| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07990671B2 |
Overvoltage protection control circuits and overvoltage protection control methods
An overvoltage protection control circuit includes a voltage conversion circuit, a voltage comparison circuit, and a switching circuit. The voltage conversion circuit generates a first voltage and a second voltage based on a power supply voltage. The voltage comparison circuit generates a control signal based on a comparison between the first voltage and the second voltage. The switching circuit determines whether to apply the power supply voltage to a chip in response to the control signal. The overvoltage protection control circuit is formed inside the chip. |
| US07990664B1 |
Electrostatic discharge protection in a field programmable gate array
An ESD protection circuit is integrated into the core of an FPGA in a distributed fashion coupling the bodies of one or more transistors to the power supply pin and/or the ground pin of the FPGA. The ESD protection circuit includes one or more positive discharge paths and one or more negative discharge paths. In the case of a positive ESD event, the positive discharge paths are on and the negative discharge paths are off. In the case of a negative ESD event, the positive discharge paths are off and the negative discharge paths are on. In either event, the bodies of the transistors track the voltages at the power supply pin and/or the ground pin to protect the core from being by damaged by electrostatic discharge. |
| US07990660B2 |
Multiple CCP layers in magnetic read head devices
An improved CPP magnetic read device whose oxide barrier comprises at least two separate CCP layers is disclosed. These two CCP layers differ in the PIT and IAO treatments that they received relative to the PIT/IAO treatment that would be used when only a single CCP layer is formed. |
| US07990655B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head having a bottom shield part magnetically connected to a pair of side shield parts
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head in which a magnetic pole part of a main magnetic pole layer exposed at a medium-opposing surface exhibits a trapezoidal form narrower at a leading edge than at a trailing edge on the return yoke layer side, a magnetic shield layer having a pair of side shield parts separated at the leading edge so as to oppose both side faces of the magnetic pole part and a bottom shield part magnetically connected to the pair of side shield parts and positioned below the leading edge of the magnetic pole part is provided on the leading edge side in the track width direction of the magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer. |
| US07990650B2 |
Reducing the obstruction of air flow through a bypass channel associated with a disk drive using an electrostatic pass-by filter
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to reducing the obstruction of air flow through a bypass channel associated with a disk drive. According to one embodiment, disk drive filtering system includes a selective filtering region, an electrostatic pass-by filter, and a filter free region. The selective filtering region is disposed within a bypass channel. The electrostatic pass-by filter is disposed within the selective filtering region and is used for filtering the air that flows through the selective filtering region. The filter free region is disposed proximate to the electrostatic pass-by filter so that a substantial portion of the air is allowed to flow unobstructed through the selective filtering region. |
| US07990648B1 |
Disk drive margining read channel using predictable disturbance samples generated as a function of a written pattern
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk having a plurality of tracks. A pattern is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and the read signal is sampled to generate read samples. Predictable disturbing samples are generated as a function of the pattern. The predictable disturbing samples are added to the read samples to generate disturbed samples, and a data sequence is detected from the disturbed samples. |
| US07990645B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus
Provided is a magnetic recording apparatus including a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording position patterned of a magnetic substance and a read head reading information from the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetic recording medium includes: a data area having the magnetic recording position patterned including a plurality of data tracks; and a servo area including a servo burst for tracking the data tracks, wherein the servo burst includes a plurality of bursts deviating from one another in a downtrack direction, and a width of each of the bursts is equal to or greater than a width of the read head and narrower than twice the width of the read head. According to this structure, although data is reproduced using a read head having a greater width than a width of each of data tracks, a linear section in which an output voltage is reduced depending on a size of an off-track is formed. As a result, a dead zone can be removed. |
| US07990643B1 |
Read channel configuration based on polarity determined in accordance with multiple framings of signal samples
Systems and techniques to configure a read channel include, in at least one implementation, an apparatus including: detection circuitry configured to process an input signal from a machine-readable medium to calculate metrics; monitoring circuitry configured to determine a polarity of the input signal based on the metrics and at least one of multiple framings of signal samples of the input signal; and selection circuitry to configure a read channel for the machine-readable medium based on the determined polarity. |
| US07990641B2 |
Proximity detection method for magnetic head and recording medium
Touchdown is detected between an R/W head and disk by determining the variance in the frequency domain of a baseline position error signal (PES) and a PES measured after incrementally increasing the DFH control signal. To quantify the variance in the frequency domain, a discrete Fourier transform of the baseline PES and of each PES produced for a given DFH control signal is used. A band-limited PES variance is used to improve touchdown detection, but is not a requirement of this method. |
| US07990640B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining motor spin direction of a hard disk drive
A method for determining motor spin direction of a hard disk drive is provided. The method includes forming an air inlet on a first sidewall of a disk drive base. The method further includes forming an air outlet on a second sidewall of the disk drive base wherein the air outlet comprises an airflow indicator coupled to the air outlet for indicating whether air is moving in or out of the air outlet. The method further includes rotating a disk drive motor inside the disk drive and determining the motor spin direction of the disk drive motor based on whether the air is moving in or out of the air outlet. |
| US07990636B2 |
Lens actuating module
Disclosed herein is a lens actuating module. In the lens actuating module, a housing has an installation space therein. A lens barrel is disposed in the installation space of the housing. The lens barrel includes a lens. An actuating means is provided at a first position in the installation space of the housing in an optical axial direction. The actuating means is connected to the lens barrel to move the lens barrel. A base magnet is provided at a second position in the installation space of the housing. A lens magnet is mounted to the outer surface of the lens barrel at a position facing the base magnet to generate a repulsive force between the lens magnet and the base magnet. |
| US07990625B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes a zoom lens group, a focus lens group, a barrel, an actuator group comprising a first actuator and a second actuator. The first and second actuators are received in the barrel, and respectively receive the zoom lens group and the focus lens group therein. The first lens group is driven by the first actuator to move along the axis thereof. The second lens group is driven by the second actuator to move along the axis thereof. |
| US07990621B2 |
Projection lens and projection display device using the same
Disclosed are a projection lens that has a simple inner focus structure, an appropriate back focal length, telecentricity, a high optical performance, and a small size and can effectively correct, particularly, lateral chromatic aberration, and a projection display device. A projection lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in this order from a magnification side. A fifth lens arranged closest to a reduction side in the first lens group is moved along an optical axis to adjust focus, and at least two lenses are made of a material with anomalous dispersion capable of reducing chromatic aberration in a wide visible range. |
| US07990620B2 |
Head-up display system
A head-up display system is described. The head-up display system includes an image projection device, a diffusion unit, and a frame demonstration medium. The image projection device emits the visible light, containing text or image information, for generating a real image on the diffusion unit. The frame demonstration medium receives the visible light reflected from the diffusion unit. By adjusting the received visible light reflected from the diffusion unit, the frame demonstration medium generates a virtual image corresponding to the real image. The distance between the real image corresponding to the diffusion unit and the frame demonstration medium is preferably equal to the distance between the virtual image and the frame demonstration medium. Alternatively, the visible light is projected to the frame demonstration medium and then reflected to the diffusion unit. The frame demonstration medium again reflected visible light from the diffusion unit to generate a virtual image corresponding to the real image. |
| US07990616B2 |
IR-UV cut multilayer filter with dust repellent property
An optical multilayer filter having an inorganic thin film composed of a plurality of layers on a substrate includes a fluorinated organic silicon compound film formed on a surface of the inorganic thin film, a low-density formation section forming a part of the inorganic thin film, having one or more layers including the most superficial layer of the inorganic thin film, the one or more layers being formed of at least one of a low-density titanium oxide layer and a low-density silicon oxide layer, and a high-density formation section forming another part of the inorganic thin film, disposed between the low-density formation section and the substrate, having silicon oxide layers with a density higher than the low-density silicon oxide layer and titanium oxide layers with a density higher than the low-density titanium oxide layer in a stacked manner. A total thickness of the low-density formation section is equal to or smaller than 280 nm. |
| US07990615B2 |
Diffractive optical system and eyepiece optical system
A diffractive optical system including a diffractive optical element is provided with a first lens component having a first positive lens, and a second lens component having a second positive lens and a negative lens. The diffractive optical element has a first diffractive optical member having a first diffractive optical surface, and a second diffractive optical member having a second diffractive optical surface. The first diffractive optical member and the second diffractive optical member are arranged so that the first diffractive optical surface and the second diffractive optical surface are in contact with each other. A refractive index of the first diffractive optical member and a refractive index of the second diffractive optical member at the d line are different from each other. |
| US07990614B2 |
Projection screen
A projection screen is adapted to reflect the projection light generated by a projector. The projection screen includes a light absorbing layer, a light reflection layer connected adjacently to the light absorbing layer, and a light transparent layer. The light transparent layer is disposed on the light absorbing layer and the light reflection layer, and has a total reflection surface, a light emitting surface, and a light incident surface connected adjacently to the total reflection surface. The light incident surface provides a theoretical light convergence point, and the light convergence point and the location of the light reflection layer are in mirror symmetry relative to the total refection surface. The projection light enters into the light transparent layer through the light incident surface for refraction, and travels to the total reflection surface for totally reflection, and then to the light reflection layer for reflecting to the light emitting surface. |
| US07990608B2 |
Optical transmission system
An optical amplifier reducing gain deviation caused by wavelength arrangement has a first-stage optical amplifying unit, an attenuator, a second-stage optical amplifying unit, an automatic gain controller controlling the first- and second-stage optical amplifying units so that a gain of signal light outputted from the second-stage optical amplifying unit to signal light inputted to the first-stage optical amplifying unit is constant, and an attenuation amount controller controlling an attenuation amount at the attenuator to adjust gain-versus-wavelength characteristic at the automatic-gain-controlled first- and second-stage optical amplifying units on the basis of information on wavelength arrangement and an input level of the signal light inputted to the first-stage optical amplifying unit so that gain slope characteristic at the first- and second-stage optical amplifying units due to the wavelength arrangement and the input level is flattened. |
| US07990604B2 |
Analog interferometric modulator
Methods and devices for calibrating and controlling the actuation of an analog interferometric modulator configured to have a plurality of actuation states. Devices and methods for calibrating an analog interferometric modulator to respond in linear relation to an applied voltage. |
| US07990601B2 |
System and method for display device with reinforcing substance
A package structure and method of packaging an interferometric modulator with a reinforcing substance to help support the integrity of the package. In some embodiments the reinforcing substance is a desiccant integrated into the backplate or the transparent substrate. |
| US07990596B2 |
Mirror device drive control apparatus and projector
A mirror device drive control apparatus adapted to perform drive control of a mirror device having a hysteresis characteristic, includes: a drive section adapted to drive the mirror device with a drive signal; a detection section adapted to detect a displacement of a movable section of the mirror device, and to generate and then output a detection signal corresponding to the detection; a control section adapted to perform control of a frequency of the drive signal so that the movable section is displaced in a predetermined range; and an abnormality detection section adapted to detect abnormal vibration of the movable section during the control by the control section, wherein the abnormality detection section detects, in response to change in frequency of the drive signal, a frequency of an envelope included in the abnormal vibration of the movable section as a beat frequency based on a detection signal of the detection section, and obtains a frequency of the drive signal for performing a restoration process of driving of the mirror device based on the frequency of the drive signal changed and the beat frequency. |
| US07990589B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method therefor
When color materials of more than four colors are used, a signal for the amount of toner used within a range appropriate for the apparatus and toner characteristic is generated using a color separation table. However, a printer receives print data of various formats, such as image data separated into signal values of more than four colors, or image data of a special format to which a six-color separation table cannot be applied. Hence, an image signal representing a combination of colors is input. The sum of the signal values of colors in each pixel of the image signal is calculated and compared with a limit value. When the sum exceeds the limit value, the signal values of base colors are replaced with that of a spot color based on a replacement table for replacing the signal values of the base colors with that of the spot color. |
| US07990588B2 |
Method of finding look-up table structures in color device sampling data
Determination of a grid structure for a set of values in a device color space, in which heuristics are applied to a collection of color sample data in order to determine the structure of a look-up table that best fits the samples. Sampling data is sorted for each channel thereof, and the number of steps in each channel is counted. The data is checked for completeness. Steps are removed if they do not correspond to steps on the axes of a three-dimensional cube. If, as a result of step removal, a full LUT has been obtained, then the structure of the LUT has been determined and the process ends. On the other hand, if a full LUT has not been obtained, then steps are removed if they are under-correlated with other steps. |
| US07990586B2 |
Image forming apparatus for producing booklet
There is described an image forming apparatus, which makes it possible to realize a high productivity in the booklet outputting operation. The apparatus comprises: an image data acquiring section to acquire consecutive image data, which include main content image data and at least a part of cover sheet image data succeeding the main-content sheet image data; an image forming section to conduct an image forming operation based on the main content image data and the cover sheet image data, acquired by the image data acquiring section; an image data presence-or-absence detecting section to detect a presence or absence of (i+1)th image data acquired by the image data acquiring section, wherein “i” represents a page number of image data sets necessary for forming cover sheet images on a cover sheet; and a control section to control the image forming section so as to commence the image forming operation. |
| US07990583B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus that detects failure in the white LEDs constituting a white LED array. Failure in the white LEDs is detected by comparison between a prescribed current threshold and the current running in the LED array detected by an image reading apparatus controller when the white LED array composed of plural LED blocks connected in parallel, each LED block being composed of plural LEDs connected in series, is powered for failure detection. This failure check is conducted by checking LEDs for failure in each of the LED blocks constituting the LED array. Image reading is not permitted when faulty LEDs are detected in two neighboring LED blocks. |
| US07990579B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method for edge detection processing and determination
An image processing apparatus includes: an acceptance section; an edge detection section; and a screen processing section, wherein the edge detection section includes: a first edge determination section that subjects a pixel of interest to edge determination by reference to information about a density of the pixel of interest and information about densities of pixels around the pixel of interest determined by an edge detection window; and a second edge determination section that compares minimum density information among the information about densities of pixels determined by the edge detection window with a predetermined background threshold value, and that redetermines the pixel of interest, which is determined to belong to an edge portion by the first edge determination section, as belonging to anon-edge portion in cases where the minimum density is equal to or greater than the background threshold value. |
| US07990578B2 |
Processing print jobs
Methods for processing print jobs include flagging, or not, to-be-printed objects having PDL-specified math or logic functions requiring hard processing operations, such as two or more inputs. The math or logic functions preferably reside in ink attributes of display list objects corresponding to the to-be-printed objects. To-be-printed pages of the print job become divided into bands. Bands with to-be-printed objects therein have band display lists constructed in the event the to-be-printed objects become flagged. On a band-by-band basis, if bands have band display lists flagged with hard processing operations, contone bands become constructed. The contone bands result from color information blending between overlapping pixels of to-be-printed objects or an object and a contone page. A contone page includes color information of the to-be-printed page in a first color space. To-be-printed objects are rendered in a second color space in device specific page(s) of memory. |
| US07990576B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus capable of observing toner amount limitation with reliability even when two types of developers which have the same have and have different densities is provided. After an inputted image signal is subjected to color conversion processing to make the toner amount limitation, at least one color signal of the converted color signals is converted into signals for a dark color toner and a light color toner by light and dark separation using a single light and dark separation look-up table. Thereafter, the toner amount is determined again for each pixel. In the case where the toner amount exceeds a predetermined value, the light and dark separation of at least one color is made until the toner amount is the predetermined value or less by using another light and dark separation look-up table. |
| US07990575B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method for performing gamut mapping
A correction region of an input gamut is set in accordance with the chroma of a specific color point of the input gamut, and a correction region of an output gamut is set in accordance with the chroma of a specific color point of the output gamut. The output gamut is corrected based on the correction region of the output gamut so that the specific color point of the output gamut is mapped on a point on the lightness axis of a color space, and input color data is corrected so that the specific color point of the input gamut is mapped on a point on the lightness axis of the color space. The corrected color data is mapped into the corrected output gamut, and inverse correction of correction of the output gamut is performed to the mapped color data based on the correction region of the output gamut. |
| US07990572B2 |
Device adapted for adjustment of scan position of light beam
An optical scanning device 65 is adapted to bring a deflector mirror plane 651 into independent pivotal motions about a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to each other. A mirror driver section including a first axis driver and a second axis driver is so controlled as to bring the deflector mirror plane 651 into pivotal motion about the first axis thereby deflecting a light beam L for scanning along a main scan direction. On the other hand, the deflector mirror plane 651 is pivotally moved about the second axis thereby to adjust the scanned beam L for its position on a photosensitive member 2 with respect to a subscan direction. Thus, even if the scanned beam is deviated from a reference scan position with respect to the subscan direction due to component tolerances or assembly errors, such a deviation can be corrected. |
| US07990571B2 |
Device for reading encoded data interspersed in a printed image
An apparatus for reading data encoded as an array of dots printed on a substrate together with an image. The dots of the array are substantially invisible to an average unaided human eye. The apparatus includes a light source for illuminating the substrate; a detector for receiving the illumination from the light source reflected off the substrate, the detector outputting a first signal representative of the array of dots, the detector extending a distance that is less than a width of the substrate; a decoder interconnected to said detector for receiving and decoding said first signal to obtain the data encoded by the array of dots; and a top substrate covering the detector and the light source. The top substrate has an emission portion and a reception portion. The emission portion is shaped with a semicircular cross section adapted to focus illumination from the light source onto the substrate. The reception portion is shaped to define a series of microlenses adapted to focus illumination reflected off the substrate into the detector. |
| US07990570B2 |
Multiple function peripheral apparatus
There is provided a user-friendly multiple function peripheral apparatus which eliminates a wasteful data process in the apparatus even when a color scan start key is pressed. This invention provides a multiple function peripheral apparatus including a scanner unit having monochrome and color scanner functions, a facsimile transmission unit having only a monochrome facsimile transmission function, a color scan start key which instructs the scanner unit to execute color scan, a monochrome scan start key which instructs the scanner unit to execute monochrome scan, and a facsimile transmission control unit which controls operation of the facsimile transmission unit on the basis of a condition of correspondence set in advance between the color scan start key and the monochrome facsimile function when facsimile transmission is instructed with the color scan start key. |
| US07990565B2 |
Recording system and recording method for recording sound and images on sound paper
A recording system is equipped with a pre-processing device which serves as an image recording unit for recording an image on sound paper based on image data, and a post-processing device which serves as a sound data recording unit for recording sound data related to the image data on the sound paper. |
| US07990563B2 |
Printing unit and inkjet recording apparatus
A print unit memorizes image data to be output to a page of recording media at a register as jetting data in an order of storing a plurality of image data of one line in page memory, wherein each of the image data of one line is memorized at the register in an order of storing the plurality of image data of one dot, in case when a conveyance direction of recording media is normal; and memorizes the image data to be output to the page of the recording media at the register in the order of storing the plurality of the image data of one line, wherein each of the image data of one line is memorized in a reverse order to the order of storing the plurality of the image data of one dot, in case when the conveyance direction is reverse. |
| US07990559B2 |
Communication network diagnostic report
A method of analyzing the quality of a communication network for facsimile devices, wherein the communication network comprises at least a first facsimile device communicating through a digital network and a second facsimile device communicating through an analog network. The method comprises establishing a connection between the facsimile devices using the communication network, assessing a configuration of the connection between the facsimile devices, identifying at least one problem in the connection between the facsimile devices, and generating a network diagnostic report of the at least one identified problem. A network diagnostic report may be delivered to a user interface. Bits of the facsimile information fields (FIF) of the digital identification signal (DIS) and non-standard facilities (NSF) signal of the second facsimile device are compared to analyze problems with the communication network. |
| US07990556B2 |
Association of a portable scanner with input/output and storage devices
A device identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to a service provider. The service provider associates the device with the portable scanner. Information is scanned from a printed source and communicated to the service provider and subsequent information is received in response at a device identified by the device identifier. In some embodiments, a communication session identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to the service provider rather than (or in cooperation with) the device identifier. |
| US07990554B2 |
Image reproducing apparatus that selects a printing apparatus via radio communication
In an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, image printing apparatuses capable of performing radio communication are sought, and service information relating to contents of image printing services provided by image printing apparatuses so detected is received from the plurality of image printing apparatuses. Information relating to the contents of the image printing services of the detected plurality of image printing apparatuses is displayed based on the received service information. An arbitrary one of the displayed plurality of image printing apparatuses is selected by the user, and the image data reproduced from a recording medium is transmitted to the selected image printing apparatus. |
| US07990550B2 |
Method and system for determining position and orientation of an object
The invention relates to a positioning method for determining the position and orientation of a mobile unit having a receiver (3′), whereby the receiver (3′) is detected by a scanner (2′), said scanner (2′) determining at least the distance and a direction in relation to the receiver (3′). The radiation emitted by the sensor is detected by the receiver (3′) and the direction of incidence of radiation and the direction of incidence of radiation in relation to an axis of reception are derived while an offset of the incident radiation in relation to the axis of reception (EA) is determined. Position and orientation of the unit are derived from at least the distance, the direction in relation to the receiver (3′), the offset and the direction of incidence as the position information and the unit is optionally controlled via the optical connection (OV). |
| US07990549B2 |
Method and apparatus for optically measuring periodic structures using orthogonal azimuthal sample orientation
An optical metrology apparatus for measuring periodic structures using multiple incident azimuthal (phi) and polar (theta) incident angles is described. One embodiment provides the enhanced calculation speed for the special case of phi=90 incidence for 1-D (line and space) structures, which has the incident plane parallel to the grating lines, as opposed to the phi=0 classical mounting, which has incident plane perpendicular to the grating lines. The enhancement reduces the computation time of the phi=90 case to the same order as the corresponding phi=0 case, and in some cases the phi=90 case can be significantly faster. One advantageous configuration consists of two measurements for each sample structure, one perpendicular to the grating lines and one parallel. This provides additional information about the structure, equivalent to two simultaneous angles of incidence, without excessive increase in computation time. Alternately, in cases where the computation for phi=90 is faster than the corresponding phi=0 incidence, it may be advantageous to measure parallel to the grating lines only. In the case where two sets of incident angles are used, the incident light can be polarized to provide a total of four sets of data—Rs0, Rp0, Rs90, Rp90—for each incident polar angle, all from the same structure. |
| US07990548B2 |
Method and apparatus for imaging three-dimensional structure
An apparatus for determining surface topology of a portion of a three-dimensional structure is provided, that includes a probing member, an illumination unit, a light focusing optics, a translation mechanism, a detector and a processor. |
| US07990546B2 |
High throughput across-wafer-variation mapping
A method for characterizing a surface of a sample object, the method including dividing the surface into pixels which are characterized by a parameter variation, and defining blocks of the surface as respective groups of the pixels. The method further includes irradiating the pixels in multiple scans over the surface with radiation having different, respective types of polarization, and detecting returning radiation from the pixels in response to each of the scans. For each scan, respective block signatures of the blocks are constructed, in response to the returning radiation from the group of pixels in each block. Also for each scan, a block signature variation using the respective block signatures of the blocks is determined. In response to the block signature variation, one or more of the types of polarization for use in subsequent examination of a test object are selected. |
| US07990543B1 |
Surface characterization based on optical phase shifting interferometry
Apparatus, techniques and systems for implementing an optical interferometer to measure surfaces, including mapping of instantaneous curvature or in-plane and out-of-plane displacement field gradients of a sample surface based on obtaining and processing four optical interferograms from a common optical reflected beam from the sample surface that are relatively separated in phase by π/2. |
| US07990542B2 |
Memory-based high-speed interferometer
An interferometer produces a first optical signal and a second optical signal interfering with each other. The optical signals are converted digital signals form addresses. A memory stores data values corresponding to the first and second optical signals, and in which the addresses are used to directly read the data values stored at the addresses. The data values stored in the memory can be dynamically adapting while converting the first and second optical signals and reading the data values. |
| US07990541B2 |
Optical coherence imaging systems having a reduced effective linewidth
Frequency domain optical coherence imaging systems have an optical source, an optical detector and an optical transmission path between the optical source and the optical detector. The optical transmission path between the optical source and the optical detector reduces an effective linewidth of the imaging system. The optical source may be a broadband source and the optical transmission path may include a periodic optical filter. |
| US07990529B2 |
Detection circuit and foreign matter inspection apparatus for semiconductor wafer
In a foreign matter inspection apparatus for a semiconductor wafer, a PMT which detects reflection light, an amplifier which amplifies a signal detected by the PMT and in which response characteristics of amplification are controlled by a control signal, an A/D converter which converts the signal amplified by the amplifier into a predetermined code and outputs the code, a control circuit which generates a control signal based on information of the semiconductor wafer having a correlation with the reflection light, and a data processing circuit which detects a foreign matter on the semiconductor wafer based on the code output from the A/D converter are provided. |
| US07990527B2 |
Refractive-index sensor
An exemplary refractive-index sensor includes a photonic crystal microcavity structure, a light source, and a detector. The photonic crystal microcavity structure includes a photonic crystal layer having first holes and a second hole defined therein. The first holes are arranged in a regular pattern of staggered parallel rows. The second hole is at an approximate center of the regular pattern, instead of a first hole. A diameter of the second hole is different from that of the first holes. The first holes at each of opposite ends of the row having the second hole are omitted, thereby defining an input waveguide and an output waveguide. The light source is adjacent to the input waveguide. The detector is adjacent to the output waveguide. |
| US07990524B2 |
Stochastic scanning apparatus using multiphoton multifocal source
A rapid-sampling stochastic scanning multiphoton multifocal microscopy (SS-MMM) fluorescence imaging technique enables multiparticle tracking at rates upwards of 1,000 times greater than conventional single point raster scanning. Stochastic scanning of a diffractive optical element may generate a 10×10 hexagonal array of foci with a white noise driven galvanometer to yield a scan pattern that is random yet space-filling. SS-MMM may create a more uniformly sampled image with fewer spatio-temporal artifacts than obtained by conventional or multibeam raster scanning. |
| US07990518B2 |
Immersion exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion exposure apparatus that projects a pattern of an original onto a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid, thereby exposing the substrate. A substrate stage mechanism includes a substrate stage to hold the substrate. An immersion unit supplies the liquid into a space between the substrate or the substrate stage and the projection optical system, and recovers the liquid from above the substrate or the substrate stage. A control unit controls the immersion unit to recover the liquid from above the substrate or the substrate stage, and then controls the substrate stage mechanism to move the substrate stage to a retreat position, in response to a shutoff request for requesting shutoff of electrical power supply to the substrate stage mechanism. The control unit executes, in response to the shutoff request, a special process according to a process being executed by the immersion exposure apparatus when the control unit has received the shutoff request, and then controls the immersion unit to recover the liquid from above the substrate stage. |
| US07990508B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
In a liquid crystal display device of an IPS system, to realize reduction of manufacturing cost and improvement of yield by decreasing the number of steps for manufacturing a TFT. A channel etch type bottom gate TFT structure, where patterning of a source region and a drain region and patterning of a source wiring and a pixel electrode are carried out by the same photomask. |
| US07990506B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposed to each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of displaying pixel electrodes disposed on a surface of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer; a plurality of viewing-angle controlling pixel electrodes disposed adjacent to the plurality of displaying pixel electrodes on the side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer; a viewing angle control area controlling a viewing angle in a direction tilted from a normal line of the first substrate by the use of the plurality of viewing-angle controlling pixel electrodes; and a driving circuit supplying an image signal for displaying a plurality of patterns in the viewing angle control area to the plurality of viewing-angle controlling pixel electrodes. |
| US07990503B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with a control capacitance portion
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates; plural pixel regions each having a first pixel electrode formed on one of the pair of substrates and a second pixel electrode separated from the first pixel electrode; a TFT having a source electrode which is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode; a control capacitance portion which has a control capacitance electrode electrically connected to the source electrode and opposed to at least part of the second pixel electrode via an insulating film, and which thereby establishes capacitive coupling between the source electrode and the second pixel electrode; linear projections formed on the other substrate; and apertures formed in the first and second pixel electrodes so as to occupy parts of overlap regions of the linear projections and the first and second pixel electrodes as viewed perpendicularly to the substrate surfaces, for controlling the positions of singular points of alignment vectors of the liquid crystal. |
| US07990501B2 |
Transflective type LCD and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a transflective type LCD having a first substrate provided thereon with a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of signal lines which are substantially perpendicular to each other and a switching element arranged near each of intersections between said scanning lines and said signal lines, includes forming a reflection region having a reflection electrode film and a transmission region having a transparent electrode film in each pixel surrounded by said scanning lines and said signal lines, a liquid crystal being sandwiched at a gap between said first substrate and a second substrate which is arranged opposite to said first substrate, and forming an organic film having irregularities thereon below said reflection electrode film and said transparent electrode film to substantially the same film thickness. |
| US07990500B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal display panel that has a first substrate (SUB1), a second substrate (SUB2) disposed so as to oppose the first substrate (SUB1), and a liquid crystal layer (LC) sandwiched between the first substrate (SUB1) and the second substrate (SUB2); wherein the first substrate (SUB1) has a reflective electrode (RAL) having a surface formed in an irregular shape; an organic insulation film (18) formed in a layer above the reflective electrode (RAL); a transparent electrode (19) formed in a layer above the organic insulation film (18); an inorganic insulation film (20) formed in a layer above the transparent electrode (19); and a pixel electrode (PIX) formed in a layer above the inorganic insulation film (20). |
| US07990499B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides a transflective display device capable of reducing a difference in white balance between transmissive display and reflective display. The display device of the present invention is a transflective display device including three or more filters having different colors in a pixel, each of the three or more filters having different colors, including: a transmissive region for displaying an image by transmitting light from a backlight; and a reflective region for displaying an image by reflecting surrounding light, wherein, in the reflective region of at least one of a plurality of filters having different colors used for displaying white in reflective display, a light-reducing film which reduces an amount of at least light having a peak wavelength of a visible light transmission spectrum of the at least one of a plurality of filters is arranged, and the visible light transmission spectrum is measured using a standard light source D65. |
| US07990495B2 |
Liquid crystal panel having polarizer plates on both surfaces thereof
A method for cutting apart a glass substrate is provided whereby scribing of the glass substrate is possible without being affected by the presence or thickness of a deposited film formed thereon and without scratching the deposited film. To treat a glass substrate having a deposited film, such as a thin film or resin film, formed on one surface thereof, there are provided a shaving device, which is a blade that removes strip-shaped portions of the deposited film to expose strip-shaped regions on the glass substrate, and a wheel cutter (14a) that forms scribed lines along the strip-shaped regions exposed on the glass substrate. The glass substrate is cut apart along the scribed lines. |
| US07990494B2 |
Liquid crystal display including circular or polygonal polarizing plates each whose absorption and transmission axes have improved precision in direction
A peripheral part of a substrate 1A includes a straight line part 1a. Similarly, a peripheral part of a substrate 1B includes a straight line part. A peripheral part of a polarizing plate 2 is formed of a curved part, and includes a straight line part 2a. |
| US07990493B2 |
Laminated optical film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device
A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, −10 nm≦ΔRe1−ΔRe2≦10 nm Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and −10 nm≦ΔRe1+ΔRe2≦10 nm Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm≦Re≦500 nm, where ΔRe1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at an RH of 80%)—Re1 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ΔRe2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at an RH of 80%)—Re2 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer. |
| US07990491B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device has a thin structure with a backlight device appropriate for illuminating a liquid crystal panel where there is no area in band form where the brightness is inconsistent. The size of the diffusion plate that forms the optical sheet of the backlight device is made smaller than the opening for illumination in the diffusion region, and the diffusion plate is not provided in the vicinity of the end portions of the opening for illumination in the configuration. In this configuration, the reflection properties are different in the vicinity of the end portions and as the center portion of the opening for illumination, and the brightness increases in the vicinity of the end portions of the backlight device, so that an area in band form where the brightness is inconsistent can be prevented from being created in the end portions of the display device. |
| US07990490B2 |
Optical sheet and display device having the same
An optical sheet includes a base layer, a light-condensing layer and a plurality of light-reflecting portions. The base layer includes a first surface and a second surface. The light-condensing layer includes a plurality of light-condensing portions with a first pitch. The light-condensing portions are formed along a first direction of the second surface. The light-reflecting portions are formed in the first surface to be spaced apart from each other along the -first direction in correspondence with a plurality of grooves, each groove formed between two light-condensing portions. An interval distance between a center of the light-condensing portion and an edge of the light-reflecting portion increases when moving toward the edge of the first surface from a center of the first surface along the first direction. Therefore, the number of the optical sheets used for the display device may be reduced. |
| US07990487B2 |
Liquid crystal display and a method of assembling the liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) having a maximum effective display area is provided by improving an assembling structure of the LCD. The LCD includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel assembly including a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a data driver transmitting a data driving signal to the LCD panel, and a gate driver transmitting a gate driving signal to the LCD panel, a mold frame having sidewalls and receiving the LCD panel assembly therein, the mold frame including a protruding portion protruding on top of at least one of the sidewalls, the protruding portion formed to be higher than the LCD panel assembly, and a front cover positioned outside the mold frame, a first bent portion of the front cover surrounding the protruding portion, and a distal end of the first bent portion contacting the LCD panel. |
| US07990484B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel for liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
In a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display, an insulating layer for storage capacitors is reduced in thickness to increase the storage capacity while maintaining the aperture ratio in a stable manner. A thin film transistor array panel for the liquid crystal display includes an insulating substrate, and a gate line assembly and a storage capacitor line assembly formed on the insulating substrate. The gate line assembly has gate lines and gate electrodes. A gate insulating layer covers the gate line assembly and the storage capacitor line assembly. A semiconductor pattern is formed on the gate insulating layer. A data line assembly and storage capacitor conductive patterns are formed on the gate insulating layer overlaid with the semiconductor pattern. The data line assembly has data lines, source electrodes and drain electrodes. The storage capacitor conductive patterns are partially overlapped with the storage capacitor line assembly to thereby form first storage capacitors. A passivation layer covers the data line assembly, the storage capacitor conductive patterns and the semiconductor pattern. First and second contact holes are formed at the passivation layer while exposing the drain electrodes and the storage capacitor conductive patterns. Pixel electrodes are formed on the passivation layer while being connected to the drain electrodes and the storage capacitor conductive patterns through the first and the second contact holes. The pixel electrodes form second storage capacitors in association with parts of the storage capacitor line assembly. |
| US07990483B2 |
Stereoscopic image display apparatus
A stereoscopic image display apparatus employing a front type parallax barrier is provided which can reduce a visible distance. The stereoscopic image display apparatus includes: a 2D image LCD panel having a first substrate in which a rear polarizing film is stacked on the rear surface thereof and a first switching element layer is stacked on the front surface thereof, a second substrate on which a color filter layer is stacked, and a first liquid crystal layer interposed between the first switching element layer and the color filter layer; a parallax barrier having a third substrate in which a front polarizing film is stacked on the front surface thereof and a transparent electrode layer is stacked on the rear surface thereof, a protective film, and a second liquid crystal layer interposed between the transparent electrode layer and the protective film; and an intermediate polarizing film interposed between the protective film of the parallax barrier and the second substrate of the 2D image LCD panel. |
| US07990480B2 |
Broadcast receiving apparatus, and a tuner and a distributor for the same
Within a broadcast receiving apparatus, mounting therein two (2) pieces of tuner units, each being receivable at least three (3) kinds of broadcasting signals, and being receivable plural numbers of broadcasting signals, simultaneously, the tuner units, each capable to receive an analog terrestrial broadcasting signal, digital BS/CS broadcasting signals, and a digital terrestrial broadcasting signal, are mounted within a housing 11 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 10, wherein a main tuner 110 and a sub-tuner 120 are mounted on both surfaces of a substrate 100, directing upper and lower surfaces thereof into the same direction, and distributors 130 and 140 for distributing antenna inputs are attached between input terminals 111, 112, 121 and 122 of those tuner units, bridging over both surfaces of the substrate, and thereby providing a technology for mounting or packaging the tuner units, with achieving small-sizing and thin-sizing thereof. |
| US07990477B2 |
Method and device for detecting transitions in a video sequence, method and device for coding, computer program products and corresponding storage means
Method and apparatus for detecting transitions in a video sequence, which include detecting an abrupt transition including, for each image It−2k included in said video sequence and with a processing time rank t−2k: calculating a first distance D(It−k), between an image It−k and a reference image for said image It−k, which precedes said image It−k in the video sequence; calculating a second distance D(It−2k), between an image It−2k and a reference image for said image It−2k, which precedes said image It−2k in the video sequence; calculating a third distance D(It−3k), between an image It−3k and a reference image for said image It−3k, which precedes said image It−3k in the video sequence; calculating a criterion C′ indicating whether said second distance D(It−2k) is significantly greater than the largest of the first and third distances, D(It−k) and D(It−3k); deciding, according to said criterion C′, on the belonging of the image It−2k to an abrupt transition. |
| US07990471B1 |
Interlaced-to-progressive video
Interlaced-to-progressive conversion with (1) 3-2 pulldown detection, (2) pre-filtering for field motion detection, (3) field motion detection with feedback, (4) field edge detection including direction angle detection by comparison of pixel differences with sets of more than pairs of pixels and a lateral edge detection probability by a lack of non-lateral angle detection, and (5) blending moving pixel interpolation and still pixel interpolation using field uniformity. |
| US07990469B2 |
Cleaning friendly camera privacy feature
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an appliance having a camera and camera window may include a shutter puck slidably disposed in a slot in which the camera window may be disposed. The puck may have a wiper pad that is capable of cleaning the camera window as the puck is slid within the slot from a camera on to a camera off or privacy position. The puck may comprise an at least partially deformable material so that the puck may be inserted into and/or removed from the slot by at least partially deforming the puck to allow the puck to be installed in or extracted from the slot. The puck may further include a grip rib structure or the like to allow a user to grasp the puck and slide the puck within the slot. |
| US07990467B2 |
Parallax image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
A parallax image pickup apparatus for forming a parallax image train by photographing an object from a plurality of directions includes an image pickup unit in which an image pickup device and an image forming optical system are integrated in order to photograph the parallax images of the object; a rotating unit on which the image pickup unit is mounted and which rotates the image pickup unit in a parallax direction; an image pickup unit moving unit for rectilinearly moving the image pickup unit and the rotating unit synchronously with the rotation of the rotating unit; a control unit for controlling so that a virtual image pickup center portion is always located at the center of a photographed image; and a focal distance control unit for continuously changing a focal distance of the image pickup unit. |
| US07990466B2 |
Method of auto-retracting lens of image capture apparatus and control system using the same
A method of auto-retracting a lens of an image capture apparatus and a control system using the same are applied to an image capture apparatus with a retractable lens. The method includes the following steps. A hardware circuit of the image capture apparatus detects whether an abnormal power failure event occurs or not. The hardware circuit performs a re-boot procedure when detects that the abnormal power failure event occurs. After the hardware circuit performs the re-boot procedure, software in the image capture apparatus utilizes residual power only to perform a control procedure of retracting the lens. After the retractable lens is detected to have been retracted into the image capture apparatus, the software controls the image capture apparatus to be powered off. |
| US07990461B2 |
Focus detection device
Both of a high speed AF using contrast control and a high precision AF using a color temperature sensor are achieved. A focus detection device has: a first sensor which outputs a signal for a focus detection by detecting a phase difference; and a second sensor having a plurality of pixels whose spectral sensitivities are different. Accumulation start timing of the first sensor and that of the second sensor are different. The first sensor controls an accumulation time period and a read-out gain based on a difference between the maximum and minimum values of an accumulation signal. The accumulation of the second sensor is finished in a timing when the accumulation of the first sensor is finished. |
| US07990459B2 |
Dust-proof filter unit, image pickup apparatus, and projection-type image display apparatus
The dust-proof filter unit includes: a dust-proof member including a transmission portion which can transmit a light flux for image, the dust-proof member being oppositely disposed to a solid image pickup device at a predetermined spacing therebetween; a first excitation unit for providing a vibration to the dust-proof member, the vibration being in a first direction in parallel with a predetermined plane; a second excitation unit for providing a vibration to the dust-proof member, the vibration being in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; a dust-proof filter driving portion for driving the first excitation unit and the second excitation unit; and a control circuit for controlling the dust-proof filter driving portion. |
| US07990458B2 |
Digital camera
A digital camera has an image-capturing device, an image processor, and a display. The image-capturing device creates a cleaning image which is used for pinpointing dust particles attached to an image sensor. The image processor creates an inverted cleaning image so that the top and bottom of a subject image provided on the image sensor match the top and bottom of a subject image included in the cleaning image. The display displays the inverted cleaning image. |
| US07990457B2 |
Mobile terminal with camera
A folding-type mobile terminal is provided with a camera that is capable of accurately imaging an object. This is accomplished by mounting the camera such that a viewing direction of the display of the terminal is substantially parallel to a camera imaging direction. |
| US07990451B2 |
Optical pixel and image sensor
A photosensitive pixel includes a photosensor and an externally loadable flag. The photosensor outputs a signal indicative of an intensity of incident light. The externally loadable flag indicates the pixel reset state, and is preferably stored in an in-pixel memory. Pixel reset logic resets the photosensor in accordance with the reset state and an externally applied reset signal. |
| US07990450B2 |
Photodetecting circuit
A photodetecting circuit is disclosed which includes a photodetector for generating a signal in response to incident light, a storage node, transfer and reset transistors and an output circuit. The storage node has first and second node terminals. The second node terminal is connected to a compensation signal during a read period of the photodetection circuit. The transfer transistor is disposed intermediate the first node terminal of the storage node and the photodetector and is for electrically connecting the first node terminal and the photodetector during an integration period upon receiving a transfer signal to a gate of the transfer transistor, allowing charge stored in the storage node to change based on the signal of the photodetector. The reset transistor has a control node for receiving a reset signal, a first terminal for receiving a reset voltage, and a second terminal electrically connected to the first node terminal, such that the reset voltage is supplied to the first node terminal when the reset signal is asserted at a gate of the reset transistor. The output circuit generates an output signal during the read period of the photodetecting circuit. The output signal is at least partially based on a voltage at the first terminal. The compensation signal is a logically negated version of the transfer signal. |
| US07990446B2 |
High dynamic range pixel amplifier
A pixel cell with increased dynamic range is formed by providing a floating diffusion region having a variable capacitance, controlled by at least one gate having source and drain regions commonly connected to the floating diffusion region. The gate has an intrinsic capacitance which, when the gate is activated, is added to the capacitance of the floating diffusion region, providing a low conversion gain readout. When the gate is off, the floating diffusion region capacitance is minimized, providing a high conversion gain readout. The gate may also be selectively switched to mid-level. At mid-level, a mid-level conversion gain, which is between the high and low conversion gains, readout is provided, but the gate still provides some capacitance to prevent the floating diffusion region from saturating. |
| US07990437B2 |
Color correction in CMOS image sensor
For color correction in an image sensor, an image sensor processing block generates a plurality of color correction parameters corresponding to a plurality of selected pixels of the image sensor for defining a plurality of areas of a sample image. In addition, a color correction value calculation block generates a respective color correction value corresponding to a given pixel from bilinear interpolation of a respective subset of the color correction parameters corresponding to a respective one of the areas including a respective location of the given pixel. |
| US07990435B2 |
Audio-based attention grabber for imaging devices
A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured. |
| US07990425B2 |
Image data processing apparatus with image pickup means
The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus (70) comprising an image pickup means (700) for forming a plurality of image signals (S,L) having different exposure conditions, combining means for combining said plurality of image signals (L,S) to form a combined image signal having an extended dynamic range, further comprising display and/or recording means (701) for displaying and/or recording said combined image signal, further comprising a function module (79) correcting at least one of the image signals (L,S) in order to achieve a smooth transition between the image signals (S, L) at a transition point. |
| US07990418B2 |
Automated test measurement system and method therefor
An automated test measurement system (ATMS) (100), for automatically measuring a device under test (DUT) (60), includes a control module (110), a signal generation module (120), an encoder module (130), and a signal analyzer module (140). The control module receives an encoder parameter and a test item, and generates a pattern command and an analyzer command according to the test item. The signal generation module generates a pattern according to the pattern command. The encoder module transforms the pattern into a bitstream according to the encoder parameter, and transmits the bitstream to the DUT. The bitstream is then transformed into a test signal. The analyzer module receives the test signal from the DUT, and analyzes the test signal according to the analyzer command. An automated test measurement method therefor is also provided. |
| US07990417B2 |
Targeted object pursuit system
A targeted object pursuit system comprising a first setting block, a second setting block, a recognition block, a first determination block, a second determination block, and a re-designation block is provided. The first setting block initially designates a partial area as a pursuit area. The second setting block designates the areas displaced from the pursuit area as candidate areas. The recognition block extracts a standard image and candidate images. The first determination block determines in which general direction the targeted object moves is the first or second general direction. Based on the determination made by the first determination block, the second determination block determines in which of the first, second, third, or fourth detailed direction the targeted object has moved. The re-designation block re-designates a candidate area as the new pursuit area. |
| US07990416B2 |
In-vehicle mount display controller, in-vehicle mount display device, display control method, control program and recording medium
The state of a vehicle rear portion such as the state of a rear seat or the like and the state of a vehicle rear side are allowed to be easily grasped at a driver's seat, and also the state of a vehicle front side is allowed to be easily grasped at a rear seat.An in-vehicle display device 10 is equipped with a camera 13, plural monitors 12, 21, an image pickup direction detector 24 for detecting the image pickup direction of the camera 13 and outputting an image pickup direction signal, and a controller 22 for selecting any one of plural monitors 12, 21 on the basis of the image pickup direction signal, and displaying the pickup image of the camera 13 on the selected monitor. |
| US07990412B2 |
Systems and methods for correcting image perspective
Systems and methods for correcting perspective in an image are invented and disclosed. One embodiment comprises capturing image data responsive to light incident upon an image-capture device, wherein the image data includes a first perspective of a subject-of-interest, providing an image-processing algorithm executable by the image-capture device, the image-processing algorithm configured to generate modified data responsive to the image data and a perspective-correction factor, and executing the image-processing algorithm over the image data in accordance with the perspective-correction factor to generate modified data that includes a second perspective of the subject-of-interest. |
| US07990410B2 |
Status and control icons on a continuous presence display in a videoconferencing system
Various embodiments of a videoconferencing system and methods for visually indicating status and/or control information on a continuous presence display for a videoconference are described herein. In one embodiment, status information may be received from one or more of the endpoints of the videoconference and one or more status icons may be displayed on a continuous presence display in response to the status information. In another embodiment, a control icon may be displayed on the continuous presence display in order to visually indicate an endpoint that has been selected for controlling one or more of its properties. |
| US07990408B2 |
Exposing device and image forming apparatus including the same
An exposing device includes a light-emitting element array including plural light-emitting elements disposed in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a lens array including plural lenses that focus lights from the light-emitting elements, a supporting member that supports the light-emitting element array and the lens array, and an exposure-position adjusting mechanism including a rotation adjusting unit that rotates the supporting member around or substantially around an axis in the first direction. |
| US07990407B2 |
Drive circuit, light print head, and image forming apparatus
A drive circuit is provided for supplying a drive current to drive a plurality of driven elements each having two main electrodes. The drive circuit includes a switch circuit for receiving a drive signal; and a constant voltage circuit connected to the switch circuit for adjusting the drive current at a constant level. |
| US07990402B2 |
Image display control device
An image display control device calculates a lighting luminance after reduction in luminance and an image correction coefficient by real-time calculations of a common calculator. The common calculator is controlled by microcodes stored in a code table. When correcting an image, chroma correction is enhanced to suppress a decrease in chroma due reduction in luminance, and a flicker is prevented by series infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering processes. When the image has a low average luminance but has a high chroma, a decrease in chroma is suppressed by limiting a reduction in lighting luminance. |
| US07990398B2 |
Matching movement behavior in motion graphics
Computer-implemented methods and media bearing instructions for matching movements of objects are described. In one example, the method can include determining a position of a first point in a first coordinate system, converting the position of the first point from the first coordinate system to a second coordinate system, performing a transformation on a second point in the second coordinate system, wherein the second point is initialized to a starting position in the second coordinate system, determining an ending position of the second point in the second coordinate system based on the transformation, converting the ending position of the second point in the second coordinate system to the first coordinate system, and associating the ending position of the second point in the first coordinate system to the first point in the first coordinate system, wherein the associating causes a transformation of the first point to match the transformation performed on the second point. |
| US07990396B2 |
Method for maintaining project standards in computer-aided design projects
Embodiments of the invention provide a CAD application that allows users to establish, maintain, and synchronize project standards for style definitions and display settings across multiple drawing files that are part of a design project. The CAD application also allows users to specify how changes to a project standard should be synchronized across the drawing files associated with a given design project. A synchronization setting may be manual, semi-automatic or automatic. |
| US07990395B2 |
Method for setting basic display screen in mobile terminal
Disclosed is a method for setting a basic display screen in a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal stores a plurality of indicator images corresponding to each of a plurality of status indicators, and a plurality of images which can be used as background elements. A user can set a basic display screen by selecting desired display images of respective status indicators and various background element images. The indicator images changing with the change of status or according to the user's selection are easily readable and give pleasure to the user. |
| US07990394B2 |
Viewing and navigating within panoramic images, and applications thereof
A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport. |
| US07990393B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing low cost gamut mapping algorithms
Techniques for low cost gamma mapping convert three-primary input image data, such as RGB data, into a four primary color display color space, such as an RGBW color space, for rendering on the display by calculating a value for W image data based upon the RGB image input data; deriving an allowable value for W based upon a chromaticity specification of the display, and calculating output values for R, G and B image data based upon the allowable W value. A display system receiving input image data specified in three input primary colors includes modules for converting the input image data into image data specifying color values in four display primary colors. A first module determines a value of a first display primary color, and a second module determines the value of second, third and fourth display primary colors by computing a solution set to simultaneous equations based upon the value of the first display primary color. |
| US07990388B2 |
Verification of animation in a computing device
Methods and systems of verifying an animation applied in a mobile device may include a timer module that is programmed to time-slice the animation into multiple scenes at predetermined time points along a timeline of the animation. A first capture module is programmed to capture actual data of each scene at each of the time points while the animation is running. A first comparison module is programmed to compare the actual data of each scene with expected data of the corresponding scene to determine whether the actual data of each scene matches the expected data of the corresponding scene. A first output module is programmed to generate a verification failure if the actual data of any scene does not match the expected data of the corresponding scene, and generate a verification success if the actual data of each scene matches the expected data of the corresponding scene. |
| US07990387B2 |
Method and apparatus for spawning projected avatars in a virtual universe
The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus to project a projected avatar associated with an avatar in a virtual universe. A computer receives a command to project the avatar, the command having a projection point. The computer transmits a request to place a projected avatar at the projection point to a virtual universe host. The computer renders a tab associated with the projected avatar. |
| US07990385B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating new images by using image data that vary along time axis
A rectangular-parallelopiped space (box space) expresses the moving images by use of a virtual space. A plurality of frames contained in the moving images appear continuously along time axis. The box space is cut through by a desired surface, and an image projected on this cut surface is projected onto a plane parallel in the direction of time axis. Images sequentially projected onto the plane are outputted as new moving images. |
| US07990384B2 |
Audio-visual selection process for the synthesis of photo-realistic talking-head animations
A system and method for generating photo-realistic talking-head animation from a text input utilizes an audio-visual unit selection process. The lip-synchronization is obtained by optimally selecting and concatenating variable-length video units of the mouth area. The unit selection process utilizes the acoustic data to determine the target costs for the candidate images and utilizes the visual data to determine the concatenation costs. The image database is prepared in a hierarchical fashion, including high-level features (such as a full 3D modeling of the head, geometric size and position of elements) and pixel-based, low-level features (such as a PCA-based metric for labeling the various feature bitmaps). |
| US07990383B1 |
Sequential browsing and visible representation of a user's watch list of stocks and market indices
A user's watch list comprising stocks and stock market indices is organized into a browsing sequence using a computer. The computer provides a sequential browsing feature to sequentially browse, in an order according to the browsing sequence, the stocks and the indices in the user's watch list. The computer provides a visible representation feature to display regions to visibly represent the stocks and the indices in the user's watch list. Each region is user-selectable, is bordered by a respective color that is based on a change in price of its represented one of the stocks and the indices, and has an interior color that is not based on the change in price. In response to a user selection of a region from a touch screen, the computer retrieves a chart associated with the respective one of the stocks and the indices in the user's watch list represented by the region. |
| US07990382B2 |
Virtual display
Display objects are defined that are capable of visually indicating physiological measurements and physiological monitor status. A virtual display utilizing these display objects is characterized by selecting those display objects corresponding to one or more particular physiological parameters, organizing the selected display objects within a virtual display area corresponding to at least a portion of a physical display, and associating data objects corresponding to the one or more physiological parameters with the selected display objects. |
| US07990379B2 |
System and method for coronary segmentation and visualization
A method of coronary vessel segmentation and visualization includes providing a digitized coronary image, placing a plurality of seed points along an estimated centerline of a coronary vessel, selecting a seed point and constructing a cyclic graph around the seed point in a plane perpendicular to the centerline at the seed point, performing a multi-scale-mean shift filtering in the perpendicular plane to estimate image gradient values, detecting a vessel boundary using a minimum-mean-cycle optimization that minimizes a ratio of a cost of a cycle to a length of a cycle, constructing a sub-voxel accurate vessel boundary about a point on the centerline, and refining the location of the centerline point from the sub-voxel accurate boundary, where the steps of constructing a sub-voxel accurate vessel boundary and refining the centerline point location are repeated until convergence. |
| US07990378B2 |
Methods and apparatus for volume rendering
A method for performing a volume rendering of an image uses a computer having a processor, memory, and a display. The method includes globally segmenting image data that represents an image to thereby locate boundaries in the image, determining regional opacity functions using the image data in a vicinity of the boundaries, and volume rendering the image data utilizing the regional opacity functions to display an image. The method provides a presentation of improved images of structures. These improved images are obtained using a regional optimization of the opacity function such that the perceived object boundary coincides more closely with a segmented boundary. |
| US07990377B2 |
Real-time rendering of light-scattering media
A real-time algorithm for rendering of an inhomogeneous scattering media such as smoke under dynamic low-frequency environment lighting is described. An input media animation is represented as a sequence of density fields, each of which is represented by an approximate model density field and a residual density field. The algorithm uses the approximate model density field to compute an approximate source radiance, and further computes an effective exitant radiance by compositing the approximate source radiance using a compositing methods such as ray marching. During the compositing process (e.g., ray marching), the residual field is compensated back into the radiance integral to generate images of higher detail. |
| US07990371B2 |
Method for reconstructing a three-dimensional surface of an object
Method for determining a disparity value of a disparity of each of a plurality of points on an object, the method including the procedures of detecting by a single image detector, a first image of the object through a first aperture, and a second image of the object through a second aperture, correcting the distortion of the first image, and the distortion of the second image, by applying an image distortion correction model to the first image and to the second image, respectively, thereby producing a first distortion-corrected image and a second distortion-corrected image, respectively, for each of a plurality of pixels in at least a portion of the first distortion-corrected image representing a selected one of the points, identifying a matching pixel in the second distortion-corrected image, and determining the disparity value according to the coordinates of each of the pixels and of the respective matching pixel. |
| US07990369B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display module
An image display apparatus configured by a display panel having an image memory element in a pixel, which achieves low power consumption. A nonvolatile image memory element 1, which can change the resistance value by phase change, is connected to a pixel electrode 25 of a liquid crystal element 5. The output of a thin-film transistor 17 driven by scanning and signal electrode lines 7, 9 is connected to the pixel electrode 25. When the scanning electrode line 7 is selected to have a high level voltage, the thin-film transistor 17 is turned on and a current signal flowing through the signal electrode 9 is sent through the image memory element 1 to a reference electrode line 15. Depending on the current value or pulse width passing through the image memory element 1, the resistance of the image memory element 1 is changed and is stored as a resistance value. A liquid crystal drive voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal element 5 is varied depending on the resistance of the image memory element 1 and an image is displayed on the liquid crystal element 5. |
| US07990368B2 |
Method for calibrating coordinates of touch screen
A method for calibrating coordinates of a touch screen includes the steps of: providing a display panel, which includes display coordinates along a first axis and a first axis display coordinate; providing a capacitive sensor, which includes sensing electrodes disposed along the first axis and respectively corresponding to sensing coordinates, wherein capacitive sensor has a maximum sensing coordinate; detecting digital values corresponding to the sensing electrodes when the capacitive sensor is touched; multiplying the digital values by the sensing coordinates corresponding to the sensing electrodes to obtain a weighting value; dividing the weighting value by the maximum sensing coordinate to obtain an interpolated value; and multiplying the interpolated value by the first axis display coordinate to obtain a calibrated coordinate. |
| US07990360B2 |
Backlight assembly and display device having the same
A backlight assembly a plurality of first light-emitting chips for emitting light and a thermistor for indicating the temperature of the first light-emitting chips. The first light-emitting chips emit first color light and are connected in series to each other. The thermistor may be connected in series to the first light-emitting chips and has an electrical resistance that decreases with an increase of its temperature. The light amount emitted by the first light-emitting chips is controlled by pulse width modulating the current driving the first light-emitting chips based on the temperature (resistance) of the thermistor and based on received image data. Thus, a decrease in brightness due to temperature variation may be compensated for while performing color dimming. |
| US07990351B2 |
Driving circuit for liquid crystal display device
A driving circuit for Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device includes a unity-gain operation amplifier (OP amp), three switches, and two capacitors. The unity-gain OP amp buffers and carries a signal voltage on a transmission line. The first switch switches a connection between a noninverting terminal of the unity-gain OP amp and an input line of the signal voltage. One end of the second switch is connected to the input line of the signal voltage. One end of the third switch is connected to the noninverting terminal of the unity-gain OP amp. The first capacitor is connected between the other end of the third switch and the other end of the second switch. The second capacitor is connected between the other end of the first capacitor and the ground voltage terminal. |
| US07990343B2 |
False contour reduction device, display device, false contour reduction method, and false contour reduction program
A false contour reduction device reduces the occurrence of false contours on a display screen. The false contour reduction device includes a false contour occurrence pixel detection circuit, a specific color pixel detection circuit, and a false contour reduction processing circuit. The false contour occurrence pixel detection circuit detect at which pixels false contours will occur among the pixels in an image based on the input image signal. The detected pixels are false-contour-occurring pixels. The specific color pixel detection circuit detects pixels which have a specific color within a specific color range, among the false-contour-occurring pixels. The detected pixels are specific color false-contour-occurring pixels. The false contour reduction processing circuit performs a false contour reducing process on the specific color false-contour-occurring pixels. |
| US07990336B2 |
Microwave coupled excitation of solid state resonant arrays
An electronic receiver array for detecting microwave signals. Ultra-small resonant devices resonate at a frequency higher than the microwave frequency (for example, the optical frequencies) when the microwave energy is incident to the receiver. A microwave antenna couples the microwave energy and excites the ultra-small resonant structures to produce Plasmon activity on the surfaces of the resonant structures. The Plasmon activity produces detectable electromagnetic radiation at the resonant frequency. |
| US07990334B2 |
Radio wave transmission cover and method of manufacturing radio wave transmission cover
The present invention provides a radio wave transmission cover having superior design and radio wave transmissibility. The radio wave transmission cover includes a front side member (1), a rear side member (5) and a connection layer (6). The front side member (1) and the rear side member (5) are formed separately and are integrated with each other by the connection layer (6). Furthermore, the distance between the front side member (1) and the rear side member (5) in the front-to-rear direction ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.4 mm. |
| US07990331B2 |
Antenna coil to be mounted on a circuit board and antenna device
In an antenna coil including a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, and a flexible board, coil conductors are provided on a surface of the flexible board. By winding the flexible board around the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core, a first coil portion is disposed around the first magnetic core, and a second coil portion is disposed around the second magnetic core. The winding direction of the second coil portion is opposite to that of the first coil portion. The first coil portion and the second coil portion are connected to define one coil as a whole. |
| US07990329B2 |
Dual staggered vertically polarized variable azimuth beamwidth antenna for wireless network
An antenna system for wireless networks having a dual stagger antenna array architecture is disclosed. The antenna array contains a number of driven radiator elements that are spatially arranged in two vertically aligned groups each having pivoting actuators so as to provide a controlled variation of the antenna array's azimuth radiation pattern. |
| US07990326B2 |
Antenna apparatus and adjusting method thereof
An antenna apparatus includes a base member that has an antenna unit and a loop pattern. The loop pattern is wound in such a manner that a magnetic field of the loop pattern is generated along the same direction as that of the antenna unit. Additionally, the loop pattern is formed by a plurality of loops connected parallel to each other. |
| US07990323B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device including electrically conductive, electrically floating beam shaping elements and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried within the portable housing, wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the PCB within the portable housing, and an antenna carried by the PCB within the portable housing and connected to the wireless transceiver circuitry. The device may further include a first pair of electrically floating, electrically conductive, spaced apart, antenna beam shaping elements adjacent the antenna and spaced apart therefrom. A second pair of electrically floating, electrically conductive, spaced apart, antenna beam shaping elements may be adjacent the antenna and spaced apart therefrom. The first pair of antenna beam shaping elements may be positioned in an offset relationship relative to the second pair of antenna beam shaping elements. |
| US07990318B2 |
Radio-frequency telephone set
A radio-frequency telephone set including (a) a powered antenna element having a power supply portion, and (b) a substrate having a dielectric layer, a first conductive layer formed on one of opposite surfaces of the dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer formed on the other of said opposite surfaces, wherein the first conductive layer includes a conductive pattern having opposite end portions one of which is electrically connected to the power supply portion, and further having a land electrode electrically connected to the other end portion, and the second conductive layer includes a ground electrode and a conductor-free portion defined by said ground electrode, the land electrode and the conductor-free portion at least partially overlapping each other as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the dielectric layer. |
| US07990315B2 |
Shared memory device applied to functional stages configured in a receiver system for processing signals from different transmitter systems and method thereof
A shared memory device for a receiver system is disclosed. The receiver system is configured to have a first functional stage and a second functional stage for processing information carried by signals from a first transmitter system and a second transmitter system respectively. The shared memory device has a memory space, allocated to be commonly shared by the first functional stage and the second functional stage, for buffering processing data generated from the first functional stage or the second functional stage. |
| US07990314B2 |
Method and system for locating a geographical position using broadcast frequency modulation signals
A method and system for locating and positioning using broadcast frequency modulation (FM) signals, is provided. One implementation involves receiving FM stereo signals from three FM stations at one or more receivers, each stereo signal including a modulated 19 KHz FM pilot tone; and determining a geographical position at each receiver based on the phase difference of the demodulated pilot tones in the received FM signals. |
| US07990310B2 |
Ultra-wideband ranging method and system using narrowband interference supression waveform
Disclosed herein is an Ultra-WideBand (UWB) ranging method using a narrowband interference suppression waveform. A transmission signal is transmitted to a target object. The transmission signal, reflected from the target object, is received. A template signal is generated by combining the narrowband interference suppression waveform and a channel estimation signal together. A correlation output signal is generated by convoluting the template signal and the received signal. A distance is calculated using a time delay when the correlation output signal has the maximum value thereof. The narrowband interference suppression waveform is any one of two waveforms that are expressed by the following Equation: wr1(t)=g(t−δ1/2)+g(t+δ1/2) wr2(t)=g(t−δ2/2)−g(t+δ2/2) where g(t) is a basic UWB pulse waveform, δ1=(N+1/2)f1, δ2=(N)/f1, N is an integer, and fi is the center frequency of a narrowband interference signal. |
| US07990309B2 |
Constant false alarm rate adaptive radar control
A method of analyzing return signals of successive range cells in a scene using constant false alarm rate adaptive control comprising, for each successive range cell in turn is disclosed mathematically. The return signal is processed mathematically and averaged over a predetermined number of cells near that cell. A first variable factor and the return signal for that cell, to derive a first result. The first variable is adapted depending upon that first result. A second variable factor is derived in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the first and second factors are mathematically processed. The second factor is mathematically processed. The second averaged return signal and the return signal for the cell, to derive a second result. The second result is used as an indication of the presence of an object of interest in the scene. |
| US07990304B2 |
Double data rate (DDR) counter, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) using the same, CMOS image sensor using the same and methods in DDR counter, ADC and CMOS image sensor
In a double data rate (DDR) counter and counting method used in, for example, an analog-to-digital conversion in, for example, a CMOS image sensor and method, a first stage of the counter generates a least significant bit (LSB) of the value in the counter. The first stage includes a first clock input and is edge-triggered on one of the rising and falling edges of a signal applied at the first clock input. The counter includes at least one second stage for generating another bit of the value in the counter. The second stage includes a second clock input and is edge-triggered on the other of the rising and falling edges of a signal applied at the second clock input. |
| US07990303B2 |
Analog-to-digital conversion unit and analog-to-digital converting method thereof
An analog-to-digital conversion unit (ADC unit) and an analog-to-digital converting method (ADC method) are provided. The ADC unit has a plurality of sub analog-to-digital converters and an encoding unit. Each of the employed sub analog-to-digital converters is coupled to two threshold voltages non-successive in terms of levels arrangement, compares the input voltage with the two threshold voltages and outputs two bits according to the comparison results. In this way, the difference between the two threshold voltages coupled by each of the sub analog-to-digital converters can be larger, which is advantageous in advancing the analog-to-digital converting accuracy. |
| US07990302B2 |
Analog input device
An amplifier for amplifying a pulse-like signal output from a secondary side of an isolating transformer, a capacitor connected to a negative feedback loop across the input and output of the amplifier, and a timing control circuit for controlling an FET into a closed state, then controlling a switch into a closed state, and after that controlling the switch into an open state at timing simultaneously with the FET or earlier than the FET are provided, and when the switch is controlled into the open state, an AD converter converts the output signal of the amplifier to a digital signal. |
| US07990300B2 |
D/A conversion circuit
DAC includes a reference current setting unit (RCSU) that sets reference current, and current cell output unit (CCOU) including plurality of current sources, the current sources being configured to output currents corresponding to the reference current, the CCOU being configured to generate analog voltage signal according to an input digital signal, wherein the RCSU includes, reference current source (RCS) that generates the reference current, first and second resistance through which the reference current flows, selection control circuit that, when amplitude level of the analog voltage signal is to be changed, selects at least one of the first and second resistances and connect the selected resistance to the RCS, and reference current control circuit that controls current amount of reference current of the RCS according to voltage generated by resistance selected from among the first and second resistances. |
| US07990298B1 |
Reduction of digital-to-analog converter distortion using constellation rotation
A method for signal conversion includes generating a complex digital signal, which includes digital In-phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) components, for conversion into respective analog I and Q components by first and second Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs). A distortion generated by the DACS in the analog I and Q components is reduced by applying a phase rotation to the complex digital signal. After applying the phase rotation, the digital I and Q components of the complex digital signal are converted into the respective analog I and Q components using the first and second DACs. |
| US07990297B1 |
Encoding and decoding methods and devices employing dual codesets
A method for encoding an input sequence of symbols to produce a bitstream and a method of decoding the bitstream to generate a reconstructed binary sequence. Encoding employs an encoding tree having primary codewords associated with leaf nodes and secondary codewords associated with internal nodes. A flush event may cause output of secondary codewords. A context model is used to select an encoding tree corresponding to an estimated probability at the encoder. The same context model is used by the decoder to select a decoding tree. The decoder interleaves bits from decoded bit sequences associated with different estimated probabilities based on the context model. |
| US07990294B2 |
Parallel-serial conversion circuit and data receiving system
A parallel-serial conversion circuit includes: a plurality of data terminals each receiving a data signal; a selection circuit configured to select at least one of the data signals received through the plurality of data terminals; a first latch circuit configured to latch an output from the selection circuit based on a clock signal; a replica selection circuit configured to select one of a plurality of signals and output the selected signal; and a timing-signal generating circuit configured to generate a timing signal for controlling the selection circuit based on the output from the replica selection circuit, wherein the output from the replica selection circuit is latched based on the clock signal. |
| US07990291B2 |
Determination of compression state information for use in interactive compression
The invention is directed at a method and apparatus for determining compression state information which is to be used in the compression of data being transmitted between two communicating parties. The method of determining the compression state information for use in interactively compressing data comprises the steps parsing the data to determine a hierarchical data structure of the data; traversing a shared hierarchical node index to determine common compression state information entries between the hierarchical data structure and the hierarchical node index; and selecting at least one of the common compression state information entries for use in compressing the data. |
| US07990287B2 |
Ultrasonic drag modulation
Drag experienced by a vehicle travelling through an environmental media, such as air, is actively modulated by an energy beam which may either increase or decrease the drag. The energy beam may provide either a chemical, acoustic, or electromagnetic energy at a transition region between turbulent and laminar flow or at the leading edge of a laminar flow, or in the direction of a crosswind, in order to facilitate the respective increase or decrease in drag. An energy beam may be directed in a rearwards direction, relative to a direction of travel. |
| US07990278B2 |
System and method for detecting power supply error of electronic device and electronic device
An electronic device powered by a primary power source includes a switch, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, a warning unit and a secondary power source. The switch is configured for connecting and disconnecting the primary power source and the electronic device. The first detection unit is configured for detecting whether the switch is activated. The second detection unit is configured for detecting whether the primary power source is available if the switch is activated. The warning unit is configured for activating an alarm if the primary power source is unavailable. The secondary power source is configured for supplying electrical power to the first detection unit, the second detection unit and the warning unit. |
| US07990275B1 |
Fuel tank pressure indicator, including cap and container interface pressure indicator
A pressure indicator for a motor vehicle (or other) fuel tank, that will indicate when pressure at the cap/container interface or vapor pressure in the tank drops below a predetermined level, which will normally mean that the fuel cap is not tightly secured to the tank's opening. The cap/container interface or vapor pressure will be detected by sensors in a rubber gasket (either in the cap or in the tank's opening that the cap fits over) or in a washer for the fuel cap. When the sensors detect a pressure below the predetermined level, BLUE TOOTH (or other appropriate) technology will be used to send a signal to a receiver (preferably in a key ring attachment) that will cause a red light to flash (or other appropriate visual, audio or tactile notice). The light may also flash when the cap is temporarily removed for refueling. |
| US07990274B2 |
Call system for location and training of a cat or other domestic animal
An electronic device and transmitter allowing animal owners to locate their animals by a non-verbal audible output signal and a visual output signal. A method for training animals to elicit a desired behavior based upon stimuli emitted from an electronic device. The electronic device and method enable animal owners to quickly find their animals that might not otherwise respond to verbal commands. |
| US07990272B2 |
RFID medical supplies consumption monitoring system and method
A system and method for tracking supplies, particularly medical supplies, and specifically individual medical items, to the end of the product lifecycle to the point of utilizes. RFID tag technology is utilized. This has the advantage of enabling a system that requires less or no active intervention by the medical services delivery staff, such as nurses and doctors. Nonetheless, the system is applicable to other stand-off identification systems including taggant-based systems. The system provides for the monitoring of items, such as medical items, between the distribution center, facility stock rooms and inventory cabinets, and the procedure rooms in which the items are put into use. In one example, system and method associate stand-off, such as RFID, readers with waste-disposal or refuse containers and/or readers located near the point of usage, such as in or associated with the procedure rooms in order to monitor the endpoint of the product lifecycle. Thus, the knowledge of medical item disposal or disposal of the medical item's packaging is combined with one or more prior detections of the medical item, e.g., at acquisition and when moved to a different location such as storage, to generate a usage history for the item. In all or more cases, this knowledge is acquired with out human intervention by judicious location of readers at the distribution center and/or medical facility. |
| US07990270B2 |
Transportation security system and associated methods
A security system for monitoring at least one shipping container being transported by at least one cargo transport vehicle has a Container Security Device (CSD) configured to be removably coupled to the at least one freight shipping container wall thereby utilizing for monitoring a cargo inside the container and detection of intrusion violations accompanied with partial destruction of the container wall when in a coupled condition. The CSD including at least one anti-tamper sensor, a microcontroller and a communication device; where the microcontroller generates an alarm signal based on a signal from at least one anti-tamper sensor is subjected to an individual sensor processing procedure and then to an integrated sensor processing procedure, the integrated sensor processing procedure make determination of the overall container alert status based on the alarm signal from at least one sensor. The system also has a Network Operations Center (NOC), the NOC including a NOC communications facility configured to communicate with at least one telecommunication network, the NOC being configured to receive data from each of the plurality of the CSDs and including a data storage medium configured to store sensor data and contained an archive of the container events. |
| US07990269B2 |
Method and operator control unit for configuring and monitoring a device with functional safety
The present invention relates to a method for configuring a safety sensor such as a light barrier, with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis, wherein an operator control unit equipped with input means is provided, which operator control unit is connected to the safety sensor under automatic interface and sensor identification, and the parameters on an application-specific basis are set using the input means, wherein a feedback message of the set parameters is simultaneously and automatically displayed in a visualized manner on a display unit (10) of the operator control unit. The present invention further relates to a corresponding operator control unit and to a method for monitoring a safety sensor with parameters which can be set on an application-specific basis. |
| US07990264B2 |
System and method for acquiring location information of a communication device
A method for acquiring location information of a communication device is disclosed. The method acquires the location information of a first communication device according to a request received from a second communication device, and then transmitting the location information of the first communication device to the second communication device A system for acquiring location information of a communication device is also provided. By utilizing the method and the system, another people may find a location of a user of the first communication device. |
| US07990263B2 |
Vector-based harbor scheduling
A method of optimizing the scheduling of ships entering and leaving a harbor, the method comprising the steps of: a. Combining information from an automated identification system about each ship with scheduling information about each ship from a dispatching system to produce a combined ship ID/schedule for each ship; b. Tracking the latitude and longitude of each ship using GPS to produce tracked latitude and longitude of each ship; c. Comparing the tracked latitude and longitude of each ship to existing maps of the harbor; and d. Continually comparing the ID/schedule for each ship with the tracked latitude and longitude of each ship. The alerts are sent whenever the tracked latitude and longitude of each ship does not match the expected latitude and longitude of each ship at a given time. The method tracks and records whenever a pilot embarks or disembarks from a ship. |
| US07990257B2 |
Tire localization system
A tire localization system for locating the position of a tire of a vehicle having five or more wheels, includes a number of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) wheel modules of a vehicle TPMS, each wheel module being attached to each one of the wheels or a tire thereof, respectively. Each TPMS wheel module includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. The system further includes a number of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with and storing wheel position information of one of the wheels, and each RFID tag being positioned externally of its associated wheel. Each of the RFID readers is arranged, upon activation, to interrogate its associated RFID tag, and the associated RFID tag is arranged, upon interrogation, to transmit its stored position information to the RFID reader for transmission by the TPMS wheel module to a central control unit. A tire localization method is also provided. |
| US07990256B2 |
Automatic warning and breaking system for vehicle
An automatic warning and breaking system for a vehicle, includes a plurality of cameras, a motion sensor, a data process unit, an alarm unit, a control unit and an adjustor unit. The cameras are for capturing images of objects inside and outside of the vehicle. The motion sensor unit includes at least an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor, configured for sensing motion of the vehicle. The data process unit is electrically connected to the cameras and the motion sensor unit, configured for processing data from the respective cameras and the motion sensor unit. The alarm unit is connected to the data process unit, configured for giving a warning signal if a data processing result is unsafe. The control unit is configured for generating a control signal based on the warning signal. The adjustor unit is configured for adjusting a break unit of the vehicle based on the control signal. |
| US07990255B2 |
Range extending positive repeater
A method for extending a reception range of a vehicle remote control system includes: receiving, at a repeater, a first radio frequency (RF) signal having inbound data packets indicating a vehicle function to be performed from a remote transmitter; generating, at the repeater, a second RF signal by placing outbound data packets indicating the vehicle function to be performed between the inbound data packets until reception of the first RF signal is complete; and transmitting, from the repeater, the second RF signal to a reception module of a vehicle remote control system. |
| US07990254B2 |
Method and system for controlling an ignition switch and an operational state of a vehicle
Methods and systems for controlling an operational state of a vehicle having a keyless rotary ignition switch and a locking mechanism coupled to the keyless rotary ignition switch are provided. The locking mechanism is disengaged to allow the keyless rotary ignition switch to be rotated from a first position to a second position by a user when an electronic authorization is detected. The locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the keyless rotary ignition switch from being rotated from the first position to the second position by the user when no electronic authorization is detected. |
| US07990250B2 |
Remote control transmitter and transmitting-receiving system
A remote control transmitting and receiving system for operating electric equipment with little operational misjudgment or malfunction. By setting a plurality of transmission codes of remote control signals of a plurality of remote control transmitters to different periods and by providing transmission order data in these transmission codes, even if transmission is carried out from a plurality of remote control transmitters completely simultaneously or with a slight time difference, it is possible to judge the transmission operation order accurately. |
| US07990246B2 |
Foil winding pulse transformer
A pulse transformer arrangement (100) is built from an uncut pulse transformer core (110) and at least one foil winding (120-A, 120-B) (each) comprising multiple insulated conducting strips arranged around the core and ending in foil winding terminals to form multiple independent primary windings. This new design principle has several advantages. Making the winding(s) of foil eliminates the need to cut the core, because of the ease of insertion of the foil winding(s) onto the core. The work to set up a plurality of primary windings is significantly reduced. In addition to the elimination of the costs for cutting the core, this also brings the further advantages of reduced DC reset current, reduced risk for electrical shorts and avoidance of excessive losses due to potential high frequency AC resistance problems. |
| US07990245B1 |
Multi-sectional bobbin for high voltage inductor or transformer
Improved multi-sectional bobbin designs described herein define a channel suitable to accommodate a portion of the wire that transits from prior winding section to the next, wherein opposing walls of the channel so defined separate the transiting portion of the wire from both prior and next winding sections through a substantial entirety of the wires descent from an upper winding layer in the prior section to a lower winding layer in the next. |
| US07990242B2 |
Transient voltage and harmonic currents quashing (THQ) transformers, transformer winding topology, and method of making the same
Different configurations of transient voltage quashing (TQ) transformers, harmonic current quashing (HQ) transformers, and transient voltage and harmonic current quashing (THQ) transformers include one or more of: a tertiary winding radially placed between the primary and secondary windings, with a surge suppressors coupled thereto, which quashes transient voltages in the transformer and any output device attached to output leads of the tertiary or secondary windings; and an arrangement of the secondary windings, separated by at least a second type intra-winding insulation, into one or a plurality of output winding groups, each used to provide power to N serially-connected output devices that exhibit known/expected output voltage characteristics. The second type intra-winding insulation has a dielectric strength to withstand the sum of the voltage output of the device being powered by the output winding and the adjacent serially-connected device, such that the output device experiences minimal harmonic currents. |
| US07990240B2 |
Epoxy sealed relay
A relay assembly is provided that includes an intermediate member to aid in coupling a wire to a housing. |
| US07990236B2 |
Low-pass filter
A low-pass filter (10) includes an input portion (100) for input of an electromagnetic signal, an output portion (120) for output of the electromagnetic signal, a high impedance transmission portion (140) electrically connecting the input portion and the output portion, a pair of low impedance transmission portions (160, 180) arranged on either side of the high impedance transmission portion, and a capacitor. One of the low impedance transmission portions electrically connects the input portion and one end portion of the high impedance transmission portion. The other low impedance transmission portion electrically connects the output portion and the other end portion of the high impedance transmission portion. One end of the capacitor is electrically connected to the high impedance transmission portion. The high impedance transmission portion is symmetrical about the capacitor. |
| US07990235B1 |
Simultaneous switching noise filter architecture and method
The present invention is directed to a transmission line assembly and method of propagating signals therethrough that features forming transmission lines of the assembly to provide desired filtering properties. To that end, the assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart transmission lines placing first and second sets of active circuits in electrical communication, with a subset of the plurality of spaced apart transmission lines having dimensions to filter unwanted characteristics of signals, propagating between the first and second sets and inductively coupled between one or more of the plurality of spaced-apart transmission lines. The method performs the function of the assembly. |
| US07990231B2 |
Delay line
In a band-pass filter of a delay line, an input terminal and a first resonator adjacent to the input terminal are coupled through a capacitor. The first resonator and a second resonator adjacent to the first resonator are coupled through a capacitor. The second resonator and a third resonator adjacent to the second resonator are coupled through an inductance. The third resonator and a fourth resonator adjacent to the third resonator are coupled through a capacitor. The fourth resonator and an output terminal adjacent to the fourth resonator are coupled through a capacitor. |
| US07990224B2 |
Dual reference phase tracking phase-locked loop
A phase-locked loop circuit having a dual-reference input and a phase detector. The dual-reference input is configured to accept both a rising edge of an input clock having a first phase and a falling edge of the input clock having a second phase. The phase detector is coupled to the dual-reference input and is configured to produce a center phase signal based upon and centered in phase between the first and second phases. The phase detector is further configured with a feedback loop to adjust any tracking error and provide a tracking output signal. The phase detector system maintains both a high tracking bandwidth and a bounded jitter amplification based as a result of the dual reference signal. The high tracking bandwidth and the bounded jitter amplification are independent of an applied loop gain. |
| US07990214B2 |
Power supply providing ultrafast modulation of output voltage
A power supply for providing a modulated output voltage to a load is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the power supply comprises a plurality of parallel-connected switch-mode power modules and a controller. The controller is connected to each of the power modules and is for controlling the duty cycles of the respective power modules such that the power modules have a common duty cycle in steady state, but in a phase-shifted or “interleaved” manner. In addition, the controller is for controlling the output voltage of the power converter by controlling the ratio of power modules in the forward state at a time to the total number of power modules. In this way, by providing a sufficiently large number of power modules, arbitrarily low output voltage amplitudes and intra-level oscillations can be achieved. Further, the rate of modulation of the output voltage can exceed the switching frequency (f=1/T, where T is the switching period) of the power modules. An rf power amplifier system including such a power supply is also disclosed. |
| US07990211B2 |
Class D amplifier circuit
A pulse monitor circuit detects the presence or non-presence of the output pulses output from an output stage circuit. The pulse monitor circuit outputs an up signal to the up/down counter when the output pulses do not exist at all and outputs a down signal to the up/down counter when the output pulses exist. The up/down counter outputs a signal for increasing the delay amount of a delay amount variable circuit when a count value is large, that is, when the output pulses disappear. In contrast, when the count value is small, that is, when the output pulses exist, the counter outputs the signal for reducing the delay amount of the delay amount variable circuit. |
| US07990209B2 |
Switched capacitor notch filter
A switched capacitor notch filter for sampling an input signal using multiple sampling capacitors and multiple non-overlapping time periods. The charge from the sampling capacitors is averaged and transferred to the filter output during another non-overlapping time period. |
| US07990208B2 |
Voltage supply with low power and leakage current
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a circuit block has a first MOS transistor, and a leakage current control circuit having a second MOS transistor and a current source, a source and drain circuit of the second MOS transistor is formed between the power supply line of the circuit block and a voltage point where operating voltage is supplied. This current source is connected to the power supply line and in a first state, the power supply line is driven to a first voltage by the second MOS transistor. In a second state, the power supply line is controlled at a second voltage by current flow in the current source and, the voltage applied across the source and drain of the first MOS transistor in the second state is smaller than the voltage applied across the source and drain of the first MOS transistor in the first state. |
| US07990195B2 |
Duty cycle correction circuits having short locking times that are relatively insensitive to temperature changes
A duty cycle correction circuit includes a duty cycle correction portion that is configured to output a correction signal that is obtained by correcting a duty cycle of an input signal and to output a delayed signal that is obtained by delaying the correction signal, a complementary portion that is configured to output a complementary signal that is the complement of the delayed signal, and a phase interpolator that is configured to phase interpolate the complementary signal and the correction signal. |
| US07990193B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of controlling the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an update control unit configured to generate an update control signal in response to a first command and a second command; and a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit configured to generate an output clock by controlling a phase of an external clock in response to the update control signal. |
| US07990190B2 |
Power-on reset circuit, module including same, and electronic device including same
A power-on reset circuit includes a charge-up circuit to charge a first capacitor after power is on, a first NOR circuit connected to an output terminal of the charge-up circuit and receive a power-on reset signal output from an output terminal of the power-on reset circuit, a first inverter connected to the first NOR circuit, a second capacitor connected between an input terminal of the first NOR circuit and an output terminal of the first inverter, a counter configured to count a clock, a clock selector configured to select whether to output or inhibit a clock signal based on an output signal from the counter, and a second inverter connected to the output terminal of the counter to output the power-on reset signal. |
| US07990189B2 |
Power-up signal generating circuit and integrated circuit using the same
A power-up signal generating circuit includes a detecting unit configured to output a bias signal having a voltage level corresponding to an external power voltage in response to an internal voltage and a deep power down (DPD) signal; and a signal generating unit configured to generate a power-up signal having a logic level corresponding to the voltage level of the external power voltage in response to the DPD signal and the bias signal, wherein the internal voltage increases during an activation time of the power-up signal to reach a predetermined voltage level after a predetermined time, and maintains a ground voltage level during an inactivation period of the power-up signal. |
| US07990186B2 |
Signal conditioning circuit with a shared oscillator
A circuit for signal conditioning including a first stage with a digital/analog converter, a second stage with an I/Q-modulator, and at least one third stage with a mixer. Instead of a multiplicity of independent oscillators, a shared oscillator is provided for the first, second, and third stages, from an output signal of which a respective oscillator signal and clock-pulse signal for each stage of the first, second, and third stages is derived. The oscillator signal and respective clock-pulse signal of the oscillator are supplied via a frequency divider to at least one stage of the first, second, and third stages, or the oscillator signal of the oscillator is supplied via a frequency multiplier to at least one stage. Also, the oscillator signal of the oscillator is supplied as a reference signal to a frequency synthesizer of at least one stage of the first, second, and third stages. |
| US07990184B2 |
Comparing device having hysteresis characteristics and voltage regulator using the same
Embodiments include a comparing device having hysteresis characteristics and a voltage regulator using the same. The voltage regulator includes a comparator which compares a comparison voltage with a reference voltage and outputs a result of the comparison, a switching controller which generates a plurality of switching signals in response to the comparison result, resistors connected in the form of a string to divide the comparison voltage into a plurality of voltages, and a switching box which selects one of the plural voltages as the comparison voltage in response to the switching signals. |
| US07990183B2 |
Differential comparator with skew compensation function and test apparatus using the same
One of differential signals is inputted to a first input terminal. The other of the differential signals is inputted to a second input terminal. A first sample hold circuit samples the signal inputted to the first input terminal and hold it thereafter. A second sample hold circuit samples the signal inputted to the second input terminal and holds it thereafter. A comparison unit compares a signal corresponding to a difference between respective output signals from the first and the second sample hold circuits, with a predetermined threshold value. A latch circuit latches an output from the comparison unit. Sample timings of the first and the second sample hold circuits and a latch timing of the latch circuit can be adjusted independently. |
| US07990181B1 |
Clockless return to state domino logic gate
A clockless return to state domino logic gate is disclosed responsive to multiple input nodes including at least one return to state node. A domino circuit presets a preset node to a second state. The domino circuit switches to a latch state and switches an output node when the preset node is pulled to a first state, and resets back to the preset state and switches the output node back to its default state when a reset node is pulled to the second state. An evaluation circuit pulls the preset node to the second state when the input nodes are in an evaluation state. An enable circuit enables a reset condition when the domino circuit is in its latch state. A reset circuit pulls the reset node to the first state after an evaluation event when the input nodes are no longer in the evaluation state. |
| US07990178B2 |
Driving circuit with impedence calibration
A driving circuit includes at least a driving unit. The driving circuit includes a first bias component, a second bias component, and four metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors. The first bias component has a first node coupled to a first reference voltage and a second node for outputting a first bias current. The second bias component has a first node for draining a second bias current and a second node coupled to a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage. Each of the MOS transistors has a control node for receiving one of input signal pairs, a node coupled to one of the bias components and another node coupled to one of the output ports of the driving circuit. The four MOS transistors are of a same conductive type. |
| US07990174B2 |
Circuit for calibrating impedance and semiconductor apparatus using the same
A circuit for calibrating impedance includes an enable signal generator, a code generator and a connection controller. The enable signal generator generates an enable signal in response to a chip selection signal. The code generator generates an impedance calibration code in response to the enable signal by using an external resistance coupled to an electrode. The connection controller controls connection between the code generator and the electrode in response to the enable signal. |
| US07990173B1 |
Single event upset mitigation
A circuit for handling single event upsets includes a plurality of digital clock manager circuits. A plurality of counters are respectively coupled by their inputs to the outputs of the digital clock managers and a reset controller is coupled to the outputs of the counters. The reset controller is configured to determine an expected value of the counters. In response to an output value of one of the counters being less than the expected value, the reset controller triggers a reset of the digital clock manager coupled to the input of the one of the counters. In response to an output value of one of the counters being greater than or equal to the expected value, the reset controller continues operation without triggering a reset of a digital clock manager. |
| US07990172B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing electronic device
An electronic device test method incorporating a stress application step that is effective in screening out infant mortality failures of an electronic device. More specifically, a method for testing an electronic device constructed from a single or a plurality of semiconductor components, includes: turning a power supply on and off repeatedly while changing the ON/OFF cycle and/or voltage value of the power supply that is connected to the electronic device; and verifying whether or not the electronic device operates normally after the power supply has been turned on and off repeatedly. |
| US07990169B2 |
Electrical testing device
An electrical testing device used for testing an electronic device under test. The electrical testing device includes a cable configured for receiving a test signal and transmitting the received test signal therethrough, and a testing unit connected to the cable and configured for analyzing the test signal. The cable includes a flexible body, a number of first connectors connected to an end of the flexible body configured for receiving a test signal from the electronic device under test, and a second connector connected to the other end of the flexible body configured for transmitting the test signal between the flexible body and the testing unit. |
| US07990166B2 |
Testing module for testing key buttons of portable electronic device
A testing module is provided including a driving assembly, a positioning assembly and a testing head mechanism. The positioning assembly positions the driving assembly and the testing head mechanism therein. The positioning assembly includes a positioning member. The positioning member includes a base seat. The base seat defines a receiving cavity. The testing head mechanism includes a cushioning mechanism accommodated in the receiving cavity and driven by the driving assembly to move relative to the positioning assembly. |
| US07990162B2 |
Systems and methods for an open circuit current limiter
A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit. |
| US07990160B2 |
Capacitive sensing with combinatorial sensor layout
In a method for determining capacitance, a set of sensor electrodes is employed. The set of sensor electrodes comprises at least three sensor electrodes including first, second, and third sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode meets the second sensor electrode at a first activation region of a plurality of activation regions. The first sensor electrode meets the third sensor at a second activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The second sensor electrode meets the third sensor electrode at a third activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The third sensor electrode transmits while first indicia are received with the first and the second sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode transmits while second indicia are received with the second sensor electrode. Capacitances associated with the first, second and third activation regions are determined using at least the first indicia and second indicia. |
| US07990158B2 |
Measurement arrangement for determining the characteristic line parameters by measuring scattering parameters
The present invention relates to a measurement arrangement for determining the characteristic line parameters by measuring the S-parameters as a function of the frequency of transmission lines. A voltage mesh and a ground mesh in a metal layer are connected symmetrically to a reference ground (RG) in the layer at all ends. |
| US07990154B2 |
Cell voltage detecting apparatus
The present invention provides an easy to produce cell voltage detecting apparatus using a semiconductor having low voltage endurance. In the cell voltage detecting apparatus, cell modules B1-B10 are serially connected, a switch SW1 is located at a middle point, and a contact point of the switch SW1 on a higher potential side is set to a reference potential (ground). Each of discharge type constant current circuits VC1-VC10 is connected to each of the cell modules B1-B10, and each of current-voltage converter circuits CV1-CV10 is connected to each of the discharge type constant current circuits VC1-VC10. Also, diodes D6-D10 are connected respectively so as to allow a current to flow in a direction from the current-voltage converter circuits SV6-SV10 to the corresponding induction type constant current circuits VS6-VS10. |
| US07990143B2 |
NMR machine comprising solenoid gradient coils
The nuclear magnetic resonance machine comprises a device (101) for creating an intense main magnetic field B0 in a useable interior space (109) in the form of a tunnel with axis Z, a device for radio-frequency excitation and processing of radio-frequency signals emitted in response by a body (150) placed in the useable interior space (109), and a set (110) of solenoidal gradient coils for superimposing on the intense magnetic field B0 components of an additional magnetic field, the gradient coils (111-122) being incorporated into tubes that are disposed in a annular cylindrical space (130). Between an exterior cryogenic enclosure (102) and the annular cylindrical space (130) a cylindrical screen (104) is disposed along the axis Z comprising a conductive material of low resistance and low magnetoresistance such that negligible induced currents are generated in the exterior cryogenic enclosure (102) while the eddy currents induced in the cylindrical screen (104) contribute to reinforcing the gradients produced by the solenoidal gradient coils (111-122). |
| US07990142B2 |
MRI apparatus generating deformed binomial pulse waveforms based on flip angle
An MRI apparatus has a waveform setting unit, an applying control unit, a reconstructing unit, and a display control unit. The waveform setting unit sets an asymmetric RF pulse Waveform. The applying control unit controls an application of a pulse in accordance with the RF pulse waveform. The reconstructing unit reconstructs an image based on a signal received by the application. The display control unit controls a display of the image. |
| US07990140B2 |
MRI apparatus
A flip-angle calculating unit calculates a flip angle of a fat-suppression pulse by inputting scanning parameters read from a scanning-parameter storage unit based on scanning conditions set by a scan-condition setting unit and a desired fat-suppression level, into a predetermined computing program. A control unit suppresses fat signals to a desired level by performing irradiation of a fat-suppression pulse having the calculated flip angle and application of a spoiler gradient magnetic field onto a scan target portion of a subject by controlling a gradient magnetic-field generating unit and a transmitting-receiving unit, and further performs irradiation of an RF pulse and application of a gradient magnetic field in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence, thereby detecting water signals and suppressed fat signals as MR signals. An image-data creating unit creates image data by reconstructing the MR signals. |
| US07990135B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting position of magnetic element
An exemplary apparatus for detecting whether a magnetic element is mounted at a correct position on a retaining member is provided. The apparatus includes a holder, a magnetoresistive sensor, and a processor. The magnetoresistive sensor is held by the holder and capable of sensing a present magnetic flux from the magnetic element to the magnetoresistive sensor. The processor is electrically connected to the magnetoresistive sensor and has a predetermined reference magnetic flux stored information therein, configured for obtaining the present magnetic flux and comparing the present magnetic flux with the reference magnetic flux information, thereby detecting whether a magnetic element is mounted at a correct position on a retaining member. |
| US07990134B2 |
Correcting circuit, correcting method, and sensor apparatus
A correcting circuit includes a correction current synthesizer synthesizing a correction current based on an output signal of a sensor, a current adjuster adjusting a determining current which corresponds to a correction amount based on the correction current, and a correction voltage generator generating a correction voltage for correcting a voltage signal based on the determining current, so as to correct an output characteristic of a voltage signal output in correspondence to the output signal of the sensor. |
| US07990129B2 |
Reference voltage generating circuit
A reference voltage generating circuit provides a stabilized reference voltage and includes; a clock generator providing a clock signal, a high voltage generator providing a pumping voltage in response to the clock signal, a ripple eradicator providing a static voltage by removing voltage ripple from the pumping voltage, and a reference voltage generator providing the reference voltage. |
| US07990127B2 |
Method and apparatus for AC to DC power conversion with reduced harmonic current
A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a buck converter. In one aspect, an integrator is coupled to receive a current sense signal representative of a current in a switch of the buck converter and to integrate the current sense signal to produce a first input signal. A ramp generator is coupled to receive an oscillating signal having a same switching period as the switch, and to generate a piecewise linear ramp signal in response to the oscillating signal. The piecewise linear ramp signal has a delay segment of substantially zero slope followed by a plurality of segments having finite linear slopes within the switching period of the switch. A multiplier multiplies the piecewise linear ramp signal to produce a second input signal and a drive signal generator is coupled to receive a third input signal generated in response to the first and the second input signals to produce a drive signal to be coupled to control the switch to substantially regulate an output voltage of the buck converter. |
| US07990124B2 |
Power supply circuit
A power supply circuit for a motherboard includes a VRM, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a first capacitor, a first induction coil, and a delay circuit. A gate of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a UGATE pin of the VRM. A source of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a BOOT pin of the VRM via the first capacitor and a PHASE pin of the VRM, and connected to an MCH on the motherboard via the first induction coil. A drain of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a system power. A gate of the second NMOS transistor is connected to an LGATE pin of the VRM. A source of the second NMOS transistor is grounded. A drain of the second NMOS transistor is connected to the source of the first NMOS transistor and the delay circuit. |
| US07990122B2 |
Digital control switching power-supply device and information processing equipment
To provide a digital control switching power-supply device capable of suitably achieving fast transient response at the time of a sudden load change. In parallel with normal digital signal processing means that outputs a PWM pulse signal having a desired duty, transient variation detection means composed of a CR filter provided across an output inductor and a window comparator is provided in preparation for a sudden load change. If a sudden decrease in load is detected, a PWM pulse signal having a duty of 0% is forcedly output, and if a sudden increase in load is detected, a PWM pulse signal having a duty of 100% is forcedly output. |
| US07990121B2 |
Synchronous rectification switching regulator, control circuit thereof, and method of controlling the operation thereof
A synchronous-rectification-type switching regulator is disclosed that includes a first switching element; an inductor charged with a voltage input to an input terminal of the switching regulator by the switching of the first switching element; a second switching element for synchronous rectification performing switching so as to discharge the inductor; a control circuit part controlling the switching of the first switching element so that an output voltage from an output terminal of the switching regulator is a predetermined constant voltage, and to cause the second switching element to perform the switching inversely to the first switching element; and a reverse current prevention circuit part interrupting a current that flows into the second switching element by cutting off the connection of the second switching element so as to prevent generation of a reverse current that flows in the direction of the second switching element from the output terminal. |
| US07990120B2 |
Circuits and methods for adjustable peak inductor current and hysteresis for burst mode in switching regulators
Switching regulator circuits and methods are provided for regulating output voltage that include an adjustable minimum peak inductor current level and adjustable burst comparator hysteresis for Burst Mode operation in switching regulators. Control over minimum peak inductor current level and burst comparator hysteresis is achieved during Burst Mode operation by allowing external user control of the burst threshold level and the burst comparator hysteresis. A single user-accessible input pin, two user-accessible input pins, or three user-accessible input pins may be used to distinguish between forced continuous and Burst Mode operations, set a burst threshold level, and set a burst comparator hysteresis during Burst Mode operation. The present invention may be applied to buck, boost, buck-boost, or any other suitable regulator circuit configuration. The present invention also may be employed with synchronous and non-synchronous switching regulators. |
| US07990114B2 |
Overload control of an electric power generation system
A control system for an electrical power generation system (EPGS) provides overload protection without disconnecting a generator of the EPGS from an excessive electrical load. Available engine power and current levels of the electrical load are continuously measured. A command voltage is calculated that corresponds to a voltage required to sustain with the maximum available power. Output voltage of a generator of the EPGS is controlled at the calculated command voltage so that a power limit of the engine is not exceeded during electrical overload conditions. |
| US07990111B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting internal electric state of in-vehicle secondary battery
In a proposed apparatus and method, constant-voltage charge is performed with an in-vehicle secondary battery immediately after start of a vehicle or during running of the vehicle. A quantity relevant to polarization caused in the battery immediately after start of the constant-voltage charge is calculated using data of the charge current. It is determined whether or not a change rate of the calculated polarization-relevant quantity is less than a given threshold. When the change rate is less than the given threshold, a plurality of data of the charge current sampled and held during a predetermined period of time are acquired. A value of the charge current to be accumulated until the charge current reaches a given final value is calculated using the plurality of data of the charge current. The internal electric state of the battery is estimated based on the accumulated value of the charge current. |
| US07990108B2 |
Charge detector
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an apparatus that includes a battery system, which includes at least one cell and a charge enable device to couple the at least one cell to a charging voltage. The apparatus also includes an excessive voltage detector to output a signal to control the charge enable device. The signal prevents charging of the at least one cell if an excessive charging voltage is detected based on an activation of a clamping component. |
| US07990106B2 |
Battery charging systems and methods with adjustable current limit
Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery using a regulator. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an electronic circuit comprising a regulator having an input coupled to a power source for receiving a voltage and a current and an output for providing an output current, an input voltage detection circuit coupled to the power source, and an adjustable current limit circuit for controlling the input or output current of the regulator, wherein input voltage detection circuit monitors the voltage from the power source and the adjustable current limit circuit changes the input or output current of the regulator to optimize the power drawn from power source. |
| US07990105B2 |
Power supply device for a vehicle
A high voltage power supply device has a plurality of battery modules connected to each other in series by coupling a safety plug unit to a safety plug unit connecting base to output a series voltage from a power supply output coupler. The safety plug unit connects/disconnects electrode terminals of all the battery modules to each other. Female electrode bodies electrically connected to power supply terminals of the respective battery modules are collectively positioned in a limited area and are arranged at equal intervals on the safety plug unit connecting base. An output voltage of each battery module is set to be lower than 50V to reduce the risk of injury during use, inspection or maintenance of the high voltage power supply device and to downsize the device. |
| US07990103B2 |
Portable electronic apparatus, and battery charging system comprising an antenna arrangement for a radio receiver
A charging system for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The system comprises a charging station providing a magnetic field for power distribution by an alternating current source connected to a power transmission coil for providing the magnetic field, and the portable electronic device. The portable electronic device comprises a radio receiver; a charging mechanism for charging a battery of the portable electronic device; and an antenna arrangement for the radio receiver, wherein the charging mechanism comprises a first coil arranged to interact with the power transmission coil of the charging station upon charging; a rectifier connected to the first coil to receive an alternating current therefrom and to a power supply output to provide a direct current, and the antenna arrangement comprises an antenna element comprising the first coil; a resonator tuned for a frequency band in which the radio receiver is intended to receive radio transmissions; a series resonance circuit comprising a capacitor and a second coil connected in series between one terminal of the first coil and a reference voltage of the portable apparatus. |
| US07990098B2 |
Series-coupled two-motor drive using double-ended inverter system
Systems and apparatus are provided for an inverter system for use in a vehicle. The inverter system comprises a six-phase motor having a first set of three-phase windings and a second set of three-phase windings and a three-phase motor having a third set of three-phase windings, wherein the third set of three-phase windings is coupled to the first set of three-phase windings and the second set of three-phase windings. The system further comprises a first energy source coupled to a first inverter adapted to drive the six-phase motor and the three-phase motor, wherein the first set of three-phase windings is coupled to the first inverter, and a second energy source coupled to a second inverter adapted to drive the six-phase motor and the three-phase motor, wherein the second set of three-phase windings is coupled to the second inverter. A controller is coupled to the first inverter and the second inverter. |
| US07990094B2 |
Motor controller and electric power steering apparatus
The micro computer 17 continue an output of a motor control signal to execute a current control to carry to each of two phases a phase current changing like a secant curve or a cosecant curve at making a predetermined rotational angle according to the phase generated the current-carrying failure as an asymptote at the generation of the current-carrying failure. The micro computer 17 provides a rotational angle compensating section 40 compensating an input rotational angle θ to correct a phase offset between a phase current command value Ix* as a current command value and an actual phase current value Ix as an actual current value in the current control. |
| US07990093B2 |
Electric motor control apparatus
A control apparatus for a multiphase AC electric motor having an inverter includes a current control including an abnormal-state current controller; an abnormal-state detector that detects an abnormal state of any of a wire of an electric motor, a wire of an inverter, and a wire connecting the electric motor to the inverter as an abnormal phase; and an abnormal phase disconnect. The abnormal phase disconnect disconnects one or more of phases detected to be in an abnormal-state and the abnormal-state current controller generates an abnormal state voltage command in accordance with detection of an abnormal state, and uses phases other than the disconnected phases of the inverter to control individual currents of the phases, with the abnormal-state voltage command used as a multiphase voltage command. |
| US07990091B2 |
Pump controller system and method
A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval. |
| US07990089B1 |
Repetitive error correction method for disk-drive spindle motor control systems
Methods, systems and computer program products for compensating repeatable timing variations associated with a spindle motor are described. Specifically, a repetitive error correction factor may be determined using a computational model which predicts timing variations. The correction factor can then be used to cancel the effect of the actual timing variations upon the spindle motor. |
| US07990088B2 |
Motor control apparatus
At an initial drive operation after turning on of an electric power source, an ECU sequentially changes each current exciting phase among multiple phases through one complete cycle at a predetermined time schedule, so that a rotational position of a rotor and the corresponding exciting phase coincide with each other at some timing during the initial drive operation, and thereby the rotor is rotated. The ECU counts the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal during the rotation of the rotor in the initial drive operation and learns a relationship among a count value of the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal, a rotational position of the rotor and each exciting one of the plurality of phases at an end of the initial drive operation. When the ECU determines that a result of the learning is erroneous, the ECU re-executes the learning by re-executing the initial drive operation. |
| US07990086B2 |
Seat-assembly movement system
Seat-assembly movement system, for collecting up and deploying rows of seats (1) at the installation site, by means of sliding on guides (2) arranged in the floor, the movement of the rows of seats (1) being managed by means of a control system comprising a master PLC or a computer unit, for governing the installation, in combination with respective slave PLCs arranged on the carriages (3) carrying the rows of seats and in connection with devices for controlling the position of said carriages (3) on the mounting guides (2). |
| US07990084B2 |
Linear stepping motor
A linear motor includes a stator having teeth symmetrically formed on upper and lower surfaces thereof at regular pitch; a movable member including upper cores disposed above the stator, lower cores disposed below the stator in symmetrical with the upper cores, and yoke parts connecting the upper and the lower cores around the stator, wherein the upper and lower cores have upper and lower coils wound therearound, respectively; at least one gap sensor to detect the gap between the stator and the upper or lower core and the inclination of the movable member; a controller performing the levitation control by adjusting the amplitudes of currents applied to the upper and lower coils, based on the gap variation, and driving the linear motion by changing the current phases; and a multichannel voltage-to-current power amplifier of which each channel is connected to each coil of the upper and lower cores. |
| US07990083B2 |
Method and system for variable color lighting
A method, for controlling color output of a variable color lighting system (1) capable of emitting light within a color gamut, comprising the steps of receiving (10) a request for a target color (T), converting the target color (T) to a set of lighting system control parameters, and applying (15) the set of lighting system control parameters, thereby controlling the color output of the lighting system (1). The step of converting comprises the steps of determining (11) a target set (DT) of lighting system control parameters corresponding to the target color (T), evaluating (12) the target set (Dτ) of lighting system control parameters with respect to a range of allowable control parameters, thereby determining whether the target color (T) is outside the color gamut, and, when the target color (T) is outside the color gamut, determining (14) an approximation set (DA) of control parameters, the approximation set corresponding to an output color (A1; A2) within the color gamut, the output color (A1; A2) being an approximation of the target color (T). |
| US07990082B2 |
Methods and systems for operating and controlling theatrical lighting
A system and method for increasing a number of lights operated and/or controlled by dimmer boxes of theatrical light systems. In one embodiment, a master box is coupled to a chain of slave boxes in series. The master box receives a control signal and generates a switching signal for controlling the master box and the slave boxes. The switching signal is transmitted from the master box to the slave boxes through the series connections. Each of the master box and the slave boxes include a light signal input and a plurality of light signal outputs, and select among the plurality of light signal outputs according to the switching signal. |
| US07990074B2 |
Adaptive algorithm for camera flash LED power control vs. battery impedance, state of discharge (SOD), aging, temperature effects
A method for driving a light-emitting semiconductor is provided. A supply voltage is converted into a secondary output voltage for supplying the light-emitting semiconductor with an output voltage. A level for the supply voltage at the beginning of a high current phase of the light-emitting semiconductor is sensed. A threshold voltage level for the supply voltage level is determined based on the sensed level. The high current phase with the light-emitting semiconductor is stated. The sensed level is continuously compared with the threshold voltage level, and an output current through the light-emitting semiconductor is controlled such that the sensed level does not drop below the threshold voltage level. |
| US07990070B2 |
LED power source and DC-DC converter
Isolated LED power sources and DC-DC converters therefor are presented in which the DC-DC converter includes a self-oscillating inverter driving an output rectifier for operating an LED array of one or more LEDs, where the inverter uses a control transformer with core having a Curie temperature set to a maximum operating temperature of one or more power supply components to reduce inductances of secondary windings in the inverter oscillation circuitry to lower the power supplied to the load so as to prevent the inverter from overheating. |
| US07990069B2 |
Method and circuit for driving a gas discharge lamp
A method for driving a gas discharge lamp and relates to a lamp driver circuit for driving a gas discharge lamp. The method includes supplying a current to the gas discharge lamp, reversing the direction of the current supplied to the gas discharge lamp and, substantially simultaneously, generating a relatively high voltage. The generated high voltage serves to prevent a series of re-ignitions of the gas discharge lamp that may lead to visible flickering of the gas discharge lamp or to extinction of the gas discharge lamp. |
| US07990061B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first sealing member, a pad, and a bank. The first substrate includes a light emitting area and a pad area, the second substrate is disposed to opposite to and face to the first substrate, and the first sealing member is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to combine the first substrate and the second substrate. The pad is disposed on the pad area, and the bank is formed on the pad area and is spaced apart from the first sealing member. |
| US07990060B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display device that is capable of preventing the permeation of moisture by changing a sealing structure, thereby preventing the degradation of pixels and thus improving look-and-feel characteristics and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate being opposite to each other, the first substrate and the second substrate having a display region defined in the middle thereof and a non-display region defined at the edge thereof, respectively, a plurality of gate lines and data lines formed at the display region on the first substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing each other to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor formed at each of the intersections between the gate lines and data lines, an organic light emitting layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the pixel region, and first and second electrodes located above and below the organic light emitting layer and a sealing structure connected between the first and second substrates, such that the first and second substrates are bonded to each other by the sealing structure, for preventing the permeation of moisture and gas. |
| US07990057B2 |
Surface emitting-type electroluminescent device
A surface emitting-type electroluminescent device capable of being driven by a DC power source and excellent in durability is provided.A surface emitting-type electroluminescent device containing a stacked structure in which a transparent electrical conductor layer, a transparent semiconductor layer and/or a transparent insulator layer, a light-emitting layer and a back electrode layer are arrayed in this order, the transparent electrical conductor layer, the transparent semiconductor layer and the transparent insulator layer each containing a metal oxide. |
| US07990054B2 |
Organic LED device with electrodes having reduced resistance
Organic electroluminescent device with a layer stack for emitting light through a top electrode includes a conductive foil having a carrier material with an upper and a lower side as a substrate and a first metal layer with a thickness resulting in a sheet resistance of less than 0.05 Ω/square on the upper side of the carrier material. The first metal layer act as a bottom electrode, and an organic layer stack is formed on top of the bottom-electrode for emitting light through the top electrode, which is formed on top of the organic layer stack. A partly transparent protection element covers at least the top electrode and the organic layer stack. |
| US07990051B2 |
Organic light emitting device
An organic light emitting device includes a display panel, and a polarizer that is positioned on the display panel and includes a retarder and a polarizing film. The polarizing film includes a base layer and shielding patterns positioned inside the base layer. An area of the shielding pattern close to the display panel is larger than an area of the shielding pattern far away from the display panel. The shielding pattern is formed in a non-emitting area of the display panel. |
| US07990050B2 |
Organic light emitting display having auxiliary electrode
The present invention provides an organic light emitting display (OLED). The OLED includes a substrate, a first electrode arranged on a subpixel area of the substrate, an organic light emitting layer arranged on the first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on the organic light emitting layer, which extends to a non-subpixel area. An auxiliary electrode that is connected to the second electrode is arranged on the substrate, thereby the auxiliary electrode applies a same voltage as that of the second electrode. |
| US07990047B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting diode display includes forming a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of TFTs on a substrate, forming a passivation layer on the signal lines and the TFTs, forming a photosensitive layer having a plurality of openings on the passivation layer, etching the passivation layer using the photosensitive layer as a mask, forming a first electrode by depositing and etching a conductive layer on substantially the entire surface including the photosensitive layer, forming a light emitting member in portions of the openings, and forming a second electrode on the light emitting member and the photosensitive layer. |
| US07990041B2 |
Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with amalgam capsule having amalgam chamber
An amalgam capsule (16) for a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp (1) has a closed end and an opposing end with an opening (21) to allow passage of mercury vapor between the amalgam plug (18) and the discharge space (3) of the lamp (1). A glass rod (19) placed in the capsule (16) restrains movement of the amalgam plug (18), and projections (20) in the inner wall of the capsule (16) restrain movement of the glass rod (19). The presence of the amalgam capsule (16) in the discharge space (3) enables highly-loaded, substantially temperature-independent operation of linear fluorescent lamps such as T8 lamps. |
| US07990040B2 |
Phosphor for high CRI lamps
A fluorescent lamp including a phosphor layer including (Y1-x-yGdx)AlO3:EU3+y, wherein 0.4≦x≦0.7 and 0≦y≦0.1, and at least one of each of a green and blue emitting phosphor. The resulting lamp will exhibit a white light having a color rendering index of preferably 90 or higher with a correlated color temperature of from 2500 to 10000 Kelvin. The use of (Y1-x-yGdx)AlO3:Eu3+y in phosphor blends of lamps results in high CRI light sources with increased stability and acceptable lumen maintenance over, the course of the lamp life. |
| US07990038B2 |
Segmented dielectric barrier discharge lamp
The subject of the present invention is a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp (1) for generating and emitting ultraviolet radiation comprising: —a housed discharge gap (3), whereby the housing has at least two walls, whereby at least one of the walls is a dielectric wall and at least one of the walls has an at least partly transparent part, a filling located inside the discharge gap (3), at least two electrical contacting means for electrical contacting associated with at least the two walls, respectively, whereby the discharge gap (3) is formed by at least two discharge sub-volumes (7) and/or discharge sub-areas (8) differing in at least one of their discharge parameters for realizing at least two dominant emission regimes and/or one emission regime with different radiant intensities and a method for producing said DBD-lamp (1). |
| US07990036B2 |
Electric lamp featuring a discharge vessel with pinched seals and mounting members
The electric lamp comprises a discharge vessel (1) which has pinched seals (4) of H-shaped cross-section. A pair of metal mounting members (10) are clicked on each pinched seal (4) to allow the lamp to be mounted in a tubular quartz glass sleeve. The lamp may be used to sterilize a liquid which is made to flow past the glass sleeve. The lamp can be easily mounted into and removed from the glass sleeve. |
| US07990035B2 |
Metal vapor discharge lamp with a restrain member for inner tube
With regard to a metal vapor discharge lamp with a triple tube structure including a discharge tube, an inner tube, and an outer tube, misalignment of axes of the inner tube and the outer tube is prevented. The metal vapor discharge lamp (14) is composed of a discharge tube (30) having a pair of electrodes therein, an inner tube (32) having a pinch-sealed part (86) at an end thereof and hermitically housing the discharge tube therein, and an outer tube (34) housing the inner tube therein, and a base (36). In a clearance between the inner tube and the outer tube, there disposed a restrain member (37) for restraining movement of the inner tube relative to the outer tube in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the metal vapor discharge lamp. |
| US07990033B2 |
Display device, method of manufacturing thereof, and method of improving visibility
A display device having a surface with light-emitting regions and non-light-emitting regions, wherein the aforementioned light-emitting regions and non-light-emitting regions are subjected to simultaneous surface treatment selected from: (1) brush treatment; (2) blast treatment; or (3) combined brush and blast treatment, whereby after the aforementioned treatment the surfaces of the light-emitting regions have a 60°-mirror-surface glossiness according to JIS Z 8741 exceeding 20%, while the surfaces of the non-light-emitting regions have a 60°-mirror-surface glossiness according to JIS Z 8741 not exceeding 20%, has good visibility of images reproduced by the display, which is especially suitable for outdoor application. |
| US07990031B2 |
Light emitting diode lamp
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp is disclosed, which comprises: a base; a tube, mounted on the base and configured with a plurality of first openings; a mask, for receiving a portion of the tube inside the same and being configured with a plurality of second openings; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each being mounted at the exterior periphery of the tube; and a fan, being arranged connecting to the tube; wherein, the operation of the fan is going to cause air convention between the tube and the mask for dissipating the heat generated from the LEDs with high efficiency. |
| US07990029B2 |
Ceramic material, method for producing the same, and electro-ceramic component comprising the ceramic material
A ceramic material includes lead zirconate titanate, which additionally contains Nd and Ni. For example, the ceramic material may have a composition according to the following formulae: for y≦x/2: a PbO+(Pb1−3x/2+y□x/2−yNdx)((Zr1−zTiz)1−yNiy)O3 for y>x/2: a PbO+(Pb1−xNdx)((Zr1−zTiz)1−yNiy)O3−y+x/2⋄y−x/2, where 0≦a<1, 0 |
| US07990027B2 |
Piezoelectric device and method for manufacturing piezoelectric device
A piezoelectric device includes: a container; a piezoelectric resonator element accommodated in the container; a circuit element accommodated in the container so as not to overlap with the piezoelectric resonator element in a plan view; and a mounting stage to which the piezoelectric resonator element is fixed. The mounting stage is fixed inside the container. |
| US07990025B1 |
Silicon package with embedded oscillator
A hermetic package for electronic components which is made of metallic silicon is disclosed. The package includes a plurality of silicon elements which are bonded together. In the first embodiment, a cavity is hollowed out in the cover to house the Application Specific Integrated Circuit oscillator and the resonator. In a second embodiment, the cavity is formed in the base member with a plurality of pedestal shelves to hold the resonator above and out of contact with the electrical circuitry for the oscillator and thermal controls. |
| US07990023B2 |
Arrangement with a coated piezoelectric actuator
An arrangement is proposed for forming a piezoelectric actuator, which has at least one piezoelectric element that in each case consists of a multi-layer structure of piezoelectric-layers, wherein internal electrodes arranged between the piezoelectric-layers in the direction of the build-up of the layers of the piezoelectric element, have an electrical voltage of different polarity alternately applied to them. Around the piezoelectric element, or in the case of multiple piezoelectric elements positioned in series in the activation direction, around the piezoelectric elements, and at least partially around the actuator head and the actuator foot there is arranged a covering system made from at least one layer of an insulating material. The at least one layer encloses the joints between the piezoelectric element or elements and the actuator head and the actuator foot, forming a seal. |
| US07990020B2 |
Ultrasonic motor and electronic device using the same
The present invention provides an ultrasonic motor including a wire having a coiled stator at one end thereof, a vibration generating device disposed at another end of the wire, a moving member that is in contact with the stator, a guide member that guides the rotation of the moving member, and an elastic member that covers the periphery of the wire. Accordingly, the driving efficiency of the ultrasonic motor that has a simple structure and that can be easily downsized can be enhanced and the performance stability thereof can be realized. |
| US07990019B2 |
Flat motor having a dual air gap
An electric motor is provided which includes a stator, in which field magnets are fixedly and radially installed on a circular panel-shaped base. A coaxial cylindrical rotor is coupled to a shaft and is configured to allow the stator to be located at an inside thereof, the rotor being configured such that magnets, having different polarities to form each pair, are attached on an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder of the rotor and are arranged opposite each other. A rotary magnet plate is coupled to the shaft on a top of the cover, and is provided with a number of magnets corresponding to a number of pairs of the rotor magnets. The respective pairs of rotor magnets are arranged on the outer and inner cylinders while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval. |
| US07990003B2 |
Telescopic actuator
A telescopic actuator includes a motor having a rotation shaft, a reduction gear which decelerates an output rotation of the rotation shaft, a feed screw mechanism having a male screw member and a female screw member which are relatively rotated by an output rotation of the reduction gear, a first housing accommodating the motor, and a second housing accommodating the reduction gear and the feed screw mechanism. The first housing and the second housing are detachably attached. |
| US07989998B2 |
Encoder with motor
With a motor with an encoder of the invention, a stopper gap formed between a stopper formed on an outer circumferential surface of a hub of the encoder and a bearing cover of an anti-load side bracket is set smaller than an encoder gap to prevent that a rotating disk is made contact with a fixed slit even when an excessive force is applied to an output shaft of the motor with the encoder. |
| US07989997B2 |
Control device for electrically operated power steering system
A control device for an electrically operated power steering system includes: a power substrate comprising a plurality of switching elements, that converts DC electrical current to AC electrical current by switching operation of the plurality of switching elements; an output terminal for transmitting the AC electrical current to an electric motor that generates steering torque; a conductor for electrically connecting the power substrate to the output terminal; a metallic chassis that holds the power substrate and the conductor, and supports the output terminal; and a metallic cover that faces the output terminal, and that is connected to the metallic chassis. |
| US07989996B2 |
Five-phase generator
The invention relates to a five-phase electric generator (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, said generator comprising five electric branches (12) for five different phases, the latter being electrically connected at interconnection points (14). The electric angle (α) ranges between 25° and 36° at said interconnection points (14). |
| US07989995B2 |
Cap and seal for windshield wiper drive for vehicles
A windshield wiper drive (1) is provided for the output shaft (4) with a protective cap (15) across a longitudinal region. The protective cap (15) is supported between the terminal supports thereof against the drive shaft (4) and the drive housing (2) of the windshield wiper drive (1) in relation to the output shaft (4) via a supporting bearing (20). |
| US07989986B2 |
Inductive power supply with device identification
An inductive power supply system to identify remote devices using unique identification frequencies. The system includes an AIPS and a tank circuit capable of inductively providing power to a remote device at different frequencies, and a sensor for sensing the reflected impedance of the remote device at tank circuit. The system further includes a plurality of different remote devices, each having a unique resonance frequency. In operation, the AIPS is capable of identifying the type of remote device present in the inductive field by applying power to a remote device at a plurality of unique identification frequencies until the remote device establishes resonance in response to one of the identification frequencies. The AIPS includes a controller that recognizes when resonance has been established by evaluating sensor data, which is representative of the reflected impedance of the remote device. Once the identity of a remote device is determined, the AIPS may pull operating parameters for the remove device from memory to ensure efficient operation and to assist in recognizing fault conditions. |
| US07989983B2 |
Power conversion systems
In a general aspect, a power conversion system includes a power converter, a transformer, and a voltage adjustment device. The power converter is configured to receive a variable DC power generated by a power generation device and to convert the received DC power to AC power at a first voltage. The transformer is configured to receive the AC power from the power converter and to deliver AC power at a second voltage to a utility power network. The voltage adjustment device is configured to adjust the first voltage to a target value determined on the basis of a voltage of the DC power. |
| US07989982B2 |
Transmitting apparatus of digital signals on a supply line of electronic devices and corresponding method
A power converter having a noise component and a modulator configured to vary a frequency of the noise component of the power converter on the basis of a digital signal to be transmitted. |
| US07989979B2 |
Pneumatically telescoping mast having DC operated controls
A control system for a pneumatically operated mast has a first control, a second control, and a positioning member. A first serial link communicates the first control with the second control. A second serial link communicates the second control with the positioning member. A relay system communicates with the first and second control and the positioning member. The relay system accommodates a 12 voltage or 24 voltage source. |
| US07989970B2 |
Bicycle-seat power generation device
A bicycle-seat power generation device includes a seat, a frame, an electrical generator, an electrical generation module, a mount, and a cushioning unit. The electrical generator includes a spindle gear. The electrical generation module includes a toothed rack and a transmission gear train. The toothed rack has an upper end abutting against an underside of the seat. The transmission gear train has an end engaging the toothed rack and another end engaging the spindle gear of the electrical generator. The mount accommodates the electrical generation module and the electrical generator therein in order to have the electrical generation module and the electrical generator coupled between the seat and the frame. The cushioning unit is also coupled between the seat and the frame and is fixed together with the mount in order to drive the toothed rack of the electrical generation module for effecting power generation. As such, a bicycle-seat power generation device that features simultaneous shock absorption and power generation is provided. |
| US07989968B2 |
Method and apparatus for measurement and control of photomask to substrate alignment
A method, structure, system of aligning a substrate to a photomask. The method comprising: directing light through a clear region of the photomask in a photolithography tool, through a lens of the tool and onto a set of at least three diffraction mirror arrays on the substrate, each diffraction mirror array of the set of at least three diffraction mirror arrays comprising a single row of mirrors, all mirrors in any particular diffraction mirror array spaced apart a same distance, mirrors in different diffraction mirror arrays spaced apart different distances; measuring an intensity of light diffracted from the set of at least three diffraction mirror arrays onto an array of photo detectors; and adjusting a temperature of the photomask or photomask and lens based on the measured intensity of light. |
| US07989965B2 |
Underfill dispensing system for integrated circuits
A system for dispensing an underfill material between an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a substrate includes a platform at which the underfill material is supplied. The IC chip and the substrate are mounted at the periphery of the platform. The platform rotates and facilitates the movement of the underfill material toward the IC chip and the substrate. The system further includes a Bernoulli tube that is located proximate to the IC chip and the substrate. The Bernoulli tube generates a low pressure in the proximity of the IC packages. The low pressure facilitates the dispensing of the underfill material between the IC chip and the substrate. |
| US07989961B2 |
Redistribution layer enhancement to improve reliability of wafer level packaging
An enhanced redistribution layer is provided that geometrically expands redistribution layer (RDL) pads associated with a ball grid array of a wafer level package (WLP) to provide tensile stress relief during temperature cycle and/or drop testing of the WLP. |
| US07989959B1 |
Method of forming stacked-die integrated circuit
A stacked-die integrated circuit and a method of fabricating same. The stacked-die integrated circuit has circuitry formed in the first surface of a mother die, a plurality of through-die vias with at least one through-die via providing electrical connection between the circuitry of the mother die and the second surface and a plurality of contact pads formed in the second surface of the semiconductor die for mounting a daughter die wherein some of the contact pads are electrically isolated dummy pads. |
| US07989958B2 |
Patterned contact
A chip having at least one electrical contact having a first end proximate to the chip and a second end removed from the chip, the second end including a pattern configured to facilitate penetration of the at least one contact into a malleable contact on another chip, the pattern comprising a non-planar surface having a perimeter and a surface area, the surface area being larger than a planar surface of an identical perimeter. |
| US07989954B2 |
Integrated circuit chips with fine-line metal and over-passivation metal
An integrated circuit chip includes a silicon substrate, a first circuit in or over said silicon substrate, a second circuit device in or over said silicon substrate, a dielectric structure over said silicon substrate, a first interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a first pad connected to said first node of said voltage regulator through said first interconnecting structure, a second interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a second pad connected to said first node of said internal circuit through said second interconnecting structure, a passivation layer over said dielectric structure, wherein multiple opening in said passivation layer exposes said first and second pads, and a third interconnecting structure over said passivation layer and over said first and second pads. |
| US07989948B2 |
Chip package structure and method of fabricating the same
A chip package structure including a heat dissipation substrate, a chip and a heterojunction heat conduction buffer layer is provided. The chip is disposed on the heat dissipation substrate. The heterojunction heat conduction buffer layer is disposed between the heat dissipation substrate and the chip. The heterojunction heat conduction buffer layer includes a plurality of pillars perpendicular to the heat dissipation substrate. The aspect ratio of each pillar is between about 3:1 and 50:1. |
| US07989943B2 |
Staircase shaped stacked semiconductor package
A staircase shaped stacked semiconductor package is presented which includes a substrate, a multiplicity of semiconductor chip modules, a connection member, and conductive members. The substrate has connection pads along an upper surface edge. Each semiconductor chip module includes a first and a second semiconductor chip that oppose each other. The first and second semiconductor chips have respective first and second bonding pads along exposed surfaces. The connection member is placed on an uppermost semiconductor chip module and has first and second terminals electrically connected to the first and second bonding pads via conductive members. The conductive members are also coupled to the connection pads of the substrate. |
| US07989935B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device having a voltage regulator is disclosed that does not have an external output condenser for phase compensation. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip that includes a voltage regulator, a power supply input terminal, a ground terminal, and an output terminal for outputting a produced constant voltage; and a phase compensation condenser that is connected between the output terminal and the ground terminal for phase compensation of the voltage regulator. The semiconductor chip and the phase compensation condenser are accommodated in a single package. |
| US07989932B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a lead frame including inner lead portion having inner leads connected to outer leads and relay inner leads not connected to the outer leads. A semiconductor element is mounted on a lower surface of the lead frame. Electrode pads of the semiconductor element are connected to the inner lead portion via metal wire. One end of the relay inner lead is connected to the electrode pad via the metal wire, and the other end is connected to the outer lead via a relay metal wire disposed to step over the inner lead. |
| US07989930B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a leadframe defining a die pad, a chip electrically coupled to the die pad, encapsulation material covering the chip and the die pad, and a plurality of lead ends exposed relative to the encapsulation material and configured for electrical communication with the chip, and a nitrogen-containing hydrocarbon coating disposed over at least the lead ends of the leadframe, where the hydrocarbon coating is free of metal particles. |
| US07989929B2 |
Direct-connect signaling system
A direct-connect signaling system including a printed circuit board and first and second integrated circuit packages disposed on the printed circuit board. A plurality of electric signal conductors extend between the first and second integrated circuit packages suspended above the printed circuit board. |
| US07989927B2 |
Silicon substrate for package
In a silicon substrate for a package, a through electrode is provided with which a through hole passing through from a bottom surface of a cavity for accommodating a chip of an electronic device to a back surface of the substrate is filled. An end part of the through electrode in the bottom surface side of the cavity has a connection part to a wiring that forms an electric circuit including the chip of the electronic device. The silicon substrate for a package is characterized in that (1) a thin film wiring is included as the wiring and the connection part is reinforced by a conductor connected to the thin film wiring and/or (2) a wire bonding part is included as the wiring and the connection part is formed by wire bonding the end part of the through electrode in the bottom surface side of the cavity. |
| US07989923B2 |
Bi-directional transient voltage suppression device and forming method thereof
A bidirectional transient voltage suppression device is disclosed. The bi-directional transient voltage suppression device comprises a semiconductor die. The semiconductor die has a multi-layer structure comprising a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a buried layer of a second conductivity type, an epitaxial layer, and five diffused regions. The buried layer and the semiconductor substrate form a first semiconductor junction. The first diffused region of the second conductivity type and the semiconductor substrate form a second semiconductor junction. The fourth diffused region of the first conductivity type and the third diffused region of the second conductivity type form a third semiconductor junction. The fifth diffused region of the first conductivity type and the second diffused region of the second conductivity type form a fourth semiconductor junction. |
| US07989922B2 |
Highly tunable metal-on-semiconductor trench varactor
An array of deep trenches is formed in a doped portion of the semiconductor substrate, which forms a lower electrode. A dielectric layer is formed on the sidewalls of the array of deep trenches. The array of deep trenches is filled with a doped semiconductor material to form an upper electrode comprising a top plate portion and a plurality of extension portions into the array of trenches. In a depletion mode, the bias condition across the dielectric layer depletes majority carriers within the top electrode, thus providing a low capacitance. In an accumulation mode, the bias condition attracts majority carriers toward the dielectric layer, providing a high capacitance. Thus, the trench metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) varactor provides a variable capacitance depending on the polarity of the bias. |
| US07989921B2 |
Soi vertical bipolar power component
An SOI device comprises an isolation trench defining a vertical drift zone, a buried insulating layer to which the isolation trench extends, and an electrode region for emitting charge carriers that is formed adjacent to the insulating layer and that is in contact with the drift zone. The electrode region comprises first strip-shaped portions having a first type of doping and second strip-shaped portions having a second type of doping that is inverse to the first type of doping. A first sidewall doping of the first type of doping is provided at a first sidewall of the isolation trench and a second sidewall doping of the second type of doping is provided at a second sidewall of the isolation trench. The first strip-shaped portions are in contact with the first sidewall doping and the second strip-shaped portions are in contact with the second sidewall doping. |
| US07989920B2 |
Phase change memory
A phase change memory is provided. The method includes forming contact plugs in a first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed overlying the first dielectric layer and a trench formed therein exposing portions of the contact plugs. A metal layer is formed over surfaces of the trench. One or more heaters are formed from the metal layer such that each heater is formed along one or more sidewalls of the trench, wherein the portion of the heater along the sidewalls does not include a corner region of adjacent sidewalls. The trench is filled with a third dielectric layer, and a fourth dielectric layer is formed over the third dielectric layer. Trenches are formed in the fourth dielectric layer and filled with a phase change material. An electrode is formed over the phase change material. |
| US07989918B2 |
Implementing tamper evident and resistant detection through modulation of capacitance
A method and tamper detection circuit for implementing tamper and anti-reverse engineering evident detection in a semiconductor chip, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A capacitor is formed with the semiconductor chip including the circuitry to be protected. A change in the capacitor value results responsive to the semiconductor chip being thinned, which is detected and a tamper-detected signal is generated. |
| US07989917B2 |
Integrated circuit device including a resistor having a narrow-tolerance resistance value coupled to an active component
The invention relates to an electronic device provided with an electronic component which comprises an integrated circuit arrangement including a semiconducting substrate, active components, and passive components such as capacitors and resistors. The resistors comprise materials of a high resistivity and can be manufactured with resistance values which lie within a narrow tolerance range.The invention further relates to a transmitter, a receiver, an electronic component, a peripheral circuit, a current supply circuit, a filter module, and an integrated circuit arrangement. |
| US07989912B2 |
Semiconductor device having a compressed device isolation structure
The semiconductor device includes a lower device isolation structure formed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. The lower device isolation structure has a first compressive stress. An upper device isolation structure is disposed over the lower device isolation structure. The upper device isolation structure has a second compressive stress greater than the first compressive stress. A gate structure is disposed over the active region between the neighboring upper device isolation structures. |
| US07989911B1 |
Shallow trench isolation (STI) with trench liner of increased thickness
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a substrate having high voltage transistor regions and low voltage transistor regions. The substrate includes a first trench between and adjacent to the high voltage transistor regions, a second trench between and adjacent to the low voltage transistor regions, and a third trench between the first and second trenches and between and adjacent to a high voltage transistor region and a low voltage transistor region. A thicker silicon dioxide layer lines the first trench and a first portion of the third trench adjacent to a high voltage transistor region. A thinner silicon dioxide layer lines the second trench and a second portion of the third trench adjacent to a low voltage transistor region. A silicon nitride layer is present on the thinner silicon dioxide layer and lines the second trench and the second portion of the third trench but is not present on the thicker silicon dioxide layer and does not line the first trench and the first portion of the third trench. |
| US07989906B2 |
Bi-directional released-beam sensor
An acceleration sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a first layer formed on the substrate, a first aperture within the first layer, and a beam coupled at a first end to the substrate and suspended above the first layer for a portion of the length thereof. The beam includes a first boss coupled to a lower surface thereof and suspended within the first aperture, and a second boss coupled to an upper surface of the second end of the beam. A second layer is positioned on the first layer over the beam and includes a second aperture within which the second boss is suspended by the beam. Contact surfaces are positioned within the apertures such that acceleration of the substrate exceeding a selected threshold in either direction along a selected axis will cause the beam to flex counter to the direction of acceleration and make contact through one of the bosses with one of the contact surfaces. |
| US07989905B2 |
MEMS device having a movable electrode
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a semiconductor substrate, a MEMS including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer, and a well formed in the semiconductor substrate below the fixed electrode. The well is one of an n-type well and a p-type well. The p-type well applies a positive voltage to the fixed electrode while the n-type well applies a negative voltage to the fixed electrode. |
| US07989904B2 |
Micro-electromechanical device and manufacturing method thereof
A micro-electromechanical device includes a substrate, a first patterned conductive layer, a second patterned conductive layer and a first patterned blocking layer. The first patterned conductive layer is disposed on the substrate. The second patterned conductive layer is disposed on the first patterned conductive layer. The first patterned blocking layer is connected with the first patterned conductive layer and the second patterned conductive layer. In addition, a method of manufacturing the micro-electromechanical device is also disclosed. |
| US07989897B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first MISFET and a second MISFET which are formed over a semiconductor substrate and have the same conductive type. The first MISFET has a first gate insulating film arranged over the semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode arranged over the first gate insulating film, and a first source region and a first drain region. The second MISFET has a second gate insulating film arranged over the semiconductor substrate, a second gate electrode arranged over the second gate insulating film, and a second source region and a second drain region. The first and the second gate electrode are electrically coupled, the first and the second source region are electrically coupled, and the first and the second drain region are electrically coupled. Accordingly, the first and the second MISFET are coupled in parallel. In addition, threshold voltages are different between the first and the second MISFET. |
| US07989893B2 |
SOI body contact using E-DRAM technology
A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes an active semiconductor layer, a semiconductor device having a gate disposed on top of the active semiconductor layer, and source and drain regions and a body/channel region disposed within the active semiconductor layer, an insulator layer having a first and second side, the first side being adjacent to the active semiconductor layer, a substrate disposed adjacent to the second side of the insulator layer, a body contact disposed under the body/channel region and in the insulator layer. The body contact electrically connects with and contacts with the body/channel region of the semiconductor device and the substrate, to thereby form an ohmic contact and to eliminate floating body effects. |
| US07989892B2 |
Gate structure, and semiconductor device having a gate structure
A gate structure can include a polysilicon layer, a metal layer on the polysilicon layer, a metal silicide nitride layer on the metal layer and a silicon nitride mask on the metal silicide nitride layer. |
| US07989889B1 |
Integrated lateral high-voltage metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor
The present invention relates to integration of a lateral high-voltage metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (LHV-MOSFET) with other circuitry on a semiconductor wafer, which may be fabricated using low-voltage foundry technology, such as a low-voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (LV-CMOS) process. The other circuitry may include low-voltage devices, such as switching transistors used in logic circuits, computer circuitry, and the like, or other high-voltage devices, such as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch. The source to drain voltage capability of the LHV-MOSFET may be increased by using an intrinsic material between the source and the drain. The gate voltage capability of the LHV-MOSFET may be increased by using an insulator material, such as a thick oxide, between the gate and the channel of the LHV-MOSFET. |
| US07989879B2 |
LDMOS transistor
The LDMOS transistor (1) of the invention comprises a source region (3), a channel region (4), a drain extension region (7) and a gate electrode (10). The LDMOS transistor (1) further comprises a first gate oxide layer (8) and a second gate oxide layer (9), which is thicker than the first gate oxide layer (8). The first gate oxide layer (8) at least extends over a first portion of the channel region (4), which is adjacent to the source region (3). The second gate oxide layer (9) extends over a region where a local maximum (A, B) of the electric field (E) generates hot carriers thereby reducing the impact of the hot carriers and reducing the Idq-degradation. In another embodiment the second gate oxide layer (9) extends over a second portion of the channel region (4), which mutually connects the drain extension region (7) and the first portion of the channel region (4), thereby improving the linear efficiency of the LDMOS transistor (1). |
| US07989874B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention discloses a nonvolatile memory device which can improve the data storage capacity without increasing the surface area of the device, and a method for manufacturing the same. The nonvolatile memory device comprises: a gate of a stack type structure formed on an active region of a semiconductor substrate; a source/drain formed in the substrate at both sides of the gate of the stack type structure; an interlayer insulating film formed on the substrate where the source/drain is formed and covering the gate of the stack type structure; a contact connected to the source/drain through the interlayer insulating film; a plurality of conductive patterns formed in the interlayer insulating film of the region not adjacent to the contact; and an electrode pad formed on the conductive patterns. |
| US07989870B2 |
Use of dilute steam ambient for improvement of flash devices
A flash memory integrated circuit and a method for fabricating the same. A gate stack includes an initial oxide layer directly in contact with a silicon layer, defining an oxide-silicon interface therebetween. Additional oxide material is formed substantially uniformly along the oxide-silicon interface. Polysilicon grain boundaries at the interface are thereby passivated after etching. The interface can be formed between a tunnel oxide and a floating gate, and passivating the grain boundaries reduces erase variability. Oxide in an upper storage dielectric layer is enhanced in the dilute steam oxidation. The thin oxide layers serve as diffusion paths to enhance uniform distribution of OH species across the buried interfaces being oxidized. |
| US07989865B2 |
Deep trench capacitor for SOI CMOS devices for soft error immunity
A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes an active semiconductor layer, a semiconductor device having a gate disposed on top of the active semiconductor layer, and source and drain regions and a body/channel region disposed within the active semiconductor layer, an insulator layer having a first and second side, the first side being adjacent to the active semiconductor layer, a substrate disposed adjacent to the second side of the insulator layer, a deep trench capacitor disposed under the body/channel region of the semiconductor device. The deep trench capacitor electrically connects with and contacts the body/channel region of the semiconductor device, and is located adjacent to the gate of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor structure increases a critical charge Qcrit, thereby reducing a soft error rate (SER) of the semiconductor device. |
| US07989864B2 |
Methods for enhancing capacitors having roughened features to increase charge-storage capacity
Structures and methods for making a semiconductor structure are discussed. The semiconductor structure includes a rough surface having protrusions formed from an undoped silicon film. If the semiconductor structure is a capacitor, the protrusions help to increase the capacitance of the capacitor. The semiconductor structure also includes a relatively smooth surface abutting the rough surface, wherein the relatively smooth surface is formed from a polycrystalline material. |
| US07989861B2 |
Image sensor and method of stabilizing a black level in an image sensor
An image sensor includes a substrate, an anti-reflection board and a light shielding film. The substrate includes first pixels to receive a light, and second pixels to provide a black level compensation. The first pixels are formed in an active region and the second pixels are formed in a first region spaced apart from the active region in a row direction. The anti-reflection board is formed in a second region above the substrate, and the second region is between the active region and the first region. The light shielding film is formed above the anti-reflection board, and the light shielding film covers an optical black region including the first and second regions. Therefore, the image sensor may be used in a CCD type image sensor and a CMOS type image sensor to provide a stabilized black level, thereby improving a quality of a displayed image. |
| US07989857B2 |
Electronic device including an insulating layer having different thicknesses and a conductive electrode and a process of forming the same
An electronic device includes a transistor, wherein the electronic device can include a semiconductor layer having a primary surface, a channel region, a gate electrode, a source region, a conductive electrode, and an insulating layer lying between the primary surface of the semiconductor layer and the conductive electrode. The insulating layer has a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is thinner than the second region. The channel region, gate electrode, source region, or any combination thereof can lie closer to the first region than the second region. The thinner portion can allow for faster switch of the transistor, and the thicker portion can allow a relatively large voltage difference to be placed across the insulating layer. Alternative shapes for the transitions between the different regions of the insulating layer and exemplary methods to achieve such shapes are also described. |
| US07989848B2 |
Semiconductor device having at least four side-by-side electrodes of equal length and equal pitch with at least two transistor connections to power or ground
A substrate portion of a semiconductor device is formed to include a plurality of diffusion regions that are defined in a non-symmetrical manner relative to a virtual line defined to bisect the substrate portion. A gate electrode level region is formed above the substrate portion to include a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the number of conductive features within the gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The conductive features within the gate electrode level region are defined along at least four different virtual lines of extent in the first parallel direction. A width size of the conductive features within the gate electrode level region is measured perpendicular to the first parallel direction and is less than a wavelength of light used in a photolithography process to fabricate the conductive features. |
| US07989846B2 |
Semiconductor device with three-dimensional field effect transistor structure
The semiconductor device includes first and second common source semiconductor layers respectively extending in a first direction, first and second logic gate circuits respectively composed of at least one three-dimensional P-type FET and a three-dimensional N-type FET. The sources of the three-dimensional P-type FETs in the first and second logic gate circuits are joined to the first common source semiconductor layer. The sources of the three-dimensional N-type FETs in the first and second logic gate circuits are joined to the second common source semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layers of the three-dimensional P-type and N-type FETs in the first logic gate circuit are joined in their drain side, and The semiconductor layers of the three-dimensional P-type and N-type FETs in the second logic gate circuit are joined in their drain side. The dissipation of the FinFET can be improved. |
| US07989841B1 |
Fast injection optical switch
A fast injection optical switch is disclosed. The optical switch includes a thyristor having a plurality of layers including an outer doped layer and a switching layer. An area of the thyristor is configured to receive a light beam to be directed through at least one of the plurality of layers and exit the thyristor at a predetermined angle. At least two electrodes are coupled to the thyristor and configured to enable a voltage to be applied to facilitate carriers from the outer doped layer to be directed to the switching layer. Sufficient carriers can be directed to the switching layer to provide a change in refractive index of the switching layer to redirect at least a portion of the light beam to exit the thyristor at a deflection angle different from the predetermined angle. |
| US07989839B2 |
Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes for curing and various solid state lighting applications. The method includes a novel method for cooling the light emitting diodes and mounting the same on heat pipe in a manner which delivers ultra high power in UV, visible and IR regions. Furthermore, the unique LED packaging technology of the present invention utilizes heat pipes that perform very efficiently in very compact space. Much more closely spaced LEDs operating at higher power levels and brightness are possible because the thermal energy is transported in an axial direction down the heat pipe and away from the light-emitting direction rather than a radial direction in nearly the same plane as the “p-n” junction. |
| US07989838B2 |
Light emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
An LED includes a bowl-like substrate, three posts embedded within the substrate, an LED die bonded to a middle post, a pair of spiral gold wires interconnecting two electrodes of the LED die and two lateral posts, and an encapsulant sealing the LED die and fixed on the substrate. The two wires are further wound around two columns protruded upwardly from the substrate, respectively. The two columns may be made integrally with the substrate, or be employed as upper portions of the two lateral posts in the case of the two lateral posts extending upwardly beyond the substrate. |
| US07989832B2 |
Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof. The light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, and a dot-shaped roughness layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer. |
| US07989830B2 |
Optoelectronic thin-film chip
An optoelectronic thin-film chip is specified, comprising at least one radiation-emitting region (8) in an active zone (7) of a thin-film layer (2) and a lens (10, 12) disposed downstream of the radiation-emitting region (8). The lens is formed by at least one partial region of the thin-film layer (2), the lateral extent (Φ) of the lens (10, 12) being greater than the lateral extent of the radiation-emitting region (δ). A method for producing such an optoelectronic thin-film chip is furthermore specified. |
| US07989828B2 |
Highly efficient III-nitride-based top emission type light emitting device having large area and high capacity
A nitride-based top emission type light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same, the light emitting device including an n-nitride-based cladding layer, a p-nitride-based cladding layer, a nitride-based active layer, and a multiple p-ohmic contact layer. The multiple p-ohmic contact layer includes at least one pair of an ohmic modification layer and a transparent conducting layer. The ohmic modification layer includes a poly-crystal nitride layer or an amorphous nitride layer including nitrogen (N) combined with at least one of aluminum (Al), indium (In) or gallium (Ga). The ohmic modification layer is prepared in the form of a droplet or a thin film. Pores or dots are formed on the poly-crystal nitride layer or the amorphous nitride layer so as to provide the multiple p-ohmic contact layer with a photonic crystal effect. |
| US07989825B2 |
Lens-attached light-emitting element and method for manufacturing the same
A lens-attached light-emitting element having an improved optical availability efficiency includes a composite lens provided on an approximately U-shaped light-emitting area of the light emitting element array. Four spherical lenses are arranged in such a manner that each is centered in the neighborhood the an end of a respective one of three segments of a U-shaped polygonal line corresponding to positions where light emitted by the U-shaped light-emitting area is a maximum Three cylindrical lens are arranged between two of the spherical lens, respectively, each cylindrical lens having an axis parallel with each segment. These four spherical lenses and three cylindrical lenses together constitute the composite lens. The light-emitting element further comprises an antireflection film covering the light-emitting area, and the composite lens is formed on the surface of the antireflection film. |
| US07989822B2 |
Optocoupler using silicon based LEDs
This invention details how a low cost opto coupler can be made on Silicon On Insulator (SOI) using conventional integrated circuit processing methods. Specifically, metal and deposited insulating materials are use to realize a top reflector for directing light generated by a silicon PN junction diode to a silicon PN junction photo diode detector. The light generator or LED can be operated either in the avalanche mode or in the forward mode. Also, side reflectors are described as a means to contain the light to the LED-photo detector pair. Furthermore, a serpentine junction PN silicon LED is described for the avalanche mode of the silicon LED. For the forward mode, two LED structures are described in which hole and electrons combine in lightly doped regions away from heavily doped regions thereby increasing the LED conversion efficiency. |
| US07989818B2 |
Light emitting device with magnetic field
A light emitting device with magnetic field includes a light-emitting structure and a first magnetic-source layer. The light-emitting structure includes a first doped structural layer, a second doped structural layer, an active layer between the two doped structural layers, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first magnetic-source layer is integrated with the light-emitting structure to produce a magnetic field in the light-emitting structure. The magnetic field transversely shifts a driving current of the light-emitting structure to redistribute in the light-emitting structure. |
| US07989816B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is, constituted by: a nitride group semiconductor functional layer which includes a first nitride group semiconductor region, a second nitride group semiconductor region provided on the first nitride group semiconductor region by a hetero junction, and a two-dimensional carrier gas channel near the hetero junction of the first nitride group semiconductor region; a first main electrode and a second main electrode connected to the two-dimensional carrier gas channel by ohmic contact; and a gate electrode disposed between the first main electrode and the second main electrode. The nitride group semiconductor region has different thicknesses between the second main electrode and the gate electrode, and between the first main electrode and the gate electrode. |
| US07989815B2 |
Display device
The protective circuit is formed using a non-linear element which includes a gate insulating film covering a gate electrode; a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer which are over the gate insulating film and whose end portions overlap with the gate electrode; and an oxide semiconductor layer which is over the gate electrode and in contact with the gate insulating film and the end portions of the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. The gate electrode of the non-linear element and a scan line or a signal line is included in a wiring, the first or second wiring layer of the non-linear element is directly connected to the wiring so as to apply the potential of the gate electrode. |
| US07989813B2 |
Display apparatus with storage electrodes having concavo-convex features
A display apparatus includes a substrate; a first insulating layer formed on the substrate and having an upper surface including a concavo-convex area including one or more concave features and one or more convex features; a first storage electrode overlaying the upper surface and a side surface of the first insulating layer and having an upper surface including a concavo-convex area including one or more concave features and one or more convex features, each concave feature of the first storage electrode overlying at least one respective concave feature of the first insulating layer, each convex feature of the first storage electrode overlying at least one respective convex feature of the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer formed on the first storage electrode; and a second storage electrode formed on the second insulating layer which separates the second storage electrode from the underlying first storage electrode. |
| US07989811B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a highly reliable semiconductor with a waterproof property. The method includes the steps of: sequentially forming a peeling layer, an inorganic insulating layer, and an element formation layer including an organic compound layer, over a substrate; separating the peeling layer and the inorganic insulating layer from each other, or separating the substrate and the inorganic insulating layer from each other; removing a part of the inorganic insulating layer or a part of the inorganic insulating layer and the element formation layer, thereby isolating at least the inorganic insulating layer into a plurality of sections so that at least two layers among the organic compound layer, a flexible substrate, and an adhesive agent are stacked at outer edges of the isolated inorganic insulating layers; and cutting a region where at least two layers among the organic compound layer, the flexible substrate, and the adhesive agent are stacked. |
| US07989808B2 |
Display device
A display device according to the present invention includes: a planarization layer for insulating between a gate electrode etc. and a data wiring, a drain electrode, or the like of the transistor; and a barrier layer that is formed on an upper surface or lower surface of the planarization layer and at the same time, adapted to suppress diffusion of moisture or degassing components from the planarization layer. The display device adopts a device structure effective in reducing the plasma damage on the planarization layer by devising a positional relationship between the planarization layer and the barrier layer. Also, in combination with a novel structure as a structure for a pixel electrode, effects such as an increase in luminance can be provided as well. |
| US07989802B2 |
Light emitting device material and light emitting device
A light emitting device material comprises a pyrene compound represented by formula (1) below. Also disclosed is a light emitting device using such a material. (R1 to R17 may be the same or different and are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an aryl ether group, an aryl thioether group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an amino group, a silyl group, —P(═O)R18R19, and a ring structure formed together with an adjacent substituent; R18 and R19 are each selected from an aryl group and a heteroaryl group; n is an integer of 1 to 2; and X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, an arylene group and a heteroarylene group, provided that at least one of R10 to R17 is used to link to X.) |
| US07989800B2 |
Nanowire field effect junction diode
A nanowire field effect junction diode constructed on an insulating transparent substrate that allows form(s) of radiation such as visual light, ultraviolet radiation; or infrared radiation to pass. A nanowire is disposed on the insulating transparent substrate. An anode is connected to a first end of the nanowire and a cathode is connected to the second end of the nanowire. An oxide layer covers the nanowire. A first conducting gate is disposed on top of the oxide layer adjacent with a non-zero separation to the anode. A second conducting gate is disposed on top of the oxide layer adjacent with a non-zero separation to the cathode and adjacent with a non-zero separation the first conducting gate. A controllable PN junction may be dynamically formed along the nanowire channel by applying opposite gate voltages. Radiation striking the nanowire through the substrate creates a current the anode and cathode. |
| US07989795B2 |
Phase change memory device and method for fabricating the same
A phase change memory device is provided. The phase change memory device comprises a substrate. An electrode layer is on the substrate. A phase change memory structure is on the electrode layer and electrically connected to the electrode layer, wherein the phase change memory structure comprises a cup-shaped heating electrode on the electrode layer. An insulating layer is on the cup-shaped heating electrode along a first direction covering a portion of the cup-shaped heating electrode. An electrode structure is on the cup-shaped heating electrode along a second direction covering a portion of the insulating layer and the cup-shaped heating electrode. A pair of double spacers is on a pair of sidewalls of the electrode structure covering a portion of the cup-shaped heating electrode, wherein the double spacer comprises a phase change material spacer and an insulating material spacer on a sidewall of the phase change material spacer. |
| US07989793B2 |
Electrical device using phase change material, phase change memory device using solid state reaction and method for fabricating the same
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method of fabricating the same, in which a phase-change layer is formed using a solid-state reaction to reduce a programmable volume, thereby lessening power consumption. The device includes a first reactant layer, a second reactant layer formed on the first reactant layer, and a phase-change layer formed between the first and second reactant layers due to a solid-state reaction between a material forming the first reactant layer and a material forming the second reactant layer. The phase-change memory device consumes low power and operates at high speed. |
| US07989777B2 |
Method for inspecting settling time of deflection amplifier, and method for judging failure of deflection amplifier
A method for inspecting a settling time of a deflection amplifier includes setting a settling time, performing shooting a plurality of times alternately to project two patterns of different types which are shaped by making a charged particle beam pass through a first and a second apertures while deflecting the charged particle beam by a deflector controlled by an output of a deflection amplifier which is driven based on the settling time having been set, measuring beam currents of the shooting, calculating an integral current of the beam currents measured, and calculating a difference between the integral current calculated and a reference integral current to output the difference. |
| US07989774B2 |
Radiation detector
A radiation detector includes a semiconductor element capable of detecting a radiation, a substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted, and a flexible substrate including a connection pattern connected to an element electrode on an opposite side to the substrate of the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is disposed on one surface of the substrate, and the flexible substrate is disposed on the opposite side to the substrate of the semiconductor element. |
| US07989771B2 |
Pinhole SPECT camera with plural detector heads
An imaging system (10) includes at least one radiation detector unit (16) disposed adjacent a field of view (20) to detect and measure radiation from the field of view (20). The detector unit (16) includes multiple detection modules (18) which each detects radiation from a prespecified region of the field of view (20), each region being a fraction of the field of view. One or more pinholes (52) are associated with the detector unit (16). Each pinhole (52) receives radiation from the prespecified region of the field of view (20) and transmits radiation to one or more associated detection modules (18). |
| US07989768B2 |
Scanning electron microscope
A scanning electron microscope having a charged particle beam that when in a state being irradiated toward a sample, a voltage is applied to the sample so that the charged particle beam does not reach the sample. The scanning electron microscope also detects information on a potential of a sample using a signal obtained, and a device for automatically adjusting conditions based on the result of measuring. |
| US07989760B2 |
Extraction detection system and method
An apparatus, system and method for the continuous flow extraction, collection and analysis of small amounts of energetic substance/s and their reacted/unreacted residue/s in real time are provided. The apparatus includes an agitator that generates a particulate material from a surface. A vacuum gathers particulate material which is provided to a mixing module. The mixing module creates a supercritical matrix containing the particulate matter. A separator separates and removes waste in the supercritical matrix from the supercritical matrix. Concentrated particulate material from the supercritical matrix is provided to a mass spectrometer for analysis and detection of a target material in proximate real-time. In one embodiment, the separator provides the supercritical matrix to a tube arm. The tube arm is heated to reduce solvent in the supercritical matrix. A collector in the tube arm concentrates particulate material, which is volatilized by a laser. Volatilized particulate material is provided to the mass spectrometer. In another embodiment, the separator provides the supercritical matrix to an electrospray or APCI module whose output is provided direct to the mass spectrometer. |
| US07989758B2 |
Fragmentation of ions in Kingdon ion traps
Fragment ion spectra are acquired in Kingdon ion traps that have a potential well for harmonic oscillations of the ions in the longitudinal direction and in which the ions can oscillate radially in a plane between two or more inner electrodes. Metastable ions, preferably produced by laser desorption, are introduced into the Kingdon ion trap close to the minimum of the longitudinal potential well and stored there locally for a predetermined time period. Excess internal energy in the metastable ions causes most of the ions to decompose ergodically to fragment ions. Then the fragment ions and any remaining analyte ions are excited to execute harmonic oscillations in the longitudinal potential well. The harmonic oscillations are measured as image currents, from which a high-resolution mass spectrum of the fragment ions can be calculated. |
| US07989753B2 |
Photodetector having wide dynamic range and low temperature dependence
A photodetector of a wide dynamic range of incident light amount detection and low temperature dependence is provided. A first signal processing unit 10m,n includes an integrating circuit 11, a first holding circuit 12, a comparing circuit 13, a second holding circuit 14, and a latching circuit 15. The integrating circuit 11 has a variable capacitor unit that is selectively set to a capacitance value among a plurality of capacitance values, accumulates charges, output from the photodiode, into the variable capacitor unit over an accumulating period that is in accordance with the capacitance value set at the variable capacitor unit, and outputs a voltage V1 that is in accordance with the amount of the accumulated charges. The comparing circuit 13 inputs the voltage V1 output from the integrating circuit 11, performs a quantitative comparison of the voltage V1 with a reference voltage Vref, outputs a compared signal S3 expressing the result of comparison, and, when the voltage V1 output from the integrating circuit 11 at the end of an accumulating period is less than the reference voltage Vref, instructs the first holding circuit 12 to hold the voltage. |
| US07989751B2 |
Light combining method, illumination device, and projection display device
A first light source arrangement pattern is defined by: defining segments opposing to each other and arranged at end positions out of three segments in a first unit and three segments in a second unit, as light source arrangement positions; and defining one of three segments in a third unit, at the same position as the segment defined as the light source arrangement position in the first unit, as a light source arrangement position. A second light source pattern is defined by defining segments out of the segments in the first unit, the second unit, and the third unit, at end positions opposite to the segments defined as the light source arrangement positions in the first light source arrangement pattern, as light source arrangement positions. The first light source arrangement pattern and the second light source arrangement pattern are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. |
| US07989748B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, image inspecting apparatus and image forming system
A level detecting part detects image data levels for the respective output directions of the first half and the second half to be used for the linearity correction, which image data levels correspond to image data around a connection point between the first half and the second half and are obtained from respective combinations for the respective output directions of the first half and the second half. A calculating part calculates linearity correction values or correction value calculating parameters from the detected image data levels for any one of the first half and the second half; and a defect detection part detecting a defect in the image data levels thus detected around the connection point are provided. |
| US07989747B2 |
Projector having a controlled rechargeable cell and heat dissipation system of the projector for cool down after power off
An exemplary projector includes a power supply circuit, a heat dissipation device, a rechargeable cell and a first switching circuit connected between the heat dissipation device and the rechargeable cell. The heat dissipation device is configured for dissipating heat produced by the projector. The power supply circuit is configured for powering the heat dissipation device. The rechargeable cell is configured for receiving and storing electrical power from the power supply circuit. The first switching circuit is configured for controlling the rechargeable cell to power the heat dissipation device when the power supply circuit stops powering the heat dissipation device. A related heat dissipation system is also provided. |
| US07989745B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with focus detection and electronic camera with focus adjustment
A solid-state imaging device comprises a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern and each equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit that generates and accumulates a signal charge corresponding to a subject image formed with light entering from an optical system and a readout control unit that executes control under which signals are read out from the plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels include a plurality of imaging pixels that output imaging signals for forming image signals that represents the subject image and a plurality of focus detection pixels that output focus detection signals for detecting a focusing condition of the optical system through a split-pupil phase difference method. |
| US07989740B2 |
Heating cable
A heating cable includes a bus wire structure that includes a plurality of bus wires. An insulation layer is provided to insulate the plurality of bus wires. A plurality of node areas exposes portions of the bus wires from the insulation. A heating element is wrapped around the bus wire structure in a helical manner. The heating element includes an insulating core and one or more resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner. The heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of the bus wire structure at the plurality of node areas. The insulating core may be made of a folded-over tape made of a cloth material, such as glass cloth. Pluralities of redundant paths in between two nodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of the redundant paths is broken. |
| US07989736B2 |
System for heat treatment of semiconductor device
Disclosed is a heat treatment system for semiconductor devices. The heat treatment system is used in a heat treatment process for semiconductor devices, such as a crystallization process for an amorphous silicon thin film or a dopant activation process for a poly-crystalline silicon thin film formed on a surface of a glass substrate of a flat display panel including a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting device (OLED). The heat treatment system transfers a semiconductor device after uniformly preheating the semiconductor device in order to prevent deformation of the semiconductor device during the heat treatment process, rapidly performs the heat treatment process under the high temperature condition by heating the semiconductor device using a lamp heater and induction heat derived from induced electromotive force, and unloads the semiconductor device after uniformly cooling the semiconductor device such that the semiconductor device is prevented from being deformed when the heat treatment process has been finished. The heat treatment system rapidly performs the heat treatment process while preventing deformation of the semiconductor device by gradually heating or cooling the semiconductor device. |
| US07989723B2 |
Button apparatus with automatic reset function
A button apparatus includes a button, a cover pivotally engaged with the button, and a chassis secured to the cover. The chassis includes a frame, an opening defined in the frame, and an elastic element connected between two opposite sides of the frame. The elastic element includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The button includes two pressing portions extending outwardly from two opposite sides thereof. The two pressing portions are arranged at two opposite sides of the elastic element. When the button is depressed, it moves relative to the cover from an original position to a depressed position, causing one of the first and second contact portions to be resiliently distorted and abut one of the two opposite sides of the body. When the button is released, the elastic element restores the button to the original position. |
| US07989720B2 |
Smart cable for controlling video capture device
An element, such as a plug on a VGA cable, can communicate with a media storage unit to enable or disable media storage. |
| US07989719B2 |
Universal serial bus interface and panel with the same
A universal serial bus (USB) interface is used to connect to a USB device. When the driving pole of the USB interface is pressed, the conductive washer of the USB interface is driven to move away from the first terminal and the second terminal of the positive differential signal pin of the USB interface, an electrical connection between the first and second terminals of the positive differential signal pin is cut. When the driving pole is loosed, the conductive washer returns back, to contact the first terminal and the second terminal of the positive differential signal pin, the first and second terminals of the positive differential signal pin are thus electrically connected. |
| US07989718B1 |
Power control engagement device for a power tool
The present invention provides a power control for a power tool having a working head for cutting or shaping a workpiece. The power control includes a trigger control switch on a hand grip attached to an engagement device such as a push stick used with a table saw. The engagement device is moved by the attached hand grip to bring the workpiece and working head into engagement with each other. The power control may be used for rip sawing or miter cutting on a table saw, on a hand-held router or a router table, on a jointer, a band saw, a disk sander, a drill press, or on other conventional power tools having a working head for cutting or shaping a workpiece. |
| US07989717B2 |
Connection switchpanel for medium-voltage switchgear
A connector switchpanel for medium voltage switchgear assemblies includes first and second feed devices connected together by conductors with a busbar branch on a connector. Disconnectors disconnecting the conducting connection and disconnecting the busbar branch and grounding contacts are provided. An improved compact construction and simplified operation are provided due to the connector switchpanel being a gas-insulated switchpanel and each of the first and second feed devices being connected by a three-position switch to the busbar branch with contact, disconnecting and grounding positions. |
| US07989712B2 |
Electronic prototyping enclosure
The protective electronic prototyping enclosure is conveniently formed to accommodate various prototype electronic projects. Openings in the enclosure may be accurately formed and markings can be neatly and precisely formed by on a paper label printed by using the computer. Variable panels are provided for covering spaces between electrical components located adjacent to the side panels of the enclosure. |
| US07989711B2 |
Ultra shallow floor box
The present invention provides a floor box for electrical connectors, having: a body defined by a base and a perimetrical side wall, the body configured for partially recessed mounting into a floor, the body having an upper opening and a portion of the perimetrical side wall that are raised above the floor; and a cover having a cover body and a cover lid, the cover configured to enclose the upper opening and the raised portion of the perimetrical side wall to define a cable well therein, the cover closing over the upper opening and the perimetrical side wall to provide a sloped gradient to a surface of the floor, wherein the body is adapted for accommodating electrical fixtures. |
| US07989709B2 |
Flexible sheet with electrical connecting locations engaging through holes in a rigid substrate
A flexible printed circuit board includes a flexible sheet and a rigid substrate attached to the flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. A number of electrical connecting locations are defined on the first surface of the flexible printed circuit. The rigid substrate includes a third surface and an opposite fourth surface and is disposed on the flexible sheet with the fourth surface contacting the first surface of flexible sheet. The rigid substrate defines a number of through holes corresponding to the electrical connecting location to allow the electronic components to pass through. |
| US07989705B2 |
Circuit card and method for increasing the resistance of a circuit card to the formation of conductive filaments
The present invention relates to a circuit card (4.3; 4.4) which includes conductive patterns (1, 2, 5, 6) and a web (3) made of glass fibers, at least one non-conductive blocking element (11.1; 11.2) for blocking the growth of a conductive filament (12.1; 12.2) along a glass fiber is provided which connects a conductive pattern (1, 2) with a further conductive pattern (5, 6). The present invention also relates to a method for increasing the resistivity of a circuit card (4.3; 4.4) to the formation of conductive filaments (12.1; 12.2), the circuit card (4.3; 4.4) including conductive patterns (1, 2, 5, 6) and a web (3) made of glass fibers; the circuit card (4.3; 4.4) being provided with at least one non-conductive blocking element (11.1; 11.2) for blocking the growth of a conductive filament (12.1; 12.2) along a glass fiber, which connects a conductive pattern (1, 2) to a further conductive pattern (5, 6). |
| US07989702B2 |
Sealing-end structure for superconducting cable
The present invention offers a sealing-end structure for a superconducting cable. The structure performs, through a bushing, the outputting and inputting of electric power between a normal-temperature side and a cryogenic-temperature side, where an end portion of a superconducting cable is placed. The sealing-end structure is provided with a coolant vessel at the cryogenic-temperature side for cooling the bushing. The coolant vessel has a liquid-coolant region filled with a liquid coolant and a gaseous-coolant region filled with a gaseous coolant. The coolant vessel is provided with a contraction-absorbing portion for absorbing the contraction of the coolant vessel when it thermally contracts by the effect of the coolant. The sealing-end structure for a superconducting cable suppresses the deterioration of the sealing performance of sealing members placed at the boundary between the normal-temperature side and the cryogenic-temperature side over a long period of use. |
| US07989701B2 |
Multiconductor cable assembly and fabrication method therefor
A multiconductor cable assembly includes two or more coated wires in a side-by-side contacting relation, and the covering of the wires includes a composition with specific proportions of a poly(arylene ether), a block copolymer, and a flame retardant. The multiconductor cable assembly can be formed by extrusion coating two or more uncoated conductors, or by passing two or more coated wires through a nip defined by two rollers to fuse the coated wires. |
| US07989698B2 |
Flip-type electronic apparatus
An exemplary electronic apparatus (100) includes a main body (10), a lid (20) connecting with and rotating with respect to the main body between an opened position and a closed position, and a sliding bar (35) located in the main body. The main body defines a fastening hole (137), and includes a block portion (132) extending upwardly from an outer edge of the fastening hole. The block portion includes a side block portion (131) and a top block portion (134) connecting with the side block portion. The lid includes a hook (31) aligning with the fastening hole. The sliding bar includes a main bar (351) movably fastened onto the main body, a limiting portion (353) extending from the main bar, and a hook portion (357) extending from the limiting portion for fastening onto the hook. The limiting portion is blocked between the side block portion and the top block portion. |
| US07989696B2 |
Housing assembly for electronic device
A housing assembly includes a main body, a protecting cover, a connecting rod, a first elastic element, and a second elastic element. The main body has a receiving groove. At least one interface is mounted on a bottom surface of the receiving groove. The first elastic element provides a force for driving a portion of the protecting cover away from the main body. The second elastic element provides a force for driving the connecting rod to move in the direction of pressing the connecting rod. |
| US07989694B2 |
Photoelectric conversion element, solar battery, and photo sensor
The invention provides a photoelectric conversion element and a solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element each of which has a structure with a high carrier generating rate. Further, the invention provides a photoelectric conversion element and a solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element of which high energy converting efficiency. According to the invention, the photoelectric conversion element and the solar battery having the photoelectric conversion element are characterized in that a pair of electrodes sandwich a mixed layer including a charge generating layer and a charge acceptor layer. The charge generating layer is formed of a first organic compound and an inorganic compound. The charge acceptor layer is formed of a second organic compound. |
| US07989688B2 |
Pedal for musical instruments
A pedal has a base, two supporting posts, a pedal plate, a first shaft, a second shaft, a chain assembly and two beaters. The pedal plate is mounted pivotally on the base. The first and second shafts are rotatably mounted respectively on the supporting posts, are connected concentrically together and are capable of rotating independently. The chain assembly connects the pedal plate to the first shaft. The beaters are mounted respectively on the first and second shafts. The concentrically connected first and second shafts serve as a crossbeam between the supporting posts to reinforce the structurally strength of the pedal and obviate additional crossbeams that limit the pivoting range of the pedal. |
| US07989687B2 |
Harmonica
The blade-holder (3,4) for a harmonica according to the invention supporting at least one vibrating tonal blade (301, 401) comprises air-tightness means formed by side walls (301 L, 401 L) and an end wall (301 E, 401 E) extending in the continuation of the side faces and of the corresponding end face of the window through which the free part of the tonal blade concerned (301, 401) oscillates. |
| US07989684B1 |
Maize variety PHW3G
A novel maize variety designated PHW3G and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHW3G with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHW3G 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 PHW3G or a trait conversion of PHW3G with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHW3G, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHW3G and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07989683B1 |
Maize variety PHGC3
A novel maize variety designated PHGC3 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHGC3 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHGC3 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 PHGC3 or a trait conversion of PHGC3 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGC3, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGC3 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07989682B2 |
Inbred corn line BB59
An inbred corn line, designated BB59, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line BB59, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line BB59 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing inbred corn line BB59 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line BB59. |
| US07989680B2 |
Soybean cultivar 7631014
A soybean cultivar designated 7631014 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7631014, to the plants of soybean cultivar 7631014, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 7631014, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 7631014. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7631014. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7631014, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 7631014 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US07989679B2 |
Methods and compositions for improved enzyme activity in transgenic plants
Compositions and methods for increasing enzyme activity across a broad physiological spectrum in plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions include plants or plant parts comprising two or more polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that are active across a broader physiological spectrum than when either polynucleotide is expressed alone. Vectors comprising these polynucleotide molecules as well as host cells comprising the vectors are further provided. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In addition, methods are provided for producing the plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds of the invention. Methods for increasing plant yield and methods for conferring resistance to an herbicide in a plant are further provided. |
| US07989667B2 |
Processes for the crystallization of 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanediol
Disclosed is a novel process for the continuous crystallization of a mixture of cis-2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanediol and trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanediol dissolved in a solvent. |
| US07989665B2 |
Hydrogenation of esters with Ru/tetradentate ligands complexes
The present invention relates to the field of catalytic hydrogenation and, more particularly, to the use of Ru complexes with tetradentate ligands having at least one amino or imino coordinating group and at least one phosphino coordinating group in hydrogenation processes for the reduction of esters or lactones into the corresponding alcohol or diol respectively. |
| US07989662B2 |
Process for preparing 4-aminodiphenylamine
A process for preparing 4-aminodiphenylamine having the steps of reacting nitrobenzene and aniline in the presence of a complex base catalyst, hydrogenating the reaction mixture with hydrogen, a powdery composite catalyst, and a hydrogenation solvent; separating, recovering, and reusing the complex base catalyst and the powdery composite catalyst from the reaction mixture; separating, recovering, and reusing aniline, and optionally water, from the reaction mixture; refining the reaction mixture to obtain 4-aminodiphenylamine. The complex base catalyst comprises tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide, and tetraalkyl ammonium salt. |
| US07989661B2 |
Human ADAM-10 inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds useful for inhibiting the ADAM-10 protein, with selectivity versus MMP-1. Such compounds are useful in the in vitro study of the role of ADAM-10 (and its inhibition) in biological processes. The present invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more ADAM-10 inhibitors according to the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such compositions are useful for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, and diseases related to angiogenesis. Correspondingly, the invention also comprises methods of treating forms of cancer, arthritis, and diseases related to angiogenesis in which ADAM-10 plays a critical role. |
| US07989660B2 |
Antibacterial agents
Antibacterial compounds of formula I are provided: As well as stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, and prodrugs thereof; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of treating bacterial infections by the administration of such compounds; and processes for the preparation of the compounds. |
| US07989651B2 |
Epoxysilanes, processes for their manufacture and curable compositions containing same
Epoxysilanes are provided which contain at least one epoxy group, at least one hydrolyzable silyl group and one or more linkages containing a carbonyl group bonded to heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen with at least one such heteroatom being nitrogen, there being no such linkage in which both an epoxy group and hydrolyzable silyl group are directly or indirectly bonded to the same nitrogen heteroatom in the linkage. |
| US07989649B2 |
Tumor imaging compounds
The invention provides novel amino acid compounds of use in detecting and evaluating brain and body tumors. These compounds combine the advantageous properties of α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) analogs namely, their rapid uptake and prolonged retention in tumors with the properties of halogen substituents, including certain useful halogen isotopes such as fluorine-18, iodine-123, iodine-124, iodine-125, iodine-131, bromine-75, bromine-76, bromine-77, bromine-82, astatine-210, astatine-211, and other astatine isotopes. In addition the compounds can be labeled with technetium and rhenium isotopes using known chelation complexes. The amino acid compounds disclosed herein have a high specificity for target sites when administered to a subject in vivo. The labeled amino acid compounds are useful as imaging agents in detecting and/or monitoring tumors in a subject by Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT). |
| US07989645B2 |
Process for preparation of citalopram and enantiomers
The present invention provides a process for preparation of 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran car-bonitrile comprising reacting a compound of formula IVa, in the presence of a base with a compound of formula RX, wherein R is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, aryl and heteroaryl which may be optionally substituted with electron withdrawing groups and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, CN, OTf and OR1, wherein Tf represents trifluoromethanesulfonyl group, and R1 is optionally substituted alkyl, Z is a cyano group or a group that may be converted to a cyano group; further wherein RX is selected such that an intermediate ether derivative, a compound of formula Va formed from said reaction cyclizes to a compound of formula VI, and where Z is not a cyano group, conversion of the group Z in the compound of formula VI to a cyano group to form 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-5-isobenzofuran carbonitrile. The present invention also provides novel ether compound, a compound of formula Va and a process for preparation thereof. |
| US07989644B2 |
Electroluminescent device
Disclosed are electroluminescent devices that comprise organic layers that contain dibenzofuran compounds. The compounds are suitable components of, for example, blue-emitting, durable, organo-electroluminescent layers. The electroluminescent devices may be employed for full color display panels in, for example, mobile phones, televisions and personal computer screens. |
| US07989643B2 |
Process for the preparation of 2-(6-substituted-1,3-dioxane-4-yl)acetic acid derivatives
The invention relates to the preparation of 2-(6-substituted-1,3-dioxane-4-yl)acetic acid derivatives of formula 1, where X stands for a leaving group, and R1, R2, and R3 each independently stand for an alkyl group with 1-3 carbon atoms from 4-hydroxy-6-X-substituted-methyl-tetrahydropyran-2-one compounds, where X is as defined above, with the aid of an acetalization agent, in the presence of an acid catalyst.The invention also relates to the novel compounds of formula 1 as well as salts and acids to be prepared from these, with the OR3 group in formula 1 being replaced by an OY group, where X, R1 and R2 have the meanings defined above and where Y stands for an alkaline (earth) metal or a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group or stands for hydrogen, and to the novel compounds of formula 2.The products concerned are, after conversion into the t-butyl ester of 2-(6-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxane-4-yl)acetic acid, important as intermediary products in the preparation of statins. |
| US07989640B2 |
Sulfonylpyrrolidine modulators of androgen receptor function and method
Compounds are provided which are useful in the treatment of androgen receptor-associated conditions, such as age-related diseases, which compounds have the structure wherein R1, R2 and R4, are as defined herein; G is an aryl, heterocyclo or heteroaryl group, wherein said group is mono- or polycyclic, and which is optionally substituted; n is an integer of 1 or 2; m is an integer of 1 or 2; Z is oxygen (—O—) or NR4h; a prodrug ester, all stereoisomers thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method for treating androgen receptor-associated conditions such as age-related diseases is also provided. |
| US07989634B2 |
Melanocortin receptor agonists
The present invention relates a compound of formula 1, and pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, or isomer thereof effective as agonist of melanocortin receptor, and an agonistic composition of melanocortin receptor comprising the same as active ingredient. |
| US07989633B2 |
4-Chromenonyl-1,4-dihydropyridines and their use
The present application relates to novel 4-chromenonyl-1,4-dihydropyridines, process for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and their use for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially cardiovascular disorders. |
| US07989630B2 |
Radiotracers for imaging P-glycoprotein function
P-glycoprotein transporter (P-gp) acts as a pump at the blood-brain barrier to exclude a wide range of xenobiotics (e.g., toxins, drugs, etc.) from the brain and is also expressed in a tumor in response to exposure to established or prospective chemotherapeutics (a phenomenon known as multidrug resistance). This invention concerns the preparation and use of radiotracers for imaging P-gp function in vitro and in vivo. Radiotracers of the present invention are avid substrates for P-gp and have structures based on N-Desmethyl-loperamide. |
| US07989628B2 |
2-aminoquinolines
The present invention is concerned with 2-aminoquinoline derivatives of formula I wherein Z, R1, and Ar1 are as defined herein, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their manufacture. The compounds are 5-HT5A receptor antagonists and are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, pain, memory disorders, dementia, disorders of eating behaviors, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, abuse of drugs, motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders or gastrointestinal disorders. |
| US07989623B2 |
Process for making n-(diphenylmethyl)piperazines
The compound of formula (8), in racemic or single enantiomeric form, is useful in making N-(diphenylmethyl)-piperazines such as cetirizine and levocetrizine. wherein Z is preferably phenyl. |
| US07989621B2 |
Method for producing substituted imidazo[1,2-A]pyrazines of (s)-1-(3-(2-sec-butyl-6-(1h-indol-3-yl)-3-oxo-3,7-dihydroimadazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-8-yl)propyl)guanidine
The present invention relates to a method for producing marine ostracod crustacean luciferin or a derivative thereof represented by a general formula (4), characterized by reacting a compound represented by a general formula (2) with a compound represented by a general formula (3): wherein R1, R2, R3, R5, Y1 and Z1 are the same as defined in the specification. |
| US07989619B2 |
Nanotextured surfaces
The invention describes novel compositions that include a cross linking compound, a polymer and a 1 nm to about a 25 micron sized particle optionally with an oxide layer. In particular, the particle is a silica and one which has been pretreated with a silane. |
| US07989618B2 |
Linezolid crystalline hydrate form and linezolid salts
Linezolid salts, useful as such and as intermediates in a process for the preparation of novel and known crystalline linezolid forms, in particular known as Form III. |
| US07989616B2 |
High-phosphate starch
This invention relates to modified starches having an elevated content of phosphate and an elevated content of amylose. |
| US07989613B2 |
Inhibition of metallo-β-lactamase by RNA
Compositions and methods for identifying polyribonucleotides that binds with high affinity to a metallo-β-lactamase. The polyribonucleotides inhibit the activity of the metallo-β-lactamase. |
| US07989610B2 |
Protein, a gene encoding therefor and a method of using the same
An object of the present invention is to search and identify novel antifungal proteins capable of inhibiting the growth of plant pathogenic microorganisms including Magnaporthe grisea and Rhizoctonia solani causing two major rice diseases at relatively low concentrations, and further to clone a gene for said protein. The present invention provides an antifungal protein which can be obtained from fraction(s) precipitated by ammonium sulfate precipitation using an aqueous extract from Pleurotus cornucopiae, wherein said protein has an antifungal activity against at least rice blast, and exhibits existence of a component having a molecular weight of about 15 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE method; a gene encoding said protein and uses thereof. |
| US07989609B2 |
Nucleic acid sequences encoding invertase proteins
Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants. |
| US07989608B2 |
Immunomodulatory agents and methods of use
An antisense oligonucleotide compound, composition, vaccine and methods for treating a variety of conditions characterized by up-regulation of IL-10 in a mammalian subject are disclosed. The compound (i) is composed of morpholino subunits and phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages joining a morpholino nitrogen of one subunit to a 5′ exocyclic carbon of an adjacent subunit, (ii) is capable of uptake by monocytes, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells in a mammalian subject, (iii) contains between 10-40 nucleotide bases, and (iv) has a base sequence effective to hybridize to at least 12 contiguous bases of a target sequence contained in an exon-2 or exon-4 slice site region of human IL-10 pre-mRNA. |
| US07989604B2 |
Dispersin B polynucleotides and methods of producing recombinant DspB polypeptides
Isolated nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences for soluble, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase or active fragments or variants thereof which promote detachment of bacterial cells from a biofilm are provided. An isolated mutant bacteria which forms biofilm colonies which tightly adhere to surface but which are unable to release cells into the medium or spread over the surface is also provided. In additions, methods are described for modulating detachment of bacterial cells from biofilm by mutating soluble, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase or altering its expression or activity are also provided. Also provided are compositions, methods and devices for preventing, inhibiting and treating bacterial infections. |
| US07989600B2 |
Macrolide compounds containing biotin and photo-affinity group for macrolide target identification
The present invention relates to new macrolide compounds represented by the general structure I, wherein M is a macrolide, P is a photo-affinity group bearing subunit containing biotin, and L is a linking molecule, and to their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates, to processes and intermediates for their preparation and to the use of these compounds for the macrolide target identification. |
| US07989599B2 |
Activator including biosurfactant as active ingredient, mannosyl erythritol lipid, and production method thereof
The present invention includes as an active ingredient at least one biosurfactant, in particular mannosyl alditol lipid (such as MEL and MML) or triacylated mannosyl alditol lipid. This allows providing an activator and anti-aging agent that is excellent in activating and anti-aging effects on cells and that is safe enough to be used for a long time, and also providing cosmetics, quasi-drugs, drugs, and drinks and foods including the activator and the anti-aging agent as active ingredients. Further, the present invention provides MEL whose mannosyl erythritol skeleton in a molecular structure is 1-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-meso-erythritol and a method for producing the MEL with use of a microorganism. |
| US07989596B2 |
Method of altering the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodies by oxidation-reduction reactions
The binding specificity of a monoclonal antibody is altered by exposing the monoclonal antibody to an oxidizing agent or an electric potential. |
| US07989591B2 |
Protein lattice
Protein lattices are disclosed which have a regular structure with a repeating unit repeating in three dimensions and have many uses, for example to support an array of macromolecular entities for X-ray crystallography. The repeating unit comprises protein protomers which each comprise at least two monomers fused together. The monomers are each monomers of a respective oligomer assembly into which the monomers are assembled for assembly of the protomers into the lattice. The repeating unit comprises protomers comprising at least a first monomer which is a monomer of a first oligomer assembly which has a set of rotational symmetry axes extending in three dimensions, and a further monomer fused to the first monomer which further monomer is a monomer of a further oligomer assembly which has a rotational symmetry axis of the same order as one of the set of rotational symmetry axes of the first oligomer assembly. |
| US07989589B2 |
Compstatin analogs with improved activity
Compounds comprising peptides and peptidomimetics capable of binding the C3 protein and inhibiting complement activation are disclosed. These compounds display improved complement activation-inhibitory activity as compared with currently available compounds. Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also disclosed. |
| US07989586B2 |
Multiblock copolymers having improved mechanical properties
Replacement of the amorphous peptide domain of a structural biopolymer, such as silk from silkworms or spiders, with a nonpeptide segment while maintaining the β-sheet forming crystalline segments provides synthetic multiblock copolymers having solid-state structures and mechanical properties similar to the naturally occurring structural biopolymer is described herein. Such synthetic multiblock copolymers may be produced as films or fibers. |
| US07989581B2 |
Polyether from ring-opening of glycidyl ether with (C2-C5 alkylene oxide) monohydric alcohol
Polyether represented by R(—O—Xn—Zm—Y)p {R is a monovalent hydrocarbyl group that contains no more than 20 carbon atoms and that may contain an aliphatically unsaturated bond or is a group comprising the preceding group having an ether linkage therein; n is 1 to 200; m is 0 to 200; 0 |
| US07989579B2 |
Production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer
A method for the production of a functionalized polytriazole polymer, particularly a poly(1,2,4-triazole)-polymer, includes the steps of (a) mixing a hydrazine salt, particularly hydrazine sulfate, with at least an aromatic and/or heteroaromatic dicarboxylic acid and/or at least a dicarboxylic acid derivate in polyphosphoric acid and if necessary further components for obtaining a solution; (b) heating the solution in a protective gas atmosphere for obtaining polyhydrazides and adding aromatic and/or heteroaromatic primary amines to the solution; and (c) precipitating a polymer. If necessary, neutralization in a basic solution may be carried out. |
| US07989578B2 |
Negative photosensitive polyimide polymer and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a negative photosensitive polyimide polymer having a repeating unit of formula (1) as a polymerized unit: wherein G, Q and P* are as defined in the specification. The polyimide polymer of the present invention is developable in an aqueous alkaline solution, and has the properties associated with an insulating layer and photoresist. |
| US07989572B2 |
Polyvinyl ultraviolet light absorbers for personal care
UV-absorbing polymers and copolymers suitable for Composition into sunscreens for the protection of human skin. The UV-absorbing chromophoric monomers chosen are simple and easily synthesized. With the correct choice of chromophoric monomer or mixture of monomers, protection against UV-A radiation or against both UV-A and UV-B radiation can be achieved. With the correct choice of comonomer, copolymers produced as aqueous latex emulsions or as Polyethylene Glycol solutions can also be achieved. |
| US07989569B2 |
Polyvinyl pyrrole host material, luminescent layer comprising the same, and organic electroluminescent device comprising the luminescent layer
Provided are a polyvinyl pyrrole host material emitting highly efficient phosphorescence, a luminescent layer using the material, and an organic electroluminescent display device. The polyvinyl pyrrole host material shows highly efficient luminescence having improved energy transfer, and thus is useful for an organic electroluminescent display device and other various light emitting devices. |
| US07989564B2 |
Catalyst systems and their use in polymerization processes
A catalyst system comprising a hafnocene catalyst compound and zirconocene catalyst compound, wherein the hafnocene and/or zirconocene include(s) at least one ligand substituted with at least one linear or iso alkyl group having 3 or more carbon atoms is provided. A process for polymerizing olefin(s) using the same catalyst system is also provided. |
| US07989563B2 |
Resin compositions, films using the same and process for producing the films
The present invention provides a resin composition containing a reactive monomer and/or oligomer having allyl ester groups, a film of the resin composition which is excellent in transparency and heat resistance and has a high thickness precision, and a process for producing such a film. The resin composition includes (A) a reactive oligomer having allyl ester groups and represented by the general formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkanediyl or alkenediyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with the proviso that a plurality of R1 groups may be the same or different, R2 represents a cycloalkanediyl, cycloalkenediyl or arenediyl group with the proviso that a plurality of R2 groups may be the same or different, and n represents an average degree of polymerization and is a number of 1 to 30; (B) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and/or oligomer; and (C) a thermal polymerization initiator. |
| US07989562B2 |
Method for preventing catalyst agglomeration based on production rate changes
A system and method for olefin polymerization is provided. The method includes polymerizing one or more olefins within a reactor having one or more injection tubes in fluid communication therewith, at least one of the one or more injection tubes having two or more concentric flow paths; flowing a catalyst through a first flow concentric path of the injection tube into the reactor; flowing one or more monomers through a second concentric flow path of the injection tube into the reactor; measuring rate of heat removal within the reactor; and adjusting the one or more monomers flow through the injection tube in response to the rate of heat removal in the reactor. |
| US07989557B2 |
Surface improver for reinforced composite compositions
The invention is a composition comprising a blend of two or more epoxide containing compositions selected from epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxidized alkyl esters or cycloaliphatic epoxides. In another embodiment, the invention is a blend of one or more epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxidized alkyl esters, or cycloaliphatic epoxides with one or more aromatic epoxides or epoxy functionalized polyoxyalkylene polyols. |
| US07989556B2 |
Modifier for polyester resin and process for producing molded article with the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a modifier which improves moldability in melt molding, particularly, injection molding, extrusion molding, profile molding, direct blow molding, or calendar processing molding using a polyester resin and, furthermore, which can improve mechanical physical property while maintaining transparency, and a polyester molded article using the modifier. The present invention relates to a modifier for a polyester resin, comprising an amorphous polyester resin (I), and a reactive compound (II) containing two or more glycidyl groups and/or isocyanate groups per one molecule and having a weight average molecular weight of not less than 200 and not more than 500 thousands. |
| US07989552B2 |
Curing compositions for fluoropolymers
A curative composition suitable for fluoroelastomers comprising an anion of Formula III: wherein each Rf independently is R—CF2 or a perfluoroalkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, wherein R is H, halo, alkyl, aryl, or cycloalkyl, having up to 8 carbon atoms and which also may be halogenated, fluorinated, or perfluorinated, and which may contain a heteroatom, wherein X is a linking group, and wherein n is a positive integer. Also provided are a fluoropolymer composition including this curative, a method of making a fluoropolymer, and fluoropolymer articles containing curable or cured fluoropolymer compositions. |
| US07989551B2 |
Pseudo-block copolymers and process employing chain shuttling agent
A process for the polymerization of one or more addition polymerizable monomers to form a copolymer comprising multiple regions or segments of differentiated polymer composition or properties comprising contacting an addition polymerizable monomer or mixture of monomers under addition polymerization conditions with a composition comprising at least one olefin polymerization catalyst, a cocatalyst and a chain shuttling agent, said process being characterized by formation of at least some of the growing polymer chains under differentiated process conditions such that two or more blocks or segments formed within at least some of the resulting polymer are chemically or physically distinguishable. |
| US07989548B2 |
Thermoplastic vulcanisate blend
The invention relates to a new polymer blend comprising: 20 to 70 wt % of a mixture (A) of two or more polyalkylene phthalates; 2 to 60 wt % of a cross-linked acrylate rubber; 0.5 to 20 wt % of an ionomer; and 1 to 30 wt % of a terpolymer of ethylene, butylacrylate (BA) and glycidylmethacrylate (GMA); wherein the weight percentages are based on the sum of the above ingredients. The polymer blend of the invention is particularly suitable for blow-moulding, to make parts for high-temperature, high-oil-exposure uses. |
| US07989544B2 |
Amphiphilic polymer capsules and related methods of interfacial assembly
Polymer capsules from amphiphilic graft copolymers comprising reactive, hydrophobic polyolefin backbones, and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafts are produced by self-assembly of the polymers at the oil-water interface, and crosslinking the assembly with bis-cyclooctene PEG derivatives in conjunction with ring-open metathesis polymerization catalysts. The use of the graft copolymer architecture in capsule synthesis provides significant opportunities to tune both the surface properties, in terms of recognition, and the membrane properties, in terms of mechanical strength, encapsulation, and release. |
| US07989542B2 |
Process for producing thermoplastic elastomer composition, and process for producing foamed thermoplastic elastomer composition
A process for producing a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising the steps of (1) heating dynamically (A) a defined ethylene-α-olefin random copolymer rubber, (B) a propylene homopolymer, or a defined copolymer of propylene with ethylene and/or an α-olefin, (C) a mineral oil softener, and (D) a crosslinking agent, and (2) melt-kneading the resultant product with a defined polypropylene resin (E); and a process for producing a foamed thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising the further step of melt-kneading said thermoplastic elastomer composition with (F) a foaming agent. |
| US07989540B2 |
Resin composition and composite using the composition and production process thereof
A resin composition comprises a resin, a vulcanization-activating agent, and a stabilizer. The vulcanization-activating agent may be a compound having a plurality of polymerizable unsaturated bonds (e.g., a compound having a plurality of (meth)acryloyl groups). The stabilizer may be an antioxidant, or a light stabilizer (particularly, a stabilizer is capable of capturing a radical). Use of the resin composition as a resin material ensures to directly join between a resin and a rubber certainly and firmly. The proportion of the vulcanization-activating agent may be about 0.1 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin. The proportion of the stabilizer may be about 0.01 to 5 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin.The present invention provides a resin composition excellent in adhesiveness to a rubber. |
| US07989539B2 |
NBR composition
An NBR composition, which comprises NBR, and white carbon having a specific surface area (BET method) of 30-110 m2/g, preferably 30-60 m2/g, can be vulcanized by a vulcanization system consisting of an organic peroxide and sulfur or a sulfur-generating compound, and can give vulcanization moldings having equivalent compression set characteristics to those of expensive hydrogenated NBR vulcanization moldings, and thus can be effectively used as a vulcanization molding material for seal materials calling for such characteristics, for example, O rings, gaskets, packings, oil seals, etc. |
| US07989536B2 |
Exfoliated nanocomposites and articles containing same
A polymeric nanocomposite comprises a non-polar hyperbranched polystyrene resin. An exfoliated or intercalated onium functionalized clay is dispersed within the resin. Such nanocomposites are more compatible with non-polar polymer matrices used in various articles of manufacture. |
| US07989533B2 |
Chemical compound comprising an indium-containing intrinsically conductive polymer
The invention relates to a composition which comprises an intrinsically conductive polymer and indium and which is particularly suitable for producing puncture injection layers in light emitting diodes. Methods for producing and using the inventive composition and electronic devices for the production thereof are also disclosed. |
| US07989528B2 |
Coupling agent to provide the coupling of a metal element to a material to be reinforced
The invention relates to a coupling agent to provide the coupling of a metal element to a vulcanizable elastomeric material whereby the coupling agent provides both binding to the metal element and reaction with the vulcanizable elastomeric material. The coupling agent comprises a macromolecular backbone and at least one functional endgroup. The functional endgroup is responsible for the binding to the metal element. The backbone has a molecular weight ranging between 1000 and 10000 and has at least one unsaturated carbon-carbon bond for reacting with the vulcanizable elastomeric material. The invention further relates to an article comprising a metal element at least partially embedded in a vulcanizable elastomeric material and comprising a coupling agent to provide the coupling of the metal element to the vulcanizable elastomeric material. |
| US07989527B2 |
Polymer nanocomposites based on synthesized lamellar nanoparticles
The invention relates to polymer nanocomposites comprising synthesized lamellar nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The lamellar nanoparticles are synthetically made in a one-step operation by supramolecular assembly of a surfactant and a inorganic precursor and are exfoliated inside the polymer matrix. |
| US07989526B2 |
Flame resistant semiaromatic polyamide resin compositions and processes for the preparation of semiaromatic polyamide resin compositions exhibiting increased melt flow and articles therefrom
There is provided high temperature flame retarded semiaromatic polyamides which provide superior properties in molded articles while maintaining high flow in the molding process. The resin compositions include, in addition to the polyamide and flame retardant, aromatic organic acid and at least one inorganic reinforcing agent and/or filler. Processes for their preparation and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed. |
| US07989523B2 |
Alicyclic diepoxy compound, epoxy resin composition comprising the same, and cured article therefrom
Disclosed is an alicyclic diepoxy compound which gives a cured article suffering from no deterioration in properties even when used in hot and humid surroundings or used under such conditions as to give a strong acid, which is highly reactive upon curing, and which gives a cured article superior typically in thermal stability. Specifically, the alicyclic diepoxy compound includes a 3,4,3′,4′-diepoxybicyclohexyl compound represented by following Formula (1): wherein R1 to R18 each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may have an oxygen atom or a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, in which the alicyclic diepoxy compound contains isomers of the 3,4,3′,4′-diepoxybicyclohexyl compound in a content of less than 20% based on the total of the 3,4,3′,4′-diepoxybicyclohexyl compound and the isomers thereof in terms of peak area ratio as determined by gas chromatography. |
| US07989522B2 |
Biodegradable wax composition
A biodegradable wax composition containing a wax as a main component and also containing a biodegradable polymer and a filler and having a moisture permeability of 3 g·mm/m2·24 hr or less at 40° C. and 90% RH. The wax is preferably present in an amount of 65 to 95% by weight. The biodegradable polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 200,000 or higher. The polymer is preferably polyisoprene or natural rubber and is preferably present in an amount of 5 to 35% by weight. |
| US07989521B1 |
Antifouling coating composition, antifouling coating film formed using the composition, coated article having the coating film on the surface, and antifouling treatment method to form the coating film
An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for forming an environment friendly antifouling coating film that is unlikely to cause a hairline crack and like coating film defects even when immersed in seawater for a long time, and that prevents or inhibits attachment of slime. An antifouling coating composition of the invention comprises: (A) a triorganosilyl ester-containing copolymer obtained by a mixture of (a) a triorganosilyl (meth)acrylate monomer represented by a general formula (1): R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl, and R2, R3, and R4 are equal or different each other, and each represent an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbons and branched on α-position or a phenyl group, and (b) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the triorganosilyl (meth)acrylate monomer, (B) a modified rosin salt which is a salt of a modified rosin and zinc and/or copper, the modified rosin containing, in an amount of 80 weight % or more, two or more members selected from the group consisting of dihydroabietic acid, tetrahydroabietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, pimaric acid, isopimaric acid, and dihydropimaric acid. |
| US07989517B2 |
Actinic ray curable composition, actinic ray curable ink, and image formation process employing the same
Disclosed is an actinic ray curable composition comprising a cationically polymerizable compound, an onium salt, and a compound represented by formula 1, R1{(CR2R3)mOH}n Formula 1 wherein R1 represents a condensed ring group; R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group; m represents an integer of from 2 to 4; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 10. |
| US07989514B2 |
Strong-acid cation exchange resins
A strong-acid cation exchange resin comprising a plurality of acid groups which are partially neutralized with a cation of formula (I); wherein R1 at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or a Ci-4-alkyl group, R2 at each occurrence independently is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, R3 at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or alkyl or two vicinal groups R3 together form an aromatic ring, m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, o is 1 or 2, and p is 1, 2 or 3, is useful in the production of bisphenols. |
| US07989512B1 |
Polyelectrolyte membranes derived from soluble perfluorocyclobutane polymers with sulfonyl chloride groups
A method of forming an ionomeric membrane includes a step of reacting a first polymer in chlorosulfonic acid to form a first precipitate. The first precipitate comprising a polymer including a polymer unit having at least one —SO2Cl moiety attached thereto and includes a step of dissolving the first precipitate in a polar aprotic solvent to form the first solution. A polymeric membrane is then formed from the first solution such that the membrane includes the polymer unit having at least one —SO2Cl. The polymer including a polymer unit a polymer unit having at least one —SO2Cl is then reacted with a nucleophilic compound to form the polymeric membrane. |
| US07989510B2 |
Process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the fischer-tropsch reaction
The present invention relates to a process for the purification of an aqueous stream coming from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction which comprises: feeding the aqueous stream containing organic by products of the reaction to a fractionating distillation column or to a stripping column; —condensation of the vaporized stream leaving the head of the column and the removal of a distillate enriched in the heaviest by-products; —feeding the partially purified aqueous stream leaving the bottom of the distillation column, at the head to one or more sensible contact exchangers; —sending a process gas in countercurrent to the tail of the exchanger at a temperature lower than that of the aqueous stream; —sending the process gas enriched in water and part of the residual organic product leaving the head of the exchanger to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis plant of hydrocarbons; —sending the purified colder water leaving the exchanger directly to further treatment. |
| US07989509B2 |
Systems and processes for processing hydrogen and carbon monoxide
In various implementations, various feed gas streams which include hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be processed for conversion to product streams. For example, the feed gas stream may be processed using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Unconverted hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be recycled using an off-gas catalytic reformer and a gas turbine exhaust gas heat exchanger that will perform preheating duties. |
| US07989506B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispersion of high-surface-area, low-bulk-density fumed silica
The present invention generally relates to methods of preparing stable colloidal dispersions of nanoparticulate size fumed silica particles. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of rapidly wetting and dispersing fumed silica powder for obtaining a coatable dispersion, particularly in the manufacture of inkjet media. |
| US07989504B2 |
Chemomechanical production of functional colloids
A method for producing a functional colloid during which particles are reactively fragmented in a mechanical manner in a dispersant in the presence of a modifying agent so that the modifying agent is chemically bound, at least in part, to the fragmented colloid particles. |
| US07989496B2 |
Transdermal delivery of ketoprofen polar derivatives
A topical or transdermal composition including a polar derivative of ketoprofen and a pharmaceutically acceptable topical or transdermal carrier, wherein the polar derivative of ketoprofen comprises a polarity that is greater than that of ketoprofen. |
| US07989492B2 |
Epigallocatechin dimers or trimers having lipase inhibitory activity and/or antioxidant activity
An object of the present invention is to provide a lipase activity inhibitor that shows high inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase to suppress the absorption of meal-derived fat and/or which contributes to suppressing and preventing obesity, as well as a food or beverage that has such lipase activity inhibitor incorporated therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a lipase inhibitor of tea origin that suits most consumers' taste and which will not impair the flavor of the food or beverage when incorporated therein. Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for producing said lipase inhibitors. Further object of the invention is to provide antioxidants. To attain these objects, epigallocatechin dimers (oolong homobisflavans) or trimers are incorporated in foods or beverages. As a result, the absorption of meal-derived fat can be suppressed and, in addition, antioxidation effect is obtained. The compounds of the invention can be produced by reacting epigallocatechin gallate with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid. |
| US07989491B2 |
Use of artemisinin for treating tumors induced by oncogenic viruses and for treating viral infections
In certain aspects, the invention relates to methods of treating proliferative cervical disorders (such as cervical cancer and cervical dysplasia) and treating virus infections by administering artemisinin-related compounds. In certain aspects, the invention relates to methods of treating a tumor induced by an oncogenic virus, methods of killing or inhibiting a squamous cell carcinoma, and methods of inhibiting the replication of a virus, by administering artemisinin-related compounds. |
| US07989488B2 |
Compositions and methods for storing holographic data
In one aspect, the present invention provides a novel thiophene-containing polynitrone compound having structure (II) wherein R1 is independently at each occurrence a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C30 aromatic radical; R2 is independently at each occurrence hydrogen, deuterium, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C30 aromatic radical; and “a” is an integer from 2 to 4. |
| US07989487B2 |
Estrogen receptor modulators and uses thereof
A method for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a condition mediated by an estrogen receptor by administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula I, II, or a combination thereof: wherein R1, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from H, OH, and ORa; R2 is selected from H, OH, and (C═O)(C1-7)alkyl; Ra is (C1-7)alkyl or (C═O)(C1-7)alkyl; or a derivative of the compound selected from N-oxide derivatives, prodrug derivatives, protected derivatives, isomers, and mixtures of isomers of the compound; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of the compound or the derivative. Compounds of formula I and II and pharmaceuticals compositions thereof are also presented. |
| US07989484B2 |
Dual-acting antihypertensive agents
The invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein: Q, W, Y, Z, r, and Ar are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US07989479B2 |
Use of a p38 kinase inhibitor for treating psychiatric disorders
The use of 6-(S-Cyclopropylcarbamoyl-S-fluoro-2-methyl-phenyl)-N-(2,2-dimethylproyl)-nicotinamide, which is known in the art as a p38 kinase inhibitor in the treatment or prophlaxis of one or more psychiatric disorders. |
| US07989477B2 |
Monocyclic heterocycles as kinase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to compounds having the formula and methods for using them for the treatment of cancer. |
| US07989476B2 |
Electron-transporting materials and processes for making the same
Compound of formula C is made by reacting a compound of formula A with an pyridyl boronic acid or pyridyl borate ester to form a compound of formula B; and combining the compound of formula B with a pyridyl dihalide to form the compound of C; wherein R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are, independently at each occurrence, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 aromatic radical, or a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical; X is, independently at each occurrence, CH or N; Y is chloro or bromo; Z is bromo or iodo; and when Y is bromo, Z is iodo; d, e, and g are, independently at each occurrence, an integer ranging from 0-4; f is an integer ranging from 0-2; and h is an integer ranging from 0-3. |
| US07989475B2 |
Substituted pyrazoles, compositions containing such compounds and methods of use
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazoles, compositions containing such compounds and methods of treatment The compounds are glucagon receptor antagonists and thus are useful for treating, preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. |
| US07989474B2 |
Use of Lck inhibitors for treatment of immunologic diseases
The invention relates to a method of treating immunologic diseases or pathological conditions involving an immunologic component using certain Lck inhibitors already known as kinase inhibitors for therapy in oncology, optionally in combination with one or more other drugs selected from NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs, immunsuppressives, biologic response modifiers and antinfectives, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said Lck inhibitors together with said other drugs, and the use of the Lck inhibitors for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of immunologic diseases or pathological conditions involving an immunologic component. |
| US07989473B2 |
Stable laquinimod preparations
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2,-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide, N-methylglucamine, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
| US07989472B2 |
Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods of use
Glucagon receptor antagonist compounds are disclosed. The compounds are useful for treating type 2 diabetes and related conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also included. |
| US07989468B2 |
Methods of using SNS-595
The present invention relates to SNS-595 and methods of treating cancer using the same. |
| US07989467B2 |
Use of indole-derived compounds for the preparation of a medicament that can be used to treat diseases related to the splicing process
The invention relates to indole-derived compounds and to the use of said compounds for the preparation of a medicament that can be used to treat diseases related to the process of splicing pre-messenger RNAs in the cell, such as Frasier syndrome, frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17 (a form of Parkinson's disease), Leigh syndrome (a type of encephalopathy), atypical cystic fibrosis, certain neuropathologies including Alzheimer's disease linked to a mutation in the Tau protein, muscle atorphy which affects the SMN (Survival of Motor Neuron) gene, depression linked to a serotonin splicing impairment, and certain cancers in which the global splicing process is affected (e.g. breast cancer, colon cancer and certain lymphomas), as well as viral diseases such as AIDS. |
| US07989463B2 |
Biccyclic compounds as GATA modulators
Novel bicyclic compounds of the formula (I), stereoisomers, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the novel bicyclic compounds, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the stereoisomers of the novel bicyclic compounds are provided. Additionally, methods of forming novel bicyclic compounds, stereoisomers, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the novel bicyclic compounds, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the stereoisomers of the novel bicyclic compounds are provided: wherein R1, R2, m, and n are defined herein. |
| US07989458B2 |
Pyrimidine derivatives as alk-5 inhibitors
Compounds of formula (I) in free or salt or solvate form, where T1, T2, Ra and Rb have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating inflammatory or obstructive airways, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis, muscle diseases and systemic skeletal disorders. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described. |
| US07989449B2 |
4,5-dihydro-oxazol-2-yl amine derivatives
The present invention relates to a compounds of formula I wherein R1, R1′, R2, R3, R4, X, Ar, and m are as defined in the specification and claims and pharmaceutically active acid addition salts thereof. Compounds of the invention have Asp2 (β-secretase, BACE 1 or Memapsin-2) inhibitory activity and are useful for the treatment of diseases characterized by elevated β-amyloid levels or β-amyloid deposits, particularly Alzheimer's disease. |
| US07989446B2 |
4-amino 5-cyanopyrimidine derivatives
The present invention provides 4-amino-5-cyanopyrimidine derivatives of the formula: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having a safe and potent adenosine A2a receptor agonistic activity; and also provides an adenosine A2a receptor agonist, an intraocular pressure reducing agent, or a medicine for treating glaucoma, etc., which comprises the compound as an active ingredient. |
| US07989440B2 |
Metal coordinated compositions
A metal coordination complex of a biologically active moiety and a metal is disclosed. The complex confers to the biologically active moiety an improved performance which can include potency, stability, absorbability, targeted delivery, and combinations thereof. |
| US07989438B2 |
Therapeutic compounds
A class of macrocyclic compounds of formula (I), wherein R7, A, Ar, B, D, F, M, Q1, Q2, W, X, Y and Z are defined herein, that are useful as inhibitors of viral proteases, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease, are provided. Also provided are processes for the synthesis and use of such macrocyclic compounds for treating or preventing HCV infection. |
| US07989434B2 |
Heterocyclic self-immolative linkers and conjugates
The present invention provides heterocyclic linker compounds useful for linking drug moieties to ligands. The compounds also include drug-ligand conjugates comprising a ligand capable of targeting a selected cell population, and a drug connected to the ligand by a heterocyclic linker moiety. The linker moiety comprises a peptide sequence that is a substrate for an intracellular enzyme, for example a cathepsin, that cleaves the peptide at an amide bond. The peptide further contains a self-immolating moiety which connects the drug and the protein peptide sequence. Upon cleavage of the peptide sequence by an intracellular enzyme the self-immolating moiety cleaves itself from the drug moiety such that the drug moiety is in an underivatized and active form. |
| US07989432B2 |
Micelles
The present invention provides micelles, solutions comprising micelles, methods for preparing micelles, and methods for delivering micelles to patients. The micelles have fixed, preselected hydrodynamic diameters and are formed from basic or acidic amphiphilic compounds. |
| US07989430B2 |
Antibacterial agents
The invention provides compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof: R1-L-R2—B wherein R1, L, R2, and B have any of the values defined herein, as well as compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods comprising the administration of such compounds or salts. The compounds block siderophore production in bacteria and are useful as antibacterial agents. |
| US07989429B2 |
LNA antagonists targeting the androgen receptor
The invention relates to oligonucleotide compounds (oligomers), which target androgen receptor mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of the androgen receptor. Reduction of the androgen receptor expression is beneficial for the treatment of certain disorders, such as a hyperproliferative disorders (e.g., cancer). The invention provides therapeutic compositions comprising oligomers and methods for modulating the expression of androgen receptor using said oligomers, including methods of treatment. |
| US07989428B2 |
Combined telomerase inhibitor and gemcitabine for the treatment of cancer
A method and kit for inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells are disclosed, based on a combination of a gemcitabine and a telomerase inhibitor. When used in cancer therapy, the two compounds in combination enhance the anti-cancer treatment efficacy obtained with gemcitabine alone or the telomerase inhibitor alone. Preferably, efficacy is supraadditive or synergistic in nature relative to the combined effects of the individual agents, with minimal exacerbation of side effects. |
| US07989427B2 |
Polynucleotide constructs, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for targeted downregulation of angiogenesis and anticancer therapy
A novel nucleic acid construct for down-regulating angiogenesis in a tissue of a subject is provided. The nucleic acid construct includes: (a) a first polynucleotide region encoding a chimeric polypeptide including a ligand binding domain fused to an effector domain of an apoptosis signaling molecule; and (b) a second polynucleotide region encoding a cis acting regulatory element being for directing expression of the chimeric polypeptide in a specific tissue or cell; wherein the ligand binding domain is selected such that it is capable of binding a ligand present in the specific tissue or cell, whereas binding of the ligand to the ligand binding domain activates the effector domain of the apoptosis signaling molecule. Also provided are methods of utilizing this nucleic acid construct for treating diseases characterized by excessive or aberrant neo-vascularization or cell growth. |
| US07989423B2 |
6″-amino-6″-deoxygalactosylceramides
This invention relates to galactosylceramide compounds. |
| US07989421B2 |
Use of dimiracetam in the treatment of chronic pain
The use of dimiracetam in the treatment of chronic pain is disclosed. At doses higher than those previously disclosed in relation with its cognition enhancing activity (i.e. amelioration of learning and memory), dimiracetam was able to completely revert hyperalgesia or allodynia associated with several animal models of chronic pain. Dimiracetam showed high activity in iatrogenic neuropathies associated with antiviral and chemotherapeutic drug treatments and in painful conditions caused by osteoarthritis. In addition, dimiracetam was devoid of toxicity even at doses 10-fold higher than the highest therapeutic dose. The possibility of treating such debilitating pathologies with a highly effective and essentially non-toxic compound is therefore disclosed. |
| US07989420B2 |
Smooth muscle relaxation
The invention relates to methods of inducing smooth muscle relaxation, for example, a method of inducing relaxation of a vascular or a non-vascular muscle or a method of inducing relaxation of the microvasculature, in a subject in need thereof by promoting the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in the smooth muscle. |
| US07989418B2 |
Methods for the use of branched chain amino acids
The invention provides an orally-administrable nutritional product comprising a dipeptide including a branched chain amino acid (BCAA). In one embodiment, the nutritional product comprises a dipeptide selected from at least one of the following: alanyl-leucine, alanyl-isoleucine, alanyl-valine, glycyl-leucine, glycyl-isoleucine, and glycyl-valine. |
| US07989414B2 |
Compositions for oxygen transport comprising a high oxygen affinity modified hemoglobin
The present invention relates to blood products, and more particularly to compositions comprising a modified oxygenated hemoglobin having a high affinity for oxygen and methods for making such compositions. Such compositions according to the present invention have better stability to autooxidation and superior oxygen carrying characteristics. |
| US07989413B2 |
Dryer sheet
A dryer sheet is provided comprising a liquid fabric treating composition having at least one active ingredient which is retained in liquid form within a substrate, preferably a sheet of non-woven material. The dryer sheet is introduced into a rotary clothes dryer with laundered, damp clothing where an effective amount of the active ingredient is transferred into the fabric of the articles of clothing during a drying cycle as a result of contact of the liquid fabric treating composition with water contained within the damp clothing. |
| US07989412B2 |
Solid textile care composition based on soap
A solid textile-care composition having a matrix of soap and, distributed therein, a textile-care compound and a perfume. Also, textile-softening laundry detergents or cleaning agents containing the textile-care composition. |
| US07989405B2 |
Prevention of microbial growth in metal working fluids
A method of preventing microbial growth in oil-water metalworking fluid in a machine wherein lubricating oil or hydraulic or tapping fluid can contaminate the metalworking fluid, comprises adding a partitionable anti-microbial agent, active against micro-organisms present in the metalworking fluid, to the lubricating oil or hydraulic or tapping fluid whereby an effective quantity of anti-microbial agent can migrate into the metalworking fluid to reduce micro-organism activity.A machine tool lubricating oil or hydraulic or tapping fluid composition comprises in a mineral oil or other lubricant base and an oil-water partitionable anti-microbial, active against micro-organisms present in oil-water metalworking fluids. |
| US07989404B2 |
Compositions and methods for gas well treatment
A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation. |
| US07989400B2 |
Viscosified treatment fluids comprising scleroglucan or diutan and associated methods
The invention provides a method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of formulating a treatment fluid and introducing the treatment fluid through the wellbore. The treatment fluid comprises water; diutan; and a sufficient amount of salt to increase the density of the treatment fluid to at least 8.5 lb/gal, wherein at least 50% by weight of the salt is selected from the group consisting of: bromide salts, non-bromide salts having a higher salting-in effect than bromide according to the Hofmeister series as measured by the salt's effect on the cloud point of poly(ethylene oxide) that has a molecular weight of 4×106, and any combination in any proportion thereof. The invention also provides a treatment fluid for use in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the treatment fluid comprising: water; diutan; and a sufficient amount of salt to increase the density of the treatment fluid to at least 8.5 lb/gal, wherein at least 50% by weight of the salt is selected from the group consisting of: bromide salts, non-bromide salts having a higher salting-in effect than bromide according to the Hofmeister series as measured by the salt's effect on the cloud point of poly(ethylene oxide) that has a molecular weight of 4.106, and any combination in any proportion thereof. |
| US07989399B2 |
Drilling fluid and methods
A drilling fluid comprising: a non-ionic surfactant including at least one of a branched alcohol ethoxylate and a capped alcohol ethoxylate, a detergent builder and a viscosifier. |
| US07989396B2 |
Biomolecule immobilization on biosensors
A highly specific and versatile surface chemistry for immobilization of amine-terminated probes is disclosed. A bi-layered polymer thin film serves as the platform for coupling the probes, which are preferably oligonucleotides. The process involves sequentially coating a substrate with polyamine and polyacid anhydride. Hydrolyzed polyacid anhydride groups may be converted to non-hydrolyzed groups at about 100° C. prior to probe attachment. The process of coating the substrate requires no harsh chemical pretreatment of substrates such as RCA or Piranha cleaning. In addition, simple thermal activation of the anhydride groups has a low requirement for storage, leading to a long shelf life of modified surfaces. The disclosed surface chemistry is especially compatible with microfabrication processes, and its effective application to magnetic biosensors is demonstrated. |
| US07989395B2 |
Methods for identifying compounds of interest using encoded libraries
The present invention provides a method for identifying a compound of interest by screening libraries of molecules which include an encoding oligonucleotide tag. |
| US07989394B2 |
Substituted 1-(azolin-2-yl)-amino-2-aryl-1-hetaryl-ethane compounds
The present invention relates to 1-(azolin-2-yl)-amino-2-aryl-1-hetaryl-ethane compounds (I) and 1-(aminothiocarbonylamino)-2-aryl-1-hetaryl-ethane compounds (II) and their salts which are useful for combating animal pest, in particular insects, arachnids and nematodes. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for combating animal pests selected from insects, arachnids and nematodes, and to agricultural compositions for combating animal pests. Furthermore, the present invention relates to veterinary compositions for combating animal pests. |
| US07989393B2 |
Methods of controlling algae with thaxtomin and thaxtomin compositions
Methods of treating and/or controlling algae including contacting algae with an effective amount of one or more thaxtomins are disclosed. One or more thaxtomins are applied to algae contaminated environments in a predetermined amount effective in controlling, reducing and/or killing algae. |
| US07989392B2 |
Herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate bipyridilium
Herbicidal compositions are provided which cause rapid symptomology while delivering long term control of regrowth of plants. The herbicidal compositions comprise N-phosphonomethylglycine or a herbicidal derivative thereof, a bipyridilium or a herbicidal derivative thereof, and at least one surfactant. A herbicidal spray composition is preparable from a particulate solid concentrate or a liquid concentrate. Also provided is a method for killing or controlling the growth of plants comprising the step of contacting the foliage of said plants with an aqueous herbicidal composition of the invention. |
| US07989390B2 |
Method for fluorescent image formation, print produced thereby and thermal transfer sheet thereof
The present invention relates to a method for fluorescent image formation which can form a highly scratch-resistant fluorescent full-color image using a colorless fluorescent agent and can freely regulate the tone of color mixture of a combination of two or more fluorescent colors in order to impart, to articles, a higher level of forgery preventive function than a prior art technique and a print having a high level of forgery preventive function. The invention characterized in that fluorescent inks are provided that are substantially colorless upon visible light irradiation and contain organic fluorescent agents which, upon ultraviolet light irradiation, emit fluorescences in a visible region, and that two or more fluorescent inks, which emit fluorescences having mutually different color tones, are deposited on a printing face in its image formation region according to information on an image to be printed in a dot matrix manner so that dots of one color do not overlap with dots of another color. |
| US07989387B2 |
Process for producing metal oxide particle and exhaust gas purifying catalyst
The present invention provides an exhaust gas purifying catalyst and a process for producing a metal oxide particle comprising multiple species of metal oxides and capable of satisfactorily exerting the properties of respective metal oxides. A process of the present invention comprises providing a sol containing at least a population of first colloid particles and a population of second colloid particles differing in the isoelectric point with each other; adjusting the pH of the sol to be closer to the isoelectric point of the population of first colloid particles than to the isoelectric point of the population of second colloid particles, thereby aggregating the population of first colloid particles; adjusting the pH of the sol, thereby aggregating the population of second colloid particles onto the population of first colloid particles aggregated; and drying and firing the obtained aggregate. |
| US07989381B2 |
Fusion-cast fireproof product
A fusion-cast refractory product based on zirconium dioxide is provided. The zirconium dioxide crystals are stabilized by magnesium oxide and surrounded by at least one magnesium oxide-containing crystalline phase. The content of magnesium oxide-containing crystalline phases, relative to the total mass of the product, amounts to 1 to 8 wt. %. In an example, the stabilized zirconium dioxide crystals are surrounded by at least one of the following magnesium oxide-containing crystalline phases: forsterite, enstatite, cordierite or spinel. |
| US07989374B2 |
Non-contaminating, electro-chemically stable glass frit sealing materials and seals and devices using such sealing materials
A solid oxide fuel cell device includes layers of solid electrolyte, cathode plates, anode plates, a frame and a non-contaminating, electrochemically stable sealing material. The sealing material may have a CTE of about 95×10−7/° C. to about 115×10−7/° C. The sealing material may include from about 65 wt % to about 100 wt % of glass frit and from about 0 wt % to about 35 wt % of a filler material. The glass frit may include from about 0 mol % to about 43 mol % of a metal oxide expressed as RO wherein R comprises magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc and/or combinations thereof. The glass frit may also include from about 0 mol % to about 5 mol % Al2O3; from about 0 mol % to about 7 mol % TiO2; and from about 41 mol % to about 60 mol % SiO2. |
| US07989373B2 |
Hermetic sealing material
Sealing materials for use with membrane supports, and in particular to sealing materials that can be used to form a glassy coating on the exterior surface of a membrane support to prevent gases from entering or exiting the support via the support's exterior walls. |
| US07989365B2 |
Remote plasma source seasoning
Methods of seasoning a remote plasma system are described. The methods include the steps of flowing a silicon-containing precursor into a remote plasma region to deposit a silicon containing film on an interior surface of the remote plasma system. The methods reduce reactions with the seasoned walls during deposition processes, resulting in improved deposition rate, improved deposition uniformity and reduced defectivity during subsequent deposition. |
| US07989364B2 |
Plasma oxidation processing method
A plasma oxidation process is performed to form a silicon oxide film on the surface of a target object by use of plasma with an O(1D2) radical density of 1×1012 [cm−3] or more generated from a process gas containing oxygen inside a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus. During the plasma oxidation process, the O(1D2) radical density in the plasma is measured by a VUV monochromator 63, and a correction is made to the plasma process conditions. |
| US07989361B2 |
Composition for dielectric thin film, metal oxide dielectric thin film using the same and preparation method thereof
This invention pertains to a composition for a dielectric thin film, which is capable of being subjected to a low-temperature process. Specifically, the invention is directed to a metal oxide dielectric thin film formed using the composition, a preparation method thereof, a transistor device comprising the dielectric thin film, and an electronic device comprising the transistor device. The electronic device to which the dielectric thin film has been applied exhibits excellent electrical properties, thereby satisfying both a low operating voltage and a high charge mobility. |
| US07989355B2 |
Method of pitch halving
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming a mask layer over a substrate, forming a dummy layer having a first dummy feature and a second dummy feature over the mask layer, forming first and second spacer roofs to cover a top portion of the first and second dummy features, respectively, and forming first and second spacer sleeves to encircle side portions of the first and second dummy features, respectively, removing the first spacer roof and the first dummy feature while protecting the second dummy feature, removing a first end portion and a second end portion of the first spacer sleeve to form spacer fins, and patterning the mask layer using the spacer fins as a first mask element and the second dummy feature as a second mask element. |
| US07989353B2 |
Method for in-situ refurbishing a ceramic substrate holder
Method for operating a processing system and refurbishing a ceramic substrate holder within a process chamber of the processing system are described. The method includes plasma processing one or more substrates on the ceramic substrate holder, where the processing causes erosion of a nitride material of the ceramic substrate holder. The method further includes refurbishing the ceramic substrate holder in-situ without a substrate residing on the ceramic substrate holder, where the refurbishing includes exposing the ceramic substrate holder to a plasma-excited nitrogen-containing gas in the process chamber to at least partially reverse the erosion of the nitride material. |
| US07989351B2 |
Method for manufacturing a wiring over a substrate
A wiring over a substrate capable of reducing particles between wirings and a method for manufacturing the wiring is disclosed. A wiring over a substrate capable of preventing short-circuiting between wirings due to big difference in projection and depression between wirings and a method for manufacturing the wiring is also disclosed. Further, a wiring over a substrate capable of preventing cracks in the insulating layer due to stress at the edge of a wiring or particles and a method for manufacturing the wiring is also disclosed. According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a wiring over a substrate is provided that comprises the steps of: forming a first conductive layer over an insulating surface; forming a first mask pattern over the first conductive layer; forming a second mask pattern by etching the first mask pattern under a first condition, simultaneously, forming a second conductive layer having a side having an angle of inclination cross-sectionally by etching the first conductive layer; and forming a third conductive layer and a third mask pattern by etching the second conductive layer and the second mask pattern under a second condition; wherein a selective ratio under the first condition of the first conductive layer to the first mask pattern is in a range of 0.25 to 4, and a selective ratio under the second condition of the second conductive layer to the second mask pattern is larger than that under the first condition. |
| US07989343B2 |
Method of depositing a uniform metal seed layer over a plurality of recessed semiconductor features
We disclose a method of depositing a metal seed layer on a wafer substrate comprising a plurality of recessed device features. The method comprises depositing a first portion of a copper seed layer on a wafer substrate without excessive build-up on the openings of each of the plurality of recessed device features, while obtaining bottom coverage without substantial sputtering of the bottom surface. The method also comprises depositing a second portion of the metal seed layer while redistributing at least a portion of the bottom coverage material to the sidewalls of each recessed device feature, to provide a uniform seed layer coverage over the interior surface of the recessed device features. |
| US07989341B2 |
Dual damascence copper process using a selected mask
A method for creating a dual damascene structure while using only one lithography and masking step. Conventional dual damascene structures utilize two lithography steps: one to mask and expose the via, and a second step to mask and expose the trench interconnection. The novel method for creating a dual damascene structure allows for a smaller number of processing steps, thus reducing the processing time needed to complete the dual damascene structure. In addition, a lower number of masks may be needed. The exemplary mask or reticle used within the process incorporates different regions possessing different transmission rates. During the exposing step, light from an exposing source passes through the mask to expose a portion of the photoresist layer on top of the wafer. Depending on the transmission rate of the different regions, different thickness of the photoresist layer are exposed and later removed by a developing solution, which allows a subsequent etch process to remove portions of both the dielectric layer and photoresist layer to create a dual damascene structure. |
| US07989337B2 |
Implementing vertical airgap structures between chip metal layers
A method and structure are provided for implementing vertical airgap structures between chip metal layers. A first metal layer is formed. A first layer of silicon dioxide dielectric is deposited onto the first metal layer. A vertical air gap is etched from the first layer of silicon dioxide dielectric above the first metal layer. A second layer of silicon dioxide dielectric is deposited and the vertical air gap is sealed. A next trace layer is etched from the second layer of silicon dioxide dielectric and a via opening is etched from the second and first layers of silicon dioxide dielectric. Then metal is deposited into the next trace layer and metal is deposited into the via opening. |
| US07989335B2 |
Methods of forming insulation layer patterns and methods of manufacturing semiconductor devices including insulation layer patterns
In a method of forming an insulation layer pattern, an insulation layer is formed on a substrate. An organic layer and a hard mask layer are successively formed on the insulation layer. A preliminary hard mask pattern having first openings is formed by patterning the hard mask layer. A hard mask pattern having the first openings and second openings is formed by patterning the preliminary hard mask pattern. Width control spacers are formed on sidewalls of the first and the second openings. An etching mask pattern is formed by etching the organic layer using the hard mask pattern as an etching mask. The insulation layer pattern having third openings is formed by etching the insulation layer using the etching mask pattern as an etching mask. |
| US07989330B2 |
Dry etching method
After etching a polysilicon film, when a protective film made of a carbon polymer is formed on a sidewall of the polysilicon film using plasma containing carbons, a metallic material as a lower film is etched using plasma containing a halogen gas under an etching condition in which volatility is improved due to the rise in a wafer temperature or the low pressure of a processing pressure, thereby preventing a side etching and unevenness of a sidewall of the polysilicon film. Further, by using the protective film made of a carbon polymer, metallic substances scattered at the time of etching the metallic material are not directly attached to the polysilicon film, but can be simply removed along with the protective film made of a carbon polymer in an asking step. |
| US07989326B2 |
Thin film transistor and method of fabricating the same
A thin film transistor and method of fabricating the same are provided. The thin film transistor includes: a metal catalyst layer formed on a substrate, and a first capping layer and a second capping layer pattern sequentially formed on the metal catalyst layer. The method includes: forming a first capping layer on a metal catalyst layer; forming and patterning a second capping layer on the first capping layer; forming an amorphous silicon layer on the patterned second capping layer; diffusing the metal catalyst; and crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer to form a polysilicon layer. The crystallization catalyst diffuses at a uniform low concentration to control a position of a seed formed of the catalyst such that a channel region in the polysilicon layer is close to a single crystal. Therefore, the characteristics of the thin film transistor device may be improved and uniformed. |
| US07989325B2 |
Method for manufacturing crystalline semiconductor film and method for manufacturing thin film transistor
A crystalline semiconductor film is manufactured by a first step in which a crystalline semiconductor film is formed on and in contact with an insulating film and a second step in which the crystalline semiconductor film is grown in a condition where a generation frequency of nuclei is lower than in the first step. The second step is conducted in a condition where a flow ratio of a semiconductor material gas to a deposition gas is lower than in the first step. Thus, a crystalline semiconductor film whose crystal grains are large and uniform can be obtained and plasma damage to a base film of the crystalline semiconductor film can be reduced compared with a crystalline semiconductor film in a conventional method. |
| US07989324B2 |
Method for manufacturing silicon on sapphire wafer
The present invention provides an SOS wafer comprising a non-transparent polysilicon layer provided on a back surface of a sapphire substrate, a silicon nitride layer which protects the polysilicon layer, and a stress relaxing film which cancels stress produced in the silicon nitride layer, wherein the silicon nitride layer and the stress relaxing film are provided on the back surface side. |
| US07989323B2 |
Doping method
Methods of doping a III-V compound semiconductor film are disclosed. |
| US07989315B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
When printing is performed on a base substrate with a laser after a single crystal silicon layer is transferred to the base substrate, there are problems such as ablation of the single crystal silicon layer in the peripheral portion of a printed dot or attachment of glass chips or the like to the surface of the single crystal silicon layer. After printing is performed on the bonding surface of a silicon wafer with a laser, the surface of the silicon wafer is polished by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing), so that the projection in the peripheral portion of the printed dot is removed. After that, the silicon wafer is bonded to the base substrate. Since the depression of the printed dot remains to some extent by a chemical etching effect even after the polishing by CMP, the single crystal silicon layer is not transferred only at the depression portion at the time of the transfer; accordingly, the information is left on the base substrate. |
| US07989314B2 |
Method of manufacturing a flexible device and method of manufacturing a flexible display
Provided are a method of separating a metal layer and an organic light emitting diode. A method of manufacturing a flexible device and a method of manufacturing a flexible display include forming a releasing layer on a substrate, forming a metal layer on the releasing layer, forming an insulating layer on the metal layer, forming a releasable layer on the insulating layer, bonding a plastic to the releasable layer, and separating the substrate and the releasing layer at an interface therebetween to manufacture a flexible device. Since the conventional process equipment using the glass substrate can be compatibly used, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the glass substrate has less limitation in the process temperature compared with the plastic substrate, an electric device having a superior performance can be manufactured. Furthermore, the glass substrate has good thermal/chemical stability and is less deformed compared with the plastic substrate, whereby process control such as substrate alignment becomes easy. |
| US07989310B2 |
Filling of insulation trenches using CMOS standard processes for creating dielectrically insulated areas on a SOI disk
Insulating trenches isolate regions of a semiconductor layer and include hermetically sealed voids. After forming a trench, a first fill of SiO2 is formed by a CVD process with the oxide layers having increasing thickness toward the upper trench edges forming first bottlenecks. The first fill oxide layers are then RIE etched to initially remove the oxide layer from the wafer surface with continued etching to remove the oxide layers in upper trench portions to define later sealing portions of the voids or to displace the first bottlenecks downward to define further bottlenecks. A second SiO2 deposition is then performed using a low pressure CVD process to deposit oxide near steps formed previously and/or at the displaced bottlenecks to seal the voids. The deposition process is stopped when the sealed portions of the oxide layer above the voids are grown above the semiconductor wafer surface. |
| US07989308B2 |
Creation of dielectrically insulating soi-technlogical trenches comprising rounded edges for allowing higher voltages
The aim of the invention is to integrate low-voltage logic elements and high-voltage power elements in one and the same silicon circuit. Said aim is achieved by dielectrically chip regions having different potentials from each other with the aid of isolation trenches (10). In order to prevent voltage rises at sharp edges on the bottom of the isolation trenches, said edges are rounded in a simple process, part of the insulating layer (2) being isotropically etched. |
| US07989306B2 |
Method of forming alternating regions of Si and SiGe or SiGeC on a buried oxide layer on a substrate
Semiconductor structures and methods of forming semiconductor structures, and more particularly to structures and methods of forming SiGe and/or SiGeC buried layers for SOI/SiGe devices. An integrated structure includes discontinuous, buried layers having alternating Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions. The structure further includes isolation structures at an interface between the Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions to reduce defects between the alternating regions. Devices are associated with the Si and SiGe or SiGeC regions. |
| US07989305B2 |
Method for manufacturing SOI substrate using cluster ion
A method is demonstrated to manufacture SOI substrates with high throughput while resources can be effectively used. The present invention is characterized by the feature in which the following process A and process B are repeated. The process A includes irradiation of a surface of a semiconductor wafer with cluster ions to form a separation layer in the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer and a substrate having an insulating surface are then overlapped with each other and bonded, which is followed by thermal treatment to separate the semiconductor wafer at or around the separation layer. A separation wafer and an SOI substrate which has a crystalline semiconductor layer over the substrate having the insulating surface are simultaneously obtained by the process A. The process B includes treatment of the separation wafer for reusing, which allows the separation wafer to be successively subjected to the process A. |
| US07989304B2 |
Method for transferring semiconductor element, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and semiconductor device
A transistor formed on a monocrystalline Si wafer is temporarily transferred onto a first temporary supporting substrate. The first temporarily supporting substrate is heat-treated at high heat so as to repair crystal defects generated in a transistor channel of the monocrystalline Si wafer when transferring the transistor. The transistor is then made into a chip and transferred onto a TFT substrate. In order to transfer the transistor which has been once separated from the monocrystalline Si wafer, a different method from a stripping method utilizing ion doping is employed. |
| US07989302B2 |
Methods of forming a hyper-abrupt P-N junction and design structures for an integrated circuit
Methods of forming hyper-abrupt p-n junctions and design structures for an integrated circuit containing devices structures with hyper-abrupt p-n junctions. The hyper-abrupt p-n junction is defined in a SOI substrate by implanting a portion of a device layer to have one conductivity type and then implanting a portion of this doped region to have an opposite conductivity type. The counterdoping defines the hyper-abrupt p-n junction. A gate structure carried on a top surface of the device layer operates as a hard mask during the ion implantations to assist in defining a lateral boundary for the hyper-abrupt p-n junction. |
| US07989294B2 |
Vertical field-effect transistor
A method produces a vertical field-effect transistor having a semiconductor layer, in which a doped channel region is arranged along a depression. A “buried” terminal region leads as far as a surface of the semiconductor layer. The field-effect transistor also has a doped terminal region near an opening of the depression as well as the doped terminal region remote from the opening, a control region arranged in the depression, and an electrical insulating region between the control region and the channel region. The terminal region remote from the opening leads as far as a surface containing the opening or is electrically conductively connected to an electrically conductive connection leading to the surface. The control region is arranged in only one depression. The field-effect transistor is a drive transistor at a word line or at a bit line of a memory cell array. |
| US07989293B2 |
Trench device structure and fabrication
A vertical-current-flow device includes a trench which includes an insulated gate and which extends down into first-conductivity-type semiconductor material. A phosphosilicate glass layer is positioned above the insulated gate and a polysilicon layer is positioned above the polysilicate glass layer. Source and body diffusions of opposite conductivity types are positioned adjacent to a sidewall of the trench. A drift region is positioned to receive majority carriers which have been injected by the source, and which have passed through the body diffusion. A drain region is positioned to receive majority carriers which have passed through the drift region. The gate is capacitively coupled to control inversion of a portion of the body region. As an alternative, a dielectric layer may be used in place of the doped glass where permanent charge is positioned in the dielectric layer. |
| US07989290B2 |
Methods for forming rhodium-based charge traps and apparatus including rhodium-based charge traps
Isolated conductive nanoparticles on a dielectric layer and methods of fabricating such isolated conductive nanoparticles provide charge traps in electronic structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices and systems. In an embodiment, conductive nanoparticles are deposited on a dielectric layer by a plasma-assisted deposition process such that each conductive nanoparticle is isolated from the other conductive nanoparticles to configure the conductive nanoparticles as charge traps. |
| US07989287B2 |
Method for fabricating storage node electrode in semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a storage node electrode in a semiconductor device includes: performing a primary high density plasma (HDP) process to form a first HDP oxide film over an etch stop film; performing a secondary HDP process to form a second HDP oxide film on the first HDP oxide film; forming a support film over the second HDP oxide film; performing a tertiary HDP process to form a third HDP oxide film over the support film; forming a storage node electrode on an exposed surface of the storage node contact hole; partially removing the third HDP oxide film and the support film so that a support pattern supporting the storage node electrode is formed; and exposing an outer surface of the storage node electrode by removing the second HDP oxide film and the first HDP oxide film. |
| US07989286B2 |
Electronic devices using carbon nanotubes having vertical structure and the manufacturing method thereof
Provided are an electronic device to which vertical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are applied and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing an electronic device having a vertical CNT includes the steps of: (a) preparing a substrate on which a silicon source is formed; (b) forming a first insulating layer on the substrate, and etching the first insulating layer such that a top surface of the silicon source is exposed; (c) forming a second insulating layer on the silicon source, and forming a gate by patterning the second insulating layer; (d) forming a third insulating layer on the gate, and forming a through hole in which a carbon nanotube channel is to be formed by etching the third insulating layer and the second insulating layer; (e) forming a fourth insulating layer surrounding the gate on the through hole and the third insulating layer, and forming a spacer by etching the fourth insulating layer; (f) forming a metal catalyst on the silicon source; (g) vertically growing the carbon nanotube channel on the silicon source using the metal catalyst; (h) forming a fifth insulating layer on the through hole in which the carbon nanotube is formed and the third insulating layer; and (i) patterning the fifth insulating layer such that the carbon nanotube channel is exposed, and forming a silicon drain. An arrangement problem of horizontal CNTs can be solved by applying vertical CNTs and a selective silicon growth technique. |
| US07989285B2 |
Method of forming a film containing dysprosium oxide and hafnium oxide using atomic layer deposition
The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a dielectric layer of hafnium oxide (HfO2) doped with dysprosium (Dy) and a method of fabricating such a combination gate and dielectric layer produces a reliable structure for use in a variety of electronic devices. Forming the dielectric structure includes depositing hafnium oxide using atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing dysprosium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. A dielectric layer of dysprosium doped hafnium oxide may be used as the gate insulator of a MOSFET, as a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as a tunnel gate insulator in flash memories, or as a dielectric in NROM devices, because the high dielectric constant (high-k) of the film provides the functionality of a thinner silicon dioxide film, and because the reduced leakage current of the dielectric layer when the percentage of dysprosium doping is optimized improves memory function. |
| US07989284B2 |
DRAM cell transistor device and method
A method for forming a memory device. The method provides a protective layer overlying a surface region of a substrate before threshold voltage implant. The method then includes depositing a photo resist layer and patterning the photo resist by selectively removing a portion of the photo resist to expose the protective layer overlying a first region while maintaining the photo resist overlying a second region. The method includes implanting impurities for threshold voltage adjustment into the first region while the second region is substantially free of the impurities for threshold voltage adjustment. The method also includes forming a source region and a drain region. The method further includes providing a conductive structure over the source region. A junction between the conductive structure and the source region is substantially within the second region. The method then provides a storage capacitor in electrical contact with the source region via the conductive structure. |
| US07989283B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is provided for improving the reliability of a semiconductor device including a MISFET with a high dielectric constant gate insulator and a metal gate electrode. A first Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, La, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for an n-channel MISFET. A second Hf-containing insulating film containing Hf, Al, and O as a principal component is formed as a high dielectric constant gate insulator for a p-channel MISFET. Then, a metal film and a silicon film are formed and patterned by dry etching to thereby form first and second gate electrodes. Thereafter, parts of the first and second Hf-containing insulating films not covered with the first and second gate electrodes are removed by wet etching. At this time, a wet process with an acid solution not containing hydrofluoric acid, and another wet process with an alkaline solution are performed, and then a further wet process with an acid solution containing hydrofluoric acid is performed. |
| US07989280B2 |
Dielectric interface for group III-V semiconductor device
A Group III-V Semiconductor device and method of fabrication is described. A high-k dielectric is interfaced to a confinement region by a chalcogenide region. |
| US07989277B1 |
Integrated structure with transistors and Schottky diodes and process for fabricating the same
A process for fabricating an integrated group III nitride structure comprising high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and Schottky diodes, and the resulting structure, are disclosed. Integration of vertical junction Schottky diodes is enabled, and the parasitic capacitance and resistance as well as the physical size of the diode are minimized. A process for fabricating an integrated group III nitride structure comprising double-heterostructure field effect transistors (DHFETs) and Schottky diodes and the resulting structure are also disclosed. |
| US07989275B2 |
Thin film transistor, manufacturing method thereof, display device, and manufacturing method thereof
A light-blocking layer is formed using a first resist mask, and a base film is formed over the light-blocking layer. A first conductive film, a first insulating film, a semiconductor film, an impurity semiconductor film, and a second conductive film are sequentially formed over the base film, and first etching is performed on the second conductive film, the impurity semiconductor film, the semiconductor film, and the first insulating film using a second resist mask over the second conductive film. Then, second etching in which side-etching is performed is performed on part of the first conductive film to form a gate electrode layer, and source and drain electrode layers, source and drain region layers, and a semiconductor layer are formed using a third resist mask. The first resist mask and the second resist mask are formed using the same photomask. Thus, a thin film transistor is manufactured. |
| US07989273B2 |
Semiconductor substrate and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor substrate including a crystalline semiconductor layer which is suitable for practical use, even if a material different from that of the semiconductor layer is used for a supporting substrate, and a semiconductor device using the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a bonding layer which forms a bonding plane, a barrier layer formed of an insulating material containing nitrogen, a relief layer which is formed of an insulating material that includes nitrogen at less than 20 at. % and hydrogen at 1 at. % to 20 at. %, and an insulating layer containing a halogen, between a supporting substrate and a single-crystal semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device includes the above-described structure at least partially, and a gate insulating layer formed by a microwave plasma CVD method using SiH4 and N2O as source gases is in contact with the single-crystal semiconductor layer. |
| US07989272B2 |
Composition of carbon nitride, thin film transistor with the composition of carbon nitride, display device with the thin film transistor, and manufacturing method thereof
A conventional composition of carbon nitride has a deposition method and properties limited. In the case of using the composition of carbon nitride as a protective film, for example, a material of an object to be coated (goods) is required to satisfy with a condition in disagreement with a temperature during forming the composition of carbon nitride. Besides, in the case of using the composition of carbon nitride as an insulating film in a semiconductor device, low stress relaxation and low coverage for a step are produced since the insulating film has a low hydrogen concentration. Consequently, a composition including carbon nitride according to the present invention is formed at a deposition temperature that enables to include hydrogen in the composition at 30 to 45 atomic %, for example, at temperatures of 100° C. or less, preferably 50° C. or less, more preferably from 20° C. to 30° C., with stability and adhesiveness kept. |
| US07989269B2 |
Semiconductor package with penetrable encapsulant joining semiconductor die and method thereof
A semiconductor device is made by mounting a first semiconductor die to a first substrate, forming a first encapsulant over the first semiconductor die, and forming a second encapsulant over the first encapsulant. The second encapsulant is penetrable, thermally conductive material. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the second substrate. A bond wire electrically connects the second semiconductor die to the second substrate. A passive circuit element is mounted to the second substrate. Leading with the second encapsulant, the first substrate is pressed onto the second substrate so that the second encapsulant completely covers the second semiconductor die, bond wire, and passive circuit element. The second encapsulant is then cured. A third encapsulant is formed over the first and second substrates. A shield can be disposed over the second semiconductor die with openings for the second encapsulant to flow through when pressed onto the second substrate. |
| US07989262B2 |
Method of sealing a cavity
Embodiments disclosed herein generally include methods of sealing a cavity in a device structure. The cavity may be opened by etching away sacrificial material that may define the cavity volume. Material from below the cavity may be sputter etched and redeposited over and in passageways leading to the cavity to thereby seal the cavity. Material may be sputter etched from above the cavity and redeposited in the passageways leading to the cavity as well. The sputter etching may occur in a substantially inert atmosphere. As the sputter etching is a physical process, little or no sputter etched material will redeposit within the cavity itself. The inert gases may sweep out any residual gases that may be present in the cavity after the cavity has been opened. Thus, after the sputter etching, the cavity may be substantially filled with inert gases that do not negatively impact the cavity. |
| US07989260B2 |
Method of selectively forming atomically flat plane on diamond surface, diamond substrate produced by the method, and semiconductor device using the same
The present invention provides a method of selectively forming a flat plane on an atomic level on a diamond (001), (110) or (111) surface.A method of selectively forming a flat plane on a diamond surface comprising growing diamond on a stepped diamond surface of any of crystal structures (001), (110) and (111) by CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) under growth conditions such that step-flow growth of diamond is carried out thereafter. |
| US07989256B2 |
Method for manufacturing CIS-based thin film solar cell
In order to manufacture a CIS-based thin film solar cell that can achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency by adding an alkali element to a light absorbing layer easily and with good controllability, a backside electrode layer (2) is formed on a substrate (1). Then, a p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer (3) is formed on backside electrode layer (2), and then an n-type transparent and electroconductive film (5) is formed on this p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer (3). At this time, the backside electrode layer (2) is constituted by forming a first electrode layer (21) using a backside electrode material in which an alkali metal is mixed and, then forming a second electrode layer (22) using the backside electrode material that does not substantially contain the alkali metal. |
| US07989253B2 |
Method of forming mask for lithography, method of forming mask data for lithography, method of manufacturing back-illuminated solid-state imaging device, back-illuminated solid-state imaging device and electronic device
A method of forming a mask for lithography includes the step of forming the mask by using reverse data in which positions of at least part of output terminals are reversed, when forming the mask for lithography used for manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device which takes incident light from the side of a surface opposite to the side of a surface on which wiring of a device region in which photoelectric conversion elements are formed is formed. |
| US07989251B2 |
Variable resistance memory device having reduced bottom contact area and method of forming the same
A variable resistance memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes a substrate supporting a bottom electrode having a small bottom contact area. A variable resistance material is formed over the bottom electrodes such that the variable resistance material has a surface that is in electrical communication with the bottom electrode and a top electrode is formed over the variable resistance material. The small bottom electrode contact area reduces the reset current requirement which in turn reduces the write transistor size for each bit. |
| US07989250B2 |
Membrane grating for beam steering device and method of fabricating same
A method of fabricating a membrane structure for a diffractive phased array assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer having a body and at least a membrane layer and a backside layer disposed on opposite faces of the body, forming a grating pattern on a surface of the membrane layer, and forming a window through the wafer to expose a back surface of the membrane, thereby allowing light to pass through the membrane. |
| US07989247B2 |
In-plane sensor and method for making same
According to the present invention, an in-plane sensor comprises: a fixed structure including a fixed finger and a fixed column connected to each other, the fixed finger having a supported end supported by the fixed column and a suspended end which is unsupported; and a movable structure including at least one mass body and an extending finger connected to each other; wherein the supported end of the fixed finger is closer to the mass body than the suspended end is. |
| US07989244B2 |
Method of manufacturing nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device
Provided is a method of manufacturing a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device having increased efficiency and increased output properties. The method may include forming a sacrificial layer having a wet etching property on a substrate, forming a protective layer on the sacrificial layer, protecting the sacrificial layer in a reaction gas atmosphere for crystal growth, and facilitating epitaxial growth of a semiconductor layer to be formed on the protective layer, forming a semiconductor device including an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer on the protective layer, and removing the substrate from the semiconductor device by wet etching the sacrificial layer. |
| US07989237B2 |
Package structure for solid-state lighting devices and method of fabricating the same
Silicon substrates are applied to the package structure of solid-state lighting devices. Wet etching is performed to both top and bottom surfaces of the silicon substrate to form reflecting cavity and electrode access holes. Materials of the reflecting layer and electrode can be different from each other whose preferred materials can be chosen in accordance with a correspondent function. Formation of the electrode can be patterned by an etching method or a lift-off method. |
| US07989236B2 |
Method of making phosphor containing glass plate, method of making light emitting device
A method of making a light emitting device includes mixing a glass powder with a phosphor powder including at least one of a sulfide phosphor, an aluminate phosphor and a silicate phosphor to produce a mixed powder in which the phosphor powder is dispersed in the glass powder, heating and softening the mixed powder to provide an integrated material, and subsequently solidifying the integrated material to provide a phosphor-dispersed glass, and fusion-bonding the phosphor-dispersed glass onto a mounting portion on which a light emitting element is mounted by hot pressing, and simultaneously sealing the light emitting element with the phosphor-dispersed glass on the mounting portion. |
| US07989235B2 |
Light emitting diode and fabrication method thereof
A light emitting diode (LED) and a method for fabricating the same, capable of improving brightness by forming a InGaN layer having a low concentration of indium, and whose lattice constant is similar to that of an active layer of the LED, is provided. The LED includes: a buffer layer disposed on a sapphire substrate; a GaN layer disposed on the buffer layer; a doped GaN layer disposed on the GaN layer; a GaN layer having indium disposed on the GaN layer; an active layer disposed on the GaN layer having indium; and a P-type GaN disposed on the active layer. Here, an empirical formula of the GaN layer having indium is given by In(x)Ga(1-x)N and a range of x is given by 0 |
| US07989232B2 |
Method of using electrical test structure for semiconductor trench depth monitor
Embodiments provide a method and device for electrically monitoring trench depths in semiconductor devices. To electrically measure a trench depth, a pinch resistor can be formed in a deep well region on a semiconductor substrate. A trench can then be formed in the pinch resistor. The trench depth can be determined by an electrical test of the pinch resistor. The disclosed method and device can provide statistical data analysis across a wafer and can be implemented in production scribe lanes as a process monitor. The disclosed method can also be useful for determining device performance of LDMOS transistors. The on-state resistance (Rdson) of the LDMOS transistors can be correlated to the electrical measurement of the trench depth. |
| US07989231B2 |
Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
In a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device, a trench and a thickness measurement section are formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate made of silicon carbide. The thickness measurement section includes a plurality of grooves and a protruding portion provided between the grooves so as to have a predetermined width. When an epitaxial layer made of silicon carbide is grown, a thickness of the epitaxial layer formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate is measured by calculating a difference in height between a surface of the epitaxial layer formed on a portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate different from the thickness measurement section and a top surface of the protruding portion. The predetermined width is less than a surface migration amount of atoms during growth of the epitaxial layer. |
| US07989222B2 |
Method of making integrated circuit chip utilizing oriented carbon nanotube conductive layers
A conductive layer in an integrated circuit is formed as a sandwich having multiple sublayers, including at least two sublayers of oriented carbon nanotubes. A first sublayer is created by growing carbon nanotubes in a first direction parallel to the chip substrate from a catalyst in the presence of a reactant gas flow in the first direction, and a second sublayer is created by growing carbon nanotubes in a second direction parallel to the substrate and different from the first direction from a catalyst in the presence of a reactant gas flow in the second direction. The first and second directions are preferably substantially perpendicular. The conductive layer sandwich preferably contains one or more additional sublayers of a conductive material, such as a metal. |
| US07989221B2 |
Assays and systems for rapid detection of pathogens
Assay systems and methods are provided for detecting a target pathogen, such as a microorganism (e.g., bacterium, bacterial toxin) which may be present in a fluid or other location. The method can include linking a magnetic microparticle to a first epitope of the target microorganism in a fluid via a first antibody; utilizing a magnetic field to separate the magnetic microparticle and linked targeted microorganism from at least a portion of other components in the fluid, thereby forming a test sample; linking a glucose molecule to a second epitope of the target microorganism via a second antibody; and detecting the glucose in the test sample to determine the presence or concentration of the target microorganism in the fluid. The glucose detection preferably is one that can be done rapidly, e.g., with a conventional glucometer, and may include measuring the electrical resistance, color, or pH of the test sample. |
| US07989216B2 |
Two helix binders
An isolated polypeptide, Z domain, derived from B domain of Staphylococcal protein A, comprising a pair of anti-parallel alpha helices that are capable of binding a target, is provided herein. Introduction of different natural amino acid mutations in the polypeptide are provided here. Also provided are methods of using the two-helix binders. |
| US07989215B2 |
Methods and systems for adding a reagent to an analyte in a gel
The present invention relates to methods and systems for adding a reagent to an analyte in a gel. The invention further provides methods and systems for transferring liquid analyte reagent mixtures from a gel to a second vessel, such as a microtitre plate. The invention is useful in the manipulation of biological molecules such as nucleic acids, carbohydrates, proteins and peptides. In particular, the invention has utility for manipulating proteins and peptides in isoelectric focusing gels. |
| US07989208B2 |
Gamma secretase notch biomarkers
The present invention relates to the biomarker TFF-3 that measures γ-secretase mediated Notch processing. TFF-3 has utility in predicting and/or determining in vivo Notch-related toxicity associated with inhibition of Notch processing mediated by γ-secretase. The reagents and methods of the invention can be utilized before, after, or concurrently with, pre-clinical, clinical, and/or post-clinical testing. The reagents and methods of the invention can be used to identify and maintain preferred doses of test compounds and thereby prevent medical complications, such as gastrointestinal cellular damage. |
| US07989207B2 |
Testing lumenectomy samples for markers of non-vascular diseases
Lumenectomy material is tested to determine the presence or likelihood of a condition of a patient. The lumenectomy material is in the form of at least one continuous tissue strand collected in vivo from an inner surface of a body lumen of the patient. The presence of at least one marker of a disease is determined. The disease may be hypertension, hyperlipidemia, depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, kidney damage, or diabetes. The patient is identified as having or as likely to develop the disease if a marker of the disease is identified in the lumenectomy material of the patient. |
| US07989205B2 |
Cell culture media, kits and methods of use
Albumin-supplemented and xenogeneic product-free cell culture media, cell culture media supplements, and cell culture media kits for the support of primary culture of normal non-hematopoietic cells of mesodermal origin suitable for both research and clinical applications. |
| US07989201B2 |
Ret finger protein 2 (RFP2) promoter
A promoter comprising nucleotides from positions 2489-3038 of FIG. 3. |
| US07989200B2 |
Composting apparatus
A composting apparatus is disclosed which comprises a container (10) formed from a plurality of segments (12a, 12b and 12c). An aerator (20, 521) is located in the container for receiving air from the exterior of the container and distributing the air into the composting mass within the container. The apparatus has a base (501) which includes a leachate chamber (454) for collecting liquid that strains from the composting mass during composting. An anti-compaction member (99, 527) is provided for preventing compost from compacting and blocking the aerator (20, 521), and a plug (570) provides addition or alternative air supply to the container (10). |
| US07989198B2 |
Active NEMS arrays for biochemical analyses
A biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device (BioNEMS) for sensing single-molecules in solution by measuring the variation in the mechanical displacement of the BioNEMS device during a binding event is provided. The biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device according to the invention generally comprises a nanomechanical mechanical resonator, a detector integral with the mechanical resonator for measuring the mechanical displacement of the resonator, and electronics connected to the detector for communicating the results to a user. A system of biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical devices and a method for utilizing the biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device of the present invention are also provided. |
| US07989197B2 |
Microfluidic device including a microchannel with a hydrophobic porous polymer bonded to walls thereof and to a magnetic bead, and methods of making and using the device
This invention provides a microfluidic device comprising an inlet and an outlet which are connected with each other through a microchannel, wherein a polymerized hydrophobic porous polymer is bonded to magnetic beads and to the walls of the microchannel. The invention is further directed to methods of making and using the microfluidic device. |
| US07989195B2 |
Heterotrophic algal high cell density production method and system
A multiphase culturing process for high density heterotrophic microalgal growth uses crude glycerol as the primary carbon source and produces ω-3 fatty acids. The process uses multiphase growth conditions that decouple the phases of increasing cell density and increasing cell size and fatty acid production. The entire process is integrated with biodiesel production. |
| US07989193B2 |
Compositions and methods for producing gamma-carboxylated proteins
The present invention relates a host cell comprising an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein requiring gamma-carboxylation and associated expression control sequences and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vitamin K epoxido reductase and associated expression control sequences and a nucleic acid molecule encoding a γ-glutamyl carboxylase and associated control sequences. The invention further relates to a method of producing a protein requiring gamma-carboxylation in high yields. |
| US07989192B2 |
Modified beta-lactamase and method for its preparation
The invention relates to targeted post translational modification of metallo-beta-lactamase by truncation and insertion of a dipeptide at the amino terminal end to reduce amino terminal heterogeneity in a recombinant DNA production system. A protein K-T-E-ΔBL is expressed, and modified by host proteases to E-ΔBL. Appropriate nucleotide molecules, vectors and hosts are also described. E-ΔBL is useful in a pharmaceutical composition for treating antibiotic induced adverse effects in the intestine of patients treated with beta-lactam antibiotics. |
| US07989189B2 |
Mutant GTP cyclohydrolase II enzymes
The present invention relates to modified GTP cyclohydrolase II enzymes that display increased specific activity, and to polynucleotides encoding them. The invention further pertains to vectors comprising these polynucleotides and host cells containing such vectors. The invention provides a method for producing the modified enzyme and a method for producing riboflavin, a riboflavin precursor, FMN, FAD, or a derivative thereof. |
| US07989180B2 |
Formulation and delivery of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus in combination for broadspectrum activity and management of resistance to biological mosquito larvicides
A method for controlling Dipteran larvae or a method for inhibiting the development of larvicidal resistance, controlling resistant populations and reducing resistance levels in Diptera by introducing a larvicidally-effective amount of a combination of a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis and a strain of Bacillus sphaericus into an environment containing Dipteran larvae; and a composition of the combination are disclosed. Preferably both strains are non-genetically modified. |
| US07989176B2 |
Treating cancer
Provided is a method for screening for effective agents for the treatment of cancer which method comprises selecting a putative agent that is likely to disrupt a function mediated by a critical normal gene product, which function is required for the successful division and continued cell survival of cancer cells, and which function is not required for the successful division and continued cell survival of control cells, treating a cancer cell sample and a control cell sample with a purative agent and determining the cytotoxic effect of, and/or the growth inhibitory effect of the putative agent on these samples, and identifying an effective agent as an agent which is more cytotoxic to, and/or more inhibiting to the growth of the cancer cell sample than the control cell sample. This invention further provides an effective agent identified by this screening method and a method of treating a cancer patient with such an agent. |
| US07989174B2 |
Biomarker for diagnosing heart disease and the use thereof
The invention relates to the following methods [1] to [3] and to a kit for carrying out the methods: [1] a method for detecting heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject; [2] a method for detecting a complication of viral infection in a patient with heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject; [3] A method for detecting severity of heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject or a patient suffering slight heart disease. |
| US07989171B2 |
Anti-human tenascin monoclonal antibody
An anti-human tenascin monoclonal antibody is described, whose light and heavy chain variable region sequences are SEQ ID 1 and SEQ ID 2, respectively, its proteolytic fragments capable of binding to an antigenic epitope within the region A(1-4)-D of human tenascin, its recombinant derivatives, its conjugates and its similar functional analogues capable of binding to an antigenic epitope within the A(1-4)-D region of human tenascin. |
| US07989170B2 |
Method for the detection of bacterial species of the genera anaplasma/ehrlichia and bartonella
The present invention relates to a method for the detection and identification of bacterial species belonging to the genera Anaplasma/Ehrlichia and Bartonella, and also provides triggers and probes required for its application, as well as associated kits. |
| US07989168B2 |
Proofreading primer extension
The present invention provides for primer extension reactions, including polymerase chain reactions, in which a polymerase having 3′-5′ exonuclease activity edits a primer that is not fully complementary thereby allowing for amplification and detection of target nucleic acids that may have variability in their sequences. |