| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07872749B2 |
Instrument for making optical measurements on multiple samples retained by surface tension
The invention is an installment for making multi-channel spectroscopic measurements on a plurality of nanodrop samples held by surface tension between opposing optical fibers wherein a single fiber is scanned across a linear spaced array of receiving, detecting fibers. |
| US07872748B2 |
Real-time, 3D, non-linear microscope measuring system and method for application of the same
A real-time, 3D, non-linear microscope measuring system and method for examining a set of microscopic image points in different image planes. The system comprises a pulsed laser or parametric oscillator light source generating an examining optical signal, and is applicable to measure and/or photochemically stimulate pre-selected points within a short time interval. The system further comprises a bundle of fibers composed of optical fibers or other waveguides, a rapidly working optical switch, a imaging system, a light source and an optical system. The examining optical signal is a fluorescent or other optical signal imaged on the required spot. |
| US07872747B2 |
Reflex sight
A reflex sight (10) comprises a housing (20) fitted with a proximal aperture (21) and a distal aperture (22) along an optics axis (A). It further includes a projection unit (40) reproducing the light generated by a light source (50) as a target mark (Z), and a feed optics (60) feeding the target mark (Z) reproduced by the projection unit (40) into the beam along the optic axis (A). To preclude the target mark (Z) from being visible to the sighted object, the invention provides that at least one implementing means (61, 62) of the invention be used whereby the target mark (Z) reproduced by the projection unit (40) substantially shall be visible only from the proximal aperture (21). The implementing means (61, 62) of the invention may be a polarizing beam splitting layer (61) designed as an interface layer (65) between two prisms (63, 64). Alternatively a band blocking filter (62) may be used which is configured between the feed optics (60) and the distal aperture (22) and which precludes light reflected by the feed optics (60) from passing through the distal aperture (22) by blocking/filtering such light. To attain economic and simple manufacture of the sight (10), the components (40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100) of the sight (10) are prefabricated sub-assemblies that can be installed rapidly and accurately in the housing (20). |
| US07872745B2 |
Pattern inspection apparatus and pattern inspection method
A pattern inspection apparatus includes a light source configured to emit a pulsed light, a stage on which an inspection target workpiece is placed, a sensor, including a plurality of light receiving elements two-dimensionally arrayed, configured to capture a pattern image in a two-dimensional region of the inspection target workpiece which is irradiated with the pulsed light, by using the plurality of light receiving elements, and a comparing unit configured to compare data of the pattern image with predetermined reference pattern image data, wherein the stage moves to be shifted by a number of pixels, being the number of natural number times one pixel, between pulses of the pulsed light. |
| US07872744B2 |
Visual inspection apparatus for flexible printed circuit boards
An exemplary visual inspection apparatus for a flexible printed circuit board includes a frame, an inspection station, a control system, a roller system and a power system. The inspection station is disposed on the frame. The inspection station has an inspection surface for placing the flexible printed circuit board thereon for visual inspection. The roller system includes a first roller for unwinding a flexible printed circuit board therefrom and a second roller for winding up the flexible printed circuit board therearound. The power system includes a driving device and a braking device. The driving device includes a torque motor engaging with the second roller to drive the second roller to roll. The braking device includes a detent engaging with the first roller to stop rolling of the first roller. The control system electrically connects to the power system for controlling the power system. |
| US07872739B2 |
Rudder angle detecting device of steering gear
The inner cylindrical body is mounted on the top surface of the rudder-stock; the outer cylindrical body is put on the inner cylindrical body exteriorly; the gudgeon pin provided on the top reverse surface of the outer cylindrical body is inserted into the gudgeon provided on the top surface of the inner cylindrical body; the pin protruded on the top surface of the outer cylindrical body is inserted into the chest fixated to the supports; the rotational movement checking device, that obstructs the pin to rotate, and at the same time, permits it to be displaced in the radial direction, is provided inside the chest; the scale is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical body; and, the rudder angle detecting optical sensors facing the scale are mounted on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical body. |
| US07872738B2 |
System and method for monitoring an optical communication system
A monitoring system and method may be used to monitor an optical communication system. A monitoring system and method may be used to derive loop gain data sets from optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) or coherent optical time domain reflectometry (COTDR) data. A monitoring system and method may also use differential monitoring techniques to obtain data representing gain tilt in the transmission system and to locate an anomalous loss or gain in the transmission system. |
| US07872737B2 |
System and method for optical time domain reflectometry using multi-resolution code sequences
A system and method for time domain reflectometry (OTDR) using multi-resolution code sequences. One or more subsets of a set of predefined complementary code sequences may be transmitted as an OTDR signal to provide multi-resolution capability. |
| US07872736B2 |
Detecting a disturbance in the propagation of light in an optical waveguide
An optical time domain reflectometry apparatus has a laser and light modulator for producing coherent light pulses, each having two sections of higher intensity separated by a gap of lower or substantially zero intensity. As the light pulses propagate along the optical fibre, light is continuously Rayleigh backscattered by inhomogeneities of the optical fibre. A photodetector generates backscatter signals representing the intensity of light Rayleigh backscattered in the optical fibre as each light pulse travels along the optical fibre. The PC uses these backscatter signals to derive a difference signal representing a change dI in intensity between signals generated from two successive pulses. The PC then calculates the Root Mean Square (RMS) of the difference signal averaged over the interval between the two sections of the light pulses. Next, the PC averages the backscatter signal generated from the first of the pulses over the same interval and normalises the RMS difference signal using the averaged signal to obtain a compensated difference signal that depends only on differences in the rate of change of phase of light of the light pulses as they travelled along the waveguide. This is repeated at different wavelengths to allow the compensated difference signal to be adjusted to represent the magnitude of the differences. |
| US07872735B2 |
Method and apparatus for referencing a MEMS device
A method and an apparatus for calibrating a MEMS actuator of a hybrid MEMS-PLC optical switch or router is described. Two calibrating waveguides, embedded monolithically adjacent to the waveguides that provide the PLC output functions, are used for referencing a MEMS mirror tilt angle by maximizing optical coupling of light, reflected off the MEMS mirror, into one or each of the two calibrating waveguides. The input light is provided by either a waveguide carrying a live optical signal, or by a special input waveguide, coupled to an LED, for providing a calibrating light. Two emitting waveguides, embedded monolithically adjacent to the waveguides that provide the PLC input functions, can be used. |
| US07872734B2 |
In vitro determination of analyte levels within body fluids
A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band. |
| US07872733B2 |
Tracking type laser interferometer and method for resetting the same
A tracking type laser interferometer that detects displacement of a retroreflector 300 being an object to be measured by utilizing interference of a laser beam 102 irradiated onto the retroreflector 300 and reflected by the retroreflector 300 in the returning direction, and carries out tracking by means of a two-axis turning mechanism 240 using displacement in the position of the optical axis of the laser beam 102; the same tracking type laser interferometer, includes; a light irradiator 600 that emits a fan-shaped laser light 602 that is fan-shaped including the optical axis of the laser beam 102, is interlocked with turning movements of the two-axis turning mechanism 240 around an axis orthogonal to the center axis of the corresponding fan shape; and a light receptor 620 that has a specific positional relationship with the retroreflector 300 or the light irradiator 600 and receives the fan-shaped laser light. Thereby, tracking can be automatically reset when the tracking is disabled due to a reason such as interruption of laser light or initial adjustment work can be automated when commencing measurement. |
| US07872730B2 |
Immersion exposure apparatus and immersion exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An immersion type exposure apparatus comprises: an optical member from which an exposure beam is emitted; a first movable member that is movable while holding a substrate, in a predetermined region including a first region including a position facing the optical member and a second region different from the first region; a second movable member that is movable while holding the substrate independently from a first movable member, in a predetermined region including the first region and the second region; a first connection member that is releasably and alternately connected with the first movable member and the second movable member, and moves one movable member in the first region; a second connection member that is releasably and alternately connected with the first movable member and the second movable member, and moves the other movable member in the second region; and a third movable member that is provided on the first connection member and is movable to a position facing the optical member, and at least one of the first movable member, the second movable member, and the third movable member is moved to the position facing the optical member so that a beam path on the emitting side of the optical member is kept filled with a liquid. |
| US07872724B2 |
Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display panel comprising the same
A color filter substrate having a conductive column spacer and a liquid crystal display panel including the color filter substrate. The color filter substrate includes a transparent insulating substrate, a black matrix arranged on the substrate to block light, a plurality of color filters arranged on the substrate and the black matrix, an overcoat layer arranged on the color filters, a first column spacer arranged on the overcoat layer to maintain a liquid crystal cell gap, and a common electrode arranged on the overcoat layer and the first column spacer. The first column spacer is arranged in a display area of the substrate. |
| US07872723B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
An LCD panel including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed above the first substrate, a plurality of signal lines disposed on the first substrate, and a plurality of sub-pixel sets arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each sub-pixel set includes a plurality of sub-pixels electrically connected to the signal lines, each sub-pixel set has a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and each spacer form a region in each corresponding sub-pixel set, wherein the area of the sub-pixel with the region is substantially greater than the area of other sub-pixels, and the effective display area of the sub-pixel with the region is substantially equal to the effective display area of other sub-pixels. |
| US07872716B2 |
Optical compensation film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display, which allows proper optical compensation for bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell and exhibits high contrast, excellent viewing angle properties and a high black display fidelity, is provided. A bend-aligned mode liquid crystal cell is properly optically compensated for by properly controlling the optical properties, including wavelength dispersion, of a first optical anisotropic layer and a second optical anisotropic layer. |
| US07872715B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device may include a first substrate; a second substrate; a first polarizing plate on the first substrate; a second polarizing plate arranged on the second substrate, and so that a direction of an absorption axis of the second polarizing plate being perpendicular to a direction of an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; a color filter layer arranged between the liquid crystal layer and the first or the second substrate, the color filter layer having a plurality of pixels of two or more colors. The retardation thin film has in-plane birefringence index satisfying 0.75≦Δn[fr]/λd[fr]≦1.35 for a region corresponding to a reflection part of a pixel and satisfying Δn[t]<1.2 ×10−3 for a region corresponding to a transmission part of a pixel. |
| US07872714B2 |
Liquid crystal cell substrate with color filter, liquid crystal cell and liquid crystal display
The present invention provides a liquid crystal cell with a color filter having a transparent substrate and a color filter, where the retardation value Rth(B), Rth(G) and Rth(R) in the thickness direction, which is represented by the following formula (1) in the blue region, the green region and the red region of the color filter, satisfy the following formula (2) or (3): Rth=[{(nx+ny)/2}−nz]×d Formula (1) Rth(B)>Rth(G)>Rth(R) Formula (2) Rth(B) |
| US07872713B2 |
Pixel structure having particular patterned dielectric layer with micro-bumps
A pixel structure disposed on a substrate and electrically connected to a scan line and a data line is provided. The pixel structure has a reflective area and includes a common line, a semiconductor lower electrode, an upper electrode, a patterned dielectric layer, a reflective electrode and an active device. The semiconductor lower electrode electrically connected to the common line is disposed on the substrate within the reflective area. The upper electrode is disposed above and electrically isolated from the semiconductor lower electrode. The patterned dielectric layer with the micro-bumps is disposed on the upper electrode and exposes a part of the upper electrode. The reflective electrode is disposed on the patterned dielectric layer and the part of the upper electrode. Besides, the reflective electrode is electrically connected to the upper electrode. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line, the data line and the reflective electrode. |
| US07872712B2 |
Array substrate comprising a pixel electrode including concave patterns having convex patterns in central portions of the concave pattern, method of manufacturing the same, and display panel having the same
An array substrate for enhancing reflectivity, a method for manufacturing the same and display panel having the same are presented. The array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, a plurality of pixel portions, a plurality of switching elements and a plurality of pixel electrodes. The gate lines extend in a first direction. The source lines extend in a second direction across the first direction. The pixel portions are defined by the gate lines and the source lines. Each switching element is formed on a respective pixel electrode and is electrically connected to one of the gate lines and one of the source lines. Each pixel electrode is electrically connected to a respective switching electrode, and includes a concave pattern having a convex pattern in a central portion. The concave pattern having the convex pattern in the central portion enhances the reflectivity of the array substrate. |
| US07872711B2 |
Optical sheet for TFT-LCD back light unit and liquid crystal display having the optical sheet
The present invention relates to an optical sheet for a backlight unit of a TFT-LCD and a TFT-LCD including the same. The optical sheet of the present invention includes a transparent base sheet, and a light diffusion layer in which a diffusion pattern comprised of a plurality of protrusions is formed on the transparent base sheet. The diffusion pattern satisfies an aspect ratio of 0.8 or more, the aspect ratio being a ratio of a radius (l) of a unit body portion of the protrusion, which is formed on the transparent base sheet, to a thickness (d) of the protrusion. |
| US07872709B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device includes lower and upper substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal layer between the lower and upper substrates, a first polarizing plate on the upper substrate, a second polarizing plate below the lower substrate, and a backlight unit below the second polarizing plate. The second polarizing plate has a light-diffusion layer that is proximate to the backlight unit. The light-diffusion layer has projections that project towards and contact the backlight unit. These projections are smooth curves that do not damage the surface of the backlight unit. The total of the Haze formed by the first and second polarizing plates is at least 40%. |
| US07872706B2 |
Polarized light-emitting device
Polarized light-emitting device with a light source, multiple layers of first optical thin films and second optical thin films alternately stacked is disclosed. Each first optical thin film has a number of first geometric units, and each second optical thin film has a number of second geometric units. The first geometric units and the second geometric units are arranged as a secondary periodic structure on the light-emitting surface of the light source. The polarized light-emitting device is able to provide polarized light with higher brightness and polarized light of a specified polarization characteristic. |
| US07872700B2 |
Liquid crystal display and thin film transistor array panel therefor
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode formed thereon, a second substrate including a third electrode formed thereon, wherein the second substrate is spaced apart from the first substrate by a gap, and at least one cutout formed in the third electrode, wherein the at least one cutout is aligned with a space between the first and second electrodes. |
| US07872699B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and liquid crystal display including the panel
A thin film transistor (TFT) array panel is provided, which includes: a plurality of gate lines transmitting gate signals; a plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines and transmitting data signals, each data line including first and second data line branches electrically connected to each other and spaced apart from each other; a plurality of pixel electrodes electrically connected to the gate lines and the data lines through thin film transistor and covering edges of the first or the second data line branches; a passivation layer disposed between the data lines and the pixel electrodes; and a light blocking member covering gaps between the first data line branches and the second data line branches. |
| US07872698B2 |
Liquid crystal display with structure resistant to exfoliation during fabrication
In the display area of the TFT array substrate, a pixel electrode, a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, a gate line connected to the switching element and a source line connected to the switching element are formed. In the terminal forming area of the TFT substrate, a terminal electrode for connecting the gate line or source line to external signal source is formed. Around the terminal forming area, a first metallic line and a second metallic line are extended below the terminal electrode. The first metallic line and the second metallic line are connected to the terminal electrode via respective contact holes. The first metallic line and the second metallic line are in different layers interposing an insulating layer therebetween. |
| US07872696B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display device and manufacturing method thereof
Image display device having an electrode forming layer which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of switching elements and the a plurality of pixel electrodes, and having reference electrode layer between the electrode forming layer and a substrate where the electrode forming layer formed thereon, and the reference electrode layer and the electrode forming layer are insulated by insulating layer. |
| US07872693B2 |
Touch substrate and electro-wetting display device having touch control function
A touch substrate includes a transparent substrate having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface, a plurality of thin film transistor elements disposed on the second surface, and a capacitance touch structure. The capacitance touch structure includes a plurality of parallel first conductive electrodes disposed on the first surface and a plurality of parallel second conductive electrodes disposed on the second surface. The second electrodes cross the first electrodes insulatingly. The first electrodes, the second electrodes and the transparent substrate sandwiched therebetween form a plurality of sensing capacitors. |
| US07872692B2 |
Structure for switching system for signal monitoring and switch-back control
A design structure for systems for switching a displayed signal for a display between a plurality of signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, the design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, and includes: a system for switching a displayed signal for a display between a plurality of signals, the system including: a microcontroller; a chooser for setting a primary signal from a plurality of program-variable signals; a monitor tuner coupled to the microcontroller for tuning the primary signal during switching of the displayed signal from the primary signal to a secondary signal; a detector coupled to the monitor tuner and the microcontroller for detecting a predetermined condition in the primary signal; and a selector coupled to the microcontroller for switching the displayed signal from the secondary signal to the primary signal upon occurrence of the predetermined condition. |
| US07872689B2 |
System and method for improved composite decoding
A method of composite decoding in which the input signal is converted into the frequency domain, and the symmetry of frequency components with respect to the subcarrier frequency is compared. The comparison is varied in dependence upon the frequency being processed. In this way, the separation can be adapted to suit known characteristics of different portions on the input spectrum. This is particularly useful for processing NTSC signals. The allocation of a particular component to chrominance may be biased in dependence upon a measure of the luminance information of the composite signal at a corresponding spatial frequency. |
| US07872686B2 |
Integrated lens and chip assembly for a digital camera
A integrated camera module (10, 10a) for capturing video images in very small digital cameras, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like. A lens assembly (24, 24a) is rigidly affixed in relation to a sensor array area (14) of a camera chip (12) by a molding (26). The molding (26) is formed on the camera chip (12), and optionally on a printed circuit board (16, 16a) on which the camera chip (12) is mounted. The lens assembly (24, 24a) is held in place in a recess (29) of the molding (26) by an adhesive (28). The molding (26) is formed such that a precise gap (30) exists between the lens assembly (24) and a sensor array area (14) of the camera chip (12). |
| US07872682B2 |
Eclipse elimination by monitoring the pixel signal level
An anti-eclipse circuit for an imaging sensor monitors the photo signal level output by a pixel to determine whether the photo signal corresponds to the pixel being operated at a saturated state. If so, there is a risk that the pixel may be susceptible to an eclipse distortion. When the pixel is detected as being operated in a saturated state, the anti-eclipse circuit pulls up the reset signal level previously stored in a sample and hold circuit to an appropriate voltage level in order to prevent an eclipse distortion from arising. |
| US07872679B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, defect compensation device, and defect-compensating method
An image pickup apparatus has an image pickup device, a defect-information-storing unit that stores defect information relative to a defective pixel in the image pickup element, a compensation-signal-generating unit that generates a compensation signal for each defective pixel, first and second compensation units that compensate for the pixel signal relative to the defective pixel indicated by the defect information with and without applying the compensation signal to the pixel signal, and a compensation-switching unit that switches between a first signal compensated by the first compensation unit and a second signal compensated by the second compensation unit based on a comparison result of a signal level of the compensation signal with a signal level of a predetermined compensation-switching reference signal. |
| US07872678B2 |
Method for checking functional reliability of an image sensor having a plurality of pixels
A method for checking the functional reliability of an image sensor evaluates statistical fluctuations in the grey-scale values provided by the pixels of the image sensor. An actual noise factor, which is derived for light impinging on the pixels, is evaluated. A pixel failure is assumed if the actual noise factor misses a predetermined criterion defined by a reference noise factor. According to one embodiment, the reference noise factor is a dark noise factor. An electronic camera that operates in accordance with the above-described method is also disclosed. |
| US07872673B2 |
Wide dynamic range image capturing system method and apparatus
An image capture system is presented where the dynamic range of photo imaging devices, such as a still or video camera, is increased by varying sensor exposure time on a pixel-by-pixel basis under digital camera processor control. The systems photo sensors are continuously illuminated without reset over the exposure interval. In addition to being interrogated at the end of the exposure interval, the pixels are also non-destructively interrogated at one or more intermediate times during the interval. At each interrogation, the image capture system determines individually whether the pixels have saturated and if not, the parameter value is recorded; if the pixel has saturated, the previously stored value from the preceding interval is maintained. To produce the final sensor value for the whole exposure interval, the data for pixels that reached the saturation level are adjusted to compensate for their shortened exposure. |
| US07872669B2 |
Photo-based mobile deixis system and related techniques
A mobile deixis device includes a camera to capture an image and a wireless handheld device, coupled to the camera and to a wireless network, to communicate the image with existing databases to find similar images. The mobile deixis device further includes a processor, coupled to the device, to process found database records related to similar images and a display to view found database records that include web pages including images. With such an arrangement, users can specify a location of interest by simply pointing a camera-equipped cellular phone at the object of interest and by searching an image database or relevant web resources, users can quickly identify good matches from several close ones to find an object of interest. |
| US07872667B2 |
Device and system for in vivo imaging
The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and a transmitter for transmitting signals from a camera to a receiving system located outside a patient. |
| US07872664B2 |
Optical scanning device including shutter member that closes or opens an emission window and image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device
An optical scanning device, that outputs a light beam through an emission window in an optical housing to scan a surface, may include a shutter member that closes or opens the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be at a position corresponding to an insertion operation of a cleaning member for cleaning the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may be on a front surface of the shutter member to allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be on a side surface of the shutter member to allow a cleaning member to be inserted through the second opening for cleaning the emission window. |
| US07872663B2 |
Light emitting device, image processing device, and electronic apparatus
A light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a first storage unit that stores first correction values corresponding to the light emitting elements, a counting unit that counts the number of pixels whose gray-scale values designated by image data are within a predetermined range included in an image, a selection unit that selects a first mode or a second mode according to the relationship between the number counted by the counting unit and a threshold value, and a driving unit that drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the first correction values when the first mode is selected by the selection unit, and drives the light emitting elements corresponding to the predetermined number of pixels to emit amounts of light corresponding to the image data when the second mode is selected by the selection unit. |
| US07872659B2 |
Wide color gamut displays
A display has a modulator illuminated by an illuminator comprising an array of light sources. The array includes light sources of a plurality of colors. The light sources of different colors are individually controllable. Within each color, the light sources that illuminate different areas on the modulator are individually controllable. The display may provide a high dynamic range and a wide color gamut. |
| US07872657B1 |
Memory addressing scheme using partition strides
Systems and methods for addressing memory where data is interleaved across different banks using different interleaving granularities improve graphics memory bandwidth by distributing graphics data for efficient access during rendering. Various partition strides may be selected to modify the number of sequential addresses mapped to each DRAM and change the interleaving granularity. A memory addressing scheme is used to allow different partition strides for each virtual memory page without causing memory aliasing problems in which physical memory locations in one virtual memory page are also mapped to another virtual memory page. When a physical memory address lies within a virtual memory page crossing region, the smallest partition stride is used to access the physical memory. |
| US07872656B2 |
Virtualization of graphics resources
Graphics resources are virtualized through an interface between graphics hardware and graphics clients. The interface allocates the graphics resources across multiple graphics clients, processes commands for access to the graphics resources from the graphics clients, and resolves conflicts for the graphics resources among the clients. |
| US07872655B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies in fantasy sports contest applications
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide play information and other related data to allow a user to generate animated videos using the user's own graphics processing equipment and graphics animation program. |
| US07872651B2 |
Error metrics for characters
Generating an error from an error metric quantifying differences between reference objects representing characters and representations of the reference objects. One embodiment includes a method which includes accessing a reference object representing a character. One or more reference object characteristics are quantified. The reference object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of at least a portion of the reference object to generate a reference object metric. A representation object of the reference object is accessed. One or more representation object characteristics are quantified to create a representation object metric. The representation object characteristics are related to character structural and color information of a portion of the representation object of the reference object corresponding to the portion of the reference object. An error is calculated based on a difference between the reference object metric and the representation object metric. The error is output to a user. |
| US07872650B2 |
Remotely viewing large tiled image datasets
Systems and methods are described for remotely viewing large tiled image datasets, such as global maps at multiple resolution levels. A voting schema immediately retrieves the image tiles in a multi-resolution image dataset that are most likely to provide temporary complete coverage of a given browser view while more numerous optimal image tiles for the current resolution level of the browser view are still downloading. Image tiles that are not locally available are assigned one vote toward immediate download while their parent and higher-order image tiles accumulate increasing multiples of the vote. This provides panning and zooming such that it is difficult for a user to outdrive the update speed of the changing view. The system can also enhance navigation to provide natural and responsive movement of the browser viewport while image tiles are being downloaded. |
| US07872643B2 |
System and method for a digital projection advertising display
A projection advertising display system which can withstand the environmental conditions of the projection site, allows for remote operation and monitoring and provides for long-term, legitimate projected advertising in or on third-party structures. The digital projection advertising display system comprises a projection surface, such as the exterior side or interior wall of a building, which is covered by a long-term agreement allowing the projection of advertising images on said projection surface, and a projection unit comprising a projector, an environmental control system, a monitoring camera, and a computer. Each of the components of the projection unit is operatively coupled to a computer which controls and monitors the function of each of the components. The computer is networked to a central computer remote from said projection unit and can remotely control and monitor the functions of the projection unit. A plurality of projection units may be networked to the central computer to allow central control and monitoring of each of the projection advertising displays. The method provides for obtaining long-term agreements for the use of the projection surfaces and the sites for mounting the projection units. |
| US07872642B2 |
Controlling device having multiple user interfaces
A controlling device using a source of energy, such as light energy, to provide the controlling device with a user interface having multiple, different visual appearances. |
| US07872637B2 |
System and method for tracking a laser spot on a projected computer screen image
A system and method for tracking a laser spot on a projected computer screen image computes a projective transformation matrix using the projected computer screen image electronically captured in a frame of image data. The projective transformation matrix is computed by fitting a polygon to a contour of each graphical object in the frame of image data and determining whether the polygon for each graphical object satisfies a set of predefined parameters to find a candidate polygon that corresponds to an outline of the projected computer screen image in the frame of image data. |
| US07872629B2 |
Shift register circuit and display apparatus using the same
A shift register circuit which stably operates with low electric power consumption and can realize a long life. In the shift register circuit constructed by connecting a plurality of fundamental circuits in each of which fundamental clocks of three phases are inputted to input terminals and is constructed by a gate line driving circuit, a timing control circuit, and a holding device control circuit, each of the gate line driving circuit and the timing control circuit has charging devices and holding devices. A node is stabilized by the timing control circuit. |
| US07872628B2 |
Shift register and liquid crystal display device using the same
A shift register and an LCD device to prevent the deterioration of a transistor by controlling a bias stress are disclosed. The shift register includes a plurality of stages for sequential shift signals, wherein each of the plurality of stages is connected with first and second supplying voltage input lines having opposite phases inversed by at least every frame, a start pulse input line, and at least one clock signal input line in which a phase of a first logic state is shifted in sequence, and a clock signal inputted to the clock signal input line is maintained in a second logic state different from the first logic state during a blanking time between frames. |
| US07872625B2 |
Liquid-crystal display apparatus and three-panel liquid-crystal display projector
A liquid-crystal display apparatus free from chrominance non-uniformity. In a liquid-crystal display apparatus with a primary color video signal and a common voltage supplied to a liquid-crystal display panel, a correction signal for canceling the chrominance non-uniformity is superimposed on the primary color video signal. |
| US07872623B2 |
Method of eliminating disclination of liquid crystal molecules
A voltage difference is set between a control electrode and a pixel electrode of a pixel dependent on the gray level of at least one adjacent pixel. A minimum voltage difference, increasing with the gray level of the pixel, is required between the control and the pixel electrodes to prevent disclination. A method of eliminating disclination adjusts the gray level of the pixel and the adjacent pixel to ensure that the voltage difference is greater than the minimum voltage difference, setting the voltage difference into the control and the pixel electrodes, and resetting the potential of the pixel electrode to display the gray level of the pixel without varying the voltage difference between the pixel and the control electrodes. The potential of the control electrode is set to be higher than the potential of the pixel electrode when the polarity of the pixel is positive. The potential of the control electrode is set to be lower than the potential of the pixel electrode when the polarity of the pixel is negative. |
| US07872622B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) which can provide uniform vertical and horizontal visibility while improving lateral visibility is provided. The LCD includes a first insulating substrate, first and second gate lines which are formed on the first insulating substrate, and a data line which is insulated from the first and second gate lines and intersects the first and second gate lines. The LCD also includes first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) which are formed in each pixel and are connected to the first and second gate lines, respectively, and to the data line, first sub-pixel electrodes which are connected to the first TFT, and a second sub-pixel electrode which is separated from the first sub-pixel electrodes by predetermined gaps and is connected to the second TFT. The LCD includes a second insulating substrate which faces the first insulating substrate, a common electrode which is formed on the second insulating substrate and comprises a plurality of domain dividers, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second insulating substrates, wherein a display region of the second sub-pixel electrode is divided into 4 domain groups by the domain dividers, and the 4 domain groups have substantially the same area. |
| US07872621B2 |
Color LED driver
Disclosed herein is a color LED driver, which is capable of being implemented by a compact structure without a feedback structure and accompanying a small size and low cost, by directly connecting a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor to a driving current path of a color LED applied to an LCD backlight to compensate a characteristic variation of the LED due to a variation in a temperature. The color LED driver includes a driving constant voltage source 100 which supplies a predetermined driving constant voltage VD; a driving circuit 200 which converts the driving constant voltage VD of the driving constant voltage source 100 into a plurality of driving currents, for driving color LEDs, the plurality of driving currents including red LED driving current Ird, green LED driving current Igd and blue LED driving current Ibd; a temperature compensation unit 300 which compensates variations in the red LED driving current Ird and the green LED driving current Igd due to a variation in a temperature, among the plurality of driving currents from the driving circuit 200; and an LED unit 400 including a plurality of color LEDs which are turned on by the driving currents from the temperature compensation circuit 300 and the driving current from the driving circuit 200. |
| US07872620B2 |
Pixel structure using voltage programming-type for active matrix organic light emitting device
A pixel structure using a voltage programming type active matrix organic light emitting diode (OLED) which can minimize a current deterioration phenomenon. The pixel structure includes a fifth TFT receiving an external management signal EMS through its gate, having a drain region connected to a cathode part of an OLED, and receiving an input of an OLED current through its source-drain current path when the OLED emits light, a fourth TFT receiving a set scan signal SCAN through its gate and having source and drain regions connected to gate and drain parts of a third TFT T3; respectively, the third TFT T3 being a current driving transistor for determining the OLED current when the OLED emits light, a capacitor C having upper and lower plates connected to the gate part of the third TFT T3 and a ground voltage VSS. |
| US07872618B2 |
Control circuit for electronic devices, electronic circuit, electro-optical apparatus, driving method for electro-optical apparatus, electronic system, and control method for electronic devices
A data-line drive circuit controls a current value of a control signal in every cycle T1 based on upper 8-bit digital data DAB of digital data In, and performs pulse-width control in a cycle T2 based on lower 2-bit digital data SUB of the digital data In for the portion which is D/A-converted based on the same digital data of the control signal. It is thus possible to provide an electronic circuit suitable to inhibit a variation in the luminance so as to control the luminance levels of pixels with high precision. |
| US07872616B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof
There is provided a plasma display apparatus and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a plasma display apparatus which drives an electrodes and a driving method thereof. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including an electrodes; a first voltage supply unit supplying a first voltage to the electrodes at a setup period; and a setup/scan operation unit supplying a ramp-up pulse to the electrodes at the setup period with one voltage source and supplying a second voltage to the electrodes at an address period with the one voltage source. The driving apparatus of a plasma display panel includes a plasma display panel including an electrodes; a first voltage supply unit supplying a first voltage; a first setup supply unit supplying a first ramp-up pulse rising from the first voltage to a first sum voltage corresponding to a sum of the first voltage and the second voltage to the electrodes; and a second setup supply unit supplying a second ramp-up pulse rising to a second sum voltage corresponding to a sum of the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage to the electrodes after the first ramp-up pulse is applied and a second setup supply unit supplying the third voltage to the electrodes when scanning the electrodes. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the production cost by decreasing the number of components and improve a driving efficiency by raising a voltage of a setup waveform at a reset period. |
| US07872615B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving a plasma display panel
An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel includes a first driver and a second driver and a first power supplier and a second power supplier for generating sustain discharge pulses having no negative (−) level. The first driver includes a first capacitor charged to a first voltage and is coupled to a power source for supplying a voltage Vs and a ground voltage. The first driver, coupled to one terminal of a panel capacitor, operates to alternately apply double the voltage Vs formed by the power source and the first capacitor and the ground voltage to the one terminal of the panel capacitor. The second power supplier, coupled to the power source and the ground voltage, includes a second capacitor charged to Vs. The second driver coupled to the other terminal of the panel capacitor operates to alternately apply double the voltage Vs formed by the power source and the second capacitor and the ground voltage to the other terminal of the panel capacitor. Here, one of the first driver and the second driver applies the ground voltage to the panel capacitor, while the other applies double the voltage Vs to the panel capacitor. |
| US07872611B2 |
Leaky coaxial antenna
The invention relates to a leaky coaxial antenna (10) comprising an inner conductor (1), a dielectric (2) around the inner conductor (1), and a first shield conductor (4) disposed around the dielectric (2), the first shield conductor having openings (41) distributed in longitudinal direction of the inner conductor (1) and being adapted in that electromagnetic energy passes through the openings (41). A second shield conductor (5) is disposed around or underneath the first shield conductor (4), the second shield conductor (5) being adapted to cover or mask at least a number of the openings (41) of the first shield conductor in a shielded section (S1-S12). The second shield conductor (5) is arranged discontinuously In the longitudinal direction of the antenna (10) defining uncovered or unmasked portions (AS1-AS12) of the first shield conductor (4) in the longitudinal direction of the antenna which are adapted in that electromagnetic energy passes through the uncovered portions (AS1-AS12). Thus, the present invention suggests a two-layer shield for improving the properties of a leaky coaxial antenna with respect to e.g. aerospace applications. |
| US07872610B2 |
Metallised plastic antenna funnel for a fill level radar
A metalized plastic antenna includes a plastic antenna body with metallization on the inside. In this arrangement metallization is used for conducting electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, metallization may be implemented as a protective coating so that chemical resistance of the plastic antenna may be ensured even in the case of corrosive environmental conditions. |
| US07872607B2 |
Diverse spectrum antenna for handsets and other devices
A system, apparatus and method for a diverse spectrum antenna is disclosed. The diverse spectrum antenna may comprise a circuit board having a ground plane and a chip antenna including a notch, wherein the chip antenna is mounted on the circuit board at a selected distance from the ground plane. |
| US07872606B1 |
Compact ultra wideband microstrip resonating antenna
An Ultra Wide Band (UWB) antenna includes a base substrate that includes a signal feed and two or more antenna substrates communicatively coupled with the signal feed. Each antenna substrate includes a plurality of microstrip resonating lines. |
| US07872604B2 |
System and method for reducing interference in microwave motion sensors
A microwave sensor comprises an oscillator configured to generate a microwave signal at a pre-determined frequency, and an antenna configured to transmit the microwave signal and/or to receive reflected signals. The antenna is linear polarized at 45 degrees and the transmitted microwave signal has an electric field at 45 degrees to the plane of the horizontal. The microwave sensor further includes a signal processor coupled to the antenna and configured to process the reflected signals to determine a presence of a moving object. |
| US07872598B2 |
Accelerated decompression
Techniques for decompressing a compressed input by determining, according to an ordering of allowable codewords, an offset for a variable length codeword detected in the input; accessing a record at the determined offset in a data structure having one record for each of the allowable codewords, each record including a portion for at least one of a literal value and a length value and a portion for a type value indicative of whether the record is for a literal or a length; and determining a decompressed output based at least in part on the accessed record. |
| US07872597B2 |
Systems and methods of using application and protocol specific parsing for compression
Systems and methods of storing previously transmitted data and using it to reduce bandwidth usage and accelerate future communications are described. By using algorithms to identify long compression history matches, a network device may improve compression efficiently and speed. A network device may also use application specific parsing to improve the length and number of compression history matches. Further, by sharing compression histories, compression history indexes and caches across multiple devices, devices can utilize data previously transmitted to other devices to compress network traffic. Any combination of the systems and methods may be used to efficiently find long matches to stored data, synchronize the storage of previously sent data, and share previously sent data among one or more other devices. |
| US07872594B1 |
Radar-based terrain awareness warning system attenuation alert
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing attenuation alerts for a radar-based terrain warning.A method for providing radar-based terrain warning attenuation alerts may comprise: (a) receiving a radar return; (b) detecting a region of atmospheric disturbance limiting the range of the radar return; and (c) providing a notification of radar-based terrain awareness warning system attenuation in the region of atmospheric disturbance. |
| US07872592B2 |
Warning light
A warning light assembly includes a source of electrical power, an LED light source, electrical circuitry operably coupling the source of electrical power to the light source and a lens assembly. The lens assembly encloses the LED light source such that light from the source is directed outwardly from the lens assembly. The lens assembly is triangular in shape. In certain embodiments, the electrical power source includes a rechargeable battery and the assembly further comprises a solar panel operably connected to the rechargeable battery. A triangular lens assembly may be connected at a vertex to a housing which holds the electrical power source. The solar panel may be mounted on a peripheral surface of the lens assembly opposite the vertex. |
| US07872591B2 |
Display of non-linked EOT units having an emergency status
A head of train device is configured to examine messages received from end of train units other than the end of train unit attached to the same train and to alert an operator to the presence of an end of train unit from another train that indicates that the end of train unit from the other train has stopped. The indication can take the form of a zero brake pipe pressure. |
| US07872586B2 |
Power equipment
A power equipment includes a first internal abnormality detection apparatus comprising a first antenna accommodation pipe which is connected to a first connection pipe formed in a enclosed container and which accommodates a first antenna therein, and a first signal detection circuit which is connected to a first antenna and which detects an electromagnetic wave signal emitted when any abnormality has occurred within the enclosed container. |
| US07872585B2 |
Intruder deterrent system
A system and a method for operating an intruder deterrent system by which a smoke screen is generated in response to an intruder being detected, a smoke screen generator operatively linked to the intruder detecting. To achieve an intruder deterrent system that can operate for a longer period after interruption in the power supply, latent heat is stored in a heat storage, and smoke can be generated by transferring the latent heat from the heat storage to a liquid, which liquid is evaporated. The use of the heat storage has led to the unexpected result that the smoke generator can operate independently of power to the heating elements for a very long period. |
| US07872584B2 |
Analyzing smoke or other emissions with pattern recognition
A system and method for analyzing smoke or other emissions are provided. An image is analyzed and processed to identify characteristics associated with the emission, such as color, densities, dispersion rates, fuel mixture characteristics, and other suitable analysis factors. If the analysis indicates that abnormal conditions exist or that any user-defined alerts are warranted, a message is sent to an operator terminal. The system and method may continue to capture subsequent images and thus provide real-time data. The data may be stored in memory and collected over time. The data may be associated with a digital signature and used to create reports for company quality control boards, regulatory control agencies, and the public. The system and method thus provide a cost effective, reliable, and repeatable mechanism for real-time analysis of smoke stacks and other environmental changes. |
| US07872583B1 |
Methods and system for multi-path mitigation in tracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology
A method and system for a long range Radio Frequency (RF)-based identification, tracking and locating of objects. The method and system use a narrow bandwidth ranging signal(s), including VHF of lower frequency bands, which minimizes propagation loss and loss of accuracy of the RF locating signals. The method and system includes narrow bandwidth ranging signal multi-path mitigations processor, which further improves the track-locate accuracy. The signal is sent from a Master Unit(s) to a Tag. The signal traveling time is recorded and the distance between the Master(s) and the Tag is calculated. The method and system allow achieving a longer distance of the RF narrow bandwidth ranging signal penetration and an increased accuracy by using VHF bands in conjunction with the narrow bandwidth ranging signal multi-path mitigations processor. The techniques of Digital Signal Processing and Software-Defined Radio are used. The actual waveforms transmitted and received by the radios are defined by the software. The roles of the Master Unit(s) and the Tag can be reversed. |
| US07872577B2 |
Lock input device for a security system
A security system for monitoring a door movably disposed within a frame a lock adjustable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration and a lock sensor configured to generate a signal when the lock adjusts to the unlocked configuration. A door sensor is configured to generate a signal when the door displaces with respect to the frame and an alarm device is configured to provide an alarm. A control is coupleable with the lock and door sensors and is switchable between armed and disarmed modes. The control is configured to operate in the armed mode such that the control activates the alarm when the control receives the door sensor signal prior to a receipt of the lock sensor signal. Alternatively, the control switches to the disarmed mode when the control receives the lock sensor signal prior to a receipt of the door sensor signal. |
| US07872575B2 |
Homeland intelligence systems technology “H-List”
Homeland Intelligence Systems Technology “H-LIST” comprises nano-sensors embedded in a silicon substrate and etched/fused in a micro-fibered material. The silicon substrate is alloyed with miniaturized steel responsive to weapons, preventing bullet penetration and providing effective detection platform on an outfit. The outfit is operable for monitoring suspicious terrorist activities and for tracking biological and chemical gases, and explosives, including weapons of mass destruction and physiological conditions of personnel. Disclosed embodiments provide wearable detection apparatus comprising plurality sensors on an outfit configured to be worn by military personnel, an officer, a security officer, a bus driver, hostesses, Doctors, civil establishment hospital patients and the like, for protection and for sensing deadly gases, explosives, and physiological conditions in a defined area. A receptor is operatively configured and worn proximate to the outfit responsive detection signals. The receptor is communicatively connected to the sensors and operable for receiving/analyzing detection signal communications wirelessly indicative of the presence of a sensed agent, whereby detected signals are transported wirelessly to a central security monitoring station, providing communications to first responders. The communications could be reachable to backup security personnel or agents, prompting them to respond to the vicinity of the detection. The sensors are multifunctional and coded to recognize wavelike pattern of gases and explosives traveling through the wave. Embodiments provide the outfit and the receptor being operable to process the portion of the detection signal to determine the detection type and/or whether there is a concealed object by conducting a test in which a first characteristic of a first dielectric constant associated with a person is determined, and a second characteristic of a second dielectric constant associated with the concealed object and or weapons of mass destruction is determined to expedite data transmission and communication to first responders. |
| US07872574B2 |
Sensory enhancement systems and methods in personal electronic devices
Disclosed are personal electronic devices (PEDs) having a sensory enhancement (SE) system for monitoring environmental conditions and detecting environmental events, for example but not limited to, changes in acoustic, thermal, optical, electromagnetic, chemical, dynamic, wireless, atmospheric, or biometric conditions. The detection of such events can be used to invoke a notification, an alert, a corrective action, or some other action, depending upon the implementation to the PED user or another party. |
| US07872572B2 |
Method and system for vehicle mounted infrared wavelength information displays for traffic camera viewers
Systems and methods for vehicle mounted infrared wavelength information displays for traffic camera viewers are disclosed. A method includes obtaining vehicle positioning data associated with at least one vehicle and, based upon the vehicle positioning data, selectively emitting infrared wavelength light from a set of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on exterior surfaces of the at least one vehicle. |
| US07872571B2 |
Vehicle alarm device
The invention relates to a device for placement in a vehicle, comprising a housing, at least one lighting element, an acceleration and/or deceleration circuits and/or a moisture sensor, the device being arranged for operatively switching on the lighting element when the device, in particular the acceleration and/or deceleration circuit, experiences an acceleration or deceleration which exceeds a pre-set maximum value and/or if the device comes at least partly under water. |
| US07872565B2 |
Programmer protection method and apparatus for use with a movable barrier operator
When a movable barrier operator detects (101) a predetermined state with respect to a remote transmitter learning mode, the movable barrier operator can respond by temporarily requiring (103) at least a first programmer protection duration of time to pass before permitting the movable barrier operator to respond to a remote transmitter-sourced barrier movement control signal. By one approach this first programmer protection duration of time is longer than a loss-of-signal detection duration as characterizes the movable barrier operator. |
| US07872564B2 |
Integrated lateral short circuit for a beneficial modification of current distribution structure for xMR magnetoresistive sensors
The invention relates to a magnetoresistive device formed to sense an externally applied magnetic field, and a related method. The magnetoresistive device includes a magnetoresistive stripe formed over an underlying, metallic layer that is patterned to produce electrically isolated conductive regions over a substrate, such as a silicon substrate. An insulating layer separates the patterned metallic layer from the magnetoresistive stripe. A plurality of conductive vias is formed to couple the isolated regions of the metallic layer to the magnetoresistive stripe. The conductive vias form local short circuits between the magnetoresistive stripe and the isolated regions of the metallic layer to alter the uniformity of a current flow therein, thereby improving the position and angular sensing accuracy of the magnetoresistive device. In an advantageous embodiment, the metallic layer is formed as electrically conductive stripes oriented at approximately a 45° angle with respect to an axis of the magnetoresistive device. |
| US07872563B2 |
Variably porous structures
A method of making a monolithic porous structure, comprises electrodepositing a material on a template; removing the template from the material to form a monolithic porous structure comprising the material; and electropolishing the monolithic porous structure. |
| US07872554B2 |
Sealing device and rotation detector
A pulser ring and a second seal ring are separately formed. When a multipolar magnetic rotor of the pulser ring is bonded to an outer circumferential face of an outer cylindrical portion of an annular core portion, the multipolar magnetic rotor is opposed to a magnetic sensor in the radial direction. Due to the above structure, the multipolar magnetic rotor can be strongly supported by an outer cylindrical portion of the annular core portion. Therefore, even when a rotary centrifugal force is given to the multipolar magnetic rotor, it can not be swung in the radial direction. Accordingly, an interval of the multipolar magnetic rotor and the magnetic sensor in the radial direction, which are opposed to each other, can be maintained constant irrespective of an intensity of the centrifugal force. |
| US07872548B2 |
Antenna duplexer
An antenna duplexer is provided, which can be built with a smaller size and lower height than ever without compromising out-of-band attenuation characteristic and isolation characteristic between a transmit terminal and a receive terminal. The antenna duplexer includes a transmit filter provided between an antenna terminal and the transmit terminal, and a receive filter provided between the antenna terminal and the receive terminal. The filters are enclosed by a package, in which a ground pattern for the receive filter is separated from other ground patterns. |
| US07872547B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device includes an antenna module, a transceiving module, and a switch module. The antenna module includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The transceiving module includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The switch module switches different connections between the antenna module and the transceiving module, and includes a first single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch, a second SPDT switch, a third SPDT switch, a first duplexer, a second duplexer, and a double-pole-double-throw (DPDT) switch. |
| US07872545B2 |
Jumpless phase modulation in a polar modulation environment
The present disclosure relates to circuits and methods for improving the performance of a polar modulator by maintaining the input to a phase modulator. |
| US07872541B2 |
Inductor and capacitor-based clock generator and timing/frequency reference
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference comprising an LC oscillator with a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency. Such stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the oscillator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages. |
| US07872537B2 |
Surface-mount crystal oscillator
A surface-mount crystal oscillator includes: a crystal blank; an IC chip in which at least an oscillation circuit using the crystal blank is integrated, a plurality of IC terminals are provided on one principal surface, and a plurality of mounting terminals for surface mounting are provided on the other principal surface; and a housing member joined to the one principal surface of the IC chip and formed into a recessed shape. The crystal blank is fixed to crystal connection terminals out of the IC terminals, and is hermetically encapsulated in a space formed by the IC chip and the housing member. At least a power supply terminal, an output terminal and a ground terminal out of the IC terminals are electrically connected to the mounting terminals by a through-electrode provided to penetrate through the IC chip. |
| US07872535B2 |
Phase locked loop with capacitive loop filter
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes capacitive loop filter with selectable capacitive elements that are operable to adjust a signal level provided to a voltage controlled oscillator to control a frequency of an output signal of the oscillator. A plurality of switches are controlled by logic to define a discharge mode, a charge mode and charge sharing mode in which a plurality of capacitive elements share charge while generating the input voltage to the oscillator. |
| US07872534B2 |
Image signal amplifying circuit and amplifying semiconductor integrated circuit
An image signal amplifying circuit comprises: an amplifier circuit for amplifying an image signal; an output capacitor and a resistance, both being serially connected between an output node of the amplifier circuit and an output terminal; and a second-order high pass filter having a value of Q larger than one, the second-order high pass filter being provided at a preceding stage of the amplifier circuit, wherein distortion to correct a sag arising in a high pass filter on an output side, the high pass filter including the output capacitor and the resistance, is caused in the input image signal by a characteristic of the second-order high pass filter. |
| US07872528B2 |
Providing pre-distortion to an input signal
In one implementation, the present invention includes a diode device to receive an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal to be amplified in a gain device of an amplifier and to provide a pre-distorted signal. Based on this pre-distorted signal, the gain device can output an amplified RF signal having substantial linearity to the incoming RF signal. |
| US07872527B2 |
Power supply control system and method with variable post-regulation
A circuit, system and method determine the control voltage for a DC-DC converter. A control module determines a raw battery voltage and an operating temperature. It references a look up table to determine a voltage regulator control voltage based on the battery voltage and the operating temperature during normal operation. In some cases, the control module also uses a level of interference to determine the control voltage. |
| US07872524B2 |
Amplification circuit, amplification circuit noise reducing method and program thereof
[Problems] to provide a CMOS low-noise amplification circuit which can reduce a chip area and design time, and which is easy to be digital-controlled from outside. [Means For Solving the Problems] The amplification circuit includes; an amplification stage (12) which amplifies an input signal up to an intended value; a sample and hold circuit (13) which samples the output signal from the amplification stage (12) by sampling the output signal with a sampling frequency which is at least twice the frequency band of the output signal to convert the output signal to a discrete time signal; a moving average calculation unit (15) which selects and outputs a particular frequency from the discrete time signal outputted from the sample and hold circuit (13) by a moving average operation; and a smoothing filter (17) which smoothes the output signal from the moving average calculation unit (15) and feed it back to the input of the amplification stage (12). |
| US07872522B2 |
Noise reduction system and method for audio switching amplifier
Noise reduction for a switching amplifier system having a differential output stage and demodulator filter responsive to complementary PWM signals includes generating in-phase PWM signals and gradually adjusting their duty cycle between a low duty cycle and the full duty cycle of the complementary PWM signals, generating full duty cycle PWM signals and gradually shifting their relative phase between in-phase and out-of-phase; and in response to a turn-on signal, adjusting the in-phase PWM signals from low to full duty cycle and shifting the relative phase from in-phase to out-of-phase, and in response to a turn-off signal shifting the relative phase from out-of-phase to in-phase and adjusting the in-phase PWM signals from full to low duty cycle for maintaining balanced charge on the demodulation filter to reduce audible noise. |
| US07872521B2 |
CCD device and method of driving same
Disclosed is a CCD device in which a charge transfer register of a CCD structure is connected to a charge detector via an output gate and has a reset gate between the charge detector and a reset drain, and an output gate pulse opposite in phase from a reset pulse applied to the reset gate is applied to the output gate. A dummy charge detector and an amplitude adjusting circuit are provided. On the basis of detection of the potential of a diffusion layer in the dummy charge detector, the amplitude adjusting circuit controls the amplitude of the output gate pulse applied to the output gate. |
| US07872518B2 |
Circuit and method for detecting, whether a voltage difference between two voltages is below a desired voltage difference, and protection circuit
A circuit for detecting, whether a voltage difference is below a desired voltage difference comprises a voltage shift resistor, a current provider and a detection circuit. The current provider provides a current flowing through the voltage shift resistor such that the desired voltage difference across the voltage shift resistor is determined by a reference signal. The detection circuit is configured to compare a first voltage at a first input with a voltage at a second input to obtain a signal. The voltage shift resistor is coupled between a conductor for a second voltage and the second input, such that the voltage at the second input differs from the second voltage by the desired voltage difference, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to provide the signal, such that the signal indicates, whether the voltage difference between the first and the second voltage is below the desired voltage difference. |
| US07872516B2 |
Precision pulse generator
A pulse generator circuit. The pulse generator circuit includes a precharge circuit coupled to receive a clock signal alternating between a first logic level and a second logic level, a storage circuit having a storage node, wherein the precharge circuit is configured to precharge the storage node when the clock signal is at the first logic level, a logic circuit having an output, a first input node coupled to receive the clock signal, and a second input node coupled to the storage node and configured to produce a pulse at the second logic level responsive to the clock signal transitioning to the second logic level, and a discharge circuit configured to discharge the storage node at a predetermined delay time subsequent to the clock signal transitioning to the second logic level, wherein the output of the logic circuit transitions to the first logic level responsive to discharging the storage node. |
| US07872515B1 |
Phase interpolation device and slew rate control device thereof
A phase interpolation device and a slew rate control device thereof. The slew rate control device comprises a slew rate control circuit, source followers and a comparator. The slew rate control circuit receives clock signals and a control signal, and adjusts slew rate of the clock signals according to the control signal. The source followers each comprise an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminals of the source followers are coupled to the slew rate control circuit to receive the adjusted clock signals, respectively. The output terminals of the source followers are connected together at a node. The comparator has a first input terminal coupled to the node, a second input terminal receiving a voltage reference, and an output terminal providing the control signal for the slew rate control circuit. The setting of the voltage reference is dependent on the desired slew rate of the adjusted clock signals. |
| US07872512B2 |
Robust time borrowing pulse latches
Configurable time-borrowing flip-flops may be based on configurable pulse generation circuitry and pulse latches. The circuitry may use a self-timed architecture that controls the width of clock pulses that are generated so that the pulse latches that are controlled by the clock pulses exhibit a reduced risk of race through conditions. Latch circuitry may be provided that is based on a pulse latch and an additional latch connected in series with the pulse latch. In situations in which there is a potential for race through conditions on an integrated circuit, the additional latch may be switched into use to convert the latch circuitry into an edge-triggered flip flop. Clock trees may be provide with configurable shorting structures that help to reduce clock skew. Low-contention clock drivers may drive signals onto the clock tree paths. |
| US07872508B2 |
Delay locked loop circuit
A delay locked loop circuit includes a delay locking block configured to delay an input clock and output the delayed input clock as an internal clock to compensate a skew of an external clock and the internal clock, a pulse generating block configured to sequentially output a plurality of pulse signals that control an operation of the delay locking block and enable one of the plurality of pulse signals in response to a detection signal, wherein the plurality of pulse signals is shifted by being synchronized with the input clock, and a pulse detecting block configured to output the detection signal in case all of the plurality of pulse signals are disabled. |
| US07872502B2 |
Defect-and-failure-tolerant demultiplexer using series replication and error-control encoding
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for constructing defect-and-failure-tolerant demultiplexers. This method is applicable to nanoscale, microscale, or larger-scale demultiplexer circuits. Demultiplexer circuits can be viewed as a set of AND gates, each including a reversibly switchable interconnection between a number of address lines, or address-line-derived signal lines, and an output signal line. Each reversibly switchable interconnection includes one or more reversibly switchable elements. In certain demultiplexer embodiments, NMOS and/or PMOS transistors are employed as reversibly switchable elements. In the method that represents one embodiment of the present invention, two or more serially connected transistors are employed in each reversibly switchable interconnection, so that short defects in up to one less than the number of serially interconnected transistors does not lead to failure of the reversibly switchable interconnection. In addition, error-control-encoding techniques are used to introduce additional address-line-derived signal lines and additional switchable interconnections so that the demultiplexer may function even when a number of individual, switchable interconnections are open-defective. |
| US07872493B2 |
Calibration circuit
In a calibration control circuit, a first clock gate circuit restricts passage of reference update clocks during a calibration period so as to stop a first one of the reference update clocks and supplies the restricted reference update clocks as first update clocks CLK1 to both a hit determination circuit and a second clock gate circuit. The second clock gate circuit 110 passes through the first update clocks CLK1 until reception of a hit signal from the hit determination circuit and delivers second update clocks CLK2 to an up/down counter 106. The up/down counter 106 is operated by the second update clocks CLK2. With this structure, the second update clocks used for adjustment steps can be increased in number during the calibration period. |
| US07872489B2 |
Radiation induced fault analysis
A method of locating a defect of a failed semiconductor device which includes applying a test pattern to the failed semiconductor device and providing failed semiconductor device test responses as a pass signature, applying radiation to each of multiple locations of circuitry of a correlation semiconductor device with sufficient energy to induce a fault in the circuitry, applying the test pattern to the correlation semiconductor device while the radiation is applied to the location and comparing correlation semiconductor device test responses with the pass signature for each location, and determining a defect location of the failed semiconductor device in which correlation semiconductor device test responses at least nearly match the pass signature. The radiation may be a laser beam. The method may include determining an exact match or a near match based on a high correlation result. Asynchronous scanning may be used to provide timing information. |
| US07872486B2 |
Wing-shaped support members for enhancing semiconductor probes and methods to form the same
Example wing-shaped support members for enhancing semiconductor device probes and methods to form the same are disclosed. A disclosed example semiconductor device probe includes a finger having a first end and a second end. The example probe further includes a tip having a base and a pointed end. The base is joined to the first end of the finger and the tip tapers from the base to the pointed end. The probe also includes a support member on the tip to increase a rigidity of the tip. |
| US07872483B2 |
Circuit board having bypass pad
An electronic device having a printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a plurality of external pads to be coupled with an external device and a plurality of bypass pads for testing an electric circuit. The external pads are exposed and at least one of the plurality of bypass pads are not exposed from an outer surface of the PCB. A system using the electronic device and a method of testing an electronic device are also provided. |
| US07872482B2 |
High density interconnect system having rapid fabrication cycle
An improved interconnection system and method is described, such as for connectors, socket assemblies and/or probe card systems. An exemplary system comprises a probe card interface assembly (PCIA) for establishing electrical connections to a semiconductor wafer mounted in a prober. The PCIA comprises a motherboard parallel to the semiconductor wafer having an upper surface and an opposing lower planar mounting surface, a reference plane defined by a least three points located between the lower surface of the motherboard and the wafer, at least one component located below the motherboard mounting surface, and a mechanism for adjusting the planarity of the reference plane with respect to the wafer. A probe chip having a plurality of spring probes extending there from is mountable and demountable from the PCIA, without the need for further planarity adjustment. The interconnection structures and methods preferably provide improved fabrication cycles. |
| US07872478B2 |
Method and adaptive distance protection relay for power transmission lines
A method and an adaptive distance protection relay for compensating for a remote line end infeed effect during determination of a distance to a resistive fault on a three-phase power transmission line. It is assumed that a fault current flows through the fault resistance. A fault loop impedance is first calculated by a known algorithm from phase voltages and phase currents. A shift of the fault loop impedance is determined from the fault loop impedance, the impedance of the transmission line for the positive current sequence and the phase angle of a complex fault current distribution factor, where the fault current distribution factor is the ratio of the fault loop current to the fault current. The distance to fault is calculated by subtracting the impedance shift from the fault loop impedance and dividing the result by the impedance of the transmission line for the positive current sequence. |
| US07872474B2 |
Magnetic resonance based apparatus and method to analyze and to measure the bi-directional flow regime in a transport or a production conduit of complex fluids, in real time and real flow-rate
An apparatus and a method is provided based on the Magnetic Resonance techniques to analyze and measure a uni- and/or a bi-directional flow regime of multiphase fluids in a transport and production conduct, in real time and flow-rates, based on a magnetic resonance analytical module, two magnetic prepolarization modules of variable effective length and a control computer of data acquisition and transfer, all associated to each other. |
| US07872472B2 |
Eddy current testing apparatus and eddy current testing method
An eddy current testing method for a turbine rotor including a disc, a plurality of turbine blades disposed along the periphery of the disc, and a plurality of pins for joining a blade fork portion formed on each of the plurality of turbine blades to a disc fork portion formed on the disc, the method including inserting a probe having an eddy current testing sensor into a hole formed through the disc fork portion and the blade fork portion by pulling out one of the plurality of pins in a state that the blade fork portion is still inserted into the disc fork portion; and performing eddy current testing for at least part of an internal surface of the hole by using the probe. |
| US07872471B2 |
Testing method of head element and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus capable of head evaluating
Provided is a method for testing a head element that enables proper evaluation of the head element based on a characteristic of the head element under high-temperature and high-stress conditions. The testing method can be performed on a thin-film magnetic head including a head element and a heating element capable of applying a heat and stress to the head element, or performed on a row bar or a substrate wafer on which a plurality of the head elements and a plurality of the heating elements are disposed. The testing method comprises the steps of: causing the heating element to generate heat to apply a heat and stress to the head element; and measuring a characteristic of the head element under the heat and stress to evaluate the head element. |
| US07872468B2 |
Optically measuring electric field intensities
An apparatus includes an optical resonator and a passive optical device. The optical resonator has first and second optical reflectors and an optical cavity interposed between the reflectors. The optical resonator includes an electro-optically responsive material. One of the reflectors is a distributed Bragg reflector. A passive optical device is configured to direct light through the first optical reflector. The optical resonator is configured to return a portion of the light through the first reflector. |
| US07872466B2 |
Resistive particle sensors having measuring electrodes
A sensor for determining the concentration of particles in gases, in particular of soot particles, has at least one substrate element, and a measuring area between at least one first and one second measuring electrode, the two measuring electrodes being configured so that by applying a voltage between the measuring electrodes, an asymmetric electric field is formed on the measuring area. The sides of the first and second measuring electrodes, facing one another, may not be parallel to one another, for example. Furthermore, at least one measuring electrode may have a structure along the side facing the other measuring electrode or along the finger electrodes. |
| US07872459B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and regulator using it
A semiconductor integrated circuit device (IC1) comprises a semiconductor chip (CHIP1), a first frame lead (FR1), and a second frame lead (FR2). The semiconductor chip (CHIP1) includes common-base transistors (P1, P2), pads (T11, T12) connected to the respective emitters of the common-base transistors (P1, P2), pads (T21, T22) connected to the respective collectors of the common-base transistors (P1, P2), and a means (DRV, ERR, E1) for generating a base signal. The pads (T11, T12) are connected through the respective bonding wires (W11, W12) to the first frame lead (FR1). The pads (T21, T22) are connected through the respective bonding wires (W21, W22) to the second frame lead (FR2). This structure can easily detect breaking of the bonding wires connected in parallel. |
| US07872458B2 |
DC-to-DC converter
A DC-to-DC converter includes a DC-to-DC conversion unit for converting an input voltage into an output voltage by switching operation of the switching element according to a drive signal and supplying the output voltage to a load and a control unit for generating the drive signal. The control unit includes a determination circuit for determining whether the load is in a normal operation state or a standby state, an error amplifier for generating an error signal according to the output voltage, a first drive-signal generator for generating a pulse sequence of pulses each having a pulse width according to the error signal, and a second drive-signal generator for generating a pulse having a pulse width larger than a cycle of repetition of the pulses in the pulse sequence when the voltage according to the output voltage falls below the reference voltage and the load is in the standby state. |
| US07872452B2 |
Battery pack capacity adjusting device and method
A battery pack capacity adjusting device for adjusting a capacity of a battery pack having a plurality of secondary cells includes a control circuit board and a control section. The control circuit board is installable in the battery pack, and includes a capacity adjusting section to be electrically connected to the secondary cells to adjust a capacity of each of the secondary cells. The control section is configured to determine a number of the secondary cells whose capacities are adjustable together based on a relationship between a heat radiation amount of the control circuit board and a heat emission amount of the capacity adjusting section, and to control the capacity adjusting section to adjust the capacities of the number of the secondary cells that were determined to be adjustable together. |
| US07872449B2 |
Industrial truck with a battery and method for operating an industrial truck with a battery
The invention relates to an industrial truck with at least one drive battery and at least one apparatus (A) for determining the state of charge of the battery and to a method for operating such an industrial truck. The apparatus (A) for determining the state of charge of the battery includes a device (B) for determining the dynamic internal resistance and a device (C) for determining the internal cell voltage of the battery with the aid of the dynamic internal resistance. |
| US07872444B2 |
Opportunistic power supply charge system for portable unit
Systems and methods for opportunistically charging a rechargeable power source of a portable electronic unit are provided. The system includes a primary inductance assembly energized by a main power source for inducing an electro-magnetic flux in a secondary coil assembly associated with a power source of the portable unit. Such electro-magnetic flux creates an electric current that is subsequently employed for charging the power source of the portable unit. A controller of the charging system can monitor state of charge, and notify a user when a recharge is required. Scavenging modes may also be employed for recharging the main power source and the rechargeable source of the portable unit. |
| US07872442B2 |
Apparatus for charging a battery of a portable electronic device
A power source (212) is disclosed for charging a battery (330) within a portable electronic device (310). An apparatus (422), such as a photovoltaic or thermoelectric cell, for charging the battery (330) is disposed contiguous to and within a transparent housing (412) of the portable electronic device (310). A fluorescent species (416), such as quantum dots or a fluorescent dye, is disposed on a side of the housing (412) opposed to the apparatus (422). Light (430) striking the fluorescent species (416) is converted into photons (432, 434) having a narrower spectrum that passes through the housing (412) to the apparatus (422). An optional layer (418) may be disposed on the fluorescent species (416) that reflects light from the fluorescent species (416) to the apparatus (422). Photonic crystals (415) may be combined with the fluorescent species (416) to increase reflectivity. |
| US07872441B2 |
Systems and methods for operating Z-source inverter inductors in a continuous current mode
Systems, apparatus, and methods for operating inductors in a Z-source inverter in a continuous current mode are provided. One system includes an AC motor, a Z-source inverter, and a processor. The inverter is configured to provide current and reactive power to the AC motor. The processor is configured to monitor the current and instruct the inverter to provide a greater amount of reactive power to the AC motor if the current is below/equal to a threshold amount. An apparatus includes means for determining if current produced by the inverter is below/equal to a threshold amount, and means for altering voltage commands supplied to the inverter so that an AC motor is induced to draw additional reactive power. One method includes determining if a plurality of inductors are providing a threshold current amount, and inducing a motor to draw more reactive power if the current is below/equal to the threshold amount. |
| US07872439B2 |
Motor driving apparatus
A controller for a motor driving apparatus switches a direction of electricity flowing through a first coil according to a first lead angle signal obtained based on a first magnetic pole detecting signal and a second magnetic pole detecting signal. The controller switches a direction of electricity flowing through a second coil according to a second lead angle signal obtained based on the first magnetic pole detecting signal and the second magnetic pole detecting signal. Thus, a motor driving apparatus can be configured such that the angle of the rotation center of the rotor with respect to two magnetically sensitive poles can freely be selected. |
| US07872437B2 |
Method for position and/or speed control of a linear drive
A method for position and/or speed control of a linear drive utilizing a converter having a control unit and being coupled to a motor of the linear drive. The method includes determining, in a sensor-free manner, a motor position, generating a motor position signal, generating an acceleration signal utilizing an MEMS accelerometer provided in the control unit and arranged on a moving part of the linear drive, mathematically converting the motor position signal and the acceleration signal to a speed signal, and utilizing the speed signal to control the linear drive. |
| US07872435B2 |
Motor control apparatus
A motor control apparatus provided with an inverter for successively commutating the current to a motor using a PWM signal; a PWM signal generating device for generating the PWM signal using a carrier signal; a rotational state quantity sensor for detecting a rotational state quantity; a phase difference detecting device for detecting the phase difference between the carrier signal and the rotational period based on the rotational state quantity; a frequency setting device for setting a frequency of the carrier signal to a value in accordance with a multiplier for one period in terms of electrical angle of the rotational period of the motor, when the rotational frequency is equal to or greater than a specified frequency and the phase difference is equal to or less than a specified value; and a synchronizing device for synchronizing a control period of the carrier signal to the rotational period. |
| US07872434B2 |
Electric motor
An electronically commutated electric motor (110) has a permanent-magnet rotor (28), a stator having a stator winding arrangement (40), a motor control module (20) implemented as an IC and having a control logic unit (27), and an external power stage (50), separate from the IC, for influencing the current flow in the stator winding arrangement (40). The motor control module (20) has an internal power stage (29) having at least one open collector output (21, 23). The control logic unit (27) is configured to process a rotor position signal (24′, 24″) and to generate therefrom control signals (27′) for the internal power stage (29), which control signals (27′) serve to apply control to the internal power stage (29). Using an external power stage (50) reduces vulnerability to motor overheating and provides design flexibility. |
| US07872433B2 |
Bridge driver circuit with integrated charge pump
Bridge driver circuit with integrated charge pump is disclosed. One embodiment provides a driving circuit section of a charge pump capacitor being formed with power switch components and/or diodes of a bridge circuit section. |
| US07872429B2 |
Multiple location load control system
A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle. |
| US07872426B2 |
Ballast protecting device
A ballast protecting device is connected between an AC input voltage and a ballasted lamp. The device includes a voltage sensing block, a current sensing block, a pulse forming block, a switch block, and a micro-controller unit (MCU). The pulse forming block converts positive half cycles of the voltage and current provided by the voltage and current sensing blocks to square wave pulses, and the MCU performs a phase angle comparison between generated pulses. Upon lamp malfunction, ballast current is phase shifted. Current may also be phase shifted when there is a radical change in the input voltage. As a trend of the phase shift between current and voltage is determined by the MCU, a ballast disconnect decision is made, and the MCU actuates the switch block to disconnect the connected ballast and malfunctioning lamp. |
| US07872425B2 |
Light source driving device
A light source driving device includes a power stage circuit, a first transformer circuit, a second transformer circuit, and a feedback control circuit. The power stage circuit converts a received signal to an alternating current (AC) signal, which includes a synchronizing switching bridge arm, a first bridge arm, and a second bridge arm. The synchronizing switching bridge arm has a Soft-Switching function, and forms a first full-bridge circuit with the first bridge arm and forms a second full-bridge circuit with the second bridge arm. The first transformer circuit is connected to the first full-bridge circuit, for converting the AC signal. The second transformer circuit is connected to the second full-bridge circuit, for converting the AC signal. The feedback control circuit is connected between the light source module and the power stage circuit, for controlling output of the power stage circuit. |
| US07872424B2 |
Lighting apparatus with current feedback
A lighting apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources, a power conversion circuit, a plurality of load-driving coils and a feedback generation coil. The power conversion circuit generates a driving signal for the load-driving coils to generate substantially identical driving currents for driving every light source. Furthermore, the feedback generation coil generates a feedback signal based on the inductions of the currents flowing though the plurality of load driving coils. |
| US07872420B2 |
Ceramic metal halide lamp having rated lamp wattage between 450 W and 1500W without flicker
In a metal halide lamp having a rated lamp wattage of greater than or equal to 450 W, which includes: a translucent ceramic arc tube enclosure including: a main tube inside which a discharge space is formed; and two narrow tubes having smaller diameter than the main tube, each connected to either end of the main tube; two electrodes; and a metal halide provided inside the arc tube enclosure, in which one of the two electrodes is disposed so that it protrudes inside the main tube from inside of one of the two narrow tubes, and the other one of the two electrodes is disposed so that it protrudes inside the main tube from the other one of the two narrow tubes, and when the rated lamp wattage is denoted by W (watt), an inside diameter of the main tube by D (mm), an electrode protruding length which is the distance from boundary between the main tube and the narrow tubes to an end of the electrode by L (mm), and the distance between ends of the two electrodes by E (mm), a bulb wall loading G (watt/cm2) represented by G=W/(3.14×D×E×0.01) falls within the range of 15≦G≦40, and a relationship 0.32≦L/D≦0.0003×W+0.465 is established. |
| US07872417B2 |
Glass-sealed light emitting element, circuit board with the glass-sealed light emitting element, and methods for manufacturing those
A diode chip is sealed by a glass material.There are provided a light emitting diode chip and a glass member in close contact with at least one portion of the surface of the light emitting diode chip. The glass member has a surface shape containing a curved surface at least a portion thereof. The curved surface is preferably a portion of a spherical surface or a spheroidal surface. The glass member has a surface shape containing a spherical portion and a flat portion, and the diode chip is preferably disposed on the flat portion. |
| US07872415B2 |
Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display is disclosed. The organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a thin film transistor positioned on the substrate, a planarization layer positioned on the thin film transistor, an emission unit, and a passivation layer. The emission unit is positioned on the planarization layer and electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The passivation layer is positioned on the substrate to cover an edge portion of the planarization layer. |
| US07872413B2 |
Organic light emitting display device provided with an organic layer including an amorphous molybdenum oxide layer and a crystal molybdenum oxide layer
One embodiment of the present invention is an organic electroluminescence element including an anode which is a hole injection electrode; a cathode which is an electron injection electrode, the cathode facing the anode; an organic light emitting layer between the anode and the cathode, the organic light emitting layer including a molybdenum oxide layer, the molybdenum oxide layer including a crystal molybdenum oxide and an amorphous molybdenum oxide, and the crystal molybdenum oxide and the amorphous molybdenum oxide being mixed or stacked. |
| US07872412B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and electronic device
An organic electroluminescent device is provided. The organic electroluminescent device includes an array substrate having a white sub-pixel region and an organic electro-luminescent multi-layer structure is disposed on the white sub-pixel region of the array substrate. The organic electro-luminescent multi-layer structure comprises a bottom electrode. The bottom electrode has a thinner first portion and a thicker second portion for providing a wavelength shift of light in different directions. |
| US07872410B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitter
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element, a substrate with a flat mounting surface for mounting the light emitting element thereon, a sealing part for the light emitting element on the mounting surface of the substrate. The sealing part is formed of glass including a phosphor to be excited by light emitted from the light emitting element to radiate a wavelength conversion light. The sealing part is shaped like a rectangular solid wherein a lateral length is defined as a distance between a center of a bottom surface of the sealing part bonded to the mounting surface and a side face perpendicular to the mounting surface, a vertical length is defined as a distance between the mounting surface and a top surface of the sealing part, and at least one of the lateral length is longer than the vertical length. The device further includes a transparent member formed on the top surface of the sealing part. The transparent member includes the phosphor at a concentration higher than the sealing part. |
| US07872408B2 |
Field-emission-based flat light source
A field-emission-based flat light source includes the following: a light-permeable substrate; a plurality of line-shaped cathodes; an anode; a light-reflecting layer; and a fluorescent layer. The light-permeable substrate has a surface, and the line-shaped cathodes, with a plurality of carbon nanotubes formed and/or deposited thereon, are located on the surface of the light-permeable substrate. The anode faces the cathodes and is spaced from the cathodes to form a vacuum chamber. The light-reflecting layer is formed on the anode and faces the cathode. The fluorescent layer is formed on the light-reflecting layer. |
| US07872407B2 |
Field emission cathode having successive and oriented carbon nanotube bundles
A field emission cathode includes a conductive substrate and a carbon nanotube film disposed on a surface of the conductive substrate. The carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of successive and oriented carbon nanotube bundles parallel to the conductive substrate, the carbon nanotubes partially extrude from the carbon nanotube film. A method for fabricating the field emission cathode includes the steps of: (a) providing a conductive substrate; (b) providing at least one carbon nanotube film, the carbon nanotube film including a plurality of successive and oriented carbon nanotube bundles joined end to end, the carbon nanotube bundles parallel to the conductive substrate, and (c) disposing the at least one carbon nanotube film to the conductive substrate to achieve the field emission cathode. |
| US07872406B2 |
Apparatus and process for generating, accelerating and propagating beams of electrons and plasma
An apparatus and a process for generating, accelerating and propagating beams of electrons and plasma at high density, the apparatus comprising: a first dielectric tube, which contains gas; a hollow cathode, which is connected to said first dielectric tube; a second dielectric tube, which is connected to said hollow cathode and protrudes inside, and is connected to, a deposition chamber; an anode, which is arranged around said second dielectric tube, in an intermediate position; means for applying voltage to said cathode and said anode; means for evacuating the gas from the chamber; and means for spontaneous conversion of gas in the first dielectric tube into plasma. |
| US07872394B1 |
MEMS device with two axes comb drive actuators
In certain embodiments, a MEMS actuator is provided comprising a frame and a movable structure coupled to the frame. A vertical comb drive is provided between the frame and the movable structure to actuate the movable structure. |
| US07872386B2 |
Motor
A motor includes a stator core that forms a magnetic path and has a plurality of tooth parts along a circumferential direction; a tooth provided in each tooth part to wind a coil there around; and an extension part alternated with the tooth part along a circumferential direction of the stator core, convexly extending to an inner radial direction. |
| US07872383B2 |
Power interconnecting part for electrical rotating machine
A power interconnection piece for a rotary electrical machine, wherein the power interconnection piece comprises at least one power track provided with electrical power terminals intended to cooperate with a power track of at least one electronic module so as to distribute electrical power to the electronic module, the electronic module being integrated on the rotary electrical machine and wherein the power interconnection piece comprises a base plate made from insulating material that at least partially overmolds the power track. |
| US07872382B2 |
Regulator unit and generator
A regulator unit, in particular for varying an exciter current, preferably for generators of motor vehicles, is proposed, having a housing (13), in which the housing (13) has a wiper contact mounting region (16) with a guide (19) and wiper contacts (22) seated therein, having a regulator housing portion (25), in which an electronic controller unit and a regulator heat sink (28) are received, having a plug element (31) for electrically connecting the regulator unit (10) to external contact elements, and in which the regulator unit (10) has a first through opening (34) and a second through opening (37), by means of which openings the regulator unit (10) can be fastened to a housing (40) by means of two bolt elements (34). It is provided that the regulator heat sink (28) is located between the wiper contact mounting region (16) and the plug element (31). |
| US07872381B2 |
Counter-rotating axial-flow fan
A counter-rotating axial-flow fan is provided that is capable of increasing effect of cooling a stator. One or more through-holes 83 penetrating support frame bodies (21, 75) in the axial direction are formed in support frame bodies 21 and 75. One or more vent holes 57a for introducing air, sucked from a suction port 19, into a cup-like member 51 are formed in a bottom wall portion 57 of a cup-like member 51 of a first impeller 9. One or more vent holes 111a for discharging air, introduced into an internal space of a second motor 61, to the outside are formed in a bottom wall portion 111 of a cup-like member 105 of a second impeller 63. |
| US07872379B2 |
Integrated electric power distribution center fire protection system
An electrical distribution control system for a vehicle such as an aircraft may be provided fire-suppression protection without requiring that all control elements are located in a fire-containment enclosure. A primary electric load center (ECL) may be located in a fire-containment equipment bay. Secondary power control centers (SPC's) may be located away from the equipment bay and close to set of loads which are controlled by the SPC's. Each SPC may be provided with a fire detecting sensor that may signal the ECL to interrupt input power to the SPC in the event of a fire in the SPC. The SPC may be constructed from self-extinguishing material. In an absence of input power to the SPC, a fire may self extinguish, thus preventing flame propagation or production of excessive external heat. |
| US07872373B2 |
Device for supplying uninterruptible power
The invention relates to uninterruptible power supply devices which make it possible to supply emergency power to a load, which is to be supplied, in the event of mains failure. The invention is based on the object of providing a device for supplying uninterruptible power, which device can be operated in a more energy-saving manner and in which the emergency power can be controlled in a rapid and safe manner. To this end, the uninterruptible power supply device has a power transistor which can be rapidly switched and can be used to connect a standby power source to the output connections during emergency power operation. The output current can also be dynamically limited by driving the power transistor, which can be rapidly switched, in a corresponding manner. In addition, the input and output of the UPS device are decoupled using a field effect transistor that acts as a power transistor. |
| US07872370B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device disposed in a car is provided. The portable electronic device includes a power switch, a vibration sensor and a controller. The power switch is used for providing a first power at a first state and providing a second power at a second state. The vibration sensor is used for outputting a vibration signal after sensing the vibration of the car. The vibration sensor is used for terminating the output of vibration signal when not sensing the vibration of the car. The controller is electrically connected to the vibration sensor and the power switch. When the controller receives the vibration signal, the controller controls the power switch to be at the first state and provide the first power. When the controller does not receive the vibration signal, the controller controls the power switch to be at the second state and provide the second power. |
| US07872369B2 |
Balanced bridge electric gear-shifting mechanism
A balanced bridge electric gear-shifting mechanism comprises a signal input stage, a balanced bridge circuit and a signal output stage. The mechanism, by means of inputting different up and down gear signals to enact an analog gear-shifting apparatus to generate different voltage potentials, effectively improves the drawbacks of wrong gear shifting induced by a conventional digital gear shifting apparatus for wrongly touching the up and down shifting gear, so as to reduce the gear-shifting duration, enhance the gear-shifting smoothness, and enhance the system reliability and stability. |
| US07872368B2 |
Intelligent energy management architecture
Systems and methods are disclosed for a power control system including intelligent devices. A vehicle power control system includes a power supply configured to supply a first quantity of power to at least one device configured to consume power based on a first power demand. The vehicle power control system also includes an intelligent device configured to determine a second power demand for the intelligent device during a vehicle operation. The vehicle power control system also includes an energy management system. The energy management system is configured to communicate with the at least one the intelligent device regarding the second power demand of the at least one intelligent device to coordinate scheduling of power distribution during the vehicle operation in order to generate a power distribution schedule to account for the first power demand of the at least one device and the second power demand of the at least one intelligent device. The energy management system directs the first quantity of power to the at least one device according to the first power demand of the at least one device and directs a second quantity of power to the at least one intelligent device according to the power distribution schedule. |
| US07872366B2 |
System and method for generating electricity
A method of generating electricity including the steps of providing a system including a vertical oriented tower having an intake opening, a scoop that is moveably mounted to a base, the scoop being in fluid communication with the intake opening of the tower, a fluid-activated mechanism that is automatically oriented in response to direction of fluid flow, the fluid-activated mechanism being operatively connected to the scoop so that orientation of the fluid-activated mechanism in response to the fluid flow angles the scoop in the direction of the fluid flow, and one or more turbines that receive the fluid flow directed by the scoop to generate electricity. The fluid-activated mechanism is oriented in response to the fluid flow. The scoop is angled based on the oriented fluid-activated mechanism so that the fluid flows into the scoop. The fluid is directed through the scoop into the intake opening of the tower and through the tower towards the one or more turbines for generation of electricity. |
| US07872361B2 |
Vehicle integrated dead battery backup starting system
A system to a provide a power supply that converts mechanical energy stored in a structure (such as a coil, spiral, or gas spring), to electrical energy to power a vehicle starter motor. After a motorist inputs mechanical energy into the structure (e.g., stresses or winds the spring or compresses a gas), the mechanical energy is released to exert, preferably through a coupled gear mechanism, mechanical energy on a device (such as a generator, dynamo, alternator, or other electrical generating device) that converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Such a feature allows for electrical energy to be available to power a vehicle starter motor and thus start a vehicle's engine even when the normal battery is weak or dead. |
| US07872356B2 |
Die stacking system and method
Die stacking systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a die has a surface that includes a passivation area, at least one conductive bond pad area, and a conductive stacked die receiving area sized to receive at least a second die. |
| US07872354B2 |
High voltage-resistant semiconductor device and method of manufacturing high voltage-resistant semiconductor device
High voltage-resistant semiconductor devices adapted to control threshold voltage by utilizing threshold voltage variation caused by plasma damage resulting from the formation of multilayer wiring, and a manufacturing method thereof. Exemplary high voltage-resistant semiconductor devices include a plurality of MOS transistors having gate insulating films not less than about 350 Å in thickness on a silicon substrate, and the MOS transistors have different area ratios between gate electrode-gate insulating film contact areas and total opening areas of contacts formed on the gate electrodes. |
| US07872349B2 |
Integrated coolant circuit arrangement, operating method and production method
An integrated circuit arrangement and method of fabricating the integrated circuit arrangement is provided. At least one integrated electronic component is arranged at a main area of a substrate. The component is arranged in the substrate or is isolated from the substrate by an electrically insulating region. Main channels are formed in the substrate and arranged along the main area. Each main channel is completely surrounded by the substrate transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis. Transverse channels are arranged transversely with respect to the main channels. Each transverse channel opens into at least one main channel. More than about ten transverse channels open into a main channel. |
| US07872347B2 |
Larger than die size wafer-level redistribution packaging process
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for integrated circuit packages, and processes for forming the same, are provided. In one example, an integrated circuit (IC) package includes an integrated circuit die, a layer of insulating material, a redistribution interconnect on the layer of insulating material, and a ball interconnect. The integrated circuit die has a plurality of terminals on a first surface. The insulating material covers the first surface of the die and fills a space adjacent to one or more sides of the die. The redistribution interconnect has a first portion coupled to a terminal of the die through the first layer, and a second portion that extends away from the first portion over the insulating material filling the space adjacent to the die. The ball interconnect is coupled to the second portion of the redistribution interconnect. |
| US07872346B1 |
Power plane and land pad feature to prevent human metal electrostatic discharge damage
An IC package includes an IC die mounted on a substrate that includes an ESD protection structure formed within the substrate to dissipate any charge accumulation associated with the package's no-connect pins resulting from human body model ESD and/or voltage spikes during package testing. For some embodiments, the ESD protection structure includes a resistive element formed in the substrate between the no-connect pin and a power plane. For other embodiments, the ESD protection structure includes a conductive ring formed in the substrate and laterally surrounding the land pad of the no-connect pin. |
| US07872343B1 |
Dual laminate package structure with embedded elements
An interconnect structure (i.e., an interposer) which is mounted and electrically connected to a bottom semiconductor package substrate either prior or subsequent to such bottom substrate being populate with one or more electronic components. Subsequently, a top semiconductor package substrate which may also be populated with one or more electronic components is mounted to the interposer, such that all of the electronic components are disposed between the top and bottom interposers. Thereafter, a suitable mold compound is injected between the top and bottom substrates, the mold compound flowing about the electronic components, between the BGA joints, and at least partially about the interposer, thus helping to lock the interposer in place in the completed semiconductor package. |
| US07872340B2 |
Integrated circuit package system employing an offset stacked configuration
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit package system includes: providing a base package including a first integrated circuit coupled to a base substrate by an electrical interconnect formed on one side; and mounting an offset package over the base package, the offset package electrically coupled to the base substrate via a system interconnect. |
| US07872339B2 |
Vertically stacked pre-packaged integrated circuit chips
Prepackaged chips, such a memory chips, are vertically stacked and bonded together with their terminals aligned. The exterior lead frames are removed including that portion which extends into the packaging. The bonding wires are now exposed on the collective lateral surface of the stack. In those areas where no bonding wire was connected to the lead frame, a bare insulative surface is left. A contact layer is disposed on top of the stack and vertical metalizations defined on the stack to connect the ends of the wires to the contact layer and hence to contact pads on the top surface of the contact layer. The vertical metalizations are arranged and configured to connect all commonly shared terminals of the chips, while the control and data input/output signals of each chip are separately connected to metalizations, which are disposed in part on the bare insulative surface. |
| US07872337B2 |
Semiconductor device having a flexible board for connection to a semiconductor chip mounted on an insulating substrate
One of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device, which includes a case, and an insulating substrate provided within the case. It also includes a plurality of semiconductor chips mounted on the insulating substrate, each of which has a first chip electrode for receiving a control signal, and a flexible board supported by the case, which includes a body portion and a plurality of lead portions extending from the body portion. Each of the first chip electrodes is electrically connected with the respective one of the lead portions. |
| US07872333B2 |
Layer system comprising a silicon layer and a passivation layer, method for production a passivation layer on a silicon layer and the use of said system and method
A layer system is described including a silicon layer and a passivation layer which is applied at least regionally to the silicon layer's surface, the passivation layer having a first, at least largely inorganic partial layer and a second partial layer, the second partial layer being made of an organic compound including silicon or containing such a material. In particular, the second partial layer is structured in the form of a “self-assembled monolayer.” Furthermore, a method is described for creating a passivation layer on a silicon layer, a first, inorganic partial layer being created on the silicon layer and a second partial layer, containing an organic compound including silicon or being made thereof, being created at least in certain areas on the first partial layer. Both partial layers form the passivation layer. The described layer system or the described method is particularly suited for creating self-supporting structures in silicon. |
| US07872332B2 |
Interconnect structures for stacked dies, including penetrating structures for through-silicon vias, and associated systems and methods
Interconnect structures for stacked dies, including penetrating structures for through-silicon vias, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first semiconductor substrate having a first substrate material, and a penetrating structure carried by the first semiconductor substrate. The system further includes a second semiconductor substrate having a second substrate material with a preformed recess. The penetrating structure of the first semiconductor substrate is received in the recess of the second semiconductor substrate and is mechanically engaged with the recess and secured to the second semiconductor substrate. |
| US07872331B2 |
Nitride semiconductor wafer
A nitride semiconductor wafer is planar-processed by grinding a bottom surface of the wafer, etching the bottom surface by, e.g., KOH for removing a bottom process-induced degradation layer, chamfering by a rubber whetstone bonded with 100 wt %-60 wt % #3000-#600 diamond granules and 0 wt %-40 wt % oxide granules, grinding and polishing a top surface of the wafer, etching the top surface for eliminating a top process-induced degradation layer and maintaining a 0.5 μm-10 μm thick edge process-induced degradation layer. |
| US07872330B2 |
Bipolar transistor with enhanced base transport
A bipolar transistor includes a base layer design and a method for fabricating such a bipolar transistor that employ a built-in accelerating field focused on a base region adjacent to a collector, where minority carrier transport is otherwise retarded. The accelerating field of the base layer includes on average, a relatively low p-doping level in a first region proximate to the collector and a relatively high p-doping level in a second region proximate to an emitter. Alternatively, the accelerating field can be derived from band gap grading, wherein the grade of band gap in the first region is greater than the grade of band gap in the second region, and the average band gap of the first region is lower than that of the second region. |
| US07872321B2 |
Hybrid semiconductor-ferromagnet device with a junction structure of positive and negative magnetic-field regions
A hybrid semiconductor-ferromagnet device is a device which has micromagnets (Co) deposited on semiconductor (InAs) two-dimensional electrons, and which has a junction structure of positive and negative magnetic field regions using a stray field resulting from the micromagnets. The magnetoresistance measured in the hybrid semiconductor-ferromagnet device has an asymmetrical hall resistance profile, and a change in magnetoresistance thereof is very large. The measured data is well consistent with the calculated results using a diffusive mode and a ballistic model. |
| US07872319B2 |
Deflectable structure, micromechanical structure comprising same, and method for adjusting a micromechanical structure
A deflectable structure includes a layer having a first area and a second area, a trench structure in the layer which penetrates the layer and separates the first area from the second area, a first junction between the first area and the second area, and a second junction between the first area and the second area, the first area being permanently moveable from a first, permanent position with regard to the second area to a second position, deflected as compared to the first position, with regard to the second area by applying a force. |
| US07872318B2 |
Sensing devices and methods for forming the same
A sensing device includes an optical cavity having two substantially opposed reflective surfaces. At least one nanowire is operatively disposed in the optical cavity. A plurality of metal nanoparticles is established on the at least one nanowire. |
| US07872317B2 |
Dual metal gate self-aligned integration
A semiconductor structure including at least one n-type field effect transistor (nFET) and at least one p-type field effect transistor (pFET) that both include a metal gate having nFET behavior and pFET behavior, respectively, without including an upper polysilicon gate electrode is provided. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a semiconductor structure. |
| US07872316B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including a gate insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating film, wherein the gate insulating film is so provided as to protrude from both sides of the gate electrode, and the gate electrode includes a wholly silicided layer. |
| US07872315B2 |
Electronic switching device
An integrated switching device has a switching IGFET connected between a pair of main terminals, a protector IGFET connected between the drain and gate electrodes of the switching IGFET, and a gate resistor connected between a main control terminal and the gate electrode of the switching IGFET. The protector IGFET has its gate electrode connected to the source electrode of the switching IGFET. The protector IGFET turns on in response to an application of a verse voltage to the switching IGFET thereby protecting the same from a reverse current flow. |
| US07872311B2 |
Method and apparatus for mobility enhancement in a semiconductor device
A method and apparatus is presented that provides mobility enhancement in the channel region of a transistor. In one embodiment, a channel region (18) is formed over a substrate that is bi-axially stressed. Source (30) and drain (32) regions are formed over the substrate. The source and drain regions provide an additional uni-axial stress to the bi-axially stressed channel region. The uni-axial stress and the bi-axially stress are both compressive for P-channel transistors and tensile for N-channel transistors. Both transistor types can be included on the same integrated circuit. |
| US07872306B2 |
Structure of trench MOSFET and method for manufacturing the same
A trench MOSFET with copper metal connections includes a substrate provided with a plurality of trenches. A gate oxide layer is formed on the sidewalls and bottoms of the trenches. A conductive layer is filled in the trenches to be used as a gate of the MOSFET. A plurality of source and body regions are formed in an epi layer. An insulating layer is formed on the epi layer and formed with a plurality of metal contact holes therein for contacting respective source and body regions. A barrier metal layer is formed on the sidewalls and bottoms of the metal contact holes in direct contact with respective source and body regions. A metal contact layer is filled in the metal contact holes. A copper metal layer is formed on another barrier metal layer on the insulating layer connected to respective source regions through the metal contact layer to form metal connections of the MOSFET. |
| US07872304B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a circuit with a high voltage sense device
A control circuit with a high voltage sense device. In one embodiment, a circuit includes a first transistor disposed in a first substrate having first, second and third terminals. A first terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an external voltage. A voltage provided at a third terminal of the first transistor is substantially proportional to a voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor when the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor is less than a pinch-off voltage of the first transistor. The voltage provided at the third terminal of the first transistor is substantially constant and less than the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor when the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor is greater than the pinch-off voltage of the first transistor. The circuit also includes a control circuit disposed in the first substrate and coupled to the third terminal of the first transistor. The circuit further includes a second transistor disposed in a second substrate. A first terminal of the second transistor coupled to the external voltage. |
| US07872301B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided with first and second silicon pillars formed substantially perpendicularly to a main surface of a substrate, a gate electrode covering side surfaces of the first and second silicon pillars via a gate insulation film, first and second diffusion layers provided on a lower part and an upper part of the first silicon pillar, respectively, a cap insulation film covering an upper part of the second silicon pillar, a gate contact connected to the gate electrode, and a protection insulation film in contact with the upper surfaces of the first and second silicon pillars. The gate contact is connected to an upper region of the gate electrode provided at the periphery of the cap insulation film. An opening is formed on the protection insulation film provided at the side of the first silicon pillar. |
| US07872298B2 |
Split-gate type memory device
Performance and reliability of a semiconductor device including a non-volatile memory are improved. A memory cell of the non-volatile memory includes, over an upper portion of a semiconductor substrate, a select gate electrode formed via a first dielectric film and a memory gate electrode formed via a second dielectric film formed of an ONO multilayered film having a charge storing function. The first dielectric film functions as a gate dielectric film, and includes a third dielectric film made of silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride and a metal-element-containing layer made of a metal oxide or a metal silicate formed between the select gate electrode and the third dielectric film. A semiconductor region positioned under the memory gate electrode and the second dielectric film has a charge density of impurities lower than that of a semiconductor region positioned under the select gate electrode and the first dielectric film. |
| US07872293B2 |
Capacitance cell, semiconductor device, and capacitance cell arranging method
A capacitance cell 21 is wired while using adjacent wiring layers Ma and Mb as a pair of electrode layers T1 and T2 orthogonally to opposed lateral end faces out of lateral end faces X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 that section the cell in a plane direction. Contact surfaces of electrode surfaces T1 and T2 with the lateral end faces are second connection terminals T12 and T22. For longitudinal pathways, first and second via contact layers V1 and V2are connected. The first via contact layer V1 interconnects the wiring layers Ma and Mb. The second via contact layer V2 is connected to a wiring layer located outside beyond an upper or lower end face Z2, Z1. The second via contact layer V2 is connected to a first connection terminal T11, T21 located on the upper or lower end faces Z2, Z1. The capacitance cells 21 are linked via the first and second connection terminals so that a capacitance element having a free shape is formed. A capacitance cell, a semiconductor device, and a capacitance element arranging method that allow to arrange capacitance elements each using wiring layers sandwiching an interlayer insulating film with less of a leak current as electrode layers according to the shapes of unused areas. |
| US07872291B2 |
Enhanced atomic layer deposition
A method of enhanced atomic layer deposition is described. In an embodiment, the enhancement is the use of plasma. Plasma begins prior to flowing a second precursor into the chamber. The second precursor reacts with a prior precursor to deposit a layer on the substrate. In an embodiment, the layer includes at least one element from each of the first and second precursors. In an embodiment, the layer is TaN. In an embodiment, the precursors are TaF5 and NH3. In an embodiment, the plasma begins during the purge gas flow between the pulse of first precursor and the pulse of second precursor. In an embodiment, the enhancement is thermal energy. In an embodiment, the thermal energy is greater than generally accepted for ALD (>300 degrees Celsius). The enhancement assists the reaction of the precursors to deposit a layer on a substrate. |
| US07872286B2 |
Image pickup device, its control method, and camera
An image pickup device, wherein a part of the carriers overflowing from the photoelectric conversion unit for a period of photoelectrically generating and accumulating the carriers may be flowed into the floating diffusion region, and a pixel signal generating unit generating a pixel signal according to the carriers stored in the photoelectric conversion unit and the carriers having overflowed into the floating diffusion region, is provided. The expansion of a dynamic range and the improvement of an image quality can be provided by controlling a ratio of the carriers flowing into the floating diffusion region to the carriers overflowing from such a photoelectric conversion unit at high accuracy. |
| US07872283B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and multi-chip module
In a semiconductor integrated circuit requiring a large number of pads, an internal circuit is arranged in the center portion, and a plurality of two kinds of I/O circuits for inputting and outputting signals from and to the outside and many pads are arranged along four sides of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The plurality of I/O circuits that are of one of the foregoing two kinds are one-pad I/O circuits on which one pad is arranged in a direction toward the internal circuit, whereas the plurality of I/O circuits that are of the other of the foregoing two kinds are two-pad I/O circuits on which two pads are arranged in zigzag relationship in a direction toward the internal circuit. The number of arranged pads equals to the number of pads required for the semiconductor integrated circuit. The one-pad I/O circuits and the two-pad I/O circuits are provided with power source wirings for supplying power thereto. The power source wirings extend along the arrangement direction of the one-pad I/O circuits and the second-pad I/O circuits to be ring-shaped. power source wiring migration areas for changing power source wirings between the one-pad I/O circuits and second-pad I/O circuits are disposed in four corner portions of the semiconductor integrated circuit. |
| US07872278B2 |
Light emitting diode system, method for producing such a system, and backlighting device
A light-emitting diode system (1) comprising at least one light-emitting diode component (2), in which a light-emitting diode chip is arranged in a light-emitting diode housing (21) on a heat sink (22) which can be thermally connected at the rear side (25) of the light-emitting diode housing (21). A carrier plate (3) having a front side (34) and a rear side (31) and a hole for receiving the light-emitting diode component (2) is provided. The light-emitting diode component (2) projects into the hole from the rear side (31) of the carrier plate (3). An electrically insulating thermal connection layer (5) is applied at the rear side (31) of the carrier plate (3), said thermal connection layer being thermally conductively connected to the heat sink (22). A method for producing a light-emitting diode system is also described. |
| US07872277B2 |
Light emitting diode device
A light emitting diode device is disclosed, and the light emitting diode device includes a base, a substrate, a lead frame, a chip, a first mixed layer and a second mixed layer. The first mixed layer and the second mixed layer respectively contain a glue and a thermal conductance insulating material, such as diamond carbon, diamond-like carbon or ceramic. The substrate and the lead frame are set on the base. The first mixed layer is formed between the chip and the substrate to fix the chip and strengthen heat dissipation. The second mixed layer is covered on the substrate and the chip to reduce the difference of the refraction index such that the total internal reflection angle is wider and the emitting efficiency is enhanced. |
| US07872272B2 |
Nitride semiconductor ultraviolet LEDs with tunnel junctions and reflective contact
A structure and method for improving UV LED efficiency is described. The structure utilizes a tunnel junction to separate a P-doped layer of the LED from a n-doped contact layer. The n-doped contact layer allows the use of a highly reflective, low work function metal, such as aluminum, for the p-side contact. The reflectivity at the contact can be further improved by including a phase matching layer in some areas between the contact metal (The metal above the phase matching layer does not necessarily need to have a low work function because it does need to form an ohmic contact with the n-contact layer) and the n-doped contact layer. |
| US07872269B2 |
Gallium nitride semiconductor light emitting element
Provided is a gallium nitride semiconductor light emitting element capable of stabilizing a drive voltage by reducing carrier depletion attributable to spontaneous polarization and piezo polarization generated at the interface between an AlGaN semiconductor layer and a GaN semiconductor layer.A gallium nitride semiconductor crystal 2 including a light emitting region is formed on the R plane of a sapphire substrate 1. In addition, in another constitution, a gallium nitride semiconductor crystal 2 is formed on the A plane of a GaN substrate 3 or on the M plane of a GaN substrate 4. The growth surface of these gallium nitride semiconductor crystals 2 are not an N (nitrogen) polar face or a Ga polar face but are non-polar faces. This can decrease the strength of an electric field caused by spontaneous polarization and piezo polarization generated at the interface of GaN/AlGaN at the p side. Thus, carrier depletion can be avoided. |
| US07872268B2 |
Substrate buffer structure for group III nitride devices
A semiconductor photonic device and associated method are disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a buffer structure on the substrate. The buffer structure is formed of a discontinuous layer of aluminum gallium nitride and a gallium nitride layer on the aluminum gallium nitride layer having a thickness that functionally minimizes the number of defects propagated through it. At least two doped Group III nitride layers are on the buffer structure, with the layers being of opposite conductivity type from one another for providing electrons and holes that combine to generate an emission from the device when current is applied to the device. |
| US07872266B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
A high-efficiency semiconductor light emitting diode and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor LED has high internal quantum efficiency and can reduce the bad effect caused by the crystal defect. In the semiconductor light emitting diode, a conductive substrate has a three-dimensional top surface, and a light-emitting stack structure has a three-dimensional structure and includes an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, which are sequentially formed on the conductive substrate. A p-electrode is formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer, and an n-electrode is formed on a bottom surface of the conductive substrate. |
| US07872265B2 |
Electrical switching device and method of embedding catalytic material in a diamond substrate
An electrical device according to one embodiment includes a substrate including at least one diamond layer; at least one first electrode in contact with said substrate, wherein at least one said first electrode includes at least one electrically conductive protrusion extending into said substrate; and at least one second electrode in contact with said substrate and spaced from the or each said first electrode. |
| US07872263B2 |
Substrate structure for a thin film transistor
A method of TFT (Thin Film Transistor) manufacturing and a substrate structure are provided. The structure includes a substrate and a self-alignment mask. A self-alignment mask on a substrate is first manufactured and then the self-alignment mask may synchronously extend with the substrate during the thermal process. When an exposure light source is provided on the side without a TFT formed, the self-alignment mask can overcome the problem that when a plastic substrate extends, the positions of the source and drain to be formed on the plastic substrate are incorrect, which has a great effect on the accuracy of alignment. As the result, the positions of the source and drain can be defined accurately. |
| US07872252B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor devices on a group IV substrate with controlled interface properties and diffusion tails
Electronic and opto-electronic devices having epitaxially-deposited III/V compounds on vicinal group IV substrates and method for making same. The devices include an AlAs nucleating layer on a Ge substrate. The group IV substrate contains a p-n junction whose change of characteristics during epitaxial growth of As-containing layers is minimized by the AlAs nucleating layer. The AlAs nucleating layer provides improved morphology of the devices and a means to control the position of a p-n junction near the surface of the group IV substrate through diffusion of As and/or P and near the bottom of the III/V structure through minimized diffusion of the group IV element. |
| US07872248B2 |
Optical UV lamp-on indicator
An observable optical lamp status display system is provided for an ultraviolet irradiation lamp concealed from view. An external lamp status display panel that is within the field of view of an observer registers the operating status of each ultraviolet light irradiation lamp in an array of irradiation lamps. A separate fiberoptic lamp status display filament extends between each ultraviolet radiation lamps and the display panel. The lamp status display filament has a first end terminated in optical communication with the ultraviolet lamp and an opposite end that terminates at an optical sensor in the lamp status display panel. An observer can determine whether or not a lamp is operating simply by observing the output of the optical sensor in the display panel for each lamp operated. |
| US07872245B2 |
Systems and methods for target material delivery in a laser produced plasma EUV light source
Devices are disclosed herein which may comprise an EUV reflective optic having a surface of revolution that defines a rotation axis and a circular periphery. The optic may be positioned to incline the axis at a nonzero angle relative to a horizontal plane, and to establish a vertical projection of the periphery in the horizontal plane with the periphery projection bounding a region in the horizontal plane. The device may further comprise a system delivering target material, the system having a target material release point that is located in the horizontal plane and outside the region, bounded by the periphery projection and a system generating a laser beam for irradiating the target material to generate an EUV emission. |
| US07872244B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A source configured to generate radiation for a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The source includes an anode, and a cathode. The cathode and the anode are configured to create a discharge in a fuel in a discharge space between the anode and the cathode so as to generate a plasma, the cathode and the anode positioned relative to each other so that, in use, current lines extending between the anode and the cathode are substantially curved so as to create a force that substantially radially compresses the plasma only in a region proximate an upper surface of the cathode or of the anode. |
| US07872243B2 |
Method for improving the detection of fluorescence signals during a resonance energy transfer
The invention concerns the use of the fluorescence polarization phenomenon to improve detection of fluorescent signals during a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). In particular, the invention concerns a method for improving signal/noise ratio in a FRET measurement. The invention also concerns an apparatus for measuring fluorescence following an energy transfer between a donor fluorescent compound and an acceptor fluorescence compound in a measurement medium. |
| US07872241B2 |
Method and apparatus for production and maintenance of electron beam space-charge neutralization
An electron beam production and control assembly includes a vacuum chamber, a beam source, and a target. The target has an active section and an inactive section. The active section is adapted to generate x-rays when the beam impinges on the x-ray producing section. The electron beam production and control assembly also includes a focusing unit positioned along the chamber at a location intermediate the rearward end and the forward end. The focusing unit directs the beam towards the target in a converging manner to impinge on the target. The focusing unit sweeps the beam along a scanning path over the active section of the target. The focusing unit moves the beam to a retrace path on the inactive section of the target between sweeps of the scanning path to maintain ion accumulation in the beam between sweeps over the active section. |
| US07872232B2 |
Electronic microscope apparatus
To enable measurement of an elastically scattered electron image, a characteristic-X-ray-based element image and an electron-beam-energy-spectroscopy-based element image with a high S/N and high spatial resolution in an electronic microscope having a function to produce an element image. Measurement of a characteristic X-ray signal and electron beam energy loss spectra or measurement of a plurality of energy filter signals including a core loss of an observed element is performed simultaneously and continuously with detection of elastically scattered electrons transmitted through a specimen to be analyzed, and element images based on characteristic X-rays and electron beam energy spectroscopy are added up while correcting a positional misalignment with respect to elastically scattered electron images continuously observed (see FIG. 1). |
| US07872231B2 |
Sample relocation method in charged particle beam apparatus and charged particle beam apparatus as well as sample for transmission electron microscope
In a chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus, the sample on the sample substrate is gripped and carried to the sample holder, and there is controlled the attitude of the sample when the sample is fixed on the sample holder. There possesses a marking process applying, in the chamber, a marking to a surface of the sample Wb existing on the sample substrate by a beam, a carriage process gripping the sample by a sample gripping means and carrying it from the sample substrate to the sample holder, and an attitude control process controlling, when fixing the sample to the sample holder, the attitude of the sample while observing the marking applied to the surface of the sample. |
| US07872227B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A side wall 35 that extends in the axial direction enclosing the plasma in such a way that expansion of plasma to the sides is prevented at the back surface of a skimmer cone 33 and a small collision chamber 36, which is positioned at the back side of this side wall 35 and is defined by a flat part 56 of a first electrode 53 having an opening 57 through which the ion beam can pass. By means of this small collision chamber 36, the pressure inside the chamber rises without introducing additional gas; therefore, argon ions are neutralized by collision and recombination between the ions and electrons and the ion density of the plasma is reduced. Thus, the beam diameter during ion extraction and transport is maintained relatively small. |
| US07872226B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting a sample-ion source electrode distance in a TOF mass spectrometer
In a time-of-flight mass spectrometer having an ion source with a first accelerating electrode, a distance between the surface of a sample and the first accelerating electrode is maintained at a predetermined distance which is critical for determining the mass and quantity of ions generated by the ion source. A digital image of the sample surface is obtained with a digital camera and a predetermined characteristic of the digital image is determined. The predetermined characteristic is then used to compute an adjustment amount by which the sample surface is moved to maintain the predetermined distance. Determining the predetermined characteristic can be simplified by projecting a light pattern onto the sample surface at an angle and determining the predetermined characteristic from the digital image of the pattern. |
| US07872222B1 |
Nuclear density gauge
A nuclear density gauge includes a base and at least one gamma radiation detector mounted at a predetermined location relative to an axis extending longitudinally of the base. The gauge further includes a gamma radiation source and a source mount that mounts the gamma radiation source for movement along a path between an active first position located at a first longitudinal distance from the detector and an active second position located at a second longitudinal distance from the detector. In this way, gamma radiation is detected emanating from the source and backscattered from the underlying material sample through a first path of travel when the source mount is at the first active position and through a second path of travel when the source mount is at the second active position. The source mount may also move the source from the active first and second positions to an inactive third position shielded by gamma radiation shielding material. |
| US07872221B2 |
Apparatus and methods for calibrating pixelated detectors
An apparatus and methods for calibrating pixelated detectors are provided. A method includes acquiring energy response data for a plurality of pixels of the pixelated semiconductor radiation detector and performing at least one of energy calibration and sensitivity calibration on each of the plurality of pixels based on the acquired energy response data. |
| US07872217B2 |
Apparatus and method for projection image having an image processing device with a replica image information generating unit
When it is estimated that first average brightness of image information of a projection image is under second average brightness of image information of a source image having a single spatial frequency on which a normal compensation is performed, an area having brightness above the second average brightness in the image information of the projection image is increased, and when it is estimated that the first average brightness is above the second average brightness, an area having brightness under the second average brightness in the image information of the projection image is increased. |
| US07872216B2 |
Projector having two image formation units for projecting a light beam
A projector includes a first image formation unit including a first color separation system, first to third light modulation elements, and a first color combining system; a second image formation unit including a second color separation system, fourth to sixth light modulation elements, and a second color combining system; a polarization combining system that combines an image light beam outputted from the first image formation unit and an image light beam outputted from the second image formation unit; and a projection system that projects the image light beam that has been combined in the polarization combining system. |
| US07872215B2 |
Methods and apparatus for guiding a projectile
Methods and apparatus for guiding a projectile according to various aspects of the present comprise a force source disposed on the projectile and a control system operably connected to the force source. The control system is configured to initially activate the force source when the force source is substantially in a selected rotational position, and subsequently activate the force source when the force source rotates to substantially the selected rotational position a second time. |
| US07872213B2 |
Cooking appliance with removable cooking surface
An electric cooking appliance having a removable food support member and a base that supports a heating element and the food support member is provided. The appliance includes a plurality of handles that selectively engage the food support member to secure it to the base. The cooking appliance allows for cooking of foods on a cooking surface of the food support member and removing the food support member. |
| US07872211B2 |
Laser-dynamic system for using in games
Two general effects of laser radiation interaction with balloon surface material or with gases surrounding or filling balloons are used for the play: the destruction and the shift of the inflated balloons. The kind of the laser-material interaction is selected depending on the game structure so that the desirable effect is produced by the minimal laser energy. The energy minimization is provided by the selection of the surface properties, the laser radiation parameters, the characteristics of the gases surrounding and inflating balloons, and the creation of the gas pressure inside the balloons. The desirable effects are generated by absorption of the used laser radiation or by laser-induced breakdown. |
| US07872209B2 |
Thermal flux processing by scanning a focused line beam
The thermal processing device includes a stage, a continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source, a series of lenses, a translation mechanism, a detection module, a three-dimensional auto-focus, and a computer system. The stage is configured to receive a substrate thereon. The continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source is disposed adjacent the stage, and is configured to emit continuous wave electromagnetic radiation along a path towards the substrate. The series of lenses is disposed between the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source and the stage, and are configured to condense the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation into a line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation on a surface of the substrate. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the stage and the line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation relative to one another. The detection module is positioned within the path, and is configured to detect continuous wave electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07872208B2 |
Laser bonding tool with improved bonding accuracy
A bonding tool for use in a laser bonding apparatus comprises an elongated body portion and a foot portion coupled thereto. The foot portion extends substantially transversely from the body portion and has a laser aperture and a guide channel therethrough. The guide channel is disposed between the body portion and the laser aperture. |
| US07872204B2 |
Watertight switch
A watertight switch comprises a cover and a base assembled together to form an accommodating space for mounting a switching module therein. The cover and the base, at the combination interface therebetween, respectively have a first junction interface and a second junction interface, which are inwardly shrunk to form a binding gap, the binding gap is gummed by an adhesive for fixedly combining and positioning the first and the second junction interfaces, and the adhesive will fill the binding gap without flowing over the first and the second junction interfaces. |
| US07872202B2 |
Inputting device
An inputting device, used for electronic devices, for example, is disclosed. The inputting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a case, which has a through-hole, a center key, which is exposed externally through the through-hole and is movable to any directions on a plane, an operating member, which is fixed to the case and supports the center key and returns the center key by elastic force to a center of the through-hole if the center key is moved from the center of the through-hole, a magnet, which moves with the center key on a plane, and a sensing element, which senses a movement of the magnet. With the input method of the present invention, not only is the operation easier, but also the entire thickness of a device can be reduced. |
| US07872200B2 |
Wired circuit board and connection structure between wired circuit boards
A wired circuit board includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting layer and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and having a terminal portion for connecting to an external terminal. The terminal portion is disposed at an end portion of the conductive pattern, supported on the insulating layer, and exposed from the metal supporting layer to have an end surface thereof used as a point of contact with the external terminal. |
| US07872199B2 |
Electrical cable
Electric cable having at least one conductor (1) with an insulating layer (2) applied thereto and being twisted around a longitudinal axis of the cable, where the insulated conductor (1, 2) is provided with an enclosing elastomer layer (3) of a material having a hardness being substantially lower than the hardness of the insulating layer (2). |
| US07872198B2 |
Cable semiconducting shield
A cable comprising one or more electrical conductors or communications media or a core of two or more electrical conductors or communications media, each electrical conductor, communications medium, or core being surrounded by a layer comprising: (a) polyethylene; polypropylene; or mixtures thereof; (b) carbon nanotubes; (c) a conductive carbon black other than carbon nanotubes; and (d) optionally, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene wherein the acrylonitrile is present in an amount of about 30 to about 60 percent by weight based on the weight of the copolymer or a silicone rubber. |
| US07872196B2 |
Electrical component box for water vehicle
An electrical component box which can be provided under a maintenance opening in an engine compartment on a water vehicle, can include a box body provided with an electrical unit and a cover member. The box body can be attached to a bulkhead so that a mounting surface for an electrical unit extends generally vertically. Engaging frames can be provided on the upper face of the box body. Also, engaging clamps can be provided on the upper side of the cover member to be engaged with the engaging frames by one-touch operation. A bottom cover can be provided under the box body to cover the bottom side of the electrical unit and the upper side, both lateral sides and the front side of the electrical unit can be covered by the cover member. |
| US07872195B1 |
Apparatus and methods for dielectric bias system
Methods and apparatus of connecting and communicating signals between electrical devices (such as stereo or video speaker or interconnect cables or similar circuits) include applying a bias voltage across the dielectric without interfering with the signals, by applying an energy source to at least one conductor not in the signal path. |
| US07872194B2 |
Photovoltaic device
The present invention provides a photovoltaic device having excellent environmental durability and good adhesion with a collector electrode made of metal paste. The photovoltaic device comprises an ITO film on a p-type amorphous silicon hydride film on a light incident side of the photovoltaic device and a collector electrode made of silver paste on the ITO film. A silicon oxide insulation film made of SiOx is provided on at least regions on the ITO film where the collector electrode is not formed. The thickness of the silicon oxide insulation film is about 1 to 10 times thicker than an arithmetic mean deviation (Ra) of the underlying ITO film. The silicon oxide insulation film is a film having a Si-2p peak with a full width at half maximum of 2.45 or less, which is evaluated by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. |
| US07872190B2 |
Tone synthesis apparatus and method
Tone synthesis apparatus synthesizes a tone of a wind instrument generated in response to vibration of a reed contacting a lip during a performance of the wind instrument. First arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation representative of behavior of the reed in an equilibrium state with external force acting on the lip and a second motion equation representative of behavior of the lip in the equilibrium state, to thereby calculate displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed in the equilibrium state. Second arithmetic operation section solves a motion equation of coupled vibration of the lip and reed with calculation results of the first arithmetic operation section used as initial values of the displacement yb(x), y0(x) of the lip and reed, to thereby calculate the displacement y(x, t) of the reed. Tone is synthesized on the basis of the displacement y(x, t) calculated by the second arithmetic operation section. |
| US07872186B1 |
Bassoon reed with tubular undersleeve
A bassoon reed including first and second reed cane members and a tubular undersleeve within, and a method of manufacture therefor is disclosed. The first and second reed cane members each have inside and outside surfaces, proximal and distal end portions and two opposite longitudinal edges. The reed cane members are secured together in edge-to-edge fashion along the distal end portions. The tubular undersleeve is within and supports the distal end portions therearound. |
| US07872183B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV605722
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV605722. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV605722, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV605722 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV605722 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV605722. |
| US07872182B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH951965
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH951965. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH951965, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH951965 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH951965. |
| US07872180B1 |
Maize variety PHHEB
A novel maize variety designated PHHEB and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHHEB with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHHEB through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHHEB or a trait conversion of PHHEB with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHEB, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHEB and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07872179B1 |
Maize variety PHHKE
A novel maize variety designated PHHKE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHHKE with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHHKE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHHKE or a trait conversion of PHHKE with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHKE, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHHKE and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07872176B1 |
Soybean variety RJS54001
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS54001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS54001, to the plants of soybean RJS54001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS54001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS54001 with another soybean plant, using RJS54001 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US07872175B1 |
Soybean variety XB05L09
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB05L09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB05L09, to the plants of soybean XB05L09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB05L09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB05L09 with another soybean plant, using XB05L09 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US07872172B2 |
Plants having improved yield and method for making the same
The present invention concerns a method for improving the yield of plants by introducing into a plant a nucleic acid encoding a cyclin D3 protein under the control of a promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid in shoots. The invention also relates to transgenic plants comprising a nucleic acid encoding a cyclin D3 protein under the control of a promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid in shoots, which plants have improved yield relative to corresponding wild type plants. The invention also concerns constructs useful in the methods of the invention. |
| US07872163B1 |
Process for production of 3,4-dichlorobutene-1
3,4-Dichlorobutene-1 is produced by a process comprising the step of contacting 1,4-dichlorobutene-2 with either 1) a ferric carboxylate catalyst of the formula where R is an alkyl or alkenyl group of 4-18 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group of 6-18 carbon atoms or an aryl group selected from phenyl, benzyl, xylyl, tolyl, and naphthyl groups, whereby a portion of the 1,4-dichlorobutene-2 is isomerized to form 3,4-dichlorobutene-1, or 2) a ferric carboxylate catalyst of the formula where R, R′ and R″ are independently alkyl or alkenyl groups of 4-18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl groups of 6-18 carbon atoms or aryl groups selected from phenyl, benzyl, xylyl, tolyl, and naphthyl groups, the sum of m, n and o is 3 and m, n and o are independently 0, 1 or 2, whereby a portion of the 1,4-dichlorobutene-2 is isomerized to form 3,4-dichlorobutene-1. |
| US07872162B2 |
Process for the obtention of purified heptafluoropropane
Process for the obtention of HFC-227ea having a reduced content of organic impurities, comprising at least subjecting a crude HFC-227ea to two distillation steps at different pressures. |
| US07872160B2 |
Single pot process for the regioselective synthesis of neolignan framework asarones
The present invention provides a single pot process for the regioselective synthesis of neolignan framework [3(R)-Ethyl-2(S)-methyl-3-(2″,4″,5″-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(2′,4′,5′-trimethoxyphenyl)propane from toxic β-isomer rich asarone using montmorillonite acidic clay by employing microwave organic reaction enhancement (MORE) chemistry. This may be useful as versatile synthetic protocol for the synthesis of a large number of lignan and neolignan frameworks. |
| US07872158B2 |
Chemical production processes, systems, and catalyst compositions
Chemical production processes are provided that can include exposing a reactant composition to a catalyst composition to form a product composition. The reactant composition can include a multihydric alcohol compound and the product composition can include a carbonyl compound. The catalyst composition can include a metal effective to facilitate catalyst activation. Processes disclosed also include supplementing a dehydration catalyst with a promoter, and activating the supplemented catalyst in the presence of oxygen. Processes also include providing a supplemented dehydration catalyst to within a reactor, and exposing a multihydric alcohol compound to the dehydration catalyst, with the exposing forming coke within the reactor. Oxygen can be provided to the reactor to remove at least a portion of the coke. |
| US07872156B2 |
Fluorophosphite containing catalysts for hydroformylation processes
Novel fluorophosphite compounds having the structure of general formula (I): where Ar1 and Ar2 are aryl groups containing 4 to 30 carbon atoms; R1 to R6 are H or alkyl or aryl hydrocarbon radicals containing 1 to 40 carbon atoms; and X is a connecting group or a simple chemical bond, were developed and found to be very active for hydroformylation processes for ethylenically unsaturated substrates. Catalyst solutions prepared from these compounds with a Rh metal show an unusual “ligand acceleration effect” for simple alkenes, i.e., the hydroformylation activity increases as the concentration of ligand increases, and are capable of producing linear or branched aldehydes under typical hydroformylation conditions. |
| US07872155B2 |
Method of deprotection of alkyl arylamine ethers
A method for deprotecting alkyl arylamine ethers to produce hydroxyl arylamine compounds by reacting the alkyl arylamine ether with a thiolate reagent. More specifically, a method for deprotecting alkyl arylamine ethers to produce hydroxyl arylamine compounds by reacting 2-(diethylamine)ethanethiolate with an alkyl arylamine ether to yield a hydroxy arylamine compound. |
| US07872154B2 |
Method for the preparation of 4-fluoro-α-[2-methyl-1-oxopropyl]-y-oxo-n-β-diphenylbenzenebutanamide and products therefrom
A method for the preparation of 4-fluoro-α-[2-methyl-1-oxopropyl]-γ-oxo-N-β-diphenylbenzenebutanamide also known as 2-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-phenylethyl]-4-methyl-3-oxo-pentanoic acid phenylamide of the formula I containing about 0.1% or less of α-[2-methyl-1-oxopropyl]-γ-oxo-N-p-diphenylbenzene butanamide, about 0.05% or less of difluoro-α-[2-methyl-1-oxopropyl]-γ-oxo-N-β-diphenylbenzene butanamide and about 0.1% or less of 3-[2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethoxy]-4-methyl-pent-2-enoic acid phenylamide. |
| US07872152B2 |
Use of docosatrienes, resolvins and their stable analogs in the treatment of airway diseases and asthma
The present invention is generally drawn to novel isolated therapeutic agents, termed resolving, generated from the interaction between a dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), cyclooxygenase-II (COX-2) and an analgesic, such as aspirin (ASA). Surprisingly, careful isolation of compounds generated from the combination of components in an appropriate environment provide di- and tri-hydroxy EPA or DHA compounds having unique structural and physiological properties. The present invention therefore provides for many new useful therapeutic di- or tri-hydroxy derivatives of EPA or DHA (resolvins) that diminish, prevent, or eliminate inflammation or PMN migration, for example. The present invention also provides methods of use, methods of preparation, and packaged pharmaceuticals for use as medicaments for the compounds disclosed throughout the specification. |
| US07872151B2 |
Inhibitors of α4 mediated cell adhesion
The present invention relates to a phenylalanine derivative of Formula (I) wherein X1 is a halogen atom, X2 is a halogen atom, Q is a CH2R— is a carboxyl group which may be esterified; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US07872145B2 |
Aziridinyl-epothilone compounds
The present invention is directed to aziridinyl epothilone compounds as further described herein, and/or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and/or solvates thereof having the following Formula: wherein K is —O—, —S—, or —NR7—; A is —(CR8R9)—(CH2)m—Z—wherein Z is —(CHR10)—, —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—C(═O)—, —OC(═O)—, —N(R11)C(═O)—, —SO2—, or —N(R11)SO2—; B1 is hydroxyl or cyano and R1 is hydrogen or B1 and R1 are taken together to form a double bond; R2, R3, and R5 are, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; or R2 and R3 may be taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted cycloalkyl; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkyl, substituted alkenyl, aryl, or substituted aryl; R6 is hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl; R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, or substituted heteroaryl; and R13 is aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl. |
| US07872138B2 |
Process for the preparation of substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives
The present invention is directed to a process for the synthesis of substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives, useful as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceutical agents. |
| US07872136B2 |
Process for production of 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonyl halide or salt thereof
To provide an effective and simple process for producing 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonylhalide or a salt thereof, and a simple method for separating for purification of the product from a by-produced position isomer thereof. The process for producing 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonyl halide or a salt thereof, characterized in that the process includes reacting 4-fluoroisoquinoline or a salt thereof with sulfuric anhydride in the presence or absence of sulfuric acid, to thereby form 4-fluoroisoquinoline-5-sulfonic acid or a salt thereof, and, subsequently, reacting the formed sulfonic acid compound with a halogenating reagent. |
| US07872132B2 |
Intermediates useful for the preparation of aripiprazole and methods for the preparation of the novel intermediates and aripiprazole
An improved process for the preparation of aripiprazole (1) which comprises (i) reacting 6-hydroxy-l-indanone (11) with 1,4-dihalobutane (12) in the presence of a base and a solvent at a temperature in the range of 90 to 110 deg C to form the novel intermediate 6-(4-halo butoxy)-indan-1-one (3), (ii) reacting the novel intermediate with 1-(2,3-clichlorophenyl)-piperazine (9) to get another novel intermediate 6-[4-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-l-piperazinyl]butoxy]-indan-l-one (2) and (iii) reacting the resulting novel compound with sodium azide. The invention also relates to the novel intermediates of the formulae (2) & (3) and processes for their preparation. The invention also includes intermediate compounds useful for the preparation of aripiprazole. |
| US07872131B2 |
Method for producing a solution of pure triethylenediamine (TEDA)
Process for preparing a solution of pure triethylenediamine (TEDA), in which TEDA is vaporized, the gaseous TEDA is passed into a liquid solvent 1 (quench) and the TEDA is crystallized from the resulting solution and separated off (solid-liquid separation), wherein the crystalline TEDA obtained is dissolved in a solvent 2 and a stripping gas is passed through the resulting solution (stripping). |
| US07872130B2 |
Mixture of oligomeric phenazinium compounds and acid bath for electrolytically depositing a copper deposit
For the reproducible manufacturing of particularly uniform and brilliant i.e., highly bright copper coatings that are leveled and ductile as well, a copper plating bath is utilized that contains as an additive a mixture of oligomeric phenazinium compounds. The mixture contains at least one phenazinium compound selected from the group comprising compounds containing two monomeric units and compounds containing three monomeric units having the general chemical formulae and |
| US07872128B2 |
Benzisoxazole and isoxazolo-pyridine compounds and method of use
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds capable of modulating the c-kit protein kinase and, accordingly, useful for treatment of c-kit mediated diseases including, without limitation, autoimmune disease, allergies, mastcytosis, mast cell related tumors and various fibrotic diseases. The compounds have a general Formula I wherein R1-5, X, Y and Z are defined herein. The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions, methods for treatment of c-kit mediated diseases, and intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention. |
| US07872122B2 |
Process for making Biolimus A9
A process for making Biolimus A9 comprises reacting sirolimus (or rapamycin) with alkyl benzene sulfonate under the catalyzing of organic base and in the presence of organic solvent to undergo a nucleophilic substitution reaction to obtain the Biolimus A9 with high yield, not only for small-scale laboratory experiment, but also for rendering reproducibility of high yield even after process amplification. |
| US07872119B2 |
Inhibitors of RTP801 and their use in disease treatment
The present invention provides novel molecules, compositions, methods and uses for treating microvascular disorders, eye diseases respiratory conditions and hearing disorders based upon inhibition of the RTP801 gene and/or protein. |
| US07872107B2 |
Interleukin-12p40 variants with improved stability
Modified interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 polypeptides are disclosed. The modified polypeptides have alterations in the IL-12p40 subunit to eliminate the protease site between positions Lys260 and Arg261. The modified IL-12p40 polypeptides according to the invention have improved stability compared to wild-type mature human IL-12p40 polypeptides. |
| US07872105B2 |
Anticarcinoma antibodies and uses thereof
A novel single domain antibody AFAI and fragments thereof which has specific affinity for binding to carcinoma, and especially lung carcinoma. This antibody, and portions thereof, can be used, inter alia in the diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma. |
| US07872099B2 |
Camera device and monitor system
A camera device includes: an iris unit for varying exposure; a shutter control unit for varying a shutter speed of an imaging element; and a control unit for controlling the signal processing unit and the entire device. The camera device further includes: an exposure target calculation unit for calculating a control value used for controlling the iris unit or the shutter control unit so that an exposure amount will be a target value based on information on a signal level from a signal processing unit; and a malfunction judgment unit for determining a malfunction in the device based on information on the control value obtained by the exposure target calculation unit and the signal level from the signal processing unit. |
| US07872098B1 |
Phosphorylated derivatives of a U1-70K peptide and their use in the treatment of autoimmune pathologies
Derivatives of the peptide corresponding to the sequence RIHMVYSKRSGKPRGYAFIEY (SEQ ID NO: 1), pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use thereof are provided. |
| US07872095B2 |
Insulin-oligomer conjugates, formulations and uses thereof
An insulin compound coupled to a modifying moiety having a formula: —X—R1—Y-PAG-Z—R (Formula VI) where, X, Y and Z are independently selected linking groups and each is optionally present, and X, when present, is coupled to the insulin compound by a covalent bond, either R1 or R2 is is a lower alkyl, optionally including a carbonyl group, and when R1 is a lower alkyl, R2 is a capping group, and PAG is a linear or branched carbon chain incorporating one or more alkalene glycol moieties, and optionally incorporating one or more additional moieties selected from the group consisting of —S—, —O—, —N—, and —C(O)—, and where the modifying moiety has a maximum number of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 heavy atoms. |
| US07872089B2 |
Multi-level tubular reactor with internal tray
The disclosure describes a reactor operable to facilitate a chemical reaction in a reaction medium flowing therethrough. The reactor can include a horizontally elongated reactor segment containing a horizontally elongated tubular member and a tray disposed within the tubular member. The reaction medium can flow through the reactor segment on the tray and on the bottom of the tubular member in generally opposite directions. The reactor also can include a header and multiple horizontally elongated reactor segments coupled to the header and spaced vertically apart from one another. The reactor can be used to produce polyesters. |
| US07872088B2 |
Low formaldehyde emission fiberglass
Disclosed are binders including urea-extended phenol-formaldehyde alkaline resole resins to which melamine-containing resin has been added, and non-woven fiber compositions made therewith. The disclosed binders may be cured to low formaldehyde-emission and low trimethylamine-emission, water-resistant thermoset binders. |
| US07872087B2 |
Golf ball compositions with improved temperature performance, heat resistance, and resiliency
Golf ball compositions, and components formed therefrom, including trifunctional materials, such as trifunctional isocyanates, polyols, and amines, that have improved performance and durability characteristics, e.g., improved heat resistance, improved resiliency, and dimensional stability. |
| US07872084B2 |
Support for solid-phase synthesis and process for producing the same
The present invention relates to a support for solid-phase synthesis, which contains a porous copolymer particle, the copolymer particle containing 25 to 60% by weight of an aromatic-vinyl structural unit, 20 to 55% by weight of a vinyl cyamide structural unit, 5 to 18% by weight of an ethylenically-unsaturated-carboxylic-acid structural unit, and 2 to 15% by weight of an aromatic-divinyl structural unit. The support according to the invention fluctuates little in the degree of swelling depending on the kind of the organic solvent in contact therewith. |
| US07872082B2 |
Method for preparing polymer maleimides
Methods for preparing polymeric reagents bearing a maleimide are provided. Also provided are compositions comprising the polymeric reagents, and conjugates prepared by polymeric reagents obtained by the described methods. |
| US07872079B2 |
Naphthoxazine composition
The present invention is intended to provide a novel naphthoxazine composition having a smaller amount of volatile components (weight reduction) upon curing, and is to provide a naphthoxazine composition characterized in that a naphthoxazine compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group in the same molecule is further added with an epoxy resin, and a molded product obtained by molding the naphthoxazine composition. |
| US07872077B2 |
Grafted polymers and methods of making and using thereof
Grafted polymers which are the reaction products of: (a) (Meth)acrylic acid and (b) Non-symmetric maleates according to general formula (I), in which R1 stands for a linear or branched alk(en)yl radical having 1 to 22 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 double bond, while n and m independently represent integers between 0 and 200, on condition that the sum (n+m) is different from 0 are disclosed. Methods of making and using the grafted polymers are also disclosed. |
| US07872075B2 |
Peroxide-cured thermoplastic vulcanizates and process for making the same
A method of preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate, the method comprising continuously dynamically vulcanizing a rubber within a blend with a thermoplastic resin, where the dynamic vulcanization is effected with a cure system that includes a free-radical cure agent, and a coagent-wetted carrier where the coagent-wetted carrier includes a multi-functional acrylate coagent, a multi-functional methacrylate coagent, or both a multi-functional acrylate and multi-functional methacrylate coagent. |
| US07872074B2 |
Impact resistant polyolefin compositions
The present invention provides polyolefin composition comprising a 50-80 wt % of propylene homopolymer or copolymer and a first and a second ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, said composition having good stress whitening resistance and gloss, in combination with a good balance of mechanical properties. |
| US07872070B2 |
Compositions
The present invention provides a composition containing a particulate solid, an organic medium and/or water and a compound of Formula (1) and salts thereof Formula 1 wherein R is H or C1-30-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; or R may be R″C═O (an acyl group where R″ is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl); U is oxygen, —NH or —NR′″; R′″ is a C1-30-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl Y is C2-4-alkyleneoxy; T is the residue of substituted acetic acid or propionic acid; Z is the residue of a polyamine and/or polyimine; W is the residue of an oxide, urea or dibasic acid or anhydride thereof, or mixtures thereof; x is from 2 to 90; and v represents the maximum available number of amino and/or imino groups in Z which does not carry the group R—U—(Y)x-T-. |
| US07872064B2 |
Protective coating containing acetylene compound
A protective coating is provided. This protective coating comprises a synthetic resin solid content (A); and a mixture of (B-1) acetylene glycol represented by the following general formula (1): and/or an ethoxylated derivative of the acetylene glycol represented by the following general formula (2): (B-2) at least one member selected from polyoxy(ethylene-propylene) block polymers represented by the following formula (3): O(C2H4O)w(C3H6O)x(C2H4O)y(C3H6O)zH (3). |
| US07872063B2 |
Film forming compositions containing mixtures of benzoic acid esters
This invention provides film-forming compositions, including but not limited to polishes, coatings, adhesives and inks, comprising a at least one acrylic or vinyl acetate polymer or copolymer as a film-forming ingredient and, as the plasticizer, a blend in specified proportions of a) the benzoate of a 6-carbon monohydric alcohol, b) diethylene glycol dibenzoate and c) diethylene glycol monobenzoate. |
| US07872060B2 |
Inkjet ink composition
An inkjet ink composition includes a polyurethane material having a weight-average molecular weight ranging from about 50,000 to about 500,000. The polyurethane material is present in an effective amount ranging from about 0.2 wt. % to about 5 wt. %. The composition also includes a solvent present in an effective amount ranging from about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, and an anionic surfactant present in an effective amount ranging from about 0.01 wt. % to about 3 wt. %. The inkjet ink composition is adapted to exhibit enhanced decap. |
| US07872052B2 |
Use of heterocyclic compounds as SCCE inhibitors
The present invention relates to heterocyclic inhibitors of stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme (SCCE). More particularly, the invention relates to the use of compounds with the formula (I) or (II) for treatment of certain diseases, in particular skin diseases such as pruritus, as well as cancer such as ovarian cancer. |
| US07872042B2 |
Use of tocotrienols for elevating IKBKAP gene expression and treating Familial Dysautonomia
The present invention provides methods for elevating IKBKAP gene expression and the level of functional IKAP protein in cells, which are beneficial to human individual, such as an individual suffering from Familial Dysautonomia, by providing one or more tocotrienols alone or in combination with one or more tocopherols to the cells. The present invention also provides methods for treating Familial Dysautonomia by providing tocotrienols alone or in combination with one or more tocopherols to a patient having Familial Dysautonomia. Related therapeutic kits are also provided. |
| US07872041B2 |
Use of rotigotine for treating and preventing Parkinson's plus syndrome
The invention relates to the use of rotigotine, its salts and prodrugs, as a medicament for preventing and/or treating Parkinson's plus syndrome. |
| US07872038B2 |
1-phenyl and 1-pyridylpyrazole derivatives and their use as pesticides
The invention relates to 1-(2,4,6-trisubstituted-phenyl)-5-amino-4-substituted-pyrazole derivatives of formula (I) or salts thereof wherein the various symbols are as defined in the description, to processes for their preparation, to compositions thereof, and to their use for the control of pests (including arthropods and helminths). |
| US07872037B2 |
Antiviral drugs for treatment of arenavirus infection
Compounds, methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating viral infections, by administering certain novel compounds in therapeutically effective amounts are disclosed. Methods for preparing the compounds and methods of using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are also disclosed. In particular, the treatment and prophylaxis of viral infections such as caused by hemorrhagic fever viruses is disclosed, i.e., including but not limited to, Arenaviridae (Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, Sabia, Lassa, Tacaribe, Pichinde, and LCMV), Filoviridae (Ebola and Marburg viruses), Flaviviridae (yellow fever, Omsk hemorrhagic fever and Kyasanur Forest disease viruses), and Bunyaviridae (Rift Valley fever). |
| US07872034B2 |
Arylcycloalkyl-substituted alkanoic acid derivatives, processes for their preparation and their use as pharmaceuticals
The invention relates to arylcycloalkyl-substituted alkanoic acid derivatives and to their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives.What is described are compounds of the formula I, in which the radicals are as defined, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparation. The compounds are suitable, for example, for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of the fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders and also disorders in which insulin resistance is involved. |
| US07872033B2 |
Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
The present application relates to isothiazolylidene containing compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and L are as defined in the specification, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions. |
| US07872032B2 |
1, 3, 4-oxadiazol-2-ones as PPAR delta modulators and their use thereof
The present invention is directed to 1,3,4-oxadiazalones, compounds of formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts stereoisomers, tautomers, or solvates thereof. Novel compounds include those of formula I, in which radicals are as defined herein. The compounds of this invention are modulators of PPARdelta and therefore useful as pharmaceutical agents, especially for the treatment of demyelinating diseases and disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization. |
| US07872029B2 |
Chalcone and its analogs as agents for the inhibition of angiogenesis and related disease states
The present invention relates to chalcone and chalcone derivatives and analogs which are useful as angiogenesis inhibitors. The present compounds, which are inexpensive to synthesize, exhibit unexpectedly good activity as angiogenesis inhibitors. The present invention also relates to the use of chalcone and its analogs as antitumor/anticancer agents and to treat a number of conditions or disease states in which angiogenesis is a factor, including angiogenic skin diseases such as psoriasis, acne, rosacea, warts, eczema, hemangiomas, lymphangiogenesis, among numerous others, as well as chronic inflammatory disease such as arthritis. |
| US07872027B2 |
Low molecular weight Myc-max inhibitors
Compounds and compositions for interfering with the association of Myc and Max are described herein. These compounds and compositions are useful in methods inhibiting growth or proliferation of a cell. Methods of inhibiting growth or proliferation of a cell are provided, comprising contacting the cell with an amount of a compound that interferes with Myc and Max association effective to inhibit growth or proliferation of the cell. |
| US07872017B2 |
Fused bicycloheterocycle substituted azabicyclic alkane derivatives
The invention relates to fused bicycloheterocycle substituted azabicyclic alkane derivatives, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions. |
| US07872014B2 |
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase modulators and methods of use
The present invention comprises compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds that are inhibitors of ALK. The invention also comprises methods of using the compounds and compositions to treat diseases mediated by ALK, including diseases such as cancer, immunological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and other degenerative disorders. |
| US07872011B2 |
Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase β
The present invention relates to selective inhibitors of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase β, use of the selective inhibitors in anti-thrombotic therapy, and a method for screening compounds useful for the new anti-thrombotic therapy by detecting selective inhibitory activity of PI 3-kinase β of the compound. The invention also relates to novel compounds that are inhibitors of PI 3-kinase. |
| US07872007B2 |
Process for the preparation of 2-(4-hydroxy-3-morfolynil)-2-cyclohexenone
It is disclosed a process for the preparation of 2-(4-hydroxy-3-morfolinyl)-2-cycloesenone (BTG-1675A) comprising the steps of: i) reacting N-hydroxymorpholine with cycloesanone in the presence of an oxidation agent thus obtaining an isoxazolidine of Formula IV; and ii) converting the isoxazolidine of Formula IV into 2-(4-hydroxy-3-morfolinyl)-2-cycloesenone. Advantageously, the oxidation agent of the step i) is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, esters and amides of the azodicarboxylic acid and the step ii) of conversion is carried out by basic catalysis followed by trituration in an aromatic hydrocarbon, preferably toluene. The process disclosed allows to obtain BTG-1675A according to the invention in an amount of hundreds of grams and on an industrial scale. The invention further concerns a new process for preparing hydroxylamines, particularly N-hydroxymorpholine, which is used in the process for preparing BTG-1675A. |
| US07872002B2 |
Therapeutic pyrazoloquinoline derivatives
The invention provides a novel chemical series of formula I, as well as methods of use thereof for binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and modulating GABAA, and use of the compound of formula I for the treatment of GABAA receptor associated disorders. The general structure of formula I is shown below and can exist in tautomeric forms: The invention further provides a method of modulation of one or more GABAA subtypes in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I). |
| US07872000B2 |
Bicyclic aryl and bicyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles useful as Axl inhibitors
Bicyclic aryl substituted triazoles or heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed. |
| US07871997B2 |
Cephalosporin compounds
This invention provides cephalosporin compounds and salts thereof. Such compounds are useful for preparing cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin antibiotics. |
| US07871996B2 |
Methods of inhibiting nitric oxide synthase using corrin derivatives
The present invention provides methods of inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) using corrin derivatives that bind NOS but do not bind NO. It also provides methods of inhibiting NOS in vivo by administering corrin derivatives, and methods of treating diseases and medical conditions using this inhibition of NOS. |
| US07871993B2 |
Tigecycline crystalline forms and processes for preparation thereof
The present invention relates to solid crystalline Tigecycline, and crystalline forms thereof. |
| US07871981B2 |
Inhibition of cell motility, angiogenesis, and metastasis
Disclosed are methods of inhibiting cell motility, for example, by inhibiting the binding between an intracellular transducer and a receptor protein tyrosine kinase, and more particularly by inhibiting hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced cell motility. The present invention also provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis. The methods of the present invention employ peptides such as phosphotyrosyl mimetics. Also disclosed are methods of preventing and/or treating diseases, disorders, states, or conditions such as cancer, particularly metastatic cancer, for example, melanoma or prostate cancer, comprising administering to a mammal of interest one or more peptides of the present invention. Also disclosed are methods of blocking blocks HGF, VEGF, or bFGF-stimulated migration, cell proliferation, and formation of capillary-like structures. |
| US07871972B2 |
Compositions containing benefit agents pre-emulsified using colloidal cationic particles
A cleansing or a surface-conditioning composition comprising a mixture of (i) and (ii) in water: i) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, zwitterionic, cationic, and mixtures thereof; and ii) a hydrophobic benefit agent in a particulate form having a mean particle size in the range of 1-1,000 micron, and a specific gravity of ≧1, not encapsulated within a film or a capsule-like enclosure, the particulate hydrophobic benefit agent comprising: a) a physically-modified form of the hydrophobic benefit agent; and b) a deposition-aid material bonded to the surface of the physically-modified benefit agent, wherein the bonding between the benefit agent and the deposition-aid material is achieved prior to addition to i), wherein said deposition-aid material is not a surfactant having a weight average molecular weight of less than 5,000 Dalton. |
| US07871971B1 |
Machine dishwashing rinse agents and methods of using the same
Rinse agents for machine dishwashing which contain alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester(s), and other optional additives, are described. Methods of rinsing tableware surfaces using the described rinsing agents during machine washing are also described. |
| US07871967B2 |
Diester-based lubricants and methods of making same
The present invention is generally directed to diester-based lubricant compositions. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation. |
| US07871957B2 |
Catalyst support of mixed cerium zirconium titanium oxide, including use and method of making
A durable catalyst support/catalyst is capable of extended water gas shift operation under conditions of high temperature, pressure, and sulfur levels. The support is a homogeneous, nanocrystalline, mixed metal oxide of at least three metals, the first being cerium, the second being Zr, and/or Hf, and the third importantly being Ti, the three metals comprising at least 80% of the metal constituents of the mixed metal oxide and the Ti being present in a range of 5% to 45% by metals-only atomic percent of the mixed metal oxide. The mixed metal oxide has an average crystallite size less than 6 nm and forms a skeletal structure with pores whose diameters are in the range of 4-9 nm and normally greater than the average crystallite size. The surface area of the skeletal structure per volume of the material of the structure is greater than about 240 m2/cm3. The method of making and use are also described. |
| US07871953B2 |
Late transition metal catalysts for olefin oligomerizations
As series of novel late transition metal catalysts for olefin oligomerization have been invented. The catalyst system includes a Group 8, 9 or 10 transition metal and an activator. The catalysts demonstrate high activity and selectivity for linear α-olefins. Preferably this invention relates to a catalyst system comprising the reaction product of: (a) an activator selected from the group consisting of alumoxane, aluminum alkyl, alkyl aluminum halide, alkylaluminum alkoxide, discrete ionic activator, and Lewis acid; and (b) a catalyst precursor wherein the catalyst precursor has the following formula: wherein (i) M is a Group-8, -9 , or -10 transition metal; (ii) N is nitrogen (iii) P is phosphorus; (iv) R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrocarbyl radicals; (v) Y is a hydrocarbyl bridge comprising a backbone wherein the backbone comprises a chain that is four or more carbon atoms long; (vi) X are independently abstractable ligands. |
| US07871947B2 |
Non-woven composite office panel
Provided herein is a non-stratified, or homogeneous, non-woven composite having (a) strength-imparting fibers of a relatively high denier and (b) binder fibers of a lower denier that adhere the composite together and that form a smooth, stiff skin on the outer surfaces of the composite. In one instance, the strength-imparting fibers are staple fibers and the binder fibers are bicomponent fibers having a low melt component. In a variation, the composite also contains a small percentage by weight (that is, less than 20%) of flame retardant fibers that impart flame resistant properties to the composite. Preferably, all of the fibers are comprised of the same polymeric material (e.g., polyester), so that the composite is recyclable. The resulting composite exhibits excellent flame retardance, strength, and stiffness, as well as having a smooth surface for attachment of a decorative fabric or other material. A process for manufacturing such composites is also provided. |
| US07871946B2 |
Nonwoven fabric composed of ultra-fine continuous fibers, and production process and application thereof
A nonwoven fabric composed of ultra-fine continuous fibers having a mean fineness of not more than 0.5 dtex is prepared. The nonwoven fabric comprises a water-soluble thermoplastic resin in a proportion of not more than 5% by weight relative to the nonwoven fabric, has an absorbing height of not less than 30 mm as determined at 20° C. after 10 minutes based on Byreck method when the nonwoven fabric immersion-treated for 60 minutes in a water of 80° C. is used, and satisfies the following formula: (B)/(A)≧0.25, wherein the symbol (B) represents a tensile strength [N/5 cm] in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the nonwoven fabric and the symbol (A) represents a fabric weight [g/m] of the nonwoven fabric. In the nonwoven fabric, not less than 30% of the surface may be coated with the water-soluble thermoplastic resin. The water-soluble thermoplastic resin may be a water-soluble thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol, e.g., a modified polyvinyl alcohol containing an ethylene unit in a proportion of 3 to 20 mol %.The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric composed of ultra-fine continuous fibers, having a high flexibility or softness, and having a high mechanical strength even when the fiber diameter is small, and having an excellent water absorbency, as well as a production process and an application thereof. |
| US07871942B2 |
Methods for manufacturing high dielectric constant film
Processes for making a high K (dielectric constant) film using an ultra-high purity hafnium containing organometallic compound are disclosed. Also described are devices incorporating high K films made with high purity hafnium containing organometallic compounds. |
| US07871941B2 |
Method for reducing resist poisoning during patterning of stressed nitrogen-containing layers in a semiconductor device
By providing a silicon cap layer on a compressive silicon nitride layer, the diffusion of nitrogen into sensitive resist material may be efficiently reduced, while the silicon may be converted into a highly compressive silicon dioxide in a later manufacturing stage. Consequently, yield loss due to contact failures during the formation of semiconductor devices requiring differently stressed silicon nitride layers may be reduced. |
| US07871935B2 |
Non-plasma capping layer for interconnect applications
The present invention provides an interconnect structure which has a high leakage resistance and substantially no metallic residues and no physical damage present at an interface between the interconnect dielectric and an overlying dielectric capping layer. The interconnect structure of the invention also has an interface between each conductive feature and the overlying dielectric capping layer that is substantially defect-free. The interconnect structure of the invention includes a non-plasma deposited dielectric capping layer which is formed utilizing a process including a thermal and chemical-only pretreatment step that removes surface oxide from atop each of the conductive features as well as metallic residues from atop the interconnect dielectric material. Following this pretreatment step, the dielectric capping layer is deposited. |
| US07871933B2 |
Combined stepper and deposition tool
A stepper is combined with hardware that deposits a layer of material in the course of forming an integrated circuit, thus performing the deposition, patterning and cleaning without exposing the wafer to a transfer between tools and combining the function of three tools in a composite tool. The pattern-defining material is removed by the application of UV light through the mask of the stepper, thereby eliminating the bake and development steps of the prior art method. Similarly, a flood exposure of UV eliminates the cleaning steps of the prior art method. |
| US07871932B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
In the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention, first, the emissivity of a wafer placed in a chamber is measured. Then, the fluctuation rate of a wafer physical quantity that fluctuates in association with the given thermal energy is calculated based on an estimate expression, which are obtained in advance, presenting the relationship between the thermal energy quantity emitted from the heat source for heating the wafer, wafer emissivity and the wafer physical quantity fluctuation rate and on the measured emissivity. Subsequently, the processing time for the physical quantity to be a specific value is calculated based on the calculated fluctuation rate. Then, the thermal process is conducted for the calculated processing time. |
| US07871929B2 |
Method of forming semiconductor devices containing metal cap layers
Methods for improving electrical leakage performance and minimizing electromigration in semiconductor devices containing metal cap layers. According to one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes planarizing a top surface of a workpiece to form a substantially planar surface with conductive paths and dielectric regions, forming metal cap layers on the conductive paths, and exposing the top surface of the workpiece to a dopant source from a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) to form doped metal cap layers on the conductive paths and doped dielectric layers on the dielectric regions. According to some embodiments, the metal cap layers and the doped metal cap layers contain a noble metal selected from Pt, Au, Ru, Rh, Ir, and Pd. |
| US07871918B2 |
Manufacturing method of contact structure
A manufacturing method of a contact structure includes first providing a substrate on which a contact pad has already been formed. Afterwards, a polymer bump is formed on the contact pad. Next, a conductive layer is formed on the polymer bump. The conductive layer covers the polymer bump and extends to the outside of the polymer bump. The portion of the conductive layer extending to the outside of the polymer bump serves as a test pad. |
| US07871916B2 |
Transistor gate electrode having conductor material layer
Various embodiments of the invention relate to a PMOS device having a transistor channel of silicon germanium material on a substrate, a gate dielectric having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon dioxide on the channel, a gate electrode conductor material having a work function in a range between a valence energy band edge and a conductor energy band edge for silicon on the gate dielectric, and a gate electrode semiconductor material on the gate electrode conductor material. |
| US07871913B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device having vertical transistor
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a vertical transistor includes forming hard masks on a semiconductor substrate to expose portions of the semiconductor substrate. Then the exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate are etched to define grooves in the semiconductor substrate. A gate conductive layer is formed on the hard masks and surfaces of the grooves to a thickness that does not completely fill the grooves. A sacrificial layer is formed on the gate conductive layer to completely fill the grooves. A partial thickness of the sacrificial layer is removed to expose the gate conductive layer and portions of the gate conductive layer formed on the hard masks and on sidewalls of upper portions of the grooves are removed. The remaining sacrificial layer is completely removed. Gates are formed on sidewalls of lower portions of the grooves by etching the gate conductive layer. |
| US07871911B2 |
Methods for fabricating semiconductor device structures
Methods for fabricating semiconductor device structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, methods for fabricating semiconductor device structures may comprising forming at least one raised element on a surface of a substrate, the at least one raised element including sloped sides and a peak, aligning a strip comprising conductive material at least partially over the at least one raised element, and at least partially securing the strip to a surface of the at least one raised element and the surface of the substrate. |
| US07871910B2 |
Flash memory device and method of fabricating the same
A flash memory device and method of fabricating thereof. In accordance with the method of the invention, a tunnel dielectric layer and an amorphous first conductive layer are formed over a semiconductor substrate. An annealing process to change the amorphous first conductive layer to a crystallized first conductive layer is performed. A second conductive layer is formed on the crystallized first conductive layer. A first etch process to pattern the second conductive layer is performed. A second etch process to remove an oxide layer on the crystallized first conductive layer is performed. A third etch process to pattern the amorphous first conductive layer is performed. |
| US07871907B2 |
Mask and method of fabricating a polysilicon layer using the same
A mask includes a primary opaque pattern and a number of clusters of secondary opaque patterns. The primary opaque pattern defines a number of strip transparent slits whose extending directions are substantially the same. The clusters of the secondary opaque patterns are connected to the primary opaque pattern, and each of the clusters of the secondary opaque patterns is disposed in one of the transparent slits, respectively. Each of the clusters of the secondary opaque patterns includes a number of secondary opaque patterns, and extending directions of at least a portion of the secondary opaque patterns and the extending directions of the transparent slits together form included angles that are not equal to about 90°. |
| US07871906B2 |
Storage nodes including a phase chang layer and methods of manufacturing and operating the same, phase change memory devices and methods of manufacturing and operating the same
In various embodiments, the present disclosure may provide a storage node. In various implementations, the storage node may include a bottom electrode having a non-planar bottom surface that conforms with and is connected to a non-planar top surface of a diode electrode of a memory device. The storage node may further include a phase change layer on top of a bottom diode and a top electrode on a top surface of a phase change layer. |
| US07871904B2 |
Wafer processing method for improving gettering capabilities of wafers made therefrom
A wafer processing method for improving gettering capabilities of wafers made therefrom is presented. The method includes the steps of preparing, annealing and ion-implanting. The preparing step involves preparing the wafer from a silicon ingot. The annealing step involves forming first gettering sites in both sides of the wafer by annealing the wafer. The ion-implanting step involves forming second gettering sites in a back side of the wafer in which the first gettering sites are already formed. |
| US07871902B2 |
Crack stop trenches
Structures and methods of forming crack stop trenches are disclosed. The method includes forming active regions disposed in cell regions of a substrate, the cell regions separated by dicing channels, and forming back end of line (BEOL) layers over the substrate, the BEOL layers being formed over the cell regions and the dicing channels. Crack stop trenches are then formed encircling the cell regions by etching a portion of the BEOL layers surrounding the cell regions. The wafer is diced along the dicing channels. |
| US07871883B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes the step of depositing the capacitor insulating film in a form of a hafnium silicate
The invention aims at enabling leakage current characteristics and a step coverage property to be improved by depositing a hafnium silicate film by utilizing an atomic layer evaporation method using a hafnium raw material, a silicon raw material and an oxidizing agent. Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a trench capacitor including a first electrode formed on an inner surface of a trench, a capacitor insulating film formed on a surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on a surface of the capacitor insulating film. The method includes the step of depositing the capacitor insulating film in a form of a hafnium silicate film by utilizing an atomic layer deposition method using a hafnium raw material, a silicon raw material and an oxidizing agent. |
| US07871882B2 |
Method of fabricating a deep trench insulated gate bipolar transistor
In one embodiment, a method comprises forming an epitaxial layer over a substrate of an opposite conductivity type, the epitaxial layer being separated by a buffer layer having a doping concentration that is substantially constant in a vertical direction down to the buffer layer. A pair of spaced-apart trenches is formed in the epitaxial layer from a top surface of the epitaxial layer down at least into the buffer layer. A dielectric material is formed in the trenches over the first and second sidewall portions. Source/collector and body regions of are formed at the top of the epitaxial layer, the body region separating the source/collector region of the pillar from a drift region of the epitaxial layer that extends from the body region to the buffer layer. An insulated gate member is then formed in each of the trenches adjacent to and insulated from the body region. |
| US07871878B2 |
Method of fabricating PMOS and NMOS transistor on the same substrate
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a first and second device regions on a substrate. The method includes the steps of forming an insulation layer on the substrate, laminating a first semiconductor layer having a plane orientation different from the surface of the substrate on the insulation layer and exposing the substrate by removing the insulation layer and the first semiconductor layer from the second device region. A second semiconductor layer having the same plane orientation as the substrate and that is made of a strained layer is formed by epitaxial growth on the exposed substrate in the second device region. |
| US07871877B2 |
Technique for strain engineering in silicon-based transistors by using implantation techniques for forming a strain-inducing layer under the channel region
By incorporating a semiconductor species having the same valence and a different covalent radius compared to the base semiconductor material on the basis of an ion implantation process, a strain-inducing material may be positioned locally within a transistor at an appropriate manufacturing stage, thereby substantially not contributing to overall process complexity and also not affecting the further processing of the semiconductor device. Hence, a high degree of flexibility may be provided with respect to enhancing transistor performance in a highly local manner. |
| US07871874B2 |
Transistor of semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a transistor of a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same. The transistor includes: an epitaxy substrate disposed on a semi-insulating substrate and having a buffer layer, a first Si planar doping layer, a first conductive layer, a second Si planar doping layer, and a second conductive layer, which are sequentially stacked, the second Si planar doping layer having a doping concentration different from that of the first Si planar doping layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode diffusing into the first Si planar doping layer to a predetermined depth and disposed on both sides of the second conductive layer to form an ohmic contact; and a gate electrode disposed on the second conductive layer between the source and drain electrodes and being in contact with the second conductive layer. In this structure, both isolation and switching speed of the transistor can be increased. Also, the maximum voltage limit applied to the transistor is increased due to increases in gate turn-on voltage and threshold voltage and a reduction in parallel conduction element. As a result, the power handling capability of the transistor can be improved, thus improving a high-power low-distortion characteristic and an isolation characteristic. |
| US07871872B2 |
Method of manufacturing thin film transistor having lightly doped drain regions
Provided is a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor, the method comprising: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; forming a polysilicon layer by crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer; forming a mask structure that masks a portion of the polysilicon; forming a source and a drain region and a channel region interposed between the source and the drain regions in the polysilicon layer; injecting impurities having a first concentration using an ion beam implantation into one end and the other end of the polysilicon layer which are not covered by the mask structure. The ends of the polysilicon layer with the mask thereon is then subjected to ion bombardment to increase the level of impurities in the source and drain regions while at the same time shrinking the size of the masked regions. |
| US07871871B2 |
Manufacturing method for semiconductor integrated circuit device
In mass production of CMIS integrated circuit devices or the like, electric characteristics, such as Vth (threshold voltage) or the like, disadvantageously vary due to variations in gate length of the MISFET. This problem has become serious because of a short channel effect. In order to solve the problem, various kinds of feed-forward techniques have been studied in which a subsequent variation factor process is regulated to be reversed with respect to variations in a previous variation factor process so as to cause these variation factors to cancel each other out. Since the feed-back technique has an effect of the cancellation process over the entire system, the technique can be relatively easily applied to a product with a single type of MISFE, but is difficult to be applied to a product equipped with a plurality of types of MISFETs. The invention is adapted to adjust the amount of halo implantation by multivariate analysis based on the result of a patterning step of the gate electrode and a film forming step of an offset spacer. |
| US07871869B2 |
Extremely-thin silicon-on-insulator transistor with raised source/drain
An extremely-thin silicon-on-insulator transistor is provided that includes a buried oxide layer above a substrate, a silicon layer above the buried oxide layer, a gate stack on the silicon layer, a nitride liner on the silicon layer and adjacent to the gate stack, an oxide liner on and adjacent to the nitride liner, and raised source/drain regions. The gate stack includes a high-k oxide layer on the silicon layer and a metal gate on the high-k oxide layer. Each of the raised source/drain regions has a first part comprising a portion of the silicon layer, a second part adjacent to parts of the oxide liner and the nitride liner, and a third part above the second part. Also provided is a method for fabricating an extremely-thin silicon-on-insulator transistor. |
| US07871862B2 |
Ball grid array package stacking system
A ball grid array package stacking system includes: forming a heat spreader having a centrally located access port; mounting a substrate in the heat spreader for providing a connection pad in the centrally located access port; coupling an integrated circuit die to the substrate; and coupling a system interconnect to the integrated circuit die, the connection pad, or a combination thereof. |
| US07871859B2 |
Vertical surface mount assembly and methods
A vertically mountable semiconductor device assembly including a semiconductor device and a mechanism for attaching the semiconductor device to a carrier substrate. The semiconductor device has each of its bond pads disposed proximate a single edge thereof. Preferably, at least a portion of the semiconductor device is exposed. An alignment device is attached to a carrier substrate. A mounting element on the vertically mountable semiconductor device package engages the alignment device to interconnect the semiconductor device and the alignment device. Preferably, the alignment device secures the vertically mountable semiconductor device package perpendicular relative to the carrier substrate. The distance between the bond pads and corresponding terminals on the carrier substrate is very small in order to reduce impedance. The vertically mountable semiconductor device package may also be readily user-upgradable. |
| US07871858B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, circuit board, and electronic instrument
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device forms a penetrating hole in a substrate so that the penetrating hole extends from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate being opposite to the first surface. An internal wall surface of the penetrating hole has a protrusion formed of a material constituting the substrate, the first surface of the substrate being closer to the protrusion than the second surface. A conductive member is formed on the first surface so that the conductive member covers the penetrating hole. A semiconductor chip is mounted on the first surface so that an electrode of the semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the conductive member. An external electrode is provided through the penetrating hole so that the external electrode is electrically connected to the conductive member and the external electrode projects from the second surface of the substrate. |
| US07871855B2 |
Use of axial substituted phthalocyanine compound for preparing organic thin-film transistor
This invention relates to the use of axial substituted phthalocyanine compound as a semiconductor layer between the source/drain electrodes of organic thin-film transistor. The centre ligand of the axial substituted phthalocyanine compound is an atom with 3 valences or higher, and the axial ligands are chlorine, fluorine, or oxygen which can be connected with the centre ligands of axial substituted phthalocyanine compounds. Crystalline Film with high quality can be prepared on an organic substrate from the axial substituted phthalocyanine compound using vapor deposition process. These crystalline films have high carrier mobility, rich energy level, and stable performances and are easy for integrated process. The field effect mobility and the on/off Ratio of the organic thin-film transistor are 0.01 cm2/Vs or more and higher than 105, respectively. |
| US07871854B1 |
Method of making a vertical photodetector
A method includes forming a first opening in a top surface of a semiconductor substrate, performing an implant into the top surface to form a doped region, epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer in the first opening along a bottom of the first opening and along sidewalls of the first opening, wherein the epitaxially growing comprises in-situ doping the semiconductor layer, filling the first opening with a dielectric material, forming a second opening in the dielectric material, wherein a bottom of the second opening exposes the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer and sidewalls of the second opening expose the dielectric material; and filling the second opening with a semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor material comprises a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The bottom electrode is in electrical contact with the semiconductor layer which is in electrical contact with the doped region. The doped region is laterally adjacent the semiconductor material. |
| US07871850B2 |
Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a substrate having a lead frame, a light emitting diode mounted on the substrate, a mold member formed on the substrate and the light emitting diode, and a reflecting member having an opening portion at one side thereof and being inclined at an outer portion of the mold member. |
| US07871847B2 |
System and method for high temperature compact thermoelectric generator (TEG) device construction
A method for creating an array of thermoelectric elements includes applying a first coating of dielectric material to P-type wafers and N-type wafers to form coated P-type wafers and coated N-type wafers. A P/N-type ingot is formed from the coated P-type wafers and the coated N-type wafers. The coated P-type wafers and the coated N-type wafers are alternatingly arranged in the P/N-type ingot. P/N-type wafers comprising P-type elements and N-type elements are sliced from the P/N-type ingot and a second coating of the dielectric material is applied to the P/N-type wafers to form coated P/N-type wafers. Furthermore, a P/N-type array from the coated P/N-type wafers. |
| US07871846B2 |
Thin-film transistor, TFT-array substrate, liquid-crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A thin-film transistor includes a gate layer, a gate insulting layer, a semiconductor layer, a drain layer, a passivation layer (each of which being formed on or over an insulating substrate), and a conductive layer formed on the passivation layer. The conductive layer is connected to the gate layer or the drain layer by way of a contact hole penetrating at least the passivation layer. The passivation layer has a multiple-layer structure comprising at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer stacked, the first sublayer having a lower etch rate than that of the second sublayer. The first sublayer is disposed closer to the substrate than the second sublayer. The second sublayer has a thickness equal to or less than that of the conductive layer. The shape or configuration of the passivation layer and the underlying gate insulating layer can be well controlled in the etching process, and the conductive layer formed on the passivation layer is prevented from being divided. |
| US07871842B2 |
Production process for surface-mounting ceramic LED package, surface-mounting ceramic LED package produced by said production process, and mold for producing said package
The present invention is related to a surface-mounting ceramic LED package and a method for its production comprising: layering a ceramic green sheet which has a hole and a second ceramic green sheet, inserting a mold with a groove to form a partition in the bottom of the ceramic green sheet substrate, and firing the ceramic green sheet substrate. |
| US07871838B2 |
Rubbing system for alignment layer of LCD and method thereof
A rubbing system for an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, comprises: a rubbing table on which a substrate having an alignment layer thereon is positioned; a rubbing roll on which a rubbing material is wound, substantially positioned on the rubbing table thus to substantially contact the alignment layer, for rubbing the alignment layer by rotation of the rubbing roll; and a controlling unit for controlling the alignment layer to be rubbed by substantially contacting the rubbing roll onto the alignment layer by simultaneously lifting and lowering a rubbing table and the rubbing roll according to an alignment controlling force to be applied to the alignment layer. |
| US07871832B2 |
Generating an integrated circuit identifier
The generation of a chip identifier supporting at least one integrated circuit, which includes providing a cutout of least one conductive path by cutting the chip, the position of the cutting line relative to the chip conditioning the identifier. |
| US07871830B2 |
End point detection method for plasma etching of semiconductor wafers with low exposed area
A method for controlling the plasma etching of semiconductor wafers determines the impedance of a plasma chamber using values representing voltage, current, and the phase angle between them, as provided by a sensor. All or less than all of the data during a first time period may be used to calculate a model. During a second time period, real time data is used to calculate a version of the instant impedance of the chamber. This version of impendence is compared to a time-projected version of the model. The method determines that etching should be stopped when the received data deviates from the extrapolated model by a certain amount. In some embodiments a rolling average is used in the second time period, the rolling average compared to the model to determine the end point condition. |
| US07871828B2 |
In-situ dose monitoring using optical emission spectroscopy
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatus for monitoring ion dosage during a plasma process. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing a substrate comprising generating a correlation between the at least one attribute of optical emissions of the plasma and a dosage quantity. In one embodiment, the attribute of optical emissions of the plasma is optical emission intensity of an ion species in the plasma. |
| US07871826B2 |
Method for determining carbon content of a hydrocarbon-containing mixture
A method for determining a carbon content value of a hydrocarbon-containing mixture. At least one composition-dependent bulk property of the hydrocarbon-containing mixture is measured and optionally at least one non-hydrocarbon component concentration is measured with the resulting measurements used in a carbon content correlation for calculating the carbon content of the hydrocarbon-containing mixture. The carbon content may be used in a hydrogen and/or synthesis gas production process for calculating a target flow rate of steam to be combined with the hydrocarbon-containing mixture to form a mixed feed having a target steam-to-carbon ratio. |
| US07871824B2 |
Flow chamber
A flow chamber having a vacuum chamber and a specimen chamber. The specimen chamber may have an opening through which a fluid may be introduced and an opening through which the fluid may exit. The vacuum chamber may have an opening through which contents of the vacuum chamber may be evacuated. A portion of the flow chamber may be flexible, and a vacuum may be used to hold the components of the flow chamber together. |
| US07871822B2 |
Method of use for characterizing the catalytic reactivity of catalyst(s)
A method for selecting at least one catalyst from a catalyst library on the basis of the reactivity thereof in a chemical conversion process includes: (a) testing the catalytic activity of a first catalyst from said catalyst library with respect to a reaction medium containing, as the compounds to be converted, at least one reactivity probe having a labeling system and including at least one reaction unit capable of reacting in said chemical conversion; (b) analyzing the reaction medium after said catalytic test for the purpose of qualitatively and/or qualitatively characterizing the resulting compounds; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for at least one other catalyst in said library; and (d) comparing the analysis results for each catalyst in order to characterize at least one catalyst having the required reactivity in said chemical conversion. |
| US07871815B2 |
Rhamnose-inducible expression constructs and methods
Disclosed herein is a rhamnose-inducible expression vector. |
| US07871813B2 |
Diagnostic device and method
A method of separating a cell-containing sample into a substantially cell-depleted portion, and a cell-containing portion comprising at least one of a stem cell, a lymphocyte, and a leukocyte comprises a step in which the sample is received in a vessel with at least one flexible wall. In another step, an additive and particles are added to the sample, wherein the additive substantially binds to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the particles and wherein the particles substantially bind to the at least one of the stem cell, lymphocyte, and leukocyte, and the additive, thereby producing a cell-containing network. In a further step, the network is separated from the substantially cell-depleted portion by applying a magnetic force. |
| US07871812B2 |
System, method, and product for scanning of biological materials
An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values. |
| US07871811B2 |
Method for eliminating crosstalk between waveguide grating-based biosensors located in a microplate and the resulting microplate
The present invention includes several methods for modifying the current processes of manufacturing optical sensing microplates that use continuous waveguide films to reduce/eliminate crosstalk between the biosensors that are incorporated within wells. The methods include (1) physically deteriorating/removing the waveguide film between individual biosensors; (2) chemically depositing highly absorbing materials within the waveguide film between individual biosensors; (3) patterning disordered (scattering) regions between the diffraction gratings that define individual biosensors; (4) using a specific mask and depositing individual patches of waveguide film, where each patch defines at least one biosensor. Each of these methods and several other methods described herein prevent the propagation of light between individual sensing regions, thereby eliminating optical crosstalk between the biosensors. The present invention also includes the resulting microplate. |
| US07871810B2 |
Multiaxis focusing mechanism for microarray analysis
Systems and methods for positioning a multi-featured biological array relative to a signal acquisition device. Detection of the array's positional deviation may be achieved by a calibration beam reflected from the array surface and detected by a position sensitive detector (PSD). The PSD-measured positional deviation can be transformed and used in a control loop to correct for positional variations of the array. The calibration beam and PSD may also be used to detect the array or feature boundaries, thereby allowing lateral centering or positioning of the array relative to the signal acquisition device. |
| US07871808B2 |
Isolated microorganism having an ability to produce L-histidine
The present invention provides a method for producing an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-proline, glycine, L-serine, L-threonine, L-cysteine, L-tyrosine, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid and useful as medicament, chemical agent, food material and feed additive at high industrial efficiency, the method comprising culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the amino acid and having resistance to an aminoquinoline derivative in a medium, producing and accumulating the amino acid in the present invention in the culture, and recovering the amino acid from the culture. |
| US07871806B2 |
Asparaginases
The invention relates to new asparaginases having improved properties, preferably improved thermotolerance, such as improved activity at high temperatures and/or improved thermostability. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such improved asparaginases, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the asparaginases, in particular for reduction of acrylamide in foods. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing asparaginase variants having improved properties. |
| US07871805B2 |
Glucose dehydrogenase
The present invention provides glucose dehydrogenase which is excellent in heat resistance and substrate specificity and is not affected by dissolved oxygen. Specifically, the present invention relates to glucose dehydrogenase characterized by being derived from an eukaryotic organism and keeping 90% or more activity after being treated with heat at 55° C. for 15 minutes in a liquid form compared with the activity before being treated. |
| US07871802B2 |
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. |
| US07871797B2 |
DNA encoding a bacterial protease for degrading gelatin and collagen
The present invention relates to a protease having a molecular weight of 21,000±1,000 (by SDS-PAGE) and a specific protease activity capable of cutting at the Gly-Phe site of a peptide or protein comprising the amino acid sequence Pro-Gln-Gly-Phe-Gln-Gly-Pro or Pro-Ala-Gly-Phe-Ala-Gly-Pro or cutting at the Ser-Leu site of a peptide or protein comprising the amino acid sequence Gln-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Thr-Pro. The invention further provides DNA encoding this protease, as well as vectors containing this DNA, and a method for producing this protease by transforming a cell with this DNA. |
| US07871795B2 |
Targeted trans-splicing of highly abundant transcripts for in vivo production of recombinant proteins
The present invention provides methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through RNA trans-splicing that target a highly expressed pre-mRNA and contain the coding sequence of a protein or polypeptide of interest. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with the target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) that is abundantly expressed, and mediate a trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of novel chimeric RNA molecule (chimeric RNA) capable of encoding a protein or polypeptide of interest. The invention provides for the in vivo production of chimeric RNA molecules that encode and result in the production of a protein or polypeptide of interest. |
| US07871794B2 |
Enhanced cell-free synthesis of active proteins containing disulfide bonds
Compositions and methods are provided for the enhanced in vitro synthesis of active polypeptides containing disulfide bonds. In certain embodiments of the invention, the reaction mix includes a biological extract derived from a bacterial cell in which the glutathione reductase gene has been inactivated, which is pre-treated with a low concentration of a sulfhydryl inactivating agent. |
| US07871792B2 |
Thermacetogenium phaeum consortium for the production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content
An isolated microbial consortium is described that includes a first microbial consortium having Thermacetogenium phaeum to metabolize a complex hydrocarbon substrate into metabolic products comprising an acetate compound. The consortium also includes a second microbial consortium having a methanogen to convert the acetate compound into a final product that includes methane. Also, a method of increasing production of materials with enhanced hydrogen content. The method includes isolating Thermacetogenium phaeum from geologic formation water, culturing the isolated Thermacetogenium phaeum to increase the Thermacetogenium phaeum population, and introducing a consortium of the cultured Thermacetogenium phaeum, which may include spores of Thermacetogenium phaeum, into a hydrocarbon formation containing a complex hydrocarbon substrate. |
| US07871789B2 |
Method for assaying glycated albumin
An albumin denaturing agent for digesting an albumin by a protease efficiently is provided. The albumin denaturing agent contains quaternary ammonium having a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or more, or a salt of the quaternary ammonium. The albumin in a sample is digested by the protease in the presence of the albumin denaturing agent, a glycated part of the thus obtained albumin digestion product and a FAOD effect a reaction, and a redox reaction between the glycated part and the FAOD is measured, thereby determining a ratio (GA (%)) of the glycated albumin of the glycated albumin with respect to the albumin. |
| US07871788B2 |
Method of judging grade of malignancy of carcinoma cell using ATBF-1
Means for easily determining the grade of malignancy of cancer cells. The amount of ATBF1 in the whole cell structure of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. Alternatively, the amount of ATBF1 in the nuclei of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. Still alternatively, the amount of ATBF1 in the cytoplasms of test cancer cells separated from a living organism is detected, and on the basis of detection results, the grade of malignancy of test cancer cells is judged. In a preferred from, at least one of (1) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 10 of an ATBF1 gene, (2) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 11 of an ATBF1 gene, and (3) the amount of intranuclear presence and/or intracytoplasmic presence a region corresponding to exon 3 of an ATBF1 gene is detected as the amount of ATBF1. |
| US07871783B2 |
Method for activating an antigen, method for detecting a cell, and solution for activating an antigen
A method of activating an antigen is herein described. The method comprises providing an antigen activation solution and contacting the cell with the solution to activate the antigen. A method of detecting a cell fixed by a nonbridging fixation solution is also described. The method comprises providing an antigen activation solution, contacting the cell with the solution, immunostaining the cell, and detecting the stained cell. The solution used for these methods comprises an agent for breaking a hydrogen bond, and is also described herein. |
| US07871779B2 |
Molecular identification of Aspergillus species
Novel techniques for the detection of Aspergillus in samples are disclosed. These techniques relate to PCR amplification and/or detection of Aspergillus ITS1 rDNA sequences, and the identification of particular species of Aspergillus by detecting differences in the ITS1-V1, ITS-V2, ITS-V3, ITS-V4, and ITS-V5 nucleic acid sequences of Aspergillus. The highly variable regions of the ITS1 rDNA sequences are particularly useful in distinguishing, for example, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus granulosus, Aspergillus sydowii, Aspergillus flavipes, Aspergillus restrictus, Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus wentii, and Aspergillus chevalieri. In particular embodiments, the sequence differences are also able to distinguish among variants of particular species, such as Aspergillus granulosus CBS 119.5A, Aspergillus granulosus strain NRRL 1932, Aspergillus sydowii strain NRRL 250, Aspergillus sydowii strain NRRL 4768, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUHI, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH2, Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH7, and Aspergillus sydowii strain CUH8. |
| US07871773B2 |
Aza-benzazolium containing cyanine dyes
Unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that incorporate an aza-benzazolium ring moiety are described, including cyanine dyes substituted by a cationic side chain, monomeric and dimeric cyanine dyes, chemically reactive cyanine dyes, and conjugates of cyanine dyes. The subject dyes are virtually non-fluorescent when diluted in aqueous solution, but exhibit bright fluorescence when associated with nucleic acid polymers such as DNA or RNA, or when associated with detergent-complexed proteins. A variety of applications are described for detection and quantitation of nucleic acids and detergent-complexed proteins in a variety of samples, including solutions, electrophoretic gels, cells, and microorganisms. |
| US07871768B2 |
Lafora's disease gene
A novel gene (EPM2B) that is mutated in humans and dogs with Lafora's disease is described. |
| US07871767B2 |
Polymorphisms in the human gene for cytochrome P450 polypeptide 2C8 and their use in diagnostic applications
The present invention relates to a polymorphic CYP2C8-polynucleotide. Moreover, the invention relates to genes or vectors comprising the polynucleotides of the invention and to a host cell genetically engineered with the polynucleotide or gene of the invention. Further, the invention relates to methods for producing molecular variant polypeptides or fragments thereof, methods for producing cells capable of expressing a molecular variant polypeptide and to a polypeptide or fragment thereof encoded by the polynucleotide or the gene of the invention or which is obtainable by the method or from the cells produced by the method of the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to an antibody which binds specifically the polypeptide of the invention. Moreover, the invention relates to a transgenic non-human animal. The invention also relates to a solid support comprising one or a plurality of the above mentioned polynucleotides, genes, vectors, polypeptides, antibodies or host cells. Furthermore, methods of identifying a polymorphism, identifying and obtaining a prodrug or drug or an inhibitor are also encompassed by the present invention. In addition, the invention relates to methods for producing of a pharmaceutical composition and to methods of diagnosing a disease. Further, the invention relates to a method of detection of the polynucleotide of the invention. Furthermore, comprised by the present invention are a diagnostic and a pharmaceutical composition. Even more, the invention relates to uses of the polynucleotides, genes, vectors, polypeptides or antibodies of the invention. Finally, the invention relates to a diagnostic kit. |
| US07871765B2 |
Composition having antitumor effect
The present invention is intended to provide a pharmaceutical composition for delivering a chemotherapeutic, preferably an anticancer drug, into cells or into a living organism, using a viral envelope vector, and provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a chemotherapeutic encapsulated in, or used in combination with, a viral envelope vector having an adjuvanticity as an active ingredient. Thereby it is possible to introduce an anticancer drug encapsulated in a viral envelope vector directly into a tumor, with coadministration of another anticancer drug so as to induce tumor cell-specific antitumor immunity also thanks to the adjuvant action of HVJ-E, and hence to regress the tumor. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a viral envelope vector and a chemotherapeutic as active ingredients. |
| US07871764B1 |
Universal nucleic acids sample preparation method for cells, spores and their mixture
The present invention relates to a method for extracting nucleic acids from biological samples. More specifically the invention relates to a universal method for extracting nucleic acids from unidentified biological samples. An advantage of the presently invented method is its ability to effectively and efficiently extract nucleic acids from a variety of different cell types including but not limited to prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells and/or recalcitrant organisms (i.e. spores). Unlike prior art methods which are focused on extracting nucleic acids from vegetative cell or spores, the present invention effectively extracts nucleic acids from spores, multiple cell types or mixtures thereof using a single method. Important that the invented method has demonstrated an ability to extract nucleic acids from spores and vegetative bacterial cells with similar levels effectiveness. The invented method employs a multi-step protocol which erodes the cell structure of the biological sample, isolates, labels, fragments nucleic acids and purifies labeled samples from the excess of dye. |
| US07871763B2 |
Hepatocellular carcinoma-related genes and polypeptides, and method for detecting hepatocellular carcinomas
Genes up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinomas and polypeptides encoded by these genes are provided. Vectors, transformants and methods for producing the recombinant polypeptides are also provided. Probes and primers of these genes and antibodies against the polypeptides are also provided. The probes, primers and antibodies can be used as reagents for detecting hepatocellular carcinomas. Methods for detecting hepatocellular carcinomas using such detection reagents are further provided. Antisense nucleotide sequences of these genes are also provided and can be used to inhibit growth of hepatocellular carcinomas. |
| US07871757B2 |
Laser induced thermal imaging apparatus and laser induced thermal imaging method
A laser induced thermal imaging apparatus for imaging an imaging layer of a donor film on an acceptor substrate. The laser induced thermal imaging apparatus includes: a substrate stage having an electromagnet, and adapted to receive an acceptor substrate having a pixel area of the organic light emitting device and a donor film including the organic light emitting layer to be imaged on the pixel area; a laser oscillator for irradiating a laser on the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be located between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator and including an opening portion of a pattern corresponding to a part to be imaged of the donor film and a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic force with the substrate stage; and a contact frame moving mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage. |
| US07871754B2 |
Photosensitive composition
A photosensitive composition is provided, which includes a compound expressed by the formula T3 and a photo-acid generator which generates an acid by an action of actinic radiation. In the formula T3, R3s are hydrogen atoms and hydrophobic groups. The hydrophobic groups are selected from the group consisting of (AD-1), (AD-2), and (AD-3) shown below, and the hydrogen atoms are partially substituted with a hydrophilic group (LA) shown below. |
| US07871753B2 |
Positive resist composition and method of forming resist pattern
A positive resist composition of the present invention includes a resin component (A) which displays increased alkali solubility under the action of an acid, and an acid generator component (B) which generates an acid upon exposure, wherein the resin component (A) includes a structural unit (a0) containing a carboxyl group, and at least one structural unit (a1) selected from the group consisting of a structural unit represented by a general formula (a1-2) and a structural unit represented by a general formula (a1-4) shown below: (in the formula, Y represents an aliphatic cyclic group or a lower alkyl group; n represents an integer from 0 to 3; m represents 0 or 1; R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a halogenated lower alkyl group; and R1′ and R2′ each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms.). |
| US07871748B2 |
Iron containing hole blocking layer containing photoconductors
A photoconductor that includes a substrate; an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains, for example, a metal oxide, and an iron containing compound; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer. |
| US07871740B2 |
Electrode for fuel cell, membrane electrode composite and fuel cell, and method for manufacturing them
A fuel cell, which can supply stable output even at elevated temperatures and can maintain its power generation performance over a long period of time, can be realized by an electrode for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer formed of a catalyst composite and a binder, the catalyst composite comprising a proton-conductive inorganic oxide and an oxidation-reduction catalyst phase supported on the proton-conductive inorganic oxide, the proton-conductive inorganic oxide comprising a catalyst carrier selected from tin(Sn)-doped In2O3, fluorine(F)-doped SnO2, and antimony(Sb)-doped SnO2 and an oxide particle phase chemically bonded to the surface of the catalyst carrier. The catalyst composite is manufactured by dispersing a catalyst carrier in a solution containing a material as a starting material for an oxide particle phase, heat treating the dispersion to form a proton-conductive inorganic oxide, further dispersing the proton-conductive inorganic oxide in a catalyst precursor-containing solution, and subjecting the dispersion to heat treatment or pH adjustment to deposit a catalyst phase. |
| US07871736B2 |
Polymer membrane for fuel cell, method of preparing same, and membrane-electrode assembly for fuel cell comprising same
The polymer electrolyte membrane of the present invention includes polymers having a fluoroalkyl group and a proton conductive group. The present invention also provides a membrane-electrode assembly, a fuel cell system including the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a method of making the polymer electrolyte membrane by a chemical grafting method. The amount of the proton conductive groups in the polymer electrolyte membrane can be controlled, the membrane thickness can be easily controlled, adherence between a polymer electrolyte membrane and an electrode is improved due to the fluoroalkyl of the polymer, and long-term stability of a membrane-electrode assembly is improved. |
| US07871733B2 |
Fuel cells having a water guide element
In a fuel cell structure having an assembly of an electrolyte layer and an electrode formed on the electrolyte layer, a gas separator 25 is laminated on the electrolyte layer and the electrode and forms, in combination with the electrode, a gas flow path to make a flow of a reactive gas that is subjected to an electrochemical reaction. A first water guide element is provided between the electrode and the gas separator 25 and is arranged to enable migration of water from and to the electrode and to continuously guide water in an electrode plane direction. A gas outlet 68 is open at one end of the gas flow path to be at least partly overlapped with one end of the first water guide element and discharges the flow of the reactive gas from the gas flow path. The gas outlet 68 is designed to have a higher flow resistance of the reactive gas than a flow resistance in the gas flow path. This arrangement effectively improves the water discharge efficiency from the gas flow path formed in the fuel cell structure. |
| US07871731B2 |
Fuel cell assembly operating method and fuel cell system
A method of operating a fuel cell assembly and a fuel cell system use a simple construction to restrain deterioration of power generating performance of a fuel cell assembly at a startup in a subfreezing environment. If an ignition switch is turned off is STEP 1, a control unit determines in STEP 3 whether the temperature of a fuel cell assembly (the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly) is lower than a predetermined temperature, which is higher than the temperature at which the water produced during power generation freezes. If the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly is the predetermined temperature or higher, then the processing proceeds to STEP 4 wherein a power generating condition is adjusted to cause the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly to rise. In STEP 5, an alarm device is actuated. The power generation is continued until the internal temperature of the fuel cell assembly reaches the predetermined temperature or higher, and then the power generation is stopped in STEP 8. |
| US07871730B2 |
Fuel cell and fuel cell stack having a filter mechanism
A fuel gas supply channel connecting a fuel gas supply passage and a fuel gas inlet are provided in a separator, a channel lid member, and a circular disk member. A filter mechanism for filtering a fuel gas supplied from the fuel gas supply passage to a channel unit is provided in the fuel gas supply channel. The filter mechanism has a plurality of holes, and the cross sectional area of the opening of the hole is smaller than the cross sectional area of the opening of the fuel gas inlet. |
| US07871724B2 |
Cylindrical rechargeable battery and method of forming the same
A rechargeable battery and a method of forming the rechargeable battery. An electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to prevent a short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode. A first electrode tap is formed on an end portion of the first electrode and a second electrode tap is formed on an end portion of a second electrode, each end portion being absent active materials. A can is adapted to receive the electrode assembly and have the electrode assembly welded to an inner side of the can. A cap assembly surrounded by a gasket insulates the cap assembly and seals an opening of the can. |
| US07871718B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and magnetic storage apparatus
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic seed layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer provided on the nonmagnetic seed layer, and a perpendicular recording layer provided on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic seed layer includes a first seed layer made of an amorphous material, and a second seed layer provided between the first seed layer and the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and made of a material having a fcc structure. The amorphous material includes at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ta, W, Nb, Mo, Zr and alloys thereof which include at least one of Ta, W, Nb, Mo and Zr as a main component exceeding 50 at. %. |
| US07871717B2 |
Optical film and method for producing the same
An optical film according to the present invention comprises a transparent base, and an anti-reflection layer that is disposed on one main face of the transparent base. The anti-reflection layer includes a hard coating layer, and a low refractive index layer that is disposed on the hard coating layer in this order from the side of the transparent base. The hard coating layer is formed using a resin containing an ionizing radiation setting resin. The hard coating layer contains a conductive metal oxide in an amount of at least 5 wt % and at most 30 wt % with respect to the total weight of the hard coating layer. The hard coating layer is formed using a coating solution containing water in an amount of at least 0.05 wt % and at most 5.0 wt %. |
| US07871712B2 |
Drying agent and field light emission device using the same
A water-capturing or drying agent placed in a hermetically sealed field light emission device for maintaining stable light emission of the light emission device not susceptible to moisture and oxygen for long period of time. The drying agent comprises a compound of polymer formed by bonding M constituting a plurality of organometallic compounds wherein M is a trivalent metal atom with an oxygen molecule. The drying agent is placed in the hermetically sealed container, thereby protecting the field light emission device from being adversely affected by damage from trace amounts of moisture permeating from outside the hermetically sealed container and/or adhered to the inner surface thereof. |
| US07871707B2 |
Polymer comprising silicone and metal trace
A flexible electrode array of silicone containing oxide particles of SiO2, TiO2, Sb2O3, SnO2, Al2O3, ZnO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, talc, hydroxyapatite or their mixtures and at least one metal trace in a silicone-containing polymer. |
| US07871698B2 |
Adhesive film, flexible metal-clad laminate, and processes for producing these
The present invention relates to an adhesive film with which a flexible metal-clad laminate is obtained with suppressed dimensional changes occurred when produced by a laminating method; and a flexible metal-clad laminate comprising the adhesive film and a metal foil bonded thereto. The adhesive film comprises a polyimide film and, formed on at least one side thereof, an adhesive layer comprising a thermoplastic polyimide and has coefficients of linear expansion satisfying the relationship 1.0>(coefficient of linear expansion in the MD direction)/(coefficient of linear expansion in the TD direction)>0.1. This adhesive film may be one produced continuously and further satisfying the relationship 1.70>(elastic modulus in the MD direction)/(elastic modulus in the TD direction)>1.05 when the adhesive film has an MD modulus of 5 GPa or higher throughout the whole width thereof. That adhesive film may be one produced continuously and further satisfying the relationship 2.00>(elastic modulus in the MD direction)/(elastic modulus in the TD direction)>1.10 when the adhesive film has an MD modulus less than 5 GPa throughout the whole thereof. |
| US07871697B2 |
Peelable composite thermoplastic sealants in packaging films
A peelable sealing structure includes a sealing layer and one or more optional additional layers. The peelable sealing structure includes a sealing surface that is formable into a peelable seal upon contact with a sealing substrate at all temperatures in a peelable seal temperature range. Moreover, the peelable sealing structure comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an additive dispersed within at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer with the peelable sealing structure defining the sealing surface. |
| US07871696B2 |
Peelable composite thermoplastic sealants in packaging films
A peelable sealing structure includes a sealing layer and one or more optional additional layers. The peelable sealing structure includes a sealing surface that is formable into a peelable seal upon contact with a sealing substrate at all temperatures in a peelable seal temperature range. Moreover, the peelable sealing structure comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an additive dispersed within at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer with the peelable sealing structure defining the sealing surface. |
| US07871691B2 |
Oriented polyester film
An object of the invention is to provide such an oriented polyester film that has a constant thickness, and is excellent in dimensional stability at a high temperature and dimensional stability to temperature change in a working temperature range. The invention relates to an oriented polyester film containing as a major component of a substrate layer polyethylene -2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate, being stretched at least in one direction, and having a film thickness of from 12 to 250 μm, wherein (1) a coefficient of linear thermal expansion αt at a temperature of from 30 to 100° C. is from 0 to 15 ppm/° C. in both longitudinal and width directions of the film, and (2) a thermal shrinkage rate at 100° C. for 10 minutes is 0.5% or less in both longitudinal and width directions of the film. |
| US07871688B2 |
Honeycomb structure and method of manufacturing the honeycomb structure
A honeycomb structure includes a ceramic block formed by bonding a plurality of pillar-shaped honeycomb fired bodies by interposing an adhesive layer therebetween, and a sealing material layer provided on the periphery of the ceramic block. Each of the honeycomb fired bodies has a large number of cells disposed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween. The adhesive layer and the sealing material layer are integrally formed with substantially no interface to divide the two layers. |
| US07871685B2 |
Methods for producing optical recording medium and optical recording medium
The present invention provides a method for producing an optical recording medium having: a supporting substrate; a light transmission layer, which transmits a laser beam; and an information layer formed between the supporting substrate and the light transmission layer, which includes: applying a resin composition on the information layer by a spin coating method to form a coating film, wherein the resin composition contains, as main components: (A) a radical-curing urethane(meth)acrylate, which is obtained by reacting (a-1) a compound having three or more isocyanate groups binding to an aliphatic carbon atom per one molecule thereof and (a-2) a polycaprolacton-modified hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate; and (B) a radical-curing monomer having a viscosity of 400 mPa.s or less at 25° C., curing the coating film by irradiating the coating film with an ultraviolet light or an electron beam to form the light transmission layer. |
| US07871684B2 |
Coated pipes for conveying oil
The present invention relates to an oil pipe having a lining imparting substantially reduced adhesion of asphaltenes, paraffin wax, and inorganic scale, so as to reduce plugging of said oil pipe, and impermeability to salt water so as to protect the oil pipe from corrosion. |
| US07871680B2 |
Optical film and liquid-crystal display device
An optical film has a transparent film including light output portions distributed over one of opposite surfaces of the transparent film so as to make the total luminous transmittance and the haze of the optical film be set in a range of from 75 to 92% and in a range of from 4 to 20% respectively, the light output portions being constituted by concave or convex portions having optical path changing slopes each inclined at an inclination angle of from 35 to 48 degrees with respect to a film plane of the transparent film. A liquid-crystal display device has an optical film defined above, and a liquid-crystal display panel, wherein the optical film is disposed on one of opposite surfaces of the liquid-crystal display panel so that a surface of the film in which the light output portions of the optical film are provided faces outward. |
| US07871678B1 |
Method of increasing the reactivity of a precursor in a cyclic deposition process
The present invention relates to an enhanced cyclic deposition process suitable for deposition of barrier layers, adhesion layers, seed layers, low dielectric constant (low-k) films, high dielectric constant (high-k) films, and other conductive, semi-conductive, and non-conductive films. The technique increases the chemical reactivity of a precursor used in the process. |
| US07871677B2 |
Surface treating method for substrate
A surface treating method for a conductive substrate by using a photo-excitation process, wherein a conducive substrate is placed in a process chamber (1) maintained between 0.001-1 atmospheric pressure, while a negative bias voltage is applied to a substrate (2), ultraviolet having a photo energy of 3-10 eV larger than the work function of the substrate surface is applied from a ultraviolet source (5) housed in a chamber having a light output window, and a process gas is supplied into the process chamber container (1) to thereby produce ions and radicals (6) caused by the collision of process gas molecules with emitted electrons from the substrate surface and allow them to reach the surface of the substrate (2), whereby it is possible to surface-treat a substrate simply, highly efficiently, inexpensively and easily even in the case of a large-area substrate. |
| US07871676B2 |
System for depositing a film by modulated ion-induced atomic layer deposition (MII-ALD)
The present invention relates to an enhanced sequential atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique suitable for deposition of barrier layers, adhesion layers, seed layers, low dielectric constant (low-k) films, high dielectric constant (high-k) films, and other conductive, semi-conductive, and non-conductive films. This is accomplished by 1) providing a non-thermal or non-pyrolytic means of triggering the deposition reaction; 2) providing a means of depositing a purer film of higher density at lower temperatures; and, 3) providing a faster and more efficient means of modulating the deposition sequence and hence the overall process rate resulting in an improved deposition method. |
| US07871675B2 |
Silane-crosslinkable coating formulations
Moisture curable compositions which cure to produce hard coatings contain prepolymers bearing alkoxysilyl groups of the formula —X—CH2—Si(OR)3-xR1x where X is —O— or —O—CO—NR″—. The compositions are storage stable and can be cured without use of tin catalysts. |
| US07871671B2 |
Process for producing metallic component and structural member
A process for producing a metallic component that includes shot peening the surface of a metallic material, wherein almost no dimensional change or roughening of the surface profile of the metallic material occurs, the iron fraction adhered to the surface of the metallic material is removed efficiently, and the fatigue properties of the produced metallic component are improved. First particles containing iron as the main component and having an average particle size of not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 5 mm are projected onto the surface of a metallic material containing a lightweight alloy, and second particles containing essentially no iron and having an average particle size of not more than 200 μm are then projected onto the surface of the metallic material. |
| US07871670B2 |
Microfabrication using replicated patterned topography and self-assembled monolayers
A method of selectively and electrolessly depositing a metal onto a substrate having a metallic patterned-nanostructure surface is disclosed. The method includes providing a tool having a patterned-nanostructure surface, the patterned-nanostructure surface having surface regions having a nanostructured surface, replicating the tool patterned-nanostructure surface onto a substrate to form a substrate patterned-nanostructure surface, disposing a metal layer on the substrate patterned-nanostructure surface to form a metallic patterned-nanostructure surface region, forming a self-assembled monolayer on the metallic patterned-nanostructure surface region, exposing the self-assembled monolayer to an electroless plating solution comprising a deposit metal, and depositing electrolessly the deposit metal selectively on the surface regions having a metallic nanostructured surface. Articles formed from this method are also disclosed. |
| US07871666B2 |
Pattern forming system, pattern forming method, and electronic apparatus
A pattern forming system including a feeding reel for feeding a tape form substrate that is wound up, a winding reel for winding up the tape form substrate that is fed up, and a droplet discharge apparatus for discharging a droplet onto the tape form substrate, between the feeding reel and the winding reel, to form a pattern, wherein the droplet discharge apparatus includes a table that can move while sucking the tape form substrate, with a slack mechanism for the tape form substrate being placed on the both ends of the table in the longitudinal direction of the tape form substrate. |
| US07871663B1 |
Minute doping for YBCO flux pinning
A method for enhancing the flux pinning of a YBCO superconductor by substituting minute quantities of rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) or other deleterious elements (Sc, etc.) for Y in YBCO thin films is described. The method of the present invention enables enhanced flux pinning of the material while not significantly increasing the cost of the HIS material and can be used in all HTS deposition methods since it is not process dependent. |
| US07871662B2 |
Method for producing a stimulation electrode
A stimulation electrode is provided having an electrically conducting electrode base member which is partially covered with an electrically insulating ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is formed of an oxide and/or an oxynitride of at least one metal of the group of titanium, niobium. tantalum, zirconium, aluminum and silicon. Various methods are provided for production of the stimulation electrode, including methods in which the ceramic layer is formed in situ by a thermal, chemical or electrochemical oxidation or oxynitridation process. The stimulation electrode may be used as a cardiac pacemaker electrode, a neuro-stimulation electrode, or another human implant. |
| US07871661B2 |
Serpentine and corduroy circuits to enhance the stretchablity of a stretchable electronic device
A stretchable electronic apparatus and method of producing the apparatus. The apparatus has a central longitudinal axis and the apparatus is stretchable in a longitudinal direction generally aligned with the central longitudinal axis. The apparatus comprises a stretchable polymer body, and at least one circuit line operatively connected to the stretchable polymer body, the at least one circuit line extending in the longitudinal direction and having a longitudinal component that extends in the longitudinal direction and having an offset component that is at an angle to the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal component and the offset component allowing the apparatus to stretch in the longitudinal direction while maintaining the integrity of the at least one circuit line. |
| US07871658B2 |
Stent coating method
A system, nozzle assembly, and method for coating a stent with a solvent and polymer are provided. The polymer can include a therapeutic substance or a drug. The polymer and solvent can be discharged from separate tubes disposed within another tube carrying moving air. The polymer and the solvent mix together when they are discharged and are atomized by the air. The ends of the tubes can be concentric with each other. |
| US07871657B2 |
Process for preparation of expanded millet
The present invention relates to a process for preparation of expanded finger millet, a ready-to-eat product with versatile food uses. |
| US07871655B2 |
Method and apparatus for accelerating formation of functional meat mixtures
A system and method wherein meat product constituents are mixed under a high shear force to combine the constituents into a mixture having a stable protein matrix is disclosed. The system incorporates mixing devices in a housing into which the input streams are directed. The system then applies a high shear force over a small volume to mix the constituents together, thereby rapidly combining the meat constituents and other ingredients to rapidly form a stable protein matrix and eliminate the need for a curing stage for protein extraction. |
| US07871654B2 |
Manufacturing method of space Kimchi with shelf stability under the severe environment
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of kimchi with shelf stability and high quality under the severe environment, more precisely, a manufacturing method of kimchi with shelf stability and high quality under the severe environment such as desert, alpine regions, poles and space which includes the step of irradiation after heating, gas exchange packaging and quick freezing. The manufacturing method of kimchi of the present invention reduces the chances of deterioration of the sensory quality and physicochemical characteristics caused by the conventional sterilization methods including high temperature and high pressure treatment and high dose of irradiation, so that kimchi produced by this method has excellent shelf stability under the severe environment. |
| US07871653B2 |
Double-stack shrimp tray
A tiered shrimp food tray including a sheet of material forming a base tray having an outer ridge, a support ridge formed concentric to and in spaced relation to the outer ridge. An inner ridge and a base surface cooperatively define a central well which supports a condiment cup. A ring of shrimp is arranged on the support ridge of the base tray. A connector plate interconnects the base tray with an upper tray. The upper tray includes an outer ridge and a support ridge spaced from one another. A second condiment cup is disposed within a well of the upper tray. A ring of shrimp is arranged on the support ridge of the upper tray. |
| US07871652B2 |
Printing on comestible products
A color image may be applied onto a substantially planar carrier, and the carrier may be deformed to form a non-planar relief mold of a three-dimensional image, including deforming the color image whereby the deformed color image is proportionate relative to, i.e., is in register with, the three-dimensional image. A comestible material, e.g., chocolate, may be deposited into the relief mold to substantially overlie the color image. The comestible material may be removed from the relief mold, with the color image applied thereto. In one implementation, the color image may be applied to the substantially planar carrier by screen printing one or more colors forming the color image onto the carrier using an edible ink composition. |
| US07871650B2 |
Non sticky gum base for chewing gum
The present invention relates to a gum base formulation suitable for the production of a chewing gum with good sensory properties and good flavor release in combination with anti-adhesive properties in respect of teeth, dentures and the like typical of formulations containing polyvinyl acetate. This gum base formulation does not stick to teeth and it is characterized by having the following composition by weight: (a) elastomers 8-16% (b) emulsifiers and/or technological auxiliaries18-30% (c) adjuvants15-40% (d) vegetable resins and/or vegetable resin esters26-45% (e) antioxidants0-2% and by not containing polyvinyl acetate. |
| US07871649B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions containing synergistic combinations of quaternary ammonium compounds and essential oils and/or constituents thereof
The present invention relates to compositions comprising quaternary ammonium compounds and essential oils or individual constituents thereof which exhibit enhanced antimicrobial effects. Such combinations may be comprised in lotions, gels, creams, soaps, etc. for application to skin or mucous membranes. The invention is based, at least in part, on the observation that synergistic antimicrobial effects are achieved with combinations of essential oils or individual constituents thereof and low concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds. |
| US07871648B2 |
Herbal formulation for the treatment of bone fractures and osseous defects
An herbal formulation including Symphytum Officinalis extract and Phytolacca Decandra extract may be combined to treat bone fractures and osseum defects. Specifically, the herbal formulation provides for the regeneration of osseum tissue for treating bone defects such as imperfect osteogenesis, pseudo-arthrosis infected or not, bone union delay of fractures, osteoporosis, osseum tumors, aneurismatic osseum cyst, and myeloma multiple. |
| US07871646B2 |
Use of a human amniotic membrane composition for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the eye and skin
A method of preparing an amniotic membrane extract including the steps of obtaining a healthy amniotic membrane from a pregnant mammal, such as a pig, cow, horse or human, homogenizing the membrane to obtain a homogenate solution, freezing the homogenate solution, and lyophilizing the frozen homogenate solution to dryness is disclosed. Preferably, the lyophilized homogenate is pulverized to a powder. The lyophilized homogenate is then reconstituted before use, e.g., in a liquid, such as a balanced salt solution or fresh amniotic fluid, or in another substance, such a gel, an ointment, a cream or a soap, depending on the intended use. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition prepared according to the method of the invention, for prophylaxis and/or treatment of a disease or condition, especially of the eye or the skin. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for the composition of the invention include an ophthalmic solution for eye drops, a gel, an ointment, an emulsion, a cream, a powder and a spray. |
| US07871645B2 |
Ion exchange resin treated to control swelling
The present invention provides a method and composition for loading one or more drugs in a solution onto one or more ion exchange resin particles to form a drug-loaded resin particle. The drug-loaded resin particle is separated from the solution and dried before recombining the drug-loaded resin particle with the solution to load more drugs onto the drug-loaded resin particle from the solution. |
| US07871643B2 |
Pharmaceutical form having a two-layer separating layer
A pharmaceutical form, contains an active compound-containing core, which is covered with a coating layer of a gastric juice-resistant, intestinal juice-soluble (meth)acrylate copolymer, a separating layer situated between said core and said coating layer, the separating layer containing a film-forming water-soluble polymer, wherein the separating layer contains at least two layers: an inner layer containing a water-repellent substance, and thereon a layer comprising the film-forming water-soluble polymer. |
| US07871640B2 |
Surface cross-linked superabsorbent polymer particles and methods of making them
Superabsorbent polymer particles with improved surface cross-linking and their use in absorbent articles. The superabsorbent polymer particles comprise polymer chain segments, wherein at least a part of the polymer chain segments are covalently cross-linked to each other and wherein at least a part of the cross-links include the reaction product of cross-linking molecules having at least two C═C double bonds and further include the reaction product of radical former molecules. These cross-links are present at surfaces of the superabsorbent polymer particles. |
| US07871639B2 |
Biocompatible phase invertable proteinaceous compositions and methods for making and using the same
Biocompatible phase invertable proteinaceous compositions and methods for making and using the same are provided. The subject phase invertable compositions are prepared by combining a proteinaceous substrate and a cross-linker. The proteinaceous substrate includes one or more proteins and an adhesion modifier, and may also include one or more of: a plasticizer, a carbohydrate, or other modification agent. In certain embodiments, the cross-linker is a heat-treated dialdehyde, e.g., heat-treated glutaraldehyde. Also provided are kits for use in preparing the subject compositions. The subject compositions, kits and systems find use in a variety of different applications. |
| US07871638B2 |
Composite material containing a calcium phosphate gradient
This invention relates to a scaffold consisting of a biodegradable polymeric material with a composition gradient of calcium phosphate that is capable of effectively regenerating the hard/soft tissue interface and an implant for hard/soft tissue filling with the utilization of such scaffold. |
| US07871636B2 |
Aqueous, flowable concentrate composition of pendimethalin
The present invention relates to aqueous concentrate compositions of pendimethalin which are flowable, have improved storage stability and do not show a slowed release of active ingredient. The composition contains i. particles a) of microencapsulated pendimethalin, ii. particles b) of non-encapsulated pendimethalin and iii. at least one surface-active substance. |
| US07871635B2 |
Use of compound that inactivates protein kinase A in a composition containing a cosmetically acceptable medium for lightening the skin
A method of using a compound to lighten the skin by inactivating protein kinase A. The compound may be in a composition with either a pharmacologically or cosmetically acceptable medium. Depending upon the medium and concentration of the compound, the composition may be used either therapeutically or non-therapeutically. |
| US07871632B2 |
Compositions for delivering highly water soluble drugs
The present invention provides compositions for delivering highly water-soluble drugs (such as vinca alkaloids) and methods of using such compositions. |
| US07871629B1 |
Delivery of DNA vaccines into fish by immersion
A method for immunizing fish against pathogenic infection is disclosed. More particularly, this invention provides a method of immunizing fish against bacterial and viral infection which comprises immersing the fish in a solution comprised of an effective amount of dead or attenuated, whole-celled recombinant bacteria, the recombinant bacteria having a eukaryotic expression vector (plasmid) incorporated therein having DNA of interest encoding at least one protein antigen for each of the pathogens, the method characterized in that the protein antigen is produced by the fish. |
| US07871626B2 |
Modified influenza virus for monitoring and improving vaccine efficiency
The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines. |
| US07871625B2 |
HCV multiple epitope fusion antigens with modified proteolytic cleavage sites and uses thereof
Modified HCV multiple epitope fusion antigens (MEFAs) are described. The proteins include modified sequences such that proteolytic cleavage of the MEFAs by HCV NS3 protease is inhibited. HCV immunoassays including the modified MEFAs are also described. |
| US07871617B2 |
Antibodies that bind to a portion of the VWC domain of connective tissue growth factor
The present invention relates to antibodies that bind to a portion of the Von Willebrand's factor (VWC) domain of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). The antibodies are particularly directed to regions of CTGF involved in biological activities associated with fibrosis. The invention also relates to methods of using the antibodies to treat disorders associated with CTGF including localized and systemic fibrotic disorders including those of the lung, liver, heart, skin, and kidney. |
| US07871612B2 |
Methods of use of sialoadhesin factor-2 antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies have been generated that bind to human sialoadhesion factor-2. These antibodies are useful as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents. |
| US07871610B2 |
Antibodies to Tie1 ectodomain
Tie1 and Tie2 are receptor tyrosine kinase proteins that include a transmembrane domain. Tie1 and Tie2 are present on endothelial cells. This disclosure describes agents, such as antibodies, that bind to Tie1, Tie2, and Ang, including ones that inhibit endothelial cell activity. |
| US07871609B2 |
Supplements for pain management
Dietary supplements, compositions and methods of administering the supplements to reduce pain, inflammation and stiffness in said mammal within a few hours. The supplements and compositions can include a combination of an amino acid, vitamins, herbs and enzymes. The composition/supplement can be put in capsule form and when administered to mammals can reduce these symptoms within approximately two hours. reducing the pain and inflammation associated with chronic joint discomfort, chronic low back pain, muscle strain, arthritis, sports injuries, normal everyday bumps and bruises. The novel composition has also been shown to be very effective in reducing monthly menstrual symptoms (PMS). The novel composition can also have benefits for other ailments such as but not limited to Osteoarthritis, Cardiovascular disease, Neurological ailments, Alzheimer disease, and Cancer. |
| US07871607B2 |
Soluble glycosaminoglycanases and methods of preparing and using soluble glycosaminoglycanases
The invention relates to the discovery of novel soluble neutral active Hyaluronidase Glycoproteins (sHASEGPs), methods of manufacture, and their use to facilitate administration of other molecules or to alleviate glycosaminoglycan associated pathologies. Minimally active polypeptide domains of the soluble, neutral active sHASEGP domains are described that include asparagine-linked sugar moieties required for a functional neutral active hyaluronidase domain. Included are modified amino-terminal leader peptides that enhance secretion of sHASEGP. The invention further comprises sialated and pegylated forms of a recombinant sHASEGP to enhance stability and serum pharmacokinetics over naturally occurring slaughterhouse enzymes. Further described are suitable formulations of a substantially purified recombinant sHASEGP glycoprotein derived from a eukaryotic cell that generate the proper glycosylation required for its optimal activity. |
| US07871599B2 |
Hair treatment compositions containing xanthine and alpha hydroxy acid
The invention provides a hair treatment composition such as a shampoo or conditioner suitable for topical application in style hair and in particular to lengthening the hair. The composition comprises an α-hydroxy acid and/or its salt and a xanthine preferably having the following formula. |
| US07871595B2 |
Fine barium titanate particles
The fine barium titanate particles of the present invention have an average primary particle diameter of from 10 nm to less than 20 nm, a sphericity of 1.00 to 1.18, and a ratio of an average secondary particle diameter to the average primary particle diameter of 0.7 to 6.0. The fine barium titanate particles of the present invention can exhibit a small behavior particle diameter and can be readily monodispersed notwithstanding very fine particles, and as a result, can be suitably used as various dielectric materials because the particles are free from aggregation therebetween and have an excellent dispersibility. |
| US07871594B2 |
Reactor and method for production of hydrogen sulphide
The present invention describes a reactor (1) for continuously preparing hydrogen sulfide H2S from hydrogen and sulfur, comprising a distributor device (15) for distributing gaseous hydrogen in a sulfur melt (9) present at least in a lower part of the reactor. The distributor device (15) is arranged in the sulfur melt (9) and comprises a distributor plate (16) which is arranged in the reactor (1) and has an edge (17) extending downward and, if appropriate, has passage orifices (19). The hydrogen from a hydrogen bubble which forms below the distributor plate (16) is (for example through the passage orifices (19)) distributed in the sulfur melt (9) via the distributor plate (16). |
| US07871592B2 |
Method for preparing a carbon/carbon composite
A method for preparing a carbon/carbon (C/C) composite comprising carbonizing a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite precursor by heating the precursor in an inert atmosphere with a heating rate greater than 20° C./min up to 1500° C./min. |
| US07871591B2 |
Methods for growing long carbon single-walled nanotubes
Methods and processes for synthesizing single-wall carbon nanotubes are provided. A carbon precursor gas is contacted with metal catalysts deposited on a support material. The metal catalysts are preferably nanoparticles having diameters less than about 3 nm. The reaction temperature is selected such that it is near the eutectic point of the mixture of metal catalyst particles and carbon. Further, the rate at which hydrocarbons are fed into the reactor is equivalent to the rate of formation of carbon SWNTs for given synthesis temperature. The methods produce carbon single-walled nanotubes having longer lengths. |
| US07871589B2 |
Pyrogenically prepared silicon dioxide with a low thickening effect
Provided is a pyrogenically prepared SiO2 powder in the form of aggregated primary particles having a statistical thickness surface area (STSA) of 10-500 m2/g, a thickening action based on the STSA of 4-8 mPas·g/m2, and a micropore volume of 0.03-0.07 cm3/g, and a process for preparing the pyrogenic SiO2 powder, which involves: introducing hydrolyzable silicon compounds, a primary gas comprising oxygen, and a primary combustion gas into a mixing chamber to produce a mixture; igniting the mixture in a burner to produce a flame, which is burned into a reaction chamber to produce the pyrogenic SiO2 powder and gaseous substances; and separating the pyrogenic SiO2 powder from the gaseous substances, wherein a ratio of the amount of primary combustion gas introduced to a stoichiometric amount of primary combustion gas required is referred to as gammaprimary and has a value of less than 1, and wherein a ratio of the amount of primary gas comprising oxygen introduced to a stoichiometric amount of primary gas comprising oxygen required is referred to as lambdaprimary and has a value of greater than 1. |
| US07871587B2 |
Reactive chemical containment system
A small scale, but effective, reactive chemical containment system includes apparatus and methods for reaction of process gases exhausted from reaction furnaces with a reactant gas in a non-combustible manner to produce and contain particulate or powder byproducts, thereby removing the process gas from the exhaust gas flow. The apparatus provides process gas inlet, treatment reactive gas diffusion, process gas and treatment reactive gas pre-mixing, primary containment, secondary containment, and outlet zones. |
| US07871586B2 |
Mercury removal system and method
The present invention provides a mercury removal system and method for effectively removing a mercury component, which is present in a gas stream in an extremely small amount in wet gas cleaning. The mercury removal system in wet gas cleaning includes a water washing tower for introducing therein a target gas containing a mercury component and transferring the mercury component into an absorbing solution, a flash drum (10) for flashing the absorbing solution discharged from the water washing tower to separate the absorbing solution into a gas component and waste water, an oxidation treatment means (1) for adding an oxidizing agent to the absorbing solution at the preceding stage of the flash drum, and a waste water treatment means for subjecting to coagulation sedimentation treatment the separated waste water containing the mercury component at the following stage of the flash drum to dispose of the mercury component as sludge. |
| US07871585B2 |
Method and device for treating fumes generated during the production, conversion and/or handling of oil-based products
The invention relates to a method for treating fumes generated during the production, conversion and/or handling of oil-based products and a device for carrying out said method. The invention further relates to the use of the method or device in which the trapping device comprises at least one fluidized bed of granular material in the preparation of a granular material for use in production of road materials. |
| US07871578B2 |
Micro heat exchanger with thermally conductive porous network
A micro heat exchanger system includes a first flow path and a second flow path transverse thereto for transferring thermal energy between a first fluid flowing through the first flow path and a second fluid flowing through the second flow path. The first flow path and the second flow path are filled with a thermally conductive porous network which incorporate unique structures, such as tubes, honeycomb, corrugated metal, reticulated foams, woven meshes or nonwoven mats or felts, engineered lattice structures, or a combination of these structures. In another embodiment, the thermally conductive porous network is coated with catalyst to provide an integrated heat exchanger and catalytic reactors. |
| US07871576B2 |
Metal foil having different indentations and assembly, honeycomb body and exhaust gas treatment device having a metal foil
A metal foil has a material thickness in a range of from 0.15 mm to 0.02 mm and a structure with elevations and depressions which extend over a length of the metal foil and are disposed adjacent one another. At least some of the elevations or depressions have at least one first indentation and at least one second indentation adjacent the at least one first indentation. The at least one second indentation is at a different distance from the corresponding elevation or depression than the first indentation. An assembly having filter material, a honeycomb body and an exhaust gas treatment device for mobile internal combustion engines, are also provided. |
| US07871575B2 |
Handling unit for microfluidic devices
A handling unit that comprises a first clamping element and a second clamping element, and an actuation mechanism adapted for driving at least one of the clamping elements. When the at least one of the clamping elements is driven to a first position, a microfluidic device may be placed between the clamping elements or taken out of the clamping elements, and when the at least one of the clamping elements is driven to a second position, the microfluidic device is gripped and fastened by the clamping elements. |
| US07871571B2 |
Biomolecule analyzing system
A biomolecule analyzing system (10) that provides an expeditious, accurate and reliable method for analyzing a biomolecule (150). The system (10) includes two substrates (12,28) each having an inner edge (14,30), an outer edge (16,32) and an inner surfaces (20,36) from where extends a multiplicity of cilia (22). To the inner edges (14,30) is attached an input tube (82) that is also attached to a biomolecule sample reservoir (90). To the outer edges (16,32) is attached an output tube (106) that is also attached to a sample deposit chamber (120). The tubes (82,106) include a plurality of conductive plates (98) that are applied an electrical charge that causes the biomolecule (150) to traverse through the tubes (82,106). When the biomolecule (150) passes through the cilia (22) signals are produced that are applied to a pair of image capturing devices (40,50). Each device (40,50) produces a signal that is applied to an electronic data processor from where a three-dimensional image of the biomolecule (150) is produced and viewed on a data monitoring device (70). |
| US07871570B2 |
Fluidic array devices and systems, and related methods of use and manufacturing
The instant application provides a fluidic array device having an elastomeric body that provides easy fluidic control of the device. The elastomeric body may include plurality of intersecting row and column channels. Reactions may occur at the intersection spots formed by the intersecting channels. Pinching applied at suitable locations along the channels enables the channels to be opened or closed, and thus provides control of fluids pumped through the device. The surfaces of the channels and intersection spots may be engineered to have certain properties. In particular, the intersection spots may be nanoengineered to have surface properties differing from those of the channels, and thus reactions may be selectively controlled to occur only, or highly preferentially, in the intersection spots. |
| US07871568B2 |
Rapid test apparatus
Provided herein are methods and devices for rapid testing of solid, semi-solid, or liquid specimens, such as stool, blood, urine, saliva, or swab specimens of the cervix, urethra, nostril, and throat, and for environmental testing. |
| US07871559B2 |
Inspection hole structure for flash-smelting furnace
An inspection hole structure 1 forming a furnace inspection hole 2 installed on the reaction shaft ceiling 104 of a flash smelting furnace, comprising a lower-stage water-cooling jacket 3A having an opening 3Aa at the center; an upper-stage water-cooling jacket 3B which is connected integrally to an upper part of said lower-stage water-cooling jacket 3A and forms said inspection hole 2 at the center in cooperation with said lower-stage water-cooling jacket 3A; and a bottom cover water-cooling jacket 4 provided in said lower-stage water-cooling jacket 3A to open or close said opening of said lower-stage water-cooling jacket 3A. |
| US07871556B2 |
Jettable compositions
A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15° C.-180° C. comprising (i) at least one low viscosity reactive resin; (ii) at least one higher viscosity resin having a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (iii) at least one curable toughener, (iv) at least one initiator for the polymerization of the resins, and (v) at least one stabilizer for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, for example, a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together. |
| US07871550B2 |
ePTFE graft with axial elongation properties
A method of making an ePTFE tubular structure includes the steps of (a) forming a tube of polytetrafluoroethylene; (b) longitudinally stretching the polytetrafluoroethylene tube to form an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube, where the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube includes fibrils oriented in a longitudinal direction of the tube and nodes oriented in a circumferential direction of the tube; and (c) placing the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube circumferentially exterior to a longitudinal foreshortening and radially expanding mechanism, where radial pressure from the foreshortening mechanism radially expands the ePTFE tubular structure and reorients the fibrils non-longitudinally. |
| US07871549B2 |
Producing method for film
A polymer solution (21) is prepared by dissolving poly-.ε.-caprolactone and amphipathic polyacrylamide in an organic solvent. The polymer solution (21) is cast from a casting die (25) onto a casting belt (26) to form a casting film (40). Air (35) from a blowing and suctioning device (34) is sent to the casting film (40) to generate droplets (44). The relative speed of drying air (37) to the moving speed of the casting belt (26) is adjusted at 5 m/min in parallel flow. The water in the drying air (37) is condensed in the casting film (40) to form the droplets (44). The droplets (44) are evaporated after evaporating the organic solvent in the casting film (40), so that a honeycomb-structure film (12) can be obtained. |
| US07871548B2 |
Process for producing polymer oriented crystal, polymer oriented crystal produced by said production process, and method for determining critical elongation strain rate of polymer melt
A method and means for determining a critical elongation strain rate of a polymer melt, which make it possible to subject a polymer melt to elongation to prepare a bulk oriented melt, are established, and a process for producing bulk polymer oriented crystals and polymer oriented crystals are provided. In the critical elongation strain rate determination process or critical elongation strain rate determining method, a polymer melt (3) in a disc shape having a radius x0 and a thickness of Δz0 is held between transparent plates (an upper transparent plate (1) and a lower transparent plate (2)). The polymer melt (3) is cooled to a supercooled state and is press in a thickness direction at a constant rate v by using the transparent plates. The critical point radius x*, at which the polymer melt (3) is turned to an oriented crystal, is measured, and the critical elongation strain rate ε is calculated by equation ε*=ax*3 wherein α=v/(2Δz0x03). |
| US07871547B2 |
Halide reduction in dihydrocarbylmagnesium mixtures
This invention provides a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a solution comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. The process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the solution at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:2.5, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides. Also provided by this invention is a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a slurry comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, solids from the formation of said dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. This process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the slurry at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:1.25, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides. |
| US07871545B2 |
Hybrid composite including carbon nanotube and carbide-derived carbon, electron emitter including the hybrid composite, method of preparing the electron emitter, and electron emission device including the electron emitter
Hybrid composites including carbon nanotubes and a carbide-derived carbon material, electron emitters including the hybrid composites, methods of preparing the electron emitters, and electron emission devices including the electron emitters are provided. Specifically, a hybrid composite includes at least one carbon nanotube and a carbide-derived carbon material. The carbide-derived carbon material is prepared by thermochemically reacting a carbide compound with a halogen-containing gas to extract substantially all of the elements except for the carbon in the carbide compound. Since the carbon nanotubes and the carbide-derived carbon material are hybridized and composited, a screen effect that may occur when large amounts of carbon nanotubes are used can be prevented, and an electron emitter including the hybrid composite has excellent electron emission capabilities, excellent uniformity, and a long lifetime. |
| US07871543B2 |
Material for a functional layer of an organic electronic component, method for the production thereof, and use thereof
The invention relates to a material for applying thin organic layers having a specifically adjustable conductivity. Said material comprises at least one mixture of two different fractions of a functional polymer, preferably in a solvent, and is used, for example, with the aid of various application techniques, as a functional layer for an organic electronic component. |
| US07871542B2 |
Plasma display device, luminescent device and image and information display system using the same
A plasma display device comprising phosphor layer wherein the phosphor layer comprises blue-emission divalent europium activated alkaline earth silicate phosphor which is represented by the following compositional formula (Ae)3-x(Ae′)Si2O8:Eux, wherein x satisfies 0.01≦x≦0.1, Ae is at least one alkaline earth element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca, and Ba, and Ae′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zn or (Zn plus Mg). |
| US07871540B2 |
Polymerizable liquid crystal composition
A polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the present invention includes a compound including a repeated unit represented by a general formula (I) (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and one or more of hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon group may be substituted by the halogen atoms.), in which a weight average molecular weight is 100 or more. |
| US07871539B2 |
Liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal element, reflective display material, light-controlling material, and method of preparing liquid crystal composition
The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition having at least a liquid crystal and a chiral dopant, in which the chiral dopant is a compound having a liquid crystalline group of a specific structure bonded to a rigid optically active compound. The present invention provides a liquid crystal element having at least a pair of electrodes in which at least one of the electrodes is a transparent electrode, and a liquid crystal layer containing the liquid crystal composition. The present invention also provides a reflective display material and a light-controlling material having at least the liquid crystal element, and a method of preparing the liquid crystal element by adding the chiral dopant to a host liquid crystal. |
| US07871538B2 |
Liquid crystal composition, retardation plate, and elliptic polarizing plate
A liquid crystal composition is provided and includes: at least one kind of liquid crystal R exhibiting a liquid crystal phase having a positive birefringence property; and at least one kind of liquid crystal D exhibiting a liquid crystal phase having a negative birefringence property. The characteristic birefringence Δn (λ) at wavelength λ of the liquid crystal phase exhibited by the liquid crystal R satisfies the equation (II): Δn (450 nm)/Δn (550 nm)<1.0. |
| US07871537B2 |
Method for fabricating magnesium-based hydrogen storage material
A method for fabricating a magnesium-based hydrogen storage material according to the present invention comprises a) forming a mixture of a magnesium hydride powder and a transition metal halide powder, b) adding the mixture and balls into a vessel, c) filling the vessel with an inert gas or hydrogen, and d) subjecting the mixture to high energy ball milling. |
| US07871533B1 |
Carbon nanoparticle-containing nanofluid
The present invention relates to compositions of a nanofluid, which comprises a thermal transfer fluid and carbon nanoparticles. The nanofluid may be hydrophilic nanofluids, such as a coolant, or hydrophobic nanofluids, such as nanolubricants or nanogreases. In particular, the present invention provides a homogenous hydrophilic nanofluid, which contains soluble carbon nanotubes in the hydrophilic thermal transfer fluid. The present invention also provides a nanogrease, which is a sustainable dispersion of solid carbon nanotubes in a hydrophobic thermal transfer fluid. The solid carbon nanotubes function as both as a thickener to modulate viscosity and as a solid heat transfer medium to enhance thermal conductivity and high temperature resistance. |
| US07871529B2 |
System for fabricating nanocoils using a wet etch technique
Novel applications of nanocoil technology and novel methods of fabricating nanocoils for use in such applications and others. Such applications include microscopic electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) devices including nanocoil mirrors, nanocoil actuators and nanocoil antenna arrays. Inductors or traveling wave tubes fabricated from nanocoils are also included. A method for fabricating nanocoils with a desired pitch includes determining a desired pitch for fabricated nanocoil, selecting coiling arm orientation in which coiling arm orientation is arm angle between coiling arm an crystalline orientation of underlying substrate, whereby coiling arm orientation affects pitch of fabricated nanocoil, patterning coiling arm structure with selected coiling arm orientation, and, releasing coiling arm, whereby fabricated nanocoil is formed. |
| US07871528B2 |
Water filter
The water filter including a container, which has a bottom and a cover, wherein several inlets are provided on the border of the cover and an outlet is provided in the centre of the bottom. A spiral channel is located in the container, through which the inlets are connected to the outlet. |
| US07871523B2 |
Purification of water
A process for providing water with a lowered salinity and which produces at least one recoverable waste stream containing a useful by-product, the process including treating raw water which includes an undesirably high concentration of cations, including Ca2+ and Na+, in a cation exchange stage which includes first and second cation exchangers. The first cation exchanger having a selectivity towards di-valent cations and the second cation exchanger being downstream of the first cation exchanger, to retain at least a portion of the cations of the raw water in or on the first and second cation exchangers, thereby providing upgraded water of a lowered salinity containing no or a low concentration of the cations of the raw water. The process further includes from time to time, regenerating the first cation exchanger with an acid to produce a first recoverable waste stream which includes a calcium salt and removing Na+ from the second cation exchanger to produce a second recoverable waste stream which includes a sodium compound, and then regenerating the second cation exchanger. |
| US07871521B2 |
Zero waste reverse osmosis system and downstream rinsing
A system for regulating a reverse osmosis system to obtain zero wastewater includes a fresh water supply, a reverse osmosis apparatus, a concentrate storage tank and a permeate storage tank, a concentrate solenoid valve and a permeate solenoid valve, a permeate heater, an institutional dishmachine and a control system. The reverse osmosis apparatus filters water from the fresh water supply into a concentrate rinse stream and a permeate rinse stream. The concentrate storage tank and the permeate storage tank are downstream of the reverse osmosis apparatus and receiving the concentrate rinse stream and the permeate rinse stream, respectively. The concentrate solenoid valve and the permeate solenoid valve control the flow of the concentrate rinse stream and the permeate rinse stream, respectively, from their respective storage tank. The permeate heater heats the permeate rinse stream to a predetermined temperature. The institutional dishmachine successively receives the concentrate rinse stream and the permeate rinse stream during a rinse cycle of the institutional dishmachine. The control system is operatively connected to the concentrate solenoid valve and the permeate solenoid valve and control flow of the rinse streams into the institutional dishmachine. |
| US07871515B2 |
Filter assemblies, filter cartridges and methods for removing filter cartridges from filter assemblies
A filter assembly (100) may comprise a filter cartridge (102) and a filter housing (101) which may include a cylindrical support (121) and a removable portion (110). |
| US07871513B1 |
Highly stable heavy hydrocarbon hydrodesulfurization catalyst and methods of making and use thereof
Described is a catalyst useful in the hydroprocessing of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock wherein the catalyst comprises a calcined mixture made by calcining a formed particle of a mixture comprising molybdenum trioxide, a nickel compound, and an inorganic oxide material. The catalyst may be made by mixing an inorganic oxide material, molybdenum trioxide, and a nickel compound to form a mixture that is formed into a particle and calcined to provide a calcined mixture. The process involves the hydrodesulfurization and hydroconversion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock which process may include the conversion of a portion of the pitch content of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and the yielding of a treated product having an enhanced stability as reflected by its P-value. |
| US07871507B2 |
Medium for enhanced staining of single strand nucleic acids in electrophoresis
A medium is provided, being adapted to be applied in electrophoretic separation of nucleic acids. The medium comprises a staining reagent adapted to stain nucleic acids. Said medium further comprises a urea derivative, adapted to interact with said staining reagent and thereby providing an enhanced staining of said nucleic acids. Further, an electrophoresis device is provided, adapted to perform electrophoretic separation of nucleic acids, comprising the before medium and comprising electrodes for applying an electrical field across the medium. A method to perform electrophoresis using the before electrophoresis device and medium is provided. |
| US07871505B2 |
Sputtering target transport box
The present invention pertains to a sputtering target transport box having a void the size of a sputtering target, wherein supports for mechanical transport are provided to the bottom plate of the transport box, and a wheel for man-powered transport is provided to the edge portion of the bottom plate. Provided thereby is a sputtering target transport box in which the removal and transport of a sputtering target is easy, and which enables the transport of a sputtering target without causing any damage thereto. |
| US07871504B2 |
Method for forming an electrocatalytic surface on an electrode and the electrode
The invention relates to a method of forming an electrocatalytic surface on an electrode in a simple way, in particular on a lead anode used in the electrolytic recovery of metals. The catalytic coating is formed by a spraying method which does not essentially alter the characteristics of the coating powder during spraying. Transition metal oxides are used as the coating material. After the spray coating the electrode is ready for use without further treatment. The invention also relates to an electrode onto which an electrocatalytic surface is formed. |
| US07871503B2 |
Electrochemical discharge machining device
An electrochemical discharge machining device includes a base, a sensor disposed on the base, a shaft rotatably disposed on the base, an electrode disposed at one end of the shaft and contacting with a work piece, an isolating element disposed between the sensor and the shaft, and a control module connected to the sensor. Current flows to the electrode via the shaft to machine the work piece, and the force exerted on the electrode by the work piece is transmitted via the shaft and the isolating element to the sensor converting the force into a signal sent to the control module for raising or lowering the base to maintain contact between the electrode and the work piece. The sensor serves as a detecting mechanism to ensure appropriate contact between the electrode and the work piece. |
| US07871494B2 |
Drop-out steam profiling cartridge
A steam distributor for applying steam to a continuously moving paper sheet employs one or more drop-out steam profiling cartridges. Each cartridge is connected to a steam distribution apparatus and includes a number of profiling zones that are covered by a contoured, smooth profiling screen from which steam is applied. The profiling screens are welded to baffles which enhances the structural integrity of the cartridge. No external clamps or other devices are employed that would otherwise disrupt the smooth, curved exterior surface of the profiling screens. The spaced-apart baffles also eliminate the spilling over of steam from one profiling zone to the next which has the effect of minimizing the response width for steam profiling control. The use of the drop-out cartridges permits quick and easy removal of the profiling screens for change-out or cleaning. |
| US07871492B2 |
Decorative tissue sheets
Forming fabrics for making tissue webs are provided with structural icons on the side of the fabric that does not contact the tissue web during formation. The resulting tissue web has good formation without pinholes, yet contains a watermark corresponding to the shape of the structural icon. |
| US07871485B2 |
Reduced ply separation tail seal
Easy starting rolls of perforated tissue product which have a reduced tendency to ply separate are formed with an adhesively secured doubled over tail tab folded against the roll. The strength and location of the bonds are controlled by controlling the penetration of the adhesive into the tissue. The dry tensile strength of the projecting folded over tail tab exceeds 400 g/3″ and the caliper thereof exceeds one mil The adhesive bonds are spaced away from lines of perforation joining sheets in the initial sheets of the roll. |
| US07871484B2 |
Method for bonding a dry fiber strip to a dry fiber strand
A method and a device are provided for bonding a dry fiber strip to a dry fiber strand in continuous, uninterrupted operation. A bonding agent, activatable by supplying heat, is provided on the fiber strip and the fiber strand, which has at least one flat mantle surface. The fiber strip and the fiber strand are unwound from respective supply rolls, and the flat mantle surface of the fiber strand is positioned on the fiber strip during the unwinding procedure. Heat is supplied during the unwinding procedure to cause activation of the binder and gluing of the fiber strip and the fiber strand. |
| US07871480B1 |
Apparatus and method for making motor vehicle air bags, and air bags made by same
An apparatus and method of manufacturing a plurality of air bags for use in a motor vehicle, and air bags made by same. First and second fabric layers of a type of fabric suitable for use in a vehicle air bag are fed into a seaming station. At the seaming station, the fabric layers are seamed together according to a predetermined seaming pattern so as to produce a composite textile structure defining a plurality of individual air bags to be cut therefrom. Depending on the application, the seaming may be accomplished by stitching or welding. If the fabric layers are not precoated, a suitable coating material may then be applied to both outer surfaces of the composite textile structure so as to render the air bags substantially impermeable to passage of air. Finally, the plurality of individual air bags are cut from the composite textile structure. |
| US07871475B2 |
Rare-earth magnet and manufacturing method thereof and magnet motor
The object of the present invention is to provide a rare earth magnet which enables to achieve a good balance between high coercive force and high residual magnetic flux density, and its manufacturing method. The present invention provides a rare earth magnet in which a layered grain boundary phase is formed on a surface or a potion of a grain boundary of Nd2Fe14B which is a main phase of an R—Fe—B (R is a rare-earth element) based magnet, and wherein the grain boundary phase contains a fluoride compound, and wherein a thickness of the fluoride compound is 10 μm or less, or a thickness of the fluoride compound is from 0.1 μm to 10 μm, and wherein the coverage of the fluoride compound over a main phase particle is 50% or more on average. Moreover, after layering fluoride compound powder, which is formed in plate-like shape, in the grain boundary phase, the rare earth magnet is manufactured by quenching the layered compound after melting it at a vacuum atmosphere at a predetermined temperature, or by heating and pressing the main phase and the fluoride compound to make the fluoride compound into a layered fluoride compound along the grain boundary phase. |
| US07871474B2 |
Method for manufacturing of insulated soft magnetic metal powder formed body
A method for manufacturing bodies formed from insulated soft magnetic metal powder by forming an insulating film of an inorganic substance on the surface of particles of a soft magnetic metal powder, compacting and molding the powder, then carrying out a heat treatment to provide a body formed from insulated soft magnetic metal powder the method comprising: compacting and molding the powder; then magnetically annealing the powder at a high temperature above the Curie temperature for the soft magnetic metal powder and below the threshold temperature at which the insulating film is destroyed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, such as a vacuum, inert gas, or the like; and then carrying out a further heat treatment at a temperature of from 400° C. to 700° C. in an oxidizing atmosphere, such as air, or the like. |
| US07871470B2 |
Substrate support lift mechanism
An apparatus for positioning a substrate support within a processing chamber is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for positioning a substrate support includes a yoke comprising a curved surface with a first slot formed therethrough, a base comprising a first surface adapted to support the substrate support and a curved second surface, wherein the curved second surface mates with the curved surface of the yoke and a first slot is formed through the curved second surface of the base, and a first threaded member disposed through the first slot in the yoke and the first slot in the base. |
| US07871467B2 |
Ink set for ink jet recording and method for ink jet recording
Disclosed is a five-color ink set for ink jet recording, which can realize good images excellent in lightfastness and waterfastness, as well as particularly in hue. The five-color ink set for ink jet recording comprises a cyan ink composition, a magenta ink composition, a yellow ink composition, a green ink composition and an orange ink composition, wherein the cyan ink composition comprises C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3 or C.I. Pigment Blue 15:4, the magenta ink composition comprises C.I. Pigment Red 122, C.I. Pigment Red 202, C.I. Pigment Red 209 or C.I. Pigment Violet 19, the yellow ink composition comprises C.I. Pigment Yellow 213, the green ink composition comprises C.I. Pigment Green 7 or C.I. Pigment Green 36, and the orange ink composition comprises C.I. Pigment Orange 64, C.I. Pigment Orange 43 or C.I. Pigment Orange 71. |
| US07871466B2 |
Ink composition for ink jet recording, recording method and recorded matter
There is provided an ink composition that, even on various recording media, especially gloss paper of a printing paper base, can yield an image having excellent gloss, can realize good recovery from clogging and handleability of recorded matter, and, at the same time, can realize excellent ejection stability and color reproduction. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises at least a colorant, water, an alkanediol, and a surfactant, wherein the alkanediol comprises a water soluble 1,2-alkanediol and a water soluble alkanediol having a hydroxyl group at both ends of its main chain, and the surfactant is a polyorganosiloxane. |
| US07871464B2 |
Anthrapyridone compound or salt thereof, magenta ink composition and colored product
The present invention relates to an anthrapyridone compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, n represents an integer number of 1 to 3, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the like, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methoxy group, R3 represents an anilino group having, as a substituent, at least one group selected from the group consisting of sulfo group, a carboxy group, an alkoxy group, a carbamoyl group, an cyano group, an alkyl group, an anilino group, a phenoxy group, an amino group, a hydroxy group and a mercapto group, an unsubstituted anilino group or the like, or a salt thereof, and provides a magenta coloring matter (compound) having high solubility in water and a hue and vividness which are suitable for inkjet recording and being excellent in fastnesses such as light fastness, moisture fastness and ozone gas fastness on recorded matter; and a magenta ink composition containing it. |
| US07871463B2 |
Dust collection device
A dust collection device has a tank, a suction unit, a filtering unit, a dust removal unit, a first detection unit, and a control unit. The tank has an air inlet for accommodating dust. The suction unit aspirates the dust through the air inlet. The filtering unit captures the dust through the air inlet. The dust removal unit removes the dust from the filtering unit. The first detection unit detects an operational state of the suction unit. The control unit controls the suction unit and the dust removal unit. The control unit activates the dust removal unit, when the first detection unit detects that the suction unit operates for a first predetermined time period and then stops operating. |
| US07871459B2 |
Apparatus and methods for non-regenerative and regenerative hot gas desulfurization
Disclosed is a doped cerium oxide sorbent that can effectively and regenerably remove H2S in the temperature range of about 500° C. to about 1000° C. Regenerable sorbents (e.g., ZnO, La2O3, CeO2) and methods of using them are disclosed that allow cyclic desulfurization from about 300-500° C., 350-450° C., and at about 400° C. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of desulfurizing fuel gas comprising passing the fuel gas through the sorbent at a space velocity wherein the sulfur compounds are adsorbed substantially on the surface of the sorbent; and regenerating the sorbent by passing a regenerating gas through the sorbent, wherein substantially all of the sulfur compounds are desorbed from the sorbent surface. In a further embodiment, the method of desulfurizing fuel gas further comprises repeating the aforementioned steps while the fuel processor is in operation. In another embodiment, the step of passing the fuel gas may be preceded by reducing the sorbent by passing a reducing gas through the sorbent. In another embodiment, the sorbent may be fully sulfided, i.e., sulfided on its surface and bulk (internally). |
| US07871456B2 |
Membranes with controlled permeability to polar and apolar molecules in solution and methods of making same
A membrane for use in an implantable glucose sensor including at least one crosslinked substantially hydrophobic polymer and at least one crosslinked substantially hydrophilic polymer; wherein the first and second polymers are different polymers and substantially form an interpenetrating polymer network, semi-interpenetrating polymer network, polymer blend, or copolymer. The membranes are generally characterized by providing a permeability ratio of oxygen to glucose of about 1 to about 1000 in units of (mg/dl glucose) per (mmHg oxygen). Three methods of making membranes from hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers formed into polymer networks are provided, wherein according to at least two of the methods, the monomers may be substantially immiscible with one another. |
| US07871453B2 |
Coarse iron or iron-based powder composition containing specific lubricant
A specifically defined powder composition is provided wherein there is a requirement that the specified lubricant always be liquid at room temperature. Such powder composition contains coarse iron or iron-based powder having an average particle size between 75 and 300 μm wherein less than 10% of the powder particles have a size below 45 μm and the amount of particles above 212 μm is above 20%, and as a lubricant at least one non-drying oil or a vegetable or animal based fatty acid having a crystalline melting point below 25° C., and a viscosity (η) at 40° C. above 15 mPas, wherein said viscosity is temperature dependent according to the following formula: 10 log η=k/T+C, wherein k is the slope, T is the temperature in degrees Kelvin, and C is a constant, in an amount between 0.04 and 0.4% by weight of the composition and optional additives. The slope preferably is above 800. |
| US07871452B2 |
Particulate filter
Disclosed is a particulate filter, which is adapted to be disposed in an exhaust passage of an engine to trap particulate matter contained in exhaust gas discharged from the engine. The particulate filter comprises a filter body having a porous partition wall which defines a plurality of exhaust gas channels allowing the exhaust gas to pass therethrough, and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the porous partition wall. The catalyst layer includes a Zr-based composite oxide which contains zirconium (Zr), and a rare-earth metal except cerium, wherein a content ratio of an oxide of the non-cerium rare-earth metal to a total amount of ZrO2 and the oxide of the non-cerium rare-earth metal in the Zr-based composite oxide is set in the range of greater than 33 mol % to less than 40 mol %. The particulate filter of the present invention can achieve a higher PM burning rate to burn PM within a shorter period of time. In addition, the higher PM burning rate makes it possible to provide enhanced fuel economy performance in an engine designed to perform a post-injection control. |
| US07871449B2 |
Process and apparatus for synthesis gas heat exchange system
The invention provides an improved process and apparatus for integrating the heat transfer zones of spiral-wound, plate fin, tube and finned tube exchangers thus increasing the overall effectiveness of the process. |
| US07871448B2 |
Production of biodiesel and glycerin from high free fatty acid feedstocks
A system and method for the conversion of free fatty acids to glycerides and the subsequent conversion of glycerides to glycerin and biodiesel includes the transesterification of a glyceride stream with an alcohol. The fatty acid alkyl esters are separated from the glycerin to produce a first liquid phase containing a fatty acid alkyl ester rich (concentrated) stream and a second liquid phase containing a glycerin rich (concentrated) stream. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then subjected to distillation, preferably reactive distillation, wherein the stream undergoes both physical separation and chemical reaction. The fatty acid alkyl ester rich stream is then purified to produce a purified biodiesel product and a glyceride rich residue stream. Biodiesel may be further recovered from the glyceride rich residue stream, by further separation of and/or processing of glycerides/free fatty acids contained therein. The glycerin rich second liquid phase stream may further be purified to produce a purified glycerin product and a (second) wet alcohol stream. Neutralization of the alkaline stream, formed during the alkali-catalyzed transesterification process, may proceed by the addition of a mineral or an organic acid. |
| US07871444B2 |
Method of testing for ATP load in commercial laundry and for data tracking the results
A method of testing for sanitization of textiles comprises the steps of cleaning textiles in a water solution and testing the water solution for the presence of contaminants such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), typically with a luminometer. Typically, the water solution will be drained from a cleaning vessel and tested. Another option is the testing of the water solution extracted after draining such as by a spin cycle. The method provides improved accuracy of test results as to the level of cleanliness. In addition, testing at this early step of the laundering process allows for additional cleaning if needed without having undertaken costly and time-consuming steps such as drying. Moreover, absent re-contamination of the textiles after the cleaning process, drying and finishing procedures may be accomplished without further sanitizing the textiles. |
| US07871443B2 |
Prosthetic foot with composite heel
Apparatus and methods for a keel for use in a prosthetic foot. In an embodiment, the keel comprises a forefoot portion having a toe end, wherein the forefoot portion comprises a first material. In addition, the keel comprises a mid-foot portion contiguous with the forefoot portion, wherein the mid-foot portion comprises a second material. Further, the keel comprises a heel portion contiguous with the mid-foot portion, wherein the heel portion comprises a third material. Still further, the second material and third material comprise different materials. |
| US07871442B2 |
Knee prosthesis with four degrees freedom
Knee prosthesis for implanting in a knee joint has a femoral component, a tibial component and a hinge connecting the femoral component and the tibial component. The femoral component rotates around the transverse axis passing through center of the hinge and the center of rotation of the femoral component moves substantially along proximal-distal axis upon flexion of the knee joint. |
| US07871441B2 |
Cervical fixation device
A cervical fixation device, for insertion between a pair of adjacent cervical vertebrae, includes a frame comprised of a first material. The frame has a generally rectangular proximal end and a generally rectangular distal end. The distal end is connected to the proximal end by at least one upper arch and at least one lower arch. The upper and lower arches are spaced apart from each other. The frame has a generally hollow interior, substantially open lateral sides between the upper and lower arches and a substantially open proximal end. |
| US07871440B2 |
Unitary surgical device and method
Unitary surgical devices (10) are disclosed. One group of the illustrated devices has a pair of biocompatible, bioresorbable anchors (16,18) connected to fixed lengths suture. The anchors (16,18) and fixed length of suture are connected to each other prior to surgery. Another group of unitary surgical devices has a pair of fixating mechanisms (15,17) connected to a base (21) prior to surgery. The second group of illustrated devices generally includes extracellular matrix material either as part of the base (21) or supported on the base (21). The extracellular matrix material serves as tissue regenerating material. In the second group of unitary surgical devices, the fixating mechanisms illustrated generally comprise suture, anchors or pre-formed holes in the base. All of the illustrated unitary surgical devices are useful in repairing a damaged meniscus. The first group of unitary surgical devices can be used to approximate inner surfaces of a tear in the meniscus. The second group of devices can be used either as an insert to be placed between and approximated to the inner surfaces of the tear or as an insert to replace a void in the meniscus left after a meniscectomy. |
| US07871435B2 |
Anatomically approximate prosthetic mitral heart valve
An anatomically approximate prosthetic heart valve includes dissimilar flexible leaflets, dissimilar commissures and/or a non-circular flow orifice. The heart valve may be implanted in the mitral position and have one larger leaflet oriented along the anterior aspect so as to mimic the natural anterior leaflet. Two other smaller leaflets extend around the posterior aspect of the valve. A basic structure providing peripheral support for the leaflets includes two taller commissures on both sides of the larger leaflet, with a third, smaller commissure between the other two leaflets. The larger leaflet may be thicker and/or stronger than the other two leaflets. The base structure defines a flow orifice intended to simulate the shape of the mitral annulus during the systolic phase. For example, the flow orifice may be elliptical. A relatively wide sewing ring has a contoured inflow end and is attached to the base structure in such a way that the valve can be implanted in an intra-atrial position and the taller commissures do not extend too far into the left ventricle, therefore avoiding injury to the ventricle. |
| US07871434B2 |
Percutaneously deployed vascular valves
Described are percutaneous vascular valves (11) free of attached support structures and deployment systems (31) and methods for providing attachment of the valves within a vascular vessel. |
| US07871433B2 |
Treatments for a patient with congestive heart failure
The invention is directed to two minimally invasive therapeutic procedures, particularly for patients with congestive heart failure, and devices and systems for such procedures. One procedure involves providing a valved passageway through the patient's left ventricular wall at the apex of the patient's heart and advancing instruments through the valved passageway to connect the valve leaflets of the patient's heart valve, e.g. the mitral valve, in a “Bow-Tie” configuration to prevent or minimize regurgitation through the valve. The second procedure involves advancing a pacing lead and a pacing lead implanting device through a trocar in the patient's chest and implanting the pacing lead on an exposed epicardial region of the patient's heart wall. The pacing lead has a penetrating electrode which is secured within the heart wall. One or both procedures may be performed on a patient with CHF.Improved devices for these procedures include a minimally invasive grasping device having an inner lumen for advancing connecting members and other instruments through the device to the distal end thereof. Other improved devices include a pacing lead implant instrument which is releasably secured by its distal end to the exposed heart wall to facilitate penetration of the pacing lead electrode into the heart wall. Other improved instruments include a leaflet connector with an artificial cordae tendenae strand secured to an end of the leaflet connector. |
| US07871431B2 |
Apparatus for treating atherosclerosis
An apparatus for interventional treatment of atherosclerosis at a vascular bifurcation includes structure for receiving a first guidewire and a second guidewire. An exit for the second guidewire is located in a central section of the structure. A first balloon portion is secured to the structure so a proximal end is located adjacent the exit. A second balloon portion is secured to the structure so a distal end is located adjacent the exit on a side of the exit opposite the first balloon portion. An annular gap is defined between the proximal end of the first balloon portion and the distal end of the second balloon portion. The annular gap, at a radial outermost location relative to the structure, has a width that is equal to or less than a width of the annular gap at a radially innermost location relative to the structure. The apparatus also includes an expandable stent that is mountable about the first and second balloon portions. |
| US07871424B2 |
Spinal rod inserter
A rod inserter and method of inserting a rod into a vertebral body, wherein the rod inserter holds a rod in a vertical or semi-vertical position from one end and allows the rod to be inserted and then rotated into its final horizontal position inside a wound. The device comprises a longitudinal member comprising holes located at distal ends of the longitudinal member; and a holder comprising a tip end comprising a first and second portion any of which comprise a prong tip. The holder also includes a handle end located distally away from the tip end, wherein the handle end comprises a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm; and an engaging member comprising tooth-like features connecting the first gripping arm to the second gripping arm, wherein the tooth-like features engage the second gripping arm, and wherein the prong tip fits into a hole of the longitudinal member. |
| US07871423B2 |
Forceps for performing endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery
Forceps for performing endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery include a body assembly, a tube assembly, and a pair of handles that pivot with respect to the body. The tube assembly is removably attached to the body assembly. The tube assembly includes a hollow tube and a tip assembly. The tip assembly includes an electrode or a blade for performing the surgery. The tip assembly and the blade are connected to the body and the handles by a cable. As the handles pivot, the cable slides within the tube to move the blade. When a different tube assembly (i.e., a bipolar or a monopolar electrode) or another style of tip assembly are desired, the installed one is removed and replaced by a new tube assembly or tip assembly as desired. |
| US07871418B2 |
Applier for fastener for single lumen access anastomosis
An applier for an anastomosis ring device. The applier has an elongate implement portion and a handle connected to the implement portion. The applier further includes a distal actuating member having catch means which, in a lock position, protrudes radially outward to engage a distal ring. The applier further includes a proximal actuating member adapted to engage a proximal ring, and an actuation mechanism to approximate the proximal and distal rings. The distal actuating member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis from its lock position to a release position thereby sliding along a deviating surface at the implement portion. |
| US07871417B2 |
Transconduit perfusion catheter and methods for perfusing a blood vessel during an anastomosis procedure
Methods and devices for perfusing a blood vessel during the entire course of an end-to-side or end-to-end anastomosis procedure. One method can be used to form an end-to-side anastomosis of a saphenous vein graft to a coronary artery during an off-pump, beating heart, coronary artery bypass graft. In this example, the distal end of an elongate tube carrying a saphenous vein graft is advanced into an arteriotomy distal to an occlusion in the coronary artery. Perfusing blood flow is provided through the tube to the coronary artery, the vein graft is advanced over the tube to the arteriotomy and sutured completely to the coronary artery. The elongate tube can be retracted through the now secured vein graft, and the coronary artery supplied again from the proximal end of the vein graft. Some tubular devices include a reversibly expandable distal region, to form a seal between the inserted tube and the coronary artery being perfused, to prevent blood flow into the surgical field. |
| US07871416B2 |
Clamp device to plicate the stomach
A medical device for clamping the stomach in morbid obesity surgery consists of a silicone frame that is essentially U-shaped, having opposing legs self-hinged to a bight portion interconnecting the legs. The opposing legs have sufficient stiffness to permit limited bending and have inner surfaces that sealingly carry an inflatable balloon which can be selectively inflated or aspirated after the device has been clamped to the stomach to adjust the gastric restriction stoma. A flexible latch member carried by one of the legs has at least one serration which is inserted into a latch cavity of the opposing leg to lock the opposing legs in fixed spaced relationship. Lumens within the legs communicate with a fluid supply source and respective inflatable balloon for selective inflation or aspiration of the inflatable balloons. |
| US07871414B2 |
Loop tip wire guide with outer sleeve
A wire guide has first and second portions with first and second diameters, respectively. The second portion is located distal of the first portion. A resilient loop positions a distal end of the wire guide adjacent another section of the wire guide. A closure member maintains the distal end in a fixed position relative to the remainder of the wire guide. An outer sleeve may be positioned around one or more parts of the wire guide. A radiopaque element may be secured to the outer sleeve. |
| US07871413B2 |
Pedicle screw and operating device thereof
Disclosed is a spine fixation apparatus, more particularly, a pedicle screw implanted into a spine and an operating device for the pedicle screw capable of easily inserting a rod to a head section of the pedicle screw in order to securely fix the spine. The pedicle screw has a head section including a recess part defined by first and second sidewalls, a screw section, and a support unit formed at an upper portion of the recess part of the head section while connecting the first sidewall to the second sidewall. The operating device has a screw coupling rod having an elongated pipe shape, a body having a first side coupled to the screw coupling rod, a rotating member having a first end coupled to a second side of the body in such a manner that a second end of the rotating member rotates about the first end thereof, and a rod receiver coupled to the second end of the rotating member. Due to the support unit, the rod is prevented from being easily separated from the pedicle screw, thereby facilitating minimum incision surgery. The operating device for the pedicle screw allows an operator to easily perform minimum incision surgery while making several incisions for the pedicle screws and the rod in the back of the patient and keeping the size of incisions quite a small. |
| US07871412B2 |
Minimally invasive orthopaedic cutting tool
An orthopaedic cutting tool which includes a partially hemispherical shell having a shell radius, and a base including a first circumferential base segment and a second circumferential base segment. The shell has a first part on one side of the first circumferential base segment and the second circumferential base segment, and a second part on another side of the first circumferential base segment and the second circumferential base segment. A first non-planar surface is connected to the first part, and the first non-planar surface has a first curvature not equal to the shell radius. A second non-planar surface is connected to the second part, and the second non-planar surface has a second curvature not equal to the shell radius. |
| US07871410B2 |
System for, and method of, heating a biological site in a patient's body
A system (10) for heating a biological site in a patient's body includes a transformer (14) having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding has a tap (24) to provide a ground reference and two sources of radio frequency (RF) energy. An active electrode (16) is connected to each source to apply energy from its associated source to the site, the energy applied by one electrode (16) being out of phase with the energy applied by the other electrode (16). |
| US07871408B2 |
Methods and systems for gated or pulsed application of ablative energy in the treatment of cardiac disorders
The present invention comprises methods and systems for treating a cardiac arrhythmia in a mammal by administering gated or pulsed radiofrequency current or other ablative energy to the mammal during one or more time periods of increased coronary blood flow. Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise, without limitation, the gated or pulsed administration of radiofrequency current in association with the formation of the dicrotic notch in the arterial blood pressure curve of the mammal. In accordance with the invention, the thermal effects of ablative energy application on the coronary artery are avoided or mitigated due to rapid coronary blood flow resulting in heat loss and minimization of damage to blood vessels. |
| US07871404B2 |
System and method for treating connective tissue
A method and system of treating connective tissue to alter the biomechanical and fundamental properties of the connective tissue by forming perforations in the connective tissue to at least 90% of the depth or thickness of the connective tissue and maintaining the perforations in the connective tissue. The method alters the tissue to enhance the fundamental mechanisms involved in the immunology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics of the metabolism of the connective tissue. The connective tissue may be any desired connective tissue. The connective tissue of the eye may be removed to form a first desired pattern of perforations in the connective tissue of the eye at a first distance from the corneal center of the eye. Connective tissue is removed from the eye to form a second desired pattern of perforations in the tissue of the eye at a second distance from the corneal center of the eye. |
| US07871401B2 |
Absorbent article with improved fit
A stretchable absorbent article has a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region extending longitudinally between and interconnecting said front and back waist regions, a length, and a width. The absorbent article has a liquid impermeable outer cover stretchable in at least one direction and a liner in opposed relationship with the outer cover and stretchable in at least one direction. At least one of the liner and the outer cover has a width substantially equal to the width of the absorbent article along the length thereof. An absorbent structure is disposed between the liner and the outer cover and extends from the crotch region to at least one of the front waist region and the back waist region of the article. The outer cover is elastic and is configured to improve the fit of the absorbent article. |
| US07871399B2 |
Disposable ophthalmic injection device
A disposable injection device has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, a needle, and a temperature control device. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, is capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing. The plunger has a plunger interface. The needle is fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing and alters a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber. The substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered. |
| US07871396B2 |
Bifurcation catheter assembly and method
A catheter assembly includes a main catheter branch and a side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes first and second balloons. The side catheter branch is coupled to the second balloon. The side catheter branch can be coupled to the second balloon portion by passing through a pathway or receiver structure defined in the second balloon. The side catheter branch can also be coupled to the second balloon portion using a connector that connects the side catheter branch to a portion of the main catheter branch that carries the second balloon portion. |
| US07871395B2 |
Conduit management system
The present invention may include a medical device having a handle, a catheter coupled to the handle, and an expandable element coupled to the catheter. The medical device may also include first and second elongate bodies that traverse a length of the handle and catheter. A housing may be disposed within the handle, wherein the housing defines a first opening able to receive a portion of the first elongate body, a second opening able to receive a portion of the second elongate body, and a third opening opposite the first and second openings able to receive a portion of both the first and second elongate bodies. A separation element may be disposed within the housing, with the separation element defining a path able to receive a portion of the second elongate body, and whereby a portion of the first elongate body forms a loop around the separation element. |
| US07871394B2 |
System and method for optimizing control of PCA and PCEA system
In a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) system, physiological data is processed and alarms are provided by the controller of the physiological module sensing the data according to a first rule. The physiological data is also processed by a second, separate controller according to a second rule independent from the first controller. According to the second rule, the physiological data may be filtered, processed with physiological data and non-physiological data obtained from another source, such as a remote server, and the PCA delivery device controlled to prevent delivery of medication accordingly. The provided system of multiple processors and rules enables normal alarming by physiological sensor modules while the pausing or prevention of the PCA delivery is controlled by a separate controller. Through this means, not only are false pauses and alarms for PCA delivery reduced, but the normal alarms of the monitors are permitted to function normally. |
| US07871389B2 |
Structural element for a sports shoe, such as a ski boot, snowboarding boot, trekking boot, or such like
A structural element for a sports shoe provided with a casing able to be selectively configured between a first rigid condition and a second flexible condition. The structural element comprises a tongue, shaped and provided at least with a first segment, or lower segment, attached to the casing, and a second segment, or upper segment, pivoted to the first segment, so as to be selectively taken to a first operating position in which the second segment is rigidly aligned with the first segment, and a second operating position in which the second segment is free to incline with respect to the first segment and substantially follows the movement of the tibial zone of the user's leg. |
| US07871386B2 |
Miniature massage vibrator
A miniature electrically powered massage vibrator includes an outermost shell slideably holding a vibrating body, i.e., a vibration generator. The vibrating body contains a power source of button-type battery cells for powering a motor of the vibration generator encased inside the body, and a power switching mechanism. Sliding movement of the outermost shell relative to the vibrating body provides the switching on/off functions of the electric power. The massage vibrator is useful for sexual assistance or marital aid or therapeutic use. |
| US07871384B2 |
Biopsy device with variable speed cutter advance
A biopsy device having a translating and rotating cutter is disclosed. The translational speed of the cutter is varied using a variable pitch member. The variable pitch member can include a shaft having a relatively coarse threaded portion for rapid cutter advance and a relatively finer threaded portion for cutter advance during tissue severing. |
| US07871382B2 |
Interface between a noninvasive blood pressure sensor and an invasive blood pressure monitor
The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a single microprocessor-based interface that connects between a noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) sensor and an invasive blood pressure (IBP) monitor or module. The interface effectively emulates an IBP transducer in such a way that the IBP monitor sees the interface as if it were a regular IBP transducer from a fluid-filled blood pressure monitoring line. It receives the signal from an NIBP sensor and determines the blood pressure corresponding to the signal. It accepts the excitation voltage provided by the IBP monitor. From the excitation voltage and a known transducer sensitivity which the IBP monitor is configured to work with, the interface emulates the IBP transducer output signal corresponding to the blood pressure. The interface also emulates the input and output impedances of the IBP transducer which the IBP monitor is configured to work with. Zeroing of the interface with the IBP monitor can be easily performed in a way that is similar to that for a fluid-filled system. A noninvasive system comprising a suitable NIBP sensor and this interface can be used as an alternative to the fluid-filled monitoring line. |
| US07871381B2 |
Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring system
The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a single microprocessor-based interface that connects between a noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) sensor and an invasive blood pressure (IBP) monitor or module. The interface effectively emulates an IBP transducer in such a way that the IBP monitor sees the interface as if it were a regular IBP transducer from a fluid-filled blood pressure monitoring line. It receives the signal from an NIBP sensor and determines the blood pressure corresponding to the signal. It accepts the excitation voltage provided by the IBP monitor. From the excitation voltage and a known transducer sensitivity which the IBP monitor is configured to work with, the interface emulates the IBP transducer output signal corresponding to the blood pressure. The interface also emulates the input and output impedances of the IBP transducer which the IBP monitor is configured to work with. Zeroing of the interface with the IBP monitor can be easily performed in a way that is similar to that for a fluid-filled system. A noninvasive system comprising a suitable NIBP sensor and this interface can be used as an alternative to the fluid-filled monitoring line. |
| US07871380B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having a function of obtaining a tomographic image and an elastic image is adaptable to not only a close examination mode, but also a screening mode, and obtains an elastic image suitable for each examination purpose. Accordingly, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention comprises tomographic image acquisition means for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a probe to a body being examined, and receiving a reflection echo signal corresponding to the transmission of the ultrasonic wave to obtain a tomographic image, elastic image acquisition means having a first acquisition mode for determining a tissue elasticity amount of a biomedical tissue of the body being examined on the basis of the reflection echo signal to obtain an elastic image, and display means for displaying at least the elastic image. The elastic image acquisition means has a second acquisition mode different from the first acquisition mode. |
| US07871379B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and method of ultrasonic measurement
A display mode switching unit is provided to input a display mode switching signal for selecting a dynamic image display mode and a freeze image display mode. A display format setting unit is provided to set a first display format for displaying image data and time-series data by Left/Right. The display format setting unit sets a second display format for displaying the image data and time-series data by Up/Down or for displaying the time-series data. A display data generation unit generates display data including the first display format when the dynamic image display mode is selected. The display data generation unit generates display data including the second display format when the freeze image display mode is selected. |
| US07871377B2 |
Method of evaluating human subconscious response to smell
The present invention provides a method of evaluating the human subconscious response to smell and a method of evaluating a subject's subconscious response to an aroma stimulus. |
| US07871374B2 |
Surgical retractor
A Surgical retractor, designed in particular for minimally invasive operations, consisting essentially of an elastic plate rolled up about an axis so as to form the side wall of a substantially truncated cone shape, the narrowest cross section of the truncated cone constituting the distal part of this retractor, when the retractor is in place, and delimiting an operating field, the widest cross section of the truncated cone forming the proximal part, through which instruments can be introduced, said plate being able to be rolled up into a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than or equal to the narrowest cross section of its truncated cone shape. |
| US07871366B2 |
Device for the modulation of cardiac end diastolic volume
The present invention provides methods, systems, kits and devices that reduce dyskinesis and hypokinesis. For example, the direct compression cardiac device may be positioned about at least a portion of a heart, and includes a resilient inner panel in contact with at least a portion of the heart periphery, one or more resilient members positioned about the resilient inner panel and at least partially surrounded by an expandable outer panel. The resistance supplied by the inner panel to the heart may be modulated to control the end-diastolic heart volume and remodel the heart, the resistance supplied by the expandable outer panel to the heart may be modulated to control the end-systolic heart volume and remodel the heart or both. |
| US07871365B2 |
Gynecological instrument
An apparatus is described for irradiating cervical cancer, comprising multiple source guide tubes with a coupling piece situated outside the patient that connects the tubes outside the patient. The source guide tubes are formed such that the portions of the tubes situated in the patient upon insertion hook to each other so that the tubes are locked relative to each other. In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a central catheter tube to be guided into the uterus, which is provided with a flange-shaped stop for stabilizing the central tube relative to the uterus, the stop being formed for securing a position of the central tube relative to the further source guide tubes. |
| US07871364B2 |
Centrifuge rotor-detection oil-shutoff device
A centrifuge includes a housing that defines a fluid inlet port to supply fluid to the centrifuge and an axle cavity fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet port. A bearing is received in the axle cavity. A check valve is disposed in the axle cavity to minimize tampering, and the check valve is configured to control flow of the fluid from the inlet port. A rotor is configured to separate particulate matter from the fluid. The rotor includes an axle rotatably received in the bearing, and the axle defines a fluid passage to supply the fluid to the rotor. The check valve is normally biased towards a closed position where the flow of the fluid is shutoff. The axle is configured to open the check valve when the axle is received in the bearing. |
| US07871358B2 |
Height adjustable shuttle treatment table/exercise device method and apparatus
The disclosure recites an apparatus having a kick plate that is adapted to be stored in an operable position where it is in a substantially vertically orientated manner where the kick plate is in a more vertically orientated or positioned orientation with respect to a frame and a carriage is movably attached in a substantially horizontal direction where a resistance system provides resistant movement of the carriage with respect to the frame. The kick plate is further adapted or operatively configured to be re-orientated in a stowed position where an upper surface of the kick plate operates in conjunction with an upper surface of the carriage to function as a table like support. |
| US07871353B2 |
Continuously variable transmission
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a shift rod that cooperates with a shift rod nut to actuate a ratio change in a CVT. In another embodiment, an axial force generating mechanism can include a torsion spring, a traction ring adapted to receive the torsion spring, and a roller cage retainer configured to cooperate with the traction ring to house the torsion spring. Various inventive idler-and-shift-cam assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. Embodiments of a hub shell and a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed. |
| US07871351B2 |
Efficient eight speed automatic transmission
The present invention provides an eight speed automatic transmission for motor vehicles having three planetary gear sets, four friction clutches, a friction brake, a band brake and an optional overrunning clutch. The eight speed transmission according to the present invention exhibits good gear ratio progression and high efficiency due to its excellent gear mesh efficiency, low spin losses and low pinion speeds. |
| US07871350B2 |
Differential holdout ring arrangement
A locking differential includes an annular center cam member freely rotatably supported within an annular central driver member without the use of any keying device, such as a snap ring, thereby to simply the construction and assembly of the differential, and to reduce cost. The center cam member is longitudinally maintained in place by the biasing forces applied to the clutch members arranged on opposite sides of the central driver member by helical compression springs arranged externally concentrically about the side gears, respectively, and by the holdout rings that are connected with the clutch members. The center cam member and the central driver member have adjacent outer and inner circumferential surfaces, respectively, that are smooth, continuous, and uninterrupted. The holdout rings are rotatably connected at their remote ends with the clutch members by integral annular outer ribs that extend within corresponding grooves contained in the counterbore wall surfaces. |