Document Document Title
US07969656B2 Wafer level lens module array with spacer array
An exemplary wafer level lens module array includes a first lens array, a second lens array above the first lens array, and a spacer array between the first and second lens arrays. The first lens array includes a number of first lenses, and two first aligning structures. The second lens array includes a number of second lenses, and two second aligning structures. The spacer array includes a number of through holes, and two third aligning structures. The first aligning structures respectively align with the third aligning structures, thereby the first lenses are coaxial with the respective the through holes. The second aligning structures respectively align with the third aligning structures, thereby the second lenses are coaxial with the respective through holes.
US07969655B2 Prism sheet
An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The transparent main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The first surface of transparent main body defines a plurality of spherical depressions. The second surface defines a plurality of rectangular structures. Each rectangular structure defines four adjacent triangular pyramid depressions.
US07969654B1 Volume Fresnel zone plates fabricated by laser direct writing
A volume Fresnel zone plate and a method of producing such a device using a femtosecond laser for direct writing of zone plates. A volume zone plate has a number of Fresnel zone plate layers designed to focus light coherently to a single spot. Embodiments include both low numerical aperture (NA) and high NA zone plates, and provide a significant increase in overall diffraction efficiency over a single Fresnel zone plate.
US07969649B2 Controller which controls a variable optical attenuator to control the power level of a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal when the number of channels are varied
An optical amplifying apparatus which includes an optical amplifier, an optical attenuator and a controller. The optical amplifier amplifies a light signal having a variable number of channels. The optical attenuator passes the amplified light signal and has a variable light transmissivity. Prior to varying the number of channels in the light signal, the controller varies the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator so that a power level of the amplified light signal is maintained at an approximately constant level that depends on the number of channels in the light signal prior to the varying the number of channels. While the number of channels in the light signal is being varied, the controller maintains the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator to be constant. Subsequent to varying the number of channels in the light signal, the controller varies the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator so that a power level of the amplified light signal is maintained at an approximately constant level that depends on the number of channels in the light signal subsequent to the varying the number of channels.
US07969647B2 Apparatus and method for flattening gain profile of an optical amplifier
A change in loading conditions of fiber amplifiers in an optical communications network causes rapid variations in the gain profile of the amplifiers due to spectral hole burning and stimulated Raman scattering. An apparatus for reducing such gain profile variations is described which monitors optical signal perturbations and reacts by adjusting pump powers of the amplifiers and, or fast variable optical attenuator according to a pre-determined function stored in the form of constants in controller's memory. The optical signal is monitored as total power, and the power of light after passing through one or more optical filters. The light detection is relatively fast, whereby the gain profile variations are compensated by fast controlled variable optical attenuator and pump power adjustment upon the change in loading conditions.
US07969646B2 Display system
The present invention relates to a display system based on photon energy up-conversion.
US07969642B2 Electrophoresis display panel
An electrophoresis display panel including an active device array substrate and an electrophoresis display film is provided. The active device array substrate includes a plurality of active devices and a shielding pattern. The electrophoresis display film is disposed on the active device array substrate. The electrophoresis display film includes a conductive layer, a dielectric layer and a plurality of electrophoresis display mediums. The dielectric layer is disposed on the conductive layer and has a plurality of micro-cups arranged in area array. The dielectric layer is between the conductive layer and the active device array substrate. Light passing through the dielectric layer is prevented from irradiating onto the active devices by the shielding pattern. In addition, the electrophoresis display mediums are filled within the micro-cups, respectively.
US07969641B2 Device having power generating black mask and method of fabricating the same
A power generating black mask comprising an anti-reflection layer deposited over a substrate, a first electrode layer deposited over the anti-reflection layer, a semi-conductor layer deposited over the first electrode layer and a second electrode layer deposited over the semi-conductor layer.
US07969638B2 Device having thin black mask and method of fabricating the same
A thin black mask is created using a single mask process. A dielectric layer is deposited over a substrate. An absorber layer is deposited over the dielectric layer and a reflector layer is deposited over the absorber layer. The absorber layer and the reflector layer are patterned using a single mask process.
US07969635B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus using same
The optical scanning device includes a light source emitting multiple light beams; an optical deflecting device having a reflection surface on which the light beams are incident to be reflected while deflected; multiple scanning optics systems focusing the light beams on the surfaces of members to be scanned while scanning the surfaces with the light beams in a main scanning direction; and multiple glass plates located between the multiple scanning optical systems and the members on the light paths while slanted and having no refracting power in the main and sub-scanning scanning directions. The light beams include two or more light beams having different incidence angles in the sub-scanning direction relative to the normal line of the reflection surface of the optical deflecting device, and the slanting angles of the glass plates are determined depending on the incidence angles of the corresponding light beams passing through the glass plates.
US07969633B2 Method and device for computing computer-generated video holograms
The data defining an object to be holographically reconstructed is first arranged into a number of virtual section layers, each layer defining a two-dimensional object data sets, such that a video hologram data set can be calculated from some or all of these two-dimensional object data sets. The first step is to transform each two-dimensional object data set to a two-dimensional wave field distribution. This wave field distribution is calculated for a virtual observer window in a reference layer at a finite distance from the video hologram layer. Next, the calculated two-dimensional wave field distributions for the virtual observer window, for all two-dimensional object data sets of section layers, are added to define an aggregated observer window data set. Then, the aggregated observer window data set is transformed from the reference layer to the video hologram layer, to generate the video hologram data set for the computer-generated video hologram.
US07969627B2 Image reading apparatus for detecting noise in image data
An image reading apparatus includes: three line sensors mutually spaced in a sub scanning direction; a platen arranged between the original and the three line sensors; a mover moving the platen relative to the three line sensors at a rate relative to the three line sensors, the rate being different from that of the original relative to the three line sensors; a lightness difference detector extracting a feature pixel having a predetermined feature from each of three data output from the three line sensors; and NOR and AND devices comparing a plurality of data corresponding to a single location on the original to detect the feature pixel extracted from one of the plurality of data, as a noise pixel if the feature pixel is not a feature pixel for the other data and also has at least a predetermined value in saturation.
US07969620B2 Image reader and method of calibrating thereof
An image reader includes an image sensor including a plurality of light receiving elements. The plurality of light receiving elements receive a reflection light from a document and perform photoelectric conversion. The image reader further includes an MTF calculation portion which calculates an MTF of the image sensor based on image data which is obtained by reading a predetermined MTF detection pattern. Moreover, the image reader includes an image processing portion which divides the plurality of light receiving elements into a first MTF region and a second MTF region. The image processing portion performs a first image process on the plurality of image signals which are outputted from the light receiving elements in the first MTF region and a second image process on the plurality of image signals which are outputted from the light receiving elements in the second MTF region.
US07969619B2 Information tracking method, image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and information tracking program
A computer-executable information tracking method, an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and a program to adequately track the information flow of a paper document are disclosed. The method includes a first detecting step of, whenever an input or output of information is performed using a paper as a medium, detecting paper identification information that uniquely identifies the paper from other paper; a storing step of associating and storing the paper identification information with information regarding the input or output of information in a recording device; a second detecting step of detecting the paper identification information of a designated paper; an information searching step of searching for the information regarding the input or output of information on the designated paper by comparing the paper identification information of the designated paper with the paper identification information stored in the recording device.
US07969618B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, computer readable recording medium, and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes: a generating unit that generates a control image representing control information to be used for controlling an operation that is performed by the image forming apparatus; a superimposing unit that superimposes the control image generated by the generating unit on a print image; and an output unit that outputs a superimposed image generated by the superimposing unit performing the superimposition. The control information is to be used for performing a control operation so that a document formed with pages having the superimposed image printed thereon is collectively processed, with the superimposed image representing the control information. The control information contains the total number of pages of the document and the page number of the corresponding page having the superimposed image printed thereon.
US07969616B2 Systems and methods for efficient print job compression
Systems and methods described herein provide for an efficient method for print job compression. In some embodiments, threshold halftone lookup tables directed to specific object types are used to compare pixel data for specific detected objects. Pixel data for such specified objects may be encoded using the appropriate object-specific threshold halftone lookup table into one of two multi-bit values, which serve to increase the frequency of repetitive or redundant encoded data and permit efficient compression by algorithms that exploit data repetition and/or redundancy. The methods described herein are applicable to a variety of printers, including raster and PDL printers.
US07969614B2 Image forming apparatus capable of outputting color and monochrome images, control method thereof and computer readable recording medium
An image forming apparatus outputting a color image and a monochrome image obtains data for output image by RIP-convert of accepted image data, and extracts feature of the data for output image. When the data for output image is determined to correspond to a color image, the image forming apparatus outputs a color image corresponding to the data for output image, on condition that the feature satisfies a determination reference.
US07969612B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing system and method include allowing an output device to output patch-data items of plural multi-order colors represented by a first color space, measuring the color values, in an absolute color space, of the output patch-data items, calculating reference values by converting the plural multi-order colors represented by the first color space based on a first color conversion table containing correspondence between the first color space and the absolute color space, calculating distances between the color values measured by the color measuring means and the reference values, which correspond thereto, and correcting, based on the calculated distances, a second color conversion table containing correspondence between the absolute color space and an output color space.
US07969607B2 Print control apparatus, print control method, print control program, and memory medium storing the program
The invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a print control program, in which in the case of Z-folding a sheet which has been print-outputted by using an N-up function for allocating a plurality of logic pages onto one sheet, it is possible to make layout adjustment such that the logic pages printed onto the output sheet in the Z-folding state can be easily confirmed, and also provides a memory medium in which such a program has been stored. For this purpose, layout designation to designate a mode to print the plurality of logic pages onto one of print surfaces of the sheet which is outputted by a printing apparatus is made. Further, when the sheet is Z-folded, the layout of the plurality of logic pages is adjusted so that the whole area of at least one logic page is displayed onto an exposing surface of the Z-folded sheet.
US07969605B2 Recording apparatus and method of controlling the recording apparatus
A recording apparatus configured to record on a recording medium by using a recording head, includes a first storage unit that stores input data including a command and a first image data, a reading unit that reads out the command and the first image data stored in the first storage unit by using a first pointer, a generating unit that converts the first image data read out from the first storage unit and generate a second image data, a second storage unit that stores the second image data generated in the generating unit, a determining unit that determines whether an amount of data stored in the first storage unit reaches a predetermined value by using a second pointer, and a recording unit that starts a scan for recording after the determining unit determines that the amount of data stored in the first storage unit reaches the predetermined value.
US07969602B2 Method for delivering greeting cards
A method for delivering a greeting card using a form in which information relating to at least one interactive element associated with the delivery of a greeting card, and an identity indicative of the at least one interactive element are determined, print data indicative of the information and the identity is generated, and then transferred to a printer. The printer is responsive to the print data to print the form including the information and coded data relating to the at least one interactive element, the coded data being coincident with the information. This allows a sensing device placed in an operative position relative to the information to sense at least some of the coded data and generate indicating data using the sensed coded data.
US07969601B2 Data communication system, data communication method and program thereof to prohibit certain transmissions of documents
If information indicating a number of cover sheets included in a job sheet data does not match a number of cover sheet data counted by a sheet count unit, a facsimile transmission unit does not transmit a facsimile document. Moreover, if a facsimile number included in a cover sheet data does not match a facsimile number included in a job sheet data, the facsimile transmission unit does not transmit a facsimile document.
US07969600B2 Printing of linked data in a network
Print data is input from a computer, and a main translator of an image processing apparatus analyzes the print data, and performs an output data process. In addition, a sub-translator analyzes the print data, performs an external reference data obtaining process through a network, holds the obtained external reference data in a storage device, and manages the data in a resource management table. When the main translator requires the external reference data, it performs the output data process using the external reference data managed in the resource management table. Thus, the output data process and the external resource pre-reading process are simultaneously performed, thereby improving the throughput of the entire system.
US07969598B2 Information processing apparatus, system and control method thereof, program, and storage medium for document management
An information processing apparatus includes a scanning unit adapted to scan an image of a document, a detection unit adapted to detect a document type by analyzing image data of the document scanned by the scanning unit, a storage unit adapted to store a storage period for each document type, a calculation unit adapted to calculate an expiration date for storage of the image data based on the storage period corresponding to the document type detected by the detection unit, and a management control unit adapted to manage the image data based on the calculated expiration date for storage.
US07969595B2 Internet printing
A network printer for users printing documents in the Internet contains a keypad, when a user on the keypad enters a number, the printer sends the number to a first server; the first Internet server translates the number into the URL of a document in a second server in the Internet, and sends the URL to the printer; according to the URL, the printer retrieves the document from the second server via Internet, and prints the document.
US07969590B2 Image printing system, image printing apparatus, and image printing method
According to this invention, there is provided an image printing system which causes a plurality of image printing apparatuses to share and concurrently process an image printing job for outputting a plurality of prints based on image printing conditions and image information supplied from an information processing apparatus. In the image printing system of the invention, each of the image printing apparatuses interactively connected to each other has a proof/wait selection function of selecting a proof mode of outputting a single print or a wait mode of displaying image printing conditions and waiting. A master machine to which image printing conditions and image information are supplied from an information processing apparatus executes image printing operation in the proof mode or wait mode, and transfers the image printing conditions and image information to another image printing apparatus.
US07969589B2 Print control device, print control method and computer program
In the invention, there is disclosed a print control device for overlaying, for example, a form being a fixed element of a form sheet with data to be embedded in the form and sending resulting data to a printing device to print the form sheet, including: overlay means for generating data obtained by overlaying a form corresponding to a selected form sheet with the data to be embedded in the form; transfer means for transferring environment information of the print control device, which affects output contents of the form sheet, to an external processing device; acquisition means for acquiring setting information sent back from the external processing device based on the environment information transferred by the transfer means and used at a time of printing; and sending means for sending the overlaid data so that an output operation is performed by use of the setting information acquired by the acquisition means.
US07969588B2 Image forming device and control method therefor
An image forming device includes a control unit configured to control by sorting common setting information valid among a plurality of devices and specific setting information valid for a specific device, an internal storage device configured to store setting data that includes a pair of setting data of identification information indicating a type of setting item and setting values, an external storage device controller configured to control to input and output the setting data with a detachable external storage device, and a selective-write device configured to select and write the setting data read from the external storage device based on the predetermined criteria.
US07969582B2 Laser scanning microscope apparatus, and surface shape measuring method thereof
A laser scanning microscope apparatus comprising, a controlling unit for obtaining height information at each scanning point of a sample to be examined by obtaining a relative distance that maximizes an intensity output from a photo-detecting unit, which is obtained when the sample to be examined is scanned with a light from a laser light source, when a relative distance is changed by a Z scanning unit, includes an arithmetic processing unit for obtaining a plurality of height profiles of one line acquired by scanning the sample to be examined in a state of light with the light defecting unit while shifting the plurality of height profiles of one line in a scanning direction by a predetermined amount, and for obtaining one profile by linking the plurality of height profiles.
US07969579B2 Rotary encoder apparatus
Rotary encoder apparatus is described that comprises one or more readheads and a radial scale. Each of the one or more readheads includes a light emitting portion for illuminating the radial scale and a light detecting portion for detecting interference fringes formed at a readhead analyzer plane. The readhead analyzer plane is tilted relative to the plane containing the radial scale. In a preferred embodiment, the readhead analyzer plane is tilted towards the center of rotation of the rotary encoder apparatus by the angle.
US07969571B2 Evanescent wave downhole fiber optic spectrometer
An apparatus for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, is provided an includes: an optical fiber that receives light emitted from a light source and including an unclad portion adapted for contacting the fluid; a photodetector for receiving optical signals from the portion; and a spectrometer for obtaining an evanescent spectrum of the fluid from the portion. A method and a system are included.
US07969569B2 Method for detecting trace substance using organic electroluminescent device
Provided is a detection method and device for analyzing trace substance of interest in a short time and with high accuracy without the need of performing any treatment for binding a fluorescent substance to the substance of interest or using any large apparatus. The substance of interest is detected by being immobilizing on a surface of any one of a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, a luminescent layer, a buffer layer, and inside surfaces of electrodes for an organic electroluminescent device based on a change in at least one luminescent property selected from luminescence intensity, luminous efficiency, and emission spectrum of the organic electroluminescent device before and after the immobilization of the substance of interest.
US07969564B2 System and method for defect localization on electrical test structures
A method and system for defect localization includes: (i) receiving a test structure that includes at least one conductor that is at least partially covered by an electro-optically active material; (ii) providing an electrical signal to the conductor, such as charge at least a portion of the conductor; and (iii) imaging the test structure to locate a defect.
US07969563B2 Lens measuring device and method applied therein
A lens measuring device and method applied therein. The lens measuring device includes a light source, a first polarizer, a second polarizer, and an image analysis module. The method includes enabling the light source to orderly pass through the first polarizer, a lens to be measured, and the second polarizer to generate a light beam to be measured, and then enabling the image analysis module to analyze image-related information of the light beam to be measured, consequently deducing the structural center and energy distribution of the lens to be measured, and then further analyzing errors in polarity and skewness of the lens to be measured. By applying a common light source, the method is spared complicated correction that is otherwise required when a conventional collimating laser light source is applied, and the method can also easily and simultaneously test a plurality of lenses to be measured.
US07969562B2 Method and apparatus for measuring the birefringence autocorrelation length in optical fibers
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the birefringence autocorrelation length of a fiber in a non-destructive manner. The PMD of an optical fiber is measured over a first optical spectrum. A Faraday rotation angle is measured over a second optical spectrum. The birefringence autocorrelation length is determined from the measuring of the PMD and the Faraday rotation angle.
US07969560B2 Optical property sensor
An apparatus that can measure both haze and clarity on a web moving at conventional manufacturing speeds. The apparatus uses an integrating sphere and a novel mirror arrangement. With this arrangement, the invention can utilize a calibration curve created using known samples over the range of measurement desired to convert in real time, and the response of two photo detectors that measure the wide and low angle scattering signals, to deduce the desired optical property values. This approach significantly increases the speed and response of sensor and enables either on-line single point or full web scanning for uniformity measurement and control.
US07969559B2 Laser distance measuring apparatus and control method thereof
A laser distance measuring apparatus and control method thereof includes an emitter, a first and second liquid crystal display module, a receiver, a condensing lens, and a control unit. The emitter emits measuring light. The control unit sets the first liquid crystal display module to a second state and the second liquid crystal display module to a first state to receive the reflected light. When the reflected light is larger than a predetermined value, the control unit adjusts a transmittance of the first liquid crystal display module until the reflected light is lower than the predetermined value, and calculates a distance value based on phase difference between the reference light and the reflected light.
US07969557B2 Exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a substrate table that holds a substrate, a projection system that projects a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate, and a liquid confinement structure that confines a liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate, the substrate, the substrate table, or both, to form a part of a boundary of the space. In addition, a closing plate forms a part of a boundary of the space in place of the substrate, the substrate table, or both, when moved without substantially disturbing the liquid, the liquid confinement structure, or both.
US07969553B2 Exposure device with mechanism for forming alignment marks and exposure process conducted by the same
The present invention relates to an exposure device for transferring circuit patterns of a mask to a roll-film-shaped object. The exposure device includes a supply reel rotation section that is constituted by a supply reel around which the object is wound and that feeds the object by rotating the supply reel, at least one guide roller for guiding the object fed from the supply reel rotation section, an exposure stage on which the circuit patterns are transferred to the object guided by the guide roller, and an alignment mark forming section which forms, on the object, alignment marks that are used to align the mask with the object and which is positioned between the guide roller and the exposure stage.
US07969552B2 Environmental system including a transport region for an immersion lithography apparatus
A lithographic projection apparatus that is arranged to project a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate using a projection system has a liquid supply system arranged to supply a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate. The apparatus also includes a liquid collecting system that includes a liquid collection member having a wick structure member through which a liquid is collected from a surface of an object opposite to the liquid collection member.
US07969551B2 Stage drive method and stage unit, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a substrate table to hold a substrate, a projection system to project a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate and a liquid confinement structure to confine a liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate, the substrate, the substrate table, or both, to form a part of a boundary of the space. In addition, a closing plate forms a part of a boundary of the space in place of the substrate, the substrate table, or both, when moved without substantially disturbing the liquid, the liquid confinement structure, or both.
US07969544B2 Display device, driving method thereof, terminal device, and display panel
To provide a plural-viewpoint display device having an image separating optical element such as a lenticular lens or a parallax barrier, which is capable of arranging thin film transistors and wirings while achieving substantially trapezoid apertures and high numerical aperture, and to provide a driving method thereof, a terminal device, and a display panel. A neighboring pixel pair arranged with a gate line interposed therebetween is connected to the gate line placed between the pixels, each of the pixels configuring the neighboring pixel pair is connected to the data line different from each other, and each of the neighboring pixel pairs neighboring to each other in an extending direction of the gate lines is connected to the gate line different from each other.
US07969542B2 Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in an absence of a voltage; a first optical compensation layer having a relationship of Nz =1 to 2.5 and a relationship of Re1(380) nz and a relationship of Re2(380) >Re2(550) >Re2(780); a first polarizer; a third optical compensation layer having a relationship of Nz =1 to 2.5 and a relationship of Re3(380) nz and a relationship of Re4(380) >Re4(550) >Re4(780); and a second polarizer wherein: the first optical compensation layer, the second optical compensation layer, and the first polarizer are placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell; and the third optical compensation layer, the fourth optical compensation layer, and the second polarizer are placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell.
US07969541B2 Retardation film, method of manufacturing the same, and display
A retardation film which is manufacturable by a simple process, and being capable of preventing a decline in light use efficiency is provided. A retardation film includes: a substrate having a plurality of grooves extending in a specific direction on a surface thereof; and a retardation layer arranged in contact with the surface of the substrate, and including a liquid crystal material, the liquid crystal material being aligned along the extending direction of the plurality of grooves and being polymerized.
US07969539B2 Electro-optical device, input device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes: an electro-optical panel; a light-transmissive member that overlaps the electro-optical panel and has a protruding part that protrudes so as to be positioned outside an edge of the electro-optical panel, the light-transmissive member having a first area and a second area that is located outside the first area; a coloration layer that is formed on a surface of the light-transmissive member at the second area; an adhesive material that is provided between a part of the coloration layer and a corresponding part of the electro-optical panel as well as between the part of the light-transmissive member and a corresponding part of the electro-optical panel; and a first light-shielding layer formed over one surface of the light-transmissive member, and the first light-shielding layer being formed at an area where the coloration layer does not overlap the adhesive material in a plan view.
US07969538B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device which can prevent the generation of bubbles on an adhesive surface between a liquid crystal display panel and a face plate which protects the liquid crystal display panel is provided. In mounting the face plate on an upper polarizer of the liquid crystal display panel by way of an adhesive material, a picture frame is formed on a periphery of the face plate for enhancing design property. Although the picture frame is formed by printing black ink, a quantity of Si present in the black ink is set to not more than 0.7% and not less than 0.01% thus preventing the generation of bubbles attributed to defective adhesion between the face plate and the adhesive material.
US07969537B2 Liquid crystal panel with static electricity damage prevention
An exemplary liquid crystal panel includes a top substrate and a bottom substrate, a liquid crystal layer positioned between the top substrate and the bottom substrate, and a black matrix unit formed on a bottom surface that is adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the top substrate. The black matrix includes an insulating layer and a grounded conductive layer between the bottom surface of the top substrate and the insulating layer.
US07969531B1 Integrated multi-function light guide for LCD backlighting
A backlighting apparatus for a flat panel LCD display includes an elongate light guide having a front wall through which travels polarized light in a direction toward the LCD display. An RGB LED set is positioned adjacent a first end wall of the light guide so that light enters the light guide from the first end wall. A retardation and reflection film covers respective external surfaces of the bottom wall and a second end wall. Microlenses are formed in the front wall along its extent and each microlens is filled with a birefringent material. Light emitted by the LED set travels through a collimated light coupling module and exits the light guide through the birefringent microlenses in polarized form toward the LCD display. The viewing angles and angular light distributions of the LCD display in vertical and horizontal directions are optimized for enhancing the brightness without involving DBEF and BEF.
US07969530B2 Light-emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
An LED which includes a substrate, at least one light-emitting element mounted on, and electrically connected to, the substrate, and a sealing member mounted to the substrate so as to seal the light-emitting element. The sealing member contains an inorganic material having a high contrast ratio and a high reflectivity in an amount which accords with the luminance of the light-emitting element.
US07969529B2 Liquid crystal display device using external electrode fluorescent lamps
A backlight structural body of a liquid crystal display device includes, between a back plate and a frame-like mold frame, a plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps which is arranged in parallel to each other and a pair of side frames which includes electricity supply terminals which electrically connect electrode portions of the plurality of external electrode fluorescent lamps in parallel to each other. The side frame is constituted of a lower side frame which fixes the electricity supply terminals and an upper side frame which is assembled to the lower side frame while covering the electrode portions of the external electrode fluorescent lamps which are connected to the electricity supply terminals. The upper side frame includes eaves which project in the longitudinal direction of the external electrode fluorescent lamps in a state that the eaves individually cover the respective electrode portions of the external electrode fluorescent lamps.
US07969527B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a housing, a display, and a screen protection device. The housing defines a receiving portion therein. The display is received in the housing, and displays images in an operative state and is powered off in a non-operative state. The screen protection device is received in the receiving portion when the display is in the operative state, and covers the display when the display is in the non-operative state.
US07969523B2 Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of parallel gate lines disposed on the insulating substrate, and a plurality of data lines disposed on the insulating substrate. The data lines insulatingly intercross the gate lines. An intersection between two of the plurality of gate lines and a corresponding two of the plurality of data lines defines a pixel region. Each pixel region includes a first thin film transistor (TFT), a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The first TFT includes a first gate electrode connected with the gate line, a first source electrode connected with the first pixel electrode, and a first drain electrode connected with the first pixel electrode. A voltage of the first pixel electrode is different from a voltage of the second pixel electrode.
US07969521B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device partially or substantially blocks light from a light source from exciting a semiconductor layer. The LCD device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a light-shielding layer, and a light source. The light source directs light toward a lower surface of the substrate. The light-shielding layer is formed between the substrate and the semiconductor layer. Some or all of the light directed towards the semiconductor layer by the light source is blocked by the light-shielding layer.
US07969519B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same includes a gate line arranged in one direction, a data line arranged in a perpendicular direction to the gate line, a pixel electrode arranged in a pixel region defined by the gate and data lines and having a diagonal side adjacent to a crossing portion of the gate and data lines, and a light blocking pattern arranged in a parallel direction with respect to the diagonal side of the pixel electrode and preventing light leakage.
US07969518B2 Electro-optical device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes: a substrate; data lines and scanning lines extending to cross each other on the substrate; thin film transistors disposed below the data lines on the substrate; storage capacitors each of which is disposed in a region including a region facing a channel region of each of the thin film transistors in plan view above the substrate and is disposed above each of the data lines, each of the storage capacitors being formed by stacking a fixed-potential-side electrode, a dielectric film, and a pixel-potential-side electrode in this order from below; and pixel electrodes that are disposed for respective pixels defined in correspondence with the data lines and the scanning lines in plan view above the substrate and are disposed above the storage capacitors, each of the pixel electrodes being electrically connected to the pixel-potential-side electrode and each of the thin film transistors. At least one of the fixed-potential-side electrode and the pixel-potential-side electrode includes a first conductive light shielding film.
US07969508B2 Method and apparatus for outputting video signal in format suitable for TV
A method and apparatus output a video signal in a format suitable for a TV. The method of outputting a video signal in a format suitable for a TV includes reading information from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to a TV receiver, extracting information regarding a TV output format from the read information, and outputting a video signal in the TV output format specified in the extracted information.
US07969505B2 Electronic device including a camera unit with an image capturing function and an operations-unit illuminating function
An electronic device is disclosed that includes an operations unit disposed in a device main body for input operations, and a camera unit including a camera for image capturing and a light source that emits light for image capturing. A light irradiation position of the light source is variable so that the light source illuminates the operations unit.
US07969501B2 Method and apparatus for auto-focusing in image sensor
For auto-focusing of a focusing lens within an image sensing system, an N-bin luminance histogram is generated by a digital signal processor from an image. A microprocessor determines a type of the image from the N-bin luminance histogram. The microprocessor also determines a focus position using a first set of at least one focus value if the image is determined to be of a first type. The microprocessor also determines the focus position using a second set of at least one focus value different from the first set if the image is determined to be of a second type.
US07969499B2 Lens barrel and image pickup apparatus
A lens barrel includes: an image pickup optical system; an image pickup element; and a plurality of reflection members including first to n-th reflection members in order from the subject. The first reflection member is arranged at a position to bend an optical path of an incident light flux to enter the image pickup optical system. An (n−1)-th reflection member is arranged at a position to bend an optical path in a direction in a plane perpendicular to the optical path of the incident light flux. The n-th reflection member is arranged at a position closest to the image plane to bend an optical path in a direction parallel to the optical path of the incident light flux. The lens barrel further includes an actuator for moving the image pickup element in a plane perpendicular to an optical path bent by the n-th reflection member for stabilizing an image.
US07969498B2 Digital camera
A digital camera has a measuring part and a display part. The measuring part measures a certain quantity from the moment of photographing a cleaning image. The display part displays the cleaning image in the case that the certain quantity is less than a predetermined threshold.
US07969496B2 Camera image stabilization method, apparatus and computer program
A camera comprises a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user. A control unit controls at least one function of the camera in response to the information.
US07969490B2 Method, apparatus, and system providing an imager with pixels having extended dynamic range
The dynamic range of a pixel is increased by using selective photosensor resets during a frame time of image capture at a timing depending on the light intensity that the pixel will be exposed to during the frame time. Pixels that will be exposed to high light intensity are reset later in the frame than pixels that will be exposed to lower light intensity.
US07969489B2 Defective pixel specifying method, defective pixel specifying system, image correcting method, and image correcting system
A defective pixel specifying method and a defective pixel specifying system for a semiconductor device having a defective pixel are provided. Also provided are an image correcting method and an image correcting system for making a defective pixel inconspicuous on the screen when a read image is displayed. The present invention determines whether or not there is a defective pixel for each pixel and specifies the coordinate of the defective pixel using image signals obtained by reading a plurality of images. The image signal of the defective pixel is set based on the image signals of the pixels adjacent to the defective pixel to correct the image of the subject read.
US07969486B2 Image-capture apparatus and variable magnification lens
An image-capture apparatus includes a variable magnification lens, imaging means for converting an image taken by the variable magnification lens into an electrical image signal, and imaging control means. By referring to a conversion coordinate coefficient, the image control means moves a point on the image and outputs the new image signal. In the variable magnification lens, in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group that has negative refractive power and performs a variable magnification action by shifting on an optical axis, a third lens group having positive refractive power, a fourth lens group that has negative refractive power and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power are arrayed.
US07969483B2 White balance control method, imaging apparatus and storage medium storing white balance control program
There is provided a white balance control method. A color space coordinate expressing a color signal of each divided block is transformed into a white balance determination space coordinate. A light source estimation area and a high-saturation determination area are set in a white balance determination space to which the transformed white balance determination space coordinate belongs. A kind of the light source is estimated based on a white balance determination space coordinate distribution in the light source estimation area. A kind of the light source is determined based on the estimated kind of the light source and a white balance determination space coordinate distribution in the high-saturation determination area. White balance control information is calculated based on the determined kind of the light source. White balance control with respect to an image signal is carried out based on the calculated white balance control information.
US07969481B2 Camera performing photographing in accordance with photographing mode depending on object scene
A camera includes a CPU. The CPU individually detects a ratio of an object which exceeds a threshold value in a moving amount to a center area of an object scene and a ratio of an object which exceeds the threshold value in the moving amount to a peripheral area of the object scene. If differences between the respective detected ratios are large, the CPU sets a photographing mode to a sports mode. When a shutter button is operated, the object scene is photographed in accordance with a set photographing mode.
US07969479B2 Method and device for detecting color temperature
A method for detecting color temperature and an apparatus thereof are disclosed. According to the present invention, the apparatus for detecting color temperature converts RGB color information, generated by interpolating an image signal sequentially inputted in units of pixel from an image sensor, to a three-dimensional coordinate value of luminance, R-G color difference information, and B-G color difference information, and then renews the added value per color, if included in a filtering zone corresponding to a characteristic curve of the image sensor. Then, an average value per color is generated in units of frame, and the compensation rate per color is determined such that the average value per color becomes identical to each other. With the present invention, accurate colors can be displayed by detecting the color temperature of the current light source and correcting the distorted color information.
US07969478B1 Method and apparatus for color correction of color devices for various operating conditions
Methods and apparatuses for color correction of color device for various operating conditions. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, operating under a current condition, a color correction operation that is derived from color correction operations defined for other conditions is performed on the color data. In another embodiment, a device profile for managing colors for a color device operating under one condition is interpolated from the device profiles for the color device operating under other conditions (e.g., based on the input received from a user interface according to the perception of the user or based on the measurement of a sensor). The interpolation can be based on the input received from a user interface according to the perception of the user or it can be based on the measurement of a sensor or a set of sensors. Various operating conditions for a color device (e.g., a scanner, a camera, a video camera, a printer, a display device such as a CRT monitor or an LCD display panel, a television set, or others) include chromaticity and illumination of ambient light, background color for a display device, characteristics of print media for a printer, humidity, temperature, pressure and ink level for an ink jet printer, the age of a light source for a scanner, and others.
US07969472B2 Automatic camera steering control and video conferencing
An automatic camera steering control for directing video conferences including a communicator with a microphone and a voice activated LED emitter. Cameras receive an LED signal transmitted by the LED emitter and focus on the speaker associated with the activated LED emitter. A controller automatically selects and inserts into the video stream the audio and video of the speaker.
US07969464B2 Microscope-use digital camera
A microscope-use digital camera equipped with a sleep function includes an image pickup unit for picking up an image and a control unit for controlling so as to shift to a sleep state, or not shift thereto, based on an image picked up by the image pickup unit.
US07969463B2 Three-dimensional display
An object of the present invention is to eliminate color non-uniformity and intensity non-uniformity on a three-dimensional image. The present invention provides a three-dimensional display comprising: a two-dimensional display, which comprises a plurality of color subpixels arranged in rows extending in a horizontal direction and in columns extending in a vertical direction which is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal direction, the color subpixels of red, green and blue being arranged periodically in the rows and the color subpixels of the same color being arranged in the columns; and a lenticular sheet provided on the two-dimensional display and having a plurality of cylindrical lenses through which the color subpixels are viewed and which extend in parallel with one another, the central axis of each cylindrical lens being inclined at an angle of θ to the column of the two-dimensional display, wherein, when a pitch of the color subpixels in the horizontal direction is px, a pitch of the color subpixels in the vertical direction is py, and a color subpixel group constituting one three-dimensional pixel is constituted by 3M×N number of color subpixels where 3M is the number of color subpixels in each row of one of the cylindrical lenses and N is the number of color subpixels in each column of one of the cylindrical lenses, a relationship, θ=tan−1(3px/NPy), is satisfied.
US07969460B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an optical scanning device including a light source including multiple light-emitting elements, the multiple light-emitting elements being arranged in a linear manner, a collimator lens to collimate a light beam from the light source, a light-deflecting device to deflect a light beam having passed through the collimator lens to a medium to be scanned and scan the medium with the light beam, and a rear optical system arranged in an optical path between the collimator lens and the medium to be scanned, wherein the collimator lens deviates an image surface in a direction opposite to an image surface deviation on the medium to be scanned by a nearly same amount as the image surface deviation, the image surface deviation being caused by a change of an image height of the light source, and the change being caused by the rear optical system.
US07969444B1 Distributed rendering of texture data
A method and apparatus for distributing the workload of rendering an image where texture mapping is involved among multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) are provided. The method generally entails dividing a texture map among multiple GPUs, performing texture mapping in each GPU to render image data in each GPU's frame buffer, combining the image data from each frame buffer, and scanning out the combined image to a display.
US07969443B2 System and method for dynamically processing content being communicated over a network for display purposes
A system and method are provided for dynamically selecting one or more modules of a graphics processor for processing content to support communication of the content over a wireless network link for subsequent display of the content utilizing a display.
US07969441B2 Adaptive contextual filtering based on typographical characteristics
Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object can include accessing an object to be rendered and identifying at least one characteristic of a portion of the object. A corresponding filter is then selectively applied to the at least one determined characteristic and, in some instances, without applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
US07969440B1 Method and system for curve fitting using digital filtering
In one embodiment, a method for curve generation includes forming an initial interpolation polygon using samples within input data as interpolation knots, and upsampling the interpolation polygon by inserting extra samples in each segment between interpolation knots. A filter is then passed throughout a sequence of samples representing the upsampled interpolation polygon. Next, the interpolation polygon is substituted with the filtered polygon converted into a next interpolation polygon using segment-by-segment transformations, where segments of the filtered polygon are delimited by consecutive samples corresponding to interpolation knots, and each segment is transformed to fit between respective interpolation knots. Further, the passing of the filter and the substitution of the current interpolation polygon are repeated until a predefined condition is satisfied, to provide fitting curves.
US07969439B2 Method and apparatus for fast flicker-free displaying overlapped sparse graphs with optional shape
A method for converting graphic elements containing sparse graphs into graphic layers is described, comprising the steps of: correspondingly mapping respective sparse graphs to respective sparse graphic layers, and projecting sequentially from top to bottom the regular graphs between the sparse graphs into a projection plane to form a regular graphic composition layer. Also described is a method for fast flicker-free displaying overlapped sparse graphs with optional shape, comprising: converting graphic element containing sparse graphs to be displayed into graphic layers; deciding whether to plot or erase the sparse graph to be displayed, and, when the sparse graph is decided to be erased, setting various points on the corresponding sparse graph to be transparent; and completing the plotting of points of the sparse graph point by point based on the shape of the sparse graph to be displayed. Apparatuses corresponding to the above methods are also described.
US07969436B1 System, method and computer program product for transforming a polynomial equation from a coordinate frame of one tile to a coordinate frame of another tile at a finer level of a hierachy
Z-buffer rendering of three-dimensional scenes is made more efficient through a method for occlusion culling by which occluded geometry is removed prior to rasterization. The method uses hierarchical z-buffering to reduce the quantity of image and depth information that needs to be accessed. A separate culling stage in the graphics pipeline culls occluded geometry and passes visible geometry on to a rendering stage. The culling stage maintains its own z-pyramid in which z-values are stored at low precision (e.g., in 8 bits). The efficiency of hierarchical z-buffering is improved through hierarchical evaluation of line and plane equations.
US07969435B1 Method for modifying any modeled surface as a lofted surface
A three-dimensional object modeling tool is described that can derive the 2D cross sections of one or more lofted or unlofted surfaces, allowing those surfaces to be modified instantly. The modeling tool (loft tool) includes sub-tools for selecting a surface, moving a 2D section, editing a 2D section, creating a 2D section, and removing a 2D section. By analysis of the selected lofted surface and its faces, the loft tool can derive an appropriate number of 2D cross section to present to the user for manipulation. When deriving the 2D cross section the modeling tool operates by simplifying the curves making up the lofted surface, and from these can generate 2D cross section that can be easily manipulated and used to instantly update the lofted surface and redisplay it for further user modification.
US07969434B2 Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for accelerating intersection testing in ray-tracing rendering
For ray tracing scenes composed of primitives, systems and methods accelerate intersection testing by testing rays against elements of geometry acceleration data (GAD) arranged in a graph of nodes, where pairs of nodes are connected by edges, and each element bounds a varying granularity selection of the primitives. Upon detection of intersections between rays and elements, references to the rays are added to respective collections associated with the elements. Further processing of those rays is deferred until rays of a given collection are determined ready, and then rays from such a ready collection are tested for intersection with elements of GAD connected by edges to the element associated with the ready collection. When a primitive is bounded by no higher granularity GAD element, it is tested for intersection, and indications of intersection are output. Some examples encourage production of many secondary rays and collect such rays for parallelized testing, regardless of traversal order, camera ray association, or a time when each ray was spawned.
US07969428B2 Color display system with improved apparent resolution
A full-color display system having improved apparent resolution comprising: a display formed from an array of full-color groups of light-emitting elements each comprising more than one luma-chroma sub-group of light-emitting elements; and a processor for receiving a full color input image signal that specifies full color image values at each of a two-dimensional number of sampled addressable spatial locations within an image to be displayed, for providing a full color image signal with image signal values corresponding to the spatial location of each luma-chroma sub-group, for computing a control signal representing the relative values, or difference between values, for the image signal values corresponding to each luma-chroma sub-group and at least one of each luma-chroma sub-group's neighbors, and for rendering a signal for driving each light-emitting element within each luma-chroma sub-group of light-emitting elements as a function of the values for the image signal corresponding to each luma-chroma sub-group and the control signal.
US07969427B2 Control device for display panel and display apparatus having same
A display panel control device comprises a first buffer, to which a current-frame data, is written in synchronization with a sync signal, and from which the written current-frame data is read in synchronization with a fast sync signal faster than the sync signal to be written to a frame memory, and a second buffer, to which the previous-frame data read from the frame memory is written in synchronization with the fast sync signal faster than the sync signal, and from which the written previous-frame data is read in synchronization with the above sync signal, for supply to the above driving data generation unit.
US07969425B2 Method and system for enabling user instruction through interaction with interface surface
There is provided a method of, and interface system for, enabling a user to instruct a computer system to perform an operation by interacting with graphical information and coded data printed on a first interface surface using a sensing device which generates indicating data indicative of the operation by sensing the coded data. In the method, and interface system, the computer system receives the indicating data from the sensing device, the computer system performs the operation indicated by the indicating data, and in response to performing the operation, a second interface surface is printed with graphical information relating to the performed operation and coded data.
US07969422B2 Pattern detection system
A detection system. The detection system includes a transparent substrate, an image sensor array, and a reflective layer. The substrate has first surface located opposite second surface and third surface located opposite fourth surface. The array is adjacent to the fourth surface. The reflective layer is adjacent to the third surface; the substrate is configured to receive light through the first surface; the second surface is configured to reflect the received light onto the third surface at a pre-selected angle of incidence; the reflective layer is configured such that the light creates surface plasmons whenever a first dielectric having a first refractive index is adjacent to the reflective layer; the reflective layer is configured to reflect the light onto the array whenever a second dielectric having a second refractive index is adjacent to the reflective layer; and the first refractive index differs from the second refractive index.
US07969421B2 Apparatus and method for inputting character using touch screen in portable terminal
An apparatus and method for inputting a character using a keyboard displayed on a touch screen in a portable terminal. The apparatus and method determines if a touch signal is generated, with the keyboard displayed. Upon generation of the touch signal, a touched character is recognized by analyzing the touch signal. The character is displayed enlarged in a predetermined screen area. It is then determined if the touch has been completed, while the character is displayed enlarged. Upon sensing the touch completion, the character is displayed in a main screen area.
US07969418B2 3-D computer input device and method
A 3-D computer input device to provide position information to a computer system in three dimensions is disclosed. Said 3-D computer input device is comprised of five buttons each one capable of generating one signal when it is touched by the user's finger, each two different succeeding touches represent a motion in a positive or negative direction along an axis, or represent a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation about one axis. Accordingly, 12 different succeeding touches represent motion in six degrees of freedom. The five buttons are coupled to a chassis which is suitable for a user to grasp with one hand or to put it on a finger ring, or to be attached to a keyboard, portable hand-held device, game controller, or the like.
US07969417B2 Multiple cursor system and method for vehicle
An in-vehicle multiple cursor system properly provides information necessary for a user in case that the number of wirelessly connected portable devices increases to thereby cause lack of a memory space for drawing. A cursor operation for requesting a drawing occurs in a portable device. An in-vehicle navigation system thereby makes a determination as to whether or not a segmental memory space assigned to the portable device in a memory space of a drawing memory device has at least a predetermined data volume. When the determination is affirmed, necessary drawing data are read out from a resource database and forwarded to a drawing memory device of the portable device to be developed therein. A screen window is then displayed in a display unit of the portable device based on the developed drawing data.
US07969416B2 Tactile feedback man-machine interface device
A man-machine interface which provides tactile feedback to various sensing body parts is disclosed. The device employs one or more vibrotactile units, where each unit comprises a mass and a mass-moving actuator. As the mass is accelerated by the mass-moving actuator, the entire vibrotactile unit vibrates. Thus, the vibrotactile unit transmits a vibratory stimulus to the sensing body part to which it is affixed. The vibrotactile unit may be used in conjunction with a spatial placement sensing device which measures the spatial placement of a measured body part. A computing device uses the spatial placement of the measured body part to determine the desired vibratory stimulus to be provided by the vibrotactile unit. In this manner, the computing device may control the level of vibratory feedback perceived by the corresponding sensing body part in response to the motion of the measured body part. The sensing body part and the measured body part may be separate or the same body part.
US07969414B2 Mobile communication apparatus
The present invention discloses a mobile communication apparatus that includes a first casing and a second casing. The first casing has an opening and an operating interface disposed around the opening of a side of the first casing. The second casing has two display screens disposed separately on two corresponding surfaces thereof, and each display screen separately corresponds to a different program module of the mobile communication apparatus. The second casing is pivotally disposed in the opening, such that the second casing can be spun in the opening. If the second casing is turned over to expose a display screen with the operating interface, the mobile communication apparatus then initiates the program module corresponding to the screen display, and the screen display shows messages outputted by the program module.
US07969413B2 Storage medium having stored thereon program for adjusting pointing device, and pointing device
A pointing device includes a controller for pointing a position on a display surface by imaging an imaging objective such as two markers positioned with a predetermined interval therebetween in a vicinity of the display surface of a monitor. With the pointing device, a width of the display surface and the interval between the markers are obtained to determine an appropriate distance between the controller and the monitor. Further, a current distance between the controller and the monitor (markers) is calculated. Relation between the current distance and the appropriate distance is notified by such as image display or sound output. For example, an image indicating the appropriate distance and an adjustment image varying in size in conjunction with the current distance are displayed on the monitor.
US07969409B2 Camera assisted pen tablet
An x-y user input device, such as a pen tablet or digitizing tablet, used to control a cursor on a display of a data processing system, comprises an imaging device or camera and an image processor for displaying a captured image of a user's hand operating the input device within a window of the display. The input device is generally operated using a pointing device that controls the cursor position on the display while being synchronously imaged and displayed with the user's hand on the display. The position of the captured image of the user's hand and pointing device in the window relative to the cursor corresponds to a position of the hand relative to the pointing device, thereby providing a visualization effect that increases user comfort and proficiency with the input device.
US07969408B2 Image display control device
An image display control device is capable of performing video image correction in real time. An effective pixel evaluation area Z1 corresponding to one frame is set in a statistical information acquisition section. The statistical information acquisition section finishes a statistical value acquisition process after acquiring a statistical value of the effective pixel evaluation area Z1, and calculation of a correction coefficient and the like using the statistical value is completed within the remaining time of the one frame period. When input of an image signal of the next frame is started, the image display control device performs image correction using the calculated correction coefficient. The image display control device can calculate a backlight luminance after reduction in luminance at the same time as the correction coefficient.
US07969404B2 Device for driving a backlight, backlight assembly, LCD apparatus having the same and method for driving a backlight
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a backlight assembly which includes a device for driving the backlight including a light emitting diode (“LED”) used as a light source, which has a high efficiency and a high reliability for controlling brightness of each color light. The driving device drives a first, second and third LED unit emitting a first, second and third light, respectively. The driving device includes a first driving part emitting the first light in response to a brightness control signal and outputting a reference control signal in response to a first brightness of the first light, a second driving part driving the second LED units generating the second light of which second brightness is controlled in response to the reference control signal, and a third driving part driving the third LED units generating the third light of which third brightness is controlled in response to the reference control signal.
US07969401B2 Liquid crystal driving apparatus with masked latch pulse generating circuit
A liquid crystal driving apparatus comprising: a latch circuit including latch-areas each in n-bit unit, configured to sequentially latch into a designated latch-area, pieces of n-bit display-data obtained by dividing m-bit display-data for driving column-electrodes corresponding to each row-electrode of a liquid crystal display panel including row and column-electrodes; a data-register configured to sequentially hold the pieces of n-bit display-data; and a latch-pulse generating circuit configured to generate a latch-pulse for latching the n-bit display-data into the designated latch-area every time the data-register holds the n-bit display-data, including: a counter whose count-value changes every time the data-register holds the n-bit display-data; a decoder configured to decode the count-value to generate the latch-pulse; and a masking circuit configured to mask generation of the latch-pulse from the decoder in a period of time during which the count-value is changed, the column-electrodes being driven based on the m-bit display-data from the latch circuit.
US07969397B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is disclosed which includes first, second and third data lines arranged in one direction, a data driver for alternately supplying a data signal of a first polarity and a data signal of a second polarity to each of the first, second and third data lines during an interval of two horizontal periods, first and second gate lines arranged to cross the first to third data lines, a gate driver for sequentially driving the first and second gate lines, and first red, first green, first blue, second red, second green and second blue pixels located between the first gate line and the second gate line and arranged in order along the first and second gate lines. The first red pixel cell is connected to one side of the first data line and the second gate line. The first green pixel cell is connected to the other side of the first data line and the first gate line. The first blue pixel cell is connected to one side of the second data line and the first gate line. The second red pixel cell is connected to the other side of the second data line and the second gate line. The second green pixel cell is connected to one side of the third data line and the first gate line. The second blue pixel cell is connected to the other side of the third data line and the second gate line.
US07969392B2 Current programming apparatus and matrix type display apparatus
A matrix type display apparatus includes a pixel circuit unit including electroluminescent elements and pixel circuits driving the electroluminescent elements arranged in a matrix, a plurality of data lines, each corresponding to a column of the pixel circuits for supplying a data current to the pixel circuits, and predetermined current setting circuits for supplying to the data lines a predetermined current for reducing a current to be supplied to the data lines, according to a setting by a reference current unrelated to a displaying, at a time of black displaying of the electroluminescent elements. In addition, switches are arranged corresponding to each of the data lines between the pixel circuits and the predetermined current setting circuits, and a row scanning circuit controls on and off of the switches. The row scanning circuit turns off the switches to disconnect the pixel circuit unit and the predetermined current setting circuits, and sets the predetermined current in the predetermined current setting circuits, and thereafter, the row scanning circuit turns on the switches to connect the pixel circuit unit and the predetermined current setting circuits, and to supply the data lines with the data current and the predetermined current.
US07969382B2 Portable multi-display device
A separable portable multi-display device is provided. A portable multi-display device includes a main body panel housing having a first display, a sub-panel housing having a second display, and a coupling device for coupling the main body panel housing to the sub-panel housing such that at least one sides of the first display and the second display can contact each other. The panel housings are separable from and connectable to each other, a range of a border between the displays when the panel housings are interconnected being minimized so that the displays can be shown as if it is driven as a single screen.
US07969379B2 Broadband VHF antenna
An antenna assembly having a radiating element and a circuit board is provided. The radiating element is coupled to the circuit board by a conductive extension and hook portion where the hook portion extends into and possibly through a bore on the circuit board.
US07969377B2 Wireless communication device having conductive elements antenna
An antenna coupled to a wireless communication device is comprised of a conductive component, such as a series of conductive elements, that forms a conductor if placed under a threshold force. The conductor is coupled to the wireless communication device so that the wireless communication device is capable of communicating at an operating frequency defined by the length and construction of the conductor. By communicating using the conductor as an antenna, the wireless communication device may provide an indication of force to an interrogation reader. Furthermore, a conductive support element, such as a tuning ring, may be used for communication as well as coupling the conductive component to the wireless communication device. Multiple conductive components may be coupled to the wireless communication device for communicating at multiple frequencies if placed under multiple threshold forces.
US07969372B2 Antenna apparatus utilizing small loop antenna element having minute length and two feeding points
The small loop antenna element of the antenna apparatus includes loop antenna portions that have a predetermined loop plane and radiate a first polarized wave component parallel to the loop plane, and at least one connecting conductor that is provided in a direction orthogonal to the loop plane and connects the plurality of loop plane portions to radiate a second polarized wave component orthogonal to the first polarized wave component. In the case of the antenna apparatus located adjacent to a conductor plate, by making the maximum value of the antenna gain of the first polarized wave component and the maximum value of the antenna gain of the second polarized wave component substantially identical when the distance between the antenna apparatus and the conductor plate is changed, a composite component of the first and second polarized wave components are made substantially constant regardless of the distance.
US07969370B1 Liquid antennas
A fluidic antenna is described, using an electromagnetic energy coupler, a non-metallic container coupled to the electromagnetic energy coupler, a fluid having charged particles moving through the non-metallic container at a predetermined rate, and a charge focuser disposed about the non-metallic container, wherein the electromagnetic energy coupler is configured to couple energy between the fluid and at least one of a transmitter and receiver, and the charge focuser is configured to adjust a cross sectional area of charged particles in the fluid to result in a fluid characteristic impedance that approaches that of a surrounding medium, thereby enabling at least one of launching and receiving electromagnetic energy.
US07969363B2 Semiconductor device
An object of the present invention is to prevent electrical characteristics of circuit elements from being adversely affected by copper diffusion in a semiconductor device having an integrated circuit and an antenna formed over the same substrate, which uses copper plating for the antenna. Another object is to prevent a defect of a semiconductor device due to poor connection between an antenna and an integrated circuit in a semiconductor device having the integrated circuit and the antenna formed over the same substrate. In a semiconductor device having an integrated circuit 100 and an antenna 101 formed over one substrate 102, when a copper plating layer 108 is used for a conductor of the antenna 101, it is possible to prevent copper diffusion to circuit elements and decrease an adverse effect on electrical characteristics of circuit elements due to the copper diffusion because a base layer 107 of the antenna 101 uses a nitride film of a predetermined metal. Moreover, by the use of nickel nitride as a metal nitride for the base layer of the antenna, poor connection between the antenna and the integrated circuit can be decreased.
US07969361B2 Planar inverted-F antenna
A low profile Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA) comprises a radiating strip, an inductive tuning portion, a vertical feed portion, and a retracted ground plane. The radiating strip is approximately parallel to the ground plane and is suspended above the ground plane by the feed element at a certain distance. Further, the radiating strip, in part or entirely, overhangs the ground plane. In this way, the radiating strip may be suspended very close to the ground plane, but yet exhibits a large bandwidth.
US07969358B2 Compensation of beamforming errors in a communications system having widely spaced antenna elements
Systems and methods for operating a communications system. The methods involve computing one or more complex weights to be applied to transmit signals and receive signals by beamformers. The complex weights are based at least on configuration data for the communications system. The methods also involve applying a first plurality of weight corrections to the complex weights based on phasing errors occurring in a communication path inclusive of a control system and antenna elements. The methods further involve applying a second plurality of weight corrections to the complex weights based on phase differences at the antenna elements relative to a reference location for the receive signals.
US07969357B2 System for electronically aligning the polarization of an antenna
This invention concerns a system (1) for electronically aligning the polarisation of an antenna (2;2b) with the polarisation of a signal received therein or transmitted therefrom, said signal having two mutually orthogonal components, namely a vertical component (Cv) and a horizontal component (Co).
US07969356B2 Satellite positioning system receivers and methods
A satellite positioning system receiver programmed to determine information for a satellite using ephemeris data (710), determine information for the same satellite using almanac data (722), which may have been previously stored on the receiver, to determine an error between the satellite information determined from the ephemeris data and the satellite information determined from the stored almanac data (730), and to update the stored almanac data based upon the error (734).
US07969354B2 Authenticating a signal based on an unknown component thereof
Authentication of a signal, signalA, that is provided as having been received from a source at a first global location by comparing it to a signal that is received from the source at a second global location, signalB, where signalB contains an unknown signal that is unique to the source, and determining, that signalA contains the same unknown signal that is contained in signalB.
US07969353B2 Method and apparatus for managing time in a satellite positioning system
A method, apparatus and system for time management in a position-location system is described. The method may include (i) obtaining, at a global-navigation-satellite-system receiver while being served by a first node of a wireless network a first time base, a relative-time difference, and a third time base; and forming a time relation as a function of the first time base, relative-time difference (“RTD”) and third time base. The first time base is associated with the first node, and may be, for example, a time base associated with an air interface for communicating with the first node. The RTD may be a difference between the first time base and a second time base associated with a second node of the wireless network. The third time base is associated with a constellation of satellites, and may be, for example, an absolute time associated with the constellation of satellites. The method may include using knowledge of a GNSS time to enhance sensitivity or time to first position of a GNSS receiver.
US07969351B2 Mode determination for mobile GPS terminals
The present invention discloses a system for determining the position of a GPS terminal. The system comprises a GPS terminal, a location aiding server, and a communications system. Messages are passed between the GPS terminal and the server, as well as within the GPS terminal, to determine the mode of operation of the GPS portion of the system. Decisions are made based on availability of aiding data and Quality of Service requirements.
US07969350B2 Method and system for reducing a leakage component of a received radar signal
Methods and systems for reducing a leakage component of a received-signal are disclosed. A transmit antenna of a radar system transmits a transmit-signal including a transmit component. A receive antenna of the radar system receives a received-signal including a leakage component and a target component. The received-signal corresponds to the transmit-signal. An overlap determination is made to determine whether the target component overlaps the leakage component and/or is received during a time when the leakage component is expected to be received. If overlap exists, a reduction leakage component (e.g., a previously determined reduction leakage component) is subtracted from the received-signal so as to produce a modified received-signal, the modified received-signal including the target component and substantially excluding the leakage component. If overlap does not exist, an estimate of the leakage component is produced and a reduction leakage component, based at least in part on the leakage component, is produced.
US07969348B2 Systems and methods for obtaining and using data from a localized location and telemetry system in a wide area location and telemetry system
A wide area location and telemetry system may include a wide area location and telemetry system server that is configured to determine wide area location and telemetry system data about an object when the object is located within the coverage area of the wide area location and telemetry system. The wide area location and telemetry system server may also be configured to receive localized location and telemetry system data about the object when the object is located within the coverage area of a localized location and telemetry system. The wide area location and telemetry system may also include a database and a database manager. The database manager may be configured to store the wide area location and telemetry system data and the localized location and telemetry system data in the database.
US07969344B1 Methods and systems for improved extraction of a signal from a noisy environment
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow identification of a true signal contained in a signal containing the true signal and noise. In general, digital signal information representing a signal of interest plus noise is utilized by the present invention. The first N samples of digital signal information are stored with the Nth sample being stored in manner which renders it accessible for additional operations. A specially selected set of weights are applied to the buffered N samples and, additionally, phase rotation is applied to the Nth sample. The phase rotated Nth sample and weighted samples are combined using a first equation, described in more detail below. The resulting signal, which exhibits an increased Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) and may be more effectively utilized in subsequent MTI processing by virtue of the operations performed on the previous N samples as described herein, is then available for further processing using conventional techniques.
US07969342B2 Differential amplifier and data driver employing the differential amplifier
Disclosed is a differential amplifier which includes first and second input terminals, an output terminal, first and second differential pairs, and first and second current sources for supplying currents to the first and second differential pairs. The first differential pair has first and second inputs of an input pair connected to the first input terminal and the output terminal, respectively. The second differential pair has first and second inputs of an input pair connected to the second input terminal the output terminal, respectively. The differential amplifier further includes a load circuit connected to output pairs of the first and second differential pairs for outputting a signal obtained on combining outputs of the first and second differential pairs from at least one of a pair of connection nodes between the output pairs of the first and second differential pairs and the load circuit, an amplifier stage supplied with at least one signal at a connection node of the output pairs of the first and second differential pairs and the load circuit to output a voltage at the output terminal, and a current control circuit controlling the first and second current sources for controlling the ratio of currents supplied to the first and second differential pairs.
US07969335B2 Digital correction of nonlinearity errors of multibit delta-sigma digital to analog converters
Digital correction of multibit ADAC nonlinearities for error feedback DACs is provided. The integral nonlinearity (INL) error of the multibit ADAC is estimated (on line or off line) by a low-resolution calibration ADC (CADC) and stored in a random-access memory (RAM) table. The INL values are then used to compensate for the ADAC's distortion in the digital domain. When this compensation is combined with mismatch-shaping techniques such as DWA, the resolution requirement for CADC can be relaxed significantly. The implementation of the proposed correction circuit for error-feedback modulators is inherently simple, since the correction only needs a digital summation without any additional digital filtering.
US07969334B2 Apparatus for correcting setting error in an MDAC amplifier
Multiplying digital-to-analog converters (MDACs), which are generally employed in pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), can have a settling error associated with the MDAC amplifier. Here, a circuit is provided that includes additional amplifiers and a capacitor network that compensates for this settling error. Thus, a more accurate pipelined ADC can now be produced.
US07969325B2 Preemptive variable rate travel fees
Variable thoroughfare toll rates are applied in anticipation of an event impacting traffic flow. An event occurrence is identified and determined to cause a change in a normal traffic flow amount on an impacted section of a thoroughfare. A traveler is notified of the impacted section of the thoroughfare in association with an impacted section-choice toll rate, a bypass choice in association with a bypass-choice toll rate, and a future time period duration for an application of the bypass-choice and impacted section-choice rates. A notified traveler is charged a toll for using the thoroughfare as a function of the bypass-choice rate in response to choosing to travel upon the presented bypass choice, or as a function of an impacted section-choice toll rate in response choosing to travel upon the presented impacted section choice.
US07969324B2 Optimization of vehicular traffic flow through a conflict zone
An automatic vehicular traffic flow control technique defines a controlled area, wherein vehicles belonging to different traffic streams contend for occupancy of a conflict zone. A traversal order is computed for the vehicles in the controlled area, wherein the ordered vehicles are assigned to traverse the conflict zone sequentially in accordance with their respective positions in the traversal order. Tracking and tracked vehicles are designated, wherein a respective tracked vehicle immediately precedes each of the tracking vehicles in the traversal order. The tracking vehicles maintain a specified physical relationship with their respective tracked vehicles until the tracked vehicle has traversed the conflict zone. The speed of the traffic streams is increased as necessary so as to achieve a desired throughput through the conflict zone.
US07969321B2 Smoke detector
A smoke detector adapted for installation within a bracket of a ceiling downlight; the smoke detector comprising a lower body portion adapted for engagement with said bracket, and an upper body portion extending upwardly from said lower portion.
US07969317B2 Detection apparatus and image forming apparatus
A detection apparatus includes a casing, a movable member moving from a position outside the casing to a position inside the casing upon contact of a detection object, a radio communication device disposed on the movable member and configured for radio communication with a sending and receiving unit via radio waves, a shielding member for shielding the radio communication between the radio communication device and the sending and receiving unit in a state that the movable member is located within the casing, and a controller for determining the presence of the detection object by determining whether the sending and receiving unit can communicate with the radio communication device.
US07969311B2 Multi-path mitigation in rangefinding and tracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology
A method and system for identification, tracking and locating in wireless communications and wireless networks. The method and system use reference and/or pilot signals that are present in wireless communications and wireless networks. The method and system might also use RTT, TOA and time-stamping measurements/techniques to determine one or more reference signals traveling time between the Base Station (eNB) or its functional equivalent and mobile device (UE) and or network device. Other wireless networks that do not use reference and/or pilot signals may employ one or more of the following types of alternate embodiments of present invention: 1) where a portion of frame is dedicated to the ranging signal/ranging signal elements; 2) where the ranging signal elements are embedded into (spread across) transmit/receive signals frame(s); and 3) where the ranging signal elements are embedded with the data. The method and system includes multi-path mitigations processor and multi-path mitigations techniques and algorithms which improve the track-locate accuracy. The method and system allow achieving increased accuracy by using multi-path mitigations processor and multi-path mitigations techniques and algorithms. The techniques of Digital Signal Processing and Software-Defined Radio are used.
US07969305B2 Security system and method for protecting merchandise
A security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station including a logic control circuit having a controller, a communication circuit operably coupled to the controller, and a memory operably coupled to the controller for initially providing a security disarm code (SDC) to a programmable key including a logic control circuit having a controller, a communication circuit operably coupled to the controller and a memory operably coupled to the controller. The programmable key subsequently provides the SDC to a security device configured for attachment to the merchandise and including a logic control circuit having a controller, a communication circuit operably coupled to the controller, and a memory operably coupled to the controller. Thereafter, the security device is disarmed by using the programmable key to verify the SDC in the memory of the key with the SDC in the memory of the security device. A wireless interface is provided for the communication circuit of the programming station, programmable key and security device. An internal timer in the programmable key invalidates the SDC after a preset period of time period to prevent use of the key for disarming a security device after the time period has expired.
US07969303B2 Safety barrier with integrated alarm
A safety barrier with an integrated alarm has a plurality of posts for supporting fencing material. Each post having an inner, portion, an outer portion, an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion of each post has embedded therein an alarm contact. A plurality of base supports are used for supporting the posts. Each base support has an interior portion, an exterior portion, a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom of the interior portion of each base support has an alarm contact embedded therein at the end proximate to the base support which corresponds to the alarm contact embedded in the lower portion of each post.
US07969298B2 Inbound interference reduction in a broadband powerline system
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing inbound interference in a broadband powerline communication system. Data modulated on first and second carrier frequencies is received via respective first and second lines of the powerline system. A characteristic of at least one of the carrier signals (e.g., phase or amplitude) is adjusted at the receiver in order to reduce the effects of inbound interference on the transmission system. The adjustment parameters may be determined by adjusting the parameters, during a period of no data transmission, until the output of a differential receiver is zero.
US07969294B2 Onboard display device, onboard display system and vehicle
An onboard display device includes a display section attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle. The section has a second display area and a first display area. The second display area shows at least the speed as vehicle condition images indicating the conditions of the vehicle. The first display area shows a navigation image and other secondary images. The display section measures greater in width than in height with an aspect ratio of 7:3 or greater. The aspect ratio is the width/height ratio of a display area. The onboard display device allows for a visibility-improved simultaneous display of the secondary image, such as a navigation image, and the vehicle condition image, such as a speed display, which presents information on the conditions of the vehicle.
US07969291B2 Fuel enrichment indicator
A method for signaling a driver of a motor vehicle that the motor vehicle is operating in a stoichiometric air/fuel mode or a non-stoichiometric air/fuel mode. The method includes providing an air/fuel sensor, the air/fuel sensor providing a signal that is representative of a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio mixture or a non-stoichiometric air/fuel ratio mixture being supplied to or burned by the motor vehicle. The method also includes providing a powertrain control module that is operable to receive the signal from the air/fuel sensor and to energize a light source when a non-stoichiometric air/fuel ratio mixture signal is received.
US07969289B2 Method, computer program and device for determining the risk of midair collision
A method for determining the probability of a vehicle colliding with a detected object. The object is detected. A stochastic process is determined representing a relative distance between the vehicle and the detected object. The stochastic process has a direction and a velocity relative the vehicle. A safety zone of the vehicle is defined in relation to the detected object as a straight line perpendicular to a line of sight of the detected object. The probability of colliding with the detected object over a period of time is determined as the probability of the stochastic process crossing the straight line with the direction and velocity of the stochastic process.
US07969283B2 RFID tag information communicating device
The RFID tag information communicating device is provided with a cartridge constructed in such a manner that a plurality of RFID circuit elements are stored and can be sequentially taken out therefrom, and an antenna for performing transmitting/receiving operations in a radio communicating operation between the own antenna and an antenna of a sequentially derived RFID circuit element, first access information for accessing RFID tag information of an IC circuit part is produced by a signal processing circuit; and the produced first access information is transmitted by a transmitting portion so as to access the RFID tag information of the IC circuit part. After the access operation is carried out, a control circuit judges as to whether or not the access operation can succeed, and controls a magnitude of transmission power from the transmitting portion in response to this judgment result.
US07969280B2 Biometric universal security remote
An apparatus and method for a universal wireless security device that provides multiple access control functions in one device without subjecting an owner to increased risk arising from unauthorized use. Authorization is established via one or more biometric characteristics of a user attempting to operate the device. The apparatus includes a transmitter for wirelessly communicating an active security code to a security code receiver, the transmitter responsive to a mode signal to transmit a particular one of a set of a plurality of prerecorded security codes as the active security code; a biometric sensor for extracting a biometric characteristic from a user; an actuating system for indicating a particular one security transmission mode of a plurality of security transmission modes; and a controller, coupled to the transmitter, the sensor, and the actuating system, for determining when the user is an authorized user responsive to the biometric characteristic, the controller communicating the mode signal to the transmitter responsive to the particular one security transmission mode when the user is determined to be the authorized user.
US07969277B2 Nonlinear resistor ceramic composition, electronic component, and multilayer chip varistor
A nonlinear resistor ceramic composition has a major component containing zinc oxide, a first minor component containing an oxide of a rare-earth metal, a second minor component containing an oxide of Ca, and a third minor component containing an oxide of Si. A percentage of the second minor component to 100 moles of the major component is in the range of 2 atomic %≦the second minor component<80 atomic % in terms of Ca. A percentage of the third minor component to 100 moles of the major component is in the range of 1 atomic %≦the third minor component<40 atomic % in terms of Si. An atomic ratio of Ca to Si (Ca/Si) is not less than 1.
US07969274B2 Method to improve inductance with a high-permeability slotted plate core in an integrated circuit
An inductor structure (102) formed in an integrated circuit (100) is disclosed, and includes a first isolation layer (106) and a first core plate (104) disposed over or within the first isolation layer (106, 114). The first core plate (104) includes a plurality of electrically coupled conductive traces composed of a conductive ferromagnetic material layer. A second isolation layer (108) overlies the first isolation layer and an inductor coil (102) composed of a conductive material layer (118) is formed within the second isolation layer (108). Another core plate may be formed over the coil. The one or more core plates increase an inductance (L) of the inductor coil (102).
US07969273B2 Insulating member
An insulating member is provided with a rear surface section, a pair of side surface sections and a pair of column sections. The rear surface section is formed to be arranged between an edgewise coil and the yoke inner circumference surface of a stator core. The pair of side surface sections extend from the rear surface section to cover the side surfaces on the slot side of teeth and are formed flexibly in the facing directions. The pair of column sections extend from the rear surface section along the end surfaces on the coil end side of the teeth, while keeping spaces between the column sections and the side surface sections so as not to disturb deformation of the side surface sections.
US07969271B2 Current transformer
A current transformer includes a bobbin, a primary winding coil, a conductive pillar, a magnetic core assembly, and a covering member. The bobbin includes a bobbin body and a concave structure. The primary winding coil is wound around the bobbin body. The conductive pillar is partially accommodated within the concave structure. The magnetic core assembly includes a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are partially embedded into the channel. The concave structure is partially enclosed by the second magnetic core. The covering member cooperates with the concave structure to shield the conductive pillar. The conductive pillar and the second magnetic core are separated from each other by the covering member, so that a creepage distance between the conductive pillar and the primary winding coil and a creepage distance between the conductive pillar and the magnetic core assembly are increased.
US07969269B2 Pick-up apparatus for inductive power transfer systems
An Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) pick-up apparatus includes a magnetically permeable core, a first coil, being wound about the core so as to be inductive coupled therewith such that a current induced in the first coil is most sensitive to a first directional component of magnetic flux and a second coil, being wound about the core so as to be inductively coupled therewith such that a current induced in the second coil is most sensitive to a second directional component of magnetic flux. The first directional component is substantially orthogonal to the second directional component.
US07969264B2 Choke device for frequency converter
A choke device for a frequency converter, comprising three windings composed of conductors wound around three substantially parallel axes (A, B, C), respectively, the windings being located triangularly with respect to each other in such a manner that, when the choke device is viewed in the longitudinal direction of said winding axes (A, B, C), the winding axes are located at the vertices of the triangle, the choke device further comprising an envelope (1) surrounding the windings, a first end (3A) thereof being provided with at least one opening (20) for receiving cooling medium to the inside of the envelope, and a second end (3B) being provided with at least one opening for discharging the cooling medium from the envelope, and an envelope axis (D) between said first and second ends being substantially parallel with the winding axes (A, B, C).
US07969263B2 Polarization drift elimination fiber wrap design and method
A fiber wrap and a method of rotating the fiber wrap without twisting a data cable are disclosed. The fiber wrap includes a sun gear, a sun cylinder coupled to the sun gear, a planetary gear in contact with the sun gear, a planetary cylinder coupled to the planetary gear, an outer housing in contact with the planetary gear, and a data cable coupled to the sun cylinder, the planetary cylinder, and the outer housing. The maximum bend radius of the data cable is determined by the equation: 2 ⁢ πΔ ⁢ ⁢ DGD ⁢ c λ wherein λ is optical wavelength and Δ ⁢ ⁢ DGD = 0.5 ⁢ C s ⁡ ( r R 2 ) 2 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ L c - 0.5 ⁢ C s ⁡ ( r R 1 ) 2 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ L c wherein Cs is the stress-optics coefficient, c is the speed of light, R1 is the bend radius at the end of the wrap motion, R2 is the bend radius at the start of the wrap motion, r is the radii of the sun cylinder and the planetary cylinder, and Δ ⁢ ⁢ L = 10 360 ⁢ 2 ⁢ π ⁢ ⁢ R 2 .
US07969240B2 Gain control for linear radio frequency power amplifiers
A bias control circuit is provided comprising an input port for receiving a signal indicative of an amplitude of a supply voltage provided to a multi stage power amplifier circuit. Electronic circuitry, electrically coupled to the input port, generates a bias control signal in dependence upon the signal indicative of a supply voltage for provision to a first stage power amplifier of the multi stage power amplifier circuit. The bias control signal is generated such that a gain change of the multi stage power amplifier circuit due to a supply voltage change is substantially compensated.
US07969239B2 Charge pump circuit and a novel capacitor for a memory integrated circuit
A novel capacitor for use in a charge pump circuit has a substrate with a planar surface. A first electrode is in a first plane spaced apart from the planar surface. A second electrode is adjacent to and is spaced apart from the first electrode in the first plane and is capacitively coupled thereto. A third electrode is in a second plane, spaced apart from the first plane and is capacitively coupled to the first electrode. A fourth electrode is adjacent to and spaced apart from the third electrode in the second plane and is capacitively coupled to the third electrode and capacitively coupled to the second electrode. The first and fourth electrodes are electrically connected together and the second and third electrodes are electrically connected together. In addition, a cylindrical shape electrode, and a great wall electrode, and charge pump capacitor-by-pattern-filling is disclosed. A charge pump circuit using the foregoing described capacitor has a plurality of transistors for charging the capacitor and discharging the capacitor thereby increasing the voltage of the charge pump circuit.
US07969237B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes at least one first transistor configured to control conductance between an input power line and an output power line, at least one second transistor configured to control conductance between the input power line and the output power line, a first buffer configured to supply a first control signal for driving the at least one first transistor to a first control line connected to the at least one first transistor, a second buffer configured to generate a second control signal for driving the at least one second transistor upon receipt of the first control signal supplied through the first control line and supply the second control signal to a second control line connected to the at least one second transistor, and at least one capacitor connected between the first control line and the output power line.
US07969235B2 Self-adaptive multi-stage charge pump
A charge pump circuit for generating an output voltage is described. The charge pump includes multiple output generation stages connected in series and a corresponding set of multiple gate stages connected in series, where the output stages have the same structure as the corresponding gate stages. The switches that the provide the output of each output generation stage are controlled by the corresponding gate stage. The number of output stages that are active in boosting the voltage self-adapts according to the output level being regulated, with the later stages changing from a boosting operation to a filtering function with not being used to active boost the output.
US07969232B2 Booster and voltage detection method thereof
A booster and a voltage detection method thereof are provided herein. The booster includes a charge pump circuit and a voltage detection circuit. The charge pump circuit is controlled by a switching signal to generate an actual voltage according to the basis voltage, wherein the actual voltage is a product of the basis voltage multiplied by a first preset multiplier. The voltage detection circuit is coupled to the charge pump circuit. The voltage detection circuit selects one of a plurality of first multipliers to serve as the first preset multiplier according to a comparison result between the basis voltage and a target voltage, and generates the switching signal corresponding to the first preset multiplier. Therefore, the booster can properly select the first preset multiplier to generate the actual voltage as the basis voltage changes.
US07969229B2 On-chip redundancy high-reliable system and method of controlling the same
A comparator circuit for comparing outputs of an on-chip redundant system is mounted on a second semiconductor chip that is separate from the on-chip redundant system. The second semiconductor chip which preferably contains a power source circuit for supplying power to the on-chip redundant system, a driver circuit for driving an output circuit, and the like are mounted. With this configuration, the influence of a failure occurring in the on-chip redundancy system can be prevented from being exerted on the comparator measure.
US07969228B2 Thermal switch for integrated circuits, design structure, and method of sensing temperature
A single-ended thermal switch, design structure, and method of sensing temperature. A circuit includes a first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor connected in series between a first power supply and a second power supply. The circuit apparatus also includes a signal conditioner connected to a node between the first and second MOS transistors. The first MOS transistor and the second MOS transistor are configured such that a leakage current of the second MOS transistor decreases a voltage of the node below a switch point of the signal conditioner when the temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.
US07969227B2 Temperature detection circuit
According to one embodiment, a temperature detection circuit is provided which requires only a small number of additional components, thus minimizing an increase in costs and which offers an insulating property and high responsiveness. A temperature detection circuit outputs a first PWM signal corresponding to a temperature of a first temperature sensor from a photointerrupter as a signal insulated from the first temperature sensor. A temperature detection circuit outputs a second PWM signal corresponding to a temperature of a second temperature sensor from a photointerrupter as a signal insulated from the second temperature sensor. A controlling arithmetic apparatus calculates a higher one of the temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors based on the PWM signals output from the photointerrupter.
US07969224B2 Circuit to reduce duty cycle distortion
A method and a circuit for correcting duty cycle distortion. A delay insertion gate corrects data dependent delay distortion that is generated by CMOS flip-flop circuits. The delay insertion gate includes two field effect transistors and a current mirror. The two transistors each respectively receive an input signal from an upstream circuit. At least one of the transistors is coupled to an output node. The output node temporarily holds a voltage state within the delay insertion gate, correcting any distortion in the duty cycle of the input signals.
US07969223B1 Temperature compensation for logarithmic circuits
An embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor, and a multi-tanh circuit arranged to provide temperature compensation to the logging transistor, where the multi-tanh circuit comprises a multiplicity of multi-tanh cells. In another embodiment, a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor, and a multi-tanh circuit arranged to provide temperature compensation to the logging transistor, where the multi-tanh circuit includes a first set of outputs arranged to provide an output signal and a second set of one or more outputs that are diverted.
US07969222B2 Method and system for DC offset correction loop for a mobile digital cellular television environment
Methods and systems for a DC offset correction loop for a mobile digital cellular television environment are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include removing at least a portion of a DC offset from output of an amplifier. The DC offset may be removed from a single stage amplifier, or from each stage of a N stage amplifier, where N may be an integer. The DC offset may be removed by using second differential signals generated from first differential signals, where the second differential signals may be communicated to inputs of the amplifier. The first differential signals may by a first circuit that integrates outputs of the amplifier. The first circuit may perform the integration using a variable corner frequency that may be adjusted by changing a resistance of at least one variable resistor in the first circuit.
US07969219B2 Wide range delay cell
A delay cell with a wider delay range is provided. The delay cell employs frequency dependent current source to generate the majority of the delay of the cell, while a control circuit (which is generally a current source that is controlled by a control voltage) provides additional delay. Thus, the delay cell provided here can be used to improve the performance of delay locked loops (DLLs) and other circuits.
US07969218B2 Receiver for reducing intersymbol interference of a channel and compensating for signal gain loss, and method thereof
Example embodiments are directed to a receiver for reducing ISI of at least one data transmission channel and compensating for signal gain loss, and method thereof. A receiver may include a high pass filter and a Schmitt trigger controlled by a plurality of first control signals and a plurality of second control signals. The plurality of first control signals and the plurality of second control signals may be used to shift a first trigger voltage and a second trigger voltage of the Schmitt trigger. A method of reducing intersymbol interference and compensating for signal gain loss of a receiver connected to at least one data transmission channel is also provided.
US07969217B2 Output buffer with slew-rate enhancement output stage
An embodiment of a slew-rate enhancement output stage is disclosed. A first slew-rate enhancement circuit receives a first control voltage and outputs a first voltage. A second slew-rate enhancement circuit receives a second control voltage and outputs a second voltage. A first PMOS transistor includes a first first terminal coupled to a high voltage source, a first control terminal receiving the first voltage, and a first second terminal coupled to a voltage output terminal. A first NMOS transistor includes a second first terminal coupled to the voltage output terminal, a second control terminal for receiving the second voltage, and a second second terminal coupled to a low voltage source. The first voltage is higher than the first control voltage, and the second voltage is lower than the second control voltage.
US07969212B2 Circuit for generating power-up signal of semiconductor memory apparatus
A power-up signal generating circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a current source unit configured to supply a current to a first node; a current sink unit configured to be turned on when the level of a divided voltage dividing an external voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined level to allow the current to flow from a first node to a second node; a control unit configured to control the turn-on timing of the current sink unit by controlling a voltage level of the second node; and a signal generating unit configured to enable a power-up signal depending on a voltage level of the first node.
US07969206B2 Semiconductor element drive circuit
A drive circuit for driving a semiconductor element according to an input signal includes an output stage, a clamp circuit, a comparator, and a clamp control circuit. The output stage includes a series circuit of two transistors. A node between the transistors is coupled to a control terminal of the semiconductor element. One of the transistors is turned on when the input signal indicates that the semiconductor element is driven. The clamp circuit clamps a potential of the control terminal to a level enough to drive the semiconductor element when the one of the transistors is turned on. The comparator compares a power supply voltage of the drive circuit with a threshold voltage. The clamp control circuit disables the clamp circuit when the power supply voltage is less than the threshold voltage.
US07969204B1 Sample hold circuit and method thereof for eliminating offset voltage of analog signal
A sample hold circuit and a method for eliminating the offset voltage of the analog signal are provided. The sample hold circuit includes a sample unit, a plurality of capacitors, a control unit and a hold unit. When the sample hold circuit is in a first state, the sample unit samples an analog signal. When the sample hold circuit is in a second state, the capacitors eliminate a DC offset voltage of the analog signal sampled by the sample unit, and the hold unit outputs an AC signal of the analog signal sampled by the sample unit. The control unit adjusts a number of the capacitances coupled to a common voltage according to a magnitude of the DC offset voltage, thus to determine the capacitance for eliminating the DC offset voltage.
US07969197B2 Output buffer circuit and differential output buffer circuit, and transmission method
An output buffer includes inverters, a delay circuit for delaying an input signal, buffers and switches. The output buffer transmits a logic signal to a transmission path and, in accordance with an amount of signal attenuation in the transmission path, creates a waveform including four or more kinds of signal voltages. The buffers are redundantly connected in parallel, and the number of buffers concurrently turn ON is controlled by respective switches provided in series with output resistors of the buffers. By selecting the buffers of switches which are turned ON, the preemphasis amount and a number of preemphasis taps are adjusted through a selector logic selection signal so that the preemphasis amount is made variable and the ON resistance of the buffers is made constant.
US07969196B2 Circuits and methods for buffering and communicating data signals
Method and apparatus are provided for buffering a data signal to a low voltage logic device. A circuit for buffering the data signal to the low voltage logic device includes an output buffer and an N-type transistor. The output buffer has an input and an output, where the input is configured to receive the data signal. The output buffer is configured to produce an output signal based on the data signal, and the output signal has a maximum potential. The N-type transistor has a source coupled to the output, a drain configured to couple to the low voltage logic device, and a gate configured to receive a bias potential, where the bias potential is greater than the maximum potential.
US07969192B2 Variable off-chip drive
A driver circuit includes a set of selectable drivers each having an individual drive capability, the drivers being selectable such that i) when a subset of the drivers is selected, a signal will be driven by the drivers at a first drive level, and ii) when the subset of the drivers and at least one additional driver is selected, signal will be driven by the drivers at a level that is greater than the first level by a level of drive provided by the least one additional driver.
US07969190B2 Input stage for mixed-voltage-tolerant buffer with reduced leakage
A mixed-voltage buffer circuit coupled between a first circuit operative at a first power supply voltage and a second circuit operative at a second power supply voltage. The buffer circuit is connectable to the second power supply voltage and a third power supply voltage and includes an input circuit coupled to the first circuit through a first node and to the second circuit through a second node. The input circuit includes a first part coupled to the first node and an inverter coupled to the second node. The first part provides a signal having a voltage level approximately equal to the third power supply voltage to the inverter in response to a first signal on the first node, and provides a signal having a voltage level approximately equal to the second power supply voltage to the inverter in response to a second signal on the first node.
US07969186B2 Apparatus and method for forming a mixed signal circuit with fully customizable analog cells and programmable interconnect
A mixed signal integrated circuit includes a digital logic array and an analog cell array. Each cell of the analog cell array shares a common architecture and is fully programmable. An analog cell includes mirror NFETs, cascode NFETs, differential pair NFETs, differential pair PFETs, cascode PFETs and mirror PFETs. An analog cell may also include special purpose components, such as low value resistors, high value resistors and PFETs.
US07969177B2 System and method for thermal limit control
This disclosure relates to a system and method for pulse generation. A system in accordance with the present disclosure may include a power dissipating element configured to receive power from a power source. At least one of the power source and the power dissipating element may be configured to generate a first signal. The system may further include a measuring instrument in communication with the power source. The measuring instrument may be configured to measure the first signal and to provide an input corresponding to a measured signal to a duty cycle limiter. The system may also include a pulse controller operatively connected to the power source. The pulse controller may be configured to control a duty cycle of the first signal and to receive a second signal from the duty cycle limiter. The pulse controller may be configured to disable at least one of the power source and the power dissipating element if the duty cycle limiter has determined that a maximum condition has been exceeded. Other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US07969174B2 Systems and methods for test time outlier detection and correction in integrated circuit testing
Methods and systems for semiconductor testing are disclosed. In one embodiment, devices which are testing too slowly are prevented from completing testing, thereby allowing untested devices to begin testing sooner.
US07969172B2 Probing method and probing program
Disclosed is a probing method including, when the probes are configured to make contact with a chip row including four chips continuously arranged in an oblique direction so that the probe card test four chips at a time, finding a first reference oblique chip row extending in the oblique direction and containing a center chip positioned at the center of the wafer and a plurality of first additional oblique chip rows arranged in parallel with the first reference oblique chip row at an upper side of the first reference oblique chip row, and setting contact positions between the probes and the first oblique chip rows wherein the contact positions are positions of the probes obtained by shifting the probes; setting contact positions between the probes and the second oblique chip rows in an opposite direction to a first step; and setting a plurality of index group and test order.
US07969171B1 Test circuit and system
A test circuit and system for testing one or more electrical properties of an electronic circuit or other device under test (DUT) by applying and monitoring test signals to the DUT is disclosed. The test circuit can utilize a plurality of universal interface channel circuits in a single automated test system to provide a unique and flexible approach for testing electronic circuits or devices that has many advantages. A single data acquisition circuit can be coupled to one or more universal interface channel circuits. Each of the universal interface channel circuits can be independently commanded by the data acquisition circuit to provide one of a variety of test signals to a DUT as desired.
US07969168B1 Integrated circuit with built-in self test circuit
An embodiment of the invention provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit has an analog device-under-test (DUT), a memory receiving and storing a test program and a processor. The processor tests the analog DUT and outputs a test result in digital format by executing the test program, wherein the test result indicates whether the analog DUT workable according to a specification.
US07969165B2 Device for determining the distance between a rotor blade and a wall of a turbine engine surrounding the rotor blade
A device for determining distance between a rotor blade and a wall of a gas turbine surrounding the rotor blade is provided. A waveguide guides and emits electromagnetic waves of at least one frequency in the direction of the rotor blade through a waveguide opening facing the rotor blade. The electromagnetic waves are injected into the waveguide and reflected portions of the electromagnetic waves are received. An evaluation unit compares the phase of the electromagnetic waves to be injected with the phase of the reflected portions of the electromagnetic waves and determines phase comparison values for every frequency and the distance is determined based on the phase comparison values. The waveguide comprises a sealing element which is configured to be transmissible for the electromagnetic waves of the frequency and which has two opposite surfaces in the direction of guidance of the electromagnetic waves.
US07969159B2 Method and apparatus for an electrical conductor monitoring system
A system and method for determining the status of each monitored conductor, and optionally indicating peak current or other parameters are provided. Wireless self-powered sensor elements can eliminate much of the wiring required in traditional systems, and greatly ease the installation in difficult underground locations.
US07969158B2 Noise-reduction method for processing a test port
A noise-reduction method for processing a port is applied to a test target for testing or being burned in with software. At least one zero-Ohm resistor is provided with a first end thereof electrically connected to a device under test (DUT) of the test target and a second end thereof connected to a test port. Moreover, at least one grounding zero-Ohm resistor is provided with one end connected to ground and the other end is a floating end. After the test target is finished debugging or burned in with software, the connection of the first end and the DUT is disabled, and the second end is connected to ground through the floating end to reduce noise generation and improve a flexibility in circuit layout.
US07969157B2 Fault detection circuit
A fault detection circuit connects to and determines the occurrence of failure in an inverter circuit. The inverter circuit comprises three outputs to connect three groups of lamps respectively, and the fault detection circuit comprises a magnetic unit and a signal detection unit. The magnetic unit comprises first, second and third flux generating windings electrically connected to the three outputs of the inverter circuit, and a flux detection winding. If no fault occurs on the outputs of the inverter circuit, total flux generated by the flux generating windings is cancelled out. As long as any fault occurs on the outputs of the inverter circuit, flux generated by the flux generating windings cannot be canceled out, and the flux detection winding is electromagnetically coupled accordingly and driven by the generated flux to output a coupling signal, based on which the signal detection unit generates an alert signal accordingly.
US07969156B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring a load
Applicants have created an improved method and apparatus for remotely monitoring an electrical load and assessing key attributes of power-related anomalies and line disturbances caused or created by the electrical load and qualifying their conformity to certain expected steady state conditions. The apparatus includes an intelligent power distribution module that can include a power output section, a power input section, a communication section, and related circuitry. The intelligent power distribution module can further include a memory section, a sensing device, a processing device, and a switch. The method for monitoring an electrical load having a current and voltage requirement supplied by an electrical source coupled to the load generally includes: interfacing a sensing module between the load and the electrical source; sensing one or more characteristics of the load; and determining the performance of the load sensing.
US07969155B2 Directional fault current indicator
A method for identifying a fault condition associated with a power line conductor of an electrical power distribution network. The method determines if a load current carried by the conductor is above a minimum load current, determines a learned phase angle relationship between the load current and a source signal, determines a load current magnitude, determines a real-time phase angle relationship between the load current and the source signal and indicates a fault condition when the real-time phase angle relationship is within a predetermined number of angular degrees of the learned phase angle relationship and when the load current magnitude exceeds a fault-indicating current.
US07969153B2 Borehole conductivity simulator verification and transverse antenna balancing
A reactance is introduced into a flow path of axial currents in an induction logging tool. The reactance may be a capacitor or an inductor. A transmitter antenna is operated at a frequency defined by a cutoff frequency related to the reactance.
US07969147B2 Rotation angle detecting device including multiple magnetic sensor elements
A rotation angle detecting device includes a signal generator, a magnetic rotor and a rotation angle calculating unit that calculates a rotation angle θ of the rotor based on the output signals of the signal generator. The signal generator includes a magnetic rotor that has a permanent magnet and a shaft connectable with the rotating object and at least three magnetic sensor elements disposed in the magnetic field to generate a plurality of output signals when the rotor rotates. The rotation angle calculating unit calculates a first candidate of the rotation angle θ from a first pair of the three output signals, examines whether the first candidate of the rotation angle θ is normal or not and calculates a next candidate of the rotation angle θ from another pair of the three output signals if the first candidate of the rotation angle θ is not normal, examines whether the next candidate of the rotation angle θ is normal or not, repeats the above two steps until a next candidate of the rotation angle θ is judged normal, and outputs one of the first and next candidates of the rotation angle θ as a formal rotation angle if it is judged normal.
US07969140B2 Magnetic field sensor and electrical current sensor therewith
A magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetic field sensing cell and a magnetic shield comprising at least two parts separated by an air-gap and surrounding the magnetic field sensing cell positioned in a cavity of the magnetic shield.
US07969139B2 Rogowski sensor and method for measuring a current
A Rogowski sensor is provided for measuring a current of an electrical conductor. The sensor has a Rogowski coil, which has an electrical winding resistor, and an integration device which is connected to the Rogowski coil and is intended to generate an output signal which is proportional to the electrical current to be measured by the Rogowski sensor. The integration device is formed by the winding resistor of the Rogowski coil and a capacitance which is connected to the two winding connections of the Rogowski coil, and for the output signal from the integration device to be formed by the voltage applied to the capacitance.
US07969138B2 Method for calibrating a motor control circuit to improve temperature measurement in a electrical motor
A method enables measurement of an inverter loss within a motor control circuit for an appliance. The method includes applying a constant DC current generated from a first AC supply voltage to a motor winding through an inverter at a first duty cycle, measuring a first voltage corresponding to the current through the motor at a motor current sense resistor, computing a first ratio of the first measured voltage at the motor current sense resistor to a first DC input voltage corresponding to the first AC supply voltage, identifying a second duty cycle from the first computed ratio, comparing the second duty cycle to the first duty cycle, and identifying a first inverter loss factor from the difference between the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle.
US07969137B2 System for and method of detecting a buried conductor
A system for detecting a buried conductor comprises a transmitter for producing an alternating test current in the buried conductor and a receiver for detecting an electromagnetic field produced by the test current in the buried conductor. A communication link is provided between the receiver and the transmitter. The test current comprises first and second components of different frequency. The receiver monitors the phase creepage of the first and second components and controls the transmitter to reset the phase difference between the first and second components as phase creepage increases.
US07969136B2 Band gap circuit generating a plurality of internal voltage references
A semiconductor device includes: a first reference voltage generator for generating a first reference voltage; a first band gap circuit for dividing a voltage at a second reference voltage output node to produce a first and a second band gap voltages having a property relative to temperature variations; a first comparator for receiving the first reference voltage as a bias input and comparing the first band gap voltage with the second band gap voltage; and a first driver for pull-up driving the second reference voltage output node in response to an output signal of the first comparator.
US07969133B2 Method and system for providing local converters to provide maximum power point tracking in an energy generating system
A method for providing maximum power point tracking for an energy generating device using a local buck-boost converter coupled to the device is provided. The method includes operating in a tracking mode, which includes initializing a conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter based on a previous optimum conversion ratio. A device power associated with the initialized conversion ratio is calculated. The conversion ratio is repeatedly modified and a device power associated with each of the modified conversion ratios is calculated. A current optimum conversion ratio for the buck-boost converter is identified based on the calculated device powers. The current optimum conversion ratio corresponds to one of a buck mode, a boost mode and a buck-boost mode for the buck-boost converter.
US07969128B2 Bi-directional power supply with isolated output
A capacitor isolated electronic power converter includes a direct current power source in series with a first inductor; and a first switch for switching contact with a second inductor in series with the power source return; an output load in series with a third inductor which connects to a second switch for switching contact to a fourth inductor in series with the output load return; the third inductor and second switch for switching connect through a first capacitive coupling to the second inductor; and the fourth inductor and second switch for switching connect through a second capacitive coupling to the first inductor; wherein the first and second capacitive coupling isolate the power source from the output load.
US07969127B1 Start-up circuit for a shunt regulator
A method and circuit for controlling the start-up of a shunt regulator that uses an error amplifier for normal operation in a linear range of a target value output voltage set by a reference voltage upon circuit start-up clamps the output voltage to a first level value below the target value, next applies regenerative positive feedback independent of the error amplifier to force the output voltage through a range where adverse conditions can occur to a second level value below the target value, and then releases the positive feedback near the target value where the error amplifier assumes control of the regulation.
US07969126B2 Amplifier employing interleaved signals for PWM ripple suppression
An amplifier having improved distortion characteristics is set forth. The amplifier includes an interleaved PWM amplifier that generates interleaved PWM pulses in response to a modified input signal and one or more carrier signals. The interleaved PWM pulses of the amplifier are used to drive a power stage, such as an opposed current power stage. The amplifier also includes an interleaved PWM generator that provides interleaved PWM pulses in response to the modified input signal and one or more further carrier signals. The carrier signals used by the PWM generator may differ in phase from the carrier signals used by the interleaved PWM amplifier to generate its interleaved PWM pulses. One or more feedback circuits are employed in the generation of the modified input signal. More particularly, the feedback circuit(s) generates the modified input signal based on an input signal that is to be amplified and the interleaved PWM pulses of the interleaved PWM generator.
US07969124B2 Power supply apparatus, test apparatus, and electronic device
There is provided a power supply apparatus including a power supply section that supplies an output current to an external load, and a current control section that flows an electric current varying in a direction opposite to a supply current being supplied to the power supply section into a ground of the power supply section.
US07969121B2 Power supply that uses a supercapacitive device
A power supply (1) for powering a load, the load being in the form of a flash driver circuit (4) for a digital camera (not shown). The power supply includes a supercapacitive device, in the form of a supercapacitor (8), for powering circuit (4). A regulator unit, in the form of an inductive regulator (10), charges supercapacitor (8).
US07969120B2 Method for calculating power capability of battery packs using advanced cell model predictive techniques
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for estimating discharge and charge power of battery applications, including battery packs used in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Electric Vehicles (EV). One charge/discharge power estimating method incorporates voltage, state-of-charge (SOC), power, and current design constraints and works for a user-specified prediction time horizon Δt. At least two cell models are used in calculating maximum charge/discharge power based on voltage limits. The first is a simple cell model that uses a Taylor-series expansion to linearize the equation involved. The second is a more complex and accurate model that models cell dynamics in discrete-time state-space form. The cell model can incorporate a inputs such as temperature, resistance, capacity, etc. One advantage of using model-based approach is that the same model may be used in both Kalman-filtering to produce the SOC and the estimation of maximum charge/discharge current based on voltage limits.
US07969117B2 Method and device for charging peripherals
The invention includes a peripheral charging system for a computer. The peripheral charging system comprises a retention mechanism configured to retain a peripheral having a battery, the retention mechanism comprising a charging mechanism, and a system battery electrically connected to the charging mechanism. When the peripheral is retained by the retention mechanism, the peripheral contacts the charging mechanism of the retention mechanism to charge the peripheral battery. The invention also comprises a method for charging a peripheral for a mobile computing device. The method comprises retaining the peripheral in a retention mechanism of the mobile computing device, and charging a battery of the peripheral device from a battery of the mobile computing device. The retention mechanism of the mobile computing device includes a charging mechanism configured to supply charge to a charging mechanism of the peripheral.
US07969116B2 Power pack and cordless power tool having the same
A compact battery pack with high handling ability and restraining degradation of battery cells. The battery pack includes an insertion portion to be inserted into a handle portion of a cordless power tool and an accommodation portion in which all battery cells are accommodatable. A protection board with a protection circuit that protects batteries against overcharge and over-discharge is installed in the insertion portion. A switching element is connected between the battery cells and a drive motor of the power tool. An air passage in communication with the battery pack is formed within the handle and a main housing of the cordless power tool. The switching element is positioned at the air passage.
US07969114B2 Motor driving system compatible with different types of encoders
A system compatible for different types of signals relates to a motor includes a differential amplifier, a comparator, and a transmitting device. The differential amplifier is configured to receive one of a differential digital pulse signals pair and a differential analog signals pair. The differential digital pulse signals pair is converted to a first digital signal, and the differential analog signals pair is converted to an analog signal by the differential amplifier. The comparator is configured to convert the analog signal into a second digital signal. The first digital signal is received and outputted by the comparator. The transmitting device is configured to convert a data signals pair to a binary code, and convert differential reference digital signals pairs to reference digital signals. The reference digital signals, the first and second digital signals are received by an external computing device.
US07969113B2 Motor control system
A motor control system suppresses vibration of a machine base and achieves high-speed positioning without using a special sensor but using a model control system. A first feedback section outputs a first feedback command generated based on model machine base position information and containing at least position information on the machine base. A second feedback section outputs a second feedback command containing a filtered model torque command. A differential between the sum of the first feedback command and the second feedback command obtained by a second addition section and the model torque command is calculated to give the differential to an input portion of a model torque command low-pass filter and an input portion of a torque command low-pass filter. The model control system gives a model position command to a position controller as a position command, and model machine base position information generated based on the model position command is added to a speed command input from the position controller to a speed controller.
US07969112B2 Stator resistance adaptation in sensorless PMSM drives
A method of estimating stator resistance of a permanent magnet synchronous machine, when the permanent magnet synchronous machine is controlled with an inverter using a control system having an adaptive observer which is augmented with a signal injection, the adaptive observer having a stator resistance estimate ({circumflex over (R)}s) as a parameter, in which method an error signal (ε) is obtained from the signal injection, a speed correction term (ωε) is calculated from the error signal (ε), the rotor position estimate is corrected using the speed correction term (ωε) in the adaptive observer, whereby the error signal (ε) is driven to zero. The method comprises the step of correcting the value of the stator resistance estimate ({circumflex over (R)}s) in the adaptive observer when the speed correction term (ωε) differs from zero.
US07969110B2 Compensation actuator for a rotorcraft flight control
The invention relates to an actuator having an (auto)synchronous rotary electric motor and a reversible speed-reducing gearbox coupled to the motor to be driven in rotation thereby An outlet shaft is coupled to the speed-reducing gearbox to be driven in rotation thereby A first angular position sensor and a control circuit are connected to the motor. The circuit delivers a motor power supply signal that varies as a function of a position setpoint signal applied to the control circuit and as a function of signals delivered by the angular position sensor. The gearbox has a plurality of speed-reducing each having a pair of gears mounted to rotate about two parallel axes of rotation.
US07969104B2 Rotary electric system designed to utilize zero-phase circuit
In a rotary electric system, a rotary electric machine is provided with an armature core and star-connected multiphase windings with a neutral point wound in the armature core. Each of the star-connected multiphase windings has a predetermined winding configuration that prevents, when a zero-phase current is supplied from a direct current power source to the star-connected multiphase windings via the neutral point, a zero-phase magnetic flux created in the armature core based on the zero-phase current flowing in each phase winding of the star-connected multiphase windings from being cancelled out by a zero-phase magnetic flux created in the armature core based on the zero-phase current flowing in another one phase winding of the star-connected multiphase windings.
US07969102B2 Interactive LED lighting system for entertainment and network thereof
An interactive LED lighting system for entertainment and a network thereof comprise a plurality of LED light controllers being capable of connecting with a wireless operating end, a plurality of kinetic energy sensors or wireless remote controls for receiving commands output by the wireless operating end, the kinetic energy sensors or the wireless remote controls so as to generate RGB signals and in turn make LED lamps connected with the LED light controllers change colors they emit.
US07969100B2 Bulb type detector for dimmer circuit and inventive resistance and short circuit detection
A bulb detection circuit is associated with a dimmer circuit for a lighting system. The bulb detection circuit is operable to detect whether an incandescent or a fluorescent bulb is received in an electric light socket. The socket may be hardwired to the circuit, or could be plugged into an electrical outlet. The bulb detection circuit may utilize a separately inventive method of measuring the resistance by looking at an RC circuit time constant. Further, the bulb detection circuit may utilize a separately inventive method of identifying a short circuit by again looking at the RC circuit time constant.
US07969099B2 Lighting device for display device, display device and television receiver
A lighting device for a display device includes a plurality of light sources, a power source arranged to provide drive power for the light sources, a common electrode arranged to supply the drive power to the plurality of light sources, a plurality of holder electrodes arranged to hold the respective light sources and supply the drive power from the common electrode individually to the respective light sources, and a dielectric portion provided between the common electrode and each of the holder electrodes.
US07969094B2 Light source apparatus
A light source apparatus, comprises a discharge lamp and an auxiliary start-up light source provided in a base for the discharge lamp, wherein first and second external electrodes of the auxiliary start-up light source are formed on an outer face of a discharge container thereof, wherein a first lamp power feeder connected to a first external lead extending from one of the sealing portions of the discharge lamp and a first auxiliary light source power feeder connected to the first external electrode of the auxiliary start-up light source are connected to the first power supply terminal, and wherein a second lamp power feeder connected to a second external lead extending from the other sealing portion of the discharge lamp and a second auxiliary light source power feeder connected to a second external electrode of the auxiliary start-up light source are connected to the second power supply terminal.
US07969093B2 Plasma display panel with contrast-improving composition in the barrier layer
A plasma display panel and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The panel includes a substrate having a plurality of discharge cells, and barrier ribs defining the discharge cells, the barrier ribs contain carbon in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight.
US07969091B2 Field-emission apparatus of light source comprising a low pressure gas layer
An apparatus of light source includes a cathode structure, an anode structure, a fluorescent layer, a secondary electron generating layer, and a low-pressure gas layer. The fluorescent layer is located between the cathode structure and the anode structure. The low-pressure gas layer is filled between the cathode structure and the anode structure. The secondary electron generating layer is located on the cathode structure. The secondary electron generating layer can generate additional secondary electrons to hit the fluorescent layer for improving the performance of the light source.
US07969089B2 LED with improved light emission profile
An LED includes a substrate, a first electrode layer and a thin colloidal layer located between the substrate and the first electrode layer. A smoothening layer or particles located within or on the colloidal layer is provided so that the roughness of the outer surface of the colloidal layer which is facing towards the first electrode layer is Ra≦30 nm and Ra≧1 nm.
US07969086B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus
Provided is an organic light emitting display apparatus in which short circuit between conductive lines exposed outside a display unit is avoided. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, a display unit disposed on the substrate, a plurality of conductive lines disposed on the substrate and extending in an edge direction of the substrate; an insulator filling the conductive lines; and a first spacer disposed on the insulator.
US07969083B2 Discharge lamp and production method thereof
A discharge lamp is disclosed, including a sealed vessel with an inner surface, at least one illuminating gas filled inside the sealed vessel, and a fluorescent layer coated on the inner surface. The composition of the fluorescent layer is adjusted according to a colored light emitted by the illuminating gas during a discharge process within the sealed vessel, such that the colored light is converted into a visible light after passing through the fluorescent layer.
US07969081B2 Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel includes: pairs of electrodes having first electrode and second electrode which are arranged in parallel with each other; first substrate having dielectric layer formed so that the dielectric layer can cover the pairs of electrodes; and second substrate having third electrode which is arranged crossing the pairs of electrodes, and the plasma display panel further includes: floating electrodes, protruding onto a discharge space provided on dielectric layer at positions respectively corresponding to first electrode and second electrode, wherein floating electrodes are opposed to each other. Due to the above composition, the discharge starting voltage is reduced and the drive voltage is decreased. Accordingly, the light emitting efficiency is enhanced.
US07969078B2 Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and sparking tip therefor
A spark ignition device is provided having an electrode sparking tip constructed from an AuPd alloy with the addition of at least 3 wt. % of a precious metal element selected from at least one of platinum, iridium, rhodium and ruthenium. The gold counteracts oxidation of the palladium and the additional elements provide the sparking tip with high temperature and high strength mechanical properties and resistance to alloying with the combustion constituents during use.
US07969077B2 Spark plug with an improved seal
A spark plug having a glass seal formed from a first glass material and a second glass material. The first glass material has a glass transition temperature/softening point that is greater than the glass transition temperature/softening point of the second glass material. The first glass material and second glass material form a matrix and when combined with a filler have thermal expansion rates and properties the approximate leaded glass.
US07969071B2 Crystal unit for surface mounting having pillow members with two-layer structure
The crystal unit for surface mounting includes a container body having a recess, a pair of holding terminals formed on an inner bottom surface of the recess and a crystal blank provided with excitation electrodes on both principal surfaces thereof, having a first end and a second end with lead-out electrodes extending from the excitation electrodes toward both sides of the first end. Both sides of the first end are fixed to the holding terminals using a conductive adhesive. Pillow members protruding from the inner bottom surface are provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess at positions corresponding to corners on both sides of the second end. A bank having a height lower than a height of the pillow members is provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess at an intermediate position between the pair of pillow members.
US07969069B2 Energy transducer and method
The invention is an energy transducer that utilizes a material's internal energy as an energy source by operating in a cycle where there is a net loss in the material's internal energy without the need to raise the temperature of the material above ambient temperature. The invention is accomplished by the use of selected materials in which the material's mechanical strain, magnetization or electric polarization can be controlled by cross coupling forces, and where the cross coupling coefficients are not equal to each other in finite operating regions.
US07969068B2 Ultrasonic transducer with a retracted portion on a side surface of the piezoelectric layer
An ultrasonic transducer has a rectangular piezo-electric ceramic sheet piece 2 which has a retracted portion 1 on a side face, an upper electrode layer 3 placed on an upper surface of the ceramic sheet piece, 4 a first terminal electrode that is placed on the upper surface of the ceramic sheet piece and connected to the upper electrode layer 3, a lower electrode layer 5 placed on the lower surface of the ceramic sheet piece, an electro-conductive layer 6 that is placed on the retracted side face 1 and connected to the lower electrode layer 5, a second terminal electrode 7 that is placed on the upper surface of the ceramic sheet piece and is connected to the electro-conductive layer 6, a first lead wire 9a connected to the first terminal electrode, a second lead wire 9b connected to the second terminal electrode 7, an acoustic matching layer 10 placed on the upper electrode layer, and an acoustic absorbing layer 11 placed on the surface of the lower electrode layer.
US07969065B2 Vibration wave driving device
A vibration wave driving device comprises a vibrator having an electromechanical conversion device, a supporting member for supporting the vibrator, and a driven member brought into contact with a part of the vibrator driven frictionally by vibration excited in the vibrator: the supporting member comprising a vibration portion vibrating together with the vibrator, a fixation portion for fixing the supporting member, and a support portion for connecting the vibration portion with the fixation portion and supporting the vibrator; and the support portion being comprised of a laminate of sheets.
US07969063B2 Driver
A driver, including: a piezoelectric element extending and contracting upon application of an electrical voltage; a driving member having one end secured to the piezoelectric element; a frictionally coupling member, frictionally coupling the driving member; and a drive circuit, connected with a power supply to activate the piezoelectric element at a predetermined period, including: a charge switching element for connecting an electrode of the piezoelectric element with the power supply, a discharge switching element, and a protective resistor arranged in an electric path between the power supply and the piezoelectric element or between the piezoelectric element and a ground point, wherein a resistance value of the protective resistor is set larger than an ON resistance of the switching element but smaller than a value obtained by dividing one half of the drive period of the switching element by a capacitance of the piezoelectric element, in a predetermined period.
US07969061B2 Method for producing a rotor comprising a step of machining grooves in the teeth of the poles, and rotor obtained by said method
A method for producing a claw-pole rotor, including: a step of mounting polar wheels on the shaft in such a way that each tooth of a polar wheel is located in the existing space between two consecutive teeth of the other polar wheel; a step of machining the lateral faces facing two adjacent teeth, whereby an axial groove is machined in each lateral face; and a step of mounting a magnetic element between two adjacent teeth such that the magnetic element is received in the axial grooves. The method is characterized in that the step of machining lateral faces is carried out before the step of mounting polar wheels on the shaft. The invention also relates to a rotor obtained by such a method.
US07969060B2 Electric motor
The invention relates to an electric motor comprising a permanent magnet rotor, which is supported rotationally about a central axis, a wound stator having a cylinder ring-shaped stator winding, claw poles, which are disposed perpendicularly to ring disc-shaped stator plates and around the central axis, and a cylinder jacket-shaped yoke ring, the length of the claw poles in the axially parallel direction being clearly greater than half the inner diameter of the stator. It is the object of the invention to provide an electric motor, in which the stator is composed of the least number of components, requires simple assembly and has a robust structure and optimum efficiency, thereby enabling greater design flexibility, usability of installation space and thus an economic construction. This objective is solved according to the invention in that the magnetically conductive part of the stator comprises a cylinder jacket-shaped yoke ring and two ring disc-shaped stator plates, the stator plates are each designed as a single piece with a plurality of claw poles and the ring disc-shaped stator plates comprise ends, which are connected to one another.
US07969051B2 Forced-fluid flow ventilating system for rotating electrical machines and rotating electrical machine comprising same
The invention concerns a ventilation system for a rotary electrical machine of the type comprising a rotor mounted so as to rotate in a stator and a device for cooling by forced flow of a cooling fluid, such as air, provided with at least one fan fixed to the rotor and an independent fan disposed so as to be decisive for cooling at relatively low speeds of rotation of the rotor.
US07969049B2 High power density cooling of electrical machines using ceramic tubes of high thermal conductivity
A high power density generator contains an armature structure having a plurality of conductors and at least one heat transfer tube thermally coupled to the conductors. The tube is hollow so as to allow a heat transfer fluid to pass through it. The tube is made of a material having a thermal conductivity λ of at least 20 W/mK, an electrical breakdown strength of at least 60 V/mil, and a mechanical strength adequate for handling, manufacturing and operation. In an embodiment of the invention, the tube is made of a ceramic material.
US07969046B2 Power supply control apparatus
The present invention is to provide a power supply control apparatus which can connect a ground to a suitable electric potential when the ground is disconnected. The power supply control apparatus includes a control circuit having a switch element and a switch control unit, and a load. One terminal of load is connected to a direct-current power supply through the switch element, and the other terminal is connected to a ground electric potential. The switch control unit has a ground terminal connected to the ground electric potential and outputting a ground current flowing toward the ground electric potential. The control circuit includes a bypass device having a load side bypass system for passing the ground current to the ground electric potential through the load when connection between the ground terminal and the ground electric potential is disconnected. The load includes impedance for changing the electric potential of ground terminal into an electric potential in which the switch control unit stably acts when the ground current flows.
US07969044B2 System having a variable frequency power distribution bus for driving a variable speed motor
A power distribution system is provided for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft. The system comprises a variable speed prime mover adapted to generate an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to the speed of the prime mover, a power switch, a power distribution bus connected to the A/C output of the prime mover and connected, via the switch, to the motor such that the motor's speed is varied relative to the frequency of the A/C output, and a variable frequency drive operatively connected to the A/C output of the prime mover via the bus and effective to provide an alternate A/C output to the motor after the motor is disconnected from the bus. The switch is adapted to disconnect the motor from the bus when the prime mover's speed is equal to or within a predetermined range of the prime mover's speed limit.
US07969042B2 Application of power multiplication to electric power distribution
In various embodiments, various systems and methods are provided for power distribution. In one embodiment, power distribution apparatus is provided comprising a power multiplier comprising a multiply-connected electrical structure, and a plurality of power network couplings in the multiply-connected electrical structure. The multiply-connected electrical structure is a resonant circuit tuned to a nominal frequency of a power network.
US07969035B2 Exhaust gas electric generation apparatus and method
An apparatus for generating electricity from a relatively low velocity exhaust produced by a piece of machinery. The apparatus includes a fan assembly located inside a frame mounted adjacent to the exhaust vent found on the piece of machinery. The fan assembly includes a plurality of fixed vanes that extend transversely into the exhaust gas. The ends of the vanes are attached to two side plates that rotate freely around the frame's center axis. Attached to the inside side plate is an outer housing with two magnetic plates mounted therein. The two magnetic plates are spaced apart thereby forming a gap in which a stator disc with a plurality of coil members is formed. The stator disc is fixed to an axle that is longitudinally aligned with the center axis of the outer housing and the fan assembly. During operation, the exhaust gas causes the fan assembly and the outer housing to rotate. Because the stator disc is stationary, an electric current is produced in the stator disc as the two magnetic discs rotate around it. The current is then transmitted to a rectifier and inverter for local use or transmission to a utility grid.
US07969033B2 Buoyancy energy cell
A device for the generation of energy and in particular electrical energy includes a cell or chamber which moves upwardly and downwardly in a body of water. Cog wheels are connected to the cell. The cog wheels are connected to the shafts of generators. Rotation of the cog wheels operates the generators which produce energy. The cog wheels engage anchor chains or vertical supports. One end of each anchor chain is secured to an anchor located at the bottom of the body of water. The other end of the anchor chain is secured to a float which floats at or near the surface of the body of water. The up and down movement of the cell causes the cog wheels to move upwardly and downwardly along the anchor chains and thereby rotate. This rotation drives the energy generator and generates energy, preferably electricity. The cog wheels are permitted to rotate upon the receipt of a request for energy. This results in a highly efficient source of energy or electricity.
US07969031B2 Deep water power generation system and apparatus
A system for generation of power using an apparatus in deep water is disclosed. The system includes a ballast buoy configured to achieve a desired depth in the deep water, a substantially vertical hollow tube attached to the ballast buoy that is submerged under water when the ballast buoy achieves the desired depth in the deep water, and a converter for converting the physical environment created in the substantially vertical hollow tube by placement of the ballast buoy at the desired depth in the deep water.
US07969029B2 Dynamic pressure differential hydroelectric generator
A hydroelectric generator that provides a clean source of energy. The hydroelectric generator uses pressurized air as a driving force. The hydroelectric generator comprises of a pipe like housing structure that is anchored to a seabed, the structure is anchored so that water enters through the end of the structure adjacent to the seabed. The structure houses at least one impeller mounted on a shaft and the shaft is operatively connected to an electrical generator. The end of the pipe adjacent to the seabed further comprises of an air injection system., the air injection system has a plurality of openings that release pressurized air within the structure. At least one air compressor connected to at least one air tank. Each air tank is connected, to the air injection system. The air compressor, the air tanks, and the air injection system are all connected by air lines.
US07969025B2 Electric power semiconductor device
An electric power semiconductor device including first and second circuit patterns formed on main surfaces of first and second insulating substrates, respectively, first and second semiconductor chips mounted on the first and second circuit patterns, respectively, a multilayer electrode plate assembly disposed between the first and second insulating substrates, having first, second and third electrode terminals provided with a distance from each other, a first connecting conductor made by wire bonding for connecting the first and second semiconductor chips to the first and second electrode terminals, and a second connecting conductor having an extending portion extended from a part of the third electrode terminal to be connected to the second circuit pattern, and the connection between the extending portion of the third electrode terminal and the second circuit pattern is implemented by a solder.
US07969024B2 Semiconductor package with joint reliability, entangled wires including insulating material
A semiconductor package with improved joint reliability and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package are disclosed. A conductive connector may be formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer on which semiconductor devices may be arranged. A first insulating layer including a first opening through which a portion of the connection pad is exposed may be formed on the connection pad and the semiconductor wafer. A rewiring line electrically connected to an exposed portion of the connection pad may be formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer including a second opening through which a portion of the rewiring line is exposed may be formed on the rewiring line and the first insulating layer. A connection terminal including one or more entangled wires may be formed on an exposed portion of the rewiring line so as to be electrically connected to the rewiring line.
US07969023B2 Integrated circuit package system with triple film spacer having embedded fillers and method of manufacture thereof
An integrated circuit package in package system includes: providing a substrate with a first wire-bonded die mounted thereover, and connected to the substrate with bond wires; mounting a triple film spacer above the first wire-bonded die, the triple film spacer having fillers in a first film and in a third film, and having a second film separating the first film and the third film, and the bond wires connecting the first wire-bonded die to the substrate are embedded in the first film; and encapsulating the first wire-bonded die, the bond wires, and the triple film spacer with an encapsulation.
US07969020B2 Die stacking apparatus and method
Various stacked semiconductor devices and methods of making the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a first semiconductor die that has a first bulk semiconductor side and a first opposite side. A second semiconductor die is provided that has a second bulk semiconductor side and a second opposite side. The second opposite side of the second semiconductor die is coupled to the first opposite side of the first semiconductor die. Electrical connections are formed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die.
US07969018B2 Stacked semiconductor chips with separate encapsulations
Stacked semiconductor chips. One embodiment provides a device having a first body. A first power semiconductor chip and first external contact elements is provides. A second body includes a second semiconductor chip and second external contact elements. The second body is placed over the first body. The first external contact elements and the second external contact elements define a first plane.
US07969016B2 Self-aligned wafer or chip structure, and self-aligned stacked structure
A self-aligned wafer or chip structure including a substrate, at least one first concave base, at least one second concave base, at least one connecting structure and at least one bump is provided. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface, and at least one pad is formed on the first surface. The first concave base is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the pad. The second concave base is disposed on the second surface. The connecting structure passes through the substrate and disposed between the first and second concave bases so as to be electrically connected to the first and second concave bases. The bump is filled in the second concave base and protrudes out of the second surface.
US07969015B2 Inverse chip connector
A system for connecting a first chip to a second chip having a post on the first chip having a first metallic material, a recessed wall within the second chip and defining a well within the second chip, a conductive diffusion layer material on a surface of the recessed wall within the well, and a malleable electrically conductive material on the post, the post being dimensioned for insertion into the well such that the malleable electrically conductive material will deform within the well and, upon heating to at least a tack temperature for the malleable, electrically conductive material, will form an electrically conductive tack connection with the diffusion layer to create an electrically conductive path between the first chip and the second chip.
US07969011B2 MIIM diodes having stacked structure
A metal-insulator diode is disclosed. In one aspect, the metal-insulator diode comprises first and second electrode and first and second insulators arraigned as follows. An insulating region has a trench formed therein. The trench has a bottom and side walls. The first electrode, which comprises a first metal, is on the side walls and over the bottom of the trench. A first insulator has a first interface with the first electrode. At least a portion of the first insulator is within the trench. A second insulator has a second interface with the first insulator. At least a portion of the second insulator is within the trench. The second electrode, which comprises a second metal, is in contact with the second insulator. The second electrode at least partially fills the trench.
US07969009B2 Through silicon via bridge interconnect
An integrated circuit bridge interconnect system includes a first die and a second die provided in a side-by-side configuration and electrically interconnected to each other by a bridge die. The bridge die includes through silicon vias (TSVs) to connect conductive interconnect lines on the bridge die to the first die and the second die. Active circuitry, other than interconnect lines, may be provided on the bridge die. At least one or more additional die may be stacked on the bridge die and interconnected to the bridge die.
US07969007B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device with improved moisture resistance and its manufacturing method as well as a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device which simplifies a manufacturing process and improves productivity are offered. This invention offers a CSP type semiconductor device and its manufacturing method that can prevent moisture and the like from infiltrating into it to attain high reliability by covering a side surface of a semiconductor chip with a thick protection layer. This invention also offers a highly productive manufacturing method of semiconductor devices by which a supporter bonded to semiconductor dice is etched from a back surface-side of the supporter so that the semiconductor devices can be separated without dicing.
US07969002B2 Integrated circuit packages incorporating an inductor and methods
Integrated circuit packages incorporating an inductor and methods for their fabrication. The lead frame used in packaging the integrated circuit includes a first area for receiving the integrated circuit, and a second area having a plurality of connections from one side to the other side of the lead frame, thereby forming coil segments. After mounting the integrated circuit and wire bonding its connections, the lead frame is placed on a ferrite plate, the assembly is encapsulated in resin, and the leads trimmed and bent. Mounting of the packaged integrated circuit on a properly prepared printed circuit interconnects the coil segments in the package to coil segments on the printed circuit, thereby forming a single, multi-turn coil around the ferrite plate. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US07969000B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device having a plurality of chips is reduced in size. In HSOP (semiconductor device) for driving a three-phase motor, a first semiconductor chip including a pMISFET and a second semiconductor chip including an nMISFET are mounted over each of a first tab, second tab, and third tab. The drains of the pMISFET and nMISFET over each tab are electrically connected with each other. Thus, two of six MISFETs can be placed over each of three tabs divided in correspondence with the number of phases of the motor, and they can be packaged in one in a compact manner. As a result, the size of the HSOP for driving a three-phase motor, having a plurality of chips can be reduced.
US07968998B1 Side leaded, bottom exposed pad and bottom exposed lead fusion quad flat semiconductor package
A semiconductor package which includes a generally planar die paddle defining multiple peripheral edge segments and a plurality of leads which are segregated into at least two concentric rows. Connected to the top surface of the die paddle is at least one semiconductor die which is electrically connected to at least some of the leads of each row. At least portions of the die paddle, the leads, and the semiconductor die are encapsulated by a package body, the bottom surfaces of the die paddle and the leads of at least one row thereof being exposed in a common exterior surface of the package body.
US07968992B2 Multi-chip package structure and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a multi-chip package structure is provided. In the method, a number of cavities are formed on a predetermined cutting line of a first wafer by partly removing the first wafer and a first metal layer. Conductive walls of a first circuit layer are electrically connected to a cut cross-section of the first metal layer exposed by the cavities. In addition, conductive bumps of a second wafer are pressed into a cover layer and electrically connected to the first circuit layer. The first metal layer is then patterned to form a second circuit layer having a number of second pads. Next, the first wafer and the second wafer are cut along the predetermined cutting line to form a number of separated multi-chip package structures.
US07968988B2 Power semiconductor module having a thermally conductive base plate on which at least four substrates are arranged in at least one single row
The power semiconductor module (1) has a heat-conducting base plate (11) on which at least three substrates (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are placed, each substrate supporting at least one power semiconductor component (8, 9) that gives off heat generated during operation. In order to optimize a power semiconductor module of this type with regard to mechanical load and heat dissipation, the substrates (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are placed on the base plate (11) while being arranged in a single row (12), and pressing devices (15, 16), which are situated close to the substrate, are provided on both longitudinal sides (11a, 11b) of the base plate (11) while being arranged parallel to the row (12). The base plate can be pressed against a cooling surface by the pressing devices.
US07968984B2 Universal pad arrangement for surface mounted semiconductor devices
An apparatus for coupling a plurality of surface mounted semiconductor device packages to a circuit board is provided. Each package including a semiconductor device die and a metal clip including a flat web portion having a bottom surface and at least one peripheral rim portion extending from an edge of said flat web portion, said bottom surface having solderable planar metal electrodes or pads on its bottom surface, the contact pads being formed in plurality of layouts having one or more columns and one or more rows. The apparatus including a circuit board contact pattern including one or more columns and one or more rows of contacts, a number of rows being equal to a largest number of contact pad rows in the plurality of contact pad layouts, a number of columns being equal to a largest number of contact pad columns in the plurality of contact pad layouts. The circuit board contact pattern is usable by all of the plurality of the contact pad layouts of the plurality of semiconductor device packages.
US07968978B2 Microwave integrated circuit package and method for forming such package
A method for packaging a semiconductor device. The method includes: providing a dielectric layer over the semiconductor device; determining patterns and placement of material on the dielectric layer to provide a predetermined magnetic or electric effect for the device, such effects being provided on the device from such patterned and placed material solely by electrical or magnetic waves coupled between such material and the device; and forming the material in the determined patterns and placement to provide the predetermined effects.
US07968976B2 Guard ring extension to prevent reliability failures
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to prevent reliability failures in semiconductor devices. A trench is patterned in a polyimide layer over a guard ring having a top metal layer. A passivation layer is etched at bottom of the trench. A capping layer is deposited on the trench over the etched passivation layer. The capping layer and the top metal layer form a mechanical strong interface to prevent a crack propagation.
US07968975B2 Metal wiring structure for integration with through substrate vias
An array of through substrate vias (TSVs) is formed through a semiconductor substrate and a contact-via-level dielectric layer thereupon. A metal-wire-level dielectric layer and a line-level metal wiring structure embedded therein are formed directly on the contact-via-level dielectric layer. The line-level metal wiring structure includes cheesing holes that are filled with isolated portions of the metal-wire-level dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the entirety of the cheesing holes is located outside the area of the array of the TSVs to maximize the contact area between the TSVs and the line-level metal wiring structure. In another embodiment, a set of cheesing holes overlying an entirety of seams in the array of TSVs is formed to prevent trapping of any plating solution in the seams of the TSVs during plating to prevent corrosion of the TSVs at the seams.
US07968974B2 Scribe seal connection
A feedthrough in an IC scribe seal is disclosed. The feedthrough is structured to maintain isolation of components in the IC from mechanical damage and chemical impurities introduced during fabrication and assembly operations. A conductive structure penetrates the scribe seal, possibly in more than one location, connecting an interior region to an exterior region. A feedthrough vertical seal surrounds the conductive element in the IC and connects to the scribe seal. A horizontal diffusion barrier connects to the scribe seal and the feedthrough vertical seal. The feedthrough vertical seal, the horizontal diffusion barrier and the IC substrate form a continuous barrier to chemical impurities around the conductive element in the interior region. The conductive structure includes any combination of a doped region in an active area, an MOS transistor gate layer, and one or more interconnect metal layers. The feedthrough is compatible with aluminum and copper interconnect metallization.
US07968970B2 Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and power amplifier element
A semiconductor device is presented, which includes a semiconductor substrate with a high concentration impurity of a first type conductivity and an epitaxial layer with a low concentration impurity provided on the semiconductor substrate, where a trench coupled to the semiconductor substrate is provided in the epitaxial layer with the low concentration impurity. And the semiconductor device further includes a high concentration impurity region of the first type conductivity having the same type conductivity as the type of the semiconductor substrate formed in at least the epitaxial layer with the low concentration impurity along an inner wall of the trench and coupled to the semiconductor substrate with the high concentration impurity of a first type conductivity, and contacts formed on the high concentration impurity region of the first type conductivity.
US07968968B2 Inductor utilizing pad metal layer
An inductor utilizing a pad metal layer. The inductor comprises a metal spiral, a metal bridge, and a metal interconnect. The metal bridge is formed with the pad metal layer and a plurality of vias and has one end connected to the metal spiral. The metal interconnect is connected to the other end of the metal bridge. In addition, resistivity of the pad metal layer is lower than that of the metal spiral.
US07968967B2 One-time-programmable anti-fuse formed using damascene process
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a power source, and a stacked structure over the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the power source. The stacked structure includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode, and an insulation layer between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, wherein the insulation layer has a breakdown voltage lower than a pre-determined write voltage provided by the power source and higher than a pre-determined read voltage provided by the power source.
US07968964B2 High density photodiodes
The present invention is a front-side contact, back-side illuminated (FSC-BSL) photodiode arrays and front-side illuminated, back-side contact (FSL-BSC) photodiode arrays having improved characteristics, including high production throughput, low-cost manufacturing via implementation of batch processing techniques; uniform, as well as high, photocurrent density owing to presence of a large continuous homogeneous, heavily doped layer; and back to front intrachip connections via the homogenous, heavily doped layers on the front and back sides of the substrate.
US07968963B2 Photodiode array and image pickup device using the same
A photodiode array with reduced optical crosstalk and an image pickup device using it are provided. The photodiode array 10 according to the present invention has an anti-crosstalk portion B dividing each adjacent pair of photodiodes S, the anti-crosstalk portion B and the photodiodes S individually have a p-type area 16 extending inward from the surface side of a semiconductor laminate, and the inner end of the p-type area of the anti-crosstalk portion, namely the front, is closer to the back surface of the semiconductor laminate than the front of the p-type area of each of the photodiodes.
US07968962B2 Semiconductor fabrication method and system
A semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate having one or more vias and a carrier coupled to the substrate to form a sealed cavity between the carrier and the substrate. In some embodiments, the sealed cavity may be pressurized. The device may also include a redistribution layer formed over the one or more vias on a side of the substrate. Other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US07968960B2 Methods of forming strained semiconductor channels
In various method embodiments, a device region in a semiconductor substrate and isolation regions adjacent to the device region are defined. The device region has a channel region and the isolation regions have strain-inducing regions laterally adjacent to the channel regions. The channel region is strained with a desired strain for carrier mobility enhancement, where at least one ion type is implanted with an energy resulting in a peak implant in the strain-inducing regions of the isolation regions. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US07968959B2 Methods and systems of thick semiconductor drift detector fabrication
Gray-tone lithography technology is used in combination with a reactive plasma etching operation in the fabrication method and system of a thick semiconductor drift detector. The thick semiconductor drift detector is based on a trench array, where the trenches in the trench array penetrate the bulk with different depths. These trenches form an electrode. By applying different electric potentials to the trenches in the trench array, the silicon between neighboring trenches fully depletes. Furthermore, the applied potentials cause a drifting field for generated charge carriers, which are directed towards a collecting electrode.
US07968958B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device includes: a sensor element having a plate shape with a surface and including a sensor structure disposed in a surface portion of the sensor element; and a plate-shaped cap element bonded to the surface of the sensor element. The cap element has a wiring pattern portion facing the sensor element. The wiring pattern portion connects an outer periphery of the surface of the sensor element and the sensor structure so that the sensor structure is electrically coupled with an external element via the outer periphery. The sensor element does not have a complicated multi-layered structure, so that the sensor element is simplified. Further, the dimensions of the device are reduced.
US07968956B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a p-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate, the p-channel transistor having a first gate dielectric formed on the substrate and a first gate electrode layer formed on the first dielectric, and an n-channel MIS transistor formed on the substrate, the n-channel transistor having a second gate dielectric formed on the substrate and a second gate electrode layer formed on the second dielectric. A bottom layer of the first gate electrode layer in contact with the first gate dielectric and a bottom layer of the second gate electrode layer in contact with the second gate dielectric have the same orientation and the same composition including Ta and C, and a mole ratio of Ta to a total of C and Ta, (Ta/(Ta+C)), is larger than 0.5.
US07968954B2 Intermediate semiconductor device having nitrogen concentration profile
A method for reducing the effective thickness of a gate oxide using nitrogen implantation and anneal subsequent to dopant implantation and activation is provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for fabricating semiconductor devices, for example, transistors, which include a hardened gate oxide and which may be characterized by a relatively large nitrogen concentration at the polysilicon/gate oxide interface and a relatively small nitrogen concentration within the gate oxide and at the gate oxide/substrate interface. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a metal gate strap (e.g., a metal silicide layer) disposed over the polysilicon layer thereof, which device includes a hardened gate oxide and which may be characterized by a relatively large nitrogen concentration at the silicide/polysilicon interface to substantially prevent cross-diffusion.
US07968952B2 Stressed barrier plug slot contact structure for transistor performance enhancement
A method for forming a slot contact structure for transistor performance enhancement. A contact opening is formed to expose a contact region, and a slot contact is disposed within the contact opening in order to induce a stress on an adjacent channel region. In an embodiment, a stress inducing barrier plug is disposed within a portion of the contact opening and the remainder of the contact opening is filled with a lower resistivity contact metal. By selecting the proper materials and deposition parameters, the slot contact can be tuned to induce a tensile or compressive stress on the adjacent channel region, thus being applicable for both p-type and n-type devices.
US07968945B2 Microelectronic device provided with transistors coated with a piezoelectric layer
An improved microelectronic device, and method for making such a microelectronic device. The device includes one or plural transistors and piezoelectric mechanisms, with an arrangement capable of applying a variable mechanical strain on transistor channels.
US07968942B2 Semiconductor apparatus
The present invention provides a semiconductor apparatus having high reliability with respect to a withstand voltage, leakage characteristics, etc. by disposing a structure of preventing stress occurring by metal wiring from directly acting on a trench relating to the semiconductor apparatus having a trench gate. The semiconductor apparatus of the invention includes a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor layer having a predetermined impurity concentration, a trench gate formed in the semiconductor layer by filling a stripe-shaped trench by a conductor layer on which surface and interface a gate oxide film is formed, an insulating film covering a surface of the semiconductor layer and having a source contact opening, a source region formed in the semiconductor layer, a source electrode formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer so as to electrically connect to the source region through the source contact opening, a gate peripheral wiring connected to the trench gate at a peripheral edge part of the trench gate, a gate electrode separately formed from the source electrode, formed above the surface of the semiconductor layer and connected to the gate peripheral wiring and a drain electrode formed on an surface of the semiconductor substrate opposite to the surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein the trench gate is formed so as to avoid a corner portion of the source contact opening of the source electrode.
US07968940B2 Insulated gate bipolar transistor device comprising a depletion-mode MOSFET
Double gate IGBT having both gates referred to a cathode in which a second gate is for controlling flow of hole current. In on-state, hole current can be largely suppressed. While during switching, hole current is allowed to flow through a second channel. Incorporating a depletion-mode p-channel MOSFET having a pre-formed hole channel that is turned ON when 0V or positive voltages below a specified threshold voltage are applied between second gate and cathode, negative voltages to the gate of p-channel are not used. Providing active control of holes amount that is collected in on-state by lowering base transport factor through increasing doping and width of n well or by reducing injection efficiency through decreasing doping of deep p well. Device includes at least anode, cathode, semiconductor substrate, n− drift region, first & second gates, n+ cathode region; p+ cathode short, deep p well, n well, and pre-formed hole channel.
US07968938B2 High-voltage device structure
The present invention provides a vertical tapered dielectric high-voltage device (10) in which the device drift region is depicted by action of MOS field plates (30) formed in vertical trenches. The high-voltage device comprises: a substrate (32); a silicon mesa (20) formed on the substrate and having a stripe geometry, wherein the silicon mesa provides a drift region having a constant doping profile; a recessed gate (22) and source (SN) formed on the silicon mesa; a trench (26) adjacent each side of the silicon mesa; and a metal-dielectric field plate structure (12) formed in each trench; wherein each metal-dielectric field plate structure comprises a dielectric (28) and a metal field plate (30) formed over the dielectric, and wherein a thickness of the dielectric increases linearly through a depth of the trench to provide a constant longitudinal electric field.
US07968935B2 Reconfigurable semiconductor device
A reconfigurable semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulating material formed on the substrate, two channels having different polarities, a plurality of terminal electrodes formed on the insulating material and coupled in common with the channels at their opposite ends, a second insulating material formed on the terminal electrodes, and a control gate formed on the second insulating material. The channels have different polarity and a charge storage layer is formed inside the second insulating material. The control gate is applied with a forward bias or a reverse bias and then the bias is cut off. The voltage-current characteristics of the semiconductor device are changed according to an electrical charge created in the charge storage layer.
US07968933B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a tunnel insulating film, a floating gate electrode, an inter-electrode insulating film, and a control gate electrode. The tunnel insulating film is formed on a selected part of a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate electrode is formed on the tunnel insulating film. At least that interface region of the floating gate electrode, which is opposite to the substrate, is made of n-type Si or metal-based conductive material. The inter-electrode insulating film is formed on the floating gate electrode and made of high-permittivity material. The control gate electrode is formed on the inter-electrode insulating film. At least that interface region of the control gate electrode, which is on the side of the inter-electrode insulating film, is made of a p-type semiconductor layer containing at least one of Si and Ge.
US07968929B2 On-chip decoupling capacitor structures
The present disclosure provides on-chip decoupling capacitor structures having trench capacitors integrated with a passive capacitor formed in the back-end-of-line wiring to provide an improved overall capacitance density. In some embodiments, the structure includes at least one deep trench capacitor and a passive capacitor formed in at least two back-end-of-line wiring levels. The trench and passive capacitors are in electrical communication through one of the wiring levels. In other embodiments, the structure includes at least one deep trench capacitor, a first back-end-of-line wiring level, and a second back-end-of-line wiring level. The deep trench capacitor with a dielectric that has an upper edge that terminates at a lower surface of a shallow trench isolation region. The first wiring level is in electrical communication with the trench capacitor. The second wiring level is vertically electrically connected to the first wiring level by vertical connectors so as to form a passive capacitor.
US07968928B2 DRAM layout with vertical FETs and method of formation
DRAM cell arrays having a cell area of less than about 4 F2 comprise an array of vertical transistors with buried bit lines and vertical double gate electrodes. The buried bit lines comprise a silicide material and are provided below a surface of the substrate. The word lines are optionally formed of a silicide material and form the gate electrode of the vertical transistors. The vertical transistor may comprise sequentially formed doped polysilicon layers or doped epitaxial layers. At least one of the buried bit lines is non-orthogonal to at least one of the vertical gate electrodes of the vertical transistors.
US07968924B2 Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor device comprising a capacitive element, an area of the capacitive element is reduced without impairing performance, and further, without addition of an extra step in a manufacturing process. A first capacitor is formed between an active region of a semiconductor substrate provided through a first capacitive insulating film and a lower electrode comprised of a conductor film in the same layer as a select gate electrode of a select, a second capacitor is formed between the lower electrode, and an upper electrode comprised of a conductor film in the same layer as a memory gate electrode of a memory, provided through the second capacitive insulating film in the same layer as the insulating films of a multi-layer structure, including a charge storage layer, and a stacking-type capacitive element is comprised of the first capacitor and the second capacitor, wherein a planar shape of the lower electrode is a grid-like shape having a plurality of lengths of linear conductor films each having a first width, formed along a first direction with a first interval provided therebetween, and a plurality of lengths of linear conductor films each having a second width, formed along a second direction (the direction intersecting the first direction) with a second interval provided therebetween.
US07968923B2 Image sensor array with conformal color filters
An image sensor pixel includes a photo-sensor region, a microlens, a first color filter layer, and a second color filter layer. The photo-sensor region is disposed within a semiconductor die. The microlens is disposed on the semiconductor die in optical alignment with the photo-sensor region. The first color filter layer is disposed between the photo-sensor region and the microlens. The second color filter layer is disposed on an opposite side of the microlens as the first color filter layer.
US07968922B2 Semiconductor apparatus, solid state image pickup device using the same, and method of manufacturing them
The invention provides a semiconductor apparatus provided with at least one set of buried channel type first conductive type MOS transistor and surface channel type first conductive type MOS transistor on the same substrate, in which a first conductive type impurity region is provided below a gate electrode of the buried channel type and surface channel type MOS transistors and between source drain regions. Further, the invention provides a solid state image pickup device having a photoelectric conversion portion and a pixel including a plurality of transistors formed in correspondence to the photoelectric conversion portion, in a substrate, wherein the plurality of transistors includes a buried channel type first conductive type MOS transistor and a surface channel type first conductive type MOS transistor, and a first conductive type impurity region is provided below a gate electrode of the buried channel type and surface channel type MOS transistors and between source drain regions.
US07968916B2 Circuit and method for interconnecting stacked integrated circuit dies
Signals are routed to and from identical stacked integrated circuit dies by selectively coupling first and second bonding pads on each of the dies to respective circuits fabricated on the dies through respective transistors. The transistors connected to the first bonding pads of an upper die are made conductive while the transistors connected to the second bonding pads of the upper die are made non-conductive. The transistors connected to the second bonding pads of a lower die are made conductive while the transistors connected to the first bonding pads of the lower die are made non-conductive. The second bonding pads of the upper die are connected to the second bonding pads of the lower die through wafer interconnects extending through the upper die. Signals are routed to and from the circuits on the first and second dies through the first and second bonding pads, respectively.
US07968914B2 Multi-component electrical module
A mechanical construction of an electrical module includes two or more electrical components (102-105). Each of the electrical components has a contact surface (106-109) that is capable of forming a galvanic contact with an external electrical conductor. The electrical module includes a holder element (101) that includes flexible material arranged to flexibly support the electrical components with respect to each other in such a way that the contact surfaces of the electrical components are capable of aligning with external surfaces independently of each other.
US07968912B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate formed over the substrate, a gate spacer provided against first and second sidewalls of the gate, and a source/drain region formed in the substrate proximate to the gate spacer. The source/drain region includes first and second epitaxial layers including Ge, wherein the second epitaxial layer which is formed over an interfacial layer between the first epitaxial layer and the substrate has a higher germanium concentration than that of the first epitaxial layer.
US07968905B2 ZnO-containing semiconductor layer and ZnO-containing semiconductor light emitting device
A ZnO-containing semiconductor layer contains Se or S added to ZnO and has an emission peak wavelength of ultraviolet light and an emission peak wavelength of visual light. By combining the ZnO-containing semiconductor layer with phosphor or semiconductor which is excited by the emitted ultraviolet light and emits visual light, visual light at various wavelengths can be emitted.
US07968894B2 LED package frame and LED package having the same
An LED package frame includes an LED chip and a heat conductive member made of high heat conductivity material. The heat conductive member has a receiving part at a lateral portion, and is mounted with the LED chip. A lead-coating assembly configured to be inserted into the receiving part of the heat conductive member, including a lead is inserted at one end into the receiving part of the heat conductive member, and electrically connected to the LED chip. An electrically insulating layer is placed in tight contact between the lead and the receiving part of the heat conductive member isolates the lead from the receiving part. With the lead inserted into the heat conductive member, it is possible to reduce size while maintaining high heat conductivity and stability.
US07968891B2 Organic light emitting display and fabrication method of the same
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display. In the organic light emitting display, a substrate is divided into a display region, in which an image is displayed, and a non-display region surrounding the display region. The organic light emitting display includes a plurality of pixels provided on the display region. At least one thin film transistor is formed on the non-display region. The display region includes a first electrode connected to the thin film transistor, an organic light emitting layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic light emitting layer to apply voltage to the organic light emitting layer with the first electrode. A light blocking layer having an opening formed below the semiconductor layer is formed on the non-display region.
US07968890B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
By providing appropriate TFT structures arranged in various circuits of the semiconductor device in response to the functions required by the circuits, it is made possible to improve the operating performances and the reliability of a semiconductor device, reduce power consumption as well as realizing reduced manufacturing cost and increase in yield by lessening the number of processing steps. An LDD region of a TFT is formed to have a concentration gradient of an impurity element for controlling conductivity which becomes higher as the distance from a drain region decreases. In order to form such an LDD region having a concentration gradient of an impurity element, the present invention uses a method in which a gate electrode having a taper portion is provided to thereby dope an ionized impurity element for controlling conductivity accelerated in the electric field so that it penetrates through the gate electrode and a gate insulating film into a semiconductor layer.
US07968888B2 Solid-state image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide a small solid-state image sensor which realizes significant improvement in sensitivity. The solid-state image sensor of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate in which photoelectric conversion units are formed, a light-blocking film which is formed above the semiconductor substrate and has apertures formed so as to be positioned above respective photoelectric conversion units, and a high refractive index layer formed in the apertures. Here, each aperture has a smaller aperture width than a maximum wavelength in a wavelength of light in a vacuum converted from a wavelength of the light entering the photoelectric conversion unit through the apertures, and the high refractive index is made of a high refractive index material having a refractive index which allows transmission of light having the maximum wavelength through the aperture.
US07968886B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of fabricating same
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising thin-film transistors in each of which the second wiring is prevented from breaking at steps. A silicon nitride film is formed on gate electrodes and on gate wiring extending from the gate electrodes. Substantially triangular regions are formed out of an insulator over side surfaces of the gate electrodes and of the gate wiring. The presence of these substantially triangular side walls make milder the steps at which the second wiring goes over the gate wiring. This suppresses breakage of the second wiring.
US07968882B2 Flexible display device and manufacturing method thereof
A flexible display device adapted to prevent a disconnection of pad electrode and a line short-circuit is disclosed. The flexible display device and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present embodiments forms only the barrier film or no layer on the mother substrate in the vicinity of the cut line which divides the mother substrate into the TFT substrate. Even when the mother substrate is pressed using a press machine, cracks or lifts of layers are not generated in the TFT substrate unlike the conventional technology so that a disconnection is not generated in the gate pad electrode or the data pad electrode. Thus, line short-circuits generated as the layers are separated and attached to the TFT substrate can be prevented.
US07968879B2 Thin film transistor and display device including the same
One object of the present invention is reduction of off current of a thin film transistor. Another object of the present invention is improvement of electric characteristics of the thin film transistor. Further, another object of the present invention is improvement of image quality of the display device including the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a semiconductor film containing germanium at a concentration greater than or equal to 5 at. % and less than or equal to 100 at. % or a conductive film which is provided over a gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween and which is provided in an inner region of the gate electrode so as not to overlap with an end portion of the gate electrode, a film covering at least a side surface of the semiconductor film containing germanium at a concentration greater than or equal to 5 at. % and less than or equal to 100 at. % or the conductive film, a pair of wirings formed over the film covering the side surface of the semiconductor film containing germanium at a concentration greater than or equal to 5 at. % and less than or equal to 100 at. % or the conductive film.
US07968873B2 Organic light emitting display and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. The organic light emitting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first thin film transistor disposed on a substrate, an organic layer disposed on the first thin film transistor, a pixel electrode disposed on the organic layer and connected to the first thin film transistor, a partition disposed on the pixel electrode and the organic layer, and an organic emission layer disposed on the pixel electrode and contacting the partition. The partition has an organic layer exposing hole that exposes a portion of the organic layer and an opening that exposes a portion of the pixel electrode.
US07968872B2 Polymers
The present invention relates to polymers comprising repeating unit(s) of the formula (I), and their use in electronic devices. The polymers according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high charge carrier mobilities and high temperature stability of the emission color are observed, if the polymers according to the invention are used in polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs).
US07968870B2 Thin film transistor, organic light emitting display device including the same, and method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display device
A thin film transistor, e.g., for use in an organic light emitting display, may include: a gate insulating layer disposed on a gate electrode located on a substrate; a semiconductor layer, disposed on the gate insulating layer; and a planarization layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, the source and drain electrodes, and the channel area, and having openings exposing parts of the first source and drain areas and the source and drain electrodes, respectively. The semiconductor layer may include: a channel area corresponding to the gate electrode; first source and drain areas doped with an impurity outside the channel area; second source and drain areas, including a metal, outside the first source and drain areas; and source and drain electrodes disposed on the second source and drain areas and exposing the first source and drain areas. A pixel electrode may be disposed in one of the openings.
US07968869B2 Optoelectronic architecture having compound conducting substrate
Optoelectronic device modules, arrays optoelectronic device modules and methods for fabricating optoelectronic device modules are disclosed. The device modules are made using a starting substrate having an insulator layer sandwiched between a bottom electrode made of a flexible bulk conductor and a conductive back plane. An active layer is disposed between the bottom electrode and a transparent conducting layer. One or more electrical contacts between the transparent conducting layer and the back plane are formed through the transparent conducting layer, the active layer, the flexible bulk conductor and the insulating layer. The electrical contacts are electrically isolated from the active layer, the bottom electrode and the insulating layer.
US07968865B2 Boron aluminum nitride diamond heterostructure
A heterostructure having a heterojunction comprising: a diamond layer; and a boron aluminum nitride (B(x)Al(1-x)N) layer disposed in contact with a surface of the diamond layer, where x is between 0 and 1.
US07968860B2 System and method for measurement of degree of moisture stratification in a paper or board
A measurement system for measuring a degree of moisture stratification in a flat sheet product, such as paper, board or other materials. The system uses a combination of a reflection gauge and a transmission gauge to provide output signals indicative of surface moisture of a first side and of moisture in the body of the flat sheet product. The output signals are processed by a controller or computer to provide a measurement of the moisture stratification. An additional reflection gauge and an additional transmission gauge can also be used to provide additional output signals indicative of surface moisture of a second side of the flat sheet product and of moisture in the body. Narrow band radiation is used with modulation to distinguish from ambient radiation as well as radiation incident on the opposite side.
US07968856B2 Fluorometer with low heat-generating light source
This invention concerns a fluorometer preferably combined with a thermal cycler useful in biochemical protocols such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA melting curve analysis. The present fluorometer features a low heat-generating light source such as a light emitting diode (LED), having a one-to-one correspondence to each of a plurality of sample containers, such as capped PCR tubes in a standard titer tray. The fluorometer of the present invention further comprises an optical path between each LED and its correspondingly positioned container, and another optical path between each fluorescing sample within the positioned container and an optical signal sensing means. The instrument can be computer controlled.
US07968855B2 Dual mode gas field ion source
A focused ion beam device is described. The focused ion beam device includes an ion beam column including an enclosure for housing a gas field ion source emitter with an emitter area for generating ions, an electrode for extracting ions from the gas field ion source emitter, one or more gas inlets adapted to introduce a first gas and a second gas to the emitter area, an objective lens for focusing the ion beam generated from the first gas or the second gas, a voltage supply for providing a voltage between the electrode and the gas field ion source emitter, and a controller for switching between a first voltage and a second voltage of the voltage supply for generating an ion beam of ions of the first gas or an ion beam of ions of the second gas.
US07968851B2 Dynamic spect camera
A method of reconstruction of a radioactive emission image. The method comprises providing a first system of voxels for a region of interest, obtaining radioactive-emission data from the region of interest, performing a first reconstruction, based on the radioactive-emission data and the first system of voxels, to obtain a first image, correcting the first system of voxels, by aligning voxel boundaries with object boundaries, based on the first image; thus obtaining a second system of voxels, and performing a second reconstruction, based on the radioactive-emission data and the second system of voxels, thus obtaining a second image.
US07968850B2 System and method for using multiple collimation data for tomography
Methods and systems for producing an image. A measurement is obtained, and a projector function is generated using the obtained measurement. The generated projector function is modified based on an a priori image. An image is reconstructed using the modified projector function.
US07968848B2 Infrared radiation sources, sensors and source combinations, and methods of manufacture
A blackbody radiation device (110) includes a planar filament emission element (102) and a planar detector (104) for respectively producing and detecting radiation having width dl/l less than about 0.1 to test a sample gas, where l is the wavelength of the radiation; a reflector (108); a window (W); an electrical control (118); and a data output element (116).
US07968844B2 Hole inspection apparatus and hole inspection method using the same
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for inspecting the via holes of a semiconductor device using electron beams. The apparatus includes electron beam irradiation means, a current measuring means, and a current measuring means and data processing means. The electron beam irradiation means radiate respective electron beams to inspect a plurality of inspection target holes. The current measuring means measures current, which is generated by irradiating the electron beams, radiated from the electron beam irradiation means, through a conductive layer located under the holes, or through the conductive layer and a separate detector. The data processing means processes data acquired through the measurement of the current measuring means.
US07968835B2 Electronic device having LED with variable brightness
Various embodiments of a light on an electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the light couples to a sensor and has a brightness that varies when ambient light incident on the sensor varies.
US07968833B2 Image sensor with optical and electrical measurement functions
The uppermost metallic wiring layer in light-blocking layers constituted by multilevel metallic wiring that prevents light from impinging on areas other than the light-receiving area of a photodiode in each picture cell is used as a measurement electrode to be directly contacted with a specimen to measure electrical signals. Furthermore, in each picture cell including a circuit for reading out electrical signals collected through the measurement electrode, another circuit for reading out electrical signals generated by the photodiode is provided in an independent or shared form. This configuration enables the photodiode for optical measurements and the measurement electrode for electrical measurements to be provided in every picture cell. Thus, in a hybrid image sensor having an optical measurement function for obtaining optical information due to specimen and an electrical measurement functions for obtaining electrical information due to the specimen, the spatial resolution of both types of two-dimensional images can be simultaneously improved.
US07968832B2 Analyzer and use thereof
This invention provides an analyzer for judging whether or not a tangible component is present in a sample in a preparation, and analyzing, if a tangible component is present, the tangible component with efficiency and high accuracy. For this purpose, an analyzer (100) of the present invention analyzes a tangible component in a sample (23) held by a preparation (20). The analyzer (100) checks whether or not a tangible component is present in the sample (23) by extensively observing an area in a certain visual field in which area the tangible component is assumed to be present. If the tangible component is judged to be present, the analyzer (100) analyzes the tangible component. Then, another visual field is selected, and another analysis is started therein so as to analyze only in the vicinity of the area where the tangible component was judged to be present. The analyzer (100) can determine whether or not a tangible component is present, and can analyze the tangible component with efficiency and high accuracy.
US07968829B2 Electrical connection for titanium metal heater in jet turbine applications
An electrical connection for a heater for aerospace components having a titanium containing heater element; a copper containing conductor; and a welded or strong mechanical interface transition connecting the titanium containing heater element and the copper containing conduction transition. The transition has a titanium containing component and a copper containing component, where the titanium containing component is joined to the titanium containing heater element. A heater connection for a surface mounted heater for a jet turbine application having a titanium containing heater element, a copper containing conduction transition, and a weld transition connecting the heater element and the copper containing conduction transition. The weld transition has a titanium containing weld.
US07968828B2 Temperature controlling method of electron bombardment heating apparatus
A method of operating an electron bombardment heating apparatus, in which thermions emitted from filaments are accelerated and impinged upon a heating plate, so as to heat the heating plate, wherein a peripheral wall of a heated material supporting member having a heating plate as a ceiling thereof is made up of multi-staged peripheral wall portions, which are stacked vertically and different in the radius thereof, and those peripheral wall portions are connected with each other by a ring-like horizontal wall. With this, thermal stress which is caused due to the difference of temperature between the lower end portion of the heated material supporting member and the heating plate when heating up the heating plate can be mitigated, thereby preventing breakage in the heated material supporting member if conducting heating and cooling upon the heating plate, repetitively.
US07968827B2 Oxygen sensor heater control strategy
A heating module for an oxygen sensor comprises an estimated mass module, a cumulative mass module, and a temperature control module. The estimated mass module determines an estimated mass of intake air to remove condensation from an exhaust system after startup of an engine. The cumulative mass module determines a cumulative mass of intake air after the engine startup. The temperature control module adjusts a temperature of an oxygen sensor measuring oxygen in the exhaust system to a first predetermined temperature after the engine startup and adjusts the temperature to a second predetermined temperature when the cumulative air mass is greater than the estimated air mass, wherein the second predetermined temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature.
US07968824B2 Method for controlling heating cooking apparatus
A method for controlling a heating cooking apparatus, in which an operation of a heating unit is appropriately controlled according to presence/absence or kinds of a load applied to a plate. When no load is applied to the plate, the duty cycle of a heat source is reduced, thereby preventing unnecessary operation of the heat source. Accordingly, power consumption is reduced. On the other hand, when a load is applied to the plate, the duty cycle of the heat source is increased. Speedy cooking may be possible with this control method.
US07968821B2 Laser processing beam machine
A laser processing beam machine comprising a chuck table for holding a workpiece, a laser beam application means for applying a laser beam to the workpiece held on the chuck table, and a processing-feed means for moving the chuck table and the laser beam application means relative to each other, wherein the laser beam application means comprises a laser beam oscillation means for oscillating a laser beam and a condenser for converging the laser beam oscillated by the laser beam oscillation means; and the condenser comprises a condenser lens opposed to the workpiece held on the chuck table, a cylindrical lens arranged on the upstream side in the laser beam application direction of the condenser lens, and an interval adjustment mechanism for adjusting the interval between the condenser lens and the cylindrical lens.
US07968820B2 Method of producing a panel having an area with light transmissivity
A method for producing an area of light transmissivity in a generally opaque panel comprises forming an area of reduced thickness in the panel, laser drilling an array of microscopic holes in the area and thereafter filling the holes with a light transmissive material such as a curable polymer. The thinned area may also be filled with a polymer to reinforce the thinned area, and the polymer may be colored to add color to light transmitted through the pattern.
US07968819B2 Microdissection apparatus and method
A microdissection apparatus includes a laser light source to emit laser light, and a laser light irradiation optical system to irradiate a sample with the laser light from the laser light source. The laser light irradiation optical system includes an active optical element, which is allowed to form a pattern reflecting a necessary area, and sets a laser light irradiation area, to which the laser light is applied, based on the pattern formed on the active optical element.
US07968818B2 Apparatus and method for welding strap connections between inner grid straps of spacer grid using laser tool, and spacer grid manufactured using the same
An apparatus and method for welding strap connections between inner grid straps of a spacer grid using a laser tool, and a spacer grid manufactured by the same, in which the strap connections between the inner grid straps of the spacer grid are seam-welded continuously or intermittently using the laser tool, so that the structural strength of the spacer grid is increased, a spattering phenomenon, in which a welded material is spattered during welding, is reduced, and thermal deformation is reduced. Further, fine welding is possible, and thus the welded bead of each strap connection between the inner grid straps can have a small size, and the number of welding defects can be reduced. In addition, the flow resistance of a coolant is reduced, and thereby the pressure drop of the coolant can be reduced As a result, the load on a flow pump for the coolant can be reduced, and economic efficiency and safety can be improved.
US07968816B2 Weld fairing apparatus and welding method using the same
A weld fairing apparatus and a welding method using the apparatus effectively prevent a weld metal zone from forming a humping bead. The welding method includes: butting first and second object pieces together; heating the butted first and second object pieces using a heating device, thus forming a weld metal zone; and placing a fairing device such that the fairing device comes into contact with the weld metal zone and fairs the weld metal zone.
US07968814B2 Optical grain sorter
A grain images obtained by CCD line sensors are processed by binarization processing to obtain contour images of grains and images of colored portions in the grains. The images are displayed on a monitor screen of an operating panel 30. The contour images and the images of the colored portions are displayed in a superposed state. Box frames generated by a highlight display circuit in control means 12 are simultaneously displayed by being superposed on the contour images having defective portions, thus producing a highlight display of defective grains. The defective grains include a grain having a light colored portion and a grain having a dark colored portion.
US07968812B2 Spring joint with overstrain sensor
A flexible joint may include a conductive compression spring and a pair of non-conductive spring cages disposed at opposite ends of the compression spring to support the compression spring. A conductive member disposed inside the compression spring may extend between the pair of spring cages. One end of the conductive member may be fixed for movement with one of the spring cages and another end of the conductive member may be fixed for movement with the other of the spring cages.
US07968810B2 Electronic signal transmission and switching jack
The present invention relates to an electronic signal switching module with connectors on a first side for connecting with a variety of devices and sources and with jacks for receiving patch cords on a second side. The switching modules include two position switches in the circuitry connecting the jacks with the connectors which allow the module to be configured as a straight-through patching module, a fully normal module with paired jacks or a half normal module with paired jacks. One alternative of the invention utilizes card edge connectors on the first side. Another aspect of the invention involves a chassis for holding a plurality of switching modules adjacent to and electronically connected with a plurality of connecting modules. The switching modules may also include designation lenses adjacent to the jacks for holding indicia.
US07968809B2 Switching device for an electrical switchgear assembly for energy distribution
A switching device for an electrical switchgear assembly for power distribution includes a grounding function unit including a first moving control element selectably moveable to a first manual operation position and an isolation function unit including a second moving control element selectably to a second manual operation position. The grounding function unit is selectable to a manual operation state by moving the first moving control element to the first manual operation position, and the isolation function unit function unit is selectable to a manual operation state by moving the second moving control element to the second manual operation position. When the manual operation state is selected for one of the grounding and isolation function units, selection of the other of the grounding and isolation functional units to the manual operation state is blocked by a respective one of the first and second moving control elements.
US07968805B2 Cable conduit system
A cable conduit system for a building frame structure having a bottom plate associated with each floor and a top plate associated with each ceiling. The system comprises a conduit stud and first and second header plates. The conduit stud has at least one cavity extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end. The first header plate is adapted to be fixedly mounted to an upper surface of the frame structure bottom plate and the second plate is adapted to be fixedly mounted to a lower surface of the frame structure top plate, respectively. The first end portion of the conduit stud is locked to the first header plate and the second end portion of the conduit stud is locked to the second header plate.
US07968803B2 Wiring substrate, wiring material, copper-clad laminate, and method of manufacturing the wiring substrate
A wiring substrate of the invention comprises an electrical insulation substrate (1), a through-hole (3) formed in the electrical insulation substrate, electrically conductive paste (4) filled inside the through-hole, and wiring traces (11) formed on one or both surfaces of the electrical insulation substrate and electrically connected with the electrically conductive paste, wherein interfaces of the wiring traces in contact with the electrically conductive paste have at least one of an asperate surface and a smooth surface, and a plurality of granular bumps (14) formed further thereon.
US07968802B2 Printed circuit board with differential traces
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a differential pair having a first differential trace and a second differential trace, a first via having an upper cap and a lower cap, and a second via having an upper cap and a lower cap. The first differential trace includes a first segment and a second segment, the second differential trace includes a third segment and a fourth segment. The first and the third segments are electrically coupled to the upper caps of the first and the second vias respectively. The second and the fourth segments are electrically coupled to the lower caps of the first and the second vias respectively. The first and the third segments extend from corresponding upper caps in different directions, the second and the fourth segments extend from corresponding lower caps in different directions.
US07968801B2 Solder mounting structure, method for manufacturing such solder mounting structure and use of such solder mounting structure
The camera module structure (10) of the present invention is arranged such that a board electrode (2) of a printed board (1) and a mounting electrode (4) of a camera module (3) mounted on the printed board (1) are joined with each other through a solder joint section (5), and the board electrode (2) and the mounting electrode (4) are aligned by self-alignment. The solder joint section (5) includes a solder section (16) for solder-joining, and a supporting section (17) for supporting the camera module (3). The present invention realizes a solder mounting structure wherein a heavy-weight component is joined on the board with solder by self-alignment.
US07968798B2 Flexible printed board
A base layer of a bent portion of a FPC is formed on the front side thereof with second ground bent lines arranged in a mesh pattern and third ground bent lines intersecting with the second ground bent lines in a lateral direction, and on the back side thereof with first ground bent lines along the bending direction. The first ground bent lines are electrically connected to the second ground bent lines and the third ground bent lines via through holes.
US07968794B1 Two lid horizontal and vertical mountable electrical device cover
Particular implementations of electrical outlet cover comprise a base comprising a first opening allowing access to the electrical outlet, a first cover comprising a second opening allowing access to the electrical outlet, and a second cover covering the second opening. In particular implementations, the first cover and second cover have opening axes substantially perpendicular to each other. The second cover may be a flat cover or a while in use cover, and in particular implementations the first and second covers may be biased closed.
US07968792B2 Quantum dot sensitized wide bandgap semiconductor photovoltaic devices & methods of fabricating same
A quantum dot (QD) sensitized wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor heterojunction photovoltaic (PV) device comprises an electron conductive layer; an active photovoltaic (PV) layer adjacent the electron conductive layer; a hole conductive layer adjacent the active PV layer; and an electrode layer adjacent the hole conductive layer. The active PV layer comprises a wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor material with Eg≧2.0 eV, in the form of a 2-dimensional matrix defining at least two open spaces, and a narrower bandgap semiconductor material with Eg<2.0 eV, in the form of quantum dots (QD's) filling each open space defined by the matrix of WBG semiconductor material and establishing a heterojunction therewith. The active PV layer is preferably fabricated by a co-sputter deposition process, and the QD's constitute from about 40 to about 90 vol. % of the active PV layer.
US07968790B2 Photovoltaic (PV) enhancement films for enhancing optical path lengths and for trapping reflected light
A solar energy conversion assembly for efficiently capturing solar energy by providing additional chances to absorb reflected sunlight and providing longer path lengths in the photovoltaic (PV) material. The assembly includes a PV device including a layer of PV material and a protective top covering the PV material (e.g., a planar glass cover applied with adhesive to the PV material). The assembly further includes a PV enhancement film formed of a substantially transparent material, and film is applied to at least a portion of the protective top such as with a substantially transparent adhesive. The PV enhancement film includes a plurality of absorption enhancement structures on the substrate opposite the PV device. Each absorption enhancement structure includes a light receiving surface that refracts incident light striking the PV enhancement film to provide an average path length ratio of greater than about 1.20 in the layer of PV material.
US07968789B2 Method and apparatus for eye-safe transmittal of electrical power in vehicles using white light via plastic optical fiber
An apparatus for transmitting wide spectrum white light having a plurality of plastic optical fibers. The apparatus includes a sheath housing the plurality of fibers. An apparatus for providing energy in an airplane. The apparatus includes a light source which produces wide spectrum white light. The apparatus includes a cable through which the eye-safe and fire-safe light from the light source is transmitted. The apparatus includes an avionics box to which the cable is connected that is powered by the light transmitted by the cable. An apparatus for providing energy in an airplane. The apparatus includes means for producing energy that is eye-safe and fire safe. The apparatus includes an avionics box to which the producing means is connected that is powered by the energy form the producing means. A method for providing energy in an airplane. The method includes the steps of producing wide spectrum white light from a light source. There is the step of transmitting the eye-safe and fire-safe light from the light source through a cable. There is the step of powering an avionics box to which the cable is connected by the light transported by the cable.
US07968787B2 Electronic musical instrument and storage medium
Audio player, having many items of music content stored therein and having at least a function for reproducing any one of the items of music content stored therein, is instructed to select and reproduce music content, corresponding to a user-designated music piece, from among the items of music content. In response to user's designation of the music piece, the audio player selects, from among the many items of music content, music content corresponding to the designated music piece and reproduces the selected music content. With such arrangements, a user is allowed to appropriately and readily set a performance environment suited for the desired music piece, by using the audio player to actually listen to and check the content of the music piece for which a performance environment is to be set.
US07968785B2 Frequency spectrum conversion to natural harmonic frequencies process
A process is disclosed for converting standard musical notes to natural musical notes based upon Rod formats. A signal of standard musical notes is input and the frequency of each note in the signal is analyzed. A Rod format natural harmonic resonance is selected and the frequency of each note in the signal is converted to a natural frequency corresponding to the selected Rod format natural harmonic resonance. A signal consisting of the converted notes is output. An apparatus capable of performing the inventive process on a signal of standard musical notes includes a signal input port and a signal output port, means for converting the frequency of standard musical notes to a corresponding natural frequency corresponding to a Rod format, means for selecting a Rod format natural harmonic resonance, and a frequency analyzer.
US07968781B1 Resilient device for a drum pedal
A resilient device for a drum pedal has a resilient member, an upper driven fastener, a lower driven fastener, a stationary fastener, an upper bearing, a connecting fastener and a lower bearing. The resilient member is connected between the upper and lower driven fasteners. The stationary fastener is connected pivotally to the upper driven fastener. The upper bearing is clamped between the stationary fastener and the upper driven fastener. The connecting fastener is connected pivotally to the lower driven fastener. The lower bearing is clamped between the connecting fastener and the lower driven fastener. The upper and lower bearings provide a reduction in friction between the elements so stepping on the pedal is easier and smoother and gives greater control.
US07968780B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing sound output characteristics of a drum
An apparatus is provided for maximizing the punch of any double membrane drum and simultaneously minimizing the ringing of the drum. An insert is provided having a body adapted to be slid into an opening formed in either the batter membrane or resonant membrane of the drum. The insert is held in contact with the membrane by one of several mounting techniques. The weight of the insert and the length and width of the body of the insert are sized in a manner to increase the “punch” of the drum and to minimize “ringing” of the drum. The insert may be retrofitted into an existing drum or attached to a batter head membrane or resonant membrane during original manufacture of the drum. The insert may be used with drum openings of any shape by making the cross-sectional shape of the insert conform to the shape of the drum opening.
US07968774B2 Celery cultivar ADS-16
A celery cultivar, designated ADS-16, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of celery cultivar ADS-16, to the plants of celery cultivar ADS-16 and to methods for producing a celery plant by crossing the cultivar ADS-16 with itself or another celery cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a celery plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic celery plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to celery cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-16, to methods for producing other celery cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from celery cultivar ADS-16 and to the celery plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid celery seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar ADS-16 with another celery cultivar.
US07968761B1 Method for reducing contamination
Exemplary compositions, methods, and systems are disclosed that can be useful for reducing a concentration of a contaminant associated with a medium, which can be any substance or material, such as soil, water, air, and/or fluid. In one exemplary method, the medium is treated with Fe-MDGA and an oxidizing agent in amounts effective to oxidize at least a portion of the contaminant.
US07968759B2 Production of aromatics from methane
In a process for converting methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane is supplied to one or more reaction zone(s) containing catalytic material operating under reaction conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the methane to aromatic hydrocarbons; the reaction zone(s) being operated with an inverse temperature profile.
US07968758B2 Process for the dissociation of MTBE
A process for the dissociation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), which includes at least a) catalytic dissociation of MTBE which is present in two streams I and VII over a catalyst to give a dissociation product II, b) separation by distillation of the dissociation product II obtained in a) into an overhead stream III containing more than 90% by mass and a bottom stream IV containing diisobutene, MTBE and more than 80% of the methanol present in the dissociation product II, c) separation by distillation of the bottom stream IV obtained in b) into a methanol-containing bottom stream V, a side stream VI containing diisobutene, methanol and MTBE and an overhead stream VII containing MTBE and methanol and d) recirculation of the overhead stream VII to a).
US07968757B2 Hydrocracking process for biological feedstocks and hydrocarbons produced therefrom
A process for hydrocracking biomass, and the hydrocarbons produced therefrom. A feed stream having free fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or combinations thereof is contacted with a first catalyst under hydrogen pressure and heat. The hydrocarbon product stream which is comprised predominantly of n-paraffins is separated into heavy and light fractions. The heavy fraction is contacted with a second catalyst under hydrogen pressure and heat to produce an effluent stream which is combined with the light n-paraffin fraction to form a unique middle distillate product useful as a diesel or jet fuel.
US07968756B2 Process and apparatus for production of vinyl chloride monomer
Process and apparatus to form vinyl chloride monomer from ethylene dichloride in a cracking furnace, including a firebox chamber having a thermal protective layer disposed on refractory walls and/or process tubes disposed within the chamber, a quencher to form vinyl chloride monomer, and fractionator separate products. The thermal protective layer which contains an inorganic adhesive for metal/alloy tubes or colloidal silica and/or colloidal alumina for refractory walls or ceramic tubes, a filler, and one or more emissivity agents.
US07968753B2 Method for the production of organic peroxides by means of a microreaction technique
The invention provides a process for efficient and reliable preparation of organic peroxides, preferably dialkyl peroxides, peroxycarboxylic acids, peroxycarboxylic esters, diacyl peroxides, peroxycarbonate esters, peroxydicarbonates, ketone peroxides and perketals with the aid of at least one static micromixer and an apparatus for performing the process.
US07968751B2 Method of fluorination
A method of fluorination comprising reacting monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, composite saccharides formed by bonding of these saccharides with proteins and lipids and saccharides having polyalcohols, aldehydes, ketones and acids of the polyalcohols, and derivatives and condensates of these compounds with a fluorinating agent represented by general formula (I) thermally or under irradiation with microwave or an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength around the microwave region. In accordance with the method, the fluorination at a selected position can be conducted safely at a temperature in the range of 150 to 200° C. where the reaction is difficult in accordance with conventional methods. The above method comprising the irradiation with microwave or an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength around the microwave region can be applied to substrates other than saccharides. When a complex compound comprising HF and a base is reacted under irradiation with microwave, fluorination at a specific position which is difficult in accordance with conventional methods proceeds highly selectively, efficiently in a short time and safely.
US07968748B2 Process for resolving racemic mixtures and a diastereoisomeric complex of a resolving agent and an enantiomer of interest
A process for resolving a compound in racemic form comprising the following steps is described: a) reacting a compound in racemic form with a resolving agent, b) forming a diastereoisomeric complex of the resolving agent and an enantiomer of interest, c) separating the enantiomer of interest from the obtained diastereoisomer, wherein such a process is characterized in that said resolving agent is a compound of Formula (I). A diastereoisomeric complex between the resolving agent of Formula (I) and the enantiomer of interest is also described. The process according to the invention allows acid and basic racemic mixtures to be separated.
US07968745B2 Purification process of iodixanol
A process for the manufacture of iodixanol by performing a purification process of the crude product in a solvent comprising n-propanol. The crude product may be obtained in aqueous solution from dimerization of 5-acetamido-N,N′-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalamide (“Compound A”).
US07968744B2 Physiological coolants based on lactoyl esters of menthyl lactate
A method of imparting a physiological cooling effect to a consumer product is disclosed. The method comprises formulating into the consumer product a composition comprising at least one lactoyl ester of menthyl lactate. Also disclosed is a method of providing physiological cooling by contacting skin or mucous membranes with the lactoyl ester compositions. Coolants comprising the lactoyl esters and additional coolants are also disclosed. The lactoyl esters are conveniently prepared from menthol and lactic acid.
US07968742B2 Method and device for the sulfonation or sulfation of sulfonatable or sulfatable organic substances and for performing faster, strongly exothermic gas/liquid reactions
A method and a device for the sulfonation or the sulfation of organic liquid raw materials with an SO3/air mixture and other reaction gases in order to perform rapid, highly exothermic gas-liquid reactions in conventional thin-layer falling-film reactors are disclosed. The introduction of the SO3/air mixture occurs through several feed locations, which are located within (along) the reaction tube or reaction tubes or in the annular gap of annular-gap falling-film reactors. High peak temperatures, undesirable byproducts, worsening of the color and local oversulfation or oversulfonation, which leads to side reactions, are largely avoided.
US07968741B2 Method of preparing disilanol compound and method of storing disilanol compound
A method of preparing a disilanol compound by hydrolyzing a dichlorosilane compound having Si—Cl bonds at both ends, characterized in that the method comprises the step of hydrolyzing the dichlorosilane compound in the presence of a tertiary amine compound.
US07968740B2 Process for preparing organically modified layered double hydroxide
A process is disclosed for preparing an organically modified layered double hydroxide having a distance between the individual layers of the layered double hydroxide of about 1.5 nm and comprising an organic anion as charge-balancing anion, the process comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a precursor suspension comprising a divalent metal ion source and a trivalent metal ion source; (b) solvothermally treating the precursor suspension to obtain a double layered hydroxide, wherein an organic anion is added before or during the formation of the layered double hydroxide of step (b), or following the formation of the layered double hydroxide, so as to obtain the organically modified layered double hydroxide, with the proviso that deoxycholic acid is not the sole organic anion.
US07968737B2 Producing method of phospholipids including long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids as constituents, and use of such phospholipids
The present invention provides a method of efficiently and stably producing LCPUFA-PL. Specifically, the invention provides a method for producing phospholipids that contain LCPUFA as a constituent (LCPUFA-PL), wherein lipid producing cells producing lipids that contain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are used as a starting material, the method including a PL extracting step of extracting phospholipids (PL) from defatted cells obtained by extracting triglyceride (TG)-containing oil or fat from the lipid producing cells.
US07968734B2 Organocatalysts and methods of use in chemical synthesis
The present invention pertains generally to compositions comprising organocatalysts that facilitate stereo-selective reactions and the method of their synthesis and use. Particularly, the invention relates to metal-free organocatalysts for facilitation of stereo-selective reactions, and the method of their synthesis and use.
US07968730B2 Synthesis of amines and intermediates for the synthesis thereof
The invention relates in a first embodiment to a method for the manufacture of esters of the formula I, or especially of amides of the formula II, wherein the symbols have the meanings given in the specification, as well as other intermediates and compounds useful in the synthesis of tryptamines and other substances mentioned in the title. The synthesis methods and intermediates are useful in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.
US07968729B2 1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-based compounds
Methods useful for preparing compounds of formula I: and salts thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are intermediates useful in the preparation of such compounds.
US07968728B2 Method for producing carboxamides
The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing known fungicidally active 1,3-dimethyl-5-fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides from the corresponding acid fluoride and aniline derivatives in the presence of alkylpyridine derivatives as an acid acceptor.
US07968726B2 Methods of preparing imidazole-based bicyclic compounds
Methods of preparing compounds of formula I are disclosed:
US07968725B2 Pyridinyl modulators of γ-secretase
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I as shown below, wherein the definitions of A, X, R1 R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are provided in the specification. Compounds of Formula I are useful for the treatment of diseases associated with γ-secretase activity, including Alzheimer's disease.
US07968721B2 Large-scale synthesis of selective androgen receptor modulators
This invention relates to a process for preparing a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) compound represented by the structure of formula I: wherein X is O; and T, Z, Y, Q, R and R1 are defined herein. The process includes coupling between an amide of formula II and a phenol of formula III followed by a purification step consisting of precipitating the compound of formula (I) in a mixture of alcohol and water alone.
US07968712B2 Process for the resolution of zopiclone and intermediate compounds
The present invention refers to a process for the resolution into one of its enantiomers of the racemate of compound of formula (I): which comprises separating said one of its enantiomers from a diastereoisomeric salt of formula (II), which is formed by reaction of the racemic mixture with an optically active acetylated amino acid of formula (III). The invention also refers to new intermediates which are useful to carry out the process of the invention.
US07968708B2 Azepans and methods for making and using same
Disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein Z1 is an alkylene moiety; Q is a carboxylic acid derivative; and R1 and R2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, and alkoxycarbonyl or R1 and R2, taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, form a ring. Also disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein Z1 is an alkylene moiety; Q is a carboxylic acid derivative; and R13 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl. The compounds can be used to modulate cell proliferation and/or apoptosis, for example, in the treatment of cancers and other proliferative diseases, disorders, and conditions.
US07968707B2 Retroviral protease inhibiting compounds
A compound of the formula: is disclosed as an HIV protease inhibitor. Methods and compositions for inhibiting an HIV infection are also disclosed.
US07968706B2 Method of manufacturing phthalocyanine compound
Provided is a method of manufacturing a phthalocyanine compound denoted by general formula (3). The method comprises conducting a reaction of a compound denoted by general formula (1) or (2) with a metal and/or metal compound in a solvent in the presence of a secondary amine and/or diamine to obtain the phthalocyanine compound denoted by general formula (3). In general formulas (1) and (2), Z denotes an organic group forming a six-membered cyclic aromatic structure with two carbon atoms bonded to Z. In general formula (3), Z is one defined as in general formulas (1) and (2), and M denotes a metal atom belonging to Periods 1 to 4 of Groups 1 to 12.
US07968701B2 Nylon polyribonucleosides
The present invention provides a polyribonucleoside ladder copolymer molecule of general formula (I)
US07968696B1 Viral interleukin-6
The present invention relates to viral interleukin-6 (v-IL-6), which can be obtained by recombinant expression of the DNA of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), and which may be used in diagnosis and treatment of human diseases such as kaposi sarcoma, Castleman's disease, multiple myeloma, kidney cell carcinoma, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis or B cell lymphoma.
US07968689B2 Antibodies to HSDEK49 polypeptides
The present invention relates to human secreted polypeptides, and isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding said polypeptides, useful for diagnosing and treating immune disorders and diseases. Antibodies that bind these polypeptides are also encompassed by the present invention. Also encompassed by the invention are vectors, host cells, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing said polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or antibodies. The invention further encompasses screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention. The present invention further encompasses methods and compositions for inhibiting or enhancing the production and function of the polypeptides of the present invention.
US07968687B2 CD19 binding agents and uses thereof
This invention relates to CD 19 binding agents and methods of using such CD 19 binding agents for treating disease.
US07968684B2 IL-18 binding proteins
The present invention encompasses IL-18 binding proteins, particularly antibodies that bind human interleukin-18 (hIL-18). Specifically, the invention relates to antibodies that are entirely human antibodies. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-18 and/or that neutralize hIL-18 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Method of making and method of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-18 and for inhibiting hIL-18 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-18 activity is detrimental.
US07968682B2 Degradation-resistant fibrinogen sealants
Provided are degradation-resistant fibrinogen sealants comprising a first composition comprising one or more of fibrinogen γA/γ′ heterodimers and/or fibrinogen γ′/γ′ homodimers and a second composition comprising thrombin and, optionally, degradation-resistant fibrinogen sealants disclosed herein may further comprise Factor XIII and calcium. Degradation-resistant fibrinogen sealants are suitable for the treatment of trauma, particularly vascular trauma.
US07968681B2 c-MET kinase binding proteins
Polypeptides comprising monomer domains that bind to c-MET, or portions thereof, are provided.
US07968680B2 Polynucleotides encoding members of the human B lymphocyte activation antigen B7 family and polypeptides encoded thereby
The present invention provides novel isolated BLAA polynucleotides and the membrane-associated or secreted polypeptides encoded by the BLAA polynucleotides. Also provided are the antibodies that immunospecifically bind to a BLAA polypeptide or any derivative, variant, mutant or fragment of the BLAA polypeptide, polynucleotide or antibody. The invention additionally provides methods in which the BLAA polypeptide, polynucleotide and antibody are utilized in the detection and treatment of a broad range of pathological states, as well as to other uses.
US07968679B2 Purified rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3 complexes and their method of manufacture
Complexes of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 with new levels of purity are provided. Chromatographic techniques have been developed that remove contaminants, such as mass and charge variants of IGFBP-3. The new techniques enable the production of high-quality pharmaceutical compositions comprising IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complexes.
US07968677B2 IFBM's to promote the specific attachment of target analytes to the surface of orthopedic implants
The present invention provides an improved coating for surfaces of medical implants. The coating comprises at least one interfacial biomaterial (IFBM) which is comprised of at least one binding module that binds to the surface of an implant or implant-related material (“implant module”) and at least one binding module that selectively binds to a target analyte or that is designed to have a desired effect (“analyte module”). The modules are connected by a linker. In some embodiments, the IFBM coating acts to promote the recognition and attachment of target analytes to surface of the device. The IFBM coating improves the performance of implanted medical devices, for example, by promoting osteointegration of the implant.
US07968674B2 Method for removing a carbonization catalyst from a graphene sheet and method for transferring the graphene sheet
A method for removing a carbonization catalyst from a graphene sheet, the method includes contacting the carbonization catalyst with a salt solution, which is capable of oxidizing the carbonization catalyst.
US07968669B2 Fluoropolymer compositions and treated substrates
A polymer having at least one carbamate linkage prepared by: (i) reacting (a) at least one diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof, and (b) at least one fluorinated compound selected from the formula (I): Rf(CH2)x[(CF2CF2)y(CH2CH2)z]m(R1)r-xH  (I) wherein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; the total number of carbons in said formula (I) excluding (R1)r-XH ranges from about 8 to about 22; and (ii) optionally reacting with (c) water, a linking agent, or a mixture thereof.
US07968666B2 Incorporating an asymmetrical siloxane into a composition in need of hydrolysis resistance
An asymmetric siloxane is made by reacting a silicone having the formula MHDxM′H where MH is R1R2HSiO1/2, M′H is R4R5HSiO1/2 and x is an integer 0≦x≦10 under selective hydrosilylation conditions in the presence of a precious metal hydrosilylation catalyst, with a first olefinic compound and in a second step, a monohydridosiloxane produced in the first step is reacted under hydrosilylating conditions with another olefinic compound different from the first olefinic compound. The formed asymmetric siloxane is incorporated into a composition in need of hydrolysis resistance.
US07968664B2 Nitric oxide-releasing diazeniumdiolated acrylonitrile-based polymers, and compositions, medical devices, and uses thereof
The invention described herein provides for novel nitric oxide-releasing polymers that comprise at least two adjacent units derived from acrylonitrile monomer units and containing at least one carbon-bound diazeniumdiolate. The diazeniumdiolated acrylonitrile-derived polymers can be used in medical devices therapeutically. Accordingly, the invention also provides a method of treating a biological disorder and a method of promoting angiogenesis that includes administering a medical device comprising a nitric oxide-releasing polymer comprising at least two adjacent units of acrylonitrile before exposure to nitric oxide and at least one nitric oxide releasing N2O2— group, wherein the N2O2— group is attached directly to the polyacrylonitrile backbone, to a specific location on or within the mammal in an amount effective to treat the biological disorder or promote angiogenesis.
US07968661B2 Method of free radically polymerizing vinyl monomers
A method for the polymerization of free radically polymerizable vinyl monomers involves polymerizing free radically (co)polymerizable vinyl monomers in a batch reaction under essentially adiabatic conditions in the presence of an non-reactive diluent that can remain in the polymer product.
US07968656B2 Absorbable copolyesters of poly(ethoxyethylene diglycolate) and glycolide
A semi-crystalline, absorbable copolyester composition comprising the reaction product of a polycondensation polyester and at least one lactone, wherein the polycondensation polyester comprises the reaction product of diglycolic acid and/or a derivative thereof and diethylene glycol; and the copolyester comprises about 30 to 60% by weight of the polycondensation polyester based on the total weight of the copolyester. Also medical devices such as absorbable sutures comprising such copolyesters and absorbable microspheres comprising such copolyesters and methods of making of such absorbable microspheres. Additionally, a method of melt blowing an absorbable copolyester composition and a nonwoven construct are disclosed.
US07968654B2 Modified chlorinated polypropylene, its preparation method and its blend for polyolefin
The present invention relates to a blend of polyolefin comprising a modified chlorinated polypropylene. This invention provides a blend of polyolefin comprising a novel amine modified chlorinated polypropylene capable of improving printability by promoting adhesion with ink when the ink is printed or coated on plastic products including film and sheet. The present invention provides a novel blend of polyolefin comprising a modified chlorinated polypropylene, which is prepared by substituting 1-99.9 mole % of chlorine of a chlorinated polypropylene, whose chlorine content is 1-75 wt % and whose number average molecular weight is 100-400,000, with ammonia or an amine compound and is capable of improving dyeability and adhesion performance. This invention also provides the modified chlorinated polypropylene and a method for preparing the same.
US07968651B2 Conducting polymer film composition for organic opto-electronic device comprising graft copolymer of self-doped conducting polymer and organic opto-electronic device using the same
Provided are a conducting polymer film composition comprising a graft copolymer of a self-doped conducting polymer and an organic opto-electronic device comprising a conducting polymer film formed of the above-mentioned composition. In the graft copolymer, the conducting polymer and a polyacid are connected to each other via chemical binding. Therefore, the composition of the present invention can be used in organic opto-electronic devices with minimal or no dedoping occurring from heat generated inside the device. As a result, the present invention can improve efficiency and life-time of the organic opto-electronic device.
US07968650B2 Polymeric compositions comprising at least one volume excluding polymer
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a polymeric substrate comprising at least one volume excluding polymer. In one embodiment, the present invention provides polymeric articles that are capable of acting as osmotic drivers. The articles are capable of maintaining a desired water balance by moving water in or out of a substrate to maintain cation concentration equilibrium between the substrate and its environment.
US07968649B2 Process for preparing vinylidene fluoride homopolymer having I-form crystal structure
The present invention provides a process for easily preparing a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer comprising an I-form crystal structure at high purity by selecting a solvent, and the process for preparing the vinylidene fluoride homopolymer comprises not less than 70% by mass of I-form crystal structure, which is obtained by dissolving a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer having a number average degree of polymerization of 3 to 20 in a solvent consisting of an organic solvent having a dipole moment of not less than 2.8 alone or comprising the organic solvent in a part, thereafter, evaporating the solvent.
US07968648B2 Approach for achieving flame retardancy while retaining physical properties in a compatible polymer matrix
The invention provides polymer blends containing polyhydroxyamide and one or more flammable polymers. The polymer blends are flame retardant and have improved durability and heat stability compared to the flammable polymer portion of the blends. Articles containing the polymer blends are also provided.
US07968647B2 Environmentally friendly natural oil-based toner resin
A method of synthesizing polyester toner resins comprises: polycondensing polycarboxylic acids, polyols and free fatty acids to form low molecular weight polyester resins with alkenyl group or hydroxyl group or a combination of both; wherein at least one of said polycarboxylic acids, said polyols or said free fatty acids derive from natural oils; crosslinking the polyester via alkenyl group with radical initiator and vinyl monomer or via hydroxyl group with diisocyanate to generate polyester of higher molecular weight and melting point; obtaining a first fraction with a molecular weight ranged between 3000 and 15000 and a second fraction with a molecular weight larger than 15000; and combining said first fraction with said second fraction to form said polyester toner resins.
US07968645B2 Curable silicone impression materials with high tear strength and low consistency
The invention relates to curable silicone compositions which contain silane based crosslinkers and a mixture of different organopolysiloxanes. The compositions are particularly suitable as curable impression materials in dental applications.
US07968642B2 Redispersible polymers including a protective colloid system
A redispersible polymer including, as a redispersing aid, a protective colloid system including from 30% to 100% of a low molecular weight polyacrylamide colloid having a 20% solution viscosity in water of 200 to 800 Centipoise.
US07968638B2 Polyolefin composition with high filler loading capacity
Disclosed are highly filled thermoplastic olefin compositions and, in particular, thermoplastic olefin compositions that comprise propylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and a high level of organic or inorganic filler. Specifically, the description addresses a filled polymer composition comprising: (a) a first polymer component comprising propylene copolymer having a heat of fusion
US07968637B2 Curable composition
A curable composition, useful as a thermosetting binder, having a polycarboxy polymer or co-polymer, an emulsion polymer, and a multifunctional polyol.
US07968636B2 Tire compositions and components containing silated cyclic core polysulfides
Sulfur-containing silane coupling agents, and organic polymers containing carbon-carbon double bonds. These silanes can be carried on organic and inorganic fillers. The invention also relates to tire compositions and articles of manufacture, particularly tires, made from the elastomer compositions described herein.
US07968630B2 Pneumatic tire containing zinc porphyrin compound
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having at least one component including a sulfur vulcanizable rubber composition, the rubber composition including at least one diene based rubber and at least one zinc porphyrin compound.
US07968628B2 Modified asphalt binder material using crosslinked crumb rubber and methods of manufacturing the modified asphalt binder
Bituminous asphalt binder materials which are modified by the addition of crumb rubber or ground tire rubber and a cross-linking agent are described. In addition, methods are provided for producing a modified asphalt binder containing crumb rubber or ground tire rubber and a cross-linking agent. The modified asphalt binders comprise neat asphalt, crumb rubber, one or more acids and a cross-linking agent. Optionally, the modified asphalt binder may include one or more polymer additives. The crumb rubber may be obtained from recycled truck and/or automobile tires. The addition of crumb rubber in asphalt binders can improve the consistency and properties of the asphalt binders at high and low temperatures. In particular, the modified asphalt binders of the present invention exhibit improved elastic behavior, resulting in improved performance of roads or other surfaces paved using the modified asphalt binder. Road resistance to permanent deformation, fatigue cracking and thermal cracking is improved by use of the modified asphalt binder.
US07968625B2 Aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and process for producing the same
A process for producing an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion which includes adding a specific compound to a to-be-treated aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion containing a particle of fluoropolymer dispersed therein, the to-be-treated aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion containing a fluorinated surfactant (A) with a molecular weight lower than 1000 in an amount of 100 ppm or less of the fluoropolymer and the specific compound being (1) a sulfosuccinic acid alkyl ester or a salt thereof, or a sulfosuccinic acid fluoroalkyl ester or a salt thereof, (2) the fluorinated surfactant (A), (3) a fluorinated surfactant (B) with a molecular weight lower than 1000, differing from the fluorinated surfactant (A) and/or (4) an aliphatic carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, which compound is added in total amount of 10 to 5000 ppm of said fluoropolymer.
US07968623B2 Tree resistant insulation compositions
Insulation compositions for electric power cables having a polyolefin base polymer and an additive comprising either low molecular weight wax or polyethylene glycol (PEG) and optionally further comprising one or more hindered amine light stabilizers, amine antioxidants and other antioxidant blends are disclosed. Also disclosed are insulation compositions comprising a C2 to C8 alpha olefin in combination with a polyethylene homopolymer together with, optionally, one or more hindered amine light stabilizer and a liquid cresol antioxidant.
US07968613B2 Compositions for compounding, extrusion and melt processing of foamable and cellular fluoropolymers
The present invention relates generally to the use of talc as a chemical foaming agent in perfluoropolymers to form foamable and foamed compositions. For example, in one aspect, a foamable composition is disclosed, which comprises (i) one or more base perfluoropolymers comprising at least 50 percent by weight of the composition, and (ii) talc blended with the one or more base perfluoropolymers, where the talc comprises 3 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the composition. Each of the perfluoropolymers is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoromethylvinyl ether copolymer (MFA), hexafluoropropylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and any blend thereof, where hydrogen-containing fluoropolymers are absent from the composition. The one or more base perfluoropolymers are melt-processable at one or more elevated processing temperatures of at least about 600° F. at which the talc functions as a chemical foaming agent for extrusion or mold processing of the composition into a foamed article having uniform cell structures.
US07968610B2 Process for stabilizing the performances of a catalyst for Fischer Tropsch reaction
Process for maintaining the stability of performances of a catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch reaction, performed in a slurry bubble column reactor under a triphase system which comprises gradually increasing the PH2O/PH2 ratio and the PH2O/Z ratio, during the start-up phase, with Z=P0·(T/T1)4·e−(K2/(t·K3)) from 0.4 to 0.8, for a period of time not shorter than 100-150 hrs and not longer than 200-300 hours and, at the end of the start-up phase, maintaining the PH2O/PH2 and PH2O/Z ratios substantially equal to or lower than 0.8.
US07968608B2 Perfluoroalkylated benzoate surfactants
Provided are new compounds based on salts of aromatic acids containing perfluoroalkyl substituents. The compounds can be used as surfactants.
US07968603B2 Solid forms of selective androgen receptor modulators
The present invention relates to solid forms of (S)-N-(4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(4-cyanophenoxy)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanamide and process for producing the same.
US07968602B2 4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl)-1-propenyl]benzoic acid analogs and method of manufacture and use thereof
Analogs of 4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl)-1-propenyl]benzoic acid and methods of manufacture and use thereof, such as for use in cancer prevention and treatment.
US07968596B2 Preparation and diabetic use of Gibberellins
The present invention relates to application of compounds of formula (1) (Gibberellins) and their derivatives for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition or medicaments for the treatment of diabetes, its complications and associated conditions, including obesity, micro and macro vascular diseases, nephropathy, neuropathy, eye diseases, diabetic ulcerations and the like. The method results the normalization of serum glucose level and other physiological conditions.
US07968595B2 Substituted 4-aryl-chromene as activator of caspases and inducer of apoptosis and as antivascular agent and the use thereof
The present invention is directed to a substituted 4H-chromene represented by the Formula 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer: The present invention also relates to the discovery that compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, is an activator of caspases and inducer of apoptosis, as well as an antivascular agent. Therefore, compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, can be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs. Compound 1R, substantially free from the corresponding (S)-stereoisomer, also can be used for the treatment of diseases due to overgrowth of vasculature, such as solid tumors and ocular neovascularization.
US07968590B2 IAP binding compounds
IAP binding molecules and compositions including these are disclosed. The IAP binding molecules interact with IAPs (inhibitor of apoptosis proteins) in cells and may be used to modify apoptosis in cells treated with such molecules. Embodiments of these compounds have a Kd of less that 0.1 micromolar. Methods of using these IAP binding molecules for therapeutic, diagnostic, and assay purposes are also disclosed.
US07968589B2 Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods of use
Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds are disclosed. The compounds are useful for treating type 2 diabetes and related conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also included.
US07968584B2 Substituted arylpyrazoles
This invention relates to a range of 1-aryl-4-cyclopropylpyrazoles in which the cyclopropyl ring is substituted at the angular position, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, to compositions comprising such compounds, processes to their synthesis and their use as parasiticides.
US07968582B2 5(S)-substituted pyrazoline compounds, their preparation and use as medicaments
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazoline compounds, methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well as their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US07968580B2 Imidazolidin-2-one derivatives as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS)
The present invention is directed to novel imidazolidin-2-one derivatives having a structure according to Formula I wherein a, b, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined above, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor.
US07968578B2 Indole amide derivatives as EP4 receptor antagonists
The invention is directed to indole amide derivatives as EP4 receptor antagonists useful for the treatment of EP4 mediated diseases or conditions, such as acute and chronic pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are also included.
US07968576B2 Preparation and use of aryl alkyl acid derivatives for the treatment of obesity
This invention relates to certain aryl alkyl acid compounds, compositions, and methods for treating or preventing obesity and related diseases.
US07968575B2 Nitric oxide donors and uses thereof
Disclosed are novel NO-donating compounds, designed such that when NO is released from the compound a residue which is a naturally occurring metabolite is formed, and thus a development of tolerance to the compounds upon repetitive administration is prevented or decreased. Also disclosed are methods of preparing such NO-donating compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and medical devices containing such compounds and methods utilizing such compounds in the treatment of various medical conditions.
US07968574B2 Biaryl compositions and methods for modulating a kinase cascade
The invention relates to compounds and methods for modulating one or more components of a kinase cascade. The invention relates to compounds of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the invention are useful for methods of protecting against or treating hearing loss, osteoporosis, cell proliferative disorders, obesity, diabetes, eye disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, neuropathic pain or hepatitis B.
US07968572B2 Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound and pharmaceutical application thereof
It is intended to provide a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein all the symbols are as defined in the description; which has a p38 MAP kinase inhibitory activity, a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof. The compound of the invention is useful for preventing or treating a disease in which the abnormal production of a cytokine such as an inflammatory cytokine or a chemokine or overreaction to them is considered to be involved in the cause and aggravation of pathological conditions, in other words, an inflammatory disease, a respiratory disease, a cardiovascular disease, a central nervous system disease or the like, which is a cytokine-mediated disease.
US07968571B2 2,4,6-substituted pyridyl derivative compounds useful as beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
The present invention is directed to 2,4,6-substituted pyridyl derivative compounds which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US07968569B2 Methods for treatment of multiple myeloma using 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US07968568B2 Substituted piperidine derivatives as SST5 modulators
This invention is concerned with compounds of the formula wherein A, R1 to R5 and G are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, to a process for their preparation and to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of SST receptors subtype 5.
US07968566B2 Pyrrolo(2,3-b) pyridine derivatives, the preparation and the pharmaceutical use thereof in the form of kinase inhibitors
Novel compounds of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 have the meanings given in the description, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and use thereof as protein kinase inhibitors.
US07968565B2 Therapeutic combinations comprising (+)-1,4-dihydro-7-[(3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-(methylamino)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-4-oxo-1-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid
The present invention relates to SNS-595 and methods of treating cancer using the same.
US07968560B2 Compounds that modulate PPARγ-type receptors and cosmetic/pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds
Novel compounds having the general formula (I) below: are useful in a wide variety of applications in human or veterinary medicine (in dermatology, and also in the fields of cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases and/or diseases associated with lipid metabolism), or, alternatively are formulated into cosmetic compositions.
US07968558B2 Amidine derivatives of 2-heteroaryl-quinazolines and quinolines; potent analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents
The present invention concerns novel amidines derivatives of 2-heteroaryl-quinazoline and quinolines of general formula (I), to a process for their preparation, to their pharmaceutical compositions and to the use of these compounds, salts and solvates thereof, along with the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, for the treatment of pain and inflammatory disorders. Compounds of this invention are extremely potent analgesics, suitable for the treatment of both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Particularly for the treatment of neuropathic pain the compounds of the invention have been proved largely superior to the standards currently in the clinical use. These compounds are not acting through inhibition of COX or NOS enzymes but are effective in inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production induced by inflammatory stimuli.
US07968551B2 Chromenoneindoles
Chromenoneindole derivatives of the formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R, A and B are as defined in Claim 1, and pharmaceutically usable prodrugs, derivatives, solvates, stereoisomers and salts thereof, exhibit particular actions on the central nervous system, in particular 5-HT reuptake-inhibiting and 5-HTx-agonistic and/or -antagonistic actions. They are distinguished by particularly high bioavailability and particularly high inhibition of 5-HT reuptake.
US07968550B2 Substituted N-aryl heterocycles, process for their preparation and their use as medicaments
The invention relates to substituted N-aryl heterocycles and to the physiologically tolerated salts and physiologically functional derivatives thereof.Compounds of the formula I in which the radicals have the stated meanings the N-oxides and the physiologically tolerated salts thereof and process for the preparation thereof are described. The compounds are suitable for example as anorectic agents.
US07968548B2 Melanocortin receptor-specific piperazine compounds with diamine groups
Melanocortin receptor-specific compounds with diamine groups of the general formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, where W is a diamine heteroatom unit with at least one cationic center, hydrogen bond donor or hydrogen bond acceptor, J, Q, L1, L2, L3, R1a, R1b, R2a, R2b and X are as defined in the specification, and the carbon atom marked with an asterisk can have any stereochemical configuration. Compounds disclosed herein bind to one or more melanocortin receptors and may be an agonist, a partial agonist, an antagonist, an inverse agonist or an antagonist of an inverse agonist as to one or more melanocortin receptors, and may be employed for treatment of one or more melanocortin receptor-associated conditions or disorders, including specifically treatment of obesity and related conditions.
US07968545B2 Compositions useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated ion channels
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US07968543B2 Methods of administering N-(5-tert-butyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-N′-{4-[7-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl}urea to treat proliferative disease
Provided herein are methods of administering N-(5-tert-butyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-N′-{4-[7-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl}urea, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, to human patients. Specifically, dosing, dosing schedules or dosing regimens are provided herein. Further, pharmaceutical formulations are provided. Methods of treating proliferative diseases or FLT-3 mediated diseases in humans are also provided.
US07968540B2 Spirohydantoin tricyclic CGRP receptor antagonists
Compounds of formula I: (wherein variables A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, B1, B2, B3, B4, D1, D2, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, G1, G2, R6, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z are as described herein) which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US07968538B2 Substituted arylamine compounds and methods of treatment
The invention relates to 5-HT6 receptor antagonists. Novel arylamine compounds and use of these compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., in the treatment, modulation and/or prevention of physiological conditions associated with serotonin action, such as in treating obesity, and obesity-related disorders, e.g., cardiovascular disease, digestive disease, respiratory disease, cancer and type II diabetes; and psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, are disclosed.
US07968535B2 Use of azapaullones for preventing and treating pancreatic autoimmune disorders
This invention relates to the use of azapaullones, particularly in combination with immunomodulating agents, in the prevention, and/or treatment of pancreatic autoimmune disorders, e.g. type I diabetes or LADA and neurodegenerative disorders.
US07968531B2 Use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulphonic acid in the production of medicaments for the treatment of angiodependent diseases such as cancer and psoriasis
The invention relates to the use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzenesulfonic acid in the production of medicaments for the treatment of angiodependent diseases. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of the aforesaid compound and, in particular, the calcium and potassium salts thereof, for the treatment of two angiodependent diseases, which present a reduction in the apoptosis, namely cancer and psoriasis. The invention also discloses the antiproliferative, antimigratory, antiangiogenic and proapoptotic capacity of said family of compounds in non-quiescent cells. In addition, the invention details the potentiating effect of said compounds on known cytostatic medicines in the treatment of tumours and, specifically, on gliomas. The invention further relates to the therapeutic efficacy of said compounds, based on the combined antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and proapoptotic capacities thereof, in the treatment of chronic psoriatic plaques.
US07968527B2 Inhibition of FGF signaling
Methods and compositions for inhibiting FGF signaling are described. Methods of the invention include contacting an FGF-responsive cell with exogenous heparan sulfate 6-O endosulfatase (Sulf1) in an amount effective to modify endogenous heparan sulfate, thereby inhibiting FGF signaling. Methods of the invention also include contacting an FGF-responsive cell with an exogenous Sulf1-modified compound, the exogenous Sulf1-modified compound being characterized by the ability to reduce binding of FGF2 or FGF4 to FGFR1. Compositions comprising exogenous Sulf1-modified compounds are also provided for use in conjunction with methods of the present invention.
US07968521B2 Stable cystal of protected pseudouridine
A stable and high-purity protected pseudouridine in crystal form is provided represented by the following structural formula: wherein M represents a trityl group or a derivative thereof, which is a useful material for producing an RNA oligomer or a similar substance. A method for producing the crystalline protected pseudouridine is also provided, which method includes crystallizing a protected pseudouridine from a solution containing the protected pseudouridine, by use of an ester solvent and/or an alcoholic solvent. The method, which does not need a silica gel column treatment, can be performed in a simple manner, does not impose a load on the environment, and realizes low-cost production of a target crystalline protected pseudouridine.
US07968516B2 Treatment of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases by use of calpin inhibitors
Described herein are compounds and methods for treating or preventing a neurologic, otologic, or ophthalmologic disease in a subject. Also described herein are compounds that can be used as therapeutics.
US07968514B2 Pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing ovarian cancer
The invention relates to therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of ovarian cancer and metastases thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to immunogenic polypeptides comprising at least a portion of an ovarian tissue cell-associated protein or immunologically active variants thereof and to nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides and to the use thereof in immunotherapeutic methods of treatment. Said immunogenic polypeptides are provided by the zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins. ZP glycoproteins and fragments thereof that can induce a CD8+ and/or CD4+ T cell response as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding them can suitably be used in the present immunotherapeutic strategies.
US07968512B2 Conjugates that contain the homeodomain of antennapedia
The subject invention pertains to a conjugate comprising: (a) a first region comprising the homeodomain of antennapedia or a variant thereof; and (b) a second region not naturally associated with the first region. In one embodiment, the second region of the conjugate comprises a protein of at least 100 amino acids.
US07968510B2 Benefit agent containing delivery particle
The present invention relates to benefit agent containing delivery particles, compositions comprising said particles, and processes for making and using the aforementioned particles and compositions. When employed in compositions, for example, compositions for cleaning, fabric care, or coating onto various substrates, textiles or surfaces, such particles increase the efficiency of benefit agent delivery, thereby allowing reduced amounts of benefit agents to be employed. In addition to allowing the amount of benefit agent to be reduced, such particles allow a broad range of benefit agents to be employed.
US07968507B2 Composition for stripping and stripping method
The present invention provides a stripping composition and a stripping method capable of easily stripping a color resist or an organic insulating film formed on a substrate to reuse the substrate when defects are found during a process of forming the color filter or organic insulating film on the substrate. In one embodiment, the stripping composition includes about 0.5 to about 45 wt % of hydroxide compound, about 10 to about 89 wt % of alkyleneglycolalkylether compound, about 5 to about 45 wt % of alkanolamine compound, and about 0.01 to about 5 wt % of inorganic salt compound. Advantageously, the stripping process can be performed without damaging a thin film transistor of a bottom substrate while removing the color resist or organic insulating film.
US07968505B2 Lubricant
A magnetic recording medium comprising a lubricant film comprising a photosynthesized lubricant having a single phase composition of at least a lubricant moiety and an additive moiety is disclosed.
US07968504B2 Transesterification composition of fatty acid esters, and uses thereof
This invention is a composition that includes a transesterified fatty acid ester resulting from the reaction of a fatty acid ester, in the presence of an acid, with a hydroxyl-containing compound. The fatty acid esters of the invention are selected from those with a carbon number of eight to twenty. The hydroxyl-containing compound is an alcohol having a carbon number between one and eighteen. The resulting composition is useful as a lubricant, as a heat transfer agent, as a rheological modifier and as a corrosion/moisture inhibitor, among other uses.
US07968499B2 Rhamnolipid compositions and related methods of use
Compositions comprising a rhamnolipid component and one or more active agents, and related methods of use.
US07968498B2 Weed control process comprising the application of mesotrione and second herbicide
A novel process for controlling weeds in a crop comprising sorghum, the process comprising the application of a herbicidally effective amount of: (i) mesotrione, and (ii) a second herbicide selected from one or more of prosulfuron, dicamba, 2, 4-D, halosulfuron-methyl and quinclorac to the locus of the weeds is disclosed.
US07968495B2 Heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet and producing method thereof
A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having, on a support, at least one receptor layer containing a latex polymer, and at least one heat insulation layer containing hollow polymer particles, in which the latex polymer has an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 0.5 μm; and a producing method of the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet.
US07968489B2 Methods of preparing supported catalysts from metal loaded carbon nanotubes
A new method for preparing a supported catalyst is herein provided. Carbon nanotubes are functionalized by contacting them with an oxidizing agent to form functionalized carbon nanotubes. A metal catalyst is then loaded or deposited onto the functionalized carbon nanotubes. The mixture is then extruded to form the supported catalyst comprising a carbon nanotube structure containing metal catalyst more evenly dispersed within the internal structure of the carbon nanotube structure.
US07968488B2 Two-dimensional composite particle adapted for use as a catalyst and method of making same
The present invention is directed to a composite particle that is microscopically two-dimensional with a third nanoscopic dimension, and to methods of making same. The particle may include a support and a metal layer. The metal layer may be catalytically active such that the particle is adapted to act as a catalyst.
US07968487B2 Single component, phosphine-free, initiators for ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization with functionalized co-monomers
Novel phosphine-free non-ionic single catalysts, and method for making such catalysts, for the homo-polymerization and copolymerization of olefins such as ethylene, α-olefins and functionalized olefins without the use of additional co-activators, are disclosed. These phosphine-free non-ionic single catalysts are also active for co-polymerization of olefins with monomers with polar functionalities. The catalyst of this invention comprise of a late transition metal with a chelating monoanionic ligand, an R group and a neutral 2 electron donor ligand. Catalysts are prepared by the oxidative addition of benzylhalide (halide=Cl, Br or I) to an appropriate metal source in the presence of a stabilizing agent, such as nitrogen based ligands, followed by the addition of the deprotonated form of the chelating ligand.
US07968483B2 Fired refractory ceramic product
The invention relates to a fired refractory ceramic product. According to the invention, this generic term encompasses both shaped and unshaped products. Shaped products are ones which have a defined shape so that they can be manufactured in finished form on the premises of the manufacturer. Shaped products include: bricks, nozzles, tubes, stoppers, plates, etc. The term unshaped products includes ones which are usually produced by the user from a corresponding composition. They include bases for furnaces which are cast from a composition but also repair compositions, etc.
US07968480B2 Multi-lobal fiber containing nonwoven materials and articles made therefrom
Nonwoven polymer materials and articles made therefrom. Materials of the invention include at least one nonwoven polymer web with at least one layer of at least about 50% by weight of a multi-lobal fiber. Materials and articles of the invention have improved properties, such as particle retention capacity, acoustic absorption, stiffness, crop color uniformity, and crop yield, when compared with nonwoven polymer materials and articles made with round fiber in place of all of the multi-lobal fiber.
US07968479B2 Elastic multilayer composite including pattern unbonded elastic materials, articles containing same, and methods of making same
An elastic multilayer composite includes a pattern unbonded elastic layer attached to at least one extensible facing layer. A method for forming an elastic multilayer composite includes the steps of providing an elastic material; bonding the elastic material to form a pattern unbonded elastic material; and attaching the pattern unbonded elastic material to at least one facing material.
US07968476B1 Fabric assembly suitable for resisting ballistic objects and method of manufacture
A fabric assembly particularly useful as soft body armor has two separate sections each containing a number of fabrics made from yarns having a tenacity of at least 7.3 grams per dtex and a modulus of at least 100 grams per dtex. Compressed fabrics in the first section are employed and are connected by connectors that have a force to break in tension not greater than 65 N and are spaced apart by between 6 to 51 mm. Fabrics in the second section have at most a small amount of compression and are not joined other than to prevent slippage of the fabrics relative to one another.
US07968473B2 Low temperature process for depositing a high extinction coefficient non-peeling optical absorber for a scanning laser surface anneal of implanted dopants
A plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition process deposits an amorphous carbon layer on an ion-implanted wafer for use in dynamic surface annealing of the wafer with an intense line beam of a laser wavelength. The deposition process is carried out at a wafer temperature below the dopant clustering threshold temperature, and includes introducing the wafer into a chamber having a carbon-containing target overlying the wafer, and furnishing a carrier gas into the chamber. The process further includes generating a wafer bias voltage and applying target source power to the carbon-containing target sufficient to produce ion bombardment of the carbon-containing target. The wafer bias voltage is set to a level at which the amorphous carbon layer that is deposited has a desired extinction coefficient at the laser wavelength.
US07968471B2 Porous insulating film, method for producing the same, and semiconductor device using the same
The present invention provides a process of producing a porous insulating film effective as an insulating film constituting a semiconductor device and a process of producing a porous insulating film having high adhesion to a semiconductor material, which is in contact with the upper and lower interfaces of the insulating film. Gas containing molecule vapor of at least one or more organic silica compounds, which have a cyclic silica skeleton in its molecule and have at least one or more unsaturated hydrocarbon groups bound with the cyclic silica skeleton is introduced into plasma to grow a porous insulating film on a semiconductor substrate.
US07968468B2 Substrate treatment apparatus and substrate treatment method
In a substrate treatment method for supplying a coating solution to a substrate with projections and depressions on a front surface thereof to form a coating film on the front surface of the substrate, the coating solution is supplied to the rotating substrate to form a coating film on the front surface of the substrate, and the substrate having the coating film formed thereon is heated to adjust an etching condition of the coating film. Next, the etching solution is supplied to the rotating substrate to etch the coating film, and thereafter the coating solution is supplied to the substrate to form a flat coating film on the front surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the substrate is heated to cure the coating film. This flattens the coating film with uniformity and high accuracy without undergoing a high-load process such as chemical mechanical polishing.
US07968465B2 Periodic acid compositions for polishing ruthenium/low K substrates
A method of polishing a semiconductor substrate surface having at least one ruthenium feature thereon and at least one dielectric material, wherein the substrate is contacted with an aqueous composition containing from about 0.0005 to about 1 moles/kilogram of periodic acid, from about 0.2% to about 6% % by weight of silica abrasive having an average particle size of about 50 nm or less, and an amine in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH of the composition to between about 2.5 and 7. The removal selectivity of the ruthenium to a. low-K dielectric is greater than 20:1. Advantageously, the substrate further has a tantalum-containing compound, and the polishing rate of the tantalum-containing compound is about the same as the polishing rate of the ruthenium, so that the polishing process is a one-step process.
US07968462B1 Noble metal activation layer
Processes for minimizing contact resistance when using nickel silicide (NiSi) and other similar contact materials are described. These processes include optimizing silicide surface cleaning, silicide surface passivation against oxidation and techniques for diffusion barrier/catalyst layer deposition. Additionally, processes for generating a noble metal (for example platinum, iridium, rhenium, ruthenium, and alloys thereof) activation layer that enables the electroless barrier layer deposition on a NiSi-based contact material are described. The processes may be employed when using NiSi-based materials in other end products. The processes may be employed on silicon-based materials.
US07968457B2 Sandwiched metal structure silicidation for enhanced contact
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for forming enhanced contacts using sandwiched metal structures are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07968452B2 Titanium-based high-K dielectric films
This disclosure provides (a) methods of making an oxide layer (e.g., a dielectric layer) based on titanium oxide, to suppress the formation of anatase-phase titanium oxide and (b) related devices and structures. A metal-insulator-metal (“MIM”) stack is formed using an ozone pretreatment process of a bottom electrode (or other substrate) followed by an ALD process to form a TiO2 dielectric, rooted in the use of an amide-containing precursor. Following the ALD process, an oxidizing anneal process is applied in a manner is hot enough to heal defects in the TiO2 dielectric and reduce interface states between TiO2 and electrode; the anneal temperature is selected so as to not be so hot as to disrupt BEL surface roughness. Further process variants may include doping the titanium oxide, pedestal heating during the ALD process to 275-300 degrees Celsius, use of platinum or ruthenium for the BEL, and plural reagent pulses of ozone for each ALD process cycle. The process provides high deposition rates, and the resulting MIM structure has substantially no x-ray diffraction peaks associated with anatase-phase titanium oxide.
US07968448B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The device comprises a semiconductor die, a passivation layer, a wiring redistribution layer (RDL), an Ni/Au layer, and a solder mask. The semiconductor die comprises a top metal exposed in an active surface thereof. The passivation layer overlies the active surface of the semiconductor die, and comprises a through passivation opening overlying the top metal. The wiring RDL, comprising an Al layer, overlies the passivation layer, and electrically connects to the top metal via the passivation opening. The solder mask overlies the passivation layer and the wiring RDL, exposing a terminal of the wiring RDL.
US07968440B2 Preparation of ultra-shallow semiconductor junctions using intermediate temperature ramp rates and solid interfaces for defect engineering
Described herein are processing conditions, techniques, and methods for preparation of ultra-shallow semiconductor junctions. Methods described herein utilize semiconductor surface processing or modification to limit the extent of dopant diffusion under annealing conditions (e.g. temperature ramp rates between 100 and 5000° C./second) previously thought impractical for the preparation of ultra-shallow semiconductor junctions. Also described herein are techniques for preparation of ultra-shallow semiconductor junctions utilizing the presence of a solid interface for control of dopant diffusion and activation.
US07968430B2 Compound semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A compound semiconductor device includes a laminated body including a crystal substrate and a compound semiconductor multilayer film. The laminated body has a major surface, a first side face, a second side face, a third side face, and a fourth side face. The first and the second side faces are opposed to each other, substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the laminated body, made of cleaved surfaces. The third and the fourth side faces are perpendicular to the major surface and to the first and the second side faces, opposed to each other, and made of uncleaved surfaces. A groove is provided on the third side face, and the groove has a depth varied with position as viewed from the major surface, and has ends not reaching the first and second side face.
US07968419B2 Back-to-back metal/semiconductor/metal (MSM) Schottky diode
A method is provided for forming a metal/semiconductor/metal (MSM) back-to-back Schottky diode from a silicon (Si) semiconductor. The method deposits a Si semiconductor layer between a bottom electrode and a top electrode, and forms a MSM diode having a threshold voltage, breakdown voltage, and on/off current ratio. The method is able to modify the threshold voltage, breakdown voltage, and on/off current ratio of the MSM diode in response to controlling the Si semiconductor layer thickness. Generally, both the threshold and breakdown voltage are increased in response to increasing the Si thickness. With respect to the on/off current ratio, there is an optimal thickness. The method is able to form an amorphous Si (a-Si) and polycrystalline Si (polySi) semiconductor layer using either chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or DC sputtering. The Si semiconductor can be doped with a Group V donor material, which decreases the threshold voltage and increases the breakdown voltage.
US07968417B2 Method for integrating high voltage and high speed bipolar transistors on a substrate and related structure
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for integrating a high speed bipolar transistor in a high speed transistor region of a substrate with a high voltage transistor in a high voltage transistor region of the substrate includes forming a buried subcollector in the high speed transistor region of the substrate. The method further includes forming a first high energy implant region in the high voltage transistor region of the substrate, where the first high energy implant region extends to a depth greater than a depth of a peak dopant concentration of the buried subcollector, thereby increasing a collector-to-emitter breakdown voltage of the high voltage transistor. The collector-to-emitter breakdown voltage of the high voltage transistor can be greater than approximately 5.0 volts. The high speed bipolar transistor can have a cutoff frequency of greater approximately 200.0 GHz.
US07968414B2 Semiconductor device and production method thereof
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed that is able to suppress a short channel effect and improve carrier mobility. In the method, trenches are formed in a silicon substrate corresponding to a source region and a drain region. When epitaxially growing p-type semiconductor mixed crystal layers to fill up the trenches, the surfaces of the trenches are demarcated by facets, and extended portions of the semiconductor mixed crystal layers are formed between bottom surfaces of second side wall insulating films and a surface of the silicon substrate, and extended portion are in contact with a source extension region and a drain extension region.
US07968411B2 Threshold voltage adjustment for long-channel transistors
A threshold voltage adjusted long-channel transistor fabricated according to short-channel transistor processes is described. The threshold-adjusted transistor includes a substrate with spaced-apart source and drain regions formed in the substrate and a channel region defined between the source and drain regions. A layer of gate oxide is formed over at least a part of the channel region with a gate formed over the gate oxide. The gate further includes at least one implant aperture formed therein with the channel region of the substrate further including an implanted region within the channel between the source and drain regions. Methods for forming the threshold voltage adjusted transistor are also disclosed.
US07968410B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor device using a full silicidation process
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a first polysilicon layer having a first thickness in a peripheral circuit region formed on a substrate; forming a stack structure comprising a first tunneling insulating layer, a charge trap layer, and a blocking insulating layer in a memory cell region formed on the substrate; forming a second polysilicon layer having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness on the blocking insulating layer; and forming gate electrodes by siliciding the first and second polysilicon layers.
US07968395B2 Systems and methods for reducing contact to gate shorts
A method for reducing contact to gate shorts in a semiconductor device and the resulting semiconductor device are described. In one embodiment, a gate is formed on a substrate, a contact is formed on the gate and the substrate, and an insulator is formed between the gate and the contact. The insulator may be formed by oxidizing the gate to form a dielectric between the contact and the gate after the contact is formed on the gate.
US07968394B2 Transistor with immersed contacts and methods of forming thereof
A method includes forming a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure includes a first current electrode region, a second current electrode region, and a channel region, the channel region is located between the first current electrode region and the second current electrode region, wherein the channel region is located in a fin structure of the semiconductor structure, wherein a carrier transport in the channel region is generally in a horizontal direction between the first current electrode region and the second current electrode region. The method further includes forming a first contact, wherein forming the first contact includes removing a first portion of the semiconductor structure to form an opening, wherein the opening is in the first current electrode region and forming contact material in the opening.
US07968391B1 High voltage GaN-based transistor structure
A high voltage and high power gallium nitride (GaN) transistor structure is disclosed. A plurality of structural epitaxial layers including a GaN buffer layer is deposited on a substrate. A GaN termination layer is deposited on the plurality of structural epitaxial layers. The GaN termination layer is adapted to protect the plurality of structural epitaxial layers from surface reactions. The GaN termination layer is sufficiently thin to allow electrons to tunnel through the GaN termination layer. Electrical contacts are deposited on the GaN termination layer, thereby forming a high electron mobility transistor.
US07968390B2 Electronic devices with improved ohmic contact
In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an electronic device successively comprising from its base to its surface: (a) a support layer, (b) a channel layer adapted to contain an electron gas, (c) a barrier layer and (d) at least one ohmic contact electrode formed by a superposition of metallic layers, a first layer of which is in contact with the barrier layer. The device is remarkable in that the barrier layer includes a contact region under the ohmic contact electrode(s). The contact region includes at least one metal selected from the metals forming the superposition of metallic layers. Furthermore, a local alloying binds the contact region and the first layer of the electrode(s).
US07968386B2 Method for manufacturing thin film integrated circuit, and element substrate
Application form of and demand for an IC chip formed with a silicon wafer are expected to increase, and further reduction in cost is required. An object of the invention is to provide a structure of an IC chip and a process capable of producing at a lower cost. In view of the above described object, one feature of the invention is to provide the steps of forming a separation layer over an insulating substrate and forming a thin film integrated circuit having a semiconductor film as an active region over the separation layer, wherein the thin film integrated circuit is not separated. There is less limitation on the shape of a mother substrate in the case of using the insulating substrate, when compared with the case of taking a chip out of a circular silicon wafer. Accordingly, reduction in cost of an IC chip can be achieved.
US07968385B2 Thin film transistor panel and fabricating method thereof
A thin film transistor panel includes; an insulating substrate, a gate line including a gate electrode disposed on the insulating substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, the semiconductor layer including a sidewall, a data line including a source electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer, a drain electrode disposed substantially opposite to and spaced apart from the source electrode, a first protective film disposed on the data line, the first protective film including a sidewall, a second protective film disposed on the first protective film and including a sidewall, and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode, wherein the sidewall of the second protective film is disposed inside an area where the sidewall of the first protective film is disposed, and the source electrode and the drain electrode cover the sidewall of the semiconductor layer.
US07968384B2 Stacked transistors and process
A method of horizontally stacking transistors on a common semiconductor substrate is initiated by providing a single crystal, generally silicon, semiconductor substrate. A plurality of transistors are formed on the single crystal semiconductor substrate and encapsulated in an insulating layer, such as silicon dioxide. One or more openings are formed through the insulating layer between the plurality of transistors so as to expose a surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate. A layer of single crystal rare earth insulator material is epitaxially grown on the exposed surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate. A layer of single crystal semiconductor material, generally silicon, is epitaxially grown on the layer of single crystal rare earth insulator material. An intermixed transistor is formed on the layer of single crystal semiconductor material.
US07968381B1 Fin thyristor-based semiconductor device
A semiconductor device having a thyristor-based device and a pass device exhibits characteristics that may include, for example, resistance to short channel effects that occur when conventional MOSFET devices are scaled smaller in connection with advancing technology. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the semiconductor device includes a pass device having a channel in a fin portion over a semiconductor substrate, and a thyristor device coupled to the pass device. The fin has a top portion and a side portion and extends over the semiconductor substrate. The pass device includes source/drain regions separated by the channel and a gate facing and capacitively coupled to the side portion of the fin that includes the channel. The thyristor device includes anode and cathode end portions, each end portion having base and emitter regions, where one of the emitter regions is coupled to one of the source/drain regions of the pass device. The gate of the pass device is further adapted to switch the pass device between a blocking state and a conducting state via the capacitive coupling and form a conductive path between the source/drain regions. A control port is capacitively coupled to the base region of the end portion of the thyristor that is coupled to the source/drain region of the pass gate and is adapted to facilitate switching of the thyristor between blocking and conducting states.
US07968379B2 Method of separating semiconductor dies
A method for the separation of multiple dies during semiconductor fabrication is described. On an upper surface of a semiconductor wafer containing multiple dies, metal layers are deposited everywhere except where a block of stop electroplating material exists. The stop electroplating material is obliterated, and a barrier layer is formed above the entire remaining structure. A sacrificial metal element is added above the barrier layer, and then the substrate is removed. After the semiconductor material between the individual dies is eradicated, any desired bonding pads and patterned circuitry are added to the semiconductor surface opposite the sacrificial metal element, a passivation layer is added to this surface, and then the sacrificial metal element is removed. Tape is added to the now exposed barrier layer, the passivation layer is removed, the resulting structure is flipped over, and the tape is expanded to separate the individual dies.
US07968377B2 Integrated circuit protruding pad package system
An integrated circuit package system is provided. A protruding pad is formed on a leadframe. A die is attached to the leadframe. The die is electrically connected to the leadframe. At least portions of the leadframe, the protruding pad, and the die are encapsulated in an encapsulant.
US07968375B1 Method and apparatus for integrating capacitors in stacked integrated circuits
Method and apparatus for integrating capacitors in stacked integrated circuits are described. One aspect of the invention relates to a semiconductor assembly having a carrier substrate, a plurality of integrated circuit dice, and at least one metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. The integrated circuit dice are vertically stacked on the carrier substrate. Each MIM capacitor is disposed between a first integrated circuit die and a second integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit dice. The at least one MIM capacitor is fabricated on at least one of a face of the first integrated circuit die and a backside of the second integrated circuit die.
US07968374B2 Layered chip package with wiring on the side surfaces
A layered chip package has a main body including pairs of layer portions, and wiring disposed on a side surface of the main body. Each layer portion includes a semiconductor chip. The pairs of layer portions include at least one specific pair of layer portions including a first-type layer portion and a second-type layer portion. The first-type layer portion includes electrodes each connected to the semiconductor chip and each having an end face located at the side surface of the main body on which the wiring is disposed, whereas the second-type layer portion does not include such electrodes. A layered substructure formed of a stack of two substructures, each of which includes aligned preliminary layer portions, is used to fabricate a stack of a predetermined two or greater number of pairs of layer portions, and the main body is fabricated by stacking an additional first-type layer portion together with the stack, the number of the additional first-type layer portion being equal to the number of the specific pair(s) of layer portions included in the stack.
US07968370B2 Semiconductor connection component
There is a need for providing a technology capable of decreasing on-resistance of a power transistor in a semiconductor device that integrates the power transistor and a control integrated circuit into a single semiconductor chip. There is another need for providing a technology capable of reducing a chip size of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor chip includes a power transistor formation region to form a power transistor, a logic circuit formation region to form a logic circuit, and an analog circuit formation region to form an analog circuit. A pad is formed in the power transistor formation region. The pad and a lead are connected through a clip whose cross section is larger than that of a wire. On the other hand, a bonding pad is connected through the wire 29.
US07968364B2 MEMS switch capping and passivation method
A MEMS switch with a platinum-series contact is capped through a process that also passivates the contact by controlling, over time, the amount of oxygen in the environment, pressures and temperatures. Some embodiments passivate a contact in an oxygenated atmosphere at a first temperature and pressure, before hermetically sealing the cap at a higher temperature and pressure. Some embodiments hermetically seal the cap at a temperature below which passivating dioxides will form, thus trapping oxygen within the volume defined by the cap, and later passivate the contact with the trapped oxygen at a higher temperature.
US07968363B2 Manufacture method for ZnO based semiconductor crystal and light emitting device using same
A manufacture method for zinc oxide (ZnO) based semiconductor crystal includes providing a substrate having a Zn polarity plane; and reacting at least zinc (Zn) and oxygen (O) on the Zn polarity plane of said substrate to grow ZnO based semiconductor crystal on the Zn polarity plane of said substrate in a Zn rich condition. (a) An n-type ZnO buffer layer is formed on a Zn polarity plane of a substrate. (b) An n-type ZnO layer is formed on the surface of the n-type ZnO buffer layer. (c) An n-type ZnMgO layer is formed on the surface of the n-type ZnO layer. (d) A ZnO/ZnMgO quantum well layer is formed on the surface of the n-type ZnMgO layer, by alternately laminating a ZnO layer and a ZnMgO layer. @(e) A p-type ZnMgO layer is formed on the surface of the ZnO/ZnMgO quantum well layer. (f) A p-type ZnO layer is formed on the surface of the p-type ZnMgO layer. @(g) An electrode is formed on the n-type ZnO layer and p-type ZnO layer. The n-type ZnO layer is formed under a Zn rich condition at the step (b).
US07968362B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device, surface-emission laser diode, and production apparatus thereof, production method, optical module and optical telecommunication system
A semiconductor light-emitting device has a semiconductor layer containing Al between a substrate and an active layer containing nitrogen, wherein Al and oxygen are removed from a growth chamber before growing said active layer and a concentration of oxygen incorporated into said active layer together with Al is set to a level such that said semiconductor light-emitting device can perform a continuous laser oscillation at room temperature.
US07968361B2 GaN based semiconductor light emitting device and lamp
A method for producing a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor light emitting device which is excellent in terms of the light emitting properties and the light emission efficiency and a lamp is provided. In such a method for producing a gallium nitride based compound semiconductor light emitting device, which is a method for producing a GaN based semiconductor light emitting device having at least a buffer layer, an n-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer on a translucent substrate, on which an uneven pattern composed of a convex shape and a concave shape is formed, the buffer layer is formed by a sputtering method conducted in an apparatus having a pivoted magnetron magnetic circuit and the buffer layer contains AlN, ZnO, Mg, or Hf.
US07968360B2 Method of producing nitride semiconductor light-emitting device using a surfactant material
In a method of producing a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device including a nitride semiconductor active layer (105) held between an n-type nitride semiconductor layer (103, 104) and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer (106 to 108) on a substrate (101), at least any one of the n-type layer, the active layer and the p-type layer includes a multilayer film structure, and a surfactant material is supplied to a crystal growth surface just before, during or after crystal growth of a layer included in the multilayer film structure.
US07968353B2 Apparatus and methods for manufacturing thin-film solar cells
Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web.
US07968351B2 Method for dissolution testing of pharmaceutical products
The present invention relates to the field of dissolution measurement and, more particularly to methods for reproducible dissolution testing of pharmaceutical products such as allergen vaccines.
US07968349B2 Use of holographic sensor
The present invention relates to a process for the detection of an analyte in a sample, comprising a) bringing the sample into contact with a first ligand which binds specifically to the analyte and which is immobilized on a substrate, and b) prior to or subsequent to step (a), bringing the sample into contact with a second ligand which binds specifically to the analyte and which includes a label: wherein the substrate comprises a holographic sensor comprising a support medium having a hologram disposed therein or thereon and the label causes an optical property of the sensor to change by interaction of the sensor with the label or, following the additional step of contacting the substrate with a reagent, by interaction of the sensor with a species produced by reaction of the label with the reagent, thereby indicating the presence of bound analyte.
US07968347B2 Photo-acoustic detection device and method
An example method for detecting an analyte in a sample of a bodily fluid comprises the steps of exposing the bodily fluid sample to electromagnetic energy to cause a thermoelastic expansion in the analyte, and detecting a photoacoustic signal in the sample that results from the thermoelastic expansion.
US07968346B2 Fluorescent pH detector system and related methods
Fluorescent pH detector and methods for measuring pH using the fluorescent pH detector.
US07968343B2 Chemical sensors comprising aniline polysiloxanes as sensitive materials and use thereof for detecting of assaying nitro compounds
A chemical sensor including a substrate having at least two faces, at least one of the faces being covered by a thin film that includes a sensitive material, and a means for measuring a change in a physical property of the sensitive material; and, methods of detecting the presence of a nitro compound with the chemical sensor.
US07968342B2 Mutant E. coli appa phytase enzymes and natural variants thereof, nucleic acids encoding such phytase enzymes, vectors and host cells incorporating same and methods of making and using same
Cells producing mutant phytases having modified activity are provided, as well as the phytases so produced. Also provided are methods of making and producing such phytases and the use of the expressed phytase protein in feed as a supplement.
US07968341B2 Sequence specific DNA recombination in eukaryotic cells
The present invention relates to a method of sequence-specific recombination of DNA in eukaryotic cells, comprising the introduction of a first DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence containing at least one recombination sequence into a cell, introducing a second DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence containing at least one further recombination sequence into a cell, and performing the sequence specific recombination by a bacteriophage lambda integrase Int.
US07968340B2 Structural protein of adeno-associated virus with modified antigenicity, its production and its use
The present invention relates to a structural protein of adeno-associated virus (AAV) which comprises at least one modification which brings about a reduction in the antigenicity, its production and use.
US07968337B2 Neural precursor cells, method for the production and use thereof in neural defect therapy
The invention relates to isolated and purified neural precursor cells, to methods for the generation of such precursor cells in unlimited quantities from embryonic stem cells, and to their use for the therapy of neural defects, particularly in mammals, preferably in human beings, and for the generation of polypeptides.
US07968335B2 Cell culturing method using biomechanical stimulation loading and system therefor
A cell culturing method employing biomechanical stimulation loading and a system for applying, in in vitro culture, stimulation similar to vertical weight load stimulation or sideward shear stress stimulation acting on tissues in an aboveground living body as repeated biomechanical stimulation to culture cells, culture tissues or a construct including the culture cells. The system includes a mechanical stimulation loading device and a culture receptacle that are placed in a carbon dioxide incubator, and a control computer. The device includes a weight loading piston, a piston raising and lowering stage supporting piston to allow vertical movement of a piston within a designated range, and a stage lifting and lowering mechanism for vertically moving the stage. A computer drives the mechanism in a specified cycle to effect the vertical movement of the stage. When the stage is lowered, a culture in the receptacle is weighted with the piston.
US07968329B2 Method of conditioning a hybrid synthetic tubular structure to yield a functional human hybrid coronary bypass graft
A method of yielding a functional human hybrid coronary bypass graft is provided. The method includes conditioning a hybrid synthetic tubular structure having stem cells and/or endothelial cells on at least one surface to yield the functional human hybrid coronary bypass graft. Specifically, the method includes placing the hybrid synthetic tubular structure in a system capable of producing three dimensional dynamic conditions for a sufficient time to yield said functional human hybrid coronary bypass graft.
US07968326B2 Removal of by-products from crosslinkable preparations
The present invention relates to the use of enzymes and/or whole-cell catalysts for the removal of undesired by-products from crosslinkable preparations.
US07968324B2 Helicobacter system and uses thereof
Helicobacter based preparations comprising a pharmacologically active molecule of interest are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing and using said preparations. In particular, Helicobacter pylori vectors, vector plasmids and recombinant cells that include a sequence encoding a pharmacologically active molecule of interest useful in therapeutic treatments and/or vaccination against disease are provided. Delivery of the pharmacologically active molecules is provided at the mucosal surface, such as the gastric mucosa or nasal membranes, to provide effective and continuous delivery of a pharmacologically active agent. Vectors and shuttle vector constructs are also provided.
US07968320B2 Stabilized liquid yeast preparation, a method for producing the same, and the use thereof
The present invention relates to a novel stabilized liquid yeast preparation which contains a polyhydroxy compound, preferably glycerol, and a gum, comprising carob, guar, tragacanth, arabic or xanthan gum, preferably xanthan gum. The invention also relates to a method for producing said preparation as well as the use of the same.
US07968319B2 Method for producing 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol from raw starch material
The invention discloses a method for producing 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol from raw starch materials, including the following steps: 1) Candida krusei or Hansenula Arabitolgens Fang are inoculated into a fermentation medium with the saccharifying liquid of the raw starches as a carbon source; the yeast cells are cultured on an aerobic condition until glucose-consuming-rate is significantly reduced, and then fermented anaerobically to a glucose concentration from 5 to 10 g/L; the fermentation broth is collected and filtered to remove the yeast cells in the broth, and the resultant filtrate is glycerin fermentation broth; 2) Klebsiella, Clostridium butyricum, or Clostridium pasteurianum are inoculated into a fermentation medium in which the glycerin fermentation broth obtained from step 1) serves as a carbon source; the bacteria are fermented anaerobically for 30-32 hours, and then fermented aerobically when the production rate of 1,3-propanediol decreased obviously, and the fermentation was stopped when the concentration of glycerin is reduced to a level below 10 g/L, and finally 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol are obtained. The method of the present invention can effectively reduce production cost and increase productivity.
US07968318B2 Process for conversion of granular starch to ethanol
A method is disclosed for producing glucose from a granular starch substrate including, contacting a slurry comprising granular starch obtained from plant material with an alpha-amylase at a temperature below the starch gelatinization temperature of the granular starch to produce oligosaccharides and hydrolyzing the oligosaccharides to produce a mash comprising at least 20% glucose and further comprising fermenting the mash to obtain ethanol.
US07968315B2 Production and purification of IL-29
The expression vectors and methods using an E. coli expression system for the large scale production of IL-29 are described. The vectors utilize the IL-29 coding sequence with specific changes in nucleotides in order to optimize codons and mRNA secondary structure for translation in E. coli. Also included are methods of producing, purifying and pegylating an IL-29 polypeptide.
US07968314B2 Methods employing a multi-time point IC50 assay for selecting time points for time dependent inhibition assays of a test compound
The invention provides a method of evaluating metabolism-based drug interactions. The method involves selecting time points for the determination of the inactivation rate constant of a time-dependent enzyme inhibitor based on the results of a multi-time point IC50 test. Advantageously, with the subject invention, the determination and use of the multi-time point IC50 test provides an indication of the inactivation rate of a test compound and eliminates trial and error tests associated with the selection of appropriate assay conditions for the second assay conducted to determine the inactivation rate constant of the test compound.
US07968310B2 Tagged sialyltransferase proteins
The present invention provides modified Campylobacter sialyltransferase proteins that exhibit enhanced expression as compared to its unmodified form. Nucleic acids that encode the sialyltransferase proteins are also included, as are methods to produce and use the sialyltransferase proteins.
US07968309B2 Method for improving the thermostability of sucrose phosphorylase (SP)
A sucrose phosphorylase (SP) having improved thermostability obtained by modifying a natural SP and a method for producing the SP having improved thermostability is provided. This SP having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural sucrose phosphorylase, in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 14, a position corresponding to position 29 and a position corresponding to position 44 in motif sequence 1; a position corresponding to position 7, a position corresponding to position 19, a position corresponding to position 23 and a position corresponding to position 34 in motif sequence 2; and a position corresponding to position 19 in motif sequence 3, and wherein the enzyme activity of the SP having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating the SP having improved thermostability in 20 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.0) at 55° C. for 20 minutes, is 20% or more of enzyme activity of the SP having improved thermostability at 37° C. before heating.
US07968306B2 Method for measuring activity of a specific fraction of albumin
Methods of measuring the SFA and sPLA2 activities in a mammalian subject are provided. The methods include: providing a substrate comprising a fluorescently labeled carboxylic acid and a negatively charged phospholipid in an organic solvent such as ethanol, mixing the substrate with phospholipase A2 and a biological sample from the subject, and detecting the fluorescence intensity change to determine the SFA and sPLA2 activity in the sample. A decrease in SFA activity in the test sample as compared to the SFA activity in the control sample indicates that the subject has developed or is about to develop inflammation. An increase in sPLA2 activity in the test sample as compared to the sPLA2 activity in the control sample indicates that the subject has developed or is about to develop inflammation. Further disclosed is a kit for practicing the above methods.
US07968305B2 Biochips including ion transport detecting structures and methods of use
The present invention recognizes that the determination of ion transport function or property using direct detection methods, such as patch-clamps, whole cell recording or single channel recording, are preferable to methods that utilize indirect detection methods, such as FRET based detection system. The present invention provides biochips and methods of use that allow for the direct analysis of ion transport function or property using microfabricated structures that can allow for automated detection of ion transport function or property. These biochips and methods of use thereof are particularly appropriate for automating the detection of ion transport function or property, particularly for screening purposes.
US07968302B2 Detection of venous thromboembolic diseases by measurement of D-dimers and soluble fibrin levels
A method and a test for detecting coagulation activation, in particular when it is responsible for thromboembolic venous diseases; employs assaying D-dimers and assaying the soluble fibrin produced during a fibrinolysis process activated in a blood sample. The method of the invention pertains to comparing the level of D-dimers corresponding to degradation of soluble fibrin and the level of D-dimers of the sample with normal threshold values. The test of the invention may also be used to determine whether anti-coagulation is sufficient in a patient.
US07968299B2 Methods and kits for distinguishing between specific and non-specific protein associations
The present invention is method of determining whether or not associations between a given protein and other proteins in a cell are specific. The method comprises (a) providing a first sample of the cells in which the given protein contains a tag, (b) providing a second sample of the same cells, wherein the given protein and the other proteins are metabolically labeled, and wherein neither the given protein nor the other proteins are tagged, (c) mixing and lysing the first cell sample and the second cell sample to provide a mixture of proteins, (d) binding the tag of the given protein to a substrate, (e) isolating proteins associated with the tagged given protein bound to the substrate, whereby the associated proteins comprise: (i) proteins specifically associated with the tagged given protein, (ii) proteins non-specifically associated with the tagged given protein, or (iii) a combination thereof, (f) determining whether each associated protein is unlabeled or a mixture of labeled and unlabeled proteins, wherein if the associated protein is not labeled, then that protein was specifically associated in the cell with the tagged given protein.
US07968298B2 Use of herpesviruses, herpesvirus proteins and nucleic acids encoding the proteins to inhibit CCR5-tropic HIV-1 infection and replication
It has been discovered that herpesviruses can trigger an increase in the production of HIV-suppressive chemokines, and that these chemokines block the CCR5 receptor, which is used as a co-receptor with CD4 in the CCR5-tropic forms of HIV-1 that predominate in early stage HIV-1 infection. Use of live, attenuated or killed herpesviruses, or of herpesvirus proteins which trigger an increase in production of HIV-suppressive chemokines, or of nucleic acids encoding those proteins, can likewise be used to prevent establishment of HIV-1 infection or to inhibit HIV-1 replication. The invention provides uses, methods and compositions related to these discoveries.
US07968297B2 Method for identification, isolation and production of antigens to a specific pathogen
Described is a method for identification, isolation and production of hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens from a specific pathogen, a tumor, an allergen or a tissue or host prone to autoimmunity, said antigens being suited for use in a vaccine for a given type of animal or for humans, which is characterized by the following steps: —providing an antibody preparation from a plasma pool of said given type of animal or from a human plasma pool or individual sera with antibodies against said specific pathogen, tumor, allergen or tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, —providing at least one expression library of said specific pathogen, tumor, allergen or tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, —screening said at least one expression library with said antibody preparation, —identifying antigens which bind in said screening to antibodies in said antibody preparation, —screening the identified antigens with individual antibody preparations from individual sera from individuals with antibodies against said specific pathogen, tumor, allergen or tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, —identifying the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen portion of said identified antigens and which hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens bind to a relevant portion of said individual antibody preparations from said individual sera and —optionally isolating said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens and producing said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens by chemical or recombinant methods.
US07968295B2 Bisulfite conversion of DNA
The present invention provides an improved method for the bisulfite conversion of DNA, and facilitates the analysis of cytosine methylation of genomic DNA. Novel combinations of denaturing solvents, new reaction conditions and new purification methods provide surprisingly efficacious methods for bisulfite conversion of DNA relative to prior art methods. The converted DNA may subsequently be analyzed by many different methods.
US07968294B2 SLIT2 underexpression in metastatic prostate cancer
This invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer diagnosis, research and therapy, including but not limited to, cancer markers. In particular, this invention relates to SLIT2 cancer markers that are useful as diagnostic markers and clinical targets for prostate cancer.
US07968293B2 IVIG modulation of chemokines for treatment of multiple sclerosis, alzheimer's disease, and parkinson's disease
The present invention provides methods for providing a prognosis of treatment of diseases associated with inflammatory disease of the brain, including MS, e.g., relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease using molecular markers that are shown to be overexpressed or underexpressed in patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). Also provided are methods to identify compounds that are useful for the treatment or prevention of MS, e.g., relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
US07968292B2 Compositions and methods for the identification of a carbapenemase gene
Compositions and methods for the rapid and sensitive detection of a carbapenemase in a sample is provided. The compositions include novel primer and probe compositions for use in detecting the presence of this enzyme in a sample, particularly using PCR methods. These primers and probe sets can be used in amplification methods (such as PCR, particularly quantitative PCR) and packaged into kits for use in amplification methods for the purpose of detecting carbapenemase in a test sample, particularly a patient sample, particularly a direct sample. Thus, in one embodiment, the present invention provides for novel oligonucleotide primers set forth in SEQ ID NOs:1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, and 20, and the novel oligonucleotide probe sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:3, 6, 9, 16, and 19. These sequences can be used in a method of detecting carbapenemase in a sample.
US07968290B2 Method of detecting gene
A method of detecting a gene including immobilizing a primer for DNA elongation onto an insoluble carrier having on the surface thereof a polymer substance containing a first unit having a phosphorylcholine group and a second unit having a carboxylic acid-derived group having an electron-attractive substituent bound to a carbonyl group; annealing the template DNA fragments or RNA fragments with the primer for DNA elongation, so as to elongate the DNA primer while incorporating therein an enzyme, thereby allowing coloration of a chromogenic reagent by its enzymatic action; and judging whether the DNA fragments or RNA fragments of the gene presents or not, based on the degree of coloration.
US07968289B2 Turn over probes and use thereof for nucleic acid detection
The invention provides turnover probes for use in a variety of detection assays, for example, nucleic acid detection assays. In addition, the invention provides assays, for example, nucleic acid detection assays, using such turnover probes.
US07968277B2 Imaging post structures using X and Y dipole optics and a single mask
A photolithographic method uses different exposure patterns. In one aspect, a photo-sensitive layer on a substrate is subject to a first exposure using optics having a first exposure pattern, such as an x-dipole pattern, followed by exposure using optics having a second exposure pattern, such as a y-dipole pattern, via the same mask, and with the photo-sensitive layer fixed relative to the mask. A 2-D post pattern with a pitch of approximately 70-150 nm may be formed in a layer beneath the photo-sensitive layer using 157-193 nm UV light, and hyper-numerical aperture optics, in one approach. In another aspect, hard baking is performed after both of the first and second exposures to erase a memory effect of photoresist after the first exposure. In another aspect, etching of a hard mask beneath the photo-sensitive layer is performed after both of the first and second exposures.
US07968266B2 Toner compositions
Toner compositions comprising low-melt toner particles and methods of preparing such toner compositions are provided. The toner particles include a polyester-containing binder, a colorant and an optional wax. The binder includes at least one crystalline polyester resin and at one amorphous acidic polyester resin.
US07968263B2 Amine phosphate containing photogenerating layer photoconductors
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains an amine phosphate.
US07968262B2 Bis(enylaryl)arylamine containing photoconductors
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a bis(enylaryl)arylamine containing charge transport layer.
US07968260B2 Substrate processing method, computer-readable storage medium, and substrate processing system
The present invention has: a first step of measuring, as an initial condition of a substrate, any of a film thickness of a processing film on the substrate, a refractive index of the processing film, an absorption coefficient of the processing film, and a warpage amount of the substrate; a second step of estimating a dimension of a pattern of the processing film after predetermined processing from a previously obtained first relation between the initial condition and the dimension of the pattern of the processing film based on a measurement result of the initial condition; a third step of obtaining a correction value for a processing condition of the predetermined processing from a previously obtained second relation between the processing condition of the predetermined processing and the dimension of the pattern of the processing film based on an estimation result of the dimension of the pattern; a fourth step of correcting the processing condition of the predetermined processing based on the correction value; and a fifth step of performing predetermined processing on the substrate under the corrected processing condition to form the predetermined pattern in the processing film on the substrate.
US07968254B2 Photomask reticle for use in projection exposure, and manufacturing methods therefor
A photomask reticle for use in projection exposure to form a resist pattern on a workable film formed over a semiconductor substrate, includes a first area in which a light shield is formed, a second area formed around said first area, a third area formed around said second area; and a fourth area formed around said third area, the areas being formed over a substrate, a relationship between transmissivities of said areas being second area transmissivity>fourth area transmissivity>third area transmissivity>first area transmissivity.
US07968252B2 Pellicle frame
The present invention is directed to reduce pellicle frame distortions due to the tension of a pellicle film and caused during handling, thereby providing an excellent pellicle frame capable of reducing the distortion of a photomask due to a pellicle affixation. In the pellicle frame of the present invention, the frame consists of a plurality of layers of which at least one layer has a different elastic modulus. It is preferable to: make the pellicle frame compositely of a layer having an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or smaller and of a layer having an elastic modulus of 50 GPa or greater; join these layers of the pellicle frame in a direction perpendicular to the pellicle film face; laminate such that layers having a large elastic modulus form the outermost layer; or reverse this lamination structure.
US07968251B2 Electrical contact element and bipolar plate
In one aspect a substrate such as a sheet metal product, in particular for use as a bipolar plate in a fuel cell or in an electrolyzer, is characterized in that it has, on at least one side, a conductive and corrosion-resistant protective coating of a metal oxide having a treatment which ensures the conductivity. The coating can be produced by introducing a piece of sheet metal into a coating plant and providing it with the conductive and corrosion-resistant protective coating of the metal oxide. In another aspect, an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell comprises an electrically conductive contact element having a first surface facing an electrode for conducting electrical current, and the contact element comprises an electrically conductive substrate and an electrically conductive coating comprising a doped metal oxide, desirably a doped tin oxide, and preferably a fluorine doped tin oxide.
US07968246B2 Solid oxide fuel cell
A fuel cell has a stack structure in which fired sheet bodies (laminates each including a fuel electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and an air electrode layer) and support members for supporting the sheet bodies are stacked in alternating layers. Each of the sheet bodies is warped downward (toward an air-electrode-layer side). Because of a magnitude relationship of thermal expansion coefficient among the layers in the sheet body and that between the support member and the sheet body, a warp height gradually lessens in the course of temperature rise at start-up. However, even when a working temperature (800° C. or the like) is reached, the sheet bodies are still warped downward. By virtue of presence of the warp, the sheet bodies become unlikely to be deformed at the working temperature.
US07968244B2 Fuel supply manifold assembly
A fuel supply manifold assembly (20) comprising a manifold (40), one or more supply inlet connections (42), pressure readers (44, 46), a manual turnoff (50), pressure-reducing devices (52,54), a pressure-relieving device (56), a flow-control device (60), and a delivery outlet port (62). The manifold (40) defines a flow path from the supply inlet connection(s) (42) to the delivery outlet port (62). The flow path passes through the pressure readers (44, 46), the manual turnoff (50), pressure-reducing devices (52,54), the pressure-relieving device (56), the flow-control device (60). When installing the fuel supply manifold assembly (20) at a fuel cell site, one inlet connection for each fuel source and one outlet connection is required. No separate connections, tubing, hoses, or other plumbing is required to integrate other the components into the fuel flow path to the anode side of the fuel cell stack.
US07968242B2 Onboard fuel cell system and method of discharging hydrogen-off gas
Consumed hydrogen-off gas is discharged from a fuel cell via a hydrogen-off gas exhaust flow passage. Consumed oxygen-off gas is discharged from the fuel cell via an oxygen-off gas exhaust flow passage. The oxygen-off gas flowing through the oxygen-off gas exhaust flow passage and the hydrogen-off gas flowing through the hydrogen-off gas exhaust flow passage are mixed and diluted in a mixing portion. The gases mixed in the mixing portion flow into a combustor via a gas-liquid separator. The combustor, which includes a platinum catalyst, causes hydrogen contained in the mixed gases to react with oxygen by combustion and further reduces the concentration of hydrogen contained in the mixed gases. The mixed gases whose concentration of hydrogen has been reduced by the combustor is discharged to the atmosphere.
US07968240B2 System and method for shorting a fuel cell stack
A fuel cell system is provided that includes a fuel cell stack with a plurality of fuel cells and a power converter in electrical communication with the fuel cell stack. The power converter is configured to selectively regulate a power of the fuel cell stack and short circuit the fuel cell stack, as desired. A method for starting the fuel cell stack is also described, including the steps of causing a short circuit of the fuel cell stack by placing the power converter in a short circuit mode; introducing a hydrogen to the anodes of the fuel cell stack to displace a quantity of air on the anodes; and placing the power converter in a power regulation mode. A degradation of the fuel cell stack during start-up is thereby militated against.
US07968238B2 Method for operating fuel cell system
A method for operating a fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack composed of a plurality of cells connected in series. The method includes the steps of: (a) supplying a fuel and an oxidant to anodes and cathodes of the cells, respectively, depending on a load to generate power at a constant voltage under constant voltage control; (b) temporarily suspending the supply of the oxidant with the fuel being supplied; and (c) lowering the constant voltage to a predetermined voltage simultaneously with or immediately before the suspension of the supply of the oxidant. According to this operation method, when the supply of the oxidant is suspended, a platinum catalyst in the cathodes can be reduced and reactivated in all the cells.