| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08111393B2 |
Structure for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
A structure for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is disclosed herein. The structure is made up of a substrate, a self-assembled layer of first metal particles established on the substrate, and a self-assembled layer of second metal particles established such that the second metal particles are positioned at interstitial spaces between the first metal particles. The first metal particles have a first predetermined diameter, and the second metal particles have a second predetermined diameter that is smaller than the first predetermined diameter. |
| US08111391B2 |
Optical cell
An optical cell for spectral analysis is disclosed generally comprising a monolithic cell body that transmits light, the cell body having an outer surface and a fluid channel for receiving a sample that defines an inner surface. The inner surface of said cell body includes a planar section, and the outer surface of said cell body likewise includes a planar section, which is adjacent and substantially parallel to the planar section of the inner surface. In certain embodiments, the ends of the channel are frustoconical, and ferrules are employed to secure sample inlet/outlet tubes to the cell. |
| US08111389B2 |
Method of inspecting defects in circuit pattern of substrate
Disclosed herein is a method of inspecting defects in a circuit pattern of a substrate. At least one laser beam radiation unit for radiating a laser beam onto an inspection target circuit pattern of a substrate in a non-contact manner is prepared. A probe beam radiation unit for radiating a probe beam onto a connection circuit pattern to be electrically connected to the inspection target circuit pattern in a non-contact manner is prepared. The laser beam is radiated onto the inspection target circuit pattern using the laser beam radiation unit. The probe beam is radiated onto the connection circuit pattern using the probe beam radiation unit, thus measuring information about whether the probe beam is diffracted, and a diffraction angle. Accordingly, the method can solve problems such as erroneous measurements caused by contact pressure and can reduce the time required for measurements. |
| US08111386B2 |
Measuring modal content of multi-moded fibers
The output modal content of optical fibers that contain more than one spatial mode may be analyzed and quantified by measuring interference between co-propagating modes in the optical fiber. By spatially resolving the interference, an image of the spatial beat pattern between two modes may be constructed, thereby providing information about the modes supported by the optical fiber. Measurements of the phase front exiting the optical fiber under test are advantageously performed in the far field. |
| US08111382B2 |
Distance measuring unit
The invention relates to a distance measuring unit (10) for contactless distance measurement, in particular a handheld unit, with a housing (12, 40), which has a housing front side (14), which points in the measurement direction (32), and a housing rear side (16), which faces away therefrom, wherein the housing rear side (16) forms a first reference plane (AA) for the distance measurement, and with at least one measurement stop (5) of a measurement stop element (4), which can be moved out of the housing (12). The invention proposes that the measurement stop element (46) is mounted in the housing (12, 40) in such a way that it moves automatically out of the housing (12, 40) once a locking apparatus (62, 63, 65) has been released and is optionally moved at least into a first (1) or into a second (1) measurement position. |
| US08111378B2 |
Exposure method and apparatus, and device production method
Disclosed is an exposure method which illuminates a first object with an exposure beam and exposes a second object with the exposure beam through the first object and a projection optical system, wherein at least a part of one of the first object and the projection optical system is irradiated with a light beam having a wavelength range different from that of the exposure beam through a space waveguide mechanism, to correct an imaging characteristic of the projection optical system. |
| US08111376B2 |
Feedforward/feedback litho process control of stress and overlay
A method and apparatus for process control in a lithographic process are described. Metrology may be performed on a substrate either before or after performing a lithographic patterning process on the substrate. One or more correctables to the lithographic patterning process may be generated based on the metrology. The lithographic patterning process performed on the substrate (or a subsequent substrate) may be adjusted with the correctables. |
| US08111371B2 |
Illumination device and liquid crystal display device
An illumination device includes an LED package, an LED driver including an FET, and a thermistor disposed on a substrate. A plurality of such LED packages are disposed on the substrate such that a first area and a second area, each determined by vertices corresponding to LED packages, are defined on the substrate. The thermistor is disposed in the first area, and the FET is disposed in the second area, which is outside of the first area. The thermistor detects a temperature in the first area. Such a configuration allows the thermistor to detect, in accordance with the temperature in the area, the temperature of heat transferred from the LED packages, without being affected by heat generated by the FET. This makes it possible to efficiently make temperature corrections to stabilize color temperature and luminance. |
| US08111367B2 |
Display device
A display device comprises a metallic wiring formed on an insulating substrate, an inorganic insulating film formed on the metallic wiring, an organic resin film formed on the inorganic insulating film, a transparent conductive film formed in a portion on the metallic wiring where the inorganic insulating film and the organic resin film are removed, a connection terminal formed in a region for mounting a driving IC external to the display region on the insulating substrate, and a bump of the driving IC connected to the connection terminal by an anisotropic conductive film in order to supply a signal to the display region. The region for mounting a driving IC includes a region where the inorganic insulating film and the organic resin film are formed on the metallic wiring and a region where the inorganic insulating film and the organic resin film are removed from the metallic wiring. |
| US08111364B2 |
In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display capable of improving an aperture ratio and fabrication method thereof
An in-plane switching (IPS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a plurality of gate lines and data lines arranged vertically and horizontally to define a plurality of pixel regions on a first substrate; thin film transistors (TFTs) at each crossing of the gate and data lines and including an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, respectively; a common electrode line substantially parallel to the gate lines; a plurality of first pixel electrodes and first common electrodes and a plurality of second pixel electrodes and second common electrodes having a tilt angle with respect to the gate lines and alternately disposed on upper and lower portions of the pixel regions to generate an in-plane electric field; and a second substrate attached with the first substrate. |
| US08111362B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A method of manufacturing, with high mass productivity, liquid crystal display devices having highly reliable thin film transistors with excellent electric characteristics is provided. In a liquid crystal display device having an inverted staggered thin film transistor, the inverted staggered thin film transistor is formed as follows: a gate insulating film is formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film which functions as a channel formation region is formed over the gate insulating film; a buffer layer is formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of source and drain regions are formed over the buffer layer; and a pair of source and drain electrodes are formed in contact with the source and drain regions so as to expose a part of the source and drain regions. |
| US08111357B2 |
Optical element and display device using the same
An optical element is arranged in such a manner that a screen thereof can be hardly observed from a predetermined direction, and a deterioration of an image quality caused by moire does not occur. The optical element is constituted by a first polarizing layer, a second polarizing layer, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between these two polarizing layers. In the optical element, absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer are located parallel to each other; the liquid crystal layer is made of hybrid-aligned discotic liquid crystal; and an alignment axis of the liquid crystal layer is located parallel to, or perpendicular to both absorption axes of the first polarizing layer and of the second polarizing layer. |
| US08111356B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel provided with microlens array, method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel, and liquid crystal display device
There is provided a liquid crystal display panel with microlenses in which deformation, peeling, and the like of an optical film are not likely to occur and which has a good displaying quality.A liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention includes: a microlens array provided on a light-incident side of a liquid crystal display panel; a support provided on the light-incident side of the liquid crystal display panel so as to surround the microlens array; and an optical film attached to the liquid crystal display panel via the support. A gap is formed between the microlens array and the optical film; at least one vent hole connecting a space outside the support and the gap is formed in the support; and, when seen perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the liquid crystal display panel, the vent hole extends in a bending manner or the vent hole extends in an oblique direction with respect to an inner face of the support. |
| US08111355B2 |
Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal transflective LCD and method for designing the same
A method for designing a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The method includes mixing liquid crystal (LC) molecules and polymer monomers to obtain a mixture. The method further includes injecting the mixture into an LC layer of a transflective LCD in a vacuum. And then polymer dispersed LC can be generated. The generated polymer dispersed LC and the transflective LCD can form a PDLC transflective LCD. |
| US08111354B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device using the same
A backlight unit having a LED light source includes a light guide plate partitioned in areas each having a tapered shape formed of a thick portion and a thin portion. The light guide plate is formed such that a thick portion and a thin portion are repeated at certain intervals, and the repeated thick portions and the repeated thin portions gradually decrease in thickness. The LED light source is attached to a lateral side of each thick portion. Grooves are formed in the light irradiation direction of the LED light source and in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the light irradiation direction. Each of the grooves is formed in an concave shape (V-shape or trapezoid-shape). There is a relation 0.2/30<=W/D<0.1 where D denotes the distance between the light guide plate and a light diffusion plate, and W denotes the width of each of the grooves. An inclination angle θ relative to the center of each of the grooves is between 9 and 15 degrees inclusive.Thus, the backlight unit having the LED light source can utilize an area-partitioned light guide plate which provides an ideal front luminance distribution. |
| US08111352B2 |
Anisotropic optical device with varying local imagewise and method for making same
The present invention relates to a new optical component comprising an anisotropic diffuser (5,10) with patterned anisotropy; and means (9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 30, 32) for providing a colorshift observable upon changing viewing angle (6) and/or changing angle of incident light (2). It also relates to methods for making such an optical component and uses of such optical components as security elements with a very high level of security. |
| US08111351B2 |
Back light unit and liquid crystal display using the same
The disclosure relates to the backlight unit for preventing the optical sheet from cracking and the liquid crystal display using the backlight unit. The backlight unit comprises a light having a plurality of light sources; a bottom cover housing the light and having a first protrusion; a support side engaging to both open ends of the bottom cover to support the light and having a second protrusion; an optical sheet disposing on the light and including a first hook having a first elliptical hole for inserting the first protrusion and a second hook having a second elliptical hole for inserting the second protrusion; and a first slit between an edge of the first hook and the first elliptical hole within the first hook, and a second slit between an edge of the second hook and the second elliptical hole within the second hook. |
| US08111350B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof
A plurality of protrusions is formed on the C-plane substrate with a corundum structure. A base film made of a III-V compound semiconductor including Ga and N is formed on the surface of the substrate. The surface of the base film is flatter than the surface of the substrate. A light emitting structure including Ga and N is disposed on the base film. The protrusions are regularly arranged in a first direction that is tilted by less than 15 degrees with respect to the a-axis of the base film and in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. Each protrusion has two first parallel sides tilted by less than 15 degrees relative to an m-axis and two second parallel sides tilted by less than 15 degrees relative to the a-axis. An interval between the two second sides is wider than an interval between the two first sides. |
| US08111348B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with polarizing filter in housing to block outside light
A liquid crystal display device includes a housing, a liquid crystal panel provided in the housing and comprises first and second transparent substrates spaced from each other at predetermined intervals, a sealing member to seal an internal space formed between the first and second transparent substrates, a liquid crystal to fill the internal space, first and second transparent electrodes formed in the first and second transparent substrates, respectively, and a polarizing plate to transmit light in a predetermined polarizing direction, a backlight unit disposed in the housing to emit surface light to the liquid crystal panel, and a polarizing filter disposed in the housing, and spaced from the liquid crystal panel at predetermined intervals to transmit predetermined polarized light and to block other polarized light of incident light. |
| US08111346B2 |
Liquid crystal display with protruding supports and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display has a frame including a base and a reinforced portion extending from the base, the reinforced portion defining a partial edge of the frame. The liquid crystal display further includes an optical sheet on the base, the optical sheet including a backlight unit, a flexible printed circuit on the optical sheet, and a liquid crystal display panel comprising a large scale integrated circuit, the liquid crystal display panel substantially covering the optical sheet. A window is attached to and substantially covers the frame at least one support extends from the base for supporting the window and/or the backlight unit. |
| US08111345B2 |
Display device comprising a first positioning wall having a height larger than the height of the bonding surface of the substrates and a second positioning wall having a height smaller than the height of the bonding surface
A LCD device includes a LC panel unit including TFT and counter substrates, and a backlight unit on which the LC panel unit is mounted. The backlight unit has a plurality of positioning ribs protruding from the backlight unit in the vicinity of the corners of the display panel for positioning the display panel. Some of the positioning ribs have a first positioning wall having a height larger than the height of the boundary between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate in a first display area in which the edge of the TFT substrate protrudes from the edge of the counter substrate. Others of the positioning ribs have a second positioning wall having a height lower than the height of the boundary between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate in a second display area in which the edge of the TFT substrate is flush with the edge of the counter substrate. |
| US08111343B2 |
Color filter on array display substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A display substrate includes a plurality of color filters formed on a base substrate, a gate line formed in a trench defined by at least one of the color filters and extended along a first direction, an insulation layer formed on the color filters and the gate line, a data line formed on the insulation layer to be extended along a second direction crossing the first direction, and pixel electrodes formed on the base substrate having the data line formed thereon. |
| US08111342B2 |
Display substrate, method of manufacturing the same and display device using the display substrate
A display substrate that has increased aperture ratio is presented. The display substrate includes a base substrate, a first metal pattern formed on the base substrate and a gate wiring and a gate electrode. A first insulating layer is formed on the base substrate covering the first metal pattern. A second metal pattern is formed on the first insulating layer including a data wiring crossing the gate wiring, a source electrode connected to the data wiring and a drain electrode separated from the source electrode. A second insulating layer is formed on the base substrate covering the second metal pattern. A transparent electrode is formed on the second insulating layer. An organic layer is formed on the transparent electrode, and a pixel electrode is formed on the organic layer being insulated with the transparent electrode, and contacted to the drain electrode. The organic layer may comprise red, green and blue color filters. |
| US08111339B2 |
Liquid crystal projector and control method for liquid crystal projector
A liquid crystal projector which projects a three-dimensional imaged based on image signals for the left and right eyes including: a liquid crystal panel into which an image for the left or right eye is written in a one-field time period based on the image signal; an optical shutter has a plurality of divisional regions arranged in a vertical direction and controllable independently in regard to whether or not light should be blocked; a polarizing element has a plurality of divisional regions arranged in vertical direction and controllable independently in regard to whether the polarization direction should be set to that for the left eye or the right eye; and a control circuit controls the optical shutter and the polarizing element in synchronism with a writing position in the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08111338B2 |
Beam shaping device
A beam shaping device (1; 50; 60) comprising first (3) and second (4) substrates, a liquid crystal layer (2) sandwiched between the substrates, and a first electrode layer (5; 51) provided on a side of the first substrate (3) facing the liquid crystal layer (2). The beam shaping device is controllable between beam shaping states, each permitting passage of light through the beam shaping device, and further comprises an insulating layer (7) covering the first electrode layer (5; 51) and a second electrode layer (6; 53) provided on top of the insulating layer. The second electrode layer (6; 53) comprises a conductor pattern exposing a portion of the insulating layer (7). The beam shaping device is configured in such a way that application of a voltage (V) between the first (5; 51) and second (6; 53) electrode layers causes liquid crystal molecules comprised in a portion of the liquid crystal layer (2) corresponding to the exposed portion of the insulating layer to tilt in a plane perpendicular to the liquid crystal layer, resulting in a local refractive index gradient, thereby enabling shaping of a beam (8) of light passing through the beam shaping device. |
| US08111335B1 |
Television listing remote control
A television listing remote control. An illustrative embodiment of the television listing remote control includes a central processing unit and a port, a power source and a display connected to the central processing unit. The central processing unit is adapted to receive television program listing information through the port and display the television program listing information on the display. A transmitter is connected to the central processing unit. A plurality of control buttons is connected to the central processing unit. |
| US08111334B2 |
Signal switching apparatus and control method of signal switching apparatus
A signal switching apparatus includes: a video reference input block; a plurality of synchronous signal generating blocks; a plurality of video signal input blocks; a signal processing block; a video signal output processing block; a switching block; and a control block. |
| US08111328B2 |
Image signal processing apparatus, image display, and image display method
An image signal processing apparatus, an image display, and an image display method that enable detecting a black band region included in an input image signal in a shorter time and realizes a more viewable image are provided. The image signal processing apparatus includes a black band detecting means for detecting in a unit frame period a black band region included in an input image signal, a calculating means for calculating a scaling ratio of the input image signal while maintaining an aspect ratio thereof based on a detection result from the black band detecting means, and a scaling means for scaling the input image signal up or down based on the ratio obtained by the calculating means. |
| US08111327B2 |
Method and apparatus for audio/video synchronization
A method for audio/video synchronization and an apparatus thereof are provided. At least one dynamic synchronization checkpoint is disposed on the playback sample number axis of a video. Whether or not the audio and the video are synchronized is checked when the playback sample number of the video is set the dynamic synchronization checkpoint. The video is paused playing if the playback speed of the video is too fast, and those delayed playback sample number of the video having not been played are skipped if the playback speed of the video is too slow. Furthermore, the location of the dynamic synchronization checkpoint and the frequency of performing synchronization detection are adjusted according to the playback time jitter between the audio and the video. |
| US08111325B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method and program
An image processing apparatus includes an interlace-progressive converter converting an interlace input image into a progressive intermediate image, a motion-vector detector detecting motion vectors of the input image by using a distance shorter than the pixel interval of the intermediate image, a cyclic-coefficient setting unit setting, on the basis of a vertical motion, a first cyclic coefficient for a first type of pixel and a second cyclic coefficient for a second type of pixel, a motion compensator motion-compensating, on the basis of the motion vectors, a past progressive output image to generate a motion-compensated image, and an output image generator generating a progressive output image by adding pixel values of the first type of pixels and the second type of pixels of the progressive intermediate image and the motion-compensated image by using the first cyclic coefficient and the second cyclic coefficient as weights. |
| US08111320B2 |
Multi-image capture system with improved depth image resolution
The multi-image capture system comprises an imaging lens, a beamsplitter directing a first portion of light on an array of micro-imaging elements and a first photodetector array divided into a plurality of macropixels providing a set of depth images, and another portion of light on a second photodetector array 6 providing a main image with a resolution being higher than the resolution of each basic depth image. According to the invention, the resolution of the depth images is increased by using the image data of the main image. |
| US08111317B2 |
Image capturing apparatus with lens cover
An image capturing apparatus includes a camera body having an image-capturing lens for receiving light to form an image of a subject and a display unit having a display screen for displaying the image. The display unit is slidably supported by the camera body. A surface of the display unit opposite a surface having the display screen disposed thereon faces a surface of the camera body opposite a surface having the image-capturing lens disposed thereon. An image capture button is disposed on the surface of the camera body opposite the surface having the image-capturing lens disposed thereon. The image capture button is exposed when the display unit is slid over the camera body in a first direction and the image capture button is covered by the display unit when the display unit is slid over the camera body in a second direction opposite the first direction. |
| US08111316B2 |
Video camera
In a video camera, air outlet holes and air inlet holes are disposed in a panel-facing surface of a camera body. A duct is disposed inside the camera body and guides the air taken in through the air inlet holes to the air outlet holes. A first heat sink is so arranged as to extend from an image sensor into the duct, and the first heat sink releases the heat generated by the image sensor into the duct. A liquid crystal panel unit is movably disposed between a first position in which a first face of the liquid crystal panel unit including a display screen of a liquid crystal panel faces the panel-facing surface of the camera body and a second position in which a second face faces the panel-facing surface. When the liquid crystal panel unit is in the first position, the first face is so formed as to cover the air outlet holes and the air inlet holes. The second surface of the liquid crystal panel unit is formed so that the air outlet holes and the air inlet holes are open to the exterior when the liquid crystal panel unit is in the second position. |
| US08111311B2 |
Image sensing device and image sensing system
An image sensing device includes a multilayer wiring structure comprising a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer. The second wiring layer comprises a plurality of vertical signal lines extending in the vertical direction among a plurality of photoelectric conversion units of a pixel unit to transfer the signal output by an amplification transistor and a plurality of vertical power supply lines extending in the vertical direction between two pixel units adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction to supply a power supply voltage to the amplification transistor or the reset transistor. The vertical power supply lines supply the power supply voltage to the reset transistor of the adjacent pixel unit on a first side in the horizontal direction and supply the power supply voltage to the amplification transistor of the adjacent pixel unit on a second side in the horizontal direction. |
| US08111308B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, and image pickup apparatus
A signal processing apparatus which is capable of performing a smear amount correction processing suitably according to change in the smear amount to suppress overcorrection of the smear amount. An output value of an image sensor and a smear amount on each of vertical lines of the image sensor are stored, respectively. An output signal value of an optical black portion on the image sensor stored in the first memory is compared with the smear amount stored in the second memory to determine a cyclic coefficient based on the comparison result. The smear amount is calculated based on the output signal value of the optical black portion on the image sensor stored in the first memory, the smear amount stored in the second memory, and the cyclic coefficient determined by the smear detection unit. A correction coefficient is calculated based on the smear amount determined by the smear amount calculating unit. The output signal value on an effective pixel portion of the image sensor stored in the first memory is subjected to a correction processing using the correction coefficient determined by the correction coefficient calculating unit. |
| US08111306B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for eliminating dark current components of an image pickup device
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device including plural imaging planes each having different dark current characteristics, each of the imaging planes having an effective image area and an corresponding optical black (OPB) area. The image pickup apparatus also includes a memory that stores a dark current data table including difference data between dark current values pre-measured at upper and lower areas of the effective image area of each of the imaging planes and dark current values pre-measured at corresponding upper and lower areas of the OPB area. The image pickup apparatus further includes an image processing unit to calculate estimate dark current values for the effective image area based on the dark current data table and actual dark current values measured in the OPB area for each of the imaging planes, and eliminates the dark current components for the effective imaging areas. |
| US08111304B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and computer readable medium in which an image extracted in association with selected object information is displayed
There is provided an image capturing apparatus that automatically registers a taken object. The image capturing apparatus according to the present invention includes an object extracting section that extracts an object included in a captured image, a characteristic amount computing section that computes an amount of characteristic of the object based on the image with the object extracted from the object extracting section, a characteristic amount storing section that stores the amount of characteristic of the object computed from the characteristic amount computing section in association with object identification information identifying the object, a characteristic amount comparing section that compares an amount of characteristic of an object included in an image newly taken by an image capturing section and the amount of characteristic of the object stored on the characteristic amount storing section to compute a degree of coincidence of the objects, and an object identification information storing section that stores the object identification information stored on the characteristic amount storing section in association with the image newly taken by the image capturing section when it is judged that the degree of coincidence of the objects computed from the characteristic amount comparing section is not less than a predetermined reference value. |
| US08111302B2 |
White balance control apparatus and method
An apparatus includes an evaluation acquisition unit, a chromaticity value calculation unit, a weight coefficient calculation unit, a histogram analysis unit, an appearance at a light source calculation unit, a white balance coefficient calculation unit, and a white balance operating unit. the evaluation acquisition unit acquires color signal values from image data. The chromaticity value calculation unit calculates chromaticity values from the color signal values. The weight coefficient calculation unit extracts a signal value as a lightness value, and calculates a weight coefficient determined by the lightness value. The histogram analysis unit calculates the center position of a histogram, a histogram multiplication value and a histogram dispersion value. The appearance at a light source calculation unit calculates an appearance at a light source for each color temperature. The white balance operating unit executes a white balance operation with respect to the image data using a white balance coefficient. |
| US08111299B2 |
Demosaicking single-sensor camera raw data
An image processing method that demosaicks a mosaic input image of R, G, and B components to generate a full color output image. The image processing method calculates both vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Next, the image processing method calculates an enhanced version of both the vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Next, the image processing method evaluates the variations in the enhanced luminance-chrominance difference components in order to create an edge directional map indicating the direction in which demosaicking should be performed. Then, the image processing method interpolates a G component for each of the pixels with the original R and B components using the edge directional map. Next, the image processing method interpolates an R component for each of the pixels with the original G and B components and a B component for each of the pixels with the original R and G components. Finally, the image processing method enhances the interpolated R and B components using the edge directional map. |
| US08111295B2 |
Image stabilizer and optical instrument therewith
A CCD support mechanism includes a CCD holder for holding a CCD, a first printed circuit board having a first printed coil, a second printed circuit board having a second printed coil, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, and a pair of vertical leaf springs. When a camera shake occurs by hand-held shooting, a VCM composed of the first printed coil and a first stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the horizontal leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in a Y-axis direction. A VCM composed of the second printed coil and a second stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the vertical leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in an X-axis direction. Current values of the VCMs are determined by feedback control by using an output signal from a shake detector as a target value and a present position from a position detector as a measurement value. |
| US08111290B2 |
Radiometric calibration using temporal irradiance mixtures
A method of calibrating a brightness value measured by a camera with an amount of light received by the camera includes creating a series of measurements, wherein for each measurement the amount of light received at an image plane in the camera is controlled to be a known ratio of two opposed irradiance values: a high irradiance value and a low irradiance value. Each ratio is correlated with the brightness value measured by the camera. A function is obtained describing the correlation. |
| US08111283B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding video data to implement local three-dimensional video
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding/decoding video data. The video data decoding method includes decoding a first video stream to generate 2D video data for two-dimensionally displaying video content and decoding a second video stream to generate 3D video data for three-dimensionally displaying at least one part of the display section of the video content. |
| US08111276B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus with a center adjusting mechanism
An optical scanning device deflects a light beam emitted from a light source device by a vibrating mirror, scans a scanning surface with deflected light beam, and focuses the light beam onto the scanning surface by a scanning imaging optical system. The optical scanning device includes an offset detecting unit that detects an offset that is a deviation between a center of vibration amplitude of the vibrating mirror and a center of an optical scanning area and an adjusting unit that adjusts the center of the vibration amplitude when the offset detected by the offset detecting unit is larger than a predetermined value. |
| US08111274B2 |
Thermal printer
A thermal printer has a thermal head pivotally mounted on a main body frame to pivot toward and away from a platen roller. The platen roller has shaft bearings at opposite ends thereof that are removably inserted in two spaced-apart opposed slots formed in the main body frame to rotatably support the platen roller. First springs bias a pivotal lock arm to a locked position to prevent removal of the shaft bearings from the slots, and second springs bias the thermal head toward the platen roller. Manual pivotal movement of the lock arm to an unlocked position permits removal of the shaft bearings from the shaft. The biasing directions of the first and second springs are parallel, which reduces the stroke distance of the first springs resulting in size reduction of the thermal printer. |
| US08111272B2 |
Method for compensating misalignment errors in electrophotographic device
A method for compensating misalignment errors associated with a laser beam in an electrophotographic (EP) device is disclosed. A first value and a second value of a time-of-flight of the laser beam are determined. The second value of the time-of-flight is associated with a current value of SOS time and EOS time of the laser beam. The second value of the time-of-flight of the laser beam is compared with the first value of the time-of-flight. A duty cycle of a fuser of the EP device is monitored. An average value of the duty cycle of the fuser for a predetermined time period is determined. One or more alignment conditions of the laser beam are adjusted based on at least one of the comparisons of the second value and the first value of the time-of-flight of the laser beam, and the determined average value of the duty cycle of the fuser. |
| US08111265B2 |
Systems and methods for brightness preservation using a smoothed gain image
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for brightness preservation using a smoothed gain map. |
| US08111264B2 |
Method of and system for non-uniform image enhancement
Methods of rendering a view of a scene include steps that specify quality levels of anti-aliasing and texture filtering for predetermined regions of a display, or selected objects within the scene, or both. Methods of processing data for display include steps adapted to process portions of the image according to selected or predetermined anti-aliasing and texture filtering quality levels. Graphics processing equipment includes hardware or software adapted to perform non-uniform anti-aliasing of images according to specified criteria. |
| US08111263B2 |
Video display device and color temperature correction method for the same
A video display device that allows the color temperature of the signals in white color attributes having high luminance and low chroma saturation to be corrected with high precision is provided with a color temperature correction method so as to visually obtain a desirable white color on display. In some embodiments, the signal processing circuit can include an A/D converter to convert video signals into digitalized signals, a matrix circuit to convert the digitalized signals into luminance signals and at least two color difference signals, a hue conversion circuit to obtain hue signals from the color difference signals, a hue correction circuit to correct hue signals, a chroma saturation conversion circuit to obtain chroma saturation signals from color difference signals, a chroma saturation correction circuit to correct chroma saturation signals and a color temperature correction circuit to perform the color temperature correction on the respective hue and chroma saturation signals. |
| US08111257B2 |
System and method for the generation of navigation graphs in real-time
A system and method for navigation graph generation in real time is provided including a dictionary operable to maintain information mapping surface features to navigational costs. Further included is a graphical module operable to transform geometrical data of a virtual world and associated navigational costs obtained from the dictionary into navigation data; a graph-generation module operable to translate the navigation data into a semi-generated navigation graph; and a physical module operable to receive the semi-generated navigation graph, and generate an updated navigation graph based on collisions test. |
| US08111254B2 |
Depth image-based representation method for 3D object, modeling method and apparatus, and rendering method and apparatus using the same
A depth image-based representation (DIBR) method of modeling a 3-dimensional (3D) object, by which the 3D object is expressed by depth information, color information, and camera parameters or geometry information, color information, and camera parameters. The camera parameters include position, orientation, ranges of camera view or angle (fieldOfView), front and back of a camera volume (nearPlane and farPlane) and projection information(orthographic) on whether an object is projected on a camera orthographically or perspectively, and, when at least one of modeling and rendering of a 3D object is performed, values of the camera parameters are changed in real time. |
| US08111248B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel including first and second substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, each of the first and second substrates defining a central display region and a peripheral non-display region; a cover glass integrated touch sensor on the liquid crystal panel, the touch sensor including a plurality of transparent first electrodes and second electrodes formed on a surface of the cover glass facing the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first electrodes and second electrodes cross each other; and a touch signal applicator at a side of the cover glass away from the display region of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08111240B2 |
Operation panel structure
An operation panel structure for an image forming apparatus, said operation panel, structure having an operation panel protruding from a front side of the image forming apparatus. The operation panel has a first section mainly functioning as a display and a second section mainly having operation keys, and the first section and the second section are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the width direction of the image forming apparatus at respective specified angles to a horizontal plane. The second section is located in front of the first section. The first section is rectangular in a plan view, and the second section is substantially semicircular in a plan view. A front edge of the first section and a rear linear edge of the second section are connected to each other. |
| US08111235B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes an image display unit having a light source and a light modulating unit; a histogram generating unit; a function generating unit; a first brightness calculating unit; a second brightness calculating unit; a first difference calculating unit; a first multiplying unit; a first summation calculating unit; a first brightness gradient calculating unit; a second brightness gradient calculating unit; a second difference calculating unit; a second multiplying unit; a second summation calculating unit; a weighted linear sum calculating unit; a determination unit; a control parameter selecting unit; and a control unit. |
| US08111231B2 |
Display method for liquid crystal panel, and display apparatus
A display method for a liquid crystal panel is provided. The method includes a step of scanning pixels, arranged in a matrix, in an horizontal direction and in a vertical direction, to write video signals, thereby performing display; and a step of delaying the vertical-direction scanning for writing the video signals by a predetermined amount of time and writing a first predetermined fixed-level signal to all pixels in a row specified by the vertical-direction scanning delayed by the predetermined amount of time, in a predetermined time in the horizontal blanking period, thereby performing display. |
| US08111226B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display device includes a data line, a first gate line, a second gate line, a first sub-pixel unit, and a second sub-pixel unit. The first sub-pixel unit includes a first switch, a first liquid-crystal capacitor and a first storage capacitor. The first switch functions to control writing the data signal of the data line into the first liquid-crystal and storage capacitors based on the first gate signal of the first gate line. The second sub-pixel unit includes a second switch, a second liquid-crystal capacitor, an auxiliary switch, a second storage capacitor and a third storage capacitor. The second and auxiliary switches are employed to control writing the data signal into the second liquid-crystal capacitor, the second storage capacitor and the third storage capacitor based on the first gate signal and the second gate signal of the second gate line respectively. |
| US08111225B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a plurality of subfields
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel provided with plural gate lines to select a pixel and plural data lines to supply pixel data and a data driver dividing a single frame into plural fields and converting frame data into field data to supply the field data to the data line is provided. When the frame data has a tone change, the data driver performs correction to data of an odd-number field of the frame in a same direction as an increase/decrease direction of the tone change of the frame data, and performs correction to data of an even-number field of the frame in an opposite direction to the increase/decrease direction of the tone change of the frame data. |
| US08111216B2 |
Display system and pixel driving circuit thereof
A pixel driving circuit comprises a storage capacitor, a transistor, a transfer circuit, a driving element, and a switch circuit. The storage capacitor comprises first and second nodes. The transistor has a gate coupled to a discharge signal and is coupled between the first and second nodes. The discharge signal turns on the transistor in first and second discharge periods to discharge the storage capacitor. The transfer circuit outputs a data signal or a reference signal to the first node of the storage capacitor. The switch circuit is coupled to the driving element, a first display element and a second display element. The switch circuit can make the driving element diode-connected in first and second data load periods, and allow a driving current through a first display element in a first light-emitting period and a second display element in a second light-emitting period. |
| US08111213B2 |
Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A driving method of a plasma display device including a plurality of first electrodes divided into a plurality of groups including first and second groups, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of third electrodes that intersect the plurality of first and second electrodes, may include dividing one frame into a plurality of subfields, each subfield including a reset period, an address period and a sustain period so as to be driven by a time division method, supplying a scan pulse and a scan reference voltage to the first group during a first address period in the address period, supplying a compensation pulse to at least one of the first and second groups during an address compensation period in the address period, and supplying the scan pulse and the scan reference voltage to the second group during a second address period in the address period. |
| US08111212B2 |
Method for driving plasma display panel
A plasma display driving method in which, in an erase stage of a last sub-field of a one-field display period, a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to one row electrode of each of the row electrode pairs for each scanning line or for each scanning line group having a plurality of scanning lines, while an erase pulse is applied to column electrodes simultaneously with the application of the scanning pulse, to cause an erase discharge between the one row electrode and each of the column electrodes to which the erase pulse is applied. |
| US08111208B2 |
Front and rear removable panel for electronic displays
Display apparatus and methods of making them are disclosed. The display apparatus includes frame members assembled to form a frame for the display apparatus and display modules configured for displaying at least a portion of an adaptable image. Each display module is coupled to the frame members to form a matrix organization of display modules for the display apparatus. The display module includes a removable panel and apertures formed therethrough. The apertures are arranged as pixel rows including pixel arrangements distributed along each pixel row. The display module also includes coupling devices attached to the removable panel, which are configured for detachably coupling the removable panel to the frame members, wherein the coupling devices may be operated to attach or remove the removable panel. Furthermore, the coupling devices are configured such that they can be operated from a front side or from a back side of the removable panel. |
| US08111205B1 |
Mast clamp current probe (MCCP) insertion loss determining methods and systems
Methods and systems for determining insertion loss for a mast clamp current probe (MCCP) coupled to a monopole antenna are disclosed. An exemplary method includes determining a first power radiated by the monopole antenna across a first range of frequencies while driving the monopole antenna using a base-feed arrangement to produce a first power-frequency measurement, determining a second power radiated by the monopole antenna across the first range of frequencies while driving the monopole antenna using an MCCP-feed arrangement to produce a second power-frequency measurement and to determine impedance mismatch (MM), and determining insertion loss using the first power-frequency measurement, the second power-frequency measurement and the impedance mismatch. |
| US08111204B2 |
Slot antenna for a circuit board ground plane
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a slot antenna that is formed on a ground plane of a circuit board. The slot antenna may be connected to radio circuitry adapted on the circuit board by way of a feedline, which is coupled to the radio circuitry and across a portion of the slot antenna. |
| US08111202B2 |
High frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile and window glass sheet for an automobile with the same
A high frequency wave glass antenna for an automobile includes an antenna conductor formed in a loop shape and disposed in or an automobile window glass sheet, the antenna conductor having a discontinuity and feeding portions at both ends of the discontinuity or in the vicinity of said both ends, the discontinuity being formed of a portion of the loop shape cut by a length. The antenna conductor includes a detour in a portion of the loop shape, the detour being formed of a single or a plurality of detour elements, the detour being disposed in a position, which satisfies that a rate of a distance from a center of the discontinuity of the original loop shape to a center of the detour of the original loop shape with respect to a length of an inner peripheral edge or an outer peripheral edge of the original loop shape ranges from 0.18 to 0.4. |
| US08111200B2 |
Planar antenna and electronic device
Disclosed is a planar antenna, including: a film formed of a planar insulating material; an antenna portion which is a planar conductor on the film; and a ground portion which is a conductor to be grounded, wherein the antenna portion comprises: at least one first short stub; a first antenna element which is connected to the ground portion through the at least one first short stub and whose shape has such an angle that a distance between the first antenna element and the ground portion increases with increasing distance from a feeding point along the ground portion, the feeding point being provided between the first antenna element and the ground portion; a second short stub; and a second antenna element which is connected to the first antenna element through the second short stub. |
| US08111194B2 |
Mobile telecommunication terminal
There is provided a mobile telecommunication terminal comprising: a chip antenna, and a printed circuit board having the chip antenna mounted on one surface thereof, the printed circuit board comprising a tuning ground pattern formed on a surface opposing the one surface of the printed circuit board to have one end connected to a ground part so as to be used for tuning frequency characteristics of the chip antenna. |
| US08111192B2 |
Beam former using phase difference enhancement
Noise discrimination in signals from a plurality of sensors is conducted by enhancing the phase difference in the signals such that off-axis pick-up is suppressed while on-axis pick-up is enhanced. Alternatively, attenuation/expansion are applied to the signals in a phase difference dependent manner, consistent with suppression of off-axis pick-up and on-axis enhancement. Nulls between sensitivity lobes are widened, effectively narrowing the sensitivity lobes and improving directionality and noise discrimination. |
| US08111179B2 |
Method and system for reducing signal distortion in a continuously variable slope delta modulation scheme
A rearview assembly includes a mounting structure for attaching to a vehicle. The mounting structure includes a housing that has a rearview element disposed inside for providing a driver of the vehicle with a view to the rear of the vehicle. The rearview assembly also includes a continuously variable slope delta encoder module in or on the mounting structure configured to generate a feedback signal. The rearview assembly also includes a pre-processing module on or within the mounting structure. The pre-processing module is configured to process a source signal and the feedback signal from the continuously variable slope delta encoder module, and to provide a pre-processed signal to the continuously variable slope delta encoder module based on the value of the source signal and the feedback signal. |
| US08111178B2 |
Calibration method and related calibration apparatus for capacitor array
A capacitor array includes a plurality of capacitor components each having a first node and a second node, and first nodes of the capacitor components are coupled to each other. A calibration method for the capacitor array utilizes a calibration capacitor component to couple the first nodes. Then, the calibration method determines a capacitance indication value regarding the specific capacitor component by coupling different references voltage to a second node of the specific capacitor component and coupling different test voltages to a second node of the calibration capacitor component. Accordingly, the calibration method calibrates the capacitance mismatches of the capacitor array in the digital domain. |
| US08111174B2 |
Acoustic signature recognition of running vehicles using spectro-temporal dynamic neural network
A method and apparatus for identifying running vehicles in an area to be monitored using acoustic signature recognition. The apparatus includes an input sensor for capturing an acoustic waveform produced by a vehicle source, and a processing system. The waveform is digitized and divided into frames. Each frame is filtered into a plurality of gammatone filtered signals. At least one spectral feature vector is computed for each frame. The vectors are integrated across a plurality of frames to create a spectro-temporal representation of the vehicle waveform. In a training mode, values from the spectro-temporal representation are used as inputs to a Nonlinear Hebbian learning function to extract acoustic signatures and synaptic weights. In an active mode, the synaptic weights and acoustic signatures are used as patterns in a supervised associative network to identify whether a vehicle is present in the area to be monitored. In response to a vehicle being present, the class of vehicle is identified. Results may be provided to a central computer. |
| US08111167B2 |
Level indicator and process for assembling a level indicator
The invention relates to a level indicator (100) for measuring the fill level of a container, with an electronic control and evaluation system (132, 232) and an interface (133, 233), that are positioned in a housing (131, 231); a sensor unit with a sensor and attachments; a signal cable (110, 210) for connecting the electronic control and evaluation system (132, 232) and the sensor unit; and a connecting device (120, 240), which produces both a mechanical connection between the sensor unit and the housing (131, 231) of the electronic control and evaluation system (132, 232), and an electrical connection between the interface (133, 233) of the electronic control and evaluation system (132, 232) and the signal cable (110, 210), such that both the mechanical and electrical connections produced by the connecting device (120, 240) are separable. The invention also relates to a process for assembling a level indicator (100) having a control and evaluation unit (130). |
| US08111166B2 |
Device, system and method for monitoring animal posture pattern
A device for determining a posture pattern of an animal comprises a housing configured and adapted to be attached to a part of the animal; the housing comprises a posture sensor operative to sense an orientation of the part of the animal indicating the posture of the animal; and an interface unit operative to output the orientation information. |
| US08111164B2 |
Employing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy in collision avoidance
One example of a solution provided here comprises: identifying a location of one or more animals that are on a path to collide with a vehicle or device; directing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy toward the location; and administering an effective amount of the electromagnetic energy to repel the animals. Another example comprises: identifying a location of one or more animals that are in a vehicle's path; directing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy toward the location; and administering an effective amount of the electromagnetic energy to repel the animal, thereby avoiding a collision between the animal and the vehicle. The vehicle could be an aircraft, for example, or another kind of vehicle. Examples in the aviation context involve moving birds or mammals away from runways and taxiways, or otherwise repelling birds that are in the path of an aircraft. |
| US08111162B2 |
Method, apparatus and article for detection of transponder tagged objects, for example during surgery
The presence or absence of objects is determined by interrogating or exciting transponders coupled to the objects using pulsed wide band frequency signals. Ambient or background noise is evaluated and a threshold adjusted based on the level of noise. Adjustment may be based on multiple noise measurements or samples. Noise detection may be limited, with emphasis placed on interrogation to increase the signal to noise ratio. Match filtering may be employed. Presence/absence determination may take into account frequency and/or Q value to limit false detections. Appropriate acts may be taken if detected noise is out of defined limits of operation, for example shutting down interrogation and/or providing an appropriate indication. |
| US08111160B2 |
Light enabled RFID card
A radio frequency identification (RFID) card having an antenna configured to transmit data wirelessly to a remote receiver and an integrated circuit configured to transmit the data through the antenna to the remote receiver. The integrated circuit includes a transmitter section and a memory section. The memory section is configured to store the data. A power generating device is configured to supply power to the integrated circuit and a light-sensitive switch is interposed between one or more portions of the RFID card. The light-sensitive switch is configured to provide electrical coupling between the one or more portions of the RFID card when light is incident on the switch. |
| US08111158B2 |
Intrusion detection system
An intrusion detection system includes an intrusion detection device, and a pair of leaky transmission paths including a leaky transmission path of a sending side which is connected to the intrusion detection device and outputs a leaky electric wave on the basis of an output from the intrusion detection device and a leaky transmission path of a receiving side which receives the leaky electric wave output from the leaky transmission path of the sending side, and the intrusion detection device detects that the leaky electric wave received in the leaky transmission path of the receiving side varies to detect the presence or absence of intrusion and an intrusion point. |
| US08111155B2 |
Detection and control of pests
Among the embodiments of the present invention are pest control devices (1010, 1110, 1210) each operable to detect the presence of pests. The pest control device (1010, 1110, 1210) has a bait (1032) that is consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest, a pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252), and a monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269). The pest sensing circuit (1052, 1152, 1252) can be altered by pest activity. The monitoring circuit (1069, 1169, 1269) detects this alteration and reports it automatically or in response to an external stimulus or interrogation to indicate pest presence. |
| US08111154B1 |
Systems and methods for monitoring a mobile-computing device using geo-location information
A computer-implemented method for monitoring a mobile-computing device using geo-location information is disclosed. The method may include a learning phase. During the learning phase, a user may be located within a first range of physical locations during a recurring time period. The method may include generating a location profile for a mobile-computing device of the user and receiving a device-monitoring policy for the mobile-computing device from an administrator. The location profile may correlate the first range of physical locations with the recurring time period. The method may further include detecting, after the learning phase, that the mobile-computing device is outside the first range of physical locations during a first instance of the recurring time period. The method may also include implementing the device-monitoring policy after detecting that the mobile-computing device is outside the first range of physical locations during the first instance of the recurring time period. |
| US08111153B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing position information and gathering information using RFID
Provided are an apparatus and a method for providing position information and gathering information using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The apparatus includes: a plurality of RFID tags, driven by a radio frequency transmitted from an RFID reader installed in the vehicle, for providing stored tag information in order to provide current position information to the vehicle; a plurality of sensor nodes for sensing the time point when the RFID tags are driven and transmitting the sensed information through a sensor network; and an information gathering server for gathering and processing the information sensed by the sensor nodes, where at least two RFID tags and one sensor node are configured in groups, and the groups are installed at predetermined intervals on each lane of a road. |
| US08111151B2 |
WAN-based remote mobile monitoring method and device of electrophysiological data
A WAN-based remote mobile monitoring method and device of electrophysiological data, including microprocessor circuit, electrophysiological signal sampling processing circuit, data storage circuit, image liquid crystal circuit, real-time clock, emergent calling circuit, working power supply management circuit, wireless network interface circuit, USB interface circuit, etc, has the in-built binding IP address of the remote electrophysiological data monitoring server, TCP/IP protocol, PPP protocol and BlueTooth protocol. Application controls self-adaptive analysis computing, exception event warning and alarming privilege graded setting, event data package combination, network digital communication, data storage circuit area management, safety information data storage management and remote emergent calling of the remote mobile monitoring devices. It can have access to Internet in motion and roaming access to Internet by inter-network switch, and have access to the exterior networks wirelessly including Internet, LAN, ADSL, VDSL, ISDN, etc, for digital communication with the remote electrophysiological data monitoring server. |
| US08111150B2 |
Physiological data acquisition and management system for use with an implanted wireless sensor
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device. |
| US08111146B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor
An ultrasonic sensor provided at a flip-up back door that opens and closes via a pivot shaft provided at a rear top of a vehicle, the ultrasonic sensor detecting an object in a vicinity of the vehicle by intermittently transmitting an ultrasonic wave, which hits the object to thereby generate a reflected wave as a reflection of the ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic sensor including a sensor head provided at the back door and including a transmitter transmitting the ultrasonic wave and a receiver receiving the reflected wave, wherein the sensor head is provided at a position in a vicinity of a centerline of the vehicle in a width direction thereof and where a distance from a corner of an edge portion of the back door to the sensor head is shorter than a distance from the sensor head to a small aboveground structure provided on the ground. |
| US08111145B2 |
Starter control and indicator system
A single-button ignition control and starting system for a vehicle. The system comprises an onboard computer, a start button, a light source, a clutch sensor, engine sensor and an identity sensor. The computer is connected to the ignition system and starter motor. The start button is connected to the computer to indicate whether the start button is depressed. The light source is connected to the computer to selectively illuminate the start button in a first, a second and a third illumination color. The clutch sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the clutch pedal is depressed. The engine sensor is connected to the computer to indicate whether the engine is running. The identity sensor adapted to receive identity indicia and is connected to the computer for producing signals indicative of the identity indicia. When the onboard computer 1) receives signals from the identity sensor indicative of a predetermined identity indicia being received, 2) of the engine not running, and 3) of the clutch pedal not being depressed, then the onboard computer 1) energizes the light source to illuminates the start button in the first illumination color and 2) does not energize the starter motor if the start button is depressed. |
| US08111144B2 |
System and method for providing improved detection of user inaction
A mobile device, through the use of an NFC subsystem, may determine holster-proximity information, i.e., whether the mobile device is near to (including in) a holster or out of, and away from, the holster. The holster-proximity information may be used by the mobile device to enter into a user-inactive mode. Such entry into a user-inactive mode may involve disabling user interface components, such as input devices and output devices. In particular, the holster-proximity information may be used by the mobile device to disable the keyboard, that is, prevent presses on keys in the keyboard from being recorded. Such disabling may be considered of particular importance when the mobile device is going into and coming out of the holster. |
| US08111143B2 |
Assembly for monitoring an environment
An assembly for monitoring an environment includes a RFID tag and a sensing unit. The sensing unit is configured to be activated by a RF signal received by the RFID tag and to sense information regarding an environment. |
| US08111137B2 |
RFID tag reader/writer
An RFID tag reader/writer having a high degree of stability of communication with only a desired RFID tag. The frequency of a carrier wave to be transmitted from the RFID tag reader/writer is set on the basis of a resonance frequency of an antenna of the RFID tag located within a predetermined nearby communication area, which resonance frequency changes due to mutual coupling between the antenna of the RFID tag and an antenna of the RFID tag reader/writer. According to this setting, the RFID tag located within the nearby communication area has a high degree of sensitivity, and the RFID tag located outside the nearby communication area has a low degree of sensitivity, so that it is possible to effectively prevent an interference between the communication of the RFID tag reader/writer with the selected RFID tag and the communication of the reader/writer with the other or non-selected RFID tag. |
| US08111135B2 |
USB fingerprint scanner with touch sensor
A fingerprint scanner is provided. The fingerprint scanner includes a control module for detecting and controlling the transmission of signals, an electrical connector coupled to the control module for connecting the fingerprint scanner to a periphery device, a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) indicators coupled to the control module to indicate operation status of the fingerprint scanner, and a fingerprint scanning module. The fingerprint scanning module is coupled to the control module to detect fingerprints and sense touches, and send fingerprint signals and touch signals to the control module. The fingerprint scanning module includes a touch sensor for sensing different touches that represent different command signals. |
| US08111134B2 |
Device including authentication glyph
A phone used in an authentication process. The phone includes a processor, a display coupled to the processor, and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor. The computer readable medium includes (i) code for displaying a first authentication image including a plurality of image elements including a set of image elements, where the image elements in the set of image elements are located at a first set of positions on a display screen, (ii) code for receiving a first glyph having a first configuration corresponding to the set of image elements from a user while the first authentication image is displayed, (iii) code for displaying a second authentication image including the plurality of image elements including the set of image elements, where the image elements in the set of image elements are located at a second set of positions on the display screen, where the second set of positions is different than the first set of positions, and (iv) code for receiving a second glyph having a second configuration corresponding to the set of image elements from a user while the second authentication image is displayed. |
| US08111129B2 |
Resistor and design structure having substantially parallel resistor material lengths
A resistor and design structure including a pair of substantially parallel resistor material lengths separated by a first dielectric are disclosed. The resistor material lengths have a sub-lithographic dimension and may be spacer shaped. |
| US08111126B2 |
Over-current protection device and manufacturing method thereof
An over-current protection device comprises a PTC material layer, a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, a first side electrode and a second side electrode. The PTC material layer is sandwiched between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The first side electrode and the second side electrode are respectively disposed on two opposite side surfaces of the PTC material layer, and are respectively connected to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. Furthermore, the first side electrode and the second side electrode are respectively extended to four surfaces adjacent and perpendicular to the two side surfaces. |
| US08111122B2 |
Magnetic brake assembly
A powdered metal electromagnetic is provided that has much less variance between units, increased frictional drag, reduced wear of itself and the brake drum disk during use and an increased resistance to moisture due to the use of a donor material that increases performance and reliability. In addition it can withstand much higher surface speeds while producing higher frictional drag. |
| US08111118B2 |
Multi-stable micro electromechanical switches and methods of fabricating same
A micro electromechanical (MEMS) switch suitable for use in medical devices is provided, along with methods of producing and using MEMS switches. In one aspect, a micro electromechanical switch including a moveable member configured to electrically cooperate with a receiving terminal is formed on a substrate. The moveable member and the receiving terminal each include an insulating layer proximate to the substrate and a conducting layer proximate to the insulating layer opposite the substrate. In various embodiments, the conducting layers of the moveable member and/or receiving terminal include a protruding region that extends outward from the substrate to switchably couple the conducting layers of the moveable member and the receiving terminal to thereby form a switch. The switch may be actuated using, for example, electrostatic energy. |
| US08111112B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming compact coils for high performance filter
A semiconductor device has a first coil structure formed over the substrate. A second coil structure is formed over the substrate adjacent to the first coil structure. A third coil structure is formed over the substrate adjacent to the second coil structure. The first and second coil structures are coupled by mutual inductance, and the second and third coil structures are coupled by mutual inductance. The first, second, and third coil structures each have a height greater than a skin current depth of the coil structure defined as a depth which current reduces to 1/(complex permittivity) of a surface current value. In the case of copper, the coil structures have a height greater than 5 micrometers.The first, second, and third coil structures are arranged in rounded or polygonal pattern horizontally across the substrate with a substantially flat vertical profile. |
| US08111107B2 |
Charge pump control scheme
An integrated circuit includes a charge pump having a voltage output. A voltage level detector is arranged to receive the voltage output, wherein the voltage level detector provides a first enable signal for the charge pump. A ring oscillator has multiple inverters. The ring oscillator is coupled to the charge pump. A counter control circuit is configured to provide a control signal for adjusting a frequency of the ring oscillator based on the first enable signal of the voltage level detector. |
| US08111106B2 |
Switched phase and frequency detector based DPLL circuit with excellent wander and jitter performance and fast frequency acquisition
Some embodiments of the present invention may include a DPLL circuit comprising a firmware. The firmware may comprise a re-sampled NCO phase detector capable of receiving a reference clock timing signal and a VCXO clock timing signal. The re-sampled NCO phase detector may comprise a resampler capable of receiving phase output and the VCXO clock timing signal and resampling the phase output; and a subtractor capable of receiving the resampled phase output and subtracting the resampled phase output from a calculated mean value of the phase output. The firmware may further comprise a frequency detector capable of receiving the reference clock timing signal and the VCXO clock timing signal; and a multiplexer capable of switching between the re-sampled NCO phase detector and the frequency detector dependent upon a frequency lock status. |
| US08111104B2 |
Biasing methods and devices for power amplifiers
Biasing methods and devices for power amplifiers are described. The described methods and devices use the power amplifier output voltage to generate bias voltages. The bias voltages are obtained using rectifiers and voltage dividers. The described biasing methods and devices can be used with class-E power amplifiers. |
| US08111102B2 |
Auto gain controllers, and communication terminals having the same
An auto gain controller is provided. The auto gain controller includes a variable gain amplification unit configured to receive differential input signals, adjust an amplification gain based on an auto gain control voltage and output differential output signals. The auto gain controller also includes a peak detector configured to detect at least one peak value among the amplified differential output signals, a comparator configured to compare the at least one detected peak value with a reference voltage and generate a comparison signal, and a voltage adjusting circuit configured to adjust the auto gain control voltage and the reference voltage based on the comparison signal. |
| US08111099B2 |
Multi-channel audio playback apparatus and method
A multi-channel audio playback apparatus including a channel interface, a first switching amplifier and a second switching amplifier is provided. The channel interface is used to receive multi-channel digital data and generate first channel digital data and second channel digital data. The first switching amplifier is used to convert the first channel digital data into a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to a first reference signal with a first frequency. The second switching amplifier is used to convert the second channel digital data into a second PWM signal according to a second reference signal with a second frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency. |
| US08111096B2 |
Variable gain amplifier circuit and filter circuit
This variable gain amplifier is provided with an operational amplifier. The non-inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier is connected to a reference potential. A feedback resistor is connected between the output terminal and inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier. An input resistor is inserted between the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier and the input terminal of the variable gain amplifier circuit. An adjustment resistor is connected between the inversion input terminal of the operational amplifier and the reference potential. The resistance value of the adjustment resistor is controlled in such a way as to maintain constant against the resistance value change a combined resistance value in its parallel connection with the input resistor when changing the resistance value of the input resistor. |
| US08111092B2 |
Register with process, supply voltage and temperature variation independent propagation delay path
A digital data register is disclosed that provides setup and hold timing on the pre-register side, clock centering on the post-register side, and constant propagation delay time over variations in process, supply voltage and temperature (PVT) using a novel means to generate and distribute the clock signal. These features allow the register to be used in applications operating at clock frequencies in excess of 800 MHz. |
| US08111090B2 |
Voltage comparator having improved kickback and jitter characteristics
A comparator apparatus for comparing a first and a second voltage input includes a pair of cross-coupled inverter devices, including a pull up device and a pull down device, with output nodes defined between the pull up and pull down devices. A first switching device is coupled to the first input and a second switching device is coupled to the second input, with control circuitry configured for selective switching between a reset mode and a compare mode. In the reset mode, the first and second voltage inputs are coupled to respective output nodes so as to develop a differential signal thereacross, and the pull down devices in each inverter are isolated from the pull up devices. In the compare mode, the voltage inputs are isolated from the output nodes, and the pull down devices in each inverter are coupled to the pull up devices to latch the output nodes. |
| US08111081B2 |
Method for evaluating silicon wafer
The present invention is a method for evaluating a silicon wafer by measuring, after fabricating a MOS capacitor by forming an insulator film and one or more electrodes sequentially on a silicon wafer, a dielectric breakdown characteristic of the insulator film by applying an electric field from the electrodes thus formed to the insulator film, the method in which the silicon wafer is evaluated at least by setting an area occupied by all the electrodes thus formed to 5% or more of an area of a front surface of the silicon wafer when the one or more electrodes are formed. This provides an evaluation method that can detect a defect by a simple method such as the TDDB method with the same high degree of precision as that of the DSOD method. |
| US08111080B2 |
Knee probe having reduced thickness section for control of scrub motion
An improved knee probe for probing electrical devices and circuits is provided. The improved knee probe has a reduced thickness section to alter the mechanical behavior of the probe when contact is made. The reduced thickness section of the probe makes it easier to deflect the probe vertically when contact is made. This increased ease of vertical deflection tends to reduce the horizontal contact force component responsible for the scrub motion, thereby decreasing scrub length. Here “thickness” is the probe thickness in the deflection plane of the probe (i.e., the plane in which the probe knee lies). The reduced thickness probe section provides increased design flexibility for controlling scrub motion, especially in combination with other probe parameters affecting the scrub motion. |
| US08111075B2 |
Electronic circuit with capacitive switching ability
Electronic circuit for the detection of a capacitive variation on two distinct contact capacitors, (C1, C2), comprising means able of squaring the signals generated by a conventional pulse generator and filtered by two filters (R1, C1-R2, C2), wherein the respective capacitors (C1, C2) are the same said contact capacitors which are connected to a respective terminal to a common ground (G); said means are also able to generate respective signals formed of trains of squared pulses, to compare said two signals and to provide an output signal depending on the result of said signals comparison. Said output signal depends on the phase difference between the pulses of said two trains of squared pulses. |
| US08111071B2 |
Battery management system and driving method thereof
A sensing and control apparatus for a battery management system is provided. The sensing and control apparatus includes: a sensing unit and a main control unit. The sensing unit includes: a cell relay of a plurality of cell relays and a voltage detection unit. The cell relay is configured to be coupled to at least one of a plurality of cells. The voltage detection unit is coupled to a cell relay. The voltage detection unit is configured to: receive a reference voltage when each of the plurality of cell relays is turned off; and generate a second voltage by amplifying by a gain a first voltage that corresponds to the reference voltage. The main control unit is configured to calculate a valid gain corresponding to a ratio of the second voltage to the reference voltage when the temperature of the voltage detection unit is within a threshold temperature range. |
| US08111070B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase. |
| US08111068B2 |
Reducing effects of rotational motion
A method and system for improving image quality by correcting errors introduced by rotational motion of an object being imaged is provided. The object is associated with a fiducial mark. The method provides a computer executable methodology for detecting a rotation and selectively reordering, deleting and/or reacquiring projection data. |
| US08111067B1 |
Positional magnetic resonance imaging
A patient is examined by magnetic resonance imaging in different positions relative to gravity by moving the patient relative to the magnet, and the acquired data is compared to show differences in anatomy due to differences in patient position. Individual data elements or groups of plural data elements representing particular locations in one set of image data can be compared with data elements associated with the same locations in another set of image data, to yield a set of comparison image data elements. The comparison data set can be used to detect difference caused by differences in position of the patient. |
| US08111064B2 |
Magnetic rotational angle transducer
A magnetic rotational angle transducer has at least one Hall sensor (14) rotatable in a magnetic field of a given configuration relative to and offset from the rotational axis (16). To enable linearization of the output signal without additional signal processing over a large range of rotational angles, it is proposed that the Hall sensor is aligned radially and axially to the rotational axis (16) and lies in a central position parallel to the field lines of the magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is created by at least one permanent magnet (18) in circular segment form around the rotation axis and the Hall sensor (14) is offset from the rotational axis (16) towards the permanent magnet (18) in circular segment form. |
| US08111062B2 |
Low mass driveshaft speed sensor assembly
A speed sensor assembly comprises: a driveshaft with a driveshaft axis, a sensing portion of the driveshaft having an axial bore along the driveshaft axis and multiple axial slots radially spaced around the sensing portion that penetrate through the driveshaft into the axial bore; and at least one electromagnetic sensor with a magnetic circuit proximate the sensing portion of the driveshaft; wherein rotation of the driveshaft causes the slots in the sensing portion to sequentially pass through the magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic sensor, thereby causing a change in the reluctance of its magnetic circuit that induces the electromagnetic sensor to generate an output signal that is representative of the rotational speed of the driveshaft. |
| US08111060B2 |
Precision AC current measurement shunts
A more precise and cost effective means than previously commercially available for measuring alternating currents up to 100 amperes in the frequency range from direct current to 100 kilohertz can be measured with precision approaching 0.001% employs a shield around a resistive network. The shield is electrically isolated from the resistive network, but acts as a heat sink to draw heat generated by the resistive network away, promoting fast stabilization times. The shield also provides electrical shielding from outside interference allowing the geometric arrangement of elements in the resistive network to minimize induced inductance and capacitance. |
| US08111059B1 |
Electric current locator
The disclosure herein provides an apparatus for location of a quantity of current vectors in an electrical device, where the current vector has a known direction and a known relative magnitude to an input current supplied to the electrical device. Mathematical constants used in Biot-Savart superposition equations are determined for the electrical device, the orientation of the apparatus, and relative magnitude of the current vector and the input current, and the apparatus utilizes magnetic field sensors oriented to a sensing plane to provide current vector location based on the solution of the Biot-Savart superposition equations. Description of required orientations between the apparatus and the electrical device are disclosed and various methods of determining the mathematical constants are presented. |
| US08111057B2 |
Cascode current mirror circuit, bandgap circuit, reference voltage circuit having the cascode current mirror circuit and the bandgap circuit, and voltage stabilizing/regulating circuit having the reference voltage circuit
A cascode current mirror circuit and a bandgap circuit are provided. The circuits are used together and function as a reference voltage circuit. The reference voltage circuit outputs a reference current resistant to temperature variation and ripple-voltage. Accordingly, a voltage stabilizing/regulating circuit corrects error voltage precisely and promptly, and the resultant voltage is temperature insensitive and ripple-voltage-independent. |
| US08111056B2 |
Converter control device for a bidirectional power supply system having plural parallel phases
A converter device which is configured by connecting three converter circuits in parallel is provided between a secondary battery serving as a first power supply and a fuel cell serving as a second power supply. Two differential ammeters are placed on three reactors corresponding to the three converter circuits. A control unit includes a passing electric power calculation module which calculates electric power passing through the converter device on the basis of detected values of the two differential ammeters, an electric power equalization module which performs equalization of passing electric power between the respective converter circuits which constitute the converter device, a module for changing the number of drive phases which changes the number of drive phases of the converter device in response to the passing electric power, and a voltage conversion control module which controls the converter device and executes a desired voltage conversion. |
| US08111054B2 |
Voltage conversion device capable of enhancing conversion efficiency
A voltage conversion device capable of enhancing conversion efficiency includes a charge pump for generating output voltage linear to input voltage according to the input voltage, a feedback unit for generating a feedback signal according to the output voltage generated by the charge pump, and a regulating unit for outputting and adjusting the input voltage according to the feedback signal provided by the feedback unit, so as to keep the output voltage unchanged. |
| US08111052B2 |
Zero voltage switching
A method for providing non-resonant zero-voltage switching in a switching power converter. The switching power converter converts power from input power to output power during multiple periodic switching cycles. The switching power converter includes a switch and an auxiliary capacitor adapted for connecting in parallel with the switch, and an inductor connectable to the auxiliary capacitor. The main switch is on. A previously charged (or previously discharged) auxiliary capacitor is connected across the main switch with auxiliary switches. The main switch is switched off with zero voltage while discharging (charging) the auxiliary capacitor by providing a current path to the inductor. The auxiliary capacitor is disconnected from the switch. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor is charged and discharged alternatively during subsequent switching cycles. The voltage of the auxiliary capacitor stays substantially the same until the subsequent turn off of the main switch during the next switching cycle with substantially no energy loss in the auxiliary capacitor. |
| US08111051B2 |
Step-down switching regulator
An output monitoring comparator outputs an ON signal when an output voltage becomes lower than a reference voltage. A pulse modulator generates a pulse signal at a predetermined level, an ON time-period from when the ON signal is outputted. A driver circuit alternately turns ON, after a dead time, a switching transistor and a synchronous rectification transistor, based on the pulse signal. A light load mode detector compares a switching voltage at a connection point of the switching transistor and the synchronous rectification transistor, and ground potential, and at timing at which the ON signal is outputted from the output monitoring comparator, when the switching voltage is higher than the ground potential, nullifies the ON signal. |
| US08111049B2 |
Power supply device for an electric circuit
In the case of a power supply device (2) for an electric circuit (3), an energy source (4) and an electric filter (7) are provided for the reliable and low-emission supply of energy to the electric circuit (3), wherein the energy source (4) and the electric filter (7) interact in such a way that the power supply device (2) has, at a filter output (9), a voltage source characteristic in a first frequency range and a current source characteristic in a second frequency range, which has a higher frequency than the first frequency range. |
| US08111043B2 |
Method and apparatus for charging an electric vehicle from a streetlight
Streetlights along streets and in parking lots are often suitably located for a vehicle to park in immediate proximity. An electric vehicle charging system and method allows the power supply previously dedicated to the streetlight to be used for electric vehicle recharging whenever the streetlight is not lit. In some embodiments, if the total of the current drawn by the electric vehicle charging and the lit streetlight is less than the rating of the streetlight power supply, then charging may continue even while the streetlight is lit. Further, if an electric vehicle so charging offers a utility-interactive inverter, then upon demand the electric vehicle may be available to supply power back to the electric grid. |
| US08111041B2 |
Power transmission control device, power reception control device, non-contact power transmission system, power transmission device, power reception device, and electronic instrument
A power reception device transmits authentication information (e.g., start code, manufacturer ID, product ID, rated power information, and resonance characteristic information) to a power transmission device before starting normal power transmission by a non-contact power transmission system. The power transmission device performs instrument authentication based on the received authentication information, and regulates the maximum transmission power is regulated to conform to a power-reception-device side rated power. The power transmission device then performs normal power transmission. |
| US08111040B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling a charging state in a mobile electronic device
In accordance with the teachings described herein, a method and apparatus for handling a charging state in a mobile electronic device is provided. A universal serial bus (USB) interface may be used for connecting the mobile device to a USB host. A processing device may be used to control operation of the mobile device and receive an enumeration acknowledgement signal from the USB host via the USB interface and generate an enable signal upon receiving the enumeration acknowledgement signal. The method and apparatus may further include a rechargeable battery, a battery charger, a timing circuit, and a battery charger enabling circuit. |
| US08111039B2 |
Multiple function current-sharing charging system and method
Multiple function current-sharing charging systems and methods are provided. Where first and second rechargeable power supplies are connected to a charging system, a first charging current is provided to the first rechargeable power supply and a second charging current is provided to the second rechargeable power supply. Upon detection of a predetermined charge level of one of the rechargeable power supplies, a third charging current is provided to the first rechargeable power supply and a fourth charging current is provided to the second rechargeable power supply. |
| US08111036B2 |
System for electrically connecting and disconnecting a vehicle generator from a vehicle storage unit
An energy recovery system for a vehicle uses an electric generator, such as an alternator, connected to the vehicle's engine or a wheel to recover kinetic energy when a vehicle decelerates and convert the kinetic energy into stored electrical energy. No engine controller or computer control is used to activate and deactivate the system which works using simple electrical and mechanical switches that activate and deactivate in response to the vehicle's operating conditions. |
| US08111034B2 |
Solar-powered charger with heat-dissipating surface
A solar-powered charger includes a solar collector configured to generate electrical energy when exposed to light, a connector coupled to the solar collector to provide a pathway for discharging the electrical energy to an external device and a casing comprising a surface configured to dissipate heat. |
| US08111029B2 |
Methods and systems for automatic rotation direction determination of electronically commutated motor
A method for determining a direction of rotation for an electronically commutated motor (ECM) is described. The motor is configured to rotate a blower and the method comprises rotating the blower using the ECM and determining if the resulting blower rotation is indicative of the desired direction of rotation for the blower. |
| US08111028B2 |
Integrated fan drive system for cooling tower
An integrated fan drive system for a cooling tower comprising a high-torque, low speed permanent magnet motor having a rotatable shaft, a fan comprising a hub that is directly connected to the rotatable shaft and a plurality of fan blades that are attached to the hub, and a variable frequency drive device in electrical signal communication with the permanent magnet motor to control the rotational speed of the permanent magnet motor. The high-torque, permanent magnet motor comprises no more than two bearings in operative association with the shaft. The variable frequency drive device has a variable frequency controller that has an input for receiving AC power and an output for providing electrical signals that control the operational speed of high-torque, permanent magnet motor. The variable frequency drive device also includes a user interface in electronic data signal communication with the variable frequency controller to allow a user to input motor speed control data. |
| US08111026B2 |
Electric motor drive apparatus, hybrid vehicle with the same and stop control method of electric power converting device
An ECU activates a shutdown permission signal and provides it to an AND gate when a shutdown signal is inactive. Thus, when an abnormality sensing device does not sense an abnormality, the ECU always keeps the shutdown permission signal active. The AND gate performs logical AND between a signal provided from the abnormality sensing device and the shutdown permission signal to provide the shutdown signal to inverters. When a limp-home run permission signal becomes active while the shutdown signal is active, the ECU inactivates the shutdown permission signal. |
| US08111024B2 |
Programmable radio frequency waveform generator for a synchrocyclotron
A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions. The programmable waveform generator can adjust at least one of the oscillating voltage input, the voltage on the injection electrode and the voltage on the extraction electrode according to beam intensity and in response to changes in resonant conditions. |
| US08111021B2 |
Lighting system and a method for controlling a lighting system
A method of controlling a lighting system includes a learning procedure. The lighting system includes lighting modules and a controlling device. The lighting modules are arbitrarily arranged, and each lighting module can communicate with neighboring lighting modules via communication units arranged at sides of the lighting module. The learning procedure defines a lighting module arrangement and a communication network for communication between the controlling device and the lighting modules. During the learning procedure, a token is forwarded from one lighting module to another lighting module, while ensuring that all lighting modules are visited by the token. Further, geometric information about how the lighting modules are arranged in relation to each other is generated. |
| US08111016B2 |
Control system for multiple fluorescent lamps
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that drives a lighting system with multiple lamps. A phase shift mechanism is produced either by a digital method, an analog method, or a mixture of the two methods. In a digital method, phase shifts are generated by digital circuits comprising counters, a divider, an adder, and a comparator. The digital circuits analyze the signal and use the necessary information to form a series of phased driving signals. In an analog method, phase shifts are generated by analog circuits comprising ramp waveform generators, comparators, and at least one shot generator. Also, an apparatus for driving a lighting system with multiple lamps can be realized by mixing the two methods mentioned above. |
| US08111014B2 |
Drive circuit for driving a load with constant current
A drive circuit (1) for driving a load (3) comprises: a switched mode power supply (10) for supplying at the output (2a, 2b) a switched output current (IL); a controller (20) for controlling the power supply; a current sensor (15) for generating a current sense signal (Vi 5) representing the output current (IL); a voltage sensor (30) for generating a voltage sense signal (Sy) representing the output voltage (Vp; Vp+Vis) of the circuit. The controller receives the current sense signal, and generates a switching time control signal (Sc) for the switched mode power supply (10) on the basis of the current sense signal. The controller further receives the voltage sense signal. In response to a change in the voltage sense signal, the controller changes the switching time control signal such as to effectively compensate an effect of the output voltage change on the average value of the output current. |
| US08111011B1 |
LED luminaire with improved life and operation management
A method and apparatus for adjusting the drive signal of an LED luminaire is provided and includes an LED light source assembly, an ambient sensor circuit, a comparator circuit, and a driver circuit. The ambient sensor circuit provides an ambient signal to the LED light source assembly, which is a function of the ambient (such as temperature, humidity or air visibility) proximate to the LED light source assembly. The comparator circuit provides a bidirectional ambient adjustment signal to the driver circuit, which is a function of the ambient signal and a reference signal. And the driver circuit provides an adjustable drive signal to the LED light source assembly, which is a function of the bidirectional ambient adjustment signal. |
| US08111005B2 |
Voltage supply module and backlight assembly having the same
In a voltage supply module and a backlight assembly having the same, a converter is disposed on a first face of a board and converts basic voltage into driving voltage. A capacitor includes at least one first electrode connected to an output line of the converter and at least one second electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the first electrode along a direction substantially parallel with the first face. A plurality of the second electrodes are disposed on the board between the first electrodes. The first and second electrodes form a ballast capacitance. |
| US08111000B2 |
Method and an operation controller for operation of a mercury vapour discharge
The invention describes a method for operation of a mercury vapour discharge lamp (1) in an image rendering system (30), wherein during a total operation time necessary for the presentation of an image content (C), the lamp (1) is deliberately operated in a saturated operating regime at least over a part of the total operation time according to a brightness parameter (BP) of the content (C), in which saturated operating regime mercury is condensed in an arc tube (2) of the lamp (1), and, at least over another part of the operation time, the lamp (1) is driven in an unsaturated operating regime, in which essentially the entire mercury evaporates. Thereby, the duration of the operation periods in the saturated and the unsaturated operation regime are chosen so that no significant blackening of the walls of the arc tube (2) arises during the total operation time of the lamp. The invention describes further an appropriate operation controller (27) for operation of a mercury vapour discharge lamp in an image rendering system (30) according to this method. Moreover a method for driving such an image rendering system and an appropriate image rendering system are described. |
| US08110996B2 |
Modular wireless lighting control system using a common ballast control interface
Disclosed is a modular lighting system that incorporates wireless technology and a standard interface. The lighting system may be installed in new buildings or retrofitted into existing buildings in such a way that provides many lighting configurations and programmability options while minimizing the amount of new wiring. The system includes a transceiver that controls one or more lamps using a dimming ballast or a relay and a low cost ballast. The dimming ballast, and the relay (if used) provide low voltage power to the transceiver over a cable having a standard interface, such as an RJ11 telephone jack. The transceiver provides on/off switching control and dimmer control, through the same cable, to the relay or dimming ballast. The transceiver can be located in the same room as the lamps it controls, or remotely located. A central computer or controller can control multiple transceivers over a wireless link. |
| US08110995B2 |
Illumination system comprising a plurality of light sources
An illumination system (1) comprises a plurality of light sources (11, 12, 13), each provided with a driver (21, 22, 23); a controller (30) for generating control signals (Sc1, Sc2>Sc3) for controlling the respective drivers; temperature feed forward means (60, 61, 62, 63, 81) for establishing a temperature feed forward (TFF) correction mechanism; flux feedback means (71, 82, 83, 84) for establishing a flux feedback (FFB) correction mechanism. The controller is capable of operating in a first mode of operation wherein both the temperature feed forward correction mechanism and the flux feedback correction mechanism are active, and is capable of operating in a second mode of operation wherein the temperature feed forward correction mechanism is active and the flux feedback correction mechanism is inactive. The controller is designed to monitor the duty cycles of the control signals and to select its mode of operation based on said duty cycles. |
| US08110989B2 |
Lighting controller of lighting device for vehicle
A lighting controller of a lighting device for a vehicle includes M (M is an integer of one or more) switching regulators for supplying driving currents to first to Nth (N is an integer of one or more) semiconductor light sources; first to Nth current driving portions; a temperature detector; and a control circuit. The first to Nth current driving portions include first to Nth current detecting portions connected to the semiconductor light sources and serving to detect the driving currents respectively; and first to Nth switching portions connected to the semiconductor light sources respectively. The first to Nth current driving portions operates the switching portions corresponding to magnitudes of the driving currents detected by the current detecting portions respectively. The temperature detector detects a temperature and sends a temperature detecting signal when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a pre-specified temperature. The control circuit controls the current driving means in order to decrease the driving currents to be supplied to the semiconductor light sources upon receipt of the temperature detecting signal. The control circuit sets a priority of each of the semiconductor light sources for decreasing the driving current and decreases the driving current in order from the semiconductor light source having a highest priority. |
| US08110987B1 |
Microshell plasma display
A gas discharge (plasma) display comprising gas filled microshells positioned on a substrate in electrical contact with two or more electrodes. Each microshell may contain a luminescent material. |
| US08110985B2 |
Light-emitting device having protective circuits
A light-emitting device includes a plurality of unit circuits that are arranged in an element forming region on a substrate, each unit circuit having a light-emitting element that has a first electrode and a second electrode, and a transistor that controls a current flowing in the light-emitting element, a plurality of power lines that are wired in a peripheral region disposed in a periphery of the element forming region so as to supply power having different potentials, a current supply line that is wired to extend from the peripheral region to the element forming region and that is electrically connected to the first electrode via the transistor in each of the unit circuits, and a current supply line protective circuit that is provided in the peripheral region and that has protective elements connected between the current supply line and the plurality of power lines. |
| US08110981B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus
Provided is an organic light-emitting display apparatus with improved contrast. The organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: a substrate; an organic light-emitting device on the substrate, the organic light-emitting device including a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a pixel define layer on the first electrode, the pixel define layer including an opening through which the first electrode is exposed and having a black color, wherein the organic light-emitting layer and the second electrode are sequentially disposed on a portion of the first electrode exposed through the opening, and the second electrode includes indium oxide doped with a metal or metal oxide. |
| US08110980B2 |
Anthracene derivative, and light emitting element, light emitting device, electronic device using anthracene derivative
A novel anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided, which enables the production of a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency and a long lifetime. A high-performance light-emitting device and electronic device in which the anthracene derivative is employed are also disclosed. The anthracene derivative of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1), in which the unit A represents any one of substituents represented by General Formulae (1-1) to (1-3). The variables shown in Formulae (1) and (1-1) to (1-3) are defined in the specification. |
| US08110979B2 |
Inorganic electroluminescence device, display apparatus having the same and method thereof
An inorganic electroluminescence device including a first electrode and a second electrode disposed apart from each other, and a dielectric material layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The dielectric material layer has a micro-tubular shape, and a light emitting layer is filled in the dielectric material layer. |
| US08110977B2 |
Organic light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same
A top emission OLED includes a driving TFT including a channel region and source and drain electrodes. A power supply, a ground line, and a light emitting diode are electrically coupled to the TFT and an auxiliary electrode is electrically coupled to the ground line and to the source electrode of the driver transistor. The auxiliary electrode resides between the light emitting diode and the channel region of the driver transistor and is configured to shield the channel region of the driver transistor from an electric field generated by the light emitting diode. |
| US08110974B2 |
Electron beam generating apparatus
An electron beam generating apparatus (1a) includes an electron gun (2), a vacuum container (3), a frame material (11), and a window material (13). The electron gun (2) has a filament (7) from which an electron beam (EB) is emitted. The vacuum container (3) holds the filament (7). The frame material (11) has an electron passing hole (11c) through which the electron beam (EB) passes, and is detachably attached to the vacuum container (3). The window material (13) is bonded (brazed) to the frame material (11) so as to airtightly stop up the electron passing hole (11c), and allows the electron beam (EB) to penetrate therethrough. |
| US08110973B2 |
Integrally ballasted lamp assembly including a spacer disk
An integrally ballasted lamp assembly (200) including a spacer disk (220) disposed in a lamp receptacle cavity (244) between a lamp (226) and the bottom (238) of the lamp receptacle (214). The disk (220) may be configured to contact connector clips (216, 218) coupled to the bottom (238) of the lamp receptacle to positively align the clips (216, 218) for connection to a ballast circuit disposed on a PCB (212). The disk (220) may also, or alternatively, at least partially occlude connector clip openings (402, 404) in the bottom (238) of the lamp receptacle (214) for hindering the flow of uncured cement (902) through the openings (402, 404), and may also, or alternatively, provide a thermal barrier between the lamp (226) and the lamp receptacle (214). |
| US08110972B2 |
Compound HID electric arc tube
A composite High Intensity Discharge (“HID”) arc tube includes a discharge tube and two outwardly extending tubes. The discharge tube is a composite two-layer shell with an outer of fused quartz glass or Vycor quartz glass, and a layer of translucent polycrystalline alumina (“PCA”). The outwardly extending tubes are made of fused quartz glass or Vycor quartz glass, and a layer of polycrystalline alumina is applied at ends of the outwardly extending tubes close to an arc chamber. After the arc tube is sintered at a high temperature, the electrode is sealed by being separated into two segments. The first segment of the outward extending tube applied with PCA is sealed by glass solders, and the second segment of quartz glass is sealed by a molybdenum foil under pressure. |
| US08110970B2 |
Light-emitting devices utilizing gaseous sulfur compounds
A light-emitting device utilizing gaseous sulfur compounds is provided. This device includes a first substrate with an energy transmission coil disposed thereover, a dielectric barrier layer embedding underneath the energy transmission coil, a sealant wall circling around the dielectric barrier layer, a second substrate disposed against the first substrate and supported by the sealant wall, and a high-frequency oscillating power supply connected to the energy transmission coil. Normally the second substrate is a transparent substrate. Between the first and second substrates thereby defines an inner chamber, wherein a gaseous reactant comprising an inert gas and a sulfur-containing gas is filled. While powering up, the energy transmission coil induces an electromagnetic field within the inner chamber between the two substrates as causing decomposing/regenerating process cycles of sulfur molecules to lighting up the light-emitting device. |
| US08110968B2 |
Irradiation device with filter disks and medium enclosed therebetween
The present invention relates to an irradiation device having a radiation source and a filter which is arranged in the optical path and has two transparent filter disks which are substantially arranged in parallel with each other and which are held with their surrounding edges in a frame made of a material of good heat conduction, the filter disks and the frame defining a closed cavity which has provided therein a medium which selectively influences the radiation spectrum. In order to improve an irradiation device such that a degassing of the medium is prevented during heating and the filter disks do not deform as the pressure increases, provision is made for the cavity to be in the form of a pressure chamber, so that during operation of the irradiation device overpressure prevails in the cavity, and for the filter disks to be made of glass ceramic or mineral glass, wherein the filter disk which is arranged closer to the radiation source is in the form of a safety device such that it is more susceptible to breaking than the filter disk which is further away from the radiation source. |
| US08110966B2 |
Piezoelectric frames and piezoelectric devices comprising same
Piezoelectric frames are disclosed that include a tuning-fork type piezoelectric vibrating piece. The vibrating piece has at least a pair of vibrating arms that extend in a longitudinal direction (e.g., Y-direction) from a first end edge of a piezoelectric base, and at least one excitation electrode on the pair of vibrating arms. Respective supporting arms extend in the longitudinal direction, outboard of each vibrating arm. The vibrating piece is surrounded by and attached to a frame portion also made of piezoelectric material. A pair of connecting portions connects the supporting arms to the frame portion. The connecting portions extend from respective supporting arms to the frame portion in a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction. The connecting portions are connected to the frame portion at designated locations that are more than 50% of the designated length of the vibrating piece from the second end edge of the base. |
| US08110963B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer array, and ultrasonic device
An ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit or receive ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic transducer includes a vibrating member and a piezoelectric member coupled to the vibrating member. The piezoelectric member includes a first piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to vibrate the vibrating member or configured and arranged to be deformed by vibration of the vibrating member to produce a potential difference, and a second piezoelectric part configured and arranged to be deformed by applied voltage to statically deflect the vibrating member. |
| US08110960B2 |
Electromotor with a stator having cooling conduits
An electromotor including a rotor rotatably running on bearings on a rotor shaft and a stator surrounding the rotor. The stator has a short-circuit body and a winding which can be impinged by current. The short-circuit body receives at least partly the medium line(s). |
| US08110959B2 |
Method for producing an electrical machine with a body of soft magnetic material
A method for producing a core and a method for producing an electrical machine. Said core has a body of soft magnetic material having a plurality of teeth and at least one magnetic flux cross section area enlarging element being made from a composite of a soft magnetic powder and a binder, said magnetic flux area enlarging element being arranged onto a tooth of said body. |
| US08110958B2 |
Rotor cover with rotor fins extending between stator slots
An electric motor has a rotor, a stator encompassing the rotor, at least one bearing bracket, and a rotor cover. The rotor cover has at least one cover cap extending from the bearing bracket to at least the front face of the stator, which faces the bearing bracket. The invention also relates to a rotor cover for an inner rotor motor, having at least one cover cap and cover fins adjoining the cover cap. The cover cap has a tapering portion from the side where the cover fins are mounted. The cover fins have a length corresponding to at least half of the length of the stator of the electric motor. |
| US08110957B2 |
Permanent magnet motor
There is provided a permanent magnet motor capable of reducing cogging torque and torque ripple while suppressing a decrease in motor output. In a permanent magnet motor 1 including a rotor 3 in which a plurality of permanent magnets 5 are arranged in a ring shape as a magnetic field unit, the transverse cross section of the permanent magnet 5 has an inside periphery 51 formed by a first arc 511 having the center of curvature O1 and the radius of curvature R1, and an outside periphery 52 formed by a second arc 521 having the center of curvature O2 and the radius of curvature R2, a third arc 522 having the center of curvature O3 and the radius of curvature R3 and joined to one end of the second arc 521, and a fourth arc 523 having the center of curvature O4 and the radius of curvature R4 and joined to the other end of the second arc 521. The above-described centers of curvature are disposed at different positions. |
| US08110955B2 |
Magnetic bearing device of a rotor shaft against a stator with rotor disc elements, which engage inside one another, and stator disc elements
The magnetic bearing device contains soft-magnetic rotor disc elements, which radially engage inside one another, and soft-magnetic stator disc elements. These elements are, on their sides facing one another, provided with annular tooth-like projections that are opposite one another on either side of an air gap. In addition, magnetic field generators for generating a magnetic flux oriented in an axial direction between the disc elements are assigned to the rotor disc elements or to the stator disc elements. |
| US08110952B2 |
Rotating electric machine having guide or outlets for splitting refrigerant
To provide a rotating electric machine capable of accurate detection of coil temperature by causing refrigerant to flow so as not to contact a temperature detecting element provided on a coil end portion. A rotating electric machine (10) comprises: a cylindrical stator core (12); coils (16) wound around a plurality of teeth (14) projecting from an inner circumferential surface of the stator core (12) and having coil end portions (18) protruding beyond respective end portions in an axial direction of the stator core (12); a cooling part (50) to cool the coil (16) by dropping refrigerant onto the coil end portions (18); and a temperature detecting element (30) placed in contact with the coil end portion (18), for detecting coil temperature. The temperature detecting element (30) is provided so as not to directly contact the refrigerant flowing on the coil end portion. |
| US08110950B2 |
Coreless linear motor having a non-magnetic reinforcing member
A coreless linear motor having a high rigidity, a high heat radiation effect, and a light weight is provided. The coreless linear motor includes a fixed member and a movable member moving relative with respect to the fixed member. The fixed member has a yoke and groups of permanent magnets arranged in the yoke. The movable member has a coil assembly. The groups of permanent magnets include first and second groups of permanent magnets arranged so as to face each other. Each of the first and second groups of permanent magnets has a plurality of magnets along a longitudinal direction of the yoke. In the plurality of magnets, magnetic poles of magnets facing along the longitudinal direction of the yoke alternate. Magnetic poles of the permanent magnets along the longitudinal direction of the yoke are the same. The coil assembly has at least three coils arranged movably relative to the first and second groups of permanent magnets along the longitudinal directions of the yoke between the first and second groups of permanent magnets, coils are arranged and wound in multiple layers in a solid state and fastened by a binder, and end surfaces of adjacent coils are connected via electrical insulation members. Preferably, a reinforcing member is provided as a non-magnetic member fit in the solid portions of the coils. |
| US08110949B2 |
Electric device, wireless power transmission device, and power transmission method thereof
Provided is a wireless power transmission device. The wireless power transmission device includes a power coil in which a high frequency current is applied, a transmission coil in which the high frequency current is induced by magnetic induction, the transmission coil configured to generate an non-radiative electromagnetic wave when the transmission coil has the same resonant frequency as an at least one external target device, and a resonant frequency regulator configured to regulate the resonant frequency of the transmission coil. The wireless power transmission device can transmit the power when it has the same resonant frequency as the target device. Therefore, the overheating due to an eddy current may not occur, and the design may be easily varied. |
| US08110948B2 |
Power conversion apparatus and method
A power conversion apparatus includes an interfacing circuit that enables a current source inverter to operate from a voltage energy storage device (voltage source), such as a battery, ultracapacitor or fuel cell. The interfacing circuit, also referred to as a voltage-to-current converter, transforms the voltage source into a current source that feeds a DC current to a current source inverter. The voltage-to-current converter also provides means for controlling and maintaining a constant DC bus current that supplies the current source inverter. The voltage-to-current converter also enables the current source inverter to charge the voltage energy storage device, such as during dynamic braking of a hybrid electric vehicle, without the need of reversing the direction of the DC bus current. |
| US08110947B2 |
Uninterruptible power supply watchdog system and auto recovery method using the system
According to the present invention, provided is a watchdog system for Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), and auto recovery method using the same. In case the power supply path of UPS is switched from the normal power line to the bypass line, the UPS watchdog system of the present invention is firstly compulsively recovers again the power supply path to the normal power line for given times and, nevertheless, in case it is not recovered, the power is supplied through the bypass line. Accordingly, in case the power supply path is switched to the bypass line due to the temporary disorder of UPS, it can be rapidly recovered to the normal power path, so that the power supply by the UPS apparatus can be more stably performed. |
| US08110945B2 |
Power stealing circuitry for a control device
A power stealing circuit for stealing power to operate a control device is disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, power may be periodically or intermittently diverted from a power source to a power stealing block. When power is diverted to the power stealing block, the power stealing block may steal power from the power source and store the stolen power on a storage device. The storage device may then provide operating power to a control device. In some embodiments, the power stealing block may include a first path for charging the storage device when a switch is ON, and a second path for charging the storage device when the switch is off. The switch may be switched OFF when, for example, when the voltage provided by the rectifier is greater than a threshold voltage, the voltage detected on the storage device is greater than a threshold value, and/or when a control signal from a controller disables the switch. |
| US08110941B2 |
Power demand management method and system
A power demand modification method and system. The method includes detecting and monitoring by a computing system, a frequency signal associated with an input voltage signal used for powering a plurality of power consumption devices at a specified location. The computing system compares the frequency signal to a predetermined frequency value. The computing system determines that the frequency signal comprises a first value that is not equal to the predetermined frequency value. The computing system calculates a difference value between the first value and the predetermined frequency value. The computing system compares the difference value to a second value. The computing system enables a connection to an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and performs a power demand modification process associated with the UPS. The computing system generates and stores a report associated with the load adjustment modification process. |
| US08110940B2 |
Single input and dual-output power supply with integral coupling feature
A control and monitoring system power supply is described that receives a single power input and distributes power to two distinct segments of a control and monitoring system network. The power supply includes a single power input configured to receive AC from a power source and at least partially convert the AC power to an operable voltage for a network device. Further, the power supply includes dual power output drivers that share power from the single power input and distribute the power to distinct network cable segments. Each of the dual power output drivers is separate and common grounded with respect to the other. |
| US08110934B2 |
Portable electricity generator
An apparatus for producing electricity includes an elongated body and an electricity generating device operatively connected to the elongated body. A drive shaft is positioned along the elongated body, the drive shaft having an input and an output. A driven shaft is positioned along the elongated body and spaced apart from the drive shaft, the driven shaft having an input and an output, the output driving the electricity generating device. There is a first mechanical linkage between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. A method of producing electricity includes positioning a combustion engine powered vehicle over at least a portion of the apparatus, mechanically linking an output shaft of the combustion engine powered device to the input of the drive shaft, and powering the electricity generating device with the combustion engine powered vehicle. |
| US08110932B2 |
Semiconductor circuit with amplifier, bond wires and inductance compensating bond wire
In one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor circuit including an amplifier disposed on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed. A first bond wire coupled to an input of the amplifier, a second bond wire coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a third bond wire coupled in series with the first bond wire. A third bond wire is disposed on the semiconductor substrate so that a mutual inductance between the second bond wire and the third bond wire at least partially cancels a mutual inductance between the first bond wire and the second bond wire. |
| US08110931B2 |
Wafer and semiconductor package
A wafer defines a plurality of chips arranged in array manner. Each chip includes at least one aluminum pad and a middle material. The middle material covers the aluminum pad and is mounted on the aluminum pad. |
| US08110927B2 |
Explosion-proof module structure for power components, particularly power semiconductor components, and production thereof
A power module having at least one electric power component, such as a power electronic semiconductor component. An electrical contact for a load current is formed on a lower surface and also on an upper surface of the power semiconductor component. To reduce an explosion pressure and accept power when the power electronic semiconductor component is overloaded, a hollow space filled with at least one electrically conducting particle is formed on an electrical contact surface of the electrical contact. In case of a short circuit, an arc is initially generated above the semiconductor element thickness of the power semiconductor component, whereupon the filling in the hollow space takes over current conduction. Preferably, the filling in the hollow space is a plurality of spherical electrically conducting particles. The explosion pressure can escape into interstices in the filling if there is a short circuit. Furthermore, metal vapors are cooled and are condensed. A duct extending from and out of the hollow space can additionally be provided to reduce the explosion pressure, thus preventing power components from demolishing the surroundings during an electrical overload. The foregoing power module may be an improved thyristor. |
| US08110926B2 |
Redistribution layer power grid
An integrated circuit package including a first metal layer coupled to a bonding pad, a first redistribution layer coupled to the bonding pad, and a RDL to Metal (RTM) via coupled to a first surface of the metal layer and further coupled to a first surface of the first RDL is described. The IC package may further include additional metal layers and redistribution layers. |
| US08110925B2 |
Power semiconductor component with metal contact layer and production method therefor
A power semiconductor component having a basic body and at least one contact area. At least one first thin metallic layer of a first material is arranged on the contact area. A second metallic layer—thicker than the first—of a second material is arranged on the first material by a pressure sintering connection of said material. The associated method has the following steps: producing a plurality of power semiconductor components in a wafer; applying at least one first thin metallic layer on at least one contact area of a respective power semiconductor component; arranging a pasty layer, composed of the second material and a solvent, on at least one of the first metallic layers for each power semiconductor component; pressurizing the pasty layer; and singulating the semiconductor components. |
| US08110924B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
In a DC-DC converter, a multilayer wiring layer is provided on a silicon substrate, and a control circuit configured to control an input circuit and an output circuit is formed in the silicon substrate and the multilayer wiring layer. Moreover, a sealing resin layer covering the multilayer wiring layer and a connecting member connected to an uppermost wiring of the multilayer wiring layer, penetrating the sealing resin layer and having an upper end portion protruding from an upper surface of the sealing resin layer are provided. The upper end portion of the connecting member is formed from a protruding electrode. Horizontal cross-sectional area of the connecting member connected to terminals of the output circuit is larger than horizontal cross-sectional area of the connecting member connected to terminals of the control circuit. |
| US08110922B2 |
Wafer level semiconductor module and method for manufacturing the same
A wafer level semiconductor module may include a module board and an IC chip set mounted on the module board. The IC chip set may include a plurality of IC chips having scribe lines areas between the adjacent IC chips. Each IC chip may have a semiconductor substrate having an active surface with a plurality of chip pads and a back surface. A passivation layer may be provided on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate of each IC chip and may having openings through which the chip pads may be exposed. Sealing portions may be formed in scribe line areas. |
| US08110913B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with integral inner lead and paddle
An integrated circuit package system includes: fabricating a lead frame including: providing inner leads having an inner lead pitch of progressive length, forming a lead shoulder, on the inner leads, having a shoulder height of a progressive height, and forming outer leads coupled to the lead shoulder and the inner leads; mounting an integrated circuit die on the lead frame; and molding a package body on the lead frame and the integrated circuit die. |
| US08110909B1 |
Semiconductor package including top-surface terminals for mounting another semiconductor package
A semiconductor package including top-surface terminals for mounting another semiconductor package provides a three-dimensional circuit configuration that can provide removable connection of existing grid-array packages having a standard design. A semiconductor die is mounted on an electrically connected to a circuit substrate having terminals disposed on a bottom side for connection to an external system. The die and substrate are encapsulated and vias are laser-ablated or otherwise formed through the encapsulation to terminals on the top surface of the substrate that provide a grid array mounting lands to which another grid array semiconductor package may be mounted. The bottom side of the vias may terminate and electrically connect to terminals on the substrate, terminals on the bottom of the semiconductor package (through terminals) or terminals on the top of the semiconductor die. The vias may be plated, paste-filled, filled with a low melting point alloy and may have a conical profile for improved plating performance. |
| US08110904B2 |
Lead frame for semiconductor device and method of manufacturing of the same
Provided are a semiconductor device lead frame and a method of manufacturing of the same that improve adhesive properties between plating layers when a plurality of plating layers are laminated, that control deterioration in wire bonding properties during the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device and worsening of solderability during packaging, and that effectively reduce manufacturing cost. Specifically, the lead frame (2a, 2b) has a laminated structure that includes a lower plating layer (22) formed on a conductive base material (21) and an uppermost plating layer (23), with an organic film (22) that has metal-binding properties formed between the lower plating layer (21) and the uppermost plating layer (23). The organic film (22) is formed as a monomolecular film in which functional organic molecules (11) self assemble. Each of the organic molecules (11) has functional groups (A1, A1) with metal-binding properties on both ends of a main chain (B1). |
| US08110898B2 |
Polymer-embedded semiconductor rod arrays
A structure consisting of well-ordered semiconductor structures embedded in a binder material which maintains the ordering and orientation of the semiconductor structures. Methods for forming such a structure include forming the semiconductor structures on a substrate, casting a binder material onto the substrate to embed the semiconductor structures in the binder material, and separating the binder material from the substrate at the substrate. These methods provide for the retention of the orientation and order of highly ordered semiconductor structures in the separated binder material. |
| US08110895B2 |
Circuit substrate structure and circuit apparatus
A first wiring layer in a circuit substrate structure is provided with a first inductor and a second inductor. A dielectric layer is provided with a first via and a second via electrically connected to the first inductor and the second inductor, respectively. A second wiring layer is provided with: a bridge electrically connecting the first via and the second via; and a conductive pattern provided around the bridge, the outer edge of the conductive pattern being located outside the outer edge of the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern in the first wiring layer. The bridge functions as a coplanar line and suppresses generation of electromagnetic field. |
| US08110894B2 |
Protection for an integrated circuit chip containing confidential data
An integrated circuit chip for holding or processing data on information for secure protection. A first side of the chip has at least one first conductor element and another side of the chip has another conducting element. |
| US08110890B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device isolation structure
A semiconductor device including reentrant isolation structures and a method for making such a device. A preferred embodiment comprises a substrate of semiconductor material forming at least one isolation structure having a reentrant profile and isolating one or more adjacent operational components. The reentrant profile of the at least one isolation structure is formed of substrate material and is created by ion implantation, preferably using oxygen ions applied at a number of different angles and energy levels. In another embodiment the present invention is a method of forming an isolation structure for a semiconductor device performing at least one oxygen ion implantation. |
| US08110889B2 |
MOCVD single chamber split process for LED manufacturing
In one embodiment a method for fabricating a compound nitride semiconductor device comprising positioning one or more substrates on a susceptor in a processing region of a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) chamber comprising a showerhead, depositing a gallium nitride layer over the substrate with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process within the MOCVD chamber by flowing a first gallium containing precursor and a first nitrogen containing precursor through the showerhead into the MOCVD chamber, removing the one or more substrates from the MOCVD chamber without exposing the one or more substrates to atmosphere, flowing a chlorine gas into the processing chamber to remove contaminants from the showerhead, transferring the one or more substrates into the MOCVD chamber after removing contaminants from the showerhead, and depositing an InGaN layer over the GaN layer with a thermal chemical-vapor-deposition process within the MOCVD chamber is provided. |
| US08110885B2 |
Solid state imaging device comprising hydrogen supply film and antireflection film
Provided is a MOS type solid state imaging device, including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels arranged on the semiconductor substrate, each pixel having a light receiving element for generating a signal charge due to incident light, and a MOS transistor for reading the signal charge, and a hydrogen supply film arranged on the semiconductor substrate over the plurality of pixels and having a region corresponding to the light receiving element at least a part of which has a film thickness greater than the other part of the region. |
| US08110884B2 |
Methods of packaging imager devices and optics modules, and resulting assemblies
A method of packaging imager devices and optics modules is disclosed which includes positioning an imager device and an optics module in each of a plurality of openings in a carrier body, introducing an encapsulant material into each of the openings in the carrier body and cutting the carrier body to singulate the plurality of imager devices and optics modules into individual units, each of which comprise an imager device and an optics module. A device is also disclosed which includes an imager device comprising a plurality of photosensitive elements and an optics module coupled to the imager device, the optics module comprising at least one lens that, when the optics module is coupled to the imager device, is positioned a fixed, non-adjustable distance from the plurality of photosensitive elements. |
| US08110882B2 |
Semiconductor device with magnetic powder mixed therein and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on one side of which an integrated circuit and a plurality of connection pads connected to the integrated circuit are provided. An insulating film is provided on the plurality of connection pads except for parts of the connection pads and on the one side of the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of wiring lines are provided to be electrically connected to the integrated circuit via the connection pads, each of the wiring lines having a connection pad portion. A plurality of columnar electrodes are respectively provided on one side of the connection pad portions of the wiring lines. A sealing film is provide on the peripheries of the columnar electrodes to cover the integrated circuit and which is provided. At least one of the insulating film and the sealing film is formed of a resin in which magnetic powder is mixed. |
| US08110881B2 |
MRAM cell structure with a blocking layer for avoiding short circuits
A MRAM cell structure includes a bottom electrode; a magnetic tunnel junction unit disposed on the bottom electrode; a top electrode disposed on the magnetic tunnel junction unit; and a blocking layer disposed on the top electrode, wherein the blocking layer is wider than the magnetic tunnel junction unit for preventing against formation of a short circuit between a contact and the magnetic tunnel junction unit. |
| US08110871B2 |
Semiconductor device with recess and fin structure
The semiconductor device includes an active region, a recess, a Fin channel region, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode. The active region is defined by a device isolation structure formed in a semiconductor substrate. The recess is formed by etching the active region and its neighboring device isolation structure using an island shaped recess gate mask as an etching mask. The Fin channel region is formed on the semiconductor substrate at a lower part of the recess. The gate insulating film is formed over the active region including the Fin channel region and the recess. The gate electrode is formed over the gate insulating film to fill up the Fin channel region and the recess. |
| US08110870B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having a surface layer and a p-type semiconductor region, wherein the surface layer includes a contact region, a channel region and a drift region, the channel region is adjacent to and in contact with the contact region, the drift region is adjacent to and in contact with the channel region and includes n-type impurities at least in part, and the p-type semiconductor region is in contact with the drift region and at least a portion of a rear surface of the channel region, a main electrode disposed on the surface layer and electrically connected to the contact region, a gate electrode disposed on the surface layer and extending from above a portion of the contact region to above at least a portion of the drift region via above the channel region, and an insulating layer covering at least the portion of the contact region and not covering at least the portion of the drift region. The gate electrode and the contact region are insulated by the insulating layer, and the gate electrode and the drift region are in direct contact to form a Schottky junction. |
| US08110864B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
In one aspect of the present invention, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device may include a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of tunnel insulating films formed on the semiconductor substrate at predetermined intervals in a first direction; a plurality of floating gate electrodes each having a first portion and a second portion, the first portions being formed on the respective tunnel insulating films, the second portions being formed on the respective first portions and having smaller width than the first portions in the first direction; an inter-gate insulating film formed on the floating gate electrodes; and first and second control gate electrodes respectively formed on sidewalls, in the first direction, of the second portion of each of the plurality of floating gate electrodes with the inter-gate insulating film interposed therebetween. |
| US08110861B1 |
MIM capacitor high-k dielectric for increased capacitance density
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for fabricating a MIM capacitor in a semiconductor die includes a step of depositing a first interconnect metal layer. The method further includes depositing a high-k dielectric layer comprising AlNX (aluminum nitride) on the first interconnect layer. The method further includes depositing a layer of MIM capacitor metal on the high-k dielectric layer. The method further includes etching the layer of MIM capacitor metal to form an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor. According to this exemplary embodiment, the first interconnect metal layer, the high-k dielectric layer, and the layer of MIM capacitor metal can be deposited in a PVD process chamber. The method further includes etching the high-k dielectric layer to form a MIM capacitor dielectric segment and etching the first interconnect metal layer to form a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor. |
| US08110859B2 |
Antireflection portion in a shallow isolation trench for a photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units each generating charges corresponding to light, an element isolation portion which electrically isolates the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and an antireflection portion which is arranged to prevent reflection of light, which has entered the element isolation portion from above the element isolation portion, only on a bottom face of the element isolation portion or only on the bottom face and a lower part of a side face of the element isolation portion. In addition, a first semiconductor region is arranged below the element isolation portion. A refractive index of the antireflection portion takes a value between a refractive index of the element isolation portion and a refractive index of the first semiconductor region. |
| US08110856B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method for manufacturing the same
A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from a rear-surface side. The thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 μm or less. |
| US08110850B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a plurality of compound semiconductor layers including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer, and a layer of the plurality of compound semiconductor layers comprising a roughness comprising a sapphire material. |
| US08110849B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an InNO layer. The active layer is disposed on the first conductive semiconductor layer. The second conductive semiconductor layer is disposed on the active layer. The InNO layer is disposed on the second conductive semiconductor layer. |
| US08110846B2 |
Diamond semiconductor devices and associated methods
Semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices are provided. One such method may include forming a transparent diamond layer having a SiC layer coupled thereto, where the SiC layer has a crystal structure that is substantially epitaxially matched to the transparent diamond layer, forming epitaxially a plurality of semiconductor layers on the SiC layer, and coupling a diamond substrate to at least one of the plurality of semiconductor layers such that the diamond support is oriented parallel to the transparent diamond layer. In one aspect such a method may further include electrically coupling at least one of a p-type electrode or an n-type electrode to at least one of the plurality of semiconductor layers. |
| US08110843B2 |
Light emitting element with improved light extraction efficiency, light emitting device comprising the same, and fabricating method of the light emitting element and the light emitting device
Provided is a light emitting element, a light emitting device including the same, and fabrication methods of the light emitting element and light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a substrate, a light emitting structure including a first conductive layer of a first conductivity type, a light emitting layer, and a second conductive layer of a second conductivity type which are sequentially stacked, a first electrode which is electrically connected with the first conductive layer; and a second electrode which is electrically connected with the second conductive layer and separated apart from the first electrode, wherein at least a part of the second electrode is connected from a top of the light emitting structure, through a sidewall of the light emitting structure, and to a sidewall of the substrate. |
| US08110842B2 |
Light-emitting diode module and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing a light-emitting diode (LED) module is provided. Plural LED package structures are formed on a substrate first. A space is located between two adjacent LED package structures. A Lens laminated plate is subsequently bonded onto the LED package structures. The lens laminated plate includes plural lenses, and each lens is located right above a LED of each LED package structure. Finally, plural LED modules are formed by cutting the substrate along the space. A LED module structure is also disclosed. |
| US08110839B2 |
Lighting device, display, and method for manufacturing the same
A display, a lighting device and a method for manufacturing the lighting device are provided. The lighting device comprises a substrate, an electrode layer, a plurality of light source units and a light scattering layer, which is covered by a transparent layer and a reflector layer to create a uniform surface light within an ultra thin format. A yellow phosphor layer is disposed above the reflector layer to create white light when a blue LED or UV LED is used. The lighting device also provides a unique electrode layout design which can be applied for local dimming control and can be easily applied for large size product applications. |
| US08110834B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor devices including select gate patterns having different work function from cell gate patterns
A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes a vertical channel pattern on the substrate, a plurality of cell gate patterns and a select gate pattern stacked on the substrate along the sidewall of the vertical channel pattern, a charge storage pattern between the vertical channel pattern and the cell gate pattern and a select gate pattern between the vertical channel pattern and the select gate pattern. The select gate pattern has a different work function from the cell gate pattern. |
| US08110833B2 |
Display device with impurities formed within connection regions
A display device includes: a transparent substrate; gate electrodes which are stacked on the transparent substrate; semiconductor films which are stacked above the gate electrodes and constitute thin film transistors together with the gate electrodes; source electrodes and drain electrodes which are formed above the semiconductor films; an insulation film which is stacked between the source electrodes and the semiconductor films and between the drain electrodes and the semiconductor films; and contact holes which are formed in the insulation film so as to connect the source electrodes and the drain electrodes with the semiconductor films. The semiconductor film includes a connection region which is positioned at least below the contact hole and is connected with the source electrode, and a connection region which is positioned at least below the contact hole and is connected with the drain electrode, and impurities are implanted into the connection regions. |
| US08110830B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a method of manufacturing the same that is capable of decreasing the number of usage of exposure masks to reduce the process time and the process costs and excessively etching a passivation film below a photoresist pattern to easily perform a lift-off process of the photoresist pattern are disclosed. The TFT array substrate includes a gate line layer including a gate line formed on a substrate, a gate electrode diverging from the gate line, and a gate pad formed at the end of the gate line, a gate insulation film formed on the gate line layer, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulation film above the gate electrode, a data line layer including a data line intersecting the gate line, source and drain electrodes formed at opposite sides of the semiconductor layer, and a data pad formed at the end of the data line, a pixel electrode contacting the drain electrode, first and second oxidation preventing films contacting the gate pad and the data pad, and an at least two-layered passivation film deposited on the data line layer. The uppermost layer of the at least two-layered passivation film is formed at the remaining region excluding a region where the pixel electrode and the first and second oxidation preventing films are formed. |
| US08110827B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a stack of layers of a substrate, with a basic layer, first and second electrode layers, and an organic light-emitting layer which is sandwiched between the first and the second electrode layers. At least a part of the basic layer is covered by a shielding structure that includes a plurality of lamella elements that extend sheet-like from the stack of layers in such a way, that the lamella elements guide light out of the light emitting device. |
| US08110824B2 |
Benzo[a]fluoranthene compound and organic light emitting device using the same
Provided are a novel benzo[a]fluoranthene compound and an organic light emitting device having extremely good light emitting efficiency, extremely good luminance, and durability. The benzo[a]fluoranthene compound is represented by the following general formula (I): wherein: at least one of R11 to R22 represents Rm represented by the following general formula (i): Rm=—X1—Ar1 (i) wherein X1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted, divalent monocyclic heterocyclic group, and Ar1 represents one of the following groups (a) and (b): (a) a substituted or unsubstituted fused polycyclic group, and (b) a composite substituent formed by combining two or more of a benzene ring, a monocyclic heterocyclic ring, and a fused polycyclic ring, the composite substituent being permitted to have a substituent. |
| US08110815B2 |
Vapor delivery to devices under vacuum
Providing vapor to a vapor-receiving device housed in a high vacuum chamber. An ion beam implanter, as an example, has a removable high voltage ion source within a high vacuum chamber and a vapor delivery system that delivers vapor to the ion source and does not interfere with removal of the ion source for maintenance. For delivering vapor to a vapor-receiving device, such as the high voltage ion source under vacuum, a flow interface device is in the form of a thermally conductive valve block. A delivery extension of the interface device automatically connects and disconnects within the high vacuum chamber with the removable vapor receiving device by respective installation and removal motions. In an ion implanter, the flow interface device or valve block and source of reactive cleaning gas are mounted in a non-interfering way on the electrically insulating bushing that insulates the ion source from the vacuum housing and the ion source may be removed without disturbing the flow interface device. Multiple vaporizers for solid material, provisions for reactive gas cleaning, and provisions for controlling flow are provided in the flow interface device. |
| US08110809B2 |
Radiation detector and radiographic inspection apparatus
On a wiring board 21, first and second semiconductor detection device arrays 22a and 22b are arranged along a depth direction (Y-axial direction). Each of the first and the second semiconductor detection device arrays 22a and 22b is composed by arranging six semiconductor detection devices 231 through 236 in one line in an arrangement direction (X-axial direction). Guard members 28a and 28b are arranged one on each end in the arrangement direction. In the semiconductor detection devices 231 through 236 of the first and the second semiconductor detection device arrays 22a and 22b, a kth (k is one of the number from 1 to 6) semiconductor detection device 23k from a reference line Xa is arranged by being shifted from others by ½ of a gap PT of the semiconductor detecting devices 231 through 236 in the arrangement direction. |
| US08110807B2 |
Rediation detector system for locating and identifying special nuclear material in moving vehicles
The invention uses a series of combined passive neutron and gamma ray sensors systematically placed along a path of commercial traffic, for example an airport runway, combined with a pulsed source of low energy protons and deuterons. The pulsed source produces monoenergetic gamma rays and low energy (60 keV) neutrons. This pulsed source uses a pinch-reflex ion diode operated on a pulsed power generator to produce proton beams. These beams bombard a PTFE (Teflon) target to produce characteristic gamma-rays. These gamma rays would induce a fission reaction in any fissile material creating gamma rays and neutrons. The passive sensors located in the path of commercial traffic would sense both the resultant gamma and neutron products of the reaction. The short interrogation pulse, approximately 50 nanoseconds, provides a timing marker which can be used to turn on the passive detectors after the interrogation pulse so as to avoid saturation and to enable measuring the spectrum of the fast neutrons using time of flight. The decay rate of the intensity of fast and slow (thermalized by interaction with the runway materials) neutrons provides an unambiguous signature of the presence of fissile material. |
| US08110805B2 |
Iterative algorithms for crystal efficiencies estimations from TOF compressed normalization data
Time-of-flight (TOF) clinical data collected during a PET scan are very sparse and have significant size. These data undergo TOF axial rebinning and azimuthal mashing if histogrammed data-based reconstruction algorithms are used. In a clinical environment, TOF compression is typically performed by the hardware rebinner. Normalization data, acquired on a regular basis and used for estimation of some norm components, are compressed by the hardware rebinner in a similar manner. This disclosure presents simple update iterative algorithms for crystal efficiencies norm component estimation from TOF compressed normalization data. Previously known methods are not directly applicable since the compression procedure significantly complicates normalization data model equations. The iterative algorithms presented herein have advantages of being easily adapted to any acquisition geometry, and of allowing estimation of parameters at crystal level when a number of crystals is relatively small. A monotonic sequential coordinate descent algorithm, which optimizes the Least Squares objective function, is presented. A simultaneous update algorithm, which possesses the advantage of easy parallelization, is also presented. |
| US08110802B2 |
Photodetecting device including base with positioning portion
In a photodetecting device 3, positional alignment marks 18A, 18B to serve as positional references of a photodetecting element 11 are formed at the front surface side of the photodetecting element 11. Moreover, a pin base 13 is provided with a threaded fitting pin 32 to be fitted with a cold plate 2, and the threaded fitting pin 32 is accurately positionally aligned with respect to the photodetecting element 11 via a positioning portion 33 positioned with respect to the positional alignment marks 18A, 18B exposed from a slit portion 23 and a cutaway portion 24 of a wiring board 12. Accordingly, in the photodetecting device 3, by only fitting the threaded fitting pin 32 with a recess portion 4 of the cold plate 2, the photodetecting element 11 is accurately positionally aligned with respect to the cold plate 2. |
| US08110801B2 |
Layered scanning charged particle microscope package for a charged particle and radiation detector
A scanning charged particle microscope includes a layered charged particle beam column package; a sample holder; and a layered micro-channel plate detector package located between the column package and the sample holder. |
| US08110800B2 |
Scanning electron microscope system and method for measuring dimensions of patterns formed on semiconductor device by using the system
The present invention is for providing a scanning electron microscope system adapted to output contour information fitting in with the real pattern edge end of a sample, and is arranged to generate a local projection waveform by projecting the scanning electron microscope image in the tangential direction with respect to the pattern edge at each point of the pattern edge of the scanning electron microscope image, estimate the cross-sectional shape of the pattern transferred on the sample by applying the local projection waveform generated at each point to a library, which has previously been created, correlating the cross-sectional shape with the electron beam signal waveform, obtain position coordinate of the edge end fitting in with the cross-sectional shape, and output the contour of the pattern as a range of position coordinates. |
| US08110798B2 |
Method for cooling ions in a linear ion trap
Methods for cooling ions retained in an ion trap are described. In various embodiments, a cooling gas is delivered into a linear ion trap causing a non-steady state pressure elevation in at least a portion of the trap above about 8×10−5 Torr for a duration less than the ion-retention time. In various embodiments, the duration of pressure elevation can be based upon a period of time required for an ion to lose a desired amount of its kinetic energy. |
| US08110797B2 |
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry methodology
A method of enhanced speciation of both positive and negatives species in an analyte is disclosed. The method can include producing a first analyte solution comprising an analyte composition and an effective amount of silver triflate, and analyzing the first analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The method can also include producing a second analyte solution comprising a portion of the analyte composition and an effective amount of a compound of formula I, and analyzing the second analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The compound of formula I is [NX+][OH−], where X is a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C10 alkane; an aryl; a heterocyclic aromatic; or a heterocyclic moiety. |
| US08110795B2 |
Laser system for MALDI mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry with lasers generates ions from analyte molecules by matrix assisted laser desorption for a variety of different mass spectrometric analysis procedures. The mass spectrometers with laser systems supply laser light pulses having at least two different pulse durations, and mass spectrometric measuring techniques use the laser light pulses of different durations. The duration of the laser light pulses allows the characteristics of the ionization of the analyte molecules, particularly the occurrence of the ISD (in-source decay) and PSD (post-source decay) types of fragmentation, whose fragment ion spectra supply different kinds of information, to be adapted to the analytic procedure. |
| US08110794B2 |
Soft ablative desorption method and system
Methods and systems are provided for the soft desorption of analyte from a sample, in which an optical beam absorbed within an irradiate zone of the sample causes vibrational excitations of a component within the sample. The optical beam, providing sufficient energy to superheat the component, is provided for a time interval that is less than the time duration required for the loss of energy out of the irradiated zone due to thermal diffusion and acoustic expansion. The superheated component thus drives ablation within the irradiated zone, resulting in the soft desorption of analyte without ionization and fragmentation. The ejected ablation plume may be directed towards the inlet of a mass analysis device for detection of the desorbed analyte, which is preferably ionized by a linear resonant photo-ionization step. |
| US08110792B2 |
Absolute position length measurement type encoder
An absolute position length measurement type encoder includes: a scale in which an ABS pattern based on a pseudorandom code is provided; a light-receiving element for receiving bright and dark patterns formed by the scale; and a signal processing circuit for processing signals subjected to output of the light-receiving element and measuring an absolute position of the scale to the light-receiving element, wherein the signal processing circuit includes a space-dividing number conversion circuit that obtains finer intervals D than the array interval PPDA of the ABS light-receiving element array of the light-receiving element, and simultaneously obtains and outputs a digital value for each of the intervals D subjected to output of the ABS light-receiving element array. Therefore, even where the minimum line width of the ABS pattern is not an integral multiple of the array interval of the ABS light-receiving element array, an arithmetic operation for the correlation can be carried out, and the moving distance can be measured at high accuracy. |
| US08110790B2 |
Large depth of field line scan camera
A system for imaging an object comprising a surface for receiving the object to be imaged and an imaging device. The imaging device comprises a housing and a fixed focusing optical device mounted to the housing, whereby the fixed focusing optics comprises a lens for focusing light reflected from the object. A plurality of independent linear imaging sensors are positioned in the housing at different distances from the fixed focusing lens so that a face of each of the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors is aligned parallel to the surface. A processor is coupled to the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors for receiving an output signal from each of the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors representative of the reflected light. The lens defines a plane parallel to the surface, and the plurality of independent linear imaging sensors are adapted to receive reflected light from the object. |
| US08110786B2 |
Multi-element concentrator system
A novel concentrator system is described, which increases the efficiency of collecting and concentrating sunlight energy onto a target. This method uses an array of small movable reflective or refractive concentrator components that can move via a feedback mechanism which tracks the sun and concentrates the suns energy on to a second array of energy converting elements. In order to improve the effective collected energy, the array of concentrator elements is placed on a moving or tiltable flat slab (or dish, substrate, plane, plate, holder, tablet, or similar flat or non-flat surface) that tracks the sun. An alternative method uses an array of target elements or linear elements and a second array of concentrator elements in harmony such that the suns energy is efficiently redistributed by the reflective or refractive array on to the energy converting array as the sun's position in the sky (elevation and azimuth) changes. The elements of the reflective or refractive array are tilted by novel actuation mechanisms describe herein. |
| US08110776B2 |
Glass substrate cutting apparatus and glass substrate cutting system using the same
Glass substrate cutting apparatuses using lasers are disclosed, where a laser cutting head is moved. A glass substrate cutting apparatus includes two parts for a laser cutting head: heavy laser beam generators fixed to respective ends of a gantry structure moving in parallel along two gantry stages located on either side of a cutting table, and relatively lightweight laser irradiation heads moving horizontally in parallel with the gantry structure. The glass substrate cutting apparatus includes a cutting table for maintaining a glass substrate in a horizontal state; biaxial gantry stages for moving a gantry structure along the cutting table; the gantry structure moving in between an upper part of the biaxial gantry stages; laser beam generators fixed to respective ends of the gantry structure for oscillating the laser; and laser irradiation heads that move horizontally on respective ends of the gantry structure and irradiate the laser upon the glass substrate. |
| US08110772B1 |
System and method for multi-pass computer controlled narrow-gap electroslag welding applications
A system and method of multi-pass computer controlled narrow-gap Electroslag welding allowing a faster vertical rate of rise at a much lower voltage, and that includes welding selected narrow-gaps within segments of a weld cavity between heavy plate steel workpieces and attendant control of the heat transfer depth penetration from the weld puddle to the workpieces according to a pre-determined profile resulting in a smaller heat affected zone and smaller grain structure in the weld metal. |
| US08110769B2 |
Vacuum circuit breaker
The invention relates to a vacuum switch, especially a vacuum circuit breaker, for medium and high voltages, comprising a mobile switch unit arranged inside a vacuum switch compartment (1) and provided with mutually mobile elements including a contact tappet (17), an insulator (18), and a driving or switching rod (11) introduced into the vacuum switch compartment (1) by means of metal bellows. Said vacuum switch also comprises a fixed contact inserted into the housing of the vacuum switch compartment (1). The upper end of the insulator (18) is fixed to the contact tappet (17), and the lower end of the insulator (18) is fixed to the driving or switching rod (11). The contact tappet (17) is connected to a conductor (8) by a flexible, electroconductive connection (20), said conductor being electroconductively connected to at least one laterally arranged output contact (6). The aim of the invention is to enable an improved embodiment of the switching and contact surfaces. To this end, the fixed contact (16) and the contact tappet (17) respectively comprise a switching contact part (14a, 14b) comprising an outer switching and contact surface (29) and an inner switching and contact surface (30) that can be moved in relation to the outer surface. |
| US08110764B2 |
Key structure
A key structure is provided, including a substrate, a key cap, a first link, and a second link pivotally connected to the first link. The first and second links movably connect the key cap with the base. The key cap comprises a first surface and a guiding portion extended along a first direction, wherein the guiding portion has a second surface. The first link is made of metal and has a sliding end forming a first curved portion and a second curved portion. The first and second curved portions are respectively adjacent to the first and second surfaces and slidable along the guiding portion. |
| US08110763B2 |
Key assembly and portable electronic device using the same
A key assembly comprises a base plate, two elastic elements and a key body. Each elastic element has a securing portion and two compressing portions protruding from two ends of the securing portion. The securing portions are latched to the base plate. The key body is slidably mounted to the base plate between the two elastic elements. The key body includes a first key section resisting one of the two elastic elements and a second key section resisting another elastic element. When the first key section slides toward and compresses the corresponding elastic element, the second key section slide away from the corresponding elastic element. |
| US08110762B2 |
Low-voltage device with reinforced rotating element
A single-pole or multi-pole device for low-voltage systems, in particular a circuit breaker or a disconnector, which comprises: an outer casing containing for each pole at least one fixed contact and at least one mobile contact that can be coupled to/uncoupled from one another; a rotating element, defined by a shaped body comprising at least one seat for each pole of said switch, said seat being designed to house at least one mobile contact of a corresponding pole; a control mechanism operatively connected to said rotating element for enabling movement thereof; reinforcement elements positioned in said at least one seat of said mobile contact. |
| US08110759B2 |
Electrical panel input interlock assembly
A system and method of interlocking a plurality of electrical panel switches includes an interlock assembly having an interlock. The interlock has a first position that allows connection of one of primary power and power from an alternate power supply, such as a generator, to the electrical panel and prevents connection of the other of the primary power and alternate power. The interlock has a second position that allows connection of the other of the primary power and alternate power and prevents connection of one of the primary power and alternate power to the electrical panel. The interlock also is constructed to control the positioning and sequence of operation of neutral connections between the power supplies and the electrical panel. |
| US08110757B1 |
Interference removal in pointing device locating systems
An apparatus and a method for determining the location of a pointing device in the vicinity of a set of receivers able to receive one or more locating signals transmitted through a medium. The method includes receiving at a receiver a signal that includes a locating signal and an interfering signal, determining an estimated interference signal indicative of the interfering signal included in the signal received, determining a signal indicative of the difference between the received signal and the estimated interference signal, and using the signal indicative of the difference to compute the location of the pointing device on a surface near the set of receivers. One version uses a separate receiver from which to determine the estimated interference signal, while another version uses the received signal at a time when there is expected to be no locating signal present in order to determine the estimated interference signal. An adaptive filter computes the estimated interference signal. |
| US08110753B2 |
Circuit board assembly
A circuit board assembly includes: a circuit board having opposite first and second surfaces and formed with a first through-hole defined by a hole-defining wall that extends between and that terminates at the first and second surfaces and that cooperates with the first and second surfaces to define first and second turns, respectively, the circuit board further having an abutting wall that extends between and that terminates at the first and second surfaces and that cooperates with the second surface to define a third turn; and an electric wire having a fixed end that is soldered to the circuit board, extending through the first through-hole, and passing over the first, second and third turns of the circuit board so as to form an inflection region between the first and second turns. |
| US08110752B2 |
Wiring substrate and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a wiring substrate includes forming a conductor circuit on an insulating layer, the conductor circuit including a pad, a circuit pattern connected to the pad, and a lead pattern connected to the pad. A solder resist layer is formed on the circuit pattern and on the insulating layer, and a plating resist layer is formed on the lead pattern and on the insulating layer and forming a metal film on a first portion of the conductor circuit not covered by the solder resist layer and not covered by the plating resist layer. The plating resist layer is removed to expose a second portion of the conductor circuit adjacent to the first portion of the conductor circuit and not covered with the metal film, and an etching resist layer is formed on the metal film and on the second portion of the conductor circuit. A third portion of the conductor circuit not covered by the etching resist layer is removed by etching, and the etching resist is removed. The conductor circuit covered with the etching resist layer is a part of the second portion of the conductor circuit exposed by removing the plating resist. |
| US08110751B2 |
Semiconductor memory module and electronic component socket for coupling with the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory module and an electronic component socket for coupling with the same. A printed circuit board of the semiconductor memory module includes three signal pad arrays longitudinally formed in a row on one sides of a first surface, a second surface and a third surface thereof. Each signal pad array includes a plurality of signal pads. An electronic component socket for coupling with the printed circuit board includes thee pin arrays. Thus, an increased number of the signal pads can be provided while retaining the size of the memory module and the electronic component socket. |
| US08110748B2 |
Wiring, display device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a wiring, a display device, and a method of manufacturing the same. A first metal diffusion-preventing layer is formed on a substrate or on a circuit element formed on the substrate. Then, a metal wiring layer is selectively formed on the first metal diffusion-preventing layer by an electroless metal plating method or a metal electroplating method. Further, the undesired portion of the first metal diffusion-preventing layer is removed. Finally, a second metal diffusion-preventing layer is formed selectively by an electroless metal plating method in a manner to cover the metal wiring layer or both a seed layer and the metal wiring layer. |
| US08110747B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board
A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) includes a signal layer, upper and lower ground layers, and two dielectric layers. The signal layer includes a differential pair comprising two transmission lines to transmit a pair of differential signals. The dielectric layers are located on and under the signal layer to sandwich the signal layer. The upper ground layer is attached to the dielectric layer on the signal layer, opposite to the signal layer. The lower ground layer is attached to the dielectric layer under the signal layer, opposite to the signal layer. Each ground layer includes a grounded sheet made of conductive material. Two voids are defined in each ground layer and located at opposite sides of the corresponding grounded sheet. Distances between the middle line of the grounded sheet of each ground layer and middle lines of the two transmission lines are equal. |
| US08110746B2 |
Cooling of substrate using interposer channels
A structure. The structure includes an interposer adapted to be interposed between a heat source and a heat sink and to transfer heat from the heat source to the heat sink. The interposer includes an enclosure that encloses a cavity. The enclosure is made of a thermally conductive material. The cavity includes a thermally conductive foam material. The foam material includes pores and includes at least one serpentine channel. Each serpentine channel has at least two contiguously connected channel segments. Each serpentine channel independently forms a closed loop or an open ended loop. The foam material is adapted to be soaked by a liquid filling the pores. Each serpentine channel is adapted to be partially filled with a fluid that serves to transfer heat from the heat source to the heat sink. |
| US08110742B2 |
Temporary protective cover for an electrical box
A temporary protective cover for an electrical box having an open front end. In some embodiments of the invention, the cover is constructed for attachment directly to a circular type electrical box and includes a circular plate of plastic having a pair of flexible wings for use in securing the cover to the electrical box and a pair of punch-outs for use in securing the cover to the electrical box. In some other embodiments of the invention the cover is constructed for attachment to a circular plaster ring which can be attached to a commercial type circular electrical box and include a pair of flexible wings for use in securing the cover to the plaster ring and a pair of punch-outs for use in securing the cover to the plaster ring. |
| US08110739B2 |
Solar cell and method of fabricating the same
The invention provides a solar cell and a method of fabricating the same. The solar cell, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a semiconductor structure combination and a multi-atomic-layer structure formed of at least one oxide. The semiconductor structure combination includes at least one p-n junction and has an illuminated surface. The multi-atomic-layer structure overlays the illuminated surface of the semiconductor structure combination. In particular, the multi-atomic-layer structure serves as a surface passivation layer, a transparent conductive layer, and further as an anti-reflective layer. |
| US08110738B2 |
Protective layer for large-scale production of thin-film solar cells
A solar cell includes a substrate, a protective layer located over a first surface of the substrate, a first electrode located over a second surface of the substrate, at least one p-type semiconductor absorber layer located over the first electrode, an n-type semiconductor layer located over the p-type semiconductor absorber layer, and a second electrode over the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-type semiconductor absorber layer includes a copper indium selenide (CIS) based alloy material, and the second electrode is transparent and electrically conductive. The protective layer has an emissivity greater than 0.25 at a wavelength of 2 μm, has a reactivity with a selenium-containing gas lower than that of the substrate, and may differ from the first electrode in at least one of composition, thickness, density, emissivity, conductivity or stress state. The emissivity profile of the protective layer may be uniform or non-uniform. |
| US08110737B2 |
Collector grid, electrode structures and interrconnect structures for photovoltaic arrays and methods of manufacture
The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught. |
| US08110732B2 |
Keyboard device for electronic keyboard instrument
A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, ensuring stable pivotal motion of each key and improved in each of assembly and disassembly. Each key extends in a front-rear direction and has a pivot shaft extending at a rear end in a left-right direction. A keyboard chassis has a mounting portion and key-separating support portions each for supporting the pivot shaft. A pivot shaft bearing member has a pivot shaft support portion cooperating with each key-separating support portion to form a bearing for the pivot shaft, supporting each key pivotally movable, and is removably mounted to the mounting portion. During assembly, with each key engaged with the key-separating support portion via the pivot shaft and held on the keyboard chassis, the mounting portion remains exposed, enabling the bearing member to be mounted from above or rear. |
| US08110731B1 |
Transmission linkage for drum assembly
A transmission linkage for a drum assembly of the present invention is adapted for connecting a pedal unit to a striking portion. The transmission linkage includes a pole a first joint, a second joint, two threaded members and two bearing units. At least one of the first joint and the second joint includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit and the second unit are rotatable about an axis. The first unit has two arms which are formed with threaded holes. The second unit has two coaxial recesses. The bearing units are carried in the recesses. The threaded units are screwed in the threaded holes, being held by the bearing units. As such, an easy-fabricated transmission linkage is provided. |
| US08110720B2 |
Transgenic mice expressing humanized VEGF
The present invention generally relates to humanized VEGF and non-human transgenic animals expressing it. The transgenic animals are also useful to study VEGF-related therapies. |
| US08110719B2 |
ABI1 conditional knockout mouse
Genetically engineered conditional knock-out mice having conditional disruption of the Abi1/Hssh3bp1 gene are disclosed along with methods of making and using same. |
| US08110717B2 |
Carboxymethylated cellulosic wound dressing garment
A body shaped wound dressing wherein the dressing is a knitted or woven garment comprising a cellulosic yarn, which garment has been carboxymethylated at least in parts of its wound contacting surface. |
| US08110715B2 |
Alkylaromatic production process
The present disclosure provides a process for selectively producing a desired monoalkylated aromatic compound comprising the step of contacting in a reaction zone an alkylatable aromatic compound with an alkylating agent in the presence of catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material under at least partial liquid phase conditions, said catalyst manufactured from extrudate to comprise catalytic particulate material of from about 125 microns to about 790 microns in size, having an Effectiveness Factor increased from about 25% to about 750% from that of the original extrudate, and having an external surface area to volume ratio of greater than about 79 cm−1. |
| US08110713B2 |
Process for producing pentafluoroethane
The present invention relates to a process for producing pentafluoroethane. More particularly, the subject of the invention is a continuous process for producing pentafluoroethane comprising (i) a step of fluorinating perchloroethylene (PER) with hydrofluoric acid, in the gas phase, in the presence of a catalyst, (ii) a step of separating the products issuing from step (i) in order to give a fraction of light products and a fraction of heavy products, comprising hydrofluoric acid, unreacted perchloroethylene and under-fluorinated products, and (iii) a step of pretreating the fraction of heavy products before recycling to step (i). |
| US08110712B2 |
Process for the preparation of alkylene glycol
The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide. Alkylene oxide reacts with carbon dioxide in the presence of a carboxylation catalyst to provide alkylene carbonate; alkylene carbonate reacts with water in the presence of a hydrolysis catalyst to provide alkylene glycol. An initial charge of the carboxylation catalyst and an initial charge of the hydrolysis catalyst are added, the degradation and activity of the hydrolysis catalyst are monitored, and when the activity of the hydrolysis catalyst has fallen below a minimum level, an additional charge of the hydrolysis catalyst is added. |
| US08110710B2 |
Process for producing bis-alkoxylated diols of bisphenol a from spent polycarbonate discs(PC) or PC waste
This invention provides one-pot reaction for digesting polycarbonate waste with alkylene glycol in the presence of a basic catalyst at 180° C. under normal atmospheric pressure. The digested product mixture was found to consist of bisphenol A (BPA) and monoalkoxylated and bisalkoxylated diols of BPA. Alkoxylation of BPA and monoalkoxylated diols of BPA is performed by adding urea or urea derivative (or carbonic acid ester or amine ester) to the digested product mixture at a high temperature under normal atmospheric pressure to obtain the final product, i.e., bisalkoxylated diols of BPA in high yield. The bisalkoxylated diols of BPA may be used as raw materials to synthesize polymer such as polyurethane (PU) or polyester. |
| US08110707B2 |
Surfactant
A fatty acid salt of an alkyl quaternary ammonium is used as a novel surfactant which is a cationic surfactant having high detergency and low foaming property. |
| US08110705B2 |
Processes for making hydrazides
A method is disclosed for preparing hydrazides from hydrazine and an acyl chloride which comprises the steps of (a) preparing a stirred substantially uniform slurry comprising hydrazine and an inert solvent at low temperature; and (b) adding an acyl chloride continuously to said slurry. The method avoids or limits production of undesired bis-hydrazide by-products. The method is used to prepare 3-methyl-3-mercaptobutanoic acid hydrazide, a molecule used to link calicheamicin to a monoclonal antibody. |
| US08110704B2 |
Process for the production of stable polymers
Stable NCO prepolymers are produced from polyisocyanates having a melting point greater than 70° C., preferably, naphthalene diisocyanate, having advantageous physical properties. An important feature of the process of the present invention is the rapid cooling of the prepolymer. The process of the present invention may be carried out on a continuous or batch basis. The prepolymers of the present invention are particularly suitable for the production of cast polyurethane elastomers. |
| US08110702B2 |
Process for the manufacture of substituted 2-cyano cinnamic esters
The invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of substitute 2-cyanocinnamic esters. This novel economical process provides products in high purity and yields. |
| US08110700B2 |
Method for producing vinyl esters of carboxylic acids
The present invention relates to a process for preparing vinyl carboxylates, wherein a carboxylic acid is reacted with an alkyne compound in the presence of a catalyst which is selected from salts of perrhenic acid at a temperature of =250° C.The process gives rise to the desired vinyl esters with a high yield. |
| US08110699B2 |
Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes with α-nitrodiazoacetates
A process for the cyclopropanation of olefins with a metal porphyrin catalyst and an acceptor/acceptor substituted diazo reagent. |
| US08110698B2 |
Process for producing diphenyl carbonate
Processes for producing diaryl carbonates are disclosed, where such processes may provide for the production of diaryl carbonates from green house gases, such as carbon dioxide. The processes disclosed advantageously integrate diethyl carbonate and diaryl carbonate production, eliminating the need for solvent-based extractive distillation, as is commonly required when producing diaryl carbonates from dimethyl carbonate, providing for the integration of separation equipment and raw material usage, and reducing the operating and capital requirements for such processes. In some embodiments, processes disclosed herein may be operated essentially closed-loop with respect to ethanol usage, for example. |
| US08110697B2 |
Method for the production of polymerizable silicones
Polymerizable siloxy-substituted silanes are obtained in high yield and purity by adding a substituted alkoxysilane to a mixture of disiloxane, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and optionally an acidic catalyst, separating a product phase from an acidic phase, adding hexamethyldisilazane to the product phase and filtering off a resulting salt, followed by distillation. |
| US08110695B2 |
Compounds and compositions containing silicon and/or other heteroatoms and/or metals and methods of making and using them
The present invention relates to compounds, intermediates, compositions, and methods of making compounds and intermediates related to the compounds of Formula (I) and/or Formula (II) and/or Formula (III) and/or Formula (IV) and/or Formula (VI) and/or Formula (VII) as disclosed herein wherein the various substituents are as defined in the written description. |
| US08110691B2 |
Industrial process for the synthesis of 17α-acetoxy-11β-[4-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl]-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione and new intermediates of the process
A new industrial process for the synthesis of solvate-free 17α-acetoxy-11β-[4-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl]-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione [CDB-2914] of formula (I) which is a strong antiprogestogene and antiglucocorticoid agent. The invention also relates to compounds of formula (VII) and (VIII) used as intermediates in the process. |
| US08110690B2 |
Substituted indolocarbazoles
A substituted indolocarbazole comprising at least one optionally substituted thienyl. |
| US08110689B2 |
Benzanilides with insecticidal activity
Benzanilides of the formula: in which X represents hydrogen, halogen, nitro, C1-6 alkylthio, C1-6 alkylsulfinyl, C1-6 alkylsulfonyl or C1-6 alkylsulfonyloxy; Y represents halogen or C1-6 alkyl; R1 represents C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkylthio-C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkylsulfinyl-C1-6 alkyl or C1-6 alkylsulfonyl-C1-6 alkyl; R2 represents hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl or C1-6 haloalkyl; R3 represents hydrogen or hydroxy; W represents CH or N; and Q represents optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted pyridyl wherein the substituent is at least one group selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-6 haloalkyl, C1-6 haloalkoxy, C1-6 haloalkylthio, C1-6 haloalkylsulfinyl and C1-6 haloalkylsulfoxy; provided that when R3 is hydroxy, R2 is not C1-6 alkyl, or when R2 is C1-6 haloalkyl, R3 is hydroxy, W is CH, and the substituents of Q are two or more C1-6 haloalkyl. Insecticides comprising the benzanilides are herein provided. |
| US08110688B2 |
Method for producing indole derivative having piperidine ring
It is possible to commercially advantageously prepare 1-{1-[2-(7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-4-oxochroman-8-y)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl}-N-methyl-1H-indole-6-carboxamide by coupling (7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-4-oxochroman-8-yl)acetaldehyde, which is obtained by oxidizing 8-(2-hydroxyethyl)-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-4-one, with N-methyl-1-(piperidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-6-carboxamide. |
| US08110687B2 |
Bicyclic compounds with kinase inhibitory activity
The present invention provides novel bicyclic compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various diseases. |
| US08110685B2 |
Azafluorene derivative and organic light-emitting device using the derivative
A novel azafluorene derivative and an organic light-emitting device having the derivative are provided. The organic light-emitting device includes a pair of electrodes composed of an anode and a cathode one of which is a transparent or semi-transparent electrode, and an organic compound layer interposed between the pair of electrodes. The organic compound layer contains the azafluorene derivative represented by the following general formula (I): |
| US08110682B2 |
Preparation and use of compounds as aspartyl protease inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein A is a bond, —C(O)—, or —C(R3′)(R4′)—; X is —N(R1)— or —C(R6)(R7)—; Y is —S(O)2—, —C(═O)—, —PO(OR9) or —C(R6′R7′)—; is a single or double bond and R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R3′, R4′, R5, R6, R6′, R7 and R7′ are as defined in the specification; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I. Also disclosed is the method of inhibiting aspartyl protease, and in particular, the methods of treating cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases, and the methods of inhibiting of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, plasmepins, cathepsin D and protozoal enzymes.Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases using the compounds of formula I in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor or a muscarinic antagonist. |
| US08110681B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy and other uses
Compounds of Formula (I) or (II) useful for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy or other uses, as well as methods of using such compounds to increase SMN expression, increase EAAT2 expression, or increase the expression of a nucleic acid that encodes a translational stop codon introduced by mutation or frameshift. |
| US08110678B2 |
Antibiotic-bound poly(caprolactone) polymer
This invention is the design and synthesis of a caprolactone monomer which bears a pendant protected carboxyl group. This monomer has been copolymerized with caprolactone in varying ratios. After polymerization, the protecting group can be removed and an antibiotic can be attached as a new pendant group. The bioactivity of the antibiotic-bound poly(caprolactone) polymer is described. |
| US08110677B2 |
Microwave-assisted extraction of polysaccharide from Artemisia sphaerocephala
This invention relates to a method of extracting crude polysaccharide by microwave-assisted from Artemisia sphaerocephala seed de-oiling dregs. In particular, the invention comprising: microwave-assisted extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, dialysis et. al. It provides a technique whereby the polysaccharide can be extracted effectively, in a relatively short period of time (20-30 min) with respect to conventional extraction methods and allows for an enhanced extraction yield (more than 30%). Furthermore, the invention also allows for the extraction of material with less solvent consumption, good reproducibility, excellent solubility, energy conservation, environmental protection, and showed great potential for efficient sample preparation and large-scale industrial application in the near future. With great resource advantage of Artemisia sphaerocephala in China, the invention has bright perspectives in promoting local economic development. |
| US08110676B2 |
Prodrugs activated by RNA-dependent DNA-polymerases
The invention provides prodrugs activated by RNA-dependent DNA-polymerases, and methods for treating hematological tumors, blood, and blood derivatives from patients affected by retroviral infections by administering the prodrugs. The invention also provides methods for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions containing the prodrugs. |
| US08110675B2 |
TP expression-inhibiting compound and siRNA sequence thereof
The present invention discloses a TP expression-inhibiting compound and a TP expression-inhibiting siRNA sequence, wherein a siRNA sequence partially or completely complementary to the sequence of TP is used to inhibit TP expression, whereby is effectively reduced the survival rate of cancer cells in an anoxic environment. |
| US08110671B2 |
Isolated human chromosome 14 fragment encoding immunoglobulin genes
The specification relates to a method for producing a chimeric non-human animal, which comprises preparing a microcell containing a foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof and transferring the foreign chromosome(s) or fragment(s) thereof into a pluripotent cell by fusion with the microcell; a chimeric non-human animal which can be produced by the above method and its progeny; tissues and cells derived therefrom; and a method for using the same. Further, a pluripotent cell containing a foreign chromosome(s) or a fragment(s) thereof, a method for producing the same, and a method for using the same are also provided. Moreover, a pluripotent cell in which at least two endogenous genes are disrupted, and a method for producing the same by homologous recombination are provided. |
| US08110670B2 |
Enhanced production of fatty acid derivatives
Genetically engineered cells and microorganisms are provided that produce products from the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway (fatty acid derivatives), as well as methods of their use. The products are particularly useful as biofuels. |
| US08110667B2 |
Method for conversion of carbohydrate polymers to value-added chemical products
Methods are described for conversion of carbohydrate polymers in ionic liquids, including cellulose, that yield value-added chemicals including, e.g., glucose and 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) at temperatures below 120° C. Catalyst compositions that include various mixed metal halides are described that are selective for specified products with yields, e.g., of up to about 56% in a single step process. |
| US08110665B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoglobulin FC region as a carrier
Disclosed is a novel use of an immunoglobulin Fc fragment, and more particularly, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoglobulin Fc fragment as a carrier. The pharmaceutical composition comprising an immunoglobulin Fc fragment as a carrier remarkably extends the serum half-life of a drug while maintaining the in vivo activity of the drug at relatively high levels. Also, when the drug is a polypeptide drug, the pharmaceutical composition has less risk of inducing immune responses compared to a fusion protein of the immunoglobulin Fc fragment and a target protein, and is thus useful for developing long-acting formulations of various polypeptide drugs. |
| US08110664B2 |
Binding partners for the thyrotropin receptor and uses thereof
A binding partner for the TSH receptor, which binding partner comprises, or is derived from, a human monoclonal or recombinant antibody, or one or more fragments thereof, reactive with the TSH receptor, uses thereof, methods of diagnosis and therapy employing the same, and anti-idiotypic antibodies thereto. |
| US08110663B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies for cartillage oligomeric matrix protein
The present invention provides a new sensitive direct sandwich assay for determining the presence of COMP in a clinical sample. Two monoclonal antibodies directed against separate antigenic determinants of the COMP molecules are used in the assay. The invention also relates to three particularly advantageous monoclonal antibodies per se that are directed against human COMP. Cell cultures manufacturing these antibodies have been deposited according to the Budapest Treaty at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH, and have been assigned accesion numbers DSM ACC2406, DSM ACC2408 and DSM ACC2418, respectively. A diagnostic kit comprising at least two of these monoclonal antibodies also constitute a part of the present invention. |
| US08110660B2 |
Soluble ENPP4 protein
The present invention relates to a method for screening a medicine using a protein, and a compound obtained by the screening method.A compound or a salt thereof inhibiting activity or expression of the protein of the present invention, a neutralizing antibody against the protein, a polynucleotide that are complementary to a polynucleotide coding the protein, and the like can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating neurodegenerative diseases and the like. Moreover, a compound or a salt thereof enhancing activity or expression of the protein of the present invention, the protein or a partial peptide thereof, a polynucleotide coding the protein, and the like can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating cancers and the like. Furthermore, the protein of the present invention is useful as a reagent for screening a compound inhibiting or enhancing activity of the protein. |
| US08110659B1 |
Human tumor necrosis factor receptor-like genes
The present inventors have discovered novel receptors in the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) receptor family. In particular, receptors having homology to the type 2 TNF receptor (TNF-RII) are provided. Isolated nucleic acid molecules are also provided encoding the novel receptors of the present invention. Receptor polypeptides are further provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. |
| US08110658B2 |
Peptide fragments for inducing synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins
Short biologically active tetrapeptides are disclosed that are comprised of the sequences GxxG and PxxP where G (glycine) and P (proline) are maintained and x is a variable amino acid. The peptides can be used singly or in combination to stimulate production of extracellular matrix proteins in skin. A rapid, low-cost method of producing heterogenous formulations of tetrapeptides is disclosed. |
| US08110657B2 |
Polypeptides and polynucleotides for enhancing immune reactivity to HER-2 protein
Compositions for stimulating the immune system and for treating malignancies associated with overexpression of the HER-2 protein are provided. Such compositions include immunogenic epitopes of the HER-2 proteins and chimeric and multivalent peptides which comprise such epitopes. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides which encode the chimeric peptides. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such immunogenic compositions. Methods for stimulating an immune response to HER-2 protein are provided. Methods for treating breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer are provided. |
| US08110655B2 |
Method to promote hair growth and/or delay or treat hair loss by administering a TGF-β antagonist or inhibitor
The present invention provides methods for promoting hair growth and/or treating or preventing hair loss (alopecia) by contacting the cells with a TGF-β antagonist or inhibitor either alone or in combination with other alopecia-inhibiting compounds. |
| US08110652B2 |
Polyimide resin
A polyimide resin which is soluble in an organic solvent and which has a low coefficient of water absorption, thermosetting properties, high heat resistance and excellent adhesive properties, a method for manufacturing the same, an adhesive and a film each containing the subject polyimide resin and a metal-clad laminate including an adhesive layer composed of the subject polyimide resin are provided.The polyimide resin is a polyimide resin containing a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (2), with a proportion of a group presented by the following formula (3) being 50% by mole or more of the whole of X. |
| US08110651B2 |
Multifunctional forms of polyoxazoline copolymers and drug compositions comprising the same
The present disclosure provides copolymers of 2-substituted-2-oxazolines possessing two or three reactive functional groups which are also chemically orthogonal. The copolymers described may be random copolymers, block copolymers or a mixture of random and block copolymer configurations. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides novel methods for synthesizing the above polymers and for conjugating to molecules such as targeting, diagnostic and therapeutic agents. |
| US08110645B2 |
Curable resin composition
Disclosed is a moisture-curing type curable resin composition containing: a curable resin intramolecularly having a silicon-containing functional group; and a Lewis acid or a complex of the Lewis acid as a curing catalyst, the Lewis acid being selected from the group consisting of metal halides and boron halides, which is rapidly cured at room temperature. The silicon-containing functional group is represented by general formula: —SiX1X2X3 or —SiR1X1 X2 (wherein, X1, X2 and X3 respectively represent a hydrolytic group and may be the same as or different from each other, and R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted organic group having 1 to 20 carbons). If the silicon-containing functional group is —SiR1X1 X2, the curable resin further contains intramolecularly a polar component that is one of urethane, thiourethane, urea, thiourea, substituted urea, substituted thiourea, amide, and sulfide bonds, and hydroxyl, secondary amino and tertiary amino groups. Two-part type adhesive is constitutable with separating the curable resin from the curing catalyst. |
| US08110643B2 |
Preparation of styrene homopolymers and styrene-ethlyene copolymers
The present invention discloses copolymers of styrene and ethylene with highly syndiotactic styrene blocks prepared with of a catalyst system comprising a metallocene catalyst component of the general formula (I): (Flu-R″—C p)M(n3-C3R′5)(ether)n wherein Cp is a cyclopentadienyl, substituted or unsubstituted, Flu is a fluorenyl, substituted or unsubstituted, M is a metal Group III of the Periodic Table, ether is a donor solvent molecule, R″ is a structural bridge between Cp and Flu (9 position) imparting stereorigidity to the component, each R′ is the same or different and is hydrogen or an hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and n is 0, 1 or 2. It also discloses styrene-ethylene copolymers having a high styrene content in which styrene units form syndiotactic polystyrene blocks. |
| US08110642B2 |
Synthesis of vinylphenylpyridine and living anionic polymerization
Provided are a vinyl-biphenylpyridine monomer and a polymer thereof. More particularly, the present invention provides a vinyl-biphenylpyridine monomer having a side chain of pyridine or phenylpyridine as a functional group, a homopolymer of which molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are controlled using the monomer, and a block copolymer of which molecular structure and molecular weight are controlled to facilitate synthesis of an organic metal complex. Accordingly, the present invention provides a vinyl-biphenylpyridine monomer and a polymer thereof which are effectively used as nano and optical functional materials. |
| US08110641B2 |
Anionic polymerization method for styrene derivative containing pyridine as functional group
An anionic polymerization method for styrene derivative containing pyridine as functional group is provided. The method includes forming a complex of (vinylphenyl)-pyridine and lithium chloride and performing anionic polymerization. Accordingly, a polymer of styrene derivative containing pyridine can be obtained. The polymer has excellent optical properties, and its molecular weight and molecular weight distribution can be controlled. |
| US08110638B2 |
Curable composition, antifouling paint composition, antifouling coating film, base material with antifouling coating film and antifouling method for base material
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED] To provide an organopolysiloxane paint composition capable of forming an antifouling coating film having an excellent long-term antifouling property.[SOLUTION] A curable composition obtained by mixing: (A) 100 parts by weight of a reaction curable silicone rubber with: (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane mixture including a product obtained by an R2OH elimination reaction of: (B1) an organopolysiloxane represented by: (R2O)((R2O)2SiO)n-1Si(OR2)3 wherein n is an integer of 2 or more and R2 each is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and (B2) an organopolysiloxane having at least one structure represented by: ≡SiR3OH wherein R3 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, in a molecule. |
| US08110636B1 |
Multi-block sulfonated poly(phenylene) copolymer proton exchange membranes
Improved multi-block sulfonated poly(phenylene) copolymer compositions, methods of making the same, and their use as proton exchange membranes (PEM) in hydrogen fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells, in electrode casting solutions and electrodes. The multi-block architecture has defined, controllable hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. These improved membranes have better ion transport (proton conductivity) and water swelling properties. |
| US08110632B2 |
Poly(arylene ether) articles and compositions
A profile extruded article includes a composition that is formed by melt-kneading particular amounts of a poly(arylene ether), a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-polystyrene triblock copolymer, a homopolystyrene, and a polysalicylate. The article is particularly useful in the fabrication of solar collectors for low cost solar energy systems. |
| US08110628B1 |
Preparation of porous particles with multiple markers
Porous particles are prepared using a first water-in-oil emulsion comprising a first marker material in a first aqueous phase that is dispersed in a first oil phase containing a polymer and a first organic solvent, and a second water-in-oil emulsion comprising a second marker material in a second aqueous phase that is dispersed in a second oil phase. The first and second marker materials are detectably different. The two water-in-oil emulsions can be used to form a third water-in-oil emulsion containing distinct droplets of the first and second aqueous phases. This third water-in-oil emulsion is dispersed in a third aqueous phase containing a surface stabilizing agent to form a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion containing droplets of the third water-in-oil emulsion. The organic solvents are removed from the water-in-oil-in-water emulsion to form porous particles comprising first and second discrete pores that are isolated from each other. The first marker material is present within the first discrete pores, and the second marker material is present within the second discrete pores. |
| US08110626B2 |
Dispersing agents in composites
The present invention is directed to compositions comprising (a) a synthetic polymer, (b) a talc as a filler, wherein the talc particles have a mean particle size of from 0.4 to 25 μm, and are present in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% based on the weight of component (a) and (c) a dispersing agent which is based on a non-ionic surfactant or an amphiphilic statistical, block or comb copolymer, provided that when the synthetic polymer (a) is a polyamide, this is present in an amount of less than 55% based on the weight of (a), (b) and (c). |
| US08110623B2 |
Hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive composition that includes vegetable wax and articles including the same
A hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive composition that includes thermoplastic polymer, tackifying agent, plasticizer oil, and from at least 5% by weight to about 25% by weight vegetable wax. |
| US08110621B2 |
Castor oil-based polyol emulsions
A polyol emulsion of castor oil and monoepoxides is combined with methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and cement to produce a polymer cement. |
| US08110615B2 |
Correction fluids
The application discloses stable correction fluids and/or correction fluids that change from colored to substantially white (or to a color substantially matching the color of a substrate to which the correction fluid is to be applied) after application to a substrate. |
| US08110612B2 |
Process for preparing adhesive using planetary extruder
A process for preparing a pressure sensitive adhesive using a modified planetary roller extruder is described. The process in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes introducing primary raw materials including a non-thermoplastic elastomer into a feeding section of the modified planetary roller extruder, conveying the raw materials from the feeding section to a compounding section of the modified planetary roller extruder, continuously mixing the primary raw materials in the compounding section to produce a homogeneous adhesive composition. The adhesive composition may be applied to a web-form material. The compounding section of the modified planetary roller extruder includes a main spindle surrounded by and intermeshed with a plurality of planetary spindles at least one of which is a double transversal mixing spindle having a plurality of back-cut helical flights. |
| US08110609B2 |
Copolyetheresters derived from polyethylene terephthalate
The invention relates to a composition comprising a modified, random copolyetherester containing a modified, random polytrimethylene terephthalate copolymer block that is derived from a polyethylene terephthalate component selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate copolymers and combinations thereof; and contains at least one residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component; and a polyalkylene oxide copolymer block that contains polyalkylene oxide and at least one residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component. The composition has a modulus of elasticity that is at least 80%, as compared to the modulus of elasticity of a copolyetherester derived from (1) polytrimethylene terephthalate derived from a monomer component selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, alkyl esters of terephthalic acid, hydroxyalkyl esters of terephthalic acid, alkyl esters of isophthalic acid, 1,3-propane diol, (2) polyalkylene oxide glycol, and (3) combinations thereof. |
| US08110608B2 |
Solid form sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) pesticide composition
A pesticide composition and method of eliminating pests combines water and a solid form of sodium lauryl sulfate to form a pesticide composition effective to cause mortality in pests. The pesticide composition is applied to the indoor structure in an area which the pests inhabit. The sodium lauryl sulfate can be in needle form, pellet form or powder form and constitutes between about 1% and about 10% by weight of the pesticide composition. The pesticide composition may be applied to an area inhabited by cockroaches, including, but not limited to, in crevices, cracks, corners, wall and floor junctures or other enclosed or partially enclosed areas of a structure. |
| US08110607B2 |
Process for producing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid
A composition containing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid at a high concentration is obtained by intracellularly and extracellularly producing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid using a bacterium belonging to the genus Propionibacterium and collecting it. This composition is efficacious in improving intestinal flora, alleviating abdominal ailments in association with the intake of milk, and preventing metabolic bone diseases. |
| US08110603B2 |
Organic peracid polymer composition and process for producing the same
It is intended to provide an organic peracid polymer composition which is stable, odorless and has sufficient water solubility and is suitably used as a bactericide, a bleaching agent and a cleaning agent. By mixing and dissolving an organic acid polymer, hydrogen peroxide and an inorganic acid and maintaining the mixture for a period ranging from 1 hour to 1 month at a temperature ranging from 10 to 80° C., the organic peracid polymer-containing composition containing an organic peracid polymer (2 to 50% by weight) and, in some cases, the hydrogen peroxide (2 to 50% by weight) and the inorganic acid (0.1 to 10% by weight) is obtained. |
| US08110597B2 |
Radioactive isotope-labeled dye compound
A radioactive isotope-labeled dye compound represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 represent a substituent, R3 to R6 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; R7 and R8 represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; L1 to L3 represent a substituted or unsubstituted methine group; r represents an integer of 0 to 3; P and Q represent 123I, 124I, 125I, 131I or 18F; M represents hydrogen atom, Na, or K; and m and n represent an integer of 0 to 2. |
| US08110593B2 |
Phenoxymethyl imidazoline derivatives and their use as pesticides
The present invention relates to imidazoline derivatives and their use as insecticidal, acaricidal, molluscicidal and nematocidal agents. The invention also extends to insecticidal, acaricidal, molluscicidal and nematicidal compositions comprising such imidazoline derivatives, and to methods of using such derivatives and/or compositions to combat and control insect, acarine, mollusc and nematode pests. In particular the present invention relates to imidazolines with alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl substituents. |
| US08110591B2 |
2-aminoaryloxazole compounds as tyrosine kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to novel compounds selected from 2-aminoaryloxazoles that selectively modulate, regulate, and/or inhibit signal transduction mediated by certain native and/or mutant tyrosine kinases implicated in a variety of human and animal diseases such as cell proliferative, metabolic, allergic and degenerative disorders. More particularly, these compounds are potent and selective c-kit, bcr-abl, FGFR3 and/or Flt-3 inhibitors. |
| US08110588B2 |
1,2,3-triazole derivatives useful as modulators of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
This invention relates to novel 1,2,3-triazole derivatives, which are found to be modulators of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances. |
| US08110584B2 |
Methods for the treatment of respiratory depression
This invention relates to compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for use in the prevention and treatment of cerebral insufficiency, including enhancement of receptor functioning in synapses in brain networks responsible for basic and higher order behaviors. These brain networks, which are involved in regulation of breathing, and cognitive abilities related to memory impairment, such as is observed in a variety of dementias, in imbalances in neuronal activity between different brain regions, as is suggested in disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, respiratory depression, sleep apneas, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and affective or mood disorders, and in disorders wherein a deficiency in neurotrophic factors is implicated, as well as in disorders of respiration such as overdose of an alcohol, an opiate, an opioid, a barbiturate, an anesthetic, or a nerve toxin, or where the respiratory depression results form a medical condition such as central sleep apnea, stoke-induced central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, congenital hypoventilation syndrome, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, sudden infant death syndrome, Rett syndrome, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Cheney-Stokes respiration, Ondines curse, Prader-Willi's syndrome and drowning, hi a particular aspect, the invention relates to bicyclic amide compounds useful for treatment of such conditions, and methods of using these compounds for such treatment. |
| US08110581B2 |
Lactam compounds and their use as pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to inhibitors of 11-βhydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1, antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compounds of the invention can be useful in the treatment of various diseases associated with expression or activity of 11-βhydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1 and/or diseases associated with aldosterone excess. |
| US08110574B2 |
Derivatives of 4-aminopiperidine and their use as a medicament
A subject of the present application is new derivatives of 4-aminopiperidines of formula in which R1, R2 and R3 represent various radical, and their preparation processes by synthetic methods in parallel in liquid and solid phase. These products having a good affinity with certain sub-types of somatostatin receptors, they are particularly useful for treating the pathological states or diseases in which one (or more) somatostatin receptors are involved. |
| US08110572B2 |
Inhibitors of protein kinases
Compounds that inhibit Aurora-kinases, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases using the compounds are disclosed. |
| US08110571B2 |
Benzimidazole and benzothiazole derivatives, method for preparing same, use thereof as drugs, pharmaceutical compositions and novel use especially as c-MET inhibitors
This invention relates to benzimidazole and benzothiazole compounds of formula (I) to methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and to methods of treatment comprising administering of such compounds. |
| US08110570B2 |
Modulators of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides compounds of formula I: along with methods of use of these compounds as pharmaceuticals, particularly in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, diseases associated with reduced neuronal metabolism, and cancer as well as the use of these compounds for treatment of pathogens of humans and animals, and for the control of agricultural pests, particularly fungi, weeds and insects. |
| US08110568B2 |
Inhibitors of IAP
The invention provides novel inhibitors of IAP that are useful as therapeutic agents for treating malignancies where the compounds have the general formula I: wherein X, Y, A, R1, R2, R3, R4, R4′, R5, R5′, R6 and R6′ are as described herein. |
| US08110566B2 |
Therapeutic agents 713
Disclosed herein are compounds of formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, A, X, Y are as described in the specification, their use in pharmaceutical compositions and in methods of treatment or prophylaxis of a melanin-concentrating hormone related disease or condition. |
| US08110562B2 |
Selective androgen receptor modulators, analogs and derivatives thereof and uses thereof
This invention provides nuclear hormone receptor binding compounds, compositions comprising the same and methods of uses thereof in treating a variety of diseases or conditions in a subject, including, inter-alia, prostate cancer and/or diseases or disorders of bone and muscle. |
| US08110558B2 |
Oligomeric compounds and compositions for use in modulation of small non-coding RNAS
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression and function of small non-coding RNAs. The compositions comprise oligomeric compounds, targeted to small non-coding RNAs. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of small non-coding RNAs as well as downstream targets of these RNAs and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with small non-coding RNAs are also provided. |
| US08110557B2 |
Gamma secretase inhibitor for treatment of herpesvirus infection
This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of malignancies associated with gamma-herpesvirus infection. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of gamma-secretase inhibitors to prevent the production of intracellular Notch1 thereby arresting the growth of the infected cells. |
| US08110549B2 |
Alpha-conotoxin peptides
The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed α-conotoxins herein), about 10-30 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds. |
| US08110544B2 |
RasGAP derived peptide for selectively killing cancer cells
The present invention relates to a peptide consisting in the N2 sequence of the RasGAP protein, a fragment thereof, or a variant thereof which enhances the ability of a drug to selectively kill cells. Furthermore, it relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active substance a pharmaceutically effective amount of the peptide. |
| US08110543B2 |
Anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic compositions
A peptide compound having the sequence Lys-Pro-Ser-Ser-Pro-Pro-Glu-Glu [SEQ ID NO:2] or a substitution variant, addition variant or other chemical derivative thereof inhibits cell invasion, endothelial tube formation or angiogenesis in vitro. A number of substitution variants and addition variants of this peptide, preferably capped at the N- and C-termini, as well as peptidomimetic derivates, are useful for treating diseases and conditions mediated by undesired and uncontrolled cell invasion and/or angiogenesis. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above peptides and derivatives are administered to subjects in need of such treatment in a dosage sufficient to inhibit invasion and/or angiogenesis. The disclosed compositions and methods are particularly useful for suppressing the growth and metastasis of tumors. |
| US08110542B2 |
Methods of expressing proteins with disulfide bridges
This invention relates to methods of expressing eukaryotic proteins in prokaryotic hosts, particularly eukaryotic proteins that require formation of disulfide bridges for biological activity. Various approaches are used including fusion to thioredoxin, cytoplasmic expression of disulfide isomerases, deficiencies in thioredoxin and/or glutathione reductases, deficiencies in proteases, and the like. The method is applicable to express monomeric and dimeric forms of the eukaryotic protein with biological activity such as monomeric and dimeric forms of a disintegrin or a disintegrin domain. Included are the vectors, host cells expressing the proteins, the expressed proteins and methods of using the proteins. |
| US08110541B2 |
Antigen delivery vectors and constructs
The present invention relates to fluorocarbon vectors for the delivery of antigens to immunoresponsive target cells. It further relates to fluorocarbon vector-antigen constructs and the use of such vectors associated with antigens as vaccines and immunotherapeutics in animals. |
| US08110539B2 |
Enzyme stabilization
A method is disclosed for stabilizing liquid enzyme-containing liquid formulations by adding at least one boron compound and at least one alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid or the salt of an alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid capable of forming an enzyme-stabilizing compound. An enzyme-stabilized formulation is disclosed comprising an alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid or the salt of an alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid, a boron containing compound capable complexing with an alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid, the complex formed by the boron compound and the an alpha-hydroxy-mono-carboxylic acid, and an enzyme. The invention applies to both enzyme concentrate raw materials, and to useful product formulations. |
| US08110538B2 |
Peracid/peroxide composition and use thereof as an anti-microbial and a photosensitizer
A microbicidal and decontaminant composition comprising an aqueous solution of peroxides and peracids having equilibrium reaction products, a photoreactive surfactant, and a polymer, wherein said polymer interacts with said peroxides and said peracids. |
| US08110537B2 |
Liquid detergent composition and methods for using
A liquid detergent composition is described. The liquid detergent composition includes an emulsion having a water phase and an oil phase. The liquid detergent composition includes a detersive amount of a nonionic surfactant component, an emulsion stabilizing amount of a cationic surfactant component, about 5 wt. % to about 94 wt. % water, and at least about 5 wt. % of a suspended particulate component. A detergent use solution and methods for using a liquid detergent composition are described. |
| US08110536B2 |
Bleach systems enveloped with polymeric layers
The invention relates to a bleach system comprising at least one component selected from bleach, bleach activator or bleach catalyst, wherein the bleach system is enveloped with at least one polymer layer and the polymer has urethane and urea groups.The inventive bleach system and detergent formulations comprising this bleach system are suitable for washing or cleaning textiles or dishware. |
| US08110533B1 |
Liquid soap compositions
A liquid cleansing composition is provided which includes from 5 to 25% by weight of a fatty acids mixture and from 30 to 90% by weight of water, wherein the fatty acids mixture is present in a weight amount greater than a total of all surfactants other than soap present in the composition. Further, the fatty acids mixture is 70-95% of lauric and myristic fatty acids in a weight ratio from 9:1 to 1:2, and 5-30% C16-C20 fatty acid, all by weight of the fatty acids mixture. Still further, 60-90 mole % of the fatty acids mixture is neutralized into soap. |
| US08110529B2 |
Concentrated, water-based dispersions for crop protection
Liquid aqueous formulations of water-soluble active crop protectant ingredients which comprise (a) one or more water-soluble active crop protectant ingredients (type (a) ingredients), (b) one or more water-dispersed active crop protectant ingredients (type (b) ingredients), (c) one or more surfactants from the class of the polyacrylic acid derivatives, (d) one or more aluminum silicates as stabilizer(s), (e) if desired, further anionic or nonionic, cationic and/or zwitterionic surfactants, (f) if desired, other customary formulation assistants, and (g) water are suitable as stable coformulations for use in crop protection. |
| US08110528B2 |
Active ingredient combinations with insecticidal properties
The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising at least one known compound of the formula (I) in which R is as defined in the description, and a further known active compound from the class of the neonicotinoids, which combinations are highly suitable for controlling animal pests such as insects. |
| US08110526B2 |
Arsenic absorbing composition and methods of use
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides filtering compositions, their method of production, and methods for their use. In specific implementations, the filtering composition includes lanthanum and has a surface area of at least about 125 g/m 2. In more specific examples, the filtering composition is free-flowing or has a moisture content between about 10 wt % about 30 wt %. Particular compositions include at least one of iron or magnesium. Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide filtering compositions that are resilient or leach-resistant. |
| US08110520B2 |
Carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles and method of preparing the same
A method of preparing carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles and carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles prepared with the same method are described. The method includes the following steps at least. A precursor of a polymer is polymerized on metal oxide nano-particles to form polymer-coated metal oxide nano-particles. Then, pyrolysis is conducted to carbonize the polymer coated on the metal oxide nano-particles, so as to form carbon-coated metal oxide nano-particles. |
| US08110519B2 |
Polymer-supported metal cluster composition
The objective is to present compositions obtained by supporting by polymers micro clusters of transition metals and the like that are useful as catalysts in various reactions and, once used, are readily recovered and reused.A polymer-supported metal cluster composition is obtained by supporting a transition metal by a cross-linked polymer, and the polymer-supported cluster composition is characterized by the cross-linked polymer obtained by cross-linking of a cross-linkable polymer containing a hydrophilic side chain and a hydrophobic side chain group having a cross-linkable functional group. This polymer-supported metal cluster composition is, for example, preferably formed by first forming a micelle composed of the metal clusters supported by the cross-linkable polymer in a suitable solution and subsequently subjecting the cross-linkable polymer to a cross-linking reaction. The composition is useful as a catalyst and the like in hydrogenation reactions, dehydrogenation reactions, allylic substitution reactions, oxidation reactions, coupling reactions and carbonylation reactions. |
| US08110518B2 |
Fluorinated transition metal catalysts and formation thereof
Supported catalyst systems and methods of forming the same are described herein. In one specific embodiment, the methods generally include providing an inorganic support material and contacting the inorganic support material with an aluminum fluoride compound represented by the formula AlFpX3-pBq to form an aluminum fluoride impregnated support, wherein X is selected from Cl, Br and OH−, B is H2O, p is selected from 1 to 3 and q is selected from 0 to 6. The method further includes contacting the aluminum fluoride impregnated support with a transition metal compound to form a supported catalyst system, wherein the transition metal compound is represented by the formula [L]mM[A]n; wherein L is a bulky ligand, A is a leaving group, M is a transition metal and m and n are such that a total ligand valency corresponds to the transition metal valency. |
| US08110517B2 |
Composites and composite membranes
The invention relates to a composite or a composite membrane consisting of an ionomer and of an inorganic optionally functionalized phyllosilicate. The isomer can be: (a) a cation exchange polymer; (b) an anion exchange polymer; (c) a polymer containing both anion exchanger groupings as well as cation exchanger groupings on the polymer chain; or (d) a blend consisting of (a) and (b), whereby the mixture ratio can range from 100% (a) to 100% (b). The blend can be ionically and even covalently cross-linked. The inorganic constituents can be selected from the group consisting of phyllosilicates or tectosilicates. |
| US08110516B2 |
Sintered body and production method thereof
An object is to provide a sintered body having a sufficiently higher polishing rate than a conventional AlTiC sintered body and providing a sufficiently smooth air bearing surface. The sintered body according to the present invention consists of Al2O3 and a compound represented by the chemical formula (1) below: TiCxOy (1) wherein x+y≦1, x>0 and 0.3 |
| US08110503B2 |
Surface preparation for thin film growth by enhanced nucleation
Various processes and related systems are provided for making structures on substrate surfaces. Disclosed are methods of making a structure supported by a substrate by providing a substrate having a receiving surface and exposing at least a portion of the receiving surface to output from a remote plasma of an inert gas. The remote plasma has an energy low enough to substantially avoid etching or sputtering of the receiving surface but sufficient to generate a treated receiving surface. The treated surface is contacted with a deposition gas, thereby making the structure supported by the substrate. |
| US08110497B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. This method comprises: forming a seed film at least on an inner face of a recessed portion of a substrate; forming a protection film on the seed film, the protection film being made of a material that is more easily oxidized than a material forming the seed film; heat-treating the protection film; exposing at least part of the seed film by removing at least part of the heat-treated protection film; forming a plating film on the seed film through electrolytic plating to be buried in the recessed portion, by supplying current to the seed film that is at least partially exposed; and removing the plating film except for a portion buried in the recessed portion. |
| US08110485B2 |
Nanocrystal silicon layer structures formed using plasma deposition technique, methods of forming the same, nonvolatile memory devices having the nanocrystal silicon layer structures, and methods of fabricating the nonvolatile memory devices
Provided are nanocrystal silicon layer structures formed using a plasma deposition technique, methods of forming the same, nonvolatile memory devices including the nanocrystal silicon layer structures, and methods of fabricating the nonvolatile memory devices. A method of forming a nanocrystal silicon layer structure includes forming a buffer layer on a substrate and forming a nanocrystal silicon layer on the buffer layer by a plasma deposition technique using silicon (Si)-containing gas and hydrogen (H2)-containing gas. In this method, the nanocrystal silicon layer can be directly deposited on a glass substrate using plasma vapor deposition without performing a post-processing process so that the fabrication of a nonvolatile memory device can be simplified, thereby reducing fabrication cost. |
| US08110483B2 |
Forming an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer
Solutions for forming an extremely thin semiconductor-on-insulator (ETSOI) layer are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a wafer including a plurality of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer regions separated by at least one shallow trench isolation (STI); amorphizing the plurality of SOI layer regions by implanting the plurality of SOI layer regions with an implant species; and removing a portion of the amorphized SOI layer region to form at least one recess in the amorphized SOI layer region. |
| US08110478B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate, display panel, and display device
If the size of a single crystal silicon layer attached is not appropriate, even when a large glass substrate is used, the number of panels to be obtained cannot be maximized. Therefore, in the present invention, a substantially quadrangular single crystal semiconductor substrate is formed from a substantially circular single crystal semiconductor wafer, and a damaged layer is formed by irradiation with an ion beam into the single crystal semiconductor substrate. A plurality of the single crystal semiconductor substrates are arranged so as to be separated from each other over one surface of a supporting substrate. By thermal treatment, a crack is generated in the damaged layer and the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated while a single semiconductor layer is left over the supporting substrate. After that, one or a plurality of display panels is manufactured from the single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the supporting substrate. |
| US08110475B2 |
Method for forming a memory device with C-shaped deep trench capacitors
The invention is related to a memory device, including a substrate, a capacitor which is substantially C-shaped in a cross section parallel to the substrate surface and a word line coupling the capacitor. In an embodiment, the C-shaped capacitor is a deep trench capacitor, and in alternative embodiment, the C-shaped capacitor is a stack capacitor. Both inner edge and outer edge of the C-shaped capacitor can be used for providing capacitance. |
| US08110471B2 |
Semiconductor device having a round-shaped nano-wire transistor channel and method of manufacturing same
A field-effect transistor (FET) with a round-shaped nano-wire channel and a method of manufacturing the FET are provided. According to the method, source and drain regions are formed on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of preliminary channel regions is coupled between the source and drain regions. The preliminary channel regions are etched, and the etched preliminary channel regions are annealed to form FET channel regions, the FET channel regions having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. |
| US08110470B2 |
Asymmetrical transistor device and method of fabrication
Embodiments of the invention provide an asymmetrical transistor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a source region, a drain region and a channel region. The channel region is provided between the source and drain regions, the source, drain and channel regions being provided in the substrate. The device has a layer of a buried insulating medium provided below the source region and not below the drain region thereby forming an asymmetrical structure. The layer of buried insulating medium is provided in abutment with a lower surface of the source region. |
| US08110461B2 |
Flash memory device and manufacturing method of the same
Disclosed are a flash memory device and a method for manufacturing the same. The flash memory device includes first and second memory gates on a substrate; a floating poly between the first and second memory gates; first and second select gates at respective outer sides of the first and second memory gates; an oxide layer between the first memory gate and the first select gate and between the second memory gate and the second select gate; a drain region in the substrate at outer sides of the first and second select gates; a source region in the substrate between the first and second memory gates; and a metal contact on each of the drain region and the source region. |
| US08110460B2 |
Method for producing stacked and self-aligned components on a substrate
A method for producing stacked and self-aligned components on a substrate, including: providing a substrate made of monocrystalline silicon having one face enabling production of components, forming a stack of layers on the face of the substrate, selective etching by a gaseous mixture comprising gaseous HCl conveyed by a carrier gas and at a temperature between 450° C. and 900° C., depositing resin, implementing lithography of the resin, replacing resin eliminated during the lithography with a material for confining remaining resin, and forming elements of the components. |
| US08110459B2 |
MOSFET having a channel region with enhanced stress and method of forming same
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate, an n-channel MOSFET formed on the substrate and a p-channel MOSFET formed on the substrate. A first layer is formed to cover the n-channel MOSFET, wherein the first layer has a first flexure-induced stress. A second layer is formed to cover the p-channel MOSFET, wherein the second layer has a second flexure-induced stress. |
| US08110457B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
To provide a semiconductor device with improved reliability which includes a metal silicide layer formed by a salicide process. After forming gate electrodes, an n+-type semiconductor region, and a p+-type semiconductor region for a source or drain, a Ni1−xPtx alloy film is formed over a semiconductor substrate. The alloy film reacts with the gate electrodes, the n+-type semiconductor region, and the p+-type semiconductor region by a first heat treatment to form a metal silicide layer in a (Ni1−yPty)2Si phase. At this time, the first heat treatment is performed at a heat treatment temperature where a diffusion coefficient of Ni is larger than that of Pt. Further, the first heat treatment is performed such that a reacted part of the alloy film remains at the metal silicide layer. This results in y>x. Then, after removing the unreacted part of the alloy film, the metal silicide layer is further subjected to a second heat treatment to form a metal silicide layer in a Ni1−yPtySi phase. |
| US08110455B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device (1200), the method comprising forming a sacrificial pattern having a recess on a substrate (402), filling the recess and covering the substrate and the sacrificial pattern with a semiconductor structure, forming an annular trench in the semiconductor structure to expose a portion of the sacrificial pattern and to separate material (904) of the semiconductor structure enclosed by the annular trench from material (906) of the semiconductor structure surrounding the annular trench, removing the exposed sacrificial pattern to expose material of the semiconductor structure filling the recess, and converting the exposed material of the semiconductor structure filling the recess into electrically insulting material (1202). |
| US08110454B2 |
Methods of forming drain extended transistors
A transistor comprises a source region of a first conductivity type and electrically communicating with a first semiconductor region. The transistor also comprises a drain region of the first conductivity type and electrically communicating with a second semiconductor region that differs from the first semiconductor region. An interface exists between the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. The transistor also comprises a voltage tap region comprising at least a portion located in a position that is closer to the interface than the drain region. A mixed technology circuit is also described. |
| US08110453B2 |
Low temperature thin film transistor process, device property, and device stability improvement
A method and apparatus for forming a thin film transistor is provided. A gate dielectric layer is formed, which may be a bilayer, the first layer deposited at a low rate and the second deposited at a high rate. In some embodiments, the first dielectric layer is a silicon rich silicon nitride layer. An active layer is formed, which may also be a bilayer, the first active layer deposited at a low rate and the second at a high rate. The thin film transistors described herein have superior mobility and stability under stress. |
| US08110452B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A lower substrate for a liquid crystal display device and the method of making the same are disclosed. The method includes steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a patterned transparent layer having plural recess on the substrate; (c) forming a first barrier layer on the surface of the recess; (d) coating a first metal layer on the first barrier layer and making the surfaces of the first metal layer and the transparent layer in substantially the same plane; and (e) forming a first insulated layer and a semi-conductive layer in sequence. The method further can optionally comprise the steps of: (f) forming a patterned second metal layer, wherein part of the semi-conductive layer is exposed, thus forming the source electrode and the drain electrode; and (g) forming a transparent electrode layer on part of the transparent layer and part of the second metal layer. |
| US08110450B2 |
Printed TFT and TFT array with self-aligned gate
A method is used to form a self-aligning thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a gate contact formed with a state-switchable material, and a dielectric layer to isolate the gate contact. A source-drain layer, which includes a source contact, and a drain contact are formed with a source-drain material. An area of the gate contact is exposed to a form of energy, wherein the energy transforms a portion of the state switchable material from a non-conductive material to a conductive material, the conductive portion defining the gate contact. A semiconductor material is formed between the source contact and the drain contact. |
| US08110445B2 |
High power ceramic on copper package
According to an embodiment of a high power package, the package includes a copper heat sink, a ceramic lead frame and a semiconductor chip. The copper heat sink has a thermal conductivity of at least 350 W/mK. The ceramic lead frame is attached to the copper heat sink with an epoxy. The semiconductor chip is attached to the copper heat sink on the same side as the lead frame with an electrically conductive material having a melting point of about 280° C. or greater. |
| US08110442B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a thin TFT over a flexible substrate is provided. In formation of a TFT on a surface of a substrate having heat resistance, a liquid repellent film is formed selectively on a surface of the substrate, and an organic film is formed thereover. An element such as a TFT is formed over the organic film. Since the liquid repellent film is formed over the substrate, adhesion between the substrate and the organic film is low; therefore, the element which is formed can be peeled off from the substrate easily. Further, since the element is not transferred to another substrate, a semiconductor device which is thinner than conventional ones can be manufactured. In order to form the liquid repellent film selectively, light exposure of a front surface or a back surface of the substrate provided with a mask, a droplet discharging method, or the like is used. |
| US08110438B2 |
Thermal method to control underfill flow in semiconductor devices
A method and apparatus for assembling a semiconductor device. A chip (901) with solder bodies (903) on its contact pads is flipped onto a substrate (904). After the reflow process, a gap (910) spaces chip and substrate apart. A polymer precursor is selected for its viscosity of known temperature dependence. The apparatus has a plate (800) with heating and cooling means to select and control a temperature profile from location to location across the plate. After preheating, the assembly is placed on a mesa (801) of the plate configured to heat only a portion of the substrate. Movable capillaries (840, 921) blow cooled gas onto selected locations of the assembly. After the temperature profile is reached, a quantity of the precursor is deposited at a chip side and pulled into the gap by capillary action. The capillary flow is controlled by controlling the precursor viscosity based on the temperature profile, resulting in a substantially linear front, until the gap is filled substantially without voids. |
| US08110437B2 |
Method for attaching a semiconductor chip in a plastic encapsulant, optoelectronic semiconductor component and method for the production thereof
A radiation-emitting or -receiving semiconductor chip 9 is soft-soldered for mounting on a leadframe 2 over which a prefabricated plastic encapsulant 5, a so-called premolded package, is injection-molded. Through the use of a low-melting solder 3 applied in a layer thickness of less than 10 μm, the soldering process can be carried out largely without thermal damage to the plastic encapsulant 5. |
| US08110434B2 |
Semiconductor device and memory card using the same
A circuit board has a curved portion provided in at least one side of an external shape thereof. An external connecting terminal is provided on a first main surface of the circuit board. A semiconductor element is mounted on a second main surface of the circuit board. A first wiring network is provided in a region except the terminal region on the first main surface. A second wiring network is provided on the second main surface. Distance from the side including the curved portion to the first wiring network is larger than distance from at least one of the other sides to the first wiring networks, and distance from the side including the curved portion to the second wiring network is larger than distance from at least one of the other sides to the second wiring networks. |
| US08110431B2 |
Ion implanted selective emitter solar cells with in situ surface passivation
Solar cells and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. An example method may include providing a p-type doped silicon substrate and introducing n-type dopant to a first and second region of the front surface of the substrate by ion implantation so that the second region is more heavily doped than the first region. The substrate may be subjected to a single high-temperature anneal cycle to activate the dopant, drive the dopant into the substrate, produce a p-n junction, and form a selective emitter. Oxygen may be introduced during the single anneal cycle to form in situ front and back passivating oxide layers. Fire-through of front and back contacts as well as metallization with contact connections may be performed in a single co-firing operation. Associated solar cells are also provided. |
| US08110430B2 |
Vacuum jacket for phase change memory element
A memory device including a phase change element and a vacuum jacket. The device includes a first electrode element; a phase change element in contact with the first electrode element; an upper electrode element in contact with the phase change element; a bit line electrode in contact with the upper electrode element; and a dielectric fill layer surrounding the phase change element and the upper electrode element, spaced from the same and sealed by the bit line electrode to define a vacuum jacket around the phase change element and upper electrode element. |
| US08110428B2 |
Thin-film photovoltaic devices
A method is provided for producing a thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes forming on a substrate a first thin-film absorber layer using a first deposition process. A second thin-film absorber layer is formed on the first thin-film absorber layer using a second deposition process different from the first deposition process. The first and second thin-film absorber layers are each photovoltaically active regions and the second thin-film absorber layer has a smaller concentration of defects than the first thin-film absorber layer. |
| US08110421B2 |
Light emitting device and method for manufacturing same
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes: forming a multilayer body including a light emitting layer so that a first surface thereof is adjacent to a first surface side of a translucent substrate; forming a dielectric film on a second surface side opposite to the first surface of the multilayer body, the dielectric film having a first and second openings on a p-side electrode and an n-side electrode provided on the second surface; forming a seed metal on the dielectric film and an exposed surface of the first and second openings; forming a p-side metal interconnect layer and an n-side metal interconnect layer on the seed metal; separating the seed metal into a p-side seed metal and an n-side seed metal by removing a part of the seed metal, which is provided between the p-side metal interconnect layer and the n-side metal interconnect layer; and forming a resin in a space from which the seed metal is removed. |
| US08110416B2 |
AC impedance spectroscopy testing of electrical parametric structures
Defects in components in ICs which may cause circuit failures during operation of the IC are often difficult to detect during and immediately after fabrication of the IC by DC test methods. A method of testing components to detect such defects using AC Impedance Spectroscopy is disclosed. Data may be analyzed using Nyquist plots and Bode plots. Nyquist plots of typical defect types are disclosed. Components may include MOS transistor gate structures, contacts, vias and metal interconnect lines. Components tested may be contained in integrated circuits or in test circuits. Integrated circuits containing components tested by AC Impedance Spectroscopy may be partially fabricated or deprocessed after fabrication. |
| US08110415B2 |
Silicon based microchannel cooling and electrical package
A chip package includes: a substrate; a plurality of conductive connections in contact with the silicon carrier; a silicon carrier in a prefabricated shape disposed above the substrate, the silicon carrier including: a plurality of through silicon vias for providing interconnections through the silicon carrier to the chip; liquid microchannels for cooling; a liquid coolant flowing through the microchannels; and an interconnect to one or more chips or chip stacks. |
| US08110414B2 |
Forming integrated circuit devices with metal-insulator-metal capacitors using selective etch of top electrodes
A method of forming integrated circuits (IC) having at least one metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor. A bottom electrode is formed on a predetermined region of a semiconductor surface of a substrate. At least one dielectric layer including silicon is formed on the bottom electrode, wherein a thickness of the dielectric layer is <1,000 A. A top electrode layer is formed on the dielectric layer. A patterned masking layer is formed on the top electrode layer. Etching using dry-etching at least in part is used to etch the top electrode layer outside the patterned masking layer to reach the dielectric layer, which removes ≦100 A of the thickness of the dielectric layer. The dry etch process includes using a first halogen comprising gas, a second halogen comprising gas that comprises fluorine, and a carrier gas. |
| US08110413B2 |
Mask pattern verification apparatus, mask pattern verification method and method of fabricating a semiconductor device
In one embodiment, a mask pattern verification apparatus is disclosed. The mask pattern verification apparatus can include a library registration portion registered a clean circuit pattern, a memory portion saved a design circuit pattern, a verification circuit pattern, a verification mask pattern, and a verification wafer pattern, a mask verification portion performing mask verification to the verification mask pattern, a lithography verification portion performing lithography verification to the verification wafer pattern, and a CPU including a library registration circuit registering the clean circuit pattern to the library registration portion, a pattern matching circuit verifying the clean circuit pattern being set or not in the design circuit pattern, a verification pattern extraction circuit extracting the verification circuit pattern from the design circuit pattern, an OPC circuit performing OPC to the verification circuit pattern, a mask verification circuit controlling the mask verification portion, and a lithography verification circuit controlling the lithography verification portion. |
| US08110411B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which is characterized as follows. The semiconductor device includes: an interlayer insulating film formed above a semiconductor substrate and provided with a hole above an impurity diffusion region; a conductive plug formed in the hole and electrically connected to the impurity diffusion region; a conductive oxygen barrier film formed on the conductive plug and the interlayer insulating film around the conductive plug; a conductive anti-diffusion film formed on the conductive oxygen barrier film; and a capacitor that has a lower electrode which is formed on the conductive anti-diffusion film and which exposes platinum or palladium on the upper surface, a capacitor dielectric film made of a ferroelectric material, and an upper electrode. The conductive anti-diffusion film is made of a non-oxide conductive material for preventing the diffusion of the constituent element of the capacitor dielectric film. |
| US08110410B2 |
Nanofludic field effect transistor based on surface charge modulated nanochannel
A field effect transistor device includes: a reservoir bifurcated by a membrane of three layers: two electrically insulating layers; and an electrically conductive gate between the two insulating layers. The gate has a surface charge polarity different from at least one of the insulating layers. A nanochannel runs through the membrane, connecting both parts of the reservoir. The device further includes: an ionic solution filling the reservoir and the nanochannel; a drain electrode; a source electrode; and voltages applied to the electrodes (a voltage between the source and drain electrodes and a voltage on the gate) for turning on an ionic current through the ionic channel wherein the voltage on the gate gates the transportation of ions through the ionic channel. |
| US08110408B2 |
Method for quantitative detection of diabetes related immunological markers
This invention discloses using SPR technology to simultaneously and quantitatively measure the concentrations of diabetes related immunological makers in a serum sample, which can be used to diagnose and/or early diagnose diabetes as well as to predict the onset risk of diabetes in first-degree relatives. It also discloses an efficient formula to make a mixed SAM that can greatly enhance the immobilization ability of the metal surface in SPR based techniques, which is good for the immobilization of relevant antigens and antibodies used for the detection of respective diabetes related immunological makers in a serum sample. |
| US08110407B2 |
Fluorescent semiconductor microparticle assembly, fluorescent labeling agent assembly for biological substance, and bioimaging method and biological substance analysis method using the assemblies
Disclosed is a fluorescent semiconductor microparticle assembly comprising at least three kinds of fluorescent semiconductor microparticles with an average particle size of from 1 to 10 nm, having the same chemical composition, a different average particle size and a different emission maximum wavelength in the emission spectra, wherein a standard deviation of emission intensity in each of the at least three kinds of fluorescent semiconductor microparticles is not more than 15%. |
| US08110406B2 |
Analytical method and analytical apparatus
[PROBLEMS] To reduce the amount of, for example, a capturing antibody to be employed without lowering detection sensitivity. At the same time, to enable the achievement of intense color development or light emission in a determination area even in the case where only a small amount of a labeled antibody is accumulated. To lower the detection limit in the sandwich method. To enlarge the dynamic range in the competition method. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method of analyzing a test substance by an immunological analysis method by using the test substance, a support having a determination area, on which one member selected from a capturing antibody capable of binding specifically to the test substance and a capturing antigen capable of binding specifically to the test substance has been immobilized, and a labeled antibody capable of binding specifically to the test substance, wherein a label having a sensitizing effect has been immobilized on the determination area of the support. |
| US08110403B2 |
Immunoassay method
It is an object of the present invention to provide an immunoassay method which is capable of simultaneous quantification of a plurality of test substances under a same analysis condition, through adjustment of the measurement sensitivity/range by simply varying the size of particles for use as labels, without changing the spectra of these particles. The present invention provides an immunoassay method which comprises: simultaneously or step-by step developing respective of the plurality of the test substances and respective of labeling substance particles labeled with first binding substance against the respective of the plurality of the test substances on an insoluble carrier; capturing the test substances and the labeling substance particles in reaction portions on the insoluble carrier that has been immobilized with the respective of second binding substances against the respective of the plurality of the test substances at different positions; and measuring optical characteristic of the labeling substance particles, so as to simultaneously detect the plurality of the test substances, wherein the plurality of the test substances having different detection concentration ranges are simultaneously detected with use of the labeling substance particles which are different in the particle size corresponding to the test substances. |
| US08110395B2 |
Photobioreactor systems and methods for treating CO2-enriched gas and producing biomass
Certain embodiments and aspects of the present invention relate to a photobioreactor including covered photobioreactor units through which a liquid medium stream and a gas stream flow. The liquid medium comprises at least one species of phototrophic organism therein. Certain methods of using the photobioreactor system as part of fuel generation system and/or a gas-treatment process or system at least partially remove certain undesirable pollutants from a gas stream. In certain embodiments, a portion of the liquid medium is diverted from a photobioreactor unit and reintroduced upstream of the diversion position. In certain embodiments, the disclosed photobioreactor system, methods of using such systems, and/or gas treatment apparatus and methods provided herein can be used as part of an integrated combustion method and system, wherein photosynthetic organisms used within the photobioreactor are harvested from the photobioreactor, processed, and used as a fuel source for a combustion system such as an electric power plant. |
| US08110393B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating and harvesting cells from a whole blood sample
The present specification discloses an automated method and apparatus useful for separating and harvesting cells of interest, e.g., mononuclear cells, in a whole blood sample. The method of the invention uses the aspirating/dispensing probe of an automated sample preparation instrument to underlay a density gradient medium beneath a whole blood sample in a centrifugation tube, and the same probe is used to harvest cells of interest from a cell layer formed in the tube as a result of a centrifugation step. In harvesting cells, the probe is advanced inside the tube by a fixed, predetermined distance at which the probe tip (i.e., its aspiration port) is known to be located at, or within a predetermined distance below, the bottom of the cell layer. A predetermined volume of liquid is then aspirated through the probe tip, whereby most cells of interest (and more than 90% of those cells that can be harvested by a flawless manual method) are removed from the cell layer and collected for analysis. Preferably, the probe is caused to move laterally with respect to the tube during the aspiration of the cell layer, whereby cells offset from the center of the container are readily harvested. |
| US08110392B2 |
Methods and devices for microfluidic point-of-care immunoassays
Microfluidic methods and devices for heterogeneous binding and agglutination assays are disclosed, with improvements relating to mixing and to reagent and sample manipulation in systems designed for safe handling of clinical test samples. |
| US08110391B2 |
Degradation and detection of TSE infectivity
A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent is inactivated by exposing the TSE agent to a thermostable proteolytic enzyme at elevated temperature and at acid or alkaline pH. Following this step, or separately, presence of TSE infectivity is detected by detection of dimers of prion protein. |
| US08110390B2 |
PRRS viruses, infectious clones, mutants thereof, and methods of use
The present invention provides isolated infectious polynucleotides, such as infectious clones, having a nucleotide sequence with identity to PRRS viruses such as VR-2332, Lelystad, or others, and optionally further including a deletion in a region of ORF1 that encodes the nsp2 polypeptide. |
| US08110387B2 |
Polypeptide having NADH dependent HMF reductase activity
The invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having NADH dependent HMF reductase activity, wherein said polypeptide shows 80% homology to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 and which differs from SEQ ID NO:2 in that at least S117L and Y295 or S110 is substituted, a nucleotide sequence coding for said polypeptide, a vector comprising said polypeptide or nucleotide sequence, host comprising said nucleotide sequence or vector as well as the use of the polypeptide for the reduction of furan or carbonyl compounds in lignocellulosic material or in any furan or carbonyl containing material. |
| US08110385B2 |
Linear and membrane-like biodevices and bioreactors
A linear biodevice is provided with fibers that have a curved portion in its cross section approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and approximately spherical adhesive cells that adhere to the periphery of the fiber. A membrane-like biodevice is provided with a sheet that has an opening and approximately spherical adhesive cells that adhere to the opening. A curved portion is present in the cross section on an inner edge of the opening. A bioreactor is provided with a membrane-like biodevice in which spherical adhesive cells grow densely so as to close the openings of the sheet. |
| US08110384B2 |
Process for conversion of dairy cow waste to biofuel products
A process and system for converting animal waste to useful biofuel products, and more particularly a process and system for converting excrement from lactating dairy cattle to a combination of ethanol, methane, carbon dioxide and fertilizer is presented. The system uses a continuous process to place the animal waste into an aqueous mixture with a starter sugar and a digestive microorganism into a heated anaerobic digester. The products of the reactions within the digester include methane, which is extracted in a gaseous form, and ethanol and carbon dioxide, which are separated out of an aqueous solution in a distillation column. The water from the solution is recycled and the solid residue remaining in the digester is dried in a rotary kiln and granulated to form a fertilizer material. |
| US08110383B2 |
Fermentation process starting from cellulosic biomass and involving the recirculation of detoxified stillage into the process
A method for preparing a target chemical derivable from cellulosic biomass, involving detoxification of spent hydrolysate is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing cellulosic biomass, subjecting the cellulosic biomass to aqueous pretreatment, aqueous hydrolysis, and fermentation under conditions in which at least a part of the fermentable sugars are fermented into a primary target chemical, separating the primary target chemical from the fermented hydrolysate to provide a spent hydrolysate comprising inhibitory substances and detoxifying the spent hydrolysate by decreasing the concentration of at least one of the inhibitory substances using a detoxification biocatalyst selected from the group consisting of wild type, mutant and recombinant filamentous fungi and recirculating at least a part of the detoxified spent hydrolysate, optionally after further purification. |
| US08110379B2 |
Targeted integration into the PPP1R12C locus
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted integration of an exogenous sequence into the human PPP1R12C locus, for example, for expression of a polypeptide of interest. |
| US08110378B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding DCRS5
Nucleic acids encoding mammalian, e.g., primate, receptors, purified receptor proteins and fragments thereof. Antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal, are also provided. Methods of using the compositions for both diagnostic and therapeutic utilities are described. |
| US08110376B2 |
Long-acting EPO polypeptides and derivatives thereof and methods thereof
A polypeptide and polynucleotides encoding same comprising at least two carboxy-terminal peptides (CTP) of chorionic gonadotrophin attached to an EPO peptide are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptide and polynucleotides of the invention and methods of using same are also disclosed. |
| US08110364B2 |
Methods and compositions for diagnosing or monitoring autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases
Methods of diagnosing or monitoring an autoimmune or chronic inflammatory disease, particularly SLE in a patient by detecting the expression level of one or more genes or surrogates derived therefrom in the patient are described. Diagnostic oligonucleotides for diagnosing or monitoring chronic inflammatory disease, particularly SLE infection and kits or systems containing the same are also described. |
| US08110363B2 |
Expression profiles to predict relapse of prostate cancer
The present invention provides a method for preparing a reference model for cancer relapse prediction that provides higher resolution grading than Gleason score alone. The method encompasses obtaining from different individuals a plurality of prostate carcinoma tissue samples of known clinical outcome representing different Gleason scores; selecting a set of signature genes having an expression pattern that correlates positively or negatively in a statistically significant manner with the Gleason scores; independently deriving a prediction score that correlates gene expression of each individual signature gene with Gleason score for each signature gene in said plurality of prostate carcinoma tissue samples; deriving a prostate cancer gene expression (GEX) score that correlates gene expression of said set of signature genes with the Gleason score based on the combination of independently derived prediction scores in the plurality of prostate cancer tissue samples; and correlating said GEX score with the clinical outcome for each prostate carcinoma tissue sample. A set of signature genes is provided that encompasses all or a sub-combination of GI_2094528, KIP2, NRG1, NBL1, Prostein, CCNE2, CDC6, FBP1, HOXC6, MKI67, MYBL2, PTTG1, RAMP, UBE2C, Wnt5A, MEMD, AZGP1, CCK, MLCK, PPAP2B, and PROK1. Also provided a methods for predicting the probability of relapse of cancer in an individual and methods for deriving a prostate cancer gene expression (GEX) score for a prostate carcinoma tissue sample obtained from an individual. |
| US08110361B2 |
DNA methylation markers associated with the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in human colorectal cancer
Particular aspects confirm the existence of a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer, and provide novel validated DNA methylation markers associated with CIMP. Additional aspects provide novel methods and compositions for: determining CIMP status in colorectal cancers, determining the relationship between CIMP status and other molecular features of the cancers (e.g., BRAF mutation, KRAS mutation and MSI status); determining the relationship between CIMP status and other variables (e.g., age, sex, tumor location, family history, race, country of origin, tumor characteristics (including, tumor type, tumor grade, invasive margin characteristics, lymphocyte infiltration characteristics, direct spread, lymph node spread, venous spread and type of residual adjacent polyp, if present)); and determining, between subgroups defined by CIMP status and BRAF mutations, effects of selected risk factors (e.g., body mass index, smoking history, alcohol intake, dietary folate intake, folate metabolic enzyme polymorphisms and history of hormonal use). |
| US08110357B2 |
Method for detecting an individual who is afflicted with or a carrier for Van Buchem's disease
The genomic locus responsible for Van Buchem's disease is narrowed to an approximately 92 kb region of human chromosome 17 at 17q21. Individuals afflicted with or carriers of Van Buchem's disease exhibit a 52 kb deletion within this 92 kb region. Methods are provided that permit the differentiation between individuals homozygous for and therefore afflicted with Van Buchem's disease, individuals heterozygous for and therefore carriers of Van Buchem's disease, and individuals who are normal with respect to Van Buchem's disease. Also provided are general methodologies for the detection of a wide variety of large genomic deletions. |
| US08110355B2 |
Methods for identifying agents that inhibit cell migration, promote cell adhesion and prevent metastasis
Disclosed are methods for identification of agents that modulate cell attachment, cell migration and cell viability. Cancer and primary cells adhered to a matrix are treated with agent(s) that modulate ActRII signaling and cell adhesion. Agents are tested that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. Agents that modulate the expression, phosphorylation, function and translocation of ActRII signaling pathway members also can predict agents that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. The methods have utility in identifying agents that prevent cancer cell metastasis, wound dehiscence, aortic dissection and aid retina attachment and skin replacement and fertility. |
| US08110351B2 |
Method for isolating nucleic acids and protein from a single sample
The present invention comprises a method of isolating nucleic acid and protein from the same sample with solid supports, wherein nucleic acid and protein components contained in the sample become bound to distinct solid supports. The invention also allows for kits for isolating nucleic acid and protein from the same sample and for use of the method of isolating nucleic acid and protein for the analysis and/or comparison of mRNA and/or protein expression and/or their correlation to genomic information. |
| US08110350B2 |
Human Bocavirus and methods of diagnosis and treatment
Human parvovirus, genus Bocavirus, associated with respiratory tract infections in children. Nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of the virus. Methods and products for diagnosing presence of bocavirus in a sample using nucleic acid probes or primers, or specific binding members such as antibodies. Methods and products for diagnosing past or present infection of bocavirus in an individual e.g. by serology testing. Viral nucleic acid, polypeptide and/or viral particles for generating immune response in an individual, including vaccine compositions. |
| US08110349B2 |
Method for producing biomolecule diagnostic devices
A biosensor includes a substrate member with a pattern of active areas of receptive material and a pattern of blocking material layers. The receptive material and blocking material are attached to the substrate member with a photo-reactive crosslinking agent activated in a masking process. The receptive material is specific for an analyte of interest. |
| US08110347B2 |
Diagnostic method for detecting cancer by measuring amount of cytokine like IL-6
The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for predicting the possible recurrence of tumors in cancer patients. The method comprises culturing blood cells from a patient suffering from cancer in the presence of a cytokine stimulating factor, where after the amount of induced cytokine thereby produced is determined giving an indication of the risk of recurrence of the cancer. |
| US08110344B2 |
Metal photoetching product and production method thereof
A metal photoetching product comprising at least one large cavity of minor axis W1S, major axis W1L and depth D1 in a surface of the product, wherein one or more cavities are included inside at least one of the at least one large cavity, and a smallest hole among the cavities has minor axis of W2S, major axis W2L, and depth D2; and the product satisfies the following dimensions, D1+D2=plate thickness D, 0.02 mm≦D≦2 mm, 0.4×D |
| US08110341B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device by using first and second exposure masks
A method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a substrate including a cell region and an outside region, wherein the outside region is adjacent to the cell region; forming a line-shaped pattern over the substrate using a first exposure mask so that the line-shaped spacer pattern extends from the cell region to the outside region; and patterning the line-shaped pattern in the cell region into a bar pattern while removing the line-shaped pattern in the outside region using a second exposure mask, wherein the line-shaped pattern can be formed using a spacer patterning technology (SPT) or a double pattern technology (DPT). |
| US08110340B2 |
Method of forming a pattern of a semiconductor device
A pattern for a gate line is formed using a first photoresist pattern and a first BARC layer. A pad and patterns for a select line, which has a width that is larger than that of the gate line, are formed using a second photoresist pattern and a second BARC layer. The gate line, the pad and the select line can be formed at a same time. |
| US08110337B2 |
Polymerizable composition and lithographic printing plate precursor
A polymerizable composition containing: (A) a binder polymer; (B) a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group; and (C) a compound which has a triarylsulfonium salt structure and in which a sum of Hammett's a constants of all substituents bonded to the aryl skeleton is larger than 0.46. |
| US08110332B2 |
Electrophotographic toner and method for producing the electrophotographic toner
Provided are an electrophotographic toner and a method for producing the electrophotographic toner that satisfy high image quality, cleaning stability, and high productivity.The electrophotographic toner is produced by spray-drying a toner ingredient-containing liquid, wherein the toner ingredient-containing liquid dissolves or disperses at least a resin, a low molecular mass organic material, and a colorant in an organic solvent, the resin is soluble in the organic solvent, the low molecular mass organic material is a crystalline compound or a composition of crystalline compounds that is soluble in the organic solvent, the toner ingredient-containing liquid contains substantially no particles having a particle diameter of 500 nm or more, the crystalline compound or the composition of crystalline compounds crystallizes upon spray-drying to deform toner particles into a circularity of 0.93 or higher to 0.98 or less, and volume average particle diameter of the toner particles is 3.0 μm or higher to less than 7.0 μm. |
| US08110320B2 |
Method of making durable polymer electrolyte membranes
A method of making a durable fuel cell polymer electrolyte membrane is provided comprising the steps of: a) providing a polymer electrolyte membrane; b) providing a solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of manganese salts and cerium salts or a suspension of particles of a compound selected from the group consisting of manganese oxides and cerium oxides; and c) applying the solution or suspension to the polymer electrolyte membrane by a method selected from the group consisting of brushing, spraying and use of a slot die. Some embodiments comprise metered application of the solution to the polymer electrolyte membrane. |
| US08110313B2 |
Fuel cell system
The present invention provides a fuel cell system having means for controlling the flow of coolant within a fuel cell system. A desirable rate of flow of coolant is created, during power generation, by determining the difference in temperature between coolant flowing into individual cell sets of the fuel cell assembly and the temperature of coolant exhausted from the cell assembly. The fuel cell system features controls adapted to evaluate the heat generation state of each fuel cell set and to regulate the temperature of cell sets by controlling the rate circulation of the coolant. |
| US08110311B2 |
Fuel cell system
There is provided a fuel cell system capable of warming up a fuel cell while inhibiting generation of a rush current. A control device switches the connection/disconnection between a fuel cell and a short circuit by a shorting relay. The control device spends, before switching the shorting relay from disconnection to connection during starting at a low temperature, an oxidizing gas remaining in the cathode of the fuel cell by driving auxiliary devices to generate an oxidizing gas-deficient state. Then, the control device switches FC relays from ON to OFF and the shorting relay from OFF to ON to thereby complete the preparation for supplying a short-circuit current. |
| US08110306B2 |
Binder composition for secondary battery electrode, slurry for secondary battery electrode, and secondary battery electrode
There is provided a binder composition for secondary battery electrode, containing (A) a sulfonic acid group-containing polymer, and (B) an organic solvent composed mainly of N-methylpyrrolidone, wherein the proportion of the sulfonic acid group in the polymer (A) is 0.005 to 1.0 mmol/g. |
| US08110298B1 |
Media for high density perpendicular magnetic recording
Perpendicular magnetic recording media having a magnetic capping layer that is exchange coupled to an underlying perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The magnetic coupling layer is a granular layer having a high saturation magnetization (Ms). The perpendicular magnetic recording layer can include magnetic grains separated by an oxide grain boundary phase. |
| US08110294B2 |
Material for organic light-emitting element and organic light-emitting element including the same
A fluorene compound and an organic light-emitting element including the fluorene compound are provided. The fluorene compound is represented by the following general formula [1], and the fluorene compound is a material for an organic light-emitting element. A steric hindrance group is introduced directly on a fluorene ring in the fluorene compound. |
| US08110291B2 |
Composite material for electric/electronic part, production method thereof, and electric/electronic part
A composite material for an electric/electronic part, having a metal base, a resin film on at least a part of the metal base, and a layer of Sn or a Sn alloy on at least a part of the metal base at a site where the resin film is not provided, the layer of Sn or a Sn alloy including a solidified structure, and the resin film having a residual solvent quantity adjusted to 5% to 25% by mass. |
| US08110288B2 |
Carbon nanocomposite material comprising a SiC film coating, and method of manufacturing the same
A carbon nanocomposite material comprises a carbon nanomaterial and Si powder having an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less vacuum-vapor deposited on a surface of the carbon nanomaterial as a film of SiC. The film of SiC has an average thickness in the range of 10 to 50 nm. |
| US08110286B2 |
Peelable composite thermoplastic sealants in packaging films
A peelable sealing structure includes a sealing layer and one or more optional additional layers. The peelable sealing structure includes a sealing surface that is formable into a peelable seal upon contact with a sealing substrate at all temperatures in a peelable seal temperature range. Moreover, the peelable sealing structure comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an additive dispersed within at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer with the peelable sealing structure defining the sealing surface. |
| US08110285B2 |
Self-supported film and silicon wafer obtained by sintering
A silicon wafer for a photovoltaic cell is produced by a debinding step of a self-supported film formed of at least one main thin layer comprising at least 50% volume of silicon particles, devoid of silicon oxide and encapsulated in a polymer matrix protecting them against oxidation, followed by a sintering step to form the silicon wafer. |
| US08110277B2 |
Fused silica blank and method of forming a fused silica plate from the same
A method of making a fused silica plate includes providing a fused silica blank having a length, a longitudinal axis, and an outer diameter. The method further includes forming a slot in the fused silica blank which extends from the outer diameter to a location at or offset from a center of the fused silica blank and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fused silica blank. The slot is defined by a concave surface located at or offset from the center of the fused silica blank, a first side surface extending between a first edge of the concave surface and the outer diameter of the fused silica blank, and a second side surface extending between a second edge of the concave surface and the outer diameter of the fused silica blank. At least one of the first and second side surfaces are connected to the concave surface by a chamfered surface. The method further includes rolling out the fused silica blank having the slot to form a fused silica plate. |
| US08110273B2 |
Optical information recording medium, recording/reproducing method thereof and recording/reproducing apparatus
An optical information recording medium, recording/reproducing method thereof, and recording/reproducing apparatus with superior signal quality for high-density recording that has high storage reliability is provided. The optical information recording medium has at least one information layer having a recording layer and a dielectric layer in order on a transparent substrate. The dielectric layer is comprised of greater than or equal to 50 molecule percent and less than or equal to 98 molecule percent of Zn—O, and greater than or equal to 2 molecule percent to less than or equal to 50 molecule percent of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of Y—O, Ce—O, Nb—O, Ta—O, Cr—O and Mo—O. |
| US08110268B2 |
Adhesive cover for consumer devices
A personalized adhesive cover for a consumer device includes multiple layers. In one implementation, an adhesive cover includes a top laminate layer adhered to a base layer that is adhered to a bottom adhesive layer. The base layer is treated to facilitate acceptance of a personalized design applied to the middle layer. The adhesive cover is contoured to partially or completely cover one or more sides of a consumer device. The cover can include one or more separate pieces, apertures and cutouts, for example, so that the cover does not interfere with the functions of a device. |
| US08110264B2 |
Article comprising light absorbent composition to mask visual haze and related methods
A transparent article includes a continuous polyester matrix having at least one incompatible filler dispersed therein. The incompatible filler provides domains in the polyester matrix, each domain having a particular dimension, thus providing a range of dimensions for the domains in the article. To create haze, the dimensions are within the range of from about 380 nm to about 720 nm. Once the range of dimensions is determined, a light absorbent composition can be found which absorbs light at a range of wavelengths that at least substantially covers the range of dimensions of the domains. In doing so, it has been found that the haze of the article can be substantially masked. Method for producing the article and for masking the haze are also provided. |
| US08110263B2 |
Double packing materials for infusion solution
The double packing materials according to the present invention which primarily packs the infusion solution with a polypropylene packing material and secondarily vacuum packs and hermetically seals the packed polyethylene packing material with a material including an aluminum foil ensures safety of the content therein from light and has high thermal resistance and excellent preservation properties that resists to the damage and tearing by external force on long-term storage despite that it is not stored in dark place, and thus is very useful as the packing material for storing expensive infusion solution such as the contrast medium which is radiological diagnostic solution. |
| US08110259B2 |
Packaging articles, films and methods that promote or preserve the desirable color of meat
Food packaging articles, food packaging films, and food packaging methods comprising a myoglobin blooming agent that promote or preserve the desirable appearance of food products are provided. The food contact layer of the packaging films comprises a myoglobin blooming agent. |
| US08110256B2 |
Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase contains a specific five-ring compound having a large maximum temperature as the first component, a specific compound having a small viscosity as the second component, and a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature as the third component. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition. |
| US08110255B2 |
Method for preparation of hybrid comprising magnetite nanoparticles and carbon nitride nanotubes
The present invention discloses a method for preparation of a hybrid comprising magnetite nanoparticles and carbon nitride nanotubes, comprising: preparing carbon nitride nanotubes by plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD); dissolving the prepared carbon nitride nanotubes in triethyleneglycol to form solution and adding Fe (acetylacetonate)3 to the solution to obtain a mixture; and heating and cooling the mixture to form a hybrid comprising magnetite nanoparticles and carbon nitride nanotubes, in which the carbon nitride nanotubes are doped with magnetite nanoparticles. |
| US08110252B2 |
Solution and process for improving the solderability of a metal surface
The invention is directed to a solution and process for improving the solderability of a metal surface. In one embodiment, the invention is a silver deposit solution comprising an acid, a source of silver ions, and an additive selected from among pyrroles, triazoles, and tetrazoles, as well as derivatives and mixtures of those components. In another embodiment, the silver deposit solution also includes a 6-membered heterocyclic ring compound, wherein three members of the 6-membered heterocyclic ring are nitrogen atoms. Still another embodiment is a process for improving the solderability of a metal surface which involves applying a silver deposit solution as previously described to a metal surface. |
| US08110250B2 |
Method for fabricating chemical sensor element
A chemical sensor that utilizes localized surface Plasmon resonance including a substrate, metal-containing particles and dielectric particles, wherein the metal-containing particles and the dielectric particles are disposed on the substrate, is used as a chemical sensor element. Thereby, a chemical sensor element having a sufficient detecting sensitivity when localized surface Plasmon resonance is utilized, and a method for the fabrication thereof, can be provided. |
| US08110246B2 |
Method for producing a thin-film solar cell by use of microcrystalline silicon and a layer sequence
The invention relates to a method for production of a thin-layer solar cell with microcrystalline silicon and a layer sequence. According to the invention, a microcrystalline silicon layer is applied to the lower p- or n-layer in pin or nip thin-layer solar cells, by means of a HWCVD method before the application of the microcrystalline i-layer. The efficiency of the solar cell is hence increased by up to 0.8% absolute. |
| US08110237B2 |
Method of cooking peppers
A cooking method for cooking a hollow food item with a wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior volume, a plurality of skewers supporting the food item be piercing the wall through a stem side of the food item. The skewers maintaining the orientation of the food item with the stem side facing down and maintaining a minimum volume of the interior chamber to facilitate the accumulation of steam within the interior chamber. |
| US08110236B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming unit portions of frozen food materials
A method and apparatus for forming pressed food products can utilize up to 98% chicken breast meat in high profit margin products. Breast meat is marinated and then extruded into a slab which is then frozen and shaped into a plank. The plank is sliced into unit portions which are then pressed into shaped portions with a preferred, or other, press. One preferred press linearly reciprocates unit portions into the press. This or another preferred press imparts three dimension exterior shape to the pressed food products. |
| US08110233B2 |
Method of dispensing a solid product
A product packaging for a solid product comprises a base, a lid, and a seal. The base has a top, sides, and a bottom forming a cavity configured and arranged to receive a solid product, and the base has an exterior surface. A texture is on the exterior surface of the base, whereby the texture enhances a user's ability to grip the base when the base is inverted. The seal interconnects the top of the base and the lid and allows the lid to be peeled away from the top of the base. |
| US08110230B2 |
Synergistic phytoceutical compositions
Phytoceutical compositions for the prevention and treatment of circulatory disorders, feminine endocrine disorders, and dermal disorders. A specific combination of extracts of plants is taught, as well as principles for varying the formulations based on categorizing plants into one of three groups, Energy, Bio-Intelligence, and Organization and selecting several plants from each group. Such combinations have synergistic effects, with minimal side effects. |
| US08110227B2 |
Dairy based foodstuff containing central nervous system lipids
The central nervous system (CNS), i.e. the spinal cord and the brain, contains a large amount of various lipids, collectively called CNS lipids. These lipids are essential for embryonic induction but are also active in the adult body in keeping our cells in healthy normal function. By actively incorporating these normal vital CNS lipids in functional foodstuffs, it is possible to improve the immunity of a person by ingestion of such foodstuffs. The problem associated with the addition of brain substance to the diet is associated with bad taste and unpleasant attributes of the brain substance. The present invention discloses CNS lipids containing foodstuffs without the unpleasant taste and other attributes of the brain substance. The present invention relates to dairy based foodstuffs where normal fats and lipids have been replaced by CNS lipids. |
| US08110225B2 |
Treatment using dantrolene
Provided are low-volume, safe for injection formulations of dantrolene yielding significant advantages over the currently approved and marketed dantrolene for malignant hyperthermia (MH) threatening anesthetic crisis. Once dantrolene can be made immediately available to patients triggered of MH, the anesthesiologist will be able to focus exclusively on the management of the patient's physiologic status in this complex and evolving crisis, not on the laborious and time consuming reconstitution process of the rescue agent. The low volume, safe for injection formulations of dantrolene have significant advantages over currently used approaches to the prevention and treatment of pumphead, and other neurological, cognitive and motor dysfunction incident to iatrogenically or trauma induced situations of altered blood flow, including those incurred during surgical procedures involving CPB or related procedures, as well as those incurred during non-normothermic episodes caused iatrogenically or by disease. |
| US08110224B2 |
Pharmaceutical microparticles
Microparticles consisting of (a) a matrix with a mixture of (a1) at least one hydrophobic, biologically degradable polymer and (a2) optionally at least one water-soluble polymer, (b) a pharmaceutical active ingredient distributed in the matrix, and (c) in addition at least one water-insoluble, surface-active substance from the group of lecithins and phospholipids, distributed in the matrix, and a three-phase emulsion process for their preparation. |
| US08110222B2 |
Composite material
A composite biocompatible hydrogel material includes a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa. A calcium comprising salt is disposed in at least some of the pores. The porous polymer matrix can comprise cellulose, including bacterial cellulose. The composite can be used as a bone graft material. A method of tissue repair within the body of animals includes the steps of providing a composite biocompatible hydrogel material including a porous polymer matrix, the polymer matrix including a plurality of pores and providing a Young's modulus of at least 10 GPa, and inserting the hydrogel material into cartilage or bone tissue of an animal, wherein the hydrogel material supports cell colonization in vitro for autologous cell seeding. |
| US08110221B2 |
Encapsulation of oxygen sensitive agents with soy protein or casein and a modified starch
The present invention relates to the use of a mixture of modified starch and protein for encapsulating oxygen sensitive agents, wherein the modified starch is a starch derivative containing a hydrophobic group or both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group which has been further enzymatically hydrolyzed by an exo-enzyme. The encapsulated materials have a high level of active agent and retention and provide excellent oxidation resistance. Further, the encapsulated materials are useful in a variety of products, including food products. |
| US08110219B2 |
Controlled release dosage forms
The invention provides stable controlled release monolithic coating compositions for use in coating pharmaceutical oral dosage forms comprising a polyglycol having a melting point greater than 55° C. and an aqueous dispersion of a neutral ester copolymer lacking functional groups. |
| US08110217B2 |
Sphingomyelin liposomes for the treatment of hyperactive bladder disorders
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the instillation of lipid vehicles comprised of liposomes containing sphingomyelin or sphingomyelin metabolites to prevent, manage, ameliorate and/or treat disorders involving neuropathic pain and aberrant muscle contractions, such as what occurs in bladder hyperactivity disorders such as interstitial cystitis (IC) in animals or humans in need thereof. Also provided is a liposome-based delivery of drugs, e.g., antibiotics, pain treatments and anticancer agents, to the bladder, genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal system, pulmonary system and other organs or body systems. In particular, liposome-based delivery of vanilloid compounds, such as resiniferatoxin, capsaicin, or tinyatoxin and toxins, such as botulinum toxin is provided for the treatment of bladder conditions, including pain, inflammation, incontinence and voiding dysfunction. |
| US08110216B2 |
Methods of making porous bioresorbable dressing comprising casing comprising microspheres
Methods, system and compositions for making and using a bioresorbable linked dressing made of bioresorbable microspheres in various configurations are provided for use in applying reduced pressure to a wound site. The methods include manufacture of a bioresorbable dressing comprising a casing and bioresorbable microspheres in the form of a rope shape. Further, the casing of the dressing comprises pores formed by a porogen system that may be activated by external to the wound or formed in situ within the wound site. The shape of the dressing allows the dressing to be placed into the wound site such that it fills the shape and size of the wound. Embodiments include formation of various rope dressing and their use in conjunction with reduced pressure therapy. |
| US08110215B2 |
Personal care products and methods for inhibiting the adherence of flora to skin
The present invention relates to methods and personal care products, such as wipes and absorbent articles, capable of providing a skin health benefit when used in the intended fashion. More specifically, the products described herein comprise at least one fructose polymer capable of inhibiting the adherence of flora to surfaces, such as skin, mucosa, or inanimate surfaces. |
| US08110211B2 |
Medicated coatings for implantable medical devices including polyacrylates
A polymer for a medical device, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described. The polymer can be derived from n-butyl methacrylate and can have a degree of an elongation at failure from about 20% to about 500%. |
| US08110205B2 |
Silver-containing inorganic antibacterial
The present invention is completed by finding that a silver ion-containing zirconium phosphate represented by the following formula (1) is excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, low in resin coloring and excellent in processability. AgaMbZrcHfd(PO4)3.nH2O (1) wherein, in the formula (1), M is at least one ion selected from alkali metal ion, hydrogen ion and ammonium ion, a, b, c and d are positive numbers satisfying a+b+4(c+d)=9; c and d satisfy 1.75<(c+d)<2.25; and n is 0 or a positive number of not more than 2. |
| US08110204B2 |
Method of treating human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease infection
Human Immunodeficiency virus causes depletion of CD4 cells. The depletion of CD4 cells results in decrease in immunity of an infected individual. Due to decrease immunity various opportunistic infections occur. These infections are cause for morbidity and mortality in HIV infected individuals. The treatment of HIV these includes antiretroviral drugs. These drugs have their own side effects and immune reconstitution achieved is delayed and slow. Various attempts have been made to improve CD4 count, use of IL-2 is one of them. It is associated with systemic side effects during the period of its administration. The present invention provides method of using mycobacterium w for the management of HIV. According to present invention mycobacterium w when given intradermally is effective in prophylaxis and treatment of AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC). It is found to improve immunity as well as CD4 count. It is found to eliminate symptoms like fever, diarrhea. The effect is seen even when no antiretrovirals are used. |
| US08110203B2 |
Adjuvant comprising non-toxic cross-linked muramyl dipeptide (MDP) microparticles derived from Propionibacterium acnes
Methods and compositions for treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of a virus comprise administering to a patient antibodies which react with regions of viral proteins and result in neutralization of infectivity and inactivation of functionally essential events in the life cycle of the virus. The antibodies recognize viral epitopes which fail to elicit an immune response in man when encountered through infection or naturally through the environment. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides compositions and methods useful in the treatment and diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. The present invention is also directed to chemical conjugates (herein referred to as MDP) adjuvant microparticle-antigen conjugates) that have a muramyl dipeptide backbone crosslinked into a microparticle capable of binding to the cell surface of Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), to which is covalently attached one or more molecules having a reactive carbonyl group (i.e. an aldehyde and ketone group that is capable of reacting with amino groups to form an imine or Schiff base) on either the MDP adjuvant microparticle or on the antigen whereas the antigen is one or more glycoproteins, proteins, polypeptides or peptides that are capable of eliciting an immune response when covalently attached to the MDP microparticle adjuvant. Also disclosed are methods for making the conjugates, using the conjugates to elicit an immune response in a mammal. |
| US08110199B2 |
Streptococcus pneumoniae proteins and nucleic acid molecules
Protein antigens from Streptococcus pneumoniae are disclosed, together with nucleic acid sequences encoding them. Their use in vaccines and in screening methods is also described. |
| US08110189B2 |
T cell inhibitory receptor compositions and uses thereof
The invention relates to compositions which bind T cell inhibitory receptor molecules and modulate T cell activity, and methods of using such compositions. Such compositions include biliary glycoprotein binding agents. Methods for modulating killer T cell activities, including cytotoxicity and proliferation also are provided. |
| US08110188B2 |
Compositions for prevention and treatment of infections caused by coccidia in chickens
The invention refers to anticoccidial compositions consisting mainly of yolk immunoglobulins derived from eggs of hens immunized with one or more Eimeria species. The invention refers also to the use of said anticoccidial compositions for prevention or treatment of coccidiosis. The administration of immunoglobulins, both in liquid as well as in powder or pellet presentation, decreases mortality, lesions, oocysts counts and increases weight gain of receiving animals. |
| US08110185B2 |
Method for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases with BRCA1
Methods for inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and/or to improving cardiac function and inhibiting inflammation-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells by delivering BRCA1 are provided. Such methods are useful in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. |
| US08110184B2 |
Ex vivo and in vivo methods and related compositions for generating hematopoietic stem cell populations
Various embodiments provide methods and related compositions for increasing the population size of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in patients that may benefit from reconstitution of stem cells and/or differentiated cells of the blood lineage. The present methods enable the production of HSCs ex vivo and in vivo by reducing latexin expression and/or latexin activity within HSC exposed to various antagonists. Inhibition of latexin expression and/or latexin activity by various antagonists can promote HSC proliferation and/or inhibit HSC apoptosis. Antagonists that can reduce latexin expression and/or latexin activity can be utilized to regenerate endogenous HSCs within patients affected with disorders, diseases, cancers, or therapies for such conditions, that result in the depletion or reduction in HSCs. |
| US08110183B2 |
Method for sustained expression of an exogenous gene
A method for sustained expression of an exogenous gene forms a circular episomal plasmid to solve the problem of transient expression of baculovirus in the transduced mammalian cells caused by the dilution and degradation when mammalian cells replicate and also prevents dysfunctional cell metabolism. |
| US08110181B2 |
Method of treating tuberculosis with interferons
A method of treating tuberculosis comprising administering an aerosolized interferon such as interferon α, interferon β or interferon γ in a therapeutically effective amount is provided herein. Also, pharmaceutical compositions of one or more aerosolized interferon(s) are provided. |
| US08110180B2 |
Method of use of cytokine ZALPHA11 ligand
Antibodies that bind to polypeptides and peptides comprising the sequence of zalpha11 Ligand as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 are described. The antibodies may bind the full length sequence of 162 amino acid residues or a fragment thereof, including a mature polypeptide of 131 amino acid residues and smaller polypeptide and peptide sequences. The antibodies may include antibodies that are polyclonal, monoclonal, murine, humanized or neutralizing. Methods for producing the antibodies are also described. |
| US08110179B2 |
Cyclodextrin-based polymers for therapeutics delivery
The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein. |
| US08110177B2 |
Methods of diagnosing and treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and SIBO-related conditions
Disclosed is a method of treating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject. SIBO-caused conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, impaired mentation, impaired memory, halitosis, tinnitus, sugar craving, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug sensitivity, an autoimmune disease, and Crohn's disease. Also disclosed are a method of screening for the abnormally likely presence of SIBO in a human subject and a method of detecting SIBO in a human subject. A method of determining the relative severity of SIBO or a SIBO-caused condition in a human subject, in whom small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been detected, is also disclosed. |
| US08110174B2 |
Reactive working material for use in hydrogen production by decomposition of water
Disclosed is a reactive working material for use in a process of producing hydrogen by splitting water based on a two-step thermochemical water-splitting cycle through the utilization of solar heat, industrial waste heat or the like, which comprises a ferrite fine powder and a cubic zirconia supporting the ferrite fine powder. This reactive working material makes it possible to prevent scaling off of the ferrite fine powder from the zirconia fine powder due to volumetric changes of the ferrite fine powder during repeated use, and suppress growth of FeO grains due to repetition of melting and solidification when used as a reactive working material for a cyclic reaction under a high temperature of 1400° C. or more. |
| US08110169B2 |
Carbon alloy products and a process for their production
A carbonaceous material, also referred to as a carbon alloy, and a process of making the carbonaceous material is provided. A particulate of partially pyrolyzed carbon (PPC) base is formed on heating a carbon-containing feed material and a nucleating agent in the form of a interactive filler is included. The nucleating agent is adhered together to the PPC particles by application of heat. The material is molded into a shape, voids in the material are collapsed and the resulting carbon alloy is cooled. |
| US08110164B2 |
Flue-Gas purification and reclamation system and method thereof
A flue-gas purification system includes a flue-gas cycling system, a reactor, an absorbent adding system having at least a catalytic absorbent, wherein the catalytic absorbent is being gasified for reacting with the flue-gas in the reactor in a homogenous gas-gas phase reacting manner. Therefore, the purification system has fast reaction rate between the pollutants of the flue-gas and the catalytic absorbent, which is preferably ammonia, to efficiently remove pollutants, so as to effectively purify the flue-gas. |
| US08110160B2 |
Cuvette
Disclosed is a cuvette for taking a measurement on a liquid, comprising a monolithic cuvette body with a cavity (4) in the form of a narrow gap that is formed between two at least approximately parallel wall surfaces (15, 16) and is delimited by an inner wall (5, 6, 11) and a drawing edge (2) which is open towards the surroundings and from which the liquid is drawn into the cavity (4) forming a measurement zone (13) under the effect of a capillary force. |
| US08110159B2 |
AOTF-based imaging system and method for hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of specimens including medical tissue
An imaging system includes a platform for placement of a sample or an animal to be imaged, and at least one excitation light source for irradiating the sample or animal to stimulate an emission at a plurality of different center wavelengths. An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is provided that includes a piezoelectric transducer crystal for emitting an acoustic wave having a ground electrode disposed on one side of the piezoelectric crystal. A patterned electrode layer is disposed on a side of the piezoelectric crystal opposite the ground electrode. The patterned electrode layer includes a continuous region proximate to its center and a discontinuous region, a pattern in the discontinuous region comprising a plurality of spaced apart features electrically connected to the continuous region, and an AO interaction crystal receiving the acoustic wave attached to the ground electrode or the patterned electrode layer. |
| US08110156B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for the treatment of interior and exterior areas of objects
A method and apparatus for the sanitization, detoxification, disinfection, high level disinfection, or sterilization of both the interior and exterior surfaces of an object or plurality of objects, including those with lumens and/or channels of various sizes, within a closed space, or closed system of space, in addition to their surrounding atmosphere, and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to the generation of an aerosol including an anti-pathogen/toxin/fungal/sporicidal agent(s) or substance(s) (applied agent), or chemical neutralizing agent(s) or substance(s), by way of one or more ultrasonic nebulizer(s). However the applied agent used in the present invention may also be in the form of any gas, vapor, plasma, aerosol, or other form. The said apparatus and method also includes an option to incorporate and utilize a means to wash the object(s) or endoscope(s). |
| US08110152B2 |
Gas sensor mounting boss and method of making
An outer housing and method of forming a mounting boss therein, the outer housing comprising: an elongated housing portion defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the elongated housing portion having a thickened area defined by an overlapping portion of the elongated housing; a sensor mounting boss formed in the overlapping portion with only displaced portions of the overlapping portion; and a plurality of threads disposed in the sensor mounting boss. |
| US08110148B2 |
Apparatus and method using rotary flow distribution mechanisms
Methods and apparatus for facilitating the synthesis of compounds in a batch device are presented. Application of the batch type microfluidic devices to the synthesis of radiolabeled compounds is described. These methods and apparatus enable the selective introduction of multiple reagents via an enhanced rotary flow distribution valve through a single inlet port of the synthetic device. The sequential introduction of multiple reagents through a single inlet port allows an optimal delivery of highly concentrated reagents into the reactor and facilitates the synthesis of the desired products with a minimal loss of materials during transfers, which is critical to the synthesis of radiolabeled biomarkers. |
| US08110147B2 |
Method for analyzing an analyte qualitatively and quantitatively
A specific binding analysis method capable of controlling the amount of specific binding to freely setting the sensitivity, concentration range and the like in an analysis, and a device used therefore are provided. In order to optimize the amount of specific binding, the specific binding analysis method and the device used therefor restrain the amount and velocity of a sample passing, by capillarity, through a detection zone, by controlling the dimensions, ventilation resistance, hydrophilicity and the like in the portion of the device where the sample passes through. |
| US08110145B2 |
Method of detecting residual detergent and device for detecting residual detergent
It is intended to provide a method whereby residual detergent (surfactant) can be conveniently and accurately detected in the step of washing or rinsing dishes or clothes, and a test device usable in examining the rinsed conditions. Namely, a method characterized by comprising bringing a test substance with a composition (test agent) comprising an oxalic acid ester, a fluorescent substance, hydrogen peroxide and a strong acid and thus easily detecting the residual detergent sticking to the surface of the test subject from the chemiluminescence thus caused; and a test device which is most suitable for storing the test agent as described above. |
| US08110143B2 |
Composite metal foam and methods of preparation thereof
The present invention is directed to composite metal foams comprising hollow metallic spheres and a solid metal matrix. The composite metal foams show high strength, particularly in comparison to previous metal foams, while maintaining a favorable strength to density ratio. The composite metal foams can be prepared by various techniques, such as powder metallurgy and casting. |
| US08110142B2 |
High yield ladle bottoms
A refractory bottom for a metallurgical vessel comprised of a bottom lining having a bottom surface that is dimensioned to overlay a bottom of a metallurgical vessel and an upper surface. The upper surface is comprised of a plurality of discrete sections that include an uppermost section, an intermediate section and a lowermost section. Each section has an upper surface at a discrete elevation such that the upper surface of the uppermost section has a highest elevation and the upper surface of the lowermost section has a lowest elevation. The upper surface of the uppermost section, the intermediate section and the lowermost section comprise a series of successive stepped sections that define a stepped path from the uppermost section downward to the lowermost section. Each successive section of the upper surface is lower than a preceding section. |
| US08110140B2 |
Method of manufacturing ceramic optical components
In methods of manufacturing optical components for infrared-light or ultraviolet-light applications, by lessening the expense consumed during finishing processes, a technique for manufacturing ceramic optical components inexpensively is realized. Raw material powders whose main constituent is ZnS, ZnSe or Ge, for ceramics for infrared-light optical components, and whose main constituent is CaF2 or MaF2, for ceramics for ultraviolet-light optical components, are molded into molded masses; the molded masses are sintered into sinters; and by pressing the sinters through a heating and compressing process, net-shape ceramic sinters can be produced. Alternatively, a finishing process is carried out after they are pressed into near-net shape. By shaping into net shape or near-net shape, the finishing process can be omitted, or the finishing process time and processing expense taken up can be decreased. |
| US08110138B2 |
Poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) and thermoformed articles
Disclosed is a process comprising extruding a poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) (PHA) to produce a first article; thermoforming the first article in a heated mold having a temperature ≧ about 90° C. to produce a second article; and heat treating the second article by holding the second article in the heated mold for less than about 40 seconds to produce a thermoformed article wherein the PHA composition comprises or consists essentially of PHA and 0 to about 4%, based on the weight of the composition, of a nucleator; and the first article is a film or sheet and is partially crystallized. |
| US08110137B2 |
Process for manufacturing a plastic-based cellular structure
Process for manufacturing a plastic-based cellular structure comprising: a step (a) during which parallel lamellae of a composition based on at least one thermoplastic polymer (P) chosen from amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers are continuously extruded through a die containing a plurality of parallel slots; a step (b) during which, on exiting the die and in successive alternations, the spaces between two adjacent lamellae are subjected to an injection of a fluid (f) and to a vacuum, the two sides of a same lamella being, for one side, subjected to the action of the fluid (f) and, for the other side, to the action of the vacuum, and inversely during the following alternation, in order to produce deformation of the lamellae and to weld them in pairs with formation, in a plane approximately parallel to the extrusion direction, of a cellular structure whose constituent cells extend perpendicular to the extrusion direction; a step (c) during which the cellular structure obtained in step (b) is drawn perpendicular to the extrusion direction. |
| US08110136B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing nanofibers and polymer web
Nanofibers are formed from a polymer material by rotating a conductive rotating container having a plurality of small holes while supplying a polymer solution formed by dissolving a polymer material in a solvent into the rotating container, charging the polymer solution discharged from the small holes of the rotating container by charging means, and drawing the discharged filamentous polymer solution by centrifugal force and an electrostatic explosion resulting from evaporation of the solvent. The nanofibers from this production step are oriented and made to flow from one side toward the other side in a shaft center direction of the rotating container by a reflecting electrode and/or blowing means, or those nanofibers are deposited, to produce a polymer web. The nanofibers and the polymer web using these nanofibers can be produced uniformly by a simple configuration with good productivity. |
| US08110135B2 |
Process and freeform fabrication system for producing a three-dimensional object
The present invention describes a process for producing a three-dimensional object, comprising: providing a material to be solidified, the material comprising a filler and a binder; delivering electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation in a pattern or an image to a building region for solidifying said material; wherein said delivering of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is performed selectively to a defined area or volume of said material to be solidified; and wherein an energy density of electromagnetic radiation and/or synergistic stimulation is varied within said pattern or image and/or between patterns or images of different building regions of said material. The present invention may be directed also to a system where different first and second materials are to be solidified. The present invention further provides a freeform fabrication system, and a freeform three-dimensional object having unique properties as well as products derived therefrom, such as sintered products. |
| US08110125B2 |
Separation of carbon nanotubes in density gradients
The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by chirality and/or diameter, using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs in and surface active components in density gradient media. |
| US08110119B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magnetic sensor with tilted magnetoresistive structures
A method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor device in one embodiment includes applying a mask on a substrate, performing a wet etching procedure on the substrate for generating at least a first groove having tilted side walls, and depositing at least one layer of magnetoresistive material onto a section of the surface of at least a first tilted side wall of the groove. A method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor device on a substrate having a plurality of tilted planar sections, each of the tilted planar sections having a surface normal angled with respect to a surface normal of the substrate is also provided. The method includes depositing a magnetoresistive layered structure positioned at each of the tilted planar sections of the substrate, wherein the tilted planar sections are oriented such that a direction of an applied magnetic field in at least one of an x-, y- and z-direction relative to the substrate is detectable based on field-induced resistance changes of the magnetoresistive layered structures. |
| US08110116B2 |
Water treatment apparatus and a method for cleaning a filter layer of a water treatment apparatus
A water treatment apparatus includes a raw water supply tube, mixed raw water stream jet nozzles each communicating at one end thereof with the raw water supply tube and having at the other end thereof a raw water outlet from which mixed stream of raw water and air is jetted out, a filtering tank housing a filter layer disposed below the mixed raw water stream jet nozzles with a predetermined distance between the surface of the filter layer and the raw water outlet of the mixed raw water stream jet nozzles, a filtered water takeout tube provided in the filtering tank for taking out water filtered through the filter layer, a reverse stream cleaning water supply tube provided in the filtering tank for supplying reverse stream cleaning water to the filter layer, filter layer cleaning jet nozzles each communicating at one end thereof with a filter layer cleaning water supply tube and having at the other end thereof a cleaning water outlet from which cleaning water is jetted out, and an overflow outlet provided in the filtering tank above the filter layer. |
| US08110114B2 |
Multiple filter controller and method of use
A method for maintaining an efficiently working fuel system comprising: passing the fuel through a first filter of a multiple filter controller; monitoring a level of pressure established within the multiple filter controller as the fuel passes through the first filter, wherein monitoring comprises providing a pressure gage; detecting when the level of pressure has reached a predetermined level, wherein such detecting comprises providing a vacuum switch; redirecting the fuel from the first filter to a second filter when the predetermined level of pressure has been detected, wherein redirecting comprises manipulating an inlet valve of the multiple filter controller such that the inlet valve stops the flow of the fluid to the first filter and redirects the flow of the fluid to a second filter; and repairing or removing the first filter from the fuel system while the fuel is simultaneously flowing through the second filter. |
| US08110109B2 |
Biological water treatment by alternating continuous and sequential aeration
A method of biologically treating water and more particularly, a process for nitrifying and denitrifying water includes employing a continuous aeration mode and a sequential aeration mode. In the continuous aeration mode, nitrification and denitrification reactions occur simultaneously in the water. The continuous aeration mode occurs when the nitrate concentration of the water reaches a predetermined low threshold. The sequential aeration mode occurs when the nitrate concentration reaches a predetermined high threshold. When in the sequential aeration mode, aeration is ceased when the ammoniac concentration reaches a predetermined low threshold and aeration is activated when the ammoniac concentration reaches a predetermined high threshold. |
| US08110104B2 |
Dialysis systems and related components
A cassette is described for holding circuit components used with a hemodialysis machine. |
| US08110100B2 |
System for treating liquids with wave energy from an electrical arc
The system has a storage tank and two or more arc whirl devices disposed in a top of the storage tank. Each arc whirl device includes: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone, (b) a throat connected to the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector having a vertex, a focus and an opening at the vertex, wherein the opening is connected to the throat such that the vertex and focus are axially aligned with the central axis and the focus is not located within the throat, and (d) a wave energy source that irradiates the liquid using a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends into the throat along the central axis of the throat, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector proximate to the focus wherein the second electrode is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode. |
| US08110099B2 |
Stormwater filter assembly
A filter assembly for use in filtering stormwater includes a bottom including a boss that includes a rib extending laterally along an inner surface of the boss. The rib includes a locking portion that mates with a corresponding locking portion on a peripheral surface of a connection to an outlet conduit for securing the bottom to the connection thereby inhibiting rotation of the bottom relative to the outlet conduit. A center tube is secured to the bottom using a locking mechanism that inhibits relative movement between the bottom and the center tube. The center tube is in communication with an opening in the bottom and a hood is secured to the center tube. A filter medium is located between the hood and the center tube. |
| US08110093B2 |
Process for producing low molecular weight hydrocarbons from renewable resources
Described herein are methods for cracking a biocrude, particularly catalytically cracking a biocrude that primarily includes olefmic hydrocarbons. Also described herein are compositions and methods of producing such compositions that are useful as fuels or fuel production feedstock. |
| US08110091B2 |
Process for the conversion of feedstocks resulting from renewable sources for producing gas oil fuel bases with a low sulphur content and with an improved cetane number
The invention relates to a process for the treatment of heavy petroleum feedstocks in order to produce a gas oil fraction having a sulphur content of less than 50 ppm and generally 10 ppm which comprises the following stages: e) mild hydrocracking in a catalyst fixed bed, f) separation of the hydrogen sulphide, of a distillate cut including a gas oil fraction and of a fraction which is heavier than the gas oil, g) hydrotreating, by contact with at least one catalyst, of at least a portion of the distillate cut obtained in stage b) including the gas oil fraction, as a mixture with a feedstock resulting from a crude or refined renewable source, h) separation of a gas oil cut comprising less than 50 ppm of sulphur. Advantageously, the heavy fraction is sent for catalytic cracking. Preferably, the process is carried out with makeup hydrogen introduced in stage c) and very advantageously all the makeup hydrogen for the process is introduced in stage c). The invention also relates to a plant which can be used for implementing this process. |
| US08110090B2 |
Deasphalting of gas oil from slurry hydrocracking
Integrated slurry hydrocracking (SHC) and solvent deasphalting (SDA) methods for making slurry hydrocracking (SHC) distillates are disclosed. Representative methods involve passing a slurry comprising a vacuum column resid, a recycled, deasphalted oil obtained from SDA, and a solid particulate through an SHC reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to obtain the SHC distillate. Fractionation or distillation in the SHC product recovery section yields a combined SHC gas oil/SHC pitch stream that is sent to SDA. In a representative embodiment, vacuum distillation in the SHC product recovery is avoided, thereby eliminating equipment that is often most susceptible to fouling. |
| US08110085B2 |
Assisted deposition, narrow trench damascene process for manufacturing a write pole of a magnetic write head
A method for forming a magnetic write head using a damascene process that does not form voids in the magnetic structure. An opening is formed in an alumina layer, the opening being configured to define a trench. Then a first layer of magnetic material is deposited into the trench. A CMP process is then performed to remove any voids that have formed in the first magnetic layer. Then a second layer of magnetic material is deposited over the first layer of magnetic material. In another embodiment of the invention, a opening is formed in the alumina layer, and a first layer of magnetic material is electroplated into the opening. A thin layer of non-magnetic material is then deposited, and a second layer of magnetic material is deposited over the thin layer of non-magnetic material. The thin layer of alumina advantageously provides a laminate structure that avoids data erasure. |
| US08110084B2 |
Electrode characterized by highly adhering superficial catalytic layer
The invention is relative to an electrode for gas evolution in electrolytic and electrometallurgical industrial applications, made of a metal substrate having a surface morphology characterized by a combination of micro-roughness and macro-roughness which favors high adherence of a superficial catalytic layer in order to prevent detachment of the same and passivation of the substrate even under critical operating conditions. |
| US08110082B2 |
Photoelectrochemical molecular comb
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for separating molecules, such as biomolecules. The method, system, and apparatus utilize an electrochemical cell having at least two electrodes, one electrode comprising a photo-sensitive material capable of generating a photopotential. Molecules are moved through an electrolyte medium between the at least two electrodes based upon localized photopotentials. |
| US08110078B2 |
Substrate supporting device and sputtering apparatus including the same
A substrate supporting device for forming a coating film having a maximally even and necessary thickness with a sufficiently strong adhesiveness and a good film quality on a substrate, and a sputtering apparatus including such a substrate supporting device. The substrate supporting device for supporting a substrate on which a coating film is formed by sputtering is disposed in a vacuum chamber so as to be opposed to a sputtering target. The substrate supporting device is rotatable around a first rotation axis by a first driving mechanism and is rotatable around a second rotation axis by a second driving mechanism. |
| US08110076B2 |
Apparatus and foam electroplating process
An improved apparatus and method of producing metal foam is provided which involves optimizing the natural convection of electrolyte through a foam being electroplated by inclining the foam during plating. A diagonal flow of electrolyte though the foam enhances electrolyte turnover within the foam while increasing electroplating efficiency. Further increases in plating efficiency are provided by shifting current density from higher plating zones to lower plating zones. |
| US08110073B2 |
Process for the preparation of aromatic amines
Aromatic amines are produced by catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds. The reaction mixture generated by this hydrogenation is then worked up by distillation in a manner which makes it possible to substantially free the amine of water with increased energy efficiency. Water free of amine and low boilers and the low boiling materials are also obtained. |
| US08110071B2 |
Papers providing great fat and oil penetration resistance, and method for the production thereof
Different papers known in prior art develop only moderate resistance to fats or contain fluorocarbon compounds or chromium complexes in the mass or in an impregnating liquor in order to develop great fat and oil penetration resistance. Said fluoride or chromium compounds represent substances that are known to be or at least seriously suspected of being unhealthy. Hence, the aim of the invention is to create a paper that is free from unhealthy components while being provided with great fat and oil penetration resistance, being easy to print, and being recyclable. Said aim is achieved by obtaining great fat and oil penetration resistance by using a paper that is made of thoroughly ground fiber materials and is glued with alkenyl succinic anhydride in the mass during impregnation inside or outside the papermaking machine with an impregnating liquor containing polyvinyl alcohols, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinyl butyrals, carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin, alginates, galactoglucomannans, and/or starch derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol and gelatine being preferred. |
| US08110067B2 |
Low ratio RTV compositions and methods for making same
A two-part moisture-curing composition having as a first part water and an hydroxy-terminated diorganosiloxane; and a second part which includes a reactive silicone, at least one end-capping silane which includes one or more enoxy groups, at least one end-capping catalyst and at least one moisture cure catalyst. Enhanced and controlled cure speed is obtained by these compositions. |
| US08110065B2 |
Heat-curable fluoropolyether adhesive composition and bonding method
A heat-curable fluoropolyether adhesive composition comprising (A) a linear polyfluoro compound having at least two alkenyl groups and a perfluoropolyether structure, (B) a fluorinated organohydrogensiloxane having at least two SiH groups, (C) a platinum group metal catalyst, (D) an organosiloxane having at least one SiH group and at least one epoxy and/or trialkoxysilyl group, and (E) a compound having at least two allyloxycarbonyl groups can be cured to metal and plastic substrates by heating at a temperature from 20° C. to less than 100° C. |
| US08110061B2 |
Respiratory nasal filter
A respiratory nasal filter including an outer ring having concentric outer periphery and inner periphery sized to the periphery of a user's nasal orifice, a filter layer having an outer periphery larger than the inner periphery of the outer ring, but smaller than the outer periphery of the outer ring and an adhesive applied to the outer ring for bonding the filter layer concentrically to the outer ring and for bonding the outer ring to the columella, a nasal sill, an alar sidewall and the facet of the user's nose. |
| US08110058B2 |
Work bonding and supporting method and work bonding and supporting apparatus using the same
Tape heating means is allowed to come close to an adhesive tape for support and, in a heating state, the adhesive tape for support is stretched and tensioned with proper tension in a tape width direction and a transport direction. A heated work is bonded to an adhesive face of the tensioned adhesive tape for support, thereby supporting the work. |
| US08110055B2 |
Self-sealing pneumatic vehicle tire and method for producing a self-sealing pneumatic vehicle tire
A self-sealing pneumatic tire has a sealing band (3) applied adheringly in the circumferential direction on the inner side of the tire and radially within the tread. A sealant (2) is applied to a carrier material (1). The carrier material (1) of the sealing band (3) is a foil on which the sealant (2) has been applied. The sealant, because of its intrinsic stickiness, adheres both to the carrier material (1) and to the inner side of the tire. |
| US08110054B2 |
Method for connection at least two pieces of sheet material, particularly at least two metal sheets for a lightweight structure as well a joining and lightweight structure
A method for connecting at least two sheet-like formations, in particular at least two metal sheets with a thin material thickness for aircraft, comprises establishing butt-joint connections between the sheet-like formations by forming a joining region; mechanical processing of the sheet-like formations and/or of the joining region; mechanical and/or chemical adhesive pre-treatment of the sheet-like formations and/or of the joining region; and pasting-on at least one reinforcement element in the region of the top and/or the bottom of the joining region, wherein for the purpose of forming a second load path the width of the at least one reinforcement element is wider than the width 16 of the joining region. A connection is provided and made according to the method. A lightweight structure is also provided that comprises at least one connection according to the invention. |
| US08110051B2 |
High strength aluminum alloy fin material for heat exchanger and method for production thereof
[PROBLEMS] To provide an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger, which has high strength and high heat conductivity after brazing, and is excellent in the resistance to sagging, erosion and self-corrosion and the in the sacrificial anode effect.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A method for producing an aluminum alloy fin material for a heat exchanger which comprises providing a molten aluminum alloy having a chemical composition, in wt %, that Si: 0.5 to 1.5%, Fe: 0.15 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.8 to 3.0%, Zn: 0.5 to 2.5%, with the proviso that the content of Mg as an impurity is limited to 0.05 wt % or less, and the balance: Al and inevitable impurities, casting the molten alloy continuously into a thin slab having a thickness of 5 to 10 mm by the use of a twin belt casting machine, winding up the slab into a roll, cold-rolling the slab into a sheet having a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, subjecting the sheet to an inter annealing at 350 to 500° C., and cold-rolling the annealed sheet with a cold reduction rate of 10 to 96%, to prepare a sheet having a final thickness of 40 to 200 μm, and optionally subjecting the final sheet to a final annealing (a softening process) at a holding temperature of 300 to 400° C. |
| US08110048B2 |
Magnetic powder suitable for low-noise media
A method for producing a magnetic powder comprised chiefly of Fe16N2 comprising providing a starting powder comprising an oxy-hydroxide or oxide of iron and an amount of noble metal. The starting powder is reduced into an iron powder by a dry method using a hydrogen gas; and the iron powder is nitrided into a magnetic powder comprised chiefly of Fe16N2 particles using a nitrogen-containing gas at a temperature not higher than 200° C. The amount of noble metal is such that an amount that the atomic percent ratio of the noble metal content to Fe in the magnetic powder is 0.01-10. |
| US08110047B2 |
Automated washing system with compliance verification
A system is provided for providing automated washing and verifying compliance of use. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more cleaning stations through various technologies, such as RFID. Individual's use of cleaning stations is monitored to determine compliance with hand-washing requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the cleaning station(s). Educational and/or entertainment content may be displayed to the user when he or she is using the cleaning station. Additionally, the cleaning station may identify containers having authorized consumables such as soap or disinfectant. |
| US08110042B2 |
Method for manufacturing single crystal
Using a pulling-up apparatus, an oxygen concentration of the monocrystal at a predetermined position in a pulling-up direction is controlled based on a relationship in which the oxygen concentration of the monocrystal is decreased as a flow rate of the inactive gas at a position directly above a free surface of the dopant-added melt is increased when the monocrystal is manufactured with a gas flow volume in the chamber being in the range of 40 L/min to 400 L/min and an inner pressure in the chamber being in the range of 5332 Pa to 79980 Pa. Based on the relationship, oxygen concentration is elevated to manufacture the monocrystal having a desirable oxygen concentration. Because the oxygen concentration is controlled under a condition corresponding to a condition where the gas flow rate is rather slow, the difference between a desirable oxygen concentration profile of the monocrystal and an actual oxygen concentration profile is reduced. |
| US08110041B2 |
Coloured diamond
A method of producing a single crystal CVD diamond of a desired color which includes the steps of providing single crystal CVD diamond which is colored and heat treating the diamond under conditions suitable to produce the desired color. Colors which may be produced are, for example, in the pink-green range. |
| US08110040B2 |
Lightweight structure concrete composition
A lightweight structural concrete is composed of coarse structural aggregate sized between ¼″ to ½″ occupying 15% to 25% of total concrete volume, large non-structural lightweight aggregate such as expanded polystyrene bead of a particular size distribution and volume amount, small size non-structural lightweight aggregate or entrained air cells of another specific size distribution and volume amount, and a dense cementitious composition comprising cement binder, pozzolan, and fine structural filler no larger than concrete sand ASTM C33. |
| US08110039B2 |
Cementitious material
A method of manufacturing a hydratable cementitious material, which includes: a) providing at least one waste material containing calcium, silica, magnesium, aluminium, and/or iron; b) thermally treating each waste material to a first temperature such that surface water vapour present is substantially removed; and c) blending the treated waste material such that the resultant blend has a reactive oxide chemical/physical composition in the following range, by weight of the blend: Calcium Oxide 7.0 to 76% Alumina 0.1 to 30% Iron Oxide 0.4 to 19% Silica Oxide 1 to 36% Magnesia 0.1 to 2%. The resultant blend from step c) may subsequently be mixed with Portland cement. |
| US08110038B2 |
Mixed crystal and colored pigment dispersion composition
The present invention provides a mixed crystal having absorption properties that are excellent for color reproducibility as a blue pigment, and including a compound represented by the following Formula (I) and a compound represented by the following Formula (II), and a colored pigment dispersion composition including the mixed crystal and a medium. In Formula (I), X represents —SO—Z, —SO2—Z, —SO2NR1R2, —SO3R1, —CONR1R2 or —CO2R1; Z, R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group or the like; Y represents a monovalent substituent; M1 represents a hydrogen atom, a metal element or the like; and a and b are integers from 0 to 16 and satisfy the relationship of 0≦a+b≦16. In Formula (II), G1 to G4 and Q1 to Q4 each independently represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, and A1 to A4 each independently represent a group of atoms necessary for forming an aromatic ring or heterocycle with the respective G1 to G4 and Q1 to Q4. Here, at least one ring among the four rings to be formed is a heterocycle. Each aromatic ring or heterocycle may have a substituent; M2 represents a hydrogen atom, a metal element or the like. |
| US08110037B2 |
Treatments and kits for creating transparent renewable surface protective coatings
Methods, treatment compositions and treatment systems are disclosed for forming a detachable and renewable coating on a receptive surface by a process of applying a treatment composition comprising a plurality of hydrophobically modified fumed silica particles colloidally dispersed in a volatile solvent; allowing the volatile solvent to evaporate; and thereby depositing a protective coating on the receptive surface consisting of a layer of the hydrophobically modified particles, which provide a substantially transparent coating with dirt- and water-repellency properties that effectively shed dry particulate soils as well as water from the treated surface or treated article bearing a receptive surface. The methods, treatment compositions and treatment systems employing the hydrophobically modified fumed silica particle are particularly useful in providing nearly invisible detachable coatings and treated articles featuring surface protective benefits including dirt- and water-repellency, self-cleaning with water, and easier cleaning benefits when applied to a variety of automotive and home surfaces, both interior and exterior, including articles and materials such as metals, painted materials, sealed materials, plastics and polymeric articles, wood, textiles and the like. |
| US08110035B2 |
Integrated porcelain system for a dental prosthesis
An integrated dental porcelain system for making dental prostheses and restorations is provided. The system includes three universal major components: a) opaque porcelain composition; b) pressable dentin ingot; and c) veneering porcelain composition that can be used interchangeably for making restorations. Techniques for making the prostheses and restorations include porcelain fused-to-metal (PFM), press-to-metal (PTM), and either pressed and/or machined all-ceramic methods. The system uses both a hand-layering of veneering porcelain (PFM technique) and a hot-pressing process (PTM and all-ceramic technique) to fabricate the prostheses and restorations. |
| US08110029B2 |
Integrated mercury control system
An integrated system [1000] is described for reducing operating costs of power plants while keeping gaseous pollutants in exhaust flue gasses, such as Mercury (Hg), below acceptable limits. Controller [1800] monitors and controls operation of a scrubber [1300], activator injection system [1400], sorbent injection system [1500] and a filter [1600]. Scrubber [1300] provides a neutralizer to remove SO2 emissions. Activator injection system [1400] provides and activator that increases affinity of the pollutant gasses for a sorbent. Sorbent injection system [1500] employs novel low friction injection lances [1590] that evenly distribute the sorbent particles. A filter [1600] collects the sorbent particles that cake onto filter bags [1620] that are periodically cleaned. A controller [1800] receives the costs of materials consumed and the filter bag life for the plant and performs an optimization of the multiple variables to minimize costs while keeping the pollutant emissions below a prescribed limit. |
| US08110028B2 |
Regenerable purification system for removal of siloxanes and volatile organic carbons
A process to purify biogases (i.e., landfill gas and municipal digester gas), to 5 enable such biogases to be utilized to generate electricity and heat. Biogases from these sources generally include small amounts of organosilicons (which are particularly harmful to power generation equipment, and especially harmful to micro-turbines, reciprocating internal combustion engines, and large turbines), and halogenated chemical species (which can foul expensive emission catalysts). A fluidized media bed reactor is configured to concentrate offending organics, and is coupled with another reactor vessel configured to strip the offending organics off saturated media with a hot inert gas. The removed organics are further concentrated into an inert gas stream that is conveyed to a small flare for greater than 99% destruction. The energy required to strip the organics from the spent media, and to energize the flare, is generated by the combustion of a small quantity of the purified biogas. |
| US08110023B2 |
Configurations and methods for offshore LNG regasification and BTU control
LNG is pumped to supercritical pressure and vaporized, preferably in an offshore location to thereby form a natural gas stream with an intermediate temperature. A first portion of that stream is then processed in an onshore location to remove at least some non-methane components to thereby form a lean LNG, which is then combined with a second portion of that stream to form a sales gas having desired chemical composition. The intermediate temperature and the split ratio of the gas stream in first and second portion are a function of the concentration of the non-methane components in the LNG. |
| US08110018B2 |
Ammonium nitrate granule and method for the preparation of the same
The invention relates to a fertilizer granule containing ammonium nitrate, comprising a core containing ammonium nitrate and a coating layer containing calcium sulphate. The coating layer consists of a mixture containing calcium sulphate and ammonium nitrate. Such a fertilizer granule is preferably produced by contacting the core with an aqueous ammonium nitrate solution and solid calcium sulphate particles, either as a slurry or separately. The production of the fertilizer granule is safe and easy. |
| US08110016B2 |
Fluid filter assembly including seal
The present invention is directed toward fluid filter assemblies along with methods for making and using the same. The fluid filter assemblies include a ring-shaped seal disposed about a portion of an outer periphery of a filter module. In several embodiments the seal includes an inner surface having at least two parallel contact surfaces separated by a channel, wherein the contact surfaces are in sealing engagement with the outer periphery of the filter module. Additional embodiments are also described. |
| US08110015B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing contaminants from a reflow apparatus
A reflow apparatus for solder joining electronic components to a substrate includes a reflow chamber, a conveyor to convey a substrate within the chamber, at least one heating element to provide heat to reflow solder on the substrate, and at least one system to remove contaminants generated from the reflow solder. The system is coupled with the chamber for passage of a vapor stream from the chamber through the system. The system comprises a contaminant collection unit in fluid communication with the vapor stream. The contaminant collection unit includes a coil and a collection container. The coil is configured to receive cooled gas therein. The arrangement is such that when introducing cooled gas in the coil, contaminants in the vapor stream condense on the coil, and when ceasing the introduction of cooled gas in the coil, contaminants in the vapor stream are released from the coil and collected in the collection container. Other embodiments and methods for removing contaminants are further disclosed. |
| US08110014B2 |
Distributor for rinse air
An air distribution system for providing rinse air to a gas cleaner is provided, which includes a filter housing, a holding plate wherein holes are arranged in concentric circles for holding filter bags or filter elements in the filter housing, filter bags or filter elements, rinse air supply means, and an air distribution device for distributing rinse air. In the system, a tube (6) is arranged rotatable in a rotatable distributor body (109) in the air distribution device (101), which distributor body (109) are connected to tubes (7), and which distributor body (109) includes rotating means (4, 5, 104), and when the distributor body (109) is rotated, tubes (7) are moved from a position above one hole (110) in the holding plate (111) to another hole (110) in the holding plate. |
| US08110013B2 |
Polishing composition
A polishing composition includes a copolymer and an abrasive. The copolymer has a constitutional unit expressed as the following formula (I) and at least one of constitutional units expressed as the following formulas (II) to (IV). Methoxypolyethylene glycol methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (I), stearyl methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (II), polypropylene glycol methacrylate etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (III), and styrene etc. are used as monomers for forming the constitutional unit of the formula (IV). |
| US08110011B2 |
Method of processing high voltage capacitors
A high voltage capacitor design is provided that provides improved performance. The high voltage capacitor includes a stack of mechanically bonded capacitor cells, which in one variant utilize a separator formed of two layers of paper. In one version, the high voltage capacitor may be used as a capacitative voltage divider. |
| US08110008B2 |
Secure paper comprising a fiber layer and an electronic chip
The present invention relates to secure paper (1), characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least one fiber layer (2); and at least one electronic chip (3) integrated in the fiber layer (2), said chip (3) including a memory (10) in which at least a first key is stored for use in authenticating the secure paper; the chip being configured to spoil, and in particular to delete, the first key in the event of an attempt at forced access to the chip, so as to make it impossible subsequently to authenticate the secure paper (1). |
| US08110006B2 |
Fibular stiffener and bony defect replacer
A fibular implant is provided. The implant includes a stem anchored to the fibula and a joint body. The stem is at least partially covered with a bony-in-growth surface. The joint body includes an articulating surface for articulating with the talus. The articulating surface is polished to reduce friction in the ankle joint. |
| US08110005B2 |
Modular prosthesis and use thereof for replacing a radial head
A modular prosthesis system for replacement of a head portion of a proximal radius includes a monolithic stem component, a head component, and a locking mechanism formed by the stem and head components. The stem component defines a stem anchoring portion having a longitudinal axis and configured to couple to the proximal radius, and a dovetail-shaped first mounting portion on a first end face that extends in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The head component has a dovetail-shaped second mounting portion on a second end face opposite the first end face slidably engaged with the first mounting portion along the first direction. One of the first and second mounting portions intersects the longitudinal axis. The locking mechanism is formed at an interface between the stem and head components and is engaged through relative translational movement between the stem and head components. A related method is provided. |
| US08109998B2 |
Accommodating 360 degree sharp edge optic plate haptic lens
An accommodating intraocular lens having an optic and portions extending from the optic radially outwards preferably with fixation devices at their distal ends, the optic designed such that it has a sharp posterior edge for 360 degrees of its perimeter and the lens designed such that the optic can move forward and backwards with constriction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle. |
| US08109997B2 |
Hydrophobic pseudo-endothelial implants for treating corneal edema
An ocular implant including a hydrophobic pseudo-endothelial implant and a binding agent applied thereto, the binding agent capable of bonding the implant to a posterior portion of a cornea such that the implant serves as a water barrier enabling dehydration of the cornea. |
| US08109993B2 |
Device for regulating blood flow
An implantable device for regulating blood flow through a blood vessel includes an elongated support. The support includes axially spaced apart first and second substantially annular support portions, and an x-shaped linking member linking the axially spaced apart portions to one another. The device also includes a valve membrane extending between the axially spaced apart support portions and having an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion. The valve membrane includes a first region and a second lower region. The first region is folded over the linking member for attachment and the second region is adjacent the first region and unattached to the linking member. The second region is movable between a first position to enable blood flow and a second position to inhibit blood flow. |