| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08213027B2 |
Generic interface
A system and process for ensuring the smooth flow of electronic ink is described. Dynamic rendering is given priority over other event handlers. Priority may be the use of one or more queues to order when events occur and may be performing dynamic rendering prior to other steps. |
| US08213024B2 |
Method and system for aerial imaging of a reticle
A system, method and computer readable medium for reticle evaluation, the method includes: (i) obtaining, during an imaging process, multiple images of the reticle under different polarization and optionally interferometric conditions; and (ii) generating an output aerial image in response to (i) the multiple images and (ii) differences between the imaging process and an exposure process; wherein during the exposure process an image of the reticle is projected onto a wafer. |
| US08213022B1 |
Spatially smart optical sensing and scanning
Methods, devices and systems of an optical sensor for spatially smart 3-D object measurements using variable focal length lenses to target both specular and diffuse objects by matching transverse dimensions of the sampling optical beam to the transverse size of the flat target for given axial target distance for instantaneous spatial mapping of flat target, zone. The sensor allows volumetric data compressed remote sensing of object transverse dimensions including cross-sectional size, motion transverse displacement, inter-objects transverse gap distance, 3-D animation data acquisition, laser-based 3-D machining, and 3-D inspection and testing. An embodiment provides a 2-D optical display using 2-D laser scanning and 3-D beamforming optics engaged with sensor optics to measure distance of display screen from the laser source and scanning optics by adjusting its focus to produce the smallest focused beam spot on the display screen. With known screen distance, the angular scan range for the scan mirrors can be computed to generate the number of scanned spots in the 2-D display. |
| US08213021B2 |
Interferometric measurement of non-homogeneous multi-material surfaces
Correction factors for the ALR and PTR parameters of magnetic-head sliders are determined by calculating an effective reflectivity and a corresponding PCOR at each pixel of the air-bearing surface. The absolute value of reflectivity at each pixel of the AlTiC air-bearing surface is obtained from an empirical equation relating it to modulation. The ratio of Al2O3 and TiC in the AlTiC surface is then calculated at every pixel assuming a linear relationship between the absolute value of AlTiC reflectivity and the theoretical reflectivity of each constituent. The linear relationship is then also used to calculate the effective (complex) reflectivity for the AlTiC material from the relative concentrations of Al2O3 and TiC at each pixel. |
| US08213019B2 |
RFOG with optical heterodyning for optical signal discrimination
A RFOG comprises a reference laser configured to produce a reference laser beam; a first laser source configured to produce a first laser beam; a second laser source configured to produce a second laser beam; a sensing resonator coupled to the first and second laser sources such that the first and second laser beams propagate through the sensing resonator in first and second directions, respectively; resonance tracking electronics configured to generate first and second control signals that indicate when the first and second laser beams, respectively, are off resonance; first and second optical combiners configured to beat the first and second outputs of the sensing resonator with the reference laser beam creating first and second beat signals, respectively; wherein the resonance tracking electronics is configured to discriminate between at least one rotation-sensing error and the first and second outputs of the resonator based on the first and second beat signals. |
| US08213015B2 |
Integrated flow cell with semiconductor oxide tubing
An integrated flow cell, the flow cell comprising a semiconductor substrate, and a fluidic conduit having an at least partially transparent semiconductor oxide tubing, wherein the semiconductor oxide tubing is formed with the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08213013B2 |
Substance concentration sensor and production method therefor
The invention relates to a sensor for determining a concentration of a substance contained in a fluid-containing matrix, with a measurement chamber (5), a sender (3) for the emission of optical radiation (6) into the measurement chamber, and a receiver (4) for receiving optical radiation which has traversed the measurement chamber, wherein the measurement chamber is designed for bringing into the matrix and is filled with a specific fluid, and the wall (12, 13) is at least sectionally permeable to the diffusion of the substance. A control and evaluation circuit (7) is connected to the sender (3) and controls the sender (3), and is connected to the receiver (4) for selecting the receiver signals and determines, from the receiver signal, a measurement for the concentration of the substance in the matrix. |
| US08213005B2 |
Method for discriminating between benign and malignant prostate tumors
The method for discriminating between benign and malignant prostate tumors relates to analyzing samples of blood, urine and tissue by fluorescence spectroscopy in order to detect the presence of naturally occurring molecules in the fluids and tissue that serve as biomarkers indicative of cancer in the human body. The analysis can be carried out based on fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence excitation spectra and synchronous (emission and excitation) spectra of bio-samples. The detection, diagnosis, and follow-up and also discrimination between malignant and benign prostate tumors may be made by comparison of ratios of fluorescence emissions and/or excitation intensities of tryptophan, tyrosine, elastin, collagen, bile pigments, NADH, flavins and various species of porphyrins. |
| US08213003B2 |
Method and device for determining the position of a sensor
The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining the spatial position of a sensor, in which a rough position information initially is determined by rough detection of the position of the sensor, and then the more accurate position of the sensor is obtained by measuring at least three reflectors mounted on the sensor with a laser tracker, wherein the search region of the laser of the laser tracker is limited for the reflectors with reference to the rough position information. |
| US08213002B2 |
PON tester
A high resolution optical fiber length meter, live fiber detector, and reflectance tester (instrument) for single mode applications using a low power, long wavelength laser for generating wide and narrow optical pulses that are launched into a single mode fiber under test. The laser output fiber pigtail is fusion spliced to a singlemode coupler whose output is coupled to the instrument bulkhead connector. A PIN photodiode is fusion spliced to the singlemode coupler to receive the reflected light from the fiber under test. The high resolution hand-held instrument is useful in examining singlemode passive optical networks (PON). |
| US08213001B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting microscope slide coverslips
A method and apparatus of the present invention determines whether zero, one, or a plurality of microscope slide coverslips are about to be applied to a microscope slide. Light, such as ultraviolet light, may be directed toward a coverslip testing region, in which a number of coverslips reside. The amount of light passing through the coverslip testing region is collected and measured. Based on the measured amount, the method and apparatus determine the number of coverslips present in the coverslip testing region. |
| US08213000B2 |
Retail compatible detection of CVD grown diamond
A system includes a radiation source to provide short wavelength light. A holder positions a table of a gemstone to receive the light. A detector is positioned to receive fluorescent light from the gemstone when the gemstone is a CVD grown gemstone. |
| US08212998B2 |
Device and method for the determination of distance by means of light pulses
A device (1) for the determination of distance by means of light pulses is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a light source (2) for emitting light pulses with a specified frequency, a detector (8) for receiving the light pulses emitted and reflected by the light source, and a controller (4) which is in communication with the light source (2) and the detector (8) and which can control said light source and detector by means of signals. The device (1) further comprises at least two timers (Z1, Z2, Z3) which are connected to the controller (4) and the detector (8). Said controller (4) is designed in such a way that when a light pulse is emitted by the light source (2), the controller (4) generates a start signal which triggers the time measurement by each one of the at least two timers, in order, and beginning again from the start. The detector (8) is designed in such a way that upon receiving a reflected light pulse, said detector (8) generates a stop signal which is forwarded to the at least two timers (Z1, Z2, Z3) and which stops the time measurement by the timer of the at least two timers, to which at that instant a measuring window is assigned by the controller (4). The device can preferably be designed as a fiber-optic scanner. In addition, a method for the determination of distance by means of light pulses is disclosed. |
| US08212994B2 |
Distance detecting sensor and close range detecting method
The present invention discloses a distance detecting sensor, comprising: a casing, focusing lenses, a circuit board mounted with several electronic elements, and an emitting device emitting infrared light and a receiving device receiving and sensing a reflected infrared light. Wherein, the casing comprises a main body and two round openings on the top surface of the main body. The lenses comprise an emitting lens and a receiving lens arranged at the openings of the casing. The circuit board is mounted in the main body of the casing; the emitting device is an infrared emitting diode (LED), emitting infrared light toward the emitting lens. The receiving device is a distance detecting sensor module, which senses the reflected light focused by the receiving lens. The distance detecting sensor further comprises an emitting light guide unit arranged between the emitting lens and the emitting device, and the emitting light guide unit comprises small round holes at the emitting tube core of the emitting device. The present invention has higher detection accuracy and improves the overall detection performance of the sensor. |
| US08212986B2 |
LCD device, display method thereof and electronic apparatus employing LCD device
An LCD device comprises upper substrate, lower substrate, and a liquid crystal (LC) cell disposed therebetween. The LC cell comprises liquid crystals. According to the present invention, in the LCD device which applies voltage to the liquid crystals to control transmissive light for proceeding display, the liquid crystals are applied with a voltage larger than a predetermined voltage for proceeding display. The reflect light and the transmissive light of the liquid crystals are the predetermined color under a condition without applying the voltage thereto. |
| US08212982B2 |
Liquid crystal display unit and electronic device
A liquid crystal display unit includes: a first substrate having an under-layered insulation film, a common electrode formed on the under-layered insulation film, and a pixel electrode formed over the common electrode with a pixel insulation film in between; a second substrate provided on pixel electrode side of the first substrate so as to oppose thereto; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a spacer provided to retain a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, in such a manner that one end of the spacer is contacted with a top face of the pixel electrode. A thickness of the under-layered insulation film in a spacer region which is defined as a region occupied by the spacer is smaller than a thickness of the under-layered insulation film in a region other than the spacer region. |
| US08212981B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates with liquid crystal contained therebetween, and a plurality of picture elements located on the first substrate. Each of the picture elements is defined between a pair of gate bus lines and a pair of data bus lines. At least one of the picture elements includes a switching element connected to one of the data bus lines, a first sub picture element electrode, and a second sub picture element electrode. At least one of the first and second sub picture element electrodes has a body portion and a plurality of branches that extend from the body portion. A neighboring two of the branches are parallel with each other. The first sub picture element electrode connects to the switching element, and the second sub picture element electrode connects, via capacitive coupling, to the switching element. |
| US08212980B2 |
Liquid crystal display and active matrix substrate
An active matrix substrate is provided. The active matrix substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines disposed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate, a plurality of pixel units disposed on the substrate and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate. The pixel units are electrically connected with the corresponding scan lines and data lines. Each pixel unit includes an active device and a pixel electrode electrically connected with the active device, such a pixel electrode includes at least a first slit. The dielectric layer covers the first slit, and the dielectric layer includes a plurality of second slits for exposing a part of each of the pixel electrodes. |
| US08212979B2 |
Method of manufacturing spacer for liquid crystal display device, substrate for liquid crystal display device having spacer manufactured by the method and liquid crystal display device having the same
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a spacer for a liquid crystal display device that includes a step a) of forming a spacer body on a substrate body and a step b) forming a passivation film on the spacer body, a substrate for a liquid crystal display device having the spacer manufactured by the method, and a liquid crystal display device having the substrate for the liquid crystal display device. |
| US08212976B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes opposing substrates. One of the substrates has a thin film transistor and a color filter formed thereon. A spacer formed between the substrates maintains a cell gap. A light shielding layer is formed at a lower portion of the spacer and overlaps the thin film transistor. The light shielding layer has a pattern substantially identical to the spacer. The light shielding layer and the spacer are simultaneously formed using the same photolithographic process steps. |
| US08212974B2 |
Blue color composition containing dye, color filter and liquid crystal display device and organic EL display provided with the color filter
Disclosed is a dye-containing blue color composition for color filter, including a triarylmethane-based dye having a structure represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, a phenyl group which may have a substituent or a benzyl group which may have a substituent, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19 and R20 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent or a halogen atom and X represents a tristrifluoromethanesulfonylmethide anion. |
| US08212972B2 |
Display device with multilayer body having at least one layer of a gluing agent
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device where a display panel and a transparent cover which are pasted together can be separated from each other without breaking the liquid crystal display panel and the transparent cover. The present invention provides a display device having: a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate which is provided on the viewer side relative to the first substrate; a polarizing plate provided on the above described liquid crystal display panel on the above described viewer side; a viscous film pasted on the viewer side relative to the above described polarizing plate; and a transparent cover pasted on the viewer side relative to the above described viscous film, wherein the above described viscous film is made up of a multilayer body of gluing agents. |
| US08212971B2 |
Polarizer, method of manufacturing polarizer and liquid crystal projector
A polarizer capable of being manufactured in simple steps, and a method of manufacturing the polarizer, as well as a liquid crystal projector are provided. The polarizer includes a substrate having light permeability, and a plurality of linear projections being arranged on the substrate and extending along one direction within a plane thereof. Each of the linear projections having a base layer and a plating layer in the named order from the substrate, the base layer containing a catalyst material for electroless plating process, and the plating layer being deposited by using the base layer as a catalyst. |
| US08212967B2 |
Back light unit and liquid crystal display device therewith
A backlight unit includes a cover bottom having a plurality of light source groups each with a plurality of light sources thereon, wherein the light sources with the higher brightness are arranged in the light source group closer to a center portion of the cover bottom, and the light sources with the lower brightness are arranged in the light source group closer to a periphery of the cover bottom. |
| US08212964B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display module including the same
A backlight unit includes a reflection sheet, lamps arranged over the reflection sheet and with a first distance between adjacent lamps, a first diffuser plate disposed over the lamps and spaced apart from the reflection sheet with a second distance, the first diffuser plate having a first surface facing the reflection sheet and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface is flat and the second surface includes first patterns, and a second diffuser plate disposed over the first diffuser plate, the diffuser plate having a third surface facing the first diffuser plate and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, wherein the third surface is flat and the second surface includes second patterns, wherein a ratio of the first distance over the second distance is within a range of more than 0 and less than and/or equal to 2.75. |
| US08212961B2 |
Backlight for liquid crystal display device having a first FPCB mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes connecting a second FPCB via a through hole formed on a lower cover
A first printed circuit board is disposed on a first side of the cover. A second printed circuit board is disposed on a second side of the cover. A first connector and a second connector are disposed on the first and second printed circuit boards, respectively. A through hole is formed in a region of the cover that corresponds to the first connector. The first and second connectors are electrically connected to each other through the through hole. |
| US08212959B2 |
Display enclosure
A low profile display enclosure system for enclosing a display device for viewing that protects the display device from environmental effects and is configured to dissipate heat generated within the display enclosure. The substantially sealed display enclosure comprises a rigid bezel, a substantially transparent front cover coupled to the bezel, and a rear cover assembly that includes a heat sink portion. The thickness of the bezel is minimized to provide the enclosure with a low profile about the periphery of the display device enclosed therein. Thermal control devices may be mounted within the enclosure to modulate a temperature within the enclosure. |
| US08212956B2 |
Electro-optic device and electronic apparatus having particular mounting case
An electro-optic device includes an electro-optic panel and a mounting case. The mounting case includes a frame, a first cover member and a second cover member. The second cover member has an elastic portion for pressing the electro-optic panel against the first cover member. |
| US08212955B2 |
Backlight module with bezel having protrusions thereon and liquid crystal display using same
An exemplary backlight module includes at least one light source, a light guiding plate having a light incident portion adjacent to the at least one light source, a bezel having a plurality of protrusion; and a reflector disposed between the light guiding plate and the protrusions of the bezel. The protrusions abut edges of the reflector, and provide supporting force to attach the reflector to the bezel. A related liquid crystal display is also provided. |
| US08212951B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes, for an embodiment, a first insulation substrate; a gate line extending in a first direction on the first insulation substrate; a data line insulated from the gate line and extending in a second direction; a pixel electrode formed in a pixel area defined by the intersection of the gate line and the data line; and storage wiring formed with the same layer as the data line, wherein the storage wiring includes a storage electrode extending in the first direction and covering the gate line, and a storage line connected to the storage electrode and formed according to the second direction. |
| US08212944B2 |
Fast stream switching
A method of fast stream switching including receiving at least one first stream at a device corresponding to at least one first program, wherein the device employs dynamic power management and is operating at a first power level; activating a selection panel; receiving a plurality of streams corresponding to a plurality of programs; and adjusting to a second power level. After a stream is selected, the non-selected streams may be deactivated and the device may return to the first power level. |
| US08212940B2 |
Hybrid architecture of TV receiving devices
A hybrid architecture of a television (TV) receiving system is disclosed. The architecture includes two portions, a hardware portion and a software portion. The hardware portion includes a minimum amount of hardware to achieve operations of receiving a RF signal, producing an IF signal and outputting data representing the IP signal. The software portion, taking advantage of available computing power (e.g., high-speed microprocessor and a lot of memory) in a computing device and executed therein, includes one or more demodulators, all implemented in software. Each of the demodulators is implemented in accordance with one type of TV standard. Thus depending on the received data, a corresponding demodulator is activated to demodulate the received data and subsequently produces audio and video data. One of the advantages, benefits and objects in the present invention is to have a band of software-based demodulators, any of which may be updated or expanded whenever there is a new TV standard or modification to an existing standard. |
| US08212937B2 |
Video processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes a histogram generator, a determination module and a sharpening processor. The histogram generator generates a histogram based on a luminance level of pixels of a video signal. The determination module determines whether the video signal is a captured video based on the histogram. The sharpening processor sharpens the video signal based on an imaging model function in which a blur due to imaging is not considered, if the video signal is not the captured video. |
| US08212936B2 |
Picture quality control apparatus, method therefor, picture quality processing apparatus, programs for them, and recording medium recording that program therein
A request recognition section (373) recognizes an input operation for a source switching request to switch broadcast program contents extracted from broadcast waves to contents recorded in a recording and reproducing apparatus to display the contents on a display unit (350). Values of a plurality of setting factors such as brightness, contrast, and black level related to picture quality, which correspond to the source to be switched, specified corresponding to the previous contents source are read from a memory (360). Predefined values of the setting factors set corresponding to the previous contents source are compared with values newly read, and the values of the respective setting factors are sequentially changed stepwise. It is possible to prevent a flicker on a screen caused by a sudden change in the picture quality during processing of changing the picture quality, thereby favorably adjusting the picture quality. |
| US08212935B2 |
Noise reduction apparatus for image signal and method thereof
The present invention provides a noise reduction apparatus and method thereof. The noise reduction apparatus includes a first detecting logic, a second detecting logic, a first noise filtering logic, a second noise filtering logic, and an output logic. The first detecting logic detects if a video signal has a first noise characteristic. The second detecting logic detects if the video signal has a second noise characteristic. The first noise filtering logic performs a first noise filtering process upon the video signal to generate a first filtered signal. The second noise filtering logic performs a second noise filtering process upon the video signal to generate a second filtered signal. The output logic receives the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal, and references detection results provided by the first detecting logic and the second detecting logic when generating an output signal. |
| US08212934B2 |
Method for processing an analog television signal
A method for processing an analog television signal. A reference signal based on a field synchronizing signal of the analog television signal and equalizing the analog television signal based on the reference signal are determined. The reference signal is determined by calculating a difference between a first part of the field synchronizing signal and a second part of the field synchronizing signal, wherein the first and second parts are selected such that the reference signal is non-zero. |
| US08212925B2 |
Sync separation circuit
A sync separation circuit separates a synchronizing signal from a video signal containing the synchronizing signal. A minimum level detecting section detects a minimum level of a video signal. A sync tip level detecting section detects a sync tip level in the video signal. A pedestal level detecting section detects a pedestal level in the video signal. Based on both the sync tip level detected by the sync tip level detecting section and the pedestal level control by the pedestal level detecting section, a slice level setting section sets a slice level corresponding to an intermediate value between the sync tip level and the pedestal level. The slice level control section sets the slice level based on the minimum level detected by the minimum level detecting section if the slice level set based on the sync tip level and the pedestal level is inappropriate. |
| US08212922B2 |
Information display apparatus, information display method and program therefor
An information display apparatus includes a display device configured to display a video, a speech detection unit configured to detect a playback state of a playback speech, a closed caption display unit configured to generate character information associated with the playback speech and display it on the display device together with the video, and a closed caption display unit configured to carry out a changing control for changing according to the detected playback state a display state of the character information that is displayed on the display device by the closed caption display unit. |
| US08212920B2 |
Apparatus and method of motion adaptive image processing
A method of image processing for conversion of an image in a sequence of images comprises the steps of associating pixels of an image with respective motion values indicative of a degree of inter-image motion for each pixel; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel found within a first region of a first predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the greatest motion of any pixel in the first region; adjusting the motion value of each pixel based upon the motion value of a secondary pixel that lies within a second region of a second predetermined size substantially centered upon each respective pixel, said secondary pixel being that whose associated motion value is indicative of the least motion of any pixel in the second region; categorizing each pixel as a static pixel or a motion pixel according to its respective associated motion value, and then selecting respectively either a first conversion process or a second conversion process for a pixel dependant upon whether that pixel is categorized as a static pixel or a motion pixel. |
| US08212918B2 |
Image pickup apparatus shutter control
An image pickup apparatus includes a controlling unit moving an electronic front curtain in a simulated manner from an exposure start position towards an exposure end position by successively performing reset operations on a plurality of pixels in an image pickup element in a predetermined direction; a rear curtain that moves from the exposure start position towards the exposure end position by a biasing force of a biasing unit; and a storage unit storing data indicating a change in movement characteristics of the rear curtain with time. On the basis of the data, the controlling unit changes movement characteristics of the electronic front curtain in accordance with the change in the movement characteristics of the rear curtain with the time. |
| US08212917B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup device that includes a first pixel group configured to photoelectrically convert an object image formed by a luminous flux from an imaging optical system, and a second pixel group which includes a plurality of pixels configured to photoelectrically convert a split pair of the luminous flux from the imaging optical system and a detecting unit configured to implement a first detection control that changes an imaging state of the image pickup device while detecting a contrast of the object image based on an output of the second pixel group, and then a second detection control that changes the imaging state of the image pickup device while detecting the contrast of the object image based on an output of the first pixel group. |
| US08212916B2 |
Image display device, image pickup apparatus, and image display method that allow focus assistant display
An image display device that is capable of checking a focusing operation at the time of shooting by a user easily even if a small-sized monitor is used. A luminance-signal extracting unit extracts a luminance signal from a video signal. An amplitude change calculating unit calculates an amplitude change component of the luminance signal extracted. An edge-signal extracting unit extracts an edge signal from the luminance signal extracted. An amplitude calculating unit calculates an amplitude of the edge signal extracted. An amplitude-ratio calculating unit calculates a ratio of the amplitude of the edge signal to the amplitude change component of the luminance signal. A color conversion unit converts the edge signal to add colors according to the calculation result. An adder unit adds the color-converted edge signal and the luminance signal. A display unit displays the video signal to which the color-converted edge signal is added. |
| US08212915B1 |
Externally actuable photo-eyepiece relay lens system for focus and photomontage in a wide-field imaging system
A relay lens assembly (100) for use with a microscope (1400), telescope or binocular (1500), comprises a lens element (300) that is responsive to commands, conveyed from a control unit (400), via a conduit (410) between the control unit and the lens element. A computing device (810) controls operation of the lens assembly and a digital camera (805) that has an image sensor (125). The control unit causes the lens assembly to assume any of a plurality of predetermined focal lengths so that different depths of an object being imaged can be rendered in-focus on the sensor. A series of images can be taken at predetermined, computer-controlled focal depths. These images can be processed in order to create a photomontage that is in focus at a plurality of predetermined depths in a process commonly called focus-stacking. The addition of a plurality of data input and analysis units (1105) and a combiner (1115) makes rapid processing of individual images possible for photomontage at video rates. |
| US08212911B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging system, and imaging method displaying recommendation information
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section converting an image into image data, an image classifying section classifying the image data, and a display section for displaying information regarding a recommended image as a shooting object based on a classification result by the image classifying section. Further, a server having a shooting assist function receives image data from an imaging apparatus that has an imaging section converting an image into the image data and includes a scene determining section classifying the received image data and determining whether a typical image has been taken repeatedly, a guide information section outputting information regarding a recommended image as a shooting object based on a determination result by the scene determining section, and a communication section outputting the information to the imaging apparatus. |
| US08212890B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
An imaging device is configured to include a dividing unit which divides a generated image into blocks, a white balance evaluation value acquiring unit which acquires color information and a white balance evaluation value of each block, a classifying unit which combines the blocks into areas based on the color information, a correction coefficient calculating unit which calculates a white balance correction coefficient for each of the areas, a white balance setting unit which sets the calculated white balance correction coefficient for each of the areas, and a green area determining unit which determines whether or not each of the blocks is a green area based on the color information. The white balance setting unit sets a different white balance correction coefficient for a block determined as a green area from the one set for the area including the block in question. |
| US08212886B2 |
Interface converting circuit
An interface converting circuit applied between a 3D de-interlace chip and a rear-end image compression chip. The interface converting circuit includes: a reducing FPS circuit, for dividing a first vertical synchronization signal to generate a second vertical synchronization signal, and converting a first horizontal synchronization signal to a second horizontal synchronization signal by masking the first horizontal synchronization signal according to the second vertical synchronization signal; a pixel clock multiplier, for multiplying a first pixel clock signal to generate a second pixel clock signal; and, a data-width converter, for converting an input signal with M bits data width, which is transmitted at a frequency of the first pixel clock signal by the 3D de-interlace chip, to an output signal with M/2 bits data width, which is transmitted at a frequency of the second pixel clock signal. |
| US08212884B2 |
Scanning beam device having different image acquisition modes
A method of one aspect may include monitoring movement of a scanning beam image acquisition device. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a first image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is moving. Images may be acquired with the scanning beam image acquisition device using a second image acquisition mode when the monitoring indicates that the scanning beam image acquisition device is substantially still. The second image acquisition mode is different than the first image acquisition mode. In one aspect, the first mode has a relatively higher frame rate and relatively lower number of lines of image resolution than the second mode. |
| US08212881B2 |
Drive device
A drive device is provided having a movable part, a fixed part, a drive part, and a direction-detecting part. The fixed part is provided within a movement range of the movable part. The drive part drives the movable part in a first direction against the fixed part. The direction-detecting part detects the bound direction of the movable part after the movable part strikes the fixed part. The drive part drives the movable part so as to strike the fixed part according to the bound direction detected by the direction-detecting part after the movable part strikes the fixed part. |
| US08212876B2 |
Synthetic colour night vision system
A night vision coloring system may color a scene by extracting the spectral signature of each area in a scene and matching the extracted signature with a predetermined database signature and associated color. The system may comprise a temporal or spatial filtering element that may typically allow the capturing of an image reflection through a plurality of spectral bands, thereby extracting the spectral signature of each area in the image. The color associated with the matched database signature may be used to color each area comprising the image. |
| US08212875B2 |
Interface for browsing and viewing video from multiple cameras simultaneously that conveys spatial and temporal proximity
An interface and display of video from multiple fixed-position cameras is provided. A main video stream captured by a camera is selected to be the main video stream and is displayed to the interface. Video streams captured by the set of cameras and the main camera that are temporally related to the displayed main video stream are selected, including playback positions from one or more of a first segment of time in each of their respective video streams at the time of the main video stream, a second segment of time in each of their respective video streams prior to the time of the main video stream, and a third segment of time in each of their respective video streams after the time of the main video stream. The selected video streams are displayed to the interface in temporal relation to the display of the main video stream. |
| US08212874B2 |
Automatic camera calibration using GPS and solar tracking
A system and method for automatically calibrating the aiming direction of a camera onboard a vehicle. The method uses GPS and solar almanac data to estimate the location of the sun relative to the vehicle, and compares this to the solar position in an image from the camera. The comparison is performed with an ongoing recursive calculation which yields an improved estimate of the sun position relative to the vehicle, while simultaneously calibrating the aiming direction of the camera. The aiming calibration data is used to improve the accuracy of the camera's images as used for all of the camera's other functions. |
| US08212873B2 |
Security camera image correction system and method
A security camera and an image, within the camera's field of view, of a test pattern, containing color elements and grayscale elements having know predetermined spectrophotometrical values and resolution elements. After taking of images at a scene, and when subsequently reproduced accurately the elements will produce electronic signals that are detectable on measuring equipment well-known to the trade, such as vectorscopes and waveform monitors. Adjustments and corrections can then be made to the images of a scene, based on those readings. A method of adjusting and correcting images using the test pattern is also disclosed. |
| US08212872B2 |
Transformable privacy mask for video camera images
A system including a camera, display screen and processing device. A privacy mask obscures a portion of the displayed images. The processing device transforms the privacy mask in accordance with changes in the field of view of the camera, wherein, in a first field of view, the privacy mask is defined by a plurality of vertices having coordinates (x1, y1), . . . (xn, yn), and, in a second field of view, the processing device determines transformed coordinates, (x1′, y1′), . . . (xn′, yn′), for each of the vertices based upon changes in the field of view of the camera. The privacy mask is definable by pixel rows and the processing device identifies opposing ends of a plurality of the pixel rows, each of the identified ends defining one vertex of the privacy mask. The privacy mask may also include an unmasked area completely encircled by masked area. |
| US08212866B2 |
Method and an apparatus for localization of single dye molecules in the fluorescent microscopy
A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a sub-resolution spatial information of a sample labeled with at least one type fluorescent label. The sub-resolution spatial information has localization information about the positions of fluorescent molecules of the at least one type fluorescent label in at least one spatial direction. The method acquires localization image data by employing fluorescence localization microscopy. The acquired localization image data is processed to obtain the localization information about the positions of fluorescent molecules of the at least one type fluorescent label in at least one spatial direction. The step of processing includes determining in each of the detected images of the series the positions of the barycenters of the detected fluorescence emission distributions from the single fluorescent molecules of the one or more fluorescent labels in at least one spatial direction. |
| US08212865B2 |
Microscope image pickup apparatus, microscope image pickup program product, microscope image pickup program transmission medium and microscope image pickup method
This is a microscope image pickup apparatus for shooting and forming the observation images of a specimen in order to observe it by a microscope. The microscope image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup unit for shooting and forming the observation images, a display unit for dynamically displaying the observation images shot and formed by the image pickup unit in succession and an operating state detection unit for detecting an operating state of a microscope operation part in order to operate the microscope on the basis of the change of the observation images dynamically displayed on the display unit. The present invention provides a microscope image pickup apparatus, a microscope image pickup program product, a microscope image pickup program transmission medium and a microscope image pickup method which are capable of displaying an optimum moving image according to the operating state of the microscope. |
| US08212864B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for using image acquisition data to detect and correct image defects
A method and device for detecting a potential defect in an image comprises acquiring a digital image at a time; storing image acquisition data, wherein the image acquisition data includes at least one of a position of a source of light relative to a lens, a distance from the source of light to the lens, a focal length of the lens, a distance from a point on a digital image acquisition device to a subject, an amount of ambient light, or flash intensity; determining dynamic anthropometric data, wherein the dynamic anthropometric data includes one or more dynamically changing human body measurements, of one or more humans represented in the image, captured at the time; and determining a course of corrective action based, at least in part, on the image acquisition data and the dynamic anthropometric data. |
| US08212859B2 |
Peripheral treatment for head-mounted displays
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for projecting a source image in a head-mounted display apparatus for a user. A first display projects an image viewable by a first eye of the user. A first peripheral light element is positioned to emit light of one or more colors in close proximity to the periphery of the first display. A receives data representing a source image, processes the data representing the source image to generate a first image for the first display and to generate a first set of peripheral conditioning signals for the first peripheral light element, directs the first image to the first display, and directs the first set of peripheral conditioning signals to the first peripheral light element. As a result, an enhanced viewing experience is created for the user. |
| US08212858B2 |
Optical device
Stereoscopic device including an image directing assembly, an image differentiator and an image detector, the image directing assembly having a first light inlet for receiving a first image and a second light inlet for receiving a second image, the first light inlet being spaced apart from the second light inlet, the image differentiator differentiating between the first image and the second image, wherein the image directing assembly directs the first image to the image detector via a common path, and wherein the image directing assembly directs the second image to the image detector via the common path. |
| US08212854B2 |
System and method for enhanced teleconferencing security
A method and system with means for preventing unauthorized monitoring of a local conference room in which a local conferencing system is located comprising generation of a deterministic sound signal, and loading the deterministic sound signal on a first loudspeaker connected to, or integrated in the conferencing system, detecting the deterministic signal by analyzing a microphone signal picked up by a microphone connected to, or integrated in the conferencing system, and transferring the conference system into a security mode, if the deterministic signal is not detected. |
| US08212852B2 |
Image writing device using digital light-emitting elements
An image-data transfer controller divides one line of image data for each of the light-emitting-element array units, transfers the divided image data to respective light-emitting-element array units, to drive each of the light-emitting elements in the light-emitting-element array units for an exposure in a main-scanning direction. The image-data transfer controller divides the one line of image data for each of the light-emitting-element array units and transfers the divided image data during one-line interval in the main-scanning direction, performs a plurality of data transfers in the one-line interval for driving each of the light-emitting elements by controlling a lighting time, and includes a plurality of lines of storing units. |
| US08212851B2 |
Portable printer
A portable printer includes: a housing; a platen roller configured to convey a label sheet having a base sheet; a pinch roller configured to rotate following the platen roller via the base sheet; a supporting shaft configured to support the pinch roller; a shaft holder configured to hold the supporting shaft; a removing and inserting section configured to hold the shaft holder to be removable therefrom and insertable thereinto; a pawl section provided in the shaft holder, configured to resiliently hook to the removing and inserting section; a member holding section provided in the housing; and an urging member detachably attachable to the member holding section, nipped by the member holding section and the supporting shaft, and configured to apply pressing force on the platen roller to the pinch roller. |
| US08212846B2 |
Display control method
A display controlling method is provided. The display controlling method includes following steps. A plurality of display data of a frame is received. The display data is analyzed to obtain a plurality of grayscale distributions corresponding to the display regions. According to the grayscale distributions, a backlight controlling signal for adjusting a brightness of each of the light emitting groups is generated. According to the backlight controlling signal, a plurality of interferences corresponding to the display data is obtained. According to the interferences, grayscales of the display data are correspondingly adjusted. Therefore, the optical interference of each of the pixels from the light emitting groups not corresponding to the pixels can be eliminated. |
| US08212845B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
An LCD device includes: a liquid crystal panel configured to include liquid crystal cells formed in regions defined by crossing gate lines and data lines; an image analyzer configured to analyze whether or not an image data corresponds to a specific pattern in which a black or white gray-scale data having a large difference between positive and negative data voltages is continuously opposed to the liquid crystal cells of a vertical direction; a polarity control signal modulator configured to respond to a control signal from the image analyzer and modulate a polarity control signal, so as to prevent the black gray-scale data continuously opposed to the liquid crystal cells of the vertical direction from being polarity-inverted; and a data driver configured to apply the data voltages to the data lines on the basis of the modulated polarity control signal applied from the polarity control signal modulator. |
| US08212843B2 |
Error metric associated with backlight adaptation
Embodiments of a system that includes one or more integrated circuits are described. During operation, the system reduces power consumption by changing an intensity setting of a light source, which illuminates a display that is configured to display a video image, and scales brightness values for the video image based on a brightness metric associated with the video image. Then, the system calculates the error metric for the video image based on the scaled brightness values and the video image. |
| US08212840B2 |
3-D clipping in a graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit (GPU) efficiently performs 3-dimensional (3-D) clipping using processing units used for other graphics functions. The GPU includes first and second hardware units and at least one buffer. The first hardware unit performs 3-D clipping of primitives using a first processing unit used for a first graphics function, e.g., an ALU used for triangle setup, depth gradient setup, etc. The first hardware unit may perform 3-D clipping by (a) computing clip codes for each vertex of each primitive, (b) determining whether to pass, discard or clip each primitive based on the clip codes for all vertices of the primitive, and (c) clipping each primitive to be clipped against clipping planes. The second hardware unit computes attribute component values for new vertices resulting from the 3-D clipping, e.g., using an ALU used for attribute gradient setup, attribute interpolation, etc. The buffer(s) store intermediate results of the 3-D clipping. |
| US08212837B1 |
Color processing pipelines generating a lower color bit-depth image compared to an unprocessed image from a wide-angle camera
A wide-angle video camera which captures high-resolution images using a Bayer filter to colorize the pixels. The image is processed to generate multiple views. The camera applies color processing pipelines independently and simultaneously to each of multiple regions of the full image captured by the sensor to generate a color image of acceptable quality for human viewing. An initial color image possesses greater color bit-depth compared to the output color image. |
| US08212835B1 |
Systems and methods for smooth transitions to bi-cubic magnification
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transitioning from bilinear sampling to filter-4 sampling, while avoiding the visual artifacts along the boundary between the two different types of filters. The technique may be implemented using a linear transition function or an arbitrary transition function stored in a lookup table. The transition to filter-4 sampling occurs when the view of a textured object includes both minified and magnified levels of texture detail. Using this technique, high image quality is maintained for texture mapped images that include both highly minified pixels as well as highly magnified pixels, without suffering the performance penalty associated with using a filtering operation such as filter-4 sampling across all pixels. |
| US08212829B2 |
Computer using flash memory of hard disk drive as main and video memory
A computer includes a processing unit; a hard disk drive having a main memory region on and from which processing information used in correspondence to processing procedures of the processing unit is directly written and read; a control unit which communicates with the hard disk drive at high speed, for controlling the writing and reading for the hard disk drive; and a communications bus which connects between the hard disk drive and the control unit so that the hard disk drive and the control unit can communicate with each other at high-speed. Accordingly, there is provided a computer which effectively overcomes the limit on a memory storage capacity, and saves the space of a mainboard and reduces the weight thereof. |
| US08212828B2 |
Hybrid multiple bit-depth video processing architecture
An apparatus including a processor and a memory. The processor may be configured to process pixel data comprising eight or more bits. For pixel data having bit-depths greater than eight bits, a number of most significant bits (MSBs) of a pixel are presented as a first byte and a number of least significant bits (LSBs) of the pixel are packed with LSBs from one or more other pixels into a second byte. The memory may be coupled to the processor and configured to store the first byte in response to a first pointer and the second byte in response to a second pointer. The first byte and the second byte are stored independently in the memory. |
| US08212827B2 |
Mode conversion method and display apparatus using the same
Mode conversion methods and display apparatuses thereof are provided. The method converts to a second mode in which the display apparatus displays an image inputted from a second source, if there is no input of an image signal from a first source during the display apparatus operates in a first mode in which the display apparatus displays the image inputted from the first source. According to the present invention, it is possible to convert a mode automatically based on the external input status. A user may be provided two modes conveniently using the conversion method. |
| US08212823B2 |
Systems and methods for accelerating sub-pixel interpolation in video processing applications
A data path for a SIMD-based microprocessor is used to perform different simultaneous filter sub-operations in parallel data lanes of the SIMD-based microprocessor. Filter operations for sub-pixel interpolation are performed simultaneously on separate lanes of the SIMD processor's data path. Using a dedicated internal data path, precision higher than the native precision of the SIMD unit may be achieved. Through the data path according to this invention, a single instruction may be used to generate the value of two adjacent sub-pixels located diagonally with respect to integer pixel positions. |
| US08212821B1 |
Decomposing animations into primitives for browser-dependent rendering
A method for computer-implemented rendering of an animation presentation includes receiving, at a server, a request to view the animation presentation on a computing device, obtaining information identifying a browser application running on the computing device, determining requirements of a presentation technology supported by the browse, decomposing the animation presentation into animation primitives compatible with the presentation technology, and transmitting the animation primitives to the computing device. A computer-implemented method to render an animation presentation include replacing an animation type within an animation page structure of the animation presentation with an animation primitive, flattening the animation, updating the animation page drawing objects to point to the rendered document module object, grouping the animation primitives into sequences to create a timeline for the animation page, and adjusting delays of the animations so as to begin at a correct point in time. A system for implementing the rendering of animations is described. |
| US08212818B2 |
Windowless shape drawing
Development environments are commonly used to facilitate the development of user interfaces (e.g. windows forms, web forms, etc.). Drawing objects are components that may be used within the development environment to provide visual enhancements to the user interface. An effective method for drawing one or more drawing objects is disclosed herein to draw the drawing objects as windowless shapes within a shape container. The shape container may be configured to participate in a windows message loop (e.g. event handling system), wherein the windowless shapes do not participate in the windows message loop (e.g. lack a windows handle). The shape container listens, for example, within the windows message loop for operations pertaining to windowless shapes, and executes the operations upon the windowless shapes. Computer resources may be efficiently allocated, for example to the graphical user interface during runtime, instead of the windowless shapes consuming resources to participate in the windows message loop. |
| US08212815B2 |
Drawing apparatus, drawing program, and drawing method
A drawing apparatus has dividing unit for dividing a rectangle frame circumscribing a triangle displayed on a display screen into a plurality of rectangle segments. A determining unit sequentially determines whether each rectangle segment included in the rectangle frame overlaps the triangle in a predetermined direction and outputs a determination result of overlap or nonoverlap. The sequential determination of overlap or nonoverlap is stopped in the predetermined direction, if a determination result output from the determining unit changes from the overlap to the nonoverlap. A drawing process is performed on the rectangle segment determined to overlap the triangle. |
| US08212810B2 |
Method and devices for calibrating a display unit comprising a display and autostereoscopic adapter disc
A method and a device for calibration (or “electronic” adjustment) of a display unit are provided and include a display and autostereoscopic adapter disc, particularly provided for fixing to the display. A method and a device for generation or playback of 3D images by the display unit including autostereoscopic adapter disc and display are also provided. Misalignment of the adapted disc with the display are compensated for by corresponding adjustment of the image display on the display. |
| US08212809B2 |
Floating transitions
A computer implemented method and apparatus for floating object transitions. In one embodiment, tracking data identifying a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object in a virtual universe is received. The range comprises a viewable field. In response to the tracking data indicating an occurrence of a trigger condition, a set of flotation rules associated with the trigger condition is identified. An optimal location and orientation of the object is identified for each flotation action in a set of flotation actions associated with the set of flotation rules. The set of flotation actions are initiated to float the object above a surface. The object changes the location and orientation of the object in accordance with the set of flotation actions associated with the set of flotation rules. |
| US08212808B2 |
Image processing program and image processing apparatus
Multilayer polygon data for constructing multilayer polygonal models and a height map including height data values, arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of which indicates the height of each position provided on a three-dimensional object to be drawn, are read from a storage device. Then, the height of a layer of the multilayer polygonal models is compared to the height data value of a position provided on the height map, so as to determine a visible region provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models. And then, the visible region which is determined as described above and provided on the layer of the multilayer polygonal models is drawn in a predetermined color. Thus, it is possible to easily draw, in three-dimensional image processing, a three-dimensional object, such as an accumulation of snow, soil, sand, or bricks, positioned in the virtual space, regardless of the shape of the object. |
| US08212804B2 |
Integrated circuit for controlling operations of display module and first circuit module with shared pin
An integrated circuit for controlling a display module and a first circuit module with a shared pin includes: a shared pin, a display control module, a first control module, and a pin-sharing management module. The display control module is for controlling operations of the display module, wherein the display module is externally coupled to the integrated circuit via the shared pin. The display control module generates a pin-sharing control signal according to its operating status. The first control module is for controlling operations of the first circuit module, wherein the first circuit module is externally coupled to the integrated circuit via the shared pin. The pin-sharing management module is coupled to the display control module, the first control module and the shared pin and grants one of the display and first control modules access to the shared pin according to the pin-sharing control signal. |
| US08212803B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are provided. The liquid crystal display includes a first source drive IC group outputting a first feedback lock signal in response to one of a power voltage input through a first lock signal input terminal and a lock signal from the timing controller, a second source drive IC group outputting a second feedback lock signal in response to one of the power voltage input through a second lock signal input terminal, the lock signal from the timing controller, and a lock signal transferred from the first source drive IC group, and a comparator that compares the first feedback lock signal with the second feedback lock signal and supplies a comparison result to the timing controller. |
| US08212802B2 |
Driving apparatus of display device and display device including the same
A display device includes driving apparatus having first, second, third, and fourth gate drivers. The first and second gate drivers are connected to gate lines and are positioned on one side of the display device side by side. The third and fourth gate drivers are connected to gate lines and are positioned on the other side of the display device side by side. The first and third gate drivers apply the gate signal to the same gate line, and the second and fourth gate drivers apply the gate signal to the same gate line. |
| US08212798B2 |
Display device and electronic product
A display device includes: a screen unit; a drive unit; and a signal processing unit, wherein the screen unit includes rows of scanning lines, columns of signal lines, matrix-state pixel circuits and a light sensor, the drive unit includes a scanner supplying a control signal to the scanning lines and a driver supplying a video signal to the signal lines, the pixel circuit emits light in accordance with the video signal, the light sensor outputs a luminance signal in accordance with the light emission, and the signal processing unit corrects the video signal in accordance with the luminance signal and supplies the signal to the driver. |
| US08212793B2 |
Liquid crystal device, image sensor, and electronic apparatus
The invention provides a liquid crystal device including: a first substrate; a second substrate that is provided over the first substrate in such a manner that the first substrate and the second substrate face each other; a plurality of optical sensing sections that is formed in an image display area over the first substrate; and a plurality of light-amount adjusting sections that is formed in the image display area in such a manner that each of the plurality of light-amount adjusting sections includes a liquid crystal portion that overlaps the corresponding optical sensing section in a plan view, constituting a part of a liquid crystal layer that is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, the plurality of light-amount adjusting sections being capable of adjusting, independently of one another, the amount of incident light that enters the plurality of optical sensing sections through an image display surface that lies at one of two surfaces of the second substrate that does not face the liquid crystal layer, the image display surface being pointed to by a pointing means. |
| US08212792B2 |
Touchscreen using oriented microscopic linear conductive elements
A cover sheet assembly is provided for a touchscreen system. The cover sheet assembly includes an insulating layer having a surface configured to be disposed over an electrically conductive area of a substrate of the touchscreen system. An electrically conductive material is disposed on at least a portion of the insulating layer surface. The electrically conductive material includes a plurality of microscopic linear conductive elements arranged in a pattern that is oriented with respect to a first direction of a first polarization of light such that the electrically conductive material is more transparent to the first polarization of light than to a second polarization of light that is polarized in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US08212787B2 |
Movable contact body and switch using same
A touch panel has a plurality of band-like optically transmissive lower electrodes and upper electrodes formed at predetermined intervals in directions perpendicular to each other on an upper surface of an optically transparent base sheet. A dome-like movable contact is formed from a conductive metal sheet which is mounted under the touch panel. A light guide sheet with a plurality of convex-concave light emitting portions is formed on an optically transparent substrate, which is disposed between the touch panel and the movable contact. Accordingly, uniform illumination can be attained by using only one or two light emitting elements, and it is possible to obtain a movable contact body capable of inexpensive and reliable illumination. |
| US08212779B2 |
Digital audio/video playing device
A digital audio/video playing device includes a touch control board, a plurality of switch units disposed outside a perimeter of the touch control board, and a support plate disposed on the touch control board and switch units. The support plate includes a central portion, an intermediary portion ringing the central portion, and an outer portion ringing the intermediary portion. The central portion and the outer portion are thicker than the intermediary portion such that the intermediary portion is recessed relative to the central portion and the outer portion. The intermediary portion is disposed directly facing the touch control board. A plurality of depressible tabs are formed in the outer portion, each depressible tab corresponding to and directly facing a corresponding one of the switch units. A surface film is arranged over and covering the support plate such that a raised-recessed-raised configuration is formed. |
| US08212776B2 |
Optical finger navigation device with integrated tactile switch
A system of a tactile switch and an optical navigation device. The system includes a user device. The user device includes an optical finger navigation device. The optical finger navigation device enables a user to control a function of the user device via the optical finger navigation device. The optical finger navigation device includes a circuit board, a sensor array electrically coupled to the circuit board, and a tactile switch electrically coupled to the circuit board. The sensor array detects light and generates a navigation signal that corresponds to the detected light. The tactile switch is physically aligned with the sensor array on the circuit board. The tactile switch generates a switch signal upon actuation of the tactile switch in response to a force on a packaging structure of the sensor array. |
| US08212773B2 |
Mouse
There is disclosed a mouse including: an obtaining unit that obtains a vein image; a generation determination unit that determines a predetermined generation from the vein image; and a setting switch unit that switches content of settings, which is set in a computer connected through a predetermined transfer path, to content of settings assigned to the generation determined by the generation determination unit. |
| US08212772B2 |
Haptic interface device and actuator assembly providing linear haptic sensations
An interface device and method providing haptic sensations to a user. A user physically contacts a housing of the interface device, and a sensor device detects the manipulation of the interface device by the user. An actuator assembly includes an actuator that provides output forces to the user as haptic sensations. In one embodiment, the actuator outputs a rotary force, and a flexure coupled to the actuator moves an inertial mass and/or a contact member. The flexure can be a unitary member that includes flex joints allowing a portion of the flexure to be linearly moved. The flexure can converts rotary force output by the actuator to linear motion, where the linear motion causes a force that is transmitted to the user. In another embodiment, the actuator outputs a force, and a mechanism coupling the actuator to the device housing uses the force to move the actuator with respect to the device housing. The actuator acts as an inertial mass when in motion to provide an inertial force that can be transmitted to the user. The mechanism can be a flexure including at least one flex joint or a mechanism with bearings. |
| US08212771B1 |
Interconnected computer mouse and pad
A computer mouse with an integral attached mouse pad is herein disclosed. The top portion of the mouse moves conventionally while the base is equipped with sliding X-Y access plates having a protruding analog stick. The bottom surface of the base plate comprises a non-slip material. The top portion has both left and right mouse buttons as found on a conventional mouse. In use, the top portion of the device slides in relation to the base generating higher resolution computer cursor movements. This device is ideal for use on desktops with crowded spaces or for with notebook computers. |
| US08212770B2 |
Joystick assembly for improved machine control
A joystick assembly that provides enhanced operator control and stability during rough operation by being primarily rotatable about a vertical axis of a clockspring. The joystick assembly also includes a palm support that is associated with the clockspring via a clamp in the lower housing of the palm support. Further, the joystick assembly has an interface device that includes at least one input device that is conveniently actuated by an operator's thumb. |
| US08212769B2 |
Hierarchical structure display
A hierarchical structure display device according to the present invention includes operation condition output means for outputting operation condition information for a switch operation condition of a first switch or a second switch to cause an operator to recognize the operation. condition information, and screen transition means for operating only when a detected switch operation of the first switch or the second switch satisfies the switch operation condition related to the operation condition information output from the operation condition output means to carry out a screen transition of a display screen. Further, the operation condition information is a display image which is displayed within the display screen and repeatedly inverted at predetermined timing during a switch operation, and a necessary number of times of inversion for the switch operation condition is displayed as the display image. |
| US08212768B2 |
Digital, data, and multimedia user interface with a keyboard
A system and corresponding method for providing a 3-dimensional (3-D) user interface to display images in a 3-D coordinate system. The 3-D interface generates and displays one type of holographic keyboard in response to a user's desired selection. The holographic keyboard provides versatility and ergonomic benefits to the user. Sensors are configured to sense user interaction within the 3-D coordinate system, so that a processor may receive user interaction information from the sensors. The sensors are able to provide information to the processor that enables the processor to correlate user interaction with images in the 3-D coordinate system. The system may be used for interconnecting or communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system. |
| US08212763B2 |
Liquid crystal display controller and liquid crystal display device
In conventional liquid crystal display controllers such as for portable telephone sets, the display is reduced in the stand-by state but the liquid crystal display duty is not changed, i.e., even the common electrodes of the rows that are not producing display are scanned, and the consumption of electric power is not decreased to a sufficient degree in the stand-by state. A liquid crystal display controller (2) includes a drive duty selection register (34) capable of being rewritten by a microprocessor (1), and a drive bias selection register (32). When the display is changed from the whole display on a liquid crystal display panel (3) to a partial display on part of the rows only, the preset values of the drive duty selection register and of the drive bias selection register are changed, so that the display is selectively produced on a portion of the liquid crystal display panel at a low voltage with a low-duty drive. |
| US08212760B2 |
Digital driving method for LCD panels
A liquid crystal display (LCD) with a driver IC and an LCD panel having source and gate lines. A gate driver is disposed in the LCD panel for sequentially supplying scan signals to the gate lines of the panel. A source driver in the driver IC converts pixel data into an analog source signal and supplies the signal to the source lines. A lookup table is stored with a mapping of possible luminance values for pixels of the LCD panel onto at least one luminance control parameter. The source driver converts the pixel data so that a voltage of the analog source signal increases during a gate scan period depending on the luminance control parameter in such a way that at the end of the gate scan period a voltage at a corresponding pixel electrode is equal to an analog value corresponding to the pixel data. |
| US08212756B2 |
Display panel driving apparatus, display panel driving method, display apparatus, and television receiver
In a display panel driving apparatus which generates, based on an input gray scale, a gray scale of a first sub-frame and a gray scale of a second sub-frame so as to display the input gray scale as a result of a summation of respective display corresponding to the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame into which one frame is divided, and the gray scale of the second sub-frame being greater than the gray scale of the first sub-frame, for a response in which (i) the input gray scale of a subsequent frame is greater than an input gray scale of a previous frame and (ii) the input gray scale of the subsequent frame is not less than a first threshold gray scale, a gray scale of the first sub-frame in the subsequent frame is set not more than a second threshold gray scale, regardless of input gray scale of the subsequent frame. Thus, it is possible to reduce jaggy in an edge of a moving image in time-division driving. |
| US08212753B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device includes a pixel defined by at least four sub-pixels. The sub-pixels include at least one sub-pixel belonging to a first group and at least one sub-pixel belonging to a second group, the sub-pixel of the second group being different from that of the first group. The luminances of the sub-pixels are set such that if the colors represented by the pixel change from black into white while being kept achromatic, the first group of sub-pixel starts to increase in luminance first, and the second group of sub-pixel starts to increase in luminance when the luminance of the first group of sub-pixel reaches a predetermined value. |
| US08212744B2 |
See-through display
In a particular embodiment, a see-through display includes a screen having transparent layer of material with a front side and a back side. At least one plurality of shaped louver members is disposed between the front side and the back side. The plurality of the louver members allow transmission of a fraction of light through the screen with minimum scattering within a range of incident angles. The plurality of the louvers also redirect image signal light from an image source into a range of angles centered about a normal to the screen. The louver members combine the image signal light with the light emitted from background objects located on the backside of the screen. The background image light is transmitted through the display screen with minimal scattering. For embodiments providing two sets of louver members, the image signal light may be redirected to observers on either side of the screen, such that the observers may see each other as well as the intended image. |
| US08212739B2 |
Multiband tunable impedance surface
A tunable impedance surface capable of steering a multiband radio frequency beam in two different, independently band-wise controllable directions. The tunable surface has a ground plane and a plurality of first conductive elements disposed in a first array a first distance therefrom, the first distance being less than a wavelength of a lower frequency band of the multiband radio frequency beam. A first capacitor arrangement controllably varies capacitance between selected ones of the first conductive elements. A plurality of second conductive elements are disposed in a second array a second distance from the plurality of first conductive elements, the second distance being less than a wavelength of a higher frequency band of the multiband radio frequency beam, the plurality of first conductive elements serving as a ground plane for the plurality of second conductive elements. A second capacitor arrangement controllably varies capacitance between selected ones of the second conductive elements. |
| US08212738B2 |
Antenna and an antenna feed structure
A dielectrically-loaded helical antenna has a cylindrical ceramic core bearing metallised helical antenna elements which are coupled to a coaxial feeder structure passing axially through the core. Secured to the end face of the core is an impedance matching section in the form of a laminate board. The matching section embodies a shunt capacitance and a series inductance. |
| US08212736B2 |
Antenna device and communication device
An antenna device and a communication device capable of changing over polarization characteristics of an antenna to improve transmission capacity in various kinds of polarization environments and used configuration by preventing reduction of the communication capacity for a reception signal degrading or varying depending on momentarily changing polarization conditions between a base station and a terminal. The antenna device (110) includes a plurality of first antenna elements (111,112) for a first polarizing direction, a second antenna element (121) provided in the direction orthogonal to the first polarizing direction, a plurality of switches (131,132) for switching connection between the plurality of first antenna elements (111,112) and the second antenna element (121), and power supply parts (141,142) respectively provided on the plurality of first antenna elements (111,112). |
| US08212735B2 |
Near field communication
Apparatus including: an antenna configured for efficient far field communication at a first frequency; an inductive element including a plurality of series-connected coiled portions, including a first coiled portion and a second coiled portion, wherein the inductive element is configured to provide near field communication at a second frequency; and at least one reactive element parallel connected between the first coiled portion and the second coiled portion, wherein the at least one reactive element has a lower impedance at the first frequency than at the second frequency. |
| US08212734B1 |
Hybrid reflector with radiating subreflector
An antenna system comprises a first reflector and a second reflector including one or more radiating elements disposed on a side of the second reflector facing the first reflector. The one or more radiating elements are configured to illuminate the first reflector. The antenna system further comprises a dual reflector feed configured to illuminate the second reflector. The antenna system may further include a beamforming network configured to feed the radiating elements, and to provide amplitude weighting and/or phase control to the antenna system. |
| US08212732B2 |
Dual polarized antenna with null-fill
The present invention relates to a dual polarized array antenna comprising at least two dual polarized antenna elements being arranged for radiating electromagnetic energy having a first polarization, constituting a first antenna radiation pattern, via a connection to a first antenna port, and electromagnetic energy having a second polarization, constituting a second antenna radiation pattern, via a connection to a second antenna port, the second polarization being orthogonal to the first polarization, the first antenna radiation pattern and second antenna radiation pattern each having a main beam and a number of side-lobes with nulls. The array antenna comprises at least one further dual polarized antenna element arranged for radiating electromagnetic energy having two mutually orthogonal polarizations, constituting further antenna radiation patterns, via respective connections to the first antenna port and the second antenna port, where the polarization of said at least one further dual polarized antenna element that is associated with the first antenna port deviates from the first polarization such that said at least one null of the first antenna pattern is at least partly filled. |
| US08212730B2 |
Low profile full wavelength meandering antenna
A low profile antenna has a meander length based on the full electrical wavelength of the signal being transmitted or received. The antenna can have either an open-loop structure or a closed-loop structure with a matching network. The low profile enables the antenna to be used in a card for a device such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, wireless telephone and so on with minimal risk of the antenna breaking off, as compared with a prior art antenna having a higher height and thus more likelihood of being broken from its card. |
| US08212728B2 |
Foldable portable radio device
A foldable portable radio device comprises a first housing, a second housing, a hinge section for coupling the first and second housings such that the radio device is foldable, a radio communication antenna built in a region of the first or second housing near the hinge section, and a digital television reception whip antenna which can be retracted into and drawn out from the region near the hinge section where the radio communication antenna is built in. The foldable portable radio device also comprises a function for powering the digital television reception whip antenna through an electric connection pattern, wherein the electric connection pattern is formed in a direction away from the region near the hinge section where the radio communication antenna is built in. |
| US08212727B2 |
Antenna and wireless transceiver using the same
An antenna and a wireless transceiver are provided. The antenna includes: a substrate having first and second surfaces with circuits thereon; and two shield boxes located on the first and second surfaces for covering the circuits thereon. The shield boxes each comprise an antenna section and a shield section. The antenna sections are disposed at one side of the shield section and aligned with a margin of the substrate, and include signal ends electrically connected to the circuits and grounding ends electrically connected to the shield sections. The first antenna section is disposed on a diagonal opposite of the second antenna section flush with substrate margin or aligned with the substrate margin, thereby maximizing the distance between the two antennas disposed on the substrate, and preventing the two antennas from electromagnetic interference. The antennas are disposed on sides of the shield sections flush with substrate margins and thereby are space-saving. |
| US08212722B2 |
System and method for discovering and tracking communication directions with asymmetric antenna systems
A system and method for discovering and tracking communication directions is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, communication directions for two devices with asymmetric antenna systems are discovered. In one embodiment, a contention access period (CAP) is partitioned into an association CAP and a regular CAP, either of which may be further partitioned into sub-CAPs corresponding to different reception directions. In one embodiment, an association request command is transmitted by a device at different association sub-CAPs to train a transmission direction of the device. In one embodiment, further training is performed to find the best communication directions, as collisions may occur when association request commands are transmitted at different association sub-CAPs. |
| US08212720B2 |
Detecting lack of movement to aid GNSS receivers
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting movement to aid GNSS receivers. By detecting when the user is stationary, the Doppler frequency estimation can be corrected or the SNR can be boosted more both of which lead to improved performance. The embodiments allow a GNSS receiver to process signals in when the signal level would otherwise be too low—for example indoors. The embodiments can improve performance when one or more satellites are temporarily blocked but one or more satellites are still being tracked. |
| US08212712B2 |
Method of processing a radar image, obtained in particular from an airborne radar, with evaluation of the altitude of the 0° C. isotherm
The invention targets a method of processing a radar image obtained from a radar. It comprises an automatic evaluation of the altitude of the isotherm at zero degrees Celsius, called zero isotherm, using a processing of the reflectivity information (rf(px)) conveyed by pixels (px) forming all or part of the radar image. |
| US08212711B1 |
UAV trajectory determination method and system
A method for determining a corrected UAV trajectory for a UAV having an on-board synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a programmed trajectory includes the SAR obtaining observed radar range profile curves associated with point scatterers; calculating an error objective function based on the observed radar range profile curves to obtain a perturbation path; and applying the perturbation path to the programmed trajectory to obtain the corrected UAV trajectory input back into the SAR. Optimal parameter values applied to the UAV motion model then constitute an improved estimate of the UAV trajectory. A system for computing the corrected UAV trajectory also includes an on-board UAV inertial navigation system and an on-board processor having a machine-readable storage media capable for storing the software instructions for applying the subject algorithm via the processor that then applies the corrected trajectory to the SAR. |
| US08212710B2 |
Radar image generation system
According to one embodiment, a synthetic aperture radar includes a back projection processor that is configured to receive multiple return signals from the radar as the radar is moved with respect to an object, wherein the return signals are representative of electro-magnetic radiation reflected from the object. The back projection processor generates a dynamic image of one or more internal features of the object from the return signals by varying a squint angle of the plurality of return signals in which the squint angle varied by modifying a back projection filter. Once generated, the back projection processor displays the dynamic image on a display. |
| US08212707B2 |
Remote control system and remote control signal processing method
A remote control system is provided. The remote control system includes at least one first remote control apparatus and at least one second remote control apparatus. The at least one first remote control apparatus includes a command input unit, a first control unit, and a first output unit. The at least one second remote control apparatus includes a first user interface unit, a first input unit, a second control unit, and a second output unit. |
| US08212705B2 |
Pipeline ADC
Pipeline analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are used in many applications, but because of the configuration, components may be idled, which wastes power. Here, an ADC is provided that enables one or more stages to be switched off during a power conservation mode. By using switch networks, the ADC can produce accurate results with reduced power consumption, as desired. |
| US08212702B2 |
Delta-sigma analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and method thereof
A delta-sigma analog-to-digital conversion apparatus for receiving an analog input signal to generate a digital output signal includes a subtracting unit, a quantizer, and a feedback unit. The subtracting unit is utilized for performing a subtraction function to generate a subtracted signal according to the analog input signal and a feedback signal. The quantizer is coupled to the subtracting unit and utilized for performing quantization to generate a quantized signal according to the subtracted signal. The feedback unit is coupled between the subtracting unit and the quantizer, and utilized for providing the feedback signal to the subtracting unit according to the quantized signal. The subtracting unit is arranged to reduce signal input swing of the quantizer. |
| US08212701B2 |
Integrated circuit and corresponding method of processing a multitype radio frequency digital signal
An integrated circuit includes input circuitry for receiving a radio frequency digital signal, output circuitry capable of delivering a radio frequency analog signal, and a processing stage coupled between the input circuitry and the output circuitry and including several processing channels in parallel. Each processing channel may include a voltage switching block the input of which is coupled to the input circuitry and a transmission line substantially of the quarter-wave type at the frequency of the radio frequency analog signal coupled in series between the output of the voltage switching block and the output circuitry. |
| US08212694B2 |
Data output circuit
A data output circuit is presented. The data output circuit includes: a data serializer and a driver. The data serializer is configured to generate serial data using first parallel data. The driver is configured to drive the serial data to generate output data. The data serializer is also configured to generate the serial data by multiplexing second parallel data generated by changing a power domain of the first parallel data. |
| US08212692B2 |
Manual pulse generator with touch sensor inputs
A manual pulse generator that includes a main body, a magnification selector, an axis selector, and an input device is disclosed. The input device is disposed on an upper surface of the main body. The input device includes a control chip and a panel with many touch-sensors electronically connected to the control chip. When the touch-sensors are touched, the touch-sensors generate signals to the control chip. The control chip is configured to generate pulse signals according to the signals received from the touch-sensors to control a servo motor of a CNC machine. |
| US08212690B1 |
Vehicle detection inductive loop activation device
A passive activator, used in combination with a vehicle sensing arrangement in a roadway, includes an electrically conductive material such as a wire mesh and placed inside or within a vehicle tire. The electrically conductive material portion forms a closed loop. The electrically conductive material portion may also include a protective layer or liner to prevent damage to the tire or to an inner tube of the tire. The passive activator causes sufficient disturbance of the electro-magnetic field to activate a vehicle detection sensor located in a roadway when a tire equipped with the passive activator passes over the roadway induction loop. |
| US08212687B2 |
Load side voltage sensing for AMI metrology
Disclosed are apparatus and methodologies for providing improved functionality of a meter in a 2-way communications arrangement, such as an Advanced Metering System (AMS) or Infrastructure (AMI). More particularly, the present technology relates to methodologies and apparatus for providing load side voltage sensing for utility meters which preferably are operable with remote disconnect features in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) open operational framework. The present subject matter provides enhanced capabilities resulting in improved functionality, increased safety, and greater economy vis-à-vis fraud detection for individual metrology components in an open operational framework. Meters per the present subject matter utilize a detection circuit, which is situated generally downstream of a remote disconnect functionality. Such detection circuit is able to sense whether voltage exists or doesn't exist at such relatively downstream, or load side location. Providing such functionality allows for: (a) verification that a remote disconnect switch did open subsequent to an instruction or command to do so, (b) identification of possible user fraud, as would possibly be reflected by the presence of voltage at a time when the remote disconnect switch is open, (c) verification that the remote disconnect switch did re-close after having been given an instruction or command to close, and (d) verification of lack of voltage present before re-closing such remote disconnect switch, which serves an important safety feature. |
| US08212682B2 |
Method and device for easily monitoring the maintenance status of an UV-drinking water disinfection system in an aircraft
A disinfection system for liquids is provided that features an irradiation chamber for accommodating a liquid to be disinfected. A UV-radiator with a cladding that is transparent to UV-light is arranged in the irradiation chamber such that the UV-radiation emitted by the UV-radiator may penetrate the liquid. A first UV-sensor is arranged in the irradiation chamber such that a first attenuation characteristic with respect to the UV-light emitted by the UV-radiator may be measured with the first UV-sensor, wherein the first attenuation characteristic comprises a first aging characteristic and a first liquid attenuation characteristic. A second UV-sensor is arranged in the irradiation chamber such that a second attenuation characteristic with respect to the UV-light emitted by the UV-radiator may be measured with the second UV-sensor, wherein the second attenuation characteristic comprises a second aging characteristic and a second liquid attenuation characteristic and differs from the first attenuation characteristic. |
| US08212679B2 |
Near-field RFID reader antenna
A near-field radio frequency identification (RFID) reader antenna is provided. The near-field RFID reader antenna is intended to separately recognize adjacent items to which a plurality of small RFID tags are attached, such as wines displayed on a shelf in a store or chip trays on casino tables, using a near field. The near-field REID reader antenna includes a dielectric layer, at least one signal line formed on the dielectric layer, a ground surface formed under the dielectric layer, at least one ground line formed under the dielectric layer to be electrically connected to the ground surface in parallel with the signal line, at least one signal stub formed to be electrically connected to the signal line toward the ground line, and at least one ground stub formed to be electrically connected to the ground line toward the signal line in parallel with the signal stub. |
| US08212678B2 |
RFID system, gate arrangement with RFID system and method of detecting transponders
With an RFID system for communicating between reading units (R1, R2) and transponders (T1, T2) in at least two different scan areas (S1, S2), wherein at least one reading unit (R1, R2) and at least one antenna (A1-A4, B1-B4) communicating with the reading unit are allocated to each scan area (S1, S2) for the radiation of electromagnetic signals (EA1-EA4, EB1-EB4) in the scan area (S1, S2), the antennas (A1-A4, B1-B4) are designed in such a way that at least one antenna (A1, A3) of a scan area (S1) has a different polarization and/or a different polarization rotation direction relative to at least one antenna (B2, B4) of another scan area (S2). |
| US08212676B2 |
RFID tag and method of manufacturing the same
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and method of manufacturing the same. In a preferred embodiment, the RFID tag includes a radio frequency (RF) inlay, the RF inlay including a carrier sheet, an antenna printed on the carrier sheet and a wireless communication device bonded to the antenna. The RFID tag also includes a plastic extrudate, the RF inlay being disposed within the extrudate so that the antenna and the wireless communication device are encapsulated on all sides within the extrudate. Optional metallic reflector and mounting adhesive layers may be laminated onto the underside of the extrudate. The present invention is also directed to an automated method for manufacturing the above RFID tag, such a method involving, in one embodiment, feeding a continuous supply of RF inlays into a cross-head extruder to yield a continuously extruded block and then cutting the block between successive antennae to yield a plurality of individual RFID tags. |
| US08212674B2 |
Inventory devices and methods
In one implementation, a method includes reading first component data from a first tag associated with a first component of a device. The device may be powered on or off. The first component data indicate components associated with the first component at a first time. The method may involve obtaining second component data from a second tag associated with a support structure. The second component data may indicate components disposed in the support structure at a second time. The method may also involve comparing the first component data with the second component data and determining whether the first component data match the second component data. |
| US08212668B2 |
Apparatus and method for finding a misplaced object using a database and instructions generated by a portable device
The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items that the user needs to find. |
| US08212666B2 |
Motor vehicle having hybrid drive and external display device for displaying a current operating mode of the hybrid drive
A motor vehicle has a hybrid drive that includes a first drive unit and a second low-emission drive unit. The motor vehicle can be driven in travel mode in different modes of operation of the hybrid drive at least either by the first drive unit or by the second low-emission drive unit. To determine a current emission of pollutants and/or substances that are harmful to the climate and/or the noise emissions of such a motor vehicle, a display device is placed at a location of the motor vehicle so as to be clearly visible from outside the motor vehicle during the travel mode for displaying a current mode of operation of the hybrid drive. |
| US08212663B2 |
Wheel electronics system and method for operating a wheel electronics system
A wheel electronic system and a method for operating a wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system interacts with a tire secured to a vehicle and produces and emits, based on a captured trigger signal, a message containing information on at least one tire parameter measured with the wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system is operated in an operational mode in which the system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a first time period. Based on a predetermined first operational ratio of the vehicle, the wheel electronic system automatically switches to a test mode, in which the wheel electronic system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a second time period which is substantially shorter than the first time period. |
| US08212661B2 |
Alert signal control using receiver velocity
An electronic communication system provides text or voice messages to remote receiving devices, such as cell phones or PDA's. The remote receiving devices are equipped with velocity sensors, or position sensors from which velocity may be inferred. The remote receiving devices periodically report a velocity or current position to an alert signal control node of the communication system. The alert signal control node determines a most recent-determinable velocity for each receiving device before transmitting a message alert signal. If the velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold, the alert signal may be delayed until the velocity drops below the threshold. The system may be operated as a safety measure to prevent reception of distracting alert signals while driving, thereby silencing messaging devices at appropriate times. |
| US08212660B2 |
Overhead obstacle avoidance system
A collision avoidance system for use with vehicles includes a sensor mounted on a moving vehicle, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the distance between an overhead obstacle ahead of the vehicle and the sensor itself; a processor connected to the sensor; means for determining a reference height which is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor; means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle is also entered into the processor; and wherein the processor adds the reference height to the distance between the obstacle and the sensor to determine a measured height of the obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle. |
| US08212658B2 |
Product container for use with device capable of long-range and short-range communications
A container for a product is used with an external device having long-range communication capability and short-range communication capability and location sensing capability. The container has a storage element for storing an access code for a central facility and a container identification code, a first data acquisition component for detecting that the container has been opened, and a second data acquisition component for sensing an identity of a nearby person, the nearby person being a member of a group registered at a central facility, the container identification code not uniquely associated with a member of the group. The container also has a local communication interface for communicating with the external device using the short-range communication capability of the external device, and a processor for producing information and directing the local communication interface to send the information to the external device. The information sent from the container to the external device includes (a) the access code for the central facility, (b) the container identification code, (c) the detection that the container has been opened, (d) the sensed identity of the nearby person, and (e) instructions for the external device to use its location sensing capability to sense its location and to report its sensed location to the central facility. The container may also have a switch for activation by a user to produce an activation signal that is sent from the container to the external device. |
| US08212654B2 |
Channel selection method for reading tag information, tag selection apparatus of radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and RFID reader
A channel selection method for reading tag information, a channel selection apparatus of an RFID reader applying the same, and an RFID reader. A channel selection apparatus of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader equipped within a wireless communication portable terminal, includes a channel selection unit which selects a channel to read tag information stored in an RFID tag, and a channel determination unit which, when determining that the selected channel is not used by another RFID reader, determines the selected channel to be a channel to read the tag information. Accordingly, when a plurality of RFID readers reads out the tag information from the RFID tag almost at the same time, the interference among them can be avoided. |
| US08212653B1 |
Protected zone system
A system is provided for establishing a protected zone and monitoring interactions therewith. The system includes a protected zone designator and a wearable device. The protected zone designator establishes the protected zone. The protected zone designator is configured for placement at a location in which the protected zone is desired. The wearable device is separate and distal from the protected zone designator. The wearable device includes a protected zone recognition component configured to recognize the protected zone and identify pre-defined interaction criteria for the protected zone. Upon the wearable device entering the protected zone, the protected zone recognition component recognizes the protected zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the protected zone. Based on the interaction criteria the wearable device determines and records compliance with the interaction criteria. |
| US08212641B2 |
Choke
An electronic device including a core, at least a wire and a magnetic material is provided. The core includes a pillar, a top board and a bottom board. The pillar is disposed between the top board and the bottom board. An area of the top board is smaller than an area of the bottom board. A winding space is fanned among the top board, the bottom board and the pillar. The wire is winded around the pillar and located in the winding space. The magnetic material fills the winding space to encapsulate the wire. The magnetic material includes a resin and a metallic powder, wherein an average particle diameter of the magnetic powder is smaller than 20 μm. |
| US08212630B2 |
Thin film balun
The present invention provides a thin film balun capable of preventing a resonant frequency from being increased to a high frequency due to size and thickness reductions and maintaining a preferable passage characteristic, while improving a balance characteristic. A thin film balun 1 includes: an unbalanced transmission line 2 having a first coil portion C1 and a second coil portion C2; and a balanced transmission line 3 having a third coil portion C3 and a fourth coil portion C4 which are magnetically coupled with the first coil portion C1 and the second coil portion C2, respectively. The first coil portion C1 is connected to an unbalanced terminal T0, and the second coil portion C2 is connected to a ground terminal G (ground potential) via a capacitor D (C component). The third coil portion C3 is connected to a balanced terminal T1 and the fourth coil portion C4 is connected to a second balanced terminal T2. At least a part of the capacitor D is contained in a second magnetic coupling area R2 formed by the coil portions C2 and C4. |
| US08212629B1 |
Wideband low frequency impedance tuner
An electro-mechanical impedance tuner generates wideband and complete Smith chart reflection factor coverage at frequencies as low as 1 MHz. It comprises an in-line adjustable linear phase shifter and a variable capacitor connected in parallel to ground. The transmission line, which serves as an adjustable phase shifter of variable electrical length, is made as a cylindrical rotating spiral wire-over-ground transmission line, on which runs a sliding contact, connected with a variable capacitor; the capacitor can be, depending on the frequency, immersed in a dielectric liquid, such as oil (∈r≈3) or alcohol (∈r≈20) for increased capacitance. The cylindrical structure of the spiral transmission line allows for a compact, 1 meter long apparatus at 1 MHz, whereas the required linear electrical length for this type of impedance tuner would be 150 meters in air, or 100 meters when low cost polyethylene dielectric (∈r≈2.25) is used. Cascading two or more tuners allows pre-matching and harmonic tuning. |
| US08212626B2 |
Constant-temperature type crystal oscillator
A constant-temperature type crystal oscillator includes: a surface-mount crystal unit, in which a crystal element is housed in a case main body to hermetically encapsulate the crystal element with a metal cover, and which includes a crystal terminal serving as a mounting terminal that is electrically connected to at least the crystal element on an outer bottom face of the case main body; a thermistor that detects an operational temperature of the surface-mount crystal unit; and a circuit substrate, on which elements forming an oscillator circuit and elements forming a temperature control circuit along with the thermistor are installed. The thermistor includes a first and second terminal electrode and a temperature detecting electrode that is electrically independent of the first and second terminal electrode. The temperature detecting electrode is electrically connected to the crystal terminal of the surface-mount crystal unit through a circuit pattern formed on the circuit substrate. |
| US08212624B2 |
Reference frequency generation circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, and electronic device
An oscillator circuit increases and reduces signal levels of first and second oscillation signals in a complementary manner in response to a transition of a signal level of a reference clock. An oscillation control circuit compares each of the signal levels of the first and second oscillation signals to a comparison voltage, and causes the signal level of the reference clock to transition according to results of the comparison. A reference control circuit increases or reduces the comparison voltage so that a difference between a signal level of an intermediate signal which is proportional to respective swings of the first and second oscillation signals and a reference voltage is reduced. |
| US08212615B2 |
Variable-gain amplifier circuit and wireless communication device integrated circuit equipped therewith
There is disclosed a variable-gain amplifier circuit that operates on a low voltage, exhibits low distortion, provides a wide range of variation, and is suitable for use in a low-power-consumption wireless communication system. The variable-gain amplifier circuit is configured so that a variable-load circuit, which includes three reactance function elements and provides a wide range of impedance variation, is connected to a conductor circuit whose output terminal generates a positive-phase output current proportional to conductance with respect to an input voltage. |
| US08212610B2 |
Techniques for digital loop filters
A digital loop filter includes a fine control circuit and a coarse control circuit. The fine control circuit adjusts a phase of a feedback clock signal by a first phase adjustment in response to a first phase error signal that indicates a sign of a phase error between a reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal. The coarse control circuit adjusts the phase of the feedback clock signal by a second phase adjustment in response to a second phase error signal. The second phase adjustment is larger than the first phase adjustment. The second phase error signal indicates a magnitude of a phase error between the reference clock signal and the feedback clock signal. |
| US08212609B2 |
Internal voltage generation circuit
An internal voltage generation circuit includes a first enable signal generator configured to delay an active signal to generate a first enable signal, a comparison signal generator configured to compare the internal voltage with an internal reference voltage to generate a comparison signal, a pulse signal generator configured to receive the first enable signal and to generate a pulse signal, a transmission device configured to buffer and transfer the comparison signal as a pull-down signal, and a drive device configured to drive the driving signal to the first level in response to the pull-down signal. |
| US08212608B2 |
Apparatus and method for a smooth powerup of a reference signal
A circuit for providing a reference voltage can be widely used in audio applications. However, at startup an abrupt start in the reference signal can cause undesirable audible artifacts. A circuit employing feedback of a reference voltage to control the charging of a capacitor which provides the reference voltage can be used to provide a smooth startup to the reference voltage. The circuit contains a differential pair for steering a fixed current source from one path to another as the reference voltage increases. The steered current can then be mirrored into one or more current mirrors where the newly mirrored current can be squeezed to zero when the difference between a desired reference voltage and the reference voltage approaches zero. This newly mirrored current can be used to charge a capacitor which is used to provide the reference voltage. |
| US08212607B2 |
Internal voltage generator and method of generating internal voltage
An internal voltage generator and a method of generating an internal voltage are disclosed. The internal voltage generator includes: a charge pumping block configured to perform charge pumping base on a period pulse signal to generate an internal voltage, and output the generated internal voltage to an interval voltage terminal; a voltage detection block configured to detect the voltage level of the internal voltage terminal; a driving voltage supply block configured to supply a first power supply voltage or a second power supply voltage having a higher voltage level than the first power supply voltage as a driving voltage, depending on the detection result of the voltage detection block; and a period pulse generation block configured to drive the period pulse signal to the is driving voltage supplied from the driving voltage supply block. The period pulse signal driven by the second power supply voltage has a longer pulsing period than the period pulse signal driven by the first power supply voltage. |
| US08212605B2 |
Temperature compensation circuit
A temperature compensation circuit includes a bias circuit configured to output a bias current having a current value increasing in proportion to an absolute temperature in a low-temperature region in which a temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, and having a greater current value than the current value proportional to the absolute temperature in a high-temperature region in which the temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature, and a transistor having a control terminal supplied with the bias current. The bias circuit includes a first current generating circuit configured to generate a first current increasing in proportion to the absolute temperature, a second current generating circuit configured to generate a second current that does not flow in the low-temperature region and flows in the high-temperature region, and a control circuit configured to control the second current and having a connection terminal capable of being connected with an external resistor for adjusting a magnitude of the second current, and is configured to generate a third current by adding the first current to the second current, and output the bias current depending on or equal to the third current. |
| US08212601B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing system clock failover
A method and apparatus for providing system clock failover using a one-shot circuit are disclosed. A process, in one embodiment, is able to detect a clock failure using a one-shot circuit, wherein the clock signals are generated by a first clock circuit. Upon generating a switching signal in response to the clock failure, a system reset signal is asserted for a predefined time period in accordance with the clock failure. After switching a second clock circuit to replace the first clock circuit, the process is capable of resuming the clock signals via the second clock circuit. |
| US08212596B2 |
PLL circuit
There is provided a PLL circuit including a first loop filter and a second loop filter, which includes a current signal generation circuit that includes a first output driver that generates a first current signal to be output to the first loop filter and a second output driver that generates a second current signal to be output to the second loop filter, and a control circuit that selects which of the first output driver and the second output driver is to be activated. |
| US08212593B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a clock signal
Systems and methods for providing a clock signal are provided. A frequency multiplier circuit is provided that can include a plurality of serially connected delay elements that are configured to generate a plurality of delay tap signals from an input signal. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a phase detector configured to receive a first selected delay tap signal and the input signal. The phase detector can detect a phase shift between the first selected delay tap signal and the input signal, and can generate a phase detection signal indicative of a value of the phase shift. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a digital logic gate configured to receive the input signal and a second selected delay tap signal. The digital logic gate can be further configured to generate an output signal responsive to the second selected delay tap signal and the input signal. The frequency multiplier circuit can also include a controller coupled to the phase detector and coupled to an output gate. The controller can be configured to receive the phase detection signal and to enable the output gate when the value of the phase shift corresponds to a predetermined value. The output gate can provide the output signal when enabled. |
| US08212585B1 |
Programmable logic device
A programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks and a plurality of routing networks. One of the routing networks receives an output signal of one of the plurality of logic blocks and a master clock signal. The routing network includes a pre-charge driver which includes: a delayed clock signal generator generating a delayed clock signal which delays predetermined time from a master clock signal; a pre-charge drive signal generator which receives the output signal of the delayed clock signal generator and the master clock signal and outputs a pre-charge drive signal; an enable circuit which receives an output signal of the pre-charge drive signal generator and outputs a constant signal or the pre-charge drive signal; and an output circuit which receives an output signal of the enable circuit and the output signal of the logic block and outputs one. |
| US08212580B2 |
Scalable wideband probes, fixtures, and sockets for high speed IC testing and interconnects
We introduce a new Periodic micro coaxial transmission line (PMTL) that is capable of sustaining a TEM propagation mode up to THz band. The PMTL can be manufactured using current photolithographic processes. This transmission line can be embedded in microscopic layers that allow many new applications. We further use the embedded PMTL to develop a modular, scaleable and fully automated Universal Test Fixture for testing chips in various stages of development mainly for digital IC chips that can be utilized in production lines with pick and place of chips on tape to test every chip before insertion into circuits. The PMTL can also provide Confined Field Interconnects between various elements on semiconductor wafers to reduce parasitic and radiation losses and practically eliminating cross talk, thus, increasing the speed of digital IC's. The PMTL is also used to develop a Universal Test Socket, and a Hand Probe. |
| US08212579B2 |
Fixing apparatus for a probe card
A fixing apparatus for fixing a probe card to a holder includes a screw fixed to the holder and binding the probe card onto the holder in a vertical direction, a first bearing member intervening between a head of the screw and the probe card and allowing expansion and contraction of the probe card with respect to the screw in a horizontal direction, and a second bearing member intervening between the probe card and the holder and allowing expansion and contraction of the probe card with respect to the holder in the horizontal direction. |
| US08212575B2 |
Device for analyzing size and location of conductive item
A matrix analyzer for determining the size and location of a conductive item placed thereon. The matrix analyzer includes plural row conductors and column conductors with a corresponding grid of conductive areas exposed on the surface of the matrix analyzer. When a conductive item, such as an ink droplet, is jetted onto the matrix analyzer, the intersection of various row conductors and column conductors exhibit a low resistance. The rows and columns of the matrix analyzer can be sequentially accessed to find those intersections where the low resistance exists. From such data, the size and location of the ink droplets can be determined. |
| US08212573B2 |
High frequency analysis of a device under test
Analyzing a device under test (“DUT”) at higher frequencies. A phase shifter varies the phase of a standing wave on a transmission line coupled to the DUT. The standing wave magnitude is sampled at each of the phase shifts and one or more DUT characteristics are determined as a function of the sampled magnitudes and phase shifts. Further aspects include a related phase shifter comprising a waveguide having a plurality of sub-resonant slots formed therein and having active elements for loading the slots to control the phase shift applied to the signal. |
| US08212572B2 |
Electromagnetic compatibility multi-carrier immunity testing system and method
Provided for in some embodiments is, a method of electromagnetic compatibility multi-carrier immunity testing. The method includes generating a first carrier frequency set including a first plurality of carrier frequencies simultaneously such that a device under test is subjected to the first plurality of carrier frequencies simultaneously. One or more of the first plurality of carrier frequencies is substantially different from other ones of the first plurality of carrier frequencies such that the first plurality of carrier frequencies do not interfere with one another when they are generated simultaneously, and intermodulation products of the first plurality of carrier frequencies are not significant relative to the first plurality of carrier frequencies when the first plurality of carrier frequencies are generated simultaneously. |
| US08212571B2 |
Vehicle power supply device
A vehicle power supply device comprises a lithium battery module that includes a plurality of lithium battery cells, first control devices, voltage detection harnesses via which terminal voltages at individual lithium battery cells are input to the first control devices, a second control device and a signal transmission path through which signals are transmitted. The first control device comprises a selection circuit that selects terminal voltages at individual lithium battery cells, a voltage measurement circuit that measures the selected terminal voltages, balancing switches used to discharge individual lithium battery cells, a balancing switch control circuit that controls open/close of the balancing switches, and a diagnosis circuit for detecting an electrically abnormal connection in the detection harnesses. |
| US08212570B1 |
Amplifier circuit for a current transformer
The invention is a simple amplifier circuit for a current transformer to measure very small AC currents, as required for ground fault detection. The circuit presents a very low impedance to the current transformer output and provides high amplification of the current transformer signal. Concurrently and with no additional components, the inventive circuit supplies a bias current to the current transformer to improve its performance and provides output signals which can be used to detect disconnection of the current transformer or a short circuit between either of the current transformer terminals and ground. |
| US08212567B2 |
Externally mounted band antennae requiring minimal metal cutting on drillstring for reduction of mechanical stresses
An instrument disposed into a drill string for imaging an earth formation includes: at least one band antenna disposed over an intermediate layer disposed into a groove in an outer surface of the drill string. A method of fabrication is provided. |
| US08212555B2 |
Magnetic sensor circuit
A magnetic sensor circuit includes: a Hall element; a comparator circuit for comparing a Hall voltage corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through the Hall element with a threshold voltage; an output logic determination circuit for determining output logic of the magnetic sensor circuit based on an output signal from the comparator circuit; a threshold voltage control circuit for determining the threshold voltage based on a data signal output from the output logic determination circuit; and a threshold voltage output circuit for outputting the threshold voltage for the comparator circuit based on a data signal output from the threshold voltage control circuit. Therefore, the magnetic sensor circuit in which a circuit scale is small, and increase in current consumption and cost is suppressed can be provided. |
| US08212553B2 |
Inspection mode switching circuit
An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils. |
| US08212552B2 |
Wireless biliary stent system with wishbone-array resonant magnetoelastic sensor and conformal magnetic layer
A stent and a magnetoelastic resonant sensor are provided for sensor a physical characteristic in a bodily vessel or cavity. External coils interact with the sensor to induce a resonance that is responsive to the physical characteristic, such that the device may wirelessly measure physical characteristics such as mass loading effects and viscosity changes due to progression of pathology in implanted stents and stent grafts. The sensor may be fashioned from a magnetoelastic material and may be integrated near the inner sidewall of the stent. The sensor may take on a complex patterned shape to enhance the sensitivity and flexibility of the sensor structure. When the sensor is interrogated with a time-varying magnetic field, the sensor will mechanically vibrate and generate a magnetic flux which is maximum at a resonant characteristic determined by the mass load on the sensor and the viscosity of the fluid surrounding the sensor. By correlating the measured resonant characteristic to the mass load and viscosity, the pathological state in and around the stent can be determined. |
| US08212551B2 |
Bearing with absolute angle sensor
A rotation sensor equipped bearing capable of detecting a highly precise absolute angle with no correction work required after incorporation into a bearing installed equipment. An absolute angle sensor equipped bearing assembly includes a sensor equipped bearing and a correction data storing device. The sensor equipped bearing has a rotation detector capable of providing, as a detection output indicative of the rotation angle of a rotating raceway ring relative to a stationary raceway ring, two analog outputs that are offset 90° in phase relative to each other in terms of electrical degree. The correction data storing device stores a correction data for correcting an error when the absolute angle of the rotation angle of the rotating raceway ring is calculated from the two analog outputs and which is paired with the sensor equipped bearing. |
| US08212549B2 |
Ammeter with improved current sensing
An ammeter is provided with a plurality of individual wound coils interconnected in a generally U-shaped array to measure the magnitude of current in a conductor extending through a sensing region inside the U-shape. Additional pairs of position-sensing coils determine the position of the conductor relative to the sensing region and provide outputs to circuitry which permits the magnitude measurement to be displayed only if the conductor extends through the sensing region. |
| US08212548B2 |
Branch meter with configurable sensor strip arrangement
A power monitoring system configurable to monitor electrical energy sensed by multiple sensors of one or more sensor arrays which may be organized in one of several array arrangements. |
| US08212545B2 |
Reference voltage circuit and electronic device
In order to realize a reference voltage circuit that operates with lower current consumption while maintaining an operation at lower voltage without causing deterioration of a power supply rejection ratio, provided is a reference voltage circuit in which a depletion transistor of an ED type reference voltage circuit is constituted of a plurality of depletion transistors connected in series, and in which a gate terminal of a cascode depletion transistor is connected to a connection point between the depletion transistors of the ED type reference voltage circuit. |
| US08212544B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having level regulation for reference voltage
A semiconductor integrated circuit can include a reference voltage pad that can be configured to receive an external reference voltage and supply the external reference voltage to the inside of the semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal reference voltage generator that can be configured to generate an internal reference voltage by voltage dividing, a selector that can be configured to select and output one of the external reference voltage and the internal reference voltage in response to a selection signal, and a voltage trimming block that can be configured to regulate the level of the output voltage from the selector in response to trimming signals and outputs the level-regulated voltage as a reference voltage. |
| US08212542B2 |
Load adaptive power delivery
Embodiments disclosed herein include a power monitor and controller which are used to control the operation of a voltage regulator depending on an operating mode or state of a load device, such as a hard disk drive. By controlling the voltage regulator in this manner, voltage regulator efficiency may be improved for any load condition, thus reducing power losses in the system. |
| US08212541B2 |
Power converter with capacitive energy transfer and fast dynamic response
A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices. |
| US08212538B2 |
Hysteretic switching regulator and control method used therein
A switching regulator includes a switching transistor, an inductor, a feedback voltage generator, a hysteresis comparator circuit, and a feedback loop circuit. The switching transistor alternately switches on and off. The inductor charges when the switching transistor is on. The feedback voltage generator generates a first feedback voltage by dividing an output voltage. The hysteresis comparator circuit has a voltage comparator to compare the first feedback voltage against a reference voltage to output a comparator output signal as a result of the comparison. The feedback loop circuit feeds the comparator output signal back to the feedback voltage generator to generate a second feedback voltage. The first feedback voltage has an alternating current component substantially dependent on the second feedback voltage varying with the comparator output signal. |
| US08212536B2 |
Stacked NMOS DC-to-DC power conversion
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage though controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element, the series switch element being connected between a first voltage supply and a common node, and the shunt switch being connected between the common node and a second supply voltage. The series switch element includes an NMOS series switching transistor stacked with an NMOS series protection transistor, and closing the series switch element during a first period includes applying a switching gate voltage to a gate of the NMOS series switch transistor of the series switch element, wherein the switching gate voltage has a voltage potential of at least a threshold voltage greater than a voltage potential of the common node. The shunt switch element includes an NMOS shunt switching transistor stacked with an NMOS shunt protection transistor, and the shunt switch element is closed during a second period. |
| US08212534B2 |
Method for starting up a system for generating electrical power
Described is a method for starting up a system for generating electrical power. The system includes a turbine that is mechanically connected to a generator, while the generator is electrically connected via a converter to a load, in particular to a power supply grid. The generator includes a total number of windings. With at least one embodiment of the method, a number of generator windings are combined at low rotational speeds of the turbine, wherein the combined number of windings is less than the total number of windings. |
| US08212530B2 |
Battery module and method for determining battery ID and temperature
A battery module for a portable electronic device is disclosed. The battery module is connected with the portable electronic device with at least three contacts. The battery module includes a battery, a recognition circuit, and a thermal sensing circuit. The recognition circuit has an energy storage element and a current limiting element, and the thermal sensing circuit has a switch and a thermal sensing element. The thermal sensing element varies its electric parameter in accordance with the temperature of the battery module. With the charging curve of charging the energy storage element by way of the current limiting element, the portable electronic device can determine a battery type, and the thermal sensing circuit is then initiated to acquire the thermal information of the battery module. |
| US08212528B2 |
Rechargeable battery protection integrated circuit device with a short circuit detecting voltage change part, rechargeable battery protection module using the rechargeable battery protection integrated circuit device with a short circuit detecting voltage change part, and battery pack with a short circuit detecting voltage change part
A rechargeable battery protection integrated circuit device, includes a short circuit detecting circuit configured to convert a discharge electric current of a rechargeable battery to a voltage value and detect a short circuit state of the rechargeable battery when the converted voltage value is equal to or greater than a designated short circuit detecting voltage; a discharge control terminal configured to output a control signal when the short circuit state is detected by the short circuit detecting circuit, the control signal being configured to stop a discharge of the rechargeable battery; and an overcharge detecting circuit configured to detect an overcharge of the rechargeable battery, wherein the short circuit detecting circuit includes a short circuit detecting voltage change part, the short circuit detecting voltage change part being configured to change the short circuit detecting voltage when the overcharge is detected by the overcharge detecting circuit. |
| US08212527B2 |
Method and apparatus for telematics-based vehicle no-start prognosis
A system and method for determining the status of a vehicle battery to determine whether the battery may not have enough charge to start the vehicle. The method includes collecting data relating to the battery on the vehicle and collecting data relating to the battery at a remote back-office. Both the vehicle and the remote data center determine battery characteristics based on the collected data and the likelihood of a vehicle no-start condition, where the algorithm used at the remote back-office may be more sophisticated. The data collected at the remote back-office may include vehicle battery information transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, and other information, such as temperature, battery reliability, miles that the vehicle has driven per day, ambient temperature, high content vehicle, etc. Both the vehicle and the remote back-office may determine the battery open circuit voltage. |
| US08212526B2 |
Controlling a charging operation of a battery based on a charge voltage and cut-off current
A charging operation for a battery includes determining an actual full charge capacity of the battery and a design capacity of the battery. The actual full charge capacity of the battery is compared with the design capacity of the battery. One or more of a charge voltage and a cut-off current, such as with an embedded controller, is adjusted if the actual full charge capacity is less than the design capacity. The battery is controlled by charging the battery with one or more of an adjusted cut-off current and/or an adjusted charge voltage. |
| US08212525B2 |
Battery pack and method of controlling the same
A battery pack includes: a secondary battery formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series; a control section measuring a voltage at each of the battery cells and controlling each part according to the measurement result; a charge/discharge control circuit temporarily inhibiting charging and discharging of the secondary battery under control of the control section; an interruption circuit interrupting charge and discharge currents of the secondary battery under control of the control section to inhibit charging and discharging of the secondary battery permanently; a discharge circuit discharging a predetermined battery cell among the battery cells under control of the control section; a capacity measuring section measuring the amount of electricity discharged from the battery cell; and a storage section storing total discharge amount information indicating a total amount of discharged electricity and a charge/discharge inhibition record indicating a count of temporary charge/discharge inhibitions imposed on the secondary battery. |
| US08212524B2 |
Control method of battery-system for improving safety
Disclosed herein are a method of controlling the operation of battery modules in a battery system, which includes two or more battery modules or battery module assemblies, wherein the battery system further includes energy consuming loads for consuming charged energy, and the method includes, when a specific battery module or a specific battery module assembly is abnormally operated, connecting the abnormally operated battery module or the abnormally operated battery module assembly to the corresponding energy consuming load to forcibly discharge the charged energy, and a battery system that is capable of performing the battery system control method. |
| US08212521B2 |
System and method for charging a mobile device
A system and method for charging a mobile device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a mobile charging system comprises a mobile device having a battery, a robotic device removably connected to the mobile device, and a charging station removably connected to the robotic device. The robotic device is adapted to detect docking of the mobile device. If the docking of the mobile device is detected, the robotic device autonomously returns to the charging station for charging the battery of the mobile device. The robotic device receives an instruction from the mobile device or a user and performs tasks associated with the instruction. |
| US08212517B2 |
Battery type sensing method and device for sensing battery type
A battery type detection approach is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of detecting a battery type can include: receiving a signal from a battery module in a portable computing device; determining if the signal is in a first state for at least a first predetermined time before transitioning to a second state; determining if the signal transitions from the second state to the first state after a second predetermined time, and identifying the battery type in response thereto; and asserting an indication of the battery type when a third predetermined time period after the transition from the second state to the first state has occurred. |
| US08212512B2 |
Generator motor for vehicle and control method for the same
A vehicle generator motor has a generator motor that is connected to an internal combustion engine and plural sets of three-phase windings, plural sets of inverter portions connected to the respective sets of the three-phase windings, and a control circuit portion for controlling the inverter portions in accordance with the operation state of the generator motor. When the generator motor operates as a motor and a variation value of an output torque or power generation amount thereof exceeds a predetermined value, the control circuit portion controls the inverter portions so as to stop armature current flowing in at least one set in plural sets of three-phase windings. |
| US08212508B2 |
Relating to driving brushless DC (BLDC) motors
In a three phase BLDC motor the rotor position is monitored by detecting the zero crossing points of the induced back EMF signals BEMF_U, BEMF_V, BEMF_W in the phase windings U, V, W. As they are illustrated, the back EMF signals are substantially sinusoidal but they may in other situations be substantially trapezoidal. The three back EMF signals are 120° out of phase with each other. In order to accurately monitor the back EMF in a phase winding, the driving waveform for each phase U, V, W includes an undriven period P close to the expected zero crossing point. The period P can be a preset part of the driving waveform or can be an interruption of the normal driving waveform in response to suitable interrupt signals. In order to determine the zero crossing points of each back EMF signal, two (or more) samples of the back EMF are taken during the undriven period P and used to interpolate the back EMF signal to determine the zero crossing point. |
| US08212506B2 |
AC motor driving circuit and electric car driving circuit
In an AC motor driving circuit, a current-type rectifier circuit having a filter circuit and first bidirectional switches bridge-connected to the filter circuit is provided in an output of an AC power supply. An AC motor is connected to an output of the rectifier circuit through a voltage-type inverter. One terminal of each of second bidirectional switches is connected to corresponding one of output terminals of the current-type rectifier circuit. The other terminals of the second bidirectional switches are collectively connected to one terminal of a series circuit having a DC power supply and a reactor. The other terminal of the series circuit is connected to one output terminal of the current-type rectifier circuit. With this configuration, a large capacitor for a DC link can be dispensed with, so that a reduction in circuit size and weight can be attained. |
| US08212505B2 |
Method and system for creating a vibration in an automobile
A method and system for operating an automotive electric motor having first and second components is provided. A desired frequency of vibration for the electric motor is selected. A current is caused to flow through at least one of the first and second components such that the second component moves relative to the first component. The current is modulated such that the motor vibrates at the desired frequency. |
| US08212504B2 |
Conduction angle control of brushless motor
An inverter controller for driving a brushless DC motor, of which rotor is provided with permanent magnets, includes an inverter circuit, a position sensing circuit, a DC voltage sensor, and a conduction angle controller. The inverter circuit is connected to the brushless DC motor for driving this motor. The position sensing circuit senses a rotor position with respect to a stator from an induction voltage of the brushless DC motor. The DC voltage sensor senses a voltage value of a DC power voltage supplied to the inverter circuit. The conduction angle controller changes a conduction angle of the inverter circuit within a range less than 180 degrees in electric angles in response to a rate of change in the DC power voltage. |
| US08212502B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for hybrid vehicle
A first motor generator-control unit (MG1-ECU) and a second motor generator-control unit (MG2-ECU) are provided independently for respective motor generators. The MG2-ECU performs electric power balance control by correcting an MG2 torque command value as required, so that the sum of the MG1 electric power and the MG2 electric power is within a range of allowable input/output electric power of a DC power supply. The electric power balance control is performed using an estimate of the MG1 electric power based on data obtained by the MG1-ECU. The estimate is determined so that a communication delay time between the MG1-ECU and the MG2-ECU is corrected. In this way, the electric power balance control can be performed appropriately for restricting, within a predetermined range, the total input/output electric power of the electric motors as a whole of a hybrid vehicle mounted with a plurality of motor generators (electric motors). |
| US08212501B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic fan speed control in an information handling system
An information handling system includes a processor, memory coupled to the processor, a cooling fan, and a controller coupled to the processor and configured to control the speed of the cooling fan based on the operation of the memory. The processor is configured to determine a user-selected performance setting for the information handling system; determine a fan speed limit corresponding to the user selected performance setting; limit the speed of the cooling fan based on the determined fan speed limit; and in connection with limiting the speed of the cooling fan, control an operational parameter of the memory to reduce cooling demands generated by the memory. |
| US08212500B2 |
System for controlling light in dependence of time-of-flight signal
A lighting system comprising a lamp comprising an array of LEDs arranged to transform electricity into a light beam having properties including intensity, color, color temperature; a fight control system comprising a LED driver and a pulse width modulator arranged to adjust said light beam properties; a DA-converter, an ultrasound driver and an ultrasonic transmitter arranged to convert a digital transmit signal into the transmission of an ultrasonic pulse; an ultrasonic receiver and an amplifier arranged to receive reflected ultrasonic signals and transform said ultrasonic signal in a voltage, and a comparator arranged to generate a digital receive signal if said voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold; a processing system arranged to derive a time-of-flight signal representing the time differences between said digital transmit and receive signals and to send control signals to said light control system in dependence of said time-of-flight signal. |
| US08212498B2 |
Fluorescent dimming ballast
A dimmable ballast and methods are presented in which the operating frequency of a self-oscillating inverter is controlled according to a sensed lamp current for dimming control or cathode heating, and an AC bus voltage of the inverter is controlled to be at or below a voltage threshold value to prevent over driving operating lamps when one or more lamps are being replaced. |
| US08212493B2 |
Low energy transfer mode for auxiliary power supply operation in a cascaded switching power converter
A cascaded power converter having an auxiliary power supply operated from the second switching power stage provides efficient operation by activating the auxiliary power supply early in the startup process. A low energy transfer operating mode is initiated in the second switching power stage to charge the auxiliary power supply output without generating significant disruption at the load. After the first switching power stage is started and the intermediate node voltage has increased to a level sufficient to operate the second switching power stage, the final switching power stage enters a normal operating mode. The low energy transfer operating mode has a substantially reduced switching rate and pulse width from that of the normal operating mode. |
| US08212492B2 |
Electronic ballast with high power factor
This invention provides an electronic ballast for a fluorescent lamp, including a rectifier for converting an alternating current input voltage into a direct current output voltage, and a circuit including a combined power factor correction (PFC) stage and an inverter, wherein the PFC stage and the inverter share a switch. Also provided is a controller for an electronic ballast, including a duty ratio controller that controls a duty ratio of a switch of the ballast, and means for adjusting the duty ratio according to a nonlinear function, so that an arc is sustained across the lamp. The controller and the ballast allow dimming of the fluorescent lamp while maintaining a high power factor. |
| US08212491B2 |
Switching power converter control with triac-based leading edge dimmer compatibility
In at least one embodiment, a controller allows triac-based dimmer to properly function and dim a load whose voltage is regulated by a switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the switching power converter includes a switch to control voltage conversion of an input voltage to the switching power converter, wherein phase delays are introduced in the input voltage by a triac-based dimmer during a dimming period. In at least one embodiment, the controller is configured to control the switch of the switching power converter to establish an input resistance of the switching power converter during a dimming portion of the input voltage, wherein the input resistance allows the triac-based dimmer to phase modulate a supply voltage to the dimmer so that an output voltage of the dimmer has a substantially uninterrupted phase delay during each half-cycle of the supply voltage during the dimming period. |
| US08212488B2 |
Element substrate and light emitting device
A light emitting device and an element substrate which are capable of suppressing variations in the luminance intensity of a light emitting element among pixels due to characteristic variations of a driving transistor without suppressing off-current of a switching transistor low and increasing storage capacity of a capacitor. According to the invention, a depletion mode transistor is used as a driving transistor. The gate of the driving transistor is fixed in its potential or connected to the source or drain thereof to operate in a saturation region with a constant current flow. A current controlling transistor which operates in a linear region is connected in series to the driving transistor, and a video signal for transmitting a light emission or non-emission of a pixel is inputted to the gate of the current controlling transistor through a switching transistor. |
| US08212487B2 |
Field emission device and method of operating the same
Provided are a field emission device enabling rapid pulse operation and a method of operating the same. The field emission device includes a cathode electrode including a field emission source, an anode electrode disposed to face the cathode electrode and accelerating electrons emitted from the field emission source, a current controller controlling field emission current flowing through the cathode electrode, and a field emission controller applying a pull-up voltage to the cathode electrode when the current controller is turned off. |
| US08212486B2 |
Smart load control device having a rotary actuator
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link. |
| US08212485B2 |
Dimming bridge module
A lighting control system is coupled to one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources. A low power control module receives analog, digital and/or DALI signals from one or more sources, processes the signals to provide an appropriate lighting response and outputs one or more commands related to light output of the one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources. A gateway component receives wireless signals from the low power control module to relay to one or more control components. The control components provide instruction to modify the light output of the one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources based at least in part upon the one or more commands received from the low power control module and/or the gateway component. |
| US08212478B2 |
Dielectric barrier discharge lamp
A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp (1) comprising a discharge volume (2) which is delimited by a first and a second wall (4, 5) is disclosed, wherein both walls (4, 5) are exposed to different electrical potentials by means of a power supply (11) for exciting a gas discharge within the discharge volume (2). By providing at least one electrically conductive ignition aid or igniter which extends within the discharge volume (2) and which electrically contacts the first and the second wall (4, 5) with each other, a significant reduction of the initial ignition voltage of the lamp (1) can be obtained, especially after long pauses of operation of the lamp (1). |
| US08212473B2 |
Flexible polymeric light emitting/charge storage device and system
A light emitting/charge storage device is disclosed. The light emitting/charge storage device includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED) portion and at least one charge storage portion electrically and physically connected therewith. The OLED portion includes a first anode layer, a first cathode layer, and an electroluminescent layer disposed at least partially between the first anode layer and the first cathode layer. The at least one charge storage portion includes a second anode layer, a second cathode layer, and an ionic polymer dielectric layer disposed at least partially between the second anode layer and the second cathode layer, and/or a thin film battery layer. A light emitting/charge storage system is also disclosed. Certain embodiments of the device and system of the invention may provide integrated illumination and charge storage in a unitary stacked layered structure with flexible mechanical characteristics. |
| US08212471B2 |
Light emitting device and electronic equipment provided with the light emitting device
A light emitting device having excellent characteristics such as light emitting efficiency and the like and electrical equipment provided with such a light emitting device and having high reliability are provided. The light emitting device includes a light emitting layer 42 formed of a first organic semiconductor material, a hole transport layer (carrier transport layer) 41 formed of a second organic semiconductor material and provided in contact with the light emitting layer 42, and particles 411 provided in contact with both the light emitting layer 42 and the hole transport layer 41, wherein an entire of or a part of each of the particles 411 is embedded in the light emitting layer (the other layer) 42 so that the particles 411 can contain the second organic semiconductor material (organic semiconductor material which constitutes the other layer). |
| US08212468B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a light source apparatus including a white light source, a blue fluorescent material, a green fluorescent material, a red fluorescent material, a green color filter, and a red color filter. A green chromaticity point of an output of green light to be omitted from the green fluorescent material and a red chromaticity point of an output of red light to be emitted from the red fluorescent material on a chromaticity coordinate system are interconnected by an imaginary straight line which passes only points which are equal to or higher than (0.300, 0.600) with regard to at least one of an x-axis component and a y-axis component of the chromaticity coordinate system. |
| US08212463B2 |
Spark plug and its manufacturing method
A spark plug includes an insulator, a center electrode, a metal shell, a ground electrode, and a noble metal tip joined to at least one of the two electrodes. The noble metal tip is joined to the electrode via a melt portion formed by using a laser or electron beam from a side surface of the noble metal tip. In a predetermined section, including a central axis of the noble metal tip, ¾ or more of one end face of the noble metal tip is joined to the electrode. When the thickness of the melt portion is taken to be TX (mm), and the length in a direction of irradiation with the laser beam is taken to be LX (mm), TX and LX satisfy 1.5≦LX/TX, and an angle αX or angle αY, formed by two predetermined straight lines, satisfies −15≦αX (αY)≦25. |
| US08212462B2 |
Spark plug and manufacturing method therefor
A spark plug in which the center electrode is formed by laser welding along the circumference of a joint surface between a center electrode base metal and a noble metal tip in excess of full circumference. When G represents a spark gap and A represents a shortest gap between a laser weld bead and a line drawn parallel with axis X, A≦3G. Straight lines S1 and S2 which connect the center of the noble metal tip 1 and the circumferential center of a proximal end 52 of the ground electrode 51 and vertex 8 of a protrusion 7 formed at a final end portion 6e of a bead 6 formed by circumferential laser welding, respectively, form an angle θ of 45 degrees. Since the protrusion 7 of the bead is the angle θ away from the ground electrode 51, an abnormal discharge is unlikely to be generated. |
| US08212461B2 |
Spark plug for internal combustion engine
A spark plug including: a rod-shaped center electrode; an insulator; a metal shell; a ground electrode joined to the metal shell and bent toward the center electrode; a noble metal tip joined to an end portion of the ground electrode and opposing a leading end portion of the center electrode via a gap; and a bulge portion. A part of the noble metal tip is embedded in the ground electrode, and another part of the noble metal tip protrudes from a distal end surface of the ground electrode. A relationship A≧0.25 mm is satisfied where A (mm) is a protruding length of the noble metal tip from the distal end surface. The bulge portion covers a center part of a boundary between the noble metal tip and the end surface in a width direction. |
| US08212457B2 |
Piezoelectric ceramic composition, piezoelectric element, and resonator
Provided is a piezoelectric ceramic composition which can increase Qmax of a resonator and inhibit the resonator from changing its oscillation frequency F0 under a low temperature environment. The piezoelectric ceramic composition has a structure represented by the following general formula (1): (PbαLnβMeγ)(Ti1−(x+y+z)ZrxMnyNbz)O3 (1) where Ln is a lanthanoid element, Me is an alkaline-earth metal element, α>0, β>0, γ≧0, 0.965≦α+β+γ≦1.000, 0.158≦x≦0.210, y≧0, z≧0, and 1−(x+y+z)>0. |
| US08212455B2 |
Piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element and method manufacturing the same
An actuator includes a fired ceramic substrate having a space opened downward, a first electrode formed on the upper surface of the fired ceramic substrate above the space, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body formed on the first electrode so that the volume changes with input and output of electric power, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is composed of Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 or (Li, Na, K) (Nb, Ta)O3 as a main component and contains crystals oriented along the direction of an electric field. In the actuator, the degree of orientation of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body can be increased regardless of the orientation of the substrate on which the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is formed. |
| US08212451B2 |
Multi-layer piezoelectric element having a plurality of junction sections and injection apparatus employing the same
A multi-layer piezoelectric element includes a stack having metal layers and piezoelectric layers stacked one on another, and a pair of external electrodes formed on the side faces of the stack. At least one of the metal layers is a stress relieving layer having partial metal layers scattered between the two piezoelectric layers and voids. Junction sections are formed between the two piezoelectric layers to join and are disposed on both sides of an imaginary straight line drawn to connect the center of width of one of the external electrodes and the center of width of the other of the external electrodes in a plane including the stress relieving perpendicular to the stacking direction. |
| US08212450B2 |
Generator including an electret member
An electrostatic operating apparatus (electrostatic induction generator) includes a first substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode and set in a state where the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated from each other at least on the substrate and a second substrate including an electret member, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are so provided as to be opposed to each other at an interval and so formed as to be movable relatively with each other, and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is so formed as to be capacitively coupled with the electret member. |
| US08212447B2 |
Magnet embedded rotor, electric motor using the same rotor, and compressor using the same motor
A magnet embedded rotor is provided in which permanent magnets are embedded in the iron core of the rotor at a fixed interval. Notch parts are formed at the first protruding part and both the sides of the first protruding parts on the outer face between salient poles in the iron core of the rotor correspond to the multiple permanent magnets. Non-magnetic parts for preventing the short circuit of magnetic flux are formed at both the edges of the permanent magnets. A bridge part between the non-magnetic parts and the notch parts are narrowed as much as possible to an extent to cause a magnetic saturation, and one or multiple of the second protruding part extending to the direction of the outer face are formed at the notch parts. |
| US08212443B2 |
Motor and housing thereof
A motor includes a motor body and a housing for covering and accommodating the motor body. The housing includes a seat and a cover. The seat has at least one first connecting portion disposed at the circumference of the seat, and the cover has at least one second connecting portion disposed at the circumference of the cover and corresponding to the first connecting portion. The first and second connecting portions are connected by the relative movement of the seat and the cover, so that the seat and the cover can be combined tightly. |
| US08212442B1 |
Torque / energy transfer method and apparatus
The Harmonic Accumulation and Relative Transference of Kinetic Energy method does not transmit, but rather, transfers torque/energy from a power source to a driven system of higher rotational speed through the use of an oscillating flywheel and a potential energy storage device, for example, a torsion spring The power source adds energy to the oscillating flywheel by applying an impulse torque to the flywheel just as the flywheel begins to start rotating, and then transfers that energy to the driven system when the flywheel's speed (which may be its highest rotational speed) matches that of the driven system's rotational speed and direction. Thus, the energy is transferred when the flywheel and the driven system are at 0 rpm “relative” to each other. Accordingly, the impulse torques may be applied using principles of electric motors. |
| US08212439B2 |
Fan-motor unit
A fan-motor unit comprises a fan driven by an electric motor, both mounted on a support, at least one inlet (I) and one outlet (S) for a forced air flow, an electronic circuit board for controlling the motor, and a radiator at least partially immersed in the forced air flow. The radiator has a curved peripheral edge determining a convex face and a concave face of the said radiator, the electronic circuit board being in contact with the said radiator on the concave face side and a substantially cylindrical bearing surface on the convex face side of the said radiator. A radial gasket that forms a skirt comprises a first end secured to the support, a free second end, and a substantially cylindrical interior face between the first and second ends, and the interior face of the radial gasket bears against the bearing surface so as to isolate the electronic circuit board from the air flow. |
| US08212432B2 |
Safety interlocks for electricity meter control relays
Safety in an electricity metering environment is improved by providing an additional level of safety interlocking to disconnect switches and other control relays in electricity meters. |
| US08212430B2 |
Apparatus and system for communicating electromagnetic service
An electromagnetic service communicating device for coupling to a host in at least two distinct orientations as well as a modular system including a host and a functional device. The electromagnetic service communicating device provides electromagnetic service from the host to the functional device. The electromagnetic service communicating device includes a first member having a first interface connectable to the host and that is pivotally connected to a second member having a second interface connectable to the functional device. The hosts can have differently oriented electromagnetic service interfaces. |
| US08212428B2 |
Portable power supply apparatus for generating microwave-excited microplasmas
Provided is a portable power supply apparatus for generating microwave plasma, capable of minimizing a power reflected from a plasma generation apparatus and improving power consumption of the plasma generation apparatus by generating the plasma by using a microwave having a specific frequency, monitoring the power reflected from the plasma generation apparatus after the generation of the plasma, detecting a changed impedance matching condition, and correcting the frequency. |
| US08212426B2 |
Bicycle electrical wiring unit
A bicycle electrical wiring unit is provided with a junction housing, a wiring junction and a cable winding structure. The wiring junction is mounted to the junction housing for connecting at least two electrical cables. The cable winding structure is disposed on the junction housing with the cable winding structure including at least one electrical cable holder for selectively retaining different lengths of an intermediate section of a first electrical cable of the electrical cables to the junction housing. |
| US08212421B2 |
Temperature dependent switching circuit
A temperature activated switching circuit 100, comprising a temperature activated switch U1 for switching an output 102 at a threshold temperature, the temperature activated switch U1 having at least one power input VCC for receiving power; and power switching circuitry for connecting a power source to said power input VCC of the temperature activated switch U1, the power source being initially disconnected from the power input VCC, and the power switching circuitry being configured to connect said power source to the power input VCC based on a detected temperature, in order to power up the temperature activated switch U1 before said detected temperature reaches said threshold temperature. |
| US08212416B2 |
Device for filtering harmonics
A power device is provided for filtering or dampening harmonics and optimizing the power factor in power distributions systems. A device for a 3-phase power system comprises series inductors able to communicate between an AC power source and a non-linear load. Connected in parallel to the series inductors, at the junction with the non-linear load, are shunt inductors used to trap harmonic currents. Power factor correction capacitors are connected to the ends of the shunt inductors. The series inductor and shunt inductor are used to form a coaxial reactor assembly, which further comprises a reactor core. The coaxial reactor assembly is formed by winding a first inductor around the core and then winding a separate second inductor around the perimeter of the first inductor. In another embodiment, the device includes a third inductor to achieve better dampening and power factor performance. |
| US08212415B2 |
Noncontact electric power transmission system
Disclosed is a noncontact electric power transmission system having a power transmitter circuit section 10 and a power receiver circuit section 30 which are adapted to be coupled to transmit electric power from a transmitter coil Lp provided in the power transmitter circuit section 10 to a receiver coil Ls provided in the power receiver circuit section 30, in a noncontact manner by means of electromagnetic induction. The noncontact electric power transmission system comprises: a separately-excited or self-excited switching circuit 2 provided in the power transmitter circuit section 10; a control IC 3 operable to drive the switching circuit 2; an LC series resonant circuit including a capacitor Cp connected in series to the transmitter coil Lp or an LC parallel resonant circuit including a capacitor Cp connected in parallel to the transmitter coil Lp; and an LC parallel resonant circuit including a capacitor Cs connected in parallel to the receiver coil Ls, wherein an oscillating frequency (Fosc) of the control IC 3, a resonant frequency (Fpr) of the LC series resonant circuit or the LC parallel resonant circuit in the power transmitter circuit section 10, and a resonant frequency (Fsr) of the LC parallel resonant circuit in the power receiver circuit section 30, have the following relationship: Fpr |
| US08212414B2 |
Resonant, contactless radio frequency power coupling
A resonant, contactless, RF power coupling suitable for high power-density applications and for use in an ocean environment is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the power coupling includes a transmit coupling and a receive coupling, each of which include a resonant element. A high-powered RF generator is coupled to the transmit coupling and a rectifier circuit is coupled to the output coupling. Each of the resonant elements is disposed in its own electrically-conductive canister and advantageously potted in an appropriate insulating dielectric. Each canister has an open end to facilitate inductive coupling between the two resonant elements. In order to exclude seawater from the interface between the canisters, a seal of compliant material is disposed therebetween. |
| US08212409B2 |
Method for activating a multi-string inverter for photovoltaic plants
A method of activating a Multi-String inverter for photovoltaic generators (1a, 1b) of a photovoltaic plant (6), the Multi-String inverter incorporating on the input side a separate DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) for each generator string (photovoltaic generator) (1a, 1b) and each output of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) being connected in parallel and to an input of a DC-AC converter (3) and the DC-AC converter (3) being connected with an alternating current mains (4) for feeding into the mains aims at improving efficiency. This is achieved in that one or several electrical variables, namely input current, input voltage and/or input power are measured at each DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) and at least one of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) changing its operating condition as a function of this measurement when a limit value and/or a range is exceeded in such a manner that its power loss is reduced so that the energy yield of the photovoltaic plant (6) is increased. |
| US08212408B2 |
Collection of electric power from renewable energy sources via high voltage, direct current systems with conversion and supply to an alternating current transmission network
Wind-generated electric power is collected in a multiple nodal arrangement where the DC output current of each node can be held constant while the DC output node voltage is allowed to vary. The DC outputs from the wind-generated power collection nodes are connected together in series and fed to a plurality of regulated current source inverters via a high voltage DC transmission link. Each inverter converts input DC power into a three phase AC output. The AC outputs of the regulated current source inverters are connected to a phase shifting transformation network that supplies three phase electric power to a conventional AC electrical transmission system. Alternatively wind-generated and photovoltaic-generated electric power is commonly collected in a nodal arrangement and transported at high voltage DC to a plurality of regulated current source inverters for supply to the conventional AC electrical transmission system. |
| US08212406B2 |
System, socket and plug apparatus for DC power distribution and usage
A power supply system comprises an electrical power generating device producing DC electrical power in the form of a DC electrical current, a DC current conductor receiving the DC electrical current from the electrical power generating device and carrying the DC electrical current to a socket, and an AC power system transmitting AC electrical current to the socket so that the socket can be accessed by a plug inserted therein to receive the DC current or the AC current from it. The socket has four recesses in it, and each recess has a respective contact therein. Each recess is configured to receive a respective prong and make a respective electrical contact with the plug therein. A first of the contacts transmits the DC current, a second and third of the contacts transmit complementary poles of the AC electrical current, and a fourth contact connects with a grounded connection. A DC-powered electrical device has a plug with a plug body and three prongs supported on and extending from the plug body. The prongs include two AC connection prongs and a ground connection prong corresponding to prongs of a standard three-prong plug. The plug further has a fourth prong supported on the plug body into the socket to contact the DC current recess. The fourth prong is removable from the plug body, or is movably supported on the plug body so that the fourth prong may be removed or moved so that the plug can be plugged into a standard three-recess AC socket. |
| US08212402B2 |
System and method for limiting losses in an uninterruptible power supply
Aspects of the invention are directed to systems and method for limiting losses in an uninterruptible power supply. In one aspect, the present invention provides an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising an input to receive input power having an input voltage, an output to provide output power having an output voltage, a neutral line, an automatic voltage regulation (AVR) transformer coupled to the input and the output of the UPS and having an input, an output, a core and at least one switch controllably coupled to at least one of the core, the input and the output, and a means for isolating the core of the AVR transformer from the neutral line when the input voltage is substantially equal to a defined output voltage. |
| US08212399B2 |
Power extractor with control loop
In some embodiments, a power extractor's control loop detects changes in power and controls the duty cycle of the switching circuitry in response to the detected changes in power, thereby controlling the power transfer. The control loop may include a signal generator to control the duty cycle, and the frequency of the generated signal may be changed to optimize the energy transfer efficiency. The switching circuitry may control the rate at which circuits store and release the energy in response to the control signal and thereby seek to obtain a rate of storage and release that results in no detected changes in power. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08212396B2 |
Apparatus power restart method in response to network connection status
An apparatus power restart method in response to the network connection status is provided. The method uses an outlet or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (“UPS”) with multiple sockets, wherein a network port and a power reset switch are included. The outlet or UPS is powered via an external power source. A network connection is established through one or more network devices. The electric power control apparatus incorporating the claimed power restart method includes a network connection detection circuit and an electric power control circuit. By monitoring the network connection, the network devices connected to the electric power control apparatus can be restarted in sequence or simultaneously when the network connection fails. Thereby the network connection can be maintained. Additionally, the electric power control apparatus has a server module whereby the users can access the apparatus via the network connection. This allows the user to configure the apparatus. |
| US08212394B2 |
Remote controllable power outlet apparatus with grouping capability and remote control grouping method thereof
A remote controllable power outlet apparatus with grouping capability and a remote control grouping method thereof, includes a microprocessor, a communication module, a power protection and control module, a grouping unit, at least a controllable socket set, a switch, and an original remote control which belongs and corresponds to the remote controllable power outlet apparatus. Therein the switch is coupled between the microprocessor, the power protection and control module, and the controllable socket set, and the switch is for controlling whether or not the controllable socket set provides power. When the original remote control is plugged into the grouping unit, the remote controllable power outlet apparatus then activates a remote control grouping function, and the remote controllable power outlet apparatus can be controlled by another remote control other then the original remote control. |
| US08212391B2 |
Circuit array
A circuit array controls operation of two loads that operate with a rectified AC voltage. The circuit array includes a semiconductor switch on a circuit path with the two loads and a control unit to generate a switch control signal that controls the semiconductor switch. The control unit includes a phase detection device to detect whether a phase of the AC voltage is positive or negative, and to output a detection signal that is based on whether the phase is positive or negative, and a logic unit to generate the switch control signal based on load control signals and the detection signal. |
| US08212376B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing operative power to powerline-network device
An apparatus, and an associated method, for powering a powerline network apparatus, such as a HOMEPLUG™ transceiver. A data signal sensor is positioned to sense a data signal that is to be operated upon by the powerline network apparatus. When a data signal is sensed, an indication is formed, and the indication is used to control the switch positioning of a switch that interconnects a power supply with the powerline network apparatus. When the indication of sensing of the data signal is formed, the switch is closed, and the power supply is connected to the powerline-network apparatus operative power is provided to power the powerline network apparatus. |
| US08212373B2 |
Wind plant and method for increasing energy capture in a wind plant
Method for increasing energy capture in wind plants includes providing a plurality of wind turbines having a variable speed control system including an initial rotational speed set point value which is a maximum rotational speed set point for wind turbines. Method includes obtaining at least two measured operational parameters from one or more sensors and comparing measured operational parameters to mechanical load of turbine. If mechanical load of turbine is decreased as a result of measured operational parameters, a speed control adjustment method is activated. Speed control adjustment method includes determining an adjusted rotational speed set point greater than initial rotational speed set point value in response to at least two measured and compared operational parameters and configuring control system with adjusted rotational speed set point where adjusted rotational speed set point increases maximum rotational speed set point of wind turbines. |
| US08212372B2 |
Wind turbine generator with seal mechanism
The present invention provides a wind turbine generator in which an oil seal structure provided in a blade rotating ring bearing of a wind turbine blade is improved and leakage of lubricant oil to outside is prevented or suppressed. A wind turbine generator in which a rotor head has wind turbine blades, the rotor head rotates when the wind turbine blades receive wind power and drives a power generator disposed in a nacelle to generate electricity, the nacelle is disposed on an upper end of a tower that stands on a foundation such that the nacelle can yaw-slew, a blade rotating ring bearing is disposed between the wind turbine blade and the rotor, the wind turbine generator includes a pitch control mechanism that can adjust a pitch angle of the wind turbine blades, wherein seal mechanisms are mounted on both ends of opposed rolling body holding surfaces of an outer race and an inner race of the blade rotating ring bearing with rolling bodies interposed between both the ends, sides of the seal mechanisms closer to the blade are formed into a double sealed structure in which a space is disposed between seal members and the seal member are disposed in an axial direction of the blade, pressurized fluid is supplied to the space, and lips of the seal members are pushed against a mating sidewall surface. |
| US08212371B2 |
Energy system for producing DC voltage using rectifiers and energy storage circuits
An energy system is specified, which comprises a wind power turbine or water power turbine, which is connected to a generator, with the generator having at least two stator windings. In order to achieve a simple and robust design without a transformer, each stator winding has an associated rectifier unit, and each stator winding is connected to the AC voltage side of the associated rectifier unit. Furthermore, each rectifier unit has a respective associated energy storage circuit, and each rectifier unit is connected in parallel on the DC voltage side to the associated energy storage circuit, with the energy storage circuits being connected to one another in series. |
| US08212367B2 |
Integrated circuit die with logically equivalent bonding pads
An integrated circuit (IC) die includes two bonding pads, that share a common logical function, such as signal input or signal output, separated by the width of the die, and preferably on opposite sides of the die. System-in-package devices are produced by steps including directly electrically connecting one or the other bonding pad to bonding pads of other, functionally different IC dies, with the bonding pads of the other IC dies, to which are connected bonding pads of common logical function of the IC dies of the present invention, being functionally identical but geometrically different. Multchip package devices are produced by stacking the IC dies of the present invention with other IC dies and directly electrically connecting one or the other bonding pad to different bonding pads of the other IC dies. |
| US08212361B2 |
Semiconductor die package including multiple dies and a common node structure
A semiconductor die package capable of being mounted to a motherboard is disclosed. The semiconductor die package includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where the first semiconductor die includes a first vertical device comprising a first input region and a first output region at opposite surfaces of the first semiconductor die. The semiconductor die package includes a second semiconductor die mounted on the substrate, where second semiconductor die comprises a second vertical device comprising a second input region and a second output region at opposite surfaces of the second semiconductor die. A substantially planar conductive node clip electrically communicates the first output region in the first semiconductor die and the second input region in the second semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die are between the substrate and the conductive node clip. |
| US08212359B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device, mounting structure of semiconductor integrated circuit device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device can be mounted on a circuit board through capacitive coupling even when being miniaturized. A passivation film disposed on a principal surface of a semiconductor substrate provided with a plurality of wirings laminated sequentially with insulating films therebetween has an opening at which at least a portion of the uppermost layer wiring is exposed. An electrode is arranged to cover the uppermost layer wiring exposed at the opening of the passivation film and the periphery of the opening of the passivation film. A dielectric layer is arranged to cover the electrode. An extension portion of the electrode on the surface of the passivation film and an electrode of a circuit board are capacitively coupled with a dielectric layer therebetween. |
| US08212355B2 |
Semiconductor package and manufacturing method of the semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor device, and a wiring board where the semiconductor device is mounted. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a piercing electrode configured to pierce the semiconductor substrate and electrically connect the wiring board and the semiconductor device, and a ring-shaped concave part provided so as to surround the piercing electrode, the ring-shaped concave part being configured to open to a wiring board side of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08212353B1 |
Structure and assembly procedure for low stress thin die flip chip packages designed for low-K Si and thin core substrate
Provided are semiconductor die flip chip packages and semiconductor die flip chip package components where certain properties of the packages/components are controlled to facilitate management of the package stresses. Also provided are fabrication methods for such packages and package components. For instance, the thickness of a die can be controlled such that the stress generated/experienced by the die is minimized. As such, the package stress is managed to suitable levels for incorporation of a low-K Si die and/or a thin package substrate. Further, a thin die can be attached to a heat spreader to increase the rigidity for easier handling during fabrication of the semiconductor die flip chip package. |
| US08212348B2 |
Techniques for packaging multiple device components
Techniques for fabricating multiple device components. Specifically, techniques for fabricating a stacked package comprising at least one I/C module and a multi-chip package. The multi-chip package includes a plurality of integrated circuit dices coupled to a carrier. The dice are encapsulated such that conductive elements are exposed through the encapsulant. The conductive elements are electrically coupled to the chips. The I/C module comprises an interposer having a plurality of integrated circuit dice disposed thereon. The dice of the I/C module are electrically coupled to the interposer via bondwires. The interposer is configured such that vias are aligned with the conductive elements on the multi-chip package. The multi-chip package and I/C module may be fabricated separately and subsequently coupled together to form a stacked package. |
| US08212339B2 |
Semiconductor device packages with electromagnetic interference shielding
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a grounding element disposed adjacent to a periphery of a substrate unit and at least partially extending between an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate unit. The grounding element includes an indented portion that is disposed adjacent to a lateral surface of the substrate unit. The semiconductor device package also includes an EMI shield that is electrically connected to the grounding element and is inwardly recessed adjacent to the indented portion of the grounding element. |
| US08212335B2 |
Semiconductor substrate having a flexible, heat resistant, graphite substrate
To provide a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device, a light emitting device and an electronic device which have a low price, a long lifetime, and a high luminescent efficiency, and moreover are capable of being bent. A graphite substrate having heat resistance and having flexibility with respect to external force, and a first semiconductor layer, provided on the graphite substrate, which is made of a nitride of the Group XIII are included, and a method such as pulse sputter deposition can be used in forming the first semiconductor layer on the graphite substrate, to thereby allow inexpensive manufacture to be possible. In addition, since the nitride of the Group XIII is an inorganic substance, it has a long lifetime, and thus a high luminescent efficiency can be obtained. Moreover, since the graphite substrate has flexibility with respect to external force, it can also be bent. |
| US08212331B1 |
Method for fabricating a backside through-wafer via in a processed wafer and related structure
According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating a backside through-wafer via in a processed wafer includes forming a through-wafer via opening through a substrate and extending the through-wafer via opening through at least one interlayer dielectric layer situated over the substrate. The method further includes forming a metal layer in the through-wafer via opening, where the metal layer forms an electrical connection to substrate. The metal layer is also in electrical contact with an interconnect metal segment situated above the at least one interlayer dielectric layer. The method further includes performing a thinning process to reduce the substrate to a target thickness before forming the through-wafer via opening. The method further includes forming an electrically conductive passivation layer on the metal layer and over a bottom surface of the substrate, where the electrically conductive passivation layer is in electrical contact with the metal layer and the substrate. |
| US08212324B2 |
Micro-electromechanical resonance device with periodic structure
A Micro Electro Mechanical Systems resonance device includes a substrate, and an input electrode, connected to an alternating current source having an input frequency. The device also includes an output electrode, and at least one anchoring structure, connected to the substrate. The device further includes a vibratile structure connected to an anchoring structure by at least one junction, having a natural acoustic resonant frequency. The vibration under the effect of the input electrode, when it is powered, generates, on the output electrode, an alternating current wherein the output frequency is equal to the natural frequency. The vibratile structure and/or the anchoring structure includes a periodic structure. The periodic structure includes at least first and second zones different from each other, and corresponding respectively to first and second acoustic propagation properties. |
| US08212318B2 |
High-voltage transistor with improved high stride performance
A high voltage NMOS transistor is disclosed where the p-doped body is isolated against the p-doped substrate by a DN well having a pinch-off region where the depth of the DN-well is at minimum. By the forming space charge region at raising drain potentials a shielding of the drain potential results because the space charge region touches the field oxide between source and drain at the pinch-off region. An operation at the high side at enhanced voltage levels is possible. |
| US08212317B2 |
Integrated circuit with a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and method of forming the same
An integrated circuit with a transistor advantageously embodied in a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device having a gate located over a channel region recessed into a semiconductor substrate and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the transistor includes a source/drain including a lightly or heavily doped region adjacent the channel region, and an oppositely doped well extending under the channel region and a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain. The transistor also includes a channel extension, within the oppositely doped well, under the channel region and extending under a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain. |
| US08212316B2 |
Integrated circuit with a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and method of forming the same
An integrated circuit with a transistor advantageously embodied in a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor device having a gate located over a channel region recessed into a semiconductor substrate and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the transistor includes a source/drain including a lightly or heavily doped region adjacent the channel region, and an oppositely doped well extending under the channel region and a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain. The transistor also includes a channel extension, within the oppositely doped well, under the channel region and extending under a portion of the lightly or heavily doped region of the source/drain. |
| US08212304B2 |
Method for deleting data from NAND type nonvolatile memory
To provide a method of releasing charges which have been injected into charge accumulating layers of nonvolatile memory elements without using a substrate terminal such as a p well or an n well, as a method for deleting data from a NAND-type nonvolatile memory. In the method for deleting data from the NAND-type nonvolatile memory, charges stored in a charge accumulating layer of a first nonvolatile memory element are released by applying a first potential to a bit line and a source line, a second potential to a control gate of the first nonvolatile memory element, and a third potential which is different from the second potential to a control gate of a second nonvolatile memory element. |
| US08212303B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first region in which a memory cell transistor is arranged, a second region in which an electrode that extracts a word line electrically connected to the memory cell transistor is arranged, and a third region in which a peripheral transistor is arranged, the semiconductor substrate including an element isolation layer which separates adjacent active regions, first active regions provided in the first region and each having a first width, second active regions provided in the second region and each having a second width greater than the first width, third active regions provided in the third region and each having a third with greater than the first width. An upper surface of an element isolation layer in the second region is higher than that of an element isolation layer in the first region. |
| US08212294B2 |
Structure having silicon CMOS transistors with column III-V transistors on a common substrate
A semiconductor structure having: a silicon substrate having a crystallographic orientation; an insulating layer disposed over the silicon substrate; a silicon layer having a different crystallographic orientation than the crystallographic orientation of the substrate disposed over the insulating layer; and a column III-V transistor device having the same crystallographic orientation as the substrate disposed on the silicon substrate. In one embodiment, the column III-V transistor device is in contact with the substrate. In one embodiment, the device is a GaN device. In one embodiment, the crystallographic orientation of the substrate is <111> and wherein the crystallographic orientation of the silicon layer is <100>. In one embodiment, CMOS transistors are disposed in the silicon layer. In one embodiment, the column III-V transistor device is a column III-N device. In one embodiment, a column III-As, III-P, or III-Sb device is disposed on the top of the <100> silicon layer. |
| US08212293B2 |
Transistor of semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
Provided is a transistor of a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. A transistor of a semiconductor device may include: a semiconductor substrate having an active region defined by an isolation layer; a recess trench formed in the active region and disposed to cross the semiconductor substrate in one direction; and a gate line formed in a straight line pattern, overlapping the recess trench and disposed to cross the recess trench at approximately right angles. |
| US08212291B2 |
Inverse mode SiGe HBT cascode device and fabrication method
Disclosed is a device structure using an inverse-mode cascoded Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) beneficial in applications requiring radiation hardened circuitry. The device comprises a forward-mode common-emitter HBT cascoded with a common-base inverse-mode HBT, sharing a common sub-collector. An exemplary device was measured to have over 20 dB of current gain, and over 30 dB of power gain at 10 GHz, thus demonstrating the use of these circuits for high-frequency circuit applications. In addition, the radiation response and voltage limits were characterized and showed to have negligible performance effects in typical operating conditions. Due to the unique topology, the disclosed device has the benefit of being a more compact cascode design and the additional benefit of providing significantly improved radiation tolerance. |
| US08212290B2 |
High temperature performance capable gallium nitride transistor
A transistor device capable of high performance at high temperatures. The transistor comprises a gate having a contact layer that contacts the active region. The gate contact layer is made of a material that has a high Schottky barrier when used in conjunction with a particular semiconductor system (e.g., Group-III nitrides) and exhibits decreased degradation when operating at high temperatures. The device may also incorporate a field plate to further increase the operating lifetime of the device. |
| US08212288B2 |
Compound semiconductor substrate comprising a multilayer buffer layer
A compound semiconductor substrate which inhibits the generation of a crack or a warp and is preferable for a normally-off type high breakdown voltage device, arranged that a multilayer buffer layer 2 in which AlxGa1-xN single crystal layers (0.6≦X≦1.0) 21 containing carbon from 1×1018 atoms/cm3 to 1×1021 atoms/cm3 and AlyGa1-yN single crystal layers (0.1≦y≦0.5) 22 containing carbon from 1×1017 atoms/cm3 to 1×1021 atoms/cm3 are alternately and repeatedly stacked in order, and a nitride active layer 3 provided with an electron transport layer 31 having a carbon concentration of 5×1017 atoms/cm3 or less and an electron supply layer 32 are deposited on a Si single crystal substrate 1 in order. The carbon concentrations of the AlxGa1-xN single crystal layers 21 and that of the AlGa1-yN single crystal layers 22 respectively decrease from the substrate 1 side towards the above-mentioned active layer 3 side. In this way, the compound semiconductor substrate is produced. |
| US08212285B2 |
Radiation detector
The invention specifies a radiation detector for detecting radiation (8) according to a predefined spectral sensitivity distribution (9) that exhibits a maximum at a predefined wavelength λ0, comprising a semiconductor body (1) with an active region (5) serving to generate a detector signal and intended to receive radiation, in which according to one embodiment the active region (5) includes a plurality of functional layers (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) that have different band gaps and/or thicknesses and are implemented such that they (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) at least partially absorb radiation in a range of wavelengths greater than λ0. According to a further embodiment, disposed after the active region is a filter layer structure (70) comprising at least one filter layer (7, 7a, 7b, 7c), said filter layer structure determining the short-wave side (101) of the detector sensitivity (10) according to the predefined spectral sensitivity distribution (9) by absorbing wavelengths smaller than λ0. A radiation detector for detecting radiation (8) according to the spectral sensitivity distribution (9) of the human eye is also specified. The semiconductor body can be monolithically integrated. |
| US08212284B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method of the display device
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique to manufacture a highly reliable display device at a low cost with high yield. A display device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor layer including an impurity region of one conductivity type; a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode layer, and a wiring layer in contact with the impurity region of one conductivity type, which are provided over the semiconductor layer; a conductive layer which is formed over the gate insulating layer and in contact with the wiring layer; a first electrode layer in contact with the conductive layer; an electroluminescent layer provided over the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer, where the wiring layer is electrically connected to the first electrode layer with the conductive layer interposed therebetween. |
| US08212280B2 |
Light-emitting element and display device
There has been a problem that difference in refractive index between an opposite substrate or a moisture barrier layer (passivation film) such as SiN provided thereover, and air is maintained large, and light extraction efficiency is low. Further, there has been a problem that peeling or cracking due to the moisture barrier layer is easily generated, which leads to deteriorate the reliability and lifetime of a light-emitting element. According to the present invention, a light-emitting element comprises a pixel electrode, an electroluminescent layer, a transparent electrode, a passivation film, a stress relieving layer, and a low refractive index layer, all of which are stacked sequentially. The stress relieving layer serves to prevent peeling of the passivation film. The low refractive index layer serves to reduce reflectivity of light generated in the electroluminescent layer in emitting to air. Therefore, a light-emitting element with high reliability and long lifetime and a display device using the light-emitting element can be provided. |
| US08212279B2 |
Semiconductor chip assembly with post/base heat spreader, signal post and cavity
A semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, a conductive trace and an adhesive. The heat spreader includes a thermal post and a base. The conductive trace includes a pad, a terminal and a signal post. The semiconductor device extends into a cavity in the thermal post, is electrically connected to the conductive trace and is thermally connected to the heat spreader. The thermal post extends upwardly from the base into a first opening in the adhesive, and the signal post extends upwardly from the terminal into a second opening in the adhesive. The conductive trace is located outside the cavity and provides signal routing between the pad and the terminal. |
| US08212278B2 |
Light emitting package controlling color temperature, fabricating method thereof, color temperature controlling method of light emitting package
Provided are a light emitting package capable of controlling a color temperature, a fabricating method thereof, and a color temperature controlling method of the light emitting package. The light emitting package includes a package body, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the package body and spaced apart from each other, a light emitting element formed on the package body and electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and a thin film resistor connected in series to the first electrode. |
| US08212277B2 |
Optical semiconductor device module with power supply through uneven contacts
In an optical semiconductor device module constructed by an optical semiconductor device having a light emitting portion on its top surface, a mounting substrate adapted to mount the optical semiconductor device thereon, at least one wiring pattern layer formed on a front surface of the mounting substrate, and at least one power supplying portion in contact with the wiring pattern layer, at least one of the power supplying portion and the wiring pattern layer is uneven. |
| US08212276B2 |
Arrangement of electrodes for light emitting device
A light emitting diode includes an n-GaN layer on a substrate, an active layer exposing a part of the n-GaN layer, a p-GaN layer on the active layer, a cathode contacting the exposed n-GaN layer and extending from one side of the active layer toward the other side, and an anode formed on the p-GaN layer and including a plurality of sub-electrodes spaced apart from both sides of the cathode and an edge of the active layer at the same distance. |
| US08212273B2 |
Vertical LED with conductive vias
A light emitting device comprises a novel low-loss array of conductive vias embedded in a dielectric multilayer stack, to act as an electrically-conductive, low-loss, high-reflectivity reflector layer (CVMR). In one example the CVMR stack is employed between a reflective metal bottom contact and a p-GaN semiconductor flip chip layer. The CVMR stack comprises at least (3) layers with at least (2) differing dielectric constants. The conductive vias are arranged such that localized and propagating surface plasmons associated with the structure reside within the electromagnetic stopband of the CVMR stack, which in turn inhibits trapped LED modes coupling into these plasmonic modes, thereby increasing the overall reflectivity of the CVM R. This technique improves optical light extraction and provides a vertical conduction path for optimal current spreading in a semiconductor light emitting device. A light emitting module and method of manufacture are also described. |
| US08212271B2 |
Substrate for mounting an optical semiconductor element, manufacturing method thereof, an optical semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof
A substrate for mounting optical semiconductor elements is provided, including a base substrate having an insulating layer and a plurality of wiring circuits formed on the upper face of the insulating layer, and having at least one external connection terminal formation opening portion which penetrates the insulating layer and reaches the wiring circuits; and an optical reflection member, which is provided on the upper face of the base substrate, and which forms at least one depressed portion serving as an area for mounting an optical semiconductor element. |
| US08212270B2 |
Cavity glass for light-emissive devices and a method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a transparent encapsulating sheet for a light-emissive device, the method comprising the steps: forming a plurality of cavities in one side of a transparent sheet of material for receiving light-emissive structures therein, said forming step producing a frosted surface comprising micro cracks in the cavities; coating said frosted surface with a low viscosity material whereby the micro cracks in the frosted surface are filled with the low viscosity material in order to form the transparent encapsulating sheet. |
| US08212267B2 |
Organic electroluminescence element and manufacturing method thereof
An organic luminescence includes pixel electrodes. Banks are each generally between adjacent ones of the pixel electrodes. The banks define apertures that each correspond to one of the pixel electrodes. An organic luminescent layer is within each of the apertures, and an upper electrode is above the banks and the organic luminescent layer. At least a portion of a periphery of each of the apertures includes curved portions and cusps. The curved portions are concave, and adjacent ones of the curved portions define each of the cusps. |
| US08212264B2 |
FK module and method for the production thereof
A module and method of its production in which areal electronic components are formed. The module includes (a) a cover electrode covering the electronic components; (b) a flexibly deformable substrate; (c) a base electrode formed on the substrate; and (d) an optically active layer formed on the base electrode. The electronic components are formed on the flexibly deformable substrate by the optically active layer, the cover electrode; and the base electrode. The cover electrode projects over the optically active layer at a first side and the base electrode extends beyond the optically active layer at a second side which is oppositely disposed with regards to the first side. The components are arranged at a spacing from one another on the substrate and thereby a free substrate surface is present between components so that, on a folding in a region of the free substrate surface, the base electrode and the cover electrode are adjacent and contact one another areally and an electrically conductive touching contact is established. The electronic components are electrically connected in series with one another. |
| US08212263B2 |
Backlight including semiconductior light emitting devices
A light source such as a semiconductor light emitting diode is positioned in a first opening in a transparent member, which may function as a waveguide in a display. The transparent member surrounds the light source. No light source is positioned in a second opening in the transparent member. In some embodiments, the first opening is shaped to direct light into the transparent member. In some embodiments, a reflector is positioned over the light source. The reflector includes a flat portion and a shaped portion. The shaped portion extends from the flat portion toward the light source. |
| US08212256B2 |
Pixel structure, display panel, eletro-optical apparatus, and method thererof
A pixel structure disposed on a substrate including a thin film transistor (TFT), a bottom capacitor electrode, a dielectric layer, an upper capacitor electrode, a passivation layer, and a pixel electrode is provided. The TFT having a source/drain and the bottom capacitor electrode are disposed on the substrate. The dielectric layer is disposed on the bottom capacitor electrode. The upper capacitor electrode has a semiconductor layer, a barrier layer, and a metal layer. The semiconductor layer is disposed on the dielectric layer above the bottom capacitor electrode. The barrier layer is disposed on the semiconductor layer. The metal layer whose material includes copper, a copper alloy, or a combination thereof is disposed on the barrier layer. The passivation layer covers the TFT and the upper capacitor electrode and has a first opening exposing the source/drain. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the TFT through the first opening. |
| US08212254B2 |
Thin film transistor, manufacturing method thereof, and semiconductor device
By a laser crystallization method, a crystalline semiconductor film in which grain boundaries are all in one direction is provided as well as a manufacturing method thereof. In crystallizing a semiconductor film formed over a substrate with linear laser light, a phase-shift mask in which trenches are formed in a stripe form is used. The stripe-form trenches formed in the phase-shift mask are formed so as to make a nearly perpendicular angle with a major axis direction of the linear laser light. CW laser light is used as the laser light, and a scanning direction of the laser light is nearly parallel to a direction of the stripe-form trenches (grooves). By changing luminance of the laser light periodically in the major axis direction, a crystal nucleation position in a semiconductor that is completely melted can be controlled. |
| US08212253B2 |
Shallow junction formation and high dopant activation rate of MOS devices
A semiconductor structure comprises a gate stack in a semiconductor substrate and a lightly doped source/drain (LDD) region in the semiconductor substrate. The LDD region is adjacent to a region underlying the gate stack. The LDD region comprises carbon and an n-type impurity, and the n-type impurity comprises phosphorus tetramer. |
| US08212245B2 |
Light emitting organic component and method for production thereof
The invention relates to a light-emitting organic component, in particular a light-emitting organic diode, having an electrode spreading over an electrode surface area and a counter electrode spreading over a counter electrode surface area as well as an organic layer array formed between the electrode and the counter electrode and in electrical contact therewith, an electrical resistance gradient in a direction substantially parallel to the electrode surface area being formed within a region of the organic layer array at least partially overlapping with the electrode surface area. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of a light-emitting organic component. |
| US08212242B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display having a corner-cube pattern cover layer
The present invention relates to an OLED display, and an OLED display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate member, an OLED including a first electrode formed on the substrate member, an organic emission layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic emission layer, and a cover layer formed on the second electrode and covering the OLED. The cover layer includes a cover main body and a corner-cube pattern formed on an opposite side of a side that faces the second electrode among both sides of the cover main body. |
| US08212239B2 |
Electroactive materials
There is provided an electroactive material having Formula I wherein: Q is the same or different at each occurrence and can be O, S, Se, Te, NR, SO, SO2, or SiR3; R is the same or different at each occurrence and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, or alkynyl; R1 through R8 are the same or different and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, halogen, hydroxyl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, amino, alkylthio, phosphino, silyl, —COR, —COOR, —PO3R2, —OPO3R2, or CN. |
| US08212238B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device having a highly functional memory element with improved reliability, and to provide a technique for manufacturing such a highly reliable semiconductor device with a high yield at low cost without complicating an apparatus or a process. As a top view shape of a memory element, a rectangular shape having a projection and a depression on the periphery, a zigzagged shape having one or plural bends, a comb shape, a ring shape having an opening (space) inside, or the like is used. Alternatively, a rectangle with a ratio of a long side to a short side being high, an ellipse with a ratio of a long axis to a short axis being high, or the like can also be used. |
| US08212237B2 |
Nanostructured memory device
The present invention provides a nanostructured memory device comprising at least one semiconductor nanowire (3) forming a current transport channel, one or more shell layers (4) arranged around at least a portion of the nanowire (3), and nano-sized charge trapping centers (10) embedded in said one or more shell layers (4), and one or more gate electrodes (14) arranged around at least a respective portion of said one or more shell layers (4). Preferably said one or more shell layers (4) are made of a wide band gap material or an insulator. The charge trapping centers (10) may be charged/written by using said one or more gate electrodes (14) and a change in an amount of charge stored in one or more of the charge trapping centers (10) alters the conductivity of the nanowire (3). |
| US08212236B2 |
II-VI core-shell semiconductor nanowires
A plurality of core-shell semiconductor nanowires each being fixed to a support includes II-VI materials for both the cores and the shells. Each nanowire terminates in a free end and a metal alloy nanoparticle is fixed to each nanowire at its free end. |
| US08212235B2 |
Nanowire-based opto-electronic device
Nanowire-based opto-electronic devices including nanowire lasers, photodetectors and semiconductor optical amplifiers are disclosed. The devices include nanowires grown from single crystal and/or non-single surfaces. The semiconductor optical amplifiers include nanowire arrays that act as ballast lasers to amplify a signal carried by a signal waveguide. Embodiments of the nanowire lasers and photodetectors include horizontal and vertical nanowires that can provide different polarizations. |
| US08212232B2 |
Resistance changing device and method for fabricating the same
A resistance changing device includes a resistive layer of a hetero structure interposed between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, and including a plurality of resistive material layers, each having a different resistivity, stacked therein, wherein resistivities of the resistive material layers decrease from the lower electrode toward the upper electrode. Since the resistive layer has a hetero structure in which a plurality of resistive material layers, each having a different resistivity, are stacked in such a manner that the resistivity decreases as it goes from the lower electrode to the upper electrode, it is possible to improve the distributions of the set/reset voltage and the set/reset current, while reducing a reset current of a resistance changing device at the same time. |
| US08212225B2 |
TEM grids for determination of structure-property relationships in nanotechnology
Silicon grids with electron-transparent SiO2 windows for use as substrates for high-resolution transmission electron microscopy of chemically-modified SiO2 surfaces are fabricated by forming an oxide layer on a silicon substrate. An aperture is defined in the silicon substrate by etching the substrate to the oxide layer. A single substrate can include a plurality of apertures that are in respective frame regions that are defined by one or more channels in the substrate. Structural or chemical functionalizations can be provided, and surface interactions observed via TEM. |
| US08212220B2 |
Dual radiation detector
A radiation detection apparatus and method, the apparatus (100) comprising a first scintillator (112) for interacting with radiation and outputting light in response thereto, a first photodetector (102) adjacent to the first scintillator (112) for receiving and detecting light from the first scintillator (112) and outputting (108) a first output signal in response thereto, a second scintillator (114) located around the first scintillator (112), for interacting with radiation and outputting light in response thereto, and a second photodetector (104) adjacent to the second scintillator (114) for receiving and detecting light from the second scintillator (114) and outputting (110) a second output signal in response thereto. |
| US08212219B2 |
Radiation detecting apparatus and radiation image capturing system
A radiation detecting apparatus includes a radiation conversion panel for detecting radiation that has passed through a subject and converting the detected radiation into radiation image information, and a casing for storing the radiation conversion panel as a roll when the subject is not being irradiated with radiation. When the subject is irradiated with radiation, the radiation conversion panel stored as a roll in the casing is unrolled and pulled out of the casing, and the radiation conversion panel is extended flatwise against the subject. |
| US08212218B2 |
Dosimeter powered by passive RF absorption
A system for determining an amount of radiation includes a dosimeter configured to receive the amount of radiation, the dosimeter comprising a circuit having a resonant frequency, such that the resonant frequency of the circuit changes according to the amount of radiation received by the dosimeter, the dosimeter further configured to absorb RF energy at the resonant frequency of the circuit; a radio frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transmit the RF energy at the resonant frequency to the dosimeter; and a receiver configured to determine the resonant frequency of the dosimeter based on the absorbed RF energy, wherein the amount of radiation is determined based on the resonant frequency. |
| US08212217B2 |
Silicon surface state detectors and detector arrays
Photodetection devices and methods are described. The photodetection devices comprise semiconductor tapered pillars. |
| US08212216B2 |
In-line process measurement systems and methods
A method of using multivariate optical computing in real-time to collect instantaneous data about a process stream includes installing an optical analysis system proximate a process line, the process line being configured to move a material past a window of the optical analysis system; illuminating a portion of the material with a light from the optical analysis system; directing the light carrying information about the portion through at least one multivariate optical element in the optical analysis system to produce an instantaneous measurement result about the portion; and continuously averaging the instantaneous measurement result over a period of time to determine an overall measurement signal of the material. |
| US08212214B2 |
Solid-state imaging element
It is possible to quickly and readily determine the location of an object. A solid-state imaging element according to an embodiment includes: at least two infrared detectors formed on a semiconductor substrate; an electric interconnect configured to connect the at least two infrared detectors in series; and a comparator unit configured to compare an intermediate voltage of the electric interconnect connecting the infrared detectors in series, with a predetermined reference voltage. |
| US08212213B2 |
Chemically-selective detector and methods relating thereto
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for adjusting the spectral detectivity of a thermal detector is described. The method includes coating the light sensitive portion of a thermal detector with a first material to reduce the response of the detector. The first material is coated with a second material that is thermally thin and has spectral absorption characteristics. The second material is coated with a third material that is thermally thick, whereby the spectral absorbance of the second material as filtered by the third material primarily determines the thermal conversion of the thermal detector. |
| US08212212B2 |
Thermoelectric device and method of forming the same, temperature sensing sensor, and heat-source image sensor using the same
Provided are a thermoelectric device and a method of forming the same, a temperature sensing sensor, and a heat-source image sensor using the same. The thermoelectric device includes a first nanowire and a second nanowire, a first silicon thin film, a second silicon thin film, and a third silicon thin film. The first nanowire and a second nanowire are disposed on a substrate. The first nanowire and the second nanowire are separated from each other. The first silicon thin film is connected to one end of the first nanowire. The second silicon thin film is connected to one end of the second nanowire. The third silicon thin film is connected to the other ends of the first nanowire and the second nanowire. The first and second nanowires extend in a direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate. |
| US08212211B2 |
System for protecting and/or guiding persons in dangerous situations
The invention provides a system and process in which more than only one category of information must be made available in an optically simultaneously recognizable form to a person in a portable system (17) for protecting and/or guiding persons in dangerous situations, firefighters or rescue teams in buildings. The system includes an infrared camera (12) for recording data, especially heat image data; an energy supply device, especially a battery; at least one interface (18) for transmitting data; and at least one display device (16), especially a monitor and/or a warning light, for visually displaying data. At least one exit finder (13) and/or at least one gas sensor (14) and/or at least one motion detector is also provided. The data determined by the at least one exit finder (13) and/or by the at least one gas sensor (14) and/or by the at least one motion detector and the heat image data of the infrared camera (12) can be displayed on the display of the at least one display device (16) such that the visually displayed data and visually displayed heat image data are visible by the person within a field of vision. |
| US08212200B2 |
Linear distributed pixel differential amplifier having mirrored inputs
A pixel circuit that partially incorporates an associated column amplifier into the pixel circuitry. By incorporating part of a mirrored amplifier into the pixel, noise from the pixel is reduced. |
| US08212194B2 |
Aerospace articles made from quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg
Quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg is used to make parts found in aerospace vehicles. Exemplary aerospace parts that are made using quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg include aircraft window frames, wing fairing supports, flange supports, frame gussets, rudder actuator brackets, shear ties, seat pedestals, cargo floor flange supports, storage bin fittings, antenna supports, torque tube pans, handle boxes, side guide fittings, wing box covers and intercostals. |
| US08212192B2 |
Induction heating cooker
An infrared sensor includes an infrared detection element which is provided on a lower side of a top plate to detect an amount of infrared light radiated from a heated object and an amplifier to amplify a signal detected by the infrared detection element. The infrared sensor outputs an initial detection value having a substantially constant magnitude with respect to the temperature of the heated object when the temperature of the heated object is lower than a detection lower limit temperature, and outputs a detection signal having a magnitude and a rate of increase which become larger as the temperature of the heated object becomes higher in the vicinity of a control temperature range in which the control unit controls the output of the induction heating coils to perform temperature control of the heated object. The control unit includes a storage unit to measure and store the initial detection value, and reduces the output of the induction heating coils or stops the heating when an increased amount of the output value of the infrared sensor with respect to the initial detection value stored in the storage unit becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value. |
| US08212179B2 |
Parametric production of drilled cooling holes
The invention relates to a method for the parametric production of a drilled hole in a component, in particular for the parametric production of a drilled cooling hole in a blade of a gas or steam turbine. In the case of the method according to the invention, in a first method step (21) an actual wall thickness of the component is measured at the location at which the drilled hole is to be introduced. Subsequently, at least one parametric drilled-hole geometry value is determined on the basis of an adjustment of the measured, actual wall thickness with an assumed, ideal wall thickness (method step 23). The drilled hole is then produced according to the determined parametric drilled-hole geometry value (method step 24).Furthermore, the invention relates to a drilling device, in particular for carrying out the method, and to a component into which one or more drilled holes have been introduced according to the method. |
| US08212177B2 |
Variable focus laser machining system
A variable focus laser machining system is disclosed. The machining system may have a laser emitter configured to emit a laser beam. Additionally, the machining system may have a focusing element configured to focus the laser beam. The machining system may also have a controller. The controller may be configured to focus the laser beam at a first focal point. The first focal point may be approximately positioned on a first machining surface of a work piece. The controller may also be configured to determine that the first machining surface has moved relative to the first focal point. Additionally, the controller may be configured to re-focus the laser beam at a second focal point. The second focal point may be positioned between a second machining surface and a predetermined surface spaced apart from the second machining surface. |
| US08212176B2 |
Machining head, nozzle changer and laser beam machining apparatus
A machining head includes a machining head element having an inner-head channel for passing laser light and assist gas, the nozzle having an inner-nozzle channel connecting to the inner-head channel and a nozzle orifice, pins protruding radially inward from a curved inner surface of the nozzle, a pin-locking part formed on the outside of the machining head element, the pin-locking part having pin-fitting openings, a head alignment part formed on a nozzle-side end surface of the machining head element, a nozzle alignment part formed on the nozzle at a location where the nozzle is aligned with the machining head element, and an O-ring fitted between the head alignment part and the nozzle to create a clearance between the head alignment part and the nozzle alignment part for mutual alignment. |
| US08212173B2 |
Liquid cooled shield for improved piercing performance
A shield for a plasma arc torch that pierces and cuts a metallic workpiece producing a splattering of molten metal directed at the torch, the shield protecting consumable components of the plasma arc torch from the splattering molten metal. The shield can include a body, a first surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a gas flow, a second surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a liquid flow, and a seal assembly configured to be secured to the body and disposed relative to the second surface configured to retain the liquid flow contact-cooling the second surface. |
| US08212171B2 |
System and method for ultrasonic assisted EDM machining
A system for ultrasonic assisted electrical discharge machining of a component part having a longitudinal axis, a half wavelength resonant frequency along the longitudinal axis and an attachment portion, is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic horn having a longitudinal axis, a half wavelength resonant frequency along the longitudinal axis and an attachment portion. The half wavelength resonant frequency of the ultrasonic horn is the same as the half wavelength resonant frequency of the component part. Additionally, one of the attachment portion of the component part and the attachment portion of the ultrasonic horn is a male part and the other one of the attachment portion of the component part and the attachment portion of the ultrasonic horn is a female part sized and shaped to mate and engage one another when the component part and the ultrasonic horn are at generally the same temperature. |
| US08212167B2 |
Depressible key structure
A depressible key structure includes a key frame, a keycap, and plural elastic arms. The key frame has a receiving hole. The keycap is accommodated within the receiving hole, and includes plural outer corner portions. Each of the elastic arms includes an inner fixed arm part, at least one outer movable arm part, and a corner transition part interconnected between the inner fixed arm part and the at least one outer movable arm part. The corner transition parts of the elastic arms correspond to respective outer corner portions of the keycap. Each of the inner fixed arm parts is positioned at an inner edge of a specified side of a bottom surface of the keycap. A corresponding corner transition part is protruded out of the specified side to an adjacent side along a corresponding outer corner portion. The outer movable arm part is fixed on the key frame. |
| US08212166B2 |
Switch assembly
A switch assembly includes a panel defining a receiving portion. The receiving portion includes two opposite first sidewalls, two opposite second sidewalls, and a bottom wall connected between the first sidewalls. A switch member is attached to the panel. An actuating member is accommodated in and engaged with the second sidewalls of the receiving portion. The actuating member includes a pressing plate. Two guiding walls extend from two opposite first sides of the pressing plate, and two elastic hooks protruding from two opposite second sides of the pressing plate. A spring member is disposed between the pressing plate of the actuating member and the bottom wall of the receiving portion, to provide resilient force to expose the actuating member outside of the panel. |
| US08212165B2 |
Switch
A fixed contact includes a pair of conduction members that are arranged opposedly and in parallel to each other such that tip ends of the conduction members are oriented toward an opening, a support frame (pedestal member) that tiltably supports bases of the conduction members, a leaf spring (pressurizing member) that biases the conduction members in a direction in which the tip ends of the conduction members approach each other, and an outer frame (shielding member) that covers peripheries of the conduction members and the leaf spring and shields them from an outside electric field, the leaf spring is arranged on an outer side of the opposed conduction members, and the outer frame is engaged with the tip end of the conduction member, thereby maintaining an opening width between the tip ends of the conduction members at a predetermined width. |
| US08212162B2 |
Keys with double-diving-board spring mechanisms
Keys may be formed for keyboards. The keyboards may be attached to electronic devices such as computers or may be formed within a portable computer or other electronic equipment. A keyboard may be provided with a planar housing member such as a top plate. The top plate may have openings through which key caps protrude. Each key cap may be attached to a respective spring mechanism. The spring mechanism for each key may have first and second diving-board structures that flex about respective parallel flex axes. A dome switch may be mounted under each spring mechanism. The dome switch is compressed when the key cap is pressed and the first diving-board structure moves towards the dome switch. The top plate may have edge portions surrounding each key opening that form upstop structures that prevent the key caps and spring mechanisms from tilting when the dome switch is compressed. |
| US08212158B2 |
Weight measuring shoe having a retractable scale
A shoe containing two scales entirely housed within its sole, which scales may be deployed downward so that they project beneath the shoe's sole—making the scales thereby able to accurately weigh the wearer as the wearer briefly stands only upon the thus deployed scales. After such a weight determination, the scales may be retracted—once again housed entirely within the shoe's sole—making the shoe ready to be worn and used in any and all conventional manners. |
| US08212156B2 |
Plastic land grid array (PLGA) module and printed wiring board (PWB) with enhanced contact metallurgy construction
An enhanced contact metallurgy construction for plastic land grid array (PLGA) modules and printed wiring boards (PWBs). The PWB may, for example, have subcomposite laminate construction and/or a double-sided LGA site. A plurality of preform contacts are each respectively soldered to one of a plurality of metal pads on a PLGA module carrier and/or a PWB. Each of the preform contacts comprises a metal preform base (e.g., copper, nickel) soldered to one of the plurality of metal pads and an electrolytic noble metal plating (e.g., gold) over the metal preform base. An electrolytic non-noble metal underplating (e.g., nickel) may be interposed between the metal preform base and the electrolytic noble metal plating. In one embodiment, the electrolytic non-noble metal underplating is 80-400 microinches thick to provide an enhanced diffusion barrier, and the electrolytic noble metal plating is 30-60 microinches thick and incorporates one or more hardening agents to provide enhanced wear and corrosion resistance. |
| US08212153B2 |
Circuit board and manufacturing method of the circuit board
A board comprises a through hole including a first opening, a second opening opposite to the first opening, a first conductor formed on a part of the through hole, the first conductor extends from the first opening to a first predetermined position of the through hole, a second conductor formed on a part of the through hole, the second conductor extends from the second opening to a second predetermined position nearer to the second opening than the first predetermined position, and wherein the first conductor alternates with the second conductor with respect to the circumferential direction of the through hole. |
| US08212150B2 |
Electromagnetic interference noise reduction board using electromagnetic bandgap structure
An EMI noise reduction board is disclosed. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise reduction board having an electromagnetic bandgap structure for shielding a noise includes: a first area having a ground layer and a power layer; a second area placed in a side portion of the first area having an electromagnetic bandgap structure therein. The electromagnetic bandgap structure includes: a plurality of first conductive plates and a plurality of second conductive plates placed on a same planar surface along the side portion of the first area; and a stitching via configured to electrically connect the first conductive plate to the second conductive plate through a planar surface that is different from the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate. |
| US08212146B1 |
Cover panel for electrical outlets
A cover panel is described that plugs into unused electrical outlets and camouflages or conceals the receptacle and faceplate and creates a safety barrier to the electrical components of an unused electrical outlet is described. Embodiments of the cover panel include a solid panel front surface of non-conductive molded material with a paintable surface on the outside and posts adapted to fit into the orifices of an electrical socket on the inside. The cover panel fits over the outlet's faceplate and is “plugged” into the socket, requiring no tools to install or remove. Embodiments of the cover panel have a paintable surface which can be painted to match or complement nearby walls camouflaging unused outlets. The painted cover panel serves as a physical barrier to the electrical outlet, and makes the electrical outlet less conspicuous. Embodiments include cover panels containing recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. |
| US08212143B2 |
Thin film solar cell and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film solar cell including a substrate, a first conductive layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, a second conductive layer and a passivation layer is provided. The first conductive layer disposed on the substrate has a plurality of first openings, so as to divide the first conductive layer into bottom electrodes of a plurality of photovoltaic elements. The photoelectric conversion layer disposed on the first conductive layer has a plurality of second openings. The second conductive layer is disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer and electrically connected to the first conductive layer through the second openings. The passivation layer is disposed on the sidewall of the photoelectric conversion layer, so that the second conductive layer in the second openings is electrically isolated from the photoelectric conversion layer. A manufacturing method of the thin film solar cell is also provided. |
| US08212140B2 |
Solar array support methods and systems
Systems and methods for disposing and supporting a solar panel array are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for supporting a solar panel array includes the use of support columns and cables suspended between the support columns, with the solar panels received by solar panel receivers that are adapted to couple to the cables. The solar panel array may then be used to provide power as well as shelter. Cooling, lighting, security, or other devices may be added to the solar panel array. Embodiments of the invention include differing ways to support the solar panels by receivers of differing construction. Special installations of the system can include systems mounted over structure, such as parking lots, roads and aqueducts. |
| US08212139B2 |
Thin-film photovoltaic module
In some embodiments, a photovoltaic module includes an active layer, a top layer, and a bottom layer. The active layer includes a plurality of strips of thin-film PV material that are arranged spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other. The top layer is disposed above the active layer and includes a substantially transparent film. The bottom layer is disposed below the active layer, the bottom layer including a conductive backsheet configured to form a current return path for the strips of thin-film PV material. The PV module further includes means for serially and redundantly interconnecting the strips of thin-film PV material together. |
| US08212136B2 |
Exercise audio reproducing device, exercise audio reproducing method, and exercise audio reproducing program
Provided is a device for playing audio with improved convenience, wherein music can be played such that oneness with the actions of the user can be obtained at all times, without giving the user any unnaturalness whatsoever such as unpleasant sensations. After starting playing of music data through such as an audio signal output processing unit 31, action tempo of the user is detected by an exercise information analyzing circuit 23, based on detection output from an exercise information sensor 24, and in the event that the difference between the detected action tempo of the user and the tempo of the music data being played is not a predetermined range, music data with a tempo of which the difference as to the action tempo of the user is within the predetermined range is searched by searching means such as a music playing data generating device unit 22, and a control unit 10 changes the music data to be played so as to play this searched music data. |
| US08212135B1 |
Systems and methods for facilitating higher confidence matching by a computer-based melody matching system
Systems and methods for facilitating higher confidence matches are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a memory that stores computer executable components, and a microprocessor that executes the computer executable components stored in the memory. The components can include a metadata matching component that determines a metadata match level between metadata of a plurality of files, and a thresholding component. The thresholding component may compare a metadata threshold with the metadata match level and output a signal configured to cause a decrease in a melody matching strength threshold from a first value to a second value based at least on the metadata match level being greater than the metadata threshold. |
| US08212133B2 |
Drum pedal assembly
A drum pedal assembly includes a frame, multiple bearings, an axle, a drum hammer, a base plate, an extender, a pedal and a transmission element. The frame includes two parallel upright supportive racks and a base. An end of the base plate is pivoted vertically with respect to the base, and the base plate also has a sliding groove disposed along its lengthy direction. The sliding groove has an open end away from the base. The extender is plate-shaped and is slidably inserted in the sliding groove. The pedal has a first end and a second end. The first end pivots to a distal end of the extender by a pivot means. The transmission element is disposed between the second end of the pedal and the axle. The axle and the drum hammer are driven to rotate by the transmission element to rotate as the second end of the pedal pivots. |
| US08212131B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH292582
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH292582. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH292582, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH292582 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH292582. |
| US08212120B2 |
Soybean cultivar S080194
A soybean cultivar designated S080194 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080194, to the plants of soybean S080194, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080194, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080194 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080194, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080194, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080194 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08212118B1 |
Watermelon pollenizer SP-6
The present invention provides a novel watermelon variety designated SP-6, and method for pollinating seedless watermelon plants. The present invention also provides methods for producing triploid, seedless watermelon fruit. |
| US08212117B2 |
Resistance to physiological disorders in lettuce
Provided is a method for screening a population of plants for the presence therein of individuals that show a reduced susceptibility to ethylene and physiological disorders, in particular Russet Spotting and Yellowing, as compared to a control plant, wherein a population of seeds is germinated in darkness and in the presence of ethylene to obtain seedlings that, when having a longer hypocotyl as compared to the original ethylene-sensitive control under ethylene, are selected as plants showing a reduced susceptibility to ethylene and physiological disorders, in particular Russet Spotting or Yellowing. Also provided are plants thus selected. |
| US08212115B2 |
Lettuce cultivar eblin
A lettuce cultivar, designated Eblin, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Eblin, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Eblin and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Eblin with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Eblin, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Eblin and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Eblin with another lettuce cultivar. |
| US08212113B2 |
Corn plant Mon88017 and compositions and methods for detection thereof
The present invention provides a corn plant designated MON880 7 and DNA compositions contained therein. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the corn plant MON88017 based on a DNA sequence and the use of this DNA sequence as a molecular marker in a DNA detection method. |
| US08212111B2 |
Sugar and lipid metabolism regulators in plants III
Isolated nucleic acids and proteins associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana are provided. The nucleic acids and proteins are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins. |
| US08212110B2 |
Use of bacteriophage outer membrane breaching proteins expressed in plants for the control of gram-negative bacteria
The present invention provides compositions and methods for killing or suppressing growth of Gram-negative bacteria that infect, infest or cause disease in plants, including pathogenic, saprophytic and opportunistic microbes that cause disease in plants and food borne illness in people or in animal feed. |
| US08212108B2 |
Loci associated charcoal rot drought complex tolerance in soybean
The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying soybean plants that are tolerant, have improved tolerance or are susceptible to Charcoal Rot Drought Complex. The methods use molecular genetic markers to identify, select and/or construct tolerant plants or identify and counter-select susceptible plants. Soybean plants that display tolerance or improved tolerance to Charcoal Rot Drought Complex that are generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention. |
| US08212105B2 |
Transgenic mice for assessing drug metabolism and toxicity
The present invention relates to transgenic non-human animals, tissues or cells derived therefrom and methods of producing them. The transgenic non-human animals or tissues or cells derived therefrom provide a system capable of expressing human proteins responsible for drug metabolism in place of the homologous endogenous non-human animal proteins and for the controlled expression of human genes introduced into the animal so that the expression of the human genes is regulated in a manner more closely analogous to that seen in vivo in humans. |
| US08212104B2 |
Model of experimentally induced chronic pain and uses thereof
Methods for producing peripheral nerve injury in sheep are provided. The sheep model provides a model of persistent neuropathic pain in humans. Methods for drug delivery are provided. Also provided is a method for screening potentially therapeutic agent for the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain. Also provided are the methods for measuring the changes produced by neuropathic pain. |
| US08212101B2 |
Window dressing having integral anchor
A window dressing includes a fabric layer having juxtaposed insertion site viewing and anchor member portions. The fabric layer has an adhesive side and an opposite non-adhesive top side. The insertion site viewing portion is defined by an opening in the fabric layer. A transparent film layer having an adhesive skin-adhering, bottom, side and an opposite non-adhesive side is adhered to the fabric layer adhesive side and closes the opening in the fabric layer. The anchor member portion includes a reinforcing structure disposed on the fabric layer and having an adhesive side and an opposite non-adhesive side. The reinforcing structure adhesive side is adhered to the fabric layer non-adhesive top side. |
| US08212099B2 |
N-paraffin selective hydroconversion process using borosilicate ZSM-48 molecular sieves
The present invention is directed to processes using a borosilicate ZSM-48 as a catalyst for the selective hydroconversion of heavy normal paraffins into lighter normal paraffin products, with minimal formation of isoparaffins. The borosilicate ZSM-48 molecular sieve has a mole ratio of between 40 and 400 of silicon oxide to boron oxide, synthesized using novel structure directing agents. |
| US08212097B2 |
Aromatic alkylation process using UZM-5, UZM-5P and UZM-6 zeolites
A process for alkylating aromatic compounds using a family of zeolites, examples of which have been designated UZM-5, UZM-5P and UZM-6, and are represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+Cgh+Rrp+Al(1-x)ExSiyOz where M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, E is an optional framework element, C organic nitrogen containing cation template, and R is an organic cation crystallization template. The zeolites have at least two x-ray diffraction peaks, one at a d-spacing of 3.9±0.12 Å and one at a d-spacing 8.6±0.20 Å; a tetragonal unit cell; and a micropore volume ranging from about 0.10 cc/g to about 0.18 cc/g. |
| US08212096B2 |
Hydroalkylation of aromatic compounds using EMM-13
This disclosure relates to a process for manufacturing a mono-cycloalkyl-substituted aromatic compound, said process comprising contacting a feedstock comprising an aromatic compound and hydrogen under hydroalkylation reaction conditions with a catalyst system comprising a molecular sieve, wherein said molecular sieve comprises a framework of tetrahedral atoms bridged by oxygen atoms, the tetrahedral atom framework being defined by a unit cell with atomic coordinates in nanometers shown in Table 2. |
| US08212094B2 |
Process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons
The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons wherein a feed is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating step and isomerized in an isomerization step, and a feed comprising fresh feed containing more than 5 wt % of free fatty acids and at least one diluting agent is hydrotreated at a reaction temperature of 200-400° C., in a hydrotreating reactor in the presence of catalyst, and the ratio of the diluting agent/fresh feed is 5-30:1. |
| US08212090B2 |
Methods for silver-promoted fluorination of organic molecules
The methods of the disclosure may be used for the fluorination of organic compounds, and in particular aryl organic compounds other than just benzyl halogens. It is within the scope of the present disclosure, for organic compounds comprising an electrophilic carbon atom and a halogen leaving group to be fluorinated by the methods of the disclosure. One aspect of the disclosure provides methods of introducing a fluorine atom onto an electrophilic carbon atom, comprising mixing an insoluble basic silver salt, an organic molecule containing a leaving group, an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid, and a polar solvent:water composition; incubating said mixture at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 35° C., thereby obtaining a fluorinated organic product. |
| US08212087B2 |
Processing biomass
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation. |
| US08212082B2 |
Process for the isolation of dodecatrienal and its use as aroma substance
The present invention relates to a process for preparing at least one compound with Z−1 cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least one aldehyde group, at least comprising the stages: (a1) oxidation of a composition (A), at least comprising a cyclic olefin with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms and at least two C—C double bonds, by means of dinitrogen monoxide to give a composition (A1), (a2) separating off the at least one cyclic olefin with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least two C—C double bonds from the composition (A1) from stage (a1) in order to obtain a composition (A2), (b1) separating off the at least one cyclic compound with Z cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with a keto group from the composition (A2) from step (a2), in order to obtain a composition (B1), comprising at least 50% by weight of the at least one compound with Z−1 cycles and 7 to 16 carbon atoms with at least one aldehyde group and at least two C—C double bonds, where Z may be 1, 2, 3 or 4. |
| US08212073B2 |
Protective barrier composition comprising reaction of phosphorous acid with amines applied to a substrate
This invention relates to flame barrier compositions as well as a method for the preparation of the flame barrier compositions formed from a flame retardant composition and water. A protective barrier comprises a flame barrier composition or a flame barrier polymer on top of a layer or sandwiched between two or more layers of glass, wood, paper, polymer films, and other layered materials as well as mixtures of layers. |
| US08212072B2 |
Process for the preparation of pregabalin
The present invention provides a new enantioselective method of preparing (S)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, commonly known as pregabalin. The invention also provides new chiral intermediates useful in the production of pregabalin. |
| US08212071B2 |
Asymmetric synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid
The invention encompasses processes for the synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, (S)-Pregabalin, and intermediates of (S)-Pregabalin. |
| US08212062B2 |
Production of biodiesel, cellulosic sugars, and peptides from the simultaneous esterification and alcoholysis/hydrolysis of oil-containing materials with cellulosic and peptidic content
The present invention relates to a method for producing fatty acid alkyl esters as well as cellulosic simplified sugars, shortened protein polymers, amino acids, or combination thereof resulting from the simultaneous esterification and hydrolysis, alcoholysis, or both of algae and other oil containing materials containing free fatty acids (FFA), glycerides, or combination thereof as well as polysaccharides, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose, protein polymers, or combination thereof in presences of an alcohol and an acid catalyst. |
| US08212055B2 |
Refined routes to chlorin building blocks
A method of making chlorins comprises the steps of reacting (e.g. condensing) a dipyrrin western half intermediate with an eastern half intermediate to form a tetrahydrobilene, and then cyclizing the tetrahydrobilene to form a chlorin. Intermediates including tetrahydrobilenes useful in such reactions are also described. |
| US08212052B2 |
Dual-acting benzoimidazole antihypertensive agents
The invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein Ar, r, n, X, R2, R2′, R3, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and a process and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US08212048B2 |
Method of producing aromatic compound
A method of producing an aromatic compound of the following formula (3) comprising reacting a compound of the following formula (1) with an olefin compound of the following formula (2) in the presence of a transition metal complex: (wherein, an Ar1 ring represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or aromatic heterocyclic ring, an Ar2 ring represents a heterocyclic ring containing X1 and N*, and the X1 represents a nitrogen atom or carbon atom and the N represents a nitrogen atom connecting via a double bond to either one of two adjacent atoms in the Ar2 ring.) (wherein, R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms.) (wherein, Ar1, Ar2, X1, N*, R1, R2 and R3 represent the same meanings as described above.). |
| US08212047B2 |
Methods for preparation of pyridylamines
Alternate methods for preparing functionalized pyridyl-amine products from pyridinyl starting materials are provided herein. In addition, these alternately-prepared functionalized pyridyl-amines can be used as ligands or ligand precursors in catalytic compositions, e.g. for use in alkene oligomerization reactions. |
| US08212044B2 |
Benzothiazole derivatives
Provided are compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts that are useful for the treatment of diseases related to the adenosine receptor. Also included are methods of treating patients suffering from or susceptible to at least one symptom of abuse of, dependence on, or withdrawal from at least one substance. |
| US08212042B2 |
Quinoline compound, and composition containing centipede extract or compounds isolated therefrom for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
The present invention relates to a composition for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases containing the novel quinoline compound, the centipede extracts or compounds isolated from the extracts. The novel quinoline compound, the centipede extracts or a quinoline compound and a phenol compound isolated from the extracts of the invention exhibit excellent LDL-antioxidant activity, ACAT inhibiting activity, and anti-inflammatory activities, so that they can be included as an effective ingredient in a composition for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease including hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and myocardial infarction mediated by LDL-oxidation, cholesteryl ester synthesis and accumulation, and inflammation. |
| US08212039B2 |
Phosphonic acid compounds as inhibitors of serine proteases
The present invention is directed to phosphonic acid compounds useful as serine protease inhibitors, compositions thereof and methods for treating inflammatory and serine protease mediated disorders. |
| US08212038B2 |
Methods and compositions for controlling ectoparasites
A method for inhibiting hatching of an ectoparasite egg, the method comprising exposing the ectoparasite egg to at least one metal chelating agent and/or metalloprotease inhibitor, wherein the metal chelating agent is a compound comprising at least two heteroatoms able to simultaneously coordinate with a metal ion, at least one of the two heteroatoms being selected from nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus, wherein the compound comprises at least one carbocyclic ring substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom, or the compound comprises at least one heterocyclic ring containing at least one heteroatom, wherein said heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom is provided. Methods of treating ectoparasite infestations and compositions for use in such methods are also provided. |
| US08212034B2 |
Process for preparing rosuvastatin calcium
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing (2E)-3-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-iso-propyl-2-(N-methyl-N-methylsulfonylamino)pyrimidin-5-yl]-propenal of Formula I which is an intermediate useful in the preparation of bis[(E)-7-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-isopropyl-2-[methyl(methylsulfonyl)amino]pyrimidin-5-yl](3R,5S)-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoicacid]calcium salt of Formula II. |
| US08212030B2 |
Composition for producing insulator and organic insulator using the same
Disclosed herein is a composition for producing an insulator. More specifically, the composition comprises a silane-based organic-inorganic hybrid material containing one or more multiple bonds, an acrylic organic crosslinking agent and a silane-based crosslinking agent having six or more alkoxy groups. Also disclosed herein is an organic insulator produced using the insulator composition. The organic insulator is highly crosslinked to facilitate the fabrication of an organic thin film transistor in terms of processing. |
| US08212027B1 |
Process for the conversion of cyclic amines into lactams
Converting cyclic amines to lactams using gold supported catalysts. |
| US08212025B2 |
Process for preparing nevirapine
An improved process for preparing 11-cyclopropyl-5,11-dihydro-4-methyl-6H-dipyrido[3,2-b:2′,3′-e][1,4]diazepin-6-one of Formula (I). |
| US08212020B2 |
Reagents for reversibly terminating primer extension
This invention relates to the field of nucleic acid chemistry, more specifically to the field of compositions of matter that comprise triphosphates of modified 2′-deoxynucleosides and oligonucleotides that are formed when these are appended to the 3′-end of a primer, wherein said modifications comprise NH2 moiety attached to their 3′-hydroxyl group and a fluorescent species in a form of a tag affixed to the nucleobase via a linker that can be cleaved. Such compositions and their associated processes enable and improve the sequencing of oligonucleotides using a strategy of cyclic reversible termination, as outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,664,079. Most specifically, the invention concerns compositions of matter that are 5′-triphosphates of ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides carrying detectable tags and oligonucleotides that might be derived from them. The invention also concerns processes wherein a DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, or reverse transcriptase synthesizes said oligonucleotides via addition of said triphosphates to a primer. |
| US08212018B2 |
Variable lymphocyte receptors, related polypeptides and nucleic acids, and uses thereof
Disclosed are compositions and methods related to variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs). |
| US08212015B2 |
Modified nucleosides and nucleotides and uses thereof
The invention is directed to modified guanine-containing nucleosides and nucleotides and uses thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to modified fluorescently labelled guanine-containing nucleosides and nucleotides which exhibit enhanced fluorophore intensity by virtue of reduced quenching effects. |
| US08212014B2 |
Artificial base pairs and uses thereof
The present invention provides nucleic acids based on novel artificial base pairing, as well as a preparation method and uses thereof.In the nucleic acids of the present invention, a nucleotide having a substituted or unsubstituted 2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl group as a base forms a base pair with a nucleotide having a 6-substituted 9H-purin-9-yl group as a base. The inventive method for preparing a nucleic acid comprises effecting transcription, reverse transcription or replication by using, as a template, a nucleic acid incorporating a nucleotide having a substituted or unsubstituted 2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl group as a base, so that the nucleotide having a 6-substituted 9H-purin-9-yl group is incorporated at a site complementary to the nucleotide having a substituted or unsubstituted 2-formyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl group. |
| US08212012B2 |
Novobiocin analogues having modified sugar moieties
Novobiocin analogues useful as Hsp90 inhibitors in the treatment of cancer, neuroprotection, and autoimmune disorders. |
| US08212011B2 |
Novobiocin analogues
Novobiocin analogues and pharmaceutical composition containing such compounds useful for the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disorders and autoimmune disorders, as well as cancer. |
| US08212007B2 |
Expression and purification of HIP/PAP and uses therefor
The present invention relates to methods of compositions comprising RegIII and HIP/PAP proteins, including the use of such proteins as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. |
| US08212005B2 |
Optoelectronic device and method of fabricating the same
A modified isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence encoding a photocatalytic unit of a photosynthetic organism being capable of covalent attachment to a solid surface and having a photocatalytic activity when attached thereto is disclosed. |
| US08212003B2 |
Bifunctional fusion protein with thrombolytic and anticoagulant activities and uses thereof
This application relates to a fusion protein, which is composed of a thrombolytic protein, an anticoagulant protein, and a linker peptide. In particular, the fusion protein is composed of an anticoagulant protein and a protein molecule having plasminogen-activating activity, wherein said two proteins are linked together via a linker peptide, which can be recognized and cleaved by blood coagulation factors. The application also relates to the medical use of said fusion protein, and to the use of the linker peptide which can be recognized by blood coagulation factor in linking a thrombolytic protein and an anticoagulation protein. |
| US08212000B2 |
Tumor-associated peptides binding promiscuously to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules
The present invention relates to immunotherapeutic methods, and molecules and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-helper cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides, that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions which stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. In particular, the present invention relates to 49 novel peptide sequences derived from HLA class II molecules of human tumor cell lines which can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses. |
| US08211999B2 |
Tumor-associated peptides binding promiscuously to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules
The present invention relates to immunotherapeutic methods, and molecules and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-helper cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides, that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions which stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. In particular, the present invention relates to 49 novel peptide sequences derived from HLA class II molecules of human tumor cell lines which can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses. |
| US08211998B2 |
Endoplasmic reticulum localization signals
The invention relates to cellular localization signals. In particular, the invention relates to endoplasmic reticulum localization signals in monomeric or multimeric form. The localization signals are utilized as research tools or are linked to therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of making and using polypeptides and modified polypeptides as signals to localize therapeutics, experimental compounds, peptides, proteins and/or other macromolecules to the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. The polypeptides of the invention optionally include linkage to reporters, epitopes and/or other experimental or therapeutic molecules. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides encoding the localization signals and vectors comprising these polynucleotides. |
| US08211996B2 |
Well-defined donor-acceptor rod-coil diblock copolymer based on P3HT containing C60
A method for the synthesis of well-defined rod-coil block copolymers consisting of P3HT donor and C60 acceptor chromophores (P3HT-b-P(SxAy)-C60) in a molecular architecture is reported for use in bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. In thin films of the resulting block copolymer, reproducible self-assembly into well-defined “nanofibrils” is observed. This is the first example of a block copolymer containing a C60 derivative that shows exclusively a nanofibrilar structure. A substantial improvement in device performance is achieved when the block copolymer is used as a “surfactant” for controlling the interface morphology of the P3HT:PCBM donor-acceptor phase domains within the composite. |
| US08211994B2 |
Polymers made from polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and diacetylene-containing compounds
A compound having the formula. Each R is methyl or phenyl; R2 comprises one or more of silane, siloxane, and aromatic groups; n is a nonnegative integer; and m is 1 or 2. The dashed bond is a single bond and the double dashed bond is a double bond, or the dashed bond is a double bond and the double dashed bond is a triple bond. A polymer made by a hydrosilation reaction of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane having pendant siloxane groups with an acetylene- and silicon-containing compound having at least two vinyl or ethynyl groups, and a crosslinked polymer thereof. The reaction occurs between the pendant siloxane groups and the vinyl or ethynyl groups. |
| US08211993B2 |
Inorganic substrate with a thin silica type glass layer, method of manufacturing the aforementioned substrate, coating agent, and a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer of 2H to 9H pencil hardness, said method comprising the steps of: coating an inorganic substrate with a cyclic dihydrogenpolysiloxane and/or a hydrogenpolysiloxane represented by a specific unit formula, and curing it; an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer; a coating agent for an inorganic substrate that is composed of a cyclic dihydrogenpolysiloxane and/or a hydrogenpolysiloxane represented by a specific unit formula; and a semiconductor device having an inorganic substrate coated with a thin silica type glass layer. |
| US08211990B2 |
Polymerizable compound, photocurable composition, optical element and optical head device
A compound capable of satisfying both high refractive index and high light resistance, and a photocurable composition containing it, are provided. Further, an optical element having good light resistance against blue laser light, and an optical head device using it, are provided.A polymerizable compound represented by SiA1A2A3A4 wherein silicon and four cyclic groups are bonded directly or via oxygen. each of A1, A2, A3 and A4 which are independent of one another, is —(O)m—X; and each of four m's which are independent of one another, is 0 or 1. X is preferably a phenyl group. From 0 to 3 hydrogen atoms in the phenyl group are substituted by a polymerizable substituent represented by CH2═CR—COO—Y—, and some or all of remaining hydrogen atoms in the phenyl group may be substituted by a methyl group or a fluorine atom. |
| US08211989B2 |
Crosslinking method
The invention provides a method of preparing a crosslinked polymer, which method comprises polymerising branched polyunsaturated monomers by a metathesis polymerisation reaction, wherein the branched polyunsaturated monomers contain acyclic ethylenically unsaturated groups that are capable of undergoing polymerization by a metathesis reaction such that the metathesis polymerisation produces a crosslinked polymer and substantially no non-volatile ethylenically unsaturated by-products. |
| US08211987B2 |
Deodorization of polymer compositions
The present invention relates to a method for reducing residual volatiles from polymer compositions. |
| US08211983B2 |
Polymeric materials and additives therefor
A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A1/A2 or the ratio A1/A3, wherein: A1 is the maximum absorption between 400 nm and 550 nm; A2 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1100 nm; A3 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1600 nm. Preferred inorganic materials are titanium nitride, indium tin oxide and lanthanum hexaboride. |
| US08211982B2 |
Functionalized ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer compositions
The invention relates to functionalized interpolymers derived from base olefin interpolymers, which are prepared by polymerizing one or more monomers or mixtures of monomers, such as ethylene and one or more comonomers, to form an interpolymer products having unique physical properties. The functionalized olefin interpolymers contain two or more differing regions or segments (blocks), resulting in unique processing and physical properties. |
| US08211981B2 |
Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition, film containing same, microporous film, battery separator and lithium ion battery
Disclosed is a poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition having an excellent balance between micropore formability and toughness, which can sufficiently form fine pores by drawing and does not cause a break during drawing. The poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition contains 0-90 parts by mass of a 4-methyl-1-pentene homopolymer (A) and 10-100 parts by mass of a 4-methyl-1-pentene copolymer (B) having a structural unit derived from 4-methyl-1-pentene and a structural unit derived from a C2-20 α-olefin other than 4-methyl-1-pentene. The content of the structural unit derived from a C2-20 α-olefin other than 4-methyl-1-pentene is 0.1-2.1% by mass relative to the total amount of the homopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B). The poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) resin composition also contains 0.1-800 ppm of a nucleator (C) relative to the total weight of the homopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B). |
| US08211979B2 |
Rubber and thermoplastic multi-component systems, rubber and thermoplastic composite moulded pieces made therefrom, method for production and use thereof
A multicomponent system is provided, composed of a thermoplastic component and of a rubber component, which comprises at least two different peroxidic crosslinking agents with specific decomposition temperatures, as also is a process for production of rubber-thermoplastic composite mouldings using the multicomponent system, and also the resultant rubber-thermoplastic composite mouldings. |
| US08211977B2 |
Polymeric compositions with adhesive properties
Polymer compositions with adhesive properties comprising: (1) at least one fluoropolymer (A) grafted by at least one compound (a), wherein the compound (a) contains at least one functional group (f1) capable of conferring adhesion properties on the fluoropolymer; (2) at least one olefin polymer (B) grafted by at least one compound (b), wherein the compound (b) contains at least one functional group (f2) capable of conferring adhesion properties on the olefin polymer and of reacting with the functional group (f1) contained in the compound (a); and (3) at least one polymer (C) chosen from polyesters and polyamides. |
| US08211976B2 |
Sports equipment compositions comprising a polyurethane, polyurea or prepolymer thereof and a polyfunctional modifier
Embodiments of a composition useful for making sports equipment, such as golf balls, are disclosed comprising at least one polyurethane, polyurea, polymer precursor composition thereof, blocked polyurethane, blocked polyurea or blocked polymer precursor composition thereof, and an effective amount of a polyfunctional modifier. One disclosed embodiment of a method for forming a golf ball comprises providing a first composition comprising at least one polyurethane, polyurea, polymer precursor composition thereof, blocked polyurethane, blocked polyurea or blocked polymer precursor composition thereof, and an effective amount of a polyfunctional modifier. The first composition is combined with at least a second composition to make at least one component of a golf ball. |
| US08211975B2 |
Fuser member having fluorinated polyimide outer layer
A fuser member and image forming apparatus including the fuser member for use in oil-less systems, wherein the fuser member includes a substrate, and thereover, an outer layer having a fluorinated polyimide of the following Formula I: wherein Ar independently represents a fluorinated hydrocarbon group, Rf2 and Rf3 individually represent a fluorine-containing group, L represents a linkage group, l and m each individually represent a mole fraction of repeating units, wherein the value ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.99, p represents an integer ranging from about 20 to about 1,000, Q is an end group, and o is 0 or 1. |
| US08211973B2 |
Process for making silicone emulsions
In a process for the production of a silicone in water emulsion in which a polysiloxane fluid, at least one surfactant and water are continuously fed to a high shear mixer in such proportions as to form a viscous oil in water emulsion which is continuously withdrawn from the mixer. The polysiloxane fluid may be a non-reactive fluid or may have reactive groups capable of taking part in a chain extension reaction. A desired emulsion particle size can be maintained by monitoring the pressure in the supply line at the inlet to the high shear mixer. |
| US08211971B2 |
Fumed silanized silica
Fumed silanized silica with the following physico-chemical data: Grindometer value less than 20 μm Tamped density 25 to 85 g/l is prepared by grinding fumed silica which has been silanized. It can be used in silicone rubber. |
| US08211966B2 |
Eco-friendly polypropylene-polylactic acid composite composition
The present invention relates to a polypropylene-polylactic acid composite composition comprising a mixture of polypropylene resin and polylactic acid resin, wherein ethylene-octene copolymer grafted by anhyrdrous maleic acid, polylactic acid resin grafted by anhydrous maleic acid, polyethylene-glycidyl methacrylate resin and talc particles are added thereto. The composition reduces CO2 emission and improve mechanical strength and heat resistance, thereby being suitable as a material for the interior and exterior parts of a vehicle as well as construction. |
| US08211964B2 |
Curable composition, molded article obtained from same and process for production of molded article
A curable composition including a fluorine-containing elastomer having a cyano group in its trunk chain and/or side chain and inorganic nitride particles in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fluorine-containing elastomer, or a curable composition including a specific crosslinking agent selected from an oxazole crosslinking agent, an imidazole crosslinking agent and a thiazole crosslinking agent, a fluorine-containing elastomer having a cure site crosslinkable with the crosslinking agent and inorganic nitride particles. Also disclosed is a molded article obtained by curing the above-mentioned curable composition, and a process for production of a molded article which includes a step of primary vulcanization of the curable composition and a step of secondary vulcanization following the primary vulcanization. |
| US08211963B2 |
Method of purifying a polymer
A method for purifying a polymer comprising providing a first mixture comprising at least one solvent and at least one polymeric material, diluting the first mixture with veratrole to produce a second mixture in which the polymeric material is substantially dissolved at a temperature less than 100° C., performing at least one step selected from (i) contacting the second mixture with an aqueous wash solution, and (ii) filtering the second mixture. |
| US08211961B1 |
Procedure for preparation of a thermal insulation and waterproof coating
The present invention refers to a procedure for preparation of a thermal insulation and waterproof coating, as well as its composition, obtained by combination of some components and the preparation of spherical particles internally dismembered highly flexible, attenuated in water, flexible branched chain polymer modified with acrylic, in a titanium dioxide presence. With these elements and its balance is obtained a product high grade of adhesion over several substrates not requiring previous sealing with high properties when used as waterproof coating. Likewise, it differ of traditional coatings, the internally dismembered particles, which contain a % of humidity, are appropriate for the formation of links and connections necessaries for the formation of a monolithic flexible film to make an waterproof coating application in one step, moreover getting a coating with thermal insulation properties, highly flexible and low specific weight (low density). |
| US08211960B2 |
Crumb rubber modified asphalt with improved stability
The present invention relates to a method for producing a crumb rubber modified asphalt comprising the steps of:a) heating a pre-selected quantity of asphalt to a temperature of between about 325° F. to 550° F.;b) adding crumb rubber and a mineral acid to the heated asphalt with stirring; andc) blowing air through the asphalt, crumb rubber and mineral acid mixture. |
| US08211959B2 |
Biodegradable copolymer hydrogels
Biodegradable copolymer hydrogels are provided. The biodegradable copolymer hydrogels have a structure of Formula (I) or Formula (II) A-B—BOX—B-A Formula (I) B-A-B—(BOX—B-A-B)n-BOX—B-A-B Formula (II), wherein, A comprises a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol polymer (A); B comprises a hydrophobic polyester polymer (B); BOX is bifunctional group monomer of 2,2′-Bis(2-oxazoline) and used for coupling the blocks A-B or B-A-B; and n is an integer, equal to or greater than 0. |
| US08211958B2 |
Polyolefin nanocomposites with functional ionic liquids and carbon nanofillers
The present disclosure provides polyolefin blends and nanocomposites and methods for their production. In embodiments, a blend or nanocomposite of the present disclosure may include at least one polyolefin and at least one ionic liquid and/or one modified carbon nanofiller. In embodiments, the at least one modified carbon nanotube may be treated with at least one ionic compound. |
| US08211957B2 |
Negative pattern of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube composite comprising surface-modified carbon nanotubes
Disclosed herein are methods of making a negative pattern of carbon nanotubes or a polymerized carbon nanotube composite having an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) by modifying the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes with polymerizable functional groups such as oxirane and anhydride groups and subjecting the surface-modified carbon nanotubes either to a photolithography process or to a heatcuring process. By virtue of the present invention, desired patterns of carbon nanotubes can be easily made on the surfaces of various substrates, and polymerized carbon nanotube composites improved in hardening properties can be made without additional polymers. |
| US08211949B2 |
Functionalized long-chain olefin mixtures and uses therefor
Novel mixtures of long-chain (C10-C20) olefins are functionalized by conversion to aldehydes using an OXO process, or to sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, sulfides, or sulfoxides by direct sulfonation. The aldehydes may then be hydrogenated to form alcohols, or aminated to form amines or amides. The olefins starting mixture may be acquired as a byproduct of the tetramerization of ethylene in the presence of certain chromium-containing tetramerization catalysts. The functionalized mixtures, and derivatives prepared therefrom such as alkoxylates prepared from the alcohols, may be useful as surfactants that may offer improved performance in many applications, while their preparation based on a byproduct mixture reduces their cost and also reduces waste-handling issues for this non-targeted stream. |
| US08211941B2 |
Antagonists of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and uses thereof
One of the major disabling symptoms of gastroparesis is nausea and vomiting which can be difficult to control with currently available treatments. It is postulated that signaling of gastrointestinal causes of nausea starts with activation of vagal afferent nerves that trigger the central emetic pathway. Most vagal afferent nerves are unmyelinated C-fibers, many of which express the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 and respond to capsaicin. Resiniferatoxin is a very potent capsaicin analogue that has a much more favorable ratio of desensitization to excitation than capsaicin leading to more effective desensitization without irritation. The present invention describes methods of alleviating acute or chronic nausea, vomiting by the administration of resiniferatoxin. |
| US08211940B2 |
Oxaliplatin active substance with a very low content of oxalic acid
The present invention relates to an oxaliplatin active substance for a pharmaceutical composition, wherein its weight content in oxalic acid is not more than 0.08%, and to a process of preparing the active substance. |
| US08211935B2 |
Heterocyclic derivatives for modulation of calcium channels
Heterocyclic derivatives act as Ca channel antagonists. The compositions are useful for treating or relieving Ca channel mediated conditions. |
| US08211933B2 |
3.3.0 bicyclic GlyT1 inhibitors and methods of making and using same
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds which are useful as as inhibitors of glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1) activity; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating disorders associated with glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1) activity using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. |
| US08211931B2 |
Active compound combinations having insecticidal and acaricidal properties
The novel active compound combinations consisting, firstly, of cyclic ketoenols and, secondly, of beneficial species (natural enemies) have very good insecticidal and/or acaricidal properties. |
| US08211930B2 |
Phenyl and benzodioxinyl substituted indazoles derivatives
A compound of formula Ia: The present invention relates to novel indazolyl derivatives, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives, to processes for preparing such novel derivatives and to the use of such derivatives as medicaments |
| US08211929B2 |
Pyrimidine derivatives as kinase modulators and method of use
The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibition of kinases, more specifically IGF 1 R kinases. The invention also provides compounds and methods for inhibition of wildtype Abl. The invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, and the invention includes compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, or prodrug thereof, wherein, V is NR1R1a, or O—R1, wherein X is H, halo, C1-C6 alkyl, NO2, mono-, di-, or tri-halo substituted methyl, NR13R,14. C(O)O—C1-C6 alkyl, or N(R13)—C(O)—C1-C6 alkyl; Y is H, halo, OH, C1-C6 alkyl, C0-C6alkyl-NR,15R16, NR15R,6, C1-C6 alkoxy, —N(R13)—(CH2)n-NR15R16, —C(O)O—C1-C6 alkyl, —O—(CH2)n—NR15R16, —C(O)—C1-C6 alkyl, —C0-C6-alkyl-R21, —O—R21, —C(O)—R21, —O—(CH2)n—R21, —C(O)—NR13R14, —C(O)—N(R13)-aryl, —C(O)—N(R13)(CH2)n—NR15R16, —C(O)—N(R13)—(CH2)n-aryl —C(O)—N(R13)—(CH2)n-heterocyclyl; or X and Y together with the atoms to which they are attached form a 4-7 membered heterocyclyl or heteroaryl group containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, N, and S. Z is H, NR2R3, —S—R2a, or —O—R2a |
| US08211926B2 |
Bicyclic pyrazolo-heterocycles
The present invention provides substituted pyrazolo-heterocycles having the general structure of formula I Also provided are pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acid salts, hydrates, solvates and stereoisomers of the compounds of formula I. The compounds are useful as modulators of cannabinoid receptors and for the prophylaxis and treatment of cannabinoid receptor-associated diseases and conditions, such as pain, inflammation and pruritis. |
| US08211925B2 |
Benzamide glucokinase activators
The present invention relates to N-heteroaryl-benzamides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same. The N-heteroaryl-benzamides are useful in diseases or medical conditions mediated by glucokinase. |
| US08211920B2 |
6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridine derivatives as inhibitors of MEK and methods of use thereof
Disclosed are compounds of the Formula V and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein R1, R2, R7, R8 and R9, and W are as defined in the specification. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases, such as cancer and inflammation, and inflammatory conditions in mammals. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases and inflammatory conditions in mammals and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds. |
| US08211917B2 |
Methods for treating anxiety
Disclosed are methods of treating anxiety by administering to a patient in need of such treatment a compound having the following formula (I). |
| US08211913B2 |
5-aryl pyridines as 11-beta inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes
Compounds of formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof used in the form of pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US08211908B2 |
Heterocyclic compound or salt thereof and intermediate thereof
Disclosed is a compound represented by the general formula: [wherein R1 represents an aryl or heterocyclic group which may be substituted or the like; X1 represents a C2-C4 alkylene group or the like; X2, X3 and X5 independently represent NH, a bond or the like; X4 represents a lower alkylene group, a bond or the like; Y1 represents a bivalent alicyclic hydrocarbon residue which may be substituted or a bivalent alicyclic amine residue which may be substituted; and Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6 independently represent a nitrogen atom, a group represented by the formula: CH, or the like, provided that at least one of Z3, Z4, Z5 and Z6 represents a nitrogen atom] or a salt thereof, which is useful as an antibacterial agent. |
| US08211906B1 |
Method of inhibiting growth of neoplastic cells and inhibiting infection by administering an immune enhancer drug
Disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of neoplastic tumors and lesions and localized infections by administering an Immune Response Modifier (IRM) drug to human patients suffering from such tumors, lesions or infections. IRMs act by stimulating cellular immunity and have been found to have both anti-viral and anti-tumor effects. By administering IRM drugs directly into a tumor, lesion or infection, the cells of the tumor, lesion or infection, as well as those surrounding the tumor, lesion or infection can be stimulated to increase their cellular response, thereby inhibiting the growth of such tumors, lesions or infections. |
| US08211901B2 |
Naphthamide derivatives as multi-target protein kinase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors
Isolated compounds of formula I: and stereoisomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are described, as well as processes for production, and methods of use of these compounds and compositions thereof for the treatment of diseases associated with abnormal protein kinase activities and/or abnormal histone deacetylase activities including, for example, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disease, allergies and asthma and/or hormone-related diseases. |
| US08211897B2 |
Inhibitors of cathepsin B
The present invention is directed to a method of using compounds of Formula (I) to inhibit Cathepsin B. Specifically the compounds of the present invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of tumor invasion, metastasis, Alzheimer's Disease, arthritis, inflammatory diseases such as chronic and acute pancreatitis, inflammatory airway disease, and bone and joint disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune disorders, liver fibrosis, including liver fibrosis associated with HCV, all types of steatosis (including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) and alcohol-associated steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, forms of pulmonary fibrosis including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pathological diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia following lung biopsy, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, retinal angiogenesis and fibrosis/gliosis in the eye, schleroderma, and systemic sclerosis. The compounds of Formula (I) are also useful for treating subjects with both HCV and fibrosis in a mammal, particularly liver fibrosis, and subjects affirmatively diagnosed or at risk for both HCV and liver fibrosis. |
| US08211893B2 |
Protein kinase C zeta inhibition to treat diabetic retinopathy
Methods of treating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject are provided by the present invention which include administering a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of a protein kinase C (PKC) zeta inhibitor. A disease or disorder treated or prevented by administration of a PKC zeta inhibitor is characterized by abnormal vascular permeability. Diseases or disorders treated or prevented by administration of a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of a PKC zeta inhibitor include cancer, an ischemic condition and microvascular complications of a systemic or local condition in the subject, such as diabetes and/or diabetic macular edema. Additionally, methods of inhibiting PKC zeta are provided which include incubating PKC zeta in vivo, in vitro and/or in silico with a PKC zeta inhibitor. |
| US08211891B2 |
Difluoromethyl-containing macrocyclic compounds as hepatitis C virus inhibitors
The present invention discloses compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. |
| US08211890B2 |
5-amino-2-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-tetrahydropyran derivatives
The invention relates to antibacterial compounds of formula I wherein R1 represents alkoxy (notably methoxy); R2 represents H or F; each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 represents independently H or D; V represents CH and W represents CH or N, or V represents N and W represents CH; Y represents CH or N; Z represents O, S or CH2; and A represents CH2, CH2CH2 or CD2CD2; and salts of such compounds. |
| US08211887B2 |
Topical preparation and method for transdermal delivery and localization of therapeutic agents
Disclosed herein is a preparation for topically delivering and localizing therapeutic agents, comprising: a vasoconstrictor for retarding vascular dispersion of a therapeutic agent; and a penetration enhancer for facilitating penetration of the vasoconstrictor and the therapeutic agent through a patient's skin. Further disclosed is an associated method of topically delivering and localizing therapeutic agents, comprising the steps of: using a vasoconstrictor for retarding vascular dispersion of a therapeutic agent; in combination with using a penetration enhancer for facilitating penetration of the vasoconstrictor and the therapeutic agent through a patient's skin. Also disclosed are various courses of treatment, which comprise applying the various disclosed combinations of agents to the patient's skin. |
| US08211869B2 |
Methods for cancer therapy and stem cell modulation
The present invention relates to a method of modulating pluripotency and/or self-renewing characteristics of a stem/progenitor cell. The method comprises administering to the respective cell a compound of the general formula (I) In the general formula A is C or N. R1, R4 and R5 are, independently selected, H or aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, or arylcycloaliphatic hydrocarbyl groups, that comprise 0-3 heteroatoms being N, O, S, or Si. R4 and R5 may optionally be linked so as to define an aliphatic hydrocarbyl bridge. R2 is H or a halogen. R3 is H, or an aliphatic or arylaliphatic hydrocarbyl group comprising 1-8 main chain carbon atoms and 0-3 heteroatoms being N, O, S, Si, or a halogen. |
| US08211865B2 |
Inhibition of ornithine aminotransferase for the treatment of proliferative disorders
The invention relates to inhibition of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) for suppression of tumor cells proliferation. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of treatment of proliferative disorders by the selective inhibition of OAT, and further provides the use of OAT inhibitors, specifically, 5-amino-1,3-hexadienyl-carboxylic acid (Gabaculine), and Gabaculine analogue 8, for compositions and methods for the treatment of proliferative disorders such as hepatocellular carcinoma. The invention further provides methods and kits for the diagnosis of a pathologic proliferative disorder in a mammalian subject, based on determining the level of OAT expressed in a biological sample obtained from a subject. |
| US08211863B2 |
Administration of TLR7 ligands and prodrugs thereof for treatment of infection by hepatitis C virus
This invention relates to methods for treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infections in mammals using Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)7 ligands and prodrugs thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to methods of orally administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more prodrugs of TLR7 ligands for the treatment or prevention of hepatitis C viral infection. Oral administration of these TLR7 immunomodulating ligands and prodrugs thereof to a mammal provides therapeutically effective amounts and reduced undesirable side effects. |
| US08211856B2 |
Use of somatostatin-14 as a therapeutic agent
The present invention is directed to the use of the peptide compound Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH as a therapeutic agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, fibrotic diseases, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, lung diseases, heart and vascular diseases and metabolic diseases. Moreover the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions preferably in form of a lyophilisate or liquid buffer solution or artificial mother milk formulation or mother milk substitute containing the peptide Ala-Gly-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Cys-OH optionally together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, cryoprotectant, lyoprotectant, excipient and/or diluent. |
| US08211853B2 |
Method of promoting apoptosis of differentiated adipocytes and increasing endogenous expression of SFRP-5 peptide by administration of SFRP-5 peptide
Disclosed is a method of reducing the amount of adipose tissue in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of an sFRP-5 peptide effective to reduce the amount of adipose tissue, or an amount of a molecule effective to stimulate expression of the sFRP-5 peptide in the subject. Also disclosed is a screen for molecules that can reduce the amount of adipose tissue in a subject. |
| US08211847B1 |
Hard surface cleaner and polish
A cleaner/polish composition for application to a hard surface, followed by wiping, to provide a clean, shiny surface is disclosed. The composition contains a functionalized dimethicone, nonionic surfactants, emulsifiers, a silicone fluid, an oxidized wax, an alkamidoalkyl dialkylamine, and water. |
| US08211835B2 |
Composition and method for slickwater application
The invention provides an environmentally friendly composition including a friction reducer, a biocide, a scale inhibitor, and optionally a clay stabilizer. |
| US08211833B2 |
Extremely low resistance composition and methods for creating same
The invention pertains to creating new extremely low resistance (“ELR”) materials, which may include high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) materials. In some implementations of the invention, an ELR material may be modified by depositing a layer of modifying material unto the ELR material to form a modified ELR material. The modified ELR material has improved operational characteristics over the ELR material alone. Such operational characteristics may include operating at increased temperatures or carrying additional electrical charge or other operational characteristics. In some implementations of the invention, the ELR material is a cuprate-perovskite, such as, but not limited to YBCO. In some implementations of the invention, the modifying material is a conductive material that bonds easily to oxygen, such as, but not limited to, chromium. |
| US08211827B2 |
Dye receptor layer compositions
The present invention relates to a dye receptor layer composition for thermal transfer image-receiving sheets which includes (a) a resin dispersion containing a polyester-containing resin, (b) a glycol ether having a boiling point of from 160° C. to 280° C. and a vapor pressure at 20° C. of from 20 to 1,000 Pa and (c) an oxazoline group-containing compound, and is excellent in film-forming property; and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained from the composition which can be dried at a low temperature for a short period of time, exhibits a low heat fusibility, is excellent in releasability, printing sensitivity and imaging performance, and can produce images with a high density. |
| US08211826B2 |
Two-sided thermal media
Two-sided thermal media comprising thermal transfer receptive and/or direct thermal thermally sensitive coatings on one or both of a first and a second side thereof are provided. In one embodiment, two-sided thermal media comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and a first and a second thermal transfer receptive coating supported on the respective first and second substrate sides is provided. In another embodiment, two-sided thermal media comprising a substrate having a thermal transfer receptive coating on a first side thereof, and a direct thermal thermally sensitive coating on a second side thereof, is provided. In some embodiments, a direct thermal thermally sensitive coating provided on one or both sides of two-sided thermal media is adapted to image at a temperature different than a temperature at which thermal transfer printing has or can occur. |
| US08211825B2 |
Methanol oxidation catalyst
A methanol oxidation catalyst comprises a material of composition: PtxMzTau in which Pt is platinum, Ta is tantalum, M is an element includes at least one selected from the group consisting of V (vanadium), W (tungsten), Ni (nickel) and Mo (molybdenum), x is 40 to 98 at. %, z is 1.5 to 55 at. %, and u is 0.5 to 40 at. %. To maximize catalytic activity the material is preferably in the form of nanoparticles. The values of x, z and u are selected such that the element exhibits X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy peaks derived from an oxygen bond and a metal bond in which a peak area derived from the oxygen bond is twice or less of a peak area derived from the metal bond. |
| US08211824B2 |
Exhaust gas purification catalyst
A catalytic metal 5 is supported on oxide particles 4, 6 in a first catalyst layer 2, and first binder particles 7 which are fine, and have oxygen ion conductivity are interposed among the oxide particles. A catalytic metal 11 is supported on oxide particles 8, 9, 12 in a second catalyst layer 3 provided on or above the first catalyst layer 2, and second binder particles 13 which are fine, and are capable of storing and releasing oxygen are interposed among the oxide particles. |
| US08211820B2 |
Catalyst composition, and process for production of cross-coupling compound using the same
The invention provides a catalyst composition for use in a cross-coupling reaction containing an iron or cobalt fluoride and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring compound represented by General Formula (1A) or (1B), wherein R1 and R2 are same or different, and represent substituted or unsubstituted aryl group etc.; and R3 and R4 are same or different, and represent hydrogen etc., represents a single bond or a double bond, and X− represents a monovalent anion. The invention also provides a method for producing a cross-coupling compound by reacting an organic magnesium compound with an organic halogen compound in the presence of the catalyst composition. |
| US08211814B2 |
Protective armor panels
Protective armor panels comprising a polymer layer having upper and lower faces generally forming a sheet and a plurality of metal strips each having an upper edge, a lower edge and side faces, said side faces being oriented generally traverse to the upper face of said polymer layer and positioned at least partially within the polymer layer, are disclosed. |
| US08211813B2 |
Coated base fabric for air bags and air bags
A coated airbag base fabric made of a textile fabric that has an excellent air-barrier property, high heat resistance, improved mountability and compactness and excellent adhesion to a resin film is characterized in that at least one side of the textile fabric is coated with resin, at least part of the single yarns of the fabric are surrounded by the resin, and at least part of the single yarns of the fabric are not surrounded by the resin. An airbag is characterized by using such a coated airbag base fabric. A method for manufacturing the coated airbag base fabric is characterized by applying a resin solution having a viscosity of from 5 to 20 Pa·s (5,000 to 20,000 cP) to the textile fabric using a knife coater with a sharp-edged coating knife at the contact pressure between the coating knife and the fabric of from 1 to 15 N/cm. |
| US08211810B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method for performing etching process with phosphoric acid solution
An additive containing a hexafluorosilicic acid solution (H2SiF6+H2O) is sequentially inputted into a phosphoric acid solution pooled in an immersion bath from an additive input mechanism. Further, a trap agent containing a fluoroboric acid solution (HBF4+H2O) is inputted into the phosphoric acid solution from a trap agent input mechanism. F− which accelerates etching of a silicon nitride film is added as appropriate by sequentially inputting the additive and siloxane which increases by the sequential input is etched with hydrofluoric acid generated by decomposition of the fluoroboric acid, to thereby suppress a significant increase in the concentration of siloxane. This makes it possible to maintain respective initial etching rates of the silicon nitride film and a silicon oxide film. |
| US08211801B2 |
Method of fabricating complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device
A method of fabricating a CMOS device having high-k dielectric layer and metal gate electrode is provided. First, an isolation structure is formed in a substrate to define a first-type and a second-type MOS regions; an interfacial layer and a high-k dielectric layer are sequentially formed over the substrate; a first and a second cover layers are respectively formed over a portion of the high-k dielectric layer at the first-type MOS region and another portion of the high-k dielectric layer at the second-type MOS region; afterwards, an in-situ etching step is performed to sequentially etch the first and second cover layers using a first etching solution and to etch both the high-k dielectric layer and the interfacial layer using a second etching solution until the substrate is exposed. Wherein, the second etching solution is a mixed etching solution containing the first etching solution. |
| US08211794B2 |
Properties of metallic copper diffusion barriers through silicon surface treatments
In accordance with the invention, there are diffusion barriers, integrated circuits, and semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating them. The method of fabricating a diffusion barrier can include providing a dielectric layer, forming a first silicon enriched layer over the dielectric layer by exposing the dielectric layer to a silicon-containing ambient, and forming a barrier layer over the first silicon enriched layer. |
| US08211788B2 |
Method of fabricating bonding structure
A method of fabricating a bonding structure having compliant bumps includes first providing a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes first bonding pads. The second substrate is disposed on one side of the first substrate and includes second bonding pads and compliant bumps disposed thereon. The second bonding pads are opposite to the first bonding pads. Next, a non-conductive adhesive layer and ball-shaped spacers are formed between the first and the second substrates. Finally, the first substrate, the non-conductive adhesive layer, and the second substrate are compressed, such that the compliant bumps on the second bonding pads of the second substrate pass through the non-conductive adhesive layer and are electrically connected to the first bonding pads of the first substrate, respectively. The ball-shaped spacers are distributed in the non-conductive adhesive layer sandwiched between the first and the second substrates for maintaining the gap therebetween. |
| US08211787B2 |
Semiconductor processing methods
Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions in which a semiconductor material sidewall is along an opening, a protective organic material is over at least one semiconductor material surface, and the semiconductor material sidewall and protective organic material are both exposed to an etch utilizing at least one fluorine-containing composition. The etch is selective for the semiconductor material relative to the organic material, and reduces sharpness of at least one projection along the semiconductor material sidewall. In some embodiments, the opening is a through wafer opening, and subsequent processing forms one or more materials within such through wafer opening to form a through wafer interconnect. In some embodiments, the opening extends to a sensor array, and the protective organic material is comprised by a microlens system over the sensor array. Subsequent processing may form a macrolens structure across the opening. |
| US08211786B2 |
CMOS structure including non-planar hybrid orientation substrate with planar gate electrodes and method for fabrication
A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the semiconductor structure include a hybrid orientation substrate having a first active region having a first crystallographic orientation that is vertically separated from a second active region having a second crystallographic orientation different than the first crystallographic orientation. A first field effect device having a first gate electrode is located and formed within and upon the first active region and a second field effect device having a second gate electrode is located and formed within and upon the second active region. Upper surfaces of the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode are coplanar. The structure and method allow for avoidance of epitaxial defects generally encountered when using hybrid orientation technology substrates that include coplanar active regions. |
| US08211780B2 |
Method for manufacturing SOI substrate
Adhesion defects between a single crystal semiconductor layer and a support substrate are reduced to manufacture an SOI substrate achiving high bonding strength between the single crystal semiconductor layer and the support substrate. Plasma is produced by exciting a source gas, ion species contained in the plasma are added from one surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate, and thereby forming a damage region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer over one surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate; a support substrate is bonded so as to face the single crystal semiconductor substrate with the insulating layer therebetween; the single crystal semiconductor substrate is heated to separate the single crystal semiconductor substrate into a single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate and a single crystal semiconductor substrate, in the damage region; and the single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to the support substrate is pressed. |
| US08211775B1 |
Method of making transistor having metal gate
A method for forming a transistor having a metal gate is provided. A substrate is provided first. A transistor is formed on the substrate. The transistor includes a high-k gate dielectric layer, an oxygen containing dielectric layer disposed on the high-k gate dielectric layer, and a dummy gate disposed on the oxygen containing dielectric layer. Then, the dummy gate and the patterned gate dielectric layer are removed. Lastly, a metal gate is formed and the metal gate directly contacts the high-k gate oxide. |
| US08211773B2 |
SRAM cell with asymmetrical pass gate
A method of controlling gate induced drain leakage current of a transistor is disclosed. The method includes forming a dielectric region (516) on a surface of a substrate having a first concentration of a first conductivity type (P-well). A gate region (500) having a length and a width is formed on the dielectric region. Source (512) and drain (504) regions having a second conductivity type (N+) are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the gate region. A first impurity region (508) having the first conductivity type (P+) is formed adjacent the source. The first impurity region has a second concentration greater than the first concentration. |
| US08211772B2 |
Two-dimensional condensation for uniaxially strained semiconductor fins
Techniques are disclosed for enabling multi-sided condensation of semiconductor fins. The techniques can be employed, for instance, in fabricating fin-based transistors. In one example case, a strain layer is provided on a bulk substrate. The strain layer is associated with a critical thickness that is dependent on a component of the strain layer, and the strain layer has a thickness lower than or equal to the critical thickness. A fin is formed in the substrate and strain layer, such that the fin includes a substrate portion and a strain layer portion. The fin is oxidized to condense the strain layer portion of the fin, so that a concentration of the component in the strain layer changes from a pre-condensation concentration to a higher post-condensation concentration, thereby causing the critical thickness to be exceeded. |
| US08211770B2 |
Transistor with A-face conductive channel and trench protecting well region
A transistor structure optimizes current along the A-face of a silicon carbide body to form an AMOSFET that minimizes the JFET effect in the drift region during forward conduction in the on-state. The AMOSFET further shows high voltage blocking ability due to the addition of a highly doped well region that protects the gate corner region in a trench-gated device. The AMOSFET uses the A-face conduction along a trench sidewall in addition to a buried channel layer extending across portions of the semiconductor mesas defining the trench. A doped well extends from at least one of the mesas to a depth within the current spreading layer that is greater than the depth of the trench. A current spreading layer extends between the semiconductor mesas beneath the bottom of the trench to reduce junction resistance in the on-state. A buffer layer between the trench and the deep well further provides protection from field crowding at the trench corner. |
| US08211764B2 |
Semiconductor device of common source structure and manufacturing method of semiconductor device of common source structure
A semiconductor device having a common source structure and method of manufacturing the same are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: forming a plurality of gate lines on a semiconductor substrate, each constituted by a floating gate, a dielectric layer, and a control gate having a line form; forming a first dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate including the gate line; forming a trench having the line form in the first dielectric layer, wherein the trench exposes the semiconductor substrate between the gate lines; and forming a common source in the trench. According to an embodiment, the common source is implemented as a poly line in the trench. Therefore, etching the substrate to provide a trench for a common source can be excluded. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the common source from being opened due to a remaining material in a trench, and reduce damage to the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08211763B2 |
Methods of forming vertical field effect transistors, vertical field effect transistors, and DRAM cells
A method of forming a vertical field effect transistor includes etching an opening into semiconductor material. Sidewalls and radially outermost portions of the opening base are lined with masking material. A semiconductive material pillar is epitaxially grown to within the opening adjacent the masking material from the semiconductor material at the opening base. At least some of the masking material is removed from the opening. A gate dielectric is formed radially about the pillar. Conductive gate material is formed radially about the gate dielectric. An upper portion of the pillar is formed to comprise one source/drain region of the vertical transistor. Semiconductive material of the pillar received below the upper portion is formed to comprise a channel region of the vertical transistor. Semiconductor material adjacent the opening is formed to comprise another source/drain region of the vertical transistor. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated. |
| US08211760B2 |
Method for producing a transistor gate with sub-photolithographic dimensions
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method comprises patterning a photoresist over a compound semiconductor substrate; reducing a width of the photoresist; forming a hardmask over the substrate and not over the photoresist; removing the photoresist; etching to form and opening down to the substrate; forming a gate in the opening; and removing the hardmask except beneath the gate. |
| US08211758B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of producing the same
It is an object to provide an SGT production method capable of obtaining a structure for reducing a resistance of a gate, a desired gate length, desired source and drain configurations and a desired diameter of a pillar-shaped semiconductor. The object is achieved by a semiconductor device production method which comprises the steps of: forming a pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer; forming a second-conductive-type semiconductor layer underneath the pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer; forming a gate dielectric film and a gate electrode around the pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer; forming a sidewall-shaped dielectric film on an upper region of a sidewall of the pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer and in contact with a top of the gate; forming a sidewall-shaped dielectric film on a sidewall of the gate; and forming a second-conductive-type semiconductor layer in an upper portion of the pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer and on the second-conductive-type semiconductor layer formed underneath the pillar-shaped first-conductive-type semiconductor layer. |
| US08211756B2 |
3D chip-stack with fuse-type through silicon via
Programmable fuse-type through silicon vias (TSVs) in silicon chips are provided with non-programmable TSVs in the same chip. The programmable fuse-type TSVs may employ a region within the TSV structure having sidewall spacers that restrict the cross-sectional conductive path of the TSV adjacent a chip surface contact pad. Application of sufficient current by programming circuitry causes electromigration of metal to create a void in the contact pad and, thus, an open circuit. Programming may be carried out by complementary circuitry on two adjacent chips in a multi-story chip stack. |
| US08211753B2 |
Leadframe-based mold array package heat spreader and fabrication method therefor
A method for fabricating a heat spreader is provided. Heat spreaders are formed and surrounded by a frame. The heat spreaders and frame are connected to one another by tie bars, the heat spreaders and tie bars having respective upper surfaces. At least portions of the upper surfaces of the tie bars are thinned to reduce the heights of the tie bars at least on a singulation line thereon. The frame is formed to support the heat spreader upper surfaces in an elevated position with respect thereto. |
| US08211751B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a bonding step of bonding a first substrate with optical transparency and a second substrate having a surface on which a functional element is provided to each other such that the functional element faces the first substrate; a thinning step of thinning at least one of the first and second substrates; and a through-hole forming step of forming a cavity and a through-hole communicated with the cavity in at least part of a bonding portion between the first and second substrates. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent irregularities or cracks caused by the presence or absence of the cavity and more regularly thin the substrate. In addition, it is possible to manufacture a semiconductor device capable of contributing to the miniaturization of devices and electronic equipment having the devices, using a more convenient process. |
| US08211750B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising light-emitting element and light-receiving element, and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device includes a substrate for transmitting light, a wiring layer provided on the substrate, a semiconductor chip formed on the wiring layer, a columnar electrode, a sealant, and an external connection terminal electrically connected to the semiconductor chip via the wiring layer and protruding electrode. The device includes a cut surface formed by dicing and constituted by only the substrate and the sealant. Since the cut surface has a single-layer structure as a result of forming the sealant in a single step, moisture cannot infiltrate through the sealant, hence a device resistant to corrosion and operational defects is provided. |
| US08211747B2 |
Wafer level stack die package
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for an IC package including first and a second discrete components fabricated into a semiconductor substrate. The first and second discrete components can be adjacent to one another in the semiconductor substrate, and an integrated circuit die can be mounted on the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the first and second discrete components. |
| US08211746B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with lead frame and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a base substrate; attaching a base device over the base substrate; attaching a leadframe having a leadframe pillar adjacent the base device over the base substrate; applying a base encapsulant over the base device, the base substrate, and the leadframe; removing a portion of the base encapsulant and a portion of the leadframe providing the leadframe pillar partially exposed; and attaching a base substrate connector to the base substrate directly below the leadframe pillar. |
| US08211743B2 |
Methods of forming non-volatile memory cells having multi-resistive state material between conductive electrodes
A method of forming a non-volatile resistive oxide memory cell includes forming a first conductive electrode of the memory cell as part of a substrate. The first conductive electrode has an elevationally outermost surface and opposing laterally outermost edges at the elevationally outermost surface in one planar cross section. Multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material is formed over the first conductive electrode. Conductive material is deposited over the multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material. A second conductive electrode of the memory cell which comprises the conductive material is received over the multi-resistive state metal oxide-comprising material. The forming thereof includes etching through the conductive material to form opposing laterally outermost conductive edges of said conductive material in the one planar cross section at the conclusion of said etching which are received laterally outward of the opposing laterally outermost edges of the first conductive electrode in the one planar cross section. |
| US08211742B2 |
Lateral phase change memory
A lateral phase change memory includes a pair of electrodes separated by an insulating layer. The first electrode is formed in an opening in an insulating layer and is cup-shaped. The first electrode is covered by the insulating layer which is, in turn, covered by the second electrode. As a result, the spacing between the electrodes may be very precisely controlled and limited to very small dimensions. The electrodes are advantageously formed of the same material, prior to formation of the phase change material region. |
| US08211741B2 |
Carbon nanotube based integrated semiconductor circuit
Gate electrodes are formed on a semiconducting carbon nanotube, followed by deposition and patterning of a hole-inducing material layer and an electron inducing material layer on the carbon nanotube according to the pattern of a one dimensional circuit layout. Electrical isolation may be provided by cutting a portion of the carbon nanotube, forming a reverse biased junction of a hole-induced region and an electron-induced region of the carbon nanotube, or electrically biasing a region through a dielectric layer between two device regions of the carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotubes may be arranged such that hole-inducing material layer and electron-inducing material layer may be assigned to each carbon nanotube to form periodic structures such as a static random access memory (SRAM) array. |
| US08211740B2 |
Solid state imaging device having wirings with diffusion prevention film
To arrange diffusion-inhibitory films 5a, 5b, and 5c for inhibiting the diffusion of a wiring material absent in a region on or above a light receiving unit 2, the diffusion-inhibitory films 5a, 5b, and 5c formed on a region above the light receiving unit 2 are selectively removed. Alternatively, the diffusion-inhibitory films are arranged only on top surfaces of wirings 4a, 4b, and 4c, and only a passivation film 12 and interlayer insulating films 3a, 3b, and 3c are arranged in the region on or above the light receiving unit 2. Thus, with less interface between different insulation films and less reflection of incident light in an incident region, the incident light 13 highly efficiently passes through these insulating films and comes into the light receiving unit 2. The light receiving unit 2 can thereby receive a sufficient quantity of the incident light 13. |
| US08211739B2 |
Polycrystalline silicon solar cell having high efficiency and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed herein is a polycrystalline silicon solar cell, including: a back electrode formed on a transparent insulating substrate; an N-type polycrystalline silicon layer in which amorphous silicon is crystallized through MIC process, and in which electrons are accumulated; a light-absorbing layer which is formed by vertically crystallizing an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer using the polycrystalline silicon layer as a seed for crystallization through MIVC process, in which pairs of electrons and holes are generated in response to incident light, and which has a vertical column grain structure in which grains are arranged in the direction in which electrons and holes move; a P-type polycrystalline silicon layer which has the vertical column grain structure, and in which holes are accumulated; a transparent electrode layer; front electrodes; and an antireflection coating film, and is a method of fabricating the same. |
| US08211729B2 |
Method for releasing the suspended structure of a NEMS and/or NEMS component
A method for making a microelectronic device comprising at least one electromechanical component provided with a mobile structure, the method comprising the steps of: forming in at least one fine semiconducting thin layer lying on a supporting layer, at least one bar bound to a block, said bar being intended to form a mobile structure of an electromechanical component, withdrawing a portion of the supporting layer under said bar, forming at least one passivation layer based on dielectric material around said bar, forming an encapsulation layer around the bar and covering said passivation layer, the method further comprising steps of: making metal contact and/or interconnection areas, and then suppressing the encapsulation layer around said bar. |
| US08211728B2 |
Horizontal micro-electro-mechanical-system switch
A first dielectric material layer and a second dielectric material layer are formed on a substrate. Three conductive portions are formed within the second dielectric material layer. An optional third dielectric material layer and an optional dielectric capping layer may be formed over the three conductive portions. Portions of the second dielectric material layer and the first dielectric material layer are removed from within an area of a hole in a masking layer. The first dielectric material layer is laterally undercut to provide a micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) switch comprising a conductive cantilever, a conductive plate, and a conductive actuator from the three conductive portions as portions of the first and second dielectric material layers are removed. The MEMS switch may be employed to provide mechanical switchable contact between the conductive cantilever and the conductive plate through an electrical signal on the conductive actuator. |
| US08211727B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure and production method thereof
According to the present invention, an AlN crystal film seed layer having high crystallinity is combined with selective/lateral growth, whereby a Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure more enhanced in crystallinity can be obtained. The Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure of the present invention is a Group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure where an AlN crystal film having a crystal grain boundary interval of 200 nm or more is formed as a seed layer on a C-plane sapphire substrate surface by a sputtering method and an underlying layer, an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer, each composed of a Group III nitride semiconductor, are further stacked, wherein regions in which the seed layer is present and is absent are formed on the C-plane sapphire substrate surface and/or regions capable of epitaxial growth and incapable of epitaxial growth are formed in the underlying layer. |
| US08211722B2 |
Flip-chip GaN LED fabrication method
A flip-chip LED fabrication method includes the steps of (a) providing a GaN epitaxial wafer, (b) forming a first groove in the GaN epitaxial layer, (c) forming a second groove in the GaN epitaxial layer to expose a part of the N-type GaN ohmic contact layer of the GaN epitaxial layer, (d) forming a translucent conducting layer on the epitaxial layer, (e) forming a P-type electrode pad and an N-type electrode pad on the translucent conducting layer, (f) forming a first isolation protection layer on the P-type electrode pad, the N-type electrode pad, the first groove and the second groove, (g) forming a metallic reflection layer on the first isolation protection layer, (h) forming a second isolation protection layer on the first isolation protection layer and the metallic reflection layer, (i) forming a third groove to expose one lateral side of the N-type electrode pad, (j) separating the processed GaN epitaxial wafer into individual GaN LED chips, and (k) bonding at least one individual GaN LED chip thus obtained to a thermal substrate with a conducting material. |
| US08211721B2 |
Methods for making quasi-vertical light emitting diodes
A method of making quasi-vertical light emitting devices includes growing semiconductor layers on a growth substrate and etching the semiconductor layers to produce device isolation trenches forming separable semiconductor devices and holes. Blind holes are drilled in the substrate at the location of each of the holes in the semiconductor layers. The drilling of the blind holes defines blind hole walls and a blind hole end in each of the blind holes. N-semiconductor metal is deposited in each of the blind holes. An n-electrode contact is formed in each of the blind holes by plating each of the blind holes with an n-electrode metal connected to the n-semiconductor metal. The substrate is thinned to expose the n-electrode metal as an n-electrode. Bonding metal is deposited to the n-electrode for packaging. |
| US08211718B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of visual inspection and apparatus for visual inspection
A semiconductor device having the structure, which is adopted for the highly precise visual inspection with a lower cost, is achieved. A semiconductor device is a semiconductor device having a region for forming an electric circuit, and includes seal rings provided in an interconnect layer and surrounding the region for forming an electric circuit, and a dummy metal via provided in the interconnect layer and located outside of the seal rings. In a cross section perpendicular to an elongating direction of the seal ring, the width of the dummy metal via is smaller than the width of the seal ring. |
| US08211717B1 |
SEM repair for sub-optimal features
A method and system for repairing photomasks is disclosed. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to identify, measure, and correct defects. The SEM is operated in multiple modes, including a measuring mode and a repair mode. The repair mode is of higher landing energy and exposure time than the measuring mode, and induces shrinkage in the photoresist to correct various features, such as vias that are too small. |
| US08211714B2 |
Characterization of molecules
The invention involves obtaining signatures of species (including chemical, biological, or biochemical molecules) and/or signatures of interactions between species and using them to characterize species, characterize interactions, and/or identify species that could be useful in a variety of settings. Signatures can be obtained using aqueous multi-phase partitioning and can be used to predict molecular interactions for applications such as drug discovery. A plurality of aqueous multi-phase partitioning arrangements can define an overall system providing an information-intensive signature, maximizing precision and sensitivity. |
| US08211710B2 |
Method for accessing the contents of a closed collection device
A method for obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof. The method includes penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device and forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device to allow air to be vented from the vessel. At least a portion of the contents of the vessel is then drawn into the fluid transfer device before the fluid transfer device is removed from the vessel. |
| US08211707B2 |
Stress measuring device
The stress measuring method of the present claimed invention includes an external force impressing process that applies an external force to a specimen, an electron beam irradiating process that irradiates an electron beam to the specimen, a spectroscopy process that conducts spectroscopy on light generated from the specimen by the above-mentioned electron beam irradiating process so as to obtain a spectrum, and a stress calculating process that obtains a stress based on a spectrum shift between a specimen spectrum obtained by irradiating the electron beam on the above-mentioned specimen and a stress impressed spectrum obtained by irradiating the electron beam on the specimen in a state that a stress exists due to the above-mentioned external impressing process. |
| US08211704B2 |
Determination method of magnesium content in aluminium alloy
The present invention discloses a method for determination of magnesium content in aluminum alloy, including: dissolving an aluminum alloy sample, using one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of mercapto-containing compound, acetone cyanohydrin, β-aminoethyl mercaptan, triethanolamine, tetraethylenepentamine, ethylene diamine and oxydol as masking agent, using eriochrome black T or methyl thymol blue as indicator, and using EDTA or CDTA to titrate the sample. |
| US08211700B2 |
Induction of differential stress resistance and uses thereof
This invention relates to methods of inducing differential stress resistance in a subject with cancer by starving the subject for a short term, administering a cell growth inhibitor to the subject, or reducing the caloric or glucose intake by the subject. The induced differential stress resistance results in improved resistance to cytotoxicity in normal cells, which, in turn, reduces cytotoxic side-effects due to chemotherapy, as well as improved effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. |
| US08211698B2 |
Methods of derivation of neuronal progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells
The invention provides neuronal progenitor cells, populations and cultures of cells, cell compositions and methods of producing neuronal progenitor cells. Neuronal progenitor cells can be prepared from embryonic stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells. |
| US08211697B2 |
Induced pluripotent stem cells produced using reprogramming factors and a rho kinase inhibitor or a histone deacetylase inhibitor
Described herein are multipotent stem cells, e.g., human and other mammalian pluripotent stem cells, and related methods. |
| US08211695B2 |
Isolated transgenic mammalian neural cell for detection of a sample containing a chemical substance damage to neurological system or selection of drugs for treating neurodegenerative disorders
The invention is to provide an isolated transgenic mammalian neural cell, which comprises at least one heterologous vector expressing AhR/ARNT. Also provided is methods the detection of a sample containing a chemical substance damage to the nervous system and the selection of drugs for treating neurodegenerative disorders. |
| US08211689B2 |
Biofuel production
Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are provided for converting polysaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, into suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, as well as for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided. Commodity chemical enriched, refinery-produced petroleum products are also provided, as well as methods for producing the same. |
| US08211687B2 |
Thixotropic gel for vadose zone remediation
A thixotropic gel suitable for use in subsurface bioremediation is provided along with a process of using the gel. The thixotropic gel provides a non-migrating injectable substrate that can provide below ground barrier properties. In addition, the gel components provide for a favorable environment in which certain contaminants are preferentially sequestered in the gel and subsequently remediated by either indigenous or introduced microorganisms. |
| US08211686B2 |
Purification of vaccinia virus- and recombinant vaccinia virus-based vaccines
The present invention relates to methods for purification of Vaccinia viruses (W) and/or Vaccinia virus (W) particles, which can lead to highly pure and stable virus preparations of predominantly biologically active viruses. The invention encompasses purifying a virus preparation in a sterilized way with high efficiency and desirable yield in terms of purity, biological activity and stability, aspects advantageous for industrial production. |
| US08211682B2 |
Composite material comprising supported porous gel containing functional groups and method of separating substances
This invention relates to a composite material that comprises a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and, located in the pores of the support member, and filling the pores of the support member, a macroporous cross-linked gel. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the composite material described above, and to its use. The composite material is suitable, for example, for separation of substances, for example by filtration or adsorption, including chromatography, for use as a support in synthesis or for use as a support for cell growth. |
| US08211679B2 |
Process for producing ethanol
Ethanol and other liquid products produced by contacting carbon monoxide (CO) and/or a mixture of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2 (hydrogen) with a microorganism in a bioreactor are separated using a combination of distillation and vapor permeation membranes. The bioreactor passes an effluent with an ethanol concentration of 1 to 6 wt % to a distillation column that produces an overhead vapor stream enriched in ethanol. A series of vapor permeation membranes retain ethanol as retentate and produce a 99 wt % or higher ethanol product. Ethanol depleted permeate streams flow back to the column and the bioreactor. Coupling a bioreactor with distillation and pervaporation efficiently and economically separates ethanol when present at low concentration in an aqueous fermentation broth. The separation arrangement may also include a flash zone ahead of the distillation column to raise the concentration of the ethanol in the input stream to the distillation column. |
| US08211675B2 |
Lactic acid production from concentrated raw sugar beet juice
The present invention is in the field of the preparation of lactic acid by means of fermentation on industrial scale wherein a concentrated raw beet juice having a Brix of at least 60 is used as fermentation substrate. After dilution to the desired initial sugar concentration and addition of nutrients, the juice is fermented to lactic acid and/or lactate by means of a lactic acid-producing microorganism. Said concentrated raw beet juice is prepared by: washing and cutting sugar beet and extracting the cossettes in water, removing the beet pulp from the resulting raw beet juice, and heat treating the raw beet juice at a temperature between 50 and 90 degrees Celsius, and concentrating the raw beet juice to at least 60 Brix.It was found that concentrated beet juice having a Brix of at least 60 is storage-stable, is not very sensitive to infections, and can be used as fermentation substrate for lactic acid production on industrial scale with the same yield, chemical purity, optical purity, clarity and taste as lactic acid obtained from fermenting white sugar. |
| US08211673B2 |
Composition and method for sequencing nucleic acid
A composition for sequencing DNA is provided and comprises a nuclease and a nuclease-resistant sequencing primer. A method of preparing DNA for sequencing and a method of sequencing DNA are also provided. The method of sequencing DNA can comprise contacting amplification reaction products with the composition under conditions in which excess amplification primer is degraded by the nuclease and the nuclease-resistant sequencing primer is essentially non-degraded. |
| US08211672B2 |
Ferulate esterase-producing bacterial strain for treating pre-ensiled plant material
Ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains or functional mutants thereof and methods of using ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains as forage additives are disclosed. |
| US08211668B2 |
Apparatus and methods for osmotically shocking cells
A method of preparing a recombinant polypeptide of interest includes fermenting a host cell being transformed with a recombinant expression system capable of bringing about secretion of a polypeptide of interest into the periplasm of said host cell. The polypeptide of interest is extracted from the periplasm by applying a continuous osmotic shock to the host cells contained in a fermentation medium. An apparatus for osmotically shocking cells includes a first reservoir containing cells in a first solution and a second reservoir containing a second solution, the first solution having a higher osmolarity than the second solution. A method for osmotically shocking cells using the first and second solutions is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of isolating a recombinant polypeptide of interest from a cell. |
| US08211661B2 |
Method for identifying individuals having a pervasive development disorder amenable to digestive enzyme therapy
A method of utilizing the chymotrypsin level of an individual as a measure of the success of secretin, other neuropeptides, and peptides or digestive enzyme administration to such individuals, and in particular, as a prognosticative of potential secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, and digestive enzyme administration for persons having ADD, ADHD, Autism and other PDD related disorders. In one aspect, a method for determining the efficacy of secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, or digestive enzymes for the treatment of an individual diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) comprises obtaining a sample of feces from an individual, determining a quantitative level of chymotrypsin present in the sample, and correlating the quantitative level of chymotrypsin determined to be present in the sample with the PDD to determine the efficacy of treating the individual with secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, or digestive enzyme administration. In another aspect, a therapeutic method for treating an individual diagnosed with a PDD pervasive developmental disorder comprises determining the efficacy of secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, and digestive enzyme administration for the treatment of the individual based on a measure of the individual's chymotrypsin level, and administering secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, or digestive enzymes to the individual based on the determination of the measure of the individual's chymotrypsin level. |
| US08211660B2 |
In-vivo monitoring of circulating apoptotic cells
The present invention provides methods and systems for performing in vivo flow cytometry. In one embodiments, selected circulating cells of interest of a subject are labeled with fluorescent probe molecules. The labeled cells are irradiated in-vivo so as to excite the fluorescent probes, and the radiation emitted by the excited probes is detected, preferably confocally. The detected radiation is then analyzed to derive desired information, such as relative cell count, of the cells of interest. In some embodiments, the circulating cells comprise apoptotic cells whose detection can allow, e.g., non-invasive monitoring of the efficacy of a cancer treatment, such as an anti-tumor or an anti-angiogenic therapy. |
| US08211658B2 |
Complex of a chaperone with β-amyloid and methods employing this complex
A chaperone protein Q2 and β-amyloid can form a complex. This complex can be detected in a biological sample, such as, for example, tissues or fluids from a mammal. Q2 levels can also be detected in a biological sample. A method for determining the Q2 level in a biological sample and comparing that level to a normal Q2 level can be used to detect, screen, diagnose, or otherwise determine a person's susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease such as, for example, the presence or absence of Alzheimer's disease, of symptoms of this disease, of factors leading to or associated with this disease, of likelihood of developing this disease, and the like. In one embodiment, a decline in Q2 level correlates to an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. In another embodiment, a decline in Q2 level correlates to an increase in β-amyloid aggregation. The method may further include screening for an apolipoprotein E genotype, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. |
| US08211654B2 |
High-throughput assay for sugar-mediated drug transport
The invention provides a rapid, quantitative assay to directly assess the impact of a diverse range of sugars upon the sugar-mediated uptake of corresponding sugar-conjugates into various cell types. |
| US08211652B2 |
FSTL-1 as a biomaker of inflammation
The invention provides methods and kits for diagnosing severity of particular types of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatic diseases, by assessing protein levels of follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1). The level of FSTL-1 protein present in the serum or synovial fluid of individuals suspected of having certain inflammatory disease (e.g, rheumatoid arthritis) is positively correlated with the severity of the disease. |
| US08211650B2 |
Assay and kit for predicting implantation success in assisted fertilisation
The present invention relates to an assay for determining the implantation potential of a plurality of embryos each obtained or to be obtained by assisted fertilization of an oocyte of a female subject, comprising measuring the levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the follicular fluid (FF) present in the follicle from which each oocyte is derived, and determining the implantation potential of each embryo from the level of measured FF G-CSF. It also relates to a kit for carrying out the assay. It further relates to a method for assisted fertilization. |
| US08211649B2 |
Methods of diagnosing and prognosing hodgkin's lymphoma
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides, including soluble forms of the extracellular domain. Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV polypeptides are also provided as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to antibodies or portions thereof that specifically bind Neutrokine-alpha and/or Neutrokine-alphaSV and diagnostic and therapeutic methods using these antibodies. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting immune system-related disorders and therapeutic methods for treating immune system-related disorders using the compositions of the invention. |
| US08211648B2 |
Secretion of antibodies without signal peptides from bacteria
The present invention is directed generally to compositions and methods for obtaining secretion of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments from prokaryotes without the need for a signal peptide through making use of mutant host strains with altered secretory properties. In particular, the invention provides host cells and methods for obtaining secretion of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments from bacteria without the need for a signal peptide and provides diverse libraries of antibody sequence resulting from such methods. The invention additionally provides diverse libraries. |
| US08211647B2 |
Probe, probe set, probe-immobilized carrier, and genetic testing method
A nucleic acid probe for classification of pathogenic bacterial species is capable of collectively detecting bacterial strains of the same species and differentially detecting them from other bacterial species. Any one of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 84 to 86 and complementary or modified sequences thereof or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium. |
| US08211646B1 |
Methods of treating ovarian cancer by modulating SnoN
Genomic analysis of ovarian cancers demonstrated a regional chromosomal increase in expression and gene duplication. TGF-β stimulation indicated a link between SnoN RNA and TGF-β. In TIOSE, SnoN protein levels were reduced 15 min post TGF-β-stimulation, likely by proteosome-mediated degradation. SnoN inhibition decreased cell growth between 20 and 50% concurrent with increased p21 levels. Stable expression of SnoN led to growth arrest through induction of senescence. Collectively, these results implicate SnoN levels in multiple roles during ovarian carcinogenesis: promoting cellular proliferation in ovarian cancer cells and as a positive mediator of cell cycle arrest and senescence in non-transformed ovarian epithelial cells. |
| US08211645B2 |
Recurrent gene fusions in prostate cancer
Recurrent gene fusions of androgen regulated genes and ETS family member genes in prostate cancer are described. Compositions and methods having utility in prostate cancer diagnosis, research, and therapy are also provided. |
| US08211643B2 |
Prognostic and predictive gene signature for non-small cell lung cancer and adjuvant chemotherapy
The application provides methods of prognosing and classifying lung cancer patients into poor survival groups or good survival groups and for determining the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy by way of a multigene signature. The application also includes kits and computer products for use in the methods of the application. |
| US08211638B2 |
Genetic polymorphisms associated with liver fibrosis, methods of detection and uses thereof
The present invention is based on the discovery of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with liver fibrosis and related pathologies. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the polymorphisms, including groups of nucleic acid molecules that may be used as a signature marker set, variant proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, reagents for detecting the polymorphic nucleic acid molecules and proteins, and methods of using the nucleic acid and proteins as well as methods of using reagents for their detection. |
| US08211636B2 |
Mass spectrometric methods for biomolecular screening
The present invention provides methods for the determination of the structure of biomolecular targets, as well as the site and nature of the interaction between ligands and biomolecular targets. The present invention also provides methods for the determination of the relative affinity of a ligand for the biomolecular target it interacts with. Also provided are methods for screening ligand or combinatorial libraries of compounds against one or more than one biological target molecules. The methods of the invention also allow determination of the relative binding affinity of combinatorial and other compounds for a biomolecular target. The present invention further provides methods for the use of mass modifying tags for screening multiple biomolecular targets. In a preferred embodiment, ligands which have great specificity and affinity for molecular interaction sites on biomolecules, especially RNA can be identified. In preferred embodiments, such identification can be made simultaneously with libraries of ligands. |
| US08211634B2 |
Compositions, kits, and methods for identification, assessment, prevention, and therapy of cancer
The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, characterizing, preventing, and treating human cancer. A variety of chromosomal regions (MCRs) and markers corresponding thereto, are provided, wherein alterations in the copy number of one or more of the MCRs and/or alterations in the amount, structure, and/or activity of one or more of the markers is correlated with the presence of cancer. |
| US08211632B2 |
Embossed cell analyte sensor and methods of manufacture
An analyte measurement system is provided having sensors with embossed test chamber channels. In one embodiment, the sensors are elongate test strips for in vitro testing, each test strip having a substrate, at least one electrode, an embossed channel in the electrode, and lidding tape covering at least a portion of the embossed channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed for filling the sensor channels with reagent, and for trimming the ends of the sensors to eliminate the need for a calibration code during use of the sensors with a meter. |
| US08211630B2 |
Diagnostic agent and therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer
The present invention provides a novel diagnostic or therapeutic method for pancreatic cancer employing a blood marker. The present invention provides a diagnostic or therapeutic drug for pancreatic cancer containing an anti-AMIGO2 antibody. |
| US08211625B2 |
Method of forming a locally periodic 3D structure with larger-scale variation in periodic properties and applications thereof
An optical structure is provided. The optical structure includes a substrate structure. A photosensitive material layer is positioned on said substrate structure. The photosensitive material layer having uniform periodic geometry and a period length throughout associated with a 2D periodic pattern. The 2D periodic pattern includes a period length greater than the exposing light wavelength and spatial variation in the duty cycle of the features of a mask layer used in the formation of said 2D periodic pattern. |
| US08211623B2 |
Ink composition, inkjet recording method, printed material, method for producing planographic printing plate, and planographic printing plate
The invention provides an ink composition having at least (A) a polymerization initiator, (B) an ester or amide of (meth)acrylic acid having a 1,3-dioxolane ring skeleton or a 1,3-dioxane ring skeleton or (B′) an ester or amide of (meth)acrylic acid having a 1,3-diketone structure, and (C) a colorant. The invention further provides an inkjet recording method and a method for producing a planographic printing plate, each of which includes at least (I) ejecting the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support and (II) curing the ink composition by irradiating the ejected ink composition with active radiation so as to form a hydrophobic image region on the hydrophilic support. The invention furthermore provides a planographic printing plate formed by the method for producing a planographic printing plate. |
| US08211616B2 |
Positive resist composition and method of forming resist pattern
A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) having a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) (R represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C5 alkyl group or a C1-C5 halogenated alkyl group; R1 represents a C3 or more branched alkyl group; and each of R2 and R3 independently represents an alkyl group, wherein R2 and R3 may be mutually bonded to form a polycyclic group) and/or general formula (a0-2) (R is the same as defined above; R8 represents a divalent linking group that contains no halogen atom; and R7 represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group), and an acid generator (B1) consisting of a compound represented by general formula (b1) (Y1 represents a C1-C4 fluorinated alkylene group which may have a substituent; X represents a C3-C30 aliphatic cyclic group which may have a substituent; and A+ represents an organic cation). |
| US08211613B2 |
Photoradical polymerization initiator, radical generator, photosensitive compound and photosensitive resin composition containing these materials and product or its accessory portions using the composition
The present invention provides a radical generator having a naphthalimide structure or a crosslinking agent and a photosensitive compound having a function as a radical generator. A photoradical polymerization initiator of the present invention comprises a compound (a) having only one naphthalimide structure-containing group in one molecule. The radial generator of the present invention comprises a compound (c) having two or more naphthalimide structure-containing groups in one molecule and also functions as a crosslinking agent. A first photosensitive compound of the present invention comprises a compound (d) having a naphthalimide structure-containing group and an ethylenic unsaturated group in one molecule. A second photosensitive compound of the present invention comprises a polymer (e) of one or more radical polymerizable compounds containing the compound (d). A photosensitive resin composition according to the present invention contains, as an essential component, the above compound (a), compound (c), compound (d) or polymer (e). |
| US08211612B2 |
Fluorine-containing polymer coating composition, method for forming fluorine-containing polymer film using coating composition, and method for forming photoresist or lithographic pattern
A method for forming a protective film of a fluorine-containing polymer composition excellent in smoothness and adhesiveness on a photoresist. Moreover, there is provided a means for removing the protective film without impairing the underlying photoresist. A polymer coating composition obtainable by dissolving a fluorine-containing polymer compound in a solvent comprising a fluorinated acetal having a specific structure is applied on a photoresist and dried to form a protective film. A fluorinated acetal having the specific structure is suitable as a solvent for being brought into contact with a fluorine-containing polymer film, peeling the film, and forming a photoresist or a lithographic pattern. |
| US08211610B2 |
Carrier for use in developer developing electrostatic image, developer using the carrier, and image forming method and apparatus and process cartridge using the developer
The carrier includes a particulate core material having magnetism; and a resin layer located on the surface of the particulate core material. The resin layer is prepared by forming a layer including a copolymer, which includes a unit (A) having a specific acrylic siloxane structure, a unit (B) having a specific acrylic silicone structure having a crosslinking ability, and a unit (C) having a specific acrylic structure in a specific ratio, on the particulate core material, and then subjecting the layer to a heat treatment to crosslink the layer. |
| US08211605B2 |
Toner, developer, toner container, process cartridge, image forming method, and image forming apparatus
There is provided a toner which contains at least a binder resin, and filler including a layered inorganic compound, wherein the layered inorganic compound is cleaved to form particles in the toner, and the particles have a breadth of 0.5 nm to 4 nm, and a length of 10 nm to 90 nm. |
| US08211601B2 |
Coating for optically suitable and conductive anti-curl back coating layer
The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrostatographic, including digital, apparatuses. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved electrostatographic imaging member incorporating a thermoplastic material pre-compounded to impart conductivity to the anti-curl back coating layer and may also contain an adhesion promoter which provides a conductively and optically anti-curl back coating layer. The conductive anti-curl back coating of the present disclosure may be formulated to have a single layer, dual layers, or triple layers. |
| US08211599B2 |
Green pigment for color filter, green pigment dispersion, photosensitive color composition, color filter, and liquid crystal panel
A green pigment for a color filter including a phthalocyanine green pigment and capable of expressing a region of xy-chromaticity coordinate enclosed by predetermined equations 1, 2 and 3 defined by the XYZ color system of the CIE when the green pigment is solely subjected to colorimetry. Moreover, using the above-mentioned green pigment, it provides a photosensitive color composition capable of forming a color filter having a wide color reproduction range and a high transmittance. Furthermore, it provides a color filter having a wide color reproduction range and a high transmittance with a green pixel formed using the above mentioned photosensitive color composition, and a liquid crystal panel using the color filter. |
| US08211598B2 |
Black photosensitive resin composition, and color filter and method of producing the same
A black photosensitive resin composition, a light-shielding color filter using the composition and its production method are provided, the black photosensitive resin composition including: a black colorant; a compound represented by Formula (I) or (II) as defined in the specification; and a photopolymerization initiator. |
| US08211590B2 |
Proton conducting material, and electrode and fuel cell using the same
To provide a proton conducting material with which an electrode and a fuel cell capable of functioning in a stable manner even without humidification in a temperature range from room temperature to about 200° C. can be achieved. The proton conducting material includes a porous structural material having pores and a heterocyclic organic compound having proton conductivity. The organic compound contained inside the pores has a crystallite size D of 50 nm or less. |
| US08211588B2 |
Sulfonated poly(arylene sulfone), crosslinked material thereof, clay nanocomposite including the same, and fuel cell including the same
A sulfonated poly(arylene sulfone) contains an unsaturated bond. A cross-linked material may be formed from the sulfonated poly(arylene sulfone), and a clay nanocomposite may include the sulfonated poly(arylene sulfone) or the cross-linked material. A fuel cell includes the clay nanocomposite. |
| US08211586B2 |
Combustible gas detector, process for producing combustible gas detector, and fuel cell system equipped with combustible gas detector
A combustible gas detector, which has low power consumption, low-noise and high-speed response and which enable miniaturization, a process for producing the combustible gas detector, and a fuel cell system equipped with a combustible gas detector are provided. The combustible gas detector for detecting a combustible gas includes a catalyst for reaction with the combustible gas, a first displacement unit including a flexible member, which is displaced with catalytic combustion by the reaction of the catalyst with the combustible gas, and electrical contacts, which are switched by the displacement of the flexible member in the first displacement unit. |
| US08211584B2 |
Metal separator for fuel cell and fuel cell stack having the same
The present invention discloses a metal separator for a fuel cell including a reaction gas channel formed to protrude from a first face of the metal separator to a second face thereof, a coolant channel formed between the reaction gas channels protruding from the second face of the metal separator, a reaction gas manifold opened to introduce a reaction gas into the metal separator, a coolant manifold opened to introduce a coolant into the metal separator, and a stepped portion positioned at any one of the space between the reaction gas channel and the reaction gas manifold, and the reaction gas channel. This configuration serves to widen the reaction gas flowing portion and the coolant flowing portion on the metal separator, and prevent deformation of the reaction gas flowing portion and the coolant flowing portion, thereby improving efficiency of the fuel cell. |
| US08211582B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell body that includes a middle plate and an electricity generating unit that generates electricity by a reaction of air and fuel. The middle plate includes a plurality of unit sections, a supply passage formed inside the middle plate, a supply opening for supplying the fuel to the supply passage, a plurality of inlet openings formed on the unit sections, a discharge passage formed inside the middle plate, a plurality of outlet openings formed on the unit sections, and a discharge opening for discharging the fuel from the discharge passage. The fuel is supplied to the unit sections through the inlet openings, and the fuel discharged from the unit sections being discharged to the discharge passage through the outlet openings. In one embodiment, an opening area of an inlet opening become smaller as the inlet opening is located farther from the supply opening. In another embodiment, a vertical cross-sectional area of the supply passage becomes smaller as the location of the vertical cross-section becomes farther from the supply opening. |
| US08211578B2 |
Magnesium cell with improved electrolyte
An improved electrolyte for a cell having an anode comprising magnesium or magnesium alloy. The cell's cathode may desirably include iron disulfide (FeS2) as cathode active material. The improved electrolyte comprises a magnesium salt, preferably magnesium perchlorate dissolved in an organic solvent which preferably includes acetonitrile or mixture of tetrahydrofuran and propylene carbonate. The electrolyte includes an additive to retard the buildup of deleterious passivation coating on the magnesium anode surface, thereby enhancing cell performance. Such additive may preferably include 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), or aluminum chloride (AlCl3). |
| US08211577B2 |
Nonaqueous solvent and nonaqueous electrolytic solution for electricity storage device and nonaqueous electricity storage device, lithium secondary battery and electric double layer capacitor using the same
A nonaqueous solvent for an electricity storage device according to the present invention comprises fluorine-containing cyclic saturated hydrocarbon having a structure which is represented by general formula (1) below and in which one or two substituents R are introduced into a cyclohexane ring (in general formula (1), R is represented by CnX2n+1, n is an integer of 1 or greater, at least one of (2n+1) pieces of X's is F, and the other X's are F or H). |
| US08211575B2 |
Batteries containing bismuth glass compositions
Disclosed are glass compositions, glass fiber compositions, glass fiber battery separators, glass fiber filter media, battery additives and active materials formed with glass compositions disclosed, glass fiber radiation shields, and glass fiber paper compositions. Certain embodiments include, among other components, bismuth oxide. Certain embodiments include about 0.5-30% bismuth oxide of the composition by weight and silica oxide at about 54-70% of the composition by weight. Embodiments may also include other components. For example, zinc oxide can make up about 0.01-3% of the composition by weight. |
| US08211561B2 |
Winding type battery and method for manufacturing the winding type battery
Disclosed is a winding type battery comprising a center pin, and a wound power generation element formed by interposing a first separator in one interspace between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, interposing a second separator in another interspace between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, fixing the first and second separators to the center pin and then winding in one direction. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a winding type battery. A winding type battery belongs to batteries demand of which is increasing recently. A center pin of an inventive winding type battery is provided with an inside clamp portion and an outside clamp portion, portions to be clamped of first and second separators are clamped between the inside and outside clamp portions while being extended in the forward winding direction, and then the first separator is touched along the outside clamp portion. |
| US08211560B2 |
Battery pack and hand-held power tool
The invention relates to a battery pack, especially for a hand-held power tool. Said battery pack comprises a battery housing (10) and an electronic unit (16) housed in said battery housing (10). The electronic unit (16) has one or more light sources (18). A first light-guiding element (28) can be inserted into the battery housing (10) and interacts with the at least one light source (18) in such a manner that the light emitted by the at least one light source (18) can be injected into the first light-guiding element (28). |
| US08211554B2 |
Workpiece with hard coating
A workpiece has a body (3) and a wear-resistant hard coating system (HLo), which system comprises a layer of the following composition: (Al1-a-b-cCraBbZc)X where X is at least one of: N, C, CN, NO, CO, CNO; Z is at least one of: W, Mo, Ta, Cb (Nb). For a, b and c specific ranges of values are valid. |
| US08211547B2 |
Low-viscosity ultraviolet-curable silicone composition for release paper
An ultraviolet-curable silicone composition for a release paper including (A) 100 parts by mass of a specific organopolysiloxane having a polymerization degree of 8 to 20 and containing one epoxy group, and (C) an effective quantity of an onium salt photoinitiator. In a preferred embodiment, the composition further includes (B) 10 to 1,000 parts by mass of at least one specific organopolysiloxane containing a plurality of epoxy groups. In another preferred embodiment, the composition has a viscosity of not more than 100 mPa·s. The composition has a peel strength that exhibits a positive dependency on the peel speed when peeled from a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive, and can therefore be used to produce a release paper capable of reducing peeling noise. Further, because the composition has a low viscosity, it exhibits excellent wetting of substrates having significant unevenness, even in a solventless form. |
| US08211535B2 |
Nano-fibrils in a fuser member
The present teachings provide a fuser member comprising a substrate and a release layer. The release layer is disposed on the substrate and includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes have a hydroxyphenylmaleimide group covalently bonded to an outer surface of the plurality of carbon nanotubes and a fluoroelastomer shell layer covalently bonded to the hydroxyphenylmaleimide. The plurality of carbon nanotubes are in dispersed one or more fluoro-materials. There is also described the carbon nanotubes and a method of making the carbon nanotubes. |