| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08018605B2 |
Document copier printing a copy of an input sheet by retrieving an electronic document containing content of the input sheet
A document copier is disclosed. The document copier has a code sensor for sensing coded data on a surface of a source page. The source page contains the coded data and content. A sheet transport mechanism configured to feed sheets of media through a media path and a print engine located in the media path for printing on sheets of media fed through the media path are also provided. A controller of the document copier identifies from the coded data an electronic document containing the content. That electronic document is retrieved by the controller, and the content is printed on a blank sheet of media. |
| US08018604B2 |
Multifunction sensor for an image forming device
The present application is directed to methods and devices for determining the presence of a module and presence of a media sheet in a media path using output signals from a single sensor in an image forming device. One embodiment includes a sensor which may be oriented in a variety of positions through interaction with the module and the media sheet. An algorithm may be used to determine the presence of the module in a module insertion path and presence of the media sheet in the media path based on the position of the sensor. |
| US08018603B2 |
Paper type determination device
A paper type determination device of the invention drives plural light emitting points different from one another and having sequentially increasing distances from a reference point to emit light in such a manner that each is identified for irradiating one surface of a sheet of paper subjected to determination. A photodetection device set at a specific detection field of view having the center at the reference point is disposed on the other surface side of the sheet of paper, and it receives light having passed through the sheet of paper from the respective light emitting points at positions on inside and outside of the detection field of view to detect intensity of light for each light emitting point. A diffusing characteristic of the sheet of paper is obtained on the basis of the intensity of light from each light emitting point detected by the photodetection device, and a paper type is determined on the basis of the diffusing characteristic. |
| US08018599B1 |
Interferometric method and apparatus for measuring optical signal quality in optical communications system
Differences in the interferometric patterns of modulated telecommunication signals and broadband optical noise sources are identified and are exploited in measuring the optical signal-to-noise measurements in reconfigurable photonic networks. A light output power from said interferometer corresponding to a specified delay setting in the interferometer is measured, and a coherent optical signal is distinguished from the incoherent optical noise based on the light output power measurement. |
| US08018593B2 |
Integrated nucleic acid analysis
The present disclosure provides fully integrated microfluidic systems to perform nucleic acid analysis. These processes include sample collection, nucleic acid extraction and purification, amplification, sequencing, and separation and detection. The present disclosure also provides optical detection systems and methods for separation and detection of biological molecules. In particular, the various aspects of the invention enable the simultaneous separation and detection of a plurality of biological molecules, typically fluorescent dye-labeled nucleic acids, within one or a plurality of microfluidic chambers or channels. The nucleic acids can be labeled with at least 6 dyes, each having a unique peak emission wavelength. The present systems and methods are particularly useful for DNA fragment sizing applications such as human identification by genetic fingerprinting and DNA sequencing applications such as clinical diagnostics. |
| US08018588B2 |
Sample holder and sample preparation device
An apparatus for forming a solid sample from a sample solution and then analyzing the solid sample to determine the solid form of the sample is provided. The apparatus may optionally comprise a masking block with an array of openings, a film on which the solid sample can be deposited, and a sheet. The apparatus may optionally comprise a masking block with an array of openings and a sheet on which the sample can be deposited. The apparatus may comprise the formation unit of a system for forming a solid sample and analyzing the solid sample. The system may further comprise an analysis unit comprising the film and/or sheet with the solid samples and a spacer unit attached to the film after it has been removed from the formation unit. Methods for using the apparatus and/or system of the present invention are also provided. |
| US08018586B2 |
Metrology of thin film devices using an addressable micromirror array
An addressable micromirror array is employed in conjunction with circuit topology navigation software to rapidly wavelength sample selected measurement points in an integrated circuit region. |
| US08018580B2 |
Laser range finding device and distance measurement method thereof
A distance measurement method for use in a laser range finding device to measure a distance between the laser range finding device and a target is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. A laser signal is sent to the target in a first time point. A reflected laser signal reflected by the target is then received. A digital signal having a plurality of signal values ranging from 0 to N is obtained by sampling the reflected laser signal with a sampling signal, wherein N is an integer larger than two. A maximum signal value among the signal values is obtained. The distance is calculated according to the first time point and a second time point where the maximum signal value is generated. |
| US08018579B1 |
Three-dimensional imaging and display system
A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which user input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image user feedback concerning the detected user input is presented. |
| US08018577B2 |
Illumination-sensor calibration methods, and exposure methods and apparatus and device-manufacturing methods including same, and reflective masks used in same
Exposure apparatus are disclosed that can control, to high precision, exposure doses on a photosensitive substrate of a mask pattern defined on a reflective mask as the pattern is being exposed on the substrate using a projection-optical system. An exemplary apparatus includes a first illumination sensor for detecting light that is incident on a reflective mask from an illumination system and a second illumination sensor for detecting light that has propagated from the illumination system to a reference reflective surface on the reflective mask, reflected from the reference reflective surface, and arrived at an image surface of the projection-optical system. Calibration of the first sensor is performed based on detection data obtained by the first sensor and detection data obtained by the second sensor. Exposure of the substrate is controlled based on the detection data obtained by the calibrated first sensor. |
| US08018573B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
Various types of pressure regulating devices are disclosed to reduce a pressure gradient in a liquid supply system of a lithographic apparatus, the liquid supply system having a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partially confine a liquid between a projection system and a substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. A high pressure gradient may cause particulate contamination in the liquid supply system and/or liquid confinement structure. A pressure gradient can be reduced by, for example, the use of slow switching in one or more valves, a bleed flow around or through one or more valves, diversion of liquid to a drain rather than or in addition to switching a valve off, a pressure regulator or flow restrictor to prevent shock waves, and a buffer volume/damper to compensate for pressure fluctuation. |
| US08018572B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and radiation system
A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation system configured to form a projection beam of radiation. The radiation system includes a radiation source that emits radiation, a filter system for filtering debris particles out of the radiation beam, and an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam. A projection system is configured to project the projection beam of radiation onto a substrate. The filter system includes a plurality of foils for trapping the debris particles. At least one foil includes at least two parts that have a mutually different orientation and that are connected to each other along a substantially straight connection line. Each of the two parts substantially coincide with a virtual plane that extends through a predetermined position that substantially coincides with the radiation source. The straight connection substantially line coincides with a virtual straight line that also extends through the predetermined position. |
| US08018570B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
This exposure system projects a pattern image onto a substrate via a projection optical system and a liquid to expose the substrate, with a space between the projection optical system and the substrate filled with the liquid. The exposure system is provided with a vaporization preventing unit for preventing the vaporization of the liquid. |
| US08018569B2 |
Method and apparatus for inhibiting the piracy of motion pictures
A method and apparatus to inhibit the piracy of motion pictures in theaters by taking advantage of the frame rate discrepancies between film (or digital) display and video camcorders. By alternating specific image display intervals and, shuttering cadences, or with digital video projectors commanding a similar modified display via the digital projector's blanking and display capabilities, so that the projected images occur in a random and/or phase shifted manner, objectionable distortions are produced in an illicitly captured video image, while being invisible to theatrical viewers. In addition, various serrated, slit, multi-quadrant or spotted patterns may be used on mechanical shutters, or simulated on digital displays, to further degrade the quality of illicitly captured video by pirates in theaters. |
| US08018568B2 |
Nanowire-based transparent conductors and applications thereof
A transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. More specifically, the conductive layer comprises a network of nanowires that may be embedded in a matrix. The conductive layer is optically clear, patternable and is suitable as a transparent electrode in visual display devices such as touch screens, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels and the like. |
| US08018566B2 |
Method for fabricating an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display wherein the upper and lower pixel electrodes are formed on opposite sides of the respective upper and lower pixel regions
An in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) and its fabrication method are disclosed. Common lines are formed at upper and lower portions of a pixel region to reduce a line width of the common lines and to reduce resistance of the common lines. A gate line is formed at the center of the pixel region to divide the pixel region into two regions in which pixel electrode connection lines and common electrode connection lines are arranged to crisscross each other to thus improve a luminance characteristic due to a parasitic capacitance deflection. |
| US08018564B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a composite data line with a line opening exposing the top surface and sidewalls
An LCD device includes plurality of gate lines and data lines crossing each other to define pixel regions on a substrate. A thin film transistor (TFT) resides at a crossing portion of the gate lines and the data lines and a pixel electrode is electrically connected with the TFT. The TFT includes a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer on the gate electrode and a semiconductor layer on the gate insulation layer. A portion of the data line and the semiconductor layer form a composite layer between adjacent pixel electrodes in which a line width of data line is the same as a line width of semiconductor layer. A method of fabricating the LCD device includes etching a passivation layer using a mask pattern and etching the semiconductor layer using the mask pattern and a portion of the data line as an etch mask to form the composite layer. |
| US08018562B2 |
LCD display element and LCD display panel
An LCD display element is provided that achieves a uniform LCD display panel by arranging individual LCD display elements side-by-side. The margin areas outside of the viewing field in the vicinity of the left and the right lateral edges of the LCD display element are configured to be equally narrow. The narrow width of the margin areas is achievable because row leads do not contact the row electrodes at one of their ends, but rather are routed in the spacing areas between individual column electrodes. Moreover, the electrical contact points are located in the spacing areas. In this manner, the wide lateral margin in the area of the contact points of the row electrodes, as in conventional LCD display elements, is avoided. Because the row leads are routed on the interior of the first cover plate, no contact strip is necessary in the area of penetration through the adhesive rim. |
| US08018560B2 |
Method and system for improving ion beam alignment for liquid crystal displays by forming an alignment layer over grooved surface profile
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device comprises a first substrate having a grooved surface profile; an alignment film layer of inorganic material formed on the grooved surface and having the grooved surface profile, the alignment film of inorganic material being aligned in response to an ion beam incident to the grooved surface in a direction parallel to a groove direction; a second substrate aligned opposite the first substrate for forming a plurality of LCD cells having liquid crystal (LC) material deposited therein, wherein LC molecules align parallel to the grooves for enhanced LCD performance. |
| US08018559B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus having alignment control for brightness and response
A liquid crystal display apparatus having a plurality of pixels, including: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy inserted between the pair of substrates; and first and second electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, respectively. A first alignment control structure is formed linearly on one of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal and a second alignment control structure is formed linearly on the other of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The first and second alignment control structures are bent in zigzag fashion and extend parallel with each other. The liquid crystal display apparatus also includes an additional structure for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The additional structure extends from a bent portion of at least one of the first and second alignment control structures. |
| US08018557B2 |
Retardation compensating plate to compensate residual retardation of a liquid crystal panel, a compensator, a liquid crystal display device, and a projection image display apparatus having the same
A retardation compensator 40 for compensating for residual retardation of a liquid crystal panel 11 includes a retardation compensating plate 50 having birefringence. An in-plane retardation R0c of the retardation compensating plate 50 and an in-plane retardation R0p of the liquid crystal panel 11 satisfy a relationship of 1 |
| US08018556B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a biaxial first anisotropic film and a second anisotropic film having an optical axis in a thickness direction
A LCD device includes a LC cell including a homogeneously-oriented LC layer and a pair of transparent substrates. A pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the LC cell. A protective layer of the light-emitting-side polarizing film has an optical isotropy, and protective layer of the light-incident-side polarizing film has an thickness-wise retardation of 20 to 90 nm. A biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-emitting-side polarizing film and the LC cell, and a second optical anisotropic film for cancelling the wavelength dispersion caused by the biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-incident-side polarizing film and the LC cell.The biaxial optical anisotropic film has three-dimensional refractive indexes ns, nf and nz that satisfy therebetween (ns−nz)/(ns−nf)≦0.5%. |
| US08018547B2 |
Protective covering for liquid crystal display
A protective covering for a LCD display is provided. The protective covering includes a sheet-like front portion, which rests over the surface of the LCD display when in use, a top portion that extends backwards from the sheet-like front portion, a back portion that extends downward from the top portion, and a pair of tabs that extend inward from the back portion such that the protective covering can be secured in place over the LCD monitor. |
| US08018545B2 |
Method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device
A method for fabricating an LCD device including: providing first and second substrates; forming an active area having a source region, a drain region, and a channel region on the first substrate and a storage line having a first region and a second region; forming a first insulation film on the first substrate; forming a gate electrode and a gate line, and forming a pixel electrode overlapping with the first region of the storage line on the first substrate; forming a second insulation film on the first substrate; forming a contact hole exposing a portion of the source and drain regions by removing the first and second insulation films and exposing the pixel electrode by removing the second insulation film on the pixel electrode; and forming a source electrode electrically connected to the source region and a drain electrode electrically connected to the drain region through the contact hole. |
| US08018543B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel with electrostatic protection structure
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a sealant and an electrostatic protection structure is provided. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed in parallel. The sealant is for sealing the liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electrostatic protection structure is disposed within a non-display area outside the sealant. The electrostatic protection structure includes a first line disposed on the first substrate and surrounding the edge of the first substrate. |
| US08018541B2 |
Array substrate for in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
An array substrate for IPS mode LCD device includes first and second gate lines on a substrate including first and second pixel regions; a first common connection pattern in an upper side of each of the first and second pixel regions; first and second outmost common electrodes extending from the first common connection pattern; first and second data lines crossing the first and second gate lines, the first and second pixel regions adjacent to each other along the first and second data lines; a TFT connected to the first gate line and the first data line pixel electrodes; a pixel connection pattern connected to the drain electrode common electrodes alternately arranged with the pixel electrodes; and a second common connection pattern at a lower side of the pixel regions and connected to the second outmost common electrode. |
| US08018540B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof. The liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a plurality of gate lines and data lines disposed on the first substrate and crossing each other to define a plurality of pixels, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and the data lines, a plurality of color filters disposed on the thin film transistors, a partition to divide the color filters, a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, the common electrode forming a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor along with the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel includes a display region where the pixel electrode and the color filter overlap each other, and a storage region where the pixel electrode and the common electrode form the storage capacitor, and the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode are connected to each other in the storage region. |
| US08018539B2 |
Pixel circuit structure
A pixel circuit structure applied in an LCD panel, which has a common voltage and includes at least one data line, is provided. The pixel circuit structure includes a first and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a first switch and a first capacitor. The second circuit includes a second switch, a third switch and a second capacitor. One end of the first capacitor receives the common voltage. Two ends of the first switch are respectively coupled to the data line and the other end of the first capacitor. The second and the third switch are coupled serially between the data line and a voltage source. One end of the second capacitor receives the common voltage, and the other end is coupled between the second and the third switch. The potential difference between the two ends of the first capacitor is different from that of the second capacitor. |
| US08018535B2 |
Electronic imaging device and driving method therefor
An electronic imaging device includes a display unit and a barrier layer. The display unit includes scan lines for transferring select signals, data lines for transferring data signals corresponding to first and second images formed according to one or more input signals, and pixels connected with the scan and data lines. The barrier layer includes first barriers and second barriers corresponding to the first barriers. The first image is displayed during a first period of a unit period during which an image of a single frame is displayed. The second image is displayed during a second period different from the first period. The first barriers are driven according to the first image, the second barriers are driven according to the second image, and a region of the barrier layer corresponding to a mixed region in which the first and second images coexist is a non-transmission region. |
| US08018533B2 |
Independent chrominance control method and system for images
A method and system for adjusting selected colors of an image is presented. A chrominance adjustment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determines whether the color of the current pixel is near a selected color. When the color of the current pixel is near the selected color the chrominance adjustment system calculates a color specific chrominance adjustment factor based on the current color and the selected color and adjusts the color of the current pixel using the color specific chrominance adjustment factor. |
| US08018531B2 |
Method and system of detecting signal presence from a video signal presented on a digital display device
A system for transmitting a modulated video signal to be presented on a digital display device, the video signal having a first frame and a second frame, the first frame and the second frame each comprised of a plurality of pixels, the system comprising a signal source for generating a video signal, an encoder, the encoder comprising a means for receiving the video signal from the signal source, a means for selectively altering luminance of the pixels of the first frame and the second frame of the video signal to represent a signal presence or signal absence and thereby creating a modulated video signal, and a means for providing the modulated video signal to a broadcast source, and the broadcast source for providing the modulated video signal from the encoder to a digital display device. |
| US08018528B2 |
Backlash prevention system and method
An optical module includes a first optics group, a second optics group, and an image sensor, wherein the first optics group and second optics group are configured to provide an image having a focus and a magnification to the image sensor. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first optics assembly includes a first optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a first lead screw so that rotation of the first lead screw results in translation of the first optics group along an axis of the first lead screw, a first actuator for rotating the first lead screw; and a first sensing target configured to permit detection of rotation of the first lead screw. In some embodiments of the present invention a second optics assembly includes a second optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a second lead screw so that rotation of the second lead screw results in translation of the second optics group along an axis of the second lead screw, a second actuator for rotating the second lead screw, and second means for sensing configured to detect rotation of the second lead screw. |
| US08018519B2 |
Camera module and method for personalizing on-screen display interface
A camera module capable of allowing personalization of an On-Screen Display (OSD) interface is provided. The camera module includes: a transmitting unit configured for transmitting icons to be used in an OSD interface to the camera module wirelessly or over wire, and saving the icons in a storage of the camera module; a mode selecting unit configured for selecting an OSD personalization mode; a reading unit configured for reading the transmitted icons from the storage of the camera module; a setting unit configured for setting the display size of the OSD interface and coordinates of each icon on a screen of an electronic device installed with the camera module to generate a personalized OSD interface. A related method for personalizing an OSD is also provided. |
| US08018518B2 |
Device and method for inserting captured image data into a document
A mobile device with an integrated camera responsive to signals from a camera activator. The mobile device includes application programs capable of editing documents. The user triggers the device operating system to switch from an active application program in which the user is editing a document to a camera application by activating the camera activator. The user then captures an image by again triggering the camera activator, whereupon the active application is restored and the image data is inserted within the document. The captured image is directly inserted into an input field within the open document in the active application. |
| US08018517B2 |
Image capture apparatus having display displaying correctly oriented images based on orientation of display, image display method of displaying correctly oriented images, and program
An image capture apparatus capable of generating a mirror image of a captured image and superimposing character patterns on the mirror image. The image capture apparatus includes an image capture device and a display device. The display device is rotatably coupled to the image capture device such that the display device can rotate between a normal position and self-portrait position. When in the self-portrait position, the display device displays a mirror image of the captured image, a superimposed character pattern, and an operation condition pattern. Furthermore, the image capture apparatus includes operation devices that are inhibited from operating by a user when in the self-portrait mode. |
| US08018515B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device
There is provided a solid-state imaging device with an improved linearity as well as dynamic range. Each pixel portion Pm,n in the solid-state imaging device includes: a buried photodiode PD for generating charges of an amount corresponding to the intensity of incident light; a capacitive element C connected in parallel to the buried photodiode PD to accumulate charges generated in the buried photodiode PD; an amplifying transistor T1 for outputting a voltage value corresponding to a voltage value input to the gate terminal; a transferring transistor T2 for inputting a voltage value corresponding to the amount of accumulated charges in the capacitive element C to the gate terminal of the amplifying transistor T1; a discharging transistor T3 for discharging the charges of the capacitive element C; and a selecting transistor T4 for selectively outputting a voltage value output from the amplifying transistor T1 to a wiring Ln. |
| US08018512B2 |
Image pickup device
The present invention resides in an image pickup device capable of reducing the deformation of the image of the photographed object. An image pickup element included in the image pickup device has a matrix of pixels, for which the control of the charge storage and the readout of image signal data is performed on a row-by-row or column-by-column basis. The storage controller controls the charge storage operation of the image pickup element. On the other hand, the readout controller controls the readout of the image signal data from the image pickup element, while keeping constant the unit period for the readout of the image signal data from the image pickup element. A synchronization signal generator provides a synchronization signal as a timing reference for the frame-based operation of the image pickup element. The synchronization signal period controller variably controls the repetition period of the synchronization signal, while the photographing is under way. |
| US08018511B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
According to the present invention, as a structure of a pixel section (10), in each of columns from a first to a m-th column, a plurality of pixel signals outputted from a plurality of pixels arranged in a column direction are transmitted, respectively, to a plurality of output signal lines (15l to 15n) different from each other. Then, a read control and are set control are simultaneously executed on the plurality of pixels. |
| US08018509B2 |
Image input processing apparatus and method
An image input processing apparatus includes: an optical band separating filter; a color filter of a four-color arrangement having an equivalence in which the sum of two colors is equivalent to one other color in the visible light region or the sum of three colors is equivalent to once or twice one other color in the visible light region; an optical sensor section that generates an imaging signal; a data separating section that separates the pixel data of the imaging signal into pieces of pixel data of four colors; an infrared separating section that performs infrared separation by a subtraction using the equivalence among the pieces of pixel data of the four colors after the separation; a first and second integration sections; a camera control processing section that determines which of the integration values from the first and second integrating sections is used. |
| US08018508B2 |
Light-collecting device and solid-state imaging apparatus
The present invention provides an optical device and the like which can collect incident light at a high incident angle than an existing microlens, in order to realize a solid-state imaging apparatus and the like corresponding to an optical system (an optical system with a high incident angle θ) with a short focal length for a thin camera.Each unit pixel (2.8 μm square in size) is made up of a distributed index lens 1, a color filter 2 for green G, Al wirings 3, a signal transmitting unit 4, planarizing films 5, a light-receiving device (Si photodiodes) 6, and a Si substrate 7. The distributed index lens 1 is made of high refractive index materials 33 [TiO2 (n=2.53)] and low refractive index materials 34 [air (n=1.0)] having concentric zones. Further, in a distributed refractive index lens, a width 35 of adjacent divided areas is 200 nm. Also, a film thickness t is 0.5 μm. |
| US08018505B2 |
Image-pickup apparatus
An image-pickup apparatus configured to perform vertical-dark-shading correction with increased precision independently of photographing conditions and/or a photographing environment is provided. The image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element having an effective-pixel part including plural pixel parts which are not shielded from light and a light-shielding-pixel part including plural pixel parts shielded from light, a signal-processing unit configured to set the reference level of output signals transmitted from the effective-pixel part, and a control unit configured to switch between plural areas used to set the reference level, the areas being provided in the light-shielding-pixel part, based on the photographing conditions and/or environmental conditions. |
| US08018504B2 |
Reduction of position dependent noise in a digital image
Noise is reduced in a digital image generated by an imaging device utilizing information which specifies noise level as a function of position for the digital image. A noise reducing algorithm is applied to the digital image while one or more parameters of the noise reducing algorithm are varied. The one or more parameters are varied as a function of field position in the digital image based on the obtained noise level as a function of field position. In this way, noise is substantially reduced and is spatially equalized in the digital image. |
| US08018495B2 |
Image capturing apparatus with movement compensation function and method for movement compensation thereof
A method for compensating movement of an image capturing apparatus is applied in a photographing mode whose exposure time is greater than the safe shutter time. The method includes the steps of: capturing a long exposure image under the desired exposure time and a short exposure image with an exposure time smaller than or equal to the safe shutter time, and recording a camera motion signal in the exposure time of the long exposure image. The image-shift signal is used to reconstruct the short exposure image and form a reconstructed image, and an image analyzing algorithm is utilized to extract the reconstructed image and the short exposure image of a different frequency component. Finally, different frequency components of the image are fused according to the specific ratios to produce a clear output image. |
| US08018494B2 |
Color correction device, color correction method, dynamic camera color correction device, and video search device using the same
A color correction device (1) including: color set information storage portions (11) which store color set information inclusive of source colors and reference colors; region selection portions (6) which select specific source regions from source images picked up by two cameras 2 respectively; region color decision portions (7) which decide source region colors as colors representative of the source regions; color set update portions (10) which update source colors in color sets by using the source region colors; and color correction portions (8) which calibrate colors in ranges similar to the source colors in the two source images to reference colors by using the color sets. It is possible to eliminate the necessity of holding information of color sets unnecessary for color correction, so that it is possible to reduce the load imposed on calculation and adapt to a change of lighting environment in real time. |
| US08018492B2 |
Video testing using a test pattern and checksum calculation
A method, an apparatus, and logic for testing a video data path. One method includes sending video data corresponding to a video test pattern to an input port of a video data path; receiving video data at an output port of the video data path; and calculating a function of at least the active part of the received video data. The function is selected such that it has a correct value when the at least the active part of the received video data accurately corresponds to the corresponding part of the sent video data. The method further includes ascertaining whether the function of at least the active part of the received video data has the correct value to ascertain whether or not an error has occurred. |
| US08018486B2 |
Camera carriage
The invention relates to a dolly, comprising a running gear and a lighting system, for inspecting pipes. At least two cameras (10, 11) are disposed in a common housing (4) and at least one camera is provided with means for changing the angle of view. The aim of the invention is to provide a dolly which can be used for the most varied applications and a method for inspecting pipe sections using a dolly and/or for representing the result of inspection. For this purpose, the means (7, 9, 2) are configured as a cardanic suspension of the housing (4) having motors for swiveling and/or rotating the housing (4) about at least one axis (5), especially about an axis that is orthogonal in relation to the longitudinal axis (6) of the dolly. |
| US08018474B2 |
Method for requesting and viewing an attachment image on a portable electronic device
A method for viewing a full image of a server stored original attachment on a portable electronic device including: building a graph structure within the server representing a map of the original image, downloading and displaying a re-sized image from the server to the portable electronic device, the original image exceeding an image size limit of the portable electronic device indicative of screen size of the portable electronic device, calculating width and height parameters of the full image, sending a request from the portable electronic device to the server to enlarge the image displayed on the device based on the width and height parameters, the request including the image size limit, retrieving and traversing the graph structure within the server to locate a separate image component constructed for the image size limit, collecting image binary data from the separate image component and modifying the image binary data based on the width and height parameters to create the full image of the original image and downloading the full image of the original image to the portable electronic device. |
| US08018473B2 |
Method and system for zoomable attachment handling on a portable electronic device
A method for viewing a full image of a server stored original attachment on a portable electronic device including: building a graph structure within the server representing a map of the original image, downloading and displaying a re-sized image from the server to the portable electronic device, the original image exceeding an image size limit of the portable electronic device indicative of screen size of the portable electronic device, dividing the original image into four individual quadrants and calculating width and height parameters of the four individual quadrants, sending a request from the portable electronic device to the server to enlarge the image displayed on the device based on the width and height parameters, the request including the image size limit, retrieving and traversing the graph structure within the server to locate a separate image component constructed for the image size limit, collecting image binary data from the separate image component and modifying the image binary data based on the width and height parameters to create the full image of the original image, downloading each of the four resized quadrants to the attachment viewer and assembling the resized quadrants to display the full image of the original image on the portable electronic device. |
| US08018467B2 |
Texture caching arrangement for a computer graphics accelerator
A method and apparatus which includes a graphics accelerator, circuitry responsive to pixel texture coordinates to select texels and generate therefrom a texture value for any pixel the color of which is to be modified by a texture, a cache to hold texels for use by the circuitry to generate texture value for any pixel, a stage for buffering the acquisition of texel data, and control circuitry for controlling the acquisition of texture data, storing the texture data in the cache, and furnishing the texture data for blending with pixel data. |
| US08018458B2 |
Close-packed uniformly adjacent, multiresolutional overlapping spatial data ordering
A method, apparatus, system and data structure is disclosed for mapping of spatial data to linear indexing for efficient computational storage, retrieval, integration, transmission, visual display, analysis, fusion, and modeling. These inventions are based on plane space being decomposed into uniform discrete closely packed (hexagonal) cell areas (85). Each resolution of closely packed cells can be further divided into incongruent but denser clusters of closely packed cells. The spatial indexing (86) is applied in such a manner as to build a relationship with the spatially close cells of any resolution. |
| US08018456B2 |
Smooth gray-level based surface interpolation for an isotropic data sets
A method of determining a distance of a source point to a surface of an object in three-dimensional space, wherein the object is represented by a decision rule and a plurality of volume elements arranged in slices comprising rows and columns, wherein each volume element carries at least one value, and wherein the decision rule determines membership of each volume element to the object in accordance with the at least one value of the volume element, the method comprising: determining a contour of a representation of the object within each slice; locating on the contour of each slice a homing point closest to the source point; fitting a curve to the located homing points; determining a distance from the source point to the fitted curve; and equating the determined distance as the distance of the source point to the surface of the object. |
| US08018453B2 |
Deferred acceleration data structure optimization for improved performance
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus to defer the optimization an acceleration data structure (e.g., a kd-tree) in response to movements of objects within a three-dimensional scene. According to one embodiment of the invention, an image processing system may determine portions of an acceleration data structure affected by the movement of an object within a three-dimensional scene. The image processing system may store the affected portion of the ADS in an optimization queue. If the image processing system does not have sufficient processing bandwidth available to optimize the ADS, the image processing system may defer the ADS optimization until sufficient processing bandwidth becomes available. Once sufficient processing bandwidth becomes available, the image processing system may optimize the ADS according to the information stored in the optimization queue. |
| US08018449B2 |
Light emitting display capable of controlling brightness
The light emitting display further comprises a scan driver that supplies a first scan signal, which is a write signal that selects the data signal and a second scan signal, which is an erasing signal to the pixels, and a timing controller that supplies data, which divide one frame into a plurality of sub-fields and adjust the data signal corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-fields depending on brightness of the pixel circuit, to the data driver. |
| US08018444B2 |
Data driving circuit, organic light emitting display device using the same, and driving method of organic light emitting display device
A data driving circuit for displaying uniform images, a light emitting display device using the same, a driving method thereof. The data driving circuit includes a holding latch part including a plurality of holding latches for storing data, a signal generation part including a plurality of digital-analog converters for receiving the data and for generating data signals, a first switching part located between the holding latch part and the signal generation part, and a second switching part electrically connected to the signal generation part, the second switching part being for transmitting the data signals to data lines, wherein the first switching part electrically connects the respective holding latches to the respective digital-analog converters differently during a previous frame than during a current frame. As such, the data driving circuit may diffuse errors of the digital-analog converters to display uniform images. |
| US08018442B2 |
Calibration of an optical touch-sensitive display device
Embodiments related to the calibration of an optical touch-sensitive display device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a method of calibrating an image sensor, wherein the method comprises placing a photoluminescent panel over the display surface, and illuminating a target location on the display surface with visible light. Infrared light that is emitted by the panel in response to the illumination of the display surface is received via the image sensor. The received light then is used to calibrate the device. |
| US08018440B2 |
Unintentional touch rejection
A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected. |
| US08018436B2 |
Device that manages power provided to an object sensor
A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface. |
| US08018431B1 |
Page turner for handheld electronic book reader device
A page turner is provided for a handheld electronic book reader device. The page turner is configured to detect a human gesture to turn a page in an electronic book that is being displayed by the device. In one implementation, the page turner is configured as a page turning mechanism having at least one tactile member (e.g., ridge, indentation, etc.) and at least one sensor positioned proximate to the tactile member to detect gesture proximity. The tactile member provides tactile feedback as the user passes a finger over the mechanism to simulate a riffle sensation akin to flipping through paper pages in a paperback book. In certain implementations, the eBook reader device has a non-symmetrical shape with a dual display system and QWERTY keyboard. |
| US08018425B2 |
Driving apparatus of light emitting diode and liquid crystal display using the same
A driving apparatus of a light emitting diode and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. The driving apparatus of a LED includes a plurality of LED groups in which LEDs are connected in series to each other; a plurality of constant voltage supply units that supplies a constant voltage required to drive a constant current to each of the plurality of LED groups and that outputs the constant voltage in which an output voltage is equal to or lower than an input voltage; and a pulse width modulation signal supply unit that supplies a pulse width modulation signal to each of the constant voltage supply units. |
| US08018421B2 |
Driving circuit, gate driver and liquid crystal display having the same
A gate driver of a liquid crystal display includes classes of driving circuits coupled to each other for outputting gate pulses. At least one class of driving circuits includes a shift register and a switch. The shift register outputs the gate pulse corresponding to the class of driving circuit according to the gate pulse outputted by a former class of driving circuits. The switch controls the enable of the shift register according to the gate pulse outputted by the former class of driving circuit and the gate pulse outputted by the class of driving circuit. |
| US08018420B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device has facing substrates, pairs of data lines, gate lines intersecting the data lines to define pixel areas, pixel electrodes formed in the pixel areas, a gate driver, a source driver and a latch circuit. Each pair of data lines includes first and second data lines adjacent each other. The gate driver applies a gate signal to the gate lines, and the source driver outputs data signals to the first and second data lines. The latch circuit stores a data signal output from the source driver and transmits relevant data signals to odd and even pixel electrodes formed between the first and second data lines. During high-speed operation, the data signal from the source driver is bisected and applied as an odd and even data signal to two neighboring data lines at certain time intervals. |
| US08018415B2 |
Display device and electronic equipment
A display device includes a display unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix state and a drive circuit selecting respective pixels in the display unit by each row and giving additional potential to pixel electrodes of the pixels by using coupling, in which the drive circuit has a function of allowing the reverse polarity of potential added to pixel electrodes to be a potential which can add suitable voltage to additional potential lines in a frame before adding the additional potential. |
| US08018412B2 |
Display device
Display bright in contrast can be obtained without discrination and flicker in the display device of the direct vision type whose pixel pitches are short to 20 μm or less. A liquid crystal panel is driven through the frame inverse driving method, and the vertical frame frequency is set to 120 Hz or more. Also, each of the pixels is arranged to correspond to one of R, G and B of color filters disposed on a TFT substrate side. |
| US08018410B2 |
Flexible and transparent ground plane for electric paper
An improved electric paper structure is provided. A ground plane assembly having discontinuous grounding elements is used to render electric paper applications more flexible. |
| US08018407B2 |
Light emitting driver and electroluminescent display including such light emitting driver
A driver includes a first signal processor adapted to receive clock, input and negative input signals and to output a first output signal to a first node, a second signal processor adapted to receive the first output signal, a negative clock signal, and first and second negative feedback signals and to output a second output signal to a second node, a third signal processor adapted to receive the second output, the input and the clock signals and to output a third output signal to a third node and prevent first and second voltages from being simultaneously applied to the third node, a fourth signal processor adapted to receive the second and third output signals and to output a fourth output signal to a fourth node, and a fifth signal processor adapted to receive the third and fourth output signals and to output a fifth output signal to a fifth node. |
| US08018403B2 |
Display device
A display device with high-definition, in which display unevenness due to a voltage drop in a wiring or display unevenness due to a variation in characteristics of TFTs are suppressed. The display device of the invention comprises a first wiring for transmitting a video signal and a second wiring for supplying a current to a light emitting element. The first wiring and the second wiring extend parallel to each other, and are formed so as to overlap with each other at least partly with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. |
| US08018402B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and testing method thereof
An organic light emitting display device and a testing method thereof is provided. The organic light emitting display device may be used to perform a test of a sheet unit for a plurality of organic light emitting display devices formed on a mother substrate. The organic light emitting display device can separately turn off particular organic light emitting display devices. A display region includes a plurality of pixels, which are connected to scan lines and data lines. A scan driver supplies a scan signal to the scan lines. A peripheral region surrounds the display region and includes a first wiring group extending in a first direction and a second wiring group extending in a second direction. A transistor group includes a plurality of transistors, which are coupled with one end of the data lines. An on/off controller is coupled with at least one wiring of the first wiring group and at least one wiring of the second wiring group. |
| US08018398B1 |
Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems
Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed. |
| US08018390B2 |
Cellular antenna and systems and methods therefor
A cellular communications antenna including sensors for determining position and/or orientation of the antenna. Position information may be obtained using, for example, a GPS receiver or by triangulation. Orientation information may be obtained using, for example, an electronic compass and/or gyroscope and/or an inclinometer.Position and/or orientation information may be utilised locally to control attributes of the antenna or may be communicated to a central controller which may control attributes of the antenna. Signals may be sent to a central controller to indicate that an attribute of the antenna is outside a desired range. |
| US08018388B2 |
Low profile antenna insert nut
An antenna mount comprising a front cylindrical mount, the front cylindrical mount having a threaded interior for installing an antenna; a flanged central portion; a base mount consisting of a hollow cylinder cut away along a longitudinal axis, leaving a half-circular cross section. The antenna mount can be installed by inserting it into an opening in the casing of a device and rotating the antenna mount until it abuts a stop stud. |
| US08018385B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device comprising non-planar internal antenna without ground plane overlap
A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a main dielectric substrate carried by the housing, circuitry carried by the main dielectric substrate, and a ground plane conductor on the main dielectric substrate. The mobile wireless communications device may further include an L-shaped dielectric extension comprising a vertical portion extending outwardly from the main dielectric substrate and an overhang portion extending outwardly from the vertical portion and above an adjacent portion of the main dielectric layer. A main loop antenna conductor comprising at least one conductive trace may be relatively positioned on the overhang portion of the L-shaped dielectric extension so as not to overlap the ground plane conductor. |
| US08018384B2 |
Method and apparatus for packaging an integrated chip and antenna
In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one antenna structure located on a first surface of a first substrate; at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate; and at least one via traversing the first substrate and thereby connecting the at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate to at least one pad located on a second surface. The at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate is operatively coupleable to at least one pad located on a surface of an integrated circuit and the at least one pad located on the second surface is operatively coupleable to at least one pad located on a surface of a printed circuit board. The at least one via is thereby operative to couple the at least one pad located on the surface of the integrated circuit and the at least one pad located on the surface of the printed circuit board. |
| US08018382B2 |
Positioning system and method
A positioning system designed to provide a three dimensional location of an object. The system can include one or more multiple transmitters or electromagnetic beacons, software defined radio receivers with an associated processing unit and data acquisition system, and magnetic antennas. The system applies theoretical calculations, scale model testing, signal processing, and sensor data to operate. |
| US08018378B2 |
Satellite navigation receiver having a configurable acquisition engine
A satellite navigation receiver having a flexible acquisition and tracking engine architecture. The flexible acquisition engine has a reconfigurable delay line that can be used either as a single entity or divided into different sections. Consequently, it can be configured to search different satellite vehicles, a single Doppler frequency, and full CA code in parallel. When configuring the delay line into different sections, each section is used to search a partial CA code. In this configuration, multiple Doppler mode, multiple satellite vehicles, multiple Doppler frequencies, and partial CA code can be searched in parallel. Furthermore, the different sections of the CA code can be time-multiplexed into a correlator, which can then be over clocked to achieve full CA code correlation. The flexible tracking engine includes a number of parallel tracking channels, whereby each individual channel has a number of taps or fingers, which can be used to lock onto different delays. During tracking, one of the taps can be used to lock on to the center of the peak. This leaves the other taps free to be used to perform other functions, such as determining the shape of the peak, detecting earlier arrivals for line of sight component, and obtaining an estimate of the noise floor. The flexible tracking engine is configurable to help acquisition functions, such as fine acquisition, false trigger detection, and/or fast reacquisition. |
| US08018377B2 |
Decoupled clock model with ambiguity datum fixing
The present invention relates to a method of processing Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier phase and pseudorange information. Dual-frequency carrier phase and pseudorange measurements from GPS receivers are processed by specifying separate oscillator parameters for the carrier phase and pseudorange measurements. Carrier phase estimates of errors of the oscillator are arbitrarily biased with respect to the pseudorange estimates, and ambiguity parameters are constrained to be integer-valued. Isolating the ambiguities as integer valued parameters provides extra information that can be exploited to maximize the use of GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems. |
| US08018373B2 |
System and method for filling level determination
A radar level gauge system using microwaves for measuring a level of a surface of a product in a container, comprising a waveguide arranged to extend into the product contained in the container, wherein a plurality of reference impedance transitions are arranged at known position along the waveguide and being configured to reflect a portion of transmitted electromagnetic signals back towards the transceiver. Preferably, each of the reference impedance transitions has a first reflection coefficient for the electromagnetic signals when the level of the surface is above the reference impedance transition and a second reflection coefficient for the electromagnetic signal when the level of the surface is below the reference reflector, the first reflection coefficient being substantially lower than the second reflection coefficient. According to this design, a higher accuracy of filling level measurements can be achieved. |
| US08018372B2 |
Spread spectrum radar apparatus, method for determining virtual image, and method for suppressing virtual image
The spread spectrum radar apparatus in the present invention (i) includes: a transmission code generator (110); a reception code generator (121) generating a reception code obtained by delaying a transmission code; a spread modulator (112) spread-modulating a signal generated by a local oscillator (111) using the transmission code; a transmission antenna (113) transmitting the spread-modulated signal; a reception antenna (120) receiving a signal; a spread demodulator (122) demodulating the signal using the reception code to provide a correlation signal; a mixer (123) mixing the correlation signal and the signal generated by the local oscillator (111) to generate a radar signal; a virtual image determining unit (130) determining a virtual image; and a radar signal calculation device (160) calculating the radar signal using a virtual image determination signal, and (ii) adds a calculation and an offset signal for suppressing a peak intensity of the virtual image when the virtual image occurs. |
| US08018370B2 |
Time-multiplexed residue amplifier
A system is configured and a method is provided for receiving an input ratio represented by a first input signal and a second input signal, and producing an output ratio represented by a first output signal and a second output signal. The system is constructed and the method is provided for alternately operating in at least two time periods, wherein in one time period the first input signal, a low accuracy amplifier, and the first output signal are selectively coupled, and in another time period the input signal, the low accuracy amplifier, a high accuracy attenuator, and the second output signal are selectively coupled so as to maintain the output ratio proportional to the input ratio. |
| US08018368B2 |
A/D converter
An analog to digital converter includes: a reference circuit adapted to generate reference voltages; differential amplifiers; normal phase circuits each of which samples a normal phase analog input signal and transfers a comparison voltage, obtained by comparison with a reference voltage generated by the reference circuit, to a first input terminal of one of the differential amplifiers when the input is differential and single-ended; and reversed phase circuits each of which samples a reversed phase analog input signal and transfers a comparison voltage, obtained by comparison with a reference voltage generated by the reference circuit, to a second input terminal of one of the differential amplifiers when the input is differential and which samples a ground level as a reference voltage of the reference circuit and supplies the reference voltage and comparison voltage to the second input terminal of the differential amplifier when the input is single-ended. |
| US08018366B2 |
Data converter having a passive filter
Exemplary implementations of electrical circuits and systems are disclosed, and methods for signal processing including sampling and quantizing of amplitude and band limited signals implemented through a Passive Pulse Modulation Analog to Digital Converter (PMADC). |
| US08018360B2 |
Systems and methods for mitigating latency in a data detector feedback loop
Methods and systems for mitigating latency in a data detector feedback loop are included. For example, a method for reducing latency in an error corrected data retrieval system is included. The method includes performing an analog to digital conversion at a sampling instant to create a digital sample, and performing a data detection on the digital sample to create a detected output. The detected output is compared with the digital sample to determine a phase error. During an interim period, the digital sample is adjusted to reflect the phase error to create an adjusted digital sample. After the interim period, the sampling instant is adjusted to reflect the phase error. |
| US08018358B2 |
Balanced data bus inversion
A method and apparatus for balancing an output load using data bus inversion is disclosed. In brief, one such technique comprises measuring the “balance” of data bits across a data bus (e.g., the number of zero values compared to the number of one values in a set of parallel data bits). If the data bits are unbalanced by a specified amount, a portion of the bits on the data bus are inverted, and the data bits, including the inverted portion, are transmitted. Also, a data bus inversion bit is set to a particular value and transmitted with the data bits to indicate that data bus inversion was used. If the data signal is not unbalanced (i.e., the bits on the data bus do not comprise an unbalanced number of logic values), then the bits on the data bus are transmitted as they are detected, and the data bus inversion bit is set to another particular value to indicate that data bus inversion was not used. |
| US08018357B1 |
System and method for generating test patterns of baseline wander
A system and method for generating test patterns of baseline wander, such as worst-case test patterns commonly referred to as killer packets. The number of steps required to cycle an output of a multi-level encoder in order to arrive at an anticipated level is determined. A test packet generator then generates the test patterns according to the determined steps and the state of a scrambler. |
| US08018356B2 |
Method of encoding/decoding data, method of detecting data, and method of recording/reproducing data
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data encoding method includes separating an input sequence into a plurality of n-bit blocks, wherein n is a natural number, and converting each of the n-bit blocks into a block code including M rows and N columns such that every bit in the block code has at least one identical bit adjacent horizontally or vertically to the bit, wherein M and N are natural numbers. |
| US08018351B2 |
Method for providing assistance during a parking maneuver of a vehicle
A method providing assistance during the parking maneuver of a vehicle into a parking space situated laterally to the vehicle to be parked, an erroneous length of the parking space being detected with the aid of a sensor system of the vehicle while the vehicle drives past the parking space on a curved trajectory. To determine the actual length of the parking space, a trajectory of the vehicle differing from a straight trajectory of the vehicle is additionally detected while driving past the parking space, for example, on the basis of the steering angle of the vehicle, and a correction value for the detected length of the parking space is ascertained therefrom. The actual length of the parking space is determined with a high degree of accuracy without the need for other measured values to be detected, for example, the orientation of parked vehicles or the depth of the parking space. |
| US08018349B1 |
Detecting an inline power shutoff failure
Power control circuitry (i) applies an inline power signal from a power source to first and second terminals when a control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has an inline-power-ON value and (ii) shuts off the inline power signal from the power source to the first and second terminals when the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has an inline-power-OFF value. Detection of an inline power shutoff failure includes obtaining a measurement signal from sensing circuitry while the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has the inline-power-OFF value, and generating a result signal based on the measurement signal. The result signal indicates whether the power control circuitry is applying the inline power signal from the power source to the first and second terminals while the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has the inline-power-OFF value due to an inline power shutoff failure. |
| US08018347B2 |
Device for integrating and indicating a parameter over time
A device for integrating and indicating a parameter over, comprising: a first electrode (2), a second electrode (3), an electrolyte (5), which is in contact with the first electrode and in consuming contact with a consumption portion (6) of the second electrode, at least two indicators (I1, I2, I3), which are connected to the consumption portion (6) at a respective connecting point (P1, P2, P3). The electrolyte (5) and the consumption portion (6) are selected such that when a voltage is applied over the electrodes (2, 3), the consumption portion (6) is consumed at a predetermined rate, wherein the indicators (I1, I2, I3) are arranged to switch states in response to a consumption frontier (F1, F2) of the consumption portion reaching or passing a connecting point (P1, P2, P3) associated with the respective indicator (I1, I2, I3), wherein at least one of the indicators is a binary (on/off) indicator. |
| US08018343B2 |
IC package antenna
An IC package antenna of which a metal radiating member is firstly provided on a board to form an antenna base board; the board is formed thereon at least a feed point; and the IC package antenna is packaged with an IC packaging housing and a packaging bottom portion to form an IC chip. The IC packaging housing has a plurality of connecting pins extending outward from inside of itself; wherein the inner end of at least one connecting pin is soldering connected with a feed point of the base board of the antenna. Such an IC package antenna can allow standardized and miniaturized antenna designing, and is applicable to Surface Mount Technology (SMT). |
| US08018342B2 |
Radio frequency sensor circuitry sensing device
A sensing device adapted to detect environmental changes and/or an analyte is provided. The sensing device comprising radio frequency sensor circuitry, a protection material disposed on the radio frequency sensor circuitry, and a metallic layer disposed on the protection material. A detection system for detecting an environmental change or an analyte in an article is provided. |
| US08018341B2 |
Semiconductor device and wireless communication system using the same
Initialization of a semiconductor device can be efficiently performed, which transmits and receives data through wireless communication. The semiconductor device includes an antenna, a power source circuit, a circuit which uses a DC voltage generated by the power source circuit as a power source voltage, and a resistor. The antenna includes a pair of terminals and receives a wireless signal (a modulated carrier wave). The power source circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal and generates a DC voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal by using a received wireless signal (the modulated carrier wave). The resistor is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. In this manner, the semiconductor device and the wireless communication system can transmit and receive data accurately. |
| US08018340B2 |
System and method to track articles at a point of origin and at a point of destination using RFID
A system is provided, which may alternatively be implemented as a method. According to one embodiment, the system comprises an article to be tracked; a flexible radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to the article, the RFID device comprising a first thin flexible sheet having a first surface, a dipole antenna disposed on the first sheet, and a single integrated circuit (IC) having stored therein an identification code associated with the article. The system further comprises an article tracking system configured to receive the identification code from an interrogation system, wherein the interrogation system includes a first interrogator located at a point of origin of the article, a second interrogator located at a point of destination of the article, and a third interrogator located on a route between the point of origin and the point of destination, and wherein the first, second, and third interrogators are configured to communicate with the RFID device to determine the identification code. |
| US08018339B2 |
Intruder detection system
An intruder detection system is provided in which a detection range can be set to a predetermined one so that false detection caused by a moving object outside the predetermined range can be diminished. The system includes a transmission-side leaky transmission line that radiates a detection signal for detecting an intruder and a reception-side leaky transmission line that receives a detection signal leaked from the transmission-side leaky transmission line, both of which are buried spaced apart from each other in a detection surveillance area, and detects the presence/absence of an intruder in the detection surveillance area based on variations in the detection signal received by the reception-side leaky transmission line, wherein at least part of either the transmission-side leaky transmission line or the reception-side leaky transmission line is made of a surface-wave-type leaky coaxial transmission line, and the other leaky transmission line, a radiation-type leaky coaxial transmission line. |
| US08018338B2 |
Motion sensor system with motor-actuated detection unit
Disclosed is a detection process performed in the detector, which is switchable between an active detection mode, where the detector actively monitors the surrounding area, and a passive detection mode. The data obtained by operation in the active detection mode for the first time are temporarily stored to serve as an initial environmental parameter. Subsequently, the detector operates primarily in the passive detection mode to determine whether or not a downstream device is to be activated, while switching intermittently from the passive detection mode to the active detection mode to thereby determine the activation or deactivation of the downstream device based on the result of comparing the detected value with the initial environmental parameter. |
| US08018335B2 |
Mote device locating using impulse-mote-position-indication
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to receiving by at least one mote device a request to provide an impulse-mote-position-indication; and indicating at least partially using the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device positional information about the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the request to provide the impulse-mote-position-indication. Another aspect of the disclosure related to receiving by a communication device an impulse-mote-position-indication of at least one mote device; and deriving a geographic location of the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the receiving by the communication device the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device. |
| US08018333B2 |
Emergency alert notification for the hearing impaired
An indication of an emergency alert message is provided to a user, potentially having a disability, via a networked enabled portable device. The emergency alert message is provided via sign language video images indicative of the emergency alert. A notification makes the user aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, the portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the potentially disabled user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information. |
| US08018330B2 |
Method for automatically detecting the use of a means of transport conveying persons
Disclosed is a method for automatically detecting the use of a means of transport (10; 16) conveying persons. According to said method, a transmitter emits signals, a receiver receives signals emitted by the transmitter, positional and/or movement-related data of the means of transport are determined, and the use of the means of transport is detected based on an evaluation of the change in intensity of successive signals received by the receiver as well as the positional and/or movement-related data. |
| US08018328B2 |
Adaptive audio content generation system
Methods and systems are provided which generate an alarm signal that alerts individuals who may be in the vicinity of a reversing vehicle and that alerts a vehicle operator when the alarm signal is not audible due to high ambient sound levels or detritus covering the alarm transducer. A background noise level in proximity to the vehicle is monitored. A level of the alarm signal is increased as the ambient (or background) sound level rises. Conversely, the level of the alarm signal is reduced as the background noise level decreases. The alarm signal is changed in volume, frequency, or both based on a velocity of the vehicle. A frequency content of the alarm signal may be modified if a spectral profile of an ambient sound field contains spectral components that may mask the alarm signal. |
| US08018326B2 |
Matrix switch
A matrix switch is provided with a plurality of input-terminals, a plurality of output-terminals, a plurality of connector switch elements connecting the plurality of input-terminals with the plurality of output-terminals, a plurality of input-terminal shunts associated with the plurality of input-terminals, and a plurality of output-terminal shunts associated with the plurality of output-terminals. Each input-terminal is connected to at least any one of the plurality of input-terminal shunts, and the input-terminal shunt connects the associated input-terminal to a predetermined impedance load as necessary. Each output-terminal is connected to at least any one of the plurality of output-terminal shunts, and the output-terminal shunt terminates the associated output-terminal in a predetermined impedance as necessary. |
| US08018325B2 |
Remote control system, remote controller, information processing apparatus, remote control method, information processing method, and computer program therefor
A remote control system includes an information processing apparatus and a remote controller. The remote controller includes a start notification transmitter that transmits a notification for causing the information processing apparatus to start recording an inter-device distance. The information processing apparatus includes a conversion table showing an association between amounts of change in the inter-device distance within predetermined time lengths and operations corresponding to the amounts of change; a start notification receiver; a distance measurement unit that periodically measures the inter-device distance; a measured distance storage unit that stores a measured inter-device distance in association with a measurement sequence; a determination unit that determines whether the amount of change in distance and the time length during which the change has occurred match any of the amounts of change in the conversion table; and an operation executor that executes the associated operation when the match is obtained. |
| US08018320B2 |
Tongue based control method and system for performing the method
With a method and a System for tongue based control of computers and/or aids, particularly for severely disabled persons it is the intention to ease the communication capabilities of severely disabled persons and their control of their aids, where the costs of producing the system are low, thereby avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art. This goal is achieved with a method and a system, where the method comprises that the interaction between the arrangement and the tongue is based on induction, whereby the arrangement is equipped with at least one coil being able to interact with at least one piece of a magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and that the signals transmitted to the device further comprise the position of the coil in the arrangement and/or the position of the magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and the system comprises that the arrangement is equipped with at least one coil being able to interact with at least one piece of a magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and that the signals transmitted to the device further comprise the position of the coil in the arrangement and/or the position of the magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue. |
| US08018317B2 |
Fuse arrangement
The invention relates to a fuse system for a switchgear assembly, especially for a medium voltage switchgear assembly. The fuse system comprises a plurality of fuses which correspond to the number of phases, every fuse having a tripping bar that projects from the face of the fuse under the effect of the force of a spring when the fuse comes into action. A sealing body, with a spring arrangement interposed, pushes a sealing head into the interior of a receptacle receiving the fuse. A two-armed lever is received on the sealing head, one arm covering a tripping mechanism which actuates a power switch. |
| US08018315B2 |
Power converter employing a micromagnetic device
A power converter including a power train, a controller and a driver. The power train includes a switch that conducts for a duty cycle and provides a regulated output characteristic for the power converter, and a micromagnetic device interposed between the switch and the output of the power converter. The micromagnetic device includes a substrate, and a magnetic core layer formed over the substrate from a magnetic alloy including iron, cobalt and phosphorous. A content of the cobalt is in a range of 1.8 to 4.5 atomic percent. A content of the phosphorus is in a range of 20.1 to 30 atomic percent. A content of the iron is substantially a remaining proportion of the magnetic alloy. The controller provides a signal to control the duty cycle of the switch. The driver provides a drive signal to the switch as a function of the signal from the controller. |
| US08018313B2 |
Laminate device and module comprising same
The laminate device of the present invention comprises magnetic layers and coil patterns alternately laminated, the coil patterns being connected in a lamination direction to form a coil, and pluralities of magnetic gap layers being disposed in regions in contact with the coil patterns. |
| US08018312B2 |
Inductor and method of operating an inductor by combining primary and secondary coils with coupling structures
An inductor and method of operating the inductor by combining primary and secondary coils with passive coupling, active parallel, or active cross-coupling structures. The first includes at least one passive coupling structure having at least one coupling coil arranged between a primary coil and at least one of the secondary coils and/or between two of the secondary coils. The second includes an active coupling structure arranged between a primary coil and at least one secondary coil and/or between at least two of the secondary coils, to selectively parallel couple the primary coil and one of the secondary coils and/or at least two of the secondary coils. The third includes an active coupling structure to selectively cross couple a primary coil and at least one of the secondary coils and/or to selectively cross couple at least two of the secondary coils. |
| US08018310B2 |
Inductor with thermally stable resistance
An inductor includes an inductor body having a top surface and a first and second opposite end surfaces. There is a void through the inductor body between the first and second opposite end surfaces. A thermally stable resistive element positioned through the void and turned toward the top surface to forms surface mount terminals which can be used for Kelvin type sensing. Where the inductor body is formed of a ferrite, the inductor body includes a slot. The resistive element may be formed of a punched resistive strip and provide for a partial turn or multiple turns. The inductor may be formed of a distributed gap magnetic material formed around the resistive element. A method for manufacturing the inductor includes positioning an inductor body around a thermally stable resistive element such that terminals of the thermally stable resistive element extend from the inductor body. |
| US08018307B2 |
Micro-electromechanical device and module and method of manufacturing same
The MEMS element of the invention has a first, a second and an intermediate third electrode. It is given an increased dynamic range in that the switchable capacitor constituted by the second and the third electrode is provided in the signal path between input and output, and that the switchable capacitor constituted by the first and third electrode is provided between the signal path and ground. The MEMS element of the invention is very suitable for integration in a network of passive components. |
| US08018306B2 |
Resonator having a three dimensional defected ground structure in transmission line
A high quality resonator has a three dimensional Defected Ground Structure (DGS) in the transmission line. The resonator includes a substrate installed at the center of the resonator floating in the air through supporting members, a transmission line on the substrate, and an upper ground plane member above the substrate at a predetermined interval. A DGS pattern with a predetermined shape is on each portion of the body of the ground plane member symmetrically with respect to the transmission line. An upper cover closely contacts the upper surface of the upper ground plane member to seal the upper opening of the DGS pattern on the upper ground plane member. A lower ground plane member has the same pattern as the upper DGS, and a lower cover functions similar to the upper cover. The upper and lower members should be installed symmetrically with respect to the substrate. |
| US08018305B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component includes first and second resonators provided within a layered substrate including stacked dielectric layers. The first resonator includes resonator-forming conductor layers of a first type and a second type. The resonator-forming conductor layers of the first type and the second type are reversed in relative positions of the short-circuited end and the open-circuited end, and are alternately arranged in the stacking direction of the dielectric layers. An input terminal is connected to all of the resonator-forming conductor layers of the first type. The second resonator includes resonator-forming conductor layers of a third type and a fourth type. The resonator-forming conductor layers of the third type and the fourth type are reversed in relative positions of the short-circuited end and the open-circuited end, and are alternately arranged in the stacking direction of the dielectric layers. An output terminal is connected to all of the resonator-forming conductor layers of the third type. |
| US08018301B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical transducer having a surface plate
A micro-electro-mechanical transducer (such as a cMUT) is disclosed. The transducer has a base, a spring layer placed over the base, and a mass layer connected to the spring layer through a spring-mass connector. The base includes a first electrode. The spring layer or the mass layer includes a second electrode. The base and the spring layer form a gap therebetween and are connected through a spring anchor. The mass layer provides a substantially independent spring mass contribution to the spring model without affecting the equivalent spring constant. The mass layer also functions as a surface plate interfacing with the medium to improve transducing performance. Fabrication methods to make the same are also disclosed. |
| US08018299B2 |
Band-pass filter circuit and multi-layer structure and method thereof
A band-pass filter includes a plurality of resonators, a feedback capacitive device and a grounding inductance device. A first end of each resonator is connected to a first node, and a second end of each resonator is connected to a second node. The feedback capacitive device is formed on the feedback circuit from the first node to the second node. The grounding inductance device is connected to the second node and ground. In an embodiment, the resonator essentially consists of a capacitive device and an inductance device. |
| US08018297B2 |
Balanced-unbalanced conversion circuit
A balanced-unbalanced conversion circuit includes a first coupling line, an unbalanced terminal connected to the first coupling line, a ground terminal connected to the unbalanced terminal through the first coupling line, a second coupling line electromagnetically coupled to the first coupling line, a first balanced terminal connected to the second coupling line, a second balanced terminal connected to the first balanced terminal through the second coupling line, and a band-reject filter serially connected to the first coupling line to remove predetermined-band signals of high frequency signals transmitted through the first coupling line. |
| US08018288B2 |
High-linearity low noise amplifier
Embodiments of a high-linearity low-noise amplifier (LNA) are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, an RF input signal may be amplified with a cascode amplifier. The cascode amplifier may include integrated notch filters to attenuate undesired signals. The cascode amplifier may operate from a large power supply when blockers are present to avoid voltage swing compression at its output. The cascode amplifier may be biased and designed to operate in a class AB mode to produce linear output current to avoid current compression or excessive current expansion. |
| US08018284B2 |
Method of using integrated power amplifier
An output-impedance in a power amplifier is provided. A first transistor QBUF of a buffer stage is connected to a first side of a resistor RF and a second transistor QAMP to a second opposite side of the resistor RF. The first transistor feeds a current IRF to the second resistor QAMP. The current IRF at the second transistor is copied and multiplied by a factor (n) to form an output current IOUT, as (1+n)*IRF. The current IRF is fed back to the first transistor and the output current IOUT is fed to a load resistor R. |
| US08018276B2 |
Signal processing method and power amplifier device
A signal processing method and power amplifier device are disclosed. The method may include receiving a signal to be transmitted, decomposing an original signal into a plurality of smaller constant-amplitude signals, wherein a vector sum each of the smaller constant-amplitude signals equals the original signal, amplifying the smaller constant-amplitude signals by an amplification factor using a plurality of amplifiers, wherein one or more of the plurality of amplifiers are enabled based on the amplitude of the original signal, combining the amplified smaller constant-amplitude signals into the original signal, the original signal being amplified by the amplification factor, wherein the amplified original signal is transmitted. |
| US08018271B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first flip-flop, a combined circuit and a second flip-flop that form a critical path; a first delay circuit and a third flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a second delay circuit and a fourth flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a first comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the third flip-flop; a second comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the fourth flip-flop: and a control circuit that controls a source voltage supplied to the combined circuit in accordance with the outputs of the comparison circuits. A delay time by the first delay circuit is different from a delay time by the second delay circuit. |
| US08018266B2 |
Level shifting circuit
A level shifting circuit including a driving circuit, a reset circuit, a coupling circuit and an output-stage circuit is provided. The driving circuit, controlled by the input signal, controls the first driving signal having a high voltage level in the first period and controls the first driving signal having a low reference level in the second period. The reset circuit, controlled by the first driving signal in the first period, resets the second driving signal having the low reference level. The coupling circuit, controlled by the falling edge of the input-inversed signal, controls the second driving signal having a low voltage coupling level in the second period. The output-stage circuit, controlled by the first and the second driving signal, controls the output signal having a high voltage level in the second period and controls the output signal having a low voltage level in the first period. |
| US08018265B1 |
Differential signal generation circuit
A differential signal generation circuit includes: an inverter array configured to sequentially invert an input signal to generate a plurality of delayed signals; and a phase mixer configured to mix a phase of a first delayed signal and a phase of a second delayed signal among the plurality of delayed signals at a preset mixing ratio to generate a first differential signal. The first delayed signal has a first delay from the input signal and the second delayed signal has a second delay from the input signal. The differential signal generation circuit is configured to generate a third delayed signal having a third delay from the input signal corresponding to a medium of the first and second delays, and the third delayed signal is further delayed to generate a second differential signal. |
| US08018263B2 |
Pulse generating circuit and pulse width modulator
A pulse generating unit receives a clock at a predetermined frequency, and generates a pulse signal which transits synchronously with the positive edge of the clock. A flip-flop acquires the pulse signal every time a positive edge occurs in an inverted clock output from the inverter. A logic gate multiplexes the pulse signal and the output of the flip-flop. A selector selects either the output of the logic gate or the pulse signal. |
| US08018262B1 |
Duty cycle correction circuit
A duty cycle correction circuit comprises first and second pulse generators, a clock dividing unit, a detecting unit, and a pulse width control unit. The first pulse generator is configured to generate a first edge of a first pulse signal in synchronization with a first edge of a first clock signal, and the second pulse generator is configured to generate a first edge of a second pulse signal in synchronization with a second edge of the first pulse signal. The clock dividing unit is configured to generate a second clock signal by dividing the frequency of the first clock signal. The detecting unit is configured to generate a detecting signal according to the second clock signal and a time interval between the first edge of the first pulse signal and a second edge of the second pulse signal. In particular, pulse widths of the first and second pulse signals are the same and are adjustable according to a control signal from the pulse width control unit. |
| US08018260B2 |
Compensation of degradation of performance of semiconductor devices by clock duty cycle adaptation
The device degradation of integrated circuits may be compensated for by appropriately adapting the duty cycle of the clock signal. For this purpose, a correlation between the duty cycle and the overall performance characteristics of the integrated circuit may be established and may be used during the normal field operation of the device in order to modify the duty cycle. Hence, an efficient control strategy may be implemented since the duty cycle may be efficiently controlled, while at the same time a change of clock signal frequency and/or an increase of supply voltage may not be required. |
| US08018259B2 |
Phase-locked loop having a feedback clock detector circuit and method therefor
A method for a phase-locked loop (PLL) in an integrated circuit, wherein the PLL comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The method includes, in a training mode: (1) setting a control voltage of the VCO at a first voltage level; (2) increasing the control voltage of the VCO from the first voltage level to a second voltage level, until a loss of the feedback signal is detected; and (3) storing an indicator value corresponding to the second voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO. The method further includes, in a normal mode: (1) monitoring a voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO by generating a monitored indicator value corresponding to the voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO; and (2) asserting the loss of feedback signal based on a comparison of the monitored indicator value and the indicator value. |
| US08018251B1 |
Input/output interfacing with low power
Apparatus and methods efficiently provide compatibility between CMOS integrated circuits and voltage levels that are different from that typically used by modern integrated circuits. For example, backwards compatibility can be desirable. Older signaling interfaces operate at different voltage levels than modern CMOS integrated circuits and conventional circuits to interface with these other signaling interfaces exhibit relatively high power consumption. In the context of a transmitter with a P-type substrate, an output driver is embodied in a deep N-well with retrograde P-wells and is biased with voltage biases that can float with respect to the VDD and VSS supplies provided to the CMOS integrated circuit. In the context of a receiver with a P-type substrate, a portion of a receiver is embodied in a deep N-well and biased with floating voltage biases such that the receiver is compatible with signaling received from a signaling technology with disparate voltage levels. |
| US08018249B2 |
Logic chip, logic system and method for designing a logic chip
A logic chip has a plurality of individually addressable resource blocks each of the resource blocks having logic circuitry, and a communication bar extending across a plurality of the individually addressable resource blocks. The communication bar has a plurality of communication bar segments associated with the resource slots. The communication bar segments of the individually addressable resource blocks have identical interface locations with respect to boundaries of the resource blocks, such that an input interface location of a first resource block matches an output interface location of an adjacent second resource block. At least one of the individually addressable resource blocks has a bypass segment of the communication bar. At least one of the individually addressable resource blocks has an access segment of the communication bar. The access segment has an access structure inserted between a first communication bar interface location and a second communication bar interface location, to allow for a read access or a write access or a combined read/write access to the communication bar. |
| US08018247B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption using selective power gating
A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption of transistor-based circuit is disclosed. The method includes receiving a low power mode indication; determining whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to a reset value of the transistor-based circuit and a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication, and selectively providing power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit. The apparatus is adapted to receive a low power mode indication, and includes: a determining circuit to determine whether to supply power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response a state of the transistor-based circuit prior the receiving of the low power mode indication; and a power gating, adapted to selectively provide power to at least a portion of the transistor-based circuit in response to the determination. |
| US08018246B2 |
Semiconductor device
A device includes a first circuit and an adjustment circuit. The adjustment circuit performs an adjustment on impedance of the first circuit. The adjustment circuit discontinues the adjustment on impedance while the first circuit is in an activated state. |
| US08018245B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is provided. A pull-up slew rate controller receives a first driving control signal generated in a first mode of operation, a second driving control signal generated in a second mode of operation, and data, and upon a first transition of the data, sequentially activates the data and a first pull-up delayed signal having different delay times in the first mode of operation and sequentially activates the data and the first to third pull-up delayed signals having different delay times in the second mode of operation. A pull-up driving unit sequentially pulls a data output terminal up in response to the data and the first to third pull-up delayed signals. A pull-down slew rate controller, upon a second transition of the data, sequentially activates the data and the first pull-down delayed signal having different delay times in the first mode of operation and sequentially activates the data and the first to third pull-down delayed signals having different delay times in the second mode of operation. A pull-down driving unit sequentially pulls the data output terminal down in response to the data and the first to third pull-down delayed signals. |
| US08018240B2 |
Apparatus, circuit and method of monitoring leakage current characteristics
An apparatus includes a current source, a current monitor circuit which monitors a current amount of the current source, and outputs a current amount signal corresponding to the current amount being monitored, a counter circuit which counts a count value based on the current amount signal, the count value corresponding to a period being taken until when the current amount reaches a predetermined value, and a control circuit which modifies an operation parameter for operating a circuit unit according to the count value. |
| US08018239B2 |
Method and device for measuring powder properties
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring information relating to the impedance characteristics of a powder with high accuracy. To achieve such an object, the method for measuring powder properties according to the present invention includes a step in which the impedance characteristics of a powder are obtained by an alternating current impedance method, using a function setting a pressure applied to the powder or a density of the powder as a variable. From the obtained impedance characteristics, information relating to at least one of the components can be extracted, the components being a first component that is dependent on the variable, and a second component that is not dependent on the variable. |
| US08018237B2 |
Broken piece detecting sensor
To provide a broken piece detecting sensor assembly capable of stably detecting broken piece admixed in a fluid, which broken piece is made of material characterized by non-metal, non-magnetic and non-electroconductive characteristics such as ceramics. This broken piece detecting sensor assembly is a sensor for detecting broken piece admixed in a fluid. Provided are two opposed flat plates, a shift mechanism for moving at least one of the two flat plates in a confronting direction to allow the broken piece to be sandwiched between those two flat plates, and measuring and determining section. The measuring and determining section is operable to measure the distance between the two flat plates to thereby detect the presence or absence of the broken piece, the size of the broken piece or the amount of the broken piece accumulated. |
| US08018234B2 |
Electron source for a vacuum pressure measuring device
A vacuum pressure measuring device with an electron source has a reaction zone for forming ions by impact ionization, wherein the electron source communicates with the reaction zone via a passage for the electrons. The electron source is surrounded by an insulating housing with a vacuum chamber, and a partition part is designed as a membrane carrier, carrying a nanomembrane at least in one section, the membrane separating the vacuum chamber from the outer region in a gastight manner and being at least partially designed to be electron-permeable. The vacuum chamber has a cathode for the emission of electrons. In the region of and/or on the nanomembrane, an anode arrangement is provided such that electrons are conducted against the nanomembrane and at least partially through it. The nanomembrane abuts the vacuum chamber of the vacuum pressure measuring device. |
| US08018233B2 |
Evaluation method of separator for nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and nonaqueous electrolyte battery
The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention includes: placing opposite an upper jig 21 serving also as a conductive electrode and a lower jig 23 serving also as a conductive electrode in both sides of the separator sample 22; and measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 while applying a pressure to between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 to evaluate the separator. At this time, by fitting a foreign material 28 in any shape between the separator sample 22 and one of the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23, an evaluation of the separator simulating the presence of a foreign material affecting adversely the separator can be performed. |
| US08018228B2 |
High resolution and flexible eddy current array probe
Disclosed is a method and an NDT/NDI probe deploying a slit or a flexible joint of probe bending region, preferably between two rows of probe elements to allow free bending between rows of probe elements and along the direction of the rows of elements and to allow two adjacent rows of elements to bend individually along its own natural bending lines perpendicular to the direction of the rows of elements. Also disclosed is the use of protective flexible pads to cover the probe elements and other probe components. |
| US08018227B2 |
Device and method for measuring and monitoring the level of liquid metal in a crystalliser
A device and method for measuring the surface level and/or the presence of a molten metal bath in a cooled container, particularly a crystallizer for a continuous casting process, comprising a source of an electromagnetic field, wherein said source of an electromagnetic field is a transmission coil fed with electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. The information on the level and/or the presence of said surface level is obtained by processing the total impedance (Z), as measured on said transmission coil, in order to calculate the contribution to said impedance (Z) of the currents induced in the walls of the crystallizer, which depend on temperature of the crystallizer and, from it, the value of said surface level and/or the presence of the molten metal bath. |
| US08018221B2 |
Apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor
An apparatus for measuring an electric current flowing through an electrical conductor (1), comprising a measuring device which detects a magnetic field formed by the electrical conductor in three orthogonal spatial directions and supplies measurement signals associated with the respective spatial directions. |
| US08018219B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiple electrical circuit mapping
A module is provided for identifying outlets on a common power circuit. The module comprises a connector adapted to electrically couple with an outlet, a signal generator electrically connected to the connector and adapted to send a signal through the connector into a power circuit in response to a predetermined discrete event, an indicator; and logic electrically connected to the connector and the indicator and adapted to detect a signal from another apparatus propagated on a common circuit and activate the indicator in response to the signal. |
| US08018214B2 |
Regulator with soft-start using current source
There is provided a regulator with soft-start using a current source. The regulator with soft-start may include: a power switch unit including first and second power switches connected between a power supply terminal and an output terminal; a load capacitor connected between the output terminal and a ground; a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage of the output terminal; a comparison unit comparing a detection voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, and outputting first and second switching signals; a current generating a predetermined constant current; a current control unit switching a connection between a control terminal of the first power switch and the current source unit according to the first switching, and switching a connection between the control terminal of the first power switch and the ground according to the second switching signal; and an error amplification unit amplifying an error voltage between the detection. |
| US08018211B2 |
Output voltage detecting circuit and switching power supply having such output voltage detecting circuit
An output voltage detecting circuit includes a conducting structure, a voltage regulator, a first resistor and a second resistor. The conducting structure includes a power output return terminal, a first contact and a second contact. A compensating voltage is generated between the first and second contacts when an output current flows through the first and second contacts. The voltage regulator adjusts a first current according to a voltage across a first circuit terminal and the ground terminal of the voltage regulator, thereby generating a detecting signal according to the first current. An output voltage across the positive power output terminal and the power output return terminal is subject to voltage division by the first and second resistors to generate a divided voltage. The voltage across the first circuit terminal and the ground terminal of the voltage regulator is equal to a difference between the divided voltage and the compensating voltage. |
| US08018207B2 |
Switching regulator
A switching regulator is disclosed that uses a non-linear amplifier and is capable of PWM control operation at high frequencies with a simple circuit configuration and without increasing current consumption. The switching regulator includes a switching unit, an inductor, a rectification unit, and a control circuit that controls the switching of the switching unit so that the output voltage of the switching regulator becomes a constant voltage. The control circuit uses a pulse signal to perform PWM control on the switching unit. The pulse signal is generated by amplifying an error voltage between the output voltage and a reference voltage at a gain variable in response to a voltage of a saw-tooth waveform signal. |
| US08018205B2 |
Multi battery pack system, control method thereof, and battery pack using the same
A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. |
| US08018198B2 |
Method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries
A method and system for charging multi-cell lithium-based batteries. In some aspects, a battery charger includes a housing, at least one terminal to electrically connect to a battery pack supported by the housing, and a controller operable to provide a charging current to the battery pack through the at least one terminal. The battery pack includes a plurality of lithium-based battery cells, with each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells having an individual state of charge. The controller is operable to control the charging current being supplied to the battery pack at least in part based on the individual state of charge of at least one battery cell. |
| US08018195B2 |
AC motor drive control device and method
An AC motor drive control device includes a control mode judgment unit that performs a judgment based on required voltage amplitude required by a synchronous AC motor, in order to switch units for applying voltage to the AC motor to one of a rectangular wave voltage phase control unit, an overmodulation control unit, and a PWM current control unit. |
| US08018194B2 |
Observation system and observation apparatus
When application software running on a PC is in the state of being terminated, a switch unit is turned OFF with the control of a CPU and individual motors, and in this state, a light source is not supplied with a motor/lamp-use power source. In this state, however, the CPU and individual I/Fs are supplied with a logic-use power source. Therefore, the switch unit is turned ON when the application software is started, and an initialization process for an individual electrically driven unit is no longer required. |
| US08018192B2 |
3D-trajectory display device for machine tool
A trajectory display device capable of correctly quantifying an error of a three-dimensional trajectory of a machine tool, and displaying or outputting the error. The trajectory display device has a command line segment defining part adapted to define a command line segment which connects two temporally adjacent points, in relation to each commanded position; an error calculating part adapted to define a normal line extending from the actual position to each command line segment and calculate an error of the actual position relative to a commanded trajectory, the error being determined as a shorter one between a length of a shortest normal line among the defined normal lines and a length of a line segment extending from the actual position to a commanded position which is the nearest from the actual position. |
| US08018189B2 |
Motor drive apparatus
The present invention provides a motor drive apparatus which improves a trade-off relation between a stable position detection and noise at its driving. A sensorless drive operation circuit calculates by operation a zero cross point (point p) of a voltage of a position detection phase at the next interval, using time information measured based on an output signal from a comparison circuit at the previous interval and the present interval. After the point p has been calculated, points a and b are detected by interrupting a predetermined time drive current. |
| US08018187B2 |
Initial polarity detection for permanent magnet motor drives
Methods and apparatus are provided for aligning a control reference axis with a magnetic north of a permanent magnet motor. The method includes the steps of injecting a predetermined stator current on an estimated reference axis of the permanent magnet motor and introducing predetermined error on the estimated reference axis. The method further includes the steps of determining if a speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than a predetermined threshold speed and setting the control reference axis to 180° added to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is greater than the predetermined threshold speed or setting the control reference axis to the estimated reference axis if the speed of the permanent magnet motor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold speed. |
| US08018186B2 |
Method and apparatus of fan motor brake
An electronic system for controlling a fan motor includes a microcontroller and a drive circuit. The microcontroller draws power from a first voltage source and generates control signals for sending drive current to stator coils of a fan motor via the drive circuit. The electronic system further includes a second voltage source to provide the microcontroller with an amount of energy sufficient to operate for a short period of time when the voltage of the first voltage source drops below a predetermined level. The microcontroller is configured to detect when the voltage level of the first voltage source drops below a given level and generates control signals for the drive circuit to discharge energy in the stator coils of the fan motor to quickly stop operation of the fan motor within a short period of time. |
| US08018184B2 |
PWM control circuit and PWM control method
The PWM control circuit includes a polarity determination unit, a full wave rectification unit, an adjustment unit that generates an adjusted waveform signal by adjusting waveform of the full wave rectification signal, and a carrier signal generating unit that generates a fixed frequency carrier signal. The PWM control circuit further includes a comparator that generates an original PWM signal by comparing the adjusted waveform signal and the carrier signal, and a PWM waveform shaping unit that generates a first PWM signal for the positive polarity section and a second PWM signal for the negative polarity section, by shaping the original PWM signal according to the polarity signal. |
| US08018178B2 |
Light source apparatus, projector, and light source apparatus drive method
A light source apparatus includes an arc tube having a first electrode and a second electrode that carry out an emission of light due to a discharge between them, and a drive that, when supplying energy in an alternating current to the first electrode and the second electrode, carries out a steady operation supplying a steady energy to the first electrode and the second electrode, and an initial operation making a cumulative energy supplied to at least one electrode, of the first electrode and the second electrode, in an anode period of the relevant electrode, prior to the steady period, greater than during the steady period. |
| US08018176B1 |
Selectable power FET control for display power converter
A chip-on-glass (COG) display driver comprises a direct current to direct current converter (DC-DC) converter that uses “off-glass” and/or “off-chip” inductive/capacitive (LC) components. The DC-DC converter can be configured to use either an internal or external switch (such as a power FET) in response to a mode signal. Selection of an internal or external mode allows a single converter chip design to be optimized for various applications. |
| US08018175B2 |
LED regulation circuit and method
An LED regulation circuit and method include a voltage transformation unit to receive DC power and provide a constant current to drive at least one LED and a pulse-width modulation unit to generate a driving signal to control the voltage transformation unit. The driving signal of the pulse-width modulation unit has an operation period. In the operation period, the driving signal drives the voltage transformation unit to output regular operation power. The pulse-width modulation unit is connected to a timing regulation unit which generates a regulation signal sent to the pulse-width modulation unit to regulate the operation period of the driving signal by adding a sleep period. In the sleep period, the driving signal lowers the power of the voltage transformation unit that drives the LED. Through alternately controlling the operation period and sleep period of the driving signal, continuous heat generation and heat accumulation can be reduced. |
| US08018168B2 |
Method for driving plasma display panel
Disclosed is a method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, and discharge cells defined with areas in which the electrodes cross mutually are arranged in the form of a matrix. According to the driving method, a reset period is a period during which the distribution of wall charges in the plurality of discharge cells is uniformed. An addressing period is a period during which wall charges are produced in the discharge cells according to display data. A sustain discharge period is a period during which sustain discharge is induced in the discharge cells in which wall charges are produced during the addressing period. The driving method in accordance with the present invention comprises a step of applying a first pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce first discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes, and a step of applying a second pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce second discharge as erase discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes. These steps are carried out during the reset period. |
| US08018166B2 |
Lighting control system and three way occupancy sensor
There is disclosed a sensor which, when integrated into a dimming system, can turn the dimmer on and off, and vice versa. As an example, lights which are connected to the dimmer can be turned on by using the dimmer, the light level can be adjusted to provide a level of illumination desired by an occupant, and the sensor can turn off the lights when the room is vacant. The sensor here disclosed provides sensing functionality to a dimming system, and the sensors can be remotely controlled by other sensors, dimmers and dimmer remotes. |
| US08018163B2 |
Capacitively coupled plasma reactor
A capacitively coupled plasma reactor includes a plasma reactor, a capacitive coupling electrode assembly including a plurality of capacitive coupling electrodes to induce plasma discharge inside the plasma reactor, a main power supply source to supply radio-frequency power, and a distribution circuit to receive the radio-frequency power supplied from the main power supply source and to distribute the received radio-frequency power to the plurality of capacitive coupling electrodes. |
| US08018161B2 |
Light unit with internal back-up power supply, communications and display
A light unit that includes an internal power supply that may be used in the event of an external power failure to provide power to the light unit. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a lighting apparatus, comprising (a) a power input configured to receive external power from an external power source; (b) a solid state light element that is interconnected to the power input; and (c) a back-up power source that is interconnected to the solid state light element and the power input and that provides power to the solid state light element when the light element is not provided with power from the power input. |
| US08018159B2 |
Magnetron device with mode converter and related methods
The present invention provides a relativistic magnetron with axial extraction, or magnetron with diffraction output (MDO), with a mode converter placed directly within the diffraction output of radiation to effectively convert the operating π-mode into a radiated mode of simpler radiation patterns. |
| US08018153B2 |
Electroluminescent element having a lamination impact alleviating layer
The present invention provides an electroluminescent element, including: a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on a surface of the substrate; an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode layer, the organic electroluminescent layer including at least a luminescent layer; a second electrode layer formed such that the organic electroluminescent layer is interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and a sealing base material for sealing the first electrode layer, the organic electroluminescent layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the sealing base material is a flexible film and a lamination impact alleviating layer of which universal hardness value is no smaller than 110 N/nm2 is formed on the second electrode layer; when a flexible film is used as the sealing base material and the flexible film is laminated with the substrate at a predetermined pressure, the organic electroluminescent layer is prevented from being scratched or cracked, thus, an EL element which effects even luminescence can reliably be obtained. |
| US08018149B2 |
Light-emitting apparatus including optical resonance structure and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting apparatus is disclosed, which includes light-emitting elements provided on a substrate that each have a light-emitting layer interposed between a first electrode having a light-transmitting performance and a second electrode having a transflective performance. A light-reflecting layer is further arranged on the light-emitting layer, and an optical resonator structure is configured to resonate a light emitted from the light-emitting layer. A plurality of light-emitting elements are provided, having different resonance wavelengths, and an optical length of the light-emitting elements is set to be longer than λ(m−φ/2π)/2. |
| US08018145B2 |
Organic electroluminescence device
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescence display device including an organic electroluminescence element which includes a transparent electrode, a counter electrode, and an organic compound layer provided between these electrodes, the organic compound layer including a light emitting layer, and a fine particle containing layer positioned in the optical path of light emitted from the light emitting layer, wherein the fine particle containing layer contains an organic resin material, a first fine particle, and a second fine particle having a weight average particle diameter greater than that of the first fine particle, wherein a refractive index n1 of the organic resin material into which the first fine particle is added and an average refractive index n2 of the organic compound layer satisfy a relationship |n1−n2|<0.25, and wherein the refractive index n1 and a refractive index n3 of the second fine particle satisfy a relationship n3−n1>0.2. |
| US08018137B2 |
Organic el element, organic el display device, and process for producing organic el element
An organic EL element (Al) includes an anode (2) and a cathode (4) which are arranged opposite to each other, and an organic layer (3) intervening between the anode (2) and the cathode (4) and including a light emitting layer (3b). The cathode (4) is made of MgAg alloy and has a thickness of not more than 200 Å. Preferably, the thickness of the cathode (4) is in the range of 40 to 100 Å. |
| US08018136B2 |
Integrated LED driver for LED socket
A mounting assembly for supporting an LED in a lighting fixture. A first substrate containing the LED has contact pads in electrical communication with the LED. A contact carrier has a plurality of contacts that correspond with the contact pads of the first substrate. A second substrate has electronic components to power the LED. A first contact arrangement on the second substrate engages the integral electrical contact portions of the contact carrier, and a second contact arrangement provides external connections to the electronic components. A heat sink portion is engaged in thermal contact with the contact carrier and the first substrate. The heat sink portion includes finned members for dissipation of heat generated by the LED disposed within the heat sink portion. A slot is provided in the heat sink projecting axially of the heat sink portion, for receiving and securing the second substrate. |
| US08018135B2 |
Lighting device and method of making
A lighting device comprising at least one non-white light source, at least a first supplemental light emitter and at least a second supplemental light emitter. The non-white light source(s) is outside an area from 0.01 u′v′ above to below the blackbody locus, and within an area defined by curves between saturated light of wavelength 430-480 nm and 560-580 nm and line segments between saturated light of wavelength 430-580 nm and 480-560 nm. The first supplemental light emitter(s) have dominant emission wavelength of 465-540 nm. The second supplemental light emitter(s) have dominant emission wavelength of 600-640 nm. |
| US08018132B2 |
Manufacturing method of airtight container, manufacturing method of image display device, and bonding method
A bonding method using a bonding agent is provided, which has the steps of forming an underlayer on a first member, providing a bonding agent on the underlayer, forming a contact member, different from the bonding agent, on a second member, bringing the bonding agent into contact with the contact member so that the first member and the second member are bonded to each other. In the method described above, the wettability of the bonding agent to the underlayer is superior to that of the bonding agent to a surface of the first member before the underlayer is formed thereon, and the bondability of the bonding agent to the contact member is superior to that of the bonding agent to a surface of the second member before the contact member is formed thereon. |
| US08018131B2 |
Bulb-shaped outer envelope for lamps, method for manufacture thereof, and compact fluorescent lamp therewith
A bulb-shaped outer envelope for accommodating at least one lamp including a light-emitting body and a control gear is disclosed. The envelope has a substantially spherical section for receiving the light-emitting body, and an elongated end section for receiving at least a part of the control gear components. The elongated end section is provided with a neck section. A substantially tubular neck-extension portion connects to an inner surface portion of and protruding from the neck section. The neck-extension portion is suitable for accommodating a remaining part of the control gear components. In a method for the manufacture of a glass outer envelope, a flare that is normally used in the manufacture of incandescent lamps is turned around by 180°, put into a skirted bulbous envelope, melted into the envelope while the skirt is detached and the flare is formed into a neck-extension portion. A self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp with the bulb-shaped outer envelope is also disclosed. A part of the ballast components are disposed in the neck-extension portion of the outer envelope. |
| US08018130B2 |
Low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp with amalgam
The invention relates to a lamp system comprising a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp having a discharge vessel (6) enclosing a discharge space (8), with two electrodes (10, 30) positioned in the discharge vessel and an amalgam (18) arranged at a first end section (28) outside the discharge path between the first electrode and the second electrode. A ballast generates an electrical discharge current independently of an electrical heating current. A heating element (22) is positioned in the first end section for heating the amalgam using the electrical heating current. The temperature of the amalgam can be kept within its optimal temperature range for a relatively broad range of operating conditions. |
| US08018128B2 |
Microchannel structure and its manufacturing method, light source device, and projector
A microchannel structure with a fine flow path through which a fluid flows, includes: a wavy plate member fabricated into a wavy form; an external peripheral wall member that surrounds the wavy plate member; and a spacer that ensures a spacing between opposed portions of the wavy plate member, wherein the fine flow path is defined by the wavy plate member and the external peripheral wall member. |
| US08018127B2 |
Flexural resonator element and flexural resonator for reducing energy loss due to heat dissipation
A flexural resonator element includes a base body and a beam with a groove and a through-hole, the beam being extended in a Y direction from the base body and flexurally vibrating in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction, the groove being formed on a surfaces of the beam perpendicular to a Z direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction, and the through-hole having a smaller width in the X direction than a width of an opening of the groove in the X direction and penetrating from an inner surface of the groove formed on the surface of the beam to a surface of the beam opposite to the surface of the beam having the groove. |
| US08018123B2 |
Ultrasonic actuator
An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (3) generating a driving force, a case (4) containing the actuator body (3), and support rubbers (51) placed between the actuator body (3) and the case (4) to elastically support the actuator body (3) at both sides of the actuator body in a supporting direction. The case (4) includes a first case (8) having an opening at a position where one of the support members (51) is placed and a second case (9) coupled to the first case (8) to cover the opening in the first case (8). The support rubbers (51) are compressed as the second case (9) is coupled to the first case (8) and elastically support the actuator body (3) in the compressed state. |
| US08018121B1 |
Integrated thickness shear mode (TSM) sensor and surface acoustic wave (SAW) device for simultaneous sensing and removal of analytes
Provided is a sensor which integrates a pair of substantially unidirectional surface acoustic wave (SAW) interdigital transducers (IDTs) and a thickness shear mode (TSM) electrode. The sensor provides simultaneous sensing and removal of material from the sensor's surface. The sensing aspect is accomplished through the use of the TSM electrode that is designed to operate between 2 and 100 MHz. The removal of material is accomplished using substantially unidirectional IDTs aligned on the substrate to produce acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh waves, across the entire TSM sensor active area. When liquid is added over the acoustic waves, acoustic streaming occurs, which dislodges material from the sensor's surface. The acoustic waves are designed to operate at a significantly different frequency than the sensor to prevent interference between the two. |
| US08018120B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device and method of fabricating the same
A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate; comb electrodes provided on a first surface of the piezoelectric substrate; and an insulating film provided on at least one of the first surface of the piezoelectric substrate and a second surface thereof opposite to the first surface, the insulating film having a thickness greater than that of the piezoelectric substrate and having a linear expansion coefficient smaller than that of the piezoelectric substrate in a direction of propagation of a surface acoustic wave. |
| US08018118B2 |
Micro-oscillation element provided with weight portion, and array utilizing the same
A micro-oscillation element includes a base frame, an oscillating portion, and a link portion connecting the base frame and the oscillating portion to each other. The oscillating portion has a movable functional portion, a first driving electrode connected to the movable functional portion, and a weight portion joined to the first driving electrode. The link portion defines an axis of the oscillating motion of the oscillating portion. The second driving electrode, fixed to the base frame, generates driving force for the oscillating motion in cooperation with the first driving electrode. |
| US08018117B2 |
Closely spaced electrodes with a uniform gap
An improved design for maintaining separation between electrodes in tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermophotovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is made from flexible material. A magnetic field is present to combine with the current flowing in the flexible electrode and generate a force that counterbalances the electrostatic force or other attracting forces between the electrodes. The balancing of forces allows separation and parallelism between the electrodes to be maintained at a very small spacing without requiring the use of multiple control systems, actuators, or other manipulating means, or spacers. The shape of one or both electrodes is designed to maintain a constant separation over the entire overlapping area of the electrodes. The end result is an electronic device that maintains two closely spaced parallel electrodes in stable equilibrium with a uniform gap therebetween over a large area in a simple configuration for simplified manufacturability and use to convert heat to electricity or electricity to cooling. |
| US08018115B2 |
Alignment of segmented stators for electric machines
A stator segment for a segmented stator of an electric machine includes insulative material configured for overlapping with insulative material of an adjacent stator segment to provide continuous insulation along a joint between the adjacent stator segments. Additionally, or alternatively, the stator segment can include one or more alignment tabs configured to engage a surface of an adjacent stator segment to inhibit relative axial movement between adjacent stator segments. |
| US08018114B2 |
Generator rotor with improved wedges
A wedge for use in a generator rotor includes a wedge body having a generally triangular shape with flat surfaces, and such that when the wedge is placed in a generator rotor, the flat surfaces will define circumferential extents of the wedge body relative to a rotational axis of the rotor, and said flat surfaces extending to a radially outermost extent of the wedge body. A wedge and winding combination, a generator rotor, a generator and a method all using the wedges are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08018106B2 |
Magnetic bearing device with simplified wiring
A magnetic bearing device and a method of operation for such a device are provided. The device comprises a group (410) of electromagnetic actuators (411, 412, 413, 414). Each actuator is electrically connected to an amplifier unit (701). The actuators of a first subgroup are connected to a first common node (608), while the actuators of a second subgroup are connected to a second common node (609). The common nodes (608, 609) are connected either directly or through means like an additional actuator. Preferably the common nodes (608, 609) have no additional electrical connection to the amplifier unit. According to a special embodiment of the invention, each subgroup of actuators consists of only one single actuator and the common node has an electrical connection to the amplifier. Thus the device comprises two actuators in a series configuration connected to an H bridge. The common node may be connected to either of two different voltages. The invention enables simplified wiring without increased load requirements for the wires. |
| US08018103B2 |
Driving mechanism
A driving apparatus includes: a rotating electrical machine; an inverter capable of supplying electric power to the rotating electrical machine; an electrical device connected to the inverter; a containing case capable of containing the rotating electrical machine, the inverter, and the electrical device; and a cooling coolant circulation circuit, distributing cooling coolant capable of cooling the inverter and the electrical device, which allows the inverter to be cooled at an upstream side relative to the electrical device in a direction in which the cooling coolant is distributed. |
| US08018102B2 |
Shielding of superconducting field coil in homopolar inductor alternator
A superconducting field coil assembly includes a superconducting field coil disposed within a vacuum insulated electro-magnetic (EM) shielded cryostat. A water cooling jacket is thermally integrated with the outer surface of the EM shielded cryostat. |
| US08018101B2 |
Motor
A motor may include a rotor having a rotation shaft, a stator disposed on an outer peripheral side of the rotor, an output side bearing which supports an end part on an output side of the rotation shaft in a radial direction and an axial direction, a frame which is provided with a bearing holding part for holding the output side bearing and which is fixed to the stator, and an urging member which is attached to the bearing holding part for urging the output side bearing to an opposite-to-output side. The bearing holding part is formed with a bearing hole which penetrates through the bearing holding part and on which the output side bearing is disposed, and the output side bearing is disposed on the bearing hole in a movable state in the axial direction of the rotation shaft. |
| US08018099B2 |
Touch-sensitive paper shredder control system
The invention is directed to a touch-sensitive paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction control circuit unit. The control circuit unit then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive. |
| US08018098B2 |
Portable solar power supply system and its applying device
A portable solar power supply system and its applying device are disclosed. The power supply system includes a receiving unit, a control block and a storage unit. After the receiving unit receives a solar power, the control block is used for storing the solar power into the storage unit. If a user wants to use a portable information processing device or other portable products, the portable solar power supply system supplies electric power to the device or product and extends the working time without limitations. |
| US08018096B1 |
Inductive pulse forming network for high-current, high-power applications
An inductive pulse forming network stores electrical energy delivered from an outside prime power supply in the electric field of a low-voltage, high-energy density network capacitor. Through timed actuation of a series of one or more switches, the energy stored in the electric field of the network capacitor is subsequently converted to electrical energy stored in the magnetic field of a network inductor. The energy stored in the network inductor supplies high-current, high-power electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic launcher such as a railgun. |
| US08018095B2 |
Power conversion, control, and distribution system
A power conversion, control, and distribution system includes multiple bulk power regulator (BPR) subassemblies, a bulk power distribution (BPD) subassembly, and a bulk power controller and hub (BPCH) subassembly. The BPR subassemblies are each configured to provide regulated DC power from both AC input power and DC input power. The BPD subassembly is configured to distribute the regulated DC power. The BPCH subassembly is coupled to the multiple BPR subassemblies and the BPD subassembly. The BPCH subassembly is configured to monitor and control the BPR assemblies and the BPD assembly. |
| US08018091B2 |
Power-mode selectable backup power supply
A selectable backup power supply device for providing power to a real time clock (RTC) and a memory unit is disclosed. The device includes a backup battery, a first power outputting unit and a second power outputting unit, wherein the backup battery outputs a backup voltage, the first power outputting unit is connected to the backup battery and the RTC for receiving the backup voltage and outputting a first supply voltage to the RTC, and the second power outputting unit is connected to the backup battery and the memory unit, for receiving the backup voltage and, in accordance with a selection signal, outputting a second supply voltage to the memory unit or stopping the output of the second supply voltage. |
| US08018090B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method
An information processing apparatus selects power having a higher voltage value out of power supplied via a plurality of external apparatuses, or selects power supplied from an external apparatus via a transmission line or power supplied from a power supply, whichever has a higher voltage value, to use the selected power within the information processing apparatus. |
| US08018087B2 |
Vehicular lamp
A vehicular lamp is arranged to save power by not driving a cooling fan when an LED is unlit. The vehicular lamp is capable of reducing cost and stopping a supply of current to the LED even in the case of open wiring in a supply of current to the cooling fan. The vehicular lamp includes LEDs connected in series, a cooling fan connected in series with the LEDs and arranged to cool the LEDs. A current supply circuit receives power supplied from a power source and supplies current to the LEDs and the cooling fan. |
| US08018086B2 |
Hybrid constant/variable frequency starter drive
A power generation system and method uses a constant frequency generator to generate electrical power in a generate mode. When operating in a start mode, the constant frequency generator is controlled by a motor controller which at least partially controls another component while the system is in a generate mode. The power generation system and method can be implemented in, for example, an aircraft electrical architecture. |
| US08018080B2 |
Hydroelectric device for the production of electricity, particularly from tidal currents
A hydroelectric device, for the production of electricity in an aquatic environment with currents, includes a frame supporting a rotating member having a number of bearing surfaces that cooperate with the currents to generate a rotation of the rotating member. An electromechanical device produces an electrical current from the rotation. The hydroelectric device also includes a device for adjusting the position of the rotating member with reference to the surface of the aquatic environment. The latter device includes a tank having a variable opening positionable under the surface of the aquatic environment for modifying the water filling rate of the tank. The rotating member may be mounted on the frame by means of a shaft extending along a perpendicular direction to the currents, which facilitates the coupling thereof to one or two similar hydroelectric device shafts arranged at either end of the first, in alignment. |
| US08018075B2 |
Semiconductor package, method for enhancing the bond of a bonding wire, and method for manufacturing a semiconductor package
A wire bonding structure of a semiconductor package includes a bonding wire, a pad and a non-conductive adhesive material. The bonding wire includes a line portion and a block portion, wherein the block portion is physically connected to the line portion, and the sectional area of the block portion is bigger than that of the line portion. The pad is bonded to the block portion. The non-conductive adhesive material covers the pad and seals the whole block portion of the bonding wire. |
| US08018074B2 |
Components joining method and components joining structure
To provide a components joining method and a components joining structure which can realize joining of components while securing conduction at a low electrical resistance with high reliability.In a construction in which by using a solder paste containing solder particles 5 in a thermosetting resin 3a, a rigid substrate 1 and a flexible substrate 7 are bonded by the thermosetting resin 3a, and a first terminal 2 and a second terminal 8 are electrically connected by the solder particles 5, a blending ratio of an activator of the thermosetting resin 3a in the solder paste is properly set and oxide film removed portions 2b, 8b, and 5b are partially formed in oxide films 2a, 8a, and 5a of the first terminal 2, the second terminal 8, and the solder particles 5. Thereby, the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 8 are electrically conducted by solder bonding the solder particles 5 to both the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 8 via the oxide film removed portions 2b and 8b, and while fusion of the solder particles 5 with each other is prevented in the thermosetting resin 3a, connection of components at a low electrical resistance is realized with high reliability. |
| US08018073B2 |
Electronic packages with fine particle wetting and non-wetting zones
Spreading or keep out zones may be formed in integrated circuit packages by altering the roughness of package surfaces. The surface roughness can be altered by applying or growing particles having a dimension less than 500 nanometers. Hydrophilic surfaces may be made hemi-wicking and hydrophobic surfaces may be made hemi-wicking by particles of the same general characteristics. |
| US08018071B2 |
Stacked structure using semiconductor devices and semiconductor device package including the same
This invention provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a bonding pad array comprising: a signal bonding pad, a control pin bonding pad and at least one stacking bonding pad on an active surface. At least one stacking bonding pad is adjacent to the control pin bonding pad. This invention also provides a stacked structure of semiconductor devices and/or a semiconductor device package including the semiconductor device. |
| US08018067B2 |
Electrically shielded through-wafer interconnect
Through-Wafer Interconnections allow for the usage of cost-effective substrates for detector chips. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, detecting element for application in an examination apparatus may be provided, comprising a wafer with a sensitive region and a coaxial through-wafer interconnect structure. This may reduce the susceptibility of the interconnection by providing an effective shielding. |
| US08018063B2 |
Solder joint reliability in microelectronic packaging
A microelectronic assembly and method for fabricating the same are described. In an example, a microelectronic assembly includes a microelectronic device having a surface with one or more areas to receive one or more solder balls, the one or more areas having a surface finish comprising Ni. A solder material comprising Cu, such as flux or paste, is applied to the Ni surface finish and one or more solder balls are coupled to the microelectronic device by a reflow process that forms a solder joint between the one or more solder balls, the solder material comprising Cu, and the one or more areas having a surface finish comprising Ni. |
| US08018062B2 |
Production of a self-aligned CuSiN barrier
A semiconductor product includes a portion made of copper, a portion made of a dielectric and a self-aligned barrier between the copper portion and the dielectric portion. The self-aligned barrier includes a first copper silicide layer comprising predominantly first copper silicide molecules, and a second copper silicide layer comprising predominantly second copper silicide molecules. The proportion of the number of silicon atoms is higher in the second silicide molecules than in the first silicide molecules. The second copper silicide layer is positioned between the copper portion and the first copper silicide layer. A nitride layer may overlie at least part of the first copper silicide layer. |
| US08018061B2 |
Integrated circuit hard mask processing system
An integrated circuit processing system is provided including a substrate having an integrated circuit; an interconnect layer over the integrated circuit; a low-K dielectric layer over the interconnect layer; a hard mask layer over the low-K dielectric layer; a via opening through the hard mask layer and the low-K dielectric layer to the interconnect layer; and an interconnect metal in the via opening. |
| US08018059B2 |
Electrical interconnect with an electrical pathway including at least a first member overlain by a second member at a contact point
An electrical interconnect includes an electrical pathway having a first member a second member, the first member being disposed at an oblique or perpendicular angle to the second member at a location adjacent to the second member, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member have a cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to 10 micrometers. |
| US08018058B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A method of forming a circuit includes providing a substrate; providing an interconnect region positioned on the substrate; bonding a device structure to a surface of the interconnect region; and processing the device structure to form a first stack of layers on the interconnect region and a second stack of layers on the first stack. The width of the first stack is different than the width of the second stack. |
| US08018055B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus with decoupling capacitor
A lead frame type of semiconductor apparatus includes a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is mounted; ground terminals which are to be grounded; power supply terminals which are connected to a power supply; inner leads connected to the ground terminals and power supply terminals, in which a pair of adjacent inner leads for power supply terminal and ground terminal are extended inwardly; a chip capacitor mounting pad which is provided at inner ends of the extended inner leads; and a chip capacitor which is mounted on the chip capacitor mounting pad so that a decoupling capacitor is provided. |
| US08018050B2 |
Integrated circuit package with integrated heat sink
An IC package and methods for making the same are described. The IC package includes a die and a heat sink that is attached to the back surface of the die with a thermal interface material layer. The heat sink includes a base and a partition. The partition extends around the periphery of the base and is offset from the outer edge of the base such that a ledge region is formed that surrounds the periphery of the base. The inner surfaces of the partition define an inner region that includes heat dissipation structures. A molding material encapsulates at least portions of the die and the ledge region around the periphery of the heat sink while leaving the inner region of the heat sink unencapsulated by molding material and exposed. The molding material covering the ledge region provides a locking feature that secures the heat sink in the package. |
| US08018049B2 |
Silicon condenser microphone and manufacturing method
A silicon condenser microphone package and method for manufacture are disclosed. The silicon condenser microphone package includes a silicon condenser microphone die, a substrate comprising a conductive layer, and a cover having a conductive layer, where the conductive layers of the substrate and cover are electrically connected to form an electromagnetic interference shield for the silicon condenser microphone die. The method for manufacturing the silicon condenser microphone package involves placement of a plurality of silicon condenser microphone dies on a panel of printed circuit board material, placement of covers over each of the silicon condenser microphone dies, and then separating the panel into individual packages. |
| US08018047B2 |
Power semiconductor module including a multilayer substrate
A semiconductor module includes a multilayer substrate. The multilayer substrate includes a first metal layer and a first ceramic layer over the first metal layer. An edge of the first ceramic layer extends beyond an edge of the first metal layer. The multilayer substrate includes a second metal layer over the first ceramic layer and a second ceramic layer over the second metal layer. An edge of the second ceramic layer extends beyond an edge of the second metal layer. The multilayer substrate includes a third metal layer over the second ceramic layer. |
| US08018043B2 |
Semiconductor package having side walls and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip having an upper surface, side surfaces connected with the upper surface, and bonding pads formed on the upper surface. A first insulation layer pattern is formed to cover the upper surface and the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip and expose the bonding pads. Re-distribution lines are placed on the first insulation layer pattern and include first re-distribution line parts and second re-distribution line parts. The first re-distribution line parts have an end connected with the bonding pads and correspond to the upper surface of the semiconductor chip and the second re-distribution line parts extend from the first re-distribution line parts beyond the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip. A second insulation layer pattern is formed over the semiconductor chip and exposes portions of the first re-distribution line parts and the second re-distribution line parts. |
| US08018042B2 |
Integrated circuit with flexible planar leads
A microelectronic device including a microelectronic circuit and at least one planar flexible lead. These planar flexible leads are adapted to bend and flex during mechanical stress, allowing direct mounting of the device to a member and able withstand extreme thermal cycling between −20° C. to +80° C. encountered in terrestrial applications. Advantageously, the microelectronic device is adapted to be both weldable and solderable. The invention may comprise a solar cell diode, which is flexible and so thin that it can be affixed directly to the solar panel proximate the solar cell. |
| US08018038B2 |
IC card with terminals for direct access to internal components
An IC card capable of reinforcing the prevention of the electrostatic damage without causing a rise in the cost of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip. The semiconductor integrated circuit chip (2) is mounted on a card substrate (1), and plural connection terminals (3) are exposed. The connection terminals are connected to predetermined external terminals (4) of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, first overvoltage protection elements (7, 8, 9) connected to the external terminals are integrated in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and second overvoltage protection elements such as surface-mount type varistors (11) connected to the connection terminals are mounted on the card substrate. The varistors are variable resistor elements having a current tolerating ability greater than that of the first overvoltage protection elements. The varistors have been selected by taking into consideration a relationship between the characteristics and the ability of the first overvoltage protection elements contained in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and exhibit the effect for preventing the electrostatic damage. |
| US08018037B2 |
Semiconductor chip package
A semiconductor chip package is provided. The semiconductor chip package includes a lead frame having a chip carrier. A semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip carrier, having a plurality of bonding pads thereon. A package substrate has a cavity therein to accommodate the chip carrier and the semiconductor chip, wherein at least one of the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip is electrically coupled to the package substrate. |
| US08018031B2 |
MOS transistors formed on the front and back surface of a semiconductor substrate
The invention realizes low on-resistance and high current flow in a semiconductor device in which a current flows in a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate. A first MOS transistor having first gate electrodes and first source layers is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a second MOS transistor having second gate electrodes and second source layers is formed on a back surface thereof. A drain electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate, a first source electrode connected to the first source layers, a second source electrode connected to the second source layers, and a first penetration hole penetrating the semiconductor substrate are further formed. A first wiring connecting the first source electrode and the second source electrode is formed in the first penetration hole. The semiconductor substrate serves as a common drain region of the first and second MOS transistors. |
| US08018030B2 |
Semiconductor chip with seal ring and sacrificial corner pattern
A semiconductor device according to the invention is a semiconductor device which includes a low dielectric constant film of which the relative dielectric constant is less than 3.5, is provided with one or more seal rings that are moisture blocking walls in closed loop form in a plan view, and where at least one of the seal rings includes a seal ring protrusion portion in inward protruding form in the vicinity of a chip corner. |
| US08018029B2 |
Gallium nitride-based epitaxial wafer and method of fabricating epitaxial wafer
A gallium nitride-based epitaxial wafer for a nitride light-emitting device comprises a gallium nitride substrate having a primary surface, a gallium nitride-based semiconductor film provided on the primary surface, and, an active layer provided on the semiconductor film, the active layer having a quantum well structure. A normal line of the primary surface and a C-axis of the gallium nitride substrate form an off angle with each other. The off angle monotonically increases on the line that extends from one point to another point through a center point of the primary surface. The one point and the other point are on an edge of the primary surface, and indium contents of the well layer defined at n points on the line monotonically decrease in a direction from the one point to the other point. The thickness values of the well layer defined at the n points monotonically increase in the direction. |
| US08018028B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell region, an outer peripheral region, a field plate, an outermost peripheral ring, outer peripheral region layer, an insulator film, and a Zener diode. The semiconductor substrate has a superjunction structure. The outer peripheral region is disposed at an outer periphery of the cell region. The Zener diode is disposed on the insulator film for electrically connecting the field plate with the outermost peripheral ring. The Zener diode has a first conductivity type region and a second conductivity type region that are alternately arranged in a direction from the cell region to the outer peripheral region. |
| US08018027B2 |
Flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor, flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor, and integrated passive device including a flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor
A flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor includes a base substrate, a first inductor body portion provided on a surface of the base substrate, a cover substrate, a second inductor body portion provided on a surface of a cover substrate, and a nanoparticle bonding material provided between the base substrate surface and the cover substrate surface to electrically connect the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion. A method for fabricating a flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor including forming a first inductor body portion on a surface of a base substrate, forming a second inductor body portion on a surface of a cover substrate, and attaching the base substrate surface to the cover substrate surface using a nanoparticle bonding material that electrically connects the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion. |
| US08018026B2 |
Circuit board and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, includes: a semiconductor substrate; a multilayered interconnect structure formed on the semiconductor substrate; a terminal for flip-chip packaging arranged on the surface of the multilayered interconnect structure; and a spiral inductor formed to enclose the terminal for flip-chip packaging, in a plan view, which is not electrically connected with the spiral inductor. The spiral inductor may be provided for peaking by which the gain reduction caused in a high frequency is compensated. |
| US08018022B2 |
Guard ring structures and method of fabricating thereof
A guard ring structure for use in a semiconductor device. The guard ring structure includes a semiconductor layer stack having a first layer and a second layer on top of the first layer, gates structures formed in the first layer; and guard rings formed in the first layer. The second layer has a dopant concentration that is higher than the dopant concentration of the first layer. The gates and the guard rings are formed simultaneously using a single mask. |
| US08018021B2 |
Schottky diode and method of fabricating the same
A schottky diode may include a schottky junction including a well formed in a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode contacting the first well. The well may have a first conductivity type. A first ohmic junction may include a first junction region formed in the well and a second electrode contacting the first junction region. The first junction region may have a higher concentration of the first conductivity type than the well. A first device isolation region may be formed in the semiconductor substrate separating the schottky junction and the first ohmic junction. A well guard having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type may be formed in the well. At least a portion of the well guard may be formed under a portion of the schottky junction. |
| US08018010B2 |
Circular surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, processes for making them, and methods of use
The design, fabrication, post-processing and characterization of a novel circular design SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) based bio/chemical sensor in CMOS technology is introduced. The sensors are designed in AMI 1.5 μm 2 metal, 2 poly process. A unique maskless post processing sequence is designed and completed. The three post-processing steps are fully compatible with any CMOS technology. This allows any signal control/processing circuitry to be easily integrated on the same chip. ZnO is used as the piezoelectric material for the SAW generation. A thorough characterization and patterning optimization of the sputtered ZnO was carried out. The major novelties that are introduced in the SAW delay line features are: The embedded heater elements for temperature control, compensation and acoustic absorbers that are designed to eliminate edge reflections and minimize triple transit interference. Both of these attributes are designed by using the CMOS layers without disturbing the SAW performance. |
| US08018009B2 |
Forming large planar structures from substrates using edge Coulomb forces
A movable substrate is placed over a bottom substrate where both substrates contain Coulomb islands. The Coulomb islands can be adjusted in charge and are used to develop a force between two opposing Coulomb islands. Information from sensors is applied to a control unit to control the movement of the movable substrate. Coulomb islands are formed in the juxtaposed edges of a first substrate and second substrate, respectively. The islands generate edge Coulomb forces. These edge Coulomb forces can be used to detach, repel, move, attract and reattach the edges of substrates into new configurations. One possibility is to combine a plurality of individual substrates into one large planar substrate. |
| US08018008B2 |
Semiconductor device including a plurality of chips and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a first conductivity type channel power MOSFET. The second chip includes a second conductivity type channel power MOSFET. The first chip and the second chip are integrated in such a manner that a second-surface drain electrode of the first chip and a second-surface drain electrode of the second chip face to each other and are electrically coupled with each other through a conductive material. |
| US08018007B2 |
Selective floating body SRAM cell
A memory cell has N≧6 transistors, in which two are access transistors, at least one pair [say (N−2)/2] are pull-up transistors, and at least another pair [say (N−2)/2] are pull-down transistors. The pull-up and pull-down transistors are all coupled between the two access transistors. Each of the access transistors and the pull-up transistors are the same type, p-type or n-type. Each of the pull-down transistors is the other type, p-type or n-type. The access transistors are floating body devices. The pull-down transistors are non-floating body devices. The pull-up transistors may be floating or non-floating body devices. Various specific implementations and methods of making the memory cell are also detailed. |
| US08017999B2 |
Semiconductor device
An output side of a driver output circuit of an LCD driver includes a first protective element having an n-type semiconductor region and a p-type semiconductor region formed in the n-type semiconductor region, and a second protective element having a p-type semiconductor region and an n-type semiconductor region formed in the p-type semiconductor region. The first and second protective elements are arranged in twos, respectively, adjacent to each other. |
| US08017996B2 |
Semiconductor device, and energy transmission device using the same
An energy transmission device includes: a semiconductor device formed on a first semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor integrated circuit including a reverse current preventing diode and a control circuit; a DC voltage source; and a transformer. The reverse current preventing diode includes a reverse current preventing layer of a second conductivity type formed at a surface of a second semiconductor substrate, and a well layer of a first conductivity type formed in the second semiconductor substrate and covering the reverse current preventing layer. The transformer includes a primary winding connected in series with the semiconductor device and the DC voltage source, and a first secondary winding connected to a load. The energy transmission device is configured so that electric power is supplied from the first secondary winding of the transformer to the load. A second drain electrode of the semiconductor device is electrically connected to the reverse current preventing layer. |
| US08017995B2 |
Deep trench semiconductor structure and method
An electrical structure and method of forming. The electrical structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a deep trench, an oxide liner layer is formed over an exterior surface of the deep trench, and a field effect transistor (FET) formed within the semiconductor substrate. The first FET includes a source structure, a drain structure, and a gate structure. The gate structure includes a gate contact connected to a polysilicon fill structure. The polysilicon fill structure is formed over the oxide liner layer and within the deep trench. The polysilicon fill structure is configured to flow current laterally across the polysilicon fill structure such that the current will flow parallel to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08017993B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a stacked body with a plurality of insulating films and electrode films alternately stacked therein, through which a through hole extending in the stacking direction is formed; a semiconductor pillar buried inside the through hole; and a charge storage layer located on both sides of each of the electrode films in the stacking direction and insulated from the electrode film and the semiconductor pillar. |
| US08017992B2 |
Flash memory device and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed here in is a flash memory device and a method of fabricating the same. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a flash memory device includes first contact plugs formed over a semiconductor substrate between gate patterns. Second contact plugs are formed over the semiconductor substrate between gate patterns and disposed alternately with the first contact plugs. The second contact plugs having a height greater than the first contact plugs. First and second conductive pads are connected to the first contact plugs. First and second pad contact plugs are formed on extended edge portions of the first and second conductive pads. First bit lines are connected to the first and second pad contact plugs, and second bit lines are connected to the second contact plugs. |
| US08017991B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and methods of operating and fabricating the same
Example embodiments provide a non-volatile memory device with increased integration and methods of operating and fabricating the same. A non-volatile memory device may include a plurality of first storage node films and a plurality of first control gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of second storage node films and a plurality of second control gate electrodes may be recessed into the semiconductor substrate between two adjacent first control gate electrodes and below the bottom of the plurality of first control gate electrodes. A plurality of bit line regions may be on the semiconductor substrate and each may extend across the plurality of first control gate electrodes and the plurality of second control gate electrodes. |
| US08017988B2 |
High density stepped, non-planar flash memory
A first plurality of memory cells is in a first plane in a first column of the array. A second plurality of memory cells is in a second plane in the same column. The second plurality of memory cells are coupled to the first plurality of memory cells through a series connection of their source/drain regions. |
| US08017982B2 |
Imagers with contact plugs extending through the substrates thereof and imager fabrication methods
Methods for fabricating photoimagers, such as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imagers, include fabricating image sensing elements, transistors, and other low-elevation features on an active surface of a fabrication substrate, and fabricating contact plugs, conductive lines, external contacts, and other higher-elevation features on the back side of the fabrication substrate. Imagers with image sensing elements and transistors on the active surface and contact plugs that extend through the substrate are also disclosed, as are electronic devices including such imagers. |
| US08017980B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diode devices mounted therein and the light emitting diode device includes a substrate, a light emission area having a light emitting layer and a clad layer formed by growing crystal on the substrate, a negative polarity and a positive polarity. The light emission area has 6 or more opposite corners, which are disposed symmetrically to the middle of the light emitting diode device. |
| US08017979B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
It is made possible to restrict strain relaxation even if a strained semiconductor element is formed on a very small minute layer. A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor layer formed into a mesa shape above the substrate and having strain, and including source and drain regions of a first conductivity type located at a distance from each other, and a channel region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, the channel region being located between the source region and the drain region; second and third semiconductor layers formed on the source and drain regions, and controlling the strain of the first semiconductor layer, the second and third semiconductor layers containing impurities of the first conductivity type; a gate insulating film formed on the channel region; and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. |
| US08017977B2 |
Field effect transistor having recessed gate in compositional graded layer
A GaN heterojunction FET has an AlxGa1-xN first graded layer and an AlyGa1-yN second graded layer, which are formed sequentially on a channel layer. The Al mole fraction x of the first graded layer decreases linearly from, for example, 0.2 at an interface of the first graded layer with the channel layer to 0.1 at an interface thereof with the second graded layer. The Al mole fraction y of the second graded layer increases from, for example, 0.1 at an interface of the second graded layer with the first graded layer to 0.35 at a surface located on the opposite side from the first graded layer. Because the intrinsic polarization of AlGaN depends on the Al mole fraction, fixed negative charge is generated in the AlxGa1-xN first graded layer, and fixed positive charge is generated in the AlyGa1-yN second graded layer. |
| US08017974B2 |
Semiconductor device with increased withstand voltage
A semiconductor device having the present high withstand voltage power device IGBT has at a back surface a p collector layer with boron injected in an amount of approximately 3×1013/cm2 with an energy of approximately 50 KeV to a depth of approximately 0.5 μm, and an n+ buffer layer with phosphorus injected in an amount of approximately 3×1012/cm2 with an energy of 120 KeV to a depth of approximately 20 μm. To control lifetime, a semiconductor substrate is exposed to protons at the back surface. Optimally, it is exposed to protons at a dose of approximately 1×1011/cm2 to a depth of approximately 32 μm as measured from the back surface. Thus snapback phenomenon can be eliminated and an improved low saturation voltage (Vce (sat))-offset voltage (Eoff) tradeoff can be achieved. |
| US08017973B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device including a buffer layer on a substrate and method for manufacturing the same
There are provided a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a buffer layer on a sapphire substrate, wherein the buffer layer includes a plurality of layers having different lattice constants, a first n-type nitride semiconductor layer on the buffer layer, an active layer on the first n-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer on the active layer. |
| US08017972B2 |
Multilayered white light emitting diode using quantum dots and method of fabricating the same
A multilayered white light emitting diode and a method of fabricating the same include forming a phosphor mixture layer including a green phosphor and a blue phosphor on a UV light emitting diode and forming a red quantum dot layer on the phosphor mixture layer. In the white light emitting diode of the present invention, the quantum dots are excited by green and blue visible light, thus increasing luminescence efficiency and realizing stable white light. Moreover, the white light emitting diode can be widely used as a light source having high output and high efficiency, thus being capable of substituting for a backlight unit of an illumination device or display device. |
| US08017968B2 |
Light-emitting diode chip package body and method for manufacturing same
A light-emitting diode chip package body with an excellent heat dissipation performance and a low manufacturing cost, and a packaging method of the same are disclosed. A LED chip package body is provided, the LED chip package body comprising: a LED chip having an electrode-side surface and at least two electrodes mounted on said electrode-side surface; an electrode-side insulating layer formed on said electrode-side surface of said LED chip and formed with a plurality of through-holes registered with corresponding said electrodes; a highly heat-dissipating layer formed in each of said through-holes of said insulating layer on said electrode-side surface; and a highly heat-conducting metal layer formed on said highly heat-dissipating layer in each of said through-holes. |
| US08017965B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a first conductive semiconductor layer; an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer; a first quantum dot layer on the active layer; and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the first quantum dot layer. |
| US08017963B2 |
Light emitting diode with a dielectric mirror having a lateral configuration
A light emitting diode is disclosed that includes an active structure, a first ohmic contact on the active structure, and a transparent conductive oxide layer on the active structure opposite the first ohmic contact. The transparent conductive oxide layer has a larger footprint than said active structure. A dielectric mirror is positioned on the transparent conductive oxide layer opposite said active structure and a second contact is positioned on the transparent conductive oxide layer opposite the dielectric mirror and separated from the active structure. |
| US08017960B2 |
Infrared emitting diode and method of its manufacture
An infrared emitting diode that can be utilized as a high power and rapidly responsive infrared light source for both infrared and remote control communications is disclosed which comprises at least one p-type clad layer containing AlxGa1-xAs of p type where 0.15≦x≦0.45, an active layer containing AlyGa1-yAs of p type where 0≦y≦0.01 and at least one n-type clad layer containing AlzGa1-zAs where 0.15≦z≦0.45 wherein said active layer has a thickness of 2 to 6 μm and which has an emission peak wavelength of 880 to 890 nm at room temperature. |
| US08017958B2 |
P-contact layer for a III-P semiconductor light emitting device
A device includes a semiconductor structure with at least one III-P light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. The semiconductor structure further includes a GaAsxP1−x p-contact layer, wherein x<0.45. A first metal contact is in direct contact with the GaAsxP1−x p-contact layer. A second metal contact is electrically connected to the n-type region. The first and second metal contacts are formed on a same side of the semiconductor structure. |
| US08017957B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus
A sub-substrate, a blue-violet semiconductor laser device, an insulating layer, and a red semiconductor laser device are stacked in order on a support member through a plurality of fusion layers. The insulating layer is stacked on an n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device, and a conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer. The red semiconductor laser device is stacked on the conductive layer through a fusion layer. The conductive layer is electrically connected to a p-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device. The n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device and the n-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device are electrically connected to each other. |
| US08017952B2 |
Inorganic electroluminescent diode and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are an inorganic electroluminescent diode and a method of fabricating the same. Specifically, this invention provides an inorganic electroluminescent diode, which includes a semiconductor nanocrystal layer formed of inorganic material, an electron transport layer or a hole transport layer formed on the semiconductor nanocrystal layer using amorphous inorganic material, and a hole transport layer or an electron transport layer formed beneath the semiconductor nanocrystal layer using inorganic material, and also provides a method of fabricating such an inorganic electroluminescent diode. According to the method of fabricating the inorganic electroluminescent diode of this invention, an inorganic electroluminescent diode can be fabricated while maintaining the properties of luminescent semiconductor material of the semiconductor crystal layer, and also an inorganic electroluminescent diode which is stably operated and has high luminescent efficiency can be provided. |
| US08017950B2 |
Organic electro-luminescence display device and method of manfacturing the same
Provided is an organic electro-luminescence display device. Because TFTs and organic light-emitting diode devices are formed on two different substrates, respectively, and the two substrates are attached to each other, so that productivity improves and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Also, because a pad portion exposed to the outside is formed using a conductive layer having corrosion resistance, corrosion of the pad portion is prevented, and thus an organic electro-luminescence display device having improved reliability can be provided. |
| US08017949B2 |
TFT substrate and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate which can facilitate the formation of contact holes and has improved reliability and a method of fabricating the TFT substrate. The TFT substrate includes a gate wiring formed on an insulating substrate; a data wiring defining a pixel region by intersecting the gate wiring, the data wiring including a source electrode and a drain electrode; a plurality of black matrix barrier ribs formed along the boundaries of the pixel region; a color filter formed to cover the pixel region; a pixel electrode formed on the color filter; and a plurality of contact holes formed through the color filter near the corners of the pixel region through which the pixel electrode and the drain electrode contact each other. |
| US08017943B2 |
Semiconductor device with reduced pad pitch
A semiconductor device includes a first pad, a second pad and a third pad. The first pad and the third pad are electrically connected to each other. The first pad and the second pad are used for bonding. The second pad and the third pad are used for probing. According to this structure, Small size semiconductor device having high reliability even after a probing test can be provided. |
| US08017941B2 |
Ceramic MESFET device and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a MESFET using ceramic materials includes providing a substrate; providing a ceramic semiconductor material to apply onto the substrate to form a first ceramic semiconductor layer; providing a ceramic semiconductor material which is blended with ions, wherein the ceramic semiconductor material is applied onto a central part of the first ceramic semiconductor layer to form a second ceramic semiconductor layer with ions; providing another ion-mixed ceramic semiconductor material is provided to apply over both sides of the first ceramic semiconductor layer to form a third ceramic semiconductor layer having ions; and respectively plating the second and third ceramic semiconductor layers with metal layers so that the second ceramic semiconductor layer has a gate electrode and the third ceramic semiconductor layer has a source and a drain. A transistor obtained by this method can be put into broader range of applications compared to III-V group transistor. |
| US08017940B2 |
Organic transistor, method of forming organic transistor and organic EL display with organic transistor
The present invention is directed to manufacturing an organic transistor with an organic semiconductor film formed by a coating method, without involving a process of forming a rib for forming the organic semiconductor film. To be more specific, the organic transistor of the present invention includes: (1) a source electrode part and a drain electrode part which are formed on a substrate; (2) rib selectively formed on part of the source electrode part and the drain electrode part; (3) an organic semiconductor film placed in the region defined by the ribs and connecting the source electrode part and the drain electrode part; and (4) a gate electrode formed on the organic semiconductor film through a gate insulating film. The organic transistor of the present invention is characterized in that there is a gap between the rib formed on the source electrode part and the rib formed on the drain electrode part. |
| US08017937B2 |
Semi-conductor component, component, method for the production thereof and use of inorganic-organic hybrid polymers for producng semi-conductor components
The invention relates to a semiconductor component having a metal-insulator structure (MIS) which contains as basic components a substrate, a layer made of an organic semiconductor material and a dielectric layer as insulator. The substrate and/or the dielectric layer made of an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer is chosen from these basic components. In addition, the invention relates to a method for the production of semiconductor components of this type and also to the use of inorganic-organic hybrid polymers for the production of semiconductor components. |
| US08017936B2 |
Electric device, method of manufacturing electric device and electric apparatus
An electric device includes: a pair of electrodes, an organic semiconductor film and an organic film formed on a surface of at least one of the electrodes, wherein the organic this film includes a nonconjugated organic compound having a plurality of coupling groups coupled with the electrodes. |
| US08017935B2 |
Parallel redundant single-electron device and method of manufacture
A method of manufacturing a parallel redundant array of single-electron devices. The method includes (a) providing a mask for diffusing a plurality of n-doped regions defined by a first set of a plurality of active regions, (b) providing a mask for disposing a plurality of polysilicon gates defined by a second set of a plurality of exposed regions, wherein an offset between a first member of the plurality of the exposed region of the first set differs in offset from a second member of the plurality of the exposed region of the second set, and (c) fabricating the parallel redundant array of single-electron devices as a function of the offset. |
| US08017932B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a group III nitride semiconductor layer of a multilayer structure consisting of a group III nitride semiconductor having a major surface defined by a nonpolar plane or a semipolar plane and having at least an n-type layer and a p-type layer. A surface of the group III nitride semiconductor layer on a light extraction side is a mirror surface. The light-emitting device may further include a transparent electrode in contact with the surface of the group III nitride semiconductor layer on the light extraction side. In this case, a surface of the transparent electrode on the light extraction side is preferably a mirror surface. |
| US08017926B2 |
Radiation collimator and systems incorporating same
A collimator including a housing having disposed therein a shield element surrounding a converter core in which a photon beam is generated from electrons emanating from a linear accelerator. A beam channeler longitudinally adjacent the shield element has a beam aperture therethrough coaxially aligned with, and of the same diameter as, an exit bore of the converter core. A larger entry bore in the converter core is coaxial with, and longitudinally separated from, the exit bore thereof. Systems incorporating the collimator are also disclosed. |
| US08017924B2 |
Drive laser delivery systems for EUV light source
An LPP EUV light source is disclosed having an optic positioned in the plasma chamber for reflecting EUV light generated therein and a laser input window. For this aspect, the EUV light source may be configured to expose the optic to a gaseous etchant pressure for optic cleaning while the window is exposed to a lower gaseous etchant pressure to avoid window coating deterioration. In another aspect, an EUV light source may comprise a target material positionable along a beam path to participate in a first interaction with light on the beam path; an optical amplifier; and at least one optic directing photons scattered from the first interaction into the optical amplifier to produce a laser beam on the beam path for a subsequent interaction with the target material to produce an EUV light emitting plasma. |
| US08017922B2 |
Ion implantation method and apparatus
An ion implantation method includes scanning reciprocatingly an ion beam in an X direction by an electric field or magnetic field and mechanically driving reciprocatingly a substrate in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction to implant ions over the entire surface of the substrate. A dose distribution that is non-uniform within the plane of the substrate is formed within the plane of the substrate by changing at least one of a scanning speed of the ion beam and a driving speed of the substrate within an area where the ion beam is incident on the substrate. |
| US08017910B2 |
Method for predicting hydrocarbon process stream stability using near infrared spectra
A method of predicting the stability of a hydrocarbon process stream is disclosed and claimed. The method includes obtaining samples from one or more process streams and measuring the actual stability and the near infrared spectral absorbance of those samples. A classification model is initially developed to identify sample subsets and correlation model is created using the stability and absorbance data by inserting that data into a mathematical function. Online or offline measurements are then taken from the hydrocarbon process stream, the classification model is used initially to identify the subset and corresponding correlation model is used to predict the stability of the stream. |
| US08017905B2 |
Method for energy calibration of a pulsed laser system
In a method of calibrating the pulse energy of a laser device which provides pulsed working laser radiation, by means of the working laser radiation, multiple test ablations, in particular multiple-pulse test ablations, are carried out on one or more test objects, each with different pulse energy. The ablation depth of each of the test ablations is measured, and then, on the basis of the measured ablation depths and a specified setpoint ablation depth, an associated setpoint pulse energy is determined and set on the laser device. According to the invention, the ablation depths are measured by means of a coherent optical interferometric measuring device.The invention also concerns a laser device, in particular to carry out the above method. |
| US08017902B2 |
Detector
A detector includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first semiconductor substrate includes a detector element for detecting a radiation or a particle and the second substrate includes a control circuit. The detector element extends from a first main surface of the first semiconductor substrate to a second main surface of the first semiconductor substrate. |
| US08017899B2 |
Coded aperture imaging using successive imaging of a reference object at different positions
In coded aperture imaging knowledge of the coded array pattern and its positional relation to the detector array is needed in order to be able to reconstruct the scene image. Usually a theoretical model of the coded array is used and the actual array needs to be aligned accurately with respect to the detector. The present invention uses a coded aperture imager to image a reference object in the scene and uses the intensity pattern on the detector array to determine the decoding pattern corresponding to the coded aperture array. The reference object may be a point source in which case the pattern on the detector array may be used directly as the decoding pattern or it may be used to correct a theoretical pattern for any misalignment. |
| US08017897B2 |
Image generation apparatus, method, and recording medium for projecting a plurality of phase images overlapping each other with a predetermined amount of shift
An image generation apparatus for generating, from an input image, a plurality of phase images having lower resolutions than the input image and overlapping each other with a predetermined amount of shift when being projected onto a projection plane. The apparatus includes when the plurality of phase images are projected onto the projection plane, means for relating an area formed by a predetermined pixel of the plurality of phase images overlapping individually to a predetermined pixel of the input image, and calculating a pixel value of a pixel of the phase images having a smallest difference between a pixel value of the corresponding area and a pixel value of a pixel of the input image. |
| US08017893B2 |
High-frequency heating apparatus
A purpose of the present invention is to provide an inverter circuit capable of suppressing an overshooting phenomenon of an input current at an instantaneous time when an initiating operation of the inverter circuit is switched to the normal operation thereof, and thus, capable of preventing damages of IGBTs and a magnetron.In a high frequency heating apparatus comprising: a control signal forming circuit for forming a control signal from a difference between an input current of an AC power supply and a reference current; a frequency modulated signal forming circuit for correcting rectified voltage/rectified current which are obtained by rectifying the AC voltage/current of the AC power supply based upon the control signal of the control signal forming circuit; and a dead time forming circuit for receiving the output of the frequency modulated signal forming circuit, a control signal converting circuit having a function capable of further lowering the value of the control signal is provided between the control signal forming circuit and the frequency modulated signal forming circuit. |
| US08017891B2 |
Internal heater for thermoform plastic sheet
A plastic material sheet for use in vacuum thermoforming is formed of polymer material. Electrically conductive resistance elements, at least a portion of which are situated within sheet, conduct electrical current to heat the sheet. The elements are generally parallel to each other. They may be straight, have a generally zigzag configuration, a generally serpentine configuration, an arcuate configuration, or a grid-like configuration. The elements may each have a section that extends substantially beyond the edge of the sheet. They may be frangible. They may be embedded deeply within the sheet or may be situated proximate a surface of the sheet. |
| US08017888B2 |
Glow plug system, controlling device and method for controlling the power of a glow plug
The description discloses a glow plug system for a Diesel engine of a motor vehicle having a glow plug (RG1, RG2) which comprises a positive terminal for connecting a supply voltage (U1) and a ground terminal for connecting to a ground potential (GND), a controlling device (1) for controlling the electric power supplied to the glow plug (RG1, RG2) in operation, whereby the controlling device (1) comprises a measurement input (ADC1) and a ground input (ADC2) in order to determine, in operation, a measured value of the supply voltage (U1) in relation to a reference potential (GND′) applied to the ground input (ADC2). The controlling device (1) has a test input (ADC3) which, in operation, is connected to a test voltage source via a first resistor (R1) and to the positive terminal of the glow plug (RG1, RG2) via a second resistor (R2), whereby the controlling device (1), in operation, determines a difference of the electric potential of the test input (ADC3) and the electric potential (GND′) of the ground input (ADC2), determines a deviation of the difference of these potentials from a reference value and, if this deviation is unequal to zero, uses the deviation to correct the measured value of the supply voltage (U1) and uses the corrected value of the supply voltage (U1) as for controlling the power. Furthermore, the description discloses a controlling device for a glow plug system of this type and a method for controlling the power of a glow plug. |
| US08017886B2 |
Laser welding system
A laser welding system includes a free-spacing beam delivery laser head having a linear array of at least two laser diodes. Each of the diodes generates a laser beam of a predetermined wavelength and spectral width, the laser beams adapted to weld a workpiece having a first component and at least one other component to be welded to the first component, the first component being substantially transmissive to the wavelength, the other component being substantially absorptive of the wavelength. A lens is spaced a predetermined distance from each of the laser diodes, each of the lenses adapted to focus the respective laser beam into a focused laser beam segment, thereby forming a continuous line of laser energy from a substantially serial combination of each focused laser beam segment. The continuous line of laser energy is in a plane containing the workpiece, and is substantially orthogonal to the workpiece translation direction. |
| US08017880B2 |
Safety switch
An operating head (11) for a safety switch (100) includes a key-operated cam mechanism (12) and a plunger (27) contacting the cam mechanism (12) and extending from the cam mechanism (12). In the safety switch (100), the plunger (27) is displaceable between first and second positions responsive to the cam mechanism (12). The safety switch (100) further includes at least one securing member (127) interacting with the plunger (27) and displaceable between a locked and a released position. When the securing member (127) is in the released position, movement of the plunger (27) is allowed. When the plunger (27) is in the second position, the securing member (127) is displaced from the released position to the locked position, which secures the plunger (27) in the second position. |
| US08017876B2 |
Terminal portion of flexible print circuit board or flexible flat cable
In a terminal portion having a copper or a copper alloy wiring according to one embodiment, the terminal portion being of a flexible print circuit board or a flexible flat cable and for connecter-fitting to a connector by being pressed by a connector pin, the copper or the copper alloy wiring having a pure tin or a lead-free tin alloy plating layer formed thereon is thermally treated so as to form an inter-metal compound including copper and tin on the copper or the copper alloy wiring, and a remaining thickness of the pure tin or the lead-free tin alloy plating layer is from 0.2 μm to 1.6 μm, wherein as an initial plating layer, a thickness of the pure tin or the lead-free tin alloy plating layer formed on the copper or the copper alloy wiring is from 1.5 μm to 5.0 μm, and a thickness of the inter-metal compound including copper and tin is from 0.1 μm to 3.5 μm. |
| US08017874B2 |
Multi-layered printed circuit board with a conductive substrate and three insulating layers with wiring and ground traces
A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body, and a write wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace. A write wiring trace is formed, above the write wiring trace, on the second insulating layer. A ground trace is formed on one side of the write wiring trace at a distance on the second insulating layer. A third insulating layer is formed on the second insulating layer so as to cover the wiring trace and the ground trace. An opening is formed in a region, below the write wiring trace, of the suspension body. |
| US08017873B2 |
Built-in method of thermal dissipation layer for driver IC substrate and structure thereof
A chip on film (COF) structure includes a flexible circuit board and a chip. The flexible circuit board includes a flexible base film and a conductive layer. The flexible base film has a polyimide layer and an anisotropic conductive layer (ACL). The conductive layer is disposed on the flexible base film. The conductive layer and the ACL are separated by the polyimide layer. The chip is mounted with the conductive layer via interconnectors. |
| US08017869B2 |
Conductor of an electric wire, and an insulated wire
A conductor of an electric wire, and an insulated wire which are excellent in corrosion resistance and recyclability, of which the strength which is decreased by weight reduction and diameter reduction is improved. The conductor includes a strand which includes a first elemental wire made from pure copper and a second elemental wire made from a copper alloy. In the conductor, a cross-sectional area of the first elemental wire as a percentage of a cross-sectional area of the conductor is preferably within a range of 10 to 90%. Examples of the copper alloy include a Cu—Ni—Si alloy, and a copper alloy containing Sn, Ag, Mg, or Zn. The conductor may be compressed concentrically. The insulated wire is prepared by covering the conductor with an insulator. |
| US08017868B2 |
Multilayer structure, electrode for electrical circuit using the same, and method for producing the same
A multilayer structure including a transparent conductive thin film and a molybdenum metal thin film wherein difference of internal stress between the transparent conductive thin film and the molybdenum metal thin film is 1600 MPa or less. |
| US08017862B2 |
Solar-cell single-crystal silicon substrate, solar cell element, and method for producing the same
In growing a single-crystal silicon by the present invention in a Czochralski method, after a surface of a silicon melt is brought into contact with a seed crystal in a crucible, the silicon melt being added with germanium, the single-crystal silicon is pulled while rotated, and the solar-cell single-crystal silicon substrate is sliced from the single-crystal silicon containing germanium, whereby a germanium content of solar-cell single-crystal silicon substrate is set in the range of not less than 0.03 mole % to less than 1.0 mole % when resistivity ranges from 1.4 to 1.9 Ωcm. Therefore, conversion efficiency is enhanced when compared with conventional single-crystal silicon substrates. Accordingly, solar cell power generation costs decreases, so that the single-crystal silicon of the present invention can widely be utilized as the substrate for the solar cell in which the high conversion efficiency is increasingly demanded. |
| US08017855B2 |
Apparatus and method for converting an information signal to a spectral representation with variable resolution
The apparatus for converting an information signal from a time to a variable spectral representation includes a means for windowing the information signal, a means for converting the windowed information signal to a spectral representation, and a means for weighting a set of information signal spectral coefficients with several sets of complex base function coefficients provided from a means for providing the sets of base function coefficients. The sets of base function coefficients are derived from base functions of various frequencies by windowing and transform, wherein several sets of base function coefficients are provided for one and the same base function for base functions of higher frequencies, wherein the windows for providing these sets are related to various time portions of the base function. The variable spectral representation exhibits variable bandwidth of the variable spectral coefficients, which are efficient and accurate to calculate and especially suited for music analysis purposes. |
| US08017853B1 |
Natural human timing interface
Methods and systems for simulating the natural tempo of humans are provided. The method utilizes multiples of a basic unit of duration, or quantum unit, of human timing. Unconscious, but precise, compensations occur through imperceptible changes in the timing quantum level. An application of natural human tempo to improve the basic metronome function by humanizing it is also provided. Other ramifications of human tempo simulation are also discussed, including robots and computer games and graphics. |
| US08017851B2 |
System and method for physically interactive music games
A system and method of capturing an image of an object, where the object is associated with a musical feature, generating the musical feature once the object is detected in the image, detecting a change of a position of an the object in a series of images, and altering the musical feature in response to such change. |
| US08017847B1 |
Violin display
A violin display, installed on a violin, including: a control device, used to output a fingering lines pattern data; and a fingerboard display, installed on the fingerboard of the violin to display an image corresponding to the fingering lines pattern data. |
| US08017846B2 |
Strainer and snare drum
A strainer includes a strainer body, a slider to which a cam follower is fixed, a holder to which snare wires are fixed, an operating lever, and a cam that is pivoted through operation of the operating lever. The slider is slid relative to the strainer body by pivoting the cam through operation of the operating lever so that the cam follower moves along the cam surface. The movement distance of the slider linearly changes with respect to an operation angle of the operating lever. |
| US08017845B2 |
Plectrum
The invention relates to a plectrum for playing a stringed instrument. The plectrum is adapted to be securable relative to a finger (or thumb) of an instrument player, and it has a string engaging portion and a finger engaging portion. The finger engaging portion (or at least a part of it) has a spiral configuration which can secure the plectrum relative to the finger (or thumb) when the plectrum is positioned with the spiral at least partly wound around an end or portion of the finger (or thumb). |
| US08017842B2 |
Soybean cultivar S080111
A soybean cultivar designated S080111 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080111, to the plants of soybean S080111, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080111, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080111 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080111, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080111, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080111 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08017839B2 |
Process for the production of arachidonic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid
The present invention relates to a new process for the production of arachidonic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid in plants through the co-expression of a Δ-12-/Δ-15-desaturase, Δ-9-elongase, Δ-8-desaturase and a Δ-5-desaturase and a process for the production of lipids or oils having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids having at least two double bonds and a 18 or 20 carbon atom chain length. Preferably the arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid are produced in at least a 1:2 ratio. The invention furthermore relates to the production of a transgenic plants, preferably a transgenic crop plant, having an increased content of arachidonic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid, oils or lipids containing Ciβ- or C20-fatty acids with a double bond in position Δ 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15 or dffthe fatty acid produced, respectively due to the expression of the Δ-12-/Δ-15-desaturase, of the Δ-9-elongase, of the Δ-8-desaturase and of the Δ-5-desaturase in the plant. The expression of the inventive Δ-12-/Δ-15-desaturase leads preferably to linoleic acid and linolenic acid as products having a double bond in the position Δ 9, 12 and 15 of the fatty acid. The invention additionally relates to specific nucleic acid sequences encoding for proteins with Δ-12-/Δ-15-desaturase-, Δ-9-elongase-, Δ-8-desaturase- or Δ-5-desaturase-activity, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and transgenic plants containing said nucleic acid sequences. |
| US08017838B2 |
Mutant delta-8 desaturase genes engineered by targeted mutagensis and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
The present invention relates to mutant delta-8 desaturase genes, which have the ability to convert eicosadienoic acid [20:2 omega-6, EDA] to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid [20:3, DGLA] and/or eicosatrienoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETrA] to eicosatetraenoic acid [20:3 omega-3, ETA]. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturase along with methods of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these mutant delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast are disclosed. |
| US08017836B2 |
Expression of plasminogen and microplasminogen in duckweed
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of recombinant plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in a duckweed expression system. It is the novel finding of the present invention that a duckweed expression system may be used to produce high levels of plasminogen and microplasminogen. The duckweed-produced plasminogen and microplasminogen can be activated to produce a polypeptide having protease activity. Thus, the invention encompasses methods for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof in duckweed, duckweed plants that are transformed with expression cassettes for the expression of plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding plasminogen, microplasminogen, and fragments thereof, where these nucleotide sequences are modified to enhance their expression in duckweed. |
| US08017834B2 |
Enhanced silk exsertion under stress
The invention provides methods for enhancing maize silk exsertion under stress conditions and compositions relating to such methods, including nucleic acids and proteins. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants. |
| US08017831B2 |
UDP-xylose synthases (UXS) polynucleotides, polypeptides, and uses thereof
The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions relating to UXS polypeptides and/or nucleic acids encoding UXS polypeptides. In certain claims, the methods and compositions are of use to improve digestibility and/or ease of grain processing. Such improvements relate to a modulation in arabinoxylan and/or hemicellulose content in transgenic plants. Such plants can, for example, comprise one or more nucleic acid sequences that inhibit expression of one or more UDP-Xylose Synthase (UXS) genes. |
| US08017828B2 |
Utilization of rare sugars in plant or microorganism
To provide an agricultural chemical and the like with the use of an effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant. To provide a growth inhibitor of not only a plant pathogenic bacterium but also a harmful microorganism.Utilization of a rare sugar for inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant or inhibiting the growth of a microorganism. Utilization thereof as an agricultural chemical with the use of the effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant, a plant disease inhibitor, an inducer of a plant growth regulatory factor (i.e., an inducer of plant hormone-like actions consisting of disease resistance, insect resistance, fruit maturation, breaking of dormancy, regulation of germination, drying resistance, and other than this, resistance to environmental stresses such as low temperature resistance, high temperature resistance, salt resistance and heavy metal resistance and promotion of flowering) and a microorganism growth inhibitor. The rare sugar is an aldose (D-allose, D-altrose or L-galactose) or a ketose (D-psicose or a mixture of D-psicose and D-fructose). |
| US08017825B2 |
Modified ETS-10 zeolites for olefin separation
An as prepared Na-ETS-10 zeolite was modified by ion exchange with a mono-, di-, or tri-valent cation and mixtures thereof. Several of the modified ETS-10 zeolites showed improved pressure swing capacity during the selective adsorption of ethylene from an ethylene/ethane mixture, relative to Na-ETS-10, although the selectivity of adsorption decreased. Modification with Ba2+ and Ba2+/H+ provided modified ETS-10 zeolite adsorbents having a good balance of selectivity and pressure swing capacity for the separation of ethylene/ethane mixtures, making them useful adsorbents for PSA processes. |
| US08017824B2 |
Hydrocarbon conversion processes using UZM-29 and UZM-29HS crystalline zeolitic compositions
This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using UZM-29 and UZM-29HS zeolitic compositions. The UZM-29 zeolites are represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+R+rAl1−xExSiyOz UZM-29 has the PHI structure type topology but is thermally stable up to a temperature of at least 350° C. UZM-29HS is a high silica version of UZM-29 and is represented by the empirical formula: M1′n+aAl(1−x)ExSiyOz. Examples of the hydrocarbon conversion processes are isomerization of alkanes, especially butane and the conversion of oxygenates to olefins. |
| US08017816B2 |
Method of producing lower alcohols from glycerol
A reactive-separation process converts glycerin into lower alcohols, having boiling points less than 200° C., at high yields. Conversion of natural glycerin to propylene glycol through an acetol intermediate is achieved at temperatures from 150° to 250° C. at pressures from 1 and 25 bar. The preferred applications of the propylene glycol are as an antifreeze, deicing compound, or anti-icing compound. The preferred catalyst for this process in a copper-chromium. |
| US08017815B2 |
Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol
Process for the preparation of hydroxytyrosol, characterized by reacting 4-chloroacetyl-catechol with a metal formate and formic acid in an aqueous solvent optionally containing a lower alkanol and catalytically hydrogenating the 4-hydroxyacetyl-catechol obtained in the presence of a precious metal, preferably on a carrier. |
| US08017811B2 |
Hydroformylation process
A hydroformylation process for the production of alcohols comprising reacting, in a reactor system comprising one or more feed streams, a reaction environment and an output stream, a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in the reaction environment, which comprises at least two reaction zones, wherein the at least two reaction zones comprise an earlier reaction zone and a later reaction zone, wherein the temperature of the later reaction zone is at a temperature which is at least 2° C. greater than the temperature in the earlier reaction zone, and the temperature of the later reaction zone is in the range of from 140° C. to 220° C., and the temperature of the earlier reaction zone is at least 130° C., wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide entering the earlier reaction zone is in the range of from 0.5 to 1.65, and wherein water is added into the reactor system. |
| US08017806B2 |
Lubricating compositions containing ashless catalytic antioxidant additives
The invention comprises lubricating compositions and hydraulic fluids containing N,N′-diaryl-p-phenylene diamine compounds that impart good levels of oxidation inhibition in the lubricants and hydraulic fluids. |
| US08017803B2 |
Process for the preparation of tamsulosin and intermediates thereof
A process for producing tamsulosin of formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, thereof comprises the steps of: a) Reacting compound R,R-[2-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-1-methyl-ethyl]-(1-phenyl-ethyl)-amine of formula II or a salt thereof with chlorosulfonic acid with or without an organic solvent, to obtain compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III b) Hydrogenolysis of compound R,R-2-methoxy-5-[2-(1-phenyl-ethylamino)-propyl]-benzenesulfonic acid of formula III or a salt thereof carried out in an alcohol in the presence of a palladium catalyst using hydrogen or a source of hydrogen, to obtain compound R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV c) Reacting primary amine R-(−)-5-(2-amino-propyl)-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid of formula IV, or a salt thereof, with a compound of formula V wherein X represents an halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl; Br and I, to obtain 5-{(2R)-2-[2-(2-ethoxy-phenoxy)-ethylamino]-propyl}-2-methoxy-benzenesulfonic acid compound of formula VI d) Reacting compound of formula VI with an halogenating agent, to obtain the corresponding sulfonylchloride of formula VII. e) Reacting compound VII with ammonia to obtain compound I. |
| US08017802B2 |
Control of impurities in reaction product of rhodium-catalyzed methanol carbonylation
The present invention relates to carbonylation of methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof to produce glacial acetic acid, and more specifically to the manufacture of glacial acetic acid by the reaction of methanol, methyl acetate, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof with carbon monoxide wherein the product glacial acetic acid contains low impurities. |
| US08017796B2 |
Systems for selective removal of contaminants from a composition and methods of regenerating the same
The present invention relates to devices and methods for selectively removing contaminants from a crude product mixture. In an embodiment the invention includes a method for removing organic acids from a crude product mixture including contacting the crude product mixture with a metal oxide substrate, wherein free organic acids in the crude product mixture bind to the metal oxide substrate, thereby removing free organic acids and forming a refined product mixture; separating the refined product mixture from the metal oxide substrate; and removing the organic acids bound to the metal oxide substrate by contacting the metal oxide substrate with an alkyl ester composition at a temperature of greater than about 100 degrees Celsius. Other embodiments are also described herein. |
| US08017793B2 |
Oxidation of alcohol with use of hydrogen peroxide and tungsten catalyst
Disclosed is a method for oxidizing an alcohol in an amide solvent using a mixed reagent containing hydrogen peroxide and a tungsten catalyst. |
| US08017791B2 |
Tri-substituted 2-benzhydryl-5-benzylamino-tetrahydro-pyran-4-ol and 6-benzhydryl-4-benzylamino-tetrahydro-pyran-3-ol analogues, and novel, 3,6-disubstituted pyran derivatives
Novel 3,6-disubstituted pyrans, optionally with a further substituent at the 4-position, are monoamine reuptake inhibitors with activity profiles of anti-depressants. |
| US08017790B2 |
Method for producing pyrrolidones from succinates from fermentation broths
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound II or a composition comprising the compound II to a composition comprising succinimide and to a composition prepared by the process according to the invention. |
| US08017786B2 |
Substituted β-phenyl-α-hydroxy-propanoic acid, synthesis method and use thereof
The present invention relates to a compound of the formula (I), wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from H, OH, F, Cl, Br, methoxy and ethoxy; or alternatively, R1 and R2 together form —OCH2O—, R3 is selected from H, OH, methoxy, ethoxy and halogens; R4 is OH or acyloxy; R5 is cycloalkoxyl, amino and substituted amino, and when R5 is selected from amino, at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is not H. The present invention further relates to a process for synthesizing a compound of the formula (I), and use of the compound of the formula (I) in the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. |
| US08017785B2 |
Salt forms of (2S)-(4E)-N-methyl-5-[3-(5-isopropoxypyridin)y1]-4-penten 2-amine
Phosphoric acid, edisylic acid (1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid), citric acid, orotic acid (uracil-6-carboxylic acid), R-mandelic acid, sulfuric acid, 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid, D-aspartic acid, and lysine monohydrochloride salts of (2S)-(4E)-N-methyl-5-[3-(5-isopropoxypyridin)yl]-4-penten-2-amine, and methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said salts, and use, are disclosed. The salts can be administered to patients susceptible to or suffering from conditions and disorders, such as central nervous system disorders, to treat and/or prevent such disorders. |
| US08017784B2 |
Substituted sulfoxide compounds, methods for preparing the same and use thereof
Disclosed are an optically pure compound having formula I, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt and its pharmaceutically acceptable solvate, and a use thereof in manufacturing medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions. A process for preparing the compound defined therein is also provided. |
| US08017781B2 |
Azaindazoles useful as inhibitors of kinases
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions. |
| US08017778B2 |
2,9-dichloroquinacridone in platelet form
The present invention is directed to a new 2,9-dichloroquinacridone in platelet form, a process for its preparation and its use for coloring high molecular weight organic material. The 2,9-dichloroquinacridone in platelet form has a length of 1 to 45 μm, a width of 0.1 to 20 μm and an average thickness of 0.01 to 5 μm and is characterized in that the hue-value h in remission is ≦31 and/or the lightness L* in transmission is ≧20 and/or a decreasing b* value and an increasing a* value from an illuminating and viewing angle (aspecular angle) 45°/110° (+25°) to 45°/90° (+45°). |
| US08017771B2 |
Process for preparing acyclic HCV protease inhibitors
Disclosed are highly convergent processes for preparing compounds of formula (I), which compounds are potent active agents for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: The disclosed processes use SNAr-type coupling reactions between peptidic compounds having a hydroxyproline moiety of the following formula: and halogenated or sulfonated bromoquinoline compounds. |
| US08017770B2 |
Gas generant compositions
A novel compound, tris (5-amino tetrazolo) triazine is used for example, as a gas generating fuel. A method of making the compound is also provided. A gas generating composition, containing the novel compound as a fuel, and an oxidizer is also provided. The novel compound may be contained within a gas generant composition 12, within a gas generator 10. The gas generator 10 may be contained within a gas generating system 200 such as an airbag inflator 10 or seat belt assembly 150, or more broadly within a vehicle occupant protection system 180. |
| US08017768B1 |
Catalitic synthesis of caged polynitramine compounds
An improved method of preparing 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.05,9.03,11]dodecane) (HNIW) is disclosed. The compound is useful as a high energy, high density explosive or propellant oxidizer. |
| US08017762B2 |
Modified iRNA agents
The invention relates to iRNA agents, which preferably include a monomer in which the ribose moiety has been replaced by a moiety other than ribose that further includes a tether having one or more linking groups, in which at least one of the linking groups is a cleavable linking group. The tether in turn can be connected to a selected moiety, e.g., a ligand, e.g., a targeting or delivery moiety, or a moiety which alters a physical property. The cleavable linking group is one which is sufficiently stable outside the cell such that it allows targeting of a therapeutically beneficial amount of an iRNA agent (e.g., a single stranded or double stranded iRNA agent), coupled by way of the cleavable linking group to a targeting agent—to targets cells, but which upon entry into a target cell is cleaved to release the iRNA agent from the targeting agent.The inclusion of such a monomer can allow for modulation of a property of the iRNA agent into which it is incorporated, e.g., by using the non-ribose moiety as a point to which a ligand or other entity, e.g., a lipophilic moiety. e.g., cholesterol, is directly, or indirectly, tethered. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such modified iRNA agents. |
| US08017756B2 |
Elite event A5547-127 and methods and kits for identifying such event in biological samples
Tools are provided which allow rapid and unequivocal identification of elite event A5547-127 in biological samples. |
| US08017755B2 |
RNA-based transcriptional regulators
RNA molecules have been shown to play a variety of functional roles in biological processes. RNA sequences can adopt 3-D conformations able to regulate transcription. RNA-based transcriptional regulators when recruited to a DNA template act to promote or suppress the transcription of nearby genes. The regulators are thought to act by mimicing the activation domains of protein transcriptional activators. These RNA-based transcriptional regulators may be engineered to regulate transcription based on the binding of a ligand such as a small molecule. RNA sequences of the regulators may be evolved to produce regulators with a greater degree of transcriptional activation or suppression. The RNA-based system of the present invention is useful in studying biological processes and in altering biological process in a therapeutic context. |
| US08017751B2 |
hT2R54 receptor polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences
Functional assays that detect the effect of a particular compound or compounds on the activation of at least one human T2R polypeptide are provided. These assays include e.g., assays which detect the effect of said compound on intracellular calcium, second messengers such as cAMP, cGMP, current e.g., by use of voltage-clamp or patch-clamp, techniques, fluorescence polarization or FRET assays, and the like. These assays are useful in identifying compounds that putatively elicit or modulate (inhibit or enhance) bitter taste in human subjects, e.g. bitter taste blockers. The effect of identified compounds on taste may be further evaluated in human or animal taste tests. |
| US08017749B2 |
Compositions and methods to treat cancer with cupredoxins and CpG rich DNA
The present invention relates to compositions comprising CpG rich DNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The compositions optionally comprise a cupredoxin. The present invention includes specific CpG DNAs from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that are useful for treating cancer and other conditions in patients. These compositions are optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and also optionally comprise a cupredoxin. The present invention further relates to methods to express proteins near cancer cells. These methods may be used to express therapeutic or diagnostic proteins near cancer cells in a patient suffering from cancer or other conditions, and can also be used for diagnosing cancer in a patient. This method uses the gene for azurin from P. aeruginosa as an expression system for azurin or heterologous proteins in P. aeruginosa or heterologous cells. |
| US08017747B2 |
Apoptosis-inducing genes for treating cancer
The invention provides materials and methods related to the use of recombinant nucleic acid molecules containing an expression control element of an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) gene operatively linked to a coding region for an active cytotoxic/cytolytic agent. The recombinant molecules are used in methods to treat a variety of diseases and disorders, including a wide range of cancers. |
| US08017744B2 |
Purification of a triple helix formation with an immobilized oligonucleotide
A method for double-stranded DNA purification, by which a solution containing DNA in a mixture with other components is passed over a support on which is covalently coupled an oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing with a specific sequence present on the DNA to form a triple helix. |
| US08017743B2 |
Method for rapid detection and identification of bioagents
Method for detecting and identifying unknown bioagents, including bacteria, viruses and the like, by a combination of nucleic acid amplification and molecular weight determination using primers which hybridize to conserved sequence regions of nucleic acids derived from a bioagent and which bracket variable sequence regions that uniquely identify the bioagent. The result is a “base composition signature” (BCS) which is then matched against a database of base composition signatures, by which the bioagent is identified. |
| US08017738B2 |
Hemopoietin receptor protein, NR10
The inventors succeeded in isolating a novel hemopoietin receptor gene (NR10) using a sequence predicted from the extracted motif conserved in the amino acid sequences of known hemopoietin receptors. It was expected that two forms of NR10 exists, a transmembrane type and soluble form. Expression of the former type was detected in tissues containing hematopoietic cells. Thus, NR10 is a novel hemopoietin receptor molecule implicated in the regulation of the immune system and hematopoiesis in vivo. These novel receptors are useful in screening for novel hematopoietic factors capable of functionally binding to the receptor, or developing medicines to treat diseases related with the immune system or hematopoietic system. |
| US08017732B2 |
Tumor marker for pancreatic cancer
A novel protein and a fragment thereof useful as a tumor marker of pancreatic cancer are disclosed. This protein or a fragment thereof is a modified α-fibrinogen protein containing an oxidized amino acid residue(s) or a fragment thereof containing said oxidized amino acid residue(s). The oxidized amino acid residue(s) is one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of (a) a proline residue corresponding to the proline residue at the position of 530 in SEQ ID NO: 2, and (b) a proline residue corresponding to the proline residue at the position of 565 in SEQ ID NO: 2. |
| US08017720B2 |
Sulfur-containing oligomers and high index polyurethanes prepared therefrom
The present invention provides polythiol oligomer formed by the reaction of at least two or more different dienes and at least one or more dithiol wherein stoichiometric ratio of the sum of the number of equivalents of all polythiols to the sum of the number of equivalents of all dienes used to form the polythiol oligomer is greater than 1.0:1.0; and wherein the two or more different dienes comprise (a) at least one non-cyclic diene and at least one cyclic diene; or (b) at least one aromatic ring-containing diene and at least one non-aromatic cyclic diene; or (c) at least one non-aromatic monocyclic diene and at least one non-aromatic polycyclic diene; Sulfur-containing polyurethane of the present invention can be prepared by combining polyisocyanate, polyisothiocyanate, or mixture thereof; the polythiol oligomer described above; and active hydrogen-containing material. |
| US08017716B2 |
Morpholine-substituted poly(arylene ether) and method for the preparation thereof
A poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) prepared using a morpholine-containing polymerization catalyst has a monomodal molecular weight distribution with a reduced content of very high molecular weight species. It also exhibits increased morpholine incorporation in the high molecular weight fraction. Compared to commercially available poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) prepared using a di-n-butylamine-containing polymerization catalyst, the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) of the invention exhibits reduced odor. Compared to other poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) prepared using a morpholine-containing polymerization catalyst, the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) of the invention exhibits improved molecular weight build during compounding and improved compatibilization with polyamides. |
| US08017712B2 |
Process for the preparation of solid solventless MQ resins
The present invention relates generally to a novel process for making a solid solventless MQ resin comprising the steps of (1)(A) feeding at least one MQ resin dispersed in a volatile solvent into an extrusion device, (2) removing the volatile solvent to form a solid solventless MQ resin; and (3) recovering the solid solventless MQ resin, provided steps (1) to (3) are completed without the addition of a linear silicone fluid. |
| US08017711B2 |
Resin article and process for producing the same
Provided is a resin article containing a propylene resin having a crystalline phase and a non-crystalline phase, wherein the propylene resin shows, in its scattering profile measured at a temperature of 155° C. to 165° C. by small-angle X-ray scattering method, a plurality of scattering peaks. This resin article can be produced by a method including a step of shaping a propylene resin containing a polypropylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 6.0 dl/g or more in an amount of 5% by weight to 40% by weight to produce an article precursor, and a step of heating the article precursor at 150° C. to 170° C. |
| US08017710B2 |
Crosslinkable high pressure polyethylene composition, a process for the preparation thereof, a pipe and a cable prepared thereof
The present invention relates to a crosslinkable high pressure polyethylene composition containing ethylene silane copolymer resin having a content of silane of about 0.1 to 10 weight % and at least one silanol condensation catalyst. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation thereof, to a pipe made of said composition and to the use of the composition as an insulation for a cable. |
| US08017709B2 |
Fluorinated polymer and fluorinated polymer composition containing it
To provide an amorphous fluorinated polymer which is soluble in a fluorinated solvent having a boiling point of at most 70° C., and a fluorinated polymer composition containing it. An amorphous fluorinated polymer characterized by having a fluorine content of at least 50 mass % and an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.03 g/dL and less than 0.05 dL/g as measured in perfluoro(2-butyltetrahydrofuran) at 30° C. |
| US08017708B2 |
Nitroso-modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst system
A modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst system, a method for preparing the catalyst system, and a process for polymerizing an olefin in the presence of the catalyst system are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises a titanium compound, an aluminum compound, and a nitroso compound. Improved polyolefin properties, such as high molecular weight, are obtained. |
| US08017705B2 |
Process for production of syndiotactic propylene polymer
Disclosed is a method for producing a syndiotactic propylene polymer having a syndiotactic pentad fraction (rrrr fraction) of not less than 85%, a melting point (Tm) within the range of 145-170° C. and a limiting viscosity [η] within the range of 0.1-10 dl/g by a solution polymerization method using a group 4 crosslinked metallocene compound, which is not accompanied by precipitation of a polymer (excluding white turbidity). Also disclosed is a production method which enables to continuously perform such a production. |
| US08017704B2 |
Process for the production of propylene copolymers using a prepolymerised catalyst
The present invention relates to a process for the production of propylene copolymers wherein in a first step an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component is subjected to a prepolymerization reaction in a prepolymerization reactor, in which propylene monomers are present in an amount of 98.0 to 99.9 mol % and further alpha-olefin monomers other than propylene are present in an amount of 0.1 to 2.0 mol %, based on the combined amount of propylene and further alpha-olefin monomers, so that a prepolymer is produced on the catalyst in an amount of 10 to 1000 g per g of the solid catalyst component, and in a second, subsequent step propylene and further alpha-olefin monomers other than propylene are copolymerized in the presence of the prepolymerized catalyst produced in the first step so that a propylene copolymer is obtained which contains at least 0.1 mol % of alpha-olefin units other than propylene, to propylene copolymers obtainable by such a process and to the use of a prepolymerized catalyst in such a process. |
| US08017700B2 |
Polycarbosilane, method for producing same, silica composition for coating application, and silica film
A polycarbosilane has a main chain in which silicon atoms and carbon atoms are alternately repeated, and includes a structural unit shown by the following general formula (1), a structural unit shown by the following general formula (2), a structural unit shown by the following general formula (3), and a structural unit shown by the following general formula (4). |
| US08017699B1 |
Polyimide polyphenylsulfone blends with improved flame resistance
The present disclosure relates to a composition with improved flame resistance, to articles made from the composition, and to methods that include processing the composition. The composition can include from 15 to 85 percent by weight of a polyetherimide (PEI), from 15 to 85 percent by weight of a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), a polyetherimide-siloxane copolymer in an amount up to 12 percent by weight, and from 0 to 0.30 percent by weight of a stabilizer. |
| US08017697B2 |
Poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane composition and method
A thermoplastic composition includes a poly(arylene ether) and a poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer. The thermoplastic composition is prepared by a method that includes oxidatively copolymerizing a monohydric phenol and a hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane. The method is simpler than prior methods of preparing poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymers by linking pre-formed poly(arylene ether) and polysiloxane blocks. The method is also produces greater incorporation of polysiloxane into the poly(arylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer than prior methods of copolymerizing monohydric phenols and hydroxyaryl-terminated polysiloxane. |
| US08017694B2 |
Efficient process of vulcanization of nonconjugated conductive polymers including rubbers
Nonconjugated conductive polymers, which are all polymers that have a ratio of double bonds to total bonds of less than ½ are doped with iodine to produce compositions with unexpected characteristics in this invention. The mechanical and elastomeric properties of a nonconjugated polymer can be enhanced by doping the polymer with an electron acceptor such as iodine, in order to cure the polymer. Among the nonconjugated polymers are the cis-1,4-polyisoprene, cis-1,4 polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBR), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer and poly (β-pinene). A heated mixture of iodine and sulfur produces a faster rate of vulcanization of rubber than using sulfur alone. |
| US08017693B2 |
Polyolefin functional at each end
A telechelic polyolefin represented by the following general formula (I): X—P—Y (1) wherein X and Y are each a group containing at least one element selected from oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus and halogens, X and Y may be the same or different, P represents a chain made mainly of an olefin composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and X and Y are bonded to both terminals of P, wherein the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is from 1.0 to 1.5, is useful for various purposes. |
| US08017690B2 |
Golf ball
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball comprising a core consisting of a center and at least one intermediate layer covering the center, and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is made from a cover composition containing, as a resin component, a thermoplastic polyurethane (A) and a polyisocyanate mixture (B) in which a urethane prepolymer (b-1) having at least two isocyanate groups is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (b-2) which does not substantially react with an isocyanate group; and wherein the cover composition has a slab hardness of more than 60 and not more than 75 in Shore D hardness, and at least one piece or one layer of the intermediate layer is formed from a low hardness intermediate layer composition which has a slab hardness of 40 or less in Shore D hardness. |
| US08017688B2 |
Crosslinked polyrotaxane and process for producing the same
A compound or material having safety, namely, biocompatibility that exhibits such a nongel-gel transition that the state of being nongel is presented on the side of low temperature while the state of being crosslinked, for example, gel is presented on the side of high temperature. There is provided a crosslinked polyrotaxane at least two molecules of polyrotaxane consisting of cyclodextrin molecules having a linear molecule included in a skewed manner in cavities thereof and having capping groups at each end of the linear molecule so as to prevent detachment of the cyclodextrin molecules, the above at least two molecules of polyrotaxane crosslinked with each other via physical bonds, characterized in that the hydroxyls (—OH) of the cyclodextrin molecules are partially or wholly substituted with non-ionic groups. |
| US08017687B2 |
Swollen silicone composition and process of producing same
There is provided herein, in one specific embodiment, silicone composition(s) comprising unique combination(s) of silicone polymer and alkyltrisiloxane(s) which can produce silicone composition(s) with lower solids content than silicone compositions that use other than alkyltrisiloxane(s); while still maintaining a desirable viscosity. |
| US08017683B1 |
Temporary pipe damming composition, method of manufacture, and method of use
A temporary pipe damming composition comprising water, shredded paper, triethanolamine, Carbomer, and a preservative are mixed into a dough-like consistency. The damming composition is molded and inserted into a pipe to isolate any water or moisture from a working area. The plumber assembles the piping, securing the joints via a sweating process. The damming composition is dissolved by increasing the water pressure after completion and inspection of the plumbing work. |
| US08017682B2 |
Physically crosslinked copolymer compounds and related compositions and methods for electrophoretic separation
Linear acrylamide copolymer compounds which can comprise monomeric components comprising at least one N-substituted moiety capable of physical cross-linking, and related compositions and methods of use. |
| US08017681B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a thermoplastic product that includes packaging therefor
Systems and methods for providing a thermoplastic product that includes packaging therefor. Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with packaging of one or more ingredients of a thermoplastic product, wherein the packaging is used to contain the ingredients during storage and/or transportation, and wherein at least a portion of the packaging itself is an ingredient for inclusion into the thermoplastic product. In some implementations, the entire packaging is incorporated into the thermoplastic product for utilization thereof. |
| US08017679B2 |
Grinding aid of mineral materials in aqueous suspension, resulting aqueous suspensions and uses thereof
The invention concerns the use of hydrosoluble homopolymers and/or copolymers of acrylic/or methacrylic acid with one or more acrylic, vinyl or ally monomers as an aid to the grinding of mineral particles in aqueous suspension, providing them by their use particular optical properties. The invention also concerns the said aqueous suspensions and their uses in the fields of paper and paint. |
| US08017671B2 |
Thermosetting resin for expediting a thermosetting process
The present invention discloses a thermosetting resin for expediting a thermosetting process. The thermosetting resin is composed of 100 parts of primary resin formed by mixing a brominized epoxy resin, a tetrafunctional epoxy resin and an epoxy resin with a high bromine content, and other materials including 35 parts of phenolic resin curing agent, 30 parts of tetrabromobisphenol A curing agent, 0.1 part of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole, 0.8 part Lewis acid, and 50˜70 parts of solvent, calculated based on every 100 parts of the primary resin by weight. The invention can expedite a thermosetting process and enhance the Tg of prepregs and clad laminates. |
| US08017667B2 |
Antimicrobial packaging material
An antimicrobial packaging material for food stuffs containing from 0.05% to 1.5% by weight of a natural essential oil. The oil can be selected from primarily linalool and/or methylchavicol, but also from one or more of citral, geraniol, methyl cinnamate, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, trans-a-bergamotene, carvacrol and thymol blended with one or more polymers selected from ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyacrylates, including ethyl acrylate methyl methacrylate copolymers, lonomers, nylons and other hydrophilic polymers or polymers possessing functional groups capable of partially anchoring the additives and the blender mix is coated onto the food contact face of a food grade packaging film or incorporated into a food grade packaging film. A binding agent such as polyethylene glycol is added to the blend to improve the retention of the volatile oil in the polymer during processing. This material has no regulatory limitations and, at the referred concentrations, does not form detectable off-flavors. |
| US08017665B2 |
Ophthalmic devices containing heterocyclic compounds and methods for their production
This invention relates to ophthalmic devices and methods for their production where the ophthalmic device contain a polymer and at least one heterocyclic compound comprising at least one N—Cl and/or N—Br bond. |
| US08017662B2 |
Method of separation and cleaning of post consumer carpet face yarn from carpet backing and yarn product produced therefrom
A process for producing a synthetic fiber composition with reclaimed post consumer carpet yarn, wherein face yarn is shaved from post consumer carpet using a shaving device to provide shaved face yarn, the shaved face yarn is reduced in size, contaminants are removed using mechanical screeners, the shave face yarn is melt filtered, and then fiber spun. |
| US08017659B2 |
Proton conductive polymer electrolyte and fuel cell including the same
A proton conductive polymer electrolyte includes an acidic functional group-containing aromatic hydrocarbon polymer and an electron donor functional group-containing compound. When used in a fuel cell, the proton conductive polymer electrolyte provides a long-term stable power generating performance at an operating temperature from 100° C. to 200° C. in non-humidified conditions or a relative humidity of 50% or less. |
| US08017655B2 |
Non-acidic cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-cycloalkyl or arylalkyl derivatives as therapeutic agents
The present invention provides cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-cycloalkyl or arylalkyl compounds, which may be substituted in the 1-position with amino, amido, ether or ester groups, e.g., a 1-OH cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compound. The cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compounds of the present invention are potent ocular hypotensives, and are particularly suitable for the management of glaucoma. Moreover, the cyclopentane heptanoic, 2-(cycloalkyl or arylalkyl) compounds of this invention are smooth muscle relaxants with broad application in systemic hypertensive and pulmonary diseases; smooth muscle relaxants with application in gastrointestinal disease, reproduction, fertility, incontinence, shock, etc. |
| US08017650B2 |
2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxy-6-sulfooxy hexanoic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and equilibrium forms thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and their medical use
The invention relates to novel compounds of general formula I wherein M represents hydrogen, or a metallic cation, preferably an alkaline metal, or alkaline-earth metal, and n is equal to 1, 2 or 3. The present invention also comprises compounds of general formula I in their equilibrium forms, including lactonic forms, their enantiomers in pure form, or in an enriched form in one of the optical isomers, racemic mixtures, diastereomers and solvates thereof. The present invention further relates to processes for the preparation of compounds of general formula I, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of general formula I as only active ingredient, or in association with other active ingredients. Another aspect of the invention is the use of compounds of general formula I for the treatment of dyslipidemia, associated, or not, to other metabolic disorders, such as glucose intolerance syndrome and type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus, by means of isolated administration or combined with other substances. |
| US08017649B2 |
Flavonoid compounds and uses thereof
Novel flavonoid compounds having anti-oxidant activity are described. The compounds and compositions have been shown to exhibit anti-oxidant properties and are particularly useful in the treatment of ischemia and reperfusion injuries. The invention also describes a method to chemically synthesize such flavonoid compounds and test their efficacy. Such compounds and corresponding pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives and/or salts have uses in the areas of pharmaceuticals, nutraceutical, and veterinary applications. |
| US08017646B2 |
Histamine H3-receptor ligands and their therapeutic application
The present patent application concerns new compounds of formula (I) with R1 and R2 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a saturated nitrogen-containing ring, A is a saturated C1-4 alkylene and B a C3-4 alkylene or alkenylene chain; their preparation and their use as a H3 receptor ligand for treating e.g. CNS disorders like Alzheimer's disease. |
| US08017643B2 |
Condensed heterocyclic pyrazole derivatives as kinase inhibitors
Bicyclo-pyrazole compound of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as defined in the specification, processes for their preparation, combinatorial libraries comprising a plurality of them and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, are herewith disclosed: the compounds of the invention are useful, in therapy, as protein kinase inhibitors, for instance in the treatment of cancer. |
| US08017636B2 |
1,2,4-Oxadiazole benzoic acid compositions and their use in bioassays
Novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compounds, methods of using and pharmaceutical compositions comprising an 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid derivative are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating or preventing a disease ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated therewith. |
| US08017634B2 |
Compositions for treating obesity and insulin resistance disorders
Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating the activity or level of a sirtuin, thereby treating or preventing obesity or an insulin resistance disorder, such as diabetes in a subject. Exemplary methods comprise contacting a cell with a sirtuin activating compound or an inhibitory compound to thereby increase or decrease fat accumulation, respectively. |
| US08017631B2 |
Oxadiazole derivatives and their medical use
This invention relates to novel oxadiazole derivatives, which are found to be modulators of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances. |
| US08017630B2 |
Cyclohexylacetic acid compounds
Novel cyclohexylacetic acid compounds corresponding to formula I: processes for the production thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, methods of producing pharmaceutical compositions including these compounds and related methods of treating or inhibiting certain diseases or conditions. |
| US08017625B2 |
Nitrogen-containing heteroaryl compounds and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to compounds suitable for use in mediating hypoxia inducible factor and for treating erythropoietin-associated conditions by increasing endogenous erythropoietin in vitro and in vivo. |
| US08017622B2 |
Opioid and opioid-like compounds and uses thereof
The present invention relates to opioid and opioid-like compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations thereof, and use thereof for prevention and treatment of disorders such as septic shock and organ damage. |
| US08017620B2 |
Dutpase inhibitors
Deoxyuridine derivatives of the formula where R1 is H or various substituents; D is —NHCO—, —CONH—, —O—, —C(═O)—, —CH═CH, —C≡C—, —NR5—; R4 is hydrogen or various substituents; R5 is H, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkanoyl; E is Si or C; R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, C2-C8 alkynyl or a stable monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring system; G is —O—, —S—, —CHR10—, —C(═O)—; J is —CH2—, or when G is CHR10 may also be —O— or —NH—; R10 is H, F, —CH3, —CH2NH2, —CH2OH, —OH; R11 is H, F, —CH3, —CH2NH2, —CH2OH, CH(OH)CH3, CH(NH2)CH3; or R10 and R11 together define an olefinic bond, or together form a —CH2-group, thereby defining a cis or trans cyclopropyl group; have utility in the prophylaxis or treatment of protozoal diseases such as malaria. |
| US08017616B2 |
Heterocyclic substituted pyridine compounds with CXCR3 antagonist activity
The present application discloses a compound, or enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, racemates or prodrug of said compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters of said compound, or of said prodrug, said compound having the general structure shown in Formula 1: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or ester thereof. Also disclosed is a method of treating chemokine mediated diseases, such as, palliative therapy, curative therapy, prophylactic therapy of certain diseases and conditions such as inflammatory diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, psoriasis), autoimmune diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), graft rejection (non-limiting example(s) include, allograft rejection, xenograft rejection), infectious diseases (e.g, tuberculoid leprosy), fixed drug eruptions, cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, ophthalmic inflammation, type I diabetes, viral meningitis and tumors using a compound of Formula 1. |
| US08017615B2 |
Low hygroscopic aripiprazole drug substance and processes for the preparation thereof
The present invention provides low hygroscopic forms of aripiprazole and processes for the preparation thereof which will not convert to a hydrate or lose their original solubility even when a medicinal preparation containing the anhydrous aripiprazole crystals is stored for an extended period. |
| US08017612B2 |
Piperazine compound and use thereof as a HCV polymerase inhibitor
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the following formula [I] wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof and an anti-HCV agent and an HCV polymerase inhibitor containing this compound. The compound of the present invention shows an anti-HCV activity based on the HCV polymerase inhibitory activity, and useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of hepatitis C. |
| US08017611B2 |
Pyridine and pyrazine derivatives -083
The invention concerns pyridine and pyrazine derivatives of Formula I or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, wherein each of W, G1, G2, G3, G4, J, Ring A, n and R3 has any of the meanings defined hereinbefore in the description; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders. |
| US08017609B2 |
Method for the prevention of thromboembolic disorders
A method for the prevention of thrombotic, embolic and/or hemorrhagic disorders, such as cerebral infarction (stroke) or myocardial infarction, by administering levosimendan or its metabolite (II) or any of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts to a mammal in need of such prevention. |
| US08017607B2 |
N-substituted-pyrrolidines as inhibitors of MDM2-P-53 interactions
There are provided compounds of the formula wherein X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R3, R4, and R5 are as described herein and enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof which are useful as anticancer agents. |
| US08017606B2 |
Quinoline derivatives as antibacterial agents
Use of a compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a bacterial infection provided that the bacterial infection is other than a Mycobacterial infection, said compound being a compound of Formula (Ia) or (Ib) a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a quaternary amine thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, a tautomeric form thereof or a N-oxide form thereof, wherein R1 is hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, cyano, hydroxy, Ar, Het, alkyl, alkyloxy, alkylthio, alkyloxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, Ar-alkyl or di(Ar)alkyl; p is 1, 2 or 3; R2 is hydrogen; alkyl; hydroxy; mercapto; optionally substituted alkyloxy; alkyloxyalkyloxy; alkylthio; mono or di(alkyl)amino wherein alkyl may optionally be substituted; Ar; Het or a radical of formula R3 is alkyl, Ar, Ar-alkyl, Het or Het-alkyl; q is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4; X is a direct bond or CH2; R4 and R5 each independently are hydrogen, alkyl or benzyl; or R4 and R5 may be taken together including the N to which they are attached; R6 is hydrogen or a radical of formula R7 is hydrogen, alkyl, Ar or Het; R8 is hydrogen or alkyl; R9 is oxo; or R8 and R9 together form the radical —CH═CH—N═; and R11 is as defined in the claims. |
| US08017605B2 |
P38 kinase inhibiting agents
Compounds described by the chemical formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: are inhibitors of p38 and are useful in the treatment of inflammation such as in the treatment of asthma, COPD, ARDS, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions; inflamed joints, eczema, psoriasis or other inflammatory skin conditions such as sunburn; inflammatory eye conditions including conjunctivitis; pyresis, pain and other conditions associated with inflammation. |
| US08017595B2 |
Methods of drug delivery using sulphated chitinous polymers
The present invention provides methods and compositions for delivering a therapeutic agent across a membrane that has limited permeability for the therapeutic agent. The method includes delivering the therapeutic agent to the membrane in a composition which includes a sulphated chitinous polymer as a primary carrier. |
| US08017588B2 |
Clarithromycin or salt thereof for use in the treatment or prevention of pulmonary disease induced by destruction of pulmonary alveoli
For the purpose of treatment and/or prevention of pulmonary disorders caused by the destruction of pulmonary alveoli resulting from smoking, air pollution, noxious gas, etc., there are provided, among others, a method of administering clarithromycin or a salt thereof to a mammal and a pharmaceutical composition comprising clarithromycin or a salt thereof. |
| US08017585B2 |
CXCR4 antagonist and use thereof
Peptides, their amides, esters or salts, which have CXCR4 antagonistic action, have therapeutic effects for cancer and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. |
| US08017581B1 |
MSH-agonist tripeptide conjugates
The invention relates to a tripeptide conjugate having general formula I, A-AA1-AA2-AA3-NH2, wherein A represents the radical corresponding to a monocarboxylic acid with general formula II, HOOC—R, in which: R represents a linear or branched aliphatic radical at C1-C24, which is optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group and which can comprise one or more unsaturations, preferably between 1 and 6 unsaturations, lipoic acid or the reduced form thereof, dihydrolipoic acid, N-lipoyllysine, or phenylbutyric acid; and AA1, AA2 and AA3, which may be identical or different, represent independently of each other an amino acid selected from His, Phe, Ala, Arg, Lys, Orn, Trp, Nap, Tpi and Tic, on the condition that at least one of AA1, AA2 or AA3 represent Phe, preferably Dphe in the form of enantiomers or diastereoisomers and mixtures thereof, including racemic mixtures. |
| US08017577B2 |
Lyophilizable and enhanced compacted nucleic acids
Counterions of polycations used to compact nucleic acids profoundly affect shape and stability of particles formed. Shape is associated with differential serum nuclease resistance and colloidal stability. A surrogate for determining such properties that is easy to measure is the turbidity parameter. Shape also affects the suitability and efficacy of compacted nucleic acid complexes for transfecting cells by various routes into a mammalian body. Moreover, counterions such as acetate can protect compacted nucleic acid complexes from adverse effects of lyophilization. |
| US08017575B2 |
Treatment of insulin resistance by modulating somatostatin using somatostatin receptor antagonists
The present invention provides the use of somatostatin antagonists for treating and preventing HISS-dependent insulin resistance and hemorrhage induced insulin resistance. The present further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a somatostatin antagonist and a pharmaceutically acceptable liver targeting compound. |
| US08017566B2 |
Liquid personal cleansing composition
A mild, substantially isotropic skin cleansing solution was found to be able to suspend insoluble components and provide copious amounts of lather. The cleanser is formulated with synthetic anionic surfactants and a specific ratio of carboxylic acid(s) to hydrophobically modified cross-linked acrylate copolymer(s). The carboxylic acid and acrylate polymer combination were found to provide a synergistic effect on zero shear viscosity at 25 C in a specific pH and copolymer/acid concentration ratio range. |
| US08017559B2 |
Combinatorial libraries of proteins having the scaffold structure of C-type lectin-like domains
The present invention provides novel polypeptides having the scaffold structure of a C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) and a randomized loop region for specifically binding a variety of target compounds and also provides nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The present invention further provides combinatorial CTLD libraries, methods for constructing the libraries, and methods for screening the libraries to identify and isolate the novel CTLD polypeptides. Specifically, the invention provides libraries of nucleic acids encoding polypeptides having a scaffold CTLD with a randomized loop region, as well as nucleic acid sequences, vectors, and methods for preparing and expressing the libraries. Exemplary nucleic acids useful in the combinatorial libraries are derived from tetranectin and other proteins having a CTLD. |
| US08017556B2 |
Crystalline form of [3-(4,5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl)-2-methyl-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-(5-hydroxy-1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methanone
The present invention relates to crystalline forms of [3-(4,5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl)-2- methyl-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-(5-hydroxy-1-methyl-1 H-pyrazol-4-yl)methanone, which is also known under the common name topramezone. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these crystalline forms and formulations for plant protection which comprise one of these crystalline forms of topramezone. |
| US08017553B2 |
Superabsorbent polymers in agricultural applications
Superabsorbent polymer (SAP) products for use in agricultural applications, and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Certain of the SAPs include a monomer or a mixture of monomers, selected from acrylic acid, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylamide, 2-acryloamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, ethyl acrylate, potassium acrylate, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof, that is graft polymerized onto a starch in the presence of an initiator to form a starch graft copolymer. |
| US08017549B2 |
Superabsorbents having superior permeability and conveying properties
A superabsorbent having superior permeability and conveying properties comprises a permeability enhancing agent and a cohesion control agent and has a free swell gel bed permeability of at least 15 Darcies and a Hausner ratio in the range of 1.18 to 1.34. |
| US08017547B2 |
Method for manufacturing catalyst for use in production of methacrylic acid
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst having excellent performance and high mechanical strength for use in the production of methacrylic acid.A method for manufacturing a catalyst comprising essential active components of molybdenum, phosphorus, vanadium, cesium, ammonia, copper, and antimony for use in the production of methacrylic acid, comprising drying a slurry prepared by mixing a compound(s) containing the essential active components with water and then calcining the resulting dry powder and molding the calcined powder. |
| US08017541B2 |
Catalyst components based on ferrocenyl complexes used for olefin polymerisation
The present invention discloses catalyst components based on ferrocenyl ligands, their method of preparation and their use in the polymerization of olefins. |
| US08017539B2 |
Once through regeneration for an olefin cracking reactor
A regeneration process for olefin cracking reactor is presented. The process utilizes the nitrogen waste stream from an air separation plant and the partially combusted effluent stream from the olefin cracking reactor is used to heat the nitrogen waste stream. The control of the heating of the nitrogen waste stream can be achieved through redirection of a portion of the heat from combustion to generate steam. |
| US08017533B2 |
Steel plate reinforcing sheet
A steel plate reinforcing sheet includes a restricting layer and a reinforcing layer, the reinforcing layer being formed of foam composition including styrene synthetic rubber, aromatic epoxy resin, and a foaming agent. A total thickness of the restricting layer and reinforcing layer is not more than 3.5 mm, and the steel plate reinforcing sheet is formed to have adhesion at 5° C. to an oiled, cold-rolled steel plate of not less than 2.0N/25 mm and also has bending strength of not less than 18N after being heated at 160° C. for twenty minutes. This ensures both sufficient adhesion to the steel plate and sufficient reinforcement of the same steel plate. Thus, this steel plate reinforcing plate, when adhesively bonded to a steel plate used in a variety of industrial machines properly and then foamed, can provide an effective reinforcement of the steel plate by forming the steel reinforcing plate bonded to the steel plate. |
| US08017529B1 |
Cross-plied composite ballistic articles
A multilayered composite fabric, the composite fabric comprising a first fabric comprising first and second non-woven unidirectionally oriented fiber layers. Each of the fiber layers is in a resin matrix and the fibers comprise high tenacity fibers. The fibers in the two fiber layers are disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The composite fabric includes a second fabric comprising multi-directionally oriented fibers optionally in a resin matrix. The second fabric also comprises high tenacity fibers. The first and second fabrics are bonded together to form the composite fabric, which has improved ballistic resistant properties. Plastic films may be adhered to one or both outer surfaces of the first fabric and can serve as the bonding agent between the two fabrics. Also described is a method of making a composite fabric. |
| US08017527B1 |
Method and apparatus to reduce defects in liquid based PECVD films
Apparatuses and methods for diverting a flow of a liquid precursor during flow stabilization and plasma stabilization stages during PECVD processes are effective at eliminating particle defects in PECVD films deposited using a liquid precursor. |
| US08017525B2 |
Processing method
A multichamber-type processing apparatus and processing method using same, in which a substrate is reliably neutralized without being damaged, thereby ensuring excellent accuracy and throughput. The processing apparatus includes a transfer chamber, etching chambers selectively communicating with the transfer chamber and providing a space to etch a first substrate therein, and ashing chambers selectively communicating with the transfer chamber and providing a space to ash a second substrate therein. A transfer mechanism is installed in the transfer chamber to sequentially transfer the substrate from the transfer chamber into the etching and ashing chambers. The substrate is electrostatically adsorbed to electrostatic chucks in the etching and ashing chambers. An monatomic nitrogen atom supply unit supplies dissociated monatomic nitrogen atoms into the etching and ashing chambers. |
| US08017523B1 |
Deposition of doped copper seed layers having improved reliability
Improved methods of depositing copper seed layers in copper interconnect structure fabrication processes are provided. Also provided are the resulting structures, which have improved electromigration performance and reduced line resistance. According to various embodiments, the methods involve depositing a copper seed bilayer on a barrier layer in a recessed feature on a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate. The bilayer has a copper alloy seed layer and a pure copper seed layer, with the pure copper seed layer is deposited on the copper alloy seed layer. The copper seed bilayers have reduced line resistance increase and better electromigration performance than conventional doped copper seed layers. Precise line resistance control is achieved by tuning the bilayer thickness to meet the desired electromigration performance. |
| US08017519B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: a substrate; a wiring layer formed on the substrate and made of copper or a copper alloy; a copper diffusion barrier film formed on the wiring layer and made of an amorphous carbon film formed by CVD using a processing gas containing a hydrocarbon gas; and a low-k insulating film formed on the copper diffusion barrier film. |
| US08017515B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming compliant polymer layer between UBM and conformal dielectric layer/RDL for stress relief
A semiconductor device has a first conductive layer formed over a top surface of a substrate. A first insulating layer is formed over the substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed over the first insulating layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the first conductive layer and first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the second conductive layer. A polymer material is deposited over the second dielectric layer and second conductive layer. A third conductive layer is formed over the polymer material and second conductive layer. The third conductive layer is electrically connected to the second conductive layer. A first solder bump is formed over the third conductive layer. A conductive via is formed through a back surface of the substrate. The conductive via is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The polymer material has a low coefficient of thermal expansion. |
| US08017513B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor active layer, method of manufacturing thin film transistor using the same and thin film transistor having semiconductor active layer
A method of manufacturing an IGZO active layer includes depositing ions including In, Ga, and Zn from a first target, and depositing ions including In from a second target having a different atomic composition from the first target. The deposition of ions from the second target may be controlled to adjust an atomic % of In in the IGZO layer to be about 45 atomic % to about 80 atomic %. |
| US08017512B2 |
Efficient power management method in integrated circuit through a nanotube structure
Efficient power management method in integrated circuit through a nanotube structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes patterning a nanotube structure adjacent to a transistor layer of an integrated circuit. The transistor layer may be above a semiconductor substrate. The transistor layer above the semiconductor substrate may comprise a plurality of transistors. The method also includes supplying power to the plurality of transistors through one or more power sources. In addition, the method includes coupling the plurality of transistors in the transistor layer to the one or more power sources based on a state of the nanotube structure. |
| US08017511B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
Etching is performed on an insulating layer 23 and a conductive layer 32 with a photoresist 41 as the mask, to form an opening 51 in the conductive layer 32. After removing the photoresist 41, another insulating layer 24 is formed all over, which is etched back so as to expose a surface of a conductive layer 31, to thereby cover the inner wall of the opening 51. Then etching is performed on the conductive layer 31 with the latter insulating layer 24 as the mask, so as to form another opening 52 in the conductive layer 31. Then still another insulating layer 25 is formed all over, which is then etched back so as to expose a surface of the conductive layer 32, to thereby fill the opening 52 with the last formed insulating layer 25. |
| US08017510B2 |
Semiconductor device including field-effect transistor using salicide (self-aligned silicide) structure and method of fabricating the same
An element isolation region for electrically isolating an element region where an element is to be formed is formed in a semiconductor substrate. A gate insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate in the element region. A gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. Source/drain regions are formed to be separated from each other in a surface region of the semiconductor substrate. The source/drain regions sandwich a channel region formed below the gate insulating film. Gate sidewall films are formed on the two side surfaces of the gate electrode. Silicide films are formed on the source/drain regions so as to be separated from the element isolation region. |
| US08017508B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A layer including a semiconductor film is formed over a glass substrate and is heated. A thermal expansion coefficient of the glass substrate is greater than 6×10−7/° C. and less than or equal to 38×10−7/° C. The heated layer including the semiconductor film is irradiated with a pulsed ultraviolet laser beam having a width of less than or equal to 100 μm, a ratio of width to length of 1:500 or more, and a full width at half maximum of the laser beam profile of less than or equal to 50 μm, so that a crystalline semiconductor film is formed. As the layer including the semiconductor film formed over the glass substrate, a layer whose total stress after heating is −500 N/m to +50 N/m, inclusive is formed. |
| US08017507B2 |
Method of manufacturing a polycrystalline semiconductor thin film
A TFT and the like capable of realizing performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current easily. A TFT consists of a polycrystalline Si film having a small heat capacity part and a large heat capacity part, and the small heat capacity part is used at least as a channel part. The polycrystalline Si film is formed of a crystal grain film through laser annealing of an energy density with which the small heat capacity part melts completely but the large heat capacity part does not melt completely. Since the channel part is formed of large crystal grains grown from the boundaries between the small heat capacity part and the large heat capacity parts, it is possible to realize performances such as a low threshold voltage value, high carrier mobility and a low leak current by using a typical laser annealing device. |
| US08017499B2 |
Strained Si MOSFET on tensile-strained SiGe-on-insulator (SGOI)
A semiconductor structure for use as a template for forming high-performance metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure that includes a SiGe-on-insulator substrate including a tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer located atop an insulating layer; and a strained Si layer atop the tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer. The present invention also provides a method of forming the tensile-strained SGOI substrate as well as the heterostructure described above. The method of the present invention decouples the preference for high strain in the strained Si layer and the Ge content in the underlying layer by providing a tensile-strained SiGe alloy layer directly atop on an insulating layer. |
| US08017496B2 |
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a mask pattern is formed on an active region of a substrate. An exposed portion of the substrate is removed to form a trench in the substrate. A preliminary first insulation layer is formed on a bottom and sidewalls of the trench and the mask pattern. A plasma treatment is performed on the preliminary first insulation layer using fluorine-containing plasma to form a first insulation layer including fluorine. A second insulation layer is formed on the first insulation layer to fill the trench. A thickness of a gate insulation layer adjacent to an upper edge of the trench may be selectively increased, and generation of leakage current may be reduced. |
| US08017493B2 |
Method of planarizing a semiconductor device
A process of forming a semiconductor process fabricated device which contains a trench, hole or gap filled with a conformally deposited material is disclosed. A sacrificial planarizing layer is formed on the fill material, and the device is planarized using a selective RIE process which etches the fill material faster than the sacrificial planarizing layer. An overetch step completes the planarization process. |
| US08017490B2 |
Methods of forming metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors with passivation layers on dielectric layers
Methods of forming a dielectric layer of a MIM capacitor can include forming a passivation layer on a dielectric layer of a MIM capacitor to separate the dielectric layer from direct contact with an overlying photo-resist pattern. Related capacitor structures are also disclosed. |
| US08017486B2 |
Method of fabricating low on-resistance lateral double-diffused MOS device
A lateral-double diffused MOS device is provided. The device includes: a first well having a first conductive type and a second well having a second conductive type disposed in a substrate and adjacent to each other; a drain and a source regions having the first conductive type disposed in the first and the second wells, respectively; a field oxide layer (FOX) disposed on the first well between the source and the drain regions; a gate conductive layer disposed over the second well between the source and the drain regions extending to the FOX; a gate dielectric layer between the substrate and the gate conductive layer; a doped region having the first conductive type in the first well below a portion of the gate conductive layer and the FOX connecting to the drain region. A channel region is defined in the second well between the doped region and the source region. |
| US08017485B2 |
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device
Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided, the methods include forming a first dielectric layer, a data storage layer, and a second dielectric layer, which are sequentially stacked, on a semiconductor substrate. A mask having a first opening exposing a first region of the second dielectric layer is formed on the second dielectric layer. A gate electrode filling at least a portion of the first opening is formed. A second opening exposing a second region of the second dielectric layer is formed by etching the mask such that the second region is spaced apart from the first region. A second dielectric pattern and a data storage pattern are formed by sequentially etching the exposed second region of the second dielectric layer and the data storage layer. The second dielectric pattern is formed to have a greater width than a lower surface of the gate electrode. |
| US08017481B2 |
Methods of forming nanoscale floating gate
A memory cell is provided including a tunnel dielectric layer overlying a semiconductor substrate. The memory cell also includes a floating gate having a first portion overlying the tunnel dielectric layer and a second portion in the form of a nanorod extending from the first portion. In addition, a control gate layer is separated from the floating gate by an intergate dielectric layer. |
| US08017476B2 |
Method for manufacturing a junction field effect transistor having a double gate
A junction field effect transistor includes a channel region, a gate region coupled to the channel region, a well tap region coupled to the gate region and the channel region, and a well region coupled to the well tap region and the channel region. A double gate operation is achieved by this structure as a voltage applied to the gate region is also applied to the well region through the well tap region in order to open the channel from both the gate region and the well region. |
| US08017475B1 |
Process to improve high-performance capacitors in integrated MOS technologies
A method of fabricating a high-performance capacitor that may be incorporated into a standard CMOS fabrication process suitable for submicron devices is described. The parameters used in the standard CMOS process may be maintained, particularly for the definition and etch of the lower electrode layer. To reduce variation in critical dimension width, an Anti-Reflective Layer (ARL) is used, such as a Plasma Enhanced chemical vapor deposition Anti-Reflective Layer (PEARL) or other Anti-Reflective Coatings (ARCS), such as a conductive film like TiN. This ARL formation occurs after the capacitor specific process steps, but prior to the masking used for defining the lower electrodes. A Rapid Thermal Oxidation (RTO) is performed subsequent to removing the unwanted capacitor dielectric layer from the transistor poly outside of the capacitor regions, but prior to the PEARL deposition. Another embodiment instead eliminates the capacitor dielectric removal step, which is then replaced by a step to form an additional layer that is later etched away to leave spacers on the capacitor sides, thereby eliminating any undercutting of the dielectric. |
| US08017474B2 |
Process of forming an electronic device including a resistor-capacitor filter
A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a capacitor dielectric layer over a base region, wherein the base region includes a base semiconductor material, forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a capacitor electrode over the capacitor dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, and forming an input terminal and an output terminal to the capacitor electrode. The input terminal and the output terminal can be spaced apart from each other and are connected to different components within the electronic device. A filter can include the base region, the capacitor dielectric layer, and the capacitor electrode. A transistor structure can include the gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode. An electronic device can include a low-pass filter and a transistor structure, such as an n-channel transistor or a p-channel transistor. |
| US08017473B2 |
Modifying work function in PMOS devices by counter-doping
A semiconductor structure comprising an SRAM/inverter cell and a method for forming the same are provided, wherein the SRAM/inverter cell has an improved write margin. The SRAM/inverter cell includes a pull-up PMOS device comprising a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric wherein the gate electrode comprises a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity, and a stressor formed in a source/drain region. The device drive current of the pull-up PMOS device is reduced due to the counter-doping of the gate electrode. |
| US08017466B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method for the same
In a semiconductor substrate on which are formed an N-type MOS transistor and a P-type MOS transistor, the gate electrode of the N-type MOS transistor comprises a tungsten film, which makes contact with a gate insulation film, and the gate electrode of the P-type MOS transistor comprises a tungsten film, which makes contact with a gate insulation film, and the concentration of carbon contained in the former tungsten film is less than the concentration of carbon contained in the latter tungsten film. |
| US08017463B2 |
Expitaxial fabrication of fins for FinFET devices
A fin for a finFET is described. The fin is a portion of a layer of material, where, another portion of the layer of material resides on a sidewall. |
| US08017461B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor-on-insulating (SOI) field effect transistors with body contacts
Semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) field effect transistors include a semiconductor substrate and a first semiconductor active region on a first portion of a surface of the substrate. A first electrically insulating layer is provided. This first electrically insulating layer extends on a second portion of the surface of the substrate and also on a first sidewall of the first semiconductor active region. A second electrically insulating layer is provided, which extends on a third portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second electrically insulating layer also extends on a second sidewall of the first semiconductor active region. A second semiconductor active region is provided on the first semiconductor active region. The second semiconductor active region extends on the first semiconductor active region and on ends of the first and second electrically insulating layers. Source and drain regions are also provided, which are electrically coupled to opposite ends of the second semiconductor active region. An insulated gate electrode extends on the second semiconductor active region and opposite the first semiconductor active region. |
| US08017454B2 |
Fuse of semiconductor device and method for forming the same
A method for forming a fuse of a semiconductor device includes performing an ion-implanting process at sides of a fuse blowing region of a metal fuse, thereby increasing the concentration of impurity ions of a thermal transmission path region. In a subsequent laser blowing process, as a result of the increased resistance of metal fuse the electric and thermal conductivity is reduced, thereby increasing the thermal condensation efficiency of the fuse blowing region and improving the efficiency of the laser blowing process. |
| US08017451B2 |
Electronic modules and methods for forming the same
Electronic modules are formed by encapsulating microelectronic dies within cavities in a substrate. |
| US08017449B2 |
Process for fabricating electronic components using liquid injection molding
A process for fabricating an electronic component includes a liquid injection molding method for overmolding a semiconductor device. The liquid injection molding method includes: i) placing the semiconductor device in an open mold, ii) closing the mold to form a mold cavity, iii) heating the mold cavity, iv) injection molding a curable liquid into the mold cavity to overmold the semiconductor device, v) opening the mold and removing the product of step iv), and optionally vi) post-curing the product of step v). The semiconductor device may have an integrated circuit attached to a substrate through a die attach adhesive. |
| US08017448B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a double-sided electrode package, a sealing resin layer is formed so as to fill peripheries of surface-side terminals formed on a package substrate. Since the side surfaces of the surface-side terminals have plural protruded rims, adhesion with the sealing resin layer is improved by an anchor effect. At a sealing step, since supplied liquid resin is naturally flowed to form the sealing resin layer, a “mold step” and a “grinding step” may be omitted, and thus the sealing step may be simplified more greatly than a case where the resin sealing is carried out by a transfer molding method. |
| US08017440B2 |
Manufacturing method for semiconductor devices
The reliability of a semiconductor device is enhanced. A first lead frame, a first semiconductor chip, a second lead frame, and a second semiconductor chip are stacked over an assembly jig in this order with solder in between and solder reflow processing is carried out to fabricate their assembly. Thereafter, this assembly is sandwiched between first and second molding dies to form an encapsulation resin portion. The upper surface of the second die is provided with steps. At a molding step, the second lead frame is clamped between the first and second dies at a position higher than the first lead frame; and a third lead frame is clamped between the first and second dies at a higher position. The assembly jig is provided with steps at the same positions as those of the steps in the upper surface of the second die in positions corresponding to those of the same. |
| US08017437B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor package
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package which includes mounting a first chip on a first substrate by a flip chip method, the first substrate having a pre-designed pattern formed thereon; forming at least one bump by performing soldering, on at least one predetermined position electrically connected with the pattern formed on the first substrate; forming a first molding by performing molding, such that the first molding covers the first substrate and the first chip; placing an interposer on the first molding; and placing a second substrate on the interposer, the second substrate having a second chip mounted thereon. |
| US08017434B2 |
Semiconductor chip package fixture
Various methods and apparatus for holding a semiconductor chip package are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first plate adapted to hold a semiconductor chip package. The semiconductor chip package includes a carrier substrate and at least one semiconductor chip coupled to the carrier substrate. A second plate is formed with a first opening defining an interior peripheral surface adapted to compress an outer edge of the carrier substrate between the first plate and the second plate without engaging the at least one semiconductor chip. |
| US08017433B2 |
Post deposition method for regrowth of crystalline phase change material
Techniques for forming a phase change memory cell. An example method includes forming a bottom electrode within a substrate. The method includes forming a phase change layer above the bottom electrode. The method includes forming a capping layer and an insulator layer. The method includes crystallizing the phase change material in the phase change layer so that the phase change layer is void free. The method further comprises heating the phase change material in the phase change layer from the bottom electrode and as a result the phase change layer is crystallized from the bottom to the top. In one embodiment, a rapid thermal anneal (RTA) is applied for crystallizing the phase change material. |
| US08017432B2 |
Deposition of amorphous phase change material
A method for formation of a phase change memory (PCM) cell includes depositing amorphous phase change material in a via hole, the via hole comprising a bottom and a top, such that the amorphous phase change material is grown on an electrode located at the bottom of the via hole; melt-annealing the amorphous phase change material; and crystallizing the phase change material starting at the electrode at the bottom of the via hole and ending at the top of the via hole. |
| US08017431B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) coating a solution containing an organic semiconductor material on a water-repellent surface of a water-repellent stamp substrate; (2) drying the thus coated organic semiconductor material-containing solution on the water-repellent surface to crystallize the organic semiconductor material in contact with the water-repellent surface, thereby forming a semiconductor layer; (3) thermally treating the semiconductor layer formed on the stamp substrate; and (4) pressing the stamp substrate at a side, in which the thermally treated organic semiconductor layer is formed, against a surface of a substrate to be transferred so that the organic semiconductor layer is transferred to the surface of the substrate to be transferred. |
| US08017424B2 |
Dual-sided substrate measurement apparatus and methods
An apparatus for measuring the relative positions of frontside and backside alignment marks located on opposite sides of a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes upper and lower optical systems that allow for simultaneous imaging of frontside and backside alignment marks. The frontside and backside alignment mark images are processed to determine the relative position of the marks, as a measurement of the alignment and/or overlay performance of the tool that formed the marks on the substrate. |
| US08017423B2 |
Method for manufacturing a thin film structure
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing thin film structure, which comprises the following steps: providing a substrate having a first recess and a second recess formed therein with the first recess being deeper than the second recess; depositing a first material layer and a second material layer of different thicknesses successively on the substrate; and grinding the substrate so that a flat upper surface is formed and the first material layer and the second material layer are remained in the first recess while only the first material layer is remained in the second recess. The present invention also discloses a method for manufacturing fringe field switching type liquid crystal display array substrate. With the present invention, it is possible to make the upper surface flat while forming patterns on two layers of thin films respectively by using a single mask. |
| US08017419B2 |
All-silicon raman amplifiers and lasers based on micro ring resonators
Methods of manufacturing a lasing device are provided by some embodiments, the methods including: creating a silicon micro ring with a predetermined radius and a predetermined first cross-sectional dimension; creating a silicon waveguide with a predetermined second cross-sectional dimension, the silicon waveguide spaced from the silicon micro ring by a predetermined distance; and wherein the predetermined distance, the predetermined radius, the predetermined first cross-sectional dimension, and the predetermined second cross-sectional dimension are determined so that at least one first whispering gallery mode resonant frequency of the silicon micro ring and at least one second whispering gallery mode resonant frequency of the silicon micro ring are separated by an optical phonon frequency of silicon. |
| US08017416B2 |
Method for the production of a plurality of opto-electronic semiconductor chips and opto-electronic semiconductor chip
Presented is a method for the production of a plurality of optoelectronic semiconductor chips each having a plurality of structural elements with at least one semiconductor layer. The method involves providing a chip composite base that includes a substrate and a growth surface. A mask material layer is formed on the growth surface. The mask material layer includes a multiplicity of windows having an average extent of less than or equal to 1 μm. A mask material is chosen so that a semiconductor material of the semiconductor layer that is to be grown essentially cannot grow on the mask material or can grow in a substantially worse manner in comparison with the growth surface. Subsequently, semiconductor layers are deposited essentially simultaneously onto regions of the growth surface that lie within the windows. The chip composite base with applied material is singulated to form semiconductor chips. |
| US08017414B2 |
Method for manufacturing light emitting device using non-polar substrate
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes preparing a substrate where a crystal growth surface has an a-plane or an m-plane; forming a buffer layer on the substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer; and separating the semiconductor layer from the substrate by removing the buffer layer. |
| US08017413B2 |
Field emission array having carbon microstructure and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a method for manufacturing a field emission array with a carbon microstructure. The method includes: a photomask attachment step of attaching a photomask with a pattern groove to one surface of a transparent substrate; a photoresist attachment step of attaching a negative photoresist to one surface of the photomask; an exposure step of irradiating light toward the opposite surface of the transparent substrate from the photomask to cure a portion of the negative photoresist with the light irradiated on the negative photoresist through the pattern groove; a developing step of removing an uncured portion of the negative photoresist while leaving the cured portion of the negative photoresist as a microstructure; a pyrolysis step of heating and carbonizing the microstructure thus obtained; and a cathode attachment step of attaching a voltage-supplying cathode to the surface of the transparent substrate on which the microstructure is formed. |
| US08017412B2 |
Betavoltaic battery with a shallow junction and a method for making same
This is a novel SiC betavoltaic device (as an example) which comprises one or more “ultra shallow” P+N− SiC junctions and a pillared or planar device surface (as an example). Junctions are deemed “ultra shallow”, since the thin junction layer (which is proximal to the device's radioactive source) is only 300 nm to 5 nm thick (as an example). In one example, tritium is used as a fuel source. In other embodiments, radioisotopes (such as Nickel-63, promethium or phosphorus-33) may be used. Low energy beta sources, such as tritium, emit low energy beta-electrons that penetrate very shallow distances (as shallow as 5 nm) in semiconductors, including SiC, and can result in electron-hole pair creation near the surface of a semiconductor device rather than pair creation in a device's depletion region. By contrast, as a high energy electron penetrates a semiconductor device surface, such as a diode surface, it produces electron hole-pairs that can be collected at (by drift) and near (by diffusion) the depletion region of the device. This is a betavoltaic device, made of ultra-shallow junctions, which allows such penetration of emitted lower energy electrons, thus, reducing or eliminating losses through electron-hole pair recombination at the surface. |
| US08017411B2 |
Dynamic adaptive sampling rate for model prediction
A method and an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a sampling rate relating to wafer examination. A process step is performed upon a plurality of workpieces associated with a lot. A sample rate for acquiring metrology data relating to at least one of the processed workpiece is determined. A dynamic sampling rate adjustment process is performed to adaptively modify the sample rate. The dynamic sampling rate adjustment process includes comparing a predicted process outcome and an actual process outcome and modifying the sampling rate based upon the comparison. |
| US08017410B2 |
Power semiconductor devices having integrated inductor
An electronic device (100) with one or more semiconductor chips (102) has an inductor (101) assembled on or under the chips. The inductor includes a ferromagnetic body (111) and a wire (104) wrapped around the body to form at least a portion of a loop; the wire ends (104a) are connected to the chips. The assembly is attached to a substrate (103), which may be a leadframe. The device may be encapsulated in molding compound (140) so that the inductor can double as a heat spreader (111c), enhancing the thermal device characteristics. |
| US08017406B2 |
Method for surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (SPASER)
A nanostructure is used to generate a highly localized nanoscale optical field. The field is excited using surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (SPASER). The SPASER radiation consists of surface plasmons that undergo stimulated emission, but in contrast to photons can be localized within a nanoscale region. A SPASER can incorporate an active medium formed by two-level emitters, excited by an energy source, such as an optical, electrical, or chemical energy source. The active medium may be quantum dots, which transfer excitation energy by radiationless transitions to a resonant nanosystem that can play the same role as a laser cavity in a conventional laser. The transitions are stimulated by the surface plasmons in the nanostructure, causing the buildup of a macroscopic number of surface plasmons in a single mode. |
| US08017399B2 |
System and method for electroporating a sample
A system and method are described for electroporating a sample that utilizes one or more sets of electrodes that are spaced apart in order to hold a surface tension constrained sample between the electrodes. The first electrode is connected to the lower body of the system while the second electrode is connected to the upper body. Both electrodes are connected to a pulse generator. Each electrode has a sample contact surface such that the first electrode and the second electrode may be positioned to hold a surface tension constrained sample between the two sample contact surfaces and the sample may receive a selected electric pulse. |
| US08017396B2 |
Cellulose based heart valve prosthesis
Disclosed are cellulose-based pliable, porous and non-porous prosthesis structures that can be formed to various geometries such as thin films, membranes, hollow tubes, heart valves, including an aortic heart valve. Also disclosed are methods for preparing a cellulose-based porous prosthesis structure. |
| US08017393B2 |
Hemangio-colony forming cells
Methods of generating and expanding human hemangio-colony forming cells in vitro and methods of expanding and using such cells are disclosed. The methods permit the production of large numbers of hemangio-colony forming cells as well as derivative cells, such as hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The cells obtained by the methods disclosed may be used for a variety of research, clinical, and therapeutic applications. |
| US08017388B2 |
Tumour cell lines and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a cell line selected from the group consisting of (a) a cell line denominated NM-F9 having the DSMZ accession number DSM ACC2606; (b) a cell line denominated NM-D4 having the DSMZ accession number DSM ACC2605; and subclones of (a) or (b). Additionally, the present invention provides a lysate of the cell lines or a molecule or mixture of molecules obtained from these cell lines as well as dendritic cells loaded with said lysate, co-cultivated or fused with cells from the cell lines, or a molecule or mixture of molecules obtained from these cell lines of the present invention. Moreover compositions, preferably pharmaceutical or vaccine compositions are provided which comprise the cell lines, lysate, molecules, mixture of molecules or dendritic cells of the present invention. In another aspect the present invention relates to methods for producing the aforementioned compositions. Furthermore, methods and uses for vaccination against or treatment or prevention of cancers and/or tumourous diseases are provided. |
| US08017387B2 |
Telomerase reverse transcriptase fusion protein, nucleotides encoding it, and uses thereof
Polynucleotides encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) fusion proteins are provided, the TERT fusion proteins comprising a TERT protein, or functional variant thereof, fused to a substantial portion of the B subunit of heat labile enterotoxin (LTB). TERT variants useful in TERT-LTB fusion proteins of the invention comprise mutations that function to eliminate telomerase catalytic activity. The polynucleotides of the present invention can elicit an immune response in a mammal, which, in preferred embodiments, is stronger than the immune response elicited by a wild-type TERT. TERT expression is commonly associated with the development of human carcinomas. The present invention provides compositions and methods to elicit or enhance immunity to the protein product expressed by the TERT tumor-associated antigen, wherein aberrant TERT expression is associated with a carcinoma or its development. This invention specifically provides adenoviral vector and plasmid constructs carrying polynucleotides encoding TERT fusion proteins and TERT variants and discloses their use in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing and treating cancer. |
| US08017386B2 |
Divinyl ether synthase gene and protein, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to divinyl ether synthase genes, proteins, and methods of their use. The present invention encompasses both native and recombinant wild-type forms of the synthase, as well as mutants and variant forms, some of which possess altered characteristics relative to the wild-type synthase. The present invention also relates to methods of using divinyl ether synthase genes and proteins, including in their expression in transgenic organisms and in the production of divinyl ether fatty acids, and to methods of suing divinyl ether fatty acids, including in the protection of plants from pathogens. |
| US08017383B2 |
Solution temperature control device in cell observation chamber
A solution temperature control device in a biological cell observing chamber (30) used for the detection of chemotaxis and chemotactic cell separator, comprising a first temperature controller (62) and a second temperature controller (63). The first temperature controller (62) measures the temperature of a solution filled in a pair of wells and a flow passage in the chamber and controls the temperature to a specified temperature, and the second temperature controller (63) measures the temperature of a heating part (64) which heats the chamber (30) from the outside to indirectly heat the solution filled in the pair of wells and the flow passage and controls the temperature to a specified preheat temperature. Since the state and quantity of cells moving from one well to the other through the flow passage while holding the temperature of the solution at a specified temperature can be accurately observed and measured, accuracy for controlling the temperature of the solution can be remarkably increased. |
| US08017379B2 |
Nucleic acid purification instrument
According to this invention, a nucleic acid purification instrument whereby it is possible to prevent dispersion of a mist thai causes contamination upon discharge of a solution is realized. A pressurizing nozzle is allowed to come into contact with a nucleic acid capturing column such that the sealing member is compressed. An aspiration fan is operated and thus the air in a closed channel flows toward the bottom part of a liquid receiving tank and then toward the aspiration fan as a result of a partition board. The inside of the nucleic acid capturing column is pressurized using tho pressurizing nozzle such that a solution in the nucleic acid capturing column is discharged and gravity-fed to the lower part of a liquid receiving tank. When the liquid volume m ihe nucleic acid capturing column becomes very small, the discharged solution is mixed with air so as to be formed into a mist and flows toward the aspiration fan and is captured by a protection filter so as not to bo discharged outside the closed channel. |
| US08017375B2 |
Yeast organism producing isobutanol at a high yield
There is disclosed a method of producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a microorganism transformed with an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene. The microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical. The method includes cultivating the microorganism in a culture medium containing a feedstock providing the carbon source, until isobutanol is produced. The method includes recovering the isobutanol. In one embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast with a Crabtree-negative phenotype. In another embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast microorganism with a Crabtree-positive phenotype. There is disclosed a microorganism for producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the microorganism includes an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene, and is selected to produce a recoverable quantity of isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical. |
| US08017363B2 |
Method for production of L-lysine using methanol-utilizing bacterium
A method for production of L-lysine is provided which includes the steps of cultivating a methanol-utilizing bacterium in a culture medium to produce and accumulate L-lysine in the culture medium and collecting the L-lysine from the culture medium, wherein the methanol-utilizing bacterium contains DNA encoding dihydrodipicolinate synthetase which is desensitized to feedback inhibition by L-lysine and DNA encoding a LysE protein that can enhance the excretion of L-lysine out of the methanol-utilizing bacterium, and the bacterium is modified so as to increase the intracellular activities of diaminopimelic acid dehydrogenase, diaminopimelic acid decarboxylase, dihydrodipicolinic acid reductase and aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase. |
| US08017362B2 |
Method for producing L-methionine by fermentation
The present invention provides a method for producing L-methionine by culturing a microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate L-methionine in the medium, and collecting the L-methionine from the medium, where the microorganism is deficient in a repressor of L-methionine biosynthesis system and has L-methionine productivity. |
| US08017360B2 |
Detection of nucleic acids through amplification of surrogate nucleic acids
Methods for detecting and optionally quantitating one or more target nucleic acids are provided, in which a surrogate nucleic acid is captured to each target nucleic acid, amplified, and detected. Compositions, kit, and systems related to the methods are also described. |
| US08017356B2 |
Endoribonuclease
A polypeptide having a endoribonuclease activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; recombinant DNA having the nucleic acid therein; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the polypeptide comprising the steps of cultivating the transformant and collecting the polypeptide from the culture; a process for producing a digest of single-stranded RNA comprising the step of reacting the polypeptide with the single-stranded RNA; and a method for the digestion of single-stranded RNA. |
| US08017354B2 |
Microorganism for producing recombinant pig liver esterase
The present invention relates to a microorganism which comprises at least one copy of a polynucleic acid sequence which is foreign to the host and which encodes a protein having an enzymic activity, and comprises a chaperone system which assists the expression of the protein in the form of an active enzyme, and to a method for producing a protein having esterase activity using such a microorganism. |
| US08017351B2 |
Amylases for pharmaceutical use
The pharmaceutical use of amylases related to Bacillus alpha-amylases of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3, optionally in combination with a lipase and/or a protease. Examples of medical indications are: Treatment of digestive disorders, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes type I, and/or diabetes type II. The amylases of SEQ ID NOs: 1-3 are variants of amylases from Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sp. The amylases of the invention have an improved efficacy in vivo, an improved pH-profile, a high specific activity, and/or an improved starch degradation profile. |
| US08017348B1 |
Assay for Parkinson's Disease therapeutics
The invention provides to assays for agent useful for treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Included are cell-based assays for agents that modulate the effect of Parkin proteins on proteasome function. |
| US08017347B2 |
Binder for C-reactive protein
A polypeptide dimer is provided wherein both protomers have a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one phosphocholine derivative is attached to the polypeptide. The polypeptide shows a specific binding for C-reactive protein (CRP). The utilization of the polypeptide in assays for determining the concentration of CRP is described. The purification of CRP, and compositions comprising the CRP also are provided. |
| US08017346B2 |
Method of quantifying the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)/G protein coupling using a cell membrane array
The invention relates to a method for quantifying G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-G protein binding by means of using a cell membrane array, which comprises (i) putting an unlabeled candidate compound in contact with a cell membrane array in the presence of labeled GTP or of a labeled, non-hydrolyzable analog thereof, in conditions allowing the interaction between said compound and said GPCR present in said cell membranes, and between said labeled GTP or analog thereof and said G protein present in said membranes; (ii) washing; and (iii) quantifying the signal obtained due to the binding of the labeled GTP (or analog) to said G protein. It is applicable in the analysis of the interaction between compounds and cell membrane receptor proteins and of the intracellular signaling mechanisms triggering this interaction mechanism mediated by said compounds. |
| US08017341B2 |
Transcription factors
The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a PntR transcription factor comprising a nucleotide sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or contains any suitable codon substitutions for any of those of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5 or comprises a sequence which has at least 60% sequence homology with any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5, as well as corresponding polypeptides, vector systems and host cells comprising the same. In particular, the invention relates to sequences which are obtained from an Aspergillus, Trichoderma or Penicillium cell. The invention further relates to methods for disrupting PntR expression in a cell as well as methods for expression or production of a POI in a host cell in which PntR expression has been disrupted. |
| US08017336B2 |
Method of examining zinc-deficient taste disturbance by determining expression level of taste receptor genes
The present invention provides: a method for testing zinc deficiency dysgeusia, which is characterized in that it comprises correlating the expression levels of a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the THTR family and a gene encoding a gustatory receptor belonging to the T2R family obtained from a sample derived from the oral cavity of a subject, with a serum zinc level obtained from the sample of the subject; and a kit used for the aforementioned test. |
| US08017333B2 |
Methods for predicting the risk of diabetic nephropathy using genetic markers and arrays containing the same
A method for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, at risk for developing, or suspected of suffering from a nephropathy. The method includes determining whether a sample from the subject has at least one of the following polymorphic sequences: an I/D genotype of an ACE gene, an M235T genotype of an AGT gene, a (CA)n-5′(z−2) genotype of an ALR2 gene, an C106T genotype of an ALR2 gene in the promoter region, a G-308A genotype of a TNF-α gene, or a complement thereof, provided that the ALR2 gene cannot be used alone, in which the presence of the polymorphic sequence indicates the subject suffering from, at risk for suffering from a nephropathy. An array for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, or at risk for suffering from, a nephropathy. |
| US08017332B2 |
Magnetic method for recovering nucleic acid from a mixed cell suspension
A method for selectively recovering nucleic acid from a first cell type in a sample containing cells of at least a first cell type and a second cell type, and a cell suspension medium comprising extracellular impurities, is provided. The method entails combining the sample with particles responsive to a magnetic field in a vessel, the magnetic particles having the ability to sequester the cells from the cell suspension medium upon application of a magnetic field; exposing the vessel to a magnetic field for a time sufficient to cause sequestration of the cells by the particles; removing the impurities-containing cell suspension medium from the vessel while retaining the cells; lysing selectively cells of the first cell type; and isolating the nucleic acid from the lysed cells. Methods for recovering nucleic acid from the second cell type are also provided. |
| US08017329B2 |
Method of screening baff suppressor or inhibitor
A method of screening a novel BAFF suppressor or inhibitor. More specifically speaking, a method which comprises adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell to thereby induce the production of BAFF by the cell; a method of screening a substance capable of suppressing the expression or activity of BAFF which comprises adding a test substance to a BAFF-production system prepared by adding a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody to a cultured human cell and measuring the expression amount and/or the activity of BAFF in the BAFF-production system; and a BAFF production inducer for a BAFF-producing cell which contains a combination of TPA with ionomycin and/or an anti-CD3 antibody. |
| US08017327B2 |
Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping detection via the real-time invader assay microarray platform
A method and apparatus for real-time, simultaneous, quantitative measurement for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in a target nucleic acid is provided. This method involves combining a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with invader assay technique. |
| US08017324B1 |
ENPP1 (PC-1) gene haplotype associated with the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes and their applications
The present invention is directed to a method for determining if a subject is at increased risk to develop obesity or pathology related to obesity by determining the presence of a haplotype comprising three specific SNPs in a DNA or RNA sample of this subject and/or an elevated serum ENPP1 protein concentration. The present invention also relates to a kit and to an isolated nucleic sequence, vector or recombinant cell comprises said ENPP1 gene haplotype. The invention further comprises a method for selecting a compound for the treatment or the prevention of obesity or pathology related to obesity and a method for determining the efficacy of a drug to reduce the risk of obesity or pathology related to obesity in a patient. |
| US08017321B2 |
Gefitinib sensitivity-related gene expression and products and methods related thereto
Disclosed is the identification, provision and use of a panel of biomarkers that predict sensitivity or resistance to gefitinib and other EGFR inhibitors, and products and processes related thereto. Specifically, a method is described for selecting a cancer patient who is predicted to benefit from therapeutic administration of an EGFR inhibitor, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitor. Also described is a method to identify molecules that interact with the EGFR pathway to allow or enhance responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors, as well as a plurality of polynucleotides or antibodies for the detection of the expression of genes that are indicative of sensitivity or resistance to EGFR inhibitors, an agonist thereof, or a drug having substantially similar biological activity as EGFR inhibitors. A method to identify a compound with the potential to enhance the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors is also described. |
| US08017310B2 |
Lithographic method
A method of providing a pattern on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing a layer of photoresist on the substrate, providing a layer of top coating over the layer of photoresist, lithographically exposing the photoresist layer and developing the photoresist to form a structure, covering the structure with a coating layer, inducing a chemical reaction between the photoresist and the coating layer, which reaction does not occur in the top coating, to form regions of modified coating layer, and removing unmodified coating layer to leave behind a patterned structure formed from the regions of modified coating layer. |
| US08017306B2 |
Method for producing conductive film
A conductive film producing method includes a metallic silver forming step of exposing and developing a photosensitive material having a 95-μm-thick long support and thereon a silver salt-containing emulsion layer, thereby forming a metallic silver portion to prepare a conductive film precursor, and a smoothing treatment step of subjecting the conductive film precursor to a smoothing treatment to produce a conductive film. In the smoothing treatment, the conductive film precursor is pressed by first and second calender rolls facing each other, and the first calender roll is a resin roll to be brought into contact with the support. The method satisfies the condition of 1/2≦P1/P2≦1, wherein P1 represents a conveying force applied when the conductive film precursor is introduced to an area where the smoothing treatment step is conducted, and P2 represents a conveying force applied when the smoothing-treated conductive film is discharged from the area. |
| US08017301B2 |
Photosensitive polymer, resist composition, and associated methods
A photosensitive polymer, the photosensitive polymer including repeating units represented by Formulae 1 to 3: wherein R1 and R3 are independently hydrogen or methyl, R2 is a C4 to C20 acid-labile group, R4 is a lactone-derived group, AR is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl ring, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl having from two to three fused aromatic rings, carbon CAR is bonded directly to an aromatic ring of AR, l, m, and n are positive integers, l/(l+m+n) is about 0.1 to about 0.5, m/(l+m+n) is about 0.3 to about 0.5, and n/(l+m+n) is about 0.1 to 0.4. |
| US08017298B2 |
Method of forming patterns
A method of forming patterns includes (a) coating a substrate with a resist composition for negative development to form a resist film having a receding contact angle of 70 degrees or above with respect to water, wherein the resist composition for negative development contains a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid and becomes more soluble in a positive developer and less soluble in a negative developer upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (b) exposing the resist film via an immersion medium, and (c) performing development with a negative developer. |
| US08017297B1 |
Image transfer by sublimation to powder coated articles
Imaged articles and methods for producing imaged articles in which an image has been transferred by dye sublimations techniques to a powder coated substrate are described. The powder coated substrates may include various metals or alloys. The powder coated substrate may include a white powder coating layer and an over cured clear coat layer. The imaged article may be subsequently formed into desired three-dimensional shapes without significant loss in image quality or image degradation. |
| US08017295B2 |
Laser induced thermal imaging apparatus and laser induced thermal imaging method and organic light emitting display device using the same
A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus, an LITI method, and an organic light emitting display (OLED) device. An LITI apparatus for forming a light emitting layer of an OLED device includes a substrate stage adapted to receive an accepter substrate and a donor film to be laminated, the accepter substrate having a pixel area of the OLED device and a magnet, the donor film having the light emitting layer transferred to the pixel area; a laser oscillator for radiating a laser to the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be placed between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator, the contact frame having at least one transmission portion corresponding to the light emitting layer transferred to the acceptor substrate and having a magnet for forming a magnetic force with the accepter substrate; and a contact frame transferring mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage. |
| US08017294B2 |
Process for preparing photosensitive outer layer
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to an improved overcoat for an imaging member having a substrate, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat positioned on the charge transport layer, and a process for making the same including combining a resin having a reactive group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxylic acid and amide groups, a melamine formaldehyde crosslinking agent, a crosslinkable fluoro additive, an acid catalyst, and a crosslinkable, alcohol-soluble charge transport molecule to form an overcoat solution, and subsequently providing the overcoat solution onto the charge transport layer to form an overcoat layer. |
| US08017289B2 |
Method for manufacturing a surface and integrated circuit using variable shaped beam lithography
A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write. |
| US08017286B2 |
Method for design and manufacture of a reticle using a two-dimensional dosage map and charged particle beam lithography
In the field of semiconductor device production, a method for manufacturing a surface using two-dimensional dosage maps is disclosed. A set of charged particle beam shots for creating an image on the surface is determined by combining dosage maps for a plurality of shots into the dosage map for the surface. A similar method is disclosed for fracturing or mask data preparation of a reticle image. A method for creating glyphs is also disclosed, in which a two-dimensional dosage map of one or more shots is calculated, and the list of shots and the calculated dosage map are stored for later reference. |
| US08017283B2 |
Electrode for alkali fuel cell and method for making a fuel cell including at least one step of making such an electrode
An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support. |
| US08017278B2 |
Moving object with fuel cell system
This invention provides a moving object having a fuel cell system, which is capable of preventing the entry of fuel gas into a cabin even if the leakage of the fuel gas occurs. The moving object, having the fuel cell system (1), has an air introduction mechanism (5) for introducing air from the outside of the moving object into a cabin space inside the moving object, wherein an air introduction port (50) for the air introduction mechanism (5) is formed a given distance apart from the fuel cell system (1), so that gas leaking from the fuel cell system (1) does not reach the air introduction port (50). |
| US08017273B2 |
Lightweight, durable lead-acid batteries
A lightweight, durable lead-acid battery is disclosed. Alternative electrode materials and configurations are used to reduce weight, to increase material utilization and to extend service life. The electrode can include a current collector having a buffer layer in contact with the current collector and an electrochemically active material in contact with the buffer layer. In one form, the buffer layer includes a carbide, and the current collector includes carbon fibers having the buffer layer. The buffer layer can include a carbide and/or a noble metal selected from of gold, silver, tantalum, platinum, palladium and rhodium. When the electrode is to be used in a lead-acid battery, the electrochemically active material is selected from metallic lead (for a negative electrode) or lead peroxide (for a positive electrode). |
| US08017269B2 |
Anode active material, method of preparing the same, and anode and lithium battery containing the anode active material
An anode active material is provided. The anode active material includes a silicon thin film containing crystalline silicon having a Raman shift in a Raman spectrum ranging from about 490 to about 500 cm−1 and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) ranging from about 10 to about 30 cm−1. The volume of the anode active material does not change significantly during charging and discharging. Thus, a lithium battery employing the anode active material has an excellent capacity retention rate and a longer cycle lifetime. |
| US08017268B2 |
Lithium secondary battery including discharge unit
Provided is a lithium secondary battery including a discharge unit capable of delaying or preventing a battery explosion. The lithium secondary battery includes a discharge unit disposed parallel to a battery body. The discharge unit includes a first electrode connected to a positive electrode of the battery body, a second electrode connected to a negative electrode of the battery body, and a discharge material film, disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, inducing a abrupt discharge above a predetermined temperature. The discharge material film, e.g., a abrupt metal-insulator transition (MIT) material film can induce a abrupt discharge, thereby preventing or delaying a battery explosion. |
| US08017267B2 |
Method for manufacturing sealed battery and sealed battery manufactured thereby
A method for manufacturing a sealed battery according to one embodiment of this invention includes a first step of using an outer can 15 having an opening, and a sealing plate 16 having a flange provided with a groove 22 around or on a part of a fitting face of the sealing plate 16 with the outer can 15, and inserting the sealing plate 16 into the opening of the outer can 15 so that a top face of the outer can 15 is approximately flush with a top face of the flange of the sealing plate 16, and a second step of welding together the outer can 15 and the sealing plate 16 by radiating a high energy ray to the fitting portion therebetween. The invention thus makes it possible to provide a method for manufacturing a sealed battery in which a weld formed by welding a sealing plate fitted into an opening of an outer can of a battery with a laser or other high energy rays has a large breaking strength, and a sealed battery manufactured thereby. |
| US08017263B2 |
Separator and battery
A battery in which a cathode and an anode are arranged so as to face each other an having a separator in between is provided. The separator is formed from a plurality of laminated microporous membranes and has a film thickness of 10x μm and a piercing strength of 150x gf or more, where 1≦x≦2. The air permeability of one layer among the plurality of microporous membranes is equal to or larger than 10% of the air permeability of the whole separator. |
| US08017260B2 |
Secondary battery having third terminal other than positive and negative electrode terminals and battery comprising it
A secondary battery in which temperature rise (heat generation) can be measured accurately at the time of quick charge/discharge, and a battery which can be configured readily using the secondary batteries while realizing low resistance. Separately from the positive and negative electrode terminals of a flat laminate film secondary battery, a third terminal is fixed perpendicularly thereto. The third terminal is connected with the electrode current collecting parts of a power generating element body constituting the secondary battery (1) and imparted with a potential equal to that of any one of the positive and negative electrode terminals. Inner temperature of the secondary battery is determined by measuring the temperature of the third terminal and a cell balancer circuit, or the like, is connected with the third terminal. The battery is configured by connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals directly in series. |
| US08017258B2 |
System and method for enhanced information handling system battery safety
Enhanced safety is provided in the event of an information handling system catastrophic battery failure by extending a flame container outward from the battery to vent flammable gases through holes having a quenching distance that retards transfer of flames from the battery. For example, telescoping cylinder sections disposed proximate the casing of a battery cell are forced outward as a telescoping assembly when pressure within the casing exceeds a predetermined safety threshold. The flame container vents flammable gases away from other cells of the battery and may direct the vented gases to the exterior of an information handling system housing or to the interior of the housing. |
| US08017257B2 |
Polymer, polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and membrane/electrode assembly
A polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer having a low electrical resistance, high heat resistance and is strong against repeats of swelling and shrinkage. Thus, a membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells having high power generation performance and excellent in durability can be provided. The polymer has repeating units represented by the following formula (U1 ) and repeating units represented by the following formula (U2): |
| US08017253B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element and photocatalyst containing coating solution for organic electroluminescent element
A main object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL element having members such as an organic EL layer formed highly precisely in a pattern with preferable light emission characteristic of the organic EL layer, and a photocatalyst containing coating solution to be used for the production thereof. To achieve the object, the present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element comprising: a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on the substrate; an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer formed on the organic electroluminescent layer, wherein a photocatalyst containing layer containing a photocatalyst, a characteristic providing agent, and a light emission characteristic improving material having the function of improving the activation of the photocatalyst and the light emission characteristic of the organic electroluminescent layer so as to have the characteristic of the characteristic providing agent changed by the action of the photocatalyst accompanied by the energy irradiation is formed at any position between the substrate and the second electrode layer; and the light emission characteristic improving material is a silver salt of a fluorine or an acid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, sulfinic acids, phenols, enols, thiophenols, imides, oximes, primary or secondary nitro compounds, clathrate compounds, a chloric acid and a perchloric acid. |
| US08017252B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic appliance using the same
A light emitting device comprises a pair of electrodes and a mixed layer provided between the pair of electrodes. The mixed layer contains an organic compound which contains no nitrogen atoms, i.e., an organic compound which dose not have an arylamine skeleton, and a metal oxide. As the organic compound, an aromatic hydrocarbon having an anthracene skeleton is preferably used. As such an aromatic hydrocarbon, t-BuDNA, DPAnth, DPPA, DNA, DMNA, t-BuDBA, and the like are listed. As the metal oxide, molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide, and the like are preferably used. Further, the mixed layer preferably shows absorbance per 1 μm of 1 or less or does not show a distinct absorption peak in a spectrum of 450 to 650 nm when an absorption spectrum is measured. |
| US08017250B2 |
Method for production of a coating system
Conventionally, cavities and cracks are filled with a solder metal which forms brittle phases with a subsequently applied coating, which have a negative effect on the mechanical properties. According to the invention, the components which form brittle phases are removed from the solder metal. The above is achieved, whereby a second material is applied which reacts with said component and which is removed again with the brittle phases, before the coating. |
| US08017244B2 |
Coated substrate with a very low solar factor
A transparent soda-lime glass substrate coated with a stack of layers including at least two infrared reflecting layers, each being directly adjacent to two light absorbent layers is provided. The coated substrate has a light absorption value between 35 and 67% and colorimetric indices of reflected color of a* between 0 and −10 and b* between 0 and −20. Glazing units containing the coated transparent soda-lime glass substrate are also provided. |
| US08017239B2 |
Metamaterials and methods of making the same
A metamaterial includes a non-linear organic material and a plurality of metallic resonators embedded substantially within the non-linear organic material. |
| US08017237B2 |
Nanoshells on polymers
Nano-constructs comprising nanoshells and methods of using the nano-constructs for treating or ameliorating a medical condition are provided. |
| US08017236B2 |
Carbon coated high luster materials
A platy pigment substrate having a carbon-containing coating thereon is provided wherein the coating comprises a pyrolyzed carbon-containing ionic species. The products of the present invention may be used in any application where pearlescent pigments have been used heretofore including but not limited to automotive and industrial paint applications. |
| US08017234B2 |
Structural object coated with superhydrophobic nanostructure composite and process for producing the same
The present invention relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by densely coating a surface of a solid substrate having a desired shape with a nanostructure obtained by combining a polymer having a polyethyleneimine skeleton with silica on the nanometer order, and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the nanostructure, and a process for producing the structural object. The present invention also relates to a structural object coated with a superhydrophobic nanostructure composite, the structural object being obtained by removing the polymer having the polyethyleneimine skeleton from the nanostructure and bonding a hydrophobic group to the surface of the residual nanostructure containing silica as a main constituent component, and a process for producing the structural object. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of using the structural object as a container for transferring an aqueous solution. |
| US08017233B2 |
Fibers having excellent responsiveness to magnetic fields and excellent conductivity, as well as articles made of the same
Fibers having excellent responsiveness to magnetic field and conductivity, made of a polymer having fiber forming functions which contains magnetic material particles in spherical form having a saturation magnetic flux density of no less than 0.5 tesla. The fibers can include: (a) the average particle diameter is no greater than 5 μm, (b) the coercive force is no greater than 1000 A/m, and (c) the fibers are complex fibers which are made of magnetic layers that contain 20 wt % to 90 wt % of magnetic material particles, and protective layers where the content of the magnetic material particles is less than 20 wt %. |
| US08017231B1 |
Heat shrinkable films containing single site catalyzed copolymers having long chain branching
The present invention is directed to a heat-shrinkable, thermoplastic film or bag which contains at least one homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer with at least some limited long chain branching. Oriented films made in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved processability as well as improved physical properties such as excellent optics and impact resistance. A homogeneous ethylene alpha-olefin with long chain branching may be present in a monolayer film either alone or in a blend or may be included in one or more layers of a multilayer film in accordance with the present invention. |
| US08017230B2 |
Ceramic powders and thermal barrier coatings made therefrom
This invention relates to ceramic powders comprising a zirconia-based component, e.g., yttria-stabilized zirconia, and an (alumina+silica)-based component, e.g., mullite. The ceramic powders are useful for forming thermal shock resistant coatings having the same composition, through deposition by thermal spray devices. This invention also relates to thermal barrier coating systems suitable for protecting components exposed to high temperature environments, such as the thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. This invention further relates to forming free-standing solid ceramic articles. |
| US08017229B2 |
Polyurethane composite, its preparation and use
A polyurethane composite is disclosed comprising rigid polyurethane and foamed thereupon a flexible integral skin (surface pore closed) polyurethane foam, wherein the rigid polyurethane having a density range of 600 kg/m3 to 1200 kg/m3, a Shore A hardness range of 90 to 99, a Shore D hardness range of 40 to 80, a tensile strength range of 10MPa to 60 MPa, a flexural strength range of 20 MPa to 60 Mpa, a elastic flexural modulus range of 800 MPa to 2500 Mpa, an elongation rate at break of 10-100% and an elongation at break of 25-150%; wherein the flexible integral skin (surface pore closed) polyurethane foam having a density range of 60 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3, a tensile strength of 60 kPa to 250 kPa, an elongation at break of 70-180%, a tearing strength of 130-220 N/m, a resilience of falling ball of 40-70%, IFD25% of 200-600 N and IFD65% of 600-1800 N. |
| US08017228B2 |
Conductive composite compositions with fillers
Composite materials with a polymer matrix, low resistivity graphite coated fillers having exfoliated and pulverized graphite platelets coated on an outer surface of high resistivity fillers, are provided. The fillers can be fibers or particles. The composite materials incorporating the graphite coated fillers as reinforcements can be electrostatically painted without using a conductive primer on the polymer matrix. |
| US08017210B2 |
Multilayer information recording medium and method for manufacturing the same
A multi-layer information recording medium comprising a substrate that has an inner circumference and an outer circumference, three or more information recording layers and resin layers disposed between the information recording layers, wherein positions of the ends on the inner circumference side of the resin layers are different from each other in at least one combination of two neighboring resin layers, and the end on the inner circumference side of at least one of the resin layers is covered by another resin layer. |
| US08017208B2 |
Information recording medium, target and method for manufacturing of information recording medium using the same
An information recording medium of the present invention includes a recording layer whose phase changes by irradiation with a laser beam or application of current. The recording layer contains, as its main component, a composite composed of Ge and Sb that are essential components, and Te that is an optional component. The composite has a composition within a region enclosed by: point (a) (35, 65, 0), point (b) (36.9, 60, 3.1), point (c) (3.2, 60, 36.8), and point (d) (5, 95, 0) in terms of a coordinate (Ge, Sb, Te)=(x, y, z) on the triangular coordinate shown in FIG. 1, where point (b) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Ge60Te40—Ge35Sb65, point (c) corresponds to a point at Sb=60 on Te—Ge5Sb95, and the region includes lines extending between point (a) and point (b), point (b) and point (c), point (c) and point (d), and point (d) and point (a). |
| US08017207B2 |
Degradable paper with long-shelf-life adhesive backing
A degradable paper article with long-shelf-life adhesive backing, together with a related fabrication method. The article includes a layer of degradable paper, a layer of degradable pressure sensitive adhesive, a release liner on the adhesive layer, and a degradable polymer blocking layer disposed between the adhesive layer and the paper layer that blocks adhesive from bleeding into said paper. |
| US08017197B2 |
Plasma processing method and plasma processing apparatus
A microwave is radiated into a processing chamber (1) from a planar antenna member of an antenna (7) through a dielectric plate (6). With this, a C5F8 gas supplied into the processing chamber (1) from a gas supply member (3) is changed (activated) into a plasma so as to form a fluorine-containing carbon film of a certain thickness on a semiconductor wafer (W). Each time a film forming process of forming a film on one wafer is carried out, a cleaning process and a pre-coating process are carried out. In the cleaning process, the inside of the processing chamber is cleaned with a plasma of an oxygen gas and a hydrogen gas. In the pre-coating process, the C5F8 gas is changed into a plasma, and a pre-coat film of fluorine-containing carbon thinner than the fluorine-containing carbon film formed in the film forming process is formed. |
| US08017192B2 |
Radiation cured coatings for image forming device components
The present disclosure relates to the use of radiation cured coatings that may be used in a device within an image forming apparatus. The coating composition may include a reactive oligomer capable of radiation curing having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of greater than 1500. A reactive diluent may then be combined with the reactive oligomer, which diluent is also capable of radiation curing and which has a Mn of less than or equal to 1500. The reactive diluent may be present at a level of less than fifty percent by weight of the coating composition. The coating composition may be present at a solids level of 90-100%. |
| US08017190B2 |
Metal/fiber laminate and fabrication using a porous metal/fiber preform
A metal/fiber laminate has a plurality of adjacent layers. Each layer is porous and includes an arrangement of fibers. At least one of the layers has its fibers coated with a metal. A polymer matrix permeates each such arrangement. |
| US08017188B2 |
Methods of making articles having toughened and untoughened regions
Methods of making an article having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region involving providing a material, applying a toughening agent to a portion of the material, shaping the material to produce a preform, applying an untoughened resin to the preform, and curing the preform having the applied untoughened resin to produce the at least one toughened region and the at least one untoughened region wherein the toughened region comprises a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2. |
| US08017184B2 |
β-diketiminate ligand sources and metal-containing compounds thereof, and systems and methods including same
The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one β-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one fluorine-containing organic group as substituent. In other certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one β-diketiminate ligand with at least one aliphatic group as a substituent selected to have greater degrees of freedom than the corresponding substituent in the β-diketiminate ligands of certain metal-containing compounds known in the art. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for β-diketiminate ligands are also provided. |
| US08017182B2 |
Method for depositing thin films by mixed pulsed CVD and ALD
Films are deposited on a substrate by a process in which atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit one layer of the film and pulsed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit another layer of the film. During the ALD part of the process, a layer is formed by flowing sequential and alternating pulses of mutually reactive reactants that deposit self-limitingly on a substrate. During the pulsed CVD part of the process, another layer is deposited by flowing two CVD reactants into a reaction chamber, with at least a first of the CVD reactants flowed into the reaction chamber in pulses, with those pulses overlapping at least partially with the flow of a second of the CVD reactants. The ALD and CVD parts of the process ca be used to deposit layers with different compositions, thereby forming, e.g., nanolaminate films. Preferably, high quality layers are formed by flowing the second CVD reactant into the reaction chamber for a longer total duration than the first CVD reactant. In some embodiments, the pulses of the third reactant at separated by a duration at least about 1.75 times the length of the pulse. Preferably, less than about 8 monolayers of material are deposited per pulse of the first CVD reactant. |
| US08017181B2 |
Method for preparing core/shell structure nanoparticles
A nanoparticle having a core/shell structure can be rapidly and reproducibly prepared by the inventive method which comprises: (i) dissolving a shell precursor in a solvent to form a shell precursor solution, and then allowing the shell precursor solution to be stabilized at a temperature suitable for the shell precursor to form an overcoat on the surface of a core nanoparticle; and (ii) adding a powder form of the core nanoparticle to the stabilized shell precursor solution. |
| US08017180B2 |
Process for decorating a wood cellulose web material
The invention relates to a method for heat transferring high resolution digital images that are printed onto a heat transfer sheet with dye-sublimation inks. The dye-sublimated image/design/graphic is impregnated into a natural wood cellulose web material using a rotary heat transfer press. The imaged wood cellulose web material forms a continuous roll of pre-laminate material that can be bonded/laminated to a myriad of substrates and that can be stored easily in roll form, with or without adhesive backing. This is a unique process of formulating an imaged, environmentally sustainable wood cellulose web material. The raw material can be FSC certified from managed renewable forests and after imaging, the wood cellulose web material has no VOC or formaldehyde emissions. The claimed invention preferably uses a polyurethane reactive (PUR) acrylic top coating that provides a high quality and cost effective surface finish to the decorated wood cellulose web material. The PUR system technology provides surface protection with high wear and shock resistance and maintains the depth and quality of the imaged wood cellulose material. |
| US08017175B2 |
Manufacturing multilayer conjugate polymer optoelectronics device by using buffer layer
A highly stable, multilayer organic molecular photoelectric element without interlayer miscibility phenomenon during manufacturing process, and a method for producing multilayer organic molecular photoelectric elements with simplified solution process are disclosed. |
| US08017172B2 |
Whole grain flour and products including same
The present invention is a grain product. The grain product includes a first fraction including bran. The first fraction is milled to a first particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The grain product also includes a second fraction including germ. The second fraction is milled to a second particle size of less than 500 micrometers. The grain product is at least one of: a food product, a nutritional supplement, a dietary supplement, a fiber supplement, a digestive supplement, a functional food, and a medical food. |
| US08017170B2 |
Utilization of emulsion interface engineering to produce oxidatively stable lipid delivery systems
A method for stabilizing lipid components is provided in which a protein-lipid emulsification product is formed, and the isoelectric point of the emulsification product is determined. The pH of the emulsion is adjusted below the isoelectric point of the protein component in the emulsion system to form an emulsification product having an overall positive net charge. The lipid oxidation rates of these protein-stabilized emulsions are significantly lower at this pH value than of those above the pI of the protein component used in the emulsion system. As the difference between the pH of the emulsion and the pI of the protein component in the emulsion is increased the inhibition of lipid oxidation is also increased. These stabilized emulsification products are particularly useful in the production of water-based foods requiring the addition of inherently unstable oil or lipid components. |
| US08017167B2 |
Food cooking basket for a rotisserie oven
Enclosed rotisserie with added convenience, including a countertop resting box-like enclosure housing a safety rear mounted heating element and a power rotated dual rod spit assembly. The gear driven spit assembly may be easily inserted and removed straight into and out of the enclosure without need for angling or coupling the assembly to a power drive socket. The spit assembly may also be mounted at various distances from the heating element to decrease cooking times. The open front of the enclosure is from time to time covered by an inclined glass panel door which may be opened in various ways to facilitate food insertion into and removal from the enclosure, and which may be easily removed for cleaning or other purposes. |
| US08017164B1 |
Tomato peeling method
A method for peeling fruits and vegetables, particularly those having thin skins, such as tomatoes includes immersing the fruit or vegetable in a boiling solution comprising carbamide and one of carborane and hydrogen chloride to loosen a peel thereof. In a particular embodiment, the carborane comprises trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The fruit or vegetable is removed from the solution after a predetermined time period. The fruit or vegetable is cooled, and the loosened peel is removed from the fruit or vegetable. |
| US08017163B2 |
Rapid development of heat resistance in chocolate and chocolate-like confectionery products
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing heat-resistant chocolate or chocolate-like confectionery products wherein (I) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass which has been mixed with a water-in-oil emulsion or (ii) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass having an increased water content is moulded and then subjected to a microwave treatment prior to, during, and/or after cooling. The heat resistance is developed essentially instantaneously and the obtained product can be subjected to temperatures of up to about 40 or even 50° C. without losing its form. The invention also relates to the products obtainable by that process. |
| US08017162B2 |
Anti-inflammatory agent
This invention provides an anti-inflammatory agent or the like which is safer and less adverse and has the great effectiveness to prevent and treat arthritis, or the like. An anti-inflammatory agent or the like in this invention is characterized by comprising anthocyanidin and gingerol as an active substance. Also, the abovementioned anthocyanidin and gingerol are preferably extracted from red ginger. |
| US08017159B2 |
Phospholipid gel compositions for delivery of aptamers and methods of treating conditions using same
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions in the form of a gel for controlled- or sustained-release of an aptamer and to methods for treating or preventing a condition in an animal by administering to an animal in need thereof the pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US08017158B2 |
Granulated fertilizer composed of micronutrients and clay
The invention consists of a granulated fertilizer which contains iron (11 to 13%), zinc (3 to 9%), manganese (0.1 to 2.5%), copper (0.5 to 0.7%), in the form of sulphates, also ammonium molybdate (0 to 0.1%) and a Caolinite, Illite or Montmorillonite clay (45 to 57%), or a mixture of them in any proportion. All the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the fertilizer. The product is 100% soluble, the high cationic exchange capacity which clays have allows the micronutrients to be adsorbed by the clay and prevent its leaching or reacting, making its assimilation by the plant more efficient and better. The use of sulphates in the soil, in the presence of water provoks an acidification of the soil which allows a better assimilation of the micronutrients in alkaline soils. |
| US08017156B2 |
Long-acting colloidal insulin formulation and its preparation
The invention relates to injectable long-acting insulin formulations for the treatment of types I and II diabetes in humans and animals.The essential object of the invention is to provide an injectable long-acting insulin formulation in the form of a colloidal suspension which is stable, which has a good local tolerance and toxicity compatible with the chronic treatment of diabetics, and which maintains a substantial hypoglycemic effect extending over at least 24 hours after a single administration, e.g. by the subcutaneous route.To achieve this object, the invention relates to a stable aqueous colloidal formulation of insulin-laden nanoparticles of at least one poly(Leu-block-Glu) in which the pH is between 5.8 and 7.0, the osmolarity O (in mOsmol) . . . : 270≦O≦800, and the viscosity v (in mPa·s) is low, namely v≦40. The nanoparticles of poly(Leu-block-Glu) have a mean hydrodynamic diameter Dh such that: 15≦Dh≦40.The invention relates to an antidiabetic drug based on this long-acting insulin formulation and injectable using needles of gauge 29 G, 30 G or 31 G. |
| US08017155B2 |
Methods for encapsulation of biomacromolecules in polymers
A method for encapsulating a biomacromolecule in a pore-containing polymer comprising the steps of providing an encapsulating solution containing the biomacromolecule and the pore-containing polymer; contacting the biomacromolecule with the pore-containing polymer for a time sufficient for the biomacromolecule to enter the pores of the pore-containing polymer; and rearranging the polymer such that the surface pores of the polymer are closed thus encapsulating the biomacromolecule in the pore-containing polymer. |
| US08017150B2 |
Polyethylene oxide-based films and drug delivery systems made therefrom
The invention relates to the film products and methods of their preparation that demonstrate a non-self-aggregating uniform heterogeneity. Desirably, the films disintegrate in water and may be formed by a controlled drying process, or other process that maintains the required uniformity of the film. The films contain a polymer component, which includes polyethylene oxide optionally blended with hydrophilic cellulosic polymers. Desirably, the films also contain a pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic active agent with no more than a 10% variance of the active agent pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic active agent per unit area of the film. |
| US08017145B2 |
Exfoliating personal care wipe article containing an array of projections
A wipe article is provided for cleansing and providing gentle exfoliation. The article is a water-insoluble substrate laden with a fluid cosmetic composition that includes a skin benefit agent delivered in a carrier. The substrate is a woven or non-woven fibrous web with first and second major surfaces, at least one of the major surfaces having formed thereon an array of projections, the array including from at least 2 to about 20 projections per cm2. Each projection is formed of a material different than that of the substrate and is raised from the substrate at a highest point thereof a distance from 100 to 2,000 micron. The projections are formed of at least 20 microbeads per projection. |
| US08017142B2 |
Polysulfone block copolymers as drug-eluting coating material
A polymeric composition comprising a polysulfone polymer and an elastomeric polymer for use as a coating composition for coating an implantable device, such as a DES, and methods of making and using the implantable device are provided. |
| US08017138B2 |
Composition and method for treating skin
A method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance is disclosed. Compositions for use in this method and a kit containing such compositions are also disclosed. In some of the embodiments of the invention, either one, or both, of the acid composition and neutralizing composition useful in the method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance are of low viscosity. The compositions and methods are effective but gentle enough to be suitable for daily home use by the consumer. |
| US08017137B2 |
Customized retail point of sale dispensing methods
Methods for customizing products at a retail point of sale. A user interface is provided at the point of sale for selection of the desired product. Based upon the selection, ingredients are dispensed for making the personalized consumer product. |