| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08004853B2 |
Electrical junction box
In the case where a printed board is contained in a casing of an electrical junction box, and where electrical components such as relays disposed on the printed board are connected to a bus bar disposed in the casing, a heat generated in the bus bar is uniformed in the casing without causing an uneven heat distribution around the bus bar, thereby requiring no means for radiating the bus bar. An electrical junction box including a casing, a printed board contained in the casing, an insulation plate disposed on the printed board, a bus bar mounted on the insulation plate, and a relay mounted on the printed board. The bus bar is provided with an electrical power source terminal to be connected to an electrical power source side. Branched portions provided on the bus bar are connected to a conductor on the printed board, respectively. A terminal of the relay is connected to the printed board conductor connected to the branched portions of the bus bar. The relay terminal is connected through the printed board conductor to the bus bar. |
| US08004849B2 |
Control unit with flexible circuit board
A control unit for a vehicle component, such as a transmission, is constructed by transferring electronic components from a rigid circuit board to a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is guided through a housing that accommodates the rigid circuit board and a portion of the flexible circuit board. Some electronic components are disposed on the rigid circuit board and some electronic components are disposed on the flexible circuit board. |
| US08004848B2 |
Stack module, card including the stack module, and system including the stack module
Provided are a high reliability stack module fabricated at low cost by using simplified processes, a card using the stack module, and a system using the stack module. In the stack module, unit substrates are stacked with respect to each other and each unit substrate includes a selection terminal. First selection lines are electrically connected to selection terminals of first unit substrates disposed in odd-number layers, pass through some of the unit substrates, and extend to a lowermost substrate of the unit substrates. Second selection lines are electrically connected to selection terminals of second unit substrates disposed in even-number layers, pass through some of the unit substrates, and extend to the lowermost substrate of the unit substrates. The selection terminal is disposed between the first selection lines and the second selection lines. |
| US08004845B2 |
Fastening assembly for heat dissipation device
A fastening assembly used for securing a heat dissipation device to a printed circuit board, comprises a sleeve, an inserting device extending through the sleeve, a spring encircling the inserting device and received in the sleeve, and a supporting device inserted in the sleeve. The inserting device engages with a back plate below the printed circuit board. The sleeve is integrally formed of plastic and comprises a hollow body, a resilient portion extending from an outer surface of the body and pressing a bottom of the heat dissipation device upwardly, and four supporting portions extending from the outer surface of the body and pressing a top of the heat dissipation device downwardly. The supporting device is inserted between the body and the resilient portion, and abuts against the resilient portion, to thereby reliably keep the resilient portion at its locked position. |
| US08004842B2 |
Heat dissipation device for communication chassis
A heat dissipation device for communication chassis, which includes an enclosure and at least one second heat pipe assembly. The enclosure includes at least one first copper heat absorption component, at least one first heat pipe assembly and multiple radiating fins disposed on an outer surface of the enclosure. The first heat pipe assembly is connected with the first copper heat absorption component and a section not in contact therewith so as to transfer heat absorbed by the first copper heat absorption component to the section to dissipate the heat. The second heat pipe assembly penetrates through the radiating fins of the enclosure for quickly and uniformly distributing the heat to all the radiating fins. Therefore, the heat conduction efficiency is greatly enhanced to provide better heat dissipation effect for the communication chassis. |
| US08004841B2 |
Method and apparatus of water cooling several parallel circuit cards each containing several chip packages
A cooling or heat transfer apparatus and method is disclosed for cooling an electronic device. The apparatus includes a heat producing electronic device which may include an electronic circuit card with many heat sources. A heat transfer device is connected to the heat producing electronic device which is thermally communicating with the heat producing device for transferring heat from the heat producing device to the heat transfer device. A heat conduit is connected to the heat transfer device and thermally communicating with the heat transfer device for transferring heat to the heat conduit from the heat transfer device. A cooling housing is connected to the heat conduit and the cooling housing thermally communicating with the heat conduit for transferring heat to the cooling housing from the heat conduit. The apparatus enables the replacement of circuit cards in the field because it eliminates the need to apply thermal-interface materials. |
| US08004837B2 |
Control device
It is possible to provide a small-size and light-weight control device having a structure which prevents detaching of a board even when an external shock is applied without using a screwed connection. The control device is formed by a case (1) including at least one board (2, 3), a radiator (5), and a protection cover (4). The case (1) includes at least one latch portion (7, 8) in an upper part or a lower part of a board support frame (16). |
| US08004834B2 |
Notebook computer stand
A notebook computer including a bottom case and a top panel is provided, wherein the top panel includes a first supporting element, a top panel body and a second supporting element. The first supporting element has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side pivots to the bottom case, and the top panel body pivots to the first side of the first supporting element. The top panel body has multiple sets of first fixing structure. The second supporting element has a third side and a fourth side, wherein the third side pivots to the second side of the first supporting element. The fourth side has a set of second fixing structures, which is inserted into one set of the first fixing structures. |
| US08004833B2 |
Electronic apparatus and hinge thereof
The invention discloses a hinge including a first support, a second support, and a sensor. The first support includes a first electrical connection part. The second support includes a second electrical connection part and a protrusion part, and the protrusion part is insulated from the second electrical connection part. The second support is engaged to the first support, and the second electrical connection part detachably and electrically contacts the first electrical connection part. The sensor is respectively and electrically connected to the first electrical connection part and the second electrical connection part. When the first support rotates to a specific position relative to the second support, the first support and the protrusion part are detached. Meanwhile, the sensor correspondingly transmits a signal. |
| US08004831B1 |
Orthogonally system arrangements for data center facility
A facility is described that includes one or more enclosures defining an interior space, a plurality of power taps, a plurality of coolant supply taps, and a plurality of coolant return taps. A flow capacity of the supply taps and a flow capacity of the return taps can be approximately equal over a local area of the interior space. The plurality of power taps, the plurality of supply taps, and the plurality of return taps can be divided into a plurality of zones, with taps of each zone are configured to be controllably coupled to a power source or a coolant source independently of the taps of other zones. The taps can be positioned along paths, and paths of the power taps can be spaced from associated proximate paths of supply and return taps by a substantially uniform distance along a substantial length of the first path. |
| US08004830B2 |
Quick-releasing structure for fastening a hard disk, and hard disk carrier and computer system using the same
A quick-releasing structure is applied to a casing for installing a hard disk device. The quick-releasing structure comprises a spring plate, a handle, and two shock-absorbing members. The spring plate is connected to the casing; the two ends of the handle are coupled to the spring plate; two shock-absorbing members are connected to the two ends of the spring plate for fastening the hard disk device and producing shock-absorbing effect. By pulling the handle, the two ends of the spring plate being moved away from the casing, and the two shock-absorbing members being moved to release the hard disk device. |
| US08004829B2 |
Portable electronic device enclosure
A mechanism for protecting a portable electronic device, e.g., a handheld computer system. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of an encasing structure having an opening and configured to receive and have disposed therewithin the handheld computer system. The present invention is further comprised of a lifting device coupled to the encasing structure. The lifting device is adapted to raise the handheld computer system above the confines of the encasing structure and further adapted to lower the handheld computer system to a disposition therewithin the encasing structure. The encasing structure can be used to protect input/output ports or slots, I/Os externally disposed on side surfaces of the handheld computer system when the handheld computer system is disposed within the encasing structure, and the lifting device enables raising the handheld computer system above the confines of the encasing structure to provide access to the I/Os. In one embodiment, a push-push hinge can be utilized as the lifting device. |
| US08004827B2 |
Fuse module with movable fuse holder for fused electrical device
Described herein are various embodiments of a fuse module for fused electrical devices. According to one exemplary embodiment, a fuse module is mounted to the housing of a fused electrical device. The fused electrical device can include at least one power output displaced along the power distribution housing with the at least one power output electrically couplable to at least one power input. The fuse module can be electrically coupled to the at least one power input and electrically couplable to the at least one power outputs. Further, the fuse module can comprise at least one fuse holder that is movable between a first position in which a fuse held by the fuse holder is electrically couplable to the at least one power output and a second position in which a fuse held by the fuse holder not electrically couplable to the at least one power output and is exposed to allow access to the fuse. |
| US08004826B2 |
Electrical switchgear assembly
The invention relates to an electrical switchgear comprising at least one panel, especially for low voltage, a device compartment especially for receiving inserts, switching devices, control devices, and similar, a busbar compartment in which the busbars are accommodated in a horizontal direction, a multi-terminal busbar compartment in which the multi-terminal busbars extend vertically, and at least one wire compartment. The wire compartment for control wires and signal wires is located on one side of the panel while the wire compartment for power wires is placed on the other side of the panel. |
| US08004823B2 |
Lithium ion capacitor
A lithium ion capacitor includes a positive electrode made of a material capable of reversibly doping and dedoping lithium ions and/or anions; a negative electrode made of a material capable of reversibly doping and dedoping lithium ions; and an electrolytic solution made of an aprotonic organic solvent electrolyte solution of a lithium salt. When the negative electrode and/or positive electrode and a lithium ion supply source are electrochemically brought into contact, lithium ions are doped in a negative electrode and/or positive electrode. A positive electrode potential after the positive electrode and negative electrode are short-circuited is 2.0 V (vs. Li/Li+) or less. The positive electrode and/or negative electrode has a current collector made of a metal foil that has many holes that penetrate through both sides and have an average diameter of inscribed circles of the through-holes of 100 μm or less. |
| US08004817B2 |
Method of platen fabrication to allow electrode pattern and gas cooling optimization
An electrode pattern and layered assembly is disclosed. This assembly utilizes multiple-piece construction, including at least two electrically conductive layers and at least three electrically insulating layers. By incorporating a second electrically conductive layer, each electrode can be divided into two or more separate portions on the top layer, and joined together using the second conductive layer. Connections between the two conductive layers can be made using any suitable technique, including through-hole vias, conductive rods and the like. The use of a second electrically conductive layer also allows for a different gas distribution strategy. The use of multiple conductive layers allows the use of one or more concentric channels to be used through which the gas can be injected. |
| US08004816B1 |
Disabling a target using electrical energy
One system described herein provides electrical energy by means of a Tesla coil that generates a strong electric field in the vicinity of an electrical target. An energy booster provides additional electrical energy to increase the probability of disabling and/or disrupting the electrical target. For example, an electrode may be configured with the Tesla coil to form the electric field of the electrical target. The electric field may cause a breakdown in the air about the Tesla coil that allows electric current to conduct to the electrical target. The Tesla coil may repetitively burst the electric field such that pulses of electric current are conducted to the electrical target. |
| US08004813B2 |
Method and an array for magnetizing a magnetizable object
Described is a method and array for magnetizing a magnetizable object. The method includes the steps of (a) applying a first degaussing signal to the magnetizable object to degauss the magnetizable object and the first degaussing signal is an alternating electrical signal having a first frequency and a first amplitude; (b) applying a magnetizing signal to the degaussed magnetizable object to magnetize the magnetizable object; and (c) applying a second degaussing signal to the magnetized magnetizable object to partially degauss the magnetized magnetizable object and the second degaussing signal is an alternating electrical signal having a second frequency and a second amplitude. |
| US08004808B2 |
Control apparatus
The present invention provides a control apparatus for detecting an early stage short circuit between the terminals of an electrolytic capacitor, and detecting a short circuit between a load that is connected in parallel to the electrolytic capacitor, the apparatus performing appropriate processing before an adverse effect is inflicted on peripheral equipment. In the control apparatus, microcomputers switch on a second relay; an electrolytic capacitor is gradually charged via a current-limiting resistor; a first voltage detection control for detecting a voltage between terminals of the electrolytic capacitor is performed when a first set time period has elapsed after the second relay has been switched on; and a second voltage detection control for detecting a voltage between the terminals of the electrolytic capacitor is performed when a second set time period, which is longer than the first set time period, has elapsed after the second relay has been switched on. |
| US08004807B2 |
Overvoltage protection circuit with reduced sensitivity to process variations
An overvoltage protection circuit includes a shunt circuit adapted for connection to at least one circuit node to be protected from an overvoltage condition and a voltage generator coupled to the shunt circuit. The shunt circuit is selectively activated as a function of a control signal supplied to the shunt circuit. The voltage generator is operative to generate the control signal for activating the shunt circuit during the overvoltage condition. The control signal has a level which varies in a manner that at least partially changes offsets in activation threshold of the shunt circuit. |
| US08004804B2 |
Circuit interrupter having at least one indicator
Resettable circuit interrupting devices using a center latch are provided. The circuit interrupting devices include those with a reset lockout, reverse wiring protection, and/or an independent trip portion. |
| US08004801B2 |
Apparatus for decreasing inrush current using SFCL and method for deciding optimal insertion resistance
There is provided an apparatus for decreasing an inrush current which comprises a power system including a transformer, and a superconducting fault current limiter electrically connected to the transformer. A resistance value of the superconducting fault current limiter is calculated by using a variation of the inrush current and a variation of the voltage drop of the power system according to a value of insertion resistance. In the apparatus for decreasing the inrush current, the optimal resistance value considering both the decrease rate of the inrush current and the voltage drop by the insertion of the superconducting fault current limiter is decided as the resistance value of the superconducting fault current limiter. Accordingly, the power system is efficiently operated depending on the characteristics of the power system in which the superconducting fault current limiter is installed. |
| US08004800B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor with nitrogenated hard bias layer for improved coercivity
A magnetoresistive sensor having a hard bias structure that provides improved bias field robustness. The sensor includes a nitrogenated hard bias layer and a seed layer that include a nitrogenated NiTa layer and a layer of Ru. The seed layer can also include a layer of CrMn disposed between the layer of NiTa and the layer of Ru. The novel seed structure allows a nitrogenated hard bias layer to be used, while maintaining a high magnetic coercivity of the hard bias layer. |
| US08004799B2 |
Magnetic reader with piggybacked fence
A magnetic head comprises a plurality of elements selected from a group consisting of readers and writers. A servo sensor is positioned towards the elements, the servo sensor being adapted for sensing a first servo track of a magnetic medium. A fence is positioned towards the servo sensor and aligned therewith in a tape travel direction. A magnetic head in another embodiment includes a substrate and a reader positioned above the substrate, the reader having a sensor and shields sandwiching the sensor. A fence is positioned towards the reader on an opposite side thereof from the substrate, the fence being aligned with the reader in a travel direction of a magnetic medium passing thereby. |
| US08004798B1 |
High bandwidth flexure for hard disk drives
A disk drive flexure has a pattern of voids in the ground plane in the area directly underneath the read and write bond pads, in order to adjust the respective impedances of the read and write bond pad pairs to match the impedances of the read and write transducers and the signal trace pairs to and from the transducers. The resulting impedance matched bond pads increase the effective signal bandwidth of the flexure and its electrical connections, decreasing the probability of error at high signal speeds and increasing the maximum data rate through the suspension. |
| US08004796B2 |
Slider with contact features initiated at wafer level
A method is disclosed for producing sliders with protective contacts features the fabrication of which is initiated at the wafer level. Recesses are formed in the wafer, a protective material is provided in the recesses, and the wafer is sliced along the recesses and diced into sliders, such that the protective material forms corners of the sliders. The protective material may be disposed such that it has a low elastic modulus at the corners, and a higher elastic modulus at a displacement from the corners which is still lower than the elastic modulus of the slider body, thereby providing superior protection for potential contacts between the slider and an adjacent media surface. |
| US08004795B2 |
Magnetic head design having reduced susceptibility to electrostatic discharge from media surfaces
Methods and structures for the fabrication of a thin film, longitudinal and perpendicular recording heads are disclosed. The heads comprise a plurality of embedded static dissipative layers that extend a few nanometers from the air bearing surface. These extended layers are first to contact the magnetic media surface and drain any electric charge buildup before a damaging discharge occurs with read or write head components. The embedded static dissipative layers are particularly useful for use in heads utilizing thermal fly height control systems, which tend to increase the probability of damaging electrical discharge through critical head components. |
| US08004794B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head laminated with AFM-FM phase change material
A PMR writer is disclosed that minimizes pole erasure during non-writing and maximize write field during writing through an AFM-FM phase change material that is in an AFM state during non-writing and switches to a FM state by heating during writing. The main pole layer including the write pole may be comprised of a laminated structure having a plurality of “n” ferromagnetic layers and “n−1” AFM-FM phase change material layers arranged in an alternating manner. The AFM-FM phase change material is preferably a FeRh or FeRhX alloy (X=Pt, Pd, or Ir) having a Rh content >35 atomic %. AFM-FM phase change material may also be used as a flux gate to prevent yoke flux from leaking into the write pole tip. Heating for the AFM to FM transition is provided by write coils and/or a coil located near the AFM-FM phase change material to enable faster transition times. |
| US08004792B2 |
Magnetic write transducer
A magnetic write transducer includes a yoke having a lower pole portion, an upper pole portion, and a first bobbin portion; a first coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a first plane; a second coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a second plane above the first plane; a third coil turn wrapped around the First bobbin portion of the yoke in a third plane above the second plane; and a fourth coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a fourth plane above the third plane. |
| US08004790B2 |
Spoiler with integrated bypass channel wall for HDD applications
A spoiler implementable in a hard disk drive. The spoiler includes a structure. The structure includes a diffuser integrated therewith. The structure further includes an extension emanating there from, the extension configured to complete a wall of a bypass channel in said hard disk drive, said inner wall having a portion removed there from. |
| US08004784B1 |
Predictive methods and systems for sampling data read from a rotating storage medium
A frequency adjustment system comprises an offset estimation module and a frequency adjustment module. The offset estimation module estimates a distance between data written to a rotating storage medium and a first center location about which the rotating storage medium rotates, the data having been previously written to the rotating storage medium relative to a second center location that is different than the first center location. The frequency adjustment module adjusts a sampling frequency at which the data is read from the rotating storage medium based on the distance between the data and the first center location. |
| US08004783B2 |
Method for testing magnetic recording medium and method for producing magnetic recording medium
A method for testing a magnetic recording medium includes positioning second magnetic heads in an inspected region of a testing subject medium based on servo information signals. A signal generating step generates a magnetic recording/reproducing signal by making the second magnetic heads to conduct a magnetic recording/reproducing process of the inspected region. A signal processing step inspects the magnetic recording/reproducing signal. A master medium includes a servo information region where servo information is recorded radially from the center in a continuous manner. The inspected region corresponds to regions in the master medium including two or more data information regions adjacent to each other in the same track position via the servo information region. The position of one of the inspected regions in the radial direction is arranged at a different position from that of another of the adjacent inspected regions arranged at a different track position. |
| US08004779B2 |
Lens drive device
A lens drive device may include a movable body having a lens and a coil, a support body movably supporting the movable body, a magnetic drive mechanism having a magnet for driving the movable body together with the coil, a restricting member for restricting movement of the movable body due to an electromagnetic force generated when an electric current is supplied to the coil, a magnetic member disposed in the movable body to be magnetically attracted by the magnet. In a non-energized state where the coil is not energized, following relationships are satisfied: W>F1, W>F2, and W |
| US08004777B2 |
Image pickup lens, image pickup unit and mobile terminal
An image pickup lens includes: an aperture stop; a first lens having a positive power and including a convex surface facing an object side; a second lens having a negative power and including a concave surface facing an image side; a third lens in a meniscus shape having a positive power and including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fourth lens in a meniscus shape having a negative power and including a convex surface facing the object side. The image pickup lens satisfies predetermined conditions relating to a composite focal length of the first through third lenses, a length of an air space between the third lens and the fourth lens along the optical axis, and a curvature radius of a surface of the second lens facing the image side. |
| US08004775B2 |
Techniques for steering an optical beam
Reflectors having concave reflecting surfaces (e.g., parabolic reflectors) and electronically controlled beam steering elements are used for rapid, low-diversion, wide angle, and precision steering of optical beams, including laser beams. |
| US08004774B2 |
Lens apparatus and image-pickup apparatus
A lens apparatus which has a small size but allows a higher magnification and an image-pickup apparatus including the lens apparatus are disclosed. The lens apparatus provides a variable magnification by moving a first lens and a second lens placed closer to an image plane than the first lens in the direction of an optical axis. The lens apparatus includes a first driving member which is rotated around the optical axis to move the first lens in the optical axis direction, a second driving member which moves the second lens by itself in the optical axis direction, and a driving mechanism which at least drives the rotation of the first driving member. The second driving member is moved in the optical axis direction relative to the first driving member by the rotation of the first driving member. |
| US08004773B2 |
Lens drive mechanism and optical pickup having same
A lens drive mechanism includes a drive source; a lead screw that is connected to the drive source and rotated by operation of the drive source; a nut member that screws on the lead screw and moves as the lead screw rotates; a lens hold portion that is so disposed as to move as the nut member moves and hold a lens; a guide member that guides the lens hold portion to move in the same direction as that of movement of the nut member; and a leaf spring member that if the nut member is situated near one end of a thread portion of the lead screw, pressurizes the nut member toward the other end of the thread portion of the lead screw. |
| US08004767B2 |
Process for making microlens arrays and masterforms
A process for making a microlens array or a microlens array masterform comprises (a) providing a photoreactive composition, the photoreactive composition comprising (1) at least one reactive species that is capable of undergoing an acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction, and (2) at least one multiphoton photoinitiator system; and (b) imagewise exposing at least a portion of the composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons, thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of microlenses, each of the microlenses having a principal axis and a focal length, and at least one of the microlenses being an aspherical microlens. |
| US08004764B2 |
Color compensating retinal safety filter
A filter and method for filtering an optical beam are disclosed. One embodiment of the filter is an optical filter for filtering an incident light beam, comprising an optically effective material characterized by: a light transmittance of less than 1% for wavelengths below 420 nm; and a light transmittance for wavelengths complementary and near complementary to wavelengths below 420 nm that, combined with the transmittance for wavelengths below 420 nm, will yield a filtered light beam having a luminosity of about 90% and an excitation purity of 5% or less. The complementary wavelengths can be wavelengths above about 640 nm, wavelengths above about 660 nm, and/or wavelengths from about 540 nm to about 560 nm. |
| US08004763B2 |
PDP filter and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed herein is a PDP filter having a laminated structure of a transparent conductive film type electromagnetic wave-shielding layer and one or more other functional layers, in which at least two edge portions of the surface of the transparent conductive film type electromagnetic wave-shielding layer, which is in contact with the functional layer, are not exposed outside the laminated structure of the PDP filter. |
| US08004762B2 |
Extended depth of field optical systems
Systems and methods for generating an optical image include forming an optical image with at least one optical element of an optical imager while modifying wavefront phase. Modifying the phase does not reduce an optical bandpass limited by an aperture of the optical imager. The systems and methods also include detecting the optical image over a range of spatial frequencies such that there are no zeros in an optical transfer function of the optical imager over detected spatial frequencies within the optical bandpass and over an extended depth of focus that is larger than a depth of focus occurring without modifying wavefront phase. |
| US08004761B2 |
Stereo projection optical system
A stereo projection optical system includes a polarization converter, a 2-way wheel, a retarder, and an image engine. The polarization converter is configured for converting an incident light into a polarized light which have single polarization. The 2-way wheel includes a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region is configured for reflecting the polarized light and the transmissive region is configured for transmitting the polarized light. The retarder is positioned to receive an emergent light from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region. The image engine is positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the 2-way wheel. |
| US08004758B2 |
Polarization preserving front projection screen microstructures
Polarization preserving front projection screens and diffusers provide optimum polarization preservation for stereoscopic 3D viewing, as well as improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed screens direct light from a projector toward viewers within a diffusion locus, while maintaining optimum gain characteristics. More specifically, light incident on a region of the front projection screen from a predetermined projection direction is reflected by an engineered surface to a predetermined diffusion locus after undergoing substantially single reflections. The engineered surface, comprised of generating kernels, is used to optimally diffuse illumination light into a range of viewing angles, within the diffusion locus, with suitable gain profile, while optimally preserving polarization for 3D applications. Such a screen, when combined with matched polarization analyzing eyewear, provides extremely low cross-talk from any observation point. |
| US08004754B2 |
Image generating apparatus
The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus (1) which comprises an illumination unit (20) having an intermediate face (21, S), as well as an image modulator (30) for generating an image (I). In addition a deflecting means (10) for deflecting a received light beam (L) of primary illumination light (L1) to said illumination unit (20) is provided in order to irradiate said intermediate face (21, S). Said deflecting means (10) is adapted to have—during the process of irradiating said intermediate face (21, S)—said light beam (L) subsequently in time irradiate different portions of said intermediate face (21, S) in order to thereby reduce the speckle effect. |
| US08004752B2 |
Multi-wavelength light amplifier
A multi-wavelength light amplifier includes a first-stage light amplifier which has a first light amplifying optical fiber amplifying a light input, a second stage light amplifier which has a second light amplifying optical fiber amplifying a first light output from the first-stage light amplifier, and an optical system which maintains a second light output of the second-stage light amplifier at a constant power level. The first-stage and second-stage light amplifiers have different gain vs wavelength characteristics so that the multi-wavelength light amplifier has no wavelength-dependence of a gain thereof. |
| US08004751B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system utilizing distributed raman amplification
The WDM optical transmission system using distributed Raman amplification, before starting operation of main signal light, transfers a plurality of lights having different wavelengths to that of the main signal light (for example Raman amplification pump lights or the like) between first and second optical transmission devices connected to opposite ends of a transmission line, monitors transmission line input and output power for each light, calculates a transmission line loss in each wavelength using the monitor results, and specifies a type of the transmission line based on a loss wavelength characteristic that can be estimated from the calculation result. Then the power of pump light provided to the transmission light is optimized in accordance with the type of transmission line. |
| US08004750B1 |
Multiple-FSR DPSK demodulator
A switchable free-spectral-range mode selector is used to change the free spectral range of a free-space delay-line interferometer. The mode selector consists of a rotatable device with at least one transparent plate selected to produce the desired change in the free spectral range of the delay-line interferometer. The device may be rotated in and out of the free-space optical path of on of the interferometer arms. If used as a DPSK demodulator, the device enables operation at multiple predetermined free spectral ranges. In the preferred embodiment, the demodulator includes a 50/50 beam-splitter cube combined with two cavities. The mode selector consists of a plurality of different transparent slabs attached to a rotatable shaft so that any one of the slabs or none may be inserted in the appropriate optical path to obtain the desired FSR mode of operation. |
| US08004749B1 |
Pseudo common-path DPSK demodulator
A rhomb beam splitter, rather than a conventional cube, is used in combination with a mirror reflecting both the reflected and transmitted beams to obtain a delay-line interferometer demodulator with a substantially common path. This significantly reduces the sensitivity of the device to environmental changes and also greatly simplifies the manufacture process. A polarization-insensitive coating or a wave plate, a thermal phase tuner with a micro-heater, and two compensator plates are used in the paths of the beams to balance the optical path lengths and to compensate for polarization and environmental effects. |
| US08004748B2 |
Thermal lens forming element
A thermal lens forming element includes a first chamber serving as a control light absorbing region, which is configured as a columnar body or an N prismatic body (wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 4) circumscribing the columnar body and filled with a control light absorbing dyestuff solution containing a solvent having a viscosity of 0 to 3 mPa·s at 160° C. or above and a ratio of the viscosity of the solvent at 160° C. to a viscosity of the solvent at 40° C. not less than 1 and not greater than 6, wherein the columnar body or the N prismatic body circumscribing the columnar body has a central axis coinciding with an optical axis of incident signal light. The first chamber is connected to a second chamber via a solution channel and a dam. The dyestuff solution and a bubble of an inert gas are confined in the second chamber. |
| US08004747B2 |
Multilayer light modulator
A method in accordance with particular embodiments includes receiving an electrical control signal. The method further includes adjusting a reflectance of a light modulating stack comprising a plurality of layers by changing the relative location of a plurality of electrophoretic particles with respect to the remainder of the light modulating stack. The method additionally includes receiving light waves from a light source. The method also includes converting the electrical control signal into a modulated optical signal that selectively switches between reflecting or absorbing at least a portion of the light waves. |
| US08004743B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing brightness control in an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display
Methods and systems for providing brightness control in an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display are provided. In one embodiment, an interferometric modulator display pixel is provided that includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator having an associated first color spectrum, and a color absorber located substantially in front of the interferometric modulator display pixel, in which the color absorber has an associated second color spectrum. The microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator is operable to shift the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to control a visual brightness of the interferometric modulator display pixel independent of a color of the interferometric modulator display pixel. |
| US08004742B2 |
Electrochromic display device
The present invention provides an electrochromic display device which can realize a reduction in color drift in storing images and has excellent memory properties. The electrochromic display device is an active matrix drive-type electrochromic display device containing opposed electrodes, at least one type of a porous layer containing titanium oxide with an electrochromic dye adsorbed thereon, and at least one type of a porous layer containing tin oxide. The active matrix drive-type electrochromic display device is characterized in that the tin oxide-containing porous layer is connected to a pixel circuit used in active matrix drive through one of the opposed electrodes. |
| US08004741B2 |
Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements
The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. |
| US08004738B2 |
Electro-wetting display panel
An electro-wetting display panel including an active device array substrate, a dielectric layer, a wall structure, a first liquid containing dyes, a second liquid, and an opposite substrate is provided. The active device array substrate includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, and pixels. The pixels are electrically connected with the scan lines and the data lines accordingly. Each pixel includes an active device, a transparent pixel electrode, and a reflective layer. The transparent pixel electrode located above the reflective layer is electrically connected with the active device. The reflective layer has a bumpy surface. The dielectric layer is disposed on the active device array substrate. The wall structure is disposed on the dielectric layer. The first liquid is disposed on the dielectric layer. The opposite substrate is disposed above the active device array substrate. The second liquid is disposed between the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate. |
| US08004734B2 |
Optical logic devices having polarization-based logic level representation and method of designing the same
Apparatus and methods for implementing logical operations using polarization-based logic level representation is provided. An apparatus and method split an input polarized beam into a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam and the second beam have an identical or nearly identical relative polarization angle that equals or nearly equals the relative polarization angle of the input polarized beam. The apparatus and method further polarize at a first relative polarization angle the first beam and polarize at a second relative polarization angle the second beam. The ratio of the amplitudes of two perpendicular polarization components of the input polarized beam is one or nearly one and the difference between the first relative polarization angle and the second relative polarization angle is 180 degrees or nearly 180 degrees. Furthermore, the relative polarization angle of the input polarized beam equals or nearly equals either the first relative polarization angle or the second relative polarization angle. |
| US08004732B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
When a halftone dot region includes a character or line drawing, high extraction performance of a halftone dot region cannot be obtained. Hence, the isolation amount of a pixel of interest is calculated, and the isolation amounts are integrated in a plurality of areas having different sizes. Thresholds set for respective areas are compared with the integration result to determine whether or not the pixel of interest belongs to a halftone dot region. |
| US08004731B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided which includes: an image acquisition section (110) which reads an original and acquires an original image; a specific-pattern storage section (141) which stores a specific pattern which expresses, using a dot pattern, apparatus identification information for identifying an apparatus that prints the original image on a sheet of recording paper; an extraction section (132) which extracts an actual image area except a blank area in the original image, and base on the extracted actual image area, extracts a specific area corresponding to an area for printing the specific pattern; and a print section (150) which prints the specific pattern within the actual image area, using a yellow toner. |
| US08004730B2 |
Scanning apparatus for transparent documents
A scanning apparatus for transparent documents includes a scanner which includes a host and a lid pivotally coupled with the host, and a transparent document holding module which is located between the host and the lid, and includes a main body and a light guide element which is located on the periphery of the main body. The host has an optical module for scanning. The optical module includes a plurality of lighting units and a first attraction element. The main body aims to hold a transparent document. The light guide element includes a second attraction element attracted to the first attraction element. When the light guide element is moved with the optical module, the direction of light projecting to the transparent document is altered. Thus when the light guide element is moved with the optical module along a track, scanning of images on the transparent documents can also be accomplished. |
| US08004728B2 |
Image scanning device
An image scanning device has a scanning unit, a first storage unit, a first determination unit, and a control unit. The scanning unit scans an original document to produce image data. The first storage unit stores a specific condition used by the scanning unit for scanning a specific document. The specific document requires a limited scanning condition. The first determination unit determines based on the image data whether the original document is the specific document. The control unit reads the specific condition from the first storage unit and causes the scanning unit to scan the original document with the specific condition if the first determination unit determines that the original document is the specific document. |
| US08004726B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image density correction method
A technique that can realize acquisition of a proper white reference value in shading correction is provided.It includes plural line sensors arranged at different positions from each other in a sub-scanning direction and configured to read reflected light from a reading target surface, guided by a scanning optical system that moves in the sub-scanning direction, and a reading control unit configured to control image reading timing in each line sensor so that, when reading a predetermined white reference board by the plural line sensors in order to perform shading correction, the plural line sensors have substantially the same reading area on the white reference board. |
| US08004725B2 |
Device and method for scanning a document
A device for scanning a document is provided. A document placed on a support surface is scanned line by line by a camera that is provided with an optoelectronic line sensor, and electric signals are produced. The line sensor includes a plurality of image recording elements disposed in a linear orientation. A lens system is used to image the light reflected by the document to be captured onto a part of the image recording elements. |
| US08004724B2 |
Method and apparatus for image reading with synchronized readout and lighting control
An image reading apparatus for reading an image on an original includes a reading unit for optically reading the image of the original while the image is illuminated by light from a light source; a moving unit for moving the reading unit relative to the original; a position signal generator for outputting a position signal in accordance with movement of the reading unit by the moving unit; a lighting control unit for controlling the light source for lighting for a first period in synchronism with the position signal; and an output control unit for generating a control signal for outputting an image signal corresponding to the image read by the reading unit after the light source lights for the first period and for outputting the image signal for a second period in synchronism with the control signal. |
| US08004720B2 |
Method for adaptively screening continuous tone originals
The invention relates to printing, to facsimile and publishing techniques, in particular to picture reproducing systems capable to form two optical parameter levels, only. Said invention makes it possible to increase a fine detail reproduction accuracy, in particular, strokes on a screen copy and to more fully use a printing resolution power. The inventive method consists in converting a continuous tone original represented by multilevel reflection values of the areas thereof into a screen copy consisting of dark and light elements by using two types of weight values of the copy elements, wherein the first weight values are distributed between the elements in a sequence independent of the tone modification behavior through the original areas, and in the second sequence according to the geometry of the fine details thereof, in forming the copy elements in such a way that they are dark or light according to results of comparison between the reflection values of the original areas and the weight values of the first and second types, in increasing the degree of use of the second weight values for the fine strokes of the original with respect to the use thereof for single interfaces, which divide the original into dark and light regions and in removing elements which are established in a dark form according to the first weight values inside the light strokes arranged on a dark background. |
| US08004716B2 |
Image forming apparatus that restricts printing of specific information
The objective of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains information that causes problems by printing specific information. By detecting information to be restricted in the printing data and restricting the image formation of the detected information, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can form the image in which the image of the information is not formed. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains specific information. |
| US08004711B2 |
Printing apparatus and format edit program recorded in computer-readable recording medium
When a user selects a printing format for use in producing a label and specifies block names of blocks constituting a printing format in an arbitrary order through a n th-block specifying screen (first block specifying screen, second block specifying screen, . . .), edit sequence table sets a new edit sequence number based on a specifying order of block names. Then, the new edit sequence number is written over current edit sequence number in each block (edit sequence table) and arrangement of each block is updated based on the edit sequence number 401 after overwritten (edit sequence table). |
| US08004709B2 |
Data communication device, computer readable medium and method for transmitting and managing data
A data communication device capable of facilitating file management compared to conventional methods is provided. The data communication device includes an image file storage portion for memorizing an image file to be sent to a user at the other end, a transmission information setting portion for setting transmission information necessary for sending the image file to the user at the other end, a file combining portion for generating a composite file by adding the transmission information to the image file and an e-mail message transmission portion for sending the generated composite file to the user at the other end. |
| US08004707B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus is provided that can easily select either one of a public telephone network and an Internet communication network through which information is to be transmitted and that transmits the information through the selected communication network. A telephone line communication means (12) exhibits a disconnected state where no current flows between a telephone exchange and the telephone line communication means (12) when a first handset (14) is placed on a first placement section, while the telephone line communication means (12) exhibits a connected state where a current flows between the telephone exchange and the telephone line communication means (12) when the first handset (14) is not placed on the first placement section. A user can switch the disconnected state and the connected state when placing the first handset (14) on the first placement section or taking up the first handset (14) from the first placement section. A line state detecting section (26) detects whether the line state is the disconnected state or the connected state. The communication apparatus (1) transmits image information through the Internet communication network in the disconnected state, and it transmits image information through the public telephone network in the connected state. |
| US08004704B2 |
Scanner and control method for display of operation menu thereof
A scanner which is connected via network or locally connected to a printer for realizing a copying function by outputting a scanned image to the printer as a copy job, the scanner, comprises a menu display that displays an operation menu of the copying function on a display portion; a capability information reception unit that receives capability information from the printer; an available setting item determination unit that determines print setting items relating to the copying function that can be provided, based on the capability information; and a display controller that selectively displays display contents of the operation menu displayed by the menu display, based on the setting items determined by the available setting item determination unit. |
| US08004702B2 |
Print schedule control equipment, print schedule control method, and program therefor
This invention aims at conducting a scheduling work of print processing efficiently. A device scheduler refers to print job composition information registered in step control information of the step “printer reservation” of other print job (other order) in a workflow information table, and a schedule information table. The device scheduler searches both other print jobs (proof print jobs and regular print jobs) that a to-be-registered proof print job having a processing time of the proof print job described above affects and other print jobs (proof print jobs and regular print jobs) that affect the to-be-registered proof print job. The device scheduler determines whether the to-be-registered proof print job can be registered in a schedule (there is no search result in Step 2017 described above). When the registration is not possible, the device scheduler informs an operator of the result that automatic scheduling is impossible. |
| US08004698B2 |
Image forming apparatus for combining a scanned image with other image data and printing the combined image in black and white or color based on a set mode
An image processing system includes a first obtaining section for obtaining a first image and a color mode for the first image; a second obtaining section for obtaining a second image and a color mode for the second image; a priority setting section for setting which of the color mode for the first image and the color mode for the second image priority is to be given to; a color-mode setting section for setting a color mode for a composite image based on the color mode for the first image, the color mode for the second image, and the setting of the priority setting section; a combining section for combining the first image and the second image to produce the composite image; and an outputting section for outputting the composite image with the color mode set by the color-mode setting section. |
| US08004697B2 |
Method and system for adaptive control of IOT operation cycling
Embodiments of the present invention provide adaptive control of an imaging device based on current document complexity and printer processing capability. During operation, the future length of the job queue is predicted dynamically. The predicted queue length is periodically compared to a predetermined threshold value. The first mode of the device is changed to a second mode based on the predicted queue length being greater than the predetermined queue length. |
| US08004695B1 |
Measurement of film thickness in motor exhaust systems
Systems and methods are provided for measuring the thickness of a film on an interior surface of an exhaust pipe system of a vehicle. The film is typically a layer of a nitrogen-oxides reductant, such as urea, deposited during operation of a selective catalytic reduction system for eliminating pollutants in an exhaust stream. The methods and systems are directed to optical measurements that directly probe the interior surfaces of the exhaust system to determine the thickness of a urea film built up during operation of the engine and the selective catalytic reduction system. |
| US08004690B2 |
Device and method for the optical measurement of an optical system, measurement structure support, and microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A device for the optical measurement of an optical system which, in a useful operating mode, receives useful radiation on a useful radiation entrance side and emits it on a useful radiation exit side. The device includes a measurement radiation source, by which at least one exit-side element, which emits measurement radiation to the optical system, can be positioned on the useful radiation exit side of the optical system, and a detector, by which at least one entrance-side element, which receives measurement radiation coming from the optical system, can be positioned on the useful radiation entrance side of the optical system. The measurement radiation source includes a source-side measurement structure mask for positioning on the useful radiation exit side and/or the detector includes a detector-side measurement structure mask for positioning on the useful radiation entrance side. Also provided are a measurement structure support that can be used for such a device, a microlithography projection exposure apparatus equipped with such a device, and an associated method. The device can be used, e.g., for the wavefront measurement of projection objectives of microlithography projection exposure apparatuses. |
| US08004687B2 |
Interferometric system with reduced vibration sensitivity and related method
A source module (12) generates mutually orthogonally polarized beams of light as emanating from two spatially separated point sources (Sv, Sw) for use in a phase shifting interferometer. |
| US08004683B2 |
Optical product detection sensor
An optical detection sensor detects presence or absence of a product within a fluid delivery medium. An emitter directs radiation into the fluid delivery medium. Each of a plurality of detectors detects light within an associated one of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium. The output of each detector is further associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. A controller may further combine detector outputs, such as by multiplication, summation, or other mathematical operation, to produce additional measures of product presence or absence. Each combination output is also associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. The controller compares the output of each detector with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) and compares each combination output with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) to determine presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium. The sensor is able to determine presence or absence of a variety of products having different color, transparency or turbidity. |
| US08004682B2 |
Methods and systems for analyzing a volume of gas
One embodiment relates to a method for determining a concentration of a molecular species of interest. In this method, electromagnetic radiation is transmitted into a volume of gas within an output exhaust system. The transmitted electromagnetic radiation has a first intensity at a characteristic frequency that is associated with a transition of the molecular species of interest. Electromagnetic radiation is then received from the volume of gas at a second intensity. The method then correlates the first intensity to the second intensity to determine the concentration of the molecular species of interest within the volume of gas. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08004675B2 |
Method and system for stokes polarization imaging
A device and a method for high-speed linear polarization imaging of a scene are disclosed. The device comprises a polarization modulator for modulating the polarization of light emitted from the scene in order to obtain at least three linear polarization states of the light. The polarization modulator comprises a polarizer, a first polarization rotation block comprising a fixed quarter-wave plate and a first liquid crystal operating as a quarter-wave plate, and a second polarization rotation block comprising a second liquid crystal operating as a half-wave plate. Each of the first and second liquid crystals are switchable between two states, thereby providing the at least three polarization states to the polarization modulator. The device further comprises a sensor adapted to capture image frames of the light from the scene at each polarization state of the polarization modulator. |
| US08004674B2 |
Data collection system and method for a flow cytometer
A system for a flow cytometer that collects data for a sample prepared with a plurality of fluorochromes that includes a fixed gain detection system that collects data for a plurality of fluorescence channels, fluorochrome compensation factors for a plurality of fluorochromes types, and a computer system that has an interface that gathers fluorochrome information of the sample and an analysis program that compensates for spectral spillover in the collected data. The fixed gain detection system preferably has a wide dynamic range. A fluorochrome compensation factor preferably remains constant for a fixed gain detection system. The analysis program preferably uses the fluorochrome compensation factors to compensate for spectral spillover. |
| US08004672B2 |
Closed cell for use in spectrophotometers
A closed cell for use in spectrophotometers is adapted to receive a liquid to be subjected to analysis and an air space or bubble to absorb pressure differentials, wherein the cell includes means to retain the air space or bubble in a predetermined location in the cell. |
| US08004668B2 |
Fluorescent color calibrator for calibrating RGB pixel values
A fluorescent color calibrator for calibrating RGB pixel values is provided. The fluorescent color calibrator includes a plurality of fluorogenic compounds adapted to fluoresce in a visible color spectrum; and a second plurality of fluorogenic compounds adapted to fluoresce in multiple visible gray spectrums. Also provided is a method for using the fluorescent color calibrator to standardize fluorescent colors when viewing with an RGB monitor. |
| US08004666B2 |
Apparatus for inspecting defects
A defect inspection apparatus and method includes a darkfield illumination optical system which conducts darkfield illumination upon the surface of a sample with irradiation light having at least one of wavelength band, a darkfield detection optical system which includes a reflecting objective lens for converging the light scattered from the surface of the sample that has been darkfield-illuminated with the irradiation light having the at least one wavelength band, and imaging optics for imaging onto a light-receiving surface of an image sensor the scattered light that the reflecting objective lens has converged, and an image processor which, in accordance with an image signal obtained from the image sensor of the darkfield detection optical system, discriminates defects or defect candidates present on the surface of the sample. |
| US08004665B2 |
Energy measurement system and method
Disclosed is a system to measure the energy level of a radiation pulse. The system includes a sample-and-hold module to measure the radiation pulse and to generate a signal representative of an energy level of the radiation pulse, and a processing module to determine an energy value of the radiation pulse based on the signal generated by the sample-and-hold module. |
| US08004660B2 |
Method and system for determination of detection probability of a target object based on vibration
A simulation system for predicting a likelihood of whether a target object positioned in an environment will be detected by a detection system when illuminated by a laser source. The simulation system may be used for a laser rangefinder application and a laser designator application. The simulation system may provide a detection probability of the target object at a specified range to the detection system or a plurality of detection probabilities as a function of the range to the detection system. The simulation system may provide an indication of an overlap of the beam provided by the laser source on the target object. The simulation system may determine the effect of vibration on the detection of the target object at a specified range. |
| US08004656B2 |
Illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
An illumination system for a microlithographic projection exposure step-and-scan apparatus has a light source, a first optical raster element and a second optical raster element. The first optical raster element extends in a first pupil plane of the illumination system and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased perpendicular to a scan direction of the projection exposure apparatus. The second optical raster element extends in a second pupil plane of the illumination system, which is not necessarily different from the first pupil plane, and is designed such that the geometrical optical flux of the system is increased in the scan direction and perpendicular thereto. This makes it possible to improve the irradiance uniformity in a reticle plane. |
| US08004655B2 |
Automatic focus adjusting mechanism and optical image acquisition apparatus
In an automatic focus adjusting mechanism, a test sample having a patterned surface is mounted on a mount table, and an light beam passing through a slit formed in a field stop is applied to the patterned surface of the test sample. The light beam reflected from the test sample is split into two segment light beams. Focus adjusting aperture stops having respective apertures formed rhomboid are provided across the optical paths of the segment light beams. The amounts of the segment light beams passing through the rhomboid apertures are detected by light receiving units. Based on the difference between the detected light amounts, the position of the mount table is controlled by the focus adjusting unit. |
| US08004651B2 |
Liquid recovery system, immersion exposure apparatus, immersion exposing method, and device fabricating method
A liquid recovery system is used by an immersion exposure apparatus. The liquid recovery system is provided with a first opening; a gap portion that is provided so that a liquid on an object that opposes the first opening can flow into the gap portion through the first opening; a liquid recovery part that suctions, through a porous member, at least part of the liquid that flows into the gap portion; and a second opening that is different from the first opening. The gap portion is open to the atmosphere through the second opening. |
| US08004650B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
Liquid is supplied by a supply mechanism to a space between a lens and a wafer via a supply nozzle on one side of the lens, and the liquid is recovered by a recovery mechanism via a recovery pipe on the other side of the lens. When the supply and the recovery of the liquid are performed in parallel, a predetermined amount of liquid (exchanged at all times) is held between the lens and the substrate on the stage. Accordingly, when exposure (pattern transfer on the substrate) is performed in this state, an immersion method is applied and a pattern is transferred with good precision onto the substrate. In addition, in the case the liquid leaks out from under the lower edge of a peripheral wall, the liquid that could not be recovered is recovered by an auxiliary recovery mechanism via a slit. And, by such operations, the substrate is freed from the residual liquid on the substrate. |
| US08004648B2 |
Air curtain for display
A system and method for providing an air curtain over the screen of an LCD display. Air intakes are located in the housing of the LCD display, and air is pulled into the cavity of the display by one or more fans located in the housing. Air flows through the cavity and exits through a series of air baffles located along the top of the LCD display screen. The air baffles direct the air along the surface of the LCD display, creating an air curtain that may cool the LCD display. The flow of air through the display cavity may also cool the internal components of the LCD display. |
| US08004645B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with integrated circuit comprising signal relay, powers and signal control
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of pixel cells formed at every regions defined by a plurality of data lines and gate lines; a gate built-in circuit, built-in the liquid crystal panel, for supplying gate-on voltages to the gate lines; a driving integrated circuit for driving the gate built-in circuit and supplying video signals to the data lines; and a pad region including a plurality of input/output terminals electrically connected to input/output bumps of the driving integrated circuit in the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08004642B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising transition electrodes having a same potential as a corresponding one of the scanning lines
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. A display operation is performed by changing an alignment state of the liquid crystal layer from a splay alignment to a bend alignment. The first substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines intersecting the plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes, and a plurality of transition electrodes generating a potential difference with respect to the pixel electrodes, the plurality of transition electrodes being formed closer to the liquid crystal layer than the scanning lines or the data lines and closer to the first substrate than the pixel electrodes. |
| US08004640B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate including a first electrode and a second substrate including a second electrode which is bonded with the first substrate through an alignment film and a liquid crystal layer. There are polymer structures for aligning liquid crystal molecules in a predetermined direction formed in a liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal molecules have pre-tilt angles substantially equal to each other between a display part and a peripheral part of the liquid crystal layer. |
| US08004637B2 |
Operative reflection and absorption plate and display element using the same
An operative reflection and absorption plate including a substrate having a moth eye structure on its surface is used, whereby an absorbing status and a reflecting status can be realized without using a polarizing plate, and a display element exhibiting a bright and high contrast can be obtained. |
| US08004636B2 |
Manufacturing thin film transistor array panels for flat panel displays
A thin film transistor array panel for a flat panel display includes a substrate, a first signal line formed on the substrate, a second signal line intersecting and insulated from the first signal line, a switching element having a first terminal connected to the first signal line, a second terminal connected to the second signal line, and a third terminal, a pixel electrode connected to the third terminal of the switching element, and first and second light blocking members extending parallel to the second signal line, each being disposed on an opposite side of and partially overlapping an respective edge of the second signal line, an interval between the first and second light blocking members being in a range of from more than 1.5 μm to less than 4 μm. The array panel prevents light leakage from the display and improves its transmittance, aperture ratio and color reproducibility. |
| US08004633B2 |
Multi-domain vertical alignment display panel and color filter substrate
A color filter substrate including a base, a patterned color filter film layer, a common electrode layer and shelters is provided. The patterned color filter film layer is disposed on the base. Here, the patterned color filter film layer has recesses. Additionally, the patterned color filter film layer and the base are covered by the common electrode layer conforming to surfaces of the recesses. Moreover, the recesses and the common electrode layer are covered by the shelters. |
| US08004631B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs and a diverter sheet disposed on the LED array portion and having continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with to the LED array portion. |
| US08004630B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
Disclosed is an LCD apparatus including a receiving container for receiving a light guide plate and a lamp assembly, a first chassis for fixing the light guide plate and an LCD panel, and a second chassis for fixing the first chassis and the LCD panel. The receiving container and the first and second chassis are made of metal material so that the LCD apparatus may have reduced size and weight. |
| US08004629B2 |
Liquid crystal module, audio function-equipped liquid crystal module, mobile communication device, and mobile information processing device
A liquid crystal module includes a liquid crystal panel and a support member configured to be contained in a mother device and to which the liquid crystal panel is mounted. A protection plate having protection function for the surface of the liquid crystal panel is attached to the support member, so that the protection plate, the liquid crystal panel, and the support member are made into a unitary block. Thus, it is possible to configure a liquid crystal module such that the protection plate has an additional function other than the protection of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08004627B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate
A thin film transistor array panel comprises a plurality of gate lines formed on an insulating substrate; a repair line formed on the insulating substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate lines and the repair line; a plurality of data lines formed on the gate insulating layer; an electricity dissipation line formed on the gate insulating layer crossing the gate lines and the repair line; and a first diode connecting the repair line and the electricity dissipation line. When static electricity is introduced through the repair lines, the static electricity is transferred to the electricity dissipation line and is dispersed or exhausted before it reaches to the data lines. As a result, the TFTs and wires in the display area are prevented from being destroyed by the static electricity. |
| US08004625B2 |
Active matrix substrate with pre-charge components and liquid crystal display panel thereof
An active matrix substrate is provided, which includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, data lines, pixel unites, and pre-charge components. The scan lines, data lines and pixel units are all disposed on the substrate. The pixel units are electrically connected with the corresponding scan lines and data lines. Each pixel unit includes an active device and a pixel electrode. The active devices are electrically connected with the scan lines, the data lines and the pixel electrodes. Each pre-charge component is electrically connected with one of the scan lines and two adjacent pixel electrodes controlled by the next scan line. When the pre-charge component is turned on via the scan line electrically connected therewith, the two adjacent pixel electrodes electrically connected with each pre-charge component have the same voltage level so that the two adjacent pixel units are pre-charged. |
| US08004623B2 |
Solt machine-reel game conversion type picture on the screen display panel reflect structure
There is provided a light-transmitting structure of a display panel for a slot machine using an electronic reel game scheme that is capable of playing other games on a reel game. The structure is located behind a touch pad. The structure allows a gamer to selectively play a typical display-based game through a separate game program while playing the reel game. |
| US08004620B2 |
Display device
The present invention is directed to providing a technology for display devices where a transparent cover is pasted on a display panel according to which inconsistencies resulting from expansion of the polarizing plate in the vicinity of an end portion caused by moisture can be prevented, and the adhesive can be prevented from sagging when the display panel and the transparent cover are pasted together. A display device according to the invention is provided with: a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate provided on the viewer side of the above described first substrate and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the above described first substrate and the above described second substrate; and a transparent cover pasted on the surface of the above described liquid crystal display panel on the above described viewer side using an adhesive. The above described liquid crystal display panel has a polarizing plate between the above described second substrate and the above described transparent cover. The above described adhesive covers the entirety of a side of the above described polarizing plate, and the form of the outer periphery of the above described adhesive in a plane is uneven. |
| US08004617B2 |
Stand-by mode transitioning
A device for rapidly instituting an active mode of a digital-television enabled system, the system including a first, volatile memory configured to load and store software instructions, includes: an input configured to receive first digital audio and video information; a first output configured to convey second audio and information toward a display regarding the first audio and video information; at least one second output configured to convey commands to, and receive information from, the first memory; and a processor configured to perform functions in accordance with software instructions stored in first and second memories and to cause the first memory to load software instructions for provision to the processor such that first instructions for processing at least one of the first audio information and the first video information are loaded and stored by the first memory with a higher priority than second instructions for performing other functionality. |
| US08004615B2 |
Television
The present invention discloses a television includes a power circuit; a power circuit; a speaker; a display; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and for generating first audio signals and first image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting the television and a player device, a signal accepting unit for accepting second audio signals and second image signals generated by the player device; and a switching unit for switching the television to a first player device mode where each of the speaker and the display outputs each of the second audio signals and the second image signals in case both of the second audio signals and second image signals are accepted by the signal accepting unit, and switching the television to a second player device mode where the speaker outputs the second audio signals and the display displays a dummy image in case only the second audio signals are accepted by the signal accepting unit. |
| US08004612B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling display brightness in an image display device
An inputted picture signal is stored in an image memory into which a picture signal for at least one frame period can be written, while rewriting the memory. At a plurality of timings within one frame period, an average brightness calculation unit calculates an average brightness from the picture signal written into the image memory, and a brightness control unit performs brightness control of the picture signal read from the image memory based on the calculated average brightness. |
| US08004608B2 |
Closed captioning data detection system and method
An exemplary method relates to buffering closed captioning data. The exemplary method comprises receiving closed captioning information comprising closed captioning data and a field, determining whether a current closed captioning data buffer is available for the field, saving the closed captioning data to the current closed captioning data buffer if the current closed captioning data buffer is available for the field, determining whether a next closed captioning data buffer is available for the field if the current closed captioning data buffer is not available, saving the closed captioning data to the next closed captioning data buffer if the next closed captioning data buffer is available for the field, checking whether the closed captioning data can be ignored if the next closed captioning data is not available for the field, dropping the closed captioning data if the closed captioning data can be ignored, checking whether there is room for an additional closed captioning data buffer if the closed captioning data cannot be ignored, saving the closed captioning data to the additional closed captioning data buffer if the there is room for the additional closed captioning data buffer, and dropping the closed captioning data if there is no room for the additional closed captioning data buffer. |
| US08004606B2 |
Original scan line detection
A technique for detecting original scan lines is disclosed. The technique involves receiving a deinterlaced signal with even scan lines and odd scan lines. After the deinterlaced signal is received, a determination is made as to whether the even scan lines or the odd scan lines are the original scan lines. In certain embodiments, an interlaced signal can be generated from the original scan lines. In other embodiments, an optimized deinterlaced signal can be generated using the original scan lines. |
| US08004602B2 |
Image sensor structure and integrated lens module thereof
An image sensor structure and an integrated lens module thereof are provided. In the image sensor structure with the integrated lens module, the image sensor structure comprises a chip and a lens module. The chip has light-sensing elements, first conducting pads, and a conducting channel. The light-sensing elements are electrically connected to the first conducting pads and the first conducting pads are electrically connected to one end of the conducting channel passing through the chip. The lens module comprises a holder and at least one lens. The holder has a through hole and the lens is embedded in the through hole and integrated with the holder. By using the integrated lens and holder, a manufacturing process of the image sensor structure is simplified and a manufacturing cost of the image sensor structure is reduced. |
| US08004598B2 |
Focus adjustment apparatus and image capturing apparatus
A focus adjustment apparatus or an image capturing apparatus is provided with a system controller. The system controller calculates a correlation value between an image in a focus detection area when a focusing lens is located at a lens position apart by a predetermined distance from a lens position where a focus evaluation value reaches a peak value, to a close end side, and an image in a focus detection area when a focusing lens is located at a lens position apart by a predetermined distance from a lens position where a focus evaluation value reaches a peak value, to an infinity side, and determines a lens position corresponding to a peak value to be a focused lens position, when a correlation value calculated by the correlation value calculation unit is over a predetermined value. |
| US08004597B2 |
Focusing control apparatus and method
The invention discloses a focusing control apparatus applied in an image recording system. The focusing control apparatus of the invention includes an evaluating unit and a control module. The evaluating unit can generate a plurality of focus values in accordance with an image sensed by a sensor. Furthermore, the control module can calculate a weight focus value in accordance with the focus values, and selectively generates a control signal based on the weight focus value and a depth of focus table, so as to control the movement of a lens. |
| US08004596B2 |
Apparatus for processing a digital image to automatically select a best image from a plurality of images and method of controlling the apparatus
An apparatus and appertaining method for controlling the apparatus are provided for processing a digital image, which can capture an image with reduced hand shake effect without using a hand shake sensor. The apparatus includes: an image input unit receiving a plurality of input images from the outside; and a control unit receiving the plurality of input images when a shutter-release button select signal is input from the outside, selecting a clearest image from among the input images as a best image, and capturing the best image. |
| US08004594B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for controlling display of moving and still images
A display control apparatus includes a list-image-display control unit that executes control for displaying a unit moving image list image formed by arranging at least representative images corresponding to respective unit moving image data in a predetermined unit, a representative-image-display control unit that arranges, concerning representative images that should be designated as moving images among the representative images, a moving image obtained by reproducing unit moving image data corresponding thereto on the unit moving image list screen and arranges, concerning the representative images other than the representative images designated as the moving image, a still image represented by a unit moving image corresponding thereto on the unit moving image list image, and a moving-image-change control unit that sequentially changes the representative images designated as a moving image in accordance with a predetermined change rule and change timing. |
| US08004593B2 |
Digital image apparatus and digital image system including transmission history information
A digital image apparatus includes: a storage unit in which digital image information is stored; a display unit that displays the digital image information stored in the storage unit; a setting unit that sets a recipient of the digital image information; and a communication unit that transmits the digital image information stored in the storage unit to a recipient set through the setting unit, and further includes: an updating unit that updates transmission history information including recipient information indicating a recipient of the digital image information each time the digital image information is transmitted by the communication unit and stores the updated transmission history information into the storage unit in correspondence to the digital image information, and when the digital image information stored in the storage unit is displayed, the display unit also displays transmission history information pertaining to the digital image information in correspondence to the digital image information. |
| US08004589B2 |
Solid state imaging device
A signal charge transfer channel region includes a first polysilicon gate electrode as a storage electrode for storing signal charges and a second polysilicon gate electrode as a barrier electrode for transferring the signal charges stored under the first polysilicon gate electrode to under the first polysilicon gate electrode adjacent to the first polysilicon gate electrode. The both end portions of the plurality of first and second polysilicon gate electrodes are alternately arranged perpendicularly to a transfer direction of signal charges and central portions thereof are alternately arranged obliquely to a transfer direction of signal charges. |
| US08004588B2 |
Image processing procedure for receiving mosaic image data and calculating vertical and horizontal-direction color difference components for each pixel
An image processing procedure receives mosaic image data and calculates vertical and horizontal-direction color difference components for each pixel. The image processing procedure subsequently selects an R pixel or a B pixel from the mosaic image data, and compares a variation of the vertical-direction color difference component with a variation of the horizontal-direction color difference component with regard to each of at least the selected pixels to detect edge directions of the at least selected pixels. The edge directions thus obtained are collected in an edge direction map, and then the edge directions are compared with the surrounding edge directions to remove edge noise in advance. The image processing procedure refers to the detected edge directions, and interpolates a missing color component in each pixel of the mosaic image data with the settings of one color component in each pixel in the mosaic image data. |
| US08004583B2 |
Image pickup apparatus for use with a construction table
Disclosed herein is an image pickup apparatus capable of being used for preview image pickup of a predetermined scene prior to actual image pickup of the scene, including: an image pickup section configured to carry out the preview image pickup using setting data regarding image pickup; a transmission section configured to transmit image data obtained by the preview image pickup by the image pickup section and preview setting data used in the preview image pickup to an information processing apparatus which determines actual recommendation setting data recommended as actual setting data to be used in the actual image pickup; and an acquisition section configured to acquire the actual recommendation setting data determined based on the preview setting data by the information processing apparatus from the information processing apparatus. |
| US08004580B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing images of mobile terminal
An apparatus for managing images of a mobile terminal includes: a storage unit for storing a plurality of images; and a control unit for creating a script for a particular image according to a user instruction, and linking a second image stored in the storage unit or in an external device to the created script. The images stored in the mobile terminal are not simply kept in arranged data but an interconnection (scenario type configuration) is set among the images to allow a user to variably use the images. In addition, because the images have a logical relationship with each other, user convenience can be enhanced in managing numerous digital images. |
| US08004578B2 |
Automatic flicker detection and correction apparatus and method in a video capture device
To automatically detect and correct flickers in a video capture device, a frame number generator receives a plurality of frames and generates frame numbers. A storage device stores brightness values of partial pixels of a frame numbered 1. An extractor extracts brightness values of partial pixels of a frame numbered N. A difference summation device computes differences of the brightness values of the partial pixels of the frames numbered 1 and numbered N and sums up the differences to generate a brightness difference summation signal. A flicker detector detects a banding value in the brightness difference summation signal. A flicker corrector uses the banding value and the frame numbers to find a fixed frequency flicker effect in the frames, and generates a flicker correction signal when the fixed frequency flicker effect in the frames is found. |
| US08004576B2 |
Histogram methods and systems for object recognition
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications. |
| US08004572B2 |
System for transmitting a video stream over a computer network to a remote receiver
A method of and system for transmitting video images preferably allows a specially trained individual to remotely supervise, instruct, and observe administration of medical tests conducted at remote locations. This system preferably includes a source device, a transmitting device, and at least one remote receiving device. The transmitting device, and the remote receiving device communicate over a network such as any appropriate data network. The transmitting device transmits the video images to the remote receiving device either for live display from the source device or for pre-recorded display from a video recorder device. The remote receiving device is also capable of communicating with the transmitting device while simultaneously receiving video images to provide remote control. The source device is preferably a medical test device such as an ultrasound, a sonogram, an echocardiogram, an angioplastigram, and the like. The transmitting device captures the video images in real-time from the source device and compresses these video images utilizing a compression method prior to transmitting data representing the video images to the remote receiving device. The compressor and compression method preferably utilize data structures comprising line number data structures and the repeat data structures. Remote users utilizing the remote receiving devices are capable of viewing a live stream of video and remotely controlling a number of parameters relating to the source device and the transmitting device. Such parameters include compression method, image quality, storage of the video images on the transmitting device, manipulating and controlling the source device, and the like. |
| US08004569B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining still image frame with anti-vibration clearness for image processing device
A method for obtaining a still image frame with anti-vibration clearness includes the following steps. Multiple raw image frames are captured during a capturing period according to a capturing instruction. The raw image frames are compressed respectively, according to a predetermined compression rule, into multiple compressed image frames each of which has a data length after such compression. The compressed image frames are stored according to a predetermined sequence. The data lengths of the compressed image frames stored are compared according to the predetermined sequence. The desired still image frame is obtained through the compressed image frame of which the data length has a unique feature among all the compressed image frames. |
| US08004568B2 |
Image pick-up apparatus
In an image pick-up apparatus of the invention, when capturing is started, a chapter formation-commanding portion transfers a chapter table to a memory. When a user depresses a chapter formation button, a chapter is formed in an empty table of the chapter table. After completion of the capturing, the chapter formation-commanding portion transfers the chapter table stored in the memory to a storage portion. By performing the operation described above, a chapter can be formed in an arbitrary time position. |
| US08004566B2 |
Self calibration of white balance for a digital camera device using correlated color temperature data
This disclosure describes automatic self-calibration techniques for digital camera devices. In one aspect, a method for performing a calibration procedure in a digital camera device comprises initiating the calibration procedure when a camera sensor of the digital camera device is operating, accumulating data for the calibration procedure, the data comprising one or more averages of correlated color temperature (CCT) associated with information captured by the camera sensor, calculating one or more CCT vectors based on the one or more averages of CCT, and generating gray point correction factors based on the one or more CCT vectors. |
| US08004559B2 |
Apparatus for measuring three dimensional shape
An apparatus for measuring a 3-dimensional (3D) shape which can remove a shadow, which may occur when measuring the 3D shape, and also can measure a reflected light from an external surface of a test object, is provided. The apparatus for measuring a 3D shape includes a projection part 10 generating a light, an image formation part 20 sensing the light, a prism part 30 being provided between the projection part 10 and the viewing part 20, and a first mirror part 40 and a second mirror part 50 being provided in both ends of the prism part 30. Also, the prism part 30 selectively transmits the light generated from the projection part 10 to the first mirror part 40 and the second mirror part 50 to be directed towards an external surface of a test object 1. When the light reflected from the external surface of the test object 1 is selectively transmitted to the first mirror part 40 and the second mirror part 50 and thereby reflected, the prism part 30 transmits the reflected light to the viewing part 20. |
| US08004557B2 |
Advanced dynamic stitching method for multi-lens camera system
An advanced dynamic stitching method for multi-lens camera system is disclosed. This invention aims to address the parallax phenomenon which exists in a multi-lens camera system. Stitching points vary with the object distance. In a video stitching system, a fast search engine to update the stitching points dynamically is needed. This invention provides an advanced method to reduce the high computation power required for the traditional block matching method of finding stitching points. As a result, the stitching points can be adjusted dynamically with the method of this invention. |
| US08004554B2 |
Plastic optical element, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus using the optical scanning device
A plastic optical element for guiding a scanned light beam in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, which is prepared by a molding method using a die. The element includes: a main body including at least two optically functional surfaces, which are transfer surfaces formed by contacted with transfer surfaces of the die and through which the light beam passes; and at least two ribs located on surfaces of the main body other than the optically functional surfaces and extending in parallel in the main scanning direction. A recessed portion is present on a surface of at least one of the ribs, and the recessed portion has a side transfer surface and a bottom surface, which is a non-transfer surface, and the distance between the optically functional surfaces is less than the length of the main body in the sub-scanning direction. |
| US08004550B2 |
Light-emitting element head, image forming apparatus and signal supply method
The light-emitting element head includes: a first signal supply unit supplying a first signal for sequentially specifying a plurality of light-emitting elements one by one as a control target for control in common to light-emitting element chips; a second signal supply unit supplying second signals for giving an instruction to emit or not to emit light to one of the elements specified as the control target to a set of light-emitting element chips so that each of the signals is supplied in common to plural light-emitting element chips belonging to each of N groups into which the set of chips are divided; and an enable signal supply unit that supplies enable signals for allowing the set of chips to receive the second signals which are different from one another so that the enable signals are supplied respectively to the chips belonging to each of the N groups. |
| US08004545B2 |
Display apparatus with arrangement to decrease quantity of backlight and increase transmittance of the display panel
A display apparatus is arranged to have pixels, each of which has a RGBW (Red, Green, Blue and White) wavelength distribution characteristic, located two-dimensionally. The display apparatus includes an input unit for inputting a signal for controlling a using ratio of a W signal, a color signal converting unit for calculating a RGBW driving signal from a RGB input signal and the W using ratio. The RGBW signal is calculated so as to control the contribution of the W signal to the image quality. The display apparatus switches the display from the contrast-highlighted display in a relatively bright lighting condition to the color-reproducibility-highlighted display in a relatively gloomy lighting condition. |
| US08004542B2 |
Video composition apparatus, video composition method and video composition program
Example video composition systems and methods involve scaling each of multiple input video images with scaling factors to generate a plurality of scaled input video images each corresponding to one of the input video images. The scaled input video images are written into regions in a video storage unit. Video image signals are read out from the video storage unit on the basis of each of multiple video layout information pieces, the video layout information prescribing layout of the input video images when the input video images are composed. A composite video image is generated from the video image signals read out from the video storage unit for every video layout information pieces piece. |
| US08004541B2 |
Structured display system with system defined transitions
A disclosed system (and method) is configured to receive an instruction to transition from a first view to a second view. The first view and the second view include two or more visual elements. The system receives data corresponding to visual elements in the first view and visual elements in the second view. The system groups the visual elements to include visual elements moved out between the first view and the second view, visual elements retained from the first view in the second view, and visual elements moved into the second view. The system retrieves a system defined transition style for rendering the visual elements between the first view and the second view. Using the groupings the system transitions the first view to render the second view through application of the transition style on the groups of visual elements. |
| US08004539B2 |
Systems and methods for improved graphical parameter definition
Systems, methods and computer program code for improved graphical parameter definition may comprise, (i) receiving, by a graphical editing tool, a command associated with a graphical editing operation directed to performing a transformation to a graphical object, wherein the transformation is associated with changing a value of a first parameter of the graphical object, (ii) displaying, by the graphical editing tool, a transformation object associated with the transformation, wherein the transformation object comprises a second parameter comprising a value associated with the transformation, and wherein the value of the first parameter of the graphical object is related to the value of the second parameter, (iii) receiving, by the graphical editing tool, an indication associated with defining the transformation object as a new parameter of the graphical object, and (iv) defining, by the graphical editing tool, the transformation object as the new parameter of the graphical object. |
| US08004537B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program product for color correction
A color correction apparatus includes a correction unit to correct a color of an input pixel having a color included in a specified region of a color space, a correction range selector to select a range with a center in a grayscale to the specified region. With this color correction apparatus, a grayscale can be specified as the target color and only a part of a region in white component direction can be set as the correction range. Thus a desired range of the grayscale can be corrected. |
| US08004528B2 |
Method, systems and computer product for deriving three-dimensional information progressively from a streaming video sequence
A method for deriving three-dimensional information progressively from a streaming video sequence. |
| US08004527B2 |
Self-centering zoom bar graph
A self-centering zoom system includes a display device to indicate a measured quantity, and first and second bar graphs displayed on the display device. The first bar graph displays both a current value and a peak value of the measured quantity. The second bar graph displays an automatically zoomed range generally centered about one of the peak value, the current value, and a point lying between the peak and current values of the measured quantity. |
| US08004524B2 |
Method for displaying 3D structures in 2D projection images
The invention relates to a method for displaying 3D structures in 2D projection images, with which the 3D structures are present as individual volumetric gray scale values, such as are supplied in particular as a result of volumetric scans with a number of sectional planes of medical tomographs, with which changes to the direction of the surface standards of the 3D structures in respect of the observation direction of the 2D projection images are characterized by the changes in the properties of the illustrated 3D structures. Methods of this type are used to display so-called vascular trees or vascular structures from a 3D data record for instance. |
| US08004523B1 |
Translation of register-combiner state into shader microcode
An apparatus and method for translating fixed function state into a shader program. Fixed function state is received and stored and when a new shader program is detected the fixed function state is translated into shader program instructions. Registers specified by the program instructions are allocated for processing in the shader program. The registers may be remapped for more efficient use of the register storage space. |
| US08004519B2 |
Decorating computer generated character with surface-attached features
A computer generated character is decorated with skin-attached features in computer graphics by defining a skin surface of the computer generated character. The skin surface is defined using a set of one or more connected parametric surfaces. Feature locations for the features are placed on the defined skin surface. Guide locations for guides are placed on the defined skin surface. The skin surface is partitioned into a plurality of cells. Each cell has a set of vertices. The set of vertices for each cell is a set of the guide locations. Interpolation weights are determined for the feature locations using the guide locations and the plurality of cells. |
| US08004517B1 |
Methods, apparatus and computer program products that model three-dimensional surface structures
Methods of modeling a three-dimensional surface structure include partitioning three-dimensional object data into regions of a Morse complex and generating a feature skeleton having a plurality of smooth edges and a plurality of vertices separating the regions of the Morse complex. Operations are also performed to thicken the feature skeleton by replacing the plurality of smooth edges with corresponding pairs of curves that locate longitudinal boundaries of transitions between primary regions of the feature skeleton. The thickening operations may also include replacing each of the plurality of vertices with a corresponding loop of edges, using setback-type vertex blends. |
| US08004515B1 |
Stereoscopic vertex shader override
A system and method that produces stereoscopic images modifies a vertex shader program that was intended to produce a single monoscopic image. When executed, the modified vertex shader program generates a first image of a stereoscopic image pair based on a first viewpoint and generates a second image of the stereoscopic image pair based on a second viewpoint. |
| US08004514B2 |
Method and system for updating of displays showing deterministic content
A method and apparatus for displaying image data is disclosed. The method includes receiving one of a plurality of sets of stored image update data to be displayed on a display device, wherein each set corresponds to one image in a sequence of images and wherein the plurality of sets of image update data comprise information identifying pixels that change from a previous image in the sequence of images, wherein the display device comprises an array of bi-stable display elements. The method further includes updating a portion of the display device, the portion containing the pixels identified in the received set of stored image update data. |
| US08004513B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of driving the same
A transistor causes fluctuation in the threshold and mobility due to the factor such as fluctuation of the gate length, the gate width, and the gate insulating film thickness generated by the difference of the manufacturing steps and the substrate to be used. As a result, there is caused fluctuation in the current value supplied to the pixel due to the influence of the characteristic fluctuation of the transistor, resulting in generating streaks in the display image. A light emitting device is provided which reduces influence of characteristics of transistors in a current source circuit constituting a signal line driving circuit until the transistor characteristics do not affect the device and which can display a clear image with no irregularities. A signal line driving circuit of the present invention can prevent streaks in a displayed image and uneven luminance. Also, the present invention makes it possible to form elements of a pixel portion and driving circuit portion from polysilicon on the same substrate integrally. In this way, a display device with reduced size and current consumption is provided as well as electronic equipment using the display device. |
| US08004510B2 |
Control circuit of display device, and display device, and display device and electronic appliance incorporating the same
An object is to realize downsizing and cost reduction of a display device by efficiently using a physical region of a memory in a control circuit of the display device. A structure of a video data storage portion of the control circuit is that provided with a video data storage portion for storing video data of an n-th frame (n is a natural number), a video data storage portion for storing video data of an (n+1)th frame, and a video data storage portion for sharing video data of the n-th frame and the (n+1)th frame among received video data. |
| US08004504B2 |
Reduced capacitance display element
A display element, such as an interferometric modulator, comprises a transparent conductor configured as a first electrode and a movable mirror configured as a second electrode. Advantageously, the partial reflector is positioned between the transparent conductor and the movable mirror. Because the transparent conductor serves as an electrode, the partial reflector does not need to be conductive. Accordingly, a greater range of materials may be used for the partial reflector. In addition, a transparent insulative material, such as a dielectric, may be positioned between the transparent conductor and the partial reflector in order to decrease a capacitance of the display element without changing a gap distance between the partial reflector and the movable mirror. Thus, a capacitance of the display element may be reduced without changing the optical characteristics of the display element. |
| US08004503B2 |
Auto-calibration of a touch screen
Methods and systems are provided for automatically calibrating a pointing device, such as a stylus, with a writing surface, such as a touch screen. In one example, an automated method is implemented to calibrate the writing surface based user inputs attempting to use the computer for functions other than calibration of the writing surface. The user inputs may be, for example, a user selecting a button within a non-calibration software application. The automated method may generate a miscalibration vector based upon where the user input was received and where the user input was expected. In yet another example, a bias field may be generated for the writing surface from the collected user inputs. In yet other examples, a computing device may comprise computer-executable instructions for performing one or methods of calibrating the writing surface. |
| US08004502B2 |
Correcting for ambient light in an optical touch-sensitive device
The correction of an image for ambient light in an optical touch-sensitive device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises integrating a first field of pixels in an image data frame for a different duration of ambient light exposure than a second field of pixels in the image data frame. Intensity data is read from the first field of pixels and the second field of pixels, and an ambient light value is determined for one or more pixels in the image data frame from the intensity data. The ambient light value then is used to adjusting one or more pixels of the data frame for ambient light. |
| US08004501B2 |
Hand-held device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels
A hand-held electronic device is disclosed. The device may comprise a case case having one or more major surfaces; a touch screen disposed on one of the major surfaces, the touch screen; a processor operably coupled to the touch screen; and one or more tactile pixels disposed proximate the touch screen. Each of the tactile pixels includes an actuatable portion coupled to an actuator and a sensor. The actuator and sensor are coupled to the processor. The actuator is configured to actuate in response to instructions from the processor and the sensor is configured to generate signals as inputs to one or more programs executed by the processor when pressure is applied to the actuatable portion. The actuatable portion is actuatable by the actuator between first and second positions. A tactile feel of the actuatable portion is different in the first and second positions. |
| US08004498B1 |
Systems and methods for multipoint temporary anchoring
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for multipoint temporary anchoring are described. One embodiment includes a method having the steps of receiving a first input signal associated with a first area of an object within a graphical workspace, automatically determining that the first input signal is a locking signal, selecting the first area of the object based at least in part on the first input signal, and automatically locking the first area of the object. |
| US08004497B2 |
Two-pin buttons
An apparatus and method for detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device, and recognizing three or more button operations performed by the conductive object using two sensing areas of the sensing device. The sensing device may include first, second, and third sensor elements. The third sensor element may include two electrically isolated portions coupled to the first and second sensor elements. |
| US08004496B2 |
User interface for electronic devices for controlling the displaying of long sorted lists
In a user-interface application, a computing apparatus has a user-interface to assist the user in searching for information from a data array. In an example embodiment according to the present invention, the data array is an ordered list of addresses. In a UI so equipped, the user experiences a particular sequence of events. The user begins at a point on a list of addresses. After the user rotates a jog/shuttle knob, the list rolls down a low rate. As the user rotates the jog/shuttle knob further the scroll accelerates. After a predetermined time or number of items, a helper character is displayed. This character may represent a first letter of a name or a first digit of a telephone number. The UI displays the helper character to the user. The user continues to hold the position of the jog/shuttle knob until a help character, corresponding to his/her desired selection, appears. The user releases the jog/shuttle knob and may step through among a smaller group of data to locate the particular selection by incrementally rotating the knob from the neutral position. |
| US08004493B2 |
Methods and systems for providing sensory information to devices and peripherals
Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In at least certain embodiments, a method for sensing motion and orientation information for a device includes receiving a motion event from at least one sensor located in a device. The method further includes determining an orientation for a display of the device. The method further includes determining whether the device is currently moving. The method further includes determining whether the device moves within an angle with respect to a ground reference for a first time period. The method further includes switching the orientation of the display of the device if the device moves in excess of the angle. |
| US08004488B2 |
Light device including a multi-sensor unit and control method thereof
Provided is a light device. The light device comprises a backlight unit, a multi-sensor unit, a backlight driving unit, and a backlight control unit. The backlight unit comprises light emitting diode devices to provide light. The multi-sensor unit is included in a light emission region of the backlight unit and senses a wavelength and/or intensity of light emitted from the light emitting diode devices and transmits sensed values as feedback. The backlight driving unit supplies driving power to the light emitting diode devices, and the backlight control unit receives the sensed values from the multi-sensor unit to control the light emitting diode devices through the backlight driving unit. |
| US08004482B2 |
Apparatus for driving liquid crystal display device by mixing analog and modulated data voltage
An apparatus and method for driving a liquid crystal display device are disclosed in which the response speed of the liquid crystal can be increased without using a digital memory. The driving apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel with gate lines and data lines arranged perpendicularly to each other, a gate driver that supplies a gate pulse to the gate lines, and a data driver. The data driver samples an input N-bit digital data signal to generate an analog data voltage, generates a modulated data voltage for acceleration of a response speed of the liquid crystal according to an M-bit data value of the sampled digital data signal, mixes the modulated data voltage with the analog data voltage, and supplies the mixed data voltage to the data lines. |
| US08004481B2 |
Display device and electronic device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which a reverse current sufficient enough to insulate a short-circuited point flows and a transistor using amorphous silicon is used is applied. The display device includes a switching transistor that controls an input of a video signal, a driving transistor that controls a current flowing in a forward direction to a light emitting element, and an AC transistor that controls a current flowing in a reverse direction to the light emitting element; and a reverse bias current can be applied to the light emitting element. Furthermore, the above-described transistors are N-channel transistors. |
| US08004473B2 |
Antenna device with an isolating unit
An antenna device includes a pair of antennas and an isolating unit. The antennas have the same operating frequency. The isolating unit is disposed between the antennas, and includes an LC circuit that has a resonant frequency, which is the same as the operating frequency of the antennas, thereby improving isolation between the antennas. |
| US08004469B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device comprising multi-frequency band antenna and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing and a multi-frequency band antenna carried within the housing. The multi-frequency band antenna may include a main loop conductor having a gap therein defining first and second ends of the main loop conductor, a first branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the first end of the main loop conductor and having a second end defining a first feed point, and a second branch conductor having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the main loop conductor and a second end defining a second feed point. The antenna may further include a tuning branch conductor having a first end connected to the main loop conductor between the respective first ends of the first and second branches. |
| US08004467B2 |
Antenna apparatus and electronic apparatus
A disclosed antenna apparatus includes a dielectric flexible base having an element pattern and a ground pattern formed thereon. The dielectric flexible base has a cylindrical shape encompassing an antenna axis. The element pattern and the ground pattern formed on the dielectric flexible base are symmetrically formed with respect to the antenna axis. |
| US08004464B2 |
Multiple object localisation with a network of receivers
A technique is described for determining the correct locations of a plurality of objects by processing signals emitted by a transmitter and reflected by the objects to a plurality of receivers, No angle or elevation information is used. Object-receiver pair time difference of arrival measurements are made to calculate the time difference of arrival between the signals received at each pair of receivers from each object. Hyperbolic localisation is then performed to identify possible locations for each object. Direct-reflected signal time reception measurements are made for each receiver-object pair to calculate the time difference between the reception by the receiver of the direct signal from the transmitter and the signal reflected by the object. The direct-reflected signal time reception measurements are associated with the object-receiver pair time difference of arrival measurements, and the results are used to identify the correct object positions by associating the locations determined by the hyperbolic localisation to the direct-reflected signal time reception measurements. |
| US08004463B2 |
Systems and methods for determining direction-of-arrival
The disclosed system and method for determining direction-of-arrival generally includes an antenna element and a processor. The antenna element may configured to generate a signal in response to an electromagnetic wave. The processor may be process the signal to determine the direction-of-arrival of the electromagnetic wave. Further, the direction-of-arrival may be determined based on an estimate of the direction-of-arrival of at least one of the electric field and the magnetic field of the electromagnetic wave. |
| US08004462B2 |
Distributed orbit modeling and propagation method for a predicted and real-time assisted GPS system
A distributed orbit and propagation method for use in a predicted GPS or GNSS system, which includes a predicted GPS server (PGPS Server), a source of high accuracy orbit predictions (Orbit Server), a global reference network (GRN Server) providing real-time GPS or GNSS assistance data to the PGPS Server, a predicted GPS client (PGPS Client) running on a device equipped with a GPS or AGPS chipset. In response to requests from the PGPS Client, the PGPS Server produces and disseminates an initial seed dataset consisting of current satellite orbit state vectors and orbit propagation model coefficients. This seed dataset enables the PGPS Client to locally predict and propagate satellite orbits to a desired future time. This predictive assistance in turn helps accelerate Time To First Fix (TTFF), optimize position solution calculations and improve the sensitivity of the GPS chip present on, or coupled with, the device. In contrast with other conventional predicted GPS systems that forward large volumes of predicted orbits, synthetic ephemeris or synthetic almanac data, this method optimally reduces data transfer requirements to the client, and enables the client to locally synthesize its own predicted assistance data as needed. This method also supports seamless notification of real-time satellite integrity events and seamless integration of predicted assistance data with industry standard real-time assistance data. |
| US08004457B2 |
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 continuous on-line monitoring of each element in an array antenna comprising the steps of: (i) transmitting known test signals to one or more elements of the array antenna; (ii) monitoring responses of the elements to the test signals; and (iii)comparing the response with expected responses for the elements to determine an operation condition of the elements. |
| US08004453B1 |
Elevation null command generator for monopulse radar airborne missile guidance systems
There is disclosed an elevation null command generator (ENCG) for use in airborne monopulse radar, and a novel missile guidance system made possible by use of the ENGC. The ENCG provides an accurate means of directing the elevation monopulse plane of a radar antenna at a patch of ground defined by a range signal generated within the radar or its associated equipment. It is shown that within the system range can define the elevation angle of concern. The ENCG includes a central range gate centered at the command range and a plurality of pairs of range gates, the two gates of each pair being time spaced before and after the central range gate, and has circuit means for normalizing the output of the range gates to eliminate the bias effects of strong targets adjacent to the monopulse null plane and ground surface intersection. |
| US08004450B2 |
Wireless AV transmitting set
A wireless AV transmitting set includes a remote controller main body having an internal memory device and an external connecting recess for stably holding a digital AV player therein, and a first pair of electric contacts, via which data is transmitted and power is supplied to the remote controller main body and the digital AV player in the connecting recess; a seat having a receiving recess for holding the remote controller main body and a second pair of electric contacts corresponding to the first pair of electric contacts for supplying an external power source to the remote controller main body received in the receiving recess; and a wireless transmitter provided on the remote controller main body for wirelessly transmitting AV data files stored in the digital AV player or the memory device to an external playing device for playing. Therefore, the remote controller main body has expanded functions. |
| US08004448B2 |
Dual DAC structure for charge redistributed ADC
A system for converting an analog signal to a digital codeword having N bit positions that includes a dual DAC structure having a small DAC and a large DAC. At least one comparator is coupled to the small DAC and large DAC. The small DAC performs bit trials to calculate bit positions 1 to M, and the large DAC with performs bit trial calculates bit positions M+1 to N after having been set with bit decisions from the bit trials of the small DAC. |
| US08004445B2 |
Digital calibration type analog-to-digital converter and wireless receiver circuit and wireless transceiver circuit using the same
In a wireless chip receiving the multi-rate data according to the related art, power consumption and a circuit area of an analog-to-digital converter become large. In a digital calibration type analog-to-digital converter including both a reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and a main analog-to-digital conversion unit, when processing the high-sample rate wireless receive signal, both the reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and the main analog-to-digital conversion unit are operated to configure a general digital calibration type analog-to-digital converter, and when processing a low-sample rate wireless receive signal, analog-to-digital conversion is performed by using the reference analog-to-digital conversion unit and operations of the main analog-to-digital conversion unit or the like are stopped to remarkably reduce power consumption. |
| US08004443B2 |
Information readout apparatus and information reproducing method
An information readout apparatus includes analog to digital converting means, equalizing means, interpolating means, maximum likelihood detecting means and PLL means. The analog to digital converting means converts a read signal read out from an optical disc medium, on which data is recorded with run length limited code that the shortest run length is 1, into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal in synchronous with a first clock signal with a frequency which is N/M times of a channel frequency. At this time, N is an integer equal to or more than 2 and M is an integer meeting N/M>0.5. The equalizing means equalizes said digital signal to a previously specified partial response (PR) characteristic in synchronous with said first clock signal signal. The interpolating means converts N input data outputted from said equalizing means into M output data, and outputs output data in synchronous with a second clock signal with a frequency of 1/M times of the channel frequency. The maximum likelihood detecting means converts the output data outputted from said interpolation means into an M-bit detection data, and outputs said detection data in synchronous with said second clock signal signal. The PLL means generates said first clock signal and said second clock signal based on said read signal. |
| US08004434B2 |
RD converter and angle detecting apparatus
An RD converter is disclosed that has a first multiplier multiplying a resolver signal S1 by an output of a SIN ROM; a second multiplier multiplying a resolver signal S2 by an output of a COS ROM; a subtractor subtracting an output of the first multiplier from an output of the second multiplier; a synchronous detecting circuit detecting synchronously an output of the subtractor with reference to an excitation signal; a controller controlling an output angle θ′ to make an output of the synchronous detecting circuit equal to zero; a correction data part outputting a correction angle θc for the output angle θ′; an adder adding the output angle θ′ and the correction angle θc; the SIN ROM producing a sine value of a result from the adder; and the COS ROM producing a cosine value of the result. |
| US08004433B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and transmitter apparatus having the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit (10D) for receiving a parallel data signal and a first clock signal and outputting a serial data signal and a second clock signal, wherein a first clock generation circuit (15) produces a third clock signal obtained by multiplying the first clock signal by X/Y. A second clock generation circuit (11) has a variable transmission characteristic, and produces a fourth clock signal obtained by multiplying the third clock signal by N. A parallel/serial conversion section (12) converts the parallel data signal, which has been converted by a scaler (16), to the serial data signal in synchronism with the fourth clock signal. A frequency divider (13) produces a fifth clock signal obtained by dividing a frequency of the fourth clock signal by N. A selector (14) selectively outputs, as the second clock signal, one of the third and fifth clock signals. |
| US08004432B2 |
Time-of-flight measuring device
A time-of-flight measuring device for performing a hardware-based high-speed data compression process before transferring the data from a signal recorder to a data processor is provided. A time-series digital signal recorded by a signal recorder is converted to a plurality of time-series digital signals by being divided into a bit string including baseline information and a bit string not including the baseline information. Then, the time-series digital signal consisting of a bit string not including the baseline information is compressed by run-length encoding, such as zero length encoding or switched run-length encoding. Subsequently, static Huffman coding is performed on each of the time-series digital signals to reduce the data amount. |
| US08004429B2 |
Data compression/decompression apparatus and method
A data compression/decompression apparatus and method are provided for improving memory utilization. The data compression/decompression apparatus includes a compressor for calculating costs of domain blocks to a range block through forward searching in a search range, for selecting the domain block having the lowest cost to the range block as a reference domain block through backward searching, for generating distance and difference information of the reference domain block, and for encoding the distance and difference information into compressed data of the range block. The data compression/decompression apparatus also includes a decompressor for finding the reference domain block on the basis of the distance and for decoding the compressed data into original data of the range block with reference to the difference information. |
| US08004428B2 |
Display device with recording quality illustration
A display device, having a traffic lane recording, in which lane markings of the recorded traffic lane are shown in the display in such a way that the quality of the traffic lane recording can be discerned. |
| US08004426B2 |
Systems and methods for recording parking space information
A system and method for recording data associated with a parking space. The data may be received a portable electronic device, such as a cell phone. The data may be received from a computer readable medium associated with the parking space, such as a bar code. The data may also be received from a wireless signal associated with the parking space, such as a Bluetooth wireless signal. The data may contain such information as the location of the parking space within the parking area. Other information may be included in the data, such as parking rate information for the parking space. A feature may included wherein the data may be transmitted to a server wherein the data may be stored in a storage device. The system and method may also allow payment for the parking space using the personal electronic device and the server. |
| US08004424B2 |
Driving assist device for vehicle
A driving assist device for a vehicle of the present invention, comprising an object detection device to detect an object to be recognized around the vehicle, an eyes-direction specification device to specify a direction of driver's eyes, and a mark indication device to indicate a specified-shape mark at a specified portion of a windshield that is located in the direction of the driver's eyes specified by the eyes-direction specification device and then to indicate the specified-shape mark in such a manner that the mark overlaps with the object. Accordingly, the driver can be properly made recognize any object in danger even in case the driver's eyes are not directed to such object. |
| US08004423B2 |
Instrumented component for use in an operating environment
An instrumented component (18, 19) for use in various operating environments such as the hot gas path section of a combustion turbine engine (10). The component (18, 19) may have a substrate, a sensor (50, 204, 210) connected with the substrate for sensing a condition of the component (18, 19) within the casing during operation of the combustion turbine (10) and a connector (52, 202) attached to the substrate and in communication with the sensor (50, 204, 210) for routing a data signal from the sensor (50, 204, 210) to a termination location (53). The component (18, 19) may include a wireless telemetry device (54, 202) in communication with the connector (52, 202) for wirelessly transmitting the data signal outside the casing. A transceiver (56) may be located outside the casing for receiving the data signal and transmitting it to a processing module (30) for developing information with respect to a condition of the component (18, 19) or a coating (26) deposited on the component (18, 19). |
| US08004419B2 |
Intrusion detection using a conductive material
Tampering with an assembly that includes an integrated circuit is detected by measuring a change in at least one property of a conductive molding formed over at least a portion of the integrated circuit. For example, the conductive molding can be a mixture of resin with conductive powder and/or fibers. The molding can be formed as a continuous region or as strips of conductive material. Conductive contacts are positioned to provide and receive current through portions of the conductive material. For example, the property of the molding can be an impedance of a portion of the conductive molding. A significant change in the impedance measured through one or more conductive contacts indicates tampering with the assembly. |
| US08004416B2 |
Smoke alarm system
A smoke alarm system having a base and a body. The base is mounted onto and electrically connected to an unswitched electrical box. The body contains conventional smoke alarm circuitry. The base contains a threaded female socket similar to a standard light bulb socket. The body contains a corresponding male threaded connector similar to that on a standard light bulb. The body is thus able to be electrically connected to as well as physically mounted to the base by simply screwing the male threaded connector into the female threaded socket in the same manner as a light bulb is screwed into a light socket. The base is installed on the ceiling with its wires extending into the unswitched electrical box. A metal ring on the bottom shoulder of the base is connected to the smoke alarm interconnect system. On top of the body are two metal spring-loaded tabs which are connected within the smoke alarm to its interconnect system. As the male portion of the unit is screwed into place these metal tabs make connection with the metal shoulder on the female portion of the unit completing the interconnect circuit. A light bulb changing device on a handle may be used to remove and reinstall the units while standing on the floor. |
| US08004415B2 |
Liquid exposure detection
Methods, systems and program products are provided for monitoring an article for fluid exposure. A plurality of liquid sensors is incorporated into an article beneath an outer layer in a furnishing installation. In response to a fluid-detected or no-fluid-detected state, polling the sensors and sometimes other data, a processor component determines fluid exposure, sensor failure and tampering events and stores event data in a memory. Pairs of the sensors are sometimes provided within expected liquid exposure saturation footprint areas. GPS coordinate, weather condition data and structural component positioning data may also be associated with event data. |
| US08004411B2 |
Method for manufacturing radio frequency IC tag and antenna
A wireless IC tag includes an IC chip with a response circuit for receiving a signal sent from an interrogator and transmitting a response signal in response to the received signal, a rectangular antenna connected to the response circuit, a first protective material hard in nature for covering the IC chip, and a second protective material, softer than the first protective material, for covering at least a part of the antenna, and the antenna is formed in a laminated structure of a plurality of flat members different in toughness so as not to fracture even when the antenna is bent by external forces. |
| US08004409B2 |
Wireless personal information carrier having logic for connecting a battery only during data transfers
An information carrier in a preferred embodiment is worn like a dog-tag and carries data such as medical information. The tag operates wirelessly, communicating with a nearby reader which interrogates the tag with a selected combination of RF signal frequencies. Extremely long term battery usage is achieved by connecting the battery in the tag only when the proper combination of RF signals, each at least at a minimum threshold power level, is received at the tag to produce a trigger voltage in activation logic to close a solid state switch. After a sequence of communications between the reader and the tag is then completed to transfer selected data from the memory, the battery is again disconnected to preserve battery energy for very long periods of time. The battery may be slowly recharged by ambient energy using a scavenging antenna array. |
| US08004407B2 |
Radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods
The present invention provides radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods. A radio frequency identification device according to one aspect includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; and indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. |
| US08004401B2 |
System and method to manage movement of assets
An embodiment of a system to manage movement of at least one asset is provided. The system includes at least one tracking element operable to generate a signal representative of a location of the asset, and a controller in communication with the tracking element. The controller includes computer readable program instructions representative of the steps of receiving the signal representative of the location of the asset having a unique identifier; identifying a status indicator for the asset having the unique identifier; comparing a change in the location of the asset in view of the status indicator relative to a predetermined location change rule of an invalid movement of the at least one asset from one state to another without passing through a CLEANING state; and generating a signal representative of the invalid change in the location in response to an output of the comparing step for illustration on a display. |
| US08004399B2 |
Life safety device with integrated Wi-Fi and GPS capability
This invention relates to a central security and alarm system that provides an ability to respond to an emergency signal sent from a personal life safety device to a system central monitoring location using Wi-Fi, where the emergency signal include GPS coordinates of a location of the personal life safety device so that emergency responders can be sent to investigate and/or respond to the emergency. The system includes at least a personal life safety device including GPS and Wi-Fi capability, and an ability to respond to a user input to generate and transmit an emergency signal and a central monitoring station constructed to receive and respond to the emergency signal by identifying the user GPS coordinates, and initiate a response by emergency responders. |
| US08004398B2 |
Assistive communication device
A patient-caregiver communications system includes a plurality of patient communications modules with which respective patients may communicate with a caregiver, and a caregiver alert device having a plurality of caregiver displays corresponding to the plurality of patient communications modules, for displaying status of communication with each of the plurality of patient communications modules. Each of the plurality of caregiver displays has a plurality of status indicators indicating when a message has arrived from one of the patient communications modules and at least one of (1) whether a caregiver has been notified of the message, (2) whether the caregiver has acknowledged the notification, and (3) whether the caregiver has responded to the message. The caregiver alert device may be portable, or may be a caregivers' station console. |
| US08004397B2 |
Receiving information pertaining to a construction project
A mountable reporting source comprising a controller coupled with an interrogating component configured for automatically receiving an identifier which is unique to an asset. A position determining component coupled with the controller is configured for determining a geographic location of the mountable reporting source. A merge asset information enabling communications component is coupled with the controller and is configured for transmitting a message conveying the identifier, the geographic location and a first portion of information about the asset. The mountable reporting source is associated with the asset based on the characteristics of the asset and the objectives of the construction project. An asset management system is enabled to merge the first portion of information about the asset reported by the mountable reporting source with a second portion of information about the asset reported by another reporting source. |
| US08004390B2 |
Horn device having a plural power supply
An electromechanical horn is configured with a body, a sound-generating unit mounted in the body, and a plurality of power source receiving regions for storing at least one removably mounted power source in a storage manner while containing a second power source in an operative manner thereby limiting discontinuity of the operation of the sound-generating unit. |
| US08004389B1 |
Relaying key code signals through a remote control device
Upon receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, a key code generator device identifies a codeset usable to communicate with a selected consumer device. The keystroke indicator signal contains an indication of a pressed key, which corresponds to a function of the selected consumer device. Using the identified codeset and the key indication, the key code generator device generates a key code and modulates that key code onto a radio frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a first key code signal. The remote control device receives the first key code signal from the key code generator device and modulates the key code onto an infrared frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a second key code signal. The remote control device relays the key code to the selected consumer device in the second key code signal. The key code causes the selected consumer device to perform the desired function. |
| US08004388B2 |
Power line communication apparatus and method for operating the same
Herein disclosed a power line communication apparatus which may be assigned a band window and a communication band in alternate and cyclical fashion, the band window being one to which a coexistence signal for band reservation is assignable, the communication band being one to which desired information is assignable, the power line communication apparatus may include a reception processor; a coexistence signal detector; a coexistence signal generator; a transmission processor; and a controller. |
| US08004385B2 |
Electrical protective device
An electrical protective device is described which has two PTC thermistor components which are in the form of plates and are arranged in a common housing. The housing in each case has an opening on two opposite sides, which opening corresponds to the dimensions of the PTC thermistor components such that the PTC thermistor components can be inserted into the housing through the openings. The two PTC thermistor components are electrically isolated from one another in the housing. The PTC thermistor components each have at least two connecting wires, by means of which the PTC thermistor components are locked to the housing. |
| US08004380B2 |
Transformer
A transformer 10 has a first core CR1, a second core CR2, a first transformer primary winding W1, a coil 45, a coil 46 and a coil 47. The second core CR2 is integrally formed with the first core CR1. The first transformer primary winding W1 is wound onto the first core CR1. The coil 45 is wound onto the first core CR1 and forms a transformer T1 together with the first transformer primary winding W1. The coil 46 is wound around the first core CR1 and forms a transformer T2 together with the first transformer primary winding W1. The coil 47 is connected to the coil 45 and coil 46 and forms an output coil using the second core CR2 as a magnetic core. |
| US08004375B2 |
Resonator and bandpass filter having overlay electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure, and method of manufacturing the resonator
Provided is an Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) structure, particularly, a resonator and a bandpass filter having an overlay EBG structure, and a method of manufacturing the resonator. The resonator is manufactured by forming a transmission line and ground plates on a substrate, arranging a plurality of reflector units at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the transmission line, and removing at least one reflector among the plurality of reflectors, thus forming a common resonating mode. Therefore, since reflector units constructing capacitance components are separated from a substrate, it is possible to prevent electromagnetic waves from leaking out of the substrate and ensure a high Q characteristic in a high frequency environment due to a resonating unit formed between the reflector units. |
| US08004374B2 |
Increased anisotropy induced by direct ion etch for telecommunications/electronics devices
A microwave bandstop filter having a magnetic strip formed over dielectric material. The magnetic resonant frequency is controlled by an induced magnetic anisotropy in the magnetic strip of the microwave bandstop filter. The magnetic anisotropy field is induced by an anisotropic surface texture formed on the surface of the magnetic strip itself, or formed on an underlying layer. Alternatively, the anisotropic surface texture could be formed on both an underlying layer and on the magnetic strip itself. This induced magnetic anisotropy field allows the resonant frequency of the microwave filter to be controlled over a wide frequency range and make high frequency operation possible without reliance on the application of an externally applied magnetic field. |
| US08004372B2 |
MEMS resonator devices with a plurality of mass elements formed thereon
The invention relates to MEMS devices. In one embodiment, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device comprises a resonator element having a circumference, an anchor region, and a plurality of beam elements coupling the anchor region and the resonator element. Further embodiments comprise additional devices, systems and methods. |
| US08004371B2 |
Band reject filters
Distributed band reject filters are disclosed. A first radio frequency band reject filter is disclosed having a splitter having a first input port, a first output port and a second output port, the splitter being operable on an input signal applied to the first input port to provide a respective output signal proportional to the input signal at each of the first and second output ports, the output signals having a phase shift between 45 degrees and 135 degree with respect to the input signal, as well as first, second and third acoustic resonators coupled respectively to the first input port, the first output port and the second output port. A second radio frequency band reject filter is disclosed having a combiner having a first input port, a second input port and a first output port, the combiner being operable on an input signals applied to the first input port and the second input port to provide a respective output signal proportional to the input signals at the first output port, the output signal having a phase shift between 45 degrees and 135 degree with respect to the input signals, as well as first, second and third acoustic resonators coupled respectively to the first input port, the second input port and the first output port. Also disclosed are amplifiers that comprise such radio frequency band reject filters. |
| US08004370B2 |
Surface acoustic wave element, surface acoustic wave apparatus, and communication apparatus
The invention provides a surface acoustic wave element having improved heat dissipation and power durability. These characteristics are achieved by configuring the SAW such that either of an input or ground electrode is disposed between serial arm portions of the SAW comprising resonators. |
| US08004368B2 |
Radio frequency amplifier with digital amplitude modulation and method for controlling the delivering of power
A digital amplitude modulator. The digital amplitude modulator is configured to modulate the amplitude of an input carrier signal based on input digital data and generate a corresponding output signal. The digital amplitude modulator includes a first variable gain amplifier for receiving the input carrier signal and generating a corresponding first amplified carrier signal, a second variable gain amplifier for receiving the input digital data and generating corresponding digital amplitude control data and a plurality of selectively activatable amplifier stages. Each amplifier stage receives a replica of the first amplified carrier signal and generates a corresponding second amplified carrier signal when activated. The output signal corresponds to a combination of the second amplified carrier signals generated by the activated amplifier stages. |
| US08004364B2 |
High power RF solid state power amplifier system
A high power, high frequency, solid state power amplifier system includes a plurality of input multiple port splitters for receiving a high-frequency input and for dividing the input into a plurality of outputs and a plurality of solid state amplifier units. Each amplifier unit includes a plurality of amplifiers, and each amplifier is individually connected to one of the outputs of multiport splitters and produces a corresponding amplified output. A plurality of multiport combiners combine the amplified outputs of the amplifiers of each of the amplifier units to a combined output. Automatic level control protection circuitry protects the amplifiers and maintains a substantial constant amplifier power output. |
| US08004362B2 |
Gate bias circuit
Multiple unit transistors each having the same gate length are arranged in a gate-lengthwise direction to form a group of unit transistors. At least one unit transistor included in the group of unit transistors is used as a part of a gate bias circuit and acts as unit transistor (102) that is used for the bias circuit, and all of or part of the other unit transistors are connected in parallel and used as amplifier (101). |
| US08004357B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling high power amplifier in communication system
An apparatus and method for controlling a high power amplifier in a communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a Radio Frequency (RF) power detection unit for detecting an intensity of an RF input signal, a high power amplifier controller for determining a control signal, which indicates a voltage value of a drain bias to be provided to at least one drain node from among drain nodes of a drive amplifier and a main amplifier included in the high power amplifier, according to the detected intensity, a Direct Current (DC) voltage supplying unit for generating a DC voltage corresponding to the determined control signal, a drain bias connection unit for providing the generated DC voltage to said at least one drain node from among the drain nodes of the drive amplifier and the main amplifier, and the drive amplifier and the main amplifier for amplifying the RF input signal according to the provided DC voltage. |
| US08004355B2 |
Low dissipation amplifier
A low dissipation, low distortion amplifier includes a driver amplifier stage and a main output stage, with a plurality of impedance networks providing, among other things, feedback paths from outputs of the driver and main output stages to the input of the driver stage. The impedance networks also provide coupling paths from the outputs of the driver and main output stages to the load. The impedance networks can all be formed of resistors, capacitors, or network combinations thereof. An additional feedback path can be added from the load to the driver stage to flatten out the frequency response at low frequencies. The driver and main output stages may be operated in Class AB and B modes respectively, and/or in Class G or H modes. An intermediate amplifier driver stage may be added between the driver and main output stages. |
| US08004354B1 |
Automatic level control
Some embodiments regard a circuit comprising: a high voltage transistor providing a resistance; an amplifier configured to receive a current and to convert the current to a first voltage that is used in a loop creating the current; and an automatic level control circuit that, based on an AC amplitude of the first voltage, adjusts a second voltage at a gate of the high voltage transistor and thereby adjusts the resistance and the first voltage; wherein the automatic level control circuit is configured to adjust the first voltage toward the first reference voltage if the first voltage differs from a first reference voltage. |
| US08004353B2 |
Circuit
A circuit and an adjusting method with a differential amplifier and with a control circuit, wherein the differential amplifier has a first amplifier transistor which for amplifying an input signal of the differential amplifier is connected in a first branch of the differential amplifier, wherein the differential amplifier has a second amplifier transistor which for amplifying the input signal of the differential amplifier is connected in a second branch of the differential amplifier, wherein the differential amplifier has at least one first series connection with a first transistor and a first semiconductor switch, the amplifier being connected parallel to the first amplifier transistor, wherein the differential amplifier has at least one second series connection with a second transistor and a second semiconductor switch, the amplifier being connected in parallel to the second amplifier transistor, and wherein the control circuit is connected to the switch inputs of the semiconductor switches to control the switching states of the semiconductor switches. |
| US08004350B2 |
Impedance transformation with transistor circuits
An impedance transformation circuit utilizes two transistor circuits. |
| US08004346B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus and electronic apparatus
Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus and electronic apparatus having a leakage current detection circuit where arbitrarily set leakage current detection ratio does not depend on power supply voltage, temperature, or manufacturing variations, and where leakage current detection is straightforward. Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus extracts a stable potential from the center of two NchMIS transistors, amplifies drain current of an NchMOS transistor taking this potential as a gate potential to a current value of an arbitrary ratio using current mirror circuit, makes this current value flow through NchMOS transistor with the gate and drain connected, and applies drain potential of this NchMOS transistor to the gate of leakage current detection NchMOS transistor. |
| US08004339B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for a level shifter with reduced shoot-through current
A level-shifting circuit with reduced shoot-through current includes an output circuit comprising high-voltage devices with a pull-up circuit configured for pulling up a voltage on an output signal to a high voltage responsive to a high-side control signal. The output circuit may also include a pull-down circuit configured for pulling down the voltage on the output signal to a low voltage in responsive to a low-side control signal. The level-shifting circuit can also include a high-side inverting buffer operably coupled between an edge-controlled signal and the high-side control signal, and a low-side buffer configured for driving the low-side control signal responsive to an input signal. The level-shifting circuit may also include an edge-control buffer operably coupled between the input signal and the high-side inverting buffer and configured to generate the edge-controlled signal with a slow rise time relative to a fall time. |
| US08004335B2 |
Phase interpolator system and associated methods
A phase interpolator system is disclosed that may include a clock to provide a clock signal, and a control section in communication with the clock to regulate the strength of the clock signal. The system may also include a generator circuit to produce an alternate clock signal based upon the strength of the clock signal received from the control section. |
| US08004334B2 |
Data latch circuit and electronic device
The data latch circuit of the invention includes a means for short-circuiting an input terminal and an output terminal of an inverter and by connecting the input terminal to one electrode of a capacitor and sampling a data signal or a reference potential to the other electrode of the capacitor, an accurate operation can be obtained without being influenced by variations in the TFT characteristics even when the amplitude of an input signal is small relatively to the width of a power supply voltage. |
| US08004333B2 |
Power management and control apparatus for resetting a latched protection in a power supply unit
A controller which has functions of remote control, multiple protection and PWM inside. The controller can shut down and latch the converter, when a failure happens (such as under voltage and over voltage of output, and over power protection). But, under-voltage and over-power protection will also happen when Vin is decreased by AC interruption or Vin source is removed. This invention is to provide a method to reset the latch protection by detecting Vin and Vo voltage. |
| US08004329B1 |
Hardware performance monitor (HPM) with variable resolution for adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) systems
An apparatus includes a delay line having multiple delay cells coupled in series. The delay line is configured to receive an input signal and to propagate the input signal through the delay cells. The apparatus also includes multiple sampling circuits configured to sample the input signal at different taps in the delay line and to output sampled values. The delay line has (i) a finer resolution closer to a target tap and (ii) a coarser resolution farther away from the target tap on each side of the target tap. For example, taps nearer the target tap can be closer to each other in order to support the finer resolution, and taps farther from the target tap can be farther apart from each other in order to support the coarser resolution. The apparatus can further include an encoder configured to encode the sampled values in order to generate an encoded value. |
| US08004326B2 |
Digital charge pump PLL architecture
A digital phase lock loop (PLL) circuit having a digital charge pump circuit for providing digital signals corresponding to a difference in phase between an internal clock corresponding to a voltage controlled oscillator, and a reference clock. These digital signals are processed by a digital processing circuit for providing digital control signals. Some of the digital control signals are converted into an analog control signal to provide fine control of the voltage controlled oscillator, while the remaining digital control signals provide coarse control of the voltage controlled oscillator. |
| US08004325B2 |
Semiconductor device having controlled DLL start-up period
A device in which a clock generation circuit is connected to a counter circuit for controlling operation timing of a DLL circuit or the like, and the counter circuit is intermittently operated by intermittently supplying a clock signal to the counter circuit from the clock generation circuit. |
| US08004323B2 |
PLL control circuit
A PLL control circuit, which outputs a PLL clock in response to a reference clock, is provided with a frequency adjustment circuit which performs frequency adjustment such that the PLL clock frequency is substantially constant even when the reference clock varies. The frequency adjustment circuit changes a set value in a counter, which determines the PLL clock frequency, in accordance with the variation in the reference clock frequency. |
| US08004321B2 |
Method of implementing power-on-reset in power switches
A power switch circuit and method is provided for having the capability of (1) a power switch circuit having a POR in which the switch is enabled at a predetermined voltage such that the switch is unable to be activated when a minimum lower input voltage is not achieved, to avoid potential conflicts in synchronization and resets with other integrated circuits or chips of an affected system; (2) a POR designed with a delay circuit providing for coordinated stabilization of the power switch before each ON-OFF transition period; (3) using a controlled peaking current in the POR circuit to provide precise RC delay to avoid instability during transition; and (4) a POR providing an externally controlled voltage to power-up other components in the system when energizing of the first component occurs satisfactorily. |
| US08004320B2 |
Frequency synthesizer, frequency prescaler thereof, and frequency synthesizing method thereof
A frequency synthesizer is provided, including a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency prescaler, a divide-by-2.5 circuit, and a selector. The VCO determine the frequency of a first signal according to an input voltage. The frequency prescaler determines the frequency of a second signal to be the frequency of the first signal divided by 3, 3.5, or 4 according to a first selection signal, and the frequency prescaler also determines the frequency of a third signal to be the frequency of the first signal divided by 6, 7, or 8 according to the first selection signal. The divide-by-2.5 circuit generates a fourth signal, wherein the frequency of the fourth signal is the frequency of the first signal divided by 2.5. The selector selects one of the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal as a fifth signal according to a second selection signal. |
| US08004316B2 |
Logic circuit and method of logic circuit design
A complementary logic circuit contains a first logic input, a second logic input, a first dedicated logic terminal, a second dedicated logic terminal, a high-voltage terminal configured for connection to a high constant voltage a low-voltage terminal configured for connection to a low constant voltage, a p-type transistor, and an n-type transistor. The p-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection. The n-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection. The first dedicated logic terminal is connected to the outer diffusion connection of the p-type transistor, the second dedicated logic terminal is connected to the outer diffusion connection of the n-type transistor, the inner diffusion connection of the p-type transistor and the inner diffusion connection of the n-type transistor is connected to form a common diffusion logic terminal, the high-voltage terminal is connected to the bulk connection of the p-type transistor, and the low-voltage terminal is connected to the bulk connection of the n-type transistor. |
| US08004315B1 |
Process for making and designing an IC with pattern controlled layout regions
The invention provides a reduced complexity layout style based on applying a limited set of changes to an underlying repeated base template. With the templates properly defined in accordance with the characteristic features disclosed, the invention enables efficient implementation of logic circuitry, with a dramatic reduction in the pattern complexity (or number of unique layout patterns at each mask level) for realistically sized designs. This reduction in pattern complexity that the invention provides is particularly important for advanced and emerging semiconductor processes, because it enables effective use of SMO and full-chip mask optimization. |
| US08004311B2 |
Input/output circuit and integrated circuit apparatus including the same
An input/output circuit includes an I/O node connected to a pull up and pull down circuit having a pull up and pull down transistors. Data is sent and received at through the I/O node. A level shifter provides voltages including a supply voltage and a high voltage higher than the supply voltage. A signal control circuit controls the voltage level applied to the pull up and pull down circuit. During a data input mode, data is received at the I/O node and the pull up transistor is biased at the high voltage to cut off the pull up transistor. During a data output mode, data is output at the I/O node and the pull down transistor pulls down the I/O node to ground when the output data is low, and the pull up transistor is activated when the output data is high. |
| US08004310B1 |
Power supply regulation
Power supply regulation. A power supply regulation system includes a transistor through which power is carried. The system also includes a switch connected to a gate of the transistor. Further, the system includes a transmission gate responsive to an input signal to apply a first signal level causing the transistor to enter an ON state in which the transistor carries full power, to apply a second signal level causing the transistor to enter an OFF state in which the transistor carries no power and to apply a third signal level causing the transistor to enter an INTERMEDIATE state in which the amount of power the transistor carries is controlled by the switch. |
| US08004309B2 |
Programmable logic device structure using third dimensional memory
A Programmable Logic Device (PLD) structure using third dimensional memory is disclosed. The PLD structure includes a switch configured to couple a polarity of a signal (e.g., an input signal applied to an input) to a routing line and a non-volatile register configured to control the switch. The non-volatile register may include a non-volatile memory element, such as a third dimension memory element. The non-volatile memory element may be a two-terminal memory element that retains stored data in the absence of power and stores data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively sensed by applying a read voltage across the two terminals. New data can be written to the two-terminal memory element by applying a write voltage across the two terminals. Logic and other active circuitry can be positioned in a substrate and the non-volatile memory element can be positioned on top of the substrate. |
| US08004308B2 |
Techniques for providing calibrated on-chip termination impedance
Techniques are provided for calibrating on-chip termination impedances on integrated circuits. An on-chip termination (OCT) calibration circuit generates calibration codes that selectively control the conductive states of a set of transistors coupled in parallel. The OCT calibration circuit selects a calibration code that causes the impedance of the transistors to be near a matching impedance. The selected calibration code controls an on-chip termination impedance at a pin. According to some embodiments, the OCT calibration circuit compares a signal from the transistors to two or more reference signals to improve the tolerance range of the calibrated on-chip termination impedance. According to other embodiments, the OCT calibration circuit selects a calibration code based on a signal from the transistors after an extra transistor is turned on by a control signal. The control signal is not used to control the on-chip termination impedance. |
| US08004305B2 |
Electronic circuit for measurement of transistor variability and the like
An electronic circuit includes an output terminal and at least a first measuring FET. The second drain-source terminals of a plurality of FETS to be tested are interconnected with the first drain-source terminal of the first measuring FET and the output terminal. The second drain-source terminal of the first measuring FET is interconnected with a first biasing terminal. The first drain-source terminals of the FETS to be tested are interconnected with a second biasing terminal. A state machine is coupled to the gates of the FETS to be tested and the gate of the first measuring FET. The state machine is configured to energize the gate of the first measuring FET and to sequentially energize the gates of the FETS to be tested, so that an output voltage appears on the output terminal. Circuitry to compare the output voltage to a reference value is also provided. The gate of the first measuring field effect transistor is energized; the gates of the field effect transistors to be tested are sequentially energized, whereby an output voltage appears on the output terminal; and the output voltage is compared to the reference value. |
| US08004300B2 |
Circuit board testing device with self aligning plates
A circuit board tester and method that precisely aligns the probe plate and circuit board is disclosed. With a circuit board and probe plate mounting within a housing having a top and bottom, hinged together, at closure there may be slight misalignments of the two. By making one of the two plates floating, or laterally slideable with respect to each other, it is possible to make final alignment at closure. One of the two plates can be provided with a pin and the other with a pin receiving alignment block. With the lateral sideability, the pin and block can insure proper probe alignment. Additional systems for correcting misaligned pins or blocks are also disclosed. |
| US08004298B2 |
IC with first and second distributors collectors and scan paths
An integrated circuit (70) having parallel scan paths (824-842, 924-942) includes a pair or pairs of scan distributor (800,900) and scan collector (844,944) circuits. The scan paths apply stimulus test data to functional circuits (702) on the integrated circuit and receive response test data from the functional circuits. A scan distributor circuit (800) receives serial test data from a peripheral bond pad (802) and distributes it to each parallel scan path. A scan collector circuit (844) collects test data from the parallel scan paths and applies it to a peripheral bond pad (866). This enables more parallel scan paths of shorter length to connect to the functional circuits. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be respectively connected in series to provide parallel connections to more parallel scan paths. Additionally multiplexer circuits (886,890) can selectively connect pairs of scan distributor and collector circuits together. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be formed in core circuits (704). The core circuits then can be connected to other core circuits and functional circuits with simple connections to the parallel scan circuits through the scan distributor and collector circuits. |
| US08004296B2 |
Probe head apparatus for testing semiconductors
One embodiment is a probe head for contacting microelectronic devices substantially lying in a test plane, the probe head including: (a) one or more substrate tiles having one or more probe tips disposed on a top surface thereof; and (b) a registration-alignment apparatus that holds the one or more substrate tiles: (i) in position so that the one or more probe tips are held in the test plane, and (ii) aligned so that the one or more probe tips are substantially coplanar to the test plane, which registration-alignment apparatus includes: (i) one or more capture elements affixed, directly or indirectly, to a frame; (ii) three or more posts mechanically supporting each of the one or more substrate tiles; and (iii) alignment actuators affixed, directly or indirectly, to the frame and the posts, which alignment actuators may be actuated to enable the posts to move in response to forces applied thereto from the one or more substrate tiles, and may be actuated to prevent the posts from moving. |
| US08004295B2 |
Electrical specific resistivity probing robot
An electrical specific resistivity probing robot is directed to automatically measuring a three-dimensional electrical specific resistivity structure of an underground shallow region by installing a plurality of probing electrodes at regular intervals along a robot-moving caterpillar to measure difference of potentials of the electrodes at a ground plane. The electrical specific resistivity probing robot includes a frame, a driving member installed under the frame, a pair of insulating caterpillars installed to both sides of a lower portion of the frame and driven by the driving member, a plurality of probing electrodes installed along track circumferences of the caterpillars at regular intervals, a slip ring electrically slip-connected to the probing electrodes one by one, and a cable electrically connected to the slip ring. |
| US08004290B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining dielectric layer properties
A method and apparatus for determining dielectric layer properties are disclosed. Dielectric layer properties such as dielectric thickness, dielectric leakage or other electrical information may be determined for a multilayer film stack on a semiconducting or conducting substrate. The film stack may comprise a first dielectric layer between the substrate and an intermediate layer of semiconducting or conducting material, and a second dielectric layer disposed such that the intermediate layer is between the first and second dielectric layers. The dielectric layer properties may be determined by a) depositing electrical charge at one or more localized regions on an exposed surface of the second dielectric layer; b) performing a measurement of an electrical quantity at the one or more localized regions; and c) determining a property of the second dielectric layer from the one or more measurements. |
| US08004284B2 |
Leak detecting circuit
A leak detecting circuit includes: a current path having one end connected to a conductor housing a device supplied with a direct-current voltage from a direct-current power source, and having another end connected to a negative electrode of the direct-current power source; the current path including a limiting resistance for limiting a current, a switch element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode, conduction between the first electrode and the second electrode being controlled, a detecting resistance for detecting a current flowing through the current path, and a variable direct-current power source allowing a plurality of leak detecting reference voltages for detecting a leak to be selected, and having a negative electrode connected to the negative electrode of the direct-current power source; an amplifier for amplifying a voltage across the detecting resistance; and a constant-voltage circuit for making constant a potential difference between a voltage of the control electrode of the switch element and a voltage of a positive electrode of the variable direct-current power source; wherein a leak between the conductor and the direct-current power source is detected on a basis of the voltage across the detecting resistance, the voltage across the detecting resistance being amplified by the amplifier. |
| US08004280B2 |
Arrangement for controlling individual antennas of an antenna arrangement
An arrangement for controlling individual antennas of an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance apparatus has a device for signal division. This device is designed such that each transmission signal present at an input of the device for signal division is divided among all outputs of the device for signal division. Each output of the device for signal division is connected with a respective individual antenna. A number of transmission branches are provided for the inputs of the device for signal division. Each transmission branch has components that form a transmission signal that is modulated specific to the transmission branch and is amplified. Each transmission branch is connected with a respective associated input of the device for signal division, such that the transmission signal therefrom arrives at the associated input. |
| US08004279B2 |
Real-time NMR distribution while drilling
NMR spin echo signals are acquired downhole. Principal Component Analysis is used to represent the signals by a weighted combination of the principal components and these weights are telemetered to the surface. At the surface, the NMR spin echo signals are recovered and inverted to give formation properties. Real-time displays may be used for determining formation properties and for altering the acquisition parameters. |
| US08004277B2 |
Rotary position sensing apparatus
An angular position sensor (100) for determining angular position includes a shaft (105) having a threaded portion (108), and a structure for engaging an external application (119). The shaft (105) includes a first permanent magnet (114). A nut (116) is threaded on the threaded portion (108). The nut (116) is formed from a first magnetic permeable material or includes a second permanent magnet (118). At least one constraint (122) is coupled to the nut (116) for preventing rotational movement of the nut (116) while allowing linear motion of the nut (116). A first magnetic sensor (120) is positioned along a length of the threaded portion (108) of the nut (116) for measuring a linear position of the nut (116). A second magnetic sensor (124) is provided for measuring an angular position of the shaft (105). Signal processing circuitry (130) is coupled to receive outputs from both the first magnetic sensor (120) and second magnetic sensor (124) for calculating a parameter relating to an angular position of the rotatable member. |
| US08004276B2 |
Reference signal generation circuit, angle converter, and angle detection apparatus
A reference signal generation circuit generates a reference signal used in synchronous detection for removing an excitation signal component in an angle calculation section that converts a detection angle θ obtained from two-phase resolver detection signals output from a resolver, to a digital output angle φ. The reference signal generation circuit includes a first multiplier, a second multiplier, and an adder. The first multiplier multiplies one of the resolver detection signals sin θ sin(ωt+Δω) by the sine value sin φ of the digital output angle φ obtained from the angle calculation section. The second multiplier multiplies the other resolver detection signal cos θ sin(ωt+Δω) by the cosine value cos φ of the digital output angle φ obtained from the angle calculation section. The adder adds the output of the first multiplier and the output of the second multiplier to output the sum signal sin(ωt+Δω) as the reference signal. |
| US08004275B2 |
Position sensor arrangement and method
A position sensor arrangement and method for determining the position of a movable device, such as an electronic gear shifter for vehicle. According to one embodiment, the position sensor arrangement is arranged in a skewed or offset fashion, with respect to the shifting pattern of the electronic gear shifter, such that movement of the gear shifter from one discrete position to an adjacent discrete position causes a change in both an x-axis coordinate and a y-axis coordinate. |
| US08004273B1 |
System for simplified correlation of instrumentation probes and data displays
A system for testing a device under test includes a probe that detects a signal from the device under test, a display device that depicts a trace based on the signal, where the trace exhibits an attribute, and an indicator that emits an indication signal based on the attribute. |
| US08004268B2 |
Signal measuring device
An interpolated signal generating circuit (101) generates interpolated signals (SIG1-SIGN) of two consecutive discrete signals (SIG). N measuring circuits (501) measure interpolated signals. Since the interpolated signals are measurement targets, N-times oversampling measurement can also be performed for the discrete signals. With the oversampling measurement, the frequency spectra of the signal components of the discrete signals are maintained, and only the frequency spectrum of a noise component due to a quantization error increases to a high-frequency band, thereby reducing a noise component per unit frequency. Therefore, removing a high-frequency component from a measurement result from each measuring circuit using a low-pass filter (502) makes it possible to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement result as compared with a case in which no oversampling is performed. |
| US08004262B2 |
Method and apparatus to control a power factor correction circuit
A controller for use in a power factor correction (PFC) converter is disclosed. An example controller includes an integrator coupled to receive a voltage sense signal responsive to a magnitude of an ac voltage source. The ac voltage source is coupled to an input of the PFC converter, which is coupled to an energy transfer element, which is coupled to a power switch. The integrator is further coupled to receive a current sense signal responsive to a current flowing in the power switch when the power switch is on. The integrator is to generate an integrator output signal in response to the voltage sense signal and the current sense signal. On/off logic is to be coupled to drive the power switch on and off to control a transfer of energy through the energy transfer element to a load coupled to an output of the PFC converter. The on/off logic is coupled to terminate an on time of the power switch when the integrator output signal reaches a threshold value. A gain of the integrator circuit is adjusted in response to the voltage sense signal such that the threshold value is substantially constant independent of the magnitude of the ac voltage source when a magnitude of the load is constant. |
| US08004258B2 |
Regulation of a current through an inductive load
A current regulator and a method for regulating current are described. |
| US08004257B2 |
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator has a first error amplifier circuit that amplifies a difference between a first reference voltage and a voltage based on an output voltage of an output transistor, and an overcurrent protection circuit that detects an overcurrent flowing through the output transistor and limits a current of the output transistor. The overcurrent protection circuit has an output current detection transistor that feeds a detection current in accordance with an output current of the output transistor, a voltage generation circuit that generates a voltage based on the detection current, a second error amplifier circuit that amplifies a difference between the voltage from the voltage generation circuit and a voltage set by a second reference voltage supplied by a temperature detection circuit and a voltage based on the output voltage, and an output current limiting transistor that controls a gate voltage of the output transistor and has a gate that is controlled by an output of the second error amplifier circuit. |
| US08004256B2 |
Current limiting circuit
A current limiting circuit for a boost converter includes a voltage divider circuit between a main switch which flows a current to an inductor and a comparator included in a current detecting circuit. The voltage divider circuit includes two transistors of the same type as that of the main switch, which are connected in series. One of the two transistors is a sub-switch which is connected between a voltage division point and a drain terminal of the main switch, and is turned on/off in synchronization with the main switch in accordance with an output signal of a control circuit. The other transistor is a detection resistance transistor which is connected between the voltage division point and a source terminal of the main switch, and whose gate terminal is connected to a bias voltage so that the detection resistance transistor is always on. |
| US08004246B2 |
Battery cell monitoring and balancing circuit
A monitoring circuit for accurately monitoring a voltage level from each of a plurality of battery cells of a battery pack includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a processor. The ADC is configured to accept an analog voltage signal from each of the plurality of battery cells and convert each analog voltage signal to a digital signal representative of an accurate voltage level of each battery cell. The processor receives such signals and provides a safety alert signal based on at least one of the signals. The ADC resolution may be adjustable. A balancing circuit provides a balancing signal if at least two of the digital signals indicate a voltage difference between two cells is greater than a battery cell balance threshold. An electronic device including such monitoring and balancing circuits is also provided. Various methods are also provided. |
| US08004244B2 |
Power supply methods and arrangements
In the context of a notebook computer, multiple battery safety measures in the computer, battery pack, and individual battery cells. These battery packs include industry standard safety mechanisms as well as additional safeguards designed to increase safety. The additional safeguards can be categorized in the following ways. The first safeguard deals with multiple, independent levels of battery monitoring. The second safeguard employs abnormal condition detection methods. The third safeguard deals with improvements to mechanical and thermal design. |
| US08004243B2 |
Battery capacity estimating method and apparatus
A method for accurately estimating battery capacity based on a weighting function is provided. The disclosed system monitors battery current and uses the monitored battery current to calculate the state of charge (SOCbyAh) of the battery. The system also measures the open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery when the system is at rest, rest being determined by achieving a current of less than a preset current value for a period of time greater than a preset time period. The state of charge of the battery is calculated from the OCV (SOCbyOCV). The weighting function is based on ΔSOCbyAh and ΔSOCbyOCV, where ΔSOCbyAh is equal to SOCbyAhFirst time minus SOCbyAhSecond time, and where ΔSOCbyOCV is equal to SOCbyOCVFirst time minus SOCbyOCVSecond time. The weighting function also takes into account the errors associated with determining SOCbyAh and SOCbyOCV. |
| US08004242B1 |
System and method for managing distribution of vehicle power in a multiple battery system
A vehicle incorporates a crank battery, a rechargeable auxiliary battery, and an onboard electrical power source separate from the crank battery and the auxiliary battery. A battery charge controller manages a supply of electrical energy to the auxiliary battery to charge the auxiliary battery. The battery charge controller includes a first comparator for monitoring a voltage level of the crank battery, and a second comparator for monitoring a voltage level of the onboard electrical power source. A first switching device electrically couples the crank battery and the auxiliary battery to charge the auxiliary battery when the voltage level of the crank battery exceeds a first voltage threshold, and electrically decouples the crank battery and the auxiliary battery when the voltage level of the crank battery is below the first voltage threshold. A second switching device electrically couples the onboard power source and the auxiliary battery to charge the auxiliary battery when: (i) the voltage level of the crank battery is below the first voltage threshold and (ii) the voltage level of the onboard power source exceeds a second voltage threshold; and electrically decouples the onboard power source and the auxiliary battery when the voltage level of the onboard power source is below the second voltage threshold. |
| US08004234B2 |
Prioritizing power-consuming applications of an electronic device powered by a battery
A power management system comprises a power management module configured to receive a requested duration for powering an electronic device by a battery, the power management module configured to control use of power-consuming elements of the electronic device based on a prioritization of the power-consuming elements to enable powering of the electronic device by the battery for at least the requested duration. |
| US08004232B2 |
Method of battery charging and power control in conjunction with maximum power point tracking
A method of providing power includes providing no power to an output device if the output device cannot or should not use power. If the output device can use power, power is provided to the output device from an input source. If power available at the input source would not overload the output device, power is provided to the output device from the input source according to a maximum power point tracking algorithm. If power available at the input source would overload the output device, power is provided to the output device from the input source according to a target power. |
| US08004230B2 |
Device for controlling a rotary press
A device for controlling a rotary press is provided. The device includes a main evaluation unit which is provided with a main signal inlet, at least a first main signal outlet and a first main transformation device. The device further includes a master generator which is capable of generating a master signal which represents a reference value of the rotary press, and a first interface which is capable of generating a first periodic signal in accordance with the master signal and transmitting this first periodic signal to the main signal inlet. |
| US08004229B2 |
Software center and highly configurable robotic systems for surgery and other uses
Telerobotic, telesurgical, and/or surgical robotic devices, systems, and methods employ surgical robotic linkages that may have more degrees of freedom than an associated surgical end effector n space. A processor can calculate a tool motion that includes pivoting of the tool about an aperture site. Linkages movable along a range of configurations for a given end effector position may be driven toward configurations which inhibit collisions. Refined robotic linkages and method for their use are also provided. |
| US08004227B2 |
Method for operating a rotating electrical machine
A method is specified for operating a rotating electrical machine, in which the rotating electrical machine is connected in terms of phase to a converter circuit, having a DC voltage circuit, for connecting at least two voltage levels, and the phases of the converter circuit are connected to the DC voltage circuit in accordance with a selected switching state combination of switching states for power semiconductor switches in the converter circuit. In order for operation of the rotating electrical machine to be possible in an event, over a number L of sampling times various values are determined, and a switching state combination is set as the selected switching state combination with which a sum of determined values is at its smallest. |
| US08004219B2 |
Operating method and system for hybrid vehicle
A hybrid power plant for efficiently propelling a vehicle is described. In particular, an internal combustion motor and a generator capable of producing electrical energy is mechanically coupled to the internal combustion motor. An electrical motor is powered by the generator and a controller is coupled to the generator, providing control of the rate of electricity provided to the electrical motor by the generator. Here the electrical motor facilitates rotation of a wheel of the vehicle and the internal combustion motor is operated at an idle or near-idle speed to provide sufficient energy to be converted into electrical energy by the generator, thereby enabling the electrical motor to propel the vehicle in excess of sixty miles per hour, without engaging the internal combustion motor to the wheel and without drawing energy from the battery. |
| US08004215B2 |
Lamp abnormality detecting device and inverter, backlight device, and display device which are equipped with the same
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a lamp abnormality detecting device that detects an abnormality in a lamp. A maximum/minimum extraction circuit outputs, as a maximum current, a current having a maximum current value among currents supplied thereto from lamp drive circuits and outputs, as a minimum current, a current having a minimum current value. A subtraction circuit calculates a difference between the maximum current and the minimum current and outputs an amplified difference as a differential voltage. A comparison circuit compares the differential voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage and outputs a result of the comparison as a control signal. A control circuit stops the operation of the lamp drive circuit when the control signal indicates that the differential voltage is higher than the threshold voltage. |
| US08004210B2 |
LED replacement for low voltage lamps
The LED replacement for low voltage lamps has a plurality of LED lights disposed in a housing capped by a multifaceted reflector to provide lighting having comparable lighting characteristics to non-LED sourced low voltage lamps. Power conditioning solid state circuitry is disposed in the housing and provides the LED lights with a regulated excitation voltage source. The power conditioning circuitry has at least one ceramic capacitor in parallel with output leads of a power supply for the lamp. A zener diode pair having anodes connected together is disposed in parallel with the ceramic capacitor. The power conditioning circuitry is disposed in advance of a voltage rectifier and filter bank, whose output is provided to a voltage regulator that provides regulated DC voltage to the LED light sources. Output of the voltage regulator is modulated by thermal protection circuitry that throttles the LEDs off responsive to lamp overheating. |
| US08004209B2 |
Method for color transition for general illumination system
The invention relates to a method of controlling a temporal variation of light emitted by an illumination system. The light emitted by the illumination system varies from light having a start color point (14) to light having a target color point (12). The start and target color point are defined in a first color space (XYZ, RGBvid, RGBill), which is perceptually non-uniform. The method according to the invention converts the start and target color point from the first color space to a second color space (Lab, Lch), which is more uniform to the human visual system than the first color space. The method further comprises a step of generating an intermediate color point (34, I1, I2) located on a transition-path (p, p′) within the second color space, an intermediate distance (d) between the start color point in the second color space and the intermediate color point in the second color space not being larger than a threshold distance (26). The method further comprises converting the intermediate color point from the second color space back to the first color space, and subsequently altering the light emitted by the illumination system (65) from the start color point to the intermediate color point. The invention further relates to an illumination system and a display device. |
| US08004206B2 |
Method and circuit for correcting a difference in light output at opposite ends of a fluorescent lamp array
A method and electrical circuit corrects a difference in light output at opposite ends of a fluorescent lamp array. An electrical circuit for correcting a difference in light output at the ends of a fluorescent lamp array includes a microcontroller and firmware for generating a first pulse-width modulated inverter switch control signal having a first duty cycle that may be varied by computer program instructions executed by the microcontroller. An inverter bridge driver is coupled to the microcontroller for generating a switching signal for a first inverter bridge from the first pulse-width modulated inverter switch control signal to generate a first inverter voltage having a magnitude determined by the first duty cycle. |
| US08004204B2 |
Power circuit and illumination apparatus
A series load circuit is a circuit formed by connecting a light-emitting device unit 851 (the first load circuit) and a light-emitting device unit 852 (the second load circuit) in series. A voltage generating circuit 111 generates voltage to be applied to the series load circuit. A current detecting circuit 112 detects electric current flowing through the light-emitting device unit 851. A controlling circuit 114 controls the voltage generating circuit 111 so that the electric current detected by the current detecting circuit 112 becomes a predetermined current value. |
| US08004203B2 |
Electronic light generating element with power circuit
The present system for driving an electronic light generating element, includes: (i) input terminals, (ii) an input circuit coupled to the input terminals and operable to convert a sinusoidal signal to a signal independent of negative current attributes, (iii) a switch control circuit coupled to the input circuit and operable to generate a switching signal having pulses, and (iv) a switching element coupled to the input circuit and the switch control circuit. The switching element is operable to generate an output signal formed as a series of bursts having peak amplitudes above a maximum forward current rating for a duty cycle less than a maximum operating duty cycle over which an electronic light generating element may be catastrophically damaged in response to the signal independent of negative current attributes and switching being applied to the switching element. The output signal is applied to the electronic light generating element to produce light. |
| US08004201B2 |
LED circuit
A LED circuit is provided. The LED circuit comprises: an inductor, a group of LEDs, a power MOS and a switching circuit. The switching circuit comprises: an error amplifier generating an error output, a PWM, a RC circuit and a control means. The PWM generates a switching signal according to the error output to control the power MOS to charge or discharge the group of LEDs; the RC circuit comprises at least one first capacitor each comprising a switch, at least one second capacitors; and a resistive means connected in series between the first and the second capacitors and the error output. The control means generates a control signal according to the dimming signal to turn on the switches to activate the first capacitors during the active period of the dimming signal and turn off the switches to deactivate the first capacitors during the inactive period of the dimming signal. |
| US08004200B2 |
Element substrate and light emitting device
A light emitting device and an element substrate which are capable of suppressing variations in the luminance intensity of a light emitting element among pixels due to characteristic variations of a driving transistor without suppressing off-current of a switching transistor low and increasing storage capacity of a capacitor. According to the invention, a depletion mode transistor is used as a driving transistor. The gate of the driving transistor is fixed in its potential or connected to the source or drain thereof to operate in a saturation region with a constant current flow. A current controlling transistor which operates in a linear region is connected in series to the driving transistor, and a video signal for transmitting a light emission or non-emission of a pixel is inputted to the gate of the current controlling transistor through a switching transistor. |
| US08004198B2 |
Resetting an electronic ballast in the event of fault
A ballast for driving one or more lamps includes a controller and a current reduction circuit for accelerating a controller reset. Upon detecting a fault, the controller disables the ballast for a preset period of time, and resets. The controller additionally resets when the ratio of a supplied second value to a supplied first value falls below a threshold value. The current reduction circuit reduces the supplied second value in less than the preset period of time, such that the ratio falls below the threshold value and the controller resets. An emergency lighting system includes the ballast as a primary ballast, a backup ballast, and a primary power source. The controller detects a fault if the primary power source de-energizes and the backup ballast disconnects the one or more lamps from the primary ballast. The current reduction circuit accelerates the reset of the controller when the primary power source de-energizes. |
| US08004191B2 |
Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel has discharge cells which each have a range of widths between the first substrate and the second substrate. In addition, the discharge spaces are separated by non-discharge spaces having heights which are less than the heights of the discharge spaces. |
| US08004189B2 |
Organic light-emitting device and display apparatus using the same
Provided is a thin organic light-emitting device which exhibits satisfactory emission characteristics and is hardly affected by film thickness fluctuation in individual layers and exhibits stable emission characteristics and which includes a substrate, a first electrode provided on the substrate, an organic compound layer provided on the first electrode, a second electrode provided on the organic compound layer, and a first sealing layer provided on the light extraction side of the second electrode, in which an optical distance between a first reflective surface located on the substrate side and a second reflective surface located on the sealing layer side is adjusted so as to form a resonance portion of a resonator structure for resonating light emitted from the organic compound layer, and in which the second reflective layer is an interface on the light extraction side of the first sealing layer. |
| US08004187B2 |
Organic electro-luminescence display having an inverted trapeziform patterned separator structure
An organic electro-luminescence display includes an organic electro-luminescence device array, a first passivation layer completely covering organic electro-luminescence device array, and a plurality of color filters disposed on the first passivation layer. The color filters include a plurality of red color filters, green color filters, or blue color filters. The organic electro-luminescence device array includes a white light organic electro-luminescence device array. The type of the organic electro-luminescence device array includes an active matrix array or a passive matrix array. |
| US08004184B2 |
Electro-luminescent display device
The present invention provides an electro-luminescent (EL) display device and a method of fabricating the same. The EL display device includes a substrate including a display region. The display origin may include a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an emission portion interposed therebetween. A seal member may seal at least the display region. A blocking layer interposed between the seal member and the second electrode layer may overlap the display region. |
| US08004181B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting device according to an embodiment comprises: a substrate; a transflective member disposed on the substrate; a phase control member disposed on or under the transflective member; an organic light emitting member disposed on the phase control member; and a common electrode disposed on the organic light emitting member. A changing characteristic according to wavelength of an optical constant of the phase control member is opposite to a changing characteristic according to wavelength of an optical constant of the transflective member. |
| US08004180B2 |
Organic light emitting display and its method of fabrication
An organic light emitting display is divided into a light emitting region and a non-light emitting region, the non-light emitting region of the organic light emitting display including: a first substrate; a first passivation layer and a second passivation layer sequentially arranged on the first substrate and having a step in an undercut shape; and an auxiliary electrode layer, an El common layer, and a second layer sequentially arranged throughout the non-light emitting region including the first and second passivation layers, the auxiliary electrode layer being shorted to the second layer in the step at the slope of the second passivation layer or shorted to the first passivation layer in the undercut shape arranged under the second passivation layer. |
| US08004179B2 |
Switchable lens
A display apparatus has a switchable birefringent lens array. The display apparatus produces a substantially linearly polarised output. The lens array comprises birefringent material arranged between a planar surface of a first substrate and a relief substrate of a second substrate defining an array of cylindrical lenses. The lens array has electrodes for applying a control voltage across the birefringent material for electrically switching the birefringent material between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode the lens array modifies the directional distribution of incident light polarised in a predetermined direction. In the second mode the lens array has substantially no effect on incident light polarised in said predetermined direction. |
| US08004177B2 |
Conducting polymer composition and electronic device including layer obtained using the conducting polymer composition
Provided are a conducting polymer composition and an electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition. The conducting polymer composition contains: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a siloxane compound of formula (1) below, a siloxane compound of formula (2) below, and a silane compound of formula (3) below; and a conducting polymer: where R1, R2, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, X9, X10, X11, X12, X13, X14, X15, X16, X17, X18, X19, X20, D, p, m, q, and r are the same as described in the detailed description of the invention. The electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition has excellent electroluminescent characteristics and long lifetime. |
| US08004174B2 |
Light-emitting device and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting device includes four or more rows of element groups each having light-emitting elements arranged in a first direction, the element groups being arranged in parallel in a second direction different from the first direction. In each of a plurality of unit regions arranged in the first direction, the light-emitting elements belonging to the four or more rows of element groups are arranged at different positions by ones. The four or more rows of element groups includes a first element group, a second element group, and a third element group adjacent to the second element group. In each of the plurality of unit regions, the light-emitting element belonging to the second element group is disposed on one side in the first direction when viewed from the light-emitting element belonging to the first element group, and the light-emitting element belonging to the third element group is disposed on the other side in the first direction when viewed from the light-emitting element belonging to the first element group. |
| US08004169B2 |
LED lamp assembly
A LED lamp assembly (100) includes a LED light (1); a lamp holder (2) having a body portion (21) enclosing a hollow portion (23) to partially retain the LED light therein; a lamp base (3) including a cylindrical peripheral wall (31) and rear wall (32) connecting to the peripheral wall to define a socket (30) with a front opening, said lamp base (3) further having two cable retainers (34) seated in the socket (30) and discrete from the peripheral wall (31); a pair of cables (4) respectively extending into the cable retainers via at least a cable passage (321) of the rear wall. The lamp holder is press-fit into space between the cable retainer and the peripheral wall of the lamp base to urge the cable retainers clamping the cables. |
| US08004167B2 |
Electron emitter and a display apparatus utilizing the same
A field effect electron emitting apparatus using nano-wire electron emitters is disclosed where each nano-wire electron emitter may be grown in a pore of an insulating layer and/or may have at least a portion exposed from the pore. A method of manufacturing a field effect electron emitting apparatus is also disclosed. The field effect electron emitting apparatus may be used in a display. |
| US08004165B2 |
Tuning fork oscillating piece, tuning fork oscillator, and acceleration sensor
A tuning fork oscillating piece includes: a base; a pair of oscillating arms extending from the base in directions substantially parallel with each other; a drive piezoelectric element provided at least on one main surface or side surface of each of the oscillating arms to allow bending oscillation of the oscillating arms by piezoelectric distortion caused by applied charge; a detection piezoelectric element provided on the surface opposed to the surface of each of the oscillating arms on which the drive piezoelectric element is provided to convert the piezoelectric distortion caused by the bending oscillation of the oscillating arms into charge and output the charge. The drive piezoelectric element has a drive piezoelectric section. The detection piezoelectric element has a detection piezoelectric section. The absolute value of the piezoelectric d constant of the drive piezoelectric section is larger than the absolute value of the piezoelectric d constant of the detection piezoelectric section. The absolute value of the piezoelectric g constant of the detection piezoelectric section is larger than the absolute value of the piezoelectric g constant of the drive piezoelectric section. |
| US08004164B2 |
Piezoelectric single crystal device
In a piezoelectric device that uses a vibration mode in a direction parallel to a polarization direction, a single crystal device that achieves an electromechanical coupling factor of 65% or more, which is more than the electromechanical coupling factor (about 60%) of the existing flat plane type piezoelectric single crystal device in that vibrational direction, is provided by performing certain treatment to its device plane. Specifically, a piezoelectric portion having a comb-shaped structure in which a plurality of slits are formed with a certain arrangement pitch on either of device planes whose polarization direction is their normal direction, the slits having a depth extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the device plane and being filled with an insulating material, is formed to achieve 65% or more of an electromechanical coupling factor in a direction parallel to the polarization direction. |
| US08004161B2 |
Multilayered piezoelectric element and method of producing the same
A multilayered piezoelectric element and a method of producing the multilayered piezoelectric element are disclosed. The multilayered piezoelectric element is made of piezoelectric ceramic layers and electrode formation layers which are alternately laminated. The piezoelectric ceramic layers are made of crystal oriented ceramic as polycrystalline material. The crystal oriented ceramic is made mainly of an isotropic perovskite type compound in which the specific {100} crystal plane of each of crystal grains that form the polycrystalline material is oriented. The electrode formation layers have electrode parts forming inner electrodes containing a conductive metal. The isotropic perovskite type compound is expressed by a general formula (1): [Agh{Lix(K1-yNay)1-x}1-h]j(Nb1-z-wTazSbw)O3-k (1), where 0≦x≦0.2, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦0.4, 0≦w≦0.2, x+z+w>0, 0 |
| US08004160B2 |
Acoustic wave device with adhesive layer and method of manufacturing the same
An acoustic wave device includes a substrate, an acoustic wave element, an electrode pad, a resin portion and a metal post. The acoustic wave element is provided on the substrate. The electrode pad is provided on the substrate, is electrically coupled to the acoustic wave element, and has an Au layer and an adhesive layer formed on the Au layer and having an opening. The resin portion is provided on the substrate so as to cover the acoustic wave element and the electrode pad, and has a through-hole formed to expose a surface of the electrode pad. The metal post is provided in the through-hole and contacts with the Au layer through the opening of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is provided between the Au layer and the resin portion. |
| US08004158B2 |
Method and device for cooling ultrasonic transducers
The invention relates to a method and a device for cooling ultrasonic transducers. The inventive device is characterised in that it consists of at least one piezo stack (4) and at least two cylindrical transducer bodies (5), which together with the piezo stack (4) form an λ/2 oscillator. In multiple transducer assemblies, two respective transducer bodies (5) can be combined to form a common transducer body (6) and the transducer bodies (5, 6) comprise flow channels (7), through which pressurised coolant can flow. The inventive method for cooling ultrasonic transducers is characterised in that the body of the ultrasonic transducer is traversed and/or surrounded by a pressurised coolant. This enables the heat that is generated in the transducers to be directly dissipated by convection. In addition the inventive elements enable the creation of a large common contact surface between the transducers and the coolant. The heat dissipation achieved is substantially more effective than in known methods and the inventive elements thus guarantee a high-performance continuous operation. |
| US08004156B2 |
Compact thermoacoustic array energy converter
A thermoacoustic array energy converter consists of heat driven thermoacoustic prime movers in parallel coupled by means of an acoustic cavity to a piezoelectric electrical generator whose output is rectified and fed to an energy storage element. The prime movers convert heat to sound in a resonator. The sound form a phase-locked array is converted to electricity by means of the piezoelectric element. The generated electric energy is converted to DC by means of a rectifier set and it is then stored in a battery or supercapacitor. The generated electric energy can also be converted to power line frequency. |
| US08004155B2 |
Multi-layer piezoelectric element
A multi-layer piezoelectric element of high durability wherein the internal electrodes and the external electrodes do not break even when operated continuously over a long period of time under high electric field and high pressure is provided. The first multi-layer piezoelectric element according to the present invention comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, and the external electrodes include an electrically conductive material and glass and is formed from a porous electrically conductive material that has a three-dimensional mesh structure. |
| US08004148B2 |
Surface acoustic wave element
A surface acoustic wave element includes: a diamond layer; an alumina nitride layer provided on the diamond layer; a silicon oxide layer provided on the alumina nitride layer; and a pair of electrodes provided between the alumina nitride layer and the silicon oxide layer, the electrodes applying a voltage to the alumina nitride layer. If a thickness of the alumina nitride layer is represented by H1, a thickness of the silicon oxide layer is represented by H2, a wavelength of a surface acoustic wave is represented by λ, x is defined as x=2πH1/λ, and y is defined as y=2πH2/λ, (x, y) meets all of the following formulas 1 to 4 below. That is, the formula 1 is y≦0.750×x+0.325; the formula 2 is y≦−0.300×x+1.690; the formula 3 is y≧−0.500×x+0.950; and the formula 4 is y≧0.700×x−0.610. |
| US08004147B2 |
Waveguide components on the basis of acoustic surface waves, and their use
The invention relates to waveguide components based on acoustic surface waves, comprising at least one interdigital converter for exciting acoustic surface waves in a piezoelectric substrate or a piezoelectric layer. The object of the invention is to change known waveguide components, comprising at least one interdigital converter for exciting acoustic surface waves in a piezoelectric substrate or a piezoelectric layer, such that no reflectors are necessary with an otherwise equivalent function. The inventive waveguide components are characterized in that the interdigital converter(s) a) is or are disposed at a defined distance over the piezoelectric substrate or the piezoelectric layer for exciting wave fields, or b) is or are in contact with the piezoelectric substrate or the piezoelectric layer, wherein in version a) the piezoelectric substrate is designed as a ring and the piezoelectric layer is designed as a circular region. In case of version b), the interdigital converter and/or the piezoelectric layer form circular regions. The components can be used for example as resonators, filters, oscillators and sensors. |
| US08004145B2 |
Electric rotating machine
A lead conductor penetrating portion that bring out lead conductors to the inner diameter side is formed in a winding holding portion of a clamp ring for holding a rotor winding that overhangs from a rotor core, and furthermore a stopper is formed in a lead portion on the inner diameter side of the lead conductor, and a centrifugal force-resistant member for holding a centrifugal force acting on the lead conductor is interposed between the stopper and the inner diameter side of the winding holding portion. |
| US08004143B2 |
Carbon brush of motor and method for producing the same
An electric motor that includes a rotor; a coil that is wound around the rotor; and a carbon brush that supplies power to the coil, wherein the brush is formed by using a raw material in which artificial graphite whose crystallites are flaky in shape is mixed with natural graphite whose crystallites are squamous or scaly in shape. |
| US08004141B2 |
Two-phase brushless DC motor
The present invention relates to a two-phase brushless DC motor which can increase a pemerance coefficient of a rotor to the maximum to thereby improve efficiency and starting feature of the motor, and to reduce torque ripple and noise thereof. The brushless motor of the present invention includes a two-phase winding stator having 4×n winding poles and auxiliary poles provided between the winding poles, and a rotor constituted by 6×n permanent magnet rotating poles having divided angle. Auxiliary poles between the stator poles can be provided. The two-phase brushless motor of the present invention can be driven by a control device for the two-phase motor which can transform electric power and rectify electronically. |
| US08004140B2 |
Dovetail spoke internal permanent magnet machine
An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft. The rotor assembly further includes multiple pair of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field, which magnetic field interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce a torque. The multiple pair of permanent magnets are disposed between the stacks. The rotor assembly also includes multiple middle wedges mounted between each pair of the multiple permanent magnets. |
| US08004133B2 |
Epitrochoidal electric motor
An electric motor contains a mechanical mechanism that causes a rotor to move in an epitrochoidal path. Disposed around the epitrochoidal path are stators that may impel or force the rotor to rotate. The mechanical mechanism that creates the epitrochoidal path may consist of an output shaft with an eccentric lobe, where the rotor revolves around the eccentric lobe. A fixed mounted sun gear may engage a ring gear mounted to the rotor to cause the epitrochoidal motion. Some embodiments may have two or more rotors, and may include controllers with feedback sensors to operate the electric motor at a specific speed or to control the speed as defined in a speed profile. |
| US08004130B2 |
Rotating electric machine and manufacturing method therefor
There is provided a rotating electric machine including a rotation sensor unit capable of demonstrating a shielding effect over a wide frequency bandwidth and a manufacturing method therefor. In the rotating electric machine, a power unit provided with a switching element that controls an electric current that flows in a stator winding and a magnetic-field current control circuit unit provided with a switching element that controls an electric current that flows in a rotor winding are arranged on a predetermined surface of one of a pair of brackets that pivotably support a rotor shaft, and the rotation sensor unit is disposed in the vicinity of the predetermined surface of the one bracket; The rotating electric machine is characterized in such a way that there is provided a ring-shaped member that is fixed on the outer surface of the rotation sensor unit, and the ring-shaped member is configured with a non-magnetic unit having an electric conductivity and a magnetic unit. |
| US08004129B2 |
Electrical machine having an apparatus for avoiding damaging bearing currents, and a corresponding method
The aim is to avoid damaging lubricating-film discharges occurring via bearings (WL) in electrical machines. For this reason, provision is made for a current to be forced to flow through the bearing (WL) specifically, with the aid of a current source (IQ). The current then flows from one of the two bearing components via the lubricating film to the other bearing component. Alternating currents are particularly suitable since the lubricating film is conductive, so that the capacitance defined by the lubricating film cannot be charged, or can be charged only slightly. |
| US08004126B2 |
Molded motor and electric vehicle
A molded motor includes an annular stator formed by molding coils in resin, a rotor disposed in an internal space which is formed radially inside the stator, a cover covering the internal space, and an elastic member sandwiched between the cover and the stator and located at a more inner side in the radial direction of the stator from the coils. |
| US08004121B2 |
Connection cable and method for activating a voltage-controlled generator
A connection cable is disclosed for controlling a voltage-controlled generator such as an electrosurgery generator from a controlling device such as a robotic surgery system. The cable includes a first connector adapted to connect to a voltage-controlled generator and a second connector adapted to connect to a controlling device. Within the cable is a voltage divider interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector. The voltage divider is configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage which is selectable by the controlling device. The cable additionally includes a plurality of electrical wires which operatively connect the first connector, the second connector and the voltage divider. During robotic electrosurgery, said operating parameters can be actuated by a surgeon operating at the robotic surgical system console, which causes a corresponding control voltage to be switched to a control voltage input on an electrosurgery generator, which, in turn, generates a corresponding electrosurgical signal in response thereto. |
| US08004120B2 |
High power bipolar pulse generators
A bipolar pulse generator is implemented in a simple structure while providing a high efficiency design having a relatively low total size, while still allowing access by fibers used to control a photoconductive switch that activates the generator. The bipolar pulse generator includes a stacked Blumlein generator structure with an additional transmission line connected to a load at its near end and short-circuited at its distal end. An extra transmission line is positioned between the Blumlein generator's structure and the load provides specified limited gap between positive and negative sub-pulses. The bipolar pulse generator further includes a bended Blumlein generator structure, in which an existing intrinsic “stray” transmission line is used to provide the bipolar pulse. Still further, bipolar pulse generator includes stepped transmission lines, with additional switches positioned between steps, which are charged by different voltages. |
| US08004111B2 |
DC-DC switching cell modules for on-board power systems
A DC-DC switching cell module includes a switch, a rectifier, an output filter coupled to the rectifier, and an input port for receiving an external PWM control signal from a controller. The switching cell module is configured to control the switch in response to the external PWM control signal to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage. The switching cell module is configured for attachment to a circuit board as a discrete component. |
| US08004109B2 |
Vehicle power supply apparatus, and vehicle
A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a battery that is the main power storage device, a power feed line through which power is supplied to an inverter that drives a motor generator, a boost converter provided between the battery and power feed line to convert voltage, batteries that are a plurality of subpower storage devices provided parallel to each other, and a boost converter provided between the plurality of subpower storage devices and power feed line to convert voltage. The boost converter is selectively connected to any one of the plurality of subpower storage devices to convert voltage. |
| US08004101B2 |
Vertical axis variable geometry wind energy collection system
A device to convert the kinetic energy of wind into kinetic energy in the form of a rotating mass (FIG. 9) and to then selectively harvest and convert the kinetic energy of the rotating mass into electrical energy using both permanent magnet and electromagnet generators (FIG. 33). The conversion of the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical kinetic energy of the rotating mass is maximized through mechanical means by varying the physical moment of inertia of the rotating mass programatically based upon real time sensor data (FIG. 27A,27B). The conversion of the kinetic energy of the rotating mass into electrical energy is maximized through the programatical control of the field coil current of the electromagnet generator based upon real time sensor data (FIG. 62). |
| US08004100B2 |
Model based wind turbine drive train vibration damper
The invention concerns a method for reducing mechanical oscillation in a wind power plant which comprises a plurality of rotor blades, a wind turbine drive train and a generator, wherein the rotor blades are rotatably connected to the generator by the wind turbine drive train. The method comprises the steps: mathematically modeling the dynamical response and/or transfer function of a group of rotatable parts of the wind power plant, the group of rotatable parts comprising at least the wind turbine drive train, and determining dynamical response and/or transfer function of the group; in operation of the wind power plant, determining a first parameter characteristic of the mechanical oscillation at a first location, controlling the operation of at least one rotatable part in response to the dynamical response and/or transfer function of the group and at least the first parameter. In effect, resonance induced mechanical wear is reduced which leads to an increased life time of the wind power plant. |
| US08004098B2 |
Alignment key, method for fabricating the alignment key, and method for fabricating thin film transistor substrate using the alignment key
An alignment key, a method for fabricating the alignment key, and a method for fabricating a thin film transistor substrate using the alignment key are provided. The alignment key includes a base substrate, a first alignment key and a first mark portion of a second alignment key, which are formed on the base substrate using a printing roll, a dielectric that is formed on the base substrate to cover the first alignment key, and a second mark portion of the second alignment key, which is formed on the dielectric and at least partly overlaps the first mark portion of the second alignment key. |
| US08004094B2 |
Copper alloy bonding wire for semiconductor device
The present invention provides a semiconductor-device copper-alloy bonding wire which has an inexpensive material cost, ensures a superior ball joining shape, wire joining characteristic, and the like, and a good loop formation characteristic, and a superior mass productivity. The semiconductor-device copper-alloy bonding wire contains at least one of Mg and P in total of 10 to 700 mass ppm, and oxygen within a range from 6 to 30 mass ppm. |
| US08004092B2 |
Semiconductor chip with post-passivation scheme formed over passivation layer
The invention provides a semiconductor chip comprising an interconnecting structure over said passivation layer. The interconnecting structure comprises a first contact pad connected to a second contact pad exposed by an opening in a passivation layer. A metal bump is on the first contact pad and over multiple semiconductor devices, wherein the metal bump has more than 50 percent by weight of gold and has a height of between 8 and 50 microns. |
| US08004089B2 |
Semiconductor device having wiring line and manufacturing method thereof
On the lower surface of a semiconductor construct having an external connection electrode, there are formed an insulating film having a planar size greater than that of the semiconductor construct, and a metal layer and a mask metal layer having a connection pad portion in which a first opening corresponding to the external connection electrode is formed. A laser beam is applied using the mask metal layer as a mask, and a second opening is thereby formed in a part of the insulating film corresponding to the external connection electrode. Then, a connection conductor is formed to connect a wiring line to the external connection electrode via the second opening of the insulating film. |
| US08004087B2 |
Semiconductor device with dual damascene wirings and method for manufacturing same
A multilayered wiring is formed in a prescribed area in an insulating film that is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Dual damascene wiring that is positioned on at least one layer of the multilayered wiring is composed of an alloy having copper as a principal component. The concentration of at least one metallic element contained in the alloy as an added component in vias of the dual damascene wiring is determined according to the differences in the width of the wiring of an upper layer where the vias are connected. Specifically, a larger wiring width in the upper layer corresponds to a higher concentration of at least one metallic element within the connected vias. Accordingly, increases in the resistance of the wiring are minimized, the incidence of stress-induced voids is reduced, and reliability can be improved. |
| US08004084B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer, a source region and a drain region formed within the semiconductor wafer, a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor wafer between the source region and the drain region, an interlayer film formed on the semiconductor wafer and the gate electrode, and a dummy floating pattern embedded into the interlayer film, having a film containing metal or a metallic compound having tensile stress or compressive stress and formed to be spaced from the semiconductor wafer and the gate electrode. |
| US08004083B2 |
Integrated circuit chips with fine-line metal and over-passivation metal
An integrated circuit chip includes a silicon substrate, a first circuit in or over said silicon substrate, a second circuit device in or over said silicon substrate, a dielectric structure over said silicon substrate, a first interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a first pad connected to said first node of said voltage regulator through said first interconnecting structure, a second interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a second pad connected to said first node of said internal circuit through said second interconnecting structure, a passivation layer over said dielectric structure, wherein multiple opening in said passivation layer exposes said first and second pads, and a third interconnecting structure over said passivation layer and over said first and second pads. |
| US08004079B2 |
Chip package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A chip package structure includes a substrate, a chip, a thermal conductive layer, a plurality of signal contacts, and a molding compound. The substrate includes a plurality of first thermal conductive vias, a connecting circuit, and a plurality of signal vias electrically connected to the connecting circuit, and the substrate has a chip disposing region. The chip is disposed on the chip disposing region of the substrate and electrically connected to the signal vias through the connecting circuit. The thermal conductive layer is disposed over the substrate, connected to the first thermal conductive vias, and located above the chip disposing region. Besides, the thermal conductive layer has first openings exposing the signal vias. The signal contacts are respectively disposed in the first openings and connected to the signal vias. The molding compound encapsulates the chip. |
| US08004071B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes: a wiring board including an element mounting portion and connection pads; a first element group including a plurality of semiconductor elements each having electrode pads arranged along one of outer sides of the semiconductor element, the plurality of semiconductor elements being layered stepwise on the element mounting portion of the wiring board in a way that pad arrangement sides of the semiconductor elements face in the same direction, and that the electrode pads are exposed; a second element group including a plurality of semiconductor elements each having electrode pads arranged along one of outer sides of the semiconductor element, the plurality of semiconductor elements being layered stepwise on the first element group in a way that pad arrangement sides of the semiconductor elements face in the same direction as that of the first element group, and that the electrode pads are exposed, the second element group being disposed to be offset from the first element group in an arrangement direction of the electrode pads;metallic wires for electrically connecting the electrode pads of the plurality of semiconductor elements included in the first and second element groups to the connection pads of the wiring board; and a sealing resin layer formed on the wiring board so as to seal the first and second element groups together with the metallic wires. |
| US08004069B2 |
Lead frame based semiconductor package and a method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package, where the package includes a surface for attachment of the package to a device by a joint formed of a connective material in a joint area of the surface. The method is characterised in that it comprises the step of patterning one or more channels on the surface which channels extend away from the joint area towards an edge of the surface. Also the method has the step of applying a compound to one or more channels which compound interacts with the connective material, such that when the semiconductor package is attached to the device the interaction defines one or more paths in the connective material. These correspond to the one or more channels on the surface and allow the passage of waste material away from the joint area to the outer edge of the surface. |
| US08004065B2 |
Nitride semiconductor and method for manufacturing same
A nitride semiconductor includes: a substrate having a major surface including a first crystal polarity surface and a second crystal polarity surface different from the first crystal polarity surface; and a single polarity layer provided above the major surface and having a single crystal polarity. |
| US08004064B2 |
Thin film capacitor
A thin film capacitor with a trench structure having a base substance and a pair of electrodes provided on the base substance, and a dielectrode provided between the electrodes. The trench pattern is configured to have a first pattern and a second pattern separate from the first pattern. The first pattern having a plurality of protrusions provided upright at predetermined intervals, and the second pattern separate from the first pattern having a plurality of recesses provided at predetermined intervals, are provided at the side of the base substance where the dielectric film is formed. Trenches are each defined by the outer wall of each protrusion and the inner wall of each recess. |
| US08004054B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and signal transmitting/receiving method using the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device (100) including: a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor chip formation region (102); a chip internal circuit (124); a signal transmitting/receiving inductor (114) which transmits/receives a signal to/from an outside in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic induction, and transmits/receives a signal to/from the chip internal circuit (124) through electrical connection to the chip internal circuit (124); and a power receiving inductor (112) which has a diameter provided along an outer edge of the semiconductor chip formation region (102) so as to surround the chip internal circuit (124) and the signal transmitting/receiving inductor (114), receives a power supply signal from the outside in the non-contact manner, and is electrically connected to the chip internal circuit (124). Accordingly, power supply can be sufficiently made in the non-contact manner while limiting an increase in chip size when various signals are transmitted/received in the non-contact manner. |
| US08004053B2 |
Micromechanical device and method of manufacturing micromechanical device
A micromechanical device according to an aspect of the present invention includes, a substrate, a micromachine which is mounted on the substrate, is provided with a mechanism deformed by a function of an electric field, and changes the electrical characteristics concomitantly with the deformation, an inner inorganic sealing film which contains an inorganic material, is provided on a principal surface of the substrate, covers the micromachine through a hollow section containing a gaseous body therein, and is provided with opening shape sections allowing the hollow section to communicate with the outside, an organic sealing film which contains an organic material, is formed on the inner inorganic sealing film, and blocks up the opening shape sections, and an outer inorganic sealing film which contains an inorganic material with lower moisture permeability than the organic material, is formed on the organic sealing film, and covers the organic sealing film. |
| US08004047B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof
A first gate dielectric of a first transistor is disposed over a workpiece in a first region, and a second gate dielectric of a second transistor is disposed over the workpiece in a second region. The second gate dielectric comprises a different material than the first gate dielectric. A first dopant-bearing metal comprising a first dopant is disposed in recessed regions of the workpiece proximate the first gate dielectric, and a second dopant-bearing metal comprising a second dopant is disposed in recessed regions of the workpiece proximate the second gate dielectric. A first doped region comprising the first dopant is disposed in the workpiece adjacent the first dopant-bearing metal. A second doped region comprising the second dopant is disposed in the workpiece adjacent the second dopant-bearing metal. The dopant-bearing metals and the doped regions comprise source and drain regions of the first and second transistors. |
| US08004044B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device including a first transistor of a first conductivity type provided on a first active region of a semiconductor region, and a second transistor of a second conductivity type provided on a second active region of the semiconductor region. The first transistor includes a first gate insulating film and a first gate electrode, the first gate insulating film contains a high-k material and a first metal, and the first gate electrode includes a lower conductive film, a first conductive film and a first silicon film. The second transistor includes a second gate insulating film and a second gate electrode, the second gate insulating film contains a high-k material and a second metal, and the second gate electrode includes a second conductive film made of the same material as the first conductive film, and a second silicon film. |
| US08004043B2 |
Logic circuits using carbon nanotube transistors
In accordance with some embodiments, logical circuits comprising carbon nanotube field effect transistors are disclosed herein. |
| US08004030B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a semiconductor device that includes: a base insulating film 25 formed above a silicon substrate 10; a ferroelectric capacitor Q formed on the base insulating film 25; multiple interlayer insulating films 35, 48, and 62, and metal interconnections 45, 58, and 72 which are alternately formed on and above the capacitor Q; and conductive plugs 57 which are respectively formed inside holes 54a provided in the interlayer insulating films 48 and are electrically connected to the metal interconnections 45. In the semiconductor device, a first capacitor protection insulating film 50 is formed on an upper surface of the interlayer insulating film 48 by sequentially stacking a first insulating metal oxide film 50a, an intermediate insulating film 50b having a relative dielectric constant lower than that of the interlayer insulating film 48, and a second insulating metal oxide film 50c; and the holes 54a are also formed in the first capacitor protection insulating film 50. |
| US08004029B2 |
Spin transistor, programmable logic circuit, and magnetic memory
A spin transistor includes a non-magnetic semiconductor substrate having a channel region, a first area, and a second area. The channel region is between the first and the second areas. The spin transistor also includes a first conductive layer located above the first area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in a first direction; and a second conductive layer located above the second area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in one of the first direction and a second direction that is antiparallel with respect to the first direction. The channel region introduces electron spin between the conductive layers. The spin transistor also includes a gate electrode located between the conductive layers and above the channel region; and a tunnel barrier film located between the non-magnetic semiconductor substrate and at least one of the conductive layers. |
| US08004028B2 |
Solid state imaging device, manufacturing method of the same, and substrate for solid state imaging device
A solid state imaging device including photoelectric conversion devices which are arranged two-dimensionally; a color filter including a plurality of picture elements, each disposed corresponding to each of the photoelectric conversion devices; and a plurality of transfer lenses each disposed corresponding to each of the picture elements, formed of a thermoset acrylic resin, and formed directly on each of the picture elements, wherein a gap between neighboring transfer lenses is not more than 0.035 μm, and a contact length between neighboring transfer lenses is within the range of 3-80% of the pitch of the plurality of transfer lenses. |
| US08004023B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate including a first region and a second region is provided. The semiconductor device further includes a gate electrode on the first region and having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a first source region in the first region proximate to the first sidewall, a first drain region in the first region proximate to the second sidewall, an upper electrode on the second region and having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, a second source region in the second region proximate to the first sidewall of the upper electrode, and a second drain region in the second region proximate to the second sidewall of the upper electrode, wherein an impurity doping concentration of the first source region and the first drain region is greater than an impurity doping concentration of the second source region and the second drain region. |
| US08004021B2 |
Microfabricated devices and method for fabricating microfabricated devices
Microfabricated devices for operation in a fluid that include a substrate that has a first and second surface and a first electrode material layer located over the first surface of the substrate. The devices have a piezoelectric material layer located over the first electrode material layer and a second electrode material layer located over the piezoelectric material layer. The devices also include a layer of isolation material located over the second electrode material layer that at least one of chemically or electrically isolates a portion of the second electrode material layer from a fluid. Some devices include a layer of conductive material located over the layer of isolation material. |
| US08004020B2 |
Solid-state image capturing device, camera module and electronic information device
A solid-state image capturing device includes a plurality of electrode pads for inputting and outputting a signal or voltage from and to the outside, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a planarization film for planarizing the difference in the level on the surface above the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a microlens for focusing incident light on each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and a protection film provided above the microlens and the planarization film, the planarization film and the protection film above the plurality of electrode pads being removed as an opening, where the protection film has a protection film removing area that at least includes an area removed across all or a corner portion of the opening and the image capturing area. |
| US08004018B2 |
Fabrication method of electronic devices based on aligned high aspect ratio nanoparticle networks
A layer of high aspect ratio nanoparticles is disposed on a surface of a substrate under the influence of an electrical field applied on the substrate. To create the electrical field, a voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes arranged near the substrate or on the substrate, and the high aspect ratio nanoparticles disposed on the substrate are at least partially aligned along direction(s) of the applied electrical field. The high aspect ratio nanoparticles are grown from catalyst nanoparticles in an aerosol, and the aerosol is directly used for forming the nanoparticle layer on the substrate at room temperature. The nanoparticles may be carbon nanotubes, in particular single wall carbon nanotubes. The substrate with the layer of aligned high aspect ratio nanoparticles disposed thereon can be used for fabricating nanoelectronic devices. |
| US08004017B2 |
Buried circumferential electrode microcavity plasma device arrays, electrical interconnects, and formation method
A preferred embodiment microcavity plasma device array of the invention includes a plurality of first metal circumferential metal electrodes that surround microcavities in the device. The first circumferential electrodes are buried in a metal oxide layer and surround the microcavities in a plane transverse to the microcavity axis, while being protected from plasma in the microcavities by the metal oxide. In embodiments of the invention, the circumferential electrodes can be connected in patterns. A second electrode(s) is arranged so as to be isolated from said first electrodes by said first metal oxide layer. In some embodiments, the second electrode(s) is in a second layer, and in other embodiments the second electrode(s) is also within the first metal oxide layer. A containing layer, e.g., a thin layer of glass, quartz, or plastic, seals the discharge medium (plasma) into the microcavities. In a preferred method of formation embodiment, a metal foil or film is obtained or formed with micro-holes. The foil is anodized to form metal oxide. One or more self-patterned metal electrodes are automatically formed and buried in the metal oxide created by the anodization process. The electrodes form in a closed circumference around each microcavity in a plane(s) transverse to the microcavity axis, and can be electrically isolated or connected. Preferred embodiments provide inexpensive microplasma device electrode structures and a fabrication method for realizing microplasma arrays that are lightweight and scalable to large areas. Electrodes buried in metal oxide and complex patterns of electrodes can also be formed without reference to microplasma devices—that is, for general electrical circuitry. |
| US08004016B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and fabricating method thereof
A thin film transistor substrate and fabricating method thereof by which the size of the thin film transistor substrate is reduced by constructing data signal supply lines, each of which supplies a pixel data voltage to a data line, with different metal lines, respectively includes gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate, with a gate insulating layer disposed therebetween, a thin film transistor formed on each intersection between the gate and data lines, a display area on which a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor is formed, a first data signal supply line comprising a first conductive layer connected to the data line in a non-display area located at a periphery of the display area, and a second data signal supply line alternating with the first data signal supply line, with the gate insulating layer disposed therebetween, the second data signal supply line comprising a second conductive layer connected to the data line. |
| US08004014B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device having metal interconnect regions placed symmetrically with respect to a cell boundary
A layout structure of a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with which narrowing and breaking of metal interconnects near a cell boundary can be prevented without increasing the data amount and processing time for OPC. A cell A and a cell B are adjacent to each other along a cell boundary. The interconnect regions of metal interconnects from which to the cell boundary no other interconnect region exists are placed to be substantially axisymmetric with respect to the cell boundary, while sides of diffusion regions facing the cell boundary are asymmetric with respect to the cell boundary. |
| US08004012B2 |
Unipolar semiconductor photodetector with suppressed dark current and method for producing the same
A photo-detector with a reduced G-R noise comprises two n-type narrow bandgap layers surrounding a middle barrier layer having an energy bandgap at least equal to the sum of the bandgaps of the two narrow bandgap layers. Under the flat band conditions the conduction band edge of each narrow bandgap layer lies below the conduction band edge of the barrier layer by at least the bandgap energy of the other narrow bandgap layer. When biased with an externally applied voltage, the more negatively biased narrow bandgap layer is the contact layer and the more positively biased narrow bandgap layer is the photon absorbing layer. Under external bias conditions the bands in the photon absorbing layer next to the barrier layer are flat or accumulated, and the flat part of the valence band edge in the photon absorbing layer lies below the flat part of the valence band edge of the contact layer and has an energy of not more than 10kTop above the valence band edge in any part of the barrier layer (k=Boltzman constant and Top=operating temperature). |
| US08004011B2 |
Field effect transistor
A material of a gate electrode is a conductive oxide having a higher work function than that of conventionally used Pd and so on, thereby achieving a normally-off transistor without reducing the sheet carrier concentration of a heterojunction. It is thus possible to achieve a normally-off operation while reducing an increase in the specific on-state resistance. |
| US08004008B2 |
Semiconductor device
The first base electrodes and the first emitter electrodes are all formed like strips, and are alternately arranged in parallel, and the area of the second emitter electrode is expanded to be larger than that of the second base electrode. With this, the number of current paths increases in each of which a current is pulled up almost straight from the emitter region to the second emitter electrode through the first emitter electrodes, thereby preventing the current densities of the entire chip from becoming uneven. |
| US08004002B2 |
Thin-light emitting diode lamp, and method of manufacturing the same
A thin-type light emitting diode lamp includes a blue light emitting diode chip (6) disposed at a substantial center of an inner bottom surface of a groove-shaped recess (3) formed at an end surface and having a thin elongated rectangular opening, a red light conversion layer (7) covering the blue light emitting diode chip (6) and made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin containing powder of a red fluorescent material which emits red light when excited by blue light emitted from the blue light emitting diode chip, and a green light conversion layer (10) made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin containing powder of a green fluorescent material which emits green light when excited by the blue light. The light emitting diode lamp further includes a light transmitting layer (9) intervening between the red light conversion layer (7) and the green light conversion layer (10). The light transmitting layer contains neither the red fluorescent material nor the green fluorescent material or contains the red fluorescent material or the green fluorescent material only by a small amount. |
| US08004000B2 |
Polarized light emitting diode and method of forming the same
Example embodiments are directed to a polarized light emitting diode and method of forming the same. The polarized light emitting diode may include a support layer, a semiconductor layer structure, and/or a polarization control layer. The semiconductor layer structure may be formed on the support layer and may include a light-emitting layer. The polarization control layer may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure and may include a plurality of metal nanowires. The polarized light emitting diode may be configured to control the polarization of emitted light. The method of forming a polarized light emitting diode may include forming on a substrate a semiconductor layer structure with a light emitting layer. A reflecting layer may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure with an attached support layer. The substrate may be removed from the semiconductor layer structure and a polarization control layer including metal nanowires may be formed on the semiconductor layer structure. |
| US08003999B2 |
Organic light emitting device
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device which includes a substrate; a encapsulation substrate, an organic light emitting unit interposed between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate. A water vapor absorption material-containing transparent sealant layer covers the organic light emitting unit. The sealant layer includes a transparent sealant having a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of about 20 g/m2·day or less and a water vapor absorption material having an average particle size of about 100 nm or less. |
| US08003996B2 |
Light-emitting semiconductor component comprising electroluminescent and photoluminescent layers and associated method of production
The present invention relates to a semiconductor component and an associated production method, said component emitting at least two defined wavelengths with a defined intensity ratio. It is an object of the present invention to specify an optical semiconductor component and an associated production method, said component emitting at least two defined wavelengths with a defined intensity ratio. In this case, the intention is that both the wavelengths and the intensity ratio can be set extremely precisely. The semiconductor component according to the invention has a substrate (8), a first charge carrier barrier layer (7) arranged on the substrate (8), a photoluminescent layer (6) arranged on the first charge carrier barrier layer (7), a second charge carrier barrier layer (5) arranged on the photoluminescent layer (6), and an active electroluminescent layer (4) composed of at least one inorganic semiconductor and arranged on the second charge carrier barrier layer (5), wherein the photoluminescent layer (6) absorbs at least part of the light emitted by the electroluminescent layer (4), and an at least partly transparent contact layer (1) arranged on the active electroluminescent layer (4) is furthermore provided. |
| US08003990B2 |
Backlight including dot light emitting devices having at least two different brightness ranks
The present invention provides a backlight having a uniform in-plane brightness distribution, the backlight having at least two dot light emitting devices of substantially similar color having at least two different brightness ranks into which the dot light emitting devices are classified in accordance with brightness, wherein each brightness rank comprises a predetermined range of brightness variations, arranged in a plane manner, wherein the plurality of dot light emitting devices are mounted in a plurality of blocks, each block having at least two dot light emitting devices of different brightness ranks, so that the number of the dot light emitting devices provided in each of the plurality of blocks is substantially uniform across the plurality of blocks and a total brightness associated with the brightness ranks of the dot light emitting devices provided in each of the plurality of blocks provides a substantially uniform brightness distribution across the plurality of blocks. |
| US08003989B2 |
Thin film semiconductor device having a terminal portion
In a semiconductor device, a first interlayer insulating layer made of an inorganic material and formed on inverse stagger type TFTs, a second interlayer insulating layer made of an organic material and formed on the first interlayer insulating layer, and a pixel electrode formed in contact with the second interlayer insulating layer are disposed on a substrate, and an input terminal portion that is electrically connected to a wiring of another substrate is provided on an end portion of the substrate. The input terminal portion includes a first layer made of the same material as that of the gate electrode and a second layer made of the same material as that of the pixel electrode. With this structure, the number of photomasks used in the photolithography method can be reduced to 5. |
| US08003984B1 |
Reticle for wafer test structure areas
Techniques are provided for forming die on wafers with large area test structures between primary die. A reticle is used to pattern each die. The pattern on the reticle forms a primary die and test structures in scribelines that abut edges of the die. A reticle can be used to form additional test structures that are separated from the primary die. A gap is formed between the additional test structures and the primary die in each exposure. In subsequent exposures, test structures for adjacent die are formed in the gaps between the previously formed primary die and their additional test structures. These techniques are used to provide larger test structure area between each primary die. A blade can be used to block portions of the reticle that form the additional test structures. The reticle can then be used to pattern die with smaller test structures during high volume chip production. |
| US08003983B2 |
Wafer for manufacturing image sensors, test key layout for defects inspection, and methods for manufacturing image sensors and for forming test key
A wafer for manufacturing image sensors is disclosed. The wafer includes an image sensor and a test key. The image sensor includes a plurality of micro-lenses; the test key includes a plurality of micro-lens samples for defects inspection. The arrangement of the micro-lens samples on the test key is substantially different from the arrangement of the micro-lenses on the image sensor. The arrangement of the micro-lens samples on the test key allows defects inspection to become less complicated. |
| US08003981B2 |
Field effect transistor using oxide film for channel and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a field effect transistor including an oxide film as a semiconductor layer, wherein the oxide film includes one of a source part and a drain part to which one of hydrogen and deuterium is added. |
| US08003977B2 |
Light emitting device having a light emitting laminated body comprising an organic compound
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element with improved luminous efficiency, a reduced drive voltage, and improved degree of deterioration with respect to driving time. According to a light emitting element including a first electrode; a second electrode; and a light emitting laminated body formed therebetween, the light emitting laminated body has at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer in this order, the first layer is a layer having a carrier transporting property, the third layer is a layer including an emission center material and a host material in which the emission center material is dispersed, the second layer has an energy gap larger than that of the first layer and equal to or larger than that of the host material, and the second layer has a thickness of 0.1 nm or more and less than 5 nm. |
| US08003974B2 |
LED semiconductor element having increased luminance
An LED semiconductor element having at least one first radiation-generating active layer and at least one second radiation-generating active layer which is stacked above the first active layer in a vertical direction and is connected in series with the first active layer. The first active layer and the second active layer are electrically conductively connected by a contact zone. |
| US08003971B2 |
Integrated circuit including memory element doped with dielectric material
An integrated circuit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a damascene structured memory element coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The memory element has a height and a width. The height is greater than or equal to the width. The memory element includes resistance changing material doped with dielectric material. |
| US08003966B2 |
Transportation container and assembly
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to transportation containers and assemblies, such as transportation containers and assemblies for containing and transporting radioactive material. A transportation assembly for transporting radioactive material generally includes an outer container defining an inner cavity, the outer container having an inner shell, wherein at least a portion of the inner shell includes a plurality of layers including at least one layer of chopped fiberglass mat and at least one layer of aramid fabric. The transportation assembly may further include an inner container disposed within the inner cavity of the outer container. |
| US08003963B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus comprises a target supply unit supplying a target into a vacuum chamber, a laser oscillator outputting a laser light into the vacuum chamber, a collector mirror outputting an extreme ultraviolet light outside by reflecting the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the target being ionized as a plasma by irradiation with the laser light at a plasma luminescence point in the vacuum chamber, and an ion debris removal unit at least a part of which is located in an obscuration region including the plasma luminescence point. |
| US08003960B2 |
Reflective optical element, optical system and EUV lithography device
In order to obtain optimal reflectivity on optical elements for the EUV and the soft X-ray range, multilayers constructed of a number of layers are used. Contamination or degradation of the surface leads to imaging defects and transmission losses. In the prior art, it has been attempted to counter a negative change in the surface by providing a cover layer system on the surface of the reflective optical element that should protect the surface. The invention renders the influence of the surface degradation manageable by a targeted selection of the distribution of thickness of the cover layer system, whereby at least one layer of the cover layer system has a gradient that is not equal to zero. |
| US08003959B2 |
Ion source cleaning end point detection
In an ion implanter, a Faraday cup is utilized to receive an ion beam generated during ion source cleaning. The detected beam has an associated mass spectrum which indicates when the ion source cleaning process is complete. The mass spectrum results in a signal composed of a cleaning agent and the material comprising the ion source. This signal will rise over time as the ion source chamber is being cleaned and will level-off and remain constant once the deposits are etched away from the source chamber, thereby utilizing existing implant tools to determine endpoint detection during ion source cleaning. |
| US08003957B2 |
Ethane implantation with a dilution gas
To implant a carbon-containing species, a gas containing carbon is ionized in the ion chamber. The ionization of this gas will typically produce a number of ionized species. However, many of these resulting ionized species are not beneficial to the desired implant, as they contain only non-carbon atoms. These species must be eliminated before the implantation, leaving only carbon-based species. However, the current of the desired species may be low, thereby requiring extra energy or time to implant the desired dosage of carbon into a substrate. This can be improved through the use of a second gas. This second gas is used to dilute the primary carbon-containing gas to be ionized in the ion chamber. By incorporating this dilution gas, more of the resulting ionized species are beneficial to the carbon implantation. |
| US08003956B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling beam current uniformity in an ion implanter
An ion implantation system for neutralizing the space charge effect associated with a high current low energy ion beam. The implantation system includes an ion source configured to receive a dopant gas and generate ions having a particular energy and mass from which ions are extracted through an aperture. A work piece positioned downstream of the ion source for receiving the extracted ions in the form of an ion beam. A bleed gas channel disposed between the ion source and the work piece. The bleed gas channel supplying a gas used to neutralize the space charge effect associated with the ion beam. |
| US08003955B2 |
Sample manipulation device
A sample manipulation device comprises an observation unit, which is used to observe a sample and to select a target position at which a portion to be removed from the sample is located, and a specimen stage which receives the sample. The sample manipulation device may include a manipulation tool, which is spatially shiftable relative to the observation unit and comprises a manipulation tip by which portions are removed from the sample, a control unit, which controls the shifting of the manipulation tool, as well as an optical position measurement unit, which is connected to the control unit and is used to determine the actual position of the manipulation tip, so that specific shifting of the manipulation tip to the target position can be carried out. |
| US08003954B2 |
Gas delivery system for an ion source
An ion source has an arc chamber with an electron-emitting element and a repeller. A manifold assembly defines a cavity and a gas outlet configured to allow gas flow to the arc chamber. This gas outlet is closer to the repeller than the electron-emitting element. In one embodiment, the ion source has a first crucible and a second crucible. The first crucible and the second crucible are connected to the manifold assembly. In one instance, the crucibles have tamper-resistant features. |
| US08003949B2 |
Multiple screen detection systems
The present invention is a detection system and method for using the detection system in radiant energy imaging systems. In particular, the present invention is an improved detection system employing multiple screens for greater detection efficiency. And more particularly, the present invention is a detection system for detecting electromagnetic radiation having an enclosure having four adjacent walls, connected to each other at an angle and forming a rectangle and interior portion of the enclosure, a front side area and a back side area formed from the four adjacent walls and located at each end of the enclosure, at least two screens, that further include an active area for receiving and converting electromagnetic radiation into light, and a photodetector, positioned in the interior portion of the enclosure, having an active area responsive to the light. |
| US08003948B2 |
Data acquisition for positron emission tomography
A method for estimating the start time of an electronic pulse generated in response to a detected event, for example the start time for pulses received in response to photon detection in positron emission tomography, includes providing a detector that detects an external event and generates an electronic analog pulse signal. A parameterized ideal curve shape is selected to represent analog pulse signals generated by the detector. Upon receiving an analog pulse signal, it may be filtered, and then digitized, and normalized based on the area of the digital signal. Using at least one point of the normalized digital pulse signal, a curve from the parameterized ideal curve shape is selected, that best represents the received analog pulse signal, and the selected curve is used to estimate the pulse start time. |
| US08003946B2 |
Method for detecting localized defects present in a mineral fiber mat
The invention concerns a method for detecting localized defects, such as hot spots or wet spots, present in a mat of mineral fibers bonded by a binder, including using a microwave radiation of frequency ranging between 1 and 50 GHz, preferably between 5 and 10 GHz, the total power of the emitted electromagnetic wave ranging between 0.1 and 5 watts, preferably of the order of 1 watt. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method as well as an installation for continuously making mineral fiber mats containing said device. |
| US08003944B2 |
Saturation filtering NDIR gas sensing methodology
NDIR gas sensing methodology is advanced which renders the output of an NDIR gas sensor, when implemented with this new methodology, to remain stable or drift-free over time. Furthermore, the output of such a sensor will also be independent of the temperature of an environ wherein the sensor is in physical contact. This method utilizes the same narrow band-pass spectral filter for the detection of the gas of interest for both the signal and the reference channels. By so doing, the two channels always receive radiation of the same spectral content from the infrared source of the sensor convoluted with that from any external elements exposed to the sensor. While the same sample chamber through which the gas of interest to be detected flows is shared by the two channels, the detector package for the reference channel is hermetically sealed with 100% of the gas to be detected instead of 100% N2 as for the signal detector. In so doing, the reference channel is rendered almost completely “blind” to the presence or absence of the gas of interest flowing in the common sample chamber thereby creating an absorption bias or difference between the two channels enabling the concentration of the gas of interest to be detected by ratioing the outputs of the two channels via calibration. |
| US08003942B2 |
Infrared imaging for monitoring component performance
A system and method for enhancing inspections using infrared cameras through in-field displays and operator-assisted performance calculations. A handheld infrared imaging system typically includes an infrared camera having a programmed computer and an interactive user interface suitable for displaying images and prompting response and accepting input from the infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection. An operator may designate at least one thing of interest on a displayed infrared image; and the programmed computer may uses a performance algorithm to estimate performance associated with the thing of interest. The programmed computer may extract information or parameters from previously measured data. The programmed computer may vary the way in which it displays new measurements based on the information extracted from the stored data. One or more of the parameters extracted from the IR image may be adapted to provide an automated alert to the user. |
| US08003941B1 |
System and method for providing a remote user interface for a thermal imager
A thermal imaging system having a remote user interface comprises a portable thermal imager (such as a handheld thermal imager) having a communication interface for transfer of data. The imager further has an on-board memory in which image data is stored as well as an imager display to show a processed thermal image based on the image data stored in memory. A remote computer is operative to communicate with the thermal imager via the communication interface. The computer runs software operative to transfer the image data to the computer and show the processed thermal image on a computer display thereof on a real-time basis. |
| US08003940B2 |
Tool-to-tool matching control method and its system for scanning electron microscope
A system for controlling a tool-to-tool disparity between a plurality of scanning electron microscopes includes a measuring unit for measuring a tool-to-tool disparity between plural scanning electron microscopes based on information extracted from secondary electron images which are captured by imaging a reference pattern formed on a wafer, a tool state monitoring unit for monitoring tool states of each of the plural scanning electron microscopes, and an output unit for displaying on a screen a relationship between the tool-to-tool disparity between the plural scanning electron microscopes and tool states of each of the plural scanning electron microscopes monitored by the tool state monitoring unit. The tool state monitoring unit monitors the tool states of each of the plural scanning electron microscopes while imaging the reference pattern formed on the wafer by using each of the plural scanning electron microscopes. |
| US08003939B2 |
Foreign matter or abnormal unsmoothness inspection apparatus and foreign matter or abnormal unsmoothness inspection method
A foreign matter detecting apparatus includes a detecting device for detecting foreign matter by measuring smoothness of a surface of an object undergoing measurement, a marking device for providing a dent on the surface of the object with a predetermined horizontal distance from the foreign matter detected by the detecting device, and a mass spectrum measuring device for irradiating and scanning a small area with a primary ion beam, as a part of the object, including the foreign matter and the dent, so as to measure a mass spectrum of secondary ions emitted from the foreign matter located at a position within a predetermined horizontal distance from the dent. |
| US08003936B2 |
Chemical ionization reaction or proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A system, components thereof, and methods are described for time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source is used to ionize a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber and interact with a fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions are directed to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer module for detection and determination of a mass value for the ions. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer module can include an optical system and an ion beam adjuster for focusing, interrupting, or altering a flow of reagent and product ions according to a specified pattern. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer module can include signal processing techniques to collect and analyze an acquired signal, for example, using statistical signal processing, such as maximum likelihood signal processing. |
| US08003935B2 |
Chemical ionization reaction or proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry with a quadrupole mass spectrometer
A system and methods are described for generating reagent ions and product ions for use in a quadruple mass spectrometry system. A microwave or high-frequency RF energy source ionizes particles of a reagent vapor to form reagent ions. The reagent ions enter a chamber, such as a drift chamber, to interact with a fluid sample. An electric field directs the reagent ions and facilitates an interaction with the fluid sample to form product ions. The reagent ions and product ions then exit the chamber under the influence of an electric field for detection by a quadruple mass spectrometer module. The system includes various control modules for setting values of system parameters and analysis modules for detection of mass values for ion species during spectrometry and faults within the system. |
| US08003934B2 |
Methods and apparatus for ion sources, ion control and ion measurement for macromolecules
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, processes and other inventions relating to: ion sources with controlled electro-pneumatic superposition, ion source synchronized to RF multipole, ion source with charge injection, optimized control in active feedback system, radiation supported charge-injection liquid spray, ion source with controlled liquid injection as well as various embodiments and combinations of each of the foregoing. |
| US08003929B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device with an optical waveguide, method for manufacturing solid-state image pickup device, and camera
A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels on a light-receiving surface, photodiodes disposed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate while being partitioned on the pixel basis, signal transferring portions which are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which read signal charges generated and stored in the photodiodes or voltages corresponding to the signal charges, insulating films disposed on the semiconductor substrate while covering the photodiodes, concave portions disposed in the insulating films, pad electrodes disposed on the insulating films, a passivation film which covers inner walls of the concave portions, which is disposed on the pad electrodes, and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide, and a core layer which is disposed on the passivation film while being filled in the concave portions and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide. |
| US08003925B2 |
Induction heating cooking apparatus
Waste heat of a high temperature inside a main body is designed to be discharged to the outside of the main body by means of a discharge fan through a first suction air flow passage and a first discharge air flow passage. Also, through a second air flow passage communicating from a second discharge fan suction port to a discharge fan suction portion, air from the outside of the main body or air at a site of the main body, where the temperature is low, is sucked by a discharge fan so that the air of a low temperature can pass outside the drive motor to cool the latter. With this construction, the interior of the main body and the drive motor can be cooled efficiently. |
| US08003919B2 |
Substrate heat treatment apparatus
A heat-treating plate has support elements projecting from an upper surface thereof. The support elements are located at apexes of equilateral triangles arranged regularly and continually. The heat-treating plate and a substrate placed on the support elements form a minute space therebetween which is sealed by a sealer. The substrate is sucked by reducing the pressure in the minute space to a negative pressure through exhaust bores. Since all the distances between adjoining support elements are equal, the substrate sags in the same amount between these support elements. With such arrangement of the support elements, sagging of the substrate is inhibited efficiently by a reduced number of support elements. |
| US08003916B2 |
Industrial robot
An industrial robot has a base for installation, a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a wire feeder, a welding torch, and a torch cable. The first arm rotates with respect to the base. The second arm pivots with respect to the first arm. The third arm pivots with respect to the second arm. The torch cable is coupled to the wire feeder and feeds a welding wire to a welding torch. The wire feeder is provided to the second arm and is rotatable around a rotation axis. |
| US08003915B2 |
System and methods for producing tinted and non-tinted materials with non-discernable laser inscriptions
A system and method for inscribing marks, that will remain non-discernable after tinting, on materials in general, and on plastic ophthalmic lenses in particular. The system uses a laser, which typically performs a heating-type inscription process, such as by use of a CO2 laser. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing laser inscription on materials, including laser inscription apparatus for inscribing inscriptions on a surface of the materials, and apparatus for treating a zone of the surface that was affected by the laser inscription beam, to prevent it from absorbing excessive dye relative to other zones, wherein the inscriptions remain non-discernable after applying the dye. |
| US08003911B2 |
Wire electrical discharge machining apparatus
A machining-energy calculating unit accumulates a discharge current value for each discharge position to calculate a machining energy in a certain time period from the present time to the past time. An energy-distribution changing unit determines the presence or absence of imbalance in the energy by obtaining a machining energy distribution in an up-down direction of the machining gap based on the machining energy, and when there is imbalance, the energy-distribution changing unit produces a new open/close pattern in which a machining energy distribution that eliminates the imbalance. Power feeding is then performed based on the new open/close pattern. |
| US08003907B2 |
Operation device and elevator apparatus with operation device
To reduce the number of erroneous operations, on an operation apparatus conducting mutually different operations such as opening and closing operations, a concretized human pictogram indicating mutually different state changes such as state changes represented by use of a face with opened eyes and a face with closed eyes associated with operation signals assigned to a pair of operation switches and a pictogram in which the human pictogram is combined with an operation pictogram representing a state in which a door concretizing an operation target to operate in response to an operation signal is opened or is being completely closed are respectively attached to the operation switches disposed adjacent to each other. |
| US08003902B1 |
Integrated automotive horn/light apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for simultaneously operating the horn and light systems of a motorized vehicle is provided. The controller used to operate the systems can be a single controller that operates the horn when a certain range of pressure is applied to the controller and operates the horn and lights systems when a stronger pressure is applied. The system can include a dedicated horn operating system controller independent of the dual function controller to eliminate the need for differing pressures to operate the horn and light systems substantially simultaneously. |
| US08003900B2 |
Mesh sheet and housing for electronic devices
A mesh sheet of the present invention is a mesh sheet in which a metal mesh comprising fine bands is laminated on a surface of a base substrate, the mesh sheet being used and adhered along a surface of an arbitrary member having a curved surface portion. The metal mesh has a part in which the fine band positioned between connection points of the fine bands which are adjacent to each other is a curved line so as to absorb stress relative to deformation to be placed along the curved surface portion with a large curvature without destructing the metal mesh. |
| US08003899B2 |
Mounting for industrial instrumentation
A flexible, modular mounting system for an industrial process terminal or similar instrumentation. The instrumentation may be panel mounted or DIN rail mounted using an enclosure having only a minimum number of unique components. An instrument housing is included for containing various electronic components of such a terminal. The housing is adapted to mate with a DIN rail, and can easily be fitted with mounting brackets that allow the housing to be used in a panel mounted arrangement. In the latter case, a user interface module is located on an opposite side of a panel wall and connected to the appropriate electronic components of the instrumentation through an opening provided therein. |
| US08003897B2 |
Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a wiring substrate provided with at least one conductor circuit, a solder resist layer formed on the surface of the wiring substrate, covering the at least one conductor circuit, conductor pads formed on a part of the at least one conductor circuit exposed from respective openings provided in the solder resist layer for mounting electronic parts, and solder bumps formed on the respective conductor pads. Connection reliability and insulation reliability are easily improved by making the ratio (H/D) of a height H from solder resist layer surface the solder bump to an opening diameter of the opening about 0.55 to about 1.0 even in narrow pitch structure under the pitch of the opening provided in the solder resist layer of about 200 μm or less. |
| US08003888B2 |
Electrical junction assembly for wiring harness
An electrical junction assembly for a wiring harness (10) couples one or more branch wires (18) to a main trunk line (12). The junction assembly includes a housing (16) having an internal cavity into which is received first (34) and second (36) trunk terminals which interlock with one another and establish electrical conductivity therethrough. A branch wire (18) is inserted into the housing (16) through a branch opening (28). The branch wire (18) has a branch terminal (48) on its end which is adapted to mechanically connect to the interlocked first (34) and second (36) trunk terminals, thereby establishing electrical conductivity between the branch wire (18) and the main trunk line (12). A mounting member (56) is formed integrally on the housing (16) to provide a secure connection to a suitable mounting structure (58). A hook (40) within the cavity in the housing (16) automatically engages and securely retains the second trunk terminal (36) when inserted into a full operative position. Cable seals (54) on each of the wires (18, 30, 32) seal against the respective openings (22, 24, 28) into the housing (16) to protect the electrical connections established therein. |
| US08003886B1 |
Light switch assembly
A light switch assembly to replace an existing light switch, which generally includes a mounting bracket attached to an electrical box. The assembly slides into the mounting bracket and is locked into place with the mounting bracket. A decorative light switch cover and custom artwork within the frame snaps and locks onto the outer perimeter of the mounting bracket to complete the assembly. The assembly provides for a battery hack-up system for power failure situations to illuminate the white, light emitting diodes in the event of a loss of power. The assembly senses the loss of power and unlocks the switch assembly from attachment to the mounting bracket. Unsnapping the decorative cover exposes the switch assembly so it can be removed from the mounting bracket. The switch assembly then becomes a mobile, hand-held emergency flashlight. The battery back-up system also allows for communication with first responders. |
| US08003882B2 |
Methods and systems for asphalt roof integrated photovoltaic modules
Methods and systems for photovoltaic roofing systems are provided. The system includes a back sheet including a length, L, a width, W, and a thickness, T, the back sheet including an overlap portion extending along length L having a width, WO and an active portion extending along length L having a width, WA. The system also includes a photovoltaic cell formed on a surface of the active portion, the photovoltaic cell including a photovoltaic member electrically responsive to an absorption of photons, a negative electrode coupled to a surface of the photovoltaic member, and a positive electrode coupled to the surface of the photovoltaic member, wherein the thickness T is selected such that thickness T plus a thickness of the photoelectric cell substantially match a thickness of a proximate non-photovoltaic roofing member when the photovoltaic roofing system is installed. |
| US08003875B2 |
Playback apparatus, playback method and program
A playback apparatus is provided that includes an operation plane, a detection unit to detect which of contact relationship including first contact relationship, second contact relationship with a higher degree of contact than the first contact relationship and third contact relationship with a higher degree of contact than the second contact relationship the operation plane and an operation object have, a creation unit to create a list screen of content data for selecting content data based on movement of the operation object with respect to the operation plane in the first contact relationship, a playback unit to play back content data, and a playback control unit to cause the playback unit to play back content data selected on the list screen when becoming the second contact relationship from the first contact relationship if contact relationship becomes the third contact relationship from the second contact relationship. |
| US08003874B2 |
Portable chord output device, computer program and recording medium
To provide a portable chord producing device capable of producing chord sounds by a simple operation.In or on a housing 10 of a portable size, an operation switch 121 with which eight different chord sounds can be designated, and a display screen 11 which also serves as a touch sensor panel are formed. A memory card 20 has a chord data file recorded thereon that is used for letting chord sounds that have characteristics of sounds on a real musical instruments be produced. The chord producing device produces the chord sounds designated by the operation switch 121 through a sound production mechanism in a manner that is associated with a specific touch operation only during the time when it is selected. |
| US08003870B1 |
Instrument mute holder
Envisioned is an easily storable mute holder for securely holding a plurality of musical instrument mutes which is removably suspended from a music stand. The mute holder serves a musician using a set of mutes while playing a musical instrument where a rapid change of instrument mutes is required. The mute holder can be folded flat and conveniently transported or carried, for example within the instrument case. |
| US08003858B2 |
Soybean variety A1007964
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1007964. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1007964. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1007964 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1007964 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08003853B2 |
Fatty acid desaturases and uses thereof
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode novel fatty acid desaturase family members. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing desaturase nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and methods for large-scale production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), e.g., SDA, EPA and DHA. |
| US08003849B2 |
Compositions isolated from forage grasses and methods for their use
Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides active in lignin, fructan and tannin biosynthetic pathways are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided. |
| US08003846B2 |
Absorbent article comprising one or several patterns
An absorbent article for disposable use having at least one pattern (118) in the form of a text, image or the like. A background layer (146) and at least one intermediate layer (147) are arranged behind the pattern (118), in conjunction with which the intermediate layer or layers (147) exhibits or exhibit a first, essentially transparent state, and in conjunction with which the intermediate layer or layers (147) is or are transformed into a second, more opaque state when it or they is or are stretched. |
| US08003844B2 |
Methods of transporting heavy hydrocarbons
A method of transporting heavy hydrocarbons can include blending a kerogen oil with a bitumen to form a blended oil sufficient to render the blended oil transportable through an extended pipeline. The blended oil can be substantially free of additional diluents or viscosity modifiers and can be readily pumped through the extended pipeline from a source location to a destination location. |
| US08003838B2 |
1,4-hydrogenation of dienes with Ru complexes
The present invention relates to the use of Ruthenium complexes having cyclopentadienyl derivatives and a diene as ligands, together with some acidic additives for improving the selectivity in the 1,4-hydrogenation of conjugated dienes into the corresponding “cis”-alkene as major product, i.e. wherein the two substituents in position 2,3 of the diene are in a cis configuration in the corresponding alkene. |
| US08003837B2 |
Catalysts for dehydrogenation and/or hydrogenation of hydrocarbons, processes for preparing the same, and uses therefor
Catalysts comprising: a ground, spent (de)hydrogenation catalyst material present in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight based on the catalyst, the ground, spent catalyst material comprising iron oxide; and a fresh catalyst material present in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight based on the catalyst, the fresh catalyst material comprising iron oxide, wherein at least a portion of the iron oxide in the fresh catalyst material comprises a phase selected from the group consisting of hematite, potassium ferrite, and mixtures thereof are described along with processes for preparing and using the same. |
| US08003836B2 |
Production of diesel fuel from biorenewable feedstocks
A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils, animal fats and oils, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a diesel boiling range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture. |
| US08003834B2 |
Integrated process for oil extraction and production of diesel fuel from biorenewable feedstocks
An integrated process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as animal and plant oils and using a byproduct naphtha as an extraction solvent in the generation of the renewable feedstock. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel or diesel boiling range fuel blending component. A byproduct naphtha stream is used as an extraction solvent in a process for the generation of the renewable feedstock. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. |
| US08003832B2 |
Process for recovering pentafluoroethane, and production method of pentafluoroethane involving the process
The process for recovering pentafluoroethane of the invention includes bringing a mixed gas containing pentafluoroethane and a non-condensable gas into contact with a chlorinated solvent, and allowing the chlorinated solvent to absorb pentafluoroethane contained in the mixed gas. The process for the production of pentafluoroethane of the invention uses the recovering process. |
| US08003828B2 |
Method of producing reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals with excellent handling properties
The present invention provides a method of producing reduced coenzyme Q10 crystals suitable for commercial scale production thereof.According to a method of the present invention of producing a reduced coenzyme Q10 crystal which comprises a crystallization of reduced coenzyme Q10 in a solution of alcohols and/or ketones, reduced coenzyme Q10 crystal excellent in slurry properties and crystalline properties maybe obtained. Moreover, an isolation process including a crystal separation or the whole process including the isolation process maybe minimized and simplified. Thus, highly pure reduced coenzyme Q10 may be obtained in a high yield. |
| US08003826B2 |
Method for production of trimethylhexamethylenediamine
The invention relates to an improved process for preparing trimethylhexamethylenediamine, hereinafter referred to as TMD for short, by hydrogenation of trimethylhexamethylenedinitrile, hereinafter referred to as TMN for short, in the presence of a shaped hydrogenation catalyst of the Raney type. |
| US08003820B2 |
Process for preparing bisphosphonic acids
A process for preparing a bisphosphonate compound comprises reacting a carboxylic acid with a phosphonating agent, in a cresol solvent. |
| US08003818B2 |
Process for the hydrogenation of a lactone or of a carboxylic acid or an ester having a gamma-carbonyl group
The invention provides a process for the hydrogenation of a reactant selected from the group consisting of: at the ring-closing carbon atom and has a proton at a (a) a 5- or 6-membered lactone that is substituted carbon atom adjacent to the ring-closing carbon atom; (b) an ester of a carboxylic acid having a gamma-carbonyl group and a proton at a carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group; and (c) a carboxylic acid having a gamma-carbonyl group and a proton at a carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group, wherein the reactant is contacted with a strongly acidic heterogeneous catalyst comprising a hydrogenating metal, in the presence of hydrogen, at a temperature in the range of from 100 to 350° C. and a pressure in the range of from 1 to 150 bar (absolute). The invention further provides a fuel composition, preferably a diesel composition, comprising di-alkyl 4-methylnonanedioate or di-alkyl 3-ethyl-4-methylheptanedioate. |
| US08003817B2 |
Process for the preparation of diaryl carbonates or arylalkyl carbonates from dialkyl carbonates
The invention provides a process for the preparation of diaryl carbonates and/or alkylaryl carbonates from dialkyl carbonates and aromatic hydroxy compounds using one or more intermediate condensers for improving heat integration. |
| US08003816B2 |
Bisphosphite ligands for hydroformylation catalyzed by transition metals
The invention relates to a bisphosphite of the formula I where X=a divalent substituted or unsubstituted bisalkylene or bisarylene radical, Y=a divalent substituted or unsubstituted bisarylene or bisalkylene radical, Z=oxygen or NR9, and R1, R2, R3, R4 are identical or different, substituted or unsubstituted, linked, unlinked or fused aryl or heteroaryl radicals and R9 is hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl radical, a process for preparing it and also the use of this phosphite in catalysis in particular in the catalytic hydroformylation of olefins or organic compounds having C—C double bonds. |
| US08003813B2 |
Process for separating saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
A process for separating a blend of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids or saturated and unsaturated fatty acid alky esters into a first fraction enriched with the saturated fatty acids or saturated fatty acid alkyl esters and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters. When separating fatty acids, the process includes the steps of (a) saponifying a blend of long chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids to form free fatty acids, (b) complexing the free fatty acids with urea, and (c) separating the urea complexed free fatty acids into a first fraction enriched with saturated free fatty acids and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated free fatty acids. When separating fatty acid alkyl esters, the process includes the steps of (i) complexing the fatty acid alkyl esters with urea, and (ii) separating the urea-complexed fatty acid alkly esters into a first fraction enriched with saturated fatty acid alkyl esters and a second fraction enriched with unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters. |
| US08003811B2 |
Nitric oxide donor compounds
The invention relates to nitric oxide donors of the formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or stereoisomers thereof: wherein A and A′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and —(X)s—Y with the proviso that at least one of A or A′ is not H; wherein s is 0 or 1; X is selected from the group consisting of: —CO—, —COO—, —CONH— and —SO2— or Y is straight or branched C1-C20 alkyl chain, preferably C1-C10 alkyl chain, substituted with one or two —ONO2; or C1-C6 alkylenoxy-C1-C5 alkyl wherein the alkyl group is substituted by one or two —ONO2 groups. The invention also provides novel compositions comprising at least one compound of the invention and at least one therapeutic agent. |
| US08003801B2 |
Chemical synthesis of a highly potent epothilone
A highly active synthetic epothilone compound whose activity exceeds that of either epothilone EpoA or EpoB when assayed as a cytotoxic agent against a cancer cell line is disclosed as is a pharmaceutical composition containing the synthetic epothilone. |
| US08003791B2 |
Boronic ester and acid compounds, synthesis and uses
Disclosed herein is a method for reducing the rate of degradation of proteins in an animal, comprising contacting cells of the animal with certain boronic ester and acid compounds. Also disclosed herein are novel boronic ester and acid compounds, their synthesis and uses. |
| US08003789B2 |
HIV replication inhibiting pyrimidines
This invention concerns the use of compounds of formula the N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, quaternary amines, stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein -a1=a2-a3=a4- forms phenyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl with the attached vinyl group; n is 0 to 5; R1 is hydrogen, aryl, formyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, substituted C1-6alkyl, substituted C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl; R2 is hydroxy, halo, optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl or C2-6alkynyl, C3-7cycloalkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino, polyhalomethyl, polyhalomethyloxy, polyhalomethylthio, —S(═O)pR6, —NH—S(═O)pR6, —C(═O)R6, —NHC(═O)H, —C(═O)NHNH2, —NHC(═O)R6, —C(═NH)R6, 5-membered heterocyclic ring; L is optionally substituted C1-10alkyl, C2-10alkenyl, C2-10alkynyl or C3-7cycloalkyl; or —X—R3; Q is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, halo, polyhalo-C1-6alkyl, optionally substituted amino group; Y represents hydroxy, halo, C3-7cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl or C2-6alkynyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, amino, mono-or di(C1-6alkyl)amino, polyhalomethyl, polyhalomethyloxy, polyhalomethylthio, —S(═O)pR6, —NH—S(═O)pR6, —C(═O)R6, —NHC(═O)H, —C(═O)NHNH2, 13 NHC(═O)R6,—C(═NH)R6, aryl; for the treatment of subjects suffering from HIV infection. |
| US08003785B2 |
Halo-substituted pyrimidodiazepines
The present invention provides PLK1 inhibitor compounds of formula I: useful in the treatment or control of cell proliferative disorders, particularly oncological disorders. These compounds and formulations containing such compounds may be useful in the treatment or control of solid tumors, such as, for example, breast, colon, lung and prostate tumors and other oncological diseases such as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Also provided are intermediate compounds useful in the synthesis of compounds of formula I. |
| US08003783B2 |
17B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors
There is provided a compound of Formula (III) wherein R1 is a selected from an alkyloxyalkyl group, a nitrile group, alkylaryl group, alkenylaryl group, alkylheteroaryl group, alkenylheteroaryl group, ═N—O—alkyl or ═N—O—H group, branched alkenyl, alkyl-alcohol group, amide or alkylamide or —CHO so that R1 together with R3 provide the enol tautomer or R1 together with R3 form a pyrazole, wherein (a) R4 is ═N—O-alkyl or ═N—O—H group, (b) the pyrazole is substituted with one of alkyl-OH group, alkyl ester group, alkyloxyalkyl group, branched alkyl group, and an amide and/or (c) the 2-position is substituted with a group selected from —OH and —O-hydrocarbyl or a heteroaryl ring; R2 is selected from —OH and a sulphamate group; and R3 is selected from —OH or ═O; wherein the ring system may be further substituted with one or more hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy, alkinyl or halo substituents. |
| US08003782B1 |
Pharmaceutical composition of complex carbohydrates and essential oils and methods of using the same
The invention discloses the discovery that a pharmaceutical composition containing complex carbohydrates with or without natural or synthetic essential oils can work effectively as a topical, oral or mucosal pharmaceutical composition. Such pharmaceutical compositions reduce inflammation, assist in wound healing, protect against bruising, relieve itching, relieve pain and swelling and treat topical bacterial infections such as acne and decubitus ulcers and prevent and treat numerous other conditions and diseases. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be administered to mammals including humans. Also included in this invention are methods to deliver topically applied macromolecules into the tissue of mammals and methods of blocking the adhesion, metastatic and coronary cascades. |
| US08003781B2 |
Composition for suppressing the expression of fucosyltransferase
Disclosed is a means for reducing the expression amount of a FUT8 gene, reducing the expression amount of a FUT8 protein, and/or reducing the expression amount of a product produced by the action of FUT8. |
| US08003778B1 |
Detection of red tide organisms by nucleic acid amplification
A real-time reverse transcription-PCR, or NABSA, method (and associated primers) targeting the rbcL gene for the detection and quantitation of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis. |
| US08003777B2 |
Use of untranslated region of osmotin gene to enhance transgene expression in plants
The present invention provides methods, vectors and gene constructs for enhancing expression of a recombinant nucleic acid sequence in transgenic plants and plant tissues. According to the present invention, nucleic acid sequences are obtained and/or derived from the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of genes encoding osmotin proteins and engineered to flank respective portions of a selected coding region of a vector. The vector construct may be introduced into plants and/or plant tissues through conventional procedures, resulting in enhanced expression of the selected coding region. In a preferred embodiment, the selected coding region is a chimeric gene or gene fragment expressing one or more proteins known to impart a level of insecticidal activity to a transgenic plant and/or plant tissue. |
| US08003775B2 |
Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences relating to Streptococcus pneumoniae for diagnostics and therapeutics
The invention provides isolated polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences derived from Streptococcus pneumoniae that are useful in diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions; antibodies against the polypeptides; and methods for the production of the polypeptides. The invention also provides methods for the detection, prevention and treatment of pathological conditions resulting from bacterial infection. |
| US08003767B2 |
Sulfonated [8,9]benzophenoxazine dyes and the use of their labelled conjugates
Fluorescent, sulfonated 3,7-diamino-[8,9]benzophenoxazine dyes are provided that are especially useful for labelling biopolymers and other substrates. The dye-labelled conjugates can be used in a variety of contexts, including cell surface assays employing intact, live cells and in nucleic acid detection methods. The new dyes are water soluble and can be conjugated to a variety of substrates, such as polynucleotides, nucleosides, nucleotides, peptides, proteins, antibodies, carbohydrates, ligands, particles and surfaces. |
| US08003764B2 |
Folliculin-specific antibodies and methods of detection
The present disclosure relates to Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, nucleic acids encoding the BHD gene, and antibodies that specifically bind to the BHD protein (folliculin). In addition, the present disclosure relates to methods of diagnosing BHD disease and related conditions, such as spontaneous pneumothorax and kidney cancer, by detection of altered expression of folliculin using folliculin-specific antibodies. |
| US08003760B2 |
Factor VIII polymer conjugates
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer via carbohydrate moieties of Factor VIII, and methods of preparing same. |
| US08003759B2 |
Protein kinase-inducible domains
Applicants have used protein design to develop novel functional protein architectures, termed protein kinase-inducible domains, whose structures are dependent on phosphorylation by specific protein kinases or are dependent on dephosphorylation by specific protein phosphatases. Applicants have designed kinase-inducible domains based on a modular architecture, which allows kinase-inducible domains to be responsive to any specific serine-threonine kinases. Kinase-inducible domains can consist of canonical amino acids, allowing their use as expressible tags of protein kinase activity. |
| US08003757B2 |
Receptor-based interaction trap
Described is a recombinant receptor comprising an extracellular ligand-binding domain and a cytoplasmic domain that comprises a heterologous bait polypeptide. The recombinant receptor is activated by binding of a ligand to the ligand-binding domain and by binding of a prey polypeptide to the heterologous bait peptide. The invention also discloses a method for detecting compound-compound binding using the recombinant receptor. |
| US08003750B2 |
Thermosetting composition
A thermosetting composition comprising (a) 97.9 to 40 percent by weight of at least one bis(dihydrobenzoxazine) prepared by the reaction of an unsubstituted or substituted bisphenol with at least one unsubstituted position ortho to each hydroxyl group, formaldehyde and a primary amine; (b) 2 to 50 percent by weight of at least one organic polyamine; and (c) 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of at least one curing catalyst, selected from the group of carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids and phosphonic acids having at least two acid groups and no other reactive groups; wherein the percent by weight refer to the total amount of components (a), (b) and (c) in the composition, with the proviso that (a), (b) and (c) add up to 100 percent by weight; and (d) and optionally other components. Cured products of these compositions show valuable chemical, physical and mechanical properties. |
| US08003749B2 |
Fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acids and their novel polymer compounds
Disclosed is a fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics. |
| US08003748B2 |
Polythiourethane compositions and processes for making and using same
Polythiourethane polymer compositions, methods of making the polythiourethane polymer compositions, and methods of using the polythiourethane polymer compositions are provided. The polythiourethane can be produced by contacting a thiol ester composition and an isocyanate to produce a mixture and then heating the mixture to produce the polythiourethane polymer. In some embodiments, the thiol ester compositions include thiol esters, hydroxy thiol esters, and cross-linked thiol esters. |
| US08003745B2 |
Alpha-ethoxysilane modified polymers, their preparation and use
The invention relates to α-ethoxysilane modified polymers of the average general formula (I): in which R is a mono- to tetravalent polymer radical, not more than a third of the radicals R1, R2, and R3 present in the polymer of the formula (I), independently of one another, are alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, at least a quarter of the radicals R1, R2, and R3 present in the polymer of the formula (I), independently of one another, are ethoxy radicals, any remaining radicals R1, R2, and R3, independently of one another, are methoxy radicals, and in which n is 1 to 4. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the polymers of the formula (I), and also to their use in adhesives, sealants, and coating materials. |
| US08003730B1 |
Process for epoxy foam production
An epoxy resin mixture with at least one epoxy resin of between approximately 60 wt % and 90 wt %, a maleic anhydride of between approximately 1 wt % and approximately 30 wt %, and an imidazole catalyst of less than approximately 2 wt % where the resin mixture is formed from at least one epoxy resin with a 1-30 wt % maleic anhydride compound and an imidazole catalyst at a temperature sufficient to keep the maleic anhydride compound molten, the resin mixture reacting to form a foaming resin which can then be cured at a temperature greater than 50° C. to form an epoxy foam. |
| US08003726B2 |
Method to establish viscosity as a function of shear rate for in-situ polymerized nanonylon via chain extension
Chain-extended nanonylon is made from the reaction of in-situ polymerized nanonylon and chain-extending agents. Knowing the viscosity/shear rate curve for a thermoplastic polymer to be replaced, such as nylon, the method of the present invention allows via adjustment of organoclay concentration and chain extension of the nylon polymer and other reaction factors to achieve a chain-extended, in-situ polymerized nanonylon to have a viscosity/shear rate curve that essentially matches the viscosity/shear rate curve for that neat nylon within a commercially operable shear rate. |
| US08003724B2 |
Specialized silica, rubber composition containing specialized silica and products with component thereof
The invention relates to allyl functionalized precipitated silica, rubber compositions containing such silica, particularly sulfur cured rubber compositions, and articles of manufacture having a component thereof such as, for example tires. The invention particularly relates to synthetic amorphous silica, particularly a precipitated silica, treated with an allyl silane, particularly to a precipitated silica containing allyl functional groups. |
| US08003718B2 |
Oligomeric sterically hindered amines and their use as polymer stabilisers
This invention relates to new polypiperidine compounds of general formula (I) which give different kinds of polymer materials, in particular polyolefins, high stability towards oxidative action and photodegradation.The invention also relates to the processes used to prepare the compounds of formula (I). |
| US08003711B2 |
Dental composition containing Si-H functional carbosilane components
The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) carbosilane containing component (A) comprising at least 1 Si-Aryl bond, at least 1 silicon atom, at least 2 Si—H functional moieties, no Si-Oxygen bond, b) unsaturated component (131), and/or epoxy component (132), c) initiator (C), d) optionally filler (D) and e) optionally component (E) selected from modifiers, dyes, pigments, thixotropic agents, flow improvers, polymeric thickeners, surfactants, odorous substances, diluting agent(s) and flavorings. |
| US08003710B2 |
Production of ophthalmic devices based on photo-induced step growth polymerization
The invention provide a new lens curing method for making hydrogel contact lenses. The new lens curing method is based on actinically-induced step-growth polymerization. The invention also provides hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the method of the invention and fluid compositions for making hydrogel contact lenses based on the new lens curing method. In addition, the invention provide prepolymers capable of undergoing actinically-induced step-growth polymerization to form hydrogel contact lenses. |
| US08003709B2 |
Crosslinking of polyethylene for low wear using radiation and thermal treatments
The present invention discloses methods for enhancing the wear-resistance of polymers, the resulting polymers, and in vivo implants made from such polymers. One aspect of this invention presents a method whereby a polymer is irradiated, preferably with gamma radiation, then thermally treated, such as by remelting of annealing. The resulting polymeric composition preferably has its most oxidized surface layer removed. Another aspect of the invention presents a general method for optimizing the wear resistance and desirable physical and/or chemical properties of a polymer by crosslinking and thermally treating it. The resulting polymeric compositions is wear-resistant and may be fabricated into an in vivo implant. |
| US08003708B2 |
Process for making rigid polyurethane foams
Process for making rigid polyurethane or urethane-modified polyisocyanurate foams at an isocyanate index of between 110 and 120 comprising the step of reacting an organic polyisocyanate composition with an isocyanate-reactive composition in the presence of a hydrocarbon as blowing agent wherein the isocyanate-reactive composition contains between 3 and 30 wt % of polyester polyols and between 20 and 50 wt % of polyether polyols derived from aromatic amines, the amounts being calculated on the basis of total isocyanate-reactive compound. |
| US08003706B2 |
Enhanced production of blood clotting factors and fibrin fabric
The blood collection, processing and transfer by separation of discrete components containing additional citrate (at least about trisodium citrate 9% w/v) in one or other of collection or processing bag provides for enhanced yield and purity of cryoprecipitate. Inhibiting the activation or denaturation of blood components including blood cells and plasma proteins and with the removal of the activated and denatured components thereby improving safety and efficacy of end products. The inventive process is particularly suited to an improved extraction process to yield concentrated clotting factors from single donors or limited pools without use of chromatography. Following extraction the remaining cryoprecipitate can advantageously be formed into a fibrin fabric used in surgeries and in the treatment of wounds. |
| US08003705B2 |
Biocompatible hydrogels made with small molecule precursors
Biocompatible crosslinked polymers, and methods for their preparation and use, are disclosed in which the biocompatible crosslinked polymers are formed from water soluble precursors having electrophilic and nucleophilic functional groups capable of reacting and crosslinking in situ. Methods for making the resulting biocompatible crosslinked polymers biodegradable, or not, are provided, as are methods for controlling the rate of degradation. The crosslinking reactions may be carried out in situ on organs or tissues or outside the body. Applications for such biocompatible crosslinked polymers and their precursors include controlled delivery of drugs, prevention of post-operative adhesions, coating of medical devices such as vascular grafts, wound dressings and surgical sealants. Visualization agents may be included with the crosslinked polymers. Embodiments that include hydrogels having isolated hydrolytically degradable esters are set forth. Embodiments including the use of low molecular weight amines to make degradable hydrogels are also set forth. |
| US08003704B2 |
Methods and compositions for the treatment of alcoholism and alcohol dependence
Use is disclosed of (a) an AlDH-inhibitory amount of a Trp metabolite, or an analogue or derivative thereof or (b) a bioprecursor thereof, or (c) a potentiator of (a) and/or (b), in the preparation of a medicament for treating alcoholism and/or alcohol dependence. |
| US08003703B2 |
Phenoxiacetic acid derivatives
The invention relates to certain 2-substituted phenoxyacetic acid derivatives of formula (I), in which the variables are as defined in the claims, useful in the treatment of diseases or conditions in which modulation of the CRTh2 receptor is beneficial, such as asthma and rhinitis. |
| US08003702B2 |
Substituted aryl-indole compounds and their kynurenine/kynuramine-like metabolites as therapeutic agents
This invention is directed to substituted aryl compounds, which are linked to a substituted indole moiety by various linkers, and the kynurenine/kynuramine-like metabolites of these agents, their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds. This invention further is directed to the pharmaceutical use of the compounds for inhibiting GSK3β kinase and/or modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channel activities for the treatment of neurodegenerative and other disorders. |
| US08003701B2 |
Method of inhibiting inflammatory pain
A method of treating or inhibiting, in particular, pain caused by inflammation in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective inflammatory pain alleviating amount of a (1RS,3RS,6RS)-6-dimethyl-aminomethyl-1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-cyclohexane-1,3-diol compound, preferably in the form of a physiologically acceptable salt, such as the hydrochloride. |
| US08003697B2 |
Disodium salts, monohydrates, and ethanol solvates for delivering active agents
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. The delivery agents have the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl(arylene), or substituted or unsubstituted aryl(C1-C12 alkylene). The hydrates and solvates of present invention also have surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents, such as heparin and calcitonin, than their corresponding monosodium salts and free acids. The present invention provides an alcohol solvate, such as ethanol solvate, of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. The invention also provides a hydrate of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate. |
| US08003696B2 |
Composition and method for treating bacterial, viral, fungal diseases, inflammation and pain
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of treating bacterial, viral, fungal diseases; inflammation or inflammatory-related disorders; pain; and skin conditions. The composition comprises an organic solvent extract, which is prepared by the method comprising the steps of: (a) mixing methionine with water, (b) adding an aqueous hypochlorite solution to the methionine solution and mixing, (c) adding a water-immiscible organic solvent to (b) and mixing, and (d) separating the organic solvent phase from the water phase to obtain the organic solvent extract. The present invention is also directed to a method for preparing the organic solvent extract. |
| US08003694B2 |
Crystal of hydroxynorephedrin derivative hydrochloride ¼ hydrate
The present invention provides ethyl (−)-2-[4-[2-[[1S,2R]-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino]ethyl]-2,5-dimethylphenoxyacetate hydrochloride ¼ hydrate or a crystal thereof which can be determined by characteristic diffraction peaks of the powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis or the like, and obtained by manufacturing ethyl (−)-2-[4-[2-[[1S,2R]-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]amino]ethyl]-2,5-dimethylphenoxyacetate by a specific method. |
| US08003689B2 |
Metabolites of selective androgen receptor modulators and methods of use thereof
This invention provides metabolites of SARM compounds including inter alia glucuronidated metabolites and uses thereof in treating a variety of diseases or conditions in a subject, including, inter alia, muscle wasting disease and/or disorder, a bone related disease and/or disorder, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and associated diseases, and others. |
| US08003686B2 |
Aryl derivatives of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin or curcuminisoxazolide and their use as animal feed additives
The present invention relates to the use of acyl derivatives of curcumin, desmethoxy curcumin and bisdesmethoxy curcumin and of curcuminisoxazolide as components of animal feed or feed additives for the improvement of animal performance and the new acyl derivatives per se as well as the corresponding animal feed or feed additives containing them. |
| US08003684B2 |
Crystal form and pharmaceutical compositions of (+)-R-zileuton
Crystalline forms of (+)-R-zileuton, which may be used in pharmaceutical applications, are disclosed. Particular single crystalline forms of (+)-R-zileuton are characterized by a variety of properties and physical measurements. As well, methods of producing crystalline (+)-R-zileuton, and using it to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase activity in subjects to treat a number of diseases, are also discussed. |
| US08003680B2 |
Therapeutic compounds
Disclosed herein are compounds of the formula therapeutic methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed. |
| US08003674B2 |
Flavivirus inhibition by sultams and related compounds
Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods for treating or ameliorating flavivirus infections. This is particularly important because the present disclosure provides methods for treating flavivirus infections for which there is no effective vaccine. |
| US08003670B2 |
Aminoalkoxy aryl sulfonamide compounds and their use as 5-HT6 ligands
The present invention relates to novel aminoalkoxy arylsulfonamide compounds of the formula (I), their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of above said novel compounds, their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. These compounds are useful in the treatment of various disorders that are related to 5-HT6 receptor functions. Specifically, the compounds of this invention are also useful in the treatment of various CNS disorders, hematological disorders, eating disorders, diseases associated with pain, respiratory diseases, genito-urological disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. |
| US08003668B2 |
Amino-substituted 8-N-benzimidazoles and methods for their use in blood sugar disorders
The present invention comprises the use of amino-substituted 8-N-benzimidazoles compounds of formula I wherein R3, R4-R5, R11 and R20-R21 are hereinafter defined which display a therapeutically utilizable blood sugar-lowering action. These compounds are intended to be particularly suitable in the treatment of diabetes. |
| US08003664B2 |
Indazole-carboxamide compounds
The invention provides novel indazole-carboxamide 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds. |
| US08003658B2 |
Quinazoline derivatives for inhibiting cancer cell growth and method for the preparation thereof
The present invention relates to a novel quinazoline derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, a method for the preparation thereof and a pharmaceutical composition comprising same as an active ingredient. |
| US08003657B2 |
Heterocyclic substituted bisarylurea derivatives
The present invention relates to heterocyclic substituted bisarylurea derivatives of formula I, the use of the compounds of formula I as inhibitors of one or more kinases, the use of the compounds of formula I for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition and a method of treatment, comprising administering said pharmaceutical composition to a patient. |
| US08003654B2 |
N-glycinsulfonamide derivatives and uses as orexin receptor antagonists
The invention relates to novel sulfonamide compounds of the formula (I) and their use as orexin receptor antagonists. |
| US08003653B2 |
Imidazolidinone compounds useful as β-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
The present invention is directed to imidazolidinone compounds which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved. |
| US08003651B2 |
Pyrimidyl cyclopentanes as AKT protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I, including tautomers, resolved enantiomers, diastereomers, solvates, metabolites, salts and pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs thereof. Also provided are methods of using the compounds of this invention as AKT protein kinase inhibitors and for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer. |
| US08003650B2 |
Hydrazide compound and harmful arthropod-controlling agent containing the same
Disclosed is a hydrazine compound represented by the formula (1) below, which has an excellent control activity against a harmful arthropod. (1) (In the formula, R1, R5, R6 and R7 represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R2 and R3 are bonded together at their ends to form a 5- to 8-membered ring together with two nitrogen atoms; R4 represents a halogen atom or the like; J represents 1-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-3-bromo-1H-pyrazol-5-yl group or the like; and M represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally halogenated C1-C6 alkyl group, or the like.) |
| US08003648B2 |
Heterocyclic GPR40 modulators
The present invention provides compounds useful, for example, for treating metabolic disorders in a subject. Such compounds have the general formula I: where the definitions of the variables are provided herein. The present invention also provides compositions that include, and methods for using, the compounds in preparing medicaments and for treating metabolic disorders such as, for example, type II diabetes. |
| US08003644B2 |
Solid biocide formulations
Biocidal compositions that contain biocidal components, such as an oxidant, and mixed with said components a combination of inorganic compounds capable of reducing the oxidative capacity of the biocidal components by forming a low-melting glass when heated. The biocidal composition may be heated by being ignited or subjected to a heating source, such as a fire. |
| US08003642B2 |
Nitrogenated heterocyclic derivative, and pharmaceutical agent comprising the derivative as active ingredient
The compound represented by formula (I), a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof specifically binds CCR5, so it is useful for preventing and/or treating CCR5-related diseases, for example, various inflammatory diseases (asthma, nephritis, nephropathy, hepatitis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, ulcerative colitis, etc.), immunological diseases (autoimmune diseases, rejection in organ transplantation, immunosuppression, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, etc.), infectious diseases (infection with human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, etc.), allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, urticaria, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis, etc.), ischemic reperfusion injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock accompanying bacterial infection diabetes cancer metastasis and so on Wherein all symbols in formula are as defined in the specification. |
| US08003640B2 |
Organic compounds
The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) and the salts thereof, preferably the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; in which in which R1 has the meaning explained in the description, a process for their preparation and the use of these compounds as medicines, especially as renin inhibitors. |
| US08003631B2 |
Composition and method for the treatment of tauopathies
The present invention refers to the use of a specific indolocarbazole compound of general formula (1) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable a salt thereof for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of a neurodegenerative and/or dementing illness driven by the molecular pathology of microtubule-associate tau such as Alzheimer's disease, frontal lobe dementia, Pick's disease, Parkinson disease with dementia, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grains disease, or supranuclear palsy. A method for treating or preventing such illnesses is also disclosed. Furthermore, methods for the identification of efficacious inhibitors of neurofibrillary degeneration, and methods for the determination of an appropriate dosage of an inhibitor of the PHF-type tau hyperphosphorylation for the treatment of a condition characterized by neurofibrillary pathology are described. |
| US08003628B2 |
Methods of inhibiting osteoclast activity
Methods of inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and the activity of osteoclasts are disclosed. Methods of treating patients who have diseases characterized bone loss are disclosed. According to the methods, an amount of a TRANCE/RANK inhibitor effective to inhibit osteoclastogenesis is administered to the patient. Pharmaceutical compositions which comprise TRANCE/RANK inhibitor in an amount effective to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Methods of modulating dendritic cell maturation, T cell proliferation, and/or CD40 receptor systems in an individual are disclosed. The methods comprise the step of administering to the individual an amount of a TRANCE/RANK inhibitor effective to modulating dendritic cell maturation, T cell proliferation, and/or CD40 receptor systems. |
| US08003626B2 |
Pyrazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as microbiocides
Compounds of the formula I in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 are suitable for use as microbiocides. |
| US08003620B2 |
Compositions and their uses directed to diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1
Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods for modulating DGAT-1 activity. Preferably, the expression of DGAT-1 from a nucleic acid is inhibited. Methods are provided for treating, ameliorating or treating liver fibrosis, either directly or by treating an underlying etiological factor. Preferably, the treatment, amelioration or prevention comprises administering a DGAT-1 activity modulator. |
| US08003619B2 |
Method of stimulating an immune response and inhibiting expression of a gene using an oligonucleotide
This invention provides oligonucleotide agents that modulate an immune response by stimulating IFN production and methods of using such agents for therapeutic treatments of mammals. |
| US08003605B2 |
Minimising body weight gain in insulin treatment
A method for minimizing weight gain, preventing weight gain or inducing weight loss in a mammal, said method involving a treatment regimen which comprises administration of an insulin derivative having a substituent containing from 6 to 40 carbon atoms attached to one of its amino acid residues. |
| US08003603B2 |
Angiogenin complexes (ANGex)
Stabilized angiogenin compositions and methods of preparing a stabilized angiogenin compositions by non-covalent immobilization on a naturally occurring substrate, such as a protein, lipid, nucleic acid or nucleotide substrate, are disclosed. |
| US08003602B2 |
Antibacterial compounds
This invention relates to a novel purified compound PM181104, of formula: of molecular weight 1514 and molecular formula C69H66N18O13S5; which is obtained by fermentation of the microorganism belonging to Kocuria species (ZMA B-1/MTCC 5269). The invention includes all stereoisomeric forms and all tautomeric forms of the compound PM181104 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives such as esters and ethers. The present invention further relates to processes for the production of the novel antibacterial compound(s), to the production of the microorganism belonging to Kocuria species (ZMA B-1/MTCC 5269), and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the novel compound(s) as an active ingredient and its/their use in medicines for treatment and prevention of diseases caused by bacterial infections. |
| US08003601B2 |
Pegylated mutated clostridium botulinum toxin
The invention relates to a modified botulinum toxin comprising a natural heavy chain and a modified light chain, characterized in that the modification of the light chain resides in that it comprises (i) an extension of the chain on its N-terminus which has the structure —(C)n-(tag)m-(X)l— in the direction from the N- to the C-terminal end, wherein C represents a cysteine residue, tag represents any tag and X represents the residue of any naturally occurring amino acid, n represents an integer from 1 to 50, m represents 0 or 1, and l represents 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, and in that (ii) at least one of the cysteine residues in the extension of the chain is coupled to at least one chain of PEG. |
| US08003597B2 |
Combination therapy for the treatment of diabetes and conditions related thereto and for the treatment of conditions ameliorated by increasing a blood GLP-1 level
The present invention concerns combination of an amount of a GPR119 agonist with an amount of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor such that the combination provides an effect in lowering a blood glucose level or in increasing a blood GLP-1 level in a subject over that provided by the amount of the GPR119 agonist or the amount of the DPP-IV inhibitor alone and the use of such a combination for treating or preventing diabetes and conditions related thereto or conditions ameliorated by increasing a blood GLP-1 level. The present invention also relates to the use of a G protein-coupled receptor to screen for GLP-1 secretagogues. |
| US08003596B2 |
P-selectin targeting ligand and compositions thereof
P-selectin targeting ligand molecules are provided as well as compositions, including kits, which comprise such P-selectin targeting ligand molecules, such composition being useful for use as pharmaceutical formulations which can be administered safely and effectively and as diagnostic formulations. |
| US08003593B2 |
Formulations comprising an anti-microbial composition
The present invention describes a formulation comprising: (A) at least one surfactant; and (B) an anti-microbial composition that comprises (i) an anti-microbial agent with surfactant properties; (ii) a hydrophobic material and (iii) a polar solvent. |
| US08003587B2 |
Semiconductor process residue removal composition and process
A composition that includes 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol, at least one of a chelating agent and a corrosion inhibitor, and water. The composition is capable of removing organic, organometallic and metal oxide residues from semiconductor substrates. The invention also relates to a method of removing etching residue from a semiconductor substrate. |
| US08003580B2 |
Consolidated proppants having high mechanical strength and process for the preparation thereof
A process for the preparation of hydrolytically and hydrothermally stable consolidated proppants is described, in which (A) a consolidating agent comprising (A1) a hydrolysate or precondensate of at least one functionalized organosilane, a further hydrolyzable silane and at least one metal compound, the molar ratio of silicon compounds used to metal compounds used being in the range of 10 000:1 to 10:1, and (A2) an organic crosslinking agent are mixed with a proppant and (B) the consolidating agent is cured at elevated pressure and elevated temperature.The consolidated proppants obtained have high mechanical strength. |
| US08003579B2 |
Oil-, hot water-and heat-resistant binders, process for preparing them and their use
A process for preparing a binder which comprises a heterocondensate of silicon compounds and metal and/or boron compounds. The process comprises mixing a silicon component which comprises (A), at least one hydrolyzable silicon compound having a non-hydrolyzable polymerizable group, with water to form a hydrolysis product, and 15 s to 15 min after mixing (A) with water, the addition of (B), at least one compound of boron or a metal selected from Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Ga, Sn, Pb, Ti, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y and La. |
| US08003576B2 |
Friction modifier for drilling fluids
This invention relates to improved lubrication in drilling and completion fluids used in subterrane drilling for oil and gas. The addition of zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) acts as a lubricant, an enhancer to other lubricants and rate of penetration enhancer. |
| US08003574B2 |
Inhibiting naphthenate solids and emulsions in crude oil
Naphthenic acid solids and/or emulsions can be inhibited by introducing an additive to crude oil prior to or concurrent with the deprotonation of the naphthenic acids present in the crude oil. The additives may be surfactants and can be amines, quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary phosphonium compounds, and mixtures of both. The additives may also be linear compounds having at least two carboxylic acid or acrylic acid functional moieties. |
| US08003564B2 |
Process for preparing a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst
A process for the preparation of a catalyst or catalyst precursor, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing: (i) a catalytically active metal or metal compound (ii) a carrier material (iii) a gluing agent; and (iv) optionally one or more promoters, and/or one or more co-catalysts; (b) forming the mixture of step (a); and (c) drying the product of step (b) for more than 5 hours at a temperature up to 100 C to form the catalyst or catalyst precursor. The catalyst material mixture does not need to be calcined after forming to achieve the required minimum strength for use in a suitable reaction, such as Fischer Tropsch. |
| US08003559B2 |
Internal donor for olefin polymerization catalysts
Disclosed are solid titanium catalyst components, catalyst systems containing solid titanium catalyst components, and methods of making solid titanium catalyst components. The solid titanium catalyst components contain an internal electron donor compound containing at least one ether group and at least one ketone group. The catalyst system can contain a solid titanium catalyst component, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound. Also disclosed are methods of polymerizing or copolymerizing an alpha-olefin. The methods involve contacting an olefin with a catalyst system containing the solid titanium catalyst component. |
| US08003558B2 |
Internal donor for olefin polymerization catalysts
Disclosed are 1,8-naphthyl diaryloates, methods of making 1,8-naphthyl diaryloates, methods of using 1,8-naphthyl diaryloates, solid titanium catalyst components, catalyst systems containing solid titanium catalyst components, methods of making solid titanium catalyst components, and polymerization methods. The solid titanium catalyst components contain a 1,8-naphthyl diaryloate internal electron donor compound. The catalyst system can contain a solid titanium catalyst component, an organoaluminum compound, and an organosilicon compound. |
| US08003556B2 |
Optical glass
There is provided an optical glass with a high refractive index and a low dispersion having a refractive index (nd) of not less than 1.75 and an Abbe's number (νd) of not less than 35 where the image formation characteristic is hardly affected by changes in temperature of the using environment. SiO2, B2O3 and La2O3 are contained as essential components and the ratio of the constituting components are adjusted whereby an optical glass in which a product of α and β where α is an average linear expansion coefficient at −30 to +70° C. and β is an optical elasticity constant at the wavelength of 546.1 nm is not more than 130×10−12° C.−1×nm×cm−1×Pa−1 is able to be achieved. |
| US08003555B2 |
Flame retardant synthetic fiber, flame retardant fiber composite, production method therefor and textile product
A flame retardant synthetic fiber and a flame retardant fiber composite that satisfy high flame retardance and high fire resistance, a method for producing the flame retardant synthetic fiber and the flame retardant fiber composite, and a textile product are provided. The flame retardant synthetic fiber of the present invention includes a polymer (1) containing 30 to 70 parts by mass of acrylonitrile, 70 to 30 parts by mass of a halogen-containing vinylidene monomer and/or a halogen-containing vinyl monomer, and 0 to 10 parts by mass of a vinyl-based monomer copolymerizable therewith, based on 100 parts by mass of the polymer, and at least one kind of a metal compound (2) that accelerates a dehalogenation reaction of the polymer (1) during burning and a carbonization reaction of the polymer (1) during burning, wherein the flame retardant synthetic fiber has a shrinkage variation of 45% or less when a temperature is raised from 50° C. to 300° C. under a load of 0.0054 mN/dtex. |
| US08003554B2 |
Clothing support for a card flat covering
In a clothing support for a card flat covering, the belt-shaped support is made of plastics material, and there is embedded in a base body at least one reinforcing insert which is also belt-shaped and which is arranged in the vicinity of the back of the support. In order to make possible stronger anchoring by simple means and to allow undisrupted oscillation of clothing wires, the base body has at least two layers (bottom layer and top layer) of different plastics materials connected to one another, and the bottom layer incorporates a fabric. |
| US08003553B2 |
Elastic-powered shrink laminate
An elastic-powered shrink laminate includes a shrinkable layer and an elastic layer bonded together while the elastic layer is in a dimensionally unstable, stretched state. The elastic layer remains substantially in the stretched state prior to shrinkage of the shrinkable layer. When the shrinkable layer is activated, the laminate retracts, and the retraction is aided (i.e. powered) by the elastic layer. The elastic-powered shrink laminate is useful in personal care absorbent articles where latent, post-assembly retraction of a waistband region is desired. |
| US08003552B2 |
Polyaspartic polyurethene applications in composite industry
A freestanding article is provided that uses a cured polyaspartic acid urethane resin to form a hardened matrix impregnating and surrounding a cloth having parallel fibers. This resin provides an article with superior mechanical and weathering properties relative to conventional resins such as epoxies and vinyl esters. |
| US08003551B2 |
Surface-activation of semiconductor nanostructures for biological applications
The present invention provides means and methods for producing surface-activated semiconductor nanoparticles suitable for in vitro and in vivo applications that can fluoresce in response to light excitation. Semiconductor nanostructures can be produced by generating a porous layer in semiconductor substrate comprising a network of nanostructures. Prior or subsequent to cleavage from the substrate, the nanostructures can be activated by an activation means such as exposing their surfaces to a plasma, oxidation or ion implantation. In some embodiments, the surface activation renders the nanostructures more hydrophilic, thereby facilitating functionalization of the nanoparticles for either in vitro or in vivo use. |
| US08003548B2 |
Atomic layer deposition
A method for forming an atomic deposition layer is provided, which includes: (a) performing a first water pulse on a substrate; (b) performing a precursor pulse on the hydroxylated substrate, wherein the precursor reacts with the hydroxyl groups and forms a layer; (c) purging the substrate with an inert carrier gas; (d) exposing the layer to a second water pulse for at least about 3 seconds so that the layer has a minimum of 70 percent of surface hydroxyl groups thereon; (e) purging the layer with the inert carrier gas; and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) to form a resultant atomic deposition layer. |
| US08003546B2 |
Method of growing silicon and method of manufacturing solar cell using the same
In a method of growing silicon (Si) using a reactor, a supercritical fluid including a silicon Si source and hydrogen flows in the reactor, and the Si source reacts with hydrogen. A base substrate of a solar cell may be formed with Si made using the method of growing silicon (Si). The supercritical fluid may be a fluid in which Si is not oxidized and may be, for example, a CO2 supercritical fluid with a pressure of about 60 to about 200 atm. The Si source may be TriChloroSilane (TCS) (SiCl3H) or SiH4. |
| US08003542B2 |
Multiple spacer steps for pitch multiplication
Multiple pitch-multiplied spacers are used to form mask patterns having features with exceptionally small critical dimensions. One of each pair of spacers formed around a plurality of mandrels is removed and alternating layers, formed of two mutually selectively etchable materials, are deposited around the remaining spacers. Layers formed of one of the materials are then etched, leaving behind vertically-extending layers formed of the other of the materials, which form a mask pattern. Alternatively, instead of depositing alternating layers, amorphous carbon is deposited around the remaining spacers followed by a plurality of cycles of forming pairs of spacers on the amorphous carbon, removing one of the pairs of spacers and depositing an amorphous carbon layer. The cycles can be repeated to form the desired pattern. Because the critical dimensions of some features in the pattern can be set by controlling the width of the spaces between spacers, exceptionally small mask features can be formed. |
| US08003536B2 |
Electromigration resistant aluminum-based metal interconnect structure
A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing. |
| US08003532B2 |
Method of using an electroless plating for depositing a metal seed layer for the subsequent plated backside metal film
A method of backside metal process for semiconductor electronic devices, particularly of using an electroless plating for depositing a metal seed layer for the plated backside metal film. The backside of a semiconductor wafer, with electronic devices already fabricated on the front side, is first coated with a thin metal seed layer by electroless plating. Then, the backside metal layer, such as a gold layer or a copper layer, is coated on the metal seed layer. The metal seed layer not only increases the adhesion between the front side metal layer and the backside metal layer through backside via holes, but also prevents metal peeling after subsequent fabrication processes. This is helpful for increasing the reliability of device performances. Suitable materials for the metal seed layer includes Pd, Au, Ni, Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Pt, or their alloys, such as NiP, NiB, AuSn, Pt—Rh and the likes. |
| US08003530B2 |
Method for metallizing semiconductor elements and use thereof
The present invention relates to a method for metallizing semiconductor components in which aluminium is used. In particular in the case of products in which the process costs play a big part, such as e.g. solar cells based on silicon, a cost advantage can be achieved with the invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of the method, for example in the production of solar cells. |
| US08003525B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A GaN layer and an n-type AlGaN layer are formed over an insulating substrate, and thereafter, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed on them. Next, an opening reaching at least a surface of the insulating substrate is formed in the source electrode, the GaN layer and the n-type AlGaN layer. Then, a nickel (Ni) layer is formed in the opening. Thereafter, by conducting dry etching from the back side while making the nickel (Ni) layer serve as an etching stopper, a via hole reaching the nickel (Ni) layer is formed in the insulating substrate. Then, a via wiring is formed extending from an inside the via hole to the back surface of the insulating substrate. |
| US08003520B2 |
Air gap structure having protective metal silicide pads on a metal feature
A hard mask is formed on an interconnect structure comprising a low-k material layer and a metal feature embedded therein. A block polymer is applied to the hard mask layer, self-assembled, and patterned to form a polymeric matrix of a polymeric block component and containing cylindrical holes. The hard mask and the low-k material layer therebelow are etched to form cavities. A conductive material is plated on exposed metallic surfaces including portions of top surfaces of the metal feature to form metal pads. Metal silicide pads are formed by exposure of the metal pads to a silicon containing gas. An etch is performed to enlarge and merge the cavities in the low-k material layer. The metal feature is protected from the etch by the metal silicide pads. An interconnect structure having an air gap and free of defects to surfaces of the metal feature is formed. |
| US08003517B2 |
Method for forming interconnects for 3-D applications
A method for forming an interconnect, comprising (a) providing a substrate (203) with a via (205) defined therein; (b) forming a seed layer (211) such that a first portion of the seed layer extends over a surface of the via, and a second portion of the seed layer extends over a portion of the substrate; (c) removing the second portion of the seed layer; and (d) depositing a metal (215) over the first portion of the seed layer by an electroless process. |
| US08003516B2 |
BEOL interconnect structures and related fabrication methods
Methods for forming voids in BEOL interconnect structures and BEOL interconnect structures. The methods include forming a temporary feature on a top surface of a first dielectric layer and depositing a second dielectric layer on the top surface of the first dielectric layer. The temporary feature is removed from the second dielectric layer to define a void in the second dielectric layer that is laterally adjacent to a conductive feature in the second dielectric layer. The void operates to reduce the effective dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer, which reduces parasitic capacitance between the conductive feature and other conductors in the BEOL interconnect structure. |
| US08003515B2 |
Device and manufacturing method
A description is given of a device, including a semiconductor chip, a first metal layer laterally extending over the semiconductor chip, the first metal layer having a first thickness. A dielectric layer laterally extends over the first metal layer, and a second metal layer laterally extends over the dielectric layer, the second metal layer having a second thickness that is at least four times larger than the first thickness. |
| US08003512B2 |
Structure of UBM and solder bumps and methods of fabrication
Methods and UBM structures having bilayer or trilayer UBM layers that include a thin TiW adhesion layer and a thick Ni-based barrier layer thereover both deposited under sputtering operating conditions that provide the resultant bilayer or trilayer UBM layers with minimal composite stresses. The Ni-based barrier layer may be pure Ni or a Ni alloy. These UBM layers may be patterned to fabricate bilayer or trilayer UBM capture pads, followed by joining a lead-free solder thereto for providing lead-free solder joints that maintain reliability after multiple reflows. Optionally, the top layer of the trilayer UBM structures may include soluble or insoluble metals for doping the lead-free solder connections. |
| US08003511B2 |
Memory cell formation using ion implant isolated conductive metal oxide
Memory cell formation using ion implant isolated conductive metal oxide is disclosed, including forming a bottom electrode below unetched conductive metal oxide layer(s), forming the unetched conductive metal oxide layer(s) including depositing at least one layer of a conductive metal oxide (CMO) material (e.g., PrCaMnOX, LaSrCoOX, LaNiOX, etc.) over the bottom electrode. At least one portion of the layer of CMO is configured to act as a memory element without etching, and performing ion implantation on portions of the layer(s) of CMO to create insulating metal oxide (IMO) regions in the layer(s) of CMO. The IMO regions are positioned adjacent to electrically conductive CMO regions in the unetched layer(s) of CMO and the electrically conductive CMO regions are disposed above and in contact with the bottom electrode and form memory elements operative to store non-volatile data as a plurality of conductivity profiles (e.g., resistive states indicative of stored data). |
| US08003510B2 |
Fabrication methods for nano-scale chalcopyritic powders and polymeric thin-film solar cells
Fabrication methods for nano-scale chalcopyritic powders and polymeric thin-film solar cells are presented. The fabrication method for nano-scale chalcopyritic powders includes providing a solution consisting of group IB, IIIA, VIA elements on the chemistry periodic table or combinations thereof. The solution is heated by a microwave generator. The solution is washed and filtered by a washing agent. The solution is subsequently dried, thereby acquiring nano-scale chalcopyritic powders. |
| US08003509B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and semiconductor manufacturing method
A plated film having a uniform film thickness is formed on a surface of a substrate. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: a holding mechanism for holding a substrate rotatably; a nozzle for supplying a processing solution for performing a plating process on a processing target surface of the substrate; a substrate rotating mechanism for rotating the substrate held by the holding mechanism in a direction along the processing target surface; a nozzle driving mechanism for moving the nozzle in a direction along the processing target surface at a position facing the processing target surface of the substrate held by the holding mechanism; and a control unit for controlling the supply of the processing solution by the nozzle and the movement of the nozzle by the nozzle driving mechanism. |
| US08003505B2 |
Image sensor and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating an image sensor. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include preparing a substrate including a pixel region and/or a logic region having transistors and/or gates. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a first interlayer dielectric film on and/or over a substrate to cover gates. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a first dielectric film to expose an upper surface of at least one gate over a pixel region. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a second interlayer dielectric film over a first interlayer dielectric film and/or dielectric film. A method of fabricating an image sensor may include forming a plurality of contact holes, which may be simultaneously formed over a second interlayer dielectric film. An image sensor may include contacts formed over a second interlayer dielectric film. An image sensor is disclosed. |
| US08003503B1 |
Method of integrating stress into a gate stack
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a dielectric film on a substrate, depositing a metal-containing gate electrode film over the dielectric film, and modifying a surface layer of the metal-containing gate electrode film by exposing the metal-containing gate electrode film to a process gas containing an oxygen-containing gas, a nitrogen-containing gas, or an oxygen- and nitrogen-containing gas, where a thickness of the modified surface layer is less than a thickness of the metal-containing gate electrode film. The method further includes, heat-treating the modified metal-containing gate electrode film to form a stressed metal-containing gate electrode film that exhibits stress over the substrate. |
| US08003502B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method
A semiconductor device in one embodiment has a first connection region, a second connection region and a semiconductor volume arranged between the first and second connection regions. Provision is made, within the semiconductor volume, in the vicinity of the second connection region, of a field stop zone for spatially delimiting a space charge zone that can be formed in the semiconductor volume, and of an anode region adjoining the first connection region. The dopant concentration profile within the semiconductor volume is configured such that the integral of the ionized dopant charge over the semiconductor volume, proceeding from an interface of the anode region which faces the second connection region, in the direction of the second connection region, reaches a quantity of charge corresponding to the breakdown charge of the semiconductor device only near the interface of the field stop zone which faces the second connection region. |
| US08003500B2 |
Plasma immersion ion implantation process with chamber seasoning and seasoning layer plasma discharging for wafer dechucking
In a plasma immersion ion implantation process, the thickness of a pre-implant chamber seasoning layer is increased (to permit implantation of a succession of wafers without replacing the seasoning layer) without loss of wafer clamping electrostatic force due to increased seasoning layer thickness. This is accomplished by first plasma-discharging residual electrostatic charge from the thick seasoning layer. The number of wafers which can be processed using the same seasoning layer is further increased by fractionally supplementing the seasoning layer after each wafer is processed, which may be followed by a brief plasma discharging of the supplemented seasoning before processing the next wafer. |
| US08003492B2 |
Epitaxial lift off stack having a unidirectionally shrunk handle and methods thereof
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to epitaxial lift off (ELO) thin films and devices and methods used to form such films and devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming an ELO thin film is provided which includes depositing an epitaxial material over a sacrificial layer on a substrate, adhering a unidirectionally induced-shrinkage support handle onto the epitaxial material, and shrinking the support handle tangential to reinforcement fibers therein to form tension in the support handle and compression in the epitaxial material during the shrinking process. The unidirectionally induced-shrinkage support handle contains a shrinkable material and reinforcement fibers extending unidirectional throughout the shrinkable material. The method further includes removing the sacrificial layer during an etching process, peeling the epitaxial material from the substrate while forming an etch crevice therebetween, and bending the support handle to have substantial curvature. |
| US08003491B2 |
Methods and apparatus for producing semiconductor on insulator structures using directed exfoliation
Methods and apparatus provide for forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure, including subjecting a implantation surface of a donor semiconductor wafer to an ion implantation step to create a weakened slice in cross-section defining an exfoliation layer of the donor semiconductor wafer; and subjecting the donor semiconductor wafer to a spatial variation step, either before, during or after the ion implantation step, such that at least one parameter of the weakened slice varies spatially across the weakened slice in at least one of X- and Y-axial directions. |
| US08003485B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
In a semiconductor device and related method of fabricating the same, a hard mask layer is formed over a substrate, portions of the hard mask layer and the substrate are etched to form trenches having protruding portions at sidewalls, and an insulation layer buried in the trenches is formed to form device isolation regions having protruding portions at sidewalls, wherein the device isolation regions decrease a portion of a width of active regions. |
| US08003484B2 |
Method for forming silicon oxide film, plasma processing apparatus and storage medium
The present invention provides a method for forming a silicon oxide film, which has excellent insulating properties and higher quality that can enhance a yield in manufacture of semiconductor devices, while keeping advantageous points in a plasma oxidation process. In this method, plasma is generated under a first process condition that a ratio of oxygen in a processing gas is 1% or less and pressure is within a range of 0.133 to 133 Pa, so as to form the silicon oxide film, by oxidizing silicon on a surface of an object to be processed including silicon as a main component, by using the plasma (first oxidation step). Following the first oxidation step, the plasma is generated under a second process condition that the ratio of oxygen in the processing gas is 20% or more and the pressure is within a range of 400 to 1333 Pa, so as to form an additional silicon oxide film, by further oxidizing the surface of the object to be processed, by using the plasma (second oxidation step). |
| US08003481B1 |
Method for fabricating a capacitor
A method for forming an HSG (hemispherical grain) layer on a storage electrode of a capacitor formed on a substrate is provided. The method includes a step of introducing a source gas into a reacting chamber to deposit a small amount of HSG nuclei on a conductive layer pattern of a capacitor electrode during a step of stabilizing the substrate temperature. After the substrate temperature is stabilized, a larger amount of source gas is introduced into the chamber to form additional HSG nuclei. Thereafter, a step of annealing is performed to form the HSG layer. |
| US08003480B2 |
Process using oxide supporter for manufacturing a capacitor lower electrode of a micro stacked DRAM
A process using oxide supporter for manufacturing a capacitor lower electrode of a micron stacked DRAM is disclosed. First, form a stacked structure. Second, form a photoresist layer on an upper oxide layer and then etch them. Third, deposit a polysilicon layer onto the upper oxide layer and the nitride layer. Fourth, deposit a nitrogen oxide layer on the polysilicon layer and the upper oxide layer. Sixth, partially etch the nitrogen oxide layer, the polysilicon layer and the upper oxide layer to form a plurality of vias. Seventh, oxidize the polysilicon layer to form a plurality of silicon dioxides surround the vias. Eighth, etch the nitride layer, the dielectric layer and the lower oxide layer beneath the vias. Ninth, form a metal plate and a capacitor lower electrode in each of the vias. Tenth, etch the nitrogen oxide layer, the polysilicon layer, the nitride layer and the dielectric layer. |
| US08003478B2 |
Method of forming a bi-directional diode and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a bi-directional diode structure is formed to have a substantially symmetrical current-voltage characteristic. |
| US08003470B2 |
Strained semiconductor device and method of making the same
In a method for forming a semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a semiconductor body (e.g., bulk silicon substrate or SOI layer). The gate electrode is electrically insulated from the semiconductor body. A first sidewall spacer is formed along a sidewall of the gate electrode. A sacrificial sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the first sidewall spacer. The sacrificial sidewall spacer and the first sidewall spacer overlying the semiconductor body. A planarization layer is formed over the semiconductor body such that a portion of the planarization layer is adjacent the sacrificial sidewall spacer. The sacrificial sidewall spacer can then be removed and a recess etched in the semiconductor body. The recess is substantially aligned between the first sidewall spacer and the portion of the planarization layer. A semiconductor material (e.g., SiGe or SiC) can then be formed in the recess. |
| US08003469B2 |
Method of manufacturing non-volatile semiconductor devices
A non-volatile semiconductor device includes a memory cell in a first area of a substrate, a low voltage transistor in a second area of the substrate, and a high voltage transistor in a third area of the substrate. The memory cell includes a tunnel insulation layer formed on the substrate, a charge trapping layer pattern formed on the tunnel insulation layer in the first area of the substrate, a blocking layer pattern formed on the charge trapping layer pattern and a control gate formed on the blocking layer pattern. The control gate has a width substantially smaller than a width of the blocking layer pattern and the width of the control gate is substantially smaller than a width of the charge trapping layer pattern. In addition, an offset is formed between the control gate and the blocking layer pattern such that a spacer is not formed on a sidewall of the control gate. |
| US08003465B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device manufacturing method may include the following processes. A semiconductor substrate is partially removed using a first insulating film having first and second portions as a mask to form first and second pillars of the semiconductor substrate. A second insulating film is formed on side surfaces of the first and second pillars. A silicon film is formed on the first and second insulating films. A first part of the silicon film, which is on upper surfaces of the first and second portions, is removed. A coating film, which covers the upper surfaces of the first and second portions, is formed over the semiconductor substrate. The coating film is partially removed to expose the first insulating film and a second part of the silicon film. The second part is on side surfaces of the first and second portions. The second part is removed by dry etching. |
| US08003462B2 |
Manufacture method for semiconductor device having MIM capacitor, and semiconductor device
A first electrode film containing TiAlN and a main dielectric film containing tantalum oxide are formed over a semiconductor substrate. Anneal is performed in the state that the first electrode film and the main dielectric film are formed, to react aluminum (Al) in the first electrode film with oxygen (O) in the main dielectric film and form a subsidiary dielectric film containing aluminum oxide at an interface between the first electrode film and the main dielectric film. A second electrode film is formed facing the first electrode film via the main dielectric film and the subsidiary dielectric film. |
| US08003460B2 |
Method of forming a semiconductor structure comprising a formation of at least one sidewall spacer structure
According to an illustrative example, a method of forming a semiconductor structure comprises providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a first feature and a second feature. A material layer is formed over the first feature and the second feature. A mask is formed over the first feature. At least one etch process adapted to form a sidewall spacer structure adjacent the second feature from a portion of the material layer is performed. The mask protects a portion of the material layer over the first feature from being affected by the at least one etch process. An ion implantation process is performed. The mask remains over the first feature during the ion implantation process. |
| US08003459B2 |
Method for forming semiconductor devices with active silicon height variation
A method for forming different active thicknesses on the same silicon layer includes masking the silicon layer and exposing selected regions of the silicon layer. The thickness of the silicon layer at the exposed regions is changed, either by adding silicon or subtracting silicon from the layer at the exposed regions. Once the mask is removed, the silicon layer has regions of different active thicknesses, respectively suitable for use in different types of devices, such as diodes and transistors. |
| US08003455B2 |
Implantation using a hardmask
A method for processing CMOS wells, and performing multiple ion implantations with the use of a single hard mask is disclosed. The method includes forming and patterning a hardmask over a substrate, whereby the hardmask attains a first opening. The substrate may be a semiconductor substrate. The method further includes performing a first ion implantation, during which, outside the first opening the hardmask is essentially preventing ions from reaching the substrate. The method further involves the application of a photoresist in such a manner that the photoresist is covering the hardmask, and it is also filling up the first opening. This is followed by using the photoresist to pattern the hardmask, whereby the hardmask attains a second opening. The method further includes performing a second ion implantation, during which, outside the second opening, the hardmask and the photoresist, which fills the first opening, are essentially preventing ions from reaching the substrate. The two ion implantations may be used to form the two type of CMOS wells. |
| US08003454B2 |
CMOS process with optimized PMOS and NMOS transistor devices
A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming NMOS and PMOS transistors (24, 34) with enhanced hole mobility in the channel region of a transistor by selectively relaxing part of a biaxial-tensile strained semiconductor layer (90) in a PMOS device area (97) to form a relaxed semiconductor layer (91), and then epitaxially growing a bi-axially stressed silicon germanium channel region layer (22) prior to forming the NMOS and PMOS gate structures (26, 36) overlying the channel regions, and then depositing a contact etch stop layer (53-56) over the NMOS and PMOS gate structures. Embedded silicon germanium source/drain regions (84) may also be formed adjacent to the PMOS gate structure (70) to provide an additional uni-axial stress to the bi-axially stressed channel region. |
| US08003453B2 |
Self-aligned process for nanotube/nanowire FETs
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, e.g., a field effect transistor (FET), that includes at least one one-dimensional nanostructure that is typically a carbon-based nanomaterial, as the device channel, and a metal carbide contact that is self-aligned with the gate region of the device is described. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a CMOS device. |
| US08003452B2 |
Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A compound semiconductor device includes a carrier transit layer formed over a substrate; a carrier supply layer formed over the carrier transit layer; a first metal film and a second metal film formed over the carrier supply layer; a first Al comprising film formed over the first metal film; a second Al comprising film formed over the second metal film; a first Au comprising film formed over the first metal film and is free of direct contact with the first Al comprising film; a second Au comprising film formed over the second metal film and free of direct contact with the second Al comprising film; and a gate electrode that is located over the carrier supply layer between the first metal film and the second metal film. |