| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07990866B2 |
Server device, method for controlling a server device, and method for establishing a connection using the server device
When a connection is established between a client device and a server device, a first message requesting establishment of a downlink connection is transmitted from the client device to the server device, and a server device which has received the first message is caused to transmit to the client device a second message requesting establishment of an uplink connection. The client device which has received the second message is caused to transmit to the server device a third message acknowledging the second message and requesting establishment of the downlink connection. The server device which has received the third message is caused to establish the downlink connection based on the content of the third message. |
| US07990865B2 |
Communicating processing capabilities along a communications path
The present invention provides a technique for determining which nodes are to provide various functions on traffic along a particular communication path. Generally, a communication path may include multiple nodes between which and through which traffic is routed. These nodes may include the communication terminals at either end of the communication path, as well as various types of routing nodes along the communication path. Each node will send to other nodes in the communication path information identifying the local functions it is capable of providing to the traffic carried in the communication path, and if available, remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes in the communication path. Each node will receive from other nodes in the communication path information bearing on the remote functions. Each node will access criteria to determine whether any local functions should be applied to the traffic. |
| US07990858B2 |
Method, device and system of scheduling data transport over a fabric
Embodiments of the invention provide systems, devices and methods to schedule data transport across a fabric, e.g., prior to actual transmission of the data across the fabric. In some demonstrative embodiments, a packet switch may include an input controller to schedule transport of at least one data packet to an output controller over a fabric based on permission information received from the output controller. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07990857B2 |
Priority aware MAC flow control
Solutions are provided that allow a network device to apply flow control on the MAC layer while taking into account the priority of the frame of traffic. This may be accomplished by generating a frame indicating that traffic flow should be paused, while utilizing a new opcode value, or alternatively by utilizing a new type/length value (possibly combined with a new opcode value). A receiving device may then examine the fields of the frame to determine whether it should use priority-based pausing, and then examine other fields to determine which priority-levels to pause and for how long. This allows for improved efficiency in flow control on the MAC layer. |
| US07990856B2 |
Method and apparatus for reflecting forwarding plane utilization in control plane
A method is provided that includes setting a first oversubscription factor of a control plane for an interface, measuring forwarding plane utilization on the interface, and calculating a second oversubscription factor of the control plane for the interface using the measured forwarding plane utilization as compared with a target forwarding plane utilization on the interface. The method also includes determining whether to update the first oversubscription factor based upon the calculated second oversubscription factor. |
| US07990855B2 |
Method and system for joint reverse link access and traffic channel radio frequency overload control
A system for joint reverse link access and traffic channel overload control in a cellular network includes relieving the reverse link total loading to optimize resource utilization and distribution among different types of mobile device users. The cellular network includes a plurality of mobile stations that wirelessly communicate with a base station over a reverse link, using a CDMA or similar communications protocol. A joint access and traffic overload control module creates an access channel load relief plan, a traffic channel load relief plan and then relieves the total loading of the reverse link based upon both the access channel load relief plan and the traffic channel load relief plan. |
| US07990851B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for redundant ring communication
Sets of communication modules each have a pair of ring-channel ports for a ring-configured channel in a network, a peripheral device port for peripheral device data, and dual-ring ports for an inter-ring channel for the pair of modules. First and second ones of a set of communication modules send duplicate data packets on their respective first and second rings. Responsive to duplicate data packets arriving via the rings at first and second modules in a next set within a predetermined time interval of one another, each of the next modules transmits its ring-channel received data packet out a downstream ring-channel port. Responsive to one of the duplicate packets arriving at the DRP of a module a predetermined time interval before arriving at a ring-channel port of the module, the module sends the corresponding packet received at the DRP out its other ring-channel port and its peripheral device port. |
| US07990850B2 |
Redundant Ethernet automatic protection switching access to virtual private LAN services
Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures. When a failure of the pseudowire shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes is detected, all pseudowire links associated with the first VPLS node are disabled if any of the EAPS nodes has a path to both of the VPLS nodes. Otherwise, the existing pseudowire links associated with the first VPLS node are maintained. |
| US07990849B2 |
Automated recovery from a split segment condition in a layer2 network for teamed network resources of a computer system
A computer system automatically recovers from a split segment condition in which a contiguous layer 2 network segment, comprising a plurality of contiguous paths each directly coupling one or more members of a team of network resources of the computer system to a core switch of a layer 2 network, is split into two or more noncontiguous segments each comprising a contiguous set of one or more of the plurality of paths. The computer system includes a team of network resources having one or more members that couple it to each one of the plurality of paths. A teaming driver binds the drivers of each member of the team and is coupled to the segment through the members of the team. The teaming driver detects whenever the network segment has been split into two or more noncontiguous segments and then configures the team such that one of the members coupled to a path within each of the noncontiguous segments is designated as a primary resource thereby restoring connectivity of the isolated paths to the computer system. |
| US07990846B2 |
Method and apparatus for provisioning a hop limited protection pathway in a network
Method and apparatus for provisioning a protection pathway of a link joining a first point in a network and a second point in the network. The method includes the step of determining a shortest path between the first point and the second point in a protection graph, computing a length of said shortest path, determining if said link should be added to the protection graph according to said computed length and setting the shortest path in the protection graph as protection path for said link. The second step of determining includes evaluating the protection graph to determine if there no existing path or an existing path that is longer than a hop limit. Based on this evaluation, the method either adds the link or makes no change to the protection graph. |
| US07990845B2 |
System and method for FFT window timing synchronization for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed data stream
A system and method for determining an FFT window location for reception of an OFDM signal received over a transmission channel. The OFDM signal includes a plurality of symbols each having a guard interval. The system includes a correlation module that determines a location of maximum correlation in a first symbol, an FFT module to perform an FFT on the OFDM signal based upon an initial FFT window location, and an adjustment module. The adjustment module determines a plurality of permissible echo location options based upon the initial FFT window location, selects a permissible echo location option that corresponds most closely to the location of maximum correlation, and adjusts the initial FFT window location based upon the selected permissible echo location option so that the adjusted FFT window location includes substantially all of a useful symbol length of the first symbol while a maximum number of echoes are included within the guard interval of the first symbol. |
| US07990843B2 |
Signaling method in an OFDM multiple access system
A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones. |
| US07990842B2 |
Backward-compatible long training sequences for wireless communication networks
A network device for generating an expanded long training sequence with a minimal peak-to-average ratio. The network device includes a signal generating circuit for generating the expanded long training sequence. The network device also includes an Inverse Fourier Transform for processing the expanded long training sequence from the signal generating circuit and producing an optimal expanded long training sequence with a minimal peak-to-average ratio. The expanded long training sequence and the optimal expanded long training sequence are stored on more than 52 sub-carriers. |
| US07990839B2 |
Method for estimating time and frequency offset in an OFDM system
A receiver that employs inherent characteristics of frequency domain representation of the data symbols. By computing a differential-in-frequency function across a large number of OFDM tones, robust estimates of time and frequency offset are obtained. The obtained time and frequency estimates provide control to sampling and frequency offset elements that are interposed between the reliever input and subsequent receiver stages. |
| US07990838B2 |
Process for producing stamper of multi-valued ROM disc, apparatus for producing the same, and resulting disc
The present invention provides a process for producing inexpensively and effectively a stamper utilized for producing multi-valued ROM discs, which comprises: (i) irradiating a light onto a laminate, thereby producing reacted portions within a thermo reactive layer, (ii) maintaining the reacted portions, which are produced by irradiating the light, within the thermo reactive layer, (iii) maintaining an optical absorption layer under the reacted portions, (iv) maintaining a substrate under the reacted portions, and (v) removing the maintained optical absorption layer and the maintained thermo reactive layer, wherein the laminate comprises the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer on the substrate, the optical absorption layer and the thermo reactive layer are disposed adjacently. |
| US07990831B2 |
Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device includes a first light source emitting first light with a first wavelength, a second light source emitting second light with a second wavelength, a third light source emitting third light with a third wavelength, an objective lens having a step structure, the objective lens being disposed to satisfy predetermined conditions, at least one first coupling lens making the first light and the second light incident onto the objective lens as converged light, a second coupling lens making the third light incident onto the objective lens as diverging light, and a liquid crystal aberration correcting element. |
| US07990826B2 |
Recording medium type discrimination apparatus, recording apparatus, and discrimination method
According to the present invention, light is emitted by a light source at different emission intensities, and sensor output values are compared with threshold values at the individual emission intensities, so that the types of recording media having various reflection characteristics can be correctly determined. |
| US07990823B2 |
Storage device and its drive startup method
The time required for starting up drives in a storage device mounted with both hard disk drives and solid state drives is shortened. A storage controller of the storage device identifies the type (HDD/SSD) of the mounted drives before starting up the drives. The storage controller thereafter performs staggered spinup to the HDDs in several batches. After the startup of HDDs is complete, the storage controller collectively starts up the SSDs. The storage controller determines the drive startup processing based on a pre-set drive startup policy such as reduction of the peak current reduction or shortening of the startup time, and the drive type identification result. |
| US07990820B2 |
Optical disc verification method and optical disc medium
An optical disc verification method according to the present invention includes the steps of: writing data on first, second and third radial locations on an optical disc at a writing speed V1 and reading the data written there, thereby measuring read signal quality index values A, B and C, where the second radial location is inside of the first radial location and the third radial location is inside of the second radial location; writing data on the first and second radial locations at a writing speed V2, which is higher than V1, and reading the data written there, thereby measuring read signal quality index values D and E; and correcting the signal quality index value C with the difference between the signal quality index values B and E, thereby calculating a signal quality index value F that would be obtained if data is written on, and then read from, the third radial location at the speed V2. |
| US07990810B2 |
Data reading module and method for reading optical disc
Disclosed is a data reading module for reading an optical disc with data regions and undesired regions, wherein at least one of the undesired regions is located between the data regions. The data reading module includes: a decoder arranged to decode the optical disc to generate decoded data; a data transferring device arranged to transfer the decoded data; and a controller arranged to control the decoder according to a recorded map indicating the locations of the data regions and the undesired regions; wherein the controller controls the decoder to skip the undesired regions and does not decode the undesired regions while decoding the optical disc. |
| US07990806B2 |
Seismograph system
A seismograph system includes a seismometer, a positioning unit, a transmitter, a remote processing device. The seismometer includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer and a MEMS gyroscope. The seismometer, the positioning unit, and the transmitter being located at a detecting site. The MEMS accelerometer and the MEMS gyroscope are respectively configured for measuring an acceleration and an angular velocity of the movement of the earth at the detecting site. The positioning unit is configured for providing a location at the detecting site. The transmitter is configured for transmitting the measured acceleration, the measured angular velocity, and the provided location to the remote processing device. The remote processing device is positioned at a remote site and configured for analyzing recording the measured acceleration, the measured angular velocity, and the provided location. |
| US07990805B2 |
System and method for implementing non-lethal chemical warfare against rampage shooters
A system and method for implementing non-lethal chemical warfare against rampage shooters. A sound detection module detects a sound of a gunshot from at least one of a collection of sensors within a building. A sound location module determines a location of the gunshot by analyzing the sound. At least one emitter releases non-lethal chemical countermeasures from at least one at the location of the gunshot. |
| US07990804B2 |
Method and system for real-time automated change detection and classification for images
A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery. |
| US07990800B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling DRAM column-command address
The present invention provides a circuit for controlling a column-command address corresponding to a specific column of a DRAM array. The circuit includes a control unit and a FIFO register. The control unit determines a period number, and synchronously produces an input pointer and an output pointer, wherein the output pointer is lagged behind the input pointer by the period number. The FIFO register utilizes the input pointer to store the column-command address, and utilizes the output pointer to output the column-command address. |
| US07990795B2 |
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) refresh
A method for refreshing a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) includes performing a refresh on at least a portion of the DRAM at a first refresh rate, and performing a refresh on a second portion of the DRAM at a second refresh rate. The second portion includes one or more rows of the DRAM which do not meet a data retention criteria at the first refresh rate, and the second refresh rate is greater than the first refresh rate. |
| US07990791B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A memory includes a cell array; bit lines; word lines; sense amplifiers; first determination transistors receiving information data and making a connection between a first voltage source and a first determination node be in a conductive or a non-conductive state based on a logic value of the information data; second determination transistors receiving the information data detected by the sense amplifiers and making a connection between the first voltage source and a second determination node be in a conductive or a non-conductive state based on the logic value of the information data; a second voltage source charging the first and the second determination nodes; and a determination unit detecting potentials of the first determination node and the second determination node when a logic of the information data is inverted logically to determine maximum and minimum values of potential of the information data. |
| US07990790B2 |
Write driver circuit of PRAM
A phase change random access memory (PRAM) has a function of evaluating the lifetime and reliability of a cell in a write driver circuit. The write driver circuit of the PRAM includes a normal driver configured to provide a write current for set or reset of a phase change cell connected to a bit line, a test driver configured to share a node with the normal driver, and provide an additional current for a test to the write current through the shared node in response to a test mode control signal, and a mode control unit configured to control an operation according to the test mode by providing the test mode control signal to the test driver. |
| US07990780B2 |
Multiple threshold voltage register file cell
A memory circuit may include a pair of cross-coupled inverters configured to store a bit of data and a first transistor coupled to a first node of the pair of cross-coupled inverters. A plurality of transistors that form the pair of inverters have a first nominal threshold voltage. The first transistor is coupled to a first bit line, and has a second nominal threshold voltage that is lower than the first nominal threshold voltage. The first transistor may be a write transistor and another write transistor having the second nominal threshold voltage is coupled to the other node of the pair of cross-coupled inverters. A register file may include a bit storage section that includes at least one pair of the cross-coupled inverters; a write transistor section and a read transistor section having the second nominal threshold voltage. |
| US07990777B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for transmitting data in semiconductor device
Provided is a method of inverting data that is to be transmitted and transmitting the data in a semiconductor device. The method includes inverting bits of data that is to be transmitted if the number of bit transitions of previously transmitted data and the data that is to be transmitted among sequentially transmitted data exceeds a reference number; indicating in any one of a plurality of data strobe signals that the data that is to be transmitted is inverted; and transmitting the data strobe signal indicating that the data that is to be transmitted is inverted and the inverted data. |
| US07990774B2 |
Communication device and method for erasing data from a communication device
A communication device and method for erasing data include setting erasing parameters and initializing the erasing parameters, erasing data in a target data block of the flash memory once, and calculate a current erasing count of the erased block, setting a first bit of the erased block as “0”. The communication device and method further determines whether other bits except the first bit of the erased block are all “1”, determines whether the current erasing count is less than the max erasing time if any bit except the first bit of the erased block is not “1”, and prompts an output if the current erasing count equals to the max erasing time. |
| US07990772B2 |
Memory device having improved programming operation
Some embodiments include methods and devices having a module and memory cells. The module is configured to reduce the amount of electrons in the sources and drains of the memory cells during a programming operation. |
| US07990768B2 |
Setting memory controller driver to memory device termination value in a communication bus
A method and system are provided for coupling a DRAM and a memory controller during driver training to reduce mismatches by controlling impedances within the system environment. A memory device initializes a bit level voltage on a data net. A driver impedance in a driving element in the controller is modified to yield improvements in timing margins. |
| US07990754B2 |
Resistance variable memory apparatus
A resistance variable memory apparatus (100) of the present invention includes a current suppressing element (116) which is connected in series with each resistance variable layer (114) and whose threshold voltage is VF, and is configured to apply a first voltage V1 to a first wire (WL) associated with a selected nonvolatile memory element, apply a second voltage V2 to a second wire (BL) associated with the selected nonvolatile memory element, apply a third voltage V3 to a first wire (WL) which is not associated with the selected nonvolatile memory element and apply a fourth voltage V4 to a second wire (BL) which is not associated with the selected memory element when writing data or reading data, wherein V2≦V3 |
| US07990748B2 |
Information holding method
In an information holding method according to the present invention, plural blocks are defined by an evenly sectioned surface of a sheet material in predefined positions, and predetermined information is expressed in the whole area of the sheet material by the presence/absence of information for each of the blocks. |
| US07990747B2 |
Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device
There are provided a semiconductor device and a semiconductor chip, in which the interconnection is made to be highly reliable by stacking three or more layers of chips without contact therebetween. A semiconductor chip of the present invention comprises a first signal transmission circuit, a silicon substrate on which a first changeover switch is formed, and an interconnection layer on which a first capacitive-coupling upper electrode is formed, wherein a first capacitive-coupling lower electrode is additionally formed on the rear surface of the silicon substrate through a first via hole that penetrates the silicon substrate and, whereas the first capacitive-coupling upper electrode is directly connected to the first signal transmission circuit, the first capacitive-coupling lower electrode is connected to the first signal transmission circuit through the first via hole and through the first changeover switch. |
| US07990746B2 |
Method and circuit for configuring memory core integrated circuit dies with memory interface integrated circuit dies
A memory device comprises a first and second integrated circuit dies. The first integrated circuit die comprises a memory core as well as a first interface circuit. The first interface circuit permits full access to the memory cells (e.g., reading, writing, activating, pre-charging and refreshing operations to the memory cells). The second integrated circuit die comprises a second interface that interfaces the memory core, via the first interface circuit, an external bus, such as a synchronous interface to an external bus. A technique combines memory core integrated circuit dies with interface integrated circuit dies to configure a memory device. A speed test on the memory core integrated circuit dies is conducted, and the interface integrated circuit die is electrically coupled to the memory core integrated circuit die based on the speed of the memory core integrated circuit die. |
| US07990740B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling power factor correction
In a method and apparatus for controlling power factor correction (PFC) in mixed operation modes, a frequency of the input voltage is obtained by detecting the zero crossing points of the input voltage. A peak of the input voltage is obtained by detecting input voltage with 90 degree phase. Thus, the present invention predicts the input voltage by its frequency and peak and the characteristic of the sine wave. A digital signal processor computes the duty and frequency of a boost switch, switching the operation mode of the boost converter among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode according to input voltage or the load. According to another aspect, the operation is switched to critical mode from the average current mode when a zero current is detected before the charging and recharging cycle of the boost switch is finished. Overcurrent protection may be achieved by controlling current in response to detected voltage to provide a substantially constant power level. The overcurrent protection may be adaptive in nature. In this aspect, an adaptive driver for a PFC controller reduces the slew rate of signals over the boost switch of the PFC controller. The adaptive driver may have a group of transistors which may be divided into a plurality of branches. The charging current through the boost switch may be increased by turning on an increasing number of branches until the voltage over the switch exceeds a reference voltage, and this may determine the number of branches to drive the boost switch during normal operation. |
| US07990735B2 |
Electronic device enclosure
An enclosure for an electronic device includes a chassis and a cover. The chassis includes a bottom wall and an opening. A circuit board is mounted on the bottom wall. The cover is mounted on the chassis to cover the opening of the chassis. A fixing apparatus is movably mounted on the cover. The fixing apparatus contacts and biases the expansion card toward the circuit board. |
| US07990731B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a housing defining a through hole, a circuit board fixed in the housing, including a switch and a grounding portion connecting with the ground, a fastening member received in the through hole fixed on the housing and contacting the grounding portion, passing static electricity therethrough and defining a mounting hole, and an actuating member received in the mounting hole and contacting the fastening member, and pressing the switch when actuated; wherein the fastening member and the actuating member are conductive. |
| US07990729B2 |
Battery holder
A battery holder in an electronic device includes a battery receptacle, a locking member, and at least one resilient member. The battery is received in the battery receptacle. The locking member partially protrudes into the battery receptacle and locks the battery. The at least one resilient member and the electronic device are integrally formed. The battery includes a base wall, beyond which the at least one resilient member elastically extends into the battery receptacle. |
| US07990728B2 |
Electronic device with battery fixing assembly
An electronic device includes a main body, a battery, and a battery fixing assembly. The main body defines an assembling groove and a receiving groove communicating with the assembling groove. The battery is received in the assembling groove. The battery fixing assembly comprises a pivot shaft and a fastening member sleeved on the pivot shaft. The pivot shaft is positioned in the receiving groove. The fastening member is capable of rotating on the pivot shaft to engage with the engaging portion of the battery. |
| US07990727B1 |
Ball grid array stack
The invention discloses a device comprising a stack of at least two layers, which may comprise active or passive discrete components, TSOP and/or ball grid array packages, flip chip or wire bonded bare die or the like, which layers are stacked and interconnected to define an integral module. A first and second layer comprise an electrically conductive trace with one or more electronic components in electrical connection therewith. The electrically conductive traces terminate at a lateral surface of each of the layers to define an access lead. An interposer structure is disposed between the layers and provides an interposer lateral surface upon which a conductive layer interconnect trace is defined to create an electrical connection between predetermined access leads on each of the layers. |
| US07990725B2 |
Modular storage system for storing a disk array
A modular storage system is provided for storing a disk array consisting of multiple hard disks. Each hard disk is provided with a terminal set. The modular storage system includes a casing having a plurality of disk compartments for receiving the hard disks respectively, a front end defining a front opening and a rear end defining a rear opening; a rear cover for covering the rear opening of the casing; and a plurality of connectors mounted on the rear cover via a coupling mechanism so that each of the connectors is aligned with a respective one of the disk compartments. Once the hard disks are installed respectively in the disk compartments, the terminal set of each of the hard disks is coupled electrically to a respective one of the connectors on the rear cover. |
| US07990724B2 |
Mobile motherboard
A motherboard for a computer box having internal circuitry and communication ports comprises a portable motherboard having a connector for connection to an externally accessible connector of said computer box; wherein, connection of said portable motherboard connector to said externally accessible computer box connector enables said computer box to perform computing operations. The inventive motherboard is portably configured to serve one or more computers, preferably a personal computer or laptop. The portable motherboard provides a computer box with a brain. Alternatively, where a computer with a brain is slow, the portable motherboard may be used to boost the brainpower of the slow computer. Whether the portable motherboard brings life to a computer box or boosts the microprocessor power of a computer containing an internal microprocessor, the portable motherboard is a powerful invention that makes microprocessor power more efficient and ubiquitous. |
| US07990723B2 |
Housing structure of acoustic controller
A housing structure of an acoustic controller, in which a lower case of the controller has an increased rigidity and improved moldability. The lower case is integrally formed by a resin and has a bottom surface thereof disposed to face a tabletop surface when the controller is in a stationarily placed thereon. The bottom surface of the lower case is formed to have a concave-forming portion that defines a concave space communicating with the outside of the controller on the left and right sides thereof and which is upward convex as viewed when the controller is stationarily placed, thus increasing the rigidity of the lower case. Bosses and vertical ribs formed to project upward from a horizontal part of the concave-forming portion of the lower case each have a reduced height, thereby improving the moldability of the lower case. |
| US07990722B2 |
Fastener and electronic device having the same
A fastener comprises a fastener post, a clasping element and an elastic element. The fastener post comprises a head, a post body and a threaded portion. The post body has a first extension section connecting with the head, a second extension section connecting with the threaded portion and a recess section connected between the first and second extension sections. The clasping element comprises an annular clasping body, a first clasping portion axially extending from the clasping body and a second clasping portion extending outwardly and then downwardly from the clasping body. The clasping body encloses the post body, the first clasping portion engages with the recess section of the post body, and the second clasping portion engages with the heat sink. The elastic element is set around the post body and located between the head and the clasping body. |
| US07990718B2 |
Heat dissipation device having a clip assembly
A heat dissipation device for removing heat from an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board includes a heat sink, a wire clip and two operating members. The heat sink has a bottom for in contact with the electronic component. The wire clip includes a middle part spanning over the heat sink and two latching legs extending oppositely from two opposite ends of the middle part, respectively, the two latching legs being located in front of and in rear of the heat sink, respectively. Each operating member includes a plate cam placed on the heat sink and a handle extending laterally from the plate cam. The middle part of the wire clip extends through the plate cams and can be lifted away from the heat sink by turning the operating members from an unlocking state to a locking state. |
| US07990715B2 |
Electrical assembly and fastening assembly thereof
An electric assembly includes a heat sink defining a through hole and a notch communicating with the through hole; a circuit board defining a fixing hole; and a fastening assembly. The fastening assembly includes a fastener comprising a stem, a head connected one end of the stem, and a clamp connected to an opposite end of the stem; a limiting member comprising a main body slideably disposed on the stem and a limiting portion extending from the main body, the main body received into the through hole, and the limiting portion engageably inserted into the notch; and an elastic member disposed around the stem and between the head and the main body. Wherein the limiting portion is capable of sliding out of the notch and against the heat sink to compress the elastic member. |
| US07990711B1 |
Double-face heat removal of vertically integrated chip-stacks utilizing combined symmetric silicon carrier fluid cavity and micro-channel cold plate
A plurality of heat-dissipating electronic chips are arranged in a vertical chip stack. The electronic chips have electronic components thereon. A cold plate is secured to a back side of the chip stack. A silicon carrier sandwich, defining a fluid cavity, is secured to a front side of the chip stack. An inlet manifold is configured to supply cooling fluid to the cold plate and the fluid cavity of the silicon carrier sandwich. An outlet manifold is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the cold plate and the fluid cavity of the silicon carrier sandwich. The cold plate, the silicon carrier sandwich, the inlet manifold, and the outlet manifold are configured and dimensioned to electrically isolate the cooling fluid from the electronic components. A method of operating an electronic apparatus and a method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus are also disclosed. Single-sided heat removal with double-sided electrical input-output and double-sided heat removal with double-sided electrical input-output are also disclosed. |
| US07990704B2 |
Electronic device with heat dissipating structure
An electronic device includes a first and a second air passages. A first and a second electronic components locate in the first and second air passages, respectively. A first heat sink includes a first heat dissipation portion contacting the first electronic component and located in the first air passage and a second heat dissipation portion located in the second air passage. A second heat sink includes a first heat dissipation portion contacting the second electronic component and located in the second air passage and a second heat dissipation portion located in the first air passage. The first heat dissipation portion of the first heat sink aligns with the second heat dissipation portion of the second heat sink and the second heat dissipation portion of the first heat sink aligns with the first heat dissipation portion of the second heat sink along a flowing direction of the t air passage. |
| US07990698B2 |
Portable extension memory storage device
A portable extension memory storage device comprises a body and a slide positioning member. The body includes an elastic positioning tongue. The slide positioning member includes a positioning rib to be engaged into a positioning concave in the positioning tongue. With the elastic positioning tongue, the abrasion can be reduced, and the service life can be extended. The positioning concave offers an assured and firm engagement to improve the convenience in use. The assembly of the portable extension memory storage device can be finished without using any other threaded elements or locking elements, thus reducing the material and labor cost. |
| US07990696B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device comprises a cover member, a body member, and a power generating assembly. The cover member is slidably mounted to the body member. The power generating assembly includes a power generating device and a rack assembly. The power generating device includes a toothed gear and a stator. The toothed gear is rotatably clockwise or counter clockwise mounted to the stator. The stator is fixed to the body member. The rack assembly includes a fastening portion and a rack portion opposite to the fastening portion. The fastening portion is fixed to the cover member. The rack portion meshes with the toothed gear, thus the power generating device driving the rack assembly and the cover member to slide relative to the body member. |
| US07990695B2 |
Key assembly for an electronic device
A key assembly for an electronic device includes a key and a housing, the key being elastic and including a contact body and an assembly wall integrally formed with the contact body, the contact body has a protrusion formed thereon; and the housing has a shortened wall defining an aperture therein and a bottom wall protruding a column adjacent to the shortened wall. The key is mounted into the housing, the assembly wall is clipped to the column and the shortened wall, and the contact body abuts the shortened wall and the protrusion protrudes out of the aperture. |
| US07990691B2 |
Mobile computer workstation
A mobile workstation for use with a computer network. The mobile workstation may include a medical monitoring device, a radio transceiver in communication with the medical monitoring device operable for receiving and sending data to the computer network, a display screen, and a wheeled chassis for mounting the medical monitoring device, the radio transceiver and the display screen. |
| US07990690B2 |
Electronic device having a transparent area
An electronic device includes a display unit and a housing receiving the display unit. The display unit includes a display panel, a display cover for receiving the display panel, a transparent board for securing the display panel in the display cover, and a transparent frame placed over the display cover. The housing includes a front cover and a back cover coupled to the front cover. The front cover and the back cover respectively define openings aligned with the display unit. The transparent board and the transparent frame each has a size slightly larger than the openings of the front cover and the back cover, and the display panel and the display cover each has a size smaller than the openings of the front cover and the back cover. The electronic device looks like floating in the air. |
| US07990686B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor of the present invention includes: a capacitor element having an anode leading part and a cathode leading part; an anode lead frame connected to the anode leading part and a cathode lead frame connected to the cathode leading part; and an packing resin with which the capacitor element is coated, and the anode leading part protrudes from one end face of the capacitor element. The anode lead frame includes: an anode terminal part having an exposed surface exposed from the packing resin, a rising part connected to the anode terminal part, bent toward the anode leading part located in the upper part of the anode terminal part and extending in the packing resin, and a bent part connected to the rising part and bent along a direction which is parallel to a protruding direction of the anode leading part and connected to the anode leading part. |
| US07990674B2 |
Load drive apparatus
A load drive apparatus is provided which comprises a switching element 3 connected in series to a DC power source Vcc and an electric load 4, a drive circuit 5 for generating control signals to turn switching element 3 on and off, a thermal detection element 6 for sensing a temperature of switching element 3, an overheat protective circuit 7 for generating an overheat detection signal when thermal detection element 6 senses the temperature of switching element 3 over a predetermined temperature level, and a disconnection detection circuit 11 provided with a current mirror circuit 12 connected between one and the other terminals of thermal detection element 6 for detecting a disconnection in wiring between thermal detection element 6 and overheat protective circuit 7. When overheat protective circuit 7 produces an overheat detection signal or when disconnection detection circuit 11 detects a breaking of wiring between thermal detection element 6 and overheat protective circuit 7, the control signal from drive circuit 5 is prohibited to be given to switching element 3. In case of disconnection in wiring between the thermal detection element 6 and overheat protective circuit 7, the load drive apparatus can prevent thermal damage to the switching element used therein. |
| US07990673B2 |
Safety loop for a light fixture
A light fixture and a method for control of a light fixture is supervised by at least one thermoswitch which protects the light source by disconnecting the power supply to the light source at elevated temperature. To achieve a safety circuit in a light fixture without switching the supply circuit to a light source, the at least one thermoswitch is connected to a low voltage safety loop, which safety loop is connected to a current source that generates a constant current in the safety loop. The safety loop is supervised by a current measuring device. Hereby, it is achieved that the switching, if temperature rises, is achieved by switching contacts that only carry a very limited current. This will increase the life time of the thermoswitch and very small switches can be used. |
| US07990672B2 |
Supervision circuit to detect very fast power supply drops
This invention is power supply protection for complex digital circuits employing an external high voltage supply and an internally generated low voltage core logic supply. Precision analog comparators distinguish between short circuit conditions on the internal supply at various ramp down rates including slow brown out decay. Control circuitry protects I/O circuits from exposure to high currents as a result of possible floating gate conditions in the output circuitry. |
| US07990669B2 |
Battery protection circuit and battery device
Provided is a battery protection circuit and a battery device which may be manufactured at lower cost. Before all terminals of a battery protection circuit are each connected to batteries, even when a logical circuit malfunctions by an operation of a parasitic bipolar transistor formed by P-wells due to a connection order in which the batteries are connected, the logical circuit is reset by an operation of a parasitic bipolar transistor formed by the P-wells. For this reason, a charge/discharge path of the batteries is not interrupted due to the connection order. Accordingly, no limitation is placed on the connection order. |
| US07990663B2 |
Detecting and sensing actuation in a circuit interrupting device
A circuit interrupting device is disclosed that includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a switch between the first conductor and the second conductor wherein the switch is disposed to selectively connect and disconnect the first conductor and the second conductor, a circuit interrupter disposed to generate a circuit interrupting actuation signal, a solenoid coil and plunger assembly disposed to open the switch wherein the solenoid coil and plunger assembly is actuatable by the circuit interrupting actuation signal wherein movement of the plunger causes the switch to open, and a test assembly that is configured to enable a test of the circuit interrupter initiating at least a partial movement of the plunger in a test direction, from a pre-test configuration to a post-test configuration, without opening the switch. |
| US07990661B2 |
Active shield superconducting electromagnet apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging system
The active shield superconducting electromagnet apparatus includes: a main switching circuit in which first and second main coils, first and second shield coils, and a first superconducting persistent current switch are connected in series; a sub switching circuit in which a bypass circuit, in which a superconducting fault current limiter and a second superconducting persistent current switch are connected in series, are connected to a series circuit of the first main coil and the second main coil in parallel; a first closed circuit in which at least one of the first main coil and the first shield coil, and a first quench protection circuit are connected in series; and a second closed circuit in which one of the second main coil and the second shield coil, and a second quench protection circuit are connected in series. |
| US07990657B2 |
Plurality of non-magnetic dampers on a voice coil yoke arm
A plurality of non-magnetic dampers on a voice coil yoke arm for reducing low frequency vibration in a hard disk drive is disclosed. One embodiment provides housing and at least one disk coupled with the housing. In addition, an actuator is coupled to the housing, the actuator having a coil region with a voice coil and a plurality of voice coil yoke arms. At least one of a plurality of non-magnetic dampers is also coupled with each of the plurality of voice coil yoke arms and not with the voice coil. In so doing, the plurality of non-magnetic dampers are able to damp low frequency actuator coil torsion and coil bending resonances. |
| US07990656B2 |
Magnetic head device
A magnetic head device includes a slider with a facing side and a magnetic function part. The facing side of the slider includes a front positive pressure surface located close to a leading end of the slider, a rear positive pressure surface located close to a trailing end of the slider, and a pair of side positive pressure surfaces located closer to the trailing end than the front positive pressure surface and disposed at both sides of a longitudinally extending centerline. Air inlet grooves for introducing air into the side positive pressure surfaces are each disposed in front of each side positive pressure surface. Each air inlet groove extends between the front positive pressure surface and a corresponding side face of the slider and opens toward a leading end face of the slider. |
| US07990654B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head
A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer and an auxiliary yoke layer that overlaps the main magnetic pole layer as viewed in a top view and is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole layer. The main magnetic pole layer includes a pole straight part exposed to an opposing surface opposite a recording medium, and a flared part that extends from the pole straight part in a height direction, the flared part broadening in a track width direction as the flared part extends in the height direction. The auxiliary yoke layer includes a flared part that extends from the recording medium-opposing surface, the flared part broadening in the track width direction as the flared part extends in the height direction. The flared part of the auxiliary yoke layer is disposed at a position located closer to the rear side in the height direction than the flared part of the main magnetic pole layer. The flared part of the main magnetic pole layer is formed at a flare angle greater than a flare angle of the auxiliary yoke layer. |
| US07990652B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic write head with stepped write pole for reduced MCW dependency on skew angle
A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic data recording having a notched write pole for reduced magnetic core width (MCW) dependence on skew. The write pole is configured with a notch that can extend to or slightly beyond the flare point of the write pole, and is formed on the leading portion of the write pole. The notch can have a notch depth, as measured from the ABS of 50-200 nm or about 120 nm. The notch can have a notch height, measured in the down track direction that is 40-90 nm or 20-90 percent of the write pole height. |
| US07990646B2 |
Data pattern detection using adaptive search windows
Method and apparatus for detecting a reference pattern in a transmitted bit sequence. A duration of a search window used to detect the reference pattern is adaptively adjusted in relation to a previous detection of the pattern. This is preferably carried out by using a first search window to initially detect the pattern, and then adjusting the first search window to provide a second search window to subsequently detect the pattern. Preferably, the search window is an elapsed period of time during which a transducer is swept adjacent a storage medium to detect the reference pattern. Servo data are preferably written as a sequence of adjacent spiral servo patterns, and the reference pattern is preferably detected each time to determine the relative location of the most recently written spiral. Preferably, a larger search window is used for initial spirals and a smaller search window is used for subsequently written spirals. |
| US07990644B2 |
Apparatus and method to decode linear position information encoded in a sequential information storage medium
A method to decode linear position (“LPOS”) information encoded in a sequential information storage medium, by detecting each of one or a plurality of sequential first LPOS servo patterns encoded in a first servo band using a first servo sensor in communication with a first servo channel. While detecting that one or a plurality of first LPOS servo patterns, the method fails to detect (n) second LPOS servo patterns encoded in a second servo band. The method determines a value for (n), and then syncs the first servo channel with the second servo channel using that value of (n). |
| US07990639B2 |
Mobile event data recorder with multiple orientation vibration isolation
A mobile event data recorder is described providing a contained environmental control system for a hard drive module for use in, or with, a vehicle. A hard drive housing with multiple hard drives and a vibration isolation system are provided within a hard drive module chassis. The vibration isolation system simultaneously provides triaxial isolation in each of two different orientations of the hard drive module. First and second vibration isolators connect the hard drive housing with adjoining walls of the chassis, the first and second vibration isolators positioned to achieve a natural resonant frequency suitable to isolate frequencies in the hard drive operating range, taking into account the forces that will be applied to the vehicle. The natural resonant frequency can be about 10 Hz or less, in order to isolate the hard drives from frequencies of greater than about 10 Hz. |
| US07990637B2 |
Autofocus lens module
An autofocus lens module includes a holder defining a space, a barrel positioned in the space of the holder, a first post extended from an outer surface of the barrel, a first spring connecting adjacent ends of the barrel and the holder such that the barrel is maintained in the holder, and a first piezoelectric actuator. The first piezoelectric actuator is fixed on an internal surface of the holder and capable of deforming along a central axis of the holder. The first piezoelectric actuator is coupled with the first post so as to move the barrel along the central axis of the holder. |
| US07990634B2 |
Lens module with grooved barrel
An exemplary lens module includes a substrate, a housing, a carrier, and a barrel. The housing is hollow, and disposed on the substrate. The carrier is received in the housing. The carrier defines a through hole. The barrel is received in the housing. The barrel includes a receiving body, a focusing portion, a connection portion, and a groove. The focusing portion is at a top end of the receiving body. The connection portion is at a bottom end of the receiving body. The groove spans from the top end of the receiving body to the connection body. The receiving body is received in the through hole of the carrier. The connection portion is mechanically connected to the carrier. A top end of the connection portion is exposed by the groove. |
| US07990633B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
In the lens driving apparatus having a sleeve, a support body (such as a yoke) that supports the sleeve via a spring member), coils attached to the sleeve, and magnets attached to the support body, the support body is provided with a yoke and a cover portion, the yoke being formed with a light-entrance window for collecting light reflected from a subject and the cover portion being attached to the inside of the light-entrance window; the cover portion, the spring member, and the magnets are arranged so that they are layered in this order from the light-entrance window, and the cover portion is formed of a non-magnetic material. |
| US07990632B2 |
Optical element and stress athermalized hard contact mount
There is disclosed an optical element having a first surface and a second surface bounded by a circular periphery. A rim having an inner surface may extend from the second surface proximate the periphery. At least a portion of the inner surface of the rim may be convex. |
| US07990630B2 |
Lens device
Device facilitating quick and easy removal of a lens from a front side. The device includes a lens, a housing, a retention clip, an ejection block, and a fastener. The fastener passes through a hole in the housing and the ejection block. The fastener and either the housing or the ejection block have compatible threading. Rotation of the fastener in one direction causes the ejection block to release the retention clip, thereby allowing the lens to be removed. Rotation in a second direction causes the ejection block to return to a position capable of receiving the retention clip. |
| US07990629B2 |
Lens module
A lens module includes a base to be fixed, a second elastic sheet fixed in the base, a lens sleeve sliding according to the base, a limiting member installed on the lens sleeve, a first elastic sheet, and an upper cover. The lens module includes a covering board with a central hole installed between the second elastic sheet and the lens sleeve. The diameter of the central hole is greater than the outer diameter of the lens sleeve. The covering board is connected to the base to fix the second elastic sheet on the base. Because the covering board to connect to the base, the second elastic sheet can be fixed on the base for decreasing time-consumption, reliable fixation, and decreasing the rate which the second elastic sheet rotates and is deformed. |
| US07990627B2 |
Lens device
A second fixed cylinder includes a lens attachment portion having straight-ahead grooves provided therein and a guide groove arrangement portion having a first guide groove and a second guide groove provided therein. A second rotating cylinder rotatably supported by the second fixed cylinder includes a cam groove arrangement portion having cam grooves provided therein and a claw arrangement portion having a first claw portion (third claw portion) fitted to the first guide groove and a second claw portion fitted to the second guide groove. The first guide groove and the second guide groove are arranged so as to deviate from each other in the axial direction. Therefore, the operation range of the second rotating cylinder is not regulated by the movement range of the first claw portion, and a wide operation range of the second rotating cylinder is ensured. |
| US07990619B2 |
Lens, lens array having same and method for making same
The present disclosure relates to a method for making a lens. In step 1, a first light pervious substrate and a second light pervious substrate are provided. The first light pervious substrate includes a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the second light pervious substrate includes a third surface and a fourth surface. In step 2, a first optically active part is formed on the first surface of the first light pervious substrate. In step 3, a second optically active part is formed on the third surface of the second light pervious substrate. In step 4, the fourth surface of the second light pervious substrate is attached to the second surface of the first light pervious substrate in such a manner that the first and the second optically active parts have a common optical axis. |
| US07990617B2 |
Optical laminate comprising low-refractive index layer
The present invention discloses an optical laminate comprising a light-transparent base material and a low-refractive index layer provided on the light-transparent base material, the low-refractive index layer simultaneously having both contamination preventive properties and slipperiness. The optical laminate comprises a light-transparent base material, and a hard coat layer and a low-refractive index layer provided in that order on the light-transparent base material, wherein the low-refractive index layer contains a contamination preventive agent and/or a slipperiness imparting agent, and contamination preventive agent and/or slipperiness imparting agent are added so that the concentrations of the contamination preventive agent and/or slipperiness imparting agent have a concentration gradient from the surface of the hard coat layer toward the surface of the low-refractive index layer. |
| US07990612B2 |
Bottle telescope
A hand-held telescope or binocular built into a bottle or consumable drink container includes a high quality objective lens; an adjustable focus eye lens; and, optionally, a connector ring to form a binocular; a jacket, sleeve or cuzzi containing information regarding, for example, sporting or scientific events; a baffle to minimize extraneous light from disturbing observational clarity; and a holographic bottle label that portrays sporting or scientific figures in three dimensions. |
| US07990610B2 |
Stereomicroscope with repositioning assistant's microscope
An illumination optical system projects an illumination light onto an observation object via an objective lens. A first observation optical system guides the illumination light reflected by the observation object to a first ocular lens. A second observation optical system includes a second ocular lens for observing the reflected light of the illumination light. An optical system drive mechanism rotates the second observation optical system and arranges the second observation optical system between a first position and second position facing each other. A reflecting member is disposed at a position retracted from the illumination light path and the reflected light path and reflects the reflected light in a direction different from the optical axis. A drive mechanism rotates the reflecting member around a rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis and guides the reflected light to the second observation optical system arranged at the first or second position. |
| US07990607B2 |
Solid-state light source based illumination apparatus and projection system having same
An exemplary illumination apparatus for use in a projection system includes a number of solid-state light sources and first non-imaging collection optics, a power coupler, an optical amplifier, and a second non-imaging collection optic. The solid-state light sources are configured to generate light of a predetermined wavelength. Each first non-imaging collection optic is configured to collect and transmit light from a respective solid-state light source to the power coupler. The power coupler is configured to combine light from the solid-state light sources. The optical amplifier is configured to amplify the combined light. The second non-imaging collection optic is configured to collect the amplified light to provide illumination. |
| US07990606B2 |
Display element
Provided is a display element, which has simple member configuration, can be driven at a low voltage, and has high display contrast, white display reflectance and high display speed and less display nonuniformity in a long term. The display element has an electrolyte layer, which includes silver or a compound having silver in the chemical structure, between counter electrodes and drives the counter electrodes to melt and deposit the silver. The electrolyte layer contains a butyral resin, a coloring material having an average primary grain diameter of 200 nm or more but not more than 1,000 nm, and an organic solvent having a boiling point of 120° C. or higher but not higher than 300° C. The mass ratio of the organic solvent to the butyral resin is 10:1 or more but not more than 10:5. |
| US07990603B2 |
Variable transmission window system
An electrical control system is disclosed for controlling a plurality of variable transmittance windows. The electrical control system comprises a master control circuit and user input circuits for supplying control signals representing transmittance levels for the variable transmission windows, and a plurality of slave window control circuits coupled to the master control circuit, user input circuits and the variable transmittance windows. Each slave window control circuit controls the transmittance of at least one of the variable transmission windows in response to control signals received from the master control circuit and/or user input circuits. Also disclosed are novel methods for the manufacture of an electrochromic device used in variable transmittance windows. Novel structural features for improving heat transfer away from the windows, shielding the window from external loads, and improving the electrical performance of the windows are also disclosed. |
| US07990599B2 |
Barcode scanning device and method for producing high density scanning pattern by the same
Barcode scanning device (3) includes a rotatable polygon mirror (27) and a first fixed reflection mirror (33). The polygon mirror (27) comprises a first reflection surfaces (c), (e) and a second reflection surfaces (a), (b), (d), (f). The first reflection surfaces (c), (e) reflect laser light and thus emitting first scanning light in a range of ±20° with respect to an optical axis (29). The second reflection surfaces (a), (b), (d), (f) reflect laser light and thus emitting second scanning light in a range larger than ±20° with respect to an optical axis (29). The first fixed reflection mirror (33) reflects the first scanning light and second scanning light forming scanning patterns in an object readable area. These scanning patterns are composed of a plurality of second scanning lines each parallel with other and first scanning lines disposed between the second scanning lines. |
| US07990597B2 |
Actuator, optical scanner, and image forming device
An actuator includes: a first oscillatory system including a frame-shaped driving member and a pair of first axial members holding the driving member from both ends so as to allow the driving member to rotate around an X-axis; a second oscillatory system including a movable plate provided inside the driving member and a pair of second axial members holding the movable plate to the driving member from both ends so as to allow the movable plate to rotate around a Y-axis perpendicular to the X axis; and a driving unit including a permanent magnet provided on the driving member, a coil provided so as to face the permanent magnet, a voltage applying unit applying a voltage to the coil, and the permanent magnet has a relief section to avoid making contact with the movable plate. |
| US07990591B2 |
Image processing device and image display device
An image processing device for converting a color tone of an image includes: an input unit to which an image is input; a designation unit that designates precision of color conversion performed on the input image; a color conversion table that stores output color data after color conversion of color data, which is determined according to the designated precision and may be included in the image, in an address space determined according to the precision; an address specifying unit that specifies an address referring to the color conversion table on the basis of a first portion, which is determined according to the precision, of color data expressing the input image; a color converting unit that converts the color data included in the input image into output color data by referring to the specified address of the color conversion table; a parameter specifying unit that specifies a parameter for interpolating a color, which is expressed by the output color data, on the basis of a second portion other than the first portion of the color data included in the input image; and an interpolation unit that interpolates a color, which is expressed by the converted output color data, on the basis of the specified parameter. |
| US07990587B2 |
Electronic endoscope having an apparatus for controlling a shading member
An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor, a light source, a signal reading processor, a shading member, a driver, and a driving controller. The signal reading processor alternately reads odd-line image-pixel signals and even-line image-pixel signals over one-frame reading interval, when forming a still image on the basis of one frame worth of image-pixel signals generated by a one-time exposure. The shading member blocks the illuminating light. The driver selectively arranges the shading member at a non-shading position that enable the illuminating light to pass and at a shading position that blocks the light. The driving controller controls the driver by a sequence of pulse signals so as to position the shading member at the shading position for a shading-interval in the one-frame reading interval, and so as to position the shading member at the non-shading position for a remaining reading-interval. |
| US07990584B2 |
Rod-shaped light guide and image reading device
A rod-shaped light guide reflects light incident on an end face thereof in the interior of the rod-shaped light guide and emits the light outside from a light emitting surface provided to extend in the longitudinal direction. The rod-shaped light guide includes: a scattering pattern surface provided to be opposite to the light emitting surface and operative to scatter the light incident on the end face; first and second lateral surfaces provided between the light emitting surface and the scattering pattern surface; and first and second projections provided to project from the first and second lateral surfaces, respectively, capture the light reflected by the light emitting surface, reflects the light toward the light emitting surface, and causes the light to be emitted outside from the light emitting surface. |
| US07990582B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image reading method
An image reading apparatus having a color line sensor and a monochromatic line sensor starts to read on the basis of the color reading start position when reading the image of a document in color and starts to read on the basis of the monochromatic reading start position when reading the image of a document in monochrome. |
| US07990581B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method for controlling the image processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium
With reference to any one of a plurality of images, the other images are moved by a distance greater than or equal to one pixel width in a main scanning direction and/or a sub-scanning direction. Then, the plurality of images are combined to form a composite image. |
| US07990580B2 |
Document scanning apparatus
Scanned images are tiled in a list display area of a display of a touch panel. A model icon and other icons for editing are displayed in an edit icon display area. A scanned image is accepted as an object to be processed by a touch operation to the scanned image. By moving the touched position to the model icon and releasing the touch, an editing process by the model icon is accepted. The model icon is displayed with the scanned image overlapped thereon as the result of the editing process. |
| US07990569B2 |
Speeding up remote copy operation by transmitting resolution-dependent print data via network if processing apparatus and output apparatus information match
An image processing apparatus includes a resolution-independent data generation unit which generates resolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, from input data, a resolution-dependent data generation unit which generates resolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and is used to be rendered to bitmap data, from the generated resolution-independent data, a saving unit which saves the generated resolution-independent data and the generated resolution-dependent data, an apparatus information acquisition unit which acquires image output apparatus information associated with the image output apparatus, an apparatus information determination unit which determines whether or not the image output apparatus information matches image processing apparatus information associated with the image processing apparatus, and a data transmission unit which transmits the resolution-dependent data as the output data when it is determined that the image output apparatus information matches the image processing apparatus information. |
| US07990567B2 |
Label printer
A label printer having a plurality of input devices for inputting information to said label printer where a first input device can be a keyboard, and a second input device can be a connectable external controlling entity; a supply of image receiving medium such as a tape; a printer adapted to print an image on the tape; and a printer controller for controlling the label printer, so that when the label printer is connected the label printer can be operated in a stand alone mode in which information can only be input to said label printer via said first input device, or an external control mode in which information can only be input to said label printer via the connecting device, such that for a predetermined period of time after use in one of the said stand alone mode and the said external control mode, any information input via the input device not in use can not operate the label printer, but after the predetermined period of time information can be input to operate the label printer via either the first input device or the connected second input device. |
| US07990566B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device configured as follows. A user is allowed to select desired print data files to be printed from among print data files stored in an external storage. A file list generating unit generates a list of the desired print data files selected by the user. The list includes an order of the desired print data files. A page arrangement unit arranges each page of the desired print data files on each recording sheet based on the list of the desired print data, a print mode and a total number of pages of the desired print data files. Blank pages to be added to complete the arrangement of pages of the print data files with respect to the recording sheets are generated. Page data is retrieved based on the arrangement of pages and is converted to image data, which is printed by an image data printing unit. |
| US07990564B2 |
Automated image sizing and placement
Versions of user-selected content images are automatically created, sized, and positioned within a template such that all versions are simultaneously displayed without overlapping in a defined acceptable image area of the template. Creating the content image versions may include creating a frame image for the content image. A predefined anchor point associated with the acceptable image area is used to control the location of the image versions within the image area. |
| US07990562B2 |
Data processing device
To provide a technology enabling a terminal device to use various functions provided in a data processing device without the use of a device driver. A multifunction device executes a process for implementing a function indicated by instruction data when such instruction data is stored in a shared area of the RAM. Here, the shared area of the RAM in which the instruction data is stored can be recognized by a personal computer connected to the multifunction device as a storage area that can be accessed through the file system, which is a function provided as a standard feature of the operating system. Accordingly, operations of the multifunction device can be controlled from the personal computer end simply by storing instruction data in the shared area via the operating system, eliminating the need for a special device driver to control the operations of the multifunction device. |
| US07990561B2 |
Image processing server, image processing method, and computer readable storage medium
The present invention decides whether an OCR processing is necessary or not for a printing job by using a difference between text data extracted by performing the OCR processing on an image generated based on a previous printing job having been processed previously and text data extracted from text drawing command of the previous printing job having been processed previously. If the OCR processing is decided to be unnecessary, the text data extracted from the text drawing command of the printing job is registered in a database for retrieving an image data. If the OCR processing is decided to be necessary, text data extracted by performing OCR processing on the image data generated based on the drawing commands of the printing job and the text data extracted from the text drawing command of the printing job are registered in a database for retrieving an image data. |
| US07990558B2 |
Information processing apparatus and data output management system to restrict printing operations
An information processing apparatus acquires print data to be printed by a printing apparatus and restriction information for restricting an output process of the print data. The information processing apparatus converts a format of the acquired print data and the restriction information based on information regarding a processing capability of the printing apparatus. Then, the information processing apparatus sends the print data and the restriction information, the format of which has been converted, to the printing apparatus. |
| US07990557B2 |
Information output system with transfer timing control
According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus comprises a print data generation unit which generates the print data; a reception unit which receives print data; an image data generation unit which generates image data of each page; an image forming unit which forms an image of each page on a medium; a calculation unit which calculates a generation time taken to generate image data; and a control unit which controls a timing when the image data is output to said image forming unit, wherein said control unit controls a timing when image data of a page of interest is output to said image forming unit, on the basis of the generation time taken to generate the image data of the page of interest and the generation time taken to generate image data of n pages subsequent to the page of interest. |
| US07990555B2 |
Image supply device and control method thereof and printing system
According to a print system, a printer supplies function information of the printer to a DSC based on a communication link between the DSC and the printer, and the DSC establishes a UI based on the supplied function information to display it on the DSC. The DSC converts image data of an image file according to print conditions set up based on the UI and the function information of the printer and transmits the converted image file to the printer. |
| US07990553B2 |
Information processing apparatus, printing system, and control method therefor
The present invention realizes a network printing system capable of accumulating and chasing printed data. Further, by providing a job chasing function on the printer driver side, detailed setting can be done to extract history information of the job chasing function. The detailed setting to extract history information to chase a job can be done only by a specific administrator or user so that the job can be reliably chased, whereas the administrator or user can obtain desired history information. Accordingly, a precise jog chasing system can be established. |
| US07990552B2 |
Image forming system and method of controlling image forming apparatus
A trial mode in which the number of trials is limited can be set for a network printer function and a network scanner function of an image forming apparatus. Then, the use of one of the network printer function and network scanner function of the image forming apparatus for which the trial mode has been set is permitted in accordance with a use request from a user. |
| US07990551B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes a communicating unit (123) that performs communication with an-external apparatus (200), a recording unit (97) that stores image information, an image processing unit (96) that performs image processing, and a control unit (91) that performs control to secure the image processing unit from the external apparatus via the communicating unit, when a request signal for performing processing of the image information is received, if the image processing unit can be secured, convert a file format by expanding the image information and compressing the image information again using the image processing unit secured and transfer the image information converted via the communicating unit, and, if the image processing unit cannot be secured, transmit an indication that the image processing unit cannot be secured and the image information before the conversion to the external apparatus via the communicating unit. |
| US07990547B2 |
Apparatus and a method of measuring erosion of an edge of a turbomachine aerofoil
An apparatus for measuring erosion of an edge of an aerofoil portion of a fan blade includes a laser source to direct light at a position on the edge of the fan blade. A detector detects light reflected from the position on the edge of the fan blade. A computer measures the distance from the laser source to points on the edge of the fan blade to produce a profile of the edge in terms of x and z coordinates. The computer calculates the distances of points on the edge of the fan blade from a centroid of the profile. The computer detects peaks in the distance of points from the centroid of the profile. The computer selects two peaks with the greatest distance therebetween. The computer determines the distance between the two peaks and compares the determined distance and a predetermined distance to determine if there is unacceptable erosion. |
| US07990544B2 |
Microcontroller-based imaging system utilizing a CMOS image sensor array
Described herein is a an optical sensing unit, the optical sensing unit including a one-dimensional array of sensor locations, each sensor location being responsive to an incident optical signal to generate a local analog intensity value representative of the intensity of the optical signal at the sensor location, the sensing unit including a digital interface to deliver a local digital intensity value corresponding to the local analog intensity value, a first microcontroller function in communication with the digital interface for sequentially collecting local digital intensity values to form a group of digital intensity values corresponding to an intensity variation across the array over a predetermined sensing period, a second microcontroller function cooperating with the first microcontroller function to receive the group of digital intensity values for transfer to an output device. |
| US07990540B2 |
Apparatus and methods using highly optically dispersive media
According to the invention, a highly optically dispersive medium is one in which the absolute value of the group index of refraction of the medium is equal to or greater than four. An optical spectroscopic parameter detection and/or measurement apparatus may be in the form of an interferometer, a spectral interferometer, a spectrometer, a wavemeter, a tunable narrowband filter The embodied devices include a highly dispersive medium that appropriately can facilitate either a slow-light effect or a fast-light effect, which is disposed in a propagation path of an electro-magnetic (EM) input field and, a detector disposed in a manner to detect an output field resulting from the input filed interaction with the highly dispersive medium. Methods involve measuring a spectroscopic parameter using an optical spectroscopic parameter detection and/or measurement apparatus that incorporates a highly dispersive medium. |
| US07990539B2 |
Sensor and method utilizing multiple optical interferometers
Disclosed is a low-cost high-resolution compact accelerometer which utilizes multiple self-mixing optical interferometers. The device is also a micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS) sensor. The interferometers are used to detect acceleration as well as monitor the wavelength, temperature, and refractive index and perform differential measurements. In addition, photodetectors are employed to monitor the input optical power. |
| US07990536B2 |
System and method for measuring reflectance of object
There are disclosed a system and a method for measuring reflectance of an object. The system for measuring reflectance of an object according to the present invention includes: a light source unit including a light source irradiating light to the object; a light source position adjusting unit that adjusts a position and a direction of the light source unit; a light receiving unit that acquires image data by detecting light reflected on the object; and a reflectance acquiring unit that acquires the reflectance of the object from the image data. According to the present invention, it is possible to more precisely acquire the reflectance of the object within a shorter time. |
| US07990533B2 |
System and method for analyzing biological samples using Raman molecular imaging
A system and method for determining at least one of: a disease state, a metabolic state, a clinical outcome, and a disease progression of a test renal or prostate sample. A test Raman data set is obtained from the sample wherein said test Raman data set may comprise at least one of a plurality of Raman spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman images. The test Raman data set is compared to a plurality of reference Raman data sets using a chemometric technique. For analysis of renal samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known renal sample and an associated known metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression. For analysis of prostate samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known prostate sample and an associated known disease state, metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression. |
| US07990532B2 |
Method and apparatus for multimodal detection
System and method for assessing the occurrence of an unknown substance in a sample that comprises multiple entities. A reference library is provided comprising a plurality of reference data sets representative of at least one known substance. A first feature of the entities is assessed wherein the first feature is characteristic of the unknown substance. A region of interest is selected wherein the region of interest comprises at least one entity exhibiting the first feature. A spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman image is obtained wherein each pixel in the image is the Raman spectrum of the sample at the corresponding location. The spatially accurate wavelength resolved image is assessed to thereby identify the unknown substance. |
| US07990530B2 |
Optical inspection method and optical inspection apparatus
In the conventional contaminant particle/defect inspection method, if the illuminance of the illumination beam is held at not more than a predetermined upper limit value not to give thermal damage to the sample, the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed being in the tradeoff relation with each other, it is very difficult to improve one of the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed without sacrificing the other or improve both at the same time. The invention provides an improved optical inspection method and an improved optical inspection apparatus, in which a pulse laser is used as a light source, and a laser beam flux is split into a plurality of laser beam fluxes which are given different time delay to form a plurality of illumination spots. The scattered light signal from each illumination spot is isolated and detected by using a light emission start timing signal for each illumination spot. |
| US07990525B2 |
Flow cytometer and flow cytometry
In one embodiment of the present invention, a flow cytometer includes a plurality of optical sources, each of which illuminates an excitation beam at a predetermined frequency having a wavelength and a phase different from another; and a guide member for guiding the excitation beams into the same incident optical path to focus onto a dyed particle. According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible, without requiring introduction of the delay time, to detect a plurality of fluorescence excited at the cell particles labeled with a plurality of fluorescent labeling reagents, by a plurality of laser optical sources. |
| US07990523B2 |
Aiming telescope having a range finder
An aiming telescope has an optical axis and a line of sight. Turrets are provided for adjusting the direction of the line of sight. A range finder is structurally connected with the aiming telescope. The range finder has a light source for emitting an emitted measuring beam. The emitted measuring beam runs outside the aiming telescope. It has a direction coinciding essentially with the direction of the line of sight. A transmission is provided for automatically adjusting the direction of the emitted measuring beam when the direction of the line of sight is adjusted. The light source is pivotably mounted on the aiming telescope. The transmission acts between the aiming telescope and the light source. |
| US07990522B2 |
Dynamic compensation of chromatic point sensor intensity profile data selection
In a chromatic point sensor, distance measurements are based on a distance-indicating subset of intensity profile data, which is selected in a manner that varies with a determined peak position index coordinate (PPIC) of the profile data. The PPIC indexes the position a profile data peak. For profile data having a particular PPIC, the distance-indicating subset of the profile data is selected based on particular index-specific data-limiting parameters that are indexed with that same particular PPIC. In various embodiments, each set of index-specific data-limiting parameters indexed with a particular PPIC characterizes a distance-indicating subset of data that was used during distance calibration operations corresponding to profile data having that PPIC. Distance-indicating subsets of data may be compensated to be similar to a corresponding distance-indicating subset of data that was used during calibration operations, regardless of overall intensity variations and detector bias signal level variations. |
| US07990520B2 |
Microlithography illumination systems, components and methods
The disclosure relates to microlithography systems, such as EUV microlithography illumination systems, as well as related components, systems and methods. |
| US07990517B2 |
Immersion exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method with residual liquid detector
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a substrate table configured to hold a substrate, a projection system arranged to project a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate, a liquid supply system configured to supply liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate, and a residual liquid detector configured to detect liquid remaining on the substrate and/or the substrate table after an exposure is completed. A device manufacturing method includes projecting, using a projection system of a lithographic apparatus, a patterned beam of radiation through a liquid onto a substrate, the substrate being held by a substrate table, and, after the projecting is complete, detecting residual liquid on the substrate and/or the substrate table. |
| US07990516B2 |
Immersion exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method with liquid detection apparatus
An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate by emitting exposure light thereto through a projection optical system and liquid, has a detection apparatus that detects whether the liquid is present on an object disposed lower than a front end of the projection optical system. Another detection apparatus has an emitting portion that emits detection light to an immersion area between the projection optical system and an object disposed on an image plane side thereof, and a light-receiving portion disposed at a predetermined position for the detection light; therein, at least one of size and shape of the immersion area is obtained based on light receiving results. The detection apparatus is used to detect the presence of liquid on such lower-disposed object, the state of the immersion area, or shape or contact angle of the liquid. Optimal measures are taken, based on detection results, for maintaining high exposure and measurement accuracies. |
| US07990512B2 |
Liquid crystal display module having liquid crystal panel and backlight unit and printed circuit board on rear frame
A liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit under the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight unit includes at least one light emitting diode. The liquid crystal display module further comprises a bottom frame surrounding the backlight unit. The bottom frame comprises a printed circuit board and the at least one light emitting diode is disposed on the printed circuit board. The liquid crystal display module also includes a main frame surrounding the liquid crystal display panel and a top frame surrounding a front edge of the liquid crystal display panel and combined with the bottom frame through the main frame. |
| US07990510B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device having a simplified manufacturing process is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes a gate line and a common line having a first conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers. A common electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of a common line. A portion of the common electrode is formed of one conductive layer of the first conductive layer group, while a remaining portion of the common electrode is formed of the first conductive layer group. The gate line, a source electrode and a drain electrode have a second conductive layer group having at least double conductive layers, and the pixel electrode is formed by an extension of at least one transparent conductive layer of the drain electrode. |
| US07990504B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes first and second thin film transistors, a pixel electrode including a first cutout and an inclination direction determining member and connected to the first thin film transistor, a direction controlling electrode connected to the second thin film transistor, a first storage electrode overlapping with the pixel electrode and the direction controlling electrode and applied with a first storage electrode signal having a first voltage, and second storage electrode overlapping with the direction controlling electrode to receive a second storage electrode signal having a second voltage that periodically changes. |
| US07990489B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having frame and light diffusing plate
A liquid crystal display device includes a frame, a linear light source, a liquid crystal cell, a light diffusing plate and a positioning mechanism. The light diffusing plate is disposed between the frame and the liquid crystal cell and has an optical processing region formed in a first direction from a first side portion of the light diffusing plate to a second side portion of the light diffusing plate. The positioning mechanism positions the light diffusing plate with respect to the frame with a middle portion of at least one of the first and second side portions of the light diffusing plate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being used as a reference to align the optical processing region of the light diffusing plate with the linear light source in the second direction. |
| US07990488B2 |
Detecting interactions at biomimetic interfaces with liquid crystals
A method of forming a liquid crystal device, includes: contacting an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant and a receptor molecule with a top surface of a liquid crystal. The liquid crystal is in a holding compartment of a substrate, and the receptor molecule is adsorbed on the top surface of the liquid crystal forming an interface between the liquid crystal and the aqueous solution. The receptor molecule is different than the surfactant. A method of detecting a compound in a flowing stream includes passing an aqueous solution over a top surface of a liquid crystal in a holding compartment of a substrate. The method also includes determining whether a change in the orientation of the liquid crystal occurs as the aqueous solution is passed over the top surface of the liquid crystal. A change in the orientation of the liquid crystal indicates the presence of the compound in the flowing stream. |
| US07990486B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel with line defect repairing mechanism and repairing method thereof
An exemplary liquid crystal display panel (2) includes a plurality of gate lines (21), a plurality of data lines (22), a plurality of pixel regions, and a plurality of repair lines (24). Each pixel region is surrounded by two corresponding gate lines and two corresponding data lines, and each pixel region includes a pixel electrode (20). Each repair line is provided at a respective one of the pixel regions. Each repair line is a substantially rectangular-shaped ring, two opposite long sides of the ring are located at two opposite sides of a corresponding data line or a corresponding gate line between two corresponding adjacent pixel electrodes, two opposite short sides of the ring cross the corresponding data line or gate line, and the repair line is electrically isolated from the corresponding data line or gate line. A method for repairing the liquid crystal display panel is also provided. |
| US07990479B2 |
Communication system and communication method
A transmitting device transmits a video signal and an audio signal based on a television broadcasting signal, or a still picture signal and a silence signal as a transmission signal to a receiving device. The receiving device supplies the video signal and the audio signal transmitted from the transmitting device, or a video signal and an audio signal inputted from external equipment to a video and audio output unit. In the receiving device, when the video signal and the audio signal inputted from the external equipment have been supplied to the video and audio output unit, the still picture signal and the silence signal are transmitted from the transmitting device to the receiving device. |
| US07990474B2 |
Image correction circuit, image correction method and image display
An image correction circuit capable of easily achieving adaptive color correction on the basis of a luminance correction amount is provided. An image correction circuit includes: a luminance correction section for performing luminance correction on input image data; and a color correction section for performing adaptive color correction on input image data on the basis of the following formula (1): Cout∝Cin×[1+M×(ΔY/L)] (1) where Cout represents a chrominance signal after color correction, Cin represents a chrominance signal before color correction, M represents an adaptive color correction magnitude which is a fixed positive value, ΔY represents the total amount of luminance correction by the luminance correction section, L represents a fixed positive value satisfying L<(Ymax/2), and Ymax represents maximum luminance of input image data. |
| US07990473B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program
An image processing apparatus that can display a predetermined content as a predetermined main screen or predetermined sub-screens includes a displaying unit operable to display a main-content on the main screen and sub-contents on the sub-screens; a detecting unit operable to detect characteristic amounts of the sub-contents displayed on the sub-screens; and a control unit operable to switch the display on the main screen based on the characteristic amounts of the sub-contents detected by the detecting unit. |
| US07990472B2 |
Generalized VBI waveform generator
Herein described are at least a method and a system for processing vertical blanking interval (VBI) data such that the VBI data is suitable for transmission to a receiver. The method comprises generating one or more digital symbols at a first frequency, shaping the one or more digital symbols into one or more VBI data samples, first determining a first value that specifies a number of possible points that may be interpolated between two consecutive data samples of the one or more VBI data samples, and second determining a second value that is equal to one plus the number of points skipped before a point of the possible points is selected, and outputting the selected point based on an output frequency. The system may be described as a generalized VBI waveform generator comprising a symbol generator, a shaping filter, and a variable linear interpolator. |
| US07990468B2 |
Monitor camera having a dual structure cover
The monitor camera (9) comprises a pedestal (1) to be attached to a mounting surface, an imaging device (7) rotatably attached so as to be rotatable around the central axis L of the pedestal (1), and a dome-type cover (3) having a window (30) and being rotatably attached to the pedestal (1) so as to cover the imaging device (7). The dome-type cover (3) includes an inner cover (5) having an open window (50) in the position corresponding to the window (30) and an outer cover (4) placed over the inner cover (5). The outer cover (4) and the inner cover (5) have an engagement part (6) at which both the covers (4) and (5) are engaged by a specific manual operation of the outer cover (4). |
| US07990464B2 |
Focusing device with uninterrupted excitation
A focusing device includes a vertical-synchronization-signal generator generating a vertical-synchronization-signal sequence including vertical synchronization signals, an excitation-sequence generator generating an excitation sequence according to the vertical-synchronization-signal sequence and applying excitation according to the excitation sequence, and a driving module driving a lens of an imaging system according to the excitation sequence. Vertical-synchronization-signal times are formed between two adjacent vertical synchronization signals. A first vertical-synchronization-signal time and a last vertical-synchronization-signal time are formed at a beginning and an end of the vertical-synchronization-signal sequence respectively. Each vertical-synchronization-signal time includes a sub time and an exposure time arranged sequentially. A preceding excitation is only applied in the sub time of the first vertical-synchronization-signal time, a succeeding excitation is only applied in sub time of the last vertical-synchronization-signal time and a phase-fixed excitation is applied in each exposure time of each vertical-synchronization-signal time except the exposure time of the last vertical-synchronization-signal time. |
| US07990463B2 |
Multi-stage lens driving device
A multi-stage lens driving device for driving an optical lens so as to perform the functions of zooming and/or focusing comprises: a front cover, a rear cover, a plurality of yokes, a plurality of driving coils, a lens seat, and a plurality of permanent magnets. The front cover is a hollow annular cover having a plurality of recesses formed on an inner periphery thereof and a plurality of holders on an outer periphery thereof. The rear cover can be combined with the front cover, thereby forming a receiving space therebetween. The lens seat is a hollow housing disposed in the receiving space. The yokes are provided in the recesses formed on the inner periphery of the front cover. The permanent magnets are surrounding and embedded in an outer periphery of the lens seat, disposed in correspondence to the yokes and spaced therefrom by a predetermined distance. The driving coils are provided respectively on the holders of the front cover, and correspond respectively to the yokes received in the recesses. When predetermined impulse currents of different directions are applied to the driving coils respectively, polarities of corresponding yokes are reversed, respectively. By virtue of magnetic attraction between the permanent magnets and the yokes, rotation of the lens seat in the receiving space is converted to linear axial translation. |
| US07990462B2 |
Simple method for calculating camera defocus from an image scene
An imaging acquisition system that generates a picture depth from an auto focus curve generated from picture of a three dimensional spatial scene is described. The auto focus curve comprises a step edge. The system generates the depth based on the step edge and a reference auto focus normalization curve. |
| US07990455B2 |
Image information management system
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device with which a photographing state of image data can be intuitively known. When a subject is photographed, a quadrangular flag mark representing a photographing point of an image, and a triangular mark and a circular mark of solid lines representing a photographing range, are displayed on a map. A user can download a desired image associated with the marks by clicking the marks. When a subject is not photographed, a triangular flag mark representing the photographing point of the image, and triangular marks and circular marks of broken lines, are displayed on the map. The user can upload necessary images on the basis of the marks. |
| US07990449B2 |
High dynamic range cascaded integration pixel cell and method of operation
A cascaded imaging storage system for a pixel is disclosed for improving intrascene dynamic range. Charges accumulated in a first capacitor spill over into a second capacitor when a charge storage capacity of the first capacitor is exceeded. A third capacitor may also be provided such that charges accumulated by said second capacitor spill over into the third capacitor when the charge storage capacity of the second capacitor is exceeded. |
| US07990444B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera
Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device which includes a group of elements, the group including at least color photoelectric conversion elements configured to convert light signals in first, second, and third wavelength ranges to electric signals, respectively, a white photoelectric conversion element configured to convert light signals in the wavelength range including the entire visible light range and a portion of the infrared light range to electric signals, and a light-shielded diode element configured to be shielded from light. A unit is formed by including the white photoelectric conversion element and the light-shielded diode element for one color photoelectric conversion element, and within the unit, the white photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected with the light-shielded diode element by way of an overflow path. A camera provided with the solid-state imaging device is also disclosed. |
| US07990443B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and image processing method
An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensing device for sensing light representing a subject image; a first component extractor for extracting a first component having a predetermined frequency out of a photographic image obtained by the image sensing device; a second component extractor for extracting a second component having a frequency higher than the frequency of the first component out of the photographic image; a compressor for compressing a dynamic range of the first component extracted by the first component extractor with a predetermined compression ratio; an image generator for generating an image based on a compressed first component obtained by compressing the dynamic range of the first component by the compressor, and the second component extracted by the second component extractor; and a compression correction coefficient calculator for calculating a compression correction coefficient used in compressing the first component, using the second component extracted by the second component extractor, wherein the compressor determines the compression ratio in such a manner that the larger compression correction coefficient increases the compression ratio based on the compression correction coefficient calculated by the compression correction coefficient calculator, and compresses the dynamic range of the first component based on the determined compression ratio. |
| US07990441B2 |
Image sensor having temperature sensor and driving method thereof
A method for driving an image sensor includes the steps of: sensing temperature from the image sensor; selecting a voltage level of a control signal in accordance with the sensed temperature; and detecting an image in response to the control signal having the selected voltage level. An image sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the image sensor and a pixel array configured to detect an image in response to a control signal, wherein the control signal varies in voltage level as a function of the sensed temperature. |
| US07990440B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and imaging system
An image sensing apparatus includes an output unit including a first output line which transmits a first signal of the first pixel, a second output line which transmits a second signal of the first pixel, a third output line which transmits a first signal of the second pixel, a fourth output line which transmits a second signal of the second pixel, a first difference circuit which operates the difference between the first signal and the second signal of the first pixel to generate a first image signal, and a second difference circuit which operates the difference between the first signal and the second signal of the second pixel to generate a second image signal, wherein the first output line is arranged between the third output line and the fourth output line, and the third output line is arranged between the first output line and the second output line. |
| US07990439B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus having photoelectric conversion device
A solid-state imaging apparatus including, among other things, a control section that, after simultaneous and concurrent reset of all first and second input sections, effects control so as to cause all the first input sections to concurrently and simultaneously accumulate the signal associated with the object image having the same exposure start timing; a correction data retaining section that retains correction data to correct a characteristic variance between the first input section and the second input section where the correction data is generated by taking a difference between a noise signal of the first input section and a noise signal of the second input section containing the characteristic variance; and a variance correction section that generates a third pixel signal corresponding to a difference between the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal where the characteristic variance is corrected by subtracting the correction data from the third pixel signal. |
| US07990438B2 |
Imaging apparatus adapted to implement electrical image restoration processing
The invention relates to an imaging apparatus that makes effective use of an image restoration processing method, thereby working favorably for size reductions while making sure zoom ratios and brightness, and ensuring good images. The imaging apparatus includes a zoom lens 1 comprising a plurality of lens groups G1 to G4 and adapted to implement zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end with a change in a space between the plurality of lens groups, an imaging device 2 adapted to take an image formed through the zoom lens 1, and an image restoration processor 11 adapted to implement signal processing by which image restoration is implemented on the basis of a signal for the image taken by the imaging device 2 to generate an image signal for a restored image. The signal processing for implementing image restoration at the image restoration processor 15 involves processing for electrically implementing image restoration using a restoration filter on the basis of a point spread function regarding the imaging capability of the zoom lens 1. The zoom lens and the imaging device have a relation that satisfies condition (1) for balancing the power of restoration at the image restoration processor 11 against the total length of the zoom lens 1. |
| US07990436B2 |
Solid state image pickup device, drive method thereof and camera system
A solid state image pickup device which includes a pixel unit having a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix shape and having a mechanism for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and outputting the resultant signal, a column processing circuit for performing column processing of the signal from the pixel unit, a calculating circuit for calculating a processing result of the column processing circuit, a frame memory unit, an internal interface for connecting the calculating circuit and the frame memory unit, an external interface for connecting an external unit or device and the frame memory unit, and a connection switching circuit for switching a connection of the frame memory unit relative to the internal interface and the external interface. |
| US07990433B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging method
An apparatus and method that determines an appropriate light exposure condition to generate an appropriate synthesized image signal for an imaging scene for which an appropriate light exposure condition cannot be obtained by conventional techniques. The apparatus includes a determining unit for determining a plurality of light exposure conditions based on a histogram of the luminance distribution of an imaging scene, an imaging unit for imaging, plural times, the scene under the plurality of determined light exposure conditions, and generating first and second raw image signals, and an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the first and second raw image signals using, as a boundary, a reference value in the first raw image signal to generate a synthesized image signal. The determining unit determines at least one light exposure condition of the light exposure conditions so that the reference value in the first raw image signal corresponds to the luminance value at the bottom of a ravine of the histogram of the luminance distribution of the scene. |
| US07990424B2 |
Imaging data processing device, imaging data processing method, and imaging element
A device is provided for taking high resolution still pictures while recording video without pausing video recording. Plural channels are provided for reaching pixel values from a CMOS sensor, and the output of each channel is input to a corresponding A/D conversion circuit. The channels are configured so that the pixels that are added together are read simultaneously. The data added by the pixel value adder is used as the video data for video recording. When a still picture is captured during video recording, the pixel data is stored in memory with capacity to store one frame, and is sequentially output from the image sensor as the still picture data. |
| US07990423B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for generating frame image of moving picture for timing at which still image is captured
An image capturing apparatus being capable of generating a frame for a moving image at a desired timing using a still image captured during capturing a moving image is provided. The image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a still image capturing instruction reception section for receiving an instruction to capture a still image when a plurality of frame images are continuously captured; a still image capturing control section for causing the image capturing section to capture the still image instead of one frame image when the still image capturing instruction reception section receives the instruction to capture the still image; a still image capturing timing recording section for recording a still image capturing timing at which the still image is captured; frame image before/after image-capturing extracting section for extracting a frame image before image-capturing and a frame image after image-capturing captured respectively before/after the still image capturing timing; and a frame image generating section for generating an alternate frame image substituted for the frame image which could not be captured because the image capturing section captures the still image based on the frame image before image-capturing and the frame image after image-capturing. |
| US07990422B2 |
Automatically expanding the zoom capability of a wide-angle video camera
A system for automatically expanding the zoom capability of a wide-angle video camera using images from multiple camera locations. One preferred embodiment achieves this using images from the wide-angle video camera that are analyzed to identify regions of interest (RoI). Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) controls are then sent to aim slave cameras toward the RoI. Processing circuitry is then used to replace the RoI from the wide-angle images with the higher-resolution images from one of the slave cameras. In addition, motion-detecting software can be utilized to automatically detect, track, and/or zoom in on moving objects. |
| US07990419B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and program storing a correction or modification log
An image processing apparatus includes a modification processing unit which modifies input image data, a storage unit which stores a modification log with respect to the same image data modified by the modification processing unit, a selection unit which selects an arbitrary modification process in the modification log, a deletion unit which deletes the modification process selected by the selection unit from the modification log, and a determination unit which determines whether to allow deletion of the modification process selected by the selection unit from the modification log. |
| US07990414B2 |
O/S application based multiple device access windowing display
A system and method for providing access to a video display for multiple devices. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving, at a video display system, a first video data signal through a first data communication interface and a second video data signal through a second data communication interface. A processor module may process the first and second video data signals to generate video information of first and second display windows in a composite display. For example, the processor module may transform and translate video information to fit display windows. The processor module may, for example, generate an output video signal comprising information of the first window and information of the second window. Such a signal may, for example, be utilized to drive an output display showing the first and second windows. Various aspects may also provide method steps and apparatus for controlling aspects of the displayed windows. |
| US07990411B2 |
Videoconferencing systems with recognition ability
A videoconferencing system which encodes different streams of information. The information may include video, audio, speech recognized versions of the audio, and language translated versions of the audio. Text may be sent as part of the videoconference. |
| US07990409B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Disclosed an image forming apparatus equipped with an exposure section including a plurality of LED elements, the apparatus forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive body with the exposure section, the apparatus including: an RFID tag provided in the exposure section, the RFID tag including a light quantity correction data storing section and a communication section to perform wireless communication; an RFID reader/writer to perform the wireless communication with the RFID tag; a control section to allow the RFID reader/writer to perform the wireless communication with the RFID tag so as to read or write the light quantity correction data from/to the light quantity correction data storing section of the RFID tag during a period when no processing related to the image data is being performed; and a storage section to store the read light quantity correction data. |
| US07990406B2 |
Optical scanning device having a pitch adjustment device for adjusting a beam pitch and image forming apparatus including same
A multi-beam scanning device for focusing deflected light beams onto an object to be scanned includes a light source unit, a deflector, a pitch adjustment device, and a conical-shape compression-torsion coil spring. The light source unit is rotatable about an optical axis and includes a plurality of light sources to emit the light beams and a plurality of coupling lenses disposed corresponding to the light sources. The deflector deflects the light beams emitted from the plurality of the light sources and passed through the plurality of the coupling lenses. The pitch adjustment device moves the light source unit in a first direction around the optical axis to adjust a beam pitch. The conical-shape compression-torsion coil spring urges the light source unit in a second direction opposite the first direction around the optical axis as well as in the optical axis direction. An image forming apparatus includes the multi-beam scanning device. |
| US07990403B2 |
Device, system and method for color display
A color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device for displaying a color image using at least four different primary colors, the device including an array of Liquid Crystal (LC) elements, driving circuitry adapted to receive an input corresponding to the color image and to selectively activate the LC elements of the LC array to produce an attenuation pattern corresponding to a gray-level representation of the color image, and an array of color sub-pixel filter elements juxtaposed and in registry with the array of LC elements such that each color sub-pixel filter element is in registry with one of the LC elements, wherein the array of color sub-pixel filter elements comprises at least four types of color sub-pixel filter elements, which transmit light of the at least four primary colors, respectively. |
| US07990401B2 |
Liquid crystal driving system and method for driving liquid crystal display
A method for driving a liquid crystal display includes: a) receiving a video signal from a first group of gray scales values; b) comparing a current frame of the video signal with a previous frame to determine whether the current frame is in a static state or in a dynamic state; c) when the current frame is determined to be in the static state, converting the video signal to a driving signal; d) when the current frame is determined to be in the dynamic state, calculating a overdrive signal. The value of the driving signal is selected from a second group of gray scale values having at least one decimal point gray scale and having the same number of gray scale values as that of the first group of gray scale values. The value of the overdrive signal is selected from the first group of gray scale values. |
| US07990397B2 |
Image-mapped point cloud with ability to accurately represent point coordinates
A laser scanner scans a scene to form a point cloud representing points on a surface within the scene. The point cloud is used to create a corresponding visual representation of the point cloud from a single eye point that is displayed as an image array, such as a cube map, on a computer screen. Each point of the point cloud is represented on the computer screen as a pixel having a value other than a background value. An offset is determined between a reference position of the pixel and an intersection point, which is the point at which a ray from the point to the scanning position intersects a plane coincident with plane of the computer screen including the pixel. The offset is stored in an offset grid, whereby each pixel of the image array has a corresponding offset value in the offset grid. That is, the invention provides for encoding actual point coordinates with respect to the pixels of the image array by storing depth and angular offsets at each pixel in the image array that has an associated point. If the point spacing in a certain region is wider than the image array pixels, the gaps can be filled with, for example, RGB values to make the displayed image continuous. |
| US07990390B2 |
Multi-pass system and method supporting multiple streams of video
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing multiple processing of data in a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a first display pipeline that is formed in real time from a plurality of possible display pipelines and that performs at least a first processing step on received data. A buffer stores the processed data and a second display pipeline that is formed in real time from a plurality of possible display pipelines performs at least a second processing step on stored data. |
| US07990381B2 |
Re-coloring a color image
Technology for re-coloring a region of a color image including determining an original base color in a region of a color image; establishing at least one shading parameter in the region of the color image; and combining a new base color with the at least one shading parameter in the region of the color image thereby producing a re-colored region of the color image. |
| US07990380B2 |
Diffuse photon map decomposition for parallelization of global illumination algorithm
A given computer graphics scene may be rendered as a set of triangles. A set of photons may be distributed over the scene, and a number of steps may be performed for each triangle. For each triangle, a list of photons may be constructed. For that triangle, a set of control points may be identified for purposes of determining global illumination. For each control point, a specific illumination estimate may be computed. A kd-tree of the control points of the triangle may be built. An illumination estimate may then be drive for the triangle. |
| US07990375B2 |
Virtual view schematic editor
Embodiments of the present invention provide a virtual-view schematic editor for use in CAD systems. In response to a user request, the editor selects elements from a CAD database, determines the connectivity between the elements, and renders the elements on a single display. Virtual views may be created and stored for later re-use within the system. |
| US07990374B2 |
Apparatus and methods for haptic rendering using data in a graphics pipeline
The invention provides methods for leveraging data in the graphics pipeline of a 3D graphics application for use in a haptic rendering of a virtual environment. The invention provides methods for repurposing graphical information for haptic rendering. Thus, at least part of the work that would have been performed by a haptic rendering process to provide touch feedback to a user is obviated by work performed by the graphical rendering process. |
| US07990373B2 |
Power supply circuit for liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device using the same
An exemplary power supply circuit (200) for a liquid crystal display device (2) includes a switch control circuit (28) for receiving a control signal from an external control circuit, the control signal controlling the turning on or turning off of the switch control circuit; a first DC/DC converter (27) for adjusting the direct current voltage from an external circuit, outputting an output voltage. The switch control circuit controls switches the power supply of the output voltage to a liquid crystal display panel (20) of the liquid crystal display device. |
| US07990372B2 |
Power supply apparatus and liquid crystal display including the same
A power supply apparatus capable of reducing power consumption and a liquid crystal display including the power supply apparatus includes a first DC-AC converting unit enabled by a driving signal to convert a DC voltage into a first AC voltage, increase the first AC voltage, and supply the increased first AC voltage as a first power supply voltage; a switching unit which selectively transmits the driving signal in response to a selection signal; and a second DC-AC converting unit enabled by the driving signal selectively transmitted by the switching unit to convert the DC voltage into a second AC voltage, increase the second AC voltage, and supply the increased second AC voltage as a second power supply voltage. |
| US07990367B2 |
On-vehicle manipulating system
An on-vehicle manipulating system includes a manipulating device having a housing, a first side pushbutton switch disposed at one side of the housing, a second side pushbutton switch disposed at the other side of the housing and an additional switch disposed at a prescribed portion of the housing and a control unit for setting a first function to one of the first and second pushbutton switches and a second function to the other pushbutton switch. In this manipulating system, the control unit changes the function of the first or second side pushbutton switch from the first function such as an ENTER key to the second function, such as a RETURN key, and the function of the other pushbutton switch, such as a MENU key, from the second function to the first function when one of the pushbutton switches being set to change the function is operated subsequent to the other pushbutton switch that has been set the second function is operated in a prescribed period after the additional switch is operated. |
| US07990366B2 |
Foot-operated input device
A foot operated data input pad has a plurality of foot-operated buttons that may be used to enter data, information, or instructions, including but not limited to numbers, symbols, words, or phrases, separately or in combination. In some embodiments, each button is preferably capable of entering different data values, preferably depending on the length of time that it is pressed or on the number of times that it is pressed in succession. A controller may be included to allow the user to control the computer's pointer, allowing the user to switch between data entry fields. In embodiments wherein a heel rest is provided on the housing of the pad, the rest may optionally serve as both a heel rest and a button/switch for sending an electric/electronic signal. An automated voice system, or other audible and/or visual indicator system, may help the user keep track of the data value as it changes and is entered. In alternative versions for input of instructions, single values, binary information, or for selection of items in a pull-down screen window, a pad may have two foot buttons provided adjacent a cursor controller, wherein the cursor controller and right and left click buttons are on an arc or on an angle so that the foot buttons are rearward on the housing relative to the cursor controller so that pivoting the foot to the right or left on the heel places the toe-end of the foot over each foot button for actuation. |
| US07990365B2 |
Motion controlled remote controller
A handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image indicating a currently controlled remote device and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of remote command gestures. Each remote command gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the handheld device. The device includes a gesture mapping database comprising a mapping of each of the remote command gestures to an associated command for controlling operation of the remote device and a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device includes a control module operable to track movement of the handheld device using the motion detection module, to compare the tracked movement against the remote command gestures to determine a matching gesture, and to identify the one of the commands corresponding to the matching gesture. The device also includes a wireless interface operable to transmit the identified command to a remote receiver for delivery to the remote device. |
| US07990364B2 |
Pointing device and associated method of operating
The pointing device is used in connection with a computer system, and has a sensor for sensing data representing a displacement information in at least two spatial coordinates. The device is capable of toggling between a first and a second mode of operation, and also adjusting the displacement information referring to a first of the two spatial coordinates (i.e. first displacement information) in view of a second of the two spatial coordinates (i.e. second displacement information) when the second mode of operation is activated. |
| US07990363B2 |
Common voltage adjusting method for liquid crystal display
An exemplary common voltage adjusting method for a liquid crystal display (LCD) (20) includes: providing a positive high level voltage to two sub-pixels of a first pixel unit and providing a negative high level voltage to the other sub-pixel of the first pixel unit in a first frame; inspecting the first pixel unit and generating a first color parameter; providing a negative high level voltage to the two sub-pixels of a second pixel unit and providing a positive high level voltage to the other sub-pixel of the second pixel unit in a second frame; inspecting the second pixel unit and generating a second color parameter; generating a common voltage adjusting parameter according to a comparison result of the first color parameter with the second color parameter; and adjusting a common voltage of the LCD according to the common voltage adjusting parameter for confirming a preferred common voltage. |
| US07990361B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having an improved backlight
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates, at least one of which has patterned electrodes on an inner surface thereof, and a backlight disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight has at least one discharge tube including a sealed-off transparent tube, a phosphor film formed on an inner surface of the sealed-off transparent tube, and a discharge gas within the sealed-off transparent tube and plural electrodes spaced in a direction of an axis of the sealed-off transparent tube and positioned at least partially around a circumference of the sealed-off transparent tube. At least two adjacent ones of the plural electrodes is supplied with alternating voltages different in frequency from each other, respectively. |
| US07990358B2 |
Display apparatus
In one embodiment of the present invention, a display module includes a display screen divided in a vertical direction into screen regions in each of which an image can be independently displayed. A control device for controlling an image display operation of the display module includes: upper- and lower-screen data selectors for each dividing an input image signal in accordance with a corresponding one of the screen regions; and upper- and lower-screen time-division gradation conversion blocks for each generating a display signal for each of a plurality of sub-frames from an image signal, corresponding to a corresponding one of the screen regions, which is outputted from a corresponding one of the data selectors. This makes it possible to provide an image display device in which, even when a sub-frame display is carried out, the voltage of an image signal can be applied to a pixel for a longer time so as to be sufficiently applied to the pixel. |
| US07990357B2 |
Liquid crystal display controlling a period of a source output enable signal differently and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a driving method for preventing a phenomenon causing a non-uniform charge characteristic between liquid crystal cells are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a picture display part having a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines and having liquid crystal cells sharing a data line. A gate driver sequentially supplies a scanning pulse to the gate lines. A source output enable signal generator alternately generates a first source output enable signal having a first horizontal period and a second source output enable signal delayed from the first source output enable signal by a time longer than a half of the first horizontal period and shorter than the first horizontal period. A data driver supplies data voltages to the data lines in response to the first and second source output enable signals. |
| US07990356B2 |
Flat panel display having a compensation circuit to compensate a defective pixel
A flat panel display, a fabricating method thereof, a fabricating apparatus thereof, a picture quality controlling method thereof and a picture quality controlling apparatus for reducing a recognizing degree of a defective pixel and electrically compensating a charging characteristics of the defective pixel are provided.In the flat panel display, a display panel has a plurality of pixels. A defective pixel is electrically connected to an adjacent normal pixel. A memory stores a location data that indicates a location of the link pixel and a compensation data that compensates for charging characteristics of the link pixel. A compensation circuit modulates a digital video data to be displayed on the link pixel on the basis of the location data and the compensation data. |
| US07990354B2 |
Liquid crystal display having gradation voltage adjusting circuit and driving method thereof
An exemplary LCD (200) includes gate lines (23), data lines (24); a gradation voltage adjusting circuit (26) for receiving the gradation voltages respectively corresponding to the j, j+1, k, and k+1 frames interchanging the j+1 frame gradation voltage and the k frame gradation voltage when a first voltage difference between j frame gradation voltage and j+1 frame gradation voltage is less than a second voltage difference between j frame gradation voltage and k frame gradation voltage; a memory circuit (28) for storing the gradation voltages corresponding to the frames 1, 2, . . . j, j+2, . . . k−1, k+1 . . . h and storing the interchanged gradation voltages corresponding to the frames j+1 and k; and a gate driver (21) for receiving the gradation voltages stored in the memory circuit. A smallest rectangular area formed by any two adjacent gate lines together with any two adjacent data lines defines a pixel unit thereat. |
| US07990353B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing the visual effects of nonuniformities in display systems
A method is provided for compensating for output nonuniformity on a display. The method comprises characterizing the display. The method further includes creating a set of data tables wherein one table provides data for compensation along vertical axes of the display and a second table provided data for compensation along horizontal axes of the display, and wherein components of the tables include a linear offset factor to correct data for nonuniformity and a slope factor which permits gray scale information to be recovered at points near the limits of the gray scale range. The characterizing step may include using a optical detector to obtain optical output information from the display. The slope factor may be calculated to preserve top end gray scale range of the display by adjusting luminous output so that input data level maps to separate output grey levels between a truncated and an untruncated level. |
| US07990350B2 |
Light emitting device, driving method for the same and electronic apparatus
It is a problem to provide a light-emitting device capable of obtaining a constant brightness without being affected by deterioration in an organic light-emitting layer or temperature change, and of making desired color display. The lowering in OLED brightness due to deterioration is reduced by causing the OLED to emit light while keeping constant the current flowing through the OLED instead of causing the OLED to emit light while keeping constant the OLED drive voltage. Namely, OLED brightness is controlled not by voltage but by current thereby preventing against the change in OLED brightness due to deterioration of OLED. Specifically, the drain current Id of a transistor for supplying a current to the OLED is controlled in a signal line drive circuit thereby keeping constant the drain current Id without relying upon the value of a load resistance. |
| US07990349B2 |
Superimposed displays
Various embodiments of methods and systems for constructing and utilizing displays constructed from superimposed display subunits are disclosed. |
| US07990346B2 |
Display method and display device preventing image burn-in by black display insertion
A display method is performed by a display panel having a display area where a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix so as to correspond to intersections of a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines. The display method includes: driving light emitting elements of the pixels on the basis of image data; switching a plurality of different images to display the images on the display area such that portions of the images overlap each other; and putting a black display portion in a portion of the image after the switching which overlaps the image before the switching. |
| US07990345B2 |
Plasma display panel and drive method therefor
A plasma display panel and a drive method therefor, which can enhance a representation capability when displaying a dark image. The plasma display panel includes fluorophor layers containing magnesium oxide. The drive method includes a reset step to initialize all the pixel cells into states of one of a light-up mode and a light-off mode, and an address step in which the pixel cells are caused to perform address discharges selectively in accordance with pixel data, which are successively executed in each of a head subfield and a second subfield within a one-field display period. In reset step, a voltage that sets row electrodes on one side, in the row electrode pairs as an anode and sets the column electrodes set as a cathode is applied between the row electrodes on the one side and the column electrodes. |
| US07990340B2 |
Plasma display apparatus
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus including a sustain driving apparatus that supplies a sustain signal to a panel. The plasma display apparatus includes a panel in which a front substrate having formed first and second electrodes therein and a rear substrate are coalesced, a sustain driver including a first switch for applying a first voltage to any one of the first and second electrodes and a second switch for applying a second voltage, and a circuit protection unit that controls one of the first and second switches, which has a voltage higher than a predetermined voltage, at its both ends, not to turn on. According to the present invention, when a voltage at both ends of the switch included in the sustain driving apparatus in order to supply the sustain signal is higher than a reference voltage, the switch is controlled not to turn on. It is therefore possible to prevent damage due to the short of the sustain driving apparatus and, therefore, to improve the lifespan and reliability of a product. |
| US07990337B2 |
Radio frequency IC device
A radio frequency IC device includes a radio frequency IC chip, a feeder circuit substrate, and a radiating plate. The feeder circuit substrate includes a feeder circuit that electrically connects to the radio IC chip and that includes a resonance circuit and/or a matching circuit including inductance elements. The feeder circuit substrate is bonded to the radiating plate, which radiates a transmission signal supplied from the feeder circuit and supplies a received signal to the feeder circuit. The inductance elements are arranged in spiral patterns wound in opposite directions and couple to each other in opposite phases. The radio frequency IC device is able to obtain a radio frequency IC device that is not susceptible to being affected by a usage environment, minimizes variations in radiation characteristics, and can be used in a wide frequency band. |
| US07990332B1 |
Multi-directional receiving antenna array
Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. The techniques may include selecting a location for an antenna array, generating a guide for one or more station signals for the location, including a station frequency and a station transmitter location, and generating an antenna array configuration from the guide. The techniques may further include attaching the antennas to the antenna array based on the antenna array configuration. |
| US07990319B2 |
Radio device having antenna arrangement suited for operating over a plurality of bands
This radio device operating over a plurality of bands comprises a casing having a front cover and a back cover, an antenna arrangement, a radio frequency circuit set and a matching unit for connecting the antenna arrangement to the radio frequency circuit set. The following measures are proposed: —the antenna arrangement is formed by at least two antenna parts, each of which being related to a set of bands, —the antenna parts are placed close together, —the arrangement comprises a part that is normal to the front cover and another one that is near the back cover and feeding points, —the matching unit comprises control switching means for tuning the arrangement to each band. Thanks to these measures, the coverage of the band is obtained with satisfactory performance. |
| US07990317B2 |
Signal path delay determination
Propagation time for a target signal path is determined by detecting and processing a plurality of unknown signals received at two locations. A third location is established, such that the propagation time between the third location and one of the two locations is known, and the signal path between the third location and the other of the two locations is the target signal path. The two locations are monitored for any signals that may be detected. Signals received at the two locations are processed to determine which signals have a common source, and of the signals having a common source, the signal having the greatest delay between times of reception at the two locations is selected. The selected signal is used to determine the propagation time between the two locations. |
| US07990316B2 |
Antenna system having feed subarray offset beam scanning
An antenna system and electronic scanning method that employs feed subarray electronic offset beam scanning. The system includes a feed element containing an array of electronic transmitting/receiving elements. The system further includes a reflector for reflecting signals received from the feed element to a target region, and for reflecting signals received from a target region to the feed element. Electronic beam scanning is achieved by activating and deactivating in turn subarrays within the array of transmitting/receiving elements of the feed element. |
| US07990313B2 |
Radar arrangement
An FMCW radar has a variable frequency microwave signal source for outputting a microwave signal, a frequency divider, a phase-locked loop, a loop filter and a reference signal source. The frequency divider is connected between the output of the variable frequency microwave signal source and an input of the phase-locked loop. The loop filter is connected between the output of the phase-locked loop and the input of the variable frequency microwave signal source. The reference signal source is connected to an additional input of the phase-locked loop. The frequency divider is adjustable, in particular digitally adjustable. A method for operating an FMWC radar includes adjusting a variable frequency microwave signal source by way of a closed-loop control circuit which uses a reference signal of a reference signal source, especially of a quartz oscillator, as the reference value, and a frequency-divided output signal of the microwave signal source as the feedback value. |
| US07990312B2 |
Antenna calibration
The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibrationAccordingly, the present invention provides a method of self-calibration of a plurality of calibration antennas comprising the steps of: (i) selecting two calibration antennas to be calibrated that have a common area in range of both calibration antennas; (ii) selecting at least one radiating element within range of the two calibration antennas; (iii) transmitted a known test signal from the one or more selected radiating elements; (iv) measuring a received signal at each of the two calibration antennas; (v) comparing the received signals at each of the two calibration antennas; and (vi) determining a correction coefficient for each calibration antenna based on the received signals at the said calibration antennas. |
| US07990311B2 |
Adaptive clutter filter for maritime surface search radar
A time sequence of raw radar data for a region of space is subdivided into a plurality of processing frames. The processing frames are subdivided into a plurality of processing cells and iteratively processed by selecting a single processing cell for processing, transforming the radar data of the processing cell to form transformed radar data in either the time domain or the Fourier domain. The transformed data is converted to a Power Spectrum Density Matrix in the case of the Fourier domain and a Time Space Correlation Matrix in the case of the time domain. This is smoothed and thresholded and then the clutter for the processing cell is estimated. Estimated local non-speckle clutter is estimated and removed from the transformed radar data, with the cleaned transformed radar data converted back to the time domain if required. |
| US07990307B1 |
Integrity monitor antenna systems for GPS-based precision landing system verification
The integrity of operation of a GPS precision aircraft approach and landing system may be compromised by error producing effects of reflected multipath signals. An integrity monitor antenna system as disclosed may utilize both attenuation and shadowing of reflected multipath GPS signals to achieve extreme multipath mitigation of the order of 50 dB suppression. An antenna with a right-hand circular polarization pattern having a sharp cut off at the horizon may provide 30 dB suppression of reflected multipath signals. A signal absorbent ground plane bed of defined dimensions may provide 20 dB attenuation of incident multipath signals. A signal/processor may be employed to derive position error data for integrity monitoring, based upon differentials between a known fixed location and a current GPS-indicated location. Communication of identification of a subset of particular GPS satellites for common usage may also reduce potential error levels. |
| US07990305B2 |
Current mode double-integration conversion apparatus
A double-integration signal processing apparatus for pulse width amplification and A/D conversion is provided. The current mode double-integration conversion apparatus includes: a current mode double-integration unit which integrates an input current in a predetermined time interval and outputs an integration voltage; a comparison unit which compares the integration voltage output from the current mode double-integration unit with a predetermined comparison voltage V k and outputs an comparison pulse signal; and a gate logic unit which performs a logic operation by using the comparison pulse signal of the comparison unit and an internal signal and outputs an logic operation pulse signal. Accordingly, the current mode double-integration conversion apparatus can be applied to various sensors. |
| US07990301B2 |
Analog to digital (A/D) conversion circuit having a low dynamic range A/D converter
A low-power, high-dynamic range, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal having a controllable amplifier for amplifying the analog signal received at an input of the amplifier in response to a first control signal and for generating an amplified analog signal, a low dynamic range A/D converter for converting the amplified analog signal to an intermediary digital signal, a controllable bit shift register for scaling the intermediary digital signal in response to a second control signal to generate the digital signal, and a gain control component (AGC) for generating the first control signal to cause the amplified analog signal to be within the dynamic range of the A/D converter and for generating the second control signal to cause the scaling to compensate for the amplification by the amplifier. |
| US07990296B1 |
High speed low power cell providing serial differential signals
Techniques are provided to serialize and delay parallel input data signals and are particularly useful for low power applications. In one example, a device includes a plurality of data input ports adapted to receive N parallel single-ended input data signals, and a clock input port adapted to receive a clock signal substantially synchronized with the parallel single-ended input data signals. The device also includes a cell adapted to serialize the parallel single-ended input data signals to provide N/2 first serial differential output data signals in response to the clock signal, delay the parallel single-ended input data signals, and serialize the delayed parallel single-ended input data signals to provide N/2 delayed second serial differential output data signals in response to the clock signal. The delayed second serial differential output data signals are delayed relative to the first serial differential output data signals. The device also includes a plurality of output ports. |
| US07990293B2 |
Programmable deserializer
A deserializer for converting serial data into at least one parallel data includes a first flip-flop group, a second flip-flop group and a programmable frequency divider. The first flip-flop group includes a plurality of flip-flops connected in series, where the first flip-flop group is controlled by a first clock signal. The second flip-flop group includes a plurality of flip-flops, where the second flip-flop group is controlled by a second clock signal, and the flip-flops of the second flip-flop group are respectively connected to output nodes of the flip-flops of the first flip-flop group. The programmable frequency divider is coupled to each of the flip-flops of the second flip-flop group, and is utilized for receiving a control signal and generating the second clock signal by performing a frequency-dividing operation according to a frequency-dividing factor set by the control signal. |
| US07990289B2 |
Combinatorial coding/decoding for electrical computers and digital data processing systems
Embodiments described herein may include example embodiments of a method, article and apparatus for compressing data utilizing combinatorial coding which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communication between computing platforms via a network or other interconnection medium. |
| US07990288B2 |
Remote control device
Remote control device (10) comprising a circuit board (140) with control inputs (46) arranged on one surface thereof (44); control elements (42) which, following an activating action performed by the user, activate one or more inputs (46) from among those present on said board (140), said control elements (42) being incorporated in a selection mask (30; 30x; 30y) arranged over said inputs (46) for selecting which inputs of the board (140) are activated by an activating action of the user. |
| US07990284B2 |
Providing sponsorship information alongside traffic messages
A method and system for providing sponsorship information to a user of a traffic message receiver is disclosed. Sponsorship messages are sent to the traffic message receiver and include data to be stored in the memory of the receiver. The transmission of the sponsorship messages is performed as a background routine to the regular transmission of traffic messages. The sponsorship data stored in the traffic message receiver is provided to the user of the traffic message receiver based on a triggering event, such as the end-user entering a point of interest string into the user interface of his navigation system or receipt of a message that includes an activated trigger flag. |
| US07990283B2 |
Vehicular communication arrangement and method
Accident avoidance system using an infrastructure system to convey location information between vehicles includes at least two vehicles approaching or traveling on a roadway and each having onboard, a position determining system onboard that receives satellite positioning signals from a plurality of satellites and determines location information based on the satellite positioning signals, a transmitter that transmits the location information for the vehicle to an infrastructure system, a receiver that receives location information for another vehicle from the infrastructure system, and an accident risk warning system that alerts its operator of a risk of an accident based on the location information for any other vehicles and map data representing the roadway including edges or lane boundaries of the roadway. |
| US07990277B2 |
Call cord alert with bracket
A call cord comprising an electrical wire or cable having one end thereof located at a nurse's station or other remote location to which it is desired to send an alert signal and a second end terminating proximate a medical patient or other user and including a push-button type switch. Intermediate the opposite ends of the call cord, there is provided a housed switch of the present invention whose actuation is a function of the physical engagement of the house switch within a operatively cooperative fixed mounting bracket for the housed switch. In the present invention, actuation of the housed switch may be accomplished as a function of the association or disassociation of the housed switch relative to the bracket. |
| US07990276B2 |
Battery identification for battery packs with inter-cell taps
A battery charger comprises a first electrical contact that receives a positive contact of an attached battery pack; a second electrical contact that receives a negative contact of the attached battery pack; a plurality of inter-cell electrical contacts that selectively receive inter-cell contacts of the attached battery pack; a measurement module; and a control module. The inter-cell contacts of the attached battery pack are connected to nodes between cells of the attached battery pack. |
| US07990271B2 |
Detection stabilizing system for RFID system, detection stabilizing method, and program for stabilizing detection
Quantities of movements of human and matter within a detection area are detected, based on the read results of an ID holding unit arranged in the detection area or information obtained from a sensor arranged in the detection area. Parameters are decided in accordance with the detected movement quantity, and by using such parameters, whether the detecting object is within the detection area or not is detected, based on the read results of an ID holding unit attached to a detecting object. A stabilizing process is performed based on the detected movement quantities of human and matter within the detection area by employing such constitution. Thus, detection is stabilized without limiting using environment or using method. |
| US07990267B1 |
Bathroom servicing request communication devices and method
The present invention describes a restroom attendant system. The restroom attendant system utilizes a notification device placed in a restroom. A patron would select a request for service button when the patron recognizes that the restroom needs servicing. The notification device can include a cancel feature as well as indicators to indicate when a request for service is in process and if the restroom is considered cleaned. The notification device would communicate with either a main terminal or a service person. The main terminal can further monitor the time between cleanings and request that a restroom be serviced should the time since the previous servicing exceeds an acceptable time-span. The information can be stored, printed, and uploaded to a central receiving station. |
| US07990266B2 |
Location- and direction-enhanced automatic reminders of appointments
An automatic appointment reminder system uses location and/or direction of travel of the reminder recipient relative to appointments to affect the time of sending of appointment reminders to the user, and thus enhances the user's ability to be on-time for appointments. |
| US07990265B2 |
Method and system for tracking a vehicle
A system for tracking a fleeing vehicle, using optional remote sensing to identify a payload contained in the vehicle or asset, and an optional device disabling the fleeing vehicle via disrupting the vehicle's onboard computer or electrical system. The system includes a tracking device or carrier containing tracking components, sensing equipment, and the vehicle disabling device. A launcher of the tracking device may be handheld or vehicle mounted, and may use high pressure gas or another propellant to launch the projectile at a fleeing vehicle. The electronics package may include tracking hardware, sensing hardware, and the vehicle disabling hardware. Once launched and affixed to the suspect vehicle or stationary target, the vehicle's location can be tracked while sensors detecting any trace elements of explosives, IED (Improvised Explosive Device) materials, WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction), biochemical materials, drugs, or any form of contraband can be monitored from a safe distance. In the case of a vehicle or moving target, the vehicle may then be disabled from a safe distance if sensors detect any abnormality in the targeted vehicle's payload. |
| US07990262B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing data collected via wireless network sensors
An apparatus for processing data collected via a wireless network sensor includes modules for receiving and processing the data. The wireless network sensor includes a plurality of sensors for detecting events occurring proximate the sensors, a processor for receiving and processing data from the sensors, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data. The apparatus also includes modules for parsing events, episodes, vectors, links, and paths based upon the received data. The paths can be used to generate a representation of traffic patterns in a space monitored by wireless network sensors. |
| US07990260B2 |
Electric device and method of normality determination for communication function in such an electric device
A normality determination unit determines that a communication function for an outdoor unit of its own is normal when receiving a signal from one of indoor units, and writes a normality flag into an EEPROM. Further, the normality determination unit determines that it is not asserted that the communication function for the outdoor unit of its own is normal when not receiving a signal from any of the indoor units for a predetermined time period, and deletes the normality flag in the EEPROM. |
| US07990249B1 |
RFID tag circuits tags and methods for backscattering with controllable admittance
RFID tag circuits, tags, and methods are provided for backscattering a received RF wave using a controllable admittance difference between the ON state and the OFF state. The admittance difference is controlled responsive to a control signal. In some embodiments, the control signal is generated responsive to a command. In others, the control signal is generated responsive to detecting the power level of the received RF wave. In those, the inherent behavior of the admittance difference can be shaped as desired. For example, it can be such that the backscatters with advantageously more power when it is away from the reader, and with less power when it is close to the reader, so as to meet regulatory requirements. |
| US07990247B2 |
Coil magnets with constant or variable phase shifts
A wiring assembly having a conductor positioned about an axis in a helical-like configuration to provide a repetitive pattern which rotates around the axis. In one embodiment, when a current passes through the conductor, a magnetic field having an orientation orthogonal to the axis changes direction as a function of position along the axis. |
| US07990244B2 |
Inductor winder
An electrically insulating bobbin surrounds the magnetic core of an inductor. The bobbin includes a number of channels to receive wire for making an inductor. When wire is positioned in the channels, the wire is wound around the inductor core, but insulated from the inductor core and the other turns of wire. Because the bobbin insulates the turns of wire from each other and from the inductor core, bare rope wire can be used to wrap the inductor, resulting in reduced size and weight and improved ease of manufacture. |
| US07990243B1 |
Gull wing surface mount magnetic structure
A magnetic device is provided for placement on the top surface of a printed circuit board with surface mount connection on the bottom surface. The circuit board includes first and second sets of slots bisecting each other. The device includes a bobbin with a plurality of support members each having a face shaped to engage the top surface of the printed circuit board and a plurality of pins attached to the support members. The pins have a first portion shaped to pass through the first set of slots, and a second portion shaped to pass through the second set of slots. The second portion of the pins is shaped to engage the bottom surface of the circuit board, locking the magnetic device in place against the top surface of the circuit board and providing a soldering area for surface mounting on the bottom surface. |
| US07990239B2 |
Electricity meter contact arrangement
At least one electrical contactor is provided that includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. The fixed contact includes a center leg and first and second arms that extend in opposite directions from the center leg. The movable contact associated with each fixed contact includes first and second blades positioned on opposite sides of the center leg. The first and second blades extend parallel to the center leg of the fixed contact such that when current flows through the electrical contactor, the current flow creates a force to push the first and second blades into the first and second arms of the fixed contact. The electrical contactor includes an actuating arrangement having a pair of cam members. The movement of the cam members causes pegs on each of the first and second blades to travel within the cam channel, thus opening and closing the contactor arrangement. |
| US07990238B2 |
Button system for industrial AC/DC relays
A button system for industrial AC/DC relays comprising a casing (10), a button (5), a driving block (7), an indication board (8) and a core propelling block (6), wherein the cover board (1) and the housing (2) fixed with each other, and at least an opening (11) for pulling the button (5) is arranged on the cover board; the button (5) is pivoted on the top of the casing (10) by the transverse shaft (51); the driving block (7) mounted in the casing (10), the end of the driving block (7) abut against the toughing portion (53) of the button (5); the indicator board (8) is pivoted in the casing (10), the upper portion of the indicator board (8) abut against the front end of the strip driving arm (71) of the driving block (7), and the lower portion is match with the core propelling block (6). |
| US07990237B2 |
System and method for improving performance of coplanar waveguide bends at mm-wave frequencies
An apparatus including a liquid crystal polymer substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a coplanar waveguide formed on the top surface of the liquid crystal polymer substrate, the coplanar waveguide having a 90 degree bend with a mitered edge, an inner via positioned adjacent to an inner corner of the 90 degree bend, and an outer via positioned adjacent to the mitered edge of the 90 degree bend, the inner and outer vias positioned along a first plane that is perpendicular to a second plane defined by the mitered edge. |
| US07990234B2 |
Elastic wave filter
The object of the present invention is to provide an elastic wave filter capable of suppressing deterioration of a pass band and realizing to downsize. In the elastic wave filter of the present invention provided with a circuit, to which elastic wave resonators of a first series arm, a second series arm and a parallel wave are connected, the first series arm and one out of the second series arm and the parallel arm are arranged in the lateral direction in a row to be adjacent to each other, and the other out of the second series arm and the parallel arm is disposed on the rear side of the row, and prescribed bus bars in the first series arm, the second series arm and the parallel arm are arranged on the common connection point side. |
| US07990228B2 |
Semiconductor device and wiring part thereof
A technique capable of achieving both improvement of mounting density and noise reduction for a semiconductor device is provided. An LSI mounted on a printed wiring board comprises a grounding BGA ball and a power BGA ball to get power supply from the printed wiring board, and the grounding BGA ball and the power BGA ball are arranged closely to each other. A decoupling capacitor is mounted on the printed wiring board and has a first terminal and a second terminal. The grounding BGA ball and the first terminal are connected by a first metal electrode plate, and the power BGA ball and the second terminal are connected by a second metal electrode plate. The first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate interpose a dielectric film having a thickness equal to or smaller than 1 μm therebetween. |
| US07990227B2 |
Phased-locked loop (PLL) synthesizer-synthesizer with improved voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) pre-tuning
An apparatus for providing Phased-Locked Loop (PLL) synthesis comprises a phase detector, at least one switchable filter, an oscillator controlled by a control voltage (uPLL) and a divider. The controlled oscillator has two inputs, wherein the control voltage (uPLL) is coupled to a first input, and a selection voltage (uSET) for rough frequency adjustment is coupled to a second input. Both voltages establish the frequency of the oscillator. |
| US07990226B1 |
Non-linear crystal oscillator capacitive load circuits
A load circuit for a crystal oscillator includes a plurality of capacitors and a load control circuit configured to selectively add the capacitors to a load at a terminal of the crystal oscillator responsive to a command signal to provide a non-linear capacitive load at the terminal of the crystal oscillator that compensates for a non-linearity of a frequency versus load capacitance characteristic of the crystal oscillator. The load circuit may include a plurality of switches, respective ones of which are configured to load a terminal of the crystal oscillator with respective ones of the capacitors, and control circuit configured to control the plurality of switches to load the terminal of the crystal oscillator responsive to a binary command signal such that respective single ones of the switches operates in response to respective quantum changes a binary command signal over an operating range of the binary command signal. |
| US07990223B1 |
High frequency module and operating method of the same
According to one embodiment, provided is a high frequency module comprising: a semiconductor device; an input matching circuit; an output matching circuit; a high temperature operating use gate bias circuit and operating use gate bias circuit connected to the input matching circuit; a high temperature operating use gate bias terminal connected to the high temperature operating use gate bias circuit; an operating use gate bias terminal connected to the operating use gate bias circuit; a high frequency input terminal connected to the input matching circuit; a drain bias circuit connected to the output matching circuit; a drain bias terminal connected to the drain bias circuit; and a high frequency output terminal connected to the output matching circuit, wherein the high frequency module is housed by one package. |
| US07990221B2 |
Detector circuit and system for a wireless communication
Provided are a detector circuit which has a simple circuit configuration, is capable of indicating an accurate power according to a load fluctuation of a radio frequency power amplifier or a difference in a modulation mode, and can be easily incorporated in the radio frequency power amplifier, and a wireless communication system using the detector circuit. The detector circuit 10 includes a detecting resistor 11 for detecting a part of a current flowing from a bias circuit 6, and a current-voltage conversion circuit 12 for converting a current obtained through the detecting resistor 11 into a voltage. A current supplied from the bias circuit 6 to the amplifying transistor 1 is detected, so that an output current from the amplifying transistor 1 fluctuates when a load on the radio frequency power amplifier fluctuates, and an input current and a current from the bias circuit fluctuate in proportion to the output current from the amplifying transistor 1, whereby an outputted detection voltage can follow a load fluctuation on the radio frequency power amplifier. |
| US07990219B2 |
Output compensated voltage regulator, an IC including the same and a method of providing a regulated voltage
A voltage regulator, a method of regulating voltage and an IC including a voltage regulator. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator includes: (1) a DC precision amplifier configured to generate a DC precision signal based on a reference voltage and a regulated output of the voltage regulator and (2) a response amplifier, coupled in parallel with the DC precision amplifier, configured to generate an error signal based on the reference voltage and the regulated output, the response amplifier further configured to generate the regulated output based on a regulating signal comprised of the error signal and the DC precision signal. The DC precision amplifier may be a CMOS amplifier and the response amplifier may be a NPN amplifier. |
| US07990217B2 |
Input system for a variable gain amplifier having class-AB transconductance stages
A variable gain amplifier includes an attenuator having a plurality of pairs of tap points, and a plurality of pairs of gm cells, wherein each pair of gm cells is coupled to a corresponding pair of the tap points, and each pair of gm cells is constructed and arranged to operate as a multi-tanh cell. |
| US07990215B2 |
Class D amplifier control circuit and method
Circuit and method for a Class D amplifier. In one exemplary embodiment, an audio amplifier is disclosed. A closed loop configuration for driving high and low side driver transistors is provided, each circuit is compatible with advanced sub micron semiconductor processes. The analog time varying input is coupled to one input of a sigma delta analog to digital converter. A feedback signal from the output is also input to the analog to digital converter. A bit stream is output by the analog to digital converter. A decimator receives this bit stream and downconverts the samples to digital values at a lower frequency. A digital filter with adaptable coefficients is used to filter that signal and a digital pulse width modulator then develops an analog differential PWM signal. A predriver inputs the PWM signal and derives the output gating signals to control the high and low side drivers of a Class D amplifier. |
| US07990212B1 |
Modulated audio amplifier output enable control
A modulated amplifier output enable control eliminates audible pops when enabling and disabling an audio amplifier output stage. The output of the audio amplifier is transitioned between an enabled state and a disabled state using a modulated control signal that enables and disables the output of the audio amplifier. Durations of the enabled state vs. the disabled state of the amplifier are adjusted to cause a transition between a fully disabled state and a fully enabled state of the audio amplifier so that the transition between the disabled state and the enabled state of the amplifier output is inaudible. |
| US07990207B2 |
Constant voltage circuit, constant voltage supply system and constant voltage supply method
An input voltage signal VIN to be inputted to a gate terminal of a PMOS transistor M1 is converted to a voltage value which was level shifted at the source terminal by an inter-terminal voltage between the gate and source of the PMOS transistor M1. This conversion is carried out in accordance with a bias current I1 flowing from the constant current source IS through the source terminal of the PMOS transistor M1. The voltage thus converted is outputted from a source follower circuit through a capacitative element C1. A low-pass filter is constituted of the impedance of the PMOS transistor M1 and the capacitative element C1 in a signal path extending from the input voltage signal VIN to the source follower circuit. |
| US07990206B2 |
Device for supplying temperature dependent negative voltage
A negative voltage supply device includes a negative voltage detector and a negative voltage pumping unit. The negative voltage pumping unit pumps a negative voltage in response to a detection signal. The negative voltage detector detects a level of a negative voltage by using a first element and a second element, which are different in the degree of change in their respective resistance values depending on the temperature, and outputs the detection signal. The detection signal informs the negative voltage pumping unit that pumping of the negative voltage is no longer needed. |
| US07990205B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit with switching variable resistance device
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a switching variable resistance device with combined functions of a switching device and a variable resistance device is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a supply voltage input terminal that receives a supply voltage, a pulse generating unit that receives an input pulse and generates a variable amplitude pulse in response to the input pulse during a period of time, and a switching variable resistance unit that controls a current flowing into the supply voltage input terminal in response to the variable amplitude pulse, thereby limiting an inrush current and thus substantially reducing an temporary unstable effect on the supply voltage, which may be supplied from a power source. |
| US07990202B2 |
System and method for driving bipolar transistors in switching power conversion
A system and method for driving a bipolar junction transistor is provided. The system includes a first transistor including a first gate, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The first gate is configured to receive a first control signal. Additionally, the system includes a second transistor including a second gate, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The second gate is configured to receive a second control signal. Moreover, the system includes a first resistor including a fifth terminal and a sixth terminal. The fifth terminal is connected to the first terminal, and the sixth terminal is biased to a first predetermined voltage. The fourth terminal is biased to a second predetermined voltage. The second terminal and the third terminal are connected at a node, and the node is connected to a base for a bipolar junction transistor. |
| US07990201B2 |
Constant phase digital attenuator with on-chip matching circuitry
Various embodiments are directed to providing constant phase digital attenuation. In one embodiment, a digital attenuator circuit (100) comprises an input node (102) to receive an input signal to be attenuated, an output node (104) to output an attenuated signal, a reference loss path (106) between the input node (102) and the output node (104), and an attenuation path (108) between the input node (102) and the output node (104). The reference loss path (106) comprises switching elements and matching circuitry to improve Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), and the attenuation path (108) comprises switching elements and attenuating circuitry to attenuate the input signal when the digital attenuator circuit (100) is switched from a reference loss state to an attenuation state. An effective phase length of the reference loss path (106) and an effective phase length of the attenuation path (108) may be equalized to provide a constant phase when the digital attenuator circuit (100) is switched between states. |
| US07990200B2 |
Pulse width modulation control system
A PWM control system includes a multi-phase PWM controller and at least one single-phase PWM controller. The multi-phase PWM controller is capable of generating a multi-phase PWM signal. The at least one single-phase PWM controller is capable of generating a single-phase PWM signal. A phase difference between the single-phase PWM signal and the multi-phase signal is greater than 0 degree and less than 180 degree. |
| US07990198B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating clock signal
The invention is related to an apparatus and a method for generating an output clock. The method comprises: receiving a transmitted signal comprising at least one data signal and at least one synchronized signal; producing a reference signal according to the synchronization signal; counting the first reference signal according to a free-run clock outputted by a free-run clock generator to produce a counter signal; and generating the output clock according to the counter signal and the free-run clock. |
| US07990197B2 |
Internal clock driver circuit
An internal clock signal driver circuit includes a delay block that delays a rising clock signal and a falling clock signal, and outputs a delayed rising clock signal and a delayed falling clock signal, a rising DLL clock signal generating block that receives and combines the rising clock signal, the falling clock signal, and the delayed rising clock signal, and outputs a rising DLL clock signal, and a falling DLL clock signal generating block that receives and combines the rising clock signal, the falling clock signal, and the delayed falling clock signal, and outputs a falling DLL clock signal. |
| US07990194B2 |
Apparatus and method for correcting duty cycle of clock signal
A clock correction circuit includes a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to delay an external clock signal and to generate an internal clock signal, a first duty cycle correction (DCC) unit configured to correct a duty cycle of the external clock signal in response to a first duty cycle code, a second DCC unit configured to correct a duty cycle of the internal clock signal in response to a second duty cycle code, and a duty cycle code generation unit configured to select an output of from outputs of the first and second DCC Units and to generate the first and second duty cycle codes by detecting a duty cycle ratio of the selected output. |
| US07990191B2 |
Digital phase-locked loop
A digital phase-locked loop circuit includes: a first counter which counts a first clock; a second counter which counts third clocks into which a second clock is divided; a first phase detector which detects a relative phase difference between the first and the third clocks according to a first comparison result that clocks in which the third clock is delayed are compared with the first clock and a second comparison result that clocks in which the first clock is delayed are compared with the third clock; a second phase detector which measures the period of the second clock; a phase error calculating unit which calculates a phase difference between the first and the third clocks according to the value that the result detected by the first phase detector is normalized by the result detected by the second phase detector and the count values of the first and the second counters; and a DCO which outputs the second clock according to the result calculated by the phase error calculating unit. |
| US07990188B2 |
Clock buffer
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) differential pair having a first BJT and a second BJT, a second BJT differential pair having a third BJT and a fourth BJT, a first clamp having a fifth BJT and a sixth BJT, and a second clamp having a seventh BJT and an eighth BJT. The collector and base of the third BJT are respectively coupled to the collector and base of the first BJT, and the collector and base of the fourth BJT are respectively coupled to the collector and base of the second BJT. The bases of first, second, third, and fourth BJTs receive an input clock signal. The emitters of the fifth and sixth BJTs are coupled to the collectors of the first and third BJTs, while the emitters of the seventh and eight BJTs are coupled to the collectors of the second and fourth BJTs. The bases of the fifth and seventh BJT are adapted to receive a low clamping voltage, and the bases of the sixth and eighth BJTs are adapted to receive a high clamping voltage. Additionally, the first and second clamps is coupled to the collectors of the first, second, third, and fourth BJTs. |
| US07990185B2 |
Analog finite impulse response filter
According to one embodiment of the invention, a programmable finite impulse response (FIR) filter is implemented with differential isolation circuits to isolate parasitic capacitance from attenuating an output signal at both first and second differential output terminals of the FIR filter. The FIR includes a track and hold circuit and a summing circuit that provides operational advantages to the FIR filter. |
| US07990182B2 |
Electrical physical layer activity detector
A low-current differential signal activity detector circuit may be configured to reject large common mode signals on differential input lines, while still detecting smaller differential signals applied to the same set of differential input lines. The detector circuit may comprise a translinear buffer that is driven at the buffer input and at the buffer output by the differential input signals. The differential signal thereby driving the inputs of the detector circuit may be half-wave rectified through the buffer output devices and may be filtered to provide the detected output. When applying a common mode signal, the buffer's input and output may track each other, and no current may be rectified in the output devices, thus providing common-mode signal rejection. The detector circuit may also be configured with two buffers having their outputs coupled to a common node, each buffer input driven by a respective one of the differential input signals. The differential signal thereby driving the inputs of the detector circuit may be fully rectified through the output devices of the two buffers, and may be filtered to provide the detected output. The two buffers may be configured in a symmetrical structure that allows for the rejection of common-mode signals when the outputs of the buffers are coupled to a common node. |
| US07990179B2 |
Clock distribution circuit and layout design method using same
A layout design method in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention is a layout design method for a clock tree circuit, including disposing a first clock distribution circuit in a clock tree circuit, wiring the clock tree circuit in which the first clock distribution circuit is disposed, verifying timing of the wired clock tree circuit, and replacing the first distribution element by a second clock distribution circuit based on a result of the timing verification, the second clock distribution circuit having roughly a same input load capacitance as the first clock distribution circuit and a different delay value from the first clock distribution circuit. |
| US07990168B2 |
Probe card including a sub-plate with a main supporter and a sub-supporter with the sub-supporter having probe needles
A probe card to connect a semiconductor device to test equipment includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in which an electrical wiring pattern is formed, a first connector fixed on an upper surface of the PCB to connect the test equipment to the PCB, probe needles connected to electrode pads of the semiconductor device, and a Flexible PCB (FPCB) to connect the PCB to the probe needles. Accordingly, a signal transmission characteristic can be enhanced, test expenses can be reduced, and ground noise can be reduced. |
| US07990164B2 |
Method of designing a probe card apparatus with desired compliance characteristics
A probe card apparatus is configured to have a desired overall amount of compliance. The compliance of the probes of the probe card apparatus is determined, and an additional, predetermined amount of compliance is designed into the probe card apparatus so that the sum of the additional compliance and the compliance of the probes total the overall desired compliance of the probe card apparatus. |
| US07990161B2 |
Apparatus for measuring total acid number of oil and estimating lifetime of oil, and method for measuring total acid number of oil and oil sensor using the same
Disclosed herein are an apparatus for measuring the total acid number of oil, an apparatus for measuring the lifetime of oil through the measurement of the total acid number of oil, a method for measuring the total acid number of oil, and a method of making measurements using an oil sensor. According to the disclosed invention, measurement accuracy can be increased through the use of a high-sensitivity conductance measuring sensor, the inventive apparatus can be applied to both lubricant oil and insulating oil, the size of the total acid number-measuring apparatus can be reduced. |
| US07990157B2 |
Card for simulating peripheral component interconnect loads
A card for simulating peripheral component interconnect (PCI) loads of a computer motherboard uses a PCI interface to be inserted into a PCI slot of the computer motherboard to receive first to third voltage signals from the computer. First to third load modules of the card receive voltage signals from the computer via the PCI interface to simulating first to third power consumption of the computer. |
| US07990156B1 |
Method and apparatus for measuring degradation of insulation of electrical power system devices
A method for measuring degradation of electrical power system device insulation utilizes a conductive composite sensor. A selected polymeric matrix of the conductive composite provides a sensor resistance response that correlates to degradation of the insulation. The sensor may be embedded in the windings, core or stator of the electrical power system device and wired to a connector on the electrical power system device for interrogation by an ohmmeter. |
| US07990152B2 |
Locating arrangement and method using boring tool and cable locating signals
An arrangement and an associated method are described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a path in which region a cable is buried. The boring tool and the cable transmit a boring tool locating signal and a cable locating signal, respectively. Intensities of the boring tool locating signal and the cable locating signal are measured along with a pitch orientation of the boring tool. Using the measured intensities and established pitch orientation, a positional relationship is determined to relative scale including at least the boring tool and the cable in the region. The positional relationship is displayed to scale in one view. The positional relationship may be determined and displayed including the forward locate point in scaled relation to the boring tool and the cable. Cable depth determination techniques are described including a two-point ground depth determination method. |
| US07990149B2 |
MR involving high speed coil mode switching between I-channel linear, Q-channel linear, quadrature and anti-quadrature modes
Hybrid circuitry (40, 40′, 40″) for operatively coupling a radio frequency drive signal (70) with a quadrature coil (30) is configurable in one of at least two coil modes of a group consisting of: (i) a linear I channel mode in which an I channel input port (42) is driven without driving a Q channel input port (44); (ii) a linear Q channel mode in which the Q channel input port is driven without driving the I channel input port; (iii) a quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected positive phase difference; and (iv) an anti quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected negative phase difference. A temporal sequence of the at least two coil modes may be determined and employed to compensate for B1 inhomogeneity. |
| US07990148B2 |
Cooled NMR probe head and NMR analyzer
An object of the present invention is to provide a cooled NMR probe including an antenna coil and capable of decreasing an operation temperature of the antenna coil by effectively cooling the antenna coil, thereby increasing detection sensitivity of an NMR signal. To attain this, a probe head according to the present invention includes a coil support member which supports the antenna coil, and a cooling member arranged around at least a portion of the coil support member, the cooling member providing a cooling space between the cooling member and the coil support member, the cooling space allowing a refrigerant to circulate therethrough. The cooling member is coupled to the coil support member such that the refrigerant flowing in the cooling space directly contacts an outer peripheral surface of the coil support member. |
| US07990147B2 |
System and method for electrically contacting local coils with a signal processor remote therefrom in a magnetic resonance scanner
In a contacting system and method for contacting magnetic resonance local coils with a unit for additional signal processing of a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, a number of coil coupler elements are electrically connected with the magnetic resonance local coils and apparatus coupler elements are mounted at the magnetic resonance tomograph, and are electrically connected with a unit for signal processing. The coil coupler elements and the apparatus coupler elements are fashioned so that, given a movement of the local coils along a movement path in the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, a successive contacting of at least a portion of the coil coupler elements with apparatus coupler elements ensues at least over a specific path segment of the movement. |
| US07990146B2 |
Birdcage-like transmitting antenna for MRI
A transmission antenna for magnetic resonance applications has a birdcage-like structure that includes antenna rods proceeding between first and second terminating elements respectively located at opposite ends of the antenna rods. A detuning circuit is located at the second terminating element. Either the second terminating element is formed as a completely continuous short circuit ring and the detuning circuit is arranged between the ends of the antenna rods and the second terminating element, or the second terminating element has a number of ferrule segments, between which the detuning circuit is arranged. The second terminating element has a larger cross-section than a the first terminating element. |
| US07990144B2 |
Multi-channel birdcage body coil for magnetic resonance imaging
A birdcage multi-channel body coil has a number of coil units that form a cylindrical shape, and they are connected in succession in the circumferential direction along the side face of the cylinder. The coil units are provided with capacitors with selected capacitance values that eliminate coupling between the coil units. This multi-channel body coil simply and conveniently eliminates the coupling between the coil units. |
| US07990141B2 |
Streamlined diagnostic MR imaging requiring only three control parameters of operator selected boundary conditions
In a method for operation of a magnetic resonance system, at least one control device is fashioned for image data acquisition and corresponding components, and only three first control parameters defining primary boundary conditions are selected by an operator of the system, namely the contrast response, the spatial orientation of the at least one image data set to be acquired and the examination organ. Additional, second control parameters, required to control the components for image acquisition and defining secondary boundary conditions, are automatically determined by the control device using the first control parameters. |
| US07990139B2 |
Two-axis geo-magnetic field sensor with elimination of eefect of external offset magnetic fields
Disclosed is a small-sized two-axis magnetic field sensor having a function to cause a magnetic field canceling an external offset magnetic field. The two-axis magnetic field sensor contains a plane coil disposed on a plane and four sets of magneto-resistance element pairs on a plane parallel to the plane coil. The plane coil includes at least two pairs of parallel conductors, and two magneto-resistance elements cross only a single conductor of the coil. A current for canceling the external offset magnetic field is determined in advance, and while a DC current that causes total magnetic fields of biasing magnetic fields plus a magnetic field for canceling the external offset magnetic field flows through the coil, intermediate potential outputs from the magneto-resistance element pairs are detected to measure a magnetic field direction, such as geo-magnetism. |
| US07990138B2 |
Probe for analysis of a string of rods or tubes in a well
The invention concerns a probe for analysis of a collection of rods or tubes comprising an elongated casing which bears, at a first end, at least one first magnetometer and, at a position sufficiently remote from the magnetometer, a permanent magnet, the north-south axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the rods. |
| US07990131B2 |
Device and method for measuring a first voltage and a second voltage by means of a differential voltmeter
The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a first voltage and a second voltage by means of a differential voltmeter. The differential voltmeter comprises a first inlet and a second inlet and a known voltage potential is applied to the second inlet. The voltage measurement comprises the following; a first voltage is applied to a first inlet of the differential voltmeter, a first differential voltage is measured, the first voltage from the measured first differential voltmeter and the known voltage potential is determined, the second voltage is applied to the second inlet of the differential voltmeter, a second differential voltage is measured, and the second voltage from the measured second differential voltage and the previously determined first voltage is determined. |
| US07990130B2 |
Band gap reference voltage circuit
Provided is a band gap reference voltage circuit having an improved power supply rejection ratio. Owing to a voltage supply circuit (51), a power supply voltage (V5) does not depend on variation of a power supply voltage (Vdd). A voltage (V3−V2) which is generated across a resistor (41) and has a positive temperature coefficient is determined based not on the power supply voltage (Vdd) but on the power supply voltage (V5), and hence the voltage (V3−V2) does not depend on the variation of the power supply voltage (Vdd). As a result, the power supply rejection ratio of the band gap reference voltage circuit is improved. |
| US07990128B2 |
Circuit and method for pulling a potential at a node towards a feed potential
Embodiments of the invention concern a circuit for pulling a potential at a node towards a feed potential which is present at a potential feed. The circuit has a first transistor with a controllable conductive path and in addition a resistive element. The controllable conductive path of the first transistor and the resistive element are coupled in series between the potential feed and the node. Furthermore, the circuit has a control element configured to control the first transistor so that a resistance of the controllable conductive path of the first transistor can be changed depending on a voltage drop at the resistive element. Furthermore, a method for pulling a potential at a node towards a feed potential and an integrated circuit with a pad which is pulled to the feed potential in the absence of an information carrying signal which is received or send by a functional circuitry of the integrated circuit. |
| US07990126B1 |
Low power DC-DC converter with improved load regulation
A voltage converter includes, among other things, an amplifier, a voltage combiner, and a hysteretic comparator. The amplifier has a first input terminal which receives a first voltage representative of an output voltage of the voltage converter, a second input terminal which receives a first reference voltage, and an output terminal which generates a second voltage proportional to a difference between the first voltage and the first reference voltage. The voltage combiner combines the second voltage with a second reference voltage to generate a combined voltage. The comparator causes a third voltage to decrease if a feedback voltage defined by the third voltage is detected by the comparator as being greater than a first threshold voltage defined by the combined voltage, and further to cause the third voltage to increase if the feedback voltage is detected by the comparator as being less than the first threshold. The third voltage is applied to a first terminal of a load external to the voltage converter. |
| US07990119B2 |
Multimode voltage regulator circuit
A multimode voltage regulator circuit includes a linear regulator sub-circuit configured to supply current to a load in a low-current mode, responsive to a first control signal from a first control path, as well as a switching regulator sub-circuit configured to supply current to the load in a high-current mode, responsive to a second control signal from a second control path. The circuit further comprises a shared error amplifier configured to generate an error signal based on the difference between a reference voltage and a feedback signal coupled from the load, and a switch configured to selectively route the error signal to the first control path in the low-current mode and to the second control path in the high-current mode. |
| US07990118B2 |
Switching regulator with high efficiency in light load mode
An exemplary switching regulator, is provided. The switching regulator includes an oscillator, a PWM logic controller, an inductor, a capacitor, a switch, a driver, a current sense amplifier, and a minimum power pulse width generator. The current sense amplifier and the minimum power pulse width generator compose a first feedback loop for generating a first feedback signal to the PWM logic controller. |
| US07990117B2 |
Low-loss control of DC-DC converters in an energy storage system
An energy storage system including a buck-boost DC-DC converter operable so as to minimize switching loses. The system includes a first energy storage device, e.g., a bank of ultracapacitors, and a second energy storage device, e.g., a second bank of electrolytic capacitors. Both first and second energy storage devices are connected to the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter is operated in a non-standard manner so as to reduce switching and other losses. In particular, the DC-DC converter may be operated in an alternate buck mode so as to force on a switch S2 through which energy flows from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device. The switch S2 is forced on for so long as the voltage on the second energy storage device remains within a first operating window. |
| US07990110B2 |
Circuits and related methods for charging a battery
An aspect of the present invention provides a circuit for generating a voltage that can be used to recharge a battery. The circuit includes an inductive voltage generator operable to generate a magnetic field when the voltage generator is energized by power, and operable to generate a voltage from the magnetic field's collapse when the voltage generator is de-energized, and a switch operable to allow the voltage generator to receive power to energize the voltage generator, and operable to disconnect the power from the voltage generator to de-energize the generator. With this circuit, a power source that generates less voltage than the fully charged capacity of a rechargeable battery can be used to recharge the battery. Also, the circuit can convert power in different forms, such as constant direct current, varying direct current, or alternating current, into a second voltage for charging a battery. Furthermore, the circuit can supply whatever charging voltage is most suitable for the specific battery that is being charged. Current is delivered to the battery in the form of high energy impulses which can improve the proper removal or deposit of material from/on an electrode of the battery. Consequently the life of the battery being charged by the circuitry employed by the present invention is significantly extended, and, in many cases, a battery that is unable to be charged by traditional means, can be restored to a useable condition. |
| US07990100B2 |
Battery control device and hybrid forklift truck equipped with the device
A hybrid forklift truck is provided with an engine, a battery-driven motor generator, and a battery control device that prevents excessive exhaustion or charging of the battery. The state of charge (SOC) of the battery is determined from the battery voltage and SOC when battery current is zero for at least a predetermined time period and from the battery voltage, current and SOC when discharge current is constant for at least a predetermined time period. SOC is revised whenever battery current is zero or constant for at least the predetermined time period, and SOC at any point of time in operation of the forklift truck is estimated by integrating battery current from the SOC revision and subtracting the integrated current from the revised SOC. Drive power of the engine and motor generator are allocated according to a relationship between permissible discharge and charge current and SOC of the battery. |
| US07990099B2 |
Power converting device for electric train
A power converting device for an electric train includes a power converter, an alternating-current motor, a primary control unit, and a control unit. The power converter converts direct-current power into alternating-current power. The alternating-current motor is driven by the alternating-current power output from the power converter. The primary control unit outputs a power-running notch command that determines an acceleration speed for the electric train. The control unit controls an amount of the alternating-current power based on the power-running notch command. The control unit sets the amount of the alternating-current power to zero without a delay after receiving an OFF signal of the power-running notch command during power running. |
| US07990097B2 |
Power conversion system and method for active damping of common mode resonance
Power conversion systems and methods are presented for damping common mode resonance, in which inverter or rectifier switching control signals are selectively modified according to a damping resistance current value computed using a predetermined virtual damping resistance value in parallel with an output or input capacitor and a measured output or input voltage value to mitigate or reduce common mode resonance in the converter. |
| US07990085B2 |
Generator control unit
An object of the present invention is to provide a generator control unit having improved voltage response in a system which is not provided with a battery in a DC output unit.In order to control the DC voltage of the DC voltage output terminal in a state where an electric load is connected to the DC voltage output terminal of a power generation unit, a PWM signal generation unit 429 generates a field voltage to be applied to a field winding terminal of the power generation unit. A feedback control unit 422 calculates a field voltage command value to be given to the PWM signal generation unit 429. Further, the feedback control unit 422 includes a PT control unit 423 which calculates a voltage deviation between a DC voltage detection value and a DC voltage command value to generate the field voltage command value through a PI operation based on the voltage deviation. The feedback control unit 422 includes compensation units 424 and 425 which generate a field voltage command value after compensating the output of the PT control unit 423 for the voltage deviation based on input/output transfer characteristics of the generator from the field voltage to the DC voltage. |
| US07990078B2 |
Lighting control system having a trim circuit
A lighting control system suitable for a surgical lighting device. The lighting control system includes circuitry that compensates for the effects of temperature changes in a lighting device, and that compensates for forward voltage variations among LED lighting modules to provide substantially uniform light output. |
| US07990077B2 |
LED control circuit
A LED control circuit includes an LED array circuit and a control circuit. The LED array circuit has a plurality of parallel branches, each of which has a constant-current regulator, an LED and an FET connected together in series, wherein the constant-current regulator supplies a steady current to the corresponding LED and the FET can control the respective LED to be put out or lighted up. The control circuit includes a microprocessor and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is connected with the microprocessor and located near the LEDs of the LED array circuit for detecting the temperature of the LEDs and transmitting the temperature signals to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is connected with the FETs of the LED array circuit for controlling the corresponding FETs to be repeatedly on or off according to the temperature signals in order to regulate the temperature of the corresponding LEDs respectively. |
| US07990073B2 |
Method for operating a fluorescent lamp that is connected to a series resonant circuit
A method for operating a fluorescent lamp which is connected to a series resonant circuit with a resonant circuit inductance and a resonant circuit capacitance. The method includes applying an excitation AC voltage at an excitation frequency to the series resonant circuit using a half bridge circuit, which has an output to which the series resonant circuit is coupled, and which has a first and a second switch which are alternately switched on and off on the basis of a frequency signal. A current flowing through the resonant circuit is monitored for the presence of a critical operating state. The switched-on times of the first and second switches are shortened in comparison to switched-on times which are predetermined by the frequency signal, upon detection of a critical operating state. |
| US07990071B2 |
Lamp drive circuit for driving a number of lamps and balancing currents flowing through the lamps
A lamp drive circuit used for driving a number of lamps is provided. The lamps are used in a backlight module. The backlight module is used for providing a light source when a liquid crystal display displays. The lamps are respectively electrically connected to a coil. The coils have the same number of turns and have the same magnetic circuit, so that the currents flowing through the lamps are balanced. |
| US07990067B2 |
Plasma display panel
Row electrode pairs and column electrodes are provided between the front glass substrate and the back glass substrate. Magnesium oxide single-crystal particles, which are doped with aluminum and have characteristics of causing cathode luminescence having a peak within a wavelength range of 200 nm to 300 nm upon excitation by application of electron beams, are disposed in a position facing the discharge cells, and form part of a protective layer for a dielectric layer overlying the row electrodes and/or phosphor layers. |
| US07990065B2 |
Plasma display panel with improved luminance
The PDP has a front panel, and has a back panel with address electrodes formed thereon. Front panel has display electrodes including first electrodes and second electrodes formed on a front glass substrate, and a dielectric layer covering display electrodes. Further, the first electrodes and the dielectric layer include glass frit, which contains at least one of molybdenum oxide, magnesium oxide and cerium oxide, and also include a softening point exceeding 550° C. The above-described makeup suppresses a coloring phenomenon in the dielectric layer and the front glass substrate, thereby implementing a plasma display panel with a high luminance. |
| US07990063B2 |
LED illuminating device
An LED illuminating device includes a first LED illuminating module, a second LED illuminating module, and a connecting module. The first LED illuminating module includes a first substrate and a first group of LEDs mounted on the first substrate. The second LED illuminating module includes a second substrate carrying a second group of LEDs, a wedge shaped light guide, and a reflector. The second substrate and the reflector defines a fan shaped space therebetween to receive the wedge shaped light guide, and the projections of the first substrate and the second substrate are spaced to each other. The LED illuminating device has a large light divergence angle and good heat dissipation ability. |
| US07990062B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a heat dissipation part, an optical part and an electric part. The optical part includes an LED module attached to a heat dissipation member of the heat dissipation part and an envelope covering the LED module. The electric part includes a casing, a circuit board and a lamp cap. The casing includes a bottom plate and an annular sidewall extending from a periphery of the bottom plate to connect with the heat dissipation part and the optical part. The lamp cap includes an electric shell and an electric pole axially inserted in the electric shell. The lamp cap is rotatablely connected to the casing via the electric pole. The electric pole is fixedly connected to and electrically insulated from the electric shell. An orientation-adjusting structure is provided between the casing and the lamp cap for adjusting the illumination direction of the LED lamp. |
| US07990059B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display device
The strength of the whole OLED is increased by proposing a new method of fixing OLED panels. To address the problem, an OLED element is formed on a substrate, and a sealing substrate of a structure by which the substrate is sealed is fixed to a lower metallic frame via an elastic sheet. Silicon resin is preferably used as the sheet, and use of a sheet having a heat diffusion function based on radiation is more desirable. |
| US07990058B2 |
Top-emitting OLED device with light-scattering layer and color-conversion
A top-emitting OLED device, comprising: one or more OLEDs formed on a substrate; a light-scattering layer formed over the one or more OLEDs; a transparent cover; one or more color filters formed on the transparent cover; a color-conversion material layer formed over the color filters, or formed over or integral with the light-scattering layer; wherein the substrate is aligned and affixed to the transparent cover so that the locations of the color filters and color conversion material correspond to the location of the OLEDs, and the color-conversion material layer, color filters, and the light-scattering layer are between the cover and substrate, and a low-index gap is formed between the light-scattering layer and the color filters, with no light-scattering layer being positioned between the color conversion material layer and the low-index gap, wherein the color-conversion material layer is formed integrally with the light-scattering layer. |
| US07990045B2 |
Solid-state lamps with partial conversion in phosphors for rendering an enhanced number of colors
The invention relates to phosphor-conversion (PC) sources of white light, which are composed of at least two groups of emitters, such as blue electroluminescent light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and wide-band (WB) or narrow-band (NB) phosphors that partially absorb and convert the flux generated by the LEDs to other wavelengths, and to improving the quality of the white light emitted by such light sources. In particular, embodiments of the present invention describe new 3-4 component combinations of peak wavelengths and bandwidths for white PC LEDs with partial conversion. These combinations are used to provide spectral power distributions that enable lighting with a considerable portion of a high number of spectrophotometrically calibrated colors rendered almost indistinguishably from a blackbody radiator or daylight illuminant, and which differ from distributions optimized using standard color-rendering assessment procedures based on a small number of test samples. |
| US07990043B2 |
Field emission cathode structure and field emission display using the same
A field emission cathode structure includes a dielectric layer, a field emission unit, a grid electrode, and a conductive layer. The dielectric layer is positioned on the insulating substrate and defines a cavity. A field emission unit is attached on the cathode electrode and received in the cavity of the dielectric layer. The field emission unit is electrically attached to the cathode electrode. The grid electrode is located on the dielectric layer, and electrons emitted from the field emission unit emit through the grid electrode. The conductive layer is electrically attached to the grid electrode and insulated from the field emission unit. A field emission display device using the above-mentioned field emission cathode structure is also provided. |
| US07990042B2 |
Field emission display
A field emission device includes a transparent plate, an insulating substrate, one or more grids located on the insulating substrate. Each grid includes a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads and a pixel unit. The first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads are located on the periphery of the grid. The first and the second electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The third and the fourth electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The pixel unit includes a phosphor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one electron emitter. The first electrode and the second electrode are separately located. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode down-lead, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode down-lead. The phosphor layer is located on the corresponding first electrode. |
| US07990024B2 |
Nanogenerator
A nanogenerator includes a first frame, a second frame, a first conductor, a second conductor, an array of nano-rods, and an array of electrodes. The second frame engages the first frame. The first conductor is fixed to a first inner surface of the first frame facing the second frame. The second conductor is fixed to a second inner surface of the second frame facing the first frame. The array of nano-rods extends from a first surface of the first conductor toward the second frame. The array of electrodes extends from a second surface of the second conductor toward the first frame. The array of electrodes corresponds to the array of nano-rods. The hardness of the array of electrodes is being greater than that of the array of nano-rods. |
| US07990022B2 |
High-performance electroactive polymer transducers
Transducers employing electroactive polymer films are disclosed. Such transducers include an open frame and at least two layers extending within the frame, where the layers form a concave shape. |
| US07990021B2 |
Driving apparatus, and manufacturing method of the same
A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft mounted on one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that supports the electromechanical conversion element and comprises a bearing portion for the driving shaft; and an inclination adjusting mechanism, disposed in the bearing portion, that adjusts inclination of the driving shaft with respect to the fiducial line. |
| US07990016B2 |
Slip-ring module for a rotor of an electric machine electric machine with a slip ring module and method for production of a slip ring module
A slip ring module (76) for a rotor (40) of an electrical machine (10), in particular, an alternator is disclosed, comprising at least one first slip ring (79) with at least one first connecting conductor (103) held in sections of an insulation material (101) for the slip ring module (76), in electrically conducting connection with at least one first slip ring (79) and with an end (115) of the connection conductor (103), facing away from the first slip ring (79), provided for connection to an excitation coil (61). The invention is characterised in that the slip ring module (76) has a further formed conductor (139) forming a direct electrical connection from the first connection conductor (103) to a surface (142) of the slip ring module (76). An electric machine is also provided, in particular, an alternator for motor vehicles, comprising a rotor (40), supporting an excitation coil (61), said slip ring module (76) providing the power supply to the excitation coil (61). Furthermore, a method for production of a slip ring module (76) for an electric machine, in particular, an alternator, is disclosed, wherein, in one step, at least one connector conductor (103) is bonded to an electrically insulating holder (100), in particular, by means of a injection moulding process and, in another step, the connection conductor is directly connected to an electrically conductible conductor (139) made from a composite material, the composite material comprising electrically conducting and electrically non-conducting regions. |
| US07990014B2 |
Stators for electrical machines
An improved stator (28) for rotating electrical machines with single-layer stator windings consisting of a plurality of pre-formed coils (22) of equal angular pitch. The stator (28) has a first cylindrical surface in which a plurality of circumferentially spaced winding slots (30) are formed and in which the axially-extending winding runs (24) of the pre-formed coils (22) are positioned. The two winding runs (24) of each coil (22) will each be positioned in a winding slot (30) and the two winding slots (30) that receive the coil (22) define a winding slot pair. The improvement arises from the fact that the winding slots (30) of each winding slot pair extend into the stator (28) in substantially parallel directions. This means that the axially-extending winding runs (24) of each pre-formed coil (22) may also be substantially parallel and need not be angled towards each other. This enables the stator (28) to be easily wound as each pre-formed coil (22) may be simply and easily slotted into a parallel winding slot pair. |
| US07990012B2 |
Locking wedge for maintaining a winding in a slot and dynamoelectric machine incorporating same
A locking wedge for a slot of a dynamoelectric machine is provided. The locking wedge has a main body extending in an axial direction, and includes a top and a bottom surface. The bottom surface has a greater surface area than the top surface. A first end surface faces towards an axial-inward direction and a second end surface faces towards an axial-outward direction. A locking slot extends in the axial direction into a portion of the main body, and begins in the second end surface and extends axially inward. A locking member is disposed to fit into the locking slot, and is inserted into the locking slot to lock the locking wedge in the slot. |
| US07990011B2 |
Rotor for electric motor
A rotor for an electric motor (10) includes a magnetic assembly (12) formed into a ring-shaped plate form, a rotor disc (11) for holding an inner periphery of the magnet assembly, and an outer peripheral ring (13) for holding an outer periphery of the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly is composed of first and second main magnets (12A-1, 12A-2) having magnetizations directions that are oriented perpendicularly and having orientations that are opposite one another, and first and second submagnets (12B-1, 12B-2) having magnetization directions that are oriented perpendicularly in a circumferential direction and having orientations that are opposite one another. At least one group of magnets selected from the main magnets and the submagnets has a wedge-shaped planar part. The planar parts of the first and second main magnets and first and second submagnets form the same plane of rotation. The magnets are arranged so that the magnetization directions of adjacent magnets are perpendicular to one another. |
| US07990008B2 |
Electric rotating machine having detachable moving stator drive unit
The electric rotating machine includes a fixed stator fixed to the inner circumferential side of a housing, a moving stator rotatably supported on the inner circumferential side of the housing, a rotor disposed concentrically on the inner circumferential side of the fixed stator and the moving stator, and a moving stator drive formed of a gear and a motor for rotating the moving stator by a predetermined angle. The moving stator drive is detachable with respect to the housing. Coil leader lines are stored in an internal part of the housing so that the moving stator is capable of rotating by a predetermined angle. |
| US07990007B2 |
Apparatus for transferring torque magnetically
An apparatus for transferring torque magnetically with a primary rotary member and a secondary rotary member. The primary rotary member has permanent magnets mounted circumferentially on a cylinder, the secondary rotary member having a cylindrical geometry with electroconductive material arranged on its outer periphery and parallel to the axes of the rotary members. The secondary rotary member also having magnetically permeable material. The secondary rotary member is placed partially or totally inside the primary rotating member. The secondary rotary member's axial position relative to the primary rotating member can be varied by a suitable mechanical structure. This causes the two rotary members to axially overlap one another more or less as desired. Rotation of the primary rotary member causes rotation of the secondary rotary member, since magnetic flux lines emanating from the permanent magnets mounted on the primary rotating member, cut through all, or part of, the electroconductive material placed on the periphery of the secondary rotary member. This can vary the torque transmitted between the two rotary members, thereby enabling the varying of the rotational speed of the secondary rotary member relative to the primary rotary member. |
| US07990004B2 |
Reduction drive device
A reduction drive device is compact, hardly causes an electric motor thereof to vibrate, and has improved noise/vibration controllability. The reduction drive device includes the electric motor attached to a casing and capable of outputting torque, first and second reduction mechanisms supported by the casing, to reduce and transmit the rotational output of the electric motor, and a rear differential supported by the casing, to distribute the rotational output reduced by the first and second reduction mechanisms to a pair of axle shafts. Rotor, stator, and brush of the electric motor partly overlap the rear differential when seen in a rotation radius direction. |
| US07990001B2 |
Structure of motor terminal
A terminal structure for a vehicle-mounted motor includes a motor body having a motor terminal 28 connected to a coil, and a circuit body 5 holding a circuit board 18 for controlling a rotation of the motor body and is assembled in the motor body, wherein a stress relaxation section 35 is provided in an intermediate of an intermediate conductor 34, in order to reduce stress acting on the intermediate conductor 34 connecting the motor terminal 28 and the circuit board 18 and to thereby improve the conductive reliability of electrical joint. |
| US07989993B1 |
Magnet yoke of linear motor
A magnet yoke of a linear motor includes a plurality of recesses set in equidistance in a side surface of the magnet yoke and defining a plurality of peaks and valleys arranged alternately and a plurality of permanent magnets aligned abreast in equidistance in an opposite side surface of the magnet yoke so that an interval is defined between two adjacent permanent magnets and has a center aligned with a center of a corresponding peak and valley. Two adjacent permanent magnets form a magnet unit for generating a magnetic flux distribution. An empty section formed in each of the valleys is twice as wide as an interval between two adjacent permanent magnets, and is located in a middle of the two permanent magnets so as to make a moderate magnetic flux distribution. |
| US07989992B2 |
Linear tape motor
A Linear Tape Motors sequentially bends flexures to precisely position a payload within a large, linear range. Movement is backlash free. Flexure bending is also used to drive large forces, using efficient mechanical advantage, anchor the Tape Motor against back-slipping and prevent sticking and jamming malfunctions. Existing permanent magnet motor drive technology can be easily adapted to energize and control the flexure bending motions. Combining flexures with rare earth permanent magnets, provides ultra compact Linear Tape Motors with very high power and force densities that hold position with power off. Their operating range can be is as long as required. Thus, Linear Tape Motors are attractive for space science instruments, where precision positioning in ultra cold operating conditions is required and where low mass and low power are premium. But, they will be attractive to many other applications as well, especially where long range, safe, precise movements of large force payloads are required, where simplicity and reliability are important, where speeds are moderate to low and where operating temperatures are not so extreme as to demagnetize the permanent magnets. The Linear Tape Motor concept is novel but, it is simple and is easily adapted to modern permanent magnet motor technology, both the hardware materials and construction methods and the electronics and computer technology that controls the hardware. Development should be short and inexpensive, with high prospects of success. |
| US07989991B2 |
Linear actuator
A linear actuator is provided with an armature and a stator. The armature has at least two stacks of permanently magnetic rods one over another, the stacks being arranged at a predetermined distance from each other. The stator is at least partly produced from a soft magnetic material, and comprises at least two pairs of teeth with teeth opposite each other, each pair of teeth receiving one of the two stacks between them while forming an air gap. The stator has at least two magnetically conducting inner areas which are located between the two stacks and arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in the direction of motion of the armature. The inner areas are each at least partially surrounded by a substantially hollow cylindrical coil arrangement, the central longitudinal axis of which is oriented substantially transversely to the direction of motion of the armature. |
| US07989985B2 |
Method and system to stop return current from flowing into a disconnected power port of a dual battery powered device
A battery return disconnect (“BRD”) circuit for use with a battery supply having a plurality of electrically parallel inter-connecting batteries. The BRD circuit includes a plurality of DC input ports, a set of OR-ing diodes, a plurality of polarity detectors and a plurality of switches. Each input port includes a DC input terminal and a DC return terminal. Each OR-ing diode is connected to a DC input terminal or a DC return terminal and is forward-biased to when the BRD circuit is connected to a plurality of batteries having substantially the same voltage level. Each polarity detector monitors the bias of an OR-ing diode electrically connected to a corresponding DC input terminal. Each switch is connected to a DC return terminal and a polarity detector. Each switch is closed as long as the monitored OR-ing diode is forward-biased and open when the monitored OR-ing diode is reverse-biased. |
| US07989981B2 |
Power adaptor and storage unit for portable devices
A power adaptor and storage unit is configured to simultaneously provide power to a portable electronic device and to a portable power module. In some cases, the portable power module is integrated into the power adaptor. The power adaptor receives power unusable by the electronic device, converts it to a usable form, stores some of the converted power if possible, and supplies the power to the device. |
| US07989980B2 |
Portable self regenerating power system
An energy storage system, more particularly to a power distribution system for providing power for an indeterminate period of time. The power distribution system comprises means for converting the energy from an alternator to AC/DC circuits. The alternator transmits electric current to a battery, where an inverter is electrically connected to the battery and transmits AC power to low-load circuits. A DC control panel is connected to the battery and transmits electric current from the battery to low-load DC circuits. The power system is part of a portable toolbox. The system is connected to a vehicle's charging system or any mechanism having a alternator a first battery an engine and a starting system an would continually recharge it self. The battery for the system is connected to the alternator of a vehicle and or mechanism through an isolator, or connected directly to the alternator or battery of the vehicle and or mechanism and would transmit a direct electric current to the battery for the system which stores the charge. The inverter is electrically connected to the battery for the system and transmits an electric current from the battery to one or more low-load circuits. |
| US07989978B2 |
Power supply system, vehicle with the same, control method of power supply system and computer-readable recording medium bearing program causing computer to execute control method of power supply system
A temperature increase power command producing unit produces a temperature increase power command value for transferring a power between power storage devices when heating control for raising temperature of the power storage device is performed. The temperature increase power command producing unit provides the temperature increase power command value to a current control unit, and provides a command value prepared by inverting a sign of the temperature increase power command value to a current control unit. The current control unit performs current control based on a first current command value and the temperature increase power command value, and the current control unit performs current control based on the second current command value and the command value prepared by inverting the sign of the temperature increase power command value. |
| US07989976B2 |
System and method for controlling a power budget at a power source equipment using a PHY
A system and method for controlling the delivery of power to a powered device in a Power over Ethernet Broad Reach (PoE-BR) application. Cabling power loss in a PoE-BR application is related to the resistance of the cable itself. A PHY can be designed to measure electrical characteristics (e.g., insertion loss, cross talk, length, etc.) of the Ethernet cable to enable determination of the cable resistance. The determined resistance in a broad reach cable can be used in increasing a power budget allocated to a power source equipment port. |
| US07989971B2 |
Electrical energy generator
An electrical energy generator that converts kinetic energy harvested from voluntary motor activity of a human or animal to electrical energy. The electrical energy generator includes a housing, a coil of electrically conductive material, a reciprocally movable electromagnetically active mass, springs connecting the mass to either the housing or to adjustment means engaged with said housing, and, optionally, means for constraining non-linear motion of the electromagnetically active mass, and/or means of mitigating motion retardation of the electromagnetically active mass within any existing housing atmosphere. The electrical energy generator may be associated with a carried item, such as a backpack. |
| US07989969B2 |
Universal power tool battery pack coupled to a portable internal combustion engine
A portable internal combustion engine and a charging device that generates AC power are supported on a manually movable frame. A coupling mechanism which can include a starter circuit and starting device, or a charging circuit and charging device, or both device couples a battery receptacle terminal block to the internal combustion engine. The battery receptacle can include various features to permit and retain electrical coupling between a battery pack for a cordless power tool. For examples, key protrusions and corresponding recesses can be associating with latching projections. Additionally or alternatively, cooperating rails and recesses may be associated with the battery pack and receptacle, respectively. Spring loaded movable clips or resilient flexing clips can be included to act on the battery pack. An electrical cord may also be used to couple receptacle terminals to the coupling mechanism. |
| US07989966B2 |
Mark structure for coarse wafer alignment and method for manufacturing such a mark structure
A mark structure includes on a substrate, at least four lines. The lines extend parallel to each other in a first direction and are arranged with a pitch between each pair of lines that is directed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pitch between each pair of selected lines differs from the pitch between each other pair of selected lines. |
| US07989964B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
On a semiconductor chip in a semiconductor integrated circuit, a plurality of circuit cells each of which has a pad are formed along a first chip side of the semiconductor chip. Among the plurality of circuit cells, one or more circuit cells at least in the vicinity of an end portion on the first chip side are arranged having a steplike shift in a direction apart from the first chip side with decreasing distance from the center portion to the end portion on the first chip side. |
| US07989962B2 |
Bonding pad for preventing pad peeling
A bonding pad includes multiple metal layers, insulation layers disposed between the multiple metal layers, and a fixing pin coupled between the uppermost metal layer and an underlying metal layer of the multiple metal layers, where a bonding is performed on the uppermost metal layers. |
| US07989960B2 |
Semiconductor device
A memory card has a wiring board, four memory chips stacked on a main surface of the wiring board, and a controller chip and an interposer mounted on a surface of the memory chip of the uppermost layer. The memory chips are stacked on the surface of the wiring board so that their long sides are directed in the same direction as that of the long side of the wiring board. The memory chip of the lowermost layer is mounted on the wiring board in a dislocated manner by a predetermined distance in a direction toward a front end of the memory card so as not to overlap the pads of the wiring board. The three memory chips stacked on the memory chip of the lowermost layer are disposed so that their short sides on which pads are formed are located at the front end of the memory card. |
| US07989957B2 |
Self-aligned, integrated circuit contact
Embodiments concern contacts for use in integrated circuits, which have a reduced likelihood of shorting to unrelated portions of an overlying conductive layer due to contact misalignment. Embodiments for forming the integrated circuit include performing a first etching process to pattern the conductive layer, where the etching compound used in the first etching process is relatively selective to the conductive layer's materials. Embodiments also include performing a second, contact related etching process that removes a portion of any misaligned contacts that were exposed by the first etching process, where the etching compound used in the second etching process is selective to the contacts' materials. The embodiments can be used to form vias and other interconnect structures as well. The modified contacts and vias are adapted for use in conjunction with memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits. |
| US07989956B1 |
Interconnects with improved electromigration reliability
An interconnect structure in a semiconductor device may be formed to include a number of segments. Each segment may include a first metal. A barrier structure may be located between the plurality of segments to enable the interconnect structure to avoid electromigration problems. |
| US07989951B2 |
Die assemblies
An embodiment of a die assembly includes a flange, lip walls, and leads for electrical contact with one or more die mounted on the flange. The flange has first and second opposed flange surfaces and flange sidewalls extending between the surfaces. The lip walls have first and second opposed lip surfaces and lip sidewalls extending between the first and second lip surfaces. The lip sidewalls are positioned adjacent to the flange sidewalls. The leads, which have inboard end portions and outboard end portions, are configured to preserve a seating plane. The seating plane is spaced apart from a plane of the second flange surface. The inboard end portions of the leads are embedded in the lip walls, and extend from the seating plane upward through the lip walls toward the first lip surfaces. The outboard end portions are aligned substantially within the seating plane. |
| US07989950B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system having a cavity
An integrated circuit packaging system includes: attaching a carrier, having a carrier top side and a carrier bottom side, and an interconnect without an active device attached to the carrier bottom side; and forming a first encapsulation, having a cavity, around the interconnect over the carrier top side with the interconnect partially exposed from the first encapsulation and with the carrier top side partially exposed with the cavity. |
| US07989946B2 |
Multimode signaling on decoupled input/output and power channels
A multimode system with at least two end points may include a multimode signaling path that, in some embodiments, is a multimode cable or a multimode board and is pluggably connectable to packages at each end point. Each end point may include a processor die package coupled to a socket. The socket may also receive a connector that couples the cable to the package. Power supply signals and input/output signals may be decoupled at each end point. |
| US07989945B2 |
Spring connector for making electrical contact at semiconductor scales
A connector for electrically connecting to pads formed on a semiconductor device includes a substrate and an array of contact elements of conductive material formed on the substrate. Each contact element includes a base portion attached to the top surface of the substrate and a curved spring portion extending from the base portion and having a distal end projecting above the substrate. The curved spring portion is formed to curve away from a plane of contact and has a curvature disposed to provide a controlled wiping action when engaging a respective pad of the semiconductor device. |
| US07989944B2 |
Method for embedding a component in a base
A method, in which the semiconductor components forming part of an electronic circuit, or at least some of them, are embedded in a base, such as a circuit board, during the manufacture of the base, when part of the base structure is, as it were, manufactured around the semiconductor components. Through-holes for the semiconductor components are made in the base, in such a way that the holes extend between the first and second surface of the base. After the making of the holes, a polymer film is spread over the second surface of the base structure, in such a way that the polymer film also covers the through-holes made for the semiconductor components from the side of the second surface of the base structure. Before the hardening, or after the partial hardening of the polymer film, the semiconductor components are placed in the holes made in the base, from the direction of the first surface of the base. The semiconductor components are pressed against the polymer film in such a way that they adhere to the polymer film. |
| US07989941B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with support structure for die overhang
An integrated circuit package system including: providing a substrate having a support mounted thereover; mounting an integrated circuit die above the substrate; mounting a wire-bonded die offset above the integrated circuit die creating an overhang supported by the support; connecting the wire-bonded die to the substrate with bond wires; and encapsulating the integrated circuit die, the wire-bonded die and the bond wires with an encapsulation. |
| US07989940B2 |
System and method for increasing the number of IO-s on a ball grid package by wire bond stacking of same size packages through apertures
A multi-layer electronic package having polymeric tape layers, where at least one of the polymeric tape layers has a via, through hole, or aperture therein to pass wiring between the layers. This enables a balance of package size, adhesive thickness, chip access, inventory management, package width, JEDEC ball out, and die exposure. The polymeric tape layers have surface circuits (e.g., leads, pads, and wiring) located on the surface. |
| US07989936B2 |
Microelectronic device with integrated energy source
An apparatus including an electronic device having a plurality of substantially collocated components, the plurality of components including an antenna, an energy supply and an integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip is electrically coupled to the antenna and the energy supply. A material substantially encloses the electronic device. |
| US07989934B2 |
Carrier for bonding a semiconductor chip onto and a method of contracting a semiconductor chip to a carrier
A carrier (100) for bonding a semiconductor chip (114) onto is provided, wherein the carrier (100) comprises a die pad (101) and a plurality of contact pads (102), wherein each of the plurality of contact pads (102) comprises an electrically conductive multilayer stack, wherein the electrically conductive multilayer stack comprises a surface layer (109), a first buffer layer, and a first conductive layer (108). Furthermore, the first buffer layer comprises a material adapted to prevent diffusion of material of the surface layer (109) into the first conductive layer (108), and at least two of the contact pads (102) has an ultrafine pitch relative to each other. |
| US07989933B1 |
Increased I/O leadframe and semiconductor device including same
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor package (e.g., a QFP package) including a uniquely configured leadframe sized and configured to maximize the available number of exposed leads in the semiconductor package. More particularly, the semiconductor package of the present invention includes a generally planar die pad or die paddle defining multiple peripheral edge segments. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a plurality of leads. Some of these leads include exposed bottom surface portions which are provided in at least two concentric rows or rings which at least partially circumvent the die pad, with other leads including portions which protrude from respective side surfaces of a package body of the semiconductor package. Connected to the top surface of the die pad is at least one semiconductor die which is electrically connected to at least some of the leads. At least portions of the die pad, the leads, and the semiconductor die are encapsulated by the package body, with at least portions of the bottom surfaces of the die paddle and some of the leads being exposed in a common exterior surface of the package body. |
| US07989928B2 |
Semiconductor device packages with electromagnetic interference shielding
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes: (1) a substrate unit including a grounding element; (2) a semiconductor device disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate unit; (3) a package body disposed adjacent to the upper surface of the substrate unit and covering the semiconductor device; and (4) an EMI shield disposed adjacent to exterior surfaces of the package body and electrically connected to a connection surface of the grounding element. A lateral surface of the package body is substantially aligned with a lateral surface of the substrate unit, and the connection surface of the grounding element is electrically exposed adjacent to the lateral surface of the substrate unit. The grounding element corresponds to a remnant of an internal grounding via, and provides an electrical pathway to ground electromagnetic emissions incident upon the EMI shield. |
| US07989926B2 |
Semiconductor device including non-stoichiometric silicon carbide layer and method of fabrication thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate formed of a single crystal. a silicon carbide layer disposed on a surface of the single crystal substrate and an intermediate layer disposed on a surface of the silicon carbide layer and formed of a Group III nitride semiconductor, wherein the silicon carbide layer is formed of a cubic crystal stoichiometrically containing silicon copiously and the surface thereof has a (3×3) reconstruction structure. The semiconductor device is fabricated by a method including a first step of blowing a hydrocarbon gas on the surface of the substrate, thereby inducing adsorption of hydrocarbon thereon, a second step of heating the substrate having adsorbed the hydrocarbon to a temperature exceeding a temperature used for the adsorption of the hydrocarbon while irradiating the surface of the substrate with electrons and consequently giving rise to a silicon carbide layer formed of a cubic crystal stoichiometrically containing silicon copiously and provided with a surface having a (3×3) reconstruction structure and a third step of supplying a gaseous raw material containing nitrogen and a gaseous raw material containing a Group III element to the surface of the silicon carbide layer and consequently giving rise to the intermediate layer formed of the Group III nitride semiconductor. |
| US07989915B2 |
Vertical electrical device
A vertical electrical device includes a region in a substrate extending from a surface of the substrate, the region having an inner wall and an outer wall circumscribing the inner wall. An inner electrically conductive layer is disposed on the inner wall and an outer electrically conductive layer is disposed on the outer wall, with an electrically insulative material disposed between the inner and outer layers. An electrical conductor in the substrate is bounded by the inner electrically conductive layer. |
| US07989910B2 |
Semiconductor device including a resurf region with forward tapered teeth
A semiconductor device includes an n+ type semiconductor substrate 1 and a super junction region that has, on the top of the substrate 1, an n and p type pillar regions 2 and 3 provided alternately. The device also includes, in the top surface of the super junction region, a p type base region 4 and an n type source layer 5. The device also includes a gate electrode 7 on the region 4 and layer 5 via a gate-insulating film 6, a drain electrode 9 on the bottom of the substrate 1, and a source electrode 8 on the top of the substrate 1. In the top surface of the super junction region in the terminal region, a RESURF region 10 is formed. The RESURF region has a comb-like planar shape with repeatedly-formed teeth having tips facing the end portion of the terminal region. |
| US07989909B2 |
Image sensor module and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor module includes a semiconductor chip. Photodiode units are disposed in an active region of the semiconductor chip to convert light into electric signals. Pads are disposed in a peripheral region formed around the active region and the pads are electrically connected to the photodiode units. A connecting region is formed around the peripheral region. Re-distribution layers are electrically connected to respective pads and extend to the connecting region. A transparent substrate covers the photodiode units and the pads and exposes at least a portion of the re-distribution layers. Connecting layers are electrically connected to the respective re-distribution layers and extend to a top surface of the transparent substrate. Connecting members are connected to the respective connecting layers disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate. |
| US07989908B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, photodiode structures, color filters, and microlenses. The semiconductor substrate includes a first region having pixel regions and a second region around the first region. The pixel regions are arranged in a matrix configuration. Each of the photodiode structures has a photodiode in each of the pixel regions. The color filters are disposed on or over the photodiode structures, the color filters correspond to the pixel regions, respectively, and have different areas corresponding to incident angles of light. |
| US07989903B2 |
Semiconductor device with extension structure and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region, a source region, a drain region, a source extension region a drain extension region, a first gate insulation film, a second gate insulation film, and a gate electrode. The source region, drain region, source extension region and drain extension region are formed in a surface portion of the semiconductor region. The first gate insulation film is formed on the semiconductor region between the source extension region and the drain extension region. The first gate insulation film is formed of a silicon oxide film or a silicon oxynitride film having a nitrogen concentration of 15 atomic % or less. The second gate insulation film is formed on the first gate insulation film and contains nitrogen at a concentration of between 20 atomic % and 57 atomic %. The gate electrode is formed on the second gate insulation film. |
| US07989900B2 |
Semiconductor structure including gate electrode having laterally variable work function
A semiconductor structure, such as a CMOS structure, includes a gate electrode that has a laterally variable work function. The gate electrode that has the laterally variable work function may be formed using an angled ion implantation method or a sequential layering method. The gate electrode that has the laterally variable work function provides enhanced electrical performance within an undoped channel field effect transistor device. |
| US07989896B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: laying out a first region, a second region, a third region and a fourth region on a semiconductor substrate by forming an element isolation region in the semiconductor substrate; forming a first insulating film on the first region and the second region; forming a first semiconductor film on the first insulating film; forming a second insulating film and an aluminum oxide film thereon on the fourth region after forming of the first semiconductor film; forming a third insulating film and a lanthanum oxide film thereon on the third region after forming of the first semiconductor film; forming a high dielectric constant film on the aluminum oxide film and the lanthanum oxide film; forming a metal film on the high dielectric constant film; forming a second semiconductor film on the first semiconductor film and the metal film; and patterning the first insulating film, the first semiconductor film, the second insulating film, the aluminum oxide film, the third insulating film, the lanthanum oxide film, the high dielectric constant film, the metal film and the second semiconductor film. |
| US07989895B2 |
Integration using package stacking with multi-layer organic substrates
Example embodiments of the invention may provide for a multi-package system. The multi-package system may include a first package having a plurality of first organic dielectric layers, where the first package includes at least one first conductive layer positioned between two of the plurality of first organic dielectric layers, and where the at least one first conductive layer is circuitized to form at least one first passive device. The multi-package system may also include a second package having a plurality of second organic dielectric layers, where the second package includes at least one second conductive layer positioned between two of the plurality of second organic dielectric layers, and where the at least one second conductive layer is circuitized to form at least one second passive device. An electrical connector may be provided between a bottom surface of the first package and a top surface of the second package to electrically connect the first package and the second package. |
| US07989894B2 |
Fusion bonding process and structure for fabricating silicon-on-insulation (SOI) semiconductor devices
A method of fabricating a semiconductor-on-insulator device including: providing a first semiconductor wafer having an about 500 angstrom thick oxide layer thereover; etching the first semiconductor wafer to raise a pattern therein; doping the raised pattern of the first semiconductor wafer through the about 500 angstrom thick oxide layer; providing a second semiconductor wafer having an oxide thereover; and, bonding the first semiconductor wafer oxide to the second semiconductor wafer oxide at an elevated temperature. |
| US07989891B2 |
MOS structures with remote contacts and methods for fabricating the same
MOS structures with remote contacts and methods for fabricating such MOS structures are provided. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an MOS structure comprises providing a semiconductor layer that is at least partially surrounded by an isolation region and that has an impurity-doped first portion. First and second MOS transistors are formed on and within the first portion. The transistors are substantially parallel and define a space therebetween. An insulating material is deposited overlying the first portion of the semiconductor layer and at least a portion of the isolation region. A contact is formed through the insulating material outside the space such that the contact is in electrical communication with the transistors. |
| US07989890B2 |
Lateral power MOSFET with high breakdown voltage and low on-resistance
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a pre-high-voltage well (pre-HVW) in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the pre-HVW is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type; a high-voltage well (HVW) over the pre-HVW, wherein the HVW is of the second conductivity type; a field ring in the HVW and occupying a top portion of the HVW, wherein the field ring is of the first conductivity type; an insulation region over and in contact with the field ring and a portion of the HVW; a gate electrode partially over the insulation region; a drain region in the HVW, wherein the drain region is of the second conductivity type; and wherein the HVW horizontally extends further toward the drain region than the pre-HVW; and a source region adjacent to, and on an opposite side of the gate electrode than the drain region. |
| US07989887B2 |
Trench MOSFET with trenched floating gates as termination
A trench MOSFET comprising a plurality of transistor cells with a plurality of wide trenched floating gates as termination region is disclosed. The trenched floating gates have trench depth equal to or deeper than body junction depth of body regions in termination area. Each body region between two adjacent said trenched floating gates has floating voltage. |
| US07989886B2 |
Alignment of trench for MOS
Manufacturing a power transistor by forming a gate structure on a first layer, forming a trench in the first layer, self aligned with the gate structure, and forming part of the transistor in the trench. By forming a spacer next to the gate, the spacer and gate can be used as a mask when forming the trench, to allow space for a source region next to the gate. The self-aligning rather than forming the gate after the trench means the alignment is more accurate, allowing size reduction. Another aspect involves forming a trench in a first layer, filling the trench, forming a second layer on either side of the trench with lateral overgrowth over the trench, and forming a source region in the second layer to overlap the trench. This overlap can enable the chip area to be reduced. |
| US07989883B1 |
System and method for providing a poly cap and a no field oxide area to prevent formation of a vertical bird's beak structure in the manufacture of a semiconductor device
A system and method is disclosed that prevents the formation of a vertical bird's beak structure in the manufacture of a semiconductor device. A polysilicon filled trench is formed in a substrate of the semiconductor device. One or more composite layers are then applied over the trench and the substrate. A mask and etch process is then applied to etch the composite layers adjacent to the polysilicon filled trench. A field oxide process is applied to form field oxide portions in the substrate adjacent to the trench. Because no field oxide is placed over the trench there is no formation of a vertical bird's beak structure. A gate oxide layer is applied and a protection cap is formed over the polysilicon filled trench to protect the trench from unwanted effects of subsequent processing steps. |
| US07989881B2 |
Semiconductor device structure with a tapered field plate and cylindrical drift region geometry
A vertically oriented self terminating semiconductor device such as a discrete trench MOS device (10, 38) that includes a cylindrical drift region (18) that extend downward from a surface region to a substrate (11) and a dielectric region (20) that exponentially tapers outward from the cylindrical drift region as the drift region approaches the substrate. A field plate electrode (12) is disposed on the dielectric region. Alternatively, the gate electrode (40, 46) may be disposed on the dielectric region, optionally with an underlying field plate electrode (48). |
| US07989875B2 |
BiCMOS integration of multiple-times-programmable non-volatile memories
A BiCMOS substrate includes a bipolar area having a buried carrier layer, and a deep trench isolation (DTI) trench extending into the buried carrier layer to form a surface well implant above a buried well implant within the DTI trench, the buried well implant being the buried carrier layer portion within the DTI trench. A floating gate is disposed on the carrier well. Optionally, a high voltage control gate is formed of a stack of the buried well implant and the surface well implant within the DTI trench. Optionally, a poly layer formed of a bipolar process base poly layer is disposed on the floating gate. Optionally, a shallow well isolation region is formed on the substrate, a floating gate is disposed on the shallow well region, and an overlaying control gate, formed of a bipolar process base poly, is disposed above the floating gate. |
| US07989872B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory element and nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
The channel of each nonvolatile semiconductor memory element has a plate-like shape, and a charge accumulating layer is formed on one face of the channel region, with an insulating film being interposed in between. A control gate electrode is then formed on the charge accumulating layer, with another insulating film being interposed in between. Another control gate electrode is formed on the other face of the channel region, with yet another insulating film being interposed in between. The plate-like semiconductor region is designed to have a thickness smaller than twice the largest depletion layer thickness determined by the impurity concentration. In this manner, variations of the threshold voltages varying with the voltage of the control gate electrodes can be made smaller than the minimum value in conventional elements. As a result, nonvolatile semiconductor memory elements that have higher controllability over threshold voltages and can lower the power supply voltage so as to reduce the power consumption can be provided. |
| US07989871B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having insulating films that include multiple layers formed by insulating materials having d-orbital metal element and insulating materials without d-orbital metal element
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating film on a channel, a floating gate electrode on the first insulating film, a second insulating film on the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating film. Each of the first and second insulating films comprises at least two layers, one layer directly in contact with the floating gate electrode is formed by an insulating material (A) including a metal element having a d orbital, and the other at least one layer is formed by an insulating material (B) chiefly including one of a metal element without the d orbital, and a semiconductor element. |
| US07989868B2 |
MOS varactor and fabricating method of the same
A MOS varactor for use in circuits and elements of a millimeter-wave frequency band, which is capable of reducing series resistance and enhancing a Q-factor by using a plurality of island-like gates seated in a well region of a substrate and gate contacts directly over the gates, includes: gate insulating layers arranged at equal intervals in the form of a (n×m) matrix, and a gate electrode placed on the gate insulating layers in a well region of a substrate; a gate contact which contacts the gate electrode; a first metal wire, which is electrically connected to the gate contact; source/drain contacts arranged at equal intervals in a matrix to form apexes of a square centered at the gate electrode and contact a doping region except for the bottom of the gate insulating layers; and a second metal wire, which is electrically connected to the source/drain contacts. |
| US07989866B2 |
DRAM layout with vertical FETS and method of formation
DRAM cell arrays having a cell area of about 4 F2 comprise an array of vertical transistors with buried bit lines and vertical double gate electrodes. The buried bit lines comprise a silicide material and are provided below a surface of the substrate. The word lines are optionally formed of a silicide material and form the gate electrode of the vertical transistors. The vertical transistor may comprise sequentially formed doped polysilicon layers or doped epitaxial layers. At least one of the buried bit lines is orthogonal to at least one of the vertical gate electrodes of the vertical transistors. |
| US07989863B2 |
Method of forming a semiconductor device having an etch stop layer and related device
In one embodiment, a lower interlayer dielectric layer, and first and second landing pads penetrating the lower interlayer dielectric layer are formed on a substrate. Interconnection patterns covering the second landing pads are formed on the lower interlayer dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed over the interconnection patterns. An upper interlayer dielectric layer filling a gap region between the interconnection patterns is formed on the etch stop layer. The upper interlayer dielectric layer is patterned to form a preliminary contact hole between the interconnection patterns, where the etch stop layer is exposed at the bottom of the preliminary contact hole. The preliminary contact hole is extended and the etch stop layer exposed by the extended preliminary contact hole is removed to form a first contact hole exposing the first landing pad. A buried contact plug is then formed within the first contact hole. |
| US07989859B2 |
Backside illuminated imaging sensor with silicide light reflecting layer
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer, a metal interconnect layer and a silicide light reflecting layer. The semiconductor layer has a front surface and a back surface. An imaging pixel that includes a photodiode region is formed within the semiconductor layer. The metal interconnect layer is electrically coupled to the photodiode region and the silicide light reflecting layer is coupled between the metal interconnect layer and the front surface of the semiconductor layer. In operation, the photodiode region receives light from the back surface of the semiconductor layer, where a portion of the received light propagates through the photodiode region to the silicide light reflecting layer. The silicide light reflecting layer is configured to reflect the portion of light received from the photodiode region. |
| US07989855B2 |
Semiconductor device including a deflected part
This invention relates to a semiconductor device having a beam made of a semiconductor to which strain is introduced by deflection, and a current is permitted to flow in the beam. |
| US07989853B2 |
Integration of high voltage JFET in linear bipolar CMOS process
A dual channel JFET which can be integrated in an IC without adding process steps is disclosed. Pinch-off voltage is determined by lateral width of a first, vertical, channel near the source contact. Maximum drain voltage is determined by drain to gate separation and length of a second, horizontal, channel under the gate. Pinch-off voltage and maximum drain potential are dependent on lateral dimensions of the drain and gate wells and may be independently optimized. A method of fabricating the dual channel JFET is also disclosed. |
| US07989850B2 |
Array substrate and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate includes first and second gate electrodes on a substrate; a gate insulating layer on the first and second gate electrodes; first and second active layers on the gate insulating layer; an interlayer insulating layer on the first and second active layers; first to fourth ohmic contact layers respectively contacting both sides of the first active layer and both sides of the second active layer; first and second source electrodes and first and second drain electrodes respectively on the first, third, second and fourth ohmic contact layers; a data line connected to the first source electrode; a first passivation layer connected to the first gate electrode; a power line; one end and the other end of a connection electrode respectively connected to the first drain electrode and the second gate electrode; a second passivation layer; and a pixel electrode-connected to the second drain electrode. |
| US07989849B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for efficient power rail structures for cell libraries
An integrated circuit has a power rail formed of a first wire in a lower metal layer and a second wire in an upper metal layer and that run in the same direction in their respective layers. A number of vias connect the first and second wires, to form a sandwich power rail structure. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07989844B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing such a device
The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a substrate (11) and a semiconductor body (12) with a heterojunction bipolar, in particular npn, transistor with an emitter region (1), a base region (2) and a collector region (3), which are provided with, respectively, a first, a second and a third connection conductor (4, 5, 6), and wherein the bandgap of the base region (2) is smaller than that of the collector region (3) or of the emitter region (1), for example by the use of a silicon-germanium mixed crystal instead of pure silicon in the base region (2). Such a device is characterized by a very high speed, but its transistor shows a relatively low BVeeo. In a device (10) according to the invention the doping flux of the emitter region (1) is locally reduced by a further semiconductor region (20) of the second conductivity type which is embedded in the emitter region (1). In this way, on the one hand, a low-impedance emitter contact is ensured, while locally the Gummel number is increased without the drawbacks normally associated with such an increase. In this way, the hole current in the, npn, transistor is increased and thus the gain is decreased. The relatively high gain of a Si—Ge transistor is responsible for the low BVCeOf which is consequently avoided in a device (10) according to the invention. Preferably the further semiconductor region (20) is recessed in the emitter region (1) and said emitter region (1) preferably comprises a lower doped part that borders on the base region (2) and that is situated below the further semiconductor region (20). The invention also comprises a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (10) according to the invention. |
| US07989842B2 |
Method and apparatus for heterojunction barrier diode detector for ultrahigh sensitivity
The disclosure relates to a zero-bias heterojunction diode detector with varying impedance. The detector includes a substrate supporting a Schottky structure and an Ohmic contact layer. A metallic contact layer is formed over the Ohmic layer. The Schottky structure comprises a plurality of barrier layers and each of the plurality of barriers layers includes a first material and a second material. In one embodiment, the composition percentage of the second material in each of the barrier layers increases among the plurality of barrier layers from the substrate to the metal layer in order to provide a graded periodicity for the Schottky structure. |
| US07989837B2 |
Light chain
A light chain includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically connected to each other. Each LED includes an LED chip having a first pole and a second pole, and a packaging layer encapsulating the LED chip. A first electrode has an inner end connected to the first pole, and an outer end extending to the outside of the packaging layer. A second electrode has an inner end connected to the second pole, and an outer end extending to the outside of the packaging layer. A third electrode has a first outer end and a second outer end located at the outside. The outer end of the first electrode and the first outer end cooperatively form a first plug; the outer end of the second electrode and the second outer end cooperatively form a second plug configured to attach to a first plug of an adjacent LED. |
| US07989836B2 |
Light emitting element having an irregular surface, light emitting device using the light emitting element, and method for manufacturing light emitting element
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element, including a substrate including group III nitride compound semiconductor, a luminous layer structure including group III nitride compound semiconductor, the luminous layer structure formed on a first surface of the substrate, and an irregular surface formed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface including a principal light emission surface, and a translucent sealing member for sealing the light emitting element, the translucent sealing member being separated from the second surface. At least one of translucent gel material and an inert gas is filled between the light emitting element and the translucent sealing member. |
| US07989835B2 |
Light emitting diode package including metal lines having gap therebetween
Provided is an LED package. It is easy to control luminance according to the luminance and an angle applicable. Since heat is efficiently emitted, the LED package is easily applicable to a high luminance LED. The manufacturing process is convenient and the cost is reduced. The LED package includes a substrate, an electrode, an LED, and a heatsink hole. The electrode is formed on the substrate. The LED is mounted in a side of the substrate and is electrically connected to the electrode. The heatsink hole is formed to pass through the substrate, for emitting out heat generated from the LED. |
| US07989834B2 |
Light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A light emitting device comprises a second electrode layer; a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer; a current blocking layer comprising an oxide of the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer; an active layer on the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer; a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer on the active layer; and a first electrode layer on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer. |
| US07989833B2 |
Silicon nanoparticle white light emitting diode device
Multiple films of red-green-blue (RGB) luminescent silicon nanoparticles are integrated in a cascade configuration as a top coating in an ultraviolet/blue light emitting diode (LED) to convert it to a white LED. The configuration of RGB luminescent silicon nanoparticle films harnesses the short wavelength portion of the light emitted from the UV/blue LED while transmitting efficiently the longer wavelength portion. The configuration also reduces damaging heat and/or ultraviolet effects to both the device and to humans. |
| US07989829B2 |
Light emitting diode backlight module and liquid crystal display
An exemplary light emitting diode (200) includes a base (18), a semiconductor chip (20), a cover (28), and two optical layers (30). The semiconductor chip is formed on the base. The cover is formed on the base and covers the semiconductor chip. The optical layers cover part of a peripheral side of the cover respectively. |
| US07989824B2 |
Method of forming a dielectric layer on a semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor structure comprising a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region is formed. A first metal contact is formed on a portion of the n-type region and a second metal contact is formed on a portion of the p-type region. The first and second metal contacts are formed on a same side of the semiconductor structure. A dielectric material is disposed between the first and second metal contacts. The dielectric material is in direct contact with a portion of the semiconductor structure, a portion of the first metal contact, and a portion of the second metal contact. A planar surface is formed including a surface of the first metal contact, a surface of the second metal contact, and a surface of the dielectric material |
| US07989820B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises: a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer under the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer under the active layer; a reflective electrode layer under the light emitting structure, and an outer protection layer at an outer circumference of the reflective electrode layer. |
| US07989819B2 |
Light emitting diode
A LED chip including a substrate, a semiconductor device layer, a current blocking layer, a current spread layer, a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The semiconductor device layer is disposed on the substrate. The current blocking layer is disposed on a part of the semiconductor device layer and includes a current blocking segment and a current distribution adjusting segment. The current spread layer is disposed on a part of the semiconductor device layer and covers the current blocking layer. The first electrode is disposed on the current spread layer, wherein a part of the current blocking segment is overlapped with the first electrode. Contours of the current blocking segment and the first electrode are similar figures. Contour of the first electrode and is within contour of the current blocking segment. The current distribution adjusting segment is not overlapped with the first electrode. |
| US07989817B2 |
Light-emitting diode chip package body and packaging method thereof
AN LED chip package body provides an LED chip with a pad-installed surface, a plurality of pads disposed on the pad-installed surface and a rear surface formed opposite the pad-installed surface. The LED chip package body further has a light-reflecting coating disposed on the pad-installed surface of the LED chip and a plurality of pad-exposed holes for exposure of the corresponding pads of the LED chip. The LED chip package body further comprises a light-transparent element disposed on the rear surface of the LED chip and a plurality of conductive projecting blocks. Each of the conductive projecting blocks is disposed on the corresponding pad of the LED chip. |
| US07989814B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor array panel including a substrate; a display area signal line; a display area thin film transistor; a peripheral area signal line; a black matrix disposed on the display area signal line, the display area thin film transistor, and the peripheral area signal line, the black matrix including a first and a second contact holes exposing the peripheral area signal line; a protrusion member disposed on the peripheral area signal line, the protrusion member overlapping the peripheral area signal line; a transparent connector disposed on the black matrix and within the peripheral area, wherein the transparent connector contacts the peripheral area signal line through at least one of the first and the second contact holes and includes a protrusion within at least one of the first and the second contact holes which corresponds to the protrusion member; and a pixel electrode. |
| US07989809B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel including assistant lines
Improved thin film transistor array panels are provided. In one embodiment, a panel includes a plurality of gate lines, data lines, and a plurality of switching elements connected to the gate lines and the data lines. An interlayer insulating layer is formed between the gate lines and the data lines. A passivation layer covering the gate lines, the data lines, and the switching elements is also provided having a plurality of first contact holes exposing portions of the data lines, wherein the switching elements and the pixel electrodes are connected through the first contact holes. A plurality of contact assistants are formed on the passivation layer and are connected to the data lines through a plurality of second contact holes in the passivation layer. A plurality of auxiliary lines are connected to the data lines through a plurality of third contact holes in the interlayer insulating layer. |
| US07989807B2 |
Thin-film transistor substrate, method of manufacturing same and display apparatus having same
Contamination is blocked from material of a color filter layer provided on a thin-film transistors (TFT) supporting substrate by sealing over the color filter layer with an inorganic insulating layer. During mass production manufacture, a plasma surface cleaning step is employed after the color filter layer is deposited but before the inorganic insulating layer is deposited. A low temperature CVD process is used to deposit the inorganic insulating layer with a substantially uniform thickness conformably over the color filter layer including conformably into openings provided through the color filter layer. |
| US07989806B2 |
Pixel performance improvement by use of a field-shield
A pixel cell (100) and method for making the same for an active matrix display includes a pixel pad (110) and a thin film field effect transistor (106) which selectably couples a signal to activate/deactivate the pixel pad. A field shield (112) is formed on an insulating layer (102) and connected to the pixel pad through the insulating layer such that the field shield extends over at least a portion of the pixel pad. The field shield may extend over the thin film transistor and form a second gate (215) used to enhance the performance of the thin film transistor and the pixel cell. |
| US07989803B2 |
Manufacturing method for semiconductor chips and semiconductor wafer
In a semiconductor wafer that has semiconductor devices arranged in a plurality of device-formation-regions and a TEG placed in dividing regions that define the device-formation-regions, a TEG-placement portion is arranged in the dividing regions partially expanded in width, and the TEG is placed in the TEG-placement portion. Additionally, a protective sheet is stuck to the semiconductor wafer, then plasma etching is performed, and the TEG is removed in a state where it remains in the dividing region and stuck to the protective sheet together with the protective sheet by peeling off the protective sheet, thereby the device-formation-regions are divided into individual pieces, and the semiconductor chips are manufactured. |
| US07989796B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell with concentric phase change material formed around a pillar arrangement
A memory cell comprises a first feature and a second feature. The second feature comprises a dielectric material and defines an opening at least partially overlying the first feature. A third feature is formed on the first feature and partially fills the opening in the second feature. What is more, a phase change material at least fills a volume between the second feature and the third feature. At least a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a switching signal to the memory cell. |
| US07989791B2 |
Diode structure and memory device including the same
Provided are a diode structure and a memory device including the same. The diode structure includes: a first electrode; a p-type Cu oxide layer formed on the first electrode; an n-type InZn oxide layer formed on the p-type Cu oxide layer; and a second electrode formed on the n-type InZn oxide. |
| US07989790B2 |
Resistance random access memory
A memory comprises a number of word lines in a first direction, a number of bit lines in a second direction, each coupled to at least one of the word lines, and a number of memory elements, each coupled to one of the word lines and one of the bit lines. Each memory element comprises a top electrode for connecting to a corresponding word line, a bottom electrode for connecting to a corresponding bit line, a resistive layer on the bottom electrode, and at least two separate liners, each liner having resistive materials on both ends of the liner and each liner coupled between the top electrode and the resistive layer. |
| US07989786B2 |
Laser-driven light source
An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light. |
| US07989785B2 |
Gantry, particle therapy system, and method for operating a gantry
The present embodiments relate to a gantry for the beam guidance of a particle beam with at least one beam guidance element. A carrier device is rotatably mounted in such a way that the particle beam can be directed by a rotation of the carrier device with the beam guidance element from various angles on to an object to be irradiated. At least one moveable actuating element may adjust a spatial position of the beam guidance element. |
| US07989781B2 |
Detector for a UV false positive of radiation sensitive devices
Disclosed is a detector for monitoring a UV false positive from genuine X-ray positive of color developing radiation sensitive devices. A layer which can be scratched off and is opaque to undesired radiation but transparent to X-ray is printed on the sensor. If the sensor displays a signal (i.e., develops color), whether it is genuine or false positive can be confirmed by scratching off the opaque layer. If the signal is a genuine positive, the whole sensor will be uniformly exposed/colored including the area under the opaque layer. If it is a false positive, the area under the scratched off layer will be of lighter color than the rest of the sensor. |
| US07989773B2 |
Compact and durable encasement for a digital radiography detector
A digital radiography detector includes a housing and a radiographic image detector assembly. The housing has a first and second spaced planar members and four side walls defining a cavity. The radiographic image detector assembly is mounted within the cavity for converting a radiographic image to an electronic radiographic image. The detector assembly includes a scintillator screen and a detector array, and the detector assembly is bonded to the first planar member of the housing. |
| US07989772B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus, its control method, and recording medium storing program for executing the control method
To provide a radiation imaging apparatus capable of restraining the change of image qualities due to the change of sensitivities of an MIS-type photoelectric conversion element and its control method. Therefore, an MIS-type photoelectric conversion element 217 is set to a saturation state before performing radiation imaging. As means for realizing the above mentioned, a light source 601, power supply 603 for making the light source 601 emit light, and switch 605 are provided. The light source 601 can use a light source capable of discharging the light having a wavelength which can be detected by a photoelectric conversion layer 209 at optional timing. For example, it is possible to use a light source in which a plurality of LEDs or cold cathode ray tubes are arranged, a light guide plate is combined with an LED or cold cathode ray tube, or an EL device. |
| US07989766B2 |
Sample inspection apparatus
A sample inspection apparatus in which a fault in a semiconductor sample can be measured and analyzed efficiently. A plurality of probes are brought into contact with the sample. The sample is irradiated with an electron beam while a current flowing through the probes is measured. Signals from at least two probes are supplied to an image processing unit so as to form an absorbed electron current image. A difference between images obtained in accordance with a temperature change of the sample is obtained. A faulty point is identified from the difference between the images. |
| US07989762B2 |
Automatic cleaning of MALDI ion sources
In an ion source that generates ions by matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI), ion acceleration diaphragms having apertures though which ions are accelerated and which have become contaminated by matrix material, are cleaned by temporarily heating the diaphragms. During the cleaning process, the sample support plate is moved aside but remains in the ion source housing, and the heating is preferably limited to regions surrounding the apertures in the diaphragms. In one embodiment, the diaphragms are heated by irradiation generated by infrared laser diodes. |
| US07989761B2 |
Gas analyzing method and gas analyzing apparatus
Ions obtained through EI process from a first gas are subjected to mass analysis to obtain ion intensities which are stored in a first file, and ions obtained through soft ionization process from a second gas having same concentration of components as that of the first gas are subjected to mass analysis to obtain ion intensities which stored in a second file, and molecular weights are determined based on parent ions from soft ionization measurement data. A mass spectrum corresponding to the determined molecular weight is read out based on an NIST database, and the ion intensity data stored in the first file and the read out NIST data are compared with each other, and component molecules of the first gas are determined based on the comparison results. Qualitative analysis of mixed gas can be conducted in real time with high accuracy by making effective use of the measurement data of both mass analysis based on EI process and mass analysis based on soft ionization process. |
| US07989756B2 |
Active-isolation mounts for optical elements
Disclosed are, inter alia, optical components that include an optical element (e.g., mirror) and at least three active-isolation mounts mounting the optical element to a frame (e.g., optical barrel or optical frame). An active-isolation mount has a non-contacting actuator connecting a respective location on the optical element to the frame and provides movability of the respective location relative to the frame in at least one direction. At least one displacement sensor is associated with each respective location on the optical element. The displacement sensors are sensitive to displacements of the respective locations in at least one respective direction and reference the displacements to an absolute reference. The actuators and sensors are connected to a servo control loop to provide feedback control. |
| US07989754B2 |
Optical circuit and method for measuring monitor characteristic
An optical circuit includes a selector that supplies an output current from a first photodetector to a converter provided for a second photodetector, and a processor that imaginarily calculates the level of signal light output from an optical device, which is detected by the second photodetector, based upon the level of signal light input to the optical device, which is measured by measurement means, and upon conversion efficiencies of the first and second photodetectors and that thus calculates the correlation between the output signal light level and its monitored value output from the converter provided for the second photodetector. |
| US07989752B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and solid-state imaging device manufacturing method
A solid-state imaging device 1 includes: a semiconductor substrate 11 on which pixels are placed like a matrix; and each of the pixels having a photoelectric conversion element 13 and a color filter layer 21 which is formed on the photoelectric conversion element 13. The solid-state imaging device 1 includes resin parts 20 which are formed at the boundaries of these photoelectric conversion devices 13 which are adjacent to each other, each of the resin parts 20 having an upward convex shape. Each color filter layer 21 of the device is formed so that the color filter layer covers the area ranging from the summit of a resin part to the summit of an adjacent resin part, and each color filter layer 21 is thinner in the peripheral part than in the center part around the summit. |
| US07989750B2 |
Image sensors with enhanced charge transmission characteristics
An image sensor includes photoelectric conversion elements formed adjacent to each other on a substrate. Two transmission elements transmit charge accumulated in two adjacent photoelectric conversion elements to a first floating diffusion region, and another two transmission elements transmit charge accumulated in the other two photoelectric conversion elements to a second floating diffusion region. The first floating diffusion region is electrically connected to the second floating diffusion region. A plurality of readout elements read out the charge transmitted to the first and the second floating diffusion regions. The image sensor also includes a dummy gate group including at least one dummy gate arrayed substantially parallel to a readout gate of the plurality of readout elements. |
| US07989749B2 |
Method and apparatus providing shared pixel architecture
Methods and apparatuses using pixels with shared readout circuits are used to increase pixel fill factor and operation efficiency. |
| US07989744B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transferring a fluid
Methods and apparatus for a missile having an external system operate in conjunction with an airframe and a fluid transfer system. The airframe includes an interior surface defining a substantially enclosed internal chamber. The fluid transfer system selectively connects the internal chamber to the external system, for example to provide pressurant or coolant to the external system. |
| US07989743B2 |
System and method for attitude control of a flight vehicle using pitch-over thrusters and application to an active protection system
A reliable and inexpensive attitude control system uses a plurality of pitch-over thrusters to perform rapid and precise attitude maneuvers for a flight vehicle. The pitch-over thrusters create rotational moments that directly pitch and yaw the flight vehicle. The use of very simple thrusters and control techniques provides for a reliable and cost effective solution. The ability to perform overlapping pitch and yaw maneuvers with single-shot fixed-impulse thrusters provides for high-speed maneuverability. Although this approach is applicable to provide attitude control for any flight vehicle including all types of missiles, kill-vehicles and space craft, it is particularly applicable for smaller highly maneuverable cost-constrained missile systems. One such system is an “Active Protection System” or APS in which a missile system is integrated with a vehicle such as a HumVee or armored personnel carrier to provide defensive counter-measures against possible attack. |
| US07989742B2 |
Process to control the initiation of an attack module and initiation control device implementing said process
The invention relates to a process to control the initiation of an attack module, such as a projectile or sub-projectile, such attack module having at least one pre-determined direction of action. Before firing or on trajectory, the coordinates of at least one target are programmed into a fixed terrestrial reference, the orientation of the direction(s) of action in the fixed terrestrial reference is determined at least once on trajectory, and the initiation of the attack module is only authorized if the direction of action is oriented in the direction of the target. The invention also relates to the device implementing such a process. |
| US07989741B2 |
In-line microwave warming apparatus
Microwave warming apparatus includes a housing defining a heating waveguide with a heating cavity. An integral internal electrically conductive ridge projects from one of the longitudinal waveguide walls and extends along the waveguide. A slot having opposite ends extends from the outside through the ridge into the heating cavity, the slot being adapted to receive a cartridge containing a tube so that the tube extends through the slot into the heating cavity. Electromagnetic energy is coupled into the heating waveguide to heat the contents of the tube. A transducer constituted by a first receiving waveguide inside the ridge is adjacent to the slot so that when a cartridge is received in the slot, the transducer can sense the thermal radiation emanating from a segment of the tube and produce a corresponding waveguide-generated signal. A radiometer in the housing is responsive to the waveguide-generated signal and produces a temperature indicating signal. |
| US07989739B2 |
Electric heater assembly
An electric heater assembly suitable for use with molten metals, the heater employing improved heat transfer media. |
| US07989735B1 |
Heating apparatus for heat retaining hair clips
Apparatus for heating hair clips having a heatable member comprises a base, a heating structure, and means for providing electricity to the heating structure. The heating structure can comprise an elongated electrical heater having opposed sides, a plurality of thermally conductive heating elements in pairs on each side of the electrical heater, and a thermal insulator between the heating elements separating the heating elements from each other. |
| US07989732B2 |
Method of AC welding using a flux cored electrode
A method of AC welding that includes the step of supplying AC current with a given waveform from a power source to an advancing electrode and workpiece. The AC current is used to melt the electrode and to thereby deposit metal from the electrode onto the workpiece. The electrode includes a particulate arc stabilizing compound. The particulate arc stabilizing compound includes sodium and titanium dioxide. The particulate arc stabilizing compound constitutes over 20% by weight of the core of the electrode. |
| US07989731B2 |
Method for processing materials with laser pulses having a large spectral bandwidth
A method and device for processing materials with laser pulses having a large spectral bandwidth and a device for carrying out said method. The aim of the invention is to create an easy, flexible method enabling universally applicable processing which can, however, be adapted to specific processing and methodological requirements. According to the invention, one or several spectral parameters of the laser pulses, i.e. the spectral amplitude and/or spectral phase and/or spectral polarization thereof, is/are specifically modified, preferably according to a measuring process variable, in order to process material or during the occurrence of said processing. The invention is used in order to process material with laser pulses having a large spectral bandwidth, particularly femto-second pulses and pico-second pulses. |
| US07989730B2 |
Method and device for determining the lateral relative displacement between a processing head and a workpiece
The present invention relates to a method for determining a lateral relative movement between a processing head and a workpiece during processing the workpiece as well as a device to carry it out. In the method a surface of the workpiece (12) is illuminated in the region of the processing head with an optical radiation (2). The optical radiation (3) reflected from the surface of the workpiece (12) in the region of the processing head is repeatedly detected in a locally resolved manner by an optical detector (9), which is firmly fixed mechanically to the processing head, to obtain optical reflection patterns. The repeated detection occurs in temporal intervals in which the temporally successive reflection patterns of overlapping surface regions of the workpiece (12) are obtained. The lateral relative movement is determined by comparing the temporally successive reflection patterns. The method and the corresponding device permit contactless measurement of the relative movement between the processing head and the workpiece with great precision. |
| US07989724B2 |
Switch, particularly window lifter switch
In a switch, particularly a window lifter switch, with a housing, a switching rocker which is mounted in the housing and is associated with electrical contacts, and with a button which is likewise mounted in the housing, the button is acted upon elastically so that it is mounted free from play in the housing. |
| US07989722B2 |
Illuminated switch device
Disclosed is an illuminated switch device capable of effectively preventing light leakage between different light sources, thereby obtaining a good lighting quality, while reducing the overall size of the switch device. The illuminated switch device includes: a casing that has an open upper end and a partition wall provided therein and is formed on a bottom plate member having light sources and a push switch mounted thereon; and an operating body that has a light-shielding wall provided on the rear surface of an upper plate, is arranged so as to close the open end, and can be pressed. First and second illuminated regions to which light components are emitted from first and second light sources are provided on the upper plate. A protruding portion is formed at a leading end portion of a light-shielding wall, and a concave groove is provided at a leading end portion of a partition wall. The leading end portions are opposite to each other such that they can approach or separate from each other. At least a part of the protruding portion is arranged in the concave groove, and a gap is formed between the leading ends of the protruding portion and the concave portion. |
| US07989721B2 |
Low-voltage device with rotating element with high electrodynamic strength
A single-pole or multi-pole device for low-voltage systems, in particular a circuit breaker or a disconnector, which comprises: an outer casing containing for each pole at least one fixed contact and at least one mobile contact that can be coupled to/uncoupled from one another; a rotating element that comprises a shaped body made of insulating material comprising at least one seat for each pole of said switch, said seat being designed to house at least one mobile contact of a corresponding pole; a control mechanism operatively connected to the rotating element for enabling movement thereof; and one or more elements made of ferromagnetic material set in a position corresponding to at least one portion of the inner surface of said at least one seat of the mobile contact. |
| US07989713B2 |
Adjustable weighing scale
An adjustable weighing scale includes first and second scale sections deployable in a full-width configuration and an extended-width configuration. A connecting member extends between the scale sections. Load sensing apparatuses are mounted on the scale sections and output signals related to a portion of the full weight of an associated object on the scale. An output device receives the signals and communicates the full weight sensed by the scale in appropriate units. |
| US07989707B2 |
Chip embedded substrate and method of producing the same
A method of producing a chip embedded substrate is disclosed. This method comprises a first step of mounting a semiconductor chip on a first substrate on which a first wiring is formed; and a second step of joining the first substrate with a second substrate on which a second wiring is formed. In the second step, the semiconductor chip is encapsulated between the first substrate and the second substrate and electrical connection is made between the first wiring and the second wiring so as to form multilayered wirings connected to the semiconductor chip. |
| US07989703B2 |
Alternating core composite wire
A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire. The wire is manufactured by inserting the core segments into the outer shell to form a wire construct, followed by subjecting the wire construct to one or more initial draws while applying a compressive force to the core segments on an upstream side of the die to maintain the core segments in contact with one another upon dense contact between the outer shell and core segments, following by closing of the outer shell onto the core segments, as the wire is pulled through a drawing die. The resulting wire may then be subjected to a plurality of finishing draws. Exemplary applications of the wire include medical devices, such as in vivo heating devices, thermally-actuated snares, in vivo positioning devices, stents, and tissue scaffolds. |
| US07989700B2 |
Cable
A cable has a core made of an insulated wire, a shield layer provided at an outer periphery of the core, a reinforcing layer provided at an outer periphery of the shield layer, and a sheath provided at an outer periphery of the reinforcing layer. The insulated wire has a wire conductor and an insulating layer covering an outer periphery of the wire conductor. The shield layer is formed from tinsel-coppers. Each of the tinsel-copper has a core string and a copper foil provided around the core string. The reinforcing layer is formed by braiding fibers. |
| US07989697B2 |
Network communication device
A network communication device includes a top component and a bottom cover forming a receiving space there between when assembled. The top component further includes a top cover and a body. The body is configured attaches the top cover and the bottom cover. The assembly of the top cover and the bottom cover utilizes at least one locking tab assembly. Each locking tab assembly includes a locking tab and a reciprocal locking structure engaged with the locking tab. One of the locking tabs and the reciprocal locking structure of the one locking tab assembly are utilized to assemble the top cover and the body is disposed on a first planar surface of the top cover, and another one of the locking tab and the reciprocal locking structure of the locking tab assembly is disposed on the body. |
| US07989695B2 |
Organic photovoltaic cells
The present invention pertains to organic infrared absorbing layers comprising an organic radical cation compound that absorbs in an infrared region and produces an electron transfer reaction that results in a flow of electrons. Preferably, the organic radical cation compound is a salt of an aminium radical cation. Provided are photovoltaic cells comprising such light-sensitive organic infrared absorbing layers. |
| US07989692B2 |
Substrate and collector grid structures for integrated series connected photovoltaic arrays and process of manufacturing of such arrays
The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught. |
| US07989691B2 |
Dye for dye-sensitized solar cell and dye-sensitized solar cell including the same
A dye for a dye-sensitized solar cell according to embodiments of the present invention includes a compound having a silane group. The dye according to embodiments of the present invention may be used in a light absorption layer to improve photovoltaic efficiency and increase open-circuit voltage. |
| US07989690B1 |
Musical instrument pickup systems
Musical instrument pickups comprising a plurality of coil-wire wrappings, each coil-wire wrapping having a particular geometric cross-section. Related embodiments exhibiting noise cancellation features are also disclosed. |
| US07989685B1 |
Maize variety PHNAR
A novel maize variety designated PHNAR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHNAR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHNAR 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 PHNAR or a trait conversion of PHNAR with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHNAR, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHNAR and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07989681B1 |
Soybean cultivar 04KL023911
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 04KL023911 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 04KL023911 and its progeny, and methods of making 04KL023911. |
| US07989678B2 |
Disarmed agrobacterium strains, Ri-plasmids, and methods of transformation based thereon
The present invention relates “disarmed” strain variants of Agrobacterium strain K599 (NCPPB 2659), “disarmed” plasmid variants of the Ri-plasmid pRi2659, and derivatives thereof, and methods employing these strains and plasmids in plant transformation. |
| US07989677B2 |
Nucleic acids and proteins associated with sucrose accumulation in coffee
Disclosed herein are nucleic acid molecules isolated from coffee (Coffea spp.) comprising sequences that encodes various sucrose metabolizing enzymes, along with their encoded proteins. Specifically, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose phosphatase enzymes and their encoding polynucleotides from coffee are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using these polynucleotides for gene regulation and manipulation of the sugar profile of coffee plants, to influence flavor, aroma, and other features of coffee beans. |
| US07989676B2 |
Nucleotide sequences and corresponding polypeptides conferring modulated plant characteristics
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, sterility or seedling lethality in plants. The present invention further relates to the use of these nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in making transgenic plants, plant cells, plant materials or seeds of a plant having such modulated growth or phenotype characteristics that are altered with respect to wild type plants grown under similar conditions. |
| US07989675B2 |
Method of identifying compounds using a transgenic pig model of cystic fibrosis
The present invention provides transgenic, large non-human animal models of diseases and conditions, as well as methods of using such animal models in the identification and characterization of therapies for the diseases and conditions. |
| US07989674B2 |
Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties
A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 Ω/cm2. When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the pathologic condition, the dressing alters the electrodynamic processes occurring in conjunction with said pathologic condition to promote healing and pain relief in the living organism. When used as a wound dressing, the conductive material is placed in contact with tissue around the periphery of the wound and with the wound, lowering the electrical potential and resistance of the wound and increasing the wound current. |
| US07989672B2 |
Process and apparatus for para-xylene production
A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock. |
| US07989670B2 |
Process to produce high viscosity fluids
This invention relates to processes to produce liquid poly-alpha-olefins (PAOs) having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of more than 20 cSt in the presence of a metallocene catalyst with a non-coordinating anion activator and hydrogen. |
| US07989669B2 |
Recycle of DME in an oxygenate-to-olefin reaction system
This invention is directed to a process for producing one or more olefins from an oxygenate feed. According to the invention, an oxygenate stream is provided and a recycle stream is added to the oxygenate stream to form a feed stream to an oxygenate-to-olefin conversion system. The recycle stream comprises (i.e., contains) propane and dimethyl ether. |
| US07989664B2 |
Methods and systems for generating polyols
Disclosed are methods for generating propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols from biomass using hydrogen produced from the biomass. The methods involve reacting a portion of an aqueous stream of a biomass feedstock solution over a catalyst under aqueous phase reforming conditions to produce hydrogen, and then reacting the hydrogen and the aqueous feedstock solution over a catalyst to produce propylene glycol, ethylene glycal and the other polyols, diols, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and alcohols. The disclosed methods can be run at lower temperatures and pressures, and allows for the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons without the need for hydrogen from an external source. |
| US07989663B2 |
Compounds and methods of use thereof for assaying lysophospholipase D activity
Fluorogenic lysophosphatidic acid derivatives which can be used as substrates in a continuous, fluorogenic assay that can be performed in microtiter plates. The assays permit measuring LysoPLD activity levels in normal events such as pregnancy or disease states such as cancer. In addition, the present invention can be adopted to high throughout screening (HTS) for identification of potential inhibitors of lysoPLD activity. |
| US07989659B2 |
Method and apparatus for making acetic acid with improved light ends column productivity
An improved apparatus and method of producing acetic acid includes condensing overhead vapor to provide reflux to the light ends column as well as condensing vapor from a central portion of the light ends column to increase capacity. Throughput or load on the light ends column is substantially reduced without compromising product quality. |
| US07989656B2 |
Biaryl carboxylic acid apoptosis promoters
The present invention relates to biaryl carboxylic acid compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein, compositions containing these compounds and methods of treating diseases which express the Mcl-1 protein. |
| US07989654B2 |
High purity bases of 3,3-diphenylpropylamino monoesters
The invention relates to a compound of general formula (I) wherein A represents deuterium or hydrogen, R represents a group selected from C1-6 alkyl, C3-10 cycloalkyl or phenyl, which can be substituted by C1-3 alkoxy, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, oxo, mercapto or deuterium. The C atom marked with a * (star) can be present in an (R) configuration, in an (S)-configuration or a mixture thereof. The invention is characterized in that the above-mentioned compounds are free bases with a degree of purity of more than 97 wt %. The invention also relates to a method for the production of highly pure compounds of general formula (I) and to the use thereof in the production of medicaments. |
| US07989653B2 |
Exo- and diastereo-selective syntheses of himbacine analogs
This application discloses a novel process for the preparation of himbacine analogs useful as thrombin receptor antagonists. The process is based in part on the use of a base-promoted dynamic epimerization of a chiral nitro center. The chemistry taught herein can be exemplified by the following: |
| US07989652B2 |
C-nitroso-derived nitroxyl donors
Active compounds of Formula I are described: wherein: R1 and R2 are each independently C1-C4 alkyl; or R1 and R2 together form a C2-C7 alkylene chain; and Z is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID); along with pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrug thereof, and methods of using the same. |
| US07989648B1 |
Esters
The present invention is directed to an ester that can be used to produce compositions that are soft solids, which comprises an specific solid ester combined with specific liquid esters selected from the group consisting of glyceryl esters, trimethylolpropane esters, and pentaerythritol esters. The compositions containing this ester providing emolliency to the skin by applying the compositions of the present invention. Finally, the invention is also directed to application of sun screen actives, hydroxy acids, antioxidants, flavonoids, tocopherol, vitamins and the like to the skin in gelled form. |
| US07989646B2 |
Biodiesel process
This invention covers a process for making biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fat with a simple hetrogeneous catalyst providing high yield and reaction rates under moderate conditions. The process is designed so as to enhance the yield by pretreatment step of esterification if required. The process provides gravity separation and any pretreatment/distillation/stripping, if needed before sending Biodiesel and glycerine to storage. The process provides heterogeneous catalysts so as to reduce the waste from the system and also it reduces the utilities and chemical cost. The process is optimized, simple in operation, economical, providing best yields compared to any processes in the market. |
| US07989642B2 |
Process for producing powdered compositions containing highly unsaturated fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid and powdered compositions containing the esters
The invention provides a process for powdering highly unsaturated fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid which are pasty and problematic in physical properties by a simple and easy means; highly unsaturated fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid which are improved in stability by powdering; and compositions containing the powdered highly unsaturated fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid. Specifically, a process for powdering a highly unsaturated fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid as represented by the general formula (I): RCO-A [wherein RCO— is acyl derived from a highly unsaturated fatty acid; and A is an ascorbic acid residue bonded through an —O— linkage resulting from an hydroxyl group of ascorbic acid], characterized by mixing a highly unsaturated fatty acid ester of ascorbic acid as represented by the general formula (I) with an aqueous solution of a water-soluble filler to form an emulsion and dehydrating and drying the emulsion by a spray drying method. |
| US07989638B2 |
Conjugates of biological substances
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes that are intramolecularly crosslinked between the 1-position and 3′-position, their bioconjugates and their uses are described. 1,3′-crosslinked carbocyanines are superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar 1,1′-crosslinked or non-crosslinked dyes. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens. |
| US07989636B2 |
Process for the preparation of pure anastrozole
A process for the preparation of anastrozole which comprises: a) brominating 3,5-bis(2-cyanoprop-2-yl)toluene (II) in an organic solvent using a brominating agent to obtain 3,5-bis(2-cyanoprop-2-yl)benzylbromide (III); b) heating the reaction mass of step a) to the reflux temperature of the organic solvent for a period of time no longer than 3 hours; c) isolating and purifying the bromo intermediate (III) using an organic solvent; d) alkylating the bromo intermediate in the presence of a base, optionally a phase transfer catalyst, a 1,2,4-triazole and an organic solvent to obtain anastrozole; and e) isolating and purifying the anastrozole from an organic solvent. |
| US07989632B2 |
Crystalline forms of solvated ilaprazole
The invention relates to crystalline forms of various solvates of ilaprazole, 2[[(4-methoxy-3-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-methyl]sulfinyl]-5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)1H-Benzimidazole. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting gastric acid secretion comprising crystalline ilaprazole hydrate according to the invention in an amount effective to inhibit gastric acid secretion and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also provides methods of treatment for various acid-related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. |
| US07989629B2 |
3-(4-{ [4-(4-{ [3-(3, 3-dimethyl-1-piperidinyl) propyl] oxy} phenyl)-1-piperidinyl] carbonyl}-1-naphthalenyl) propanoic or propenoic acid as H1 and H3 receptor antagonists for the treatment of inflammatory and/or allergic disorders
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a salt thereof wherein the naphthalene ring is substituted in the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 position by R1, and R1 represents —CH2CH2COOH or —CH═C(CH3)COOH, and to processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of various inflammatory and/or allergic diseases, such as diseases such as allergic rhinitis. |
| US07989626B2 |
Modulators of cellular adhesion
The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein R1-R4, n, p, A, B, D, E, L and AR1 are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of disorders mediated by the CD11/CD18 family of cellular adhesion molecules (e.g., LFA-1). |
| US07989625B2 |
Thienopyridines
The invention relates to novel thienopyridine derivatives of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Y have the meaning cited in claim 1, are HSP90-inhibitors and can be used for producing a medicament for treating illnesses, wherein the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of HSP90 plays a roll. |
| US07989624B2 |
Aryl spirolactam CGRP receptor antagonists
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I): where variables A1, A2, B, J, K, m, n, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c and X are as defined herein useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved. |
| US07989622B2 |
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors and methods of their use
The present invention comprises small molecule inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), which is associated with a number of malignancies such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, and glioblastomas, among others. Accordingly, the compounds of the present invention are useful for treating, preventing, and/or inhibiting these diseases. |
| US07989620B2 |
Hydantoin derivatives for the treatment of obstructive airway diseases
The invention provides compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification; processes for their preparation; pharmaceutical compositions containing them; a process for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions; and their use in therapy. |
| US07989614B2 |
Isolation of nucleic acid
The present invention provides a method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample, said method comprising contacting said sample with a detergent and a solid support, whereby soluble nucleic acid in said sample is bound to the support, and separating said support with bound nucleic acid from the sample. Where the method of the invention is used to isolate DNA, it may conveniently be couple with a further step to isolate RNA from the same sample. |
| US07989611B2 |
Expression control sequence
An expression control sequence which controls expression of a target gene linked downstream of the expression control sequence depending on an intracellular concentration of an amino acid, wherein in a bacterial cell which harbors a DNA construct comprising the expression control sequence, a promoter linked upstream of the expression control sequence and the target gene linked downstream of the expression control sequence, frequency of termination in the expression control sequence, of transcription starting from the promoter is lowered by increase of an intracellular concentration of an amino acid, whereby expression of the target gene increases. |
| US07989606B2 |
Phosphatase inhibitor protein-1 as a regulator of cardiac function
The present invention relates to novel nucleic acids which encode novel mutant forms of Inhibitor Protein-1 (1-1). In particular, the 1-1 mutant forms comprise altered phosphorylation sites of PKC-α. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of regulating cardiac contractility and function, and for treatment of cardio myopathy and heart failure, which employ the novel nucleic acids and polypeptides. Vectors comprising the novel nucleic acids, Antibodies to the novel proteins, and diagnostic and screening methods associated therewith, are also provided. |
| US07989602B2 |
Synthetic molecules having immune activity
The present invention is directed to synthetic molecules having biological activity similar to PIM (acyl glycerol phosphatidylinositol manno-oligosaccharide) activity, for use in the treatment and prevention of inflammatory or immune cell mediated diseases or disorders. |
| US07989601B2 |
Heterobifunctional pan-selectin inhibitors
Compounds and methods are provided for modulating in vitro and in vivo processes mediated by selectin binding. More specifically, selectin modulators and their use are described, wherein the selectin modulators that modulate (e.g., inhibit or enhance) a selectin-mediated function comprise particular glycomimetics alone or linked to a member of a class of compounds termed BASAs (Benzyl Amino Sulfonic Acids) or a member of a class of compounds termed BACAs (Benzyl Amino Carboxylic Acids). |
| US07989598B2 |
Method of targeting specific cell populations using cell-binding agent maytansinoid conjugates linked via a non-cleavable linker, said conjugates and methods of making said conjugates
The present invention discloses a method for targeting maytansinoids to a selected cell population, the method comprising contacting a cell population or tissue suspected of containing the selected cell population with a cell-binding agent maytansinoid conjugate, wherein one or more maytansinoids is covalently linked to the cell-binding agent via a non-cleavable linker and the cell-binding agent binds to cells of the selected cell population. |
| US07989597B2 |
Immunogenic memapsin 2 β-secretase peptides and methods of use
This application pertains to antibodies which specifically bind to immunogenic memapsin 2β-secretase peptides for use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and memapsin 2β-secretase disorders. The application also pertains to immunogenic compositions comprising memapsin 2β-secretase peptides and uses thereof. |
| US07989594B2 |
Modified antibody fab fragments
The present invention provides antibody Fab fragments in which the heavy chain constant region terminates at the interchain cysteine of CH1. Also provided are antibody Fab fragments in which the heavy chain constant region terminates at the interchain cysteine of CH1 to which one or more effector molecules are attached. |
| US07989592B2 |
Process for preparing hybrid proteins
Hydrothermal processes are provided for preparing hybrid proteins containing altered SS/SH bonds, thereby yielding hybrid proteins having enhanced functional and/or nutritional properties. The processes involve initial homogenization of a protein-containing slurry containing at least two proteins, followed by high pressure steam treatment in a jet cooker (16) or similar device in order to heat shock and thereby alter the conformation of some of the proteins, followed by a holding period to allow the proteins to reform, whereupon the proteins are cooled. Plant and animal proteins may be processed, and the starting slurry can be pH-modified and/or supplemented with one or more additional ingredients (e.g., salts, phosphates, fatty acids, polysaccharides, alcohols, aromatic compounds). The hybrid proteins are useful as food ingredients (e.g., solubility, wetability, dispersibility, foiling, emulsification, viscosity, gelatinosa or thickening agents). |
| US07989588B2 |
Cell permeable peptide
The number of peptides having an ability to bind to a cell or penetrate into a cell is narrowed down by being selectively enriched from a random peptide library with a diversity of not less than one hundred millions of peptides using a phage surface display technique, and then cytoplasmic transfer is evaluated by using protein synthesis inhibition as an indicator by adding to a cell, a fusion body of the selectively enriched peptide and a protein synthesis inhibitory factor (PSIF) that cannot solely penetrate into the cell. |
| US07989584B2 |
AKT nucleic acids, polypeptides, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to human Akt3 proteins and polypeptides. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding human Akt3, to vectors containing them and to their therapeutic uses, in particular for gene therapy. Expression of Akt3 inhibits cell death associated with hypoxia, apoptosis or necrosis. |
| US07989583B2 |
Process to obtain dimers, trimers and up to polymers from pyridinmethanol derivatives compounds
The dimerization or polymerization reaction of pyridinic alcohols is carried out in order to produce novel products. The process is carried out in the absence or presence of some solvent, during the process of the current invention, temperature may be or may be not used as catalyst, in the process of the current invention the reaction may be or may not be catalyzed by the presence of a catalyst (acid or base), the resultant products can be produced and separated in an easy way, in the process of the current invention starting from pyridinic alcohols the resultant ethenediols can be produced by a single step reaction. The pyridinemethanol derivatives used as starting compounds, do not oxidize as easily and their handling is easier than that of other compounds. The products produced with etheneidol parts can be used as antioxidants due to their capacity to act as free radicals scavengers. |
| US07989580B2 |
Phosphorescent iridium complexes
Metal complexes of formula I and IA and polymers derived from the complexes are useful in optoelectronic devices wherein M is Ir, Co or Rh; is a cyclometallated ligand; R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, or substituted arylalkyl; R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; and at least one of R1 and R2 is other than hydrogen; R1a is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, or substituted arylalkyl; R2a is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl; and at least one of R1a and R2a is substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, substituted arylalkyl, and at least one substitutent of the substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, or substituted arylalkyl is a polymerizable group. |
| US07989576B2 |
Triazine derivative, liquid crystal composition, anisotropic material, and liquid crystal display device using the same
A triazine derivative represented by formula (I) below: where, in formula (I), each of M1a, M1b, M2a and M2b is a divalent group comprising one or more substituted or non-substituted aromatic rings; each of n1 and n2 is 0 or 1; each of R1 and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or substituent; and X represents a substituent; is disclosed. |
| US07989573B2 |
Method of free radically polymerizing vinyl monomers
A method for the polymerization of free radically polymerizable vinyl monomers involves polymerizing free radically (co)polymerizable vinyl monomers in a batch reaction under essentially adiabatic conditions, and utilizing scavenger monomer to reduce undesirable residual monomer. |
| US07989570B2 |
Catalyst system for preparing cyclic olefin addition polymer, cyclic olefin addition polymer prepared by using the catalyst system and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a catalyst system for preparing a cyclic olefin addition polymer, a method for preparing the catalyst system and a cyclic olefin addition polymer prepared by the method, and more particularly to the method comprising the steps of contacting some content of norbornene-based monomer having a specific polar functional group with a catalyst system comprising a) a Group X transition metal compound; b) a compound comprising a neutral Group XV electron donor ligand having a cone angle of at least 160°; and c) a salt capable of offering an anion that can be weakly coordinated to the transition metal of the a) the Group X transition metal compound. |
| US07989565B2 |
Polyolefins
Process for making a copolymer by copolymerising (1) ethylene with (2) at least one comonomer selected from aliphatic C3-C20 alpha-olefins and (3) 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, including contacting the monomer with a catalyst comprising a transition metal compound having the following Formula A, and an activating quantity of a suitable activator of the formula shown herein, wherein Z comprises a five-membered heterocyclic group, the five membered heterocyclic group containing at least one carbon atom, at least one nitrogen atom and at least one other hetero atom selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, the remaining atoms in the ring being selected from nitrogen and carbon; M is a metal from Group 3 to 11 of the Periodic Table or a lanthanide metal; E1 and E2 are divalent groups independently selected from (i) aliphatic, hydrocarbon, (ii) alicyclic hydrocarbon, (iii) aromatic hydrocarbon, (iv) alkyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon, (v) heterocyclic groups and (vi) heterosubstituted derivatives of said groups (i) to (v); D1 and D2 are donor atoms or groups; X is an anionic group, L is a neutral donor group; n=m=zero or 1; y and z are independently zero or integers such that the number of X and L groups satisfy the valency and oxidation state of the metal M. |
| US07989561B2 |
Composition of liquid, solid and semisolid epoxy resins
A thermosetting resin composition include a liquid epoxy resin, a solid epoxy resin, a semisolid epoxy resin, an epoxy curing agent, and a filler. The liquid epoxy resin is liquid at 20° C. and has at least two epoxy groups in a molecule. A solid epoxy resin is solid at 40° C. and has at least three epoxy groups in a molecule. A semisolid epoxy resin is solid at 20° C. and liquid at 40° C. and has at least two epoxy groups in a molecule. A ratio of mass of the liquid epoxy resin to a sum of mass of the solid epoxy resin and mass of the semisolid epoxy resin is about 1:1 to about 1:10, and a ratio of the mass of the solid epoxy resin to the mass of the semisolid epoxy resin is about 1:0.5 to about 1:2. |
| US07989555B2 |
Glycerol derivatives and methods of making same
Symmetrical polyols, polyol esters, polyesters, polyurethanes, triazoles, and polyvinylethers derived from glycerol and methods of making the symmetrical polyols, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyhydroxyvinylethers and triazoles are discussed. Also provided is a method of making serinol. |
| US07989550B2 |
Rubber composition for tire tread
A rubber composition for a tire tread comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a rubber component containing (a) 50 to 95 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber containing 50 to 100% by weight of an aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene copolymer rubber and (b) 5 to 50 parts by weight of a conjugated diene-based rubber gel having a toluene swelling index Qi of 16 to 70 and (B) 3 to 40 parts by weight, based upon 100 parts by weight of the total rubber component, of a copolymer resin of an aromatic vinyl and dipentene and/or pinene having a softening point of 100 to 150° C. and a high performance tire using the above rubber composition are disclosed. |
| US07989546B2 |
Natural rubber latex preservation
The Invention relates to a method for the preservation of natural rubber latex comprising the step of adding to natural latex at least one hydrophobically modified saccharide. The hydrophobically modified saccharide is preferably a hydrophobically modified fructan, a hydrophobically modified starch hydrolysate, or a mixture thereof. The invention further relates to a natural rubber latex containing a hydrophobically modified saccharide, and to vulcanized natural rubber products containing a hydrophobically modified saccharide. |
| US07989545B2 |
Salt-sensitive binders for nonwoven webs and method of making same
A solution with a salt-sensitive polymer binder for use in fibrous webs, where the binder contains a copolymer of carboxylic acid monomer units and ethylenically unsaturated monomer units. The binder solution is prepared by emulsion-polymerizing a copolymer and then neutralizing the copolymer with base to make it water soluble. The binders provide a higher wet strength in concentrated salt solutions than in deionized water, and are particularly suitable for strengthening nonwoven fibrous webs in disposable articles such as wet-wipes, personal care products, diapers, and the like. |
| US07989541B2 |
Liquid solventless synthetic-rubber-based composition
A synthetic-rubber-based composition that consists of a low-molecular-weight rubber selected from polybutadiene comprising about 75% to about 92% cis-1,4 units, sulfur, a vulcanization accelerator, and an active filler wherein the sulfur, accelerator, and active filler are each present in the form of powder having a particular particle-size range. Additionally, this composition may be used to form coatings and rubber concretes. |
| US07989535B2 |
Surface-modified nanofiller and polymer composite material
A polymer composite material provides superior heat resistance, mechanical physical properties, substance permeation barrier properties, flame retardant properties, electrical conductivity and the like. Moreover, a novel surface-modified nanofiller utilizes this type of polymer composite material. The polymer composite material contains nanofillers, fluorocompounds and polymers. Fluoruocompounds bond to the surface of the nanofillers. The nanofillers to which fluorocompounds are surface-bonded are mixed with or dispersed in polymers. |
| US07989532B2 |
RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid) / β tricalcium phosphate composite material and preparation method thereof
An RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate composite material is composed of β-tricalcium phosphate particles and RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid) with mass ratio of 1:10-1:100, in which the β-tricalcium phosphate particles are uniformly dispersed in the RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid) matrix. The preparation method includes that poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid) is polymerized with GRGDY short peptide (glycin-arginine-glycin-aspartic acid-tyrosine sequence) to obtain RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid), and then RGD polypeptide grafted poly (glycolic acid-L-lysine-L-lactic acid) is compounded with β-tricalcium phosphate particles. The composite material exhibits favorable biocompatibility, cellular affinity, biodegradability and mechanical behavior, and can avoid aseptic necrosis of tissues, which may be used as nerve guide or porous bone scaffold for repairing nerve tissue and bone tissue. |
| US07989531B2 |
Anti-yellowing polycondensation polymer compositions and articles
A composition, having an improved resistance to yellowing under heat aging, comprising at least 20 weight % of at least one polycondensation polymer having a heat deflection temperature of above 80° C. under a load of 1.82 MPa when measured according to ASTM D648, from 0 to 5 weight % of at least one polymer having a heat deflection temperature of at most 80° C. under a load of 1.82 MPa when measured according to ASTM D648, a white pigment; and a black pigment provides resistance to heat aging induced yellowing. The polycondensation polymers are advantageously selected from the group consisting of polyarylethersulfones, at least partially aromatic polyamides, polyamideimides, liquid crystalline polymers, polyimides, polyetherimides, polyaryletherketones, and polyphenylene sulfides. The polymer composition can be molded to form a variety of articles, including LED components, such as reflectors, reflector cups, and scramblers. |
| US07989529B2 |
Thermosensitive adhesive composition, method of manufacturing the same and thermosensitive adhesive material
A thermosensitive adhesive composition including a thermosensitive plastic resin, a dispersing agent, a solid plasticizing agent and a eutectic agent represented by the following chemical structure (1): wherein X1 and X2 independently represent any one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and an alkyl group, p and q independently represent an integer of from 1 to 5. |
| US07989519B2 |
Initiator system for self-curing plastic materials, its use, and bone cement compositions containing it
An initiator system for self-curing plastic material comprises a) at least one salt of a dialklylbarbituric acid and/or an alkylcycloalkylbarbituric acid and/or alkylarylbarbituric acid and/or a cycloalkylarylbarbituric acid that is insoluble in methacrylate monomers; b) at least one heavy metal salt that is insoluble in methacrylate monomers; c) at least one halogenide ion donor that is insoluble in methacrylate monomers; and d) at least one acid that is soluble in methacrylate monomers. The initiator system can be used for the preparation of paste/paste, paste/powder, paste/liquid, powder/liquid, and liquid/liquid combinations for the production of medical plastic material and dental materials. Additionally, a bone cement composition containing the initiator system is described. |
| US07989518B2 |
Synthetic biocompatible material having an improved oxidation resistance, process for preparing the same and prosthetic articles obtained therefrom
Biocompatible material, in particular prosthetic material with improved resistance to oxidation, comprising UHMWPE and one or more antioxidants selected from the group consisting of lipoic acid, its analogs and derivatives, Vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, glutathione. It is also disclosed a process to prepare such material. |
| US07989516B2 |
Plastic composite elements and a process for the production thereof
The present invention relates to composite elements containing, as a layer, at least one thermoplastic polymer, adhering to which, as a layer, a polyisocyanate polyaddition product is attached, and a process for the production thereof. |
| US07989513B2 |
Process for producing dispersions of highly fluorinated polymers
A process for producing a dispersion of a highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer is provided in which a dispersion of a highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer in a first liquid that includes at least 10 wt % of an organic liquid is atomized and released into a heated gas to produce flowable particles of highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer having dry surface/exteriors and an internal residual moisture content of at least 4 wt %. The particles are dispersed in a second liquid to produce a second dispersion of highly fluorinated ion exchange polymer from which proton exchange membranes and electrodes for fuel cells may be produced. |
| US07989508B2 |
Process and reactor for implementing exothermic and endothermic reactions
Implementing at least one endothermic and/or exothermic reaction in a compact reactor which has passages for conducting gaseous and/or liquid media, through which passages the reactants of the endothermic or exothermic reaction as well as a heating medium or coolant are sent, whereby a) The endothermic reaction is implemented in heat exchange with a heating medium, b) The endothermic reaction is implemented in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction, or c) The exothermic reaction is implemented in heat exchange with a coolant. The heat exchange between the media mentioned in a) to c) is carried out indirectly and via a third gaseous and/or liquid medium (moderation medium). |
| US07989502B2 |
Intranasal delivery of modafinil
Modafinil is selectively delivered to the brain, minimizing delivery to the blood, of a person in need thereof by administering to the person a therapeutically-effective dosage of modafinil, wherein the dosage is less than 1 mg, formulated in a lipid microemulsion (LME) and selectively delivered to the upper third of the nasal cavity. The method may be implemented with an intranasal pharmaceutical delivery device loaded with a modafinil composition and adapted to deliver the dosage to the upper third of the nasal cavity. |
| US07989500B2 |
Synthesis, methods of using, and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamines
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications. |
| US07989497B2 |
Squaramide derivatives as CXCR2 antagonist
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein, which are useful for treating diseases which respond to CXCR2 receptor mediators. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described. |
| US07989495B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting NF-κB mediated tumorigenicity and adhesion dependent survival of cancer cells
Disclosed are compositions and methods for inhibiting NF-κB mediated cellular proliferation and metastasis. |
| US07989494B2 |
Polymorphs of N-hydroxy-3-[4-[[[2-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]phenyl]-2E-2-propenamide
Polymorphic forms of N-hydroxy-3-[4-[[[2-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]phenyl]-2E-2-propenamide free base and salts thereof are prepared by various processes. |
| US07989493B2 |
Natural vitamin E compositions with superior antioxidant potency
Compositions for increased antioxidant potency of natural vitamin E(d-alpha-tocopherol), comprising alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols are disclosed. All of these compositions provide 400 International Units (IU), based on one mg of d-alpha-tocopherol provides 1.49 IU. These compositions showed antioxidant activities superior to natural d-alpha-tocopherol. These compositions are designed to provide protection of the cell membrane lipid layer, and protection against heart disease, cancer, and eye disease. |
| US07989490B2 |
Injectable formulations of taxanes for cad treatment
Liquid formulations, including solutions and suspensions of the various drugs, agents and/or compounds, may be locally or regionally delivered for the treatment of vascular disease. In each of these instances, antioxidants are utilized to prolong product integrity. |
| US07989489B2 |
Method of treating leukemia with docetaxel and vinca alkaloids
Antitumor combinations comprising a taxane and at least one therapeutically useful substance for treating neoplastic diseases are described. |
| US07989482B2 |
Indoline anti-cancer agents
Indoline compounds having anti-mitotic activity, useful for the treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders are provided. |
| US07989471B2 |
Macrocyclic inhibitors of hepatitis C virus
Inhibitors of HCV of formula (I) and the N-oxides, salts, and stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein the terms R1, L, R2, R3, R4, and n have specific definitions; pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of formula (I), and processes for preparing compounds of formula (I). Bioavailable combinations of the inhibitors of HCV of formula (I) with ritonavir are also provided. |
| US07989470B2 |
3,8-substituted 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives and their use as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors
This invention relates to novel 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors. In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention. |
| US07989466B2 |
Methods to inhibit or augment an inflammatory response
Isolated and purified chemokine peptides, variants, and derivatives thereof, as well as chemokine peptide analogs, are provided. |
| US07989464B2 |
mGluR1 antagonists as therapeutic agents
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides tricyclic compounds of formula I (wherein J1-J4, X, and R1-R5 are as defined herein) useful as metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonists, particularly as selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds and compositions to treat diseases associated with metabotropic glutamate receptor (e.g., mGluR1) such as, for example, pain, migraine, anxiety, urinary incontinence and neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer's disease. |
| US07989461B2 |
Substituted quinazolinamine compounds for the treatment of cancer
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds capable of modulating Raf kinase and, accordingly, useful for treatment of Raf kinase mediated diseases, including melanomas, tumors and other cancer-related conditions. The compounds have a general Formula I wherein R1 is and A1, A2, A3, A4, X, Z, Z′, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined herein. The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions, methods for treatment of Raf kinase mediated diseases, and intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention. |
| US07989459B2 |
Purinones and 1H-imidazopyridinones as PKC-theta inhibitors
A chemical genus of purinones and 1H-imidazopyridinones, which are useful as PKCθ. inhibitors, and their methods of use are disclosed. The genus is represented by the formula I: wherein R1 is chosen from nitrogen-attached heterocyclyl, nitrogen-attached substituted heterocyclyl wherein the point of attachment is a nitrogen heteroatom, and R2 is chosen from aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, hetroarylalkyl, and substituted heteroarylalkyl. A representative example is: |
| US07989457B2 |
Glucagon receptor antagonists, preparation and therapeutic uses
The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I) as well as methods of using them to treat diabetic and other glucagon related metabolic disorders, and the like. |
| US07989455B2 |
Compounds, compositions and methods
Certain substituted urea derivatives selectively modulate the cardiac sarcomere, for example by potentiating cardiac myosin, and are useful in the treatment of systolic heart failure including congestive heart failure. |
| US07989454B2 |
Leukotriene B4 inhibitors
Provided herein are compounds of the formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of diseases such as, for example, COPD. |
| US07989453B2 |
Indole derivatives and their use as medicament
The invention relates to novel indole derivatives of the general formula 1, to their preparation and to their use as medicaments, in particular for treating tumors. |
| US07989452B2 |
Stable hydrazalazine pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention relates to stable and highly purified stable hydralazine hydrochloride compositions and stable hydralazine-containing pharmaceutical compositions. A sterile aqueous injectable pharmaceutical composition suitable for parenteral administration is described comprising a therapeutically effective dose of hydralazine hydrochloride in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent wherein the hydralazine hydrochloride is essentially free of phthalazines, hydrazine and metal ions. In addition, a stable sterile aqueous pharmaceutical composition comprising hydralazine hydrochloride in a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or diluent is described that is colorless and has no visible particulate matter. |
| US07989447B2 |
1,5 and 3,6-substituted indole compounds having NOS inhibitory activity
The present invention features inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), particularly those that selectively inhibit neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in preference to other NOS isoforms. The NOS inhibitors of the invention, alone or in combination with other pharmaceutically active agents, can be used for treating or preventing conditions such as, for example, stroke, reperfusion injury, neurodegeneration, head trauma, CABG, migraine headache with and without aura, migraine with allodynia, central post-stroke pain (CPSP), neuropathic pain, or chronic pain. |
| US07989445B2 |
Thienopyrimidone compound
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula: wherein Ar is an optionally substituted ring; A is a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 4 atoms; B is a bond, a C1-10 alkylene group or an oxygen atom; R3 and R5 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R4 is an optionally substituted cyclic group or an optionally substituted C1-10 alkyl group; and R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a substituent, or R1 and R2 or R1 and B are bonded to form an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heterocycle, or R1 and Ar are bonded to form an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing fused heterocycle, or a salt thereof. The thienopyrimidone compound of the present invention has a superior melanin-concentrating hormone receptor antagonistic action, and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of obesity and the like. |
| US07989444B2 |
Compounds having affinity for dopamine D3 receptor and uses thereof
Compounds of formula (I) wherein A is a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring or a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring, and which are useful for treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia are set out herein. |
| US07989441B2 |
Organic compounds
The present disclosure relates to XIAP inhibitor compounds of the formula I. |
| US07989431B2 |
2-propynyl adenosine analogs with modified 5′-ribose groups having A2A agonist activity
The invention provides compounds having the following general formula (I): wherein X, R1, R2, R7 and Z are as described herein. |
| US07989422B2 |
Antibacterial agents
The present invention, in one aspect, provides a method of inhibiting bacterial growth by contacting bacteria with an effective amount of at least one monosaccharide compound of formula (1) as described herein: |
| US07989417B2 |
Linkers for radiopharmaceutical compounds
A new and improved method for extending the half life of pharmaceutical compounds for use in diagnostic imaging or therapy uses a novel linker to attach a diagnostic or therapeutic moiety to a targeting peptide or another diagnostic or therapeutic moiety. The resulting compound may have the general formula M-N-O-P-Q, wherein M is the diagnostic or therapeutic moiety, N-O-P is the linker of the present invention, and Q is the targeting peptide. In another embodiment the compounds may have the formula M-N-O-P-M, wherein M is independently a diagnostic or therapeutic moiety and N-O-P is the linker of the invention. Methods for imaging or treating a patient using the compounds of the invention are also provided. Methods and kits for preparing a diagnostic imaging agent from the compound are further provided. Methods for radiotherapy of a patient using the compounds are further provided, as are methods for preparing a radiotherapeutic agent from the compounds. |
| US07989415B2 |
Peptides, derivatives and analogs thereof, and methods of using same
Human proIslet Peptides (HIP) and HIP analogs and derivatives thereof, derived from or homologous in sequence to the human REG3A protein, chromosome 2p12, are able to induce islet neogenesis from endogenous pancreatic progenitor cells. Human proIslet Peptides are used either alone or in combination with other pharmaceuticals in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other pathologies related to aberrant glucose, carbohydrate, and/or lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, overweight, obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, eating disorders and the metabolic syndrome. |
| US07989407B2 |
Catalytic antioxidants
The present invention is directed to lubricating oils exhibiting improved resistance to oxidation and deposit/sludge formation comprising a lubricant base oil and an effective amount of a catalytic antioxidant comprising one or more polymetal organometallic compound, to a method for improving the antioxidancy and the resistance to deposit/sludge formation of formulated lubricating oil compositions by the addition thereto of an effective amount of the aforementioned polymetal organometallic compound, and to an additive concentrate containing the aforementioned polymetal organometallic compound. |
| US07989402B2 |
Functionalized clay compositions for aqueous based drilling fluids
An aqueous drilling fluid which contains a diquaternary ammonium cation functionalized clay which provides a substantially constant rheological profile, with respect to salinity, when incorporated into well drilling fluids. A clay/organic chemical composition includes: (a) montmorillonite clay and (b) one or more diquaternary ammonium compounds. A further aspect of the invention is a well drilling process which employs a drilling fluid containing the diquaternary ammonium cation functionalized clay described hereafter. |
| US07989401B2 |
Block copolymers for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean reservoir
The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods that may be used for enhanced oil recovery, for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations and for increasing the mobilization and/or recovery rate of hydrocarbon fluids present in the formations. The compositions may include, for example, expandable cross-linked polymeric microparticles having unexpanded volume average particle size diameters of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns and cross linking agent contents of from about 100 to about 200,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and from 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers, wherein the expandable polymeric monomers have a block copolymer structure comprising at least two different monomers having different chemical structures. |
| US07989398B2 |
Pumpable multiple phase compositions for controlled release applications downhole
Pumpable multiple phase vesicle compositions carry agents and components downhole or through a conduit, and controllably releasing them at a different place and time by breaking the compositions. In one non-limiting embodiment the pumpable multiple phase vesicles have a third phase containing a first phase which bears the agent to be controllably released. The first and third phases of the vesicles are separated by a surface active material bilayer that forms the second phase. The pumpable multiple phase vesicles may have internal and external phases that are both oil miscible, both aqueous miscible, or both alcohol miscible. The surface active material bilayer may be composed of compounds such as phospholipids, alkyl polyglycosides, gemini surfactants, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan trioleate, and many others. The agent may be released by one or more of a variety of mechanisms. |
| US07989397B2 |
Methods and compositions relating to the reduction of volatile phosphorus from crude
This invention relates to methods and compositions useful in treating crude sources, and more specifically, to methods and compositions useful in reducing the concentration of phosphorus in crude streams and hydrocarbon flowback fluids. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods that include a method comprising: providing a crude stream or a hydrocarbon flowback fluid; optionally testing the crude stream or the hydrocarbon flowback fluid for total phosphorus content; optionally testing the crude stream or hydrocarbon flowback fluid for volatile phosphorus content; adding a solution comprising a trivalent metal ion to the crude stream or the hydrocarbon flowback fluid; adding a sufficient amount of a caustic solution to the crude stream or the hydrocarbon flowback fluid to raise the pH of the stream or the fluid to about 8 or more; allowing at least a plurality of precipitates to form; removing at least one precipitate; and forming a clean crude stream or a clean hydrocarbon flowback fluid. |
| US07989391B2 |
Seed coating composition
The invention pertains to a seed coating composition comprising a certain latex binder and/or graft polymer dispersant. The seed coating composition imparts good color to treated seeds, has excellent durability, and is non-sticky after application to allow for smooth flow of coated seed in planting equipment. |
| US07989388B2 |
Resin bonded sorbent
The invention relates to improved resin bonded sorbent compositions and articles of manufacture fabricated therewith, such as housings, structural components and circuit boards. The introduction of sorbents into resinous molding compositions enables the elimination of more conventional bagged sorbent containments. The novel molding compositions of the invention and parts fabricated therewith are multi-functional, beneficially combining structural, mechanical and adsorptive capabilities without requiring the usual reinforcing additives. Consequently, with the omission of reinforcing additives the novel molding compositions of the invention are further characterized by higher adsorptive capacities by allowing for higher sorbent loading factors than prior adsorbent-containing molding compositions. |
| US07989385B2 |
Process of activation of a palladium catalyst system
Improved processes for activating a catalyst system used for the reduction of nitrogen oxides are provided. In one embodiment, the catalyst system is activated by passing an activation gas stream having an amount of each of oxygen, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen over the catalyst system and increasing a temperature of the catalyst system to a temperature of at least 180° C. at a heating rate of from 1-20°/min. Use of activation processes described herein leads to a catalyst system with superior NOx reduction capabilities. |
| US07989378B2 |
TiO2-containing silica glass
The present invention is to provide a TiO2—SiO2 glass having suitable thermal expansion properties as an optical member of an exposure tool for EUVL. The present invention relates to a TiO2-containing silica glass having a temperature, at which a coefficient of thermal expansion is 0 ppb/° C., falling within the range of 23±4° C. and a temperature width, in which a coefficient of thermal expansion is 0±5 ppb/° C., of 5° C. or more. |
| US07989376B2 |
Fluorophosphate glass and method for making thereof
New and improved compositions of doped fluorophosphate glasses for lasers have a high refractive index (nD) of approximately 1.6 to 1.7, high transmission in the near infrared part of the spectrum and a wide glass forming domain. These glass systems, Ba(PO3)2—Al(PO3)3—BaF2-Dopants, utilize dopants from the group of: oxides or fluorides of the rare earth elements: Sm, Eu, Nd, Er, Yb, Tm, Tb, Ho and Pr: as well as MnO; and mixtures thereof. The composition of glass includes chemical durability, efficiency of laser use in the infrared spectrum and improved duration of luminescence. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07989372B2 |
Molded respirator comprising meltblown fiber web with staple fibers
A molded respirator and method of making are disclosed, wherein the molded respirator is made from a porous nonwoven web containing meltblown fibers and staple fibers. The meltblown fibers may be present as a bimodal mixture of microfibers and mesofibers, and comprise an intermingled mixture with staple fibers further intermingled therein. The molded respirator may also contain at least one secondary filtration layer. |
| US07989369B2 |
Fibers, nonwovens and articles containing nanofibers produced from broad molecular weight distribution polymers
The present invention is directed to articles comprising nanofibers. The nanofibers, having a diameter of less than 1 micron, may comprise a significant number of the fibers in one layer of the web contained by the article. Preferably, the nanofibers are produced in a melt film fibrillation process. The articles include diapers, training pants, adult incontinence pads, catamenials products such as feminine care pads and pantiliners, tampons, personal cleansing articles, personal care articles, and personal care wipes including baby wipes, facial wipes, and feminine wipes. |
| US07989366B2 |
Dopant activation in doped semiconductor substrates
Methods are disclosed for activating dopants in a doped semiconductor substrate. A carbon precursor is flowed into a substrate processing chamber within which the doped semiconductor substrate is disposed. A plasma is formed from the carbon precursor in the substrate processing chamber. A carbon film is deposited over the substrate with the plasma. A temperature of the substrate is maintained while depositing the carbon film less than 500° C. The deposited carbon film is exposed to electromagnetic radiation for a period less than 10 ms, and has an extinction coefficient greater than 0.3 at a wavelength comprised by the electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07989363B2 |
Method for rapid thermal treatment using high energy electromagnetic radiation of a semiconductor substrate for formation of dielectric films
A method for fabricating semiconductor devices, e.g., SONOS cell. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate (e.g., silicon wafer, silicon on insulator) having a surface region, which has a native oxide layer. The method includes treating the surface region to a wet cleaning process to remove a native oxide layer from the surface region. In a specific embodiment, the method includes subjecting the surface region to an oxygen bearing environment and subjecting the surface region to a high energy electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths ranging from about 300 to about 800 nanometers for a time period of less than 10 milli-seconds to increase a temperature of the surface region to greater than 1000 Degrees Celsius. In a specific embodiment, the method causes formation of an oxide layer having a thickness of less than 10 Angstroms. In a preferred embodiment, the oxide layer is substantially free from pinholes and other imperfections. In a specific embodiment, the oxide layer is a gate oxide layer. |
| US07989362B2 |
Hafnium lanthanide oxynitride films
Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film. |
| US07989360B2 |
Semiconductor processing methods, and methods for forming silicon dioxide
Some embodiments include methods for semiconductor processing. A semiconductor substrate may be placed within a reaction chamber. The semiconductor substrate may have an inner region and an outer region laterally outward of said inner region, and may have a deposition surface that extends across the inner and outer regions. The semiconductor substrate may be heated by radiating thermal energy from the outer region to the inner region. The heating may eventually achieve thermal equilibrium. However, before thermal equilibrium of the outer and inner regions is reached, and while the outer region is warmer than the inner region, at least two reactants are sequentially introduced into the reaction chamber. The reactants may together form a single composition on the deposition surface through a quasi-ALD process. |
| US07989358B2 |
Prevention of backside cracks in semiconductor chips or wafers using backside film or backside wet etch
A method of preventing the formation of cracks on the backside of a silicon (Si) semiconductor chip or wafer during the processing thereof. Also provided is a method for inhibiting the propagation of cracks, which have already formed in the backside of a silicon chip during the processing thereof and prior to the joining thereto of a substrate during the fabrication of an electronic package. The methods entail either treating the backside with a wet etch, or alternatively, applying a protective film layer thereon prior to forming an electronic package incorporating the chip or wafer. |
| US07989354B2 |
Patterning method
Disclosed is a patterning method including: forming a first film on a substrate; forming a first resist film on the first film; processing the first resist film into a first resist pattern having a preset pitch by photolithography; forming a silicon oxide film on the first resist pattern and the first film by alternately supplying a first gas containing organic silicon and a second gas containing an activated oxygen species to the substrate; forming a second resist film on the silicon oxide film; processing the second resist film into a second resist pattern having a preset pitch by the photolithography; and processing the first film by using the first resist pattern and the second resist pattern as a mask. |
| US07989352B2 |
Technique for reducing plasma-induced etch damage during the formation of vias in interlayer dielectrics
By forming a conductive material within an etch mask for an anisotropic etch process for patterning openings, such as vias, in a dielectric layer of a metallization structure, the probability for arcing events may be reduced, since excess charge may be laterally distributed. For example, an additional sacrificial conductive layer may be formed or an anti-reflecting coating (ARC) may be provided in the form of a conductive material in order to obtain the lateral charge distribution. |
| US07989348B2 |
Polishing method and polishing apparatus
A polishing method that carries out a multi-step polishing process with improved polishing conditions (polishing recipe) while omitting measurement of the surface conditions of a substrate, as carried out between polishing steps thereby increasing the throughput. The polishing method for polishing workpieces by repeating the sequential operations of taking a workpiece out of a cassette in which a plurality of workpieces are stored, carrying out multi-step polishing of a surface of the workpiece and returning the workpiece to the cassette, includes carrying out one of the following two polishing processes for the workpiece taken out of the cassette: a first polishing process comprising carrying out the multi-step polishing under preset conditions and measurement of the surface of the workpiece before and after each polishing step; and a second polishing process comprising carrying out a predetermined step of the multi-step polishing under polishing conditions which have been modified based on the results of the measurement. |
| US07989347B2 |
Process for filling recessed features in a dielectric substrate
A process for filling recessed features of a dielectric substrate for a semiconductor device, comprises the steps (a) providing a dielectric substrate having a recessed feature in a surface thereof, wherein the smallest dimension (width) across said feature is less than ≦200 nm, a conductive layer being present on at least a portion of said surface, (b) filling said recessed feature with a conductive material, and (c) prior to filling said recessed feature with said conductive material, treating said surface with an accelerator. |
| US07989345B2 |
Methods of forming blind wafer interconnects, and related structures and assemblies
Methods for forming blind wafer interconnects (BWIs) from the back side surface of a substrate structure to the underside of a bond pad on the opposing surface includes the formation of a blind hole from the back side surface, forming a passivating layer therein, removing passivation material from the blind hole bottom, depositing at least one conductive layer within the blind hole, and filling the blind hole with solder or other conductive material or a dielectric material. |