Document | Document Title |
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US07869163B2 |
Air bearing at opposite side of linear tape to support tape into contact with head slider
A tape head and bearing assembly comprises an air bearing structure having a tape bearing surface with a plurality of openings therein configured to provide a continuous air bearing of pressurized air to support a linear tape moving along a path, the air bearing being provided on only one side of the linear tape. A head slider assembly, such as an HDD-type assembly, is positioned at the opposite side of the linear tape from the tape bearing surface and is configured to be in contact with the linear tape. |
US07869149B2 |
Lens module with magnetic field barrier
An exemplary lens module includes an electromagnetic shutter, an electromagnetic motor and a magnetic field barrier sandwiched between the electromagnetic shutter and the electromagnetic motor. The electromagnetic shutter is configured for generating a first magnetic field. The electromagnetic motor is configured for generating a second magnetic field. The magnetic field barrier is configured for preventing the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field from penetrating therethrough. |
US07869148B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes of a lens holder arranged concentrically with an imaging element; a lens barrel having an imaging lens removably inserted from the leading end section side of the lens holder; a cover removably fitted at the leading end section of the lens holder; and a cam mechanism section arranged on the barrel, the lens holder and the cover so that the barrel turns around the optical axis to the imaging element and that the barrel moves in the optical axis direction. The cam mechanism section includes a first cam surface formed on the inner circumference surface of the lens holder; a cam protruding section formed on the outer circumference surface of the lens barrel; and a second cam surface formed on the inner surface of the cover. The cam mechanism section smoothly turns the barrel around the optical axis and moves the barrel in the optical axis direction. |
US07869144B2 |
Lens optical system
Provided is a lens optical system, which includes (from object to image side) a first lens group having positive refractive power, a stop, and a second lens group having positive refractive power. The first lens group comprises a plurality of lenses among which there are a lens closest to the object side and a lens closest to the stop having negative refractive powers. The second lens group includes a front group and a rear group. |
US07869143B2 |
Imaging optical system, camera apparatus, and personal digital assistant
An imaging optical system, including a first lens group; an aperture stop; a second lens group having a positive power, the first lens group, the aperture stop and the second lens group being arranged from a side of an object sequentially, wherein the second lens group includes a second front lens group having a positive power and a second rear lens group having a positive power, the second front lens group and the second rear lens group being arranged sequentially from the object side, wherein, when focusing from an infinity-distance object to a short-distance object, the first lens group and the aperture stop are fixed, and the second front lens group and the second rear lens group are moved with a mutually different movement amount. |
US07869140B2 |
Objective lens design for miniature endoscope
An endoscope objective lens system design is disclosed, generally comprising a first lens group having overall negative refractive power, a second lens group having overall positive refractive power, and an aperture diaphragm disposed between the first and second lens groups wherein the first lens group includes a plano-concave lens with its concave surface facing the objective end of the endoscope. |
US07869137B2 |
ABBE prism lens with improved focus and reduced flair
An Abbe prism lens and lens array are disclosed. The lens comprises front lenses disposed on a front surface of the Abbe prism, rear lenses disposed on a rear surface of the Abbe prism, a front bottom reflecting surface, a rear bottom reflecting surface, a left top reflecting surface, and a right top reflecting surface. An aperture cover is positioned over the front surface of the Abbe prism lens and a field cover is positioned over the rear surface of the Abbe prism lens. The aperture cover comprises aperture holes encircling the aspherical front lenses. The field cover comprises field holes encircling the aspherical rear lenses. Light enters the Abbe prism lens and reflects off the front bottom reflecting surface, reflects off the left top reflecting surface and the right top reflecting surface, reflects off the rear bottom reflecting surface, and exits the rear lens of the Abbe prism lens. |
US07869136B2 |
Image forming optical system and electronic image pickup apparatus using the same
In a zoom lens, in which the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group changes during zooming, wherein a refractive optical element A that has a positive refracting power if its object side surface and its image side surface are interfaces with air is provided between an object side base optical element B and an image side base optical element C to constitute therewith a three-piece cemented optical element D in the first lens group, there is at least one optical element having a positive refracting power disposed closer to the object side than the three-piece cemented optical element D, and the zoom lens satisfies a certain condition. |
US07869130B2 |
Line beam illumination optical system
A line beam illustration optical system is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the line beam illustration optical system can include a first lens, emitting a beam of light incident from a light source in a first direction; a second lens, converging the beam of light, emitted in the first direction, in a second direction that is vertical to the first direction; and a third lens, forming a line beam in parallel with respect to the first direction by collimating the beam of light converged in the second direction, in the first direction. With the present invention, the line beam illustration optical system can reduce the overall length of the illustration optical system. |
US07869129B2 |
Retractable display device for a motor vehicle and a vehicle provided therewith
The invention relates to a retractable display device for a motor vehicle comprising a light source (8) for generating a displayable information and a retractable blade (1) for reflecting information towards the vehicle user. Said blade (1) is mounted on a movable support (2) displaceable between a rest position and at least one display position in such a way that said blade (1) is retracted when the movable support (2) is in the rest position and the blade is unfolded when said movable support (2) is in the display position. |
US07869126B2 |
Screen and projection system
A screen includes a screen sheet including a lens array having a plurality of element lenses arranged in a two-dimensional plane on the front side of the screen, a plurality of reflection surfaces disposed on the backside of the lens array, the plurality of reflection surfaces inclined to the two-dimensional plane, and a plurality of scattering portions that scatter the light directed from the plurality of reflection surfaces toward the front side of the screen. At least one of the plurality of element lenses is a combined lens comprised of a set of two lens portions offset from each other obtained by relatively shifting optical axes of the lens portions, and the reflection surfaces correspond to the respective combined lenses. |
US07869125B2 |
Multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope
A multi-magnification viewing and aiming scope includes a first imaging group including an objective lens lying on the optical path and an eyepiece lens lying on the optical path. The first imaging group forms a first image having a first magnification on the optical path at an image location. A second imaging lens group is controllably inserted into the optical path between at least some elements of the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. Upon insertion of the second imaging lens group into the optical path an optical combination of the first imaging group and the second imaging lens group forms a second image having a second magnification on the optical path at substantially the image location. The insertion may be accomplished by a tumbler mechanism upon which the second imaging lens group is mounted. |
US07869123B2 |
Laser scanning microscope with high-speed data processing
Specimen laser-scanning microscope with raster scanning illumination and detector modules, which illuminates and detects a specimen by raster scanning. A real-time control device (device) performs synchronous reading-out with the raster scanning pixel cycle. A data port serially communicates with the device using a bidirectional high-speed data stream and with the resources via a serial, bidirectional high-speed data stream with a data conversion to/from parallel to serial. The high-speed data stream is made up of data packets with data bits and type bits and no additional header or protocol bits. The data bits contain data from/on the resources and the type bits code the type of data. Type information is stored in the resources as well as the device. The type information defines processing functions for data types coded by the type bits, and the resources and/or the device determine the data type using type bits and process data coded in the data bits. |
US07869122B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective
A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface. The system has potential for very high numerical apertures at moderate lens material mass consumption. |
US07869119B2 |
Electronic paper
An object of the present invention is to increase the resistance of electronic paper to external stress. The resistance to external stress is increased by providing an element formation layer, which includes an integrated circuit portion, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a charged particle-containing layer, between a first insulating film including a first structure body in which a first fibrous body is impregnated with a first organic resin, and a second insulating film including a second structure body in which a second fibrous body is impregnated with a second organic resin. |
US07869118B2 |
Method of fabricating electro-phoretic display
A method of fabricating electro-phoretic display is performed by the steps of: providing a first electrode substrate and a second electrode substrate disposed above the first electrode substrate in an electro-phoretic liquid, wherein the first electrode substrate comprises a substrate and a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on the substrate; putting at least a charged micro-capsule between the first electrode substrate and the second electrode substrate in the electro-phoretic liquid; making the electricity of a portion of the pixel electrodes is opposite to the electricity of the charged micro-capsules for attracting the charged micro-capsules to above the portion of the pixel electrodes. Since the charged microcapsules are disposed on the pixel electrodes immediately and the micro-capsules corresponded to the same pixel electrode have a plurality of colorful charged particles with the same color, the electric-phoretic display fabricated by this method may not only have high reflectivity and transmittance, but also display a picture with single original color. |
US07869113B2 |
Display device using electrochromism and methods of driving the same
Provided is a display device using electrochromism and methods of driving the same. The display device may include an electrochromic device, a plurality of first electrodes electrically connected to upper electrodes of the electrochromic device, and a plurality of second electrodes electrically connected to lower electrodes of the electrochromic device. By short-circuiting the first electrode and the second electrode, a desired pixel changes to reveal a predetermined or given color. |
US07869106B2 |
Holographic recording method, holographic recording apparatus, holographic recording and reproducing method, holographic recording and reproducing apparatus, and holographic recording medium
A holographic recording method, a holographic recording apparatus, a holographic recording and reproducing method, a holographic recording and reproducing apparatus, and a holographic recording medium for recording information in an angle multiplex fashion as a hologram in a first format in which either one of signal light and reference light branched out from a laser light source is made to cross the other in a recording layer at a predetermined incidence angle and the incidence angle is changed at a predetermined angular pitch, or in a second format of higher angular selectivity, wherein the incidence angle when recording information in the second format of higher angular selectivity can be adjusted to cover an incidence angle that satisfies the Bragg's condition when recording in the first format, thereby ensuring reproduction compatibility between media of different angular selectivities. |
US07869097B2 |
Print controlling program and print system for transparent-printing second print data in superposition on first print data
A computer program product for enabling a computer to have a printing control function for transparent-printing second print data in superposition on first print data includes software instructions for enabling the computer to separate the second print data into parts for combining with the first print data and parts not for the combining with the first print data, and combining the data of the parts set for the combining with the first print data so as to be superposed on the first print data. |
US07869096B2 |
Table creation method, table creation apparatus, storage medium, and program
A distortion of a table which causes generation of a pseudo contour is removed. For this, there is disclosed a table creation method of creating a table for performing color separation into coloring material colors in an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of creating a color separation table of a line in which a color reproduction area of the image forming apparatus is maximized, creating a color separation table in an inner line of the color reproduction area of the image forming apparatus, performing an interpolation process based on the created color separation tables, and smoothing the table obtained by the interpolation process to create the table. |
US07869089B2 |
Method and system for predicting print colors
A profile generator determines differences between the standard spectral reflectances of a color chart printed under standard density conditions and the spectral reflectances of a color chart printed while the density of one of the colors C, M, Y, K is changed, and the densities of the other colors are secured to standard densities. When density variations are established, the profile generator generates a print predicting profile using spectral reflectances produced by adding the standard spectral reflectances and the difference with respect to the color whose density has changed. The colors of a print produced when the density of a desired color is changed are predicted with high accuracy using the print predicting profile. |
US07869086B2 |
Offset adjusting device, correcting device, and method of adjusting analog image signal
An offset adjusting device includes a sample-hold unit that sample-holds an analog image signal obtained by converting reflected light from an original into an electric signal with a photoelectric conversion device to thereby obtain a sample-hold signal; an amplifying unit that amplifies the sample-hold signal to obtain an amplified signal; an analog-digital converter that digitizes the amplified signal to obtain a digital signal; a difference detecting unit that detects a difference between a black-level detection value of the digital signal and a black-level target value; an selecting unit that selects an adjustment coefficient among a plurality of adjustment coefficients based on comparison of the difference and a reference value; and a feedback unit that subjects an offset adjustment value based on the adjustment coefficient selected by the selecting unit to feedback processing. |
US07869083B1 |
Producing artwork using color printers
A method of producing a piece of artwork using a computer-controlled color printer (e.g. thermal in-jet printer) capable of printing at least three colors, is provided. The method includes: a) Inputting (e.g. from a digital camera, or the Internet) or selecting a multicolor image (e.g. a digital photograph) so that it is provided in the computer. b) Selectively disabling one or more of the colors, while not disabling all of the colors besides black, of the printer to insure little or none of the one or more disabled colors is printed by the printer; and c) with the printer, printing the non-disabled color or colors of the image onto a substrate (such as matte paper or canvas). In the method, a)-c) may be practiced to produce a final work of art, but preferably the method further includes d) further acting upon the substrate from c) to add artistic elements (e.g. adding acrylic paints, texture, color, foreign materials, and/or objects) to spaced portions of the substrate to produce a final artwork. Typically, b) is practiced to fully disable one or more colors (such as at least black and near black), but can be practiced to only partially disable one or more colors. For an ink-jet printer b) may be practiced by removing an active black ink cartridge. For any printer, b) may be practiced by using computer software. A printer to practice the method, and final artwork produced by the method, are also provided. |
US07869076B1 |
Facsimile telecommunications system and method
A fax processing system handles faxes that are originally destined for a recipient's phone number. The fax processing system communicates with the fax recipient via a data communications network (for example, the Internet) and can provide more sophisticated fax handling capabilities than conventional fax machines. |
US07869075B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
When rasterized text is pasted on a picture image included in a print image, image processing for a picture region is applied to the print image, thus deteriorating the image quality of a text region. Print data is input from the exterior, and objects included in the print data are rendered to generate image data for print. Attribute information of each object is appended to the image data for print, and the image data appended with the attribute information is stored in a memory. Image data indicating a picture attribute is extracted from the rendered image data for print. The extracted image data is segmented into region. Attribute information of image data of a region of a text attribute, which is divided in the segmentation, is rewritten to a text attribute. |
US07869070B2 |
Image forming device, image forming system, image forming method, image forming control program, and computer readable recording medium in which image forming control program is recorded
A printer, as an image forming device, acquires data size of image data to be printed from the data storage device, and calculates the transfer completion time required for transferring the image data to be printed according to the acquired data size of the image data to be printed and a speed of transferring data via an external interface to be used. |
US07869067B2 |
Combination scanner and image data reader system including image management and software
Apparatus and methods for automatic, computer-based image management, including reading, transfer, and storage, and to related software for acquisition, transfer, editing, processing, copying, and archiving of images by the apparatus in accord with the methods. More particularly, the invention comprises image input devices of which specific examples include digital scanners, digital media readers, and a combination of the two, and software that makes possible the complete processing and archiving of digital images with the press of a single button or the act of inserting the media in the device. The inventive processing and archiving image management hardware and software system includes non-camera digital image acquisition, data transfer, display, manipulation (including cropping, adjusting colors, and other such editing), storage, thumbnailing, printing, and electronic transmittal of processed digital image data. In addition to replicating the traditional photographic film development process for digitally acquired images in a software enablement, the inventive image management software adds substantial functional features in the context of user-friendly ease and speed of use. |
US07869064B2 |
Printing device
A printing device comprises an evaluation value determining module, a grouping process module, a recommended image designating module, and a printing process module. The evaluation value determining module determines, for each image, a first evaluation value for a prescribed evaluation item. The grouping process module performs a sorting process to sort the plurality of images into groups of similar images. The recommended image designating module designates, for each group, a recommended image from among the images belonging to the group, based on the first evaluation value. The printing process module prints the designated recommended image. |
US07869057B2 |
Multiple-angle multiple-wavelength interferometer using high-NA imaging and spectral analysis
A method is disclosed including: generating a scanning interferometry signal at each of multiple wavelengths for each of at least one location on a test object; obtaining the scanning interferometry signals at each of the multiple wavelengths for each of at least one location on the test object; analyzing the scanning interferometry signals to determine information about the test object; and outputting the information about the test object. Each scanning interferometry signal corresponds to interference between test light and reference light as an optical path length difference between the test and reference light is varied. The test and reference light are derived from a common source, and the test light emerges from the test object over a range of angles corresponding to a numerical aperture of greater than 0.7. |
US07869056B2 |
Linear displacement and tilting angle measuring device
A tilting angle measuring device includes an optical device, a four-quadrant optical detector and a computing unit. By the optical device, a light beam emitted by the coherent light source is processed into a reference beam and a test beam. The four-quadrant optical detector has four photoelectric converting units arranged in an array for respectively receiving the reference and test beams. The computing unit is electrically connected to the four-quadrant optical detector for computing a tilting angle of the object with respect to a predetermined position according to four intensity values of the test beam. |
US07869055B2 |
Process control monitors for interferometric modulators
Process control monitors are disclosed that are produced using at least some of the same process steps used to manufacture a MEMS device. Analysis of the process control monitors can provide information regarding properties of the MEMS device and components or sub-components in the device. This information can be used to identify errors in processing or to optimize the MEMS device. In some embodiments, analysis of the process control monitors may utilize optical measurements. |
US07869049B2 |
Determining biological tissue optical properties via integrating sphere spatial measurements
An optical sample is mounted on a spatial-acquisition apparatus that is placed in or on an enclosure. An incident beam is irradiated on a surface of the sample and the specular reflection is allowed to escape from the enclosure through an opening. The spatial-acquisition apparatus is provided with a light-occluding slider that moves in front of the sample to block portions of diffuse scattering from the sample. As the light-occluding slider moves across the front of the sample, diffuse light scattered into the area of the backside of the light-occluding slider is absorbed by back side surface of the light-occluding slider. By measuring a baseline diffuse reflectance without a light-occluding slider and subtracting measured diffuse reflectance with a light-occluding slider therefrom, diffuse reflectance for the area blocked by the light-occluding slider can be calculated. |
US07869048B2 |
Photoelectonic sensor
This invention provides a coaxial regressive reflection type photoelectronic sensor capable of enhancing detection accuracy. A sensor head includes a light emitting diode for emitting a detection light; a lens for converting the detection light to a parallel light and projecting the parallel light to an exterior as an external detection light; a half mirror for separating an optical path of the detection light and an optical path of a return light from the regressive reflection plate; and a photodiode for receiving the return light from the half mirror. The lens includes a convex surface formed to convert a signal light to a parallel light, and a plane tilted from a perpendicular direction with respect to the parallel light or an axis connecting a light emitting diode chip and a center portion of the convex surface. The reflected light of an external signal light at the plane passes a path different from that of the return light so as to be avoided from entering the photodiode chip. |
US07869047B2 |
In-line self spacing optical sensor assembly for a printer
An in-line optical sensor assembly that measures optical reflection density on a printed sheet horizontally conveyed and supported by a paper transport section of a printer is provided. The sensor assembly includes a densitometer having frame provided with a pair of tapered blades that engage the moving printed sheet, a light source disposed on said frame that illuminates a portion of said printed sheet at a continuous intensity, and a photo-detector mounted on the frame and positioned to receive light from the light source that is reflected off said printed sheet. The optical sensor assembly also includes a mounting that floatably mounts the densitometer in a position over the printed sheet. The mounting can be formed from an opening in a cover plate of the paper transport section that slidably receives the densitometer such that the pair of tapered blades continuously engages the moving sheet in ski-like fashion due to the weight of the densitometer. The floating mounting arrangement maintains a constant, predetermined distance between the photo-detector of the densitometer and the illuminated portion of the moving printed sheet regardless of vertical movement of the printed sheet within said paper transport section. |
US07869040B1 |
Measurement systems configured to perform measurements of a specimen and illumination subsystems configured to provide illumination for a measurement system
An illumination subsystem configured to provide illumination for a measurement system includes first and second light sources configured to generate light for measurements in different wavelength regimes. The illumination subsystem also includes a TIR prism configured to be moved into and out of an optical path from the first and second light sources to the measurement system. If the TIR prism is positioned out of the optical path, light from only the first light source is directed along the optical path. If the TIR prism is positioned in the optical path, light from only the second light source is directed along the optical path. Various measurement systems are also provided. One measurement system includes an optical subsystem configured to perform measurements of a specimen using light in different wavelength regimes directed along a common optical path. The different wavelength regimes include vacuum ultraviolet, ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared wavelength regimes. |
US07869034B2 |
Multi-angle and multi-channel inspecting device
A multi-angle and multi-channel detecting device for detecting one or more than one samples is provided. The device has a light collector and a multi-channel kernel module. The light collector has a plurality of fiber probes arranged perpendicular to and/or inclined to the sample(s) so as to collect light signals. The kernel module is coupled to the light collector for detecting the sample(s). |
US07869030B2 |
Aggregates of plural transition metal nanoparticles and plural cyanine dye molecules
The present invention is directed to an aggregate composed of a plurality of nanoparticles of a transition metal and a plurality of cyanine dye molecules that are interacting non-covalently. The nanoparticles are capped with a capping molecule, while the cyanine dye molecule can be cationic, anionic, or neutral cyanine dye. Methods of making such aggregates and for using them in detection of an analyte are also disclosed. |
US07869028B2 |
Apparatus for the electromagnetic spectrum or optical analysis, in particular photometric, spectrophotometric or image analysis
An apparatus for the electromagnetic spectrum or optical analysis of a material. The apparatus comprising a measuring probe having a housing with at least one radiation or light measuring element, a measuring window and with at least one detection element for the analysis. The measuring probe is formed and guided displaceably in the axial direction in such a way that at least part of the housing in which the measuring window is located enters through an opening in which the material to be analyzed is located for the analysis. The at least one measuring window is arranged in at least one subregion of the circumferential wall of the housing. A sealing cap is located between a front end face of the housing and the measuring window arranged in the circumferential wall and consequently covers the opening in a retracted position of the measuring probe. |
US07869025B2 |
Optical inspection method and optical inspection system
An optical semiconductor wafer inspection system and a method thereof are provided for classifying and inspecting defects such as scratches, voids and particles produced in a flattening process by a polishing or grinding technique used for semiconductor manufacturing. The present invention is an optical semiconductor wafer inspection system and a method thereof characterized by obliquely illuminating a scratch, void or particle produced on the surface of a polished or ground insulating film at substantially the same velocity of light, detecting scattered light at the time of oblique illumination from the surface of an inspection target at different angles and thereby classifying the scratch, void or particle. |
US07869022B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus lithographic apparatus, lithographic processing cell, device manufacturing method and distance measuring system
A scatterometer has a focus sensor arranged to detect whether the target being measured is in a correct focal plane. A modulation is applied to a component of the focus sensor or the scatterometer such that a defocus as measured by the focus sensor varies according to a certain function. From knowledge of the modulation, the gain of the sensor can be calibrated. |
US07869021B2 |
Multiple surface inspection system and method
A system for on-the-fly inspection of components is provided. The system includes a prism structure disposed below an inspection item transit path. An image data system is disposed below the prism structure. A lighting assembly provides a first lighting source to illuminate a plurality of sides of an inspection item and a second lighting source to illuminate a bottom of the inspection item. |
US07869020B1 |
Fourier filters, inspection systems, and systems for fabricating fourier filters
Fourier filters, inspection systems, and systems for fabricating Fourier filters are provided. One Fourier filter configured for use in an inspection system includes a substrate that is substantially transparent to light from a specimen illuminated by the inspection system. The Fourier filter also includes an array of patterned features formed on the substrate. The patterned features are formed of one or more pigments on the substrate. The patterned features are configured to block light reflected and diffracted from structures on the specimen and to allow light scattered from defects on the specimen to pass through the substrate. |
US07869019B2 |
Device, method, and program for estimating light source
A light source estimating device includes a light receiving section for receiving visible light and invisible light radiated from a light source, and a light source estimating section for estimating a type of the light source on the basis of an intensity of the received visible light and an intensity of the received invisible light. |
US07869017B2 |
Test apparatus and test method having a plurality of combinations of object distances
One embodiment of the invention provides an test apparatus having a plurality of combinations of object distances and being used for testing an optical device. The test apparatus comprises at least one reflector, at least one first target module and at least one second target module. The first target module is for forming a first patterned light beam being shed on the optical device. The second target module is for forming a second patterned light beam being reflected by the reflector and then shed on the optical device. The third target module is for forming a quasi-parallel third patterned light beam being shed on the optical device. The distance between the first target module and the optical device is smaller than the distance between the second target module and the optical device. |
US07869015B2 |
Selection of a signal input from an optical fiber member
Methods and systems for analyzing optical parameters of a selected optical fiber member are disclosed. A signal input from an optical fiber member may be selected by instructing a corresponding optical separation device. The output from the corresponding optical separation device may be combined with the outputs of other optical separation devices using an optical coupler. A measurement circuit may measure the optical parameter from the output. Proper operation of an optical separation device may be validated by a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may provide an indication to a user or may be processed by a diagnostic processor. A processing circuit may select one of the optical separation devices in order to measure the optical parameter for a corresponding optical fiber member and consequently may instruct an adjustment circuit to cause the selected optical fiber member to conform to a desired value of the optical parameter. |
US07869014B2 |
System for measuring the wavelength dispersion and nonlinear coefficient of an optical fiber
A method of simultaneously specifying the wavelength dispersion and nonlinear coefficient of an optical fiber. Pulsed probe light and pulsed pump light are first caused to enter an optical fiber to be measured. Then, the power oscillation of the back-scattered light of the probe light or idler light generated within the optical fiber is measured. Next, the instantaneous frequency of the measured power oscillation is obtained, and the dependency of the instantaneous frequency relative to the power oscillation of the pump light in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber is obtained. Thereafter, a rate of change in the longitudinal direction between phase-mismatching conditions and nonlinear coefficient of the optical fiber is obtained from the dependency of the instantaneous frequency. And based on the rate of change, the longitudinal wavelength-dispersion distribution and longitudinal nonlinear-coefficient distribution of the optical fiber are simultaneously specified. |
US07869013B2 |
Surface plasmon resonance and quartz crystal microbalance sensor
A sensor chip assembly for use in a sensor capable of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and gravimetric sensing. The assembly comprising a transparent piezoelectric substrate (1) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The assembly also comprising first and second thin film metal electrodes (2,3) respectively provided on the first and second surfaces of the substrate (1). The second thin film metal electrode (3) being position on the second surface of the substrate (1) such that a light beam is capable of being transmitted through the second surface of the substrate and reflected from the first thin film metal electrode. The assembly also comprising an attenuated total reflection (ATR) coupler (11) disposed adjacent to the second thin film metal electrode (3). |
US07869011B2 |
Apparatus and methods for analysis and sorting of particles such as polymer beads
The present invention relates to an apparatus for analysing beads and particles, such as polymer beads used e.g. for solid phase synthesis. The apparatus comprises a) a vacuum container comprising at least one planar capture body capable of rotating around a central axis, wherein said capture body comprises a plurality of through-going inlets, and wherein the diameter of each inlet is smaller than the average diameter of the beads to be measured and/or analysed and/or sorted, b) a pressure controlling device capable of controlling the pressure in the vacuum container, c) a device for rotating the vacuum container around the axis of the capture body, and d) a device for measuring at least one property of at least one bead, the apparatus further comprising a capture body support, supporting the capture body, and a vacuum container housing. |
US07869010B2 |
Method for evaluating purity and concentration of oils and fatty acid compositions
Methods for evaluation of fish oil, oils, omega-3 fatty acid compositions, and dietary supplements containing omega-3 essential fatty acids and other fats are provided herein. The relative purity and/or concentration of oil-containing aliquots can be determined by cooling approximately equal volumes of two or more aliquots to a temperature near or below 0 degrees Celsius. When cooled, the most opaque aliquots are the least pure. The invention also provide a method for determining whether an omega-3 fatty acid supplement is greater than 90% pure, which includes cooling the supplement to less than 0 degrees Celsius and a determining that the supplement is 90% pure if its appearance is essentially unchanged from its appearance and room temperature. |
US07869004B2 |
Optical observation apparatus
An optical observation apparatus with at least one observation beam path and with means for laser range-finding, which have at least one transmitting device and at least one receiving device and are arranged outside the at least one observation beam path. The transmitting device and the receiving device are arranged in each case in separate housing parts of the optical observation apparatus and/or, if a folding bridge of the optical observation apparatus is present, along a mid-axis of the folding bridge. At least one diffractive optical element is provided for shaping at least the receiving beam for the at least one receiving device. |
US07869001B2 |
Eddy current damper, and lithographic apparatus having an eddy current damper
An eddy current damper has an electrically conducting body having a face, and an array of magnets extending over the face of the conducting body. Each magnet generates a magnetic field directed essentially transversely to the face of the conducting body. The magnet array generates oppositely directed magnetic fields each having a field width. At least one of the magnetic fields generated by the magnets has a field width that is smaller than a field width of an adjacent magnetic field. The conducting body may have an opening having a width that is smaller than a field width of a corresponding magnetic field. |
US07868999B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, source, source controller and control method
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a plurality of control circuits, each control circuit arranged to be connected to an associated radiation source of a plurality of radiation sources configured to generate pulses of radiation for projection onto a substrate and each control circuit arranged to control the energy of radiation pulses generated by that associated radiation source. |
US07868995B2 |
Device for soundproofing motion picture cameras
A motion picture camera is provided. The motion picture camera having a camera housing that has an objective carrier which is arranged in the recording beam path of the motion picture camera and on which a recording optics can be fastened, having a camera frame that is arranged in the camera housing and which carries noise-producing parts of the camera mechanism, forms an image plane for the motion picture film, and is suspended on the camera housing at least two upper connecting elements arranged in the front area of the motion picture camera above and on both sides of the image center of the motion picture camera, and is supported on the camera housing with a lower connecting element arranged in the front area of the motion picture camera below the image center, and having a device for soundproofing. |
US07868989B2 |
Mounting structure and electro optical device
In a mounting structure in which a component is mounted on a substrate, substrate-side first wirings, substrate-side first terminals formed in a mounting area where the component is mounted on the substrate, substrate-side second terminals formed in the mounting area and substrate-side second wirings are disposed over the substrate. Component-side first terminals and component-side second terminals are provided to the component. |
US07868988B2 |
Integrated circuit and display device including integrated circuit
A display device includes a plurality of signal lines having different length, and a driving circuit for supplying signals to the signal lines. Each signal line includes a connecting portion, and the driving circuit includes a plurality of output terminals electrically connected to the connecting portions of the signal lines and a plurality of resistors connected to the output terminals. The resistors have resistance depending on the length of the signal lines connected thereto. |
US07868986B2 |
Liquid crystal display having a driver contact structure for preventing corrosion of conductive films
A display panel including first to third conductive films is provided, which includes: a first signal line including a first portion that includes the first conductive film, an intermediate portion that includes at least two of the first to the third conductive films (“intermediate portion films”), and a contact portion that contacts an output terminal of a driving circuit and includes the intermediate portion films except for at least one of the intermediate portion films; a second signal line intersecting the first signal line and including the second conductive film; a switching element connected to the first and the second signal lines; and a pixel electrode connected to the switching element and including the third conductive film. |
US07868972B2 |
Light source unit, liquid crystal display having the same, and method thereof
A light source unit which can minimize current differences between a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”) which includes an active region that emits light and an inactive region that accounts for a remainder of the PCB, an LED array which includes a plurality of LEDs that are arranged at regular intervals, and a current balancing circuit which is disposed in the inactive region, generates a plurality of current balancing voltages by uniformly adjusting current differences between the LEDs, and outputs the current balancing voltages. A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) including the light source unit, and a method of minimizing current differences between a plurality of LEDs are further provided. |
US07868971B2 |
Liquid crystal module having a light reflecting sheet with a tab piece inserted through an opening of a frame at an edge portion
A liquid crystal module includes a frame, a light reflecting sheet, a cold cathode tube, an optical sheet, a liquid crystal panel and a bezel. The frame has a pair of opposing edge frame parts formed on a pair of opposing side plates of the frame, respectively. At least one of the edge frame parts has an opening. The light reflecting sheet is disposed on the frame and has a pair of opposing end edge parts that is superposed on the edge frame parts of the frame, respectively. At least one of the end edge parts has a tab piece that is inserted through the opening of the at least one of the edge frame parts of the frame to engage to a lower side of the at least one of the edge frame parts. |
US07868970B2 |
Light guide plate, as well as a planar lighting device and liquid crystal display apparatus using the same
In order to provide a larger-sized light guide plate that is thin and lightweight and allows more uniform, less uneven and higher-luminance illuminating light to emit from a light exit surface, a sectional shape of each back surface of the rectangular light exit surface satisfies the following 10th-order function formula. X is a position from the origin in a direction parallel to the one side of the light guide plate, and Y is a position from the origin in a direction perpendicular to the one side. Y=A0+A1×X+A2×X2+A3×X3+A4×X4+A5×X5+A6×X6+A7×X7+A8×X8+A9×X9+A10×X10, −1.3×105≦A0≦2.4×105, −2.0×104≦A1≦9.4×104, −2.6×104≦A2≦5.7×104, −5.5×103≦A3≦2.2×103, −2.1×102≦A4≦1.1×102, −3.7×10≦A5≦2.2×10, −1.4×10≦A6≦3.3×10, −3.6≦A7≦1.5, −7.8×10−2≦A8≦3.3×10−2, −1.2×10−2≦A9≦3.2×10−2, −1.4×10−3≦A10≦4.9×10−4. A planar lighting device includes the light guide plate, and a liquid crystal display apparatus includes the planar lighting device as a backlight unit. |
US07868955B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines formed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines, a plurality of common voltage lines formed in the same layer as the data line and parallel to the data lines and transmitting a common voltage, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and the data lines, and a plurality of pixel electrodes respectively connected to the thin film transistors, arranged in a matrix shape, each of the plurality of pixels including a first edge parallel to the gate lines and a second edge having a shorter length than the first edge and neighboring the first edge. |
US07868949B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for locking onto and/or processing data, in particular audio, T[ele]v[ision] and/or video data
In order to further develop a circuit arrangement (100; 102; 104; 106) and a method of locking onto and/or processing data, in particular audio, television and/or video data, by means of at least one phase locked loop (40), wherein phase information is detected by means of at least one phase detector (44), in particular following the arrival of at least one rising edge and/or falling edge of at least one analog input signal (50; 50), at least one increment (24) is determined by means of at least one loop filter (30), to which the output signal (56) which is output by the phase detector (44) is fed, and at least one ramp oscillator (46) is fed the increment (24) which is output by the loop filter (30), such that inter alia the circuit arrangement (100; 102; 104; 106). |
US07868948B2 |
Mage signal processing apparatus, image signal processing method and program for converting an interlaced signal into a progressive signal
Disclosed herein is an image signal processing apparatus configured to convert an interlaced signal into a progressive signal, including: a first conversion unit; a second conversion unit; a decision unit; and a selection unit. |
US07868946B2 |
Adaptive motion compensated interpolating method and apparatus
A motion compensated interpolating method of adaptively generating a frame to be obtained by interpolating two frames according to features of a motion vector and an apparatus therefor. The adaptive motion compensated interpolating method includes estimating motion vectors (MV) by performing block-based motion estimation (ME) between adjacent frames, calculating gradients of the estimated MVs, classifying pixels of the adjacent frames into a plurality of image regions according to the gradients of the estimated MVs, and determining pixel values to be obtained by interpolating the adjacent frames by adaptively selecting pixels matched between the adjacent frames or the MV estimated between the adjacent frames for each classified image region. |
US07868944B2 |
Control unit for optical apparatus and image pickup apparatus
There is provided a control unit of an optical apparatus and an image pickup apparatus, which can prevent a shift of an already controlled position of a member when an impact, etc. apply to the optical apparatus. A control unit for an optical apparatus that includes a first member that is movable, an actuator, and a drive mechanism that transmits a driving force of the actuator to the first member, includes a determination part for determining whether the optical apparatus or a second member provided to an apparatus attached to the optical apparatus is to move, and a controller for controlling, prior to a movement of the second member, the actuator from a first state at which the drive mechanism can transmit the driving force to a second state at which the drive mechanism cannot transmit the driving force, when the determination part determines that the second member is to move. |
US07868941B2 |
Data transfer apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and data transfer system
The data transfer apparatus includes a recording unit which records a plurality of image data on a first recording medium, a management unit which manages the plurality of image data by classifying the image data into a plurality of groups, an addition unit which adds one of the plurality of groups as a group of a second recording medium, a determination unit which determines a group corresponding to the group from the plurality of groups, a search unit which searches the plurality of image data for image data classified into the group determined by the determination unit, a display control unit which displays information of image data found by the search unit, and a transfer unit which transfers selected image data to a recording apparatus for recording information data on the second recording medium so as to record the selected image data on the second recording medium. |
US07868937B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging device
An imaging device having five color filters. The five color filters include three color filters of a R (red) filter, a G (green) filter, and a B (blue) filter of a primary color system and two color filters of a Y (yellow) filter and a C (cyan) filter of a complementary system. The G filter has a checker shape G filter so that the space information of green is obtained four times larger than that of each of the other colors. |
US07868934B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, program, and storage medium for providing a limited extraction range of a video image
This invention can appropriately control the relationship between the electronic zoom magnification and the resolution of a displayed image in electronic zoom. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an image of an image sensing field formed by a photographing optical system, an extracting unit which extracts a part of the video image generated upon being photo-electrically converted by the image sensor, an adding unit which adds signals of respective pixels, the number of which corresponds to the luminance of the image sensing field, of a plurality of pixels of the image sensor, and a limiting unit which limits the extraction range of the video image extracted by the extracting unit, in accordance with the number of pixels added by the adding unit. |
US07868931B2 |
Data recording apparatus and control method
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a data recording apparatus including: a first recording control unit configured to control recording of data on a first recording medium connected to the data recording apparatus; and a second recording control unit configured to control recording of data on a second recording medium connected to the data recording apparatus. In the data recording apparatus, the first recording control unit inhibits writing of data in a free space of a predetermined size included in the first recording medium when it is detected that the second recording medium is connected to the data recording apparatus, and permits writing of data in the free space when data cannot be recorded on the second recording medium. |
US07868928B2 |
Low noise color correction matrix function in digital image capture systems and methods
An image processing system includes a filtering arrangement configured to receive incoming pixel information and filter at least a first portion of the information to thereby pass a second portion of the information for further processing; circuitry configured to apply a first color correction function to the incoming pixel information to thereby produce a modified first portion; circuitry configured to apply a second color correction function to the second portion to thereby produce a modified second portion; and an adder configured to combine the modified first portion to the modified second portion. |
US07868927B2 |
Image data generating apparatus, method and program
The shooting, recording and playback system 100 of the present invention receives incoming light 101, stores an image shot, and then subjects the image shot to be reproduced to resolution raising processing, thereby outputting RGB images with high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution (ROUT GOUT BOUT) 102. The system 100 includes a shooting section 103, a color separating section 104, an R imaging sensor section 105, a G imaging sensor section 106, a B imaging sensor section 107, an image shot storage section 108, an image shot writing section 109, a memory section 110, an image shot reading section 111, a spatial resolution upconverter section 112, a temporal resolution upconverter section 113, an output section 114, and a line recognition signal generating section 185. The system can get image data with high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution without getting the camera configuration complicated and without decreasing the optical efficiency. |
US07868926B2 |
Digital camera with automatic functions
A digital camera can employ logic to delay capturing a still image after a person has operated the control button until such time as predetermined subject criteria are met, e.g., the subject is smiling with eyes open, three or more players are in the field of view to ensure a good action shot, etc. |
US07868924B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, album creating apparatus, album creating method, album creating system and computer readable medium
An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing section for capturing an image; a person determining section for determining whether the image captured by the image capturing section includes any person; an input notification section for notifying a user that the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section should be inputted when the image determining section determines that the image includes the person; a personal identification information input section for causing the user to input personal identification information indicative of the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section by a predetermined timing after the input notification section notifies the user that the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section should be inputted; and an image storage section for storing the personal identification information inputted by the personal identification information input section in association with the image captured by the image capturing section when the personal identification information input section inputs the personal identification information. |
US07868921B2 |
Image processing file setting system
A system setting an image processing parameter in an imaging apparatus and an information processing apparatus, downloads a parameter file from an external apparatus, and sets in the imaging apparatus an image processing parameter included in the parameter file downloaded from the external apparatus. In the information processing apparatus, image data is processed using the image processing parameter included in the parameter file. Thus, the information processing apparatus and the imaging apparatus can perform image processing using an image processing parameter obtained from one downloaded parameter file. |
US07868920B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having function of photographing moving picture, and method for operating same
Provided are a mobile communication terminal having a function of photographing a moving picture, and a method for operating the same. The terminal includes a camera, an input unit, a video processor, and a controller. The input unit inputs a section setting command while photographing the moving picture. The video processor calculates a brightness value per frame from a video signal received from the camera, and generates moving picture data. The controller sets at least one section to the moving picture data depending on at least one of the section setting command and a variation of the brightness value, and plays the moving picture data on a per-set section basis. |
US07868915B2 |
Photographing apparatus, method and computer program product
A photographing apparatus including a photographing unit for obtaining an image by photographing, a face detection unit for detecting a face candidate included in the image, a face component detection unit for detecting a candidate of at least one of face components included in the face candidate with respect to each of the face components, and a determination unit for determining whether or not the face candidate is a true face based on the number of face component candidates detected with respect to each of the face components. |
US07868914B2 |
Video event statistic tracking system
A method for calculating a parameter from an image sequence includes selecting a first frame and a second frame in an image sequence. The image sequence has a frame speed. The image sequence or another image sequence is enhanced using a calculation that considers the frame speed and selected frames. The enhancement may be with text, graphics or both such as those that may present statistics corresponding to an event in the image sequence. |
US07868909B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-beam exposure
A multi-beam exposure apparatus of the present invention includes a two-dimensional light modulator which is configured to project plural exposure beam spots onto an exposure surface, the plural exposure beam spots being arranged in parallel with the scanning direction while two-dimensionally arrayed; and a pixel block shifting member which divides the plural beam spots into plural blocks in the scanning direction and projects the plural exposure beam spots onto the exposure surface by shifting a relative position between the blocks in a direction orthogonal to a scanning direction, and thereby the scan-exposing of a space between the exposure beam spots in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction is performed with the exposure beam spot of another block. According to the multi-beam exposure apparatus, the number of dots which can simultaneously be exposed in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction can be increased. |
US07868908B2 |
Image recording apparatus having a laser source
An image recording apparatus according to this invention includes a frequency divider 22 for generating a reference signal of a frequency higher than that of a dot clock signal, a pulse exposure control circuit 31 for causing a laser beam emitted from a laser diode 27 to irradiate a recording medium when both an image signal and the reference signal are ON, and a switching device 25 for switching between a first recording mode for causing the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 27 to irradiate the recording medium when the image signal is ON, and a second recording mode for causing the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 27 to irradiate the recording medium when both the image signal and reference signal are ON. |
US07868907B2 |
Thermal head driving IC and method of controlling the same
A thermal head driving IC for supplying voltage to a plurality of heating resistors each controlled by a driving MOS transistor includes a switch for making and breaking electrically between a substrate and a source of the plurality of driving MOS transistors. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are activated, the plurality of driving MOS transistors are turned on and the switch is turned off, whereby the substrate potential is floated. As a result, the substrate potential is forward-biased against the source by a substrate current generated in a high-electric-field depletion region near the drain, and a parasitic bipolar transistor turns on, whereby both the plurality of driving MOS transistors and the parasitic bipolar transistor turn on. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are not activated, a signal for turning off the plurality of driving NMOS transistors is given, and the switch is turned on. |
US07868905B2 |
Active enclosure for computing device
A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion. |
US07868903B2 |
Flexible pixel element fabrication and sealing method
Discrete flexible pixel elements are hermetically sealed from the environment and comprise unitary, self-contained replaceable modules which enable efficient, economical production of large scale, free-form electronic displays, signs and lighting effects for outdoor use. The method and means for producing hermetically sealed discrete flexible pixel elements include encapsulation means, exterior casement means, and cable connector means. |
US07868899B2 |
3-D graphics texturing system using encrypted textures
A texturing system for use in a three-dimensional graphics system has an input for receiving object data for an object to be textured. Encrypted texture data is obtained from a store and decrypted in a decryption unit. The decrypted texture data generates texture image data for a frame buffer from which the texture image data can be outputted for display. A method for producing a software application for using in a three-dimensional graphics system which creates instructions for a software application and static texture data for using in conjunction with the instructions is also provided. The static texture data is encrypted and provided as encrypted texture data with the software instructions. A protected software application can be distributed to a target device from a distribution device by coupling the distribution device to the target device, transferring target device identifier data from the target device to the distribution device, and using the target device identifier data in the distribution device to generate encryption definition data specific to the target device. The protected software application and encryption definition data are transferred to the target device. |
US07868898B2 |
Methods and apparatus for efficiently accessing reduced color-resolution image data
The invention is directed, in one embodiment, to a method for generating memory addresses for accessing an image in which each pixel in a group of pixels has a luma component, but shares chroma components with other pixels of the group. A preferred method includes providing a memory, having a plurality of first portions and a plurality of second portions. First memory addresses may be generated, each of which corresponds to one of the first portions. Each first address defines a storage location for the luma components of one of the pixel groups. Second memory addresses may be generated, each of which corresponds to one of the second portions. Each second address defines a storage location for the chroma components of at least one of the pixel groups. |
US07868896B1 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for utilizing an alternate video buffer for console redirection in a headless computer system
Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer-readable media are provided for utilizing an alternate video buffer for console redirection in a headless computer system. According to the method, a buffer is created in the main memory of the computer that is configured to store character and attribute data for a display of the computer. When a video services software interrupt is detected, the interrupt is trapped. A determination is then made as to whether a function associated with the interrupt is for writing to a video display memory. If the function is for writing, the contents of the buffer are updated with the character or attribute information specified by the function. Data representing the updated character or attribute is then redirected to the remote computing device. If a read function is encountered, character or attribute information is retrieved from the buffer at a specified location and is returned in response to the function call. |
US07868883B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus having the same
There is provided an electro-optical circuit including: a substrate; a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines disposed in a pixel region on the substrate to intersect each other; a plurality of pixel portions disposed at intersections of the data lines and the scan lines; a scan line driver circuit which applies scan signals through the scan lines to the pixel portions; an image signal apply circuit which applies image signals through the data lines to the a plurality of the pixel portions; and a plurality of power supply lines used to supply multiple-system powers to at least one of the scan line driver circuit and the image signal apply circuit. |
US07868879B2 |
Method and apparatus for serving audiovisual content
An apparatus for serving audiovisual content comprises a parser, a decompression module, a packaging module, and a transmission module. The parser is adapted to receive an image data file and separate the image data file into a first compressed image component and a second compressed image component. The decompression module is coupled to the parser and adapted to decompress the first compressed image component into an uncompressed image component. The packaging module is coupled to the decompression module and adapted to package the uncompressed image component into a data stream having plural data fields arranged in a format defined in accordance with an industry-accepted standard and the second compressed image component into unused ones of said plural data fields, for transmission over a data interface. The transmission module is coupled to the packaging module and adapted to transmit the data stream over the data interface. |
US07868878B2 |
Optical system, an analysis system and a modular unit for an electronic pen
A modular unit is designed for an electronic pen. The modular unit comprises a carrier (70) with a receiver for a writing implement, a printed circuit board (72), a two-dimensional radiation sensor (78) mounted on the printed circuit board, and an imaging unit (82) which defines an image plane. The carrier (70), the printed circuit board (72), and the imaging unit (82) are joined together with the imaging unit (82) facing the radiation sensor (78) to locate the image plane at the radiation sensor (78). The modular unit may comprise an analysis system dedicated to a particular optical analysis application, such as position determination based on images of a position-coding pattern. A radiation source, such as an LED or a laser diode, may be arranged on the printed circuit board or mounted in a holder on the imaging unit. The imaging unit (82) may be implemented as a boresight unit for controlling the spatial origin of radiation transmitted towards the radiation sensor (78). The boresight unit may comprise a radiation-transmitting channel, an imaging lens, and a redirecting mirror in the channel. |
US07868877B2 |
Touch panel detection circuitry and method of operation
A touch panel detection circuit includes current limiting circuitry that has a first portion coupled between a first supply voltage terminal and a first input node and a second portion coupled between a second input node and a second supply voltage terminal. Programmable precharge circuitry connects the first input node to the first supply voltage terminal via a conductive path that is in parallel with the first portion of the current limiting circuitry and precharges the first input node to a predetermined voltage. Comparison circuitry is coupled to the programmable precharge circuitry and to the first input node. The comparison circuitry detects a change in resistance between the first input node and the second input node and provides a signal in response thereto when the comparison circuitry is enabled by the programmable precharge circuitry. |
US07868872B2 |
Button structure and design method for latching prevention
A latch-free button structure and its design method that can be applied to most electronic devices. The button includes a body, a wing plate, a positioning plate and a contact rod. The top end of the wing plate joins with the side edges of the button body and the positioning plate joins with the lower end of the wing plate. The contact rod is attached to the bottom section of the button body. If the height from the bottom of the contact rod to the contact point on the circuit board is B; the height from the bottom section of the button body to the surface of the housing is C; the height of the wing plate is A; the height of the sidewall of the button cover close to the button body is D and the height from the uppermost section of the button body to the top end of the wing plate is E, the value of A, B, C, D and E must follow the inequality relationships E−B>D, E−D>A, and D>A≧C≧B. |
US07868871B2 |
Personalised key mat structure
A hand-held electronic device comprising a body housing electronic circuitry and one or more push buttons disposed on an outer surface of said body, wherein the one or more push buttons are moveable in the plane of the surface, whereby the position of the one or more push buttons on the body of the device can be changed. |
US07868869B2 |
Electrophoresis display and driving method thereof
An electrophoresis display for decreasing a drive voltage, and a driving method thereof are disclosed.In the electrophoresis display, an electrophoresis display panel has a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines which are crossed each other, and a plurality of cells which are driven in accordance with a voltage applied to a pixel electrode and a common electrode. A data driving circuit converts a digital data into a data voltage to supply it to the data lines. A gate driving circuit supplies a scan pulse to the gate lines. A common voltage generation circuit supplies an AC common voltage that a polarity is inversed by one frame period for at least several frame periods, to the common electrode. And a timing controller controls of the data driving circuit, the gate driving circuit and the common voltage generation circuit, and supplies the digital data to the data driving circuit. |
US07868866B2 |
Liquid crystal display having OCB mode dummy liquid crystal cells and driving method thereof
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) wherein driving stability is secured. The LCD includes Optically Compensated Birefringence (OCB) mode liquid crystal cells formed where a data line and a scan line cross over within a display region of an LCD panel, a panel driver for driving the data and the scan lines, and OCB mode dummy liquid crystal cells formed within a non-display region of the LCD panel to surround the liquid crystal cells. Liquid crystal in each of the dummy liquid crystal cells sustains a bend state when the liquid crystal cells in the display region are driven corresponding to a data signal applied from the data line. |
US07868863B2 |
Liquid crystal display having image edge enhancement circuit and image edge enhancement method for same
An exemplary liquid crystal display (200) includes a data circuit (230), a timing control and video output unit (210). The timing control and video output unit includes an image edge enhancement circuit (211) configured for sharpening at least one edge of an image shown by the liquid crystal display, and a converter (212). The image edge enhancement circuit includes a color adjusting unit (214) and a brightness comparison unit (213). The color adjusting unit configured for receiving and adjusting Cb, Cr color factors of the YCbCr image signals according to a result of comparison of brightness factors Y of the YCbCr image signals received from the brightness comparison unit. The adjusted YCbCr image signal is converted to a corresponding RGB signals by the converter circuit and the RGB signals are sent to the data driving circuit. |
US07868856B2 |
Data signal driver for light emitting display
A display has light emitting elements (2) arranged in rows and columns, with pixels in a column being supplied with current from a respective column power supply line (26). Target pixel drive currents are determined corresponding to desired pixel brightness levels based on a model of the pixel current-brightness characteristics. These are modified to take account of the voltage on the column power supply line (26) at each pixel resulting from the currents drawn from the column power supply line, and the dependency of the pixel brightness characteristics on the voltage on the column power supply line at the pixel. The invention addresses the problem of vertical cross-talk that occurs in active matrix LED displays due to the finite output impedance of the current providing TFTs as well as the finite resistance of metals used to form power supply lines. |
US07868853B2 |
Driving device for plasma display panel and plasma display device including the driving device
A driving device for a plasma display panel. The driving device generates rising and falling ramp signals having a respective constant slope regardless of a change in operating temperature. An optimal discharge voltage is maintained at high and low temperatures by the rising and falling ramp signals having a respective constant slope to secure an operation margin, thereby preventing a discharge degradation such as an incorrect discharge from occurring. Accordingly, this can cause the reliability of a plasma display device including the driving device to be enhanced. |
US07868852B2 |
Method of driving a plasma display apparatus to suppress background light emission
A method of driving a PDP apparatus to sufficiently suppress the background light emission and improve the dark room contrast, in which first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged adjacently by turns, a first display line is formed between one side of the second electrode and the first electrode adjacent thereto, a second display line is formed between the other side of the second electrode and the first electrode adjacent thereto, and the interlaced display that displays the first display line and the second display line alternately in different fields is performed, has been disclosed, wherein the reset voltage that directly relates to the intensity of the background light emission is varied according to the number of times of sustain discharges, the display conditions, and so on, in each subfield and the reset discharge is caused to occur with the minimum voltage in each subfield. |
US07868851B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof. The plasma display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plasma display panel comprising a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a driver that controls one or more of sustain pulses supplied to the scan electrode and one or more of sustain pulses supplied to the sustain electrode to be overlapped with each other. |
US07868850B2 |
Field emitter array with split gates and method for operating the same
Field emitter arrays with split gates and methods for operating the same. A field emitter array may include one or more pairs of split gates, each connected to a corresponding voltage source, the split gates forming at least one gate hole for at least one emitter tip. Voltages, for example, AC voltages V1 and V2 may be applied to the split gates to perform one- or two-dimensional scanning or tilting depending on a ratio of V1 and V2. |
US07868841B2 |
Full-wave di-patch antenna
A full-wave di-patch antenna having two half-wave patch antennas located such that the feed points are facing one another and are brought out to a balanced transmission line having two conductors of microstrip feed lines. The phase of the current and the voltage is inverted 180 degrees between the two patches relative to the mechanical structure. The physical spacing of the two patches from center-to-center is one guide wavelength long. The two patches are disposed on a dielectric substrate which is in turn disposed over a ground plane. The two patches can take any of a number of shapes including a rectangle. |
US07868840B2 |
Multi-beam and multi-band antenna system for communication satellites
An antenna system includes a reflector having a modified-paraboloid shape; and a multi-beam, multi-band feed array located at a focal point of the reflector so that the antenna system forms a multiple congruent beams that are contiguous. The system has a single reflector with non-frequency selective surface. The reflector is sized to produce a required beam size at K-band frequencies and is oversized at EHF-band frequencies. The synthesized reflector surface is moderately shaped and disproportionately broadens EHF-band and Ka-band beams compared to K-band beams. The synthesized reflector surface forms multiple beams each having a 0.5-degree diameter at K-band, Ka-band, and EHF band. The multi-beam, multi-band feed array includes a number of high-efficiency, multi-mode circular horns that operate in focused mode at K-band and defocused mode at Ka-band and EHF-band by employing “frequency-dependent” design for the horns. |
US07868839B2 |
Planar scanner antenna for high frequency scanning and radar environments
A planar scanning antenna is configured for scanning and tracking. In one embodiment, the planar scanning antenna may include a transducer module configured to provide an electromagnetic beam. According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus may include a first planar dielectric element having an axis of rotation and configured to direct an electromagnetic beam. In one embodiment, a second planar dielectric element oriented adjacent to the first planar dielectric element and having the axis of rotation may be configured to direct electromagnetic energy. The apparatus may further include a mounting structure arranging the transducer module and the first and second planar dielectric elements. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus may include a drive means for positioning the first planar dielectric element independently from the second planar dielectric element. |
US07868838B2 |
Ultra wideband antenna
A wideband antenna includes a ground element comprising an upper first side, a first metal sheet a short arm connecting to the first side of the grounding element and a long arm separated from the first side, a second metal sheet electrically connecting to the first metal sheet, a third metal sheet perpendicular to the second metal sheet, and a slot between the first side of the ground element and the long arm of the first metal sheet; wherein said slot, said second metal sheet and said third metal sheet work together to form an ultra wide resonant frequency. |
US07868837B2 |
Ultra isolation antenna
Provided is a transmitting/receiving isolation antenna that can perform wireless bi-directional communication in the co-channel, co-polarization and co-time by acquiring high isolation from transmitting and receiving antennas having co-time, co-channel and co-polarization and set up adjacently. The isolation antenna includes a first antenna; second and third antennas symmetrically positioned in the same distance from the first antenna; a shielding unit symmetrically positioned between the first and second antennas, and between the first and third antennas; and a signal removing unit for removing a signal transmitted from the first antenna to the second and third antennas. |
US07868829B1 |
Reflectarray
A reflectarray is disclosed. The reflectarray includes a first array of conductive patches supported by a substrate, wherein each conductive patch in the first array has a first center line along a Y-direction and a second centerline along an X-direction, a plurality of first variable capacitors, wherein each first variable capacitor is electrically coupled to one of the conductive patches in the first array along the first centerline, and a plurality of second variable capacitors, wherein each second variable capacitor is electrically coupled to one of the conductive patches in the first array along the second centerline. |
US07868828B2 |
Partially overlapped sub-array antenna
An antenna formed of multiple sub-arrays, each having rows of interconnected radiating elements. One row of radiating elements is shared between two sub-arrays by a coupler which isolatingly couples one row of radiating elements to each of two sub-arrays allowing the feed to the two sub-arrays to be isolatingly applied to the shared row of radiating elements while suppressing grating lobe generation and providing high sub-array isolation. |
US07868825B2 |
Apparatus and method for transforming signal strength of wireless positioning system
An apparatus for transforming a signal strength of a wireless positioning system is provided. The apparatus is adapted for eliminating the difference of signal strengths between different mobile communication apparatuses or different environments. The apparatus includes a location estimation circuit. The location estimation circuit is adapted to obtain a possible coordinate by calculating a first signal strength distribution received by a mobile communication apparatus. The possible coordinate and the first signal strength distribution are taken as training data for training a transforming module with an approximation algorithm. Accordingly, the present invention adopts a positive correlation index and the approximation algorithm for automatically training a transforming module for the mobile communication apparatus without using the information of chip model and location of mobile communication apparatus. |
US07868820B2 |
Ionosphere modeling apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus which characterize the ionospheric error across a network of GNSS reference stations are presented. The method relies on dual-frequency phase measurements in a geometry-free linear combination. The data are filtered for ambiguities and the characteristic parameters of the ionosphere. In combination with filter results from other combinations of phase measurements (ionosphere free combination), the physically-based model provides rapid and reliable ambiguity resolution. |
US07868818B2 |
Multi-element antenna
An antenna is provided, in combination with an associated switch array, the antenna comprising a number of antenna elements mounted above a ground plane for providing coverage over a predetermined range of angles in azimuth using a number of beams. Each of the antenna elements is connected to a switch in the switch array and the switch array is operable to connect selected pairs of the antenna elements to a signal path to thereby generate each of the different beams, at the same time connecting unselected antenna elements to ground. |
US07868817B2 |
Radar system for obstacle avoidance
A radar system comprises a transmitter antenna configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal, a first receiver antenna, and a second receiver antenna. Each of the first and second receiver antennas are configured to receive a reflection of the RF signal, wherein the first and second receiver antennas are synchronized and separated by a vertical distance. The radar system also comprises radar processing circuitry configured to control transmission of the RF signal from the transmitter antenna and to determine an elevation of an object reflecting the RF signal based on the phase difference between the reflected RF signal received by the first receiver antenna and the reflected RF signal received by the second receiver antenna; wherein the transmit antenna, first receiver antenna, and second receiver antenna are operable to continuously rotate 360 degrees along an azimuth angle without rotating along an elevation angle. |
US07868812B2 |
Surveillance and warning system
A system and method for providing entry-point, boundary-line, and presence intrusion detection by means of an intelligent controller process capable of driving both field alert/alarm systems and security station monitoring devices and for providing occupancy warnings and critical status alerts, one embodiment providing runway occupancy warnings and critical runway status alerts to both flight crew approaching an airfield and air traffic controllers managing ground traffic, the system including: a detection system, airfield output devices (including all FAROS, GAROS and CTAF Runway Occupancy Radio Signals (RORS)), an airfield communications network, a centralized data processing unit that contains all of the algorithms to drive light control, logging, and an optional administrative network layer that hosts a graphical user interface. |
US07868811B1 |
Weather radar system and method using data from a lightning sensor
A weather radar system includes an input for receiving lightning detection data and processing electronics for determining a presence of a convective cell or associated hazard. The processing electronics receive weather radar data and the lightning detection data. The weather radar data is related to radar returns. The processing electronics provide temporal or spatial filtering of the lightning detection data to provide filtered data and determine a position of the convective cell or associated hazard in response to the weather radar data and the filtered data. |
US07868805B2 |
Digital-Analog (D/A) converter and data driver and flat panel display using the D/A converter and data driver
A Digital-Analog (D/A) converter, a data driver and a flat panel display using the D/A converter and data driver includes a controller to generate a first control signal or a second control signal according to a bit value of data supplied thereto. A voltage generator is disposed between a first voltage and a second voltage, and includes a plurality of resistors for dividing the first voltage and the second voltage. First switches are coupled to respective nodes of the resistors. Capacitors are respectively coupled to the first switches, and are charged with turning-on or turning-off the first switches. Second switches are respectively coupled to the first switches, and transfer the first control signal or the second control signal to the first switches. Shift registers are respectively coupled to the second switches, and supply reset signals or shift signals. |
US07868803B2 |
Semiconductor device having ΔΣ modulator, and semiconductor system
A semiconductor device comprises an overflow detection circuit (5) which compares an output of at least one integrator in a ΔΣ modulator (13) with a predetermined value to output an overflow detection signal; an overflow frequency calculation circuit (6) which calculates an overflow frequency value that is the frequency of the output from the integrator being outside a normal range, based on the overflow detection signal, and outputs the overflow frequency value; an oscillation judgment circuit (7) which judges whether the ΔΣ modulator (13) is in the oscillation state or not based on the overflow frequency value; and an oscillation halt circuit which suppresses oscillation of the ΔΣ modulator (13) when the oscillation judgment circuit (7) judges that the ΔΣ modulator is in the oscillation state; wherein it is determined whether the output of the integrator is temporarily outside the normal range due to noise or the like or the output of the integrator is outside the normal range due to oscillation, by obtaining the frequency with which the output of the integrator is outside the normal range, and the oscillation of the ΔΣ modulator (13) is suppressed only when it is oscillated. |
US07868799B1 |
System and method for remoting a photonic analog-to-digital converter
The present invention is a remote input analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) system. The system may generate low jitter, short duration optical pulses to allow for high performance sampling of an antenna signal at a remote end of the system. The system may utilize phase modulation and IQ demodulation (with a reference optical pulse stream) using separate analog-to-digital converters for I and Q to overcome linearity limitations. Low sampling rate analog-to-digital converters may be utilized by the system by using parallel, low optical pulse repetition rate paths and/or optical demultiplexer switching trees. The system is an optical fiber system. |
US07868795B2 |
Data conversion circuitry with an extra successive approximation step and method therefor
A data converter for converting analog signals to digital signals, or for converting digital signals to analog signals is provided. In one embodiment, a production self-test is provided. In one embodiment, a high-speed lower-resolution method or mode for a data converter is provided. In one embodiment, a differential data converter with a more stable comparator common mode voltage is provided. In one embodiment, the input range of a digitally calibrated data converter is provided and maintained so that there is no loss in input range due to the calibration. In one embodiment, digital post-processing of an uncalibrated result using a previously stored calibration value is provided. |
US07868791B2 |
Pack unicode zSeries instructions
Emulation methods are provided for two PACK instructions, one for Unicode data and the other for ASCII coded data in which processing is carried out in a block-by-block fashion as opposed to a byte-by-byte fashion as a way to provide superior performance in the face of the usual challenges facing the execution of emulated data processing machine instructions as opposed to native instructions. |
US07868787B2 |
Character-input method and medium and apparatus for the same
A character-input method is provided. The character-input method includes providing a plurality of objects having a predetermined arrangement, mapping characters included in a character group represented by a representative character mapped to an object identified as a first signal among objects to which representative characters are mapped, to one or more objects among the plurality of objects when the first signal is received from a user input device, and inputting characters mapped to an object identified as the second signal among objects to which the characters are mapped. |
US07868786B2 |
Parsing location histories
A location history is a collection of locations over time for an object. A stay is a single instance of an object spending some time in one place, and a destination is any place where one or more objects have experienced a stay. Location histories are parsed using stays and destinations. In a described implementation, each location of a location history is recorded as a spatial position and a corresponding time at which the spatial position is acquired. Stays are extracted from a location history by analyzing locations thereof with regard to a temporal threshold and a spatial threshold. Specifically, two or more locations are considered a stay if they exceed a minimum stay duration and are within a maximum roaming distance. Each stay includes a location, a starting time, and an ending time. Destinations are produced from the extracted stays using a clustering operation and a predetermined scaling factor. |
US07868785B1 |
Ownship symbol for enhanced situation awareness
A method of symbolically representing a location of an aircraft on a display in the aircraft is disclosed. It is determined whether the aircraft is operating proximal one of a runway and a taxi-way. A range of the display is selected. Features are displayed near a location of the aircraft on the display at a first scale that corresponds to the selected range. A first symbol representing a current location of the aircraft is displayed on the display at the first scale in solid form. A second symbol representing the current location of the aircraft is displayed on the display at a second scale in non-solid form when a size of the first symbol representing the aircraft at the first scale obscures the displayed features on the display. The size of the first symbol is smaller than a size of the second symbol. |
US07868779B2 |
Circuitry for powering on and maintaining activation of a powered off electronic component
Circuitry for automatically powering on and maintaining activation of a powered down electronic component in a first device in RF communication with a second device, wherein the first and second devices are preferably an implantable medical device and an external control device, respectively. The system including power logic circuitry for generating a power on signal to automatically close a switch and energize an otherwise powered off electronic device when the power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry. The electronic component while powered by the power source generates a hold signal and a second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry to sustain power to the electronic component irrespective of interruptions of relatively short duration for less than a predetermined period of time in RF communication. |
US07868778B2 |
Apparatus and method for proximity-responsive display materials
Apparatus and a method for causing a printed display (poster, placard or promotional flier) to become interactive when a person points to part of the display. Behind the display a customized layout of capacitive proximity sensors printed with conductive inks on to a low-cost disposable, replaceable substrate (paper, plastic, cardboard) in alignment with visually significant features of the display is connected to proximity-sensing circuitry. Audio-visual or multimedia responses using pre-recorded or synthesized information are reproduced in event of a selection. |
US07868776B2 |
Apparatus and system for adjusting settings of a power system device using a magnetically coupled actuator
A system is provided for adjusting settings of a power system device. In one embodiment, the setting adjusted is an identification setting of the power system device. The system generally includes an actuator having a select arrangement of magnets. A magnetic field sensor is provided for sensing the select arrangement of magnets. A microprocessor is coupled to the magnetic field sensor such that upon sensing the select arrangement of magnets by the magnetic field sensor, the microprocessor establishes an identification setting based upon the select arrangement. The various embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and system for adjusting settings of power system devices in harsh conditions, such as persistent in water. |
US07868774B2 |
Oil leakage detector
An oil leakage detector for detecting the leakage of e.g. diesel or fuel oil in an engine room of a vessel comprises a conduit for an airflow therethrough, and a screen in the conduit. The screen is meshed to prevent oil particles or droplets from passing therethrough. A sensor determines a pressure loss across the screen, and a control system operatively connected to the sensor is configured to output an oil leakage warning signal if the pressure loss exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A fan may be provided for generating the airflow through the conduit. A gas sensor for determining the presence of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide is optionally provided. |
US07868773B2 |
Switched mode power converter with over temperature detection
An over temperature detector circuit for use in a switching converter including one or more power switches in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a silent sense generator connected to at least one power switch and operable to detect a noise level of the switch and to provide a generator output signal indicative of absence of switching noise and a comparator operable to compare a temperature sensor signal from a temperature sensor with a reference voltage to provide an alarm signal indicating an over temperature condition when the temperature sensor signal exceeds the reference voltage, wherein the alarm signal does not indicate an over temperature condition when the generator output signal does not indicate absence of switching noise. |
US07868772B2 |
Flame detecting method and device
A flame detecting method and device are provided to improve the accuracy of flame detection and reduce the possibilities of the false fire alarm. The flame detecting method and device capture a plurality of images of a monitored area; determines whether a moving area image exists in the plurality of images; analyzes at least one of a color model and a flickering frequency of the moving area image to generate a first analyzed result and compares the first analyzed result with a feature of a reference flame image; analyzes at least one of a variation of a location and an area of the moving area image to generate a second analyzed result and compares the second analyzed result with a predetermined threshold; and determines whether the moving area image is a flame image based on results of the comparing steps. |
US07868760B2 |
Method for accounting for people in emergencies in industrial settings
A method for accounting for individuals in an emergency at industrial facilities utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmitters associated with individuals or objects and UWB monitoring stations. Identification information received from the UWB transmitters by UWB monitoring stations are communicated along with time of arrival information to a computer which calculates the location of the UWB transmitter. The system can be used despite severe multi-path effects and can provide location information in 3 dimensions. The system can optionally include proximity-based RF equipment for access control or otherwise for identification in specific locations. Information from the proximity-based RF equipment is also sent to the computer which also receives information from the UWB monitoring stations. |
US07868758B2 |
Passenger screening system and method
A passenger screening system including a first gradiometer, and a second gradiometer disposed adjacent the first gradiometer. The first and second gradiometers are each configured to operate at a first frequency and a second frequency to facilitate detecting the presence of an explosive material. A method of operating the passenger screening system is also described herein. |
US07868755B2 |
Sensor attached IC tag application high voltage equipment
To shorten a period of time necessary for performing routine inspections and reduce costs by monitoring a state such as a contact failure of a switching equipment which constitutes a power reception circuit or a branch circuit of a substation through a simple construction. A sensor attached IC tag application high voltage equipment is constructed by detachably mounting a sensor attached IC tag at a position where a sensor of a sensor attached IC tag obtains a physical quantity of a detection target, wherein the sensor attached IC tag is configured to communicate with an externally located IC tag reader. |
US07868754B2 |
Medical system and tracking device
A tracking device and system for tracking medical supplies, in particular, medical trays and their components is disclosed. The tracking device utilizes GPRS/GSM technology to enable an individual to locate and monitor the movement of a medical tray at any given time and for any desired period of time. The tracking system utilizes geo-fences established within buildings to assist in determining the specific location of the medical trays within these buildings. The tracking devices can also be activated by motion sensors to alert the tracking system of a possible theft of the tray. The tracking system incorporates software which enables an individual to determine the location of medical trays, determine the contents of the trays and schedule the use of the medical trays by specific doctors and at specific locations. The tracking system also retains information regarding the doctors, the medical device manufacture representatives, the hospitals and sales of the medical devices. |
US07868750B2 |
System and method for controlling a safety restraint status based on driver status
A system and method for notifying primary and second drivers about a status of a safety restraint in a vehicle is provided. A primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to the primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary key and secondary keys. The key ignition device is adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to generate restraint status signals indicative of the status of the safety restraint. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the restraint signals based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver. |
US07868749B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting decrease in tire air pressure and program for determining decrease in tire air pressure
The method includes: a step of calculating wheel rotation information; a judgment step of judging a decrease in a tire air pressure by comparing a predetermined reference value with a decreased pressure judgment value showing a wheel speed ratio of the front and rear axes; an initialization step of storing the wheel speed ratio between the front and rear axes at the regular internal pressure; and a step of determining whether the distribution of the front and rear driving torque is equidistribution or not. |
US07868740B2 |
Association of support surfaces and beds
Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility. |
US07868739B2 |
Method and system for improving function of reading information from RFID tag
A system and method for improving a function of reading information from a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The system includes RFID tags installed on a variety of objects, each RFID tag storing information of its associated object and upon detection of a signal based on an effective frequency range, transmitting the information; writers spaced apart at regular intervals and installed near the RFID tags, the writers writing an instruction of informing whether an area is one where it is possible to read the information from an RFID tag; and a terminal having a read-write tag in which the instruction by the writers is written at a time of entering the area where the RFID tags are installed, a terminal controller for determining a start or stop of the read function based on the instruction of the read-write tag, and an RFID reader for starting to read the information from the electronic tag based on the effective frequency range upon receipt of a start command from the terminal controller. |
US07868737B2 |
System and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations using multi-mode radio frequency tag
A system, apparatus and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations and reader-tag distances using a single multi-mode tag. A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) transponder is provided, which includes operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by a reader device(s). Multiple antenna circuits are coupled to the operational tag circuitry, where each of the antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance. At least one disabling circuit is coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the antenna circuits, where the disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled. |
US07868736B2 |
Security device, vehicle authentication device, method and program
Apart from authentication of an electronic key, authentication of an ID card and authentication of user authentication information are executed. When all the authentications have been successfully made, engine startup information is produced. In this manner, even if electronic key data or an electronic key device has been copied, vehicle theft can be prevented. |
US07868731B2 |
Thermal overload relay
A thermal overload relay is provided with an external case, and an adjustment dial with a cam inserted into an adjustment dial insertion hole provided in the external case for adjusting a settling current. A press-fitting section is provided at one of the adjustment dial and the adjustment dial insertion hole, and a locking section is provided at the other of the adjustment dial and the adjustment dial insertion hole. The press-fitting section is press-fit and retained in the locking section. |
US07868729B2 |
Stacked device assembly with integrated coil and method of forming same
A stacked semiconductor device assembly (20) includes a device (24) having conductive traces (34) formed therein, and conductive interconnects (28) electrically connected to the conductive traces (34). Another device (26) has conductive traces (44) formed therein and device pads (54) formed on an outer surface (52) of the device (26). A method (120) entails attaching (84) a magnetic core (30) to an outer surface (42) of the device (24) and forming (92) the conductive interconnects (28) on the outer surface (42) using a stud bumping technique such that the interconnects (28) surround the magnetic core (30). The conductive interconnects (28) are coupled (126) with the device pads (54) using thermocompression bonding to couple the device (26) with the device (24) to form a continuous device coil (22) wrapped around the magnetic core (30) from an alternating electrical connection of the traces (34), the conductive interconnects (28), and the traces (44). |
US07868721B2 |
Field emission system and method
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
US07868720B2 |
Hermetically sealed relay
A hermetically sealed relay is provided having two circuits therein. |
US07868714B1 |
Compact waveguide load
A compact integrated waveguide load has a load section disposed within an interior region of the waveguide proximate to a closed end of the waveguide. The load section has a tubiform shape, with an exterior surface congruent with an interior surface of the waveguide and an interior surface defining a circumferential step within the waveguide. A method of making a compact integrated waveguide load includes providing a waveguide and placing electromagnetic wave absorbing materially circumferentially around the interior surface to create an inward step. |
US07868708B2 |
Method and apparatus for making a highly uniform low-stress single crystal by drawing from a melt and uses of said crystal
The method of making uniform low-stress crystals includes immersing a seed crystal held at a temperature under its melting point in a melt in a crucible and drawing it from the melt. The crystal and/or melt are rotated relative to each other and a planar phase boundary surface is maintained between them by detecting a surface temperature of the melt and/or crystal and controlling temperature fluctuations by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed. The single crystals obtained by this method have a diameter ≧50 mm and no visible growth strips in a fishtail pattern when a 2-mm thick sample is observed between crossed polarizers. These crystals have an index of refraction uniformity Δn of <1 ppm and a stress birefringence of <1 nm/cm at 193 nm, so that optical elements suitable for DUV lithography can be made from them. |
US07868704B2 |
Broadband integrated television tuner
A broadband integrated television receiver for receiving a standard antenna or cable input and outputting an analog composite video signal and composite audio signal is disclosed. The receiver employs an up-conversion mixer and a down-conversion mixer in series to produce an IF signal. An IF filter between the mixers performs coarse channel selection. The down-conversion mixer may be an image rejection mixer to provide additional filtering. The received RF television signals are converted to a standard 45.75 MHz IF signal for processing on-chip by additional circuitry. |
US07868695B2 |
Differential amplifier
A differential amplifier circuit at the input stage is configured with a twin differential type having a first differential amplifier circuit (11) and a second differential amplifier circuit (12), respective outputs of which are received by a first and a second source-grounded amplifier (M5, M10). The second source-grounded amplifier (M10) is connected to a current mirror circuit (M11, M12), which is driven by the drain current of the second source-grounded amplifier (M10). With this configuration, the dynamic range for the upper half portion of an alternating signal output from an output terminal (OUT) is determined by the current supply capability of the first source-grounded amplifier (M5) and the dynamic range for the lower half portion is determined by the current supply capability of the second source-grounded amplifier (M10). This eliminates the need of a constant current circuit of a large current for generating a signal having lower half portion in which the waveform distortion is improved. |
US07868693B2 |
Class-D amplifier
An amplifier that receives an input signal and outputs an amplified output signal includes an integration stage, a comparison stage, and a full bridge circuit. The integration stage is be used for receiving a constant common mode voltage, for receiving a first signal representing the input signal of the amplifier, and for generating a ramp signal. The comparison stage coupled to the integration stage is used for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to the ramp signal and according to a hysteretic signal. The full bridge circuit coupled to the comparison stage is used for receiving a power supply and the pulse width modulation signal, and for generating the output of the amplifier. |
US07868692B1 |
Low noise and common mode current power supply
A power supply includes: a switching amplifier including an input and an output, the amplifier input being adapted to be powered by an electrical power source; a transformer including a primary and a secondary winding on a magnetic core, the number of winding turns being chosen to limit magnetization levels to avoid magnetic saturation while maximizing winding spacing, the transformer primary winding being in communication with the amplifier output; a rectification system in communication with the transformer secondary winding, the rectification system providing a DC power output; and a controller. The controller monitors the DC power output and adjusts the switching amplifier in response to the monitoring to provide a desired power output characteristic. |
US07868688B2 |
Leakage independent very low bandwith current filter
A current filter circuit is provided. The current filter circuit comprises a source transistor comprising a drain, a gate, and a source. The source of the source transistor is coupled to a reference voltage terminal, the gate of the source transistor is coupled to the gate of a mirror transistor, and the drain of the source transistor is coupled to a reference current source. The mirror transistor comprises a drain, a gate, and a source. The source of the mirror transistor is coupled to the reference voltage terminal, the gate is coupled to the gate of the source transistor, and the drain is coupled to a load. The current filter circuit comprises a low pass filter for filtering noise. The current filter circuit also comprises an impedance reduction circuit coupled to the drain of the mirror transistor for reducing bandwidth of the current filter circuit. |
US07868687B2 |
Ideal-like band-pass filter and single-frequency filter
A near ideal single frequency and band pass filter comprises an input unit, a filter combination, and an output unit. The input unit accepts an input signal which can be expressed with a mathematical formula f(t). The filter combination comprises a plurality of filters, wherein each filter can generate a control signal and performs the signal filtering process based on the control signal. The control signal can be expressed with a mathematical formula hde(θ). The filter combination processes the input signal based on a set of a plurality of control signals by means of a formula. |
US07868682B2 |
Insulating communication circuit
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an insulating communication circuit includes a first insulating circuit 62#11 having first and second circuits, a second insulating circuit 62#12 having third and fourth circuits, and a communication interface that is connected to a first ground and transmits a signal to the first circuit based on a communication signal and a clock signal from an external control device. |
US07868681B2 |
Programmable gain circuit
A programmable gain circuit suitable for a programmable gain amplifier is described. In one design, the programmable gain circuit includes multiple attenuation circuits coupled in series. Each attenuation circuit operates in a first mode or a second mode, attenuates an input signal in the first mode, and passes the input signal in the second mode. The multiple attenuation circuits may provide the same or different amounts of attenuation. The multiple attenuation circuits may include binary decoded attenuation circuits and/or thermometer decoded attenuation circuits. In one design, each attenuation circuit includes a divider circuit and at least one switch. The switch(es) select the first mode or the second mode. The divider circuit attenuates an input signal in the first mode and passes the input signal in the second mode. The programmable gain circuit may have a predetermined input impedance and a predetermined output impedance for all gain settings. |
US07868679B2 |
Circuit, method for receiving a signal, and use of a random event generator
A circuit is provided that includes an input for a clock signal, a random event generator for outputting a random signal, in particular random numbers, a settable delay device that is connected to the input for the clock signal and is connected to the random event generator for the purpose of setting a delay of an edge of the clock signal (clk) by means of the random signal. |
US07868677B2 |
Low power flip-flop circuit
A flip-flop circuit having low power consumption includes a sensing circuit, and a clock generating circuit. The flip-flop is leading edge triggered and operates on an internally generated pseudo clock signal. The sensing circuit senses a change in an input signal and an output signal of the flip-flop. The clock generating circuit generates a pseudo clock signal with a sharp rise and fall based upon an external clock signal. |
US07868674B2 |
Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
A delay locked loop (DLL) of a semiconductor device has a relatively small area and low current consumption while having a function of correcting a duty ratio. The semiconductor device includes a split unit configured to receive and split a reference clock to output a first clock corresponding to a first edge of the reference clock and a second clock corresponding to a second edge, a voltage generation unit configured to generate a first voltage corresponding to a duty ratio of the first clock and a second voltage corresponding to a duty ratio of the second clock, a voltage comparison unit configured to compare levels of the first and second voltages with each other, and a clock delay unit configured to receive one of the first and second clocks to delay the received clock of which delay amount is determined in response to an output signal of the voltage comparison unit. |
US07868669B2 |
Self-regulated charge pump with loop filter
One embodiment described is a charge pump arrangement that includes at least one input node and two output nodes. A regulator is included to regulate at least one of the two output nodes, the regulator is decoupled from one of the two output nodes, and the regulator has at least one input coupled directly to virtual ground. |
US07868668B2 |
Power-on detector and method thereof
A power-on detector and a method thereof are provided. The power-on detector includes four transistors, two resistors, and a comparator. The power-on detector can detect an input voltage and then determine whether the power is turned on or not. The power-on determination is substantially immune to temperature variation. The power-on detector is noise-free and stable in various temperatures. |
US07868667B2 |
Output driving device
An output driving device capable of improving a slew rate is provided. The output driving device includes a push-pull type driving unit configured with a pull-up PMOS transistor and a pull-down NMOS transistor, wherein body biases of the pull-up PMOS transistor and the pull-down NMOS transistor are controlled for control of a slew rate of an output signal of the driving unit. |
US07868666B2 |
Low-quiescent-current buffer
An embodiment of an input-buffer circuit may include an input stage with an inverter having an input operable to receive a signal to be translated. The input stage may include a limiting circuit coupled to the input stage for arresting quiescent current. Additional embodiments of an input-buffer circuit formed according to the subject matter disclosed herein may include feedback transistors suited to provide additional current to the input stage and a hysteresis circuit suited to provide hysteresis current to the input stage when an input signal has a high-frequency change rate. |
US07868665B2 |
Integrated circuit and sensor for imaging
New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely different applications. Some of these applications may require fast data acquisition, some others may need ultra high energy resolution, and a separate portion may require very high contrast. The embodiments described herein addresses all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging. The applications of the new sensors and integrated circuits addresses a broad range of applications such as medical and industrial imaging, NDE and NDI, security, baggage scanning, astrophysics, nuclear physics and medicine. |
US07868663B2 |
Receiver circuit for use in a semiconductor integrated circuit
A receiver circuit for sensing and transmitting input data in sync with a plurality of clock signals having mutually different phase sequentially enabled comprising a sense amplifier configured to receive, as offset voltages, first signals which can be obtained by amplifying the input data in sync with a first clock signal of the plurality of clock signals, being driven in sync with a second clock signal enabled subsequently to the first clock signal, and outputting second signals, and a discharging controller configured to control a discharging speed of the sense amplifier according to the offset voltages to control a driven speed of the sense amplifier. |
US07868662B2 |
Spike noise eliminating circuit, digital system using the same, and IIC bus
There is provided a spike noise eliminating circuit that can eliminate reliably spike noise having a predetermined pulse width or smaller and transmit and output precisely a signal having a pulse width larger than the predetermined width. Spike noise in the input signal is eliminated by: detecting a coincidence in level of the input signal and a first delay signal obtained by delaying the input signal by a maximum pulse width of noise to be eliminated as a delay amount; and sampling the input signal or a second delay signal obtained by delaying the input signal by a certain period of time based on a signal obtained as a result of detecting the coincidence in level. |
US07868661B2 |
Line driving circuit of semiconductor device
Disclosed is a line driving circuit which includes two NMOS transistors in series between a supply voltage and a ground voltage. The output of the line driving circuit is applied to an interior circuit through a transmission line, and a repeater is used when the transmission line is long. |
US07868658B1 |
Level shifter circuits and methods for maintaining duty cycle
A circuit comprises first and second buffers, and an output buffer. The first buffer receives an input signal and provides a first buffer output signal on a first lead. The second buffer receives the input signal and provides a second buffer output signal on a second output lead. The output buffer has a first input lead coupled to the first output lead and AC coupled to the second output lead. The AC coupling communicates timing information from the second buffer to the output buffer. The first buffer applies sufficient voltage to control the first input lead of the output buffer under DC conditions. |
US07868652B1 |
Off-die termination module with a spring loaded pin in a DIMM socket
Off-die termination module for terminating memory module signal lines in a computer memory subsystem, the computer memory subsystem including a memory controller and a DIMM socket, the memory controller coupled to the DIMM socket via a memory module signal line, the off-die termination module including: an off-die termination component configured to terminate the memory module signal line upon activation; and a spring loaded notch pin implemented as part of the DIMM socket, the spring loaded notch pin configured to toggle activation of the off-die termination component in dependence upon presence of a DIMM in the DIMM socket including activating the off-die termination component upon removal of a DIMM from the DIMM socket and deactivating the off-die termination component upon installation of a DIMM in the DIMM socket. |
US07868650B2 |
Termination control circuit and method for global input/output line
A termination control circuit for a global input/output line includes a speed determination unit configured to output a termination enable signal which is activated in response to a frequency of an external clock signal and CAS latency information; and a pulse generation unit configured to output a driving signal for driving a termination circuit for the global input/output line in response to a termination control signal and the termination enable signal. |
US07868644B2 |
Apparatus and method for inspecting liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) inspection apparatus and method are provided. The inspection apparatus and method are capable of automatically and accurately detecting defects of an LCD panel, and providing information of the automatically-detected defects of the LCD panel to the operator, thereby enabling the operator to easily recognize the defects. |
US07868643B2 |
Proportional regulation for optimized current sensor performance
An integrated circuit device comprises a first transistor having a gate coupled to an output of a first operational amplifier, a second transistor having a threshold voltage proportional to a threshold voltage of the first transistor, the second transistor having a gate coupled to an inverting input of a second operational amplifier, an output of the second operational amplifier coupled to an inverting input of the first operational amplifier, a first resistor coupled between the second transistor gate and the inverting input of the second operational amplifier, and a second resistor coupled between the output of the second operational amplifier and the inverting input of the second operational amplifier, a ratio of the second resistor to the first resistor selected based upon a ratio of a production distribution of a transistor source voltage offset to a production distribution of a transistor threshold voltage mismatch. |
US07868639B1 |
Methods and apparatus for integrated circuit loopback testing
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing loopback testing of integrated circuits (“ICs”). In an embodiment of the invention, an IC can be tested on an undiced wafer by coupling a wireless transmitter of the IC to a wireless receiver of the IC. Core circuitry of the IC can be controlled to cause the transmitter to send at least one signal to the receiver. Upon receipt of the at least one signal, the receiver can send a signal to the core circuitry, which can determine, and possibly record, whether the transmission and receipt were successful. The invention advantageously facilitates efficient testing of unpackaged ICs at the wafer level. |
US07868638B2 |
System and method for measuring negative bias thermal instability with a ring oscillator
An integrated circuit, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes a first device under test (DUT) module coupled to a first ring oscillator module and a second DUT module coupled to a second ring oscillator module. The first DUT module is biased such that interface traps are generated during a first mode. The generated interface traps result in a decrease in a first drive current of the first DUT module. The second device under test module is biased to maintain a reference drive current during the first mode. The operating frequency of the first ring oscillator module, during a second mode, is a function of the first drive current. The operating frequency of the second ring oscillator module, during the second mode, is a function of the reference drive current. The integrated circuit may also include a comparator module for generating an output signal as a function of a difference between the operating frequency of the first and second ring oscillator modules. |
US07868634B2 |
Probe or measuring head with illumination of the contact region
A probe or measuring head for measuring an electrical signal of an electrical contact has an electrically conducting feeler (1) which protrudes out of a housing (3) and has, at its end, a contact region (4) which comes into touching contact with the electrical contact. The contact region (4) of the feeler (1) and the measurement environment surrounding the contact region (4) of the feeler (1) is illuminated by the light beams from a light source (101, 102, . . . , 10n, 10o) connected to the probe or measuring head. |
US07868629B2 |
Proportional variable resistor structures to electrically measure mask misalignment
A system, method and structures employing proportional variable resistors suitable for electrically measuring unidirectional misalignment of stitched masks in etched interconnect layers. In an example embodiment, there is a structure (10, 20) that comprises at least one proportional variable resistor (24) suitable for electrically measuring unidirectional misalignment of stitched masks in etched interconnect layers. The structure (10,20) comprises at least a first mask (10) and a second mask (20) that when superimposed comprise at least two test pads (14, 16) and interconnects (12, 22) the resistance between (24) which can be measured. |
US07868628B2 |
Tactile sensor utilizing microcoils with spiral shape
Provided is a material for tactile sensor, which is easy to be formed, and in which the shape, size and orientation of coils dispersed in the medium are sufficiently controlled. The tactile-sensitive material comprises a medium and a plurality of micro coils dispersed in the medium and constituting a LCR resonance circuit, and wherein each of the plurality of micro coils comprises at least one spiral coil portion, and coil axes of the plurality of micro coils are aligned along at least one direction and/or directed in at least one plane. When a tactile stress is applied to the tactile-sensitive material, the C component is varied significantly, which contributes to the improvement in sensitivity of the tactile sensor. Further, by providing a core at the coil center, the sensitivity is more improved. |
US07868626B2 |
Burst noise canceling apparatus
The present invention provides a burst noise canceling apparatus which can remove burst noises even in a one-time data, without the need of a large amount of memory. The device according to the present invention incorporates an analog-to-digital converter for sampling a received MR signal to convert it to digital value to output it; a FIFO for delaying the digital value by delay time before output; a burst noise detection circuit for outputting a detection pulse upon detecting the presence of a burst noise in the received MR signal; a shift register having a first output which goes to “1” for the time corresponding to a pulse width of the detection pulse after elapsed time L−B since the detection pulse is read, and a second output which goes to “1” for the time corresponding to the pulse width of the detection pulse after elapsed time L+A since the detection pulse is read; an up-and-down counter which counts up at the rising edge of the first output and counts down at the falling edge of the second output; an OR circuit for outputting “1” when a count of the up-and-down counter is not “0” as a removal instruction signal; and a data removal processing unit which forces the output of the FIFO into “0” when the removal instruction signal is being output. The device is capable of removing the burst noise even in a one-time data, without the need of a large amount of memory. |
US07868623B2 |
Detection circuit, physical quantity measurement circuit, physical quantity measurement device, and electronic instrument
A detection circuit includes a detection terminal to which an alternating current signal from a physical quantity transducer is input, a detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit that converts the alternating current signal input through the detection terminal into a voltage signal, an evaluation terminal that supplies an evaluation voltage signal to the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit, an input resistor that has a given resistance ratio with respect to a feedback resistor; and a switch circuit of the detection circuit provided in a signal path that connects the evaluation terminal and an input node of the detection current/voltage conversion amplifier circuit. |
US07868618B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
The MRI apparatus of the present invention executes a non-imaging mode 501 for obtaining a steady state of magnetization and an imaging mode 502 for measuring echoes for images. In the non-imaging mode 501 and the imaging mode 502, imaging is performed by using a GrE type pulse sequence. In the imaging, RF pulses are irradiated while flip angle of nuclear magnetization in the imaging mode 502 is changed in a range of values not larger than a certain value determined by flip angle of nuclear magnetization used in the non-imaging mode 502 is irradiated. This certain value is, for example, the maximum value of flip angle of nuclear magnetization used in the non-imaging mode, or flip angle provided by an RF pulse used at the end of the non-imaging mode. SAR observed with use of a GrE type pulse sequence can be thereby reduced without degrading image contrast, and thus influence on human bodies can be reduced. |
US07868617B2 |
Cooling system and apparatus for controlling drift of a main magnetic field in an MRI system
An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a warm bore of a superconducting magnet in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a cooling tube that is mounted on a surface of the warm bore and is configured to transport a coolant. A chiller is coupled to the cooling tube and is configured to provide the coolant to the cooling tube. A controller is coupled to the chiller and is configured to provide a control signal to the chiller to control a temperature of the coolant. |
US07868614B2 |
Magnetic resonance system and method
The invention provides a magnetic resonance system and method of measuring continuous regions at high speed without decreasing SN. As a receive system, multiple RF coil sets a, b comprising multiple RF coils a1, a2, b1, b2 are disposed in positions where there is no spatial interference with at least one of the RF coils of an adjacent coil set, the RF coils constituting each coil set are changed over one by one, sets of RF coils which do not interfere mutually are activated, and signals are simultaneously acquired from a number of regions equivalent to the number n of coil sets. Hence, if the number of coil sets is set to n, the measurement time can be shortened to 1/n. Alternatively, the SN can be improved by √n times. |
US07868612B2 |
Magnetic sensor module
In a magnetic sensor module, using die-bond resin as a joining material, a Z-axis magnetic sensor is mounted onto a substrate having a wire formed on its principal surface. The Z-axis magnetic sensor having electrode pads formed on its bottom surface is tilted by 90 degrees and mounted onto the substrate. Therefore, the electrode pads are positioned at a side surface thereof. A joining material accommodation area which the die-bond resin can fill is provided at the surface of the Z-axis magnetic sensor opposing the principal surface of the substrate. This joining material accommodation area has a grooved structure. At the surface of the Z-axis magnetic sensor opposing the principal surface of the substrate, the grooved structure is provided at an end portion near the wire formed on the substrate. |
US07868609B2 |
Position sensor
A position encoder is provided for indicating the relative position between first and second relatively move members. One of the members carries a magnetic field generator which generates a magnetic field whose magnitude and direction vary with position. In a preferred embodiment, the other member carries an excitation winding, one or more sensor windings and a film of magnetizable material. The arrangement is such that the positionally varying magnetic field interacts with the film to change the mutual coupling between the excitation winding and the or each sensor winding. Excitation and processing circuitry is provided for energising the excitation winding and for processing the sensor signals to determine a value indicative of the relative position between the first and second relatively movable members. |
US07868608B2 |
Detecting open ground connections in surface mount connectors
A device may include a current source for connecting to a printed circuit board. The device may also include a first FET switch pack and a second FET switch pack for connecting to the surface mount connector of the printed circuit board. Additionally, the device may include a FET controller connected to the first FET switch pack and the second FET switch pack. The FET controller may be utilized for connecting a first FET and a second FET to the first region of the surface mount connector. The FET controller may be configured for supplying the current to the first region of the surface mount connector to produce at least one continuous heat signature characteristic of an improperly connected ground pin. A thermal monitoring module may be used to identify the improper physical connection. |
US07868605B1 |
Mixed mode power regulator circuitry for memory elements
Power regulator circuitry is provided for powering loads such as programmable memory element arrays on integrated circuits. The power regulator circuitry may have control circuitry that generates a first digital control signal to turn on and off a regulated power supply circuit and a second digital control signal to turn on and off a switch-based power supply circuit. The outputs of the regulated power supply circuit and switch-based power supply circuit may be connected to an output terminal for the power regulator circuitry. The first and second digital control signals may be used to ensure that the regulated power supply circuit is turned on before the switch-based power supply circuit is turned off. The switch-based power supply circuitry may contain serially connected transistors. The transistors may be turned off in an order that prevents latchup. |
US07868602B2 |
Power supply device and electronic appliance therewith
A power supply device includes a clamp circuit that increases the upper limit value of an error voltage stepwise after the device is started up. This makes it possible to shorten the rise time of an output voltage and to reduce the maximum current at start-up. |
US07868601B1 |
System and method for controlling a regulator circuit for radio frequency power amplifier biases
A system and method are disclosed for controlling a regulator circuit that outputs a plurality of radio frequency power amplifier bias voltages. A feedback loop is connected to the regulator circuit from the plurality of bias voltages that are output from the regulator circuit. The feedback loop comprises a demultiplexer circuit and a multiplexer circuit that are connected to the regulator circuit. The demultiplexer circuit and the multiplexer circuit each receive an enable signal and provide a feedback signal to the regulator circuit from the bias voltage that is associated with the received enable signal. The invention allows the regulator circuit to be configured as needed to provide different values of radio frequency power amplifier bias voltages. |
US07868599B2 |
Method of optimum current blanking time implementation in current sense circuit
In a method and system for sensing current in a switching regulator (SWR) operating in a current mode, a power switch is coupled to receive the current from a switching element, the power switch being controlled by a gate signal. An inrush of the current causes an initial transient spike (ITS). A buffer having a buffer input and a buffer output is coupled to receive the gate signal and provide a buffered gate signal. The buffer output is disabled during the ITS. A sense switch (SW) is coupled to receive a portion of the current from the switching element, the SW being turned on by the buffered gate signal after the initial transient spike. A sense resistor (SR) is coupled to receive the portion of the current from the SW. An amplifier converts the portion of the current through the SR to a voltage signal for controlling the SWR. |
US07868596B2 |
Method of controlling a step-up DC-DC converter and related converter
A method of controlling a DC-DC step-up converter including at least one power switch and an energy storage inductor may include comparing a converter output voltage to a first threshold and generating a first comparison flag based on the converter output voltage comparison. The method may also include comparing a voltage across the energy storage inductor to a second threshold and generating a second comparison flag based on the second energy storage inductor voltage comparison. The method may further include controlling the at least one power switch as a function of a logic state of the first comparison flag and the second comparison flag, and stepwise adjusting the second threshold as a function of the first comparison flag and the second comparison flag to limit a ripple on the converter output voltage. |
US07868591B2 |
Cordless power system
A cordless system has cordless system components that include a cordless device, such as a cordless power tool, a battery pack and a charger. The battery pack is mated with either the cordless device to provide power to operate the cordless device or to the charger to charge the battery cells in the battery pack. In an aspect of the invention, the cordless system has an identification and communication system by which the battery pack identifies and communicates information about the battery pack to the cordless device or to the charger to which the battery pack is mated. In another aspect of the invention, the battery pack of the cordless system is capable of multiple modes, such as controlling the cordless device and controlling the charger. In yet another aspect of the invention, the battery pack validates the cordless device or charger to which it is mated. In still another aspect of the invention, the cordless system uses any of a wired interface, radio frequency interface, an optical interface or a magnetic interface to communicate information between the battery pack and the cordless device or charger to which the battery pack is mated. |
US07868589B2 |
Portable media player cordless charger
Various embodiments of a cordless charging device and a method for charging a portable media player are provided. Among other things, the charging device is compact and portable so that it can easily be stowed for transport, greatly enhancing a customer's ability to use the primary portable media player without all of the problems associated with recharging, including cables that inevitably accompany a docking station device. Features of the device include collapsible prongs and a hinged arm that radially releases from the body to reveal a docking connector for charging a portable media player. |
US07868588B2 |
Battery charger with wind tunnel cooling
A battery charging system which includes a main housing with a main chamber defined by a base, an end panel mounted on each end of the base, and a cover enclosing the end panels. At least one battery charging connector is connected to the housing. A power supply is connected to the at least one battery charging connector, where the power supply provides a battery charging electrical power to the at least one battery charging connector. The power supply has at least one heat generating electrical device. A tunnel is formed at least partially within the main chamber and extends between the end panels in the main chamber. At least one heat generating electrical device at least partially extends into the tunnel to be exposed to air in the tunnel to cool the heat generating electrical device. |
US07868582B2 |
Portable devices having multiple power interfaces
Portable devices having multiple power interfaces are described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device includes, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform one or more functions, a battery coupled to provide power to the processor and the memory, and a battery charging manager coupled to charge the battery using power derived from a plurality of power sources including a solar power source. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
US07868576B2 |
Drive device, travel device, and drive device control method
The present invention may be applied to a drive device, a travel device, and a drive device control method which are suitable for use in a robot arm and a twin cycle, for example. By eliminating (reducing) the opportunity of the use exceeding a rated torque of a servo motor, it is possible to increase the machine reliability and set an appropriate safety factor so as to reduce device costs. The operation value during the actual machine operation obtained by {(effective torque)2−(rated torque)2}*(elapsed time from start) is compared with a value based on the rated torque, and the system driving is stopped and/or an alarm is started. |
US07868574B2 |
Motor absolute position signal processing apparatus
A motor absolute position signal processing apparatus connected to a signal processor and an optical encoder of a motor control system includes first and second switches, a signal integration amplifier, first and second separators and an inverter. The first switch is connected with the optical encoder, the second switch with the optical encoder and the first switch, the signal integration amplifier with the first and second switches, the first separator with the signal integration amplifier and the signal processor, and the second separator with the signal processor. An input end of the inverter is connected with the second separator and an output end with the second switch. The signal processor outputs an enable signal to be processed by the inverter for switching the first or second switch. The signal integration amplifier processes and transmits two sets of differential signals SIN;/SIN and COS;/COS of the optical encoder to the signal processor. |
US07868573B2 |
Drive circuits
A drive circuit includes an ac network and first and second network rectifier/inverters (which can be active or passive) that are connected to the ac network in parallel. A first PWM rectifier/inverter is connected to the first network rectifier/inverter through a first dc link. A second PWM rectifier/inverter is connected to the second network rectifier/inverter through a second dc link. A first two-layer stator winding having a plurality of individual stator coils is connected to the first PWM rectifier/inverter and a second two-layer stator winding having a plurality of individual stator coils is connected to the second PWM rectifier/inverter. The stator coils of the first stator winding and the stator coils of the second stator winding are interconnected such that, in use, the vector sum of voltages across the stator coils in the first stator winding is substantially equal to the vector sum of voltages across the stator coils in the second stator winding. This has the advantageous effect of reducing the PWM frequency current harmonics flowing in the first and second stator windings. |
US07868571B2 |
Motor system with reduced common-mode noise
A motor system with reduced common-mode noise includes an AC power, a first transformer unit electrically connected to the AC power and providing a first DC power, and a second transformer unit electrically connected to the AC power and providing a second DC power. The first DC power is supplied to a motor driving section of the motor system, and the second DC power is supplied to a motor controlling section of the motor system. Therefore, a common-mode noise from the transformer winding for the motor driving section can be prevented from coupling to the transformer winding for the motor controlling section. Moreover, a safe stop signal is applied to turn down a PWM IC for power through a photo coupler or a relay. Therefore, the first transformer unit stops supplying current to the motor driving section of the motor system to enhance safe stop function for the motor system. |
US07868566B2 |
Method for adjusting a piston in a linear compressor
A method for operating a linear compressor including a linear drive with a stator and a rotor configured for displacement by a magnetic field of the stator against a spring force, and a compression chamber which is delimited by a displaceable piston coupled to the rotor during the operation of which an alternating current is applied to the stator in order to drive the rotor in an reciprocatingly, the method including the steps of applying, prior to operation, a direct current with a first polarity to the stator in order to displace the rotor from a rest position, measuring a first end position attained by the rotor under the action of the direct current, and controlling, during operation, the intensity of the alternating current with which the stator is excited in a manner wherein the rotor does not reach the first end position or reaches it at a reduced speed. |
US07868564B2 |
H-mode drift-tube linac and design method therefor
A linearity of a voltage change to a tuner insertion amount is verified for at least one of a plurality of tuners. Based on the voltage change linearity, individual voltage change data corresponding to respective insertion amounts are calculated for each of the plurality of tuners through a proportional calculation. A combination of auto-tuners and a combination of respective insertion amounts of the auto-tuners are determined using the individual voltage change data, and an adequacy of the determined combinations is verified through a direct three-dimensional electromagnetic field calculation. The combinations are determined on a condition that, when the individual voltage change data of nominated tuners are added together, respective voltage changes attributed to the nominated tuners are cancelled out to allow an entire voltage distribution to have substantially no change. |
US07868559B2 |
Electronic ballast with higher startup voltage
An electronic ballast with higher startup voltage includes converter with a switching circuit (40) responsive to a switching control signal (50) and operably connected to a DC bus (30); a DC controller (44) comparing a sensed DC bus voltage signal and a reference DC bus voltage signal to generate the switching control signal (50); and a startup adjustor operably connected to the DC controller (44) to adjust at least one of the sensed DC bus voltage signal and the reference DC bus voltage signal for a predetermined time at startup so that startup DC bus voltage is greater than steady state DC bus voltage. |
US07868558B2 |
Organic light emitting diode power converter
A power converter circuit converts an AC line signal to a DC signal for powering an organic light emitting diode. The circuit uses only capacitive elements to limit current to the LED. Inductive and resistive elements are not included in the circuit to limit current. The absence of inductive components eliminates electromagnetic interference generated by the circuit and avoids circuit components magnetically coupling to one another. The circuit includes complementary MOSFET switches that alternately conduct to convert the AC line voltage into a DC current for powering the LED. |
US07868554B2 |
Light weight automotive HID igniter
A light weight, bobbinless high voltage transformer and igniter module is provided that meets low-cost and high-reliability requirements for automotive HID products. A printed circuit board (112) serves as a carrier for low voltage electronic components. A high voltage bar core transformer (114) is held in a cradle (130, 130′) that accommodates potting material and has a channel (160) that receives a high voltage wire extending from the transformer for connection with a lead (104) of an HID lamp (100). Thin walls (210, 212) allow the cradle to serve as the cavity for the potting of the transformer. In addition, multi-layer dielectric material is disposed between the primary and secondary windings. Preferably, the primary winding (196) is a strap that covers a large surface area of the secondary winding (192). |
US07868551B2 |
Fluorescent tube having an increasing internal diameter, a method of driving the fluorescent tube, an illuminating device for display device, and a display device having the illuminating device
A fluorescent tube in which no luminance gradient in the longitudinal direction occurs even when a one-side high-voltage driving method is used, a method of driving the fluorescent tube, an illuminating device for display device, and a display device having the illuminating device are provided. The fluorescent tube for one-side high-voltage driving is arranged behind a display panel via optical sheets. An internal diameter of the fluorescent tube is arranged to become larger gradually toward an electrode part at a high-voltage driving side, which prevents the occurrence of the luminance gradient in the longitudinal direction when a one-side high-voltage driving method is used. |
US07868549B2 |
Plasma display panel comprising phosphor additive material
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate on which a scan electrode and a sustain electrode are positioned parallel to each other, a rear substrate on which an address electrode is positioned to intersect the scan and sustain electrodes, a barrier rib positioned between the front and rear substrates to partition a discharge cell, and a phosphor layer that is positioned in the discharge cell and includes a phosphor material and MgO material. At least two scan electrodes are adjacently positioned. The barrier rib includes a first barrier rib positioned parallel to the scan and sustain electrodes, and a second barrier rib intersecting the first barrier rib. A height of the first barrier rib is different from a height of the second barrier rib. |
US07868548B2 |
Plasma display panel and low temperature fabrication method thereof
Disclosed is a plasma display panel fabricated by low temperature process at not more than 300° C. More particularly, the present invention provides a plasma display panel comprising at least one of a dielectric layer in an upper plate, another dielectric layer and barrier ribs in a lower plate, and a sealing material for the upper and lower plates which is prepared of a particular compound obtainable by curing organic monomer, organic oligomer or siloxane based oligomer having polymerizable functional groups; and, in addition, a method for fabrication of the plasma display panel. |
US07868544B2 |
Display apparatus
Provided is a display apparatus capable of reducing external light reflection to reduce an amount of glare of the outside, in which a translucent protection member is provided to cover an observation surface side of a display member including an organic EL light-emitting portion, in order to protect the display member. The display apparatus includes the display member with an organic EL light-emitting portion having a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer provided between the pair of electrodes; and a casing for housing the display member, wherein a protection member is provided in the casing with a gap from the display member, and wherein a phase member and a polarizing member are formed on the protection member such that the polarizing member is located closer to a light extraction side than the phase member. |
US07868542B2 |
Light-emitting apparatus having periodic structure and sandwiched optical waveguide
Provided is a light-emitting apparatus which can improve the light extraction efficiency without adversely influencing a functional layer of a light-emitting device and which includes a substrate; a light-emitting device formed on the substrate, the light-emitting device including: a first electrode formed on the substrate; an insulating member covering a periphery of the first electrode; and a functional layer formed on an exposed portion of the first electrode and including an emission layer; and a second electrode formed on the functional layer and the insulating member, in which a periodic structure is formed on a surface of the insulating member opposite to a substrate side, and an optical waveguide is formed between a bottom portion of the periodic structure and the first electrode or between the bottom portion of the periodic structure and the substrate. |
US07868541B2 |
White light emitting organic electroluminescent device
Provided is a white light emitting organic electroluminescent device, which includes a transparent substrate, a first element, and a second element, wherein the first element includes a first anode, a first element organic layer, and a reflective cathode sequentially disposed on a first substrate of the transparent substrate, and wherein the second element includes a second anode, a second element organic layer, and a transparent or translucent cathode sequentially disposed on a second surface of the transparent substrate. |
US07868535B2 |
Light emitting device using phosphor powder
The present invention is a light emitting device which uses a specific phosphor powder. The phosphor powder is a combination of cerium (Ce) and lithium aluminum oxide (LiAlO2). They are mixed under a specific range of composition ratio. With the specific phosphor powder applied, the light emitting device has advantages in a low cost, a reduced power consumption, an easy production, a long life, and so on. In addition, a transformation efficiency of the phosphor powder is high and so a light emitting efficiency of the light emitting device is enhanced. |
US07868534B2 |
Mother glass and method of fabricating organic electro luminescence display device using the same
A mother glass including a plurality of organic electro luminescence arrays having a scan pad and a data pad, wherein the plurality of organic electro luminescence arrays are arranged in a matrix type, comprising a non-array area, arranged between the organic electro luminescence arrays arranged in the matrix type, and an edge area located at an exterior of the arrangement of the matrix; at least more than one positive shorting bar formed at the edge area to supply with a positive voltage; at least more than one negative shorting bar formed at the edge area to supply with a negative voltage; a first line formed at the non-array area to electrically connect the data pad, formed in each of organic electro luminescence arrays, to the positive shorting bar; and a second line formed at the non-array area to electrically connect the scan pad, formed in each of organic electro luminescence arrays, to the negative shorting bar. |
US07868533B2 |
Electron emission display and method of fabricating the same
An electron emission display includes a first substrate, an electron emission unit formed at the first substrate to emit electrons, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a light emission unit formed at the second substrate to emit visible light using electrons emitted from the electron emission unit. The light emission unit includes a phosphor layer formed on the second substrate and an anode electrode formed on the phosphor layer. The anode electrode includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer and having a single- or multi-layered structure. |
US07868532B2 |
Light emission device and display device provided with the same
A light emission device includes first and second substrates opposing each other to form a vacuum vessel, an electron emission unit located on the first substrate, a light emission unit located on the second substrate and emitting visible light in response to electrons emitted from the electron emission unit, and a heat dissipating sheet located on an outer surface of the second substrate. The heat dissipating sheet includes carbon nanotubes. A display device includes the light emission device, and a panel assembly located in front of the light emission device to transmit therethrough the light emitted from the light emission device to display images. |
US07868529B2 |
Penetrable assembled magnetic energy generator as well as its magnetic light
The present invention discloses a magnetic light, having a magnetic energy generator, and a light body having at least a through slot for penetrating the energy generator, the magnetic energy generator includes a pair of detachable magnetic members jointed together with a face to face manner for defining a magnetic air gap between two magnetic members, as a result, the magnetic field center could be accurately positioned, wherein one of the magnetic members is adapted to penetrate the through slot to be coupled with the remaining magnetic member. In short, such magnetic light has a simpler structure, and solid cost saving, and more importantly prone to be manufactured with an industrial scale. |
US07868528B2 |
Light emitting device with translucent semi-reflection layer and electronic apparatus
A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element which includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a light emitting function layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a reflection layer which reflects light emitted from the light emitting function layer toward the light emitting function layer; and a translucent semi-reflection layer which is disposed opposite the reflection layer with the light emitting function layer interposed therebetween to reflect some of the light emitted from the light emitting function layer toward the light emitting function layer and to transmit the remainder of the light, wherein the translucent semi-reflection layer has a refractive index of 1 or more. |
US07868523B2 |
Elastic wave device and method of producing the same
An elastic wave device has a structure that prevents cracks from being formed in a piezoelectric substrate in flip-chip bonding using a bump, that minimizes the contact resistance in a contact portion where wiring patterns are electrically connected to each other, and that improves the insertion loss. In the elastic wave device, first and second multilayer electrically conductive films are provided on a piezoelectric substrate, the first multilayer electrically conductive film defines an IDT electrode and a first wiring pattern, the second multilayer electrically conductive film defines an electrode pad to which a bump is connected and a second wiring pattern, at least one contact portion where the second wiring pattern is overlapped on the first wiring pattern so as to be electrically connected to each other is provided, a top electrically conductive film of the first multilayer electrically conductive film is a Ti film, and a bottom electrically conductive film of the second multilayer electrically conductive film is an Al-based electrically conductive film including Al or an alloy mainly containing an Al. |
US07868520B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which expands and contracts when a voltage is applied thereto, a driving shaft fixed to one end of the piezoelectric element in an expanding-and-contracting direction, a friction part frictionally engaged with the driving shaft, a lens holder moved along a direction of an optical axis of a lens, and a direction-changing unit which reciprocates the lens holder in the front-rear direction along the optical axis. The direction-changing unit includes a translation cam mechanism including a moving member and a moved member, and converts a linear movement along the expanding-and-contracting direction into a linear movement along the direction of the optical axis. |
US07868517B2 |
Lamb wave resonator
A Lamb wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, and a first electrode against a first face of the piezoelectric layer. The first electrode includes fingers and a contact arm, with each finger including a first side in contact with the contact arm and two other sides parallel to one another. Portions of the piezoelectric layer are at least partially etched between the two fingers to form a recess. The fingers are spaced apart from one another by a distance W calculated according to the following equation: W = n · va lateral f , with n ∈ N where, valateral is an acoustic propagation speed of Lamb waves, n is an order of a resonance mode of the Lamb waves, f is a resonance frequency of the Lamb wave resonator. |
US07868515B2 |
Thin laminate construction for the creation of tactile feedback
A tactile laminate and a method for generating tactile feedback, wherein the tactile laminate and method provide a flexible laminate for creating a tactile sensation on a desired surface without the need for separate motion generating devices, is disclosed. A tactile laminate includes a first layer having a first conductive pad disposed thereon, the first conductive pad adapted to receive a first desired electric charge, a second layer having a second conductive pad disposed thereon, the second conductive pad adapted to receive a second desired electric charge, and a third layer having a desired permittivity disposed between the first layer and the second layer. |
US07868508B2 |
Polyphase transverse and/or commutated flux systems
Disclosed are single- and poly-phase transverse and/or commutated flux machines and components thereof, and methods of making and using the same. Exemplary devices, including polyphase devices, may variously be configured with an interior rotor and/or an interior stator. Other exemplary devices, including polyphase devices, may be configured in a slim, stacked, and/or nested configuration. Via use of such polyphase configurations, transverse and/or commutated flux machines can achieve improved performance, efficiency, and/or be sized or otherwise configured for various applications. |
US07868504B2 |
Resolver
A resolver rotor for a variable reluctance resolver includes a plurality of axially stacked rotor pieces. The rotor pieces are jointly fitted into one body. In the fitting of the rotor pieces, deformed portions are provided between a center of the radial thickness of the resolver rotor and a side surface thereof which is opposite to a stator-side surface thereof. The number of deformed portions is the same as that of projecting poles of the resolver rotor. The deformed portions are arranged at circumferential positions of peaks of the respective projecting poles. At those positions, concave portions are provided on the side surface to receive deformations caused by fitting the rotor pieces together. Thus, the stator-side surface of the resolver rotor is less affected by fitting of the rotor pieces together, preventing a reduction in the detection accuracy of the resolver. |
US07868501B2 |
Rotor for an electric motor, rotor discs for construction of the rotor, and an electric motor having such a rotor
Annular rotor disc for, in an axially stacked disc assembly of a plurality of similar rotor discs, forming a rotor for an electric motor, in which the discs secure a plurality of axially running permanent bar magnets, of substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, distributed around the circumference of the rotor. The rotor disc has pockets for accommodating and securing the permanent bar magnets in such a way that adjoining bars form an angle to one another. The pockets for adjacent, mutually diverging permanent bar magnets, viewed in the radial direction from the centre of the rotor, delimit between them a substantially triangular disc part, which is flexibly connected to a radially inner part of the annular rotor disc only by a radically inner web portion. |
US07868497B2 |
Airtight-type electric motor
An airtight-type electric motor capable of reducing vibration is provided. Inside ribs of a pair of end brackets and are respectively fitted into core end portions of a stator core. Outside ribs of the pair of end brackets and are respectively brought into contact against end surfaces of the core end portions of a yoke of the stator core. With this arrangement, the pair of end brackets and are fixed to the stator core, and a housing and the stator core are arranged, without being coupled together. |
US07868489B2 |
Acceleration generator and pseudo force sense generator
An acceleration generator 20 includes: a moving member (21, 25) that performs a periodic translational motion along a particular straight line; a first operating part (24) that applies a first force that varies in magnitude depending on the relative position thereof with respect to the moving member to the moving member in a direction parallel to the particular straight line; and a second operating part (27) that applies a second force that varies in magnitude depending on the relative position thereof with respect to the moving member to the moving member in a direction parallel to the particular straight line. The moving member performs a translational motion in which the acceleration thereof in the positive direction and the acceleration thereof in the negative direction are asymmetric in one period. |
US07868488B2 |
Magnetic levitation wafer stage, and method of using the stage in an exposure apparatus
A magnetic levitation wafer stage is used to align a wafer in an exposure apparatus of photolithographic equipment. The wafer stage includes a base, a table supported on the base and whose entire top surface exhibits magnetism of a single polarity, and motors for moving the table in the X and Y directions relative to the base. Alternatively, the wafer stage includes a wafer table having a main body and a number of electromagnets disposed in an upper portion of the main body, and electronics that selectively supply current in either direction through coils of the electromagnets respectively and independently of one another. In the exposure process, the bottom surface of the substrate is provided with a magnetic substance such that the substrate exhibits magnetism of a given polarity. The substrate is delivered to and set on the table of the stage. There, the substrate is levitated by a magnetic force of repulsion between the substrate and the table. The substrate can be moved horizontally while the substrate remains levitated above the table of the stage. |
US07868485B2 |
Pulsed power supply with current ripple reduction
A pulsed power source minimizes current ripple disturbance in a main power supply by dividing the pulsed load into a plurality of pulsed sub-loads. The pulsed power source includes a plurality of pulsed load power supplies, each pulsed load power supply receiving charging power from the main power supply and providing pulsed energy to one of the plurality of pulsed sub-loads. Pulsed energy delivered to each of the plurality of pulsed sub-loads is out of phase with the other pulsed sub-loads, resulting in the input current provided by the main power supply having a reduced current ripple magnitude and increased current ripple frequency. |
US07868483B2 |
Power management systems with current sensors
A power management system includes a power management unit (PMU) and a current sensor. The PMU is operable for controlling a first power source and a second power source. The second power source is operable for being charged by the first power source via a charging path. The current sensor has a first terminal coupled to the first power source and the second power source and has a second terminal coupled to the second power source via the charging path. The current sensor is operable for sensing a first current flowing from the first power source through the current sensor and for sensing a second current flowing from the second power source through the current sensor. |
US07868482B2 |
Method and apparatus for high efficiency rectification for various loads
An apparatus for converting power includes at least one impedance matching network which receives an electrical signal. The apparatus includes at least one AC to DC converter in communication with the impedance matching network. Also disclosed is a method for powering a load and an apparatus for converting power and additional embodiments of an apparatus for converting power. |
US07868481B2 |
Emergency capacitor for a contactless device
A power supply for a contactless device having a power supply circuit configured to provide an internal power supply voltage, an emergency capacitor circuit having an emergency capacitor, configured to provide a source current during an external field pause, and a power supply regulator configured to regulate the internal power supply voltage and the source current, wherein the emergency capacitor circuit is electrically coupled in parallel with the power supply circuit. |
US07868480B2 |
Saturating series clipper
A clipper circuit for regulating an unregulated or semi-regulated output of a power supply unit. The circuit includes a gate element between the load and the input voltage from the power supply unit. The gate is activated by a comparing circuit, which turns the gate on or off based on the feedback voltage of the circuit output, compared with a reference voltage. The gate is in saturation mode during normal and heavy loading and in linear mode during light loading. |
US07868478B2 |
Electronic power stabilizer
An electronic control system having a boost converter circuit with an input for receiving a first DC voltage from a source of power and an output for delivering a second DC voltage to a load. The boost converter includes a main power transistor and a primary control circuit for providing a first control signal to control the main power transistor. The first control signal from the primary control circuit effects the maximum allowable current flowing in the main power transistor. The system includes a secondary control circuit having a temperature detector that provides a second control signal for overriding the first control signal of the primary control circuit. The temperature detector is mounted in thermal relation to the main power transistor, and the secondary control circuit is capable of reducing the maximum current flowing in the main power transistor based on a third signal received from the temperature detector. |
US07868477B2 |
Device for supplying electricity
A device for supplying electricity to electrical equipment on a first element drivable for rotating operation with a predetermined rotation rate. A source of electricity includes a stator and a rotor that are rotatable in relation to each other. One of the rotor and stator is attached to the first element and another of the rotor and stator is attached to a second element including at least one braking member. In accordance with a predetermined drag coefficient, when interacting with a surrounding fluid medium in rotating operation a braking torque is induced, which results in a difference in rotation rate between the first element and the second element. An output to the source of electricity is based on a product of the braking torque and the rotation rate difference. |
US07868476B2 |
Wind-driven electric power generation system
A system generating electrical power from wind includes a cowling to capture wind and directs it into a tubular housing. At least one fixed helical vane can be integrated into the inner surfaces of the tubular housing in a spiral, adapted to further direct the captured wind into a spiraled air flow and focus the wind directly onto electrical generator fan blades located near an exhaust of the system. A generator cone can be mounted at the front of the generator or fan blades facing air passing through the tubular housing. As air passes over the generator cone it can experience compression between the generator cone and housing resulting in increased pressure and velocity of the air, thereby increasing rotational speed of the generator blades and generator as the compressed air passes through the blades and exits the system's exhaust. The system can be used for fixed or mobile applications. |
US07868474B2 |
Method and structures for indexing dice
A method of indexing a plurality of dice obtained from a material wafer comprising a plurality of stacked material layers, each die being obtained in a respective die position in the wafer, the method including providing a visible index on each die indicative of the respective die position, wherein providing the visible index on each die includes: forming in a first material layer of the die a reference structure adapted to defining a mapping of the wafer; and forming in a second material layer of the die a marker associated with the reference structure, a position of the marker with respect to the reference structure being adapted to provide an indication of the die position in the wafer. |
US07868473B2 |
Wafer target design and method for determining centroid of wafer target
A method for determining the centroid of a wafer target. In one embodiment, the method comprises a series of steps in a stepper, starting with the step of receiving a wafer, having a target set formed therein. Next, a signal is passed over the target set and over a material separating target shapes in the target set. Then a return signal is reflected, and received, from the surface of the target shapes and the material separating them. A location of at least one maxima point of the return signal is identified. Finally, a centroid is determined as the median of the locations of at least one maxima point. |
US07868472B2 |
Thermal dissipation in integrated circuit systems
Integrated circuit systems with thermal dissipation enhancement features are described. In one aspect, an integrated circuit system includes a die incorporating an integrated circuit. The die has a top side and a bottom side. The top side supports an electrical signal communication metallization and a top side thermal dissipation metallization. The bottom side supports a bottom side thermal dissipation metallization. |
US07868471B2 |
Integrated circuit package-in-package system with leads
An integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: forming an integrated circuit package system including: connecting a first integrated circuit die and a lead, and forming an inner encapsulation covering the first integrated circuit die and a portion of the lead; mounting a second integrated circuit die to the integrated circuit package system; connecting the second integrated circuit die and the lead; and forming a package encapsulation covering the integrated circuit package system and the second integrated circuit die with the lead exposed. |
US07868470B2 |
Semiconductor chip package and multichip package
The present invention provides a multichip package wherein a plurality of semiconductor chip packages (100) in each of which first electrode pads (16a) provided in a main surface of a semiconductor chip, and first bonding pads (20a) and first central bonding pads (18a) formed in an upper area of the main surface are respectively electrically connected by first redistribution wiring layers (24) in a one-to-one correspondence relationship, and second electrode pads (17b), and second bonding pads (22b) and second central bonding pads (18b) formed in an upper area of the main surface are respectively electrically connected by second redistribution wiring layers (26) in a one-to-one correspondence relationship, are stacked on one another. |
US07868467B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first substrate, a plurality of cell transistors and a second substrate. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The plurality of cell transistors is formed extending on the first surface of the first substrate in a direction. The second substrate has an upper surface making contact with the second surface of the first substrate. Further, the upper surface of the second substrate has a bent structure to apply tensile stresses to the first substrate in the extending direction of the plurality of cell transistors. Thus, tensile stresses may be applied to the first substrate to improve the mobility of carriers in a channel region of the cell transistors. |
US07868465B2 |
Semiconductor device with a metallic carrier and two semiconductor chips applied to the carrier
A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a device including a carrier, an electrically insulating layer applied onto the carrier, an adhesive layer applied to the electrically insulating layer. A first semiconductor chip applied to the adhesive layer. |
US07868463B2 |
High performance sub-system design and assembly
A multiple integrated circuit chip structure provides interchip communication between integrated circuit chips of the structure with no ESD protection circuits and no input/output circuitry. The interchip communication is between internal circuits of the integrated circuit chips. The multiple integrated circuit chip structure has an interchip interface circuit to selectively connect internal circuits of the integrated circuits to test interface circuits having ESD protection circuits and input/output circuitry designed to communicate with external test systems during test and burn-in procedures. The multiple interconnected integrated circuit chip structure has a first integrated circuit chip mounted to one or more second integrated circuit chips to physically and electrically connect the integrated circuit chips to one another. The first integrated circuit chips have interchip interface circuits connected each other to selectively communicate between internal circuits of the each other integrated circuit chips or test interface circuits, connected to the internal circuits of each integrated circuit chip to provide stimulus and response to said internal circuits during testing procedures. A mode selector receives a signal external to the chip to determine whether the communication is to be with one of the other connected integrated circuit chips or in single chip mode, such as with the test interface circuits. ESD protection is added to the mode selector circuitry. |
US07868462B2 |
Semiconductor package including transformer or antenna
A semiconductor package comprises a package board and a plurality of semiconductor chips sequentially stacked on the package board. Each of the semiconductor chips comprises a semiconductor substrate and an open loop-shaped chip line formed on the semiconductor substrate. The open loop-shaped chip line has first and second end portions. The first and second end portions of the open loop-shaped chip lines are electrically connected to each other by connectors, and the connectors and the open loop-shaped chip lines constitute a spiral antenna. |
US07868457B2 |
Thermo-compression bonded electrical interconnect structure and method
An electrical structure and method for forming. The electrical structure includes a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure and a first solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. A second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure is thermo-compression bonded to the second electrically conductive pad. |
US07868454B2 |
High performance sub-system design and assembly
A multiple integrated circuit chip structure provides interchip communication between integrated circuit chips of the structure with no ESD protection circuits and no input/output circuitry. The interchip communication is between internal circuits of the integrated circuit chips. The multiple integrated circuit chip structure has an interchip interface circuit to selectively connect internal circuits of the integrated circuits to test interface circuits having ESD protection circuits and input/output circuitry designed to communicate with external test systems during test and burn-in procedures. The multiple interconnected integrated circuit chip structure has a first integrated circuit chip mounted to one or more second integrated circuit chips to physically and electrically connect the integrated circuit chips to one another. The first integrated circuit chips have interchip interface circuits connected each other to selectively communicate between internal circuits of the each other integrated circuit chips or test interface circuits, connected to the internal circuits of each integrated circuit chip to provide stimulus and response to said internal circuits during testing procedures. A mode selector receives a signal external to the chip to determine whether the communication is to be with one of the other connected integrated circuit chips or in single chip mode, such as with the test interface circuits. ESD protection is added to the mode selector circuitry. |
US07868453B2 |
Solder interconnect pads with current spreading layers
Structure and methods of making the structures. The structures include a structure, comprising: an organic dielectric passivation layer extending over a substrate; an electrically conductive current spreading pad on a top surface of the organic dielectric passivation layer; an electrically conductive solder bump pad comprising one or more layers on a top surface of the current spreading pad; and an electrically conductive solder bump containing tin, the solder bump on a top surface of the solder bump pad, the current spreading pad comprising one or more layers, at least one of the one or more layers consisting of a material that will not form an intermetallic with tin or at least one of the one or more layers is a material that is a diffusion barrier to tin and adjacent to the solder bump pad. |
US07868452B2 |
Ultrathin semiconductor circuit having contact bumps
The invention relates to an ultrathin semiconductor circuit having contact bumps and to a corresponding production method. The semiconductor circuit includes a bump supporting layer having a supporting layer thickness and having a supporting layer opening for uncovering a contact layer element being formed on the surface of a semiconductor circuit. An electrode layer is situated on the surface of the contact layer element within the opening of the bump supporting layer, on which electrode layer is formed a bump metallization for realizing the contact bump. On account of the bump supporting layer, a thickness of the semiconductor circuit can be thinned to well below 300 micrometers, with the wafer reliably being prevented from breaking. Furthermore, the moisture barrier properties of the semiconductor circuit are thereby improved. |
US07868450B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a base plate having first and second surfaces both facing in opposite directions, and a plurality of anisotropic heat conducting members disposed in the base plate and spaced away from each other. A semiconductor element having a heat generating unit is mounted on the first surface, and the second surface is supported on a supporting member having a thermal conductivity. Each anisotropic heat conducting member has a sheet shape intersecting with the first and second surfaces, and orientates a direction of higher thermal conductivity than the thermal conductivity of the base plate in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface. |
US07868437B2 |
Mounting structure for IC tag and IC chip for mounting
A mounting structure for an IC tag where an IC chip for mounting (10) is mounted so as to be electrically connected to antenna patterns (44a), (44b). The assembly process that mounts the IC chip for mounting (10) on the antenna patterns (44a), (44b) is simplified, which makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of IC tags. The IC chip for mounting 10 is formed by winding conductive wires (12a), (12b) so as to encircle an outer surface of an IC chip (20) between two opposite edges of the IC chip (20) in a state where the conductive wires (12a), (12b) mechanically contact electrodes formed on the IC chip (20) and are electrically connected to the electrodes, so that the IC chip for mounting (10) is joined to the antenna patterns (44a), (44b) via the conductive wires (12a), (12b). |
US07868432B2 |
Multi-chip module for battery power control
A multi-chip module suitable for use in a battery protection circuit. The multi-chip module includes an integrated circuit chip, a first power transistor, a second power transistor, a first connection structure electrically coupling the integrated circuit chip to the first power transistor, a second connection structure electrically coupling the integrated circuit chip to the second power transistor, and a leadframe structure comprising a first lead, a second lead, a third lead and a fourth lead, wherein the integrated circuit chip, the first power transistor, and the second power transistor are mounted on the leadframe structure. A molding material covers at least part of the integrated circuit chip, the first power transistor, the second power transistor, the first connection structure, and the second connection structure. |
US07868430B2 |
Semiconductor device
This application relates to a semiconductor device comprising multiple separate leads molded in a molded structure, and a chip attached to the molded structure over at least two of the multiple separate leads. |
US07868428B2 |
PIN diode with improved power limiting
A PIN diode comprising an N-type substrate comprising a cathode of the PIN diode and having an intrinsic layer disposed upon the N-type substrate and having a top surface a P-type material disposed upon the top surface of the intrinsic layer comprising an anode of the PIN diode and a N-type material disposed over the sidewall of the cathode and over the sidewall and a portion of the top surface of the intrinsic material that is not occupied by the anode, wherein a horizontal gap is defined between the anode and the cathode through the intrinsic material, the gap being variable in width and/or the horizontal gap is less than the thickness of the intrinsic layer. |
US07868426B2 |
Method of fabricating monolithic nanoscale probes
A monolithic pair of nanoscale probes, including: a substrate having a cavity that extends from a surface of the substrate into its body; a dielectric layer formed on the substrate; a pair of nanoscale probe precursors formed over the dielectric layer; a plurality of sub-monolayers of electrode material selectively atomic layer deposited over the pair of nanoscale probe precursors. The dielectric layer includes a window that extends through it to the cavity of the substrate such that a portion of the dielectric layer adjacent to the window extends over the cavity. The pair of nanoscale probe precursors includes a pair of edges facing each other across the window. These edges correspond to tips of the pair of nanoscale probes. The sub-monolayers of electrode material include the pair of edges, so that a distance between the tips of the nanoscale probes is between about 0.1 nm and about 20 nm. |
US07868424B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The invention relates to a semiconductor device (10) with a substrate (11) and a semiconductor body (12) comprising a vertical bipolar transistor with an emitter region, a base region and a collector region (1, 2, 3) of, respectively, a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type and the first conductivity type, wherein the collector region (3) comprises a first sub-region (3A) bordering the base region (2) and a second sub-region (3B) bordering the first sub-region (3A) which has a lower doping concentration than the second sub-region (3B), and the transistor is provided with a gate electrode (5) which laterally borders the first sub-region (3A) and by means of which the first sub-region (3A) may be depleted. According to the invention the collector region (3) borders the surface of the semiconductor body (12), while the emitter region (1) is recessed in the semiconductor body (12), and the collector region (3) forms part of a mesa structure (6) formed at the surface of the semiconductor body (12). Such a device (10) has very favorable properties at high frequencies and high voltages and, moreover, is easy to manufacture. In a preferred embodiment the collector (3) comprises a nanowire (30) forming the mesa structure (6). |
US07868423B2 |
Optimized device isolation
A structure for a semiconductor device includes an isolated MOSFET (e.g., NFET) having triple-well technology adjacent to an isolated PFET which itself is adjacent to an isolated NFET. The structure includes a substrate in which is formed a deep n-band region underneath any n-wells, p-wells and p-band regions within the substrate. One p-band region is formed above the deep n-band region and underneath the isolated p-well for the isolated MOSFET, while another p-band region is formed above the deep n-band region and underneath all of the p-wells and n-wells, including those that are part of the isolated PFET and NFET devices within the substrate. The n-wells for the isolated MOSFET are connected to the deep n-band region. The resulting structure provides for improved device isolation and reduction of noise propagating from the substrate to the FETs while maintaining the standard CMOS spacing layout spacing rules and electrical biasing characteristics both external and internal to the triple-well isolation regions. |
US07868418B2 |
Semiconductor device
A first main electrode is provided on one surface thereof. On the other surface thereof, a second semiconductor layer of the first conduction type and a third semiconductor layer of the second conduction type are arranged alternately along the surface. A fourth semiconductor layer of the second conduction type and a fifth semiconductor layer of the first conduction type are stacked on the surfaces of the second and third semiconductor layers. The semiconductor device further comprises a control electrode formed in a trench with an insulator interposed therebetween. The trench passes through the fourth and fifth semiconductor layers and reaches the second semiconductor layer. A sixth semiconductor layer of the first conduction type is diffused from the bottom of the trench. A second main electrode is connected to the fourth and fifth semiconductor layers. |
US07868416B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a substrate, a source region formed on the surface portion of the substrate, a first insulating layer formed on the substrate, a gate electrode formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, a body section connected with the source region, penetrating through the first insulating layer, the gate electrode and the second insulating layer, and containing a void, a gate insulating film surrounding the body section, and formed between the body section and the gate electrode, and a drain region connected with the body section. |
US07868415B2 |
Integrated circuit with an active area line having at least one form-supporting element and corresponding method of making an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit may have: an active area line formed of a material of a semiconductor substrate with a first longitudinal direction parallel to an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; wherein the active area line has at least one form-supporting element extending in a second longitudinal direction parallel to the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; and wherein the second longitudinal direction is arranged with regard to the first longitudinal direction in an angle unequal to 0 degree and unequal to 180 degree. |
US07868414B2 |
Isolated bipolar transistor
A bipolar transistor is formed in an isolation structure comprising a floor isolation region, a dielectric filled trench above the floor isolation region and a sidewall isolation region extending downward from the bottom of the trench to the floor isolation region. This structure provides a relatively deep isolated pocket in a semiconductor substrate while limiting the depth of the trench that must be etched in the substrate. |
US07868412B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a semiconductor substrate; a well, having a well contact connection region, formed in the semiconductor substrate; a transistor formed on the well; an isolation region formed between the transistor formed on the well, and the well contact connection region; and a silicide layer formed between a bottom surface of the isolation region, and the semiconductor substrate. |
US07868411B2 |
Semiconductor devices
Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. In the semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same, different insulating patterns are disposed around a cell gate pattern and a peripheral gate pattern to impose different heat budgets around the cell gate pattern and the peripheral gate pattern. For this purpose, a semiconductor substrate having a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region is prepared. First and second cell gate patterns are disposed in the cell array region. A peripheral gate pattern is disposed in the peripheral circuit region to be adjacent to the second cell gate pattern. Buried insulating patterns are disposed around the first and second cell gate patterns. Planarization insulating patterns are disposed around the peripheral gate pattern. |
US07868408B2 |
Semiconductor light detecting element includes film which covers light receiving region near main surface of multilayer structure and electrode on main surface
A semiconductor photodetector device (PD1) comprises a multilayer structure (LS1) and a glass substrate (1) optically transparent to incident light. The multilayer structure includes an etching stop layer (2), an n-type high-concentration carrier layer (3), an n-type light-absorbing layer (5), and an n-type cap layer (7) which are laminated. A photodetecting region (9) is formed near a first main face (101) of the multilayer structure, whereas a first electrode (21) is provided on the first main face. A second electrode (27) and a third electrode (31) are provided on a second main face (102). A film (10) covering the photodetecting region and first electrode is formed on the first main face. A glass substrate (1) is secured to the front face (10a) of this film. |
US07868405B2 |
Inexpensive organic solar cell and method of producing same
The present invention proposes an organic photovoltaic component, particularly an organic solar cell, whose electrode is implemented as unstructured and is provided with a passivation layer, so that the passivated electrode layer acts functionally as a structured electrode or electrode layer. |
US07868403B1 |
Integrated MEMS resonator device
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator device using the same device layer, dielectric layer, and conductive layer that is used to create other electrical devices in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. |
US07868401B2 |
Multibit electro-mechanical memory device having at least one cantilever electrode and at least one gate line and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a multibit electro-mechanical memory device and a method of manufacturing the same. The device may include at least one bit line in a first direction on a substrate; at least one gate line and at least one lower word line in parallel by a given interval and in a second direction intersecting the first direction on the at least one bit line; at least one contact pad adjacent to the at least one gate line on the at least one bit line; and at least one cantilever electrode coupled to the at least one contact pad, configured to float with a void above and beneath the at least one cantilever electrode and configured to curve in a third direction vertical to the first and second directions. |
US07868399B2 |
Semiconductor sensing device
A semiconductor sensing device in which a sensing layer is exposed to a medium being tested in an area below and/or adjacent to a contact. In one embodiment, the device comprises a field effect transistor in which the sensing layer is disposed below a gate contact. The sensing layer is exposed to the medium by one or more perforations that are included in the gate contact and/or one or more layers disposed above the sensing layer. The sensing layer can comprise a dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer, or the like. |
US07868398B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, which can improve the effect of a hydrogenation treatment in case of using a GOLD structure, and a method of manufacturing thereof is provided. A gate insulating film is formed on a semiconductor layer, and a source region, a drain region, and LDD regions are formed in the semiconductor layer. A main gate is formed on the gate insulating film. A sub-gate is formed on the main gate and the gate insulating film so as to cover a part of the main gate and either the LDD regions adjacent to the source region or the drain region. An interlayer insulating film containing hydrogen is formed on the sub-gate, main gate, and gate insulating film. Subsequently, a heat treatment for hydrogenation is performed to terminate a crystal defect of the semiconductor layer with hydrogen. |
US07868397B2 |
Vertical semiconductor device
In a vertical semiconductor device including a first base layer of a first conductivity type, second base layers of a second conductivity type, emitter layer of the first conductive type and gate electrodes which are formed at one main surface of the first base layer and including a buffer layer of the first conductivity type, a collector layer of the second conductivity type and a collector electrode which are formed at the other main surface of the first base layer, an electric field relaxing structure selectively formed outside from the second base layers and the collector layer is formed expect the region below the electric field relaxing structure. |
US07868396B2 |
Power semiconductor component with a drift zone and a high-dielectric compensation zone and method for producing a compensation zone
A power semiconductor component includes a drift zone in a semiconductor body, a component junction and a compensation zone. The component junction is disposed between the drift zone and a further component zone, which is configured such that when a blocking voltage is applied to the component junction, a space charge zone forms extending generally in a first direction in the drift zone. The compensation zone is disposed adjacent to the drift zone in a second direction and includes at least one high-dielectric material having a temperature-dependent dielectric constant. The temperature dependence of the compensation zone varies in the second direction. |
US07868392B2 |
Integrated circuit tolerant to the locking phenomenon
Integrated circuit comprising doped zones (3 to 8) formed in a substrate (1, 2), forming a parasitic thyristor structure with two parasitic bipolar transistors (T1, T2), the integrated circuit comprising two metallizations (16, 19) interconnecting each of the two corresponding doped zones (4, 5; 6, 7) of the integrated circuit, to reduce the base resistances (RP−, RP−) of the two bipolar transistors, at least one of the metallizations (16, 19) performed to reduce the base resistances (RN−, RP−) of the two bipolar transistors, being connected to a power supply metallization (15, 16) in the integrated circuit, entirely through the substrate (1, 2). |
US07868388B2 |
Embedded memory in a CMOS circuit and methods of forming the same
In some aspects, a memory circuit is provided that includes (1) a two-terminal memory element formed on a substrate; and (2) a CMOS transistor formed on the substrate and adapted to program the two-terminal memory element. The two-terminal memory element is formed between a gate layer and a first metal layer of the memory circuit. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
US07868385B2 |
Semiconductor device with increased drain breakdown voltage
A semiconductor device is disclosed that is capable of improving the drain breakdown voltage during operation. The semiconductor device includes a first drain region that is arranged to extend from the vicinity of an end portion of the gate electrode at the drain electrode side in a direction toward the drain electrode, a drain contact region that is formed within the first drain region and comes into contact with the drain electrode, and a second drain region that is formed around and underneath the drain contact region. The second drain contact region has an impurity concentration that is higher than the impurity concentration of the first drain contact region and lower than the impurity concentration of the drain contact region. An end portion of the second drain region at the gate electrode side is positioned away from the end portion of the gate electrode by a predetermined distance. |
US07868384B2 |
High-voltage semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A high-voltage semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a plurality of pillars of a first conductivity type defined by a plurality of trenches which extend from a top surface of the semiconductor layer toward a bottom surface thereof. A charge compensation layer of a second conductivity type is disposed over at least sidewalls of each trench to a predetermined thickness to form a groove in each trench. A charge compensation plug of the first conductivity type substantially fills each groove. |
US07868380B2 |
Fin FET and method of fabricating same
A fin field effect transistor (fin FET) is formed using a bulk silicon substrate and sufficiently guarantees a top channel length formed under a gate, by forming a recess having a predetermined depth in a fin active region and then by forming the gate in an upper part of the recess. A device isolation film is formed to define a non-active region and a fin active region in a predetermined region of the substrate. In a portion of the device isolation film a first recess is formed, and in a portion of the fin active region a second recess having a depth shallower than the first recess is formed. A gate insulation layer is formed within the second recess, and a gate is formed in an upper part of the second recess. A source/drain region is formed in the fin active region of both sides of a gate electrode. |
US07868378B1 |
Methods and apparatus for LDMOS transistors
An LDMOS transistor includes a gate including a conductive material over an insulator material, a source including a first impurity region and a second impurity region, a third impurity region, and a drain including a fourth impurity region and a fifth impurity region. The first impurity region is of a first type, and the second impurity region is of an opposite second type. The third impurity region extends from the source region under the gate and is of the first type. The fourth impurity region is of the second type, the fifth impurity region is of the second type, and the fourth impurity region impinges the third impurity region. |
US07868375B2 |
Split gate non-volatile flash memory cell having a floating gate, control gate, select gate and an erase gate with an overhang over the floating gate, array and method of manufacturing
An improved split gate non-volatile memory cell is made in a substantially single crystalline substrate of a first conductivity type, having a first region of a second conductivity type, a second region of the second conductivity type, with a channel region between the first region and the second region in the substrate. The cell has a select gate above a portion of the channel region, a floating gate over another portion of the channel region, a control gate above the floating gate and an erase gate adjacent to the floating gate. The erase gate has an overhang extending over the floating gate. The ratio of the dimension of the overhang to the dimension of the vertical separation between the floating gate and the erase gate is between approximately 1.0 and 2.5, which improves erase efficiency. |
US07868374B2 |
Semitubular metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor
An epitaxial semiconductor layer or a stack of a silicon germanium alloy layer and an epitaxial strained silicon layer is formed on outer sidewalls of a porous silicon portion on a substrate. The porous silicon portion and any silicon germanium alloy material are removed and a semitubular epitaxial semiconductor structure in a three-walled configuration is formed. A semitubular field effect transistor comprising inner and outer gate dielectric layers, an inner gate electrode, an outer gate electrode, and source and drain regions is formed on the semitubular epitaxial semiconductor structure. The semitubular field effect transistor may operate as an SOI transistor with a tighter channel control through the inner and outer gate electrodes, or as a memory device storing electrical charges in the body region within the semitubular epitaxial semiconductor structure. |
US07868367B2 |
System and method for CMOS image sensing
A system and method for sensing image on CMOS. According to an embodiment, the present invention provide a CMOS image sensing pixel. The pixel includes an n-type substrate, which includes a first width and a first thickness. The pixel also includes a p-type epitaxy layer overlying the n-type substrate. The p-type epitaxy layer includes a second width and a second thickness. The second width is associated with one or more characteristics of a colored light. The pixel additionally includes an n-type layer overlying the p-type epitaxy layer. The n-type layer is associated with a third width and a third thickness. Additionally, the pixel includes an pn junction formed between the p-type epitaxy layer and the n-type layer. Moreover, the pixel includes a control circuit being coupled to the CMOS image sensing pixel. |
US07868361B2 |
Semiconductor device with both I/O and core components and method of fabricating same
A semiconductor device having a core device with a high-k gate dielectric and an I/O device with a silicon dioxide or other non-high-k gate dielectric, and a method of fabricating such a device. A core well and an I/O well are created in a semiconductor substrate and separated by an isolation structure. An I/O device is formed over the I/O well and has a silicon dioxide or a low-k gate dielectric. A resistor may be formed on an isolation structure adjacent to the core well. A core-well device such as a transistor is formed over the core well, and has a high-k gate dielectric. In some embodiments, a p-type I/O well and an n-type I/O well are created. In a preferred embodiment, the I/O device or devices are formed prior to forming the core device and protected with a sacrificial layer until the core device is fabricated. |
US07868360B2 |
Semiconductor device with heat-resistant gate
There are disclosed TFTs that have excellent characteristics and can be fabricated with a high yield. The TFTs are fabricated, using an active layer crystallized by making use of nickel. Gate electrodes are comprising tantalum. Phosphorus is introduced into source/drain regions. Then, a heat treatment is performed to getter nickel element in the active layer and to drive it into the source/drain regions. At the same time, the source/drain regions can be annealed out. The gate electrodes of tantalum can withstand this heat treatment. |
US07868357B2 |
Gate driver-on-array structure and display panel
A gate driver-on-array structure for using in a display panel including first conductive patterns, semiconductor patterns, second conductive patterns, third conductive patterns, first electrode line, and first connectors is provided. The first conductive patterns, the second conductive patterns, the semiconductor patterns and the third conductive patterns together form a plurality of thin film transistors. The first electrode line is located at a side of the first conductive patterns and spaced from the first conductive patterns by a first distance. The first connectors are connected to the corresponding first conductive patterns and the first electrode line. |
US07868355B2 |
Hetero field effect transistor and manufacturing method thereof
A hetero field effect transistor includes: a main semiconductor region including a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer formed thereon to allow a generation of a two-dimensional carrier gas layer of a first conductive type on a heterojunction interface therebetween; a source electrode formed on the main semiconductor region; a drain electrode formed on the main semiconductor region and separated from the source electrode; a third semiconductor layer of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type, the third semiconductor layer being formed on the second semiconductor layer and located between the source electrode and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode formed on the third semiconductor layer. A concave portion is formed in an upper surface of the second semiconductor layer at a region immediately below the gate electrode. |
US07868348B2 |
Light emitting device having vertical structure and method for manufacturing the same
A light emitting device having a vertical structure, which includes a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode arranged on the first surface of the semiconductor layer, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer arranged on the second surface of the semiconductor layer and a second electrode arranged on the TCO layer. |
US07868340B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating white light from solid state light emitting devices
An optical device capable of generating warm light using an array of phosphor islands situated over a phosphor layer is disclosed. The device includes a solid state light emitter, a phosphor layer, and phosphor islands. The solid state light emitter, in an aspect, is a light emitting diode (“LED”) capable of converting electrical energy to optical light. The phosphor layer is disposed over the solid state light emitter for generating luminous cool light in response to the optical light. Multiple phosphor islands are disposed on the phosphor layer for converting cool light to warm light, wherein the phosphor islands are evenly distributed over the phosphor layer. |
US07868339B2 |
Illuminating device
An illumination device comprising a connection carrier (1), at least one light-emitting diode (10), an electrically insulating layer (3) and a fixing device (4) is specified. The connection carrier (1) has a first main area (1a) and a second main area (1b) remote from the first main area. The light-emitting diode (10) is fixed on the first main area (1a) of the connection carrier (1). The electrically insulating layer (3) is fitted to the second main area (1b) of the connection carrier (1) and projects laterally beyond the second main area (1b) of the connection carrier (1). The fixing device (4) is suitable for fixing the illumination device to a mounting area (2a) of a carrier (2), wherein the electrically insulating layer (3) is arranged between the second main area (1b) of the connection carrier (1) and the mounting area (2a) of the carrier (2). Furthermore, the fixing device (4) presses the connection carrier (1) against the mounting area (2a). The pressure exerted in this way is used to effect a fixing of the insulating layer (3) between the second main area (1b) of the connection carrier (1) and the mounting area (2a). The fixing device (4) is connected to an optical element (8), which optically influences the light generated by the light-emitting diode (10) during operation. |
US07868334B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element, a lead electrically connected to the semiconductor light emitting element, and a resin package covering the semiconductor light emitting element and part of the lead. The resin package includes a lens facing the semiconductor light emitting element. The lead includes an exposed portion that is not covered by the resin package. The exposed portion includes a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion has a first mount surface oriented backward along the optical axis of the lens, and the second portion has a second mount surface oriented perpendicularly to the optical axis of the lens. |
US07868333B2 |
Process for demetallization of carbon nanotubes
Processes are provided for removing metal-based catalyst residues from carbon nanotubes by contacting the carbon nanotubes with an active metal agent and carbon monoxide. |
US07868329B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device, comprising a substrate, a semiconductive layer and a gate electrode is provided. The semiconductive layer having a crystallization promoting material is formed over the substrate. The semiconductive layer has a channel region, a first doped region and a second doped region. The first doped region has a donor and an acceptor, and the second doped region has a dopant which is selected from one of the donor and the acceptor. The second doped region is disposed between the first doped region and the channel region. The gate electrode is insulated from the channel region. |
US07868327B2 |
Thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, a TFT for reducing leakage current and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The TFT includes a flexible substrate, a diffusion preventing layer formed on the flexible substrate, a buffer layer formed of at least two insulated materials on the diffusion preventing layer, a semiconductor layer formed on a region of the buffer layer to include a channel layer and a source and drain region, a gate insulating layer formed on the buffer layer including the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer in a region corresponding to the channel layer, an interlayer insulating layer formed on the gate insulating layer including the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes formed in the interlayer insulating layer to include a predetermined contact hole that exposes at least a region of the source and drain region and to be connected to the source and drain region. |
US07868326B2 |
Field effect transistor
A novel field-effect transistor is provided which employs an amorphous oxide. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transistor comprises an amorphous oxide layer containing electron carrier at a concentration less than 1×10−18/cm3, and the gate-insulating layer is comprised of a first layer being in contact with the amorphous oxide and a second layer different from the first layer. |
US07868318B2 |
Quantum well field-effect transistors with composite spacer structures, apparatus made therewith, and methods of using same
A quantum well (QW) layer is provided in a semiconductive device. The QW layer is covered with a composite spacer above QW layer. The composite spacer includes an InP spacer first layer and an InAlAs spacer second layer above and on the InP spacer first layer. The semiconductive device includes InGaAs bottom and top barrier layers respectively below and above the QW layer. The semiconductive device also includes a high-k gate dielectric layer that sits on the InP spacer first layer in a gate recess. A process of forming the QW layer includes using an off-cut semiconductive substrate. |
US07868312B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor memory device is provided in which a phase-change layer can be formed stably and electric current required to cause the phase change of the phase-change layer can be reduced. An edge portion of the phase-change layer is formed above a lower electrode. The edge portion is formed to assume a tapered shape in cross section such that the thickness of the phase-change layer varies above the contact area between the lower electrode and the phase-change layer. The tapered portion is filled with an oxide film. According to this configuration, the region in which the phase-change occurs can be restricted, and hence the phase-change layer can be heated efficiently, resulting in reduction of electric current required for heating. |
US07868311B2 |
Phase change memory element and method for forming the same
A phase change memory and method for fabricating the same are provided. The phase change memory element includes: a substrate; rectangle-shaped dielectric patterns formed on the substrate and parallel with each other; electric conductive patterns partially covering a first sidewall and the top surface of the dielectric pattern and the substrate to expose the first sidewall and a second sidewall of the dielectric pattern, wherein the electric conductive patterns covering the same dielectric pattern are apart from each other; a phase change spacer formed on the substrate and directly in contact with the exposed first and second sidewalls of the dielectric patterns, wherein the two adjacent electric conductive patterns covering the same dielectric pattern are electrically connected by the phase change spacer; and a dielectric layer formed on the substrate. |
US07868307B2 |
Charged particle beam exposure system
A charged particle beam exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern onto a surface of a target, comprising a beam generator comprising a plurality of n changed particle sources, substantially in one plane, each source adapted for generating a charged particle beam, a first aperture array, comprising a plurality of groups of apertures, each group of apertures aligned with one source, for splitting each beam up into a plurality of beamlets m, thus resulting in a total of n×m beamlets, and a deflector array, comprising a plurality of groups of deflectors, each group of deflectors aligned with one source and one group of apertures, each deflector in a group aligned with an aperture of the corresponding group, and each group of deflectors operable for asserting a collimating influence on its corresponding beam. |
US07868306B2 |
Thermal modulation of implant process
A method for ion implantation is disclosed which includes modulating the temperature of the substrate during the implant process. This modulation affects the properties of the substrate, and can be used to minimize EOR defects, selectively segregate and diffuse out secondary dopants, maximize or minimize the amorphous region, and vary other semiconductor parameters. In one particular embodiment, a combination of temperature modulated ion implants are used. Ion implantation at higher temperatures is used in sequence with regular baseline processing and with ion implantation at cold temperatures. The temperature modulation could be at the beginning or at the end of the process to alleviate the detrimental secondary dopant effects. |
US07868303B2 |
Method and handling apparatus for placing patterning device on support member for charged particle beam imaging
A patterning device handling apparatus for use in charged particle beam imaging is disclosed. The disclosed patterning device handling apparatus comprises a first gripping member and a second gripping member. The first gripping member is equipped with a plurality of first positioning projections, and the second gripping member is equipped with a plurality of second positioning projections. When the patterning device is held at one angle, the first positioning projections abut against one edge of the patterning device and the second positioning projections abut against the opposite edge of the patterning device. When the patterning device is held at another angle, the first positioning projections abut against two neighboring edges of the patterning device, and the second positioning projections abut against the other two neighboring edges of the patterning device. Therefore, the disclosed patterning device handling apparatus can hold the pattering device at different angles. |
US07868302B2 |
Nano-particle/quantum dot based optical diode
A particle based optical diode having at least two cavities or at least two regions of a single cavity, wherein the regions contain different types of particles. |
US07868297B2 |
Covering of scintillation detector with a reflective coating
The present invention discloses a scintillation detector 10 comprising a scintillation crystal 12 covered by an inner coating layer 14, said inner coating layer 14 being reflective to light spectrum, and said inner coating layer 14 being stuck directly to said crystal by a chemical and/or a physical binding. According to further aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed to measure radiation from an wellbore environment with the aforementioned scintillation detector 10. According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed to manufacture a scintillation detector 10, comprising the steps of: defining two surface parts in a scintillation crystal 12: first and second part, covering said first part of said scintillation crystal 12 with an inner coating layer 14, said inner coating layer 14 being reflective to light spectrum and said inner coating layer 14 being stuck directly to said crystal 12 by a chemical and/or a physical binding, leaving said second part without coating, positioning said scintillation crystal 12 and said inner coating layer 14 in a shock absorbing member 18, positioning said second part in front of an optical window 24 transmissive to scintillation light given by said scintillation crystal 12, positioning said shock absorbing member 18 and said optical window 24 in a protective housing 20. |
US07868296B2 |
Spectroscopy having correction for broadband distortion for analyzing multi-component samples
A spectroscopic method and spectroscopy system therefrom for analyzing samples. A sample includes a first chemical component that has a characteristic first absorption peak is provided. The sample is irradiated in a measurement waveband proximate to the first absorption peak, and at a first and a second reference waveband where the first chemical component lacks characteristic absorption features. Reflected or transmitted detection data is obtained including a measured power proximate to the first absorption peak and first and second reference powers at the reference wavebands. A plurality of different waveband ratios are evaluated using pairs of detection data to generate a plurality of measured waveband ratio values. A parameter of the first chemical component is then determined by evaluating a multidimensional polynomial calibration equation that relates the parameter of the first chemical component to the plurality of different waveband ratios by substituting the measured waveband ratio values into the calibration relation. |
US07868295B2 |
Advanced calorimetric spectroscopy for commercial applications of chemical and biological sensors
A chemical and biological sensor system (200) includes at least one micro-cantilever sensing element (202) and a mechanism for collecting aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing the particles as a film layer (146) on a stack (140) formed with the cantilever. The deposited particles include chemical or biological species to be analyzed. A polarized light (242) illuminates the stack (140) at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light. The light is polarized in a plane parallel to the stack (140). The polarized light (242) heats the cantilever with different wavelengths of the light spectrum. Readout electronics detect movement of the cantilever (202) as a result of heat transfer from the light and provide spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement. A spectral analyzer (840) analyzes the spectral data signals, compares spectral images of the materials present to spectral images of known materials, and identifies one or more chemical or biological species present. |
US07868294B2 |
Apparatus and method for display control using ambient light measurement signal from an infrared receiver
A system having an infrared receiver is shown, where the system includes an infrared receiver circuit configured to receive an infrared data signal using a receive photodiode and compensate for an ambient light level incident on the receive photodiode by generating a DC ambient current signal, where the DC ambient current signal is accessible external to the infrared receiver circuit. The system also includes a control circuit configured to receive the DC ambient current signal and, responsive thereto, determine the ambient light level and generate a display illumination control signal accordingly. |
US07868293B1 |
Radiant energy imager using null switching
In some aspects, the present invention embodies both the method and apparatus for converting a pattern of irradiation to a visible image. An embodiment of the present invention provides an array of micro-electro-mechanical sensors with each sensor includes a deflectable micro-cantilever, responsive to absorbed incident radiation and to an applied repulsive electrostatic field. In an aspect, the sensor device also includes a null-sensing circuit coupled to a switch contact on or near the substrate, which senses when the micro-cantilever reaches its null location, by electrical connection with an upper switch contact on the micro-cantilever. Other embodiments are also described. |
US07868284B2 |
Optical semiconductor package having an optical module with a progressively varying refractive index
An imaging optical module is designed to be placed in front of an optical image sensor of a semiconductor component. The module includes at least one element which has a refractive index that varies between its optical axis and its periphery, over at least an annular part and/or over its central part. The element may be a tablet in front of the semiconductor sensor or a lens in front of the semiconductor sensor. The direction of variation in refractive index may be oppositely oriented with respect to the table and lens. |
US07868283B2 |
Physical quantity detection device with pixel array column-aligned terminals and method of driving same
A physical-quantity detection device includes at least two semiconductor substrates exchanging a pixel signal read from a pixel-array section including pixels, disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, for converting a physical quantity given from outside into an electrical signal. The two semiconductor substrates have a plurality of terminals connected in parallel and arranged with duplicate pitches with each other in the same direction as a row direction of the pixel-array section, one of the semiconductor substrates transmits the pixel signal to the other of the semiconductor substrates in parallel through the terminals connected in parallel, and the other of the semiconductor substrates scans the transmitted pixel signal to input the signal to a next stage circuit. |
US07868280B2 |
Illumination sensing apparatus, driving method thereof and display device having the illumination sensing apparatus
Provided are an illumination sensing apparatus, a driving method thereof and a display device having the illumination sensing apparatus. The illumination sensing apparatus includes an illumination sensor unit configured to generate a sensing signal according to peripheral illumination, an illumination determination unit configured to generate an illumination signal according to the sensing signal, and an illumination judgment unit configured to output a brightness select signal using the illumination signal, wherein the illumination sensor unit controls sensitivity of sensing the peripheral illumination to be varied according to the brightness select signal. Therefore, the sensitivity of an illumination sensor is automatically controlled according to the peripheral illumination, thus improving peripheral illumination sensibility. Further, an illumination signal corresponding to the peripheral illumination is provided to a light source module to thereby control the output brightness of the light source module, which makes it possible to reduce power consumption and improve image quality. |
US07868278B2 |
Eye-protection device having dual high voltage switching
An auto darkening eye protection device comprising a shutter assembly and a control circuit. The shutter assembly is adjustable between a light state and a dark state. The control circuit comprises a sensing circuit, a weld detect circuit, a positive voltage generator, and a negative voltage generator. The sensing circuit senses incident light and provides an output indicative of the incident light. The weld detect circuit receives the output of the sensing circuit, and enables a dark state drive signal to be delivered to the shutter assembly. The positive and negative voltage generators output the dark state drive signal to the shutter assembly to switch the shutter assembly from the light state to the dark state upon enablement by the weld detect circuit. The dark state drive signal includes a high voltage pulse followed by a stable AC waveform. The high voltage pulse is formed by a positive voltage signal and a negative voltage signal. |
US07868277B2 |
Device and method for a sight
A sight system for guiding a missile towards a moving target by use of a guidance beam that can be used for the missile to trail the target. A first viewing device receives visible light and/or a second viewing device receives non-visible light radiating from the target. The viewing device(s) include adjustable alignment marks being aligned by use of a light source and a guidance beam detector arranged together in one common position. |
US07868275B2 |
Switching circuit controlling multiple heating elements
A switching circuit including a plurality of heating elements (12), each connected as part of a tuned circuit (36), the tuned circuits being respectively tuned to different frequencies and connected in parallel between two common conductors (34), the circuit further including a device (20, 38, 40) for applying an oscillating signal voltage between the two common conductors, at one or more frequencies each corresponding to a tuned frequency of one of the tuned circuits. |
US07868274B2 |
Thermally activatable microwave interactive materials
A microwave energy interactive web includes a reagent that is responsive to heat. The microwave energy interactive web may be used to form a package for heating a food item. |
US07868273B2 |
Microwave generator
In order to make it possible to direct sufficient microwave energy at a target with an electronic device which is to be interfered with or to be destroyed, the beams (7) from at least two antenna arrays (10) are focused on an effective area (8) in the vicinity of that target, preferably from a vehicle (3) which is equipped with these arrays (10). For effective super-imposition of the emitted microwave energy (7) in the emission direction of in each case one of the arrays (10), the use of an arc for discharging the capacitance (43) of the resonator via its spark gap (13) is observed, and is recorded quasi-continuously optoelectronically. The electrode separation of the spark gap (13) or the fluid pressure of the dielectric in the vicinity of the spark gap (13) is then varied by control elements such that all of the spark gaps (13) in an array (10) ignite virtually at the same time, so that their discharge current pulses which lead to the emission of the microwave energy (7) start virtually in phase. |
US07868272B2 |
Induction heating device and image forming apparatus equipped with such induction heating device
In an external heating type induction heating device in which a magnetic field producing means is arranged in the outer circumferential portion of a heating roller 1, two heat generating layers, namely a conductive shaft 1a and a surface heat generating layer 1c, are provided in the heating roller 1, and the surface heat generating layer 1c is formed having a thickness through which passes a portion of an alternating magnetic field, and the conductive shaft 1a at a center of the heating roller 1 is heated by a portion of the alternating magnetic field produced by the magnetic field producing means passing through the surface heat generating layer 1c to link to the conductive shaft 1a present at the center of the roller, thereby preventing a drop in a surface temperature of the heating roller 1. |
US07868271B2 |
Control device and method for evaluating a control device
A control device for converting a control movement along a control path into a control signal has the control path corresponding to different control stages or control types. The control device has two measuring tracks with a linearly changing resistance associated with each track. In one embodiment, these measuring tracks are positioned concentric to each other in a semicircle. A voltage U, which is tapped via two opposite interconnected sliders, is applied to both measuring tracks at a junction point while the other junction point is connected to ground. If the detected values of the tapped voltages deviate from a corresponding stored value or pairs of values, there must be a fault, due to, for example a broken slider. This makes it possible to perform a test for determining the fault or a malfunctioning control device. |
US07868265B2 |
Electrode wire for wire electric discharge machining
An electrode wire for wire electric discharge machining includes a binary alloy of copper and zinc. The electrode wire is manufactured by hot-extruding an alloy including copper and zinc at a predetermined ratio and then cold-drawing and annealing the hot-extruded alloy, and α phase crystals and β′ phase crystals uniformly exist. |
US07868261B2 |
Locking rocker switch
The present invention relates to a switch comprising a casing (1, 9), an actuator member (2, 3) pivotably mounted in the casing (1, 9) and integral with a switching control rod (10), capable of occupying a central position (A) and a rocked position (C), a pusher (5) slidably mounted in the actuator member (2, 3) in an incoming/outgoing direction substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the rocking, remarkable in that it further comprises a rockably mobile lock (4) on an elastic support (11), said lock (4) being distinct from the pusher (5) and capable of assuming a first position where it is interposed on the trajectory of the actuator member (2, 3) and a second position where it cooperates with the pusher (5) so that a thrust on the pusher (5) urges the lock (4) and allows the latter to disengage from the trajectory of the actuator member (2, 3) towards the rocked position (C). |
US07868260B2 |
Apparatus and method for dispensing small quantities of particles
There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electro-mechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value. |
US07868259B2 |
Device and method for producing a device
A device has a housing (1) with a frame element (8) which is arranged within the housing (1). The frame element (8) accommodates at least one component and has at least one bending arm (12). The bending arm (12) is designed such that a contact region (36) of the bending arm (12) bears with prestress against a contact region (38) of a wall (34) of the housing (1) in a mounted state within the housing (1). The bending arm (12) is cohesively connected to the housing (1) by means of transmission laser welding by supplying a laser beam (46) of prespecified wavelength to the device in such a way that the laser beam is transmitted through the housing (1) to the contact region (36) of the bending arm (12). At least one region of the housing (1), through which region the laser beam is transmitted, is produced from a material which is transparent to the prespecified wavelength of the laser beam (46). The contact region (36) of the bending arm (12) is produced from a material which is absorbent for the wavelength of the laser beam (46). |
US07868257B2 |
Via transmission lines for multilayer printed circuit boards
A via transmission line for a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) in which a wave guiding channel is formed by a signal via or a number of signal vias, an assembly of ground vias surrounding the signal via or corresponding number of coupled signal vias, a set of ground plates from conductor layers of the multilayer PCB, and a clearance hole. In this via transmission line, the signal via, or the number of signal vias forms an inner conductive boundary, ground vias and ground plates from conductor layers of the multilayer PCB form an outer conductive boundary, and the clearance hole provides both isolation of the inner conductive boundary from the outer conductive boundary and high-performance broadband operation of the via transmission line by means of the predetermined clearance hole cross-sectional shape and dimensions where the cross-sectional shape of the clearance hole is defined by the arrangement of ground vias in the outer conductive boundary and dimensions of the clearance hole are determined according to a method to minimize frequency-dependent return losses caused by specific corrugations of the outer conductive boundary formed by ground plates in the wave guiding channel of the via transmission line. |
US07868252B2 |
Electrical locking hub nut
The invention relates to an electrical connector locking hub nut that does not damage the wiring during pulling, frees up manpower by allowing one person rather than two to be able to do the pulling, has a simplified design, and which has universal threading for conduit of all currently approved sizes and materials. |
US07868251B2 |
Shielded electric cable assembly
An electric cable assembly may include an electric cable and a conductive contact. The electric cable has a conductive core, an inner insulation jacket surrounding the conductive core, a conductive layer surrounding the inner insulation jacket, and an outer insulation jacket surrounding the conductive layer. The conductive contact is injection molded around the conductive layer at a prepared section of the electric cable so that the conductive contact can conduct electric current from the conductive layer. |
US07868250B2 |
Power supply and cord management apparatus for electronic devices
An electronic device support having a surface upon which electronic devices rest, such as a shelf, and one or more power sockets into which the power cord for the device is plugged. A first embodiment has a shelf, a rear panel and a moveable façade covering over a power strip. A second embodiment has a shelf, a body with a pair of power sockets and a pair of ears on opposite ends that cords can be wrapped around. The ears are removable and have a female, non-powered socket therein. A third embodiment has a deck shelf and a base with a power strip mounted therebetween. Apertures in the deck permit cords and other items to be inserted therethrough, and a groove on the deck prevents rolling of items. A fourth embodiment has a tower body with a plurality of moveable shelves, a plurality of electrical sockets and channels for hiding cords. |
US07868246B2 |
Solar cell module and method of encapsulating same
A composite solar collection module includes a thin film solar collection cell that is encapsulated between a transparent substrate, such as glass, on one side, and an electrically insulating film on the other. A metallic layer is disposed over the electrically insulating film to provide protection against diffusion of atmospheric species that may harm the thin film solar collection cell. The insulating and metallic layers are dimensioned so that a larger collection cell can be used to collect solar energy over a larger proportion of the available substrate surface area, without causing arcing between the cell edge and the metallic layer edge. |
US07868245B2 |
Solar panel and production method therefor
A method is provided for producing a solar panel, which is made by building up a solar cell layer on a glass base as a covering glass, having a good performance in sealing the solar panel. A solar panel produce by the method is also provided. The production method of the present invention comprises a step of building up a solar cell layer which consists of a plurality of films on a glass substrate which is used as a covering glass, a step of removing a part of the solar cell layer which is built up on the glass substrate, a step of sealing the solar cell layer by using a face, which is exposed by the removing of the part of the solar cell layer, for adhering a sealing material. |
US07868244B2 |
Solar CPV cell module and method of safely assembling, installing, and/or maintaining the same
A concentrated solar energy device is connectable to a solar array and includes a photovoltaic cell that provides electrical energy and heat from a solar energy source, a thermally conductive element, concentrating optics, and a housing. The concentrating optics are positioned between the solar energy source and the photovoltaic cell and are aligned with the solar energy source. The thermally conductive element functions to dissipate heat from the photovoltaic cell. The housing and the concentrating optics are attached to one another and together enclose the photovoltaic cell and a portion of the thermally conductive element. An optical film may be positioned over the concentrating optics during assembly, installation, and/or maintenance of the concentrated solar energy device. |
US07868243B2 |
Method for producing a nanostructure based on interconnected nanowires, nanostructure and use as thermoelectric converter
Method for producing a nanostructure based on interconnected nanowires, nanostructure and use as thermoelectric converter The nanostructure comprises two arrays of nanowires made from respectively n-doped and p-doped semi-conducting material. The nanowires of the first array, for example of n type, are formed for example by VLS growth. A droplet of electrically conducting material that acted as catalyst during the growth step remains on the tip of each nanowire of the first array at the end of growth. A nanowire of the second array is then formed around each nanowire of the first array by covering a layer of electrically insulating material formed around each nanowire of the first array, and the associated droplet, with a layer of p-type semi-conducting material. A droplet thus automatically connects a nanowire of the first array with a single coaxial nanowire of the second array. This type of nanostructure can be used in particular to form a thermoelectric converter. |
US07868239B2 |
Method and device for providing an overview of pieces of music
Method for providing an overview of pieces of music, comprising: providing at least two pieces of music; determining at least two sections of said pieces of music, wherein one of said sections is determined from one of said pieces of music and another of said sections is determined from another of said pieces of music; and arranging said sections in a sequence. |
US07868238B2 |
Electronic musical apparatus, server, electronic musical system, and computer-readable medium including program for implementing control method for the apparatus, the server, and the system
An electronic musical apparatus which is shared by a plurality of users and is capable of making environmental settings for individual users without imposing burdens on the users. Authentication of biometric information or possession information on each user is performed, and environmental setting information for setting an environment of the electronic musical apparatus is stored in association with the biometric information or possession information on each user. Environmental setting information associated with the authenticated biometric information or possession information is read out, and an environment of the electronic musical apparatus is set based on the read environmental setting information. |
US07868232B1 |
Soybean variety XB34B09
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB34B09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB34B09, to the plants of soybean XB34B09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB34B09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB34B09 with another soybean plant, using XB34B09 as either the male or the female parent. |
US07868230B2 |
Soybean variety D5523145
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5523145. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5523145. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5523145 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5523145 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
US07868228B2 |
Phosphopantetheinyl transferases from bacteria
The invention relates generally to phosphopantetheinyl transferases that are required for activation of a polyketide synthase complex to synthesize long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA's) such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. In particular, the invention relates to bacterial phosphopantetheinyl transferases, DNA constructs for their expression in host cells, and seed, oil and meal when the host cells comprise a plant. Also provided is a method for making a plant oil containing docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid. |
US07868227B2 |
Polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
US07868225B2 |
Artichoke hybrid named ‘PS-H2015’
A new and distinct hybrid of artichoke named ‘PS-H2015’, characterized by its numerous bud numbers, fleshiness of bracts, fleshiness of hearts, uniformity of head shapes; strong violet blush coloration; and ability to bolt in warm summer conditions (reduced vernalization requirements) allowing spring/summer planting and fall production. |
US07868223B2 |
Method for modifying chromosomes
The present invention relates to a method for producing a modified foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof, which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a microcell comprising a foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof, and transferring said foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) into a cell with high homologous recombination efficiency through its fusion with said microcell; (b) in said cell with high homologous recombination efficiency, inserting a targeting vector by homologous recombination into a desired site of said foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof, and/or a desired site of a chromosome(s) derived from said cell with high homologous recombination efficiency, thereby marking said desired site; and (c) in said cell with high homologous recombination efficiency, causing deletion and/or translocation to occur at the marked site of said foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof. |
US07868214B2 |
Production of olefins from biorenewable feedstocks
A process for producing olefins from a feedstock comprising a petroleum and non-petroleum fraction has been developed. The process comprises first pretreating the feedstock to remove contaminants such as alkali metals and then cracking the purified feedstock in a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) zone operated at conditions to provide C2-C5 olefins. Alternatively, the non-petroleum fraction can first be treated and then mixed with petroleum fraction to provide the feedstock which is then catalytically cracked. |
US07868210B2 |
Process for the preparation of phenol
A process is described for the preparation of phenol by the hydrodeoxygenation of polyhydroxylated benzene derivatives or by the selective hydroxylation of benzene under depletive conditions, characterized in that the above-mentioned reactions are carried out in the presence of a catalyst based on multi component metal oxides comprising at least one metal selected from the groups VB, VIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IVA, VA. |
US07868207B2 |
Process for producing 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-octylbiguanide or a salt thereof
The present invention provides a process for producing 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-octylbiguanide or a salt thereof, the process comprising reacting 1-cyano-3-octylguanidine or a salt thereof, with 3,4-dichlorobenzylamine or a salt thereof, in an ester-based organic solvent. According to the present invention, the reaction can be carried out at a low temperature using general-purpose equipment, and 1-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-octylbiguanide or a salt thereof can be produced in a high yield by a safe and easy process. |
US07868204B2 |
Inhibitors of histone deacetylase
The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions. |
US07868203B2 |
Production of sodium diformate
The present invention relates to a process for producing a solid sodium diformate preparation having a formic acid content of at least 35% by weight based on the total weight of sodium diformate preparation, in which, at elevated temperature, an aqueous solution (E) is produced which comprises sodium formate and formic acid in a molar ratio of HCOOH:HCOONa of greater than 1.5:1 and which has a molar ratio of HCOOH:H2O of at least 1.1:1, the aqueous solution (E) is brought to crystallization to obtain a solid phase (F) and a mother liquor (G), and the solid phase (F) is separated off from the mother liquor (G), (i) the mother liquor (G) being fed to a distillation apparatus (DV); (ii) the mother liquor (G) in the distillation apparatus (DV) being admixed with a sodium-comprising base (A) to obtain a mixture (B) comprising sodium formate and formic acid; (iii) admixing the mixture (B) obtained from step (ii) with formic acid (D) to obtain the aqueous solution (E); and (iv) excess water (C) essentially being ejected only by withdrawal from the distillation apparatus (DV); and also to the use of a solid sodium diformate preparation obtainable by the inventive process as feed additive for animal feed, in particular for monogastric animal feed and especially for animal feed for hogs and/or poultry. |
US07868202B2 |
Process for producing (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid
The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid by gas phase catalytic oxidation reaction, which can perform smooth temperature control of the heat medium, can prevent hot spot effectively and can be handled easily, and an apparatus.The invention are a method for producing (meth)acrolein or (meth)acrylic acid by carrying out gas phase catalytic oxidation reaction of propane, propylene, isobutylene or (meth)acrolein with an oxygen-containing gas using an inorganic salt as a reaction temperature adjusting heat medium, characterized in that the material of a gland packing member which seals body part of a regulating valve arranged on a heat medium feeder and controlling supply and circulation velocity of the heat medium and a rotation axis that interfits to the body part, in such a manner that they can perform sliding, is a mica-based material, and a production apparatus. |
US07868196B2 |
Preparation of glycerol derivatives and intermediates therefor
Disclosed is a process for the regioselective preparation of glycerol derivative in a high efficiency and yield. The process for the regioselective preparation of 1-R1-2-R2-3-acetyl-glycerol derivative comprises the steps of: obtaining 1-R1-3-protecting group-glycerol by introducing a protecting group to 3-position of 1-R1-glycerol; obtaining 1-R1-2-R2-3-protecting group-glycerol by introducing R2 group into 2-position of 1-R1-3-protecting group-glycerol; and carrying out the deprotection reaction and the acetylation reaction of 1-R1-2-R2-3-protecting group-glycerol at the same time. Wherein, R1 and R2 are fatty acid groups having 16 to 22 carbon atoms, and are different from each other; and the protecting group is trityl group or trialkylsilyl group. |
US07868194B2 |
Process for the preparation of 21-hydroxy steroids with control of the epimeric distribution at the C-21 position
A process is described for preparing, exclusively by chemical way, 21-hydroxy steroids having progestinic activity, said process having a high stereochemical control at C-21 position. |
US07868193B2 |
16,17-carbocyclic condensed steroid compounds having selective estrogenic activity
The invention discloses a steroid compound having the formula (1), wherein dotted bonds represent optional double bonds; R6 is H, ═CH2, or —CH3, or —CH2—CH3; R7 is H, C1-4-alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl or C2-5-alkynyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group may be substituted with 1 to 3 halogen atoms independently chosen from the group of fluorine or chlorine atoms; R11 is H, C1-4-alkyl, C2-4-alkenyl, C2-4-alkynyl or C1-4-alkylidene, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkylidene group may be substituted with 1-3 halogen atoms independently chosen from the group of fluorine or chlorine atoms; E represents together with carbon atoms 16 and 17 of the steroid skeleton a four to seven-membered ring, said ring being α and in cis-configuration with respect to the steroid skeleton, optionally comprising one or two endocyclic bonds; or a prodrug thereof. Such compounds can be used in therapy and for methods for selective modification of the activity of estrogen receptors. |
US07868186B2 |
Device containing polymer having indolocarbazole- repeat unit and divalent linkage
An electronic device comprising a polymer comprising at least one type of repeat unit comprising at least one type of an optionally substituted indolocarbazole moiety and at least one divalent linkage. |
US07868185B2 |
Shp-2 inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them
The present invention relates to small molecule protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, especially Shp-2 inhibitors, of formula (I) and/or (II), and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. The invention is also directed to the use of said compounds for the treatment of phosphatase-mediated diseases, especially cancer and metastasis. The invention further concerns a method for treating a proliferative disease, a genetic disorder, an autoimmune disease, an angiogenic disorder or cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of formula (I) and/or (II). |
US07868183B2 |
Process for producing muscarine receptor antagonist and intermediate therefor
The industrial production of 4-(2-methyl-1-imidazolyl)-2,2-diphenylbutanamide, a urinary incontinence remedy, necessitates elimination of problems concerning the use of a synthetic adsorbent, e.g., HP-20, the efficiency of operation with the same, purification efficiency, etc. An acid salt, e.g., hydrochloride or phosphate, of 4-(2-methyl-1-imidazolyl)-2,2-diphenylbutanamide or a hydrate of any of these salts is used as an intermediate. This intermediate is neutralized and then purified. Thus, high-purity 4-(2-methyl-1-imidazolyl)-2,2-diphenylbutanamide is easily obtained in satisfactory yield. The industrial-scale production process has been thus established. |
US07868181B2 |
Compounds
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula I, where R1 and R2 are independently halo or C1-3haloalkyl, X is ethenyl or ethynyl, or a salt thereof. |
US07868177B2 |
Multi-cyclic compounds and method of use
The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula I wherein A, B, C1, C2, D, L1, L2 and R3-4 are defined herein, and synthetic intermediates, which are capable of modulating various protein kinase receptor enzymes and, thereby, influencing various disease states and conditions related to the activities of such kinases. For example, the compounds are capable of modulating Tie-2 and Aurora kinase enzymes thereby influencing angiogenesis and the process of cell cycle and cell proliferation, respectively, to treat cancer and cancer-related diseases. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, including the compounds, and methods of treating disease states related to the activity of various protein kinases. |
US07868171B2 |
N-alkoxy-4, 4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidines as radical polymerization initiators
The present invention relates to selected glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine compounds forming an open chain or cyclic ketal structure, a polymerizable composition comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and b) a glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiator compound. Further aspects of the present invention are a process for polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers and the use of glycidyl or carbonyl functional N-alkoxy-4,4-dioxy-polyalkyl-piperidine nitroxide initiators for radical polymerization. |
US07868165B2 |
Process for the isolation and stabilization of low-molecular weight aminoglycans form waste egg shells
A process for the isolation of low-molecular weight aminoglycan compound of formula I made up of alternating glucuronic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine units; from a hitherto unexploited natural source of waste egg shells; which process comprises the steps of: wherein M may be at one or more instances Na, Ca, K, Mg: and n is an integer between 20 and 40: (a) pre-preparation of the waste egg-shells for extraction of the embryonic low molecular weight aminoglycan compound of formula I using a polar organic solvent in water; (b) extraction of the low molecular weight aminoglycan compound of formula I as its water soluble salt using an aqueous polar salt solution; (c) isolation of a purified low molecular weight aminoglycan compound of formula I by gel formation out of the aqueous salt mixture by using a polar organic solvent followed by filtration or centrifuging; (d) stabilization of the isolated aminoglycan extract by sequential introduction of organic oils into a semi-dried gel to form the aminoglycan compound of formula I. |
US07868163B2 |
Adenyl dinucleotides with antitumour activity and a method of preparing thereof
The invention relates to novel adenyl dinucleotides which are isomers of the dinucleotide Ap2A, having formulae (I) and (II). The dinucleotides of the invention have antitumour activity, particularly against tumours of haematological origin, such as for example leukaemias and lymphomas. The invention further relates to the use of such dinucleotides as antitumour medicaments. Finally, the invention relates to an enzymatic method for preparing the dinucleotides of formulae (I) and (II) and to an enzymatic assay method for the dinucleotide of formula (I) which is based on its complete conversion to NAD+. |
US07868162B2 |
Antimicrobial and antiviral compounds and methods for their use
The present invention provides protonated compounds having antiviral and antimicrobial activity. The invention also provides antimicrobial compositions comprising protonated compounds of the invention. The protonated compounds of the invention provide efficacious antimicrobial activity against resistant strains of bacteria and opportunistic fungi. The invention also provides antiviral compositions comprising compounds of the invention. Viruses that may be treated by compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, HIV, HSV, CMV, HBV, HCV and influenza virus. |
US07868158B2 |
Modulation of cytokine signaling regulators and applications for immunotherapy
The present invention relates to regulation of antigen presentation by cytokine signaling regulators in antigen presenting cells, such as dendritic cells. The invention provides methods of modulating antigen presentation through modulation of cytokine signaling regulators, such as SOCS (SOCS1-7, CIS), SHP (SHP-1 and SHP-2) or PIAS (PIAS1, PIAS3, PIASx and PIASy). The present invention provides vaccines and therapies in which antigen presentation is enhanced through modulation of cytokine signaling regulators. The present invention also provides a mechanism to break self tolerance in tumor vaccination methods that rely on presentation of self tumor antigens. |
US07868155B2 |
Promoter, promoter control elements, and combinations, and uses thereof
The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels. |
US07868151B2 |
Recombinant human interferon-like proteins
This application relates to recombinant human interferon-like proteins. In one embodiment a recombinant protein created by gene shuffling technology is described having enhanced anti-viral and anti-proliferative activities in comparison to naturally occurring human interferon alpha 2b (HuIFN-α2b). The invention encompasses a polynucleotide encoding the protein and recombinant vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotide. Preferably the polynucleotide is selected from the group of polynucleotides each having a sequence at least 93% identical to SEQ ID: No. 1 and the protein is selected from the group of proteins each having an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID No: 2. The proteins and compositions comprising the proteins can be used for treatment of conditions responsive to interferon therapy, such as viral diseases and cancer. |
US07868150B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding T2R taste receptors
The invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for a novel family of taste transduction G-protein coupled receptors, antibodies to such receptors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and receptors, and methods of screening for modulators of taste transduction G-protein coupled receptors. |
US07868148B2 |
Plasmids, their derivatives and fragments, their methods of manufacture and application
A method is described of obtaining a plasmid contained in a difficult to separate, heterogenous plasmid DNA fraction, particularly one containing various plasmids of similar sizes. Another aspect of the present invention are new plasmids obtained via the method according to the present invention, their derivatives and/or fragments, as well as the application of these products in biotechnology and medicine, particularly gene therapy. |
US07868142B2 |
Protein, method for immobilizing protein, structure, biosensor, nucleic acid, vector and kit for detecting target substance
It is intended to provide an anti-photocrosslinking group antibody capable of specifically binding to a photocrosslinking group and available in the binding of a substrate and a substance of interest in a microstructure, a complex protein including at least the antibody or at least a portion thereof, and a technique for use thereof in the detection of a target substance. The present invention provides a protein having at least the structure of an antibody that recognizes a photocrosslinking group. |
US07868140B2 |
Human anti-B7RP1 neutralizing antibodies
This invention provides antibodies that interact with or bind to human B7 related protein-1 (B7RP1) and antibodies that bind to and neutralize the function of B7RP1 thereby. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of said antibodies and methods for neutralizing B7RP1 function, and particularly for treating immune disorders (e.g., inappropriate immune response) by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of anti-B7RP1 antibodies. Methods of detecting the amount of B7RP1 in a sample using anti-B7RP1 antibodies are also provided. |
US07868139B2 |
Compositions and methods for the identification and treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases
Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are disclosed. Illustrative compositions comprise one or more bacterial polypeptides, immunogenic portions thereof, polynucleotides that encode such polypeptides, antigen presenting cell that expresses such polypeptides, and T cells that are specific for cells expressing such polypeptides. The disclosed compositions are useful, for example, in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory disease. |
US07868138B2 |
Methods for generating polynucleotides having desired characteristics by iterative selection and recombination
A method for DNA reassembly after random fragmentation, and its application to mutagenesis of nucleic acid sequences by in vitro or in vivo recombination is described. In particular, a method for the production of nucleic acid fragments or polynucleotides encoding mutant proteins is described. The present invention also relates to a method of repeated cycles of mutagenesis, shuffling and selection which allow for the directed molecular evolution in vitro or in vivo of proteins. |
US07868135B2 |
Compositions of lipopeptide antibiotic derivatives and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides derivatives of lipopeptide antibiotics that display antimicrobial activity against microorganisms, methods and compounds for synthesizing such antimicrobial derivatives and analogues, and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of microbial infections. |
US07868133B2 |
BH3 peptides and method of use thereof
The invention provides peptides and the nucleic acid sequences that encode them. The invention further provides therapeutic, diagnostic and research methods for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of apoptosis associated disorders. |
US07868131B2 |
Methods of preparing polymers having terminal amine groups
The present invention is directed to methods of preparing linear polymers such as polyalkylene oxides containing a terminal amine in high purity. One preferred method includes reacting a polyalkylene oxide such as polyethylene glycol containing a terminal azide with a phosphine-based reducing agent such as triphenylphosphine or an alkali metal borohydride reducing agent such as sodium borohydride in a solvent to reflux. The resultant polymer-amines are of sufficient purity so that expensive and time consuming purification steps required for pharmaceutical grade polymers are avoided. |
US07868129B2 |
Sloped tubular reactor with spaced sequential trays
A sloped tubular reactor operable to facilitate a chemical reaction in a reaction medium flowing therethrough. The reactor can include a plurality of spaced apart internal trays disposed at different elevations in a downwardly sloping elongated tubular member. |
US07868128B2 |
Skylights and windows comprising polyester compositions formed from 2,2,4,4,-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol
Described are skylights comprising polyester compositions comprising polyesters which comprise (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues or ester residues thereof; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. |
US07868127B2 |
Absorbable copolyesters of poly(ethoxyethylene diglycolate) and glycolide
A semi-crystalline, absorbable copolyester composition comprising the reaction product of a polycondensation polyester and at least one lactone, wherein the polycondensation polyester comprises the reaction product of diglycolic acid and/or a derivative thereof and diethylene glycol; and the copolyester comprises about 30 to 60% by weight of the polycondensation polyester based on the total weight of the copolyester. Also medical devices such as absorbable sutures comprising such copolyesters and absorbable microspheres comprising such copolyesters and methods of making of such absorbable microspheres. |
US07868126B2 |
Process for producing polyester, polyester produced using said process, and polyester molded product
This invention provides a polyester and a polyester molded product, which, while maintaining color tone, transparency, and thermal stability, can realize a high polycondensation rate, are less likely to cause the production of polycondensation catalyst-derived undesired materials, and can simultaneously meet both quality and cost effectiveness requirements, which can exhibit the characteristic features, for example, in the fields of ultrafine fibers, high transparent films for optical use, or ultrahigh transparent molded products. These advantages can be realized by using, in the production of a polyester in the presence of an aluminum compound-containing polyester polycondensation catalyst, an aluminum compound having an absorbance of not more than 0.0132 as measured in the form of an aqueous aluminum compound solution, prepared by dissolving the aluminum compound in pure water to give a concentration of 2.7 g/liter in terms of the amount of aluminum element, under conditions of cell length 1 cm and wavelength 680 nm. |
US07868124B2 |
Polyphenylene-type polymers, preparation method thereof, membranes and fuel cell device comprising said membranes
The present invention relates to polymers comprising phenylene units, at least one of which bears a phenylene side group substituted with a perfluoro group or chain, which itself bears an —SO3H, —PO3H2 or —CO2H group.Use of this polymer to make fuel cell membranes. |
US07868123B2 |
Derivatized tertiary amines and uses thereof
The invention relates to a tertiary amine intermediate represented by the following formula, and electrophilic monomers derived therefrom. The invention also relates to adhesives or sealants derived from such electrophilic moieties. where R═CH3, H, CH3CH2 or other alkyl group; and R1═H, C(O)CH2OCH2COOH, C(O)(CH2)nCOOH with n=1-4, or combinations thereof. |
US07868111B2 |
Method for producing α-olefin polymer
The present invention provides a method for producing α-olefin polymer, comprising polymerizing α-olefins in the presence of a halogen atom-containing acid catalyst by use of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 3-12 carbon atoms, which contains 5 to 95 mass % of α-olefin, as a raw material; removing catalyst residue and halogen-containing compounds by bringing a product in the polymerization step into contact with an aluminum atom-containing inorganic solid treatment agent with or without deactivating the catalyst; and separating the α-olefin polymer. According to this method, the catalyst residue and other halogen-containing compounds can be removed, without relying on aqueous deactivation and separation steps using an alkaline aqueous solution or the like, from a polymerization reaction product obtained by polymerization in the presence of a halogen-containing acid catalyst by use of an α-olefin-containing liquid hydrocarbon as a raw material. |
US07868110B2 |
Anionic polymerization initiators and polymers therefrom
An initiator compound comprising an aryl or heteroaryl thioacetal including a substituent defined by the formula where x is an integer from 1 to about 5, y is an integer from 1 to about 5, the sum of x and y is from about 3 to about 6, α is carbon, sulfur, oxygen, silicon, or an amino group, and each R1 is individually hydrogen or a monovalent organic group or where two or more R1 groups may join to form one or more rings. |
US07868107B2 |
Process for producing cycloolefin addition polymer, catalyst for addition polymerization of cycloolefin, and transition metal compound
A process for producing a cycloolefin addition polymer comprising addition-polymerizing a cycloolefin in the presence of a catalyst comprising a combination of a specific transition metal compound of Group 4 of the Periodic Table, with an organoaluminum oxy compound, and/or a compound capable of reacting with the Group 4 transition metal compound to form an ion pair. The specific group 4 transition metal compound preferably has a structure such that the group 4 transition metal is bonded to a cyclopentadienyl ring in an η1 mode. The above-mentioned catalyst exhibits high activity for both of addition homopolymerization of a cycloolefin and addition copolymerization of a cycloolefin with an α-olefin. |
US07868100B2 |
Halogenated terpolymers of isobutylene, diolefin monomer and styrenic monomer
A halogenated butyl polymer having improved properties, the butyl polymer derived from a monomer mixture comprising a C4 to C8 monoolefin monomer, a C4 to C14 multiolefin monomer and a styrenic monomer with a catalyst system to produce the butyl polymer. The improved properties include faster cure, higher maximum torque, higher delta torque, relatively stable modulus over time, improved hot air aging properties and improved aged flexure properties. These improved properties are believed to result from direct interaction between the styrenic moieties in the polymer backbone with a crosslinking agent added to vulcanize the halogenated butyl rubber. |
US07868097B2 |
Hybrid polymer and method for production thereof
A hybrid polymer has a structure in which a polyolefin segment and a polar polymer segment are connected not via a bonding group containing a heteroatom. A method of the invention produces the hybrid polymer with industrial advantages. The hybrid polymer includes a polyolefin segment (A) and a polar polymer segment (B), the polar polymer segment being obtained by radical polymerization of a radically polymerizable monomer. |
US07868096B2 |
Thermoplastic vulcanizates and processes for making the same
A process for producing thermoplastic vulcanizates, the process comprising (i) dynamically vulcanizing a rubber with a curative in a first stage, where the rubber is within a blend that includes the rubber, a thermoplastic resin, and the curative, where said step of dynamically vulcanizing occurs at a temperature at or above the melting point of the thermoplastic resin, where said step of dynamically vulcanizing employs a peroxide curative, and where said rubber includes polymeric units deriving from 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, (ii) continuing said step of dynamically vulcanizing to cause phase inversion of the blend to thereby convert the thermoplastic resin into a continuous phase, (iii) maintaining the blend at or above the melting point of the thermoplastic resin after the phase inversion, and (iv) introducing molten thermoplastic resin into the blend in a second stage, where said step of introducing molten thermoplastic resin occurs after phase inversion but before the blend is cooled to a temperature below the melting point of the thermoplastic resin. |
US07868085B2 |
Aqueous dispersion comprising a branched triol having trimellitic anhydride and associated method
An aqueous dispersion comprising a reaction product of trimellitic anhydride and a polyol, wherein the molar ratio of trimellitic anhydride to polyol in the reaction product ranges from 1:2 to 1:4, and wherein the reaction product is further reacted with an anhydride to form another reaction product. A method of making a resin comprising the reaction product described above is also disclosed. |
US07868080B2 |
Gas-barrier nanocomposite composition and article using the same
Provided are a nanocomposite composition having barrier properties and an article manufactured therefrom. The composition is prepared by dry-blending a polyolefin resin, a melt blend of a resin having barrier properties and a nanocomposite having barrier properties, and a compatibilizer. The composition has superior barrier properties and moldability, and thus is useful for manufacturing a sheet or film having barrier properties. |
US07868078B2 |
Composition including metal oxide and polymer
Novel compositions, as well as related methods, coatings, and articles, are disclosed. |
US07868074B2 |
Dispersions containing alkoxylates of alicyclic polycyclic compounds
The present invention provides a dispersant for aqueous and non-aqueous systems which can disperse insoluble fine powders in aqueous and non-aqueous liquids in a short period of time and give long-term dispersion stability to the resulting dispersions. The dispersant is a compound of the formula wherein CY is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic monocyclic compounds having one double bond and aliphatic polycyclic compounds with or without one double bond, or with or without bridge carbons; (n+x+y+z)>1; and R=—H, —SO3M, —CO2M, —PO3M, —OCR′ wherein M=H, or Na, K, Li, Ca, Mg, NH4, NH(R1)2, NH2R1, N(R1)3 where R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl and C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl; and R′=C2-C22 alkyl or alkenyl. |
US07868072B2 |
Gel adhesive compositions, method of making, and use thereof
A gel adhesive composition of the invention contains a crosslinked water-soluble polymer, water, a moisturizer, an amphipathic polymer, a water-insoluble polymer having adhesiveness, and an electrolytic salt and the composition contains the water-insoluble polymer in an amount of 3 to 20% by weight and the amphipathic polymer in an amount of 0.05 to 7.0% by weight with respect to the total amount of the composition except water. |
US07868070B2 |
Polycarbonate molding compositions
A thermoplastic molding composition that features improved thermal stability and a relatively low maximum rate of decomposition in the event of fire is disclosed. The composition contains an aromatic polycarbonate and/or polyester carbonate, and a modified layered compound, the modification with organic polymer by means of a solvent-free melt process. Optional additional components include an impact modifier, a thermoplastic (co)copolymer, and a phosphorus compound. |
US07868068B1 |
System and method for decorating vertical concrete surfaces
A method, system and tool for decorating vertical surfaces comprising the steps of providing a medium comprised of cement, a light weight aggregate, silica sand, fused silica, monofilament fine denier fiber, liquid polymer resin, and water; applying a bond coat of a primer made from concentrated liquid polymer to the vertical surface; allowing the bond coat to become tacky; applying the medium to the bond coat on the vertical surface; allowing the medium to set forming a scratch coat; applying a liquid release agent to the scratch coat; applying the medium over the liquid release agent; and decorating the medium on the vertical surface. |
US07868066B2 |
Aqueous dispersions and coatings comprising modified epoxy resins comprising the reaction product of rosin and a dienophile
Aqueous dispersions and coatings comprising modified epoxy resins comprising the reaction product of rosin and a dienophile, further reacted with an epoxy resin, are disclosed. |
US07868064B2 |
Ink receptive particles, material for recording, recording apparatus and ink receptive particle storage cartridge
Ink receptive particles for receiving ink, including: particles P including hydrophilic polymer particles having a ratio of hydrophilic monomer(s) to the total monomer components thereof of from about 10 mol % to about 90 mol %; and hydrophobic polymer particles, attached to at least a part of a surface of the particles P and having a ratio of hydrophilic monomer(s) to the total monomer components thereof of from about 0 mol % to about 10 mol %. |
US07868063B2 |
Polymeric lubricant having multi layer structure and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a powdered polymeric lubricant having a multi-layer structure as a processing aid capable of being used to improve processability of a vinyl chloride resin, and a manufacturing method thereof. The powdered polymeric lubricant having multi-layer structure according to the present invention has an excellent ability to prevent its adhesion to a metal surface upon its processing so as to give a long-term workability to extrusion, calendaring, blow molding, injection molding, etc., when a small amount of the powder of the present invention is mixed with a vinyl chloride resin. Accordingly, the present invention provides a powdered polymeric lubricant capable of controlling compatibility with the vinyl chloride resin and minimizing the adhesive property to a metal surface of a processing machine when a vinyl chloride resin is processed with a polymer including a silicone-based polymer. |
US07868062B2 |
Polymeric articles having a textured surface and frosted appearance
Disclosed is a polymeric article having a frosted and/or surface textured finish made from a polymeric resin comprised of a polymeric matrix and polymeric particles which are substantially spherical, highly crosslinked, have a mean particle size of between 15 and 70 micrometers and have a particle size distribution between 10-110 micrometers. |
US07868055B2 |
UV-hardenable dispersions based on polyisocyanates
Aqueous UV-hardenable dispersions are provided, as well as their use for the production of coating agents, in particular coatings for ligneous substrates. The dispersions comprise the reaction product of a) one or more polyisocyanates of which at least one polyisocyanate is an oligomeric polyisocyanate of hexamethylene diisocyanate with urethane, biuret, iminooxadiazindione and/or isocyanurate structural units, b) one or more monohydroxy-functional compounds containing (meth)acryloyl groups, c) at least one component c1), which has a hydrophilising effect on the basis of incorporated (potentially) ionic groups and comprises at least one further isocyanate-reactive group and/or at least one component c2) which contains non-ionically hydrophilically acting groups and comprises at least one further isocyanate-reactive group, d) one or more difunctional and/or polyfunctional amines or hydroxyamines as chain extender, and e) optionally other monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric substances, which may optionally also contain further unsaturated groups. |
US07868054B2 |
Phenylglyoxalic esters generated by photolysis of low migratable fragments
The present invention concerns photopolymerisable systems comprising reactive oligomers and/or monomers having ethylenically unsaturated groups and at least one phenylglyoxalic ester that, by photochemical decomposition, generates fragments having low migratability and low odor. |
US07868052B2 |
Method for recycling recovered discs, flame retardant resin composition and flame retardant resin molded products
A recovered disc of a structure in which plural disc substrates are bonded together with an adhesive, is to be recycled. To this end, there is provided a recycling method for a recovered disc wherein a recovered disc, containing a material of at least one coating film, out of a reflective film, a recording film, a protective film and an ink film, deposited on a disc substrate in addition to an adhesive used for bonding a plurality of the disc substrates together, is used as a starting material for preparing a flame retardant resin composition or resin molded product. |
US07868051B2 |
Separation membrane for fuel battery and process for producing the same
There are disclosed a membrane for a fuel cell in which voids in a porous membrane are filled with a crosslinking type ion exchange resin having both cation-exchange group and anion-exchange group via a covalent bond, wherein the ion exchange resin has ion-exchange groups with either polarity more than ion-exchange groups with the opposite polarity and at least 40% of the ion-exchange groups of the opposite polarity form ion complexes with the ion-exchange groups of the major polarity, as well as a producing process therefor. |
US07868046B2 |
(2R)-2-[(4-sulfonyl) aminophenyl] propanamides and pharmaceutical compositions containing them
The present invention relates to novel (2R)-2-phenylpropanamides bearing a 4-sulfonylamino substituent on the 4 position of the phenyl group and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, which are used as inhibitors of the chemotaxis of polymorphonucleate and mononucleate cells, and which are useful in the treatment of various ELR+CXC chemokine-mediated disorders. In particular, the compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment and control of specific CXCR2 dependent pathologies such as BOS, COPD, angiogenesis and melanoma. |
US07868043B2 |
Mesophasic forms of (3S)-aminomethyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid prodrugs and methods of use
Mesophasic forms of (3S)-aminomethyl-5-hexanoic acid prodrugs and methods of preparing and methods of using mesophasic forms of (3S)-aminomethyl-5-hexanoic acid prodrugs are provided. |
US07868038B2 |
Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
The present invention relates to thiophene containing compounds of formula (I) wherein m, n, p, q, r, s, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined in the description. Included also are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions. |
US07868036B2 |
Organic compounds
The invention relates to novel amino alcohols of the general formula (I) where X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each as defined in detail in the description, to a process for their preparation and to the use of these compounds as medicines, in particular as renin inhibitors. |
US07868026B2 |
Therapeutic compounds
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, methods for their preparation, methods for their use, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising them. |
US07868025B2 |
Pesticide
The present invention provides a composition comprising synergistic amounts of a compound of the formula (I) wherein X, E, R, A and Z are as defined herein, and at least one fungicidal active compound as defined herein. The compositions of the present invention find use as pesticides. |
US07868022B2 |
2-amino-quinoline derivatives useful as inhibitors of β-secretase (BACE)
The present invention is directed to 2-amino-quinoline derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of β-secretase, also known as β-site cleaving enzyme and BACE, BACE1, Asp2 and memapsin2. |
US07868020B2 |
Quinolynylmethylimidizoles as therapeutic agents
Disclosed herein is a compound of the formula (I):(I). Therapeutic methods, compositions and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed. |
US07868019B2 |
Dermatitis treating agent
The present invention is to provide a topical dermatitis treating agent which comprises a pyridine compound represented by the following formula [I]: wherein R1 and R2 each represent a lower alkoxy group, ═X— represents a group represented by the formula: or a group represented by the formula: ═N—, Ring A represents a saturated or unsaturated bicyclic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group having 1 to 4 substituents selected from hydroxyl group, oxo group, a lower alkoxy group, a di-lower alkylaminophenyl group, a pyperidino-lower alkoxy group, a morpholino-lower alkoxy group, a cyclo-lower alkylamino-lower alkylamino group, pyridyl group and morpholino group, and represents a single bond or a double bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. |
US07868018B2 |
Compounds and compositions as protein kinase inhibitors
The invention provides compounds of Formula I: wherein R1-R6 are described in the Summary of the Invention; the pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of the Abl, Bcr-Abl, BMX, BTK, CHK2, b-RAF, c-RAF, CSK, c-SRC, Fes, FGFR3, Flt3, IKKα, IKKβ, JNK2α2, Lck, Met, MKK4, MKK6, MST2, NEK2, p70S6K, PDGFRβ, PKA, PKBα, PKD2, Rsk1, SAPK2α, SAPK2β, SAPK3, SGK, Tie2 and TrkB kinases. |
US07868017B2 |
9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives
The present invention relates to a 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative of formula I, wherein each of the substituents is given the definition as set forth in the specification and claims, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives and to their use in therapy. |
US07868016B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulations of endo-N-(9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3,3.1]non-3-yl)-1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide hydrochloride
A pharmaceutical formulation suitable for multi-dose administration comprising endo-N-(9-methyl-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-3-yl)-1-methyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxanide hydrochloride, a preservative selected from the group consisting of alkyl paraben and phenol, and a buffer selected from the group consisting of acetate and phosphate buffers is disclosed. |
US07868014B2 |
1-(hetero)aryl-3-amino-pyrrolidine derivatives for use as mGluR3 antagonists
The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I) which are useful for treating conditions associated with mGluR3 receptors, such as depression, schizophrenia and migraine, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of using the same. |
US07868009B2 |
N-hydroxyamide derivatives and use thereof
The present invention is related to N-hydroxyamide derivatives of Formula (I): and use thereof in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and fibrosis, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver and pulmonary fibrosis. |
US07868007B2 |
Triazolopyridine carboxamide derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof
The invention relates to the triazolopyridine carboxamide derivatives of general formula (I): Wherein X, A, R1 and R2 are as defined herein. The invention further relates to preparation methods and therapeutic use thereof. |
US07868005B2 |
Pyrazinyl substituted piperazine-piperidines with CXCR3 antagonist activity
The present application discloses a compound, or enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, racemates or prodrug of said compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters of said compound, or of said prodrug, said compound having the general structure shown in Formula 1: and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates and esters thereof. Also disclosed is a method of treating chemokine mediated diseases, such as, palliative therapy, curative therapy, prophylactic therapy of certain diseases and conditions such as inflammatory diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, psoriasis), autoimmune diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), graft rejection (non-limiting example(s) include, allograft rejection, xenograft rejection), infectious diseases (e.g, tuberculoid leprosy), fixed drug eruptions, cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, ophthalmic inflammation, type I diabetes, viral meningitis and tumors using a compound of Formula 1. |
US07868003B2 |
Substituted 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and therapeutic methods for their use
The invention relates to substituted 4-phenyltetrahydroisoquinolines of formula I wherein R1-R8, N, W, X and Z are defined herein. These compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, kidney disorders, high blood pressure, hypertension, disorders of the central nervous system and the like. |
US07868000B2 |
Aspartyl protease inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein j, k, U, W, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and R7a are as described above in the specification. Also disclosed is the method of inhibiting aspartyl protease, and in particular, the methods of treating cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases using the compounds of formula I in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor or a muscarinic m1 agonist or m2 antagonist. |
US07867999B1 |
Hydroxyamino- and amino-substituted pyridine analogs for treating rho kinase-mediated diseases and conditions
Methods for using hydroxyamino- and amino-substituted pyridine analogs are disclosed herein to treat rho kinase-mediated diseases or rho kinase-mediated conditions, including controlling intraocular pressure and treating glaucoma, are disclosed. Ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma, and additionally useful for controlling intraocular pressure, the compositions comprising an effective amount of hydroxyamino- and amino-substituted pyridine analogs, are disclosed herein. |
US07867996B2 |
γ-crystalline form of ivabradine hydrochloride, a process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing it
A γ-Crystalline form of ivabradine hydrochloride of formula (I): characterised by its powder X-ray diffraction data. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful as bradycardics. |
US07867994B2 |
Process for the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid
Process for the synthesis of ivabradine of formula (I): addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and hydrates thereof. α crystalline form of ivabradine hydrochloride.Medicinal products containing α crystalline form of ivabradine hydrochloride, which are useful as bradycardics. |
US07867993B2 |
Preparation containing oxidized flavonoid derivatives
The invention relates to novel compositions, in particular cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions or food supplements, comprising at least one oxidized flavonoid derivative of the formula I, to novel oxidized flavonoid derivatives, and to novel uses of the oxidized flavonoid derivatives. |
US07867992B2 |
Substituted quinolones
The invention relates to substituted quinolones and to processes for their preparation as well as to their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially for use as antiviral agents, particularly against cytomegaloviruses. |
US07867991B2 |
Compositions comprising novel PPAR ligands and anti-hyperlipemic agents
Methods are provided for treating or preventing conditions comprising hypertension and dyslipidemia using antihyperlipemic agents and compounds that antagonize the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, function as partial or full activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and lower triglycerides or elevate blood HDL-cholesterol. Compositions are provided for treating or preventing conditions comprising hypertension and dyslipidemia, comprising antihyperlipemic agents which lower triglycerides and inhibit cholesterol synthesis such as statins, and compounds that antagonize or block the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor, activate PPARs and lower triglycerides or elevate blood HDL-cholesterol such as sartans. |
US07867989B2 |
α-glucosidase inhibitors from lichens
This invention is directed to a novel method for the inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme and thus treating diabetes, viral infections, fungal infections, autoimmune function disorders and obesity using compounds derived as lichen metabolites; more specifically, this includes the therapeutic applications of methylorsellinate (2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate, Compound I), methyl-β-orinolcarboxylate (2,4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate, Compound II) and zeorin (6,22-hopanediol, Compound III). |
US07867987B2 |
Medicaments for inhalation comprising an anticholinergic and a steroid
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula 1 wherein X− is an anion with a single negative charge, and a betamimetic, optionally together with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, the compound of formula 1 and the betamimetic optionally in the form of their enantiomers, mixtures of their enantiomers, their racemates, their solvates, or their hydrates, processes for preparing them, and their use in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases. |
US07867986B2 |
Enhanced drug delivery in transdermal systems
A composition for transdermal administration resulting from an admixture includes: a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent that includes a corresponding steroid and a steroid derivative; and a carrier for the pharmaceutically active agent. The steroid and the corresponding steroid derivative are present in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 steroid: corresponding steroid derivative. In a preferred embodiment ratio is 6:1 to 1:6. In a preferred embodiment, the corresponding steroid derivative is a steroid ester. In another preferred embodiment, the carrier is a polymer that includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive. |
US07867984B1 |
Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
The invention discloses the bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one appetite-suppressing agent characterized with a positive surface charge and a method of treating obesity in a subject in need via their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery. |
US07867979B2 |
Drug composition for treating 2 type diabetes and diabetic chronicity complications
A drug composition for treating type 2 diabetes and diabetic chronicity complications is disclosed. The composition is composed of mangiferin and berberine in a certain ratio. The composition has a preferable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect compared with mangiferin and berberine which is used alone. |
US07867978B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating neurological disorders
This disclosure relates to methods and compositions useful for the treatment of senile dementia. More particularly the disclosure relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of senile dementia related to diabetes. |
US07867974B2 |
Induction of tolerance by oral administration of factor VIII and treatment of hemophilia
Disclosed herein is a simple method for the treatment of antigen-deficiency diseases, by orally administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of the deficient antigen, wherein the antigen is not present in a liposome. In one embodiment, the method increases hemostasis in a subject having hemophilia A or B, by orally administering to the hemophiliac a therapeutically effective amount of the appropriate clotting factor other than in a liposome, sufficient to induce oral tolerance and supply exogenous clotting factor to the subject. |
US07867971B2 |
Use of polymers containing polyvinylamine and polyvinylamide in order to prevent smell in dishwashers
Use of polymers which comprise (a) monomer units of the formula I in which R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, (b) monomer units of the formula II in which R1 and R2, independently of one another, are hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, or (c) monomer units of the formula I and monomer units of the formula II, for odor prevention during machine dishwashing. |
US07867968B1 |
Laundry scent additive
A laundry scent additive having polyethylene glycol and perfume. The laundry scent additive enables consumers to control the amount of scent imparted to their laundry. |
US07867967B2 |
Mixture article for cleaning superficially-adhered substances
A mixture article for cleaning superficially-adhered substances consists of colloid material (25 wt %-60 wt %), resin (10 wt %-20 wt %), abrasive powders (15 wt %-30 wt %), stabilizer, fibers, and natural turpentine that are bonded together to form a mixture article having high density and high binding, cohesive and adhesive capacities as well wherein the natural turpentine has the property that can greatly reduce the manufacturing temperature in the processing of the mixture article and lower the emission of exhaust to fit to environmental protection benefit thereby. The abrasive powders are utilized to boost the suction power between the mixture article and a working surface so as to shovel up substances adhered onto the working surface thereon. Besides, the colloid material and the resin are equipped with the adhesion property to viscously grip the substances bonded onto the working surface so as to remove them there-from for cleaning purpose. |
US07867962B2 |
Striped liquid personal cleansing article containing a cleansing phase and a separate benefit phase comprising a high internal phase emulsion
Personal cleansing compositions that comprise (A) a cleansing phase containing a surfactant and water; and (B) a separate benefit phase comprising at least one high internal phase emulsion; wherein the cleansing and benefit phases are packaged together and are in physical contact. These compositions and corresponding methods provide improved cosmetics, skin feel, and/or skin benefit efficacy. |
US07867958B2 |
Diblock monopolymers as lubricant additives and lubricant formulations containing same
A method for reducing friction coefficients and wear between lubricated surfaces. The method includes providing an amount of an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible component selected from the group consisting of a photo-crosslinkable poly(2-cinnamoyloxyalkyl acrylate) core and a diblock acrylate copolymer corona in a fully formulated lubricant composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity. The lubricant composition containing the component is applied to a surface to be lubricated. |
US07867956B2 |
Urea-based lubricating grease composition
A urea-based lubricating grease composition comprising (a) as a thickener, a diurea compound which is an alkyldiurea compound having an average molecular weight in the range of from 600 to 700, wherein in the range of from 25 to 60 mole % of the total alkyl groups is an unsaturated component, and the total amine value of the primary amine constituting the raw material is in the range of from 250 to 350, (b) a base oil having as its main component one or more synthetic hydrocarbon oil(s) having a pour point of −40° C. or below, wherein the kinematic viscosity of the base oil is 6000 mm2/sec or less at −40° C., and (c) as additives, a mixture comprising an oil-soluble organic molybdenum complex, an oil-soluble organic zinc compound of dithiocarbamic acid, an oil-soluble organic zinc compound of dithiophosphoric acid and an inorganic sulphur compound; and a roller bearing and electric power steering device wherein the said lubricating grease composition is used as the lubricant. |
US07867949B2 |
Hydrazide compound and pesticidal use of the same
A hydrazide compound represented by the formula (1): has excellent pesticidal activity. |
US07867948B2 |
Use of guanidine compounds as physiological strengthening agents in the form of nutritional supplements, animal feed additives, in cosmetic preparations and as plant stimulants
Physiological strengthening agents in the form of nutritional supplements, feed additives or in cosmetic preparations in the non-medicinal field of application, as well as plant stimulating agents is the use of guanidine compounds of the general formula (I) or their salts, especially creatinol, creatinol-O-phosphate or one of their salts with aspartic acid, ascorbic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, acetic acid or phosphoric acid. R1 and R2 can be organic or inorganic compounds, such as, phosphate, sulfate, acetyl, formyl, methyl, ethyl or propyl. The compounds are as nutritional supplements for, e.g., human being in the fields of education, sports, reconvalescence or geriatrics They can also be used as animal feed additives. |
US07867935B2 |
Insulator having excellent arc resistance
A highly heat-resistant fluororesin, such as tetrafluoroethylene resin or tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, is filled with 0.5 to 1 weight % of a non-black insulating pigment that has a heat resistance such that discoloration does not occur when the fluororesin is baked. Green insulating pigment whose main component is a TiO2—CoO—NiO—ZnO system or a ZnO—CoO system, or blue insulating pigment whose main component is a CoO—Al2O3 system or a CoO—Al2O3—Cr2O3 system is used singly or in a combination, as the non-black insulating pigment. A highly arc-resistant insulator is provided that secures an insulating capacity and at the same time that secures an excellent ability to prevent both interior and exterior deterioration of the insulator and that avoids color heterogeneity and localized discoloration. |
US07867934B2 |
Optical glass
Optical glass containing bismuth oxide having good defoamability. The Optical glass contains, as % by mass, from 10 to less than 90% of a Bi2O3 component and at least 0.1% of a TeO2 and/or SeO2 component. The optical glass is on Grade 4 to Grade 1 in “JOGIS12-1994, Method for Measuring Bubbles in Optical Glass”. By controlling the amount of RO component (R is at least one selected from a group consisting of Zn, Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg) and Rn2O component (Rn═Li, Na, K, Cs), the clarifying time may be shortened. |
US07867933B2 |
Lithium silicate glass ceramic
Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools and which subsequently can be converted into lithium silicate products showing high strength. |
US07867930B2 |
Lithium silicate glass ceramic
Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools and which subsequently can be converted into lithium silicate products showing high strength. |
US07867929B2 |
Manufacture and assembly of structures
The invention relates to a method of assembling structures and a component for use in such assemblies. The component is an electrically insulant, compressible impermeable cloth. It is formed by impregnating an electrically insulant woven fiber with a sealant, and curing to form the cloth. Structures, such as airframe structures, may be assembled by positioning the cloth between a substructure and an outer skin on at least part of a sub-structure, and then assembling the outer skin to the sub-structure with the cloth located between the substructure and the outer skin. This provides a greater impermeability and insulation across the structural joint. During assemble the cloth may also be compressed, allowing skin panels to be fixed to the substructure within close tolerances, and allowing steps between adjacent panels to be substantially reduced. |
US07867928B2 |
Fluid resistant composite sandwich panel
A composite sandwich panel a first facing and a second facing over a core layer, the first and second facings having at least one fiberglass layer between an inner and an outer graphite layer. |
US07867922B2 |
Film forming method for dielectric film
The present invention is a film forming method for an SiOCH film, comprising a unit-film-forming step including: a deposition step of depositing an SiOCH film element by using an organic silicon compound as a raw material and by using a plasma CVD method; and a hydrogen plasma processing step of providing a hydrogen plasma process to the deposited SiOCH film element, wherein the unit-film-forming step is repeated several times so as to form an SiOCH film on a substrate. |
US07867916B2 |
Horizontal coffee-stain method using control structure to pattern self-organized line structures
A modified coffee-stain method for producing self-organized line structures and other very fine features that involves disposing a solution puddle on a target substrate, and then controlling the peripheral boundary shape of the puddle using a control structure that contacts the puddle's upper surface. The solution is made up of a fine particle solute dispersed in a liquid solvent wets and becomes pinned to both the target substrate and the control structure. The solvent is then caused to evaporate at a predetermined rate such that a portion of the solute forms a self-organized “coffee-stain” line structure on the target substrate surface that is contacted by the peripheral puddle boundary. The target structure is optionally periodically raised to generate parallel lines that are subsequently processed to form, e.g., TFTs for large-area electronic devices. |
US07867915B2 |
Method for activating nitride surfaces for amine-reactive chemistry
Provided is a method for controllably activating a surface for stable amine-reactive chemistries. A surface containing nitride is exposed to a plasma having a reactive species containing hydrogen for a period of time sufficient to activate the substrate for amine-reactive chemistries. Amine-reactive chemical processes can then be applied to the activated surface to reliably and controllably bond molecules directly to said surface. The method is designed to create stable primary amines on the nitride substrate, so that any subsequent amine-reactive chemistry may proceed in a controlled manner that is directly proportional to the density of surface amines so created. |
US07867906B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A trench is formed in an insulation film formed on top of a semiconductor substrate, and a barrier metal film is formed on the surface of the trench. After a copper or copper alloy film is formed on the barrier metal film, an oxygen absorption film in which a standard energy of formation of an oxidation reaction in a range from room temperature to 400° C. is negative, and in which an absolute value of the standard energy of formation is larger than that of the barrier metal film is formed, and the assembly is heated in a temperature range of 200 to 400° C. A semiconductor device can thereby be provided that has highly reliable wiring, in which the adhesion to the barrier metal film in the copper interface is enhanced, copper diffusion in the interface is suppressed, and electromigration and stress migration are prevented. |
US07867903B2 |
Passivated thin film and method of producing same
A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative. |
US07867892B2 |
Packaging carrier with high heat dissipation and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates a packaging carrier with high heat dissipation for packaging a chip, comprising: a carrier body, an interfacial metal layer, at least one diamond-like carbon thin film, a plated layer, and an electrode layer. Herein, the packaging carrier further comprises through holes. The present invention further discloses a method for manufacturing the aforementioned packaging carrier, comprising: providing a carrier body; forming an interfacial metal layer on the upper surface of the carrier body; forming a diamond-like carbon thin film on the interfacial metal layer; forming a plated layer on the diamond-like carbon thin film; forming an electrode layer on the lower surface of the carrier body; and forming through holes extending through all or part of the aforementioned elements. The present invention uses a diamond-like carbon thin film and through holes for heat dissipation in three dimensions to improve heat dissipation of an electronic device. |
US07867891B2 |
Dual metal interconnects for improved gap-fill, reliability, and reduced capacitance
Embodiments of apparatus and methods for forming dual metal interconnects are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
US07867888B2 |
Flip-chip package substrate and a method for fabricating the same
The present invention provides a flip-chip package substrate and a method for fabricating a flip-chip package substrate comprising a circuit build-up structure, which comprises at least a dielectric layer and at least a circuit layer, wherein each dielectric layer comprises a first surface and a second surface, plural vias are formed in the first surface, the circuit layer is formed on the first surface and in the vias to electrically connect to another circuit layer disposed under the dielectric layer; a metal layer embedded in the exposed second surface of the circuit build-up structure without protruding the exposed second surface and connected to the circuit layer; and two solder masks disposed on the exposed first surface and the exposed second surface of the circuit build-up structure, wherein the solder masks have plural openings to separately expose part of the circuit layer and the metal layer functioning as conductive pads. |
US07867887B2 |
Structure and method for enhancing resistance to fracture of bonding pads
The present invention provides bond pads structures between semiconductor integrated circuits and the chip package with enhanced resistance to fracture and improved reliability. Mismatch in the coefficient of temperature expansion (CTE) among the materials used in bond structures induces stress and shear on them that may result in fractures within the back end dielectric stacks and cause reliability problems of the packaging. By placing multiple metal pads which are connected to the bond pad through multiple metal via, the adhesion between the bond pads and the back end dielectric stacks is enhanced. |
US07867879B2 |
Method for dividing a semiconductor substrate and a method for producing a semiconductor circuit arrangement
A method for dividing a semiconductor substrate involves providing a semiconductor substrate. At least one separating trench is produced at a front side of the semiconductor substrate. A layer is produced at least at the bottom of the at least one separating trench. The semiconductor substrate is thinned at a rear side of the semiconductor substrate at least as far as the layer at the bottom of the at least one separating trench. The layer is severed in order to divide the semiconductor substrate into individual pieces. |
US07867878B2 |
Stacked semiconductor chips
Stacked semiconductor chips are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method including a first substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The first substrate includes an array of first connection elements on the first surface of the first substrate. A second substrate has a first surface and an opposing second surface. The second substrate includes an array of second connection elements on the first surface of the second substrate. The first connection elements is attached to the second connection elements; and is thinning at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate after the attachment of the first connection elements to the second connection elements. |
US07867876B2 |
Method of thinning a semiconductor substrate
A C4 grind tape and a laser-ablative adhesive layer are formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. A carrier substrate is thereafter attached to the laser-ablative adhesive layer. The back side of the semiconductor substrate is thinned by polishing or grinding, during which the carrier substrate provides mechanical support to enable thinning of the semiconductor substrate to a thickness of about 25 μm. A film frame tape is attached to the back side of the thinned semiconductor substrate and the laser-ablative adhesive layer is ablated by laser, thereby dissociating the carrier substrate from the back side of the C4 grind tape. The assembly of the film frame tape, the thinned semiconductor substrate, and the C4 grind tape is diced. The C4 grind tape is irradiated by ultraviolet light to become less adhesive, and is subsequently removed. |
US07867874B2 |
Method and apparatus for packaging circuit devices
A hermetically sealed package includes a lid (14) hermetically bonded to a wafer or substrate (12), with a chamber therebetween defined by a recess (16) in the lid. A circuit device (26) such as MEMS device is provided within the chamber on the substrate. A plurality of vias (41-46) are provided through the substrate, and each have a structure which facilitates a hermetic seal of a suitable level between opposite sides of the substrate. The vias provide electrical communication from externally of the assembly to the device disposed in the chamber. |
US07867873B2 |
Manufacturing method of a semiconductor substrate using a damaged region
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate is demonstrated, which enables the formation of a single crystal semiconductor layer on a substrate having an insulating surface. The manufacturing method includes the steps of: ion irradiation of a surface of a single-crystal semiconductor substrate to form a damaged region; laser light irradiation of the single-crystal semiconductor substrate; formation of an insulating layer on the surface of the single-crystal semiconductor substrate; bonding the insulating layer with a substrate having an insulating surface; separation of the single-crystal semiconductor substrate at the damaged region, resulting in a thin single-crystal semiconductor layer on the surface of the substrate having the insulating surface; and laser light irradiation of the surface of the single-crystal semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate having the insulating surface. This method allows the production of a thin layer of a single-crystal semiconductor with uniformed characteristics on an insulating surface. |
US07867866B2 |
SOI FET with source-side body doping
An SOI FET device with improved floating body is proposed. Control of the body potential is accomplished by having a body doping concentration next to the source electrode higher than the body doping concentration next to the drain electrode. The high source-side dopant concentration leads to elevated forward leakage current between the source electrode and the body, which leakage current effectively locks the body potential to the source electrode potential. Furthermore, having the source-to-body junction capacitance larger than the drain-to-body junction capacitance has additional advantages in device operation. The device has no structure fabricated for the purpose of electrically connecting the body potential to other elements of the device. |
US07867865B2 |
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including elevated source and drain regions
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. A substrate having active patterns and isolating layer patterns is prepared. Each of the isolating layer patterns has an upper surface higher than that of each of the active patterns. A spacer layer having a uniform thickness is formed on the substrate. The spacer layer is etched to form a spacer on a sidewall of each of the isolating layer patterns. A gate structure is formed on each of the active patterns. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is performed on the active patterns having the gate structure to form isolated epitaxial layers that have upper surfaces higher than those of the isolating layer patterns, on the active patterns. Related semiconductor devices are also provided. |
US07867864B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device obtained with such a method
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a field effect transistor, in which method a semiconductor body of silicon with a substrate is provided at a surface thereof with a source region and a drain region of a first conductivity type which are situated above a buried isolation region and with a channel region, between the source and drain regions, of a second conductivity type, opposite to the first conductivity type, and with a gate region separated from the surface of the semiconductor body by a gate dielectric and situated above the channel region, wherein a mesa is formed in the semiconductor body in which the channel region is formed and wherein the source and drain regions are formed on both sides of the mesa in a semiconductor region that is formed using epitaxial growth, the source and drain regions thereby contacting the channel region. |
US07867863B2 |
Method for forming self-aligned source and drain contacts using a selectively passivated metal gate
A transistor structure includes a semiconductor substrate with a first surface, a diffusion region at the first surface of the substrate, a sacrificial gate formed on the diffusion region, and insulating side walls formed adjacent to the sacrificial gate. A metal gate is formed by etching out the sacrificial gate and filling in the space between the insulating side walls with gate metals. Silicided source and drain contacts are formed over the diffusion region between the side walls of two adjacent aluminum gates. One or more oxide layers are formed over the substrate. Vias are formed in the oxide layers by plasma etching to expose the silicided source and drain contacts, which simultaneously oxidizes the aluminum gate metal. A first metal is selectively formed over the silicided contact by electroless deposition, but does not deposit on the oxidized aluminum gate. |
US07867860B2 |
Strained channel transistor formation
A strained channel transistor is provided. The strained channel transistor comprises a substrate formed of a first material. A source region comprised of a second material is formed in a first recess in the substrate, and a drain region comprised of the second material is formed in a second recess in the substrate. A strained channel region formed of the first material is intermediate the source and drain region. A gate stack formed over the channel region includes a gate electrode overlying a gate dielectric. A gate spacer formed along a sidewall of the gate electrode overlies a portion of at least one of said source region and said drain region. A cap layer may be formed over the second material, and the source and drain regions may be silicided. |
US07867858B2 |
Hybrid transistor based power gating switch circuit and method
A method includes forming a first transistor having a first gate dielectric thickness and a first source/drain extension depth, a second transistor having a second gate dielectric thickness and the first source/drain extension depth, and a third transistor having the second gate dielectric thickness and a second source/drain extension depth. The second source/drain extension depth is greater than the first source/drain extension depth. The second gate dielectric thickness is greater than the first gate dielectric thickness. The first transistor is used in a logic circuit. The third transistor is used in an I/O circuit. The second transistor is made without extra processing steps and is better than either the first or third transistor for coupling a power supply terminal to the logic circuit in a power-up mode and decoupling the power supply terminal from the logic circuit in a power-down mode. |
US07867856B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having fin-field effect transistor
A semiconductor device includes an element isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate, an active region surrounded by the element isolation region, and a gate electrode formed in one direction to cross the active region. The semiconductor substrate includes two gate trenches formed in parallel to a major axis direction of the active region in the active region, and a fin-shaped part which is located between the two gate trenches. The gate electrode is buried in the two gate trenches and formed on the fin-shaped part. The fin-shaped part serves as a channel region. A fin field effect transistor in which a width of the channel region is smaller than a gate length is thereby obtained. |
US07867851B2 |
Methods of forming field effect transistors on substrates
The invention includes methods of forming field effect transistors. In one implementation, the invention encompasses a method of forming a field effect transistor on a substrate, where the field effect transistor comprises a pair of conductively doped source/drain regions, a channel region received intermediate the pair of source/drain regions, and a transistor gate received operably proximate the channel region. Such implementation includes conducting a dopant activation anneal of the pair of source/drain regions prior to depositing material from which a conductive portion of the transistor gate is made. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated. |
US07867849B2 |
Method of manufacturing a non-volatile semiconductor device
Example embodiments relate to methods of fabricating a non-volatile memory device. According to example embodiments, a method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device may include forming at least one gate structure on an upper face of a substrate. The at least one gate structure may include a tunnel insulation layer pattern, a charge storing layer pattern, a dielectric layer pattern and a control gate. According to example embodiments, a method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device may also include forming a silicon nitride layer on the upper face of the substrate to cover the at least one gate structure, forming an insulating interlayer on the silicon nitride layer on the upper face of the substrate, and providing an annealing gas toward the upper face of the substrate and a lower face of the substrate to cure defects of the tunnel insulation layer pattern. |
US07867846B2 |
Organic light emitting display (OLED) having a gas vent groove to decrease edge open failures
An Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) and its fabrication method has a pixel defining layer provided on a first electrode which is formed with a gas vent groove to allow gas to vent when the pixel defining layer is being formed, so that gas is not left in a pixel but vented when a donor film is laminated by a Laser-Induced Thermal Imaging (LITI) method, thereby decreasing edge open failures. |
US07867841B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor devices with extended active regions
A method of forming a semiconductor device can include forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. The trench is filled with a first device isolation layer. A portion of the first device isolation layer is etched to recess a top surface of the first device isolation layer below an adjacent top surface of the active region of the semiconductor substrate and to partially expose a sidewall of the active region. The exposed sidewall of the active region is epitaxially grown to form an extension portion of the active region that extends partially across the top surface of the first device isolation layer in the trench. A second device isolation layer is formed on the recessed first device isolation layer in the trench. The second device isolation layer is etched to expose a top surface of the extension portion of the active region and leave a portion of the second device isolation layer between extension portions of active regions on opposite sides of the trench. An interlayer dielectric is formed on the semiconductor substrate and the second device isolation layer. A conductive contact is formed extending through the interlayer dielectric layer and directly contacting at least a portion of both the active region and the extension portion of the active region overlying the second device isolation layer. |
US07867832B2 |
Electrical fuse and method of making
A semiconductor fuse and methods of making the same. The fuse includes a fuse element and a compressive stress liner that reduces the electro-migration resistance of the fuse element. The method includes forming a substrate, forming a trench feature in the substrate, depositing fuse material in the trench feature, depositing compressive stress liner material over the fuse material, and patterning the compressive stress liner material. |
US07867829B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method, semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor device
There is provided a semiconductor device manufacturing method which prevents cracking of an overcoat during polishing process, and a semiconductor wafer and a semiconductor device which have an overcoat free from cracking. A plurality of divided overcoats 10 are formed on each chip 3 in a chip region 2 and on each unavailable chip pattern in an unavailable region in the periphery of the chips 3 on the surface of a semiconductor wafer 1, and the semiconductor wafer 1 is mounted upside down on a table with an intervening film so that the back surface of the semiconductor wafer 1 is polished. |
US07867827B2 |
Physical quantity sensor, lead frame, and manufacturing method therefor
A physical quantity sensor is constituted using a lead frame having at least one stage and a plurality of leads whose bases are arranged in the same plane, wherein at least one physical quantity sensor chip having a plurality of electrode pads is mounted on the stage and is inclined so that the electrode pads are disposed in the inclination direction and are connected to the leads by use of wires whose lengths substantially match distances between the electrode pads and leads. This prevents the leads and wires from being unexpectedly broken, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of separation of the leads from the physical quantity sensor chip. In addition, the tip ends of the leads are disposed along the surface of the inclined stage before wire bonding; hence, it is possible to easily connect the tip ends of the leads to the physical quantity sensor chip. |
US07867826B2 |
Semiconductor device packaged into chip size and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an integrated circuit and at least one connection pad, and at least one external connection electrode electrically connected with the connection pad. A first sealing material is provided on the semiconductor substrate around the external connection electrode, each impurity concentration of an Na ion, a K ion, a Ca ion and Cl ion contained in the first sealing material being not greater than 10 ppm. A second sealing material is provided on at least one of a lower surface and a peripheral side surface of the semiconductor substrate, a total impurity concentration of an Na ion, a K ion, a Ca ion and a Cl ion contained in the second sealing material being not smaller than 100 ppm. |
US07867824B2 |
Methods of fabricating a large area transducer array
Methods of fabricating a tiled transducer array are disclosed. Embodiments of the methods include fabricating a wafer comprising a plurality of transducers, dicing the wafer to form individual transducers, testing the individual transducers to identify a plurality of known good transducers, preparing a substrate having a front side and a backside wherein the backside of the substrate comprises a plurality of connectors, positioning the plurality of known good transducers on the front side of the substrate and aligning the plurality of transducers in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to form a transducer array, and electrically coupling the connectors on the substrate to the plurality of known good transducers, wherein the connectors are arranged such that each of the plurality of known good transducers may be electrically coupled to an electronic device disposed on the backside of the substrate, through a respective one or more of the plurality of connectors. |
US07867822B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A method includes forming a switching device which includes a vertical channel spaced apart from a semiconductor substrate, and forming a storage device which is positioned on opposed sides of the switching device. The storage device includes a cylindrically shaped storage node, a plate electrode coupled to the storage node, and a dielectric film which is formed between the storage node and plate electrode, the storage nodes being electrically connected to the switching device. |
US07867819B2 |
Semiconductor package including flip chip controller at bottom of die stack
A semiconductor package including a plurality of stacked semiconductor die, and methods of forming the semiconductor package, are disclosed. In order to ease wirebonding requirements on the controller die, the controller die may be mounted directly to the substrate in a flip chip arrangement requiring no wire bonds or footprint outside of the controller die. Thereafter, a spacer layer may be affixed to the substrate around the controller die to provide a level surface on which to mount one or more flash memory die. The spacer layer may be provided in a variety of different configurations. |
US07867818B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for providing stacked-die devices
Methods and apparatuses to provide a stacked-die device comprised of stacked sub-packages. For one embodiment of the invention, each sub-package has interconnections formed on the die-side of the substrate for interconnecting to another sub-package. The dies and associated wires are protected by an encapsulant leaving an upper portion of each interconnection exposed. For one embodiment of the invention the encapsulant is a stencil-printable encapsulant and the upper portion of the interconnection is exposed by use of a patterned stencil during application of the encapsulant. |
US07867815B2 |
Spacer electrode small pin phase change RAM and manufacturing method
A memory device comprising a first pan-shaped electrode having a side wall with a top side, a second pan-shaped electrode having a side wall with a top side and an insulating wall between the first side wall and the second side wall. The insulating wall has a thickness between the first and second side walls near the respective top sides. A bridge of memory material crosses the insulating wall, and defines an inter-electrode path between the first and second electrodes across the insulating wall. An array of such memory cells is provided. The bridges of memory material have sub-lithographic dimensions. |
US07867814B2 |
Resistance memory element and method of manufacturing the same
A resistance memory element having a pair of electrodes and an insulating film sandwiched between a pair of electrodes includes a plurality of cylindrical electrodes of a cylindrical structure of carbon formed in a region of at least one of the pair of electrodes, which is in contact with the insulating film. Thus, the position of the filament-shaped current path which contributes to the resistance states of the resistance memory element can be controlled by the positions and the density of the cylindrical electrodes. |
US07867812B2 |
Method for production of thin semiconductor solar cells and integrated circuits
The invention relates to the formation of thin-film crystalline silicon using a zone-melting recrystallization process in which the substrate is a ceramic material. Integrated circuits and solar cells are fabricated in the recrystallized silicon thin film and lifted off the substrate. Following lift-off, these circuits and devices are self-sustained, lightweight and flexible and the released ceramic substrate can be reused making the device fabrication process cost effective. |
US07867811B2 |
Encapsulated organic luminescent display panel and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a display panel comprised of a white color organic luminescent element and a color filter for full color implementation, wherein a substrate in which an organic luminescent element is formed and a color filter are assembled and fixed to face each other with an adhesive pattern therebetween, and liquid oil is filled between the color filter and the substrate inside of the adhesive pattern so as to block external moisture or oxygen, so that deterioration of luminous characteristics due to the external moisture or oxygen may be prevented by encapsulating the organic luminescent element and the color filter with the liquid oil, which leads to enhance reliability and stability of the element, and also allows the encapsulation process to be performed with relatively simple steps and low cost. |
US07867808B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments relate to an image sensor and a method of manufacturing an image sensor. According to embodiments, an image sensor may include a first substrate, a photodiode, and an ion implantation isolation layer. According to embodiments, circuitry including a metal interconnection may be disposed over the first substrate. A photodiode may be provided in a crystalline semiconductor layer bonded to the first substrate, and electrically connected to the metal interconnection. The ion implantation isolation layer may be provided in the photodiode. |
US07867807B2 |
Method for manufacturing photoelectric converting device
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of obtaining a photoelectric converting device which can sufficiently maintain airtightness of a housing space for photocathode without degradation of the characteristics of the photocathode. In accordance with the manufacturing method, on the side wall end face of a lower frame and a bonding portion of an upper frame forming an envelope of the photoelectric converting device, a multilayered metal film of chromium and nickel is formed. In a vacuum space decompressed to a predetermined degree of vacuum and having a temperature not more than the melting point of indium, these upper and lower frames introduced therein are brought into close contact with each other with a predetermined pressure while sandwiching indium wire members, and accordingly, an envelope having a housing space whose airtightness is sufficiently maintained is obtained. |
US07867805B2 |
Structure replication through ultra thin layer transfer
Methods and apparatus for forming a product from ultra thin layers of a base material are disclosed. Some embodiments provide a process that allows one to structure a silicon base material, like the ingot, and to transfer this structure into a respective silicon process step. Some embodiments provide a process that allows one to structure any complex structured layer stacks, where the layers can be applied on top of each other using, e.g., bonding technology. |
US07867804B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device that includes a phase change material for protecting the device from failure caused by overheating. The semiconductor device is adapted to detect a rapid increase in current due to heat and also adapted to break a circuit in the detected rapid increase in current by depositing a phase change material inside or outside a cell actually operated in the semiconductor device. |
US07867801B2 |
Apparatus for producing group-III nitride semiconductor layer, method of producing group-III nitride semiconductor layer, method of producing group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device thereof, and lamp thereof
An apparatus for producing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer which forms a group-III nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate by a sputtering method, the apparatus including: a first plasma-generating region where a target containing a group-III element is disposed and the target is sputtered to generate material particles formed of a material contained in the target; and a second plasma generating region where the substrate is disposed and nitrogen-containing plasma is generated. The first plasma-generating region and the second plasma-generating region are provided inside a chamber, and the first plasma-generating region and the second plasma-generating region are separated by a shielding wall which has an opening part from which the material particles are supplied onto the substrate. Also disclosed are a method of producing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer, a method of producing a group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, and a lamp thereof. |
US07867792B2 |
Method of providing electrical separation in integrated devices and related devices
An integrated device includes two sections (A, B), such as a DFB laser (A) and an EAM modulator (B), having a semi-insulating (SI) separation region therebetween. The separation region (24) is of a material acting as a trap on electrons and configured to impede current flow between the two sections (A, B) due to holes. The separation region (24) may be of a material acting as a trap both on electrons and holes. Alternatively, the separation region (24) is of a material that acts as a trap on electrons and is provided over a p-type substrate (20) common to the two sections (A, B). |
US07867791B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device using multiple mask layers formed through use of an exposure mask that transmits light at a plurality of intensities
The invention provides a technique to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device and a display device at high yield. As an exposure mask, an exposure mask provided with a diffraction grating pattern or an auxiliary pattern formed of a semi-transmissive film with a light intensity reducing function is used. With such an exposure mask, various light exposures can be more accurately controlled, which enables a resist to be processed into a more accurate shape. Therefore, when such a mask layer is used, the conductive film and the insulating film can be processed in the same step into different shapes in accordance with desired performances. As a result, thin film transistors with different characteristics, wires in different sizes and shapes, and the like can be manufactured without increasing the number of steps. |
US07867789B2 |
Contact clean by remote plasma and repair of silicide surface
Method for recovering treated metal silicide surfaces or layers are provided. In at least one embodiment, a substrate having an at least partially oxidized metal silicide surface disposed thereon is cleaned to remove the oxidized regions to provide an altered metal silicide surface. The altered metal silicide surface is then exposed to one or more silicon-containing compounds at conditions sufficient to recover the metal silicide surface. |
US07867787B2 |
Forming inductor and transformer structures with magnetic materials using damascene processing for integrated circuits
Methods and associated structures of forming microelectronic devices are described. Those methods may include forming a first layer of magnetic material and at least one via structure disposed in a first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, forming at least one conductive structure disposed in the second dielectric layer, forming a third layer of dielectric material disposed on the conductive structure, forming a second layer of magnetic material disposed in the third layer of dielectric material and in the second layer of dielectric material, wherein the first and second layers of the magnetic material are coupled to one another. |
US07867783B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing ligand binding assays on microarrays in multiwell plates
An apparatus and method for real time, label-free imaging and quantitation of binding events at an array of positions are provided. Total internal reflection from a planar side wall of a well of a multiwell plate is used to create an evanescent field in the plane of a pattern of ligands immobilized on the wall. Embodiments include imaging and multiple analyte detection and quantitation of a single wall of a single well as well as the simultaneous imaging and multiple analyte detection and quantitation of a number of wells. |
US07867781B2 |
Detection methods
The invention relates to a method for quantitatively or qualitatively detecting an analyte in a sample, with the sample being incubated, for the purpose of avoiding, diminishing and/or detecting the high-dose hook effect, with an analyte-specific binding partner R1, which is associated with a solid phase, an analyte-specific binding partner R2, which is associated with a label L1, and an analyte-specific binding partner R3, which is associated with a label L2, and the L1-dependent measurement signal being determined either at a different time from the L2-dependent or L1 plus L2-dependent measurement signal or using a different measurement method. |
US07867776B2 |
Priming module for microfluidic chips
Methods and apparatuses for priming sample substrates such as DNA sipper chips are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a priming system that is suitable for priming a substrate which has a plurality of wells and at least one channel includes a base unit and a top unit. The base unit is arranged to accommodate, or support, the substrate. The top unit, which is substantially physically separate from the base unit, fits over the substrate when the substrate is held by the base unit. The top unit includes an adapter portion that interfaces with the substrate. Included in the adapter portion is a first cavity that is used to facilitate pressurizing a first well of the substrate when the adapter portion is interfaced with the substrate such that the first cavity is aligned with the first well. |
US07867774B2 |
Methods for altering surface characteristics of microspheres
Various methods for altering surface characteristics of a microsphere are provided. One method includes coupling an enolic acid to the microsphere to modify the surface characteristics of the microsphere. The surface characteristics may include charge density and/or pKa. A reagent can be coupled to the microsphere via the enolic acid. The reagent may include a biomolecule. The modified surface characteristics may increase a stability of the reagent when the reagent is coupled to the microsphere. The modified surface characteristics may also improve performance of an assay carried out with the microsphere. Another embodiment relates to a microsphere that includes an enolic acid coupled to a polymer core of the microsphere such that the enolic acid modifies surface characteristics of the microsphere. A reagent can be coupled to the microsphere via the enolic acid. |
US07867773B2 |
Method of holding a slide cassette for fluidic injection
A system for holding a slide. The system includes a housing having a side wall and a top. The top includes a recess surrounded by an outer rim. The system also includes an inlet port in communication with the recess and an elevating mechanism capable of receiving the slide and for raising the slide toward the top of the housing to engage the slide with the outer rim to form an analytical cavity. Together these elements form an analytical cavity in which the assay may be performed. |
US07867772B2 |
Method for the determination of the CaCO3 content of a scrubbing liquid
The present invention relates to a method for the determination of the CaCO3, content of a scrubbing liquid, which has been separated from a scrubbing liquid circuit of a scrubbing column. |
US07867766B2 |
Apparatus and method to measure the kinetics parameters of a porous powder catalyst
An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring the kinetic parameters of a catalyst powder, which include the reaction rate constants, active site concentration and intraparticle diffusivity. The measurement of the active site concentration selectively measures just the active sites and not the entire exposed atom concentration. The apparatus and method use surface concentrations less than 50% and larger than 1% the total active site concentration and a dynamic pulsed flow to avoid including weak adsorption sites not involved in the catalysis. The measurement is more accurate because (1) it uses a reactant gas and non-steady state adsorption at temperatures near to reaction temperatures, and (2) it uses the chemical kinetics expressions to extract the measured active site concentration to perform the measurement so as to count just those sites actually active for that reactant. This is better than the prior art methods that measure an entire surface atom concentration under non-dynamic conditions because the latter is not necessarily the same as the active site concentration in the chemical kinetics expression. The intraparticle diffusivity measured by the apparatus and method is the effective gas diffusivity in a porous powder, and this is useful as a characterization of the tortuosity of the porous powder. |
US07867753B2 |
Method and device for the characterization of interactions between different species
A device detects interactions between species in liquid and species on a solid support. It includes a solid support (11), a mechanism (16) for temporarily reducing the amount of a liquid to which the support is exposed, a detector (12) capable of detecting an interaction between species attached to the solid support, and species contained in the liquid. Also described is a method including attaching a first species on a solid support, exposing the first species to a liquid containing a second species, performing a measurement, capable of detecting an interaction between the first and the second species, and a reference measurement. The liquid is temporarily removed during the measurement. |
US07867747B2 |
Fibrinolytic metalloprotease and composition comprising the same
The present invention relates to a novel protease, a polynucleotide encoding the protease, and a fibrinolytic agent comprising the same. The protease is obtained from a new gene source by using metagenomic library technology, and can replace the conventional fibrinolytic agent. |
US07867744B2 |
Polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase II activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase II activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides. |
US07867743B2 |
Polypeptides having phytase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The invention relates to a phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and related phytases. The phytases belong to the acid histidine phosphatase family, are acid-stable, of an excellent performance in animal feed, of a high specificity towards the substrate phytate, and expectedly of a high specific activity. The invention also relates to the corresponding DNA, the recombinant and wild-type production of the phytases, as well as the use thereof. |
US07867738B2 |
Process for enzymatically converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid
A process is provided to improve the specific activity of an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity when converting glycolonitrile to glycolic acid under aqueous reaction conditions. Inclusion of an effective amount of at least one amine protectant improves the specific activity and catalytic productivity of the enzyme catalyst. |
US07867736B2 |
Method for preparing an organic amine—lactic acid complex
The invention relates to a method for preparing a complex of an organic amine and lactic acid in a reactor, characterized in that a water-miscible organic amine is brought into contact with magnesium lactate in an aqueous medium in the reactor to form the complex and precipitated magnesium hydroxide, after which the magnesium hydroxide is separated from the complex. |
US07867732B2 |
Isolated polypeptide binding to a sugar chain, polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide and use of the polypeptide and polynucleotide
In one embodiment of the present application, a polypeptide capable of binding to a sugar chain is disclosed, particularly a high-mannose-type sugar chain bound to an antibody, more preferably a sugar chain bound to a chicken antibody. Also disclosed is a method for the purification of an antibody (specifically a chicken antibody) as a representative application of the polypeptide. Further disclosed is means for the purification. The polypeptide, BML-17, is a novel lectin made of 168 amino acid residues isolated from Bryopsis maxima. By using BML-17, it becomes possible to purify an antibody (e.g., a chicken antibody) readily and with high efficiency. |
US07867729B2 |
27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 and 65577 molecules and uses therefor
The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated 27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 and 65577 nucleic acid molecules. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing 27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 and 65577 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a 27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 or 65577 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated 27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 or 65577 proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-27877, 18080, 14081, 32140, 50352, 16658, 14223, 16002, 50566, 65552 or 65577 antibodies. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided. |
US07867727B2 |
Methods and reagents for treatment and diagnosis of vascular disorders and age-related macular degeneration
Disclosed are screening methods for determining a human subject's propensity to develop a vascular disorder and/or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), therapeutic or prophylactic compounds for treating disease or inhibiting its development, and methods of treating patients to alleviate symptoms of the disease, prevent or delay its onset, or inhibit its progression. The inventions are based on the discovery that persons with a genome having a deletion of the CFHR-1 and/or CFHR-3 gene, which normally lie on human chromosome 1 between DNA encoding CFH and CFHR-4, are at reduced risk of developing AMD, and elevated risk of developing vascular disease such as aneurysm. |
US07867722B2 |
Pretreatment agent for limulus test
A pretreatment agent for a sample to be subjected to Limulus assay comprising an alkali metal sulfate and/or an alkaline earth metal sulfate wherein the sulfate(s) has a final concentration of 20 mM or more when the sulfate(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or an alkali metal halide and/or an alkaline earth metal halide wherein the halide(s) has a final concentration of from 0.4 M to 1.2 M or less when the halide(s) is allowed to contact with the sample, or a kit for Limulus assay reagent comprising thereof as a composing article. |
US07867716B2 |
High temperature ion channels and pores
The present invention includes an apparatus, system and method for stochastic sensing of an analyte to a protein pore. The protein pore may be an engineer protein pore, such as an ion channel at temperatures above 55° C. and even as high as near 100° C. The analyte may be any reactive analyte, including chemical weapons, environmental toxins and pharmaceuticals. The analyte covalently bonds to the sensor element to produce a detectable electrical current signal. Possible signals include change in electrical current. Detection of the signal allows identification of the analyte and determination of its concentration in a sample solution. Multiple analytes present in the same solution may also be detected. |
US07867713B2 |
Polymerase chain reaction system using magnetic beads for analyzing a sample that includes nucleic acid
A polymerase chain reaction system for analyzing a sample containing nucleic acid includes providing magnetic beads; providing a flow channel having a polymerase chain reaction chamber, a pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position adjacent the polymerase chain reaction chamber, and a post pre polymerase magnet position adjacent the polymerase chain reaction chamber. The nucleic acid is bound to the magnetic beads. The magnetic beads with the nucleic acid flow to the pre polymerase chain reaction magnet position in the flow channel. The magnetic beads and the nucleic acid are washed with ethanol. The nucleic acid in the polymerase chain reaction chamber is amplified. The magnetic beads and the nucleic acid are separated into a waste stream containing the magnetic beads and a post polymerase chain reaction mix containing the nucleic acid. The reaction mix containing the nucleic acid flows to an analysis unit in the channel for analysis. |
US07867708B2 |
Method of forming signal probe-polymer
To solve a problem occurring in the PALSAR method that a polymer would be formed in the state of unbound to a captured test gene and thus affect the quantitative characteristics as a nonspecific signal, it is intended to develop a technique whereby the polymer formation is controlled in the step of forming an assembly (polymer) of probes so that the polymer is formed exclusively on a test gene to thereby improve the sensitivity and quantitative characteristics. It is found that the polymer can be quantitatively formed and a nonspecific reaction can be inhibited by, in the step of forming a polymer by reacting plural kinds of probes having abilities to complementarily bind to each other, not adding or reacting these probes at once but starting with the reaction of a first probe in one group, and then reacting the second probe in the other group followed by the reactions of probes one by one (i.e., the first probe, the second probe, and so on). |
US07867707B2 |
Method for detecting analytes in a sample
The present invention relates to a method for detecting analytes in a sample comprising the steps of providing a solid support, providing capture probes being bound or capable of binding to the solid support, which capture probes are also capable of binding to the analytes, thus concentrating the analytes on the solid support, providing detection probes which are capable of binding to the analytes, contacting the sample with the detection probes, the solid support and the capture probes, and detecting through use of confocal observation the analytes which are bound to the detection probes. |
US07867706B2 |
Capture and detection of target nucleic acid in dipstick assays
Use of helper probes in dipstick assays is described. In a dipstick assay to test for the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample solution, the sample solution is contacted with the contact end of the dipstick to cause the sample solution to move by capillary action to a capture zone of the dipstick at which target nucleic acid is captured. The target nucleic acid may be captured at the capture zone by a capture probe capable of hybridising to the target nucleic acid. A labelled detection probe capable of hybridising to the target nucleic acid may be used to detect the target nucleic acid at the capture zone. A helper probe may be used to enhance the binding of the capture and/or detection probe to the target nucleic acid, thereby improving the sensitivity of target nucleic acid detection. Dipsticks and kits are also described. |
US07867703B2 |
Element defined sequence complexity reduction
A method for providing defined mixtures of nucleic acids is described. In certain embodiments, the method uses oligonucleotide probes attached to a solid support as a sequence-specific affinity agent to isolate and facilitate the amplification of defined nucleic acid fragment mixtures. |
US07867702B2 |
Screen for novel protein inhibitors based upon engineered cell line containing an inducible overactivity gene and compensatory gene
The present invention provides a method for identifying the presence of a protein inhibitor of a target protein in a sample, comprising the steps of a) contacting said sample with a cell, wherein said cell contains i) an inducible lethal overactivity mutation in a gene affecting the target protein; and ii) a mutation in a second gene, wherein the activity of the target protein is essential to the cell and the mutation in the second gene functionally compensates for any reduction in the activity of the target protein; b) inducing the lethal overactivity mutation; and subsequently c) assessing protein inhibition by comparing the degree of survival of the cell in the presence and the absence of said sample. Also provided are cells for use in said method. |
US07867698B2 |
Reticle system for manufacturing integrated circuit systems
A reticle system that includes: providing a reticle system; and assigning two or more of an image pattern onto the reticle system to form one or more layers of an integrated circuit system by grouping and pairing each of the image pattern onto the reticle system according to a multi-layer reticle grouping/pairing flow. |
US07867697B2 |
Positive photosensitive composition and method of forming resist pattern
A positive photosensitive composition comprises: (A) 5 to 20 parts by weight of the total amount of at least one compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray; and (B) 100 parts by weight of the total amount of at least one fluorine atom-containing resin having a group that increases a solubility of the resin in an alkaline developer by the action of an acid. |
US07867696B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring saturation levels of solvents used during rapid prototyping processes
A monitoring device and method is disclosed for monitoring the saturation level of resin in solvent baths, such as those used to remove resin from objects form by stereolithography. The monitoring device operates by monitoring an electrical characteristic, such as impedance, of the solvent bath as the resin-to-solvent ratio of the bath increases during use. Signals are provided by the monitoring device to the operator of the liquid storage device containing the solvent bath in a manner allowing the operator to determine when the solvent bath has reached the end of its useful life. |
US07867695B2 |
Methods for mastering microstructures through a substrate using negative photoresist
Microstructures are fabricated by impinging a radiation beam, such as a laser beam, through a substrate that is transparent to the laser beam, into a negative photoresist layer on the substrate. The negative photoresist layer may be subsequently developed to provide a master for optical and/or mechanical microstructures. Related systems, microstructure products and microstructure masters also are disclosed. |