetic layer is coupled with thermal conductive material layer to produce a magnetic filed on the light emitting device.
US07858987B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device having high operating performance and reliability, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided.An LDD region 207 provided in an n-channel TFT 302 forming a driving circuit enhances the tolerance for hot carrier injection. LDD regions 217-220 provided in an n-channel TFT (pixel TFT) 304 forming a pixel portion greatly contribute to the decrease in the OFF current value. Here, the LDD region of the n-channel TFT of the driving circuit is formed such that the concentration of the n-type impurity element becomes higher as the distance from an adjoining drain region decreases.
US07858982B2 Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a thin film transistor array panel comprising: an insulating substrate; a gate line formed on the insulating substrate and having a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line; a semiconductor formed on the gate insulating layer and overlapping the gate electrode; diffusion barriers formed on the semiconductor and containing nitrogen; a data line crossing the gate line and having a source electrode partially contacting the diffusion barriers; a drain electrode partially contacting the diffusion barriers and facing the source electrode on the gate electrode; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode.
US07858981B2 Strained NMOS transistor featuring deep carbon doped regions and raised donor doped source and drain
Some embodiments of the present invention include providing carbon doped regions and raised source/drain regions to provide tensile stress in NMOS transistor channels.
US07858976B2 Method of making an organic light emitting device
The invention relates to a method of making an organic electronic device and articles.
US07858972B2 Memory device and semiconductor device
A memory device capable of data writing at a time other than during manufacturing is provided by using a memory element including an organic material. In a memory cell, a third conductive film, an organic compound, and a fourth conductive film are stacked over a semiconductor film provided with an n-type impurity region and a p-type impurity region, and a pn-junction diode is serially connected to the memory element. A logic circuit for controlling the memory cell includes a thin film transistor. The memory cell and the logic circuit are manufactured over one substrate at the same time. The n-type impurity region and the p-type impurity region of the memory cell are manufactured at the same time as the impurity region of the thin film transistor.
US07858969B2 Organic thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same
An organic thin film transistor including a substrate, a gate, a gate insulator, an adhesive layer, a metal nano-particle layer and an organic semiconductor layer is provided. The gate is disposed on the substrate. The gate insulator is disposed on the gate and the substrate. The adhesive layer is disposed on the gate insulator. Besides, the adhesive layer has a hydrophobic surface above the gate and a first hydrophilic surface and a second hydrophilic surface on two sides of the hydrophobic surface. A surface of the metal nano-particle layer is modified by a hydrophilic group, and the metal nano-particle layer is disposed on the first and the second hydrophilic surfaces of the adhesive layer as a source and a drain, respectively. The organic semiconductor layer is disposed on the hydrophobic surface of the adhesive layer and on the metal nano-particle layer.
US07858964B2 Semiconductor device formed in a recrystallized layer
A semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes a first layer and a recrystallized layer on the first layer. The first layer has a first intrinsic stress and the recrystallized layer has a second intrinsic stress. A transistor is formed in the recrystallized layer. The transistor includes a source region, a drain region, and a charge carrier channel between the source and drain regions. The second intrinsic stress is aligned substantially parallel to the charge carrier channel.
US07858963B2 Nitride based semiconductor optical device, epitaxial wafer for nitride based semiconductor optical device, and method of fabricating semiconductor light-emitting device
In the nitride based semiconductor optical device LE1, the strained well layers 21 extend along a reference plane SR1 tilting at a tilt angle α from the plane that is orthogonal to a reference axis extending in the direction of the c-axis. The tilt angle α is in the range of greater than 59 degrees to less than 80 degrees or greater than 150 degrees to less than 180 degrees. A gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P is adjacent to a light-emitting layer SP− with a negative piezoelectric field and has a band gap larger than that of a barrier layer. The direction of the piezoelectric field in the well layer W3 is directed in a direction from the n-type layer to the p-type layer, and the piezoelectric field in the gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P is directed in a direction from the p-type layer to the n-type layer. Consequently, the valence band, not the conduction band, has a dip at the interface between the light-emitting layer SP− and the gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P.
US07858960B2 Phase change memory device having dielectric layer for isolating contact structure formed by growth, semiconductor device having the same, and methods for manufacturing the devices
A phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having an impurity region and an interlayer dielectric applying a tensile stress formed on the semiconductor substrate and having contact holes exposing the impurity region. Switching elements are formed in the contact holes; and sidewall spacers interposed between the switching elements and the interlayer dielectric and formed as a dielectric layer applying a compressive stress.
US07858958B2 Evaluation method and fabrication method of optical element having multilayer film, exposure apparatus having the multilayer film, and device fabrication method
A fabrication method of an optical element having a multilayer film includes the steps of forming a multilayer film on a substrate, measuring a secondary radiation radiated from the multilayer film when a light with a wavelength of 2 to 40 nm is irradiated to the multilayer film, determining a phase difference between the light irradiated to the multilayer film and the light reflected from the multilayer film based on a measurement result of the measuring step, and modifying the multilayer film based on the determined phase difference.
US07858956B2 UV irradiation unit for substrates
The invention relates to an irradiation unit for the UV irradiation of particularly web-shaped substrates, comprising a housing (10), a tubular UV lamp (12), arranged therein and a reflector arrangement (14), running along the UV lamp (12). According to the invention, a simple exchangeability may be achieved, whereby the reflector arrangement comprises a support profile (22), retained in the housing (10) and a reflector profile (24), embodied as a shape-retaining molded piece which may be detachably connected thereto.
US07858955B2 System and method of controlling broad beam uniformity
An ion beam uniformity control system, wherein the uniformity control system comprising a differential pumping chamber that encloses an array of individually controlled gas jets, wherein the gas pressure of the individually controlled gas jets are powered by a controller to change the fraction of charge exchanged ions, and wherein the charge exchange reactions between the gas and ions change the fraction of the ions with original charge state of a broad ion beam, wherein the charge exchanged portion of the broad ion beam is removed utilizing an deflector that generates a magnetic field, a Faraday cup profiler for measuring the broad ion beam profile; and adjusting the individually controlled gas jets based upon feedback provided to the controller to obtain the desired broad ion beam.
US07858953B2 Use of fluorescent nanoparticles to measure individual layer thicknesses or composition in multi-layer films and to calibrate secondary measurement devices
Fluorescent nanoparticles such as quantum dots are incorporated into plastic, paper and other web layered products to achieve cross-direction and machine direction on-line analysis of the individual layers therein. Fluorescent nanoparticles markers are added in known proportions into product formulations. By detecting the fluorescence from the nanoparticles, the thickness and other physical characteristics of the web can be traced at various stages of production. In addition, by using different populations of fluorescent nanoparticles that emit radiation at different wavelengths, data from individual layers in a composite structure can be ascertained simultaneously with a single sensor. The technique is particularly suited for monitoring difficult-to-measure polymers in complex multilayer structures.
US07858950B2 Electrostatic dispersion lenses and ion beam dispersion methods
An EDL includes a case surface and at least one electrode surface. The EDL is configured to receive through the EDL a plurality of ion beams, to generate an electrostatic field between the one electrode surface and either the case surface or another electrode surface, and to increase the separation between the beams using the field. Other than an optional mid-plane intended to contain trajectories of the beams, the electrode surface or surfaces do not exhibit a plane of symmetry through which any beam received through the EDL must pass. In addition or in the alternative, the one electrode surface and either the case surface or the other electrode surface have geometries configured to shape the field to exhibit a less abrupt entrance and/or exit field transition in comparison to another electrostatic field shaped by two nested, one-quarter section, right cylindrical electrode surfaces with a constant gap width.
US07858948B2 Radiation detector for X- or gamma rays
A radiation detector is disclosed for X- or gamma rays. In at least one embodiment, the radiation detector includes an array of scintillation detectors and a reflector layer separating these from one another. The reflector layer includes a binder matrix and particles of a light-reflecting material embedded therein, the surfaces of the particles being coated at least partially with a dispersant.
US07858945B2 Imaging detector
A hybrid imaging detector is for detecting ionizing radiation such as X-rays or electron radiation, or other ionizing radiation. The detector has a sensor (10) on a read-out chip (20). The sensor (10) includes a plurality of sensor material layers (12,14) of different materials stacked on top of one another, having differing radiation absorbing properties. The materials may be Si and SiGe, Si and Ge, or Si and amorphous Se, for example. The read-out chip is a photon-counting read-out chip that records a single count when it detects a pulse above a threshold.
US07858944B2 Dedicated mobile high resolution prostate PET imager with an insertable transrectal probe
A dedicated mobile PET imaging system to image the prostate and surrounding organs. The imaging system includes an outside high resolution PET imager placed close to the patient's torso and an insertable and compact transrectal probe that is placed in close proximity to the prostate and operates in conjunction with the outside imager. The two detector systems are spatially co-registered to each other. The outside imager is mounted on an open rotating gantry to provide torso-wide 3D images of the prostate and surrounding tissue and organs. The insertable probe provides closer imaging, high sensitivity, and very high resolution predominately 2D view of the prostate and immediate surroundings. The probe is operated in conjunction with the outside imager and a fast data acquisition system to provide very high resolution reconstruction of the prostate and surrounding tissue and organs.
US07858942B2 Method and device for monitoring wall thickness
A method for detecting the wall thickness of a container such as a bottle made of PET, for example, in which the absorption of radiation along a first and a second test path of the measurement radiation is ascertained, whereby the test paths intersect the container at two points of intersection such that the two test paths have at least one point of intersection approximately in common. Further, a method for detecting the wall thickness of a container such as a bottle made of PET, for example, such that the wall thickness is detected in the transitional area of a side wall of the container to a bottom area of the container.
US07858941B2 Device and method for the calibration and control of thermal detectors
The invention relates to a device and method for communicating with a thermal detector module and an appropriate thermal detector for a use with such a control device. The device for communicating with a thermal detector module comprises a means for providing a collimated beam of thermal infrared radiation and means for modulating the intensity of the collimated beam of thermal infrared radiation. The intensity modulated thermal infrared beam, when directed on to the thermal detector module from a position within the module's field of view, is suitable for triggering a response from the thermal detector module. The intensity modulated thermal infrared beam may also be encoded with a digital signal to control the function of the thermal detector.
US07858940B2 Information acquisition apparatus and information aquisition method using terahertz wave for acquiring information on object
An information acquisition apparatus includes a pulse generator 9, a detector 10, a first delay unit 15, a second delay unit 16 and a computation unit. The pulse generator 9 is excited by a first laser beam to generate a terahertz wave in the form of a pulse. The detector 10 is excited by a second laser beam coherent to the first laser beam to detect the terahertz wave from object 2 that is irradiated with the pulse of the terahertz wave. The first delay unit 15 changes the delay time in such a way that the detector 10 can detect the pulse signal of the terahertz wave from the object 2. The second delay unit 16 changes the delay time by not greater than the temporal width of the pulse signal detected by the detector 10. The computation unit computationally determines the information on the temporal position of the peak of the pulse signal of the terahertz wave from the object 2 according to the information of the signal detected by the detector 10 when the delay time is changed by the second delay unit within the delay time of the first delay unit.
US07858939B2 FPA combining SAL and imaging
A multi-mode detector and detection method that utilize shared optical components to detect multiple different incoming wavelengths of energy. Partial de-focusing of incoming light enables imaging and non-imaging outputs from the same detector. Analog and digital pixels enable mixed-mode output. Selective filtering at the detector enables the simultaneous detection of two or more wavelengths of light. Signal processing hardware and algorithms enable the system to simultaneously provide integrated and multi-channel analog outputs to guidance and display systems.
US07858936B2 Slice and view with decoration
Imprecisely located defects are imaged by milling a series of slices and performing a light, preferential etch to provide a topographical interface between materials having similar secondary electron emission characteristics. The slices are sufficiently small to capture small defects, but are sufficiently large to overcome problems with redeposition.
US07858935B2 Method and system for conducting event-streamed spectrum imaging
A method and system for conducting event-streamed spectrum imaging concurrently collects electron and spectral signals resulting from a raster scan of a sample. The signals are formatted and assembled as a packet stream. The packet stream is transmitted to a host where it is buffered, stored and processed.
US07858934B2 Quadrupole FAIMS apparatus
A combined rf-only/FAIMS apparatus is disclosed for use in mass spectrometry and other applications. The disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of curved electrodes arranged around a central ion transmission channel. FAIMS functionality is removed electronically when not desired by application of radio frequency (rf) waveforms to the curved electrodes.
US07858931B2 Methods and devices for the mass-selective transport of ions
A method for the mass-selective transport of ions, especially in a mass spectrometer, comprises the steps movement of the ions on a movement path on which a plurality of electrodes are arranged, and loading the electrodes with pulse-shaped acceleration voltages under the effect of which the ions experience a mass-dependent change of speed, wherein the electrodes are loaded with the pulse-shaped acceleration voltages such t at target ions with a pre-determined target mass are accelerated along the movement path Furthermore, an ion conductor for mass-selective transport of ions, especially in a mass spectrometer, is described.
US07858926B1 Mass spectrometry with segmented RF multiple ion guides in various pressure regions
A mass spectrometer includes an ion source and at least one vacuum stage, a means for delivering ions from the ion source to the vacuum stage, a collision cell, a detector, at least two multipole ion guide segments, and independent RF frequency and DC voltage sources applied to the multipole ion guide segments, the RF frequency and DC voltage sources being controlled independently of each other.
US07858923B2 Light beam scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A light beam scanning apparatus capable of forming a high contrast electrostatic latent image. A polygon mirror scans a light flux emitted from a light source in a main scanning direction. An electrostatic latent image in an irradiation position irradiated by the scanned light flux is formed onto a photosensitive drum. An electro-optic crystal structure disposed in a light path between the light source and the polygon mirror deflects a course of the light flux emitted from the light source to the main scanning direction by applying a voltage. A controller maintains the irradiation position on the photosensitive drum irradiated by the light flux, by controlling a voltage to be applied to the electro-optic crystal structure according to the scanning information during the time period in which an electrostatic latent image corresponding to one dot is formed on the photosensitive drum.
US07858921B2 Guided-mode-resonance transmission color filters for color generation in CMOS image sensors
Imager pixel arrays and methods for forming imager pixel arrays. An image sensor pixel includes a photosensor and a waveguide grating resonance filter formed over the photosensor. The waveguide grating resonance filter is configured to pass light to the photosensor in a wavelength band and to block light outside of the wavelength band. The waveguide grating resonance filter includes a grating material having a first refractive index and arranged in a grating pattern with a grating pitch, and has an effective refractive index that is a function of the first refractive index. A combination of the grating pitch and the effective refractive index is selected to correspond to the wavelength band.
US07858920B2 Method and device for detecting an object that can retroreflect light
According to the invention, two simultaneous images with different wavelengths (λ1, λ2) are formed in synchronism with each illuminance laser pulse, one of the Images corresponding to the wavelength (λ1) of the laser pulses, and the difference between the two images is generated.
US07858915B2 Active pixel sensor having two wafers
A vertically-integrated image sensor includes a sensor wafer connected to a support circuit wafer. Each pixel region on the sensor wafer includes a photodetector, a charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism, a transfer mechanism for transferring charge from the photodetector to the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism, and a reset mechanism for discharging the charge-to-voltage conversion mechanism. The support circuit wafer includes an amplifier and other support circuitry for each pixel region on the sensor wafer. An inter-wafer connector directly connects each charge-to-voltage mechanism on the sensor wafer to a respective gate to an amplifier on the support circuit wafer.
US07858914B2 Method and apparatus for reducing dark current and hot pixels in CMOS image sensors
Methods and apparatuses for reducing dark current and hot pixels in CMOS image sensors. A pixel apparatus includes a photosensor capable of generating dark current, a floating diffusion region coupled to the photosensor by way of a charge transfer transistor, a rest transistor connected between the floating diffusion region and an array pixel supply voltage. The array supply voltage varies between first and second voltages when sampling pixel signals from the pixel.
US07858913B2 Light surface display for rendering a three-dimensional image
A light surface display for providing a three-dimensional image including a plurality of particles suspended within a volumetric display. A first projection system projects sequential slices of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths along the length and width of the volumetric display energizing particles to form a two-dimensional image. A second projection system projects translational slices of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths that intersect with the energized particles across the depth of the volumetric display. A control system synchronizes the projection of the image source and the activation source such that the two-dimensional image and the translational slices energize the particles for a pre-determined length of time so that the particles illuminate to form an illuminated three-dimensional image.
US07858912B2 Ultra low voltage CMOS image sensor architecture
An optical sensor has at least one pixel that generates an output voltage that changes at a rate dependent on the light intensity incident on the pixel. The time for the pixel output voltage to change from a first predefined level to a second predefined level is measured, so as to produce an output indicative of the incident light intensity.
US07858909B2 Microwave popcorn bag construction with seal arrangement for containing oil/fat, microwave popcorn product, and methods
Microwaveable popcorn arrangements are provided, the arrangement being a bag having a popcorn charge of popcorn kernels and oil/fat component therein. The arrangements include folded bags having preferred, internal, seal and/or adhesive field configurations. The preferred configurations inhibit the undesired flow of oil/fat from the popcorn charge. Microwave popcorn products and methods of preparation and use, are provided.
US07858908B2 Methods for inductive heating of workpiece using coiled assemblies
A method for inductively heating a workpiece using a heating coil that surrounds the sides and ends of the workpiece, wherein the heating coil comprises a first coil assembly that encloses a first portion of the workpiece and a second coil assembly that encloses a second portion of the workpiece. A power supply is operatively connected to the first coil assembly and the second coil assembly.
US07858907B2 Electric switching circuit for a clothes dryer
An electric switching circuit with a first current path for operating an electric motor and with a second current path for operating a first heater. The electric motor drives a fan during which an air flow created by the fan is heated by the first heater. A switch for opening or closing the second current path in response to an actual operating state of the electric motor is, in the second current path, connected in series to the first heater. The switch is designed as a bimetallic switch and a second heater is assigned thereto that is arranged and designed for detecting the actual operating state of the electric motor and for controlling the bimetallic switch by changing its ambient temperature in response to the detected operating state.
US07858906B2 Apparatus and method for maintaining cooked food in a ready-to-use condition
A food warming apparatus includes a heating compartment that can hold one or more trays containing previously cooked food portions. A rack in the heating compartment includes a support member, a channel, and a stop that blocks the front end of the channel. A cover that includes a horizontal section and a vertical section is mounted on the support such that the horizontal section is supported on one side by the support member and on the other side by the vertical section, which is positioned in the channel behind the stop. When a tray is inserted into the receiving space defined by the cover and support member, the cover is lifted up so that the horizontal section rests on the tray and at least partially blocks the open top of the tray, thereby restricting evaporation of liquids from the previously cooked food portions contained in the tray.
US07858904B2 System and method of controlling auxiliary/weld power outputs of a welding-type apparatus
A system and method of controlling available power of an auxiliary output of a welding-type power source is disclosed. The welding-type power source is configured to supply power to a variable combination of a welding-type output and the auxiliary output and includes a controller configured to detect a load on the auxiliary output. The controller is configured to monitor an engine operating parameter of the welding-type power source and to limit the amount of power provided to the auxiliary output to an amount of power capable of being generated by the engine at a current engine condition.
US07858903B2 Constant current welding power control system and method
A technique is disclosed for controlling a constant current regime, such as for stick welding. The regime includes a dig segment or regime in which current is increased as voltage decreases. The dig regime is initiated at a voltage that can be set by an operator. The constant current regime also includes two distinct constant current segments separated by a transition segment. The transition segment occurs at a predetermined voltage, permitting rapid and predictable operation as an arc is lengthened during welding. The constant current segments may be suitable for different types of electrode. The dig selection also permits customizing the regime for soft or stiff digs that are initiated at different voltages (or arc lengths) suitable for different electrode types.
US07858901B2 Focusing an optical beam to two foci
A Plate polarising beam splitter 22 splits an incident laser beam 21 to form a first laser beam 24 and a second laser beam 25. The first laser beam is optically modified using an arcuate reflector 23 so that the first laser beam has a different divergence or convergence from that of the second laser beam. The first laser beam 24 is focussed at a first focus 27 on an optical axis of a focussing lens 26 and the second laser beam is focussed at a second focus 28 on the optical axis for machining a workpiece. The apparatus is suitable for machining with the laser beams steered by a galvanometer scanner.
US07858899B2 Coaxial microwave plasma torch
A coaxial microwave plasma torch, comprising, an outside conductor (1) formed in a cylindrical shape, a cylindrical electric discharge tube (3) fixedly inserted into an axial hole (2) formed in the outside conductor on one end face (4) side, and a coaxial cable (6) having one end fitted to the other end face of the outside conductor. An antenna (9) electrically connected to an inside conductor (8) is fitted to the one end of the coaxial cable and extended into the electric discharge tube through a through-hole (11) axially passed through between the other end face (5) of the outside conductor and the bottom face of the axial hole. The outside conductor (7) of the coaxial cable is electrically connected to the outside conductor, and a gas inlet pipeline (13) supplying a gas into the electric discharge tube is fitted in the outside conductor.
US07858898B2 Bevel etcher with gap control
A device for cleaning a bevel edge of a semiconductor substrate. The device includes a lower electrode assembly that has a top surface and is adapted to support the substrate and an upper electrode assembly that has a bottom surface opposing the top surface. The lower and upper electrode assemblies generate plasma for cleaning the bevel edge of the substrate disposed between the top and bottom surfaces during operation. The device also includes a mechanism for suspending the upper electrode assembly over the lower support and adjusting the tilt angle and horizontal translation of the bottom surface relative to the top surface.
US07858892B2 Ball holding, latching and locking applications using radial and axial springs by incorporating electrical conductivity and electrical switchings
A latching and electrical switch mechanism includes an insulated housing having a cavity therein with an opening thereto along with an electrically conductive ball disposed therein. The ball includes a stem with a smaller diameter than the ball and extends therefrom with a ball being sized for rotational and translational movement within the housing cavity. At least one groove is provided in the housing cavity and a coil spring is disposed in a groove for making electrical contact with the ball and retaining the ball for rotation within the cavity with the stem at selected conical angles with respect to the housing centerline. At least one electrical contact is disposed in the cavity at a spaced apart relationship with the coil spring for providing electrical connection with the ball upon translational movement of the ball within the cavity, which also produces an audible sound.
US07858883B2 Methods and kits for covering electrical cables and connections
A method for forming a connection assembly includes: forming an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables, the first cable including a first primary conductor and a first neutral conductor, the second cable including a second primary conductor and a second neutral conductor; and providing an integral, unitary cover assembly. The cover assembly includes: an inner elastomeric sleeve defining a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the first and second primary conductors; and an outer elastomeric sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve. The method further includes: mounting the cover assembly on the cables such that the electrical connection and the first and second primary conductors extend through the cable passage; installing a first protective sleeve on a first neutral segment of the first neutral conductor; routing the first neutral segment and the first protective sleeve exteriorly of the outer sleeve to a second neutral segment of the second neutral conductor; and mechanically and electrically coupling the first and second neutral segments to thereby provide electrical continuity between the first neutral conductor and the second neutral conductor.
US07858877B2 Encapsulating housing for an electrical power transmission device having a particle trap
A particle trap has a cover cap which dielectrically shields a shielding area by way of a shielding surface. The shielding surface has a concave curvature. Transversely to the concave curvature, the shielding surface has surface regions which are inclined transversely to the concave curvature in the region of a trough of the concave curvature.
US07858876B2 Graphite-based photovoltaic cells
The present invention uses lithographically patterned graphite stacks as the basic building elements of an efficient and economical photovoltaic cell. The basic design of the graphite-based photovoltaic cells includes a plurality of spatially separated graphite stacks, each comprising a plurality of vertically stacked, semiconducting graphene sheets (carbon nanoribbons) bridging electrically conductive contacts.
US07858874B2 Continuous circuit overlay solar shingles
A solar roofing system includes components that can be made to mimic traditional tabbed asphalt roofing shingles in size, shape, and performance. Additionally, the shingles also include photovoltaic devices embedded in the shingle tabs. Shingles are installed in a traditional manner using traditional tools and fasteners in offset and overlapping rows. Electrical connectivity among tabs is made by contact between top and bottom surfaces of shingles without the need for additional wiring or hardware. The system includes multiple shingle shapes including a variation that can be cut apart into separate tabs. This solar roofing system can be integrated with non-photovoltaic components to fit irregularities found in a variety of roof surfaces. The system, once installed, creates a redundancy of electrical connectivity throughout a roof surface to allow for interruptions and irregularities in the roof surface and to allow for highly reliable output performance.
US07858873B2 Photovoltaic cell and photovoltaic module employing the same
There is provided a photovoltaic cell, which comprises: a photo-electric conversion layer having a front surface and a rear surface, and a reflection layer provided on the rear surface of the photo-electric conversion layer, wherein the reflection layer includes plural types of transparent layers having different refractive indices and alternately stacked and, when light is incident from the front surface of the photo-electric conversion layer, reflects a part of the incident light having a predetermined wavelength back into the photo-electric conversion layer.
US07858870B2 System and methods for the creation and performance of sensory stimulating content
Systems and methods for creating and presenting sensory stimulating content. One aspect of the invention allows a composer to associate content with one or more triggers, and to define behavior characteristics which control the functioning of each trigger. Another aspect of the invention provides a variety of user interfaces through which a performer can cause content to be presented to an audience.
US07858869B2 Sound analysis apparatus and program
A sound analysis apparatus employs tone models which are associated with various fundamental frequencies and each of which simulates a harmonic structure of a performance sound generated by a musical instrument, then defines a weighted mixture of the tone models to simulate frequency components of the performance sound, further sequentially updates and optimizes weight values of the respective tone models so that a frequency distribution of the weighted mixture of the tone models corresponds to a distribution of the frequency components of the performance sound, and estimates the fundamental frequency of the performance sound based on the optimized weight values.
US07858860B1 Bass drum spring assembly
A bass drum pedal assembly having a frame and a drive actuator where the drive actuator comprises an internal cam adapted to fit against a cam follower when the cam is operatively configured to return a striker to a neutral position where the drive actuator is modular in nature to be fitted to a frame.
US07858859B2 Stand for a drum and also relating thereto
A drum stand with at least one leg, at least one support region, formed as a support, at least one foot region, formed as a foot element and at least one holding region formed as a holding element or an accommodation element for the drum. The foot region and/or the holding region essentially extend horizontally and are connected, particularly resiliently or vibratorily, to the support region via one bend.
US07858858B2 Upright piano
An upright piano which is capable of providing a soft pedal effect in a first playing mode for performing acoustic playing, and an excellent performance in a second playing mode, without being affected by step-on of a soft pedal, while properly detecting the rotational position of each hammer, is disclosed. The upright piano includes sensors for detecting the rotational position of a hammer in the second playing mode, a hammer rest rail with which the hammer is in contact in a key-off state of a key, a soft pedal, a pedal rod for pushing up the hammer rest rail as the soft pedal is stepped on, a stopper movable between a permitting position and a blocking position, and a stopper drive mechanism for driving the stopper to the permitting position in the first playing mode and to the blocking position in the second playing mode.
US07858856B1 Maize variety inbred PH13AK
A novel maize variety designated PH13AK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13AK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13AK through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH13AK or a locus conversion of PH13AK with another maize variety.
US07858854B2 Plants and seed of inbred corn variety DS-046358
Disclosed is the seed of an inbred corn line, designated DS-046358, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9052. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the cultivar, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred corn line DS-046358, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a corn breeding program.
US07858850B1 Soybean cultivar S07-04JR000474
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-04JR000474 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-04JR000474 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-04JR000474.
US07858849B2 Bacillus thuringiensis crystal polypeptides, polynucleotides, and compositions thereof
The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
US07858848B2 Transcription factors for increasing yield
The invention is directed to transgenic plants transformed with nucleic acids that encode a plant transcription factor that increases the transgenic plant's size and yield and/or delays flowering in the plant, and methods of using and producing the transgenic plants.
US07858844B2 Non aggregating fluorescent proteins and methods for using the same
Nucleic acid compositions encoding non-aggregating chromo/fluoroproteins and mutants thereof, as well as the proteins encoded by the same, are provided. The proteins of interest are polypeptides that are non-aggregating colored and/or fluorescent proteins, where the non-aggregating feature arises from the modulation of residues in the N-terminus of the protein and the chromo and/or fluorescent feature arises from the interaction of two or more residues of the protein. Also provided are fragments of the subject nucleic acids and the peptides encoded thereby, as well as antibodies to the subject proteins and transgenic cells and organisms. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of different applications. Finally, kits for use in such applications, e.g., that include the subject nucleic acid compositions, are provided.
US07858843B2 Gene disruptions, compositions and methods relating thereto
The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising disruptions in PRO69122, PRO204, PRO214, PRO222, PRO234, PRO265, PRO309, PRO332, PRO342, PRO356, PRO540, PRO618, PRO944, PRO994, PRO1079, PRO1110, PRO1122, PRO1138, PRO1190, PRO1272, PRO1286, PRO1295, PRO1309, PRO1316, PRO1383, PRO1384, PRO1431, PRO1434, PRO1475, PRO1481, PRO1568, PRO1573, PRO1599, PRO1604, PRO1605, PRO1693, PRO1753, PRO1755, PRO1777, PRO1788, PRO1864, PRO1925, PRO1926, PRO3566, PRO4330, PRO4423, PRO36935, PRO4977, PRO4979, PRO4980, PRO4981, PRO5801, PRO5995, PRO6001, PRO6095, PRO6182, PRO7170, PRO7171, PRO7436, PRO9912, PRO9917, PRO37337, PRO37496, PRO19646, PRO21718, PRO19820, PRO21201, PRO20026, PRO20110, PRO23203 or PRO35250 genes. Such in vivo studies and characterizations may provide valuable identification and discovery of therapeutics and/or treatments useful in the prevention, amelioration or correction of diseases or dysfunctions associated with gene disruptions such as neurological disorders; cardiovascular, endothelial or angiogenic disorders; eye abnormalities; immunological disorders; oncological disorders; bone metabolic abnormalities or disorders; lipid metabolic disorders; or developmental abnormalities.
US07858842B2 Absorbent article
Disclosed is an absorbent article including a liquid absorbent layer for absorption and retention of liquid and a liquid passage layer located on a liquid-receiving side of the liquid absorbent layer. The liquid passage layer includes a first passage layer and a second passage layer disposed between the first passage layer and the liquid absorbent layer. The first passage layer and the second passage layer are resin films formed with a plurality of liquid passage apertures. The individual liquid passage apertures are defined by a peripheral wall projecting toward the liquid absorbent layer to provide the first passage layer and the second passage layer with thicknesses greater than a thickness of the resin film itself. Under a load in a thickness direction, the second passage layer has a greater compressibility than the first passage layer.
US07858838B2 Conformable wound dressing
A wound dressing comprising a dressing support layer configured to retain and deliver the wound dressing to a wound, the dressing support layer having a radial configuration that forms a plurality of alternating covered and uncovered portions of the backing layer along the perimeter of the wound dressing.
US07858836B2 Enzyme inhibiting adhesives
An adhesive composition including an adhesive component and an enzyme inhibiting component for use in ostomy and wound care applications. The enzyme inhibitors are derived from tubers, such as potatoes. In ostomy, the adhesive composition helps to secure the collection bag or pouch to the skin. In wound care application, the adhesive composition secures the wound dressing to the skin. The adhesive composition also may be used to couple two or more ostomy or wound care components together.
US07858832B2 Process for producing phenol and methyl ethyl ketone
A process for producing sec-butylbenzene comprises contacting a feed comprising benzene and a C4 alkylating agent under alkylation conditions comprising a temperature of about 110° C. to about 150° C. with a catalyst comprising at least one molecular sieve having an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 6.9±0.15, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07 Angstrom. The sec-butylbenzene can be then oxidized to produce a hydroperoxide and the hydroperoxide decomposed to produce phenol and methyl ethyl ketone.
US07858831B2 General method for increasing stereoselectivity in stereoselective reactions
This invention is directed to a method of performing a stereoselective reaction without use of a solvent comprising contacting a reactant with a chiral reagent under sonication conditions to form an excess of an enantiomer.
US07858830B2 Process for recovering phenol from a BPA waste stream
An improved process for recovering phenol from a bisphenol-A residue stream by reconfiguring the distillation column and the cracking reactor in a way that separates the reboil/distillation heat load and the cracking heat load, so that separate heat sources are used.
US07858823B2 Process for cyclohexanecarboxylic acid derivatives
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I): which are useful as intermediates in the preparation of i.a. pharmaceutically active compounds.
US07858822B1 Polymerizable sulfonate ionic liquids and liquid polymers therefrom
Disclosed is a new ionic liquid monomer salt and methods of is synthesis and polymerization. The ionic liquid monomer salt is prepared by mixing equimolar amounts of an amine, such as tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)-ethyl]amine and an acid functionalized polymerizable monomer, such as 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), which is stirred at ambient temperature until salt formation is complete. Also disclosed is a new ionic liquid polymer salts and method for making the same. The synthesis of AMPS-ammonium salt polymer is accomplished by adding 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to the ionic liquid monomer salt and heating the homogeneous melt at 70° C. for 18 hr.
US07858819B2 Tris(formylphenyl) and novel polynuclear phenol derived therefrom
A new tris(formylphenyl) of the following general formula and polynuclear phenol derived therefrom:
US07858809B2 Process for production of pyrazole-fused ring derivatives
Intermediates useful for the synthesis of pyrazole-fused ring derivatives, such as 7-phenylpyrazolo [1,5-a]pyridine derivatives, and method for producing the same. Method for producing compound represented by the general formula (II), wherein Z1 and Z2 each independently represents a methine group or a nitrogen atom; Rl represents an ethyl group or the like; R5 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R2 and R3 each independently represents a C1-6 alkyl group or the like, salts thereof, or solvates of both, comprising the step of: reacting a compound represented by the general formula (I), wherein Z1, Z2, R5, R1, R2 and R3 each has the same definition as described above, with an organometallic reagent; and then reacting the resulting product with pentafluoroiodobenzene.
US07858800B2 Biaryl derivatives
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R1 is a linear or branched alkoxy group, a cycloalkoxy group, a linear or branched lower alkyl group, etc.; R2 is halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, etc.; Q1 is carbon atom or nitrogen atom; Q2 is carbon atom which may be substituted with oxo group; the formula (III):   (II) is a single bond or a double bond; A is a group selected from the group consisting of the substitutent group α; and R5 is hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, cyano group, an alkoxy group or a trialkylsilyl group; having an mGluR1 inhibiting action and being useful as treatment and/or prevention of convulsion, acute pain, cerebral disturbance such as cerebral infarction or transient cerebral ischemia onset, anxiety, chemical dependency or Parkinson's disease.
US07858799B2 Ionic organic compound
An ionic organic compound having a repeating unit of formula (I) can be synthesized easily from a readily available organic compound through a small number of reaction steps, can be produced without any purification technique such as chromatography, and can be used in a quite small amount for gelation of water or an ionic liquid without any other auxiliary solvent: [-(A-B-C)n-]•m(X)  (I) wherein A represents a group having a quaternary ammonium cation which is formed from a heterocyclic compound having at least one nitrogen atom; B represents a functional group, which may have a substituent, selected from amide, urea, urethane and peptide groups; C represents a divalent hydrocarbon group, which may have a substituent, capable of linking between A and B; X represents an anion; n represents the number of repeating units; m represents the total number of anions; and n and m are the same integer. A hydrogel using the compound is stable under acidic conditions, capable of setting a large amount of water with a small amount thereof, and capable of quickly recovering the original elastic modulus against structural disruption caused by mechanical distortion. The hydrogel is capable of directly gelling an ionic liquid without other solvent such as water when causing gelation. Further, the hydrogel is capable of easily dispersing carbon nanotubes in water whose load on the environment is low.
US07858798B2 Process for production of carebastine
Processes are disclosed for preparing piperidine derivative compounds of the formulae I, II or III:
US07858796B2 Chemical compounds
The invention is directed to novel indole carboxamide derivatives. Specifically, the invention is directed to compounds according to formula I: where R1, R2, R3, U and V are defined below and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of IKK2 and can be useful in the treatment of disorders associated with inappropriate IKK2 (also known as IKKβ) activity, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Accordingly, the invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention. The invention is still further directed to methods of inhibiting IKK2 activity and treatment of disorders associated therewith using a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention.
US07858795B2 Biphenyl compounds useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, m, p, s, t, W, Ar1, X1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, and R7 areas defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US07858794B2 Tetrahydroquinoline derivatives
The present invention relates to tetrahydroquinoline derivatives having gene formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are H or Me; R3 is H, hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, (di)(1-4C)alkylamino(2-4C)alkoxy or (2-6)heterocycloakl(2-4C)alkoxy; R4 is H, OH, (1-4C)alkoxy or R7; R5 is H, OH, (1-4C)alkoxy or R7, with the proviso that if R4 is H, R5 is not H, OH or (1-4C)alkoxy and that if R5 is H, R4 is not H, OH or (1-4C)alkoxy; R6 is (2-5C)heteroaryl, (6C)aryl, (3-8C)cycloalkyl, (2 6C)heterocycloalkyl or (1-6C)alkyl; R7 is amino, (di)(1-4C)alkylamino, (6C)arylcarbonylamino, (6C)arylcarbonyloxy, (2-5C) heteroarylcarbonylamino, (2-5C)heteroarylcarbonyloxy, R8-(2-4C)alkylamino, R8-(2-4C)alkoxy, R9-methylamino or R9-methoxy; R8 is hydroxy, amino, (-14C)alkoxy, (di)(1-4C)alkylamino, (2-6C)heterocycloalkyl, (2-6C) heterocycloalkylcarbonylamino, (di)(1-4C)alkylaminocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino and R9 is aminocarbonyl, (di)(1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl, (2-5C)heteroaryl or (6C)aryl. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said derivatives and the use of these derivatives to regulate fertility.
US07858793B2 Methyl 2-[(3S)-[3-[2E)-(7-chloro quinolin-2-yl) ethenyl] phenyl]-3-halopropyl] benzoates
The present invention relates to the novel compounds Methyl 2-[(3S)-[3-[(2E)(7-chloro quinolin-2-yl)ethenyl]phenyl]-3-halopropyl]benzoates (IV) wherein the halo is chloro, bromo, iodo, starting from the known compound Methyl 2-[(3S)-[3-[(2E)-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)ethenyl]phenyl]-3-hydroxypropyl]benzoate (1). Reaction of Methyl 2-[(3S)-[3-[(2E)-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)ethenyl]phenyl]-3-hydroxypropyl]benzoate (1) with thionyl chloride or with methane sulfonyl chloride-lithium bromide or with trimethyl chlorosilane-sodium iodide in presence or absence of base gives Methyl 2-[(3S)-[3-[(2E)-(7-chloro quinolin-2-yl)ethenyl]phenyl]-3-halopropyl]benzoates.
US07858790B2 Modulators of muscarinic receptors
The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US07858788B2 Bicyclic carbamoylpyridone derivative having HIV integrase inhibitory activity
Is to provide a novel compound having an anti-viral activity, particularly a HIV integrase inhibitory activity, and an agent, particularly an anti-HIV agent.A compound represented by the formula: (wherein Z1 is NR4 (R4 is hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl etc.), O or CH2; Z2 is optionally substituted lower alkylene or optionally substituted lower alkenylene, each may be intervened by a heteroatom group selected from group consisting O, S, SO, SO2, NR5 (R5 is selected independently from the same substituent group of R4) —N═ and ═N—; R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; X is a single bond, a heteroatom group selected from O, S, SO, SO2 and NH, or lower alkylene or lower alkenylene each may be intervened by the heteroatom group; R2 is optionally substituted aryl; R3 is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, optionally substituted alkyl group etc.)
US07858787B2 Process for producing olefins
A process for converting an olefin having x carbon atoms into an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms wherein the process comprises the steps of: (i) reacting an olefin having x carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to produce an alcohol having x+1 carbon atoms, and (ii) dehydrating the alcohol produced in step (i) in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to produce an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms characterized in that the hydroformylation catalyst used in step (i) is based on: (a) a source of cobalt, and (b) a ligand which contains phosphorus and nitrogen.
US07858784B2 Ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed cross-couplings, and methods of use thereof
Ligands for transition metals are disclosed herein, which may be used in various transition-metal-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. The disclosed methods provide improvements in many features of the transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, including the range of suitable substrates, number of catalyst turnovers, reaction conditions, and efficiency. For example, improvements have been realized in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.
US07858783B2 Metallic compound and organic electroluminescence device comprising the same
The present invention relates to a light emitting metallic compound of Chemical Formula 1 and an organic electroluminescence device including the compound. In the Chemical Formula 1, M is selected from Ir, Pt, Rh, Re, and Os, and m is 2, provided that m is 1 when M is Pt.
US07858782B2 Triazine derivatives and their therapeutical applications
The invention provides for Triazine derivatives and their use to modulate protein kinase activity in a variety of conditions and diseases.
US07858781B2 Chemokine receptor antagonists
A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug ester thereof, wherein the variants R, R9, Z, X, Q and Y are defined in the specification.
US07858780B2 Process for the preparation of (S)-(+)-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz (b,f)azepine-5-carboxamide
(S)-(+)-10,11-Dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxyamide is prepared starting from racemic 5-cyano-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine by phthaloylation, separation of the diastereomeric salts of the phthaloyl derivative with (S)-phenylethylamine, hydrolysis of the (S, S) salt to (S)-(+)-5-cyano-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine and hydrolysis of the nitrile group of the latter to amido group, by treatment with peroxy compounds in alkali medium.
US07858778B2 Process for the preparation of 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[B,F]azepine-5-carboxyamide
A process for the preparation of 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine-5-carboxyamide by hydrolysis of 5-cyano-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz[b,f]azepine with peroxy compounds in alkali medium and in the presence of solvents.
US07858773B2 Process for preparing substituted benzimidazole compounds
The invention relates to new methods of preparing substituted benzimidazole compounds, such as 2-bromo-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole, which are useful in the preparation of compounds having antiviral activity.
US07858769B2 RNA interference mediated inhibition of gene expression using multifunctional short interfering nucleic acid (multifunctional siNA)
The present invention concerns methods and nucleic acid based reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, veterinary, agricultural, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to multifunctional short interfering nucleic acid (multifunctional siNA) molecules that modulate the expression of one or more genes in a biologic system, such as a cell, tissue, or organism via RNA interference (RNAi). The bifunctional short interfering nucleic acid (multifunctional siNA) molecules of the invention can target more than one regions of nucleic acid sequence in a single target nucleic acid molecule or can target regions of nucleic acid sequence in differing target nucleic acid molecules. The self multifunctional siNA molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
US07858768B2 Detection and distinguishing infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strains by molecular biology method
The present invention relates to a novel method to detect and differentiate different strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in a chicken and other bird sample. RNA was obtained from said samples by using a pair of primer (Primer FVVC & RVVC) in a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Two different primer combinations (Primer IF & IVIR) and (Primer IF & RCLA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction conditions were designed and optimized for rapid differentiation of very virulent and vaccine strains of IBDV based on detection of signatory threshold cycle (Ct) and melting temperature (Tm) values.
US07858763B2 Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) haplotypes and prediction of susceptibility for immunological disorders
The present invention is related to the haplotypes of human Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 (TGFβ1) and prediction of susceptibility for immunological disorders. More particularly the present study is the first study in any population, identifying novel protective and risk haplotypes of the TGFβ1 gene The present invention also relates to allelic variants of the human Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 (TGFβ1) gene. The said invention also provides primers and methods suitable for the detection of these haplotypes and allelic variants for the prediction of an individual's disease susceptibility, and/or the genetic analysis of the TGFβ1 gene for immunological disorders, particularly asthma. A vital aspect of the present study provides a method for predicting susceptibility of individuals to immunological disorders, particularly asthma.
US07858762B2 Phosphate limited inducible promoter and a Bacillus expression system
An evolvable production strain of B. subtilis exhibiting continuous or high level expression during protein evolution is described. An evolved Bacillus subtilis pstS promoter facilitates screening and production of secreted proteins.
US07858761B2 1-α-halo-2,2-difluoro-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose derivatives and process for the preparation thereof
1-α-halo-2,2-difluoro-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose derivative of formula (I) having the 3-hydroxy group protected with a biphenylcarbonyl group is a solid which can be easily purified by a simple procedure such as recrystallization, and therefore, it can be advantageously used as an intermediate in the preparation of gemcitabine in a large scale. Further, the 1-α-halo-2,2-difluoro-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose derivative of formula (I) can be prepared with high stereoselectivity using the compound of formula (V) as an intermediate.
US07858758B2 Monoclonal antibodies for detection of urinary trypsin inhibitors
Certain monoclonal antibodies are able to detect urinary trypsin inhibitors (UTIs) that are characteristic of disease in humans. In particular, the UTIs include AMBK, Bikunin, Uristatin, Uristatin-1, Uristatin-2, as defined herein, also including the fragments and aggregates thereof.
US07858755B2 Monoclonal antibodies that bind Chemerin polypeptide
The present invention relates to a G-protein coupled receptor and a novel ligand therefor. The invention provides screening assays for the identification of candidate compounds which modulate the activity of the G-protein coupled receptor, as well as assays useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a disease or disorder related to the dysregulation of G-protein coupled receptor signaling.
US07858754B2 Nel-related protein type 1 antibody
The present invention provides novel human genes, for example a novel human gene comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1. The use of the genes makes it possible to detect the expression of the same in various tissues, analyze their structures and functions, and produce the human proteins encoded by the genes by the technology of genetic engineering. Through these, it becomes possible to analyze the corresponding expression products, elucidate the pathology of diseases associated with the genes, for example hereditary diseases and cancer, and diagnose and treat such diseases.
US07858753B2 Immunoglobulins
The present invention concerns immunoglobulins, such as antibodies, which specifically bind Oncostatin M (OSM), particularly human OSM (hOSM) and modulate the interaction between OSM and gp130. In typical embodiments, OSM is glycosylated. The invention also concerns antibodies that modulate the interaction between both Site II and Site III of OSM and their respective interacting partners. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, screening and medical treatment methods.
US07858748B2 Method for purifying marine collagen and the processing thereof into porous sponges
Methods are provided for purifying marine collagen and for processing the collagen into porous sponges. Products produced with these methods and the use of the products are also provided.
US07858745B2 Use of specifically engineered enzymes to enhance the efficacy of prodrugs
The invention provides methods for enhancing efficiency of prodrugs by specifically engineered enzymes with enhanced activity towards nucleoside analogs used in cancer chemotherapy, and delivering the enzymes to specific target cells in a patient. The invention also provides modified deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) mutants with such enhanced activity. Furthermore, the invention provides antibody-conjugated enzymes that can be specifically delivered to leukemic blast cells in vivo or ex vivo.
US07858744B2 Compositions, reagents and kits for and methods of diagnosing, monitoring and treating hormonal imbalance
The present invention concerns ten novel variants of alternative splicing of the hormonal imbalance related genes.
US07858742B2 Lymphoma associated molecules and uses therefor
The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated BAL nucleic acid molecules, which are differentially expressed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing BAL nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a BAL gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated BAL proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-BAL antibodies. Diagnostic methods using compositions of the invention are also provided.
US07858741B2 Stabilization of the collagen triple helix by O-methylation of hydroxyproline residues
This invention relates to a collagen polypeptide comprising a tripeptide motif having the formula (ProYaaGly)n, where Yaa is an O-methylated amino acid residue and “n” is the number of motif repeats. Preferred O-methylated amino acid residues at the Yaa position include (2S,4R)-4-methoxyproline. Other suitable amino acid residues at that position include O-mono or O-di-halogenated methylproline. Also, disclosed is a method of making a synthetic or a semi-synthetic collagen polypeptide molecule having increased stability relative to natural collagen. The strengthened collagen molecules are suitable for use in biomaterials for the medical field or in leather-related products prepared by the tanning industry.
US07858736B2 Polymer recovery method
This invention relates to a process comprising contacting an polymerization reactor effluent with a fluorinated hydrocarbon and thereafter recovering olefin polymer, where the fluorinated hydrocarbon is present at 5 volume % to 99 volume % based upon the volume of the effluent and the fluorinated hydrocarbon, and where the polymerization is a continuous polymerization of at least 75 mole % of hydrocarbon monomers, based upon the total moles of monomer present in the reactor.
US07858732B2 Highly functional, highly branched or hyperbranched polyesters, the production thereof and the use of the same
High-functionality highly branched or hyperbranched polyesters based on di-, tri- or polycarboxylic acids and di-, tri- or polyols, processes for preparing them, and their use.
US07858731B2 Polyester resins and polyester containers having reduced frictional properties
The invention embraces polyester resins and containers that include surface-modified talc. The invention also embraces a method for the late introduction of surface-modified talc via a reactive carrier to achieve a polyester resin that is capable of being formed into low-haze, high-clarity bottles possessing reduced coefficient of friction.
US07858726B2 Process for producing low-molecular polyphenylene ether
A process for producing a low-molecular polyphenylene ether having a content of components with molecular weights of 20,000 or more of 10 mass % or less and a number average molecular weight of 4,000 or less by a redistribution reaction which involves reacting a raw polyphenylene ether having a number average molecular weight of 10,000 or more with a polyphenol compound and a radical initiator, characterized in that the redistribution reaction step is a step conducted in a solvent; the ratio of the raw polyphenylene ether to the solvent (raw polyphenylene ether:solvent) (mass ratio) is provided at 0.4:100 to 40:100 (mass ratio); and the ratio of the radical initiator to the solvent (radical initiator:solvent) (mass ratio) is provided at 0.5:100 to 5:100 (mass ratio).
US07858714B2 Polymerization process
This invention is directed to processes of making polymer in the presence of a fluorinated hydrocarbon and recovering the polymer. The processes provided enable polymerization processes to be practiced with minimal fouling in the reaction system, and allows for the recovery of the fluorinated hydrocarbon and other hydrocarbons such as hydrocarbons for reuse in the process or hydrocarbon by-products from the polymerization process. The invention is particularly beneficial in the production of propylene based polymers using Ziegler Natta catalyst systems.
US07858713B2 Accelerator systems for low-temperature curing
Composition comprising as component A) a 1-imidazoly[mothyl-substituted 2-naphthol compound of the general formula (I) where R1, R2 and R3 each independently of one another are H; C1-17alkyl; C3-12cycloalkyl, optionally substituted by c1-4alkyl groups; C4-20cycloalkyl-alkyl, optionally substituted by C1-4alkyl groups; C6-10aryl, optionally substituted by 1-3 C1-4-alkyl groups; C7-15,phonylalkyl, optionally substituted by 1-3 C1-4alkyl groups; C3-17alkenyl; C3-12alkynyl; or aromatic or aliphatic C3-12acyf; R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 each independently of one another are H; C1-12alkyl; C3-12cycloalkyl, optionally substituted by C1-4alkyl groups; C4-20cycloalkyl-alkyl, optionally substituted by C1-4alkyf groups; C6-10aryl, optionally substituted by 1-3 C1-4alkyl groups; C7-15phenylalkyl, optionally substituted by 1-3 C1-4alkyl groups; C3-17alkenyl; C3-12alkynyl; C1-12alkoxy; or OH; and as component B) a phenol which is liquid at room temperature, the weight ratio of component A) to component B) being from 10:90 to 80:20 as accelerator for curable epoxy resin compositions which are used as a compression moulding compound, sinter powder, encapsulating system, casting resin, or for producing prepregs and laminates having very good interlaminar shear strength values using impregnating methods or injection methods, for producing components, especially components of large surface area.
US07858711B2 Lead-free insulation compositions containing metallocene polymers
Novel additive systems for lead-free filled cable insulation are disclosed. These systems provide improved electrical and mechanical properties. The base polymer may be metallocene based, non metallocene based or combinations thereof. The additives may contain one or more hindered amine light stabilizers, mercapto compounds, and optionally, amine antioxidants.
US07858708B2 Propylene-ethylene-butene block copolymer and molded article thereof
A propylene-ethylene-butene block copolymer is provided which includes from 60 to 85% by weight of a polypropylene portion and from 15 to 40% by weight of a propylene-ethylene-butene random copolymer portion, wherein the copolymer satisfies the requirements (1) and (2) given below. In addition, a molded article including such a propylene-ethylene-butene block copolymer is provided.(1) The random copolymer portion includes a propylene-ethylene random copolymer component (EP) and a propylene-ethylene-butene random copolymer component (EPB) and the copolymer component (EP) has an intrinsic viscosity of from 1.5 to 8 dl/g and an ethylene unit content of from 20 to 50% by weight, and the copolymer component (EPB) has an intrinsic viscosity of from 0.5 to 8 dl/g, an ethylene unit content of from 47 to 77% by weight and a butene unit component of from 3 to 33% by weight and the total of the ethylene unit content and the butene unit content is from 50 to 80% by weight.(2): The propylene-ethylene-butene block copolymer has a melt flow rate of from 5 to 120 g/10 min.
US07858706B2 Catalyst composition comprising shuttling agent for ethylene multi-block copolymer formation
A composition for use in forming a multi-block copolymer, said copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in chemical or physical properties, a polymerization process using the same, and the resulting polymers, wherein the composition comprises the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining: (A) a first metal complex olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second metal complex olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by catalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, and (C) a chain shuttling agent.
US07858705B2 Functionalised polyolefins, moisture curable polyolefin resins and processes of manufacturer thereof
A process for preparing a functionalised polyolefin is described. The process comprises the step of reacting: (i) a polyolefin, (ii) a compound containing a functional group, and (iii) a coagent compound having Formula I: Xn—Y—Zm  (I) wherein: Y is a core moiety; Z is a moiety containing a carbon-carbon double bond or a carbon-carbon triple bond; X is a moiety different than Z and the bond between X and Y may be a single bond or a double bond; n is a whole number greater than or equal to 0; m is a whole number greater than or equal to 2; and m+n equals a number up to the valence of Y; wherein: (a) when m is 2 and n is 0, the process comprises initially reacting the polyolefin and the coagent to form a product that is then reacted with the compound containing the functional group, and (b) the compound containing a functional group is substantially inert in free radical-mediated polymerization reactions and in free radical-mediated grafting reactions. The invention also relates to a functionalized polyolefin produced by such a process. The polyolefins, particularly high molecular weight polyolefins (Mn>10,000), can be extensively modified with functional groups (e.g., thiols, epoxides, anhydrides, carboxylic acids, amines, amides, boron-containing compounds, silicon-containing compounds, cyano-containing compounds, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfites, esters, thioesters, dithioesters, ether, halides, phosphates, phosphonates, phosphines, phosphites and other compounds containing polar moieties) without altering molecular weight thereby rendering the functionalised polyolefins useful in a wide range of applications.
US07858704B2 Dimercaptan terminated polythioether polymers and methods for making and using the same
Dimercaptan terminated polythioether polymers are disclosed, as are methods for making and using the same.
US07858697B2 Carbinol functional silicone resins
This invention relates to carbinol-functional silicone resins and a method to manufacture carbinol-functional silicone resins. This invention also relates to emulsion compositions comprising the carbinol-functional silicone resins. The carbinol-functional silicone resins can be used to make tough, water resistant, solvent resistant, scratch resistant, and heat resistant materials by formulating and reacting these silicone resins with certain organic materials.
US07858695B2 Aqueous polymer dispersion
The invention provides a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of water insoluble heteropolymeric particles comprising polymerising in an aqueous reaction medium ethylenically unsaturated monomers, said ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomers and non-ionisable hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers, to form said heteropolymeric particles dispersed in said aqueous reaction medium, wherein the monomers in said reaction medium at any point in time comprise less than 5 weight % of ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein for at least a part of the polymerisation the monomers in said reaction medium have a composition which is maintained with an ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer content of from 0.5 to less than 5 weight % throughout polymerisation of at least 30 weight % of the total amount of monomers polymerised to form the heteropolymeric particles, and wherein the total amount of non-ionisable hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers and ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomers polymerised constitutes at least 75 weight % of the total amount of monomers polymerised to form the heteropolymeric particles, a method of preparing a paint comprising conventional paint additives and the aqueous dispersion of water insoluble heteropolymeric particles of the invention, and a novel aqueous dispersion of water insoluble heteropolymeric particles.
US07858689B2 Thermoplastic vulcanizates with improved mechanical properties
A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a dynamically-cured rubber, where the rubber is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene rubber, propylene-based rubbery copolymers with units derived from non-conjugated diene monomers, butyl rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber, where dynamic vulcanization is effected with a phenolic resin or a silicon-containing curative, and where the rubber is dynamically cured to an extent where greater than 94% by weight of the rubber is insoluble in cyclohexane at 23° C., and from about 25 to about 250 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polymer phase per 100 parts by weight rubber, where about 85% to about 50% by weight of the thermoplastic polymer phase includes a propylene-based polymer, and where from about 15% to about 50% by weight of the thermoplastic polymer phase includes a butene-1-based polymer.
US07858687B2 Polyimide resins for high temperature wear applications
Polyimide resin compositions that contain an aromatic polyimide, graphite and a kaolin filler, are found to exhibit low wear and high thermal oxidative stability. Such compositions are especially useful in molded articles that are exposed to wear conditions at high temperatures such as aircraft engine parts.
US07858685B2 Solvent-based surface coating
The present invention provides environmentally acceptable solvent-based surface coatings that are particularly useful as pigmented polymeric roof-coatings, sealants, caulks, and the like. A solvent-based surface coating composition of the invention comprises an n-propyl bromide-containing solvent with a polymeric coating resin dispersed therein. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a solvent containing n-propyl-bromide and a liquid hydrocarbon, with a filler (e.g., a pigment) and a polymeric coating resin dispersed therein.
US07858684B2 Solid composite material and production method thereof
An object of the invention is to provide a solid composite material easily molded into a desirable shape and superior both in hardness and toughness, and a method of producing the same. A solid composite material 1 having an organic matrix of fibrous organic polymers of nonionic polymer and fine particles of a crystalline metal carbonate having an average diameter of 30 nm or less dispersed therein and a production method thereof. The production method includes mixing, gelation, and reactive precipitation steps. In the mixing step, a liquid mixture is prepared by mixing a hydrophilic nonionic polymers with a metal ion source in water. In the gelation step, the nonionic polymer in the liquid mixture is allowed to gel, to give a gel solvent. In the reactive precipitation step, a metal carbonate is precipitated by adding a carbonic acid source to the gel solvent.
US07858683B2 Interlayer film for laminated glass and laminated glass
The invention provides an interlayer film for a laminated glass and a laminated glass, which are protected against a slump in TL value through attenuation of said coincidence effect and adapted to display an outstanding sound insulation performance over a broad temperature range. An interlayer film for a laminated glass comprising a plasticizer and a polyacetal resin, which is a blend of a polyacetal resin having an average polymerization degree of 1,000 to 3,000 and a polyacetal resin having an average polymerization degree of 3,000 to 5,000, and which has an acetalization degree of 60 to 85 mol % and an acetyl group content of 8 to 30 mol %. An interlayer film for a laminated glass which shows a temperature dependence of loss tangent in which the lowest-temperature side maximum of loss tangent appears at 30° C. or lower when examined for dynamic viscoelasticity.
US07858681B2 Product comprising ionomer and plasticizer
A product comprises or is produced from a substrate and optionally a thermal insulation wherein the substrate comprises or is produced from polyvinyl chloride and a liquid plasticizer; the substrate, the insulation material, or both is coated, laminated, coextruded, or applied with a barrier layer comprising an ionomer; and the substrate is in close proximity to the insulation material. Also disclosed is a process that can be used to prevent liquid plasticizer from migrating out of polyvinyl chloride product wherein the product is optionally in close proximity to a thermal insulation; the process comprises coating, laminating, coextruding, or applying a barrier layer disclosed above onto the surface, or a portion thereof, of the product or onto the insulation.
US07858680B2 Thermoplastic polycarbonate compositions
Disclosed herein is a thermoplastic composition comprising: a polycarbonate; an impact modifier; a polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer; a poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane copolymer; and an organophosphate in an amount of 2 to 20 weight percent based on the combined weight of polycarbonate, impact modifier, polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer, and poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane copolymer, wherein the composition has a notched Izod impact strength of greater than or equal to 4 kilojoules per square meter (kJ/m2) as determined according to ISO 180/A, a melt viscosity rate of less than or equal to 130 Pascal seconds (Pa·s) as determined according to ISO11443 at 1500 s−1 and 280° C., and a UL94 rating of V1 or better at 0.8 millimeter thickness.
US07858679B2 Polymeric compositions and related methods of use
Methods for surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, which can utilize a catecholic alkyl halide initiator.
US07858678B2 Phosphonium flow enhancers for blends of polycarbonate and polyester
A thermoplastic polymer blend is disclosed comprising a polyester, a polycarbonate, and a minor amount of a flow enhancer selected from non-sulfonated phosphonium salts. Optionally, impact modifiers and other conventional additives are included.
US07858674B2 Antimicrobial rubber formulations and molded article
This disclosure relates generally to molded rubber articles such as the type used in water contact applications. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to molded rubber articles containing antimicrobial agents that control biofilm growth on the surface of the molded article. The molded rubber article is comprised of curable rubber compounds and a combination of both inorganic silver-containing antimicrobial agents and organic antimicrobial agents. An exemplary molded rubber article comprises ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, silver-containing ion exchange antimicrobial agent, and an organic antifungal agent such as zinc pyrithione.
US07858673B2 Method for sterilizing impression materials and impression material that can be sterilized
A method for sterilizing medical single-component or multi-component impression materials that can harden, and a two-component impression material. In a first step of the method, the components of the impression materials that have not hardened are introduced into a primary packaging. In a second step, the primary packagings, with the components contained therein, are sterilized by heat sterilization. In a third step, the sterilized components in the primary packagings are introduced into a secondary packaging. In a fourth step, this secondary packaging is sterilized by means of a suitable gas sterilization, irradiation sterilization, and/or by means of sterilization in an autoclave, so that the activity and the viscosity of the components are not changed.
US07858672B1 Methacrylic materials suitable for ophthalmic and otorhinolaryngological devices
Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, methacrylic device materials. The materials contain an ethoxylate monomer to reduce glistenings and a long-chain alkyl methacrylate monomer for softening.
US07858670B2 Photosensitive inkjet ink
A photosensitive inkjet ink is provided, which includes a photo-acid generating agent, pigment, and an organic dispersion medium containing at least two kinds of polymerizable compounds selected from the group consisting of an oxetane compound and a vinyl ether compound, at least one kind of the polymerizable compounds being a monofunctional compound at a concentration of 20 to 70% based on a total weight of the organic dispersion medium, and the vinyl ether compound at a concentration of 30% or more based on a total weight of the organic dispersion medium. The vinyl ether compound is selected from the following chemical formula.
US07858666B2 IRE-1α inhibitors
Compounds which directly inhibit IRE-1α activity in vitro, prodrugs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Such compounds and prodrugs are useful for treating diseases associated with the unfolded protein response and can be used as single agents or in combination therapies.
US07858663B1 Physical and chemical properties of thyroid hormone organic acid addition salts
A pharmaceutical composition comprising the salt of a thyroid hormone selected from the group consisting of levothyroxine and liothyronine and an organic acid comprising at least one aromatic ring having at least one hydroxyl moiety and at least one carboxylic acid moiety in an ortho relationship.
US07858662B2 Medicament for the treatment of viral skin and tumour diseases
The invention relates to a medicament containing a compound of general formula (1), where R1=independently, a straight or branched, saturated, singly- or multiply-unsaturated, optionally substituted C11-C21 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, preferably a C11-C15 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, particularly a C11-C13 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, most preferably a C13 alkyl group, R2=independently, a straight or branched C1-C8 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, preferably a C1-C6 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, in particular a C2-C4 alkyl, alkylene or alkynyl group, most preferably a C3 alkyl group, a —[CH2—(CH2)m—O]nH group with n=1 to 10, preferably n=1 to 5, m=1 to 5, preferably m=1 to 3, a —CH2—[CH—(OH)]p[CH2—(R3)]— group, where R3=independent H or OH, p=1 to 7, preferably p=1 to 4, a pentose group or a hexose group, as therapeutically active agent, alone or in combination with one or several further pharmaceutical agents as a combination preparation for the treatment of viral skin diseases and/or tumor diseases, in particular caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) and/or herpes viruses and a topically acting medicament formulation and the use thereof.
US07858660B2 Compositions and kits for treating influenza
Compositions, kits and methods are provided for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza.
US07858658B2 Fluoro- and trifluoroalkyl-containing heterocyclic sulfonamide inhibitors of beta amyloid production and derivatives thereof
Compounds of Formula (I), are provided where T is CHO, COR8, or C(OH)R1R2; R1 and R2 are hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, CF3, optionally substituted alkenyl, or optionally substituted alkynyl; R3 is hydrogen or optionally substituted lower alkyl; R4 is (CF3)nalkyl, (CF3)n(substitutedalkyl), (CF3)nalkylphenyl, (CF3)nalkyl(substitutedphenyl), or (F)ncycloalkyl; n=1-3; R5 is hydrogen, halogen, CF3, diene fused to Y when Y=C, or substituted diene fused to Y when Y=C; W, Y and Z are C, CR6 or N where at least one of W, Y or Z are C; R6 is hydrogen, halogen, or optionally substituted lower alkyl; X is O, S, SO2, or NR7; R7 is hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted benzyl, or optionally substituted phenyl; and R8 is lower alkyl, CF3, or optionally substituted phenyl. Methods of preparing and using these compounds for inhibiting beta amyloid production and for treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Down's syndrome are also described.
US07858655B2 Drug preparation comprising α-lipoic acid, ambroxol and/or inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and its use for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
The present invention concerns the use of Provided is a drug composition and a method for using the composition for the prevention and the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. The combination comprises at least two of the following substances: α-lipoic acid; ambroxol and one or several inhibitor(s) of the angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE).
US07858654B2 Imidazole-substituted arylamides as P2X3 and P2X2/3 antagonists
Compounds of the formula I: wherein R1 is optionally substituted imidazolyl, and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein. Also provided are methods of using the compounds for treating diseases mediated by a P2X3 and/or a P2X2/3 receptor antagonist and methods of making the subject compounds.
US07858652B2 Substituted 4-imidazoles
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I, wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; each R3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, phenyloxy, benzyloxy, halogen and lower alkyl substituted by halogen; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; X is selected from the group consisting of —CH2—, —CH— and —O—; Y is selected from the group consisting of —CH2—, —CH2CH2—, —CH— and a bond; with the proviso that, when X is —O—, Y is —CH2—; Z is selected from the group consisting of —CH2— and —CH—; m is 1 or 2; and n is 1 or 2. The invention relates also to a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid-addition salt of such a compound, methods for making the compound, and a composition comprising such a compound.It has been found that the compounds of formula I have a good affinity to the trace amine associated receptors (TAARs), especially for TAAR1.
US07858649B2 Imidazole derivatives and their use for modulating the GABAA receptor complex
This invention relates to novel imidazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods of treatment therewith. The compounds of the invention are of the general formula (I) and include any of its stereoisomers, any mixture of its stereoisomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of central nervous system diseases and disorders, which are responsive to modulation of the GABAA receptor complex, and in particular for combating anxiety and related diseases.
US07858642B2 Substituted hydroxyethylamine aspartyl protease inhibitors
The invention relates to novel compounds and also to methods of treating at least one disease, disorder, or condition associated with amyloidosis using such compounds. Amyloidosis refers to a collection of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with abnormal deposition of A-beta protein.
US07858637B2 Administration of TLR7 ligands and prodrugs thereof for treatment of infection by hepatitis C virus
This invention relates to methods for treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infections in mammals using Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)7 ligands and prodrugs thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to methods of orally administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more prodrugs of TLR7 ligands for the treatment or prevention of hepatitis C viral infection. Oral administration of these TLR7 immunomodulating ligands and prodrugs thereof to a mammal provides therapeutically effective amounts and reduced undesirable side effects.
US07858632B2 Diaminopyrimidines as P2X3 and P2X2/3 antagonists
Compounds and methods for treating diseases mediated by a P2X3 and/or a P2X2/3 receptor antagonist, the methods comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, wherein D, X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein.
US07858631B2 Substituted pyrido [2,3-d] pyrimidinone compounds
A variety of low molecular weight, guanidino-containing molecules capable of acting as MC4-R agonists are provided. The compounds are useful in treating MC4-R mediated diseases. The compounds have the structure of Formulas (IA), (IB), or (IC): where the values of the variable are defined herein.
US07858627B2 Topoisomerase-targeting agents
The invention provides compounds of formula I or formula II: wherein: the bond represented by is a single bond or a double bond, and R1—R5, X, and Y have any of the meanings defined in the specification and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I or II, processes for preparing compounds of formula I or II, intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula I or II, and therapeutic methods for treating cancer and other topoisomerase related conditions using compounds of formula I or II.
US07858622B2 Selected CGRP antagonists, processes for preparing them and their use as pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention relates to the CGRP antagonists of general formula I wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in claim 1, the tautomers, the isomers, the diastereomers, the enantiomers, the hydrates thereof, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof and the hydrates of the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, as well as those compounds of general formula I wherein one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, their use and processes for preparing them.
US07858619B2 Substituted tetrahydroisochinolines as MMP inhibitors, related production method and use as medicine
The present invention is directed to a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, A, L and n are as defined herein, its pharmaceutical composition, preparation and uses as a MMP inhibitor.
US07858616B2 Indolinone derivatives substituted in the 6 position, their preparation and their use as medicaments
The present invention relates to indolinone derivatives, substituted in the 6-position, of the formula in which R1 to R6 and X are as defined in Claim 1, to their tautomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, to their mixtures and to their salts, in particular their physiologically acceptable salts, which have useful pharmacological properties, in particular in inhibiting action on various receptor tyrosine kinases and on the proliferation of endothelial cells and various tumour cells, to medicaments comprising these compounds, to their use and to processes for their preparation.
US07858614B2 Therapeutic pyrazolonaphthyridine derivatives
The invention provides a novel chemical series of formula I, as well as methods of use thereof for binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and negatively modulating the α5 subtype of GABAA, and use of the compound of formula I for the treatment of GABAA receptor associated disorders. The general structure of formula I is shown below: The invention further provides a method of modulation of one or more GABAA subtypes in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I).
US07858611B2 Neurogenesis by modulating angiotensin
The instant disclosure describes methods for treating diseases and conditions of the central and peripheral nervous system by stimulating or increasing neurogenesis. The invention includes compositions and methods based on modulation angiotensin activity to stimulate or activate the formation of new nerve cells.
US07858607B2 System for use by compounding pharmacists to produce hormone replacement medicine customized for each consumer
The invention concerns a concentrated hormone pharmaceutical composition having from about 0.6 to about 80% of at least one hormone; from about 20 to about 90.4% of at least one solvent, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The concentrated hormone pharmaceutical composition according to this invention provides a concentrated pharmaceutical composition that is easy to use and saves time and money to the pharmacies dealing with BHRT pharmaceutical products.
US07858600B2 7- and 9- carbamate, urea, thiourea, thiocarbamate, and heteroaryl-amino substituted tetracycline compounds
Substituted tetracycline compounds, methods of synthesis, and methods of use are discussed. Tetracyclines useful for treating tetracycline related disorders are also discussed. Intermediates useful for synthesizing other tetracycline compounds are also included.
US07858598B2 Reagents for detection of hypochlorous acid
Provided herein are compounds or hypochlorous acid probes which can be used as reagents for measuring, detecting and/or screening, directly or indirectly, hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite. Provided also herein are methods that can be used to measure, directly or indirectly, the amount of hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite in chemical samples and biological samples such as cells and tissues in living organisms. Specifically, the methods include the steps of contacting the hypochlorous acid probes disclosed herein with the samples to form one or more fluorescent compounds, and measuring fluorescence properties of the fluorescent compounds. Provided also herein are high-throughput screening fluorescent methods for detecting or screening hypochlorous acid or compounds that can increase or decrease, directly or indirectly, the level of hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite in chemical and biological samples.
US07858596B2 Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one protein drug or bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability for paracellular protein drug and bioactive agent delivery.
US07858591B2 RNA aptamers and methods for identifying the same
RNA aptamers and methods for identifying the same are disclosed. The RNA aptamers selectively bind coagulation factors, E2F family members, Ang1 or Ang2, and therapeutic and other uses for the RNA aptamers are also disclosed.
US07858590B2 Treatment of parkinson's disease and related disorders
Described herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and/or to protect dopaminergic nigrostriatal neuronal cell bodies from 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in a mammal. In various embodiments of the invention, the dopaminergic neuron differentiation factor sonic hedgehog (Shh) and/or its downstream transcription factor target Gli-1 are used in connection with gene therapeutic techniques or direct peptide injection for the aforementioned indications. Kits useful in practicing the inventive method are also disclosed, as are animal models useful for studying various neurodegenerative conditions.
US07858589B2 Compositions of CpG and saponin adjuvants and uses thereof
Vaccine compositions of immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and saponin adjuvants and antigens and the use thereof for stimulating immunity, enhancing cell-mediated immunity, and enhancing antibody production are disclosed. Also described are immune adjuvant compositions comprising immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and saponin adjuvants, as well as methods for increasing an immune response using the same.
US07858588B2 Immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleic molecules
Described is an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleic acid molecule (ODN) having the structure according to formula (I), wherein any X is O or S, any NMP is a 2′ deoxynucleoside monophosphate or monothiophosphate, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, -6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine-monophosphate or -monothiophosphate, NUC is a 2′ deoxynucleoside, selected from the group consisting of deoxyadenosine-, deoxyguanosine-, deoxyinosine-, deoxycytosine-, deoxyuridine-, deoxythymidine-, 2-methyl-deoxyinosine-, 5-methyl-deoxycytosine-, deoxypseudouridine-, deoxyribosepurine-, 2-amino-deoxyribosepurine-, 6-S-deoxyguanine-, 2-dimethyl-deoxyguanosine- or N-isopentenyl-deoxyadenosine, any X is O or S, a and b integers from 0 to 100 with the proviso that a+b is between 4 and 150, B and E are common groups for 5′ or 3′ ends of nucleic acid molecules, as well as a pharmaceutical composition containing such ODNs.
US07858585B2 Hydrogels and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel hydrogels and methods of making and using such hydrogels. The present invention provides hydrogels that may be formed by the self-assembly of peptides in solution. Such self-assembly may be brought about by a change in one or more characteristics of the solution. Characteristics of the solution that may be changed include pH, ionic strength, temperature, and concentration of one or more specific ions. In addition, hydrogels of the invention may be disassembled by changing one or more characteristic of the hydrogel such as pH, ionic strength, temperature, and concentration of one or more specific ions.
US07858575B2 Fabric softening compositions comprising glycerol tricaprylate having improved stability upon storage
The present invention relates to fabric softening compositions providing improved stability upon storage as well as improved resistance to shear.
US07858573B2 Process for making a detergent composition containing a sulfonic acid/carboxylic acid copolymer and a hydrophobic silica
A process for making a detergent composition, the detergent composition comprising: a) from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of the composition of a polymer in particulate form comprising: i) a carboxylic acid monomer; ii) more than about 5% by weight of the polymer of a sulfonic acid monomer; and iii) optionally a non-ionic monomer; and b) from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition of a hydrophobic silica the process comprising the steps of: a) pre-mixing the polymer with the hydrophobic silica to obtain a polymer/silica premix; and b) mixing polymer/silica premix with any additional detergent components.
US07858560B2 Capture compounds, collections thereof and methods for analyzing the proteome and complex compositions
Capture Collections of capture compounds and collections thereof and methods using the compounds collections for the analysis of biomolecules are provided. In particular, collections, compounds and methods are provided for analyzing complex protein mixtures, such as the proteome. The compounds in the collections are multifunctional reagents that provide for the separation and isolation of biomolecules in complex protein mixtures. In the collections, each and every compound in the collection, has the formula: Z is a trityl derivative, each of m and n independently is an integer that is 1 to 100; X, the reactivity function, covalently binds to amino acid side chains of biomolecules; Y, the selectivity function, modulates binding of X to the amino acid side chains in biomolecules such that X binds to fewer biomolecules when the selectivity moiety Y is present than in its absence; and Q permits separation or immobilization of capture compounds in the collection. Automated systems for performing the methods also are provided.
US07858559B2 In vitro methods of producing and identifying immunoglobulin molecules in eukaryotic cells
The present invention relates to a high efficiency method of expressing immunoglobulin molecules in eukaryotic cells. The invention is further drawn to a method of producing immunoglobulin heavy and light chain libraries, particularly using the trimolecular recombination method, for expression in eukaryotic cells. The invention further provides methods of selecting and screening for antigen-specific immunoglobulin molecules, and antigen-specific fragments thereof. The invention also provides kits for producing, screening and selecting antigen-specific immunoglobulin molecules. Finally, the invention provides immunoglobulin molecules, and antigen-specific fragments thereof, produced by the methods provided herein.
US07858558B2 Superconducting thin film material and method of manufacturing the same
A superconducting thin film material that can realize attainment of an excellent property such as a high JC and a high IC and reduction of costs at the same time includes an orientated metal substrate and an oxide superconductor film formed on the orientated metal substrate. The oxide superconductor film includes a physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer formed by a physical vapor deposition method, and a metal organic deposition HoBCO layer formed on the physical vapor deposition HoBCO layer by a metal organic deposition method.
US07858553B2 Suspensions of surface treated titanium (IV) oxides and processes for making them
The disclosure relates to a process for making a surface treated suspension of finely divided titanium (IV) oxide particles, typically, finely divided titanium (IV) oxide nanoparticles, comprising: vigorously mixing (a) a volume of a first component comprising a major proportion of alcohol, a minor proportion of titanium alkoxide and a minor proportion of a titanium alkoxide activator selected from the group consisting of water and a first aqueous base, and b) a volume of a second component selected from the group consisting of water and a second aqueous base, at least one of the first component or the second component having a base therein, the second component being substantially free of alcohol, to form a mixture comprising a suspension of finely divided titanium (IV) oxide particle, the mixture having a water to titanium molar ratio ranging from about 40 to about 1 to about 5000 to about 1, wherein the proportion of the titanium alkoxide, the proportion of the activator, the mixing vigor, and the ratio of the volume of the first component to the volume of the second component are effective for the suspension of the finely divided particles to form in the mixture; and treating the suspension with a compound comprising a source of silicon, aluminum or zinc, and products made by the foregoing process. The suspension can be dried to recover a powder.
US07858552B2 Composite catalytic material and process for manufacture of such material
A composite catalytic material (and process for its manufacture) is provided which comprises a catalyst adhered to a polymeric support material. This composite catalytic material can be used to remove or degrade contaminants in water and to remove or degrade carbon monoxide or other airborne contaminants.
US07858551B2 Electrode catalyst for electrochemical reaction, process for producing the electrode catalyst and electrode for electrochemical reaction having the electrode catalyst
The present invention provides an electrode catalyst for electrochemical reaction, the electrode catalyst having: a conductive diamond particle having fine pores on a surface thereof; and a carbon-reactive catalyst metal in the fine pores, a process for producing the electrode catalyst, and an electrode.
US07858549B2 Method for regeneration of iron-loaded denox catalysts
The invention relates to a method for regenerating denox catalysts having an increased SO2/SO3 conversion rate as a result of the cumulation of iron compounds, and is characterized in that the catalysts are treated with an essentially aqueous acid solution, preferably having a pH between 0.5 and 4, and with an addition of antioxidants.
US07858548B2 COG dielectric composition for use with nickel electrodes
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors which satisfy COG requirements and which are compatible with reducing atmosphere sintering conditions so that non-noble metals such as nickel and nickel alloys thereof may be used for internal and external electrodes are made in accordance with the invention. The capacitors exhibit desirable dielectric properties (high capacitance, low dissipation factor, high insulation resistance), excellent performance on highly accelerated life testing, and very good resistance to dielectric breakdown. The dielectric layers comprise a strontium zirconate matrix doped with other metal oxides such as TiO2, MgO, B2O3, CaO, Al2O3, SiO2, and SrO in various combinations.
US07858545B2 Clear glass composition with high visible transmittance
A high transmittance fairly clear/neutral colored glass composition is provided. An oxidizing agent(s) such as cerium oxide (e.g., CeO2) or the like is added to the glass batch in order to realize very oxidized conditions (i.e., to significantly lower the redox of the resulting glass). As a result of the oxidizing agent(s) used in the batch, the iron is oxidized to a very low FeO (ferrous state) content. For example, this may result in a glass having a glass redox value of no greater than 0.12 (more preferably <=0.10; even more preferably <=0.08; and most preferably <=0.05) and a % FeO (i.e., ferrous content) of from 0.0001 to 0.05%. In certain example embodiments, in order to compensate for yellow or yellow-green coloration a small amount of cobalt (Co) may be provided in the glass to enable it to realize a more neutral color.
US07858539B2 Processes for generating halamine compounds on textile substrates to produce antimicrobial finish
Provided herein are processes for topically applying an antimicrobial finish to a textile substrate, such as a yarn, a fabric, a composite, or an assembled article (for example, a garment). Specifically, the antimicrobial finish is based on hindered amine compounds that are applied in an aqueous bath (such as a commercial or home laundry setting), using the factors of pH and compound solubility to promote the formation of a durable antimicrobial halamine finish. Advantageously, the antimicrobial finish, which may be applied to fabrics made of any of a variety of fiber types and combinations of fiber types, has been found to be durable to repeated launderings.
US07858534B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method and substrate processing apparatus
A semiconductor device manufacturing method comprises a process of forming a film on each of multiple substrates arrayed in a processing chamber by a thermal CVD method by supplying a film forming gas into the processing chamber while heating the interior of the processing chamber, wherein in the film forming process, a cycle is performed one time or multiple times with one cycle including a step of flowing the film forming gas from one end towards the other end along the substrate array direction, and a step of flowing the film forming gas from the other end towards the one end along the substrate array direction, without forming temperature gradient along the substrate array direction in the processing chamber.
US07858533B2 Method for curing a porous low dielectric constant dielectric film
A method of curing a low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric film on a substrate is described, wherein the dielectric constant of the low-k dielectric film is less than a value of approximately 4. The method comprises exposing the low-k dielectric film to infrared (IR) radiation and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
US07858527B2 Additive composition, slurry composition including the same, and method of polishing an object using the slurry composition
An additive composition for a slurry contains a first salt of polymeric acid including a first polymeric acid having a first weight average molecular weight and a first base material, and a second salt of polymeric acid including a second polymeric acid having a second weight average molecular weight and a second base material. A slurry composition is prepared by mixing the additive composition, a polishing particle composition, and water. When implementing a chemical mechanical polishing using the slurry composition, a favorable polishing selectivity is realized.
US07858519B2 Integrated circuit and manufacturing method of copper germanide and copper silicide as copper capping layer
A method is provided for forming a capping layer comprising Cu, N, and also Si and/or Ge onto a copper conductive structure, said method comprising the sequential steps of: forming, at a temperature range between 200° C. up to 400° C., at least one capping layer onto said copper conductive structure by exposing said structure to a GeH4 and/or a SiH4 comprising ambient, performing a NH3 plasma treatment thereby forming an at least partly nitrided capping layer, forming a dielectric barrier layer onto said at least partly nitrided capping layer, wherein prior to said step of forming said at least one capping layer a pre-annealing step of said copper conductive structure is performed at a temperature range between 250° C. up to 450° C.
US07858517B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and semiconductor device
First, in a first step, a gate electrode is formed over a silicon substrate, with a gate insulation film therebetween. Next, in a second step, etching with the gate electrode as a mask is conducted so as to dig down a surface layer of the silicon substrate. Subsequently, in a third step, a first layer including an SiGe layer is epitaxially grown on the dug-down surface of the silicon substrate. Next, in a fourth step, a second layer including an SiGe layer lower than the first layer in Ge concentration or including an Si layer is formed on the first layer. Thereafter, in a fifth step, at least the surface side of the second layer is silicided, to form a silicide layer.
US07858516B2 Method for forming fine pattern of semiconductor device
A method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device which includes sequentially forming a non-etching layer and a sacrificial layer on a semiconductor substrate; and then forming a plurality of photo-resist layer patterns having a plurality of openings exposing the sacrificial layer; and then forming a plurality of first pattern grooves in the sacrificial layer etching the exposed sacrificial layer using the photo-resist patterns as an etching barrier; removing the photo-resist layer; and then forming an oxidation layer having a plurality of second pattern grooves on the sacrificial layer and in the first pattern grooves by performing a thermal oxidation process on the sacrificial layer; and then forming a plurality of first through-holes exposing the non-etching layer by completely removing the sacrificial layer remaining in oxidation layer; and then forming a plurality of patterns in the non-etching layer by etching the exposed portions of the non-etching layer using the oxidation layer as an etching barrier.
US07858510B1 Interfacial layers for electromigration resistance improvement in damascene interconnects
Protective caps residing at an interface between metal lines and dielectric diffusion barrier (or etch stop) layers are used to improve electromigration performance of interconnects. Protective caps are formed by depositing a first layer of aluminum-containing material over an exposed copper line by treating an oxide-free copper surface with an organoaluminum compound in an absence of plasma at a substrate temperature of at least about 350° C. The formed aluminum-containing layer is passivated either partially or completely in a chemical conversion which forms Al—N, Al—O or both Al—O and Al—N bonds in the layer. Passivation is performed in some embodiments by contacting the substrate having an exposed first layer with an oxygen-containing reactant and/or nitrogen-containing reactant in the absence of plasma. Protective caps can be formed on substrates comprising exposed ULK dielectric. The aluminum-containing layer residing on the dielectric portion will typically spontaneously form non-conductive layer comprising Al—O bonds.
US07858507B2 Method and system for creating photosensitive array with integrated backplane
A method of fabricating a photoactive array having an integrated backplane is provided. The layers of the device may be stamped or deposited on a planar or a curved substrate, such as a semispherical or ellipsoidal substrate. Each metal layer may be stamped using an elastomeric stamp and a vacuum mold. By depositing the patterned and full-surface layers in a single process, a photosensitive array with an integrated transistor backplane may be fabricated, resulting in improved sensitivity and performance.
US07858505B2 Method of forming a transistor having multiple types of Schottky junctions
A gate electrode is formed overlying a substrate. A first angled metal implant is performed at a first angle into the substrate followed by performing a second angled metal implant at a second angle. The first angled metal implant and the second angled metal implant form a first current electrode and a second current electrode. Each of the first current electrode and the second current electrode has at least two regions of differing metal composition. A metal layer is deposited overlying the gate electrode, the first current electrode and the second current electrode. The metal layer is annealed to form two Schottky junctions in each of the first current electrode and the second current electrode. The two Schottky junctions have differing barrier levels.