Document Document Title
US07916570B2 Low power memory device
In a memory device having a memory core and a signal interface, receiving a command that specifies at least a portion of a memory access. During the memory access, transferring data between the memory core and the signaling interface, and transferring the data between the signaling interface and an external signal path, and prior to transferring the data between the signaling interface and the external signal path, receiving enable information to selectively enable at least a first memory resource and a second memory resource, wherein each of the first memory resource and the second memory resource performs a control function associated with the memory access.
US07916569B2 Dynamic random access memory with fully independent partial array refresh function
A dynamic random access memory device includes a plurality of memory subblocks. Each subblock has a plurality of wordlines whereto a plurality of data store cells are connected. Partial array self-refresh (PASR) configuration settings are independently made. In accordance with the PASR settings, the memory subblocks are addressed for refreshing. The PASR settings are made by a memory controller. Any kind of combinations of subblock addresses may be selected. Thus, the memory subblocks are fully independently refreshed. User selectable memory arrays for data retention provide effective memory control programming especially for low power mobile application.
US07916568B2 Semiconductor memory device changing refresh interval depending on temperature
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory core circuit having memory cells for storing data, a circuit configured to refresh the memory core circuit at a refresh interval, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature, and a control circuit configured to shorten the refresh interval immediately in response to detection of a predetermined temperature rise by the temperature detecting unit and to elongate the refresh interval after refreshing every one of the memory cells at least once in response to detection of a temperature drop by the temperature detecting unit.
US07916564B2 Multi-chip semiconductor device providing enhanced redundancy capabilities
A semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor chips is provided. A semiconductor device includes a storing unit in which redundancy information portions are stored, and a comparing unit comparing a current address to the redundancy information portions and enabling or disabling operation of a semiconductor device based on the comparison result.
US07916563B2 Programmable control block for dual port SRAM application
A dual-port static random access memory (SRAM) includes a multitude of programmable delay elements disposed along the paths of a number signals used to carry out read, write or read-then-write operations. At least one of the programmable delay elements controls the timing margin between a pair of clock signals that trigger a read/write enable signal. A second programmable delay element coarsely adjusts the delay of a first signal associated with a dummy bitline. A third programmable delay element finely adjusts the delay of a second signal associated with the dummy bitline. A fourth programmable delay element controls the delay of a signal used to reset the read/write enable signal. During a read operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used as an indicator to activate the sense amplifiers. During a write operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used to control the write cycle.
US07916562B2 Clock driver device and semiconductor memory apparatus having the same
A clock driver device includes a driving controller configured to generate a clock output enable signal enabled in response to an internal read pulse signal and disabled in response to a data output enable signal and an internal clock signal, and a clock driver configured to generate a driving clock signal by driving the internal clock signal in response to the clock output enable signal and a power-down signal.
US07916561B2 DLL circuit, imaging device, and memory device
A variable delay circuit successively delays an input clock to generate a plurality of delayed clocks having different phases. A phase comparison circuit receives a first reference clock, which is either one of the delayed clocks or the input clock, and a second reference clock, which is one of the delayed clocks and whose phase lags behind that of the first reference clock, specifies a validated interval for the second reference clock, and compares the phases of the first and second reference clocks according to voltage levels of the first and second reference clocks only during the validated interval. A delay control circuit controls a delay time in the variable delay circuit according to a result of the comparison obtained by the phase comparison circuit.
US07916557B2 NAND interface
A NAND interface having a reduced pin count configuration, in which all command and address functions and operations of the NAND are provided serially on a single serial command and address pin adapted to receive all commands and addresses, and data communication is performed on a number of data communication pins.
US07916554B2 Multi-bank memory accesses using posted writes
Systems and methods for reducing delays between successive write and read accesses in multi-bank memory devices are provided. Computer circuits modify the relative timing between addresses and data of write accesses, reducing delays between successive write and read accesses. Memory devices that interface with these computer circuits use posted write accesses to effectively return the modified relative timing to its original timing before processing the write access.
US07916551B2 Method of programming cell in memory and memory apparatus utilizing the method
A method of programming a first cell in a memory, wherein the first cell has a first S/D region and shares a second S/D region with a second cell that has a third S/D region opposite to the second S/D region. The channels of the first and the second cells are turned on, a first voltage is applied to the first S/D region, a second voltage is applied to the second S/D region and a third voltage is applied to the third S/D region. The second voltage is between the first voltage and the third voltage, and the first to third voltages make carriers flow from the third S/D region to the first S/D region and cause hot carriers in the channel of the first cell to be injected into the charge storage layer of the first cell.
US07916549B2 Memory self-test circuit, semiconductor device and IC card including the same, and memory self-test method
In a semiconductor device, a self-test circuit includes a write part for writing data in a given address of a special region of a nonvolatile memory; a read part for reading the written data from the given address; a verify part for determining whether or not the written data accords with the read data; and a decision part for determining soundness of the nonvolatile memory on the basis of a result of determination made by the verify part. In the case where the written data accords with the read data, the decision part determines that the nonvolatile memory is sound, and in the case where the data do not accord with each other, it determines that the nonvolatile memory is unsound.
US07916546B2 Methods for programming a memory device and memory devices using inhibit voltages that are less than a supply voltage
Methods for programming a memory array and memory devices are disclosed. In one such method, inhibited bit lines are charged to an inhibit voltage that is less than a supply voltage. The word lines of memory cells to be programmed are biased at a programming preparation voltage that is less than a nominal programming preparation voltage as used in the conventional art. Programming pulses can be applied to selected word lines of the memory cells to be programmed when the uninhibited bit lines are at 0V.
US07916545B2 Semiconductor memory device including stacked gate having charge accumulation layer and control gate and method of writing data to semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation of selecting any one of the word lines, of applying a first voltage to selected one of the word lines, and of applying a second voltage to unselected one of the word lines, to write data to selected one of the memory cells connected to the selected one of the word lines. The control circuit, while the driver circuit is repeating the programming operation, steps up the first voltage and keeps the second voltage constant until the first voltage reaches a first threshold. The control circuit steps up the second voltage after the first voltage has reached the first threshold.
US07916540B2 Non-volatile memory devices and systems including bad blocks address re-mapped and methods of operating the same
A method of operating a non-volatile memory device included in a memory card can be provided by re-mapping addresses of bad blocks in a first non-volatile MAT in a memory card and re-mapping addresses of bad blocks in a second non-volatile MAT in the memory card, the second non-volatile MAT including blocks that are address mapped with blocks in the first non-volatile MAT. Also a method of scanning a non-volatile memory device for bad blocks can be provided by sequentially scanning blocks in a non-volatile memory device for data indicating that a respective block is a bad block starting at a starting block address that is above a lowermost block address of the non-volatile memory device, wherein the starting block address is based on a yield for the non-volatile memory device.
US07916535B2 Data encoding approach for implementing robust non-volatile memories
Data encoding system and method for implementing robust non-volatile memories. A data bit is stored using two memory cells. The data bit is represented by setting a voltage level of a first memory cell to a first voltage level and setting a voltage level of a second memory cell to a second voltage level. In one embodiment, the first voltage level and the second voltage level are of opposite polarity. In one embodiment, to store a data bit having the value “0,” the first memory cell is set to a first voltage level and the second memory cell is set to a second voltage level of opposite polarity to the first voltage level, and to store a data bit having the value “1,” the first memory cell is set to a third voltage level and the second memory cell is set to a fourth voltage level of opposite polarity to the third voltage level. In an illustrative embodiment, the first voltage level is of substantially equal magnitude, and of opposite polarity, to the second voltage level, the third voltage level is of substantially equal magnitude, and of opposite polarity, to the fourth voltage level, the first voltage level is substantially equal to the fourth voltage level, and the second voltage level is substantially equal to the third voltage level. In one embodiment, the data stored according to the present invention is read out by comparing the relative voltages of the first and second memory cells with a differential sense amplifier.
US07916530B2 SCR matrix storage device
In various embodiments, an addressable storage matrix includes a first plurality of intersection points, at least some of which are bridged by two-terminal non-linear elements that exhibit a threshold below which current flow is significantly lower than if the threshold is exceeded, as well as, disposed at each intersection point bridged by a non-linear element, a programmable material in series with the non-linear element and determining a bit state for the corresponding intersection point.
US07916522B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes n resistance change elements which are arranged in one cell, have a low-resistance state and a high resistance state, are connected in series or parallel, have different resistance values in the same resistance state, and change between the low-resistance state and the high-resistance state under different conditions, and a write circuit which is connected to one end of the n resistance change elements, and applies a pulse current m (1≦m≦n) times to the n resistance change elements during a write operation. Letting Im be a current value of an mth pulse current, condition I1>I2> . . . >Im holds.
US07916516B2 Nonvolatile memory apparatus and method for writing data in nonvolatile memory apparatus
A nonvolatile memory apparatus comprises a memory array (102) including plural first electrode wires (WL) formed to extend in parallel with each other within a first plane; plural second electrode wires (BL) formed to extend in parallel with each other within a second plane parallel to the first plane and to three-dimensionally cross the plural first electrode wires; and nonvolatile memory elements (11) which are respectively provided at three-dimensional cross points between the first electrode wires and the second electrode wires, the elements each having a resistance variable layer whose resistance value changes reversibly in response to a current pulse supplied between an associated first electrode wire and an associated second electrode wire; and a first selecting device (13) for selecting the first electrode wires, and further comprises voltage restricting means (15) provided within or outside the memory array, the voltage restricting means being connected to the first electrode wires, for restricting a voltage applied to the first electrode wires to a predetermined upper limit value or less; wherein plural nonvolatile memory elements of the nonvolatile memory elements are connected to one first electrode wire connecting the first selecting device to the voltage restricting means.
US07916515B2 Non-volatile memory read/write verify
An apparatus and associated method for writing data to a non-volatile memory cell, such as a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell. In some embodiments, a control circuitry is configured to write a logic state to a resistive sense element while simultaneously verifying the logic state of the resistive sense element.
US07916513B2 Non-destructive read back for ferroelectric data storage device
A data storage device comprising a ferroelectric layer, a perovskite structure, and at least one sensor, where the perovskite structure has a polarity discontinuity configured to generate capacitance voltages in the perovskite structure based on polarization charges of the ferroelectric material, and where the at least one sensor is configured to read the capacitance voltages from the perovskite structure.
US07916511B2 Semiconductor memory device including plurality of memory chips
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory chips each including a chip identification (ID) generation circuit. The chip ID generation circuits of the respective memory chips are operatively connected together in a cascade configuration, and the chip ID generation circuits are activated in response to application of a power supply voltage the memory device to sequentially generate respective chip ID numbers of the plurality of device chips
US07916510B1 Reformulating regular expressions into architecture-dependent bit groups
An apparatus and method of programming a search engine to implement regular expression search operations are disclosed that selectively transform a source regular expression into an equivalent reformulated regular expression in response to a determination of the architectural characteristics of the search engine. In this manner, the regular expression can be reformulated to optimize the configuration and available resources of the associated search engine.
US07916507B2 High voltage electron tube inverter with individual output phase current control
Disclosed is a high voltage inverter for converting DC power to AC power with one or more AC output phases. The inverter has for each AC output phase an AC input phase circuit comprising first and second cold cathode field emission controllable electron tubes of triode, tetrode or pentode structure. Each electron tube has a first input node for connection to a high voltage DC potential in excess of 20 KV and a second input node for connection to ground. First electron tube is serially connected between a first end of a primary winding and ground, and second electron tube is serially connected between a second end of the primary winding and ground. Control circuitry controls the electron tubes so that the first and second electron tubes alternatively conduct so as to alternately bring the first and then second end of the primary winding approximately to the potential of ground.
US07916506B2 Control device for use in a resonant direct current/direct current converter
A control device for controlling a switch unit of a resonant direct current/direct current converter includes a frequency modulation controller and a pulse selector. The frequency modulation controller is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter for receiving a correcting threshold value and output information of the converter, and for generating a synchronization signal according to the correcting threshold value and the output information received thereby. The pulse selector is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter and the frequency modulation controller for receiving the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal, and for generating a driving signal according to the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal received thereby. The driving signal is adapted to drive the switch unit and has a working period. The driving signal switches between high and low signal levels at a frequency that is substantially equal to that of the synchronization signal during the working period.
US07916505B2 Method and apparatus for a leakage energy recovery circuit
A method and apparatus for recovering leakage energy during DC power to AC power conversion. The apparatus comprises a leakage energy recovery circuit for storing leakage energy from a transformer and selectively coupling stored leakage energy to an input of the transformer.
US07916503B2 DC-DC converter, power supply voltage supplying method, and power supply voltage supplying system
According to one aspect of the invention, a DC-DC converter including a soft-start function of a soft start in response to a soft-start signal, comprises: a detection circuit that detects whether the soft-start signal is active at an end of a soft-start operation; and an output voltage control circuit that controls an output voltage based on detection result of the detection circuit.
US07916502B2 Stackable cable tray
A cable tray is provided comprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion and the at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray.
US07916499B2 Apparatus for holding printed circuit boards
In one embodiment, a holder for holding printed circuit boards includes a base plate with a plurality of holding unit formed thereon. Each of the holding units includes a spring member, a securing member, and a blocking structure. The spring member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the base plate. The securing member is slideably mounted on the base plate. The securing member includes a connecting end and a securing end. The connecting end is connected with the second end of the spring member. The blocking structure is located on the base plate. The spring member is configured for pressing the securing member to move toward the blocking structure such that a printed circuit board is retainable between the securing end of the securing member and the blocking structure on the base plate. The holder is capable of holding printed circuit boards in batches.
US07916495B2 Universal solder pad
A universal solder pad is used with a plurality of SMD components having different sizes. Each SMD component includes a first conductive part and a second conductive part. The universal solder pad includes a first pad unit and a second pad unit. The first and second pad units are electrically connected to the first and second conductive parts of the SMD component, respectively. Each of the first and second pad units includes a main portion and a first extension portion. The first extension portion is extended from a first sidewall of the main portion and includes a first border, a second border and a third border. The second border and the third border of the first extension portion are parallel with each other for facilitating alignment of the first and second conductive parts of the SMD component with respect to the first pad unit and the second pad unit.
US07916488B2 Chip card holding module and electronic device using the same
A chip card holding module (24) having a connector portion (26) and a securing member (28) is described. The connector portion includes a base (261) defining two latching slots (263) on two lateral sides and a plurality of terminals (30) arranged on two opposite ends (261c, 261d) of the base. The securing member comprising a resisting plate (281) and a pair of connecting plates (282) respectively extends from two ends of the resisting plate, the connecting plates being inserted into the latching slots so as to define a space for receiving a chip card.
US07916487B2 Method and apparatus for the enhanced disaster survivability of a networked computer server
An apparatus for protecting a digital electronic data processor or stored digital data from damage includes a digital data unit comprising a data storage medium, a protective housing having side, top, and bottom walls defining a closed compartment which contains the digital data unit to shield the digital data therein from environmental damage. Active and passive protection from overheating and data encryption provides further data protection. The housing has at least one access port for supplying electrical power or for information transfer to or from the data unit therein. The port is sealed to prevent the introduction of environmental substances into the housing in the event of potential damage from an environmental disaster or other cause. The invention thus makes possible the safe storage of digital information in a computer data storage system which therefore has substantially increased capacity to survive disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and theft, as well as more common computer problems such as disk drive failures. The invention can employ multiple computer network data access mechanisms that store digital data, including but not limited to Microsoft Windows File Sharing, Common Internet File Systems (CIFS), Network File Systems (NFS), Novell Netware File Systems, iSCSI, Storage Area Network Protocol, and Network SQL Database Mechanism or other data processing units.
US07916485B2 Fin-type heat sink and electronic device using same
A heat sink includes two heat spreaders spaced from each other and a heat dissipation fin disposed and connected between the two heat spreaders. The heat dissipation fin includes a plurality of hollow tubular heat dissipation units arranged linearly from one of the heat spreaders to the other one of the heat spreaders. The heat dissipation units are connected together with their axes along length directions thereof being parallel to each other. Each of the heat dissipation units can resiliently deform to change a distance between the two heat spreaders. The present disclosure also discloses an electronic device incorporating such a heat sink.
US07916482B2 Loop heat pipe and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a loop heat pipe including a fluid circulating channel containing fluid, includes: an evaporating portion configured to vaporize the fluid by heat from a heat generating component; a condensing portion configured to liquefy the vaporized fluid; a first fluid channel connecting the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the vaporized fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a second fluid channel connecting the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the fluid liquefied by the condensing portion flowing through the second fluid channel; a liquid accumulating portion formed on an inner wall of the second fluid channel, and provided between the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the liquid accumulating portion being configured to accumulate the liquid liquefied by the condensing portion; and a wick provided between the evaporating portion and a position where the liquid accumulating portion is formed.
US07916478B2 Electronic device
The invention discloses an electronic device comprising a casing and a stand. The stand is detachably disposed on the casing for supporting the electronic device on a plane and rotatably disposed at a first position or a second position with respect to the casing. The casing has a first engaging portion located on a first side thereof. The stand comprises a second engaging portion pivotally connected to the first engaging portion along a first direction. An incline extending along a second direction different from the first direction is disposed on the casing. Once the electronic device is hit by a force and the stand is at the second position, the stand will slide along the incline and then the second engaging portion will depart from the first engaging portion, so as to make the stand depart from the casing.
US07916476B2 Securing apparatus for expansion cards
A securing apparatus is provided for securing an expansion card with a shielding plate to an enclosure of an electronic device. The securing apparatus includes a panel, a limiting member, a locking member, and the latch member. The limiting member is pivotably mounted to the panel to abut the shielding plate in cooperation with the panel. A first locking portion is formed on the limiting member. The locking member is pivotably attached to the limiting member and overlaps on the limiting member. A second locking portion is formed on the locking member to engage with the first locking portion. The latch member is pivotably mounted to the locking member. A hook is formed on the panel to catch the latch member, thereby securing the expansion card to the enclosure.
US07916471B2 Storage device
In a storage device accommodating a plurality of memory devices in a general-purpose chassis provided from both surface sides thereof, a cooling device is provided on the front of the memory devices. This cooling device is allowed to freely move to leave available the area in front of the memory devices, thereby enabling maintenance and replacement of the memory devices from the both surface sides of the chassis. With such a storage device of a type using a general-purpose chassis, and inserting therein a plurality of memory devices from the both surface sides thereof, even if a cooling device is located on the front of the chassis, the memory devices can be subjected to maintenance and replacement.
US07916470B2 Docking Plenum for a Rack
A docking plenum for a rack is disclosed. The docking plenum includes a pair of sides that are coupled to first and second panels at the top of the docking plenum. The panels at the top of the docking plenum are separated from one another by an aperture. The docking plenum includes a front opening and a rear opening between the two sides. Each of the front opening and the rear opening are sized to receive a rack. The placement of a first rack in the front opening and a second rack in the rear opening creates a heated air cavity that is formed by the racks, the floor of the docking plenum, and the panels at the top of the docking plenum. When the racks are placed in the opening, and when one or more fans in the computer systems are activated, the fans draw air from outside the plenum across the interior of the computer systems. Heated air exits the computer systems and enters the heated air cavity. The heated air exits the heated air cavity through the aperture in the top of the docking plenum. Each rack may include wheels.
US07916466B2 Computer enclosure with input/output module
A computer enclosure includes an inner chassis, an input/output (I/O) module defining a number of I/O interfaces, a latching unit attached to the inner chassis, a resilient member connected between the I/O module and the inner chassis, a gear rack attached to the I/O module, and a damping gear assembly attached to the inner chassis and engaging with the gear rack. The I/O module is pivotably mounted to the inner chassis. The latching unit is capable of keeping the I/O module at a closed position where the I/O interfaces of the I/O module are unexposed. A movement of the I/O module is restrained by the damping gear.
US07916465B2 Hard disk fixing rack
A hard disk fixing rack, which is used to emplace and fix the hard disks used in a computer, is composed of a seat which is fixed in an interior of a computer casing, a rack body, and a plurality of elastic gliding members which are installed on the hard disk. An interior of the rack body is formed with a plurality or rails, such that after the hard disk is gliding on the aforementioned rails, it can be fixed into locking slots at tail ends of the rails.
US07916463B2 Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, the information processing apparatus includes a main housing, a display housing containing a display panel, a hinge section provided between an end part of the main housing and an end part of the display housing and rotatably coupling the display housing to the main housing, a first antenna section, and a second antenna section. The first antenna section is provided in the end part of the display housing and electrically connected to the display panel, and at least a part of the first antenna section is located below the display panel in a state where the display housing is in a raised position relative to the main housing. The second antenna section is provided in the main housing, and is configured to perform wireless communication with the first antenna section.
US07916460B2 Ergonomic lay flat folding remote control with keyboard
An ergonomic folding remote control with keyboard is disclosed. The folding remote control with keyboard has an ergonomic angled typing surface and thicker forward section along with a lay flat design. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.
US07916458B2 Modular irrigation controller
The present invention provides a modular controller that connects to irrigation modules with varying station terminals and a standard footprint size. Additionally, the modular controller includes surge protection options, wireless communication with PDA's and other external devices, no required position for each controller module to be connected, immediate display of station modules on the LCD display, retention of a water program if module is removed, communications module for flow monitoring, a modular transformer, rain sensor receiver within the housing, an improved 9-volt batter holder, and other aspects described in the present application.
US07916454B2 Capacitor
A pressure control valve provided on a terminal plate of a capacitor includes a filter, a valve body and a cap. The filter is provided so as to close a through-hole disposed in a terminal plate and is composed of a gas permeable sheet preventing permeation of the electrolyte solution. The valve body is formed of an elastic material, has a cylindrical part and a bottom part, and is disposed so that the bottom part covers the through-hole of the terminal plate. The cap is fixed to the terminal plate, covers the valve body, and holds the valve body in a composed state with respect to the terminal plate. The cap is provided with a vent hole. The valve body and the filter are spaced apart from each other.
US07916452B2 Method of producing a coin-type electrochemical element
A coin-type electrochemical element enables the external lead terminal portions to be accurately and reliably attached to a first lid portion and to a second lid portion of the coin-type electrochemical element, and a method of its production. A coin-type electric double layer capacitor includes a first lid portion and a second lid portion. External lead terminal portions, each having a nearly triangular shape, are separately connected to the outer surfaces of the lid portions. Upon providing the external lead terminal portions having the triangular shape, a welded portion is allowed to have an increased area enabling the coin-type electrochemical element of even a small size to be accurately and reliably welded and making it possible to provide the coin-type electrochemical element having excellent reliability.
US07916447B2 Electrostatic chuck for substrate stage, electrode used for the chuck, and treating system having the chuck and electrode
An electrostatic chuck is provided for a substrate stage that can be used in plasma treatment of various substrates such as a large-sized glass substrate for a flat panel display (FPD), a semiconductor wafer or the like. The electrostatic chuck is divided into a plurality of electrodes formed into nearly bar-like shapes. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the divided bar-like electrodes includes an inner electrode and a single layer thermally sprayed film formed on the surface of the inner electrode, with the bar-like electrodes disposed in parallel so as to form a plane electrode.
US07916439B2 Semiconductor switch arrangement and an electronic device
A semiconductor switch arrangement comprises a bipolar transistor and a semiconductor power switch having an input node, an output node and a control node for allowing a current path to be formed between the input node and the output node. The bipolar transistor is coupled between the input node and the control node such that upon receiving an electro-static discharge pulse the bipolar transistor allows a current to flow from the input node to the control node upon a predetermined voltage being exceeded at the input node to allow the control node to cause a current to flow from the input node to the output node. Thus, the bipolar transistor device protects the semiconductor switch device, such as an LDMOS device, against ESD, namely protection against power surges of, say, several amperes in less than 1 usec.
US07916437B2 Fault interrupter and operating method
A fault interrupter and a method of operating a fault interrupter to reduce arcing time during fault interruption. Fault interrupter operation is delayed following detecting a peak current such that its operation occurs at a point of the current wave resulting in reduced arcing during fault isolation.
US07916435B1 Magnetic tunnel transistor having a base structure that provides polarization of unpolarized electrons from an emitter based upon a magnetic orientation of a free layer and a self-pinned layer
A magnetic tunnel transistor (MTT) is formed having an emitter that is configured to provide unpolarized electrons. A composite base is configured to provide polarization of the unpolarized electrons injected into the base by the emitter based upon a magnetic orientation of the free layer and the self-pinned layer of the base.
US07916430B2 Thin-film magnetic head and manufacturing method thereof
A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an MR multi-layered structure formed on the lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers, an upper magnetic shield layer formed on the MR multi-layered structure, and an additional lower magnetic shield layer directly laminated on the lower magnetic shield layer outside both side ends in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. The additional lower magnetic shield layer is directly contacted with both side surfaces in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. A top surface of the additional lower magnetic shield layer is positioned higher in height than a top surface of the lower magnetic shield layer in a region where the MR multi-layered structure is formed.
US07916421B1 Methods and structure for recovery of write fault errors in a dynamically mapped mass storage device
Methods and structures for recovering from an off-track position error in a dynamically mapped storage device. In a dynamically mapped storage device data is dynamically mapped to a physical location on the recordable media. Thus, when a write fault occurs, such as an off-track position error, the data may be re-written and re-mapped at a different location on the recordable media. In a dynamically mapped storage device data may be reordered into a sequential stream of contiguous physical data blocks. Random host data blocks may be mapped into sequential physical data blocks on the recordable media. Further, the sequential reordering of the data blocks may ensure that no data is present in tracks or sectors directly ahead of the track of sector being written. Further, the system has the ability to store multiple revolutions of host supplied data within the disk drive memory buffer and maintain the information in memory while writing it to the recordable media. The multiple revolutions of host supplied data may be used to recover from the destruction of previously written physical blocks overwritten during an off-track position error.
US07916418B2 Apparatus and method for controlling the rotation velocity of an optical disc
Method and apparatus for controlling the rotation velocity of an optical disc in a wide range of velocities, including low velocities. In a first range of velocities, a first sensor, for example an EMF sensor, is used to control the commutation moments of a turntable motor. For velocities outside the first range, a periodic control signal based on a periodic second signal generated by a second sensor and a mapping between the first and second periodic signal are used. The method and the apparatus are suitable for LightScribe™ applications.
US07916417B2 Magnetic disk apparatus and recording method
A magnetic disk apparatus includes a computing unit that obtains data to be recorded on a magnetic disk and computes an intermediate bit length based on a longest bit length and a shortest bit length of bit lengths of the obtained data; an adjusting unit that adjusts a strength of a recording current for recording the obtained data based on a difference between the intermediate bit length and a bit length of the obtained data; and a recording unit that repeatedly detects an error rate for recording data by using the adjusted recording current while narrowing down a track width on the magnetic disk and records the obtained data with a track width corresponding to an error rate detected immediately before an error rate that is detected to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US07916416B1 Disk drive comprising slanted line servo bursts having a varying tilt angle
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having servo data defining a plurality of servo tracks. The servo data comprises a preamble comprising a varying length across a radius of the disk, and a plurality of slanted line servo bursts recorded at a tilt angle with respect to the preamble. The tilt angle varies across the radius of the disk commensurate with the varying length of the preamble. A position error signal (PES) is generated in response to a phase difference when reading the preamble and the slanted line servo bursts.
US07916415B1 Disk drive decoding binary sequence from phases of servo bursts
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including 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 at least one of four phases. A first two of the phases are orthogonal, and a second two of the phases are orthogonal. As a head is actuated over the disk a servo sector is read to generate a read signal. The read signal is processed to demodulate the servo bursts into a position error signal (PES) representing an offset of the head from a target radial location on the disk, and the read signal is also processed to decode at least two of the phases of the servo bursts into a binary sequence.
US07916413B2 Lens actuator
An exemplary lens actuator includes a lens barrel, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket, and a first resilient plate. The lens barrel includes a main body and a plurality of first positioning pins protruding out from the main body. The first resilient plate includes an outer frame, an inner frame substantially coaxial with the outer frame, and a plurality of spring portions interconnected between the outer frame and the inner frame. A fixed panel is mounted on the first side of the bracket. The outer frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on one portion of the fixed panel. The inner frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on the lens barrel. The first positioning pins extend through the inner frame of the first resilient plate and resist on another portion of the fixed panel.
US07916412B2 Lens driving device
A lens driving device has a stationary part including an iron shell, a movable part including a lens holder for holding a lens therein, and a driving part for moving the movable part relative to the stationary part. The driving part includes a plurality of magnets fixed to the iron shell, and at least one coil fixed to the lens holder. The magnets are divided into at least two layers stacked in the direction of the optical axis of the lens and a plurality of groups along the circumferential direction of the lens. Each magnet is polarized in the radial direction of the lens. The polarities of two adjacent stacked magnetic poles in the same group are opposite to each other so as to cooperatively form a magnetic circuit in a plane parallel to the optical axis direction. The coil includes an axis about which the coil is wound. The coil axis is perpendicular to the optical axis. The coil has an upper part facing one layer of magnets and a lower part facing the other layer of magnets.
US07916410B1 Lens, method for making same, and related lens module
A first sub-lens having two opposite first surfaces is provided. One of the first surfaces has a central bulged first optical surface for refracting light rays passing therethrough and defining a first optical axis. The other first surface defines a recess that defines a flat bottom surface. A second sub-lens having two opposite second surfaces is provided. One of the second surfaces has a central bulged second optical surface for refracting light rays passing therethrough and defining a second optical axis. The other second surface is flat and substantially similar to the bottom surface of the first sub-lens in shape and size and is glued to the bottom surface of the first sub-lens in a manner that the first axis is coaxial with the second axis.
US07916405B2 Imaging lens unit, imaging device, and portable terminal
An imaging lens unit which achieves a lower profile without adversely affecting the optical performance. The imaging lens unit includes a first lens, an aperture stop, a second lens, and a third lens arranged sequentially along the optical axis from the object side to the image side. The first lens includes a first surface located on the object side and being convex toward the object side and a second surface located on the image side and being concave toward the image side near the optical axis and convex toward the image side as the rim of the first lens becomes closer.
US07916402B2 Imaging optical system for camera and video telephony camera employing the same
An imaging optical system for a camera and a video telephony camera employing the imaging optical system. The imaging optical system includes a stop and a first lens that are sequentially arranged from an object side. The first lens has a positive refractive power and two convex aspherical surfaces and satisfies LB/f>0.88 and LT/LB<1.71 wherein LT is the distance along the optical axis from the stop to the image plane of the imaging optical system, f is the total focal length of the imaging optical system, and LB is the distance along the optical axis between the surface of the first lens facing the image side and the image plane of the imaging optical system.
US07916391B2 Apparatus for providing a pattern of polarization
A polarization pattern assembly for use in an illuminator and an apparatus for providing at least one polarization pattern in a pupil of an illuminator for a lithography system are provided. A polarization pattern assembly for use in an illuminator having a pupil includes a frame (110) and at least one polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) coupled to the frame (110), the polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) changing a direction of polarization of light passing therethrough, whereby at least one polarization pattern is obtained across the pupil of the illuminator, and wherein the polarization pane (102, 102a, 102b) includes an optically active material.
US07916385B2 Apparatus and methods for optical communication
An optical circuit is disclosed, which may include a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); an optical filter operable to filter light emerging from the SOA; and a PIN for converting the light output from the optical filter into an electrical signal, wherein the gain profile of the optical filter is configured to maximize throughout of signal energy within a predetermined wavelength range (in-band), and to impose an insertion loss (Loob) of less than 20 dB on signal energy outside the predetermined wavelength range.
US07916384B2 Feedback dynamic gain control for a WDM system employing multi wavelength pumped Raman fiber amplifiers
An improved feedback-based dynamic gain control technique for a WDM system employing multi-wavelength-pumped Raman fiber amplifiers (RFAs) is proposed, in which only one feedback or feed-forward signal is required for the control of multiple Raman pumps. Compared to the traditional method requiring multiple feedback signals for multiple pumps, the proposed method results in substantial simplification of the control circuit and also exhibits faster control speed. Moreover, the proposed method allows use of the total signal gain as the feedback signal, which is more robust against polarization-related issues than the traditional method using signal powers at several different channels as the feedback signals. The improved technique has advantage for dynamic gain control in a backward-pumped distributed RFA because the feedback signal may be detected right after the RFA. For feed-forward, a telemetry channel may be used to send the feed-forward signal to a feed-forward control circuit for the multiple Raman pumps. In addition, the feed-forward control technique and the feedback control technique may be used together to achieve better performance than using each of them separately to control multiple Raman pumps. Polarization-related issues may be reduced by utilizing amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise as the feedback signal for a feedback-based gain control circuit for the RFA.
US07916381B2 Spatial light modulator including drive lines
A spatial light modulator includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in a form of a matrix; a word line extending along and connected to a row of the pixel elements pixel elements; and a drive line for transmitting additional modulating signals to said pixel array extended along each row of the pixel array and connected to the pixel elements in a first row and a second row constituting two different rows.
US07916380B2 Variable reflectance mirrors and windows
Various structures for variable reflectance rearview mirrors and variable transmittance windows are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to the provision of a polarized reflector in a rearview mirror. Another embodiment pertains to the provision of a switchable cholesteric liquid crystal element in a window. Yet another embodiment pertains to the provision of a plurality of apertures in a reflector layer of a rearview mirror where the apertures are sized and positioned in alignment with light emitting areas of a display positioned behind the reflector layer. In another embodiment, a moveable display or mirror element is attached to a rearview mirror housing.
US07916378B2 Method and apparatus for providing a light absorbing mask in an interferometric modulator display
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is provided. In one embodiment, the MEMS includes a transparent substrate, and a plurality of interferometric modulators. The plurality of interferometric modulators includes an optical stack coupled to the transparent substrate, in which the optical stack includes a first light absorbing area. The plurality of interferometric modulators further includes a reflective layer over the optical stack, and one or more posts to support the reflective layer. Each of the one or more posts includes a second light absorbing area integrated in the post.
US07916377B2 Integrated control system for laser and Mach-Zehnder interferometer
An integrated control system for a laser and Mach-Zehnder interferometer are disclosed and may include configuring a bias point for low-speed control of an optical modulator utilizing control circuitry integrated on the same CMOS die. The optical modulator may be differentially monitored. A laser source for the modulator may be controlled utilizing monitor photodiodes via optical taps on outputs of the modulator, or utilizing a monitor photodiode on one output port of the modulator, which may comprise a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. An error signal may be generated by subtracting monitor photodiode signals from optical taps on output ports of the modulator. The bias point of the modulator may be adjusted by minimizing the error signal. Calibration time of the bias point may be reduced utilizing electronic data inversion. An output of the modulator may comprise a Y-junction and a single monitor photodiode may measure both branches of the modulator.
US07916375B2 Optical scanning apparatus and method for adjusting the same
An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source having a light-emitting point; a light-beam converting unit configured to convert a state of a light beam emitted from the light-emitting point of the light source into another state; a deflecting unit configured to deflect and scan the light beam emitted from the light-beam converting unit, the deflecting unit including a resonant deflecting element having a single deflecting surface that reciprocates around an axis; and an imaging optical unit configured to cause the light beam deflected and scanned by the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit to form an image on a surface to be scanned. The distance between the light-emitting point of the light source and the light-beam converting unit is adjusted based on information obtained by a detector that detects the light beam emitted from the light source and deflected by the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit.
US07916372B2 Movable body apparatus and optical deflector using the movable body apparatus
A movable body apparatus includes a vibratory system, a vibration detecting portion, a driving portion, and a controlling portion. The vibratory system has a resonance frequency and a movable body capable of being reciprocally and rotatably vibrated. The vibration detecting portion detects a vibration condition of the movable body. The driving portion drives the vibratory system with a drive signal. The controlling portion regulates the drive signal supplied to the driving portion. The controlling portion regulates a driving frequency of the drive signal so that a delay phase difference between the drive phase of the drive signal and the vibration phase of the vibratory system obtained from detection result of the vibration detecting portion, both obtained when the vibratory system is vibrated at a predetermined frequency, is maintained.
US07916369B2 Holographic recording and reproducing apparatus
A holographic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, a Fourier transform lens, a reverse Fourier transform lens, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor, and a pinhole disposed at a confocal point of the Fourier transform lens and the reverse Fourier transform lens, the holographic recording medium being disposed between the Fourier transform lens and the reverse Fourier transform lens, and the focal length of the Fourier transform lens and focal length of the reverse Fourier transform lens being different from each other, and the pinhole being disposed between the holographic recording medium and the Fourier transform lens or between the holographic recording medium and the reverse Fourier transform lens.
US07916368B2 Image processing device and method for maintaining the color shade of low-chroma color regions of an image
In an image processing device, from an object image, an area reproduced by K component only and having at least a prescribed density is extracted as a gray area to be replaced, and a color of an area neighboring the gray area is extracted. When the neighboring area contains a color other than the K component, a replacing color is calculated based on the amount of K component (luminance) of the gray area and the color of the neighboring area, and the color of the gray area is replaced by the replacing color.
US07916367B2 Image reader and image reading method
An image reader includes a first read unit, a second read unit independent of the first read unit, a determination unit, a storage unit, and a correction unit. The first read unit reads a first face of a fed document to create image data. The second read unit reads a second face of the fed document to create the image data. The determination unit determines the read unit that has read a recording face of a test chart when a test chart document, with a test chart recorded on one face, is read. The storage unit stores the read unit that has read the recording face of the test chart and sampling data extracted from image data created by the read unit that has read the recording face of the test chart in association with each other. The correction unit corrects read characteristics of the read unit associated with the sampling data, based on the sampling data.
US07916366B2 Image forming apparatus and image processing method therefor
An image forming apparatus which is capable of suppressing occurrence of color moire. A second storage unit stores image data associated with at least two colors. A controller reads out the stored color-specific image data while designating a reading position in a sub scanning direction of the image data. A transfer unit transfers a color image onto a recording medium based on the read-out image data of each color. An image processing unit corrects the reading position in the sub scanning direction of the image data of each color according to profile data of each color defined based on position curve information in the main scanning direction of the transfer unit, when the controller reads out the image data. The controller regenerates the profile data if at least two pieces of the profile data satisfy a predetermined condition.
US07916365B2 Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus with white light emitting color correction elements
An image reading apparatus equipped with an illuminating device having little tint variation. A lamp unit illuminates an original with light, and includes a plurality of white LEDs, and a plurality of auxiliary LEDs that emit lights of different colors and arranged in a manner associated with the white LEDs. A CPU causes auxiliary LEDs to be lighted, so as to correct a color of light emitted from each of the white LEDs. An image reading unit reads the original illuminated by the lamp as an image.
US07916362B2 Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors, with the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels with at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit composed only of pixels from the second group of pixels, and including ways to combine similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.
US07916361B2 Double side image scanner
A double side image scanner includes a frame, a two-way roll feeder, a one-way roll feeder and an image sensor. The frame includes a track that has an entrance, a scanning line joined to the entrance and a circuit line joined to the scanning line. The circuit line is designed to return the medium to the scanning line. The circuit line has a junction point where the circuit line meets with the scanning line, an inlet through which the medium comes into the circuit line from the scanning line and an outlet through which the medium goes out of the circuit line toward the scanning line. A driving means mounted to the frame for driving the two-way roll feeder and the one-way roll feeder. The image sensor obtains image data by scanning the front and rear surfaces of the medium.
US07916357B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus for reading the image surface of a sheet material brought into close contact with the image reading surface of an image reading unit while passing the sheet material through an image reading gap formed between the sheet conveying surface of a sheet conveying guide and the image reading surface, including a holding member for holding the image reading unit for movement in a direction to change the width of the image reading gap, an upstream roller pair having a first roller member displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material, and for nipping and conveying the sheet material into the image reading gap, and a downstream roller pair having a second roller member displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material, and for nipping and conveying the sheet material out of the image reading gap, wherein the image reading unit changes the width of the image reading gap on the basis of the displacement of at least one of the first roller member and the second roller member.
US07916354B2 Hiding and detecting auxiliary data in media materials and signals
The present technology relates to steganographically hiding messages in materials such as paper stock, plastic and film. The technology can also be used to encode auxiliary data in imagery, which may be separately marked (e.g., by altering values of digital image pixels), or may simply be formed on a marked material.
US07916351B2 Image processing apparatus and method, printer device, and computer readable recording medium
An image information acquisition unit obtains first print image information that is binarized with the use of a first threshold matrix. A threshold matrix information acquisition unit obtains information representing the first threshold matrix. A determining unit divides the first print image information obtained by the image information acquisition unit into a plurality of portions, and determines whether each of the divided portions includes contour information, based on the first threshold matrix obtained by the threshold matrix information acquisition unit. A generating unit generates second print image information by performing a re-binarizing operation for each of the divided portions of the first print image information with the use of a second threshold matrix that is different from the first threshold matrix, based on the determination result of the determining unit.
US07916347B2 Method and apparatus for automatic white balance
A method of automatic white balance for an image capture system is disclosed. The automatic white balance mechanism ascertains the illuminant source of an image by analyzing the number of white pixels within a predefined white area in a color space diagram. The automatic white balance mechanism also determines gain adjustments based on the evaluating the average RGB values to achieve white balance.
US07916346B2 Image forming apparatus, image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer data signal, and computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium within a predetermined width for image formation, a deviation amount obtaining unit that obtains an amount of a deviation formed on a recording sheet by the image forming unit, a correcting unit that corrects image data of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, on the basis of the obtained amount of a deviation, a deficiency amount calculating unit that calculates an amount of a deficiency of an image which occurs in an area beyond the predetermined width for image formation as a result of the correction by the correcting unit, and the correcting unit is further configured to correct image data of an image to be formed by the image forming unit, on the basis of the calculated amount of a deficiency.
US07916343B2 Method of encoding a latent image and article produced
There is disclosed a method of encoding a latent image. The method comprises providing a latent image to be encoded, the latent image having a plurality of latent image elements, each latent image element having a visual characteristic which takes one of a predetermined set of values, providing a secondary pattern having a plurality of secondary image elements, the secondary pattern being capable of decoding the latent image once the latent image has been encoded, relating the latent image elements to the secondary image elements, and forming a primary pattern comprising a plurality of primary image elements which correspond to the secondary image elements displaced in accordance with the value of the visual characteristic of the latent image elements to which said secondary image elements are related.
US07916339B2 Print layout and apparatus and method
This invention relates to a technique that prevents an image from falling outside a given range when a printer is controlled to form an image on an arbitrary medium while assuring a margin of a predetermined amount. A host computer shifts an image by only a partial amount of a target margin amount in a predetermined direction within an effective print range of a medium. Furthermore, the host computer controls a printer to form the image by further shifting the image by nearly the remaining amount of the target margin amount so as to form an image within the effective print range. In this way, since the host computer and printer add a margin in two steps, print data can be prevented from falling outside a given range upon processing a binding margin on the printer side.
US07916338B2 Mobile telecommunication device for printing an interface surface in response to received data
A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device includes an image sensor for sensing coded data from a printed interface whilst the mobile telecommunications device is used to physically interact with the printed interface. The mobile telecommunications device also includes a processor configured to decode the sensed coded data. The data generated by the processor is then transmitted to a computer system via a mobile telecommunications network and using a transmitter of the mobile telecommunications device. A receiver of the mobile telecommunications device receives response data via the mobile telecommunications network in response to the data being transmitted. An integral printer mechanism of the mobile telecommunications device is configured to print another interface onto print media. The other interface also includes coded data, but is at least partially based on the response data.
US07916335B2 System for printing a coded interface
A system including a sensing device and a printer is disclosed. The sensing device and the printer are in communication with each other. The sensing device is for sensing first coded data included in a first interface disposed on a first surface. The printer is configured to receive, from the sensing device, data representative of the sensed first coded data, to send data based on the received data to a computer system, to receive response data from the computer system, the response data being derived by the computer system from the data sent to the computer system and identifying a unique identity of a second interface, to generate the second interface based at least partially on the response data, the second interface comprising second coded data encoding the unique identity of the second interface, and to print the second interface onto a second surface.
US07916331B2 Image reading device and computer program product
A reading unit reads image data from an image. An information processing terminal is connected to the reading unit. The information processing terminal includes a read control unit that controls the reading unit. The reading unit transmits the image data to the information processing terminal. The information processing terminal combines a user name set in advance by a user with the image on the read control unit, and transfers the image combined with the user name to a display unit to display the image.
US07916327B2 Apparatus, method, and program for automatically generating a set of possible print job workflows and selecting a most secure print job workflow from the set of possible print job workflows
An apparatus generates a processing route defining a processing order of plural processing processes to process print data. In the apparatus, a selection unit selects devices that can process the print data according to output setting information, and a generation unit generates at least one processing route for processing the print data by combining the selected devices for executing the plural processing processes. The apparatus determines a security level of each generated processing route based on a defined condition, and determines a processing route for processing the print data based on the determined security level.
US07916325B2 Printing system with tray selection substitution
This invention provides appropriate information of the next action or operation to be taken by the user on the basis of the property of a print job and status sent from a printer when paper-out information is sent from the printer while the print job is output to the printer having a plurality of paper supplying ports. To this end, it is monitored whether or not a paper-out message is received during output of a print job to the printer having the plurality of paper supplying ports. If a paper-out state has occurred, when the user has explicitly designated one paper supplying port, it is determined that the paper supplying port cannot be switched, and information that prompts the user to re-set paper sheets is displayed. On the other hand, when the user has not explicitly designated any paper supplying port, information indicating that another paper supplying port is selectable is displayed.
US07916323B2 Printer, method for controlling the printer and computer readable medium
A printer is provided that can be used easily and preferably without introducing an additional structure into a terminal device and a server. The printer includes a printing process portion for printing based on print data, a print data detection portion for detecting print data stored in a file server, a data reception portion for obtaining print data and the corresponding printing conditions information from the file server when the print data are detected, a print approval/disapproval judge portion for judging approval/disapproval of printing based on the obtained printing conditions information and a print control portion for controlling the printing process portion so that printing is performed based on print data corresponding to the printing conditions information when it is determined to be printable, and for controlling the same so that printing is not performed when it is determined to be unprintable.
US07916319B2 Printing management system
A remote proofing system (10) on an information network (400) includes a networked controller (20) configured to be a master proofing controller and at least one remote proof printer (30, 90, 300, 310, 320, 330). The master proofing controller monitors at least one monitored information folder (13) maintained on the information network, associating a set of associated printer instructions (15) with the at least one monitored information folder, and instructing the at least one remote proof printer to print according to the set of associated printer instructions the contents of a proof printing file set when the proof printing file set is deposited in the at least one monitored information folder. Further embodiments of the remote proofing system allow for performing print proofing through an information firewall (800) via layered authorization from the operator of the remote proof printer; and multiple and partially overlapping remote proofing systems on the same information network.
US07916318B2 Image forming system and image forming method
There is provided an image forming system that automatically discharges paper sheets other than poorly fed ones without making an emergency stop, even when poor paper feeding is caused due to a paper jam or the like. At paper feeding, information showing poor paper feeding is transmitted when the poor paper feeding is detected in supplying the paper sheets. At image forming, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in forming the image is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the poor paper feeding. At paper discharging, a determination is made whether the paper conveyance in discharging the paper sheets is continued or stopped when an instruction, based on the information showing the defective conveyance.
US07916314B2 Facsimile apparatus and printing method with cleaning of ink-jet nozzles based on print resolution of received image or telephone number of sender
The invention provides a facsimile apparatus that includes: a receiving section that receives facsimile data; a print head that discharges ink from nozzles so as to print out an image; a cleaning unit that cleans the nozzles of the print head; and a controlling section that controls the operations of the print head and the cleaning unit. In such a configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, the controlling section commands the print head to perform facsimile printing by means of the received facsimile data only after the execution of nozzle-cleaning operations, which are executed by the cleaning unit under the control of the controlling section, if it is judged on the basis of the print image resolution of the received facsimile data that the execution of the nozzle-cleaning operations is necessary.
US07916312B2 Measuring device for measuring a distance
A measurement arrangement has a rotation axis around a first end of an extended member having a first joint thereat, and a second joint at the opposing end. An equipment for recording measured points is connected to the second joint. The joints are connected through a cord or wire. The equipment is arranged to rotate through a pre-determined angle when the member is turned around its rotation axis. An angle sensor records the rotation of the equipment relative to the member. The cord or wire rotates the equipment through an angle corresponding to the angle that the member has rotated around its rotation axis. The equipment and the member rotate in opposite directions, and the angles of rotation are recorded when the equipment detects the limiting surface of the object on both sides of the diameter to be measured. A processor calculates the diameter based on the angles of rotation.
US07916311B2 Method and system for inspecting blade tip clearance
A method for inspecting blade tip clearance between at least one rotor blade and a case spaced radially outward from the rotor blade is provided. The method includes inserting a probe into an aperture defined in the case and emitting electromagnetic energy into the case using the probe. The method also includes detecting electromagnetic energy reflected from a blade tip portion of the rotor blade and determining a blade tip clearance defined between the blade tip and the case based on the detected electromagnetic energy.
US07916310B2 Measurement apparatus and method
A measurement apparatus disclosed that has a radiation source configured to provide a measurement beam of radiation such that an individually controllable element of an array of individually controllable elements capable of modulating a beam of radiation, is illuminated by the measurement beam and redirects the measurement beam, and a detector arranged to receive the redirected measurement beam and determine the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector, the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector being indicative of a characteristic of the individually controllable element.
US07916307B2 Pre-amplifier for detection lasers within laser ultrasonic inspection systems
A pulse detection laser is provided. The pulse detection laser includes a single frequency oscillator, a continuous pre-amplifier, and a pulsed amplifier. The single frequency oscillator generates a seed laser beam and is optically coupled to the continuous preamplifier. The continuous pre-amplifier amplifies the seed laser to produce an intermediate power laser beam. A pulsed amplifier optically coupled to the continuous pre-amplifier receives the intermediate power laser beam and amplifies the intermediate power laser beam to produce a pulse detection laser beam. One task of this pulse detection laser is to illuminate ultrasonic displacements. Light from the laser is scattered, collected, and analyzed with an interferometer to demodulate the ultrasonic displacements caused by the return echoes of the ultrasound at the surface of the part.
US07916305B2 Surface reflection encoder scale and surface reflection encoder using the same
A surface reflection encoder scale is used with a surface reflection encoder for detecting a relative movement amount of a member for making a relative move. The surface reflection encoder scale includes a substrate of the member or a substrate provided on the member and a reflection phase grating provided on the substrate and having asperities for changing a phase of reflected diffracted light on its surface. The asperities of the phase grating are formed of a deposition film of metal silicide and chromium.
US07916303B2 Non-uniform sampling to extend dynamic range of interferometric sensors
Methods and apparatus for interrogating optical sensors with high slew rates using non-uniform sampling are provided. The transmission of optical signals in a non-uniform pattern is employed to allow for demodulation of fringe rates exceeding the commonly understood Nyquist frequency limit given as one half of the mean sampling frequency. By monitoring the time dependent fringe frequency and assuming that the fringe frequency has a limited bandwidth, only a limited bandwidth smaller than the Nyquist bandwidth around the instantaneous fringe frequency needs to be reconstructed at any time.
US07916302B2 Gyroscope mode shift detection and scale factor compensation
A method for maintaining measurement accuracy of a ring laser gyroscope is disclosed. The method involves periodically measuring a path length control voltage in the ring laser gyroscope over a prescribed temperature range. When a first path length controlled by the path length control voltage deviates at least one wavelength from a nominal path length, the method detects the change in the path length as a mode shift. For each mode shift, the method applies a path length correction to maintain the first path length at a target path length over the prescribed temperature range. The method can apply a correction to a measurement signal output of the ring laser gyroscope by adjusting a calibrated scale factor depending on an actual integer number of wavelengths achieved during a mode shift.
US07916299B2 Method and apparatus for optical detection of a phase transition
The device and the method are used for optical detection of at least one phase transition between at least two media, which are taken into a line and/or dispensed from the line by an intake and/or dispensing device. A light-emitting transmitter emits light across and onto the line at a measurement point provided for this purpose. A receiver receives the emitted light, which is influenced by media in the line, to form reception signals. At least one waveguide, which is arranged up to the measurement point on the probe, is provided between the transmitter and/or the receiver and the measurement point (M). Due to the fact that the waveguide is arranged in parallel to the line at least in the area near the probe and at least one deflection lens is provided in the area of the measurement point to deflect the light emitted and/or the light to be detected, a phase boundary or state can be detected, and the dead volume is reduced.
US07916298B2 Analyzer and analytic system
This analyzer comprises a photoirradiation portion simultaneously photoirradiating a plurality of storage vessels storing a plurality of measurement samples respectively and a plurality of photodetection portions detecting a plurality of light components resulting from simultaneous photoirradiation on the plurality of storage vessels storing the plurality of measurement samples respectively. The photoirradiation portion includes a light source, a first light guide portion branching light emitted from the light source into a plurality of light components and guiding the plurality of light components to the plurality of measurement samples respectively and a second light guide portion branching light emitted from the light source into a plurality of light components and guiding the plurality of light components to the plurality of measurement samples respectively.
US07916296B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting a color point of a light source
Meeting a target color point using more than 3 primary light sources is achieved by calculating permutations of light sources, calculating for each of the permutations the contributions of the light sources to meet the color point, adding up the contributions of the light sources separately into an overall contribution, and operating the light sources according to their overall contributions.
US07916294B2 System and method for solubility curve and metastable zone determination
A system for determining a solubility of a substance comprises a holder to hold a sample comprising an amount of the substance and an amount of the solvent system. The system further comprises a temperature conditioner to alter a temperature of the sample, an optical measurement device to measure an optical parameter of the sample and a control device to control at least the temperature conditioner and the optical measurement device. The control device may be programmed to alter the temperature of the sample by the temperature conditioner, measure the optical parameter of the sample by the optical measurement device, and determine the solubility of the substance from a change of the optical parameter of the sample as a function of the temperature.
US07916293B2 Non-orthogonal particle detection systems and methods
Described herein is a particle detection system capable of spatially resolving the interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Using a specific electromagnetic beam cross sectional shape and orientation, the detection sensitivity of a particle detection system can be improved. Also provided are methods for detecting and sizing particles in a manner that has low background signal and allows for spatially resolving the scattering or emission of electromagnetic radiation from particles.
US07916290B2 Coaxially arranged, off-axis optical system for a sighting device or aiming device
The invention is directed to a coaxially arranged, off-axis optical system for a sighting device or aiming device. It is the object of the invention to provide a possibility for constructing an optical system in such a way that the typical disadvantage with respect to the tightness of a sighting device in an open-type construction is overcome and a good flattening of the image field is achieved in addition to the high optical imaging quality of the aiming mark. According to the invention, by means of a coaxially arranged, off-axis optical system for a sighting device or aiming device comprising a lens group, wherein the lens facing the target object is constructed as a converging meniscus and the lens facing the eye is constructed as a diverging meniscus, with a dichroic reflector and an embodiment for the aiming mark, the above-stated object is met in that a correction lens with positive refractive power is arranged at a distance of less than 0.2-times the focal length relative to the aiming mark and acts exclusively in the beam path of the aiming mark, and in that the correction lens is inserted into the housing by positive locking and is sealed so that the housing with the aiming mark, with the associated mechanism and with the electronics in the interior is sealed relative to the environment.
US07916285B2 Refractometer
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a refractometer including: a housing having an immersion portion, the immersion portion having an opening; a light source for emitting a light; a light sensor for converting a received light into an electrical signal; a prism including faces, including: a first face proximal to the light source and the light sensor; a second face, at least a portion of the second face configured for contacting a sample liquid through the opening, and for forming an interface between the second face and the sample liquid; and a third face, wherein the light travels by: being directed towards the second face; being reflected at least in part by the interface towards the third face; and being reflected at least in part by the third face towards the light sensor. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a control portion for receiving the electrical signal, and for determining a refractive index of the sample liquid based at least in part on the electrical signal. In an embodiment, the control portion determines the refractive index in at least one of: a batch mode for detecting the electrical signal once; and a sequential mode for detecting the electrical signal at least twice. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a substrate at least partially positioned within the housing, the substrate supporting the light source and the light sensor. In an embodiment, the refractometer further includes a display portion connected to the control portion for displaying a representation of the refractive index.
US07916283B2 Biological information imaging apparatus, biological information analyzing method, and biological information imaging method
A biological information imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave generated from a light absorption material in a living body that has absorbed a part of energy of light irradiated from the light source to the living body, and converts it into a first electric signal; a photodetector that detects optical intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source to the living body and propagating in the living body, and converts it into a second electric signal; and a calculation unit that calculates optical property distribution information on the living body by making use of an analytical result of one of the first electric signal and the second electric signal for analysis of the other electric signal.
US07916281B2 Apparatus for producing optical signatures from coinage
An apparatus for producing scattering signatures from a coin comprises a platform configured to hold the coin and an electromagnetic radiation source configured to produce a beam directed toward a portion of at least one surface of the coin. The electromagnetic radiation source is arranged to produce a far-field scattering signature upon interaction the at least one surface of the coin. A plurality of collection elements is configured to produce an electrical signal based upon collecting at least a portion of the far-field scattering signature.
US07916279B2 Measuring system
A measuring system includes a measuring apparatus provided at an already-known point, a plurality of light-receiving apparatuses provided at measured points, and a main calculating apparatus for instructing to the measuring apparatus and to the light-receiving apparatus, the measuring apparatuses including a wireless communication section for communicating a measurement data with the light-receiving apparatus or with the main calculating apparatus, wherein the measurement data includes an angle detected by the emission-direction detecting section and a distance measured by the distance-measuring section, the light-receiving apparatus including a light-receiving side wireless communication section communicating the measurement data of the measured point with the measuring apparatus or with the main calculating section, the main calculating sections including a main memory collecting and storing the measurement data which is measured by the measuring apparatus and by the plurality of light-receiving apparatuses.
US07916278B2 Polyspectral rangefinder for close-in target ranging and identification of incoming threats
A computationless system is provided for determining the direction of and distance to a target, involving bathing an area surrounding an area to be protected with a polyspectral series of narrow fan beams of different colors from at least two spaced-apart projectors. The differently colored beams go out at different angles, thus to color-code map the area surrounding the protected space where beams of different colors cross to form color-coded cells. Light reflected back to the area to be protected from a threat has a color code corresponding to the colors associated with beams that cross at the threat, thus to identify by the reflected colors where in space the threat is located.
US07916275B2 Methods of characterizing similarity or consistency in a set of entities
A method of characterizing the similarity between entities in a set of entities, wherein an entity is selected from substrate layers, substrate fields and substrates. Including determining positions at a plurality of measurement points per entity for providing position data; computing a correlation coefficient for each of a plurality of combinations of entities from the entity set, the correlation coefficients being based on the position data and being representative of the correlation between the associated combination of entities; comparing the correlation coefficients to a threshold amount to determine the extent of similarity between the entities. The invention also relates to a similar method incorporating determining an average value of the computed correlation coefficients, the average value providing a measure of the consistency.
US07916271B2 Apparatus and method for specifying correlation, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Disclosed is a method and apparatus which are arranged to detect magnitude of correlation between (i) an explanatory variable corresponding to operation data related to an operation made by an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate, and (ii) a response variable corresponding to inspection data related to a result of inspection made to the substrate after the same is exposed, the magnitude of correlation between the explanatory variable and the response variable being detected with respect to each of different combinations of operation data pieces, and also arranged to specify, on the basis of detected correlation magnitudes and with respect to one of the different combinations of operation data pieces, a category of the operation data and the correlation between the explanatory variable and the response variable.
US07916268B2 Substrate carrying device, substrate carrying method, and exposure device
The present invention relates to a substrate carrying device that carries a substrate such as a reticle, a substrate carrying method, and an exposure device.The substrate carrying device includes a movable stage having a chuck and being movable in a horizontal direction, the chuck having a sucking surface which faces downward and sucking a substrate on the sucking surface; and a fixed blind disposed below the movable stage. The movable stage moves to a position apart from the fixed blind in a horizontal direction and attaches and detaches the substrate. In addition, the substrate carrying device also includes a lifting portion having a lifting table which is movable in a movable range of the movable stage and is capable of being positioned below the movable stage; and a carrying portion having a carrying arm which carries the substrate to the lifting portion.
US07916264B2 Liquid crystal display device having temperature control system
An exemplary liquid crystal display device (2) includes a liquid crystal panel (21) and a heating system. The heating system heats the liquid crystal panel when the temperature of the liquid crystal panel is below a predetermined threshold temperature. The liquid crystal display device can work normally without being adversely influenced by the surrounding temperature.
US07916258B2 In-plane switching LCD panel
An IPS-LCD panel includes first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes common and pixel electrodes that are formed of a transparent conductive material. Because the common and pixel electrodes are transparent, aperture ratios of the inventive IPS-LCD panel are increased. Another IPS-LCD panel includes opaque pixel electrodes and transparent common electrodes. In forming the opaque pixel electrodes, a black matrix of the same material as the pixel electrodes is also formed on the first substrate. Because the inventive black matrix is much smaller than a conventional one, the aperture ratios of the second inventive IPS-LCD panel become higher.
US07916252B2 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.
US07916251B2 Laminated optical film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device
A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Rth1 of the first optical anisotropic layer, and Rth2 of the second optical anisotropic layer satisfy one of Relationships (1) and (2), and ΔRth1≧0 nm and ΔRth2≦0 nm   (1) ΔRth1<0 nm and ΔRth2>0 nm   (2) wherein a retardation value Rth of the laminated optical film as a whole in its thickness direction satisfies 50 nm≦Rth≦500 nm, where ΔRth1 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Rth1 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ΔRth2 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Rth2 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.
US07916250B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal module and a touch panel section arranged in front of the liquid crystal module. There is a space between the liquid crystal module and the touch panel section, and a layer of air is present in the space. The liquid crystal module has a λ/4 plate on the front side. The touch panel section includes a polarization plate and λ/4 plate which are arranged on the front side of a touch panel in this order.
US07916248B2 Large scale liquid crystal structures
A liquid crystal structure (200) comprising first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) arranged to reflect respective first and second colours. The first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) are disposed transversely to the direction of reflection (R). Each region includes a reflective back area and a selector (210) controllable to control light reflected from the region. Furthermore, a controllable reflector (212) is superposed over the reflective region in the direction of reflection (R) and controllable to transmit or scatter incident light.
US07916247B2 Electro-optic device, and electronic apparatus including the same
An electro-optic device includes: A frame light-shielding film defined a periphery of a pixel area. A frame light-shielding film having an opening at a predetermined position. An alignment mark formed in the opening. An opening light-shielding film formed so as to shield the opening in plan view.
US07916244B2 Liquid crystal display having high luminance and high display quality
A liquid crystal display (LCD) having high luminance and color renditions is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate, a gate line and a data line crossing each other on the first insulating substrate to define a pixel. First and second sub-pixel electrodes divide the pixel into two parts. A first switching element drives the first sub-pixel electrode and a second switching element drives the second sub-pixel electrode. A second insulating substrate faces the first insulating substrate. A color pattern is arranged on the second insulating substrate and overlaps the first sub-pixel electrode. A contrast pattern overlaps the second sub-pixel electrode.
US07916242B2 Prism sheet having inclined ridges and liquid crystal display using the same
A prism sheet includes a transparent base film with first and second surfaces and an optical refracting part with a plurality of prism units on the second surface, wherein the prism units are integral with the transparent base film, each prism unit having a predetermined height and extending along a first direction on the second surface of the transparent base film, wherein each prism unit includes a ridge extending along the first direction, a distance along a normal between the second surface of the transparent base film and the ridge defining the predetermined height of the prism unit, and wherein at least two prism units include ridges inclined at a predetermined angle other than zero with respect to the second surface of the transparent base film, the inclined ridges being unevenly distributed on the second surface of the transparent base film.
US07916241B2 Method for manufacturing optical element
An optical element manufacturing method according to the present invention includes: disposing a mask on a transparent photosensitive resin; patterning said transparent resin by applying an exposure light to said transparent photosensitive resin through said mask to form a transparent layer; forming a light absorbing layer by filling a gap in the transparent layer with a black curable resin; and illuminating a mask surface of the mask with the exposure light at an angle.
US07916234B2 Liquid crystal display having first and second thin film transistors and first and second sub-pixel electrodes
A liquid crystal display (LCD) capable of preventing light leakage includes first and second gate lines which extend in a horizontal direction, a data line which is insulated from the first and second gate lines and crosses the first and second gate lines, first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) which are respectively connected to the first and second gate lines and are connected to the data line, and a pixel electrode which extends in zigzag fashion at an inclination to the first and second gate lines and is divided into a first area and a second area in a direction in which the pixel electrode extends. The pixel electrode includes a first sub-pixel electrode which is connected to the first TFT and has the first area and upper and lower portions of the second area, and a second sub-pixel electrode which is connected to the second TFT, has a middle portion of the second area, and has a lateral side adjoining a first portion of the first sub-pixel electrode, an upper side adjoining a lower side of an upper second portion of the first sub-pixel electrode, and a lower side adjoining an upper side of a lower second portion of the first sub-pixel electrode, the first and second areas being connected by a plurality of connection electrodes, and at least one of the connection electrodes overlapping the second gate line.
US07916232B2 Electro-optical device and method for driving the same
A novel structure of an active electro-optical device is disclosed. The device is provided with complementary thin film insulated gate field affect transistors (TFTs) therein which comprise a P-TFT and an N-TFT. P-TFT and N-TFT are connected to a common signal line by the gate electrodes thereof, while the source (or drain) electrodes thereof are connected to a common signal line as well as to one of the picture element electrodes. In case of driving the active electro-optical device, a gradation display can be carried out in a driving method having a display timing determined in relation to a time F for writing one screen and a time (t) for writing in one picture element, by applying a reference signal in a cycle of the time (t), to the signal line used for a certain picture element driving selection, and by applying the select signal to the other signal line at a certain timing within the time (t), and whereby setting the value of the voltage to be applied to a liquid crystal.
US07916225B2 Liquid crystal display forming a coupling capacitor between a proximate and parallel portion of a drain electrode and a data line
Provided is a liquid crystal display (LCD) with enhanced display qualities. The LCD includes a first insulating substrate; a gate line disposed on the first insulating substrate and extending in a first direction; first and second data lines insulated from and crossing the gate line, separated from each other, and extending in a second direction; first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) connected to the gate line and the first and second data lines, respectively; first and second subpixel electrodes connected to the first and second TFTs, respectively; and first and second drain electrode connection portions connecting the first and second TFTs to the first and second subpixel electrodes, respectively. The first and second drain electrode connection portions are electrically insulated from each other and together form a substantially rectangular band.
US07916224B2 Pixel array substrate and liquid crystal display
A pixel array substrate including a substrate, a first patterned conductive layer, a second patterned conductive layer, and pixel electrodes is provided. The first patterned conductive layer has scan lines and gate electrodes. The second patterned conductive layer has data lines, source electrodes, drain electrodes, and capacitor electrodes. The data lines and the scan lines define many pixel areas. Many pixel storage capacitances CST is formed between the capacitor electrodes and the first patterned conductive layer. Many gate/drain capacitances CGD is formed in an overlapping area of the drain electrodes and gate electrodes. A liquid crystal capacitance CLC is formed above each pixel electrode. In at least one pixel area, the capacitance ratio of CST and CGD is α, the capacitance ratio of CLC and CST is β, and the ratio of a first deviation of CST and a second deviation of CGD is within the range of α(1+β)(1±50%).
US07916223B2 Dual panel liquid crystal display device
A LCD device includes first and second LCD panels stacked one on another. Each of the first and second LCD panels includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and a pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the pair of transparent substrates. A light diffusion layer having light diffusion function is interposed between the first LCD panel and the second LCD panel. The light diffusion layer reduces the intensity of the light passed by the first LCD panel, thereby alleviating the periodicity of the arrangement of dark areas and bright areas to alleviate the moire caused by light interference.
US07916220B2 Fixing structure
A fixing structure disposed in an electronic apparatus includes at least a display panel and a front casing. The fixing structure includes a joining component and an engaging component. The joining component is disposed on the front casing, and the engaging component is for movably engaging with the joining component. When the engaging component engages with the joining component, the engaging component presses the display panel such that the display panel is tightly attached to the front casing.
US07916219B2 System and method for dynamic gamma correction in digital video
A technique for improving image quality using dynamic gray scale correction, in one example embodiment, includes dynamically computing non-linear gamma curves using histogram data extracted from a current video frame. A gray scale correction is then dynamically applied to each pixel in the current or next video frame as a function of the computed non-linear gamma curves.
US07916213B2 Image processing circuit, image display device, and an image processing method
The present invention is arranged such that interlace image data, which has been supplied, is converted to progressive image data in an I/P conversion section, and the image data converted to progressive style in the I/P conversion section is subjected to image processing including data comparison in spatial or time series manner, in an image processing section.
US07916211B2 Imaging apparatus and lock mechanism
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The image apparatus has: a camera body; a viewfinder unit including a frame; a revolving mechanism for revolving the frame; a frictional mechanism including a detachable plate and giving frictional resistance to the frame and maintaining rotation of the frame; and a lock mechanism for locking and unlocking rotation of the frame. The lock mechanism includes a cylindrical member and a manipulating member for locking. When the manipulating member is rotated in one direction, the manipulating member moves the cylindrical member toward the detachable plate. The part of the frame around a pivot-receiving hole is held between the front end of a barrel and the detachable plate. When rotated in the other direction, the manipulating member permits the cylindrical member to move away from the detachable plate.
US07916210B2 Driving device and image stabilizing system
An art of a driving device for appropriately improving a response of an SMA actuator will be provided. A portable telephone 1 has an image stabilization system 10 for driving an image pickup unit 9 by a pair of driving members 15a and 15b functioning as actuators, thereby performing image stabilization. Driving members 15a and 15b are formed as a wire of shape memory alloy (SMA) and when a voltage is applied to both ends and a current is supplied, driving force is generated in the contraction direction. With respect to the wire diameter of the SMAs, the wire diameter of the SMAs is set between 10 μm and 80 μm, thus the mountability and response are improved appropriately.
US07916209B2 Image capturing apparatus, light metering method, luminance calculation method, and program
An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing processing unit capable of selectively performing a normal image capturing process in a normal image capturing mode and a combined image capturing process in a combined image capturing mode, the normal image capturing process being a process of obtaining a single exposure image signal in a unit period and generating captured image data by performing signal processing upon the obtained signal, and the combined image capturing process being a process of obtaining a long-exposure image signal and a short-exposure image signal and generating captured image data by performing signal processing including signal combination upon these obtained signals; a detection unit for performing light metering upon the captured image data; and a control unit for controlling switching between light metering methods used in the detection unit in accordance with an image capturing mode used.
US07916207B2 Apparatus and method for generating focus data in an image sensor
An apparatus for generating a focus data in an image sensor, the apparatus includes a green interpolation unit for generating a M×N green plane from the RGB bayer pattern of a predetermined selected image window through a green interpolation; and a focus data generation unit for extracting the focus data from the M×N green plane, wherein M and N are positive integers.
US07916206B2 Focus detection apparatus and focusing control apparatus utilizing photoelectric converting element output
A focus detection apparatus is disclosed which enables accurate AF operations without a focusing judgment performed in an out-of-focus state even when taking an image including a high-luminance object. The focus detection apparatus generates luminance information of each pixel by using an output from a plurality of pixels of a photoelectric converting element which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an optical system, and enumerates the number of at least one of pixels whose luminance information is higher than a predetermined luminance and pixels whose luminance information is lower than a predetermined luminance. And, information according to the enumerated result is outputted as the focusing information. The predetermined luminance is set based on the luminance information.
US07916199B2 Photo detection device
A pixel includes a photodiode, an overflow circuit, a first sensing circuit, and a second sensing circuit. The first sensing circuit charges and discharges a cathode capacitance by a photocurrent flowing through a photodiode, and amplifies an obtained voltage by a source follower amplifier so as to be outputted to a data line. The second sensing circuit charges and discharged the cathode capacitance by the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode, and outputs electric charge stored in the cathode capacitance via the data line. A pixel circuit is configured so that a first mode in which the first sensing circuit becomes active and a second mode in which the second sensing circuit becomes active can be switched. The first mode and the second mode are switched according to an amount of light received by the photodiode included in each pixel circuit. Gain is controlled according to the amount of light received, in the first mode, and the storage time is controlled in the second mode.
US07916195B2 Solid-state imaging device, imaging apparatus and camera
A solid-state imaging device includes: multiple pixels making up a slanted grid array inclined to a scanning direction, which include a photoelectric conversion unit configured to convert incident light quantity into an electric signal; and a charge-to-voltage conversion unit configured to convert signal charge read out from the photoelectric conversion unit disposed between two pixels adjacent to each other in the diagonal direction of the pixels of the multiple pixels into voltage; wherein the charge-to-voltage conversion unit is shared with the two pixels; and wherein a set of transistor group are disposed in a sharing block, which is configured of a pixel pair made up of the two pixels adjacent to each other in the diagonal direction, and a pixel pair adjacent to that pixel pair, including wiring to which the charge-to-voltage conversion unit of each pixel pair is connected.
US07916194B2 Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes an element-including optical system, a detector, and a converter. The element-including optical system has an optical system and an optical wavefront modulation element which modulates an optical transfer function. The detector picks up an object image that passes through the optical system and the optical wavefront modulation element. The converter generates an image signal with a smaller blur than that of a signal of a blurred image output from the detector by performing a filtering process of the optical transfer function to improve a contrast. A focal position of the element-including optical system is set by moving the element-including optical system to the focal position which is corresponding to a predetermined object distance using a contrast of the object based on the image signal.
US07916192B2 Method for compensating pixel values of defective pixels and image processing system using the same
A method for compensating pixel values of defective pixels in an image processing system is provided. First, a normal image is captured to obtain the pixel values of a plurality of pixels, and the pixel values of the defective pixels are then marked as a specific pixel value. When the pixel values are to be compensated, the locations of the defective pixels are determined by locating the specific pixel value, and the average values of the neighboring pixels of these defective pixels are calculated and used as the pixel values of these defective pixels, so as to complete a compensation procedure. Besides, the present invention further includes closing the shutter to capture a dark image with similar exposure condition as the normal image does. The compensation procedure is performed after subtracting the dark image from the normal image so that the noise caused by dark current can be eliminated.
US07916189B2 Image processing apparatus and method for color-noise reduction
In a color-noise reduction circuit in which a color-difference signal of a target pixel is substituted in a random substitution circuit (104) by a color-difference signal of another pixel within an area including the target pixel, a pixel-substitution color-difference signal that is the substituted signal whose high-frequency components are removed in an LPF (106) and the color-difference signal of the target pixel are added together in a summation circuit (108) at a predetermined ratio obtained by a pixel-substitution utilization rate calculation circuit (107), and is outputted as a noise-reduced color-difference signal of the target pixel. Therefore, efficient color-noise reduction and suppression of occurrence of color jitters can be realized.
US07916188B2 Correction approximating straight line group information generating method of multi-divided reading CCD, and correction processing device manufacturing method of multi-divided reading CCD
To make it possible to cope with an error in a hue or the like in the case of using such a CCD of lower quality or an analog circuit of lower quality as might otherwise raise a problem in the hue, a correction approximating straight line group information creating method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD and a correction processing device manufacturing method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD generate correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot optimum for corrections, at an adjusting stage from a plurality of pieces of primary correction approximating straight line group information generated in advance. At the shooting time, therefore, all pixels can be corrected for their individual kinds by making use of the correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot.
US07916183B2 Solid-state imaging device and method for driving the same
A driving method for a solid-state image pick up device that includes the steps of capturing an image with the pixel array, sharing at least two color pixel cells with a floating diffusion unit, adding an output signal of a first color pixel cell to an output signal of a second color pixel cell having the same color as the first color pixel cell with the floating diffusion unit in order to create a virtual pixel center, and controlling a ratio of integration time of the color pixel cells to the same colors based on pitches between virtual pixel centers with a control unit.
US07916182B2 Imaging device and method which performs face recognition during a timer delay
An apparatus and method for capturing images using a delay timer and face detection. After a command is given to begin a photographing process, a face detector determines the location of a face of a person being photographed. A timer counts down a predetermined delay time, for example, corresponding to a self-timer time period. A controller can set the auto focus or auto exposure parameters based on the detected face.
US07916179B2 Digital camera
A digital camera procures from an external device related to image-capturing upon image-capturing data on the external device and records the procured data and digital image data of the procured image in relation to each other.
US07916171B2 Classification apparatus for sport videos and method thereof
The present invention intends to provide a classification apparatus for broadcasted sport videos for classifying various scenes constituting a sport video, depending on the importance level without being limited to any particular sport video by using visual and audio features. A sport video classification processing portion determines and classifies a play scene, a close-up shot and the like using an audio and a color feature extracted from motion picture data. Because the determination of the most frequent color can be changed adaptively for each inputted sport video, it is not necessary to determine any particular color to the most frequent color previously.
US07916163B2 Exposure head, a method of controlling an exposure head and an image forming apparatus
An exposure head, includes: an imaging optical system; a first light emitting element that emits a light which is to be focused by the imaging optical system; a second light emitting element that emits a light which is to be focused by the imaging optical system; a first TFT circuit that is connected with the first light emitting element via an interconnection wire; and a second TFT circuit that is connected with the second light emitting element via an interconnection wire, wherein the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element are provided between the first TFT circuit and the second TFT circuit.
US07916161B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided with a light scanning device that directs laser beams emitted from a plurality of laser light sources on to a plurality of photoconductive members via focusing device which includes optical elements and a deflecting device that deflects the beams in a main scanning direction; an image forming device which forms visible images of different colors from images written onto the photoconductive members by the light scanning device; and an intermediate transfer member or a recording sheet transport member capable of carrying the visible images formed on the photoconductive members. When in detection mode, a control device controls the correction of color registration errors between each color forms patterns on an intermediate belt by an image forming device, detects the patterns by a color registration error detection sensor, and stores the color registration error correction values obtained from the detection output of the sensor in a memory device. When forming images, the control device reads the color registration error correction values stored in the memory device, and carries out correction in accordance with the correction values via a writing start position correction device which deflects the laser position in the sub scanning direction.
US07916160B2 Image processing apparatus and method for adjusting gray levels of an image signal inputted to a flat display panel
The invention discloses an image processing apparatus for adjusting gray levels of an image signal inputted to a flat display panel (FDP). The image processing apparatus comprises a memory unit and a processing unit. The memory unit stores a panel characteristic LUT. When receiving the image signal, the processing unit will adjust the gray levels of the image signal according to the panel characteristic LUT, so as to output an adjusted image signal complying with the panel characteristic of the FDP.
US07916157B1 System and methods for selective zoom response behavior
A system and method for defining the zoom response, or behavior, of a display object independently of other display objects performs a selective zoom response to a zoom level. Selective zoom response provides each display object individual zoom response logic to determine the manner of display at given zoom levels. Accordingly, display object behavior is definable on a per object basis. The zoom function triggers particular operations at a given zoom level for modifying attributes of a display object that affect the visual appearance, thus modifying the zoom behavior of the display object. Since each display object has a different zoom response logic, different display objects respond independently to a particular zoom level as appropriate for the display object. Therefore, the zoom response is object specific since each display object has its own set of attributes and zoom logic affecting those attributes.
US07916156B2 Conversion of a sub-pixel format data to another sub-pixel data format
A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
US07916155B1 Complementary anti-aliasing sample patterns
Systems and methods for producing anti-aliased images use a sub-pixel sample pattern set that includes two or more unique sub-pixel sample patterns that are complementary. The sub-pixel sample patterns are offset from each pixel center and used to produce images that are combined to produce the anti-aliased image. In addition to providing sub-pixel coverage information, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used to produce sub-pixel shading information. Furthermore, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used in single processor systems or in multiprocessor systems to produce anti-aliased images.
US07916154B2 Method, system and software product for color image encoding
The present invention relates to the compression of color image data. A combination of hard decision pixel mapping and soft decision pixel mapping is used to jointly address both quantization distortion and compression rate while maintaining low computational complexity and compatibility with standard decoders, such as, for example, the GIF/PNG decoder.
US07916153B1 Backlight dimming and LCD amplitude boost
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide m Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of backlit displays are described. Power consumption is reduced by dimming backlighting by a first scale factor and boosting pixel values by a second scale factor to compensate for the dimming. The scale factors may be constant values. Alternately, one or both of the scale factors may be determined based on pixel values for one or more frames to be displayed and/or one or more frames that have been displayed. For example, scale factors may be calculated based on an average linear amplitude of one or more frames of pixel values or from a maximum pixel value of one or more frames of pixel values. A graphical processing system is described including an integrated circuit capable of transforming a pixel value from a gamma-compensated space to a linear space.
US07916152B2 Technique for enabling color blind persons to distinguish between various colors
Systems and methods for processing data representative of a full color image. Such systems may comprise the steps of assisting a color blind person to indicate portions of an image which to their color-deficient vision are indistinguishable, and altering the image to cause those portions to become distinguishable and identifiable.
US07916151B1 Partial texture loads
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide for partial texture load instructions. Instead of one instruction that may take several shader passes to complete, several instructions are issued, where each instruction is an instruction to retrieve a part or portion of a texture. While each instruction is performed, the other shader circuits can perform other instructions, thus increasing the utilization of the shader circuits when large textures are read from memory. Since several shader passes may be required to read a texture, if a particular instruction needs the texture, one exemplary embodiment reorders instructions such that other instructions are performed before the particular instruction that needs the texture.
US07916149B1 Block linear memory ordering of texture data
A method of organizing memory for storage of texture data, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes accessing a size of a mipmap level of a texture map. A block dimension may be determined based on the size of the mipmap level. A memory space (e.g., computer-readable medium) may be logically divided into a plurality of whole number of blocks of variable dimension. The dimension of the blocks is measured in units of gobs and each gob is of a fixed dimension of bytes. A mipmap level of a texture map may be stored in the memory space. A texel coordinate of said mipmap level may be converted into a byte address of the memory space by determining a gob address of a gob in which the texel coordinate resides and determining a byte address within the particular gob.
US07916147B2 Centralised interactive graphical application server
A centralised game server in a bank (50) of game servers runs a game program for use by a user at a remote terminal (52, 56, 58). In the game server, the game program sends a first set of graphics instructions to a first graphics processing unit (76) which is intercepted by an instruction interception module (74). The first set of instructions, including vertex data, transformation data and texture data are passed to the first graphics processing unit (76) whilst a specially manipulated version of the instructions is generated and passed to a second graphics processing unit (78). The first graphics processing unit (76) renders the image data as the game intended whilst the second graphics processing unit (78) is used to render specially adapted graphics data from which to extract compression assistance data used for compression, e.g. motion vectors. In alternative embodiments, a first set of instructions include a program for a programmable pipeline module, such as a vertex shader or a pixel shader, and the second set of instructions include a modified program for the programmable pipeline module.
US07916135B2 Timing controller and method of generating timing signals
A timer controller and method of generating timing signals uses a synchronization signal and a clock signal to generate a timing signal by counting the clock signal only after the synchronization signal has changed states. In a display requiring a dot or line counter having n digits to meet the requirement of display resolution, it is possible to use a counter with k digits to generate a start signal, with 0≦k
US07916132B2 Systems for displaying images and related methods
A representative AC signal generating circuit includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch and a fourth switch. The first capacitor is coupled between a first node and an AC signal. The second capacitor is coupled between a second node and the AC signal. The first switch is coupled between the first node and a first DC signal. The second switch is coupled between the second node and a second DC signal. The third switch is coupled between the first node and an output terminal. The fourth switch is coupled between the second node and the output terminal. The first switch and the fourth switch are synchronous, the second switch and the third switch are synchronous and the first switch and the second switch are asynchronous.
US07916131B2 Process for monitor to operate in DPMS mode
A process for a monitor working in a DPMS mode applies when a monitor ends a working mode and enters the DPMS mode. In the DPMS mode, when the signal processor of the monitor detects there is no signal input to the connecting interface, the signal processor will be off and inform the micro-controller to open the signal detecting function to find whether there is a signal input to the connecting interface. When the micro-controller detects there is no signal input for a certain of time, the micro-controller will enter the sleep status. As a result, the purpose of saving the electricity can be achieved.
US07916130B2 Electronic device with liquid crystal display
An electronic device, such as personal computer, incorporating a liquid crystal panel which uses LEDs as an illuminating light source for a liquid crystal panel to reduce power consumption and size of the electronic device. When 3-color LED lamps 13R, 13G, 13B of the LED light source 12 are lit, red, green and blue rays emitted from respective LED lamps enter the scatterplate 11 where they are scattered and mixed to produce white light LW which goes out from the entire surface of the scatterplate 11 to illuminate the entire rear surface of the transmission type liquid crystal panel 10. The white light LW that has entered the liquid crystal panel 10 is modulated according to the alignment of the liquid crystal material and passes through the color filters of the counter substrate. The user can view the transmitted light LT from the liquid crystal panel 10 as a color image.
US07916129B2 Interactive display system
An interactive display system is introduced herein. The interactive display system includes a mirror and a display unit. The display unit is built in the mirror, for providing auxiliary showing an image of a user in front of the display system. The image of the user can be automatically enlarged or shrunk and displayed on the display unit when the user moves forward to or away from the interactive display system.
US07916125B2 Touch screen device and method of displaying images thereon
A touch screen device and method of displaying images using display windows and selecting execution menus displayed on the display windows in a touch screen device are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen, a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch on the screen, and a controller configured to control operation of the touch screen device in accordance with the screen touch detected by the detector. The controller causes two or more display windows to be displayed in an overlapped manner. Further, if the touch is detected on an underlying display window covered by an overlying display window, the controller causes a display form to be changed in response to the touch. That is, if a touch is detected on the display window covered by the overlying display window, the touched display window is displayed as an overlying display window.
US07916124B1 Interactive apparatus using print media
A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.
US07916123B2 User interface technique for managing an active call
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a processor supported by the housing, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communications transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to support voice conference calling between more than two parties. A program stored in the memory and running on the processor is configured to provide a user interface on the display which is configured to display indicators representative of the parties on the conference call. The user interface includes the hold area configured to display indicators representative of the parties on hold and an active area configured to display indicators representative of the parties active on the conference call.
US07916122B2 Roller mechanism for multiple directions control
The present invention relates to a roller mechanism for generating a plurality of control signals, for example to scroll an image on a computer display in multiple directions. The roller mechanism has a carriage, and a roller rotatable within the carrier. The roller can drive an encoding unit to output the control signal. The carriage has a coupling portion, and the coupling portion is pivoted to a bottom support. Thus the roller and the carriage are turnable relative to the coupling portion in a fan-shaped movement while the roller is also being rotated within the carriage.
US07916120B2 Hybrid presentation controller and computer input device
An input device having a housing; a pointing device coupled with the housing having a plurality of buttons; a scrolling element coupled with the housing; and a module for detecting user input for operating the input device in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode, the input device operates as a tabletop computer pointing device, and where in the second mode, the input device operates as a hand-held presentation device used to control a computer-based presentation.
US07916118B2 Printed circuit board module with single and double layer printed circuit boards
An exemplary printed circuit board (PCB) module (20) used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a single-layer PCB (31) and a double-layer PCB (32) configured to be electrically connected to the single-layer PCB. The single-layer PCB includes a first part of a signal processing circuit (23). The double-layer PCB includes a second part of the signal processing circuit (23).
US07916116B2 Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display comprising the feature that a backlight comprises a cold cathode ray tube disposed on a surface facing a liquid crystal display panel and a chassis for supporting the cold cathode ray tube, and the cold cathode ray tube is set so that a distance from the chassis at an end to which a high voltage is applied becomes larger than a distance from the chassis at an end to which a low voltage is applied.
US07916107B2 Gamma voltage output circuit and liquid crystal display having same
An exemplary gamma voltage output circuit (3) has an internal resistor string (31), which has a plurality of resistors and a plurality of nodes; at least one external resistor string (32, 33, 34), which has a plurality of resistors and a plurality of nodes; a plurality of switching circuit (35), each switching circuit having at least one input end (353, 354, 355) and at least one output end (356). The internal and the at least one external resistor strings connect in series between the power source AVDD and ground, respectively. Each node outputs a gamma voltage. The nodes of internal and the at least one external resistor strings respectively are connected to the output end and the input end, the resistors of the internal resistor string parallel connecting to corresponding resistors of the at least one external resistor string through the corresponding switching circuit.
US07916104B2 Increased intensity resolution for pulse-width modulation-based displays with light emitting diode illumination
A method for increasing intensity resolution (bit-depth) using LED illumination. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a display time for a bit to be displayed on a display system, with the display time being based upon a weighting of the bit. If the display time is less than a minimum display time of the display system, then a light modulator and light source modulation are to be used to display the bit. If the display time is equal to or greater than the minimum display time, then a light modulator is to be used to display the bit. The use of a light source that can switch at a faster rate than the light modulator can change states and/or a light source that can produce light at multiple intensities can permit the display of less light and thereby increase the bit-depth of the display system.
US07916101B2 LED driving apparatus and method of controlling luminous power
A light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes a drive section for driving an LED to emit light, and a control section that controls a driving current supplied from the drive section to the LED. The control section implements luminous power control by controlling an ON/OFF ratio of the driving current if a target value of luminous power of the LED is smaller than a predetermined value. The control section implements luminous power control by controlling a level of the driving current if the target value is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.
US07916092B2 Flexible circuit for downhole antenna
An antenna for an electromagnetic tool having a longitudinal axis and a core. The antenna includes a flexible dielectric substrate flexibly conformed about the core and an electrical conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate. The electrical conductor is disposed on the substrate such that the antenna has a dipole moment having any desired direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool.
US07916090B2 Antenna configurations for compact device wireless communication
A wireless communication device is configured to provide wireless communication to a host device when disposed in a mated position with the host device such that a housing of the wireless communication device extends a distance Lid from a face of the host device. The wireless communication device includes a transceiver, a controller in communication with the transceiver, and a modem in communication with the controller. The wireless communication device also includes a dipole antenna having a dipole effective current axis Ix for a selected wavelength λ in the mated position that is at a distance from the face of the host device that is in the range of about 0.09λ to about 0.25λ.
US07916087B2 Multiple-band antenna with patch and slot structures
A multiple-band antenna having first and second operating frequency bands is provided. The antenna includes a first patch structure associated primarily with the first operating frequency band, a second patch structure electrically coupled to the first patch structure and associated primarily with the second operating frequency band, a first slot structure disposed between a first portion of the first patch structure and the second patch structure and associated primarily with the first operating frequency band, and a second slot structure disposed between a second portion of the first patch structure and the second patch structure and associated primarily with the second operating frequency band. A mounting structure for the multiple-band antenna is also provided. The mounting structure includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to and overlapping the first surface. The first and second patch structures are mounted to the first surface, and a feeding point and ground point, respectively connected to the first and second patch structures, are mounted to the second surface.
US07916086B2 Antenna component and methods
An antenna component suited for small-sized radio devices for forming a dielectric antenna. A small auxiliary circuit board (210) is used for the matching of the antenna, the matching being based on a conductor pattern on it. A substrate chip (220), on the surface of which the radiator is, and the auxiliary board are fastened to each other, whereby the radiator is electrically connected to said conductor pattern. The radiator, its substrate and the auxiliary board form a unitary, solid antenna component (200), which is mounted on the circuit board (PWB) of the radio device. The antenna with its feed and matching circuits can be designed and tested as a whole of its own, in which case the reproducibility is good. In the design of the circuit board of the radio device, the antenna needs to be taken into account only by reserving a space for the antenna component on the circuit board.
US07916085B2 Method and apparatus for locating the source of radio frequency emissions
At least two receiver sets are provided. A data processor is in communication with the receiver sets, wherein the data processor tags position data and radio frequency emission data from the receiver sets. A data storage unit is in communication with the data processor and is at least capable of storing tagged data. A processing unit is capable of processing the tagged data. The processing unit defines a search grid within which to search for the source of the radio frequency emission. The processing unit motion compensates the tagged data separately for each point on the grid. The processing unit assigns a value to each grid point based on a phase coherence of the motion compensated data. The processing unit determines a location within the grid having a highest assigned value, thereby determining the source of the radio frequency emission.
US07916083B2 Vertically integrated electronically steered phased array and method for packaging
A vertically integrated electronically steered phased array that employs beamsteering using a programmable phase locked loop including a local oscillator. The local oscillator provides an oscillator signal that is converted to an RF signal that can be either up-converted for a transmit operation or down-converted for a receive operation. The relative off-set between independently generated local oscillator signals forms the basis of the off-set phase required for a phased array. The absolute measure of off-set phase is referenced to a globally distributed clock signal that aligns the zero degree phase shift of the oscillator.
US07916082B1 Field compatible ESA calibration method
A method may include cycling a first beam steering control antenna element of an electronically scanned antenna (ESA) array through a first portion of beam steering control states for the first beam steering control antenna element. The first beam steering control antenna element is probed while cycling the first beam steering control antenna element through the first portion of beam steering control states. A first amplitude and a first phase for energy coupled from the ESA array to a probe are recorded for each one of the first portion of beam steering control states. The recorded first amplitude and the recorded first phase are separated into a first component and a second component. The phase of the first beam steering control antenna element is determined utilizing the first component and the second component.
US07916079B2 GPS signal samples with timing data
A GPS receiver (10) is disclosed comprising a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for sampling received GPS signals and a processor for outputting a stream of the GPS signal samples and inserting repeated instances of timing data indicating the timing of the sampling of the GPS signals in the stream in place of some of the GPS signal samples. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of providing a position fix and a computer program, computer-readable storage medium and apparatus for the same.
US07916078B2 Signal acquisition/tracking method and correlator for the same
A Doppler frequency searching method and correlator are disclosed. In the present invention, before Doppler frequency removal, a received signal is converted into digital form having a first sampling rate. Then the signal is down-sampled to have a low sampling rate. The Doppler frequency searching is done by stages. Each stage is in charge of a portion of the Doppler frequency to be removed. The sampling rate can be further reduced in each stage. Each stage can have at least one Doppler frequency removal unit sharing the portion of Doppler frequency that the stage is to remove. Power consumption is reduced since Doppler frequency removal is executed with low sampling rate.
US07916077B2 Method for obtaining correct phase inversion points in signal of GPS
A method for obtaining correct phase inversion points in a signal of global positioning system (GPS) includes the following steps. A satellite signal from one of a plurality of satellites is received continuously. A plurality of phase inversion points in the received satellite signal is interpreted. Each time difference between each two adjacent phase inversion points among the plurality of phase inversion points is calculated. It is determined whether each of the time differences is an integral multiple of 20 milliseconds. A data is retrieved every 20 milliseconds from the satellite signal by using a first phase inversion point in the plurality of phase inversion points as a starting point when each of the time differences is an integral multiple of 20 milliseconds. By finding out a plurality of correct phase inversion points in the satellite signal, the positioning speed is increased, and thus a positioning time required is reduced.
US07916075B2 Satellite signal adaptive time-division multiplexing receiving device
A satellite signal adaptive time-division multiplexing receiving device is disclosed. The receiving device operates in time-division multiplexing distributed for various domains such as satellite number, Doppler frequency, code phase and accuracy. When some specific time slots of the time-division multiplexing distribution are unnecessary to be searched, the receiving device uses a disable signal to deactivate specific components such as correlator and memory thereof during those time slots to reduce power consumption.
US07916072B2 Method for providing assistance data to mobile station of a satellite positioning system
Satellites of a satellite positioning system broadcast within the navigation signals ephemeris data having a certain period of validity. At a mobile station, ephemeris data are required for position-fixing. In assisted satellite positioning systems, acquisition of navigation signals emitted by the satellites is facilitated as assistance data are provided to the mobile station. At a server station, a request for assistance data issued by the mobile station is received, and the server station transmits ephemeris data as part of the assistance data to the mobile station in response to its request. Upon receiving the request for assistance data issued by the mobile station, the server station decides whether the mobile station could achieve a specified position fix accuracy if the mobile station was provided with the broadcast ephemeris data. In the positive, the server station transmits the broadcast ephemeris data to the mobile station. In the negative, the server station transmits, instead of broadcast ephemeris data, long-term ephemeris data to the mobile station as part of the assistance data requested. The long-term ephemeris data are derived from satellite orbit predictions and have a period of validity substantially increased with respect to the ephemeris data broadcast by the satellites.
US07916070B2 Tight coupling of GPS and navigation estimates with reducer or eliminated inertial measurement unit data
A system and method for generating a navigation solution in high interference and dynamic environments using Global Positioning System (GPS) and navigation such as dead reckoning is described. The system configuration is a multi-satellite tracking loop structure obtained by closing each satellite's tracking loop through a multi-state navigation filter. This generates a robust navigation solution that can track GPS signals in a lower signal to noise ratio than can the standard GPS tightly coupled tracking loops. The system contains an Advanced Tightly Coupled (ATC) tracking processor which accepts early, late, and on-time I and Q data from the GPS signal tracker and outputs vehicle to satellite range, range rate and range acceleration residual measurements to a navigation Kalman filter. The ATC includes nonlinear discriminators which transform I and Q data into residual measurements corrupted by unbiased, additive, and white noise. It also includes an amplitude estimator configured to operate in rapidly changing, high power noise; a measurement noise variance estimator; and a linear residual smoothing filter for input to the navigation filter.
US07916063B1 Charge-sharing digital to analog converter and successive approximation analog to digital converter
In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input being coupled to an analog signal, a successive approximation register having a serial input coupled to the output of the comparator, and being configured to generate a plurality of control signals and an N-bit digital value corresponding to the analog signal, and a digital to analog converter having an input coupled to the plurality of control signals, the digital to analog converter further comprising a first, a second, and a third capacitor and a plurality of switches controlled by the plurality of control signals and being configured to couple the first capacitor to the second capacitor and the third capacitor to the second capacitor mutually exclusively to share charge on the first capacitor and charge on the third capacitor with charge on the second capacitor and to generate an analog signal on the second capacitor, the second capacitor being coupled to the second input of the comparator.
US07916059B2 Digital-analog conversion device and method for the digital-analog conversion
A digital-analog conversion circuit, a method for the digital-analog conversion and a source driver are disclosed. A digital-analog conversion circuit may include a latch for storing N bit digital data therein, and a digital-analog converter, for performing a first digital-analog conversion on predetermined bits out of the N bit data stored in the latch by using R-string conversion, and for performing a second digital-analog conversion based on a result of the first digital-analog conversion and all remaining bits of the N bit data, excluding the predetermined bits.
US07916057B2 Complex-admittance digital-to-analog converter
A circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to produce an analog output signal (1) proportional to a reference signal and (2) as a function of a digital input signal. The converter comprises a plurality of non-trivially complex admittances configured so that each non-trivially complex admittance can be selectively switched as a function of the digital input signal so as to be coupled between a reference terminal configured to receive a reference signal and an output terminal. The method comprises selectively switching non-trivially complex admittances as a function of the digital signal between a reference terminal and an output terminal.
US07916055B2 Sigma-delta modulator and method thereof
A sigma-delta modulator includes an adder, a filter, a quantizer, and a clock rate controller. The adder receives an input signal and an output signal to generate a summation signal. The filter is coupled to the adder and filters the summation signal to generate a filtered signal. The quantizer is coupled to the filter as well as the adder and quantizes the filtered signal to generate the output signal according to a first clock signal. The clock rate controller is coupled to the quantizer and generates the first clock signal, wherein a frequency of the first clock signal is variable.
US07916052B2 Compressed sensing characterization system and method
A system for characterizing a compressed sensing apparatus is described which broadly includes a random vector generator for generating an input vector, a waveform generator in communication with the random vector generator for converting the input vector into an analog signal, a compressed sensing apparatus in communication with the digital-to-analog converter for determining a digital bit stream from the analog signal, a serial-to-parallel converter for converting the digital bit stream into an input vector; and an electronic processor in communication with the random number generator and the serial-to-parallel converter configured for determining a compressed sensing matrix.
US07916051B1 Bandwidth mismatch estimation for time interleaved ADCs
With high speed, high resolution time-interleaved (TI) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), bandwidth mismatches between the various ADC branches can pose a significant problem. Previously, though, no adequate solution has been found. Here, a method and apparatus are provided that can calculate and compensate for bandwidth mismatches in a TI ADC, enabling a high speed, high resolution TI ADC to be produced.
US07916049B2 Group delay characteristic correcting device and group delay characteristic correcting method
A disclosed group delay characteristic correcting device corrects group delay characteristics of an analog low-pass filter used to remove aliasing of a digital-analog converter or an analog-digital converter. The group delay characteristic correcting device includes a digital signal processing unit configured to have an all-pass phase circuit at a stage previous to the digital-analog converter or at a stage subsequent to the analog-digital converter so as to correct the group delay characteristics of the analog low-pass filter.
US07916047B2 Systems and methods of clustered sharing of compression histories
Systems and methods of storing previously transmitted data and using it to reduce bandwidth usage and accelerate future communications are described. By using algorithms to identify long compression history matches, a network device may improve compression efficiently and speed. A network device may also use application specific parsing to improve the length and number of compression history matches. Further, by sharing compression histories, compression history indexes and caches across multiple devices, devices can utilize data previously transmitted to other devices to compress network traffic. Any combination of the systems and methods may be used to efficiently find long matches to stored data, synchronize the storage of previously sent data, and share previously sent data among one or more other devices.
US07916045B2 Scale for photoelectric encoder
A scale for a photoelectric encoder effectively protects the base of the scale from corrosion, rust, and flaws. The scale includes a base, a light-absorbing layer including a DLC layer formed on at least one surface of the base, and light-reflecting layers with a higher reflectance than that of the light-absorbing layer with respect to light falling within a wavelength range and formed into a grating on the light-absorbing layer.
US07916043B2 Vehicle communication system
A wireless communication system for a vehicle includes a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle and a current directional heading of the vehicle. Data useful to the driver of the vehicle that is relevant to at least one of the current geographical location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle is carried from an external provider to the vehicle via a wireless communication link. The data is wirelessly communicated from the external provider to the vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) location of the vehicle, (b) identity of the vehicle and (c) directional heading of the vehicle. The data is at least in part customized to at least one of the current geographic location of the vehicle and the current directional heading of the vehicle.
US07916039B2 System for conveying audio information with a spatial characteristic to a vehicle occupant
A system is provided for conveying information to an occupant of a motor vehicle. In one example of an implementation, driving-relevant information is obtained for example using sensors or a navigation system. An audio message is determined based on the obtained driving-relevant information. Spatial characteristics for the audio message are also determined. The audio message is output in the motor vehicle with the determined spatial characteristic via loudspeakers.
US07916035B2 Device for a bed alarm
The invention relates to a device (1) for an alarm (2) intended for beds (3) and similar locations that, e.g., old people, demented or handicapped persons are arranged to stay on and that is formed of a sensor (7) distributed on the bed and coupled to a monitoring unit (6) that is arranged to provide alarming. The sensor (7) is arranged to co-operate with a radio receiver (9), positioned remotely from the sensor (7), via radio communication, and is formed of a unit that is arranged to measure the difference of the capacitance of a medium in a compressed and in a free state, respectively. The sensor (7) is formed of a compressible plastic core having a conductive gel applied on at least one side thereof and that is covered, on each side, by an electrode each.
US07916033B2 Small gamma shielded shorted patch RFID tag
An RFID tag includes a substrate made of a material with a high dielectric constant of greater than approximately 4 and having a first side and a second side. A patch antenna is mounted to the first side of the substrate. A metallic ground plane is mounted to the second side of the substrate, and includes a feed through hole. A metallic backplane is coupled with the ground plane, on a side of the ground plane opposite the substrate. The backplane and/or the ground plane includes a recess. An RFID circuit is positioned within the recess. A shorting wall includes a plurality of through holes extending through the substrate and interconnecting the antenna with the ground plane. The plurality of through holes are generally linearly arranged relative to each other along an edge of the ground plane. An electrically conductive via extends through the substrate and the feed through hole of the ground plane. The via has a diameter which is slightly less than the feed through hole. The via interconnects the antenna with the RFID circuit. The via is at a distance from the shorting wall whereby an impedance of the RFID circuit approximately matches an impedance of the antenna.
US07916032B2 Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and manufacturing method thereof
An RFID tag includes a dielectric member, an antenna pattern formed on and around a surface of the dielectric member, and an IC chip that is electrically connected to the antenna pattern by means of two chip pads.
US07916031B2 Server component for monitoring modules of printing machines utilizing RFID tags
A server component includes a network interface and an analysis component. The server component is at least partially implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by at least one processor. The network interface is in operative communication with a network and is configured to communicate with at least two nodes of different node types. The network interface is also in operative communication with a local RFID tag attached to a corresponding module. A node of the at least two nodes is a printer-based node associated with a printing machine. The analysis component is configured to utilize the network interface to communicate with the node associated with the printing machine such that the analysis component is in operative communication with the local RFID tag attached to the corresponding module. The node associated with the printing machine interrogates the local RFID tag to retrieve information relating to the corresponding module and communicates the information to the server component.
US07916030B2 RFID system and bearing components for rolling mill
A system and method of use within a rolling facility comprising a plurality of bearing assemblies with each assembly further comprising components including liners and chock sets. An RFID system utilizes RFID tags on each of the plurality of components in order to track and/or monitor characteristics of either the entire bearing assembly or individual components thereof. An RFID tag reader may be incorporated within a mill stand or may include portable devices. In one embodiment, RFID tag interrogation occurs both at the mill stand and at a remote site at which bearing assembly occurs. A unique combination of bearing components can be assembled, identified and monitoring during successive rolling campaigns allowing the mill operator to make adjustments toward improving the quality of rolled product.
US07916027B2 Method and apparatus using radio-location tags to report status for a container handler
The invention includes apparatus and methods using a means for wirelessly communicating, preferably a radio location-tag unit, for reporting a sensed state of a container handler. The status reporting device may include: a micro-controller module, a means for wirelessly communicating, which may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location, and a means for sensing the state of the container handler.
US07916026B2 Real-time location system using tag interrogator and embedded or fixed tag transmitters
A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.
US07916025B2 Intelligent luggage tag
An improved system for tracking luggage and other such objects. The system features a transmitter tag for attachment to an object to be tracked and a receiver. When the tag comes within range of the receiver, the receiver provides notification to the user both visually and audibly. Audible notification can occur through the receiver's speaker, a wireless phone, a PDA, or an iPod or other portable music player. GPS capabilities allow the tag to store and transmit its exact coordinates to assist in locating the tag. Airport and airline security personnel can access the tag data with a dedicated interface device.
US07916018B2 Wireless door contact sensor with motion sensor disable
A system and method for securing a structure, such as a residence or other building, against intrusion, while reducing generation of false alarms when an occupant of the structure inadvertently trips a contact detector by opening an entry point (door, window, etc.) is provided. The contact detector is coupled with a motion detector that is directed to monitor motion within the structure at a location proximate to the entry point being monitored by the contact detector. Generally, when the contact detector detects that the entry point is being opened, a fault is issued to a control panel, which in turn generates an alarm. However, if motion is detected within the structure and proximate to the entry point prior to the contact detector registering an opening of the entry point, no fault is generated.
US07916014B2 Adaptive communication methods and systems for facilitating the gathering, distribution and delivery of information related to medical care
Automated methods and systems are disclosed for persistently facilitating the timely gathering, monitoring, distribution and delivery of information related to medical care where such may include: (1) finding a communications channel for effectively attempting a message delivery to a specific target person at a specified time; (2) adaptively finding a targeted recipient even if the latter is highly mobile and/or has travel patterns or communications-channel preferences that change over time; (3) verifying that a targeted recipient has actually received an attempted delivery within an applicable time limit; (4) automatically recognizing that an urgent message delivery-attempt was not timely completed and adaptively alerting responsible entities of the in completion; and (5) automatically recognizing that an urgent change or non change of condition has occurred by virtue of information gathered during an automated or manually-conducted Interview where physician expected positive progress prior to Interview and adaptively alerting responsible entities of the changed or unchanged condition based on the urgency of the change or non-change.
US07916013B2 RFID detection and identification system for implantable medical devices
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for use with active implantable medical devices (AIMD) implanted in a patient comprises an interrogator and an RFID tag comprising a substrate, an RFID chip, and an antenna. The RFID is typically enclosed in a biocompatible and hermetically sealed container comprising a ceramic housing, an end cap and an encapsulant. The RFID tag or sealed container may be affixed to an AIMD or surgically implanted in a patient adjacent to an AIMD. Alternatively, the sealed container may be injected into body tissue by a large needle syringe. The RFID tag may store information about an AIMD including manufacturer, model number and serial number. The RFID tag may also store information about a treating physician and/or patient including the treating physician's name and contact information, the patient's name, contact information, medical condition, treatment and other relevant information.
US07916012B2 Hybrid resonant structure to verify parameters of a tire
Control of running conditions, and particularly physical parameters of tires are recommended to increase automobile safety. A sensor according to the invention is used to determine various factors such as the temperature or pressure of tires. The sensor is a hybrid resonant passive structure that may be integrated in the vehicle ground connection, and particularly in the rubber of the tire when it is manufactured.
US07916007B2 Vehicular pedestrian collision detection sensor
A vehicular pedestrian collision detection sensor detects a collision with a pedestrian which allows high-accuracy recognition of a collision with a pedestrian. A large number of load detection cells are arranged in a lateral direction (width direction) of the front side of a vehicle. The total collision load is calculated with respect to a cell group composed of some of the load detection cells which are adjacent to each other, wherein the cell group has a width generally equal to a pedestrian width. Based on the total collision load, an amount correlated to the mass of a pedestrian is calculated. When the amount correlated to the pedestrian mass is within a preset range, a collision with a pedestrian is recognized or determined.
US07916006B2 Judgment line calculations for a vehicle safety system
A vehicle has a safety system including at least one object sensor to detect a distance from an object in a path of the vehicle and the speed and acceleration of the object. The sensor data is input into a control to determine a desired braking judgment line and a steering judgment line between the vehicle and the object. The safety system then compares the vehicle and object acceleration. Following, the safety system calculates a judgment line between the object and the vehicle based upon equations for the determined scenario. The judgment line is then used to determine a warning distance and warn a vehicle operator.
US07916004B2 Security system with passive locking bypass
A security system is disclosed having a base controller, a base transceiver, a remote control, and a passive locking prevention device. The passive locking prevention device includes a detection device preferably located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle for detecting the remote control. The detection device preferably has a detection range extending only to the inside of the vehicle. The passive locking prevention device is configured such that the vehicle will not passively lock when the passive locking prevention device detects the remote control. The passive locking prevention device can be connected to the base controller via a wired or wireless connection. The remote control can contain an emission device that emits a detectable signal by the detection device, and upon such detection, the vehicle is prevented from locking. The system can visibly or audibly alert a vehicle owner if the vehicle is not passively locked.
US07916001B2 Methods for interrogating objects to be identified over a communications medium
Systems and methods for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel are disclosed. The invention is well suited to use with radio frequency identification with interrogation devices and systems that identify radio frequency identification transponders. A depth-first tree traversal protocol algorithm, including commands and symbols, is used to more efficiently interrogate a plurality of transponders in a short amount of time.
US07915999B2 Method and system for simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals utilizing a DDFS clocked by an RFID PLL
Aspects of a method and system for simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals utilizing a DDFS clocked by an RFID PLL are provided. In this regard, a plurality of signals utilized to transmit or receive FM communication may be generated by clocking a plurality of DDFSs via a signal generated to enable RFID communication. The DDFSs may be controlled via one or more control words, which may be generated by a processor. In this regard, the control words may determine a frequency and/or phase of the signals output by the DDFSs. The control words may be adjusted to maintain a constant phase and/or frequency at the DDFS outputs in spite of changes to the signal clocking the DDFS. Accordingly, signals of two or more frequencies may be generated by the DDFSs to allow simultaneous transmission and reception of FM signals.
US07915996B2 Electronic component and method for producing the same
An electronic component and a method for producing the electronic component achieve efficient production of resistive elements with various resistances. The electronic component includes a pair of terminals opposite each other and a resistive element disposed between the pair of terminals. The resistive element includes a plurality of dots arranged so as to overlap each other in a reference arrangement pattern excluding a portion of the arrangement pattern. To produce the electronic component, an electronic component is prototyped in advance and includes a resistive element in which the dots are arranged in the entire reference arrangement pattern between the pair of terminals. The prototyped resistive element is then partially removed so as to attain a desired resistance. An electronic component is then produced in which the dots are arranged in the reference arrangement pattern with a portion of the arrangement pattern excluded on the basis of the shape of the partially removed resistive element.
US07915995B2 Compensation of field effect on polycrystalline resistors
A resistive circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal and polycrystalline first and second resistive segments coupled between the first and second terminals. A third terminal A is coupled to the first resistive segment, and a third terminal B is coupled to the second resistive segment. The third terminal A has a first voltage with respect to the first terminal, and the third terminal B has a second voltage with respect to the second terminal. With this arrangement, the non-linearity of resistance of the first resistive segment at least partially compensates for non-linearity of resistance of the second resistive segment.
US07915993B2 Inductor
An inductor includes a first core, a second core, a protruding structure, at least two gaps and a conducting wire. The first core has a protruding portion. The second core is disposed opposite to the first core. The protruding structure protrudes from the protruding portion of the first core and toward the second core. The at least two gaps are between the protruding portion of the first core and the second core. The conducting wire winds around at least one of the first and second cores. The conducting wire has a specific resistance value of 1.42 μΩm or lower.
US07915988B2 Field coil assembly of electromagnetic clutch for compressor
The present invention relates to a field coil assembly of an electromagnetic clutch for a compressor. The present invention comprises a core 210, and a coil 240 installed to the core 210 and formed by winding a unit wire 250. At this time, the unit wire 250 wound on the coil 240 is made of aluminum, and an area ratio R of an inner sectional area M of the core 210 to a cross-sectional area of the unit wire 250 is 400 to 640. According to the present invention as above, since the unit wire 250 used for the coil 240 is made of aluminum with a small specific weight and low price rather than copper, the weight of the field coil assembly 200 is decreased to improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle and decrease a production cost of the field coil assembly 200.
US07915987B2 Acoustic noise reduction in power supply inductors
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that reduces an audible noise produced in a power supply. The apparatus includes: (1) a housing; (2) an inductor coil formed from a coil of wire enclosed in the housing; (3) a set of wires that are coupled from the inductor coil to the outside of the housing through corresponding apertures in the housing, comprising electrical leads for the inductor coil; and (4) a predetermined amount of adhesive in the apertures that bonds the wires to the housing to reduce an audible noise produced when the current through the inductor coil is cycled quickly.
US07915985B2 Switching device for direct-current applications
A switching device for direct-current applications includes a housing having a first wall and a second wall, a plurality of receiving areas for respective mutually substantially parallel current paths disposed in the housing. Each of the current paths has a respective stationary switching contact element and a respective movable switching contact element, the movable switching element being actuatable into a closed position and into an open position so as to form a respective air break, the respective movable switching contact elements being actuatable simultaneously. The switching device includes a plurality of arc-quenching devices associated with the current paths and disposed next to each other, and at least one magnet. The at least one magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field so as to generate a deflection force on the arcs so as to deflect the respective arcs toward at least one of the respective arc-quenching devices.
US07915982B2 Device for detecting the three states of a circuit breaker
A device for detecting three states, namely ‘on’, ‘off’ and ‘triggered’ of an electric circuit breaker. The device includes a mobile magnetic device, movable between three positions corresponding to the three states of the circuit breaker, and at least one permanent magnet generating a magnetic field provided with magnetic field lines for driving two DIP switches via the magnetic effect. In each of the magnetic device's positions, the two DIP switches are controlled in either an open or closed position to form a specific combination representing one of the three states of the circuit breaker.
US07915978B2 Compact tunable dual band stop filter
Various exemplary embodiments include a technique for tuning a filter to have two stop bands. This technique may involve combination of signals from a plurality of high-band notch resonators and low-band notch resonators. Loop wires may couple both high-band and low-band notch resonators to a central conductor, thereby enabling the central conductor to transmit a signal having dual stop bands.
US07915976B2 Surface acoustic wave resonator and ladder-type filter
A surface acoustic wave resonator is constructed such that cross widths of an IDT electrode are weighted so that the cross widths are reduced as they move outward in the surface acoustic wave propagation direction, an inner edge of a first bus bar includes inclined portions that are inclined so that the inner edge is spaced a predetermined distance away from an envelope portion adjacent to the first bus bar, an inner edge of a second bus bar includes inclined portions that are inclined so that the inner edge is spaced a predetermined distance away from an envelope portion adjacent to the second bus bar, and the sum N of the numbers of electrode fingers and dummy electrodes that are crossed by a straight line extending from the tip of at least one of the electrode fingers in the surface acoustic wave propagation direction is at least N.
US07915974B2 Contour-mode piezoelectric micromechanical resonators
A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer.
US07915973B2 Tunable multiwalled nanotube resonator
A tunable nanoscale resonator has potential applications in precise mass, force, position, and frequency measurement. One embodiment of this device consists of a specially prepared multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) suspended between a metal electrode and a mobile, piezoelectrically controlled contact. By harnessing a unique telescoping ability of MWNTs, one may controllably slide an inner nanotube core from its outer nanotube casing, effectively changing its length and thereby changing the tuning of its resonance frequency. Resonant energy transfer may be used with a nanoresonator to detect molecules at a specific target oscillation frequency, without the use of a chemical label, to provide label-free chemical species detection.
US07915970B1 Bi-phase modulator apparatus and method
A bi-phase modulator including a driver and a mixer. The driver includes a prescaler having an input for receiving a signal and an output for outputting a baseband signal. The mixer includes a mixer having an input coupled to the output of the prescaler for receiving the baseband signal output by the prescaler. The baseband signal output by the prescaler drives the mixer so as to output a modulated waveform from an output of the mixer.
US07915967B2 Frequency-tunable oscillator arrangement
A frequency-tunable arrangement comprises a resonance circuit having a capacitive part that is tunable throughout a capacitance range. A plurality of amplifiers is coupled to the resonance circuit so as to form an oscillation loop. At least one of the amplifiers is a switchable amplifier that is switchable between an active state and an idle state. The switchable amplifier causes a capacitance variation in parallel to the capacitive part of the resonance circuit when switched between the active and the idle state. The switchable amplifier is arranged so that the capacitance variation substantially corresponds to the capacitance range throughout which the capacitive part can be tuned.
US07915966B2 Oscillator for controlling voltage
The present invention relates to a resonance type voltage control oscillator. The voltage control oscillator includes an inductor unit including two inductances serially coupled to each other, a variable capacitance unit coupled to the inductor unit in parallel, a negative resistance unit coupled to the inductor unit in parallel, a first variable resistor having a resistance value corresponding to an input first control signal, a second variable resistor having a resistance value corresponding to an input second control signal, and a variable resistor control circuit unit generating the first and second control signals and controlling respective resistance values of the first and second variable resistors. The variable resistor control circuit unit controls the respective resistance values of the first and second variable resistors to set current flowing in the inductor unit, the variable capacitance unit and the negative resistance unit to a desired current value.
US07915960B2 Multi-primary distributed active transformer amplifier power supply and control
An integrated power combiner is disclosed. The power combiner includes a first circular geometry primary winding having one or more inductive elements, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A circular geometry secondary winding is disposed adjacent to the first primary winding, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A second circular geometry primary winding is disposed adjacent to the secondary winding and has one or more inductive elements. One or more connections are provided between one or more of the inductive elements of the first circular geometry primary winding and one or more of the inductive elements of the second circular geometry primary winding.
US07915958B2 Amplifier
An amplifier comprises an input terminal that inputs an AC voltage signal; an amplifying unit having a transistor for amplifying the input AC voltage signal; a current detecting unit connected internally of said amplifying unit; and a control-current source controlled by said current detecting unit that drives an input stage of the transistor.
US07915953B2 Amplifier circuit and method therefor
In one embodiment, an amplifier circuit is formed to minimize pop and click noise on the outputs of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit is configured to place an output stage of the amplifier circuit in a high impedance state to minimize the pop and click noise. In another embodiment, the amplifier circuit is configured to couple the inputs of two amplifiers together to minimize the pop and click noise.
US07915952B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a switching circuit controls the capacity of a capacitor unit based on a control signal from a control circuit and separates a resonant frequency determined by first inductance, second inductance, and the capacity of the capacitor unit from the band area of the signal handled by an A/D converter.
US07915950B2 Method and algorithm of high precision on-chip global biasing using integrated resistor calibration circuits
Systems and methods for providing bias currents to multiple analog circuits are disclosed. An integrated circuit comprises a calibration circuit which compares a high tolerance external component to a plurality of internal components manufactured to span the variability of the process, voltage and temperature. The best fitting internal component is communicated to bias circuits which can select an internal component from a local plurality of internal components with matching desired characteristics. In this manner, analog circuits can be locally biased with the tolerance usually associated with a high tolerance external reference component, without the necessity for a local external reference component.
US07915949B2 Implementing eFuse resistance determination before initiating eFuse blow
A method and an eFuse programming circuit for implementing resistance determination of an eFuse before initiating eFuse blow, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. An eFuse on a chip is used to set current flow through a known resistor and measure the eFuse resistance. An applied voltage to program selected eFuses on the chip is selected responsive to an identified eFuse voltage value.
US07915944B2 Gate drive circuitry for non-isolated gate semiconductor devices
One embodiment is a gate drive circuitry for switching a semiconductor device having a non-isolated input, the gate drive circuitry having a first circuitry configured to turn-on the semiconductor device by imposing a current on a gate of the semiconductor device so as to forward bias an inherent parasitic diode of the semiconductor device. There is a second circuitry configured to turn-off the semiconductor device by imposing a current on the gate of the semiconductor device so as to reverse bias the parasitic diode of the semiconductor device wherein the first circuitry and the second circuitry are coupled to the semiconductor device respectively through a first switch and a second switch.
US07915943B2 Mixer circuit
Regarding N-channel first transistor and a P-channel second transistor, their first terminals are connected to each other and their second terminals are connected to each other. Regarding third transistor and a fourth transistor, their first terminals are also connected to each other and their second terminals are also connected to each other. For the first transistor through the fourth transistor, a first capacitor through a fourth capacitor used for coupling are provided. A first impedance element through a fourth impedance element are provided in a path where a bias voltage is applied to the first transistor through the fourth transistor. A fifth capacitor is provided between the first terminals of the first-fourth transistors and a first input terminal. A fifth impedance element and a sixth impedance element are provided as differential pair loads.
US07915942B2 Apparatus and method for calibrating a variable phase shifter
A reference signal is split and input to first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20. The first and second variable phase shifters output to first and second inputs 31, 32 respectively of a phase comparator 30. Initially, the first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20 are preferably set to the same phase. The first and second phase shifters are then aligned, e.g. by adjusting the calibration of one or both of the phase shifters so that the phase comparator 30 indicates that they output the same phase. The phase of the first phase shifter 10 is then adjusted by one step and a phase delay section 60 is placed between the output of the second phase shifter 20 and the second input 32 of the phase comparator 30. The first and second phase shifters 10, 20 are then aligned again.
US07915941B1 Phase interpolator circuits and methods
A phase interpolator circuit includes first and second low pass filter circuits and a multiplier circuit. The first low pass filter circuit increases a common mode voltage of a clock signal to generate a first varying signal. The second low pass filter circuit increases a common mode voltage of a clock signal to generate a second varying signal. The first low pass filter circuit can include a first variable capacitance, and the second low pass filter circuit can include a second variable capacitance. The multiplier circuit has a first input coupled to the first low pass filter circuit and a second input coupled to the second low pass filter circuit. The multiplier circuit generates a third varying signal in response to the first and the second varying signals. The phase interpolator circuit generates a phase shift in the third varying signal.
US07915937B2 Circuitry and methods for improving differential signals that cross power domains
Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for improving differential signals that cross power domains. In an example embodiment, the power supply domain boundary along the output paths that generate the differential signal is staggered, such that the boundary occurs at an odd numbered stage in one differential output path and at an even numbered stage in the other differential output. Defining the power supply domain boundary in this manner can help ensure that the same logical state is present at the boundary in either of the differential output paths. This same logic signal should affect subsequent stages similarly from a speed perspective, and so should similarly affect the differential signals generated by each of the output paths. This means, among other things, that the differential signal as generated should tend to cross nearer to a midpoint voltage, which increases its compliance with certain integrated circuit specifications such as the Vox specification used for the differential data strobe in an SDRAM.
US07915934B2 Delay locked loop circuit and operational method thereof
A delay locked loop circuit includes a clock buffering block to generate first and second internal clocks corresponding to first and second edges of a source clock in response to a clock buffering control signal, respectively, wherein generation of the second internal clock is controlled by a duty correcting operation terminating signal and a delay locking signal, a delay locking block to compare phases of the first and second internal clocks with those of first and second feedback clocks, respectively, to enable the delay locking signal according to a delay locking and delay the first and second internal clocks as many as times corresponding to the comparison results, respectively, thereby outputting first and second delay locking clocks, a duty correcting block to mix phases of the first and second delay locking clocks, and a first signal generating block to generate the duty correcting operation terminating signal.
US07915932B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises: a first signal delay circuit including a first precharge element configured to precharge a first node with a leakage current and a first signal output circuit configured to output a first signal; a second signal delay circuit including a second precharge element configured to precharge a second node with a leakage current and a second signal output circuit configured to output a second signal. The first signal delay circuit is configured to discharge the first node via a first discharge element, while the second signal delay circuit precharges the second node via the second precharge element and outputs the second signal. The second signal delay circuit is configured to discharge the second node via a second discharge element, while the first signal delay circuit precharges the first node via the first precharge element and outputs the first signal.
US07915926B2 Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device including the same
A semiconductor chip includes a plurality of pads, input circuits or output circuits that are electrically connected to the pads, a main control unit that outputs a read access signal, the read access signal controlling reading of signals from an external circuit or an internal circuit, and activation control units that control activation of the input circuits or the output circuits that are electrically connected to the pads based on the read access signal, the pads receiving the signals from the external circuit or the internal circuit.
US07915923B1 Serial link driver interface for a communication system
Method and apparatus for a communication system (100) using a driver block (200) are described. The driver block includes memory having programmable non-volatile memory cells for storing configuration settings associated with operation of the driver block (200). The driver block (200) is programmable for a selected interface protocol for operation in an adaptive equalization mode to obtain an adaptive equalization value. The adaptive equalization value is stored as a fixed equalization value for operating the driver block in a fixed equalization mode. The driver block may be used as a serial link driver interface.
US07915922B2 Buffer-driving circuit capable of increasing responding speed and prolonging lifespan, buffer, and method thereof
A method for increasing responding speed and lifespan of a buffer includes detecting an edge of an input signal of the buffer, triggering a pulse signal with a predetermined period according to the detected edge, and driving the buffer for generating an output signal according to the pulse signal and the input signal.
US07915921B1 Circuits and methods for level shifting a signal
In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a level shift circuit. The level shift circuit includes a clocked latch to receive a digital data signal and a complement of the digital data signal. Outputs of the clocked latch are coupled to inputs of a second latch through capacitors. The clocked latch is powered by first and second power supply voltages that are different than third and fourth power supply voltages used for powering the second latch. Latch output signals from the second latch have high and low voltage values at the third and fourth power supply voltages. In one embodiment, transistors in circuitry driven by the level shift circuit may receive output signals from the level shift circuit that have high and low voltage values within a safe operating range of the transistor receiving the output signal.
US07915920B2 Low latency, power-down safe level shifter
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a circuit supplied by a first supply voltage during use, the circuit having at least a first input signal; and a level shifter supplied by the first supply voltage during use and coupled to provide the first input signal to the circuit. The level shifter is coupled to receive a second input signal sourced from circuitry supplied by a second supply voltage during use, and is configured to generate the first input signal by level shifting the second input signal. Coupled to receive a power control signal indicating, when asserted, that the second supply voltage is to be powered down, the level shifter is configured to assert a predetermined level on the first input signal independent of the second input signal and responsive to an assertion of the power control signal.
US07915918B2 Method and apparatus for universal program controlled bus architecture
An integrated circuit including a programmable logic array with a plurality of logic cells and programmable interconnections to receive input signals and to perform logical functions to transmit output signals. The integrated circuit may also include megacells comprising a plurality of functional blocks receiving inputs and transmitting outputs. The integrated circuit may also include a programmable interconnections subsystem to cascade the megacells. The megacells are coupled to the programmable logic array.
US07915916B2 Antifuse programming circuit with snapback select transistor
An antifuse circuit includes a terminal, an antifuse, and a select transistor. The antifuse is coupled to the terminal and has an associated program voltage. The select transistor is coupled to the antifuse and has a gate terminal coupled to receive a first select signal. The select transistor operates in a snapback mode of operation in response to an assertion of the first select signal and the program voltage at the terminal.
US07915914B1 2×VDD-tolerant logic circuits and a related 2×VDD-tolerant I/O buffer with PVT compensation
A 2×VDD-tolerant input/output (I/O) buffer circuit with process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) compensation suitable for CMOS technology is disclosed. A 2×VDD-tolerant I/O buffer with a PVT compensation circuit is implemented with novel 2×VDD-tolerant logic gates. Output slew rate variations can be kept within smaller ranges to match maximum and minimum timing specifications. A 2×VDD tolerant logic circuit for implementing the I/O buffer is also disclosed.
US07915910B2 Dynamic voltage and frequency management
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a self calibration unit configured to iterate a test on a logic circuit in the integrated circuit at respectively lower supply voltage magnitudes until the test fails. A lowest supply voltage magnitude at which the test passes is used to generate a requested supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a series connection of logic gates physically distributed over an area of the integrated circuit, and a measurement unit configured to launch a logical transition into the series and detect a corresponding transition at the output of the series. The amount of time between the launch and the detection is used to request a supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit.
US07915908B2 Crosstalk suppression in wireless testing of semiconductor devices
An integrated circuit integrated on a semiconductor material die and adapted to be at least partly tested wirelessly, wherein circuitry for setting a selected radio communication frequencies to be used for the wireless test of the integrated circuit are integrated on the semiconductor material die.
US07915904B2 System resistance simulating apparatus
A system resistance simulating apparatus includes a case and a resistance adjusting element arranged in the case. The resistance adjusting element includes a number of blocking strips. The blocking strips can be selectively poisoned in the case for simulating system resistance of an electronic device at different power platforms.
US07915901B2 Low-profile electrical resistance corrosion sensor
A thin and narrow electrical resistance corrosion sensor defines measurement, reference and check resistors as abutting serially disposed portions of a thin strip-like metal resistance element, such as a carbon steel or ductile iron element, having metallurgical properties which match those of a corrodible structure of interest such as a pipeline buried in the ground. The resistance element is bonded to a thin, long and narrow nonconductive structural substrate to which is also bonded a flat wire harness which includes conductors connected to the ends of the resistance element and to selected locations of the element between its ends. The resistance element, the substrate, and the wire harness and its connections to the resistance element are encapsulated by a nonconductive protective coating except over the area of the measurement resistor so that such resistor can be exposed to the adjacent environment. The sensor can be used with conventional corrosion measurement instruments. Arrangements for use of plural sensors to measure corrosion due to direct current in a structure of interest, and to measure corrosion due to alternating currents in that structure, also are described.
US07915900B2 Measuring system
A measuring system measuring an impedance of an object to be measured, including an impedance measuring instrument; a casing formed of a grounded conductor and capable of locating the object to be measured therein; and a radially-shaped electrode connected to the impedance measuring instrument and capable of being connected to the object to be measured.
US07915899B2 Electrical safety devices and systems for use with electrical wiring, and methods for using same
Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay.
US07915894B2 Service tee marker fixture with concentric attachment sleeve
A service tee marker fixture comprises a disk marker and a cylindrical attachment sleeve fastened concentrically to the disk marker and constructed of a flexible material which provides a releasable friction fit with a service tee cap. For certain sleeve materials a stiffener plate is used to secure an end portion of sleeve adjacent to the disk marker. Detents are formed inside the attachment sleeve to grip matching ribs on the cap. An integrally formed inwardly-extending annular flange at an open end of the sleeve helps retain the sleeve on the cap. When installed the wire coil is horizontal and the marker shields the tee, and is further centered over a centerline of the main pipe. A novel method is also disclosed for using the service tee marker fixtures to survey and locate service line end points.
US07915890B2 High sensitivity magnetic sensor
A sensor device comprising a base substrate and first and second flux concentrator fixedly attached to the base substrate. The first flux concentrator and the second flux concentrator are positioned with their proximal end regions facing and spaced apart, defining a gap therebetween. A magnetic sensor element is positioned in the gap, the sensor element moveable towards and away from the base substrate. The sensor device has a first system to offset stray magnetic fields, a second system to modulate the sensor element to detect KHz frequency, and a third system to dither noise from the first and second flux concentrators.
US07915888B2 Systems and methods for detecting angular position
Methods and systems for detecting an angular position of an electric motor are disclosed, including sending an electrical pulse through a stator coil of the electric motor, determining an approximate angular position of a rotor of the electric motor in response to detecting an timing of a returning electrical pulse from the stator coil, the timing of the returning electrical pulse being indicative of the angular position of the rotor; and determining an accurate position of the rotor in response to sensing a transition of a digital sensor in response to the rotor rotating relative to the stator, the transition being indicative of the accurate position.
US07915887B2 Device for generating a magnetic field in a goal area for taking a goal decision
A device for generating a magnetic field in a goal area with at least two coils arranged in parallel to a goal area defined and bounded by a goal, wherein a first coil is attached in an area behind the goal and a second coil is attached closer to the goal than the first coil or identical to the goal, wherein the first coil and the second coil respectively have a coil impedance, wherein the coil impedance of the second coil is set so that a magnetic field of the second coil generated due to a magnetic field of the first coil reduces the magnetic field of the first coil at a location within the second coil by at least 20%.
US07915884B2 Importation of virtual signals into electronic test equipment to facilitate testing of an electronic component
Electronic component validation testing is facilitated by a method, system and program product which allows the importation of virtual signals derived from simulation verification testing of the electronic component design into electronic test equipment employed during validation testing of the actual electronic component. The method includes: storing simulation data resulting from simulation testing of an electronic component's design; employing electronic test equipment to perform real-time testing of the actual electronic component and obtain real-time test signals therefor; automatically correlating the stored simulation data with the actual real-time test signals; and performing at least one of overlaying and/or displaying the correlated simulation data as virtual signals with the real-time test signals; and employing a trigger event automatically ascertained from the stored simulation data and triggering the electronic test equipment based thereon, thereby automatically controlling real-time testing of the electronic component via the stored simulation data.
US07915877B2 Power supply circuit
A power supply circuit (1), particularly for a microcontroller of a transmission control unit, comprises a first output (3) supplying a first output voltage (UOUT1) and a second output (4) supplying a second output voltage (UOUT2), the first output voltage (UOUT1) being different from the second output voltage (UOUT2). The power supply circuit (1) also comprises a unit (OP1, T2, OP2, T3) adjusting the first (UOUT1) and second output voltage (UOUT2) and a controller (OP3-OP5, T2, T3) limiting the voltage difference between the first (UOUT1) and second output voltage (UOUT2).
US07915876B2 Power converter with snubber
A buck or boost converter, which includes a first inductor, a controlled switch, a main diode, and an output capacitor, also includes a snubber circuit to reduce losses. The snubber circuit includes a second inductor in a path in series with the switch and main diode of the converter, a series-connected resistor and diode connected directly in parallel with the second inductor, and a capacitance in parallel with the main diode and which can be constituted partly or entirely by parasitic capacitance of the main diode.
US07915873B2 Mode control circuit for switching regulators and method therefor
A mode control method and apparatus for a switching regulator is disclosed. The method receives an input signal and amplifying the input signal to get an amplified signal. The amplified signal is sent to a sample circuit to get a sample signal. The sample signal is delivered to an averaging circuit to get an averaged sensed output signal. The averaged sensed output signal is compared with a first pre-determined threshold or an second pre-determined threshold to get a PWM enable signal. The appropriate mode is determined based on the PWM enable signal.
US07915868B1 Method of synchronizing a turbomachine generator to an electric grid
An embodiment of the present invention may seek to match the generator and grid voltages before the powerplant machine reaches the grid matching speed during the start-up process. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a predictive algorithm, or the like, to control the acceleration rate of the powerplant machine to target a particular phase angle differential between the powerplant machine and the grid when the powerplant machine reaches the grid matching speed. Here, the phase angle difference may be targeted such that a generator breaker may be closed immediately after the powerplant machine accelerates beyond the grid matching speed. This may avoid the generator experiencing a phase angle differential, which may add to the power transient associated with the generator breaker closure.
US07915863B2 Charge protection circuit with timing function
A charge protection circuit with a timing function is disclosed. The circuit includes a charge protection module constituting of a second switch, a second capacitor and a control integrated circuit (IC). The second switch Q2 is switched to turn on or turn off to charge or discharge the lithium-ion battery. The second capacitor configured for setting a delay time of a Ct terminal of the control IC, thus to prevent the battery from being overcharged. The circuit further includes a charge timing circuit configured for predetermining a time threshold value. When the charge time reaches the time threshold value, the charge timing circuit outputs a second high level signal to charge the second capacitor. The second capacitor triggers the control IC to turn off the second switch, thereby terminating the charge of the battery body.
US07915861B2 Battery replaceable pack and electronic device with battery replaceable pack
A battery replaceable pack for a portable electronic device is provided. The battery replaceable pack includes a containing casing, at least one battery, a protecting circuit board, and a connector. The protecting circuit board has a charging circuit and a detecting circuit electrically connected with each other. When the portable electronic device is connected to an external power supply, the charging circuit performs a testing charge on the battery and the detecting circuit detects the status of the battery. The detecting circuit detects whether the battery is rechargeable so as to assure the battery safety. An electronic device with the battery replaceable pack is also disclosed.
US07915859B2 Apparatus and method for controlling power
An apparatus for controlling a power source, and which includes a power source unit including a plurality of power cells connected in parallel, a balancing unit coupled to the plurality of power cells of the power source unit, and a controller configured to control the balancing unit to balance operational characteristics of the plurality of power cells.
US07915856B2 Battery testing and/or charging system with integrated receptacle and pass-through power for booster pack and method of using same
A battery testing/charging system includes an execution unit, such as a battery tester/charger, a receptacle configured to receive an external booster pack, and an outlet configured to power the booster pack when the booster pack is connected to the outlet. The receptacle removably receives the booster pack, such that the booster pack can be removed and separately carried when the execution unit is not required. The receptacle may be integrated with the execution unit. Alternatively, the execution unit may be mounted on a cart, and the receptacle integrated with the cart. The cart may also include an accessory storage tray and an output device bracket. The execution unit may receive partial or total power from the booster pack.
US07915854B2 Maximizing energy storage life in a fuel cell system using active temperature compensation
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, energy storage and a control subsystem. The energy storage supplements a power that is provided by the fuel cell stack. The energy storage is coupled to the fuel cell stack and has a voltage. The control system regulates a peak of the voltage based on a temperature of the energy storage.
US07915853B2 Motor driving apparatus
A system for driving a motor includes first and second rectifier circuits, a direct current (DC) link circuit, an inverter circuit, a voltage booster circuit, and a switch control circuit. When the motor is at a deceleration state, a micro control unit (MCU) outputs a first charging signal to turn on a switch of a first relay and turn off a switch of a second relay, a regenerative current from the motor is charged into a storage capacitor. Before the motor is in an acceleration state, the MCU outputs a second charging signal to turn on the switch of the second relay and turn off the switch of the first relay, and turn on a boosting switch, an increased voltage of the storage capacitor is charged into another storage capacitor. When a voltage at the DC link circuit reaches a predetermined value, the MCU controls the inverter circuit to accelerate the motor.
US07915852B2 Universal adaptive torque control for PM motors for field-weakening region operation
The invention includes a motor controller and method for controlling a permanent magnet motor. In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a permanent magnet motor is controlled by, among other things, receiving a torque command, determining a normalized torque command by normalizing the torque command to a characteristic current of the motor, determining a normalized maximum available voltage, determining an inductance ratio of the motor, and determining a direct-axis current based upon the normalized torque command, the normalized maximum available voltage, and the inductance ratio of the motor.
US07915846B2 Current inducing circuit
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a charging probe may include an alternating current (AC) input configured to receive current from an AC source, a rectifier circuit configured to rectify the current received from the AC source, a primary coil, and a control circuit configured to convert the rectified current into a regulated voltage across a primary coil. The primary coil may be configured to induce a magnetic field from the regulated voltage.
US07915843B2 Motor drive device, method, and cooling device using the same
In the motor drive apparatus, a Hall element outputs a first sinusoidal signal and a second sinusoidal signal, of mutually opposite phases, in accordance with rotor position. A hysteresis comparator compares the first sinusoidal signal and the second sinusoidal signal outputted from the Hall element, and outputs a rectangular wave signal. A pulse width modulation signal generation circuit detects timing at which phase switches, based on the first sinusoidal signal and the second sinusoidal signal outputted from the Hall element, and outputs a pulse width modulation signal in which duty ratio gradually changes, in a predetermined time-period in which the phase switches. A drive circuit combines the rectangular wave signal and the pulse width modulation signal by a logical operation, and drives the fan motor.
US07915838B2 Delta-sigma signal density modulation for optical transducer control
A controller for optical transducers uses delta-sigma signal density modulation to reduce electromagnetic interference.
US07915836B2 Light-emitting diode driving circuit
A light-emitting diode driving circuit includes an AC/DC converting circuit for converting an AC power source into a DC power source; a switching element having an input contact connected to the AC/DC converting circuit; a control unit for outputting a control signal to the switching element at a set frequency to turn on or turn off the switching element, wherein a first resistor is disposed between a power contact thereof and the input contact of the switching element; a second resistor for enabling the control unit to detect a half-cycle voltage of the DC power source; a capacitor having a first end connected to the power contact, and a second end connected to a ground contact of the control unit; and an inductor having a first end connected to the ground contact and the second end of the capacitor, and a second end connected to a light-emitting diode.
US07915830B2 Semiconductor device
A light emitting device capable of performing signal electric current write-in operations at high speed and without dispersion in the characteristics of TFTs structuring pixels influencing the brightness of light emitting elements is provided. The gate length L of a transistor in which an electric current flows during write-in of a signal electric current is made shorter than the gate length L of a transistor in which electric current supplied to EL elements flows during light emission, and high speed write-in is thus performed by having a larger electric current flow than the electric current flowing in conventional EL elements. A converter and driver transistor (108) is used for signal write-in. By using the converter and driver transistor (108) and a driver transistor (107) when supplying electric current to a light emitting element during light emission, dispersion in the transistor characteristics can be made to have less influence on brightness than when using a structure in which write-in operations and light emission operations are performed using different transistors.
US07915827B2 Magnetron control method, magnetron service life judgment method, microwave generation device, magnetron service life judgment device, processing device, computer program, and storage medium
A microwave generation device includes: a magnetron having a cathode containing a filament and an anode containing a hollow resonator arranged to oppose to each other; a filament current measuring unit; and an application voltage measuring unit for measuring voltage applied to the filament. Based on the current and the voltage obtained by the current measuring unit and the voltage measuring unit, a resistance value calculation unit obtains a resistance value of the filament. A temperature calculation unit calculates the filament temperature from the resistance value and the resistance-temperature dependent characteristic. A filament power source is controlled by a power control unit so that the filament temperature is within a predetermined temperature range.
US07915824B2 Organic EL display device and method for manufacturing the same
An organic EL display device includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the substrate, a plurality of partition walls for sectioning the first electrodes and for locating the first electrodes in different pixels, a hole transport layer including an inorganic layer, the hole transport layer formed on the first electrode, an organic light emitting layer formed on the hole transport layer, and a second electrode covering an entire surface of the hole transport layer with the organic light emitting layer.
US07915823B2 Organic electroluminescent device with surface-modifying layer, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus including the same
An organic electroluminescent device includes an element substrate including a plurality of light-emitting elements, each including a pair of electrodes with an organic luminescent layer therebetween, and a coating layer covering the light-emitting elements. A sealing substrate is opposed to the element substrate. The sealing substrate includes a plurality of color layers and a light-shielding layer separating the color layers from each other. An outer region sealing layer bonds the outer region of the sealing substrate to the outer region of the element substrate. A filling layer is surrounded by the outer region sealing layer, and bonds the sealing substrate and the element substrate together in the region in which the light-emitting elements and the color layers are arranged. The color layers and the light-shielding layer of the sealing substrate are covered with a surface-modifying layer made of a material having a higher surface energy to the material of the filling layer than the surface energy to the surfaces of the color layers and light-shielding layer.
US07915822B2 Display device and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same
A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a blocking member. The first substrate has a light emitting element. The second substrate faces the first substrate. The blocking member is arranged between the first and second substrates. The blocking member includes a first blocking layer and a second blocking layer.
US07915818B2 Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof and light emitting display and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a light emitting device comprising a substrate comprising a thin film transistor, a first electrode formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, a light emitting part formed on the first electrode;a second electrode formed on the light emitting part, and an auxiliary common electrode formed on a partial area of the second electrode, the partial area including a part of a non-emitting area.
US07915816B2 Organic electroluminescence display device comprising auxiliary wiring
An organic electroluminescence display device is provided. The organic electroluminescence display device includes plural organic electroluminescence elements. Each organic electroluminescence element includes: (A) a lower electrode; (B) an insulating layer having an opening, in which a lower electrode is exposed at the bottom of the opening; (C) an auxiliary wiring; (D) a stacked structure provided from a portion over the lower electrode exposed at the bottom of the opening to a portion of the insulating layer surrounding the opening, including a light emitting layer made of an organic light-emitting material; and (E) an upper electrode. At least one layer of the stacked structure partially contacts the auxiliary wiring. The insulating layer and the auxiliary wiring are provided in common to the plurality of organic EL elements. The upper electrode covers the whole surface of the stacked structures and the auxiliary wiring.
US07915815B2 Transparent light-emitting component
The invention relates to a transparent light-emitting component, in particular organic light-emitting diode, having a transparent layer arrangement in which are formed, on a substrate in a stack, planar electrodes and an organic region arranged between the planar electrodes, which organic region comprises a light-emitting layer, made from one or a plurality of organic materials. For at least one direction of incidence, a transmittance of the transparent layer arrangement for at least one wavelength subrange in the visible spectral range is greater than 50%. One of the planar electrodes has a metal layer having a thickness of less than 40 nm, and another of the planar electrodes, which is arranged opposite to the electrode in the layer arrangement, has an oxide layer made from an electrically conductive oxide material having a thickness of at least 10 nm, an intensity ratio of at least 2:1 being formed for a light emission emerging on one side of the transparent layer arrangement and a light emission emerging on an opposite side of the transparent layer arrangement.
US07915813B2 Organic EL display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic EL display device includes a first light emission layer which includes a first dopant material having a first absorbance peak in absorbance spectrum characteristics and a first host material having a first absorbance bottom on a shorter wavelength side than the first absorbance peak, the first light emission layer extending over the first to third organic EL elements and being disposed above pixel electrodes of the first to third organic EL elements, and a second light emission layer which includes a second dopant material having a second absorbance peak in absorbance spectrum characteristics and a second host material having a second absorbance bottom on a shorter wavelength side than the first absorbance peak and than the second absorbance peak, the second light emission layer extending over the first to third organic EL elements and being disposed above the first light emission layer.
US07915811B2 Organic electrolumescent display
An organic electro luminescent display with auxiliary layers on a cathode contact and an encapsulating junction region to easily remove polymer organic layers of the junction. The organic electro luminescent display has the first electrode formed on a lower insulating substrate, a pixel defining layer formed to make some portions of the first electrode opened over the entire surface of the lower insulating substrate, an organic emission layer formed on an opening of the first electrode, the second electrode formed on the organic emission layer, an upper substrate for encapsulating the first electrode, the organic emission layer and the second electrode, and auxiliary layers formed on the cathode contact and the encapsulating junction region of the lower insulating substrate.
US07915806B2 Electronic device including an organic device layer
An electronic device can include an organic device layer having a first and a second portion. In one embodiment, the first portion can have a higher resistivity than the second portion and lie between a first and a second electrode and include not more than 15 mole percent basic material. In a particular embodiment, the first and the second electrode can be an anode and cathode of a pixel. In another particular embodiment, the first and the second electrode can be either both anodes or both cathodes of different pixels. In another embodiment, the organic device layer can include a large molecule material. In still another embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include selectively modifying the first portion of the organic device layer.
US07915804B2 Organic electro-luminescent display and method for forming the same
An organic electro-luminescence display comprises a substrate having a first and second surface, a plurality of micro-lens formed on the first surface, and a plurality of pixels with sub-pixels formed on the second surface. Particularly, the distance between the sub-pixels within any two adjacent pixels is substantially greater than that between the sub-pixels within the same pixel.
US07915802B2 Surface light emitting device and polarization light source
A surface light emitting device includes a polarized light source that emits polarized light; and a light guide plate including a light incident surface on which the polarized light emitted from the polarized light source is made incident, and a light emitting surface that emits light, the light guide plate being made of light transmissive resin having low birefringence in which retardation is one-fourth or less of a wavelength of the polarized light.
US07915800B2 Field emission cathode capable of amplifying electron beam and methods of controlling electron beam density
Field emission devices (FEDs) are provided. In one embodiment, an FED includes an electron emitter, a tube spaced apart from the electron emitter and having a first opening and a second opening, and a gate electrode disposed on an outer surface of the tube. The first opening is disposed at one end of the tube adjacent to the electron emitter, and the second opening is disposed at the other end of the tube. The FED further includes an anode that is spaced apart from the second opening and collects secondary electrons emitted from the second opening.
US07915792B2 Elastomer actuator
An actuator includes a spirally rolled cylindrical sheet body. The sheet body is formed by attaching an electrode on each side of a dielectric elastomer layer. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the sheet body is contracted along the direction of its thickness, and expanded in directions perpendicular to its thickness. The actuator is actuated by applying a voltage to the electrodes and stopping the voltage application, so that the cylindrical sheet body is extended and contracted along the direction of the axis. The material forming the dielectric elastomer layer has a low strain region, where the value of a strain based on a stress acting on the dielectric elastomer layer varies from zero to a value that is greater than and close to zero, and a high strain region, where the value of the strain is greater than that in the low strain region. The Young's modulus in the low strain region is less than the Young's modulus in the high strain region.
US07915789B2 Electroactive polymer actuated lighting
Devices employing electroactive polymer actuators are disclosed. Acrylic dielectric material based actuators are optionally provided in which architectures are presented that allow for improved power output as compared with other known acrylic dielectric material based transducers. Such technology may be applied in motor-driven applications, lightweight flight applications and lighting applications among others.
US07915788B2 Piezoelectric vibrator, manufacturing method thereof and linear actuator having the same
The piezoelectric vibrator includes the piezoelectric bar having a plurality of piezoelectric plates alternately stacked and a plurality of vibration sectors divided vertically and horizontally with respect to the direction in which the piezoelectric plates are stacked. Electrode terminals are formed on each of surface regions of the piezoelectric plate, divided in a longitudinal direction thereof, and jump terminals corresponding to electrode terminals are formed on a surface of an adjacent one of the piezoelectric plates. On side surfaces of the piezoelectric plates, a plurality of side electrodes are formed, connecting the electrode terminals and the corresponding jump terminals to power the vibration sectors, by which a pair of the vibration sectors diagonally disposed from each other are simultaneously powered. The piezoelectric vibrator is small and easily manufactured and mass-produced with a simple structure.
US07915787B2 Actuator
A cylindrical piezoelectric element is arranged to share an axis with a cylindrical vibrator having different diameters at central and end portions to fix the vibrator forming a gap at the central portion. Vibration voltages are applied across first electrodes on the piezoelectric element and the vibrator, namely, a second electrode, to vibrate the vibrator and bring a wave front of a traveling wave into contact with a tubular member, i.e., a supporting member fitted to the vibrator. Friction at a contact portion of the vibrator moves a mover including the vibrator and the piezoelectric element in an axial direction of the tubular member. By amplifying the vibration amplitude using the vibrator provided separately from the piezoelectric element, a small actuator capable of performing high-speed driving is realized.
US07915782B2 Electrical machine and method of retrofitting an electrical machine
There is described an electrical machine with a rotor shaft, a slip ring, arranged on the rotor shaft, and at least two sliding contacts arranged along the circumference of the slip ring for producing an electrical connection with the slip ring. The electrical machine has one or more extraction devices arranged between the at least two sliding contacts directly via the slip ring and intended for extracting abraded material produced at the slip ring.
US07915780B2 Laminated spiral core, dynamo-electric-machine rotor provided therewith, and dynamo-electric machine
A laminated spiral core includes core units and a plurality of swage portions. The core units form a rotor core. The core units have permanent-magnet attachment portions in which permanent magnets are to be disposed. Each of the core units has an arc shape. The plurality of swage portions connect the core units by swage-joining when the core units are spirally stacked in a predetermined number of layers. The plurality of swage portions are provided in the core units in a wave-shape to face the permanent-magnet attachment portions and provided at positions where an influence of magnetic flux paths in a rotor is minimal.
US07915778B2 Electric motor
An electric motor comprising a rotor having plural magnetic poles in the circumferential direction; and a stator whose teeth are disposed opposite to the periphery of the rotor, with an air gap interposed between the rotor and the stator, wherein the coil conductors are wound on the stator so that two stator magnetic poles may be formed by two coil units of a phase wound around stator teeth within the range of 360 electrical degrees subtended by the magnetic poles of the rotor; each of the two coil units forming the stator magnetic poles spans an electrical angle less than 180 electrical degrees; the two coil turns forming the two stator magnetic poles are laid out so that they may not overlap each other; and the coil conductors are so wound that the adjacent stator magnetic poles exhibit opposite magnetic polarities.
US07915775B2 Submersible motor
A submersible motor is provided for the drive of a submersible pump, with a rotor (6, 10) which is mounted in the motor housing (2) via a thrust bearing (16). The thrust bearing (16) includes a stationary bearing ring (34) on whose first axial side a thrust bearing surface is situated and whose opposite second axial side (40) has a spherical curvature. The second axial side of the bearing ring (34) bears on a correspondingly spherically curved, annular abutment surface (42) of a bearing carrier (44).
US07915770B2 Device for cooling current lines of superconducting rotating machine
A cooling device for current lines of a superconducting rotating machine, which is capable of removing heat generated from the current lines of the superconducting rotating machine, thereby effectively preventing a superconducting coil from being deformed due to the heat generated from the current lines, is disclosed. The cooling device includes heat conduction members respectively mounted to outer surfaces of the current lines. Each heat conduction member is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the stator such that the heat conduction member transfers, to the stator, heat generated from a corresponding one of the current lines. The heat conduction member further includes insulators each surrounding a corresponding one of the current lines between a corresponding one of the heat conduction members and a power slip ring arranged in the stator, to thermally insulate the heat generated from the corresponding current line.
US07915763B1 Systems for generating high voltage pulses with a transmission line
A system is disclosed for generating a rectangular pulse with a transmission line, the pulse having a duration of twice the electrical length of the line and a voltage of up to twice the charge voltage. The system includes a voltage source, a switching means, and an output circuit. The voltage source is for providing a voltage potential to a first conductor of a transmission line. The switching means is for controllable coupling the first conductor of the transmission line to a second conductor of the transmission line at a first end of the transmission line, with the second conductor of the transmission line being coupled to a fixed voltage potential at a second end of the transmission line. The output circuit is coupled to the first conductor of the transmission line for providing an output pulse to a load.
US07915762B2 Method for controlling a cluster of wind turbines connected to a utility grid
A method for controlling a cluster of wind turbines connected to a utility grid includes the steps of determining the frequency of the utility grid, detecting a frequency deviation in the utility grid, and disconnecting the wind turbines at different predefined frequency values above the nominal frequency value. The invention also relates to a method for planning the strategy of a utility grid including a wind turbine cluster connected to the grid and a wind turbine cluster.
US07915754B2 Isolating switch system
The invention relates to an isolating switch system. The isolating switch system includes an isolating switch for interrupting a main line running between an electric power source and an electric consumer. The isolation switch is controlled in dependence on an ignition switch. The isolating switch system includes a signal generating unit, a signal detector unit and a signal processing unit. The signal generating device generates an electric signal that can be fed to the electric consumer and conducted to the ignition switch. The electric signal, in dependence on a switching state of the ignition switch can be conducted to the signal detector unit via a conduction path. The signal processing unit, upon detection of the electric signal, causes the isolation switching system to open or close the main circuit line. The electric signal generated by the signal generating unit is a pulsed signal.
US07915753B2 Power supply apparatus and vehicle
A battery is arranged outside a compartment. A service plug is arranged in the compartment. The service plug is a shutoff device that can shut off an output path of the battery by a manual operation. When a vehicle is hard hit at the front and a circuit of PCU is damaged, an excessive current may flow to the PCU, possibly generating heat or smoke from the PCU. When the vehicle goes wrong, a person on board the vehicle may pull out the service plug, whereby the power supply path from battery to PCU can be shut off.
US07915752B2 Apparatus for enabling an aerial lift including a self-disabling interlock
The present invention provides a control circuit for enabling an aerial boom on an aerial lift truck having stabilizing members. The control circuit includes a selector switch to enable the auxiliary member and an interlock portion preventing the auxiliary member from being enabled if each of the stabilizing members is not in an operative position. The control circuit further includes an interlock over ride. The interlock over ride may be activated when the selector switch is attempting to enable the auxiliary member and remains activated until the selector switch disables the auxiliary member. Thus, the interlock over ride permits an operator to bypass the interlock during a single operation of the auxiliary member and prevents bypass from remaining active during subsequent operations of the auxiliary member.
US07915751B2 Output power control of a wind power generator through bendable tail wing and tail rod
The invention is related to a wind power generator with controllable power output, which comprises an elastic tail rod and a tail wing. One end of the elastic tail rod connects with the wind power generator; the other end of the elastic tail rod connects with the tail wing. The yaw center for the wind power generator deviates from its center line. With this shifted yaw center and the elastic tail rod, the tail wing and the elastic tail rod do not deform, or deform only a little to keep the power generator in the wind direction to acquire the maximum wind energy before reaching the rated power wind speed. Furthermore, when the wind speed exceeds the rated power wind speed, the tail wing and the elastic tail rod will bend more to force the wind power generator at a certain angle with the wind direction to control the wind power generator in a constant rated power output and to protect the wind power generator as well as the turbine blades.
US07915748B2 AC electrical generation system
Disclosed herein is an AC electrical generator system for coupling a variable speed rotating power source to an AC electrical generator through a continuously variable transmission having a finite variable transmission ratio. A controller controls the continuously variable transmission to transform rotational energy from the variable speed power source into substantially constant speed rotation of the AC electrical generator to produce AC electricity with frequency variations within an acceptable range.
US07915744B2 Bond pad structures and semiconductor devices using the same
A semiconductor device comprises a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die comprises a at least one first bond pads formed on a peripheral region of the first semiconductor die, a at least one re-distributed layer (RDL) pads formed on a center region of the first semiconductor die, and a at least one wire routes interconnecting the first bond pads and the RDL pads. The second semiconductor die is disposed over the first semiconductor die, wherein the second semiconductor die has a at least one second bond pads electrically connecting to the RDL pads via bonding wires; wherein the RDL pad is supported by at least a buffer layer.
US07915742B2 Determining the placement of semiconductor components on an integrated circuit
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for determining the placement of a standard cell, representing a semiconductor component in a design stage, on an integrated circuit die. One embodiment of a method, among others, comprises analyzing regions of a semiconductor die with respect to the susceptibility of the region to be exposed to radiation. This method further comprises placing the standard cell in one of the analyzed regions of the semiconductor die, the standard cell being placed based on the sensitivity of the standard cell to radiation. The method may also comprise running an algorithm, e.g. using a component placement engine, for determining the placement of semiconductor components on an integrated circuit die.
US07915740B2 Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device that can reduce the resistance in a horizontal direction of a substrate. A current path in a horizontal direction of a substrate is formed in a direction along a short side of the substrate (chip). For example, adopted is a layout in which an element region on an input terminal side and a current extraction region on an output terminal side are aligned along the short side of the chip. Furthermore, a first bump electrode and a second bump electrode, which are respectively connected to the input terminal and the output terminal, are arranged along the short side of the chip. Thus, the current path in the substrate in the horizontal direction in the substrate is formed to have a wide width and a short length. Accordingly, the resistance of the substrate in the horizontal direction is reduced.
US07915739B2 Method and arrangement for contact-connecting semiconductor chips on a metallic substrate
The method comprises the following steps: the substrate in the form of a one-piece basic substrate (4) is prepatterned into regions corresponding to future modules, pads of the semiconductor chip (1) are then contact-connected in predetermined regions of a first area of the basic substrate (4) and on the top side (12) of the prepatterned basic substrate (4) and on one area side of the semiconductor chip (1) a first adhesive layer (16) is applied, a second adhesive layer (17) is subsequently applied to the other area side of the semiconductor chip (1), and a curing of the adhesive layers (16, 17) and a final patterning of the metallic basic substrate (4) are then effected.
US07915737B2 Packing board for electronic device, packing board manufacturing method, semiconductor module, semiconductor module manufacturing method, and mobile device
A manufacturing technology is provided capable of improving the reliability of a semiconductor module having a via contact connected to an electrode part of a semiconductor component. The semiconductor module includes: a semiconductor component provided with an electrode part on a mounting surface; an insulating layer provided on the mounting surface of the semiconductor component; a wiring layer formed on the insulating layer; a first conductor part which is embedded in the insulating layer and which is in contact with the electrode part; and a second conductor part which is formed in an aperture provided in the insulating layer above the first conductor part and which electrically connects the first conductor part and the wiring layer.
US07915733B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device which includes a first wiring with a via connected to the first wiring, a second wiring connected to the via and a dummy via disposed adjacent to the via at a distance of 100 nm or less and formed on the same layer as the via.
US07915729B2 Load driving semiconductor apparatus
A load driving semiconductor apparatus includes: a driving transistor, which operates based on an input voltage from an external circuit; a power semiconductor device controlling power supply to a load in such a manner that the power semiconductor device supplies electric power to the load when the transistor operates, and the power semiconductor device stops supplying electric power to the load when the transistor stops operating; and a mounting board, on which the driving transistor and the power semiconductor device are mounted. The mounting board includes a heat radiation pattern for emitting heat generated in the power semiconductor device. The heat radiation pattern includes a heat receiving pattern, on which the driving transistor is mounted.
US07915728B2 Subassembly that includes a power semiconductor die and a heat sink having an exposed surface portion thereof
The semiconductor assembly includes a first subassembly having a heat sink. Solder material is disposed on the exposed portion of a first surface of heat sink. A power semiconductor die is located on the first surface of the heat sink and is thermally coupled thereto by the solder material. A packaging patterned polymer layer is disposed on a second surface of the heat sink opposing the first surface and defines an interior surface portion of the heat sink. A semiconductor package is provided in which the first subassembly, solder material and die are located such that the interior surface portion of the second surface of the heat sink is not enclosed by the semiconductor package.
US07915722B2 Information sensing device with electroconductive structure and molded body surrounding each other
An information sensing device includes a substrate, one information sensing chip, one electroconductive structure and a molded body. An electrical output portion including output connections is formed on the substrate. The information sensing chip is electrically connected to the electrical output portion and has one bottom chip surface mounted on the substrate, and one top chip surface to be close to or in contact with an object to sense specific information of the object. The electroconductive structure is electrically connected to the electrical output portion. The molded body is in contact with the information sensing chip and the at least one electroconductive structure to expose the top chip surface and a first surface of the electroconductive structure. The top chip surface is disposed opposite the bottom chip surface. The top chip surface and the first surface are exposed outside and disposed on substantially the same plane.
US07915721B2 Semiconductor die package including IC driver and bridge
A semiconductor die package. Embodiments of the semiconductor die package are usable in backlight circuitry. Systems in packages may include a bridge circuit or a part thereof, and a integrated circuit die, such as a driver die, encapsulated by a molding material or other package. The bridge circuit may be stacked on opposing surfaces of a leadframe.
US07915720B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device and test method thereof
The present invention provides a high-quality semiconductor integrated circuit device, where the semiconductor integrated circuit device, a SiP or especially PoP semiconductor integrated circuit device, enables a simultaneous testing of the reliability of multiple upper and lower semiconductor integrated circuit elements; it also enables a testing of only the non-defective element in case the other is determined defective; moreover, only the defective unit is exchangeable with a non-defective unit. The semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention contains multiple semiconductor integrated circuit elements, e.g. semiconductor integrated circuit devices 14 and 16, and a circuit board 12 which relays the respective semiconductor integrated circuit elements 14 and 16, and at least a part of the circuit board 12, e.g. test pads 13, can be electrically connected to an external test apparatus when the semiconductor integrated circuit devices 14 and 16 are electrically connected to the circuit board 12.
US07915718B2 Apparatus for flip-chip packaging providing testing capability
A method and apparatus for increasing the integrated circuit density in a flip-chip semiconductor device assembly including an interposer substrate facilitating use with various semiconductor die conductive bump arrangements. The interposer substrate includes a plurality of recesses formed in at least one of a first surface and a second surface thereof, wherein the recesses are arranged in a plurality of recess patterns. The interposer substrate also provides enhanced accessibility for test probes for electrical testing of the resulting flip-chip semiconductor device assembly.
US07915717B2 Plastic image sensor packaging for image sensors
A package for an image sensor includes a lead frame having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; an image sensor mounted on the first surface of the lead frame; an optical cover spanning the first surface; and a plastic, optically transparent window in the optical cover and aligned with the image sensor.
US07915712B2 Structures including passivated germanium
A method of passivating germanium that comprises providing a germanium material and carburizing the germanium material to form a germanium carbide material. The germanium carbide material may be formed by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition by exposing the germanium material to a microwave-generated plasma that is formed from a carbon-containing source gas and hydrogen. The source gas may be a carbon-containing gas selected from the group consisting of ethylene, acetylene, ethanol, a hydrocarbon gas having from one to ten carbon atoms per molecule, and mixtures thereof. The resulting germanium carbide material may be amorphous and hydrogenated. The germanium material may be carburized without forming a distinct boundary at an interface between the germanium material and the germanium carbide material. An intermediate semiconductor device structure and a semiconductor device structure, each of which comprises the germanium carbide material, are also disclosed.
US07915711B2 Semiconductor assemblies and methods of manufacturing such assemblies including trenches in a molding material between semiconductor die
Semiconductor devices and assemblies including interconnects and methods for forming such interconnects are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first side trenches to an intermediate depth in a molded portion of a molded wafer having a plurality of dies arranged in rows and columns. The method also includes removing material from a second side of the molded portion at areas aligned with the first side trenches, wherein removing the material forms openings through the molded portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of electrical contacts at the second side of the molded portion at the openings and electrically connecting the second side contacts to corresponding bond-sites on the dies.
US07915710B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor device, and semiconductor device with a conductive member extending through a substrate and connected to a metal pattern bonded to the substrate
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having an active surface, thinning the substrate by removing material from a second surface of the substrate opposite the active surface, bonding a metal carrier to the second surface of the thinned substrate, forming a via opening in the thinned substrate, forming a conductive member in the via opening, and patterning the metal carrier bonded to the second surface of the thinned substrate to form a metal pattern.
US07915706B1 Linearity improvements of semiconductor substrate using passivation
The present invention relates to using a potentially trap-rich layer, such as a polycrystalline Silicon layer, over a passivation region of a semiconductor substrate or a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device layer to substantially immobilize a surface conduction layer at the surface of the semiconductor substrate or SOI device layer at radio frequency (RF) frequencies. The potentially trap-rich layer may have a high density of traps that trap carriers from the surface conduction layer. The average release time from the traps may be longer than the period of any present RF signals, thereby effectively immobilizing the surface conduction layer, which may substantially prevent capacitance and inductance changes due to the RF signals. Therefore, harmonic distortion of the RF signals may be significantly reduced or eliminated. The semiconductor substrate may be a Silicon substrate, a Gallium Arsenide substrate, or another substrate.
US07915701B2 Stacked organic photosensitive devices
A device is provided having a first electrode, a second electrode, a first photoactive region having a characteristic absorption wavelength λ1 and a second photoactive region having a characteristic absorption wavelength λ2. The photoactive regions are disposed between the first and second electrodes, and further positioned on the same side of a reflective layer, such that the first photoactive region is closer to the reflective layer than the second photoactive region. The materials comprising the photoactive regions may be selected such that λ1 is at least about 10% different from λ2. The device may further comprise an exciton blocking layer disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with the organic acceptor material of each photoactive region, wherein the LUMO of each exciton blocking layer other than that closest to the cathode is not more than about 0.3 eV greater than the LUMO of the acceptor material.
US07915696B2 Electrical connection through a substrate to a microelectromechanical device
An electrical through-connection, or via, that passes through a substrate to a bus on a first surface of the substrate. The via may be configured with an interlock such that the electrically conductive core of the via is constrained to thermally expand towards the second surface, away from the bus, thus preventing damage to the bus. The interlock may be a local constriction or enlargement of the via near the first surface of the substrate. The via may be greater in length along the bus than a unit spacing of beams in a parallel microswitch array actuated in unison along the bus. The via may be narrower in width than in length, and may form a trapezoidal geometry that is larger at the second surface of the substrate than at the first surface.
US07915694B2 Gate electrode having a capping layer
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and a novel semiconductor device are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes sputtering a capping layer in-situ on a gate dielectric layer, before any high temperature processing steps are performed.
US07915693B2 Semiconductor device with fin and silicide structure
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a fin formed on the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode formed so as to sandwich both side faces of the fin between its opposite portions via a gate insulating film; an extension layer formed on a region of a side face of the fin, the region being on the both sides of the gate electrode, the extension layer having a plane faced to a surface of the semiconductor substrate at an acute angle; and a silicide layer formed on a surface of the plane faced to the surface of the semiconductor substrate at an acute angle.
US07915687B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes: a first gate insulating film on a first region of a semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode on the first gate insulating film; a second gate insulating film on a second region of the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate electrode on the second gate insulating film. The first gate insulating film includes a first insulating film composed of a first material containing a first metal, and the second gate insulating film includes a second insulating film composed of the first material and a second material containing a second metal.
US07915683B2 Nanowire electronic devices and method for producing the same
The present invention is directed to an electrical device that comprises a first and a second fiber having a core of thermoelectric material embedded in an electrically insulating material, and a conductor. The first fiber is doped with a first type of impurity, while the second fiber is doped with a second type of impurity. A conductor is coupled to the first fiber to induce current flow between the first and second fibers.
US07915681B2 Transistor with reduced charge carrier mobility
A device includes a first transistor including a fin and a second transistor including a fin, the fin of the first transistor having a lower charge carrier mobility than the fin of the second transistor. In a method, the fin of the first transistor is treated to have a lower charge carrier mobility than the fin of the second transistor.
US07915679B2 Light-emitting devices including a nonperiodic pattern
Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the light-emitting devices include a multi-layer stack of materials. The stack of materials includes a light-generating region and a first layer supported by the light-generating region. The surface of the first layer is configured so that light generated by the light-generating region can emerge from the light-emitting device via the surface of the first layer. The surface has a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a nonperiodic pattern.
US07915675B2 IGBT having one or more stacked zones formed within a second layer of the IGBT
An IGBT includes a first region, a second region located within the first region, a first contact coupled to the first region, a first layer arranged below the first region, a gate overlying at least a portion of the first region between the second region and the first layer and a second layer formed under the first layer. One or more stacked zones are formed within the second layer. Each one or more stacked zones includes a first zone and a second zone that overlies the first zone. Each first zone is inversely doped with respect to the second layer and each second zone is inversely doped with respect to the first zone. The IGBT further includes a third layer formed under the second layer and a second contact coupled to the third layer.
US07915669B2 NROM flash memory devices on ultrathin silicon
An NROM flash memory cell is implemented in an ultra-thin silicon-on-insulator structure. In a planar device, the channel between the source/drain areas is normally fully depleted. An oxide layer provides an insulation layer between the source/drain areas and the gate insulator layer on top. A control gate is formed on top of the gate insulator layer. In a vertical device, an oxide pillar extends from the substrate with a source/drain area on either side of the pillar side. Epitaxial regrowth is used to form ultra-thin silicon body regions along the sidewalls of the oxide pillar. Second source/drain areas are formed on top of this structure. The gate insulator and control gate are formed on top.
US07915661B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method therefor
The present invention provides semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor. The semiconductor device includes trenches (11) formed in a semiconductor substrate (10), first ONO films (18) provided on both side surfaces of the trenches, and first word lines (22) provided on side surfaces of the first ONO films (18) and running in a length direction of the trenches (11). According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a semiconductor device and a fabrication method therefor, in which higher memory capacity can be achieved.
US07915658B2 Semiconductor on insulator (SOI) device including a discharge path for a decoupling capacitor
A silicon on insulator (SOI) device is provided. The device includes an MOS capacitor coupled between voltage busses and formed in a monocrystalline semiconductor layer overlying an insulator layer and a semiconductor substrate. The device includes at least one electrical discharge path for discharging potentially harmful charge build up on the MOS capacitor. The MOS capacitor has a conductive electrode material forming a first plate of the MOS capacitor and an impurity doped region in the monocrystalline silicon layer beneath the conductive electrode material forming a second plate. A first voltage bus is coupled to the first plate of the capacitor and to an electrical discharge path through a diode formed in the semiconductor substrate and a second voltage bus is coupled to the second plate of the capacitor.
US07915656B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus (10) of the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate (11), an active element forming region provided on the semiconductor substrate (11) and including a plurality of active elements (12), a wire forming region which is provided on the active element forming region to electrically connect the active elements (12) and includes plural layers of semiconductor electrode wires (15, 16), a memory portion forming region (100) which is provided above the wire forming region and provided with memory portions (26) arranged in matrix, a resistance value of each of the memory portions changing according to electric pulses applied, and an oxygen barrier layer (17) which is provided between the memory portion forming region (100) and the wire forming region so as to extend continuously over at least an entire of the memory portion forming region (100).
US07915655B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a metal-oxide semiconductor transistor. A first dielectric layer of the metal oxide semiconductor transistor overlaps source and drain electrodes and a channel region of the transistor. A first drain region is away from the channel region and the first dielectric layer. A second drain region is between the first drain region and the channel region. A gate electrode is on the first dielectric layer and connected to a gate wire, and includes first and second gate layers and a dielectric layer therebetween. The first gate layer has one edge laterally spaced from the first drain region and resting over the second drain region, and is isolated from the gate wire. The second gate layer is over the first gate layer and is connected to the gate wire.
US07915653B2 Structure for and method of fabricating a high-speed CMOS-compatible Ge-on-insulator photodetector
The invention addresses the problem of creating a high-speed, high-efficiency photodetector that is compatible with Si CMOS technology. The structure consists of a Ge absorbing layer on a thin SOI substrate, and utilizes isolation regions, alternating n- and p-type contacts, and low-resistance surface electrodes. The device achieves high bandwidth by utilizing a buried insulating layer to isolate carriers generated in the underlying substrate, high quantum efficiency over a broad spectrum by utilizing a Ge absorbing layer, low voltage operation by utilizing thin a absorbing layer and narrow electrode spacings, and compatibility with CMOS devices by virtue of its planar structure and use of a group IV absorbing material. The method for fabricating the photodetector uses direct growth of Ge on thin SOI or an epitaxial oxide, and subsequent thermal annealing to achieve a high-quality absorbing layer. This method limits the amount of Si available for interdiffusion, thereby allowing the Ge layer to be annealed without causing substantial dilution of the Ge layer by the underlying Si.
US07915647B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory concerning an example of the present invention comprises a cell array, a plurality of conducting wires extending from the cell array to a lead area, and a plurality of contact holes to arranged in the lead area so that a distance from the end of the cell array sequentially increases from one to the other of the plurality of conducting wires, each of the plurality of conducting wires having a first conducting wire portion having a first conducting wire width, a second conducting wire portion connected to the contact hole and having a second conducting wire width smaller than the first conducting wire width, and a third conducting wire portion electrically connecting the first conducting wire portion to the second conducting wire portion.
US07915645B2 Monolithic vertically integrated composite group III-V and group IV semiconductor device and method for fabricating same
According to one disclosed embodiment, a monolithic vertically integrated composite device comprises a double sided semiconductor substrate having first and second sides, a group IV semiconductor layer formed over the first side and comprising at least one group IV semiconductor device, and a group III-V semiconductor body formed over the second side and comprising at least one group III-V semiconductor device electrically coupled to the at least one group IV semiconductor device. The composite device may further comprise a substrate via and/or a through-wafer via providing electric coupling. In one embodiment, the group IV semiconductor layer may comprise an epitaxial silicon layer, and the at least one group IV semiconductor device may be a combined FET and Schottky diode (FETKY) fabricated on the epitaxial silicon layer. In one embodiment, the at least one group III-V semiconductor device may be a III-nitride high electron mobility transistor (HEMT).
US07915643B2 Enhancement mode gallium nitride power devices
Enhancement mode III-nitride devices are described. The 2DEG is depleted in the gate region so that the device is unable to conduct current when no bias is applied at the gate. Both gallium face and nitride face devices formed as enhancement mode devices.
US07915641B2 Terahertz electromagnetic wave radiation element and its manufacturing method
The present invention improves the efficiency of conversion from a non-radiation two-dimensional electron plasmon wave into a radiation electromagnetic wave, and realizes a wide-band characteristic. A terahertz electromagnetic wave radiation element of the present invention comprises a semiinsulating semiconductor bulk layer, a two-dimensional electron layer formed directly above the semiconductor bulk layer by a semiconductor heterojunction structure, source and drain electrodes electrically connected to two opposed sides of the two-dimensional electron layer, a double gate electrode grating which is provided in the vicinity of and parallel to the upper surface of the two-dimensional electron layer and for which two different dc bias potentials can be alternately set, and a transparent metal mirror provided in contact with the lower surface of the semiconductor bulk layer, formed into a film shape, functioning as a reflecting mirror in the terahertz band, and being transparent in the light wave band. Two light waves are caused to enter from the lower surface of the transparent metal mirror, and two different dc bias potentials are alternately applied to the double gate electrode grating so as to periodically modulate the electron density of the two-dimensional electron layer in accordance with the configuration of the double gate electrode grating.
US07915640B2 Heterojunction semiconductor device and method of manufacturing
A metamorphic buffer layer is formed on a semi-insulating substrate by an epitaxial growth method, a collector layer, a base layer, an emitter layer and an emitter cap layer are sequentially laminated on the metamorphic buffer layer, and a collector electrode is provided in contact with an upper layer of the metamorphic buffer layer. The metamorphic buffer layer is doped with an impurity, in a concentration equivalent to or higher than that in a conventional sub-collector layer, by an impurity doping process during crystal growth so that the metamorphic buffer layer will be able to play the role of guiding the collector current to the collector electrode. Since the sub-collector layer, which is often formed of a ternary mixed crystal or the like having a high thermal resistance, can be omitted, the heat generated in the semiconductor device can be rapidly released into the substrate.
US07915637B2 Switching materials comprising mixed nanoscopic particles and carbon nanotubes and method of making and using the same
An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
US07915633B2 Nitride semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A nitride semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, made of a nitride semiconductor, and containing first impurities; and an insulating film contacting the p-type semiconductor layer and having an impurity region containing second impurities for trapping hydrogen. Since residual hydrogen in the p-type semiconductor layer is trapped in the impurity region, the hydrogen concentration in the impurity region is higher than that in the insulating film excluding the impurity region.
US07915631B2 Light emitting device and display
A light emitting device containing a semiconductor light emitting component and a phosphor, the phosphor is capable of absorbing a part of light emitted by the light emitting component and emitting light of a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light, is provided. A straight line connecting a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the light emitting component and a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the phosphor is substantially along a black body radiation locus in a chromaticity diagram.
US07915620B2 Light-emitting device, electronic apparatus, and light-emitting device manufacturing method
Disclosed is a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes an EL layer and a heat dissipation layer. The EL layer includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer, the first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type that is one of n type and p type, the second semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type that is opposite to the first conductivity type, the active layer being provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The heat dissipation layer has the first conductivity type and is bonded to a side of the EL layer closer to the second semiconductor layer than the first semiconductor layer.
US07915615B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention improves the aperture ratio of a pixel of a reflection-type display device or a reflection type display device without increasing the number of masks and without using a blackmask. A pixel electrode (167) is arranged so as to partially overlap a source wiring (137) for shielding the gap between pixels from light, and a thin film transistor is arranged so as to partially overlap a gate wiring (166) for shielding a channel region of the thin film transistor from light, thereby realizing a high pixel aperture ratio.
US07915612B2 Photoelectric conversion device and method of producing the same
A photoelectric conversion device includes a p-type layer, an i-type layer and an n-type layer each made of a silicon base semiconductor, stacked in this order, wherein the i-type layer contains n-type impurities in a concentration of 1.0×1016 to 2.0×1017 cm−3.
US07915611B2 Photoelectric conversion device
In order to form a metal thin film, a silicide film, or the like between an upper-layer unit cell and a lower-layer unit cell in stacked-layer photoelectric conversion devices, a step of forming the thin film is additionally needed. Therefore, a problem such as decline in productivity of the photoelectric conversion devices occurs. A first unit cell including a single crystal semiconductor layer with a thickness of 10 μm or less as a photoelectric conversion layer and a second unit cell including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer as a photoelectric conversion layer, which is provided over the first unit cell, are at least included, and conductive clusters are dispersed between the unit cells. The conductive clusters are located between the lower-layer unit cell and the upper-layer unit cell to form an ohmic contact; thus, current flows between the both unit cells.
US07915609B2 Smectic liquid crystal compound
According to the present invention, a liquid crystal semiconductor capable of exhibiting a highly ordered smectic phase at approximately room temperature, being used for formation of a smectic liquid crystal thin film that is stable at room temperature by a solution process, and showing excellent ambipolar charge-transporting properties, a thin film transistor comprising the same, and the like are provided.Also, the following are provided: a smectic liquid crystal compound represented by the following general formula (1) wherein R1 represents a straight-chain alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and “n” is an integer of 0 to 3; an ambipolar charge-transporting material comprising the smectic liquid crystal compound; an organic semiconductor thin film having a thin film layer comprising the smectic liquid crystal compound; and a thin film transistor comprising the organic semiconductor thin film.
US07915606B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device including a substrate including a plurality of discrete and separated protruding reflective patterns protruding from the substrate and including a valley; a first semiconductor layer on the substrate and covering the reflective patterns; a gap formed in the valley of a corresponding reflective pattern between the substrate and the first semiconductor layer; an active layer on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer on the active layer.
US07915599B2 Radiation transducer and method to produce a radiation transducer
A radiation transducer has a luminophore layer applied on a substrate, and at least one anti-discoloration substance is applied on the luminophore layer. In a method to produce a radiation transducer a luminophore layer is applied on a substrate, and at least one anti-discoloration substance is applied on the luminophore layer after the application of the luminophore layer on the substrate.
US07915591B2 Mask for coded aperture systems
A detector for identification and localization of radioisotopes, comprising a position sensitive detector configured to observe the location of emitted high energy radiation, wherein the position sensitive detector comprises a surface comprised of a first radiation sensitive material; and an active mask disposed in front of the position sensitive detector positioned such that the emitted high energy radiation is detected by the position sensitive detector after passage through the mask, wherein the mask comprises a second radiation sensitive material.
US07915587B2 Methods of rapid phase modulation of THz radiation for high speed THz imaging, spectroscopy, and communications devices and systems
Rapid, voltage controlled phase modulation of continuous wave THz radiation is demonstrated. By transmitting an infrared laser beam through a phase modulator, the phase of the THz radiation which is generated by the photomixing of two infrared beams can be directly modulated through a 2π phase shift. The 100 kHz modulation rate that is demonstrated is approximately three orders of magnitude faster than what can be achieved by mechanical scanning.
US07915586B2 Method for performing mid-IR spectroscopy measurements to measure film coating thickness, weight and/or film composition
A method of determining a film coating thickness on a substrate and/or amount one or more compositional ingredients of said film coating including making mid-IR spectra of a series of coating thickness or coating weight standards (and/or composition standards) on an appropriate substrate material to match sample material in question, pre-processing the data to prepare it for multivariate calibration methods, performing the multivariate calibration, saving the calibration model in the hand-held mid-IR device in an appropriate format, and using the calibration model to predict sample material in question from their mid IR spectra.
US07915585B2 Microbolometer pixel and fabrication method utilizing ion implantation
A microbolometer pixel and a reduced-step process for manufacturing it comprising the step of ion implantation of vanadium oxide whereby VOx is converted to a low resistivity mixed phase vanadium oxide (VOx/V2O3/VO/V) in the leg, metallized support post, and detector contact areas. Masking maintains high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) VOx in the sensing portion of the pixel bridge region. The implanted area resistivity and TCR can be controlled by ion implantation dose and energy.
US07915584B2 TEM with aberration corrector and phase plate
The invention relates to a TEM with a corrector (330) to improve the image quality and a phase plate (340) to improve contrast. The improved TEM comprises a correction system completely placed between the objective lens and the phase plate, and uses the lenses of the corrector to form a magnified image of the diffraction plane on the phase plate.
US07915578B2 Method and apparatus for correcting scattering in SPECT imaging
A method and apparatus for correcting scattering in SPECT I-123 imaging. The method generally includes: accessing list mode data for a plurality of pixels corresponding to a first SPECT I-123 image generated using a gamma camera; generating a raw energy spectrum for at least some of the pixels utilizing the acquired list mode data; acquiring a gamma camera model corresponding to the gamma camera; utilizing the gamma camera model and an iterative algorithm to apply a first scattering correction to the raw energy spectrum; utilizing a Compton window to apply a second scattering correction to the raw energy spectrum; and generating a correction table with the corrected raw energy spectrum.
US07915576B2 Imaging device camera system and driving method of the same
An imaging device includes: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity are arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal, wherein in the pixel array part, among a first color filter pixel, a second color filter pixel, and a third color filter pixel, each including a color filter, at least a plurality of the first color filter pixels and the second color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system, and a clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column in the oblique pixel array with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel.
US07915574B2 Imaging device camera system and driving method of the same
An imaging device including: an electronic shutter and a pixel array part. The pixel array part has a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal. The pixel array part has a plurality of color pixels and at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics in red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak in blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak in green. At least a portion of the plurality of color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system and at least one clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in the oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. A first read channel is exclusively coupled to the at least one clear pixel and a second read channel is exclusively coupled to the plurality of color filter pixels; and the electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
US07915567B2 Heated resistance especially for heating a solid part such as a temperature probe and/or a pressure probe
A heater resistance in particular for heating a solid part. An electric wire, and a ceramic sheath surround the wire. The sheath has a woven layer.
US07915566B2 Weld filler, use of the weld filler and welding process
The invention relates to a weld filler and to a use of a weld filler which significantly improves the weldability of some nickel-based superalloys and includes the following constituents (in wt %): 17.5%-20.0% chromium (Cr) 10.0%-12.0% cobalt (Co) 9.0%-10.5% molybdenum (Mo) 0.1%-3.3% titanium, in particular 3.0%-3.3% titanium (Ti), 1.4%-1.8% aluminum (Al), 0.04%-0.12% carbon, 0.003%-0.01% boron (B), remainder nickel.
US07915563B2 Arc detector for plasma processing system
An arc detector is provided for a plasma processing system including a HF power source, a plasma processor, and a voltage/current signal detector. The arc detector includes a calculator for the phase difference between the AC voltage signal and the AC current signal, a calculator for an effective voltage based on the AC voltage signal, a calculator for an effective current based on the AC current signal, an FFT processor for the frequency spectrum of the AC voltage or current signal, and an arc analyzer connected to the phase difference calculator, effective voltage calculator, effective current calculator, and FFT processor. The arc analyzer calculates the plasma processor's impedance based on the calculated phase difference, effective voltage, and effective current. The arc analyzer monitors arcs in the plasma processor, based on the fluctuation rate of the calculated impedance and the output level of a frequency component in the spectrum.
US07915557B2 Method and arrangement for synchronizing the distribution information of sorting stock with the information relating to a sorter element loaded with this sorting stock
A method and an arrangement for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock are provided. The sorting stock has information relating to a sorter element of a sorter loaded with the sorting stock. The sorter element is moved, together with a plurality of further sorter elements, on a path closed on itself past a laying-down station where the sorting stock is laid onto the support of this sorter element. The occupancy of the sorter element is recognized by an image comparison and the information known before the laying-down relating to the sorting stock is assigned unequivocally to the sorter element recognized as fed.
US07915551B2 Switching device having a coupling element
A switching device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the switching device includes a coupling element for non-contacting communication, and a first enclosure part. According to at least one embodiment, the switching device includes an at least partially spherical holder, in which case the partially spherical holder can rotate by virtue of its shape about at least two axes with respect to the first enclosure part. Further, the partially spherical holder is provided in order to retain and to hold the coupling element.
US07915550B2 Pneumatic system electrical contact device
An electrical circuit operating system for controlling operating of an aluminum processing bath includes an electrical contact device. The electrical contact device includes a tubular body of an electrically insulating material, the body including at least one circumferential slot receiving a seal member. A fastener is disposed in the tubular body. A conductive biasing element has a compressed connecting end engaged with the fastener, and an extending portion axially protracting from the compressed connecting end. A piston forms a portion of an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is closed when the conductive biasing element is contacted by the piston. A piston rod is connected to the piston and is displaceable with the piston, the piston rod operable to break a crust of the aluminum processing bath.
US07915548B2 Combined circuit breaker and disconnector for an alternator with actuation by an assembly of a main shaft and secondaries shafts
An arrangement for synchronizing and the actuation of a set of three interrupters, tow of which are disconnectors and one is a switch, in a combined circuit breaker and disconnector for an alternator is described. This allows for fitting of an accessory shaft for actuation purposes, which is specifically dedicated to the actuation of one of the two disconnection interrupters and to set it in rotation only after a final angle of rotation of a main shaft, which is itself dedicated to the actuation of the other disconnecting interrupter and actuation of the switching interrupter.
US07915542B2 Electrical cable support bracket
A cable support bracket includes a backplate with a number of structures extending transversely therefrom and defining a plurality of cable restraints and slots. The cable restraints have a series of projections formed on the transversely extending structures. Each cable restraint has a series of projections aligned so as to create matching barbs that secure electrical cables within the restraints. At least one transversely-extending structure acts as a spacer to ensure that electrical safety requirements regarding the distance between cables and internal walls are met when the bracket is installed.
US07915537B1 Interposer and method for making interposers
An interposer is made of nested drawn copper shells with insulation between them. The shells are etched using methods of ordinary printed wiring fabrication, but being three dimensional, straight runs from the die to the motherboard can be made optimally short and wide without passing through any vias. Some shells can extend upward for top connections, and vias and crossing landlines can be used as required in the areas away from the die.
US07915534B2 Grommet
In a grommet (1), a centering unit and a temporary anchor unit are provided on an outer surface of a grommet inner member (2). The centering unit includes a plurality of centering portions (e.g., centering claws 8) configured to elastically abut on an attachment panel (20) at an inner edge thereof around an insertion hole (21) so as to position the grommet inner member (2) in a center of the insertion hole (21). The temporary anchor unit includes a plurality of engaging portions (e.g., temporary anchor claws 7) configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel (20), thereby supporting the grommet (1) in an axial direction thereof before lock portions (e.g., lock claws 6) make the grommet inner member (2) retained at the inner edge of the attachment panel (20) around the insertion hole (21) when the grommet inner member (2) is inserted into the insertion hole (21).
US07915532B2 Enhanced electrical seismic land cable
An electrical cable having a polymeric inner layer enclosing a cable core, and a polymeric outer layer enclosing the cable core and the inner layer. The outer layer operable to maintain integrity of the cable within a predetermined temperature range.
US07915531B2 Pushable cable
A cable assembly may have a conductor core and a binding element. The binding elements may be configured helically around the conductor core. In addition, the binding element may be configured to, when the cable assembly is pushed through a conduit having at least one sweep, eliminate buckling of the cable assembly.
US07915530B2 Torque limiting device for insulated plug
An insulated plug for use in a high voltage device includes a torque limiting bolt, including a first hex element, a second hex element, and a shearable shaft element. Alternatively, an insulated plug assembly for use in a high voltage device includes an insulated plug having a torque limiting bolt, where the torque limiting bolt includes a first hex element attached to the insulated plug and a second hex element attached to the first bolt head via a shearable connector, the assembly further including a separate BIP cap.
US07915527B1 Hermetic seal and hermetic connector reinforcement and repair with low temperature glass coatings
The present invention is directed to low-cost, low-processing temperature, and simple reinforcement, repair, and corrosion protection for hermetically sealed modules and hermetic connectors. A thin layer of glass is applied over the module's seal or the connector' glass frit. The layer of glass comprises an alkali silicate glass. The layer of glass is produced from a material which is a low viscosity liquid at room temperature prior to curing and is cured at low temperatures (typically no more than about 160 degrees Celsius). Subsequent to curing, the layer of glass is intimately bonded to the seal, watertight, and is stable from about negative two-hundred forty-three degrees Celsius to at least about seven-hundred twenty-seven degrees Celsius. The glass layer provides corrosion protection, seals any existing leaks, and possesses good flexibility and adhesion. The resulting bond is hermetic with good aqueous durability and strength similar to that of monolithic structures.
US07915526B2 Coaxial cable comprising dielectric material
The present invention relates to a coaxial cable comprising a dielectric layer which comprises as a component (A) a propylene homo- or copolymer having strain hardening behaviour and to the use of propylene homo- or copolymer having strain hardening behaviour for the production of a dielectric layer of a coaxial or triaxial cable.
US07915525B2 Lightning directing system
A lightning direction device is provided. The lightning direction device includes a drag member, a pendant mass and a conductor. The drag member is configured to have a select amount of wind resistance. The pendant mass has a select weight and shape. Moreover, the conductor is coupled between the pendant mass and the drag member.
US07915523B2 Compact solar apparatus for producing electricity and method of producing electricity using a compact solar apparatus
The present invention relates to a compact solar module (CSM) apparatus and a method of producing electricity using such an apparatus in residential buildings for example. One embodiment of the module is made of two arrays of 2×4 solar cells. Each cell in the array has a surface area of 36 square inches for example. Each array covers an area of 1×2 square ft, generating 26.4 Watts of electricity. One CSM of this embodiment consists of 2×8 sub-CSMs, generating a total of 422.24 Watts, and having the assembled dimension of 27.5″×21′×7.6″. The compact feature of solar module relies on sunray transmission to the solar cells and their remote illumination through optical fibers and sets of concave and convex mirrors & lenses. Sunrays are collected and concentrated and condensed on the optical fiber bundles installed in light guides penetrating through a roof top and tracks sunrays during sunrays. To illuminate the entire surface of a photocell, an array of 2×2 mirrors/fibers arranged in a square configuration, are utilized. This configuration optimizes material usage, cost effectiveness and provides greater sun energy for PV cells illumination.
US07915521B2 Type II quantum dot solar cells
A device comprises a plurality of fence layers of a semiconductor material and a plurality of alternating layers of quantum dots of a second semiconductor material embedded between and in direct contact with a third semiconductor material disposed in a stack between a p-type and n-type semiconductor material. Each quantum dot of the second semiconductor material and the third semiconductor material form a heterojunction having a type II band alignment. A method for fabricating such a device is also provided.
US07915514B1 Advanced MIDI and audio processing system and method
An advanced MIDI/audio processing system with virtual key-switches. The virtual key-switches are mapped to different musical concepts. As a user presses a key-switch in real time with the playing of musical notes, the musical concept mapped to the key-switch that was pressed is applied. The instrument then switches to a new playing state based on the particular musical concept that was applied. Furthermore, the system is configured to provide a smooth transition between dynamic levels when applying crescendo or diminuendo effects via a modulation wheel. The system also configured to provide enhanced cycling of alternate samples by providing an individual alternate cycle for each note of each articulation in each dynamic level. Furthermore, the system is configured to allow a user to store and recall specific cycle positions, and override an existing cycle to choose a specific alternate sample for a specific note.
US07915512B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting the cadence of music on a personal audio device
Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. A user sensor determines cadence data based on movement of the user. A desired cadence is determined based on the cadence data received from the sensor. The cadence of songs is determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the songs results in the songs having the desired cadence. The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted.
US07915511B2 Method and electronic device for aligning a song with its lyrics
A method of aligning a song with lyrics of the song which comprises the steps of aligning each lyrics fragment of a group of similar lyrics fragments (C) in the lyrics of the song with an audio fragment of a group of similar audio fragments (A4) of the song and aligning each lyrics fragment of a further group of similar lyrics fragments (V2) in the lyrics of the song with an audio fragment of a further group of similar audio fragments (A2) of the song. The method can be performed by an electronic device, possibly enabled by a computer program product. A mapping determined with the method can be transmitted and received by means of a signal and/or stored in a database.
US07915509B2 Movable pivot bearing for changing key leverage in string keyboard instruments
A moveable key lever pivot bearing system for keyboard instruments in which the pivot bearing is provided with a longitudinal slot to enable mounting the bearing over a pivot pin disposed on a balance rail mounted within the case of the instrument. The key lever, pivot pin, and balance rail all remain in fixed relationship to one another resulting in a fulcrum point change when the bearing is longitudinally shifted back and forth with respect to the pianist. Means are provided to fix the bearing at a selected longitudinal position, extension arms for example, which may be manipulated to adjust the position of the bearings.
US07915508B2 Keyboard assembly for playing music automatically
A keyboard assembly for playing music automatically comprises: a plurality of juxtaposed keys including white keys and black keys, each being supported swingable for depression and release thereof; a plurality of juxtaposed swing weights, each for each of the keys and each being supported swingable as interlocked with the corresponding key; and a plurality of actuator devices, each for each of the swing weights to actuate the swing weight, which in turn drives the interlocked key to swing to its depressed position. The actuator devices are arrayed alternately in two rows with the arraying pitch between the actuator devices for the adjacent swing weights made different from the arraying pitch between the swing weights so that the actuator devices for the keys of C through E can be disposed closer to the C end and the actuator devices for the keys of F through B can be disposed closer to the B end, thereby securing a fitting space between the E actuator device and the F actuator device. Alternatively, the actuator devices may be equally spaced within the octave, while the swing weights are spaced unequally.
US07915498B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH730660
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH730660. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH730660, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH730660 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 CH730660.
US07915497B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH425473
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH425473. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH425473, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH425473 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 CH425473.
US07915494B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH361230
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH361230. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH361230, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH361230 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 CH361230.
US07915489B2 Pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T
The invention provides seed and plants of the pumpkin line designated HWN 130-1039T. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T, and to methods for producing a pumpkin plant produced by crossing a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T with itself or with another pumpkin plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1039T, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US07915487B2 Marchantiales-derived unsaturated fatty acid synthetase genes and use of the same
A Δ5 fatty acid desaturase gene, a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase gene, and a Δ6 fatty-acid-chain elongase gene are isolated from a single species of Marchantiales. By introducing these genes into higher plants, transformed plants which can produce arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are obtained.
US07915486B2 Plastidic phosphoglucomutase genes
An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a plastidic phosphoglucomutase protein is disclosed. Also disclosed is the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a substantial portion of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase in a transformed host cell.
US07915484B2 Protein kinase stress-related proteins and methods of use in plants
A transgenic plant transformed by a Protein Kinase Stress-Related Protein (PKSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PKSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding PKSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07915483B2 C-terminally truncated interferon
The invention described herein provides a C-terminally truncated interferon having a deletion of 7, 8, or 9 amino acids and having enhanced biological activity, and the polynucleotides encoding such an interferon. Also provided are methods for producing and using such truncated interferon. In some embodiments, the truncated interferon is produced in a plant.
US07915482B2 Anther specific promoters and uses thereof
The present invention provides an expression cassette comprising a functional anther specific promoter nucleic acid molecule, homologous to the Ta39 promoter of tobacco, as well as functional homologues, orthologues and fragments of said functional anther specific promoter nucleic acid molecule. Also contemplated, are recombinant plasmids, plant cells and cell lines, transgenic plants and propagating material comprising the functional anther specific promoter nucleic acid molecule.
US07915479B2 Nematode resistant transgenic plants
Compositions and methods for providing nematode resistance are provided. One aspect provides transgenic plants or cells comprising an inhibitory nucleic acid specific for one or more nematode esophageal polypeptides. Other aspects provide transgenic plants or cells resistant to at least two different root-knot nematode species.
US07915477B2 Disposable wearing article
A disposable wearing article has its outer surface formed from a nonwoven fabric of thermoplastic synthetic fibers. A tape strip constituting each of the tape fasteners is folded in Z- or inverted Z-shape and attached in such folded state to the outer surface of the wearing article by means of first adhesive. As for a spot at which the tape strip is attached to the outer surface of the wearing article, the nonwoven fabric at least partially presents a film-like outer surface.
US07915474B2 Aqueous phase oxidation process
An improved oxidization process may be used to oxidize a wide variety of feedstocks. Oxidation takes place in a reactor where the feedstock is mixed with an oxidizing acid, such as nitric acid. The reaction mixture may also include a secondary oxidizing acid such as sulfuric acid as well as water and/or dissolved and mechanically mixed oxygen gas. The reactor may be maintained at an elevated pressure such as at least approximately 2070 kPa or desirably at least approximately 2800 kPa. The temperature of the reaction mixture may be maintained at no more than 210° C. In the various embodiments described herein, the process may include: combining recycled effluent from the reactor with the feedstock, combining one or more oxidizing acids with the feedstock, comminuting the feedstock to reduce the size of the particles, feeding the feedstock into the high pressure reactor at an approximately constant feed rate, dispersing oxygen gas from the headspace of the reactor into the reaction mixture, and/or removing all or almost all of the gas from the reactor through the liquid effluent.
US07915473B2 Counter weapon containment
A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension, which in turn can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry may be collected, heated and analyzed.
US07915472B2 Surface decontamination compositions and methods
Clay-based compositions capable of absorbing contaminants from surfaces or objects having surface faces may be applied to a surface and later removed, the removed clay-based compositions absorbing at least a portion of the contaminant from the surface or object to which it was applied.
US07915466B2 Process for the conversion of natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915461B2 Process for the conversion of natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915450B2 Transfection reagents
Disclosed are cationic lipid compounds and compositions of lipid aggregates for delivery of macromolecules and other compounds into cells. The compounds can be used alone or in combination with other compounds lo prepare liposomes and other lipid aggregates suitable for iransfcclion or delivery of compounds to target cells, cither in vitro or in vivo. The compounds are preferably polycationic and preferably form highly stable complexes with various anionic macromolecules. particularly polyanions such as nucleic acids. These compounds have the properly, when dispersed in water, of forming lipid aggregates which associate strongly, via their cationic portion, with polyanions. Also disclosed are intermediates for preparing the compound and compositions of the invention and methods of using the compounds to introduce other compounds into cells.
US07915447B2 Process for producing succinic acid
The present invention is intended to provide a process capable of efficiently producing highly purified succinic acid from an alkali metal succinate by a simple separation and purification process. The process for producing succinic acid in the present invention comprises (1) the step to add sulfuric acid into a solution containing an alkali metal succinate, (2) the step to precipitate and remove the crystal of an alkali metal sulfate from said solution, and (3) the step to precipitate and recover the crystal of succinic acid. The removal of the crystal of an alkali metal sulfate in the step (2) is performed by a solid-liquid separation in a state that the crystal of alkali metal sulfate is precipitated by concentrating and heating the solution that is obtained by adding sulfuric acid in the step (1) and succinic acid is dissolved in the solution.
US07915446B2 Catalyst and process for the production of acetic acid
A catalyst and process for the production of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof. The catalyst system comprises an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, optionally at least one of ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, zinc, gallium, tungsten, cadmium, mercury and indium and at least one non-hydrohalogenoic acid promoter. The non-hydrohalogenoic acid may be an oxoacid, a superacid and/or a heteropolyacid.
US07915444B2 Method for producing diisocyanates
The present invention relates to a process for preparing diisocyanates from diamines and phosgene in the gas phase.
US07915437B2 Compounds and methods of arylmethylation (benzylation) as protection for alcohol groups during chemical synthesis
A process for benzylating an alcohol includes mixing 2-benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium triflate in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent having a predetermined boiling point; adding an acid scavenger to the mixture; combining the alcohol to be benzylated with the mixture; reacting the alcohol with the 2-benzyloxy-1-methylpyridinium triflate by heating above ambient temperature to generate the benzylated alcohol; and separating the benzylated alcohol from the mixture.
US07915435B2 Alkyl-capped alkoxylated esters and compositions comprising same
Process of making alkyl-capped alkoxylated esters. More specifically, a process of making alkyl-capped alkoxylated esters that are comprised substantially of triethylene alkoxy ester and substantially free from ethylene glycol monoalkoxy monoester and diethylene glycol monoalkoxy monoester.
US07915434B2 Method for producing propylene oxide
A method for producing propylene oxide comprising a step of reacting hydrogen peroxide with propylene in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst in a liquid phase to produce propylene oxide and a step of recovering a recyclable constituent in a vent gas generated in the above step by absorbing the recyclable constituent in a solvent containing a nitrile.
US07915429B2 Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed, wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, hydroxy, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound of formula (I) by a ring carbon. Alternatively, the agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of formula (I).
US07915426B2 Imidazolium salts and their use of these ionic liquids as a solvent
New 1,2,3- or 1,2,3,4- or 1,2,3,4,5- substituted imidazolium salts and their uses as solvent in catalyzed organic reactions, as well as compositions containing them and a transition metal compound. They can be used in the following reactions: the telomerisation of conjugated dienes, dimerisation of olefins, the oligomerisation of olefins, polymerization of olefins, alkylation of olefins, hydrogenation of olefins, olefin metathesis, hydroformylation of olefins, ring-closing metathesis of olefins, ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of olefins, symetric or asymetric epoxidation of olefins (including heteroatom substituted olefins) and the cyclopropanation of olefins, condensation reaction, hydrogenation reaction, isomerization reaction, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, amination reaction, partial oxidation of alkancs, kinetic resolution of racemic mixtures, hydrogenation of imines, hydrogenation of ketones, transfer hydrogenation and hydroxylation of aromatic organic compounds.
US07915425B2 Process for the preparation of losartan
The invention relates to a improved process for the preparation of Losartan and its potassium salt, which comprises: (i) reacting bromo OTBN with BCFI in the presence of a base and a phase transfer catalyst to produce a cyano aldehyde; reacting the formed cyano aldehyde with sodium azide in the presence of tributyl tin chloride to produce aldehyde tetrazole; reducing the formed aldehyde tetrazole with sodium borohydride to produce Losartan; and, if desired, converting the formed Losartan to its potassium salt by known method.
US07915422B2 Processes for the preparation of substituted sulfoxides
The present invention relates to a process for enantioselective synthesis of substituted pyridinylmethyl sulfinyl-benzimidazole of compound of Formula (I). The process includes enantioselective catalytic oxidation of a substituted pyridinylmethyl prochiral sulfide derivative of compound of Formula (II) with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a chiral transition metal complex and a base in the absence of an organic solvent.
US07915420B2 Aryl piperidine amides
The invention provides novel GlyT2 inhibiting compounds useful in modulating, treating, or preventing: anxiolytic disorders; a condition requiring treatment of injured mammalian nerve tissue; a condition amenable to treatment through administration of a neurotrophic factor; a neurological disorder; or obesity; an obesity-related disorder.
US07915418B2 Intermediates and process for the production of optically active quinolonecarboxylic acid derivatives
Provision of a commercially advantageous method for producing an intermediate which is important for producing the antibacterial and which has a mother nucleus common to the antibacterial, and intermediates produced by such method.A method for producing a compound represented by formula (VI): which comprises the steps of treating a compound represented by formula (IV): with a base in the presence of a base to produce a compound represented by formula (V): and hydrolyzing this compound; a compound represented by formula (II): a compound represented by formula (Ia): a compound represented by formula (V): and a compound represented by formula (VI).
US07915417B2 Amino methylated 2-pyridinones
Novel amino methylated 2-pyridinones, precursors, intermediates, and derivatives; the methods for the preparation of the same; uses of the same for inhibiting pili formation in bacteria; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds are described in this application. The present compounds may be employed to inhibit biofilm formation and thereby inhibit adherence of bacteria to a host cell.
US07915416B2 Tetrahydroquinolines
Disclosed are compounds of formula (I), wherein W, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 have the meanings indicated in claim 1. Said compounds can be used for the treatment of tumors, among other things.
US07915415B2 Metal complexes of cyclometallated imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridine and diimidazo[1,2-a:1′,2′-c]quinazoline ligands and isoelectronic and benzannulated analogs thereof
Compounds comprising phosphorescent metal complexes comprising cyclometallated imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridine and diimidazo[1,2-a:1′,2′-c]quinazoline ligands, or isoelectronic or benzannulated analogs thereof, are described. Organic light emitting diode devices comprising these compounds are also described.
US07915414B2 Blue-emitting organometallic complexes and their application
The present invention discloses organometallic complexes with transition metal elements and their application in fabrication of a variety of light-emitting devices. The mentioned organometallic complexes can serve as emitting material or dopant for blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices with excellent performance. The mentioned organometallic complexes have a general formula as the following: Wherein M represents a transition metal element, and Q1 and Q2 respectively represent an atomic group forming a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring as a five member ring, a six member ring, or a seven member ring.
US07915413B2 Compounds
The invention relates to at least one compound of general formula I wherein R1 is phenyl, pyridinyl, thienyl, furanyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl, or pyridine N-oxide, where each R1 phenyl and R1 heteroaromatic ring may optionally and independently be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from CF3, methyl, iodo, bromo, fluoro, and chloro; R2 is independently selected from ethyl and isopropyl; R3 is hydrogen or fluoro; R4 is —NH2 or —NHSO2R5; and R5 is hydrogen, —CF3, or C1-C6 alkyl, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, at least one process for making at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; at least one method for treating at least one δ receptor associated condition with at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; and at least one pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound in accordance with Formula I.
US07915412B2 Process for the synthesis of 9-hydroxy risperidone (paliperidone)
The present invention relates to a process for preparing paliperidone from its intermediate 3-(2-chloroethyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyrrido[1,2-a]-pyrimidin-4-one.
US07915410B2 Acyclic IKur inhibitors
A compound of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are described herein.
US07915408B2 Triazolotriazines as kinase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b][1,2,4]triazines, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are inhibitors of kinases such as c-Met and are useful in the treatment of cancer and other diseases related to the dysregulation of kinase pathways.
US07915407B2 Process for {3-[2(R)-[(1R)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy]-3(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)morpholin-4-yl]methyl]-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl}phosphonic acid
The present invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of the compound {3-[2(R)-[(1R)-1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy]-3(S)-(4-fluorophenyl) -morpholin-4-yl]methyl]-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazol-1-yl}phosphonic acid, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This compound is useful as a substance P (neurokinin-1) receptor antagonist. In particular, the compound is useful e.g., in the treatment of emesis and inflammatory diseases.
US07915405B2 2,4-disubstituted-5-aminocarbonyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives for therapeutic agent of antiinflammatory disease, method thereof for preparation, therapeutic agent for antiinflammatory disease induced by SPC activity containing the same
Disclosed herein are 2,4-disubstituted-5-aminocarbonyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives, a preparation method thereof, and a therapeutic agent for treating inflammatory diseases induced by SPC, which contains the derivative as an active ingredient. The anti-inflammatory effect of the 2,4-disubstituted-5-aminocarbonyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives was analyzed through a test employing human dermal cells and an animal test using mice and, as a result, it was found that the derivatives showed excellent inhibitory activity on SPC receptor compared to thiazole derivatives known in the prior art. Thus, the 2,4-disubstituted-5-aminocarbonyl-1,3-thiazole derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful as active ingredients in therapeutic agents for treating inflammatory diseases, such as inflammation, pruritus and skin infection, which appear in atopic dermatitis and other diseases induced by SPC activity. wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification.
US07915404B2 Methods for the preparation of pyrazole-containing compounds
The present invention is directed to novel processes for the preparation of fused pyrazole compounds, useful for the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by serotonin receptor activity.
US07915401B2 Compounds for the modulation of beta-catenin expression
The invention relates to oligomer compounds (oligomers), which target beta-catenin mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of beta-catenin. Reduction of beta-catenin expression is beneficial for a range of medical disorders, such as hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer. The invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising oligomers and methods for modulating the expression of beta-catenin using said oligomers, including methods of treatment.
US07915399B2 Modified siRNA molecules and uses thereof
The present invention provides chemically modified siRNA molecules and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence target gene expression. Advantageously, the modified siRNA of the present invention is less immunostimulatory than its corresponding unmodified siRNA sequence and retains full RNAi activity against the target sequence. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising a modified siRNA, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. Methods for identifying and/or modifying an siRNA having immunostimulatory properties are also provided.
US07915394B2 Alleles of the OpcA gene from coryneform bacteria
The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the opcA gene of coryneform bacteria, which encode variants of the OpcA subunit of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.49), and to processes for preparing amino acids, in particular L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by using bacteria which harbor said alleles.
US07915384B2 Chimeric peptides for the regulation of GTPases
Chimeric peptides or fusion proteins are disclosed that include a RhoGAP activity domain and at least one specificity domain that targets a specific Rho protein. The fusion proteins can be used to inhibit any GTPase activity within a cell. The fusion proteins are particularly advantageous for the treatment of cancer. The present invention generally relates to chimeric peptides capable of regulating GTPases, and more particularly, to methods of targeting individual GTPases by using GTPase-activating proteins. Such proteins may be used for the treatment of cancers and other GTPase-related diseases. This invention relates to nucleic acid molecules and the encoded GTPase activating proteins, and variants thereof, and to the use of these molecules in the characterization, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cell signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly cancer. Disclosed herein are compounds and methods for regulating transcription of a selected gene.
US07915382B2 Antifungal bifunctional molecules, methods of construction and methods of treating fungal infection therewith
The present invention is directed to fusion peptides comprising a fungal targeting agent and a channel-forming domain consisting essentially of amino acids 451-626 of colicin Ia, as well as the polynucleotides encoding the peptides of the invention. The fusion peptides of the peptides of the present invention are particularly useful for the treatment of fungal infections in a wide variety of organisms.
US07915374B2 Copolyesters having improved thermal stability and methods for making them
Processes for producing polyethylene terephthalate copolyesters are disclosed, that include the steps of: esterifying a mixture of at least terephthalic acid, from 20 mole percent to 45 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and ethylene glycol, optionally in the presence of one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to form an oligomer; polycondensing the oligomer in the melt phase in the presence of aluminum and one or more alkaline earth metals or alkali metals, to obtain a copolyester having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.5 dL/g; and thereafter adding to the copolyester a phosphorus-containing compound.
US07915370B2 Branched polydiorganosiloxane polyamide copolymers
Branched polydiorganosiloxane polyamide, block copolymers and methods of making the copolymers are provided. The method of making the copolymers involves reacting one or more amine compounds including at least one polyamine with a precursor having at least one polydiorganosiloxane segment and at least two ester groups.
US07915367B2 Process for the manufacture of branched polypropylene
A process for manufacturing a branched polypropylene, said branched polypropylene having a branching index g′ of less than 1.00, the process comprising the step of polymerizing propylene and optionally one or more other comonomers under non-supercritical conditions in a reaction vessel, wherein: c. the pressure during the polymerization of propylene and optionally one or more other comonomers in said reaction vessel is at least 45.4 bar; d. the temperature during the polymerization of propylene and optionally one or more other comonomers in said reaction vessel is below 90° C.; and c. the polymerization of propylene and optionally one or more other comonomers is conducted in said reaction vessel in the presence of a catalyst system having a surface area of not more than 350 m2/g, measured according to ISO 9277, and said catalyst system comprises a metallocene catalyst having zirconium as the transition metal.
US07915366B1 Polyvinyl chloride formulations
An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US07915363B2 Acidic superabsorbent hydrogels
The present invention relates to novel hydrophilic swellable addition polymers comprising improved odor control, a process for their preparation and their use for absorbing aqueous fluids and a process for screening superabsorbents.
US07915356B2 Polymerisation process
A fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], a polymerisation process for its manufacture, and a molding process using such fluoropolymer [polymer (F)].The polymerisation process comprises polymerising at least one fluorinated monomer in a polymerization medium, in which the polymerization medium is mixed by means of a stirring system comprising at least two counter-rotating impellers. Surprisingly and advantageously, the polymerization occurs without fouling or deposit formation on the reactor walls, and moreover, occurs with improved homogeneity, without composition, pressure or temperature gradients, thus enabling obtaining homogeneous polymer composition with no risk of local overheating.A polymer (F) obtained from such process has improved morphology (percentage of organized structures, i.e. of particles of regular shape) and, hence, has good free flowing properties which make it suitable for being processed by compression molding with no need of intermediate milling or grinding process or other size reduction process.
US07915344B2 Ester pre-extended epoxy-terminated viscosifiers and method for producing the same
Viscosifiers, especially terminated polymers that have functional terminal groups, the polymers being pre-extended by polyols and being reacted to give polymers that are terminated by other functional groups, are produced. The viscosifiers have a low content in educts or educt descendants that deteriorate the properties of compositions. The formation of high-molecular addition products is considerably reduced or even excluded so that the products obtained have low viscosity and good storage stability. The epoxy-terminated polymer of formula (I) is especially preferred.
US07915342B2 Breathable films
A polymeric composition having a MFR of less than 2 g/10 min. which when formed into a film has an oxygen transmission rate of equal to or greater than 300 cc/100 in2/24 h at 73° F. and 0% relative humidity per ASTM D 3895 and a water vapor transmission rate of equal to or greater than 0.5 g/100 in2/24 hrs at 100° F. and 100% relative humidity per ASTM F 1249. A polymeric film having a 2% secant modulus in the machine direction of 300 MPa to 700 MPa; an oxygen transmission rate of greater than 300 cc/100 in2/24 h at 100° F., a water vapor transmission rate of greater than 0.5 g/100 in2/24 hrs at 100° F. and 100% relative humidity; an Elmendorf tear strength in the MD of from 50 g to 400 g; an Elmendorf tear strength in the transverse direction of from 150 g to 400 g, a dart drop strength of from 200 g to about 500 g, a haze of from 0% to 85% and, gloss at 45° of from 5% to 70%.
US07915340B2 Cationic starch graft copolymers and novel process for the preparation of cationic starch graft copolymers
A cationic starch graft copolymer is prepared by polymerization of monomers a) to d) a) 20-80% by weight of acrylamide, methacrylamide or mixtures thereof, b) 3-20% by weight of at least one basic or cationic vinyl monomer; c) 0.005-1.5% by weight of at least one bifunctional or higher-functional crosslinking agent, d) 0-10% by weight of at least one nonionic or anionic vinyl monomer which differs from the monomers mentioned under a) to c) in the presence of a grafting base e) e) 15˜70% by weight of at least one starch or one starch derivative, the sum of a) to e) being 100% by weight.
US07915337B2 Surface-treating agent comprising fluoropolymer
A surface-treating agent comprises a fluoropolymer comprising (A) repeating units derived from a fluorine-containing monomer of the formula: (B) repeating units derived from a monomer free from a fluorine atom, and (C) optionally, repeating units derived from a crosslinkable monomer. The surface treating agent is excellent in water repellency, oil repellency and unsusceptibility to fouling even when the side chains are C4 or lower fluoroalkyl groups.
US07915335B2 Rubber composition and pneumatic tire
A rubber composition is provided that attains both low heat generating property and high reinforcement property simultaneously at high levels, is capable of attaining low fuel consumption through the tire, is excellent in durability, and is good in workability and surface property. The rubber composition contains 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber component, from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of bagasse charcoal having a BET specific surface area of from 10 to 300 m2/g, and at least one of carbon black and silica. The total amount of the bagasse charcoal, the carbon black and the silica is preferably from 30 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber component.
US07915334B2 Dual purpose receiver sheet
A dual purpose receiver sheet suitable for use in both digital offset printing presses and xerographic (dry toner) printers and presses, is provided. The inventive receiver sheet employs a microporous toner receiving layer(s) prepared from fine particles in combination with at least one film forming binder, these components being present within a fixed ratio range. The inventive dual purpose receiver sheet with microporous toner receiving layer(s) exhibits good heat stability and good to excellent adhesion to both liquid toners used in digital offset presses and dry toners used in xerographic printing systems.
US07915333B2 Butyl rubber ionomer nanocomposites
The invention relates to nanocomposites and processes for making nanocomposites comprising butyl rubber ionomers having at least 3.5 mol % of repeating units derived from a multiolefin monomer, such as isoprene. More particularly, the invention relates to butyl rubber ionomer nanocomposites comprising high aspect ratio fillers. In one preferred aspect of the invention, the nanocomposites comprise ionomers that are generated in situ during formation of the nanocomposite, leading to intercalation of the ionomer with the nanocomposite. Nanocomposites according to the present invention exhibit improved impermeability and tensile properties as compared with prior art nanocomposites made using conventional brominated butyl rubber.
US07915332B2 Compositions and methods for polymer composites
This invention relates to organic salt compositions useful in the preparation of organoclay compositions, polymer-organoclay composite compositions, and methods for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, said organic layers comprising a quaternary phosphonium cation having structure X wherein Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are independently C2-C50 aromatic radicals; Ar4 is a bond or a C2-C50 aromatic radical; “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C20 aromatic radical; and R2 is a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C2-C50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain.
US07915330B2 Photostabilizing silicone fluids
A silicone fluid comprising a chromophore-substituted polyorganosiloxane having a formula (2): wherein x is an integer in the range of 60 to 2000; y is an integer in the range of 5 to 100; a ratio x:y is in a range of about 10:1 to about 20:1; and X is a photostabilizing chromophore.
US07915326B2 Printing ink composition
A printing ink composition that not only exerts an excellent anti-blocking effect but also is free from any hickey phenomenon, resolving the problems of form plate stain, blanket stain, etc. There are provided a printing ink composition wherein there are dispersed composite particles having a volume-average particle diameter of 2 to 8 μm in which the volume content of solid polymer particles having a particle diameter of larger than 10 μm is not larger than 5 vol. % or less. Each of the composite particles (A) comprises a solid polymer particle (B), such as wax, insoluble in the printing ink, and inorganic microparticles (C) mainly adhered to the periphery of the solid polymer particle (B) and having an average particle diameter of 5 to 1000 nm.
US07915324B2 Dental composition containing unsaturated carbosilane containing components
The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) carbosilane containing component (A) comprising at least 1 Si-Aryl bond, at least 1 silicon atom, at least 1 unsaturated moiety, no Si-Oxygen bond, b) initiator (B), c) optionally filler (C) and d) optionally component (D) selected from modifiers, dyes, pigments, thixotropic agents, flow improvers, polymeric thickeners, surfactants, odorous substances, diluting agent(s) and flavouring.
US07915321B2 Aqueous dispersion and the use thereof in the production of coating agents, adhesives and sealing agents that can be cured by heat or by actinic radiation
Novel aqueous dispersion comprising at least one polymer containing on average (i) at least one primary and/or secondary carbamate group, (ii) at least one functional group having at least one bond which may be activated with actinic radiation, and (iii) at least one dispersive ionic functional group; process for preparing it and its use for preparing coating materials, adhesives and sealing compounds which are curable thermally and with actinic radiation, and also novel coating materials, adhesives and sealing compounds consisting of or comprising the novel aqueous dispersion.
US07915318B2 Aqueous ROMP-based monolith materials and methods for making
A water soluble ROMP catalyst, which has high catalytic efficiency for ring opening metathesis is use in the preparation of polymeric blends for use in monolithic columns. In one embodiments a method for making a polymeric blend is discolosed comprising reaction of a water-soluble ROMP catalyst with a norbornene-substituted cycloolefin polymer or a polynorbornene polymer precursor, and wherein the contacting occurs in an aqueous or polar solvent in the presence of a solid support. In another embodiment a monolithic bed is disclosed comprising the water-soluble ROMP catalyst immobilized on a surface of a solid support. Also disclosed is a monolithic bed comprising: a polymer blend, the polymer blend produced from contacting a water soluble ROMP catalyst with a norbornene-substituted cycloolefin polymer or a polynorbornene polymer precursor; and wherein the contacting occurs in an aqueous or polar solvent in the presence of a solid support.
US07915316B2 Sulfonamides
The present invention provides R, R1, R2, R3, X, c, d, e, f, g, x, y, a, b, z and n are defined in the specification. These compounds are useful in lowering IOP and/or treating glaucoma or providing neuroprotection to the eye of a human patient.
US07915315B2 Benzocycloheptyl analogs having sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor activity
Benzocycloheptyl analogs that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs, which, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.
US07915314B2 Disodium salts, monohydrates, and ethanol solvates for delivering active agents
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. The delivery agents have the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl(arylene), or substituted or unsubstituted aryl(C1-C12 alkylene). The hydrates and solvates of present invention also have surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents, such as heparin and calcitonin, than their corresponding monosodium salts and free acids. The present invention provides an alcohol solvate, such as ethanol solvate, of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. The invention also provides a hydrate of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate.
US07915311B2 Approach to anti-microbial host defense with molecular shields with lipoxin compounds
Methods to cause tissue, such as mucosal cells, to express increased amounts of bactericidal permeability increasing protein (BPI) are described. The BPI inducing agents include, for example, lipoxin compounds.
US07915310B2 Utilization of dialkylfumarates
The present invention relates to the use of certain dialkyl fumarates for the preparation of pharmaceutical preparations for use in transplantation medicine or for the therapy of autoimmune diseases and said compositions in the form of micro-tablets or pellets. For this purpose, the dialkyl fumarates may also be used in combination with conventional preparations used in transplantation medicine and immunosuppressive agents, especially cyclosporines.
US07915298B2 Compounds and methods for leukotriene biosynthesis inhibition
This invention provides novel salt and crystalline forms thereof of (−)4-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-[({5-[1-hydroxy-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}amino)-methyl]-2H-chromen-2-one. The compounds are 5-LO inhibitors and are useful for treatment of conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, COPD, and atherosclerosis.
US07915292B2 Antibacterial quinoline derivatives
The present invention relates to novel substituted quinoline derivatives according to the general Formula (Ia) or Formula (Ib): the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the quaternary amines thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the tautomeric forms thereof and the N-oxide forms thereof. The claimed compounds are useful for the treatment of a bacterial disease including a mycobacterial disease, particularly those diseases caused by pathogenic mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. avium and M. marinum. Also claimed is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of the claimed compounds, the use of the claimed compounds or compositions for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial diseases and a process for preparing the claimed compounds.
US07915285B2 Method for treating drug and behavioral addictions
The present invention is directed to the use of ibudilast for treating addictions, including drug and behavioral addictions. In particular, ibudilast is used to diminish the dopamine-mediated reward associated with addictions and to treat withdrawal syndromes after discontinuance of addictive drug use or behavior.
US07915283B2 Indole, azaindole and related heterocyclic 4-alkenyl piperidine amides
This invention provides compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and method of use. In particular, the invention is concerned with new piperidine 4-alkenyl derivatives that possess unique antiviral activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to compounds useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. The compounds of the invention for the general Formula I: wherein: Z is Q is selected from the group consisting of: —W— is
US07915282B2 C2-phenyl-substituted cyclic keto-enols used as pesticides and herbicides
The present invention relates to novel C2-phenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which W, X, Y, Z and CKE are as defined in the description, to processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and herbicides.
US07915269B2 Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine and a second active agent
Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine together with one or more second active agents, e.g., ketoconazole and ritonavir, are disclosed. Such methods reduce the dangers commonly associated with such concomitant administration and provide additional benefits. Methods of notifying health care practitioners and patients regarding appropriate dosing for concomitant administration of colchicine together with second active agents are also provided.
US07915266B2 6-aryl-7-halo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines as anticancer agents
This invention relates to methods for treating or inhibiting cancers in a mammal in need thereof, which comprises administering an effective amount of a 6-Aryl-7-halo-imidazo[1,2 -a]pyrimidine compound of the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US07915265B2 Combinations for the treatment of immunoinflammatory disorders
The invention features pharmaceutical compositions that include dipyridamole and a corticosteroid.
US07915258B2 Substituted 2,5-dihydro-3H-pyrazolo[4,3-C]pyridazin-3-one derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use of the same
The invention relates to compounds having the formula (I): Wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as described herein. Also disclosed are the method of preparation and their use in therapy.
US07915252B2 Sulfonyl compounds as inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1
Sulfonyl derivatives of structural formula I are selective inhibitors of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diabetes, such as noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X, and other symptoms associated with NIDDM.
US07915251B2 Alpha-helix mimetics and methods relating to the treatment of fibrosis
The invention provides α-helix mimetic structures of formula (I) with the definitions of A, B, D, E, G, W, R1 and R2 as set out in the description and a chemical library relating thereto. The compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of the invention using the compounds, relate to the treatment of diseases including fibrosis, such as pulmonary fibrosis.
US07915248B2 Boronated metal-phthalocyanines, process for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and use thereof
The present invention relates to metal-phthalocyanines bearing at least a group containing boron isotopes 11B or 10B, covalently bound to the axial positions of metal-phthalocyanine nucleus; moreover it refers to the process for their preparation, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use for the treatment of neoplastic and dysplastic pathologies in PDT and/or BNCT.
US07915247B1 Methods of use of fenofibric acid
Fenofibric acid formulations comprising 105 mg of fenofibric acid are described as well as methods of use thereof. Dosage forms include, for example, immediate-release dosage forms.
US07915246B2 Methods of treating fibromyalgia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and pain
The present invention provides a method of treating fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and pain in an animal subject. The method generally involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of a dual serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said dual serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor compound is characterized by a non-tricyclic structure and an equal or greater inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake than serotonin reuptake. In particular, the use of milnacipran to treat FMS, CFS, and pain is disclosed.
US07915240B2 Immunomodulatory compounds and treatment of diseases related to an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines
Method of using immunomodulatory compounds for treating diseases related to an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines, including diseases selected from asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, prostatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and rhumatoid arthritis, the compounds being of general formula (I): wherein: m and n, independently from each other, are an integer ranging from 1 to 4, X and Y represent —COOH, —O—P(O)(OH)2, —O—SO2(OH), —NH2, —OH, —CONH(CH2)n1—NH2, —CO—NH—CH(COOH)—(CH2)n1—COOH, —CO—NH—CH(COOH)—(CH2)n1—NH2, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—NH2, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—CHOH—CH2OH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—OH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—COOH, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—CHO, —O—CO—(CH2)n1—NH—CO—(CH2)n2—COOH, R1 and R2 each designate an acyl group derived from a saturated or unsaturated, straight- or branched-chain carboxylic acid having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, which is unsubstituted or bears one to three substituents selected among hydroxyl, dihydroxyphosphoryloxy, alkyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, acyloxy of 2 to 18 carbon atoms in the acyl moiety, amino, acylamino.
US07915232B2 4′-substituted nucleoside derivatives as inhibitors of HCV RNA replication
The present invention relates to the use of nucleoside derivatives of formula Ia wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification, and of pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which inhibit HCV polymerase and are useful for treating a patient suffering from a HCV infection and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US07915231B2 Antisense modulation of C-reactive protein expression
Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of C-reactive protein. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding C-reactive protein. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of C-reactive protein expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of C-reactive protein are provided.
US07915230B2 Reagents for transfection of eukaryotic cells
Compositions and methods for improved delivery of macromolecules into eukaryotic cells are provided. Fusogenic peptides from fusion proteins of non-enveloped viruses enhance the efficiency of transfection of eukaryotic cells mediated by transfection agents such as cationic lipids, polycationic polymers such as PEI and dendrimers. These fusogenic peptides are used as part of a transfection complex that efficiently delivers a macromolecule, for example, a nucleic acid, into a eukaryotic cell. Novel cationic lipids and compositions of cationic lipids also are provided that may be used for the introduction of macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and peptides into a variety of cells and tissues. The lipids can be used alone, in combination with other lipids and/or in combination with fusogenic peptides to prepare transfection complexes.
US07915229B2 Compositions containing piperacillin and tazobactam useful for injection
An aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent, preferably EDTA, or a salt thereof has been found to be useful for inhibiting particulate formation in piperacillin/tazobactam parenteral combinations. The composition may also contain a buffer, preferably citrate, and optionally an aminoglycoside. The product may be in the form of a frozen composition that can be thawed for use. The product may also be in the form of a cryodesiccated powder that can be reconstituted by addition of an aqueous vehicle to reform a solution.
US07915228B2 Derivatives of asimadoline with covalently bonded acids
The present invention relates to derivatives of N-methyl-N-[(1S)-1-phenyl-2-((3S)-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide with covalently bonded acids, and to the salts, solvates and prodrugs thereof, to the derivatives as medicaments, to the use of these derivatives for the preparation of a medicament, to the use of these derivatives for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, to a process for the preparation of the pharmaceutical compositions, to pharmaceutical compositions obtainable by this process, and to a process for the treatment of diseases which comprises the administration of the pharmaceutical composition.
US07915225B2 Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor treatment of medical disorders
The invention pertains to methods and compositions for treating medical disorders characterized by elevated levels or abnormal expression of TNFα by administering a TNFα antagonist, such as recombinant TNFR:Fc.
US07915222B2 Method of preventing the development of rheumatoid arthritis in subjects with undifferentiated arthritis
The invention relates to methods and compositions for treating undifferentiated arthritis (UA) and/or preventing the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in subjects with UA by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of soluble CTLA4 molecule.
US07915215B2 Fragrance-delivery composition comprising boron and persulfate ion-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules and method of use thereof
An aqueous composition is provided having a pH of from about 2.0 to about 5.7 to about 12.8 and comprising boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules. A method of delivering a fragrance to a substrate is further provided comprising applying to the substrate an aqueous composition comprised of fragrance-containing, boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked, polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules, as well as a method of cleaning a substrate comprising applying to the substrate an aqueous composition comprised of fragrance-containing, boron or persulfate ion-crosslinked, polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules together with at least one cleaning component.
US07915213B2 High ash liquid laundry detergents comprising a urea and/or glycerine hygroscopic agent
An aqueous based liquid laundry detergent comprises at least 15 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate builder and a hygroscopic agent in sufficient amounts to maintain the stability of the detergent composition and reduce the formation of insoluble hydrates of the carbonate builder.
US07915209B1 Individual liquid-filled soap bar
An application for an individual liquid-filled soap includes a thin, breakable, solid soap outer shell and a liquid contained within the thin, solid soap outer shell. The liquid is either liquid soap or a soap-compatible liquid such as lanolin, hand cream, antibacterial soap, and antibacterial cream or a combination of these ingredients.
US07915208B2 Method for improving the foaming properties of cleansing and/or foaming formulations for topical use
A method for improving foaming properties of cleansing and/or foaming formulations, compositions, methods for preparing them, and preparation of the topical formulations containing them are described. The method consists in including, in these formulations, an effective amount of a polyol glycoside or of a mixture of polyol glycosides of formula (I) R1—O-(G)x-H in which x is a decimal number ranging between 1 and 5, G is the residue of a reducing sugar and R1 is a radical of formula (A) —CH2—(CHOH)n—CH2—OH in which n is an integer equal to 2, 3 or 4, or else R1 is a radical of the formula (B) —(CH2—CHOH—CH2—O)m—H in which m is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3. Compositions contain compounds of formula (I) or mixtures of compounds of formula (I), foaming and/or detergent surfactants and topically acceptable solvents. Can be used in the cosmetics, dermopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical field.
US07915206B2 Silicone lubricant with good wetting on PET surfaces
The passage of a container along a conveyor is lubricated by applying to the container or conveyor a composition comprising a water-miscible silicone material wherein the composition has good wetting to polyethylene terephthalate surfaces. The compatibility of the lubricating composition with polyethylene terephthalate is increased because the wetting of the composition to polyethylene terephthalate is improved.
US07915201B2 Ligational encoding of small molecules
The invention relates to a method for synthesising a bifunctional complex comprising an encoded molecule and an identifier polynucleotide identifying the chemical entities having participated in the synthesis of the encoded molecule, said method comprising the steps of i) providing a) at least one template comprising one or more codons capable of hybridising to an anti-codon, wherein said template is optionally associated with one or more chemical entities, and b) a plurality of building blocks each comprising an anti-codon associated with one or more chemical entities, and ii) hybridising the anti-codon of one or more of the provided building blocks to the template, iii) covalently linking said anti-codons and/or linking the at least one template with the anti-codon of at least one building block, thereby generating an identifier polynucleotide capable of identifying chemical entities having participated in the synthesis of the encoded molecule, iv) separating the template from one or more of the anti-codons hybridised thereto, thereby generating an at least partly single stranded identifier polynucleotide associated with a plurality of chemical entities, v) generating a bifunctional complex comprising an encoded molecule and an identifier polynucleotide identifying the chemical entities having participated in the synthesis of the encoded molecule, wherein said encoded molecule is generated by reacting at least two of said plurality of chemical entities associated with the identifier polynucleotide, and wherein said at least two chemical entities are provided by separate building blocks.
US07915200B2 2-(2-fluoro-substituted phenyl)-6-amino-5-chloro-4-pyrimidinecarboxylates and their use as herbicides
2-(2-Fluoro-substituted phenyl)-6-amino-5-chloro-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid and its derivatives are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US07915199B1 Herbicidal composition
A selective herbicidal composition for controlling grasses and weeds in crops of cultivated plants, comprising a) a herbicidally effective amount of a compound of formula I wherein the substituents are defined as given in claim 1; b) a herbicidally synergistic amount of at least one herbicide selected from the classes of phenoxy-phenoxypropionic acids, hydroxylamines, sulfonylureas, imidazolinones, pyrimidines, triazines, ureas, PPO, chloroacetanilides, phenoxyacetic acids, triazinones, dinitroanilines, azinones, carbamates, oxyacetamides, thiolcarbamates, azole-ureas, benzoic acids, anilides, nitriles, triones and sulfonamides, as well as from the herbicides amitrol, benfuresate, bentazone, cinmethylin, clomazone, chlopyralid, difenzoquat, dithiopyr, ethofumesate, flurochloridone, indanofane, isoxaben, oxaziclomefone, pyridate, pyridafol, quinchlorac, quinmerac, tridiphane and flamprop; and optionally c) to antagonise the herbicide, an antidotally effective amount of a safener selected from cloquintocet, an alkali, alkaline earth, sulfonium or ammonium cation of cloquintocet, cloquintocet-mexyl, mefenpyr, an alkali, alkaline earth, sulfonium or ammonium cation of mefenpyr and mefenpyr-diethyl; and/or d) an additive comprising an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a mineral oil, the alkylesters thereof or mixtures of these oils and oil derivatives.
US07915198B2 Aqueous solution of non-colloidal silicic acid and boric acid
The present invention includes an aqueous solution, comprising boric acid and non-colloidal silicic acid. This solution can also comprise a water absorbing additive. The solution contains bioavailable non-colloidal silicic acid, and the solution is stable for more than one year. The invention also describes a method for the preparation of a solution in which one or more silicon and boron compounds are hydrolysed in an acidic solution containing one or more dissolved water absorbing additives.
US07915194B2 Process for homo- or copolymerization of conjugated olefins
Metal complexes, catalyst compositions containing the metal complexes, and processes for making the metal complexes and the catalyst compositions are described for the manufacture of polymers from ethylenically unsaturated addition polymerizable monomers. The metal complexes have chemical structures corresponding to one of the following formulae: wherein MI and MII are metals; T is nitrogen or phosphorus; P is a carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus atom; groups R1, R2 and R3 may be linked to each other; Y is a divalent bridging group; X, X1, and X2 are anionic ligand groups with certain exceptions; D is a neutral Lewis base ligand; and s, o, k, i, ii, p, m, a, b, c, d, e, t, and y are numbers as further described in the claims.
US07915192B2 Catalyst composition comprising shuttling agent for ethylene copolymer formation
A composition for use in forming a multi-block copolymer from a single polymerizable monomer, said copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in branching index, a polymerization process using the same, and the resulting polymers, wherein the composition comprises the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining: (A) a first olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by catalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, at least one of catalyst (A) or catalyst (B) being capable of forming a branched polymer by means of chain walking or reincorporation of in situ formed olefinic polymer chains, and (C) a chain shuttling agent.
US07915191B2 Three-stage counter-current FCC regenerator
This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for regenerating a catalyst used in an FCC unit, including providing a spent catalyst into an upper portion of a regenerator, maintaining a calcination phase, a gasification phase, and a combustion phase of fluidized catalyst in the regenerator, combusting carbon in the combustion phase and producing a combustion flue gas, reacting carbon in the gasification phase with the combustion flue gas to form a carbon monoxide rich flue gas, and calcining the spent catalyst with the carbon monoxide rich flue gas.
US07915190B2 Metal catalyst and method for production thereof
The present invention relates to a metal catalyst containing fine metal particles, characterized in that the fine metal particles have a particle diameter of 3 nm or less and also have a proportion of metallic bond state of 40% or more, which is ascribed by subjecting to waveform separation of a binding energy peak peculiar to the metal as measured by using an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The fine metal particles are preferably fine platinum particles. The fine metal particles are preferably supported on the surface of carrier particles by reducing ions of metal to be deposited through the action of a reducing agent in a reaction system of a liquid phase containing the carrier particles dispersed therein, thereby to deposit the metal on the surface of carrier particles in the form of fine particles. The proportion of metallic bond state of the fine metal particles is adjusted within the above range by reducing after deposition thereby to decrease the oxidation state.
US07915188B2 Ultrafine nepheline syenite
A useable particulate nepheline syenite having a grain size to provide an Einlehner Abrasive Value of less than about 100 is described. The particulate nepheline syenite is generally free from agglomeration and moisture free. At least 99% of the nepheline syenite particles have a size less than 10 microns. In practice, the nepheline syenite grain size is less than about 5 microns and the distribution profile of the particulate system is generally 4-5 microns.
US07915187B2 Titanium carbide powder and titanium carbide-ceramics composite powder and method for production thereof, and sintered compact from the titanium carbide powder and sintered compact from the titanium carbide/ceramics composite powders and method for production thereof
Disclosed is a highly-pure fine titanium carbide powder having a maximum particle size of 100 nm or less and containing metals except titanium in an amount of 0.05 wt % or less and free carbon in an amount of 0.5 wt % or less. The powder has a NaCl-type crystal structure, and a composition represented by TiCxOyNz, wherein X, Y and Z satisfy the relations: 0.5≦X≦1.0; 0≦Y≦0.3; 0≦Z≦0.2; and 0.5≦X+Y+Z≦1.0.) The powder is produced by: dissolving an organic substance serving as a carbon source in a solvent to prepare a liquid, wherein the organic substance contains at least one OH or COOH group which is a functional group coordinatable to titanium of titanium alkoxide, and no element except C, H, N and O; mixing titanium alkoxide with the liquid to satisfy the following relation: 0.7≦α≦1.0 (wherein α is a molar ratio of the carbon source to the titanium alkoxide), so as to obtain a precursor solution; and subjecting a product in the precursor solution to a heat treatment in a non-oxidizing atmosphere or a vacuum atmosphere at a temperature of 1050 to 1500° C. The present invention can provide fine titanium carbide powders with nano-scale particle sizes, which are free of inorganic impurities, such as titanium oxide and metal, low in free carbon, and effective in enhancing characteristics of a titanium carbide-ceramics composite sintered body.
US07915185B2 Flame retardant textile fabric
A high performance flame retardant textile fabric is provided which is suitable for use in producing close-fitting garments, such as undergarments, that come into direct contact with the skin of the wearer and provide a protective function, as well as in non-apparel applications. The fabric is formed of yarns of rayon continuous filaments, the yarns having outer filaments along the periphery of the yarn and inner filaments in the interior of the yarn. A cured phosphorus-based flame retardant compound is durably affixed to the filaments and imparts flame retardant properties to the fabric. The outer filaments of the yarns have a phosphorus content at least 25% greater than the inner filaments of the yarn.
US07915181B2 Repair and restoration of damaged dielectric materials and films
Methods of repairing voids in a material are described herein that include: a) providing a material having a plurality of reactive silanol groups; b) providing at least one reactive surface modification agent; and c) chemically capping at least some of the plurality of reactive silanol groups with the at least one of the reactive surface modification agents. Methods of carbon restoration in a material are also described that include: a) providing a carbon-deficient material having a plurality of reactive silanol groups; b) providing at least one reactive surface modification agent; and c)chemically capping at least some of the plurality of reactive silanol groups with the at least one of the reactive surface modification agents. In addition, methods are described herein for reducing the condensation of a film and/or a carbon-deficient film that include: a) providing a film having a plurality of reactive silanol groups; b) placing the film into a plasma chamber; c) introducing a plurality of reactive organic moieties-containing silanes into the chamber; and d) allowing the silanes to react with at least some of the reactive silanol groups. Dielectric materials and low-k dielectric materials are described herein that comprise: a) an inorganic material having a plurality of silicon atoms; and b) a plurality of organic moiety-containing silane compounds, wherein the silane compounds are coupled to the inorganic material through at least some of the silicon atoms.
US07915179B2 Insulating film forming method and substrate processing method
In a method for forming an insulating film by performing plasma nitriding process to an oxide film on a substrate and then by annealing the substrate in a process chamber (51), the substrate is annealed under a low pressure of 667 Pa or lower. The annealing is performed for 5 or 45 seconds. The plasma nitriding process is performed by microwave plasma by using a planar antenna whereupon a multitude of slot holes are formed.
US07915178B2 Passivation of aluminum nitride substrates
The present invention provides methods of protecting a surface of an aluminum nitride substrate. The substrate with the protected surface can be stored for a period of time and easily activated to be in a condition ready for thin film growth or other processing. In certain embodiments, the method of protecting the substrate surface comprises forming a passivating layer on at least a portion of the substrate surface by performing a wet etch, which can comprise the use of one or more organic compounds and one or more acids. The invention also provides aluminum nitride substrates having passivated surfaces.
US07915173B2 Shallow trench isolation structure having reduced dislocation density
A method for manufacturing a shallow trench isolation structure comprises etching a plurality of trenches into a silicon substrate. The trenches have an upright wall portion, a bottom floor portion, and a corner portion connecting the upright wall portion and the bottom floor portion. The method further comprises conformally depositing a dielectric layer into the trenches. The dielectric layer covers at least part of the upright wall portion, at least part of the bottom floor portion, and at least part of the corner portion. The method further comprises oxidizing the dielectric layer. A portion of the dielectric layer deposited over the corner portion is oxidized at a first oxidization rate, and a portion of the dielectric layer deposited over the upright wall portion is oxidized at a second oxidization rate. The first oxidization rate is less than the second oxidization rate. The method further comprises depositing an electrically insulating material into the trenches over the dielectric layer.
US07915172B2 Semiconductor substrate and method of fabricating semiconductor device
A semiconductor substrate includes a wafer including an element area and a non-element area delineating the element area, a first layered structure situated in the element area, a first insulating film covering the first layered structure, and exhibiting a first etching rate with respect to an etching recipe, a second insulating film covering the first layered structure covered by the first insulating film in the element area, and exhibiting a second etching rate with respect to the etching recipe, the second etching rate being greater than the first etching rate, and a second layered structure situated in the non-element area, wherein the second layered structure includes at least a portion of the first layered structure.
US07915171B2 Double patterning techniques and structures
Double patterning techniques and structures are generally described. In one example, a method includes depositing a first photoresist to a semiconductor substrate, forming a first integrated circuit (IC) pattern in the first photoresist, the first IC pattern comprising one or more trench structures, protecting the first IC pattern in the first photoresist from actions that form a second IC pattern in a second photoresist, depositing the second photoresist to the first IC pattern, and forming the second IC pattern in the second photoresist, the second IC pattern comprising one or more structures that are sufficiently close to the one or more trench structures of the first IC pattern to cause scumming of the second photoresist in the one or more trench structures of the first IC pattern.
US07915170B2 Reducing contamination of semiconductor substrates during beol processing by providing a protection layer at the substrate edge
By providing a protection layer at the bevel region, the deposition of polymer materials during the patterning process of complex metallization structures may be reduced. Additionally or alternatively, a surface topography may be provided, for instance in the form of respective recesses, in order to enhance the degree of adhesion of any materials deposited in the bevel region during the manufacturing of complex metallization structures. Advantageously, the provision of the protection layer providing the reduced polymer deposition may be combined with the modified surface topography.
US07915168B2 Semiconductor processing methods
Some embodiments include methods in which insulative material is simultaneously deposited across both a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and across a back side of the substrate. Subsequently, openings may be etched through the insulative material across the front side, and the substrate may then be dipped within a plating bath to grow conductive contact regions within the openings. The insulative material across the back side may protect the back side from being plated during the growth of the conductive contact regions over the front side. In some embodiments, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition may be utilized to for the deposition, and may be conducted at a temperature suitable to anneal passivation materials so that such annealing occurs simultaneously with the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition.
US07915167B2 Fabrication of channel wraparound gate structure for field-effect transistor
A method for fabricating a field-effect transistor with a gate completely wrapping around a channel region is described. Ion implantation is used to make the oxide beneath the channel region of the transistor more etchable, thereby allowing the oxide to be removed below the channel region. Atomic layer deposition is used to form a gate dielectric and a metal gate entirely around the channel region once the oxide is removed below the channel region.
US07915164B2 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.
US07915160B1 Methods for forming small contacts
Methods are provided for forming contacts for a semiconductor device. The methods may include depositing various materials, such as polysilicon, nitride, oxide, and/or carbon materials, over the semiconductor device. The methods may also include forming a contact hole and filling the contact hole to form the contact for the semiconductor device.