| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07983139B2 |
Small form factor optical data storage disc and cartridge
An optical data storage disc measuring 32 mm in diameter contains 1 GB of data per layer. The data is designed to be readable by a disc drive that contains a blue wavelength laser, an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 0.72 and conventional DVD controller electronics. This combination of elements allows a full-length movie or a video game to be displayed with DVD-quality on a cell phone or other portable hand held device. |
| US07983136B2 |
Recording medium for storing version information for maintaining recording and/or reproducing compatibility, and method and apparatus for managing the same
A method of recording read/write compatibility information on an optical disc and a recording medium employing the method. Extended part version information, latest part version having recording capability, and latest part version having reproducing capability are stored in n.xy form on 6 bytes of a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of the optical disc. A recording/reproducing apparatus to record extended part version information on a reserved zone of a physical format information zone of a recording medium. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a base part version and a comparing unit to determine recording/reproducing compatibility with a recording medium having a detailed extended part version stored in a reserved zone of a physical format information zone. |
| US07983135B2 |
Optical system with superlens
An optical system includes an optical recording medium configured to store data and a light device configured to emit a beam of light to write the data to the optical recording medium or read the data from the optical recording medium. The optical system also includes a superlens positioned between the optical recording medium and the light device. The superlens is configured to focus the beam of light emitted from the light device to create a focused beam of light on the optical recording medium. |
| US07983132B2 |
Optical disk apparatus
An optical disk apparatus for enhancing time resolution of an RF sum signal. A reproduction sum signal (a signal A+a signal D) on the leading side and a reproduction sum signal (a signal B+a signal C) on the following side, which have been output from a four-quadrant photodetection section of an optical pickup, are supplied to first and second A/D converters. The first A/D converter samples a signal in accordance with a first clock signal CLK, and the second A/D converter samples a signal in accordance with a second clock signal CLK. The first and second clock signals CLK are out of phase with each other. By means of a phase difference between the clock signals, a phase difference between the leading-side reproduction signals and the following-side reproduction signals is compensated for. The phase difference between the first and second clock signals CLK is adjusted such that the quality of a reproduction signal, such as jitter, an error rate, or the like, is optimized. |
| US07983130B2 |
Optical disk device and optical disk processing system having optical disk device
An optical disk processing system having a recording unit and a printing unit is provided. An optical disk processing system comprises a printing unit and a recording unit. An optical disk is driven with a low torque and then with a high torque. Based on reaching times until target rotational speeds are reached when the optical disk is driven with the low torque and the high torque, a type of the optical disk is judged. Loading of a plurality of optical disks is detected when the judgment results for low torque and for high torque do not match. |
| US07983129B2 |
High data capacity storage medium with protection code, method for obtaining the protection code and respective data reading apparatus
The optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, and a data layer disposed on the substrate layer, the data layer comprising data being arranged in tracks as marks and spaces. A protection code is coded in one of the tracks or a part of a track which code comprises marks of a first size and marks of a smaller, second size. The marks of the second size have in particular a width being smaller than the width of the marks of the first size. To obtain the protection code, a method is used comprising the steps of reading a track or a part of a track with a first laser power for obtaining a first data signal, reading the same track or the same part of a track in another step with a second laser power being different from the first laser power for obtaining a second data signal, and calculating the protection code by taking into account the first and the second data signals. The protection code may be calculated for example by a microprocessor of a respective data reading apparatus. |
| US07983127B2 |
Optical disk device and parameter selection method
Provided is an optical disk device installed in a personal computer, including: an information creation unit that creates identification information for identifying the type of the personal computer based on a command transmitted from the personal computer; and a parameter selection unit that conducts switching, for parameter selection, concerning a parameter indicating an amount of unbalance of an optical disk, which has previously been determined depending on the type of the personal computer, in accordance with the identification information created by the information creation unit. |
| US07983126B2 |
Optical-information recording apparatus and method and signal processing circuit
A recording condition approximate to the optimal is obtainable for a media even if unknown to the drive. A technique is provided that is effective for improving the signal quality, particularly, at a Wobble and Lpp. By regulating an intermediate pulse condition PWD, Tmp of a recording pulse configured with a top pulse, an intermediate pulse and a last pulse, the pit width W in a saturation code is controlled. The pit length and phase in the saturation code is controlled based on a front phase correction amount Ttop and rear phase correction amount Tlast. |
| US07983113B2 |
Method and apparatus for downlink communication using dynamic threshold values for detecting transmitted signals
The present invention provides a method and system in which signals from the surface are sent by changing flow rate of the drilling fluid supplied to the drill string during drilling of a wellbore. The signals are sent based on a fixed or dynamic time period schemes so that the sent signals cross a dynamic threshold value in a known manner. A controller downhole sets the dynamic threshold and determines the number of times a parameter, such as voltage, relating to the changes in the flow rate crosses the set dynamic threshold. Based on the number of the number of crossings and/or the number of crossings and the timing of such crossings, the controller ascertains the signal sent from the surface for use downhole. |
| US07983110B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling a clock synchronizing circuit for low power refresh operation
A method and apparatus is provided for idling a clock synchronizing circuit during at least a portion of time during execution of a refresh operation in a memory device. In a memory device receiving an external clock signal, a method and apparatus for executing a refresh operation is provided that includes initiating at least one refresh operation in the memory device, and ceasing generation of an internal clock signal timed with respect to the external clock signal for at least a portion of the time in which at least one refresh operation takes to complete. |
| US07983098B2 |
Adaptive regulator for idle state in a charge pump circuit of a memory device
An apparatus and method for improving the performance of an electronic device is disclosed. An idle voltage state is introduced by an adaptive voltage generator when providing or removing a high voltage signal from a line or a node in a circuit. The idle state reduces the undesirable effects of switching disturbances caused by sudden voltage changes in a line or node. |
| US07983094B1 |
PVT compensated auto-calibration scheme for DDR3
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide the calibration of input and output circuits for a high-speed memory interface. Timing errors caused by the fly-by routing of a clock signal provided by the memory interface are calibrated for both read and write paths. This includes adjusting read and write DQS signal timing for each DQ/DQS group, as well as inserting or bypassing registers when timing errors are more than one clock cycle. Timing skew caused by trace and driver mismatches between CK, DQ, and DQS signals are compensated for. One or more of these calibrations may be updated by a tracking routine during device operation. |
| US07983093B2 |
Non-volatile memory cell with BTBT programming
A Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cell and programming method in which the cell can denote at least two logic levels (e.g., 0 and 1) and includes a read-transistor with a floating gate and a Band-To-Band-Tunneling device (BTBT device) sharing the floating gate with the read-transistor. The BTBT device is configured as an injection device for injecting a first charge onto the floating gate when the BTBT device is biased so that it is in accumulation, to set at least one of the logic levels. |
| US07983091B2 |
Divided bitline flash memory array with local sense and signal transmission
A flash memory array and a method for performing read operation therein are disclosed. The flash memory array comprises a plurality of memory segment, a data cache and a plurality of data handlers coupled between a pair of memory segment and between a memory segment and the data cache. A read operation of selected bitlines of a selected memory segment is performed by a segment data handler coupled to the selected memory segment locally and the read data is transmitted to the data cache. A segment data handler is configured to get read data from the selected bitlines by first pre-charging the bitlines and sensing the bitlines. Further, the read data is transmitted to the data cache through all of the segment data handlers in a sequential manner, if present between the selected memory segment and the data cache. |
| US07983084B2 |
Three-dimensionally stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A three-dimensionally stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention including conductive layers stacked on a semiconductor substrate in such a manner as to be insulated from one another, a bit line which is disposed on the stacked conductive layers, a semiconductor column which extends through the stacked conductive layers, word lines for which the stacked conductive layers except for the uppermost and lowermost conductive layers are used and which have a plate-like planar shape, memory cells provided at intersections of the word lines and the semiconductor column, a register circuit which has information to supply a potential suitable for each of the word lines, and a potential control circuit which reads the information retained in the register circuit in accordance with an input address signal of a word line and which supplies a potential suitable for the word line corresponding to the address signal. |
| US07983083B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including: first and second blocks that each includes a word line group of first to N-th word lines, the word lines extending in a given direction, the word lines having a first width, the first and second blocks being adjacent to and in parallel with each other in a crossing direction so that an inter-block area is interposed therebetween and so that the word line groups are symmetrical with respect to the inter-block area; and a first wirings that are formed in a first wiring layer positioned above the word lines to have a second width wider than the first width and that connect a k-th word line of the first block and a k-th word line of the second block. |
| US07983080B2 |
Non-body contacted sense amplifier with negligible history effect
In a method of mitigating hysteresis effect in a sense amplifier circuit, a data value is sensed from a data source with the sense amplifier during a first period. The data value is stored in a latch. The data valued stored in the latch is inverted, thereby generating an inverted data value. The data source is isolated from the sense amplifier and the inverted data value is read with the sense amplifier during a second period immediately following the first period. |
| US07983077B2 |
Phase change memory apparatus
A phase change memory apparatus is presented. The phase change memory apparatus includes a phase change memory cell, a sense amplifier, and a voltage selecting unit. The sense amplifier is configured to differentially amplify a current that through the memory cell and a comparison voltage. The voltage selecting unit is configured to provide a reference voltage as the comparison voltage when performing a normal read function and to selectively provide either a first voltage level or a second voltage level as the comparison voltage in accordance with data when performing a verify read function. |
| US07983075B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device
Ferromagnetic layers have magnetizations oriented to such directions as to cancel each other, so that the net magnetization of the ferromagnetic layers is substantially zero. That is, the ferromagnetic layers are exchange-coupled with a nonmagnetic layer interposed therebetween, thereby forming an SAF structure. Since the net magnetization of the ferromagnetic layers forming the SAF structure is substantially zero, the magnetization of a recording layer is determined by the magnetization of a ferromagnetic layer. Therefore, the ferromagnetic layer is made of a CoFeB alloy having high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, and the ferromagnetic layers are made of a CoFe alloy having a high exchange-coupling force. |
| US07983071B2 |
Dual node access storage cell having buffer circuits
An integrated circuit includes an array of memory cells, each including a core storage element with first and second complementary storage nodes and first and second cell pass transistors coupled to the first and second storage nodes, respectively. In the cell, a first bitline (BL) is coupled to a first BL node in a source drain path of the first cell pass transistor, and a second BL is coupled to a second BL node in a source drain path of the second cell pass transistor. Each of the memory cells also includes a first buffer circuit comprising a first buffer pass transistor and a first driver transistor coupled to the source drain path of the first cell pass transistor, where the first buffer pass transistor is between the first BL node and the first driver transistor. The memory cells also include a second buffer circuit comprising a second buffer pass transistor and a second driver transistor coupled to a source drain path of the second cell pass transistor, where the second buffer pass transistor is between the second BL node and the second driver transistor. The gates of the first and second driver transistors are coupled to the second and first storage nodes, respectively. The cells include at least a first wordline coupled to the first and second cell pass transistors and the first and second buffer pass transistors. |
| US07983070B2 |
DRAM tunneling access transistor
In one embodiment, a first transistor is comprised of a first p+ source region doped in an n-well in the substrate and a first n+ drain region doped on one side at the top of the pillar. A second transistor is comprised of a second p+ source region doped into the second side of the top of the pillar and serially coupled to the top drain region for the first transistor. A second n+ drain region is doped into the substrate adjacent the pillar. Ultra-thin body layer run along each pillar sidewall between their respective active regions. A gate structure is formed along the pillar sidewalls and over the body layers. The transistors operate by electron tunneling from the source valence band to the gate bias-induced n-type channels, along the ultra-thin silicon bodies, thus resulting in a drain current. |
| US07983068B2 |
Memory element with positive temperature coefficient layer
An integrated circuit including a memory element and method for manufacturing the integrated circuit are described. In some embodiments, the memory element includes a switching layer that selectively switches between a low resistance state and a high resistance state, and a positive temperature coefficient layer in thermal contact with the switching layer, the positive temperature coefficient layer having a resistance that increases in response to an increase in temperature. |
| US07983062B2 |
Minimum on-time reduction method, apparatus, and system using same
The present invention discloses a minimum on-time reduction method for a switching power conversion, comprising the steps of: generating a first reset signal and an over-supply pulse signal according to a current sensing signal and a reference signal; generating a blanking signal according to a count number of the over-supply pulse signal; and generating a second reset signal by performing Logic-AND operation on the first reset signal and the blanking signal. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a minimum on-time reduction apparatus for a power conversion, and a system using the minimum on-time reduction apparatus for a power conversion. |
| US07983061B2 |
Switching controller capable of reducing acoustic noise for power converters
The present invention provides a switching controller capable of reducing acoustic noise of a transformer for a power converter. The switching controller includes a switching circuit, a comparison circuit, an activation circuit, and an acoustic-noise eliminating circuit. The acoustic-noise eliminating circuit comprises a first-check circuit, a second-check circuit, a pulse-shrinking circuit, and a limit circuit. The first-check circuit receives a switching-current signal which is correlated to a switching current of the power converter and a PWM signal to generate a trigger signal. The second-check circuit receives the trigger signal to generate a control signal. When the frequency of the trigger signal falls into audio band, the control signal will be enabled to limit the switching current. Therefore, the acoustic noise of the transformer can be eliminated. |
| US07983059B2 |
High frequency power converter based on transformers
A transformer-based power conversion system includes a primary coil is provided in a current path that includes a single energy switch. An oscillator is coupled to a control input of the energy switch. The design conserves switch-based losses as compared to prior designs because a single switch is provided in a current path occupied by the primary coil. The design also provides improved conversion efficiency because parasitic capacitances associated with the energy switch cooperate with charge transfers generated by the oscillator. |
| US07983056B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device provided with terminals for external connection, input terminals, power supply terminals and ground terminals are disposed close together on part of one edge portion of two opposing edge portions. Output terminals are disposed in the vicinity of both ends of the one edge portion and on another edge portion of the two edge portions. A ground wiring is routed from the other edge portion and connected to the ground terminals. In so doing, elemental devices connected to the input terminals are disposed close together, whereby needless gaps do not arise between the elemental devices. A ground potential is also supplied by the ground wiring. |
| US07983050B2 |
Pluggable system for reading inputs, controlling outputs and communicating with another module for power distribution unit
An electronics module for automotive vehicles includes a housing; an electrical connector having a commercial standard electrical connector footprint mounted on the housing; and an electronics assembly including commercial standard communication bus electronics contained in the housing, the electronics assembly being electrically connected to the electrical connector. The electronics module is adapted to be plugged into a power distribution unit of an automotive vehicle in order to control power distribution components of the unit. |
| US07983048B2 |
Structure for mounting semiconductor package
A mounting structure, in which semiconductor package 1 and heat sink 8 for dissipating heat generated from semiconductor package 1 are mounted on mounting board 3. The rear surface of semiconductor package 1 is bonded to the front surface of mounting board 3 facing the rear surface. Heat sink 8 is brought into contact with the rear surface of semiconductor package 1 via through-ole 5 formed on mounting board 3. Semiconductor package 1 and heat sink 8 are pressed to each other by the elastic force of clip 6. |
| US07983045B2 |
Method and apparatus for inverted vortex generator for enhanced cooling
Some embodiments of a method, apparatus and computer system are described for inverted vortex generator enhanced cooling. In various embodiments an apparatus may comprise a first surface comprising at least one heated component, a second surface in proximity to the first surface, the second surface comprising a non-heated surface, and one or more inverted vortex generators attached to the non-heated surface, a portion of the one or more inverted vortex generators in proximity to and configured to dissipate heat from the at least one heated component. Other embodiments are described. |
| US07983043B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink and a pair of heat pipes fixed to the heat sink. The heat sink includes a rectangular post, four branches extending outwardly from four corners of the post, respectively, and a plurality of fins extending between the branches. Each heat pipe includes an evaporating section attached to a bottom of the post, a condensing section parallel to the evaporation section and attached to a top of the post, and an adiabatic section interconnecting the evaporating section and the condensing section. A block is secured to bottoms of the condensing sections of the heat pipes. |
| US07983042B2 |
Thermal management system and method for thin membrane type antennas
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thermal management system for electronic components includes a plurality of spacers disposed between a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate to form a plurality of heat transfer regions each having a plurality of capillary pumping regions, a two-phase fluid disposed between at least one pair of adjacent spacers, and a plurality of electronic components coupled to a mounting surface of the first flexible substrate. |
| US07983040B2 |
Apparatus and method for facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of an electronic subsystem
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating pumped, immersion-cooling of an electronic subsystem having multiple different types of components to be immersion-cooled. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic subsystem, and a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container. The apparatus further includes a coolant pump assembly coupled in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and outlet ports of the container for facilitating active pumping of coolant through the container. When the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container and coolant is pumped through the container, the multiple different types of components of the electronic subsystem are immersion-cooled by the coolant. In one embodiment, a filler element is disposed within the container, and is sized to reduce the amount of coolant within the container, while still maintaining the components of the electronic subsystem immersion-cooled. |
| US07983039B1 |
Reversible airflow fan tray design for electronic device in a data center
A reversible airflow fan tray assembly is provided for an electronic device. The fan tray assembly includes a face plate to be removably mounted to the electronic device and a fan tray cassette to be removably mounted to the face plate in multiple orientations. The fan tray cassette includes a fan unit to provide airflow through the electronic device, and an interconnection board to provide an electrical connection between the fan unit and the electronic device, where the interconnection board mates with a connector on the electronic device when the fan tray cassette is in any of the multiple orientations. The interconnection board provides an airflow direction indication to the electronic device for a current orientation of the multiple orientations. |
| US07983033B2 |
Mounting assembly for a storage device
A mounting assembly includes two side rails that mechanically couple to at least two sides on an exterior of a device, where a given side rail includes one or more circumferential edges that define one or more holes on a surface and into an interior of the given side rail, and the surface is approximately parallel to one of the at least two sides on the exterior of the device. Moreover, the mounting assembly includes mechanical collars that mechanically couple to mechanical couplers that mechanically couple the mounting assembly to a chassis in a computer system, where a given mechanical collar is included in a given hole in the given side rail. Additionally, the mounting assembly includes energy-absorbing material encapsulating the mechanical collars, where the energy-absorbing material is positioned between an outer surface of the given mechanical collar and an inner surface of the given hole. |
| US07983032B2 |
Incorporation of two or more hard disk drives into a single drive carrier with a single midplane connector
Carrier for the rack mounting of two or more data storage devices into a chassis. The carrier includes support members along the length of the carrier, to receive and retain the two or more data storage devices. The carrier further includes a single electrical communication connector to provide an electrical communication interface for all of the data storage devices in the carrier, to and from a mating connector on a board of the chassis. The carrier further includes an interposer to adapt electrical signals from the single electrical communication connector into a form that is usable by the data storage devices. |
| US07983029B2 |
Support device for display unit and display unit having the same
A support device for a display unit is provided, in which supports for supporting the display unit are hidden so as to improve the beauty of a room, and a display unit having the same. The support device includes at least one support connected to the display unit; a base connected to the lower part of the support; and a transparent member installed in front of the support, wherein the transparent member includes at least one refractively transmitting portion for refracting light, incident from the front of the transparent member to the support, toward external regions of the support. |
| US07983028B2 |
Assembly structure of a display device
A display device includes a display module, a first case and a boss insertion element having a combination hole. The first case covers a first surface of the display module and has a first boss which is inserted into the combination hole to combine the front case to the display module. The first boss is formed at inside edges of the display module. |
| US07983019B2 |
Capacitor based transformer
A device for generating a voltage comprises first and second plates spaced apart from each other, for being charged at respective different potentials. A third plate is placed at a first distance from the first plate so as to form a first capacitor, and a first semiconductor element is connected between the third plate and the second plate. This voltage generating device produces an output voltage having an amplitude that is dependent upon the first distance and taken between the third and second plates. |
| US07983017B2 |
Electrostatic chuck and method of forming
A Coulombic electrostatic chuck is disclosed which includes a substrate, a conductive layer overlying the substrate, and an arc elimination layer overlying the conductive layer. The electrostatic chuck further includes a high-k dielectric layer overlying the arc elimination layer, wherein the high-k dielectric layer has a dielectric constant of not less than about 10 and a resistivity of not less than about 1011 Ohm-cm. |
| US07983014B2 |
Disconnector and overvoltage protection device
The disconnector of the present invention comprises: a current transformer that detects a current flowing through electric wires; a rectifying part that rectifies the current outputted from the current transformer; a charging part that charges the current outputted from the rectifying part; a switching part that disconnects the electric wires upon driving; and a trigger part that drives the switching part when the charge stored in the charging part becomes a predetermined drive area. In this regard, the drive area is set larger than the charge that can be stored in the charging part by a lightning surge current. The disconnector of the present invention and the overvoltage protectors may be combined to constitute the overvoltage protection device. |
| US07983010B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head and perpendicular magnetic recording/reproducing head with at least one shield layer having a substantially arched portion
A perpendicular magnetic recording head according to the present invention is composed of a first magnetic layer having a main magnetic pole exposed at a facing surface opposite a recording medium, a second magnetic layer adjacent to the first magnetic layer with an intermediary non-magnetic layer disposed therebetween, and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the first magnetic layer. Since the second magnetic layer has a shape including a substantially arched portion in its cross section along a height direction, it becomes possible to keep an Edge Write magnetic field in a low level and improve external magnetic field resistance. |
| US07983006B2 |
Suspension for disc drive apparatus
A suspension has a load beam and a flexure having a tongue portion to which a slider is attached. The load beam has a pin insertion hole formed between a proximal portion of the load beam and the slider and an opening formed between a distal portion of the load beam and the slider. A first locating pin is inserted into the pin insertion hole, and a second locating pin into the opening. An extending portion is formed on a distal portion of the flexure. The flexure has a first locating hole in which the first locating pin is inserted and a second locating hole in which the second locating pin is inserted. The second locating hole is formed in the extending portion. |
| US07983003B2 |
Magnetic recording medium having soft magnetic layer and perpendicular magnetic recording layer
A perpendicular magnetic recording medium 10 adapted to be mounted in a perpendicular magnetic recording type hard disk drive and including a disk-shaped disk base 12, a soft magnetic layer 14 formed on the disk base 12, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer 16 formed on the soft magnetic layer 14, wherein, at respective portions of the soft magnetic layer 14, directional distribution of easy magnetization axes of magnetic particles included In each of the respective portions is isotropic with respect to respective directions in the main surface of the soft magnetic layer 14. |
| US07983002B2 |
Wire-assisted magnetic write device with a gapped trailing shield
A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a first return element magnetically coupled to the write element on a trailing side of the write element. A conductor is positioned proximate to an edge of the write element tip and is configured to generate an assist field that augments a write field generated by the write element. A shield that includes at least one gap extends from the first return element toward the write element tip. |
| US07983001B2 |
Slider mounted magnetic head having a perpendicular recording head with a main pole having a ruthenium(Ru) electrode film
The present invention relates to a perpendicular recording magnetic head. A main magnetic pole film includes an electrode film and a plated magnetic film. The electrode film includes a Ru film and a conductive magnetic film, and the Ru film, which follows the shape of an inner wall surface of a recess formed in a first non-magnetic film, is adhered to the inner wall surface of the recess or a surface of a second non-magnetic film adhered thereto. The conductive magnetic film is adhered to a surface of the Ru film, thereby following the shape of the inner wall surface of the recess. The plated magnetic film is disposed adjacent the conductive magnetic film, thereby filling up the recess. |
| US07982996B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording write head and system with improved spin torque oscillator for microwave-assisted magnetic recording
A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head and system has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) located between the write pole of the write head and a trailing shield that alters the write field from the write pole. The STO is a stack of layers whose planes lie generally parallel to the X-Y plane of an X-Y-Z coordinate system, the stack including a ferromagnetic polarizer layer, a free ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer between the polarizer layer and the free layer. In the presence of the write field from the write pole the polarizer layer has its magnetization oriented at an angle between 20 and 80 degrees, preferably between 30 and 70 degrees, with the Z-axis. In the presence of a direct electrical current through the STO stack, the free layer magnetization rotates or precesses about the Z-axis with a non-zero angle to the Z-axis. |
| US07982995B2 |
Method of writing data using coercivity distribution of data storage medium
A method of writing data using a coercivity distribution of a data storage medium, including mapping the coercivity distribution of the data storage medium including a plurality of write spots in which data can be written, measuring a current ambient temperature, and if the ambient temperature is higher than a room temperature, selecting a write spot having a relatively large coercivity to receive write data, and if the ambient temperature is lower than the room temperature, selecting a write spot having a relatively small coercivity to receive the write data. |
| US07982994B1 |
Multi-level recording on shingled coherent magnetic media
A data storage system includes recording media with a shingled track pattern of multiple data tracks in which mapped data bits are recorded. The mapped data are coherently aligned with one another across the multiple data tracks. A read head has an effective read head width that extends across the multiple data tracks and that is aligned to coherently read the mapped data bits. A read head output includes a non-binary multi-level amplitude summation of the mapped data bits. |
| US07982993B1 |
Disk drive employing different servo TPI to data TPI ratios across the disk surface
A disk drive is disclosed having a first disk surface, and a head actuated over the first disk surface. The first disk surface comprises a plurality of servo tracks and a plurality of data tracks. The data tracks of the first disk surface are banded together into a plurality of data zones, including a first data zone and a second data zone. A first servo tracks per inch (STPI) to data tracks per inch (DTPI) ratio of the first data zone is substantially different from a second STPI to DTPI ratio of the second data zone. |
| US07982992B2 |
Dual gain control for magnetic data storage system
A system according to one embodiment includes an analog input for receiving an analog signal; a variable gain amplifier coupled to the analog input; a first gain control circuit coupled to the variable gain amplifier for controlling the gain of the analog signal; an analog to digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital signal; a first gain error generation circuit for generating a first gain error signal based on an output of the analog to digital converter, the first gain error signal or derivative thereof being received by the first gain control circuit; and a second gain error generation circuit for generating a second gain error signal based on the digital signal, the second gain error signal or derivative thereof being received by the first gain control circuit, wherein the first gain control circuit uses at least one of the gain error signals to control the gain of the analog signals. |
| US07982991B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining set value of write current of magnetic head
Embodiments of the present invention help to efficiently determine the appropriate setting of the write current of a magnetic head relative to temperature. According to one embodiment, a test computer determines the set value of a write current as a function of temperature for each head device portion from the relationship between a write current and an error rate. A test execution controller sets a selected head device portion and a write current to an AE, and writes data on a magnetic disk using the components in a HDD. The test execution controller reads the written data, and the error rate of the data from an error correcting section. The test execution controller repeats the same process with the write current varied. Upon completion of the measurement at the preset write currents, the test execution controller transfers the measurement data to the test computer. |
| US07982990B1 |
Digital techniques to decode signals extracted from computer-readable storage media
Methods, apparatuses, and systems describing digital techniques to decode signals extracted from computer-readable storage media. A digital signal that includes a digital representation of a repeatable runout signal having a magnitude and included in an analog signal is obtained. An estimate of the magnitude of the RRO signal based on the digital signal is determined. The estimate is provided for decoding the digital signal to extract the included data by adapting a detector gain target in accordance with the estimate. The detector gain target is a function of a desired amplitude of the RRO signal. |
| US07982984B2 |
Magnetic transfer master carrier, magnetic transfer method, and magnetic recording medium
The present invention provides a magnetic transfer master carrier which forms a magnetic pattern corresponding to a pattern of information to be recorded on a perpendicular magnetic recording medium when a magnetic field is applied to the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, with the magnetic master carrier and the perpendicular magnetic recording medium closely attached to each other, the carrier including: a base material having convex portions on its surface, the convex portions being provided corresponding to the pattern of information; a magnetic layer deposited on at least top surfaces of the convex portions, and having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; and a soft magnetic layer deposited on the surface of the magnetic layer. |
| US07982982B2 |
Wafer level packaging image sensor module having lens actuator and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a wafer level packaging image sensor module, including a wafer including an image sensor, a circuit portion and a lower electrode on one side thereof, a lens actuator disposed on the lower electrode and made of electroactive polymer, an upper electrode disposed on the lens actuator, and a lens unit disposed on the upper electrode to allow light to be transmitted to the image sensor therethrough. The wafer level packaging image sensor module includes the lens actuator made of electroactive polymer, and thus it enables realization of the autofocusing of the wafer level packaging image sensor module. |
| US07982978B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens group that includes sequentially from an object side, a first lens formed of resin and having a positive refractive power and a second lens formed of resin and having a negative refractive power, the first lens and the second lens collectively forming a cemented lens having a positive refractive power. The imaging lens further includes a second lens group that includes a negative lens having a convex surface directed toward an image plane and a third lens group that includes a positive lens, where the first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens groups are sequentially arranged from the object side. |
| US07982977B2 |
Imaging lens assembly having multiple lenses with positive and negative refractive powers
An imaging lens, which can be suitable for small-size information terminals, such as mobile phones equipped with cameras, or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The imaging lens includes an iris, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens, having a negative refractive power, a third lens having an aspherical shape and a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens having an aspherical shape and a negative refractive power. |
| US07982970B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a reflection member configured to bend an optical path, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. In the zoom lens, two or more lens units of the first through the third lens unit move during zooming. In addition, in the zoom lens, the third lens unit includes a first lens sub-unit, and a second lens sub-unit configured to move in a direction having a component perpendicular to the optical axis to displace an image forming position. |
| US07982967B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a rear group including at least one lens unit. For zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves to the object side, the second lens unit moves to the image side, and the third lens unit moves to the object side. Moving amounts of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the third lens unit for zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end and focal lengths of the second lens unit and the third lens unit are set based on predetermined conditions. |
| US07982966B2 |
Zoom lens, optical apparatus, and method for forming an image of an object
In a zoom lens ZL having a plurality of lens groups which are disposed in order from an object, a first lens group that is disposed to closest to the object among the plurality of lens groups has positive refractive power and comprises a light path bending element which bends the path of light and a plurality of lens components which are disposed closer to the object than the light path bending element, and the plurality of lens components comprise at least one negative lens whose refractive index with respect to d-line exceeds 1.90. |
| US07982965B2 |
Zoom lens, optical apparatus equipped therewith and method for manufacturing the zoom lens
A zoom lens ZL installed in an electronic still camera 1 includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, and a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power. A distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 varies upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state. The second lens group G2 has a front lens group G2F and a rear lens group G2R, and the front lens group G2F is moved along the optical axis upon focusing on a close object, thereby providing a compact zoom lens having excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus equipped with the zoom lens, and a method for manufacturing the zoom lens. |
| US07982963B2 |
Liquid-based optical device and electronic device
The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a liquid responsive to an electric field (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises an electrode arrangement (2; 12) for controlling the shape of the interface (14) by means of a voltage; and means (100) for preventing the interface from an exposure to an external electric field. Consequently, the build-up of electrostatic charge on a surface of the optical device is avoided, which prevents the unwanted distortion of the interface (14) caused by the interaction of the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) and the electrostatic charge. |
| US07982961B2 |
Dry-type microscope objective lens
The present invention offers a dry-type microscope objective lens which has a high NA in the range from low magnification to middle magnification and is lightweight and by which a high-resolution image can be obtained without taking a user time and trouble in observation.A dry-type microscope objective lens according to the present invention comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group, the first lens group comprises a meniscus lens which is arranged on the most object side and which turns its concave surface to the object side and the first lens group has positive refracting power as a whole, the second lens group comprises plural cemented lens units and has positive refracting power as a whole, the third lens group comprises air contact surfaces which are concave surfaces adjoining each other and facing toward each other and the third lens group has negative refracting power as a whole, and the dry-type microscope objective lens satisfies the following conditions: 6≦D/f≦8 5≦f 0.8≦NA<1.0 where D is a distance from an object surface to the last surface of the objective lens, f is a focal length of the objective lens, and NA is an object-side numerical aperture. |
| US07982960B2 |
Co-package DQPSK demodulator by Michelson interferometer
An interferometer includes a means for splitting, at a splitting location, an input light beam into a first beam and a second beam; and means for recombining, at a recombination location, the first beam and the second beam. The interferometer is designed such that the first beam will travel a first optical path length (OPL) from the splitting location to the recombination location, and the second beam will travel a second OPL from the splitting location to the recombination location and such that when the input light beam has been modulated at a data rate comprising a time interval, then the difference in optical path lengths between the first OPL and the second OPL is about equal to the time interval multiplied by the speed of light. |
| US07982957B2 |
Optical apparatus using a lens array
In an optical apparatus according to the present invention, the lens thicknesses and curvature radiuses of respective first lenses are optimized so that beam waist positions of optical beams emitted from the respective first lenses of a lens array are independently changed according to aberration of a second lens, and the focal position deviation due to the aberration of the second lens is cancelled by a difference between the beam waist positions, which is given on the lens array side. As a result, it is possible to suppress, at a low cost, variations in focal positions of the optical beams which are emitted from respective ports of the lens array to be condensed by the common lens. |
| US07982956B2 |
Direct beam solar light system
A direct beam solar lighting system for collecting and distributing sunlight into a room. The system includes a rotatable solar collector head to receive sunlight and to reflect the sunlight downward into a transition tube having a reflective interior surface. The light-concentrating transition tube reflects sunlight into a reflective light tube which directs the reflected sunlight through a plenum space into the room. The system includes a drive mechanism for rotating the rotatable solar collector, and a light fixture at end of the light tube to disburse said reflected sunlight onto a ceiling and a wall in the room. In an embodiment the system includes one or more homogenizing reflectors within the solar collector for collecting the sunlight and directing the sunlight more uniformly over the aperture of the transition tube. In an alternative embodiment, the solar collector includes a rotatable tiltable mirror for providing two-axis tracking. |
| US07982955B2 |
Birefringent filter using reflective polarizers and dichroic elements
An optical filter uses two or more reflective polarizers together with retarders to form birefringent filters with controlled transmission. The energy reflected by these polarizers is absorbed by one or more dichroic elements, which can be adjacent to a reflective polarizer; or spaced apart from it by one or more retarder elements. These dichroic elements act as dampers, so the energy of rays undergoing multiple reflections is markedly reduced or virtually eliminated, and high image quality is maintained. This provides a filter arrangement with enhanced spectral range, image quality, or greater extinction, or lower cost, compared to filters using dichroic or prism-type polarizers. |
| US07982952B2 |
Polarization component, polarization light source and image display apparatus using the same
A polarization component, capable of efficiently reflecting an obliquely transmitted light beam toward a light source without degrading the transmission-polarization property of a perpendicular incident light beam, is provided. A C-plate having an oblique retardation of at least λ/8 with respect to a light beam inclined by at least 30° is disposed between at least two reflective circular polarizer layers whose selective reflection wavelength bands of polarized light overlapping each other. A combination of a reflective linear polarizer and a quarter wavelength plate may be used instead of the reflective circular polarizer. Alternatively, a combination of two reflective linear polarizer layers and two quarter wavelength plate layers (Nz≧2) disposed therebetween can provide a similar effect. Further, a combination of two reflective linear polarizer layers and a half wavelength plate (Nz≧1.5) disposed therebetween may be used. When reflective linear polarizer layers are used, they must be bonded together with their axial directions set at a certain angle. The polarization component is preferably used in various image display apparatuses such as liquid crystal display apparatuses and organic EL display apparatuses. |
| US07982951B1 |
Digital tracking platform for telescopes
A digitally controlled platform for precise celestial tracking of astronomical telescopes, generally those having an independent pointing mechanism. A movable stage carrying the telescope is moved relative to a base by three digitally controlled actuators each of which determines the distance between a point fixed in the base and a point fixed stage. The base and stage otherwise are connected by a mechanism that holds a single point fixed in the base in coincidence with a single point fixed in the stage. It functions without approximation at any digitally specified latitude and longitude, enabling astrophotography with alt/azimuth mounted telescopes and diurnal tracking through the zenith. The digital controller may be a personal computer laptop running a multitasking operating system linked to the platform electronics by a Universal Serial Bus cable. Novel software design allows precise tracking, control, and calibration in spite of operating system and Universal Serial Bus latency. |
| US07982943B2 |
Light source apparatus
The present invention relates to a light source apparatus that has a base structure capable of generating SC light and further having a structure that enables the shaping of the spectral waveform of the SC light, power adjustment of the SC light, or adjustment of the frequency of repetition of the pulse train that contains the SC light. For example, a light source apparatus that enables shaping of spectral waveforms comprises a seed light source that emits seed light which is a pulse train or continuous light; an optical fiber that generates SC light from the seed light, and spectrum shaping means for completely or partially changing the spectral waveform of the SC light. The shaping of the spectral waveform changes the maximum power of the seed light by changing the optical coupling efficiency of the seed light source and optical fiber, for example, thereby suitably deforms the spectrum of the SC light. |
| US07982940B2 |
Particle for display medium and information display panel utilizing the same
The present invention provides particles for display media constituting the display media used for an information display panel, in which the display media are sealed between two substrates, at least one of two substrates being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field is applied, are made to move so as to display information, comprising: the particles having a substantially spherical shape, which are made by polymerizing raw materials including monomers, which include (acrylic or methacrylic) resin-hydrocarbon resin copolymer in the particles, in which a part of or all of the monomers are a multifunctional monomer having a plurality of polymerization reactive groups in one molecule, and which have minute irregularities on their surface evenly. By such a construction, the particles for display media can obtain irregularities firmly fixed on their surface. Poor display can be solved by using the same. |
| US07982935B2 |
Mirror positioning apparatus for use in beam switching
A mirror positioning assembly for use in beam switching is provided that employs a novel arrangement of the mirrors and the motors to selectively position the mirrors. The assembly is installed into the housing of an assembly for distributing laser energy where the mirrors are contained within the beam cavity and the remainder of the assembly is outside of the housing. The assembly is received in a port within the housing in a manner that allows 360° of rotational adjustment so that the mirror can be carefully aligned to insure near lossless distribution of the beam energy as it passes through the device. This arrangement keeps the electronics, motors, bearings and adjustments of the mirror switching external to the beam cavity herby reducing the number of potential contaminants contained therein. |
| US07982933B2 |
Drive control method for galvano-scanner
A galvano-scanner system (1) has a position-controlling microcomputer (31) mounted on a scanner driver (3) of a galvano scanner (2), wherein a position detection signals outputted from a positional sensor (14) of the galvano-scanner (2) are sampled, the current position of the galvano-scanner (2) is updated on the basis of sampling results, when movement distance amount command data are input, the movement distance amount command data are converted to an address change amount for the galvano-scanner (2), the address change amount is added to the current position to obtain a movement destination address. The movement destination address is converted to an analog position command and supplied to a drive circuit (33). The drive circuit (33) generates position command voltage corresponding to the analog position command and causes to move the galvano scanner (2) by that movement distance. The galvano-scanner (2) can be controlled in a simple manner to move from a current position to an arbitrary position. |
| US07982930B2 |
Preserved and enhanced holographic and optically variable devices and method for making the same
An optically variable device has a substrate with an optically variable relief and a coating on the optically variable relief. The coating is applied as a liquid dispersion including a plurality of optical enhancer particles in a solvent. |
| US07982928B2 |
Method, system and device for colour quality control
A colour quality control device adapted for use in a system for colour correction of an image to be reproduced on at least one reproduction device that is calibrated by a reproduction forward transform. The system also comprises a colour correction device adapted to correct at least one colour in the image. The colour quality control device comprises a false contour detection unit that uses information from the reproduction forward transform to decide if a contour in the image is a false contour introduced by the transform. This facilitates the operator's work during colour correction. A system and a method are also provided. |
| US07982927B2 |
Color processing apparatus, color processing method and computer readable medium
The color processing apparatus includes: a first color signal obtaining unit that obtains a first color signal in a first color space; a color conversion unit that converts the first color signal in the first color space into a second color signal in a second color space according to a color conversion characteristic associating a color signal in the first color space with a color signal in the second color space; a calculation unit that calculates a distance of the first color signal to an outer boundary of a color gamut in the first color space; and a color conversion characteristic generation unit that generates the color conversion characteristic to be used by the color conversion unit to make the conversion. The color conversion characteristic generation unit changes a generation condition of the color conversion characteristic according to the distance of the first color signal. |
| US07982923B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that includes an image reading part, an image forming part to form an image on a sheet, a sheet discharge part to discharge the sheet from front to rear of the image forming apparatus, a sheet stack part to stack the sheet between the image reading part and the image forming part, a supporter provided outside the sheet stack part along a discharge direction of the sheet to form a space between the sheet stack part and the image reading part, a connector to electrically connect the image forming part with the image reading part, a bending unit provided between the image reading part and the supporter to bend back the connector in a sliding direction of the image reading part, and a bend limiter provided at a rear position of the image reading part in the sliding direction to limit bending of the connector. |
| US07982920B2 |
Communication apparatus and data-transferring method
If data to be transferred is received, a transferring condition for the received data is acquired based on specifying information for specifying an apparatus to which the transferring condition has been registered, and the transferring of the received data is controlled based on the acquired transferring condition. Thus, it is possible to determine a transferring destination of the received data according to the transferring condition held by another apparatus, and it is thus possible by the another apparatus to control the transferring destination of the received data. |
| US07982917B2 |
Document containing scanning survivable security features
A document comprising a latent security image that is visible when the document is reproduced after being scanned by a standard commercial bank scanner. The security image comprises a plurality of lines, dots, or spots having a frequency and a density such that the image is reproduced after being scanned by the standard commercial bank scanner. A method of making a reproducible document comprising a security device comprises generating the document by creating an original containing the security device, scanning the original to a digital computer using a conventional scanner, and converting the scanned original to a digital image file which is printable via a digital press, a color copier, etc. A document comprises a security image that is not visible under ordinary light, and is visible when the document is exposed to a predetermined type of light. The security image is printed with an ink visible under one of UV light, infrared light, X-rays, of Gamma rays. |
| US07982910B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image output apparatus, and image processing system
The present invention is provided with a storage section that holds characteristic data, a predicted output value calculating section that calculates predicted PCS values (XP, YP, ZP) in a predetermined designated color space, an error calculating section that calculates an error from the difference between the PCS values (X, Y, Z) and the predicted PCS values, a differential coefficient matrix creating section that creates a differential coefficient matrix, an inverse matrix calculating section, a primary-color intensity correction amount calculating section that calculates a corrected primary-color intensity by performing a primary conversion to the difference between the PCS values and the predicted PCS values with an inverse matrix defined as a conversion matrix, and a primary-color intensity correction section that calculates the output primary-color intensity by adding or subtracting to or from a temporal primary-color intensity (IR, IG, IB) the corrected primary-color intensity calculated at the primary-color intensity corrected amount calculating section. |
| US07982903B2 |
Method and set of instructions for the dosed supply of printing instructions to a printer, and system for practicing the method
In the printing and finishing of sheet-like objects, printing instructions are outputted to a printer. In accordance therewith, sheet-like objects are printed by the printer and are subsequently delivered by the printer directly to the finishing apparatus and then finished by the finishing apparatus. Output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer which are at least indicative of the printer capacity required for the printer to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer are registered. Sheet-like objects displaced by the printer are detected and signaled by the detector. At least periodically, production data in accordance with the signals received from the detector are generated. These data are at least indicative of a production quantity realized by the printer in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer. Depending on the production data, the output of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer is dosed. |
| US07982902B2 |
Printer, image processing device, image processing method, and recording medium
The object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of efficiently processing print data corresponding to a plurality of images in the main scanning direction, as in the case of an index print, with a limited memory capacity, thereby improving the throughput, and an image data processing method for executing the operations of the printer. An image data processing section accesses original image data including partial images of a plurality of images printed through one main scanning, and generates bit image data by executing predetermined image processing. An image data control section temporarily stores the image data in a primary buffer, and when necessary, reads out a part thereof from the primary buffer band by band, copies the read data to a band (secondary) buffer, and sends the data to a print processing section. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to access the original image data to obtain each portion of the partial images and execute predetermined image processing each time when the necessity arises, thereby improving the processing efficiency. |
| US07982901B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for managing storage area, and computer program product
An image processing apparatus (2) capable of providing a box for each user is provided. The image processing apparatus (2) includes a user grouping process portion (205) that determines a total of an amount of a box of a first user that has been used by a second user and an amount of a box of the second user that has been used by the first user, determines whether or not the total is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and groups both the users when the total is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, and a box reset process portion (207) that performs a reset process for providing again the boxes of the grouped first user and the grouped second user in an identical image processing apparatus if the boxes are provided in different image processing apparatuses. |
| US07982897B2 |
Printer capable of refusing receipt of printed materials sent from an unintended source
A printer (100) for printing based on a print job signal sent from a data processing device (200) registers print job signal sending sources and a message corresponding to each sending source in memory (111, 112). A controller (113) detects whether the sending source of a received print job signal is registered in memory. If the sending source is registered, a messaging unit (110, 111) outputs a corresponding message. Sending sources that are permitted to print can also be registered in memory (111, 112). In this case, the controller (113) detects whether the sending source of a received print job signal is registered in memory, and instructs the printer (110) to print only when the sending source is registered as permitted to print. |
| US07982892B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof, and computer program and computer readable storage medium
This invention controls a printer to download using either a nonsecure protocol or a secure protocol depending on as to whether or not the printer is included in a network segment to which an information processing apparatus generating print control information belongs. When, on an application executed by the apparatus, a desired data file stored in a server on the network is designated as an object to be printed, the apparatus acquires a printer port activated by a printer driver. The apparatus determines whether or not a destination IP address set to the printer port is included in the network segment inside an office. If the IP address is included in the network segment, HTTP is set as a protocol associated with file acquisition which is to be described in a job ticket. If not, HTTPS is set as a protocol associated with file acquisition. |
| US07982890B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure printing
Systems and methods are provided for securely communicating a print job to a printer, the systems and methods pausing the print job in a print queue on a client computer, obtaining first authentication information regarding a user at the client computer, obtaining second authentication information regarding a user at a release station adjacent the printer, communicating the second authentication information from the release station to the client computer, and releasing the print job from the print queue if the second authentication information matches the first authentication information. |
| US07982887B2 |
Image forming device, image forming method, image processing device, and computer readable storage medium storing image forming program
Disclosed is an image forming device including a connecting unit for connecting a recording medium in a removable manner; and a writing unit for writing printing data containing setup information concerning a printing condition into the recording medium connected to the connecting unit. |
| US07982886B2 |
Document fixer
A document fixer includes a supporting plate and a fixer body. The supporting plate includes a business card fixing recess and a clamping part. The fixer body includes a first supporting plate receiving part, an ordinary document fixing recess and a second supporting plate receiving part. When the supporting plate is received in the first supporting plate receiving part, the document fixer is adapted to fix a business card. Whereas, when the supporting plate is received in the second supporting plate receiving part, the document fixer is adapted to fix an ordinary document. |
| US07982884B2 |
Autofocus system with error compensation
An autofocus system (222C) for measuring the position of a work piece (200) along an axis includes a slit light source assembly (236), a slit detector assembly (238), and a control system (224). The slit light source assembly (236) directs a first slit of light (342A) at a first slit area (344A) of the work piece (200). The slit detector assembly (238) detects light reflected off of the first slit area (344A) and generates a first slit signal relating to the amount of light reflected off of the first slit area (344A) at the slit detector assembly (238). The control system (224) uses the first slit signal from the slit detector assembly (238), and first reflectance information of the first slit area (344A) to determine the position of the work piece (200) along the axis. With this design, the autofocus system (222C) can compensate for the changes in reflectivity of the work piece (200). As a result thereof, measurements taken with the autofocus system (222C) are more accurate and the work piece (200) can be positioned with improved accuracy. |
| US07982880B2 |
Optical image measurement device
A fundus oculi observation device acts as an optical image measurement device capable of measuring an OCT image such as a tomographic image of a fundus oculi, or the like, and is configured so as to calculate the signal level of the formed OCT image, determine whether the signal level exceeds a threshold value, and change the position of a reference mirror so that the signal level is determined to exceed the threshold value. |
| US07982878B1 |
Optical emission collection and detection device and method
This invention generally relates to optical devices that can collect and detect signal emissions effectively while allowing the excitation light path and the sample flow path to coexist non-obstructively in a compact format. More specifically, this invention relates to a compact device having a multilayer coating on the structure surface and a wave guiding structure. In the device, using the surface plasmon coupling effect, the majority of the optical emission from the emitter on top of the multilayer coating is distributed toward the wave guiding structure. The wave guiding structure then further directs the emission signal to the detector with a high efficiency. |
| US07982875B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring the scattered light signals from a liquid sample
A sample cell for making light scattering measurements, incorporating an exterior surface acting as both a lateral and vertical lens, is described. This unique structure permits greatly improved measurement of the light scattered by molecules and particles suspended in a fluid contained therein or flowing therethrough while illuminated by a fine light beam incident thereon. The resultant lensed structure of the cell, when integrated into a scattered light photometer and combined with suitable apertures before each scattered light collecting detector, reduces significantly stray light from entering each such detector. |
| US07982864B2 |
Optical measuring system
An optical measuring system has a first optical measuring instrument and a second optical measuring instrument. The optical measuring system includes a first optical path to guide a first beam from a measuring region to the first optical measuring instrument, a second optical path to guide a second beam from the measuring region to the second optical measuring instrument, an optical system through which the first and second optical paths extend and in which the first and second optical paths are paraxial, a reflection area to change the direction of the first optical path, the second optical path crossing the reflection area, and a light transmission area arranged at a position where the reflection area and second optical path cross each other, the light transmission area having a higher light transmittance than the reflection area. |
| US07982860B2 |
Distance measuring device and method for determining a distance
The invention is based on a distance-measuring device having a transmission unit (20) for generating a transmission signal (42) having at least one measurement frequency (f1, f2) which is desired for detecting distance information. It is proposed that the transmission unit (20) comprises a means (60) for generating an evaluation signal (62) having an evaluation frequency (fA) which is desired for evaluating the distance information. |
| US07982855B2 |
Illuminator for a photolithography device
The invention relates to an illuminator for a photolithography device. The invention comprises: a source (1′) of a light beam (10) which is used to illuminate a mask (8) and to expose an area of a wafer (W); at least one main array (4) of microlenses; and a shutter (6) consisting of at least one shutter plate (61) comprising at least one part (612) that is opaque to the light beam (10) and a plurality of parts (610) that are transparent to the beam, whereby said plate (61) can be moved in relation to the beam (10) along a direction of movement (X) that is essentially parallel to the plate, such that the opaque part (612) can at least partially block the light beam or such that the transparent parts can at least partially enable the passage of the light beam (10). The invention is characterized in that it comprises movement means (9) which can move the shutter (6) in synchronism with the movements of the mask (8) and the wafer (W), said shutter (6) being located in an area (11) close to a pupil (40, 410) of an optical system comprising at least the main array (4) of microlenses. The invention also relates to a photolithography device comprising one such illuminator. |
| US07982851B2 |
Method for measuring flare amount, mask for measuring flare amount, and method for manufacturing device
An amount is flare is measured by a method including steps of applying a photosensitive material to a substrate; exposing a part of the photosensitive material using a mask including a transmitting section which has no pattern so that the part of the photosensitive material varies in thickness; and measuring an amount of flare based on a distribution of film amounts of the photosensitive material remaining in a first region corresponding to the transmitting section and on a second region other than the first region after the step of exposing. |
| US07982842B2 |
Interconnect structure for display device and projection display apparatus
An interconnect structure for a display device includes a driver from which display data are supplied, and an interconnect material having a plurality of signal lines disposed in parallel through which the display data are supplied from the driver. In the interconnect structure for a display device, the signal lines from which the display data are transmitted via the interconnect material are rearranged such that the display data via the signal lines having a comparatively larger effect of the inductance components and the display data via the signal lines having a comparatively smaller effect of the inductance components in the interconnect material are alternately supplied to adjacent pixels or groups of pixels of the display device. As a result, an image is displayed based on the luminance suitable for the display data. |
| US07982839B2 |
Fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display. The fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display includes a transparent common electrode having a predetermined shape and formed within the pixel area to adjust light transmittance by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and a transparent pixel electrode having a plurality of slits and formed above the transparent common electrode with an insulating layer interposed between the transparent common electrode and the transparent pixel electrode. A rubbing direction for aligning the liquid crystal layer is within 5° with respect to a direction of the gate line to remove a light shielding region above the data line, one end of the transparent common electrode is arranged between the data line and the transparent pixel electrode, and a distance between the transparent common electrode and the transparent pixel electrode is regulated with respect to the data line. |
| US07982836B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device in which a pair of substrates having electrodes face each other, and liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates. The liquid crystal display device includes a insulating layer that varies electric field orientations in a pixel region when a voltage is applied between the pair of substrates. |
| US07982834B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and terminal unit
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes: a liquid crystal (LC) panel defining thereon an array of pixels each including a reflective area driven in a longitudinal electric field and a transmissive area driven in a lateral electric field; a quarter-wavelength retardation film disposed in the reflective area in front of a LC layer; and first and second polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the LC panel. The LC molecules in the LC layer have a major axis parallel or perpendicular to an optical axis of the first polarizing film disposed in front of the LC panel. |
| US07982833B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of apertures with a specific ratio of aperture width to aperture interval
The present invention discloses a transflective liquid crystal display panel, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, so as to constitute a plurality of pixels each divided into a transmission region and a reflective region. Within the reflective region, a first common electrode layer formed on the first substrate corresponds to both of a second common electrode layer and a pixel electrode layer formed on the second substrate, wherein the pixel electrode layer is exposed from a plurality of apertures formed on the second common electrode layer. This varies distribution of the electric lines so as to control tilts of the liquid crystals in the reflective region. By the tilts, a total retardation change value achieved in the reflective region can gradually reach consistent with a total retardation change value achieved in the transmission region. It means that transmittances of both regions can reach consistence with each other under the same driving voltage. |
| US07982830B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, and liquid crystal display device having color filter and compensation layer
The liquid crystal panel of the invention can restrain coloration following a change in the viewing angle when black is displayed, and can be produced into a relatively thin form. This panel has a liquid crystal cell 20 having a color filter having individual blue, green and red regions, a first polarizer 10 formed on one side of the cell 20, a second polarizer 40 formed on the other side of the cell 20, and a compensation layer 30 arranged between the first and second polarizers 10 and 40. The compensation layer 30 has an optical characteristic that the layer gives a larger retardation for a longer wavelength, and the cell 20 has a liquid crystal layer in a vertical alignment mode, and the thickness direction retardation values Rth(B), Rth(G) and Rth(R) of the liquid crystal cell to light transmitted through the individual color regions in the liquid crystal cell 20 satisfy: |Rth(B)|<|Rth(G)|<|Rth(R)|. |
| US07982828B2 |
Polarization switching liquid crystal element and image display apparatus having the same
The present invention provides a polarization switching liquid crystal element 1 having TN liquid crystal 7 retained between two transparent substrates 2a and 2b for transmitting at least visible polarized light with the polarized light transmission axis selectively rotated by 90 degrees when a voltage is selectively applied to the TN liquid crystal 7, wherein a phase difference u of said TN liquid crystal 7 is defined by the following equation: u=2×Δn×d/λ, where Δn is the refractive index anisotropy of said TN liquid crystal 7, d is the thickness of said TN liquid crystal 7, and λ is the wavelength of said polarized light, and a transmittance T of said polarization switching liquid crystal element measured with polarization plates on the incident and outgoing sides is defined by the following equation: T=(½)×sin2{π(1+u2)1/2/2}/(1+u2), and wherein the phase difference u includes a value 1.7 and the transmittance T is 0.1 or lower when the λ ranges from 400 nm to 700 nm. Then, a polarization switching liquid crystal element having a high response speed and reduced wavelength-dependency can be realized using inexpensive and highly durable TN liquid crystal without increasing parts cost. |
| US07982827B2 |
System and method for dynamically altering a color gamut
System and method for dynamically altering a color gamut used in projection display systems. An embodiment comprises determining a dim color from colors used in representing an image, adjusting the dim color to increase an available display time for a non-dim color used to represent the image, adjusting the non-dim color using the available display time, and generating a color sequence based on the adjusted dim color and the adjusted non-dim color. The pixel intensities of a dim color are increased, permitting a shortening of the display time of the dim color. The newly freed display time can be reallocated to all colors to increase the amount of light used to display the image, thereby increasing image brightness or altering color point. |
| US07982821B2 |
Display device and liquid crystal display device
A display device of the present invention includes: an illumination device that emits light; first and second substrates provided opposite each other; and the first substrate being disposed closer to the backlight device than the second substrate is; and a plurality of microlenses (2) provided on the surface, opposite the backlight device, of the first substrate, the plurality of microlenses converging light (7) emitted from the illumination device, the first substrate having a plurality of pixels (Px) disposed in a matrix, each of the pixels including: a transparent region (Tr) through which light passes; and a reflective region (Rf) from which light is reflected, wherein the light (7) emitted from the illumination device is converged onto the transparent region (Tr) through the microlens (2), wherein an uneven section (19) with convexities and concavities is provided between the neighboring microlenses (2) on the surface of the first substrate which surface is opposite the illumination device (3). With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a display device which enhances efficiency in utilization of light emitted from the illumination device (backlight) and increases luminance of the display device without such display problems as bright lines and moiré. |
| US07982818B2 |
Flexible circuit board of liquid crystal display comprising a triangular light absorbing layer
A flexible circuit board of a liquid crystal display device includes a first insulating film, a plurality of conductive patterns formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film to cover the conductive pattern, a plurality of light sources coupled to the conductive pattern, and an upper light absorbing layer formed on an outer circumference of the light source to absorb light emitted from the light source, wherein the upper light absorbing layer is formed in a triangle shape on one side of the light source. |
| US07982816B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of assembling the same
A liquid crystal display device and a method of assembling the same are provided to prevent coming-off of a wire and damage to the wire by improving a structure of a main support and a guide panel in an edge type liquid crystal display device and a method of assembling the same. |
| US07982814B2 |
Inverter, backlight assembly and image display device having the same
A DC/AC inverter for a backlight can include a support, a printed circuit board (PCB) on the support, a transformer on the PCB, and a blocking member formed on at least a portion of at least one side of the transformer. The blocking member can be formed of a ferrite material. |
| US07982813B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of pixels including a plurality of switching elements, a plurality of gate lines connected to the switching elements and extending in a row direction, and a gate driver including a circuit portion connected to the gate lines and a wiring portion connected to the circuit portion. The circuit portion includes a transistor and the wiring portion includes a signal line, and the transistor and the signal line are connected via a connecting member, whereby electrostatic electricity is prevented from being introduced in the gate driver of the display during a manufacturing process. |
| US07982810B2 |
Panel-type image display device and liquid crystal television
A panel-type television whose colors and image qualities of OSD portions are kept intact and the qualities of images other than the OSD portions are adjusted is provided. The panel-type television includes an image quality adjustment circuit 30a that performs a specified image quality adjustment processing on input image signals; a delay circuit 30b that delays input image signals by the time needed for the image quality adjustment circuit 30a to perform image quality adjustment processing; and a switching 30c that switches between the image quality adjustment circuit 30a and the delay circuit 30b so that image signals are input to either of the circuits according to the control of a microcomputer 60, wherein the microcomputer 60 inputs image signals for OSD display areas to the delay circuit 30c and image signals other than those for OSD display areas to the image quality adjustment circuit 30a. |
| US07982808B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast receiving system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a broadcast signal having mobile service data and main service data multiplexed therein, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, wherein the FIC signaling information includes a current/next (C/N) indicator, and wherein the TPC signaling information includes FIC version information, and detecting ensemble configuration information of a current MH frame. |
| US07982801B2 |
Device and method for generating variable slice reference level
A device and a method for generating a variable slice reference level. At least two variable slice reference levels used for slicing VBI data are generated. The device includes a high/low average value generator, a reference value detector, and a slice level generator. The high/low average value generator generates an average high value and an average low value of the VBI data using a plurality of window signals. The reference value detector generates an average reference value of the VBI data using the window signals. The slice level generator outputs a high slice level and a low slice level using the average high value, the average low value, the average reference value, and a tuned factor. |
| US07982800B2 |
Video de-interlacer using motion residue compensation
A method of de-interlacing input video information including averaging odd lines and averaging even lines of the input video information to determine first and second in-field information, determining differences between even and odd lines of the input video information to provide residue information, measuring a motion metric of the residue information, filtering the residue information based on the motion metric to provide filtered residue information, and combining the first and second in-field information with the filtered residue information to provide progressive information. The combining may be an average of the in-field information added to a weighted portion of the filtered residue information as determined by the motion metric. The motion metric may be determined by an infinite impulse response filter. Finite impulse response filters may be used to filter the residue information. |
| US07982798B2 |
Edge detection
A technique for deinterlacing an interlaced video stream is disclosed. A method according to the technique can involve calculating a gradient of image intensity and identifying an edge. A bin can be selected that encompasses the edge. An unknown pixel can be calculated by blending known pixel values along the bin boundaries. |
| US07982797B2 |
Detecting blocks of commercial content in video data
Systems and methods of detecting blocks of commercial content in video data are described. In one aspect, visual parameter values and audio parameter values are extracted from the video data. Visual boundary events, audio boundary events, and commercial content transition events are detected in the video data. Candidate commercial blocks of consecutive commercial content are detected in the video data from a combination of the detected visual boundary events and the detected audio boundary events. Each of the candidate commercial blocks is defined between respective candidate starting and ending boundary points. Ones of the starting and ending boundary points of the candidate commercial blocks are adjusted based on occurrence of one or more of the detected commercial content transition events within temporal windows respectively encompassing the starting and ending points. |
| US07982795B2 |
Image acquisition and exploitation camera system and methods therefore
A system for extracting, processing, and sending metadata associated with audio data and/or video data is described. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor configured to acquire image data. A first electronic board with a processor is configured to control the sensor. A second electronic board that is configured to enrich the image data is operatively and removably coupled to the first electronic board. |
| US07982789B2 |
Image sensing apparatus driving method, image sensing apparatus, and image sensing system
Since pixel signals are not only added in the row direction but also averaged in the column direction, it is possible to sufficiently increase the frame rate even when the number of pixels increases. Additionally, since the spatial centers of gravity of the added or averaged signals are arranged at equal intervals in a Bayer array, it is possible to reduce false color (moiré) generation and suppress the decrease in the spatial resolution. |
| US07982788B1 |
Digital video camera with binning or skipping correction
A method of generating video and a video camera are disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an input signal by sensing an optical signal using a plurality of first pixels, wherein (i) the sensing is capable of a pixel reduction by at least one of binning the first pixels and skipping some of the first pixels and (ii) a plurality of first spatial separations among the first pixels in the input signal are (a) uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is inactive and (b) non-uniform while the pixel reduction is active, (B) generating a plurality of second pixels in response to the first pixels such that a plurality of second spatial separations among the second pixels are uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is active and (C) generating an output signal carrying the second pixels. |
| US07982786B2 |
Solid-state imaging device for color imaging
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements provided at a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate by being arranged in a form of a two-dimensional array, spectral elements each provided on a number of the photoelectric conversion elements which are arranged linearly, a trapezoidal opening which is longitudinally elongated in a direction from a base toward an upper side thereof and which introduces incident light to the number of the photoelectric conversion elements being provided in each of the spectral elements, so as to cause spectral separation in the longitudinal direction by interference between the incident light and light reflected on inner side surfaces of the trapezoidal opening and a signal reading unit for reading a signal which is detected by each of the number of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the longitudinal direction by receiving the light incident through the trapezoidal opening. |
| US07982783B2 |
System for and method of image processing and computer program for causing computer to execute the method
An image processing apparatus includes an edge detecting portion which detects edges contained in a first image, out of first and second images representing the same object, one being obtained by photographing without the infrared ray cut filter, the other being obtained by photographing with the infrared ray cut filter, and a noise reduction portion which carries out noise reduction processing on the second image to avoid the edges and obtains a processed image. |
| US07982782B2 |
Signal processing device, signal processing program and electronic camera
The present invention includes a color converting section carrying out color conversion processing and a coefficient correcting section setting a correcting coefficient group to a coefficient group of the color conversion. The coefficient correcting section sets a local area containing a pixel to be processed, and calculates “feature information of the local area” containing at least one of averaged color information, averaged luminance information, and flatness on the basis of the pixel signals of the local area. The coefficient correcting section determines a correcting coefficient group to be used for the pixel to be processed on the basis of the feature information of the local area. With this construction, the present invention suppresses influence of noise when changing the color conversion processing for each pixel. |
| US07982779B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
In an inspection of a substance in which a first region is made of black resin and a second region is made of a metal, a portion surrounding the first region is registered as a first imaging range, and a portion surrounding the second region is registered as a second imaging range. As an imaging condition for the first region, a relatively slow shutter speed is registered such that an image does not become dark. Further, as an imaging condition for the second region, a relatively fast shutter speed is registered such that an image does not have unduly high white levels. As such, the imaging range and condition set by a user are supplied to a CCD camera, and then image processing is performed on a captured image from the CCD camera by an image processing device main body. |
| US07982773B2 |
Imaging apparatus capable of capturing an image with reduced light falloff at edges and method for controlling the same
An imaging apparatus includes a diaphragm unit configured to adjust an amount of incident light on an image sensor, a correction unit configured to perform a correction of an image signal that corresponds to driving of the diaphragm unit, and a control unit configured to control the diaphragm unit and the correction unit. The correction unit includes at least a first state for performing a correction of the image signal when it can be determined that the diaphragm unit is not being driven by the control unit and a second state for not performing a correction of the image signal or for performing a correction of the image signal weaker than that performed in the first state when it can be determined that the diaphragm unit is being driven by the control unit. |
| US07982769B2 |
Apparatus and method for computerized multi-media data organization and transmission
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for multi-media data organization and transmission. The apparatus has a computer having a microprocessor, a memory storage, a display for providing information to a user, and an input device. An image-recording device is electrically-coupled to the computer for capturing images for storage in the memory storage of the computer. A database, which has a structure defined in the memory storage, receives and stores a plurality of information relating to an event. A program, being executable by the computer, provides a graphical user interface on the display. The program has an imaging module with document and image capture filing and scanning functions. The graphical user interface receives an input from the input device and from the image-recording device. In a further aspect of the invention, the program has a communications module for transmission of the plurality of information relating to the event to a remote location. |
| US07982765B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for capturing an image with a scanned beam of light
According to an embodiment, an image capture apparatus comprises a light emitter, a beam scanner aligned to receive emitted light and operable to scan the light in a two-dimensional pattern, imaging optics aligned to receive the scanned two-dimensional pattern and image the pattern onto an object, and to collect light scattered from the object, a detector to receive scattered light from the imaging optics, an electronic controller c operable to receive an electrical signal from the detector corresponding to the received scattered light, and an actuator operable to modify the relative alignment between the beam scanner and the imaging optics to change an imaged location on the object. According to an embodiment, a method for capturing an image comprises scanning a beam of light through imaging optics onto a location on a surface, detecting light scattered by the surface, and steering the beam scanner relative to the imaging optics to change the trajectory of the scanned pattern. According to an embodiment, a system for scanning a field of view comprises a light source, an optical fiber, a MEMs scanner aligned to receive the light from the optical fiber and operable to scan the light through a partially-reflective imaging optic in a pattern, and a photo-detector aligned to receive light scattered from the field of view. |
| US07982761B2 |
Image forming apparatus having exposing unit positioning member
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: plural photosensitive members; plural exposing units opposed to the photosensitive members, respectively, each of the exposing units including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction; and a body frame which is provided at both sides of the exposing units in the first direction. Each of the exposing units includes: a gap maintaining member which abuts a respective one of the photosensitive members to define a distance between the exposing unit and the photosensitive member; a first-direction positioning portion which abuts the body frame in the first direction to position the exposing unit in the first direction; and a second-direction positioning portion which abuts the body frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and an exposing direction of the light emitting elements, to position the exposing unit in the second direction. |
| US07982757B2 |
Method for reducing noise and jitter effects in KVM systems
In KVM systems for comparing new video frames to reference frames to update video, a method of reducing the effects of noise comprising (i) determining the differences between the sets of pixel values for new and reference pixels to produce a difference set of difference elements for each pixel; (ii) weighting the absolute value of each difference element within the difference set (iii) summing the weighted difference elements over all of the pixels of the horizontal line of the sub-block to produce a weighted difference element sum; (iv) determining whether the weighted difference element sum exceeds a predetermined sum threshold; (v) if yes, determining that the sub-block has changed so as to require updating. |
| US07982755B2 |
Image display apparatus and method of driving image display apparatus
A method of driving an image display apparatus having a display section having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of a plurality of frames of a digital video signal are converted into a plurality of subframes having different display periods each shorter than a one-frame period, in order to display the video signal at a plurality of gradation levels. The pixels in the display section are driven by turning on or off the subframes according to a first subframe pattern to give each of the gradation levels to pixels in odd columns and odd rows and pixels in even columns and even rows among the pixels in the display section and a second subframe pattern to give each of the gradation levels to pixels in odd columns and even rows and pixels in even columns and odd rows among the pixels in the display section. |
| US07982751B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling a computer using a video image and for combining the video image with a computer desktop
The methods described herein for controlling a computer using a video image and for combining the video image with a computer desktop may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. In one exemplary implementation, the methods described herein may be implemented as computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium. Exemplary computer-readable media suitable for use with the implementations described herein include disk storage devices and chip memory devices. |
| US07982747B1 |
Displaying generated changes to an image file
Editing an image file is disclosed. Editing includes generating a plurality of machine generated changes to the image file, individually displaying each of the plurality of machine generated changes, and selectively implementing at least one of the plurality of machine generated changes. |
| US07982735B2 |
Method, apparatus, and medium for three-dimensionally transforming and visualizing two-dimensional flyover data in three-dimensional graphics environment
An apparatus for three-dimensionally visualizing two-dimensional flyover data in a three-dimensional graphics environment includes an overlapped region separation unit, a triangulation unit, a height coordinate addition unit, and a visualization unit. The division lines are selectively applied to a polygon to separate overlapped regions from the polygon, an ear cutting algorithm is applied to triangulate the polygon, and various different visualization processes are performed on different portions of the flyover data. |
| US07982732B2 |
Evolutionary design optimization using extended direct manipulation of free form deformations
An improved optimization of a design, based on direct manipulations of the object points of a design where the number and modifications of control points is kept as minimal as possible while the targeted movement of object points is realized. |
| US07982731B2 |
Method of processing a digitized workpiece, particularly a three-dimensional model of a dental prosthetic item to be produced therefrom, and apparatus therefor
In a method of processing a digitized workpiece (1), especially a three-dimensional model of a dental prosthetic item to be produced therefrom, by altering the surface data of the workpiece by means of a tool which acts on a local zone of action (3) on the surface (2), a change in height of said surface (2) is effected in said zone of action (3) of said tool when the tool is applied to said surface, the said zone of action of said tool covering a modified region (5) showing a substantially constant change in height (t) over the zone of action (3) and also a transition region (4), in which the surface of the modified region (5) merges into the surface surrounding said zone of action (3). |
| US07982717B2 |
Method for gesture detection on a touchpad
In a gesture detection method for a touchpad, according to the present invention, various gestures such as tap, drag and double tap are determined by operating an object to touch on the touchpad, leave from the touchpad, and move on the touchpad. |
| US07982715B2 |
User input for an electronic device
A user input section for an electronic device including a keypad display, a key, and a sheet member. The keypad display is adapted to change display of indicia on the keypad display between at least two different display modes. The key has a user depressible top section located above the display and a bottom section extending below the display. The sheet member includes a main section and a key support section connected to the main section by a living hinge. The main section is substantially stationarily connected to the keypad display. The key is connected to the key support section such that the key is adapted to move relative to the keypad display and the main section with rotation of the living hinge of the sheet member. |
| US07982711B2 |
Haptic profiling system and method
An apparatus includes a characterization module configured to receive data associated with operational characteristics of a mechanical device, the operational characteristics being associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device. A conversion module is coupled to the characterization module. The conversion module is configured to automatically produce, substantially without user intervention, a parametric data set associated with the mechanical device based on the data. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving data associated with operational characteristics of a mechanical device. The operational characteristics are associated with a perceptual experience of the mechanical device. A parametric data set associated with the mechanical device is produced automatically, without user intervention. The parametric data set is associated with the mechanical device based on the data. |
| US07982709B2 |
Illuminating device and liquid-crystal display device using the same
An illuminating device capable of being produced at low costs and irradiating rays of light uniformly to a liquid crystal panel. The illuminating device has a plurality of LED packages each having LED's and a lens, the LED packages being congregated on a plane in a large area. Each of the LED packages includes at least four LED's corresponding to LED's for emitting at least red, green and blue, and at least two of the LED's in each LED package are positioned symmetrically to the center of the lens and emit the same color. |
| US07982705B2 |
Display device, control device of display drive circuit, and driving method of display device
In a display device of the present invention, during a period until the start of outputting display data from a source driver, a timing control ASIC generates a gate start pulse signal GSP and a first pulse CK1 of a gate clock signal GCK, with reference to the timing of inputting a data enable signal ENAB. The signals having been generated are supplied to the gate driver, so that a dummy line G0 is driven. |
| US07982704B2 |
Data driving circuit and electroluminescent display using the same
A data driving circuit may include a shift register unit which may further include a plurality of first stages connected in series that may receive data signals and may output the data signals, in which each first stage may receive the data signals output from a preceding first stage, a latch unit including a plurality of second stages, in which each second stage may be connected to a different predetermined first stage, in which each second stage receives the data signals output from the predetermined first stage, in which the number of second stages may be substantially half the number of the first stages, and a D/A converter connected to the latch unit which may receive digital data signals and output analog data signals. |
| US07982702B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with improved viewing angle characteristics
A liquid crystal display device, in which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned vertically when no voltage is applied, includes pixels each having plural sub-pixel electrodes, a data bus drive circuit for applying drive signals to the sub-pixel electrodes via a data bus line and a switching element, and alignment regulation structure for regulating the direction of alignment of liquid crystal molecules. The first and second sub-pixel electrodes have different areas. The data bus drive circuit applies a first drive signal, which causes luminance to change from minimum to maximum for an increase of input grayscale of image signal, to the first sub-pixel electrode, and a second drive signal, which causes the luminance to be lower than the first drive signal, to the second sub-pixel electrode. |
| US07982700B2 |
Conductive bus structure for interferometric modulator array
Embodiments of an interferometric modulator are disclosed having various enhancements and features including a conductive bus. In certain embodiments, the interferometric modulator has a first conductive layer suspended over a second electrode layer. In certain embodiments, a second conductive layer is provided over the first conductive layer. One of the first and/or second conductive buses may further connect to the first electrode layer and/or the second electrode layer. Other disclosed features can be incorporated into embodiments of the interferometric modulator to improve response time, power consumption, and image resolution. |
| US07982697B2 |
Display device mounted with self-luminous element
A display device includes a plurality of pixels, each of which has a drive transistor, an organic EL element and a writing capacitor, in which the drive transistor controls a luminous time period of the organic EL element by a writing signal voltage and a sweep signal so that the writing signal voltage is written into the writing capacitor independent from a characteristic variation caused by a deterioration due to the temperature and time lapse of using the organic EL element, thereby making a luminous time period long when the deterioration occurs with increase of an internal resistance of the organic EL element, and compensating a luminance degradation caused by the deterioration to solve a burn-in state of fixed pattern. |
| US07982695B2 |
Brightness unevenness correction for OLED
Displaying an image with unevenness correction by measuring Vgs-Id characteristics of the transistors in a subset of pixels; approximating each characteristic using an equation of the form Id=(a(Vgs−b))c; calculating a value c′ using the approximations; measuring the characteristics of the remaining pixels; approximating each of those characteristics by an equation of the same form, using c′ as the power for all of the approximations, calculating corrected image signals for each pixel using the respective approximations of the corresponding pixels of the display device to correct for unevenness; and applying the corrected image signals to the corresponding pixels of the display device to display a corresponding image with unevenness correction. |
| US07982693B2 |
OLED display apparatus
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display apparatus having four types of light producing dots, including R (red), G (green), B (blue), and W (white) dots, includes detecting the amount of high frequency components of a portion of a color image to be displayed, or calculating average brightness or power of display from input image data; or detecting the amount of current flowing in display; or responding to a user input instruction; or responding to a battery capacity; and adaptively changing the usage ratio of W dots accordingly. |
| US07982692B2 |
Active matrix substrate, electro-optical device, and electronic device
An active matrix substrate is provided which does not cause reductions in the brightness of electroluminescence elements, and which comprises appropriate peripheral circuitry occupying a small area. The active matrix substrate comprises peripheral circuits to supply current to EL elements provided for each pixel, and corresponding to EL elements, and further comprises a holding element (C) which holds a control voltage, a first active element (T1) connected to the holding element (C) and which supplies current to a light-emitting portion (OLED) based on a control voltage, and a second active element (T2) connected to the holding element (C) and which controls the charging and discharging of the holding element. In particular, the second active element (T2) is configured as a multiple-control-terminal type active element. As a result, there are no fluctuations in the programmed current. |
| US07982690B2 |
Deformable micromirror device
A micromirror device, which makes an image display with digital image data, comprises pixel elements each of which makes pulse width modulation for incident light depending on the deflection state of light and which are arranged in the form of an array. The array of the pixel elements is composed of B subsets each including pixel elements of Ms (COLUMNs)×Ns (ROWs) (Ms, Ns, and B are natural numbers). Each of the pixel elements has a mirror, and at least one memory cell. The memory cell has a transistor of an input gate capacity Ct[F]. Each memory cell is connected by a ROW line having a wiring resistance R[Ω], and a wiring capacity C[F]. When a gray scale display of 10 [bits] or more for each color is made with a color sequential display of C0 colors, Ms, Ns, B, Ct, R, C, and C0 have a relationship of R*(Ct+C)<(1.63*10−5*B)/[Co*Ms*Ns*(Ms+1)]. |
| US07982687B1 |
Ka/Ku outdoor unit configuration using a frequency selective surface
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for receiving signals from communications satellites are disclosed. An antenna unit for receiving signals transmitted from a plurality of communications satellites at a plurality of orbital slots, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a first reflecting surface, a frequency selective reflective surface, and a plurality of low noise block down converters with feedhorns (LNBFs), wherein at least a first LNBF is placed on the antenna unit in a first location and receives at least first signals at a first frequency band from a first orbital slot and at least a second LNBF is placed on the antenna unit at a second location and receives at least second signals at a second frequency band from the same orbital slot, wherein the first signals reflect from the first reflecting surface and transmit through the frequency selective surface and the second signals reflect from the first reflecting surface and also reflect from the frequency selective surface. |
| US07982684B2 |
Method and structure for RF antenna module
Method and structure for a microwave antenna module is provided. The method includes, creating a laminate structure by laminating a plurality of conductive layers and dielectric layers; creating a plurality of layers within the laminate structure to interconnect the plurality of conductive layers and dielectric layers; laminating a base plate to a bottom of the laminate structure; wherein the baseplate operates as a heat sink; and laminating a seal ring to a top periphery of the laminate structure. |
| US07982679B2 |
Transmission of underwater electromagnetic radiation through the seabed
An underwater communication method is provided. EM signals are transmitted via a seabed using an underwater electrically insulated magnetically coupled antenna. By making use of the low loss properties of the seabed, EM signal attenuation can be reduced and consequently the transmission range can be increased. The underwater electrically insulated magnetically coupled antenna may be located within a body of water or may be buried in the seabed. |
| US07982678B2 |
Antenna device and electric equipment
According to one embodiment, an antenna device includes a short circuit path, a first open-ended element, a feed side element, a second open-ended element, and a short circuit element. A length, from a ground point to a second end of the first open-ended element through the short circuit path and the first open-ended element, is substantially a quarter of a wavelength of a first resonant frequency. A length, from the ground point to a second end of the second open-ended element through the short circuit path, the short circuit element, and the second open-ended element, is substantially a quarter of a wavelength of a second resonant frequency. |
| US07982676B2 |
Antenna structure for a mobile phone
An antenna structure for a mobile phone to improve its hearing aid compatibility (HAC) character by metal obscuring, the antenna structure mainly is composed of an antenna base board and a copper foil; the antenna base board is provided in a housing of the mobile phone near a sound outputting hole, and a metallic thin layer is made in the housing of the mobile phone in corresponding by position with the antenna base board, the ground surface between the metallic thin layer and a circuit board in the housing of the mobile phone will form an electrically conductive connection. With this structure, distribution of the strength of the electric field of the antenna structure will be improved; thereby the test results for HAC near the sound outputting hole can be evidently improved. |
| US07982660B2 |
Measuring device for a motor vehicle
A measuring device , e.g., a measuring device for a motor vehicle, is for measuring a distance between the measuring device and at least one object and/or measuring a difference in speed between the measuring device and the at least one object. The measuring device includes an emitting apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal encompassing at least two sequences of signal portions, a first sequence of signal portions and a second sequence of signal portions with two respective temporally alternating signal portions. The frequency of at least two signal portions of a sequence of signal portions differs by one respective difference frequency, the difference frequency of the first sequence of signal portions being different from the difference frequency of the second sequence of signal portions. |
| US07982659B2 |
Method and system for reducing light pollution
A system for preventing light pollution includes one or more radar units that monitor for vehicles in a volume surrounding or containing one or more obstructions having one or more obstruction lights. A master radar detection processing unit receives sensed radar detection information from the one or more radar units with associated radar signal processing units and determines whether a vehicle is present within the monitored volume. A plurality of obstruction light controller units are interconnected in a network, such as a wireless network. Each obstruction light controller unit turns on an obstruction light when a vehicle enters the monitored volume or a failure condition exists, and turns off the obstruction light when the vehicle has vacated the monitored volume and no failure condition exists. The one or more radar units can transmit sensed radar detection information to a master radar detection processing unit via the network. |
| US07982658B2 |
Systems and methods for assessing weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft
Dynamic weather model systems and methods are operable to assess weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft. An exemplary embodiment receives a radar return from the weather, determines reflectivity information from the received radar return, retrieves a weather model from a weather model data base, compares the weather with the retrieved weather model and the determined reflectivity information, predicts a characteristic of the weather based upon the comparison of the weather and the weather model, and determines if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft. The weather model is defined by at least one weather modeling algorithm, and is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable parameter range residing in a weather characteristics database. |
| US07982657B2 |
Ultra-wideband radar waveform calibration for measurements of a heterogeneous material
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a ground penetrating radio device and methods of use for obtaining greater resolution. This is achieved by measuring the composition/reflection off a homogeneous material (e.g., metal plate), determining coefficients to correct the measured/reflection in order to make the measurements look like an idealized reference signal, and then using these coefficients in a digital filter to correct measurements/a reflection off a heterogeneous material, such as a road surface. In this manner, the composition of the heterogeneous material is determined with greater accuracy. |
| US07982656B2 |
Imaging apparatus and method
A millimeter wave imaging apparatus and method capable of identifying the presence of relatively thin dielectric materials is disclosed. The method involves taking a plurality of millimeter wave images of a scene at different frequencies and analyzing the images at different frequencies to look for frequency dependent effects in the scene. Relatively thin dielectric materials can lead to interference effects which can be detected. In one embodiment the imaging apparatus comprises a millimeter wave imager (2) connected to a processor (16) and at least one variable frequency illumination source (22a . . . d, 24a . . . d). The or each illumination source sweeps the illumination frequency across a reasonably wide bandwidth and the imager captures radiation returned from the scene at a number of different illuminating frequencies. |
| US07982651B1 |
Power optimized ADC for wireless transceivers
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of a radio receiver can consume a relatively large amount of power. It is typically desirable to minimize power consumption, particularly with battery-powered devices, such as in wireless receivers. In certain conditions, the effective number of bits (ENOB) required from an ADC of a receiver can vary. The power consumption of certain ADC topologies, such as pipelined converter topologies, can vary with the number of bits. One embodiment dynamically varies the ENOB of an ADC to more optimally consume power. This can extend battery life. |
| US07982649B2 |
Device for the low-distortion transformation, particularly amplification of signals
The invention describes a device for the low-distortion conversion, especially amplification, of signals. In one embodiment, the device comprises a digital-to-analog converter having adjustable reference voltages to which an analog-to-digital converter having adjustable reference voltages may be connected upstream. In a further embodiment, the device has a unit, which predistorts a digitized signal, or a digital signal, corresponding to the characteristic transfer line of the amplifier. In a further embodiment, the device has a unit, which equalizes a distorted digitized signal corresponding to the characteristic transfer line of the amplifier stored in the unit. In yet a further embodiment, the device has a digital-to-analog converter operating on the basis of the summation of weighted currents. |
| US07982646B2 |
Method and apparatus for matched quantum accurate feedback DACs
A second order superconductor delta-sigma analog-to-digital modulator having an input for receiving an analog signal, a first integrator coupled to the input, a second integrator cascaded with the first integrator, and a quantum comparator digitizing output from the second integrator reduces quantization noise by providing matched quantum accurate DACs in a feedback loop between output from the quantum comparator and input to the first integrator. The matched quantum accurate feedback DACs produce identically repeatable voltage pulses, may be configured for multi-bit output, may be time-interleaved to permit higher clocking rates, and may be employed in a balanced bipolar configuration to allow inductive input coupling. Bipolar feedback is balanced when gain of a first DAC exceeds gain of a matched, opposite polarity DAC by the amount of implicit feedback from the comparator into the second integrator. |
| US07982645B2 |
Method and device for generating an electrical signal with a wide band arbitrary waveform
A device for generating an electrical signal with a wide band arbitrary waveform includes at least two continuous wave lasers each being adapted to produce light at a different wavelength. The device also includes at least one pulse generator adapted to convert the light from the lasers into optical pulse trains and a plurality of optical modulators. Each modulator is adapted to receive an optical pulse train at at least one wavelength and modulate the optical pulse train in response to an electromagnetic signal. An optically dispersive element is adapted to receive the optical pulse trains from the modulators and to introduce a wavelength dependent delay between the optical pulse trains. The device further includes a photodetector for receiving the modulated dispersed optical pulse trains and producing an analogue electrical signal in response thereto. |
| US07982644B2 |
D/A converter and semiconductor integrated circuit including the same
In a current steering D/A converter, a 1LSB current source 1 and a 2LSB current source 2 are binary code current sources for outputting currents with current values weighted by ½, and a 4LSB current source 3 is one of a large number of current sources designed as thermometer code current source with the same structure. In first circuits A1, A2 and A4 for respectively determining constant current values of the current sources 1 through 3, a plurality of MOS transistors with a channel length L3 and a channel width W3 are cascode-connected to one another with gate terminals thereof shared. In second circuits B1, B2 and B4 respectively used for setting high output impedance of the current sources 1 through 3, a plurality of MOS transistors with a channel length L4 and a channel width W4 are cascode-connected to one another with gate terminals thereof shared. Accordingly, the current characteristics of the current sources can be made more uniform while reducing their circuit areas, resulting in improving the linearity of the D/A conversion characteristic. |
| US07982640B2 |
Digital signal transmitting apparatus and digital signal transmitting method
A digital signal transmitting apparatus includes an encoder which converts parallel input signals of multiple channels into serial data in a manner synchronized with a first clock signal, and a decoder which converts the serial data into parallel output signals of the multiple channels in a manner synchronized with a second clock signal operating in a manner asynchronous with the first clock signal. The serial data has a different period and a different duty factor corresponding to each combination of the logical values of the parallel input signals of the multiple channels. |
| US07982637B2 |
Data encoding method
The present encoding method encodes binary data as sequences of code points occupying the Private Use Area of the Unicode Basic Multilingual Plane. The encoded data can be contained within a stream of UTF-8, UTF-16 or UTF-32 code units and subsequently decoded to yield the original binary data. This method requires minimal processing for both encoding and decoding operations, and yields a 75% storage efficiency limit. Each datum encoding sequence includes type and encoding length information, enhancing parse and search operation performance. The type system includes elements for creating complex structured data-text sequences, and a mechanism for application defined extensions. |
| US07982636B2 |
Data compression using a nested hierachy of fixed phrase length static and dynamic dictionaries
The present invention describes lossless data compression/decompression methods and systems. A random access memory (RAM) operates as a static dictionary and includes commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words. An input buffer operates as a dynamic dictionary and includes input strings/phrases/symbols/words. A set-associative cache memory operates as a hash table, and includes pointers pointing to the commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words in the static dictionary and/or pointing to one or more of the input strings/phrases/symbols/words in the dynamic dictionary. Alternatively, the set-associative cache memory combines the dynamic dictionary, the static dictionary and the hash table. When encountering a symbol/phrase/string/word in the static or dynamic dictionary in an input stream, a compressor logic or module places a pointer pointing to the symbol/phrase/string/word at a current location on the output stream. The hash table may include phrases/symbols/strings/words and/or pointers pointing to phrases/symbols/strings/words. |
| US07982632B2 |
Sensor system and method of communicating data between a downhole device on a remote location
Disclosed herein is a sensor system having a sensor and at least one communication line operable with the sensor. The transmission medium is configured to convey data transmitted by the sensor to a remote location. The sensor transmits data on the communication line a plurality of times by at least two methods of transmission or modulation. Further disclosed herein is a method based on the foregoing. Further disclosed is a method of communicating by modifying a voltage amplitude of a signal and receiving the communication signal by employing a variable threshold detection circuit in the downhole device. Further disclosed is a system for communicating data between a downhole device and a remote location including a remote device for generating a communication signal, the remote device configured to modify a voltage amplitude of said communication signal. |
| US07982631B2 |
LED emitter for optical traffic control systems
A light emitter for a traffic control preemption system. The emitter includes a plurality of groups of infrared (IR) LEDs and a power source coupled to the groups of LEDs. A plurality of controlled current sources is coupled to the plurality of groups of LEDs, respectively. A controller is configured to trigger an IR light pulse pattern from the groups of LEDs and maintain a first level of IR radiant power from the groups of LEDs using individual control of respective current levels to the groups of LEDs in response to current sense levels from the groups of LEDs. The pulse pattern and first level of IR radiant power activate preemption in the traffic control preemption system. |
| US07982630B2 |
Digital united information instrument panel for vehicle
The present invention relates to a digital united information instrument panel for vehicle. The digital united information instrument panel for vehicle of the present invention includes a graduation unit indicating a velocity information of vehicle; and an united information display window indicating a driving status information of vehicle with a number and a character, while the united information display window forms a segment and a dot matrix together in a single panel and forms a black mask in the surrounding area of the segment and the dot matrix to concentrate an illumination on the segment and the dot matrix. |
| US07982628B2 |
Method and system of translating developing conditions in spatial geometries into verbal output
A verbal language based output system includes data defining a geometrical region, such as a building, configuration data relative to various detectors in the region, and a plurality of event inputs associated with the detectors. Verbal language generation software, in response to the data and the event inputs, produces verbal descriptions of developing events. Such verbal descriptions can be audibly output for use by personnel needing to enter the region to address the events. |
| US07982625B2 |
Bathing system controller having abnormal operational condition identification capabilities
A controller suitable for identifying an abnormal operational condition in a bathing system is provided. The controller includes a memory unit adapted for storing measurements indicative of electrical currents drawn by the bathing system under normal operating conditions, each measurement being indicative of the electrical current being drawn by a respective bathing unit component in the bathing system. The controller also includes a processing unit for modifying the measurements stored in the memory unit and for detecting an abnormal operational condition associated with the bathing system at least in part on the basis of measurements stored on the memory unit. |
| US07982622B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring and communicating data associated with a product
Visual and audio communication interface for a perishable integrity indicator system which includes a RFID transponder and perishable integrity sensor. A perishable integrity indicator system includes a RFID transponder and a perishable integrity sensor. The RFID transponder includes a RF integrated circuit coupled with an antenna. The sensor monitors the time and temperature of the perishable. A freshness determining module receives time- and temperature-dependent measurement data from the perishable integrity sensor and determines a current freshness status. A communications interface to the RFID transponder permits a RFID reader to retrieve current freshness status data corresponding to the freshness status determined by the freshness determining module. The system further includes a power management module. The visual and audio communication interface provides a communications means for sending sensor alerts, sensor setup and history as either a supplement to the RF communication or as an alternative to RF when RF is either not available or not able to communicate. |
| US07982621B2 |
Power control apparatus
Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling power of an electronic device, controlled by a touch input. To this end, a power control apparatus for an electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed including a touch sensor for sensing a user's touch by a user's finger or the like, and a temperature sensor for sensing a body temperature detected through the touch. Through such a touch sensor and such a temperature sensor, the power control apparatus senses the touch and body temperature of a user, and controls the power of the electronic device. As a result, even without a separate power button installed on the outside of the electronic device, it becomes possible to control the power of the electronic device. |
| US07982620B2 |
System and method for reducing boredom while driving
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for reducing driver boredom for the driver of a vehicle particularly for vehicle environments such as straight roads and lack of traffic that are likely to induce boredom. An example system includes an electronic circuit such as a computer, a vehicle environment monitor, a driver interface, and a driver stimulation device such as a semitransparent display. |
| US07982615B2 |
Systems and methods for providing viewer-related information on a display based upon wireless identification of a particular viewer
Systems and methods are described for presenting viewer-related programming to a particular viewer. In at least one embodiment, a wireless reader is configured to receive at least one identifier when the particular viewer is in proximity to the reader. A controller is configured to receive the identifier from the wireless reader and to associate the identifier with the particular viewer, and, upon successfully associating the wireless identifier with the particular viewer, to present the viewer-related programming associated with the particular viewer via the display or other presentation device located in proximity to the wireless reader. Viewer-related programming may including placeshifted content, viewing preferences, settings or other information as desired. |
| US07982611B1 |
Dealing with rogue RFID readers using reader attributes
Rogue RFID readers are detected by listening to communication between rogue reader and a tag, capturing a time stamp and/or a channel associated with the communication, and checking the captured time stamp/channel to determine whether it is a result of a command from another legitimate reader. Audible or visible alerts may be issued, flags may be set, or messages transmitted to an administrator upon determining the operation of the rogue RFID reader. Based on the alert(s) affected tags or the rogue reader may be jammed or an effect of the illegal transmission by the rogue reader may be reversed or tags replaced. |
| US07982609B2 |
RFID-based enterprise intelligence
An “RFID-Based Inference Platform” provides various techniques for using RFID tags in combination with other enterprise sensors to track users and objects, infer their interactions, and provide these inferences for enabling further applications. Specifically, observations are collected from combinations of RFID tag reads and other enterprise sensors including electronic calendars, user presence identifiers, cardkey access logs, computer logins, etc. Given sufficient observations, the RFID-Based Inference Platform automatically differentiates between tags associated with or affixed to people and tags affixed to objects. The RFID-Based Inference Platform then infers additional information including identities of people, ownership of specific objects, the nature of different “zones” in a workspace (e.g., private office versus conference room). These inferences are then used to enable various applications including object tracking, automated object ownership determinations, automated object cataloging, automated misplaced object alerts, video annotations, automated conference room scheduling, semi-automated object image catalogs, object interaction query systems, etc. |
| US07982607B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling wireless transmissions from a tag
A tag has a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a further section, the further section being responsive to receipt by the receiver section of a wireless signpost signal from one signpost in a group of signposts for thereafter inhibiting transmission of tag signals by the transmitter section pending receipt by the receiver section of a respective signpost signal from each signpost in the group. A different configuration includes a tag having a receiver section, a transmitter section, and a further section, the further section inhibiting transmission of tag signals by the transmitter section during a time period that ends as a function of the absence of receipt by the receiver section of signpost signals, the further section responding to receipt of signpost signals by the receiver section during the time period by saving information relating to signposts that generated the signpost signals. |
| US07982602B2 |
Testing for interference within a wireless sensor system
A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices. |
| US07982601B2 |
Multi-modal active RFID tag with biometric sensors, systems and methods of ITV tracking
RFID tags, methods and systems for total asset management, in-transit visibility and bio-metric verification and authorization. The system comprises an active, multi-modal, bi-directional RFID tag having a primary communication mode RF transceiver and a secondary mode IR/US transceiver. The tag includes sensors, such as bio-metric, and memory containing user bio-metric data. A reader and illuminator(s), preferably IR and/or US, are communicatively coupled with the tag and adapted to provide command and control signals to the tag and receive data/information from it. The user's bio-metric data is read by the sensor, compared to the data base and verification communicated to an access or point of sale device. The tag looks for illuminators and reports to the reader the IDs of those it sees. The detection history permits tracking and locating tagged objects or persons, such as theme park guests. If no illuminator signal is seen, the tag sends a special signal. |
| US07982600B2 |
Hybrid communication terminal-alarm system
A hybrid communication terminal-alarm system is described, for individual use or for use in public facilities. A communication terminal, such as cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed or mobile phone, etc, has one or more built-in alarm sensors. The sensors are capable of identifying various hazards and/or potentially dangerous events and appropriately warning the person(s) that may be affected, by the respective event. The alarm may be acoustic (e.g. a sound or a voice message) or optic (flashing light). The system also transmits automatically a distress message to a third party for help, as/if needed. The distress message may be transmitted over the public wireless or wireline network, or over a private network. |
| US07982596B2 |
Method and apparatus for a power line communications test system
A system for testing PLC equipment, network conditions, and protocol performance is provided. Noise measurements can be made at a single point, and protocol traffic, signal levels, and upper-layer parameters of any transmissions by other equipment on the same network are logged. Alternatively, a plurality of units located at different points in the PLC network are at least part of a distributed test system. As a result, coordinated tests can be conducted by multiple nodes, such as point-to-point network transfer function measurement and analysis, estimation of the location of noise sources and system null and resonances, receiver operating curve (ROC) measurements with actual protocol modulation, or any other suitable tests. Preferably, the test devices are able to test using a plurality of PLC protocols. In some devices, PLC protocol-specific modules can be added or removed as desired to increase, decrease or change the test device's protocol abilities. |
| US07982593B2 |
Alarm device of vehicle battery for monitoring voltage ranges in charging and discharging processes of vehicle battery
An alarm device of a vehicle battery for monitoring voltage ranges in charging and discharging processes of the vehicle battery uses a sampling circuit to monitor the charging and discharging voltages real time of a battery, and prompts alert through a light or a buzzer of an alert unit in accordance with the preset voltage stage in a charging and discharging process of the battery. Moreover, a connection port compatible to an external electric device for accessing and examining the defect of a malfunction battery as a reference for maintaining and updating a malfunctioned battery. |
| US07982591B2 |
System and method for detecting surrounding environment
A system and method applicable to a vehicle for detecting a surrounding environment are provided. The system and method include installing primary and secondary display units in a vehicle; installing a plurality of detectors of various types around the vehicle; detecting obstacles around the vehicle using the plurality of different detectors; generating and outputting first detector data to be received by a primary control module; generating second detector data by integrating data to generate and transmit a primary warning message including vehicle positional information relative to the obstacle and a secondary warning message comprising obstacle positional information to the primary and secondary display units respectively for display. The system and method enable accurate detection of an obstacle via the warning messages and improved driving safety, using detectors with functions different from and complementary to one another. |
| US07982588B2 |
Method and apparatus for sensory stimulation
An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to a body member (120). The apparatus comprises one or more conducting electrodes (106), each of which is provided with an insulator (108). When the body member (120) is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member. A capacitive coupling over the insulator (108) is formed between the conducting electrode (106) and the body member (120). The conducting electrodes are driven by an electrical input which comprises a low-frequency component (114) in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 500 Hz. The capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation. The apparatus is capable of producing the electrosensory sensation independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes (106) or insulators (108). |
| US07982583B1 |
Method and system of display validation through varying visual appearance
Users of the system are each provided with an indicator module capable of presenting a display. An authorization module keeps track of which users are authorized to access a facility, such as a secured area or a parking facility. The authorization module sends messages, such as SMS messages, to the authorized indicator modules directing them to present a common valid display. The common valid display changes repeatedly over time, but, at any one time, the modules of authorized users all present the same display. A user may be granted or denied access based on whether the display on his module is the same as that of known authorized modules. |
| US07982575B2 |
Insulating member
An ignition coil, which includes a primary coil and a secondary coil, has an electrical insulating member. The electrical insulating member includes an insulating material being a base material. The electrical insulating member further includes a reactive agent being an additive added to the insulating material for causing dehydration-decomposition, so as to enhance durability when being applied with high voltage. Alternatively, a reactive agent is coated on a surface of the electrical insulating body for causing dehydration-decomposition, so as to enhance durability when being applied with high voltage. |
| US07982572B2 |
Substrate inductive devices and methods
Methods and Apparatus for providing a low-cost and high-precision inductive device. In one embodiment, the inductive device comprises a plurality of vias having extended ends which replace windings disposed around a magnetically permeable core. In another embodiment, the inductive device comprises a wired center core as well as a plurality of vias having extended ends which act as windings disposed around a magnetically permeable core. In a second aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing the aforementioned inductive devices as well as the wired core centers is disclosed. |
| US07982568B2 |
Multilevel correlated magnetic system and method for using same
A multilevel correlated magnetic system and method for using the same are described herein. A wide-range of devices including a momentary snap switch, a cushioning device, and an exploding toy are also described herein that may incorporate one or more of the multilevel correlated magnetic systems. |
| US07982566B2 |
Cryostat having a magnet coil system, which comprises an LTS section and an HTS section, which is arranged in the vacuum part
A cryostat (1) with a magnet coil system including superconductors for the production of a magnet field B0 in a measuring volume (3) within a room temperature bore (2) of the cryostat has a plurality of radially nested solenoid-shaped coil sections (4, 5, 6) which surround the room temperature bore and which are electrically connected in series, at least one of which being an LTS section (5, 6) with a conventional low temperature superconductor (LTS) and at least one of which being an HTS section (4) including a high temperature superconductor (HTS), wherein the LTS section (5, 6) is located in a helium tank (9) of the cryostat (1) along with liquid helium at a helium temperature TL. The apparatus is characterized in that the HTS section (4) is disposed radially within the LTS section (5, 6) in a vacuum portion of the cryostat and is separated from the LTS section (5, 6) by the helium tank (9) wall (9a) facing the room temperature bore. The HTS coil section can be reliably used in the cryostat over a long period of time (FIG. 1a). |
| US07982565B2 |
Integrated solenoid and ignition magnetic switch
A solenoid includes a solenoid housing defining a solenoid centerline; and an ignition magnetic switch including an ignition magnetic switch coil disposed at least partially within the housing, the ignition magnetic switch coil having a magnetic field that encompasses the solenoid centerline. |
| US07982560B2 |
Cavity resonator having a re-entrant stub on a printed circuit board with cut-out areas
The invention is related to cavity resonators, a method for producing a cavity resonator, and a band pass filter system comprising cavity resonators. A cavity resonator (100) according to the invention comprises a printed circuit-board (10); an upper electrically conductive cap (20) having a three-dimensional structure (21); and a lower electrically conductive cap (30) having a three-dimensional structure (31). The structures of the upper cap (20) and the lower cap (30) are identical and the two caps (20, 30) are mounted on opposite sides of the printed circuit-board (10). |
| US07982557B2 |
Layered low-pass filter capable of producing a plurality of attenuation poles
A layered low-pass filter includes: a first inductor and a second inductor that are connected in series and are located between an input terminal and an output terminal; a first capacitor connected in parallel to the first inductor; a second capacitor connected in parallel to the second inductor; and third to fifth capacitors and third to fifth inductors. The output of the first inductor and the input of the second inductor are connected to the ground via the third capacitor and the third inductor connected in series. The input of the first inductor is connected to the ground via the fourth capacitor and the fourth inductor connected in series. The output of the second inductor is connected to the ground via the fifth capacitor and the fifth inductor 8 connected in series. |
| US07982555B2 |
Method and system for processing signals via power splitters embedded in an integrated circuit package
Methods and systems for processing signals via power splitters embedded in an integrated circuit package may include generating via a power splitter, one or more RF signals proportional to one or more received RF signals. The power splitter may be integrated in a multi-layer package. The generated RF signals may be processed via an integrated circuit, which may be electrically coupled to the multi-layer package. The power splitters may include quarter wavelength transmission lines. The transmission lines may include a microstrip structure or a coplanar structure. The power splitters may be bonded to one or more capacitors in the integrated circuit. The capacitors may include CMOS devices in the integrated circuit. The power splitters may include lumped devices which may include surface mount devices coupled to the multi-layer package or devices within the integrated circuit, which may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. |
| US07982554B2 |
Multi-band high-frequency circuit, multi-band high frequency circuit component and multi-band communication apparatus using same
A multi-band high-frequency circuit for performing wireless communications among pluralities of communication systems having different communication frequencies. A high-frequency switch circuit contains: switching elements for switching the connection of pluralities of multi-band antennas to transmitting circuits and receiving circuits; a first diplexer circuit disposed between the high-frequency switch circuit and transmitting circuits for branching a high-frequency signal into frequency bands of the communication systems; and a second diplexer circuit disposed between the high-frequency switch circuit and receiving circuits for branching a high-frequency signal into frequency bands of the communication systems. |
| US07982552B2 |
Automatic frequency calibration apparatus and method for a phase-locked loop based frequency synthesizer
An automatic frequency calibration apparatus and a method thereof for a phase-locked loop based frequency synthesizer are disclosed. The apparatus includes a frequency-to-digital converter configured to convert a frequency of a VCO output signal to a first digital value, a target value setting section configured to provide a second digital value corresponding to a target frequency, and a finite state machine configured to calibrate the frequency of the VCO output signal by using the difference of the first digital value and the second digital value. Accordingly, the calibration speed and a frequency resolution of the automatic frequency calibration apparatus in a frequency synthesizer may be enhanced. |
| US07982550B1 |
Highly accurate temperature stable clock based on differential frequency discrimination of oscillators
An apparatus and a method for compensating for a mismatch in temperature coefficients of two oscillator frequencies to match a desired frequency ratio between the two oscillator frequencies over a temperature range. In one embodiment of a temperature sensor, first and second oscillators of different temperature characteristics are coupled to a differential frequency discriminator (DFD) circuit. The DFD circuit compensates for the different characteristics in order to match a frequency difference between the first and second frequencies over a temperature range. |
| US07982549B1 |
Dual self-calibrating low-power oscillator system and operation
A system may include a first circuit configured to generate a first clock having a first period of oscillation, and a second circuit configured to generate a second clock having a second period of oscillation, where the difference (ΔT) between the first period of oscillation and the second period of oscillation remains within a specified limit even during variations in temperature and/or during variations in the supply voltage. The system may further include a control circuit, which may receive the first clock and the second clock, and adjust, according to ΔT, a first target parameter corresponding to a first number of cycles of the first clock, when a current cycle count of the second clock reaches a second target parameter corresponding to a second number of cycles of the second clock. The control circuit may also adjust, according to ΔT, the second target parameter when the current cycle count of the second clock reaches the second target parameter, and generate, based on counted cycles of the second clock, an output clock having an output period higher than the first period and the second period. |
| US07982548B2 |
Resonant oscillator with oscillation-startup circuitry
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that implements a resonant oscillator circuit. This system includes a first inductor with a constant potential terminal coupled to an input voltage, and a time-varying potential terminal coupled to a first phase output. The system also includes a second inductor with a constant potential terminal coupled to the input voltage, and a time-varying potential terminal coupled to a second phase output. The system additionally includes a first n-type transistor with a source terminal coupled to a base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the first phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the second phase output. The system also includes a second n-type transistor with a source terminal coupled to the base voltage, a drain terminal coupled to the second phase output, and a gate terminal coupled to the first phase output. Finally, the system includes a startup circuit configured to commence oscillations in the resonant oscillator circuit by energizing the first inductor before energizing the second inductor. |
| US07982547B2 |
Phase locked loop-based tuning adjustable filter
Phase locked loop based frequency tuning of an adjustable filter is disclosed. A resonant circuit includes the adjustable filter, and an oscillator signal provides an input to the resonant circuit. |
| US07982545B2 |
Transmission apparatus and method of switching phase lock reference frequency signal thereof
An optical transmission apparatus according to the present invention connects a terminal apparatus side in which a transmission line is formed by, for example, SONET/SDH, and a WDM side in which a transmission line is formed by, for example, OTU3. The optical transmission apparatus according to the present invention includes a selector that, when an input signal is interrupted or switched, controls a PLL unit so as to switch and obtain a clock signal of a predetermined frequency oscillated by an OSC, corresponding to a frequency of a clock signal of the input signal before being divided to input into the PLL unit, as a clock signal to generate a PLL reference frequency. |
| US07982543B1 |
Switchable power amplifier
Embodiments of circuits, apparatuses, and systems for a switchable radio frequency (RF) power amplifier are disclosed. Some embodiments include a matching network configured to alternatively provide a first load impedance or second load impedance based at least in part on an amplification mode of a power amplification section. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07982541B2 |
AGC circuit
A count control signal generating section for generating a count control signal on the basis of an output signal of a variable gain amplifier; an up/down counter for performing an up-count operation or a down-count operation on the basis of the count control signal; a gain control signal generating section for generating a gain control signal to be supplied to the variable gain amplifier on the basis of a count value of the up/down counter; and a state detector section for outputting a state detection signal indicating whether a state of a circuit operation is a steady state or another state are provided. When the state detection signal indicates that the state of the circuit operation is the steady state, the operation of at least one of the up/down counter and the gain control signal generating section is controlled so as to fix the gain control signal. |
| US07982540B2 |
Integrated circuit arrangement for generating a digital variable gain control signal
The invention proposes an integrated circuit arrangement (10) for generating a digital variable gain control signal (SA) for a digitally variable gain amplifier (14), comprising: a memory (16) for storing at least one digital signal sequence (DS) defining a time gain profile, a controller (18) for generating the digital variable gain control signal (SA) by reading out the memory (16), and a programming interface (20) for programming the memory (16). The integrated circuit arrangement (10) in accordance with the invention makes it possible to read out e.g. a gain characteristic as needed at the time for an ultrasound or radar application of a VGA in fast response at a defined rate from the memory (16). |
| US07982539B2 |
High resolution variable gain control
A gain circuit includes an analog section with variable gain and a digital section with variable gain. The gain steps for the digital section have a higher resolution than the gain steps for the analog section. In some implementations, gain steps can be achieved much finer than 0.1 db or less without sensitivity to device tolerances. |
| US07982538B2 |
Differential output circuit and communication device
A differential includes first and second current mirror circuits that provide the gates of slave transistors with gate voltages of master transistors via a voltage follower where a slew rate at a rise time is equal to a slew rate at a fall time. Thus, when the master current is increased or decreased, an incremental change in slave current and a decremental change in slave current are symmetrical with each other. The use of such current mirrors in a differential manner leads to no generation of common mode noise even in these changes. |
| US07982534B2 |
Charge domain filter
A charge domain filter having a phase divider, first switched capacitor networks, second switched capacitor networks and a connecting circuit. The phase divider receives a first and a second input signal to output first phase divided signals based on the first input signal and second phase divided signals based on the second input signal. The first switched capacitor networks, holding a one to one relationship with the first phase divided signals, each has an input terminal receiving the corresponding first phase divided signal and has an output terminal. The second switched capacitor networks, holding a one to one relationship with the second phase divided signals, each has an input terminal receiving the corresponding second phase divided signal and has an output terminal. The connecting circuit determines connections between the output terminals of the first and second switched capacitor networks to generate a plurality of output signals. |
| US07982529B2 |
Pulse generator having an efficient fractional voltage converter and method of use
Disclosed are systems and methods which provide voltage conversion in increments less than integer multiples of a power supply (e.g., battery) voltage. A representative embodiment provides power supply voltage multipliers in a binary ladder distribution to provide a desired number of output voltage steps using a relatively uncomplicated circuit design. By using different sources in various combinations and/or by “stacking” different sources in various ways, the voltage multiplier circuit may be used to provide desired voltages. In order to minimize the number of components used in a voltage converter of an embodiment, a capacitive voltage converter circuit uses one or more storage capacitors in place of pump capacitors in a voltage generation cycle. Also, certain embodiments do not operate to generate an output voltage until the time that voltage is needed. |
| US07982527B2 |
Reconfigurable mixer with gain control
A frequency mixer or modulator circuit that is reconfigurable through electronic programming among active and passive operation, and/or harmonic and sub-harmonic operation, and/or up-conversion and down-conversion, and/or no-overlap, off-overlap, and on-overlap mixing, and/or upper-sideband modulation and lower-sideband modulation. In one example, the frequency mixer or modulator circuit also includes automatic gain control. |
| US07982526B2 |
Active-time dependent bias current generation for switched-capacitor circuits
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure include adaptively generating a bias current for a switched-capacitor circuit. An exemplary apparatus includes a first phase signal and a second phase signal operating at a sampling rate. An asserted time of the first phase signal and an asserted time of the second phase signal are separated by a predefined non-overlap time. The apparatus also includes a switched-capacitor circuit with a plurality of switched capacitors operably coupled to the first phase signal and the second phase signal. An amplifier is operably coupled to the switched-capacitor circuit and has a response time inversely proportional to an adaptive bias current. A bias generator is coupled to the amplifier and operates to modify the adaptive bias current responsive to the asserted time of the first phase signal. |
| US07982524B2 |
Level shift circuit and semiconductor device thereof
A level shift circuit and a semiconductor device are configured to prevent failure and malfunction even when an excessive negative voltage or ESD surge are applied to a high-voltage power supply terminal. The level shift circuit includes a level shift resistor, a current-limiting resistor connected in series to the level shift resistor, and an n-channel MOSFET, with its drain connected to the current-limiting resistor. An output of the level-up circuit is obtained from the positioned between the level shift resistor and the current-limiting resistor. By providing the current-limiting resistor, the current that flows due to an excessive negative voltage or ESD surge is suppressed to prevent the level shift circuit from failing or malfunctioning. |
| US07982521B2 |
Device and system for reducing noise induced errors
A method and a device for reducing noise induced errors. The device includes: a latch that includes a latch input node; a voltage limiting transfer circuit connected between a first input node and between the latch; wherein the voltage limiting transfer circuit is adapted to selectively transfer an input signal from the first input node to the latch during transfer mode; and to prevent a transfer of an input signal from the first input node to the latch by limiting voltage levels developed in the voltage limiting transfer circuit to a predefined range. |
| US07982515B2 |
Latch circuit tolerant to single event transient
A latch circuit has: a data input unit to which an input data is input; and a data retention unit including a node connected to the data input unit. The data input unit transmits a data depending on the input data to the node, when both of a first clock signal and a second clock signal that are driven independently from each other are at a first level. The data retention unit holds a data at the node, when at least one of the first clock signal and the second clock signal is at a second level that is an inverted level of the first level. |
| US07982514B2 |
State-retentive master-slave flip flop to reduce standby leakage current
A system for storing state values during standby mode operation comprises a master flip flop that receives and stores state information during active mode operation and an associated slave flip flop that receives and stores state information during active mode and standby mode operation. The system further comprises a standby mode control circuit to control the state of the master and slave flip flops during active and standby mode operation based on at least two control signals. A first transfer gate determines the current flow to and from the master flip flop based on the output of the standby mode control circuit. Similarly, a second transfer gate determines current flow to and from the slave flip flop based on the output of the standby mode control circuit. A first power supply powers the master flip flop during active mode operation. Similarly, a separate always-on power supply powers the slave flip flop and standby mode control circuit during active mode and standby mode operation to enable state retention. |
| US07982512B2 |
Communication system communication device and method for determining duty ratio of PWM control
A communication system includes: a master; a plurality of slaves; and a bus for coupling among the master and the plurality of slaves in order to communicate asynchronously among the master and the plurality of slaves. The master supplies electricity to the bus in a power supply period. The master or the slave drives the bus for transmitting a one-bit data through the bus in a data transmission period. The power supply period and the data transmission period are successively performed so that data communication provided by a plurality of one-bit periods is performed among the master and the plurality of slaves. The master finely changes a communication frequency in the data communication. The master changes a drive level of the bus within a predetermined acceptable range in the data communication. |
| US07982510B2 |
Self-calibration method for a frequency synthesizer using two point FSK modulation
The frequency synthesizer for implementing a self-calibration method includes (i) a first phase lock loop comprising: a reference oscillator, a phase comparator, a first charge pump, a first loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator, and a multimode divider counter controlled by a modulator and connected to the phase comparator; (ii) a high frequency access comprising a digital-analogue converter connected to an input of the voltage-controlled oscillator; (iii) a second charge pump connected to the phase comparator; and (iv) a second loop filter in the high frequency access. The second charge pump forms, when switched on, a second phase lock loop with the second loop filter. To calibrate gains of the converter, a voltage comparator compares an output voltage of the converter with a voltage stored in the second loop filter, after disconnecting the second charge pump from the second phase lock loop, previously locked onto a determined output frequency. |
| US07982509B2 |
Reduced current input buffer circuit
There is provided a reduced current input buffer circuit. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided an input buffer circuit comprising an input buffer that is adapted to draw an operating current, means for providing a first portion of the operating current to the input buffer, and means for providing a second portion of the operating current to the input buffer if the input buffer is expecting data. |
| US07982507B2 |
Equalizing transceiver with reduced parasitic capacitance
A signaling circuit having reduced parasitic capacitance. The signaling circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits each having an output coupled to a first output node, and a plurality of select circuits each having an output coupled to a control input of a corresponding one of the driver circuits. Each of the select circuits includes a control input to receive a respective select signal and a plurality of data inputs to receive a plurality of data signals. Each of the select circuits is adapted to select, according to the respective select signal, one of the plurality of data signals to be output to the control input of the corresponding one of the driver circuits. |
| US07982505B2 |
Logic circuit, address decoder circuit and semiconductor memory
Disclosed is a logic circuit includes a first NAND gate that receives a first pulse signal and a first selection signal, a first inverter gate that inverts an output signal of the first NAND gate to output a resulting signal, a second NAND gate that receives a second pulse signal and the first selection signal, a second inverter gate that inverts an output signal of the second NAND gate, a first PMOS transistor with a drain terminal connected to an output of the first NAND gate, a gate terminal connected to an output of the second NAND gate and a source terminal connected to a power supply voltage, and a first NMOS transistor with a drain terminal connected to an output of the first inverter gate, a gate terminal connected to an output of the second inverter gate and a source terminal connected to a ground potential. |
| US07982503B2 |
Dynamic circuit with slow mux input
A logic circuit includes a control circuit including a first logic gate to receive a selection signal and a first input signal and to output a pulse control signal and a second logic gate to receive the pulse control signal, a clock signal, and a delayed clock signal and to output a pulse signal, and a multiplexing logic circuit to receive the selection signal and the pulse signal from the control circuit, to receive at least one second, static input signal, and to output a signal corresponding to one of the first input signal and the second, static input signal based on the state of the selection signal. |
| US07982498B1 |
System and method for power domain isolation
In one embodiment, a power domain isolation interface is disclosed. The interface has a level shifter having a signal input coupled to a first power domain and a memory element. The memory element has a signal input coupled to an output of the level shifter, an output coupled to a second power domain, and a hold enable input, wherein the memory element is configured to hold an input state when the hold enable input becomes asserted. |
| US07982496B1 |
Bus-based logic blocks with optional constant input
A bus-based logic block for an integrated circuit includes a provision for placing an arbitrary constant onto a data bus in the logic block. An exemplary logic block has multi-bit first and second inputs and a multi-bit output. The logic block includes a multi-bit multiplexer circuit, a multi-bit programmable logic circuit, and a constant generator circuit. The multiplexer circuit has a multi-bit first input coupled to a multi-bit first input of the logic block, a multi-bit second input, and a multi-bit output. The programmable logic circuit has a multi-bit first input coupled to the output of the multiplexer circuit, and a multi-bit output. The constant generator circuit has a multi-bit output coupled to the second input of the multiplexer circuit. Each bit of the logic block may be commonly controlled with all other bits of the logic block. |
| US07982491B2 |
Active termination and switchable passive termination circuits
According to one exemplary embodiment, an active termination circuit includes at least one active termination branch, where the at least one active termination branch includes at least one transistor for providing an active termination output. The at least one active termination branch further includes an amplifier driving the at least one transistor, where the amplifier has a non-inverting input coupled to the active termination output via a feedback network. The amplifier controls a current flowing through the at least one transistor so as to provide the active termination output. The active termination output can be provided at a drain of the at least one transistor, where a source of the at least one transistor is coupled to ground through a degeneration transistor and a tail current sink. |
| US07982490B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit including: an output circuit connected between a power supply (VDD0) and a ground (GND0), having an input connected to an input terminal, and having an output connected to an output terminal; and a power-supply-noise cancelling circuit connected between the input terminal and the output terminal to generate a current that cancels a current flowing from the power supply (VDD0) to the output terminal or a current flowing from the output terminal to the ground (GND0), based on a potential difference between the input terminal and the output terminal. |
| US07982488B2 |
Phase-change memory security device
A semiconductor chip having a subcircuit formed in a substrate; and a phase-change memory cell located on the subcircuit, and configured to directly detect an attack on the subcircuit, or to form a shield to prevent physical access to the subcircuit. |
| US07982486B2 |
Method for measuring PN-junction temperature of light-emitting diode (LED)
The present invention provides a method for measuring the PN-junction temperature of a light-emitting diode (LED), which uses a reference voltage to establish the function of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval on temperature. The initial and thermal-equilibrium values of current, real power, power factor, or driving-time interval are measured, and hence the variations thereof are calculated. Referring to the pre-established function, the temperature change is given. By the temperature change and the initial temperature, the PN-junction temperature of the LED is thereby deduced. |
| US07982482B2 |
Probe card, method of manufacturing the probe card and alignment method
A probe card for a wafer level test of electrical characteristics of a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuit devices formed on a semiconductor wafer. The card has a thin film with bumps on which a plurality of bumps to be respectively brought into contact with all of inspection electrodes of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices are formed, and which is held on a rigid ceramic ring. An alignment mark constituted by a bump formed simultaneously with the bumps for contact is added to the thin film with bumps. The desired position of the alignment mark relative to the bumps for contact is maintained. Therefore, a change in position accuracy of the bumps for contact can be easily measured by an image processor with reference to the alignment mark. An optimum position for contact between the wafer to be inspected and the inspection electrodes on the wafer can be computed from the measurement result. |
| US07982477B2 |
Universal test fixture for high-power packaged transistors and diodes
A universal test fixture for testing and characterization of high-power flange-packaged RF and microwave transistors and diodes includes a precision-machined heat sink having a built-in center cavity with a finger catch on either side of the cavity which uses a plurality of matching modules that are installed in the center cavity and designed as transistor or diode carrier modules to provide mounting for the high-power packaged RF and microwave devices in a wide variety of flange type packages, an adjustable clamping structure connected to a movable arm, and a plurality of non-conductive high temperature pressure clamps. Each carrier module is made of a gold-plated rectangular aluminum block having a center cavity that is machined to the package outline. A non-conductive black-anodized high-temperature resistant pressure clamp machined to the package outline holds the packaged device in the carrier module. When clamped down using the clamping structure, the pressure clamp holds the package leads on a printed circuit board ensuring excellent electrical contact between package leads and circuit traces and surrounding ground planes, obviating soldering and desoldering the leads to the circuit board. The pressure clamp also produces pressure along the device package to hold the packaged device to the carrier module which houses the device and which itself is bolted to the heat sink resulting in excellent thermal contact under the device. |
| US07982473B2 |
Position detector
A method for diagnosing a position detector used in determining the position of a control means. The position detector includes a resistance track, and a first terminal in connection with its first end, and a second terminal in connection with second end of the resistance track, and a slide electrically connected to the resistance track. The slide is arranged to move in relation to the control by the effect of a position change. Additionally, the position detector includes a slide terminal in connection with the slide, an electricity supply, a voltage measurer and a signal processing unit for diagnosing measurement data. In the method, a supply voltage is arranged in the slide terminal, the output voltage of the first terminal is measured, the output voltage of the second terminal is measured, and at least a first and a second output voltage are arranged to the signal processing unit. |
| US07982472B2 |
Resistance measurement method and component inspection process
In a first step, two conductive plates such as two zinc galvanized (electroplated) steel plates with films formed on surfaces thereof, are prepared; a flexible conductive material is held between these two zinc galvanized (electroplated) steel plates. A spacer is also held between the two zinc galvanized (electroplated) steel plates to regulate the space therebetween and a measurement object such as a conductive cloth is held between the flexible conductive material and at least one of the zinc galvanized (electroplated) steel plates. In a second step, the electric resistance between the two zinc galvanized (electroplated) steel plates is measured while the flexible conductive material is held together with the measurement object between the two conductive plates. |
| US07982471B2 |
Capacitance measurement system and method
A capacitance measurement system precharges first terminals (21-0 . . . 21-k . . . 21-n) of a plurality of capacitors (25-0 . . . 25-k . . . 25), respectively, of a CDAC (capacitor digital-to-analog converter) (23) included in a SAR (successive approximation register) converter (17) to a first voltage (VDD) and pre-charges a first terminal (3-j) of a capacitor (CSENj) to a second voltage (GND). The first terminals are coupled to the first terminal of the capacitor to redistribute charges therebetween so as to generate a first voltage on the first terminals and the first terminal of the capacitor, the first voltage being representative of a capacitance of the first capacitor (CSENj). A SAR converter converts the first voltage to a digital representation (DATA) of the capacitor. The capacitance can be a touch screen capacitance. |
| US07982469B2 |
Method and measuring device for radio wave measuring
A generator generates radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation to a resonator whose resonance frequency is affected by a characteristic to be measured of an object to be measured. A receiver receives radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from the resonator and a signal processing unit searches for a resonance frequency of the resonator for measuring the characteristic to be measured. The generator comprises a digital frequency synthesizer for scanning a frequency of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation to be applied to the resonator over a desired frequency band by using discrete measuring frequencies. |
| US07982466B2 |
Inspection method for semiconductor memory
A method for inspecting a semiconductor memory having nonvolatile memory cells using ferroelectric capacitors is disclosed which comprises, after shelf-aging the ferroelectric capacitor in a first polarized state, the steps of: (a) writing a second polarized state opposite to the first polarized state; (b) shelf-aging the ferroelectric capacitor in the second polarized state; and (c) reading the second polarized state. The temperature or voltage in the step (a) is lower than the temperature or voltage in the step (c). This method for inspecting a semiconductor memory enables to evaluate the imprint characteristics in a short time. |
| US07982463B2 |
Externally guided and directed field induction resistivity tool
In one aspect an induction resistivity tool incorporated into a downhole tool string comprises an outer wall of a downhole component comprising an outer diameter and at least one induction transmitter assembly disposed along the outer diameter. The at least one transmitter assembly comprises at least one induction transmitter coil wound about at least one core. The at least one transmitter coil is adapted to project an induction signal outward from the outer wall when the at least one transmitter coil is carrying an electrical current. The transmitter assembly is adapted to create electromagnetic fields that originate the induction signal from outside the outer wall and substantially prevent the signal from entering the outer wall. |
| US07982461B2 |
Magnetic sensor and manufacturing method therefor
A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of giant magnetoresistive elements, each of which includes a free layer, a conductive layer, and a pin layer sequentially laminated on a substrate, wherein the pin layer formed by sequentially laminating a first magnetic layer, an Ru layer, a second magnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic layer is subjected to magnetization heat treatment so as to fix the magnetization direction thereof. The first and second magnetic layers differ from each other in thickness and magnetic moment thereof, and the thickness of the Ru layer ranges from 4 Å to 10 Å. The magnetization heat treatment is performed so as to maintain an anti-parallel state between the first and second magnetic layers. In order to detect magnetic fields in three-axial directions, one giant magnetoresistive element is formed using a planar surface, and the other giant magnetoresistive elements are formed using respective slopes on the substrate. |
| US07982459B2 |
Hydraulic cylinder rod position sensing method
A method for detecting a position of a cylinder rod includes depositing a plurality of welds substantially along the length of a steel rod and depositing a corrosion resistant material onto the steel rod by laser cladding. The cylinder rod is then placed proximate to a sensor assembly. One of the cylinder rod and the sensor assembly are moved relative to the other. The sensor assembly detects a change in properties between the steel rod and the welds and generates a corresponding signal. A change in position of the cylinder rod or damage to the cylinder rod can be detected by analyzing the number and strength of the signals. |
| US07982458B2 |
Wire-rope flaw detector
There is obtained a wire-rope flaw detector capable of realizing a high signal-to-noise ratio even in the case where only one detection coil is disposed. In the wire-rope flaw detector, there are provided a magnetizer that forms main magnetic flux in a predetermined section located along an axis direction of a wire rope (1) and a detection coil (8) that detects, in the predetermined section, leakage magnetic flux (13) emitted from a flaw portion (10) of the wire rope (1); a magnetic circuit member (7) made of a ferromagnetic material intervenes in a magnetic circuit for leakage magnetic flux that is interlinked with a detection coil (8); and in a space where at least one of the end portions, of the magnetic circuit member (7), that serve as the inflow port and the outflow port for the leakage magnetic flux is inserted between the detection coil (8) and a wire rope (1), an opening portion extends in such a way as to intervene between the foregoing end portion and the other end portion and is inserted between the detection coil (8) and the wire rope (1). |
| US07982454B2 |
Calibration circuits and methods for a proximity detector using a first rotation detector for a determined time period and a second rotation detector after the determined time period
A proximity detector employs a first peak detector circuit and a second peak detector circuit, both responsive to a magnetic field signal. The second peak detector circuit includes a positive peak detector circuit and a negative peak detector circuit, each of which have a predetermined excursion limit in an outward direction away from a center voltage of the magnetic field signal so as to be less affected by a large signature region in the magnetic field signal. The proximity detector also includes an output control circuit. The output control circuit is configured to provide an output signal, which, during a determined time period, changes state in response to the first peak detector circuit, and which, after the determined time period, changes state in response to the second peak detector circuit. |
| US07982448B1 |
Circuit and method for reducing overshoots in adaptively biased voltage regulators
Disclosed are a circuit and a method for adaptively biasing a voltage regulator with minimal output overshoot. The circuit includes an adaptive bias current mirror circuit further including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor having source nodes coupled to a drain node of the first transistor. The circuit includes a common node coupled to the source node of the first transistor and the source node of the second transistor, wherein a source degenerate resistor is coupled to the adaptive bias current mirror circuit and is coupled to the common node and wherein the source degenerate resistor is configured to limit an output peak current of the voltage regulator circuit. |
| US07982438B2 |
Method and circuit for controlling the refresh rate of sampled reference voltages
The present invention relates to controlling the refresh rate of the reference voltage on a sampling capacitor (Csamp). A comparator (COMP) compares the voltage on a first capacitor (C1) with the voltage on a second capacitor (C2). These capacitors have the capacitance of the sampling capacitor (Csamp). Upon each refresh the first capacitor (C1) samples a first voltage (Va) and the second capacitor samples a lower second voltage (Vb). The first capacitor (C1) is discharged at a first current Ia via a first leakage current source (D1). The second capacitor (C2) is discharged at a second current Ib via a second leakage current source (D2). The comparator (COMP) triggers a refresh when the voltages equal. The first current Ia is preferably an integer N times the second current Ib. |
| US07982436B2 |
Battery cover with contact-type power receiver for electrically powered device
An electronic system includes a power delivery support structure having a power delivery surface with first and second conductive regions. An electronic device includes a plurality of contacts arranged so at least one of them engages the first conductive region and at least another of them engages the second conductive region independently of the orientation of the device relative to the power delivery surface. |
| US07982435B2 |
Battery charging and discharging control apparatus
A battery charging-discharging control apparatus includes an estimation circuit, a detection circuit, and a control circuit. The estimation circuit estimates an internal resistance of a battery. The detection circuit detects a charging-discharging current of the battery. The control circuit predicts a behavior of a voltage of the battery based on behaviors of the internal resistance and the charging-discharging current of the battery. The control circuit limits the charging-discharging current or a charging-discharging power of the battery based on the predicted behavior of the battery voltage in such a manner that the battery voltage is within a predetermined voltage range. |
| US07982434B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling a power supply
In an electrical power supply having a plurality of switching power converter circuits and configured to supply a voltage to an electrical load, a method of controlling a duty cycle of at least one switch of one of the plurality of switching power converter circuits includes determining a storage voltage produced by the one of the plurality of energy storage devices. The method further includes determining an average storage voltage corresponding to an average of storage voltages produced by each of the plurality of energy storage devices. The method further includes determining at least one control signal as a function of the storage voltage, the average storage voltage, and a reference voltage. The method further includes controlling the duty cycle of the at least one switch of the one of the plurality of switching power converter circuits based upon the at least one control signal. |
| US07982429B1 |
Charge equalization apparatus
The present invention relates to a charge equalization apparatus, which allows the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to be easily fabricated, can control the flow of charge to batteries depending on the charged states of series-connected batteries, and can prevent overcurrent from flowing into a battery currently being charged. |
| US07982428B2 |
Apparatus and method of recharging a battery using a USB device in a portable device
An apparatus and a method of recharging a battery of a portable device using a USB are provided. In the method, a recharge unit of the portable device detects a voltage of the battery, and recharges the battery with a maximum recharge current of the USB. An amount of time for recharging a battery is shortened and power consumption for the recharging of the battery is reduced. |
| US07982427B2 |
Voltage measurement of high voltage batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles
A system for accurate voltage measurement of a high voltage battery for hybrid and electric vehicles includes a voltage measurement circuit including an analog sensing circuit, a wave generator circuit and a comparator. The analog sensing circuit senses the analog voltage of the high voltage battery. The wave generator circuit generates an analog periodic signal. The comparator receives the sensed analog voltage and the analog periodic signal from the wave generator circuit. The comparator produces an output signal based on the comparison of the inputs, and the output signal takes the form of a digital periodic signal indicative of the voltage of the high voltage battery. |
| US07982424B2 |
Document reading apparatus, document reading method, and program for reading document
The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, an document reading apparatus that includes: a speed calculating unit that calculates a speed related to the rotation of a motor on the basis of a signal that is outputted from an encoder; and a controlling unit that calculates control amount on the basis of the speed calculated by the speed calculating unit so as to control the rotation of the motor in accordance with the calculated control amount. In the configuration of an document reading apparatus according to this aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned controlling unit controls the motor with an increase in the control amount in a case where there occurs no change in the signal that is outputted from the encoder for a certain period of time. The increase in the control amount is based on the length of time that has elapsed since the last change in the signal. |
| US07982418B2 |
Rheostatic safety braking device having a bipolar resistive assembly with permanent magnet motor
This device is an electric safety brake which is intended for an electric traction vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle comprising: a rotating electromechanical machine (10) having permanent magnets having at least one coil with electric terminals (13, 14, 15), a resistive braking torque production device (22), an electromechanical commutator (20) which is capable of reliably connecting the electric terminals (13, 14, 15) of the machine (10) to the braking torque production device (22).It is characterized in that the braking torque production device (22) comprises, on the one hand, a bipolar assembly (122) of at least one dissipative resistor, the assembly having two single connection terminals and forming a common terminal bipolar electric output load for all the terminals (13, 14, 15) of the mechanism and, on the other hand, means (120) for converting the currents from all the terminals (13, 14, 15) into a single current which is supplied to the two single terminals of the assembly of at least one dissipative resistor, the conversion means (120) having no active power switches. |
| US07982417B2 |
Stage unit, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A stage unit includes the following elements. A stator includes a first coil array in which first coils extending in the x direction are arranged in the y direction, a second coil array in which second coils extending in the x direction are arranged in the y direction and which is located next to the first coil array in the x direction, and a third coil array in which third coils extending in the y direction are arranged in the x direction and which covers the first and second coil arrays. A movable member moves above the stator. A controller controls driving of the movable member by allowing current amplifiers to supply current to the coils included in the first, second, and third coil arrays. A switch is capable of connecting the first coil to the second coil. |
| US07982416B2 |
Circular accelerator
In a circular accelerator, a magnetic pole edge portion of a bending electromagnet into and from which a charged particle beam enters and exits is provided with endpacks. A first protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially outside the equilibrium orbit of a center energy beam, while a second protrusion is provided at that part of each end pack which is radially inside the equilibrium orbit of the center energy beam. The shapes of the first and second protrusions are set so that the betatron oscillation numbers of beams of different acceleration energies may be held constant or become linear to the energies. In case of emitting the charged particle beam out of the circular accelerator, the change of a tune attributed to the change of the beam orbit can be statically corrected, the tune is linearly changed, and an adjustment of the emission of the beam becomes easy. |
| US07982411B2 |
Ignition and operation of electronic high intensity discharge lamps
A method for igniting and operating a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp using an electronic ballast controlled by a ballast microcontroller. An ignition circuit including a parallel capacitive circuit is connected in parallel to the HID lamp. The ignition circuit being resonant at an ignition resonance frequency. An ignition voltage is provided to the HID lamp at the ignition resonance frequency, thereby initiating ignition of the HID lamp. Upon sensing the ignition, the HID lamp is powered at an operation frequency. Both the ignition resonance frequency and the operation frequency are in a high frequency range above fifty kilohertz. The ignition voltage preferably does not include a significant direct current offset The current flowing through the HID lamp is substantially continuous during the transition from providing ignition voltage during the ignition to powering the HID lamp at the operation frequency. |
| US07982410B2 |
Electronic dimmer circuit
An electrical dimmer circuit comprising the electrical dimmer circuit for dimming the electrical power of a plurality of lighting means having at least one digital input channel, at which digital low-voltage input signals for specifying the light power of the various lighting means can be received, and having at least two output channels, on which output signals for dimming the electrical power of the respectively assigned lighting means can be output by pulse width modulation of a high alternating voltage. |
| US07982405B2 |
Igniter circuit for an HID lamp
An igniter circuit (10) for an HID lamp (11) has a DC input (VBUS) for coupling to a source of DC voltage, and an output (23, 24) for coupling to the HID lamp. A resonant ignition circuit (12) operating at a controlled resonant frequency is coupled to the DC input for producing successive bursts of voltage having a frequency equal to the resonant frequency and having an amplitude that increases with time. The resonant ignition circuit (12) feeds the bursts of voltage across the output of the igniter until an HID lamp coupled thereto reaches breakdown. |
| US07982403B2 |
Multifunctional motor vehicle headlight module, in particular for the front region of a motor vehicle
A motor vehicle headlight module having at least two lighting units (1) is specified. Here, each lighting unit (1) comprises at least one light-emitting diode chip (2). Different lighting units (1) are provided here for different lighting functions. Furthermore, the motor vehicle headlight module has a common heat sink (6) for the lighting units, to which heat sink the lighting units are thermally connected, and a common current-stabilizing electronic system (8) for supplying voltage to the lighting units. |
| US07982399B2 |
High-pressure gas discharge lamp having electrode rods with crack-initiating means
A high-pressure gas discharge lamp has a bulb of quartz glass and two electrode rods. One end of each electrode rod is connected to a molybdenum foil member embedded in the quartz glass material, while the other end of each electrode rod projects into the gas discharge space inside the bulb. A portion of the electrode rod is embedded in the quartz glass material of the bulb. The surface of said embedded portion of the electrode rod is provided with means dots, recesses and/or protrusions for initiating cracks at predetermined locations in the quartz glass material surrounding the electrode rod during manufacture of the lamp. |
| US07982398B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and an LCD including the same are disclosed. One embodiment of the backlight unit includes an organic light emitting element in which the efficiency of light extraction is improved without decreasing productivity to achieve high brightness and a low consumption power. The backlight unit includes a substrate, an organic light emitting element formed on the substrate, and an encapsulating member attached to the substrate to enclose the organic light emitting element. The backlight unit further includes a scattering film on one of surfaces of the substrate, the organic light emitting element and the encapsulating member to prevent light emitting from the organic light emitting element from being totally reflected. |
| US07982395B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes a display panel provided with a pad region having a plurality of pads. A flexible circuit board having lead terminals is coupled into the pad region. The pad region includes a plurality of first pads electrically coupled to the flexible circuit board through the lead terminals and a plurality of second pads electrically isolated from the flexible circuit board. |
| US07982393B2 |
Organic light emitting device using inorganic insulating layer as an electron injecting layer and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides an organic light emitting device, wherein an electron injecting electrode, at least one organic material layer including a light emitting layer, and a hole injecting electrode are laminated; and an inorganic insulating layer formed from the materials having a band gap of 3.3 eV or more, and a band offset of 0.45 eV or less, is provided between the electron injecting electrode and the organic material layer; and a method for preparing the same. |
| US07982392B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device
To provide an organic electroluminescent display device promoting a color purity of emitted light and promoting a contrast in a top emission type organic electroluminescent display device, there is constructed a constitution including a plurality of pixel electrodes CD arranged at a main face of an insulating substrate SUB, a plurality of organic electroluminescent layers OLE having a multi-layer structure respectively arranged above the plurality of pixel electrodes CD, a light transmitting opposed electrode AD arranged above the organic electroluminescent layer OLE, and a bank BMP arranged between respectives of the plurality of organic electroluminescent layers OLE and including an auxiliary electrode SD in a strip-like shape above the opposed electrode AD. |
| US07982389B2 |
Light-emitting device incorporating an inorganic insulating layer between a reflective layer and corresponding pixel electrode
A light-emitting device includes an organic insulating layer lying above a face of a substrate, reflective layers arranged on a face of the organic insulating layer, an inorganic insulating layer extending over the reflective layers, pixel electrodes arranged on the inorganic insulating layer, and light-emitting sections arranged on the respective pixel electrodes. The inorganic insulating layer has openings and regions in which no pixel electrodes are arranged when viewed from above. The openings extend through the respective regions to the organic insulating layer. A method for manufacturing such a light-emitting device includes forming openings in regions of the inorganic insulating layer in advance of the formation of the light-emitting sections such that the openings extend through the regions to the organic insulating layer, the regions having no pixel electrodes thereon when viewed from above. |
| US07982384B2 |
Image display device and light emission device
An image display device including a light emission section which emits light to an intensity adjusting section and a wavelength conversion section which change the intensity and wavelength of the emitted light. Phosphors and phosphor like materials are employed in wavelength conversion and a liquid crystal is employed for the light adjustment. The light emission device may include plural semiconductor light emitting elements having a different wavelength ranges such as diodes stacked in a compact and predetermined order such that wavelengths of light from each diode are emitted from the light emitting elements. |
| US07982378B2 |
Lighting device and lighting system for stimulating plant growth
The invention relates to a lighting device for stimulating plant growth. The lighting device has a solid state light source, suitable for emitting light of at least one wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. Furthermore, the solid state light source is adapted for connection to an electrical network. The solid state light source is in contact with a cooling medium. In an embodiment, this cooling medium has a temperature in a temperature range between −50 and 0° C. |
| US07982377B2 |
High-pressure gas discharge lamp
A high-pressure gas discharge lamp includes at least a lamp tube and two electrodes. The two electrodes are each attached to the lamp tube by a sealed area and, outside the sealed area, each electrode has a perpendicular minimum distance, with respect to its longitudinal axis, from the lamp tube. |
| US07982376B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing heat from high intensity light bulbs
Water or air is directed through a hood or double cylinder cooling device for providing cooling to one or more light bulbs used in growing plants in greenhouses, aquarium, and hydroponic applications. A water recirculation system with a reservoir and a pump may provide a flow of cooling water through tubing to the hood. The hood provides a housing and a tube which contains one or more light bulbs which can be accessed or replaced through an end of the tube which projects through the housing. The light holder includes an enclosed electric box and a plurality of curved fins which expand against the inside glass tube. Various reflector housing shapes and reflectors direct light to plants. The end cap is bolted to a split ring flange attached to the outer tube. |
| US07982375B2 |
Integrated actuator sensor structure
An integrated sensory actuator (10) which uses an electroactive polymer is provided. The sensory actuator is comprised of an actuating member (12) made of an ionic polymer-metal composite; a sensing member (14) made of a piezoelectric material; and an insulating member (16) interposed between the actuating member and the sensing member. The sensory actuator may further include a compensation circuit adapted to receive a sensed signal from the sensing member and an actuation signal from the actuating member and compensate the sensed signal for feedthrough coupling between the actuating member and the sensing member. |
| US07982372B2 |
Piezoelectric transformer having a recess to surely maintain a position of an elastic member press-fitted between an electrode and a terminal
A piezoelectric transformer includes: a piezoelectric transducer on whose outer surface an electrode is formed; a case housing the piezoelectric transducer; a terminal disposed to face the electrode; an elastic member in contact with both the electrode and the terminal in the case and having conductivity to bring the electrode and the terminal into mutual continuity; and a folder formed in the case and fixedly holding the elastic member to press-fit the elastic member between the electrode and the terminal. |
| US07982368B2 |
Polymer actuator and device equipped with polymer actuator
Provided is a polymer actuator including: an electrolyte layer; and a pair of electrodes provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte layer in the thickness direction, wherein the polymer actuator is deformed when a voltage is applied across the pair of electrodes, and wherein the polymer actuator includes a support portion and a deformation portion, and the gap between the electrodes in the support portion is larger than the gap between the electrodes in the deformation portion. |
| US07982363B2 |
Bulk acoustic device and method for fabricating
A method for fabricating a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) device comprising providing a growth substrate and growing an Group-III nitride epitaxial layer on the growth substrate. A first electrode is deposited on the epitaxial layer. A carrier substrate is provided and the growth substrate, epitaxial layer and first electrode combination is flip-chip mounted on the carrier substrate. The growth substrate is removed and a second electrode is deposited on the epitaxial layer with the epitaxial layer sandwiched between the first and second electrodes. A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) device comprises first and second metal electrodes and a Group-III nitride epitaxial layer sandwiched between the first and second electrodes. A carrier substrate is included, with the first and second electrodes and epitaxial layer on the carrier substrate. |
| US07982362B2 |
Ultrasound transducer manufactured by using micromachining process, its device, endoscopic ultrasound diagnosis system thereof, and method for controlling the same
An ultrasound transducer manufactured by using a micromachining process comprises: a first electrode into which a control signal for transmitting ultrasound is input; a substrate on which the first electrode is formed; a second electrode that is a ground electrode facing the first electrode with a prescribed space between the first and second electrodes; a membrane on which the second electrode is formed and which vibrates and generates the ultrasound when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes; a piezoelectric film contacting the membrane; and a third electrode electrically continuous to the piezoelectric film. |
| US07982357B2 |
Brush holder assembly for a dynamo-electric machine
A brush holder assembly for a dynamo-electric machine includes a brush fixture snap-fittingly secured to a shielding fixture. A brush member is moveably mounted within the brush fixture and includes a recessed region, and a shunt member. The shunt member includes a first end operatively connected to the brush member at the recessed region that extends through an intermediate region to a second end. A constant force spring is operatively connected between the second end section of the brush and the brush fixture. The brush holder assembly also includes a shunt retainer mounted in the brush fixture abutting the brush member. The shunt retainer includes a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a base portion. The shunt retainer is configured to maintain proper alignment of the constant force spring and prevent entanglement of the shunt member. |
| US07982353B2 |
Directed flux motor
A directed flux motor described utilizes the directed magnetic flux of at least one magnet through ferrous material to drive different planetary gear sets to achieve capabilities in six actuated shafts that are grouped three to a side of the motor. The flux motor also utilizes an interwoven magnet configuration which reduces the overall size of the motor. The motor allows for simple changes to modify the torque to speed ratio of the gearing contained within the motor as well as simple configurations for any number of output shafts up to six. The changes allow for improved manufacturability and reliability within the design. |
| US07982352B2 |
Electrical motor/generator having a number of stator pole cores being larger than a number of rotor pole shoes
An axial magnetic flux electrical machine having a rotor attached to a shaft, the rotor comprising magnets and pole shoes; and a stator, the stator has a separate pole cores having corresponding separate coils, and the number of poles cores is larger than the number of pole shoes. |
| US07982351B2 |
Electrical machines
Embodiments provide an electrical machine bearing first and second pluralities of permanent magnets having different number of pole pairs, a plurality of pole-pieces that enable the magnetic interaction between the pluralities of permanent magnets, and winding that couples with the first/fundamental harmonic of the first plurality of permanent magnets to enable electromechanical energy conversion. |
| US07982350B2 |
Conical magnets and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines
Embodiments of the invention provide for conical magnets for rotors in electrodynamic machines, methods to design the same, and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines. In various embodiments, a rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machine can include field pole members and conical magnets. According to at least some embodiments, one or more of the conical magnets can include a magnetic region configured to confront one or more air gaps. The magnetic region can be substantially coextensive with one or more acute angles to the axis of rotation. The magnetic region can also include a surface positioned at multiple radial distances from the axis of rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. |
| US07982348B2 |
Electric wire holding structure for electric compressor and electric wire holding method for electric compressor
A structure and method for holding an electric wire connected to the inside of an electric compressor incorporating a motor. The structure has a holding member for holding an electric wire present between a connection terminal section for connection to the outside and a built-in electric device. The structure and method can reliably eliminate possibility of adverse affection to an input electric wire caused by vibration, etc. while preventing a reduction in efficiency of assembly work and an increase in size of the compressor. |
| US07982347B2 |
Motor control apparatus, power steering apparatus and brake control apparatus
An electric power steering apparatus including: a power system board which is received in a housing, which supports a component of a power supply circuit to supply power to a motor; a control system board which is received in the housing, which supports a component of a control circuit to control the motor, and which extends radially with respect to an axis of the motor output shaft; a rotation sensor which is provided in the housing, which is located, in an axial direction of a motor output shaft, between the motor and the control system board, and which is arranged to sense a rotational position of the motor output shaft; and an output terminal which is provided with the rotation sensor, which is connected electrically with the control system board to supply a rotational position signal of the rotation sensor to the control circuit. |
| US07982344B2 |
Planar pulse motor, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A planar pulse motor includes a movable element and a stator, wherein the movable element contains a magnetic material, and has a plurality of convex portions on a surface thereof facing the stator. The stator includes a plurality of magnetic field generators to drive the movable element, and each magnetic field generator includes a yoke having a plurality of teeth and a coil which excites the yoke. The planar pulse motor includes a controller which controls rotation of the movable element by energizing magnetic field generators selected from magnetic field generators, whose regions do not include a center line of the movable element along a driving direction of the movable element and do not include portions outside a region facing the movable element, of the plurality of magnetic field generators. |
| US07982343B2 |
Magnetohydrodynamic engergy conversion device using solar radiation as an energy source
A magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion device has a tungsten housing containing a working fluid and a conduit leading from and reentering the housing under pressure developed by heating the fluid with by an optical concentrator which directs rays from the sun at the housing. A voltage is developed across electrodes spaced within the conduit as the heated fluid passes therethrough. The fluid may be directed to turn a gas turbine for driving an electric generator. |
| US07982341B2 |
Transformer operation control apparatus and method for suppressing magnetizing inrush current
A control portion 80 for a breaker 10 causes the breaker 10 to apply a current of a first apply phase (R phase) at a timing where a residual flux of R phase agrees with a steady magnetic flux. Thereafter, the control portion 80 determines whether or not the current measured by current measuring portions 40R, 40S, 40T exceeds a threshold value. When the measured current does not exceed the threshold value, the control portion 80 causes the breaker 10 to apply currents of the other two phases (S and T phases) at a timing where a voltage of R phase becomes zero. When the measured current exceeds the threshold value, the control portion 80 causes the breaker 10 to once shut off the current of R phase and to apply again the current of R phase. |
| US07982340B1 |
Telecommunications megasite with backup power system
The present invention is an energy generating system for a telecommunications megasite which uses fuel cells and capacitors to backup a commercially available primary source of power. |
| US07982339B2 |
Controlling method of a battery mode of a uninterruptible power supply for an active power factor corrected load
A controlling method of a battery mode of a UPS for an active PFC power supply has the following acts of monitoring the AC power source and determining whether the AC power source is terminated or not, wherein if a determining result is positive, the controlling method proceeds to next act, and switching to the battery mode and converting a DC power source of a battery to a square wave. The square wave has a period, and each half of the period is alternately constituted by at least two ON times and at least two OFF times, and each of the at least two OFF times is equal to or less than a hold-up time of the active PFC load having a hold-up time circuit. Therefore, the voltage of the bulk capacitor of the active PFC power supply under a discharge condition is not lower than the low threshold voltage, since the OFF time of the square wave signal will be kept equal to or less than the hold-up time. |
| US07982337B2 |
DC-DC converter control circuit
There is provided a DC-DC converter control circuit, wherein a reference feedback signal related to a supply voltage to a load is compared to a reference oscillation signal to generate a result of comparison. The result of comparison is used as a switching control signal to control the supply voltage to the load. The result of comparison is frequency divided to generate a frequency divided signal; and the switching control signal is generated in response to the frequency divided signal. |
| US07982336B2 |
Power sharing with stackable switches
Power is automatically allocated among a plurality of network switches, such as a plurality of stackable switches. In one embodiment, one device in the network is designated as a “master” device which controls the power allocation for all of the switches. In another embodiment, a distributed algorithm is used, in which each device uses power allocation decision logic to formulate a mutually agreed-upon power allocation. Power from multiple power-granting devices may be consolidated to provide aggregated power to one or more power-needing devices. |
| US07982335B2 |
Adaptive power strip
An adaptive power strip has a power rail. A power entry module and one or more receptacle modules having plug receptacles are mounted on the power rail. The power entry module has a power inlet to which a source of power can be coupled. The power entry module distribute power from the power source to the power rail. The receptacle modules distribute power from the power rail tot the respective plug receptacles. In an aspect, the power entry module has a communications module that discovers receptacle modules on the power rail having data communications capability and if a receptacle module does not have a unique identifier assigned to it, assigns a unique identifier to the receptacle module that the receptacle module stores in a memory. The communications modules also retrieves from each receptacle module having data communications capability, information about the characteristics of the receptacle module that the communications module stores in a memory. The communications module maintains an inventory in memory of the receptacle modules on the power rail that includes information about the characteristics of the receptacle modules. In an aspect, receptacle modules determine their locations on the power rail and send information to the communications module that the communications module uses to determine the location of the receptacle modules on the power rail. In an aspect, the power entry module determines the type of power service provided to it at its power inlet. |
| US07982333B2 |
Voltage regulator having overvoltage protection
A voltage regulator having overvoltage protection which is situated in a vehicle electrical system between the generator that is situated in a first voltage level and a battery that is situated in a second voltage level. A generator is used as a generator whose control voltage is freely selectable within specifiable limits. The voltage regulator, which is embodied as an in-phase regulator, makes available a regulated voltage on the output side, which is used for supplying the usual vehicle electrical system users as well as for charging the battery. The in-phase regulator is furnished with an electronics system or an intelligence which includes a microprocessor and which evaluates supplied data with regard to voltages, currents or load breakings and which specifies response criteria, and, upon the reaching of certain response criteria, initiates the measures which then become necessary. |
| US07982331B2 |
Transfer switch assembly
A transfer switch assembly is disclosed that includes a power switch device with a number engagement landings and a printed circuit board defining an opening bordered by a number of tabs. The tabs engage the landings as the switch device extends through the openings, and can be fastened together. |
| US07982328B2 |
Emergency supply unit with a ram-air turbine adapted to be driven by an air stream and with an energy converter for aircraft
An emergency supply unit is provided with a ram-air turbine surrounded substantially concentrically by a casing forming a flow channel and driven by an air stream; an energy converter, driven by means of the ram-air turbine directly coupled via a drive shaft, for at least partly maintaining the functioning of a hydraulic system and/or electrical system on board an aircraft in an emergency situation; means for installing the ram-air turbine in its position within the casing such that the spatial position of the ram-air turbine remains unchanged when the emergency supply unit is selectively brought into a standby mode or into an operating mode; at least one air inlet through which the air stream can be delivered to the ram-air turbine, and which is adapted to be closed by a shut-off member; and an air outlet adapted to be closed by a shut-off member. |
| US07982325B2 |
Wind power installation and method of operating it
The purpose of the invention is to reduce the contribution of wind power installations to frequency errors on the grid, and preferably to contribute to the elimination of such errors. Thus, the method involves the use of PID control and/or control with hysteresis so as to regulate the active power injected into the grid, in view of the deviation between a measured grid frequency and the nominal grid frequency. |
| US07982324B2 |
Power generation control device
A power generation control device for a generator driven by a four-stroke cycle engine is provided. The power generation control device includes a switching circuit for controlling an output current from the generator; and a power generation period control device configured to operate the switching circuit to output the output current from the generator in only a predetermined power generation period of the four strokes of the engine, wherein the power generation period ranges from an expansion stroke to an intake stroke of the four strokes. |
| US07982323B2 |
Electrical generator
There is provided an apparatus 2 for generating electrical charge from a motive power source 3. The apparatus 2 comprises an alternator 3a and a worm drive assembly 4 connectable to the motive power source 3. The worm drive assembly 4 comprises a drive shaft 14 a worm gear 20; and, a worm wheel 32 configured so as to mesh with the worm gear 20 and as is further arranged so as to be operatively associated with the alternator 3a. During use, rotation of the drive shaft 14 by the motive power source 3 effects generation of electrical charge by the alternator 3a. |
| US07982322B2 |
Liquid resin composition for electronic part sealing, and electronic part apparatus utilizing the same
The present invention provides a liquid resin composition for electronic part sealing that is good in fluidity in a narrow gap, being free from void generation, and that excels in fillet formation; and an electronic part apparatus sealed thereby of high reliability (moisture resistance and thermal shock resistance). The liquid resin composition for electronic part sealing is characterized by comprising (A) an epoxy resin including a liquid epoxy resin, (B) a hardening agent including a liquid aromatic amine, (C) a hydrazide compound having an average particle diameter of less than 2 μm, and (D) an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter of less than 2 μm. |
| US07982318B2 |
Device including contact structure and method of forming the same
A device includes an insulating layer on a substrate having a lower conductive pattern, the insulating layer having a contact hole that penetrates the insulating layer and exposes a portion of the lower conductive pattern, a catalytic pattern having a first portion on the exposed portion of the lower conductive pattern and a second portion on a sidewall of the contact hole, a spacer on the sidewall of the contact hole, wherein the second portion of the catalytic pattern is disposed between the spacer and the sidewall, and a contact plug in the contact hole and contacting the catalytic pattern, the contact plug being a carbon nanotube material. |
| US07982317B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor device module, and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device module
A semiconductor device can include a plurality of semiconductor elements. The characteristics of each of the semiconductor elements can be easily tested during the production of the semiconductor device or when a failure occurs after the semiconductor device is mounted on a substrate, so that the quality can be well managed and a failure can be reliably analyzed. When not mounted on the substrate, the semiconductor device can have a connection structure in which the plurality of semiconductor elements are electrically independent of each other, so that their characteristics can be tested and analyzed by independently energizing the semiconductor elements. In a semiconductor device module having the semiconductor device mounted thereon, the connection structure can include a parallel circuit of the plurality of semiconductor elements. Therefore, all the semiconductor elements can be driven by applying a voltage between a pair of solder-bonding electrode pads disposed on the semiconductor device-mounting substrate. |
| US07982316B1 |
Semiconductor package having a land to absorb thermal and mechanical stress and fabricating method thereof
A semiconductor package and method of fabricating has a substrate having conductive patterns formed thereon. A semiconductor die is attached to the substrate. An electrically connecting member is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die and the conductive patterns. A plurality of lands is coupled to the substrate. At least one land is pivotally mounted to the substrate. A first section of the pivotally mounted land is in contact with the substrate. A second section of the pivotally mounted land is floating to form a void area between the substrate and the second section. An encapsulant is used for encapsulating a top surface of the substrate, the semiconductor die, and the electrically connecting member. A solder ball is electrically coupled to each land. |
| US07982315B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of making the same
A semiconductor device is provided. An amorphous silicon layer that acts as a UV blocking layer replaces a conventional silicon-rich oxide (SRO) layer or the super silicon-rich oxide (SSRO) layer. By doing this, the process window is increased. In addition, silicon nitride sidewall spacer is formed inside the contact hole to prevent charge loss. |
| US07982312B2 |
Method for fabricating dual damascene structures using photo-imprint lithography, methods for fabricating imprint lithography molds for dual damascene structures, materials for imprintable dielectrics and equipment for photo-imprint lithography used in dual damascene patterning
The process of producing a dual damascene structure used for the interconnect architecture of semiconductor chips. More specifically the use of imprint lithography to fabricate dual damascene structures in a dielectric and the fabrication of dual damascene structured molds. |
| US07982307B2 |
Integrated circuit chip assembly having array of thermally conductive features arranged in aperture of circuit substrate
An assembly comprises a stiffener, a circuit substrate and an IC chip. The stiffener has a surface with a first region and a second region. The circuit substrate covers at least a portion of the first region of the stiffener, while the IC chip overlies at least a portion of each of the first and second regions of the stiffener. The assembly further comprises a signal solder bump and a thermally conductive feature. The signal solder bump contacts the IC chip and the circuit substrate. The thermally conductive feature is disposed between, and is metallurgically bonded to, the integrated circuit chip and the second region of the stiffener. The thermally conductive feature provides an efficient thermal conductivity pathway between the IC chip and the stiffener. |
| US07982299B2 |
Power semiconductor module
Included are a semiconductor package, a first bus bar, a second bus bar and a soldering control unit. The semiconductor package includes a power semiconductor element, a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first bus bar is a conductive member which is soldered onto the main surface of the first electrode plate through a first solder member. The second bus bar is a conductive member which is soldered onto the main surface of the second electrode plate through a second solder member. The soldering control unit is provided on each of the main surface of the first bus bar to which the first electrode plate is soldered and the main surface of the second bus bar to which the second electrode plate is soldered, and controls the solder joint thickness. |
| US07982298B1 |
Package in package semiconductor device
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a package-in-package semiconductor device including shortened electrical signal paths to optimize electrical performance. In each embodiment, the semiconductor device comprises a substrate having a conductive pattern formed thereon. In certain embodiments, a semiconductor package and one or more semiconductor dies are vertically stacked upon the substrate, and placed into electrical communication with the conductive pattern thereof. One or more of the semiconductor dies may include through-silicon vias formed therein for facilitating the electrical connection thereof to the conductive pattern of the substrate or to other electronic components within the vertical stack. Similarly, the semiconductor package may be provided with through-mold vias to facilitate the electrical connection thereof to other electronic components within the vertical stack. In other embodiments of the present invention, a semiconductor die which is electrically connected to the conductive pattern of the substrate is encapsulated with an inner package body which itself is formed to include through-mold vias used to facilitate the electrical connection thereof to another semiconductor die stacked thereon. In each embodiment of the semiconductor device, the vertically stacked electronic components thereof may be covered with a package body which also partially covers the substrate. |
| US07982295B2 |
Electronic device, electronic apparatus mounted with electronic device, article equipped with electronic device and method of producing electronic device
An electronic device includes: a base; a conductor pattern formed on the base; a circuit chip electrically connected to the conductor pattern; and a reinforcing member which is disposed on the base to surround the circuit chip, whose outer shape is like a ring, and which includes concentric rings as an internal structure. The electronic device further includes a sealing member which fills an inside of the reinforcing member while covering the top of the circuit chip, thereby sealing the circuit chip on the base. |
| US07982294B2 |
Semiconductor die with mask programmable interface selection
According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor die with on-die preferred interface selection includes at least two groups of pads situated on an active surface of the semiconductor die, where each of the at least two groups of pads is coupled to its associated interface in the die. A set of bumps is mask-programmably routed to one of the at least two groups of pads, thereby selecting the preferred interface for the semiconductor die. A non-preferred interface is not routed to any bumps on the active surface of the semiconductor die, thereby reducing bump count on the die. Each of the at least two groups of pads can be situated in a corresponding pad ring on the active surface of said semiconductor die. The at least two groups of pads can be laid out substantially inline. |
| US07982293B2 |
Multi-chip package including die paddle with steps
A lead frame assembly includes at least one die paddle. The die paddle includes a first landing area for receiving a first semiconductor chip and a second landing area for receiving a second semiconductor chip. One or more steps are provided between the first landing area and the second landing area. |
| US07982289B2 |
Wafer and a method for manufacturing a wafer
A wafer includes a wafer frontside and a region adjacent to the device surface, wherein the region includes vacancy-oxygen complexes and the wafer frontside includes a predetermined surface structure to form thereon a device with a desired property. |
| US07982281B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, method of manufacturing a SOI device, semiconductor device, and SOI device
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a SOI device includes a first composite structure including a substrate layer, a substrate isolation layer being disposed on or above the substrate layer, a buried layer being disposed on or above the substrate isolation layer, and a semiconductor layer being disposed on or above the buried layer; a trench structure being formed within the first composite structure; and a second composite structure provided on the side walls of the trench structure, wherein the second composite structure includes a first isolation layer covering the part of the side walls formed by the semiconductor layer and formed by an upper part of the buried layer; and a contact layer covering the isolation layer and the part of the side walls formed by a lower part of the buried layer. |
| US07982280B2 |
Integrated circuits and interconnect structure for integrated circuits
An integrated circuit includes N plane-like metal layers. A first plane-like metal layer includes M contact portions that communicate with the N plane-like metal layers, respectively. The first source region is arranged between first sides of the first and second drain regions and the second and third source regions are arranged adjacent to second sides of the first and second drain regions. A fourth source region is arranged adjacent to third sides of the first and second drain regions and a fifth source region is arranged adjacent to fourth sides of the first and second drain regions. First and second drain contacts are arranged in the first and second drain regions, respectively. At least two of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth source regions and the first and second drain regions communicate with at least two of the N plane-like metal layers. |
| US07982276B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An optical semiconductor device is provided with a low concentration p-type silicon substrate (1); a low dopant concentration n-type epitaxial layer (second epitaxial layer) (26); a low dopant concentration p-type anode layer (27); a high concentration n-type cathode contact layer (9); a photodiode (2) made of the anode layer (27) and the cathode contact layer (9); and an NPN transistor (3) formed on the n-type epitaxial layer (26). The anode can be substantially completely depleted in the case where the anode layer (27) has its dopant concentration peak in the vicinity of the interface between the silicon substrate (1) and the n-type epitaxial layer (26). Therefore, high speed and high light receiving sensitivity characteristics can be obtained, and further, any influence of auto-doping from peripheral embedding layers can be controlled, so that a depletion layer can be stably formed in the anode. Thus, a photodiode characterized in its high speed and high light receiving sensitivity for short wavelength light and a transistor characterized in its high speed can be mounted on the same semiconductor substrate. |
| US07982273B2 |
Masking of repeated overlay and alignment marks to allow reuse of photomasks in a vertical structure
A monolithic three dimensional semiconductor device structure includes a first layer including a first occurrence of a first reference mark at a first location, and a second layer including a second occurrence of the first reference mark at a second location, wherein the second location is substantially directly above the first location. The device structure also includes an intermediate layer between the first layer and the second layer, the intermediate layer including a blocking structure, wherein the blocking structure is vertically interposed between the first occurrence of the first reference mark and the second occurrence of the first reference mark. Other aspects are also described. |
| US07982271B2 |
Semiconductor device
There is provided a technology which allows improvements in manufacturing yield and product reliability in a semiconductor device having a triple well structure. A shallow p-type well is formed in a region different from respective regions in a p-type substrate where a deep n-type well, a shallow p-type well, and a shallow n-type well are formed. A p-type diffusion tap formed in the shallow p-type well is wired to a p-type diffusion tap formed in a shallow n-type well in the deep n-type well using an interconnection in a second layer. The respective gate electrodes of an nMIS and a pMIS each formed in the deep n-type well are coupled to the respective drain electrodes of an nMIS and a pMIS each formed in the substrate using an interconnection in a second or higher order layer. |
| US07982270B2 |
Semiconductor device including memory cell and anti-fuse element
A semiconductor device includes an anti-fuse portion and a memory cell portion each including a MOSFET structure having a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; wherein a depletion ratio in the gate electrode of the anti-fuse portion is different from the depletion ratio in the gate electrode of the memory cell portion, and the depletion ratio in the gate electrode of the anti-fuse portion is lower than the depletion ratio in the gate electrode of the memory cell portion. |
| US07982262B2 |
NAND memory device with inversion bit lines
A NAND based memory device uses inversion bit lines in order to eliminate the need for implanted bit lines. As a result, the cell size can be reduced, which can provide greater densities in smaller packaging. In another aspect, a method for fabricating a NAND based memory device that uses inversion bit lines is disclosed. |
| US07982260B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The semiconductor device includes a substrate having a conductive layer formed on its surface. The conductive layer has a columnar semiconductor formed thereon. The columnar semiconductor has an insulating layer formed therearound. The insulating layer has an electrode film formed therearound. The electrode film functions as an gate electrode of a transistor. The electrode film includes an laminate of two or more conductive films having different work functions. |
| US07982258B2 |
Flash memory device and method for manufacturing the device
A flash memory device and a method for manufacturing the device includes forming a device isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate defining active regions, forming a control gate layer over the entire upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a gate mask over the control gate layer, the gate mask being used to provide gate lines on the device isolation layer with grooves at positions opposite each other, and forming the grooves by etching the control gate layer using the gate mask as an etching mask, and forming the gate lines on the device isolation layer. A common source line can be more easily defined during a SAS process including photography and etching processes, and a reduced source resistance can be accomplished, resulting in an improvement in characteristics of the flash memory device. |
| US07982256B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having DRAM cell mode and non-volatile memory cell mode and operation method thereof
A semiconductor memory device may have a DRAM cell mode and a non-volatile memory cell mode without a capacitor, including multiple transistors arranged in an array and having floating bodies, word lines connected to gate electrodes of the transistors, bit lines at a first side of the gate electrodes connected to drains of the transistors, source lines at a second side of the gate electrodes, different from the first side, and connected to sources of the transistors on the semiconductor substrate, and charge storage regions between the gate electrodes and the floating bodies. |
| US07982254B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A protective film (56) having a water/hydrogen blocking function is formed so as to cover the periphery of a pad electrode (54a) while being electrically isolated from the pad electrode. A material selected in the embodiment for composing the protective film is a highly moisture-proof material having a water/hydrogen blocking function considerably superior to that of the insulating material, such as palladium (Pd) or palladium-containing material, and iridium (Ir) or iridium oxide (IrOx: typically x=2) or an iridium- or iridium oxide-containing material. An FeRAM capable of reliably preventing water/hydrogen from entering inside, and of maintaining high performance of the ferroelectric capacitor structure (30) may be realized only by a simple configuration. |
| US07982248B2 |
Junction field effect transistor, integrated circuit for switching power supply, and switching power supply
A switching power supply has a start-up circuit that includes a field effect transistor (JFET), which has a gate region (a p-type well region) formed in a surface layer of a p-type substrate and a drift region (a first n-type well region). A plurality of source regions (second n-type well regions) are formed circumferentially around the drift region. A drain region (a third n-type well region) is formed centrally of the source region. The drain region and the source regions can be formed at the same time. A metal wiring of the source electrode wiring connected to source regions is divided into at least two groups to form at least two junction field effect transistors. |
| US07982247B2 |
Transistor with gain variation compensation
A semiconductor device and method of making comprises providing an active device region and an isolation region, the isolation region forming a boundary with the active device region. A patterned gate material overlies the active device region between first and second portions of the boundary. The patterned gate material defines a channel within the active device region, the gate material having a gate length dimension perpendicular to a centerline along a principal dimension of the gate material which is larger proximate the first and second portions of the boundary than in-between the first and second portions of the boundary. The channel includes a first end proximate the first portion of the boundary and a second end proximate the second portion of the boundary, further being characterized by gate length dimension tapering on both ends of the channel. |
| US07982246B2 |
Selection transistor
Provided are a selection transistor and a method of fabricating the same. A selection transistor can be formed on an active region in a semiconductor substrate to include a gate electrode that includes recessed portions of a sidewall of the gate electrode which are recessed inward adjacent lower portions of the gate electrode to define a T-shaped cross section of the gate electrode. A tunnel insulating layer can be located between the gate electrode and the active region. |
| US07982244B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a first block having first memory cells and first select transistors, a second block having second memory cells and second select transistors, and arranged adjacent to the first block in a first direction, the second select transistor being arranged to face the first select transistor and commonly having a diffusion region with the first select transistor, a first interconnection layer provided on the diffusion region between the first and second blocks and extending in a second direction, and a second interconnection layer having a first portion provided in contact with an upper portion of the first interconnection layer and extending to a portion outside the first interconnection layer, and a second portion extending in the second direction and connected to the first portion in a portion outside a portion on the first interconnection layer. |
| US07982241B2 |
Epitaxial substrate, semiconductor device substrate, and HEMT device
A buffer layer formed of Inx1Aly1Gaz1N formed on a base, with an upper part of the buffer layer containing columnar polycrystalline including a grain boundary existing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the base. The number of grain boundaries in the lower part of the buffer layer is greater than that in the upper part, and a full width at half maximum of an X-ray rocking curve of the upper part is 300-3000 seconds, RMS of the surface of the buffer layer is 0.2 nm-6 nm, and the ratio of the grain boundary width of the crystal grain of the upper part in a direction parallel to the base surface to the formation thickness of the buffer layer is 0.5-1.5. |
| US07982240B2 |
Bidirectional electronic switch
A main semiconductor region grown on a substrate has formed on its surface a pair of main electrodes spaced from each other, a gate electrode between the main electrodes, and a pair of diode-forming electrodes spaced farther away from the gate electrode than are the main electrodes. Making ohmic contact with the main semiconductor region, the pair of main electrodes serve both as drain or source of a HEMT switch and as cathodes of a pair of Schottky diodes integrated with the HEMT switch. Both gate electrode and diode-forming electrodes are in Schottky contact with the main semiconductor region. |
| US07982237B2 |
Light emitting device package including a semiconductor substrate having at least one surface
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a semiconductor substrate including a first surface at a first depth from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second surface at a second depth from the first surface; and a light emitting part on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07982234B2 |
Light emitting device and method for fabricating the same
There is provided a light emitting device, which comprises compound semiconductor layers including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer; a metal reflection layer formed on a region of the second conductive semiconductor layer; an insulating structure formed at least in a boundary region of the second conductive semiconductor layer; a metal material structure formed to cover the second conductive semiconductor layer having the metal reflection layer and the insulating structure formed; and a substrate bonded to the metal material structure, wherein the boundary region of the second conductive semiconductor layer includes an outer region of the second conductive semiconductor layer along an outer circumference of the second conductive semiconductor layer. |
| US07982233B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor chip comprising a wavelength conversion substance, and optoelectronic semiconductor component comprising such a semiconductor chip, and method for producing the optoelectronic semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip comprises: a semiconductor body which comprises a semiconductor layer sequence suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength range from its front side; and a first wavelength-converting layer on at least one first partial region of the front side of the semiconductor body with a first wavelength conversion substance, which converts radiation of the first wavelength range into radiation of a second wavelength range, which is different from the first wavelength range, wherein at least one second partial region of the front side is free of the first wavelength-converting layer. An optoelectronic component comprising such a semiconductor chip and a method for producing the semiconductor chip are furthermore described. |
| US07982231B2 |
Silicon-based light emitting diode using side reflecting mirror
A silicon light emitting diode capable of effectively utilizing light radiated toward the lateral side of a substrate by including a side reflecting mirror is provided. The silicon-based light emitting diode includes a p-type silicon substrate having a plurality of grooves, a light emitting diode layer formed on each of the grooves of the silicon substrate, the light emitting diode layer including an active layer, an n-type doped layer, and a transparent electrode layer, and a metal electrode including a lower metal electrode formed on the bottom surface of the p-type silicon substrate and an upper metal electrode formed on the top surface of the transparent electrode layer. The lateral surface of each of the grooves is separated from the light emitting diode layer and used as a reflecting mirror. The lateral surface is referred to as the side reflecting mirror. |
| US07982230B2 |
Substrate for mounting light emitting element, light emitting module and lighting apparatus
A substrate for mounting light emitting elements having two or more conductive layers and an insulating layer provided between each conductive layer, which are formed on the outside of an enameled substrate, the enameled substrate being an enamel layer covering the surface of a core metal. The conductive layer provided on the enamel layer side links one end of enameled substrate to the other end, and feeds power to a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in the longitudinal direction of the conductive layer. Furthermore, the conductive layer on the surface of a protruding section provided at both ends of the enameled substrate extends and forms a connection with another substrate. A light emitting module is formed by mounting light emitting elements on the substrate. |
| US07982226B2 |
Reflection type optical sensor device
Provided is a reflection type optical sensor device including: a semiconductor light source being formed by providing a light emitting region on a predetermined region of a substrate; and a photo-detection element being integrated on the same substrate as the substrate where the semiconductor light source is formed to surround an outer circumferential surface of the semiconductor light source, and including a light receiving region. When the light emitted from the semiconductor light source is reflected by an external object, the photo-detection element may detect the light to sense the object. Through this, it is possible to reduce cost and ensure a small size. Also, the photo-detection element is constructed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the semiconductor light source, and thus more accurately detect the light. |
| US07982220B2 |
Display device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic device having the same
In a case where a p-channel thin film transistor is used as a thin film transistor that is electrically connected to a light-emitting element and drives the light-emitting element, a value of cutoff current of the p-channel thin film transistor is made lower than that of a p-channel thin film transistor of a driver circuit. Specifically, channel doping is selectively performed on a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor included in a pixel. |
| US07982218B2 |
TFT array substrate and method for forming the same
A TFT array substrate comprises an insulator base; a first metal layer on the insulator base, a first portion thereof forming a gate electrode of a TFT; a gate insulating layer overlying the first metal layer and the insulator base; an amorphous silicon layer and a first layer of conductive transparent material both on the gate insulating layer; a doped amorphous silicon layer positioned on the amorphous silicon layer; a second metal layer on the doped amorphous silicon layer and the first layer of conductive transparent material, a first portion thereof forming source and drain electrodes of the TFT; a passivation layer on the second metal layer; and a second layer of conductive transparent material on the passivation layer, a first portion thereof forming a pixel electrode, wherein the first layer of conductive transparent material forms a portion of a common electrode of the array substrate. |
| US07982217B2 |
Semiconductor device and its test method
A second semiconductor chip including the operation of receiving operation instructions given from a first semiconductor chip and outputting a signal corresponding to it is mounted on mounting means. Internal wirings for interconnecting the first and second semiconductor chips, and external terminals respectively connected to the internal wirings are provided in the mounting means to constitute a multi chip module. Further, a signal path for selectively invalidating operation instructions from the first semiconductor chip to the second semiconductor chip is provided inside the module. |
| US07982207B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode (LED) has an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and a transparent electrode layer. The LED includes a tunnel layer interposed between the p-type semiconductor layer and the transparent electrode layer, an opening arranged in the transparent electrode layer so that the tunnel layer is exposed, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) arranged in the opening, and an electrode pad arranged on the transparent electrode layer to cover the DBR in the opening. |
| US07982198B2 |
Particle beam irradiation system
It is an object of the present invention to provide a charged particle beam extraction method and particle beam irradiation system that make it possible to exercise intensity control over an extracted ion beam while a simple device configuration is employed. To accomplish the above object, there is provided a particle beam irradiation system comprising: a synchrotron for accelerating and extracting an charged particle beam; an irradiation apparatus for extracting the charged particle beam that is extracted from the synchrotron; first beam intensity modulation means for controlling the beam intensity of the charged particle beam extracted from the synchrotron during an extraction control period of an operation cycle of the synchrotron; and second beam intensity modulation means for controlling the beam intensity during each of a plurality of irradiation periods contained in the extraction control period of the operation cycle. |
| US07982190B2 |
Radiation detector and method for producing the same
According to one embodiment, a radiation detector includes, a substrate, a scintillator layer, a moistureproof body, and an adhesion layer. The substrate comprises a photoelectric conversion element. The scintillator layer is formed on the substrate and converts radiation into fluorescence. The moistureproof body comprises a flange portion in a periphery thereof, the moistureproof body being deep enough to contain at least the scintillator layer. The adhesion layer causes the substrate and the flange portion of the moistureproof body to adhere to each other in a sealed manner. |
| US07982189B2 |
Spectrometer for fluid analysis
A spectrometer includes: a lighting device (LSRC) configured to generate a light beam covering a wavelength band, a probe configured so that the light beam coming from the lighting device interacts with a fluid to be analyzed, and a spectrum analyzing device configured to receive the light beam after it has interacted with the fluid to be analyzed, and to provide light intensity measurements for various ranges of wavelengths. The lighting device includes several light-emitting components (1a-1c) emitting light in various ranges of wavelengths, and a mixing optical component (3) fixed onto the emitting surface of the light-emitting components (1a-1g), to combine the light flows emitted by the light-emitting components into a resulting light beam covering the wavelength band, and guide the resulting light flow to the probe. |
| US07982179B2 |
Beam current calibration system
A charged particle beam device is described. The charged particle beam device includes an emitter adapted for emitting a primary charged particle beam, a specimen location adapted for holding a specimen, from which secondary and/or backscattered charged particles are released on impingement of the primary charged particle beam, a detection unit adapted for detecting the secondary particles and/or secondary particles, and a beam guiding unit adapted for guiding the primary charged particle beam to the detection unit for impingement of a primary charged particle beam on the detection unit. |
| US07982173B2 |
Optical viewing arrangement, remote-control unit and viewing system having an image recording function
An optical viewing arrangement has an image recording function and each telescope tube thereof has a beam path through an objective and an ocular and has a sensor component assembly for outcoupling and converting a component light beam into digital data. A camera electronic component assembly (9) converts and compresses the digital image data of the sensor component assembly. The assembly (9) has a communications interface (10) for coacting with a communications interface (16) of an external remote-control unit (11) for digital data transmission. The interface (16) coacts with the interface (10) of the external optical viewing arrangement (1) for digital data transmission as well as a touch operator-controlled panel (15) for inputting and/or selecting operator-controlled functions, a microprocessor (24) for data processing incoming and outgoing data, a storage unit (17) for storing the digital data and a display (14). |
| US07982171B2 |
Detection sensor to detect receiving position of laser light and level device employing the detection sensor to detect receiving position of laser light
A detection sensor to detect a receiving position of laser light according to the present invention includes a pair of light receiving element arrays (11X and 11Y), wherein adjacent light receiving elements (PDXi) are positioned as spaced equidistantly from one another and are mutually connected via a resistor (RXj), and wherein the output lines (11a and 11b) are respectively connected to the light receiving elements that are present at both ends of the respective light receiving element arrays (11X and 11Y). The light receiving element arrays (11X and 11Y) configure a composite array wherein the light receiving elements of a first light receiving element array are respectively positioned between the mutually adjacent light receiving elements of a second light receiving element array. When the laser beam makes contact with any of the light receiving elements, an analysis arithmetic device derives the position whereupon the laser beam is received, by performing a computation in accordance with the output that is obtained from each respective output line. |
| US07982170B2 |
Microscope system
A microscope system comprises a microscope including a motorized stage on which is mounted a container containing a specimen and which can adjust the position of the container, a scanner scanning laser light radiated onto the specimen, an objective lens focusing the scanned laser light, an image-acquisition unit acquiring a specimen image by detecting fluorescence produced in the specimen, and a dark box containing these components; a storage unit storing the mounting position of the container on the motorized stage; an image-acquisition-position setting unit setting acquisition positions of partial images of the inside of the container, on the basis of the stored mounting position of the container; a control section controlling the microscope so as to acquire the partial images for each container on the basis of the set acquisition positions; and a map-image generating section arranging the partial images to generate a map image. |
| US07982169B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting the focal position of an optical system and opthalmological treatment apparatus
An apparatus and a method are presented for detecting the focal position of an optical system (10) with a radiation source (12), a focusing imaging system (16), an at least partially reflective surface (18) on the focus (18a), a digital camera (24) for recording an image reflected by said surface (18), a computer (C) for evaluating the image recorded by the camera (24), and with an optical element (34; 36) in the beam path of the optical system (10) upstream of the focusing imaging system (16), which element influences said image depending on the focal position. |
| US07982168B2 |
Absorbent microwave interactive packaging
Various constructs that absorb exudates and enhance browning and crisping of a food item during heating in a microwave oven are provided. |
| US07982164B2 |
Water heater with ionized ignition and electronic control of temperature
A water heater with an ionized ignition system includes an electronic controller in operative communication with a burner electrovalve, temperature detector, flow detector, and first and second spark plugs. The electronic controller is configured to ignite the water heater burner when a temperature detected by the temperature detector is less than (by preset margin) a desired water temperature input to the electronic controller by a user, and a). upon a flow demand signal from said flow detector, b). according to a time schedule input to said electronic controller; or c). when a remote control is actuated by the user. |
| US07982157B2 |
Method for machining a workpiece
A method for machining a workpiece which includes a conductor which carries a time-variable current along its longitudinal axis and is guided by an upper guide and a lower guide. A magnetic field is produced between the guides, the upper guide being located at a distance above the magnetic field and the lower guide at a distance below the magnetic field. |
| US07982156B2 |
Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one article sorter adapted to sort articles and a conveying system operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the article sorter for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The system or method automatically sorts and conveys trays containing sorted articles from a discharge of at least one sorting assembly to an induct of the at least one sorting assembly. The conveying assembly may have a generally continuous conveying track and is operable to automatically provide the trays to the induct of the at least one sorting assembly in a sequenced manner. |
| US07982153B2 |
Rotary combined switch structure with multistage switch function
A rotary combined switch structure with multistage switch function includes a casing unit, a switch unit and a rotary unit. The casing unit has a casing, a first opening formed on a top side of the casing and a second opening formed on a bottom side of the casing. The switch unit is disposed under the casing. The rotary unit has a rotary body. The rotary body has a top portion passing through the first opening and exposed above the casing, and the rotary body has a bottom portion passing through the second opening and exposed under the casing in order to selectably turn on or turn off the switch unit. |
| US07982151B2 |
Electrical switch with lateral operation and assembly comprising such a switch mounted on a plate
An electrical switch may include a support bearing contacts, at least one elastically deformable release element for establishing an electrical connection between two contacts, an actuation pusher that is configured to be movable relative to the support along an overall horizontal path in the plane of the plate bearing electronic components and a lever that is configured to be mounted in a hinged manner relative to the support about a horizontal axis and which converts the horizontal actuation force exerted on the pusher into a vertical release force applied to the release element. The lever may be elastically deformable to allow a movement of the pusher beyond the actuation position. |
| US07982150B2 |
Switch assembly having indicator
A switch assembly having an indicator includes a case, a switch member, at least two terminals, a conductive member and an indicator. The case includes a cover and the switch member is pivotally connected to the case. The terminals are electrically connected to a circuit and the conductive member actuated by the switch member to control the circuit to be an open circuit or a closed circuit. The indicator is installed within the switch member and has two legs which are connected to the cover of the case. Two resilient members are respectively biased between the two legs and the two terminals, thereby ensuring electrically connecting the legs with the terminals. |
| US07982148B2 |
Connecting unit for coupling circuit breaker frames
Disclosed is a frame for a circuit breaker, including: a plurality of unit frames having a plurality of inner spaces, and a connection unit coupled between two adjacent unit frames among the unit frames and connecting the two unit frames to each other, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost as well as facilitating its manufacture and reducing the manufacturing time. |
| US07982146B2 |
Plug connector for cable television network and method of use
A telecommunications apparatus for use with a plug having at least first, second and third pins. The telecommunications apparatus includes a plug connector for receiving the plug. The plug connector includes at least first, second and third electrical contacts for electrically contacting the first, second and third pins, respectively, when the plug is inserted in the plug connector. The plug connector also includes an electrical by-pass pathway that: i) electrically connects the first and second electrical contacts when the plug is fully removed from the plug connector such that a signal can enter the plug connector through the first contact, pass through the by-pass pathway to the second contact, and exit the plug connector through the second contact; and ii) does not electrically connect the first and second electrical contacts when the plug is fully inserted within the plug connector such that a signal can enter the plug connector through the first contact, pass through the plug to the second contact, and exit the plug connector through the second contact. |
| US07982143B2 |
Electric switch having an annular stationary contact
An electric switch including a stationary contact that is annular. The switch comprises a gastight enclosure, a conductor bar of axis (D), a stationary contact presenting a contact zone of substantially annular shape, a switch element, e.g. on the conductor bar, that is movable in the axial direction of the axis (D) between a first position in which it penetrates in part into the stationary contact to establish electrical contact between the conductor bar and the stationary contact, and a second position in which it interrupts said contact. The stationary contact, which is in the form of a ring that is circular or elongate, such as elliptical, surrounds the conductor bar, at least in part. |
| US07982142B2 |
Diverter switch, a method for operating such a switch and use of such a switch
A diverter switch with an operating member and an electric circuit. The electric circuit has a main branch and a resistance branch connected in parallel with the main branch. Each branch includes a contact and a vacuum switch. The resistance branch also includes a resistance. The main rotary selector contact is always operated before the resistance contact. The operating member is arranged, during operation, always to rotate the main contact in one and the same direction of rotation. Also a corresponding method for operating a diverter switch and use of such a switch. |
| US07982141B2 |
Coordinate detecting device, writing instrument, and coordinate inputting system
A pen includes a first speaker that outputs a first signal and a second speaker that outputs a second signal. The first and second speakers are located away from a tip of the pen at respectively different locations. The second signal is delayed with respect to the first signal by a time shorter than a cycle of the first signal. An interpolation time is set between the times of generation of the first and second signals. Interpolated positions of the first and second speakers at the interpolation time are estimated, and position of the tip of the pen is calculated from the interpolated positions of the first and second speakers. |
| US07982140B2 |
Differential weigh scale and method of use
A weigh scale including a weighing mechanism; a recording system connected to the weighing mechanism for recording a weight; a comparator connected to the weighing mechanism and the recording mechanism for determining a difference between weights; and an indicator in communication with the comparator for indicating a difference in weights, wherein the weighing mechanism, recording system, comparator and indicator are configured to: measure an initial weight of a subject without indicating the weight and store the weight in the recording system; measure a subsequent weight of the subject without indicating the weight; determine a difference between the initial weight and the subsequent weight; and indicate the difference in weight between the initial weight and the subsequent weight only when the subsequent weight is one of greater or less than the initial weight. |
| US07982134B2 |
Wire binding device
A wire binding device for binding a number of electrical wires of an electronic element, includes a binding member and a fixing member. The binding member includes a base and a binding portion. The base defines a through hole. A first end of the binding portion is connected to the base. A fastening hole is defined in the binding portion and adjacent to the base, and configured for fixing a second end opposite to the first end of the binding portion thereby to bind the number of electrical wires together. The fixing member is configured for fixing the binding member to the electronic element via the through hole. |
| US07982133B2 |
Crack controlled resin insulated electrical coil
An electrically insulated coil assembly for use in a high vibration environment, such as with an aircraft engine, includes a coil of metal wires encompassed by a resin base matrix. A fabric is embedded in the resin matrix near an outer surface of the resin base matrix to divide a thin layer of the resin base matrix into a plurality of segments. In an embodiment, a notch blunting additive is provided in the resin to impede crack propagation. |
| US07982131B2 |
Automatically folding cable
A cable includes a sheath extending a length of the cable. The cable further includes a flexible wire disposed within the sheath that runs a substantial portion of the length of the cable. The wire acts to fold the cable in a pre-defined configuration. In some implementations, the cable also includes magnets disposed on or within the sheath. The magnets act to fold the cable in the pre-defined configuration in conjunction with the flexible wire. |
| US07982130B2 |
Polymer wrapped carbon nanotube near-infrared photovoltaic devices
A photovoltaic device includes a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to two electrodes where the photoactive region includes photoactive polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes that create excitons upon absorption of light in the range of about 400 nm to 1400 nm. |
| US07982127B2 |
Thin film solar cell module of see-through type
A thin film solar cell module of see-through type and method of fabricating the same is provided. The method includes forming scribe lines in two directions in a first electrode material layer disposed on an opaque substrate so as to avoid short circuit caused by a high-temperature laser scribing process and reduction of the process yield. Moreover, the thin film solar cell module of see-through type has holes through the opaque substrate so that the cell module increases the transmittance of the cells. |
| US07982126B2 |
Photovoltaic module with improved heat transfer and recovery potential
A photovoltaic module with improved thermal properties, a method of making same and a structural, thermally improved photovoltaic panel are provided. A plurality of perforations are formed substantially entirely through the module which form a ventilation mechanism allowing heat to be transferred from the front side of the module to the rear side of the module. The perforations may be formed at a number of different stages in the manufacture of the module. Tubular reinforcements such as eyelets may be placed within the holes, preferably when the encapsulating material is only partially cured. The photovoltaic module may be attached to a structural and thermally conductive substrate, with sufficient strength for module to be utilized as stand-alone panel or building-integrated façade panel, simultaneously containing a large heat exchange surface area and provision for turbulent air flow. |
| US07982125B2 |
Transducer and stringed musical instrument including the same
A transducer includes a piezoelectric element attached to a stringed musical instrument with an adhesive layer, and at least one intermediate layer provided in a thickness-wise middle portion of the adhesive layer and made of a material different from a material of the adhesive layer. The transducer has a mounting surface attached to face a back surface of a top of a body of the stringed musical instrument, and the mounting surface is disposed in an area, in the top, including an area right under an installation area of a bridge which is provided on a front surface of the top and supports a saddle supporting one-end sides of strings. |
| US07982122B2 |
Device and method for analyzing an audio datum
A device and a method for analyzing an audio datum is described, having a semitone analyzer which is implemented to analyze the audio datum with regard to a volume information distribution over an amount of semitones, and a vector calculator which is implemented to calculate a sum vector over two-dimensional intermediate vectors for each semitone or each element of the definition amount and output an analysis signal based on the sum vector, based on the volume information distribution or a distribution derived from the volume information distribution, which includes a definition amount based on the amount of semitones. |
| US07982119B2 |
Music transcription
Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information. |
| US07982111B2 |
Musical instrument stabilizing restraint
A holder is provided for maintaining a device such as a musical instrument in a steady position on the floor upon which the device has been placed. The holder is attached to the floor but can be easily removed. The holder is provided with a recess adapted to receive the device. The recess is located on the top of the holder. The holder separates the device from the floor and comprises a substrate which has a pressure sensitive adhesive affixed to its bottom surface. |
| US07982109B2 |
Method for improving fertility of hybrid plants comprising placing fertility restorer genes into multiple gene loci
An object of the present invention to provide a hybrid plant having a high fertility and a method for producing such a hybrid plant. The hybrid plant of the present invention is characterized by having two or more copies of a fertility restorer gene at two or more gene loci which do not have a complete linkage relationship. Further, the method of the present invention comprises introducing a fertility restorer gene by genetic engineering and placing two or more copies of a fertility restorer gene at two or more gene loci which do not have a complete linkage relationship. |
| US07982108B1 |
Maize variety inbred PHD1T
A novel maize variety designated PHD1T and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHD1T with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHD1T through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHD1T or a locus conversion of PHD1T with another maize variety. |
| US07982103B1 |
Soybean variety XB18S09
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB18S09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB18S09, to the plants of soybean XB18S09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB18S09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB18S09 with another soybean plant, using XB18S09 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US07982100B2 |
Sclerotinia-resistant Brassica
The invention provides Brassica plants and lines having an improved Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Disease Incidence (SSDI %) score and represented by, or descended from, NCIMB accession number 41289 or 41391. |
| US07982097B2 |
Promoter molecules for use in plants
The present invention relates to polynucleotide molecules for regulating gene expression in plants. In particular, the invention relates to promoters that are useful for regulating gene expression of heterologous polynucleotide molecules in plants. The invention also relates to expression constructs and transgenic plants containing the heterologous polynucleotide molecules. |
| US07982095B2 |
Increase in yield by reducing gene expression
The present invention relates to a process for the increase in yield in a plant organisms by reducing gene expression. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material and plants. |
| US07982089B2 |
Methods of lubricating a tampon and a tampon lubricated thereby
There is provided a tampon pledget or tampon applicator that is covered by a wrapper having microcapsules thereon. Alternatively, the microcapsules may simply be disposed on the tampon pledget or tampon applicator. The microcapsules may contain a lubricant or a fragrance or a combination of both. The microcapsules may be ruptured prior to inserting the tampon pledget or tampon applicator and the resultant free-flowing lubricant and/or fragrance is spread on the tampon pledget, tampon applicator, or a combination thereof. The lubricant increases the ease and comfort of inserting and positioning the tampon pledget or tampon applicator. The amount of lubricant desired may be controlled by varying the pressure applied to the microcapsules. Thus, the number of microcapsules ruptured can be controlled by varying the pressure applied. |
| US07982080B2 |
Production of aromatics from aliphatics
In a process for converting a low carbon number aliphatic hydrocarbon to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing the aliphatic hydrocarbon is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst under conditions effective to convert the aliphatic hydrocarbon to aromatic hydrocarbons and produce an effluent stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The dehydrocyclization catalyst comprises a metal or metal compound and a molecular sieve wherein the ratio of the amount of any Bronsted acid sites in the catalyst to the amount of said metal in the catalyst is less than 0.4 mol/mol of said metal. |
| US07982078B2 |
Production of diesel fuel from biorenewable feedstocks with selective separation of converted oxygen
A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils, the process providing for sulfur management. The process involves catalytically treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A selective separation such as a hot high pressure hydrogen stripper is used to remove at least the carbon oxides from the first zone effluent before entering the isomerization zone, and to provide liquid recycle to the treating zone at pressure and temperature. A vapor stream is separated from the isomerization effluent and at least carbon dioxide is removed using at least one selective or flexible amine solution absorber. The resulting hydrogen-rich stream is recycled to the deoxygenation reaction zone. |
| US07982071B2 |
Alkoxy compounds for disease treatment
The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for treating neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, particularly ophthalmic diseases and disorders. Provided herein are alkoxyl derivative compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The subject compositions are useful for treating and preventing ophthalmic diseases and disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt's Disease. |
| US07982068B2 |
Process for urea production and related plant
A process for urea production from ammonia and carbon dioxide, in which part of the aqueous solution comprising urea, ammonium carbamate and ammonia obtained in a urea synthesis section is subjected to dissociation in a treatment section operating at a predetermined medium pressure for the recovery of the ammonium carbamate and of the ammonia contained in it, comprises the steps of subjecting the urea aqueous solution resulting from the aforementioned dissociation step to decomposition in a low pressure urea recovery section and of using at least a part of the condensed steam, obtained by indirect thermal exchange with a second part of said aqueous solution comprising urea, ammonium carbmate and ammonia in a high-pressure stripping unit, as a heating fluid for the dissociation of the first part of the aqueous solution comprising urea, ammonium carbmate and ammonia in the medium-pressure treatment section. |
| US07982067B2 |
Phenethanolamine derivatives for treatment of respiratory diseases
Compounds of the formula (II) and (IV) are provided, which may be employed as intermediates for making compounds useful in treating respiratory diseases. |
| US07982058B2 |
Chiral intermediate, process for producing the same and its use in the manufacture of tolterodine, fesoterodine, or the active metabolite thereof
The compound of formula (I): is provided. It may be produced by subjecting a compound of formula (IV) to a reduction reaction wherein R represents hydrogen, straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl. This compound is a valuable intermediate which may be used in the synthesis of fesoterodine, tolterodine, its active metabolite, and related compounds. |
| US07982057B2 |
Compound of stemphones and production thereof
The present invention relates to novel compound of stemphones obtained by culturing microorganism belonging to genus Aspergillus and having ability to produce compound of stemphones selected from the group consisting of stemphone D substance, stemphone E substance, stemphone E1 substance, stemphone E2 substance, stemphone E3 substance and stemphone F substance, accumulating the compound of stemphones in the cultured mass, and isolating the compound of stemphones from the cultured mass. Since the obtained compound has enhancing activity for imipenem and activity for reducing cytotoxicity, it can be expected to be useful as lead compounds for combination remedy for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. |
| US07982056B2 |
Substantially pure fluorescein
The present invention is directed to an improved process for producing substantially pure fluorescein, as well as to substantially pure fluorescein compositions prepared by the process. The invention is particularly directed to the provision of pharmaceutical compositions for use in angiography. The substantially pure fluorescein produced by the process of the present invention is low in color, low in sodium chloride content, and substantially free of pyridine. |
| US07982055B2 |
Heterocyclic fused selenophene monomers
A heterocyclic fused selenophenes and a method of making a heterocyclic fused selenophenes of formula (1): wherein X is S or Se, Y is S or Se, wherein one or both of X and Y is Se, R is a substituent group. The monomer being capable of polymerization to form an electrically conductive polymer or oligomer. |
| US07982052B2 |
Process for the preparation of stable nitroxyl radicals
Process for the preparation of stable nitroxyl radicals (I) starting from N-benzylphthalimide in two steps. In the first step, the intermediate N-benzyl-1,1,3,3-tetra-alkylisoindoline is prepared by treatment with a Grignard reagent, prepared in methyl-tert-butyl ether, of N-benzylphthalimide, obtained in the same reaction environment starting from phthalic anhydride and benzylamine. In the second step, the N-benzyl-1,1,3,3-tetra-alkylisoindoline is transformed into the nitroxyl radical by hydrogenolysis and subsequent oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst selected from acids and salts of polymolybdic or polytungstic acids. |
| US07982046B2 |
Method for the production of functionalized five-ring heterocycles, and use thereof
A method for producing functionalized CH-acidic five-ring heterocycles, the resultant five-ring heterocycles and the use thereof for producing pharmaceuticals and crop protection preparations. |
| US07982039B2 |
N-type semiconductors and related devices
Mono- and diimide perylene and naphthalene compounds, N- and/or core-substituted with electron-withdrawing groups, for use in the fabrication of various device structures. |
| US07982031B2 |
Method for selective carbohydrate oxidation using supported gold catalysts
The present invention relates to a method for the selective oxidation of a carbohydrate in the presence of a gold catalyst which includes nanodispersed gold particles on a metal oxide support, to a method for the selective oxidation of an oligosaccharide in the presence of a gold catalyst which comprises nanodispersed gold particles on a carbon or metal oxide support, and to the aldonic acid oxidation products prepared by use of these methods. |
| US07982026B2 |
FRET probes for fluorescent detection of the ESPS gene
The present invention relates to a primer pair for the detection of a specific gene, and more particularly to a probe pair for the detection and analysis of an EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene, in which primers complementary to the base sequences in the EPSPS gene are labeled with fluorophores acting as an energy donor and an energy acceptor, respectively. By introducing the inventive probe pair into cells, hybridizing the primers of the probe pair with the target gene and then analyzing the biological cells in a single cell unit using laser fluorescence measurement technique, cells containing the EPSPS gene of GMOs can be detected and the percentage of the GM cells in a cell mixture can also be quantified. |
| US07982025B2 |
Fusion proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The present invention relates to fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium species antigens. In particular, it relates to nucleic acids encoding fusion proteins that include two or more individual M. tuberculosis antigens, which increase serological sensitivity of sera from individuals infected with tuberculosis, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis infection. |
| US07982023B2 |
Bag proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding them
The present invention provides a family of BAG-1 related proteins from humans (BAG-1L, BAG-1, BAG-2, BAG-3, BAG-4 and BAG-5), the invertebrate C. elegans (BAG-1, BAG-2) and the fission yeast S. pombe (BAG-1A, BAG-1B) and the nucleic acid molecules that encode them. |
| US07982021B2 |
Nucleic acid molecules encoding emission ratiometric indicators of phosphoinositides
Nucleic acid molecules encoding emission ratiometric indicators of phosphoinositides, which comprise a fusion protein comprising a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Akt (also known as protein kinase B) and a “pseudoligand” containing acidic amino acid residues, which is sandwiched between resonance energy transfer (RET) pairs, such as cyan and yellow mutants of GFP (a FRET pair). The nucleic acid molecules can be used, for example, to produce the indicators which can be used, inter alia, to monitor spatiotemporal dynamics of phosphoinositides and in high throughput assays for inhibitors of PI3K, including drug screening assays. |
| US07982013B2 |
Frizzled-binding agents and uses thereof
Novel anti-cancer agents, including, but not limited to, antibodies, that bind to human frizzled receptors are provided. Novel epitopes within the human frizzled receptors which are suitable as targets for anti-cancer agents are also identified. Methods of using the agents or antibodies, such as methods of using the agents or antibodies to inhibit Wnt signaling and/or inhibit tumor growth are further provided. |
| US07982011B2 |
Mutated anti-cd22 antibodies and immunoconjugates
Recombinant immunotoxins are fusion proteins composed of the Fv domains of antibodies fused to bacterial or plant toxins. RFB4 (Fv)-PE38 is an immunotoxin that targets CD22 expressed on B cells and B cell malignancies. The present invention provides antibodies and antibody fragments that have improved ability to bind the CD22 antigen compared to RFB4. Immunotoxins made with the antibodies and antibody fragments of the invention have improved cytotoxicity to CD22-expressing cancer cells. Compositions that incorporate these antibodies into chimeric immunotoxin molecules that can be used in medicaments and methods for inhibiting the growth and proliferation of such cancers. Additionally, the invention provides a method of increasing the cytotoxicity of forms of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (“PE”) with the mutation of a single amino acid, as well as compositions of such mutated PEs, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods for using the mutated PEs. |
| US07982008B2 |
Treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by increased phosphorylation
The invention provides methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by increased phosphorylation, such as inflammation and cancer. The invention also provides methods for the inhibition of increased phosphorylation in cells, tissues and organs. The methods utilize a phosphate acceptor compound (PAC). The invention also provides products comprising a PAC. |
| US07982007B2 |
Cynomolgus toll-like receptor 3
Isolated polynucleotides encoding Cynomolgus monkey Toll-Like Receptor 3 (cynoTLR3), polypeptides obtainable from expression of these polynucleotides, recombinant cells, methods and uses of these are disclosed. |
| US07982006B2 |
Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin proteins
This invention pertains in part to the development of a vaccine for poultry against necrotic enteritis (NE). The vaccine utilizes a protective antigen that is a mutated, full-length, non-toxic Clostridium perfringens (Cp) α-toxin protein (Mcpa). Utility of this vaccine was demonstrated by reduction of lesion severity in NE challenge trails, for example. Also disclosed herein are novel approaches for producing this vaccine in significant quantities. One exemplified approach involves producing NE vaccine (mutated alpha toxin) in bacterial expression systems, preferably utilizing the Pseudomonas fluorescens system, for commercial use in controlling NE in the poultry industry. The subject vaccines can be administered preferably to chickens in several different ways. A novel, Type VI alpha toxin from chicken isolates of Cp is also disclosed. |
| US07982003B2 |
Creating designer antimicrobials; peptidoglycan hydrolase module shuffling
The invention concerns a nucleic acid encoding a recombinant bifunctional fusion peptidoglycan hydrolase protein formed from a nucleic acid encoding a peptidoglycan hydrolase module and a nucleic acid encoding a second peptidoglycan hydrolase module. The fusion, dual (or multiples thereof) peptidoglycan hydrolase modules can be used to treat disease caused by the bacteria for which the individual modules of the fusion protein are specific. |
| US07982001B2 |
Milk protein fractions and use thereof for preventing or treating chronic inflammatory diseases
The invention concerns TGF-β-enriched milk protein fractions, a method for preparing same and use thereof for preparing a medicine and/or a food composition for preventing and/or treating chronic inflammatory diseases, and in particular psoriasis. |
| US07981999B2 |
Triazole macrocycle systems
The present invention provides novel peptidomimetic macrocycles and methods for their preparation and use, as well as amino acid analogs and macrocycle-forming linkers, and kits useful in their production. In various embodiments, the peptidomimetic macrocycles are of Formula I: The linker L includes a triazole moiety. Peptidomimetic macrocycles according to the invention may exhibit increased α-helical or beta sheet structure in aqueous solution compared to a corresponding non-macrocyclic polypeptide. |
| US07981995B2 |
Silicone polyoxamide and silicone polyoxamide-hydrazide copolymers
Silicone polyoxamide and silicone polyoxamide-hydrazide copolymers comprise at least two repeating units of formula I In this formula, each R1 is independently an alkyl, haloalkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or aryl substituted with an alkyl, alkoxy, or halo; each Y is independently an alkylene, aralkylene, or a combination thereof; each G is independently a bond or a divalent residue equal to a diamine of formula R3HN-G-NHR3 minus the two —NHR3 groups; each R3 is independently hydrogen or alkyl or R3 taken together with G and with the nitrogen to which they are both attached form a heterocyclic group; each n is independently an integer of 0 to 1500; each p is independently an integer of 1 to 10, and the average of p is 1.2 or greater; and each q is independently an integer of 1 or greater, and every q is not the same integer. |
| US07981989B2 |
Photopolymer-based dielectric materials and methods of preparation and use thereof
Photopolymer-based dielectric materials are provided with methods for preparing the same. Composites and electronic devices including such dielectric materials also are provided. |
| US07981987B2 |
Aromatic urethane acrylates having a high refractive index
The invention relates to novel aromatic urethane (meth)acrylates having a high refractive index, a process for the preparation thereof and a process for the production of holographic media. |
| US07981984B2 |
Polymerization process
This invention relates to a process to polymerize olefins comprising contacting a catalyst or catalyst system with olefin(s) in the presence of a fluorocarbon at a temperature above the onset melting point of the polymer.This invention also relates to a solution process to polymerize olefins comprising contacting a catalyst or catalyst system with olefin(s) in the presence of a fluorocarbon at a temperature above the onset melting point of the polymer. |
| US07981983B2 |
Slurry phase polymerisation process
A process for controlling a slurry phase (co-) polymerisation process in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst, which comprises maintaining the density SPAN of the polymer powder particles (defined as the absolute value of the density difference in g/cm3 between the average density of the polymer particles exiting the reactor with particle size above D90 and the average density of the material with particle size below D10) below 0.005, preferably below 0.003, more preferably below 0.0026, most preferably below 0.0023. |
| US07981982B2 |
Process for the preparation of soft propylene polymer compositions
A process for the preparation of a propylene copolymer composition having a Flexural modulus lower than 500 MPa, a total ethylene content higher than 9% and a Xylene soluble fraction at room temperature higher than 20% comprising at least one polymerization step carried out in a gas-phase polymerization reactor comprising at least two interconnected polymerization zones said process being characterized by the fact that at least 30% by weight of said xylene soluble fraction is produced in the polymerization step carried out in a gas-phase polymerization reactor comprising at least two interconnected polymerization zones. |
| US07981980B2 |
Development of a cross-linked epoxy resin with flame-retardant properties
The invention discloses a cross-linked epoxy resin with flame-retardant properties and method for producing the same. The polymeric material of the invention includes an epoxy resin, a curing agent and a modification agent. Particularly, the modification agent is a derivative of 9,10-Dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide (DOPO). Moreover, the curing agent is 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), or tris(4-aminophenyl)amine (NNH). |
| US07981975B2 |
Heterodiamondoids
This invention is related to heteroatom containing diamondoids (i.e., “heterodiamondoids”) which are compounds having a diamondoid nucleus in which one or more of the diamondoid nucleus carbons has been substitutionally replaced with a noncarbon atom. These heteroatom substituents impart desirable properties to the diamondoid. In addition, the heterodiamondoids are functionalized affording compounds carrying one or more functional groups covalently pendant therefrom. This invention is further related to polymerizable functionalized heterodiamondoids. In a preferred aspect of this invention the diamondoid nuclei are triamantane and higher diamondoid nuclei. In another preferred aspect, the heteroatoms are selected to give rise to diamondoid materials which can serve as n- and p-type materials in electronic devices can serve as optically active materials. |
| US07981972B2 |
Synthetic graft having a glass network
A synthetic graft has a glass composition comprises silicon as a network former and Sr as a stable isotope acting as a network modifier. The composition contains calcium as a network modifier and Zn acting as a as either a network modifier or as a network former. The glass composition may be mixed with a solution of polyalkenoic acid to provide advantageous glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs). These cements are particularly effective for use as bone cements and fillers in the human skeleton as they set at room temperature, have similar strengths to bone, chemically bond to both bone and surgical metal, and release therapeutic ions, which can assist in wound healing and bone re-growth. |
| US07981970B2 |
Sulfonated block copolymers having acrylic esterand methacrylic ester interior blocks, and various uses for such blocks, and various uses for such block copolymers
A sulfonated block copolymer which is solid and non-dispersible in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, wherein the A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Each A block having one or more segments selected from (i) acrylic esters, (ii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof; and each B block comprising segments of one or more polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers selected from (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof. |
| US07981968B2 |
Photoresponsive polymer, built-up type diacetylene polymer, crystal of ammonium carboxylate, and method of manufacturing them
A crystal of carboxyl acid and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of amine and ammonia are mixed in an absence of a liquid medium. The carboxyl acid is conjugated diene such as (Z,Z)-muconic acid, the conjugated diene including a carboxyl group. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of amine and ammonia is primary amine represented by RCH2NH2, where R is an aryl group, or is a normal alkyl group that contains five or more carbon atoms. Moreover, such amine that is a bivalent group and that is represented by —Ar—N═N—Ar′—, where Ar and Ar′ are independently aromatic hydrocarbon bivalent groups, is intercalated in a layered crystal of a polymer such as polymuconic acid, the layered crystal including a carboxyl group. In this way, a novel photoresponsive polymer is obtained. |
| US07981958B1 |
Synthetic resin emulsion powder
Disclosed is a synthetic resin emulsion powder obtained by spray-drying a composition that comprises an emulsion (A) where the dispersoid is a polymer that having one or more unsaturated monomer units selected from ethylenic unsaturated monomers and dienic monomers, and a polyvinyl alcohol (B) having, in the molecule, from 1 to 12 mol % of ethylene units. The emulsion powder has good redispersibility and good water resistance. Its redispersion well form good films and has good storage stability at low temperatures. The emulsion powder is favorable for additives to hydraulic substances, as it well disperses in hydraulic substances such as cement mortar and gives hardened articles of high mechanical strength. The emulsion powder is also favorable for joint materials for hydraulic substances, as its adhesiveness and durability are both good and gives jointed articles of high mechanical strength. |
| US07981957B2 |
Biodegradable gas barrier container and process for producing the same
A biodegradable gas barrier vessel comprising 100 parts of mass of a biodegradable polyester resin having a polylactic acid content of not less than 50% by mass and 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a phyllosilicate. The degree of crystallization as measured by X-ray diffractometry is not less than 15%, and the coefficient of oxygen permeation as measured under conditions of 20° C. and relative humidity 90% is not more than 50 ml·mm/m2·day·MPa. Since the biodegradable polyester resin reinforced with the phyllosilicate has excellent heat resistance, the molded product can be heat treated at an elevated temperature. Such enhanced heat treatment conditions can further enhance the degree of crystallization of the polyester resin and thus can contribute to significantly improved gas barrier properties. |
| US07981956B2 |
Emulsion composition
An emulsion composition according to the present invention includes: a nonionic compound having a molecular weight that is greater than or equal to 500 and a cloud point that is less than or equal to 80 degrees Celsius in a 1 percent aqueous solution in which ethylene oxide and an alkylene oxide having a carbon number that is greater than or equal to 3 are added in block and/or random form to an aliphatic alcohol having a carbon number that is less than or equal to 18; and a synthetic resin. |
| US07981937B2 |
Stable dispersion of DBNPA in viscosified brine
A dispersion of 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (“DBNPA”) particles in a restrictedly viscosified concentrated brine solution effectively negates gelling of the brine solution because the naturally occurring gum used does not exhibits Ellis-Plastic behavior in the concentrated brine at a pH of from about 1 to 4. Because the DBNPA particles are much less soluble in the brine than in water, the particles are held in the stable dispersion. Moreover, a dispersion of DBNPA particles in viscosified brine provides at least the same biocidal effect as a solution of DBNPA, relative to the same concentration of DBNPA in solution in glycol, but also concurrently nullifies the degradation of the DBNPA during storage so that the loss due to hydrolysis of the DBNPA is less than 3% over a period of three months at a temperature in the range from −5° C. to 25° C. A process is disclosed for making the dispersion which can be stored at a temperature in the range from about −5° C. to 25° C. for up to three months with less than 3% by weight of the DBNPA particles settling out, and with less than 3% degradation of the DBNPA, provided the desired salt solution is made first and the remaining ingredients added thereafter. |
| US07981933B2 |
Method for treating an inflammation or lesion caused by a virus
A method for treating an inflammation or lesion caused by herpesvirus, comprising topically applying to said inflammation or lesion a composition consisting essentially of a C1 to C3 monohydroxy alcohol or a C2 to C4 diol and a sufficient amount of an acid to adjust the pH of the composition to below 4.6. Topical administration of the composition is preferred and is effective in treating lesions associated infections by viruses such as herpes simplex. Nasal deliverable forms are effective in treating symptoms due to viruses that cause the common cold. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in the present method are provided. |
| US07981920B2 |
Addition salts of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with no donor acids, a process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them
Compounds of formula (I): (A)m·(B)n (I) wherein A represents an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor compound containing at least one salt-forming basic function, B represents a compound containing at least one salt-forming acid function and at least one NO donor group, m represents the number of acid functions of B that have been converted to a salt and n represents the number of basic functions of A that have been converted to a salt, the bond or bonds between A and B being of the ionic type. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in treating cardiovascular pathologies. |
| US07981917B2 |
Methods and compositions for including apoptosis by stimulating ER stress
The present invention provides a method for inducing apoptosis in selected cells by aggravating ER-stress. The aggravation of ER-stress is achieved in a specific manner by inhibiting SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase), leading to elevated level of cytoplasmic calcium concentration, yet without inhibiting the activity of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) or triggering the release of histamine. Induction of apoptosis may be enhanced by first inducing or further aggravating ER-stress through inhibition of proteasome or proteases. Also provided are compounds and compositions useful as ER-stress aggravating agents, methods for screening, selecting, identifying and designing the same and methods for treating diseased conditions by inducing apoptosis through specific and selective aggravation of ER-stress. |
| US07981916B2 |
Solubilizing of metronidazole
Metronidazole is solubilized in an aqueous phase, by mixing same with niacinamide and at least two glycolic cosolvents; the resulting solutions and pharmaceutical compositions comprised thereof are useful for the treatment of dermatological conditions/afflictions, notably rosacea. |
| US07981912B2 |
Indole acetic acids exhibiting CRTH2 receptor antagonism and uses thereof
The invention relates to indole acetic acid compounds which function as antagonists of the CRTH2 receptor. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds to inhibit the binding of prostaglandin D2 and its metabolites or certain thromboxane metabolites to the CRTH2 receptor and to treat disorders responsive to such inhibition. |
| US07981911B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulations
Improved pharmaceutical compositions are provided comprising one or more solubilized HIV protease inhibiting compounds having improved solubility properties in a medium and/or long chain fatty acid, or mixtures thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable alcohol, and water. |
| US07981910B2 |
Triazole derivatives as inhibitors of 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1
Triazole derivatives of structural formula I are selective inhibitors of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diabetes, such as noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, and other symptoms associated with NIDDM. |
| US07981909B2 |
Use of 1-hydroxy-2-pyridones for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis
Compounds of the formula (I) are disclosed and are suitable for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. |
| US07981903B2 |
2-[2-{phenylamino}-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-D]pyrimidin-4-yl)amino] benzamide derivatives as IGF-1R inhibitors for the treatment of cancer
Novel pyrrolopyrimidines as shown in formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof. The compounds are useful in the inhibition of IGF-1R. |
| US07981887B2 |
Therapeutic compounds
Compounds comprising Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, are disclosed, wherein J1, J2, U1, B, Y, and A are as described. Methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed, for treating glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease and baldness. |
| US07981886B2 |
Antibiotics derivatives
The invention relates to antibiotic derivatives of formula I wherein: A represents —O—, S, —C(═O)—, —C(═NOR6)—; Z—B represents NCH2CH2, NCOCH2, NCH2CO, NCH2CH(OH), CHN(R8)CH2 or CHN(R8)CO; D represents binuclear heteroaryl; Y1 represents —CR1— or —N—, Y2 represents —CR2— or —N—, Y3 represents —CR3— or —N— and Y4 represents —CR4— or —N—; U represents —NH—, —O— or —S— and V represents —N— or —CH—; W represents —CH2—, —O— or —NR7—; R1 represents H, methyl, ethyl or halogen; R2, R3 and R4 each represent independently H, C1-C4 alkyl, halogen, or C1-C4 alkoxy; R5 represents H, C1-C4 alkyl or fluorine; R6 represents H, C1-C4 alkyl or aryl-C1-C4 alkyl; R7 represents H, C1-C4 alkyl, aryl-C1-C4 alkyl or —CH2—COOH; R8 represents H, C1-C4 alkyl or —CH2—COOH; with the provisos that if Z—B represents NCH2CH2, NCOCH2, NCH2CO or NCH2CH(OH), then W represents —CH2—; if A represents O or S, then W represents —CH2—; and only one or two of Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 can represent N at the same time. |
| US07981877B2 |
Stabilized steroid composition and method for its preparation
Stabilized, 17-substituted hydrocortisone containing compositions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. Isomerization of the hydrocortisone component of topical steroid compositions is markedly reduced by including an omega-6 acid component in the form of a free acid or as a compound such as an ester. Specifically disclosed are methods for preventing the isomerization of hydrocortisone 17-butyrate into hydrocortisone 21-butyrate through the use of safflower oil. |
| US07981874B2 |
Phosphorus derivatives as histone deacetylase inhibitors
The present invention relates to a novel class of phosphorus derivatives. The phosphorus compounds can be used to treat cancer. The phosphorus compounds can also inhibit histone deacetylase and are suitable for use in selectively inducing terminal differentiation, and arresting cell growth and/or apoptosis of neoplastic cells, thereby inhibiting proliferation of such cells. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are useful in treating a patient having a tumor characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells. The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of TRX-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the phosphorus derivatives and safe dosing regimens of these pharmaceutical compositions, which are easy to follow, and which result in a therapeutically effective amount of the phosphorus derivatives in vivo. |
| US07981867B2 |
Use of des-aspartate-angiotensin I
The use of des-aspartate-angiotensin I, its derivatives and/or analogue thereof in medicine is described. In particular, a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of viral infections, for inducing hypoglycaemia and/or for reducing hyperglycaemia, and/or for treatment of hypoglycaemia-related conditions is described. |
| US07981862B2 |
Composition comprising BMP-2 amplifier/co-activator for enhancement of osteogenesis
A composition comprising a synthetic growth factor analogue comprising a non-growth factor heparin binding region, a linker and a sequence that binds specifically to a cell surface receptor and an osteoconductive material where the synthetic growth factor analogue is attached to and can be released from the osteoconductive material and is an amplifier/co-activator of osteoinduction. |
| US07981861B2 |
Method of performing angioplasty with a GLP-1 molecule
The invention relates to methods for treating a patient suffering from acute coronary syndrome, but who is not suffering from a Q-wave myocardial infarction, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a GLP-1 molecule. The GLP-1 can be self-administered, and can be administered in one or more doses, as needed, on an intermittent or continuous basis, to optimize metabolism in cardiac tissue and to prevent cardiac damage associated with ischemia. |
| US07981860B2 |
Use of ghrelin splice variant for treating cachexia and/or anorexia and/or anorexia-cachexia and/or malnutrition and/or lipodystrophy and/or muscle wasting and/or appetite-stimulation
The present disclosure relates, in one aspect, to use of ghrelin splice variant or an analogue thereof for the preparation of a medicament for one or more of: treatment and/or prevention of loss of body weight and body fat, prophylaxis or treatment of cachexia, stimulation of appetite, stimulation of food intake, stimulation of weight gain, or increasing body fat mass, or increasing body lean mass. Another aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer cachexia in an individual in need of such treatment. Another aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound for the preparation of a medicament for prophylaxis or treatment of cachexia in an individual by administering a subcutaneous dosage of said medicament to the individual. A further aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the preparation of a medicament for stimulation of appetite in an individual by administering a subcutaneous dosage of said medicament to the individual. A further aspect relates to a number of new ghrelin splice variant-like compounds and uses thereof, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions and medical packaging comprising the new ghrelin splice variant-like compounds. |
| US07981859B2 |
Glycopeptide composition with improved antibiotic activity
A glycopeptide composition with improved antibiotic activity is disclosed, along with a method of preparing such a composition and a pharmaceutical composition made therefrom. |
| US07981856B2 |
Surfactant composition method for production thereof and cosmetic comprising said composition
The invention relates to surfactant compositions made from esters or amides of the betaine glycine, produced by reaction of the glycine betaine with a sulphonic acid and an alcohol or a fatty-chain amine derived from vegetable oils. The invention further relates to a cosmetic comprising said surfactant composition, in particular, liquid soap, bath foam, shower gel or shampoo. |
| US07981853B2 |
Sprayable wash-and-wax composition
A sprayable wash-and-wax composition which includes biodegradable surfactants and water repelling sealants. The sprayable composition preferably is packaged in an aerosol can and is dispensed as a foamed composition onto the car surface to be clean. The foamed composition is thereafter wiped from the car surface to produce a cleaned surface which is then buffed to a high gloss. |
| US07981850B2 |
Detergent composition
Provided is a detergent composition that contains the following components (A), (B), and (C). Component (A) is at least one selected from the group consisting of cationic polymers and amphoteric polymers. Component (B) is a compound represented by the following formula (1): R1O-(AO)n-R2 wherein R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms, AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, n means an average number of moles and stands for from 0.5 to 4, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. Component (C) is at least one selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants and cationic surfactants. The detergent composition has a content of Component (A) from 5 to 40 wt. % and has Component (B) and Component (C) at a weight ratio (B)/(C) of from 0.5 to 2.5. |
| US07981846B2 |
Lubricating oil composition with improved emission compatibility
A lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity, an alkaline earth metal borated sulfonate detergent, and, optionally, a molybdenum-containing compound, wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises no more than 0.12 wt % phosphorus and the amount of sulfated ash in the lubricating oil is not more than 1.25 wt %. |
| US07981845B2 |
Partially neutralized polyhydroxy acids for well treatments
This relates to a method and composition for forming and utilizing a fluid in the oilfield services industry including exposing a polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a preparation method, introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a fluid to form a treatment fluid, and treating a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore with the treatment fluid, wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid is not observably reduced by introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a treatment fluid. This also relates to a method and composition for use in the oil field services industry including a prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative, a fluid, and a viscosity control agent, wherein the viscosity of the composition is not observably lower than if the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative were not present. |
| US07981843B2 |
Antibody specificity transfer using minimal essential binding determinants
The present invention provides methods of making antibodies having the binding specificity of a reference antibody. Antibodies generated by the methods of the inventions have at least one minimal essential binding specificity determinant from a heavy chain or light chain CDR3 from the reference antibody. The method can be used, e.g., in humanization procedures. The invention also provides libraries and antibodies made in accordance with the methods. |
| US07981835B2 |
System and method for coproduction of activated carbon and steam/electricity
A system and method for producing activated carbon comprising carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material in a carbonization zone of an activated carbon production apparatus (ACPA) to yield a carbonized product and carbonization product gases, the carbonization zone comprising carbonaceous material inlet, char outlet and carbonization gas outlet; activating the carbonized product via activation with steam in an activation zone of the ACPA to yield activated carbon and activation product gases, the activation zone comprising activated carbon outlet, activation gas outlet, and activation steam inlet; and utilizing process gas comprising at least a portion of the carbonization product gases or a combustion product thereof; at least a portion of the activation product gases or a combustion product thereof; or a combination thereof in a solid fuel boiler system that burns a solid fuel boiler feed with air to produce boiler-produced steam and flue gas, the boiler upstream of an air heater within a steam/electricity generation plant, said boiler comprising a combustion zone, a boiler-produced steam outlet and at least one flue gas outlet. |
| US07981834B2 |
Adsorbent for hydrocarbons, catalyst for exhaust gas purification and method for exhaust gas purification
An object of the present invention is to improve hydrocarbon adsorbing property when zeolite is used as an adsorbent for hydrocarbons. The present invention provides an adsorbent for hydrocarbons characterized by comprising A Type of β-zeolite having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (molar ratio) in a range of 10 or more and less than 200 and B Type of β-zeolite having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (molar ratio) in a range from 200 to 1,000, and a catalyst for exhaust gas purification containing said adsorbent for hydrocarbons. |
| US07981828B2 |
Process for hydrodesulphurizing gasoline cuts containing sulphur and olefins in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one support, one group VIII and one group VIB element
The invention is about a catalyst comprising at least one support, at least one group VIII element, at least one group VIB element and phosphorus, in which the density of group VIB elements per unit surface area of the support is in the range (limits included) 2×10−4 to 18×10−4 of oxides of group VIB elements per m2 of support, in which the molar ratio of phosphorus to the group VIB element is in the range 0.27 to 2.00, and in which the amount of group VIB elements is in the range (limits included) 1% to 20% by weight of oxides of group VIB elements and in which the support has a specific surface area of less than 135 m2/g. The invention is also about a process for hydrodesulphurizing gasoline cuts containing sulphur and olefins in the presence of this catalyst. |
| US07981821B2 |
Low swell, water vapour permeable poly(urethane-urea)s
A poly(urethane-urea) comprising segments derived from (a) a diisocyanate or mixture of diisocyanates; (b) a polyether polyol comprising repeating units of general formula —[(CH2)mO]— wherein each m is the same or different and is 3 or 4, or a mixture of said polyether polyols; and (c) a diamine or mixture of diamines, wherein said polyether polyol segment(s) (b) make up at least 70% by weight of the dry poly(urethane-urea) and wherein the ether oxygen atoms of said polyether polyol segment(s) (b) make up at least 15% by weight of the dry poly(urethane-urea); and wherein said poly(urethane-urea) has an amine end group content of up to 0.2% by weight. These poly(urethane-urea)s can be manufactured and compounded to give one-component and two-component coating formulations, which can be used to produce materials with good barrier properties such as waterproof breathable fabrics, foul weather and protective clothing, and films for medical and other applications. |
| US07981816B2 |
Impurity-activating thermal process method and thermal process apparatus
An impurity-activating thermal process is performed after a target is subjected to an impurity introduction step. In this thermal process, while a spike RTA process including a holding period for holding a temperature at a predetermined temperature is performed, at least one iteration of millisecond annealing at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature is performed during the holding period of the spike RTA process. |
| US07981812B2 |
Methods for forming ultra thin structures on a substrate
Methods for forming an ultra thin structure using a method that includes multiple cycles of polymer deposition of photoresist (PDP) process and etching process. The embodiments described herein may be advantageously utilized to fabricate a submicron structure on a substrate having a critical dimension less than 55 nm and beyond. In one embodiment, a method of forming a submicron structure on a substrate may include providing a substrate having a patterned photoresist layer disposed on a film stack into an etch chamber, wherein the film stack includes at least a hardmask layer disposed on a dielectric layer, performing a polymer deposition process to deposit a polymer layer on the pattered photoresist layer, thus reducing a critical dimension of an opening in the patterned photoresist layer, and etching the underlying hardmask layer through the opening having the reduced dimension. |
| US07981811B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A base layer is formed on an insulating substrate, and a semiconductor layer is formed in localized fashion thereon. A gate insulating film is then formed so as to cover the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode is formed on a portion of the gate insulating film. An impurity is then implanted into the semiconductor layer via the gate insulating film, and a source region, a drain region, and an LDD region are formed. The gate insulating film is etched with dilute hydrofluoric acid. An electrode-protecting insulating film is then formed so as to cover the gate electrode, and the entire surface of the surface layer portion of the electrode-protecting insulating film is etched away using dilute hydrofluoric acid. Carrier traps introduced into the electrode-protecting insulating film and the gate insulating film are thereby removed. |
| US07981810B1 |
Methods of depositing highly selective transparent ashable hardmask films
The present invention addresses this need by providing a method for forming transparent PECVD deposited ashable hardmasks (AHMs) that have high plasma etch selectivity to underlying layers. Methods of the invention involve depositing the AHM using dilute hydrocarbon precursor gas flows and/or low process temperatures. The AHMs produced are transparent (having absorption coefficients of less than 0.1 in certain embodiments). The AHMs also have the property of high selectivity of the hard mask film to the underlying layers for successful integration of the film, and are suitable for use with 193 nm generation and below lithography schemes wherein high selectivity of the hard mask to the underlying layers is required. The lower temperature process also allows reduction of the overall thermal budget for a wafer. |
| US07981808B2 |
Method of forming a gate dielectric by in-situ plasma
A method of forming a gate dielectric layer includes forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate using a first plasma, performing a first in-situ plasma nitridation of the first dielectric layer to form a first nitrided dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer using a second plasma, performing a second in-situ plasma nitridation of the second dielectric layer to form a second nitrided dielectric layer; and annealing the first nitrided dielectric layer and the second nitrided dielectric layer, wherein the gate dielectric layer comprises the first nitrided dielectric layer and the second nitrided dielectric layer. In other embodiments, the steps of forming a dielectric layer using a plasma and performing an in-situ plasma nitridation are repeated so that more than two nitrided dielectric layers are formed and used as the gate dielectric layer. |
| US07981805B2 |
Method for manufacturing resistance change element
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a resistance change element that can reduce occurrence of corrosion without increasing a substrate temperature. A laminate film that includes a high melting-point metal film and a metal oxide film, is etched using a mask under a plasma atmosphere formed using any one of a mixture gas formed by adding at least one gas selected from the group consisting of Ar, He, Xe, Ne, Kr, O2, O3, N2, H2O, N2O, NO2, CO and CO2 to at least one kind of gasified compound selected from alcohol and hydrocarbon or the gas compound. |
| US07981802B2 |
Method for manufacturing shallow trench isolation layer of semiconductor device
An electrical device, such as a semiconductor device, and methods of manufacturing the same. A semiconductor device having a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer may include a pad oxide layer formed over a semiconductor substrate, a trench formed over the substrate, a liner insulating layer formed over the trench, a gap-fill insulating layer formed over the liner insulating layer and a gate layer formed over the substrate. The gap-fill insulating layer may have a relatively and/or substantially planar polished surface. Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer may include performing a first chemical mechanical polishing over a gap-fill insulating layer to expose and/or target a portion of a liner insulating layer and performing a second chemical mechanical polishing over a gap-fill insulating layer to remove a portion of a liner insulating layer. |
| US07981799B2 |
Room temperature-operating single-electron device and the fabrication method thereof
The present invention relates to a room temperature-operating single-electron device and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly, to a room temperature-operating single-electron device in which a plurality of metal silicide dots formed serially is used as multiple quantum dots, and a fabrication method thereof. |
| US07981794B2 |
Film forming method and substrate processing apparatus
A barrier layer including a titanium film is formed at a low temperature, and a TiSix film is self-conformably formed at the interface between the titanium film and the base. In forming the TiSix film 507, the following steps are repeated without introducing argon gas: a first step of introducing a titanium compound gas into the processing chamber to adsorb the titanium compound gas onto the silicon surface of a silicon substrate 502; a second step of stopping introduction of the titanium compound gas into the processing chamber and removing the titanium compound gas remaining in the processing chamber; and a third step of generating plasma in the processing chamber while introducing hydrogen gas into the processing chamber to reduce the titanium compound gas adsorbed on the silicon surface and react it with the silicon in the silicon surface to form the TiSix film 507. |
| US07981793B2 |
Method of forming a metal directly on a conductive barrier layer by electrochemical deposition using an oxygen-depleted ambient
By suppressing the presence of free oxygen during a cleaning process and a subsequent electrochemical deposition of a seed layer, the quality of a corresponding interface between the barrier material and the seed layer may be enhanced, thereby also improving performance and the characteristics of the finally obtained metal region. Thus, by identifying free oxygen as a main source for negatively affecting the characteristics of metals during a “direct on barrier” plating process, efficient strategies have been developed and are disclosed herein to provide a reliable technique for volume production of sophisticated semiconductor devices. |
| US07981791B2 |
Thin films
Thin films are formed by formed by atomic layer deposition, whereby the composition of the film can be varied from monolayer to monolayer during cycles including alternating pulses of self-limiting chemistries. In the illustrated embodiments, varying amounts of impurity sources are introduced during the cyclical process. A graded gate dielectric is thereby provided, even for extremely thin layers. The gate dielectric as thin as 2 nm can be varied from pure silicon oxide to oxynitride to silicon nitride. Similarly, the gate dielectric can be varied from aluminum oxide to mixtures of aluminum oxide and a higher dielectric material (e.g., ZrO2) to pure high k material and back to aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, metal nitride (e.g., WN) is first formed as a barrier for lining dual damascene trenches and vias. During the alternating deposition process, copper can be introduced, e.g., in separate pulses, and the copper source pulses can gradually increase in frequency, forming a transition region, until pure copper is formed at the upper surface. Advantageously, graded compositions in these and a variety of other contexts help to avoid such problems as etch rate control, electromigration and non-ohmic electrical contact that can occur at sharp material interfaces. In some embodiments additional seed layers or additional transition layers are provided. |
| US07981790B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
There is provided a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same that employs an insulation film of a borazine-based compound to provided enhanced contact between a material for insulation and that for interconnection, increased mechanical strength, and other improved characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a first insulation layer having a recess with a first conductor layer buried therein, an etching stopper layer formed on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer formed on the etching stopper layer, a third insulation layer formed on the second insulation layer, and a second conductor layer buried in a recess of the second and third insulation layers. The second and third insulation layers are grown by chemical vapor deposition with a carbon-containing borazine compound used as a source material and the third insulation layer is smaller in carbon content than the second insulation layer. |
| US07981785B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and plasma oxidation method
A polysilicon electrode layer (103) (a first electrode layer) is formed by forming a polysilicon film on a gate oxide film (102) on a silicon wafer (101). A tungsten layer (105) (a second electrode layer) is formed on this polysilicon electrode layer (103). In addition, a barrier layer (104) is formed on the polysilicon electrode layer (103) before the formation of the tungsten layer (105). Etching is then conducted using a silicon nitride layer (106) as the etching mask. Next, an oxide insulating film (107) is formed on an exposed surface of the polysilicon layer (103) by plasma oxidation wherein a process gas containing oxygen gas and hydrogen gas is used at a process temperature not less than 300° C. With this method, a selective oxidation of the polysilicon electrode layer (103) can be carried out without oxidizing the tungsten layer (105). |
| US07981783B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device including at least one drift region formed near a channel region on a substrate, a first buried insulating layer formed in the drift region, and a first reduced surface field region interposed between the first buried insulating layer and the drift region. Accordingly, the semiconductor device provides first reduced surface field regions arranged between drift regions and first buried insulating layers, thus having advantages of improved junction integrity, suitability for LDMOS transistors employing a high operation voltage and reduced total size. |
| US07981782B2 |
Method of fabricating a semiconductor device including ion implantation at a tilt angle in exposed regions
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a mask pattern for exposing a region of a semiconductor substrate. Dopant ions are implanted into the exposed region of the semiconductor substrate at a tilt angle of approximately 4.4° to 7°. |
| US07981780B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing semiconductor wafer after impurity implantation
A semiconductor wafer implanted with impurities is loaded into a chamber. After oxygen gas is introduced around the semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer is irradiated with a flash of light from flash lamps for an irradiation time not shorter than 0.1 milliseconds and not longer than 100 milliseconds, to thereby momentarily raise the surface temperature of the semiconductor wafer up to not lower than 800° C. and not higher than 1300° C. Since the temperature rises in an extremely short time, it is possible to activate the impurities while suppressing thermal diffusion thereof. Further, since an extremely thin oxide film is formed on a surface of the semiconductor wafer, this film serves as a protection film in a subsequent cleaning process, to prevent removal of the impurities. |
| US07981775B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device having high light efficiency and method of manfacturing the same
Provided is a nitride semiconductor light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes sequentially forming a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer on a substrate, in-situ depositing a mask layer on a region of the surface of the second semiconductor layer, and selectively growing a third semiconductor layer formed in a textured structure on the second semiconductor layer by depositing a semiconductor material on the second semiconductor layer and the mask layer. |
| US07981774B2 |
Assembly of quasicrystalline photonic heterostructures
A method and system for assembling a quasicrystalline heterostructure. A plurality of particles is provided with desirable predetermined character. The particles are suspended in a medium, and holographic optical traps are used to position the particles in a way to achieve an arrangement which provides a desired property. |
| US07981771B2 |
Structures and methods to enhance Cu interconnect electromigration (EM) performance
The invention generally relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to structures and methods for enhancing electromigration (EM) performance in interconnects. A method includes forming an interconnect, forming a cap on the interconnect, and forming a plurality of holes in the cap to improve electromigration performance of the interconnect. |
| US07981765B2 |
Substrate bonding with bonding material having rare earth metal
A microchip has a bonding material that bonds a first substrate to a second substrate. The bonding material has, among other things, a rare earth metal and other material. |
| US07981763B1 |
Atomic layer removal for high aspect ratio gapfill
Methods of filling high aspect ratio, narrow width (e.g., sub-50 nm) gaps on a substrate are provided. The methods provide gap fill with little or no incidence of voids, seams or weak spots. According to various embodiments, the methods depositing dielectric material in the gaps to partially fill the gaps, then performing multi-step atomic layer removal process to selectively etch unwanted material deposited on the sidewalls of the gaps. The multi-step atomic layer removal process involves a performing one or more initial atomic layer removal operations to remove unwanted material deposited at the top of the gap, followed by one or more subsequent atomic layer removal operations to remove unwanted material deposited on the sidewalls of the gap. Each atomic layer removal operation involves selectively chemically reacting a portion of the fill material with one or more reactants to form a solid reaction product, which is then removed. |
| US07981760B2 |
Method for manufacturing nonvolatile storage element and method for manufacturing nonvolatile storage device
A method for manufacturing a nonvolatile storage element that minimizes shape shift between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and which includes: depositing, in sequence, a connecting electrode layer which is conductive, a lower electrode layer and a variable resistance layer which are made of a non-noble metal nitride and are conductive, an upper electrode layer made of noble metal, and a mask layer; forming the mask layer into a predetermined shape; forming the upper electrode layer, the variable resistance layer, and the lower electrode layer into the predetermined shape by etching using the mask layer as a mask; and removing, simultaneously, the mask and a region of the connecting electrode layer that has been exposed by the etching. |
| US07981756B2 |
Common plate capacitor array connections, and processes of making same
A process of forming a semiconductive capacitor device for a memory circuit includes forming a first capacitor cell recess and a second capacitor cell recess that are spaced apart by a capacitor cell boundary of a first height. The process includes lowering the first height of the capacitor cell boundary to a second height. A common plate capacitor bridges between the first recess and the second recess over the boundary above the second height and below the first height. |
| US07981755B2 |
Self aligned ring electrodes
The present invention in one embodiment provides a method of manufacturing an electrode that includes providing at least one metal stud positioned in a via extending into a first dielectric layer, wherein an electrically conductive liner is positioned between at least a sidewall of the via and the at least one metal stud; recessing an upper surface of the at least one metal stud below an upper surface of the first dielectric layer to provide at least one recessed metal stud; and forming a second dielectric atop the at least one recessed metal stud, wherein an upper surface of the electrically conductive liner is exposed. |
| US07981754B2 |
Manufacturing method of bonded SOI substrate and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor substrate and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, which prevent reduction in breakdown voltage of a gate oxide film of a device formed in a semiconductor substrate to improve a reliability of the gate oxide film. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor substrate according to the present invention includes: exposing a silicon surface of an active layer substrate 1 made of single-crystal silicon, to which a semiconductor device is formed; forming an oxide film on a support substrate 2 made of single-crystal silicon; and bonding the silicon surface of the active layer substrate 1 to the oxide film formed on the support substrate 2. The silicon surface of the active layer substrate 1 is exposed by removing a spontaneous oxidation film 7 formed on the surface. |
| US07981750B2 |
Methods of fabrication of channel-stressed semiconductor devices
In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one capping layer over epitaxial source/drain regions of a PMOS device, forming a stress memorization (SM) layer over the PMOS device including the at least one capping layer and over an adjacent NMOS device, and treating the SM layer formed over the NMOS and PMOS devices to induce tensile stress in a channel region of the NMOS device. |
| US07981747B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A technology is provided to reduce ON-resistance, and the prevention of punch through is achieved with respect to a trench gate type power MISFET. Input capacitance and a feedback capacitance are reduced by forming a groove in which a gate electrode is formed so as to have a depth as shallow as about 1 μm or less, a p−type semiconductor region is formed to a depth so as not to cover the bottom of the groove, and a p-type semiconductor region higher in impurity concentration than the p−type semiconductor region is formed under a n+type semiconductor region serving as a source region of the trench gate type power MISFET, causing the p-type semiconductor region to serve as a punch-through stopper layer of the trench gate type power MISFET. |
| US07981746B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thereof
The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate provided with a trench section; a tunnel insulating film covering an inner surface of the trench section; a trap layer provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film on an inner surface of an upper portion of the trench section; a top insulating film provided in contact with the trap layer; a gate electrode embedded in the trench section, and provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film at a lower portion of the trench section and in contact with the top insulating film at the upper portion of the trench section, in which the trap layer and the top insulating film, in between the lower portion of the trench section and the upper portion of the trench section, extend and protrude from both sides of the trench section so as to be embedded in the gate electrode, and a method for manufacturing thereof. |
| US07981742B2 |
Semiconductor device, data element thereof and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a first and a second conductor; (b) providing a conductive layer; (c) forming a part of the conductive layer into a data storage layer by a plasma oxidation process, wherein the data storage layer is positioned between the first and the second conductor. |
| US07981739B1 |
Method of fabricating a lateral double-diffused MOSFET (LDMOS) transistor and a conventional CMOS transistor
A method of fabricating an LDMOS transistor and a conventional CMOS transistor together on a substrate. A P-body is implanted into a source region of the LDMOS transistor. A gate oxide for the conventional CMOS transistor is formed after implanting the P-body into the source region of the LDMOS transistor. A fixed thermal cycle associated with forming the gate oxide of the conventional CMOS transistor is not substantially affected by the implanting of the P-body into the source region of the LDMOS transistor. |
| US07981737B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array panel according to the present invention includes: a gate line formed on a substrate and including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; a mold layer formed on the gate insulating layer and having an opening overlapping the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer filled in the opening; a data line formed on the mold layer and including a source electrode contacted with the semiconductor layer; a drain electrode contacted with the semiconductor layer on the mold layer and facing the source electrode; a passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode, wherein the passivation layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode have at least one through-hole connected to the opening. |
| US07981734B2 |
Manufacturing method of thin film transistor including low resistance conductive thin films
A manufacturing method of a thin film transistor includes forming a pair of source/drain electrodes on a substrate, such that the source/drain electrodes define a gap therebetween; forming low resistance conductive thin films, which define a gap therebetween, on the source/drain electrodes; and forming an oxide semiconductor thin film layer on upper surface of the low resistance conductive thin films and in the gap defined between the low resistance conductive thin films so that the oxide semiconductor thin film layer functions as a channel. The low resistance conductive thin films and the oxide semiconductor thin film layer are etched so that side surfaces of the resistance conductive thin films and corresponding side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor thin film layer coincide with each other in a channel width direction of the channel. A gate electrode is mounted over the oxide semiconductor thin film layer. |
| US07981730B2 |
Integrated conformal shielding method and process using redistributed chip packaging
An integrated conformal electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic radiation shield is formed on a plurality of encapsulated modules by attaching a plurality of modules (30-33) to a process carrier (1) using a double side adhesive tape (2), and then sequentially depositing an insulating layer (15) and a conductive shielding layer (16) before encapsulating the modules with a molding compound (17). After removing the adhesive tape (2) to expose a surface of the encapsulated modules, a multi-layer circuit substrate (100) is formed over the exposed surface, where the circuit substrate includes shielding via structures (101-112) that are aligned with and electrically connected to the conductive shielding layer (16), thereby encircling and shielding the circuit module(s). |
| US07981727B2 |
Electronic device wafer level scale packages and fabrication methods thereof
Electronic device wafer level scale packages and fabrication methods thereof. A semiconductor wafer with a plurality of electronic devices formed thereon is provided. The semiconductor wafer is bonded with a supporting substrate. The back of the semiconductor substrate is thinned. A first trench is formed by etching the semiconductor exposing an inter-layered dielectric layer. An insulating layer is conformably deposited on the back of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer on the bottom of the first trench is removed to create a second trench. The insulating layer and the ILD layer are sequentially removed exposing part of a pair of contact pads. A conductive layer is conformably formed on the back of the semiconductor. After the conductive layer is patterned, the conductive layer and the contact pads construct an S-shaped connection. Next, an exterior connection and terminal contact pads are subsequently formed. |
| US07981707B2 |
Method for enhancing optical characteristics of multilayer optoelectronic components
The method of the invention consists of implanting ions into the surface of multilayer optical waveguides, in the highly doped layer, in a defined pattern so as to modify the refractive index of this layer. |
| US07981704B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor optical device
After a metal cap layer is laminated on a semiconductor laminated structure, a waveguide ridge is formed, the waveguide ridge is coated with an SiO2 film, and a resist is applied; then, a resist pattern is formed, the resist pattern exposing the surface of the SiO2 film on the top of the waveguide ridge, and burying the SiO2 film in channels with a resist film having a surface higher than the surface of the metal cap layer of the waveguide ridge and lower than the surface of the SiO2 film of the waveguide ridge; the SiO2 film is removed by dry etching, using the resist pattern as a mask. The metal cap layer is removed by wet etching, and a p-GaN layer of the waveguide ridge is exposed to form the electrode layer. |
| US07981702B2 |
Integrated circuit package in package system
An integrated circuit package in package system including forming a base integrated circuit package with a base lead having a portion with a substantially planar base surface, forming an extended-lead integrated circuit package with an extended lead having a portion with a substantially planar lead-end surface, and stacking the extended-lead integrated circuit package over the base integrated circuit package with the substantially planar lead-end surface coplanar with the substantially planar base surface. |
| US07981699B2 |
Method for tunably repairing low-k dielectric damage
A method for providing a tuned repair for damage to a silicon based low-k dielectric layer with organic compounds, where damage replaces a methyl attached to silicon with a hydroxyl attached to silicon is provided. A precursor gas is provided, comprising a first repair agent represented as Si—(R)x(OR′)y, where y≧1 and x+y=4, and wherein R is an alkyl or aryl group and R′ is an alkyl or aryl group and a second repair agent represented as Si—(R)x(OR′)yR″, where y≧1 and x+y=3, and wherein R is an alkyl or aryl group and R′ is an alkyl or aryl group, and R″ is of a group that reduces interfacial surface tension between a wet clean chemical and the low-k dielectric. Some of the first repair agent and second repair agent are bonded to the low-k dielectric to form a monolayer of the first repair agent and the second repair agent. |
| US07981697B2 |
Current-confined effect of magnetic nano-current-channel (NCC) for magnetic random access memory (MRAM)
One embodiment of the present invention includes a memory element having a composite free layer including a first free sub-layer formed on top of the bottom electrode, a nano-current-channel (NCC) layer formed on top of the first free sub-layer, and a second free sub-layer formed on top of the NCC layer, wherein when switching current is applied to the memory element, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the layers of the memory element, local magnetic moments of the NCC layer switch the state of the memory element. |
| US07981695B2 |
Diagnostic methods using plasmon resonant particles
A method and apparatus for interrogating a target having a plurality of plasmon resonant particles (PREs) distributed in the target are disclosed. In the method, a field containing the target is illuminated, and one or more spectral emission characteristics of the light-scattering particles in the field are detected. From this data, an image of positions and spectral characteristic values in the field is constructed, allowing PREs with a selected spectral signature to be discriminated from other light-scattering entities, to provide information about the field. Also disclosed are a novel PRE composition for use in practicing the method, and a variety of diagnostic applications of the method. |
| US07981693B2 |
Combined measurement of anti-CCP and serum amyloid A to assess rheumatoid arthritis
The present invention relates to a method aiding in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis. The method especially is used in assessing the absence or presence of rheumatoid arthritis in vitro. It can be best practiced by analyzing biochemical markers, comprising measuring in a sample the concentration of anti-CCP and serum amyloid A and correlating the concentrations determined to the absence or presence of rheumatoid arthritis. To further improve the assessment of RA in a method of this invention the level of one or more additional marker may be determined together with anti-CCP and serum amyloid A and be correlated to the absence or presence of RA. The invention also relates to the use of a marker panel comprising anti-CCP and serum amyloid A in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and it teaches a kit for performing the method of the invention. |
| US07981692B2 |
Immunoassays to detect diseases or disease susceptibility traits
Disclosed are immunoassay methods for the diagnosis/prognosis of diseases and disease susceptibility traits associated with gene mutations that cause protein truncation or allelic loss. The levels of one or more targeted wild-type proteins expressed by a subject gene or genes are immunologically quantitated in biological samples. Results indicating that a targeted wild-type protein is not present in an assayed sample, or that approximately 50% of the normal amount of such a wild-type protein is present in an assayed sample are considered to be positive for a mutation in one or both alleles of a subject gene, and correlated with the disease or the disease susceptibility trait associated with that mutation or mutations. Normal cells, particularly normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, are preferred biological samples. |
| US07981689B2 |
Absorption spectrometric analysis microchip and method
An absorption spectrometric analysis microchip with a chamber for holding a sample, a chamber for holding a reagent which reacts with this sample, a mixing chamber for mixing the reagent with the sample with the formation of a mixture and a sensing part with a sensing chamber for holding the mixture with a light incidence surface for the entry of light into the sensing chamber and a light exit surface for emergence of light from the sensing chamber. At least one of the light incidence surface and light exit surface is located in a recess area of the sensing part. |
| US07981686B2 |
Indicator for assessing body odor, process for producing the same, body odor assessment method, method of assessing efficaciousness of deodorant and kit for conveniently assessing body odor
A method of assessing body odor using as an index an indicator material comprising an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position represented by the following formula (2) and/or a substance that is a derivative of an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position, wherein an atom(s) or an atom group(s) is introduced to a mercapto group and/or a hydroxyl group of an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position represented by the formula (2): |
| US07981683B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing vitamin E in lipoproteins
A method of analyzing vitamin E components in a lipoproteinby subjecting a lipoprotein-containing sample to ion exchange chromatography to separate the lipoprotein, reacting the separated lipoprotein to a pretreating solution containing an organic solvent and a surfactant to liberate vitamin E components, and then subjecting the liberated vitamin E components to reverse phase chromatography. Also described is a method of judging various pathological conditions such as the pathological conditions of diabetes, the risks of coronary artery diseases, and the pathological conditions of myocardial infarction using levels of vitamin E components in the lipoprotein as an index. |
| US07981682B2 |
High resolution flow cytometer
High resolution particle differentiation process and separation system that provides enhanced resolution of particles based upon selected particle characteristics. In particular, the system may include an enhanced resolution flow cytometer. In an embodiment, the invention can include at least one fluid source conduit (24) that introduces 0 fluid source stream (24) into an enhanced resolution nozzle (25) at an angle that enhances particle resolution by the cell sensing system (13). |
| US07981681B2 |
Method for the analysis of a blood sample, and apparatus and reagent for its implementation
Method for the automatic analysis of a blood sample in which: an analysis solution containing the blood sample, a diluent, and at least one compound to lyze the erythrocytes; at least one compound to stabilize the haemoglobin in the form of a chromogenic complex, is formed in a single dilution and analysis tank, the haemoglobin level is measured in this analysis solution by spectrophotometry in the tank after the lysis of the erythrocytes; and an appropriate quantity of this analysis solution is taken from the tank on which a leucocytic differentiation is carried out by an optical elements characterized in that the analysis solution also contains at least one compound to protect the leucocytes, allowing the distinguishing of at least four main leucocyte sub-populations. A haematological analysis apparatus for the implementation of such a method is disclosed. |
| US07981679B2 |
Method of monitoring bulk (total) microbiological activity in process streams
An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling microbiological activity in a process stream by measuring dissolved oxygen is disclosed. |
| US07981678B2 |
System and method for automatic calibration
A device includes a sensor array and a processor is automatically calibrated. The sensor array collects data from a pattern using at least one of a capacitive measurement and a radio frequency measurement. The pattern is included on a calibration storage device. The processor receives the data from the sensor array and calibrates the device in accordance with the data. |
| US07981676B2 |
Method for transfer of molecular substances with prokaryotic nucleic acid-binding proteins
The invention relates to a method for the transfer of molecular substances, for example proteins or nucleic acids in cells, in the case of using DNA combined with a possible gene expression. A prokaryotic nucleic acid-binding protein is used for the transfer, which is preferably obtained from a thermostable organism. Where the substance to be transferred is a nucleic acid, the protein forms a reversible complex with the nucleic acid. The prokaryotic protein condenses and compacts the nucleic acids. Said nucleic acids can be taken up in the target cells after suitable incubation. |
| US07981673B2 |
Process for the maturation of dendritic cells and a vaccine
The invention proves a method of producing mature dendritic cells in vitro, which comprises the step of culturing the immature dendritic cells in the presence of a specifically configured high molecular weight double stranded RNA (dsRNA) polymer. The specifically configured high molecular weight dsRNA polymer is typically selected from the group comprising poly[I]:poly [CxU]; poly [I]:poly [GxU]; poly [A]: poly [UxC]; poly [A]:poly [UxG]; poly [U]:poly [AxC]; poly [U]:poly [IxU]; poly [C]:poly [GxA]; poly [C]:poly [GxU]; poly [G]:poly [CxA]; poly [G]:poly [CxU] and AMPLIGEN® (poly[I]:poly[C12U]), where x is on average a number from 3 to 40. The immature dendritic cells may be exposed to an antigen before they are matured, and a vaccine including the antigen-presenting mature dendritic cells can then be prepared. A method of treating cancer, a virus, parasite and microorganism is also disclosed. |
| US07981671B2 |
Use of triplex structure DNA in transferring nucleotide sequences
The invention concerns a recombinant vector characterized in that it comprises a polynucleotide comprising a central initiation cis-active region (cPPT) and a termination cis-active region (CTS) of retroviral or retroviral-like origin, further comprising a predetermined nucleotide sequence (transgene or nucleotide sequence of interest) and retrotranscription regulating, expressing and packaging signals of retroviral or retroviral-like origin. |
| US07981666B2 |
Sensing switch and detecting method using the same
Provided are a sensing switch and a sensing method using the same. The sensing switch includes: a substrate; a supporter on the substrate; a sensing plate that is connected to a side of the supporter and is in parallel with the substrate by a predetermined distance; a receptor binding region on an upper surface of an end portion of the sensing plate; an electric or magnetic field generation device that induces deflection of the sensing plate when a receptor bound to the receptor binding region is selectively bound to an electrically or magnetically active ligand; and a pair of switching electrodes that are separated by a predetermined distance and is connected when the sensing plate contacts the substrate due to the deflection of the sensing plate. A target material need not be labelled, a signal processing of a fluorescent or electrical detection signal using an analysis apparatus is not required, and a signal can be directly decoded by confirming whether a current flows through the switch. |
| US07981664B1 |
Apparatus and method for performing ligand binding assays on microarrays in multiwell plates
Each well of a multiwell plate adapted to accept a plurality of biological samples for testing for the presence of analytes in the sample is further adapted herein for immobilizing on the side walls of a well a 3D arrangement of ligand arrays. A well is formed with planar side walls and a stack of sample separators is placed within a well in positions so as to not come in contact with ligand spots in the array(s). The spacing between each pair of adjacent separators in a stack forms a sample chamber in a position corresponding to an array of the 3D arrangement of ligand arrays. |
| US07981662B2 |
Analyzer
A sample analyzer for analyzing a biological sample is disclosed that comprising: a measurement specimen preparation section for preparing a measurement specimen by using a reagent and the biological sample; a irradiator for irradiating the measurement specimen with a light; a first light receiving section for receiving a light from the measurement specimen and converting the received light into an electrical signal; a analysis section for analyzing the measurement specimen based on the electrical signal output by the first light receiving section; and a selection section for selecting an intensity of light to be irradiated by the irradiator, wherein the irradiator is configured to irradiate with a light of an intensity corresponding to the light intensity selected by the selection section. |
| US07981660B2 |
Methods for producing modified glycoproteins
Cell lines having genetically modified glycosylation pathways that allow them to carry out a sequence of enzymatic reactions, which mimic the processing of glycoproteins in humans, have been developed. Recombinant proteins expressed in these engineered hosts yield glycoproteins more similar, if not substantially identical, to their human counterparts. The lower eukaryotes, which ordinarily produce high-mannose containing N-glycans, including unicellular and multicellular fungi are modified to produce N-glycans such as Man5GlcNAc2 or other structures along human glycosylation pathways. This is achieved using a combination of engineering and/or selection of strains which: do not express certain enzymes which create the undesirable complex structures characteristic of the fungal glycoproteins, which express exogenous enzymes selected either to have optimal activity under the conditions present in the fungi where activity is desired, or which are targeted to an organelle where optimal activity is achieved, and combinations thereof wherein the genetically engineered eukaryote expresses multiple exogenous enzymes required to produce “human-like” glycoproteins. |
| US07981653B2 |
Highly efficient hyperthermophilic DNA ligase
Disclosed is a modified hyperthermophilic DNA ligase having improved DNA binding ability and reactivity. The modified hyperthermophilic DNA ligase has an amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a heat-resistant DNA ligase derived from a thermophilic bacterium, a hyperthermophilic bacterium, a thermophilic archaebacterium, or a hyperthermophilic archaebacterium, except with at least two of the charged amino acids in the C-terminal helix region each being substituted by alanine, threonine, or serine residues. |
| US07981652B2 |
Modified cytochrome P450 monooxygenases
The present invention relates to modified cytochrome P450 monooxygenases with an altered substrate profile, to nucleic acid sequences coding therefor, to expression constructs and vectors, to recombinant microorganisms which comprise these vectors, and to processes for the microbiological production of terminally or subterminally hydroxylated aliphatic carboxylic acids. |
| US07981651B2 |
Lactobacillus acidophilus nucleic acids and uses thereof
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, fragments and variants thereof are provided in the current invention. In addition, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and cells comprising the expression vectors. Methods for producing the polypeptides of the invention and methods for their use are further provided. |
| US07981650B2 |
Fusion proteins between plant cell-wall degrading enzymes, and their uses
The invention relates to the use of fusion proteins between at least two plant cell-wall degrading enzymes, the enzymes being such that they do not contain a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding-molecule (CBM), and optionally a CBM, the enzymes and CBM being recombinant proteins corresponding to native proteins in fungi, or mutated forms thereof, for carrying out processes of plant cell-wall degradation in the frame of the preparation, from plants or vegetal by-products, of compounds of interest located in plant cell-wall, or in the frame of the bleaching of pulp and paper. |
| US07981646B2 |
Preparation of vanillin from microbial transformation media by extraction by means supercritical fluids or gases
Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25°. The product may be further purified by treatment with CO2 in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed. |
| US07981644B2 |
Perhydrolase providing improved peracid stability
An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in the ratio of peracetic acid formation to peracetic acid hydrolysis specific activities (PAAF/PAAH ratio). The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications. |
| US07981641B2 |
Processes for the production of triglycerides of unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of enzymes
Processes for the enzyme-catalyzed production of triglycerides using polyunsaturated fatty acids, in which (a) the reaction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof with glycerol in vacuo in the presence of an immobilized enzyme to form their triglycerides is accelerated by addition of an additive from the group of weakly basic salts, complexing agents and ion exchangers and/or addition of a weakly basic salt and/or addition of an entraining agent in the form of a solvent or a gas and/or addition of glycerol-binding adsorbers and/or heat treatment of the partial glyceride intermediate product, (b) the immobilized enzymes are removed from the triglyceride by separation or filtration and (c) the remaining fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof are removed from the triglyceride by distillation, refining or extraction. |
| US07981640B2 |
L-lysine-producing corynebacteria and process for the preparation of L-lysine
L-lysine-producing strains of corynebacteria with enhanced lysE gene (lysine export carrier gene), in which strains additional genes chosen from the group comprising the dapA gene (dihydrodipicolinate synthase gene), the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), the dapB gene (dihydrodipicolinate reductase gene) and the pyc gene, but especially the dapA gene and the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), are enhanced and, in particular, over-expressed, and a process for the preparation of L-lysine. |
| US07981639B2 |
Starch-derived products
A method for producing a monosaccharide-rich syrup from starch-containing produce. The method includes treating a starch-containing produce slurry with a first starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch to oligosaccharide and a second starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch or oligosaccharide to glucose. The starch-containing produce can be further treated with an enzyme that converts glucose to other monosaccharides, or treated with a microorganism that converts glucose to a fermentation product. Also within the scope of this invention is a method for producing a syrup rich in a disaccharide, such as trehalose. |
| US07981637B2 |
Fluorescent protein and chromoprotein
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel chromoprotein and a novel fluorescent protein. The present invention provides chromoproteins derived from Anthopleura inornata, which have certain property, and fluorescent proteins from Trachyphyllia geoffroyi and Scolymia vitiensis, which have certain fluorescent property. |
| US07981633B2 |
Method for measuring tyrosine kinase phosphorylation
The present invention relates to methods for measuring the autophosphorylation of one or more tyrosine kinases and use of such methods in profiling kinase inhibitors and activators. As a representative example, the method comprises inducing kinase autophosphorylation activity in cells in presence and in absence of a kinase inhibitor, lysing the cells, capturing the tyrosine kinase in the cell lysate by adding a plurality of tyrosine kinase specific binding proteins which are associated with unique dyes, adding a phosphotyrosine specific antibody tagged with a marker which is distinguishable from the unique dyes, and identifying the autophosphorylated tyrosine kinase by detecting the unique dye and the marker. Alternately, the tyrosine kinases themselves could be coupled to the unique dyes. The present invention also relates to kits and compositions for carrying out the above-described methods. |