| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07916494B1 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a high-speed differential signal control chip, first to fourth coupling capacitor pads, first and second connector pads, first and second inductor pads, a number of transmission lines, a power pin, two sharing pads, and two selection pads. Two coupling capacitors can selectively connect the first and second coupling capacitor pads and the two sharing pads or between the third and fourth coupling capacitor pads and the two sharing pads, respectively. Two inductors can connect the first and second inductor pads and the two selection pads respectively, and the first and second inductor pads and the two selection pads can be void. |
| US07916492B1 |
Multilayered printed circuit board
The present invention is to provide a multilayered printed circuit board free from cracks attributed to thermal expansion difference between a solder resist layer and another part and a multilayered printed circuit board of the present invention comprises a conductor circuit and a resin insulating layer serially formed on a substrate in an alternate fashion and in repetition and a solder resist layer formed as an outermost layer, and the solder resist layer contains an inorganic filler. |
| US07916491B2 |
Electronic control unit with expanded blocks
An electronic control unit includes: a printed circuit board, which supports an electric circuit, a plurality of electronic components electrically connected to the electric circuit, and at least one connector electrically connected to the electrical circuit. A housing accommodates therein the printed circuit board and comprises a base which supports the printed circuit board and a lid which closes over the base. At least one deformable, elastic, expanded blocking block is fixed to an internal surface of the lid near at least one electronic component, has sufficient thickness to vertically interfere with the first electronic component to be compressed between the lid and the first electronic component. It presents a larger area than the first electronic component to laterally encompass the first electronic component. |
| US07916490B2 |
Electronic device enclosure
The invention related to an electronic device enclosure that includes a chassis and a cover. The chassis includes a bottom wall, an opening and a circuit board mounted on the bottom wall. The cover is mounted on the chassis and is adapted to cover the opening of the chassis. A shock absorber is mounted on the cover and is resiliently resisted on the circuit board. |
| US07916489B2 |
Mounting structure
According to an aspect of the present invention, a mounting structure includes a housing, an electronic component mounted at the housing, a pin-shaped terminal arranged upright at the housing, a circuit board having a mounting through-hole into which the in-shaped terminal is inserted, and a mounting support member positioned between the housing and the circuit board and fixed to the housing with the circuit board. In the mounting structure, the mounting support member includes a through-hole for positioning the pin-shaped terminal and an inclined guiding surface formed continuously with the through-hole for guiding a distal end of the pin-shaped terminal into the through-hole. |
| US07916486B2 |
Circuit board, connection structure, and apparatus
A circuit board is connected to a connector including a connection port and contact portions located at upper and lower positions of the connection port. The contact portions face each other in the vertical direction, and each contact portion is connected electrically to the opposite contact portion. The circuit board includes a base substrate, a first wiring layer, and a second wiring layer. First terminals connected to the first wiring layer are provided on one principal surface of the base substrate, and second terminals connected to the second wiring layer are provided on the other principal surface. The first terminals and the second terminals come into contact with the contact portions and are arranged so as not to overlap each other in the vertical direction. |
| US07916484B2 |
Heat sink having enhanced heat dissipation capacity
A heat sink includes a metallic heat conducting layer, a non-metallic heatsink layer combined with the metallic heat conducting layer and having a porous structure, and a hollow receiving space defined between the metallic heat conducting layer and the non-metallic heatsink layer. Thus, the heat produced by a heat source is conducted quickly and distributed evenly on the metallic heat conducting layer to form an evenly heat conducting effect, while the hollow receiving space has a heat convection effect to quickly transfer the heat on the metallic heat conducting layer to the non-metallic heatsink layer which produces a heatsink effect to dissipate the heat so that the heat is dissipated quickly by provision of the metallic heat conducting layer, the hollow receiving space and the non-metallic heatsink layer. |
| US07916475B2 |
Electronic device having movable display and sliding apparatus thereof
An electronic device includes a main body, a pivoting member pivotably mounted to the main body, a display, a sliding piece fixed to the inner surface of the display and capable of sliding relative to the pivoting member, and a resilient member positioned at one side of the sliding piece opposite to the pivoting member for driving the sliding piece to slide relative to the pivoting member. |
| US07916474B2 |
Electronic device with selectable battery connection structure
An electronic device includes a back cover, a mounting frame fixed to inner surface of the back cover, a battery connector, a sliding member and a driving member. The battery connector is fixed to the sliding member and is configured for connecting to a battery of the electronic device. The mounting frame includes a guide portion. The driving member driving member is connected to the back cover 20 and externally accessible and is capable of rotating in response to user operation; and sliding member is configured for moving only along the guide portion; when the driving member is rotated, the driving member drives the sliding member to move and then establish or discontinue the connection between the battery connector and the battery. |
| US07916472B1 |
Cooling system for a data processing unit
A data processing unit includes a chassis configured to contain a line card. The chassis defines, at least in part, a portion of a first flow pathway and a portion of a second flow pathway. The chassis is configured such that a first portion of a gas can flow within the first flow pathway between an intake region and the first end portion of the line card such that the first portion of the gas flows across a first end portion of the line card in a first direction. The chassis is configured such that a second portion of the gas can flow within the second flow pathway between the intake region and a second end portion of the line card such that the second portion of the gas flows across the second end portion of the line card in a second direction opposite the first direction. |
| US07916467B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for docking a portable electronic device that has a planar like configuration and that operates in multiple orientations
A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a portable electronic device capable of operating in multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. The docking system also includes a docking station configured to mechanically accept and operatively interface with the portable electronic device in any of its multiple orientations including vertical and horizontal. |
| US07916464B2 |
Fixture mechanism
A fixture mechanism is adapted to secure a computer hardware device onto a base plate, and includes a first limiting member, a second limiting member, a positioning mechanism, and an interfering member provided on the computer hardware device. The first limiting member is adapted to be secured onto the base plate, and includes an upright wall provided with a slot. The second limiting member is adapted to be disposed on the base plate, is movable relative to the first limiting member between locking and released positions, and is provided with a limiting groove that cooperates with the slot. When the second limiting member is at the released position, the slot is communicated with the limiting groove to permit free sliding movement of the interfering member along the slot. When the second limiting member is at the locking position, the slot is partly communicated with the limiting groove to thereby limit the interfering member. |
| US07916462B2 |
Portable computer with a rotary positioning structure
A portable computer with a rotary positioning structure is disclosed, which includes a first body, a second body, a shaft including a first part disposed on the first body and a second part disposed on the second body, a seat disposed to the first body, and a button. The second body is rotatable with the second part relative to the first part in a rotary path. The button is movable on the seat between a first position where the button is engaged into the rotary path to prohibit the second body from rotation, and a second position where the button is out of the rotary path for allowing rotation of the second body. |
| US07916461B2 |
Electronic device with rotatable keyboard
An electronic device with a rotatable keyboard is provided. The electronic device includes a casing defining a plurality of button holes, and a pressable plate having a plurality of transparent pressable protrusions. Each of the pressable protrusions exposes itself through a corresponding button hole of the casing for a user to press the pressable protrusions to input commands to the electronic device. The electronic device further includes at least one rotatable member mounted in the base. A plurality of touch points are arranged on each surfaces of the rotatable member. The electronic device further includes a transmission mechanism and a knob. The knob is for driving the transmission mechanism, and the transmission mechanism is for rotating the rotatable member to make one surface of the at least one rotatable member face the pressable plate and the touch points on the surface being touchable by the user. |
| US07916456B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor having carbon layer, containing carbon particles and additive, on solid electrolyte layer, and method of manufacturing the same
A carbon layer is formed on a solid electrolyte layer of the solid electrolytic capacitor, and a conductor layer connected to a cathode terminal is further disposed thereon. The carbon layer contains carbon particles, and a first additive or a second additive. The first additive is formed from at least one of those selected from the group consisting of hydrated silica and silicate. The second additive is formed from at least one of those selected from the group consisting of a condensation product of an aromatic sulfonic acid with formaldehyde, a condensation product of an aromatic sulfonate with formaldehyde, polystyrene sulfonic acid, and polystyrene sulfonate. |
| US07916450B2 |
Ceramic slurry composition, method for producing thin green sheet by extrusion, and electronic device fabricated using the green sheet
A ceramic slurry composition includes 20˜50 wt. % of a ceramic powder, 2˜10 wt. % of a polymer having average molecular weight of 400,000 or more, 0.1˜2 wt. % of a polymer having hydrogen bond-forming functional groups, and 40˜75 wt. % of a solvent. If necessary, the ceramic slurry composition further includes 1˜5 wt. % of a polymer having weight average molecular weight of 400,000 or less. |
| US07916445B2 |
Ion generating apparatus
An ion generating apparatus includes an ion generating element having a positive ion discharger for generating positive ions, and a negative ion discharger for generating negative ions. The positive ion discharger and the negative ion discharger are arranged separately from and independently of each other on a base member with a distance securing insulation between the positive and negative dischargers. The ion generating apparatus also includes a blower for releasing the ions generated by the positive and negative ion dischargers into air and a voltage application circuit. The blower blows wind in a direction parallel to a surface of the base member. |
| US07916444B2 |
Arrangement for energy conditioning
Circuit arrangement embodiments that use relative groupings of energy pathways that include shielding circuit arrangements that can sustain and condition electrically complementary energy confluences. |
| US07916441B2 |
Device for protecting electronic circuits against faults
A protection device for protecting an electronic circuit against a fault is described. The electronic circuit includes an output stage for driving a load and a driving circuit for driving the output stage. The driving circuit is configured to produce a drive signal in response to at least one input signal. The protection device includes a gating circuit and control means. The gating circuit has a first input configured to receive the drive signal, a second input configured to receive a control signal, and an output configured to activate and deactivate the output stage based on the drive signal and control signal. The control means produce the control signal in response to a detection signal representative of detection of the fault either of the load or of the output stage. |
| US07916440B2 |
Power interface circuit and electronic device using the same
An electronic device includes an integrated circuit, a power interface, and an interface circuit connected between the integrated circuit and the power interface for protecting the integrated circuit from being damaged by electrostatic discharge. The interface circuit includes a current limit unit connected between the power interface and the integrated circuit for limiting an electrostatic discharge current and an electrostatic protection unit connected to a common node of the power interface and the current limit unit for clamping a voltage of the common node to a predetermined value. A related integrated circuit is also provided. |
| US07916436B2 |
Tunneling magnetic sensor including platinum layer and method for producing the same
A tunneling magnetic sensor includes a platinum layer between a pinned magnetic layer and an insulating barrier layer. The platinum layer can probably vary the barrier height (potential height) and barrier width (potential width) of the insulating barrier layer to reduce the absolute value of VCR, thus providing higher operating stability than known tunneling magnetic sensors. In addition, the insulating barrier layer can achieve increased flatness at its bottom interface (where the insulating barrier layer starts to be formed). The tunneling magnetic sensor can therefore provide a higher rate of resistance change (ΔR/R) at low RA than known tunneling magnetic sensors. |
| US07916432B2 |
Thin-film patterning method for magnetoresistive device
The thin-film patterning method for a magnetoresistive device comprises forming a functional layer on a substrate; forming a first mask layer above the functional layer; forming a patterned resist on the first mask layer; etching the first mask layer by using the resist; removing the resist; forming a second mask layer by atomic layer deposition, the second mask layer covering a step defined by an edge of the first mask layer; dry-etching the second mask layer in a thickness direction of the substrate so as to leave the second mask layer on a side face of the step; removing the first mask layer so as to expose the functional layer under the first mask; and dry-etching the functional layer by using the second mask layer. |
| US07916429B2 |
Magnetic field detecting element having thin stack with a plurality of free layers and thick bias magnetic layer
A magnetic field detecting element comprising: a stack including an upper and magnetic layer, a lower magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched therebetween, an upper and lower shield electrode layer provided in a manner that they sandwich said stack therebetween in a direction of stacking of the stack, wherein the upper and lower shield electrode layer supply sense current in the direction of stacking and magnetically shield the stack; a bias magnetic layer provided on a surface of the stack, the surface being opposite to an air bearing surface of said stack, and insulating films provided on both sides of the stack with regard to a track width direction thereof. The bias magnetic layer has a larger thickness than the stack, and the upper shield electrode layer and/or said lower shield electrode layer includes an auxiliary shield layer which fills a stepped portion formed by the stack and bias magnetic layer. |
| US07916427B1 |
Electromagnetic heads, flexures, gimbals and actuators formed on and from a wafer substrate
Devices for reading or writing electromagnetic information include a wafer substrate piece disposed between an electromagnetic transducer and an electrostrictive or piezoelectric actuator. The substrate piece is shaped as a rigid body adjoining the transducer and as a flexible element connecting the body and the actuator. To fabricate, at least one electrostrictive layer and many transducers are formed on opposite sides of a wafer that is then cut into rows containing plural transducers. The rows are processed from directions generally normal to the wafer surface upon which the transducers were formed, by removing material to form a head, flexures and a media-facing surface on the head. Conductive leads are formed on a back surface of flexures connecting the transducer with drive electronics. The flexures are aligned with forces arising from interaction with the media surface and from seeking various tracks, reducing torque and dynamic instabilities and increasing actuator access time. |
| US07916426B2 |
Head with an air bearing surface having left and right leading pressurizing steps, each with short and long regions
A head has an air bearing surface with left and right leading pressurizing steps. The left and right leading pressurizing steps are each partially surrounded by left and right leading pads, respectively. The left leading pressurizing step includes a left short region that extends for a first distance (measured parallel to the slider longitudinal axis) from the leading face of the slider to the left leading pad. The left leading pressurizing step also includes a left long region that extends for a second distance (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis) from the leading face to the left leading pad. The second distance is at least 25% greater than the first distance. The left short region is disposed closer to the left lateral face than is the left long region. The left long region is disposed closer to the longitudinal axis than is the left short region. |
| US07916424B2 |
Magnetic head with wear resistant portion between an overcoat formed above a transducer of the magnetic head and a media-proximal surface of the magnetic head
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; at least one transducer formed above the substrate, the at least one transducer being selected from a group consisting of a reader and a writer; an overcoat portion formed above the at least one transducer; and a wear resistant portion formed between the overcoat portion and a media-proximal surface of the magnetic head, the wear resistant portion being formed of a material having a greater resistance to media wear than a material from which the overcoat portion is formed. |
| US07916423B2 |
High density array system with active movable media drawers
A storage system is provided having at least one storage unit, the storage unit including an electrical power source, a communication source and a cover that defines, at least in part an interior space. The storage system operates with a media blade that comprises a plurality of data storage elements, said media blade moveable in a drawer like motion though a cooperating opening in said cover. The storage system further includes a motion accommodating conductor apparatus connecting said plurality of data storage elements to said electrical power source and said communication source such that power from said electrical power source and communication from said communication source may be provided to said media blade without interruption when said media blade is moved in said drawer like motion outward from at least partially within said interior space. |
| US07916422B1 |
Disk drive rotating phase based servo bursts based on radial location of head
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by a plurality of servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts, and each servo burst comprises a predetermined phase. After positioning the head over one of the servo tracks, a servo burst in one of the servo sectors is read to generate a read signal, and a sine and cosine component are extracted from the read signal. At least one of the sine and cosine components is rotated by an angle based on a radial location of the head. A position error signal for the head is generated in response to the rotated component. |
| US07916419B2 |
Posture adjustment method of magnetic head
A posture adjustment method of a magnetic head is provided. A magnetic head initial position adjustment apparatus measures an initial position of the magnetic head and writes the initial position into an adjustment position information shared apparatus. A magnetic head posture adjustment apparatus reads from the adjustment position information shared apparatus, and information of an adjustment amount given to the magnetic head when the magnetic head is moved and adjusted to a final position is written in the adjustment position information shared apparatus. An adjustment position as a current position of the magnetic head is calculated using the initial position information and the adjustment amount information. |
| US07916414B2 |
Actuator for lens driving mechanism
An actuator includes: a rotary shaft allowed to axially and including a threaded portion at a protruding portion thereof and two idle regions disposed respectively at both ends of the threaded portion; a movable structure adapted to travel along the rotary shaft; a stopper means facing the end of the protruding portion of the rotary shaft and configured to restrict the axial movement of the movable structure located at the idle region; an open space disposed between the stopper means and the end of the rotary shaft and configured to allow the rotary shaft to axially move; an urging means for urging the movable structure toward the motor; and a recovery means for urging the movable structure toward the threaded portion by a magnetic thrust force exerted by cutting off power supply to the motor when the movable structure is in contact with the stopper means. |
| US07916406B2 |
Magnifier with slidable cover
A magnifying assembly, the magnifying assembly comprising a housing comprising a frame to which a magnifying lens is secured; and a battery compartment; a cover assembly slidable along the housing; wherein the cover is slidable relative to the housing in a first direction so as to cover at least part of the magnifying lens and slidable relative to the housing in a second direction so as to expose the magnifying lens; and wherein the distance between the battery compartment relative to the magnifying lens remains the same regardless of whether the cover slides relative to the housing in the first direction so as to cover at least part of the magnifying lens or slides relative to the housing in the second direction so as to expose the magnifying lens. |
| US07916401B2 |
Optical lens system for taking image
An optical lens system for taking image comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: an aperture stop; a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a plastic second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface, a convex image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface; a plastic third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a concave image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface. The number of the lens elements with refractive power being limited to three. Focal lengths of the optical lens system, the first lens element, the second lens element and the third lens element are f, f1, f2, f3 respectively; Abbe numbers of the first and second lens elements are V1, V2 respectively, an on-axis distance between second and third lens elements is T23, and they satisfy the relations: 0.8 |
| US07916399B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having the negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group having the positive refractive power are included in order from an object side, and variation of magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end is performed by monotonically moving the second lens group toward an image side and compensation of a fluctuation of an image surface resulting from the variation of magnification is performed by moving the third lens group. At least one positive lens having an optical material satisfying a conditional expressions is included in at least one of the first lens group G1 and the fourth lens group. |
| US07916398B2 |
High performance front objective for video metrological system
This high performance front objective lens system intended primarily for use with a video inspection apparatus has a first lens set in the form of a doublet, with a second lens set intermediate the first lens set and the imaging plane. The second lens set includes a doublet and an adjacent lens. The overall system has an effective focal length of 50 mm, a front focal length of 38.75 mm, and a numerical aperture greater than 0.2. Further, the material of the doublets is chosen to have a small, gradual transition in index between the elements of the lens and the cement, minimizing back reflections and thereby eliminating the need for index matching coatings on the cemented surfaces of the doublets. Finally, the imaging plane of the system matches that of standard ring lights used with video inspection apparatus. |
| US07916397B2 |
Micro array lens using optical fiber
An optical fiber micro array lens is provided along with an associated fabrication method. The micro array lens is fabricated from a mesh of optical fibers. The mesh includes a first plurality of cylindrical optical fibers. Each fiber from the first plurality has a flat bottom surface and a hemicylindrical top surface. The top and bottom surfaces are aligned in parallel with a central fiber axis. The mesh also includes a second plurality of cylindrical optical fibers. Each fiber from the second plurality has a hemicylindrical bottom surface overlying and in contact with the top surfaces of the first plurality of optical fibers, and a flat top surface. The top and bottom surfaces are aligned in parallel with a central fiber axis. Each contact of the first and second plurality of optical fibers forms a lens assembly in a micro array of lenses. |
| US07916394B2 |
Diffractive optical element and optical system using the same
A diffractive optical element includes stacked first and second diffraction gratings made of different materials. The materials of the first and second diffraction gratings are glass. The first and second diffraction gratings have grating surfaces contacted to each other. The materials satisfy a predetermined condition when Tg2 and At2 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the first diffraction grating, and Tg3 and At3 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the second diffraction grating. |
| US07916393B2 |
Optical level control device, method for controlling same, and laser application device
The optical level control device independently controls the intensities of two beams having different wavelengths that are emitted from a laser oscillator, and the optical level control device includes a wavelength-dependent wavelength plate and a polarization beam splitter. The wavelength-dependent wavelength plate functions as a half-wave plate with respect to the first light wave and as a full-wave plate with respect to the second light wave. Only the rotation angle of the polarization beam splitter about the optical axis is adjusted to set the intensity of the second light wave transmitted rectilinearly through the polarization beam splitter. The polarization beam splitter is then fixed at the adjusted angle, and the rotation angle of the wavelength plate about the optical axis is adjusted to set the intensity of the first light wave. |
| US07916389B2 |
Polarizer and manufacturing method thereof
A polarizer includes including a translucent substrate a diffraction grating which is formed on the translucent substrate and which has a plurality of convex portions that are aligned so as to have a frequency which is equal to or less than a wavelength of light to be used, and in which each of the plurality of convex portions includes an alternating layer formed of high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers, and an intermediate-refractive-index region which is formed at a position between the convex portions that are adjacent to each other in the diffraction grating, so as to have a portion buried in the translucent substrate and which has a refractive index which is higher than a refractive index of the low-refractive-index layer and which is lower than a refractive index of the high-refractive-index layer. |
| US07916388B2 |
Drive laser for EUV light source
A device is described herein which may comprise an oscillator having an oscillator cavity length, Lo, and defining an oscillator path; and a multi-pass optical amplifier coupled with the oscillator to establish a combined optical cavity including the oscillator path, the combined cavity having a length, Lcombined, where Lcombined=(N+x)*Lo, where “N” is an integer and “x” is a number between 0.4 and 0.6. |
| US07916387B2 |
Methods and apparatus for swept-source optical coherence tomography
In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a laser ring is chosen to provide low polarization-dependent gain (PDG) and a booster semiconductor optical amplifier, outside of the ring, is chosen to provide high polarization-dependent gain. The use of a semiconductor optical amplifier with low polarization-dependent gain nearly eliminates variations in the polarization state of the light at the output of the laser, but does not eliminate the intra-sweep variations in the polarization state at the output of the laser, which can degrade the performance of the SS-OCT system. |
| US07916383B2 |
Wavelength conversion device
A wavelength conversion device includes a supporting body, a wavelength conversion substrate of a Z-plate of a ferroelectric single crystal with a periodic domain inversion structure formed therein and having a thickness “T” of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less, a buffer layer provided on a bottom face of the wavelength conversion substrate, and an organic resin adhesive layer adhering the supporting body and buffer layer with a thickness of 0.6 μm or more and 2.0 μm or less. |
| US07916382B2 |
Scratch and MAR resistant PDLC modulator
A PDLC modulator is fabricated using at least one of a selection of specially-formulated UV curable organic hard coatings as a protective layer on the exposed side of polyester (Mylar) film. The hard coatings of various related types show good adhesion on a polyester film substrate, superior hardness and toughness, and have a slippery top surface, which minimizes unnecessary wear. The coating as applied on the modulator surface significantly reduces scratch damage on modulators caused by unexpected particles on the panels under test. In addition, the slip surface will reduce stickiness to particles and therefore also reduce the possibility of panel damage. |
| US07916376B2 |
Projection system and optical actuator thereof
An optical actuator includes a base, a carrier, a reflecting optical element, a connecting structure and an actuating component. The reflecting optical element is disposed at a first side of the carrier. The connecting structure has a first connecting portion located at the central region thereof and two second connecting portions located at two opposite sides thereof. The connecting portions connect the base to the second side of the carrier. The actuating component is disposed on the base and drives the carrier rotating along an axial line. The axial line is substantially perpendicular to the connecting structure. A projection system including the optical actuator is also disclosed. |
| US07916371B2 |
Actuator for holographic information storing apparatus
An actuator to drive a mirror of a holographic information storing apparatus, the actuator including: piezoelectric cells; support members mounted on the piezoelectric cells; a hinge member mounted on the support member; and a post mounted on the hinge member, to support the mirror. The hinge member includes a bar disposed parallel to a rotation axis of the mirror, and a curved portion that extends from the bar. |
| US07916364B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device includes a clock generator, an image sensor, a plurality of switches having a first switch and a second switch, a reader, a first controller, and a second controller. The clock generator generates a first clock signal having a first cycle and a second clock signal having a second cycle shorter than the first cycle. The image sensor detects an image formed on a document to generate an image signal. The image signal is inputted into the first switch and the second switch by rotation. The first switch and the second switch is capable of switching to simultaneously or alternately output the image signal in synchronization with the first clock. The reader reads the image signal outputted from the first switch and the second switch. The first controller controls the first switch to output the image signal to the reader during a first period and to control the second switch to output the image signal to the reader during a second period. The second controller controls the clock generator to generate the first clock signal during the first period and the second period and to generate the second clock signal during a third period that is between the first period and the second period and that is longer than a predetermined period mT and shorter than (k×T1) The T1 is the first cycle. The k is a minimum integer that satisfies mT<(k×T1). |
| US07916359B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a reciprocal movement unit that reciprocally moves a carriage; a position sensor that detects a location of the carriage; a conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium in a sub-scan direction; an edge detection sensor that detects an edge of the recording medium; a both edge detection unit that detects positions of both edges of the recording medium from positions of the carriage when the edge detection sensor detects each edge of the recording medium; a detection start position determination unit that determines a detection start position; a print control unit that controls the recording head to record data on the recording medium; and a re-detection unit that moves the carriage to the detection start position during printing and that re-detects the edge of the recording medium from the detection start position using the edge detection sensor. |
| US07916355B2 |
Combined flexographic and intaglio printing press and operating system therefor
The invention encompasses the combination of two printing technologies into a single web fed printing press 10, particularly the combination of flexographic and intaglio printing. The present web fed printing press 10 comprises at least one flexographic printing module 14 equipped to apply variable amounts of motion and tension to a web of sheet material 11; at least one intaglio printing module 17 equipped to apply variable amounts of motion and tension to the web of sheet material 11; and means for controlling the amounts of motion and tension applied by the flexographic printing module or modules 14 and by the intaglio printing module or modules 17 to the web of sheet material 11. Preferably, the means for controlling the amounts of motion and tension applied to the web of sheet material 11 comprises a host processor 40 and first and second motion control processors 44, 45. |
| US07916352B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and recording medium
An original image is scanned for respective pixels to determine attributes indicating features for respective pixels of the scanned document. Pixel values included in an M×M area (where M is a natural number) including a pixel of interest are weighted, the pixel value of the pixel of interest is changed based on the weighted pixel values, and smoothing processing is applied to pixels included in that area. Upon applying the smoothing processing, a size of a filtering area used for the smoothing processing is reduced to a size of an N×N area (where N is a natural number, with M>N) including the pixel of interest according to the determined attributes. |
| US07916342B2 |
Print control apparatus and method
This invention is targeted to realize preview displaying by using a system spooler. In the print system according to this invention, when an application program designates printing of a document, document data is spooled into EMF spool file 4. At the same time, previewer 3 is started to transmit a printing image generation request to print processor 5. The print processor 5 reads the data subjected to preview displaying out of the EMF spool file 4, have printer graphic driver 6 generate image data that has an appropriate display size, and informs the name of the image data file to the previewer 8, which then displays the image data. |
| US07916341B2 |
Generating an Interim Connection Space for spectral data
Generation of an Interim Connection Space for spectral data in a full spectral space is provided. A set of linear maps is accessed, each linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the full spectral space to a colorimetric space, and spectral measurement data is accessed. The linear maps can for example be determined by a set of illuminants. The full spectral space is decomposed into a first subspace that minimizes a loss of a spectral component in the spectral measurement data under a projection along a second subspace onto the first subspace. The second subspace is a null subspace of the set of linear maps. The Interim Connection Space is generated based on the first subspace. The Interim Connection Space can include, for example, a linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the Interim Connection Space to the full spectral space, and a linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the full spectral space to the Interim Connection Space. |
| US07916340B2 |
Print system, an image supply apparatus and control methods thereof
A print system in which an image supply apparatus and a print apparatus directly communicate with each other, and the print apparatus prints an image based on image data supplied from the image supply apparatus, the image supply apparatus comprises a designating unit adapted to designate a print image from image data which is stored in a storage unit; a setting unit adapted to set a printing condition including a trimming range and a print size of the print image; a modifying unit adapted to resize image data of the print image based on the printing condition set by the setting unit; and a transferring unit adapted to transfer the image data of the print image resized by the modifying unit, and information of the trimming range to the print apparatus, the print apparatus prints an image based on the image data and the information of the trimming range. |
| US07916336B2 |
Printer for produce cooling and storage apparatus
A printer for use in an apparatus for storing and cooling produce is provided. The printer has a printer module, collector and page binder. The printer module is provided in a compartment door of the apparatus and has a media store storing pages of media in a vertically disposed manner and a pagewidth printhead arranged vertically beneath the media store for printing on the vertically disposed pages of media as they pass the printhead from the media store. The collector is provided in another compartment door of the apparatus at an interface of the compartment doors to receive the vertically disposed printed pages and hold the printed pages in the vertically disposed manner. The page binder is positioned between the printer module and collector for binding multiple printed pages by applying adhesive to each printed page as it passes from the printhead without interrupting their movement past the printhead. |
| US07916334B2 |
Print managing apparatus, print managing method, and computer program
A print processing result can be more certainly obtained while reducing a processing load of a printer. A print server forms a job tracing ID for a print job whose processing result is to be confirmed and transmits to a network printer. Thereafter, when the print job is formed in the network printer, the print server obtains information of the print job from the network printer. The job tracing ID has been allocated to the information of the print job. If it is decided based on the job tracing ID included in the information of the print job that the obtained information of the print job is not the information of the print job which is being traced, the print server determines that the print job which is being traced has been extinguished. The print server inquires the processing result of the extinguished print job from the network printer by using the job tracing ID. |
| US07916332B2 |
Document processing apparatus and a method for controlling a document processing apparatus
The present invention enables page-level or document-level print setup of an XPS document via a user interface. The print ticket of a page of interest is obtained by merging a job-level print ticket 1804, to which the page of interest belongs, a document-level print ticket 1805, to which the page of interest belongs, and a page-level print ticket 1806 of the page of interest. The obtained individual page print tickets are compared with the job-level print ticket and if there are differences, it is determined that this particular page has exception settings and the exception settings are saved and displayed. |
| US07916330B2 |
Driver selection for printer drawing conversion
An information processing apparatus which has a first drawing conversion unit which converts first drawing information generated by an application of a first type into first print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a first type, and a second drawing conversion unit which converts second drawing information generated by an application of a second type into second print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a second type, includes a determination unit which determines the type of application as an output source with respect to the printer driver as an output destination, a detection unit which detects printer drivers which match the type of application from installed printer drivers, and a display control unit which displays printer drivers on a display for selecting a printer driver as the output destination of the application. |
| US07916328B2 |
Image reading apparatus and computer program product
A recording unit records an operation log. A storing unit included in a temper-resistant chip stores therein a secret key unique to an image reading apparatus. An encrypting unit included in the temper-resistant chip encrypts recorded operation log with stored secret key. A transmitting unit transmits information including encrypted operation log to a server. |
| US07916324B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
Scheduling work is easily achieved without the necessity of an operator paying special attention to the throughput and the type of each printer and the idle time when each printer is available. An arrow is obtained when the operator performs a drag operation such as to increase the length in the vertical axis direction of an initial arrow. The length in the horizontal axis direction of the arrow becomes shorter in response to the above-mentioned drag operation. In this scheduling, all of the three available devices are used. Accordingly, the printing of the job is completed in a short printing time. Further, an arrow is obtained by a drag operation for increasing the length in the horizontal axis direction of the initial arrow. This scheduling represents that the job is executed by one device, for example, having a throughput A among the three available devices. |
| US07916321B2 |
Document processing apparatus and document processing method
A document processing apparatus reads document data and carries out a preflight check. In the preflight check, the content of the document is interpreted page by page to determine resources that are needed for output. Then, it is determined for each page whether the resources needed for output are available in a printing system. If a resource that is not available is needed, a warning is issued for the page. If the resources are available, intermediate data for a printed output is generated for the page. Then, a result of the preflight check is output. |
| US07916320B2 |
Image processing apparatus for adding different specific images to image data in color and black-and-white modes
An image processing apparatus for preventing unauthorized uses of image data by allowing the addition of a specific image in a black-and-white mode even when it is set that a specific image is added in a color mode. When a document is copied, a control section determines whether the apparatus is in a color mode or a black-and-white mode. When in a black-and-white mode, an adding condition determining section reads a set security level and a differential value and determines a security level lower than the one in a color mode. Based on the security level in a black-and-white mode, an adding condition of a specific image is determined. The specific image adding section adds a specific image different from the one in a color mode based on the adding condition. A black-and-white image added with the specific image is printed. |
| US07916315B2 |
Method and apparatus for executing load distributed printing
There is disclosed a system which efficiently and effectively executes printing even when an error occurs in a printing apparatus. An apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus which includes a plurality of print queues corresponding to a plurality of printing apparatuses, comprising registration means for registering, in the plurality of print queues, job information including information which can link to print data, and means for excluding, from schedule-up targets, job information except job information scheduled up first in accordance with a vacant state of the print queues, and when interruption of printing has occurred in a printing apparatus which has output a print job based on the job information scheduled up, setting the job information excluded from the schedule-up targets as a schedule-up target. |
| US07916309B2 |
Single-lens, single-aperture, single-sensor 3-D imaging device
A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens having a substantially oblong aperture, a sensor operable for capturing light transmitted from an object through the lens and the substantially oblong aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. The aperture may have an asymmetrical shape for distinguishing objects in front of versus in back of the focal plane. The aperture may also be rotatable, where the orientation of the observed pattern relative to the oblong aperture is varied with time thereby removing the ambiguity generated by image overlap. The disclosed device further comprises a light projection system configured to project a predetermined pattern onto a surface of the desired object thereby allowing for mapping of unmarked surfaces in three dimensions. |
| US07916308B2 |
Method and optical profiler
An optical profiler for an ultra-smooth surface, such as a magnetic recording disk, provides for a normally incident beam deflection against the target surface to be profiled. A linearly polarized laser light of a first polarization is focused on the target surface in a normally incident direction. The beam is reflected back along its original path from the focal point. Optics are provided that change the polarization of the reflected beam to a second polarization. A reflected beam, with a second polarization, is directed onto a position sensitive detector for evaluation. |
| US07916306B2 |
Optical device comprising a cantilever and method of fabrication and use thereof
The present invention provides an optical device, comprising an optical fiber and a cantilever that is arranged on an end of the optical fiber; The cantilever may be an integral part of the optical fiber, and may have a length that is substantially equal to a diameter of the optical fiber. Measurement means for measuring a displacement of the cantilever are connected to an opposite end of the, optical fiber. A method of measuring a displacement using the optical device comprises the steps of: —arranging measurement means, comprising a light source, on an opposite end of the optical fiber; —using the light source to send a beam of light into the optical fiber; —measuring the interference of light that is reflected on the end op the optical fiber and light that is reflected on the cantilever; and determining the displacement of the cantilever relative to an intermediate position dependent on the measured interference. |
| US07916297B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing a test object
A method of testing a test object, comprising the steps of arranging the test object at a deformable contact element of a holding device, wherein the contact element is at least partially deformed so that at least a partial area of the test object is in gap-free contact with at least a partial area of the contact element, and wherein for at least two contact points of the contact element, which are in contact with the partial area of the test object, upon through-radiation by means of electromagnetic radiation that is parallel to a predefined through-radiation direction, an optical path length of the electromagnetic radiation through the holding device and the test object is substantially identical; having the electromagnetic radiation radiate through the holding device and the test object in parallel to the predefined through-radiation direction detecting the electromagnetic radiation after through-radiation; and evaluating the detected electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07916292B2 |
Concave diffraction grating device, reflective dispersion device, and spectral device
A concave diffraction grating device, a reflective dispersion device, and a spectral device of the invention include a diffraction grating plane having an aspherical configuration, wherein the diffraction grating plane is symmetrical in a predetermined direction, and asymmetrical in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in such a manner that the curvature of one end portion of the diffraction grating plane in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction is gradually decreased, and the curvature of the other end portion thereof is gradually increased. The concave diffraction grating device, the reflective dispersion device, and the spectral device with the above arrangement have desirable slit image forming performance with respect to all the wavelengths in a visible region, and are suitable for mass-production. |
| US07916289B2 |
Apparatus for quantifying shear stress on a formulation comprising biomolecules
The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining the shear sensitivity of particles in solutions and methods of determining the respective shear velocities or the respective shear stress. |
| US07916286B2 |
Defect detection through image comparison using relative measures
Inspection of objects such as semiconductor wafers can include comparisons of shapes between inspection and reference images. As part of the inspection process, relative values may be assigned to pixels within each image based on comparison of such pixels to neighboring pixels. For instance, the pixels may be ranked by relative brightness in each image. Alternatively, directional vectors may be defined based on slopes between pixels and their neighbors. Various comparison metrics may be utilized to determine the degree of correlation between the relative values for pixels in the inspection image and corresponding pixels in the reference image. Relative values may be combined with conventional techniques as part of an inspection process. The inspection may be performed using an optical inspection tool that uses conventional techniques to identify defect candidates, with relative value analysis performed on areas containing defect candidates to confirm or deny the existence of a defect. |
| US07916284B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus, lithographic apparatus, lithographic processing cell and device manufacturing method
In a scatterometric method differential targets with different sensitivities to parameters of interest are printed in a calibration matrix and difference spectra obtained. principal component analysis is applied to the difference spectra to obtain a calibration function that is less sensitive to variations in the underlying structure than a calibration function obtained from spectra obtained from a single target. |
| US07916273B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle using a light from a light source, and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the reticle onto a substrate, the exposure apparatus exposing the substrate through a liquid that is supplied to a space between the substrate and a lens of the projection optical system closest to the substrate, a surface of the lens on which the light does not pass having a polished surface. |
| US07916272B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
This exposure system projects a pattern image onto a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid to expose the substrate, with a space between the projection optical system and the substrate filled with the liquid. The exposure system is provided with a vaporization preventing unit for preventing the vaporization of the liquid. |
| US07916270B2 |
Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system that has a first object field area and a second object field area different from the first object field area and that projects an image of a pattern onto a first image field and a second image field. The image of the pattern is formed in the first image field by exposure light via the first object field area, and the image of the pattern is formed in the second image field by exposure light via the second object field area. A first substrate is exposed with the image of the pattern formed in the first image field, and a second substrate is exposed with the image of the pattern formed in the second image field. |
| US07916265B2 |
Method of manufacturing a color liquid crystal panel
Within a reflective display section R, a part of a light that reaches a reflective electrode through a color filter exits to the outside through slits and a part of a light that reaches the reflective electrode through the slits exits to the outside through the color filter. In addition, a light reaching the reflective electrode through the color filter and exiting to the outside through the color filter, and a light having no opportunity to pass through the slits also can be observed. Therefore, a mean film thickness of color filter through which all lights pass during the time in which they travel the associated distance after they are inputted to the inside until they are outputted to the outside becomes nearly equal to that could be observed in the transmissive section T. |
| US07916262B2 |
Signal transmission assembly and display device applied with the same
A signal transmission assembly includes first and second substrates respectively having first and second electrodes, and a conductive layer disposed between the electrodes. The second electrode has a trench. The conductive layer includes an adhesive and conductive particles distributed therein. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode through the conductive layer, and a portion of the adhesive is filled into the trench. When the assembly is applied to a display device, the first electrode electrically connects a non-display area to a display area of a display panel. When the second electrode and a third electrode at two ends of the second substrate are electrically connected to the first electrode and a third substrate (e.g., a PCB), respectively, a signal may be transmitted from the third substrate to the display area through the second substrate, the second electrode and the first electrode to control the display. |
| US07916261B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can obviate cutting off of a peripheral region of the liquid crystal display device which is provided with an inspection circuit and can surely perform the inspection of an image display even when the peripheral region is narrowed. On a substrate of the liquid crystal display device, a pixel region which is comprised of a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of drain lines and a peripheral region which surrounds the pixel region are formed. A turn-on inspection terminal of the liquid crystal display device are formed on the peripheral region and a semiconductor chip for driving liquid crystal is formed on the inspection terminal. The semiconductor chip is electrically insulated from the inspection terminal. |
| US07916259B2 |
Display device
A display device according to the present invention contains a transparent display unit (18) and a reflective display unit (19) in one pixel. The reflective display unit (19) is provided with an insulating layer (8) constituting a multi-gap layer, and a pixel electrode (16) and a common electrode (17) set closer to a display surface than a reflective film (7) at least through the insulating layer. The reflective film (7) is provided on the same plane as the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and covered with the insulating layer (8), or provided in a lower layer than the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and overlapped with the insulating layer (8). |
| US07916257B2 |
TFT substrate and liquid crystal display device having the same comprising patterns disposed at different heights
An LCD device includes a first substrate having a first base substrate, patterns disposed at different heights with respect to the first base substrate, and an insulation layer formed on the first base substrate and the patterns. The insulation layer has raised portions corresponding to the patterns. A side of the raised portions forms an inclination angle of no more than about 45° when a height of the raised portions is more than about 3000 angstroms, the side of the raised portions forms an inclination angle of no more than about 50° when a height of the raised portions is in a range of about 2000 angstroms to about 3000 angstroms, and the side of the raised portions forms an inclination angle of no more than about 90° when a height of the raised portions is more than about 2000 angstroms. Therefore, light leakage may be minimized. |
| US07916256B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a first alignment layer formed on one substrate and a second alignment layer formed on the other substrate, and a plurality of pixels, each having four different alignment regions. The first alignment layer is treated to define two different pretilt directions for the liquid crystal molecules within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a first boundary defined between two regions in which the two different pretilt directions are defined, and said second alignment layer defines another two different pretilt directions within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a second boundary defined between two regions in which the another two different pretilt directions are defined. |
| US07916255B2 |
Cholesteric liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and method for its production
A liquid crystal device is provided, having one or several display segments, a first display substrate, a second display substrate, a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrate; and layer of conductive material disposed on the substrates. The conductive layers form electrodes for applying an electric field across the liquid crystal for switching the liquid crystal material between a first optical state and a second optical state different from the first optical state. Image features of the display are further defined by the inclusion of a layer of patterned non-conductive or passive dielectric material on at least one of the substrates, the patterned material forming a mask defining image elements of the display segments. |
| US07916253B2 |
In-plane switching liquid crystal display including viewing angle compensation film using +A-plate
Disclosed is an in-plane switching liquid crystal display. The in-plane switching liquid crystal display uses at least one A-plate and adjusts the optical axis direction and the retardation value of the A-plate, thereby improving the contrast characteristic at a front and at a predetermined inclination angle of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display while minimizing a color shift according to viewing angles in the black state. |
| US07916246B2 |
Color filtering device for improved brightness
A color filtering member for improving the brightness of a display device is presented. The color filtering member includes colored regions (e.g., regions with RBG color filters) and black-and-white regions for transmitting white light. The black-and-white regions may be colorless gaps between adjacent colored regions. Multiple planarizing layers may be deposited on the colored regions and the black-and-white regions to form a surface that is sufficiently even. The color filtering member may include an intercepting region that extends between neighboring colored regions. The position of the intercepting region is not centered between the two colored regions that it separates. Rather, the intercepting region is shifted in the direction of rubbing (in the direction of liquid crystal alignment) to more effectively cover the regions where light leakage occurs. This color filtering member may be combined with an array member and a liquid crystal layer to form a display device. |
| US07916243B2 |
Dual liquid crystal display device
A dual liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a first LCD panel displaying an image on a first surface; a second LCD panel formed on the same substrate to display an image on a second surface; a light source disposed at an adjacent side under the first LCD panel; a light guide disposed under the first and second LCD panels and including a first light guide block corresponding to the first LCD panel and having dot patterns formed in a first surface and a second light guide block corresponding to the second LCD panel and having taper-cascade grooves formed on a first surface; and a housing settling the first and second LCD panels, the light source and the light guide and having an opening to correspond to an image display surface of the second LCD panel. |
| US07916240B2 |
Backlight module with elastic buckling structures and liquid crystal display device using same
An exemplary backlight module (300) includes a frame (350) and a bottom plate (370). One of the frame and the bottom plate includes a plurality of elastically deformable buckling structures (358), and the other of the frame and the bottom plate includes a plurality of protrusions (204, 374) corresponding to the buckling structures. When the bottom plate is attached to the frame, the bottom plate and the frame are pressed together along a first axis, and the buckling structures elastically deform and then elastically rebound such that the buckling structures are engaged with the protrusions and the bottom plate is fixed to the frame. |
| US07916236B2 |
Display device and method of repairing the same including transmitting and reflecting regions and an opaque conductive film below a connecting portion
A display device has a pixel including a transmitting region to transmit light and a reflecting region to reflect external light. The display device includes: a transparent conductive film containing a first transparent conductive film forming a pixel electrode in the transmitting region, a second transparent conductive film provided as an upper layer of a reflecting electrode forming the reflecting region, and a connecting portion integrally formed with and connecting the first transparent conductive film and the second transparent conductive film; and a opaque conductive film provided as a lower layer of the transparent conductive film, and located below an area of the transparent conductive film including the connection portion. |
| US07916235B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure suitable for being disposed on a substrate includes a thin film transistor (TFT), a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a scan line and a data line. The TFT disposed on the substrate includes a gate, a source, a first drain and a second drain. A main TFT is formed by the gate, the source and the first drain. A sub-thin film transistor (sub-TFT) is formed by the gate, the first drain and the second drain. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first drain, and a portion of the first drain extends between the second pixel electrode and the substrate to form capacitor-coupling electrode. The second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second drain of the sub-TFT. The scan line is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the gate, and the data line is electrically connected to the source. |
| US07916231B2 |
Display device
A display device comprising a plurality of scan signal lines; a plurality of picture signal lines three-dimensionally intersecting the plurality of scan signal lines; and numerous TFT elements arranged in a matrix; and having a display panel in which each of the TFT elements has a gate connected to one of the plurality of scan signal lines, and a drain or source connected to one of the plurality of picture signal lines; wherein the TFT elements respectively differ in terms of channel width, channel length, or both, depending on a distance from a signal input terminal of the scan signal line to which the gate is connected and a distance from a signal input terminal of the picture signal line to which one of the drain and the source is connected. |
| US07916230B2 |
Thin film transistor-liquid crystal display having an insulating layer exposing portions of a gate island
A pixel unit of TFT-LCD array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof is disclosed. In the manufacturing method, besides a first insulating layer and a passivation layer, a second insulating layer is adopted to cover the gate island, and forms an opening on the gate island to expose the channel region, the source region and the drain region of the TFT. A gray tone mask and a photoresist lifting-off process are utilized to perform patterning, so that the TFT-LCD array substrate can be achieved with just three masks. |
| US07916229B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate; a data line crossing the gate line with a gate insulating film interposed between the gate line and the data line to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor at the crossing of the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a common electrode forming a horizontal electric field with the pixel electrode in the pixel region; a gate pad connected to the gate line; and a data pad connected to the data line, wherein the gate pad and the data pad includes a lower pad in the same layer as the gate line and made of the same material as the gate line, a lower contact hole through the gate insulating film to expose the lower pad, an upper pad in the same layer as the data line, made of the same material as the data line, and connected to the lower pad through the lower contact hole, and an upper contact hole through a passivation film protecting the thin film transistor to expose the upper pad, and a semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor overlaps with the gate electrode of the thin film transistor, and has a width smaller than that of a gate electrode of the thin film transistor. |
| US07916228B2 |
Method for repairing thin film transistor array by welding a top electrode to a common line
A thin film transistor array comprising a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of common lines, a plurality of top electrodes, a plurality of connection lines and a plurality of pixel electrodes is provided. Wherein, each thin film transistor is disposed in one of the pixel areas and driven through the corresponding scan line and data line. Each thin film transistor includes a gate, a source and a drain. The drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the corresponding top electrode by the corresponding connection line. Besides, the drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a portion of the connection line is not covered by the pixel electrode. |
| US07916222B2 |
Stereoscopic display device and driving method thereof
The stereoscopic display device includes a display unit including a first pixel group for displaying a first image and a second pixel group for displaying the second image, a barrier having transparent regions and opaque regions such that the first image and the second image are observed through the transparent regions at different points and a light source for supplying light to the display unit. The light source has the different brightness between the first mode and the second mode. |
| US07916221B2 |
Surface light source and liquid crystal display apparatus
A surface light source includes a light guide unit which allows two linear polarized lights having polarized planes perpendicular to each other to alternately exit from an exit surface in a direction substantially parallel with a normal line of the exit surface. A retardation element is arranged to face the exit surface. The retardation element has λ/2 retardation portions which give a phase difference of a ½ wavelength between ordinary light and abnormal light, and a plurality of non-retardation portions having substantially no phase difference alternately formed in a direction along the exit surface. A lens array is provided to face the light guide unit. The lens array allows light which has been transmitted through a λ/2 retardation portion to exit in a first inclined exiting direction, and allows light which has been transmitted through a non-retardation portion to exit in a second inclined exiting direction. |
| US07916218B2 |
Image display apparatus and method
An image display apparatus and method are provided. The image display apparatus includes an external light detection module which detects an intensity of external illumination; a storage module which stores a plurality of light emitting unit control values; and a control module which selectively performs, according to a result of a determination, a lightness compensation operation for compensating a lightness of a light emitting unit and a visibility adjustment operation for adjusting the visibility of the original input image. The method includes detecting an intensity of external illumination; determining whether a visibility of an original input image can be ensured according to an input light emitting control value and the detected external illumination intensity; and selectively performing, according to the determination, a lightness compensation operation for compensating a lightness of a light emitting unit and a visibility adjustment operation for adjusting the visibility of the original input image. |
| US07916214B2 |
Picture display system for adjusting image quality of a picture signal having higher number of scanning lines
A picture display technique carries out an adjustment of image quality of an inputted picture signal in response to a type of the inputted picture signal, e.g., a type of a first picture signal into which a second picture signal, having fewer scanning lines than that of the first picture signal, is converted, and an original type of the first picture signal, and then displays a picture of an adjusted picture signal on a display device. Further, the adjustment of the picture quality may include at least one of hue correction of the inputted picture signal in a certain hue range and chroma correction of the inputted picture signal in a certain chroma range. The adjustment of the picture quality may also include a contour correction of the inputted picture signal. |
| US07916212B2 |
Image sensor package and camera module utilizing the same
An image sensor package includes an image sensor chip, a sidewall, an encapsulation glass, conductive material, and a plurality of solder balls. The image sensor chip comprises a photosensitive area, a non-photosensitive area surrounding the photosensitive area, and a plurality of bonding pads formed on the non-photosensitive area. The sidewall is located on the non-photosensitive are and defines a plurality of first through holes aligned with and corresponding to the bonding pads. The encapsulation glass is located on the sidewall. A plurality of solder balls are formed on the encapsulation glass aligned with the bonding pads, respectively. The encapsulation glass defines a plurality of second through holes each corresponding to a bonding pad and a corresponding solder ball. The image sensor package further comprises a conductive material through which the first and second through holes penetrate. |
| US07916205B2 |
Pickup device driving apparatus and photographing device using the same
A pickup device driving apparatus includes: a movable part which moves a pickup device in a first direction while a direction of a pickup surface is held; a linear actuator which moves an axis in a second direction different from the first direction; a direction changing part which has a bearing part provided in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, rotates on the bearing part, and changes a bias force applied in the second direction by the axis of the linear actuator to a bias force applied in the first direction, and applies the bias force to the movable part; and a weight part which is provided in the direction changing part to cancel a rotation moment of the bearing part generated in the direction changing part by the inclination of the movable part. |
| US07916203B2 |
Image capture apparatus and prism assembly and method of manufacturing the same
An image capture apparatus is provided. The image capture apparatus includes a prism that separates light incident through a lens into at least two color components of light to be output and an image capture device that converts light separated by and output from the prism into a captured image signal. The image capture apparatus includes a fixing plate attached to the image capture device mounted on a substrate. In addition, the image capture apparatus includes a plurality of fixing members for fixing an unattached surface of the fixing plate, which is unattached to the image capture device, on a side surface of the prism through an adhesive. |
| US07916202B2 |
Image reproduction using a specific color space
If an image reproducing apparatus has a device-dependent color space conversion function that converts the color space of processing target image data to a device-dependent color space using a particular color space, (i) reproduction image data is generated by carrying out basic color space conversion to image data for which the color space specified by color space identification information is the standard color space, and (ii) reproduction image data is generated by carrying out device-dependent color space conversion to image data for which the specified color space is the particular color space. If the image reproducing apparatus does not have the device-dependent color conversion function, (i) reproduction image data is generated by carrying out basic color space conversion to image data for which the specified color space is the standard color space, but (ii) a notification indicating that the specified color space is not the standard color space is output where the specified color space is the particular color space. |
| US07916201B2 |
Mobile device, method and computer program product for displaying images on a display screen
A mobile device, method and computer program product are provided for displaying a predefined subset of images captured on a display screen of a mobile device, thus eliminating the need to access a gallery, or image storage, application installed on the mobile device and, in some instances, open the mobile device, in order to view recently captured images. In particular, a user is able to define the subset of the images to be displayed as, for example, all images taken within the last day, week, month or even year, or all images taken at a certain location or at the location corresponding with the most recently captured image. Depending upon how the user has defined the subset, the mobile device will automatically update the subset of images displayed based upon the occurrence of various events (e.g., where the oldest picture of the subset was taken more than one day ago). |
| US07916200B2 |
Image sensor with corner cuts
The invention relates to image sensors using a chip with cut corners. The sensor comprises a chip with cut corners comprising a matrix (10) of horizontal lines and vertical columns of photosensitive members, the matrix having a generally rectangular shape of horizontal width W and having four bevels, the sensor comprising as many current or voltage read blocks as there are matrix columns, in order to read the image signals detected by the photosensitive members, characterized in that the current or voltage read blocks are placed in a row (30, 30′) along a horizontal edge of the matrix of width W′ and are all housed within a vertical strip, the width W1 of which is substantially less than the maximum width W of the matrix. There are two superposed rows of current read blocks with blocks distributed at the same pitch as the pixel columns, or there is a single row with read blocks distributed with a pitch less than that of the pixel columns. The invention can be applied to CMOS technology intraoral radiological sensors. |
| US07916190B1 |
Red-eye filter method and apparatus
A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. The digital camera has a red-eye filter which analyzes the stored image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the stored image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. |
| US07916187B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that obtains a high-quality image signal by determining an amount of noise in an optimum fashion and reducing the amount of noise. The image processing apparatus reduces a noise component contained in the image signal picked up by an image pickup element and digitized. The image processing apparatus includes a determining unit which determines whether or not a target pixel in the image signal is within a predetermined noise range for each pixel, and a noise reducing unit which reduces the noise of the target pixel based on the determination result. |
| US07916186B2 |
Anti-eclipse circuitry with tracking of floating diffusion reset level
An anti-eclipse circuit for an imager is formed from pixel circuitry over the same semiconductor substrate as the imaging pixels. More specifically, two adjacent pixel circuits are modified to form an amplifier. One input of the amplifier is adapted to receive a reset signal from one of the pixel circuits while another input is adapted to be set at a predetermined offset voltage from the output of the amplifier. The amplifier is preferably a unity gain amplifier, so that the output of the amplifier set to a voltage level equal to the predetermined offset from the voltage level of the reset signal. Accordingly, the anti-eclipse circuit outputs a reference voltage at predetermined level from the reset voltage of a pixel and does not need to be calibrated for fabrication related variances in reset voltages. |
| US07916185B2 |
Wide dynamic range image capturing apparatus
A memory control block performs in parallel a process of writing a current frame of image data captured by an image capturing device into a system shared memory, a process of reading out a previous frame of image data stored in the system shared memory, and a process of writing combined image data generated in an image combining block into the system shared memory. |
| US07916180B2 |
Simultaneous multiple field of view digital cameras
Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide digital cameras configured to simultaneously acquire image data via multiple channels having different fields of view. The digital cameras include multiple channels coupled to a processing component. Each channel includes an optics component and an array of sensors or photo-detectors integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The channels include a first channel having a first field of view (FOV) and a second channel having a second FOV, and the second FOV is different than the first FOV. The processing component is configured to independently control simultaneous data acquisition with each of the channels, and to combine data from at least one channel during a frame to provide a high resolution image. |
| US07916178B2 |
Camera system including a camera head and a camera control unit
Disclosed herein is a camera system and camera controller having a modularized design. Camera control functions within the controller are distributed among a number of modules, each module performing a component task of controlling a camera. Individual modules can perform tasks such as generating clock signals, digitizing an analog video signal, and providing multiplexed digital video output. Modules communicate with each other over a common bus sufficient to carry the signals necessary to control the camera. The system implements a RAM-based digital sequencer that provides the capability of loading bit patterns into memory and using these patterns to generate waveforms for clocking a CCD. Clock and readout sequences can be composed in a high level language, compiled and uploaded into the controller. Adjustable clamp and sample signal delays used in digitizing an analog video signal provide the capability to optimize the performance of the system in a given application. |
| US07916174B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling a camera
A system and method for remotely controlling a camera may include a telephony device communicatively coupled to a data network. The telephony device comprises at least one module adapted to generate a control signal in response to receiving a user command associated with dialing of an emergency telephone number. A camera may be adapted to start capturing images in response of receiving the control signal. |
| US07916170B2 |
CCTV pipeline inspection system data management system and computer-based monitoring/action application
The Invention provides specific and proprietary means to digitally record CCTV inspection Header Information, Defect Observation Data, GPS information, and Distance Information; combine this data into a single digital file; and store it within single video files preferable over digital video format like MPEG, DiviX, Microsoft Windows Media, DVD, or related formats—from which it may be retrieved by compatible application software and serve as a basis for inspection viewing, reviewing, evaluation, mapping, report generation, and other uses provided or supported by compatible application software features. Formatted media can be played with media player like Microsoft media player, real player, Dix Player, Quick time player like computer based player and/or with any external media player like DVD player which can be connected to system like television for viewing. |
| US07916168B2 |
Display of an arrangement of a panoramic video by applying navigation commands to said panoramic video
An arrangement of a panoramic video is obtained by applying navigation commands to said panoramic video. In accordance with the invention, the navigation commands are formed either by navigation commands given at will by the user, or by predefined navigation commands associated with said panoramic video. The choice of the type of navigation command used at a given instant is controlled either automatically or by the user. The invention thus permits to avoid a user losing the thread of the action when navigates freely through a panoramic video. |
| US07916167B2 |
Display device having image pickup function and two-way communication system
A compact and lightweight display device having an image pickup function and a two-way communication system which can shoot an image of a user as an object and display an image at the same time without degrading image quality by disposing a semi-transmitting mirror or the like which blocks an image on the display screen (display plane). The display device having the image pickup function includes a display panel capable of transmitting visible light at least and arranging display elements which can be controlled by voltage or current, and an image pickup device disposed around the display panel. The image pickup device is input with data of an image of a user or the like by a reflector, or equipped with a fiberscope bundling optical fibers. |
| US07916164B2 |
Labeling methods and apparatus using energy of two wavelengths
A method of measuring a relative darkness of an image recorded on a recording medium, comprising: applying first electromagnetic energy having a first wavelength to the recording medium to record an image thereon, applying second electromagnetic energy having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength to the recorded image on the recording medium, and measuring a reflection of the second electromagnetic energy from the recorded image to determine the relative darkness of the recorded image. |
| US07916159B2 |
Driving device for display panel, display device including the driving device, method for driving a display panel, program, and storage medium
A display panel is the one in which a pixel composed of sub-pixels of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and at least one other color has two sub-pixels at least in a vertical scanning direction, and color filters are provided respectively corresponding to the sub-pixels. There are provided: an incoming signal interpolating section which interpolate each of pixels based on incoming color signal components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) at least in a vertical scanning direction to generate interpolated RGB signals; a luminance signal converting section which converts color signals of interpolated sub-pixels, which are obtained from the incoming signal interpolating section, into luminance signals; an another color luminance component adding section which adds a luminance signal component of at least one other color on a basis of luminance signal components of colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), which components are outputted from the luminance signal converting section; and a luminance reallocating section which reallocates luminance signals of peripheral interpolated sub-pixels, for a color of each of the color filters corresponding to the sub-pixels, in accordance with output from the another color luminance component adding section. |
| US07916158B2 |
Image display apparatus, image signal processing circuit used therein, and method of controlling color saturation of image signal
Disclosed is an image display technique for displaying a high-quality image by an image signal of appropriate color saturation. To this end, in the invention, color histogram information is detected from a color difference signal and average brightness information or brightness histogram information from a brightness signal. Based on the detected color histogram information and average brightness information or brightness histogram information, the demodulation axis of a color difference signal is adjusted, thereby controlling the color saturation (chroma) of an image. This enables display of an image having color intensity suited to the brightness and chroma of an image signal. |
| US07916148B2 |
Memory system and method for improved utilization of read and write bandwidth of a graphics processing system
A system and method for processing graphics data which requires less read and write bandwidth. The graphics processing system includes an embedded memory array having at least three separate banks of single-ported memory in which graphics data are stored. A memory controller coupled to the banks of memory writes post-processed data to a first bank of memory while reading data from a second bank of memory. A synchronous graphics processing pipeline processes the data read from the second bank of memory and provides the post-processed graphics data to the memory controller to be written back to a bank of memory. The processing pipeline concurrently processes an amount of graphics data at least equal to that included in a page of memory. A third bank of memory is precharged concurrently with writing data to the first bank and reading data from the second bank in preparation for access when reading data from the second bank of memory is completed. |
| US07916144B2 |
High speed image reconstruction for k-space trajectory data using graphic processing unit (GPU)
A method for reconstructing an image generated from radial trajectory data in frequency or k-space using a GPU. The method includes using a vertex shader of the GPU to transform coordinates of a window aligned with the radial trajectory data and using a pixel shader of the GPU to combine data along the radial trajectory with the coordinate transformed widow to distribute the data along the radial trajectory fed to the pixel shader into cells of a Cartesian coordinate system. |
| US07916141B2 |
Image processing system using vector pixel
An image processing system using vector pixel is disclosed. The system includes a vector pixel with 1 byte, a data unit structure, a data portion, a file generation unit, and a data processing unit. The vector pixel with 1 byte is configured such that, in the low 4 bits, a vector information portion is positioned, and information of one of 8 vectors, up, down, left, right, up-left, up-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right vectors, with respect to X- and Y-axis, is stored. The data unit structure forms a partial image by combining the vector pixel, and has a boundary indicator for indicating the boundary of the partial image at the end of the data unit structure. The data portion forms a complete image by combining the data unit, and has a terminator for indicating the termination of the complete image at the end of the data portion. The file generation unit forms the data portion according to a specific command, and generates/stores a computer image file based on the data portion. The data processing unit processes direction indication according to vector information of the image file generated by the file generation unit and forms an image based on the direction indication process. The system can reduce the size of image data to be stored in a computer's storage memory, such as the main memory and a storage disk, image processing speed can be enhanced and data communication time can be shortened. |
| US07916139B2 |
Imaging volume data
A method and apparatus for generating a two-dimensional output image of a slab multi-planar reformatting (MPR) volume data set from a selectable view point and view direction is described. The method comprises factorizing a view transform matrix into an intermediate transform matrix and a warp transform matrix. The intermediate transform matrix is such that voxels in the volume data set map to pixels in an intermediate image in which neighboring voxels in a plane of the volume data set which is most parallel to tie plane of the output image are separated by an integer number of pixel along each of tie axes of the intermediate image. The intermediate transform matrix is applied to the data set to provide an intermediate data set. A projection of the intermediate data set along the view direction is performed according to a desired projection algorithm to provide the intermediate image. The wrap transform matrix is then applied to the intermediate image to provide the output image. |
| US07916138B2 |
Electro-optic vision systems
An image processing system for delivering real scene information to a data processor. The system includes the data processor, an image-delivery mechanism, an information delivery mechanism, and a graphic processor. |
| US07916137B2 |
Generation of 3D look-up tables for image processing devices
An image processor is disclosed which is capable of automatically generating a series of test signals, running the test signals through its image processing software and hardware, and capturing the resulting output signals to automatically generate a 3D LUT that represents most or all of the imaging processing steps being performed by the image processor. No external equipment is required to generate the 3D LUT. In other embodiments, the image processor may be connected to an external image processing device, and the image processor can then automatically generate a series of test signals, run those test signals through the external image processing device, and capture the resulting output signals to automatically generate a 3D LUT that represents most of all of the image processing steps being performed by the external image processing device. |
| US07916126B2 |
Bottom-up watershed dataflow method and region-specific segmentation based on historic data to identify patches on a touch sensor panel
The application of a watershed algorithm to pixels and their touch values obtained from a scan of a touch sensor panel to determine patches corresponding to images of touch is disclosed. Prior to applying the watershed algorithm, background pixels having little or no touch values can be eliminated. A primary merge algorithm can then merge adjacent patches together when the saddle point between them is shallow as compared to the peak represented by the patches. However, if two candidate patches for merging have a total number of pixels below a certain threshold, these two patches may not be merged under the assumption that the patches might have been caused by different fingertips. Conversely, if two candidate patches for merging have a total number of pixels above a certain threshold, these two patches can be merged under the assumption that the patches were caused by a single thumb or palm. |
| US07916121B2 |
Hybrid control of haptic feedback for host computer and interface device
A hybrid haptic feedback system in which a host computer and haptic feedback device share processing loads to various degrees in the output of haptic sensations, and features for efficient output of haptic sensations in such a system. A haptic feedback interface device in communication with a host computer includes a device microcontroller outputting force values to the actuator to control output forces. In various embodiments, the microcontroller can determine force values for one type of force effect while receiving force values computed by the host computer for a different type of force effect. For example, the microcontroller can determine closed loop effect values and receive computed open loop effect values from the host; or the microcontroller can determine high frequency open loop effect values and receive low frequency open loop effect values from the host. Various features allow the host to efficiently stream computed force values to the device. |
| US07916110B2 |
Data driving apparatus and method for liquid crystal display
A method of driving a data driving apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel, the method including converting at least two pixel data into analog pixel signals, outputting the converted pixel signals to one of at least two output buffer integrated circuits based on a time division of the pixel data, and applying the buffered pixel signals from each of the output buffer integrated circuits sequentially to a plurality of data lines. |
| US07916109B2 |
Panel for liquid crystal display device
A panel of a liquid crystal display panel with a plurality of pixels is disclosed, wherein each pixel comprises one switch, one pixel electrode and one floating line. The switch comprises a gate, a source, and two drains. The pixel electrode can be electrically connected to the switch through the drain. Besides, each floating conductive line and two drains of the same switch are crossed but electrically disconnected. Hence, the design of the dual drain (or dual source) illustrated above and the combined the technique of laser welding can be used to repair the source-drain leakage of the substrate of the liquid crystal display device. |
| US07916105B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel, a data driver configured to supply a pixel driving signal to pixels on the liquid crystal panel in one line unit, an input unit configured to input video data to be supplied to the data driver, a low gray scale compensator configured to compensate a low gray scale value video data in the video data received from the input unit to generate a high gray scale value video data, and a selection controller configured to detect a brightness of the video data received from the input unit, and to selectively supply the high gray scale value video data received from the low gray scale compensator or the video data received from the input unit. |
| US07916102B2 |
Pixel and organic light emitting display device including the same
A pixel includes: an organic light emitting diode coupled between a first power supply and a second power supply; a first transistor coupled between the organic light emitting diode and the second power supply; a second transistor coupled to a first node to which a gate electrode of the first transistor is coupled; a first capacitor coupled between the first node and a second node; a third transistor coupled between the second node and a data line; a fourth transistor coupled between the first node and the second node; a fifth transistor coupled between the first transistor and the second power supply; and a second capacitor coupled between the second node and a third node between the first transistor and the fifth transistor. |
| US07916099B2 |
Electroluminescent display device with scrolling addressing
An active matrix electroluminescent display has means for interrupting the drive of current through the display element. Row driver circuitry for the display has a shift register and logic arrangement (50, 54) for generating the drive voltage for the interrupting means, and which includes a pulse having a duration which can be varied up to substantially the full field period less the address period. The signal or signals propagated through the shift register arrangement (50) control the pulse duration. This arrangement provides reduced driver complexity to allow control for the row by row addressing of the pixels with control of the overall light emission period of each row. The control enables a scrolling addressing scheme to be implemented. |
| US07916097B2 |
Enhanced band multiple polarization antenna assembly
An antenna assembly is provided for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals over an enhanced frequency band. A first radiative element has a first end, a second end, and an associated length, and is comprised of an electrically conductive material. The first end of the first radiative element is electrically connected to an antenna feed at an apex and at least a portion of the first radiative element is disposed outwardly away from the apex at an acute angle relative to, and on a first side of, an imaginary plane intersecting the apex. A second radiative element has a first end and a second end and is comprised of an electrically conductive material. The first end of the second radiative element is electrically connected to the antenna feed and the first radiative element at the apex. The second end of the second radiative element has an associated height above the imaginary plane that is less than the product of the length of the first element and the sine of the acute angle at which the first element is disposed outwardly from the apex. The assembly further comprises an electrically conductive ground reference. |
| US07916096B2 |
Communication system having configurable 3-D antenna grid and method for configuring the communication system
A system and a method for configuring a communication system are provided. The communication system has an antenna system with a 3-D antenna grid. The configurable 3-D antenna grid has a plurality of antenna elements operably coupled to a plurality of switching elements. The method includes selecting a first 3-D antenna configuration associated with the configurable 3-D antenna grid from a plurality of antenna configurations. The method further includes controlling a memory device to output first data corresponding to the first 3-D antenna configuration. The method further includes closing selected ones of the plurality of switching elements to obtain the first 3-D antenna configuration in the configurable 3-D antenna grid in response to the first data. The first 3-D antenna configuration is one of the plurality of antenna configurations wherein at least a portion of the plurality of antenna elements are electrically coupled together. |
| US07916095B2 |
Wave antenna wireless communication device and method
A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna is a conductor that is bent in alternating sections to form peaks and valleys. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication with other communication devices, such as an interrogation reader. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its bent structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device's susceptibility to damage or breaks that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly. |
| US07916094B2 |
Double structure broadband leaky wave antenna
A leaky wave antenna contains a first and a second leaky wave antenna structure back to back against each other. Each antenna structure comprises a dielectric body and an elongated wave carrying structure, such as a slot in a conductive ground plane. In each leaky wave antenna structure the body and wave carrying structure are mutually arranged to radiate a leaky wave from the wave carrying structure through the dielectric body, the leaky wave radiating at a respective angle to the wave carrying structure. The dielectric bodies of the first and second wave antenna structure adjoin each other in a common plane that is at said respective angles to the wave carrying structures of the first and second wave antenna structure respectively, so that the ground planes are at an angle with respect to each other. The respective wave carrying structures run over into each other at said common plane, the antenna comprising a feed arranged to excite waves in both the respective wave carrying structures together. In this way bandwidth limitations due to the feed structure are reduced. |
| US07916084B2 |
Emergency beacon
An emergency beacon includes a housing fitted with a connector for connecting the beacon to an antenna that is external to the housing. Inside the housing, the beacon includes an incident sensor, a transmitter, a detection and control member connected to the sensor and transmitter and arranged to trigger operation of the transmitter when an incident is detected. The beacon further includes, inside the housing, an incorporated antenna, a changeover switch interposed between the transmitter and the connector and also interposed between the transmitter and the incorporated antenna, and a sensitive member sensitive to the electromagnetic power conveyed towards the connector and to the electromagnetic power returned by the connector. The sensitive member is connected to the control member which is connected to the changeover switch and is programmed to deliver the signals from the transmitter to the external or incorporated antenna, depending on the state of the sensitive member. |
| US07916080B2 |
Antenna system for communicating with mobile devices
Systems and methods for providing network access to mobile devices that travel with a vehicle, such as a train, a bus, a boat, etc. along or adjacent to a relatively fixed path that may extend over a large geographic area. Mobile devices access the network through stationary access points arranged along or adjacent to the path and communicate with a communication network. The communication network may be arranged as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) local area network emulation (LANE) network. One of the mobile devices may be a mobile access point which can couple other mobile devices to the network and record authentication information of other mobile devices so that fast transitions can be made from one stationary access point to another as the vehicle moves along the path. |
| US07916076B2 |
Method for calculating current position coordinate
A method for calculating current position coordinate is applied to a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. When positioning at a current time point, the GPS receiver directly calculates a code delay and a carrier frequency of each satellite and position coordinate of the GPS receiver at a current positioning time point by utilizing an ephemeris data of each satellite and position coordinate of the GPS receiver at a last positioning time point, thereby greatly lowering an operation amount, so as to reduce the power consumption. |
| US07916074B2 |
System and method for positioning in configured environments
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing location determination in a configured environment in which Global Navigation Satellite System Signals may not be available. In this regard, local beacon systems generate spread spectrum CDMA signals that are received by spectral compression units that derive physically meaningful observations without a requirement for correlation of the intercepted energy by means of the known spreading codes. The invention can coexist with communication assets already in place, and the design allows for self calibration, which simplifies installation and usage. The invention has utility in applications in which GNSS signals are unavailable or limited, for example, in warehouse inventory management, in search and rescue operations and in asset tracking in indoor environments. |
| US07916071B2 |
System and method for determining a reference location of a mobile device
A system and method for determining a reference location of a wireless device wherein a location request may be received for the wireless device where the location request fails to identify an approximate location for the wireless device. A reference location may be determined for the wireless device, the reference location selected from the group consisting of: an area defined as a function of at least one of a mobile country code, mobile network code, and/or a location area code; an area defined by a mapping of a provided Internet protocol address to a location; an area determined as a function of a position information element in the location request; a default area; and combinations thereof. |
| US07916068B2 |
Generalized inner product method and apparatus for improved detection and discrimination
Method and apparatus for improving the detection and discrimination of slow moving or stationary range-Doppler spread objects on or in close proximity to the ground (or sea surface). Invention detects, discriminates and separates radar returns from interference including ground clutter discretes via a coherent process for separating target returns from the myriad of received signals. Thus the method and apparatus improves the probability of detecting and declaring the presence or absence of an object at the same time that the probability of false declaration decreases. The method and apparatus may be applied to the processing of any over resolved object, including airborne radar. |
| US07916066B1 |
Method and apparatus for a body position monitor and fall detector using radar
A radar fall detector system. The radar fall detector system includes transmitter and receiver antennae and a signal processor that processes a reflected signal. Doppler analysis of the reflected signal determines a subject's activity and condition, and its distance to a floor. |
| US07916065B1 |
Countermeasure system and method using quantum dots
In one embodiment, a countermeasure system for protecting an asset from a missile attack includes a decoy comprising a plurality of quantum dots selected to emit radiation having a radiation emission profile similar to a profile of a radiation signature of the asset. In another embodiment, a method of simulating a radiation signature of an asset using quantum dots includes dispersing quantum dots to form a cloud of quantum dots; and exciting the quantum dots with a first radiation so that the quantum dots emit a second radiation having a profile similar to the radiation signature profile of the asset. |
| US07916064B2 |
Voltage-to-time converter, and voltage-to-digital converting device having the same
A voltage-to-digital converting device includes a first voltage-to-time converter outputting a first delay clock having a first time delay relative to a reference clock in response to an input voltage, and a second voltage-to-time converter outputting a second delay clock having a second time delay relative to the reference clock in response to a feedback voltage. The first and second time delays correspond respectively to the input and feedback voltages. A time-to-digital converting circuit receives the first and second delay clocks from the first and second voltage-to-time converters, compares phases of the first and second delay clocks, generates the feedback voltage based on result of phase comparison made thereby, and outputs a digital signal upon detecting that the phases of the first and second delay clocks are in-phase. |
| US07916062B2 |
Pin-sharing analog front-end processing apparatus and method for pin-sharing thereof
An analog front-end processing apparatus capable of sharing pins includes a plurality of positive pins, a negative pin, a plurality of positive clamping circuits, a negative clamping circuit, a plurality of sample and hold circuits and a plurality of adjusting circuits. The positive clamping circuits have positive signals fixed at their corresponding target positive voltages. The negative clamping circuit has a negative signal fixed at a first reference voltage. Each sample and hold circuit has a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, wherein a voltage difference between the two input terminals is substantially equal to a voltage difference between the corresponding target positive voltage and the first reference voltage during a sample period, and a voltage difference between the two input terminals is equal to a voltage difference between the corresponding target negative voltage and a second reference voltage during a hold period. |
| US07916058B1 |
Digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with reference-rotated DAC elements
In accordance with at least some embodiments, an electronic device comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) having a DAC element array. Reference-rotated data weighted averaging (RRDWA) is applied to the DAC element array. |
| US07916054B2 |
K-delta-1-sigma modulator
A K-Delta-1-Sigma modulator filters or integrates (Sigma) the difference (Delta) between K-feedback paths and an input signal. By using K-feedback paths the topology enables sample rates that are K times the clock frequency of any one feedback path. The sigma block can be implemented in a number of ways including an active or passive integrator or a filter with specific characteristics. When implemented as an integrator, the sigma block is common to all the feedback paths, so that the modulation noise is pushed to a portion of the spectrum where it can be reduced by filtering. The delta block can be implemented in a number of ways including analog adders or switched capacitors. |
| US07916053B2 |
Analog-to-digital conversion module adapted for irregular sampling sequences
Apparatus and methods are provided for performing a sampling sequence for a plurality of samples. An analog-to-digital conversion module comprises a sampling module, a register, and a sampling control module coupled to the sampling module and the register. The sampling module is configured to convert analog signals into corresponding digital values in response to sampling trigger signals and the register is configured to maintain scan mode criteria for a plurality of samples. The sampling control module is configured to identify a scan mode criterion for a respective sample of the plurality of samples, automatically generate a sampling trigger signal when the scan mode criterion for the respective sample is equal to a first value, and generate the sampling trigger signal in response to a timing trigger signal when the scan mode criterion for the respective sample is equal to a second value. |
| US07916048B2 |
Encoding a gray code sequence for an odd length sequence
A method an apparatus is provided to generate a gray code sequence from a sequence of binary values having a length “L”. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a circuit comprising a cycle flag toggle circuit configured to toggle a cycle flag between a first value and a second value, an intermediate value generator coupled to an output of the cycle flag toggle circuit configured to receive the binary value, and configured to generate an intermediate value from the cycle flag and the binary value, and a binary to gray converter coupled to an output of the intermediate value generator, configured to convert the intermediate value to a gray code. |
| US07916046B2 |
Apparatus and method for input of ideographic Korean syllables from reduced keyboard
A method is for input of text symbols into an electronic device having a reduced keyboard. The reduced keyboard has keys representing a plurality of characters. The method includes receiving character inputs from the reduced keyboard and identifying symbol variants based on the received character inputs. A list of symbol variants is displayed. An input symbol from the list of symbol variants is selected, wherein the input symbol is a Korean Hangul syllable. At least one Chinese Hanzi syllable is designated, to correspond to at least one Korean Hangul syllable. The Korean Hangul syllable is replaced with a Chinese Hanzi syllable. |
| US07916044B2 |
Dynamic location-based mapping system and method
A graphical mapping system configured to display mapping information on a handheld device is disclosed. The system includes an image map database configured to store map data for a plurality of geographic areas, which is useful for generating graphical maps. The system further includes a vector map database configured to store vector map data, which is useful for generating vector “overlays” that correspond to the graphical maps. In response to a mapping request from a handheld device, a set of image mapping data and a corresponding set of vector mapping data, both associated with a given geographic location, are retrievable. |
| US07916040B2 |
Remote control for home entertainment
A remote control system is provided that includes a master controller for storing a plurality of remote control codes for a plurality of remotely controlled equipment, receiving a remote control code request message, retrieving a requested remote control code and transmitting the requested remote control code, and a remote control unit for transmitting the remote control code request message, receiving the requested remote control code from the master controller, storing the requested remote control code, converting the remote control code into a plurality of remote control commands and transmitting at least one of the plurality of remote control commands to at least one of the plurality of remotely controlled equipment, wherein each remote control code contains the plurality of remote control commands for controlling at least one of the plurality of remotely controlled equipment. |
| US07916036B1 |
Patient position monitor with timer
A patient position pad is provided that includes a timer. The patient position pad is configured to detect the position of a patient. The timer is configured to track the useful life of the patient position pad. |
| US07916029B2 |
RFID tag and method for manufacturing the same
A RFID tag includes: an antenna section having a first base and a loop antenna; a strap section having a second base and a first conductive pattern to which a circuit chip is electrically connected; and a protection section having a protection body having relatively high rigidity and a second conductive pattern in which the protection body has a groove formed therein large enough to house the circuit chip, and the second conductive pattern electrically connects the first conductive pattern to the loop antenna. |
| US07916024B2 |
Muster apparatus
Muster apparatus for registering the arrival of a person at a location includes detector means for detecting the arrival of the person at the location and a controller, the detector means being in signal communication with the controller. The apparatus includes output means for communicating information from the controller to an operator. The apparatus is arranged so that the information communicated is dependent on the arrival of the person at the location. |
| US07916023B2 |
System and method for tracking assets within a monitored environment
A system associates change in the state of an asset to an event trigger within a monitored environment. This environment includes a plurality of assets and a tag transmitter positioned on each asset and operative for transmitting a wireless RE signal based on an event trigger based on one of at least the change in state of an asset and change in location of the asset. A plurality of spaced apart access points receive an RF signal transmitted from a tag transmitter. A processor is operatively connected to the access points and collect possible candidates as assets associated with the event trigger and assigning a numerical score to each candidate to determine which asset is best associated with the event trigger. |
| US07916019B2 |
Device for detecting the relative position of two elements via electric circuit section having mechanical function in at least one of the elements
The main object of the present invention is a device for detecting a relative position of a first element (12, 14) having a main mechanical function and a second element, including an electric circuit (4) the opening and closing of which respectively correspond to a first and a second position of the first and second elements with respect to each other, wherein at least the first element is part of the electric circuit (4).An object of the present invention is also a monitoring installation comprising such detecting devices. |
| US07916017B2 |
Operating method of wireless sensor networks considering energy efficiency
Provided is a wireless sensor network operating method considering energy efficiency. The method for operating a wireless sensor network including clusters of sensor nodes includes: selecting a cluster head based on residual energy amounts of the sensor nodes by increasing a probability that a sensor node with a greater amount of residual energy than the others is selected as a cluster head; transmitting an advertisement message from the selected cluster head to the sensor nodes to form a cluster; and transmitting sensing data acquired in each sensor node to the cluster head. Accordingly, this method can extend lifespan of sensor nodes by not transmitting/receiving data on residual energy amounts and positions between sensor nodes, and increase the entire lifespan of a wireless sensor network by reducing a probability that a sensor node having a relatively small residual energy amount is selected as a cluster head consuming much energy. |
| US07916008B2 |
RFID systems for vehicular applications
An indication system (10) for a vehicle (11) includes a radio frequency circuit (12) with a transponder (84) and an in-vehicle RF tagged element (18). The transponder (84) transmits a status request signal. A first radio frequency identification tag (84) is coupled to the in-vehicle RF tagged element (18). The tag (84) inductively generates a current status signal associated with the in-vehicle element (18) and in response to the status request signal. A method of tracking, identifying, and determining the presence and status of an in-vehicle RF tagged element (18) includes transmitting a status request signal. The status request signal is inductively received via multiple radio frequency identification tags (84, 86) that are associated with the in-vehicle RF tagged element (18). A current status signal is transmitted from the radio frequency identification tags (84, 86). An in-vehicle task is performed in response to the current status signal. |
| US07916003B2 |
Protective cover assembly
A protective cover assembly is provided. The protective cover assembly includes a flexible cover and an alarm assembly. The flexible cover includes an outer layer of flexible material, an inner layer of flexible material, and at least one layer of tear resistant material positioned between the outer and inner layers. The alarm assembly includes a pair of conductor plates positioned between the outer layer of flexible material and the inner layer of flexible material, a power source, and an alarm system electrically connected to the power source and at least one of the first and second conductor plates such that upon an electrical conducting implement piercing the first conductor plate and contacting the second conductor plate an electrical connection is established between the first conductor plate and the second conductor plate thereby causing the alarm system to emit an alerting signal. |
| US07916000B2 |
Automatic antenna tuner system for RFID
An automatic antenna tuner system for radio frequency identification system includes a pulse width modulator, a microprocessor for controlling the generation of a source signal from the modulator, capacitors for receiving the source signal from amplifiers and transmitting it to an inductor, a gate communicating with the capacitors for transmitting a resonating signal from the inductor and capacitors as a carrier signal and means for gating the carrier signal with the source signal to produce a compared signal to produce a string of pulses and means for varying capacitance to increase or decrease the count of the string of pulses. |
| US07915992B2 |
Planar, high voltage embedded transformer for analog and digital data transmission
A transformer includes a flex or printed circuit board consisting of a substrate material having a desired permittivity, and at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding. Each winding is integrated with the flex or printed circuit board such that one or more respective transformer parasitic elements and the substrate permittivity between the primary and secondary windings together are tuned to a desired parallel resonant frequency. |
| US07915991B2 |
Fractional turns transformers with ferrite polymer core
Conventional transformers with fractional turns have pre-manufactured cores usually with a complicated structure. According to the present invention, a method is provided of manufacturing a planar transformer where a ferrite polymer compound is laminated to a PCB for forming the core of the transformer. Advantageously, this may allow for the provision of a cheap and robust transformer. |
| US07915984B2 |
Starter solenoid switch with improved arrangement of resistor
In a solenoid switch according to the invention, a magnetic plate is disposed on one side of a solenoid coil in an axial direction of the solenoid coil. A contact cover is arranged with the magnetic plate interposed between the contact cover and the solenoid coil in the axial direction. First and second fixed contacts are received in the contact cover and respectively electrically connected to first and second terminals that are to be electrically connected to an electric circuit. A resistor is electrically connected between the first and second terminals to limit current flowing through the electric circuit when the first and second fixed contacts are electrically disconnected by a movable contact. The resistor is received in the contact cover and interposed between the magnetic plate and the first and second fixed contacts in the axial direction. |
| US07915975B2 |
DMS filter with improved matching
For improving the matching of a DMS track that is connected in series with a reactance element, it is proposed to connect a shunt branch to ground between the DMS track and reactance element parallel to the signal-carrying conductor section, where a capacitive element is arranged in this shunt branch. |
| US07915971B2 |
Nonreciprocal circuit device
A nonreciprocal circuit device includes a ferrite-magnet element having ferrite provided with first and second central electrodes intersecting each other in an insulated manner and two permanent magnets arranged to sandwich the ferrite to apply a DC magnetic field thereto, a substrate on which the ferrite-magnet element and matching circuit elements are mounted, and a flat plate yoke. A first resin layer made of a cured liquid resin is provided at bonding portions of the ferrite-magnet element to the substrate, and a second resin layer made of a cured soft sheet-shaped resin adhered to a rear surface of the flat plate yoke is provided around the ferrite-magnet element and the matching circuit elements. |
| US07915963B2 |
Current controlled oscillation device and method having wide frequency range
A current controlled, phase locked loop device includes a phase detector configured to compare a reference frequency to an output frequency of a current controlled oscillator (ICO), a charge pump coupled to the phase detector and a low pass filter coupled to the charge pump. A voltage to current (V to I) converter is coupled to the low pass filter, providing an output current for integral control of the ICO. A control circuit is coupled to the ICO, and receives increment and decrement outputs of the phase detector, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide proportional control of the ICO through an amount of bias current applied thereto. |
| US07915962B2 |
System and method for built in self test for timing module holdover
Embodiments of the invention include a method for use in a device having a local oscillator. The method includes performing, for the local oscillator that is disciplined by an external reference signal, while locked to the external reference signal, training at least two mathematical models of the oscillator to determine a predicted correction signal for each mathematical model based at least in part on a correction signal that is a function of the external reference signal and which is used to discipline drift in the oscillator. The method also includes selecting a mathematical model of the at least two mathematical models that results in a smallest time error when disciplining the oscillator to use when the external reference signal is unavailable and an alternative correction signal is to be used to discipline drift in the oscillator. The method further includes testing the selected mathematical model using a sampled version of the correction signal such that the selected mathematical model can be used without the need for a testing duration that is in addition to a period of time used for the training. |
| US07915959B2 |
Multi-path, multi-oxide-thickness amplifier circuit
An embodiment of a multi-path, multi-oxide-thickness amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier having at least one thin-oxide output transistor, and a second amplifier having at least one thick-oxide output transistor. The first and second amplifiers are connected in parallel with each other between an input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier circuit. The thin-oxide output transistor has a gate-oxide layer thickness that is less than a gate-oxide layer thickness of the thick-oxide output transistor. |
| US07915957B2 |
Distributed amplification apparatus and amplifier
Provided is a distributed amplification apparatus that outputs an output signal obtained by amplifying an input signal input thereto, comprising an input-side transmission line that transmits the input signal; an output-side transmission line that transmits the output signal; and a plurality of amplifiers that are provided in parallel between the input-side transmission line and the output-side transmission line, the amplifiers each amplifying the input signal transmitted on the input-side transmission line and supplying the amplified signal to the output-side transmission line. Each amplifier includes a transistor; a capacitor provided on a line that transmits the input signal to a gate terminal of the transistor; and a gate-ground resistance that is provided between the gate terminal of the transistor and a ground potential. |
| US07915956B2 |
Vector modulator having attenuators with continuous input steering
Variable attenuation systems having continuous input steering may be used to implement vector or quadrature modulators and vector multipliers. Discrete implementations of attenuators with continuous input steering may have two outputs which may be cross-connected to provide four-quadrant operation. A symmetrically driven center tap may provide improved zero-point accuracy. |
| US07915955B2 |
Bias balancing circuit
The invention discloses a bias balancing circuit. The bias balancing circuit is used for balancing an output voltage outputted by an amplifier module. The amplifier module has a variable gain. The bias balancing circuit comprises a comparator and a voltage selector. The comparator is used for comparing the output voltage and a reference voltage, to generate a comparison signal. The voltage selector is used for generating a selected voltage according to the comparison signal. When the variable gain is changed to result in an offset from the output voltage to the reference voltage, the bias balancing circuit is capable of balancing the output voltage toward the reference voltage by the selected voltage. |
| US07915954B2 |
Amplifier predistortion and autocalibration method and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for amplifier AM and PM predistortion and autocalibration. AM and PM amplifier distortion can be corrected using predistortion. The AM and PM distortion characteristics of the amplifier are determined using an autocalibration technique. The amplifier characteristics can be stored in distinct look up tables. Alternatively, the inverse of the amplifier characteristics can be stored in distinct look up tables. Signals that are to be amplified are characterized in polar format having a phase component with a normalized magnitude and a magnitude component. The phase component can be predistorted by applying the inverse of the PM distortion characteristics to the signal. Similarly, the magnitude component can be predistorted by applying the inverse of the AM distortion characteristics to the signal. The predistorted phase component can be amplified using the previously characterized amplifier. The predistorted magnitude component can be used to set the gain of the previously characterized amplifier. |
| US07915951B1 |
Locally calibrated current source
A microchip that can calibrate a plurality of circuits on the microchip with a current reference includes: at least a first circuit disposed on the microchip; at least a first local bias generation circuit, for generating a bias current that is input to the first circuit; an external current reference, coupled to the first local bias generation circuit, for updating the bias current; and a calibration logic, coupled to the first local bias generation circuit, for enabling the external current reference to update the bias current according to a valid calibration signal. |
| US07915935B1 |
Communication systems w/counter-based frequency centering for mm-wave frequency bands
A low-cost and power-efficient communication system using digital frequency centering techniques suitable for millimeter-wave wide-bandwidth bands with mostly digital components. Significant circuitry in the frequency source can be switched-off, thus conserving power. With the use of non-coherent detection, power consumption can be further reduced as higher phase noise and lower frequency accuracy can be tolerated. In the first embodiment frequency centering is achieved with a multiple-state system which compares a frequency dependent unique state to a programmed or hardwired desired state. In an alternative embodiment this multiple-state system is implemented by means of a microcontroller through either software or hardware. |
| US07915928B2 |
High linearity voltage to current conversion
A system and method for performing voltage to current conversion, the system comprising of a first set of devices that senses the input voltage signal through its input terminal and replicates said input voltage across a second set of devices which then converts said replicated input voltage signal to an output current signal; a third set of devices that transfers the output current signal to output terminals; a differential feedback loop comprising an amplifier positioned between a first one of the first set of devices and a first one of the third set of devices; and a common mode feedback loop that regulates the output average voltage to a reference voltage. |
| US07915919B1 |
Digital interface sensing apparatus
A digital interface sensing apparatus includes a sensor, an analog detecting circuit, an analog to digital (A/D) converter, a signal cable, and an interface adjusting circuit. The sensor senses an external analog signal. The analog detecting circuit detects the sensed analog signal from the sensor. The A/D converter converts the sensed analog signal to a digital signal and receives a clock signal and a data demand signal. The A/D converter sends the digital signal in response to the A/D converter receiving the clock signal and the data demand signal. The interface adjusting circuit adjusts digital signals between the A/D converter and the signal cable to match signal transmission. |
| US07915913B2 |
Termination resistance adjusting circuit
A termination resistance adjusting circuit includes a first termination resistor circuit, a second termination resistor circuit connected in parallel with the first termination resistor circuit, a resistor circuit for adjustment that adjusts resistances of the first and second termination resistor circuits, a first amplifier circuit that receives a first voltage determined by the resistor circuit for adjustment and a second voltage determined by a reference resistor connected externally, equalizes the first and second voltages, and outputs a resistance adjusting signal to the first and second termination resistor circuits, first and second terminals connected to the first and second termination resistor circuits respectively, and a second amplifier circuit that receives a voltage based on a common voltage of a differential signal supplied to the first and second terminals, and the first or second voltage, and equalizes the voltage based on the common voltage and the first or second voltage. |
| US07915912B2 |
Signal lines with internal and external termination
Embodiments of a memory controller are described. This memory controller communicates signals to a memory device via a signal line, which can be a data signal line or a command/address signal line. Termination of the signal line is divided between an external impedance outside of the memory controller and an internal impedance within the memory controller. The memory controller does not activate the external impedance prior to communicating the signals and, therefore, does not deactivate the external impedance after communicating the signals. The internal impedance of the memory controller can be enabled or disabled in order to reduce interface power consumption. Moreover, the internal impedance may be implemented using a passive component, an active component or both. For example, the internal impedance may include either or both an on-die termination and at least one driver. |
| US07915911B2 |
Input circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit
An input circuit for receiving an input signal supplied to an input terminal includes a capacitor having one end connected to the input terminal and a capacitor driving circuit for converting the input signal into a signal having positive logic that is the same as logic of the input signal and supplying the converted signal to the other end of the capacitor so as to drive the capacitor. |
| US07915903B2 |
Batch-test method using a chip tray
A chip test method is disclosed and includes: loading chips on a chip tray and fastening a cover plate on the chip tray; loading the chip tray with the cover plate in a chip test device; aligning a probe card of the chip test device with a test unit of the chip tray; testing chips in the chip tray; sorting the passed chips from the failed chips. |
| US07915897B2 |
Foil-leaf electrometer for static field detection with permanently separating leaves
An apparatus for detecting a static field includes two surfaces of conductive material that are (i) electrically coupled to each other, and adjacent to each other. The two surfaces repel each other in the presence of a static field. The conductive material has a deformation property such that stress caused by repulsion of the two surfaces from each other by at least a predetermined distance causes at least one of the surfaces to permanently deform. |
| US07915896B2 |
Identification of a defective filament in a fluorescent lamp
Control of delivery of current through one or more discharge lamps. Methods include alternately switching on and off switching elements that control a fluorescent lamp, in response to receiving input, until the brightness of the lamp decreases to a threshold. Further, methods include providing control signals at complementary duty cycles to further decrease the brightness and alternating the duty cycles of the signals applied to the filaments of the fluorescent lamp. |
| US07915895B2 |
Method of calibrating an azimuthal inductive cross-coil or tilted coil instrument
A phase error in measurements made by a resistivity logging tool is estimated by positioning the tool above a conducting surface. Deviation of the measured phase difference between the transmitter and the receiver from 90° gives the phase error in the electronics. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07915893B2 |
NMR CryoMAS probe for high-field wide-bore magnets
All critical circuit components, including the sample coils, are located along with the spinner assembly in a region that may be evacuated to high vacuum for thermal insulation and high-voltage operation. A hermetically sealed spinner assembly simultaneously satisfies the requirements of hermeticity, low total emissivity, rf compatibility, spinning performance, magnetic compatibility, and high filling factor by utilizing metal construction except for the central region near the rf sample coils. Hence, it is possible to maintain high vacuum in the region external to the MAS spinner assembly even over a broad range of bearing and drive gas temperatures. A bundle of optical fibers is provided for tachometry for spin rates up to 60 kHz. The use of alumina disc capacitors allows the noise contributions from the most critical capacitors to be reduced to a minor fraction of the total and simplifies high voltage operation. |
| US07915892B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that applies a gradient magnetic field and a radio-frequency magnetic field to a subject in a static magnetic field to image the subject based on magnetic resonance signals emitted from the subject, includes a unit which generates K transmission radio-frequency pulse signals required to produce the radio-frequency magnetic field, an allocation unit which allocates the K transmission radio-frequency pulse signals to K in M transmission signal paths, a connection unit to which at most M radio-frequency coils are attachable and which selectively connects the M transmission signal paths and M reception signal paths to the radio-frequency coils, a selection unit which selects N in magnetic resonance signals which are respectively received by the at most M radio-frequency coils and transmitted through the at most M reception signal paths, and a unit which performs reception processing for each of the selected N magnetic resonance signals. |
| US07915881B2 |
Buck DC-to-DC converter and method
A method and apparatus for converting a DC voltage to a lower DC voltage, provides for conducting current from an input terminal, through an inductor to charge a capacitor connected to the inductor at an output terminal and to provide a varying range of load current from the output terminal, alternately switching the input terminal between a supply voltage and a ground potential to produce a desired voltage at the output terminal that is lower than the supply voltage, while providing the varying range of load current, and disconnecting the input terminal from both the supply voltage and the ground potential to reduce an increase in voltage at the output terminal caused by a substantial reduction in the load current, while current through the inductor adjusts in response to the reduced load current. |
| US07915879B2 |
Switching converter including a rectifier element with nonlinear capacitance
A switching converter including a rectifier element with nonlinear capacitance. One embodiment provides a switching element configured to be driven in the on state and in the off state. A first capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the switching element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections. A rectifier element is coupled between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element such that it enables a current flow between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element when the switching element is driven in the off state. A second capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the rectifier element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections. |
| US07915878B2 |
Switching regulator and method of converting DC voltage
A switching regulator includes an inverter circuit and a size adjustment circuit. The inverter circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage by a switching operation of a switch circuit. The size adjustment circuit controls an ON resistance of the switch circuit, depending on a power efficiency that is calculated from an input power dependent on the input voltage and an output power dependent on the output voltage. |
| US07915872B2 |
Switching power converters with diode reverse current suppression
A switching power converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an output terminal for supplying an output voltage, a coupled choke having a main winding and an auxiliary winding, an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal, a main diode coupled between the auxiliary winding and the output terminal, and a switch having first and second positions. The main and auxiliary windings are connected to be charged by an input voltage when the input voltage is coupled to the input terminal and the switch is in the first position. The auxiliary winding is connected to reverse bias the main diode when the switch is switched from the first position to the second position to thereby suppress reverse recovery current in the main diode. The power converter may further include an auxiliary diode coupled between a common node of the main and auxiliary windings and the output terminal, as well as an inductor in series with the auxiliary diode. |
| US07915867B1 |
Synchronous control for generator output
Synchronous control for an output of a generator is disclosed. A desired output level at the output of the generator is received. An off time to achieve the desired output level is determined. A timing for the off time is determined. One or more coil outputs are caused to switch off for the off time at the determined timing for the off time. The one or more coil outputs contribute to the output of the generator in the event that the one or more coil outputs are switched on. |
| US07915864B2 |
Power converter with transient processing capability
Transient processing mechanisms for power converters. Error generation circuitry in a power converter may generate an error signal based on the difference between a power converter output voltage and a reference voltage. Transient detection circuitry may detect whether the error signal exceeds at least a first threshold. If the first threshold is exceeded, timing control logic may generate a low band correction pulse to adjust the power converter output voltage, and thereby adjust the error signal to a level within the first threshold. If the error signal exceeds a second threshold, the timing control logic may generate a high band correction pulse to adjust the power converter output voltage, and thereby adjust the error signal to a level within the second threshold. The timing control logic may initiate a low band blanking period following the low band correction pulse and high band blanking period following the high band correction pulse. |
| US07915860B2 |
Battery management system with runtime reserve analysis
The invention relates to the management of large stationary batteries. The invention is a comprehensive system and process for the management of stationary batteries that are used for backup power and are deployed in widely dispersed locations. The system may be comprised of a plurality of batteries and web-based software. The system software can automatically analyze, determine and report the number of batteries and total cost based on required runtime reserve by computing the power of batteries currently in a system and available batteries for installation. |
| US07915851B2 |
Numerical controller controlling acceleration and deceleration of respective control axes up to command speeds
Initial speeds in the move commands for respective control axes at servo-on are determined according to parameter setting, or the comparative relationship or difference in speed among the actual speeds of the control axes so that difference in position between the control axes does not increase as the move commands are executed after the servo-on. The actual speeds of the control axes are set as initial speeds in the move commands, and a target axis is specified on the basis of the comparative relationship among their actual speeds and the other control axes are accelerated or decelerated at the acceleration or deceleration rate specified in the move commands to attain the position and speed of the target axis, so that differences in position and speed among the control axes are gradually decreased as the move commands are executed after the servo-on, thereby preventing abrupt speed changes and suppressing mechanical shocks. |
| US07915850B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling servomotor of electric injection molding machine
An apparatus and method for servomotors of an electric injection molding machine includes a motion controlling unit, two driving amplifying units, and two servomotors respectively connected to the driving amplifying units. The motion controlling unit includes two servomotor position controllers both for receiving a first position command, and the driving amplifying units are respectively connected to the servomotor position controllers for receiving a second and third position command. Two position detectors are respectively received in the two screw caps that are mounted to the servomotors for detecting absolute positions of the corresponding screw caps. The screw caps are respectively connected to inputs of the first and second servomotor position controllers to form two screw cap position feedback circuits. The values of the screw cap position feedback circuits are compared to the first position command for being input into the driving amplifying units to drive the corresponding servomotors to act synchronously. |
| US07915848B2 |
Servo control apparatus that performs dual-position feedback control
A servo control apparatus that performs dual-position feedback control and thereby achieves a reduction in position error according to the purpose of machining. The servo control apparatus includes: a first position detector for detecting the position of a motor; a second position detector for detecting the position of a driven load; a first position error calculator for calculating a first position error based on a position command and motor position feedback; a second position error calculator for calculating a second position error based on the position command and driven load position feedback; a third position error calculator for calculating a third position error to be used for position control, by adding to the first position error a difference taken between the first position error and the second position error and passed through a time constant circuit; a selector for selecting either the second position error or the third position error for output; and a learning controller for learning an output of the selector, and for outputting an amount of compensation to be applied to the third position error. |
| US07915844B2 |
Motor driving apparatus and method for control of motor revolution
This invention provides a motor driving apparatus that made it possible to reduce torque ripples including those attributed to load variation of the motor and an associated method for control of motor revolution. An output stage to a multiphase DC motor is comprised of power elements to supply output voltages to multiphase coils and a predriver to supply drive voltages to the power elements. A resistor means detects a current flowing through the power elements. A supply current detector detects a voltage signal produced across the resistor means as a supply current, using a high-speed ADC and a moving average filter. An output controller generates a PWM signal with a frequency lower than the frequency of the high-speed ADC so that the current detected by the supply current detector conforms to a current signal indicating a motor revolving speed and transfers the PWM signal to the output stage. |
| US07915842B2 |
Actuator drive control device
An active vibration isolation support system includes an electronic control unit which supplies a target electric current to an actuator to periodically drive the actuator in an expansion and contraction manner with a target vibration waveform. The controller sets the target electric current by synthesizing a driving primary electric current waveform corresponding to the target vibration waveform for the actuator with higher-order (driving secondary and/or tertiary) electric current waveforms which eliminate higher-order vibration components of the actuator corresponding to the driving primary electric current waveform. It is possible to alleviate a calculating load in the electronic control unit by ignoring the quaternary and still higher-order vibration components which less affect the target vibration waveform for the actuator. |
| US07915839B2 |
Method and electronic control system to compensate for the aging-related brightness loss of an electroluminescent element
The invention relates to a method for compensating the ageing-related loss of luminosity of an electroluminescence element, according to which the cumulative electrical energy supply, i.e. the integral of the supplied electrical power over the period of operation, is used as a criteria for the compensating regulation of the operating voltage. The processing unit continuously integrates the supplied electrical power over time. The relation between the operating voltage and the emission luminosity of the electroluminescence element is stored in the memory for different cumulative electrical energy supplies. The stored data can be defined by means of a model or estimated on the basis of empirical values. The relation can be stored in the form of values stored in a tabular manner or as an analytical function in the memory. The processing unit determines the associated effective operating voltage Ui for the luminosity nominal value B and the cumulative energy supply /Pi dt, and adjusts the voltage supply to the value by means of a control signal emitted from the signal output. |
| US07915837B2 |
Modular programmable lighting ballast
A lighting ballast is programmable as to input and output parameters. Both operational characteristics and sensed data are used to control the ballast parameters. The ballast is configured to recapture as electrical energy heat produced by the lamp. The ballast is constructed in modular fashion with a power factor correction circuit module and a ballast control circuit module that snap together to achieve a large number of input voltage and lamp type variations with a small number of separate units. |
| US07915833B2 |
Single-ended DC to AC power inverter
An inverter comprising a low-side switching element in series with a first primary winding; a high-side switching element in series with a second primary winding, where the combination of the low-side switching element and first primary winding is connected in parallel with the combination of the high-side switching element and the second primary winding; and a clamping capacitor having one terminal connected to the first primary winding and having a second terminal connected to the second primary winding. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07915832B2 |
Plasma display panel drive circuit and plasma display apparatus
A drive circuit for driving a plasma display panel (PDP) includes a pulse voltage generator that contains main switching elements disposed on a high voltage side and on a low voltage side, is operable to generate a pulse voltage by operating the main switching elements in accordance with an output voltage from a first power supply and apply the pulse voltage to a PDP scan electrode and sustain electrode, and a reset voltage generator operable to generate a reset voltage in accordance with an output voltage from a second power supply and apply it to the PDP. The pulse voltage generator contains a first diode that prevents the voltage output by the reset voltage generator from being applied backward to the first power supply and a first switching element connected to the first diode in parallel. |
| US07915831B2 |
Gaming machine artwork
A gaming machine artwork assembly includes a carrier on which images to be illuminated are carried. An electroluminescent illuminating arrangement is mounted on an operatively rear surface of the carrier. The electroluminescent illuminating arrangement comprises a plurality of electroluminescent elements, at least one element being associated with each image to be illuminated. A driver circuit is connected to the illuminating arrangement for driving the electroluminescent illuminating arrangement to illuminate selected electroluminescent elements of the arrangement on command from a controller of the gaming machine. The driver circuit includes individual drivers for each electroluminescent element for independently driving the electroluminescent elements and variably controlling the intensity of the illumination of the images with which said electroluminescent elements are associated. |
| US07915828B2 |
High-voltage pulse generator, and lighting apparatus and vehicle having the same
There is provided a high-voltage pulse generator with a reduced radius of rotation and improved performance, and a lighting apparatus and a vehicle having the high-voltage pulse generator. The high-voltage pulse generator includes a pulse transformer in which a primary winding and a secondary winding are wound on a core, a discharge lamp connector which is formed in a tube shape having an opened front surface and a bottom out of an insulating material and which has an inner-electrode terminal electrically connected to a high voltage part of the secondary winding in the bottom, and a pulse generating capacitor and a discharge switch electrically connected to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The discharge lamp connector is disposed so that the center thereof is located in a center line passing through a substantial center in an axis direction (a direction parallel to a center line) of the pulse transformer and perpendicular to the axis direction. The capacitor and the discharge switch are disposed to be opposed to the high voltage part of the secondary winding and a high voltage area including the inner-electrode terminal with the discharge lamp connector therebetween. |
| US07915826B2 |
Electric lamp with inner assembly and outer bulb and method for manufacturing
An electric lamp comprises an inner assembly including a light source and a control gear circuit. An outer envelope encloses the light source and at least a part of the control gear and has a predetermined wall thickness and an end portion. The outer envelope is comprised of two parts separated along a circumferential line. The two parts of the envelope are connectable and sealable to form a uniform outer envelope with a seal region. The seal region has a wall thickness and is merged in a surface portion of the two parts of the envelope so that the surface unevenness of the seal region is not greater than 0.5 millimeters, and the maximum difference of the wall thickness of the seal region with respect to the wall thickness of the outer envelope is not greater than 0.3 millimeters.A method for manufacturing an electric lamp as described above is also disclosed. During connecting, and sealing the two parts of the envelope by a welding process, the two parts are brought into a contacting position and compressed further by a first axial distance; and then the two parts are pulled apart from each other by a second axial distance in order to merge the seal region in a surface portion of the two parts, wherein the second axial distance is larger than the first axial distance. |
| US07915821B2 |
OLED comprising an organic insulating layer with grooves and an inorganic layer filling the grooves
Embodiments of an organic electroluminescence display device and methods of fabricating such devices are disclosed. One embodiment of an organic electroluminescence display device comprises a thin film transistor and wirings disposed on a substrate, wherein the substrate has an emitting region and non-emitting region. The display device further comprises a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate in the emitting region and the non-emitting region, a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the emitting region to partially expose the pixel electrode, a light-emitting layer disposed on the pixel electrode, and an encapsulation member disposed on the second insulating layer on the non-emitting region. |
| US07915820B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
An exemplary embodiment of a display device includes a substrate, a transistor disposed on the substrate, a passivation layer which substantially covers the transistor, an organic layer disposed on the passivation layer which generates light to an outside, and a light efficiency improving layer including a first inorganic layer and a second inorganic layer which are sequentially disposed between the organic layer and the outside. |
| US07915819B2 |
Magnesium oxide-containing barrier layer for thick dielectric electroluminescent displays
A novel laminate is provided to improve the operating stability of thioaluminate based phosphors used in ac thick film dielectric electroluminescent displays. The novel structure comprises a rare earth activated alkaline earth thioaluminate phosphor thin film layer and a magnesium oxide or magnesium oxide containing layer provided directly adjacent and in contact with the bottom of the phosphor thin film layer. The invention is particularly applicable to phosphors used in electroluminescent displays that employ thick dielectric layers subject to high processing temperatures to form and activate the phosphor films. |
| US07915812B2 |
Organic light-emitting device and display apparatus
Provided are an organic light-emitting device that has wide viewing angle characteristics and enables excellent color reproduction, and a display apparatus including the organic light-emitting device. In the device, an optical path between a first reflective surface formed on the first electrode side with respect to an emission layer and a second reflective surface formed on a second electrode side with respect to the emission layer are set so as to resonate light emitted in the emission layer, and a first region with a relatively short optical path L1 and a second region with a relatively long optical path L2 are provided, wherein L1 and L2 are set to satisfy Expression 1 with resonant wavelengths λ1, λ2, and λ3, a sum φt of phase shifts when light is reflected by the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, and a viewing angle α: λ1=2L1/(p−φt/2π) λ2=2L2/(q+1−φt/2π) λ3=2L2 cos α/(q−φt/2π) λ1=λ2=λ3 (Expression 1) wherein p and q each independently represent a positive integer and α is not 0°. |
| US07915810B2 |
Display device, and method for repairing a defective pixel
A display device 10 including a supporting substrate 12, pixels arranged over the supporting substrate, and a member which is arranged on the light extraction side of a defective pixel 22b, the defective pixel being in a constantly non-lit state, the member being imparted with a light scattering property by the selective application of external energy. Preferably, disposed is a thermosensitive layer 24 which changes from a transparent state to a light scattering state when the layer is heated to a specified temperature or higher. An examination is performed for specifying the constantly non-lit defective pixel from among the pixels arranged over the supporting substrate. An external energy is selectively applied to at least one member arranged on the light extraction side of the defective pixel specified by the examination, thereby imparting the light scattering property to the member. |
| US07915809B2 |
Electrophosphorescent organic light emitting diode formed using solvent soluble materials
The present invention provides an electrophosphorescent organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The electrophosphorescent OLED includes a substrate having a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface, a first electrode layer overlying the first opposing surface, and a light-emitting element overlying the first electrode layer. The light emitting element includes a hole injection layer and a phosphorescent emissive layer. The hole injection layer is formed of a crosslinked polysiloxane, which includes at least one siloxane unit R—Y—Siθ3/2 having at least one aromatic amine group (R) and at least one divalent organic group (Y). The aromatic amine group includes at least one of a carbazolyl group, a substituted carbazolyl group, a triarylamine group, and a substituted triarylamine group. |
| US07915807B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device is provided which has a structure for lowering energy barriers at interfaces between layers of a laminate organic compound layer. A mixed layer (105) composed of a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (1) (102) and a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (2) (103) is formed at the interface between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103). The energy barrier formed between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103) thus can be lowered. |
| US07915805B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display and method of manufacture
An organic electroluminescent display having better photoluminescence efficiency includes a first electrode, an organic light-emitting layer, and a second electrode sequentially disposed on a first surface of an insulating substrate, and a plurality of convex patterns disposed on a second surface of the insulating substrate opposite to the first surface and spaced apart from each other, and which are formed of a transparent sealant having a viscosity of 5,000 to 150,000 cp and comprised of an epoxy- or acrylate-based resin, together with a plurality of concave patterns interposed between the convex patterns. |
| US07915803B2 |
Laminated thick film dielectric structure for thick film dielectric electroluminescent displays
A novel and improved composite thick film dielectric structure is provided to improve the operating stability of phosphors used in thick dielectric ac electroluminescent displays. The novel structure comprises one or more aluminum oxide layers disposed between the composite thick dielectric layer and the bottom of the phosphor layer of these displays. |
| US07915794B2 |
Piezoelectric device having a tension stress, and angular velocity sensor
A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric film and an electrode film. The piezoelectric film is constituted of lead zirconium titanate represented by Pb1+X(ZrYTi1−Y)O3+X, where X is 0 or more and 0.3 or less and Y is 0 or more and 0.55 or less, the piezoelectric film having a tension stress. The electrode film applies a voltage to the piezoelectric film. |
| US07915793B2 |
Thin film tuning-fork type inflection resonator and electric signal processing element
A compact resonator has a wide bandwidth and a small variation of the specific vibration frequency. The resonator is a thin film tuning-fork type inflection resonator in which a thin film made of a piezoelectric material is formed on a substrate on which a lower electrode is formed, and an upper electrode is formed on the piezoelectric thin film. |
| US07915786B2 |
Elastic boundary wave device
An elastic boundary wave device of the present invention includes a plurality of elastic boundary wave elements. The elastic boundary wave elements each include a piezoelectric material layer, an electrode disposed over the piezoelectric material layer, a first dielectric layer formed over the piezoelectric material layer so as to cover the electrode, and a second dielectric layer formed over the first dielectric layer. An acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layers is faster than an acoustic velocity of the first dielectric layers, and the acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layer of at least one elastic boundary wave element from among the plurality of elastic boundary wave elements is different from the acoustic velocity of the second dielectric layer of another of the elastic boundary wave elements. This enables improving the degree of suppression in use as a filter in the elastic boundary wave device. |
| US07915785B2 |
Reflective and slanted array channelized sensor arrays
Reflective and slanted array channelized sensor arrays having a broadband source providing acoustic energy to a reflective or slanted array that reflects a portion of the incident signal to one or more sensing films wherein the response is measured. |
| US07915777B2 |
Ring coil motor
The invention relates to a ring coil motor (1, 20) with a primary part (3, 21) and a secondary part (2, 22), wherein the primary part (3, 21) has a ring coil (6, 25) and permanent magnets (9, 27). |
| US07915774B2 |
Spindle motor
A spindle motor is provided. The spindle motor includes a base, a bearing housing, a bearing, a rotation shaft, a stator, a bushing, and a rotor. The bearing housing is installed on the base. The bearing is fixed inside the bearing housing. The rotation shaft is installed to be supported by and rotate on the bearing. The stator is disposed around the bearing housing. The bushing is coupled to the rotation shaft. The rotor is coupled to the bushing to rotate through interaction with the stator. |
| US07915771B2 |
Salient-pole machine comprising at least one field coil
The invention relates to a salient-pole machine comprising at least one field coil that extends in an axial direction of the salient-pole machine and is located below a pole shoe on a rotor body. Said machine is characterized in that the field coil is pressed against the pole shoe by means of at least one spring that is provided between the field coil and the rotor body and that an axial cooling channel is created in the gap between the field coil and the rotor body that is formed by the spring. The spring is configured in particular as a bent plate spring. |
| US07915768B2 |
Linear guide with an integrated linear motor
A linear guide with an integrated linear motor, the linear guide having a stationary support extending in a guide direction, a table movable in the guide direction and a linear motor. The linear motor includes 1) a movable element connected with the table, 2) a stationary element connected with the stationary support and contactless bearings between the stationary support and the table and 3) an electromagnetic positioner based on electromagnetic interaction for positioning the table transversely in relation to the guide direction. The linear guide includes an integrated position-measuring system having a scale and scanning heads which detect a position of the table in the guide direction and a deviation direction, which lies transversely in relation to the guide direction and parallel in relation to a plane of an air gap of the linear motor. The electromagnetic positioner acts in such a way so that the table is positioned in the deviation direction. |
| US07915767B2 |
Linear synchronous motor
A linear synchronous motor, in which one or more intermediate annular magnetic pole portions and yoke assemblies can be connected easily while positioning the intermediate annular magnetic pole portions. A fitting concave portion that is opened in an axial direction and a direction away from a direct drive shaft is formed in each connected portion of the intermediate annular magnetic pole portions. A plurality of fitting grooves are formed on an outer peripheral surface of a pair of magnetic cylindrical members at a plurality of portions facing the plurality of intermediate annular magnetic pole portions. The intermediate annular magnetic pole portions are fixedly positioned between the pair of magnetic cylindrical members by fitting a peripheral portion defining the fitting concave portion of the intermediate annular magnetic pole portion into the corresponding fitting groove of the magnetic cylindrical member. |
| US07915765B2 |
Dual reference capacitive sensing user interface
A module for controlling power supply to a load in a product which includes a microchip, and an electromechanical switch and a proximity/touch sensor connected to the microchip, preferably to the same input. The switch is primarily used to activate or deactivate the load and the proximity/touch sensor to vary the effect of operating the switch, or to control additional functions such as the activation of a signal, typically a light signal, which helps to locate the product, particularly in the dark, and to vary the duration of an automatic time-out period at the end of which the load is deactivated. |
| US07915761B1 |
Power injector detection
In one embodiment, a signal detector is coupled to an external power source. The signal detector is configured to ascertain whether a predetermined signal was received from the external power source. Control logic is coupled to the signal detector and to the external power source. The control logic is responsive to the signal detector to determine a characteristic of the external power source based on whether the signal detector detected the predetermined signal. The characteristics of the external power supply can be determined based on the frequency, amplitude and duration of a signal received from the power injector. This enables the control logic to determine the power available from an unknown power supply and to configure a device to operate accordingly. |
| US07915759B2 |
Micro-power source module
A power source IC and noise absorption capacitors (decoupling capacitors) are formed on an inductor in such a manner that the noise absorption capacitors are provided on the input side and the output side, respectively. A micro-power source module can thus be provided which is small in occupied area and height and can reduce conduction noise due to ground lines. |
| US07915756B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a redundant circuit which can operate even when power source in a circuit in part of the redundant circuit is short-circuited. A power source circuit, a power source control circuit to which a power source potential is input from the power source circuit, and a first functional circuit and a second functional circuit connected to the power source control circuit are provided for a semiconductor device. The power source control circuit selects one of the first functional circuit and the second functional circuit and judges whether power source is short-circuited or not. When power source is short-circuited, power source supply stops and other functional circuits are supplied with power source. |
| US07915750B1 |
Methods and apparatus for generating electrical energy with a submerged tank
Generation of electrical energy from water is performed by submerging a tank having an inlet and an outlet in a body of water so that the water inlet is located under a water surface and covered by water, and water flows thereby into an interior of the tank, evacuating water from the tank through the outlet to maintain in the interior of the tank a space for flowing water through the inlet into the interior of the tank; and arranging a converting unit which converts energy of the water flowing into the interior of the tank into an electrical energy. |
| US07915749B1 |
Method for generating electrical power from municipal wastewater
An electrical generating assembly 10 which may be selectively used in combination with and/or as part of a municipal wastewater treatment facility 12 and which allows the wastewater treatment facility 12 to generate electrical energy 48,62, 13 as received wastewater 14 is cleaned according to a plurality of diverse energy generating strategies. |
| US07915745B2 |
Multi-port memory device having serial input/output interface
A multi-port memory device includes a first package ball out region in which a plurality of balls for a serial I/O interface part are arranged; and a second package ball out region in which a plurality of balls for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) part are arranged. |
| US07915741B2 |
Solder bump UBM structure
Disclosed is an under bump metallization structure including a plurality of metal or metal alloy layers formed on chip bond pads. The disclosed UBM structure has a stress improvement on the semiconductor device because the thickness of the copper-base layer is reduced to between about 0.3 and 10 microns, preferably between about 0.3 and 2 micron. The presence of the pure tin layer prevents oxidation and contamination of the nickel-base layer. It also forms a good solderable surface for the subsequent processes. Also disclosed are semiconductor devices having the disclosed UBM structure and the methods of making the semiconductor devices. |
| US07915734B2 |
Chip structure and process for forming the same
A chip structure comprises a substrate, a first built-up layer, a passivation layer and a second built-up layer. The substrate includes many electric devices placed on a surface of the substrate. The first built-up layer is located on the substrate. The first built-up layer is provided with a first dielectric body and a first interconnection scheme, wherein the first interconnection scheme interlaces inside the first dielectric body and is electrically connected to the electric devices. The first interconnection scheme is constructed from first metal layers and plugs, wherein the neighboring first metal layers are electrically connected through the plugs. The passivation layer is disposed on the first built-up layer and is provided with openings exposing the first interconnection scheme. The second built-up layer is formed on the passivation layer. The second built-up layer is provided with a second dielectric body and a second interconnection scheme, wherein the second interconnection scheme interlaces inside the second dielectric body and is electrically connected to the first interconnection scheme. The second interconnection scheme is constructed from at least one second metal layer and at least one via metal filler, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected to the via metal filler. The thickness, width, and cross-sectional area of the traces of the second metal layer are respectively larger than those of the first metal layers. |
| US07915732B2 |
Production of integrated circuit chip packages prohibiting formation of micro solder balls
Methods for making, and structures so made for producing integrated circuit (IC) chip packages without forming micro solder balls. In one embodiment, a method may include placing a solid grid made from an organic material between the IC chip and the substrate. The grid provides a physical barrier between each of a plurality of Controlled Collapse Chip Connections, and thereby prevents the formation of micro solder balls between them, thus improving chip performance and reliability. |
| US07915730B2 |
Packaging conductive structure and method for manufacturing the same
A packaging conductive structure for a semiconductor substrate and a method for manufacturing the structure are provided. The structure comprises an under bump metal (UBM) that overlays a pad of the semiconductor substrate. At least one auxiliary component is disposed on the UBM. Then, a bump conductive layer is disposed thereon and a bump is subsequently formed on the bump conductive layer. Thus, the bump can electrically connect to the pad of the semiconductor substrate through the UBM and the bump conductive layer and can provide better junction buffer capabilities and conductivity. |
| US07915727B2 |
Tape for heat dissipating member, chip on film type semiconductor package including heat dissipating member, and electronic apparatus including the same
Disclosed is a chip-on-film (COF) type semiconductor package and a device using the same. The COF type semiconductor package may include an insulation substrate including a top surface and bottom surface, a semiconductor device on the top surface of the insulation substrate, a heat dissipating component on the bottom surface of the insulation substrate, and at least one space between the bottom surface of the insulation substrate and a top surface of the heat dissipating component. |
| US07915723B2 |
Transistor array, manufacturing method thereof and image processor
An image processor by way of a transistor array in which a plurality of transistors are formed on a substrate comprising a plurality of polysilicon thin-film transistors using a first semiconductor layer composed of polysilicon formed on the substrate and functional devices having a plurality of amorphous silicon thin-film transistors using a second semiconductor layer composed of amorphous silicon which are formed in an upper layer more superior than the first semiconductor layer. The polysilicon thin-film transistors and functional devices include a plurality of electrode layers composed of a conductor layer, for instance, the functional devices at least of any one of the electrode layers are formed in the same layer as any one the electrode layers of the polysilicon thin-film transistors. |
| US07915719B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises: a first and second die pads arranged side by side; a plurality of inner leads arranged around the first and second die pads; first and second chips mounted on the first and second die pads; a bar provided between the first and second chips and the plurality of inner leads, extending in an array direction of the first chip and the second chip; a plurality of wires that connect the first and second chips and the plurality of inner leads and connect the first chip and the second chip; and resin that seals the first and second die pads, the plurality of inner leads, the first and second chips, the plurality of wires and the bar, wherein the bar comprises a mark provided at a position corresponding to an area between the first chip and the second chip in an array direction of the first chip and the second chip. |
| US07915716B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with leadframe array
An integrated circuit package system includes providing an integrated circuit die; attaching the integrated circuit die over a lead grid having lead blocks; and connecting a die interconnect to the integrated circuit die and the lead blocks. |
| US07915713B2 |
Field effect transistors with channels oriented to different crystal planes
An integrated circuit includes a first field effect transistor of a first carrier type and a second field effect transistor of a second, different carrier type. In a conductive state, a first channel of the first field effect transistor is oriented to one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes of a semiconductor substrate and a second channel of the second field effect transistor is oriented to at least one of a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. The first set of equivalent crystal planes is parallel to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second set of equivalent crystal planes is perpendicular to the main surface. |
| US07915704B2 |
Schottky diode
Improved Schottky diodes (20) with reduced leakage current and improved breakdown voltage are provided by building a JFET (56) into the diode, serially located in the anode-cathode current path (32). The gates of the JFET (56) formed by doped regions (38, 40) placed above and below the diode's current path (32) are coupled to the anode (312) of the diode (20), and the current path (32) passes through the channel region (46) of the JFET (56). Operation is automatic so that as the reverse voltage increases, the JFET (56) channel region (46) pinches off, thereby limiting the leakage current and clamping the voltage across the Schottky junction (50) at a level below the Schottky junction (50) breakdown. Increased reverse voltage can be safely applied until the device eventually breaks down elsewhere. The impact on device area and area efficiency is minimal and the device can be built using a standard fabrication process so that it can be easily integrated into complex ICs. |
| US07915691B2 |
High density SRAM cell with hybrid devices
Hybrid SRAM circuit, hybrid SRAM structures and method of fabricating hybrid SRAMs. The SRAM structures include first and second cross-coupled inverters coupled to first and second pass gate devices. The pull-down devices of the inverters are FinFETs while the pull-up devices of the inverters and the pass gate devices are planar FETs or pull-down and pull-up devices of the inverters are FinFETs while the pass gate devices are planar FETs. |
| US07915690B2 |
Die rearrangement package structure using layout process to form a compliant configuration
A die rearrangement package structure is provided, which includes a die that having an active surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of pads is disposed on the active surface; a package body is provided to cover a die and the active surface being exposed; a polymer material with at least one slit is provided to cover the active surface and the pads is exposed from said slits; one ends of a plurality of metal traces is electrically connected to each pads; a protective layer is provided to cover the active surface of the dies and each metal traces, and the other ends of the metal traces being exposed; a plurality of connecting elements is electrically connected other ends of the metal traces, the characterized in that: the package body is a B-stage material. |
| US07915688B2 |
Semiconductor device with MISFET
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor region provided in the substrate, a group of transistors including a plurality of MIS transistors and provided in the semiconductor region, the MIS transistors including a plurality of gate electrodes which extend in a first direction and are provided on the semiconductor region via gate insulation films, an insulation film provided on the group of transistors, and a first contact layer and a second contact layer extending in the first direction and provided on the semiconductor region at opposite sides of the group of transistors. |
| US07915684B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
To provide a structure and a manufacturing method for efficiently forming a transistor to which tensile strain is preferably applied and a transistor to which compressive strain is preferably applied over the same substrate when stress is applied to a semiconductor layer in order to improve mobility of the transistors in a semiconductor device. Plural kinds of transistors which are separated from a single-crystal semiconductor substrate and include single-crystal semiconductor layers bonded to a substrate having an insulating surface with a bonding layer interposed therebetween are provided over the same substrate. One of the transistors uses a single-crystal semiconductor layer as an active layer, to which tensile strain is applied. The other transistors use single-crystal semiconductor layers as active layers, to which compressive strain using part of heat shrink generated by heat treatment of the base substrate after bonding is applied. |
| US07915680B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device comprises: a channel region of a transistor formed in a predetermined region of silicon layer formed on insulation film; a gate electrode formed on the channel region via gate insulation film; and source/drain regions formed in the silicon layer thicker than said channel region located out of the channel region, wherein the transistor is a memory element constituting the channel region as a floating body cell. |
| US07915672B2 |
Semiconductor device having trench shield electrode structure
In one embodiment, a structure for a semiconductor device having a trench shield electrode includes a control pad, control runners, shield runners, and a control/shield electrode contact structure. The structure is configured to use a single level of metal to connect the various components. In another embodiment, a shield runner is placed in an offset from center configuration. |
| US07915665B2 |
Non-volatile two-transistor programmable logic cell and array layout
A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor. |
| US07915663B2 |
Fabrication and method of operation of multi-level memory cell on SOI substrate
A semiconductor device includes an insulation layer (14) provided on a semiconductor substrate (12), a p-type semiconductor region (16) provided on the insulation layer, an isolation region (18) provided that surrounds the p-type semiconductor region to reach the insulation layer, an n-type source region (20) and an n-type drain region (22) provided on the p-type semiconductor region, a charge storage region (30) provided above the p-type semiconductor region between the n-type source region and the n-type drain region, and an voltage applying portion that applies a different voltage to the p-type semiconductor region while any of programming, erasing and reading a different data of a memory cell that has the charge storage region is being preformed. |
| US07915659B2 |
Devices with cavity-defined gates and methods of making the same
A method that includes forming a semiconductor fin, forming a sacrificial material adjacent the semiconductor fin, covering the sacrificial material with a dielectric material, forming a cavity by removing the sacrificial material from under the dielectric material, and forming a gate in the cavity. System and devices are also provided. |
| US07915652B2 |
Integrated infrared and color CMOS imager sensor
An integrated infrared (IR) and full color complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager array is provided. The array is built upon a lightly doped p doped silicon (Si) substrate. Each pixel cell includes at least one visible light detection pixel and an IR pixel. Each visible light pixel includes a moderately p doped bowl with a bottom p doped layer and p doped sidewalls. An n doped layer is enclosed by the p doped bowl, and a moderately p doped surface region overlies the n doped layer. A transfer transistor has a gate electrode overlying the p doped sidewalls, a source formed from the n doped layer, and an n+ doped drain connected to a floating diffusion region. The IR pixel is the same, except that there is no bottom p doped layer. An optical wavelength filter overlies the visible light and IR pixels. |
| US07915651B2 |
Transparent double-injection field-effect transistor
A double-injection field-effect transistor has an anode, a cathode, a substantially transparent channel, a substantially transparent gate insulator, and at least one substantially transparent gate electrode. The transistor may also have a substantially transparent anode and/or cathode. The transistor may also be formed on a substantially transparent substrate. Electrode contacts and electrical interconnection leads may also be substantially transparent. Methods for making and using such double-injection field-effect transistors are also disclosed. |
| US07915649B2 |
Light emitting display device and method of fabricating the same
A light emitting display device includes a light emitting diode and a thin film transistor on a substrate, the light emitting diode and thin film transistor being electrically coupled to each other, and a photo diode on the substrate, the photo diode including an N-type doping region, a P-type doping region, and an intrinsic region between the N-type doping region and the P-type doping region, the intrinsic region including amorphous silicon. |
| US07915644B2 |
Wide bandgap HEMTs with source connected field plates
A HEMT comprising an active region comprising a plurality of active semiconductor layers formed on a substrate. Source electrode, drain electrode, and gate are formed in electrical contact with the active region. A spacer layer is formed on at least a portion of a surface of said active region and covering the gate. A field plate is formed on the spacer layer and electrically connected to the source electrode, wherein the field plate reduces the peak operating electric field in the HEMT. |
| US07915642B2 |
Apparatus and methods for forming a modulation doped non-planar transistor
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for providing three-dimensional complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices comprising modulation doped transistors are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07915638B2 |
Symmetric bidirectional silicon-controlled rectifier
The present invention discloses a symmetric bidirectional silicon-controlled rectifier, which comprises: a substrate; a buried layer formed on the substrate; a first well, a middle region and a second well, which are sequentially formed on the buried layer side-by-side; a first semiconductor area and a second semiconductor area both formed inside the first well; a third semiconductor area formed in a junction between the first well and the middle region, wherein a first gate is formed over a region between the second and third semiconductor areas; a fourth semiconductor area and a fifth semiconductor area both formed inside the second well; a sixth semiconductor area formed in a junction between the second well and the middle region, wherein a second gate is formed over a region between the fifth and sixth semiconductor areas. |
| US07915635B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting element and substrate used in formation of the same
For a semiconductor laser, a stacked member comprising an active layer is formed on the surface of a GaN single-crystal substrate, a defect aggregation portion is formed on the rear face of the GaN single-crystal substrate, and an electrode is formed so as to be electrically connected to the defect aggregation portion on the rear face. The defect aggregation portion of this semiconductor laser has numerous crystal defects, and so the carrier concentration is high, and the electrical resistivity is lowered significantly. For this reason, in a semiconductor laser of this invention in which an electrode is formed on this defect aggregation portion, an Ohmic contact can easily be obtained between the GaN single-crystal substrate and the electrode, and by this means a lowered driving voltage is realized. |
| US07915632B2 |
Diode having vertical structure and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting diode includes a conductive layer, an n-GaN layer on the conductive layer, an active layer on the n-GaN layer, a p-GaN layer on the active layer, and a p-electrode on the p-GaN layer. The conductive layer is an n-electrode. |
| US07915629B2 |
Composite high reflectivity layer
A high efficiency light emitting diode with a composite high reflectivity layer integral to said LED to improve emission efficiency. One embodiment of a light emitting diode (LED) chip comprises an LED and a composite high reflectivity layer integral to the LED to reflect light emitted from the active region. The composite layer comprises a first layer, and alternating plurality of second and third layers on the first layer, and a reflective layer on the topmost of said plurality of second and third layers. The second and third layers have a different index of refraction, and the first layer is at least three times thicker than the thickest of the second and third layers. For composite layers internal to the LED chip, conductive vias can be included through the composite layer to allow an electrical signal to pass through the composite layer to the LED. |
| US07915626B1 |
Aluminum nitride transitional layer for reducing dislocation density and cracking of AIGan epitaxial films
A denticulated Group III nitride structure that is useful for growing AlxGa1-xN to greater thicknesses without cracking and with a greatly reduced threading dislocation (TD) density. |
| US07915625B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor light emitting device including: a light emitting part formed of a multilayer structure arising from sequential stacking of a first compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer; a current block layer; and a burying layer, wherein a planar shape of the active layer is a strip shape in which a width of a center part is smaller than a width of both end parts, the current block layer is composed of third and fourth compound semiconductor layers, the burying layer is formed of a multilayer structure arising from sequential stacking of a first burying layer and a second burying layer, and an impurity for causing the second burying layer is such that a substitution site of the impurity in the second burying layer does not compete with a substitution site of an impurity in the third compound semiconductor layer. |
| US07915624B2 |
III-nitride light-emitting devices with one or more resonance reflectors and reflective engineered growth templates for such devices, and methods
A light emitter includes a first mirror that is an epitaxially grown metal mirror, a second mirror, and an active region that is epitaxially grown such that the active region is positioned at or close to, at least, one antinode between the first mirror and the second mirror. |
| US07915619B2 |
Light-emitting diode and method for fabrication thereof
A transparent-substrate light-emitting diode (10) has a light-emitting layer (133) made of a compound semiconductor, wherein the area (A) of a light-extracting surface having formed thereon a first electrode (15) and a second electrode (16) differing in polarity from the first electrode (15), the area (B) of a light-emitting layer (133) formed as approximating to the light-extracting surface and the area (C) of the back surface of a light-emitting diode falling on the side opposite the side for forming the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (16) are so related as to satisfy the relation of A>C>B. The light-emitting diode (10) of this invention, owing to the relation of the area of the light-emitting layer (133) and the area of the back surface (23) of the transparent substrate and the optimization of the shape of a side face of the transparent substrate (14), exhibits high brightness and high exoergic property never attained heretofore and fits use with an electric current of high degree. |
| US07915617B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises: a first semiconductor layer of silicon carbide of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of silicon carbide of a second conductivity type selectively provided on the first semiconductor layer; a main electrode layer of silicon carbide of the first conductivity type selectively provided on the second semiconductor layer; a gate insulating film provided on the second semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type intervening a current path which is formed between the main electrode layer and the first semiconductor layer when an ON voltage is applied to the gate electrode. The third semiconductor layer is selectively provided on the first semiconductor layer and is adjacent to the second semiconductor layer. A doping density of the third semiconductor layer is higher than a doping density of the first semiconductor layer. |
| US07915616B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel and the second pixel are defined by a first gate bus line, a second gate bus line, a first power supply line and a second power supply line. A data bus line between the first supply line and the second supply line divides the first pixel from the second pixel line. Accordingly, the pixel shares a data bus line or a power supply line with adjacent pixel. Advantageously, thereby, more space between lines prevents defects caused during fabricating the display device and improve a reliability of the display device. |
| US07915614B2 |
Display substrate having the same and method of manufacturing the display substrate
A display substrate includes a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer, a color filter layer and a pixel electrode formed on a substrate. The TFT layer includes a gate line, a data line electrically insulated from the gate line and extending in a direction different from the gate line, a TFT electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, and a storage electrode formed from the same layer as the gate line in each pixel. The color filter layer includes a storage hole extending to a portion of the TFT layer corresponding to the storage electrode. The storage hole has a horizontal cross-sectional area greater than the storage electrode, wherein the horizontal cross-sectional area is measured in a plane parallel to the substrate. The pixel electrode is formed on the color filter layer and in the storage hole to form a storage capacitor with the storage electrode. |
| US07915613B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device including a substrate having a plurality of sub-pixel areas, a switching thin film transistor formed on each of the sub-pixel areas, a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor, a color filter formed on at least one of sub-pixel areas, an insulating layer formed on the switching thin film transistor, the driving thin film transistor and the color filter, a pixel electrode connected to the driving thin film transistor, an organic light emitting member formed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode formed on the organic light emitting member. The insulating layer has a groove. The groove is formed along a boundary of the pixel electrode. The groove has a width of about 0.2 to about 4 μm. The groove has a depth of about 0.2 to about 4 μm. The pixel electrode has an edge declined in the groove. |
| US07915610B2 |
ZnO-based thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same
A ZnO-based thin film transistor (TFT) is provided herein, as is a method of manufacturing the TFT. The ZnO-based TFT has a channel layer that comprises ZnO and ZnCl, wherein the ZnCl has a higher bonding energy than ZnO with respect to plasma. The ZnCl is formed through the entire channel layer, and specifically is formed in a region near the surface of the channel layer. Since the ZnCl is strong enough not to be decomposed when exposed to plasma etching gas, an increase in the carrier concentration can be prevented. The distribution of ZnCl in the channel layer, may result from the inclusion of chlorine (Cl) in the plasma gas during the patterning of the channel layer. |
| US07915608B2 |
Scalable quantum well device and method for manufacturing the same
A quantum well device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a quantum well region overlying a substrate, a gate region overlying a portion of the quantum well region, a source and drain region adjacent to the gate region. The quantum well region includes a buffer structure overlying the substrate and including semiconductor material having a first band gap, a channel structure overlying the buffer structure including a semiconductor material having a second band gap, and a barrier layer overlying the channel structure and including an un-doped semiconductor material having a third band gap. The first and third band gap are wider than the second band gap. Each of the source and drain region is self-aligned to the gate region and includes a semiconductor material having a doped region and a fourth band gap wider than the second band gap. |
| US07915605B2 |
LED packaged structure and applications of LED as light source
LED packaged structures and applications thereof are disclosed, characterized in that: an active layer in the LED or the LED packaged structure is formed on a first semiconductor conductive layer with multi-quantum wells; and a second semiconductor conductive layer is formed on the active layer; wherein a plurality of particles formed by at least one hetero-material are scattered between the first semiconductor conductive layer and the active layer in order to form an uneven multi-quantum well. |
| US07915603B2 |
Modifiable gate stack memory element
An apparatus and method for storing information are provided, including using a transistor having a channel, a gate oxide layer, a gate electrode, and a modifiable gate stack layer. The on-resistance of the transistor is changed by causing a non-charge-storage based physical change in the modifiable gate stack layer, to store information. |
| US07915602B2 |
Phase change memory device and fabrication method thereof
A phase change memory device is provided in which the area of contact between phase change material and heater electrode is reduced to suppress current required for heating and a phase change region is formed directly on a contact to raise the degree of integration. The device comprises a heater electrode in which the lower part thereof is surrounded by a side wall of a first insulating material and the upper part thereof protruding from the side wall has a sharp configuration covered by a second insulating material except for a part of the tip end thereof, and the exposed tip end is coupled to the phase change material layer. |
| US07915598B2 |
Method and device for measuring electromagnetic signal
An electromagnetic signal measuring device includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure is capable of producing a sound by absorbing an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal measuring device is able to determine the intensity and polarization of the electromagnetic signal. |
| US07915596B2 |
Integrated neutron-gamma radiation detector with optical waveguide and neutron scintillating material
A radiation detector includes a neutron sensing element having a neutron scintillating material at least partially surrounded by an optical waveguide material; and a photosensing element optically coupled to the neutron sensing element. The photons emitted from the neutron sensing element are collected and channeled through the optical waveguide material and into the photosensing element. |
| US07915595B2 |
X-ray detector and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an X-ray detector and a method of manufacturing the X-ray detector. A cushion layer is interposed between a scintillator panel for converting X-rays into visual light and a lower substrate formed with a thin film transistor, a photoelectric conversion device. Thus, the lower substrate and the scintillator panel can be bonded to each other such that no air layer can be introduced between the lower substrate and the scintillator panel. Therefore, no air layer is introduced, and thus, it is possible to prevent the efficiency of light incident to the photoelectric conversion device from being lowered. Further, the cushion layer is employed such that the lower substrate and the scintillator panel can be separated and reused. |
| US07915594B2 |
X-ray detector and method of driving the same
An X-ray detector and method of driving an X-ray detector include an X-ray detector having a detection module that includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of photoelectric transducers connected to the gate lines, respectively, to convert X-ray radiation into an electric signal, a data reading module that sequentially scans the gate lines, generates a dummy dark level, by reading electric signals of the photoelectric transducers during a standby period, generates an offset dark level, by reading the electric signals from the photoelectric transducers, before X-ray radiating a specimen, and generates a bright level by reading the electric signals from the photoelectric signals after the irradiation of the specimen during an X-ray radiation period, and a data processing module that ignores the dummy dark level and generates image data using only the bright level and the offset dark level. |
| US07915588B2 |
Arrangement and method for detecting an object which is arranged on a body, in particular for carrying out a security check
The invention relates to an arrangement (10) and a method for detecting an object (18) arranged on a body (14). The arrangement comprises a vibration device (12), which sets the body (14) in a mechanical vibration of predetermined vibration frequency and predetermined vibration phase, an emission device (20) which emits in the direction of the body (14) a coherent electromagnetic detection radiation (26), the radiation frequency of which is selected such that it is reflected at least in part by the body (14) and the object (18) to be detected, a receiver device (30), which receives the radiation (28) reflected by the body (14) and the object (18), and an evaluation device (32) which filters out of the radiation (28) received the portions having the predetermined vibration frequency and evaluates them with respect to their vibration phase difference from the predetermined vibration phase. |
| US07915583B2 |
Method and system for ultrafast photoelectron microscope
An ultrafast system (and methods) for characterizing one or more samples. The system includes a stage assembly, which has a sample to be characterized. The system has a laser source that is capable of emitting an optical pulse of less than 1 ps in duration. The system has a cathode coupled to the laser source. In a specific embodiment, the cathode is capable of emitting an electron pulse less than 1 ps in duration. The system has an electron lens assembly adapted to focus the electron pulse onto the sample disposed on the stage. The system has a detector adapted to capture one or more electrons passing through the sample. The one or more electrons passing through the sample is representative of the structure of the sample. The detector provides a signal (e.g., data signal) associated with the one or more electrons passing through the sample that represents the structure of the sample. The system has a processor coupled to the detector. The processor is adapted to process the data signal associated with the one or more electrons passing through the sample to output information associated with the structure of the sample. The system has an output device coupled to the processor. The output device is adapted to output the information associated with the structure of the sample. |
| US07915582B2 |
Method for estimation of probe shape in charged particle beam instruments
A method for estimation of a probe shape, in a scanning electron microscope provided with an aberration corrector, and the method is designed so as to obtain a probe image, by inputting to a computer an image taken in a just-focused state and an image taken in a de-focused state, as an image data; preparing a correlation window by automatically determining a size of a correlation window image, based on an input data size and an output data size; executing cross-correlation calculation between the correlation window and a reference area; and repeating this calculation while shifting the reference area, so as to obtain a cross-correlation matrix, in order to stably obtain the probe image, without receiving effects of use conditions or noises. |
| US07915579B2 |
Method and apparatus of liquid sample-desorption electrospray ionization-mass specrometry (LS-DESI-MS)
An apparatus and method for direct analysis of continuous-flow liquid samples by desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) including a sample stage that is adapted to receive a liquid sample and a nebulizing ionizer that is configured to generate a charged, nebulized solvent and thereby desorb at least a portion of the liquid sample from the sample stage. |
| US07915577B2 |
Single-shot spatially-resolved imaging magnetometry using ultracold atoms
A method and system for remotely imaging a magnetic field within an atom cloud is provided. An atom sample held in a magneto-optical trap is released, and the released atom cloud is illuminated by a Raman beam. Resonant atoms having certain velocities will absorb photon momenta from the Raman beam. The velocities of those resonant atoms will change in response to the absorbed momenta, causing a change in the travel distance of those atoms as compared with non-resonant atoms. The atom cloud is imaged by an imaging device such as a CCD camera and the presence of the resonant atoms is shown in the images as bright lines in the atom cloud. The distance traveled by the resonant atoms and therefore the separation of the lines in the image is a function of the magnetic fields in the atom cloud. The system and method of the present invention can image the magnetic fields within an atom cloud with a high spatial resolution over the entire atom cloud in a single imaging cycle, and analysis of the image provides information regarding the magnetic fields. |
| US07915570B2 |
Smart camera with an integrated lighting controller
A smart camera includes an integrated lighting current controller and can couple to one or more external light sources. The integrated lighting current controller can control and power the one or more external light sources using a current pulse. The one or more external light sources can provide illumination for the smart camera to acquire the image of an object under test. |
| US07915568B2 |
Multifunction microwave oven with superheated steam and the control method thereof
The present invention disclosed a multifunction microwave oven with superheated steam and the control method thereof, so as to heat the food uniformly and to provide versatile heating modes including at least superheated steam mode, ordinary steam mode and convective hot flow mode. |
| US07915562B2 |
High energy density beam welding system using molten metal droplet jetting
The present invention relates to a high energy density beam welding system using molten metal droplet jetting. The present invention includes a beam emitting unit for emitting a high energy density beam onto a welded portion on a target object; and a molten metal droplet jetting unit for generating molten metal droplets to transfer or spray the molten metal droplets onto the welded portion on the target object, which follows a path of the beam emitting unit. Thus, it has advantages of widening a range of applications and enhancing the productivity and the quality in that a welding can be performed at a high junction efficiency even where a gap is wide, a loss in the high density energy beam is small, and heat distortions of the welded portion can be minimized. |
| US07915560B2 |
TIG welding equipment and TIG welding methods
The TIG welding methods of the present invention include generating an electric arc between an electrode and an object to weld the object, wherein a first shielding gas including an inert gas flows toward the welded object surrounding the electrode, a second shielding gas containing an oxidative gas flows toward the welded object along a periphery of the first shielding gas, and the concentration of the oxidative gas in the second shielding gas is set such that the oxygen concentration in the welded metal portion of the welded object is within a range of 70 to 220 wt. ppm. |
| US07915559B2 |
Electrode for electric discharge surface treatment, method for manufacturing electrode, and method for storing electrode
An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment, in which a pulse-like electric discharge is caused between the electrode and a work in a dielectric fluid or an atmosphere, and in which a coat of an electrode material or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the electrode material due to an electric discharge energy is formed on a surface of the work, is a molded powder that is formed by molding a material powder including a metallic powder, a metallic compound powder, and a conductive ceramic powder. A powder solid that is formed as a result of coagulation of the material powder, and that is included in the molded powder has a diameter shorter than a distance between the electrode and the work. |
| US07915558B2 |
Circuit breaker with articulating control cabinet
A circuit breaker is provided having three horizontal circuit breakers coupled together with a base housing. Each of the horizontal circuit breakers comprising a tank secured in the housing, first and second current transformers extending from the tank and exit and entrance insulators extending from the first and second current transformers. The housing is mountable on a support frame. To facilitate shipping and field assembly, the circuit breaker includes an control panel moveably coupled to the housing. |
| US07915554B2 |
Display unit
A display unit, attached to a bar forming a handlebar, frame or stem of a bicycle with a securing tool, comprises a body having a display part capable of realizing a first display state displaying first data (traveling speed, for example) and a second state displaying second data (traveling distance, for example). The first and second display states are switched by pressing down body from above. |
| US07915553B2 |
Touch switch for electrical appliances and electrical appliance provided with such switch
A touch switch for an electrical appliance having a capacitive flat electrode, a light source, a transparent cover and a printed circuit board connected to the electrode is disclosed. The light source is mounted on a face of the printed circuit board opposite the transparent cover and the printed circuit board presents a cut-out for allowing light transmission from the light source towards the transparent cover. |
| US07915552B2 |
Control panel assembly and method for controlling thereof
A control panel assembly is disclosed for making it easy to manipulate buttons of home appliances, the control panel including at least one LED connected to a circuit board for selectively emitting light, a switch connected to the circuit board and provided adjacent to the LED for controlling a home appliance, a control panel provided in front of the LED and having at least one first hole, and at least one elastic button coupled with an edge of the first hole for selectively coming into contact with the switch in response to a user pressing the button, the elastic button having a pushing member including a first light-transmitting part for transmitting therethrough light emitted from the LED. |
| US07915549B2 |
Multidirectional operation switch apparatus
In a multidirectional operation switch apparatus, a rotary switch is switched on by rotating a dial, and push switches are switched on by sliding the dial in multidirections by means of a sliding section. The sliding section is made of a single constituting member. The sliding section is provided on an upper surface thereof with an upper rail part which slides a pad in X direction (direction of arrow “c-d”; FIG. 3), and is provided on a lower surface thereof with a lower rail part which slides the pad supported by the sliding section in Y direction (direction of arrow “a-b”). |
| US07915547B2 |
Key switch, input device, contact pattern
A key switch comprises: a plurality of conductive portions which are respectively positioned in dispersed directions from a center of a key top; and contact patterns provided on a print substrate, which respectively face the conductive portions. The contact patterns each have, in a conductive portion facing area thereof, at least four separate lands, and the at least four lands include: a first land and a second land which are separated by a first gap provided on a first reference line which extends from a position facing the center of the key top in the direction of the center of the conductive portion facing area; a third land which is separated from the first land by a second gap provided at a position which is distant from the first reference line in one direction; and a fourth land which is separated from the second land by a third gap provided at a position which is distant from the first reference line in another direction. |
| US07915539B2 |
Electric part
An electric part including a matrix-shaped nonconductive base member, and a carbon nanotube group that is sealed within the nonconductive base member and includes at least one of a carbon nanotube and a plurality carbon nanotubes that are electrically connected to each other. Substantially only an end portion of the carbon nanotube or at least carbon nanotube contained in the plurality of carbon nanotubes may be exposed from one surface of the nonconductive base member, and an electrode may be connected to a side surface of at least one carbon nanotube included in the carbon nanotube group. |
| US07915533B2 |
Silicon nitride substrate, a manufacturing method of the silicon nitride substrate, a silicon nitride wiring board using the silicon nitride substrate, and semiconductor module
In the silicon nitride substrate concerning an embodiment of the invention, degree of in-plane orientation fa of β type silicon nitride is 0.4-0.8. Here, degree of in-plane orientation fa can be determined by the rate of the diffracted X-ray intensity in each lattice plane orientation in β type silicon nitride. As a result of research by the inventors, it turned out that both high fracture toughness and high thermal conductivity are acquired, when degree of in-plane orientation fa was 0.4-0.8. Along the thickness direction, both the fracture toughness of 6.0 MPa·m1/2 or higher and the thermal conductivity of 90 W/m·K or higher can be attained. |
| US07915529B2 |
Wall plate assembly with integral universal serial bus module
A wall plate assembly including a wall plate with an integrated USB module. The assembly includes a USB connector and printed circuit board formed together on the wall plate as an integral whole. By placing USB extender circuitry directly on the printed circuit board, rather than in a separate housing, the present assembly can maintain its bus-powered attributes without the bulk of a separate extender housing. A quick-connect coupling enables fast electrical connection and disconnection with a complementary quick-connect coupling on a USB wire. |
| US07915524B2 |
Sealing agent for photoelectric conversion device and photoelectric conversion device using the same
A sealing agent for a photoelectric conversion device which comprises one or more of a compound having a glycidyl structure, a compound having a cyclohexene oxide structure, a compound having an oxetane structure and a compound having a vinyl ether structure, and a cationic polymerization initiator; a photoelectric conversion device using the sealing agent; and a solar cell comprising the photoelectric conversion device. The sealing agent for a photoelectric conversion device can be used for pasting together upper and lower electroconductive glass substrates at an ordinary temperature in the manufacture of a photoelectric conversion device, and is excellent with respect to adhesion strength and the reliability in moisture resistance. |
| US07915520B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and manufacturing method thereof
A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a pin-type photoelectric conversion layer constituted of a p-type semiconductor layer, an i-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, wherein the p-type semiconductor layer contains silicon atoms and nitrogen atoms, which is possible to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency. |
| US07915519B2 |
Solar battery module frame body
A fixing member (3, 40, 43, 50, 53) which fixes a first frame body (1) of a solar battery module main body (9) slides along the first frame body, and the solar battery module main body includes a connecting portion (10) and a to-be connected portion (11) which connects the first frame bodies which are adjacent to each other through the fixing member. With this, a position of the fixing member can freely be moved with respect to the first frame body, the fixing member is slid to a position where there is a structure member (32) which supports a roofboard at predetermined intervals, and the fixing member is mounted at that position. With this, the fixing member can be mounted more strongly, and the adjacent two first frame bodies (31) can be fixed by the fixing member. |
| US07915517B2 |
Bifacial photovoltaic devices
This invention provides a bifacial photovoltaic device to enhance the conversion of solar energy into electricity with a layer by layer additive structure. The bifacial photovoltaic device comprises an electrically conductive core electrode, a plurality of semiconductor layers covering one end region of the core electrode and at least a portion of the two faces of the core electrode, a first counter electrode, a second counter electrode, and a third counter electrode connecting the first and the second counter electrodes. The device may also comprise a light reflective layer and an anti-reflective layer. This invention also provides an array of bifacial photovoltaic cells with simple interconnection schemes. |
| US07915515B2 |
Device for producing signals representative of sounds of a keyboard and stringed instrument
A device for digitally producing signals representative of sounds having a sonority simulating that of an instrument with keyboard and strings that are linked to a sounding board of the instrument, these sounds each corresponding to a note of the instrument. The device produces at least one signal representative of a keyboard and stringed instrument sound on the basis of at least one trigger signal and parameters, termed physical parameters. The physical parameters include at least one parameter, the so-called sounding-board parameter, characteristic of a sounding board of a keyboard and stringed instrument to be simulated. Furthermore, the physical parameters according to the invention comprise at least one parameter, termed the string(s) parameter, characteristic of at least one string of the keyboard and stringed instrument to be simulated. The device includes elements (9, 10, 11, 33) for inputting at least one physical parameter. |
| US07915513B2 |
Automatic accompaniment generating apparatus and method
An automatic accompaniment generating apparatus capable of generating automatic accompaniment as intended by a user. In an arpeggio sounding data generation mode, when key depression tones are input by a user's key depression operation after arpeggio pattern data is selected and a loop count is set to a value of “1” by the user, the sounding of the key depression tones is started, and the generation of a sounding data list is started based on the tone pitches of the key depression tones and sounding pattern data included in the selected arpeggio pattern data. In the case of the loop count being set to “1”, the reproduction of the sounding data list is completed at the end of one bar, and thereafter only the key depression tones are sounded until a key release operation is performed by the user. |
| US07915506B2 |
Electronic guitar harness component connector
An electronic guitar harness component connector uses ribbon cables and circuit boards to interconnect electronic components in an electric guitar harness. The use of ribbon cables and circuit boards to interconnect electronic components in the harness solves the problem of hand-soldered joints of discrete wires. It eliminates the need for the hand-soldered joints of discrete wires, and multiple wires. Discrete wires are replaced with a single ribbon cable and/or circuit boards to interconnect electronic components. |
| US07915505B2 |
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is provided. The instrument is light weight and portable. The instrument includes electrical pickup capabilities but also has the feel of an acoustic instrument. The instrument can be folded to an arrangement that is easy for transport. The folding instrument has maximum similarity to an acoustic cello, including the feel and size when unfolded. The instrument includes a floating soundboard to provide maximum acoustic feel. The instrument further includes an acoustic pickup. |
| US07915501B1 |
Inbred sunflower line CN2343
An inbred sunflower line, designated CN2343, the plants and seeds of the inbred sunflower line CN2343, methods for producing a sunflower plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred sunflower line CN2343 with itself or with another sunflower plant, and hybrid sunflower seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line CN2343 with another sunflower line or plant and to methods for producing a sunflower plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic sunflower plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred sunflower lines derived from inbred sunflower line CN2343, to methods for producing other inbred sunflower lines derived from inbred sunflower line CN2343 and to the inbred sunflower lines derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07915500B1 |
Maize variety PH3AG
A novel maize variety designated PH3AG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH3AG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH3AG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH3AG or a trait conversion of PH3AG with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PH3AG, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PH3AG and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07915499B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH447868
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH447868. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH447868, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH447868 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH447868. |
| US07915492B2 |
Soybean cultivar 7017301
A soybean cultivar designated 7017301 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7017301, to the plants of soybean 7017301, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7017301 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7017301 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7017301, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7017301 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7017301 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US07915491B2 |
Soybean cultivar 7537171
A soybean cultivar designated 7537171 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7537171, to the plants of soybean 7537171, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7537171 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7537171 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7537171, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7537171 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7537171 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US07915481B2 |
Maize ETR2 gene and uses thereof
The present invention provides new methods of delaying senescence in a plant by inhibiting ACC oxidase, or EIN2 activity in the plant. In particular, it is directed to producing green leaves in maize through inhibition of ethylene. The genes involved in producing this phenotype include ACC deaminase, ethylene response sensor (“ERS”), ethylene resistant (“ETR”), and ethylene insensitive (“EIN”). The delay in senescence can be achieved through the production of ACC deaminase, mutated ETR1 and ERS2 proteins, as well as overexpression of wild-type ETR1 and ERS2 proteins. |
| US07915478B2 |
Msca1 nucleotide sequences impacting plant male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences of a Msca1 gene, critical to male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in impacting male fertility in plants. |
| US07915476B2 |
Absorbent article for interactive toilet training
In a method of a caregiver interactively toilet training a wearer of a disposable absorbent article, in response to liquid insult of the article a tactile signal is perceptible from within the article, a corresponding similar tactile signal is perceptible from an exterior of the article, and an active graphic is visually perceptible at the exterior of the article which relates to both the tactile signal and the corresponding tactile signal to thereby communicate the insult event to the caregiver and provide an interactive toilet training opportunity. An absorbent article of the present invention generally has a tactile signal tactilely perceptible from the inner surface of the article and a corresponding tactile signal tactilely perceptible from the exterior of the article. An active graphic is located adjacent the outer cover and is externally visually perceptible and relates to both tactile signals to provide an interactive toilet training opportunity. |
| US07915475B2 |
Metal remediation using a mesoporous nanocomposite
A novel method for remediating metals includes treating the metals with a mesoporous nanocomposite such as HMS, MCM-41 or MCM-48. The metal is preferably lead but can be at least one metal selected from Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn, Sn, As, Sb, In, Se, Ga, Te, Bi, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ni, Cu, Sr, Ba or Co. The treating is preferably performed at a pH of about 4 to about 12. In the invention, the treating can also include desorbing the metal from the mesoporous nanocomposite at a pH of about 2 or less. |
| US07915470B2 |
Coupled electrochemical method for reduction of polyols to hydrocarbons
A coupled electrochemical system and method for its use is disclosed, where a polyol feed, especially a biomass polyol containing feed is reduced in a reducing solution including HI and a metal ion capable of converting I2 to HI during polyol reduction to hydrocarbon or iodohydrocarbon products and where the metal ions are capable of electrochemical reduction so that the system can be run on a batch, semi-continuous or continuous basis. The system is capable of producing hydrocarbon solvent, fuels and lubricating oils. |
| US07915469B2 |
Hydrocarbon conversion processes using UZM-26 and UZM-26X crystalline microporous zeolitic compositions
This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using crystalline zeolitic compositions designated the UZM-26 and UZM-26X. UZM-26 is a microporous three-dimensional zeolitic composition that is derived from UZM-26P (an as synthesized layered composition) by calcination. UZM-26X is a microporous three-dimensional zeolitic composition that is derived from UZM-26PX by calcination, where UZM-26PX is an ion-exchanged form of UZM-26P. |
| US07915468B2 |
Isomerization of butene in the ionic liquid-catalyzed alkylation of light isoparaffins and olefins
A process for producing alkylate comprising contacting a first hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms which contains 1-butene with an isomerization catalyst under conditions favoring the isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene so the isomerized stream contains a greater concentration of 2-butene than the first hydrocarbon stream and contacting the isomerized stream and a second hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one isoparaffin having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms with an acidic ionic liquid catalyst under alkylation conditions to produce an alkylate stream is disclosed. |
| US07915460B2 |
Production of diesel fuel from biorenewable feedstocks with heat integration
A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel or fuel blending component from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least one interstage stream of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone, and/or the effluent of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone. |
| US07915459B2 |
Catalytic systems for the conversion of hydrocarbons to functionalized products
This invention discloses methods and processes for selectively converting hydrocarbons such as methane to materials such as alcohols or other materials containing more reactive functionalities. |
| US07915458B2 |
Method of and device for increasing the yield of oil production in a process of producing bio-ethanol
A method of increasing the yield of oil production in a process of producing bio-ethanol in particularly comprises: creating concentrated syrup as a by-product from an ethanol production, and recovering oil from the concentrated syrup, wherein the step of recovering oil from the concentrated syrup includes using a horizontal axis centrifuge, and wherein the step of using a horizontal axis centrifuge includes using a bowl, a discharge of deoiled syrup and a baffle plate, the baffle plate being located inside of the bowl and retaining oil from the discharge of deoiled syrup. |
| US07915456B2 |
Salts of styphnic acid
The invention relates to the salts of styphnic acid, to methods for producing the same and to their use. |
| US07915454B2 |
Method for producing ethylenediamine
The invention relates to a process for preparing ethylenediamine by hydrogenation of aminoacetonitrile over a catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a solution comprising aminoacetonitrile, water in a proportion of from 0 to 60% by weight and a solvent and the aminoacetonitrile comprised in the solution is fed into the reaction vessel at a rate which is not greater than the rate at which the aminoacetonitrile reacts with hydrogen in the hydrogenation. |
| US07915453B2 |
Process for producing tertiary amine
Disclosed is a process for producing a tertiary amine from a primary or secondary amine and alcohol as corresponding starting materials, which includes step (i) of dehydrogenating an alcohol to obtain an aldehyde, step (ii) of reacting the aldehyde with a primary or secondary amine to obtain a primary or secondary amine adduct, and step (iii) of hydrogenating the primary or secondary amine adduct to obtain a tertiary amine, wherein step (ii) is carried out independently of the other steps. |
| US07915451B2 |
Crystalline levosalbutamol sulphate and polymorphic forms thereof
The invention provides three polymorphic forms of crystalline levosalbutamol sulphate designated herein as Forms I, II and III.Crystalline levosalbutamol sulphate Form I is characterised by a powder XRD pattern with peaks at 10.8, 11.9, 13.0, 18.3, 28.5±0.2 degrees 2 theta.Crystalline levosalbutamol sulphate Form II is characterised by a powder XRD pattern with peaks at 8.7, 9.6, 15.2, 15.7, 19.1, 27.2, 30.7±0.2 degrees 2 theta.Crystalline levosalbutamol sulphate Form III is characterised by a powder XRD pattern with peaks at 5.5, 6.9, 7.3, 18.7±0.2 degrees 2 theta.Processes for making the new polymorphic forms and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also provided. |
| US07915448B2 |
Substituted sulfonylaminoarylmethyl cyclopropanecarboxamide as VR1 receptor antagonists
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein A and B are independently CR12 or N; D and E are each independently CR9 or N; R1 represents (C1-C6)alkyl; R2 represents hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, (C1-C6) alkyl, halo(C1-C6) alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6) alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy or (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl; R3, R4, R5, R6, R10 and R11 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl or (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl; or R3 and R4 are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or heterocyclic ring in which one or two non-adjacent carbon atoms are optionally replaced by an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or NH; R7 and R9 each independently represent hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkylthio, (C1-C6)alkylsulfinyl, (C1-C6)alkylsulfonyl, NH2, [(C1-C6)alkyl]NH—, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N—, H2N—(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkyl-NH—(C1-C6)alkoxy, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N(C1-C6)alkoxy; H2N—(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkyl-NH—(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N(C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl or 5- or 6- membered heterocyclic ring containing at least one nitrogen atom; R8 represents halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl, halo(C1-C6)alkyl, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy, hydroxy(C1-C6)alkoxy, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy-(C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C1-C6)alkylsulfonyl, halo(C1-C6)alkylsulfinyl, halo(C1-C6)alkoxy, halo(C1-C6)alkylthio, [(C1-C6)alkyl]NH— or [(C1-C6)alkyl]2N—; or R7 and R8, when E is CR9, are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5-8 membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, in which one or two non-adjacent carbon atoms are optionally replaced by oxygen, sulfur, N or NH groups, wherein the carbocyclic ring or the heterocyclic ring is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents each independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, (C1-C6)alkyl, (C1-C6)alkoxy and hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl; and R12 represents hydrogen, halogen, (C1-C6)alkyl or hydroxy(C1-C6)alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. |
| US07915443B2 |
Sulfoximines as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation. |
| US07915441B2 |
Oligophosphazene compound
The oligophosphazene compound capable of forming a polymer which can be used as an optical material is a cyclic or linear compound including constituent units represented by the general formula (I) below in a range from 3 to 14. In the general formula (I), k is an integer of 1 to 4 and X1 is one selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, an NH group and an NCH3 group. A polymer made of this oligophosphazene compound exhibits high transparency and a high refractive index and is also less likely to cause optical dispersion, and thus it can be used as an optical lens, a retardation film, a light transmission body and other optical moldings. |
| US07915433B2 |
Tri-substituted 2-benzhydryl 5-benzlamino-tetrahydro-pyran-4-OL and 6-benzhydryl-4-benzylamino-tetrahydro-pyran-3-OL analogues, and novel 3,6 disubstituted pyran derivatives
Novel 3,6-disubstituted pyrans, optionally with a further substituent at the 4-position, are monoamine reuptake inhibitors with activity profiles of anti-depressants. |
| US07915431B2 |
Process for production of flake-like dried 2-(5-ethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxan-2-yl)-2-methylpropan-1-ol
A method for producing flake-like dried DOG by making DOG containing from 10 to 50% by mass of a liquid go through a continuous melt-drying step of a specified condition and then making it go through, as a next step, a vacuum-drying step of a specified condition or a ventilation-drying step of a specified condition while holding a molten state thereof, to obtain DOG in which the liquid in DOG is reduced to not more than 0.5% by mass (dried DOG), and flaking the obtained dried DOG in a flake production step. |
| US07915430B2 |
Catalytic method for producing phenolphthalein compounds
A method of producing a phenolphthalein comprises reacting a phenolic compound of the formula: wherein R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, with a phthalic anhydride compound of the formula: wherein R2 is a hydrogen, a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, or a halogen, in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst and a promoter to form a reaction mixture comprising a phenolphthalein compound of the formula: wherein each R1 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is a hydrogen, a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, or a halogen; wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises a metal oxide composition in combination with a porous support, wherein the metal is molybdenum, tungsten, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing metals. |
| US07915427B2 |
Process for producing aminoacetyl pyrrolidine carbonitrile derivative and intermediate for production thereof
Novel intermediates for the production of aminoacetyl pyrrolidine carbonitrile derivatives ensure the safe and efficient production of the compounds. Specifically, the present invention provides a sulfonyloxyacetyl pyrrolidine derivative, represented by the following formula:(Chemical Formula 1) (wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted arylmethyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic ring or a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic heterocyclic ring; R2 is CONH2 or CN; and X is CH2, CHF or CF2.) |
| US07915423B2 |
Solid states of pantoprazole sodium, processes for preparing them and processes for preparing known pantoprazole sodium hydrates
Crystalline pantoprazole sodium Forms II, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX and XX; pantoprazole sodium solvates containing water, acetone, butanol, methylethylketone, dimethylcarbonate, propanol and 2-methylpropanol; and amorphous pantoprazole sodium are disclosed. |
| US07915419B2 |
Alkyl substituted piperidine derivatives and their use as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors
This invention relates to novel alkyl substituted piperidine derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention. |
| US07915411B2 |
Anti-viral compounds
Compounds effective in inhibiting replication of Hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) or other viruses are disclosed. This invention is also directed to compositions comprising such compounds, co-formulation or co-administration of such compounds with other anti-viral or therapeutic agents, processes and intermediates for the syntheses of such compounds, and methods of using such compounds for the treatment of HCV or other viral infections. |
| US07915409B2 |
Organometal complex and light-emitting element using the same
An organometallic complex according to the present invention comprises a structure represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, R1 to R5 are any one selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halogen element, an acyl group, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group, a cyano group, and a heterocyclic group, Ar is an aryl group having an electron-withdrawing group or a heterocyclic group having electron-drawing group, and M is an element of Group 9 or an element of Group 10. |
| US07915402B2 |
Antioxidant inflammation modulators: oleanolic acid derivatives with saturation in the C-ring
This invention provides, but is not limited to, novel oleanolic acid derivatives having the formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions. |
| US07915400B2 |
RNA interference mediated inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA)
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression and/or activity. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment and diagnosis of HCV infection, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and any other disease or condition that responds to modulation of HCV expression or activity. |
| US07915397B2 |
Promotor of hot pepper which is related to TMV-resistance
The present invention relates to a promoter of hot pepper related to TMV-resistance, more precisely a promoter of the gene related to TMV-resistance and a method for regulating the expression of a target protein by using a transcription factor binding to the same. The method of the present invention can be effectively used for the regulation of the expression of a target protein in disease-resistant plants. |
| US07915395B2 |
Expression vectors encoding bispecific fusion proteins and methods of producing biologically active bispecific fusion proteins in a mammalian cell
The present invention provides an expression vector encoding monospecific or bispecific fusion protein. In one embodiment the expression vector encodes a monospecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant monospecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen. In another embodiment the expression vector encodes a bispecific fusion protein, which vector comprises a recombinant bispecific single chain cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding a first binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen and a DNA sequence encoding a second binding domain capable of binding a cell surface antigen, each domain capable of binding a different antigen. The present invention also provides a method for producing a biologically active monospecific or bispecific fusion protein in a mammalian cell. |
| US07915393B2 |
Compositions and methods for WT1 specific immunotherapy
Compositions and methods for the therapy of malignant diseases, such as leukemia and cancer, are disclosed. The compositions comprise one or more of a WT1 polynucleotide, a WT1 polypeptide, an antigen-presenting cell presenting a WT1 polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds to a WT1 polypeptide; or a T cell that specifically reacts with a WT1 polypeptide. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the prevention and treatment of metastatic diseases. |
| US07915392B2 |
5-bromo-2′-deoxy-uridine labeled nucleotide triphosphates and nucleic acid probes and methods of making and using the same
5-bromo-2′-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) labeled nucleotide triphosphates and nucleic acid probes are described herein. The BrdU labeled nucleotide triphosphates include a linker between the nucleotide triphosphate and the BrdU moiety. The linker can be cleavable or non-cleavable. The nucleotide triphosphates can be a ribonucleotide triphosphates, 2′-deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates or 2′,3′-dideoxyribonucleotide triphosphates. The nucleic acid probes can be used for in situ hybridization. |
| US07915389B2 |
Anti-acharan sulfate antibody and its application
An anti-acharan sulfate antibody, a hybridoma that produces the antibody, a detection method and a detection kit to which the antibody is applied are disclosed. The anti-acharan sulfate antibody can be produced by immunizing a mammal using as an antigen a substance obtained by chemically bonding a protein to acharan sulfate. |
| US07915388B2 |
Interleukin-13 binding proteins
The present invention encompasses IL-13 binding proteins. Specifically, the invention relates to antibodies that are chimeric, CDR grafted and humanized antibodies. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-13 and neutralize hIL-13 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Method of making and method of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-13 and for inhibiting hIL-13 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-13 activity is detrimental. |
| US07915387B2 |
Monoclonal antibody Sc104 and derivative thereof specifically binding to a sialyltetraosyl carbohydrate as a potential anti-tumor therapeutic agent
The present invention provides an isolated specific binding member capable of binding a sialyltetraosly carbohydrate and directly inducing cell death without the need for immune effector cells. Such a binding member may be an antibody or a part thereof. Also provided are the use of such binding members in medicine and nucleic acids encoding such binding members. |
| US07915385B2 |
Sodium channel protein type III α-subunit splice variant
The present invention is directed to a splice variant of a human sodium channel alpha subunit and methods and compositions for making and using the same. |
| US07915381B2 |
Toll-like receptor 5 ligands and methods of use
The invention provides an immunomodulatory flagellin peptide having at least about 10 amino acids of substantially the amino acid sequence GAVQNRFNSAIT (SEQ ID NO:2), or a modification thereof, and having toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) binding. Methods of inducing an immune response are also provided. |
| US07915372B2 |
Thermoplastic polyurethane comprising silane groups
Thermoplastic polyurethane comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate (a) with a compound (i) having at least one group which is reactive toward isocyanates and also at least two organosilicon groups. |
| US07915365B2 |
Absorbing materials containing polycarboxylic acid polymers
The present invention relates to methods of forming absorbent materials and polymers used in absorbent materials, which are based upon vinyl type monomers that contain pendant carboxylic acid groups and ester group functionality. The polymers may be prepared under selected conditions of partial neutralization to provide relatively high conversions and/or relatively high values of molecular weight and/or selected amounts of repeating unit tacticity. The polymers may then be used in absorbing materials. |
| US07915362B2 |
Heat-curable silicone composition and light emitting diode element using same
Provided is a heat-curable silicone composition containing: (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least one structure represented by the following general formula (2) within each molecule: wherein m represents an integer of 0, 1 or 2, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group or a halogenated phenyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 represents an identical or different monovalent organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R4 represents an identical or different bivalent organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and (B) a quantity of an organic peroxide that is effective as a curing catalyst. The heat-curable silicon composition yields a cured product having excellent transparency and minimal discoloration over time. Also provided is a light emitting diode element having a material composed of the cured product. |
| US07915360B2 |
Supported catalyst for olefin polymerization using transition metal compound having phenylene-bridge, method for preparing the same, and method for preparing polyolefin using the same
The present invention provides a new supported catalyst for olefin polymerization prepared by reacting a novel transition metal compound on a cocatalyst-supported support, in which the transition metal compound is coordinated with a monocyclopentadienyl ligand to which an amido-quinoline group is introduced, a method for preparing the same, and a method for preparing a polyolefin using the same. The transition metal catalyst compound used in the present invention is configured such that an amido group is linked in a cyclic form via a phenylene bridge. Thus, a pentagon ring structure of the transition metal compound is stably maintained, so that monomers easily approach the transition metal compound and the reactivity is also high. Accordingly, if the supported catalyst for olefin polymerization prepared according to the present invention is applied to the copolymerization of ethylene and monomers having large steric hindrance in a slurry or a gas phase process, a linear, a linear, high molecular weight polyolefin having a very low density of 0.900 to 0.970 g/cc or less can be obtained. |
| US07915359B2 |
Propylene resin composition
A propylene resin composition which is a three-component material is improved in rigidity, heat resistance, and impact resistance while maintaining a satisfactory balance among these and further improved in low-temperature (about −30° C.) impact resistance. A propylene resin composition as described in the specification. |
| US07915355B2 |
Polymerization process
The present invention relates to a process for continuously preparing water-absorbing polymers by mixing a monomer solution with at least one crosslinker and polymerizing the resulting mixture, wherein the residence time of the mixture between the addition of the at least one crosslinker and the entry into the polymerization reactor is less than 180 seconds, and also to an apparatus for performing the process. |
| US07915354B2 |
Multimodal ethylene-alpha-olefin elastomers and process for making
Disclosed herein is a multimodal polymer composition comprising 45 to 75 wt % of a first polymer fraction, 25 to 55 wt % of a second polymer fraction, and from 10-50 phr of an extender oil. The multimodal polymer composition has an overall Mooney viscosity of less than 90 ML(1+4@125° C.), and each polymer fraction comprises an ethylene, C3-C10 alpha-olefin, non-conjugated diene polymer, wherein the first polymer fraction has a Mooney viscosity of greater than or equal to about 150 ML(1+4@125° C.), the second polymer fraction has a Mooney viscosity from about 20 to about 120 ML(1+4@125° C.). A process for making the multimodal polymer composition comprising a process utilizing two or more reactors in series is also disclosed. |
| US07915350B2 |
Polyoxymethylene compositions, their preparation and use
Compositions are described comprising a) polyoxymethylene, b) thermoplastic elastomer having active hydrogen atoms, c) polyoxymethylene which differs from component a) and contains active hydrogen atoms, d) reagent for covalent coupling of components b) and c), and e) if appropriate, another impact modifier, which differs from component b).The compositions feature improved toughness and can be used for production of moldings. |
| US07915348B2 |
Method for making ionomers using amine compounds comprising salt functional groups, ionomers made by the method and sports equipment comprising such ionomers
Ionomeric reaction products are disclosed that are made by combining a monomer, oligomer or polymer having at least one reactive carboxyl group and/or isocyanate group, or functional group or groups equivalent thereto or derived therefrom, with an amine compound having both an amine and an anionic functional group and a formula [RHN—(R1)m—(X−)n]o-Ma+p where R is hydrogen, aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, R1 is a linking group that links the amine and salt functional groups and is aliphatic, alicyclic, arylaliphatic or aromatic, X is an anionic group, M is a positively charged species, a is 1-4, m is 0 or greater, n is 1-4, o is 1-4 and p is 0-4, more typically 1-4. An amount of the amine compound is used to react with at least a portion of the reactive functional groups. A method for making a golf ball also is disclosed, as are golf balls comprising disclosed ionomers. At least one component of a golf ball, such as a cover layer, is made comprising disclosed ionomers. The golf ball can have any construction suitable for a golf ball, including multi-layered balls, such as a 3- or 4-piece ball. |
| US07915345B2 |
Solution blending process for preparing thermoplastic vulcanizates
This invention relates to the preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with unique morphological features, more specifically, this invention relates to a method for preparing TPV compositions wherein the mixing of plastomers and elastomers are carried out in solvent with curatives to induce cross-linking. |
| US07915338B2 |
Adhesive with alkanoate blend
An adhesive composition includes 5 to 40% wt polyvinylpyrrolidone; 3 to 20% wt alkanoate blend including a first Cn carboxylic acid salt and a second Cm carboxylic acid salt, where n and m are integers in a range from 12 to 22; 20 to 60% wt of a water-soluble or water-dispersable solid material; 0.5 to 30 wt % of a liquid polyhydric alcohol; and 15 to 60% wt water. The adhesive composition can be clear and in glue stick form. |
| US07915331B2 |
Fluoroelastomer processing aid masterbatch and method for producing same
A fluoroelastomer masterbatch comprising a particulate matrix material wherein the particles of the matrix material have an average size selected from the range of from 1 μm to 1000 μm in diameter, the concentration of fluoroelastomer is from about 0.2% to 40% by weight, and the fluoroelastomer is dispersed within the interstitial spaces of the particulate matrix material. |
| US07915325B2 |
Antimicrobial food packaging
The present invention relates to a single or multi layered food packaging on the basis of plastics wherein the layer or at least one of the layers comprises at least one metal with antimicrobial activity and wherein at least part of the metal with antimicrobial activity is present in finely divided metallic form and the remaining part is present in form of a salt. |
| US07915323B2 |
Mono ethylenically unsaturated polycarbosiloxane monomers
The present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain monoethylenically unsaturated polycarbosiloxane monomers capable of polymerization to form polymeric compositions having desirable physical characteristics useful in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices. |
| US07915320B2 |
Coating composition and method of forming coating film
The present invention provides a thermosetting and photocurable coating composition obtained by incorporating a copolymer of a maleimide group-containing monomer with other monomer(s) or a specific maleimide compound into a composition comprising a hydroxyl-containing resin and a curing agent and optionally containing an unsaturated compound; and a method of forming a coating film using the coating composition. |
| US07915319B2 |
Visible light curing systems, methods for reducing health risks to individuals exposed to systems designed to cure curable compositions by exposure to radiation, methods for bonding substrates and visible light curing compositions
The present invention provides visible light curing systems, methods for reducing health risks to individuals exposed to radiation curing systems, methods for bonding substrates and visible light curing compositions. |
| US07915312B2 |
Physiological method of improving vision
The present invention is directed to a physiological method for improving vision in a human patient. This method involves topical application to the eye, an amount of acetylcholine esterase inhibitor containing composition so that it is sufficient to provide a therapeutic benefit to improve the visual acuity in the human patient. The composition is administered topically and at bedtime after an eye straining work for about 20 minutes. The method disclosed herein is used for treatment and prevention of congenital and acquired color vision blindness, treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma, prevention of the progression of myopia, treatment of strabismus or squint, potentiation of best visual acuity, neuro-protection, treatment of aberrations secondary to pupil dilation. |
| US07915309B2 |
Deuterium-enriched oseltamivir
The present application describes deuterium-enriched oseltamivir, pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods of treating using the same. |
| US07915308B2 |
Therapeutic methods and compositions involving isoflavones
Therapeutic methods of treatment, compositions and foodstuffs are described which contain isoflavone compounds described by general formula (1), in which Z is H, R1 is H, or RACO where RA is C1-10alkyl or an amino acid, R2 is H, OH, or ORB where RB is an amino acid, or CORA where RA is as previously defined, W is H, A is H or OH, and B is selected from (a), (b), (c), or W is H, and A and B taken together form a six-membered ring selected from (d), or W, A and B taken with the groups with which they are associated comprise (e), or W and A taken together with the groups with which they are associated comprise (f) and B is (g) wherein R3 is H, CORA where RA is as previously defined, CO2RC where RC is C1-10alkyl, or CORB where RB is as previously defined, R4 is H, CORD where RD is H, OH, C1-10alkyl or an amino acid, CO2RC where RC is as previously defined, CORE where RE is H, C1-10alkyl or an amino acid, COOH, CORC where RC is as previously defined, or CONHRE where RE is as previously defined, R5 is H, CO2RC where RC is as previously defined, or CORCORE where RC and RE are as previously defined, and where the two R5 groups are attached to the same group they are the same or different, R6 is H or hydroxy C1-10alkyl, X is preferably O, but may be N or S, and Y is (h) where R7 is H, or C1-10alkyl. |
| US07915307B2 |
Methods of improving the pharmacokinetics of doxepin
Methods of improving the pharmacokinetics of doxepin in a patient. |
| US07915306B2 |
Macrocyclic compounds useful as pharmaceuticals
The present invention provides compositions comprising compounds having formula (I): and additionally provides methods for the use thereof in the treatment of various disorders including inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, and disorders involving malignancy or increased angiogenesis, wherein R1-R11, X, Y, Z, and n are as defined herein. In certain embodiments, the compositions are for systemic (e.g., oral) administration. In certain embodiments, methods for the treatment of various disorders including inflammatory or autoimmune disorders comprise systemically (e.g., orally) administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I). |
| US07915304B2 |
Phenyl substituted maleimides as medicaments for blocking degenerative tissue damages by inhibiting MPT
The invention discloses the use of a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represents: hydrogen; halo; hydroxy; (C1-C6) alkyl optionally substituted by hydroxy or (C1-C4) alkoxy; (C1-C6) haloalkyl; (C1-C6) alkoxy; and (C1-C6) haloalkoxy; for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases resulting from opening of the MPTP which are characterized by degenerative tissue damages, in particular, diabetes and diabetic complications, neurological diseases and stroke, heart infarction, inherited dystrophies and hepatitis, more particularly, diabetic vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. Further objects are a group of selected individual compounds of formula (I) for use as medicaments and a further group of selected individual compounds of formula (I) as novel compounds. |
| US07915303B2 |
Glycopyrronium salts and their therapeutic use
A glycopyrronium salt such as glycopyrronium iodide has a lower glass transition temperature than glycopyrronium bromide. It is therefore more suitable for formulation. |
| US07915302B2 |
Crystal forms of pyrrolylheptanoic acid derivatives
The present invention provides novel crystalline forms D1 and D2 of [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemicalcium salt, and hydrates thereof. The crystalline forms D1 and D2 have X-ray powder diffraction peaks described in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively. Further, the present invention provides processes for preparing the crystalline forms and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline forms. The crystalline forms can be produced on a commercial scale and exhibit excellent stability. |
| US07915297B2 |
Isoxazole derivatives and use thereof
Disclosed herein are isoxazole derivatives and uses thereof. Serving as agonists of Wnt, the isoxazole derivatives activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and thus can be used in the treatment and prevention of diseases related to the signal transduction. Also, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the isoxazole derivatives are disclosed. |
| US07915291B2 |
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors are disclosed having the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R′, B, Y and X are described in the description. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds to inhibit HCV are also disclosed. |
| US07915288B2 |
1-aryl-4-substituted isoquinolines
1-aryl-4-substituted isoquinoline or 1-aryl-3,4-disubstituted isoquinoline analogues of Formula I and Formula II, as follows: wherein R1, R2, R3, R8, R9, A and Ar are defined herein. Such compounds are ligands of C5a receptors. Preferred compounds of Formula I and II bind to C5a receptors with high affinity and exhibit neutral antagonist or inverse agonist activity at C5a receptors. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and to the use of such compounds in treating a variety of inflammatory, cardiovascular, and immune system disorders. In addition, the present invention provides labeled 1-aryl-4-substituted isoquinolines or 1-aryl-3,4-disubstituted isoquinolines, which are useful as probes for the localization of C5a receptors. |
| US07915287B2 |
Substituted heterocycles and methods of use
Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes. |
| US07915286B2 |
Substituted pyrazolo [3,4-b] pyridines as phosphodiesterase inhibitors
The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase (PDE) type IV selective inhibitors. Processes for the preparation of disclosed compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed compounds and their use as PDE type IV selective inhibitors are provided. Prepared compounds correspond to structure XIV Formula (XIV). |
| US07915284B2 |
2-aryl-6-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof
The present invention is related to a compound of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein, or an addition salt of an acid thereof, the pharmaceutical composition and preparation thereof, and the therapeutic use thereof in the treatment or the prevention of diseases involving Nurr-1 nuclear receptors, also known as NR4A2, NOT, TINUR, RNR-1 and HZF3. |
| US07915281B2 |
Isoxazole, dihydroisoxazole, and oxadiazole substituted imidazo ring compounds and method
Imidazo ring compounds, (e.g. imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine, imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline, and imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridine compounds) having an isoxazole, dihydroisoxazole, or oxadiazole substituent at the 1-position, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, and methods of making and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for modulating cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases are disclosed. |
| US07915279B2 |
Method of treating mollescum contagiosum
Pharmaceutical formulations and methods including an immune response modifier (IRM) compound and an oleic acid component are provided where stability is improved by using oleic acid have low polar impurities such as peroxides. |
| US07915277B2 |
Method of treating genital or peri-anal warts
Pharmaceutical formulations and methods including an immune response modifier (IRM) compound and an oleic acid component are provided where stability is improved by using oleic acid have low polar impurities such as peroxides. |
| US07915274B2 |
Nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds and medicines containing the same
Compounds represented by the following general formula: [wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 each independently represent a single bond, C1-6 alkylene, etc.; A2 represents optionally substituted phenyl, etc.; A1 represents an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic group containing —C(=Q1)- (wherein Q1 represents oxygen, sulfur or ═N—R11 (wherein R11 represents hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl)) and nitrogen, etc.; and Z1 represents piperidin-diyl, etc.], salts thereof and hydrates of the foregoing. |
| US07915272B2 |
1,4-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl pyrimidinyl derivative and its medical use
This invention relates to a novel 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[3.2.2]nonyl pyrimidinyl derivative and its use in the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions. The compound of the invention is found to be a cholinergic ligand at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.Due to its pharmacological profile the compound of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances. |
| US07915270B2 |
Oxazole ketones as modulators of fatty acid amide hydrolase
Certain oxazole ketone compounds are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity. Thus, the compounds may be administered to treat anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or movement disorders (such as MS). |
| US07915262B2 |
Combination preparations comprising SLV308 and a dopamine agonist
A composition containing SLV308 or its N-oxide, or at least one pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: and L-DOPA or at least one pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the treatment of disorders requiring recovery of dopaminergic function using this composition, including Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome. |
| US07915261B2 |
Pyridyl non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-carboxylate compound
A novel pyridyl non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-carboxylate compound or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt has a potent FAAH-inhibitory activity. Further, the pyridyl non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic-1-carboxylate compound of the present disclosure is also useful in the treatment of urinary frequency and urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and/or pain. |
| US07915259B2 |
Diazabicyclononene derivatives and use thereof
The invention relates to a novel 3,9-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonene derivative of formula (I), enantiomers thereof, and their use thereof as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound of formula (I): or (I′): and especially their use as inhibitors of renin. |
| US07915256B2 |
Triazolopyrazine compounds useful for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases
Novel [1.2.4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrazine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, pain, inflammation, and others. |
| US07915253B2 |
Sulfonyl-substituted bicyclic compounds as modulators of PPAR
Compounds as modulators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treating disease using the same are disclosed. |
| US07915250B2 |
Azetidines as MEK inhibitors for the treatment of proliferative diseases
Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds as well as methods of using the compounds and compositions of the invention in the treatment of cancer. |
| US07915249B2 |
Heterocyclic tetracyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives as 5HT2 inhibitors in the treatment of CNS disorders
This invention concerns novel substituted heterocyclic tetracyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives with binding affinities towards serotonin receptors, in particular 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, and towards dopamine receptors, in particular dopamine D2 receptors and with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition properties, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds according to the invention, the use thereof as a medicine, in particular for the prevention and/or treatment of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, in particular certain psychotic, cardiovascular and gastrokinetic disorders and processes for their production.The compounds according to the invention can be represented by general Formula (I) and comprises also the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the N-oxide form thereof and prodrugs thereof, wherein all substituents are defined as in Claim 1. |
| US07915245B2 |
Methods and compositions of trail-death receptor agonists/activators
This invention describes a series of methods and compositions for prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer. One aspect of the invention describes small molecule-based drugs that can be used to bind to death receptors TRAIL-R1/DR4 and/or TRAIL-R2/DR5 and induce apoptosis in cancer cells, while sparing normal cells. The invention also describes TRAIL Death Receptor Agonists/Activators (DRAs) and their uses, such as the induction of apoptosis through caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation. The present invention also describes the methods of treating cancers, such as breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, lung, and brain cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and mesothelioma, using DRAs either as single-agent treatments, or in combination with other therapies. |
| US07915236B2 |
Proteasome inhibitors and methods of using the same
The present invention provides boronic acid compounds, boronic esters, and compositions thereof that can modulate apoptosis such as by inhibition of proteasome activity. The compounds and compositions can be used in methods of inducing apoptosis and treating diseases such as cancer and other disorders associated directly of indirectly with proteasome activity. |
| US07915227B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulations employing short-chain sphingolipids and their use
Pharmaceutical formulations containing (i) an amphiphilic drug and (ii) a short-chain sphingolipid are described and provided herein along with methods of making and using same. |
| US07915226B2 |
Methods of suppressing microglial activation
Methods of suppressing the activation of microglial cells in the Central Nervous System (CNS), methods of ameliorating or treating the neurological effects of cerebral ischemia or cerebral inflammation, and methods of combating specific diseases that affect the CNS by administering a compound that binds to microglial receptors and prevents or reduces microglial activation are described. Also described are methods of screening compounds for the ability to suppress or reduce microglial activation. |
| US07915221B2 |
Methods for construction and screening of libraries of chemokine variants
The present invention provides a method for the design and/or the selection of agonist or antagonist chemokine variants combining a phage display technology and a screening on living cells expressing the receptor of the corresponding native chemokine. It also provides RANTES variants having agonist properties towards said receptor, and methods for preventing and/or curing viral diseases, as well as clues for preventing and/or curing inflammatory or malignant diseases. |
| US07915218B2 |
Polypeptides for oligomeric assembly of antigens
A system for expressing antigenic polypeptides in oligomeric form fuses the antigenic polypeptide to an oligomerisation polypeptide such that the oligomerisation polypeptide can interact with other oligomerisation polypeptides and bring multiple copies of the antigenic polypeptide into close proximity in the form of an oligomer. Expressing the polypeptides in oligomeric form in this way can improve their immunogenicity compared to a monomeric form. |
| US07915217B2 |
Treatment of fruits or vegetables with hypersensitive response elicitor to inhibit postharvest disease or desiccation
The present invention relates to a methods of inhibiting postharvest disease or desiccation in a fruit or vegetable, either by treating a fruit or vegetable with a hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide under conditions effective to inhibit postharvest disease or desiccation, or by providing a transgenic plant or plant seed transformed with a DNA molecule encoding a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein and growing the transgenic plant or transgenic plant produced from the transgenic plant seed under conditions effective to inhibit a postharvest disease or desiccation in a fruit or vegetable harvested from the transgenic plant. Also disclosed are DNA constructs and expression systems, host cells, and transgenic plants containing the DNA construct. |
| US07915212B2 |
Block polymers, compositions and methods of use for foams, laundry detergents, shower rinses and coagulants
The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions. The polymeric material is also effective in oil well treating foam, fire-fighting foam, hard surface cleaning foam, shaving cream, post-foaming shaving gel, dephiliatories and as a coagulant/retention aid for titanium dioxide in paper making. |
| US07915211B2 |
Solid cleaners for heated food preparation surfaces
A solid cleaner for heated surfaces is disclosed. The solid cleaner includes a solidifying agent including wax, and a cleaning agent. The solid cleaner is solid at room temperature and liquid at an elevated temperature. Methods of cleaning a heated surface and cleaning articles are also disclosed. |
| US07915205B2 |
Single fluid acidizing treatment
An acidizing formulation for use in the stimulation of hydrocarbon production is stable when packaged and stored as a single fluid for periods exceeding one year. The formulation contains a miscibility solvent which substantially prevents any phase separation between the constituents and lack of dispersion of the additives in the fluid. |
| US07915204B2 |
Scale squeeze treatment systems and methods
An aqueous composition for treating hydrocarbon wells contains (a) a scale inhibitor and (b) a viscoelastic surfactant, and further contains from 0 to less than 1% by weight of acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, hydrofluoric acid, and mixtures thereof. |
| US07915203B2 |
Secondary emulsifiers for inverted emulsion fluids and methods for making and using same
A new class of secondary emulsifying agents for use in inverted mud and other inverted system is disclosed and method for making and using same. |
| US07915202B2 |
Clay control additive for wellbore fluids
A clay stabilizer which is capable of inhibiting swelling in a wide variety of clay types and is also capable of restoring permeability in formations which have previously been damaged by clay swelling. Amine salts of differing molecular weights configurations and ionic strength are combined to provide transport into micropores, mesopores and macropores in the formation and to effect cationic change therein. A poly quaternary amine having a high to very high charge density is added along with lower molecular weight amine salts to substantially permanently exchange cations with the clay in the formation. |
| US07915197B2 |
Pathogen-resistant coatings
A pathogen-resistant coating comprising one or more photocatalysts capable of generating singlet oxygen from ambient air. The pathogen-resistant coating may optionally include one or more singlet oxygen traps. |
| US07915195B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying catalyst and production process thereof
An exhaust gas purifying catalyst is disclosed, comprising a ceria-zirconia solid solution and an iron oxide dispersed and at least partially solid-dissolved in the ceria-zirconia solid solution. A process for producing the exhaust gas purifying catalyst of the present invention is also disclosed. |
| US07915193B2 |
Method for activating strengthened iron catalyst for slurry reactors
A method of activating an iron Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by introducing an inert gas into a reactor comprising a slurry of the catalyst at a first temperature, increasing the reactor temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first ramp rate, wherein the second temperature is in the range of from about 150° C. to 250° C., introducing synthesis gas having a ratio of H2:CO to the reactor at a space velocity, and increasing the reactor temperature from the second temperature to a third temperature at a second ramp rate, wherein the third temperature is in the range of from about 270° C. to 300° C. The iron Fischer-Tropsch catalyst may be a precipitated unsupported iron catalyst, production of which is also provided. |
| US07915189B2 |
Yttrium oxide material, member for semiconductor-manufacturing apparatus, and method for producing yttrium oxide material
An electrostatic chuck that is a member for a semiconductor-manufacturing apparatus contains an yttrium oxide material containing first inorganic particles and second inorganic particles. The first inorganic particles form solid solutions in yttrium oxide, can be precipitated from yttrium oxide, and are present in grains of yttrium oxide. The second inorganic particles can form solid solutions in the first inorganic particles, are unlikely to form any solid solution in yttrium oxide, and are present at boundaries between the yttrium oxide grains. The first inorganic particles contain at least one of ZrO2 and HfO2. The second inorganic particles contain at least one selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO. The yttrium oxide material is produced in such a manner that solid solution particles are prepared by mixing and firing the first and second inorganic particles and are mixed with yttrium oxide and the mixture is fired. |
| US07915186B2 |
Skin contacting product and method of making same
The present disclosure is directed to a skin contacting product and a method of making same wherein the skin contacting product is formed of a laminated material having at least two distinct layers including a fabric layer and a film layer. The laminated material also has a film-like surface on a selected surface portion of the fabric layer which is formed by applying heat to the selected surface portion. The heat is applied at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the film-like surface wherein the temperature and the period of time are dependent upon the physical characteristics of the laminated material. |
| US07915184B2 |
Anti-microbial nonwoven wipe
The present invention is directed to a nonwoven anti-microbial hard surface wipe, and more specifically to an anti-microbial hard surface wipe that more readily releases a disinfectant or anti-microbial agent. In a first embodiment, the nonwoven substrate of the present invention is comprised of a non-ionic binder, as well as a cationic disinfectant. The wipe is introduced into a water source and the disinfectant is readily released from the wipe so as to form a disinfectant solution. In a second embodiment, the nonwoven substrate of the present invention is comprised of a non-ionic binder and used along with a separate commercially available disinfecting or sanitizing solution. The disinfecting solution is preferably a cationic disinfecting solution, such as a cationic dual quaternary sanitizing system. |
| US07915183B2 |
Wax coatings, methods of making coated articles and coated articles therefrom
A barrier coating for paper and a method of making the coated paper using a wax coating composition containing an inorganic mineral filler is provided. The inorganic mineral filler imparts a viscosity to the wax coating composition similar to the viscosity of the wax coating composition in the absence of the inorganic mineral filler. Coated paper products are also provided. |
| US07915180B2 |
SiCOH film preparation using precursors with built-in porogen functionality
A method of fabricating a dielectric material that has an ultra low dielectric constant (or ultra low k) using at least one organosilicon precursor is described. The organosilicon precursor employed in the present invention includes a molecule containing both an Si—O structure and a sacrificial organic group, as a leaving group. The use of an organosilicon precursor containing a molecular scale sacrificial leaving group enables control of the pore size at the nanometer scale, control of the compositional and structural uniformity and simplifies the manufacturing process. Moreover, fabrication of a dielectric film from a single precursor enables better control of the final porosity in the film and a narrower pore size distribution resulting in better mechanical properties at the same value of dielectric constant. |
| US07915177B2 |
Method of forming gate insulation film, semiconductor device, and computer recording medium
In the present invention, when a gate insulation film in a DRAM is formed, an oxide film constituting a base of the gate insulation film is plasma-nitrided. The plasma nitridation is performed with microwave plasma generated by using a plane antenna having a large number of through holes. Nitrogen concentration in the gate insulation film formed by the plasma nitridation is 5 to 20% in atomic percentage. Even without subsequent annealing, it is possible to effectively prevent a boron penetration phenomenon in the DRAM and to reduce traps in the film causing deterioration in driving capability of the device. |
| US07915175B1 |
Etching nitride and anti-reflective coating
A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprises etching an anti-reflective coating on a substrate with a first plasma comprising bromine and oxygen; and etching a nitride layer on the substrate with a second plasma comprising bromine and oxygen. |
| US07915174B2 |
Dielectric stack containing lanthanum and hafnium
Dielectric layers containing a dielectric layer including lanthanum and hafnium and methods of fabricating such dielectric layers provide an insulating layer in a variety of structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices. |
| US07915169B2 |
Processes for forming electronic devices including polishing metal-containing layers
A process of forming an electronic device can include providing a workpiece. The workpiece can include a substrate, an interlevel dielectric overlying the substrate, a refractory-metal-containing layer over the interlevel dielectric, and a first metal-containing layer over the refractory-metal-containing layer. The first metal-containing layer can include a metal element other than a refractory metal element. The process further includes polishing the first metal-containing layer and the refractory-metal-containing layer as a continuous action to expose the interlevel dielectric. In one embodiment, the metal element can include copper, nickel, or a noble metal. In another embodiment, polishing can be performed using a selectivity agent to reduce the amount of the interlevel dielectric removed. |
| US07915163B2 |
Method for forming doped polysilicon via connecting polysilicon layers
The invention provides for polysilicon vias connecting conductive polysilicon layers formed at different heights. Polysilicon vias are advantageously used in a monolithic three dimensional memory array of charge storage transistors. Polysilicon vias according to the present invention can be used, for example, to connect the channel layer of a first device level of charge storage transistor memory cells to the channel layer of a second device layer of such cells formed above the first device level. Similarly, vias according to the present invention can be used to connect the wordline of a first device level of charge storage transistor memory cells to the channel layer of a second device layer of such cells. |
| US07915161B2 |
Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of IC chip
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, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate. |
| US07915158B2 |
Method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device
A method for forming an on-chip high frequency electro-static discharge device is described. In one embodiment, a wafer with a multi-metal level wiring is provided. The wafer includes a first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein, a second dielectric layer disposed over the first dielectric layer with more than one electrode formed therein and more than one via connecting the more than one electrode in the first dielectric layer to a respective more than one electrode in the second dielectric layer. The more than one via is misaligned a predetermined amount with the more than one electrodes in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The at least one of the misaligned vias forms a narrow gap with another misaligned via. A cavity trench is formed through the second dielectric layer between the narrow gap that separates the misaligned vias. |
| US07915155B2 |
Double trench for isolation of semiconductor devices
Semiconductor device has a substrate (50), a buried layer (55), an active area extending from a surface contact to the buried layer, an insulator (130) in a first trench extending towards the buried layer, to isolate the active area, and a second insulator (130) in a second deep trench and extending through the buried layer to isolate the buried layer and the active area from other pails of the substrate. This double trench can help reduce the area needed for the electrical isolation between the active device and the other devices. Such reduction in area can enable greater integration or more cells in a multi cell super-MOS device, and so improve performance parameters such as Ron. The double trench can be manufactured using a first mask to etch both trenches at the same time, and subsequently using a second mask to etch the second deep trench deeper. |
| US07915153B2 |
Passivation film and method of forming the same
A passivation film and a method of forming the same are provided, the passivation film being used in a plasma display panel etc. In the passivation film, a first MgO layer, an intervening layer, and a second MgO layer are laminated and a laser is then irradiated to oxidize the intervening layer. Simultaneously, defects are formed at the interfaces of the first and second MgO layers. Accordingly, a plasma discharge firing voltage greatly decreases, and the total power consumption of the plasma display panel is significantly reduced. |
| US07915151B2 |
Doped elongated semiconductors, growing such semiconductors, devices including such semiconductors and fabricating such devices
A bulk-doped semiconductor that is at least one of the following: a single crystal, an elongated and bulk-doped semiconductor that, at any point along its longitudinal axis, has a largest cross-sectional dimension less than 500 nanometers, and a free-standing and bulk-doped semiconductor with at least one portion having a smallest width of less than 500 nanometers. At least one portion of such a semiconductor may a smallest width of less than 200 nanometers, or less than 150 nanometers, or less than 100 nanometers, or less than 80 nanometers, or less than 70 nanometers, or less than 60 nanometers, or less than 40 nanometers, or less than 20 nanometers, or less than 10 nanometers, or even less than 5 nanometers. Such a semiconductor may be doped during growth. Such a semiconductor may be part of a device, which may include any of a variety of devices and combinations thereof, and a variety of assembling techniques may be used to fabricate devices from such a semiconductor. |
| US07915150B2 |
Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor substrate using epitaxial growth
A method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor substrate according to example embodiments may include forming a buffer layer on a (100) plane of a silicon (Si) substrate. The buffer layer may have a hexagonal crystal system and a (1010) plane. A nitride semiconductor layer may be epitaxially grown on the buffer layer. The nitride semiconductor layer may have a (1010) plane. Accordingly, because example embodiments enable the use of a relatively inexpensive Si substrate, a more economical nitride semiconductor substrate having a relatively large diameter may be achieved. |
| US07915149B2 |
Gallium nitride substrate and gallium nitride layer formation method
There is disclosed a method for forming a gallium nitride layer of which resistivity is 1×106 Ω·cm or more, including steps of: forming a gallium nitride layer containing iron on a substrate; and heating said gallium nitride layer formed on said substrate. |
| US07915146B2 |
Controlled doping of semiconductor nanowires
A catalyst particle on a substrate is exposed to reactants containing a semiconductor material in a reactor. An intrinsic semiconductor nanowire having constant lateral dimensions is grown at a low enough temperature so that pyrolysis of the reactant is suppressed on the sidewalls of the intrinsic semiconductor nanowire. Once the intrinsic semiconductor nanowire grows to a desired length, the temperature of the reactor is raised to enable pyrolysis on the sidewalls of the semiconductor nanowire, and thereafter dopants are supplied into the reactor with the reactant. A composite semiconductor nanowire having an intrinsic inner semiconductor nanowire and a doped semiconductor shell is formed. The catalyst particle is removed, followed by an anneal that distributes the dopants uniformly within the volume of the composite semiconductor nanowire, forming a semiconductor nanowire having constant lateral dimensions and a substantially uniform doping. |
| US07915145B2 |
Silicon substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A silicon substrate is manufactured from single-crystal silicon which is grown to have a carbon concentration equal to or higher than 1.0×1016 atoms/cm3 and equal to or lower than 1.6×1017 atoms/cm3 and an initial oxygen concentration equal to or higher than 1.4×1018 atoms/cm3 and equal to or lower than 1.6×1018 atoms/cm3 by a CZ method. A device is formed on a front, the thickness of the silicon substrate is equal to or more than 5 μm and equal to or less than 40 μm, and extrinsic gettering which produces residual stress equal to or more than 5 Mpa and equal to or less than 200 Mpa is applied to a back face of the substrate. |
| US07915142B2 |
Wafer processing method
A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into individual devices along streets. The wafer processing method includes the steps of forming a division groove on the front side of the wafer along each street, attaching the front side of the wafer to the front side of a rigid plate having a plurality of grooves by using an adhesive resin, applying ultraviolet radiation to the adhesive resin to thereby increase the holding force of the adhesive resin, grinding the back side of the wafer to expose the division grooves to the back side of the wafer, attaching an adhesive tape to the back side of the wafer, immersing the wafer and the rigid plate in hot water to swell the adhesive resin, thereby decreasing the holding force of the adhesive resin, and removing the rigid plate from the front side of the wafer. |
| US07915139B1 |
CVD flowable gap fill
The present invention meets these needs by providing improved methods of filling gaps. In certain embodiments, the methods involve placing a substrate into a reaction chamber and introducing a vapor phase silicon-containing compound and oxidant into the chamber. Reactor conditions are controlled so that the silicon-containing compound and the oxidant are made to react and condense onto the substrate. The chemical reaction causes the formation of a flowable film, in some instances containing Si—OH, Si—H and Si—O bonds. The flowable film fills gaps on the substrates. The flowable film is then converted into a silicon oxide film, for example by plasma or thermal annealing. The methods of this invention may be used to fill high aspect ratio gaps, including gaps having aspect ratios ranging from 3:1 to 10:1. |
| US07915138B2 |
Methods of manufacturing non-volatile memory devices
In a method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, a conductive structure is formed on a substrate. The conductive structure includes a tunnel oxide pattern, a first conductive pattern, a pad oxide pattern and a hard mask pattern. A trench is formed on the substrate using the conductive structure as an etching mask. An inner oxide layer is formed on an inner wall of the trench and sidewalls of the tunnel oxide pattern and the first conductive pattern. The inner oxide layer is cured, thereby forming a silicon nitride layer on the inner oxide layer. A device isolation pattern is formed in the trench, and the hard mask pattern and the pad oxide pattern are removed from the substrate. A dielectric layer and a second conductive pattern are formed on the substrate. Accordingly, the silicon nitride layer prevents hydrogen (H) atoms from leaking into the device isolation pattern. |
| US07915137B2 |
Method of forming isolation structure for semiconductor integrated circuit substrate
Isolation regions for semiconductor substrates include dielectric-filled trenches and field oxide regions. Protective caps of dielectric materials dissimilar from the dielectric materials in the main portions of the trenches and field oxide regions may be used to protect the structures from erosion during later process steps. The top surfaces of the isolation structures are coplanar with the surface of the substrate. Field doping regions may be formed beneath the field oxide regions. To meet the demands of different devices, the isolation structures may have varying widths and depths. |
| US07915136B2 |
Methods of forming integrated circuit devices
The invention includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions and methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive material within openings in an insulative material to form capacitor electrode structures. A lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the electrode structures, a protective cap is formed over the lattice, and subsequently some of the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the electrode structures. The lattice can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the electrode structures, and the protective cap can protect covered portions of the insulative material from the etch. After the outer sidewalls of the electrode structures are exposed, the protective cap is removed. The electrode structures are then incorporated into capacitor constructions. |
| US07915134B2 |
Method of integration of a MIM capacitor with a lower plate of metal gate material formed on an STI region or a silicide region formed in or on the surface of a doped well with a high K dielectric material
A MIM capacitor is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a top surface and including regions formed in the surface selected from a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region and a doped well having exterior surfaces coplanar with the semiconductor substrate. A capacitor lower plate is either a lower electrode formed on the STI region in the semiconductor substrate or a lower electrode formed by a doped well formed in the top surface of the semiconductor substrate that may have a silicide surface. A capacitor HiK dielectric layer is formed on or above the lower plate. A capacitor second plate is formed on the HiK dielectric layer above the capacitor lower plate. A dual capacitor structure with a top plate may be formed above the second plate with vias connected to the lower plate protected from the second plate by side wall spacers. |
| US07915132B2 |
Corresponding capacitor arrangement and method for making the same
The invention relates to a method for producing a capacitor arrangement, and to a corresponding capacitor arrangement, wherein the first insulating layer is formed at the surface of a carrier substrate and a first capacitor electrode with a multiplicity of interspaced first interconnects is produced in said insulating layer. Using a mask layer, partial regions of the first insulating layer are removed for the purpose of uncovering the multiplicity of first interconnects, and after the formation of a capacitor dielectric at the surface of the uncovered first interconnects, a second capacitor electrode is formed with a multiplicity of interspaced second interconnects lying between the first interconnects coated with capacitor dielectric. This additionally simplified production method enables self-aligning and cost-effective production of capacitors having a high capacitance per unit area and mechanical stability. |
| US07915130B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
This disclosure concerns a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a Fin-type body on an insulation layer, the Fin-type body being made of a semiconductor material and having an upper surface covered with a protective film; forming a gate insulation film on side surfaces of the Fin-type body; depositing a gate electrode material so as to cover the Fin-type body; planarizing the gate electrode material; forming a gate electrode by processing the gate electrode material; depositing an interlayer insulation film so as to cover the gate electrode; exposing the upper surface of the gate electrode; depositing a metal layer on the upper surface of the gate electrode; siliciding the gate electrode by reacting the gate electrode with the metal layer; forming a trench on the upper surface of the protective film by removing an unreacted metal in the metal layer; and filling the trench with a conductor. |
| US07915128B2 |
High voltage semiconductor devices
A transistor suitable for high-voltage applications and a method of manufacture is provided. A first device is formed by depositing a dielectric layer and a conductive layer over a substrate. A hard mask is deposited over the conductive layer and patterned using photolithography techniques. The photoresist material is removed prior to etching the underlying conductive layer and dielectric layer. The hard mask is also used as an implant mask. Another mask may be deposited and formed over the conductive layer to form other devices in other regions of the substrate. The other mask is preferably removed from over the hard mask prior to etching the conductive layer and the dielectric layer. |
| US07915127B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device is described. First, a substrate is provided. Thereafter, a gate structure including, from bottom to top, a high-k layer, a work function metal layer, a wetting layer, a polysilicon layer and a mask layer is formed on the substrate. Afterwards, a spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate structure. Source/drain regions are then formed in the substrate beside the gate structure. Further, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed over the substrate. Thereafter, a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer is removed to expose the surface of the mask layer. Afterwards, the mask layer and the polysilicon layer are sequentially removed to expose the surface of the wetting layer. A selective chemical vapor deposition process is then performed, so as to bottom-up deposit a metal layer from the surface of the wetting layer. |
| US07915126B2 |
Methods of forming non-volatile memory cells, and methods of forming NAND cell unit string gates
Some embodiments include methods of utilizing polysilazane in forming non-volatile memory cells. The memory cells may be multi-level cells (MLCs). The polysilazane may be converted to silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, or silicon oxynitride with thermal processing and exposure to an ambient that contains one or both of oxygen and nitrogen. The methods may include using the polysilazane in forming a charge trapping layer of a non-volatile memory cell. The methods may alternatively, or additionally include using the polysilazane in forming intergate dielectric material of a non-volatile memory cell. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells of a NAND memory array. |
| US07915125B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided which comprises: forming a first gate insulating film and a second gate insulating film in an active region of a semiconductor substrate; introducing an impurity of a first conductivity type into a first site where a first body region is to be formed, the first site being disposed under the first gate insulating film in the active region; forming a gate electrode on each of the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film; and introducing an impurity of the first conductivity type into the first site and a second site where a second body region is to be formed, the second site being disposed under the second gate insulating film in the active region, to form the first body region and the second body region, respectively. |
| US07915123B1 |
Dual charge storage node memory device and methods for fabricating such device
A dual node memory device and methods for fabricating the device are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises forming a layered structure with an insulator layer, a charge storage layer, a buffer layer, and a sacrificial layer on a semiconductor substrate. The layers are patterned to form two spaced apart stacks and an exposed substrate portion between the stacks. A gate insulator and a gate electrode are formed on the exposed substrate, and the sacrificial layer and buffer layer are removed. An additional insulator layer is deposited overlying the charge storage layer to form insulator-storage layer-insulator memory storage areas on each side of the gate electrode. Sidewall spacers are formed at the sidewalls of the gate electrode overlying the storage areas. Bit lines are formed in the substrate spaced apart from the gate electrode, and a word line is formed that contacts the gate electrode and the sidewall spacers. |
| US07915114B2 |
Low temperature process for TFT fabrication
Method of fabricating a thin-film transistor (TFT) in which a gate metal is deposited onto a substrate in order to form the gate of the thin-film transistor. The substrate may be an insulative substrate or a color filter. In a first method, the gate metal is subjected to an H2 plasma. After subjecting the gate metal to an H2 plasma, the gate insulating film is deposited onto the gate. In a second method, first and second layers of gate insulating film are respectively deposited on the gate at a first and second deposition rates. One layer is deposited under H2 or argon dilution conditions and has improved insulating conditions while the other layer serves to lower the overall compressive stress of the dual layer gate insulator. In a third method, an n+ silicon film is formed on a substrate by maintaining a flow of silane, phosphine and hydrogen gas into a processing chamber at substrate temperatures of about 300° C. or less. |
| US07915113B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a vertical cell transistor structure may include forming a vertical cell transistor structure over a semiconductor substrate of a cell region; forming an insulating film over the vertical cell transistor structure; planarizing the insulating film to expose a hard mask film disposed at a top portion of the vertical cell transistor structure; and forming a storage node contact by removing the hard mask film. |
| US07915112B2 |
Metal gate stress film for mobility enhancement in FinFET device
A CMOS FinFET semiconductor device provides an NMOS FinFET device that includes a compressive stress metal gate layer over semiconductor fins and a PMOS FinFET device that includes a tensile stress metal gate layer over semiconductor fins. A process for forming the same includes a selective annealing process that selectively converts a compressive metal gate film formed over the PMOS device to the tensile stress metal gate film. |
| US07915106B2 |
Method of fabricating T-gate
A method of fabricating a T-gate is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming a photoresist layer on a substrate; patterning the photoresist layer formed on the substrate and forming a first opening; forming a first insulating layer on the photoresist layer and the substrate; removing the first insulating layer and forming a second opening to expose the substrate; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer; removing the second insulating layer and forming a third opening to expose the substrate; forming a metal layer on the second insulating layer on which the photoresist layer and the third opening are formed; and removing the metal layer formed on the photoresist layer. Accordingly, a uniform and elaborate opening defining the length of a gate may be formed by deposition of the insulating layer and a blanket dry etching process, and thus a more elaborate micro T-gate electrode may be fabricated. |
| US07915100B2 |
Hybrid orientation CMOS with partial insulation process
The present invention provides a method of integrated semiconductor devices such that different types of devices are formed upon a specific crystallographic orientation of a hybrid substrate. In accordance with the present invention, junction capacitance of one of the devices is improved in the present invention by forming the source/drain diffusion regions of the device in an epitiaxial semiconductor material such that they are situated on a buried insulating layer that extends partially underneath the body of the second semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device, together with the first semiconductor device, is both located atop the buried insulating layer. Unlike the first semiconductor device in which the body thereof is floating, the second semiconductor device is not floating. Rather, it is in contact with an underlying first semiconducting layer. |
| US07915099B2 |
Beam irradiation apparatus, beam irradiation method, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The speed of the laser scanned by the scanning means such as a galvanometer mirror or a polygon mirror is not constant in the center portion and in the end portion of the scanning width. As a result, the object, for example an amorphous semiconductor film, is irradiated with the excessive energy and therefore there is a risk that the amorphous semiconductor film is peeled. In the present invention, in the case where the laser spot of the energy beam output continuously on the irradiated object is scanned by moving it back and forth with the use of the scanning means or the like, the beam is irradiated to the outside of the element-forming region when the scanning speed of the spot is not the predetermined value, for example when the speed is not constant, and accelerates, decelerates, or is zero, for example in the positions where the scanning direction changes, or where the scanning starts or ends. |
| US07915096B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a fuse pattern formed as conductive polymer layer having a low melting point. The fuse pattern is easily cut at low temperature to improve repair efficiency. The semiconductor device includes first and second fuse connecting patterns that are separated from each other by a distance, a fuse pattern including a conductive polymer layer formed between the first and second fuse connection patterns and connecting the first and second fuse connection patterns, and a fuse box structure that exposes the fuse pattern. |
| US07915093B1 |
System and method for manufacturing an integrated circuit anti-fuse in conjunction with a tungsten plug process
A system and method are disclosed for manufacturing an integrated circuit anti-fuse in conjunction with a tungsten plug process. A tungsten plug is formed in a dielectric layer that overlies a portion of P type silicon and an adjacent portion of N type silicon. The dielectric layer is etched to create a first anti-fuse contact opening down to the underlying P type silicon and a second anti-fuse contact opening down to the underlying N type silicon. A metal layer is deposited over the tungsten plug and over the dielectric layer and etched to form an anti-fuse metal contact in each of two anti-fuse contact openings. A bias voltage is applied to the anti-fuse metal contacts to activate the anti-fuse. |
| US07915090B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a substrate on which conductor wiring is disposed, electrodes provided to the conductor wiring, a semiconductor element connected to the electrodes, and a sealing member that covers the semiconductor element, comprises; mounting a plurality of semiconductor elements on the substrate in the X-axial direction and the Y-axial direction, forming marks in the X-axial direction, supplying the sealing material onto the substrate to continuously-covering the plurality of semiconductor elements arranged in the X-axial direction along the marks, dicing the sealing member and the substrate in the Y-axial direction to form cut planes of the sealing member and the substrate in substantially one plane and being a pair of cut planes opposite one another. |
| US07915083B1 |
Method of manufacturing layered chip package
A layered chip package includes a main body, and wiring disposed on at least one side surface of the main body. The main body has: a main part having a top surface and a bottom surface and including a plurality of layer portions stacked; and a plurality of terminals arranged on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the main part and electrically connected to the wiring. A manufacturing method for the layered chip package includes: fabricating a plurality of first layered substructures each including a plurality of pre-separation main bodies arrayed; fabricating a second layered substructure by stacking the first layered substructures; cutting the second layered substructure into a block in which a plurality of pre-separation main bodies are arrayed in two directions; forming the wiring simultaneously for the plurality of pre-separation main bodies included in the block; and separating the pre-separation main bodies from each other. |
| US07915072B1 |
Non-vacuum coating method for preparing light absorbing layer of solar cell
A coating method for preparing a light absorbing layer of a solar cell is provided. In a non-vacuum environment, an ultrasonic vibrating mixer is employed to mix a CIGS mixture with a mixing fluid to obtain a CIGS coating material. The CIGS coating material is then uniformly coated on a molybdenum (Mo) layer which is driven by a conveyor device, so as to form a CIGS coating material layer having a uniform thickness on the Mo layer. An infrared ray (IR) heating lamp is then used to dry the CIGS coating material layer for removing residue of the mixing fluid remained in the CIGS coating material layer. In such a way, a CIGS light absorbing layer adapted for absorbing a solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy into an electric energy is obtained. The CIGS light absorbing layer can be then used for fabricating a CIGS solar cell. |
| US07915071B2 |
Method for chemical mechanical planarization of chalcogenide materials
A method and associated composition for chemical mechanical planarization of a chalcogenide-containing substrate (e.g., germanium/antimony/tellurium (GST)-containing substrate) are described. The composition and method afford low defect levels (e.g., scratches incurred during polishing) as well as low dishing and local erosion levels on the chalcogenide-containing substrate during CMP processing. |
| US07915070B2 |
Method for fabricating organic light emitting display device
A fabricating method of an organic light emitting display device including performing a sheet test as a sheet unit on a mother board formed with panels and sheet wires for supplying test signals to the panels on the mother board, the method including: forming drive elements for driving the panels in each of the panels and forming sheet wires electrically coupled to at least a portion of the drive elements and shorting bar electrically coupling all of the sheet wires; forming organic light emitting diodes in each of the panels and isolating the sheet wires from each other by etching open regions of the shorting bar apart from contact regions of the shorting bar for coupling the shorting bar to the sheet wires; performing the sheet test on the plurality of panels by supplying the test signals to the sheet wires; and separating the panels by scribing the mother board. |
| US07915069B2 |
Solid-state imaging device comprising an N-type layer divided into a lower and upper layer by forming a P-type region
An n/p semiconductor substrate is formed in such a manner that an n type semiconductor layer is deposited on a p+ semiconductor substrate. An imaging area including a plurality of n type semiconductor regions making photoelectric conversion and a plurality of p type semiconductor region for isolation formed around the n type semiconductor regions, is formed in the n/p semiconductor substrate. The n type semiconductor layer is divided into an upper layer and a lower layer. A second n type semiconductor region is formed to connect to the p+ type semiconductor substrate from a surface of the n/p semiconductor substrate in a peripheral region of the imaging area. |
| US07915066B2 |
Methods of making electromechanical three-trace junction devices
Methods of producing an electromechanical circuit element are described. A lower structure having lower support structures and a lower electrically conductive element is provided. A nanotube ribbon (or other electromechanically responsive element) is formed on an upper surface of the lower structure so as to contact the lower support structures. An upper structure is provided over the nanotube ribbon. The upper structure includes upper support structures and an upper electrically conductive element. In some arrangements, the upper and lower electrically conductive elements are in vertical alignment, but in some arrangements they are not. |
| US07915065B2 |
Wafer level sensing package and manufacturing process thereof
A wafer level sensing package and manufacturing process thereof are described. The process includes providing a wafer having sensing chips, in which each sensing chip has a sensing area and pads; forming a stress release layer on a wafer surface; cladding a photoresist layer on the stress release layer; patterning the photoresist layer to expose the pads and a portion of the stress release layer, without exposing opening areas of the sensing areas; forming a conductive metal layer of re-distributed pads on the portion of the stress release layer exposed by the photoresist layer; removing the photoresist layer; forming a re-cladding photoresist layer on the stress release layer and the conductive metal layer; forming holes in the re-cladding photoresist layer above the re-distributed pad area; and forming conductive bumps in the holes to electrically connect to the conductive metal layer. |
| US07915054B2 |
Semiconductor device having a ferroelectric capacitor
An ultra-thin semiconductor chip of an FeRAM, which is miniaturized and highly integrated with characteristic degradation of a ferroelectric capacitor suppressed though a thin package structure is applied to the FeRAM is realized. The semiconductor chip is molded up by using a sealing resin with a filler content set at a value in a range of 90 weight % to 93 weight % to produce a package structure. |
| US07915051B2 |
Biosensor and blood component analytical method
According to the biosensor and the blood component analytical method of the present invention, in a biosensor that is made of a single layer or plural layers of a porous material as shown in FIG. 1, having a reagent holding part and utilizing chromatography, a cell shrinkage reagent is carried on at least part of the reagent holding part, or at least part of a chromatographically developed part that is upstream of the reagent holding part. According to the biosensor having the above-mentioned structure and the blood component analytical method, even when whole blood is a sample, a high-accuracy blood component analysis cart be performed easily and quickly with less cost. |
| US07915050B2 |
Regulatory genes for plant differentiation and growth, and use of the same
An objective of the present invention is to provide gibberellin-binding proteins, genes encoding such proteins, and applications therefor. The proteins of the present invention function as cytoplasmic receptors for gibberellin and mediate gibberellin response in plants. Plants overexpressing such genes exhibited gibberellin-hypersensitive phenotypes, such as increased plant height. In contrast, plants in which the genes were mutated exhibited gibberellin-insensitive phenotypes, and thus became dwarfed. Accordingly, plant differentiation and growth can be regulated by introducing the gibberellin-binding genes of the present invention or by suppressing the expression of same. |
| US07915044B2 |
Electrofusion microelectrode and methods of using it to manipulate cells and/or cellular components
The present invention relates to an electrofusion microelectrode made of a tube having a first proximal end and a second distal end. The tube has an electrically conductive coating on its exterior surface that extends continually from the first proximal end of the tube toward the second distal end of the tube. Also disclosed is an electrofusion microelectrode unit having an electrofusion microelectrode and a holding tool capable of receiving the electrofusion microelectrode at the second distal end of the tube. The present invention also relates to a system having two or more electrofusion microelectrodes of the present invention and to methods of manipulating cells and/or cellular components using the electrofusion microelectrodes, units, and systems of the present invention. |
| US07915041B2 |
Hybridoma capable of producing anti-dectin-1 monoclonal antibody
A hybridoma capable of producing a monoclonal antibody against dectin-1, and a monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with dectin-1. |
| US07915040B2 |
Defensin-antigen fusion proteins
The present invention relates to a vaccine for increasing the immunogenicity of a tumor antigen thus allowing treatment of cancer, as well as a vaccine that increases the immunogenicity of a viral antigen, thus allowing treatment of viral infection, including immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a defensin fused to either a tumor antigen or viral antigen which is administered as either a protein or nucleic acid vaccine to elicit an immune response effective in treating cancer or effective in treating or preventing viral infection. |
| US07915039B2 |
Method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells
The invention relates to the field of cell biology. In detail it relates to the obtainment of mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue. This invention might be applicable in healing within the frame of the treatment of several diseases.Due to the invention it will be possible to obtain mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue with high homogeneity of the cell suspension, since the used method for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells from human tissue comprises the crushing and enzymatical treatment of the tissue with collagenase solution in Eagle medium in the Dulbecco modification, removal of erythrocytes by the aid of the lysis solution and subsequent filtration of the prepared suspension; as human tissue fat tissue or decidual or amniotic placenta membrane or chorion placenta stroma is used, whereas the filtration is performed sequentially by the use of filters comprising a pore size of 100 μm and 10 μm. In the enzymatical treatment of the fat tissue, of the decidual or amniotic placenta membrane collagenase of the type I is used, and in the enzymatical treatment of the chorion placenta stroma collagenase of the type IV is used. |
| US07915031B2 |
DNA fragments array from biomining microorganisms and method for detection of them
The present invention discloses an array of DNA fragments from biomining microorganisms and a method to identify readily and simultaneously said microorganisms in a sample. This method is a useful tool in biomining, in every circumstance where a global understanding of the present microbiological diversity is required, or simply to assess the presence of some microorganism with biomining relevance, either on the mineral, or in a bioleaching heap, in the biomining laboratory or in any other circumstance involving biomining microorgarisms. |
| US07915028B2 |
Tissue regeneration substrate, complex thereof with cells, and method for its production
A tissue regeneration substrate comprising a film with a honeycomb structure composed primarily of a polymer compound and a phospholipid. A tissue regeneration complex comprising the tissue regeneration substrate and cells held in the tissue regeneration substrate. The substrate is particularly suitable for regeneration of cartilage tissue, and allows growth of cartilage tissue in a three-dimensional fashion. |
| US07915026B2 |
Host cells for production of isoprenoid compounds
Methods for synthesizing isopentenyl pyrophosphate are provided. A first method comprises introducing into a host microorganism a plurality of heterologous nucleic acid sequences, each coding for a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway for producing isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A related method comprises introducing into a host microorganism an intermediate in the mevalonate pathway and at least one heterologous nucleic acid sequence, each sequence coding for an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway necessary for converting the intermediate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences, enzymes, expression vectors, and transformed host cells for carrying out the methods. |
| US07915018B2 |
Method for producing L-amino acids using bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family
There is disclosed a method for producing L-amino acid, for example L-threonine, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-phenylalanine, L-arginine or L-glutamic acid, using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium has been modified to enhance an activity of D-xylose permease. |
| US07915017B2 |
Process for the treatment of lignocellulosic biomass
A process for the treatment of biomass to render structural carbohydrates more accessible and/or digestible using concentrated ammonium hydroxide with or without anhydrous ammonia addition, is described. The process preferably uses steam to strip ammonia from the biomass for recycling. The process yields of monosaccharides from the structural carbohydrates are good, particularly as measured by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the structural carbohydrates. The monosaccharides are used as animal feeds and energy sources for ethanol production. |
| US07915016B2 |
cDNA production from cells after laser microdissection
The present invention provides a new procedure for the synthesis of cDNA from single cells after microdissection. It has the advantage that it is cost-efficient and can be carried out quickly with only few steps, even by less skilled laboratory employees. For the first time, the time-consuming and risky step of RNA isolation is omitted during cDNA synthesis from single cells by performing lysis and cDNA synthesis in the same reaction tube and in one buffer solution, which provides reliable and contamination-free results. The buffer is composed of NP40, carrier-RNA and Super RNAsin, as well as dNTPs and cDNA synthesis primers. |
| US07915011B2 |
Host cell modifications that improve peptide production and downstream processing
Disrupting the expression of endogenous Escherichia host cell genes gcvA and spr provides mutant host cells having increased heterologous peptide production. The addition of a genetic modification to the coding region of gene yejM further enhances peptide production and facilitates easier downstream processing. Recombinant Escherichia host cells are provided as well as methods of using such host cells for heterologous peptide production. |
| US07915009B2 |
Activation and inhibition of the immune system
Activation of the immune response by NF-kB inducers, induction of an anergic response by NF-kB inhibitors and the inhibition and activation of immune response by the administration of an activator or inhibitor of NF-kB is disclosed. Examples of NF-kB inhibitors include IkBα, PSI, a nucleotide sequence encoding IkBα anti-sense nucleic acid encoding an NF-kB sequence, such as Rel B, and anti-NF-kB antibodies. Examples of NF-kB inducers include NIK, MEKK, IKK2, TFRRF2, and Rel B. Also disclosed are vectors encoding inducers and inhibitors of NF-kB, for example adenoviral vectors. |
| US07914998B2 |
Neurotransmitter signaling can regulate life span in C. elegans
The present invention features methods of identifying modulators of longevity. Also featured are organisms, cell systems and compositions for performing those methods. Further featured are therapeutic methods for the use of modulators identified according to said methodologies. |
| US07914997B2 |
Polynucleotides for use as tags and tag complements, manufacture and use thereof
A family of minimally cross-hybridizing nucleotide sequences, methods of use, etc. A specific family of 210 24mers is described. |
| US07914993B2 |
Process for starch liquefaction and fermentation
The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved processes for processing starch from plant sources, including processes for starch liquefaction, for simultaneous liquefaction and saccharification, and for the preparation of ethanol. These processes can be performed without a pH adjustment and at relatively low temperatures. The processes can involve the use of starch-containing plant material derived from plants that express starch-digesting enzymes. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to improved processes for the preparation of other starch-derived products, including dried distiller grain (dried distiller grain) and dried distiller grain and solubles (dried distiller grain and solubles), and to the starch-derived products, themselves. |
| US07914992B2 |
Treatment of PRDC in pigs
The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition comprising a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for the prevention and treatment, including a reduction in the severity of, duration of, and manifestations of, porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in animals, preferably in pigs. |
| US07914989B2 |
Capture moieties for nucleic acids and uses thereof
A unimolecular probe for hybridization to a molecule comprising a target nucleic acid sequence, the probe includes: a first nucleic acid sequence complementary to the target sequence (target-binding sequence); and a second nucleic acid sequence complementary to a portion of the first nucleic acid sequence and capable of hybridization therewith to form a first intramolecular duplex. In use, the target and target-bind sequence hybridize to form a duplex. A probe can be used to detect a molecule containing the target sequence, act as a primer for synthesis or amplification, etc. |
| US07914984B2 |
Conformationally flexible cationic conjugated polymers
Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving cationic conjugated conformationally flexible polymers are provided. A method for the synthesis of cationic water-soluble polymers with linkages along the polymer main chain structure which disrupt the ability of the polymers to form extended-rod structures is provided. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods. |
| US07914983B2 |
Detection method for gene expression
Provided is a novel approach for generating oligonucleotide probes and the use of these probes in gene expression profiling, by hybridization to test oligonucleotides on arrays or beads. This approach involves labeling of the complement oligonucleotide probes using a mixture of dye or hapten labeled-ddNTPs in solution. The labeled oligonucleotide probes are then used to hybridize to the test oligonucleotides on the solid support. Success in hybridization is monitored by associated signal on the solid support. This approach greatly reduces hybridization time, due to the simplification of the probe content. It is especially useful when analyzing a small number of genes, such as a signature set of genes for a disease or condition. |
| US07914975B2 |
Multiple exposure lithography method incorporating intermediate layer patterning
A method of patterning a semiconductor substrate includes creating a first set of patterned features in a first inorganic layer; creating a second set of patterned features in one of the first inorganic layer and a second inorganic layer; and transferring, into an organic underlayer, both the first and second sets of patterned features, wherein the first and second sets of patterned features are combined into a composite set of patterned features that are transferable into the substrate by using the organic underlayer as a mask. |
| US07914973B2 |
Method of forming a pattern in a semiconductor device and method of forming a gate using the same
A method of forming a pattern in a semiconductor device is described. A substrate divided into cell and peripheral regions is provided, and an object layer is formed on a substrate. A buffer pattern is formed on the object layer in the cell region along a first direction. A spacer is formed along a sidewall of the buffer pattern in the cell region, and a hard mask layer remains on the object layer in the peripheral region. The buffer layer is removed, and the spacer is separated along a second direction different from the first direction, thereby forming a cell hard mask pattern. A peripheral hard mask pattern is formed in the peripheral region. A minute pattern is formed using the cell and peripheral hard mask patterns in the substrate. Therefore, a line width variation or an edge line roughness due to the photolithography process is minimized. |
| US07914971B2 |
Light exposure mask and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the same
The present invention provides a light exposure mask which can form a photoresist layer in a semi-transmissive portion with uniform thickness, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which the number of photolithography steps (the number of masks) necessary for manufacturing a TFT substrate is reduced by using the light exposure mask. A light exposure mask is used, which includes a transmissive portion, a light shielding portion, and a semi-transmissive portion having a light intensity reduction function where lines and spaces are repeatedly formed, wherein the sum of a line width L of a light shielding material and a space width S between light shielding materials in the semi-transmissive portion satisfies a conditional expression (2n/3)×m≦L+S≦(6n/5)×m when a resolution of a light exposure apparatus is represented by n and a projection magnification is represented by 1/m (m≧1). |
| US07914970B2 |
Mixed lithography with dual resist and a single pattern transfer
An inorganic electron beam sensitive oxide layer is formed on a carbon based material layer or an underlying layer. The inorganic electron beam sensitive oxide layer is exposed with an electron beam and developed to form patterned oxide regions. An ultraviolet sensitive photoresist layer is applied over the patterned oxide regions and exposed surfaces of the carbon based material layer, and subsequently exposed with an ultraviolet radiation and developed. The combined pattern of the patterned ultraviolet sensitive photoresist and the patterned oxide regions is transferred into the carbon based material layer, and subsequently into the underlying layer to form trenches. The carbon based material layer serves as a robust mask for performing additional pattern transfer into the underlying layer, and may be easily stripped afterwards. The patterned ultraviolet sensitive photoresist, the patterned oxide regions, and the patterned carbon based material layer are subsequently removed. |
| US07914968B2 |
Positive resist composition and method of forming resist pattern
A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) and an acid-generator component (B), the resin component (A) including a structural unit (a1) derived from hydroxystyrene, and a structural unit (a2) having an acetal-type acid dissociable dissolution inhibiting group, and the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1-i) having at least one anion moiety selected from the group consisting of anion moieties represented by general formula (b-3), (b-4), and (b-5), an acid generator (B1-ii) having an anion moiety represented by general formula (b-6) shown below, or an acid generator (B1-iii) having a cation moiety represented by general formula (b′-3) shown below: wherein X″ represents an alkylene group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom has been substituted with a fluorine atom; Y″ and Z″, U″, V″, and W″ each independently represents an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom has been substituted with a fluorine atom, [Chemical Formula 2] R10″—SO3− (b-6) wherein R10″ represents a hydrocarbon group which may or may not have a substituent, wherein R7″ to R9″ each independently represents a phenyl group or naphthyl group that may or may not have a substituent; with the proviso that the case where all of R7″ to R9″ represent phenyl groups which do not have a substituent is excluded. |
| US07914967B2 |
Fluorine-containing compound, resist composition for immersion exposure, and method of forming resist pattern
A resist composition for immersion exposure including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon irradiation, and a fluorine-containing compound (C) having a group represented by general formula (c) shown below and containing at least one fluorine atom: wherein Q represents a group in which one hydrogen atom has been removed from a monovalent hydrophilic group; and R1 represents a hydrocarbon group of 2 or more carbon atoms which may have a fluorine atom. |
| US07914966B2 |
Modified polymers and their use in the production of lithographic printing plate precursors
Radiation-sensitive negative working element comprising (a) a substrate with a hydrophilic surface and (b) a layer on the hydrophilic surface of the substrate, wherein said layer comprises a modified polymer obtainable by reacting (i) a polymer with —COOH, —SO3H, —P03H2 and/or —PO4H2 in the side chains, wherein the polymer is soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions and the solubility is not changed by IR radiation, and (ii) a salt with an inorganic or organic cation, wherein the modified polymer is soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions and the solubility is not changed by IR radiation, said layer being soluble in aqueous alkaline developer, but is rendered insoluble in aqueous alkaline developer by IR radiation. |
| US07914960B2 |
Additive containing charge transport layer photoconductors
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and where the charge transport layer contains at least one of an ammonium salt. |
| US07914959B2 |
Image bearing member, image forming method, and image forming apparatus
An image bearing member including a substrate, a photosensitive layer, provided overlying the substrate and a cross linking charge transport layer provided overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein the area of the photosensitive layer which is most distant from the substrate contains a charge transport material, a binder resin and a filler. |
| US07914958B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device manufacturing method has forming a first resist pattern on the semiconductor substrate, and then, forming a first pattern on the semiconductor substrate by the use of the first resist pattern, and forming a second resist pattern on the semiconductor substrate by using an imprinter, and then, forming a second pattern on the semiconductor substrate by the use of the second resist pattern. The forming the first pattern, the first pattern smaller than a design pattern corresponding to the design data for forming a plurality of patterns on a semiconductor substrate being formed. |
| US07914955B2 |
Masks, lithography device and semiconductor component
One problem of projection optics concerns pupil apodization which leads to imaging defects. As here proposed, the illumination system is configured to illuminate the mask inhomogeneously. As a result, inhomogeneities in reflectivity caused by the mask itself are at least partly counteracted. This compensation not only makes the apodization over the pupil become more symmetric but also makes the intensity variation smaller overall. |
| US07914952B2 |
Lithographic pellicle
The present invention is directed to provide a pellicle that can control the deformation of the photomask to a minimum without particular consideration of the flatness of a pellicle frame even in the case where a pellicle is affixed to a photomask for lithography. In the pellicle of the present invention, the pellicle comprises a photomask adhesive for affixing the pellicle to a photomask, the photomask adhesive having a flat surface, wherein the flatness of the surface is no more than 15 μm. |
| US07914949B2 |
Method for testing a photomask
A method, a recording medium and an apparatus for testing a photomask are provided. In the disclosed method, a particular region of a photomask is selected, either from a physical instance of the photomask, or from the photomask as represented by a digital representation thereof. The particular region is then characterized by identifying a pattern type present in the particular region. A lithographic process stress condition is determined for the particular region, considering the pattern type, and thereafter, a result of lithographically patterning a feature is determined by simulating a photolithographic exposure, using the particular region of the photomask under the lithographic process stress condition. Then, it is decided whether the particular region of the photomask is acceptable based on the result of the simulated exposure only under the lithographic process stress condition. |
| US07914942B2 |
Fuel cell vehicle
The fuel cell vehicle, includes a fuel cell generating electricity by an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; an accessory for the fuel cell; and a fuel cell system box mounted on a vehicle body and housing the fuel cell and the accessory, wherein the fuel cell system box is formed in a vessel shape which has a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the first side wall supporting at least one pipe through which a fluid supplied to the fuel cell flows, and the first side wall is constituted of a material having a specific gravity that is greater than that of the bottom wall and the second wall. |
| US07914934B2 |
Hydro-oxy fuel generator
The Hydro-Oxy Fuel Generator is an electro/chemical system that can convert ions (Hydronium ions and Hydroxide ions to gases (Hydrogen and Oxygen). The system can be easily mounted on vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, trains, etc.) to produce Hydrogen and Oxygen gases, wherein, gases can be used as an alternative fuel source.The basic objective of this invention is to create a viable source of fuel that reduces the dependency on fossil fuels. |
| US07914932B2 |
All-solid-state battery
An all-solid-state battery having a high output power and a long life, exhibiting high safety, and being produced at a low cost is provided. The all-solid-state battery has a cathode comprising a cathode material, an anode comprising an anode material, and a solid electrolyte layer comprising a solid electrolyte, wherein the cathode material, the anode material, and the solid electrolyte are a compound shown by the following formulas (1), (2), and (3), respectively: MaN1bX1c (1) MdN2eX2f (2) MgN3hX3i (3) wherein M represents H, Li, Na, Mg, Al, K, or Ca and X1, X2, and X3 are polyanions, each of N1 and N2 is at least one atom selected from the group consisting of transition metals, Al, and Cu, and N3 is at least one atom selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ge, Hf, Zr, Al, Cr, Ga, Fe, Sc, and In. |
| US07914929B2 |
Aqueous dispersion with a starch and lithium and titanium mixed oxide base for a lithium storage battery electrode
A dispersion comprises at least one aqueous solvent, a lithium and titanium mixed oxide such as Li4Ti5O12 and an organic binder comprising a starch-type polysaccharide. The starch-type polysaccharide comprises amylose and amylopectin, with a ratio between the weight proportion of amylose and the weight proportion of amylopectin that is less than or equal to 25%. Such a dispersion can be used to achieve a lithium storage battery electrode. |
| US07914925B2 |
Thin-type secondary battery and method of producing the same, and secondary battery module
To provide a high capacity thin-type secondary battery suitably formed into a module and having no thickness fluctuation, excellent quality stability, and excellent heat radiation properties, by using a sheet-like separator having expansion anisotropy due to penetration of an electrolytic solution. A method of producing a thin-type secondary battery includes the steps of: sandwiching a sheet-like separator having expansion anisotropy due to penetration of an electrolytic solution, by a sheet-like electrode pair; inserting the separator sandwiched by the electrode pair and injecting the electrolytic solution, into a thin-type outer wrapper having an opened portion; penetrating the electrolytic solution into the separator without fixing motion of the separator in a maximum expanding direction and in a state where the maximum expanding direction of the separator and a penetrating direction of the electrolytic solution are substantially parallel to each other; and sealing the opened portion into a tightly sealed state. |
| US07914914B2 |
Low embodied energy sheathing panels with optimal water vapor permeance and methods of making same
Sheathing panels are produced by methods which do not require natural resources such as wood and use significantly reduced embodied energy when compared with the energy used to fabricate gypsum sheathing panels. A novel binder, consisting in one embodiment of monopotassium phosphate and magnesium oxide, and combined with various fillers, is incorporated with hollow tubes or water soluble fibers to create a gypsum board-like core which can be formed into a suitable sheathing panel handled and installed in a typical manner. The panel is manufactured to have a desirable shear resistance and water vapor permeability, important performance elements in building envelope design. The manufacturing process results in a panel that does not require mature trees as source material, does not off gas, and involves much lower greenhouse gas emissions than the processes used to make traditional wood or gypsum-based sheathing panels. |
| US07914912B2 |
Actively switchable nano-structured adhesive
Described herein is a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of nano-fibers attached to the substrate. Each nano-fiber moves between the first and second states without an external mechanical load being applied to the nano-fibers. Each nano-fiber is configured to move between a first state and a second state in response to applied electricity, magnetism, chemical solution, heat, or light. Each nano-fiber is straight in the first state and curved in the second state, and when the nano-fibers are in the second state and in contact with a contact surface, the nano-fibers adhere to the contact surface. |
| US07914911B2 |
Anthracene derivative and light emitting element and light emitting device using the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a luminescent material that has resistance to repeated oxidation reactions. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element that is high in luminous efficiency. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element that has a long life. An aspect of the present invention is an anthracene derivative represented by a general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R2 to R4 and R7 to R9 are individually any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a group represented by the following structure formula (2), and R1, R5, R6, and R10 are individually any one of hydrogen and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. |
| US07914908B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device having an azatriphenylene derivative
Azatriphenylene derivatives and their use in the electron-transporting layer of an electroluminescent device that comprises an anode, a spaced-apart cathode, and at least one electron-transporting layer disposed between the spaced-apart anode and cathode. Such EL devices provide lower drive voltage, improved power efficiency, and longer operational lifetime. |
| US07914906B2 |
Organic electro-luminescence device
An organic electro-luminescence device includes a substrate, the first electrode layer, a hole injecting layer, a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transporting layer, an electron injecting layer and the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is formed over the substrate. The hole injecting layer is formed over the first electrode layer. The hole transporting layer is formed over the hole injecting layer. The light emitting layer is formed over the hole transporting layer. The electron transporting layer is formed over the light emitting layer. The electron transporting layer includes carbazole derivative and n-type material. The electron injecting layer is formed over the electron transporting layer. The second electrode layer is formed over the electron injecting layer. |
| US07914905B2 |
π-conjugated aromatic ring-containing compound and organic electroluminescent device
A π-conjugated aromatic ring-containing compound represented by the formula (1) below is relatively stable and useful as a light-emitting material for light from blue-violet region to red region. [In the formula, R1-R6 independently represent a hydrogen atom or the like; A and D independently represent a pyridine ring, pyrimidine ring, pyridazine ring, pyrazine ring, furan ring, pyrrole ring, pyrazole ring, imidazole ring, thiophene ring, benzothiadiazole ring, thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine ring, furo[3,4-b]pyrazine ring, 6H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine ring or the like; a1, a2 and a3 independently represent 0 or 1; and n1 and n2 independently represent an integer of 1-5.] |
| US07914904B2 |
Component in a combustion system, and process for preventing slag, ash, and char buildup
Disclosed herein is a component in a combustion system comprising a composite, the composite comprising silicon carbide; and a refractory metal silicide comprising a phase selected from Rm5Si3, Rm5Si3C, RmSi2, and a combination thereof; wherein Rm is a refractory metal selected from molybdenum, tungsten, and a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a process for preventing slag, ash, and char buildup on a surface, comprising disposing a first surface of the composite on the surface; replacing a component comprising the surface with a component consisting of the composite; or a combination thereof. |
| US07914903B2 |
Layered composite including cubic boron nitride
In a layered composite including a substrate comprising a number of individual layers disposed on the substrate, at least one of the individual layers includes cubic boron nitride formed by material deposition, the cubic boron nitride including oxygen added during deposition of the material. |
| US07914899B2 |
Electrical insulation film
Certain embodiments of the present technology provide a capacitor film comprising a polypropylene material. The capacitor film comprises xylene solubles of at least 0.5 percent by weight. In certain embodiments the xylene solubles are in a range of 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight. The film also comprises a crystalline fraction melting in the temperature range of 200° C. to 105° C. determined by stepwise isothermal segregation technique. The crystalline fraction comprises a part, the part representing at least 10 percent by weight of said crystalline fraction, and wherein the part melts at a melting rate of 10° C./min. Certain embodiments present a capacitor film where the part melts at or below 140° C. In other embodiments, the said part melts at or below the temperature T=Tm−3° C., wherein Tm is the melting temperature of the capacitor film and/or the polypropylene material, and the part represents at least 45 percent by weight of the crystalline fraction. |
| US07914897B2 |
Superhydrophobic coating
A composition for coating comprising at least one compound of formula (I): RSi(R<1>)n(X<1>)3-n, and optionally at least one compound of formula (II): RSi(R<2>)m(X<2>)3-m, wherein R is a straight-chain or branched C(1-24) alkyl group, R is an aromatic group, such as an optionally substituted carbocyclic and heterocyclic group comprising five-, six- or ten-membered ring systems, which is linked by a single covalent bond or a spacer unit, such as a straight-chain or branched alkyl residue having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, to the Si- atom, R<1> and R<2> are, independently of each other a lower alkyl group, such as a straight chain and branched hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X<1> and X<2> are independently of each other a hydrolysable group, such as a halogen or an alkoxy group and n, m are independently of each other 0 or 1, with the proviso that if n and m are independently of each other 0 or 1, X may represent the same or different groups. |
| US07914887B2 |
Thermoplastic resin film and label paper employing the same
A thermoplastic resin film (i) which has a degree of dimensional change through heating and cooling (α) in the range of from −2% to 2% as measured by thermomechanical analysis in the range of from room temperature to 135° C., or which has a degree of thermal shrinkage of 1.8% or lower upon heating at 130° C. for 30 minutes or longer; and a label paper employing the same. The label paper has suitability for heated-roll fixing type electrophotographic printers and is satisfactory in curling after printing. |
| US07914883B2 |
Transparent conductive laminated body
A transparent conductive laminated body comprising: a transparent film substrate having a thickness of 2 to 200 μm, and a first transparent dielectric thin film, a second transparent dielectric thin film and a transparent conductive thin film that are formed on one side of the substrate in this order from the side of the substrate, wherein the first transparent dielectric thin film is formed by vacuum deposition, sputtering or ion plating and comprises a complex oxide containing 0 to 20 parts by weight of tin oxide and 10 to 40 parts by weight of cerium oxide relative to 100 parts by weight of indium oxide, and the relationship: n2 |
| US07914879B2 |
Thick fusing belt for a color electrophotographic printer
An endless fusing thick belt for an electrographic imaging device having a flexible tubular configuration of predetermined diameter, said endless fusing thick belt comprising; an outside surface toner release layer comprised of a coating and a sleeve; a silicone rubber layer positioned inside said outside surface toner release layer; a rigid material layer positioned inside said silicone rubber layer; and a silicone base layer positioned inside and affixed to the internal surface of said polyimide layer using an adhesive. |
| US07914870B2 |
Limited life medium
A limited-life storage medium comprises a flowable agent. In one example, the storage medium is an optical disc. In a ready-to-read condition, the center of mass of the disc does not coincide with the center of rotation. When the disc is read, the unbalanced rotation of the disc causes vibration that migrates the flowable agent into contact with a metal data-carrying layer, where the flowable agent interferes with the readability of the data so as to limit the useful life of the disc. The movement of the flowable agent improves the balance of the disc, and reduces the vibration. |
| US07914868B2 |
Thermoplastic single ply protective covering
Improved single ply, water proof roof coverings having an extruded pressure sensitive rubber-based adhesive backing for attachment to a substrate such as the roof of a building or a transport vehicle, the adhesive consisting of polyisobutylene and at least one polymer comprising conjugated diene monomers. |
| US07914865B2 |
Frosted articles, frosting liquids, and frosting methods
A solid frosted article including a substrate, a film formed on the substrate, the film comprising a frosting coating, the frosting coating comprising thermoset acrylic resin, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylate copolymer, and methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin, and wherein the one of a solid frosted article is glass block, glass panel and glass bottle. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US07914863B2 |
Liquid crystal alignment solution
A liquid crystal alignment solution is provided. The liquid crystal alignment solution includes a first polyimide-polyamide acid and a second polyimide-polyamide acid. The first polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (A), and the second polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (B), in which T1, T2, T3 and T4 are each independently a tetravalent residue of a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride; D1, D2, D3 and D4 are each independently a divalent residue of a diamine; and m, n, p and q are each independently an positive integer, wherein m/(m+n)≦0.5 and p/(p+q)≧0.5. |