| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07881073B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes: a display panel that has a display screen displaying an image on a front surface thereof; a supporting board that has a first surface extending facing a rear surface of the display panel; a first circuit substrate that is fixed to a second surface of the supporting board; and a unit that includes a base board, a plate-like electronic part supported by the base board, and a second circuit substrate fixed to the base board. The unit is supported on the second surface of the supporting board. The first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate include a first connector and a second connector, respectively. The first connector and the second connector link with each other when the base board is slid in a direction, and go away from each other when the base board is slid in the opposite direction. |
| US07881072B2 |
System and method for processor power delivery and thermal management
A power interconnection system comprising a plurality of z-axis compliant connectors passing power and ground signals between a first circuit board to a second circuit board is disclosed. The interconnection system provides for an extremely low impedance through a broad range of frequencies and allows for large amounts of current to pass from one substrate to the next either statically or dynamically. The interconnection system may be located close to the die or may be further away depending upon the system requirements. The interconnection may also be used to take up mechanical tolerances between the two substrates while providing a low impedance interconnect. |
| US07881069B2 |
Printed circuit board
A chip capacitor is provided in a core substrate of a printed circuit board. This makes it possible to shorten a distance between an IC chip and the chip capacitor and to reduce loop inductance. Since the core substrate is constituted by provided a first resin substrate, a second resin substrate and a third resin substrate in a multilayer manner, the core substrate can obtain sufficient strength. |
| US07881068B2 |
Composite layer for an electronic device
Provided herein is a composite layer including an electronically functional structural component adapted to integrate a plurality of electronic functions into a laminate cover, layer, and/or laminate component, for protecting, supporting, and/or forming a complete electronic device (such as a multimedia device). The composite layer includes a plurality of structural and/or protective layers interspersed with electronically functional layers or electronic components in communication with the multimedia device to form a supportive and electronically functional layer, cover, protective layer, and/or electronic device. Thus, the composite layer provided allow for the cost-effective addition of thin and lightweight functional, protective, and/or decorative layers to a multimedia device or other electronic device at a sales location or other customization location. |
| US07881067B2 |
Circuit board assembly
A circuit board assembly (100) includes a circuit board (10) and at least one electrical element (20). The circuit board includes a dielectric substrate (12) including a supporting surface (13), and at least one connecting part (14) formed on the supporting surface. The at least one electrical element is electrically connected to the at least one connecting part via a connecting media (28). At least one air-exhaust hole (16) extends through the connecting part and the dielectric substrate. The at least one air-exhaust hole is configured for exhausting air from the connecting media. |
| US07881066B2 |
Apparatus for attaching an electronic component to a rubber article
A main body for attaching an electronic component, for example, a transponder, on a rubber article, such as a tire, a conveyor belt, or the like. The mount has a connecting layer made, in one embodiment, of uncured, curable rubber material which is covered by an adhering protection film prior to use. A main body made of cured or uncured rubber material is permanently connected with this connecting layer and has a recess for accommodating the electronic component. A cover preferably made of the main body material, serves for fixing the electronic component in the recess in the main body. |
| US07881063B2 |
Nonvolatile memory card and configuration conversion adapter
A nonvolatile memory card, including interface parts for plural kinds of memory cards; interface controllers corresponding to the interface parts for corresponding memory cards; and a switch configured to select a single one of the interface controllers. |
| US07881052B2 |
Compact HDD carrier mechanism featuring self actuating EMC springs to prevent HDD component shorting
An improved carrier comprises a tray, an EMC component, and a bezel. The EMC component comprises a top spring set and a bottom spring set. Each spring set comprises a plurality of spring biased contacts connected by a plate and a bar so that each spring set moves in unison when depressed or released. Each tray has a first flange and a second flange and each of the flanges has a cut out portion. When an improved carrier is moved out of an array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring of the EMC component of the carrier below. When the improved carrier is moved into the array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring set of the carrier below until the top spring set of the carrier below is released by the cut-out portions of the flanges. When released, the top spring set of the carrier below contacts the bottom spring set of the carrier above to form a continuous EMC shield. |
| US07881050B2 |
Video display unit support bracket
A video display unit support bracket (100) that facilitates greater integration of TV, internet, gaming, and computer peripheral devices. The bracket (100) can include a rigid casing (105) defining a first outer shell (205). An engagement structure (110) can be disposed on a portion of the rigid casing (105). The engagement structure (110) includes one or more receivers (220) that are configured for rotatably securing a proximal end (121) of a video display unit support arm (120) to the rigid casing (105). The rigid casing (105) can enclose a first internal cavity (306), which, in turn, can enclose one or signal processing circuits (300) selected from the group consisting of an RF modem (310), a multiplexing device (305), and a control signal interface circuit (315). |
| US07881045B2 |
Enclosure of a power electronics appliance
An enclosure arrangement, with protection against touch, of a power electronics appliance, more particularly of a frequency converter (31, 51) and its additional devices (12, 13), which solution contains an enclosed power electronics appliance and one or more enclosed additional devices installed in connection with it, which enclosed power electronics appliance and additional devices are modules, which can be fitted to be installed in combination one above the other such that the protection against touch of the appliance entity formed is as great as or higher than the protection against touch of the separate appliances. |
| US07881043B2 |
Wound electric double-layer capacitor
A wound electric double-layer capacitor suppresses electrochemical reaction on polarized electrode layers, reduces characteristic degradation, and has high reliability. The capacitor has a capacitor element formed by winding positive and negative electrodes with a separator interposed between them, a metal case for storing the capacitor element and an electrolyte for driving, and a sealing member for sealing an opening of the metal case. In the positive and negative electrodes, positive and negative electrode lead wires are coupled to exposed parts of current collectors having polarized electrode layers on their both surfaces, respectively. The negative electrode is wound at least one extra turn from the winding end of the positive electrode of the capacitor element, and hence a part where the polarized electrode layers formed in the negative electrode face each other through the separator is formed on the outermost periphery of the capacitor element. |
| US07881037B2 |
Vehicle occupant protection apparatus
An air bag device of the present invention includes squibs and a capacitor, an electric discharge circuit as well as a backup power supply, a voltage stabilizer and ignition circuits. The voltage stabilizer converts the voltage of the backup power supply to the predetermined target voltage, and the converted voltage is supplied for the ignition circuit. The capacitor removes a noise emitted by the ignition circuit. The electric discharge circuit discharges electricity accumulated in the capacitor right after the supply of an ignition current from the ignition circuit has ended. In this manner, a voltage rise of the capacitor occurring after the end of the supply of the ignition current can be resolved immediately, thereby enabling a supply of a stable ignition current for the squibs. |
| US07881031B2 |
Overcurrent protection circuit when setting current using a package control pin
An overcurrent protection circuit for a current setting circuit is disclosed herein that prevents a user-selectable current from exceeding a current limit when an incorrect current selecting component (or current selecting circuit) is connected to an external control pin of a package by the user, or when the control pin is inadvertently grounded. The protection circuit senses a current (A1*Iset) mirrored from the user-set current (Iset). If the mirrored current is above a threshold, the protection circuit limits the Iset current to be at or below a current limit level. In one embodiment, the protection circuit comprises a transistor that turns on when the mirrored current exceeds a threshold, and the transistor shunts control current from a series transistor generating the user-set current Iset. |
| US07881030B1 |
Enhancement-mode field effect transistor based electrostatic discharge protection circuit
The present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp circuit that is used to protect other circuitry from high voltage ESD events. The ESD clamp circuit may include a field effect transistor (FET) element as a clamping element, which is triggered by using a drain-to-gate capacitance, a drain-to-gate resistance, or both of the FET element, and a resistive element as a voltage divider to divide down an ESD voltage to provide a triggering gate voltage of the FET element. In its simplest embodiment, the ESD clamp circuit includes only an FET element and a resistive element. Therefore, the single FET element ESD clamp circuit may be small compared to other ESD protection circuits. The simplicity of the ESD clamp circuit may minimize parasitic capacitances, thereby maximizing linearity of the ESD clamp circuit over a wide frequency range. |
| US07881029B1 |
Depletion-mode field effect transistor based electrostatic discharge protection circuit
The present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp circuit that is used to protect other circuitry from high voltage ESD events. The ESD clamp circuit may include a field effect transistor (FET) element as a clamping element, which is triggered by using a drain-to-gate capacitance and a drain-to-gate resistance of the FET element and a resistive element as a voltage divider to divide down an ESD voltage to provide a triggering gate voltage of the FET element. In its simplest embodiment, the ESD clamp circuit includes only an FET element, a resistive element, a source-coupled level shifting diode, and a reverse protection diode. Therefore, the ESD clamp circuit may be small compared to other ESD protection circuits. The simplicity of the ESD clamp circuit may minimize parasitic capacitances, thereby maximizing linearity of the ESD clamp circuit over a wide frequency range. |
| US07881027B2 |
Fault condition protection
A regulator for a switched mode power supply includes switching regulator logic, a counter and a logic gate. The switching regulator logic is coupled to receive a feedback signal and to generate a switching signal in response. The feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the power supply operates normally. The counter is coupled to receive the feedback signal and an output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count. An output of the logic gate enables the power switch to turn on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and the output of the logic gate disables the power switch in response to the output of the counter indicating the auto-restart mode. |
| US07881026B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
An integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor chip includes voltage regulators for stepping down an externally-supplied power voltage to produce an internal power voltage, and internal circuits which operate based on the internal power voltage. The voltage regulators are laid in the area of the buffers and protective elements for the input/output signals and power voltages so that the overhead area due to the on-chip provision of the voltage regulators is minimized. The internal power voltage is distributed to the internal circuits through a looped main power line, with an electrode pad for connecting an external capacitor for stabilizing the internal power voltage being provided on it, so that the internal power voltage is stabilized and the power consumption of the integrated circuit is minimized. |
| US07881025B2 |
Magneto-resistive effect device having a spacer layer of a semiconductor layer interposed between first and second nonmagnetic metal layers and a work function control layer for use in a thin-film magnetic head usable in a head gimbal assembly in a hard disk system
The invention provides a CPP-GMR device comprising a spacer layer. The spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each formed of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor layer interposed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the second nonmagnetic metal layer, and further comprises a work function control layer formed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the semiconductor layer and/or between the second nonmagnetic metal layer and the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer is an n-type semiconductor, and the work function control layer is made of a material having a work function smaller than that of said first nonmagnetic metal layer, and said second nonmagnetic metal layer. It is thus possible to obtain by far more improved advantages. |
| US07881021B2 |
CPP type magnetoresistive device with biasing arrangement for ferromagnetic layers having respective magnetizations orthogonal to one another, and magnetic disk system using same
A magnetoresistive device with CPP structure, comprising a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed with said nonmagnetic intermediate layer interposed between them, wherein each of said first and second ferromagnetic layers comprises a sensor area joining to the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and a magnetization direction control area that extends further rearward from the position of the rear end of said nonmagnetic intermediate layer; a magnetization direction control multilayer arrangement is interposed at an area where the magnetization direction control area for said first ferromagnetic layer is opposite to the magnetization direction control area for said second ferromagnetic layer to produce magnetizations of the said first and second ferromagnetic layers which are antiparallel with each other; and said sensor area is provided at both width direction ends with biasing layers working such that the mutually antiparallel magnetizations of said first and second ferromagnetic layers intersect in substantially orthogonal directions. |
| US07881019B2 |
Two step corner recess for secondary stray field reduction in a perpendicular magnetic recording head
A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding stray field writing. The magnetic structure can be for example a magnetic shield or could be a magnetic pole of a write head and is particularly advantageous for use in a perpendicular recording system, because such perpendicular recording systems are especially susceptible to stray field writing. The magnetic structure includes a forward protruding portion that extends toward the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head also includes first and second wing portions that extend laterally from the forward protruding portion. The wing portions each have includes an inner constant recess portion, and an outer tapered portion. The inner constant recess portion of each wing prevents stray field writing while also preventing magnetic saturation, the outer tapered portions, which taper away from the ABS as they extend laterally outward, further prevent stray field writing by removing the outer corners of the shield away from the ABS. |
| US07881018B2 |
Differential current perpendicular to plane giant magnetoresistive sensor structure having improved robustness against spin torque noise
A differential giant magnetoresistive sensor for sensing a magnetic signal. The differential sensor has a structure configured to minimize spin torque noise. The differential magnetoresistive sensor includes first and second magnetoresistive sensor elements and a three lead structure including an inner lead sandwiched between the first and second sensor elements and first and second outer leads. each of the sensor elements includes an antiparallel coupled free layer structure with the free layer of each of the sensor elements preferably being positioned near the inner lead. The three lead structure allows sense current to be supplied to the sensor such that electrons travel first through the free layer of each sensor element and then through the pinned layer structure. |
| US07881017B2 |
Fly height control apparatus and electrical coupling thereto for supporting a magnetic recording transducer
A fly height control apparatus for supporting a magnetic recording transducer comprises a trifurcated slider. A piezoelectric transducer is coupled to a surface of the central trifurcation of the trifurcated slider. The surface is opposite and parallel to an air bearing surface of the trifurcated slider. An electrical coupling means couples the piezoelectric transducer to a suspension. |
| US07881015B2 |
Overpass structure of flexible printed cable (FPC) signal lines with suspension signal lines for a hard disk drive
A printed circuit that connects a head to a pre-amplifier circuit of a hard disk drive. The head has a pair of write bond pads and a pair of read bond pads. The printed circuit has a pair of read traces located in a first layer and connected to the read bond pads. The printed circuit also has a pair of write traces that are located in a second layer and connected to the write bond pads. The write traces cross with the read traces so that a head fabricated from a single head wafer can be used as a Up head in a hard disk drive. |
| US07881014B2 |
Patterned magnetic recording medium having reduced magnetic interaction between neighboring magnetic recording layers
A patterned magnetic recording medium including a plurality of magnetic recording domains arranged at predetermined regular intervals on a substrate, wherein the magnetic recording domains are multi-layered and comprise a soft magnetic layer interposed between a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer. The soft magnetic layer suppresses magnetic interaction between a respective one of the magnetic recording domains and neighboring ones of the magnetic recording domains. |
| US07881009B2 |
Positioning of plants in servo systems
Apparatus is provided for fast-adjustment of the position of a plant in a servo system in which a servo output indicative of the plant position is provided to a positioning system for positioning the plant in dependence on the servo output. The apparatus includes an adjustment signal generator, operable in a fast-correction mode and a shock-compensation mode, for generating an adjustment signal for supply to the positioning system to effect fast positional adjustment of the plant. The apparatus also has an adjustment controller for receiving the servo output. The adjustment controller is adapted to detect from the servo output occurrence of a disturbance affecting positioning of the plant and, in response, to initiate the shock-compensation mode of the adjustment signal generator. The adjustment controller is further adapted to initiate the fast-correction mode of the adjustment signal generator in response to indication of an error in positioning of the plant. On initiation of each mode, the adjustment controller supplies an input signal dependent on the servo output to the adjustment signal generator. The adjustment signal generator processes the input signal to generate the adjustment signal such that, in the fast-correction mode the adjustment signal effects adjustment of the plant position to correct the positioning error, and in the shock-compensation mode the adjustment signal effects adjustment of the plant position to counter the effect of the disturbance. |
| US07881007B2 |
Unequal zoning for track following on a hard disk drive
Unequal zoning for track following on a hard disk drive comprising at least one magnetic disk, a read/write head connected to at least one actuator arm and capable of reading and writing data on said at least one magnetic disk, a controller capable of moving said at least one actuator arm. A track is followed using the read/write head on the surface of the at least one magnetic disk. Information is stored at the controller regarding off-track displacement of the read/write head. A plurality of unequal zone partitions is created, wherein an unequal zone partition of the plurality of unequal zone partitions represents a physical region of the at least one magnetic disk and wherein the plurality of unequal zone partitions are based on the information regarding the off-track displacement of the track and are used by the controller to compensate for the off-track displacement of the track. |
| US07881006B2 |
Long-term asymmetry tracking in magnetic recording devices
A technique tracks head asymmetry of a magnetic recording device over time. In particular, a reference pattern having a known fundamental/reference frequency may be read from a reserved track of a magnetic recording medium to produce a response signal, and signal power may then be determined at the reference frequency and at a second harmonic component frequency of the reference frequency. Accordingly, head asymmetry for the device may be tracked based on a ratio of the signal power at the second harmonic component frequency to the signal power at the reference frequency. |
| US07881005B1 |
Disk drive servo control using spirals
A servo control system includes an input that receives spiral signals generated by reading spirals that are prewritten on a magnetic medium. The servo control system further includes a control module that generates spiral correction values for the spirals based on the spiral signals and that determines positions of the spirals based on the spiral correction values. |
| US07881003B1 |
Write driver system for data storage systems
A write driver system includes a logic circuit including first switching devices which receive input write signals and generate control signals. A plurality of predriver circuits includes second switching devices and generates drive signals based on the control signals. A write drive circuit includes third switching devices and generates write drive signals based on the drive signals. The third switching devices have higher threshold voltages than the first and second switching devices. |
| US07881002B2 |
Method of increasing recording density of hard disc drive and controlling device thereof
Provided is a method of increasing recording density and a control apparatus for increasing the recording density. The method includes applying a recording current corresponding to a recording signal to a magnetic head of a hard disc drive (HDD), and limiting a current value being applied to the magnetic head to a critical value when the recording current reaches the critical value. In the method, a rising time is reduced by using an overshoot recording current and the recording current is limited to a critical value when an actual recording current reaches the critical value. Thus, write track widths (WTWs) can be reduced at a low recording frequency, thereby increasing tracks per inch (TPI). |
| US07880996B2 |
Ridge wave-guide for thermal assisted magnetic recording
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body with front and back edges and a ridge extending from the front edge of the main body. Also, the apparatus includes an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, wherein a distance between the ridge and the back edge of the main body is between about 60 and about 240 nanometers. |
| US07880992B2 |
Phase detector that compensates for frequency variation induced bias in phases of servo burst fields
In a servo control loop, phase detection between a clock signal and servo burst fields on a movable storage media is carried out with compensation for the effects of frequency variation in the timing of servo burst fields. |
| US07880989B1 |
Write driver circuit for magnetic data storage systems
A write driver circuit includes a first write driver that communicates with a first node of a write head. A first feedback path communicates with a control input and an output of the first write driver. The first feedback path includes a first resistance connected between the output of the first write driver and the control input of the first write driver. A second write driver communicates with a second node of the write head. A second feedback path communicates with a control input and an output of the second write driver. The second feedback path includes a second resistance connected between the output of the second write driver and the control input of the second write driver. |
| US07880988B2 |
Hard disk drive and associated method for optimizing write parameters
A hard disk drive which can maintain a write property at a constant level by reflecting a temperature effect during a write parameter set process even when the hard disk drive is used under a condition different from one intended during manufacturing of the disk. The hard disk drive includes a disk, a thermister and a controller. The disk stores data and the thermister measures the temperature around the disk. The controller is coupled to the thermister and selects a parameter to be optimized from parameters related to a disk write operation. The controller writes arbitrary data to a test track on the disk to obtain a first bit error rate of the test track. The controller repeatedly writes arbitrary data to at least one track adjacent to the test track indicated by as many times as an adjacent track write count is based on an associated temperature measured by the thermister to obtain a second bit error rate of the test track. The controller sets a value of the selected parameter to determine a difference between the first bit error rate and the second bit error rate which is less than a predetermined criteria corresponding to an optimized value of the selected parameter in a disk zone to which the test track is located. |
| US07880986B1 |
Method and apparatus for write precompensation in a magnetic recording system
A phase interpolator is provided that, in one implementation, includes an output node, a plurality of phase input circuits, and a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of phase input circuits. Each phase input circuit is operable to receive a given phase signal. Each switch is in communication with a given phase input circuit and is operable to couple a given phase signal to the output node. |
| US07880982B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
A lens driving apparatus may include a movable body holding lenses; a support body for supporting said movable body to move in the optical axis direction of said lenses; and a drive mechanism for driving said movable body in the optical axis direction; wherein said movable body is provided with an extension portion that is extended toward the outer periphery, and a moving path and a movement-stopping portion are formed to at least a member of said drive mechanism mounted on the support body or to said support body, said moving path allowing said extension portion to move in the optical axis direction when said movable body is moved in the optical axis direction and said movement-stopping portion regulating the moving range of said movable body as said extension portion makes contact with said movement-stopping portion. |
| US07880981B2 |
Imaging lens
The present invention is an imaging lens of which optical performance does not deteriorate even in a high temperature environment, various aberrations are well corrected, optical length is short, and back focus is sufficiently secured, the imaging lens comprising a first lens 14, an aperture stop S, a second lens 16, and a third lens 18, which are arranged in this sequence from an object side to an image side. For the first lens, a single lens is used. The second lens comprises a first sub-lens L1, a second sub-lens L2 and a third sub-lens L3, arranged in this sequence from the object side to the image side. The third lens comprises a fourth sub-lens L4, a fifth sub-lens L5 and a sixth sub-lens L6, arranged in this sequence from the object side to the image side. The first lens is formed of a transparent curable silicone resin, and the first, third, fourth and sixth sub-lenses are also formed of the transparent curable silicone resin. The second sub-lens and the fifth sub-lens are formed of a high softening temperature glass material. |
| US07880980B2 |
Imaging lens, and imaging device and mobile terminal apparatus using the same
A first lens (L1), a second lens (L2), a third lens (L3), and a fourth lens (L4) are arranged in this order from an object side. The first lens (L1) has a biconvex shape and a positive refracting power. The second lens (L2) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side, and has a negative refracting power. The third lens (L3) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward an image side, and has a positive refracting power. The fourth lens (L4) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side, and has a negative refracting power. A chromatic aberration generated by the first lens (L1) is corrected by the second lens (L2). A chromatic aberration generated by the third lens (L3) is corrected by the fourth lens (L4). |
| US07880977B2 |
Rod lens to be fitted in endoscopes
A rod lens is used for fitting in an endoscopes. The rod lens has a rod-shaped body which is made at least in a section of a flexible, transparent solid piece of plastic material. |
| US07880976B2 |
Zoom lens system and camera including the same
Disclosed is a zoom lens system in which a first lens unit having negative optical power and a second lens unit having positive optical power are arranged in the stated order from an object side to an image side, and in which an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit changes in zooming. In such a zoom lens system, the first lens unit includes a first lens component having negative optical power, a second lens component joined to a lens surface of the first lens component, and a third lens component having positive optical power so as to provide the zoom lens system having excellent optical performance by appropriately setting a material forming the first lens component. |
| US07880974B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group; wherein, when changing power from a wide-angle end state to a tele end state, the first lens group moves such that air space between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases, and air space between the second lens group and the third lens group increases, and the second lens group moves toward the object side; and wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens with both faces formed aspherically and the concave face facing the image side, and a positive meniscus lens with at least one face formed aspherically and the convex face facing the object side, satisfying 2.8<|f1/fw|<3.3 where f1 represents the focal length of the first lens group, and fw represents the entire focal length in the wide-angle end state. |
| US07880970B2 |
Optical packaged body, method of manufacturing it, illuminating device, and display unit
An optical packaged body capable of preventing generation of a wrinkle, deflection, and warpage, and capable of being thinned is provided. The optical packaged body includes a support medium and a packaging film that covers the support medium in a state of being applied with shrinkage force. The packaging film has an optical function section that acts on light from a light source in at least one of a first region into which the light from the light source enters and a second region from which the light from the light source is emitted after passing through the optical packaged body when the light source is arranged on one face side of the optical packaged body. |
| US07880967B2 |
Optical element, optical device, and method of producing optical element
An optical element includes an optical film; a substrate; and an adhesive layer disposed between the optical film and the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer is made of NbOx, where 0 |
| US07880965B2 |
Projection-type image display device
In a projection-type image display device, a driven member of a screen is displaced in a plane parallel to the screen. The driven member can be a Fresnel lens or a diffusing member. An elastic retaining unit holds the driven member in such a manner as to be capable of moving in the plane parallel to the screen, and a pair of driving sources applies driving forces in mutually intersecting directions to the driven member. A control circuit drives the pair of driving sources with driving waveforms having a prescribed phase difference therebetween so that the driven member makes continuous motion in a plane parallel to the screen when an image is projected. |
| US07880964B1 |
Space telescope with free-flying secondary and receiver elements
A space telescope having a primary mirror for focusing and reflecting electromagnetic radiation, multiple secondary mirrors and, optionally, multiple tertiary mirrors, for receiving the focused and reflected electromagnetic radiation from the primary mirror and reflecting the electromagnetic radiation, and multiple focal plane arrays for receiving the focused and reflected electromagnetic radiation from the secondary mirrors or tertiary mirrors. The use of a multiple secondary mirrors and multiple focal plane arrays allows the telescope to observe multiple fields of regard simultaneously in selected celestial regions or on an orbited celestial body, such as the Earth. |
| US07880963B2 |
Zoom microscope
It is an object to provide a zoom microscope of a simple structure which can expand a variable-power range. In order to achieve the object thereof, the zoom microscope includes a replaceable infinity correction objective lens, an aperture stop, an afocal zoom system, and an imaging optical system which are arranged in this order from a specimen side. Further, the aperture stop is disposed on or near a rear focal plane of the objective lens. |
| US07880960B2 |
Optical amplifier and abnormality detection method for the same
An optical amplifier includes a first optical amplification unit that amplifies input light, a variable optical attenuation unit that attenuates an output of the first optical amplification unit, a second optical amplification unit that amplifies an output of the variable optical attenuation unit, and a loss amount control unit that controls the variable optical attenuation unit, wherein an external attenuating optical medium is inserted between the variable optical attenuation unit and the second optical amplification unit. The optical amplifier includes an abnormality detecting unit that detects abnormality in optical loss based on a light level between the external attenuating optical medium and the second optical amplification unit, and a detection invalidating unit that invalidates any abnormality detected by the abnormality detecting unit when a light level between the variable optical attenuation unit and the external attenuating optical medium is lower than a threshold level. |
| US07880959B2 |
Display element
Disclosed is display element which is constituted of simple members, can be driven at a relatively low voltage, exhibits high display contrast and white display reflectance, and can achieve a high display speed, comprising an electrolyte layer between opposed electrodes, and the electrolyte layer containing silver or a compound including silver in the chemical structure, wherein the opposed electrodes are driven so that the silver is dissolved or deposited and the electrolyte layer contains a mercapto compound having a sulfonamido group or a carbamido group in the molecule. |
| US07880958B2 |
Display cell structure and electrode protecting layer compositions
The invention is directed to compositions of display cell structure and electrode protecting layers for improving the performance of display devices. The composition comprises a polar oligomeric or polymeric material having a glass transition temperature below about 100° C., and the resulting display cells or electrode protecting layer have an average crosslinking density of below about 1 crosslink point per 80 Dalton molecular weight. |
| US07880952B2 |
Mirror device with an anti-stiction layer
A micromirror device includes an elastic hinge for supporting a mirror on a substrate, and an address electrode for deflecting the mirror. The device further includes a protective layer and an oriented monolayer laid to cover a stopper also functioning as an address electrode provided below the mirror and between the mirror and the substrate. |
| US07880951B2 |
Micro oscillating device and micro oscillating device array
A micro oscillating device includes a frame, an oscillating part including a first drive electrode for application of a reference electric potential, and a connecting part for connecting the frame and the oscillating part to each other, where the connecting part defines an axis of an oscillating motion of the oscillating part. A second drive electrode is fixed to the frame to cooperate with the first drive electrode for generation of a driving force for the oscillating movement. The first drive electrode includes a first end extension and a second end extension separated from each other and extending in a direction crossing the axis. The second drive electrode is within a separation distance between the first and the second end extensions. |
| US07880947B2 |
Illuminated position adjusting method in optical scanning apparatus
An illuminated position adjusting method used in optical scanning apparatus, suppressing deterioration of imaging spot shape on scanning surface, and preventing undesirable light from arriving at the scanning surface, to form high-quality image. The optical scanning apparatus includes: a common deflector for deflecting beams emitted from light source units; and imaging optical units each including at least one imaging optical element and at least one reflector which are disposed in optical path of beam deflected by the common deflector, and image the beam on scanning surface. In an optical path in which the largest number of the reflectors are disposed among the optical paths guided to the scanning surfaces, the reflector which is disposed optically closest to the scanning surface is rotated in sub-scanning direction, to adjust the illuminated position of the beam, which illuminates the scanning surface, on the scanning surface in sub-scanning direction. |
| US07880946B2 |
Method of improving quality of signals reproduced from holographic storage medium and apparatus therefor
A method and apparatus for improving quality of a signal reproduced from a holographic storage medium in which a hologram is recorded by interference between a signal beam and a reference beam. The signal-quality improving method includes determining a page crosstalk value, which is caused in a page that is to be reproduced from the holographic storage medium by an adjacent page to the page that is to be reproduced, on the basis of on-pixel crosstalk values caused by a plurality of on-pixels of the adjacent page; and removing the determined page crosstalk value from a reproduced signal of the page that is to be reproduced. Since an interpage crosstalk that occurs when multiplexing recording in the holographic storage medium is calculated, and is removed from a reproduced signal, the quality of the reproduced signal can be improved. |
| US07880944B2 |
Computer-generated hologram
To prepare very high resolution computer-generated hologram having many numbers of parallaxes, a computer-generated holographic stereogram, with virtual point light source group set up spatially on a side opposite to the hologram observation side, luminance angular distribution AWLci (θxz, θyz) of divergent light from each virtual point light sources of said group toward observation side is divided by angular division, and within the divided angle, among the multiple images positioned on the plane of said group, divergent light equal to the divergent light diverged from a point of amplitude equal to the density of pixel of each divided angle corresponding image or equal to a value in a certain fixed relation with the density of the images at the position of the virtual point light source is recorded as the object light at one of the positions on the observation side of the virtual point light source group. |
| US07880942B1 |
Method and apparatus for converting color coefficients between color spaces
A system that converts color coefficients between color spaces. During operation, the system receives a color profile comprising a lookup table which defines a conversion of color coefficients between a source color space and a destination color space, wherein the source color space includes a black color channel. Next, the system identifies a darkest output color value in the destination color space produced by the color profile, and also identifies entries in the lookup table corresponding to a maximum possible value for the black color channel of the source color space. The system then updates the identified entries with an achromatic equivalent of the identified darkest output color value, whereby source colors having the maximum possible value for the black color channel are mapped to the achromatic equivalent of the identified darkest output color value. |
| US07880938B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus that enables to embed a secure pattern code in an output image with an inexpensive configuration. An image reader has a color reference plate and reads image data of an original. An image forming apparatus forms an image on an image carrier based on the image data of the original. A laser controller irradiates the color reference plate with laser light. An image sensor controller reads a pattern image generated by irradiating the color reference plate with the laser light. The image forming apparatus adds data concerning the pattern image read by the image sensor controller to the image data of the original read by the image reader and forms an image based on the image data of the original to which the data concerning the pattern image is added. |
| US07880937B2 |
Electronic endoscope apparatus
An electronic endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element and a signal processing unit. The imaging element obtains an image of an observation object, and outputs an image signal of the observation object. The signal processing unit alternately repeats obtainment of a partial image signal using a part of a light receiving area of the imaging element and obtainment of a partial image signal using the remaining part of the light receiving area. The signal processing unit also obtains a whole image signal corresponding to an image of the observation object using a partial image signal obtained in the n-th (n is a natural number) obtainment and a partial image signal obtained in the (n+1)th obtainment. Further, a partial component of the n-th partial image signal is extracted by an extraction unit, and the extracted partial component is added to the (n+1)th partial image signal. |
| US07880931B2 |
Image processing apparatus and its method, and control method
An ICC profile includes brief gloss information indicating glossy/matte attribute as attribute information, however, gloss matching cannot be performed with the 2 options. In a case where embedding of glossiness information into the ICC profile is designated, glossiness information is obtained from a color chart placed on an original plate of a color copier, and the obtained glossiness information is described in a private tag of the ICC profile. |
| US07880930B2 |
Reducing printhead process color non-uniformities in a direct marking device
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for reducing process color banding due to printhead non-uniformities in a direct marking device. In one example, a first measurement of a printhead spatial non-uniformity is obtained along a first line in a color space which produces a spatial uniformity when a target primary color is printed alone. A first spatial tone reproduction curve is generated. A second measurement of the printhead spatial non-uniformity is obtained along a second line in color space in a coverage area of a process color which maximally changes a halftone structure of the target primary color. A second spatial TRC is generated. The first and second spatial TRCs are combined using a weighted average which balances the primary and process colors. A modified spatial TRC is generated. The printhead is adjusted at a location of the target primary color according to the modified spatial TRC. |
| US07880928B2 |
Color image process controls methods and systems
This disclosure provides color image process methods and systems to control hue variation associated with a color printing system. In particular, it provides a method and system to adjust a control patch associated with a color separation to force a chromatic difference and control perceived color accuracy. |
| US07880925B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating an image file with a color layer and a monochrome layer
An apparatus and method for generating an image file having a color layer and a monochrome layer comprises reading an original image, generating color image data from the read original image, and generating monochrome image data from the read original image. First image processing is performed on the color image data, and a second image processing, different from the first image processing, is performed on the monochrome image data. The processed color image data and the processed monochrome image data are stored in the image file as the color layer and the monochrome layer, respectively. |
| US07880924B2 |
Method for faxing documents printed on colored media
Methods of detecting and compensating for colored media when utilizing the facsimile send function of an All-in-One printing system are disclosed. Embodiments include obtaining a color scan of the document page, determining an approximate value for the background color of the document page, and adjusting the scanned image of the document page to substantially eliminate the background color. |
| US07880923B2 |
Image forming apparatus print processing method and charging control system
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image forming apparatus configured to perform printing when a reservation request including a count value for the printing is accepted by a management apparatus that performs charging management according to a print result, the image forming apparatus including: a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the management apparatus, a reservation request including a count value for printing a part of a print job before completing analysis on the entire print job; and a printing unit configured to perform printing according to an acceptance of the reservation request by the management apparatus. |
| US07880920B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and control method for these
In a system in which a print controller and an image forming apparatus are communicably connected, a first paper information to be used by the print controller and a second paper information to be used by the image forming apparatus are both held in the print controller and the image forming apparatus. The first paper information and the second paper information include a common ID for paper data that corresponds between the first and second paper information. In response to a restore instruction, both sets of the first paper information or both sets of the second paper information are merged. ID duplication is eliminated by changing the IDs in regard to paper data in which IDs are duplicated as a result of merging. The first and second paper information to be used by the print controller and the image forming apparatus are updated based on the result of merging. |
| US07880919B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus enabling identical editing of a plurality of edit target images includes an edit position designator for designating, for a single image, an edit position as an edit target, an alignment position designator for designating an image alignment position and a edit unit that aligns an edit image and edits a designated area having the edit position for the single image as its reference. |
| US07880914B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of controlling network access of image processing apparatus
An image processing method can include storing pieces of identification information of information processing apparatuses; instructing to change the identification information stored; displaying, when the instructing step gives the instruction to change the identification information, the pieces of identification information of the information processing apparatuses stored; and searching for information processing apparatuses on the network. The method can also include displaying pieces of identification information of the information processing apparatuses found; and changing identification information selected from the pieces of identification information displayed in the first displaying step into identification information selected from the pieces of identification information displayed in the second displaying step. |
| US07880911B2 |
Printing a position using a mobile device
A system for printing a position on a print medium, that has a mobile telephone with an inbuilt printer module to print the position on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium. |
| US07880907B2 |
Printing system, image reading device and control method thereof
A printing system including a printing device which has a cancel instruction unit that instructs cancellation of a current job being processed from an operation panel, and an image reading device that describes original image data read from an original in a page description language and sends to the printing device, in which the image reading device describes the read original image data in the page description language and sends it as a copy job to the printing device, obtains a job holding state from the printing device and reserves at least the transmission of the copy job to the printing device until the job held by the printing device runs out when it is judged according to the obtained job holding information that the printing device is in a job holding state. |
| US07880900B2 |
Measuring apparatus for performing positional analysis on an integrated circuit carrier
The invention relates to a measuring apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing assembly that defines an enclosure, a control system mounted in the housing assembly, and an operator interface mounted on the housing assembly and connected to the control system to allow an operator to control the measuring apparatus. The apparatus also includes a measuring table assembly mounted in the housing assembly and configured to receive a nest assembly supporting an integrated circuit carrier carrying a number of integrated circuits, and a camera assembly mounted in the housing assembly and configured to generate image data representing the integrated circuit carrier and the integrated circuits. The camera assembly is connected to the control system which is configured to carry out a positional analysis on the integrated circuit carrier and the integrated circuits to determine at least one of positions of the integrated circuits on the carrier and relative positions of consecutive integrated circuits. |
| US07880899B2 |
Three-dimensional measurement system, inspection method, three-dimensional measurement method and program
A three-dimensional measurement system comprises: a three-dimensional measuring device for obtaining measurement data related to the three-dimensional shape of a target object for measurement; a specification part for specifying a primitive of the target object based on annotation information contained in CAD data; and a controller for controlling the three-dimensional measuring device based on the primitive specified by the specification part. |
| US07880895B2 |
Optical tomographic image photographing apparatus
An apparatus has an optical system detecting spectral information and having an optical scanner and a driving unit changing the optical path length by moving an optical member, a monitor, a control unit obtaining a tomographic image by performing Fourier analysis on the information and displaying the obtained image, and a unit previously setting an image on the monitor, in which the member is moved from an initial position and presence or absence of the tomographic image is determined, when the presence is detected, whether the tomographic image is normal or inverted is determined, and when the tomographic image is not the set image, the member is moved to obtain the set image, and when the tomographic image is the set image, the member is moved so that a position of the tomographic image in the depth direction coincides with a predetermined adjustment position and the driving unit is stopped. |
| US07880894B2 |
Vibration detection device and vibration detector
A vibration detection device that includes a light source that emits a laser beam; an interferometer, which includes two vibrating bodies that are capable of reflecting the laser beam, that splits the laser beam to cause interference patterns; and a detector that detects vibrations on the basis of the interference patterns. |
| US07880881B2 |
Method of improving cheese quality
A method is provided for improving the quality of cheese produced from a curd and whey mixture. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the curd and whey mixture during syneresis processing to collect color data, comparing the color data to a predetermined standard and terminating syneresis when the color meets the predetermined standard or, alternatively, analyzing the color data obtained to generate kinetic parameters that can be used to predict the end point of syneresis to improve control of curd moisture content. |
| US07880880B2 |
Alignment systems and methods for lithographic systems
An alignment system for a lithographic apparatus has a source of alignment radiation; a detection system that has a first detector channel and a second detector channel; and a position determining unit in communication with the detection system. The position determining unit is constructed to process information from said first and second detector channels in a combination to determine a position of an alignment mark on a work piece, the combination taking into account a manufacturing process of the work piece. A lithographic apparatus has the above mentioned alignment system. Methods of alignment and manufacturing devices with a lithographic apparatus use the above alignment system and lithographic apparatus, respectively. |
| US07880876B2 |
Methods of use for surface enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS) systems for the detection of bacteria
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) systems and methods for detecting biomolecules of interest, such as a bacterium are provided. |
| US07880873B2 |
Droplet discharge device
A pattern formation device is for forming a pattern on a substrate includes first and second foreign matter detection sensors. Each of the first and second foreign matter detection sensors includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit disposed across a transport path of the substrate from the first light projecting unit. The light projecting unit is configured and arranged to emit a detection light along an upper surface of the substrate. The light receiving unit being configured and arranged to receive the detection light to detect foreign matter on the substrate based on an amount of the detection light received by the light receiving unit. The light projecting units of the first and second foreign matter detection sensors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path. |
| US07880870B1 |
Linear array sensors for target detection including hydrocarbon events such as gun, mortar, RPG missile and artillery firings
Detection sensors utilizing linear arrays using one or more linear arrays of detectors sampled at a high rate. The invention is useful for target detection including hydrocarbon events such as guns, mortars, RPG missiles and artillery firings, lightning, and other optical events. |
| US07880863B2 |
Lithography system with illumination monitor
A lithographic system including a light source configured to provide a light beam, a mask stage configured to hold a mask having a mask pattern, a wafer stage having a surface configured to hold a wafer having a plurality of dies, and an illumination monitor having a receiver disposed at the surface of the wafer stage and a polarimeter. A projection system is configured to shape and direct the light beam via the mask pattern to form an exposure beam and to individually expose each die with the exposure beam, and is configured to shape and direct the light beam to form a monitor beam and to expose the receiver with the monitor beam. The receiver is configured to communicate the monitor beam to the polarimeter which, based on the monitor beam, is configured to provide an illumination signal representative of properties of the light beam as it passes through the lithographic system. |
| US07880862B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
An exposure apparatus comprising a projection optical system configured to project a pattern image of an original onto a substrate, and a sensor configured to detect light emerging from the projection optical system, the sensor including a light receiving element having a light receiving surface, and an optical member having a reflection surface which reflects the light emerging from the projection optical system toward the light receiving surface, wherein the reflection surface forms an acute angle with respect to the light receiving surface. |
| US07880860B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A method and apparatus for cleaning the inside of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. In particular, a liquid supply system of the lithographic apparatus may be used to introduce a cleaning fluid into a space between the projection system and the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, a cleaning device may be provided on the substrate table and an ultrasonic emitter may be provided to create an ultrasonic cleaning liquid. |
| US07880855B2 |
LCD device and method having a ball spacer in an alignment film groove having a groove width greater than the spacer diameter and curing a seal pattern and the spacer at the same time after bonding the substrates
A liquid crystal display device, and a method for fabricating the same is described, in which an alignment film is formed divided into a plurality of sub-alignment films spaced from each other, and a column spacer is formed in the space between the sub-alignment films. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, and a second substrate opposite to each other, a first alignment film on the second substrate, the first alignment film having a first alignment film groove in a predetermined portion, a first spacer in the first alignment film groove, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US07880851B2 |
Array substrate for a liquid crystal display device with thin film transistor having two drain electrode patterns and manufacturing method of the same
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes gate and data lines crossing on a substrate, common lines parallel to and between the gate lines, thin film transistors at crossing portions of the gate and data lines, and a pixel electrode. The common lines define pixel regions, which are each divided into first and second regions by the corresponding gate line. The thin film transistors each include a gate electrode in a first direction, a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer in a second direction. The source and drain electrodes cross the gate electrode in each of the first and second regions. The pixel electrode is connected to the drain electrode. |
| US07880849B2 |
Display panel with TFT and gate line disposed between sub-electrodes of pixel electrode
A display panel includes gate lines formed on a substrate, storage electrode lines formed on the substrate and being parallel to the gate lines, data lines insulated from the gate lines and crossing the gate lines, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) connected with the gate lines and the data lines, and pixel electrodes having a first sub-electrode connected with a TFT and a second sub-electrode formed at a side opposite the first sub-electrode with respect to a gate line, wherein the TFT and a storage electrode line are disposed between the first and second sub-electrodes. |
| US07880848B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
It is an object of the present invention to apply a sufficient electrical field to a liquid crystal material in a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display device typified by an FFS type. In a horizontal electrical field liquid crystal display, an electrical field is applied to a liquid crystal material right above a common electrode and a pixel electrode using plural pairs of electrodes rather than one pair of electrodes. One pair of electrodes includes a comb-shaped common electrode and a comb-shaped pixel electrode. Another pair of electrodes includes a common electrode provided in a pixel portion and the comb-shaped pixel electrode. |
| US07880837B2 |
Black and white color cholesteric liquid crystal display
A cholesteric display may be formed, in some embodiments, using a single display element to produce multi-colors for display. A cholesteric material may be sandwiched between a pair of substrates, each associated with pairs of opposed electrodes that are arranged in general transversely to the optical axis of incident light. The first pair of electrodes produce one of two liquid crystal states and result in the reflection of light of a particular wavelength. Light of other wavelengths may be reflected when a second pair (or set) of opposed electrodes, arranged in general transversely, also to the optical axis of incident light, are biased appropriately. So does a third pair (or set) of electrodes. A black and white color display may be generated from a single display element by modulating the pitch length of the cholesteric material within each pairs (or sets). |
| US07880826B2 |
Light guide plate and liquid crystal display using the same
Disclosed is a light guide plate, comprising a light guide plate body and a plurality of micro mirrors formed on an upper surface of the light guide plate body for controlling a reflection direction of light incident on the light guide plate. The amount of light output from a backlight module using the light guide plate can be controlled by adjusting an angle of each of the micro mirrors with respect to an incident light from a light source. |
| US07880825B2 |
Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight assembly of an LCD device which is capable of securing a enough space to mount a light guide plate by guiding lamp wires in the direction of a rear surface of the backlight assembly includes a lamp, a light guide plate configured to guide light emitted from the lamp, an optical sheet formed at an upper surface of the light guide plate, a mold frame accommodating the lamp, the light guide plate, and the optical sheet, a back cover formed at one side of a rear surface of the mold frame to protect the lamp and light guide plate, lamp wires connected at both ends of the lamp, and a wire outlet penetrating the back cover. |
| US07880813B2 |
Control device and control method with corresponding arrangement of image regions
A control device includes a control section standing by to receive a control signal transmitted from a transmission section. The control section assigns, respectively to N or less control signals, instructions to be executed when the control signals are received, and generates a signal for drawing on a display device an operation menu which includes N image regions placed in an arrangement corresponding to the N sensing portions of the transmission section. Each image region represents an instruction assigned to a control signal which is transmitted when the corresponding sensing portion is pressed, such that the N instructions to be respectively assigned to the control signals are determined based on an operation state of an apparatus to be controlled in the standby state and the operation menu generated in an immediately previous standby state. |
| US07880812B2 |
Video apparatus and video processing method
A video apparatus includes a processor for processing a video signal included in an input signal, a detector for detecting a vertical synchronizing interval of a synchronizing signal included in the input signal, a data saver for saving data for each vertical resolution of the video signal, the data being set in the processor for processing the video signal of the vertical resolution, and a controller for reading data from the data saver depending on the vertical resolution of the video signal, setting the read data in the processor, deriving a horizontal resolution of the video signal based on the vertical synchronizing interval detected by the detector, and changing the data set in the processor based on the derived horizontal resolution. |
| US07880810B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing informational signal
An apparatus for processing an informational signal includes a first processing section for receiving the informational signal, executing a first processing on the informational signal, and outputting the processed informational signal. The apparatus also includes a second processing section, which is located at a posterior stage of the first processing section, for receiving the processed informational signal and executing a second processing on the processed informational signal. The apparatus further includes transmitting device for transmitting meta-information corresponding to each predetermined period of time in the informational signal from the first processing section to the second processing section. The processing in the second processing section is controlled based on the meta-information transmitted by the transmitting device. |
| US07880809B2 |
Method and system for motion adaptive deinterlacer with integrated directional filter
A system and method that produces a spatial average for interlaced video in a deinterlacer. The system detects edges in the video images and determines the angle at which the edges are oriented based on the gradient in the x-direction and the gradient in the y-direction. The direction of the edge is determined using the angle information of the edge. The system may also determine the strength of the edge. Based on the determined characteristics of the edge a filter may be selected to produce a spatial average of the edge in the image. |
| US07880806B2 |
Imaging operation controller
An imaging operation controller including a casing, a control panel attached to a back part of the casing and having a plurality of operating members and function indicators that indicate the functions of the operating members and placed near the operating members, respectively. The control panel includes a base plate attached to the casing, a mounting plate placed on the base plate and a printed indicator sheet placed on the mounting plate. The plurality of operating members are supported on the base plate, indicator lighting light sources are supported on the base plate at positions respectively corresponding to the function indicators so as to emit light backward. The indicator lighting light sources are white light-emitting diodes attached to the base plate so as to emit light backward. |
| US07880805B2 |
Method of calculating ratio of visible light component and image pickup apparatus using same
An image pickup apparatus in which color signals are generated and extracted from a picked-up image signal for a plurality of regions in a screen, a wavelength component ratio is detected and calculated based on the extracted color signals for each of the plurality of regions, one or more regions in which the visible light component ratio calculated is large are selected, and the visible light component ratio of the photographing screen is determined based on the visible light component ratios of the selected regions. |
| US07880799B2 |
Focus detecting apparatus and image pickup apparatus
A focus detecting apparatus includes a splitter for splitting a light from an image pickup lens to form at least a pair of images, a photoelectric conversion element for photoelectrically converting at least the pair of images, the focus detecting apparatus detecting a focusing status of the image pickup lens based on a signal from the photoelectric conversion element, and a light blocking mask for blocking the light from entering the photoelectric conversion element, the light blocking mask having a curve shape in a moving direction of the image that varies according to an image height. |
| US07880789B2 |
Solid-state image pick-up apparatus capable of remarkably reducing dark current and a drive method therefor
A solid-state image pick-up device is configured for more effectively reducing dark current of an interlace scanning type of CCD so that electrodes connected to transfer shift gates are sequentially arranged on two adjacent vertical transfer paths and are driven such that signal charges are prevented from staying longer in the vertical transfer path below the electrodes connected to the transfer shift gates. This prevents signal charges from waiting longer for vertical transfer during a horizontal transfer period, thereby reducing dark current otherwise caused in the vertical transfer paths. |
| US07880788B2 |
Optical sensor circuit and image sensor
An optical sensor circuit has a photodiode PD, a MOS transistor Q1, a voltage controller 13 which supplies a gate voltage and a drain voltage to the transistor, etc. The voltage controller includes initial setting means 15. In the initial setting means, an electrostatic capacitance element of the photodiode is charged/discharged while setting a gate voltage of the transistor Q1 to a high gate voltage value VgH, only for a predetermined time period, and setting a drain voltage to a low drain voltage value VdL, only for a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the drain voltage is set to VdH, and, after elapse of a predetermined time period, the gate voltage is set to VgL. VgH, VdH, and VdL satisfy relational expressions of “VgH−VdH |
| US07880786B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device with an improved reading speed
A CMOS color image sensor, which is a solid-state image pickup device, includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of pixels converting the incident light intensity into an electrical signal; a pixel array including the plurality of pixels; row-selection lines; and column-reading lines. Two column-reading lines are provided for each column of the pixel array. Pixels in even rows of each column are connected to one column-reading line and pixels in odd rows of each column are connected to the other column-reading line. |
| US07880785B2 |
Rod and cone response sensor
An imager having color sensitivity in any lighting condition is provided by replacing at least one of the green color filtered pixels in a Bayer pattern array with an non-color filtered pixel and providing a different integration period for each color channel. When replacing a color filtered pixel with a non-color filtered pixel, the benefits of both color sensitivity and light sensitivity may be harnessed by providing the color filtered pixels with a longer integration period than the non-color filtered pixels. Color information may be interpolated by performing subtraction logic using non-color and color filter information from adjacent pixels in back-end processing. Integration times for each color channel can be adapted to minimize filter transmission and sensor absorption differences within each frame of data. Temporal displacement of colors of moving objects by having different integration periods may be corrected in back-end processing. Back-end processing may also correct motion blur. |
| US07880779B2 |
Image sensor artifact elimination
The method and circuit corrects errors in an active pixel sensor which generates an output indicative of illumination intensity and which may experience an error in the output as a result of artifacts which produce an erroneous output. The approach includes determining the output from the pixel, comparing the output with a threshold value, and if the output is lower that the threshold value identifying the existence of an erroneous output and storing a value in a latching device in response thereto. A maximum value is generated in response to the latching device to replace the erroneous output, thereby correcting the error. The present invention switches the system from the analog to digital domain with respect to the issue of artifacts by using a latch to store a value which is then used to replace the actual output if the output is wrong. |
| US07880775B2 |
Image sensor with interleaved image output
An image sensor with a light reader circuit coupled to a pixel array. The light reader circuit retrieves a first image and a second image generated by the pixel array. The image sensor may also include a memory controller and/or data interface that transfers the first and second images to an external device in an interleaving manner. |
| US07880774B2 |
Image recording apparatus and method
An image recording apparatus and method that can store image information by thinning out latest image information at a low thinning-out ratio and thinning out old image information at a high thinning-out ratio. The image recording apparatus includes a recording unit that records plural pieces of image information received from the image pickup unit in a storage area together with recording date and time information of the respective pieces of image information; and a deleting unit that compares the present date and time and the recording date and time information recorded by the recording unit to calculate elapsed time of the respective pieces of image information and deletes the image information with the longer elapsed time at a thinning-out ratio higher than that of the image information with the shorter elapsed time. |
| US07880770B2 |
Camera control
Tools for controlling cameras (and other objects), using an input device. Some such tools may establish a threshold, above which the input from the input device is fed directly to the object being controlled, and below which the input signal is processed to provide smoother operation. This can allow for direct control over a camera (or other object) in large movements but still allow for smooth, controlled movements when slower movement is desired. |
| US07880768B2 |
Mobile communication terminal
The mobile communication terminal includes a body, a lens module, a first accelerator sensor, a second accelerator sensor, a range finder, and a processor. The lens module, the first accelerator sensor, a second accelerator sensor, and a range finder are disposed on the body. The lens module is configured to pick up an image of an object. The first accelerator sensor and the second accelerator sensor are configured to measure accelerations of the lens module in different directions. The range finder is configured to measure a distance from the object to the lens module. The processor electrically coupled to the range finder module, the first accelerator sensor and the second accelerator sensor. The processor is configured to restore the image blurred by vibrations of the lens module based on values of the distance, the first acceleration, and the second acceleration. |
| US07880763B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device is obtained, in which excellent characteristics are achieved, the reliability is improved, and an SiC wafer can also be used for the fabrication. A plurality of Schottky-barrier-diode units 10 is formed on an SiC chip 9, and each of the units 10 has an external output electrode 4 independently of each other. Bumps 11 (the diameter is from several tens to several hundreds of μm) are formed only on the external output electrodes 4 of non-defective units among the units 10 formed on the SiC chip 9, meanwhile bumps are not formed on the external output electrodes 4 of defective units in which the withstand voltage is too low, or the leakage current is too much. Because the bumps are not formed on the defective units, Schottky-barrier-side electrodes 3 are connected in parallel to the exterior of the device through the bumps 11, and a wiring layer 13 and an external lead 13a of a wiring substrate 12; thus, only the external output electrodes 4 of the non-defective units 10 are connected in parallel with each other. |
| US07880756B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor member; a LED head that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arrayed in a line along a rotating axial direction of said photoreceptor member and that is modulated in response to image signals, so as to expose said photoreceptor member while said photoreceptor member is rotating; a deviation detecting sensor to detect deviations on a circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; a filter to extract low frequency components including a rotational frequency component of said photoreceptor member from deviation signals detected by said deviation detecting sensor, so as to acquire deviation information with respect to said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; a driving section to move said LED head back and forth against said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; and a position controlling section to control said driving section, based on said deviation information acquired by said filter, so as to keep a distance between said LED head and said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member constant. |
| US07880751B2 |
Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
Method and system for projecting a first orthodontic related image at a predetermined location within a display unit, selecting a second orthodontic related image on the display unit, and projecting the second orthodontic related image at the predetermined area within the display unit such that a difference between the first orthodontic related image and the second orthodontic related image is displayed at the predetermined area within the display unit are provided. |
| US07880750B2 |
Digital image processing with inherent compression
A raster image processing system and method accepts a digital page description as a series of page elements (text, graphics, images, etc.) and creates output video-ready (“flattened”) raster without allocating large amounts of raster memory (arrays of pixels) and without creating a display list of all page elements. This technique improves performance (greater speed with fewer resources consumed) in the typical output process: rendering, image processing, compression, and transmission. The method records each page element in memory in a manner that largely retains the inherent compression of the element description, and fully retains the positional relationships with its neighboring elements. Where an incoming page element overlaps an existing one, the intersections are calculated on the fly, and elements underneath are immediately split, merged, shrunken, or deleted. Each incoming page element is immediately processed and recorded as described above, and then discarded. The result is a continuously precise, simple, non-overlapping (“flat”) representation of the final output raster. In other words, in one embodiment, the representation starts empty, then stays compressed and flat throughout while accumulating representations of page elements. |
| US07880748B1 |
Audio view using 3-dimensional plot
Techniques for editing signal data using a three-dimensional visual representation of the signal data are provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, audio signal data is displayed as a surface occupying three dimensions. User input, which indicates a selected area of the surface, is received. The audio signal data is then modified by applying an effect to one or more parts of the audio signal data that correspond to the selected area. |
| US07880747B1 |
Blend optimizations that are conformant to floating-point rules
A technique for handling floating-point special values, e.g., Infinity, NaN, −Zero, and denorms, during blend operations is provided so that blend operations on fragment color values that contain special values can be performed in compliance with special value handling rules. In particular, the presence of special values is detected or the potential presence of special values is detected. This information is used to qualify when blend optimizations may be performed, so that floating point blend operations can remain conformant to special value handling rules. |
| US07880746B2 |
Bandwidth management through lighting control of a user environment via a display device
A system and method for controlling lighting conditions in a user environment whereby bandwidth consumption may be managed is disclosed. An inner frame area and an outer frame area adjust certain lighting conditions in the user environment in response to certain lighting conditions detected by the image capture device as those conditions affect bandwidth consumption during transmission of the image capture data. The frame areas may be dynamically controlled as to affect the brightness and/or color of the particular user environment. |
| US07880743B2 |
Systems and methods for elliptical filtering
An improved attribute determination process allows the sharpness of a surface attribute function to be adjusted on a per-object, per-surface, per-texture, per-function, or other appropriate basis. A computer-based animator then can selectively adjust the sharpness or other attribute(s) of portions of a to-be-rendered image without significantly increasing the rendering time. For a selected texture, corresponding sampling regions will be shifted about the respective surface points projected in texture space. A multi-dimensional set of sub-regions can be generated for the shifted sampling region. Bounding boxes can be determined for each sub-region, the boxes occupying less area, such as in texture space, than a single bounding box for the original sampling region. The bounding boxes can be used for local attribute determinations (such as texture lookups) for each sub-region, with the local attributes being processed to determine an attribute for the respective surface point. |
| US07880742B2 |
Information processing device, data transmission method, and electronic apparatus
An information processing device in which a data bus for establishing interconnection between a plurality of control operating units formed in a main processor is connected at one end to a graphic processor and at the other end to a main memory. Image frame data generated by the graphic processor is sequentially transferred through the data bus and stored into the main memory. The data bus satisfies R1≧R2≧R4 and R1≧R3≧R4, where R1 is the data transmission rate from the main processor to the graphic processor, R2 is the data transmission rate from the graphic processor to the main processor, R3 is the data transmission rate between the main processor and the main memory, and R4 is the rate to transmit a single image frame of data within a vertical blanking interval. |
| US07880735B2 |
Display device and electrical apparatus using the same
In a display device that displays by allowing external light to be incident from outside, and reflecting the incident external light so as to output the incident external light from a display surface, a porous body having a front face that is provided on the display surface side is used. Moreover, a colorless and transparent material is used for this porous body, an one-end opening is formed on the front face side in the porous body, and plural small pores that are independent of one another are provided inside the porous body. |
| US07880728B2 |
Application switching via a touch screen interface
Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, provides a touch screen interface for computer system which allows intuitive switching between several applications. In one approach to this technology, a touch screen display is used to display an interface for an application. A touch sensitive border region is defined at the edge of this display, and is associated with another application. Receiving input at the touch sensitive border region causes the touch screen display to display the interface for the second application. |
| US07880724B2 |
Integrated handheld data processing device having a sliding form factor
A handheld data processing device having three functional components assembled in a sliding configuration. A processor module is mechanically coupled to two sliding covers. The processor module houses circuits for performing the functions of data processing and may also include a display and input/output functionality. The two sliding covers provide protection for the processor module and may include input/output transducers such as a keypad, speaker or microphone. Embodiments of the handheld data processing device include a handheld computer, wireless telephone and handheld video display. Used as a telephone, the sliders may house a speaker and a microphone. |
| US07880719B2 |
Recognition and capture of whiteboard markups in relation to a projected image
The computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for capturing markup layers on a whiteboard in relation to a projected image. A presentation page is displayed on a whiteboard as the projected image. A set of markups on the whiteboard associated with the presentation page is identified. The set of markups on the whiteboard is isolated from the projected image of the presentation page to create a user input layer. The user input layer is saved as an overlay for the presentation page. |
| US07880717B2 |
Method, apparatus, and article for force feedback based on tension control and tracking through cables
A haptic device for human/computer interface includes a user interface tool coupled via cables to first, second, third, and fourth cable control units, each positioned at a vertex of a tetrahedron. Each of the cable control units includes a spool and an encoder configured to provide a signal corresponding to rotation of the respective spool. The cables are wound onto the spool of a respective one of the cable control units. The encoders provide signals corresponding to rotation of the respective spools to track the length of each cable. As the cables wind onto the spools, variations in spool diameter are compensated for. The absolute length of each cable is determined during initialization by retracting each cable In turn to a zero length position. A sensor array coupled to the tool detects rotation around one or more axes. |
| US07880707B2 |
Liquid crystal module having storing member for controlling working mode of driving chip thereof
An exemplary liquid crystal module (20) includes liquid crystal panel (200) and a driving chip (210). The driving chip includes an interface circuit (230), a storing member (260), and a plurality of input ports. The plurality of input ports are configured for receiving display data. The storing member and the interface circuit share at least one common input port of the plurality of input ports. The storing member receives at least one mode selection signal for controlling a working mode of the driving chip via the at least one common input port in a first period of time. The storing member outputs the at least one mode selection signal to the interface circuit, and then the interface circuit receives the display data via the plurality of input ports including the at least one common input port according to the working mode in a second period of time. |
| US07880706B2 |
Display device, method of driving the same and display device driving apparatus
A display device includes a display panel, a reference gamma processing part, a source driving part, and a timing controlling part. The display panel includes a plurality of pixel parts displaying an image. The reference gamma processing part outputs a reference gamma voltage in every period. The source driving part converts a data signal into a data voltage of an analog type based on the reference gamma voltage during the period. The timing controlling part delays the data signal of at least one frame and the reference gamma voltage based on the at least one frame corresponding to the data signal to apply a delayed data signal and a delayed reference gamma voltage to the source driving part. Therefore, an image display quality is improved. |
| US07880704B2 |
Energy saving passive matrix display device and method for driving the column voltage having reduced transitions
Method of driving a liquid crystal display by supplying selectable column voltages Gj(t) from a predetermined number of column voltages levels, selection signals to groups of mutually orthogonal p rows (p≧1) for the duration of a row selection time p×nfrc during a supcrframe nfrc to generate grey scales. The column voltage is calculated depending on the grey scales of the p pixels in a column and on the mutually orthogonal selection signals Fi for the corresponding group of rows. The row selection time is subdivided in npwm sub selection time. The grey scales are coded in grey scale tables having nfrc phases with npwm. The superframes grey scales are generated using phase mixing. The change in the column voltage level defines a transition. The column voltage has always less transitions per row selection time than the number npwm of sub selection time of the row selection time. |
| US07880699B2 |
Method for driving pixels of an organic light emitting display
A circuit and a method for driving pixels of an organic light-emitting display are provided. The circuit comprises a thin-film transistor having a source terminal connected to a voltage source, a storage capacitor having a first terminal connected to a gate terminal of the thin-film transistor, and an organic light-emitting diode having a cathode connected to a ground. The gate terminal and a drain terminal of the thin-film transistor are connected in a clamping phase and a reverse phase. A second terminal of the storage capacitor is connected to the ground in the clamping phase, and is connected to a data line in a light-emitting phase and in the reverse phase. An anode of the organic light-emitting diode is connected to the drain terminal of the thin-film transistor in the light-emitting phase and in the reverse phase. |
| US07880687B2 |
Display device, display method, program, recording medium, and composite image display apparatus
A display device for a composite image display apparatus includes: a self-state acquiring unit configured to acquire information indicating a mounting position of a self device in the composite image display apparatus and a mounting state of the self device; an other-device's-state acquiring unit configured to acquire information indicating a mounting position of each of other display devices in the composite image display apparatus and a state of each of the other display devices; and a display controlling unit configured to control display of an image to be displayed on a display section of the self device, on the basis of the information acquired by each of the self-state acquiring unit and the other-device's-state acquiring unit. |
| US07880686B2 |
Mobile device
A portable terminal capable of display of high luminance with low power consumption and configured to be provided with an LED display panel having a plurality of light-emitting diodes matrix-arranged in a display window formed on the surface of a casing accommodating electronic components and to control display of the light-emitting diodes of the LED display panel with a display control unit. The portable terminal performs display of high luminance with low power consumption with the matrix-arranged light-emitting diodes. |
| US07880684B2 |
Small aperture broadband localizing system
The present invention is directed to a small aperture broadband localizing system, comprising one or more systems for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal and a transmit tag. A system for ascertaining angle-of-arrival of an electromagnetic signal further comprises a compact antenna array and an evaluation apparatus, and an electromagnetic signal is preferentially a broadband or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal. |
| US07880683B2 |
Antennas with polarization diversity
A horizontally polarized antenna array allows for the efficient distribution of RF energy into a communications environment through selectable antenna elements and redirectors that create a particular radiation pattern such as a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern. In conjunction with a vertically polarized array, a particular high-gain wireless environment may be created such that one environment does not interfere with other nearby wireless environments and avoids interference created by those other environments. Lower gain patterns may also be created by using particular configurations of a horizontal and/or vertical antenna array. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna systems disclosed herein are utilized in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) wireless environment. |
| US07880681B2 |
Antenna with dual band lumped element impedance matching
An antenna includes a first antenna element and a second antenna element. The first antenna element and the second antenna element are both configured to receive signals in a first band of frequencies and in a second band of frequencies. Frequencies in the second band of frequencies are greater than frequencies in the first band of frequencies. A first impedance matching circuit, coupled to the first antenna element, includes a first plurality of filters having a first shared component. A second impedance matching circuit, coupled to the second antenna element, includes a second plurality of filters having a second shared component. A feed network circuit is coupled to the first impedance matching circuit and to the second impedance matching circuit and has a combined output corresponding to the signals received by the first antenna element and a second antenna element. |
| US07880679B2 |
Multiband antenna system
In a multiband antenna system for a vehicle windshield, an antenna conductor structure is provided in lateral recesses of the heating conductor field. The antenna conductor structure is non-electrically coupled to the heating conductor field with low resistance using high-frequency technology. This system ensures defrosting of the vehicle windshield in the entire wiped area without being affected by the antenna conductor structure. |
| US07880676B2 |
Method and system for hybrid positioning using partial distance information
The present invention provides a method and system for positioning one or more anchor nodes or one or more non-anchor nodes in one or more communication networks. A non-anchor node may be in communication with two or more anchor nodes. The method comprises determining two or more distance measurements, corresponding to raw distances of the non-anchor node from the two or more anchor nodes, at predetermined intervals of time. An estimated distance is then calculated between the two or more anchor nodes based on the two or more distance measurements. Estimated distances between a plurality of anchor nodes in the one or more communication networks is calculated in a similar manner. A partial distance matrix is then populated using the estimated distance between the plurality of anchor nodes. A plurality of geographic coordinates of the plurality of anchor nodes is reconstructed based on the partial distance matrix. The plurality of geographic coordinates is reconstructed based on one or more of a geometric build-up algorithm, a shortest-path algorithm and a multidimensional scaling algorithm. |
| US07880673B2 |
Position determination system and position determination method
A position determination system includes a mobile terminal configured to receive GPS information from a GPS; a base station device configured to measure a round trip time (RTT) from the mobile terminal; a base-station position table unit configured to store position information on the base station device; a cable-length table unit configured to store a cable length between the base station device and an antenna assembly provided to the base station device, the antenna assembly communicates with the mobile terminal; and a position determination device configured to determine the position of the mobile terminal on the basis of the round trip time measured by the base station device, the cable length obtained from the cable-length table unit, the position information on the base station obtained from the base-station position table unit, and the GPS information received from the mobile terminal. |
| US07880671B2 |
Electromagnetic (EM) solver using a shooting bouncing ray (SBR) technique
In one aspect, a system to generate radar signatures for multiple objects in real-time includes a first module including at least one processor to perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the objects. The at least one processor includes a central processing unit to perform dynamic ray tracing and a graphics processing unit (GPU) to perform far field calculations. The GPU includes a hit point database to store entries associated with rays that intersect an object. |
| US07880669B2 |
Radar apparatus
To provide a radar apparatus capable of rapidly detecting an object at the end of a detecting range. The present invention provides a radar apparatus comprising a radar sensor that transmits a transmitting wave to a predetermined angular range and receives a reflected wave reflected by an object and a processing unit that obtains a peak of strength from a distribution of strength for angle of the received reflected wave and determines the direction of the object based on the peak. The processing unit detects the reflected wave at the end of the angular range and, when the peak is not detected, determines whether the object exists in the direction of the end of the angular range, based on the distribution of strength of the detected reflected wave. |
| US07880667B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using interferometry to prevent spoofing of ADS-B targets
Methods and apparatus for preventing spoofing of targets, such as aircraft, in an air traffic control system. In one embodiment, first and second antennas at respective ground stations can be used to receive a signal transmitted by an aircraft from which a phase signal can be generated. A position of the aircraft generate can be generated from peaks and troughs in the phase signal due to movement of the aircraft. The determined position can be compared to a position reported by the aircraft to identify spoofing of the target. |
| US07880664B2 |
Method for correcting weather data
The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for correcting the weather data of radial speed, spectral width and/or differential reflectivity which have been acquired from radar echo data recorded by a ground-based, radar-based remote-sensing appliance (1) for measuring atmospheric conditions and including evaluable weather echoes and interfering ground echoes, corrected weather data being obtained by calculating out the interfering ground echoes from the acquired weather data by using a previously stored clutter map with an intensity distribution of radar echo data which include the ground echoes substantially without weather echoes. |
| US07880661B2 |
Analog-digital converter and on-die thermal sensor including the same
An on-die thermal sensor includes an integrating analog-digital converter not requiring a negative reference voltage input. The on die thermal sensor includes a band gap unit, an integrating unit and a counting unit. The band gap unit senses a temperature to output a first voltage corresponding to the sensed temperature. The integrating unit integrates a difference between a reference voltage and a comparing voltage to output a second voltage wherein the comparing voltage has a voltage level higher than that of the reference voltage. The counting unit counts clocks of a clock signal input thereto until the second voltage reaches the first voltage, thereby outputting a thermal code corresponding to the voltage level of the first voltage. |
| US07880660B2 |
Pipelined analog-to-digital converters
An analog-to-digital converter including a first stage and a second stage. The first stage receives a first reference voltage and a first analog input voltage, generates a first digital signal by quantizing the first analog input voltage, and generates a first analog output voltage based on the first digital signal and the first analog input voltage. The second stage receives a second reference voltage and the first analog output voltage, in which the second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage. The second stage further generates a second digital signal by quantizing the first analog output voltage, and generates a second analog output voltage based on the second digital signal and the first analog output voltage. |
| US07880655B2 |
System, in particular for digitizing a time-continuous and value-continuous periodic signal with a firmly predefined number of samples per period
A system is disclosed, in particular for digitizing a time-continuous and value-continuous periodic signal with a respective firmly predefined number of samples per period. In at least one embodiment, the system includes an A/D converter for digitizing an analog AC signal applied to the input of the A/D converter, the converter including a single-bit modulator which converts the AC signal into a first data stream of temporally immediately successive single-bit data words at a predefined operating clock rate; and a downstream decimation filter which respectively aggregates a predefined number of temporally immediately successive single-bit data words in the first data stream into respective temporally immediately successive n-bit data words which form a second data stream which corresponds to a digitization of the AC signal at a sampling frequency which is derived from the operating clock rate and the predefined number by way of division. In order to achieve digitization with a respective firmly predefined number of samples per period with relatively little technical complexity, it is proposed in at least one embodiment that the operating clock rate be respectively generated by a digitally adjustable oscillator on the basis of a signal characteristic of the AC signal. |
| US07880654B2 |
Continuous-time sigma-delta modulator with multiple feedback paths having independent delays
Apparatus are provided for continuous-time sigma-delta modulators. A sigma-delta modulator comprises a quantizer configured to convert an analog signal to a digital value. A main feedback arrangement is coupled to the quantizer, and the main feedback arrangement delays the digital value by a first delay period and generates a main feedback signal based on the delayed value. A compensation feedback arrangement is coupled to the quantizer, and compensation feedback arrangement delays the digital value by a second delay period and generates a compensation feedback signal based on the delayed value. A forward signal arrangement produces the analog signal at the quantizer based on an input signal, the main feedback signal, and the compensation feedback signal. The second delay period is independent of and is not influenced by the first delay period, and the second delay period is chosen such that the compensation feedback signal compensates for the first delay period. |
| US07880653B2 |
Switched-capacitor circuits, integration systems, and methods of operation thereof
Embodiments include integrator systems, switched-capacitor circuits, and methods of their operation. An integrator system comprises a differential amplifier and first and second sampling modules. The first sampling module includes a first capacitor and a first set of switches. The first set of switches changes a connection status between the first capacitor and first and second amplifier input terminals when a change in a polarity of a differential input signal does not occur between consecutive switching cycles, and refrains from changing the connection status when the change in the polarity does occur. The second sampling module includes a second capacitor and a second set of switches. The second set of switches changes a connection status between the second capacitor and the first and second amplifier input terminals when the change in the polarity does occur, and refrains from changing the connection status when the change in the polarity does not occur. |
| US07880650B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing data converter
A data converter for converting analog signals to digital signals, or for converting digital signals to analog signals is provided. In one embodiment, a production self-test is provided. In one embodiment, a high-speed lower-resolution method or mode for a data converter is provided. In one embodiment, a differential data converter with a more stable comparator common mode voltage is provided. In one embodiment, the input range of a digitally calibrated data converter is provided and maintained so that there is no loss in input range due to the calibration. In one embodiment, digital post-processing of an uncalibrated result using a previously stored calibration value is provided. |
| US07880647B1 |
Huffman decoding method
A Huffman decoding method for decoding codewords included in an encoded data transmitted via a stream includes: processing codewords of a codebook that is predefined or extracted from the stream to derive at least an auxiliary lookup table, and storing each derived auxiliary lookup table in a storage device; and searching a decoded value corresponding to a target codeword included in the encoded data according to at least the auxiliary lookup table stored in the storage device and the codebook. |
| US07880643B2 |
Method and device for following objects, particularly for traffic monitoring
A method for tracking objects, especially for monitoring traffic, wherein a sensor measuring in an essentially horizontal and radial manner detects metrical data on moving objects in the form of raw data and transmits said data to a computer unit. The raw data is processed in the computer in such a way that the objects are tracked and the geometric properties thereof are determined. The static background is autonomously recognized and adapted or updated if changes occur. Objects in a present scene are tracked and current parameters are determined and correlated with the parameters of the objects of previous scenes. The method is particularly suitable for the detection and recognition of non-static traffic infractions which can only be recognized by analyzing the tracking of an object. The invention can be used in conjunction with several sensors in existing traffic control systems. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the above-mentioned method. |
| US07880642B2 |
GPS-generated traffic information
Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler. |
| US07880639B2 |
Method of establishing communication with wireless control devices
The method of the present invention allows a first wireless control device that is operable to communicate on a predetermined one of a plurality of channels to establish communication with a second wireless control device that may be communicating on any of the plurality of channels. A beacon message is first transmitted repeatedly by the wireless control device on the predetermined channel. The second wireless control device listens for the beacon message for a predetermined amount of time on each of the plurality of channels. When the second control device receives the beacon message on the predetermined channel, the second control device begins communicating on the predetermined channel. The second wireless device may begin listening for the beacon message in response to powering up. |
| US07880626B2 |
System and method for monitoring the life of a physiological sensor
Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor configured to store in memory indications of sensor use information and formulas or indications of formula for determining the useful life of a sensor from the indications of sensor use information. A monitor connected to the sensor monitors sensor use and stores indications of the use on sensor memory. The monitor and/or sensor use the compute the useful life of the sensor from the indications of use and the formulas. When the useful life of the sensor is reached, an indication is given to replace the sensor. |
| US07880625B2 |
Liquid level warning device
A liquid level warning device with a separate audible alarm is disposed in a liquid tank for indicating the amount of liquid in the tank. The device also includes a plurality of float switches disposed at pre-selected levels within the tank and a plurality of LED's for indicating the level of liquid in the tank. A separate audible alarm independent of the visual indicators sounds an alarm when the tank is at a pre-selected level. A float switch is also disclosed. |
| US07880620B2 |
RFID tag and construction site management system and management method using the same
According to an aspect of the present invention, an RFID tag has a long-distance communication RFID and a plurality of short-distance communication RFIDs. The RFID tag has tear-off lines for separating the short-distance communication RFID from the whole RFID tag, and when the short-distance communication RFID is separated, a loop-shaped antenna of the long-distance communication RFID is also cut up. And the RFID tag has an overall management identification code for identifying the whole tag before separation and a partial management identification code for identifying a partial tag after separation. |
| US07880616B2 |
Wireless data communication system having radio frequency devices, and related operating methods for disabling a transmit mode
A wireless system suitable for use as a radio frequency (RF) locationing or presence detection system includes at least one wireless access device and at least wireless device, such as an active RF tag, corresponding to an item or asset of interest. A method of managing RF transmissions by the wireless devices is provided. The method involves the wireless device receiving keep-alive beacons during a first period of time. During this first period of time, the wireless device is operated in a transmit mode. During a second period of time that follows the first period of time, the wireless device receives no keep-alive beacons. During this second period of time, the wireless device is operated in a standby mode such that RF transmissions are disabled. |
| US07880614B2 |
RFID interposer with impedance matching
An RFID interposer has conductive material that includes an impedance matching structure. The impedance matching structure aids in matching impedance between a chip that is to be mounted to the interposer, and an antenna that the interposer is to be coupled to. The impedance matching structures may allow different chips, with slightly different electrical characteristics, to be impedance matched to the same antenna configuration, using the same type of interposer. The impedance matching structure may have any of a variety of configurations in the electrically conductive material of the interposer. The structure may be parts of the chip mounting bond pads, may be part of the conductive electrical connection between the chip bond pads and antenna bond pads, may be part of connections between the chip bond pads and the antenna bond pads, and/or may be only indirectly electrically coupled to the antenna bond pads (such as by capacitive coupling). |
| US07880612B2 |
Anti-theft method and device
The invention comprises of a method and alarm device used to prevent metal theft from irrigation systems. The alarm device attaches to a plurality of electric conductor such as copper wiring that is in need of protecting and the preexisting irrigation system circuit. The alarm device detects voltage in the irrigation system circuit and if there is no voltage signals from the irrigation system circuit, then the alarm device automatically breaks the original circuit and inserts itself into the irrigation system circuit. The alarm device then sends a low voltage, low current down the plurality of electric conductors and the plurality of conductors then become part of a circuit that energizes a magnetic switch located in the alarm device. A breach of integrity of the plurality of conductors such as by physical detachment triggers an alarm condition which lead to audio and visual alarms plus activating an automated dialer. |
| US07880609B2 |
System and method for real-time management of mobile resources
A system and method are disclosed for real-time management of mobile resources. The management system includes an on board system, a processor, and a data center. The on board system is provided with the mobile resource to be managed and includes a number of sensors to monitor various conditions. Each sensor collects information independently and asynchronously with respect to the other sensors. The processor collects the information from the sensors and saves it in the form of synchronous data. A continuous two-way connection is established between the on board system and the data center across a wireless communication network. The data center monitors at least one sensed state from the sensors based on receipt of the synchronous data from the on board system. The data center can also provide instructions to the on board system in response to the state that is being monitored. |
| US07880606B2 |
Physiological trend monitor
A physiological trend monitor has a sensor signal responsive to multiple wavelengths of light transmitted into a tissue site. The transmitted light is detected after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. A processor has an input responsive to the sensor signal and a physiological parameter output. Features are extracted from the physiological parameter output. Criteria are applied to the features. An alarm output is generated when the criteria are satisfied. |
| US07880603B2 |
System and method for controlling an anti-masking system
The present invention is directed to a method and system for controlling operation of an anti-masking system that detects tampering with a motion detection system. The control system may include a selective adjustment mechanism for adjusting a sensitivity level of the anti-masking system and a trigger mechanism for triggering the selective adjustment mechanism upon occurrence of an event to raise the sensitivity level of the anti-masking system. The control system may additionally include a timer for extending the raised sensitivity level for a predetermined time period beyond the occurrence of the event. The control system may operate in conjunction with a motion detection system that includes at least one motion detection sensor for detecting motion. |
| US07880598B2 |
Six face, multi-event, orientation sensor
An apparatus and a computer implemented method for monitoring and recording the orientation data for an object. The orientation apparatus comprises an outer casing. Inside the outer casing is an orientation device that comprises six chambers, with a ball sensor in each chamber, and a ball. The orientation apparatus also comprises a data recorder for recording an event history of the orientation device, and a communicator for conveying the event history. |
| US07880596B2 |
Vehicle exterior rearview mirror system with blind spot indicator
An exterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is mountable at an exterior side of a vehicle and has an inboard portion that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the mirror assembly is mounted at the exterior side of the vehicle. A blind spot indicator is disposed at the inboard portion of the mirror casing of the mirror assembly. The blind spot indicator comprises at least one illumination source for indicating to the driver a detected presence of an object alongside of and/or rearward of the vehicle. The indicator may comprise a unitary indicator module that is mountable at the inboard portion of the mirror assembly. The indicator module may include an illumination source and circuitry and may be connectable to an electrical connector. |
| US07880595B2 |
Vehicle monitoring system
A vehicle monitoring system which can readily identify information transmitted from each detecting device without requiring registration of identifying information of the detecting device is to be provided. Detecting devices transmit vehicle information including at least the result of detection and self-identifying information; a tractor relaying device and a trailer relaying device add their self-identifying information to vehicle data received on the basis of the identifying information of the detecting devices and transmit the vehicle data, and transmit registration data including their own relaying device IDs and types indicating the registration of the relaying device IDs; the tractor relaying device stores the relaying device ID of the registration data transmitted from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the type information and transmits that registration data, and transmits vehicle data received from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the relaying device ID. The display device receives the registration data and the vehicle data transmitted from the tractor relaying device, and stores the relaying device ID of the registration data on the basis of type information. |
| US07880594B2 |
Switch assemblies and method for controlling vehicular components
Vehicle including a switch assembly includes a vehicular component subject to control by an occupant in the passenger compartment, and a switch assembly for controlling the component based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface of the vehicle. The switch assembly includes at least one wireless transmission component arranged to wirelessly transmit an indication of the application of pressure to the exposed surface, and a control mechanism for controlling the wireless transmission by the wireless transmission component(s) based on the application of pressure to the exposed surface. The control mechanism may be a switch or a variable impedance which react to the application of pressure to the exposed surface. |
| US07880585B1 |
Storage locker having a remotely activated lockout feature
A method for controlling access to a storage unit owned by an owner, wherein a renter can obtain and maintain rights to said storage unit by paying a first rental fee and subsequent periodic rental fee payments according to a schedule. In this method, the storage unit is secured by a lock that is, at least in part, controlled by the renter. A remotely controllable lockout assembly, however, is capable of over locking the storage unit so that the renter can no longer gain entry when the lockout assembly is activated. The method includes remotely controlling the lockout assembly to deny the renter access to the unit when the when said renter has failed to pay said periodic rental fee on schedule and a grace period has passed since said renter's rights to said storage unit have elapsed. |
| US07880583B2 |
Remote control apparatus
A remote control apparatus for a vehicle according to the invention includes a portable-device determination unit, and a distance determination unit. The portable-device determination unit determines whether a first portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, is present in the vehicle. The distance determination unit determines whether a distance between the user of the vehicle and the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. When the portable-device determination unit determines that the first portable device is present in the vehicle, and the distance determination unit determines that the distance between the user and the vehicle is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the remote control apparatus permits a second portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, to remotely control the vehicle function. |
| US07880579B2 |
Carrier device for a toroidal-core choke, holder for an inductive component, and inductive component
A carrier device for a toroidal-core choke includes a base plate, which has projecting wire-guiding devices. A holder for an inductive component includes the carrier device and an electrical isolation device. The holder can be part of an inductive component. |
| US07880578B2 |
Conductor assembly including a flared aperture region
A conductor assembly of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. A helical wiring pattern is positioned along an axis a radial distance R from the axis. The wiring pattern is formed about an aperture region extending from the axis toward the wiring pattern, the distance R varying along a portion of the axis. |
| US07880576B2 |
Electromagnetic noise absorber
An electromagnetic noise absorber to be attached around an electric cable to attenuate noise transmitted through the electric cable. The electromagnetic noise absorber comprises a strip-like base material and a plurality of ferrite pieces fixed to the strip-like base material. The plurality of ferrite pieces are formed by fixing a sheeted ferrite sintered body to the strip-like base material, and subsequently splitting the sheeted ferrite sintered body along split lines oblique with respect to a longitudinal direction of the strip-like base material. The electromagnetic noise absorber is wound around a circumference of the electric cable such that the split lines are parallel to an axial direction of the electric cable, thereby being attached in a spiral manner around the circumference of the electric cable. |
| US07880573B2 |
Magnetostriction aided switching
A method for reducing a temperature rise of a magnetic material is provided. The method includes applying force to the magnetic material to reduce a dimensional change of the magnetic material during a first part of an operation cycle, such as due to magnetostriction. The force is removed from the magnetic material during a second part of an operation cycle, allowing magnetostrictive dimensional changes to occur. |
| US07880570B2 |
Feed thru with flipped signal plane using guided vias
An embodiment of the invention includes a high speed feed thru connecting a first circuit outside a housing to a second circuit inside the housing. The first circuit includes a first high speed integrated circuit chip and the second circuit includes a second high speed integrated circuit chip or optoelectronic device. The high speed feed thru includes an inside coplanar structure positioned at least partially inside the housing, the inside coplanar structure connected to the second circuit. The high speed feed thru also includes an outside coplanar structure positioned at least partially outside the housing, the outside coplanar structure connected to the first circuit. A material separates the inside coplanar structure and the outside coplanar structure. At least one guided via extends through the material, connecting the inside coplanar structure and the outside coplanar structure. |
| US07880568B2 |
Equalizer system having a tunable active inductor
An linear equalizer system for a transmission channel includes an active inductor with a tunable inductance and quality factor. The active inductor includes a transconducting element. A current steering digital to analog converter controls the flow of a bias current through the transconducting element to tune the active inductor. |
| US07880565B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical transducer having a surface plate
A micro-electro-mechanical transducer (such as a cMUT) is disclosed. The transducer has a base, a spring layer placed over the base, and a mass layer connected to the spring layer through a spring-mass connector. The base includes a first electrode. The spring layer or the mass layer includes a second electrode. The base and the spring layer form a gap therebetween and are connected through a spring anchor. The mass layer provides a substantially independent spring mass contribution to the spring model without affecting the equivalent spring constant. The mass layer also functions as a surface plate interfacing with the medium to improve transducing performance. Fabrication methods to make the same are also disclosed. |
| US07880563B2 |
High-frequency acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device comprising a piezoelectric layer on an omnidirectional acoustic mirror and excitation and/or reception means on a surface of said piezoelectric layer, capable of exciting waves in a band gap of the acoustic mirror. |
| US07880561B2 |
Surface acoustic wave filter device and duplexer
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter device includes first and second longitudinally coupled SAW filter units. The first and second filter units are cascade-connected to each other. A phase of a signal flowing through a first signal line electrically connecting second IDTs of the first and second SAW filter units is different by about 180° from a phase of a signal flowing through a signal line electrically connecting third IDTs of the first and second SAW filter units. A SAW resonator is connected between the first and second signal lines. A resonance point of the SAW resonator is set in an attenuation region in the vicinity of the edge of a low frequency side of a filter passband or an anti-resonance point of the SAW resonator is set in an attenuation region in the vicinity of the edge of a high frequency side of the filter passband. |
| US07880560B2 |
Directional coupler and a receiving or transmitting device
A directional coupler and a receiving or transmitting device. The directional coupler includes: a primary signal line composed of a metal rod; and a coupled signal line composed of a microstrip line in a curved shape on a printed circuit board; wherein the medium between the metal rod and the microstrip line is air. Compared with existing directional coupler, the directional coupler of the embodiments of the disclosure has a lower transmitting loss, a large power capacity, and a high directional qualification. The directional coupler is capable of ensuring a higher passive intermodulation qualification. The advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure are easier assembly, good uniformity of the qualifications, and adaptability for various application environments. The directional coupler of the disclosure ensures different parameter qualifications, and is simple to assemble, so that the low cost is achieved. |
| US07880556B2 |
Interconnection system with a dielectric system having holes therein that run uninterrupted through the dielectric system
Fundamental interconnect systems for connecting high-speed electronics elements are provided. The interconnect systems consists of signal line, dielectric system with open trench or slot filled up with air or lower dielectric loss material, and the ground plane. The signal line could be for example, microstripline, strip line, coplanar line, single line or differential pairs. The interconnect system can be used for on-chip interconnects or can also be used for off-chip interconnects. The fundamental techniques provided in this invention can also be used for high-speed connectors and high-speed cables. |
| US07880554B2 |
Periodic timing jitter reduction in oscillatory systems
A device including a voltage regulator with an adaptive switching frequency circuit for noise-sensitive analog circuits, such as oscillatory systems with phase-lock loops (PLLs) and voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes a reference clock oscillator, a low-jitter oscillator, a power supply including a clock signal input to regulate a power supply voltage for the low-jitter oscillator, a clock detector to generate a clock detector control signal when the low-jitter oscillator output frequency is stable, and a multiplexer to select between a reference clock oscillator output signal and a low-jitter oscillator output signal as the clock signal input to the power supply to mitigate effects of period jitter in the low-jitter oscillator output signal when the clock detector control signal is asserted. In a further exemplary embodiment, a clock detector control signal is configured to control the multiplexer to select the low-jitter oscillator output signal as the clock signal input to the power supply when the low-jitter oscillator output frequency is stable. |
| US07880549B1 |
Transistor including intrinsic harmonic trap
Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a circuit comprising a unit cell including an input and an output, and a harmonic trap, intrinsic to the unit cell, implemented on one of the input and the output. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07880547B2 |
Systems and methods for power amplifiers with voltage boosting multi-primary transformers
Systems and methods may be provided for a power amplifier system. The systems and methods may include a plurality of power amplifiers, where each power amplifier includes at least one output port. The systems and methods may also include a plurality of primary windings each having a first number of turns, where each primary winding is connected to at least one output port of the plurality of power amplifiers, and a single secondary winding inductively coupled to the plurality of primary windings, where the secondary winding includes a second number of turns greater than the first number of turns. |
| US07880535B2 |
Semiconductor device, control method of semiconductor device, and control information generating method for semiconductor device
A semiconductor device 2 has a plurality of elements. It also has an F-V table storing unit for low voltage threshold cells 31 for storing an F-V table TB11 of an oscillation frequency f1 relying on the plurality of elements and a power supply voltage EV to be supplied to the plurality of elements. It has a process sensor block 12 having at least one of the plurality of elements, for monitoring the oscillation frequency f1 relying on at least one element. It further has a selector 33 for setting the power supply voltage EV associated with the oscillation frequency f1, as the supply voltage to be supplied to the semiconductor device 2 by selecting according to the F-V table TB11. The F-V table TB11 is obtained by mutually relating the combinations of random number models ξn between an F-ξ table TB20 and an ξ-V table TB30. |
| US07880533B2 |
Bandgap voltage reference circuit
A bandgap voltage reference circuit which provides a bandgap reference voltage without requiring a resistor. The circuit comprises an amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output. First and second bipolar transistors are provided which operate at different current densities each coupled to a corresponding one of the inverting and non-inverting inputs of the amplifier. A load MOS transistor of a first aspect ratio is driven by the amplifier to operate in the triode region with a corresponding drain-source resistance ron. The load MOS device is operably coupled to the second bipolar transistor such that a base-emitter difference (ΔVbe) resulting from the collector current density difference between the first and second bipolar transistors is developed across the drain-source resistance ron, of the load MOS device. A cascoded MOS device of a second aspect ratio is operably coupled to the load MOS device and is driven by the amplifier to operate in the triode region. The first and second aspect ratios are such that that the drain-source voltage of the second MOS transistor (Vds2) is a scaled representation of the base-emitter voltage difference (ΔVbe). |
| US07880522B2 |
Double-edge PWM controller and its control method thereof
The present invention discloses a double-edge pulse width modulation (PWM) controller based on the output current and output voltage which is modulated in real time by the output current and the output voltage. The controller uses an extra first adder to sum up the compensation signal and a triangular signal (or a saw-tooth signal); a second adder to sum up the output current signal to a bias value; a PWM comparator, with its non-inverting input receiving the output of said first adder, its inverting input receiving the output of said second adder and outputs the PWM signal. |
| US07880521B2 |
Differential driver and method capable of controlling slew rate
A differential driver includes first and second pull-up resistors respectively connected to first and second output terminals, a plurality of differential-input transistor pairs connected each to the first and second output terminals, current sources connected each to the differential-input transistor pairs, and a slew rate controller adapted to generate differential input signals to be applied each to the differential-input transistor pairs in response to an input signal. The slew rate controller may output the differential input signals simultaneously or sequentially. |
| US07880519B2 |
Clock signal generating circuit, display panel module, imaging device, and electronic equipment
A delay synchronization loop type clock signal generating circuit includes: a digital delay line for delaying a first clock signal and generating a second clock signal; a ring-type shift register for setting the delay time length of the digital delay line by flip-flop output of each stage thereof; and a delay amount control unit for controlling supply of shift clocks to the ring-type shift register, based on phase relation between the first clock signal and the second clock signal. |
| US07880517B2 |
Delayed-locked loop with power-saving function
A DLL with power-saving function includes a VCDL, a voltage control module, a capacitor, and a phase detector. The VCDL generates a delayed clock signal according to the voltage on the capacitor and a reference clock signal. The phase detector detects phase difference between the delayed clock signal and the reference clock signal and accordingly controls the voltage controller. The voltage controller sinks or sources current to the capacitor for adjusting the voltage on the capacitor. Further, the voltage controller can turn off its charge pump according to a turned-off signal and stops sinking or sourcing current for saving power. |
| US07880516B2 |
Method for noise reduction in a phase locked loop and a device having noise reduction capabilities
A method for reducing noise in a device that includes at least one phase locked loop (PLL), the method includes: adjusting at least one adjustable component of a PLL such as to determine a time shift; modulating a frequency divider such as to generate a modulation noise within a modulation noise period and to provide a frequency divided signal; introducing the time shift between the modulation noise period and a measurement period; and measuring during a measurement period a difference between a reference signal and the frequency divided signal. A device that includes a phased locked loop. The phase locked loop (PLL) includes: a frequency divider, adapted to receive an output signal from a controlled oscillator and to provide a divided frequency signal; a modulator, adapted to affect at least one frequency division characteristic and to introduce a modulation noise during a modulation noise period, a phase detector, adapted to measure, during a measurement period, a difference between a reference signal and the frequency divided signal; and an adjustable delay unit adapted to affect an adjustable time shift between the modulation period and the measurement period. |
| US07880508B2 |
Device for detecting the peak value of a signal
A device for detecting the peak value of a signal with crest factor not known a priori includes a pair of peak detectors, each of which includes a rectifier element and a discharge-current generator and generates a respective output signal that is a function of the ratio between a physical dimension of the rectifier element and the intensity of discharge current produced by the generator. The ratio is different for the two detectors, and a combination network combines the output signals of the two peak detectors with one another and produces a combined signal indicating the peak value sought with high accuracy. |
| US07880500B2 |
Logical signal voltage converter
A circuit for converting a lower voltage logical signal to a higher voltage. The circuit comprises a current mirror structure having first and second branches, each comprising at least a first transistor of a first kind, an input transistor of a second kind, and a second transistor of the first kind coupled between them. The first transistors are arranged as a current mirror. The input transistors are driven using a logical signal at the lower voltage, controlling the current mirror structure to output a corresponding logical signal at the higher voltage. The second transistors are driven by an intermediate reference voltage so as to reduce the operating voltage of the third transistors. The first kind is tolerant of a higher operating voltage than the second kind. |
| US07880499B2 |
Reconfigurable logic fabrics for integrated circuits and systems and methods for configuring reconfigurable logic fabrics
In accordance with the present invention there are provided herein asynchronous reconfigurable logic fabrics (302, 304) for integrated circuits and methods for designing asynchronous circuits to be implemented in the asynchronous reconfigurable logic fabrics. |
| US07880495B2 |
Display device and test probe for testing display device
A display device is provided with a light detection unit that detects the intensity of ambient light and is capable of automatically controlling the luminosity of an illumination unit and/or the luminosity of the display device on the basis of the intensity of ambient light detected by the light detection unit. Moreover, the display device makes it possible to easily conduct a test on light-sensor characteristics. |
| US07880494B2 |
Accurate capacitance measurement for ultra large scale integrated circuits
Test structures and methods for measuring contact and via parasitic capacitance in an integrated circuit are provided. The accuracy of contact and via capacitance measurements are improved by eliminating not-to-be-measured capacitance from the measurement results. The capacitance is measured on a target test structure that has to-be-measured contact or via capacitance. Measurements are then repeated on a substantially similar reference test structure that is free of to-be-measured contact or via capacitances. By using the capacitance measurements of the two test structures, the to-be-measured contact and via capacitance can be calculated. |
| US07880492B2 |
Integrated circuits with programmable well biasing
An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a storage device formed in the substrate to hold bias settings, and operational blocks formed in the substrate, each operational block including an operational circuit and a charge pump to provide well bias voltages to the operational circuit in response to one or more of the bias settings. A method for testing an integrated circuit having two or more operational blocks includes: (a) determining a maximum operating speed of each of the blocks at a minimum supply voltage; (b) selecting a block that has a slow operating speed; (c) selecting a well bias to speed up the selected block; (d) selecting a supply voltage to meet a target operating frequency at the selected well bias and measuring power; (e) repeating acts (b)-(d) while the measured power is less than a baseline power; and (f) saving the selected well bias and supply voltage settings for operation of the integrated circuit. |
| US07880490B2 |
Wireless interface probe card for high speed one-shot wafer test and semiconductor testing apparatus having the same
A wireless interface probe card includes a substrate member and a transmission member. The substrate member has a plurality of probe terminals arranged at a constant pitch. The probe terminals may directly contact a plurality of pads arranged at a constant pitch on each of a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged on a wafer to perform a test of the semiconductor chips arranged on the wafer. The transmission member is arranged on the substrate member, wirelessly receives a test signal and provides the received test signal to the pads of the wafer through the probe terminals, and wirelessly and externally transmits an electrical characteristic signal provided from the pads of the wafer through the probe terminals. |
| US07880489B2 |
Printing of redistribution traces on electronic component
A probe substrate for use in testing semiconductor devices can include a base substrate that can have first electrical terminals at a first pitch. One or more redistribution layers on the base substrate can include droplets of a conductive material that form redistribution traces extending from the first terminals to second electrical terminals at a second pitch different from the first pitch. |
| US07880488B2 |
Universal current leakage testing adapter
In one embodiment, a universal current leakage measurement device is disclosed. A universal current leakage testing adapter has the ability to couple with at least two differently sized or shaped probe connectors. The universal current leakage testing adapter is configured to couple with differently sized or shaped probe connectors by conductive planes either functioning independently or in concert to contact the pins of a probe connector. |
| US07880487B2 |
Test lead probe with retractable insulative sleeve
The present invention is directed to a test probe having an indexable probe tip. In one embodiment, an insulative sleeve extends from the test probe and surrounds a portion of the exposed probe tip. The insulative sleeve is moveable relative to the probe tip and may be indexable to at least two positions. For instance, the insulative sleeve locks into a first position to provide a first length of the probe tip exposed from the insulative sleeve, and the insulative sleeve locks into a second position to provide a second length of the probe tip exposed from the insulative sleeve. |
| US07880486B2 |
Method and apparatus for increasing operating frequency of a system for testing electronic devices
A test system includes a communications channel that terminals in a probe, which contacts an input terminal of an electronic device to be tested. A resistor is connected between the communications channel near the probe and ground. The resistor reduces the input resistance of the terminal and thereby reduces the rise and fall times of the input terminal. The channel may be terminated in a branch having multiple paths in which each path is terminated with a probe for contacting a terminal on electronic devices to be tested. Isolation resistors are included in the branches to prevent a fault at one input terminal from propagating to the other input terminals. A shunt resistor is provided in each branch, which reduces the input resistance of the terminal and thereby reduces the rise and fall times of the input terminal. The shunt resistor may also be sized to reduce, minimize, or eliminate signal reflections back up the channel. |
| US07880478B2 |
Sensing device for measuring a position of nanoscale motion apparatus
A nanoscale motion apparatus includes a fixed base, a movable platform, and means for moving the movable platform connected between the fixed base and the movable platform. A sensing device includes a holder, at least two nanosensors, and a measurement plate. The holder is mounted on the fixed base. The nanosensors are configured on the holder. The measurement plate is mounted on the movable platform. The measurement plate can be sensed by the nanosensors so as to measure the corresponding variation between the fixed base and the movable platform. |
| US07880475B2 |
Type A USB receptacle with plug detection
A modified Series A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle connector is equipped with the functionality to allow the electronic system in which it resides to be configured either as a host device or a peripheral device. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector, according to one embodiment of the invention may include a mechanism such as an additional pin or a mechanical switch to detect the presence of a standard USB Series A plug being inserted into it. Upon detection of a plug, an algorithm may allow the system to determine whether it is to act as a host device or a peripheral device and to determine which device supplies power. |
| US07880473B2 |
Non-invasive monitoring and diagnosis of electric machines by measuring external flux density
System and methods for monitoring electric machines are provided. A magnetic field associated with the electric machine is measured at one or more points external to the electric machine, wherein a respective magnetic field value is associated with each of the one or more points. The one or more measured magnetic field values are compared to one or more corresponding expected values, and a determination of whether a fault is present in the electric machine is made based at least in part on the comparison. |
| US07880471B2 |
Adapter for supplying electrolyte to a potentiometric sensor
An adapter for a potentiometric sensor having a sensor shaft, which has a reference liquid opening in its exterior surface. The adapter comprises an annular chamber member having a sensor opening for receiving the sensor shaft. Arranged in the sensor opening are first and second sealing rings for the sensor shaft. The axial position of the reference liquid opening lies between the first and second sealing rings. Formed between the sealing rings and the sensor shaft is an annular chamber, which is in communication with the reference liquid opening. The annular chamber member further includes a duct extending between the annular chamber and a reference feed opening. The adapter further includes a process connection member having a process connection opening, which surrounds the sensor shaft, and whose axis is aligned with the axis of the sensor opening. The axial position of the process connection member is fixed relative to the annular chamber member, and the process connection member is freely rotatable relative to the annular chamber member. |
| US07880470B2 |
Switching circuit, signal output device and test apparatus
A test apparatus for a device under test (DUT) that includes a signal output device that outputs a signal according to a test signal and a detecting section that detects a signal output from the DUT that outputs a detection result. The signal output device includes an output port, a high-voltage side switching circuit between a first terminal and a second terminal, a low-voltage side switching circuit between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a control section that outputs the first and second control signals. Each of the high-voltage and the low-voltage side switching circuits include a plurality of switching devices serially connected between the first and second terminals. The plurality of switching devices are opened substantially in synchronization with each other, such that a voltage inputted to the first terminal is outputted from the second terminal by short-circuiting between the first and second terminals. |
| US07880469B2 |
Surveying method using an arrangement of plural signal sources
A survey technique for use in a marine environment to survey a subterranean structure includes providing an arrangement of plural signal sources in a body of water to produce corresponding signals. The signals of the signal sources in the arrangement are set to cause reduction of at least one predetermined signal component in data received by a receiver in response to the signals. |
| US07880468B2 |
Method of using G-matrix fourier transformation nuclear magnetic resonance (GFT NMR) spectroscopy for rapid chemical shift assignment and secondary structure determination of proteins
The present invention presents a new approach to rapidly obtaining precise high-dimensional NMR spectral information, named “GFT NMR spectroscopy”, which is based on the phase sensitive joint sampling of the indirect dimensions spanning a subspace of a conventional NMR experiment. The phase-sensitive joint sampling of several indirect dimensions of a high-dimensional NMR experiment leads to largely reduced minimum measurement times when compared to FT NMR. This allows one to avoid the “sampling limited” data collection regime. Concomitantly, the analysis of the resulting chemical shift multiplets, which are edited by the G-matrix transformation, yields increased precision for the measurement of the chemical shifts. Additionally, methods of conducting specific GFT NMR experiments as well as methods of conducting a combination of GFT NMR experiments for rapidly obtaining precise chemical shift assignment and determining the structure of proteins or other molecules are disclosed. |
| US07880461B2 |
System for transferring test trays and a handler having same
A system and method is provided for transferring multiple test trays within a test handler. The system includes at least one moving member having a pushing member that pushes a first test tray and a pulling member that pulls on a projection on a second test tray to move the first and second test trays simultaneously with the moving member. The system also includes a second plate to which the at least one moving member is fixed, and a first plate to which the second plate is movably fixed. A handler may be equipped with this system so that two test trays may be moved at the same time to decrease overall processing time and improve efficiency and productivity of the handler. |
| US07880460B2 |
Hardware in the loop motor simulation
A simulator system is connected to simulate the connection of a mechanically loaded motor to a motor controller/driver. The simulator system includes a current transformer circuit for monitoring AC output currents provided by the motor controller/driver. A simulation controller calculates, based on the monitored AC output currents, dynamic load voltages that simulate the response that would be generated by a mechanically loaded motor based on the AC output currents provided by the motor controller/driver. A number of power supplies amplify the dynamic loading calculated by the simulation controller to generate a dynamic loading that opposes the AC output currents provided by the motor controller/driver. |
| US07880457B2 |
Dual-loop DC-to-DC converter apparatus
A dual loop DC-to-DC converter is provided that includes a first control loop that maintains a DC output voltage (VOUT) less than or equal to a desired maximum value of the VOUT, a second control loop that operates simultaneously with the first control loop and maintains a DC input voltage (VIN) greater than or equal to a desired minimum value of the VIN, and a duty cycle selection module. The first control loop generates a first clock signal having a first duty cycle, and the second control loop generates a second clock signal having a second duty cycle. The duty cycle selection module continuously determines which one of the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle has a lower duty cycle value, and continuously generates a PWM output signal having a modulated duty cycle equal to the lower duty cycle value. |
| US07880453B2 |
Interleaved switching converter, and switching controller and controlling method thereof
In an interleaved switching converter, a first converter including a first switch is coupled to a second converter including a second switch. A switching controller for controlling the first switch and the second switch outputs a second control signal for operating the second switch based a first control signal for operating the first switch. A phase shift between the first control signal and the second control signal is 180 degrees. |
| US07880452B1 |
Trimming circuit and method for replica type voltage regulators
The present invention is directed to a trimming circuit and method for replica type voltage regulators. A voltage regulator circuit includes an operational amplifier (OPAMP) and a n-type metal oxide silicon (NMOS) device. An output of the OPAMP is coupled to a gate terminal of the NMOS device. The voltage regulator circuit includes a potential divider circuit comprising a plurality of discrete devices coupled in series. A source terminal of the NMOS device is coupled to the potential divider circuit to form an output feedback node. The body of the NMOS device is biased variably across a plurality of tap points formed between consecutive discrete devices in the potential divider circuit. |
| US07880450B2 |
Switching power supply, control circuit controlling switching power supply and control method of switching power supply
A switching power supply includes: a first switch provided between one end of a DC power supply and one end of a load; a second switch provided between a node of the first switch located on a load side and another end of the DC power supply; a capacitor provided between the second switch and the another end of the DC power supply; a third switch provided between a node of the first switch located on a DC power supply side and a node between the second switch and the capacitor; and a delay circuit that is provided between the third switch and the node between the second switch and the capacitor and delays a current for charging the capacitor, wherein the second switch is turned on in a period during which the first switch is kept on. |
| US07880447B1 |
Power converter controller IC having input voltage pin with multiple functions
A controller integrated circuit (IC) for controlling a power converter uses its input voltage pin with a plurality of functions, including receiving an input voltage to the power converter, charging an external startup capacitor through charging circuitry coupled internally to the input voltage pin, and also receiving a test signal for programming a programmable resistance in an input voltage scale down circuitry coupled to the input voltage pin. Use of the input voltage pin with a plurality of functions reduces the number of pins required in the controller IC, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the controller IC. |
| US07880443B2 |
System and method of trickle charging a battery in a narrow rail architecture
The charging circuit for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected AC power adaptor includes circuitry responsive to an applied regulated voltage for charging the battery connected to the charging circuitry. The circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level. Additionally, the circuitry switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to a state of a transistor. |
| US07880442B2 |
Charging control device for a storage battery
One of first through fourth target state of charge levels, which are set at values that increase gradually over time, is selected on the basis of an ON/OFF state of a specific current consumer installed in the vehicle and a state of charge immediately preceding an engine stoppage. A target state of charge is set on the basis of the selected target state of charge level and an elapsed time after the lead storage battery is installed in the vehicle, whereupon the target state of charge is compared with the actual state of charge of the lead storage battery. The lead storage battery is charged in accordance with the comparative result. |
| US07880439B2 |
Battery-capacity management device
A battery-capacity management device comprises a charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit that detects a voltage and a current of a driving battery and that calculates a discharged capacity of the driving battery. The device also comprises a battery temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the driving battery, a memory, and an available-capacity calculating unit. Map data that represents relationships among voltages, currents, and temperatures of the driving battery at states in which remaining capacity of the driving battery has reached a preset value can be stored in the memory. The available-capacity calculating unit calculates a renewed available capacity of the driving battery based on a discharge capacity discharged over a period between a time when the driving battery is charged and a time when the voltage value detected by the charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit reaches a voltage value corresponding to the current value and the battery temperature in the map data. |
| US07880433B2 |
Charge equalization apparatus
The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which allows the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to be easily fabricated, can control the flow of charge to batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into a battery currently being charged. |
| US07880429B2 |
Power management method using feedback current bias for simultaneously controlling low cells and overall stack voltage
A method for controlling the current output from a fuel cell stack to prevent the stack voltage or the minimum fuel cell voltage from dropping below predetermined voltage set-points. The method for the stack voltage control includes determining whether the stack voltage has dropped to the predetermined voltage set-point, and if so, capturing and holding the actual stack current at that point as the maximum allowed stack current. If the stack voltage continues to fall below the voltage set-point, then the voltage set-point is subtracted from the actual voltage to get a positive error signal. Controller gains are then multiplied by the error signal to reduce the current allowed from the stack to drive the error signal to zero, and increase the stack voltage. The method for the minimum fuel cell voltage operates in the same manner, but with different values. |
| US07880411B2 |
Motor controller of electric power steering device
In a motor controller which supplies electric power to a motor of an electric power steering device from a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply, an N-channel MOS-FET is connected in parallel with a diode which is provided to prevent a sneak current from the auxiliary power supply to the main power supply. When electric power is supplied to the motor from the main power supply, the MOS-FET is turned on. Then, most of currents flow into the MOS-FET such that a power loss is reduced and a reduction in efficiency is prevented. The MOS-FET has high speed responsibility and excellent durability. |
| US07880408B2 |
Method for designing a radio-frequency cavity, in particular to be used in a cyclotron, radio-frequency cavity realised using such a method, and cyclotron using such a cavity
The invention relates to a method for designing a radio-frequency cavity, in particular to be used in a cyclotron, radio-frequency cavity (2) comprising a conductive enclosure or “liner” (3) connected by at least two essentially inductive elements or “stems” (4) to a capacitive electrode (2′), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following subsequent steps: A. subdividing the volume of said radio-frequency cavity (2) in a number of sub-cavities (10,20,30) corresponding to at least two stems (4), each sub-cavity comprising a respective (stem4); B. imposing a condition of magnetic orthonormality on the separation surfaces between said at least two sub-cavities (10,20,30); C. independently for each of said at least two sub-cavities (10,20,30), calculating the size and/or the position of the respective stem (4) with respect to the physical conditions at the boundaries. The invention further relates to a radio-frequency cavity realized using the method according to the invention, and a cyclotron using such a cavity. |
| US07880404B2 |
Controlling current through serial LEDs using a low voltage transistor when using a high voltage driver
Various circuits are described herein where a series transistor used to control current through a string of LEDs, driven by a high voltage, is not subjected to the high voltage when the transistor is turned off pursuant to a PWM signal. To avoid the transistor experiencing the high voltage, the HV regulator is disabled shortly before the transistor is turned off and is enabled shortly after the transistor has turned back on. Control circuits for controlling the regulator and transistor include delay circuits and/or voltage sensing circuits to ensure that the transistor is always on prior to the voltage regulator being enabled pursuant to the incoming PWM signal, and the voltage regulator is always disabled when the first transistor is off pursuant to the incoming PWM signal. |
| US07880401B2 |
Lighting controlling device of vehicle lighting equipment
A lighting controlling device of vehicle lighting equipment includes switching regulators for supplying a current to a plurality of semiconductor light sources respectively; a plurality of current driving portions, having switching elements connected to the semiconductor light sources for controlling ON/OFF of the semiconductor light sources, for current-driving the semiconductor light sources at a maximum current value or a current value smaller than the maximum current value in response to respective operating states of the switching elements; current setting portion for setting a maximum current value applied in current-driving the current driving portion or a maximum current value of currents fed from the switching regulators to the semiconductor light sources separately in plural stages in response to respective assignments; and a controlling portion for controlling the current driving portion and the current setting portion in response to a plurality of lighting modes based on communication information from an external device. The controlling portion assigns the maximum current value corresponding to each lighting mode to the current setting portion for every lighting mode, and assigns ON/OFF periods of the switching elements to the current driving portion for every lighting mode. |
| US07880400B2 |
Digital driver apparatus, method and system for solid state lighting
An apparatus, method and system are provided for controlling the solid state lighting, such as LEDs. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a switch for switching electrical current through the LEDs, a current sensor; a first comparator adapted to determine when a switch electrical current has reached a first predetermined threshold; a second comparator adapted to determine when the switch electrical current has reached a predetermined average current level; and a controller. The controller is adapted to turn the switch into an on state and an off state, to determine a first on time period as a duration between either a detection of a second predetermined current threshold or the turning the switch into the on state, and the detection of the predetermined average current level; to determine a second on time period as a duration between the detection of the predetermined average current level and the detection of the first predetermined current threshold; and to determine an on time period of the switch as substantially proportional to a sum of the first on time period and the second on time period. Additional exemplary embodiments utilize a difference between the first and second on time periods to generate an error signal to adjust the on time period of the switch. |
| US07880398B2 |
High-pressure discharge lamp lighting device with alternating current frequency time periods
The high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device of the invention includes a lighting circuit for supplying an alternating current to a high-pressure discharge lamp to cause lighting, the high-pressure discharge lamp having an arc tube in which a halogen material is enclosed and a pair of electrodes is disposed, and each electrode having a protuberance at a tip thereof. A frequency of the alternating current varies without dependency on operating data that varies as a lighting time of the high-pressure discharge lamp elapses. |
| US07880395B2 |
Method for restoring function of plasma display panel and plasma display panel
A method for restoring the function of a plasma display panel according to the present invention restores a function of a plasma display panel by raising the temperature of the plasma display panel to 400° C. to 800° C. |
| US07880383B2 |
Electron emission display
An electron emission device includes first and second substrates facing each other, an electron emission unit provided on a first surface of the first substrate, a light emission unit provided on a first surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, and a sealing member for sealing peripheries of the first and second substrates together. The sealing member contacts a first insulation layer of the electron emission unit. |
| US07880380B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
A display device in which variations in luminance due to variations in characteristics of transistors are reduced, and image quality degradation due to variations in resistance values is prevented. The invention comprises a transistor whose channel portion is formed of an amorphous semiconductor or an organic semiconductor, a connecting wiring connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the transistor, a light emitting element having a laminated structure which includes a pixel electrode, an electro luminescent layer, and a counter electrode, an insulating layer surrounding an end portion of the pixel electrode, and an auxiliary wiring formed in the same layer as a gate electrode of the transistor, a connecting wiring, or the pixel electrode. Further, the connecting wiring is connected to the pixel electrode, and the auxiliary wiring is connected to the counter electrode via an opening portion provided in the insulating layer. |
| US07880377B2 |
Quantum dot-dispersed light emitting device, and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting device having practical light emission characteristics is obtained without epitaxial growth.A quantum dot-dispersed light emitting device of the invention includes a substrate 11, an electron injection electrode 12, a hole injection electrode 14, and an inorganic light emitting layer 13 disposed so as to be in contact with both the electrodes. The inorganic light emitting layer 13 contains an ambipolar inorganic semiconductor material and nanocrystals 15 dispersed as luminescent centers in the ambipolar inorganic semiconductor material and is configured so as to be capable of light emission without having, at the interface with the electron injection electrode and/or the hole injection electrode, epitaxial relation therewith. |
| US07880376B2 |
Field emission devices made with laser and/or plasma treated carbon nanotube mats, films or inks
Field emission devices comprising carbon nanotube mats which have been treated with laser or plasma are provided. Mats are formed from carbon nanotubes, also known as carbon fibrils, which are vermicular carbon deposits having diameters of less than about one micron. The carbon nanotube mats are then subjected to laser or plasma treatment. The treated carbon nanotube mat results in improved field emission performance as either a field emission cathode or as part of a field emission device. |
| US07880369B2 |
Mold including a piezoelectric power generating arrangement
A mold having a piezoelectric power generating arrangement, includes first and second die halves having a molding cavity therein for forming a molded product when a molding material is poured therein, piezoelectric elements positioned beneath at least one die half for generating electrical power when a load is applied on the piezoelectric elements from the molding material poured into the molding cavity and in response to removal of a load of the molded product from the molding cavity, and a first arrangement for retrieving the generated electrical power and for supplying the retrieved electrical power output to an electrical storage device and/or using the retrieved electrical power output to power an external powered device. |
| US07880355B2 |
Electromagnetic variable transmission
An electromagnetically variable transmission includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor. The inner rotor is independently rotatable within a center aperture of the outer rotor. The outer rotor is independently rotatable about the inner rotor. One of the rotors has a plurality of permanent magnets configured in pairs and facing an air gap disposed between the outer rotor and the inner rotor. The other rotor has a plurality of slots spaced about a magnetically permeable core having embedded windings. The outer inner rotors are simultaneously rotatable in one direction. In response to rotation of the outer rotor portion and the inner rotor portion, a magnetic flux path is generated between the permanent magnet pairs, the air gap, the outer rotor core and the inner rotor portion core, to induce electrical power in the windings, which transfers power between the inner rotor portion and the outer rotor portion. |
| US07880353B2 |
Spindle motor having holding magnet preventing oil discharge
Disclosed herein is a spindle motor. The spindle motor includes a rotating shaft, a rotor cover which is secured to the rotating shaft and rotates the rotating shaft, a bearing for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft, a holder for holding the bearing, and a holding magnet which is directly mounted to an inner wall of the rotor cover. In this case, the holding magnet is positioned above the bearing to prevent oil from being discharged from the bearing to the outside. |
| US07880352B2 |
Spring sheet-type vibration motor
A spring-sheet-type vibration motor comprises a motor body with an output shaft on a front end and an end cap coupled between a supporting bracket and the motor body on the rear end. The end cap supports one or more electric brushes against the motor body. The supporting bracket includes an end face and a prolonged portion extending therefrom toward the front end of the motor body. One or more connecting terminals are coupled to the supporting bracket, with a first portion coupled to the end face and a front end of a second portion coupled to the prolonged portion. Each terminal further includes a third portion extending obliquely away from the front end of the second portion, a fourth portion bending upward from an end of the third portion, and a contact disposed on a lower surface of a connecting area of the third portion and the fourth portion. |
| US07880350B2 |
Multi phase generator arrangement
A hydrogen cooled generator having an axis and more than three phases, the generator comprises a main casing section enclosing a stator with windings; a casing end section; at least one end winding disposed in the casing end section; a toroidal duct formed on at least one of the casing end section and the main casing section having a bottom wall and two side walls, wherein at least one of the bottom wall and the two side walls shares a wall of the casing end section so as to form a common wall; at least one bushing penetrating the common wall and inclined towards the axis of the generator so as to form an inclination, the at least one bushing having a first end connected to the at least one winding and a second end terminating in the toroidal duct. |
| US07880347B2 |
Airflow cooling pattern for belt-driven vehicle electrical power generator
A belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes a front housing including at least one front housing opening and a rear housing including at least one rear housing opening. The electric machine further includes at least one fan capable of urging cooling air into the electric machine through the at least one front housing opening and out of the electric machine through the at least one rear housing opening. A method for cooling a belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes urging cooling air into the electric machine at substantially the front of the electric machine. The cooling air is flowed substantially rearward in the electric machine, and heat is radiated from the electric machine into the cooling air. At least a first portion of the cooling air is expelled from the rear of the electric machine in a substantially axial direction. |
| US07880346B2 |
Electrical generation apparatus and process
Apparati and methods for generating electricity which comprise in one embodiment a pair of stationary magnets oriented so that their like poles are facing one another with a space between them, and having a stationary length of wire disposed in the space between said magnets of said pair and enabling or causing the passing of a piece of metal through said space sufficient to cause an electrical potential in the wire. In one embodiment, the length of wire comprises a coil of wire having any number of turns between about 10 and about 5000. In another embodiment, the length of wire comprises a plurality of serpentine sections or loops disposed along the length of a tube or other form inside of which the piece of metal is made to move. |
| US07880344B2 |
X-Y table actuator
An X-Y table actuator is constituted by stacking a stationary plate, an intermediate plate, and a movable plate. Between the stationary plate and the intermediate plate, arranged is an X-direction drive means for driving the intermediate plate in an X-direction with respect to the stationary plate. Between the intermediate plate and the movable plate, on the other hand, there is provided a Y-direction drive means for moving the movable plate forward and backward in a Y-direction with respect to the intermediate plate. By stacking the stationary plate and the movable plate, which are formed into a substantially channel-shape, and the intermediate plate, which is formed into a substantially flat-shape on each other, a housing chamber for the X-direction drive means is formed between the stationary plate and the intermediate plate, and a housing chamber for the Y-direction drive means is formed between the intermediate plate and the movable plate. |
| US07880343B2 |
Drive isolation transformer controller and method
A transformer controller for a drive isolation transformer is provided. The transformer may include multiple sets of primary windings as an input, and the transformer controller may include multiple branches coupled between a power source and the transformer. Each branch may be coupled to its own primary winding on the transformer, and may include one or more components, such as an isolation switch, a fuse, contactor, or circuit breaker. One or more of the branches may include a pre-charge reactor to limit inrush or capacitor charging current occurring during startup, and may include a pre-charge contactor to remove the pre-charge reactor from the circuit when the startup process has reached a certain level (e.g., the charging or inrush current has dissipated, or a DC bus reaches a charged state). |
| US07880342B2 |
DC bus regulator
An improved DC bus regulator that utilizes more transistor packs for power conversion at some times and diode, SCR, and resistor packs at other times. The conversion technology is selected by the regulator based on the current load capacity and response required. For example, transistor packs may be used in low power load conditions. Through use of this hybrid system, the system obtains the desirable effects of transistor pack systems including fast response time, ability to regulate current, and bi-directional power conversion while mitigating the high costs and fragile nature of a system based solely on transistor packs. |
| US07880341B2 |
Switching device for transformer having uninterruptible power supply function, and methods of controlling turn ratio and voltage of the transformer using the same
A switching device for a transformer allows stable power supply without power interruption when a secondary winding voltage of the transformer is changed in the case of voltage drop on a distribution line due to a load characteristic. The switching device having an uninterruptible power supply function includes a plurality of switches operated by an external signal, a current circulation unit for multiple switches electrically connected to a large-current path of the switches to perform a switch-on function in place of the switches upon switching on and off between the switches, and a control unit electrically connected to the switches and current circulation unit to read voltage values and to apply signals to the switches depending on the voltage values to sequentially switch the switches. Accordingly, the switching device can stably supply power to power consumption sources without power interruption. |
| US07880337B2 |
High power wireless resonant energy transfer system
A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap. |
| US07880336B2 |
Electric horizontal directional drilling machine system
An electric horizontal directional drilling machine. An electric horizontal directional drilling machine is powered by an electric power assembly. The power assembly is made up of a fuel cell and inverter, or multiple fuel cells with synchronized inverters, are used to power an electric motor controller and electric motor. The electric motor operates hydraulic pumps used to advance a drill string and downhole tool through the earth and operate various machine functions. Mechanical functions of the drilling machine may also be satisfied through the use of electric rotary actuators (e.g., motors) and linear actuators (e.g., linear motors and solenoids). |
| US07880335B2 |
Power backup system for offshore wind generators
The inventions concerns a cable comprising a cable jacket and at least two medium voltage wires disposed within the cable jacket for transporting medium voltage current and at least two low voltage wires disposed within the cable jacket for transporting a low voltage current. Further, it concerns a wind turbine having a generator for generating electricity, wherein the generator being electrically connected to at least two medium voltage wires for feeding the generated electricity into a grid, the wind turbine having further a low voltage network for providing low voltage power to low voltage consumers, the low voltage network being electrically connected to a low voltage cable, wherein the low voltage cable and the medium voltage wires are accommodated in a common cable jacket. Finally it concerns a wind park comprising at least two wind turbines, each of the wind turbines having a generator for generating electricity, wherein the generator being electrically connected to at least two medium voltage wires for feeding generated medium voltage current to a grid, the wind turbines having further a low voltage network for providing low voltage power to low voltage consumers of the wind turbine, the low voltage network being electrically connected to a low voltage cable, wherein the low voltage cable and the medium voltage wires are accommodated in a common cable jacket. |
| US07880333B1 |
Method for weather resistant portable flow metering
A method for low voltage flow control, which includes creating an enclosure with a body and a movable door. The enclosure can include a bulkhead forming a top compartment and a bottom compartment, a back plane for supporting electronic equipment, and lifting eyes secured to the enclosure. The method can include disposing batteries in the bottom compartment. A wireless communication unit and a remote terminal unit can be installed on the back plane and can be connected to the batteries. An uninterruptable power supply, an A/C terminal low voltage distribution, and a DC-DC converter can be installed on the back plane. A flow controller can also be installed on the back plane and can be in communication with the A/C terminal, the remote terminal unit, and the wireless communication unit for monitoring and regulating flow control through the enclosure. |
| US07880332B2 |
Automatic battery reconnection
An uninterruptible power supply system includes power converter circuitry configured to convert AC input power to a first DC power and a second DC power to the first DC power, a battery pack configured to provide the second DC power, a power relay mechanism coupled to the power converter circuitry and to the battery pack that selectively moves between an open position and a closed position, the power relay mechanism coupling the battery pack to the power converter circuitry when in the closed position and isolating the battery pack from the power converter circuitry when in the open position, and control circuitry configured to provide a control signal, where the power relay mechanism includes a motor actuator coupled to the control circuitry, the motor actuator being responsive to the control signal to change the power relay mechanism from the open position to the closed position. |
| US07880327B2 |
Safety lock
A key-operated lock device having a lock, a key operable to actuate said lock, an electronic system commanded by said key, an electric power supply communicating electric power necessary to operate said electronic system, and a detection system for detecting the presence or absence of said key. The detection device is operable to command the connection with the electric power supply of said electronic system only if the key is present in, or close to, the lock. |
| US07880324B2 |
Transmitter with a remote unit in an electric net data transmission system
A transmitter for sending a data transmission signal to an f electric net, whereby the apparatus comprises signal-shaping and adjustment devices (3) and connecting devices (50) including necessary accessories for connection to the electric net, signal amplifiers (20) and a connecting cable between the transmitter and the connecting point of the electric net, as for instance 230 V, 50 Hz phase rail (L) and zero rail (N) or a wall outlet as connecting points. The apparatus is divided into two or several parts, at least a first part (3) and a second part (TX/REMU), whereby second part (TX/REMU) includes at least connecting a unit (50) for connection to the electric net and a connecting cable and for connecting said second part to the electric net, whereby the length (LW) of connecting cable is under 5 m. |
| US07880323B2 |
Wind generator system
A new and novel wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. In a preferred embodiment, the wind generator system has a drive shaft; a plurality of blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a housing having an inner chamber for receiving the plurality of blades and a wind directional apparatus that operates to adjust the speed of the wind and to channel wind along a desired flow pathway towards the plurality of blades. |
| US07880318B1 |
Sensing system and method of making the same
A sensing system includes a nanowire, a passivation layer established on at least a portion of the nanowire, and a barrier layer established on the passivation layer. |
| US07880314B2 |
Wiring substrate and electronic component mounting structure
A wiring substrate on which an electronic component is flip-chip bonded, including a substrate main body, a solder resist which is formed on the substrate main body and having an opening, and a plurality of conductive pattern formed on the substrate main body, including exposure surfaces exposed from the opening of the solder resist. The conductive patterns include, a narrow interval group, a wide interval group, an interval between the adjacent conductive patterns belonging to the narrow interval group is narrower than an interval between the adjacent conductive patterns belonging to the wide interval group, an exposure length of the conductive patterns of the narrow interval group is shorter than an exposure length of the conductive patterns of the wide interval group. |
| US07880307B2 |
Semiconductor device including through-wafer interconnect structure
Semiconductor devices including through-wafer interconnects are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device may comprise a substrate having a first surface and a second, opposing surface, and a through-wafer interconnect extending into the first surface of the substrate. The through-wafer interconnect may include an electrically conductive material extending from the first surface of the substrate to the second, opposing surface of the substrate. The through-wafer interconnect may also include a first dielectric material disposed between the electrically conductive material and the substrate and extending from the second, opposing surface of the substrate to the first portion of the conductive material. Additionally, the through-wafer interconnect may include a second dielectric material disposed over a portion of the electrically conductive material and exhibiting a surface that defines a blind aperture extending from the first surface toward the second, opposing surface. |
| US07880306B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of producing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface; an element separation film formed on the main surface in an element separation area and extending in a first direction; and a semiconductor element formed on the main surface in an active area and arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The semiconductor element includes a metal silicide film. The metal silicide film includes a first portion adjacent to the element separation film. The semiconductor device further includes an interlayer insulation film formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a wiring portion formed on the interlayer insulation film; and a conductive plug formed in the interlayer insulation film for electrically connecting the semiconductor elements and the wiring portion. The conductive plug is situated on the element separation film and the metal silicide film. |
| US07880305B2 |
Technology for fabrication of packaging interface substrate wafers with fully metallized vias through the substrate wafer
The invention is the technology of providing a packaging intermediate product that can serve as an interface substrate that is to be positioned between different circuitry types where the dimensions are approaching the sub 100 micrometer range. The invention involves a dielectric wafer structure where the first and second area surfaces of the wafer are separated by a distance that is of the order of the electrical via design length, and an array of spaced vias through the wafer arranged with each via filled with metal surrounded by a chemical metal deposition promoting layer with each via terminating flush with a wafer surface. The wafer structure is achieved by forming an array of blind via openings through the first surface of the dielectric wafer to a depth approaching the via design length, lining the walls for adhesion enhancement, filling the blind via openings completely with a chemically deposited metal, removing material at the first wafer surface thereby planarizing the filled vias, and removing material at the second wafer surface thereby exposing the vias at the design length. |
| US07880304B2 |
Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of the IC chips
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric and a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide post-passivation interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick passivation interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate. |
| US07880302B2 |
Semiconductor device having metal wirings of laminated structure
A semiconductor device that includes a metal wiring formed on the insulating film and having a main wiring portion laminated with a plurality of metal films and a metal protection film formed at least on the upper surfaces of the main wiring portion and made of a precious metal material. |
| US07880300B2 |
Semiconductor chip comprising a metal coating structure and associated production method
A semiconductor chip (1) has a metal coating structure (2) which has on an active upper side (3) of the semiconductor chip (1) at least one lower metal layer (8) with copper or copper alloy, on which a central metal layer (9) with nickel is arranged. The metal coating structure (2) is terminated by an upper metal layer (10) of palladium and/or a precious metal. The central metal layer (9) with nickel and/or nickel phosphide has a rough interface (11) with respect to the plastic package molding compound surrounding the metal coating structure (2). |
| US07880299B2 |
Semiconductor device
The present invention is intended to obtain a semiconductor device that is reduced in size, weight, and cost and improved in performance stability and productivity.The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module in which a semiconductor element is sealed with a resin, a reinforcing beam fixed to an upper surface of the semiconductor module via a plate-like spring, and a frame part to which both ends of the reinforcing beam are fixed, the frame part being disposed in such a fashion as to enclose from four directions an outer periphery of the semiconductor module, plate-like spring, and the reinforcing beam. |
| US07880295B2 |
Wiring board, semiconductor device in which wiring board is used, and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board comprising a first surface on which a first electrode is disposed and a second surface on which a second electrode is disposed; at least a single insulation layer and at least a single wiring layer; and one or a plurality of mounted semiconductor elements, wherein the second electrode disposed on the second surface is embedded in the insulation layer, the surface on the opposite side of the exposed surface on the second surface side of the second electrode is connected to the wiring layer, and all or part of the side surface of the second electrode does not make contact with the insulation layer. |
| US07880290B2 |
Flip-chip packages allowing reduced size without electrical shorts and methods of manufacturing the same
A flip-chip package may include: a semiconductor chip having first pads arranged substantially along a first direction; a substrate having second pads, arranged substantially in a zigzag form aligned with the first pads as a center line, and facing the semiconductor chip; and conductive bumps for electrically connecting the first pads to the second pads in a one-to-one relationship. Adjacent conductive bumps may extend in different directions. A method of manufacturing a flip-chip package may include: forming conductive bumps that extend along different directions on first pads of a semiconductor chip; and connecting second pads of a substrate to the conductive bumps in a one-to-one relationship. A method of manufacturing a flip-chip package may include: forming conductive bumps that extend along different directions on second pads of a substrate; and connecting first pads of a semiconductor chip to the conductive bumps in a one-to-one relationship. |
| US07880287B1 |
Stud bumps for die alignment
Embodiments include but are not limited to apparatuses and systems including a package having stud bumps for die alignment. A package may include a package substrate, and a plurality of stud bumps coupled to the package substrate. The stud bumps may define a die region of the package substrate in which movement of a die disposed within the die region is restricted prior to attachment of the die to the package substrate, wherein the plurality of stud bumps comprise a profile that is less than a profile of the die when attached to the package substrate. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US07880284B2 |
Embedded power gating
With embodiments disclosed herein, the distribution of gated power is done using on-die layers without having to come back out and use package layers. |
| US07880282B2 |
Semiconductor package with integrated heatsink and electromagnetic shield
The invention provides a mounting for a printed circuit board which mounting is suitable for receiving a semiconductor assembly wherein the mounting comprises: a base support having a semiconductor assembly facing surface, and an opposed printed surface board facing surface; a cover having a semiconductor assembly facing surface, an opposed heat radiating surface; a connecting formation which joins the cover to the base support and provides an electrical and thermal communication between the cover and the base support wherein the connecting formation has a semiconductor assembly facing surface, an outer opposed surface and a thickness between the two surfaces; and a plurality of package connectors extending from the base support each of which package connectors have a printed surface board facing surface; an array of mountings; and a semiconductor package comprising a semiconductor assembly having one or more semiconductor chips, which assembly is mounted on the mounting wherein the package connectors of the mounting are in a spaced relationship with the base support and are linked electrically with the semiconductor assembly and the cover is arranged to be in a spaced parallel relationship with the base support. |
| US07880280B2 |
Electronic component and method for manufacturing an electronic component
An electronic component has at least two semiconductor devices, a contact clip and a leadframe with a device carrier portion and a plurality of leads. The contact clip extends between the first side of at least two semiconductor devices and at least one lead of the leadframe to electrically connect a load electrode of the at least two semiconductor devices to at least one lead. |
| US07880277B2 |
Method for connecting a die assembly to a substrate in an integrated circuit and a semiconductor device comprising a die assembly
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a die assembly attachable to the substrate and a flexible strip extending over the substrate and the die assembly. The flexible strip has one or more routing circuits carried thereon. The die assembly and the substrate are arranged to be electrically connected through the one or more routing circuits carried on the flexible strip. |
| US07880273B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device from semiconductor wafer
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor wafer is provided. The wafer has semiconductor chip regions, a scribing line region and a predetermined region. A passivation layer is formed on the wafer. A photoresist film is formed on the passivation layer. A first pattern in a reticle is transferred to a first portion of the photoresist film above the scribing line region. The first pattern is transferred to a second portion of the photoresist film above the predetermined region. The photoresist film is developed. The passivation layer is etched using the photoresist film as a mask. The wafer is diced along the scribing line region to form semiconductor chips and a piece. Each of the semiconductor chips corresponds to each of chip regions. The piece group includes a piece which corresponds to the predetermined region. |
| US07880272B2 |
Semiconductor device with near-surface compensation doping area and method of fabricating
Aspects of the present invention include a semiconductor device and method. In a transition region of a semiconductor material region, a near-surface compensation doping area with a conductivity type, which is different than the conductivity type of a transition doping area of the semiconductor material region, is provided in the surface region of the semiconductor material region. The doping of the near-surface compensation doping area of the semiconductor device at least partially compensates for the doping in the transition doping area. |
| US07880271B2 |
Semiconductor device with emitter contact holes in a first layer not overlaid by emitter through holes in a second layer
Emitter contact holes formed under emitter electrodes in a first layer and emitter through holes formed thereon are arranged so as not to overlap each other, and, for each emitter electrode, the multiple emitter contact holes and the multiple emitter through holes are provided so as to be separated from each other. Thereby, the top surface of an emitter electrode in a second layer is influenced by at most only a level difference of each emitter through hole formed in an insulating film having a larger thickness, and thus the flatness of the top surface of the emitter electrode in the second layer is improved. Accordingly, fixation failure of a metal plate can be avoided. |
| US07880268B2 |
MIM capacitor
A method for forming a MIM-type capacitor by filling of trenches by conformal depositions of insulating materials and of conductive materials, two successive electrodes of the capacitor including on either side of a thin vertical insulating layer at least one conductive layer of same nature, including the step of lowering the level of the conductive layers with respect to the level of the insulating layer separating them. |
| US07880263B2 |
Method and resulting structure DRAM cell with selected inverse narrow width effect
A shallow trench isolation structure for integrated circuits. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a buffered oxide layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. A pad nitride layer is overlying the buffered oxide layer. An implanted region is formed around a perimeter of the trench region. A trench region is formed within the semiconductor substrate. The trench region has a bottom width of less than 0.13 microns and an upper width of less than 0.13 microns. A rounded edge region is within a portion of the semiconductor substrate surrounding a periphery of the trench region. The rounded edges have a radius of curvature greater than about 0.02 um. A planarized high density plasma fill material is formed within the trench region. The structure has a P-well region within the semiconductor substrate and bordering a vicinity of the trench region. A channel region is within the P-well region within the semiconductor substrate. The implanted region has a concentration of more than double an amount of impurities as impurities in the channel region. |
| US07880260B2 |
Semiconductor device with a semiconductor body and method for its production
A semiconductor device includes an active region with a vertical drift path of a first conduction type and with a near-surface lateral well of a second, complementary conduction type. In addition, the semiconductor device has an edge region surrounding the active region. This edge region has a variable lateral doping material zone of the second conduction type, which adjoins the well. A transition region in which the concentration of doping material gradually decreases from the concentration of the well to the concentration at the start of the variable lateral doping material zone is located between the lateral well and the variable lateral doping material zone. |
| US07880258B2 |
Thin wafer detectors with improved radiation damage and crosstalk characteristics
The present invention is directed toward a detector structure, detector arrays, and a method of detecting incident radiation. The present invention comprises several embodiments that provide for reduced radiation damage susceptibility, decreased affects of crosstalk, reduced dark current (current leakage) and increased flexibility in application. In one embodiment, a photodiode array comprises a substrate having at least a front side and a back side, a plurality of diode elements integrally formed in the substrate forming the array, wherein each diode element has a p+ fishbone pattern on the front side, and wherein the p+ fishbone pattern substantially reduces capacitance and crosstalk between adjacent photodiodes, a plurality of front surface cathode and anode contacts, and wire interconnects between diode elements made through a plurality of back surface contacts. |
| US07880256B2 |
Semiconductor device with passivation layer covering wiring layer
The invention provides a semiconductor device with a bonding pad made of a wiring layer including aluminum and its manufacturing method that enhance the yield of the semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device of the invention includes removing a portion of an antireflection layer (e.g. made of a titanium alloy) formed on an uppermost second wiring layer (e.g. made of aluminum) on a semiconductor substrate by etching, forming a passivation layer covering the antireflection layer and a portion of the second wiring layer where the antireflection layer is not formed and having an opening exposing the other portion of the second wiring layer, and dividing the semiconductor substrate into a plurality of semiconductor dice by dicing. These processes can prevent the antireflection layer from being exposed in the opening, and this can prevent a component of the second wiring layer from being eluted due to cell reaction between the second wiring layer and the antireflection layer as has been seen in the conventional art. |
| US07880255B2 |
Pixel cell having a grated interface
A pixel cell having a photosensor within a silicon substrate; and an oxide layer provided over the photosensor, the oxide layer having a grated interface with said silicon substrate, and a method of fabricating the pixel cell having a grated interface. |
| US07880254B2 |
Semiconductor light receiving device and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor light receiving device includes a light receiving section made of a semiconductor provided on a substrate, an electrode provided on the substrate and configured to apply an electric field to the light receiving section, a resin layer provided above the substrate, the resin layer having an inverted conical opening, the inverted conical opening being located above the light receiving section and having an opening diameter which is smaller than the light receiving section in the vicinity of the light receiving section, is continuously enlarged with the distance from the substrate, and is larger than the light receiving section at a surface of the resin layer, and a light reflecting film made of metal and provided on a bevel of the inverted conical opening, the light reflecting film being electrically isolated from the electrode by a gap formed between the light reflecting film and the electrode. At least a portion of the resin layer located in the gap has a light blocking property. |
| US07880253B2 |
Integrated optical filter
The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit comprising at least one photosensitive cell. The cell includes a photosensitive element, an input face associated with the said photosensitive element, an optical filter situated in at least one optical path leading to the photosensitive element and an interconnection part situated between the photosensitive element and the input face. The optical filter is disposed between the photosensitive element and the surface of the interconnection part closest to the input face. In particular, the optical filter can be disposed within the interconnection part. The disclosure also proposes that the filter be formed using a glass comprising cerium sulphide or at least one metal oxide. |
| US07880252B2 |
Solid-state image capturing device, solid-state image capturing apparatus, and electronic information device
A solid-state image capturing device is provided. In the solid-state image capturing device, at least any of openings of electrode wiring layers, color filters and microlenses are provided on a light incident side above light receiving elements as a light receiving region in which the plurality of light receiving elements are disposed on a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor region provided on a substrate, wherein a shift amount of at least any of the openings of the electrode wiring layers, the color filters and the microlenses in relation to the light receiving elements or in relation to a standard position where a light flux is desired to pass through is calculated by Snell's law based on an incident angle θ0 of a light flux entering the light receiving region to a surface of the solid-state image capturing device. |
| US07880251B2 |
Structure having nanoapertures
A structure includes a film having a plurality of nanoapertures. The nanoapertures are configured to allow the transmission of a predetermined subwavelength of light through the film via the plurality of nanoapertures. The structure also includes a semiconductor layer in connection with the film to facilitate the detection of the predetermined subwavelength of light transmitted through the film. |
| US07880250B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junction transistor
A magnetic tunnel junction transistor and method of operating the same. In a particular embodiment, the magnetic tunnel junction transistor includes electrically conductive source, drain and gate electrodes. An electrically insulating material having a non-magnetoelectric region and a magnetoelectric region is positioned such that the non-magnetoelectric region is, at least partially, between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The magnetoelectric region of the insulating material, when energized, is configured to change magnetic state of the insulating material. The gate electrode is positioned proximate the magnetoelectric region of the insulating material. |
| US07880249B2 |
Spacer structure in MRAM cell and method of its fabrication
Methods are presented for fabricating an MTJ element having a precisely controlled spacing between its free layer and a bit line and, in addition, having a protective spacer layer formed abutting the lateral sides of the MTJ element to eliminate leakage currents between MTJ layers and the bit line. Each method forms a dielectric spacer layer on the lateral sides of the MTJ element and, depending on the method, includes an additional layer that protects the spacer layer during etching processes used to form a Cu damascene bit line. At various stages in the process, a dielectric layer is also formed to act as a CMP stop layer so that the capping layer on the MTJ element is not thinned by the CMP process that planarizes the surrounding insulation. Subsequent to planarization, the stop layer is removed by an anisotropic etch of such precision that the MTJ element capping layer is not thinned and serves to maintain an exact spacing between the bit line and the MTJ free layer. |
| US07880248B1 |
Destructor integrated circuit chip, interposer electronic device and methods
A semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate and an integrated circuit chip. The device also includes an electrically or thermally reactive layer located between a top surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the integrated circuit chip, wherein the reactive layer is positioned such that detection of tampering causes the reactive layer to be electrically or thermally energized such that the semiconductor device is at least partially destroyed. |
| US07880243B2 |
Simple low power circuit structure with metal gate and high-k dielectric
FET device structures are disclosed with the PFET and NFET devices having high-k dielectric gate insulators and metal containing gates. The metal layers of the gates in both the NFET and PFET devices have been fabricated from a single common metal layer. Due to the single common metal, device fabrication is simplified, requiring a reduced number of masks. Also, as a further consequence of using a single layer of metal for the gates of both type of devices, the terminal electrodes of NFETs and PFETs can be butted to each other in direct physical contact. Device thresholds are adjusted by the choice of the common metal material and oxygen exposure of the high-k dielectric. Threshold values are aimed for low power consumption device operation. |
| US07880238B2 |
2-T SRAM cell structure and method
The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a memory device including a substrate including at least one device region; a first field effect transistor having a first threshold voltage and a second field effect transistor having a second threshold voltage, the second field effect transistor including a second active region present in the at least one device region of the substrate, the second active region including a second drain and a second source separated by a second channel region, wherein the second channel region includes a second trap that stores holes produced when the first field effect transistor is in the on state, wherein the holes stored in the second trap increase the second threshold voltage to be greater than the first threshold voltage. |
| US07880230B2 |
Zero capacitor RAM with reliable drain voltage application and method for manufacturing the same
The following discloses and describes a zero capacitor RAM as well as a method for manufacturing the same. The zero capacitor RAM includes an SOI substrate. This SOI substrate is composed of a stacked structure of a silicon substrate, an embedded insulation film and a silicon layer. This layer is patterned into line types to constitute active patterns. Moreover, a first insulation layer forms between the active patterns and gates form on the active patterns as well as the first insulation layer to extend perpendicularly to the active patterns. In addition, a source forms in the active pattern on one side of each gate, a drain forms in the active pattern on the other side of each gate which is achieved by filling a metal layer. Continuing, a contact plug forms between the gates on the source and an interlayer dielectric forms on the contact plug in addition to the gates. Finally, a bit line forms on the interlayer dielectric to extend perpendicularly to the gates and come into contact with the drain. |
| US07880229B2 |
Body tie test structure for accurate body effect measurement
A body tie test structure and methods for its manufacture are provided. The transistor comprises a body-tied semiconductor on insulator (SOI) transistor formed in a layer of semiconductor material, the transistor comprising a cross-shaped gate structure with a substantially constant gate length L. An insulating blocking layer enables formation of a spacer region in the layer of semiconductor material separating the source and drain regions from the body tie region. A conductive channel with substantially the same inversion characteristics as the intrinsic transistor body connects the body tie to the intrinsic transistor body through the spacer region. |
| US07880226B2 |
Integrated circuit device with a semiconductor body and method for the production of an integrated circuit device
An integrated circuit device with a semiconductor body and a method for the production of a semiconductor device a provided. The semiconductor body comprises a cell field with a drift zone of a first conduction type. In addition, the semiconductor device comprises an edge region surrounding the cell field. Field plates with a trench gate structure are arranged in the cell field, and an edge trench surrounding the cell field is provided in the edge region. The front side of the semiconductor body is in the edge region provided with an edge zone of a conduction type complementing the first conduction type with doping materials of body zones of the cell field. The edge zone of the complementary conduction type extends both within and outside the edge trench. |
| US07880218B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method therefor
There is provided a semiconductor device including bit lines (14) formed in a semiconductor substrate (10), insulating film lines (18) located on the bit lines (14) to successively run in a length direction of the bit lines (14), gate electrodes (16) located above the semiconductor substrate (10) between the bit lines (14), and word lines (20) located on the gate electrodes (16) to run in a width direction of the bit lines (14), a trench region (22) formed between the bit lines (14) and the between word lines (20) in the semiconductor substrate, and there is also provided a fabrication method therefor. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device where elements can be isolated between the word lines (14) and memory cells can be miniaturized, and to provide a fabrication method therefor. |
| US07880209B2 |
MRAM cells including coupled free ferromagnetic layers for stabilization
A free ferromagnetic data storage layer of an MRAM cell is coupled to a free ferromagnetic stabilization layer, which stabilization layer is directly electrically coupled to a contact electrode, on one side, and is separated from the free ferromagnetic data storage layer, on an opposite side, by a spacer layer. The spacer layer provides for the coupling between the two free layers, which coupling is one of: a ferromagnetic coupling and an antiferromagnetic coupling. |
| US07880208B2 |
Magnetic materials having superparamagnetic particles
Magnetic materials and uses thereof are provided. In one aspect, a magnetic film is provided. The magnetic film comprises superparamagnetic particles on at least one surface thereof. The magnetic film may be patterned and may comprise a ferromagnetic material. The superparamagnetic particles may be coated with a non-magnetic polymer and/or embedded in a non-magnetic host material. The magnetic film may have increased damping and/or decreased coercivity. |
| US07880206B2 |
CMOS image sensor with asymmetric well structure of source follower
Provided is a CMOS image sensor with an asymmetric well structure of a source follower. The CMOS image sensor includes: a well disposed in an active region of a substrate; a drive transistor having one terminal connected to a power voltage and a first gate electrode disposed to cross the well; and a select transistor having a drain-source junction between another terminal of the drive transistor and an output node, and a second gate electrode disposed in parallel to the drive transistor. A drain region of the drive transistor and a source region of the select transistor are asymmetrically arranged. |
| US07880199B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device is provided with: a semiconductor substrate of a predetermined electroconduction type; a hetero semiconductor region contacted with a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprising a semiconductor material having a bandgap different from that of the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode formed through a gate insulator layer at a position adjacent to a junction region between the hetero semiconductor region and the semiconductor substrate; a source electrode connected to the hetero semiconductor region; and a drain electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate; wherein the hetero semiconductor region includes a contact portion contacted with the source electrode, at least a partial region of the contact portion is of the same electroconduction type as the electroconduction type of the semiconductor substrate, and the partial region has an impurity concentration higher than an impurity concentration of at least that partial region of a gate-electrode facing portion in the hetero semiconductor region which is positioned to face toward the gate electrode through the gate insulator layer. |
| US07880196B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments relate to an image sensor and a method of forming an image sensor. According to embodiments, an image sensor may include a first substrate and a photodiode. A circuitry including a metal interconnection may be formed on and/or over the first substrate. The photodiode may be formed over a first substrate, and may contact the metal interconnection. The circuitry of the first substrate may include a first transistor, a second transistor, an electrical junction region, and a first conduction type region. The first and second transistors may be formed over the first substrate. According to embodiments, an electrical junction region may be formed between the first transistor and the second transistor. The first conduction type region may be formed at one side of the second transistor, and may be connected to the metal interconnection. |
| US07880195B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device and related circuit
An ESD protection device comprises a P-type substrate, a first substrate-triggered silicon controlled rectifiers (STSCR) disposed in the P-type substrate and a second STSCR disposed in the P-type substrate. The first STSCR comprises a first N-well, a first P-well, a first N+ diffusion region, a first P+ diffusion region, and a first trigger node. The second STSCR comprises a second N-well electrically connected to the first N-well, a second P-well electrically connected to the first P-well, a second N+ diffusion region electrically connected to the first P+ diffusion region, a second P+ diffusion region electrically connected to the first N+ diffusion region, and a second trigger node. A layout area of an integrated circuit and a pin-to-pin ESD current path can be reduced. |
| US07880192B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting element and nitride semiconductor light emitting device
A nitride semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a n-GaN substrate 10 and a semiconductor multilayer structure arranged on the principal surface of the n-GaN substrate 10 and including a p-type region, an n-type region and an active layer between them. An SiO2 layer 30 with an opening and a p-side electrode, which makes contact with a portion of the p-type region of the semiconductor multilayer structure, are arranged on the upper surface of the semiconductor multilayer structure. An n-side electrode 36 is arranged on the back surface of the substrate 10. The p-side electrode includes a p-side contact electrode 32 that contacts with the portion of the p-type region and a p-side interconnect electrode 34 that covers the p-side contact electrode 2 and the SiO2 layer 30. Part of the p-side contact electrode 32 is exposed under the p-side interconnect electrode 34. |
| US07880188B2 |
Illumination device
An illumination device is specified which comprises an optoelectronic component having a housing body and at least one semiconductor chip provided for generating radiation, and a separate optical element, which is provided for fixing at the optoelectronic component and has an optical axis, the optical element having a radiation exit area and the radiation exit area having a concavely curved partial region and a convexly curved partial region, which at least partly surrounds the concavely curved partial region at a distance from the optical axis, the optical axis running through the concavely carved partial region |
| US07880180B2 |
Composite semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The disclosed subject matter provides a composite semiconductor device which can include a common substrate, a first semiconductor light emitting structure, and a second semiconductor light emitting structure. The first semiconductor light emitting structure can include an epitaxial grown layer containing a light emitting layer formed on part of the common substrate either directly or via a bonding layer. The second semiconductor light emitting structure can be provided in a notch at at least one location to which the epitaxial grown layer is not bonded, or in a recess formed in the notch at one location. The disclosed subject matter also provides a method of manufacturing a composite semiconductor device having the above-described and other structures. |
| US07880178B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a semiconductor device realizing reduced occurrence of a defect such as a crack at the time of adhering elements to each other. The semiconductor device includes a first element and a second element adhered to each other. At least one of the first and second elements has a pressure relaxation layer on the side facing the other of the first and second elements, and the pressure relaxation layer includes a semiconductor part having a projection/recess part including a projection projected toward the other element, and a resin part filled in a recess in the projection/recess part. |
| US07880177B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device, illuminator and method of manufacturing semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device having high reliability is obtained while suppressing separation between a support substrate and a semiconductor element layer. This semiconductor light-emitting device includes a support substrate (1), a first bonding layer (2a) formed on the support substrate (1), a second bonding layer (2b) formed on the first bonding layer (2a), a third bonding layer (2c) formed on the second bonding layer (2b), and a semiconductor element layer (3) formed on the third bonding layer (2c). The melting point of the second bonding layer (2b) is lower than the melting points of the first bonding layer (2a) and the third bonding layer (2c). |
| US07880174B2 |
Circuit arrangement having a free-wheel diode
An object of the present invention is to reduce the conducting loss of an existing conversion circuit while suppressing its noise. The present invention is typically a circuit arrangement includes at least one switching device and a free-wheel diode connected in parallel with the switching device. The free-wheel diode is formed by connecting a silicon PiN diode in parallel with a Schottky barrier diode that uses a semiconductor material having a wider band gap than silicon as a base material. The silicon PiN diode and Schottky barrier diode are separate chips. |
| US07880170B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel using organic semiconductor and a method for manufacturing the same
The present invention disclosed an organic thin film transistor, an organic thin film transistor array substrate and an organic thin film transistor display. The present invention disclosed organic materials which is proper for the application to a large screen display. The presentation also disclosed structures and a method for manufacturing such an organic thin film transistor, the organic thin film transistor array substrate and the organic thin film transistor display. |
| US07880167B2 |
Method for manufacturing an electro-optical device or electroluminescence display device
An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device having high operation performance and reliability.A third passivation film 45 is disposed under the EL element 203 comprising a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, and diffusion of alkali metals from the EL element 203 formed by ink jet method into TFTs is prevented. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents penetration of moisture and oxygen from the TFTs, and suppress degradation of the EL element 203 by dispersing the heat generated by the EL element 203. |
| US07880166B2 |
Fast recovery reduced p-n junction rectifier
A fast recovery rectifier structure with the combination of Schottky structure to relieve the minority carriers during the forward bias condition for the further reduction of the reverse recovery time during switching in addition to the lifetime killer such as Pt, Au, and/or irradiation. This fast recovery rectifier uses unpolished substrates and thick impurity diffusion for low cost production. A reduced p-n junction structure with a heavily doped film is provided to terminate and shorten the p-n junction space charge region. This reduced p-n junction with less total charge in the p-n junction to further improve the reverse recovery time. This reduced p-n junction can be used alone, with the traditional lifetime killer method, with the Schottky structure and/or with the epitaxial substrate. |
| US07880164B2 |
Conducting polymer composition and electronic device including layer obtained using the conducting polymer composition
A conducting polymer composition containing a siloxane material of Formula (1) below and a conducting polymer, and an electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition: where A and a are the same as described in the detailed description of the invention. The electronic device including the layer formed using the conducting polymer composition has excellent electrical characteristics and long lifetime. |
| US07880163B2 |
Nanostructure insulated junction field effect transistor
A novel nanostructure device operating in Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) mode is provided that avoids the majority of the carriers that interact with the interface (e.g. surface roughness, high-k scattering). |
| US07880162B2 |
Quantum device, control method thereof and manufacturing method thereof
A quantum dot (22) is formed on a GaAs substrate (20). In the quantum dot (22), a single electron exists. A cap layer (26) is formed on a surrounding area of the quantum dot (22), and a barrier layer (28) is formed thereon. A quantum dot (30) for detection is formed on the barrier layer (28). Then, a cap layer (34) covering the quantum dot (30) and the like is formed. |
| US07880161B2 |
Multiple-wavelength opto-electronic device including a superlattice
A multiple-wavelength opto-electronic device may include a substrate and a plurality of active optical devices carried by the substrate and operating at different respective wavelengths. Each optical device may include a superlattice comprising a plurality of stacked groups of layers, and each group of layers may include a plurality of stacked semiconductor monolayers defining a base semiconductor portion and at least one non-semiconductor monolayer thereon. |
| US07880158B2 |
Phase-change TaN resistor based triple-state/multi-state read only memory
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory such as, for example a ROM or an EPROM, in which the information density of the memory is increased relative to a conventional nonvolatile memory that includes two logic state devices. Specifically, the nonvolatile memory of the present invention includes a SiN/TaN/SiN thin film resistor embedded within a material having a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/m-K or less; and a non-linear Si-containing device coupled to the resistor. Read and write circuits and operations are also provided in the present application. |
| US07880157B2 |
Four-terminal reconfigurable devices
Reconfigurable devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a reconfigurable device is provided. The reconfigurable device comprises a substrate; a first dielectric layer on the substrate; a conductive layer recessed into at least a portion of a side of the first dielectric layer opposite the substrate; at least one second dielectric layer over the side of the first dielectric layer opposite the substrate, so as to cover the conductive layer; a heater within the second dielectric layer; at least one programmable via extending through the second dielectric layer, extending through and surrounded by the heater and in contact with the conductive layer, the programmable via comprising at least one phase change material; a capping layer over the programmable via; a first conductive via and a second conductive via, each extending through the second dielectric layer and in contact with the heater; and a third conductive via extending through the second dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive layer. |
| US07880149B2 |
3D biplane microscopy
A microscopy system is configured for creating 3D images from individually localized probe molecules. The microscopy system includes a sample stage, an activation light source, a readout light source, a beam splitting device, at least one camera, and a controller. The activation light source activates probes of at least one probe subset of photo-sensitive luminescent probes, and the readout light source causes luminescence light from the activated probes. The beam splitting device splits the luminescence light into at least two paths to create at least two detection planes that correspond to the same or different number of object planes of the sample. The camera detects simultaneously the at least two detection planes, the number of object planes being represented in the camera by the same number of recorded regions of interest. The controller is programmable to combine a signal from the regions of interest into a 3D data. |
| US07880147B2 |
Components for reducing background noise in a mass spectrometer
Novel components reduce background noise caused by secondary ions generated by metastable entity bombardment in a mass spectrometric system. Layered structures for exit electrodes and deflector plates confine secondary ions in a local low-energy well, preventing them from entering the detector. |
| US07880146B2 |
Tune-stabilized, non-scaling, fixed-field, alternating gradient accelerator
A FFAG is a particle accelerator having turning magnets with a linear field gradient for confinement and a large edge angle to compensate for acceleration. FODO cells contain focus magnets and defocus magnets that are specified by a number of parameters. A set of seven equations, called the FFAG equations relate the parameters to one another. A set of constraints, call the FFAG constraints, constrain the FFAG equations. Selecting a few parameters, such as injection momentum, extraction momentum, and drift distance reduces the number of unknown parameters to seven. Seven equations with seven unknowns can be solved to yield the values for all the parameters and to thereby fully specify a FFAG. |
| US07880141B2 |
Resin film evaluation method and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
In the resin film evaluation method and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device applying the resin film evaluation method of the present invention, first, a substrate having a resin film formed on an insulating film with an opening in which the surface of the insulating film is exposed is irradiated with charged energetic particles. Then, the surface potentials of the substrate surface irradiated with charged energetic particles are measured. Based on the measurements, the difference in surface potential between the resin film and the insulating film exposed in the opening is obtained. Based on the difference in surface potential, a physical quantity such as the resin film residue count obtained after a given treatment is predicted. In this way, the degenerated layer formed on the surface of a resin film due to charged energetic particles such as implantation ions can be evaluated in a simple and highly accurate manner. |
| US07880140B2 |
Multipole mass filter having improved mass resolution
A multipole mass filter having improved mass resolution. The multipole mass filer having a first electrode set coupled to at least a RF voltage source and a second electrode set interposed and parallel to the first electrode set. The second electrode set having a variable AC voltage coupled to two radially opposing electrodes of the second electrode set. |
| US07880136B2 |
Multiple ion injection in mass spectrometry
This invention relates to mass spectrometry that includes ion trapping in at least one of the stages of mass analysis. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to tandem mass spectrometry where precursor ions and fragment ions are analysed. A method of mass spectrometry is provided comprising the sequential steps of: accumulating in an ion store a sample of one type of ions to be analysed; accumulating in the ion store a sample of another type of ions to be analysed; and mass analysing the combined samples of the ions; wherein the method comprises accumulating the sample of the one type of ions and/or the sample of another type of ions to achieve a target number of ions based on the results of a previous measurement of the respective type of ions. |
| US07880133B2 |
Optical multiphase flowmeter
Method and apparatus enable direct measurement of at least one flow velocity for one or more phases within a multiphase fluid mixture flowing in a conduit. Some embodiments provide determination of actual individual phase flow rates for three phases (e.g., oil, water and gas) that are distinct from one another within the fluid mixture. A multiphase flowmeter according to embodiments of the invention includes at least two optical sensors spatially distributed along a length of the conduit and designed to detect light interactions with the fluid mixture unique to the phases such that detected time-varying signals can be processed via cross-correlation or an array processing algorithm to provide desired individual phase flow velocity for oil, water and/or gas phases. This flow velocity can be applied to phase fraction measurements, which can be obtained utilizing the same flowmeter or another separate device, to calculate the flow rates for the phases. |
| US07880131B2 |
Invisible, light-transmissive display system
An invisible, light-transmissive display system with a light resistant material is provided. Substantially invisible, tapered, light-transmissive holes are penetrated in a light-transmissive pattern through at least a portion of the light resistant material using a laser beam having a focal width less than the smallest diameter of the tapered holes. |
| US07880130B2 |
Optical device and mobile apparatus
An optical device ensuring projection of light over a wide range as well as reduction in size, and a mobile apparatus mounted with the optical device are provided. The optical device (100) includes a light-projecting unit (110) and a light-receiving unit (120). The light-projecting unit (110) has a projector (114) and a lenticular sheet (112) arranged in layers. First and second cylindrical lens arrays having their generatrices orthogonal to each other are formed on the respective surfaces of the sheet (112). The light-receiving unit (120) has a light-receiver (124). The light-projecting unit (110) and the light-receiving unit (120) are arranged adjacent to each other in an integrated manner so that the light-receiver (124) can sense the light emitted from the projector (114) via the sheet (112) and then reflected from an object. |
| US07880129B2 |
Light receiving circuit, light receiving method, and storage medium
The PD converts the light into a current signal and supplies the converted a current signal to a TIA and a light intensity measuring unit. The TIA converts the current signal into a voltage signal. The CDR circuit identifies whether the voltage signal is 1 data or 0 data for reproduction. The counter counts the 1 data and 0 data, calculates their ratio. The control unit refers to light intensity data from the light intensity measuring unit and a ROM, acquires an optimum ratio, and determines whether the ratio supplied from the counter is the optimum ratio. When the ratio is not the optimum one, the control unit controls the threshold voltage setting unit to set the threshold voltage so that the ratio is the optimum one. |
| US07880128B2 |
Vented header assembly of an image intensifier device
An image intensifier device and a method of fabricating the image intensifier device are disclosed. The image intensifier device includes a microchannel plate (MCP) having a thin-film applied to a surface thereof. An anode assembly comprising an image sensor mounted to a header is positioned adjacent the MCP. A spacer defining a mounting surface is positioned against a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly for separating the MCP from the anode assembly. A recess is defined in either the header or the spacer at the interface between the header and the spacer. The recess forms a passageway defined between the spacer and the header thru which organic gases pass. |
| US07880123B2 |
Dual resistance heater for phase change devices and manufacturing method thereof
A dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is formed by depositing a resistive material. The heater material is then exposed to an implantation or plasma which increases the resistance of the surface of the heater material relative to the remainder of the heater material. As a result, the portion of the heater material approximate to the phase change material region is a highly effective heater because of its high resistance, but the bulk of the heater material is not as resistive and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and the current usage of the device. |
| US07880121B2 |
Modular radiant heating apparatus
An apparatus, system, and method provide radiant heat. A planar electrical heating element converts electrical energy to heat energy. A planar heat spreading layer is in contact with the planar electrical heating element, drawing the heat energy out of the planar electrical heating element and distributing the heat energy. A finishing layer is disposed to one side of the planar heat spreading layer. A thermal isolation layer is disposed to an opposite side of the planar heat spreading layer as the finishing layer. Heat from the planar heat spreading layer conducts away from the thermal isolation layer and toward the finishing layer. An electric power coupling is connected to the electrical heating element to supply electrical power. |
| US07880118B2 |
Method for cutting nonmetal material
A method for cutting a nonmetal material is provided. The method includes steps of (a) generating a tension stress on a surface of the nonmetal material by exerting a bending stress thereon; (b) providing a thermal effect along a path direction on the surface, wherein the thermal effect grows along a direction opposite to the path direction; (c) providing a first cryogenic effect in a first incident direction along the path direction; and (d) providing a second cryogenic effect in a second incident direction along the path direction, wherein a crack along the path direction on the surface is formed as a result of the tension stress, the thermal effect, and the cryogenic effects therealong for cutting the nonmetal material. |
| US07880116B2 |
Laser head for irradiation and removal of material from a surface of a structure
A laser head is adapted to irradiate an interaction region of an inhabitable structure with laser light to remove material from the structure. The laser head includes a housing. The laser head further includes a connector coupled to the housing and optically coupled to a laser generator. The connector is adapted to transmit laser light from the laser generator. The laser head further includes at least one optical element contained in the housing and optically coupled to the connector. The optical element is adapted to receive laser light from the connector. The laser head further includes a containment plenum coupled to the housing. The containment plenum is optically coupled to the optical element to receive the laser light from the optical element. The containment plenum is adapted to confine the material and remove the material from the interaction region resulting from irradiating the structure with the laser light. |
| US07880115B2 |
Method for laser annealing to form an epitaxial growth layer
A method for forming an epitaxial layer in a capacitor over interconnect structure, includes selecting a laser having a suitable wavelength for absorption at a seeding layer/annealing layer interface of the capacitor over interconnect structure, and directing laser energy from the selected laser at the capacitor over interconnect structure. The laser energy anneals a feature of the capacitor over interconnect structure to form an epitaxial layer. The annealing is accomplished at a temperature below about 450° C. The selected laser can be an excimer laser using a pulse extender. The capacitor over interconnect structure can be a ferroelectric capacitor formed over a conventional CMOS structure. |
| US07880112B2 |
Method for welding and adhesively attaching a shaped fastener to inside of member
A method is provided for attaching a fastener to the inside wall of a member. The fastener may be a bolt or a nut having a shank and a shaped head with head portions radiating from the shank. A hole is made in the member and has a shape closely corresponding to the shape of the head. The head of the fastener is inserted into the shaped hole and the fastener is reoriented so that the head engages with the inside walls of the member and therefore the fastener cannot be withdrawn. Electric current is applied to the fastener and the member to bond the head to the inside wall of the member either by heat curing an adhesive coating the head or by creating an electric resistance projection weld between the fastener head and the member. |
| US07880111B2 |
Switchgear and method of fabricating the same
A switchgear including a vacuum valve which prevents partial discharges infallibly and whose reliability is high, and a method of fabricating the same are obtained.In a vacuum valve 1 wherein a stationary electrode 1a and a movable electrode 1b are disposed within a vacuum vessel 2 which is constituted by a metal flange 2a as well as a metal tube 2e and an insulating tube 2b, and wherein a resin mold 3 is applied onto the outer peripheral surface of the vacuum vessel 2; coiled metal-made shields 4a and 4b, in each of which a coiled metal wire is brought into an annular shape, are retained on the outer peripheral surface of the vacuum vessel 2 so as to relax the electric fields of the electric field relaxation-requiring parts 21d of the vacuum vessel 2. |
| US07880110B2 |
Operations for product processing
An operational process for product distribution includes grouping product into groups when the product is in a first sort level and sorting the groups of product, in a first pass operation, to a second level sort. The method further includes sequencing the second level sort product including late arriving product, in a second pass operation, into a sequence of product. A machine readable code can also be used to implement the functionality of the operational process. |
| US07880109B2 |
Classification apparatus and fine particle measuring apparatus
A classification apparatus for classifying and separating particles having particle sizes within a predetermined range is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the classification apparatus, a center electrode (3) and an outside electrode (4) generate an electric field for classifying charged fine particles according to electric mobility. In the upper part of a housing (1), a sheath gas supply portion (7) is provided. An aerosol supply portion (11) has an introduction port (11a) provided on the outside electrode (4) side in a classification region (5), and supplies a charged aerosol at a constant flow rate through the introduction port (11a). On the downstream side in the flow of a sheath gas in the classification region (5), a larger-size particle discharge portion (13) is provided. The larger-size particle discharge portion (13) has a discharge port (13a) provided on the outside electrode (4) side, and discharges charged fine particles, which are contained in the classified charged aerosol and have particle sizes larger than a predetermined particle size, together with part of the sheath gas at a constant flow rate. A detector (18) is provided downstream of the housing (1) to detect the number of remaining charged fine particles contained in the sheath gas introduced thereinto as the quantity of electricity. |
| US07880108B2 |
Deflection plate
The present invention provides deflection plates for use in a flow-type particle sorter that are resistant to wetting. The deflection plates include a gas-porous, conductive plate. A gas, such as air, is passed through the plate from the outer face (away from the particle flow) towards the inner face (towards the particle flow). The flow of gas prevents condensation on the inner face of the defection plate. |
| US07880103B2 |
Microswitch with push-in wire connector
A microswitch with push-in wire connectors is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the microswitch may include a plunger for activating the switch, a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, a movable contact, and a snap-spring assembly reactive to the plunger for switching the movable contact between making electrical contact with the first stationary contact and making electrical contact with the second stationary contact. The microswitch may include a first push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a first wire to the first stationary contact, a second push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a second wire to the second stationary contact, and a third push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a third wire to the movable contact. Alternatively, or in addition, the microswitch may include a housing that, when viewed from the first surface, may have a footprint that is generally rectangular in shape except for a first housing projection and a second housing projection that extend out from different sides of the housing. The first housing projection and the second housing projection may house first and second push-in wire connectors, as desired. |
| US07880101B2 |
Miniature rotary switch
A single pole, double throw, self-canceling rotary switch for selectively coupling a first circuit to a second or a third circuit by rotating a rotary element to couple or decouple electrical contacts. The rotary switch includes first and second pawls pivotally attached to the rotary element and coupled to one another by a spring. Rotation of the rotary element causes a ramp cam to act on one of the pawls, causing it to pivot, and thereby causing the spring to exert a force on the other pawl, moving a tooth on the other pawl into the locus of rotation of a central shaft that includes a groove. Rotation of the central shaft in one direction has no effect on the position of the rotary element, but rotation of the central shaft in the other direction engages the groove and the tooth, causing the rotary element to decouple the contacts. |
| US07880093B2 |
3-dimensional substrate for embodying multi-packages and method of fabricating the same
A substrate for embodying multi-package comprises an underlying layer has a polymer material containing a conductive filler and provided with a step-like groove divided into step part and bottom part; a coating layer formed over the underlying layer, the coating layer is formed so that it may define a metal-wire forming area on the step part and the bottom part of the step-like groove and the conductive filler in the metal-wire forming area is exposed; and a metal wire formed via a plating process using the exposed conductive filler in the metal-wire forming area defined by the coating layer as a seed layer. |
| US07880088B2 |
Power electronic switching device with laminated bus
A bus system is disclosed for use with switching devices, such as power electronic devices. The system includes generally parallel bus elements that define electrical reference planes, such as for a dc bus. The bus elements are separated from one another by insulative layers, with additional insulative layers being available for separating the system from other circuit components. Portions of the bus elements are extended or exposed to permit connection to the circuit elements, including packaged switching circuits and energy storage or filtering circuits. The bus system may be conformed to a variety of geometric configurations, and substantially reduces parasitic inductance and total loop inductance in the resulting circuitry. |
| US07880085B2 |
Wall mount assembly
A water deflection system is provided for use with a wall mounting assembly, wherein the water deflecting system and the wall mounting assembly are suitable for mounting to a wall of a structure, such as a building. The mounting plate and the cover plate of the wall mounting assembly are spaced apart from one another and/or provide sufficient clearance to allow for a downward flow of water therebetween. The water deflection system interrupts, channels, and/or directs this downward flow of water and safely diverts the water away from the region proximate to the top portion of the cut hole towards a region proximate to and/or below the bottom of the cut hole, thereby preventing the damage associated with water being introduced behind the siding. |
| US07880084B2 |
Network cabinet
A network cabinet is provided comprising a base member, two pairs of vertical frame rail members connected to the base member, and a top cover supported by at least one of the vertical frame rail members. The base member defines an opening and another opening is defined in the top cover. The vertical frame rail members are positioned spaced apart from four sidewalls from four corners of the cabinet formed by the four sidewalls, where each sidewall comprises a panel or a door. The two pairs of vertical frame rail members and the four sidewalls define at least one cable management pathway and at least a portion of the cable management pathway is vertically aligned with at least a portion of the opening of the base member and the opening of the top cover. |
| US07880078B2 |
Electronic keyboard instrument
Respective sets of black keys and white keys of respective octaves of a keyboard 10 are defined as specific key range, respectively, to assign various tone colors of percussion instruments of a drum set to a plurality of keys included in the respective specific key ranges of the octaves. A specific key range has secondary key ranges to assign tone colors produced by different playing techniques of the same musical instrument. A depression of any key of a specific key range results in generation of a musical tone having a tone color of a percussion instrument assigned to the specific key range. To a pedal unit 20, a tone color of “bass drum” is assigned. Tone colors of “hi-hat” assigned to the keyboard 10 are controlled such that a depression of any key to which “hi-hat” is assigned with or without operation of the pedal unit 20 results in generation of a musical tone of open hi-hat or closed hi-hat. |
| US07880077B2 |
Method and system for refining a media program item by item
A media system interface (200) includes a display (210) that provides a play list (300, 400) of media items to be played, such as songs or broadcast television or radio programs. A user input device (220) such as buttons on the interface allows the user to highlight a selected media item (T4) which is not desired, and to request that the media item be replaced by an alternative media item (T4-A1). The user may further indicate if the undesired item should be replaced by a similar or dissimilar item. The alternative media item is automatically selected, such as based on user preference data (145), and the list is displayed in an updated form (500, 600) with the alternative media item. A layout of the play list is adjusted to accommodate the alternative media item. The display may be provided, e.g., on a portable media player or a remote control to a home media system. |
| US07880076B2 |
Child development and education apparatus and method using visual stimulation
The present disclosure relates to child musical education devices and methods. Various toy instruments are provided which incorporate simplified forms of tonal and rhythmic music visualization. A child of very young age is able to select a certain ‘mood’ or feeling and hear music which corresponds to that mood. In addition, visual representations of the selected music can be displayed on the instrument. Recording and playback functionality is optionally provided, along with rhythm accompaniments and other adjustable audio features. Certain embodiments allow the various components to be interconnected to allow maximum flexibility and upgradeability. |
| US07880075B2 |
Angle adjusting structure for high-hat cymbals
An angle adjusting structure adapted to a high-hat stand supporting the high-hat cymbals is constituted of a receiving member supporting high-hat cymbals, a first thread attached to the receiving member, a second thread which engages with the first thread and which is revolved to move the first thread up/down so as to adjust a tilting angle of the receiving member, a support member supporting the second thread, and a revolution limiting member limiting the revolution of the second thread. The revolution limiting member includes a plurality of first engagers (e.g. recesses) which are formed on the lower end of the second thread in its circumferential direction and a second engager (e.g. a projection) which is shaped to engage with the first engager and is attached to the support member. |
| US07880073B2 |
Pentas clone 99/280-6
A Pentas variety designated 99/280-6 is disclosed. The invention relates to the tissue of Pentas clone 99/280-6, to the plants of Pentas 99/280-6, to plant parts of Pentas clone 99/280-6 and to methods for producing a Pentas plant produced by crossing Pentas clone 99/280-6 with itself or with another Pentas variety. The invention also related to the vegetative propagation of Pentas clone 99/280-6. The invention also relates to methods for producing a Pentas plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic Pentas plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to Pentas varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from Pentas clone 99/280-6, to methods for producing other Pentas varieties, lines or plant parts derived from Pentas clone 99/280-6 and to the Pentas plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid Pentas seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the clone 99/280-6 with another Pentas variety. |
| US07880072B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV508599
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV508599. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV508599, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV508599 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 CV508599 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 CV508599. |
| US07880060B2 |
Insecticidal polynucleotides and methods of use thereof
A family of insecticidal polypeptides expressed in the venom gland of spiders of the genera Atrax and Hadronyche have been described. Also included are polynucleotides and expression vectors encoding the polypeptides and insect viruses and cells expressing the polypeptides. Transgenic plants and insects expressing the insecticidal polypeptides are also described. The insecticidal polypeptides may be employed in methods and compositions for treating insects, insect larvae, and plants. |
| US07880055B2 |
Lecitin-like protein kinase stress-related polypeptides and methods of use in plants
A transgenic plant transformed by a Lectin-like Protein Kinase Stress-Related Polypeptide (LPKSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased plant growth and/or increased tolerance to an environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated LPKSRPs, and isolated nucleic acids coding LPKSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter. |
| US07880054B2 |
Plant CAD1-like genes and their use
The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (1) like (CAD1L) polypeptides. CAD1L polypeptides are produced in a plant in the same organs and the same developmental stages and processes of CAD1 and are likely to be involved in the same developmental processes as CAD enzymes. CAD1L-like sequences are also disclosed. They can be used for modification of, for example, lignification, cellulose, degradation, plant cell walls or plant defense response. |
| US07880053B2 |
Methods of using transformed plants expressing plant-derived acyl-coenzyme-A-binding proteins in phytoremediation
Methods of using genetically-transformed plants in the phytoremediation of lead are described. Unlike many organisms in which only 10-kDa ACBPs have been identified, there exists a family of six ACBPs in the model plant Arabidopsis. Other than a function in mediating the transfer of acyl-CoA esters in plant lipid metabolism, all six Arabidopsis ACBPs can bind the heavy metal lead and are therefore applicable for phytoremediation. These methods of phytoremediation will provide a cheap, simple and efficient method in the removal of contaminating lead from soil/water/environment by the growth of the ACBP-overexpressing genetically-transformed plants in the contaminated environment. There is also provided a method to remove lead from contaminated water. |
| US07880046B2 |
Low corrosion in zeolite oligomerisation
Water reacts on molecular sieve catalysts used in oligomerization reactions and forms oxygenated compounds, in particular organic acids that may cause corrosion problems downstream of the reactor, in particular in distillation tower overhead systems and downstream thereof. A lowering of the presence of water in the feed prior to contacting thereof with the molecular sieve brings a significant reduction in corrosion downstream. At the same time, it has a significant beneficial effect on catalyst activity and brings a significant extension of catalyst life. Lowering water in the feed is particularly effective when organic nitrogen-containing Lewis bases are present in the feed, even at low levels. |
| US07880042B2 |
Tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives, methods for the production thereof, and the use thereof as antiphlogistics
The invention relates to multiply substituted tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives of the formula (Ia) to processes for preparing them and to their use as antiinflammatory agents. |
| US07880040B2 |
Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds
Disclosed is a method for producing fluorinated organic compounds, including hydrofluoropropenes, which preferably comprises converting at least one compound of formula (I): CF3CFnCHmXa-m (I) to at least one compound of formula (II) CF3CZCHZ (II). where each X is independently Cl, I or Br; each Z is independently H or F; n is 1 or 2; m is 1, 2 or 3, provided that when n is 1, m is 1 or 2; a is 2 or 3, and a-m≧0. Certain embodiments include the step of reacting fluorinated C2 olefin, such as tetrafluoroethylene, with a C1 addition agent under conditions effective to produce a compound of formula (I). |
| US07880039B2 |
Production of carbonyl fluoride
Carbonyl fluoride, which can also be used as an etching gas, can be prepared by photochemical oxidation of chlorodifluoromethane or trifluoromethane with light, for example with light of a wavelength ≧280 nm in the presence of chlorine. |
| US07880038B2 |
Metal catalyst and its use
A metal catalyst obtained by contacting (A) at least one metal or metal compound selected from i) tungsten compounds composed of tungsten and an element of group IIIb, IVb, Vb, or VIb, ii) molybdenum compounds composed of molybdenum and an element of group IIIb, IVb, Vb, or VIb, and iii) tungsten metal and molybdenum metal; (B) at least one compound selected from tertiary amine compounds, tertiary amine oxide compounds, nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds and nitrogen-containing aromatic N-oxide compounds; (C) hydrogen peroxide; and (D) a phosphate compound, is provided. |
| US07880034B2 |
Acrylic acid preparation method
The invention relates to a method for preparing acrylic acid from propylene, comprising the oxidation of propylene to acrolein and a second step comprising the oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid, including a glycerol dehydration step preformed in the presence of a gas containing propylene and, more specifically, in the presence of the reaction gas originating from the propylene to acrolein oxidation step. The inventive method enables the use, in part, of renewable raw material, while increasing acrylic acid production. |
| US07880032B2 |
Versatile oxidation byproduct purge process
Disclosed is a process and apparatus for treating a purge stream in a carboxylic acid production process. The process employs a purge process that allows for the separation of oxidation byproducts into benzoic acid and non-benzoic acid oxidation byproducts, thus providing flexibility in the treatment and use of such oxidation byproducts. |
| US07880030B2 |
Stereoregular polymer and monomer thereof and process for production of both
An ester derivant having a crystal structure in which the molecules in two adjacent molecule planes are antiparallel is created from a carboxylic acid having carbon-carbon double bond and a compound having a functional group that can react to a carboxyl group of the carboxylic acid. The crystal of the ester derivant is then subjected to light irradiation or heating. |
| US07880029B2 |
Use of polyalkenyl succinimides in acrylic acid production
A method for dispersing polymerization by-products and maintaining said by-products in suspension in a hydrocarbon processing system during acrylic acid and acrylate monomer formation is disclosed, which includes adding to the monomer an effective inhibiting amount of an N-alkyl polyalkenyl succinimide dispersant. |
| US07880027B2 |
Method for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids and nitriles
The present invention relates to an improved alkane (amm)oxidation process in which sulfur-bearing impurities present in the alkane feedstock are removed upstream from the (amm)oxidation reaction. |
| US07880025B2 |
Ruthenium silyl-arene complex , and method for production thereof
The present invention is to provide a ruthenium complex having a novel arene moiety, which has improved solubility in various solvents, and a method for production thereof.The present invention relates to a novel ruthenium complex having an arene moiety, which has a trisubstituted silyl group introduced to the arene moiety, and a method for production thereof. |
| US07880017B2 |
Process for the synthesis of imidazoles
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of imidazoles by reacting a cyano compound with a silylalkylisocyanide compound. Such imidazoles are useful pharmacologically-active compounds and/or intermediates for the preparation of pharmacologically-active compounds. |
| US07880011B2 |
Amide addition reaction
A method of making a compound of formula II comprising the reaction of a compound of formula RCONH2 with a compound of formula III R being a moiety having between 1 and 15 carbon atoms and optionally from 1 to 5 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, and X and Y being independently selected front the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl, OMe, OEt, and mixtures thereof; the reaction being performed in a solvent in the presence of a base. The method is useful for the inexpensive manufacture of certain commercially-valuable compounds, including some that have desirable cooling properties. |
| US07880006B2 |
Quinoline derivatives and insecticide comprising thereof as active ingredient
Disclosed are compounds that have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides. Compounds represented by formula (I) or agriculturally and horticulturally acceptable acid addition salts thereof have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides. |
| US07880005B2 |
Process for producing 5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid
5-Methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine of formula (6) or a salt thereof, is prepared by reacting 2-amino-5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine of formula (2) or a salt thereof, with an alkali metal nitrite in the presence of a reducing agent in an aqueous solution of an acidic compound. |
| US07880004B2 |
Met kinase inhibitors
The invention is directed to compounds that are useful for the treatment of cancer having the following Formula: |
| US07880003B2 |
Method for making tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) nano-crystal
A method for making a tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) nano-crystals includes the steps of: (a) dissolving Alq3 powders into a solvent to form a solution A; (b) dissolving a surfactant in water to achieve a solution B; (c) uniformly mixing the solution A and the solution B to form a latex C; and (d) removing the solvent from the latex C, and subsequently, subjecting the remaining solute to centrifugal separation to form Alq3 nano-crystals. |
| US07880000B2 |
Protein kinase modulators and method of use
The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula I wherein A, B, D, E, G, H1-5 and R1-4 are defined herein, and synthetic intermediates, which are capable of modulating various protein kinase receptor enzymes and, thereby, influencing various disease states and conditions related to the activities of these kinases. For example, the compounds are capable of modulating kinase enzymes thereby influencing the process of angiogenesis and treating angiogenesis-related diseases and other poliferative disorders, including cancer and inflammation. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, including the compounds, and methods of treating disease states related to the activity of protein kinases. |
| US07879997B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory disorders
This invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or isomer thereof, wherein n, M, V, T, W, X, U, R1 and R2 are as disclosed in the present specification, and which compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs, TNF-α or combinations thereof. |
| US07879994B2 |
Cellulose interpolymers and method of oxidation
This invention provides cellulose ester interpolymers, and methods of oxidizing cellulose interpolymers and cellulose ester interpolymers. The invention also provides routes to access carboxylated cellulose ester derivatives with high acid numbers wherein the carboxyl group is attached directly to the cellulose backbone by a carbon-carbon bond. Through functionalization of an intermediate aldehyde, the corresponding cationic or zwitterionic cellulose ester derivatives can also be accessed. The interpolymers of the present invention have a number of end-use applications, for example, as binder resins in various types of coating compositions and as drug delivery agents. |
| US07879991B2 |
CGRP binding nucleic acids
The invention relates to an antagonist for CGRP and amylin, whereby the antagonist is a nucleic acid and said nucleic acid binds to CGRP or amylin. Said nucleic acid preferably comprises an L-nucleotide. |
| US07879990B2 |
Polynucleotides encoding antibodies that bind to the C35 polypeptide
The present invention relates to a novel human gene that is differentially expressed in human carcinoma. More specifically, the present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a novel human polypeptide named C35 that is overexpressed in human breast and bladder carcinoma. This invention also relates to C35 polypeptide, in particular C35 peptide epitopes and C35 peptide epitope analogs, as well as vectors, host cells, antibodies directed to C35 polypeptides, and the recombinant methods for producing the same. The present invention further relates to diagnostic methods for detecting carcinomas, including human breast carcinomas. The present invention further relates to the formulation and use of the C35 gene and polypeptides, in particular C35 peptide epitopes and C35 peptide epitope analogs, in immunogenic compositions or vaccines, to induce antibody or cell-mediated immunity against target cells, such as tumor cells, that express the C35 gene. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of C35 activity. |
| US07879984B2 |
Human antibodies to human CD20 and method of using thereof
A human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of an antibody that specifically binds human CD20 and is capable of inducing complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and is capable of increasing symptom free survival time between about 2-fold to about 9-fold or more, relative to control-treated animals in a mouse model of human lymphoma. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof is useful in a therapeutic method for treating a CD20-mediated disease or condition, such as for example, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and inflammatory diseases. |
| US07879979B2 |
Arginine analogs, and methods for their synthesis and use
The present invention relates to novel arginine analogs, and methods for their synthesis and use. Such analogs are designed to provide a protected or free thiol (—SH) group, thereby providing a convenient linkage chemistry for coupling to a suitable group on a target such as a protein, polypeptide, detectable label or solid phase, and at a site distal to the guanidino group. Arginine analog conjugates are useful for generating antibodies that can bind specifically with dimethylarginine, which can be detected using such antibodies in immunoassays. |
| US07879977B2 |
Methods and reagents for decreasing clinical reaction to allergy
It has been determined that allergens, which are characterized by both humoral (IgE) and cellular (T cell) binding sites, can be modified to be less allergenic by modifying the IgE binding sites. The IgE binding sites can be converted to non-IgE binding sites by masking the site with a compound that prevents IgE binding or by altering as little as a single amino acid within the protein, most typically a hydrophobic residue towards the center of the IgE-binding epitope, to eliminate IgE binding. The method allows the protein to be altered as minimally as possible, other than-within the IgE-binding sites, while retaining the ability of the protein to activate T cells, and, in some embodiments by not significantly altering or decreasing IgG binding capacity The examples use peanut allergens to demonstrate alteration of IgE binding sites. The critical amino acids within each of the IgE binding epitopes of the peanut protein that are important to immunoglobulin binding have been determined. Substitution of even a single amino acid within each of the epitopes led to loss of IgE binding. Although the epitopes shared no common amino acid sequence motif, the hydrophobic residues located in the center of the epitope appeared to be most critical to IgE binding. |
| US07879974B2 |
Methods for arbitrary peptide synthesis
Methods, apparatus, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to biologically assembling and/or synthesizing peptides and/or proteins are disclosed. |
| US07879972B2 |
Method of drying a material having a cohesive phase
A method for drying a material such as a polymer hydrogel which passes through a cohesive phase as it dries is disclosed. The method comprises agitating a composition while removing liquid until the solids content of the composition reaches a level at which the composition enters a cohesive phase, halting agitation, removing liquid from the composition in the absence of agitation, and resuming agitation. Practice of the present invention can eliminate the problems associated with adhesion of a material to itself and to process equipment during the cohesive phase. |
| US07879968B2 |
Polymer compositions and golf balls with reduced yellowing
The present invention concerns reduced-yellowing thermoplastic or thermoset polymer compositions derived from the reaction of a diisocyanate, a polyol or polyamine, and a dicyandiamide. The present invention also concerns golf balls comprising the reduced-yellowing thermoplastic or thermoset polymer compositions derived from the reaction of a diisocyanate, a polyol or polyamine, and a dicyandiamide. The present invention also relates to a method for making a golf ball which includes using reduced yellowing compositions derived from the reaction of a diisocyanate, a polyol or polyamine, and a dicyandiamide. The resulting golf balls have similar processability and physical properties (such as resiliency and shear resistance) as golf balls made from conventional polyurethane or polyurea formulations, while exhibiting substantially improved resistance to yellowing. |
| US07879962B2 |
Powders or manufactured articles having a surface hydrophilicity
Powders or hydrophilic manufactured articles of E/CTFE and/or E/TFE thermoprocessable polymers, or of CTFE copolymers, wherein, on the surface of the powder or the manufactured article, one or more of the following hydrophilic units are present: —C(COOH)H—CH2—; —C(COOM)H—CH2—; —C(OCOOH)H—CH2—; —C(OCOOM)H—CH2—; with M=alkaline ion. |
| US07879957B2 |
Process for production of amphoteric electrolyte resin by continuous bulk polymerization and apparatus for the production
A process for producing an amphoteric electrolyte resin by continuous bulk polymerization at low cost is provided. Also provided is an apparatus for achieving the process. The process comprises the steps of: feeding, from the mixture supply side, a mixture comprising 0.01 to 10 wt % of at least one radically polymerizable basic monomer containing a nitrogen atom, 0.01 to 35 wt % of at least one radically polymerizable acidic monomer having a carboxyl group and 45 to 99.98 wt % of a monomer capable of copolymerizing with these monomers. |
| US07879955B2 |
Compositions including a polythioether
Compositions, such as aerospace sealant, coating, and/or potting compositions are disclosed. The compositions include a polythioether and, in at least some cases, can be sprayable and fuel resistant even when substantially free of volatile organic compounds. |
| US07879953B2 |
Biobeneficial polyamide/polyethylene glycol polymers for use with drug eluting stents
This disclosure provides a medical device and a method of forming the medical device. The medical device comprises a coating comprising a type-one polymer and a type-two polymer. The type-one polymer comprises at least two different blocks, at least one L1 block with the formula ; and at least one L2 block with the formula Medical devices comprising these polymers, mixtures of these polymers with therapeutic agents, and methods of making these polymers and mixtures are within the scope of this disclosure. |
| US07879952B2 |
Functionalized polymers
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with an azine compound. |
| US07879951B2 |
Organic insulator composition, organic insulating layer including the composition, and organic thin film transistor including the same
An organic insulator composition according to example embodiments may include an organic insulating polymer and an epoxy-based crosslinking agent. The epoxy-based crosslinking agent may have an alkyl group or a fluorine-based side chain. The organic insulator composition may be used to form an organic insulating layer having increased chemical resistance. The organic insulating layer may be used in an organic thin film transistor as a gate insulating layer. Consequently, the occurrence of hysteresis may be reduced or prevented during the operation of the organic thin film transistor, thus resulting in relatively homogeneous properties. |
| US07879950B2 |
Solvent dispersion of composite resin and uses thereof
A solvent dispersion of a composite resin which comprises a solvent and a composite resin comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (A) and a polymer of copolymerizable monomers (B) comprising a monomer having an α,β-monoethylenically unsaturated group and other copolymerizable monomer(s), wherein the thermoplastic elastomer (A) is a propylene-based elastomer having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of not more than 3 as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and the copolymerizable monomers (B) include at least one monomer containing no functional groups; and uses of the dispersion. The dispersion can be used to provide a coating material, primer, adhesive, additive, binder, film, and primer for strippable paints and traffic paints, which have excellent adhesiveness to various materials. |
| US07879946B2 |
Polyethylene pipe resins
A polyethylene resin comprising from 44 to 55 wt % of a high molecular weight polyethylene fraction, and from 45 to 56 wt % of a low molecular weight polyethylene fraction; the high molecular weight polyethylene fraction comprising a linear low density polyethylene having a density of from 0.913 to 0.923 g/cm3, and an HLMI of from 0.02 to 0.2 g/10 min; and the low molecular weight polyethylene fraction comprising a high density polyethylene having a density of at least 0.969 g/cm3 and an MI2 of greater than 100 g/10 min; wherein the relationship between the density D of the resin in g/cm3 and the weight fraction of the low molecular weight fraction P1 is defined by 0.055P1+0.916 |
| US07879944B2 |
Paintable thermoplastic compositions
Thermoplastic compositions which are painted (coated) have improved adhesion to the paint when these compositions comprise a hydrophilic polyether or polyester modified siloxane. These thermoplastic compositions are particularly suited for use with aqueous based paints, in uses such as automobile and appliance bodies and parts. |
| US07879942B2 |
Switchable adhesive article for attachment to skin and method of using the same
A hypoallergenic adhesive article employing a switchable pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) composition comprising one or more amphiphilic polyesters in physical mixture with a humectant. When contacted with a liquid of low-ion content, the adhesive undergoes a reduction in peel strength, which allows for easy removal, but remains strongly adhered when contacted with ionic liquids, such as blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids. The adhesive composition can be employed in a variety of medical articles or in other similar applications. |
| US07879941B2 |
Heat-resistant sliding resin composition, production process and use therof
The invention relates to a heat-resistant sliding resin composition, comprising a vapor carbon fiber having a specific surface area of 10 to 50 m2/g, a mean aspect ratio of 20 to 500 and a mean fiber diameter of 50 to 200 nm and a synthetic resin, wherein a heat deflection temperature under high load (ASTM D648) is 160° C. or higher and a thermal conductivity is 0.8 W/mK or higher. The resin composition has heat resistance, heat-radiation property and sliding property. Particularly, the resin composition, which neither wears away nor abrades a soft metal member which is a counter member under high temperature and heat generative conditions, can be employed for various sliding members such as bearings. |
| US07879937B2 |
Molded polymer material and golf ball
The invention provides a molded polymer material which is obtained by subjecting a polymer composition that includes (A) at least one polymer containing α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, (B) at least one diene polymer, (C) at least one metal cation source, and (D) at least one organic peroxide, and has a chemical structure arrived at by neutralizing some or all of the carboxyl groups in component A with component C in the presence of component B, to molding and crosslinking under the influence of radicals generated by decomposing component D. The molded polymer material has a high resilience, a high hardness and a good durability, making it well-suited for use in golf balls. |
| US07879935B2 |
Synthesis of nanoparticles in non-aqueous polymer solutions and product
The invention provides for production of nanoparticles dispersed in polymers where the nanoparticles include metals and metal oxides/sulfides that provide enhanced properties (e.g. higher refractive index) to the material. The nanoparticles are typically formed in situ within the polymer. Typically the nanoparticles are in the form of nanocrystals. |
| US07879934B2 |
Rubber compositions
A rubber composition is disclosed wherein the rubber composition contains at least an effective amount of at least one substituted or unsubstituted diaryl amine-containing compound having at least one substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or partially saturated C5-C30 ring structure optionally containing one or more heteroatoms fused to at least one of the aryl rings. |
| US07879931B2 |
Molding compositions of a glass fiber-reinforced olefin polymer
The invention relates to a glass fiber-reinforced molding composition composed of an olefin polymer, in particular a propylene polymer. The molding composition comprises an olefin polymer which contains 5-50% by weight of glass fibers which are bonded to the olefin polymer by means of a compatibilizer, and from 10−4 to 1% by weight, preferably from 10−3 to 1031 1% by weight, of a phthalocyanine pigment as the nucleating agent. The low costs and the fact that even a very small fraction of the phthalocyanine pigment in the polymer leads to sufficient nucleation ensures extremely inexpensive production. The nucleation with the phthalocyanine pigment leads to an improvement in the impact strength, and also in the yield stress and tensile strain at break of the molding composition. |
| US07879928B2 |
Polyether polyols, polyester polyols and polyurethanes of low residual aldehyde content
The present invention describes a process for preventing the formation of aldehydic contaminants in polyether polyols, polyester polyols or polyurethanes which comprises incorporating into said polyether polyols, polyester polyols or polyurethanes an effective amount of a) a phenolic antioxidant, b) one or more compounds selected from (i) aminic antioxidants, (ii) benzofuran-2-ones, and (iii) phosphites or phosphonites, or (iv) mixtures thereof. |
| US07879926B2 |
Method and composition for controlling the viscosity of latex compositions that include fly ash
The present invention is a method and composition for controlling the viscosity of latex compositions that include fly ash. The composition is an aqueous dispersion comprising water, at least one polymer latex, from about 50 to about 600 parts by weight fly ash per 100 parts by weight dry polymer, and a viscosity stabilizing composition that preferably comprises at least one borate compound. The method includes adding a viscosity stabilizing composition to an aqueous polymer latex composition that includes fly ash. The viscosity stabilizing composition can be used to produce a stirred viscosity of the aqueous dispersion 7 days after mixing that is less than 30% greater than the viscosity of the aqueous composition immediately after mixing. |
| US07879923B2 |
Method for surface-treatment of water absorbent resin
This invention is to provide a method for surface-treatment of a water absorbent resin excelling in water absorption properties. This invention relates to a method for the surface-treatment of a water absorbent resin, which comprises: a) mixing 100 parts by weight of a water absorbent resin, 0.01-20 parts by weight of at least one radical polymerization initiator selected from the group consisting of persulfates, hydrogen peroxide, and azo compounds, and a radically polymerizing compound and b) irradiating the resultant mixture with active energy rays. The treatment particularly exalts the absorption ratio against pressure and the saline flow conductivity. |
| US07879918B2 |
Low-foaming gas processing compositions and uses thereof
The invention relates to low-foaming gas processing compositions comprising (a) a silicone antifoam component comprising a base silicone fluid and a particulate metal oxide; (b) an emulsifying component in an amount suitable for the at least substantial emulsification of the silicone antifoam component in water; (c) a polypropylene glycol component at least partially soluble, emulsifiable, and/or dispersible in water; (d) a water-soluble or water-dispersible gas processing agent; and (e) water. The invention also relates to methods for processing a gas by treating the gas with these foam suppressing compositions. |
| US07879914B2 |
Methods for treating viral infections using polyamine analogs
Methods for treating viral infections using polyamine analogs, including mitoguazone (MGBG), are provided. In these methods, polyamine analogs destroy macrophages that act as viral reservoirs, facilitating the destruction of the viruses that dwell within the macrophages. Examples of viral infections that may be treated with the present methods include, but are not limited to, infections from human immunodeficiency viruses. These methods differ from previous methods of treatment using polyamine analogs, wherein the polyamine analogs were administered only as anti-tumor agents. |
| US07879913B2 |
Iptakalim hydrochloride for decreasing nicotine use
A method for decreasing nicotine and other substance use in humans is disclosed. Iptakalim hydrochloride (IPT) is a novel nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) blocker. According to the disclosed method, IPT is used to block human α4β2-nAChR function. Specifically, IPT exhibits a selective blockade of α4 subunit-containing human nAChR subtypes. According to the disclosed method, IPT is thus used to block the major nicotine targets in the brain, the α4β2-nAChRs natively expressed in midbrain (VTA) DA system, the brain reward center, and in turn to reduce the nicotine-induced reward signals, namely dopamine level increase in nucleus accumbens. Therefore, IPT is capable of servicing as a nAChR antagonist agent and thus is a novel treatment for decreasing nicotine dependence in humans. |
| US07879912B2 |
Process for preparing 3,3-diarylpropylamines
Described is a process of preparing a pure solid or crystalline racemic 3,3-diarylpropylamine compound and the compounds formed thereof. The solid and crystalline forms of racemic 3,3-diarylpropylamine compound are especially suitable for producing highly pure 3,3-diarylpropylamine salts such as tolterodine tartrate. Also described are the highly pure solid or crystalline forms of racemic tolterodine, racemic tolterodine salt and tolterodine tartrate. |
| US07879904B2 |
9, 10-α,α-OH-taxane analogs and methods for production thereof
The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of cancer in a cancer patient. In particular, the invention provides a method for the treatment comprising administering a taxane compound to a cancer patient, wherein the taxane compound is made by a process comprising treating a first compound represented by either Formula G′ or Formula M′: with a second compound of generalized formula R8R9C(OCH3)2 and an acid selected from the group consisting of camphor sulfonic acid (CSA), p-toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and acetic acid (AcOH), wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from H, an alkyl group, an olefinic group, an aromatic group, an O-alkyl group, an O-olefinic group, or an O-aromatic group; R7 is an alkyl group, an olefinic group, or an aromatic group; P1 is a hydroxyl protecting group; P5 is H or an acid labile protecting group at the 7-O position; R8 is H, alkyl group, olefinic or aromatic group; and R9 is: H, alkyl group, olefinic or aromatic or is as defined in the specification. |
| US07879895B2 |
Benzimidazole derivatives useful as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS)
The present invention is directed to novel benzimidazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor. |
| US07879886B2 |
Iron binding agents
Composition, article of manufacture for and method of treating malaria in a human having an infestation of Plasmodium protozoans are described. The method comprises administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or (IV), i.e. sufficient quantity to reduce the population of Plasmodium. The composition of the invention is a compound of formula (I) or (IV) with a pharmaceutical excipient. The article of manufacture is the composition in combination with labeling for treating malaria. The substituents are detailed in the specification. |
| US07879881B2 |
Piperidinyl compounds that selectively bind integrins
The invention is directed to piperidinyl compounds that selectively bind integrin receptors and methods for treating an integrin mediated disorder. |
| US07879877B2 |
Carbostyril derivatives for accelerating salivation
Novel pharmaceutical composition for accelerating salivation and for prophylaxis and/or treatment of xerostomia, which comprises as an active ingredient a carbostyril compound of the formula (1), wherein R is a halogen atom, and the substitution position of the subsistuent on said carbostyril nucleus is the 3- or 4-position, and the bond between the 3- or 4-positions of the carbostyril nucleus is either a single bond or a double bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention exhibits an accelerating activity of salivation, and is useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of Xerostomia or hyposalivation. |
| US07879875B2 |
P38 kinase inhibiting agents
Compounds described by the chemical formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: (I) are inhibitors of p38 and are useful in the treatment of inflammation such as in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions; inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis or other inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn; inflammatory eye conditions including conjunctivitis; pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with inflammation. |
| US07879867B2 |
Crystalline antifungal compounds
Novel crystalline forms of (1R,2R)-7-chloro-3-[2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2 -hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]quinazolin-4(3H)-one, pharmaceutical compositions containing these crystalline forms, methods of using these crystalline forms for treating and/or preventing various microbial and/or fungal infections or disorders, and processes for obtaining these crystalline forms. In particular, the present subject matter relates to the specific crystalline Forms I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of (1R,2R)-7-chloro-3-[2 -(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]quinazolin -4(3H)-one, represented by formula II: |
| US07879863B2 |
Aniline derivatives
The present invention provides a novel compound having a kininogenase-inhibitory action and its pharmaceutical use. The compounds are represented by the formulas (A), (B), (C), (E) and (H): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US07879862B2 |
Pyrazolo[1,5-alpha]pyrimidinyl derivatives useful as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonists
CRF receptor antagonists are disclosed which may have utility in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including the treatment of disorders manifesting hypersecretion of CRF in mammals. The CRF receptor antagonists of this invention have the following structure: (I); and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, solvates, stereoisomers and prodrugs thereof, wherein R1, R2a, R2b, Y, Het, n, o, R6, Ar and R7 are as defined herein. Compositions containing a CRF receptor antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also disclosed, as well as methods for use of the same. |
| US07879861B2 |
Combi-molecules having EGFR and DNA targeting properties
A series of new chemical agents that demonstrate anti-tumor activity are described. The new chemical agents combine two major mechanisms of anti-tumor action. In an embodiment, the agents are capable of both inhibiting EGFR and damaging DNA while also, upon degradation, degrading to an inhibitor of EGFR and to an agent capable of damaging DNA. Moreover, a novel series of molecules capable of releasing two moles of EGFR inhibitor and a potent bi-functional alkylating agent are also described. |
| US07879860B2 |
Delta and epsilon crystal forms of Imatinib mesylate
The invention relates to the delta and epsilon crystal form of the methanesulfonic acid addition salt of 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-N-[4-methyl-3-(4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2 -ylamino)phenyl]-benzamide (the compound of formula I, see below), certain processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these crystal forms, and their use in diagnostic methods or for the therapeutic treatment of warm-blooded animals, and their use as an intermediate or for the preparation of pharmaceutical preparations for use in diagnostic methods or for the therapeutic treatment of warm-blooded animals, especially humans. |
| US07879859B2 |
Diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes and other disorders
The present application features the use of the somatostatin subtype 3 receptor (SST3) as a target for affecting insulin secretion and for diagnosing diabetes related disorders. Glucose stimulated insulin secretion was found to be stimulated by knocking down expression of SST3 and through the use of a SST3 selective antagonist. |
| US07879857B2 |
6-substituted 2-quinolinones and 2-quinoxalinones as poly (adp-ribose) polymerase inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), their use as PARP inhibitors as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds of formula (I) wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have defined meanings. |
| US07879855B2 |
Pyrrolotriazine kinase inhibitors
The invention provides compounds of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents and for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. |
| US07879854B2 |
Substituted gamma lactams as therapeutic agents
A compound comprising or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof is disclosed herein. Y, A, and B are as described herein. Methods, compositions, and medicaments related to these compounds are also disclosed. |
| US07879853B2 |
4,6-disubstituted pyrimidines and their use as protein kinase inhibitors
The invention relates to novel pyrimidine derivatives of Formula (1) which are efficacious inhibitors of protein kinases, in particular of one or more isoforms of the protein kinase B/Akt. |
| US07879851B2 |
Viral polymerase inhibitors
An enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound, represented by formula I: wherein A, B, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are as defined herein, or a salt or ester thereof, as an inhibitor of HCV NS5B polymerase. |
| US07879850B2 |
Organic compounds
The present invention provides compounds of the following structure; A-Q-B—C-D that are useful for treating conditions or disorders associated with DGAT1 activity in animals, particularly humans. |
| US07879842B2 |
Beta-crystalline form of ivabradine hydrochloride, a process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing it
β-Crystalline form of ivabradine of formula (I): characterised by its powder X-ray diffraction diagram. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful as bradycardics. |
| US07879836B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition comprising a 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-alkylpiperazine for treating appetite disorder
Use of a 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-alkylpiperazine of formula (I), in racemic (R,S) form or in the form of the (S) enantiomer, in which R is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or of an addition salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic acid, for treating appetite disorder. A pharmaceutical composition that comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a 1-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-alkylpiperazine of formula (I) as previously defined or of an addition salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic acid, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. |
| US07879835B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating metabolic bone diseases containing alpha-arylmethoxyactylate derivatives
The present invention relates to a use of a specific alpha-arylmethoxyacrylate derivative, or its pharmacologically acceptable salt or solvate for preventing and treating metabolic bone diseases. |
| US07879833B2 |
Combination medicament
The invention relates to the combination of ciclesonide with formoterol. |
| US07879832B2 |
Use of the combination of ciclesonide and antihistamines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis
The present invention relates to a combination of ciclesonide with antihistamines. |
| US07879829B2 |
19-nor-vitamin D analogs with 1,2-dihydrofuran ring
19-nor-vitamin D analogs having an additional dihydrofuran ring connecting the 1α-oxygen and carbon-2 of the A-ring of the analog, and pharmaceutical uses therefore, are described. These compounds exhibit selective in vitro and in vivo activities, making them therapeutic agents for the treatment or prophylaxis of autoimmune diseases, some types of cancers, secondary hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, or other skin diseases. |
| US07879826B2 |
Derivatives of [2-(8,9-dioxo-2,6-diazabicyclo[5.2.0]non-1(7)-en-2-yl)alkyl]phosphonic acid and methods of making them
Compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided: wherein: A is alkylenyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or alkenylenyl of 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R1 and R2 are, independently, hydrogen or a C5 to C7 aryl optionally substituted with 1 to 2 substituents, independently, selected from the group consisting of —C(O)R3, halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, and C1-C6 alkoxy, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R2 is not hydrogen; R3 is, independently, hydrogen, —OR4, alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; R5 and R6 are, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, or C5 to C7 aryl; wherein any R3 to R6 group having an aryl or heteroaryl moiety can optionally be substituted on the aryl or heteroaryl moiety with 1 to about 5 substituents, independently, selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, nitro, hydroxyl, C1-C6 alkyl, and C1-C6 alkoxy. Methods of making these compounds as well as methods using the compounds for treating a variety of conditions are also disclosed. |
| US07879825B2 |
Derivatives of [2-(8,9-dioxo-2,6-diazabicyclo[5.2.0]non-1(7)-en-2-yl)alkyl] phosphonic acid and methods of use thereof
Compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided where at least one of R2 or R3 is not hydrogen. The compounds of the present invention are N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and are useful in treating a variety of conditions present in a mammal that benefit from inhibiting the NMDA receptor. |
| US07879823B2 |
Topical anti-cancer compositions and methods of use thereof
Described are skin-care compositions containing non denatured soy products and optionally other anti-cancer or anti-aging agents. The compositions can be applied topically to reduce the risk of UV-induced cutaneous tumors. |
| US07879822B2 |
Stabilized sulforaphane
A method of stabilizing sulforaphane is provided. The method includes contacting sulforaphane, or an analog thereof, and a cyclodextrin to form a complex between the sulforaphane, or analog thereof, and the cyclodextrin. |
| US07879821B2 |
Method for modulating inflammatory responses by altering plasma lipid levels
A method for treating an immune-related disorder in a patient comprising administering an agent to the patient for altering the patient's plasma concentration of free cholesterol, wherein said agent is a non-statin agent and is administered in an amount sufficient to modulate the immune-related disorder. |
| US07879819B1 |
Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one antibiotics or equivalent bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery. |
| US07879813B2 |
Interfering RNA delivery system and uses thereof
The invention provides a delivery system comprising a cell penetrating peptide, a polyarginine peptide, and an interfering RNA molecule. The system can be used for delivering interfering RNA molecules into a cell in vivo or in vitro. Therapeutic uses for the delivery system are also provided. |
| US07879811B2 |
Formulations comprising antisense nucleotides to connexins
A therapeutic and/or cosmetic formulation comprising at least one anti-sense polynucleotide to a connexin protein together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or vehicle is useful in site specific down regulation of connexin protein expression, particularly in reduction of neuronal cells death, wound healing, reduction of inflammation, decrease of scar formation and skin rejuvenation and thickening. |
| US07879810B2 |
Immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecules
Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed. Methods for treating atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, are disclosed. |
| US07879809B2 |
Fish production
This invention is directed to the use of spinosyn or a physiologically acceptable derivative or salt thereof for improved production of fish; controlling ectoparasite infestations in aquaculture raised fish; and fish feed formulations. |
| US07879808B2 |
Lincomycin derivatives and antimicrobial agents comprising the same as active ingredient
An objective of the present invention is to provide compounds of formula (1) or their pharmacologically acceptable salts or solvates wherein A represents aryl; R1 represents N-optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl-N-optionally substituted C1-6 alkylamino-C1-6 alkyl; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl; R3 represents optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl-C1-4 alkyl; m is 1 to 3; n is 0; and p is 0 to 2. The compounds are novel lincomycin derivatives that have a potent activity against resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, which have recently posed problems, in the treatment of infectious diseases. Further, the compounds are usable as antimicrobial agents and are useful for preventing or treating bacterial infectious diseases. |
| US07879805B2 |
High temperature stable peptide formulation
A stabilized pharmaceutical composition in the form of a lyophilized product to be later reconstituted to generate an aqueous drug product is described herein. The therapeutically active ingredient in the form of a peptide of sequence TDLQERGDNDISPFSGDGQPFKD is stabilized with a buffer, carbohydrate stabilizer, a nonionic bulking agent and a surfactant to facilitate reconstitution. The preferred preparation contains a peptide of the sequence TDLQERGDNDISPFSGDGQPFKD, histidine buffer, mannitol or glycine, sucrose and/or Polysorbate 20. This combination of excipients has demonstrated exceptional stability as a lyophilized product when stored at the elevated temperature of 40° C. for at least 6 months and for at least 3 Months at 50° C. The lyophilized mixture thus formed is reconstituted to a high peptide concentration without apparent loss of stability of the peptide. Also, this combination of excipients has also enabled the ability to terminally sterilize the lyophilized product using gamma irradiation without affecting the stability of the active ingredient of the formulation. |
| US07879799B2 |
Methods for characterizing glycoproteins and generating antibodies for same
The invention provides methods for generating an antibody specific for the deglycosylated form of a glycopolypeptide using a peptide corresponding to an N-linked glycosylation site of a glycopolypeptide. The invention additionally provides methods for generating an antibody specific for a glycopolypeptide using a peptide corresponding to amino acids adjacent to an authentic N-linked glycosylation site. |
| US07879795B2 |
Enhancement of tigecycline potency using efflux pump inhibitors
Disclosed herein are Efflux Pump Inhibitor (EPI) compounds that can be co-administered with antimicrobial agents for the treatment of infections caused by drug resistant pathogens. The EPI compounds are soft drugs which exhibit a reduced propensity for tissue accumulation. It is demonstrated that the EPIs can be used to increase the potency, decrease bacterial resistance and development of bacterial resistance, and increase killing effectivness of tigecycline. Also disclosed are methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions for co-administering tigecylcine with an EPI. |
| US07879791B2 |
Regulation of T cell-mediated immunity by tryptophan
A mechanism of macrophage-induced T cell suppression is the selective elimination of tryptophan and/or increase in one or more tryptophan metabolites within the local macrophage microenvironment. Studies demonstrate that expression of IDO can serve as a marker of suppression of T cell activation, and may play a significant role in allogeneic pregnancy and therefore other types of transplantation, and that inhibitors of IDO can be used to activate T cells and therefore enhance T cell activation when the T cells are suppressed by pregnancy, malignancy or a virus such as HIV. Inhibiting tryptophan degradation (and thereby increasing tryptophan concentration while decreasing tryptophan metabolite concentration), or supplementing tryptophan concentration, can therefore be used in addition to, or in place of, inhibitors of IDO. Similarly, increasing tryptophan degradation (thereby, decreasing tryptophan concentration and increasing tryptophan metabolite concentration), for example, by increasing IDO concentration or IDO activity, can suppress T cells. Although described particularly with reference to IDO regulation, one can instead manipulate local tryptophan concentrations, and/or modulate the activity of the high affinity tryptophan transporter, and/or administer other tryptophan degrading enzymes. Regulation can be further manipulated using cytokines such as macrophage colony stimulating factor, interferon gamma, alone or in combination with antigen or other cytokines. |
| US07879790B2 |
Mixed salts of sulfonated estolides and other derivatives of fatty acids, and methods of making them
Sulfo-estolides and methods of making them are described. Also described are phase-stable compositions formed from mixtures of different salts of sulfo-estolides, particularly mixtures of sodium and potassium salts of sulfo-estolides, and methods of obtaining phase-stable sulfo-estolide mixed salt compositions. The sulfo-estolide mixed salt compositions can be used in detergent formulations, such as laundry detergents, household, industrial and institutional cleaning formulations, and person care products. |
| US07879789B2 |
Surfactant and composition containing the same
The present invention is to provide a new surfactant that can be used as an emulsifier excellent in emulsion stability and texture in use and as a cleanser excellent in cleansing power and texture in use and having low skin irritation. A surfactant consisting of a compound represented by the below-described general formula (1). Y—O-(EO)l-(AO)m-(EO)n-X (1) (In the formula, AO represents an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms; m is the average addition mole number of the oxyalkylene group and satisfies 5≦m≦100. EO represents an oxyethylene group; l and n are the average addition mole numbers of the oxyethylene groups and satisfy 0≦l≦4 and 0≦n≦4. Either X or Y or both are a functional group represented by —SO3M, —COOM, —HPO3M, —(CH2)q—SO3M, or —(CH2)q—COO, wherein M is a hydrogen ion or a monovalent inorganic or organic cation, and q is the number of carbon atoms of the linked alkylene group and satisfies 1≦q≦4. When either X or Y is the above-described functional group, the other one can be a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group.) |
| US07879786B1 |
Detergent composition
A detergent composition is disclosed, which comprises: (A) an alkali metal hydroxyl compound in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; (B) a nonionic surfactant represented by the following formula (I) in an amount of 0.1 to 30 parts by weight: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 is hydrogen or methyl; n is an integer from 0 to 10; and m is an integer from 4 to 20; (C) an anionic surfactant in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight; (D) a chelating agent in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; (E) an additive in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; and (F) water of remaining parts based on 100 parts by weight of the detergent composition. |
| US07879781B2 |
High emollient lamellar compositions resistant to viscosity and phase structure deterioration after low temp storage and/or freeze-thaw cycle
The invention comprises a liquid lamellar composition comprising surfactant, a specific lamellar structuring system, emollient, and specific structurant. |
| US07879772B2 |
Process for cold plastic working of metallic materials
Particles each of which consists of an inorganic polyvalent metal compound as a nucleus and a coating of a metallic soap of the polyvalent metal coating the nucleus (coated particles); products and preparation processes using the particles; a lubricating coating forming agent wherein particles each of which consists of a polyvalent metal salt of phosphoric acid as a nucleus and a coating of a metallic soap of the polyvalent metal coating the surface of the nucleus are suspended in an aqueous solution of a water soluble inorganic salt and/or a water soluble organic acid salt; and a lubricating coating. The coated particles are novel particles which can be used as an ingredient of coating-type lubricating coating; are excellent in seizure resistance; can inhibit wear of tools at the time of plastic working since the friction coefficient of the surface of the particles is low; and are slow to cause pollution of working oils. Lubricating coating obtained by applying the lubricating coating forming agent onto the surface of a metallic material gives excellent cold plastic working properties, namely lubricity and seizure resistance to the metallic material. |
| US07879770B2 |
Oxidative internal breaker for viscoelastic surfactant fluids
Compositions and methods are given for delayed breaking of viscoelastic surfactant gels inside formation pores, particularly for use in hydraulic fracturing. Breaking inside formation pores is accomplished without mechanical intervention or use of a second fluid. Oxidizing agents such as air, oxygen, persulfates, bromates, peroxides, and others are used. The break may be accelerated, for example with a free radical propagating species, or retarded, for example with an oxygen scavenger. In certain brines, for example bromide brines, certain zwitterionic viscoelastic fluid systems that can decarboxylate and that require an anion-containing co-surfactant undergo delayed degradation if oxygen is present, for example from fluid preparation or in a foam. |
| US07879763B2 |
Superconducting article and method of making
A superconducting article is provided that includes a substrate, wherein the substrate is untextured and comprises a nickel-based alloy containing primarily nickel and not less than about 20 wt % of an alloying element, and wherein the substrate is essentially free of Mo and Mn. The superconducting article further includes a buffer layer overlying the substrate and a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) layer overlying the buffer layer. |
| US07879760B2 |
Isopentyl carboxanilides for combating undesired micro-organisms
This invention relates to novel isopentylcarboxanilides of the formula (I) in which L, R1, R3 and A are as defined in the disclosure, to a plurality of processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling unwanted microorganisms, and to novel intermediates and their preparation. |
| US07879759B2 |
Mobile DeNOx catalyst
DeNOx catalysts for the reduction of NOx compounds and porous catalyst support materials are provided. The inventive catalysts comprise an active metal catalyst component and mixed TiO2/ZrO2 porous support particles that comprise a) a crystalline phase comprising titanium dioxide and/or a titanium/zirconium mixed oxide, b) an amorphous phase comprising zirconium, and c) a small amount of one or more metal oxide(s) or metalloid oxide(s) deposited on the amorphous outer layer. The inventive catalysts exhibit superior activity and ammonia selectivity. |
| US07879758B2 |
Catalytically active porous element
A catalytically active porous element for promoting catalytic gas phase reactions is proposed, said element comprising a porous structural element of sintered ceramic or metallic primary particles, which are selected from fibrous and/or granular particles, a secondary structure of titania nano particles deposited on the surface of said sintered primary particles and a catalytic component deposited on the surface of the titania nano particles. Thereby porous catalytic elements for catalytic gas phase reactions which are useful not only in NOX reduction reactions but also for other catalytic gas phase reactions are provided. |
| US07879754B2 |
Sulfur-tolerant catalyst systems
Methods for improving the sulfur-tolerance of nickel-based catalyst systems, as well as the improved catalyst systems, are disclosed. The methods can include adding praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, to a nickel-based catalyst system, thereby inhibiting sulfur poisoning of the catalyst system. Improved catalyst systems can have an added amount of praseodymium alone, or in combination with ruthenium and/or cerium, sufficient to inhibit poisoning of the system by sulfur. |
| US07879748B2 |
Method for producing a catalyst and the catalyst made therefrom
Disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing a catalyst composition. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a catalyst can comprise: forming a catalyst composition from a catalyst precursor and a volatile compound, disposing the catalyst composition on a substrate to form a supported composition, treating the supported composition with electromagnetic radiation, and removing at least a portion of the volatile compound to form the catalyst. In another embodiment, the method for manufacturing a catalyst can comprise: forming a catalyst composition comprising a volatile compound and a catalyst precursor, disposing the catalyst composition onto a substrate, and drying the catalyst composition at a temperature greater than or equal to a dew point of the volatile compound and less than or equal to a decomposition temperature of the catalyst precursor. |
| US07879746B2 |
Hydrophilic polypropylene fibers having antimicrobial activity
Polypropylene fibers and devices that include a fatty acid monoglyceride added to the polypropylene as a melt additive are described. A hydrophilic enhancer material can be advantageously added to the polypropylene as a melt additive to enhance the hydrophilicity of the fibers and devices. An antimicrobial enhancer material can be added to the fibers to enhance the antimicrobial activity. |
| US07879743B2 |
Stain and soil resistant textile article
Disclosed in this specification is an aqueous dispersion for treating a textile. The dispersion generally includes surface-functionalized inorganic oxides in combination with a fluorochemical. Significantly lower concentrations of fluorochemicals are present in comparison to prior art dispersions. |
| US07879741B2 |
Laser thermal annealing of lightly doped silicon substrates
Apparatus and method for performing laser thermal annealing (LTA) of a substrate using an annealing radiation beam that is not substantially absorbed in the substrate at room temperature. The method takes advantage of the fact that the absorption of long wavelength radiation (1 micron or greater) in some substrates, such as undoped silicon substrates, is a strong function of temperature. The method includes heating the substrate to a critical temperature where the absorption of long-wavelength annealing radiation is substantial, and then irradiating the substrate with the annealing radiation to generate a temperature capable of annealing the substrate. |
| US07879735B2 |
Cleaning solution for silicon surface and methods of fabricating semiconductor device using the same
A cleaning solution and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices using the same are provided. A cleaning solution used for cleaning a silicon surface and methods of fabricating a semiconductor device using the same are also provided. The cleaning solution may include 0.01 to 1 wt % of fluoric acid, 20 to 50 wt % of oxidizer and 50 to 80 wt % of water. The cleaning solution may further include 1 to 20 wt % of acetic acid. The cleaning solution may be used to clean a silicon surface exposed during fabrication processes of a semiconductor device. The cleaning solution may reduce damage of other material layers (e.g., a tungsten layer or a silicon oxide layer) and enable the silicon surface to be selectively etched. |
| US07879729B2 |
Method of forming a micro pattern of a semiconductor device
In a method of forming micro patterns of a semiconductor device, first etch mask patterns are formed over a semiconductor substrate. An auxiliary film is formed over the semiconductor substrate including a surface of the first etch mask patterns. Second etch mask patterns are formed between the auxiliary films formed on sidewalls of the first etch mask patterns. The first etch mask patterns and the second etch mask patterns are formed using the same material. The auxiliary films between the first and second etch mask patterns are removed. Accordingly, more micro patterns can be formed than allowed by the resolution limit of an exposure apparatus while preventing misalignment. |
| US07879725B2 |
Stripping composition for removing a photoresist and method of manufacturing TFT substrate for a liquid crystal display device using the same
In a stripping composition for easily removing a photoresist without an adverse effect and a method of manufacturing a TFT substrate for an LCD device using the same, the stripping composition includes acetic acid and ozone gas contained in the acetic acid as a bubble form to remove the photoresist including novolak. A photoresist pattern including novolak is formed on a predetermined layer (24) formed on a substrate (10). The layer is etched using the photoresist pattern as a mask to form a pattern of the layer. The photoresist pattern is removed using the stripping composition. The stripping composition is cheap and more effectively protects the environment in comparison with the conventional stripping compositions. Additionally, an O2 ashing process performed before or after a stripping process may be omitted to thereby simplify a stripping process. |
| US07879712B2 |
Method for patterning polycrystalline indium tin oxide
A method for patterning polycrystalline indium tin oxide by using a Gaussian laser beam focused on an amorphous indium tin oxide layer is disclosed to pattern the non-crystalline amorphous indium tin oxide layer and transfer part of the amorphous indium tin oxide layer into polycrystalline indium tin oxide while the remaining amorphous indium tin oxide layer is etched due to etching selectivity of an etching solution. The method comprises: providing a substrate with an amorphous indium tin oxide layer thereon on a carrier; transferring the amorphous indium tin oxide layer in a predetermined area into a polycrystalline indium tin oxide layer by emitting a Gaussian laser beam focused on the amorphous indium tin oxide layer in the predetermined area; and removing the remaining amorphous indium tin oxide layer on the substrate by an etching solution to form a patterned polycrystalline indium tin oxide layer. |
| US07879710B2 |
Substrate processing including a masking layer
Methods for substrate processing are described. The methods include forming a material layer on a substrate. The methods include selecting constituents of a molecular masking layer (MML) to remove an effect of variations in the material layer as a result of substrate processing. The methods include normalizing the surface characteristics of the material layer by selectively depositing the MML on the material layer. |
| US07879706B2 |
Memory and manufacturing method thereof
A memory having isolated dual memory cells is provided. A first isolation wall and a second isolation wall are separately disposed between a source and a drain on a substrate. An isolation bottom layer and a polysilicon layer are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first and the second isolation walls. A first charge storage structure and a first gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the first isolation wall and the source. A second charge storage structure and a second gate are orderly disposed on the substrate between the second isolation wall and the drain. A word line disposed on the polysilicon layer, the first gate, the second gate, the first isolation wall and the second isolation wall is electrically connected to the first gate, the second gate and the polysilicon layer. |
| US07879705B2 |
Semiconductor devices and manufacturing method thereof
A method is set forth of forming an ohmic electrode having good characteristics on a SiC semiconductor layer. In the method, a Ti-layer and an Al-layer are formed on a surface of the SiC substrate. The SiC substrate having the Ti-layer and the Al-layer is maintained at a temperature that is higher than or equal to a first temperature and lower than a second temperature until all Ti in the Ti-layer has reacted with Al. The first temperature is the minimum temperature of a temperature zone at which the Ti reacts with the Al to form Al3Ti, and the second temperature is the minimum temperature of a temperature zone at which the Al3Ti reacts with SiC to form Ti3SiC2. As a result of this maintaining of temperature step, an Al3Ti-layer is formed on the surface of the SiC substrate. The method also comprises further heating the SiC substrate having the Al3Ti-layer to a temperature that is higher than the second temperature. As a result of this step of further heating the SiC substrate reacts with Al3Ti of the Al3Ti-layer to form a Ti3SiC2-layer on the surface of the SiC substrate. |
| US07879704B2 |
Memory function body, particle forming method therefor and, memory device, semiconductor device, and electronic equipment having the memory function body
A memory function body has a medium interposed between a first conductor (e.g., a conductive substrate) and a second conductor (e.g., an electrode) and consisting of a first material (e.g., silicon oxide or silicon nitride). The medium contains particles. Each particle is covered with a second material (e.g., silver oxide) and formed of a third material (e.g., silver). The second material functions as a barrier against passage of electric charges, and the third material has a function of retaining electric charges. The third material is introduced into the medium by, for example, a negative ion implantation method. |
| US07879703B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device for reducing thermal burden on impurity regions of peripheral circuit region
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device for reducing a thermal burden on impurity regions of a peripheral circuit region includes preparing a substrate including a cell active region in a cell array region and peripheral active regions in a peripheral circuit region. A cell gate pattern and peripheral gate patterns may be formed on the cell active region and the peripheral active regions. First cell impurity regions may be formed in the cell active region. A first insulating layer and a sacrificial insulating layer may be formed to surround the cell gate pattern and the peripheral gate patterns. Cell conductive pads may be formed in the first insulating layer to electrically connect the first cell impurity regions. The sacrificial insulating layer may be removed adjacent to the peripheral gate patterns. First and second peripheral impurity regions may be sequentially formed in the peripheral active regions adjacent to the peripheral gate patterns. |
| US07879697B2 |
Growth of low dislocation density Group-III nitrides and related thin-film structures
Methods of growing Group-III nitride thin-film structures having reduced dislocation density are provided. Methods in accordance with the present invention comprise growing a Group-III nitride thin-film material while applying an ion flux and preferably while the substrate is stationary or non-rotating substrate. The ion flux is preferably applied as an ion beam at a glancing angle of incidence. Growth under these conditions creates a nanoscale surface corrugation having a characteristic features size, such as can be measured as a wavelength or surface roughness. After the surface corrugation is created, and preferably in the same growth reactor, the substrate is rotated in an ion flux which cause the surface corrugation to be reduced. The result of forming a surface corrugation and then subsequently reducing or removing the surface corrugation is the formation of a nanosculpted region and polished transition region that effectively filter dislocations. Repeating such nanosculpted and polished regions advantageously provide significant reduction in dislocation density in thin-film structures. |
| US07879696B2 |
Compositions and methods for forming a semiconducting and/or silicon-containing film, and structures formed therefrom
Compositions, inks and methods for forming a patterned silicon-containing film and patterned structures including such a film. The composition generally includes (a) passivated semiconductor nanoparticles and (b) first and second cyclic Group IVA compounds in which the cyclic species predominantly contains Si and/or Ge atoms. The ink generally includes the composition and a solvent in which the composition is soluble. The method generally includes the steps of (1) printing the composition or ink on a substrate to form a pattern, and (2) curing the patterned composition or ink. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes the steps of (i) curing either a semiconductor nanoparticle composition or at least one cyclic Group IVA compound to form a thin film, (ii) coating the thin film with the other, and (iii) curing the coated thin film to form a semiconducting thin film. The semiconducting thin film includes a sintered mixture of semiconductor nanoparticles in hydrogenated, at least partially amorphous silicon and/or germanium. The thin film exhibits improved conductivity, density, adhesion and/or carrier mobility relative to an otherwise identical structure made by an identical process, but without either the semiconductor nanoparticles or the hydrogenated Group IVA element polymer. The present invention advantageously provides semiconducting thin film structures having qualities suitable for use in electronics applications, such as display devices or RF ID tags, while enabling high-throughput printing processes that form such thin films in seconds or minutes, rather than hours or days as with conventional photolithographic processes. |
| US07879691B2 |
Low cost die placement
Exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for assembling electronic devices, such as integrated circuit (IC) chips, using a release member having a phase change material. Specifically, IC elements/components can be selectively received, stored, inspected, repaired, and/or released in a scalable manner during the assembly of IC chips by inducing phase change of the phase change material. The release member can be flexible or rigid. In some embodiments, the release member can be used for a low cost placement of the IC elements in combination with an SOI (silicon on insulator) wafer and/or an intermediate transfer member. In other embodiments, the release member can be used for a low cost placement of the IC elements in combination with a release wafer. |
| US07879689B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate with stripes of different crystal plane directions
Manufacturing a semiconductor device with higher operating characteristics and achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A single crystal semiconductor layer is formed so that crystal plane directions of single crystal semiconductor layers which are used for channel regions of an n-channel TFT and a p-channel TFT and which are formed over the same plane of the substrate are the most appropriate crystal plane directions for each TFT. In accordance with such a structure, mobility of carrier flowing through a channel is increased and the semiconductor device with higher operating characteristics can be provided. Low voltage driving can be performed, and low power consumption can be achieved. |
| US07879687B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a highly reliable semiconductor with a waterproof property. The method includes the steps of: sequentially forming a peeling layer, an inorganic insulating layer, and an element formation layer including an organic compound layer, over a substrate; separating the peeling layer and the inorganic insulating layer from each other, or separating the substrate and the inorganic insulating layer from each other; removing a part of the inorganic insulating layer or a part of the inorganic insulating layer and the element formation layer, thereby isolating at least the inorganic insulating layer into a plurality of sections so that at least two layers among the organic compound layer, a flexible substrate, and an adhesive agent are stacked at outer edges of the isolated inorganic insulating layers; and cutting a region where at least two layers among the organic compound layer, the flexible substrate, and the adhesive agent are stacked. |
| US07879686B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing
A semiconductor and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. In one embodiment the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a first substrate surface and at least one trench having at least one trench surface. The trench extends from the first substrate surface into the semiconductor substrate. The trench has a first trench section and a second trench section. The trench surface is exposed in an upper portion of the first and second trench sections and covered with a first insulating layer in a lower portion. A second insulating layer is formed at least on the exposed trench surface in the upper portion. A conductive layer is formed on the second insulating layer at least in the upper portion, wherein the second insulating layer electrically insulates the conductive layer from the semiconductor substrate. The conductive layer is removed in the first trench section without removing the conductive layer in the second trench section. |
| US07879683B2 |
Methods and apparatus of creating airgap in dielectric layers for the reduction of RC delay
A method and apparatus for generating air gaps in a dielectric material of an interconnect structure. One embodiment provides a method for forming a semiconductor structure comprising depositing a first dielectric layer on a substrate, forming trenches in the first dielectric layer, filling the trenches with a conductive material, planarizing the conductive material to expose the first dielectric layer, depositing a dielectric barrier film on the conductive material and exposed first dielectric layer, depositing a hard mask layer over the dielectric barrier film, forming a pattern in the dielectric barrier film and the hard mask layer to expose selected regions of the substrate, oxidizing at least a portion of the first dielectric layer in the selected region of the substrate, removing oxidized portion of the first dielectric layer to form reversed trenches around the conductive material, and forming air gaps in the reversed trenches while depositing a second dielectric material in the reversed trenches. |
| US07879676B2 |
High density trench mosfet with single mask pre-defined gate and contact trenches
Trench gate MOSFET devices may be formed using a single mask to define gate trenches and body contact trenches. A hard mask is formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A trench mask is applied on the hard mask to predefine a body contact trench and a gate trench. These predefined trenches are simultaneously etched into the substrate to a first predetermined depth. A gate trench mask is next applied on top of the hard mask. The gate trench mask covers the body contact trenches and has openings at the gate trenches. The gate trench, but not the body contact trench, is etched to a second predetermined depth. Conductive material of a first kind may fill the gate trench to form a gate. Conductive material of a second kind may fill the body contact trench to form a body contact. |
| US07879673B2 |
Patterning nanocrystal layers
A method for forming a semiconductor device is presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with first and second regions with a first device layer. A second device layer including nanocrystals is also formed. A cover layer is provided over the second device layer. The cover layer is patterned to expose portions of the second device layer in the first and second regions. The exposed portions of the second device layer in the first and second regions are processed to form modified portions. The processing of the exposed portions at least reduces the nanocrystals to a diameter below a threshold diameter in the modified portions. The modified portions are removed. |
| US07879671B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that is less prone to DC failures brought about by unwanted defects on capacitors therein
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that is less prone to DC failures brought about by unwanted defects on capacitors in the device is presented. Manufacturing defects such as scratches are known to occur when making capacitors and that these defects are thought to be a primary cause of subsequent performance DC failures in the completed semiconductor devices. The method includes the steps of depositing, removing, forming, polishing, etching and forming. A sacrificial layer is exploited to allow a subsequent polishing down step to mechanically remove defects from the capacitors. |
| US07879663B2 |
Trench formation in a semiconductor material
A semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor layer. A gate dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor layer. A layer of gate material is formed over the gate dielectric layer. The layer of gate material is patterned to form a gate structure. Using the gate structure as a mask, an implant into the semiconductor layer is performed. To form a first patterned gate structure and a trench in the semiconductor layer surrounding a first portion and a second portion of the semiconductor layer and the gate, an etch through the gate structure and the semiconductor layer is performed. The trench is filled with insulating material. |
| US07879660B2 |
Semiconductor structures integrating damascene-body FinFET's and planar devices on a common substrate and methods for forming such semiconductor structures
Methods of forming a semiconductor structure having FinFET's and planar devices, such as MOSFET's, on a common substrate by a damascene approach, and semiconductor structures formed by the methods. A semiconductor fin of the FinFET is formed on a substrate with damascene processing in which the fin growth may be interrupted to implant ions that are subsequently transformed into a region that electrically isolates the fin from the substrate. The isolation region is self-aligned with the fin because the mask used to form the damascene-body fin also serves as an implantation mask for the implanted ions. The fin may be supported by the patterned layer during processing that forms the FinFET and, more specifically, the gate of the FinFET. The electrical isolation surrounding the FinFET may also be supplied by a self-aligned process that recesses the substrate about the FinFET and at least partially fills the recess with a dielectric material. |
| US07879656B2 |
Multilayer substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayer substrate includes an insulating base member having a plurality of resin films, an electric element embedded in the insulating base member, and a spacer. The resin films are made of a thermoplastic resin and stacked and attached to each other. At least one resin film has a through hole for inserting the electric element. The one resin film further has a plurality of protruding members. One protruding member opposes to another one protruding member so that the one and the another one contact and sandwich the electric element. The spacer is arranged between the one resin film and an adjacent resin film and is disposed at a base portion of one of the protruding members. |
| US07879651B2 |
Packaging conductive structure and method for forming the same
A packaging conductive structure for a semiconductor substrate and a method for forming the structure are provided. The dielectric layer of the packaging conductive structure partially overlays the metallic layer of the semiconductor substrate and has a receiving space. The lifting layer and conductive layer are formed in the receiving space, wherein the conductive layer extends for connection to a bump. The lifting layer is partially connected to the dielectric layer. As a result, the conductive layer can be stably deposited on the edge of the dielectric layer for enhancing the reliability of the packaging conductive structure. |
| US07879650B2 |
Method of providing protection against charging damage in hybrid orientation transistors
In a method of fabricating a CMOS structure, a bulk device can be formed in a first region in conductive communication with an underlying bulk region of the substrate. A first gate conductor may overlie the first region. An SOI device can be formed which has a source drain conduction path in a SOI layer, i.e., a semiconductor layer that is separated from the bulk region by a buried dielectric region. The crystal orientations of the SOI layer and the bulk region can be different. A first diode can be formed in a second region of the substrate in conductive communication with the bulk region. The first diode may be connected in a reverse-biased orientation to a first gate conductor above the SOI layer, such that a voltage on the gate conductor that exceeds the breakdown voltage can be discharged through the first diode to the bulk region of the substrate. A second diode may be formed in a third region of the substrate in conductive communication with the bulk region. The second diode may be connected in a reverse-biased orientation to a source region or a drain region of an NFET. |
| US07879649B2 |
Programmable capacitor associated with an input/output pad
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a programmable capacitor associated with an input/output pad in the semiconductor device. The apparatus includes a semiconductor die having an upper surface, a first capacitor deployed above the upper surface of the semiconductor die, a separation layer deployed above the first capacitor, and a bond pad deployed above the separation layer such that at least a portion of the bond pad lies above the first capacitor. |
| US07879647B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A technique for mounting two semiconductor chips over a wiring substrate including mounting a first chip having first bonding pads over a surface of the wiring substrate having electrodes and stacking the second chip having second bonding pads over the first chip; connecting each of the first bonding pads to an associated one of the electrodes of the wiring substrate via an associated first wire; and connecting each of the second bonding pads to an associated one of the electrodes of the wiring substrate via an associated second wire. The bondings being carried out using a reverse bonding method in which at least one of the first and second wires are first bonded to an associated one of the electrodes of the wiring substrate followed by the bonding thereof to an associated one of the bonding pads of the first or second semiconductor chip. |
| US07879645B2 |
Fill-in etching free pore device
A memory cell includes a memory cell layer with a first dielectric layer over a bottom electrode layer, a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and a top electrode over the second dielectric layer. The dielectric layers define a via having a first part bounded by the first electrode layer and the bottom electrode and a second part bounded by the second dielectric layer and the top electrode. A memory element is within the via and is in electrical contact with the top and bottom electrodes. The first and second parts of the via may comprise a constricted, energy-concentrating region and an enlarged region respectively. The constricted region may have a width smaller than the minimum feature size of the process used to form the enlarged region of the via. A method for manufacturing a memory cell is also disclosed. |
| US07879643B2 |
Memory cell with memory element contacting an inverted T-shaped bottom electrode
Memory cells are described along with methods for manufacturing. A memory cell described herein includes a bottom electrode comprising a base portion and a pillar portion on the base portion, the pillar portion having a top surface and a width less than that of the base portion. A memory element is on the top surface of the pillar portion and comprises memory material having at least two solid phases. A top electrode is on the memory element. |
| US07879640B2 |
CMOS image sensor and method for fabricating the same
A Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and methods for fabricating the same. In one example embodiment of the invention, a method for manufacturing a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes several acts. First, a metal pad is formed over a semiconductor substrate. Next, a protection film is formed over the semiconductor substrate and the metal pad. Then, the protection film is selectively removed to expose a surface of the metal pad. Next, a first planarization film is formed over the protection film. Then, a color filter layer is formed over the first planarization film. Next, a second planarization layer is formed over the color filter layer. Then, a first material layer is formed over the second planarization layer. Next, a second material layer is formed over the first material layer. Then, a micro lens is formed out of the first and second material layers. |
| US07879636B2 |
Method of forming p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor, method of forming nitride semiconductor device, and method of forming epitaxial wafer
A method of forming a p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor without activation annealing is provided, and the method can provide a gallium nitride based semiconductor doped with a p-type dopant. A GaN semiconductor region 17 containing a p-type dopant is formed on a supporting base 13 in a reactor 10. An organometallic source and ammonia are supplied to the reactor 10 to grow the GaN semiconductor layer 17 on a GaN semiconductor layer 15. The GaN semiconductor is doped with a p-type dopant. Examples of the p-type dopant include magnesium. After the GaN semiconductor regions 15 and 17 are grown, an atmosphere 19 containing at least one of monomethylamine and monoethylamine is prepared in the reactor 10. After the atmosphere 19 is prepared, a substrate temperature is decreased from the growth temperature of the GaN semiconductor region 17. When the substrate temperature is lowered to room temperature after this film formation, a p-type GaN semiconductor 17a and an epitaxial wafer E has been fabricated. |
| US07879634B2 |
Process for producing a liquid crystal cell substrate having a TFT driver element, a liquid crystal cell substrate, and liquid crystal display device
A process for easy production of a liquid crystal cell substrate having a TFT driver element which contributes to reducing viewing angle dependence of color of a liquid crystal display device is provided: a process using a transfer material, more preferably, a process which comprises the following steps [1] to [4] in this order: [1] transferring on a TFT substrate a transfer material having a photosensitive polymer layer and an optically anisotropic layer on a temporary support; [2] separating the temporary support from the transfer material on the TFT substrate; [3] subjecting the transfer material to light exposure on the TFT substrate; and [4] removing unnecessary parts of the photosensitive polymer layer and the optically anisotropic layer on the substrate. |
| US07879631B2 |
Systems and methods for on-die light sensing with low leakage
Systems and methods are disclosed for fabricating a device by forming a photosensitive area on a wafer; forming a control circuit adjacent the photosensitive area; and coating the photosensitive area with one or more film layers to form an optical filter. The filter provides a reduced leakage of an undesired wavelength onto the photosensitive area. |
| US07879629B2 |
Method for manufacturing floating structure of microelectromechanical system
Provided is a method for manufacturing a floating structure of a MEMS. The method for manufacturing a floating structure of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), comprising the steps of: a) forming a sacrificial layer including a thin layer pattern doped with impurities on a substrate; b) forming a support layer on the sacrificial layer; c) forming a structure to be floated on the support layer by using a subsequent process; d) forming an etch hole exposing both side portions of the thin layer pattern; and e) removing the sacrificial layer through the etch hole to form an air gap between the support layer and the substrate. |
| US07879628B2 |
Semiconductro laser device
This semiconductor laser device has the same structure as the conventional broad-area type semiconductor laser device, except that both side regions of light emission areas of active and clad layers are two-dimensional-photonic-crystallized. The two-dimensional photonic crystal formed on both side regions of the light emission area is the crystal having the property that 780 nm laser light cannot be wave-guided in a resonator direction parallel to a striped ridge within the region. The light traveling in the direction can exist only in the light emission area sandwiched between two photonic crystal regions, which results in the light laterally confined by the photonic crystal region. The optical confinement of the region suppresses the loss in the light at both edges of the stripe serving as the boundary of the optical confinement, which reduces the curve of wave surface and uniforms the light intensity distributions of NFP and FFP. |
| US07879627B2 |
Overlay marks and methods of manufacturing such marks
An overlay mark for determining the relative shift between two or more successive layers of a substrate and methods for using such overlay mark are disclosed. In one embodiment, the overlay mark includes at least one test pattern for determining the relative shift between a first and a second layer of the substrate in a first direction. The test pattern includes a first set of working zones and a second set of working zones. The first set of working zones are disposed on a first layer of the substrate and have at least two working zones diagonally opposed and spatially offset relative to one another. The second set of working zones are disposed on a second layer of the substrate and have at least two working zones diagonally opposed and spatially offset relative to one another. The first set of working zones are generally angled relative to the second set of working zones thus forming an “X” shaped test pattern. |
| US07879623B2 |
Integrated device for analyte, testing, confirmation, and donor identity verification
The present invention provides an apparatus for fluid sample collection and analyte testing, including a sample receiving member and at least one membrane test strip, and optionally a sample retention member, fingerprint acquisition pad, and/or fluid collector. It also provides a fluid collection apparatus having an absorbent material, compression element, and closure element, and optionally a lid that allows the apparatus to be used in conjunction with a fluid container. Also provided are methods of collecting, testing, and retaining a fluid sample and verifying the identity of one or more individuals associated with the sample, such as the test subject, test administrator, and/or witnesses. |
| US07879622B1 |
Barrier-permeable proxy reporter analysis
Analysis of complex media (e.g.—blood and seawater) is difficult because the media are composed of particles of different sizes and chemical profiles. Disclosed is a method for the detection of a constituent in a medium that enhances the molecular selectivity of a detector by separating the detector from the medium by a membrane of specified permeability. Proxy reporters are employed to enhance particle specificity. The novel combination of the invention has application to chemical detection in a broad range of fields. |
| US07879621B2 |
Open channel solid phase extraction systems and methods
The invention provides, inter alia, methods, devices and reagents for the preparation of native and non-denatured biomolecules using solid-phase extraction channels. The invention is particularly suited for the purification, concentration and/or analysis of protein analytes. The invention further provides, inter alia, methods, devices and reagents for the purification, concentration and/or analysis of multi-protein complexes. |
| US07879613B2 |
System for maintaining hydrogen purity in electrical generators and method thereof
A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator. The purity system includes: a generator, a hydrogen generator configured to provide hydrogen gas to the generator, a purity monitor for detecting the level of hydrogen purity in the generator and providing a signal when the purity drops below a predetermined threshold. The system automatically compensates for gas loss or contamination to maintain the desired level of efficiency in the electrical generator. |
| US07879610B1 |
Electroporation system and method for facilitating entry of molecules into cells in vivo
A method for facilitating a delivery of a molecule into an interior space of a cell includes the steps of introducing a molecule into a target tissue comprising a cell and applying a substantially continuous low-level electric field to the target tissue. The field is applied for a duration sufficient to effect a change in porosity the cell of the target tissue sufficient to facilitate an entry of a desired molecule into an interior of the cell. |
| US07879607B2 |
Elastomeric device for cell seeding on the bottom of a filter
An article is provided herein for use in seeding cells on at least one filter extending across at least one well of an assay device. The article includes an elastomeric body having spaced-apart first and second surfaces, and at least one channel extending between, and through, the first and second surfaces. The channel is formed to sealingly, and detachably, engage an outer surface of the well with the filter being at least partially encompassed by the channel. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a cell monolayer can be formed on the exterior surface of the filter. The assay device may be a multiwell plate, an insert plate, a column, a test tube, or a pipette. |
| US07879606B2 |
Compositions and methods useful for HCV infection
The present invention provides compositions comprising cells that can effectively produce HCV after HCV infection, compositions for culturing the cells, methods for making the composition and methods for infecting the cells in the composition with HCV. The present invention also provides methods for assaying HCV production and methods for evaluating compounds that affect the production of HCV. |
| US07879605B2 |
Methods and compositions for tissue regeneration
Disclosed is a composition comprising cells comprising keratinocytes or fibroblasts, or mixtures thereof, that secrete one or more biologically active molecules selected from the group consisting of GM-CSF, VEGF, KGF, bFGF, TGFβ, angiopoietin, EGF, IL-ID, IL-6, IL-8, TGFα, and TNFα and an extracellular matrix comprising alginate, wherein the cells are allogeneic and mitotically inactive. |
| US07879604B2 |
Intervertebral disk repair, methods and devices therefor
The present application discloses compositions, methods and devices for treatment of a degenerative intervertebral disc. A composition can comprise chondrocytes expressing type II collagen. These chondrocytes can be obtained from human cadavers up to about two weeks following death, and can be grown in vitro. The compositions can further comprise one or more biocompatible molecules. Treatment of a degenerative disc can comprise injecting or implanting a composition comprising the chondrocytes into a degenerative disc. |
| US07879598B2 |
Multianalyte determination system and methods
The invention relates to embodiments of an optical system for luminescence determination, comprising two or more excitation light sources, a sensor platform and an optical component with several discrete facets for beam deflection towards the sensor platform. Further subjects of the invention are methods for luminescence determination with an optical system according to the invention and analytical systems, as well as the use of these methods for quantitative affinity sensing and for various other applications. The aim of the present invention is to provide optical and analytical measuring devices for highly sensitive detection of one or more analytes, using a multitude of measurement areas on a common carrier. |
| US07879596B2 |
Method and apparatus for assay based on light diffraction
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element. In another aspect the diffractive optic element is used as a master stamp for producing patterns of analyte-specific receptors which give the signal enhancements. |
| US07879593B2 |
Fermentation systems, methods and apparatus
The present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and applications for treating wastewater, and more particularly to biological processes for removing pollutants from wastewater. This invention further relates to apparatus and methods for growing microbes on-site at a wastewater treatment facility, and for economically inoculating sufficient microbes to solve various treatment problems rapidly |
| US07879590B2 |
Method to engineer MAPK signaling responses using synthetic scaffold interactions and scaffold-mediated feedback loops
Synthetic scaffold interactions and scaffold-mediated feedback loops are used to engineer MAPK signaling responses in cells. |
| US07879589B2 |
Micro-electron acceptor phosphorus accumulating organisms
The present invention is directed to a substantially odorless biologically mediated treatment process for solid and liquid organic wastes. The present invention also provides for a novel nutrient rich humus material produced from the biologically mediated treatment process. The bioconversion process of the present invention results from low electron acceptor concentrations and high quantities of microorganisms in a diverse microbial community. |
| US07879586B2 |
Gene encoding methylated catechin synthase
A gene encoding a methylated catechin synthase that can effectively synthesize methylated catechins having high antiallergic activity.The gene encoding a methylated catechin synthase contains at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 and 5. |
| US07879583B2 |
Process for producing L-glutamic acid
L-glutamic acid is produced by culturing a microorganism in a liquid medium containing L-glutamic acid at a saturation concentration, wherein the microorganism can metabolize a carbon source at a specific pH, and also has an ability to accumulate L-glutamic acid in the medium in an amount which exceeds the saturation concentration of L-glutamic acid, wherein the pH of the medium is controlled so that L-glutamic acid precipitates. |
| US07879582B2 |
Method for the recombination of genetic elements
A method for the recombination of a gene is disclosed. The method involves the design of unpaired forward and reverse primers having homology to the 5′ end of one template and to the 3′ end of another template. Short primer extension periods results in a recombined template having paired 5′ and 3′ ends that can then be amplified. The amplified sample is devoid of any parental template. |
| US07879577B2 |
Modified polypeptides stabilized in a desired conformation and methods for producing same
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a protein in a desired conformation by introducing at least one disulfide bond into the polypeptide. Computational design is used to identify positions where cysteine residues can be introduced to form a disulfide bond in only one protein conformation, and therefore lock the protein in a given conformation. Accordingly, antibody and small molecule therapeutics are selected that are specific for the desired conformation. The invention also provides modified integrin I-domain polypeptides that are stabilized in a desired conformation. The invention further provides screening assays and therapeutic methods utilizing the modified integrin I-domains of the invention. |
| US07879572B2 |
Regulation of F1-ATPase beta subunit cellular location
It has been discovered that the ability of analogues to affect binding of a labeled β-casomorphin (an enterostatin antagonist) to recombinant rat F1-ATPase β-subunit was closely correlated with their enterostatin-like biological activity. Using immunohistochemistry and western blots, the presence of the F1-ATPase β-subunit was demonstrated in plasma membranes of liver, pancreas and amygdala. The effects of enterostatin on the intracellular localization of the proteins were studied using deconvolution or confocal microscopy. Enterostatin did not alter the location of F1-ATPase a-subunit-RFP but induced movement of the F1-ATPase β-subunit-GFP to the periphery of cells. These studies, showing the plasma membrane localization of the F1-ATPase β-subunit, the influence of enterostatin on the cellular location of the protein, the appropriate Kd value for binding, together with the previous correlation of binding effects with biological activity for a number of analogues, indicate that this protein is the enterostatin receptor. |
| US07879571B2 |
Population based assessments and means to rank the relative immunogenicity of proteins
The present invention provides means to assess immune response profiles of populations. In particular, the present invention provides means to qualitatively assess the immune response of human populations wherein the immune response directed against any protein of interest is analyzed. The present invention further provides means to rank proteins based on their relative immunogenicity. In addition, the present invention provides means to create proteins with reduced immunogenicity for use in various applications. |
| US07879569B2 |
Methods for diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
The present invention relates to methods and kits for diagnosing, ascertaining the clinical course a of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and ascertaining response to a therapy regimen of myelodysplastic syndrome. Specifically the invention provides method and kits useful in the diagnosis and determination of clinical parameters associated with MDS based on surface markers unique to MDS. |
| US07879567B2 |
Method for stabilizing coenzyme and composition therefor
Disclosed is a sugar and/or a sugar alcohol as a substance for suppressing dephosphorylation reaction of a phosphorylated coenzyme. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing a phosphorylated coenzyme which is characterized by having at least a substance for suppressing dephosphorylation reaction of the phosphorylated coenzyme coexist with the phosphorylated coenzyme. |
| US07879564B2 |
Use of the receptor GPR86
We describe a method of identifying a molecule suitable for the treatment, prophylaxis or alleviation of a GPR86 associated disease, in particular inflammatory disease or pain, the method comprising determining whether a candidate molecule is an agonist or antagonist of GPR86 polypeptide, in which the GPR86 polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 7, a fragment thereof or a sequence which is at least 90% identical thereto. |
| US07879560B2 |
Nanotube structures having a surfactant bilayer inner wall coating
Nanotubes and nanotube array structures comprise (a) a nanotube having an inner wall portion; and (b) a bilayer coating formed on the inner wall portions, with the bilayer coating comprised of surfactants. A secondary compound such as a protein, peptide or nucleic acid may be associated with the bilayer coating. The structures are useful for, among other things, affinity purification, catalysis, and as biochips. |
| US07879549B2 |
Probe, probe set, probe-immobilized carrier, and genetic testing method
A nucleic acid probe for classification of pathogenic bacterial species is capable of collectively detecting bacterial strains of the same species and differentially detecting them from other bacterial species. Any one of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 78 to 80 and complementary or modified sequences thereof or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium. |
| US07879548B2 |
Detection of biomarkers for neuropsychiatric disorders
Systems and methods provide a comprehensive high-throughput approach toward the sequential identification, prioritization, verification, and validation of etiologic factors in neuropsychiatric disorders, some of which can also be utilized as biomarkers for these illnesses. The systems and methods determine patterns of gene expression in various tissues from various samples under various experimental and non-experimental conditions, and uses the differences and similarities between the gene expression profiles observed under these conditions to delineate distinct gene expression profiles of risk and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. |