| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08045309B2 |
Magnetic energy recovery switch having protective circuit
In order to protect Magnetic Energy Recovery Switch (MERS) against an overvoltage and an overcurrent a voltage detection unit is provided for detecting the capacitor voltage of the MERS and control means is provided to control so as to turn ON the switch of the discharge circuit connected in parallel with the capacitor to make the capacitor discharge the electric charge thereof when the output of the voltage detection unit exceeds a predetermined value. Moreover, a current detection unit is interposed between the AC power supply and the load for detecting the current flowing to the load, and the current limiting is carried out by making the duty ratio of the ON/OFF of the pulse of the gate control signals of the MERS switches smaller than 0.5, when the output of the current detection unit exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US08045306B2 |
Electrical-overstress protection circuit for an integrated circuit
An electrical-overstress (EOS) protection circuit for an electronic device includes series-connected resistors, a mode-control switch, and a bias circuit. The series-connected resistors are electrically coupled between an input and an output, and the mode-control switch is electrically coupled between the output and a ground. The bias circuit is electrically coupled to the input for generating a mode-control signal to control the mode-control switch. The bias circuit generates the mode-control signal in a way such that the mode-control switch is open in a normal mode and closed in an EOS mode. |
| US08045305B2 |
Protection circuit
A first transistor is an N-channel MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) with a first terminal of the conduction channel, the gate, and the back gate thereof connected to a terminal to be protected. A second transistor is an N-channel MOSFET with a first channel of the conduction channel, the gate, and the back gate thereof connected to a fixed voltage terminal, and with a second terminal of the conduction channel thereof connected to the second terminal of the conduction channel of the first transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are floating MOSFETs formed in a common N-type well formed in a P-type semiconductor substrate, and are provided in the form of separate devices. A common connection node which connects the first transistor and the second transistor is connected to an N-type well for device separation. |
| US08045303B2 |
Building service ground fault interrupter
A ground fault interrupter to be used by utility company while effecting repairs to the electrical service for a building is positioned to interrupt the power supply to the building in case of a detected ground fault and utilizes a sensor for detecting the fault current at the service entrance to a building; a contact switch, selectively movable between open and closed positions, mounted for temporary use in series with said power supply to the building; and a microprocessor based circuit for measuring and evaluating fault current detected by the sensor and controlling the selective movement of the contact switch between its open and closed positions. |
| US08045302B2 |
Compressor protection and grid fault detection device
A compressor monitoring system includes current and voltage monitors, current and voltage averaging modules, a control module, and a switch. The current monitor measures a current drawn by a motor of a compressor. The current averaging module generates first and second average current values based on the current measured by the current monitor. The voltage monitor measures a utility power voltage. The voltage averaging module generates first and second average voltage values based on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The control module selectively generates a fault signal when a first ratio is greater than a first predetermined threshold and a second ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold. The first ratio is based on the first and second average current values. The second ratio is based on the first and second average voltage values. The switch deactivates the motor when the fault signal is generated. |
| US08045301B2 |
Motor drive device
When an upper arm of U-phase has failed because of short-circuit, lower arms of V-phase and W-phase as the opposite arms are switching-operated. When only the lower arm of V-phase is turned on, a route of motor current passing through an IGBT element from a V-phase coil is formed, and therefore, the motor current returning to the short-circuited phase decreases. Further, by the switching operation of the arm opposite to the short-circuited arm, an AC current is induced in a motor generator. Therefore, it is possible to continuously drive the motor generator while preventing increase in the current passing through the short-circuited phase, without adding a new device structure. This ensures running of the vehicle in the limp mode. |
| US08045300B2 |
Tunneling magnetic sensing element and method for producing same
A free magnetic layer has a laminated structure in which a first magnetic sublayer composed of Co—Fe or Fe and a second magnetic sublayer composed of Co—Fe—B or Fe—B are formed, in that order, on an insulating barrier layer composed of Mg—O. This effectively improves the rate of change in resistance (ΔR/R) compared with the related art. |
| US08045298B2 |
Three terminal magnetic sensing device having a track width defined in a localized region by a patterned insulator and methods of making the same
A three terminal magnetic sensing device (TTM) having a trackwidth defined in a localized region by a patterned insulator, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, one or more first sensor layers (e.g. which includes a “base” layer) are formed over a collector substrate. A patterned insulator which defines a central opening exposing a top layer of the one or more first sensor layers is then formed. The central opening has a width for defining a trackwidth (TW) of the TTM. Next, one or more second sensor layers are formed over the top layer of the one or more first sensor layers through the central opening of the patterned insulator. The one or more second sensor layers may include a tunnel barrier layer formed in contact with the top layer of the one or more first sensor layers, as well as an “emitter” layer. Various embodiments and techniques are provided. |
| US08045292B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head with the return yoke layer having gradually increasing the width
A perpendicular magnetic recording head is provided capable of suppressing the magnetic field attributable to the edge write phenomenon and improving resistance to an external magnetic field. The perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a magnetic layer that has a main magnetic pole on a surface facing a recording medium; a return yoke layer that is disposed on the magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic layer disposed therebetween and has a large width in the direction of the main magnetic pole; and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the magnetic layer. The return yoke layer is provided with such a shape that as seen in the plan view, the return yoke layer is exposed from the medium facing surface with a width not greater than the width in the track width direction of a protrusion region of the return yoke layer that covers the coil layer and the width of the return yoke layer gradually increases in the height direction from the medium facing surface. |
| US08045283B2 |
Amplitude-based approach for detection and classification of hard-disc defect regions
In a hard-disc drive, a defect region on the hard disc is classified as corresponding to either thermal asperity (TA) or media defect (MD) by generating two statistical measures. A first measure (e.g., α1) is based on (i) the magnitudes of one or both of signal values (e.g., equalizer input or output signal values) and the corresponding expected values of those signal values and (ii) the signs of one or both of the signal values and the expected signal values. A second measure (e.g., α2) is based on the magnitudes of one or both of the signal values and the expected signal values, but not the signs of either the signal values or the expected signal values. The two measures are then compared to determine whether the defect region corresponds to TA or MD. |
| US08045279B2 |
Molded lens and molding tool
A lens is manufactured by hardening soft material filled inside a molding tool by cooling. The lens includes a convex lens portion having an optical axis, and a marking portion located outside of an effective diameter of the lens portion. The shape or the position of the marking portion is set to prevent deformation of the marking portion by contact with the molding tool due to shrinkage of the material during cooling. |
| US08045278B2 |
Short overall length imaging lens system with four lenses
Along an optical axis from an object side to an image side, a short overall length imaging lens system with four lenses includes a first lens with positive power that is a meniscus spherical/aspherical lens with a convex surface on the object side; an aperture stop; a second lens with negative power that is a meniscus aspherical lens with a convex surface facing the object side; a third lens with positive power that is a meniscus aspherical lens and a concave surface on the object side; and a fourth lens with negative power that is a biconcave aspherical lens with at least one inflection point in the effective diameter range of the optical surface on the image side so as to make the positive power gradually change into negative power. Moreover, the imaging lens system satisfies the following conditions: 0.25 ≤ d 2 + d 4 + d 6 f s ≤ 0.40 ; 0.8 ≤ Y · tan ( ω ) Bf ≤ 2.7 Thereby the imaging lens system provides good aberration correction with reduced overall lens length. Moreover, due to simple shape of the optical surface of each lens, the lens is easy to be produced, the lens system is minimized and the cost is reduced. |
| US08045277B2 |
Lens barrel, camera and information device
A cam locus of the cam surface on the image plane side of the first group cam groove of the rotating cylinder has an angle to a flat surface where the optical axis crosses perpendicularly. When the cam follower engages with the cam surface on the image plane side, an impact force is dispersed into the optical axis direction and the rotating direction of the rotating cylinder, and a load on the cam follower and male helicoid is reduced. When the first group lens system is pressed by a light load, the cam follower of the first group lens movement frame engages with the cam surface on the image plane side, and an angle of the cam surface is equal to an angle of a force occurring in the rotating direction. Therefore, the rotating cylinder does not rotate easily, and returns to its previous position when the load is removed. |
| US08045275B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup device having the same
A compact wide-angle zoom lens and an image pickup device having the same. The zoom lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power in an order from an object side to an image side, performs zooming by varying a distance between the first and second lens groups, and performs focusing by using a first lens closest to the object side in the second lens group. |
| US08045273B2 |
Light projection apparatus and light-mixing module thereof
A projection apparatus includes a first, a second and a third light sources, a first reflective element, a first and a second dichroic mirrors, a light-homogenizing element, a light valve and a projection lens. The first reflective element is configured to reflect the first light beam, and the first dichroic mirror is configured to reflect the second light beam and to transmit the first light beam transmitted from the first reflective element. The second dichroic mirror is configured to reflect the first and the second light beams transmitted from the first dichroic mirror and to transmit the third light beam. The light-homogenizing element is used for homogenizing the combined light beam, and the light valve is used for modulating the combined light beam to form an image beam. The projection lens is used for receiving and then projecting the image beam. |
| US08045271B2 |
Laser irradiation method and laser irradiation apparatus
The present invention is to provide a laser irradiation technique for irradiating the irradiation surface with the laser beam having homogeneous intensity distribution using a cylindrical lens array without being affected by the intensity distribution of the original beam. A laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator is divided by two kinds of cylindrical lens arrays into a plurality of beams, which are two kinds of linear laser beams with their energy intensity distribution inverted each other, and the two kinds of linear laser beams are superposed in a minor-axis direction. This can form the linear laser beam having homogeneous intensity distribution on the irradiation surface. |
| US08045264B2 |
Projection backwall apparatus and system
A collapsible projection backwall system utilizes a short throw projector and a collapsible framework to create a display usable in a small amount of space. The framework is specifically configured to support and appropriately position a flexible screen member so that distortion is avoided. This is particularly significant in situations where a relatively large screen is utilized, which creates the need to maintain appropriate tension upon the flexible screen member. The framework is specifically configured to be slightly canted when in its extended configuration to thereby introduce natural tension forces which will cooperate with the screen fabric to maintain the necessary configuration for the screen. This canted configuration is achieved by configuring a set of corner hinge assemblies and any central hinged assemblies to maintain this natural cant. By maintaining the desired forces on the display screen fabric a more efficient and functional display screen is created. |
| US08045263B2 |
Device and method for wide-field and high resolution imaging of tissue
A device for wide-field and high resolution imaging of an object surface includes first and second imaging modalities, a lens associated with the second imaging modality. The first imaging modality is high resolution with a first observation line. The second imaging modality is arranged in an image plane at a first angle with respect to an object plane and has a second observation line and a wider imaging field than the first imaging modality. The lens associated with the second imaging modality is arranged in a lens plane at a second angle with respect to the object plane, where the second angle being equal to about one-half of the first angle. The first and second imaging modalities are mutually arranged such that the first and second optical axes intersect at a point on the object plane. |
| US08045261B2 |
Reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA), RSOA module having the same, and passive optical network using the same
A Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (RSOA) for compensating for light loss in an optical link, an RSOA module for improving polarization dependency using the RSOA, and a Passive Optical Network (PON) for increasing economical efficiency and practical use of a bandwidth using the RSOA are provided. The PON includes a central office comprising a plurality of optic sources transmitting a downstream signal and a plurality of first receivers receiving an upstream signal; at least one optical network terminal (ONT) including a second receiver receiving the downstream signal and an RSOA which receives the downstream signal, remodulates the downstream signal into the upstream signal, and transmits the upstream signal in loopback mode; and a remote node interfacing the central office with the ONT. The upstream signal and the downstream signal are transmitted between the remote node and the ONT via a single optical fiber. The remote node includes an optical power splitter at its port connected to the ONT. |
| US08045260B2 |
Optimized signal control in frequency-doubled laser sources
The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor lasers and laser projection systems. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating a laser projection system is provided. According to the method, the laser projection system is utilized to display a sequence of pixelized image frames comprising an alternating sequence of relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF. A complementary control signal transitions between an active state QON during the relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON and an inactive state QOFF during the relatively low intensity inactive projection periods ModOFF. The transition of the complementary control signal from the inactive state QOFF to the active state QON is conditioned to anticipate initiation of relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON such that it is optimized upon initiation of the relatively high intensity active projection periods ModON. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08045259B2 |
Active optical fibers with wavelength-selective filtering mechanism, method of production and their use
The invention relates to optical fibers for use in optical amplification of light, such as in optical fiber amplifiers and lasers and for use in delivery of high power light, in particular to a scheme for reducing amplified spontaneous emission at undesired wavelengths. The invention further relates to articles, methods and use. An object of the invention is achieved by a micro-structured optical fiber, which is adapted to guide light by the photonic bandgap effect and to have one or more pass bands and at least one stop-band over a wavelength range from λstop1 to λstop2. In an aspect of the invention, the at least one stop-band provides filter functions that suppress nonlinear effects. In another aspect, the core region is actively doped, and the active material has an emission spectrum with a higher value of the emission cross section σE at a wavelength λASE between λstop1 and λstop2 than outside said wavelength range such that amplified spontaneous emission and lasing within the wavelength range from λstop1 to λstop2 is reduced. In still another aspect, the optical fiber exhibits photonic bandgaps at different wavelength ranges in different radial directions of a cross section of the optical fiber. |
| US08045253B2 |
Sub-diffraction-limited imaging systems and methods
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for obtaining images of objects with higher resolution than the diffraction limit. In one aspect, a method for collecting evanescent waves scattered from an object comprises electronically configuring a reconfigurable device to operate as a grating for one or more lattice periods using a computing device. Propagating waves scattered from the object pass through the reconfigurable device and a portion of evanescent waves scattered from the object are projected into the far field of the object. The method includes detecting propagating waves and detecting the portion of evanescent waves projected into the far field for each lattice period using an imaging system. |
| US08045252B2 |
Spatial light modulator with integrated optical compensation structure
A spatial light modulator comprises an integrated optical compensation structure, e.g., an optical compensation structure arranged between a substrate and a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements, or an optical compensation structure located on the opposite side of the light-modulating elements from the substrate. The individually addressable light-modulating elements are configured to modulate light transmitted through or reflected from the transparent substrate. Methods for making such spatial light modulators involve fabricating an optical compensation structure over a substrate and fabricating a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements over the optical compensation structure. The optical compensation structure may be a passive optical compensation structure. The optical compensation structure may include one or more of a supplemental frontlighting source, a diffuser, a black mask, a diffractive optical element, a color filter, an anti-reflective layer, a structure that scatters light, a microlens array, and a holographic film. |
| US08045233B2 |
Method for controlling the shapes of FM-AM mixed dots on a multi-bit depth imaging apparatus
Disclosed is a method for controlling the shapes of FM-AM mixed halftone dots on the multi-bit depth imaging apparatus. In the prior art, since the reproduction of the shapes of the dots in various gradations is absolutely based on the theory of random error diffusion and is influenced by the dynamic controlling output mechanism for the multi-bit dots, it is hard to assure the controllability of the shapes of the dots in a certain gradation. Based on the prior art, the dynamic statistic algorithm with adjacent output gray levels is introduced to assure the controllability of the shapes of the dots and solve the problem of random change of the shapes of the dots due to the randomicity of the error diffusion. According to the disclosed method, the features of the multi-bit imaging apparatus can be achieved fully in light of the requirements of the dots on the basis of the original method for multi-bit FM-AM mixed screening using error diffusion based on dual-feedback. The effect of FM-AM mixed halftone screening can be achieved under low resolution with controllable shapes of the dots. The problem of granular sensation can be solved during the practical output of the mixed halftone dots so as to assure the smooth effect of the gradations. |
| US08045232B2 |
Image display medium, method and system for preparing composite image display data
An image display medium displays an image including a first region having a first composite image. The first composite image includes a first display image and a first latent image. The first display image includes at least one of a first halftone dot image and a first line image having a first linearity. The first halftone dot image and the first line image have such densities as are not reproduced by copying. The first latent image includes at least one of a second halftone dot image and a second line image having a second linearity. The second halftone dot image and the second line image have such densities as are not reproduced by copying. The first and second linearities produce different moiré patterns when the first display and the first latent images are enlarged by a first common optical system. |
| US08045231B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing digital image processing without rasterization
A method including storing a plurality of segments. Each of the segments includes a first drawing command to render a scanline on a rendering device. The segments are non-overlapping. The method further includes receiving a page element. The page element includes a second drawing command to render a page on the rendering device. The page element includes a first segment. The method further includes merging the first segment into the plurality of segments. Merging the first segment into the plurality of segments includes selectively shrinking one of the plurality of segments. |
| US08045229B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and medium
An image processing apparatus comprises an extraction unit configured to extract areas having predetermined attributes from image data of a document; a calculation unit configured to calculate skew angles of the areas extracted by the extraction unit; a selection unit configured to select necessary elements by determining, as unnecessary elements, the areas having the calculated skew angles not less than a threshold and by determining, as the necessary element, the areas having the calculated skew angles less than the threshold; and a processing unit configured to apply image processing to the necessary elements selected by the selection unit. |
| US08045228B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus including a data inputting part for inputting image data, a document recognizing part for recognizing the image data as a document, a document storing part for storing document data corresponding to the document recognized by the document recognizing part, and a stored document managing part for managing the document data stored in the document storing part is disclosed. The image processing apparatus has a document analyzing part configured to analyze the input image data, a text writing part configured to obtain an analysis result from the document analyzing part and write the analysis result in a text format, a part configured to associate the analysis result to the document data stored in the document storing part and register the analysis result in correspondence with the document data, and a part configured to search for a target document by referring to the registered analysis result. |
| US08045223B2 |
Image formation with prevention of tracing pattern from being noticeable on edges of stacked media
An image forming apparatus to carry out image forming on a recording medium by adding a specific pattern to image data inputted, having a mask creation section to create a mask area where addition of the specific pattern is prohibited and a control section to carry out image forming in a way that addition of the specific pattern is prohibited in the mask area. |
| US08045222B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, computer program product, and recording medium for image processing
An image processing apparatus converts an input color signal into a color signal which falls within a color reproduction range of an image output device. The image processing apparatus includes a representative color setting unit that sets plural representative colors, a first hue setting unit that sets hue for an equi-hue line connecting the representative color and black, a hue correcting unit that corrects hue of the input color signal referring to the first hue setting unit, and a mapping unit that maps the input color signal after whose hue is corrected to a color signal within a color range of the image output device. |
| US08045214B2 |
Medical data recording apparatus
A medical data recording apparatus includes processing device for receiving medical data information in DICOM format through a software module and parsing patient identification information and study information from the received medical data information. The processing device stores the parsed patient identification information and parsed study information in memory. The stored parsed patient identification information and the stored parsed study information has fields that are selected by the processing device and used for print information. A printer automatically labels a recording media using the selected fields from the stored parsed patient identification information and the stored parsed study information. |
| US08045211B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device is provided with an external storage, a printing unit, a storage controlling unit configured to store the image data in the external storage or an internal storage. The storage controlling device stores the image data developed from the print data retrieved from the print data stored in the external in the external storage, while stores the image data developed from the print data transmitted from the external device in the internal storage. At least file names of image data stored in the external storage on the displaying unit are displayed for selection when the external storage is connected to the image forming device, and file names of image data stored in the internal storage are displayed when the external storage is not connected to the image forming device. A reprinting unit performs a reprinting operation based on the selected image data. |
| US08045195B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming system is supplied which is able to prevent the record medium from being taken by other people and to improve the secrecy performance of image data. In the system, an image processing apparatus has an storing section that stores image data to form image, a reading section that reads out the identification information from a carriable medium, an encryption executing section that executes an encryption of the image data based on the identification information, and a transmitting section that transmits the encrypted image data to an image forming apparatus together with the identification information; and the image forming apparatus has a receiving section that receives the image data and the identification information, a reading section that reads out the identification information from the carriable medium, a judging section that judges the received image data based on the identification information, a decryption executing section that executes a decryption of the image data based on the identification information, and an image forming section that performs an image formation of the decrypted image data. |
| US08045193B2 |
Automatic detection of user preference for copy or scan setting
A method is described for automatically predicting user-preferred copy or scan settings based on past user behavior. The method is implemented in a management section of a copier, scanner, or multifunction devices that combine copy, scan and print functions, or on a server connected with such a device. The management section maintains a copy/scan/user (CSU) settings database that stores copy and/or scan settings associated with user IDs. Each time a copy or scan job is initiated, the management section analyzes the CSU database to determine a predicted user-preferred setting. The user may manually change the setting and confirm it, and the management section stores the user confirmed setting in the CSU database for future use. The CSU database may be transferred from one copier/scanner/multifunction device to another. |
| US08045191B2 |
Information processing device with attached security settings and security setting-dependent operation modes
In a printer 1 which is an information processing apparatus of the present invention, after a password is accepted from a PC 2 together with image data and job information, the image data is encrypted and stored in a storage part 106, the job information is associated with the password and stored in a management part 104 as a job management table, and the process waits. In a case where a security program is executing, in case that a main power 110 is turned off, the operation of a backup part 105 to supply power to the management part 104 is inhibited, so that the job information table stored in the management part 104 is deleted. In a case where the security program is not executing, power is supplied to the management part 104 by the backup part, thereby maintaining the job management table stored in the management part 104. |
| US08045189B2 |
Color image forming apparatus and image output method
A color image forming apparatus and an image output method capable of producing a PDL output without interfering with the execution of a calibration procedure is provided. A main controller rasterizes PDL data from a network on a DRAM as image data. The main controller determines whether or not a calibration procedure is being executed. If it is determined that the calibration procedure is being executed, a production of a PDL image output is put in a queue until the calibration procedure is completed. If it is determined that the calibration procedure is not being executed, the image data on the DRAM is transferred to a printer portion at an appropriate timing so that the printer portion may produce a printed page of the image data. |
| US08045188B2 |
Method for automated document selection
Provided is a method for the automated selection of sample documents or pages from a large collection, and more particularly an application of the method in a proof presentment environment—where the method is employed for selection and review of representative or extreme pages from a large document, such as one scheduled for printing. The method characterizes pages or documents in a multi-dimensional vector space based upon a set of characteristics, and then uses clustering techniques to group the pages, enabling the selection of typical pages from the groups, outlier pages from extremes lying outside of the groups, or both typical and outlier pages. |
| US08045186B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer readable medium and data signal
An image processing system includes a profile generating section, a designating section, a calculating section and a correcting section. The profile generating section generates a color conversion profile based on first colorimetric values obtained from a first color chart output from a target device and second colorimetric values obtained from a second color chart from an output device other than the target device. The calculating section calculates difference information between a first data value obtained by converting a designated color into a device-independent color space and a second data value obtained by converting the designated color using the color conversion profile into a second color and converting the second color using the device-independent color space. The correcting section corrects the first colorimetric values based on the difference information. The profile generating section generates the color conversion profile again based on the corrected first colorimetric values. |
| US08045180B2 |
Device for flexible detection of the geometric shape of objects by means of optical 3D measuring technology
A device for detecting the geometrical shape of measurement objects with a computer, a 3D sensor and an object carrier for fixing the measurement object. The computer combines the measurements recorded by a 3D sensor. The image registration is improved by using an areally operating 3D sensor. An adjusting device is used to move the measurement object rather than the 3D sensor. The object carrier is adjustable in a manually guided manner about a plurality of linear axes and/or rotation axes by the adjusting device with position transmitters that forward their positions to the computer in the event of a measurement. The computer is set up for calculating, with the aid of suitable software, the position of the measurement object from the positions of the position transmitters and the positions of the axes relative to the 3D sensor. |
| US08045179B1 |
Bright and dark field scatterometry systems for line roughness metrology
Line edge roughness or line width roughness of a feature on a sample may be determined from incident radiation scattered from the feature. An amount of ordered scattered radiation characterized by a discrete diffraction order is determined and a diffuse scattered radiation signal is measured. A ratio between an intensity of the ordered scattered incident radiation and an intensity of the diffuse scattered radiation signal is determined. The line edge roughness or line width roughness is determined from the ratio. |
| US08045177B2 |
Apparatus and methods for measuring vibrations using spectrally-encoded endoscopy
An apparatus and method according to an exemplary embodiment of to the present invention can provide imaging information associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, at least two first different wavelengths of at least one first electro-magnetic radiation within a first wavelength range may be provided on the portion of the sample so as to determine at least one first transverse location of the portion. At least two second different wavelengths of at least one second electro-magnetic radiation may also be provided within a second wavelength range provided on the portion so as to determine at least one second transverse location of the portion. It is possible to obtain a relative phase between at least one third electro-magnetic radiation electro-magnetic radiation being returned from the sample and at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation returned from a reference to determine a motion of the portion or of particles within or on the portion, whereas the motion is effectuated by at least one of a sound wave. Further, the imaging information of the portion can be provided based on the first transverse location, the second transverse location and the motion. |
| US08045176B2 |
Methods for mapping tissue with optical coherence tomography data
Various methods are disclosed for mapping optical coherence tomography (OCT) data to facilitate review and diagnosis. In one aspect, high resolution 2D line scans are obtained along with lower density 3D cube scans and displayed in a manner to provide context to the clinician. In another aspect, OCT data is analyzed to provide information about non-uniformities of the tissue. Binary image maps of maps useful for determining tautness of membranes are also disclosed. |
| US08045175B2 |
Equal-path interferometer
An optical assembly for use in an interferometer is provided. The optical assembly includes first and second partially reflective surfaces positioned along an optical axis and oriented at different non-normal angles to the optical axis. The second partially reflective surface is configured to receive light transmitted through the first partially reflective surface along the optical path, transmit a portion of the received light to a test object to define measurement light for the interferometer and reflect another portion of the received light back towards the first partially reflective surface to define reference light for the interferometer. The reference light makes at least one round trip path between the second and first partially reflective surfaces. |
| US08045170B2 |
Light scattering property measurement method
Methods (300, 1000) of determining a light scattering property of a medium (152), are disclosed. The medium (152) is illuminated through a test pattern (e.g., 155, 510), the test pattern (155, 510) comprising at least one region containing a first pattern with substantial variation in two orthogonal directions at one scale. The test pattern (300, 1000) further comprises at least one other region containing the first pattern at a different scale. The light reflected from the illuminated medium (152) through the test pattern is measured to capture an image of the illuminated medium. A light scattering property of the medium (152) is determined based on the measured light. |
| US08045169B2 |
Method and device for measuring reflected optical radiation
The present invention provides an optics assembly, a reflectometer, and a diagnostic device for providing quantitative measurement of optical radiation reflected from a sampling area on an assay matrix. The reflectometer includes an optical radiation source and a detector. The optical radiation source and the detector are mounted in a single plane. An optics assembly is configured to direct the illumination from the optical radiation source to the sampling area on the assay matrix and to direct the radiation diffusely reflected from the sampling area to the detector. The optics assembly is positioned over the face of the circuit board having the optical radiation source and detector mounted directly thereto. The present invention also provides a method for determining the presence of one or more selected analytes in a sample employing a plurality of sampling areas on one or more assay matrixes. |
| US08045167B2 |
Determining solid concentration of an ink
The present disclosure is drawn to methods, devices, and systems for determining solid content of inks, including a device comprising a chamber configured to hold an ink sample having ionic particulates in a liquid vehicle, a first opening in the chamber for filling the chamber with the ink sample, a second distinct opening in the chamber for removal of the liquid vehicle, a deposition electrode at least partially defining the chamber, a counter electrode, a power supply connected to the deposition electrode and the counter electrode for creating an electric field inside the chamber, and a densitometer optically coupleable to the deposition electrode for measuring the optical density of ionic particulates. Additionally, the device can be operable to separate the ionic particulates from the liquid vehicle by deposition of the ionic particulates at the deposition electrode and/or the device can be operable to measure the optical density of the ionic particulates after migration to the deposition electrode. |
| US08045165B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a focal position of an imaging device adapted to image a biologic sample
A method and apparatus for focusing a device for imaging a biologic sample is provided. A method aspect of the disclosure includes the steps of: 1) disposing lenslets within a field of a biologic sample, which lenslets have a height, and have a refractive index and which refractive index is different from that of the sample, wherein one or both of the imaging device and the sample are relatively locatable so a focal position of the imaging device can be moved along the height of the lenslets; 2) imaging at least a portion of the sample including a plurality of lenslets using transmittance at one or more predetermined wavelengths; 3) determining an average light transmittance intensity of the sample at the wavelengths; 4) determining an average light transmittance intensity of a region of each lenslet at the wavelengths; and 5) determining the focal position of the imaging device using the average light transmittance intensity of the sample and the average light transmittance intensity of the region of the lenslets. |
| US08045163B2 |
Method for producing polarisation filters and use of polarisation-sensitive photo-sensors and polarisation-generating reproduction devices
The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing polarization sensitive respectively polarizing filters and to their application to polarizing photosensors used to measure the polarization of incident light, further to designs of polarization sensors measuring angles of rotation and strong electric or magnetic fields as well as to reproducing polarization equipment reproducing polarized signals or to reproduce independent signals. |
| US08045162B2 |
Method and apparatus for rapidly counting and identifying biological particles in a flow stream
A method for increasing the throughput, or the precision, or both the precision and the throughput, of a flow cytometer, or of a hematology analyzer employing a flow cytometer, by utilizing the technique of laser rastering. Laser rastering involves sweeping a laser beam across a flowing sample stream in a hematology analyzer. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of this invention comprises an optical module comprising a source of light, a scanning device, a lens or system of lenses, a flow cell, detectors, and filters; and an electronic module comprising preamplifiers, analog signal conditioning elements, analog-to-digital converters, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processing elements, and data storage elements. |
| US08045155B2 |
Spectroscopic module
The spectroscopy module is provided with a body portion for transmitting light, a spectroscopic portion for dispersing light made incident from the front plane of the body portion into the body portion to reflect the light on the front plane, a light detecting element having a light detecting portion for detecting the light dispersed and reflected by the spectroscopic portion and electrically connected to a wiring formed on the front plane of the body portion by face-down bonding, and an underfill material filled in the body portion side of the light detecting element to transmit the light. The light detecting element is provided with a light-passing hole through which the light advancing into the spectroscopic portion passes, and a reservoir portion is formed on a rear plane of the body portion side in the light detecting element so as to enclose a light outgoing opening of the light-passing hole. |
| US08045149B2 |
Apparatus for detecting defects using multiple coordinate systems
An apparatus is disclosed for detecting defects on a sample inspected by different inspection apparatuses. A data processing unit receives position information of a first defects group in a first coordinate system, based on inspection of the sample under a first condition using a first defect inspection apparatus. The data processing unit receives position information of a second defects group in a second coordinate system, after least one processing step has been performed on the sample. Position information of the second defects group is obtained by inspecting the sample under a second condition using a second defect inspection apparatus which is different from the first defect inspection apparatus. A position correction unit corrects error of relative position information on the first defects group and the second defects group, and the first and second defects groups are checked. |
| US08045146B2 |
Method and apparatus for reviewing defect
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for reviewing a defect with high throughput by detecting the defect to be reviewed with high sensitivity, comprising: an optical microscope; a correction means; and a scanning electron microscope which reviews the existing defect on the sample; wherein the optical microscope has: an optical height detection system which optically detects a vertical position of an upper surface of the sample placed on the stage; an illumination optical system which illuminates the defect with light; an image detection optical system which converges and detects reflected light or scattered light generated from the defect illuminated by the illumination optical system to obtain an image signal; and a focus adjusting means which adjusts a focus position of the optical microscope based on the vertical position of the upper surface of the sample, which is detected by the optical height detection system. |
| US08045144B2 |
Apparatus and method for the inspection of the surface of a component
An apparatus for inspection of a surface of a component includes a probing device (21) which is coupled to a traversing device (50) and has at least one probe carrier (22, 23), to which at least one inspection mechanism is fitted. In order to enable surface defects in a component (11) to be shown directly and without conversion, the inspection mechanism is an image pick-up unit (26, 27). |
| US08045142B2 |
Polishing end point detection method, polishing end point detection apparatus and polishing apparatus
A polishing end point detection method is to detect a polishing end point of a workpiece having a multilayer structure. The method is performed by emitting a first light and a second light to a surface of the workpiece at a first angle of incidence and a second angle of incidence, respectively, receiving the first light and the second light reflected from the surface through a polarizing filter, performing a first analyzing process of analyzing a brightness and a saturation of the surface from the first light received, performing a second analyzing process of analyzing a brightness and a saturation of the surface from the second light received, and determining removal of the upper layer based on changes in the brightness and the saturation of the surface. |
| US08045139B2 |
Exposure apparatus capable of asymmetrically adjusting light intensity
An exposure apparatus of a semiconductor device may include an exposure light source; an asymmetric adjustment filter for asymmetrically adjusting intensity of a light which passes through the exposure light source; a photomask for passing the light of which intensity is adjusted by the asymmetric adjustment filter; a projection lens for projecting the light passing through the photomask; and a wafer stage for mounting a wafer on which an image is formed by the light from the projection lens. |
| US08045136B2 |
Stage drive method and stage unit, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a substrate table to hold a substrate, a projection system to project a patterned beam of radiation onto the substrate and a liquid confinement structure to confine a liquid in a space between the projection system and the substrate, the substrate, the substrate table, or both, to form a part of a boundary of the space. In addition, a closing plate forms a part of a boundary of the space in place of the substrate, the substrate table, or both, when moved without substantially disturbing the liquid, the liquid confinement structure, or both. |
| US08045134B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, control system and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed that has a measurement system or a prediction system for measuring and/or predicting, respectively, an effect associated with a temperature fluctuation of the immersion liquid, and a control system for controlling the or another effect associated with the temperature of the immersion liquid, on the basis of the measurement and/or prediction obtained by the measurement system and/or prediction system, respectively. An associated control system and device manufacturing method is also disclosed. |
| US08045127B2 |
Fabricating methods of a liquid crystal display comprising first and second align marks
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes first and second substrates with a liquid crystal material therebetween; a first alignment film formed on the first substrate and a second alignment film formed on the second substrate; a first align mark on the first substrate, the first align mark formed of the same material as the first alignment film and formed in a shape of any one of a circle, square and cross; and a second align mark to be aligned with the first align mark on the second substrate. |
| US08045125B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a gap retaining member made of resin formed directly over the driver circuit
In an active matrix semiconductor display device in which pixel TFTs and driver circuit TFT are formed on the same substrate in an integral manner, the cell gap is controlled by gap retaining members that are disposed between a pixel area and driver circuit areas. This makes it possible to provide a uniform cell thickness profile over the entire semiconductor display device. Further, since conventional grainy spacers are not used, stress is not imposed on the driver circuit TFTs when a TFT substrate and an opposed substrate are bonded together. This prevents the driver circuit TFTs from being damaged. |
| US08045122B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display includes: first and second substrates on which a display area and a non-display area are defined and a plurality of pixels are defined at the display area; a pixel electrode formed at each pixel on the first substrate; a plurality of first attachment improving protrusions formed at the non-display area along edges of the display area on the first substrate and made of the same material as the pixel electrode on the layer on which the pixel electrode is formed; a common electrode formed at least on a display area of the second substrate; a plurality of second attachment improving protrusions formed on the non-display area of the second substrate and branched off from the common electrode; and a sealant formed between the first and second substrates such that the sealant is attached with the first and second attachment improving protrusions, and having conductivity, wherein the common electrode receives a common voltage via the sealant and the first attachment improving protrusions. |
| US08045120B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and equipment comprising said liquid crystal panel
Non-uniformity of a cell gap of a liquid crystal panel is suppressed from affecting display adversely. Concentric interference fringes are unavoidably formed in a liquid crystal cell in which liquid crystal is sealed and the cell gap is maintained by a sealing member without using scattered spacers. Then, peripheral driving circuits are provided in regions where the interference fringes exist and a pixel matrix circuit is disposed in a region where no interference fringe exists. It is then possible to suppress the cell gap from affecting the display by determining the circuit configuration by parameterizing the interference fringes as described above. |
| US08045118B2 |
Liquid crystal display
In a liquid crystal display, an image-defining data voltage is simultaneously applied to a main pixel electrode (MPE) and an electrically isolatable sub pixel electrode (SPE) to thereby respectively define a main pixel voltage and a sub pixel voltage. The MPE defines one plate of a first capacitor whose other plate receives a first common voltage whose voltage level can be varied after the image-defining data voltage is applied. Thus the main pixel voltage is shifted up or shifted down according to the voltage variation of the first common voltage. The SPE defines one plate of a second capacitor whose other plate receives a second common voltage. By causing the main pixel voltage to be of greater absolute amplitude than the sub pixel voltage, a side visibility of the liquid crystal display can be enhanced. Also, the liquid crystal display utilizes a liquid crystal having a dielectric anisotropy and an elastic constant ratio within a specific range, so that an undesirable increase of a black brightness effect is reduced and thus image contrast is not adversely affected. |
| US08045117B2 |
Display element and display device
A display element has an arrangement that allows the pixel to have at least two domains in which the medium shows optical anisotropies of different directions when a force (for example, an electric field) is applied or when no force is applied. It is preferable that directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied respectively have 45 degrees±10 degrees with absorption axes of polarizers, and that the directions of the optical anisotropies occurred in the respective domains when the electric field is applied make 90 degrees±20 degrees. |
| US08045114B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising an electric field distortion unit and the passivation layer is directly contacted on the first substrate of the pixel region
A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate that cross each other to define a pixel region; a pixel electrode in the pixel region; a thin film transistor at the crossing of the gate and data lines, and connected to the pixel electrode; at least one first electric field distortion unit in the pixel electrode to control a liquid crystal director by electric field distortion; a second electric field distortion unit between the pixel electrode and the first substrate; and a layer of liquid crystal molecules between the first and second substrates. |
| US08045111B2 |
Method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes steps of preparing first and second substrates, forming alignment films on one surfaces of the first and second substrates, respectively, performing rubbing treatment on the alignment films, screen-printing a seal member on the one surface of the first substrate so as to surround a display area, and stacking the first and second substrates on each other while the first surfaces face to each other, with rubbing directions of the alignment films on the first and second substrates being parallel to each other, and joining the first and second substrates through the seal member by curing the seal member while the first and second substrates are bonded to each other through the seal member. The screen-printing is performed while a squeegee is moved in a direction parallel to the rubbing direction of the alignment film formed on the first substrate. |
| US08045110B2 |
Method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device including irradiating first and second ion beams onto inclined and flat surfaces of the TFT substrate
Provided are an LCD capable of improving an image quality and an aperture ratio by uniform alignment of liquid crystal, and a method for fabricating the LCD. A first ion beam is irradiated onto an alignment layer formed on a substrate in a first direction, and a second ion beam is irradiated onto the alignment layer in a second direction that is symmetrical or asymmetrical to the first direction with respect to a line perpendicular to the substrate. Accordingly, the entire surface of the alignment layer can be uniformly aligned. Consequently, light leakage can be prevented and thus an image quality can be enhanced. Also, a black matrix margin can be reduced and an aperture ratio can be enhanced. |
| US08045106B2 |
Substrate for liquid crystal device, electro-optic apparatus and electronic equipment
A substrate for a liquid crystal device includes: an electrode film provided on a display area on the substrate; an alignment film which covers at least the display area and is subjected to an alignment process by rubbing; and a band-shaped projection provided in a peripheral area outside the display area so as at least to intersect the rubbing direction and extend along the display area, in which the height of the band-shaped projection on the substrate is higher than the height of the surface of the electrode film. |
| US08045098B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A LCD device includes first and second LCD panels stacked one on another. Each of the first and second LCD panels includes a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and a pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the pair of transparent substrates. A light diffusion layer having light diffusion function is interposed between the first LCD panel and the second LCD panel. The light diffusion layer reduces the intensity of the light passed by the first LCD panel, thereby alleviating the periodicity of the arrangement of dark areas and bright areas to alleviate the moire caused by light interference. |
| US08045097B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and viewing angle control module
In a liquid crystal display device including a display liquid crystal panel and a viewing-angle-control liquid crystal panel and capable of switching viewing angle characteristics, a half wavelength plate for setting a viewing restricted direction is provided between the display liquid crystal panel and the viewing-angle-control liquid crystal panel. This makes it possible to realize a liquid crystal display device that allows a viewing restricted direction to be set as appropriate. |
| US08045089B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel; a light source disposed at a lower portion of the liquid crystal panel and providing light to the liquid crystal panel; a light guide plate for guiding light emitted from the light source toward the liquid crystal panel; and a lower cover including a plurality of guide protrusions being in contact with the side of the light guide plate to guide the position of the light guide plate and accommodating the light source and the light guide plate therein. |
| US08045086B2 |
Lamp guide with optical member holder and liquid crystal display device having the same
A backlight unit having a decreased thickness includes at least one lamp which emits light; and at least one light-diffusion plate which diffuses the light emitted from the light, and is positioned above each lamp, wherein the lamp and the light-diffusion plate are fixed and supported by a lamp guide. |
| US08045085B2 |
Liquid crystal display module and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a liquid crystal display module and a method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display module comprises a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, a support main, and a top cover. The backlight unit is disposed in rear of the liquid crystal panel. The support main comprises a rectangular frame for laminating and housing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit, and a metal cover disposed around an outer sidewall surface and a bottom surface of the rectangular frame. The top cover covers a front edge of the liquid crystal panel, and is combined with a side part of the support main. |
| US08045084B2 |
Display device wherein a first redundancy conductive pattern is formed where the signal line crosses the repair line and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes a signal line formed on a substrate, a repair line formed on the substrate crossing and insulated from the signal line, and a first redundancy conductive pattern formed on a first region of the substrate where the signal line crosses the repair line, wherein the first redundancy conductive pattern is insulated from the signal line and the repair line. |
| US08045082B2 |
System for display images and fabrication method thereof
A system for display images comprising a thin film transistor array substrate is disclosed. The system for display images comprises a substrate having a pixel area, a source/drain region overlying the substrate within an active layer in the pixel area, a bottom electrode overlying the substrate in the pixel area, a top electrode overlying the bottom electrode, a first dielectric layer disposed on the active layer, a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode and a gate disposed overlying the active layer, wherein the first and second dielectric layers are interposed between the gate and the active layer. |
| US08045081B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with photosensor and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel including first and second substrates bonded to each other with a liquid crystal layer positioned therebetween, and the photosensor, formed on the second substrate, for sensing an external light from the surroundings, wherein the photosensor includes a semiconductor layer formed on the second substrate and provided with n+-type ion implantation region, ion non-implantation region and lightly doped region; an insulation film, formed on the second substrate, for covering the semiconductor layer; a passivation film, formed on the second substrate, for covering the insulation film; a first contact hole passing through the insulation film and the passivation film, to expose source and drain regions of the semiconductor layer; source and drain electrodes connected with the source and drain regions of the semiconductor layer through the first contact hole; an ion implanting prevention film formed on the insulation film and overlapped with the ion non-implantation region; and a second contact hole passing through the passivation film and the ion implanting prevention film above the ion non-implantation region, so as to provide the external light to the ion non-implantation region. |
| US08045076B2 |
Active matrix substrate, display device, television receiver, and method for repairing defects of active matrix substrate
An active matrix substrate includes a transistor, a pixel electrode connected with one of the current-flowing electrodes of the transistor, a storage capacitor wiring, a lead wiring extending from one of the current-flowing electrodes of the transistor, and a repair wiring extending from the storage capacitor wiring. The repair wiring overlaps a portion of the lead wiring with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. As a result, TFT defects (for example, a short circuit between a source electrode and a drain electrode) can be repaired, and performance of fast display and reduction in electric power consumption can be realized. |
| US08045072B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A thin film transistor substrate of a LCD device and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed for simplifying a fabricating process and enlarging a capacitance value of a storage capacitor without any reduction of aperture ratio. The LCD device includes: a double-layered gate line having a first transparent conductive layer and a second opaque conductive layer, the second opaque conductive layer have a step coverage; a gate insulation layer film on the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; a TFT connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode connected to the TFT via a contact hole of a protective film on the TFT; and a storage capacitor overlapping the pixel electrode and having a lower storage electrode formed of the first transparent conductive layer. |
| US08045062B2 |
Contour free point operation for video skin tone correction
A method for color tone correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of first intermediate components by scaling a plurality of first color components towards a first ideal color, wherein the first color components (i) are for a first plurality of pixels in an input video signal and (ii) fall inside a first region of a color space, (B) generating a plurality of first corrected components by adjusting the first intermediate components such that a first mapping of the first color components to the first corrected components is both (i) continuous in the color space and (ii) non-overlapping in the color space and (C) generating an output video signal by combining the first corrected components with a plurality of unaltered color components, wherein the unaltered color components (i) are for a second plurality of the pixels and (ii) fall outside the first region. |
| US08045061B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing color noise of image signal
A method and apparatus remove color noise of an image signal in which a distortion of a YCbCr color space caused by noise is corrected using correlations between color channels in the YCbCr color space of low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) components of an image signal while maintaining the HF component. The apparatus includes: a separator separating the image signal including a luminance signal and a chrominance signal into an LF component and an HF component; an LF noise remover removing noise of the LF component from the image signal; an HF noise remover applying a linear variation rate of the chrominance signal with regard to the luminance signal of the noiseless LF component to the HF component separated from the image signal and generating a new HF component; and a combiner combining the noiseless LF component and the new HF component. |
| US08045057B2 |
Synchronization detector of video signal processor and synchronization selector including the synchronization detector
A synchronization detector of a video signal processor includes a line buffer, a parameter extraction unit and synchronization detection unit. The line buffer sequentially stores a digital video signal corresponding to an input analog video signal, line by line of the input analog video signal. The parameter extraction unit continuously extracts horizontal synchronization parameters from the digital video signal stored line by line and continuously extracts vertical synchronization parameters from a portion of the digital video signal stored line by line. The synchronization detection unit generates horizontal and vertical synchronization signals of the input analog video signal using time information related to local minimum values of the horizontal synchronization parameters and time information related to local minimum values of the vertical synchronization parameters. |
| US08045056B2 |
Information storage medium containing subtitles and processing apparatus therefor
An information storage medium containing subtitles and a subtitle processing apparatus, where the information storage medium includes: audio-visual (AV) data; and subtitle data in which at least one subtitle text data and output style information designating an output form of the subtitle texts are stored with a text format. With this, output times of subtitle texts included in the text subtitle data can be overlapped, a subtitle file can be easily produced, and subtitles for an AV stream can be output with various forms. |
| US08045054B2 |
Closed captioning language translation
The present invention provides an architecture for translating closed captioning text originally provided with a video program from one language to another and presenting the translated closed captioning text with the video program to a viewer. As such, the viewers are able to receive the closed captioning text in languages other than that used for the closed captioning originally provided with the video program. The original closed captioning text may be translated from one language to another by a centralized closed captioning processor, such that the customer equipment for various subscribers can take advantage of centralized translation services. Once the original closed captioning text is translated, the translated closed captioning text may be delivered to the customer equipment in different ways. |
| US08045052B2 |
Image processing device and associated operating method
The invention relates to an image processing device (1, 48, 51) including: several image signal inputs (2-9) for receiving a respective image input signal, the signals being unsynchronized; at least one image signal output (23-26) for emitting at least one image output signal; a combiner (22) for combining the different image input signals to form the image output signal; several synchronizers (14-21), which are respectively connected downstream of the image signal inputs (2-9) and which synchronize the unsynchronized image input signals; and several distorters or rectifiers for distorting or rectifying the individual image input signals before they are combined to form the image output signal. According to the invention, the distorters or rectifiers are formed by the individual synchronizers (14-21) and the image input signals are distorted or rectified independently of one another by one or more synchronizers (14-21). The invention also relates to an associated operating method. |
| US08045047B2 |
Method and apparatus for digital image processing of an image having different scaling rates
A method, module, device, and computer program product for digital imaging. Providing an image within an image sensor, selecting at least one first region within image for scaling with a first scaling rate, selecting at least one second region within the image for scaling with a second scaling rate, and providing the first and the second regions for further processing allows improved autofocusing. |
| US08045043B2 |
Optical module and imaging device
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical module which can extract only light components satisfying predetermined conditions, and an imaging device comprising the optical module. The optical module (10) comprises a first plate-like optical element (4) formed with a ¼ wavelength plate portion (1) and a −¼ wavelength plate portion (2) alternately jointed together at a joint portion (3), and a second plate-like optical element (8) formed with a ¼ wavelength plate portion (5) and a −¼ wavelength plate portion (6) alternately jointed together at a joint portion (7), wherein the first plate-like optical element (4) and the second plate-like optical element (8) are parallel, and the ¼ wavelength plate portion (1) of the first plate-like optical element (4) and the −¼ wavelength plate portion (6) of the second plate-like optical element (8) are overlapped across a gap (9). |
| US08045039B2 |
Method of luminance compensation for a camera lens using multiline interpolation
Provided is a method of luminance compensation for a camera lens by performing a multiline interpolation algorithm. Preferably, a plurality of directional lines are radially arranged on a curved surface of the lens. Sampling dots are then designated along the directional lines in equal or variant distances. Steps including a step of determining the location of a target for luminance compensation, a step of obtaining adjacent directional lines by referring to a slope at the target, a step of calculating the correction values and the weights for interpolation are further introduced. The interpolation algorithm is used to restore a correction plane of a whole image. A polynomial equation is preferably used to obtain two correction values of two directional lines with the same radius. Alternatively, a lookup table is introduced to find the two correction values. It's featured that a symmetric or asymmetric compensation for the camera lens is achieved. |
| US08045037B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and control method for relaxing red-eye effect in sensed image data
This invention makes it possible to execute photography with a sufficient red-eye relaxation effect. To do this, in this invention, the amount of a red eye is detected on the basis of a signal obtained by reading an object image under light projection by a light projection unit. The light projection by the light projection unit is controlled on the basis of the detection result. |
| US08045036B2 |
Apparatus and method for sorting raw data with horizontal division
An apparatus for sorting a raw data with horizontal division is provided. The apparatus includes a frame memory and a frame data sorting device coupled to the frame memory. The frame memory stores a frame data having m vertical fields, and each of the vertical fields has n horizontal fields. The frame data sorting device sorts at least one first data block having Vstripe rows of the frame data according to the value n to generate a sorted first data block and overwrites the first data block with the sorted first data block. The frame data sorting device also sorts at least one second data block having Hstripe columns of the frame data according to the value m to generate a sorted second data block and overwrites the second data block with the sorted second data block. |
| US08045034B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises first accumulation units, of which number is n, holding a digital value of n-bits output from a counter, second accumulation units, of which number is n, holding the digital value of n-bits transferred from the first accumulation units, of which number is n, and an A/D converter writing the digital value of n-bits from the counter based on an image signal generated by pixels into the first accumulation units, of which number is n, wherein correspondingly to each column of the pixels, the first accumulation unit of m-th bit (1≦m≦n) and the second accumulation unit of m-th bit (1≦m≦n) are arranged and paired, and the pairs of which number is n are arranged in a direction along the column of pixels. |
| US08045031B2 |
Image sensor and readout method
The invention relates to an image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras, having a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns and a number of output amplifiers. The image sensor is made such that the order in which the pixels are switched to the output amplifiers is varied with respect to the order in which the pixels are arranged along a row of the image sensor. |
| US08045030B2 |
Imaging device, and control method for solid imaging element
An imaging device capable of suppressing the complexity of a constitution and reducing the dispersion of brightness sensitivities of individual solid imaging elements to the temperature includes a solid imaging element, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, and a temperature monitor for detecting the temperature of the solid imaging element with an output signal of the temperature sensor. On the basis of this detection result, the control values corresponding to the temperatures at different times are set in the register of the voltage control circuit. In accordance with the control values of the register, the voltage control circuit controls reset voltages to be fed to pixel cells. |
| US08045022B2 |
Imaging apparatus for correcting a luminance signal
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a first luminance signal generating unit and a correcting unit. The imaging device includes at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements and a luminance detecting photoelectric converting element. The first luminance signal generating unit generates a first luminance signal corresponding to the color detecting photoelectric converting element from a color signal obtained from each of the at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements. The correcting unit corrects, based on the color signal, at least a second luminance signal corresponding to the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element which is obtained from the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element so as to generate a luminance signal which constitutes image data corresponding to each of the photoelectric converting elements. |
| US08045002B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling strobe illumination
Various exemplary embodiments may provide systems and methods for strobe illumination of a workpiece. The systems may include an illumination source, an image acquisition device and a control system. The illumination source may emit visible, UV, or near-IR light as a transient flash to the workpiece, the transient flash occurring in response to a lamp trigger. The illumination source may emit the light at an illumination intensity that rises from a begin threshold to a peak and afterwards diminishes to an end threshold during a flash duration. The image acquisition device may capture the light associated with the workpiece for an exposure duration starting from an exposure trigger. The control system may control the illumination source and the image acquisition device to synchronize the lamp trigger so that the exposure duration ends during the flash duration, such that a remaining portion of the flash does not affect the image exposure. |
| US08044997B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for processing stereoscopic videos
A stereoscopic video processing apparatus is constituted by: a video input section, for receiving input of stereoscopic videos constituted by a plurality of frames, which are viewable stereoscopically; a scene detecting section, for detecting positions within the stereoscopic videos at which scene changes occur; and a perceived depth adjusting section, for administering perceived depth adjusting processes that adjust the perceived depths of the stereoscopic videos such that the perceived depth changes gradually at the positions at which scene changes occur. |
| US08044995B2 |
Image processor and method for adjusting image quality
An image processor includes: an receiving module configured to receive a video signal of a content; an image quality adjusting module configured to adjust image quality of the video signal received by the receiving module using image quality adjustment parameters including at least a contrast-related parameter; a 3D video detecting module configured to determine whether the video signal is of a 3D content; and a control module configured to control the image quality adjusting module to adjust the image quality of the video signal using the contrast-related parameter being set to a second parameter setting for enhancing contrast more than at a first parameter setting, when the video signal is determined to be the 3D content by the 3D video detecting module while the image quality adjusting module is adjusting the image quality using the contrast-related parameter being set at the first parameter setting. |
| US08044993B2 |
Image recording apparatus, image recording method and image recording program
There is provided an image recording apparatus including an image-capturing section that captures an image of the observed person, an observation result input section that inputs a result of the observation done by the observer, an input detecting section that detects the input of the observation result by the observation result input section, and an image storing control section that stores the image of the observed person which is captured by the image-capturing section when the input detecting section detects the input of the observation result. |
| US08044991B2 |
Local positioning system and method
A local positioning system which includes a video camera, a computer communicating with the video camera and a target object sighted by the video camera and having a target object coordinate system. The computer is adapted to define a relative position and orientation of the video camera with respect to the target object, determine a position and orientation of the video camera in the target object coordinate system, and determine the position of a point of interest in the target object coordinate system. The system can also be used to aim the camera at a previously recorded point of interest on the target object. Contact with, or close proximity to, the target object is not required. A local positioning method is also disclosed. |
| US08044986B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the same
An image of a color misregistration detection pattern is formed, and the amount of color misregistration is detected by reading of the pattern image. The amount of color misregistration detected by a detecting unit and the delay time from the time when image data is requested to the time when the image data is output are stored. The color misregistration is corrected based on the stored delay time and amount of color misregistration. |
| US08044984B2 |
Methods for driving an OLED panel
A method for driving an organic light emitting display (OLED) panel having a plurality of organic light emitting diodes is provided. The organic light emitting diodes are coupled to a plurality of segment lines and a plurality of common lines in a matrix structure. The organic light emitting diodes coupled to the same common lines are divided into a plurality of groups according to colors of the OLED panel. Driving currents are provided to the organic light emitting diodes of the groups according to a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) manners. The PWM manners generate waveforms having pulse width corresponding to grayscale in a period, wherein each PWM manner corresponds to different colors of the OLED panel. |
| US08044983B2 |
Video display apparatus
According to one embodiment, a video display apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel configured to display a video on a display area and light sources, each configured to be controlled respectively and to light in an illumination area into which the display area is virtually divided according as arrangement of the light sources. The apparatus includes a first calculation unit configured to calculate a second emission intensity corresponding to a small-area based on a video signal in a small-area, wherein the small-area is segmented area of the display area and smaller than the illumination area. The apparatus includes a second calculation unit configured to calculate a first emission intensity to control the light source from the second emission intensities and a control unit configured to light the light sources at the first emission intensities. |
| US08044981B2 |
Image display system
Image display systems comprising a first pixel, a second pixel, a scan line, a first data line, and a second data line. In the first pixel, a first transistor is coupled to a first storage capacitor via a first pixel electrode. In the second pixel, a second transistor is coupled to a second storage capacitor via a second pixel electrode. The conductance of the first and second transistors is simultaneously controlled by a scan signal transmitted by the scan line. In a first time interval, the first data line transmits a voltage data to the first pixel electrode via the first transistor. In a second time interval, the second data line transmits the voltage data to the second pixel electrode via the second transistor. The first storage capacitor is designed to generate a proper feedthrough voltage at the first pixel electrode to compensate for a voltage coupling shift at the first pixel electrode that is generated during the second time interval because of the voltage variation at the second pixel electrode. |
| US08044979B2 |
Active display device and mixing type pixel driving method in active display device
A mixing type pixel driving method in an active display device includes generating a digital data for a selected pixel, first driving the selected pixel to be illuminated with a first illumination intensity, and second driving the selected pixel to be illuminated with a second illumination intensity in a second illumination interval. A relative ratio of the second illumination intensity to the first illumination intensity is changed according to the value of the digital data. The number of the converted bits by DAC is reduced. Therefore, the less bit DAC is adaptable for the mixing type pixel driving method and the layout area and the consumption current can be decreased. |
| US08044977B2 |
Data driver circuits for a display in which a data current is generated responsive to the selection of a subset of a plurality of reference currents based on a gamma signal and methods of operating the same
A data driver for a display includes a reference current generator that is configured to generate L gray scale reference currents, the L gray scale reference currents being associated with non-zero gray scale levels, a gamma selection module that is configured to select M gamma reference currents from the L gray scale reference currents responsive to a gamma signal, a gamma voltage generator that is configured to generate a zero gray scale level gamma reference voltage, and a data current generator that is configured to generate a data current responsive to a selected one of the M gamma reference currents or the zero gray scale level gamma reference voltage responsive to a color signal. |
| US08044975B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing wallpaper
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for providing a wallpaper. To this end, a current state of a mobile terminal is detected, particle images and fluid image reflecting the detected current state of the mobile terminal are generated, and the generated particles and the generated fluid are displayed on a preset wallpaper so as to generate a wallpaper. Then, user motion is detected, acceleration and movement amount are extracted from the detected user motion, and movement amounts and movement directions of the particles and the fluid are determined based on the extracted acceleration and movement amount. Then, the particles and fluid are displayed in reflection of the gravity on movement amounts and movement directions of particles and fluid. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a wallpaper having an effect as if an actual snow globe is moved. |
| US08044968B2 |
Image processing device, color correction table generation device, display device, image processing method, color correction table generation method, color adjustment method for display device, and image processing program
The present invention provides an image processing device, a color correction table generation device, a display device, an image processing method, a color correction table generation method, a color adjustment method of a display device, and an image processing program capable of color matching to preferred colors of which excessive emphasis in chroma is suppressed. There are provided a chroma limit setting section for setting a chroma limit based on a optimal color, and a color correction table generation section for generating a color correction table by making a correspondence between an input color and an output color having chroma no greater than a chroma limit. The color correction table is stored in a color correction table storage section. The color correction execution section executes color correction along the color correction table so that the projector outputs a color with chroma no greater than the chroma limit. |
| US08044967B2 |
Converting a three-primary input color signal into an N-primary color drive signal
A method of converting a three-primary input color signal (IS) comprising three input components (R, G, B) per input sample into an N-primary color drive signal (DS) comprising N≧4 drive components (D1, . . . , DN) per output sample for driving N sub-pixels (SP1, . . . , SPN) of a color additive display. The N sub-pixels (SP1, . . . , SPN) have N primary colors. The method comprises adding (10), to three equations defining a relation between the N drive components (D1, . . . , DN) and the three input components (R, G, B), at least one linear equation defining a value for a combination of a first subset of the N drive components (D1, . . . , DN) and a second subset of the N-drive components (D1, . . . , DN) to obtain an extended set of equations. The first subset comprises a first linear combination (LC1) of 1≦M1 |
| US08044964B2 |
Data processor
A data processor that includes a central processing unit, a graphic controller, a display controller, an image recognizing module, a memory controller and image data input units is disclosed. The components can be formed on a single semiconductor substrate. The display controller can perform display control on image data. The image data input unit stores the image data into a first area in the external memory. The image recognizing module or central processing unit executes an image process on the image data in the first area or image data in a second area, and stores a result of the process in a third area of the external memory. |
| US08044963B2 |
System for emulating graphics operations
Disclosed is a system for producing images including emulation techniques using multiple processors. The system provides for emulation of graphics processing resources such that a central processing unit may provide graphics support. Disclosed embodiments include emulation of selected graphics calls as well as emulation of a programmable graphics processor for compatibility with systems having no compatible GPU. |
| US08044960B2 |
Character display apparatus
A character display apparatus searches through a cache means for vector font data which match character attributes of a character to be displayed to acquire the vector font data, and, when no vector font data which match the character attributes of the character to be displayed exist in the cache means, acquires the vector font data from a large-volume storage means. If there exists no corresponding luminance image data in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires luminance image data generated from the vector font data. If there exists no corresponding display image in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires display character image data generated from the luminance image data. The character display apparatus displays the display image which is thus acquired and which matches the character attributes of the character to be displayed on a display device. |
| US08044955B1 |
Dynamic tessellation spreading for resolution-independent GPU anti-aliasing and rendering
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for dynamic tessellation spreading. In one embodiment, an offset vector may be determined for each of a plurality of vertices, wherein the plurality of vertices define an original path. The plurality of vertices and the plurality of offset vectors may be sent to a graphics processing unit (GPU). A spread path may be generated in the GPU, wherein generating the spread path comprises adjusting each vertex by the respective offset vector in a coordinate space of a target device. The spread path may be rendered to the target device using the GPU. |
| US08044953B2 |
System for interactive 3D navigation for proximal object inspection
A system that transitions from freeform camera motion to surface following motion as a surface of an object is approached by clipping the vectors for closest point and look-at point. When the surface is reached and while following the surface the user can designate an up model that sets an up vector to conform the view to a users expectations while the system operates using a local up vector for computations. A restricted surface field of view along with an obstacle field of view can be used by the system to allow the view to traverse cavities and maintain a specified surface following distance from an obstacle, from a wall and from a floor. |
| US08044951B1 |
Integer-based functionality in a graphics shading language
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving the flexibility and programmability of a graphics pipeline by adding application programming interface (API) extensions to the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) that provide native support for integer data types and operations. The integer API extensions span from the API to the hardware execution units within a graphics processing unit (GPU), thereby providing native integer support throughout the graphics pipeline. |
| US08044945B2 |
Image display apparatus and method, computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded, and photograph print order accepting apparatus
An image display apparatus capable of displaying images in similar image groups to allow the user to determine the difference between the images in each of the similar image groups, and to select an image to be deleted or saved in easier and more efficient way. An evaluation value obtaining means calculates an evaluation value representing the desirability of an image for each of the images in each of the similar image groups using a predetermined evaluation criterion. A sorting means rearranges each of the images in each of the similar image groups in the order of the evaluation value to generate a display order. A display control means causes each of the images in each of the similar image groups to be displayed on a display section according to the display order. |
| US08044941B2 |
Method for providing human input to a computer
The invention provides a method for providing human input to a computer which allows a user to interact with a display connected to the computer. The method includes the steps of placing a first target on a first portion of the user's body, using an electro-optical sensing means, sensing data related to the location of the first target and data related to the location of a second portion of the user's body, the first and second portions of the user's body being movable relative to each other, providing an output of the electro-optical sensing means to the input of the computer, determining the location of the first target and the location of the second portion of the user's body, and varying the output of the computer to the display based upon the determined locations for contemporaneous viewing by the user. |
| US08044940B2 |
Display system, display device, and program
A display system having an input device that communicates with a display device. The input device being able to: detect a track of points of contact between the input device and the display surface; write the track data to a memory; and send the track data to the display device. The display device being able to: detect positions on the display surface contacted by the input device and generate a line formed by the detected positions; toggle between a position detection mode to a position non-detection mode; instruct the input device to detect the track it is in the position non-detection mode; request the track data from the input device when it toggles to the position detection mode; synthesize the track data from the input device and the drawing data to generate image data; and display the generated image data. |
| US08044935B2 |
Scroll wheel device for a computer mouse having a breaking mechanism
A scroll wheel device for computer mouse is disclosed, which comprises: a scroll wheel, having a scraggly structure formed in the interior thereof; and an adjusting unit. In an exemplary embodiment, the scraggly structure can be a sawtooth-like structure patterned on a circumferential area of a hollowed portion formed inside the scroll wheel; and an adjusting unit is further comprised of an adjusting rod and a braking part, in which the braking part, being made of an elastic material, can be an elastic strip; and the adjusting rod is formed with screw thread. Thereby, by rotating the adjusting rod, the braking part is driven to move along the adjusting rod in response to the rotation of screw thread so that the relative position of the braking part with respect to the scraggly structure is changed accordingly and thus the braking mode of the scroll wheel device is changed. Therefore, simply by rotating the adjusting rod, the braking mode of the scroll wheel device can be adjusted for customizing the scroll wheel device to cope with varying preferences of different users. |
| US08044932B2 |
Method of controlling pointer in mobile terminal having pointing device
Provided is a method of controlling a pointer, such as changing between a pointer mode for activating the pointer and a search key mode for deactivating the pointer, in a mobile terminal having a pointing device. The method of controlling a pointer includes detecting movement input by the pointing device; identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode; if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode; identifying whether a specific key is input; and if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode. Additionally, if elapsed time measured after displaying the pointer exceeds a predetermined value, the display mode of the mobile terminal may automatically be changed to a search key mode. |
| US08044929B2 |
Analog data-input device provided with a pressure sensor of a microelectromechanical type
In a data-input device an actuator element that can be manually actuated, and a sensor mechanically coupled to the actuator element. The sensor is formed in a body of semiconductor material housing a first sensitive element, which detects the actuation of the actuator element and generates electrical control signals. The first sensitive element is a microelectromechanical pressure sensor, formed by: a cavity made within the body; a diaphragm made in a surface portion of the body and suspended above the cavity; and piezoresistive transducer elements integrated in peripheral surface portions of the diaphragm in order to detect its deformations upon actuation of the actuator element. |
| US08044927B2 |
Drive method for a display device, drive device, display device, and electronic device
A drive method for a display device that displays by causing charged particles to migrate by applying an electric field, including a gray level drive step of causing the particles to migrate to a gray level that is not a saturation state in which migration of the particles is saturated. The gray level drive step changes the display by causing the particles to migrate to produce a display color difference. |
| US08044920B2 |
Backlight control circuit with low brightness variation when light emitting devices not operating
The present invention discloses a backlight control circuit, and a method for controlling light emission devices. The method comprises: providing a plurality of light emission device paths connected in parallel; and setting a total current of the paths connected in parallel to a constant. |
| US08044919B2 |
Backlight driving apparatus of LCD and driving method thereof
An inverter of a liquid crystal display for receiving a power voltage for burst dimming via one power terminal to simultaneously adjust a burst dimming and an analog dimming is disclosed. In the inverter of the liquid crystal display, a burst dimming signal generator receives a triangular-wave signal and a power voltage for burst dimming to generate a burst dimming signal. An analog dimming voltage generator receives the power voltage for burst dimming to generate an analog dimming voltage. And a main controller receives the burst dimming signal and the analog dimming voltage to generate a pulse width modulating signal which is used for generating a driving current of a backlight assembly. |
| US08044917B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel, a gate driver configured to drive a plurality of gate lines on the panel, a data driver configured to drive a plurality of data lines on the panel in response to the pixel data stream, a timing controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver, and a single-chip drive voltage generating section configured to supply voltages used by the common electrode on the liquid crystal panel, the gate driver, the data driver, and the timing controller using an external input voltage. |
| US08044913B2 |
Display device and gate driver thereof
A gate driver for driving a display device is disclosed. The gate driver, which includes: a first input buffer configured to for receiving a reference voltage and outputting a first buffered voltage, a control circuit configured to for outputting a plurality of scan starting signals and compensating starting signals, a plurality of compensating output buffers, and a plurality of scan output buffers. Each of the plurality of compensating output buffers is configured to respectively receive one of the compensating starting signals and respectively output a compensating signal, wherein, each compensating output buffer receives the first buffered voltage as power. Each of the plurality of scanning output buffers is configured to respectively receive one of the scan starting signals and output a scan signal. |
| US08044912B2 |
Semiconductor device including correction parameter generator and method of generating correction parameters
A semiconductor device includes an address generator and an output unit. The address generator is configured to output a plurality of addresses in response to a first number of most significant bits of a current pixel value including a first selection bit and a second number of most significant bits of a previous pixel value including a second selection bit. The output unit is configured to determine correction parameters which respectively correspond to the plurality of addresses, in response to the plurality of addresses, to select an index pattern from a plurality of index patterns in response to the first selection bit and the second selection bit, and to arrange the determined correction parameters into the selected index pattern to output arranged correction parameters. The index pattern is a pattern that can be generated according to positions of the determined correction parameters in a look-up table including the plurality of indexes. |
| US08044910B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for driving thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method for driving the LCD device are disclosed. The LCD device includes a frame rate adjusting circuit for controlling a frame rate to be maintained at a 1-fold rate in frame periods other than an Nth frame period (“N” is a multiple of 8 or more), while being increased to an “i”-fold-accelerated rate (“i” is a positive integer of 2 or more) in the Nth frame period, to output reference timing signals in the frame periods other than the Nth frame period, and to output accelerated timing signals in the Nth frame period, a timing controller for generating data and gate timing control signals, based on at least one of each reference timing signal and each accelerated timing signal, and a logic circuit for accelerating a frequency of a polarity control signal in the Nth frame period. |
| US08044905B2 |
TFT arrangement for display device
A new TFT arrangement is demonstrated, which enables prevention of TFT to be formed over a joint portion between the adjacent SOI layers prepared by the process including the separation of a thin single crystal semiconductor layer from a semiconductor wafer. The TFT arrangement is characterized by the structure where a plurality of TFTs each belonging to different pixels is gathered and arranged close to an intersection portion of a scanning line and a signal line. This structure allows the distance between regions, which are provided with the plurality of TFTs, to be extremely large compared with the distance between adjacent TFTs in the conventional TFT arrangement in which all TFTs are arranged in at a regular interval. The formation of a TFT over the joint portion can be avoided by the present arrangement, which leads to the formation of a display device with a negligible amount of display defects. |
| US08044900B2 |
Liquid crystal display device for compensating a common voltage and the method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device (LCD) includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of common voltage supply lines, the liquid crystal panel being divided into a plurality of blocks, a plurality of gate driver integrated circuits (ICs) connected to the plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data driver ICs connected to the plurality of data lines, and a plurality of common voltage compensators to supply compensated common voltages to the common voltage supply lines the corresponding blocks. |
| US08044899B2 |
Methods and apparatus for backlight calibration
Methods and apparatuses for backlight calibration are described. The apparatus 100 comprises a backlight unit 102 comprising a plurality of light sources 120, at least one photo-sensor 103 adapted to measure the light emitted by the backlight unit 102, a photo-sensor controller 112 coupled to the photo-sensor 103 for controlling the photo-sensor(s) 103, a backlight driving circuit 104 coupled to the light sources 120 for providing individual driving on each light source, a signal generator 114 coupled to the photo-sensor controller 112 and the backlight driving circuit 104 for controlling the operation timing of photo-sensors 103 and each of the light source 120 such that lighting conditions from each of the light source can be acquired, and a processing unit 111 coupled to the photo-sensor 103 and the backlight driving circuit 104 for analyzing the measurement data from the photo-sensors 103 and providing an adjustment signal to the backlight driving circuit 104 to achieve uniform lighting conditions of the backlight unit 102. Also described is a method comprising the steps of providing saved settings for backlight driver, providing a modified timing sequence to backlight driver and photo sensor 202, measuring light conditions of each individual light source or each individual group of light sources in backlight unit 203, comparing measurement data with predefined light conditions 205, calculating the adjustment required on backlight drivel to achieve desired light conditions, and saving calculated adjustment as new settings for backlight driver 207. |
| US08044898B2 |
LED display apparatus having a column and row controller
An LED display apparatus 1 in which at least multiple LEDs are serially-connected to a power circuit part having a constant current power source, each one of the LEDs has a switching element parallel-connected thereto, and a control circuit part is used to selectively turn on/off the switching elements to control the LEDs for a specific display, characterized by the fact that the apparatus comprises a display matrix circuit part 9 constituted by parallel-connecting to the power circuit part 8 multiple LED circuits 7a, 7b, 7c . . . consisting of multiple LEDs 2 . . . and a single first switching element 3a, 3b, 3c . . . serially-connected and second switching element 4 . . . each parallel-connected to one of the LEDs 2 . . . , and a control circuit part 10 turning on the first switching elements 3a . . . for a given time period (Ts) in sequence and turning on/off a row La, Lb, Lc . . . of multiple second switching elements 4 . . . extending across the LED circuits 7a . . . of the display matrix circuit part 9 in correspondence with the first switch 3a . . . being turned on. |
| US08044896B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display and pixel driving circuit thereof for reducing the kink effect
A pixel driving circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a forth transistor, a switching circuit, a first voltage generator, a second voltage generator, and a light emitting element. The source of the first transistor is electrically connected to the drain of the second transistor. The gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to the gate of the first transistor. The drain of the forth transistor is electrically connected to the source of the third transistor, and the gate of the forth transistor is electrically connected to the gate and the drain of the second transistor. The first voltage generator is coupled to the source of the second transistor and of the forth transistor. The light emitting element is coupled to the drain of the first transistor via a first electrode, and to the second voltage generator via a second electrode. The switching circuit is electrically connected to the drain and the gate of the third transistor. |
| US08044893B2 |
Voltage programmed pixel circuit, display system and driving method thereof
A voltage programmed pixel circuit, display system having the pixel circuit and driving method thereof is provided. The pixel circuit includes a light emitting device, a driving transistor connected to the light emitting device and a programming circuit. The programming circuit adjusts a pixel current during a programming cycle of the pixel circuit. |
| US08044892B2 |
Automatic adaptation of the precharge voltage of an electroluminescent display
A circuit for controlling a matrix display formed of light-emitting diodes, capable of successively selecting lines of the screen and, for each line from a set of selected lines, of selecting columns, the voltage of each selected column settling at an operating voltage. The circuit is capable, before selection of each line from said set of lines, of precharging at least the columns to be selected to a precharge voltage. The circuit includes a device for adjusting the precharge voltage including a measurement circuit capable, on each selection of a line from said set of lines, of measuring the maximum operating voltage from among the operating voltages of the selected columns; a circuit capable of storing the maximum measured operating voltage; and a circuit capable of adjusting the precharge voltage based on the maximum stored operating voltage. |
| US08044887B2 |
Method of driving plasma display panel and plasma display apparatus employing the same
The present invention relates to a method of driving a plasma display panel and a plasma display apparatus employing the same. In the plasma display apparatus, a plurality of scan electrodes formed in a plasma display panel are divided into first and second groups and then supplied with scan signals. When a scan bias voltage supplied in a first subfield of first and second subfields is higher than that supplied in a second subfield of the first and second subfields, a lowest voltage of a reset signal supplied in the second subfield is higher than that supplied in the first subfield. In accordance with the plasma display apparatus of the present invention, the lowest voltage of the reset signal is controlled according to the scan bias voltage in dividing the plurality of scan electrodes into two or more groups and driving them. Accordingly, an address erroneous discharge due to the loss of wall charges can be reduced, the occurrence of spots can be prevented and therefore the image quality of a display image can be improved. |
| US08044884B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof
A plasma display apparatus comprises a driver for supplying a rising signal of finite slope and a scan signal of negative polarity to a scan electrode using one voltage source. The driver also supplies a falling signal to the scan electrode using the same voltage source. This apparatus may be used to perform a panel driving method that includes applying a rising signal, which rises from a first voltage to a second voltage, to the scan electrode during a reset period and applying a scan signal, of a magnitude at least substantially the same as a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, to the scan electrode during an address period. |
| US08044882B1 |
Method of driving active matrix displays
A method is applied on an active matrix display. A pixel element includes at least one switching transistor, at least one nonlinear element, and at least one capacitive element. The method includes the following steps: (1) creating multiple rows of enabled pixel elements during a predetermined time period; (2) selecting a row of pixel elements in the multiple rows of enabled pixel elements to create a plurality of selected pixel elements during a sub-time-period that is a fraction of the predetermined time period; and (3) charging the at least one capacitive element in a selected pixel element. The step of creating includes driving a semiconductor channel of the at least one switching transistor in an enabled pixel element into a conducting state. The step of selecting includes driving the at least one nonlinear element in a selected pixel element into a conducting state. |
| US08044881B2 |
Stereoscopic display device and driving method thereof
A system and method for driving a stereoscopic image display device includes, during a first period wherein no image is displayed, writing a first data signal corresponding to a first image on a first display cell and writing a second data signal corresponding to a second image on the second display cell. During a second period, the first image and the second image are displayed by driving the barrier to become a first format. During a third period in which no image is displayed, the second data signal is written on the first display cell and the first data signal is written on the second display cell. During a fourth period, the first and second images are displayed by driving the barrier to become a second format. The barrier intercepts and transmits light at different angles in the first format than in the second format. |
| US08044879B2 |
Two-panel liquid crystal system with circular polarization and polarizer glasses suitable for three dimensional imaging
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for three dimensional display that produce stereo images (left and right eye images) each having particular known polarization so that they can be segregated and viewed with suitable polarizer eyeglasses to create the perception in the human mind of a three-dimensional image. According to one or more embodiments, two liquid crystal panels are utilized with the two panels being stacked one in front of the other relative to a light source and two polarizers are used surrounding the panel closest to the light source. In alternative embodiments, that panel and polarizers comprise a typical liquid crystal display (“LCD”) monitor. In preferred embodiments, images produced by the system are then circularly polarized for decoding by eyeglasses having corresponding circularly polarized lenses. |
| US08044875B2 |
Coil parts
A coil part used in a antenna coil has a cross shape core that includes: a first winding frame part extending a first direction and being provided with a coil, and a second winding frame part extending a direction crossing the first direction and being provided with a coil. A first core including the first winding frame part is interlocked with a second core 20b including the second winding frame part. |
| US08044874B2 |
Planar antenna having multi-polarization capability and associated methods
The planar antenna apparatus may include a planar, electrically conductive, patch antenna element having a geometric shape defining an outer perimeter, and a pair of spaced apart signal feedpoints along the outer perimeter of the planar, electrically conductive, patch antenna element and separated by a distance of one quarter of the outer perimeter to impart a traveling wave current distribution. The outer perimeter of the planar, electrically conductive, patch antenna element may be equal to about one operating wavelength thereof. The apparatus may provide dual circular or dual linear polarization. The planar patch element may relate to a full wave loop antenna as a compliment. |
| US08044872B2 |
ODU alignment procedure using circularly polarized signals allocated to specific satellites
A method and system for aligning an antenna reflector with satellites in a satellite configuration. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises pointing the reflector to an orbital slot used in the satellite configuration, wherein only one satellite in the orbital slot transmits first circularly polarized signals, and adjusting the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a reflector, a power meter coupled to the reflector, wherein the power meter and reflector are tuned to receive first circularly polarized signals, and an alignment mechanism, coupled to the reflector, wherein the alignment mechanism is manipulated to point the reflector at an orbital slot wherein only one satellite in the orbital slot transmits the first circularly polarized signals, and to adjust the reflector to maximize reception of the first circularly polarized signals from the orbital slot. |
| US08044871B2 |
Hybrid antenna unit
A hybrid antenna unit includes a circuit board having top and bottom surfaces, a planer antenna element which is mounted on the top surface of the circuit board and which receives first and second radio waves, an antenna base and a top cover that cover the circuit board and the planer antenna element. A bar antenna element stands on the top cover in a slanting position. A processing unit is mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board and is connected to the planer antenna element. The processing unit processes the first and the second radio waves. A shielding case is mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board and shields the processing unit. A booster circuit is mounted on the circuit board and is for use in the bar antenna element. |
| US08044870B2 |
Antenna apparatus
An antenna apparatus includes an antenna, and a resin material provided between the antenna and a reflector (windshield). The resin material includes portions, and the thickness (or dielectric constant) of each portion of the resin material is determined in accordance with a length of a straight line connecting a feeding point of the antenna, each portion of the resin material, and the reflector. Therefore, a phase of a reflected wave can be easily adjusted, thereby improving a performance of the antenna. |
| US08044866B2 |
Optically reconfigurable radio frequency antennas
Optically reconfigurable radio frequency antennas for use in aircraft systems and methods of its use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna includes a surface-conformal reflector that includes optically addressable carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes can be combined with light-sensitive materials so that exposure to light of the correct wavelength will switch the nanotubes back and forth between a metallic and non-metallic state. The antenna has a transmitter that radiates a radio frequency signal in the direction of the surface illuminator and an addressable optical conductor to illuminate the nanotubes with one or more optical signals. When the domains are illuminated they switch portions of the carbon nanotubes between its non-metallic states and metallic states to reflect the radiated radio frequency signal. |
| US08044863B2 |
Low profile, folded antenna assembly for handheld communication devices
An antenna assembly is formed on a rectangular polyhedron support that has two sections projecting away from opposite sides of an electrically non-conductive substrate. An electrically conductive stripe wraps around the support and comprises a plurality of segments on different surfaces of the support. A conductive patch is located on two surfaces of the support to provide impedance matching between the antenna and a radio frequency circuit. By placing sections of the antenna assembly on both sides of the substrate and wrapping the conductive stripe around those sections, the space required to accommodate the antenna assembly within a housing of a communication device is reduced, as compared to some prior antenna designs. |
| US08044861B2 |
Electronic device with edge surface antenna elements and related methods
An electronic device may include a multilayer circuit board having opposing major surfaces and edge surfaces extending between the opposing major surfaces, wireless processing circuitry on at least one of the opposing major surfaces, and an antenna element on at least one of the edge surfaces. The multilayer circuit board may include a conductive trace coupling the antenna element to the wireless processing circuitry. |
| US08044856B1 |
Dual LO receiver
A selectable frequency source for use in GPS receivers. A device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises at least one reference frequency source, a circuit, coupled to the at least one reference frequency source, and a mixer, coupled to an output of the circuit, for mixing a GPS signal with the output of the circuit, wherein a frequency output of the mixer is changed based on an input to the circuit. |
| US08044853B2 |
Navigation receiver
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for processing navigation signals received from multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS'). In a particular implementation, signals received from multiple GNSS' may be processed in a single receiver channel. |
| US08044849B2 |
Method of compactly communicating ionospheric and tropospheric corrections in a network of global navigation system satellite receivers
A method of communicating corrections for information related to satellite signals among global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers is described. An ionosphere correction for ionosphere signal path delay is determined for a first satellite. This ionosphere correction is then compared to an ionosphere correction for ionosphere signal path delay for a satellite assumed to be directly over the receiver. The receiver then sends a message which includes only the difference between the ionosphere correction for the actual observation and the ionosphere correction for a satellite assumed to be at the zenith. |
| US08044844B2 |
Pulsed radar level gauge system and method for energy efficient filling level determination
The invention sets forth a method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank using a radar level gauge system. The steps include generating a transmission signal using first pulse generating circuitry outputting a first signal having a first oscillation frequency having a first pulse repetition frequency. The invention uses a second pulse generating circuitry having a resonator element having an input and an output, a reference signal in the form of a second pulse train having a second pulse repetition frequency which differs from the first pulse repetition frequency by a predetermined frequency difference. The invention forms a measurement signal including a sequence of values representing a time correlation between a pulse of the reference signal and the reflected signal, and determines the filling level based on the measurement signal. The step of generating the reference signal includes providing the first signal to the input of the resonator element in the second pulse generating circuitry, monitoring an output signal from the resonator element, the output signal substantially corresponding to the first signal being delayed by a time delay, controlling at least one parameter of the second pulse generating circuitry to a parameter value resulting in the time delay corresponding to the predetermined frequency difference, and providing the output signal from the resonator element to the input of the resonator element while maintaining the parameter value of the at least one parameter, thereby generating the reference signal. |
| US08044843B2 |
Method and device for contactless level and interface detection
Method and apparatus for determining the thickness of material layers of a container-held substance comprising a first material disposed in an upper layer and a second material disposed in a lower layer, by transmitting a radio signal through the substance towards a container portion; receiving reflected signals from a surface of the upper layer, a surface of the second layer, and the container portion; varying the frequency of the transmitted signal to determine phase displacement between transmitted and reflected signals; determining optical distances to the surfaces and the container portion, dependent on the phase displacements; determining the thickness of one of said layers dependent on phase displacement through and index of refraction of that layer; and determining the thickness of the other layer dependent on the thickness of said one of said layers. |
| US08044842B2 |
High accuracy radar altimeter using automatic calibration
A method of compensating for component errors within a radar altimeter is described. The method includes periodically switching transmit pulses from a transmit antenna to a programmable delay device, calculating an altitude based on a transmit pulse received from the programmable delay device, comparing the calculated altitude to an expected altitude, the expected altitude based on a pre-set delay through the programmable delay device, and compensating an altitude measured by the radar altimeter, based on transmit pulses output through the transmit antenna, by an error correction amount based on a difference between the calculated altitude and expected altitudes. |
| US08044839B2 |
Combined radar and communications link
In a CW radar system for detecting motion behind a wall involving modulation of the radar transmission, means are provided to interrupt the CW wave when motion is detected and to use the same radar transmitter to transmit a serial digital message to a remote monitoring receiver. The encoding can include a receiver wakeup message to turn on the receiver only when motion has been detected. In one embodiment, a microprocessor is used to detect when motion exists behind a wall and to provide a tailorable message to modulate the radar's transmitter in the period when the CW signal from the radar is turned off after motion detection. |
| US08044838B1 |
Methods and systems for determining the phase constant for a dielectric medium
A method for determining a phase constant for a dielectric medium is provided. The method includes deploying a calibration object with a known free-space spectral response within a dielectric medium of interest, determining the spectral response of the calibration object deployed in the dielectric medium, and determining the phase constant for the dielectric medium using a relationship between the free-space spectral response of the calibration object and the spectral response of the calibration object when deployed in the dielectric medium. |
| US08044837B2 |
Analogue to digital converters
An analogue to digital converter (ADC) is provided which comprises an signal sampling device, a signal comparison device, and a digital signal generator. An analogue signal to be converted to a digital signal is input into the ADC, the signal sampling device produces samples of the analogue signal, the signal comparison device receives the analogue signal and the analogue signal samples, performs a comparison between them and outputs comparison signals, and the digital signal generator receives the comparison signals and uses them to generate a digital signal.The signal sampling device may produce voltage samples or current samples of the analogue signal. |
| US08044829B2 |
Multi-mode encoding for data compression
The present disclosure includes apparatus, systems and techniques relating to lossless data compression. In some implementations, an apparatus includes a memory module to store data. The memory module includes a first buffer portion to store encoded symbols of the data, and a second buffer portion to store symbols of the data to be encoded. The apparatus includes an encoder to compare the symbols stored in the second buffer portion with the encoded symbols stored in the first buffer portion and to compress the data. The encoder can operate in a first encoding mode to encode the symbols in the second buffer portion with corresponding codewords until detecting a repeated pattern of symbols in the second buffer portion that matches the encoded symbols in the first buffer portion. The encoder can operate in a second encoding mode responsive to detecting the repeated pattern. |
| US08044826B2 |
Input device and portable terminal having the same
An input device comprises: a circuit board having a magnetism sensing portion for sensing changes of magnetism; a magnet disposed above the circuit board by a prescribed height, and configured to move in a plurality of directions; and a shuttle having a magnet mounting portion for fixing the magnet at the center thereof, and having a plurality of elastic connecting portions radially disposed around the magnet mounting portion, the elastic connecting portions formed in curved lines from the center of the magnet so as to elastically support the magnet mounting portion. |
| US08044823B2 |
Systems and method for monitoring and controlling a vehicle travel surface
Methods for determining need for treating a vehicle travel surface include sensing, at a first time, a characteristic of a vehicle travel surface from a mobile sensor. Sensed characteristics include temperature, friction coefficient, material volumetric buildup, e.g., composition, such as an amount or percentage of ice or snow, density, depth, freeze point and chemical concentrations. The sensed characteristic is recorded as a first measurement in a database, and GIS information correlating a location with the first measurement is attached. The characteristic of the vehicle travel surface is sensed at a second time, at the location, and recorded in the database, for example as a second measurement. GIS information correlating the location with the second measurement may be attached, and the first and second measurements compared. |
| US08044821B2 |
Downhole data transmission apparatus and methods
Example wellbore telemetry systems and methods for transmitting signals between a surface unit and a downhole tool are disclosed. One example method transmits data between a downhole location in a wellbore and a surface location associated with the wellbore by measuring downhole data via at least one downhole component and generating a data frame containing at least a portion of the downhole data. The example method varies a telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component in response to the at least some of the downhole data corresponding to a special event and transmits the at least some of the downhole data to the surface location via the telemetry bandwidth allocated to the at least one downhole component. |
| US08044813B1 |
Radio field intensity measurement device, and radio field intensity detector and game console using the same
The present invention provides a radio field intensity measurement device having a display portion with improved visibility, in the case of measuring a weak radiowave from a long distance. In the radio field intensity measurement device, a battery is provided as a power source for power supply and the battery is charged by a received radiowave. When a potential of a signal obtained from the received radiowave is higher than an output potential of the battery, the power is stored in the battery. On the other hand, when the potential of the signal obtained from the received radiowave is lower than the output potential of the battery, power produced by the battery is used as power to drive the radio field intensity measurement device. As an element to display the radio field intensity, a thermochromic element or an electrochromic element is used. |
| US08044812B2 |
Optical wireless sensor network
A wireless sensor network including a receiver including a photodetector, and a sensor node that includes a sensor configured to sense a property, a transmitter configured to emit outgoing optical energy, the outgoing optical energy being indicative of the property, and a photodetector configured to harvest incoming optical energy and convert the incoming optical energy into electrical energy useful by the transmitter, wherein the photodetector of the receiver is positioned to receive the outgoing optical energy. |
| US08044811B2 |
Sensing device and method
The invention relates to a method and sensing device capable of determining a temperature of a liquid and an electrical conductivity of the liquid at the temperature. The sensing device comprises at least one temperature sensor for providing temperature measurement data arranged such that the temperature sensor is physically isolated from the liquid when the sensing device is immersed in the liquid. The device further comprises an electrical conductivity sensor, storage means containing temperature characteristics and a processor. The processor is arranged for instantly measuring an electrical conductivity of a liquid and for evaluating temperature measurement data for determining the temperature of the liquid on the basis of the temperature characteristics. |
| US08044810B2 |
System and method of damage prevention from weather occurrences
A method and system of damage prevention from weather occurrences is provided wherein incoming notifications from weather services are used to take action on user specified and configurable powered devices. Threshold levels may be set based on severity of weather occurrences. The threshold levels may be reset or reconfigured by a user of the system. Different threshold levels may be set for different devices in order that different devices may be deactivated at different threshold levels. |
| US08044808B2 |
System and method for estimating interest level
The interest level estimation system of the present invention includes a gaze measurement unit that measures a person's gaze velocity and a skin potential level measurement unit that measures a person's skin potential level. The interest level estimation system also includes an interest level estimation unit. In the interest level estimation unit, a skin potential level time variation and a gaze velocity standard deviation are obtained at predetermined intervals, an inflection point of the skin potential level time variation is obtained at the predetermined intervals, the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained before a time corresponding to the inflection point are related to an interest state at the predetermined intervals, and the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained after the time corresponding to the inflection point are related to a disinterest state at the predetermined intervals, thereby obtaining a relationship between the skin potential level time variation and gaze velocity standard deviation and the interest level. |
| US08044804B1 |
Localizing a tag using variable signal range
A method for localizing a tag includes activating an antenna to transmit an RF signal and monitoring for a responsive signal transmitted by the tag. The signal range of the RF signal transmitted by the antenna may be altered if a responsive signal from the tag is not received. The method further includes detecting the responsive signal transmitted by the tag after the tag receives the RF signal transmitted at the altered signal range. |
| US08044801B1 |
RFID tag with double-switch rectifier
The present disclosure provides a power rectifier for a Radio Frequency Identification tag circuit. The power rectifier is constructed from a pair of complementary MOS transistors. Gates of the transistors have predetermined voltages applied to them. The applied voltages bias the transistors to near their active operating regions, while an additional RF control signal is being applied to only one of the gates of the transistors in the complementary pair. |
| US08044799B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing loss of portable terminal
There is provided an apparatus and a method for preventing a loss of a portable terminal, the apparatus including: a luminous intensity sensor unit detecting a current luminous intensity; a main controller unit controlling to request for an input of a password and controlling to output a warning sound when a current luminous intensity is higher than a reference luminous intensity; a display unit outputting a screen for requesting for the password and other screens related to a process of loss prevention; a key input unit via which keys related to the process of loss prevention are inputted; a memory unit in which the current luminous intensity detected by the luminous intensity sensor unit and the reference luminous intensity are saved; and a warning device generating and outputting the warning sound in accordance with the controlling of the main controller unit. |
| US08044796B1 |
Electrical lock-out and locating apparatus with GPS technology
A system and method by which construction tools, electronics, and other electrically powered devices are protected from theft and unauthorized use is disclosed. A tool or electronic device is equipped with an electronic receiver that receives an authorization code from a remote transmitter. Should the item be stolen, the rightful owner can disable it remotely, rendering it worthless. Additionally, the system provides for a Global Positioning System Receiver (GPS) that allows the invention to determine its physical location to within a few feet anywhere on the face of the earth, and transmit its location to the original owner such that it may be recovered. The use of the present invention allows for increased security of portable tools and electronics in a manner that is quick, easy and effective. |
| US08044795B2 |
Event recorder for portable media device
Operational parametric sensing and event recording capabilities are provided for portable electronic devices such as media players, cell phones, laptop computers, and the like that takes the form of a standalone sensing unit or as an integrated component of the portable electronic device. |
| US08044790B2 |
Retrofit circuitry for enhanced vehicle hazard warning lights
A third light is added above the lower two rear turn signal lights of an automotive vehicle Detection hardware is included which senses when both lower lights begin flashing simultaneously due to activation of the vehicle's 4-way hazard warning system. Such detection also introduces current pulses to the third light which flashes simultaneously with the lower two lights to generate a triangular configuration of the three flashing lights. Retrofit circuitry is described to enable installing the modified triangular signal into existing vehicles. |
| US08044788B2 |
Warning system generating warning of disengagement of parking brake of motor vehicle
A warning system and a method for alerting a driver of a vehicle that the parking brake of the vehicle is not engaged by generating a warning when the following conditions are simultaneously fulfilled: the ignition of the vehicle is on, the driver access door of the vehicle cabin is open, no throttle lever, or clutch lever or brake lever of the vehicle is activated, the gear shift lever of the vehicle is in the neutral position, and the parking brake is not engaged, and not when—the pressure of a pneumatic circuit associated with the parking brake is below a threshold,—the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold. |
| US08044787B2 |
Discrete sensor inputs
A set of inputs each selectively provides a discrete signal, whereby the sensor inputs together provide a plurality of discrete signals. A memory includes instructions executable by a processor for receiving the discrete signals, identifying a bit pattern from the discrete signals, and determining a position of a physical member according to the bit pattern and an error condition detected from the discrete signals. |
| US08044786B2 |
Systems and methods for diagnosing battery voltage mis-reporting
Systems and methods for diagnosing battery voltage misreporting is described. According to various embodiments, battery voltage may be monitored with respect to a state of charge and/or time. Based on this monitored information, battery charge state data may be generated by computing time derivatives of the monitored battery voltage across a voltage range. This battery charge state data may be compared with an expected set of charge state data if substantial differences exist, an error may be generated. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08044785B2 |
Oil quantity monitoring system for motorcycle
The degradation of a feeling of ride is prevented by preventing engagement/disengagement (sudden engagement/disengagement) of a motorcycle hydraulic clutch due to a lack of hydraulic pressure. Before a hydraulic sensor issues a hydraulic pressure-lowering detection signal Sx, an oil level sensor issues an oil level-lowering warning signal Sf in a state wherein a sufficient oil quantity is such so as not to bring an neutral drive switching clutch into a disengagement state is present even if hydraulic pressure lowers resulting from an inclined oil level due to sudden deceleration, sudden start, drive in a slope, or the like. Thus, the neutral drive switching clutch can be prevented from disengaging or engaging (suddenly disengaging or engaging). |
| US08044775B2 |
RFID system for identifying location of sensors/indicators
A system of identifying the source location that a particle counter is using to draw its data from. The present invention includes a transmitting sensor placed at the location of interest, and a receiving sensor placed on the particle-counter device. A receiving sensor communicates a new position when a particle counter is not replaced at its origination point. |
| US08044774B1 |
RFID tag chips and tags able to be partially killed and methods
RFID tag circuits, tags, and methods are provided for receiving a partial-kill command. In response to receiving such a command, the tag circuit or tag becomes partially killed. This means that one or more but not all of its memory functions become disabled. |
| US08044772B1 |
Expert system assistance for persons in danger
Methods and systems using one or more expert systems to quickly assist (e.g., advise and/or rescue) persons in danger at a location (e.g., buildings, tunnels, bridges, factories, refineries, recreational areas, such as parks, golf courses, ski-slopes, public transportation vehicles, such as buses, subways, trains, planes, ships, and equivalents), to screen and selectively test the location and/or person and assist the person if danger to the person is determined. One embodiment is a method to advise a person in danger, possibly having an impairment, using one or more expert systems. A second embodiment is a method to assist people in danger, possibly having an impairment, such as chemical impairment, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, using one or more expert systems. A third embodiment is a system to assist a person, if the system determines a danger at a location and/or if the system determines if a person has an impairment, such as chemical impairment, physical impairment, medical impairment, or emotional impairment, using one or more expert systems. |
| US08044765B2 |
Chip resistor and method of making the same
A chip resistor includes a metal resistor element made in the form of a chip that includes an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and two side surfaces. Two electrodes are formed on the resistor element to be spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the resistor element. Each of the electrodes is formed directly on the resistor element and extends continuously from the lower surface onto the upper surface via a corresponding one of the two end surfaces. |
| US08044759B2 |
Overlapping compact multiple transformers
Systems and methods are provided for overlapping compact multiple transformers. The systems and methods may include a first transformer section that includes a first primary winding section and a first secondary winding, where the first primary winding section is inductively coupled to the first secondary winding, where the first transformer section is associated with a first rotational current flow direction in the first primary winding section; and a second transformer section that includes a second primary winding section and a second secondary winding, where the second primary winding section is inductively coupled to the second secondary winding, wherein the second transformer section is associated with a second rotational current flow direction in the second primary winding section, where a first portion of the first primary winding section is adjacent to a second portion of the second primary winding section, where the adjacent first and second portions include a substantially same first linear current flow direction. |
| US08044757B2 |
Electronic device including LTCC inductor
Provided is an electronic device that includes an LTCC inductor including a first sheet disposed on a substrate and including a first conductive pattern, a second sheet disposed on the first sheet and including a second conductive pattern, and a via electrically connecting the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern, and a spacer disposed on a lower surface of the first sheet to provide an air gap between the substrate and the first sheet, wherein the first conductive pattern is exposed out of the lower surface of the first sheet. |
| US08044755B2 |
MEMS power inductor
A scalable MEMS inductor is formed on the top surface of a semiconductor die. The MEMS inductor includes a plurality of magnetic lower laminations, a circular trace that lies over and spaced apart from the magnetic lower laminations, and a plurality of upper laminations that lie over and spaced apart from the circular trace. |
| US08044754B2 |
Transformer for reducing electromagnetic interference and power transform circuit applied therein
A transformer for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) effect is disclosed. The transformer includes a bobbin; a magnetic core assembly partially sleeved by the bobbin; a first primary winding coiled around the bobbin; a secondary winding coiled on the first primary winding; and a first shielded element disposed between the first primary winding and the secondary winding for disconnecting the EMI transmission from the first primary winding to the secondary winding. The first primary winding includes a first winding portion and a second winding portion, and the first winding portion has larger EMI comparing to the second winding portion. The first winding portion of the first primary winding is adjacently disposed to the magnetic core assembly for shielding the EMI of the first primary winding by using the magnetic core assembly. The second winding portion is coiled on the first winding portion and adjacently disposed to the secondary winding for increasing the electromagnetic coupling rate of the first primary winding and the secondary winding. In addition, a power transform circuit applied in the transformer for reducing the EMI effect is also disclosed. The power transform circuit includes a switch, a power input for receiving a power signal; and a transformer electrically connected to the power input and the switch, for receiving and transforming the power signal. |
| US08044752B2 |
High-current, compact flexible conductors containing high temperature superconducting tapes
High-current, compact, flexible conductors containing high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes and methods for making the same are described. The HTS tapes are arranged into a stack, a plurality of stacks are arranged to form a superstructure, and the superstructure is twisted about the cable axis to obtain a HTS cable. The HTS cables of the invention can be utilized in numerous applications such as cables employed to generate magnetic fields for degaussing and high current electric power transmission or distribution applications. |
| US08044748B2 |
Hybrid coupler and UHF television channel mixer comprising such a hybrid coupler
A hybrid coupler for UHF-band television transmission has a box containing two lines, each of which is insulated from the box and from the other line, is connected to the other line in a “tandem” configuration, and has a first, a second, and a third portion separate from one another and connected respectively to the third, second, and first portion of the other line to define a first, a second, and a third coupling section to achieve a constant connection over the whole UHF band. |
| US08044746B2 |
Flexible interconnect cable with first and second signal traces disposed between first and second ground traces so as to provide different line width and line spacing configurations
A high speed flexible interconnect cable for an electronic assembly includes a number of conductive layers and a number of dielectric layers. Conductive signal traces, located on the conductive layers, combine with the dielectric layers to form one or more high speed electrical transmission line structures. The cable can be coupled to electronic components using a variety of connection techniques. The cable can also be terminated with any number of known or standardized connector packages. |
| US08044745B2 |
Method and apparatus for applying clock phase and frequency offset
Various apparatuses and methods for offsetting the phase and/or frequency of a clock signal are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for generating a clock signal, including a quadrature delay circuit connected to an input clock signal. The quadrature delay circuit outputs components of the input clock signal with different phase shifts. A first amplitude modulator is connected to the first output of the quadrature delay circuit, and a second amplitude modulator is connected to the second output of the quadrature delay circuit. A summer combines the output of the first and second amplitude modulators. |
| US08044744B2 |
Time modulation with cosine function
A method and apparatus is described for a time modulated signal. A cosine function is used as the basis for the signal with time intervals at the maximum and minimum values of the cosine function defining the encoded data. The received waveform is twice differentiated to provide a cosine function from which zero crossings are detected and the time intervals determined. |
| US08044737B2 |
Timing oscillators and related methods
Timing oscillators as well as related methods and devices are described. A timing oscillator may include a mechanical resonating structure with major elements and minor elements coupled to the major element. The timing oscillator can generate stable signals with low phase noise at very high frequencies which allows a timing oscillator to be used effectively in a number of devices including computers and mobile phones for time and data synchronization purposes. The signal generated by the timing oscillator can be tuned using a driver circuit and a compensation circuit. |
| US08044735B2 |
Oscillator circuit and method for influencing, controlling, or regulating the frequency of an oscillator
An oscillator circuit according to the invention comprises an oscillator with a toggle circuit having an output and an inverting input, whereby the output is connected to the inverting input via a feedback resistor, the inverting input is connected, for example, to the ground, via a first oscillator capacitor, and also connected, for example, to the ground, via a second oscillator capacitor and via a control resistor whose value can be adjusted or electrically controlled, so that the frequency of the oscillator can be varied by increasing or decreasing the value of the control resistor. In order to control the value of the control resistor, preferably a modulated 1-bit signal is used that is integrated by an integrator. Preferably, the oscillator is an integral part of a closed-loop control circuit in which the frequency of the oscillator forms the actual value and a predefined target frequency forms the target value. |
| US08044732B2 |
Continuously tunable inductor and method to continuously tune an inductor
A continuously tunable inductor with an inductive-capacitive (LC) voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a primary coil. The inductor includes a separate isolated secondary coil, a set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, a magnetic coupling between the primary coil of the LC VCO and the secondary coil, an electrical coupling between the LC VCO and the set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, and means for electric current injection into the closed loop. Such an inductor can be tuned by modulating a mutual inductance, which is magnetically and electrically coupled with the LC VCO by injection of an electric current (I0). |
| US08044731B2 |
Oscillator circuit
There is provided an oscillator circuit including: a current source; a resonant unit; an oscillation amplification unit connected to the current source and connected in parallel to the resonant unit; a feedback resistor connected in parallel to the oscillation amplification unit; a switch unit having a first end connected to the current source side of the oscillation amplification unit; a replica circuit connected between a second end of the switch unit and a ground side of the oscillation amplification unit and having a configuration identical to a configuration of the oscillation amplification unit; and a level detecting unit that detects an input voltage of the oscillation amplification unit, and, when the detected input voltage is higher than a bias voltage level at a time of oscillation, cause the switch unit to allow a current from the current sources to bypass through the replica circuit. |
| US08044729B2 |
Phase locked loop and voltage controlled oscillator thereof
A phase locked loop (PLL) and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) thereof are provided. The VCO includes a ring oscillator circuit and a control circuit. The ring oscillator circuit is used for providing an output clock signal; and the control circuit is coupled to the ring oscillator circuit, and used for receiving an output voltage to respectively provide a first voltage-frequency gain and a second voltage-frequency gain so as to control a frequency of the output clock signal provided by the ring oscillator circuit, wherein the first voltage-frequency gain is larger than the second voltage-frequency gain. |
| US08044726B2 |
Systems and methods for self testing a voltage controlled oscillator
A method for self testing a multiband voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is described. A first frequency band in a VCO is selected. An N value is selected for a frequency divider that produces a tuning voltage for the VCO that is between a low tuning voltage limit and a high tuning voltage limit for the VCO. The N value is adjusted in one direction until the tuning voltage reaches one of the tuning voltage limits. This N value at the tuning voltage is a first limit value. The frequency bands are switched from the first frequency band to a second frequency band that is adjacent to the first frequency band. |
| US08044725B2 |
Signal generator with directly-extractable DDS signal source
A signal generator including a DDS-signal source that is configured to operate according to the principle of direct digital synthesis (DDS), and a PLL signal synthesizer that is configured to operate according to the principle of phase locked loop (PLL) using an output signal from the DDS-signal source as a reference signal. The DDS-signal source can be connected via a direct connection, without further frequency division or mixing, directly to an output of the signal generator or directly to a level-adjustment device of the signal generator in order to generate a portion of an overall frequency range of an output signal of the signal generator. |
| US08044724B2 |
Low jitter large frequency tuning LC PLL for multi-speed clocking applications
The subject innovation relates to systems and/or methodologies for generating a low jitter large frequency tuning LC-based phase-locked loop circuit for multi-speed clocking applications. In addition to a plurality of noise reduction features, the phase-locked loop includes programmable charge pump and loop filter that enable a wide loop bandwidth, a programmable VCO that enables a wide VCO frequency range and a per lane clock divider that further enables a wide PLL frequency range. Furthermore, an auto-calibration circuit ensures that the VCO included in the PLL receives the optimum current for noise reduction across the VCO frequency range. |
| US08044723B2 |
Oscillator signal generation with spur mitigation in a wireless communication device
Techniques for generating oscillator signals in a wireless communication device are described. A phase-locked loop (PLL) may be used to generate an oscillator signal for a selected frequency channel. Different PLL settings may be used for the blocks in the PLL for different frequency channels. The different PLL settings may be for different PLL loop bandwidths, different amounts of charge pump current, different frequency equations associated with different sets of high and low divider ratios, different frequency division schemes associated with different prescaler ratios and/or different integer divider ratios, high side or low side injection for a super-heterodyne receiver or transmitter, and/or different supply voltages for one or more circuit blocks such as an oscillator. A suitable set of PLL settings may be selected for each frequency channel such that adverse impact due to spurs can be mitigated. |
| US08044718B2 |
Integrated programmable gain amplifier circuit and system including the circuit
An integrated programmable gain amplifier circuit that receives at an input an analog signal, circuit including an operational amplifier and a gain setup network comprising resistive elements and selection elements, which may be controlled in order to setup the gain of the amplifier circuit. The gain setup network further includes capacitive elements, for defining, together with the resistive elements and the operational amplifier, an anti-aliasing filter of the active RC type. |
| US08044716B1 |
Adjustable segmented power amplifier
An adjustable, segmented amplifier including (i) a first fixed stage configured to amplify an analog signal in accordance with a fixed amplification, and provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification to a first common node. The adjustable, segmented amplifier further includes an adjustable stage comprising a plurality of independently selectable parallel amplifier segments, wherein the adjustable stage is configured to (i) amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node in accordance with an adjustable amplification that is adjustable depending upon a number of the independently selectable parallel amplifier segments having been selected to amplify the analog signal provided to the first common node, and (ii) provide the analog signal amplified in accordance with the fixed amplification and amplified in accordance with the adjustable amplification to the second common node. |
| US08044712B2 |
Circuit and method for improved frequency resolution of wide-bandwidth digitally programmable RC active filters
An active RC filter (20) includes a first resistive element (23) and a first capacitor array (10/50) which co-acts with the first resistive element (23) to determine a bandwidth characteristic of the programmable active RC filter circuit (20). The total filter capacitance is programmed by switching various first capacitors (4-0, 1, 2 . . . 7) of a first capacitor array (10) in parallel between first and second terminals of the first capacitor array in response to a control word (B0, 1, 2 . . . 7) to determine a first portion of the bandwidth characteristic, and by switching various second capacitors (7-0, 1, 2 . . . 6) of the first capacitor array between the first and second terminals of the first capacitor array in parallel with various ones of the first capacitors (4-0, 1, 2 . . . 7) of the first capacitor array (10) in response to less significant bits (B0, 1, 2 . . . 6) of the control word (B0, 1, 2 . . . 7) to determine a second portion of the bandwidth characteristic. |
| US08044711B1 |
Clock signal noise shaping
A method and apparatus for clock signal noise shaping are described. Embodiments of a clock circuit include a filter coupled to receive an input clock signal and to provide an output clock signal. The filter filters noise of the input clock signal to shape the noise to provide the output clock signal. In a method for adjustment of phase noise, input clock signaling having the phase noise is obtained, and the input clock signal is filtered to adjust the phase noise to provide output clock signaling. |
| US08044709B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
The present invention is directed to perform fine low-voltage control without largely increasing the circuit layout area in a low-power consumption structure. In the case of shifting a region to a low-speed mode, a system controller outputs a request signal and an enable signal to a power switch controller and a low-power drive circuit, respectively, to turn off a power switch and to perform a control so that the voltage level of a virtual reference potential becomes about 0.2 V to about 0.3V. The region operates on voltages between a power supply voltage and a virtual reference potential, so that it is controlled in the low-speed mode. |
| US08044707B2 |
VDD/5 or VDD/6 charge-pump
Systems and methods to achieve a charge pump for generating from single supply voltage energy efficient supply voltages having a value of ±⅙ Vdd, ±⅕ Vdd, ±¼ Vdd, ±⅓ Vdd, ±½ Vdd or ±1 Vdd that are symmetrical around ground voltage have been disclosed. The charge pump requires two flying capacitors only. The charge pump generates positive and negative supply voltages following a 1/N ratio of Vdd voltage, i.e. +−Vdd/N, and can be generalized to generate +/−Vdd/2N voltages. This is especially useful for supplying class-G amplifiers with a voltage or power, which is just enough e.g. for an audio signal to be correctly generated at the output of the amplifier. |
| US08044705B2 |
Bottom plate regulation of charge pumps
Techniques of operating a charge pump are described. The charge pump is connectable to receive a clock signal and a regulating voltage and provide an output voltage. The charge pump can have one or multiple stages, each of the stages will include a capacitor. During the charging phase, the regulating voltage is used to regulate the potential of the capacitor's bottom plate. During the boosting phase, the capacitor's top plate is connected to supply the output for the stage and the bottom plate is connected to receive the stage's input. Each stage will also have a set of switching elements, allowing the capacitor to be alternately connected in the charging and boosting phases. For the first stage, the input is derived from the clock signal, and for any subsequent stages, the input will be the output of the preceding stage. The last stage provides the output voltage of the pump. |
| US08044704B2 |
Current controller and method therefor
In one embodiment, a current controller is configured to control a value of the current without regulating a voltage formed by the controller. |
| US08044702B2 |
Arrangement and method for providing a temperature-dependent signal
An arrangement and a method for providing a temperature-dependent signal. Several current sources (1, 2) are provided, which are switchably connected to one or more diodes (8). The conducting-state voltage of the diode is compared with a reference signal (Vr) in a comparator (10). A control circuit (12) controls the current sources (1, 2) so that for calibrating in each calibration step, only one of the current sources is activated and, in another calibration step, all of the current sources (1, 2) are activated. Therefore, error terms can be calculated, which allow a very exact provision of a temperature-dependent signal with respect to the matching of the current sources to each other. |
| US08044697B2 |
Per die temperature programming for thermally efficient integrated circuit (IC) operation
Methods and apparatus to provide per die temperature programming for thermally efficient integrated circuit (IC) operation are described. In some embodiments, the junction temperature of an IC component is determined, e.g., to reduce power consumption and/or improve performance. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08044694B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having latch circuit applied changeable capacitance and method thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a flip-flop circuit, a capacitive element, and a switch circuit. The switch circuit includes a first switch circuit which couples the capacitive element to two nodes of the flip-flop circuit at a first timing, and a second switch circuit which short-circuits ends of the capacitive element connected to the two nodes at a second timing different from the first timing. |
| US08044693B1 |
Output voltage slew rate control in hard disk motor drive
A driver circuit includes a first transistor having a first node coupled to a high supply voltage and a second node coupled to an output node, wherein the first transistor passes the high supply voltage to the output node based on a first gate voltage on a gate of the first transistor. The driver circuit also includes a second transistor having a first node coupled to a low supply voltage and a second node coupled to the output node of the driver circuit, wherein the second transistor passes the low voltage to the output node based on a second gate voltage on a gate of the second transistor. The driver circuit further includes a logic block configured to control a slew rate of an output signal Vout at the output node by controlling a slew rate of the first gate voltage and controlling a slew rate of the second gate voltage. |
| US08044692B2 |
Level-restorer for supply-regulated PLL
The present disclosure provides for a processor that can include digital processing circuitry that receives a digital clock signal from a supply regulated phase locked loop. The supply regulated phase locked loop can include a voltage controlled oscillator that can output an analog signal and a level restorer that can receive the analog signal from the voltage controlled oscillator and can translate the analog output into a digital signal that corresponds to an analog output of the voltage controlled oscillator. The supply regulated phase locked loop can receive an analog input having an input voltage that is within a range of acceptable input voltages. The supply regulated phase locked loop can also be configured to generate the digital output signal, such that the range of acceptable input voltages includes voltage values that are greater than and less than the output voltage. |
| US08044690B2 |
System and method for clock-synchronized triangular waveform generation
A triangular waveform generator is converted to a free running oscillator controlled by a calibration code. The free running oscillator can be synchronized to an external clock signal by comparing the external clock frequency to the frequency of the triangular waveform and adjusting the calibration code until the discrepancy in frequency is minimized. |
| US08044689B2 |
Semiconductor circuit
A pseudo differential circuit is a circuit system taking the advantages of both a CMOS circuit and a differential circuit. However, when process variability and the like are taken into account, a cross point of positive and negative outputs is not constant, thereby increasing a variation in duty of an output waveform. A semiconductor circuit according to the present invention includes: a first transistor being of a first conductivity type, coupled between a first power supply and an output terminal, and applied with an input signal; a second transistor being of a second conductivity type and coupled between a second power supply and the output terminal; a third transistor being of the second conductivity type and coupled between the first power supply and the output terminal; and a fourth transistor being of the first conductivity type and coupled between the second power supply and the output terminal. |
| US08044688B2 |
Systems and methods for determining an out of band signal
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and circuits that provide for out of band detection. As one example, an out of band detection circuit is disclosed that includes an input signal, a clock generation circuit, and a sampling circuit. The clock generation circuit receives the input signal and derives therefrom a sampling clock, and the sampling circuit is operable to sample the input signal at a time indicated by the sampling clock. |
| US08044684B1 |
Input and output buffer including a dynamic driver reference generator
A system having an input and output buffer includes a dynamic driver reference generator to generate dynamic driver reference signals based on a data signal and an IO buffer supply voltage, a level shifter to generate level shifted signals based, in part, on the dynamic driver reference signals, and a driver having at least one stress transistor. The driver dynamically adjusts a voltage across the stress transistor based on at least one of dynamic driver reference signals, the level shifted signals, and a current state of an IO pad. |
| US08044683B2 |
Logic circuit capable of level shifting
A logic circuit includes a logic gate unit, an inverter, and a switching circuit. The logic gate unit receives a power supply voltage and an input signal to output a first signal. The inverter receives the first signal to output a second signal. The switching circuit provides one of first and second power supply voltages as the power supply voltage of the logic gate unit in response to the first and second signals. The first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage have different voltage levels, thus enabling stable level shifting. |
| US08044681B2 |
Apparatus and method for channel-specific configuration in a readout ASIC
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising a plurality of channels, each channel having circuitry for time and energy discrimination, a plurality of programmable registers, each programmable register configured to output at least one configuration parameter for the circuitry, and a channel-select register configured to identify a channel of the plurality of channels to be configured. The ASIC further includes a configuration-select register configured to identify the programmable register to be used for channel configuration, and a communications interface configured to transmit instructions received from a controller to one of the channel-select register, the configuration-select register, and the plurality of programmable registers. |
| US08044680B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and on-die termination circuit
An on-die termination (ODT) circuit including drive signal generators, each drive signal generator configured to generate a corresponding plurality of ODT drive signals; and ODT drive units, each ODT drive unit configured to terminate a corresponding terminal with a termination resistance in response to the ODT drive signals of a corresponding drive signal generator. The drive signal generators are configured to supply the ODT drive signals to the ODT drive units to output a plurality of ODT control signals through the terminals in a test mode. |
| US08044677B2 |
Electrical system, voltage reference generation circuit, and calibration method of the circuit
A voltage generation circuit that includes: a voltage generator integrated in a semiconductor chip and structured to generate an output voltage in accordance with a calibration parameter; a heater operable to heat the voltage generator; a control device configured to receive the output voltage, activate the heater and provide the calibration parameter to the voltage generator. |
| US08044676B2 |
IDDQ testing
Embodiments of the invention relate to device-embedded IDDQ testing in the field to detect defects, aging, and other reliability reducing problems. Methods of testing integrated circuits and integrated circuit devices are disclosed. For example, an integrated circuit device can comprise an integrated circuit, a buffer capacitor coupled to the integrated circuit; and IDDQ test circuitry coupled to the buffer capacitor and configured to suspend normal operation of the integrated circuit and measure a discharge time of the buffer capacitor, wherein the discharge time is related to a leakage current of the integrated circuit. |
| US08044675B2 |
Testing apparatus with high efficiency and high accuracy
A testing apparatus includes a public test board, a single DUT (device under test) test board and a holder. The public test board includes a plurality of public test channel sets each having a plurality of public signal terminals for receiving test signals. On the single DUT test board, a plurality first signal terminals are arranged according to the pin layout of a DUT, a plurality second signal terminals are arranged according to the terminal layout of a public channel set, and a plurality traces are arranged for electrically connecting corresponding first and second signal terminals. The holder can connect the pins of the DUT to corresponding first signal terminals. |
| US08044673B1 |
Method and apparatus for positioning and contacting singulated semiconductor dies
A re-configurable test socket system and test socket architecture are described involving a combination of particular micro elements and re-useable macro elements that can be reused and reconfigured for testing a wide variety of different semiconductor and integrated circuit (IC) DUT packages having different shapes, sizes, and terminal configurations. |
| US08044667B2 |
Failure detection for series of electrical loads
An apparatus for detecting failures in an illumination device includes at least two light emitting diodes connected in series. The apparatus includes a first, a second, and a third circuit node for interfacing the illumination device such that the voltage drop across at least two light emitting diodes is applied between the first and the second circuit node and a fraction of the voltage drop is applied between the second and the third circuit node. An evaluation unit is coupled to the first, the second, and the third circuit node and configured to assess whether the electric potential present at the third circuit node is within a pre-defined range of tolerance about a nominal value that is defined as a pre-defined fraction of the potential difference present between the first and the second circuit node. |
| US08044666B2 |
Method for determining location of phase-to earth fault
A method and apparatus for determining a location of a phase-to-earth fault on a three-phase electric line (30) of an electric network, comprising determining an equivalent load distance curve of the electric line (30) representing a voltage drop along the electric line scaled by an equivalent load distance of the electric line, determining a fault distance line indicating an estimate of a distance of the fault (F) from the measuring point (40) in relation to the equivalent load distance, determining a distance at which the equivalent load distance curve and the fault distance line intersect when superimposed, and selecting the determined distance as the distance between the measuring point (40) and the point of fault (F). |
| US08044663B2 |
Ultra-sensitive susceptibility detection apparatus of anharmonic resonance measurement type using atomic magnetometer, and method of using same
The ultra-sensitive susceptibility detection apparatus of anharmonic resonance measurement type using an atomic magnetometer detects a change in susceptibility by a specimen containing an object to be measured. The apparatus includes an atomic magnetometer. The atomic magnetometer includes a cell containing an alkaline metallic atom, a light source for magnetically polarizing the alkaline metallic atom of the cell, and a bias magnetic field applicator for applying a bias magnetic field to adjust a measuring resonance frequency of the alkaline metallic atom. The apparatus includes an excitation magnetic field applicator for applying an excitation magnetic fields of different frequencies to magnetically excite the specimen, but not to couple the excitation field directly to the measuring atomic resonance frequency, and a measuring device for measuring a change in magnetic polarization of the alkaline metallic atom, which is affected by a magnetic field caused by the specimen being magnetically excited by the excitation magnetic field. |
| US08044661B2 |
Method for determining a three-dimensional reconstruction of an examination object
A provisional three-dimensional reconstruction of an examination object is determined based on two-dimensional original projection images. Provisional metal volumes are determined on the reconstruction by segmentation and mapped into the original projection images to define provisional metal areas. Edge points on edge zones of the provisional metal areas are selected. Data values of the original projection images within the provisional metal areas are modified as a function of data values of the selected edge points to determine modified projection images. Differential images are determined based on the original projection images and the corresponding modified projection images. Definitive metal areas are determined in the differential images by segmentation. The differential images are added to the modified projection images with the definitive metal areas deducted. A definitive three-dimensional reconstruction of the examination object is determined based on the modified projection images including the added differential images. |
| US08044654B2 |
Adaptive bias current generator methods and apparatus
In one aspect, a method of reducing power consumption in a circuit by adaptive bias current generation of a bias current configured to bias, at least in part, at least one amplifier of the circuit is provided. The method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a reference frequency of a reference clock providing a clock signal to at least one component of the circuit, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock, the bias current being change non-linearly with respect to the change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock. In another aspect, the method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a capacitance of a reference capacitor, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the capacitance of the reference capacitor such that the bias current is changed non-linearly with respect to changes in the capacitance of the reference capacitor. |
| US08044649B2 |
Dual mode regulation loop for switch mode power converter
The invention relates to a DC-DC converter, which includes a power stage driven by a pulse width modulator, a first error amplifier with a first input coupled to a first reference voltage source and a second input coupled to a current sink through which a current is fed from an output of the power stage to receive a first feedback voltage (FB1), a second error amplifier with a first input coupled to a second reference voltage source and a second input coupled to the output of the power stage to receive a second reference voltage (FB2), and switching means (SW1) for connecting a control input of the pulse width modulator with the output of the first error amplifier in a current regulation mode and with the output of the second error amplifier in a voltage regulation control mode. |
| US08044646B2 |
Voltage regulator with quasi floating gate pass element
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a voltage regulator are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for regulating a voltage including an N-channel transistor that is connected between an input and an output, an error amplifier that is connected to the output, a capacitor that is connected between the error amplifier and a gate of the N-channel transistor, and a comparator that is connected to a node between the error amplifier and the capacitor. The apparatus also includes a charge pump that is switchably connected to the gate of the N-channel transistor. The apparatus is adapted to connect the charge pump to the gate of the N-channel transistor when a voltage at the node between the error amplifier and the capacitor rises above a threshold voltage. |
| US08044641B2 |
Step-down switching regulator with turn off undershoot prevention
A step-down switching regulator prevents an output voltage undershoot and enables a quick lowering of an output voltage immediately after turning off of power supply. The step-down switching regulator includes an NMOS transistor connected between an output terminal and a ground voltage and another NMOS transistor connected in parallel with a synchronous rectification transistor. Upon reception of an on/off signal for terminating the operation of the switching regulator, the NMOS transistors are turned on into an on-state. |
| US08044636B2 |
Battery operated LED lamp and control
An LED lamp adapted for use as a bicycle light includes a lamp/switch module and a power supply/control module. The control includes a microcontroller that performs both light operating functions and battery charging control functions. A low battery warning is provided as a non-repeating, short sequence of flashes of the lamp. |
| US08044635B2 |
Charger alignment indicator with adjustable threshold
Electrical energy is transmitted to charge the implanted medical device, and an electrical parameter (e.g., a steady-state voltage) indicating a rate at which the implanted medical device is charged by the electrical energy is detected. A threshold (e.g., by modifying a stored threshold value) at which the charge strength indicator generates a user-discernible signal is adjusted based on the detected electrical parameter. |
| US08044627B2 |
Device for controlling the movement of furniture parts which can be moved with respect to one another, and a piece of furniture
The invention relates to a piece of furniture and to a device for controlling the movement of furniture parts which can be moved with respect to one another, having a drive unit by means of which a first furniture part can be moved relative to a second furniture part, in a driven manner, via a monitoring unit for monitoring the movement of said first furniture part. According to the invention, the monitoring unit is designed such that, after an initiating action by the monitoring unit, the first furniture part is moved to a predetermined position and is stopped there, with the predetermined position differing from a final position of the first furniture part. |
| US08044626B2 |
Self-powered assembly for the actuation of a roller blind or awning
An actuation assembly (INST) of a screen (SCR) for closure, solar protection or privacy, comprising, on the one hand, a motorized actuator (ACT) furnished with wireless control command receiving means (RCU) and, on the other hand, a standalone power supply assembly (PWU) furnished with at least one rechargeable accumulator (BAT) and with a power supply connector (PR), designed to be connected to the motorized actuator (ACT) via an electric connection line (LIN) for the latter to be supplied with power by the energy of the accumulator (BAT), wherein the power supply assembly (PWU) comprises a man-machine interface (MMI) whose activation allows the transmission of information to the actuator, this information relating to the control of the wireless control command receiving means (RCU) of the actuator (ACT). |
| US08044625B2 |
Wiper apparatus
A wiper apparatus includes: a wiper switch; an operation state detection device; a control device having an output section and an input section; a wiper motor; and a power supply. The wiper motor and the control device are connected by a single signal line; the operation state detection device and the input section are connected to the signal line; and the control device performs input of the wiper operating signal from the signal line when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from a point in time when an output of a wiper driving signal from the output section has stopped. |
| US08044624B2 |
Load control apparatus and method for processing diagnosis signal for the same
A load control apparatus outputs a PWM signal to a switching element to control a load. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a grand in series with the load. An abnormal increase detecting unit outputs an abnormal increase detection signal when detecting abnormal increase in applied voltage, which is applied to the load, relative to target voltage. An abnormal decrease detecting unit outputs an abnormal decrease detection signal when detecting abnormal decrease in the applied voltage relative to the target voltage. An operating state monitoring unit outputs a normally operating signal when the load normally operates. A signal combining unit generates a combined signal by combining the abnormal increase detection signal, the abnormal decrease detection signal, and the normally operating signal and outputs the combined signal via a common signal output terminal. |
| US08044621B2 |
Motor controller
A motor controller supplies power to a motor and drives the motor, the motor including a position detector. The motor controller includes a velocity control unit which generates a torque instruction by using a velocity instruction and a velocity signal; a correction processing unit which Fourier-transforms the torque instruction, extracts first-, second-, and sixth-order frequency components from the Fourier-transformed torque instruction, extracts an order component having the largest spectrum from the extracted order components, and generates a sine wave correction signal; an adder which adds the sine wave correction signal to the torque instruction, and generates a new torque instruction; and a position-signal generation unit which generates a position signal by using a position detection signal of the position detector. |
| US08044620B2 |
Driving apparatus for multi-phase AC synchronous motor
An inverter control circuit controls transistors based on comparison of a voltage command wave with a carrier wave, when a magnitude of a voltage vector is equal to or less than a peak value of the carrier wave. The voltage command wave is a wave, which is offset to a maximum value side from a reference potential of the carrier wave so that a maximum value of the voltage command wave equals a peak value of the carrier wave. The inverter control circuit makes an on-period of the transistor on a positive bus side longer than that of the transistor on a negative bus side by using the command voltage. The amount of electricity charged in a capacitor is reduced in comparison with a case in which the voltage command wave is used. Thus, thermal loss of a stator coil and a diode on the positive bus side is reduced. |
| US08044618B2 |
Control apparatus for AC motor
It is attained by being provided with a motor constant calculation unit for calculating electric constants of a motor, and by correcting setting values of electric constants defined on one of the axes of two orthogonal axes, by a functional expression using a state variable defined on the same axis, and by correcting them by a functional expression using a state variable defined on the other axis. |
| US08044614B2 |
Wiper apparatus control method and wiper control system
A wiper apparatus includes: a wiper blade driven by a motor; and a wiper blade driven by a motor. The motors are drive-controlled by control microcomputers, respectively. The control microcomputers are connected to each other through a communication line. While exchanging position information of the wiper blades through the communication line, the control microcomputers synchronously drive the motors on the basis of a position relationship between both of the wiper blades. In the case where a communication abnormality occurs when the position relationship between the wiper blades is in a normal state, the wiper blade is stopped after reaching a lower turning position. In the case where the communication abnormality occurs in a state where the position relationship between the blades is inverted, the blade is stopped after reaching an upper turning position. |
| US08044613B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting device, control method thereof, and projector
A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a power control circuit outputting DC current; an AC conversion circuit generating and outputting discharge lamp driving AC current by inverting the polarity of the DC current at a predetermined timing; a control circuit performing an AC conversion control process of controlling a polarity inversion timing of the discharge lamp driving AC current on the AC conversion circuit and performing an interval current control process of controlling a current value of the DC current every polarity inversion timing interval on the power control circuit; a detection unit detecting a discharge lamp driving voltage at the time of normal lighting; a history information storage periodically storing history information of the detected discharge lamp driving voltage, a statistics processing unit statistically processing the stored history information every predetermined period; and a statistical information storage storing information having been subjected to the statistical process as statistical information. Here, the control circuit sets and controls at least one of a frequency, a duty ratio, and a waveform of the discharge lamp driving AC current on the basis of a time-dependent tendency of the statistical information. |
| US08044605B2 |
High-pressure discharge lamp with an improved starting capability, as well as a high-voltage pulse generator
A spiral pulse generator is used to start the high-pressure discharge lamp, and is accommodated directly in the outer bulb of the lamp. The spiral pulse generator uses a material with a matched ∈ and μ. |
| US08044603B2 |
Light emitting diode driving device and light system
A light emitting diode driving device and light system are provided. The light emitting diode driving device drives a light source by a received alternating current voltage. The light emitting diode driving device includes a rectifier, a feedback unit, a protection unit, a switch unit, a timing unit, and a control unit. The rectifier is electrically coupled to an alternating current voltage source and the light source for providing the alternating current voltage to the light source. The feedback unit is used to detect a loading state and generate a feedback signal according the loading state for outputting the feedback signal. The protection unit is used to receive the feedback signal and compare the feedback signal with a reference voltage built in the protection unit for outputting a switch signal. The switch unit is used to receive the switch signal and connect or disconnect the alternating current voltage source and the light source. Therefore, the protection unit can avoid a burnout due to an exceeding current of the light source. |
| US08044601B2 |
High voltage discharge lamp lighting device
A high-voltage discharge lamp lighting device provides a starting pulse voltage sufficient to turn on a high-voltage discharge lamp having terminal wire connections of variable length. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a commercial AC power source input and rectifies the AC input into a predetermined DC voltage output. A charging capacitor is coupled to the power conversion circuit. A full bridge circuit is coupled to the power conversion circuit and the charging capacitor and provides a rectangular wave AC output signal to a transformer primary winding circuit of at least a capacitor, a single switching element and a primary winding of a transformer. A low pulse voltage is induced in the primary winding and a transformer secondary winding is connected on one end to the high-voltage discharge lamp, wherein the low pulse voltage is stepped up to a high pulse voltage and applied to the high-voltage discharge lamp. A reference voltage is generated in a reference transformer winding representative of the high pulse voltage. A starting pulse equivalent value detection circuit is connected to the reference winding and detects a value associated with the reference voltage. A control circuit receives said value from said detection circuit, and variably controls at least one of a frequency of the single switching element or an ON impedance of the single switching element in association with said value, wherein said frequency or ON impedance is further associated with a starting pulse voltage sufficient to start the high-voltage discharge lamp. |
| US08044599B2 |
Light string with alternate LED lamps and incandescent lamps
In one embodiment an electrical circuit for use as a string of lights includes a load comprising a plurality of lamps connected in series, the lamps comprising a first group of lamps including an LED and a first Zener diode in parallel therewith, and a second group of lamps including an incandescent light bulb and a second Zener diode in parallel therewith; and a rectifier for converting a source of AC into DC which is supplied to the load. The first group of lamps are alternate with the second group of lamps. |
| US08044596B2 |
Electron emissive element and display element
Electron-emissive drive units of electron-emissive elements capable of being arranged with a smaller pitch. FET and emitter array units exist in matrix element areas partitioned by a control wiring and data wiring. An exemplary unit is composed of four emitter arrays. The control wiring and data wiring are driven by first and second drive circuits, respectively. Corresponding arrays between units are connected by selection wiring and driven by a third drive circuit. The third drive circuit drives each unit of data wiring every time the drive circuit sequentially drives the four units of control wiring, and the emitter array drive circuit drives each emitter array selection wiring every time the drive circuit sequentially drives the three units of data wiring. Electrons can be emitted in units of arrays smaller than the unit. |
| US08044594B2 |
Power supply ignition system and method
One embodiment comprises a plasma processing system having a plasma chamber, a generator, a feedback component, and a controller. The feedback component is adapted to receive at least one first signal having a level dependent upon the power signal supplied from the generator to the chamber. A feedback output is adapted to emit a second signal to the controller, which is adapted to supply a third signal to the power generator. The third signal is configured to control the power generator to supply the power signal at a power level for a particular processing application. The power generator is further controlled by the controller to one of reduce and remove power from the plasma processing chamber and subsequently increase the voltage level until the power level reaches a threshold level. The power generator is further controlled to subsequently modulate the voltage until the voltage returns to a first voltage level. |
| US08044592B2 |
Lamp heat dissipating structure
A heat dissipating structure for a lamp includes at least an illuminating element, a lamp base, a metal housing, a ring-shaped coil and a metal base. The metal housing has a great heat conducting capability, and the illuminating element is mounted on the lamp base, which is engaged with the metal housing. The ring-shaped coil which includes a primary winding and a secondary winding wound on a ring iron core is mounted between the metal housing and lamp base, wherein the ring iron core further includes an inner space for accommodating plural electronic components connected with the secondary winding, and the ring-shaped coil is electrically connected with the illuminating element and metal base. And, the metal base is electrically connected to a power source, so that through a conduction of the metal base, the ring-shaped coil can acquire and transform electricity to provide to the illuminating element for operation. |
| US08044591B2 |
Fluorescent lamp and lighting unit
A fluorescent lamp can be configured to prevent a decrease in luminescent efficiency when located in a high temperature room. The fluorescent lamp can include a couple of stems each including an emitter electrode located opposite to each other at each end of a tube, a filler gas located in the tube, a damping material and a coolest portion connected to the tube via the stem and the damping material. The coolest portion can be configured with a first material that has a higher thermal conductivity than the conductivity of both the tube and the stems. The damping material can be configured with both the first material and a second material that has a lower conductivity than the conductivity of the first material. A content ratio of first material vs. second material can change along a length of the damping material. Thus, the coolest portion can maintain a favorable temperature and the fluorescent lamp can maintain a favorable luminescent efficiency even when in a sealed casing. |
| US08044590B2 |
Plasma display panel
To provide a plasma display panel of improving a discharge time-lag.A plasma display panel of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a pair of substrate assemblies opposed to each other sandwiching discharge spaces formed to seal a discharge gas therein, wherein one of the pair of substrate assemblies comprises: display electrodes arranged on a substrate; a dielectric layer for covering the display electrodes; and a protective layer for covering the dielectric layer, and the protective layer is configured so that a plurality of MgO single crystals are adhered to an MgO film in such a manner that crystal orientations of the plurality of MgO single crystals are aligned in one direction. |
| US08044589B2 |
Plasma display device having a filter comprising an external light shielding sheet
A plasma display apparatus may include an external light shielding sheet attached to a front of a panel to absorb and shield externally incident light. Accordingly, a black image can be implemented close to an original color and bright and dark room contrast can be improved. Furthermore, thickness of the external light shielding sheet and height of a pattern unit have a given ratio in order to properly secure an aperture ratio of the external light shielding sheet. Accordingly, light emitted into the panel can transmit toward a user side. |
| US08044588B2 |
Display device and method of fabricating the display device
In an EL element having an anode, an insulating film (bump) formed on the anode, and an EL film and a cathode formed on the insulating film, each of a bottom end portion and a top end portion of the insulating film is formed so as to have a curved surface. The taper angle of a central portion of the insulating film is set within the range from 35° to 70°, thereby preventing the gradient of the film forming surface on which the EL film and the cathode are to be formed from being abruptly changed. On the thus-formed film forming surface, the EL film and the cathode can be formed so as to be uniform in thickness, so that occurrence of discontinuity in each of EL film and the cathode is prevented. |
| US08044586B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device including a bezel for protecting an organic light emitting display panel. The organic light emitting display device has a display panel including a first substrate, on which a pixel array having at least one organic light emitting diode is formed, a second substrate for encapsulating a pixel region of the first substrate, and an encapsulating material formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The device further includes a bezel for receiving the display panel. The bezel accommodates the display panel and includes a lower plate with a waved surface and a sidewall extending from edges of the lower surface. |
| US08044584B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device and method for manufacturing the same
An organic electroluminescent device includes a substrate, an encapsulation substrate, an organic electroluminescent portion interposed between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate and a transparent moisture absorption layer. The transparent moisture absorption layer comprises at least one of a metal oxide and a metal salt with an average particle diameter of about 100 nm or less, a binder, and a dispersant. The transparent moisture absorption layer may be disposed in an internal space provided by the substrate and the encapsulation substrate and may be used in a front emission type organic electroluminescent device. |
| US08044576B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method of fabricating the same
An organic light emitting display (OLED) and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The OLED includes a substrate and a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate. A first inorganic passivation layer is disposed on the thin film transistor. A second inorganic passivation layer whose hydrogen content is higher than that of the first inorganic passivation layer is formed on the first inorganic passivation layer. A pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor is disposed on the second inorganic passivation layer. |
| US08044572B2 |
Light conversion structure and light-emitting device using the same
A light conversion structure ensuring good light transmission and less deterioration and capable of controlling light to a desired color tone and emitting a highly bright light, and a light-emitting device using the same. The light conversion structure is a light conversion structure including a layer formed of a ceramic composite, which absorbs a part of a first light to emit a second light and transmits a part of the first light, and a fluorescent layer for the control of color tone, which is formed on the surface of the ceramic composite and which absorbs a part of the first light or a part of the second light to emit a third light and transmits a part of the first light or a part of the second light, wherein the ceramic composite includes a solidified body where at least two or more metal oxide phases are formed continuously and three-dimensionally entangled with each other, and at least one metal oxide phase in the solidified body includes a metal element oxide capable of emitting fluorescence. |
| US08044568B2 |
Light emitter substrate with different gaps between metal backs and image displaying apparatus using the same
To provide a light emitter substrate which is characterized in that discharge current reduction performance is excellent, plural phosphors are arranged in an X direction and a Y direction on a substrate, metal backs are arranged on the phosphors, ribs extending in the Y direction are arranged between the phosphors adjacent in the X direction, first resistors to electrically connect the metal backs adjacent in the Y direction are formed on the ribs respectively, and second resistors to electrically connect the metal backs adjacent in the X direction are formed under the ribs respectively. |
| US08044566B2 |
Fluorescent mixture for fluorescent lamp, fluorescent lamp, backlight assembly having the same and display device having the same
A fluorescent lamp includes a lamp body, a fluorescent layer and a discharge electrode. The lamp body has a discharge space in which ultraviolet light is generated. The fluorescent layer is formed on an inner surface of the lamp body to change the ultraviolet light into visible light. The discharge electrode is on an end portion of the lamp body to apply a voltage to the discharge space. A ratio of intensities of the visible light at wavelengths of about 545 nm and about 516 nm is about 1.32:1 to about 1.71:1. Therefore, color reproducibility and luminance may be improved. |
| US08044563B2 |
Light emitting unit and conductive device thereof
A light-emitting unit includes a light-emitting component, a conductive device and a power source. The light-emitting component includes at least one end. The conductive device includes a tubular body having an opening and detachably telescoped to the end of the light-emitting component, and at least one abutting portion protruding toward the light-emitting component for abutting against the light-emitting component. The conductive device is utilized to excite the light-emitting component to emit lights via the power source. |
| US08044561B2 |
Ceramic electrode, ignition device therewith and methods of construction thereof
A spark plug, a center electrode therefore and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator extending between a terminal end and a nose end. A conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the ceramic insulator and a ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface is operatively attached to the shell. An elongate center electrode has a body extending between opposite ends, wherein the body is compacted and sintered of a conductive or semi-conductive ceramic material. One of the electrode ends provides a center electrode sparking surface to provide a spark gap between the center electrode sparking surface and the ground electrode sparking surface. |
| US08044560B2 |
Sparkplug with precision gap
The invention is a spark plug having multiple precise spark gaps (G} with a donut shaped electrode (20) attached to the firing end of the central electrode (32), as well as a cylindrical ground sleeve (40) that is pressed on to the primary shell (36) of the spark plug. The electrode donut (20) is generally flat and laded out in a radial direction towards the ground prongs (42) that protrude up towards the firing end from the ground sleeve (40). In conjunction with their structure, allow for the generation of a spark from every single ground prong (42) on the ground sleeve (40). This is spark potential area (G). Such multiple spark potential area along with the electrode donut (20) and ground sleeve (40) relation provides a more rapid and complete combustion of the air-fuel mixture within the internal combustion engine, which, in turn, results in more torque and more horse power. |
| US08044558B2 |
Dimmable high pressure arc lamp apparatus and methods
A dimmable arc lamp assembly comprises a lamp enclosure comprising a chamber enclosing a light-emitting material, first and second electrodes extending into the chamber of the lamp enclosure, and a heating element proximate the chamber configured to heat at least a portion of the lamp enclosure to a temperature greater than the boiling point of the light-emitting material such that the light-emitting material remains in a gaseous state. Because the light-emitting material remains above its boiling point during lamp operation, dimming is not susceptible to control issues that can result from condensation of the light-producing material. Such lamps may be used in various applications such as in flat panel displays. |
| US08044555B2 |
Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus comprises: an electromechanical conversion element that expands and contracts in an extending direction of a given fiducial line; a driving shaft mounted on one end of the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction; a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving shaft; a holder that supports the electromechanical conversion element from lateral sides with respect to extending direction; and an urging member that urges the electromechanical conversion element in the extending direction. |
| US08044552B2 |
Actuator driving system in which a drive voltage and number of electrodes parts driven changes in accordance with temperature
An actuator of the present invention includes a moving part, and a driving electrode which is comprised of electrode parts electrically isolated from each other and drives the moving part. A drive voltage is applied selectively to some of the electrode parts to control an electrostatic force which acts on the moving part. |
| US08044550B2 |
Roebel bar for rotating electrical machines
A Roebel bar for a rotating electrical machine includes a straight slot part disposed in a slot in an iron sheet of a stator of the rotating electrical machine and a bent yoke part adjacent to the straight slot part and protruding from the stator, wherein the bent yoke part is configured to connect the Roebel bar to at least one more Roebel bar so as to form a winding. A copper conductor disposed in the straight slot part and the bent yoke part is surrounded by an insulation having an outer surface. A slot corona shielding includes an electrically conductive layer disposed on the outer surface of the insulation in an area of the straight slot part. A yoke corona shielding includes a semiconducting layer disposed on the outer surface of the insulation in an area of the bent yoke part. |
| US08044547B2 |
Radial-direction gap type magnet motor
In a radial-direction gap type magnet motor, when an energy density increases, a direction change Mθ/φp of a static magnetic field with respect to a mechanic angle between different poles increases in an exponential manner and thus to decrease a cogging torque of the motor is not compatible to increase a torque density. In order to solve the problem, assuming that φt denotes a mechanic angle of a stator iron core teeth, φp denotes a mechanical angle of a magnetic pole, and Mθ denotes an angle of a static magnetic field with respect to a circumferential tangential line of a radial magnetic pole center, a radial-direction type magnet motor in which φt<φp, Mθ in a magnetic pole center region is 75 to 90°, and Mθ/φp≦7 is satisfied in the magnetic pole end region of φp×0.1°, and further, a static magnetic field generating source is configured as a magnetic anisotropic magnetic pole having an energy density (BH) max≧150 kJ/m3 is provided. |
| US08044540B2 |
Systems and methods for a SPDT switch or SPMT switch with transformer
A SPDT or SPMT switch may include a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, where a first end of the secondary winding is connected to a single pole port, where a first end of the primary winding is connected to a first throw port; a first switch having a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to ground; and a second switch, where a second end of the secondary winding is connected to both a second end of the first switch and a first end of the second switch, where a second end of the second switch is connected to a second throw port, where the first switch controls a first communication path between the single pole port and the first throw port, and where the second switch controls a second communication path between the second throw port and the single pole port. |
| US08044537B2 |
Modular HVDC converter
A modular HVDC converter system including a high voltage direct current network, and at least two DC/AC converters being connected in series to the HVDC network. Each of the DC/AC converters is arranged to provide AC to a separate AC load. |
| US08044535B2 |
Backup power system
A power backup processor and a method of operating the power backup processor suitable for a single-phase AC power supply and with a higher efficiency, at least when the critical load is fed with the single-phase AC power supply, while having a high availability and quality of voltage supply. This can avoid the drawbacks related to high DC voltages. |
| US08044532B2 |
Wiring arrangement for a vehicle
A motorcycle includes a main switch, a main switch wiring connected to the main switch and extending downward from the main switch, and a headlight stay for supporting a headlight part provided in a vicinity of a lower part of the main switch as seen from a side of the vehicle. The motorcycle is constructed so that the main switch wiring extending downward from the main switch is disposed in an inside, concave portion of the headlight stay. |
| US08044529B2 |
Method of damping tower vibrations of a wind turbine and control system for wind turbines
A control system for a wind turbine is provided. A pitch-control unit establishes a pitch-reference signal representing a pitch to be set by the pitch-actuator system. A rotor-speed input receives a signal representing a speed of the rotor. A speed-reference input receives a speed-reference signal for the rotor speed. An inclination-signal input receives a signal representing a tower inclination. A pitch-reference output outputs the pitch reference signal. A modification unit is connected to the speed-reference input to receive the speed-reference signal and connected to the inclination-signal input to receive the inclination signal. The modification unit establishes a modification signal based on the inclination signal, to modify the speed-reference signal via the modification signal, and to output a modified-speed-reference signal. The pitch-control unit connected to the modification unit to receive the modified-speed-reference signal and establish the pitch-reference value at least based on the difference between the modified-speed-reference and the rotor-speed signals. |
| US08044526B2 |
Integrated circuit assemblies with alignment features and devices and methods related thereto
A method of packaging an integrated circuit die including forming a mask window having a first aperture with a first set of alignment edges and forming an alignment feature on an uppermost surface of the integrated circuit die where the alignment feature has a second set of alignment edges. The alignment feature is inserted into the first aperture. The integrated circuit die is mechanically biased until the first and second set of alignment edges are in physical contact with one another and the alignment feature is secured into the mask window, thus forming an integrated circuit die assembly. |
| US08044520B2 |
Semiconductor device
A power supply capable of reducing loss of large current and high frequency. In an MCM for power supply in which a high-side power MOSFET chip, a low-side power MOSFET chip and a driver IC chip driving them are sealed in one sealing material (a capsulating insulation resin), a wiring length of a wiring DL connecting an output terminal of the driver IC chip to a gate terminal of the low-side power MOSFET chip or a source terminal is made shorter than a wiring length of a wiring DH connecting the output terminal of the driver IC chip to a gate terminal of the high-side power MOSFET chip or a source terminal. Further, the number of the wiring DL is made larger than the number of the wiring DH. |
| US08044517B2 |
Electronic component comprising predominantly organic functional materials and a method for the production thereof
An electronic component comprises a plurality of layers at least two of which comprise predominantly organic functional materials with improved through-plating through certain of the layers. The through-plating is formed in one embodiment by a disruption element on a first lower layer which results in a void in the subsequently applied layers, which void is filled with a material which may be conductive to form the through plating. In a second embodiment, the through plating is formed on the first lower layer prior to the subsequent application of the other layers, in the form of a free-standing truncated frusto-conical raised portion, and forms a disruption or non-welting element for the subsequently applied other layers, formed on the first lower layer and which are engaged with and surround the through plating after their application. |
| US08044516B2 |
Semiconductor package with a reduced volume and thickness and capable of high speed operation and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip provided with a bonding pad disposed over a surface thereof; a through electrode passing from the surface to a second surface opposing the first surface and connected electrically with the bonding pad; and a redistribution disposed at the second surface and connected electrically with the through electrode. An embodiment of the present invention is capable of significantly reducing the thickness and volume of the semiconductor package. It is also capable of high speed operation since the path of the signal inputted and/or outputted from the semiconductor package is shortened. It is capable of stacking easily at least two semiconductor packages having a wafer level, and it is capable of significantly reducing parasitic capacitance. |
| US08044513B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first MOS transistors has a first gate electrode formed on a first gate insulating film provided in a first transistor region on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of second MOS transistors has a second gate electrode formed on a second gate insulating film which is provided in a second transistor region on the semiconductor substrate and which is smaller in thickness than the first gate insulating film, a first element isolation region in the first transistor region, the first element isolation region provided between the plurality of first MOS transistors, and a second element isolation region in the second transistor region, the second element isolation region provided between the plurality of second MOS transistors. The upper surface of the second element isolation region is lower than the upper surface of the first element isolation region. |
| US08044512B2 |
Electrical property altering, planar member with solder element in IC chip package
A structure includes a solder element for electrically coupling a substrate of an integrated circuit (IC) chip package and a printed circuit board (PCB); and a first electrical property altering, substantially planar member positioned between the solder element and at least one of a landing pad of the substrate and a landing pad of the PCB. In another embodiment, the electrical property altering, planar member can be applied to the solder element(s) between the IC chip and the package substrate. |
| US08044511B2 |
Function element and function element mounting structure
The semiconductor device is manufactured by forming a lower electrode layer 2 having a predetermined pattern on a semiconductor substrate 1 and forming an upper electrode layer 3 on a part of the top surface of the lower electrode layer 2, while holes 2X extending in the direction of thickness are formed on the top surface of the lower electrode layer 2 below the upper electrode layer 3, and the depth of holes 2X is smaller than the thickness of the lower electrode layer 2. |
| US08044508B2 |
Method and apparatus for integrated-circuit battery devices
A combined battery and device apparatus and associated method. This apparatus includes a first conductive layer, a battery comprising a cathode layer; an anode layer, and an electrolyte layer located between and electrically isolating the anode layer from the cathode layer, wherein the anode or the cathode or both include an intercalation material, the battery disposed such that either the cathode layer or the anode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, and an electrical circuit adjacent face-to-face to and electrically connected to the battery. Some embodiments further include a photovoltaic cell and/or thin-film capacitor. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a polymer having a melting point substantially below 700 degrees centigrade. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a glass. For example, some embodiments include a battery deposited directly on the back of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) device. |
| US08044507B2 |
Sealing apparatus for semiconductor wafer, mold of sealing apparatus, and semiconductor wafer
A sealing apparatus for sealing by resin a semiconductor wafer having semiconductor elements on its surface. The apparatus includes an upper mold and a tower mold having an area where the semiconductor wafer is mounted, the lower mold having an uneven surface in the area and a shock absorber under the lower mold. |
| US08044502B2 |
Composite contact for fine pitch electrical interconnect assembly
An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of composite contacts are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The composite contacts include a conductive member having a central portion and at least first and second interface portions. One or more polymeric layers extend along at least the central portion conductive member. One or more coupling features on the composite contacts engage with the housing. At least one engagement feature formed in the polymeric layers proximate the first interface portion mechanically couples with the terminals on the first circuit member. |
| US08044500B2 |
Power module substrate, method for manufacturing power module substrate, and power module
Disclosed is a power module having improved joint reliability. Specifically disclosed is a power module including a power module substrate wherein a circuit layer is brazed on the front surface of a ceramic substrate, a metal layer is brazed on the rear surface of the ceramic substrate and a semiconductor chip is soldered to the circuit layer. The metal layer is composed of an Al alloy having an average purity of not less than 98.0 wt. % but not more than 99.9 wt. % as a whole. In this metal layer, the Fe concentration in the side of a surface brazed with the ceramic substrate is set at less than 0.1 wt. %, and the Fe concentration in the side of a surface opposite to the brazed surface is set at not less than 0.1 wt. %. |
| US08044498B2 |
Interposer, semiconductor chip mounted sub-board, and semiconductor package
A semiconductor device can be manufactured with a high non-defect ratio, making it possible to easily guarantee the KGD (Known-Good-Die) of semiconductor chips, when configuring one packaged semiconductor device on which a plurality of semiconductor chips is mounted. Utilizing each semiconductor chip is made possible without limits on terminal position, pitch, signal arrangement, and so on.Protrusions provided to a semiconductor chip mounted sealing sub-board are attached to a package substrate. A plurality of semiconductor bare chips is disposed in a space formed between the semiconductor chip mounted sealing sub-board and the package substrate, making wiring possible. |
| US08044490B2 |
Semiconductor device including fuse
Provided is a semiconductor device including a fuse, in which a insulating layer surrounding the fuse or metal wiring is prevented from being damaged due to the cut of a fuse, which can occur when a repair process is performed. The semiconductor device includes a conductive line formed on a semiconductor layer, a protective layer formed on the conductive line, one or more fuses that are electrically connected to the conductive line, and a fuse protective layer formed on the one or more fuses, and spaced apart from the protective layer. |
| US08044488B2 |
Semiconductor device having particular impurity density characteristics
The invention is based upon a semiconductor device where a high voltage bipolar transistor is manufactured on the same wafer with a high-speed bipolar transistor, and has a characteristic that the high-speed bipolar transistor and the high voltage bipolar transistor are formed on each epitaxial collector layer having the same thickness and are provided with a buried collector region formed in the same process and having the same impurity profile, the buried collector region exists immediately under a base of the high-speed bipolar transistor, no buried collector region and no SIC region exist immediately under a base of the high voltage bipolar transistor and distance between a base region and a collector plug region of the high voltage bipolar transistor is equal to or is longer than the similar distance of the high-speed bipolar transistor. |
| US08044484B2 |
Ultraviolet detecting device and manufacturing method thereof, and ultraviolet quantity measuring apparatus
The present invention provides an ultraviolet detecting device which comprises a silicon semiconductor layer having a thickness ranging from greater than or equal to 3 nm to less than or equal to 36 nm, which is formed over an insulating layer, lateral PN-junction type first and second photodiodes formed in the silicon semiconductor layer, an interlayer insulating film formed over the silicon semiconductor layer, a first filter layer made of silicon nitride, which is formed over the interlayer insulating film provided over the first photodiode and causes light lying in a wavelength range of an UV-B wave or higher to pass therethrough, and a second filter layer made of silicon nitride, which is formed over the interlayer insulating film provided over the second photodiode and allows light lying in a wavelength range of an UV-A wave or higher to pass therethrough. |
| US08044483B2 |
Photo detector and optically interconnected LSI
A photo detector having an electrically conductive thin film and a light-receiving unit. A coupling periodic structure is provided on a surface of the film and converts incidence light to surface plasmon. The coupling periodic structure has an opening that penetrates the obverse and reverse surfaces of the thin film. The light-receiving unit is provided at one end of the opening in the surface that is opposite to the surface on which the coupling periodic structure is provided. The opening is shaped like a slit and is broader than half (½) the wavelength of the surface plasmon in a direction that intersects at right angles with a polarization direction of the incidence light and is narrower than half (½) the wavelength of the surface plasmon in a direction parallel to the polarization direction. |
| US08044479B2 |
Transistors, semiconductor devices, assemblies and constructions
Embodiments disclosed herein include methods in which a pair of openings are formed into semiconductor material, with the openings being spaced from one another by a segment of the semiconductor material. Liners are formed along sidewalls of the openings, and then semiconductor material is isotropically etched from bottoms of the openings to merge the openings and thereby completely undercut the segment of semiconductor material. Embodiments disclosed herein may be utilized in forming SOI constructions, and in forming field effect transistors having transistor gates entirely surrounding channel regions. Embodiments disclosed herein also include semiconductor constructions having transistor gates surrounding channel regions, as well as constructions in which insulative material entirely separates an upper semiconductor material from a lower semiconductor material. |
| US08044478B2 |
Image sensor comprising a photodiode in a crystalline semiconductor layer and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor can include a readout circuitry on a first substrate. An interlayer dielectric is formed on the first substrate, and comprises a lower line therein. A crystalline semiconductor layer is bonded to the interlayer dielectric. A photodiode can be formed in the crystalline semiconductor layer, and comprises a first impurity region and a second impurity region. A via hole can be formed passing through the crystalline semiconductor layer and the interlayer dielectric to expose the lower line. A plug is formed inside the first via hole to connect with only the lower line and the first impurity region. A device isolation region can be formed in the crystalline semiconductor layer to separate the photodiode according to unit pixel. |
| US08044477B1 |
Photovoltaic device and method for making
One aspect of the present invention provides a device that includes a substrate; a first semiconducting layer; a transparent conductive layer; a transparent window layer. The transparent window layer includes cadmium sulfide and oxygen. The device has a fill factor of greater than about 0.65. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of making the device. |
| US08044476B2 |
Wide range radiation detector and manufacturing method
A radiation detector comprising a II-VI compound semiconductor substrate that absorbs radiation having a first energy, a II-VI compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type provided on a main surface of the II-VI compound semiconductor substrate, a metal layer containing at least one of a group III element and a group V element provided on the II-VI compound semiconductor layer, a IV semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type provided on the metal layer, and a IV semiconductor substrate that absorbs radiation having a second energy different from the first energy provided on the IV semiconductor layer. |
| US08044474B2 |
Optoelectronic module, and method for the production thereof
An optoelectronic module having a carrier element, at least one semiconductor component for emitting or detecting electromagnetic radiation, said semiconductor component being applied on the carrier element and being electrically conductively connected and having a radiation coupling area, and also at least one optical device assigned to the semiconductor component. A connecting layer made of a radiation-transmissive, deformable material is arranged between the radiation coupling area and the optical device, the optical device and the semiconductor component being fixed relative to one another in such a way that they are pressed against one another and that the connecting layer is thereby squeezed in such a way that it generates a force that strives to press the optical device and the radiation coupling area apart. |
| US08044472B2 |
Nanotube and graphene semiconductor structures with varying electrical properties
Nanotube and graphene transducers are disclosed. A transducer according to the present invention can include a substrate, a plurality of semiconductive structures, one or more metal pads, and a circuit. The semiconductive structures can be nanotubes or graphene located entirely on a surface of the substrate, such that each of the semiconductive structures is supported along its entire length by the substrate. An electrical property of the semiconductive structures can change when a force is applied to the substrate. The metal pads can secure at least one of the semiconductive structures to the substrate. The circuit can be coupled to at least some of the semiconductive structures to provide an output responsive to the change in the electrical property of the semiconductive structures, so as to indicate the applied force. |
| US08044471B2 |
MOSFET having a channel mechanically stressed by an epitaxially grown, high K strain layer
A transistor, such a MOSFET, having an epitaxially grown strain layer disposed over a channel region of a substrate for stressing the channel region to increase the carrier mobility in the channel, and method for making same. The strain layer is composed of a high dielectric constant material. |
| US08044470B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a semiconductor device including a transistor that has a silicide layer formed over a semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode of each transistor is composed of a polysilicon electrode and the silicide layer formed thereon. Each transistor further has source/drain impurity-diffused layers composed of low-concentration doped regions and high-concentration doped regions, and silicide layers formed over the source/drain impurity-diffused layers. The surface of each silicide layer is positioned above the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The silicide layers contain a silicidation-suppressive metal, and have a concentration profile of the silicidation-suppressive metal over a region of the silicide layers ranging from the surface to a predetermined depth, such as increasing the concentration from the surface of each silicide layer in the depth-wise direction of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08044468B2 |
Semiconductor device
The present invention enhances voltage conversion efficiency of a semiconductor device. In a non-isolated DC-DC converter that includes a high-side switch power MOSFET and a low-side switch power MOSFET, which are series-connected, the high-side switch power MOSFET and driver circuits for driving the high-side and low-side switch power MOSFETs are formed within one semiconductor chip, whereas the low-side switch power MOSFET is formed in another semiconductor chip. The two semiconductor chips are sealed in a single package. |
| US08044467B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device with reduced contact resistance between a substrate and a plug includes a gate electrode disposed over the substrate, the plug formed over the substrate at both sides of the gate electrode and having a sidewall with a positive slope, a capping layer disposed between the gate electrode and the plug, and a gate hard mask layer whose sidewall disposed over the gate electrode is extended to a top surface of the capping layer. By employing the capping layer having a sidewall with a negative slope, the plug having the sidewall with a positive slope can be formed regardless of a shape or profile of the sidewall of the gate electrode. As a result, the contact area between the substrate and the plug is increased. |
| US08044464B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to realize high performance and low power consumption in a semiconductor device having an SOI structure. In addition, another object is to provide a semiconductor device having a high performance semiconductor element which is more highly integrated. A semiconductor device is such that a plurality of n-channel field-effect transistors and p-channel field-effect transistors are stacked with an interlayer insulating layer interposed therebetween over a substrate having an insulating surface. By controlling a distortion caused to a semiconductor layer due to an insulating film having a stress, a plane orientation of the semiconductor layer, and a crystal axis in a channel length direction, difference in mobility between the n-channel field-effect transistor and the p-channel field-effect transistor can be reduced, whereby current driving capabilities and response speeds of the n-channel field-effect transistor and the p-channel field-effect can be comparable. |
| US08044462B2 |
Process for manufacturing a power device on a semiconductor substrate and corresponding device
An electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a drain layer adjacent the semiconductor substrate and having a plurality of drains. The drain layer includes a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type adjacent the semiconductor substrate, and at least one second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type adjacent the first semiconductor layer. Moreover, a plurality of first column regions of the first conductivity type extends through the at least one second semiconductor layer to contact the first semiconductor layer. A plurality of second column regions of the second conductivity type delimits the plurality of first column regions. Furthermore, a plurality of body regions of the second conductivity type are adjacent respective ones of the plurality of second column regions. |
| US08044459B2 |
Semiconductor device with trench field plate including first and second semiconductor materials
In one embodiment, a field effect transistor has a semiconductor body, a drift region of a first conductivity type and a gate electrode. At least one trench extends into the drift region. A field plate is arranged at least in a portion of the at least one trench. A dielectric material at least partially surrounds both the gate electrode and the field plate. The field plate includes a first semiconducting material. |
| US08044457B2 |
Transient over-voltage clamp
In various embodiments, the invention relates to semiconductor structures, such as planar MOS structures, suitable as voltage clamp devices. Additional doped regions formed in the structures may improve over-voltage protection characteristics. |
| US08044455B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A step is provided between a substrate surface of a select gate and a substrate surface of a memory gate. When the substrate surface of the select gate is lower than the substrate surface of the memory gate, electrons in a channel upon writing obliquely flow in the step portion. Even if the electrons obtain the energy required for passing a barrier during the oblique flow, the electron injection does not occur because electrons are away from the substrate surface. The injection can occur only on a drain region side from a position where the electrons reach the substrate surface. As a result, the injection of the electrons into a gap region is suppressed, so that the electron distribution comes close to the hole distribution. Therefore, variation in a threshold value upon information retention is suppressed, and information-retaining characteristics of a memory cell are improved. |
| US08044454B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device having a SONOS structure and a manufacturing method thereof, where a conductive layer is formed between a charge trap layer and a blocking insulation layer of the SONOS structure. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to a gate, the conductive layer undergoes voltage distributions. Accordingly, a desired voltage can be applied to the blocking insulation layer, the charge trap layer and the tunnel insulating layer by controlling the effective oxide thickness (EOT) of the blocking insulation layer and the EOT of the charge trap layer and the tunnel insulating layer. It is therefore possible to improve the erase speed of a cell. |
| US08044451B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device having notched gate MOSFET
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a cell transistor formed on a cell array area of a semiconductor substrate employs a structure in which an electrode in the shape of spacers is used to form a gate and a multi-bit operation is possible using localized bits, and transistors having structures optimized to satisfy different requirements depending upon functions of the transistors can be formed on a peripheral circuit area which is the residual area of the semiconductor substrate. In this method, a cell transistor is formed on the cell array area. The cell transistor includes a notch gate structure, a first channel region formed on a semiconductor substrate under the notch gate structure, a source region and a drain region formed on both sides of the first channel region, a first gate insulation film formed between the first channel region and the notch gate structure, and a memory layer locally formed on areas adjacent to the source and drain regions between the first channel region and the notch gate structure. At the same time that the cell transistor is formed, a plurality of peripheral circuit transistors including at least one transistor having a different structure from the cell transistor are formed on the peripheral circuit area. |
| US08044450B2 |
Semiconductor device with a non-volatile memory and resistor
A semiconductor device comprising a resistance element with a high resistance and high resistance accuracy and a non-volatile semiconductor storage element is rationally realized by comprising the non-volatile semiconductor storage element comprising a first isolation formed to isolate a first semiconductor area, a first insulator, and a first electrode in a self-aligned manner, and a second electrode, and the resistance element comprising a second isolation formed to isolate a second semiconductor area, a third insulator and a conductor layer in a self-aligned manner, and third and fourth electrodes formed on each end of the conductor layer via a fourth insulator, and connected with the conductor layer. The conductor layer or the third and fourth electrodes include the same material with the first or second electrode, respectively. |
| US08044448B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array region having memory cells connected in series; a control circuit region disposed below the memory cell array region; and an interconnection portion electrically connecting the control circuit region and the memory cell array region. The memory cell array region includes: a plurality of first memory cell regions having the memory cells; and a plurality of connection regions. The interconnection portion is provided in the connection regions. The first memory cell regions are provided at a first pitch in a first direction orthogonal to a lamination direction of the memory cell array region and the control circuit region. The connection regions are provided between the first memory cell regions mutually adjacent in the first direction, and at a second pitch in a second direction orthogonal to the lamination direction and the first direction. |
| US08044442B2 |
Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) switching devices
A gated nano-electro-mechanical (NEM) switch employing metal-insulator-metal (MIM) technology and related devices and methods which can facilitate implementation of low-power, radiation-hardened, high-temperature electronic devices and circuits. In one example embodiment a gate electrode is configured as a cantilever beam whose free end is coupled to a MIM stack. The stack moves into bridging contact across a source and drain region when the applied gate voltage generates a sufficient electrostatic force to overcome the mechanical biasing of the cantilever beam. A second set of contacts can be added on the cantilever beam to form a complementary switching structure, or to a separate cantilever beam. The switching can be configured as non-volatile in response to stiction forces. NEM circuits provide a number of advantages within a variety of circuit types, including but not limited to: logic, memory, sleep circuits, pass circuits, and so forth. |
| US08044437B1 |
Integrated circuit cell architecture configurable for memory or logic elements
An improved integrated circuit cell architecture is provided for configurability between a memory cell or logic elements. The cell architecture is configured on variable layers above a first layer of metal, with the first layer of metal and layers therebelow reserved as fixed layers. By coupling a maximum of two layout cells together, a single-port or dual-port memory cell is realized. Likewise, by interconnecting transistors within a single cell or transistors among two or more cells, a logic device is realized. Within each cell, the bit lines are arranged on a layer separate from the wordlines, and extend orthogonal to each other. |
| US08044431B2 |
Microdisplay packaging system
Some embodiments provide a microdisplay integrated circuit (IC), a substantially transparent protective cover coupled to the microdisplay IC, and a base coupled to the microdisplay IC. Thermal expansion characteristics of the base may be substantially similar to thermal expansion characteristics of the protective cover. According to some embodiments, at least one set of imaging elements is fabricated on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a base is affixed to a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate to generate substantially negligible mechanical stress between the semiconductor substrate and the base. |
| US08044428B2 |
Package and semiconductor device for preventing occurrence of false connection
A package has a base substrate that is a metal plate electrically connected to one electrode of a UV-ray light emitting diode and a cover substrate that is a metal plate electrically connected to the other electrode and that is stacked on the base substrate. A plurality of packages are mounted on a header such that center lines of the base substrates extending in their widthwise directions are aligned to each other. The cover substrates are arranged asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center line of the base substrates so as to traverse the center line. When mounted on the header, the packages are arranged such that positions of the cover substrates are staggered with respect to the center line. Moreover, the base substrate of one of the adjacent packages and the cover substrate of the other adjacent package are connected together by a connection plate fastened to the base substrates and the cover substrate by connection screws. |
| US08044425B2 |
Ultra-thin ohmic contacts for p-type nitride light emitting devices
A semiconductor based Light Emitting Device (LED) can include a p-type nitride layer and a metal ohmic contact, on the p-type nitride layer. The metal ohmic contact can have an average thickness of less than about 25 Å and a specific contact resistivity less than about 10−3 ohm-cm2. |
| US08044424B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device of the present invention includes: a LED chip 10; a chip mounting member 70 having a conductive plate (heat transfer plate) 71 one surface side of which the LED chip 10 is mounted on and a conductor patterns 73, 73 which is formed on the one surface side of the conductive plate 71 through an insulating part 72 and electrically connected to the LED chip 10; and a sheet-shaped connecting member 80 disposed on the other surface side of the conductive plate 71 to connect the conductive plate 71 to a body of the luminaire 90 which is a metal member for holding the chip mounting member 70. The connecting member 80 is made of a resin sheet which includes a filler and whose viscosity is reduced by heating, and the connecting member 80 has an electrical insulating property and thermally connects the conductive plate 71 and the body 90 of the luminaire to each other. |
| US08044422B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting devices with a substrate having a plurality of bumps
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate having an upper surface and a plurality of bumps positioned on the upper surface, a first conductive type semiconductor layer positioned on the substrate, a light-emitting structure positioned on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer positioned on the light-emitting structure. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the bumps has a top plane substantially parallel to the upper surface, the first conductive type semiconductor layer has a plurality of protrusions each facing a portion of the substrate between the bumps, and the protrusions are spaced apart from the bumps. |
| US08044418B2 |
Leadframe-based packages for solid state light emitting devices
A modular package for a light emitting device includes a leadframe including a first region having a top surface, a bottom surface and a first thickness and a second region having a top surface, a bottom surface and a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. The leadframe further includes an electrical lead extending laterally away from the second region, and the package further includes a thermoset package body on the leadframe and surrounding the first region. The thermoset package body may be on both the top and bottom surfaces of the second region. A leak barrier may be on the leadframe, and the package body may be on the leak barrier. Methods of forming modular packages including thermoset package bodies on leadframes are also disclosed. |
| US08044417B2 |
Enhancement of optical polarization of nitride light-emitting diodes by increased indium incorporation
An increase in the Indium (In) content in light-emitting layers of light-emitting diode (LED) structures prepared on nonpolar III-nitride substrates result in higher polarization ratios for light emission than LED structures containing lesser In content. Polarization ratios should be higher than 0.7 at wavelengths longer than 470 nm. |
| US08044415B2 |
Lighting structure comprising at least one light-emitting diode, method for making same and uses thereof
A luminous structure based on light-emitting diodes, which includes: a first dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a first electrode; a second dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a second electrode that faces the first electrode and lies in a different plane; at least a first light-emitting diode including a semiconductor chip including, on first and second opposed faces, first and second electrical contacts, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrical contact being electrically connected to the second electrode, and at least the first element at least partly transmitting radiation within the ultraviolet or in the visible. |
| US08044414B2 |
Semiconductor layered structure and its method of formation, and light emitting device
In formation of a quantum dot structure in a light emitting layer, a matrix region (an n-type conductive layer and matrix layers) is formed on a growth underlying layer of AlN whose abundance ratio of Al is higher (or whose lattice constant is smaller) than that in the matrix region by an MBE technique, thereby to realize conditions where compression stress is caused in an in-plane direction perpendicular to the direction of growth of the matrix region, and then to form island crystals by self-organization in the presence of this compression stress. The compression stress inhibits an increase in lattice constant caused by the reduced abundance ratio of Al in the matrix region, i.e., to compensate for a difference in lattice constant between the island crystals and the matrix region. The compression stress functions to enlarge compositional limits for formation of the island crystals by self-organization to the Ga-rich side. |
| US08044411B2 |
Light emitting device
The present invention provides a structure in which a pixel region 13 is surrounded by a first sealing material (having higher viscosity than a second sealing material) 16 including a spacer (filler, minute particles and/or the like) which maintains a gap between the two substrates, filled with a few drops of the transparent second sealing material 17a which is spread in the region; and sealed by using the first sealing material 16 and the second sealing material 17. |
| US08044410B2 |
White light-emitting diode and its light conversion layer
The present invention discloses a white light-emitting diode based on In—Ga—N nitride heterojunction is characterized by that the light-emitting diode has primary blue light emission of a specific wavelength and a light conversion layer so as to generate white light. Further, the present invention also discloses a light conversion layer and its fluorine oxygen garnet phosphor powder. |
| US08044409B2 |
III-nitride based semiconductor structure with multiple conductive tunneling layer
A semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a conductive carrier-tunneling layer over and contacting the substrate. The conductive carrier-tunneling layer includes first group-III nitride (III-nitride) layers having a first bandgap, wherein the first III-nitride layers have a thickness less than about 5 nm; and second III-nitride layers having a second bandgap lower than the first bandgap, wherein the first III-nitride layers and the second III-nitride layers are stacked in an alternating pattern. The semiconductor structure is free from a III-nitride layer between the substrate and the conductive carrier-tunneling layer. The semiconductor structure further includes an active layer over the conductive carrier-tunneling layer. |
| US08044399B2 |
Display device
A display has a glass substrate provided with a transparent conducting film, thin-film transistors, and an aluminum alloy wiring film electrically connecting the thin-film transistors to the transparent conducting film. The aluminum alloy wiring film is a layered structure having a first layer (X) of an aluminum alloy comprising at least one element selected from the specific element group Q including Ni and Ag, and at least one element selected from the specific element group R including rare-earth elements and Mg in a content in the specific range, and a second layer (Y) of an aluminum alloy containing having a resistivity lower than that of the first layer (X). The first layer (X) is in direct contact with the transparent conducting film. |
| US08044398B2 |
Display substrate
A display substrate includes an insulating substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT), a pixel electrode, a signal line and a pad part. The insulating substrate has a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region. The TFT is in the display region of the insulating substrate. The pixel electrode is in the display region of the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the TFT. The signal line is on the insulating substrate and extends from the peripheral region toward the display region. The pad part is in the peripheral region and electrically connects to the signal line. The pad part is formed in a trench of the insulating substrate and includes a region that extends into the insulating substrate. Therefore, the signal line may be securely attached to the insulating substrate. |
| US08044397B2 |
Semiconductor device having light emitting element, integrated circuit and adhesive layer
To realize a high-performance liquid crystal display device or light-emitting element using a plastic film. A CPU is formed over a first glass substrate and then, separated from the first substrate. A pixel portion having a light-emitting element is formed over a second glass substrate, and then, separated from the second substrate. The both are bonded to each other. Therefore, high integration can be achieved. Further, in this case, the separated layer including the CPU serves also as a sealing layer of the light-emitting element. |
| US08044396B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of designing the same
A semiconductor device includes a first wiring layer, a second wiring layer and an insulating layer provided between the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. A capacitor has a first electrode formed on the first wiring layer and a second electrode formed on the second wiring layer in such a manner that the second electrode overlaps with the first electrode. To the first electrode, two connection wirings are connected and, to the second electrode, two connection wirings are connected. The two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the first electrode. Similarly, the two connection wirings are connected to each other with low DC impedance substantially only through the second electrode. |
| US08044393B2 |
Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
A light emitting device is provided, which uses alternating current drive as a method of driving the light emitting device, and in which light emission is always obtained when voltages having different polarities are alternately applied, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device is also provided. A first light emitting element made from an anode, an organic compound layer, and a cathode, and a second electrode made from an anode, an organic compound layer, and a cathode are formed. The light emitting elements are formed sandwiching the same organic compound layer. The anode of the first light emitting element and the anode of the second light emitting element, and the cathode of the first light emitting element and the cathode of the second light emitting element, are formed on opposite sides of the organic compound layer, respectively, thus sandwiching the organic compound layer. Note that voltages having an inverse polarity are applied alternately by the alternating current drive, and therefore light can always be emitted by any one of the first light emitting element or the second light emitting element. |
| US08044392B2 |
Display device and method for manufacturing the same
A display device includes an insulating substrate; a plurality of gate wires formed on the insulating substrate, the plurality of gate wires including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer covering the plurality of gate wires; a transparent electrode layer formed on the gate insulating layer, the transparent electrode layer including a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed about the gate electrode and spaced apart from each other to define a channel region disposed therebetween; a plurality of data wires covering a predetermined portion of the transparent electrode layer and being crossed insulatedly with the plurality of gate wires to define pixels; and an organic semiconductor layer formed on the channel region for each pixel, a predetermined portion of the organic semiconductor layer being operatively connected with the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the gate electrode to form a transistor having an improved characteristic and a novel structure. |
| US08044389B2 |
Polymer electronic devices by all-solution process
A method of producing an electronic or electro-optic device, and the devices produced, includes producing a first electrode by a solution process, producing a second electrode by a solution process, and lamination an active polymer layer between the first and second electrodes. |
| US08044387B1 |
Semiconductor device built on plastic substrate
Disclosed are semiconductor memory devices containing a plastic substrate and at least one active device supported by the plastic substrate, the active device containing an organic semiconductor material. The semiconductor memory devices containing a plastic substrate may further contain a polymer dielectric and/or a conductive polymer. |
| US08044386B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and fabricating method thereof
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a first nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and including at least one barrier layer grown under hydrogen atmosphere of a high temperature; and a second nitride semi conductor layer formed on the active layer, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. According to the light emitting device and method of fabricating the same, the light power of the light emitting device is increased and the operation reliability is enhanced. |
| US08044385B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, a lower super lattice layer under the first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive super lattice layer on the active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the second conductive super lattice layer. |
| US08044382B2 |
Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device includes an n-type silicon thin film (2), a silicon thin film (3), and a p-type silicon thin film (4). The silicon thin film (3) is formed on the n-type silicon thin film (2) and the p-type silicon thin film (4) is formed on the silicon thin film (3). The n-type silicon thin film (2), the silicon thin film (3), and the p-type silicon thin film (4) form a pin junction. The n-type silicon thin film (2) includes a plurality of quantum dots (21) composed of n-type Si. The silicon thin film (3) includes a plurality of quantum dots (31) composed of p-type Si. The p-type silicon thin film (4) includes a plurality of quantum dots (41) composed of p-type Si. Electrons are injected from the n-type silicon thin film (2) side and holes are injected from the p-type silicon thin film (4) side, whereby light is emitted at a silicon nitride film (3). |
| US08044381B2 |
Light emitting diode (LED)
A light-emitting diode (LED) includes a p-type layer, an n-type layer, and an active layer arranged between the p-type layer and the n-type layer. The active layer includes at least one quantum well adjacent to at least one modulation-doped layer. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, at least one surface of the n-type layer or the p-type layer is texturized to form a textured surface facing the active layer. |
| US08044377B2 |
Shielded container
The present invention provides a radiation-shielding container for a radiopharmaceutical that may be magnetically picked and placed, assembled and dis-assembled. |
| US08044376B2 |
Devices and methods for protection against exposure to electromagnetic radiation
The present invention provides devices and methods that protect against exposure to remote sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). As such, the devices provide protection against a plurality of electrical equipment used in ordinary households and employment settings. The device includes a housing, a solenoid operably connected to a driver and a polymer. The solenoid generates incident radiation which results in the polymer emitting electromagnetic oscillations at frequencies that counter adverse effects associated with the subject's exposure to the electromagnetic radiation. |
| US08044372B2 |
Laser apparatus, laser irradiation method, semiconductor manufacturing method, semiconductor device, and electronic equipment
Continuous wave laser apparatus with enhanced processing efficiency is provided as well as a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the laser apparatus. The laser apparatus has: a laser oscillator; a unit for rotating a process object; a unit for moving the center of the rotation along a straight line; and an optical system for processing laser light that is outputted from the laser oscillator to irradiate with the laser light a certain region within the moving range of the process object. The laser apparatus is characterized in that the certain region is on a line extended from the straight line and that the position at which the certain region overlaps the process object is moved by rotating the process object while moving the center of the rotation along the straight line. |
| US08044371B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device and method for signal amplification of surface acoustic wave element
A surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) device including a SAW element, a first material, a luminescence material and a light source, and a method for signal amplification of a SAW element. The first material may be positioned on the SAW element and bound to a target material in a sample. The luminescence material may be bound to the target material. The light source may apply light to the luminescence material. The SAW device and the method for signal amplification of a SAW element using the same allow amplification of a signal of the SAW element by an electromagnetic wave generated when light is applied to the luminescence material. |
| US08044363B2 |
UV detection devices and methods
A portable UV detection apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the UV detection apparatus includes a UV detection device integrated with a skin type measuring device. A controller can be included in the apparatus that is in communication with the skin type measuring device and the UV detection device. The controller can provide information to the user regarding the amount of ultraviolet radiation present in the environment. In an alternative embodiment, the UV detection apparatus includes a UV detection device in conjunction with a light sensor. The light sensor can be configured to activate the UV detection device should light at a particular intensity be present in the environment. The UV detection device as described above can be configured to measure UVA radiation, UVB radiation, and/or UVC radiation. |
| US08044362B2 |
Array substrate for X-ray detector, method of manufacturing the same, X-ray detector having the same installed therein, and method of manufacturing X-ray detector
An x-ray detector including an array substrate including blocks extending along the array substrate in a first direction. Each of the blocks includes cells that are each associated with a data line extending in parallel with the first direction and a gate line extending perpendicularly to the first direction such that the data line crosses the gate line, a thin film transistor respectively connected to the gate and data lines, and a photodiode connected to the thin film transistor to receive light. The cells store charges corresponding to an amount of the light. Gate drivers are connected to ends of the gate lines to select rows of the cells associated with each of the gate lines. Read-out circuits are connected to ends of the data lines to read out charges stored in the cells, of each of the selected rows, that are respectively associated with each of the data lines. |
| US08044358B2 |
Spectroscopic fast neutron detection and discrimination using Li-Based semiconductors
A neutron sensing material detector includes an anode; a cathode; and a semiconductor material disposed between the anode and the cathode. An electric field is applied between the anode and cathode. The semiconductor material is composed of a ternary composition of stoichiometry LiM2+GV and exhibits an antifluorite-type ordering, where the stoichiometric fractions are Li=1, M2+=1, and GV=1. Electron-hole pairs are created by absorption of radiation, and the electron-hole pairs are detected by the current they generate between the anode and the cathode. The anode may include an array of pixels to provide improved spatial and energy resolution over the face of the anode. The signal value for each pixel can be mapped to a color or grey scale normalized to all the other pixel signal values for a particular moment in time. A guard ring or guard grid may be provided to reduce leakage current. |
| US08044355B2 |
System and method for viewing an area using an optical system positioned inside of a dewar
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for viewing an area includes a dewar and an optical system positioned within the dewar. The dewar permits operation of the flux detector at cryogenic temperatures, in some embodiments. The optical system includes an infrared radiation system capable of focusing one or more light beams. The inclusion of the optical system within the cryogenic space of the dewar allows reduction of the overall system length and weight, if desired. |
| US08044353B2 |
Non-dispersive infrared gas analyzer
The invention relates to a NDIR-gas analyser comprising an infrared radiation source (1), a measuring vessel (3) containing a gas mixture (4) having a measuring gas component (5) that is to be detected, and a detector device (7) that is arranged behind the measuring vessel that can detect the influence of ageing of the radiation source (1) and optionally dirt deposits in the optical radiation path without interrupting measuring. According to the invention, at least one optopneumatic detector (15) is arranged in the beam path of the radiation source (1), said detector being filled with any gas (16) when arranged between the radiation source (1) and the measuring vessel (3). The concentration of measuring gas components is lower in the detector (15) than in the measuring vessel (3) if filled with the measuring gas components, and said detector is filled with a gas when arranged between the measuring vessel (3) and the detector device (7), the absorption spectrum of the detector being outside of the spectrum of the measuring gas components (5) and other transversal gases in the gas mixture (4). The measuring signal (12) of the detector device (7) is corrected by the detector signal (21) generated by the detector (15). |
| US08044351B2 |
Micro-column with simple structure
The present invention relates to an electron column including an electron emission source and lenses, and, more particularly, to an electron column having a structure that can facilitate the alignment and assembly of an electron emission source and lenses. The electron column having an electron emission source and a lens unit according to the present invention is characterized in that the lens unit includes two or more lens layers and performs both a source lens function and a focusing function. Furthermore, the electron column is characterized in that the lens unit includes one or more deflector-type lens layers and additionally performs a deflector function. |
| US08044348B2 |
Ion source vessel and methods
An ion source and method for providing ionized particles to a molecular/atomic analyser, such as a mass spectrometer, are disclosed. The ion source includes a vessel defining a channel; a gas inlet extending from the gas source into the channel, for introducing a gas flow into the channel; a sample inlet extending into the channel for introducing sample within the channel; and an ionizer to ionize the sample in the channel. The vessel is sufficiently sealed to allow the channel to be pressurized, at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr. At least one gas source maintains the pressure of the channel at a pressure in excess of 100 Torr and the pressure exterior to the channel at a pressure in excess of 0.1 Torr and provides a gas flow that sweeps across the ionizer to guide and entrain ions from the ionizer to the outlet. |
| US08044346B2 |
Method and system for desorbing and ionizing chemical compounds from surfaces
The invention relates to a method and system for ionizing analyte-containing sample lying on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises directing to the sample a heated flow of desorption gas in order to desorb analyte from the surface, and simultaneously directing to the sample light capable of ionizing the desorbed analyte in the presence of the desorption gas. The invention provides a method and system suitable for efficiently producing ions of neutral and nonpolar molecules on surfaces, for example for mass spectrometric purposes. |
| US08044343B2 |
Gas analyzer
A plurality of molecule components included in a gas are to be ionized at the same time by PI method. For instance, a plurality of molecule components included in a gas generated at a certain instance are accurately analyzed in real time based on PI method. A gas analyzer is provided with a gas transfer apparatus for transferring a gas generated from a sample in a sample chamber to an analyzing chamber; an ionizer for ionizing the gas; a quadruple filter for separating ions by mass/charge ratio; and an ion detector for detecting the separated ions. The ionizer is provided with an ionizing region arranged in the vicinity of a gas exhaust of the gas transfer apparatus, and a lamp for applying light on the ionizing region. Since the lamp outputs light which has light directivity lower than that of a laser beam and travels by spreading, the gas entered the ionizing region in the ionizer receives light in a wide range, and the gas components inside are ionized at the same time. |
| US08044341B2 |
Electronic component, illuminating device, contact-type image sensor, and image reading device having no short circuit condition achieved by allowing only one electrode of an LED chip in direct contact with a metallic substrate
An electronic component capable of effectively dissipating heat generated in an LED chip and other elements is provided. A light emitting unit 1 includes a substrate 2 made of copper or aluminum, an insulating layer 3 formed on the surface thereof, a circuit pattern 4 formed on the insulating layer 3, and a circuit pattern 5 formed on the substrate 2 through an opening 3a that has been formed in advance in the insulation layer 3. An LED chip 6 is mounted on the circuit patterns 4 and 5 by using solder 7. The LED chip 6 includes a ceramic substrate 9, electrodes 10 and 11 formed thereon, and an LED die 12 as a light emitting portion disposed on the electrode 11, which is one of the electrodes. Terminals 13 and 14 are provided on the upper surface of the LED die 12. The terminal 13, which is one of the terminals, is connected to the electrode 10 via a bonding wire 15, and the terminal 14, which is the other one of the terminals, is connected to the electrode 11 via a bonding wire 16. |
| US08044339B2 |
Intensity-based optical encoder using digital diffractive optic regions
An optical encoder and method for measuring displacement information using an optical encoder uses an encoder member with multiple digital diffractive optic regions to optically diffract an incident beam of light to produce output beams of light having intensity distribution patterns, which are used to generate electrical signals that provide relative displacement information of the encoder member. |
| US08044338B2 |
Electronic device for counting and storing the number of rotations of an object and the number of counter resets
A device for counting the number of rotations of an object in a system, in which a storage means carries counting data designed to represent the number of rotations counted. The counting data is used for conditionally resetting the storage means if and only if two separate conditions are fulfilled, where at least of one of the conditions is the reception of information from an external device, thereby insuring that the counting data represents the number of rotations counted from a predetermined time. |
| US08044337B2 |
Portable container mounted counter for fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities
A device for electronically and optically counting objects, such as fish, animals, vegetation or other materials, as they are placed into a container. The device surrounds a defined opening on a container. As objects are placed into the container, they fall through the frame of the opening. A light source, such as a laser or LED, is directed toward a light detector in such a way as to be disrupted as the animal falls into the container. A light detector detects said disruption of the light and signals the electronic circuit to add to the number previously counted. Various methods of communicating the count are provided. The preferred method of communicating the count is via an integrated visual display. The preferred method of powering the device is by the use of one or more electric battery. Various methods of electrically powering the device are provided. |
| US08044331B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
An image pickup apparatus and manufacturing method is disclosed. The image pickup apparatus comprises an optical system, an optical wavefront modulator that modulates an optical transfer function, an aperture adjacent to the optical wavefront modulator, and an image pickup device for detecting an object image passing through the optical system and the optical wavefront modulator. A product of a diameter of the aperture at a stop position multiplied by a distance between the aperture and the optical wavefront modulator is less than 2. |
| US08044328B2 |
Cooktop
A cooktop has a metal support plate upon which heating equipment can be mounted and a control casing for housing or attaching a control unit or electronics. Fasteners allow for detachable connection of the metal support plate and the control casing to each other, and comprise fastenings formed on the metal support plate and corresponding slots on the control casing, whereby the fastenings are designed for attachment into the slots in an attachment orientation whereby movement of the two parts relative to each other results in the final assembled state. There is a moveable protrusion on the control casing and a recess or catch on the metal support plate that mates with the protrusion. During movement of the support plate and control casing into the final assembled position, the protrusion interacts with the catch or recess to lock the metal support plate relative to the control casing. |
| US08044327B2 |
Dynamic temperature sensor device
Temperature sensor device inserted into a radiant heater (1) that incorporates at least one heating resistance (2) and is adapted to a glass ceramic cooking hob (4), comprising a film-type resistive sensor element (11) with metal wires (12) for its connection to terminals (18) and a support element (13) that passes through the radiant heater (1), at least in part. The sensor element (11) is inserted into the free end of said support element (13) so that the top and bottom faces are exposed in relation to said support element (13), and the sensor device also comprises an insulating element (14) disposed beneath the sensor element (11), separated from the support element (13) at least in the area in which the sensor device passes through the radiant heater (1). |
| US08044326B2 |
Steam cooking apparatus
A steam cooking apparatus having a steam generating device that generates steam to be fed to a heating chamber and a vapor heating heater that heats the steam generated by the steam generating device to provide superheated steam. The steam cooking apparatus includes a first heating mode using the superheated steam obtained from the vapor heating heater and a second heating mode using hot air or radiation heat obtained by using the vapor heating heater without use of the steam generating device so that the second heating mode produces heat without a supply of steam. |
| US08044325B1 |
Wet wipe heating system
A wet wipe heating system includes a housing that has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall. An inner compartment is positioned within the housing and includes a lower wall and a peripheral wall. The inner compartment is spaced from the housing and a receiving space having water therein is defined between the inner compartment and housing. A heat emitter is positioned within the receiving space and heats the water. A thermostat is in thermal communication with the receiving space and is electrically coupled to the heat emitter to turn the heat emitter on when the water is less than the selected temperature. A cover is hingedly coupled to the housing and is selectively positionable in an open position exposing the inner compartment or in a closed position covering the inner compartment. A plurality of wet wipes is positioned in the inner compartment and heated by the water. |
| US08044321B2 |
Beam-catching device for a processing machine
A processing machine for workpiece processing includes a cutting head that produces a cutting beam directed toward a workpiece, and a beam-catching device for receiving a discharge of the cutting beam from an underside of the workpiece during processing of the workpiece. The beam-catching device includes a housing defining an opening that opens toward the cutting beam and a beam-catching space adjacent the opening, the cutting beam discharging from the underside of the workpiece during the processing of the workpiece and entering the beam-catching space of the housing through the opening. The beam-catching device also includes at least one nozzle on at least one wall section of the housing, the nozzle feeding a fluid jet as a free jet to the beam-catching space in such a way that the at least one fluid jet crosses the cutting beam. |
| US08044319B2 |
Variable arc gap plasma igniter
A variable arc gap plasma igniter element includes electrodes moveable relative to each other. The electrodes are preferably set to define a smaller air gap to initiate a plasma arc and later extended to obtain longer plasma arc. |
| US08044318B2 |
Interrupting chamber of a circuit-breaker having two compression volumes
A current interrupting chamber comprising a moving assembly movable axially between a start position and an end position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker. The current interrupting chamber includes a first compression chamber; a hollow drive tube having ports for bringing the interior of the drive tube into communication with the outside of the current interrupting chamber; a second compression chamber; and a structure for obstructing the ports of the drive tube from the start position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker and up to an intermediate position which is reached between the position of separation of two arcing contacts from each other and the end position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker. |
| US08044317B2 |
Circuit breaker having a plurality of breaker chambers arranged in parallel, with a common transmission and reduced length
A high or very high voltage circuit breaker comprising, for each phase: at least two breaker chambers connected electrically in series and disposed parallel to each other in a metal tank, in which the ends of the chambers through which at least one pair of movable contacts of each chamber is driven lie in a common plane; and the mechanical transmission assembly whereby simultaneous movement is transmitted, and which ensures identical stroke lengths for the movements of the movable contacts of at least two chambers, comprises firstly at least two bars of identical lengths, each coupled to the pair of movable contacts of one of the chambers, and secondly, drive means coupled to at least one drive rod outside the tank or passing through its wall. |
| US08044316B2 |
Slide operation apparatus and knob therefor
A slide operation apparatus capable of ensuring the operability of a knob and improving the visibility of scales on a panel surface of an electronic instrument, without the need of increasing a widthwise space required for mounting the slide operation apparatus on the panel surface. Scales indicating positions in slide movement direction are marked on the panel surface of the electronic instrument on which slide operation apparatuses are mounted. Each slide operation apparatus has a knob adapted to be operated to make a reciprocating slide movement on the panel surface. The knob has its mounting portion whose width is smaller than that of a plate portion and whose left and right end surfaces are receded inwardly from those of the plate portion. The knob has a bottom-side narrow-width portion in which a facing surface is narrower in width in slide movement direction than a finger-operated surface. |
| US08044315B2 |
Button structure
An electronic device includes a housing, a button plate, a support element and a printed circuit board. The housing has an opening. The button plate is disposed at the opening of the housing, has a central region and two sides, wherein the button plate is mounted to the housing through the two ends of the two sides formed by elastic arms respectively. The support element is disposed under the central region of the button plate for defining the button plate into left and right parts. The printed circuit board is located underneath the support element, has two switches located respectively corresponds to the left and right parts of the button plate. |
| US08044313B2 |
Push button switch structure
A push button switch includes a switch casing, and a printed circuit board with a switching element disposed thereupon. A push button is disposed in an opening of the switch casing. The push button includes a pushing portion, pushing projection, and an annular wall portion surrounding a periphery of the pushing projection. The pushing portion, the pushing projection, and the annular wall portion are configured of elastic material. The annular wall portion and the pushing projection are disposed in an interior of the switch casing such that the pushing portion projects outwardly from the opening portion of the switch casing. A distal end portion of the pushing projection is directed toward the switching element. The push button switch also includes a guide member configured to restrict movement of the pushing projection. The guide member is disposed inside the annular wall portion of the push button. |
| US08044310B2 |
Combination pressure switch
A combination switch including a pressure switch moveable between closed and open positions in response to a working pressure of a fluid, an unloader valve moveable between open and closed positions, a mechanical interconnection between the pressure switch and the unloader valve and operable to move the unloader valve in response to movement of the pressure switch, and a mechanical lever selectively operable to move the pressure switch between the closed and the open position. |
| US08044309B2 |
Isolating apparatus for electric power lines and methods for forming and using the same
An isolating apparatus for an electric power line includes an elongate insulator having opposed insulator ends and a pair of electrically conductive end members each secured to a respective one of the insulator ends. At least one of the end members includes a mounting slot that receives its respective one of the insulator ends. |
| US08044308B2 |
Electronic balance including linking member connected between fulcrum and electromagnetic force generating apparatus
An electronic balance is provided where precise correction can be carried out by using incorporated weight and the weight and the size can both be reduced. The electronic balance is provided with a main Roberval mechanism R1 for conveying the load of an object to be measured mounted on a scale 16, a first beam 14 to which the main Roberval mechanism R1 is connected, and at the same time, a connection means 43 is connected, a second beam 42 to which the first beam 14 is connected via the connection means 43, and at the same time, an electromagnetic force generating apparatus 17 for generating an electromagnetic force which is balanced with the load of the object to be measured that is conveyed from the first beam 14 is connected, incorporated weight 18 for correction, a sub-Roberval mechanism R2 for conveying the load of the incorporated weight in the vertical direction, and a linking member 44 for conveying the load of the incorporated weight to the second beam 42 via the sub-Roberval mechanism R2, and characterized in that the linking member 44 is connected the second beam 42 on the electromagnetic force generating apparatus 17 side relative to the second fulcrum 41. |
| US08044304B2 |
Multilayer printed circuit board
A multilayer printed circuit board is characterized in that circuit boards 1 and 2 and a circuit board 3 are laminated alternately to form a multilayer body using a simultaneous lamination method, the circuit boards 1 and 2 including a film-, thin plate-, or sheet-like insulating substrate 11 made of a thermosetting resin containing any one of epoxy resin, bismaleimide/triazine resin, and allylic polyphenylene ether resin as a major component, the circuit board 3 including a film-, thin plate-, or sheet-like insulating substrate 21 made of a thermoplastic resin containing a polyaryl ketone resin and amorphous polyether imide resin having a crystal-fusing peak temperature of 260° C. or more. By the present invention, it is possible to provide a multilayer printed circuit board which has small fusion or flow deformation at the time of simultaneous lamination, which does not have unevenness in positional precision in the lamination direction, which has no need for the processes to be readjusted, and which has high reliability in interlayer electrical connection. |
| US08044300B1 |
Two-gang low voltage mounting bracket with front plate and retractable clamp arms for rapid mounting using hole saw
A two-gang low voltage bracket that enables rapid mounting of one or two low voltage electrical components to a wall. The two-gang bracket includes a front plate with an opening therein and a circular peripheral wall surrounding the opening and extending from the rear surface of the plate. Mounting fasteners extend through oversize holes in the plate and include clamp arms rigidly secured to their ends. The circular peripheral wall is of a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of a standard size hole-saw. The clamp arms can be rotated to either a retracted or extended position. The peripheral wall is provided with open areas or recesses to fully accommodate the clamp arms when retracted thereby enabling the peripheral wall and clamp arms to pass easily within the wall opening created by the standard size hole-saw. |
| US08044299B2 |
Protective device with tamper resistant shutters
The present invention is directed to a modular shutter assembly for use within various types of electrical wiring devices having differing amperage ratings. The modular shutter assembly includes a first shutter member having a first blade engagement structure. The first shutter member is configured to be disposed within an interior portion of the cover assembly and disposed between a set of receptacle openings and a set of receptacle contacts. A second shutter member includes a second blade engagement structure and is slidably disposed within the first shutter member. An interface is configured to connect a third shutter member to the modular shutter assembly and drive the third shutter into an open position only when the first shutter member and the second shutter member are simultaneously engaged by a set of plug blades. |
| US08044292B2 |
Homogeneous thermoelectric nanocomposite using core-shell nanoparticles
A thermoelectric material comprises core-shell particles having a core formed from a core material and a shell formed from a shell material. In representative examples, the shell material is a material showing an appreciable thermoelectric effect in bulk. The core material preferably has a lower thermal conductivity than the shell material. In representative examples, the core material is an inorganic oxide such as silica or alumina, and the shell material is a chalcogenide semiconductor such as a telluride, for example bismuth telluride. A thermoelectric material including such core-shell particles may have an improved thermoelectric figure of merit compared with a bulk sample of the shell material alone. Embodiments of the invention further include thermoelectric devices using such thermoelectric materials, and preparation techniques. The use of core-shell nanoparticles allows highly uniform nanocomposites to be formed, and embodiments of the invention also includes other materials and devices using core-shell particles. |
| US08044291B2 |
Selection of visually displayed audio data for editing
Methods, systems, and computer program products for selection of visually displayed audio data are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. Original audio data is displayed in a plurality of visual forms. A first input is received selecting a region within a first visual representation of the original audio data. A second input is received selecting a region within a second visual representation of the original audio data. Audio components from the selected regions are isolated to provide isolated audio data. The isolated audio data corresponds to audio data common to both user selected regions. The isolated audio data is edited and then missed into the original audio data. |
| US08044290B2 |
Method and apparatus for reproducing first part of music data having plurality of repeated parts
A method and apparatus for reproducing a first part of music data having a plurality of repeated parts includes a method and an apparatus allowing a user to listen to more songs including the repeated parts by searching for a boundary between the first and second parts of the music data having the repeated parts via simple frequency analysis, marking information indicating the found boundary, and reproducing the music data until a part indicated by the marked information is reached. Accordingly, music reproduction satisfaction increases since an inconvenience of manipulating the apparatus for each song is lessened and more songs having different patterns are played. |
| US08044289B2 |
Electronic music on hand portable and communication enabled devices
A portable electronic device having a screen and a numeric keypad, comprises: a sound card for processing sound signals to produce musical tones; a musical synthesizer, associated with said sound card, for electronically synthesizing musical instruments; and a user interface for interfacing said musical synthesizer to a user via said screen and said numeric keypad. The device can be a cellular telephone and may be able to interact with other devices. |
| US08044287B2 |
Pitch adjustment device for string instruments
A pitch adjustment device for selectively adjusting the pitch of the string(s) of a stringed musical instrument. Each string of the instrument is attached to a respective pitch adjustment device. Each pitch adjustment device includes a pivotable string puller wherein pivoting of the string puller adjusts the pitch on the string. A pulley is rotatably mounted to the string puller such that movement of the pulley causes the string puller to pivot. A cable is wrapped around the pulley and has a first side extending from one side of the pulley and a second side extending form the other side of the pulley. A plurality of actuators are operably coupled to the first and second sides of the cable. The actuators move the cable, which moves the pulley, which in turn pivots the string puller, thereby adjusting the pitch of the string. |
| US08044284B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH12SK
A novel maize variety designated PH12SK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12SK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12SK through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12SK or a locus conversion of PH12SK with another maize variety. |
| US08044283B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH12SG
A novel maize variety designated PH12SG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12SG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12SG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12SG or a locus conversion of PH12SG with another maize variety. |
| US08044281B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X7K483
A novel maize variety designated X7K483 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X7K483 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X7K483 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X7K483, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X7K483. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X7K483. |
| US08044279B1 |
Maize variety inbred PHVCN
A novel maize variety designated PHVCN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHVCN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHVCN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHVCN or a locus conversion of PHVCN with another maize variety. |
| US08044276B1 |
Inbred maize variety PHGME
A novel maize variety designated PHGME and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHGME with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHGME through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHGME or a trait conversion of PHGME with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGME, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGME and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08044275B1 |
Inbred maize variety PHCGM
A novel maize variety designated PHCGM and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHCGM with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHCGM through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHCGM or a trait conversion of PHCGM with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHCGM, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHCGM and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08044271B2 |
Garden bean cultivar H37115
A novel garden bean cultivar, designated H37115, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of garden bean cultivar H37115, to the plants of garden bean line H37115, and to methods for producing a bean plant by crossing the cultivar H37115 with itself or another bean line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a bean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes, and to the transgenic plants produced by that method, and to methods for producing other garden bean lines derived from the cultivar H37115. |
| US08044269B1 |
Soybean variety XB31P09
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB31P09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB31P09, to the plants of soybean XB31P09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB31P09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB31P09 with another soybean plant, using XB31P09 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US08044259B2 |
Determining the capability of a test compound to affect solid tumor stem cells
A small percentage of cells within an established solid tumor have the properties of stem cells. These solid tumor stem cells give rise both to more tumor stem cells and to the majority of cells in the tumor that have lost the capacity for extensive proliferation and the ability to give rise to new tumors. Thus, solid tumor heterogeneity reflects the presence of tumor cell progeny arising from a solid tumor stem cell. We have developed a xenograft model in which we have been able to establish tumors from primary tumors via injection of tumor cells in the mammary gland of severely immunodeficient mice. These xenograft assay have allowed us to do biological and molecular assays to characterize clonogenic solid tumor stem cells. We have also developed evidence that strongly implicates the Notch pathway, especially Notch 4, as playing a central pathway in carcinogenesis. |
| US08044258B2 |
Absorbent article featuring leakage warning
An absorbent article for preventing leakage is presented and includes an absorbent assembly having an absorbent assembly perimeter and a leakage warning element disposed adjacent a portion of the perimeter, wherein the leakage warning element is adapted to provide a physical sensation indicating a fullness level of the absorbent assembly, and wherein the physical sensation includes an electrical impulse. Also presented is an absorbent article for providing a wearer with a warning of potential leakage, the article including an absorbent assembly and a leakage warning element disposed adjacent the absorbent assembly, wherein the leakage warning element is adapted to impart a physical sensation to the wearer, and wherein the physical sensation includes an electrical impulse. |
| US08044256B2 |
Absorbent article having a stable skin care composition
The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a stable skin care composition disposed on its skin-contacting surface. The skin care composition is readily transferable to the skin via normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat. Importantly, the skin care composition contains at least one skin care ingredient imparting visible skin benefits to the skin upon transfer to the skin and at least one theological agent for stabilizing the composition such that agglomeration, stratification and/or settling of the composition are minimized. The present invention also relates to a process for making the absorbent articles having a stable skin care composition disposed thereon. |
| US08044246B2 |
Process for the selective preparation of acetaldehyde from acrolein and one or more ammonium salts dissolved in water
The present invention relates to a process for the selective preparation of acetaldehyde, characterized in that acrolein and one or more ammonium salts dissolved in water are reacted continuously under high pressures and at temperatures of 300-400° C. |
| US08044245B2 |
Method for the preparation of optically active 2-sulfonyloxy-1-phenylethanol derivatives
Optically active 2-sulfonyloxy-1-phenylethanol derivative of formula (II) can be prepared easily and selectively by the method of the present invention using an asymmetric reduction of an α-sulfonyloxy acetophenone compound with a rhodium catalyst having petamethylcyclopentadienyl group and a hydrogen donor, and the compound of formula (II) obtained in the inventive method exhibits a higher e.e. (enantiomer excess) value than that of the products in the conventional methods. |
| US08044244B2 |
Process for preparing aromatic amines in a fluidized-bed reactor
A process for preparing aromatic amines by catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding nitro compound in a fluidized-bed reactor, in which a gaseous reaction mixture comprising the nitro compound and hydrogen flows from the bottom upward through a heterogeneous particulate catalyst forming a fluidized bed, wherein the fluidized bed is provided with internals which divide the fluidized bed into a plurality of cells arranged horizontally in the fluidized-bed reactor and a plurality of cells arranged vertically in the fluidized-bed reactor, with the cells having cell walls which are permeable to gas and have openings which ensure an exchange number of the heterogeneous, particulate catalyst in the vertical direction in the range from 1 to 100 liters/hour per liter of reactor volume, is proposed. |
| US08044243B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed. Formula (I) wherein n is 1 or 2; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; A is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl; or cycloalkyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring. Alternatively, the agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula I. |
| US08044241B2 |
Ligands for estrogen related receptors and methods for synthesis of said ligands
Estrogen-Related Receptor (ERR) modulating compounds and methods for synthesis of said compounds are described. |
| US08044238B2 |
Method for production of purified (meth)acrylic acid
The present invention relates to reducing corrosion of distillation equipment during azeotropic distillation of (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of dissolved copper, by providing aqueous (meth)acrylic acid having not more than 0.1% by weight formaldehyde, based on the total weight of the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid. The source of the copper may, for example, be copper-based polymerization inhibitors added to the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid and/or distillation equipment. |
| US08044235B2 |
(Meth) acryloyl group-containing aromatic isocyanate compound and production process thereof
A monomer is provided which is excellent in reactivity, can give high heat resistance and high refractive index, and has two or more polymerizable functional groups with different polymerization properties and an aromatic ring in the molecule. An industrial advantageous process for producing the monomer is also provided. The monomer is an aromatic isocyanate compound containing a (meth)acryloyl group, and is represented by Formula (I): wherein R1 is a single bond or a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 is a single bond or a linear or branched alkylene group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X is independently a halogen atom or an electron-withdrawing group, m is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, and 1≦m+n≦5. |
| US08044234B2 |
Bioabsorbable surgical composition
Compounds are provided which can form bioabsorbable compositions useful as adhesives or sealants for medical/surgical applications. In embodiments, suitable compositions may possess various functional groups, including groups derived from multifunctional compounds, aliphatic or aromatic groups, groups derived from aliphatic diacids, groups derived from a dihydroxy compound, and combinations thereof. Methods for forming these compositions, as well as uses thereof, are also provided. |
| US08044231B2 |
Method for producing dihalo acetoacetic alkyl esters
The invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl dihaloacetoacetates of the formula (I) by reacting α,α-dihaloamines of the formula (III) with acetic esters of the formula (II) in the presence of bases. |
| US08044230B2 |
Water-soluble prodrugs of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, and analogs thereof
The present invention discloses certain novel prodrugs of chloramphenicol or thiamphenicol, or of an analog of either, including prodrugs of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of chloramphenicol or thiamphenicol or of their analogs, including nitrogen-containing esters of both alcohol groups of such compounds. In certain embodiments these novel prodrugs are sufficiently water-soluble to serve the functions needed of a prodrug of chloramphenicol or thiamphenicol or of an analog of either. In one embodiment, a certain subclass of the compounds also possesses the hydrolytic stability needed to maintain the prodrug in solution in the subject's system until appropriate conditions exist when the prodrug can hydrolyze, releasing the active compound in question. |
| US08044228B2 |
Liquid crystal compositions
This invention relates to liquid crystal compositions, and polymer networks and articles comprising the compositions. The compositions comprise at least one compound of the group of compounds represented by the structures of each of the following Formulas (IV), (V) and (VI), as defined herein. A process for making the composition is also provided. |
| US08044227B2 |
Preparation of pregabalin and related compounds
Materials and methods for preparing (S)-(+)-3-aminomethyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid and structurally related compounds via enzymatic kinetic resolution are disclosed. |
| US08044226B2 |
Process for production of high-purity diaryl carbonate
A high-purity diphenyl carbonate, wherein the diphenyl carbonate is unsubstituted or substituted with a lower hydrocarbon, and has a halogen content of not more than 0.1 ppm, a content of an intermediate boiling point material of not more than 100 ppm, and a content of by-products having a higher boiling point than that of said diphenyl carbonate of not more than 100 ppm. A specific industrially useful process for the production of a high-purity diaryl carbonate in which a diaryl carbonate having low contents of intermediate boiling point and high boiling point impurities is produced is disclosed. As a starting material, a reaction mixture containing an alkyl aryl carbonate obtained through a transesterification reaction between a dialkyl carbonate and an aromatic monohydroxy compound is used. The process in which separation by distillation is carried out uses three distillation columns in a specified order. |
| US08044223B2 |
Crystalline 19-norsteroids
The present invention are two crystalline salts, 17α-acetoxy-21-methoxy-11β-(4-,N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19 norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione hydrochloride and 17α-acetoxy-21-methoxy-11β-(4-,N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19 norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione hydrobromide, of the corresponding free base which is an amorphous solid. |
| US08044222B2 |
Aromatic amine derivatives and organic electroluminescent device using same
The present invention provides a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device in which an organic thin film layer comprising a single layer or plural layers including at least a light emitting layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode, wherein at least one layer in the above organic thin film layer, particularly a hole transporting layer contains the aromatic amine derivative described above in the form of a single component or a mixed component. Use of the aromatic amine derivative described above materialize an organic electroluminescence device which reduces an operating voltage and makes molecules less liable to be crystallized and which enhances a yield in producing the organic EL device and has a long lifetime. |
| US08044218B2 |
Chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material and method for producing same
A diacetylene derivative was used as a starting material, and was subjected to dilithiation using an organolithium reagent. The resulting product was allowed to react with an excessive amount of chalcogen. Accordingly, an intramolecular cyclization reaction proceeded simultaneously with formation of skeletons of three rings. As a result, a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material was found to be obtained which has the three rings and a dichalcogenid bond. Further, by subjecting the resulting compound to a dechalcogenation reaction, a heteroacene was found to be obtained in a satisfactory yield. These synthetic techniques have made it possible to synthesize a series of highly planar chalcogen-containing π-electron system materials. Therefore, it is possible to provide (i) a chalcogen-containing fused polycyclic organic material capable of exhibiting excellent charge-transporting properties and (ii) a method for producing the material. |
| US08044216B2 |
Fluoroboron compound, aminomethylating agent for aromatic ring made of the same, and production method of compound containing aminomethyl aromatic ring using aminomethylating agent
A production method of a compound containing a primary, secondary, or tertiary aminomethyl aromatic ring of the present invention includes: using a fluoroboron compound or a dimer thereof, or solvates thereof, which are represented by a formula (I): Ra(Rb)N—CH2—BF3M (I) as an aminomethylating agent for an aromatic ring; and reacting the aminomethylating agent with an aromatic ring-containing compound, which can react with the aminomethylating agent, under the presence of a metal catalyst such as a palladium compound so as to perform the direct aminomethylation of the aromatic ring. |
| US08044214B2 |
Process for preparing isoxazole compounds
A process for preparing isoxazole compounds of formula I: in which a nitroaryl of the formula (II): is contacted with an alkyl acetoacetate of the formula (III) or a salt thereof: in the presence of an activating agent and a base to provide the isoxazole compound. |
| US08044213B2 |
Thiazolyl-benzimidazoles
The invention is directed to compounds of formula (1) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, methods for the preparation thereof, and methods of use thereof. |
| US08044212B2 |
Reconfigurable molecules and molecular switches, sensors, and dyes employing the same
Various embodiment of the present invention are directed to organic molecules that are reconfigurable under application of an external electric field. One organic molecule embodiment of the present invention has the structure: where L1X1 and L2X2 are optional connector groups, A represents an electron acceptor group, D represents an electron donor group, R and R′ represent spacer molecules, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 represent atoms and hydrocarbons. |
| US08044207B2 |
Pyridinoylpiperidines as 5-HT1F agonists
The invention relates to compounds of formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, where; R1 is C1-C6 alkyl, substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl, substituted C3-C7 cycloalkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, substituted C3-C7 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocycle, or substituted heterocycle; R2 is hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl-C1-C3 alkyl, or a group of formula II; R3 is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, halo, or C1-C3 alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl; R6 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl; and n is an integer from 1 to 6 inclusively. The compounds of the present invention are useful for activating 5-HT1F receptors, inhibiting neuronal protein extravasation, and for the treatment or prevention of migraine in a mammal. The present invention also relates to a process for the synthesis of intermediates in the synthesis of compounds of Formula I. |
| US08044205B2 |
Process for manufacturing 3(R)-(2-hydroxy-2,2-dithien-2-ylacetoxy)-1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide
This present disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing 3(R)-(2-hydroxy-2,2-dithien-2-ylacetoxy)-1-(3-phenoxypropyl)-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide by reacting 2-hydroxy-2,2-dithien-2-ylacetic acid 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3(R)yl ester and 3-phenoxypropyl bromide, wherein the reaction takes place in a solvent or mixtures of solvents having a boiling point from 50° C. to 210° C. and chosen from ketones and cyclic ethers. |
| US08044204B2 |
8-methoxy-9H-isothiazolo[5,4-b]quinoline-3,4-diones and related compounds as anti-infective agents
The invention provides compound and salts of Formula I and II, disclosed herein, which includes compounds of Formula A and Formula B: Such compounds possess useful antimicrobial activity. The variables R2, R3, R5, R6, R7, and R9 shown in Formula A and B are defined herein. Certain compounds of Formula I and Formula II disclosed herein are potent and/or selective inhibitors of bacterial DNA synthesis and bacterial replication. The invention also provides antimicrobial compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, containing one or more compounds of Formula I or Formula II and one or more carriers, excipients, or diluents. Such compositions may contain a compound of Formula I or Formula II as the only active agent or may contain a combination of a compound of Formula I or Formula II and one or more other active agents. The invention also provides methods for treating microbial infections in animals. |
| US08044197B2 |
Radiation curable 1,3,5-triazine carbamates and 1,3,5-triazine ureas containing vinyl groups, methacryloyl groups, or acryloyl groups
Radiation-curable 1,3,5-triazine carbamates and 1,3,5-triazine ureas, processes for preparing them and their use. |
| US08044195B2 |
Cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin antibiotics
This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide—cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds. |
| US08044190B2 |
Stress tolerant organisms expressing a map kinase homologue
The present invention provides a MAP kinase homologue gene, designated EhHOG, isolated from Eurotium herbariorum, a common fungal species from the extreme hypersaline environment of the Dead Sea, capable of improving tolerance of plants and other organisms to abiotic stresses such as osmotic, heat, dehydration, freezing-thawing, oxidative and salinity stress. |
| US08044189B2 |
Bacillus anthracis protective antigen nucleic acid sequences
The invention relates to improved methods of producing and recovering B. anthracis protective antigen (PA), especially modified PA which is protease resistant, and to methods of using of these PAs or nucleic acids encoding these PAs for eliciting an immunogenic response in humans, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity of, B. anthracis bacterial infections and which are useful to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by B. anthracis, such as inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax and gastrointestinal anthrax. |
| US08044188B2 |
Genetically engineered clostridial genes, proteins encoded by the engineered genes, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to an isolated Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide having a light chain region, a heavy chain region, where the light and heavy chain regions are linked by a disulfide bond, and an intermediate region connecting the light and heavy chain regions. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide is also disclosed. Also disclosed is an isolated, physiologically active Clostridial neurotoxin produced by cleaving a Clostridial neurotoxin propeptide, a vaccine or antidote thereof, and methods of immunizing against or treating for toxic effects of Clostridial neurotoxins. Methods of expressing recombinant physiologically active Clostridial neurotoxins are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a chimeric protein having a heavy chain region of a Clostridial neurotoxin and a protein with therapeutic functionality. A treatment method is also disclosed. |
| US08044185B2 |
Conformationally stabilized HIV envelope immunogens and triggering HIV-I envelope to reveal cryptic V3-loop epitopes
Stabilized forms of gp120 polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding these stabilized forms, vectors comprising these nucleic acids, and methods of using these polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors and host cells are disclosed. Crystal structures and computer systems including atomic coordinates for stabilized forms of gp120, and gp120 with an extended V3 loop, and methods of using these structures and computer systems are also disclosed. |
| US08044184B2 |
Probe and primer for tubercle bacillus detection, and method of detecting human tubercle bacillus therewith
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel primer and prove for detecting tubercle bacillus capable of avoiding false positive, and an easy-to-use, rapid and high-sensitivity method for detecting human tubercle bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) using the same. The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide comprising a part of or an entire sequence of the nucleic acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:8, or a part of or an entire sequence of the complementary sequence thereof, wherein the oligonucleotide has a property of hybridizing with the nucleic acid sequence of IS6110 gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a primer and a probe containing the oligonucleotide for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and a method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the primer and the probe. |
| US08044178B2 |
Anti-5T4 antibodies and uses thereof
Anti-5T4 antibodies, anti-5T4 antibody/drug conjugates, and methods for preparing and using the same. |
| US08044177B2 |
Water-soluble keratin derivative and use thereof
The present invention provides a novel water-soluble keratin derivative and applications thereof. Water-soluble keratin produced by the alkali treatment of feathers, and modified keratin, gives the following useful materials: (1) a high energy wave absorber, (2) a luminescent substrate, (3) a material weatherproofness improver, (4) a water repellant, and (5) a foaming agent. |
| US08044171B2 |
Polyamide molding compound and its use for producing transparent, hot-steam-sterilizable molded parts and extrudates
The invention relates to a polyamide molding material or copolyamide molding material and the use of such a polyamide molding material or copolyamide molding material for producing steam-sterilizable transparent moldings and extrudates. This polyamide molding material is characterized in that it comprises at least one copolyamide formed from 35-42 mol % of bis(4-amino-3-methylcyclohexyl)methane (MACM), 35-42 mol % of isophthalic acid (IPS) and 16-30 mol % of laurolactam (LC12). MACM may be replaced up to 50% by bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)-methane (PACM) and IPA up to 50% by terephthalic acid (TPA). The polyamide molding material may also be a blend of copolyamides or a blend of copolyamides with polyamide 12. The relative viscosity (RV) of the polyamide molding material or copolyamide molding material is in any case adjusted to a value which is greater than 1.45. Steam-sterilizable and transparent standard specimens which are produced from such polyamide molding materials or copolyamide molding materials and whose composition corresponds to the transparent moldings and extrudates have a tensile strain at break which, after undergoing at least 140 and especially preferably at least 350 steam sterilization cycles, is above the stretching limit. |
| US08044169B2 |
Dryer configuration for production of polyester particles
A dryer system configured for use in a polyester polymer production process. In one embodiment, the dryer system can be utilized in a non-solid-state polymer production process to dry the polymer particles prior to crystallization. |
| US08044163B2 |
Aqueous polyurethane resin
An aqueous polyurethane resin is obtained by allowing at least a polyol compound, an active hydrogen group-containing compound having anionic group, an active hydrogen group-containing acrylate compound and an alkoxysilyl group-containing polyamine compound to react with a polyisocyanate compound. |
| US08044155B2 |
Titanocene-based catalyst system
A catalyst system obtainable by the process comprising the steps of contacting an adduct of formula (I) MgT2.yAlQj(OR″)3-j (I) wherein T is chlorine, bromine, or iodine; R″ is a linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl radical; y ranges from 1.00 to 0.05; and j ranges from 0.01 to 3.00; with at least one metallocene compound having titanium as central metal and at least one ligand having a cyclopentadienyl skeleton. |
| US08044153B2 |
Curable silicone composition
A curable silicone composition comprising at least the following components: (A) a diorganopolysiloxane having in one molecule at least two alkenyl groups; (B) at least two resin-like organopolysiloxanes that have different mass-average molecular weights as reduced into standard polystyrene measured gel permeation chromatography and that are composed of SiO4/2 units, R12R2SiO1/2 units, and R13SiO1/2 units, wherein R1 is an optionally substituted univalent hydrocarbon group that is free of aliphatic unsaturated bonds and R2 is an alkenyl group; (C) an organopolysiloxane that contains in one molecule at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms; and (D) a hydrosilylation catalyst; possesses excellent flowability and filling ability and that can be prepared without extreme viscosity even if the composition contains resin-like organopolysiloxanes required to form a cured silicone body of appropriate strength and hardness. |
| US08044149B2 |
Process for production of hydrogenated polymers and hydrogenated polymers
Provision of, in a process of producing a hydrogenated polymer, which comprises steps of sequentially performing, in the presence of a ruthenium carbene complex, a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction of a cyclic olefin and a hydrogenation reaction of a ring-opening metathesis polymer produced by the polymerization reaction to give a hydrogenated polymer, a simple and economic process of obtaining a hydrogenated polymer having an extremely small content of residual ruthenium derived from the ruthenium carbene complex.A process of producing a hydrogenated polymer, which comprises, in the presence of a ruthenium carbene complex, subjecting a cyclic monoolefin and/or a cyclic diolefin to a ring-opening metathesis polymerization, hydrogenating the resulting ring-opening metathesis polymer to give a hydrogenated polymer, and bringing the hydrogenated polymer in contact with a poor solvent of the hydrogenated polymer in the presence of dissolved hydrogen to allow precipitation. As the poor solvent of the hydrogenated polymer, alcohol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, ketone having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and the like are preferable. |
| US08044134B2 |
Polylactic acid resin composition
The present invention relates to a polylactic acid resin composition. The composition includes about 25 to about 80 parts by weight of a polylactic acid resin, (B) about 20 to about 75 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin, and (C) about 0.01 to about 5 parts by weight of a chain extender including an amine group, based on about 100 parts by weight of (A)+(B). The polylactic acid resin composition of the present invention is environmentally-friendly and has excellent hydrolysis resistance and simultaneously improved mechanical strength and heat resistance, and accordingly can be used for manufacturing various molded products requiring heat resistance and mechanical strength, for example vehicles, machine parts, electronic parts, office machines, miscellaneous goods, and the like. |
| US08044131B2 |
Rubber composition for tread and tire comprising thereof
There is provided a rubber composition for a tread having excellent hardness and improving the processability and grip performance of a tire, and a tire comprising thereof. A rubber composition for a tread comprising 30 to 80 parts by weight of silica having a BET specific surface area of less than 150 m2/g and 10 parts by weight or less of carbon black based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component comprising an epoxidized natural rubber, and a tire comprising thereof. |
| US08044129B2 |
Aqueous binder for inorganic fiber and thermal and/or acoustical insulation material using the same
Provided is an aqueous binder for inorganic fibers, which is formaldehyde-free, has excellent strength, and is suitable for use under conditions of weakly acidic to weakly basic, and by which a cured product composed of the binder having excellent strength is obtained, and an thermal and/or acoustical insulation material made of inorganic fiber using the same. The thermal and/or acoustical insulation material is molded by using an aqueous binder for inorganic fibers including: an acrylic resin with an acid value of 350 to 850 mgKOH/g; a crosslinking agent containing at least one dialkanolamine; and a curing accelerator, in which a molar ratio of the total number of the hydroxyl groups and imino groups in the crosslinking agent to the total number of carboxyl groups in the acrylic resin is 0.8:1 to 1.5:1, and in which pH of the binder is adjusted to 6.0 to 8.0 with a volatile basic compound. |
| US08044128B2 |
White heat-curable silicone/epoxy hybrid resin composition for optoelectronic use, making method, premolded package, and LED device
A white heat-curable silicone/epoxy hybrid resin composition is provided comprising (A) a heat-curable silicone resin, (B) a triazine derived epoxy resin composition, (C) a white pigment, (D) an inorganic filler, and (E) an antioxidant. Antioxidant (E) is a phosphite compound having formula: P(OR1)(OR2)2 wherein R1 and R2 are organic groups of at least 6 carbon atoms. Components (A) and (B) are present in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 95:5. The composition effectively cures into a product maintaining heat resistance, light resistance and improved strength over a long term. |
| US08044124B2 |
Adhesion-promoting agent for a thermal insulation surface
The present invention relates to a novel agent for promoting adhesion to a heat-insulating surface and in particular to a polystyrene surface, especially when wet or under the effect of a large variation in temperature. The invention also relates to the use of the said agent in a water-insoluble film-forming polymer composition or in a mineral binder composition for applications in the construction field and more particularly in external heat-insulation systems. |
| US08044123B2 |
Ultraviolet absorber composition and resin composition
An ultraviolet absorber composition is provided and includes: a compound represented by formula (I); and an ultraviolet absorber having a maximum absorption at a wavelength of from 340 to 400 nm: R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R1e, R1f, R1g, R1h, R1i, and R1j each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent except OH, or adjacent two of R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R1e, R1f, R1g, R1h, R1i, and R1j may be taken together to form a ring; R1k, R1m, R1n, and R1p each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, or adjacent two of R1k, R1m, R1n, and R1p may be taken together to form a ring; and at least one of R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R1e, R1f, R1g, R1h, R1i, R1j, R1k, R1m, R1n, and R1p is a substituent having a positive σp value in Hammett equation. |
| US08044115B2 |
Pigment-based inks with improved jetting latency
An inkjet ink composition comprising water, pigment particles dispersed with a polymeric dispersant, at least one water-dispersible polyurethane, at least one pyrrolidinone compound, glycerol, and a 1,2-alkanediol having from four to eight carbon atoms. |
| US08044110B2 |
Optical fiber with polymeric coating crosslinked in the presence of both radical and cationic photoinitiators
Optical fiber has a glass portion and at least one coating of crosslinked polymer material surrounding the glass portion, the coating being obtained by crosslinking a composition of (a) at least one radically crosslinkable oligomer containing at least two reactive functional groups and having a number average molecular weight lower than about 1,000, preferably between about 400 and about 900; (b) at least one cationically crosslinkable compound containing at least one reactive functional group; (c) at least one free radical photoinitiator; and (d) at least one cationic photoinitiator. Preferably, the coating is a secondary coating or, in the case of a ribbon of optical fibers, it is a common polymer coating known as a “common coating”. |
| US08044109B2 |
Polyurethane foams containing silicone surfactants
The present invention relates to polyurethane foam prepared from a polyurethane foam-forming reaction mixture possessing a silicone copolymer surfactant, methods for making the surfactant, and a process for preparing low density polyurethane foams. |
| US08044107B2 |
Method of producing an embedded recycled container sheet
A method of producing an embedded recycled container sheet includes: (a) providing a plurality of empty recycled plastic containers; (b) flattening the plurality of empty recycled plastic containers to reduce their width by at least 80%; (c) providing a base substrate of plastic; (d) placing the plurality of flattened, empty recycled plastic containers on the base substrate; and, (e) applying a molten top layer of plastic on the plurality of flattened, empty recycled plastic containers and on the base substrate, and cooling the molten top layer, so as to embed the plurality of empty recycled plastic containers between the top layer and the base substrate. A method of producing product from the resulting sheet involves creating the product using a processing step selected from the group consisting of molding, casting, cutting, machining, and combinations of these. |
| US08044103B2 |
Cyclic dipeptides and azetidinone compounds and their use in treating CNS injury and neurodegenerative disorders
The present invention provides 4-substituted-2-azetidinone compounds, bicyclic 2-5-diketopiperazine compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that are potent, safe and effective neuroprotective agents. Due to their strong central nervous system (CNS) activity, the compounds can be used to enhance memory and to treat a variety of neurological disorders. The compounds are particularly useful for treating neurological disorders caused by, or associated with, CNS trauma. |
| US08044100B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating amyloid-related diseases
Methods, compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits are described for treating or preventing amyloid-related disease. |
| US08044096B2 |
Method for treating addiction using quercetin-containing compositions
This invention relates to a method of treating addiction using a composition containing quercetin. Preferably, it also contains vitamin B3, and vitamin C. |
| US08044095B2 |
Mixture of catechins or rather polyphenols extracted from chinese green tea or other vegetables for the prevention of prostate cancer and for the treatment of prostate hypertrophy (BPH)
The formulation and modality of use of a pharmaceutical preparation having the properties described below is described. This preparation is a product comprising a mixture of catechins or polyphenols extracted from chinese green tea or other vegetables that has proven to be efficacious in the chemical prevention of prostate cancer in a clinical pilot study when administered in adequate systemic dosage without the aid of other conventional drugs or remedies and without adverse effects in a group of subjects at risk of development of the illness. The same reduction of the preparation proved efficacious in symptomatology of benign prostate hypertrophy and especially as concerns the difficulty of urination when administered in adequate dosage systemically without the aid of other drugs or conventional remedies and without adverse effects in the patients subject of the study. |
| US08044091B2 |
Phospho-indoles as HIV inhibitors
3-phosphoindole compounds for the treatment of retroviral infections, and particularly for HIV, are described. Also included are compositions comprising the 3-phosphoindole derivatives alone or in combination with one or more other anti-retroviral agents, processes for their preparation, and methods of manufacturing a medicament incorporating these compounds. |
| US08044089B2 |
3-3-di-substituted-oxindoles as inhibitors of translation initiation
Compositions and methods for inhibiting translation using 3-(5-tert-Butyl-2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are provided. Compositions, methods and kits for treating (1) cellular proliferative disorders, (2) non-proliferative, degenerative disorders, (3) viral infections, and/or (4) disorders associated with viral infections, using 3-(5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one and/or its derivatives are described. |
| US08044087B2 |
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors having the general formula are disclosed. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds to inhibit HCV are also disclosed. |
| US08044085B2 |
Active agent combinations with insecticidal and acaricidal properties
The invention relates to novel active compound combinations of certain having very good insecticidal and acaricidal properties and containing (a) cyclic ketoenols having the formula in which the groups W, X, Y, Z, A, B, D, and G have the meanings given in the disclosure, and (b) the active compounds (1) to (29) listed in the disclosure. |
| US08044081B2 |
Aminoderivative of biotin and their conjugates with macrocyclic chelating agents
Formula (I) compounds are described where the groups are as defined here below, processes for their preparation, and their uses for the preparation of conjugates with radionuclides for use in human and animal therapy and diagnostics, particularly for the diagnosis and therapy of pathological conditions such as tumours. |
| US08044080B2 |
Isoxazoline derivative and novel process for its preparation
The present invention relates to an isoxazoline derivative having the cyclic carboxylic acid hemiketal moiety of formula (1) for use as caspase inhibitor, a process for preparing it, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising it. |
| US08044079B2 |
Substituted oxindole derivatives, medicaments containing said derivatives and use thereof
The invention relates to novel oxindole derivative of general formula (I), wherein the substituents R1, R2, A, B, and Y are defined as in Claim 1. The invention further relates to medicaments containing said derivatives, and use thereof for the prevention and/or treatment of vasopressin-dependent diseases. |
| US08044076B2 |
Phenyl derivatives and their use as immunomodulators
The invention relates to phenyl derivatives of formula (I), their preparation and their use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Said compounds particularly act as immunomodulating agents. |
| US08044071B2 |
Method for reducing side effects of CB2 receptor agonist therapy using a combination of a selective CB2 receptor agonist and a selective CB1 receptor antagonist
The present application describes a method of treating pain with a combination of a CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonist and rimonabast. |
| US08044070B2 |
Heteroaryloxy nitrogenous saturated heterocyclic derivative
Provided are compounds of a formula (I) and their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts: wherein X1, X2 and X3 each independently represent N or CH; W represents the following formula (II): or the following formula (III): Y represents a group of a formula (IV): The compounds have a histamine-H3 receptor antagonistic or inverse-agonistic activity and are useful for remedy and/or prevention of obesity, diabetes, hormone secretion disorders, sleep disorders, etc. |
| US08044065B2 |
Benzothienopyridines for use as inhibitors of Eg5 kinesin
Compounds of a certain formula I, in which R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective compounds with Eg5 inhibitory, anti-proliferative and/or apoptosis inducing activity. |
| US08044057B2 |
Methods for suppressing an immune response or treating a proliferative disorder
Disclosed herein are methods for suppressing an immune response in a subject, treating a neoplasm in a subject, or treating a fibroproliferative vascular disease in a subject, that includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a 2-(4-piperazinyl)-substituted 4H-1-benzopyran-4-one compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the structure of wherein the presence of each of R1 and R2 is optional and R1 and R2 are each independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, alkoxy, halogen, hydroxy, or amino. |
| US08044056B2 |
Adenine compound
A novel adenine compound represented by the formula (1): [wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, etc., X is oxygen, etc., A1 is 4- to 8-membered substituted or unsubstituted saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycle containing 1 to 2 hetero atom(s) selected from 1 to 2 nitrogen(s), 0 to 1 oxygen and 0 to 1 sulfur, etc., A2 is substituted or unsubstituted 6- to 10-membered aryl, etc., L1 and L2 are independently a straight chain or branched chain alkylene, etc.], or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as a medicament. |
| US08044055B2 |
2-phenyl-6-aminocarbonyl-pyrimidine derivatives and their use as P2Y12 receptor
The invention relates to 2-phenyl-6-aminocarbonyl-pyrimidine derivatives and their use as P2Y12 receptor antagonists in the treatment and/or prevention and/or treatment of peripheral vascular, of visceral-, hepatic- and renal-vascular, of cardiovascular and of cerebrovascular diseases or conditions associated with platelet aggregation, including thrombosis in humans and other mammals. Formula (I). |
| US08044051B2 |
Methods and compositions for the production of high concentration alloxazine solutions
Methods are provided for preparation of compositions having an enhanced level of soluble alloxazine, as compared to compositions prepared using conventional techniques. Compositions and a riboflavin form having higher solubility in solution is also provided. |
| US08044049B2 |
Fused heterocyclic derivative and use thereof
The present invention provides a fused heterocyclic derivative having a potent kinase inhibitory activity and use thereof.A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, except a particular compound, or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical agent containing the compound or a prodrug thereof, which is a kinase (VEGFR, VEGFR2, PDGFR, Raf) inhibitor, an angiogenesis inhibitor, an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer, a cancer growth inhibitor or a cancer metastasis suppressor. |
| US08044047B2 |
5-substituted benzoxazines
The present invention is concerned with 5-substituted benzoxazine derivatives of formula (I) wherein X, R1 and R2 are as described herein, as well as their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them. Compounds of the present invention are 5-HT5A receptor antagonists, and are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, pain, memory disorders, dementia, disorders of eating behaviors, sexual dysfunction, sleep disorders, abuse of drugs, motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders or gastrointestinal disorders. |
| US08044043B2 |
CGRP receptor antagonists
The disclosure generally relates to the novel compounds of formula I, including their salts, which are CGRP receptor antagonists. The disclosure also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using the compounds in the treatment of CGRP related disorders including migraine and other headaches, neurogenic vasodilation, neurogenic inflammation, thermal injury, circulatory shock, flushing associated with menopause, airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). |
| US08044041B2 |
Phthalazine derivatives as inhibitors of protein kinase
The present invention relates to novel phthalazine derivatives and, more particularly, to phthalazine derivatives of formula (III) that are useful as protein kinase inhibitors. The invention also relates to methods of preparing the compounds, compositions containing the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds. |
| US08044040B2 |
N-heterocyclic inhibitors of TNF-alpha expression
N-heterocyclic compounds that block cytokine production via inhibition of p38 kinase are disclosed. In one embodiment, compounds of the present invention are represented by Formula (I): Methods of production, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating conditions associated with inappropriate p38 kinase activity or TNF-α expression utilizing compounds of the present invention are also disclosed. |
| US08044036B2 |
Fungicidal active ingredient combination
An active-compound combination of has very good fungicidal properties. |
| US08044032B2 |
Selective killing of cells by activation of double-stranded RNA dependent protein kinase-PKR
Novel methods and compositions for selective killing of cells by activation of PKR are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a method is provided for causing cell death in a targeted population of cells that includes the steps of: selecting a nucleotide sequence at a single genetic locus in the targeted population that is absent from the equivalent locus in a population of non-targeted cells; obtaining one or more anti-sense RNA having sequence homology with the locus in the targeted population; permitting the anti-sense RNA to hybridize with an RNA transcribed from the locus in the targeted population so as to form a contiguous double stranded RNA for interacting with PKR. The activation of PKR gives rise to selective cell death in the targeted population. |
| US08044030B2 |
Antibiotic macrocycle compounds and methods of manufacture and use thereof
The invention encompasses an active metabolite of the 18-membered macrocyclic antimicrobial agents, specifically, a metabolite of tiacumicin B and in certain embodiments, R-Tiacumicin B or and its related compounds. In particular, the invention encompasses a compound that acts as a potent antibiotic agent for the treatment of bacterial infections, specifically GI infections caused by toxin producing strains of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens). |
| US08044029B2 |
Sulfatides for treatment of autoimmune disorders
Disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders. Also disclosed are methods for treating such autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders with the administration of sulfatides. Also disclosed herein are methods of treating autoimmune or immune related diseases or disorders by administering an amount of a sulfatide to the body of a patient effective to reduce or prevent the symptoms of the autoimmune or immune related disease or disorder. |
| US08044024B2 |
Identifying modulators of fibroblast growth factor-like polypeptides
The present invention provides novel Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, antibodies and methods for producing FGF-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with FGF-like polypeptides. |
| US08044021B2 |
Sustained release of apo A-I mimetic peptides and methods of treatment
A method including advancing a delivery device through a lumen of a blood vessel to a particular region in the blood vessel; and introducing a composition including a sustained-release carrier and an apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) synthetic mimetic peptide into a wall of the blood vessel at the particular region or a perivascular site, wherein the peptide has a property that renders the peptide effective in reverse cholesterol transport. A composition including an apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) synthetic peptide, or combination of an apo A-I synthetic mimetic peptide and an Acyl CoA cholesterol: acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor in a form suitable for delivery into a blood vessel, the peptide including an amino acid sequence in an order reverse to an order of various apo A-I mimetic peptides, or endogenous apo A-I analogs, or a chimera of helix 1 and helix 9 of endogenous apo A-I. |
| US08044019B2 |
Cell penetrating peptide
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel cell penetrating peptide that transports proteins into cells and/or into nuclei at higher frequency than conventional cell penetrating peptides, and a pharmaceutical containing the peptide. |
| US08044018B2 |
Reagents and methods for smooth muscle therapies
The present invention provides novel polypeptides comprising heat shock protein 20 (HSP20)-derived polypeptides to treat or inhibit smooth muscle vasospasm, as well to treat and inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. |
| US08044016B2 |
Anti-grey detergent comprising a polycarbonate-, polyurethane-, and/or polyurea-polyorganosiloxane compound
The invention relates to a detergent which contains a surfactant and optionally further conventional additives of detergents and cleaning agents, the detergent comprising an anti-grey polycarbonate-, polyurethane- and/or polyurea-polyorganosiloxane compound or a precursor compound thereof containing specific reactive groups, which can be used for the production thereof. |
| US08044015B2 |
3-chloro 1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluoro-2,4-hexadiene and solvent compositions containing the same
Disclosed are compositions and systems having utility in numerous situations, including in particular solvent cleaning systems, as well as refrigerant lubricants and/or compatibilizing agents, and to methods which utilize such compositions and systems. More particularly, the present invention in preferred aspects is directed to solvents, blowing agents, heat transfer fluids and compatibilizing agents comprising the compound 3-chloro-1,1,1,6,6,6-hexafluoro-2,4-hexadiene. |
| US08044011B2 |
Cleaning agents comprising a polycarbonate-, polyurethane-, and/or polyurea-polyorganosiloxane compound
The invention relates to machine dishwashing agents containing specific polycarbonate-, polyurethane-, and/or polyurea-polyorganosiloxane compounds or precursor compounds thereof of the reactive cyclic carbonate and urea type which help to avoid the formation of water spots and filming after the use of the agents and accelerate the drying of dishes. |
| US08044010B2 |
Azeotropic compositions comprising fluorinated compounds for cleaning applications
The present invention relates to compositions comprising fluorinated olefins or fluorinated ketones, and at least one alcohol, halocarbon, hydrofluorocarbon, or fluoroether and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, these compositions are azeotropic or azeotrope-like. In another embodiment, these compositions are useful in cleaning applications as a degreasing agent or defluxing agent for removing oils and/or other residues from a surface. |
| US08044002B2 |
Solid zirconium-based cross-linking agent and use in oil field applications
A solid zirconium cross-linking agent and use in a cross-linking composition in oil field applications such as hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones. The zirconium cross-linking agent is prepared by a process comprising contacting a zirconium complex with an alkanolamine and water at particular mole ratios of alkanolamine and water to zirconium. |
| US08044001B2 |
Solid zirconium-based cross-linking agent and use in oil field applications
A solid zirconium cross-linking agent is prepared comprising zirconium and hydroxyalkylated ethylene diamine ligand. Use of the cross-linking agent in compositions for oil field applications such as hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones is also disclosed. |
| US08043998B2 |
Method for treating a fractured formation with a non-ionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant
The present invention includes compositions and methods of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation having at least one fracture, by contacting the fracture with a composition that includes a solvent and a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant, wherein the composition interacts with at least a portion of the proppants in the fracture. |
| US08043989B2 |
Desulfurization system for hydrocarbon fuel
A system is provided for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon fuel containing a light amount of methanol and a slight amount of water. The desulfurization system uses a Y-type zeolite-based desulfurizing agent containing at least copper arranged upstream of the system and an X-type zeolite-based desulfurizing agent containing at least silver arranged downstream of the system and thus can maintain desulfurization effect for a long period of time. |
| US08043984B2 |
Single sided stretch bonded laminates, and methods of making same
An elastic laminate capable of being rolled for storage and unwound from a roll when needed for use, includes an elastic layer of an array of continuous filament strands with meltblown deposited on the continuous filament strands, and a facing layer bonded to only one side of the elastic layer. The meltblown layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. The laminate suitably has an inter-layer peel strength of less than about 70 grams per 3 inches cross-directional width at a strain rate of 300 mm/min. Alternatively or additionally, the continuous filament strands and/or the facing layer may include an elastic polyolefin-based meltblown polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. In certain embodiments, the elastic laminate may include an extensible facing layer bonded to an elastic or semi-elastic film layer having a basis weight of about 50 gsm or less, wherein the facing layer includes an elastic polyolefin-based polymer having a degree of crystallinity between about 3% and about 40%. |
| US08043980B2 |
Methods for making and using halosilylgermanes
The invention provides compounds of, and methods for the preparation of compounds of, the molecular formula, SixGeyHz—aXa; wherein X is halogen, and x, y, z, and a are defined herein, and methods for the deposition of high-Ge content Si films on silicon substrates using compounds of the invention. |
| US08043979B2 |
Plasma oxidizing method, storage medium, and plasma processing apparatus
A plasma oxidizing method in which a plasma is produced in a processing chamber of a plasma processing apparatus under a processing condition that the proportion of oxygen in the processing gas is 20% or more and the processing pressure is 400 to 1333 Pa, and silicon exposed from the surface of an object to be processed is oxidized by the plasma to form a silicon oxide film. |
| US08043974B2 |
Semiconductor wet etchant and method of forming interconnection structure using the same
A semiconductor wet etchant includes deionized water, a fluorine-based compound, an oxidizer and an inorganic salt. A concentration of the fluorine-based compound is 0.25 to 10.0 wt % based on a total weight of the etchant, a concentration of the oxidizer is 0.45 to 3.6 wt % based on a total weight of the etchant, and a concentration of the inorganic salt is 1.0 to 5.0 wt % based on a total weight of the etchant. The inorganic salt comprises at least one of an ammonium ion (NH4+) and a chlorine ion (Cl−). |
| US08043973B2 |
Mask overhang reduction or elimination after substrate etch
A method of forming IC devices includes providing a substrate and forming a patterned masking layer including at least one masked region having at least one masking layer, and a feature region bounded by the masking layer. Etching forms an etched feature in the substrate, wherein undercutting during the etching forms at least one mask overhang region over a surface portion of the etched feature that is recessed relative to an outer edge of the masking layer. A pullback etch process exclusive of any additional patterning step laterally etches the masking layer. The conditions for the pullback etch retain at least a portion of the masking layer and reduce a length of the mask overhang region by at least 50%, or eliminate the mask overhang region entirely. The etched feature is then filled after the pullback etch process to form a filled etched feature. |
| US08043971B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus, ring member and plasma processing method
[Problem to be Solved] In a plasma processing apparatus for executing a process using plasma, promoting the sharing of an apparatus in executing a plurality of different processes and plasma states amongst apparatuses in executing same processes in a plurality of apparatuses are provided.[Solution] A ring member formed of an insulating material is disposed to surround a to-be-treated substrate in a processing vessel and an electrode is installed in the ring member for adjusting a plasma sheath region. For example, a first DC voltage is applied to the electrode when a first process is performed on the to-be-treated substrate and a second DC voltage is applied to the electrode when a second process is performed on the to-be-treated substrate. In this case, the plasma state can be matched by applying an appropriate DC voltage according to each process or each apparatus executing the same process. Therefore, the sharing of an apparatus can be promoted and the plasma state can be readily adjusted. |
| US08043965B2 |
Method of forming a through substrate via in a compound semiconductor
A method is provided for forming a through substrate via in a compound semiconductor having a transistor on a front side of the substrate. The method comprises forming a protective stop pad over a contact area on the front side of the substrate, forming a contact pad overlying the protective stop pad, such that the contact pad is in contact with a terminal of the transistor and plasma etching a backside of the substrate to form a contact coupling via to the protective stop pad. The method further comprises performing a chemical wet etch to remove the protective stop pad and depositing a conductive contact layer in the contact coupling via to provide a conductive contact to the contact pad. |
| US08043963B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that improves the reliability of a metal cap layer and productivity. The method includes an insulation layer step of superimposing an insulation layer (11) on a semiconductor substrate (2) including an element region (2b), a recess step of forming a recess (12) in the insulation layer (11), a metal layer step of embedding a metal layer (13) in the recess (12), a planarization step of planarizing a surface of the insulation layer (11) and a surface of the metal layer (13) to be substantially flush with each other, and a metal cap layer step of forming a metal cap layer (16) containing at least zirconium element and nitrogen element on the surface of the insulation layer (11) and the surface of the metal layer (13) after the planarization step. |
| US08043958B1 |
Capping before barrier-removal IC fabrication method
Methods of forming a capping layer on conductive lines in a semiconductor device may be characterized by the following operations: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a dielectric layer having (i) exposed conductive lines (e.g., copper lines) disposed therein, and (ii) an exposed barrier layer disposed thereon; and (b) depositing a capping layer material on at least the exposed conductive lines of the semiconductor substrate. In certain embodiments, the method may also involve removing at least a portion of a conductive layer (e.g., overburden) disposed over the barrier layer and conductive lines to expose the barrier layer. |
| US08043952B2 |
Method of forming aluminum oxide layer and method of manufacturing charge trap memory device using the same
Provided is a method of forming an aluminum oxide layer and a method of manufacturing a charge trap memory device using the same. The method of forming an aluminum oxide layer may include forming an amorphous aluminum oxide layer on an underlying layer, forming a crystalline auxiliary layer on the amorphous aluminum oxide layer, and crystallizing the amorphous aluminum oxide layer. Forming the crystalline auxiliary layer may include forming an amorphous auxiliary layer on the amorphous aluminum oxide layer; and crystallizing the amorphous auxiliary layer. |
| US08043951B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device obtainable therewith
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device on a substrate. The method may include forming a non-volatile memory in a memory area of the substrate. The forming non-volatile memory on a substrate may include formation in the memory area of a floating gate structure and of a control gate structure which is in a stacked configuration with the floating gate structure. One or more gate material layer may be formed in a logic area of the substrate. After forming the control gate structure and the gate material layer, a filling material layer may be deposited over the logic area and the memory area. The filling material layer may be partially removed by reducing the thickness of the filling material in the logic area and the memory area, at least until a top surface of the one or more gate material layer is exposed. Logic devices may be formed in the logic area, the formation may include forming a logic gate structure from the gate material layer. |
| US08043949B2 |
Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
There is provided a method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device including the steps of: in a semiconductor stacked substrate including a first conductivity type silicon carbide crystal substrate, a first conductivity type silicon carbide crystal layer, a second conductivity type silicon carbide crystal layer, and a first conductivity type semiconductor region, forming a trench extending through the first conductivity type semiconductor region and the second conductivity type silicon carbide crystal layer into the first conductivity type silicon carbide crystal layer defined as a bottom surface; forming a silicon film on at least a part of the trench; heating the semiconductor stacked substrate having the silicon film formed to a temperature that is not less than the melting temperature of the silicon film; removing the heated silicon film; forming a gate insulating film on a surface exposed after the silicon film is removed; and forming a gate electrode layer on a surface of the gate insulating film. |
| US08043948B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and design support apparatus
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a conductive film over a substrate; forming an assist pattern on the conductive film; forming a metal film to cover the conductive film and the assist pattern; etching back the metal film to form at least one side wall film on a side surface of the assist pattern; removing the assist pattern; forming at least one resist pattern to selectively expose a portion of the conductive film and a portion of the side wall film; performing etching using the resist pattern as a mask to remove the exposed portion of the side wall film; and etching the conductive film using the side wall film as a mask to form a gate electrode and a contact region electrically connected to the gate electrode. |
| US08043947B2 |
Method to eliminate re-crystallization border defects generated during solid phase epitaxy of a DSB substrate
A method for semiconductor processing provides a DSB semiconductor body having a first crystal orientation, a second crystal orientation, and a border region disposed between the first and second crystal orientations. The border region further has a defect associated with an interface of the first crystal orientation and second the second crystal orientation, wherein the defect generally extends a distance into the semiconductor body from a surface of the body. A sacrificial portion of the semiconductor body is removed from the surface thereof, wherein removing the sacrificial portion at least partially removes the defect. The sacrificial portion can be defined by oxidizing the surface at low temperature, wherein the oxidation at least partially consumes the defect. The sacrificial portion can also be removed by CMP. An STI feature may be further formed over the defect after removal of the sacrificial portion, therein consuming any remaining defect. |
| US08043945B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: exposing a surface of a semiconductor substrate to a halogen-containing gas that contains at least one of Si and Ge, the semiconductor substrate being provided with a member comprising an oxide and consisting mainly of Si; and exposing the surface of the semiconductor substrate to an atmosphere containing at least one of a Si-containing gas not containing halogen and a Ge-containing gas not containing halogen after starting exposure of the surface of the semiconductor substrate to the halogen-containing gas, thereby epitaxially growing a crystal film containing at least one of Si and Ge on the surface. |
| US08043943B2 |
Low-temperature formation of polycrystalline semiconductor films via enhanced metal-induced crystallization
A method for forming polycrystalline semiconductor film from amorphous semiconductor film at reduced temperatures and/or accelerated rates. The inclusion of a small percentage of semiconductor material, such as 2% within the metal layer, reduces the temperatures required for crystallization of the amorphous semiconductor by at least 50° C. in comparison to the use of the metal layer without the small percentage of semiconductor material. During a low temperature isothermal annealing process adjacent Al-2% Si and a-Si films undergo a layer exchange resulting in formation of a continuous polycrystalline silicon film having good physical and electrical properties. Formation of polycrystalline-semiconductor in this manner is suitable for use with low temperature substrates (e.g., glass, plastic) as well as with numerous integrated circuit and MEMs fabrication devices and practices. |
| US08043940B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor chip and semiconductor device
An improved yield of chips is realized by reducing the width of dicing streets on the front surface side of a semiconductor wafer. A method for semiconductor chip, divided a semiconductor wafer 10 having a plurality of circuit patterns formed on one surface 18 into pieces, comprising, forming a groove in a boundary region between the circuit patterns from the other surface 19 of the semiconductor wafer 10 by using a blade, forming a modified layer 14 in the boundary region between the circuit patterns by irradiation with laser light L from the one surface 18 or the other surface 19 of the semiconductor wafer 10, and dividing the semiconductor wafer into pieces by breaking the modified layer 14. The modified layer 14 is formed between a bottom surface 17 of a groove portion 16 and the one surface 18 of the semiconductor wafer 10, and a forming width WM of the modified layer 14 is smaller than the width of the groove portion 16. |
| US08043936B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An object is to suppress discharge due to static electricity generated by peeling, when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate. Over the substrate, the release layer and the element formation layer are formed. The support base material which can be peeled later is fixed to the upper surface of the element formation layer. The element formation layer is transformed through the support base material, and peeling is generated at an interface between the element formation layer and the release layer. Peeling is performed while the liquid is being supplied so that the element formation layer and the release layer which appear sequentially by peeling are wetted with the liquid such as pure water. Electric charge generated on the surfaces of the element formation layer and the release layer can be diffused by the liquid, and discharge by peeling electrification can be eliminated. |
| US08043935B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An object is to manufacture a semiconductor substrate having a single crystal semiconductor layer with favorable characteristics, without requiring CMP treatment and/or heat treatment at high temperature. In addition, another object is to improve productivity of semiconductor substrates. Vapor-phase epitaxial growth is performed by using a first single crystal semiconductor layer provided over a first substrate as a seed layer, whereby a second single crystal semiconductor layer is formed over the first single crystal semiconductor layer, and separation is performed at an interface of the both layers. Thus, the second single crystal semiconductor layer is transferred to the second substrate to provide a semiconductor substrate, and the semiconductor substrate is reused by performing laser light treatment on the seed layer. |
| US08043934B2 |
Methods of use and formation of a lateral bipolar transistor with counter-doped implant regions under collector and/or emitter regions
A method for protecting a semiconductor circuit from electrostatic discharge is disclosed. An electrostatic discharge is received at a node. Current created by the electrostatic discharge is directed vertically into a semiconductor body, laterally through the semiconductor and beneath a trench isolation region so that the current flows in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the semiconductor body, and to a reference supply node. The reference supply node being formed in a conductive layer disposed over the upper surface of the semiconductor body. |
| US08043931B1 |
Methods for forming multi-layer silicon structures
The embodiments of the present invention are directed to the formation of multi-layer silicon structures by forming and attaching a plurality of individual layers or structures where each of the layers or the structures comprises at least silicon forming a desired pattern. In some embodiments or some applications of some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of individual layers or the structures comprises a plurality of discrete silicon features that are combined together with at least one sacrificial material. In some embodiments or some applications of some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of individual layers or the structures comprises a plurality of discrete silicon features that are supported by a temporary substrate. Still in some embodiments or some applications of some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of individual layers or the structures needs to be machined after it is attached to a receiver such as a substrate or an another layer or structure. The present invention also discloses various fabrication methods for making required silicon layers or structures and attaching methods for forming multi-layer silicon structures. |
| US08043920B2 |
finFETS and methods of making same
A method of fabricating and a structure of a merged multi-fin finFET. The method includes forming single-crystal silicon fins from the silicon layer of an SOI substrate having a very thin buried oxide layer and merging the end regions of the fins by growing vertical epitaxial silicon from the substrate and horizontal epitaxial silicon from ends of the fins such that vertical epitaxial silicon growth predominates. |
| US08043918B2 |
Semiconductor device and its manufacturing method
To manufacture in high productivity a semiconductor device capable of securely achieving element isolation by a trench-type element isolation and capable of effectively preventing potentials of adjacent elements from affecting other nodes, a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes: a step of forming a first layer on a substrate; a step of forming a trench by etching the first layer and the substrate; a step of thermally oxidizing an inner wall of the trench; a step of depositing a first conductive film having a film thickness equal to or larger than one half of the trench width of the trench on the substrate including the trench; a step of removing a first conductive film from the first layer by a CMP method and keeping the first conductive film left in only the trench; a step of anisotropically etching the first conductive film within the trench to adjust the height of the conductive film to become lower than the height of the surface of the substrate; a step of depositing an insulating film on the first conductive film by the CVD method to embed the upper part of the first conductive film within the trench; a step of flattening the insulating film by the CMP method; and a step of removing the first layer. |
| US08043911B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor constructions
The invention includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions in which a single etch is utilized to penetrate through a titanium-containing layer and partially into a silicon-containing layer beneath the titanium-containing layer. The etch can utilize CH2F2. The silicon-containing layer can contain an n-type doped region and a p-type doped region. In some methods, the silicon-containing layer can contain an n-type doped region laterally adjacent a p-type doped region, and the processing can be utilized to form a transistor gate containing n-type doped silicon simultaneously with the formation of a transistor gate containing p-type doped silicon. |
| US08043908B2 |
Method of fabricating memory
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. First, a stacked structure is formed on a substrate. The stacked structure includes, from the substrate, a dielectric layer and a conductive gate in order. An ion implant process is performed to form doped regions in the substrate on the opposite sides of the stacked structure. Thereafter, source-side spacer is formed on a sidewall of the stacked structure. A thermal process is performed to activate the doped regions, thereby forming a source in the substrate under the sidewall of the stacked structure having the source-side spacer and a drain in the substrate on another side of the stacked structure. |
| US08043904B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing method and semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a mask layer on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, etching the semiconductor substrate using the mask layer as a mask, thereby forming a projecting semiconductor layer, forming a first insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate to cover a lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, doping a first-conductivity-type impurity into the first insulating layer, thereby forming a high-impurity-concentration layer in the lower portion of the projecting semiconductor layer, forming gate insulating films on side surfaces of the projecting semiconductor layer which upwardly extend from an upper surface of the first insulating layer, and forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating films and on the first insulating film. |
| US08043903B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to the following processes. A first recess is formed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region on the semiconductor substrate. The active region includes a protruding portion of the semiconductor substrate surrounded by the first recess. The protruding portion has a sloped side surface. A first insulating film that fills the first recess is formed. A gate recess is formed in the active region to form a thin film portion that upwardly extends. The thin film portion is positioned between the gate recess and the first insulating film. The thin film portion is a part of the protruding portion. An upper part of the thin film portion is removed by wet-etching to adjust a height of the thin film portion. |
| US08043902B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a TFT including at least one LDD region in a self-alignment manner without forming a sidewall spacer and increasing the number of manufacturing steps. A photomask or a reticle provided with an assist pattern that is formed of a diffraction grating pattern or a semi-transmitting film and has a function of reducing light intensity is employed in a photolithography step of forming a gate electrode, an asymmetrical resist pattern having a region with a thick thickness and a region with a thickness thinner than that of the above region on one side is formed, a gate electrode having a stepped portion is formed, and an LDD region is formed in a self-alignment manner by injecting an impurity element to the semiconductor layer through the region with a thin thickness of the gate electrode. |
| US08043901B2 |
Method for manufacturing display device
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a display device including a p-channel thin film transistor and an n-channel thin film transistor having a microcrystalline semiconductor film each of which are an inverted-staggered type, and relates to a method for formation of an insulating film and a semiconductor film which are included in the thin film transistor. Two or more kinds of high-frequency powers having different frequencies are supplied to an electrode for generating glow discharge plasma in a reaction chamber. High-frequency powers having different frequencies are supplied to generate glow discharge plasma, so that a thin film of a semiconductor or an insulator is formed. High-frequency powers having different frequencies (different wavelength) are superimposed and applied to the electrode of a plasma CVD apparatus, so that densification and uniformity of plasma for preventing the effect of surface standing wave of plasma can be realized. |
| US08043894B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with redistribution layer
An integrated circuit package system includes forming a first external interconnect having both a first side and a second side that is an opposing side to the first side; forming a first encapsulation around a first integrated circuit and the first external interconnect with the first side, the second side, and the first active side of the first integrated circuit exposed; forming a planar interconnect between the first active side and the second side; forming a second encapsulation covering the planar interconnect and the first active side; connecting a second integrated circuit over the first integrated circuit and the first side; and forming a top encapsulation over the second integrated circuit. |
| US08043893B2 |
Thermo-compression bonded electrical interconnect structure and method
An electrical structure and method for forming electrical interconnects. The method includes positioning a sacrificial carrier substrate such that a first surface of a non-solder metallic core structure within the sacrificial carrier substrate is in contact with a first electrically conductive pad. The first surface is thermo-compression bonded to the first electrically conductive pad. The sacrificial carrier substrate is removed from the non-solder metallic core structure. A solder structure is formed on a second electrically conductive pad. The first substrate comprising the non-solder metallic core structure is positioned such that a second surface of the non-solder metallic core structure is in contact with the solder structure. The solder structure is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the solder structure to melt and form an electrical and mechanical connection between the second surface of the non-solder metallic core structure and the second electrically conductive pad. |
| US08043892B2 |
Semiconductor die package and integrated circuit package and fabricating method thereof
A semiconductor die package includes a substrate, a semiconductor die mounted on the substrates a molding covering the semiconductor die and which is formed on the substrate and a conductive layer laminated on the molding. |