最新美国发明专利第2012-05-15期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08179635B2	Single pole tip write head design for perpendicular recording media having reduced dependence on soft underlayers A thin film, perpendicular write head for use with recording media with or without a soft under layer is disclosed. The present invention comprises an tapered auxiliary pole, situated below the main write pole and separated from the write pole by a lower non-magnetic gap. The auxiliary pole alleviates problems such as erasure after write, and cross track stray erasure fields, associated with operating conventionally designed perpendicular writes heads with media having no soft under layer.
US08179632B2	Apparatus and method for reducing particle accumulation in a hard disk drive A disk drive spoiler for reducing particle accumulation in a hard disk drive is provided. The spoiler includes a body portion for directing airflow generated by a rotating disk, the rotating disk comprising a middle diameter and an outer diameter wherein the body portion directs airflow away from the outer diameter of the disk. The spoiler also includes an end portion for directing airflow away from the middle diameter of the disk towards the outer diameter of the disk wherein the body portion comprises a substantially similar width between the middle diameter and the outer diameter.
US08179627B2	Floating guard band for shingle magnetic recording A hard disk drive that includes a disk with data written onto a plurality of tracks, a spindle motor that rotates the disk, and a head that is coupled to the disk. The disk drive also includes a circuit that writes data onto a first writable shingle band of tracks if the first writable shingle band is adjacent to a guard band of tracks. The first writable shingle band includes a number of tracks that is a function of a head width. The guard band of tracks is capable of becoming a writable shingle band. Changing the designation of a shingle band between guard and writable creates floating guard bands. The creation of floating guard bands allows for the writing of a single band without having to move and restore adjacent tracks until reaching a fixed guard band as required in the prior art.
US08179623B2	Method for producing a color filter A color filter including a transparent substrate; a light shielding part formed on the transparent substrate and contains at least a light shielding material and a resin; and a colored layer formed in the opening part of the light shielding part on the transparent substrate to cover a part of the light shielding part. The light shielding part has the width of the thick film region, 85% or more of the maximum film thickness of the light shielding part and disposed in the central part of the light shielding part; and the width of each of the thin film regions, 50% or less of the maximum film thickness of the light shielding part and disposed on the both side parts of the light shielding part.
US08179618B2	Optical unit and image pickup apparatus An optical unit includes a first lens, a second lens, a diaphragm, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, which are arranged in the stated order from an object side to an image plane side. The second lens has a convex shape. The third lens has a meniscus shape. The fourth lens has a convex shape. The fifth lens has a negative power.
US08179617B2	Photographic lens and image pickup apparatus having the same A photographic lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a stop, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. In the photographic lens, the third lens unit moves towards the object side while the second lens unit moves towards the image side during focusing from an infinitely distant object to a closest distance object. In addition, in the photographic lens, an image forming magnification of the second lens unit during focusing on a closest distance object is appropriately set.
US08179615B1	Image pickup optical lens assembly An image pickup optical lens assembly, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, comprising: the first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, the second lens element with negative refractive power, the third lens element with refractive power, the fourth lens element with positive or negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface with both being aspheric, and the fifth lens element with positive or negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface with both being aspheric. Additionally, the image pickup optical lens assembly satisfies conditions related to the reduction of the total length and the sensitivity of the image pickup optical lens assembly for compact cameras and mobile phones with camera functionalities.
US08179611B2	Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera An object of the present invention is to provide: a zoom lens system that has a high resolution, high capability of compensating curvature of field, a high zoom ratio of, for example, 3 or greater, a reduced weight, and a reduced overall optical length at the time of non-use; and an imaging device and a camera that employ this zoom lens system so as to have a reduced thickness and excellent portability as well as high performance. The zoom lens system forms an optical image of an object with variable magnification and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a first lens unit having negative optical power; a second lens unit that has positive optical power and that contains a bi-convex lens element composed of a resin material and serving as the most image side lens element; and a third lens unit having positive optical power. Then, the lens units move respectively along the optical axis in such a manner that intervals between the individual lens units should vary so that the variable magnification is achieved. Further, the condition \|(R2mi1+R2mi2)/(R2mi1−R2mi2)\|≦1.0 (R2mi1 is a radius of curvature on the object side of the most image side lens element of the second lens unit, while R2mi2 is a radius of curvature on the image side of the most image side lens element of the second lens unit) is satisfied. The imaging device and the camera employ this zoom lens system.
US08179600B2	Screen and method of manufacturing screen A screen includes: a plurality of three-dimensional shape units disposed two-dimensionally on a front side of a screen substrate; a reflecting film formed at least on an area corresponding to projection light entering a surface of the plurality of the three-dimensional shape units of the screen substrate; and a light absorbing film formed on an area corresponding to outside light entering the surface of the plurality of the three-dimensional shape units, wherein at least a part of the light absorbing film is formed so as to overlap a part of the reflecting film on the front side of the reflecting film.
US08179599B2	Microscope having an inclined optical axis and three-dimensional information acquisition method An optical system includes an optical unit with an optical axis extending through a light transmissive sample embedded in a transparent substrate, to focus on the sample embedded in the substrate and to scan the sample according to the main plane of the transparent substrate. The optical axis extends under an angle unequal to zero relative to the normal of the main plane of the transparent substrate, in order to perform a volumetric observation of a sample by obtaining information items focused in all thickness directions within the sample, at a high speed, without requiring any movement along the thickness direction of the sample.
US08179598B1	Scanning wide field telescope (SWIFT) spaceflight-deployed payload A telescope comprises a folding reflector comprising a plurality of sections configured to fold at a plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a support structure configured to support at least two of the plurality of sections of the folding reflector and further configured to fold at one of the plurality of substantially parallel hinges, a corrector assembly configured to deploy from a stowed position in which an optical axis of the corrector assembly is substantially parallel to the parallel hinges to a deployed position in which the optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the folding reflector when the folding reflector is deployed. The telescope further comprises a hexapod configured to stow and deploy the corrector assembly.
US08179597B2	Biological specimen imaging method and biological specimen imaging apparatus In a biological specimen imaging method, a biological specimen which is stored in a storing section of a substrate having plural storing sections and emitting a feeble light is imaged through an objective lens. The biological specimen imaging method includes moving any one of the substrate and the objective lens or both until the desired storing section falls within the field of view of the objective lens, measuring any one of a focal position at a near point and the focal position at a far point of the objective lens or both, determining the focal position of the objective lens focused on an observed target region in the biological specimen stored in the desired storing section based on the measured focal position, and adjusting the focal position of the objective lens to the determined focal position so as to image the biological specimen through the objective lens.
US08179593B2	Optical-switch drive circuit and method thereof An optical-switch drive circuit including a driver unit that generates, in response to a control signal, an on/off signal for driving a semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch, and a buffer unit having a high input impedance and connected between an output terminal outputting the on/off signal and the semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch. In the optical-switch drive circuit the buffer unit may include a high-resistance voltage divider that is connected with the output terminal, and an operational amplifier that buffers, and provides to the semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch, a divided voltage of the voltage divider.
US08179590B1	Electro-optical display An electro-optical display includes colorant particles that are suspended in a carrier fluid. The colorant particles are controlled by three different types of electrodes. An exposed electrode acts on the colorant particles in an electrokinetic manner by compacting the colorant particles. A passivated electrode acts on the colorant particles in an electrostatic manner by holding the colorant particles once compacted. A reference electrode attracts the colorant particles to compaction areas.
US08179589B2	Methods and compositions for improved electrophoretic display performance The invention is directed to novel methods and compositions useful for improving the performance of electrophoretic displays. The methods comprise adding a high absorbance dye or pigment, or conductive particles, or a conductive filler in the form of nanoparticles and having a volume resistivity of less than about 104 ohm cm, or a charge transport material into an electrode protecting layer of the display.
US08179588B2	Switchable mirror element, and switchable mirror component and insulating glass each incorporating the switchable mirror element A switchable mirror element includes a switchable layer having a chromic property enabling the switchable layer to be reversibly changed from a transparent state by hydrogenation and a mirror state by dehydrogenation, and a catalytic layer disposed on the switchable layer and configured to promote hydrogenation or dehydrogenation in the switchable layer. The switchable layer includes an alloy of one or more metals from calcium, strontium, and barium, and magnesium.
US08179584B2	Micromechanical component having a swiveling part and method for producing same A micromechanical component having a base part, a swiveling part, which has an electrically conductive material, and a swiveling part insulation which electrically insulates a first and a second section of the swiveling part from each other. A first flexible, electrically conductive connecting element connects the base part to the first swiveling part section, and a second flexible, electrically conductive connecting element connects the base part to the second swiveling part section. A method also created for producing a micromechanical component includes the following steps: providing a substrate wafer that has a conductive overlayer, etching an insulation trench into the overlayer that insulates a first and second section of the overlayer from each other, as well as forming a base part and a swiveling part including the first and the second section of the overlayer from the substrate wafer, while allowing to remain a first flexible, electrically conductive connecting element, which connects the base part to the first swiveling part section, and allowing to remain a second flexible connecting element which connects the base part to the second swiveling part section.
US08179583B2	Actuator, optical scanner and image forming device An actuator includes a movable plate having a plate shape, a pair of axial parts that is elastically deformable and supporting the movable plate rotatable, and a tension adjuster adjusting tension on an axial direction of the pair of the axial parts and including a torsional axis that is formed jointly or integrally with one of the axial parts and disposed orthogonally to the axial direction of the axial parts, and a drive source that torsionally deforms the torsional axis, wherein the torsional axis is torsionally deformed through the action of the drive source and a spring constant of the pair of the axial parts is adjusted by adjusting the tension on the pair of the axial parts.
US08179579B2	HROM replication methods, devices or systems, articles used in same and articles generated by same HROM replication methods, devices or systems are disclosed herein. Also disclosed herein are articles comprising conical reference (reconstruction) beam hologram elements to generate conical or conical like reference (reconstruction) beams which may be used in such HROM replication methods, devices or systems. Further disclosed herein are articles comprising a target medium which may be used in such HROM replication methods, devices or systems.
US08179578B2	System, apparatus and method for extracting three-dimensional information of an object from received electromagnetic radiation An apparatus and method to produce a hologram of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation. An image capture assembly is configured to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the object from the captured image.
US08179576B2	Image processing apparatus A color correction unit corrects a color of an image signal. A reference data storing unit stores reference data corresponding to patches in a reference chart. A correction parameter generating unit generates image processing parameters based on the reference data and values of the reference chart. An intermediate result storing unit stores intermediate calculation results calculated in a stepwise manner to obtain the image processing parameters. A determination information storing unit stores recalculation determination information for determining whether to recalculate the intermediate calculation results.
US08179575B2	Chromatic registration for biological sample imaging Systems and techniques for chromatic distortion reduction. Relative chromatic distortion information for an imaging system may be obtained, where the relative chromatic distortion information indicates relative displacement of a first color signal and a second color signal from a reference color signal in an image. The relative chromatic distortion information may be used to modify image data.
US08179571B2	Apparatus, method and program for processing an image An image processing apparatus includes a comparison unit, a change unit, and a printing unit to perform variable printing in a form of a composite of a master page and a variable page. The comparison unit compares a color of the master page and a color of the variable page near a boundary line between the master page and the boundary page. In a case where the master page and the variable page are similar in color near the boundary line, the change unit changes the master page to another master page with a color that is not similar to the color of the variable page. The printing unit prints the another master page and the variable page in a composite form.
US08179568B2	Minimizing dot graininess in dot-on-dot printing devices What is disclosed is a novel system and method for minimizing dot visibility in color marking devices capable of dot-on-dot printing. The present method achieves minimum dot visibility for a given dispersed-dot screen by performing a CMYK to CMYKRGB conversion which uses less visible dots as much as possible before more visible dots are introduced. The output color dot coverages are calculated sequentially to minimize the coverage of more visible dots in a decreasing order of brightness. Resulting images have noticeably reduced halftone graininess, particularly in the mid to darker tone areas. The present method is also computationally efficient.
US08179566B2	Method for classifying a printer gamut into subgamuts for improved spot color accuracy A method is provided for classifying a color printer gamut into a plurality of gamut subclasses including representing the color printer gamut as a composite of gamut classes wherein each gamut class is comprised of a subset of printer color separations; and, assigning selected spot color targets to determined ones of the gamut classes. The method further includes determining if the selected spot color target is located inside, or on-boundary, or outside of the gamut classes.
US08179564B2	Data for driving an inkjet print head A method of generating data for driving an ink jet print head having a plurality of nozzles to print a portion of an image comprising a plurality of pixels comprises storing nozzle position data defining spatial positions of the nozzles with respect to the print head in terms of pixel offsets from a reference position on the print head; reading image data for the image, the image data comprising data for the plurality of pixels; inputting head position data defining a position for the print head; and processing the image data using the head position data and the nozzle position data to determine nozzle firing data for controlling the print head to deposit ink at the spatial positions of the nozzles with respect the head position in accordance with the image data.
US08179562B2	Image-capturing device having cover with inclined plane An image-capturing device including a body, an optical module and an upper cover is provided. The body has an upper surface and a first inclined plane, wherein the upper surface has an image-capturing area, and the first inclined plane is connected and located adjacent to the upper surface. The optical module is movably disposed in the body and is for capturing an image of a document inside the image-capturing area. The upper cover has a lower surface and a second inclined plane, wherein the second inclined plane is connected and located adjacent to the lower surface. When the upper cover is closed upon the body, the second inclined plane is placed atop the first inclined plane. The included angle between the second inclined plane and the lower surface is at least equal to the included angle between the first inclined plane and the upper surface and less than 180 degrees.
US08179560B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method An image processing apparatus is provided for realizing a higher speed print-out of a scan image. It is determined whether an input data type stored in metadata of document data is PDL or not (S1609). If the input data type is “full-page image”, page data is divided into blocks and a thread is allotted to each of the blocks (S1608). If the input data type is not “full-page image”, the process goes to S1603. Subsequently, DL data is generated from vector data in the document, the DL data is added to the document, and the DL data is rendered into a bit map (S1603 to S1605). If the threads are processed by a plurality of processors, respectively, it becomes possible to carry out the processing in parallel and thereby to realize higher speed processing, when the input data type is “full page image”.
US08179552B2	Document delivery system A mail terminal senses insertion of a document into the terminal, scans the document in response to the sensed document insertion, and transmits the scanned document electronically over a telephone network. A host server receives the document over the telephone network, determines the name of the addressee from the received document, looks up document delivery instructions stored in a memory in association with the name of the addressee, and delivers the document to the addressee according to the delivery instructions. The mail terminal also prints documents that it receives from the host server.
US08179549B1	Method and system for email-based printing Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that performs a print job. During operation, the system receives an email requesting the print job and determines, from the email, a printer associated with the print job. Next, the system configures the print job based on the email. Finally, the system sends the print job to the printer, wherein the print job is executed using the printer.
US08179548B2	Apparatus and method for data processing When inputting image data, a plurality of kinds of processed image data may be generated from the image data. When outputting image data, a plurality of kinds of output image data may be generated from the image data.
US08179547B2	Code information printing apparatus, printing method, restoration apparatus, and restoration method This invention facilitates an operation required to restore a desired file from code information. To accomplish this, a printing apparatus prints code information generated by encoding a file on a first sheet set, and prints identification information required to identify the sheet on which the code information corresponding to the file is printed. A restoration apparatus scans the first and second sheet sets. The restoration apparatus specifies, based on the identification information on the second sheet set, a sheet on which code information corresponding to a desired file is printed. Furthermore, the restoration apparatus restores the desired file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.
US08179545B2	Adaptive configuration of imaging devices A method and apparatus for configuring an imaging device is provided. A first imaging device may monitor communications exchanged between clients and imaging devices over a network to identify requests to process electronic documents. In response to the first imaging device either detecting a particular request, to process an electronic document, issued to a different imaging device than the first imaging device or receiving at the first imaging device the particular request to process the electronic document, the first imaging device may update its own current configuration for processing electronic documents. For example, an imaging device may update its own current configuration to reflect the most popular way in which electronic documents have been processed by imaging devices on the network.
US08179544B2	Image processing system, image processor and image processing program To provide a system in which image data created in an image processor is processed in association with an application activated on a user terminal. The system includes an image processor, and a user terminal connected with the image processor over a network. The image processor includes: an activated application identifying unit for obtaining information about an application activated on the user terminal; a one-touch key generating unit for generating a one-touch key including information for processing image data by the application activated on the user terminal; and a transmission unit for transmitting the image data to the user terminal. The user terminal includes: a receiving unit for receiving the image data from the image processor; and a one-touch key processing unit for processing the image data by the application activated on the user terminal, based on the information of the one-touch key.
US08179543B2	Fingerprint scan order sequence to configure a print system device What is disclosed is a system and method for capturing fingerprint data in an ordered sequence and using the captured sequence to configure a complex multi-function print system device to a set of device specific settings to perform intended workflow processes. Each finger has a unique associated code. A code sequence is associated with each stored set of settings. A user desiring to configure the device scans their fingerprints in a predefined ordered sequence. Settings associated with the entered sequence are retrieved and displayed for user approval. Thereafter, the complex print system device can be easily configured to the displayed settings. Other embodiments are additionally disclosed.
US08179542B2	Information processing device, image forming apparatus, and process control system An information processing device includes a communication unit that sends entry-sheet-definition data to an image forming apparatus such that a collation-information entry sheet for entering collation information is displayed on the image forming apparatus. After the image forming process is complete, the communication unit receives from the image forming apparatus image data and collation information corresponding to the image data. A processing unit associates received collation information with flow-definition data and executes one or more flows of processes defined in the flow-definition data with respect to the image data.
US08179541B2	Image forming apparatus In continuous printing of plural sheets of recording paper, a controlling section of an image forming apparatus corrects a writing position for a first sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount detected by a carrying position sensor with respect to the first sheet of recording paper. As for an nth sheet of recording paper, the controlling section corrects the writing position for the nth sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount α(n−1) detected by the carrying position sensor with respect to an (n−1)th sheet of recording paper. In a case where an absolute value of a difference between an off-center amount αn detected by the carrying position sensor with respect to the nth sheet of recording paper and the off-center amount α(n−1) exceeds a threshold, the controlling section corrects the writing position in accordance with the off-center amount αn and causes an exposure unit to write again the electrostatic latent image at the writing position corrected in accordance with the off-center amount αn, instead of writing an electrostatic latent image at the writing position corrected in accordance with the off-center amount α(n−1). This makes it possible to minimize a decrease in printing speed and improve accuracy of a position with which an image is formed on a sheet of recording paper.
US08179539B2	Printing apparatus and print pattern setting device When a print pattern setting mode is set and a printing apparatus receives print data including object print data from an external device, all arrangement patterns where the object print data is located in each printing areas defined in template data are produced. A setting capability checking process is executed for each arrangement pattern. Preview data is produced for the arrangement patterns where all the object print data can be printed and displayed on a liquid crystal display. When preview data displayed on the liquid crystal display is selected, the arrangement pattern corresponding to the preview data is set to the template data.
US08179536B2	Measurement of overlay offset in semiconductor processing A system for overlay offset measurement in semiconductor manufacturing including a radiation source, a detector, and a calculation unit. The radiation source is operable to irradiate an overlay offset measurement target. The detector is operable to detect a first reflectivity and a second reflectivity of the irradiated overlay offset measurement target. The calculation unit is operable to determine an overlay offset using the detected first and second reflectivity by determining a predetermined overlay offset amount which provides an actual offset of zero.
US08179531B2	Shuttering and sealing device A shuttering and sealing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes an aperture through which light may pass to an optical sensor, a seal surrounding the aperture, and a shutter movable between an open position in which the shutter does not cover the aperture and a closed position in which the shutter covers the aperture and the seal seals the shutter around the aperture.
US08179530B2	Methods and systems for determining a critical dimension and overlay of a specimen Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including: but not limited to, critical dimension and overlay misregistration; defects and thin film characteristics; critical dimension and defects; critical dimension and thin film characteristics; critical dimension, thin film characteristics and defects; macro defects and micro defects; flatness, thin film characteristics and defects; overlay misregistration and flatness; an implant characteristic and defects; and adhesion and thickness. In this manner, a measurement device may perform multiple optical and/or non-optical metrology and/or inspection techniques.
US08179529B1	Alignment systems and methods Method and systems for aligning a first component with a second component are disclosed. For example, a first component may be aligned with a second component during an assembly process, with a first camera used to facilitate the viewing of one or more alignment features of the first component and/or the second component with infrared energy that is transmitted through the first component. A second camera may be used to view at least a portion of the first component and/or at least a portion of the second component using visible light.
US08179527B2	Terahertz spectrometer A terahertz spectrometer includes an optical fiber and an emitter. The optical fiber is branched from a gain fiber constituting an ultra-short pulse oscillator. The emitter generates a terahertz wave from a pulse beam guided from the gain fiber through the optical fiber.
US08179521B2	Measurement of speed or vibration characteristics using a LIDAR device with heterodyne detection A process for measuring speed or vibration characteristics using a LIDAR device allows the separation of a useful contribution and an interfering contribution in a backscattered signal. To this purpose, a phase characteristic of an optical wave emitted in the direction of a target volume is modulated. The interfering contribution, which originates from a source at a distance from the target volume, appears with variable shifts of said phase characteristic in a heterodyne detection signal. An accumulation then isolates the useful contribution, from which a result is obtained for the speed or vibration measurement. The process can be implemented with a frequency modulation or phase modulation of the optical wave.
US08179520B2	Optical element, projection optical system, exposure apparatus, and device fabrication method The present invention provides an optical element which is used for light having a wavelength not more than 250 nm, and receives a light beam at a maximum incident angle not less than 55°, wherein the optical element includes an optical thin film in an effective aperture thereof, and a film thickness distribution of the optical thin film in the effective aperture includes a distribution in which a thickness of the optical thin film in an outermost periphery of the effective aperture is 1.10 times (inclusive) to 1.25 times (inclusive) a thickness of the optical thin film at a midpoint between an optical axis and the outermost periphery of the effective aperture.
US08179514B2	Liquid crystal display device with first and second protruding walls surrounding spherical spacers A liquid crystal display device (50a) includes: an active matrix substrate (20a) having a plurality of gate lines (1a) extending in parallel with each other; a counter substrate (30a) provided so as to face the active matrix substrate (20a); a liquid crystal layer (25) provided between the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a); and spherical spacers (21) provided between the active matrix substrate (20a) and the counter substrate (30a) so as to overlap each gate line (1a), for defining a thickness of the liquid crystal layer (25). A first protruding wall (9a) for surrounding the spacers (21) is provided over each gate layer (1a) of the active matrix substrate (20a), and a second protruding wall (19b) for surrounding the spacers (21) is provided on the counter substrate (30a).
US08179513B2	Transflective liquid crystal display panel and electronic apparatus A transflective liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate. The array substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix, a lower electrode and an upper electrode in each of pixel regions surrounded by the scanning lines and the signal lines, and a reflecting plate disposed partly below each lower electrode, the lower electrode and the upper electrode in each pixel region being disposed facing each other with an insulating film therebetween, the lower electrodes being composed of a transparent conductive material, the upper electrodes each having a plurality of slits. The color filter substrate includes color filter layer segments arranged in correspondence to the pixel regions. The plurality of slits in each upper electrode have first open ends and second closed ends. Each color filter layer segment for the corresponding pixel region has a window where the color filter layer segment does not exist, the window being located at a position above the corresponding reflecting plate and facing the second closed ends of the slits.
US08179511B2	Liquid crystal panel for improving the uniformity of the parasitic capacitor and fabrication method thereof A liquid crystal panel and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal panel includes: a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel; a thin film transistor including: a gate electrode connected to the gate line; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate electrode; a source electrode connected to the data line; a drain electrode; a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and the drain electrode and between the gate line and the drain electrode; and a compensating parasitic capacitor between the gate line and the drain electrode for compensating a parasitic capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode.
US08179502B2	Multi-color liquid crystal display A display and methods of driving the display, where the display includes a plurality of pixels, where some colors are present in every pixel, and some colors are only present in less than all of the pixels.
US08179501B2	Liquid crystal display device having an elliptical polarizer with first and second anisotropic layers An elliptical polarizer is provided having excellent viewing angle improving effects. The elliptical polarizer includes a polarizer, a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, laminated in this order. The first optical anisotropic layer satisfies the requirements of 0.8≦NZ1≦1.6 and 120≦Re1≦250 and is disposed so that the slow axis thereof is orthogonal to the absorption axis of the polarizer. The second optical anisotropic layer is a liquid crystal film having a retardation value in the plane of 30 to 150 nm with respect to a 550 nm wavelength light and fixed in a nematic hybrid alignment wherein the average tilt angle of the liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystalline polymer exhibiting a positive optical uniaxiality, and is disposed so that the aligned direction thereof is parallel to the absorption axis of the first polarizer. The elliptical polarizer is used in a TN type liquid crystal display device so that the second optical anisotropic layer is disposed on the liquid crystal cell side.
US08179493B2	Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed is a LCD device having a structure capable of improving the quality of images is disclosed. The LCD device includes, an image display portion composed of pixels, the image display portion defined by the crossing of gate wires and data wires; a common wire located on the outside of the image display portion; a test wire located adjacent to a part of the common wire; and a wire connection electrode for connecting the common wire with the test wire.
US08179486B2	Structure and layout of pixel unit cells each having closely disposed bottom plate and bulk region A structure and layout of the pixel unit cell of a display panel. The pixel capacitor of the pixel unit cell includes a bottom plate and an overlying top plate. The bottom plate is adjacent to a bulk region without having substantive separating distance therebetween, thereby substantially increasing the size of the overlapped area and the associated the effective capacitance of the bottom plate and the top plate.
US08179485B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first vertical electrode, a second vertical electrode, a first pixel electrode, a first counter electrode, and a liquid crystal layer. The second substrate is disposed to be opposite to the first substrate, the liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes polymer stabilized positive blue phase liquid crystal. The first vertical electrode is at an inner side of the first substrate, and faces the second substrate. The second vertical electrode is at an inner side surface of the second substrate and faces the first vertical electrode. The second vertical electrode and the first vertical electrode have different electrical potentials thus form a vertical electric field perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate. The first pixel electrode is at the inner side of the first substrate and faces the second substrate. The first counter electrode is at an inner side of the first substrate. The first pixel electrode and the first counter electrode have different electrical potentials. The first pixel electrode and the first counter electrode provide a horizontal electric field parallel to the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08179483B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (10) in which a liquid crystal layer (13) is arranged between an active matrix substrate (11) and a counter substrate (12). A plurality of optical sensors (16) are provided in respective image display regions of the liquid crystal display panel (10), each of the optical sensors (16) having a light receiving section (16d) for detecting transmitted light through a panel surface of the liquid crystal display panel (10). The liquid crystal display panel (10) is a transflective type panel and the optical sensors (16) are provided in respective reflective display regions (R) of the transflective type panel. Further, a reflective electrodes (34) provided above the respective optical sensors (16) serve as light shielding layers so as to shut out light which enters the light receiving section (16d) in an oblique direction. Moreover, an aperture (34a) is provided in a part of each of the reflective electrodes (34) so that the light receiving section (16d) can detect light from directly above.
US08179481B2	Thin type display device In a thin type display device when driving is started by a swivel mechanism, voltage which is supplied from a power voltage supply circuit 14 to a motor driving IC 12 is switched and raised in stepwise. By this switching, operating voltage of a motor 13 by the motor driving IC 12 is switched and raised in stepwise, as a result vibration of a display portion can be suppressed.
US08179480B2	Systems and methods for automated channel updating A method for automated channel updating is provided. In step (a), a frequency carrying channel data is detected. In step (b), it is determined whether a channel list comprises the frequency by retrieving a frequency table, where the frequency table stores information indicating whether the frequency is comprised in the channel list, and the channel list records a mapping relationship between a channel number and the frequency. In step (c), an unused channel number in the channel list is assigned to the detected frequency not in the channel list, where the unused channel number does not map to the frequency.
US08179478B2	System for adjusting color image quality and method thereof A system for adjusting color image quality includes converting color video signal sources into component video signals including a luminance signal and chrominance signals. A signal axis rotation circuit performs coordination transformation on the chrominance signals in accordance with a hue calibration parameter; and a multiplier multiplies the coordinate-transformed chrominance signals with a chroma calibration parameter to obtain output chrominance signals. The output chrominance signals and the luminance signal together form a component chrominance signal, which is applied to and output by a chrominance signal inverse conversion unit.
US08179477B2	AV player chip, AV system, and related method utilizing a multiplexer for sharing digital-to-analog converters An AV player chip includes a TV encoder, a timing controller, a multiplexer and a plurality of digital-to-analog converters. The TV encoder is used for transforming a first image signal into a TV video signal. The timing controller is used for generating an output signal. The multiplexer includes a first set of input ends coupled to the TV encoder, a second set of input ends coupled to the timing controller, a control end and a set of output ends. The multiplexer outputs the TV video signal or the output signal to the set of output ends according to a control signal received by the control end. The plurality of digital-to-analog converters are coupled to the set of output ends of the multiplexer for transforming the TV video signal into a first playing signal and for transforming the output signal into a second playing signal.
US08179475B2	Apparatus and method for synchronizing a secondary audio track to the audio track of a video source Synchronizes a secondary audio track to a video. Analyzes the audio track of a video using audio frequency analysis or spectrograms to find distinct audio events from which to ensure synchronization of a secondary audio track. For example, commentary that mocks a character may be played immediately after a particular noise in the audio track of a video occurs such as a door slam. Keeping the secondary audio track in synch with the audio track of a video is performed by periodically searching for distinct audio events in the audio track of a video and adjusting the timing of the secondary audio track. May utilize a sound card on a computer to both analyze a DVD sound track and play and adjust timing of the secondary audio track to maintain synchronization. Secondary audio tracks may be purchased and/or downloaded and utilized to add humorous external commentary to a DVD for example.
US08179474B2	Fast iterative motion estimation method on gradually changing images A fast iterative motion estimation method enables motion estimation to take place with fewer computations. The motion estimation and error determination steps are combined, each position in the search area is monitored to determine whether error value reaches the minimum over iterations by keeping track of convergence status, a refinement search is applied (thus, a smaller search area than a conventional process), and the difference of the error value and the minimum error value is used for each position in the search area to decide whether to further calculate the error value for that position. Each of these modifications helps minimize the number of computations used in motion estimation.
US08179473B2	Pivoting structure coupled to a rotatable housing structure Disclosed are pivoting structures and methods of pivoting structure. The pivoting structures can include a movable shutter plate including an aperture, pivotally fastened to a supporting plate by the pivot pin, and having a slot that receives a slot pin of a rotator, the movable shutter configured to move across the rotator as the first housing and second housing change their orientations with respect to one another. In a particular position, an aperture of the moveable shutter plate is aligned with an aperture of the first housing.
US08179468B2	Integrated CMOS imager and microcontroller A method and apparatus providing a CMOS imager with an integrated controller on a common integrated circuit substrate. Also integrated on the common substrate are, a serializer circuit including a dynamic arbiter under the control of the microcontroller core and a set of extended special function registers through which data is passed to allow the microcontroller to control the CMOS imager and the serializer circuit.
US08179467B2	Analog-signal processing circuit for improving accuracy of arithmetic mean of signals In a first signal conversion circuit, a first electrode of a first capacitor is connected to a first signal line, and a second electrode thereof is connected to a first node. In a second capacitor, a third electrode thereof is connected to a second signal line, and a fourth electrode thereof is connected to a second node. In a first inverting amplifier including a first negative feedback switch, a first input electrode is connected to the first node, and a first output electrode is connected to a third node. In a second inverting amplifier including a second negative feedback switch, a second input electrode is connected to the second node. A first averaging switch is connected between a first node and second node. A second averaging switch is connected between third node and fourth node.
US08179464B2	Circuit and method for reading out and resetting pixels of an image sensor A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.
US08179462B2	Imaging unit The present invention relates to an imaging unit including an imaging device for performing photoelectric conversion. There is provided an imaging unit with which the mechanical strength of an imaging device can be ensured while allowing light to pass through the imaging device so as to improve the usability in various operations using the imaging device. An imaging unit (1) includes a substrate (11a), a light-receiving portion (11b) provided on the substrate (11a), an imaging device (10) configured to photoelectrically convert light received by the light-receiving portion (11b) into an electric signal while light is allowed to pass through the imaging device (10), and a glass substrate (19) bonded to the imaging device (10) and allowing light to pass therethrough.
US08179458B2	System and method for improved image processing A system and method for improving image processing. In one aspect of the invention the method includes receiving data indicating an intensity of light incident on a first pixel of a pixel array and determining from the received data if the intensity of incident light on the first pixel satisfies a first condition. A processing operation is performed on data received from a second, third and fourth pixel of the pixel array but skipped on the data received from the first pixel if the first condition is satisfied. The first condition includes whether the first pixel is substantially saturated in response to an intensity of light incident on the first pixel.
US08179457B2	Gradient color filters for sub-diffraction limit sensors An apparatus includes an array of sub-diffraction limit-sized light receptors formed in a substrate having a light receiving surface. Each receptor is configured to output an n-bit element and to change state based on the absorption of at least one photon (n is an integer >0). The apparatus includes an optical filter structure disposed over the light receiving surface, the structure having an array of filter pixels, each having an associated passband spectral characteristic. A data element obtained from the array of receptors is generated from a combination of a plurality of the n-bit elements output from a plurality of light receptors that underlie filter pixels having at least two different passband spectral characteristics. The filter pixels having at least two different passband spectral characteristics form a gradient filter wherein bandpass regions increase when moving from a central region of the gradient filter towards an edge region.
US08179453B2	Imaging method and imaging apparatus An imaging method includes a step of setting, when a digital zoom operation mode for enlarging an image imaged by a imaging part of an X-Y address type is selected, a zoom magnification and enlarging the image at the zoom magnification set. The imaging method includes the steps of: setting an imaging range in a vertical direction of the imaging part according to the zoom magnification set in the digital zoom step; outputting a driving signal for scanning the shutter signal and the readout signal to perform exposure in the imaging range set in the imaging range setting step and driving the imaging part; and discarding, when the zoom magnification is changed in the digital zoom step, images imaged by the imaging part before and after the change of the zoom magnification to prevent the images from being used.
US08179449B2	Portable electronic apparatus including a display and method for controlling display content based on movement of the display and user position A portable electronic apparatus includes a display, a user position estimating unit and a display movement estimating unit. The user position estimating unit is for estimating the user position with respect to the display. The display movement estimating unit is for estimating the display movement. The apparatus is configured for estimating the user position, here referred to as initial user position, at least at a first moment; and, during at least an interval of time after the first moment, estimating the display movement, and controlling the display content based on the initial user position and the display movement. The invention also relates a method for controlling such an apparatus and to a computer program therefor.
US08179448B2	Auto depth field capturing system and method thereof The invention presents a system and method for obtaining object depth through digital signal processing. The auto depth-field capturing method for a camera includes the steps of a) taking plural images; b) estimating plural epipolar data of the plural images for obtaining a matrix describing motion and directional vectors; c) estimating a location data in response to the plural epipolar data and the matrix; d) rectifying the plural images corresponding to the plural epipolar data for obtaining plural rectified images; e) calculating the location data for obtaining disparity vectors of the rectified images; f) obtaining a depth map in response to the disparity vectors and the location data; and g) painting a 3D image in correspondence with the depth map. The depth estimation method of the present invention is fully automatic without change of the camera itself.
US08179440B2	Method and system for object surveillance and real time activity recognition Method and system for objects surveillance and real-time activity recognition is based on analysis of spatio-temporal images of individuals under surveillance where a spatio-temporal volume occupied by each individual is decomposed by crossing the same at specific heights to form 2-dimensional slices, each containing representation of trajectory of the motion of corresponding portions of the individual body. The symmetry of the trajectories (Gait DNA) is analyzed and classified to generate data indicative of a type of activity of the individual based on the symmetry or asymmetry of the Gait DNA in each 2-dimensional slice. An effective occlusion handling ability is implemented which permits to restore the occluded silhouette of an individual.
US08179436B2	Method and device for scanning a document by means of a line camera The invention relates to a method and a device for the scanning of a document by means of a line camera which has several scan lines and therefore generates several images independent of one another. Due to the spacing of the separate scan lines, these images are offset relative to one another. This offset also depends on the speed at which the line camera is moved relative to the document. According to the invention the separate images are brought into congruence by being shifted towards one another according to the whole-number content of Z, with at least one of the images being interpolated into the other image in accordance with the decimal place content of Z. The method according to the invention may be used to scan a document at a freely selectable scanning speed. The device according to the invention may be inserted as a module in an existing scanner.
US08179434B2	System and method for imaging of curved surfaces A system for capturing a composite image of an object with a curved surface includes a conveyor configured to transport the object to be imaged to a predetermined imaging position. A sensor is configured to produce a signal when the object to be imaged is at the predetermined position, and several cameras are arranged to photograph the object at the predetermined position from a plurality of different angles. A tracking module is used to receive the signal from the sensor, and output an actuating signal to the several cameras, such that each camera captures an image when the actuating signal is received. A processing device receives a captured image from each of the several cameras, manipulates the received images, and generates a composite image based on the manipulated images.
US08179432B2	Predictive autofocusing A method of autofocusing includes capturing first, second and third images of a sample, at respective first, second and third sample distances and respective first, second and third lateral positions determined with respect to an objective; determining a quantitative characteristic for the first, second and third images; determining a primary sample distance based upon at least the quantitative characteristics for the first, second, and third images; and capturing a primary image of the sample at the primary sample distance and at a primary lateral position that is offset from the first, second and third lateral positions.
US08179430B2	Biometric authentication device Disclosed herein is a biometric authentication device. The biometric authentication device according to the present invention is configured such that it blocks visible light using an authentication button, the inside of which is opened or closed by a finger so as to realize the small size and slim shape of a biometric authentication device, and blocks infrared light or allows infrared light to pass while a driving unit moves vertically or horizontally by the operation of the authentication button. Accordingly, in the biometric authentication device, a camera module captures a normal image in normal mode, and captures an infrared pattern reflected from a finger in a vein authentication mode to perform biometric authentication.
US08179429B2	Body-insertable apparatus and body-insertable apparatus system To achieve a body-insertable apparatus such as a capsule endoscope that moves in a subject at a low speed at which acquisition of in-vivo information is sufficiently possible, the body-insertable apparatus is inserted into the subject and moves in the subject. The body-insertable apparatus includes an in-vivo information acquiring unit that acquires the in-vivo information, an external case member accommodating the in-vivo information acquiring unit, and a moving-speed suppressing unit positioned inside or outside of the external case member to generate a predetermined suppressing force for suppressing the moving speed between an inner wall of a passage route in the subject and the external case member.
US08179426B2	Pixel arrangement for an autostereoscopic display apparatus An autostereoscopic display apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator comprising an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns in a pixel plane, and a spatially multiplexing parallax element capable of directing light from successive columns of pixels towards successive ones of two or more viewing windows in a nominal window plane. The pixels comprise pixel apertures having gaps therebetween with the gaps between the columns of pixels extending substantially parallel to the columns of pixels. The arrangement of the pixels is designed taking account of the intensity profile of an image of a nominal human pupil in the nominal window plane formed in the pixel plane by the spatially multiplexing parallax element to reduce the amount of spatially derived flicker observed by a viewer moving in the window plane. In one arrangement, the pixel apertures repeat at a pitch equal to a representative width of said intensity profile. In another arrangement, the total height of the pixel apertures parallel to the columns of pixels has a profile which increases towards the edges of the pixel apertures relative to the centre of the pixel apertures.
US08179424B2	3D display method and apparatus A method and apparatus directed to the field of autostereoscopic displays. The method provided is for creating images or image data suitable for use with an autostereoscopic display. The method comprises a projection step and a transformation step for processing item coordinates representing at least one item in a 3D scene to provide images or image data. The transformation step comprises calculating a transformation dependent on the geometry of an autostereoscopic display. The projection step comprises calculating a projection dependent upon a projection plane constructed in the 3D scene. The apparatus comprises an array of apertures and an imaging portion, the imaging portion comprising a plurality of Digital Micromirror Devices.
US08179423B2	Image display system, an image display method, a coding method, and a printed matter for stereoscopic viewing An image display system, an image display method, a coding method, and a printed matter for stereoscopic viewing are disclosed. The image display system includes a real image presentation unit for showing a first view image of the stereoscopic image as a real image, and a virtual image presentation unit for showing a second view image of the stereoscopic image as a virtual image, the second view image being based on the first view image. When the first view image is viewed by one eye of a viewing person, and the second view image is viewed by the other eye of the viewing person, the first view image and second view image together form the stereoscopic image.
US08179422B2	System and method for video conferencing In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream.
US08179418B2	Robotic based health care system A robotic system that can be used to treat a patient. The robotic system includes a mobile robot that has a camera. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote station that has a monitor. A physician can use the remote station to move the mobile robot into view of a patient. An image of the patient is transmitted from the robot camera to the remote station monitor. A medical personnel at the robot site can enter patient information into the system through a user interface. The patient information can be stored in a server. The physician can access the information from the remote station. The remote station may provide graphical user interfaces that display the patient information and provide both a medical tool and a patient management plan.
US08179416B2	Line head and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a line head that performs exposure on a latent image carrier to form a latent image. The line head includes first and second light-emitting elements arranged in a first direction; and an optical system that images light emitted from the first and second light-emitting elements. When a difference between the maximum and minimum values of a longitudinal aberration of the optical system is G, a distance in the first direction between centers of geometry of the first and second light-emitting elements is Pel, and an optical magnification of the optical system is β, a relation of G>\|β\|·Pel is satisfied.
US08179415B2	Exposure head and image forming apparatus An exposure head includes: a group of light emitting elements in which light emitting elements are arranged in a first direction; a light emitting element substrate in which the group of light emitting elements is arranged in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the first direction; and a driving substrate which drives the light emitting elements arranged on the light emitting element substrate, wherein the driving substrate controls a light emission intensity of a light emitting element that is near to an end side in the first direction of the group of the light emitting elements, among the light emitting elements constituting the group of the light emitting elements, so that the intensity is smaller than the light emission intensity of a light emitting element constituting the group of the light emitting elements different from the above light emitting element, and the light emission intensity becomes smaller towards the end side.
US08179413B2	Image forming device that detects a moving time of a latent image carrier An image forming device includes: an exposure head having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction, a first imaging optical system adapted to image light emitted from the light emitting elements, and a second imaging optical system disposed in a second direction with respect to the first imaging optical system; a latent image carrier movable in the second direction; a detection section adapted to detect a moving time the latent image carrier takes to move from a first position to a second position in the second direction; and a control section adapted to control the time from emission of a first part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system to emission of a second part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system based on the detection result of the detection section, thereby aligning a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical system and a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the second imaging optical system in the first direction.
US08179411B2	Printer module and electronic apparatus A printer module for a clam-shell type printing apparatus having a lid that opens and closes with respect to a housing, includes a head assembly including a head and mounted on the housing, a platen roller mounted on the lid, and a main assembly including a frame and a motor mounted on the frame to rotate the platen roller. The main assembly is arranged to cover the head assembly and is mounted on the housing.
US08179401B2	Reducing image artifacts in a color sequential display system Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for reducing artifacts in a color sequential display system. A frame of a digital image is displayed by receiving frame data, determining dither patterns, applying the dither patterns to the data, and displaying the dithered data. Each pixel of a frame of a digital image is displayed by receiving pixel data, grouping the pixel data for the color channels of the image into a plurality of sub-groups of pixel data; and displaying the pixel according to a sequence that separates each pair of sub-groups for a color channel by a sub-group for another color channel. Modified pixel data can be generated by replacing parent bits in the pixel data with corresponding pluralities of divided child bits, where all the child bits for a given parent bit have a divided weight that adds up to the parent bit's weight.
US08179400B2	Motion adaptive ambient lighting A method for controlling an ambient lighting element including receiving a content signal, analyzing the content signal to determine a motion vector of an object (120A) depicted in the content signal, presenting the content signal on a display device, and adjusting an ambient lighting effect provided by the ambient lighting element as determined by the motion vector The presented content signal may be portioned into macro-blocks (110A) and sub-blocks (230). A motion vector of each sub-block (230) may be resolved into components that are parallel and perpendicular to an outside edge of the display device. An average color of each sub-block (230) depicted within a macro-block (110A) in proximity to an outside edge of the display device may be weighted by the motion vector of the corresponding sub-block (230) for determining an average color of the macro-block (110A). The average color of the macro-block (110A) may be used to adjust the ambient lighting element.
US08179399B2	Rasterizing method A rasterizing method calculates an attribute (C) of a pixel having coordinates (X, Y) based on the coordinates (X0, Y0), (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2) of vertices of a primitive in a screen space, Z coordinates Z0, Z1 and Z2 of said vertices into the three-dimensional space, and attributes C0, C1, C2 of said vertices. The method defines a vertex (X0, Y0) as reference, the attribute (C) with the formula: C = ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 20 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 10 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 20 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 10 ) ⁢ Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 ⁢ C 0 + ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 20 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ x ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 20 ) ⁢ ( Z 0 ⁢ Z 2 ⁢ C 1 - Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 ⁢ C 0 ) + ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ x ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 10 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 10 ) ⁢ ( Z 0 ⁢ Z 1 ⁢ C 2 - Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 ⁢ C 0 ) ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 20 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 10 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 20 ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 10 ) ⁢ Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 + ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 20 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ x ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 20 ) ⁢ ( Z 0 ⁢ Z 2 - Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 ) + ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ x ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ Y 10 - Δ ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ Δ ⁢ ⁢ X 10 ) ⁢ ( Z 0 ⁢ Z 1 - Z 1 ⁢ Z 2 ) .
US08179395B2	Image special effect apparatus and image special effect method An image special effect apparatus capable of realizing the illumination effects corresponding to various image special effects if an illumination effect pattern is not previously determined and the shape of the effect face changes rapidly is provided.An image special effect apparatus 100 for adding an illumination effect using light from a light source when viewed from an arbitrary eye point in a face having a curved face to image information concerning an input image and outputting a video signal provided by mapping the image information to the face generates a normal vector at a position of the face based on rectangular coordinate data and the shape of the face, a normal vector generation section 110, generates reflectivity of the light in an eye point direction by calculation of A (2(L·N)N−2L)·V of an expression using the normal vector, a light source direction unit vector, an eye point vector V, and an arbitrary value A, and creates the image information based on the image and the reflectivity.
US08179393B2	Fusion of a 2D electro-optical image and 3D point cloud data for scene interpretation and registration performance assessment Method and system for combining a 2D image with a 3D point cloud for improved visualization of a common scene as well as interpretation of the success of the registration process. The resulting fused data contains the combined information from the original 3D point cloud and the information from the 2D image. The original 3D point cloud data is color coded in accordance with a color map tagging process. By fusing data from different sensors, the resulting scene has several useful attributes relating to battle space awareness, target identification, change detection within a rendered scene, and determination of registration success.
US08179392B2	Pre-charge system for on glass LCD driving circuit A driving circuit and a method of driving a liquid crystal display having an array of liquid crystal cells connected to a common line, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of signal lines, each gate line being arranged to selectively enable a respective set of the liquid crystal cells such that signal lines connected to respective liquid crystal cells of a set can be used to charge respective liquid crystal cells of that set when that set is enabled by the respective gate line. At least some of the signal lines are selectively driven with the maximum level and the voltage on the at least some of the signal lines is monitored such that driving of the at least some of the signal lines with the maximum level ceases when the monitored voltage reaches a predetermined target value intermediate the minimum level and the maximum level.
US08179391B2	Mobile display device driving apparatus and method that can reduce power consumption A mobile display device driving apparatus and method which can reduce power consumption are disclosed. The driving apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of liquid crystal cells each formed in sub-pixel areas of four colors, a battery charged with a voltage, a power saving mode signal generator that detects the remaining power of the battery and generates a power saving mode signal based on the detected power to set a power saving mode of the liquid crystal panel. A controller sets a gain value in response to the power saving mode signal, converts external three-color input data into four-color data based on the set gain value and generates a dimming signal in response to the power saving mode signal. A panel driver displays an image based on the four-color data on the liquid crystal panel. An inverter generates a lamp drive voltage based on the dimming signal, and a backlight unit generates light in response to the lamp drive voltage and irradiates the generated light to the liquid crystal panel.
US08179388B2	System, method and computer program product for adjusting a refresh rate of a display for power savings A display refresh system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a refresh rate is adjusted for power saving purposes, and/or any other purpose(s) for that matter. Further, various embodiments are provided for reducing visual manifestations associated with a transition between a first refresh rate and a second refresh rate.
US08179387B2	Electrophoretic display and driving method thereof A method of driving at least one cell of an electrophoretic display panel through a pixel electrode and a common electrode includes storing at least first data representative of an image currently displayed and second data representative of an image to be displayed; and applying a first AC data waveform and a first AC common waveform for initializing the at least one cell during a first number of frames, applying a second AC data waveform and a second AC common waveform for displaying the second data during a second number of frames, wherein the first number of frames depends on the first data and the second number of frames depends on the second data.
US08179384B2	Image display device and method for displaying an image on the basis of a plurality of image signals Image signals input via input terminals are selected by a selector. The selected image signals are combined and displayed on the same screen of a display device. The display screen includes one main screen and a plurality of sub screens. In the case where a moving image is displayed on the main screen, images displayed on the sub screens are updated when the moving image displayed on the main screen are in a still state. The modes of the image signals are detected only when they are input for the first time, the process performed upon the image signals input after that is controlled in accordance with information stored in a memory.
US08179383B2	Touch screen The present application provides a touch screen including a panel module, an image sensor module, and a bezel surrounding the panel module. The image sensor module includes a circuit board and an image sensor unit electrically connected thereto, and both are disposed on the panel module. The image sensor unit has an image sensing surface substantially perpendicular to the circuit board for object detection on a display surface of the panel module.
US08179375B2	User interface system and method The user interface system of the preferred embodiments includes a sheet that defines a surface on one side and at least partially defines a cavity on an opposite side; a volume of a fluid contained within the cavity; a displacement device that modifies the volume of the fluid to expand the cavity, thereby outwardly deforming a particular region of the surface; and a sensor that detects a force applied by a user that inwardly deforms the particular region of the surface. The user interface system has been specifically designed to be used as the user interface for an electronic device, more preferably in an electronic device that benefits from an adaptive user interface, but may alternatively be used in any suitable application.
US08179370B1	Proximity based keystroke resolution Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for resolving keystrokes. One of the methods includes receiving a first keystroke and a second keystroke input by a user on a keyboard. The first keystroke corresponds to a first key on the keyboard and the second keystroke corresponds to a second key on the keyboard that is different from the first key. The first keystroke and the second keystroke are determined to have been input at substantially the same time and the first key is determined to be adjacent the second key on the keyboard. In response to the determinations, a suggestion is generated that only one of the two keystrokes was intended to be input.
US08179369B2	Optical navigation device and method for compensating for offset in optical navigation device Provided are an optical navigation device and a method for compensating for an offset in the optical navigation device. The optical navigation device includes: an image input unit for emitting light, receiving light reflected from a working surface to generate an analog image signal, converting the analog image signal into a digital image signal, and outputting the digital image signal; a delta image generator for generating a cumulative average of digital image signals of respective pixels and subtracting the cumulative average from the digital image signals in the respective pixels to generate a delta image signal; and a motion value calculator for calculating a motion value using the delta image signal.
US08179368B2	Manual operation device A manual operation device of the present disclosure allows a user to intuitively recognize a force pattern by providing a graphical representation of the force pattern on a display unit. The force pattern or a relationship between an operation position an operation unit of the manual operation device and a control value is visually represented as, for example, a two-dimensional line graph. In this manner, the reaction force is suitably adjusted to an operation force of the user to reduce an false operation of the manual operation device, because the user can easily controls the reaction force for achieving an improved operability.
US08179367B2	Electronic appliance having a display and a detector for generating a detection signal An electronic appliance includes detectors that are assigned to detection zones defined on a display. The detection zones correspond to push buttons that are arranged in an operation menu displayed on the display. Each of the detectors includes a temporal difference filter. The temporal difference filter includes a detection zone image memory, a peripheral zone image memory, a subtracter, and a motion quantity calculator. The detection zone image memory stores an image of the corresponding detection zone. The peripheral zone image memory stores an image of a peripheral detection zone defined around the corresponding detection zone. The subtracter finds a difference between the image stored in the peripheral zone image memory and a present image of the peripheral detection zone. According to the difference, the motion quantity calculator calculates first data representative of the size of an object that is present in the peripheral detection zone. The electronic appliance also includes a temporal difference filter controller that generates a first detection flag according to the first data, and according to the first detection flag, generates a write stop flag to stop writing to the detection zone image memory.
US08179366B2	Systems and methods for using a movable object to control a computer A system and method for controlling operation of a computer based on movements and/or position of a movable object. The system includes a sensing apparatus configured to obtain positional data based on movements of a sensed object. Engine software may process the positional data and generate control commands to produce a virtual position in an application running on the computer. A visual comparator is operatively coupled with the engine software and configured to display an actual indicator and a virtual indicator to provide a visual comparison between the virtual position and the actual position of the sensed object.
US08179362B2	Stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus with scanning backlight A scanning backlight for a stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display apparatus includes a light guide having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and having a first surface extending between the first and second sides and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface substantially re-directs light and the second surface substantially transmits light. A plurality of first light sources are arranged along the first side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the first side and a plurality of second light sources are arranged along the second side of the light guide for transmitting light into the light guide from the second side. The first light sources are divided into a plurality of first groups and the second light sources are divided into a plurality of second groups, each first group having a corresponding and opposing second group, and the first groups and second groups are selectively turned on and off in a particular pattern where only the first group or corresponding and opposing second group selectively transmits light into light guide at one time.
US08179361B2	Reflector and backlight device A back light device realizing improvement in hotspots and bright line in the region of light incidence and of darkness arising in between light sources is provided by forming the reflective surface of the reflector as a structured face comprising an iteration of prism elements of trapezoidal section.
US08179360B2	Display and gate driver circuit thereof A gate driving circuit including M shift registers, a detecting unit, a control unit, a repair starting unit, a signal repairing device, and a signal replacing unit is provided, wherein M is a positive integer. The shift registers sequentially shift a starting signal according to a plurality of clock signals to generate M gate driving signals. The detecting unit detects the gate driving signals. The control unit generates a first and a second auxiliary signals, wherein the first and the second auxiliary signals are synchronous with two gate driving signals which are before and after a specific driving signal. The signal repairing device is enabled according to a valid repair starting signal outputted by the repair starting unit to generate a repairing signal according to the first auxiliary signal. The signal replacing unit replaces the specific driving signal with the repairing signal according to the clock signals.
US08179358B2	Display device, integrated circuit device, and electronic instrument A display device includes an integrated circuit device and a display panel. The display panel includes a panel test terminal that is used to test the display panel, and a driver output terminal that is electrically connected with a data driver pad of the integrated circuit device and is electrically connected with the panel test terminal. The integrated circuit device includes a data driver block and a high-speed I/F circuit block including a physical layer circuit. The physical layer circuit is disposed in the integrated circuit device so that the physical layer circuit non-overlaps a predetermined test terminal region, the predetermined test terminal region being a region in which the panel test terminal is predetermined to locate under the integrated circuit device when the integrated circuit device is mounted on the display panel.
US08179356B2	Method for driving liquid crystal display with inserting gray image An exemplary method for driving a liquid crystal display includes: dividing a frame into a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period; displaying a normal image in the first sub-frame period; and displaying a gray image in the second sub-frame period. The gray image includes a plurality of pixels, and some of the pixels are black, and each of the pixels is black at least one time in a predefined minimum period, the minimum period being at least two consecutive frames.
US08179353B2	Driving method for display device A liquid crystal display includes pixels each having an switching element, drain drivers and gate drivers for operating the switching elements and the pixels, and drain lines and gate lines supplying signals from the drain drivers and the gate drivers to the switching elements being formed on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer. Wiring lines are formed on the one of a pair of substrates for transferring display data signals and a clock signal to the gate drivers.
US08179352B2	Gate driving apparatus and method for liquid crystal display panel A gate driving apparatus for a liquid crystal display panel with liquid crystal cells, thin film transistors, gate lines, and data lines includes a plurality of shift registers on the liquid crystal display panel to apply scanning signals to the gate lines, and a gate driving integrated circuit connected to the liquid crystal display panel to generate a plurality of control signals for controlling the shift registers.
US08179348B2	Driving method, driving circuit, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus A display device includes a data converting section that converts display data that is to be supplied to pixel units. The data converting section converting on the basis of a predetermined conversion rule for each of a plurality of fields. The plurality of fields corresponds to respective light emission time periods of the plurality of light beams and following one after another in a successive manner on a time axis. The predetermined conversion rule converts data for a preceding field of one color to achieve a value in a successive field of a different color, such that the value approaches a desired value for at least one of brightness and color obtained when an image is displayed in the display area during the successive field.
US08179346B2	Methods and apparatus for driving liquid crystal display device A driving circuit for driving a display panel comprising: (i) a printed circuit board, (ii) an input interface to receive input video signal, (iii) a timing controller to control timing signal for the display panel, (iv) a plurality of first source drivers, and (v) at least one second source driver, and wherein the display cells connected to the i-th data line and the (2j+1)-th or (2j+2)-th gate line, where j=0, 2, 4, . . . , <[Y/2], and i=1, 2, . . . , M, where Y and M are positive integers, receive data signals from corresponding data lines 1 through M, respectively, and the display cells connected to the (i+1)-th data line and the (2j+1)-th or (2j+2)-th gate line, where j=1, 3, . . . , <[Y/2]+1, and i=1, 2, . . . , M, receive shifted data signals from the data lines 2 through M+1, respectively.
US08179345B2	Shared buffer display panel drive methods and systems Methods of driving source lines and/or circuits/systems for driving source lines are provided. Source lines of a display device are driven by comparing first data for driving a first buffer associated with a first source line of the display device and second data for driving a second buffer associated with a second source line of the display device and selectively disabling the second buffer and driving the second source line of the display device with the first buffer based on the comparison of the first and second data.
US08179340B2	Two-dimensional code pattern, two-dimensional code pattern display device, and its reading device A two-dimensional code pattern includes: a boundary pattern in which each of pixels in a group are set into a turn-on state or a turn-off state; a rotation detection pattern in which each pixel belonging to a group in each block is set into the turn-on state or the turn-off state by a light emitting pattern which can detect a rotational angle upon reading of the block; and an information pattern in which both of each pixel belonging to a first quadrant region in the block and each pixel belonging to a third quadrant region are set into the turn-on state or the turn-off state according to first information data and both of each pixel belonging to a second quadrant region and each pixel belonging to a fourth quadrant region are set into the turn-on state or the turn-off state according to second information data.
US08179338B2	Method and system for displaying information A display and a method of displaying information are disclosed. The display includes a first display screen including a first plurality of pixels controllable to display a visual indicator. A second display screen includes a second plurality of pixels, wherein the first and second display screens overlap, and wherein each of the first and second display screens is partially transparent. The first and second display screens are controllable to move the visual indicator from a first plane to a second plane responsive to a first user interaction with a user interface component.
US08179337B2	Mobile projected sets One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a mobile set configured to include one or more projection devices to display a media presentation to a viewer. The mobile set may be configured to follow a fixed path or may move through autonomous navigation. In one embodiment, the mobile set may be included as part of an amusement park ride to interact with the ride patrons and provide them with a greater entertainment experience. For example, the mobile projected set may be synchronized to move with a carrier vehicle carrying the ride patrons and project a presentation or display to the ride patrons during the ride. Placing the projected scene on a mobile set allows the patrons to interact with the projected scene for a longer period of time then if the projected scene was stationary. Further, the mobile sets may be used to configure and control sightlines through the ride to provide a more dynamic environment for the amusement park ride.
US08179336B2	Tiled electronic display A tiled display comprising: a plurality of display tiles aligned so that they provide the emissive image area; each display tile including: a plurality of light-emitting pixels arranged in groups of pixels; a plurality of sequentially arranged pixel drive circuits and each pixel drive circuit being electrically connected to a particular group of pixels for controlling the light emission of such pixels; one or more signal communication line(s) for providing data for controlling the operation of each pixel drive circuit; and each pixel drive circuit controlling the light emission of its corresponding group of pixels and providing information to the next sequential pixel drive circuit to cause such next sequential pixel drive circuit to respond to its corresponding data to control the operation of its group of light-emitting pixels and repeating this operation until a predetermined number of pixel drive circuits have caused the desired light emission.
US08179331B1	Free-space phase shifter having series coupled inductive-variable capacitance devices A method of changing phase of a microwave electromagnetic beam in free space is provided wherein a cascade of device layers is located transverse to a path of the microwave beam. Each of the device layers have one or more columns. Each column has a device combination series-coupled to an adjacent device combination in the column. Each device combination has a first device having inductive characteristics at microwave frequencies and a second device series-coupled to the first device. The second device has at microwave frequencies characteristics of a fixed capacitance in parallel with a variable capacitance. The capacitance of one or more of the second devices is variable to establish a desired phase shift and a desired frequency band edge within a desired frequency pass band.
US08179326B2	Outdoor multi-channel antenna The outdoor multi-channel antenna mainly contains a case, a reflection box, a reception plate, and a cover. The reflection box is placed inside the case. The reception plate has an antenna waveguide element and is placed inside the reflection box. The waveguide element is fixed and positioned by a support seat. The reception plate contains a curved piece and two wing pieces bended 90 degrees downward from the curved piece. The waveguide element is attached to a back side of the reception plate and is connected via a coaxial cable to a terminal threading through the through openings of the reflection box and the case. The cover tightly seals the case by a ring washer sandwiched therebetween and a waterproof plug sleeves over the terminal.
US08179324B2	Multiple input, multiple output antenna for handheld communication devices An antenna assembly for a mobile wireless communication device has a support with a first surface and a second surface between which a third surface and a fourth surface extend. A conductive ground plane is formed on the second surface. An antenna includes an electrically conductive patch located on the first surface, and first and second electrically conductive legs and an electrically conductive stripe all abutting the patch. In one version the first and second legs and the strip are all on the third surface. In another version the first and second legs are on the third surface and the strip is on the fourth surface that is orthogonal to the third surface. A first signal port is adapted to apply a first signal to the first leg and a second signal port is adapted to apply a second signal to the third leg.
US08179322B2	Dual antenna apparatus and methods A dielectric dual antenna apparatus intended for applications such as small-sized radio frequency devices. The dual antenna comprises a first partial antenna which implements the lower operating band of the antenna and another partial antenna implementing the upper operating band. The partial antennas have a shared substrate, which together with the radiators constitutes an integrated antenna component. The matching of the dual antenna can be improved in either operating band without degrading it in the other operating band at the same time. Methods of operating the aforementioned apparatus are also disclosed.
US08179320B2	Positioning method and devices in a mobile radio communications system The present invention relates to a method and devices for determining the position of a user equipment in a mobile radio communications system. According to the invention, the position is determined via a distortion in a radio signal transmitted to or from the user equipment, wherein the distortion is caused by a scatterer being positioned at a particular location and having time-dependent scattering properties such that the scattering of a radio signal gives rise to a distortion by which said scattering properties may be identified.
US08179318B1	Precise position determination using VHF omni-directional radio range signals Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise a wireless receiver to receive a Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR) signal comprising a frequency-modulated (FM) component; an analog-to-digital converter to generate a digital signal based on the VOR signal, the digital signal comprising data representing the FM component; and a FM phase circuit comprising a correlator to generate a correlation peak based on the data representing the FM component and an ideal representation of the FM component, and a peak detector to determine a phase of the FM component based on the correlation peak.
US08179317B2	Method and apparatus for passive geolocation using synthetic-aperture processing Using in-phase and quadrature components of a received signal, spatial and temporal information is utilized to generate a maximum likelihood coefficient from the measured data to geolocate an emitter of unknown frequency. In one embodiment an iso-Doppler contour is generated having regions of high correlation to estimate location in which the maximum likelihood calculation uses two factors, one derived from a single aperture and one derived from bearing estimates, with the region of highest correlation corresponding to emitter location. Hypothesized in-phase and quadrature signals corresponding to an emitter location describe what the signals received at the aperture should be if the emitter is of a predetermined frequency and at a predetermined location, with these estimates used in the maximum likelihood algorithm.
US08179315B1	Iterative technique for fast computation of TxBF steering weights Systems and methods are provided for directing radiated energy from a transmitting device towards a receiving device using multiple antennas. Channel weights, representing signal attenuation and a phase rotation induced by a transmission medium, are determined at a transmitting device. A set of steering weights are determined based on applying an iterative linear transform to an initial value of the steering weights, where the linear transform depends on the determined channel weights. A final value of the steering weights is applied to an input signal to produce a transmit signal, and the transmit signal is transmitted using multiple antennas.
US08179312B2	Precise absolute time transfer from a satellite system Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for obtaining a precise absolute time using a satellite system. The precise absolute time may be used, for example, as an aid for positioning systems including navigation in attenuated or jammed environments. A method of obtaining precise absolute time transfer from a satellite according to an embodiment comprises: receiving a precision time signal from a satellite, wherein the precision time signal comprises a periodic repeating code; determining a timing phase of the code; receiving additional aiding information; and using the timing phase and the additional aiding information to determine a precise absolute time.
US08179309B2	Method and apparatus for the optimization of status messages in a satellite navigation system In a method for optimization of status messages in a satellite navigation system, which comprises a space segment having a plurality of satellites that emit navigation signals to be received and evaluated by utilization systems for position determination, and a ground segment having a plurality of observation stations that monitor the satellites, a threshold value is determined, as a function of location, for a message indicating that the error of a satellite is no longer acceptable.
US08179306B2	High-frequency circuit board, high-frequency circuit module, and radar apparatus The invention relates to a high-frequency circuit board that can efficiently radiate heat generated in a mounted electronic component without reducing the degree of freedom in design, a high-frequency circuit module including the high-frequency circuit board, and a radar apparatus including the high-frequency circuit module. A dielectric substrate (3) includes a mounting portion (4) that is disposed on one surface (3a) of the dielectric substrate (3) and on which an electronic component (2) is to be mounted, and a waveguide (5) that is formed in the dielectric substrate (3). The mounting portion (4) and the waveguide (5) are connected with each other through a heat conductor (6) having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the dielectric substrate (3).
US08179302B2	Apparatus for sharing an omnidirectional antenna between an IFF transponder and an IFF interrogator An apparatus for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals. including a cylindrical antenna array which has an omnidirectional channel; an IFF interrogator and an IFF transponder connected to the cylindrical antenna array; and a means for sharing the omnidirectional channel between the IFF interrogator and the IFF transponder.
US08179293B2	Programmable settling for high speed analog to digital converter In an embodiment, an apparatus and method reduces a calibration settling time in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC has a reference voltage supply. The reference voltage supply has an output. A filter capacitor is coupled to the reference voltage supply output. An isolation transistor is series-coupled between the filter capacitor and ground. The isolation transistor isolates the filter capacitor during calibration of the ADC.
US08179291B2	Method and system for compression of logical data objects for storage There is provided a compression system configured to compress logical data objects into one or more accommodation blocks with a predefined size, and a method of operating thereof. The compression system includes a compression engine capable of compressing input data with the help of sequential encoding one or more input strings and a counter operatively coupled to the compression engine. The counter is configured to keep its ongoing value indicative of a number of input bytes in one or more strings successfully encoded into a given accommodation block; and, responsive to unsuccessful compression of a string into the given accommodation block, to provide the compression engine with information indicative of starting point in the input stream for encoding into the next accommodation block, thus giving rise to a “start indication”.
US08179281B2	Method and apparatus for identifying concealed objects in road traffic Method for detecting concealed objects in road traffic in which the surroundings of a vehicle and movement variables of the driver's vehicle are sensed by sensors, said variables are transmitted as information to vehicles which are located in the surroundings by an interface for vehicle-to-vehicle communication and are received from the vehicles which are located in the surroundings, wherein the following steps are executed: the data from the sensors expand a surroundings model, the expanded surroundings model is represented in updated form by a display in the driver's vehicle, a situation analysis of the surroundings and an evaluation of the situation are carried out in the driver's vehicle, objects which represent an accident hazard on the display are displayed with a high priority, predefined steps for reducing accident hazard are activated in the driver's vehicle, information relating to the pre-defined steps are transmitted to the surroundings by the communication system.
US08179279B2	Method and device for producing hydrocarbons using wireless communication A subsea production system adapted for wireless communication so that production tree operation can be controlled locally wirelessly from a workover umbilical or remotely controlled vehicle. The production system includes a wellhead assembly and an umbilical termination connected to an umbilical that extends to above the sea surface. Dedicated wireless communication devices can be attached to one or both of the wellhead assembly and the umbilical termination. The wireless communication devices can include a radio frequency modem, a sonar device, an infrared communication device, a light emitting diode, an optical modem, and combinations thereof; the wireless communication can include radio frequency waves, acoustic waves, and electromagnetic waves. A subsea control module can be included for controlling/actuating devices in or associated with the production system. The subsea control module can be adapted for wireless communication.
US08179276B2	Battery assembly with alarm A battery alarm for use with a battery assembly is provided, the battery alarm including a first activation component, a signaling component, and an output component. The first activation component is configured to activate the alarm upon disengagement of the battery assembly from a battery-operated device and is further configured to deactivate the alarm upon engagement of the battery pack with the battery-operated device. The signaling component is coupled to the first activation component and is configured to transmit a signal when the alarm is activated. The output component is adapted to receive the signal from the signaling component and is configured to produce a visual, audible, and/or tactile output upon receipt of the signal from the signaling component.
US08179271B2	Key for vehicle and drunken driving preventing device The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle key capable of preventing the drunken driving. The vehicle key comprises a key portion with the forward end portion thereof insertable into the key hole of the vehicle such as a train, a motor bike and an automobile, a holder portion arranged at the base end portion of the key portion, a projection member projected from the holder portion along the key portion, a spring for urging the projection member in the direction of projection, a breath component detection means for detecting the alcohol contained in the breath of the user, and a lock mechanism for locking the projection member in a projected state in accordance with the detection result of the breath component detection means.
US08179264B2	Radio frequency identification tag device for metallic products A radio frequency identification tag device includes an antenna unit including a dielectric substrate that has two through holes extending from a first surface to a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first conductive layer disposed over the first surface of the dielectric substrate, a second conductive layer unit disposed over the second surface of the dielectric substrate and having opposite second conductive layers spaced apart from each other such that a spacer is formed between the second conductive layers, and two connecting conductors each disposed in a corresponding through hole in the dielectric substrate and interconnecting electrically a corresponding second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. A radio frequency identification module is disposed to span the spacer and is attached to the second conductive layer unit.
US08179263B2	RF ID tag device The present invention aims to overcome the drawback with conventional RFID tag devices having a short communication range, and expand the communication range to several times or more that in the conventional scheme. The conventional scheme is based on equilibrium feeding/equilibrium modulation (a two-terminal circuit for antenna operation), whereas the present invention is based on disequilibrium feeding/equilibrium modulation (a three-terminal circuit for antenna operation). The conventional scheme is based on simple rectification of received RF signals, whereas the present invention employs a circuit based on a combination of a stub resonance-based, impedance transformation boosting scheme and a ladder boosting scheme. The conventional scheme is based on ASK or BPSK modulation, whereas the present invention is based on passive modulation, but can employ a QPSK modulation circuit.
US08179259B2	Radio frequency identification system A radio frequency identification system includes: supplying a radio frequency identification tag including providing a radio frequency identification transponder and writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder; and feeding the radio frequency identification tag for an assembly line.
US08179258B1	Method for reading a tag In a method for reading a tag, the tag is interrogated with a reader device having an antenna. A waveform of the signal received from the tag in response to the interrogation is analyzed through application of a numerical analysis technique. The signal is analyzed to estimate a bit pattern in the waveform.
US08179257B2	Warning of hazardous conditions in monitored spaces using RFID technology To warn of hazardous conditions in a monitored space, the presence of an object bearing an RFID tag is detected using an RFID tag reader. Objects may be, for example, human beings, vehicles, or stationary materiel. A determination is made as to whether the object poses a hazard by, for example, reading data from the RFID tag or by accessing a database using data read from the RFID tag. If the object is determined to pose a hazard, the nature of the hazard is determined from the RFID tag or the database, and warning about the nature of the hazard is provided proximate to the monitored space. In some embodiments, providing the warning may be conditional upon detecting the concurrent presence of two objects in the monitored space.
US08179254B2	Actuatable cushioning elements An apparatus, methods and computer program product, and system are described that enable a first subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a first time period, enable a second subset of actuatable cushioning elements for a second time period, determine an event, and actuate, based on a time the event is determined, at least one of the first and the second subsets of actuatable cushioning elements to provide cushioning support for an object. Other example embodiments are also provided relating to actuatable cushioning elements.
US08179247B2	Interrogator-transponder RF system for prevention of hunting accidents The RF system for preventing hunting accidents comprising RF interrogator mounted on the firearm and RF transponder attached to hunter's coat, wherein sharp-diagram K-band RF channel of the interrogator, which is directed along the sightline of hunter's rifle, provides alert information about “friendly targets” that could be under fire, such as other hunters or persons and animals equipped with said transponder; and if they are, the system develops alert signal: “Do not shoot”. Also, the system is optionally equipped with a trigger lock automatically preventing friendly fire.
US08179246B2	Indication clothing An indication clothing being adapted to be worn by an object is provided. The indication clothing comprises an indication sign, a storage module, a G-sensor and a process module. The storage module is configured to store threshold information. The G-sensor is configured to sense an instantaneous moving action of the object and generate a sensed value related to the instantaneous moving action when the object is moving. The process module is electrically connected to the indication sign, the G-sensor and the storage module, and is configured to control the indication sign by comparing the sensed value with the threshold information so that the indication sign indicates the instantaneous moving action of the object.
US08179239B2	Driving safety auxiliary network administration system and method thereof This specification discloses a driving safety auxiliary network administration system and the method thereof. Vehicles in motion communicate with each other about their geographical locations and current moving states within a communication range. At least one of the vehicles in the communication range becomes the router of several other vehicles that are at dead corners of wireless communications. The router is responsible for transferring vehicle state signals of those vehicles out of direct communications between them. Therefore, all the vehicles in the communication range are not blocked by terrains, buildings or other vehicles. All of them are taken into account to assess and find possible dangerous vehicles. This technique can effectively solve the problem of dead corners in driving safety auxiliary network communications. Highly important packets can be immediately and reliably transmitted to the corresponding vehicles, providing efficient warnings.
US08179238B2	Information transmission and processing systems and methods for freight carriers Methods and systems for remotely monitoring trailer or trailers attached to a vehicle is provided. The method includes associating an identification tag or ABS ECU that is configured to broadcast a trailer identification signal with a trailer. The method further includes receiving the trailer identification signal on-board the vehicle, associating the trailer identification signal with the vehicle, transmitting the trailer identification signal to a remote processor and receiving the trailer identification signal at the remote processor. The system comprises a mobile data terminal capable of generating and responding to telematic events comprising at least one processor, a graphical user interface, an input device, a memory and a set of executable instructions which may include a plurality of modules, such as a vehicle location module capable of receiving a GPS signal and transmitting the GPS signal to a remote processor for determining a location of a transportation unit.
US08179237B2	Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle provided with the same A vehicle control apparatus that suppresses consumption of a battery of a mobile device. A transmitting and receiving circuit transmits to a smart key a drop detection code request signal for checking whether the smart key is located within a specified range from a motorcycle at specified intervals. The transmitting and receiving circuit receives a drop detection code signal transmitted from the smart key having received the drop detection code request signal. A control section stops the transmitting and receiving circuit from making transmission of the drop detection code request signal at specified intervals when the motorcycle is substantially in a stop state.
US08179236B2	Video mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a transflective reflective element. The mirror system includes a video display device at a casing of the mirror assembly rearward of the transflective reflective element, with the video display device having a video screen and a plurality of individual white light emitting light sources operable for backlighting the video screen. The intensity of light emitted by the white light emitting light sources is variable responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor. The video screen may be operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle. Light emanating from the white light emitting light emitting diodes may pass through a brightness enhancement film and a light diffuser to be incident at a transflective reflector of a second substrate of the mirror assembly.
US08179230B2	Method for passive keyless entry of a motor vehicle especially of an industrial vehicle A vehicle unlocking sequence includes passively authenticating a vehicle user, granting the authenticated vehicle user access to the vehicle and setting the vehicle main switch into an on-state. A vehicle locking sequence includes passively authenticating the vehicle user, configuring the vehicle, upon a first action from the authenticated vehicle user, into a first locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user, or configuring the vehicle, upon a second action from the authenticated vehicle user, into a second locking mode whereby access to the vehicle is denied to a non authenticated user and the vehicle main switch is set into an off-state.
US08179227B2	Employing external storage devices as media for access control panel control information The present invention advantageously provides a flexible system and method for a security system having a control panel with control information for performing security operations, and a token having its own control information, such that the panel reads control information from the token and determines if the token is authentic, and, if it is, the panel updates its control information in accordance with the token's control information and performs the security operations based on its updated control information, and the updated control information is copied from the panel to the token.
US08179226B2	Array type chip resistor The present invention provides an array type chip resistor including: a substrate formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape; lower electrodes disposed on both sides of a bottom surface of the substrate at equal spaces; side electrodes extended from some of lower electrodes, formed on outermost edges of both sides of the substrate, in all lower electrodes, to a side surface of the substrate; a resistive element interposed between lower electrodes of the bottom surface of the substrate; a protection layer covered on the resistive element, the protection layer having both sides which cover a part of the lower electrodes and the resistive element; leveling electrodes being in contact with the lower electrodes exposed to outside of the protection layer; and a plating layer formed on the leveling electrodes. The array type chip resistor can prevent the resistive element from being damaged due to external impact when mounted since the resistive element is printed inside of the lower electrodes of the bottom surface of the substrate.
US08179224B2	Overcurrent protection structure and method and apparatus for making the same The overcurrent protection structure according to the present invention mainly comprises a fusible fuse structure unit disposed in a coating, and the both ends of the fusible fuse structure unit extend outwardly beyond the coating and form a first electrode and a second electrode. In the manufacturing process, the gas-assisted injection molding process enables at least one space for accommodating gas disposed between the fusible fuse structure unit and the coating such that the heat generated by the electrically energized the fusible fuse structure unit will not dissipate through the heat conduction of the coating in order to ensure that it will blow at high temperature when reaching a specific current or a specific temperature and the circuit protection effect.
US08179221B2	High Q vertical ribbon inductor on semiconducting substrate A method of making a semiconductor device and devices thereof are provided. The semiconductor device (100) includes a semiconductor substrate (102) having opposing first and second surfaces (102a, 102b). The device further includes a planar inductor element (104) disposed on said first surface. The planar inductive element (103) comprises a freestanding electrical conductor extending along a meandering path and defining a plurality of windings (104), where the electrical conductor has a width and a height, and where a height-to-width (HW) ratio is substantially greater than 1.
US08179207B2	Resonator device, filter including the same, and duplexer A resonator device includes a plurality of resonators which are connected in series. An inductor and a capacitor are connected in parallel with at least one of the plurality of resonators. At least another one of the plurality of resonators has no inductor or capacitor connected in parallel therewith. Therefore, a sufficiently large attenuation outside the passband can be attained when the resonator device is used in a filter. Furthermore, the resonator device can be reduced in size.
US08179201B2	Resonator A resonator having an effective spring constant (kz) and comprising a beam having a beam spring constant (kB) adapted to resonate in an oscillation direction, and extending at a non-zero angle (θ) to the oscillation direction, wherein the resonator has a predetermined geometry and is formed from one or more materials, the or each material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the CTE of the or each material together with the predetermined geometry of the resonator causing θ to vary with temperature, such that the temperature dependence of the beam spring constant is compensated for, resulting in the effective spring constant of the resonator remaining substantially constant within an operating temperature range.
US08179196B2	High voltage amplification using low breakdown voltage devices Methods and apparatus for amplifying signals over a wide frequency range to generate high voltage outputs feature a pair of switching modules which are connected in series. Switching modules, e.g., field-effect transistors (FETs), operate based on the voltage difference between an amplified signal and a fixed DC signal at two of their terminals, thereby generating an output waveform that has peak-to-peak voltage higher than, e.g. twice, the breakdown voltage of the transistors within the amplifier. The DC signals applied at the switching modules may be varied using an AC signal to improve the risetime of the output waveform and achieve a faster operational speed of the amplifier.
US08179193B1	Intelligent voltage regulator A voltage regulator includes a programming interface via which programming instructions may be applied to a processor of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator operates the processor according to the programming instructions to select one of multiple active internally-generated analog voltage levels to determine an output voltage level of the voltage regulator.
US08179186B2	Differential switch with off-state isolation enhancement Techniques are disclosed for reducing off-state leakage current in a differential switching device. The techniques can be embodied, for example, in a method that includes receiving a differential input signal at a differential input of each of a primary switch and a dummy switch. In an enabled-state of the device, the method further includes passing the differential input signal to a differential output of the primary switch. In a disabled-state of the device, the method further includes canceling off-state leakage current at the differential output of the primary switch, by virtue of the dummy switch having its differential output reverse-coupled to the differential output of the primary switch. The method may further include preventing the dummy switch from passing signals other than off-state leakage signals. The techniques can be embodied, for instance, in a switching device.
US08179185B2	Sampling mixer, filter device, and radio device A sampling mixer includes TAs (transconductance amplifiers), an in-phase mixer section connected to the TA and the TA, an opposite-phase mixer section connected in parallel with the in-phase mixer section, and a signal generator for generating a control signal for the in-phase mixer section and the opposite-phase mixer section respectively. The IIR filter using signals that underwent a current conversion by using the different transconductances is constructed, so that the filter characteristic can be designed by a weighting of the transconductance in addition to a capacitance ratio. As a result, the wide-band filter characteristic and the band-pass filter characteristic can be obtained, and deterioration of the receiving sensitivity can be suppressed by designing the filter characteristic suitable for the radio communication system.
US08179176B2	Apparatus for detecting jitter of phase locked loop A method and apparatus for detecting jitter of a Phase Locked Loop (PLL), which is capable of detecting a jitter level of the PLL without using a separate jitter measurement device, is disclosed. The apparatus for detecting the jitter of the PLL includes the PLL configured to detect a phase difference signal between a reference clock and a feedback clock and to generate an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency according to the phase difference signal, a variable phase delay unit configured to switch a plurality of capacitors according to an input delay control signal and to delay the phase difference signal from the PLL according to the delay control signal, a comparator configured to compare the phase difference signal from the PLL with the phase difference signal delayed by the variable phase delay unit and to detect a delay period of the phase difference signal, and a lock detection unit configured to detect whether the oscillation signal is within a lock range after the delay period detected by the comparator.
US08179174B2	Fast phase locking system for automatically calibrated fractional-N PLL The current invention provides a second feedback loop around the existing FLL, which forces the signal on the route of N-divider (NDIV), PFD, CP, and LPF to essentially reach their desired lock conditions before the FLL is switched off and the system enters PLL mode. This loop works by comparing the output voltage of the FLL DAC to the LPF output voltage, and then using this value to modulate the divider's dividing value. After the secondary feedback loop settles, output voltage from the LPF will be equal to the value that can drive the VCO to the desired lock frequency, and the phase error at the input side of the PFD produces a zero-average current to the charge pump. When this condition is set, the loop is essentially already in phase lock and the lock transient from the FLL mode to the PLL mode will be minimal.
US08179173B2	Digitally calibrated high speed clock distribution An electronic circuit for distributing a clock signal to several clock destinations includes phase adjustment circuits for adjusting phase shifts of the clock at the respective one of the clock destinations responsive to a respective DC voltage feedback signal receive from the respective one of the clock destinations; phase detectors for detecting a phase shift of the clock signal at the respective one of the clock destinations according to a nearest neighbor clock destination; loop filters for generating and transmitting respective DC voltage feedback signals; current sources, each configured to receive the respective DC voltage feedback signal and output a respective current to a respective one of the phase adjustment circuits according to said respective DC voltage feedback signals to adjust the phase shift of the clock signal for the respective one of the clock destinations.
US08179172B2	Auto-restart circuit and auto-restart method Disclosed is an auto-restart circuit and auto-restart method.A main integrated circuit (IC) of a main stage controls a switching operation of at least one power switch. The auto-restart circuit for restarting the main IC detects a switching state of the at least one power switch and detects the state of the main IC. The auto-restart circuit cuts off an external power source voltage supply to the main IC or supplies the external power source voltage to the main IC according to switching state and the state of the main IC.
US08179170B2	Semiconductor device and electronic appliance using the same A semiconductor device with less power consumption and an electronic appliance using the same. The semiconductor device of the invention is supplied with a first potential from a high potential power source and a second potential from a low potential power source. Upon input of a first signal to an input node, an output node outputs a second signal. With the semiconductor device of the invention, a potential difference of the second signal can be controlled to be smaller than a potential difference between the first potential and the second potential, thereby power consumption required for charging/discharging wires can be reduced.
US08179169B2	Driving circuit with variable resistor for transistor A switching circuit includes: a transistor having a first electrode, a second electrode and a control electrode; a zener diode; and a capacitor. A connection between the first electrode and the second electrode is capable of temporally switching between a conduction state and a non-conduction state by switching a control voltage of the transistor. The zener diode and the capacitor are coupled in series between the first electrode and the control electrode of the transistor. The first electrode is a drain or a collector.
US08179167B2	Wide bandwidth fast hopping frequency synthesizer circuits and methods Embodiments of the present invention include methods for wide bandwidth synthesizer circuits and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a frequency synthesizer comprising a multiplexer and a band group selector. The multiplexer is coupled to receive a plurality of sinusoidal signals. Each sinusoidal signal has a unique frequency. The band group selector selects between a plurality of band groups. The band group selector is coupled to receive a first signal from the multiplexer. The multiplexer multiplexes between the plurality of sinusoidal signals and provides the first signal. The band group selector includes a band mixer. The band mixer mixes the first signal with a band signal having a band frequency. The band signal corresponds to a band group selected from the plurality of band groups. The band group selector provides a transmitter mixer signal and a receiver mixer signal.
US08179166B2	Leakage compensation for sample and hold devices A sample and hold circuit with leakage compensation is disclosed. An example sample and hold circuit includes a first switch coupled to sample and hold an input signal value in a first capacitor coupled to the first switch in response to a sample signal. A second switch through which a second leakage current flows to a second capacitor coupled to the second switch is also included. The second leakage current through the second switch to the second capacitor is substantially equal to a first leakage current through the first switch to the first capacitor. An offset circuit that is coupled to the first and second capacitors is also included to produce a compensated sampled value in response to a difference between a quantity representing the held input signal value and charge accumulated in the first capacitor in response to the first leakage current from a quantity representing charge accumulated in the second capacitor in response to the second leakage current.
US08179157B2	Setup and method for testing a permanent magnet motor A test setup for a permanent magnet motor provides a method for identifying symmetry or asymmetry in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets. The setup comprises a test circuit that includes a fixed reference node that provides a stable reference to which the motor's common node can be compared. Observing the waveform of the voltage between the two nodes while the motor is running helps identify an imbalance in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets.
US08179152B2	Passive capacitively-coupled electrostatic (CCE) probe arrangement for detecting plasma instabilities in a plasma processing chamber An arrangement for detecting plasma instability within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a probe arrangement, wherein the probe arrangement is disposed on a surface of the processing chamber and is configured to measure at least one plasma processing parameter. The probe arrangement includes a plasma-facing sensor and a measuring capacitor, wherein the plasma-facing sensor is coupled to a first plate of the measuring capacitor. The arrangement also includes a detection arrangement, which is coupled to a second plate of the measuring capacitor. The detection arrangement is configured to convert an induced current flowing through the measuring capacitor into a set of digital signals, the set of digital signals being processed to detect the plasma instability.
US08179151B2	Method and system that determines the value of a resistor in linear and non-linear resistor sets The present invention employs identically sized mirror transistors arrange in groups that may be preferentially addressed and activated to determine the value of a resistor. Known current are directed through the resistor, and the voltage developed is measured by comparing against a reference voltage. The current is increased or decreased by the least significant value until the voltage across the resistor matches the reference voltage. A successive approximation or other known technique may be used instead. A reference current is developed that temperature stable and that is trimmed when manufactured to reduce process effects. The reference voltage may be constructed to be independent form a local power source so that the system is relatively independent of process, voltage and temperature, PVT.
US08179149B1	Electromagnetic fence A system and method can use a transmission line to remotely detect border violations. For example, the transmission line can be configured to use time domain reflectometry to determine when a person and/or object crosses a border. The border can be the border of a country or the perimeter of a facility such as an airport, for example.
US08179147B2	Method and apparatus for detection and control of dc arc faults A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists.
US08179141B2	Method and device for measuring the conductivity of a pure or ultrapure liquid The invention relates to a method of measuring the conductivity of a pure or ultrapure liquid, notably water, using electrodes, characterized in that it consists in determining the conductivity by modeling the liquid in the form of an equivalent electrical circuit diagram comprising a resistor R, a capacitor Cp in parallel with the resistor R, and a series capacitor Cs. It also relates to a device for implementing this method and a purification system incorporating such a device.
US08179139B2	Rechargeable battery abnormality detection apparatus and rechargeable battery apparatus The rechargeable battery abnormality detection apparatus is provided with an internal short circuit detection section (20b) that monitors rechargeable battery (1) voltage change when no charging or discharging takes place, and detects internal short circuit abnormality when battery voltage drop during a predetermined time period exceeds a preset threshold voltage; a degradation appraisal section (20d) that judges the degree of rechargeable battery degradation; and a threshold control section (20c) that incrementally increases the threshold voltage according to the degree of degradation determined by the degradation appraisal section (20d).
US08179137B2	Magnetic resonance compatible multichannel stripline balun Systems and devices for transmitting radio frequency signals to and from radio frequency coils in magnetic resonance imaging systems are provided. In one embodiment, a balun for blocking induced radio frequency current on ground conductors of a multi-layer signal carrier includes first and second insulative elements disposed on first and second sides of the signal carrier, respectively, a conductive layer partially surrounding ends of each insulative element with a central region of each insulative element not surrounded by the respective conductive layer, first and second capacitive circuits coupled to the conductive layers of each respective insulative element in the central region thereof, vias extending through the signal carrier, and conductive material disposed in the vias electrically coupling a conductive layer on respective ends of the first and second elements with one another and with the ground conductors.
US08179134B2	Handling robot of magnetic head assembly, magnetic head test method and magnetic head tester An upward warp of a terminal pad of a flexible cable which is kept horizontal by a suction head is prevented by a pressing arm which contacts with an upper surface of a rear portion of the flexible cable.
US08179130B2	Magnetic revolution counter A magnetic revolution counter for the unambiguous determination of a definable number of revolutions of a rotating element to be determined. The aim of creating such a revolution counter allowing a determination of any arbitrarily definable number of revolutions, for example up to values of N>4000 or more as defined, and enabling a cost-effective and small design, is achieved in that a plurality of sensor elements (30a to 30e) are provided, which are formed by closed loops having magnetic domains attached and guiding the same, containing at least one ferromagnetic, respectively soft magnetic, layer. The loops have tapered protuberances directed toward the loop interior, wherein the number of protuberances provided per loop is determined in a defined manner deviating from loop to loop, and electric contact arrangements are provided, which allow the detection of any changes in the electric resistance of predetermined loop sections after a completed change of location of magnetic domains due to the effect of the outer rotating magnetic field in predetermined loop sections, and wherein the said resistance values can be supplied to an analysis unit for the purpose of allocating the number of revolutions of the rotating element.
US08179119B2	Charge sampling device and method The invention relates to the sampling of temporally changing amounts of charge (102) by receiving varying amounts of charge (102) varying as a function of time, transforming the varying amounts of charge received into a linear distribution pattern, sampling the linear distribution pattern at a plurality of discretely spaced sampling locations (104), and collecting the amounts of charge (102) located between two adjacent scanning locations, and further detecting the collected amounts of charges (102). A temporal sampling device for time-varying analog signals encompasses a transducer (100) in which the analog signals are converted into a corresponding electrical current, a time conversion element (103) in which the electronic charge packets (102) composing the current signal are transported in an electric field along a one-dimensional path, a fast charge-storing and accumulation mechanism with which the charge packets (102) on the one-dimensional path of the time conversion element (103) can all be stored simultaneously, so that their spatial relationship is retained, and a charge detection circuit (109) with which the stored charge packets (102) can be accessed individually and read out with an electronic circuit. In a preferred embodiment, all elements of the sampling device are monolithically integrated using a semiconductor process such as a commercially available CMOS process based on silicon. This makes it possible to provide one- and two-dimensional arrays of such sampling devices, forming line and image sensors.
US08179116B2	Inductor assembly having a core with magnetically isolated forms An embodiment of an inductor assembly includes a core, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The core includes first and second members, a first group of one or more forms extending between the members, a second group of one or more forms extending between the members, and an isolating region that magnetically isolates the first group of forms from the second group of forms. The first conductor is wound about a first one of the forms in the first group, and the second conductor is wound about a second one of the forms in the second group. Such an inductor assembly may allow both coupled and uncoupled inductors to be disposed on a common core, thus potentially reducing the cost and size of the inductors as compared to the coupled inductors being disposed on one core and the uncoupled inductors being disposed on another core.
US08179114B2	Voltage converting device and voltage converting method A changing-speed calculator monitors a current value of an output current flowing through a load circuit to calculate a change speed of the current value. A correction-amount obtaining unit reads from a correction-amount table a correction amount of a duty ratio corresponding to the change speed of the output current. A reference-voltage comparator compares a voltage value of an output voltage to be applied to the load circuit and a predetermined reference voltage with each other, and then notifies a duty-ratio determining unit of the comparison result. The duty-ratio determining unit performs feedback control according to the comparison result of the voltage values to correct the duty ratio. After correcting the duty ratio, the duty-ratio determining unit further corrects the duty ratio by the correction amount obtained by the correction-amount obtaining unit.
US08179112B2	Direct current generator and the pulse generator thereof The present invention provides a direct current generator and a pulse generator thereof. The pulse generator includes a comparator to replace a central processing unit and a logic integrated circuit to save the costs and space required by the electronic components. The pulse generator generates pulses to control the activation of the direct current generator and then to control the output current of the direct current generator. The direct current generator generates current having pulses based on pulses signals from the pulse generator to drive a load.
US08179108B2	Regulator having phase compensation circuit A regulator circuit includes an output transistor that generates an output current in accordance with a control voltage that is applied to a control terminal of the output transistor. A differential amplifier provides feedback control of the control voltage in accordance with a level of the output current. A phase compensation circuit is connected to the differential amplifier and the control terminal of the output transistor. The phase compensation circuit adjusts an output impedance of the differential amplifier. The phase compensation circuit includes a variable resistor that decreases the output impedance of the differential amplifier when the output current increases.
US08179103B2	System and method for boosting battery output Electrical apparatuses, systems and methods involving battery boost circuitry configured to charge a supercapacitor to a regulated voltage different from the battery voltage and apply a series combination of the regulated voltage and the battery voltage to a load such as a starter motor for an internal combustion engine or a component of a handheld device. The circuitry also includes a contactor connected to the supercapacitor and operable to bypass the capacitor when fully discharged to avoid reverse charging of the supercapacitor.
US08179102B2	Devices, systems, and methods for priority charging of a group of electronic devices Disclosed are a device, system and method for multiple mobile communication devices that may be charged according to their relative priority and/or for multiple mobile communication devices that may be charged to a minimum level. The devices may be connected in any order physically, but based upon their relative charging priority the device with the highest priority may receive a charge first. The device with second highest priority may receive a charge second. Their relative priority may be communicated between the devices by wireless communication. In one embodiment, one or more devices may receive a minimum charge to allow operation, before the devices with the highest priorities are fully charged. In regions where electrical utility infrastructures are minimally developed users may share electrical facilities to recharge a plurality of mobile communication devices so that the devices with the highest priority of the grouped devices are fully charged first.
US08179098B2	Charge controlling semiconductor integrated circuit Disclosed is a charge controlling semiconductor integrated circuit including: an electric current controlling transistor connected between a voltage input terminal and an output terminal to control an electric current which flows from the voltage input terminal to the output terminal; a power source monitoring circuit to detect status of input voltage of the voltage input terminal; and a transistor element connected between the voltage input terminal and a ground potential point, wherein a bypass capacitor is connected to the voltage input terminal; and the transistor element is turned on and the bypass capacitor discharges when the power source monitoring circuit detects the input voltage of the voltage input terminal is cut off.
US08179097B2	Protection circuit for battery pack and battery pack having the same A protection circuit for a battery pack is provided in which a positive temperature coefficient device is electrically connected in a current path of the battery pack to control current flowing through the current path in response to an internal temperature of the battery pack. The protection circuit for a battery pack includes a charging and discharging control unit located on a current path of the battery pack. A first protection circuit controls the charging and discharging control unit in response to a charged state of the battery pack. A second protection circuit prevents overcurrent from flowing through the current path of the battery pack. A positive temperature coefficient is electrically connected in the current path of the battery pack. The battery pack may include a bare cell or battery group including one or more secondary batteries.
US08179095B1	Estimating remaining use time of a mobile device The present disclosure provides methods and systems for estimating the remaining use time of a battery of a mobile device. In some implementations, the method includes providing a use profile programmed in a memory of the mobile device, and monitoring a rate of change of a state of charge (SOC) of the battery. The rate of change of the SOC and the use profile are processed to affect a comparison therebetween, and the remaining use time is estimated based on the comparison.
US08179090B2	Energy consuming body and a method for supplying dynamic force energy to the energy consuming body The present invention discloses a type of secure and efficient wheel assembly using fluid or solid stuffing materials so as to minimize the blowout risks, a wheel rim transmission assembly, an energy exchanging arrangement used in transporting system, and a vehicle energy storage system, as well as corresponding methods for manufacturing and preparing such assemblies and arrangements in applications.
US08179089B2	Power transmission control apparatus, power transmission apparatus, contactless power transmission system, and data determination method A power transmission control apparatus is a power transmission control apparatus provided in a power transmission apparatus included in a contactless power transmission system where power is transmitted from the power transmission apparatus to a power reception apparatus by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil. The power transmission control apparatus includes: a signal detection circuit that detects a signal induced by the primary coil; and a power transmission control circuit that determines a value of transmission data transmitted from the power reception apparatus by a load modulation, on the basis of an output signal of the signal detection circuit. The power transmission control circuit obtains detection data by detecting the transmission data on the basis of the output signal of the signal detection circuit at every drive clock cycle of the primary coil. If a value of the detection value is identical n-times continuously, where n=m+α≦p, the m is an integer equal to or larger than 0, the α is an integer equal to or larger than 1, and the p is an integer equal to or larger than 1, the power transmission control circuit determines that the value of the transmission data transmitted by the power reception apparatus is the value of the detection data.
US08179087B2	Selective recharging of medical device depending on authentication of power adapter system In an embodiment, a medical device can be used with a power adapter system. In addition, it can receive a data set from the power adapter system, and examine the data set to determine whether the data set confirms or not an authentication of the power adapter for use with the medical device. If the authentication is not confirmed, the external medical device can operate differently than otherwise. For example, power can be drawn more slowly from the power adapter system.
US08179085B2	Method and apparatus for charging an energy store The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (1) for charging an energy storage (2) via a current generating device (3), comprising at least one control device (6), a burner (7) connected to a tank (11) for fuel supply, a charging device (4) connected to the energy storage (2), and a thermal element (8) whose one side is connected to the current generating device (3). To create such a method and such an apparatus (1), by means of which the capacity of an energy storage (2) of a vehicle (5) can be maintained for a longer period of time, it is provided for the second side of the thermal element (8) to be connected to a heat dissipating element (9) of a vehicle (5), and a monitoring unit (19) for the temperature of the heat dissipating element (9) is provided and connected to the control device (6) so that the current generating device (3) will be controllable to charge the energy storage (2) as a function of the temperature of the heat dissipating element (9).
US08179084B2	Variable-speed-drive system for a grid blower A drive system for a grid blower of a vehicle is provided. The system includes: an electrical bus, a grid of resistive elements connected to the electrical bus, the grid of resistive elements configured to thermally dissipate electrical power generated from braking of the vehicle, the electrical power being transmitted on the electrical bus to the grid of resistive elements, an electrical power modulation device configured to modify electrical power received from at least one of the electrical bus and the grid of resistive elements, and a grid blower motor coupled to an output of the electrical power modulation device, wherein a speed of the grid blower motor varies based on the electrical power that has been modified by the electrical power modulation device.
US08179083B2	Starting device for electric motors Starting device for electric motors provides a circuit including: a first branch connected at one end to a common point and at the opposite end to the start winding of the motor, whereon a starting capacitor, a resistor and fixed contacts of a relay are inserted in series respectively; a second branch in parallel with the first branch, connected at one end to the common point and at the opposite end to the main or run winding of the motors whereon the coil of the relay is inserted; a third branch in parallel with the branches and, connected at one end to the common point and at the opposite end to the start winding of the motor, whereon a run capacitor is installed, this common point being connected to the common connector of the motor via the power supply line.
US08179082B2	Soft starting method and system thereof in the way of wave-skipping with stepped frequency and stepless voltage regulating for a motor The invention relates to a soft starting method and system thereof in the way of wave-skipping with stepped frequency and stepless voltage regulating for a motor which can be applied to the large torque starting of AC motor under the condition of a power supply of a industrial frequency supply source and the safe starting of higher load. Trigger signals generated by a control system, in the soft starting method of the invention, act on five sets of anti-parallel thyristor valves connected between the power supply and the motor to conduct a pair of thyristors thereof according to a set frequency and sequence, and the motor is started from a standstill status to full speed in the way of wave-skipping by controlling the sets of the thyristor valves. The method may improve the starting torque for more than 10 times of the traditional motor soft starting of the voltage reduction and control the starting current for about two times of the rated current. The cost thereof is only 20-25% of similar frequency converter.
US08179076B2	Chip structure capable of smoothing slope of signal during conversion The present invention discloses a chip structure capable of smoothing slope of signal during conversion. And the chip structure is suitable for a DC motor which is embedded in a portable electronic device. The DC motor is for adjusting the focal distance of a digital camera which is installed within the portable electronic device. The chip structure comprises an input terminal, a first converter, a control unit, a second converter, an amplifier circuit and an output terminal. The input terminal is for receiving a first digital signal. The first converter is for converting the first digital signal into an analog signal. The control unit is for elongating the transform time of the analog signal. The amplifier circuit is for amplifying the elongated analog signal. The second converter is for converting the elongated analog signal into a second digital signal. And the output terminal outputs the second digital signal.
US08179074B2	Rotation actuator for endoscopic devices Methods and devices are provided for rotating an end effector on a long, flexible medical device. The methods and devices utilize an actuator mechanism that is effective to rotate an end effector on the distal end of an elongate flexible shaft. The actuator mechanism is movable between a freely rotatable position and a rotationally resistant position. When the actuator mechanism is in a freely rotatable position, the actuator mechanism can be rotated to impart torque to the end effector, and thus at least a distal portion of the elongate shaft, to cause the end effector to rotate. In order to prevent the actuator mechanism from “freewheeling,” wherein the actuator mechanism freely rotates in an opposite direction upon release rather than the end effector rotating in the desired direction, the actuator mechanism can be moved to the rotationally resistant position.
US08179073B2	Robotic devices with agent delivery components and related methods Various robotic devices and related medical procedures are disclosed herein. Each of the various robotic devices have an agent delivery component. The devices include mobile robotic devices and fixed base robotic devices as disclosed herein. The agent delivery component can have at least one agent reservoir and a discharge component in fluidic communication with the at least one reservoir.
US08179072B2	Method for counting the number of revolutions of a burr of a coffee mill and appliance comprising such a mill A method for counting the number of revolutions of a burr of a coffee mill driven in rotation by an electric motor. According to the method: at least one electrical parameter Pi of the motor that varies in proportion to the speed of said motor is measured in a regular time interval Ti; the speed Vi in each time interval Ti is calculated from the parameter Pi based on an experimentally obtained relation; and the number of revolutions Ni made by the burr in each time interval Ti is calculated from the speed Vi determined.
US08179066B2	Method for controlling a load with a predominantly inductive character and a device applying such a method Method for controlling a load with a predominantly inductive character, whereby in order to feed a phase of the above-mentioned load (3), use is made of at least two connected output voltages, derived from one or several power electronic inverters (11,12;34,35,36), with a given period for switching, modulation or sampling, characterized in that the waveforms of the output voltages concerned are different or have been shifted in time, and in that they are supplied to the load (3) via a differential-mode device (6), whereby during every complete above-mentioned period, at least one of the above-mentioned output voltages is maintained constant and thus is not connected.
US08179064B2	Electric motor protection system An electric motor protection system for protecting an electric motor of a household appliance includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the electric motor, a motor speed sensor for sensing a speed of the electric motor, a current sensing circuit for sensing an electric current supplied to the electric motor, a power control device for controlling the electrical power supplied to the electric motor, and a signal processing unit electrically connected to the temperature sensor, the motor speed sensor, the current sensing circuit, and the power control device. The signal processing unit is configured to make calculations and judgments based on the measurements of the temperature sensor, the motor speed sensor and the current sensing circuit, and a plurality of predetermined values, and to control the power control device accordingly so as to protect the motor from overheating, being overloaded, or driven by excessive current.
US08179060B2	Motor controller for controlling an electric motor A motor controller for controlling at least one electric motor has an operating signal generator for generating an operating control signal for the at least one electric motor and also a sound signal generator for generating a sound control signal. A mixer superimposes the sound control signal on the operating control signal in order to obtain a control signal for the at least one electric motor. It is then possible to dispense with loudspeakers and the like in the appliance which contains an electric motor with such a motor controller in order to output, for example, signal tones which indicate an operating state of the appliance to the user.
US08179058B1	Determine a setting of a TRIAC dimmer through induced relaxation oscillation A system for controlling power delivered to a lighting system for controlling illumination. The system includes a TRIAC with an input capacitor connected in parallel to a phase delay circuit including a series combination of a potentiometer and a capacitor. A ramp voltage output from the timing circuit is connected through a DIAC to a gate input of the TRIAC. The TRIAC is connected between a DC voltage source and an electrical load. In response to the DC source, the input power storage capacitor, the phase delay timing circuit and the input terminal of the TRIAC have a direct current output voltage higher than a DIAC breakover voltage, used to drive a gate input of the TRIAC. The TRIAC operates in relaxation oscillation mode such that a frequency of oscillation of the TRIAC circuit, as controlled by the timing resistor, can be used to control power to the electrical load.
US08179056B2	System and method for remote control lighting Remote lighting control methods, devices and systems are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a light device. The light device includes a light source for emitting light and a control circuit for setting an intensity level of the light source based on receipt of control data via a power line when the light device is electrically coupled to the power line. The control data is generated in response to user input to an input panel of a remote lighting control module for the light device. In addition, the light device comprises a unique address associated with a region on the input panel.
US08179055B2	LED circuits and assemblies An AC-driven LED circuit 10 includes a first parallel circuit 12 having a first branch 14 and a second branch 16 which connect at first and second common point 18, 20. The common points 18, 20 provide input and output for an AC driving current from a driver of the circuit. The first branch 14 has a first LED 26 and a second LED 28, the first LED 26 being connected to the second LED 28 in opposing series relationship with the inputs of the first and second LEDs 26, 28 defining a first branch junction 34. A second branch 16 has a third LED 30 and a fourth LED 32, the third LED 30 is connected to the fourth LED 32 in opposing series relationship with the outputs of the third and fourth LEDs 30, 32 defining a second branch junction 36. Improvement in performance and scalability is provided by adding n diodes to a given parallel circuit and x cross connecting circuit branch diodes (40, 44) and providing one or more parallel circuits (15) in series and or parallel. An AC-driven LED assembly with discretely packaged LEDs being connected in an AC circuit and being sized preferably substantially 2.5 mm or less in length and width, and more preferably 2.0 mm or less; and being mounted to a substrate at a distance from the other of preferably approximately 3 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or less.
US08179052B2	Reduced power loss in electronic ballasts An electronic ballast is disclosed, in particular for operation of gas-discharge lamps, in which a further power semiconductor is provided in addition to the conventional power semiconductor, and provides the power required for steady-state operation. This avoids the high-power MOSFET transistors, whose power losses are high, also being used for steady-state operation.
US08179050B2	Helicon plasma source with permanent magnets A helicon plasma source has a discharge tube, a radio frequency antenna disposed proximate the discharge tube, and a permanent magnet positioned with respect to the discharge tube so that the discharge tube is in a far-field region of a magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet.
US08179047B2	Method and system for adjusting the frequency of a resonator assembly for a plasma lamp A plasma electrodeless lamp comprises a substantially hollow metallic body, closely receiving two coupling elements, the first coupling element connected to the output of an RF amplifier, and the second coupling element connected to the input of an RF amplifier. The first coupling element is conductively connected (grounded) to metallic lamp body at its top surface, while the second coupling element is not. The lamp further comprises a vertical metallic post, the post being grounded to the metallic lamp body at the post's bottom surface. The lamp further comprises a dielectric sleeve which closely receives the metallic post, and which is in turn closely supported by the lamp body or alternatively or in combination a tuning stub. The lamp further comprises a bulb that is closely received by the metallic post, and that encloses a gas-fill which forms a radiant plasma when excited.
US08179044B2	Plasma display device and fabricating method for the same A plasma display device with lowered discharge voltage by mixing activated carbon with phosphor layers and/or barrier ribs to produce carbon dioxide. The plasma display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are sealed together. A plurality of barrier ribs are on the first substrate for defining a plurality of discharge cells between the first substrate and the second substrate. A phosphor layer is in the plurality of discharge cells, and a gas mixture including carbon dioxide is between the first and second substrates, wherein at least one of the phosphor layer or the plurality of barrier ribs includes an activated carbon.
US08179043B2	Plasma display panel free from yellowing A plasma display panel is formed of a front panel including display electrodes, a dielectric layer, and a protective layer which are formed on a glass substrate, and a rear panel including electrodes, barrier ribs, and phosphor layers all of which are formed on a substrate. The front panel and the rear panel confront each other, and peripheries thereof are sealed to form a discharge space therebetween. The dielectric layer of the front panel contains Bi2O3 and at least CuO and CoO, and the total content expressed in mole % of CuO and CoO falls within a range from 0.03% to 0.3%.
US08179040B2	Display device and manufacturing method of display device In order to provide a display device of high reliability in which an amount of moisture and oxygen, which are a factor for deteriorating a characteristics of a display device, entering from a sealing agent is reduced and its manufacturing method, the present invention has a sealing film. Accordingly, an interlayer insulating film including an organic material of the display device (panel) is no longer exposed to the atmosphere outside of the display device. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent moisture and oxygen outside of the display device from entering inside of the display device through an insulating film and the like including a hygroscopic organic material. In addition, various degradations such as contamination of an inner part of the display device caused by moisture, oxygen and the like, the degradation of electric properties, a dark spot and shrink can be prevented, thus enhancing reliability of the display device.
US08179033B2	Display apparatus A display is provided with: a substrate; a plurality of parallel scan wires extending over the substrate in a first direction; a plurality of parallel data wires extending parallel to a surface of the substrate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; at least one switching element per intersection between the scan wires and the data wires; pixel electrodes connected to the switching elements; at least one phosphor layer provided above the pixel electrodes; and common electrodes provided above the phosphor layer, and the phosphor layer has a polycrystalline structure made of a first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material segregated between grain boundaries in the polycrystalline structure, which is different from the first semiconductor material.
US08179024B2	Piezoelectric transducer device The present invention relates to a transducer device (10), comprising: an acoustic membrane (14); a piezoelectric element (12) mounted to the acoustic membrane; two oppositely arranged elastic damping elements (16a, 16b) between which a peripheral portion (22) of the acoustic membrane is sandwichably supported; and a clamp (28) having two surfaces (30a, 30b) between which the two elastic damping elements are clamped so that the two elastic damping elements are pressed together, whereby the peripheral portion of the acoustic membrane is secured between the two elastic damping elements. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling such a transducer device.
US08179022B2	Piezoelectric device with improved separation between input-output terminals and external connecting terminals A piezoelectric device, having a piezoelectric vibrating piece and a circuit element being electrically connected, is provided with a package for storing inside at least the piezoelectric vibrating piece of the piezoelectric device. The package is made up of a substrate and a cover body, and on the outer surface of the package, an electrode terminal electrically connected to at least the circuit element or the piezoelectric vibrating piece is provided. The electrode terminal includes an external connecting terminal which is electrically connected with an external circuit board and an input-output terminal which is electrically non-connected with the external circuit board, at the time of mounting the package on the external circuit board. The surface of the external connecting terminal and that of the input-output terminal are formed of materials different from each other so that adhesive characteristics to a mounting material such as a solder are varied.
US08179021B2	Piezoelectric resonator with control film to increase a degree of vacuum inside the package Provided are: a piezoelectric oscillation piece which has a pair of oscillation arms disposed in parallel with each other with base ends of the oscillation arms fixed to a base of the piezoelectric oscillation piece and with weight metal films formed at the tips of the oscillation arms; a base substrate on the upper surface of which the piezoelectric oscillation piece is mounted; a lid substrate joined with the base substrate such that the mounted piezoelectric oscillation piece can be accommodated in a cavity; and a control film disposed in the vicinity of the pair of the oscillation arms as viewed in the plan view and formed at least on either of the substrates in such a manner as to extend from the base end side to the tip side in the longitudinal direction of the oscillation arms for increasing the degree of vacuum inside the cavity by heating. The control film is locally deposited on the side surfaces of the oscillation arms in the vicinity of the control film by heating.
US08179020B2	Vibratory actuator and drive device using the same A vibratory actuator is provided in which a movable body can be stably driven even when a groove is formed in an abutment body by the friction between the driver element and the abutment body. An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (4) which performs a longitudinal vibration and a bending vibration, and a driver element (8a, 8b) which is provided on one of side surfaces of the actuator body (4) which is a mounting surface (40a), and performs an orbital motion in accordance with the vibrations of the actuator body (4) to output a driving force. The driver element (8a, 8b) includes a first driver element (8a) and a second driver element (8b) which are provided on the mounting surface (40a) at different positions in a longitudinal direction of the actuator body (4). The first driver element (8a) and the second driver element (8b) are located at different positions in a thickness direction of the actuator body (4).
US08179018B2	Active material actuator regulation utilizing piezoelectric and piezoresistive effect An active material actuator adapted for use in a circuit includes an active material member, and a piezoelectric or piezoresistive element or otherwise force sensing device, wherein the element or device is communicatively coupled to the member and operable to vary the current within the circuit when the member is caused to achieve a predetermined stress, such that, in one aspect, the element presents an overload protection mechanism.
US08179015B2	Dynamoelectric machine An interfitting groove is disposed in a bottom portion of a trough portion so as to have a groove direction that is axial and so as to extend axially outward from axially inside, and a rotation arresting portion housing recess portion is recessed into an axially inner opening edge portion of the interfitting groove on a first yoke portion. A magnet holding seat that holds a permanent magnet is disposed in the trough portion by an interfitting portion being fitted into the interfitting groove such that radial movement is restricted. A rotation arresting portion that is disposed so as to project axially outward from a flange portion of the bobbin is housed inside a space that is constituted by the rotation arresting portion housing recess portion and an external shape reduced portion that extends axially inward from the interfitting groove such that rotation of the bobbin around the shaft is restricted.
US08179007B2	Gimbal A gimbal arrangement comprises a socket (6) having a partially spherical inner surface with a first radius; a ball (2) located within the socket and having a partially spherical outer surface with a second radius smaller than the first radius; a first array of electromagnets (5) mounted at the outer surface of the ball; a second array of electromagnets (7) mounted at the inner surface of the socket (6); and means for supplying power selectively to different ones of the electromagnets of the two arrays to support the ball within the socket in a position where the partially spherical surfaces of the ball and socket are substantially concentric about a common center and to control the orientation of the ball relative to the socket.
US08179001B2	Linear motor armature and linear motor A linear motor armature includes a plurality of armature core blocks that are linearly connected to each other, each armature core block being formed of a stack of a plurality of armature cores that are substantially I-shaped, each armature core block including teeth portions around which armature coils are wound, the teeth portions being provided in two end portions of the armature core block in a longitudinal direction of the armature core block, and a step portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the armature core block, the step portion being provided at a center of the armature core block and having a width larger than a width of the teeth portions, wherein an attachment hole for fixing each of the plurality of armature core blocks to an external armature attachment plate is formed in each of two side portions of the step portion.
US08179000B2	Photovoltaic system with battery and reserve power plant A method for operating a photovoltaic system with a plurality of photovoltaic modules and with a DC motor connected to the photovoltaic modules is proposed. The motor shaft of the DC motor is coupled to a generator shaft of a three-phase generator, wherein the three-phase generator can be connected to a power grid. The motor shaft of a second DC motor can also be connected with the generator shaft, and the electric energy produced by the photovoltaic modules is initially only used for driving a single DC motor and is during the subsequent operation divided between those DC motors. A battery is provided which can be connected with the second DC motor instead of the PV system by changing the excitation of the second DC motor such that it's motor voltage corresponds to the open-circuit voltage of the battery.
US08178996B2	Power supply unit having configurable output voltage ranges As a result of a path being connected to an input terminal to allow a first intermediate voltage from a power-side regulator or another external source that does not pass through the power-side regulator to be selectively inputted into any supply-side regulator, a supply voltage can be generated based on the inputted voltage. Therefore, as a result of the relevant supply-side regulator being connected to a path by which the other external source is inputted, a supply voltage having a voltage value differing from that when the first intermediate voltage is inputted can be generated. As a result of the voltage inputted into the supply-side regulator being changed, only the voltage value of the supply voltage generated by the supply-side regulator is changed. Therefore, the variation of the voltage value of the supply voltage that can be provided by a power supply unit can be changed.
US08178989B2	System and methods for adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine A method of adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is rotatably coupled to a tower. The method includes coupling a yaw drive assembly to the nacelle for adjusting an orientation of the nacelle with respect to a direction of wind. A first sensor that is coupled to the wind turbine transmits at least a first monitoring signal that is indicative of an operating condition of the wind turbine to a control system. A yaw angle of the nacelle with respect to the direction of wind is calculated by the control system based at least in part on the first monitoring signal. The yaw drives assembly is operated to adjust a yaw of the nacelle based at least in part on the calculated yaw angle.
US08178985B2	Engine generator An engine generator having a high-rigidity rigid skeletal member. A bottom cover supports the engine/generator unit. A wall-shaped vertical frame is disposed transversely of the engine generator in a front section of the bottom cover and rising from the bottom cover front section. A T-shaped center frame extends between a rear section of the bottom cover and the vertical frame. The skeletal member includes the bottom cover, the vertical frame and the center frame.
US08178983B2	Water repellant composition for substrate to be exposed, method for forming resist pattern, electronic device produced by the formation method, treatment method for imparting water repellency to substrate to be exposed, water repellant set for substrate to be exposed, and treatment method for imparting water repellency to substrate to be exposed using the same It is an object of the present invention to provide a water repellant composition for a substrate to be exposed which inhibits the back side of a substrate to be exposed from being contaminated by an immersion liquid, can improve adhesion between a film to be processed and an organic film directly overlying that film to inhibit film peeling, and has excellent workability, a method for forming a resist pattern, an electronic device produced by the formation method, a treatment method for imparting water repellency to a substrate to be exposed, a water repellent set for a substrate to be exposed, and a treatment method for imparting water repellency to a substrate to be exposed using the same. A water repellent composition for a substrate to be exposed including at least an organosilicon compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a solvent is used. In the formula, R1 is a monovalent organic group having 14 to 30 carbon atoms, each R2, R3, and R4 is independently a monovalent organic group or a hydrolyzable group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and at least one of R2, R3, and R4 is a hydrolyzable group.
US08178981B2	Semiconductor device The present invention aims at offering the semiconductor device which can improve the strength to the stress generated with a bonding pad. In the semiconductor device concerning the present invention, a plurality of bonding pads are formed on a semiconductor chip. In each bonding pad, a plurality of second line-like metals are formed under the first metal formed using the wiring layer of the top layer. And a bonding pad is put in order and located along the long-side direction of a second metal to achieve the above objects. That is, a bonding pad is put in order and located so that the long-side direction of a second metal and the arrangement direction of a bonding pad may become in the same direction.
US08178980B2	Bond pad structure A bonding pad structure is provided that includes two conductive layers and a connective layer interposing the two conductive layers. The connective layer includes a contiguous, conductive structure. In an embodiment, the contiguous conductive structure is a solid layer of conductive material. In other embodiments, the contiguous conductive structure is a conductive network including, for example, a matrix configuration or a plurality of conductive stripes. At least one dielectric spacer may interpose the conductive network. In an embodiment, the conductive density of the connective layer is between approximately 20% and 100%.
US08178973B2	Copper wire, method for fabricating the same, and thin film transistor substrate with the same The present invention relates to a copper wire in a semiconductor device in which a barrier layer is formed for improving adhesion of a copper wire without any additional fabricating step; a method for fabricating the same, and a flat panel display device with the same. The copper wire includes a barrier layer formed on an underlying structure, and a copper conductive layer on the barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer includes at least one of a Cu2O layer and a CuOxNy layer.
US08178967B2	Low fabrication cost, high performance, high reliability chip scale package The invention provides a new method and chip scale package is provided. The inventions starts with a substrate over which a contact point is provided, the contact point is exposed through an opening created in the layer of passivation and a layer of polymer or elastomer. A barrier/seed layer is deposited, a first photoresist mask is created exposing the barrier/seed layer where this layer overlies the contact pad and, contiguous therewith, over a surface area that is adjacent to the contact pad and emanating in one direction from the contact pad. The exposed surface of the barrier/seed layer is electroplated for the creation of interconnect traces. The first photoresist mask is removed from the surface of the barrier/seed layer. A second photoresist mask, defining the solder bump, is created exposing the surface area of the barrier/seed layer that is adjacent to the contact pad and emanating in one direction from the contact pad. The solder bump is created in accordance with the second photoresist mask, the second photoresist mask is removed from the surface of the barrier/seed layer, exposing the electroplating and the barrier/seed layer with the metal plating overlying the barrier/seed layer. The exposed barrier/seed layer is etched in accordance with the pattern formed by the electroplating, reflow of the solder bump is optionally performed.
US08178959B2	Process for fabricating a semiconductor component support, support and semiconductor device An electrical connection support for receiving a semiconductor component includes an electrical connection plate having electrical connection pads. A stand-off structure is provided over the electrical connection pads. The stand-off structure may include a supplementary layer provided on a zone of the electrical connection plate which includes the electrical connection pads of the plate and is outside of a place configured to receive a semiconductor component. The stand-off structure further includes electrical connection vias passing through the supplementary layer. These vias are electrically connected to the electrical connection pads of the plate and have outer faces for making external electrical connection (for example, to another electrical connection support in a stacked structure).
US08178958B2	Semiconductor device having antenna and method for manufacturing thereof The present invention provides an antenna in that the adhesive intensity of a conductive body formed on a base film is increased, and a semiconductor device including the antenna. The invention further provides a semiconductor device with high reliability that is formed by attaching an element formation layer and an antenna, wherein the element formation layer is not damaged due to a structure of the antenna. The semiconductor device includes the element formation layer provided over a substrate and the antenna provided over the element formation layer. The element formation layer and the antenna are electrically connected. The antenna has a base film and a conductive body, wherein at least a part of the conductive body is embedded in the base film. As a method for embedding the conductive body in the base film, a depression is formed in the base film and the conductive body is formed therein.
US08178953B2	On-chip RF shields with front side redistribution lines A system on chip comprising a RF shield is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system on chip includes a RF component disposed on a chip, first redistribution lines disposed above the system on chip, the first redistribution lines coupled to I/O connection nodes. The system on chip further includes second redistribution lines disposed above the RF component, the second redistribution lines coupled to ground potential nodes. The second redistribution lines include a first set of parallel metal lines coupled together by a second set of parallel metal lines.
US08178952B2	Method of forming high-k dual dielectric stack The present invention discloses a method including: providing a Group III-V component semiconductor material; forming a first layer over a surface of the Group III-V component semiconductor material, the first layer to unpin a Fermi level at the surface; forming a second layer over the first layer, the second layer for scaling an equivalent oxide thickness (EOT); and annealing the first layer before or after forming the second layer to remove bulk trap defects in the first layer.
US08178950B2	Multilayered through a via A method for forming a through substrate via (TSV) comprises forming an opening within a substrate. An adhesion layer of titanium is formed within the via opening, a nucleation layer of titanium nitride is formed over the adhesion layer, and a tungsten layer is deposited over the nucleation layer, the tungsten layer having a thickness less than or equal to a critical film thickness sufficient to provide for film integrity and adhesion stability. A stress relief layer of titanium nitride is formed over the tungsten layer and a subsequent tungsten layer is deposited over the stress relief layer. The subsequent tungsten layer has a thickness less than or equal to the critical film thickness. The method further includes planarizing to expose the interlevel dielectric layer and a top of the TSV and backgrinding a bottom surface of the substrate sufficient to expose a bottom portion of the TSV.
US08178945B2	Programmable PN anti-fuse Structure and method for providing a programmable anti-fuse in a FET structure. A method of forming the programmable anti-fuse includes: providing a p− substrate with an n+ gate stack; implanting an n+ source region and an n+ drain region in the p− substrate; forming a resist mask over the n+ drain region, while leaving the n+ source region exposed; etching the n+ source region to form a recess in the n+ source region; and growing a p+ epitaxial silicon germanium layer in the recess in the n+ source region to form a pn junction that acts as a programmable diode or anti-fuse.
US08178944B2	Method for forming a one-time programmable metal fuse and related structure According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for forming a one-time programmable metal fuse structure includes forming a metal fuse structure over a substrate, the metal fuse structure including a gate metal segment situated between a dielectric segment and a polysilicon segment, a gate metal fuse being formed in a portion of the gate metal segment. The method further includes doping the polysilicon segment so as to form first and second doped polysilicon portions separated by an undoped polysilicon portion where, in one embodiment, the gate metal fuse is substantially co-extensive with the undoped polysilicon portion. The method can further include forming a first silicide segment on the first doped polysilicon portion and a second silicide segment on the second doped polysilicon portion, where the first and second silicide segments form respective terminals of the one-time programmable metal fuse structure.
US08178934B2	Dielectric film with hafnium aluminum oxynitride film The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a dielectric film having a high permittivity. An embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing, on a substrate, a dielectric film including a metallic oxynitride containing an element A made of Hf or a mixture of Hf and Zr, an element B made of Al, and N and O. The manufacturing method includes: a step of forming a metallic oxynitride whose mole fractions of the element A, the element B, and N expressed as B/(A+B+N) has a range of 0.015≦(B/(A+B+N))≦0.095 and N/(A+B+N) has a range of 0.045≦(N/(A+B+N)) and a mole fraction O/A of the element A and O has a range expressed as 1.0<(O/A)<2.0, and having a noncrystalline structure; and a step of performing an annealing treatment at 700° C. or higher on the metallic oxynitride having a noncrystalline structure to form a metallic oxynitride including a crystalline phase with a cubical crystal incorporation percentage of 80% or higher.
US08178932B2	Semiconductor device having transistors A semiconductor device includes a first transistor having a threshold voltage (Vth) adjusted to a first Vth by a first dopant having a first peak of concentration at a first depth; and a second transistor having the same channel-type as that of the first transistor and having a Vth adjusted to a second Vth by a second dopant having a second peak of concentration at a second depth equal to the first depth and higher concentration than the first dopant; wherein the first dopant and the second dopant are dopants comprising the same constituent element.
US08178931B2	Bridge for semiconductor internal node A method and apparatus for forming connections within a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device incorporates a contact bridge between transistor contacts in close proximity. The contact bridge comprises a plurality of metal pillars each having a lower end in electrical contact with first and second transistor elements, respectively; one or more intermediate metal pillars disposed between and in electrical contact with an upper end of the metal pillars; and one or more separation regions of dielectric disposed below the intermediate metal pillar and between the lower ends of the first and second metal pillars.
US08178930B2	Structure to improve MOS transistor on-breakdown voltage A novel MOS transistor structure and methods of making the same are provided. The structure includes a MOS transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type with a plug region of first conductivity type formed in the drain extension region of second conductivity type (in the case of a high voltage MOS transistor) or in the lightly doped drain (LDD) region of second conductivity type (in the case of a low voltage MOS transistor). Such structure leads to higher on-breakdown voltage. The inventive principle applies to MOS transistors formed on bulky semiconductor substrate and MOS transistors formed in silicon-on-insulator configuration.
US08178929B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes an n-type MIS transistor and a p-type MIS transistor. The n-type MIS transistor includes a first gate electrode formed on a first active region and a first sidewall formed on the side face of the first gate electrode. The p-type MIS transistor includes a second gate electrode formed on a second active region, a second sidewall formed on the side face of the second gate electrode and strain layers formed in the second active region. The second sidewall has a smaller thickness than the first sidewall.
US08178927B2	Integrated circuits having a contact structure having an elongate structure and methods for manufacturing the same In an embodiment, an integrated circuit is provided. The integrated circuit may include an active area extending along a first direction corresponding to a current flow direction through the active area, a contact structure having an elongate structure. The contact structure may be electrically coupled with the active area. Furthermore, the contact structure may be arranged such that the length direction of the contact structure forms a non-zero angle with the first direction of the active area.
US08178926B2	Thin film field effect transistor and display A thin film field effect transistor including, on a substrate, at least a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein an electric resistance layer is provided in electric connection between the active layer and at least one of the source electrode or the drain electrode.
US08178921B2	Semiconductor device having reduced standby leakage current and increased driving current and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region which includes a gate forming zone and an isolation region; an isolation layer formed in the isolation region of the semiconductor substrate to expose side surfaces of a portion of the active region including the gate forming zone, such that the portion of the active region including the gate forming zone constitutes a fin pattern; a silicon epitaxial layer formed on the active region including the fin pattern; and a gate formed to cover the fin pattern on which the silicon epitaxial layer is formed.
US08178917B2	Non-volatile semiconductor storage device having memory cells disposed three-dimensionally, and method of manufacturing the same A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes: a plurality of first conductive layers extending in parallel to a substrate and laminated in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; a first insulation layer formed on an upper layer of the plurality of first conductive layers; a first semiconductor layer formed to penetrate the plurality of first conductive layers; and a charge accumulation layer formed between the first conductive layers and the first semiconductor layer. Respective ends of the first conductive layers are formed in a stepwise manner in relation to each other in a first direction. The second layer includes: a plurality of second conductive layers extending in parallel to the substrate and laminated in a direction perpendicular to the substrate, the second conductive layers being formed in the same layer as the plurality of first conductive layers; and a second insulation layer formed on an upper layer of the plurality of second conductive layers. Respective ends of the second conductive layers are formed to align along a straight line extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate at a predetermined area.
US08178916B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of device isolation regions being disposed in an upper-layer portion of the semiconductor substrate, and dividing the upper-layer portion into a plurality of semiconductor portions extending in a first direction; a plurality of charge storage films which are disposed on one of the plurality of the semiconductor portions and spaced apart from one another in the first direction; a block insulating film disposed covering the plurality of charge storage films; and a word electrode disposed on the block insulating film for each of rows of the plurality of charge storage films arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein the block insulating film is disposed continuously in the first direction and in the second direction.
US08178914B2	Method of fabricating back-illuminated imaging sensors A method for fabricating a back-illuminated semiconductor imaging device on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is disclosed. The substrate includes an insulator layer and an epitaxial layer overlying the insulator layer. A bond pad region is formed extending into the epitaxial layer to a surface of the insulator layer. A bond pad is fabricated partially overlying the bond pad region. At least one imaging component is fabricated partially overlying and extending into the epitaxial layer. A passivation layer is fabricated overlying the epitaxial layer, the bond pad, and the at least one imaging component. A handle wafer is bonded to the passivation layer. A portion of the insulator layer and a portion of the bond pad region is etched to expose a portion of the bond pad.
US08178913B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same A hard mask material film is formed on a semiconductor substrate and a recess is formed immediately below an opening in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. Next, a p-type region is formed immediately below the recess by implanting impurities into an imaging region using the hard mask material film as a mask. Moreover, a trench is formed by further processing the recess in a processing region. A half-buried dielectric film and a STI are formed by burying a dielectric material in the recess and the trench to remove the hard mask material film. Next, two electrodes are formed so as to overlap the half-buried dielectric film and the STI, respectively, and impurities are implanted into the imaging region using one electrode and the half-buried dielectric film as a mask, and hence a n-type region constituting a photodiode is formed in a region being in contact with the p-type region in the semiconductor substrate.
US08178907B2	Nanoscopic wire-based electrical crossbar memory-devices and arrays Electrical devices comprised of nanoscopic wires are described, along with methods of their manufacture and use. The nanoscopic wires can be nanotubes, preferably single-walled carbon nanotubes. They can be arranged in crossbar arrays using chemically patterned surfaces for direction, via chemical vapor deposition. Chemical vapor deposition also can be used to form nanotubes in arrays in the presence of directing electric fields, optionally in combination with self-assembled monolayer patterns. Bistable devices are described.
US08178905B2	Layout structure of semiconductor device In a layout structure capable of independent supply of a substrate or well potential from a power supply potential, further reduction in layout area is achieved. A reinforcing power supply cell is inserted in a cell line in which a plurality of cells are arranged in series. Each of the cells includes an impurity doped region for supplying a substrate or well potential NWVDD which is different from a positive power supply potential VDD to a p-type transistor arranging region. The reinforcing power supply cell includes a power supply impurity doped region to which an impurity doped region of an adjacent cell is electrically connected and a power supply wire provided in a wiring layer formed above the power supply impurity doped region and electrically connected to the power supply impurity doped region.
US08178898B2	GaN-based semiconductor element A GaN-based semiconductor element includes a substrate, a buffer layer formed on the substrate, including an electrically conductive portion, an epitaxial layer formed on the buffer layer, and a metal structure in ohmic contact with the electrically conductive portion of the buffer layer for controlling an electric potential of the buffer layer.
US08178897B2	Semiconductor ESD device and method of making same A semiconductor device includes an SCR ESD device region disposed within a semiconductor body, and a plurality of first device regions of the first conductivity type disposed on a second device region of the second conductivity type, where the second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. Also included is a plurality of third device regions having a sub-region of the first conductivity type and a sub-region of the second conductivity type disposed on the second device region. The first regions and second regions are distributed such that the third regions are not directly adjacent to each other. A fourth device region of the first conductivity type adjacent to the second device region and a fifth device region of the second conductivity type disposed within the fourth device region are also included.
US08178896B2	Light emitting element A light emitting device includes a pair of electrodes facing to each other and a phosphor layer which is sandwiched between the pair of electrodes and includes phosphor particles placed therein. The phosphor particles include an n-type nitride semiconductor part and a p-type nitride semiconductor part, the n-type nitride semiconductor part and the p-type nitride semiconductor part are made of respective single crystals having wurtzite-type crystal structures having c axes parallel with each other, and the phosphor particles include an insulation layer provided to overlie one end surface out of their end surfaces perpendicular to the c axes.
US08178891B2	Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing the same Certain embodiments provide a semiconductor light emitting device including: a first metal layer; a stack film including a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type nitride semiconductor layer; an n-electrode; a second metal layer; and a protection film protecting an outer circumferential region of the upper face of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, side faces of the stack film, a region of an upper face of the second metal layer other than a region in contact with the p-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a region of an upper face of the first metal layer other than a region in contact with the second metal layer. Concavities and convexities are formed in a region of the upper face of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer, the region being outside the region in which the n-electrode is provided and being outside the regions covered with the protection film.
US08178889B2	Semiconductor light emitting element having a single defect concentrated region and a light emitting which is not formed on the single defect concentrated region A semiconductor light emitting element includes a substrate 11 having a defect concentrated region 11a which has a crystal defect density higher than in the other region. On the substrate 11, a semiconductor layer 12 is formed. On the defect concentrated region 11a, a first electrode 13 is formed. On the semiconductor layer 12, a second electrode 14 is formed.
US08178884B2	Thin film transistor including compound semiconductor oxide, method of manufacturing the same and flat panel display device having the same A thin film transistor, a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor, and a flat panel display device including the thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode formed on a substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the gate electrode; an activation layer formed on the gate insulating film; a passivation layer including a compound semiconductor oxide, formed on the activation layer; and source and drain electrodes that contact the activation layer.
US08178883B2	Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and fabricating method of the same A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming a gate line, a gate pad, a gate electrode, and a data pad on a substrate through a first mask process, forming a gate insulating layer on a substantial part of an entire surface of the substrate including the gate line, the gate pad, the gate electrode, and the data pad, forming a data line, a source-drain pattern and an active layer on the gate insulating layer and forming a gate pad contact hole and a data pad contact hole in the gate insulating layer through a second mask process, and forming a pixel electrode, a gate pad terminal, a data pad terminal, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an ohmic contact layer through a third mask process.
US08178882B2	Buffer layer for promoting electron mobility and thin film transistor having the same A buffer layer for promoting electron mobility. The buffer layer comprises amorphous silicon layer (a-Si) and an oxide-containing layer. The a-Si has high enough density that the particles in the substrate are prevented by the a-Si buffer layer from diffusing into the active layer. As well, the buffer, having thermal conductivity, provides a good path for thermal diffusion during the amorphous active layer's recrystallization by excimer laser annealing (ELA). Thus, the uniformity of the grain size of the crystallized silicon is improved, and electron mobility of the TFT is enhanced.
US08178879B2	Array substrate for display device and method of fabricating the same An array substrate for a display device includes a gate electrode on a substrate; a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode and having the same plane area and the same plane shape as the gate electrode; an active layer on the gate insulating layer and exposing an edge of the gate insulating layer; an interlayer insulating layer on the active layer and including first and second active contact holes, the first and second active contact holes respectively exposing both sides of the active layers; first and second ohmic contact layers contacting the active layer through the first and second active contact holes, respectively; a source electrode on the first ohmic contact layer; a drain electrode on the second ohmic contact layer; a data line on the interlayer insulating layer and connected to the source electrode; a first passivation layer on the source electrode, the drain electrode and the data line, the first passivation layer, the interlayer insulating layer and the gate insulating layer have a first gate contact hole exposing a portion of the gate electrode; a gate line on the first passivation layer and contacting the gate electrode through the first gate contact hole, the gate line crossing the data line; a second passivation layer on the gate line and having a drain contact hole exposing the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer and contacting the drain electrode through the contact hole.
US08178876B2	Method and configuration for connecting test structures or line arrays for monitoring integrated circuit manufacturing A test chip comprises at least one level having an array of regions. Each region is capable of including at least one test structure. At least some of the regions include respective test structures. The level has a plurality of driver lines that provide input signals to the test structures. The level has a plurality of receiver lines that receive output signals from the test structures. The level has a plurality of devices for controlling current flow. Each test structure is connected to at least one of the driver lines with a first one of the devices in between. Each test structure is connected to at least one of the receiver lines with a second one of the devices in between, so that each of the test structures can be individually addressed for testing using the driver lines and receiver lines.
US08178875B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing same A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of component memory layers stacked on one another. Each of the plurality of component memory layers includes a first wiring, a second wiring provided non-parallel to the first wiring, and a stacked structure unit provided between the first wiring and the second wiring. The stacked structure unit has a memory layer and a rectifying element. The rectifying element has a Schottky junction formed on an interface between an electrode and an oxide semiconductor. The electrode includes a metal and the oxide semiconductor includes a metal.
US08178873B2	Solution processable organic semiconductors Semiconductor devices, methods of making semiconductor devices, and coating compositions that can be used to provide a semiconductor layer within a semiconductor device are described. The coating compositions include a small molecule semiconductor, an insulating polymer, and an organic solvent that can dissolve both the small molecule semiconductor material and the insulating polymer. The small molecule semiconductor is an anthracene-based compound (i.e., anthracene derivative) substituted with two thiophene groups as well as with two silylethynyl groups.
US08178872B2	Molecular device, imaging device, photosensor, and electronic apparatus A molecular device includes a gold electrode, cytochrome c552 or a derivative or variant thereof immobilized on the gold electrode, and an electron transfer protein coupled to the cytochrome c552 or the derivative or variant thereof. Electrons or holes, or both, are transferred through the electron transfer protein by transition of electrons between molecular orbitals of the electron transfer protein.
US08178870B2	Organic electroluminescence element An organic electroluminescence element includes an anode and a transparent electrode cathode. An organic luminescent layer is located between the anode and the cathode. An electron injection layer is located between the cathode and the organic luminescent layer, and includes at least one of an alkali metal and an alkali earth metal to inject electrons into the organic luminescent layer. A cathode buffer layer is located between the electron injection layer and the cathode, and includes a hole-transporting organic material.
US08178868B2	Thin-film laminate and organic transistor using the same An organic transistor includes a semiconductor section that includes a thin-film laminate in which a first organic thin film and a second organic thin film are alternately stacked. The thin-film laminate includes at least two layers of the first organic thin film. The first organic thin film is a pentacene thin film, and the second organic thin film is an amorphous organic thin film. The pentacene thin film may be a pentacene bilayer thin film, and the amorphous organic thin film may be a tetraaryldiamine thin film. The tetraaryldiamine thin film may be an α-NPD thin film. The organic transistor has improved transistor characteristics (e.g., mobility, ON/OFF ratio, or threshold value control).
US08178867B2	Organic light emitting display and fabricating method thereof An organic light emitting display includes an insulating substrate having a first area, a second area, and a third area, an organic layer located in the second area, a pixel electrode located on the organic layer in the first area and the second area, and a partition wall including an opening exposing a portion of the pixel electrode. The organic light emitting display further includes an organic light emitting member located in the opening and a common electrode located on the organic light emitting member. The opening is disposed in the first area, and the third area includes a trench separating the second area from an adjacent second area.
US08178862B2	Junctionless metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor A junctionless metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is described. In one aspect, a transistor device comprises a semiconductor material. The semiconductor material comprises first, second, and third portions. The second portion is located between the first and third portions. The first, second, and third portions are doped with dopants of the same polarity and the same concentration. The transistor device further comprises an electrode connected to the second portion. A current flows between the first and third portions when a voltage is applied to the electrode.
US08178859B2	Proton beam positioning verification method and apparatus used in conjunction with a charged particle cancer therapy system The invention comprises a proton beam positioning method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The proton beam verification system allows for monitoring of the actual proton beam position in real-time without destruction of the proton beam. The system includes a coating or thin layer substantially in contact with a foil covering the end of an exit nozzle or is a layer located after the x- and y-axis proton beam scanning controllers and before the patient. The coating yields a measurable spectroscopic response, spatially viewable by the detector, as a result of transmission by the proton beam. The proton beam position is monitored by the detector and compared to the calibration and/or treatment plan to verify accurate proton delivery to the tumor and/or as a proton beam shutoff safety indicator.
US08178858B2	Device and method for altering the characteristics of three-dimensional shaped parts using electrons and use of said method The invention relates to a device and a method for altering the characteristics of a three-dimensional article by means of electrons, including at least one electron accelerator for generating accelerated electrons and two electron exit windows, wherein the two electron exit windows are arranged opposite one another, wherein the two electron exit windows and at least one reflector delimit a process chamber in which the surface or surface layer of the article are bombarded with electrons, wherein an energy density distribution inside the process chamber can be detected at least over one spatial dimension by means of a sensor system.
US08178855B2	Variable spatial beam modulator For use with an irradiation system including a radiation source operable to produce a radiation beam towards a target, a beam modulator including a flexible, deformable container at least partially filled with a radiation attenuating fluid, a non-deformable first contacting surface in contact with a first portion of the container, the first contacting surface pivotable about a first axis, and a positioner operable to rotate the first contacting surface about the first axis, wherein as the first contacting surface rotates about the first axis, the first contacting surface deforms the container.
US08178853B2	Filters for use in dosimetry Described is an optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensor comprising one or more cylindrical cup-shaped filters.
US08178852B2	Photolytically and environmentally stable multilayer structure for high efficiency electromagnetic energy conversion and sustained secondary emission A multilayer structure for authentication that includes an energy conversion layer, at least one stability enhancement layer and at least one optical variable element is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of creating and using the inventive multilayer structure for authentication.
US08178844B2	Infrared detecting device and manufacturing method thereof An infrared detecting device is provided that is capable of improving device characteristics thereof by narrowing the width of each beam portion. The infrared detecting device has an infrared detection portion having a thermoelectric transducing part formed over a semiconductor substrate via an air gap interposed therebetween, and the beam portions which are formed over the semiconductor substrate via the air gap interposed therebetween, support the infrared detection portion and electrically connect between the infrared detection portion and the semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the beam portions has an insulating material film and a conductive material layer exposed from the insulating material film to a side surface of each beam portion.
US08178843B2	Polycrystalline heterostructure infrared detector A midwave infrared lead salt photodetector manufactured by a process comprising the step of employing molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to grow a heterostructure photoconductive detector with a wide-gap surface layer that creates a surface channel for minority carriers.
US08178842B2	Nanowire bolometer photodetector A photodetector for the detection of radiated electromagnetic energy includes at least one bolometer nanowire disposed at least partially within a photon trap. The at least one nanowire has at least one blackened surface. The blackened surface is configured to absorb radiated electromagnetic energy ranging from far-infrared light to visible light.
US08178840B2	Specimen inspection equipment and how to make the electron beam absorbed current images An object of the present invention is to obtain a clear absorbed current image without involving the difference in gain of amplifier between inputs, from absorbed currents detected by using a plurality of probes and to improve measurement efficiency.In the present invention, a plurality of probes are brought in contact with a specimen. While irradiating the specimen with an electron beam, currents flowing in the probes are measured. Signals from at least two probes are input to a differential amplifier. An output of the differential amplifier is amplified. On the basis of the amplified output and scanning information of the electron beam, an absorbed current image is generated. According to the invention, a clear absorbed current image can be obtained without involving the difference in gain of amplifier between inputs. Thus, measurement efficiency in a failure analysis of a semiconductor device can be improved.
US08178839B2	Method, device and program for estimating particle emitted from radioisotope source, method for estimating radiation detector, method and device for calibrating radiation detector, and radioisotope source When an energy of a particle emitted from a radioisotope source is obtained by a detector, a histogram obtained from a relationship between a difference ΔE between an energy of a particle emitted outside the radioisotope source and an initial energy which the particle possesses at the time of generation and a count is treated as being asymmetric, and an energy distribution (L1) of the particle emitted outside the radioisotope source is obtained, thereby allowing an energy calibration of a radiation detector, absolute quantitation and resolution measurement to be performed with accuracy.
US08178834B2	Ion detection and parameter estimation for N-dimensional data Methods and apparatus for LC/IMS/MS analysis involve obtaining noisy raw data from a sample, convolving the data with an artifact-reducing filter, and locating, in retention-time, ion mobility, and mass-to-charge-ratio dimensions, one or more ion peaks of the convolved data.
US08178831B2	Image display apparatus comprising an enclosure having first and second ducts and shut-off plates for ventilation An enclosure has ducts formed therein and extending in a vertical direction along the left and right side surfaces as viewed from the rear side. The duct is formed in a region defined between a lefthand wall surface of the enclosure and a lefthand partition wall provided in the enclosure and in parallel to the lefthand wall surface. The screen side of the region defined between the lefthand wall surface and the lefthand partition wall is covered with a partition wall, and the opposite side of the region is covered with a cover not shown to serve as an air flow path. The duct is formed in a region defined between a righthand wall surface of the enclosure and a righthand partition wall provided in the enclosure and in parallel to the righthand wall surface. The screen side of the region defined between the righthand wall surface and the righthand partition wall is covered with a partition wall, and the opposite side of the region is covered with a cover not shown to serve as an air flow path.
US08178830B2	Optical pressure switch, door operating system and method A door having a pneumatic sensing edge is operated automatically to open when an object and the edge make contact An optical pressure switch (10) in fluid communication with gas forced from the edge on contact with the object initiates the operation of a door opener The optical pressure switch (10) includes a membrane (16) having a portion that interrupts a light beam (LB) when the membrane (16) flexes due to the increase gas pressure over ambient pressure as gas is forced from the edge.
US08178828B2	Photo-sensing device, photosensor, and display device A photo-sensing device is disclosed, comprising a photoelectric conversion semiconductor thin film, thin films for ohmic contacts to be provided to form an incident light window on one face of the photoelectric conversion semiconductor thin film, first and second ohmic electrodes installed on the thin films for the ohmic contacts, a connection wiring for short-circuiting the first and the second ohmic electrodes, an insulating film provided on the other face of the photoelectric conversion semiconductor thin film, and a first electrode provided on the face of the insulating film that does not contact the photoelectric conversion semiconductor thin film.
US08178825B2	Guided delivery of small munitions from an unmanned aerial vehicle The present invention provides apparatus and methods for accurate guidance of small munitions to a target. The guidance for the small munition is mainly provided by a device external to the small munition, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV may provide external guidance commands by use of a command transmitter to the small munition. The small munition is equipped to receive the guidance commands and consequently use a maneuvering mechanism to react to the guidance commands. The UAV may determine a successful release point of the small munition and track a flight path from a release point toward the target of the small munition using a passive sensor mounted in a gimbaled mount, which is controlled by use of a closed-loop control system. The UAV may be controlled by a ground control device, such as an operator control unit (OCU), to release small munitions.
US08178818B2	Photonic milling using dynamic beam arrays A laser processing system includes a beam positioning system to align beam delivery coordinates relative to a workpiece. The beam positioning system generates position data corresponding to the alignment. The system also includes a pulsed laser source and a beamlet generation module to receive a laser pulse from the pulsed laser source. The beamlet generation module generates a beamlet array from the laser pulse. The beamlet array includes a plurality of beamlet pulses. The system further includes a beamlet modulator to selectively modulate the amplitude of each beamlet pulse in the beamlet array, and beamlet delivery optics to focus the modulated beamlet array onto one or more targets at locations on the workpiece corresponding to the position data.
US08178816B2	Power supply for resistance welding units A device for resistance welding includes a welding clamp housing, a welding transformer, a welding clamp, a welding clamp drive for operating the welding clamp and a power supply using alternating supply voltage. The device may be built as small as possible and may be simple to expand. The power supply is implemented by a main converter and by drive and welding converters. The output of the main converter is connected to the inputs of the drive and welding converters. The inputs of the drive and welding converters are connected to one another. These connections are implemented by an a.c. voltage intermediate circuit.
US08178814B2	Hand-held electro-discharge device The hand-held electro-discharge machining fastener removal device of this invention brings an EDM electrode and its supporting ground pin and dielectric fluid structure to a fastener in a workpiece, such as an aircraft fuselage. The hand-held device brings the dielectric fluid, power supply, and control system structure to the fastener in a compact tool to permit EDM machining to be brought to large structures.
US08178811B2	Method and apparatus for sorting flat objects in a number of sorting passes In a method and device for sorting a quantity of flat objects, especially of mail items, each object passes at least twice through a sorting system with a number of output devices. In each pass of an object the sorting system determines a destination identification of the object and discharges the object depending on the destination identification determined into one of the respective output devices. In the second sorting pass the sorting system groups all objects which are provided with identifications of the same destination into at least one stack such that each stack contains a number of objects and the objects of each stack at least partly overlap each other. The sorting system transports each stack formed in this manner to one of the output devices and discharges it into this output device.
US08178808B2	Breathable sealed dome switch assembly A sealed dome switch assembly is provided to allow air to flow between the interior and the exterior of the dome switch during the collapse and recovery of the resilient dome shell. The sealed dome switch assembly comprises at least one vent leading between the interior space and the exterior space of the sealed dome switch, wherein the vent is covered by a membrane that is permeable to air and resilient to liquid (e.g. water) and small particles (e.g. dirt). A vent may also be used to network the interiors of a plurality of sealed dome switches to at least one exterior entranceway that is covered by the membrane.
US08178800B2	Momentary contact rotary switch device A rotary switch for activating selected functions in a hand held device. One embodiment of the invention provides a rotary switch having a rotatable switch selector. Whenever the switch selector is rotated, it reduces the diameter of a torsion spring causing the torsion spring to contact a switch contact and signal a microprocessor to selectably power a particular circuit or a step in a routine.
US08178798B2	Weighing system including a preload weighing table and clamping device for weighing sequentially fed items Weighing system for weighing sequentially fed items to be weighed, in particular containers, with a weighing table, forming a preload, for receiving the weight of the item to be weighed, wherein the item to be weighed can be fed to the weighing table or removed from the weighing table along a path running across the weighing cell and wherein a clamping device, with which the item to be weighed, after it has been fed to the weighing table and impinges thereon with its weight, can be clamped detachably against a stop of the clamping device to enable being weighed in the clamped state, is provided above the weighing table as a preload.
US08178797B2	Hermetically sealed scale platform A hermetically sealed scale for use in a weighing scale. A scale of the present invention may include a load receiving plate and a bottom plate, between which is sandwiched a supporting rib structure that preferably includes a plurality of perimeter members that form sealed upright sides of the scale. The supporting rib structure, load receiving plate and bottom plate cooperate to form a substantially rigid and hermetically sealed sandwich structure. The load receiving plate may be joined to the supporting rib structure by perimeter welding or another bonding technique that permits the joining material to be subsequently shaped to form a smooth transition between the load receiving plate and the perimeter members of the scale.
US08178792B2	Combined environmental-electromagnetic rotary seal A combined environmental and electromagnetic rotary seal. The invention is adapted for use between two mutually rotating components of an electromagnetic energy transmission system and provides simultaneous protection against contamination from the environment and unwanted electromagnetic leakage. In the illustrative embodiment, a first set of grooves is cut into the exterior of a first conductive cylindrical component whose interior contains a portion of a millimeter-wave beam waveguide energy transmission system, the grooves comprising the electromagnetic portion of the seal and a second set of grooves is cut into the interior of the conductive housing enclosing the first conductive cylindrical component. The second set of grooves comprises the environmental portion of the seal when a set of standard environmental seals (such as elastomeric o-ring seals) are seated in each groove in the second set of grooves and each seal is compressed between the groove in which it is seated and the exterior of the first conductive cylindrical component. The environmental seals maintain a nearly uniform annular gap between the first conductive cylindrical component and the conductive housing such that the two conductors do not make physical contact.
US08178790B2	Interposer and method for manufacturing interposer An interposer and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The interposer includes a substrate and a conductor portion formed inside the substrate. At least one insulating layer is formed on the substrate and on the conductor portion. A signal wiring portion is formed inside the insulating layer or on the insulating layer. A first pad is configured to receive an electronic part, and is formed on an outermost insulating layer of the at least one insulating layer. A connection conductor is formed in the at least one insulating layer so as to electrically connect the conductor portion to the first pad.
US08178789B2	Wiring board and method of manufacturing wiring board A wiring board assembly and a method of making a wiring board assembly. The wiring board assembly includes a first wiring board having a first substrate, a non-pliable second substrate having a smaller mounting area than a mounting area of the first substrate and a base substrate laminated between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first substrate extends beyond an edge of the second substrate. At least one via formed in at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate. A second wiring board includes a pliable member connecting the first wiring board to the second wiring board.
US08178774B2	Electric stringed instrument with interchangeable pickup assembly and method for upgrading ordinary electric stringed instruments An electronic instrument comprising at least one receptacle which is configured to insertably receive interchangeable pickup assemblies and which is positioned relative to at least one suspended and taut vibrating element, and whereby the interchangeable pickup assembly is electrically connected and removably secured to the instrument's body via an electric contact.
US08178770B2	Information processing apparatus, sound analysis method, and program An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a beat analysis unit for detecting positions of beats included in an audio signal, a structure analysis unit for calculating similarity probabilities, each being a probability of similarity between contents of sound of beat sections divided by each beat position detected by the beat analysis unit, and a chord progression detection unit for determining a likely chord progression of the audio signal based on chord probabilities determined according to the similarity probabilities calculated by the structure analysis unit, each chord probability being a probability of each type of chord for each beat section.
US08178759B2	Barely with reduced SSII activity and starch and starch containing products with a reduced amylopectin content Barley with reduced SSII activity has a starch structure with reduced amylopectin content and a consequent high relative amylose content. Additionally the grain can have a relatively high β glucan content. The structure of the starch may also be altered in a number of ways which can be characterized by having a low gelatinzation temperature but with reduced swelling. The viscosity of gelatinized starch of the starch is also reduced. There is a chain length distribution of the amylopectin content and a low crystallinity of the starch. The starch is also characterized by having high levels of lipid associated starch exhibiting very high levels of V form starch crystallinity. The dietary fiber content of the starch is high. This has desirable dietary and food processing characteristics.
US08178757B2	Tomato line PSQ24-2008 The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PS02431185 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PS02431185 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08178754B1	Soybean variety XB29L10 A novel soybean variety, designated XB29L10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB29L10, cells from soybean variety XB29L10, plants of soybean XB29L10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB29L10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB29L10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB29L10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB29L10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB29L10 are further provided.
US08178748B2	Absorbent article An absorbent article for wearing in an undergarment. The absorbent article can include a nonwoven. The nonwoven can have a nonwoven body facing surface. The nonwoven can have a main body portion and pair of spaced apart flaps associated with the main body portion. Part of the main body portion can have a hydrophilic zone that is more hydrophilic than a portion of the flaps. The absorbent article can have film having a film garment facing surface wherein at least part of the film garment facing surface faces the nonwoven body facing surface.
US08178746B2	Delivery device A delivery device for a sanitary article includes an encapsulating material with a first layer and a second layer, enclosing an additive in a space formed by these layers of encapsulating material. The delivery device also includes a third layer, positioned above the second layer of encapsulating material. The third layer extends beyond and thereby covers substantially all of the edges of the second layer of encapsulating material. The third layer may also extend into and throughout the space formed between the first and second layers of encapsulating material that enclose the additive. The third layer thereby protects the user of a product comprising the delivery device from contact with the edges of the second layer of encapsulating material and also provides a means for attaching the delivery device to an article to keep it in place during transport storage and use. The invention also relates to sanitary articles, such as hygiene tissues and absorbent articles, containing the delivery device.
US08178742B2	Method for in situ reclamation of an area contaminated by organic compounds Method for in situ reclamation of an area contaminated by organic compounds, comprising: introducing at least one chelating agent into said area; allowing said chelating agent to diffuse through said area; introducing at least one stabilizing agent; introducing an aqueous solution comprising at least one peroxide.
US08178740B2	Olefin upgrading process A process for the use in the oligomerization of olefins is presented. The process produces a gasoline boiling range product having a high research octane number and almost no aromatics content. The process utilizes a solid catalyst comprising a zeolite that is treated with a phosphorous containing reagent to generate a catalyst having phosphorous content between 0.5 and 15 wt %.
US08178733B2	Method of making chlorohydrins Methods and systems for the preparation of chlorohydrins are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins into the chlorinating phase. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce chlorination time.
US08178731B2	Process for producing triphenylene compound and crystal obtained by the process An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing high-purity hydroxytriphenylenes in which not only inexpensive raw materials can be used but also no complicated steps of deprotection such as dealkylation, and reduction and the like are necessary, and which is thereby advantageous in industrial production. Also there is provided a novel crystal of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene monohydrate, which has satisfactory thermal stability. The process for producing a compound represented by the general formula (2) is characterized by reacting a compound represented by the general formula (1) in the presence of a metal oxide comprising a metal selected from trivalent iron, pentavalent vanadium and hexavalent molybdenum and of a nonvolatile strong acid: wherein, Rs are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
US08178729B2	Hydroformylation process Disclosed is a process for hydroformylation of α-olefin wherein said α-olefin is reached with carbon monoxide or carbon monoxide and hydrogen and/or a reducing agent in presence of a catalyst complex based on a rhodium precursor and a ligand mixture comprising at least 1% by weight of trphenylphosphine and at least 5% by weight of diphenylcyclohexylphosphine, tris-(o-tolyl)phosphine, tris-(p-tolyl)phosphine or (2-methyl-phenyl)diphenylphospine.
US08178723B2	Process for preparing amides from alcohols and amines The present invention provides a process for preparing amides, by reacting a primary amine and a primary alcohol in the presence of a Ruthenium catalyst, to generate the amide and molecular hydrogen. According to the process of the invention, primary amines are directly acylated by equimolar amounts of alcohols to produce amides and molecular hydrogen (the only byproduct) in high yields and high turnover numbers. This reaction is catalyzed by a Ruthenium complex, which is preferably based on a dearomatized PNN-type ligand of formula A1 or precursors thereof of formulae A2 or A3. Use of diamines in the reaction leads to bis-amides, whereas with a mixed primary/secondary amine substrate, chemoselective acylation of the primary amine group occurs.
US08178721B2	Processes for the production of L-citrulline Processes for producing a suitable purity grade of L-Citrulline are disclosed. The processes can include contacting crude L-Citrulline in an aqueous solution with an adsorptive medium at a temperature above approximately 50° C. and below the temperature of denaturement for the L-Citrulline for an interval sufficient to remove at least one contaminant from the L-Citrulline. The processes can also include concentrating the dissolved L-Citrulline relative to the aqueous solution.
US08178720B2	Method for producing unsaturated aldehyde and unsaturated carboxylic acid Disclosed is a method of a gas-phase catalytic oxidation reaction of propylene, isobutylene, or tertiary butanol with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to produce a corresponding unsaturated aldehyde and a corresponding unsaturated carboxylic acid, in which the catalyst can be used over a long period of time. Concretely, in the presence of the catalyst containing a complex oxide including molybdenum, bismuth and iron as essential components, at least one factor of a reaction pressure and a molar ratio of molecular oxygen to a raw material is controlled to change in such a way that a rate of reaction of the raw material is kept constant in the temperature range of from (TA−15)° C. to TA° C., when a boundary temperature of the activation energy of the catalyst is set to be TA° C.
US08178718B2	Catalyst for oxidation of saturated and unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated carboxylic acid, method of making and method of using thereof The invention is a supported or bound heteropoly acid catalyst composition, a method of making the catalyst composition and a process for the oxidation of saturated and/or unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated carboxylic acids using the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition has a heteropoly acid component containing molybdenum, vanadium, phosphorus and cesium and support/binder having a surface area of about 0.1 m2/g to about 1.0 m2/g. The catalyst is made by dissolving compounds of the components of each of the heteropoly acid compounds in a solution, precipitating the heteropoly acid compounds, contacting the heteropoly acid compounds to form a catalyst precursor and calcining the catalyst precursor to form a heteropoly acid compound catalyst. Unsaturated aldehydes, such as methacrolein, may be oxidized in the presence of the heteropoly acid compound catalyst to produce an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as methacrylic acid.
US08178713B2	Sulfur-containing phospholipid derivatives The present invention provides a lipid compound comprising at least one non-polar moiety and a polar moiety, wherein each or at least one non-polar moiety is of the formula X—Y—Z—, wherein X is a hydrocarbyl chain, Y is selected from at least one of S, Se, SO2, SO, and O, and Z is an optional hydrocarbyl group, wherein the polar moiety is of the formula —[C(O)]mPHG, wherein PHG is a polar head group, and wherein m is the number of non-polar moieties.
US08178710B2	Silyl (meth)acrylate compound containing a siloxy group having a bulky substituent and its production method A silyl (meth)acrylate compound containing a siloxy group having a bulky substituent is provided. The compound is represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are independently a C3-10 monovalent branched hydrocarbon group having a hydrocarbon group at α or β position or a monovalent C3-10 cyclic hydrocarbon group; R3, R4, and R5 are independently an unsubstituted or substituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group or a siloxy group represented by the following general formula (2): —OSiR7R8R9 (2) wherein R7, R8, and R9 are independently an unsubstituted or substituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group; and R6 is hydrogen atom or methyl group. This compound is hydrolyzed at a reduced speed, and use of a polymer obtained by copolymerization with an alkyl methacrylate is capable of suppressing attachment of marine organisms to the ship with no or reduced biocide, and this polymer is useful for a hydrolytic self-polishing paint.
US08178704B2	Inositol-phosphate derivatives and method of detecting inositol-1-phosphate The present invention relates to inositol phosphate derivatives, in which the inositol phosphate is substituted with one or two reactive groups G or one or two conjugated substances or molecules M, said reactive group(s) G or said substance(s) or molecule(s) M being linked to IP1 via a linkage group L, M being chosen from the following group: a tracer, an immunogen, a member of a binding partner pair, a solid support.Application: tools allowing the study of the inositol phosphate cycle and therefore, indirectly, the study of seven transmembrane domain receptors coupled to phospholipase C, receptors having a tyrosine kinase activity, and in general enzymes involved in the variations of the intracellular concentration of IP1.
US08178703B2	Methods for production of polyols from oils and their use in the production of polyesters and polyurethanes Methods to convert biobased oils, oil derivatives, and modified oils to highly functionalized esters, ester polyols, amides, and amide polyols. The products can be used to make polyurethane and polyester films and foams.
US08178700B2	Method of preparing cyclic carbonates, cyclic carbamates, cyclic ureas, cyclic thiocarbonates, cyclic thiocarbamates, and cyclic dithiocarbonates A method of preparing a cyclic monomer, comprising: forming a first mixture comprising a precursor compound, bis(pentafluorophenyl) carbonate, and a catalyst; wherein the precursor compound has a structure comprising a) two or more carbons, and b) two functional groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, thiol group, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; and agitating the first mixture at a temperature effective to form a second mixture comprising the cyclic monomer, the cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic carbonate, a cyclic carbamate, a cyclic urea, a cyclic thiocarbonate, a cyclic thiocarbamate, and a cyclic dithiocarbonate.
US08178694B2	Heterocyclylaminoalkyl substituted benzimidazoles Heterocyclylaminoalkyl Substituted Benzimidazoles Inhibitors of RSV replication of formula (I): The salts and stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein Q is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl optionally substituted with a heterocycle or Q is C1-6alkyl substituted with both —OR4 and a heterocycle; wherein said heterocycle is oxazolidine, thiazolidine, 1-oxo-thiazolidine, 1,1-dioxothiazolidine, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxothiomorpholinyl, hexahydrooxazepine, hexahydrothiazepine, 1-oxo-hexahydrothiazepine, 1,1-dioxo-hexahydrothiazepine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, homopiperidine, piperazine; which heterocyle may be substituted with 1-2 substituents; each Alk is C1-6alkanediyl; R1 is Ar or optionally substituted piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazo lyl, oxadiazolyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzthiazolyl, pyridopyridyl, naphthiridinyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl, 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl or 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dioxino[2,3-b]pyridyl; R3 is hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonyl-C1-6-alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminocarbonyl-C1-6-alkyl, carboxyl-C1-6-alkyl, C1-6alkoxycarbonyl-C1-6 alkyl; R2, R4 and R5 are hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; Het is pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothienyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazo lyl, benzthiazolyl, pyridopyridyl, naphthiridinyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]-pyridinyl, 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dioxino[2,3-b]pyridyl; Ar is optionally substituted phenyl; pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds (I) and processes for preparing compounds (I).
US08178693B2	N3 alkylated benzimidazole derivatives as MEK inhibitors Disclosed are compounds of the Formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein A, R1, R2, R7, R8, and R9 are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, in mammals. Also disclosed is a method of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases in mammals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US08178692B2	Methods for production of 1,2,4-triazol-3-one Novel methods for producing 1,2,4-triazol-3-one from semicarbazide hydrochloride and formic acid are provided. In methods of this invention, ethanol is used in removal of unreacted formic acid to increase yield and purity of produced 1,2,4-triazol-3-one.
US08178689B2	Tricyclic compounds The present invention provides novel compounds of formula I, wherein the substituents are as those disclosed in the specification. These compounds, and the pharmaceutical compositions containing them, are useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases and disorders such as, for example, type II diabetes mellitus.
US08178685B2	Pesticides Compounds having the following generic formula are disclosed.
US08178684B2	Substituted nicotinamides as KCNQ2/3 modulators The invention relates to substituted nicotinamides, to processes for their preparation, to medicaments comprising these compounds and to the use of these compounds in the preparation of medicaments.
US08178683B2	Antimicrobial ortho-fluorophenyl oxazolidinones for treatment of bacterial infections The present invention provides certain ortho-fluorophenyl oxazolidinones of the following formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof that are antibacterial agents, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use, and methods for preparing these compounds.
US08178681B2	3-carbamoyl-2-pyridone derivatives The present invention provides compounds having an agonistic activity to the cannabinoid receptor, which is represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is optionally substituted C1-C8 alkyl and the like; R2 is C1-C6 alkyl; R3 is C1-C6 alkyl and the like; or R2 and R3 taken together with may form an optionally substituted 5 to 10 membered non-aromatic carbon ring; R4 is hydrogen and the like; G is a group selected from the groups shown by the formula an the like: wherein R5 is hydrogen and the like; X1 is a single bond and the like; X2 is optionally substituted C1-C8 alkylene that may be replaced by one or two groups of —O—, or —N(R6)—, wherein R6 is hydrogen and the like, and the like; X3 is a single bond and the like; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions, atopic dermatitis treating agents, and anti-pruritus agents, especially anti-pruritus agents for oral used and for external application, which each contains the said compound as an active ingredient.
US08178680B2	Process for the preparation of Montelukast and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts An improved process for the preparation of Montelukast and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts comprises of reacting (S) Benzenepropanol α-[3-[2-(7-chloro2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl ethyl)-α-methane sulfonate compound of formula (II) with 1-(mercapto methyl)cyclo propane acetic acid or its ester or nitrile in presence of alkali or alkaline carbonates and/or alkali or alkaline earth metal alkoxide in a suitable polar aprotic solvent with or without combination of C1-C4 alcoholic solvents and then treating with organic amine in a suitable ester and/or acetone and/or aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and converting the corresponding amine salt compound of montelukast into its sodium salt compound of formula (I) using sodium ion source in methanol, without converting into montelukast free acid.
US08178676B2	Pyridinium boronic acid quenchers for use in analyte sensors Novel pyridinium salts functionalized with boronic acid and methods of making them are disclosed. When combined with a fluorescent dye, the compounds are useful in the detection of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules.
US08178670B2	Method of synthesizing tetrahydrobiopterin The present disclosure provides a method that efficiently produces (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin of Formula I in high yield and purity. The method includes the step of hydrolyzing diacetylbiopterin to biopterin under basic conditions in a biphasic mixture comprising an organic phase and an aqueous phase. After substantially complete hydrolysis of diacetylbiopterin, the aqueous phase containing biopterin can be separated from the organic phase containing most of the organic impurities, which avoids the time-consuming step of isolating biopterin as a solid. The aqueous solution containing biopterin is stereoselectively hydrogenated to (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin under basic conditions and high hydrogen pressure in the presence of a metal catalyst (e.g., a platinum catalyst). To improve the purification of an acid addition salt of (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (e.g., (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin dihydrochloride), any residual salts (e.g., sodium salts) in the aqueous solution after the hydrogenation reaction can be removed by contacting the aqueous solution with an ion (e.g., cation) exchange resin or column. Alternatively, removal of residual salts from the aqueous solution can be omitted if an organic amine (e.g., diethylamine or triethylamine) rather than an inorganic base is used in the hydrolysis and/or hydrogenation reactions.
US08178667B2	Benzyl-substituted quinolone M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators The present invention is directed to benzyl-substituted quinolone compounds of general formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved.
US08178659B2	Targets for the identification of antibiotics that are not susceptible to antibiotic resistance To identify conserved and variable regions of the 16 S rRNA, an instant evolution experiment was performed on the entire 16 S rRNA. Analysis of these mutants identified regions that are required for function. These conserved sequences may be used as targets for pharmaceuticals that are taxonomically specific and which are refractory to the development of drug resistance.
US08178658B2	Pesticidal compositions The invention disclosed in this document is related to the field of pesticides and their use in controlling pests. A compound having the following structure is disclosed.
US08178657B2	Polypeptide sequence involved in the modulation of the immunosuppressive effect of viral proteins The present invention relates to a polypeptide having a sequence of 7 to 20 amino acid residues, which is capable of modulating the immunosuppressive properties of a viral protein or a fragment thereof, against the host in which it is expressed (immunosuppression-modulatory sequence) when it substitutes the homologous sequence of the viral protein or fragment, the polypeptide including the minimum following consensus amino acid sequence: X1Y9Y10Y11CY12X2 wherein, X1 and X2 are selected to impact on the immunosuppressive properties, and Y9 to Y12 represent variable amino acid residues.
US08178655B2	Method and composition for crystallizing G protein-coupled receptors Certain embodiments provide a method for crystallizing a GPCR. The method may employ a fusion protein comprising: a) a first portion of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), where the first portion comprises the TM1, TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 regions of the GPCR; b) a stable, folded protein insertion; and c) a second portion of the GPCR, where the second portion comprises the TM6 and TM7 regions of the GPCR.
US08178651B2	Somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs Disclosed is a series of somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs which retain both somatostatin and dopamine activity in vivo. An example is: 6-n-propyl-8β-ergolinglmethylthioacetyl-D-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Abu-Cys)-Thr-NH2.
US08178649B2	Immunostimulatory compositions and uses thereof The present invention provides novel immuno-stimulatory polypeptides, and methods for their use and identification.
US08178648B2	Diaminium bis-3,5-dicarboxybenzensulfonate and tri-diaminium bis-3,5-dicarboxybenzensulfonate and methods for producing same A composition of matter comprising a diamine salt and sulfoisophthalic acid in a ratio other than one salt to one acid and a process for producing a diamine salt of sulfoisophthalic acid comprising generating a sulfoisophthalic acid and charging the sulfoisophthalic acid with diamine.
US08178644B2	Impact-resistant polyurethane The present invention teaches a new process to produce novel, hard, optically clear, impact-resistant polyurethane polymers that are characterized by excellent thermo mechanical properties and chemical resistance, and the polymers made as a result of such a process. The polyurethanes are made by reacting a) a prepolymer made by reacting a polyisocyanate with a primary amine-terminated polyether with an amine functionality of about 2 and a molecular weight of >1000, and in which the free —NCO content of the resulting prepolymer is >18% by weight; with b) (i) a polyol having an average hydroxyl functionality greater than or equal to 2 and an average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from about 300 to about 1,000, and (ii) a curing agent that has isocyanate reactive groups, a functionality of 2 to 3 and a molecular weight of <400. More preferably the prepolymer is made by reacting a cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate with a primary amine-terminated polyether diamine of 2000 to about 2500 molecular weight, the polyol is either a polyester polyol triol with a molecular weight of between about 540 and 900, or a polyether glycol with a molecular weight of between about 650 and 2000, or a polyester polyol diol with a molecular weight of up to 2,000, and the curing agent is either dianhydrohexitol, an aromatic diamine, an aromatic ring containing diol or a cyclohexanedimethanol.
US08178643B2	Molded polymeric structural members and compositions and methods for making them A polymer casting formulation for producing molded polymeric structural members comprises a liquid mixture that contains a polyisocyanate component comprising at least two polyisocyanates; and an isocyanate-reactive component comprising at least two isocyanate-reactive compounds, which formulation cures to form a polyurethane. Methods of using the casting formulation to produce molded polymer structural members and the structural members that are produced by such a method are also described.
US08178640B2	Polyvinyl chloride formulations An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US08178637B2	Controlled polymerization The present invention discloses an emulsion polymerization process that comprises: (1) preparing an aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a polymerization control agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous polymerization medium; and (2) initiating polymerization of said monomer within the aqueous polymerization medium. The subject invention more specifically reveals an emulsion polymerization process that comprises: (1) preparing a monomer solution which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a conjugate acid of a surfactant with a pKa of less than 14, and (c) a controlled free radical polymerization agent; (2) preparing an aqueous medium which is comprised of (a) water, and (b) a conjugate base of a weak acid wherein the pKb of the base is less than 14; and (3) mixing the monomer solution with the aqueous medium under conditions that result in the in-situ formation of an emulsifier, and (4) initiating free radical polymerization.
US08178632B2	Propylene polymers Propylene polymers having specific values of total comonomer content and melting temperature, articles obtained therefrom, in particular extrusion blow molded articles, and gas-phase process for obtaining said propylene polymers.
US08178630B2	Inorganically modified polyester binder preparation, process for production and use thereof The present invention relates to a preparation comprising at least one specific oligomeric siloxane component and at least one polymer component, to processes for producing it and to its use in formulations, more particularly metal coating formulations.
US08178628B2	Aliphatic polyester resin composition and method for production thereof The present invention relates to an aliphatic polyester resin composition having excellent hydrolysis resistance, added to an aliphatic polyester resin (A), a reactive monomer (B) (e.g. a monocarbodiimide compound) and a reactive polymer (C) (e.g. a polycarbodiimide compound).
US08178626B2	Method for producing modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, and rubber composition The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises a step of reacting a conjugated diene based (co)polymer with a metal halide compound to obtain a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, the conjugated diene based (co)polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 2,000,000 and being obtained by bonding, to a polymer having at least a conjugated diene unit, an alkoxysilyl group and an optionally protected primary amino group. The method can satisfactorily produce a conjugated diene based (co)polymer which has a high Mooney viscosity, excellent shape stability and good processability.
US08178620B2	Surface modifying macromolecules with high degradation temperatures and uses thereof The invention relates to surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) having high degradation temperatures and their use in the manufacture of articles made from base polymers which require high temperature processing. The surface modifier is admixed with the base polymer to impart alcohol and water repellency properties.
US08178619B2	(Meth) acrylic polymer and vinyl chloride resin composition containing the same The present invention provides a (meth)acrylic polymer containing 15 to 65 parts by weight of a polymer (A) having a specific viscosity of 0.90 to 2.00 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; 20 to 75 parts by weight of a polymer (B) having a specific viscosity of 0.40 or more and less than 0.90 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; and 1 to 30 parts by weight of a polymer (C) having a specific viscosity of 0.80 to 2.00 and containing 0 to 60 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 40 to 100 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 20 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these (the total of the polymer (A), the polymer (B), and the polymer (C) is 100 parts by weight).
US08178617B2	Antimicrobial constructs The invention is based on the recognition that known antimicrobial compounds, such as nisin or other lantibiotics, can be made to form a long lasting antimicrobial surface coating by linking the peptide with a block polymer, such as PLURONIC® F108 or an end group activated polymer (EGAP) in a manner to form a flexible tether and/or entrap the peptide. The entrapped peptide provides antimicrobial action by early release from entrapment while the tethered peptide provides longer lasting antimicrobial protection. Antimicrobial gels and foams may be prepared using the antimicrobial peptide containing block copolymers.
US08178616B2	Emulsion coating agent composition and coated products thereof An emulsion coating agent composition containing: (A) one hundred parts by weight of an organosilicone resin obtained by hydrolysis and/or condensation of a mixture of a silicone oil having both reactive terminals represented by X—[R2Si—O—]m—R2Si—X (R is selected from monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing one to twenty carbon atoms and/or aryl groups, and each R is same or different groups, X is a hydrolyzable group and/or an OH group, and m is a natural number from three to one hundred), a silane and/or a silicone in which the organosilicone resin containing a continuous linear chain structure indicated by —[R2Si—O—]m+1— (R and m are both identical to the R and m in the formula showing the silicone oil with both reactive terminals), and 5 mole % to 60 mole % of the total Si atoms in the organosilicone resin form the chain-like continuous structure; (B) one part by weight to fifty parts by weight of an emulsifier; and (C) twenty-five parts by weight to two thousand parts by weight of water.
US08178615B2	Process for making polymers having nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer The present invention is directed toward a method for making a polymer that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer. The method of the invention involves the following steps: mixing a precursor solution for the polymer with a precursor for the nanostructures to form a mixture; forming nanostructures in the mixture from the precursor of the nanostructures; and forming a polymer from the precursor solution of the polymer so that the nanostructures are incorporated into the polymer matrix.
US08178611B2	Polymer composition [Object] To provide a polymer composition composed of a functional liquid compound and a polymer, in which the functional liquid compound is phase-separated from but dispersed in the polymer, and a molded product of the polymer composition at lower prices.[Solution] A polymer composition of the present invention includes: a thermoplastic matrix polymer X; a block copolymer Y dispersed in the matrix polymer X; and an additive Z containing an organic compound which is liquid at a melting point of the matrix polymer X or a solution of the organic compound, wherein any two of the matrix polymer X, the block copolymer Y and the organic compound are phase-separated, the block copolymer Y includes a block Y1 which is composed of polymerized monomers having a ring structure and a block Y2 which is composed of monomers different from the monomers of the block Y1, and the organic compound has an intramolecular ring structure or a ring structure formed in a molecule or between molecules due to intermolecular interaction, the organic compound being bleeding-out in the block copolymer Y dispersed in the matrix polymer X.Selected Figure]None
US08178603B2	Flameproofed impact-modified polycarbonate compositions The present disclosure relates to an impact-modified polycarbonate composition which comprise a first graft polymer containing silicone/acrylate composite rubber as the graft base, wherein the content of silicone rubber is 65-95 wt. % (based on the graft base), a second graft polymer containing a diene rubber, and phosphorus-containing flameproofing agent, the use of the polycarbonate compositions for the production of shaped articles and the shaped articles themselves. The compositions and molding compositions according to the disclosure have an optimum combination of good flameproofing at thin wall thicknesses, good resistance to chemicals and hydrolysis and low melt viscosity.
US08178602B2	Functional surface coating Compositions and methods of preparing functional thin films or surface coatings with low non-specific binding are described. The thin films contain specified functional groups and non-specific binding repellant components. The thin films are either covalently bound to or passively adsorbed to various solid substrates. The specified functional group provides specified activity for the thin film modified solid surfaces and non-specific binding repellant components significantly reduce the non-specific binding to the thin film modified solid surfaces. Non-specific binding repellant components do not affect specified functional group's activity in the thin films. In these methods, specified functional groups are anchored to the solid substrates through a spacer. Surface coatings are also described having both non-specific protein binding properties combined with functional groups for specific binding activity thereby providing surface coating that specifically recognize target proteins but limit binding to non-specific protein.
US08178596B2	Polyacrylamide delivery product The PAM delivery product is a solid form of polyacrylamide polymer (PAM). Among other things, the PAM delivery product can be used to prevent ruts formed during center-pivot irrigation, prevent erosion of irrigation ditches, clarify wastewater, and assist seed germination and seedling establishment. The PAM delivery product includes pure PAM and water to create a solid “loaf.” Water-soluble calcium (Ca) can also be added to the PAM delivery product depending on the specific application for the PAM delivery product. When Ca is used in the PAM delivery product, it is present in a 9:1 ratio to the PAM There are no fixing agents needed in the PAM delivery product; it is pure active ingredient.
US08178586B2	Method for reducing the viscosity of viscous fluids A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O—moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.
US08178584B2	Water-in oil emulsified composition The present invention relates to a water-in-oil emulsified composition containing a sphingosine represented by the following formula (1): (R1 represents a hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent; Y represents methylene, methine or O; X1, X2 and X3 each represent H, OH or acetoxy group; X4 represents H, acetyl group or the like; R2, R3 each represents H, OH or the like; R represents H, amidino group or the like; and a stands for 2 or 3), (B) a C6-30 fatty acid, and (C) an oil component. This water-in-oil emulsified composition has excellent stability and provides a good feeling to skin upon use.
US08178579B2	Dioxanes and uses thereof In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents and efficient methods for the synthesis thereof, the present invention provides novel compounds of general formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, n, X and Y are as defined herein. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further provides compounds capable of inhibiting histone deacetylatase activity and methods for treating disorders regulated by histone deacetylase activity (e.g., cancer and protozoal infections) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) to a subject in need thereof. The present invention additionally provides methods for modulating the glucose-sensitive subset of genes downstream of Ure2p. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention.
US08178577B2	Tricyclic derivatives as potent and selective histone deacetylase inhibitors The present invention relates to certain tricyclic derivatives which are capable of inhibiting histone deacetylases. The compounds of this invention are therefore useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal histone deacetylase activities. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of treating diseases utilizing pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed.
US08178573B2	Compounds The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and the use of the compounds for the manufacture of a medicament, particularly for the treatment of inflammation and/or allergic conditions.
US08178571B2	Unsubstituted and substituted 4-benzyl-1,3-dihydro-imidazole-2-thiones acting as specific or selective alpha2 adrenergic agonists and methods for using the same Compounds of Formula 1 where the variables have the meaning defined in the specification are used to activate alpha2 adrenergic receptors. The compounds of Formula 1 are incorporated in pharmaceutical compositions and are used as medicaments in mammals, including humans, for treatment of diseases and or alleviations of conditions which are responsive to treatment by agonists of alpha2 adrenergic receptors.
US08178567B2	Insecticidal substituted amino heterocyclic and heteroaryl derivatives Certain substituted amino heterocyclic and heteroaryl derivatives have provided unexpected insecticidal and acaricidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula (I): wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, A, B and Q are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of an additional compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.
US08178565B2	Multi-substituted pyridyl sulfoximines and their use as insecticides Multi-substituted pyridyl sulfoximines are useful as insecticides.
US08178564B2	Use of picoplatin to treat colorectal cancer The invention provides a method of treatment of colorectal cancer by administration of the anti-cancer platinum drug picoplatin in conjunction with 5-FU and leucovorin in a variety of treatment regimens. Dosages, dosing schedules, and ancillary treatments are described.
US08178560B2	Therapeutic agents useful for treating pain A compound of formula: where Ar1, Ar2, X, R3, and m are as disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound”); compositions comprising an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound; and methods for treating or preventing pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, IBS, an addictive disorder, Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, a seizure, a pruritic condition, psychosis, a cognitive disorder, a memory deficit, restricted brain function, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, retinopathy, a muscle spasm, a migraine, vomiting, dyskinesia, or depression in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound are disclosed herein.
US08178559B2	Organic compounds 3,4-substituted piperidine compounds, these compounds for use in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of a warm-blooded animal, especially for the treatment of a disease (=disorder) that depends on activity of renin; the use of a compound of that class for the preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of a disease that depends on activity of renin; the use of a compound of that class in the treatment of a disease that depends on activity of renin; pharmaceutical formulations comprising a 3,4-substituted piperidine compound, and/or a method of treatment comprising administering a 3,4substituted piperidine compound, a method for the manufacture of a 3,4-substituted piperidine compound, and novel intermediates and partial steps for their synthesis are disclosed. The 3,4-disubstituted piperidine compounds have the formula (I), wherein the symbols have the meanings defined in the specification.
US08178558B2	Substituted pyridylmethyl bicycliccarboxyamide compounds This invention relates to novel substituted pyridylmethyl bicyclocarboxamide compounds and to their use in therapy. These compounds are particularly useful as modulators of the VR1 (Type I Vanilloid) receptor, and are thus useful for the treatment of pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, nerve injury, burns, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, neuritis, sciatica, pelvic hypersensitivity, bladder disease, inflammation, or the like in mammals, especially humans.
US08178553B2	Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory disorders This invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or isomer thereof, which can be useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs, ADAMs, TACE, aggrecanase, TNF-α or combinations thereof.
US08178552B2	7-Azaindole derivatives and their use in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase The present invention provides a compound of formula (I); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the use of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity and the use in medicine and particularly in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory diseases and/or and autoimmune diseases. The invention also provides processes for the manufacture of said compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and compositions containing them.
US08178551B2	Orally bioavailable prodrugs of (+)-3-hydroxymorphinan for Parkinson'S disease prevention or treatment The present invention is directed to a novel prodrug of (+)-3-hydroxymorphinan compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a method for preparing the same, and its use for preventing or treating Parkinson's disease.
US08178548B2	Anti-infective agents and uses thereof This invention relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, inhibit HCV; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions.
US08178545B2	Dual small molecule inhibitors of cancer and angiogenesis The present invention provides analogs and derivatives of thalidomide which inhibit cancer and angiogenesis. The present invention further provides compounds which disrupt microtubule polymerization. The present further provides methods of treating cancers comprising mutant p53.
US08178544B2	2, 3-diamino-quinazolinone derivatives and their medical use This invention provides 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds of Formula (I) stereoisomers thereof, pharmaceutically-acceptable addition salts thereof, and N-oxides thereof, wherein the variables are as defined in the specification. The 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds have medical utility. The 2,3-diamino-quinazolinone compounds can be used for the manufacture of medicaments, including pharmaceutical compositions. This invention also provides methods of treating disorders, diseases, or conditions which are responsive to activation of Kv7 channels.
US08178541B2	8-[3-amino-piperidin-1-yl]-xanthines, the preparation thereof and their use as pharmaceutical compositions The present invention relates to substituted xanthines of general formula wherein R1 to R3 are as defined herein, the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures, the prodrugs thereof and the salts thereof which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibiting effect on the activity of the enzyme dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV).
US08178539B2	Substituted 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-1,2a,4a,8-tetraazacyclopenta[cd]phenalenes and methods Substituted 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-1,2a,4a,8-tetraazacyclopenta[cd]phenalene-9-amines, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds or salts thereof, intermediates, methods of making the compounds or salts thereof, and methods of use of these compounds or salts thereof or pharmaceutical compositions as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08178537B2	Solid state forms of varenicline salts and processes for preparation thereof Salts and crystalline forms of several salts of Varenicline, i.e., Varenicline sulfate: are provided, along with methods of preparing the solid states and processes for preparing Varenicline base from those Varenicline salts.
US08178533B2	2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives, processes for preparing them and their uses The present invention concerns 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US08178530B2	Imidazolopyrazine compounds useful for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases Novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, arthritis, inflammation, and others.
US08178525B2	FXA inhibitors with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone as P4 subunit, processes for their preparations, and pharmaceutical compositions and derivatives thereof Disclosed are novel oxazolidinone derivatives with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone group, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, methods for preparing the same and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The oxazolidinone derivatives with cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone group or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be effectively used for the treatment of thromboembolism and tumor as an anticoagulant based on the inhibition of factor Xa.
US08178524B2	Noribogaine in the treatment of pain and drug addiction The present invention is directed to methods of treating patients for pain by administering noribogaine. Noribogaine may also be used to treat patients for the symptoms associated with withdrawal from drug dependency. In the latter case, the noribogaine treatment should be supplemented with the administration of an opioid antagonist such as naloxone.
US08178516B2	Compositions and method for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases This invention defines novel compositions that can be used for clinical treatment of a class of chronic inflammatory diseases. Increased generation of carbonyl substances, namely aldehydes and ketones, occurs at sites of chronic inflammation and is common to the etiologies of all of the clinical disorders addressed herein. Such carbonyl substances are cytotoxic and additionally serve to perpetuate and disseminate the inflammatory process. This invention defines use of compositions, the orally administered required primary agents of which are primary amine derivatives of benzoic acid capable of covalently reacting with the carbonyl substances. p-Aminobenzoic acid (or PABA) is an example of the required primary agent of the present invention. PABA has a small molecular weight, is water-soluble, has a primary amine group which reacts with carbonyl-containing substances and is tolerated by the body in relatively high dosages for extended periods. The method of the present invention includes administration of a composition comprising: (1) an orally consumed therapeutically effective amount of at least one required primary agent; (2) at least one required previously known medicament co-agent recognized as effective to treat a chronic inflammatory disease addressed herein administered to the mammalian subject via the oral route; and (3) one or more additional orally consumed required co-agent selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, vitamins, metabolites at risk of depletion, sulfhydryl co-agents, co-agents which may facilitate glutathione activity and nonabsorbable primary amine polymeric co-agents; so as to produce an additive or synergistic physiological effect of an anti-inflammatory nature.
US08178514B2	Inositol pyrophosphates, and methods of use thereof The present invention comprises compounds, compositions thereof, and methods capable of delivering modified inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) comprising an internal pyrophosphate ring to the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions thereof, and methods that enhance the ability of mammalian red blood cells to deliver oxygen, by delivering IHP to the cytoplasm of the red blood cells.
US08178507B2	Method for the modulation of function of transcription factors There is provided a method of modulating the function of transcription factor by administering an effective amount of an oligonucleotide containing optimal nucleotide binding sites for the transcription factor. A therapeutic agent having an effective amount of an oligonucleotide for modulating function of transcription factors and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is also provided. Also provided is a treatment of patients having illnesses in which the activation of transcription factors play a role by administering to a patient an effective amount of an oligonucleotide which competitively binds the related transcription factor.
US08178504B2	Gene therapy expression of GHRH for increasing RBC count in subjects The present invention pertains to compositions and methods useful for treating anemia and other effects that are commonly associated in cancer bearing animals. The invention is accomplished by delivering an effective amount of a nucleic acid expression construct that encodes a GHRH or functional biological equivalent thereof into a tissue of an animal and allowing expression of the encoded gene in the animal.
US08178503B2	Ribonucleic acid interference molecules and binding sites derived by analyzing intergenic and intronic regions of genomes In one aspect of the invention, a method for regulating the expression of a transcript comprises using at least one interfering RNA molecule that binds to an area of transcript containing a region that corresponds to at least one sequence having SEQ ID NO: 1, the interfering RNA molecule regulating the expression of the transcript through post-transcriptional silencing. In another aspect, a method for regulating the expression of a transcript comprises at least one of the provided sequences having SEQ ID NO: 1 being used to design an interfering RNA molecule that contains a region that corresponds to the reverse complement of one or more sequences having SEQ ID NO: 1, the interfering molecule regulating, through post-transcriptional silencing, transcripts that contain the sequence having SEQ ID NO: 1.
US08178502B2	Effective treatment of esophogeal adenocarcinoma using triciribine and related compounds The inventors have determined, contrary to the prior art and experience, how to successfully use triciribine to treat esophogeal adenocarcinoma by one or a combination of (i) administering triciribine only to patients which according to a diagnostic test described below, exhibit enhanced sensitivity to the drug; (ii) use of a described dosage level that minimizes the toxicity of the drug but yet still exhibits efficacy; or (iii) use of a described dosage regimen that minimizes the toxicity of the drug.
US08178501B2	Antibiotic combinations for providing total solution to the treatment of infections The invention relates to a new pharmaceutical composition, a method of treatment of infection and also a process to prepare the composition. The infectious complications are important causes of morbidity and mortality. Hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) remains the most severe nosocomial infection in intensive care units. Beta-lactams alone are always considered inadequate when P. aeruginosa and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus are implicated as pathogens or copathognes. The present invention provides the desired empirical therapy for control of all bacterial infections. The invention provides antibiotic combination products for delivering at least two different antibiotics, through parenteral dosage form comprising protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is amikacin or its sulphate salt and non-protein-synthesis-inhibiting antibiotic which is cefepime or its hydrochloride salt. The invention provides a total solution, against multiresistant P. aeruginosa, or Acinetobacter spp. and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and are useful for intramuscular or intravenous administration as antibiotics for hospitalized patients with acute or serious infections. The pharmaceutical compositions described here normally have the least nephrotoxicity and have better efficacy and safety of cefepime plus amikacin combination.
US08178497B2	Method of treating HIV in drug resistant non plasma viral reservoirs with monomeric DAPTA Residual HIV-1 replication reemerges after intensive therapy from location or locations in the body called the drug resistant non-plasma viral reservoir. Methods are disclosed of treating HIV by inhibiting or blocking this reemergence with various monomeric therapeutic peptide compositions including monomeric DAPTA prepared in least 80% trifluoroethanol, with vigorous shaking for at least about 24 hours at about 37° C.
US08178496B2	Photoreactive regulator of glutamate receptor function and methods of use thereof The present invention provides a synthetic regulator of glutamate receptor function, which regulator is a light-sensitive (photoreactive) regulator. The present invention further provides a light-regulated glutamate receptor that includes a subject synthetic regulator non-covalently associated with the glutamate receptor. Also provided are cells and membranes comprising a subject light-regulated glutamate receptor. The present invention further provides methods of modulating glutamate receptor function, involving use of light. The present invention further provides methods of identifying agents that modulate glutamate receptor function.
US08178493B2	Method for inducing angiogenesis in a heart of a patient The present invention has multiple aspects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a unit dose pharmaceutical composition comprising from about 5 ng/dose to less than 135,000 ng of an angiogenic agent, typically from 5 ng to 67,500 ng. Preferably, the angiogenic agent is FGF, more preferably it is basic FGF (FGF-2). In its second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for inducing angiogenesis, or increasing myocardial perfusion or vascular density in a patient's heart, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area in need, as a single injection or a series of injections, a unit dose of an angiogenic agent. It is also within the scope of the present invention that a plurality of unit dose compositions be administered directly into the myocardium at a plurality of sites in need of angiogenesis. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for treating a patient for coronary artery disease, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area of need of angiogenesis in said patient, a unit dose (i.e., from about 5 ng to less than 135,000 ng) of an angiogenic agent. In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for treating a patient for a myocardial infarction, comprising administering directly into the myocardium in an area in need of angiogenesis in said patient, a unit dose (i.e., from about 5 ng to less than 135,000 ng) of an angiogenic agent.
US08178490B2	Polybasic bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and therapeutic uses thereof Disclosed are compounds having polybasic functionalities. The compounds inhibit bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and are used in combination with an anti-bacterial agent to treat or prevent bacterial infections. These combinations can be effective against bacterial infections that have developed resistance to anti-bacterial agents through an efflux pump mechanism.
US08178486B2	Method for promoting hair growth A method is provided of promoting hair growth in a subject includes applying to the skin of the subject a composition including lactoferrin in an amount effective for at least one of proliferating and activating hair follicles in the hypodermis of skin of the subject.
US08178485B2	Hexahydro ethanochromenes and related compounds and their use in fragrance compositions The present invention relates to novel compounds and their use in fragrance compositions. Novel hexahydro ethanochromene and related hexahydro ethanochromane compounds of the present invention are represented by formula: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 and R2′ are identical and are hydrogen or methyl; R3 and R3′ are identical and are hydrogen or methyl; R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or methyl; R6 is methyl, ethyl, or isopropyl, with the proviso that when R1 is H, R2 and R3′ form an alkylene bridge containing 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and wherein the broken line represents a single or double bond.
US08178482B2	Cleaning compositions for microelectronic substrates A stripping and cleaning composition for cleaning microelectronics substrates, the composition comprising: at least one organic stripping solvent, at least one nucleophilic amine, at least one non-nitrogen containing weak acid in an amount sufficient to neutralize from about 3% to about 75% by weight of the nucleophilic amine such that the stripping composition has an aqueous pH of from about 9.6 to about 10.9, said weak acid having a pK value in aqueous solution of 2.0 or greater and an equivalent weight of less than 140, at least one metal-removing compound selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol and diethylene glycolamine, and water, and method for cleaning microelectronic substrates with these compositions.
US08178478B2	Lubricating oil compositions An internal combustion engine crankcase lubricating oil composition is disclosed. The crankcase lubricating oil composition has a TBN no greater than 6 and contains the following additives: (B1) a metal detergent system having a metal ratio no greater than 3, as the sole detergent system; (B2) an organic ashless friction modifier; (B3) an oil-soluble molybdenum friction modifier; and (B4) a metal dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate.
US08178475B2	Surfactant materials and coatings for weighting agents for use in oil based drilling fluids A wellbore fluid that includes an oleaginous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous phase; and a polymeric additive formed by mixing at least one lipophilic monomer and at least one crosslinking agent, wherein the at least one lipophilic monomer is at least one of an epoxide-functionalized derivative of at least one selected from soybean oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cashew nut shell oil; perilla oil, tung oil, oiticia oil, safflower oil, poppy oil, hemp oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic triglycerides, triglycerides of euphorbia plants, peanut oil, olive oil, olive kernel oil, almond oil, kapok oil, hazelnut oil, apricot kernel oil, beechnut oil, lupine oil, maize oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, lallemantia oil, castor oil, herring oil, sardine oil, menhaden oil, whale oil, tall oil, and synthetic aliphatic or aromatic ethers, and the at least one crosslinking agent includes at least one selected from amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, carbanions, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof is disclosed.
US08178473B2	Superconductive magnet for persistent current and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed are a superconductive magnet manufactured by winding a thin superconductive rod wire in a coil without joint for maintaining a persistent current mode, and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes winding both ends of a superconductive rod wire (10) on a first bobbin (21) and a second bobbin (22) respectively; forming a first unit rod wire (10a) and a second unit rod wire (10b) by slitting the superconductive rod wire (10) in the lengthwise direction; producing a pancake coil by winding the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) on third bobbins (25) in one direction; and arranging the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) such that magnetic fields (B, B′) in the same direction are generated from the pancake coil, by reversing one of the third bobbins (25) on which the first and second unit rod wires (10a, 10b) are wound.
US08178472B2	Superconducting device and method of manufacturing the same The present invention provides a superconducting device including a substrate, a first superconducting pattern formed on the substrate, an insulating pattern formed on the first superconducting pattern, and a second superconducting pattern formed at the uppermost level in the multilayered superconducting pattern. A barrier layer of a Josephson junction is formed on the lower side of, or within the second superconducting pattern. The second superconducting pattern constitutes a circuit element on the insulating pattern.
US08178470B2	Adducts of amines and polycarboxylic acids, and filter media comprising such adducts Herein are disclosed adducts of amines and polycarboxylic acids, and methods of making such adducts. Such adducts can be used to remove cyanogen chloride. Also disclosed are methods of providing such adducts on supports to form filter media. Also disclosed are methods of combining such filter media with catalysts and/or with porous polymeric webs to form filter systems.
US08178469B1	Highly efficient catalyst using precious metal A catalyst for purifying exhaust gas in vehicles may include a precious metal and porous structures that serve as a supporting material for the precious metal. The porous structures are comprised of a plurality of channels which are connected with each other by a plurality of bridges. The channels may have multiple entrances that allow reactants to pass through and react with the precious metal.
US08178464B2	Isocyanate prepolymer catalysts and related curing processes Isocyanate prepolymer catalysts and processes for rapidly curing isocyanate prepolymers are disclosed herein. Substrates coated with the isocyanate prepolymers are treated with a drying agent and water, which combine to form a hydrated catalyst complex. Co-catalysts, such as organo tins, may be used to further enhance the curing rate.
US08178459B2	Corrosion-resistant member and method of manufacturing same A corrosion-resistant member includes a ceramic member containing yttrium oxide as a main component, containing cerium element, and obtained by firing under a nonoxidizing atmosphere. The corrosion-resistant member that has high corrosion-resistant characteristics and includes a ceramic member having a low volume resistivity can be provided.
US08178458B2	Dielectric ceramic composition A dielectric ceramic composition is disclosed. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention comprises BaTiO3 as the main component and one or more subcomponents. The one or more subcomponents include Sc2O3, MgCO3, BaSiO3, MnCO3, La2O3, CO3O4 and NiO. An end product of the present invention may be formed after BaTiO3 and the subcomponents undergo the following steps: (1) Wet mixing using a ball mill (2) Sintering in a reducing atmosphere (3) Annealing. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention can satisfy the X8R characteristic of the EIA standard and is compact or dense enough.
US08178454B2	Optical glass and optical apparatus using the same An optical glass includes a substance A generating light of a wavelength λ2 when irradiated with light of a wavelength λ1 and a substance B generating light of a wavelength λ3 when irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 in the case where the optical glass includes 5-50 ppm Fe with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, and 30-60% La2O3, by weight, or the relation of the wavelength λ1, the wavelength λ2, and the wavelength λ3 is assumed to be λ1<λ2<λ3 with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing; at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, 30-60% La2O3, 0-15% RO (R=Zn, Sr, Ba), 0-40% Ln2O3 (Ln=Y, Gd), and 0-30% total of ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5, by weight.
US08178446B2	Strained metal nitride films and method of forming A method for forming a strained metal nitride film and a semiconductor device containing the strained metal nitride film. The method includes exposing a substrate to a gas containing a metal precursor, exposing the substrate to a gas containing a first nitrogen precursor configured to react with the metal precursor with a first reactivity characteristic, and exposing the substrate to a gas pulse containing a second nitrogen precursor configured to react with the metal precursor with a second reactivity characteristic different than the first reactivity characteristic such that a property of the metal nitride film formed on the substrate changes to provide a strained metal nitride film.
US08178442B2	Method of forming patterns of semiconductor device A method in the fabrication of a semiconductor device simultaneously forms different patterns on the same level of the device. The device has a first area and a second area. A low density mask pattern of at least one relatively wide topographic feature is formed on the second area, a plurality of relatively narrow topographic features is formed on the first area, first spacers are formed on side walls of the narrow topographic features in the first area, the relatively narrow topographic features are removed, and the patterns of the first spacers and the relatively wide topographic feature(s) are simultaneously transcribed in the first and second areas, respectively.
US08178441B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate insulating layer, a gate and a protective layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a spacer on lateral sides of the protective layer and the gate, forming one or more junction regions in the semiconductor substrate at sides of the gate, partially filling a gap between adjacent gates by selectively forming a conductive layer on an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate between the adjacent gates, forming an insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate so as to fill a full height of the gap between the adjacent gates, and forming a contact hole partially exposing the conductive layer by etching the insulating layer.
US08178435B2	High performance system-on-chip inductor using post passivation process A system and method for forming post passivation inductors, and related structures, is described. High quality electrical components, such as inductors and transformers, are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.
US08178433B2	Methods for the formation of fully silicided metal gates An advanced gate structure that includes a fully silicided metal gate and silicided source and drain regions in which the fully silicided metal gate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the silicided source/drain regions is provided. Methods of forming the advanced gate structure are also provided.
US08178422B2	Method of measurement in semiconductor fabrication Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side, the device substrate having a first refractive index, forming an embedded target over the front side of the device substrate, forming a reflective layer over the embedded target, forming a media layer over the back side of the device substrate, the media layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and projecting radiation through the media layer and the device substrate from the back side so that the embedded target is detected for a semiconductor process.
US08178419B2	Method to texture a lamina surface within a photovoltaic cell It is advantageous to create texture at the surface of a photovoltaic cell to reduce reflection and increase travel length of light within the cell. A method is disclosed to create texture at the surface of a silicon body by reacting a silicide-forming metal at the surface, where the silicide-silicon interface is non-planar, then stripping the silicide, leaving behind a textured surface. Depending on the metal and the conditions of silicide formation, the resulting surface may be faceted. The peak-to-valley height of this texturing will generally be between about 300 and about 5000 angstroms, which is well-suited for use in photovoltaic cells comprising a thin silicon lamina.
US08178418B1	Method for fabricating intra-device isolation structure A method for fabricating intra-device isolation structure is provided, including providing a semiconductor substrate with a mask layer formed thereover. A plurality of first trenches is formed in the semiconductor substrate and the mask layer. A first insulating layer is formed in the first trenches. The mask layer is partially removed to expose a portion of the first insulating layer in the first trenches. A protection spacer is formed on a sidewall surface of the portion of the first insulating layer exposed by the mask layer to partially expose a portion of the mask layer between the first insulating layer. An etching process is performed to the mask layer exposed by the protection spacer and the semiconductor substrate thereunder, and a plurality of second trenches is formed in the semiconductor substrate and the mask layer. A second insulating layer is formed in the second trenches. The protection spacer, the mask layer, the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer over a top surface of the semiconductor substrate are then removed.
US08178414B2	NMOS architecture involving epitaxially-grown in-situ N-type-doped embedded eSiGe:C source/drain targeting An NMOS transistor is formed with improved manufacturability. An embodiment includes forming N-type doped embedded silicon germanium containing carbon (eSiGe:C) in source/drain regions of a substrate, and amorphizing the eSiGe:C. The use of eSiGe:C provides a reduction in extension silicon and dopant loss, improved morphology, increased wafer throughput, improved short channel control, and reduced silicide to source/drain contact resistance.
US08178411B2	Method for producing a stop zone in a semiconductor body and semiconductor component having a stop zone A method for producing a buried stop zone in a semiconductor body and a semiconductor component having a stop zone, the method including providing a semiconductor body having a first and a second side and a basic doping of a first conduction type. The method further includes irradiating the semiconductor body via one of the sides with protons, as a result of which protons are introduced into a first region of the semiconductor body situated at a distance from the irradiation side. The method also includes carrying out a thermal process in which the semiconductor body is heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time duration, the temperature and the duration being chosen such that hydrogen-induced donors are generated both in the first region and in a second region adjacent to the first region in the direction of the irradiation side.
US08178410B1	Method for fabricating a semiconductor power device A method for forming a power device includes the following steps. An epitaxial layer is formed on a substrate. A pad layer and hard mask are formed on the epitaxial layer. A trench is etched into the hard mask, the pad layer, and the epitaxial layer. The hard mask is removed. A buffer layer is formed on the sidewall of the trench. The trench is then filled with a dopant source layer comprising plural dopants. A drive-in process is performed to diffuse the dopants into the epitaxial layer through the buffer layer, thereby forming a diffusion region around the trench.
US08178409B2	Semiconductor device with alternately arranged P-type and N-type thin semiconductor layers and method for manufacturing the same The invention is related to a semiconductor device with alternately arranged P-type and N-type thin semiconductor layers and method for manufacturing the same. For P-type device, the method includes trench formation, thermal oxide formation on trench sidewalls, N-type silicon formation in trenches, N-type impurity diffusion through thermal oxide into P-type epitaxial layer, oxidation of N-type silicon in trenches and oxide removal. In the semiconductor device, N-type thin semiconductor layers are formed by N-type impurity diffusion through oxide to P-type epitaxial layers, and trenches are filled with oxide. With this method, relatively low concentration impurity in high voltage device can be realized by current mass production process, and the device development cost and manufacturing cost are decreased.
US08178408B2	Methods of manufacturing charge trap-type non-volatile memory devices Some methods are directed to manufacturing charge trap-type non-volatile memory devices. An isolation layer pattern can be formed that extends in a first direction in a substrate. A recess unit is formed in the substrate by recessing an exposed surface of the substrate adjacent to the isolation layer pattern. A tunnel insulating layer and a charge trap layer are sequentially formed on the substrate. The tunnel insulating layer and the charge trap layer are patterned to form an isolated island-shaped tunnel insulating layer pattern and an isolated island-shaped charge trap layer pattern by etching defined regions of the substrate, the isolation layer pattern, the tunnel insulating layer, and the charge trap layer until a top surface of the charge trap layer that is disposed on a bottom surface of the recess unit is aligned with a top surface of the isolation layer pattern. A blocking insulating layer is formed that covers the charge trap layer pattern, the isolation layer pattern, and a defined region of the substrate interposed between the charge trap patterns. A gate electrode pattern is formed on the blocking insulating layer to face the charge trap layer pattern. This manufacturing process may reduce charge spreading between unit memory cells and/or may prevent/avoid reduction in the breakdown voltage of the blocking insulating layer.
US08178407B2	Systems and methods for a high density, compact memory array A memory array comprising vertical memory cells does not require any isolation layers between cells. Thus, a very compact, high density memory array can be achieved. Each memory cell in the memory array is configured to store 4 bits of data per cell. Multi-level charge techniques can be used to increase the number of bit per cell and achieve further increased density for the memory array.
US08178403B2	Method of producing precision vertical and horizontal layers in a vertical semiconductor structure The present invention relates to providing layers of different thickness on vertical and horizontal surfaces (15, 20) of a vertical semiconductor device (1). In particular the invention relates to gate electrodes and the formation of precision layers (28) in semiconductor structures comprising a substrate (10) and an elongated structure (5) essentially standing up from the substrate. According to the method of the invention the vertical geometry of the device (1) is utilized in combination with either anisotropic deposition or anisotropic removal of deposited material to form vertical or horizontal layers of very high precision.
US08178400B2	Replacement spacer for tunnel FETs A semiconductor fabrication method includes depositing a dummy gate layer onto a substrate, patterning the dummy gate layer, depositing a hardmask layer over the dummy gate layer, patterning the hardmask layer, etching a recess into the substrate, adjacent the dummy gate layer, depositing a semiconductor material into the recess, removing the hardmask layer, depositing replacement spacers onto the dummy gate layer, performing an oxide deposition over the dummy gate layer and replacement spacers, removing the dummy gate and replacement spacers, thereby forming a gate recess in the oxide and depositing a gate stack into the recess.
US08178397B2	Field effect transistor A field effect transistor including a gate insulation portion, an organic semiconductor portion, a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein when a voltage is applied to the gate at 70° C. for 5.0±0.1 hours so that the field strength in the gate insulation portion would be 100±5 MV/m, the change in the threshold voltage is within 5 V. The organic semiconductor portion has a high driving stability, of which the change in characteristics by driving is thereby small.
US08178395B2	Method of making a semiconductor chip assembly with a post/base heat spreader with a thermal via A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post, a base, a support layer and an underlayer, wherein the post extends above the base and the support layer is sandwiched between the base and the underlayer, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post into an opening in the adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the adhesive including aligning the post with an aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the adhesive upward between the post and the conductive layer, solidifying the adhesive, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, a terminal and a selected portion of the conductive layer, providing a heat spreader that includes the post, the base, the underlayer and a thermal via that extends from the base through the support layer to the underlayer, then mounting a semiconductor device on the post, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08178392B2	Electronic system with expansion feature An electronic system is provided including forming a substrate having a radiating patterned pad, mounting an electrical device having an external interconnect over the radiating patterned pad with the external interconnect offset from the radiating patterned pad, and aligning the external interconnect with the radiating patterned pad.
US08178390B2	Semiconductor component and production method A semiconductor component is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor component includes a semiconductor chip, which is arranged on a substrate, and a housing, which at least partially surrounds the semiconductor chip. The substrate is at least partly provided with a layer of polymer foam.
US08178385B2	Phase change memory that switches between crystalline phases A phase change memory may transition between two crystalline states. In one embodiment, the phase change material is a chalcogenide which transitions between face centered cubic and hexagonal states. Because these states are more stable, they are less prone to drift than the amorphous state conventionally utilized in phase change memories.
US08178384B1	Interfacial architecture for nanostructured optoelectronic devices An optoelectronic apparatus, a method for making the apparatus, and the use of the apparatus in an optoelectronic device are disclosed. The apparatus may include an active layer having a nanostructured network layer with a network of regularly spaced structures with spaces between neighboring structures. One or more network-filling materials are disposed in the spaces. At least one of the network-filling materials has complementary charge transfer properties with respect to the nanostructured network layer. An interfacial layer, configured to enhance an efficiency of the active layer, is disposed between the nanostructured network layer and the network-filling materials. The interfacial layer may be configured to provide (a) charge transfer between the two materials that exhibits different rates for forward versus backward transport; (b) differential light absorption to extend a range of wavelengths that the active layer can absorb; or (c) enhanced light absorption, which may be coupled with charge injection.
US08178383B2	Touch-sensing display device and method for manufacturing the same A display device and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a touch-sensing element, and a liquid crystal. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface thereon. The second substrate has a pixel array and is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate. The touch-sensing element locates on the first surface of the first substrate. Furthermore, the touch-sensing element includes a conductive layer, a patterned electrode, and a passivation layer. The patterned electrode is correspondingly located on the periphery of the first substrate, and electrically connected to the conductive layer. The passivation layer covers the conductive layer and the patterned electrode. In addition, the liquid crystal is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08178378B2	Method of manufacturing vertical nitride semiconductor light emitting diode A vertical nitride-based semiconductor LED comprises a structure support layer; a p-electrode formed on the structure support layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the p-electrode; an active layer formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer; an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; an n-electrode formed on a portion of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer; and a buffer layer formed on a region of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer on which the n-electrode is not formed, the buffer layer having irregularities formed thereon. The surface of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer coming in contact with the n-electrode is flat.
US08178377B2	Method for fabricating lED chip comprising reduced mask count A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. In the method, a half-tone mask process, a gray-tone mask process or a multi-tone mask process is applied and combined with a lift-off process to further reduce process steps of the light emitting diode chip. In the present invention, some components may also be simultaneously formed by an identical process to reduce the process steps of the light emitting diode chip. Consequently, the fabricating method of the light emitting diode provided in the present invention reduces the cost and time for the fabrication of the light emitting diode.
US08178376B2	Method for fabricating LED chip comprising reduced mask count and lift-off processing A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. In the method, a half-tone mask process, a gray-tone mask process or a multi-tone mask process is applied and combined with a lift-off process to further reduce process steps of the light emitting diode chip. In the present invention, some components may also be simultaneously formed by an identical process to reduce the process steps of the light emitting diode chip. Consequently, the fabricating method of the light emitting diode provided in the present invention reduces the cost and time for the fabrication of the light emitting diode.
US08178375B2	Method of determining compound ratio of compound semiconductor for light generating device A method of manufacturing a light generating device with required wavelength is disclosed. According to the method, a) a required wavelength is determined. b) A polar angle and an azimuthal angle corresponding to the required wavelength in a nitride semiconductor are determined. Then, c) a nitride semiconductor crystal is grown according to the polar angle and the azimuthal angle. Therefore, a light generating device with required wavelength may be manufactured without adjusting amounts of elements of compound semiconductor.
US08178374B2	Thin film patterning method and method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device A thin film patterning method comprising: depositing a first thin film and applying a photoresist layer on the first thin film; exposing and developing the photoresist layer to define first, second and third regions, wherein the photoresist layer in the first region is thicker than that in the second region, and no photoresist layer is left in the third region; over-etching to remove the first thin film in the third region and form an over-etched region in the peripheral region of the first region; removing a part of the photoresist layer to expose the first thin film in the second region; depositing a second thin film so that the first thin film contacts the second thin film in the second region; and lifting off the photoresist layer to remove the second thin film in the first region and exposing the substrate in the over-etched region of the first region.
US08178370B2	Method and system for large scale manufacture of thin film photovoltaic devices using multi-chamber configuration A method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices includes loading a substrate into a load lock station and transferring the substrate in a controlled ambient to a first process station. The method includes using a first physical deposition process in the first process station to cause formation of a first conductor layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method includes transferring the substrate to a second process station, and using a second physical deposition process in the second process station to cause formation of a second layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method further includes repeating the transferring and processing until all thin film materials of the photovoltaic devices are formed. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices including feed forward control. That is, the method includes in-situ monitoring of the physical, electrical, and optical properties of the thin films. These properties are used to determine and adjust process conditions for subsequent processes.
US08178368B2	Test chiplets for devices A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate on which the device is formed. It also includes forming a test cell on the substrate. The test cell includes a defect programmed into the cell to facilitate defect detection.
US08178366B2	Pattern forming method, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, and template manufacturing method In the pattern forming method according to the embodiment, second templates are manufactured by an imprint technology using first templates manufactured by applying a predetermined misalignment distribution for each shot on a first substrate by an exposure apparatus. Then, an upper-layer-side pattern is formed by an imprint technology using a second template in which an inter-layer misalignment amount between a lower-layer-side pattern already formed above a second substrate and the upper-layer-side pattern to be formed above the second substrate becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined reference value.
US08178364B2	Testing method of surface-emitting laser device and testing device thereof A method of performing a wafer level burn-in test for a plurality of surface-emitting laser devices formed on a wafer includes causing a plurality of contact electrodes arranged in a same plane with a pitch same as that of the surface-emitting laser devices being electrically connected to each other to have contact with pad electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices, respectively, and applying a current to second electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices and the contact electrodes. The wafer level burn-in test is performed while heating the wafer at a predetermined temperature. Laser lights emitted from the surface-emitting laser devices are monitored during the wafer level burn-in test.
US08178363B2	MRAM with storage layer and super-paramagnetic sensing layer An MRAM is disclosed that has a MTJ comprised of a ferromagnetic layer with a magnetization direction along a first axis, a super-paramagnetic (SP) free layer, and an insulating layer formed therebetween. The SP free layer has a remnant magnetization that is substantially zero in the absence of an external field, and in which magnetization is roughly proportional to an external field until reaching a saturation value. In one embodiment, a separate storage layer is formed above, below, or adjacent to the MTJ and has uniaxial anisotropy with a magnetization direction along its easy axis which parallels the first axis. In a second embodiment, the storage layer is formed on a non-magnetic conducting spacer layer within the MTJ and is patterned simultaneously with the MTJ. The SP free layer may be multiple layers or laminated layers of CoFeB. The storage layer may have a SyAP configuration and a laminated structure.
US08178358B2	Serpine2 as a biomarker for IgA nephropathy The present invention provides a method for diagnosis or prognosis of IgA nephropathy in a subject based on detection of the expression level of one or more biomarker genes selected from the group consisting of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4), serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitor clade E member 2 (Serpine2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN), butyrophilin-like-2 (BTNL2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), Cystatin C (CysC), and any combination thereof.
US08178354B2	Chemical sensors comprising fluorescent conjugated polymers as sensitive materials, and their use in the detection or assaying of nitro compounds The invention relates to chemical sensors comprising fluorescent conjugated polymers as sensitive materials and to their use in detecting or assaying nitro compounds, in particular nitroaromatic compounds. Fields of application: detection of explosives, monitoring and observation of atmospheric pollution and of the quality of relatively confined surroundings, watching over industrial sites.
US08178353B2	Method for determination of polymer concentration in water systems In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method for determining the concentration of anionic polymers or oligomers in industrial water comprising combining a buffer solution and a cationic dye solution, measuring absorbance of the buffer-dye admixture at selected wavelength(s) and determining the polymer or oligomer concentration from the previously determined absorbance values. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the buffer solution may be a multifunctional buffer solution and may be comprised of multiple buffers, masking agents. and/or stabilizing agents and combinations thereof. Other embodiments provide that multiple dyes may be employed.
US08178351B2	Containers for reading and handling diagnostic reagents and methods of using the same A container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents in tape form comprising a body portion, a lid portion, a continuous tape, a reagent-sensing device, and a storage device. The body portion includes an inner and outer surface. The lid portion is attached to the body portion and is adapted to rotate from a closed position to an open position. The continuous tape includes a diagnostic reagent. The reagent-sensing device is attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent. The storage device is attached to the body portion that is adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape. During the rotation of the lid portion, the continuous tape is advanced from the first storage device and is extended over the reagent-sensing device.
US08178345B2	Multilayer cell culture vessels A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.
US08178335B2	Intracellular production of a nuclease Methods and compositions are provided that relate to obtaining a recombinant DNA and RNA cleaving nuclease. This involves the over-expression of a fusion protein between maltose-binding protein and a truncated nuclease in a soluble form in the cytoplasm of a host cell from which it can be readily extracted.
US08178333B2	Biocatalytic processes for the preparation of substantially stereomerically pure fused bicyclic proline compounds The present disclosure provides monoamine oxidase enzymes and methods of their use in biocatalytic processes for the preparation of substantially enantiomerically pure heterobicyclic compounds of the following structural formulas, wherein A, M, M′, and R5 are as described herein.
US08178329B2	Process to produce organic compounds from synthesis gases At least one isolated microorganism and a fermentation method to convert hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and/or carbon monoxide gas to a lower alkyl alcohol and/or carboxylic acid and to produce at least 2% by volume of the lower alkyl alcohol or carboxylic acid in an aqueous-based medium.
US08178328B2	Fermentive production of four carbon alcohols Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.
US08178326B2	Producing esters of fatty acid and C1-C3 alkyl alcohols The invention relates to the utilization of fatty materials with substantial free fatty acid content in the production of biodiesel by the use of microbial enzymes that are effective in a solvent-free process for the production of esters of fatty acids and C1-C3 alkyl alcohols.
US08178325B2	Process for producing sulfur-containing hydroxycarboxylic acid There is provided is a process for producing a sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, or C6-20 aryl, which comprises subjecting a sulfur-containing ketol represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is the same as defined above, to the action of microbial cells of a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus or Bacillus capable of converting the ketol into a corresponding α-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound, or a treated material thereof, thereby producing the sulfur-containing α-hydroxycarboxylic acid without using a hydroxynitrile compound as a starting material.
US08178324B2	Deracemisation of amines The present invention relates to a method for the deracemization or chiral inversion of chiral amines by enzymatic treatment. The method employs a stereoselective enzymatic conversion and either a non-selective or partially selective chemical or enzymatic conversion, simultaneously or sequentially. The invention also provides a method for selecting a suitable enzyme, particularly a suitable amine oxidase, and for the generation of novel enzymes suitable for use in the deracemization method.
US08178322B2	Method for producing an L-amino acid or a nucleic acid A method is described for producing an L-amino acid or a nucleic acid by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the L-amino acid or nucleic acid in a liquid medium in a fermentation tank containing a stirring impeller, and optionally adding seed crystals to the medium as required to produce and accumulate crystals of the L-amino acid or nucleic acid in the medium, and collecting crystals of the L-amino acid or nucleic acid from the culture. The power density of the stirring impeller is controlled to be 2.4 kW/m3 or lower after either precipitation of the crystals or addition of the seed crystals.
US08178320B2	Artificial antibody library with super-repertory An artificial antibody library with a super-repertory (1011 or more) is constructed by: using a cDNA library as a template, amplifying a fragment containing the CDR1 and CDR2s regions of the VH or VL region of immunoglobulin gene and a fragment containing the CDR3 region each by the PCR method; integrating the VH library and the VL library, which are little contaminated with unexpressionable repertory and have high safety, into an non-expression vector; transferring it into a host; and then shuffling the VH region in the VH library with the VL region in the VL library.
US08178313B2	Method for determining an analyte in a bodily fluid A method for determining (e.g., detecting and/or measuring the concentration of) an analyte in a bodily fluid sample includes obtaining a bodily fluid sample, applying the bodily fluid sample to an analyte test strip, transferring the applied bodily fluid sample to a sample-receiving chamber of the analyte test strip, and determining an analyte in the bodily fluid sample. The analyte test strip employed in the method includes a first port in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber and proximate a platform portion of the analyte test strip. Moreover, the platform portion is configured to receive a first (relatively large) bodily fluid sample of at least 5 micro-liters and transfer at least a portion of the first bodily fluid sample to the sample-receiving chamber via the first port. The analyte test strip also includes a second port in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber and an outer edge of the analyte test strip, the second port configured to receive a second (relatively small) bodily fluid sample of lesser volume than the first bodily fluid sample and for transferring at least a portion of the second bodily fluid sample to sample-receiving chamber. In addition, the applying step involves applying the bodily fluid sample to one of the second port and the platform portion of the analyte test strip depending on the volume of the bodily fluid sample.
US08178310B2	Babesia microti genomic clones containing novel antigens useful in the diagnosis of Babesios Disclosed are the cloning and expression of novel antigens in Babesia microti. The recombinant polypeptides are highly immunogenic. The polypeptides of the present invention provide the basis of a diagnostic assay that is sensitive, rapid and accurate using patient's sera. Also disclosed is an IgG and IgM ELISA using two novel recombinant antigens in the diagnosis of Babesia infection.
US08178309B2	Method of assaying von Willebrand factor activity using agglutinatable, fixed platelet fragments The present invention relates to a method for preparing agglutinatable platelet fragments, in which native platelets are treated with ultrasound and a fixative. The platelet fragments are suitable for use in diagnostic assay methods which include an agglutination reaction, such as, for example, in a method for determining VWF activity.
US08178308B2	Use of IL-27 agonists to increase interferon-gamma production Provided are cytokines and methods of modulating activity of the immune system using cytokine agonists and antagonists. Also provided are methods of treatment of immune and proliferative disorders.
US08178300B2	Method for the identification of the clonal source of a restriction fragment The present invention relates to a high throughput method for the identification and detection of molecular markers wherein restriction fragments are generated and suitable adaptors comprising (sample-specific) identifiers are ligated. The adapter-ligated restriction fragments may be selectively amplified with adaptor compatible primers carrying selective nucleotides at their 3′ end. The amplified adapter-ligated restriction fragments are, at least partly, sequenced using high throughput sequencing methods and the sequence parts of the restriction fragments together with the sample-specific identifiers serve as molecular markers.
US08178293B2	Uses of BNIPXL-beta in premature canities The present invention concerns the use of a polypeptide comprising a sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of BNIPXLβ, for cosmetic or therapeutic applications, in the treatment or prevention of premature canities in humans, said portion comprising at least 30 amino acids, as well as the use, for the same purpose, of a molecule comprising a RNAi sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of the cDNA sequence of BNIPXLβ, said part comprising at least 18 nucleotides.The invention also concerns methods for screening molecules modulating the expression of a gene coding for BNIPXL-beta and molecules modulating the activity of the BNIPXL-beta polypeptide, in order to identify an agent for use for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes in the field of pigmentation. The invention also encompasses various uses of molecules which may be identified by these methods.
US08178290B2	Solid support The present invention provides a solid support for performing steps of isolation of cell or extraction and purification of nucleic acid, safely, easily, efficiently, and with high yield in the genetic test for investigating the presence of pathogenic bacterial infection. A solid support for binding with cell as an embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with my colic acid-containing glycolipid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier. In addition, a solid support for binding with nucleic acid as another embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with nucleic acid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier.
US08178289B2	System and method for photolithography in semiconductor manufacturing A method for producing a pattern on a substrate includes providing at least one exposure of the pattern onto a layer of the substrate by a higher-precision lithography mechanism and providing at least one exposure of the pattern onto a layer of the substrate by a lower-precision lithography mechanism. The exposures can be done in either order, and additional exposures can be included. The higher-precision lithography mechanism can be immersion lithography and the lower-precision lithography mechanism can be dry lithography.
US08178285B2	Method for manufacturing piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element A manufacturing method for a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element and a film constituting a laminated vibrator made of laminations of an electrode film and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film in a plane position. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element includes a substrate, a lower electrode film provided on the substrate, and a laminated vibrator made of laminations of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film and an upper electrode film. The lower electrode film is formed by a photolithography method with the substrate, where a cavity is filled with a light shielding agent, as a mask. Thereafter, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film is formed by electrophoresis of powder of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material toward the lower electrode film, and the upper electrode film is formed by the photolithography method with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film as a mask. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film may be formed by the photolithography method with the lower electrode film as a mask.
US08178282B2	Heat-sensitive imaging element A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.
US08178281B2	Method for improving sensitivity of resist It is an object of the present invention to improve sensitivity of a resist made from hydrosilsesquioxane when a pattern is formed in the resist by irradiation with a charged particle beam. The method for improving sensitivity of a resist of the present invention is a method to improve sensitivity of a resist formed from hydrosilsesquioxane to a charged particle beam when a pattern is formed in the resist by irradiation with a charged particle beam, and is characterized by including prebaking a resist formed from hydrosilsesquioxane and applied onto a substrate at t° C. (20≦t≦300), applying a composition containing a water-soluble conductive polymer compound to a charged particle beam irradiation surface of the prebaked resist, baking the thus applied composition at T° C. (0≦T
US08178279B2	Negative radiation-sensitive resin composition A negative-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a radically polymerizable compound, a radiation-sensitive radical initiator, and an organic solvent. The alkali-soluble resin includes a phenolic hydroxyl group. The radically polymerizable compound includes an ethylenically unsaturated double bond. The organic solvent includes an ethylene glycol organic solvent having a saturation vapor pressure of 3 mmHg or less at 20° C. and 1 atmosphere.
US08178274B2	Toner process The present disclosure provides toners and processes for preparing toner particles possessing excellent charging characteristics. The process includes forming a dispersion including at least one organic and/or organometallic charge control agent, and then combining that dispersion with an emulsion suitable for use in forming toner particles.
US08178270B2	Toner for development of electrostatic image A toner for development of electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains fine particles of an inorganic layered clay compound, and the inorganic layered clay compound is an intercalation compound with a quaternary ammonium ion intercalated between layers of the inorganic layered clay compound or has an interlayer distance of 1.5 to 4 nm.
US08178268B2	Magenta toner and developer A magenta toner, produced by a method including suspending an oily liquid comprising a binder resin and a colorant in an aqueous medium, wherein the colorant comprises a naphthol pigment and a quinacridone pigment, and the quinacridone pigment comprises a pigment having a specific formula.
US08178265B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor having a spectral marker and electrophotographic printer using the same A photoreceptor comprising a spectral marker and an electrophotographic printer using the same wherein the presence of the spectral marker is detected by the spectral marker detector, which enables photoreceptor authentication and thickness determinations, thereby permitting adjustment and optimization of component operating parameters within the electrophotographic printer.
US08178263B2	Method for a lithographic apparatus A method of increasing a depth of focus of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes forming diffracted beams of radiation using a patterning device pattern; and transforming a phase-wavefront of a portion of the diffracted beams into a first phase-wavefront having a first focal plane for the lithographic apparatus, and a second phase-wavefront having a second, different focal plane, wherein the transforming comprises: subjecting a phase of a first portion of a first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding first portion of a second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the first phase-wavefront, and subjecting a phase of a second portion of the first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding second portion of the second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the second phase-wavefront.
US08178261B2	Optical data storage media and methods for using the same An optical data storage medium is provided. The optical data storage medium includes a polymer matrix; a reactant capable of undergoing a change upon triplet excitation, thereby causing a refractive index change; and a non-linear sensitizer capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to said reactant. The refractive index change capacity of the medium is at least about 0.1. The reactant comprises polyvinyl chlorocinnamate, polyvinyl methoxycinnamate, or a combination thereof.
US08178260B2	Fuel cell electrode catalyst with reduced noble metal amount and solid polymer fuel cell comprising the same An object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of catalytic metal such as Pt in a fuel cell. The present invention provides a fuel cell electrode catalyst comprising a conductive carrier and catalytic metal particles, wherein the CO adsorption amount of the electrode catalyst is at least 30mL/g·Pt.
US08178259B2	Optimized gas diffusion media to improve fuel cell performance A gas diffusion media is described. The gas diffusion media comprises a conductive porous substrate; and a microporous layer; wherein a cathode effective transport length is in a range of about 700 to about 1900 μm; wherein an overall thermal resistance is in a range of about 1.8 to about 3.8 cm2-K/W; and wherein a ratio of the cathode effective transport length to an anode effective transport length is greater than about 2.
US08178256B2	Fuel cell system A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a module area, a first fluid supply area, a second fluid supply area, and an electric parts area. The first fluid supply area is provided on a first side surface of the module area, and an electric parts area is provided on a second side surface of the module area. The second fluid supply area is provided under a bottom surface of the module area. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module area.
US08178255B2	Fuel cell Fuel cell of this invention generates electricity by supplying fuel fluid to one of a pair of electrodes forming an MEA 1, supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, at least one of the fuel and oxidation fluids being gas, comprising a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path 10 defined on a surface of the MEA 1 and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device comprising a vibrating plate 4 and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path 10, and the drive circuit performs a normal operation control generating gas flow from inlet to outlet of the flow path 10 due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path 10 by vibrating the vibrating plate 4 and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating foreign material in the flow path 10 by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate 4.
US08178253B2	Current collector of end plate for fuel cell and method for controlling the same The present invention provides a current collector of an end plate for a fuel cell and a method for controlling the same, in which a plurality of current collector plates having different resistance values is mounted on an end plate so that the current of a fuel cell is consumed during cold start and during low power operation to improve cold startability of the fuel cell and, further, the durability of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is improved due to an increase in voltage during low power operation.
US08178251B2	Fuel cell system A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an auxiliary unit, a sound volume acquisition unit, and a control unit. The fuel cell supplies an electric power to a sound generating device that generates a sound. The auxiliary unit allows the fuel cell to generate the electric power. The sound volume acquisition unit acquires information that is related to at least one of the volume of the sound that is generated by the sound generating device and the volume of an environmental sound. The control unit controls the operations of the auxiliary unit, based on the information acquired by the sound volume acquisition unit.
US08178248B2	Carbon monoxide remover and fuel cell system with the same A carbon monoxide remover includes a reactor body having an inner space, and a catalyst provided in the inner space of the reactor body to react with the reforming gas. A diffusion unit is installed at an inlet portion of the reactor body for introducing the reforming gas to diffuse the reforming gas over the entire area of the catalyst.
US08178238B2	Positive-electrode active material for lithium-ion secondary battery, positive electrode, manufacturing method thereof, and lithium-ion secondary battery A positive-electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery has an average composition expressed by the following formula (1): LixCo1-y-zMyCezOb-aXa (1) wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron B, magnesium Mg, aluminum Al, silicon Si, phosphorous P, sulfur S, titanium Ti, chromium Cr, manganese Mn, iron Fe, cobalt Co, nickel Ni, copper Cu, zinc Zn, gallium Ga, yttrium Y, zirconium Zr, molybdenum Mo, silver Ag, tungsten W, indium In, tin Sn, lead Pb, and antimony Sb, X represents a halogen element, and x, y, z, a, and b satisfy 0.2
US08178233B2	Case for miniature fuel cells A case for fuel cells including an upper plate formed of a stack of a first insulating board, portions of a first conductive layer, a second insulating board, and a second conductive layer, this stack including windows, fuel cells being placed under the first insulating board at the level of the windows to obstruct them, the stack further comprising first openings filled with a heat-transmitting material forming a contact between the periphery of the fuel cells and the second conductive layer.
US08178230B2	Battery pack A battery pack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells and a housing. The cells have similar shape and size. The shape is a rectangular prism with opposing major faces. The cells are aligned in a stack along an axis of the pack so that one of the major faces of each cell contacts the major face of the adjacent cell. The housing comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion comprises a top plate and four side plates joined to the top plate so as to form a cavity with an opening. The cross-sectional area of the opening is at least slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the stack, and the cross-sectional area of the cavity in a plane closer to the top plate is sized so that the stack fits snugly therein. The battery stack is disposed in the housing. The bottom portion closes the opening.
US08178226B2	Film-covered electric device and method of manufacturing same Battery element 2 is sandwiched between and surrounded by casing films 4, 5 each having a thermo-fusing resin layer, and is sealed by thermally fused region 6 formed by thermally fusing around the overall periphery. Cross-link structure portion 13 is formed in part of thermally fused region 6 by cross-linking casing film 5, and gas release chamber 12 is formed with its leading end positioned in cross-link structure portion 13. Gas release chamber 12 is a portion which is surrounded by thermally fused region 6 along its periphery, and in which casing films 4, 5 are not thermally fused. Tube 14 which is open at both ends is connected to gas release chamber 12, while sandwiched between casing films 4, 5, with its leading end positioned in gas release chamber 12.
US08178223B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium In a magnetic recording medium, there are realized an improvement in surface planarity and a reduction in characteristic degradation. The magnetic recording medium is fabricated so that the upper layer of a recording layer and a refill layer are formed of the same material.
US08178220B2	Surface-covered cubic boron nitride sintered body tool and method of manufacturing the same A surface-covered CBN sintered body tool includes a base material formed with a cubic boron nitride (CBN) sintered body and a surface covering film covering a surface of the base material, and has a nega-land exposing the CBN sintered body in at least a portion thereof and a flank having the surface covering film formed thereon. With this, the surface-covered CBN sintered body tool having high defect resistance and wear resistance can be provided. The surface covering film preferably includes a nitride or a carbonitride of a compound including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cr, Zr, and V and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and B, or a nitride or a carbonitride of Ti.
US08178213B2	Method for applying a coating material and coating for a metallic surface In a method for applying a multilayer wear-resistant coating on metallic, optionally already coated, surfaces, the coating is composed of at least two anti-wear layers (5) and an intermediate layer (10) each arranged between two anti-wear layers (5). The intermediate layer (10) is comprised of a material composition containing the material of the anti-wear layer (5) and a further material, wherein the application of the intermediate layer (10) is effected with a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) decreasing over a first transition region (a) and a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) increasing over a second transition region (b), the content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) in the intermediate layer (10) being selected to be at least 5% by weight in every point.
US08178211B2	Treatment of wood The invention is directed to the use of a specific class of compounds in the treatment of wood, to a method of treating wood, and to the wood obtained by said method.The black insoluble polymer which forms after oxidative polymerisation of this class of compounds is able to color the wood through and through in a homogeneous fashion and cannot be rinsed off or leached with water or solvent and is stable upon UV radiation.In addition it was found that the treated wood of the present invention has a strong resistance against wood degrading fungi.
US08178210B2	Multilayer oriented high-modulus film The invention relates to a high modulus, bi-axially oriented film, heat-shrinkable or non heatshrinkable, comprising a first outer layer comprising a polyester or a copolyester, a second outer layer comprising an ethylene or propylene homo- or co-polymer, a core layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and no core polyamide or polyester layers. The film according to the present invention is prepared by orienting biaxially a flat extruded tape by means of a tenter frame, preferably simultaneously, and has a modulus higher than 6,000 kg/cm2 in at least one direction. The film of the present invention is particularly useful, in the non heat-shrinkable version, for food and non food packaging applications.
US08178209B2	Fuser member having fluorinated polyimide outer layer A fuser member including a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer comprising a crosslinked fluorinated polyimide and a curing agent is described. The fluorinated polyimide comprises: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 independently represent an aromatic group of from about 6 carbon atoms to about 60 carbon atoms; and at least one of Ar1 and Ar2 further contains a fluoro-pendant group; and wherein the fluorinated polyimide includes an active site capable of reacting with the curing agent.
US08178204B2	Acrylate-modified aspartates and gel coat compositions made therefrom A coating composition is provided. The composition comprises as component I, a) a polyaspartic acid ester comprising the reaction product of one more diamines, one or more difunctional acrylate-containing compounds and one or more maleic/fumaric acid esters; b) at least one moisture scavenger; c) at least one deaerator; d) at least one plasticizer; and e) optionally additives; and as component II, one or more polyisocyanates. Methods of making and applying the composition to a substrate are also provided. The coating is particularly suitable for use as a gel coat.
US08178199B2	Nonwovens produced from multicomponent fibers A water non-dispersible polymer microfiber is provided comprising at least one water non-dispersible polymer wherein the water non-dispersible polymer microfiber has an equivalent diameter of less than 5 microns and length of less than 25 millimeters. A process for producing water non-dispersible polymer microfibers is also provided, the process comprising: a) cutting a multicomponent fiber into cut multicomponent fibers; b) contacting a fiber-containing feedstock with water to produce a fiber mix slurry; wherein the fiber-containing feedstock comprises cut multicomponent fibers; c) heating the fiber mix slurry to produce a heated fiber mix slurry; d) optionally, mixing the fiber mix slurry in a shearing zone; e) removing at least a portion of the sulfopolyester from the multicomponent fiber to produce a slurry mixture comprising a sulfopolyester dispersion and water non-dispersible polymer microfibers; and f) separating the water non-dispersible polymer microfibers from the slurry mixture. A process for producing a nonwoven article is also provided.
US08178197B2	Method and apparatus having three surfaces for sealing distribution ducts An application for an arced sealing tape has a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall. The surfaces of the inner wall and the outer wall that are closest to a center point of the arc have an adhesive. Likewise, a bottom surface of the bottom also has an adhesive.
US08178187B2	Water pressure transfer article A decorative layer is formed by applying an ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite on a print pattern of a transfer film and transferring the print pattern on a surface of an article under water pressure in the state where the print pattern is activated by the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite to recover the adhesion thereof, but the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite is wholly united with the print pattern and hardened by an ultraviolet ray and the decorative layer has a glossy variation and/or touch feeling in accordance with a combination of the ultraviolet ray hardening resin composite united and hardened with the print pattern and a composition of the print pattern.
US08178185B2	Honeycomb structured body, method for manufacturing honeycomb structured body and exhaust gas purifying device A honeycomb structured body in which a plurality of porous ceramic members are combined with one another by interposing an adhesive layer, each of the porous ceramic members having a plurality of cells placed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween and having an outer edge wall on the outer edge surface thereof, wherein each of the porous ceramic members has a filling body which is provided so as to fill in at least one corner portion of at least one outermost cell of the porous ceramic members, a cross-sectional shape of the outermost cell at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost tetragon, and a cross-sectional shape of the filling body at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost right triangle.
US08178183B2	Formable core material The present invention relates to a flexible and drapeable core material for use in a laminate or a sandwich construction comprising at least one exterior of an at least partially permeable material, which exterior forms at least one space into which a filler of freely movable, separate objects is filled. The spaces may be shaped like channels, form a square-shaped pattern or a pattern adapted to the shape of the laminate. The invention further relates to a laminate or a sandwich construction and a blade for a wind turbine featuring such core material and use and manufacture of laminates or sandwich constructions featuring the core material. Moreover the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a core material for use in a laminate or a sandwich construction comprising the steps of forming at least one space from an at least partially permeable material and filling filler into the space.
US08178180B2	Polymer-coated heat-sealable packaging material and a sealed package manufactured thereof The invention relates to a heat-sealable packaging material and a sealed package formed from the same, especially for packaging foodstuffs. The packaging material comprises a base layer of paper or board and polymeric heat-sealable layers on one side of the base layer or, preferably, on both sides thereof. According to the invention, at least two layers of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) with different fractions of ethylene monomer are arranged on the packaging material to provide an oxygen barrier. The layers can locate against each other without a tie layer between them. The heat-sealable polymer can be a polyolefin, and, in addition, other polymeric barrier layers can be incorporated into the material to improve its oxygen, fat and aroma tightness.
US08178179B2	PVDF-based conductive composition The invention concerns a conductive composition comprising (by weight): 30 to 60 parts of a fluid PVDF; 25 to 62 parts of a viscous PVDF; 8 to 13 parts of a conductive filler; 0 to 2 parts of a fire retardant agent; 0 to 0.05 parts of a nucleating agent, based on a total of 100 parts. Preferably, it comprises by weight: 35 to 50 parts of a fluid PVDF; 45 to 55 parts of a viscous PVDF; 8 to 13 parts of a conductive filler; 0 to 2 parts of a fireproof agent; 0 to 0.05 parts of a nucleating agent, based on a total of 100 parts. Preferably, the conductive composition has a viscosity in the molten state at 230° C. of less than 106 Pa·s, preferably between 102 and 106 Pa·s. The invention also concerns multilayer structures combining the conductive composition and a thermoplastic polymer or a metal.
US08178175B2	Thermal transfer donor elements with ionic liquids Disclosed herein are compositions derived from a polycarboxylic acid, and an ionic liquid. The compositions can be used to prepare thermal transfer donor elements.
US08178174B2	Ag base alloy thin film and sputtering target for forming Ag base alloy thin film The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.
US08178171B2	Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same The invention relates to a liquid crystal display utilizing a vertically aligned state of liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied and to a method of manufacturing the same. The invention is aimed at providing a liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same in which the existing step for forming vertical alignment films can be omitted to achieve a cost reduction. The liquid crystal display includes a monofunctional monomer having a structure expressed by X—R (where X represents an acrylate group or a methacrylate group, and R represents an organic group having a steroid skeleton). A liquid crystal material is sandwiched between substrates which is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the monofunctional monomer, thereby forming a polymer film at an interface of a substrate. The monofunctional monomer has a hydrophobic skeleton such as an alkyl chain and a photoreactive group on one side of the skeleton.
US08178166B2	Apparatus and method for applying coating solution, die and method for assembling thereof A die of a coating apparatus for applying a coating solution includes down- and upstream blocks in a feeding direction of a web, which respectively have a first lip and a second lip. A lip land of the first lip is shorter than a lip land of the second lip in the feeding direction so as to satisfy a predetermined condition. In assembling the coating apparatus, bottoms of down- and upstream blocks are fixed to a fixer with bolts. Between the fixer and the downstream block, a plate member is provided such that the first lip land protrudes from the second lip land.
US08178162B2	Controlled deposition of silicon-containing coatings adhered by an oxide layer We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of films/coatings on substrates. The method provides for the addition of a precise amount of each of the reactants to be consumed in a single reaction step of the coating formation process. In addition to the control over the amount of reactants added to the process chamber, the present invention requires precise control over the total pressure (which is less than atmospheric pressure) in the process chamber, the partial vapor pressure of each vaporous component present in the process chamber, the substrate temperature, and typically the temperature of a major processing surface within said process chamber. Control over this combination of variables determines a number of the characteristics of a film/coating or multi-layered film/coating formed using the method. By varying these process parameters, the roughness and the thickness of the films/coatings produced can be controlled.
US08178161B2	Process and apparatus for producing a coated product The present invention relates to a process for producing a coated product comprising: (a) coating a substrate with a coating material to form a coated substrate; and (b) stabilizing the coated substrate to form the coated product; wherein the operating parameter of substrate-substrate contact and coated substrate-coated substrate contact differs between step a) and step b), such that in step b) the contact is minimized. An apparatus is also provided.
US08178160B2	Decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, methods for their preparation, and articles coated therewith Disclosed are powder coating compositions suitable for producing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, articles comprising a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue deposited thereon, methods for preparing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, kits capable of producing a decorative and durable coating having a homogeneous hue, and methods for color matching using powder coating compositions.
US08178158B2	Method for making a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) sensor with a confined-current-path (CCP) A method of making a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) sensor with a confined-current-path (CCP) layer uses an array of self-assembled ferritin protein molecules with inorganic cores to make the CCP layer in the sensor stack. In one embodiment, the ferritin molecules with cores of insulating oxide particles are deposited on an electrically conductive support layer and the ferritin molecules are dissolved, leaving an array of insulating oxide particles. An electrically conducting layer is deposited over the oxide particles and into the regions between the oxide particles to form the CCP layer. In another embodiment, the ferritin molecules with inorganic particles in their cores are deposited on an electrically insulating support layer and the ferritin molecules are dissolved, leaving an array of inorganic particles that function as an etch mask. The insulating support layer is then etched through the mask to form vias down to the underlying layer on which the support layer is formed. An electrically conducting layer is then deposited to form the CCP layer.
US08178155B2	Carbon-based ultracapacitor A method of manufacturing a high surface area per unit weight carbon electrode includes providing a substrate, depositing a carbon-rich material on the substrate to form a film, and after the depositing, activating the carbon-rich material to increase the surface area of the film of carbon-rich material. Due to the activation process being after deposition, this method enables use of low cost carbon-rich material to form a carbon electrode in the capacitor. The electrode may be used in capacitors, ultracapacitors and lithium ion batteries. The substrate may be part of the electrode, or it may be sacrificial—being consumed during the activation process. The carbon-rich material may include any of carbonized material, carbon aerogel and metal oxides, such as manganese and ruthenium oxide. The activation may include exposing the carbon-rich material to carbon dioxide at elevated temperature, in the range of 300 to 900 degrees centigrade. This method may be used to make both symmetric and asymmetric ultracapacitors.
US08178153B2	Heat transfer control structures using thermal phonon spectral overlap A heat transfer control structure and a method for fabrication thereof includes at least one heat transfer control layer interposed between and contacting a heat source material and a heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer is selected predicated upon thermal phonon spectra overlap between the heat source material, the at least one heat transfer control layer and the heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer may enhance or retard heat transfer between the heat source material and the heat sink material. The at least one heat transfer control layer may be selected based upon a value of a thermal phonon correlating parameter such as a Debye temperature, a density or a lattice constant.
US08178149B2	Method and apparatus for producing fruit leather from a fruit mass A method and an apparatus (100, 100′) serve to continuously produce fruit leather from a fruit mass. The fruit leather does not include added sugar or fat. The fruit mass includes a share of dry substance of at least 50% and a share of water. The fruit mass exposed to vacuum is cooked for less than one minute in a way to reduce the share of water in the fruit mass to increase the share of dry substance in the fruit mass to approximately between 80% to 90%. The fruit mass is then formed to attain the fruit leather.
US08178147B2	Coumalic acid to inhibit non-enzymatic browning in teas A tea beverage product that includes at least one tea component as well as coumalic acid or its salt to inhibit non-enzymatic browning of the tea beverage product. The tea component may be a green tea component, red tea component, black tea component, white tea component or a blend of tea components. The coumalic acid may be present in an amount less than 100 ppm. Alternatively, a coumalate may be employed, which will undergo hydrolysis within the tea beverage or concentrate product to form coumalic acid. In addition, a method for inhibiting non-enzymatic browning, by adding at least one of coumalic acid, a coumalic acid salt or a coumalate to a tea beverage composition.
US08178144B2	Method of separating meat components via centrifuge A centrifuge has an inner and an outer screw. The outer screw transfers material towards a cone-shaped section that leads to an outlet of the centrifuge. A mixture of meat components, liquid carbon dioxide, gas, and optionally water, is spun in the centrifuge. The dense components, such as lean meat, will accumulate away from the axis of rotation and be transferred by the outer screw towards the cone-shaped section. The less dense components, such as fat and adipose tissue, accumulate toward the center of rotation, and are transferred toward an outlet of the centrifuge via the inner screw. Gas accumulates in the proximity of the cone-shaped section and impedes liquid carbon dioxide from exiting with the dense components. The centrifuge is pressurized, which maintains carbon dioxide as a liquid.
US08178140B2	PET pouch/package with foldable base A plastic bottle is provided with a mouth, a main unit, for example, a flexible, cylindrical main unit, connecting the interior of the bottle with the mouth, a base structured to close the bottom portion of the main unit and have a greater rigidity compared to the main unit. The main unit includes a lower body section extending upward from the base, a central body section extending upward from the lower body section, and a crease between the lower and central body sections. The central body section can be configured to deform into a substantially flat shape through the action of external force F so as to bend outward.

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