Document Document Title
US08339623B2 Paper document processing apparatus, paper document processing method, and computer readable medium
A paper document processing apparatus includes: a document image acceptance unit that accepts an image acquired; a document image recording unit that records a document image in a storage; an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information based on the document image; an acquisition result evaluation unit that evaluates whether an acquisition result of the acquired attribute information is affirmative or negative; a medium output unit that outputs information indicating a scan status of the paper document that is formed on a medium while specifying the document image for which the acquisition result of attribute information is evaluated negative; a medium acceptance unit that accepts the information formed on the medium; and an attribute information reacquisition unit that reacquires the attribute information of the document image by specifying the document image in accordance with the accepted information.
US08339620B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product configured for output through plural output units at corresponding output timing
An image processing apparatus subjects input image information to a predetermined image processing and outputs the image information. The image processing apparatus includes an UI processor that receives a plurality operation requests for the image information; and a request processor that interprets a combination of an input mode, of a plurality of input modes, which performs input processing, and an output mode, of a plurality of output modes, which performs output processing, and that requests the input processing from the input mode and requests the output processing from the output mode.
US08339616B2 Method and apparatus for high-speed unconstrained three-dimensional digitalization
A method and a system for optical three-dimensional (3-D) digitalization of physical objects, suitable for moving scenes, unattached to locating devices, utilizing structured light in the form of a plurality of overlapped patterns free of any intensity features, capable of obtaining frames of 3-D coordinates and textural color at video frame rates.
US08339603B1 Mapping ellipsometers and polarimeters comprising polarization state compensating beam directing means, and method of use
Mapping ellipsometer and polarimeter systems which comprise polarization state change compensating beam directing means.
US08339601B2 Counting bacteria and determining their susceptibility to antibiotics
A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.
US08339598B2 Compact, low cost raman monitor for single substances
Apparatus for performing Raman analysis may include a laser source module, a beam delivery and signal collection module, a spectrum analysis module, and a digital signal processing module. The laser source module delivers a laser beam to the beam delivery and signal collection module. The beam delivery and signal collection module delivers the laser source beam to a sample, collects Raman scattered light scattered from the sample, and delivers the collected Raman scattered light to the spectrum analysis module. The spectrum analysis module demultiplexes the Raman scattered light into discrete Raman bands of interest, detects the presence of signal energy in each of the Raman bands, and produces a digital signal that is representative of the signal energy present in each of the Raman bands. The digital signal processing module is adapted to perform a Raman analysis of the sample.
US08339597B2 Chemical/biological sensor employing scattered chromatic components in nano-patterned aperiodic surfaces
A label-free multiplexed sensing platform is based on light interaction with aperiodic photonic structures with an advantage of a broadband operation. Multiple-scattering-induced “fingerprinting” colorimetric signatures can be used as a transduction mechanism. Aperiodic sensing platforms can operate in the infrared to provide an overlap with spectral fingerprints of biological molecules. Miniaturized optical biosensors may be based on engineered colorimetric scattering signatures (structural color), sharp spectral features, non-uniform angular distributions of scattered light, and broadband manipulation of the local density of states in nano-textured scattering surfaces with deterministic aperiodic order. The biosensors can be fabricated in semiconductor, metal, low- and high-index dielectric platforms using standard nanofabrication techniques such as electron-beam lithography, ion-beam milling, etc, and can be replicated over large areas by standard nano-imprint lithography.
US08339592B2 Apparatus for photo reduction of contaminants in blood and blood products with calibration means
An apparatus for irradiating blood or blood products, preferably with ultra violet or visible light, to reduce contaminants in the blood or blood products. A removable radiometer having light integrating chambers detects the light intensity, allowing the radiation characteristics of the apparatus to be calibrated. A control circuit uses the measurements to control the delivery of an effective dose of illumination to blood or blood products in a bag or container. One or more light integrating optical chambers in the radiometer allow a single light sensor to sense light across an entire field. Thermistors in the irradiating apparatus or the radiometer or both sense the temperature of photo sensors. The control circuit compensates for temperature-dependant variations in the output of the photo sensors.
US08339589B2 Check and U.S. bank note processing device and method
A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes.
US08339587B2 Method for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker
Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether or not eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an egg removal apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrier as an egg picker moves to pick up an egg. The length of time that the light path is blocked when the egg picker is moved is measured and used to determine whether or not the egg has been removed from the carrier. Another apparatus and method is provided for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker. A detection device detects a number of eggs in the egg carrier. A control device monitors the egg picker and the detection device. The control device calculates the number of eggs in the egg carrier for determining when the number of eggs varies a predetermined amount from an egg count number for the egg carrier.
US08339585B2 Transducer module
Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity.
US08339584B2 Velocity measuring system
A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow.A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum.
US08339583B2 Visual detection of clear air turbulence
Presented is a system and method for detecting clear air turbulence comprising an image capturing element, a lens having focal length adapted to focus a scene onto the image capturing element such that the combination of the lens and array of pixels are capable of optically resolving any visual distortions of features in the scene that are caused by turbulent air, and a processor. The processor compares the image with a subsequent image, or a stored image of the scene, to detect a change in refraction of light received from the feature in the scene that is due to turbulence and produces an indication of the area of turbulence in the scene.
US08339582B2 Apparatus and method to correct image
An apparatus and method of correcting an image are provided. The apparatus includes a receiver to receive a depth value and a luminous intensity, the depth value and the luminous intensity being measured by at least one depth sensor, and a correction unit to read a correction depth value of a plurality of correction depth values mapped to different depth values and different luminous intensities from a first storage unit and to correct the measured depth value using the read correction depth value, the correction depth value being mapped to the measured depth value and the measured luminous intensity.
US08339581B2 Systems and methods for quantum receivers for target detection using a quantum optical radar
A quantum-illumination receiver is described comprising a phase-conjugation and mixing system for mixing and/or conjugating the idler beam from an entangled light transmitter and the return beam from the target to produce an output beam that is representative of the presence or absence of the target, a light beam collector for receiving a return light beam from the target region and directing the return light beam from a target region to the phase-conjugation and mixing system input, an optical input for receiving an idler light beam from a transmitter and directing the idler light beam from the transmitter to the phase-conjugation and mixing system, a sensor for measuring the output of the phase-conjugation and mixing system, and a processor to process the output of the sensor to make an determination about the presence of the target.
US08339580B2 Sensor-guided threat countermeasure system
A countermeasure system for use by a target to protect against an incoming sensor-guided threat. The system includes a laser system for producing a broadband beam and means for directing the broadband beam from the target to the threat. The countermeasure system comprises the steps of producing a broadband beam and directing the broad band beam from the target to blind or confuse the incoming sensor-guided threat.
US08339578B2 Optical system, exposure system, and exposure method
An optical system is able to achieve a substantially azimuthal polarization state in a lens aperture while suppressing loss of light quantity, based on a simple configuration. The optical system of the present invention is provided with a birefringent element for achieving a substantially circumferential distribution or a substantially radial distribution as a fast axis distribution in a lens aperture, and an optical rotator located behind the birefringent element and adapted to rotate a polarization state in the lens aperture. The birefringent element has an optically transparent member which is made of a uniaxial crystal material and a crystallographic axis of which is arranged substantially in parallel with an optical axis of the optical system. A light beam of substantially spherical waves in a substantially circular polarization state is incident to the optically transparent member.
US08339576B2 Projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A projection lens of a projection exposure apparatus, for imaging a mask which can be positioned in an object plane onto a light-sensitive layer which can be positioned in an image plane, includes a housing, in which at least one optical element is arranged, at least one partial housing which is arranged within said housing and which at least regionally surrounds light passing from the object plane as far as the image plane during the operation of the projection lens, and a reflective structure, which reduces a light proportion which reaches the image plane after reflection at the at least one partial housing, by comparison with an analogous arrangement without said reflective structure.
US08339575B2 Off-axis objectives with rotatable optical element
An objective and a method for operating an objective, in particular a projection objective or an illumination objective for microlithography for imaging a reticle onto a wafer, with a plurality of optical elements that are arranged along a ray path, wherein at least one optical element of a first kind (1) is provided, which is irradiated only partially by a ray bundle, wherein the one or more optical element(s) of the first kind are rotatably mounted or positionable about the optical axis or an axis parallel thereto, wherein, for each optical element of the first kind at least two mounting positions are provided, and wherein the rotation angle between the two mounting positions is defined by the surface (7) irradiated by the ray bundle such that, in the various mounting positions, the surfaces irradiated by the ray path do not overlap.
US08339570B2 Mark position detection device and mark position detection method, exposure apparatus using same, and device manufacturing method
The mark position detection device of the present invention, which detects a position of a mark provided on a substrate, includes an image sensor with changeable resolution and readout area, an optical system that directs light reflected from the mark to the image sensor, and a control unit configured to detect the position of the mark based on an output of the image sensor. The control unit performs a first position detection based on the output of the image sensor with a first resolution and a first readout area, and a second position detection based on the output of the image sensor with a second resolution, which has higher resolution than the first resolution, and a second readout area, which is determined to be narrower than the first readout area and lies within the first readout area based on the first position detection.
US08339566B2 Low-twist chiral liquid crystal polarization gratings and related fabrication methods
A polarization grating includes a substrate and a first polarization grating layer on the substrate. The first polarization grating layer includes a molecular structure that is twisted according to a first twist sense over a first thickness defined between opposing faces of the first polarization grating layer. Some embodiments may include a second polarization grating layer on the first polarization grating layer. The second polarization grating layer includes a molecular structure that is twisted according to a second twist sense that is opposite the first twist sense over a second thickness defined between opposing faces of the second polarization grating layer. Also, a switchable polarization grating includes a liquid crystal layer between first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having respective relative orientations that are rotated over a thickness defined between opposing faces thereof by a twist angle that is different from a relative phase angle between respective first and second periodic alignment conditions of the first and second substrates. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08339561B2 Wiring substrate, tape package having the same, and display device having the same
A wiring substrate includes a base film, a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings. The base film has a chip-mounting region configured for mounting a semiconductor chip thereon. The first wirings extend in a first direction from inside the chip-mounting region to outside the chip-mounting region, and include first connection end portions extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The first connection end portions may be formed inside the chip-mounting region and configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor chip. The second wirings extend in the first direction from inside the chip-mounting region to outside the chip-mounting region, and include second connection end portions extending in the opposite direction to the second direction in which the first connection end portions extend, and the second connection end portions may be formed inside the chip-mounting region and configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor chip.
US08339554B2 Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a pixel electrode disposed over the substrate; and a common electrode overlapping the pixel electrode, and the common electrode having curved portions between slits in the common electrode.
US08339544B2 Display panel, thin film transistor array panel, and method for repairing display panel
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a display panel having a plurality of pixels, the display panel including a first substrate, and a color filter including a plurality of first color filters disposed on the first substrate and a second color filter having a black color and disposed in the same layer as the first color filters.
US08339535B2 Display, front cover thereof, mold of front cover, and manufacturing method for front cover
The present invention provides a display improved in an exterior appearance by a front cover, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the front cover covers a display panel and includes a translucent layer which transmits colored light, and a transparent layer to receive and transmit the colored light, wherein the translucent layer and the transparent layer are integrally formed. The front cover may be capable of implementing a natural tone variation thereon.
US08339534B2 Display device
A display device includes gate lines; data lines; charge control lines each including a charge control voltage input pad; first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) each including control and input electrodes connected to the gate and data lines, respectively; a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the first TFT; a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the second TFT; a charge control TFT including a control electrode and an input electrode connected to one of the charge control lines and the second pixel electrode, respectively; and a charge-down capacitor connected to an output electrode of the charge control TFT. A duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the charge control TFT is different from a duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the first TFT transistor or the second TFT.
US08339533B2 Vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A vertical alignment liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first insulation substrate, as well as a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode disposed in a same layer with the first pixel electrode on the first insulation substrate. The second substrate includes a second insulation substrate, a first patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the first pixel electrode, and a second patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the second pixel electrode.
US08339532B2 Liquid crystal display device
An active matrix liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer; two substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer; and electrodes respectively provided in the two substrates, the electrodes applying voltage across the liquid crystal layer. A first electrode (15) in the substrate including a pixel selecting element (11) has a striped electrode pattern (15c) aligning liquid crystal molecules along a stripe line direction when voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer. A contact (25h) of the first electrode (15) with the selecting element (11) is formed in a region opposed to, along a film thickness direction, a first region to which a signal liner (GLi) is allocated. This provides a liquid crystal display device in which a contact is made with the pixel electrode having the striped electrode pattern having the periodical arrangement, while alignment disorder of the liquid crystal molecules is not reflected on display.
US08339531B2 Display device
A display device in which a pixel voltage is held at low power consumption without any influence from fluctuation in threshold voltage is provided. A liquid crystal capacitor element (Clc) is formed between a pixel electrode (20) and a counter electrode (80). A counter voltage (Vcom) is applied to the counter electrode (80). The pixel electrode (20), one ends of a first switch circuit (22) and a second switch circuit (23), and a first terminal of a second transistor (T2) form an internal node (N1). The other end of the first switch circuit (22) is connected to a source line (SL). The second switch circuit (23) has the other end connected to a voltage supply line (VSL) and is a series circuit of transistors (T1 and T2). A control terminal of the transistor (T1), a second terminal of the transistor (T2), and one end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst) form an output node (N2). The other end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst), the control terminal of the transistor (T2), and the control terminal of the transistor (T3) are connected to a boost line (BST), a reference line (REF), and a selecting line (SEL), respectively.
US08339530B2 Display device, electronic device and method of driving display device
The present invention provides a display device which can display characters clearly and display images smoothly. An area gray scale method is adopted and a configuration of one pixel is changed depending on a mode, by selecting one or more display regions in each pixel. When characters are needed to be displayed clearly, one pixel is configured by selecting a stripe arrangement. Thus, clear display can be conducted. When images are needed to be displayed, one pixel is configured by selecting an indented state. Thus, smooth display can be conducted.
US08339528B2 Erasing device and method of display medium, and erasing signal setting method
To provide an erasing device whose power consumption required for erasing operations is suppressed, which does not spoil the portability of an optical writing type display medium. In a first display function layer, voltages applied to two cholesteric liquid crystal layers when an erasing voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes are defined as V1, V2, respectively, and threshold voltages with which the cholesteric liquid crystal layers change to the homeotropic alignment are defined as Vth1, Vth2, respectively. In that case, in a state the voltages V1 and V2 are determined according to only each resistance of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers and resistance of a photoconductive layer, i.e., a sufficient time has passed from a point at which the erasing voltage is applied, V1≧Vth1 and V2≧Vth2 apply.
US08339527B2 Thin touch panel
A thin touch panel includes a transparent substrate with a black bordering around the inner surface of the transparent substrate. A plurality of metal connecting structures, metal guiding lines, transparent insulating structures and a transparent sensing layer are formed on the inner surface, so that the transparent substrate not only provides a touch surface, but also has the touch sensing ability, to decrease the manufacture material and increase the transmittance of the touch panel. Besides, the manufacture of the thin touch panel may not use any optical adhesive to decrease the manufacture cost and improve the yield. Further, the thin touch panel may satisfy the trend of thin design.
US08339524B2 Projection system and expansion module
A projection system and an expansion module adapted to a projector are provided. The projection system includes a projector and an expansion module. The expansion module includes a housing, a logic circuit, and an output port. The logic circuit is disposed in the housing to control an operation of the expansion module. The output port is disposed in the housing and coupled to the logic circuit. The output port is connected to an input port of the projector and outputs a data stream to the input port, such that the projector generates an image and projects the image according to the data stream.
US08339521B2 Electronic apparatus and method for assisting in remote control
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a display controller, a communication module and a determination module. The display controller is configured to display an operation screen, which is used for operating another electronic apparatus, on a display. The communication module is configured to transmit an operation signal, which indicates an operation in accordance with the operation screen, to the another electronic apparatus. The determination module is configured to determine that a function of the another electronic apparatus is activated in response to transmission of the operation signal. The display controller includes an object generation module configured to generate an object representing an operation button for activating a function of the another electronic apparatus with one operation and to arrange the generated object on the operation screen, when the determination module determines that the function is activated through a plurality of operations.
US08339520B2 Digital broadcast receiver and method for receiving digital broadcast
The digital broadcast receiver 10 includes the first tuner 106 and the second tuner 107. The first tuner 106 receives a certain channel, whereas the second tuner 107 performs channel detection at a predetermined cycle. If the reception level of the certain channel currently received by the first tuner 106 becomes lower than a threshold, the digital broadcast receiver 10 switches the channel received by the first tuner 106 to a channel whose reception level is equal to or higher than the threshold among channels detected by the second tuner 107.
US08339516B2 Noise reduction method and unit for an image frame
A method and unit for noise reduction in a current image frame, wherein the current image frame is a part of a sequence of image frames. The method compares a current pixel value of a pixel within the current image frame with a corresponding pixel value of the pixel in at least one adjacent image frame, and determines a piled-up value of the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value if a pixel difference between the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value is below a pixel threshold, wherein the pixel threshold depends on the corresponding pixel value and/or the current pixel value. The method and unit can be applied for block and color processing as well.
US08339515B2 Image signal generating apparatus, image signal generating method, and image signal generating program
Disclosed is an image signal generating apparatus that includes a video information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of video information, a characteristic information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of predetermined characteristic information from each of the plurality of video information obtained by the video information obtaining unit, and a sorting unit that changes an order of displaying the plurality of the video information based on each of the plurality of characteristic information obtained from the characteristic information obtaining unit. The image signal generating apparatus further includes a display image signal generating unit that generates a video signal to display the plurality of video information based on information obtained, as a result of changing the order of displaying the plurality of the video information, from the sorting unit.
US08339514B2 Modular flexible software architecture for TV
Rather than have a unique code set per TV product, a common code base is provided to service multiple products and even multiple product lines. Embedded systems can be upgraded through a network connection. The software architecture provides a flexible approach to supporting multiple product offerings through a plug-in modular middle-ware and to providing standardized hardware acceleration for both 2D and 3D graphics. The plug-in capability provides for feature additions and upgrades after sale.
US08339510B2 Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibrating device includes a vibrator having a dust-screening member which is shaped like a plate as a whole and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a symmetry axis, and a vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member, and a hold and support member configured to hold and support the vibrator to a fixed member. The hold and support position by the hold and support member is arranged at position along a circle or ellipse concentric to the centroid of the vibrator such that peak ridges of the vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface of the dust-screening member form closed loops.
US08339508B2 Method and apparatus for low-light imaging enhancement
A device and methods are provided for low-light imaging enhancement by a digital imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an image associated with ambient lighting of a scene, detecting an image associated with artificial lighting of the scene, aligning the image associated with ambient lighting relative to the image associated with artificial lighting based on a motion parameter of ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, and calculating data for a combined image based on aligned ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, wherein image data for the combined image is selected to maximize an objective quality criterion of the combined image. The method may further include determining an image parameter based on ambient lighting image data, blending image data associated with the artificial lighting and the combined image based on the image parameter to generate a tone rendered image.
US08339507B2 Flash device and image capture device having same
A flash device includes a stationary frame, a light emitting portion, a driving unit and a resilient plate. The light emitting portion is moveably received in the stationary frame and is spaced from the stationary frame. The driving unit includes a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly is positioned on the stationary frame. The second magnetic assembly is positioned on the light emitting portion and faces the first magnetic assembly. The driving unit is configured for driving the light emitting portion to move relative to the stationary frame through magnetical interaction between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly. The resilient plate interconnects the stationary frame and the light emitting portion. The resilient plate is configured for moving the light emitting portion relative to the stationary frame.
US08339505B2 Electronic camera
An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device has an imaging surface irradiated with an optical image of an object scene that undergoes a focus lens, and outputs an object scene image produced on the imaging surface. A CPU predicts a focus direction based on a focus position registered in a register when a shutter button is half-depressed. The CPU also changes a position of the focus lens by referencing a prediction result of the focus direction, and based on the object scene image outputted from the imaging device in parallel with this change process, adjusts the position of the focus lens to the focus position. The CPU further registers the adjusted position of the focus lens, as the focus position, into the register.
US08339504B2 Optical element drive mechanism and image pickup apparatus having the same
An image pickup apparatus including a lens barrel with a bending optical system, in which a reflection optical element is movable between a storage state and a photographing state. When a rotary cylinder that retains a lens group to which light beams from an object are incident is being driven by a drive source to advance and retreat between a storage state and a photographing state, the coupling between a cam mechanism for rotary cylinder operation and a driving force transmission gear train for optical element operation is automatically established and released, whereby the operation for moving the reflection optical element between the storage state and the photographing state can be achieved by a single drive source.
US08339503B2 Lens barrel and imaging device
The lens barrel is a lens barrel for forming an optical image of a subject on an imaging element, comprising a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a focus lens unit, a zoom mechanism, and a focus actuator. The focus lens unit is movably supported by the second lens unit in the optical axis direction. The operating force inputted to the zoom control is mechanically transmitted to at least one of the first lens unit and the second lens unit. The focus actuator is fixed to the second lens unit and electrically drives the focus lens unit relative to the second lens unit in the optical axis direction. The second lens unit or the focus lens unit is disposed nearest to the image plane in the optical system including the first lens element, the second lens element, and the focus lens.
US08339498B2 Method and apparatus for displaying luminance, and digital photographing apparatus using the same
Provided are a method and apparatus for displaying luminance. The method includes displaying luminance information corresponding to horizontal and vertical axes of an image. Accordingly, the total luminance of the image and luminance information on positions and regions of the image can be detected intuitively.
US08339493B2 Electric camera
An electric camera includes an image sensing device with a light receiving surface having N vertically arranged pixels and an arbitrary number of pixels arranged horizontally, N being equal to or more than three times the number of effective scanning lines M of a display screen of a television system, a driver to drive the image sensing device to vertically mix or cull signal charges accumulated in individual pixels of K pixels to produce, during a vertical effective scanning period of the television system, a number of lines of output signals which corresponds to 1/K the number of vertically arranged pixels N of the image sensing device, K being an integer equal to or less than an integral part of a quotient of N divided by M, and a signal processing unit having a function of generating image signals by using the output signals of the image sensing device.
US08339492B2 Image sensor inhibiting electrical shorts in a contract plug penetrating an image sensing device and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An image sensor comprises a readout circuitry, an interlayer dielectric, an interconnection, an image sensing device, and a contact. The readout circuitry is formed at a first substrate. The interlayer dielectric is formed on the first substrate. The interconnection is formed in the interlayer dielectric. The interconnection is electrically connected to the readout circuitry. The image sensing device is formed on the interconnection. The image sensing device comprises a first conductive type layer and a second conductive type layer. The contact connects the first conductive type layer of the image sensing device and the interconnection electrically. The contact is isolated from the second conductive type layer by a trench formed in the second conductive layer around the contact.
US08339487B2 Color filter array, imaging device, and image processing unit
A color filter array includes a plurality of filters, each having one of a plurality of types of spectral sensitivity and being disposed at the location of a corresponding one of a plurality of pixels. The filters of a predetermined type selected from among the plurality of types are arranged at the locations of the pixels in a checkered pattern, and the filters of some or all of the other types are randomly arranged at the pixel locations at which the filters of the predetermined type are not present.
US08339486B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus, imaging method, and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough.
US08339484B2 Image processing method
An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components.
US08339483B2 Image processing device, solid-state imaging device, and camera module
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a shading correcting unit, a distortion correcting unit, a lens-characteristic estimating unit, and a resolution restoring unit. The shading correcting unit, the distortion correcting unit, the lens-characteristic estimating unit, the resolution restoring unit carry out signal processing for each of image data obtained by a plurality of sub-camera modules.
US08339477B2 Digital camera capable of detecting name of captured landmark and method thereof
A digital camera capable of detecting a name of a captured landmark is described. The digital camera includes an environmental condition capturer, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, and a map data table. The map data table includes a plurality of landmark names and a plurality of landmark coordinates corresponding to the landmark names. A method for detecting the name of the captured landmark using by the digital camera includes the steps of capturing an image, and obtaining a focusing distance, in which the image includes at least one of the captured landmark; capturing an environmental condition including shooting information and searching information; obtaining a search focus range according to the environmental condition and the focusing distance; and looking up the map data table according to the search focus range and the shooting information to obtain an output coordinate and the landmark name corresponding to the captured landmark.
US08339476B2 Image sensing apparatus and control method for same, and image sensing system
An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, a control unit that, during an exposure operation that generates an image in the image sensor, reads out signals of a first portion of pixels among an entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, outputs an image based on the signals of the first portion of pixels to a display unit, and, when the exposure operation is completed, reads out signals of the entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, and an image processing unit that generates an image by adding the signals of the first portion of pixels to signals of the entire frame of pixels for corresponding pixels.
US08339474B2 Gain controlled threshold in denoising filter for image signal processing
An image processing system is disclosed which uses gain information from an input image to determine a threshold value used to filter the input image. The gain information is indicative of the amount of illumination of the input image and thus the noise level. The image processing system includes an image processor, a converter and a filter. The image processor receives and processes first image information into second image information and extracts the gain information from the first image information. The converter converts the gain information into a filter threshold, which is used by the filter to filter the second image information to provide filtered image information. The converter may include a lookup table storing noise characteristic estimates or the threshold values. The threshold values may further be based on subband size. The filter may be a wavelet-based transform denoising filter.
US08339468B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and image pickup apparatus
In an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, a compression characteristic is generated based on one of multiple smoothed images to be generated based on an input image, and a compressed base component image having a smaller dynamic range than the dynamic range of a base component image is generated by using the compression characteristic. The image processing device, the image processing method, and the image pickup apparatus enable to more advantageously define a proper compression characteristic, and compress the dynamic range of the input image in a simplified manner and with high quality, as compared with the background art.
US08339464B2 Universal test system for controlling a plurality of parameters concerning the operation of a device for presenting optoelectronic information of various types
According to the invention, the test system uses a digital photography device (4) that can be remotely controlled from a computer system including a processor (20) coupled to a man/machine interface (21) and to the presentation device to be tested by a remote transmission means. A means is further provided for centering the photographic apparatus (4) opposite the presentation device (5) to be tested. The processor (20) is programmed so as to carry out a self-positioning phase of the photographic apparatus, an automatic focalization phase of the lens, and a test phase of the information presentation device.
US08339461B2 Signal converting apparatus capable of linearly or non-linearly updating reference parameters
A signal converting apparatus includes the following elements. A converting section converts an input signal into output signals on the basis of the values of reference parameters, serving as references of a plurality of parameters for signal conversion, and the values of newly proposed parameters. An evaluation input receiving section receives an evaluation input indicating the selection of either the output signal based on the values of the reference parameters or the output signal based on the values of the newly proposed parameters. A parameter updating section linearly changes the values of the newly proposed parameters when the evaluation input indicates the selection of the output signal based on the values of the newly proposed parameters, and nonlinearly changes the values of the reference and newly proposed parameters when the evaluation input indicates the selection of the output signal based on the values of the reference parameters.
US08339460B2 Video signal processing integrated circuit
A video signal processing integrated circuit comprising: a test signal generation circuit configured to generate a test signal in conformity with video additional data superimposed on a video signal; a data slicer configured to binarize the test signal through comparison with a slice level, the test signal being supplied from the test signal generation circuit; and a data processing circuit configured to perform data processing of the video additional data binarized by the data slicer.
US08339453B2 Apparatus for use in association with a vehicle
An apparatus for use in association with a vehicle having a windshield (38) includes a module (30) having an end portion which pivotally engages a bracket (40) connected with the windshield. The module (30) is pivotal relative to the bracket (40) to press a rain sensor coupler (34) connected with the module against the windshield (38) with a predetermined force. A camera assembly (72) may be disposed in the module (30). The camera assembly (72) may include an image sensor (154) and a camera lens (150). A polarizer lens (202) is disposed adjacent to the camera lens (150).
US08339448B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit operable to capture a subject to generate image data, an extracting unit operable to extract feature quantity information indicative of a feature of the subject from the image data generated by the imaging unit, a storing unit operable to store the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit as a registration candidate, a determining unit operable to determine whether a subject indicated by the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit is a same face indicated by the feature quantity information stored in the storing unit as the registration candidate, and a display unit operable to display a screen for prompting a user to perform an operation concerning registration in accordance with number of times the determining unit determines that the subject indicated by the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit is the same subject indicated by the feature quantity information stored in the storing unit as the registration candidate.
US08339446B2 Adaptive camera and illuminator eyetracker
An eye tracker includes at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye, and a controller. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. The controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active to maximize an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. A method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a number of reference illuminators, and an active camera from a plurality of cameras are provided.
US08339441B2 Frame processing device, television receiving apparatus and frame processing method
A three-dimensional video is appropriately displayed. A frame processing device includes: a frame extraction module configured to sequentially extract image frames for left eye and for right eye from a three-dimensional video signal; a frame group generation module configured to alternately generate frame groups for left eye and for right eye based on the extracted image frames for left eye and for right eye; a frame storage module configured to sequentially store the alternately generated frame groups for left eye and for right eye; a video processing module configured to sequentially extract the image frames from the frame storage module, and sequentially rewriting a display screen; and a display invalidation module configured to invalidate the display on the display screen during periods of rewriting the image frame for left eye to that for right eye and the image frame for right eye to that for left eye.
US08339440B2 Method and apparatus for controlling multipoint conference
A method and an apparatus for controlling a multipoint conference are disclosed. The method includes: determining resolution-layered coding parameters of each terminal, and sending them to their corresponding terminals; receiving the code streams sent by each terminal, selecting code streams to be displayed by each terminal among the received code streams according to the display requirements of each terminal, and transcoding or mapping the selected code streams to the code streams decodable by the terminal; and sending the code streams decodable by each terminal to their corresponding terminals. The embodiments of the present invention use an MCU to control the resolution-layered coding, and therefore, the system can include both the terminal supporting the layering protocol and the terminal supporting no layering protocol. In addition, the calculation is reduced, and the system efficiency is improved.
US08339437B2 Video communication method, video communication system and integrated media resource server
The present invention discloses a video communication method and system, wherein, during an audio conversation between a calling party and a called party, an IMRS (Integrated Media Resource Server) plays a video to the calling party or the called party; or when a calling party initiates a video phone call request to a called party which does not support video phone call, an audio channel is established between the calling party and the called party and a video channel is established between the calling party and an IMRS, and when an audio conversation is established between the calling party and the called party, the IMRS plays video to the calling party; or when an audio conversation and a video conversation are established between a calling party and a called party, one party replaces its video with that played to the other party by the IMRS, therefore capabilities of developing new communication services are improved.
US08339435B2 Image forming apparatus and optical scanning unit
An optical scanning unit may include a light source unit configured to emit a light beam, an optical housing configured to receive and support the light source unit, an optical device configured to deflect the light beam and to focus the light beam on a light receiving member, and a fixing member configured to fix the light source unit to the optical housing by applying pressure to the light source unit, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the light source unit.
US08339432B2 Conveyance mechanism, recording apparatus including the conveyance mechanism, and roll paper conveyance method using the conveyance mechanism
A conveyance mechanism is configured to convey a leading part of a roll paper pulled out of a wound part of the roll paper via a conveyance path including a curved portion bent toward an opposite direction to a winding direction of the roll paper wound in a roll shape. The conveyance mechanism includes a control unit configured to control conveyance of the roll paper in such a manner that a front end portion of the roll paper becomes greater with respect to number of times or total time in passing through the curved portion compared to a central portion of the leading part of the roll paper pulled out of the roll paper wound in the roll shape in a longitudinal direction.
US08339431B2 Thermal head and printer
Provided is a thermal head including an intermediate layer between a support substrate and an upper substrate, which is capable of suppressing heat dissipation toward the support substrate while maintaining printing quality. Employed is a thermal head (1) including: an upper substrate (5); a support substrate (3) bonded in a stacked state on one surface side of the upper substrate (5); a heating resistor (7) provided on another surface side of the upper substrate (5); and an intermediate layer (6) including a concave portion that forms a cavity portion (4) in a region corresponding to the heating resistor (7), the intermediate layer (6) being provided between the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3), in which the intermediate layer (6) is formed of a plate-shaped glass material having a lower melting point than melting points of the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3).
US08339420B2 Method and apparatus for producing size-appropriate images to be displayed by an electronic device with a small display area
The contents of a small image displayed on the back side can be made easy to understand. A layout managing portion outputs display area information indicating display areas of respective small images displayed on the small image list, and arrangement information of respective small images displayed on the small image list. An image zooming portion produces a zoom image by zooming in or out an image of a main area of an original image extracted by a main area extracting portion in response to an area of the display area being output from the layout managing portion produces the small images displayed on the small image list by expanding or contracting the produced zoom image. An image layout designing portion produces the small image list by arranging respective generated small images at predetermined locations of the small image list, based on arrangement information output from the layout managing portion.
US08339419B1 Systems and methods for collecting and providing map images
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to collecting images of maps at plurality of client devices, orienting the images with respect to the Earth, and providing the oriented maps to users. The map images may be collected by users who orient the maps by arranging the position of the image over a picture of the Earth. In another example, users may orient the maps by using “pushpins” to indicate the location of two or more points in the map image to two or more locations on the image of the Earth. The images may be processed in order to generate high quality images which may then be downloaded and used by other users.
US08339413B2 Multiplied occluding transparency graphics processing
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for rendering an artwork comprising a plurality of surfaces, wherein the plurality of surfaces comprises a plurality of semi-transparent surfaces. Each of the semi-transparent surfaces may be rendered to a first image buffer at a multi-sampled resolution. Each of the rendered semi-transparent surfaces at the multi-sampled resolution may be multiplied by one or more transparency values of one or more of the plurality of surfaces nearer than the rendered semi-transparent surface. Each of the rendered and attenuated semi-transparent surfaces may be reduced from the multi-sampled resolution to a display resolution and added at the display resolution to a second image buffer.
US08339412B2 Video processing device, recording medium, video signal processing method, video signal processing program, and integrated circuit
It is possible to realize a novel video processing device that can utilize the compatibility between the spaces of an encoded image in an xvYCC system with a wide color gamut and an encoded image in the conventional YCbCr system. The video signal processing device detects the type of the recording medium with a video medium type detection portion, obtains the color gamut of the video signal with a video color gamut obtaining portion, determines a color adjustment parameter with a color adjustment parameter determining portion, performs color adjustment on the video signal with a video color adjustment portion based on that parameter, records the color-adjusted video signal to the recording medium.
US08339410B2 Computer-aided methods and systems for pattern-based cognition from fragmented material
A method for obtaining and analyzing information objects including generating, collecting or discovering information objects. The information objects are signified at least in part using deliberately ambiguated signifier prompts, for example, linear scale opposing negatives or positives, and/or multi-dimensional signifier prompts. The information objects may comprise text or non-text fragments, and may be generated or selected. The responses to the signifier prompts are stored with the fragments to provide a dataset of signified fragments. The signified fragments may be analyzed based on the signifiers and can be utilized as part of an explorable knowledge repository, or objective measures can be created to aid in mass opinion capture or human attitude auditing. The fragments may be represented on a graphical template. In one embodiment, fragment exemplars are identified that exemplify significant locations on the template, and the exemplar signifiers are used to automatically locate other signified fragments on the template.
US08339409B2 Tile-based graphics system and method of operation of such a system
A tile-based graphics system, and method of operation of such a system, are provided for generating graphics data for a frame comprising a plurality of tiles. Graphics processing circuitry is provided which is arranged to be switched between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the graphics processing circuitry receives the plurality of graphics primitives for the frame, and performs a binning operation to determine, for each of the plurality of tiles, a tile list identifying the graphics primitives which intersect that tile. In the second mode of operation, the graphics processing circuitry receives the tile list for an allocated tile, and performs a rasterization operation to generate the graphics data for the allocated tile dependent on the tile list. This enables the same graphics processing unit to be used for both binning and rasterization operations, significantly reducing the size of the graphics system, while also allowing improvements in performance and energy consumption.
US08339407B2 Information processing device, display switching method and program
There is provided an information processing device including: a light emitting unit to supply light to an operating means mounted on an IC card, the operating means being capable of switching display contents on a display unit of the IC card by a potential difference occurring due to photoelectric conversion; a communication unit to transmit given data to the IC card for causing the IC card to record the data; and a light emission adjusting unit to cause the data recorded on the IC card through the communication unit to be displayed on the IC card by adjusting the number of times of emitting light or a light emitting pattern from the light emitting unit.
US08339401B2 Curved surface importing device and method
A curved surface importing device and method imports character strings of graphic parameters and graphic attributes of graphs from an initial graphic exchange specification (IGES) document, and analyzes the character strings of each of the graphs to generate a graphic model. The curved surface importing device converts the graphic model to a plurality of free-form curves and a free-form curved surface, connects each of the free-form curves to generate a closed boundary curve, and cuts out a contour surface from the free-form curved surface according to the closed boundary curve. The curved surface importing device further meshes the contour surface using a plurality of triangles, and determines an approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface. The plurality of triangles and the approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface are displayed on a display screen.
US08339400B2 Graphic display meter
The object of the invention is to provide an improved graphic display meter which is prevented from causing inconvenience to the vehicle operator, when a motion blur display mode is switched to a normal display mode.When a motion blur pointer image 10 is switched to a normal pointer image 20a, multiple pointer images 20 including the normal pointer image 20a are displayed adjacent to or in abutment with a leading part of the motion blur pointer image 10 in a direction where the pointer is rotating. The multiple pointer images 20 are consisted of the normal pointer image 20a and a plurality of auxiliary pointer images 20b, which are aligned with one another and are positioned in close proximity to the normal pointer image 20a. The multiple pointer images 20, a plurality set of which have been stored as data in advance, are selected on the basis of a space between the motion blur pointer image 10 prior to the switching of the pointer image and the normal pointer image 20 after the switching of the pointer image.
US08339399B2 Declustering point-of-interest icons
Super-clusters of point-of-interest locations are created based on how close the point-of-interest locations are to one another. Additionally, one or more mini-clusters are created in each of the super-clusters based on how close the point-of-interest locations within each super-cluster are to one another. For each of one or more mini-clusters, some point-of-interest icons corresponding to the point-of-interest locations are placed based at least in part on a mean out positioning vector that is based at least in part on a center of the mini-cluster and a center of the super-cluster that includes the mini-cluster. Additionally, some point-of-interest icons are attempted to be placed as a group, while others are attempted to be placed individually.
US08339398B2 Integrated acceleration data structure for physics and ray tracing workload
According to embodiments of the invention, a data structure may be created which may be used by both an image processing system and by a physics engine. The data structure may have an initial or upper portion representing bounding volumes which partition a three dimensional scene and a second or lower portion representing objects within the three dimensional scene. The integrated acceleration data structure may be used by an image processing system to render a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene, and by a physics engine to perform physics based calculations in order to simulate physical phenomena in the three dimensional scene. Furthermore, the physics engine may update the integrated acceleration data structure in response to changes in position or shape of objects due to physical phenomena.
US08339395B2 Method and apparatus for model compression
Aspects of the disclosure provide a lossless compression method for 3D mesh models. The method can be combined or layered with other compression methods to provide additional data compression capability. The method for compressing a mesh model having geometry information and connectivity information of vertices can include defining a first set of vertices having a same connectivity property, determining a subset of the first set of vertices that are encompassed by an area defined by the first set of vertices, and encoding the mesh model without the connectivity information for the subset of the first set of vertices.
US08339393B2 Three-dimensional map data generating system, three-dimensional map data generating method and three-dimensional map data generating program
A three-dimensional map data creation system and a three-dimensional map data creation method ensuring high in a height direction of a structure near a base station of a wireless communication system so as to highly accurately estimate radio propagation characteristics from the base station of the wireless communication system are provided. An external shape of each of structures is acquired from already acquired two-dimensional map data and a height is acquired using a photograph in which structures described in the two-dimensional map data are imaged. At that time, as the photograph, a photograph taken from a floor identical to a floor on which a base station antenna of the wireless communication system that provides a wireless communication service is disposed in an area including one of the structures.
US08339389B2 Electro-optical device, driving method thereof, and electronic apparatus with adjustable ratio between positive and negative field using black display voltage
A method of driving an electro-optical device having scanning lines, data lines, a switching transistor and a pixel electrode. The device also has an electro-optical layer interposed between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode. The method includes: supplying a data signal alternate between a positive and a negative voltage to the pixel electrode. The positive voltage has a potential greater than a counter electrode potential applied to the counter electrode and the negative voltage is a potential lower than the counter electrode potential; setting the counter electrode potential to reduce a flicker; supplying a first voltage that is either the positive or negative voltage to the pixel electrode in a first period; the other voltage to the pixel electrode in a second period. A ratio of the first period to the second period is variable.
US08339384B2 Display driving apparatus, display apparatus and drive control method for display apparatus
A data acquisition circuit sets one of the potential value at one end of a signal line and the value of a current flown thereto when one end of a current path of a drive device is connected to a light emitting device with the other end thereof set to a potential value where no current flows to the light emitting device. Then the circuit causes current to flow via the current path and the signal line and acquires one of the value of the current flown to the signal line and the potential value at the one end of the signal line according to the set value. A correction operation circuit acquires a threshold voltage and a current amplification factor of the drive device based on one of the current and potential values thus acquired as well as on one of the potential and current values thus set.
US08339380B2 Optical operating apparatus and method for determining operation motion
An optical operating apparatus includes a soft plate, a transparent supporting plate, a deformable unit, a light source, and an image sensing module. The soft plate is configured for being pressed. The transparent supporting plate is disposed under the soft plate. The deformable unit is disposed between the transparent supporting plate and the soft plate, and has a pattern configuration. The deformable unit deforms as applying an external force on the soft plate and restores after the external force is removed. The light source is configured for providing a light beam to the transparent supporting plate and the deformable unit, and the light beam is reflected by the deformable unit. The image sensing module is arranged on a transmitting path of the light beam reflected by the deformable unit, and a visual field of the image sensing module covers the whole deformable unit. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for determining operation motion.
US08339378B2 Interactive input system with multi-angle reflector
An interactive input system comprises a pointer input region; and a multi-angle reflecting structure located along a single side of the pointer input region and operable to reflect radiation from a pointer within the pointer input region from at least two surface locations of the multi-angle reflecting structure, wherein the at least two surface locations each have different respective angles. An imaging system is operable to capture within at least a portion of the pointer input region images of the reflected radiation located within a field of view of the imaging system. Processing structure is provided for determining the location of the pointer relative to the pointer input region based on the at least one image.
US08339374B2 Multi-touch interfaces for user authentication, partitioning, and external device control
Multi-touch interfaces allow user interaction with multiple points of contact to control external devices such as game consoles, authenticate users, partition the interface for multiple users, and so forth. The multi-touch interface may provide graphical representations that are manipulated by users through multiple points of contact to participate in games running on an external game console. Additionally, user authentication may occur through multiple points of contact with the multi-touch interface where each user has a unique contact pattern that includes points of contact, location of points of contact, rhythm of points of contact, and so forth. The graphical representations may be customized based on the authentication of a user, and the multi-touch surface may be partitioned based on the number of users present.
US08339373B2 Touch panel display with infrared light source
An exemplary touch panel display includes a display panel, a backlight module, two infrared cameras, and a processor. The display panel has a touch surface. The backlight module includes a light guide plate and a light source module. The light source module includes a first visible light source and a second infrared light source. The light guide plate is capable of transmitting the visible light and the infrared light through to the display panel. The infrared cameras are disposed in the light guide plate. The infrared cameras are to detect infrared light that is reflected from an object in contact with or adjacent the touch surface of the display panel and form images based on the detected infrared light. The processor is to receive the images outputted from the infrared cameras, and process the images to obtain a position of the object at the touch surface.
US08339368B2 Input device
An input device includes an input section formed of a display sheet and a coordinate input sheet, and a switch section allowing a push-input and placed on a substrate at a place corresponding to a display section of the display sheet. A foamed layer containing air and working as an insulating resin layer is placed between the input section and the substrate. The input section is supported via the foamed layer.
US08339366B2 Game console control to initiate system directives
A method and system for utilizing a game console and an input device is disclosed. The method and system comprise mapping commands to system directives of the game console and generating an input signal having predefined characteristics corresponding to the input device being utilized to engage the system directives. The method and system include performing system functions using an input controller associated with the input device after the system directives are engaged.
US08339365B2 Computer mouse and operating method thereof
A computer mouse includes a housing, a first container secured in the housing, and a second container secured in the first container, a timing unit, and a processor. The first container defines through holes. The first container and the second container are spaced by a distance to define a receiving space being partly filling in liquid. Suspending members extends through the through holes. One end of the suspending member is received in the receiving space. The density of the suspending members is less than that of the liquid Sensitive switches are attached to the first container. A method for the mouse includes determining whether any one of the second contacts is charged; generating a position signal, controlling the timing unit to time; determining the movement direction of the a cursor; determining the movement distance of the cursor; and generating cursor control signal for controlling movement of the cursor.
US08339362B2 User interface for multifunction device
A system implements a circular navigation paradigm that matches a physical input device to a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may be displayed on a personal navigation device, music player, or any other electronic device that employs a GUI. The match between the physical input device and the GUI facilitates ready understanding and intuitive interaction with the GUI by the device operator. The circular navigation paradigm may also extend over multiple screens within an application, and across multiple applications, to provide consistency of operation throughout the entire feature set of this device.
US08339358B2 Input apparatus and image forming apparatus
An input apparatus for enabling a user to enter an instruction into a main apparatus has high durability and offers superior operability. The input apparatus includes a table device having a table with a variable size. An image of plural virtual keys that is adapted to the size of the table is projected by a projector unit onto the table. Position information about a finger of the user that is placed on the table is detected by a position detecting device contactlessly. One of the plural virtual keys that corresponds to the position of the finger of the user detected by the position detecting device is detected by a key detecting device based on information about the image of the plural virtual keys and a result of the detection made by the position detecting device.
US08339356B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus capable of maintaining high color purity
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a white color light source and a coloring light source, a detection circuit which detects a brightness of an input image signal, an image quality processing calculation circuit, a light source control circuit, and an image control circuit. The coloring light source includes a blue light source. The image quality processing calculation circuit outputs to the light source control circuit a light source control signal for (1) increasing a light intensity of the coloring light source when an average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be higher than a predetermined luminance based on a detection result of the detection circuit, and for (2) turning-on only the white color light source without turning-on the coloring light source when the average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be lower than the predetermined luminance.
US08339351B2 Display device
A display device includes a memory unit formed in each pixel to store video data and including a first inverter circuit whose input terminal is connected to a first node and whose output terminal is connected to a second node and a second inverter circuit whose input terminal is connected to the second node and whose output terminal is connected to the first node, a first transistor connected between the output terminal of the second inverter circuit and the video line, and a second transistor connected between the first node and the video line, in which at the time of reading the video data, the first transistor is turned ON, and the second transistor is turned OFF, to output the video data stored in the memory unit to the video line.
US08339347B2 Liquid crystal display and method of operating the same
A liquid crystal display includes; a liquid crystal panel, and a DC-DC converter which receives an input voltage to generate an analog drive voltage and a gate-on voltage used to operate the liquid crystal panel, wherein the DC-DC converter includes a pulse width modulation circuit which modulates a pulse width of the analog drive voltage and the gate-on voltage, a boost converter which boosts the input voltage to output the analog drive voltage, and a charge pump which boosts one of the input voltage and the analog drive voltage to output the gate-on voltage, wherein when a high voltage stress test is performed, the DC-DC converter outputs the analog drive voltage boosted to a voltage level higher than a voltage level of the analog drive voltage during a normal operation, and outputs the gate-on voltage having a voltage level substantially equal to a voltage level of the gate-on voltage during the normal operation.
US08339345B2 Liquid crystal display device, instrument panel, automotive vehicle, and liquid crystal display method
In one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device is provided with a gray scale conversion section which converts a gray scale conveyed by an input video signal into a gray scale value of a high gray scale region, and then outputs it to the liquid crystal drive device if the gray scale value of the input video signal is of a low gray scale region.
US08339343B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The LCD device comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Every two data lines and two scan lines define two pixels. Each pixel comprises a pixel electrode and a transistor, and a biased electrode is arranged under a slot between two pixel electrodes of the two pixels. When positive frame, the voltage of the biased electrode, VE, is greater than the voltage the pixel electrode, VP; when negative frame, the voltage of the biased electrode, VE, is smaller than the voltage the pixel electrode, VP.
US08339339B2 Light emitting device, method of driving the same, and electronic device
A light emitting device in which flickers on a screen can be reduced is provided. In the present invention, each pixel has memories and at the start of a frame period, all of bits of digital vide signals are written in the memories. Then, in the frame period, according to information in all of the bit of digital video signals, the light emitting device sequently emit a light in a determined period.
US08339337B2 Display apparatus, display-apparatus driving method and electronic instrument
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a pixel array section including pixel circuits each having an electro optical device, a signal writing transistor, a signal storage capacitor, and a device driving transistor; and a pixel driving section, wherein: in a no-light emission period, the pixel driving section carries out a threshold-voltage correction process by changing an electric potential appearing on an electrode of the device driving transistor close to the electro optical device toward an electric potential obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage of the device driving transistor from the initialization electric potential of the gate electrode of the device driving transistor and a mobility correction process of negatively feeding a current flowing through the device driving transistor back to the gate electrode of the device driving transistor; and when a current is not flowing through the device driving transistor, the pixel driving section applies a positive bias voltage to the gate electrode of the signal writing transistor.
US08339334B2 Plasma display panel driving circuit and driving method
A driving circuit of a data electrode is provided which includes a drive controlling unit, a first driving transistor and a second driving transistor. The drive controlling unit compares a previous data signal and a present data signal in response to an energy recovery enable signal and outputs a first driving signal and a second driving signal, which correspond to the comparison result. The first driving transistor transmits an address driving signal to an output node connected to the data electrode in response to the first driving signal. The second driving transistor transmits a reference voltage to the output node in response to the second driving signal.
US08339323B2 Antenna with near-field radiation control
An antenna and a wireless mobile communication device incorporating the antenna are provided. The antenna includes a first conductor section electrically coupled to a first feeding point, a second conductor section electrically coupled to a second feeding point, and a near-field radiation control structure adapted to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the antenna. Near-field radiation control structures include a parasitic element positioned adjacent the first conductor section and configured to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the first conductor section, and a diffuser in the second conductor section configured to diffuse near-field radiation generated by the second conductor section into a plurality of directions.
US08339318B2 RFID UHF antenna and matching network embedded in disposable conducting covers
A UHF RFID antenna is integrated into the disposable metal cover of foam, plastic, metal or cardboard containers.
US08339317B2 Methods, systems and devices for determining the location of a mobile device based on simulcast communication signals
A method for determining a position of a mobile device may include receiving a communication signal at the mobile device simulcast from a plurality of transmitters. One of the plurality of transmitters is identified based on information obtained from the received simulcast communication signal, and an identifiable signal associated with the identified one of the plurality of transmitters is received at the mobile device. A range of the identified one of the plurality of transmitters from the mobile device is determined based on the received identifiable signal.
US08339316B1 Smart GPS use
In one embodiment, a client device generates a location fingerprint. The fingerprint may include various data identified by scanning for WiFi network devices such as the MAC addresses of nearby WiFi access location as well as the respective signal strengths. For each fingerprint location, the client device attempts to use a GPS receiver to scan for GPS satellite signals and identify current GPS latitude and longitude coordinates. After a predetermined period of time, the success or failure of the attempt is recorded and included in the fingerprint. When the client device returns to the location, identified by reviewing the fingerprint, the client device may activate or inhibit the GPS receiver based on the success information of the fingerprint. If the stored data indicates a low success rate, other location identification techniques may be used.
US08339300B2 Digital-to-analog converter, analog-to-digital converter, and semiconductor device
A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained.
US08339297B2 Delta-sigma modulator and dithering method including a dithering capability for eliminating idle tones
A delta-sigma modulator (100) including a dithering capability for eliminating idle tones is provided according to the invention. The delta-sigma modulator (100) includes a bitstream converter (107) configured to generate a digital signal output substantially corresponding to an analog signal input, a periodicity detector (111) coupled to the bitstream converter (107) and configured to detect periodicity in the digital signal output, and a dithering sequence generator (116) connected to and activated by the periodicity detector (111). The dithering sequence generator (116) generates a dithering sequence. The delta-sigma modulator (100) further includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) generator (119) coupled to the dithering sequence generator (116) and receiving the dithering sequence. The PWM generator (119) modulates the dithering sequence onto the analog signal input of the delta-sigma modulator (100) as a dithering signal.
US08339290B2 Control method of alterable key and portable electronic device having alterable key
A control method of an alterable key is applied in a portable electronic device including switch a plurality of function modes. The portable electronic device has an opaque key portion, a pattern template layer, and a plurality of light emitting portions. A pattern template layer has many groups of operating patterns. Light emitting portions are corresponding to the operating patterns and emit the specific light, and the operating patterns are corresponding to the function modes. The control method includes the following steps of receiving a first command to switch the corresponding function mode, brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to the function mode to show the corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion, receiving a second command to switch another corresponding function mode, and brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to another function mode to show another corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion.
US08339287B2 Device to control an electronic or computer system utilizing a fluid flow and a method of manufacturing the same
A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet and the one exhaust opening, at least one segment positioned inside the body and one or more contactors positioned to be intermittently in contact with the at least one segment. The contact may occur responsive to the fluid flow generated by the user. The device may include a sensor to react to a movement of the at least one segment.
US08339283B2 Viewing device intended for comprehending the aerial environment
Device for viewing the aerial environment for aircraft, including a display, a processor and memory configured to generate and to provide a first data processing resource, the data being a graphical representation of the aerial environment composed of colored zones, each color being associated with a danger level for the aircraft, said data comprising environmental data; and a second data processing resource for cartographic data. The device further comprises a graphical mixer to overlay the graphical representation arising from the environmental data onto a representation of the cartographic data on one viewing screen, each zone of a color of the representation of environmental data having a transparency coefficient dependent on the danger level.
US08339282B2 Security systems
A vehicle detection system for detecting the presence of at least part of a vehicle in image data, the system comprising: an interface configured to receive image data; an identifier module configured to identify a plurality of linear regions in an image represented by the image data; a comparator configured to compare at least one of the number, cumulative size, and density of the linear regions with a respective threshold value; and an output configured to issue a signal indicating the detection of a vehicle based on the results of the comparison.
US08339277B2 Communication via fluid pressure modulation
In some embodiments, an apparatus [100] and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to transmit downhole data in a drilling fluid via fluid pressure modulation, and receive the downhole data at a fluid pulse receiver included in a conduit [104] coupled to a drill pipe downstream from a Kelly hose. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08339272B2 Circuit breaker locator
An arrangement that includes a transmitter unit and a receiver for locating a wire or a circuit interrupter associated with a selected branch circuit of a power distribution system. The transmitter is electrically interconnected with the selected branch circuit and produces a sequence of current pulses in a branch circuit that is to be traced to locate an associated circuit interrupter. Each current pulse is of a predetermined duration, a predetermined rise time, and a predefined fall time, which in one embodiment is equal to the current pulse rise time. The receiver is a handheld unit that is positioned in close proximity with the various circuit interrupters of the power distribution system and provides an indication that the desired wire or circuit interrupter has been located upon detecting current pulses that are with a predefined pulse duration, pulse separation and amplitude.
US08339270B2 Electrical ground protection device, circuit tester and method of circuit condition detection
An apparatus and method for protecting against electrocution hazards that arise when an appliance is electrically connected to a miswired single-phase AC electrical source which includes an energized ground lead are described. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that detect electrical energy in the ground lead combined with a miswiring condition in the hot and common leads. A tester embodiment is also illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting if the putative ground of the electrical source is energized and whether the hot and common leads are reversed.
US08339269B2 Adjustable sensor for sensing a level of liquid
A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container. The liquid level sensing device has a base and a rotatable member which extends from and is rotatable relative to the base. A cord extends from the rotatable member and has a sensor provided at a free end thereof. The sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level. An alarm and a signal transmitter are provided in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the alarm and the signal transmitter will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor.
US08339265B2 Method of assigning and deducing the location of articles detected by multiple RFID antennae
In accordance with preferred embodiments or the invention, a method (and corresponding apparatus) is provided for deducing the location of one or more items or objects to be monitored. In exemplary embodiments, the method (and corresponding apparatus) is implemented in RFID (radio frequency identification) applications (e.g., reading RFID tags at 13.56 MHz and approximately 900 MHz) by deducing the location of an item associated with a unique RFID tag in one or more areas of detection covered by multiple RFID reader antennae.
US08339264B2 Control unit for an EAS system
A control unit for an EAS system is described, the unit comprising a controller area network (CAN) communication device operatively coupled with a remote communications link. A master control (MC) module interfaces the CAN device and the remote communications link. Machine readable executable instructions reside on a digital signal processor (DSP). The unit further includes at least one system module having a targeted feature within the EAS system.
US08339260B2 Securing a hazardous area in the regin surrounding the automatic loading of reels on a reel changer
A hazardous area in the region surrounding a reel transport of a reel changer is secured. A contactless protective device is located at the access boundaries of the region. This protective device can be deactivated for feeding and/or removing a known object and comprises an evaluation unit. The protective device is configured as a light curtain that is comprised of a plurality of light beams that run in parallel to each other. The evaluation unit includes an assembly for detecting the sequence of the interruption of the light beams during the feeding and/or the removal of an object. Based on the detected sequence of interruption of the light beams, a known object, that is permitted to access the hazardous area, is detected. The protective device is deactivated in this situation. Securing the hazardous area further includes the provision of a second contactless protective device that is permanently active.
US08339259B1 System and method for setting an alarm by a third party
An alarm device is provided. The alarm device comprises a processor, an alerting component, a communication interface, and an alarm application. The communication interface receives messages encapsulating an alarm control message from a third party. The alarm application, when executed by the processor, receives the message from the communication interface, validates the message based on a code embedded in the message, parses a body of the message to extract the encapsulated alarm control message, schedules an alarm event based on the body of the message, and activates the alerting component when the alarm event occurs.
US08339257B2 Firearm and system for notifying firearm discharge
A firearm equipped with a capability of wireless communication reports a discharge of the firearm to a reporting center terminal via a wireless communication link. The firearm includes a firearm housing including a trigger assembly. A sensor is coupled to the firearm housing for sensing the discharge of the firearm. The housing, e.g., portion of a pistol grip, also encases a wireless communication unit for transmitting a message indicating occurence of the firearm discharge to the terminal via wireless communication network. A GPS receiver installed in the firearm receives GPS signals from GPS satellites to enable calculation of the location of the firearm, either at the firearm or by a Position Determining Equipment (PDE), to identify the location of the firearm to the reporting center terminal. Upon detection of the discharge of the firearm, the firearm initiates activities of the GPS receiver and the wireless communication unit.
US08339256B2 Radiofrequency safety of switchable segmented transmission lines
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an interventional instrument and a switched, segmented transmission (Tx) line which ensures safety during an MRI protocol while the interventional instrument is located in the system. The transmission line includes at least two electrically conductive Tx line segments separated by a non-conductive gap. An electrically conductive bridge, having an open and a closed state, and a parallel connected impedance bridge, having a known impedance which suppresses RF current between the line segments, bridge the non-conductive gap. A measurement unit measures the impedance across the Tx line while the conductive bridges are open. The line segments are verified to be decoupled if the measured impedance of the line is substantially equal to that of the impedance bridge.
US08339251B2 Information transmission and processing systems and methods for freight carriers
Methods and systems for remotely monitoring trailer or trailers attached to a vehicle is provided. The method includes associating an identification tag or ABS ECU that is configured to broadcast a trailer identification signal with a trailer. The method further includes receiving the trailer identification signal on-board the vehicle, associating the trailer identification signal with the vehicle, transmitting the trailer identification signal to a remote processor and receiving the trailer identification signal at the remote processor. The system comprises a mobile data terminal capable of generating and responding to telematic events comprising at least one processor, a graphical user interface, an input device, a memory and a set of executable instructions which may include a plurality of modules, such as a vehicle location module capable of receiving a GPS signal and transmitting the GPS signal to a remote processor for determining a location of a transportation unit.
US08339250B2 Electronic device with localized haptic response
An electronic device (100) configured to provide a localized haptic response to a user is provided. The electronic device (100) includes an interface assembly (102) having a user interface surface (600) with a display (206) disposed beneath the user interface surface (600). A compliance member, such as a haptic feedback bezel (209) is disposed beneath the display (206). The compliance member includes one or more cantilever members (210) having motion generation devices (402) coupled thereto. Each cantilever member (210) includes an ell (303) that passes about the display (206) and couples to the user interface surface (600). When the motion generation device (402) is actuated, a haptic force is delivered to the user interface surface (600) through the ell (303).
US08339247B2 Lighting control
The invention relates to a data tag (6, 21, 32) storing at least one setting (13, 43) for controlling one or more lights (4, 18, 29). There is also provided a system and method for controlling a plurality of lights by receiving information (43) indicative of lighting settings for the plurality of lights (18, 29) from a data tag (21, 32) and controlling the plurality of lights (18, 29) in accordance with the lighting settings.
US08339245B2 Semiconductor device and IC label, IC tag, and IC card provided with the semiconductor device
A charge accumulation circuit having a structure in which a capacitor is divided into a plurality of pieces and the divided capacitors are connected in parallel through switches is provided. The charge accumulation circuit controls the switch provided between the capacitors and thus can dynamically vary electrostatic capacitance of the charge accumulation circuit which applies a voltage to a constant voltage circuit.
US08339241B2 Method of displaying messages in digital home appliances and display control device
Provided are a method of displaying messages in a digital home appliance and a display control method therefore. The method includes storing user setting information regarding output of messages and displaying a message based on the stored user setting information, where the user setting information is received from a user.
US08339234B2 Inductance coil for electric power grids with reduced sound emission
The invention relates to an inductance coil, in particular an inductance coil without an iron core for use in electric power grids, comprising at least two cylindrical winding layers (1), which are disposed concentrically with respect to a coil central axis (7) and are connected electrically in parallel. The inductance coil comprises at least one means for reducing or minimizing sound emissions produced during the operation of the inductance coil. At least the outermost winding layer (1) is designed in this case as a current-conducting, acoustic shield winding (18) opposite the winding layer (1) adjacent in the direction of the coil central axis (7), wherein the shield winding (18) is dimensioned electrically such that it is designed for the transmission of a current intensity, which is only a fraction of the current intensity, to be transmitted by the adjacent winding layer (1). Furthermore, the invention relates to a bracket-like holding element arranged on at least one end face of the inductance coil for reducing sound emissions.
US08339231B1 Leadframe based magnetics package
A magnetics package comprising: a primary coil configured to conduct a current flow; a secondary coil electrically isolated from the primary coil and configured to conduct a current flow, wherein the secondary coil is embedded in a mold compound; and a magnetic core inductively coupling the primary coil and the secondary coil, wherein a current flow in the primary coil produces a magnetic field in the magnetic core, and the magnetic field in the magnetic core induces a current flow in the secondary coil.
US08339227B2 Inductance part and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an inductance part including a coiled conductor formed from a metal conductor, a magnetic body formed by pressure-molding a mixture of metal magnetic powder and bonding material in such a manner that the coiled conductor is embedded in the mixture, and a terminal derived from the coiled conductor. The coiled conductor is formed in a single layer with no insulating film on its surface. The metal magnetic powder of the magnetic body penetrates into the surface of the coiled conductor so as to make the filling factor of the metal magnetic powder in the magnetic body not less than 80% by volume.
US08339225B2 Electromagnetic actuating device
An electromagnetic actuating device (1) having a housing (2) and two actuator pins (3, 4) that are supported in the housing so as to be movable independently of each other between a retracted rest position and an extended working position, and locking pins (7, 8) that hold the actuator pins in the rest position via locking mechanisms and that can be moved relative to the actuator pins in the movement direction of the actuator pins. A force is applied to the locking pins in the extension direction by further spring elements (15), and the locking pins are moved in the retraction direction by electromagnetic force application in order to unlock the locking mechanisms. The actuating device is an electromagnet (22) associated with the locking pins in common and having a reversible direction of the magnetic field, and the end sections (19) of the locking pins facing away from the actuator pins are provided with bipolar permanent magnets (20, 21) that are oriented with opposite polarities in the movement direction.
US08339224B2 Vibration device
A vibration device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes upper and lower cases combined with each other to form a case, a magnetic force generating unit provided on at least one surface of the upper and lower cases, a vibrating unit including at least one magnet disposed to be opposite to the magnetic force generating unit, and a weight, and at least one elastic unit configured to support the vibrating unit elastically, the elastic unit having a first portion directly contacting the upper case and a second portion contacting the vibrating unit. Further, the first portion is arranged on a first circumference and the second portion is arranged on a second circumference, and wherein a diameter of the first circumference is larger than a diameter of the second circumference.
US08339217B2 Low band side filter of duplexer, high band side filter of duplexer, and duplexer
A duplexer formed on a piezoelectric substrate includes a low band side filter and a high band side filter, and has an improved isolation characteristic in a pass frequency band of the high band side filter. Transmission and reception of signals are respectively performed from either of the low band side filter and the high band side filter and the other filter with respect to an input/output port. Series arms and parallel arms each formed of an elastic wave resonator form the low band side filter. A shield electrode is disposed close to either of the input/output port and a low band side filter port, and is grounded for capacitive coupling with same.
US08339215B2 Charge domain filter with controllable transfer functions and transfer function control methods thereof
A charge domain filter with controllable transfer function is disclosed. The charge domain filter has a plurality of switched-capacitor networks, a switching device and a current adder. The switched-capacitor networks are interleaving controlled, and each have an input terminal and an output terminal, and the input terminals of all of the switched-capacitor networks are connected together to be coupled to an input signal. The switching device is designed for transfer function control, and is operated according to a switch control signal. The switching device determines connections between the output terminals of the switched-capacitor networks and how the output terminals of the switched-capacitor networks are coupled to the current adder and thereby generates at least one current adder input. The at least one current adder input is received by the current adder, and the current adder outputs an output signal accordingly.
US08339213B2 Communication device and high-frequency coupler
A communication device includes a communication circuit unit, a transmission path, a ground, a coupling electrode, and a resonating unit. The resonating unit includes a first resonating unit connected to the transmission path and a second resonating unit having one end connected to the first resonating unit and another end short-circuited to the ground, the second resonating unit having terminals of the coupling electrode connected thereto. A microdipole is formed of a line segment connecting a center of charges stored in the coupling electrode and a center of mirror-image charges stored in the ground. The high-frequency signal is transmitted to a distant side disposed so as to face the communication device with an angle θ formed relative to a direction of the microdipole being approximately 0 degree.
US08339212B2 Filtering device and differential signal transmission circuit capable of suppressing common-mode noises upon transmission of a differential signal
A filtering device is capable of suppressing common mode noises upon transmission of a differential signal, and includes a differential transmission line, a grounding layer, a dielectric unit and a conductive structure. The differential transmission line has a pair of conductive traces spaced apart from each other. The grounding layer is spaced apart from the differential transmission line. The dielectric unit is disposed between the differential transmission line and the grounding layer. The conductive structure is embedded in the dielectric unit, is coupled electrically to the conductive traces and the grounding layer, and cooperates with the differential transmission line, the grounding layer and the dielectric unit to form a stacked structure that has an effective negative permittivity, thereby suppressing the common mode noises coupled to the conductive traces. A differential signal transmission circuit is also disclosed.
US08339211B2 Voltage-controlled oscillator
This invention provides a voltage-controlled oscillator, comprising a first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit and a second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. The first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit comprises a plurality of inductors, a plurality of variable capacitors, and a plurality of MOS transistors. The circuit configuration of the second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit is symmetrical to that of the first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. The inductors of the first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit are cross-coupled to the inductors of the second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit.
US08339210B2 Low noise oscillator
An oscillator for use in generating a signal having a desired frequency includes a first inductor element being electrically coupled from one end of a first capacitive element to a first voltage connection point, a second inductor element being electrically coupled from one end of a second capacitive element to a second voltage connection point, a third inductor element being electrically coupled from another end of the first capacitive element to the first voltage connection point, a fourth inductor element being electrically coupled from another end of the second capacitive element to the second voltage connection point. The first, second, third, and fourth inductor elements being configured such that a first conductive trace loop formed by the first and third inductor elements is interleaved with a second conductive trace loop formed by the second and fourth inductor elements such that said conductive trace loops are configured to operate in substantially a same magnetic field. A first drive circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second inductor elements forming a first resonance circuit with the first and second capacitive elements and a second drive circuit is electrically coupled to the third and fourth inductor elements forming a second resonance circuit with the first and second capacitive elements, such that the first and second drive circuits are mutually configured to establish and maintain a unified oscillation in the first and second resonance circuits at the desired frequency.
US08339207B2 System and method for effectively implementing a loop filter device
A system and method for effectively generating an electronic control signal includes a loop filter that has a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a damping resistor. The first capacitor typically has a significantly greater capacitance than said second capacitor. A primary charge pump provides a primary charge current to the loop filter, and a damping charge pump provides a damping charge current to the loop filter. The loop filter responsively generates the electronic control signal for regulating the output frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator. All components of the loop filter are sized to be implemented as part of an integrated circuit device.
US08339202B2 Current sensing system and method
There is provided a current sense circuit (134). An exemplary current sense circuit (134) comprises a voltage-to-current converter circuit (218) that is adapted to receive a voltage that is proportional to a load current drawn from a battery (110) by a load (202) and to produce a current proportional to the load current, and a current-to-voltage converter circuit (228) that is adapted to receive the current proportional to the load current and to produce a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source (230).
US08339200B2 Wide-swing telescopic operational amplifier
An apparatus includes a telescopic operational amplifier. The telescopic operational amplifier includes an input stage, a load, and a first cascode circuit. The first cascode circuit is coupled to a first differential node and an output node. The first differential node is coupled to one of the input stage and the load. The apparatus includes a first negative transconductance circuit coupled to the first differential node. In at least one embodiment, the first negative transconductance circuit is operable to provide a negative transconductance to compensate at least a first component of an output resistance of the telescopic operational amplifier. In at least one embodiment, the first negative transconductance circuit includes a pair of cross-coupled devices coupled to the first differential node and a current source.
US08339196B2 Combined cell doherty power amplification apparatus and method
A Doherty power amplification apparatus and method using a combined cell are provided. The Doherty power amplification apparatus includes, a power splitter for splitting an input power, and outputting the split powers to a carrier amplification unit and (N−1) peaking amplification units, wherein the carrier amplification unit, including M carrier power amplifiers, for amplifying power output from the power splitter; the (N−1) peaking amplification units, each of which includes M peaking power amplifiers, for amplifying the respective split powers output from the power splitter, and a power combiner for combining a power amplified by the carrier amplification unit and the respective split powers amplified by the (N−1) peaking amplification units, and for outputting the combined power, wherein N represents an integer obtained by adding a number of the carrier amplification units and a number of the (N−1) peaking amplification units, and M represents an integer which is equal to or more than 1.
US08339192B2 Line filter and use of a line filter
A line filter includes at least one X capacitor located between two supply lines and at least one discharge resistor that discharges the X capacitor, wherein the discharge resistor is arranged in series with at least one switching element, and at least one detector circuit that detects a network disconnection and closes the switching element to discharge the X capacitor via the discharge resistor when a network disconnection is recognized.
US08339180B2 RF switching device and method therefor
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for switching RF signals. An RF switching apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of FETs passing or blocking high-frequency signals depending on driving voltage applied to a gate; a control power supply generating control voltage for controlling the passing or blocking of the high-frequency signals; and a charge pump increasing the level of the control voltage and outputting the corresponding voltage as the driving voltage. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to minimize insertion loss generated in an RF switch.
US08339175B2 Phase generating apparatus and method thereof
A phase generating apparatus generates an output clock having a desired phase according to a digital signal. The apparatus includes a phase selecting unit and a phase generating unit. The phase selecting unit selects one of a plurality of input clocks according to a portion of bits of the digital signal to generate a reference clock. Each of the input clocks respectively has a difference phase. The phase selecting unit divides the frequency of the reference clock, and selectively delays the frequency-divided reference clock according to another portion of bits of the digital signal to generate the output clock.
US08339173B2 Enable pin using programmable hysteresis improvement
An apparatus for providing programmable hysteresis control using an enable pin of a device is disclosed. An enable pin is configured to receive an input signal to enable and disable an associated device responsive to the input signal. A current sink is attached to the enable pin and is responsive to circuitry that disables the current sink responsive to application of the input signal at a first voltage level and enables the current sink responsive to application of the input signal at a second voltage level.
US08339162B2 Circuit device and method of controlling circuit device
A circuit device has a first output buffer including a first adjustment circuit for adjusting a level of the first output signal, a first input buffer connected to the first output buffer, an adjustment controller for outputting a test signal to the first output buffer, outputting a control signal to the first adjustment circuit so that the level of the first output signal is adjusted on the basis of the control signal, monitoring an output of the first input buffer, and adjusting the control signal on the basis of the monitoring the output of the first input buffer, a second output buffer connected to the adjustment controller and operable to assume either an active or a non-active state, for outputting a second output signal when controlled to assume an active state, including a second adjustment circuit, and a second input buffer.
US08339153B2 Fault current test equipment of direct current thyristor valve
The present invention relates to a test equipment of direct current thyristor valve, and particularly relates to a fault current test equipment of direct current thyristor valve. This present invention equipment includes high voltage low current circuit and low voltage high current circuit, said test equipment includes fault current circuit, said fault current circuit includes resonant circuit, said high voltage low current circuit, low voltage high current circuit and fault current circuit are all connected with the thyristor sample Vt respectively. In his present invention, the thyristor sample is first heated through the high voltage circuit and low voltage high current circuit to reach the stable state. And then shut off the switch and carries out the test using the fault current which is produced by the fault current circuit. This prevents the power system from the short-circuit impact. Further more, the peak current and the current duration of the fault current circuit can be adjusted flexibly by changing the voltage of the adding energy circuit.
US08339150B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a bump pad through which data is outputted, a probe test pad having a larger size than the bump pad, a first output drive unit configured to drive the bump pad at a first drivability in response to output data, a second output drive unit configured to drive the probe test pad at a second drivability higher than the first drivability in response to the output data, and a multiplexing unit configured to transfer the output data to the first output drive unit or the second output drive unit in response to a test mode signal.
US08339146B2 Method for calibrating a transmission line pulse test system
Calibration method for calibrating transient behavior of a TLP test system. The system comprises a TLP generator, probe needles, nominally impedance matched transmission lines and measurement equipment, connected between the transmission lines and the TLP generator, for detecting transient behavior of a device under test by simultaneously capturing voltage and current waveforms as a result of generated pulses. The calibration method comprises (a) applying the TLP test system on an open and capturing first voltage and current waveforms; (b) applying the TLP test system on a calibration element having a known finite impedance and a known transient response and capturing second voltage and current waveforms; (c) transforming the captured first and second current and voltage waveforms to the frequency domain, and (d) determining calibration data for the transient behavior of the TLP test system on the basis of the transformed first and second voltage and current waveforms.
US08339145B2 Line testing
A signal generator is disclosed that generates a test signal to be applied to a first and second wire of a subscriber line. The signal generator is configured to generate the test signal at the first and second test signal outputs in a first time section such that a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained constant at least during the change of the first potential. The signal generator is further configured to generate the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency.
US08339143B2 Lens connector-testing device
Provided is a lens connector-testing device including a base, a circuit tester, a probe, and a positioning unit. The positioning unit includes a positioning housing, a lift block, an insulating plate, a press spring, a latch member and a supporting seat. The positioning housing has a lift-guiding groove. The insulating plate is fixedly connected to an upper end of the lift block. A lower end of the lift block is slidably received in the lift-guiding groove. A holding space is defined between the insulating plate and the positioning housing. The supporting seat is disposed on the positioning housing and has at least one electrical contact. The latch member has a fixing section, a hooking section, and a pressing section. The lift block has a projecting portion matched with the hooking section of the latch member. The press spring is located between the pressing section and the positioning housing.
US08339134B2 Apparatus and method for reducing a transient signal in a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor.
US08339126B2 Position-measuring device for determining relative positions and method of its operation
A position-measuring device includes a measuring standard, on which at least one graduation track is applied, and a support member. Disposed on the support member is at least one exciter winding through which an excitation current is able to be conducted in order to generate an electromagnetic field, as well as at least one detector system for scanning the electromagnetic field, The position-measuring device further includes a capacitor which, together with the exciter winding, forms an LC oscillating circuit, an evaluation element and a switching element that is switchable by the evaluation element. The measuring standard and the support member are disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to each other, and in response to a movement of the measuring standard relative to the support member, the electromagnetic field is able to be influenced by the at least one graduation track. The LC oscillating circuit is operable by switching the switching element with an excitation current which induces in the detector system at least one voltage that is able to be processed electronically by the evaluation element to ascertain position information. The excitation current is generated by switching the switching element with switch-on pulses that have an ON time period, and the at least one voltage induced in the detector system is measured in the area after the cut-off edge of the switch-on pulse for ascertaining the position information.
US08339121B2 Oscillograph and signal identifying method of a serial data bus using the oscillograph
An oscillograph can identify signals of a serial data bus. The signal identifying method triggers communication channels of the oscillograph, measures a rise time and a fall time for each captured signal, and sets a sender terminal (ST) and a receiver terminal (RT) for each of the captured signals according to the measured results. The signal identifying method determines the ST and RT for each of the captured signals after the oscillograph is triggered. If the determined ST of each of the acquired signals is identical to the set ST and the determined RT of the each of the acquired signals is identical with the set RT, the signal identifying process is completed and a report is generated to record the signal identifying result.
US08339115B2 Voltage regulator bypass resistance control
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle.
US08339111B2 Reactive power compensator
A capacitor bank unit includes three capacitor banks that have respective capacitances that are multiples of a basic capacitance in accordance with a number sequence of the n-th power of 2. One of the capacitor banks has the basic capacitance, remaining two of the capacitor banks includes two subbanks each. The capacitance of a subbank is set to a capacitance that is a multiple of the basic capacitance in accordance with a number sequence of the m-th power of 2. When any one of the capacitor banks fails, each of capacitor banks following the failed capacitor bank substitutes for a capacitor bank located immediately before itself.
US08339107B2 Portable device and battery pack for the same
A portable device is disclosed that includes a charge control circuit configured to control charging of a secondary battery included in a battery pack, the secondary battery being configured to supply power to the portable device; a temperature detection terminal at which the temperature of the secondary battery is detected from a temperature detection part of the battery pack; positive and negative power terminals to be connected to the battery pack; a control circuit configured to control the operation of the portable device; and an interface circuit connected between the temperature detection terminal and each of an input terminal of the charge control circuit and an input terminal of the control circuit, in which a signal detected at the temperature detection terminal is fed to each of the charge control circuit and the control circuit through the interface circuit.
US08339106B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device which can operate normally even when the communication distance is extremely short, and which stores excess electric power which is not needed for circuit operation of the semiconductor device when a large amount of electric power is supplied thereto. The following are included: an antenna; a first AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna; a second AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna through a switching element; a detecting circuit which controls operation of the switching element in accordance with the value of a voltage output from the first AC/DC converter circuit; and a battery which stores electric power supplied from the antenna through the second AC/DC converter circuit. When the switching element is operated, electric power supplied from outside is at least partly supplied to the battery through the second AC/DC converter circuit.
US08339103B2 Life safety device with extended shelf life
A life safety device includes a battery assembly with a rechargeable battery. Extended shelf life is achieved by annually initiating an over-discharge protection mode in which a battery protection circuit prevents current flow from the battery. The life safety device remains in the over-discharge protection mode until the device is connected to a charging power source at the time of installation. The battery assembly then exits the protection mode and enters its normal mode of operation.
US08339102B2 System and method for regulating loading on an integrated circuit power supply
A load adjustment circuit and a method for adjusting a load are provided. The circuit may include a power source to supply power to a load, and a control unit to control a property of the load. The control unit may be adapted to adjust a property of the load based on a signal received from the power source. The method may include supplying power to a load and adjusting a property of the load to decrease the power supplied to the load if the power supplied to the load is greater than a maximum threshold.
US08339099B2 Multi-series battery control system
A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation.
US08339092B2 Output contact for feedback in integrated circuit motor driver
An integrated circuit has drive circuitry to drive the windings of an electrical motor, means to make a measurement from the drive circuitry during rotation of the motor, suitable for use as motor control feedback, and has an output contact through which the motor control feedback measurement is available as an analog output signal. It can be used with an external motor control circuit coupled to receive the analog output signal to generate motor control signals, to control the drive circuitry. The analog feedback output gives more flexibility to the design of a motor control loop in terms of bit resolution, bandwidth and choice of discrete time or continuous time control.
US08339089B2 Power converter
In a power converter, a voltage command signal shifting part shifts a first duty command signal such that a first duty center value related to a voltage applied to a first set of windings is shifted downwards than an output center value of a possible duty range. The voltage command signal shifting part also shifts a second duty command signal such that a second duty center value related to a voltage applied to a second set of windings is shifted upwards than the output center value. First and second shift amounts of the first and second duty center values from the output center value are varied depending on amplitude. Accordingly, ripple current of a capacitor can be decreased, and a difference in heat loss between switching elements can be minimized.
US08339088B2 Motor arrangement
The invention relates to a motor arrangement (1) comprising a motor (4) on which a transmitter device (6) is arranged, a regulating device (2) which is spatially separated from the motor, communicates with the motor (4) via at least one motor line/connection line (10), and controls the movement of the motor, and at least one sensor device (8) which is arranged on the motor (4), detects at least one physical property of the motor, and emits a signal characterising said physical property, the transmitter device (6) being connected to the regulating device (2) via the connection line. According to the invention, there is a direct communication connection (9) between the sensor device (8) and the transmitter device (6), by which means the sensor device (8) transmits the characteristic signal directly to the transmitter device (6).
US08339086B2 System for syncronizing a plurality of roller shades using variable linear velocities
Presented is a system for synchronizing movement of roller shades each from a first position to a common second position. The system includes a master controller, a plurality of optical assemblies each configured to obtain information related to the position of one of the roller shades, and a plurality of motor assemblies. Each of the motor assemblies is configured for receiving the position information from one of the plurality of optical assemblies, receiving a master shade movement time from the master controller, and moving one of the of roller shades from the first position to the common second position in response to the received position information so that the roller shade arrives at the common second position simultaneously with the other roller shades in a time equal to the master shade movement time.
US08339085B2 Method for synchronizing a plurality of roller shades using variable linear velocities
Presented is a method for synchronizing movement of a plurality of roller shades each disposed at a first position to a common second position. The method includes obtaining information related to the position of each of the plurality of roller shades with a respective one of a plurality of optical assemblies, and moving each of the plurality of roller shades from the first position to the common second position in response to the respective obtained position information so that each of the plurality of roller shades arrives at the common second position at the same time.
US08339084B2 Systems and methods for monitoring current in an electric motor
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system comprises a direct current (DC) interface, an electric motor, and an inverter module between the DC interface and the electric motor. A first current sensor is configured to measure a DC current flowing between the DC interface and the inverter module. A second current sensor is configured to measure a first phase current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor. A control module is coupled to the current sensors, and the control module is configured to determine an expected value for the first phase current based at least in part on the DC current measured by the first current sensor and take remedial action based on a difference between the expected value and the measured first phase current.
US08339081B2 Method and apparatus for low speed permanent magnet motor operation
Methods and apparatus are provided for startup of a permanent magnet alternating current (AC) motor. The method comprises the steps of detecting startup of the permanent magnet AC motor; detecting a mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup of the permanent magnet AC motor is detected; and, in response to detection of the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup is detected, suppressing the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor.
US08339079B2 Power semiconductor chip, power semiconductor module, inverter apparatus, and inverter-integrated motor
Provided is an inverter-integrated motor including a motor and an inverter integrated in an efficient manner. Also provided is a semiconductor chip that can be used in this motor. An IGBT chip is constructed with an emitter terminal being provided at the apex of one face of a die having a regular triangular surface shape, a gate terminal being provided adjacent the opposite side to the apex, and a collector terminal being provided on the other face. A power semiconductor module is constructed with placing apices of the IGBT chips having the emitter terminals in abutment against each other. Six such power semiconductor chips are arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern to together constitute an inverter for converting DC power into three-phase AC power.
US08339074B2 Power converter control apparatus
Generation voltage control or generation torque control is performed as suitable control based on an external command or a load of a generator motor, to thereby prevent a rapid change of a generation torque or excessive power generation. A power converter control apparatus includes: a power conversion unit including a bridge circuit for controlling energization of an armature winding and a field circuit for controlling energization of a field winding; and a control device including B-terminal voltage detection means, field current detection means, generation voltage control means, generation torque control means, and control selection means. The control selection means selects the one of the generation voltage control means and the generation torque control means based on one of a command from an outside and a load of the generator motor.
US08339072B2 Single general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin motor control circuit
System and method for operating a motor using a single general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of a controller. In one embodiment, a control circuit may include a first terminal coupled to a GPIO pin of a controller. The first terminal can be configured to receive, and output, at least one or more signals. The control circuit may include a plurality of elements coupled to the first terminal, and motor driver circuit output terminal, such that the control circuit may be configured to output one more control signals to the motor driver circuit output terminal for control the motor driver circuit. Motor driver control signals may be based, at least in part, on one or more signals received from the first terminal.
US08339071B2 Particle accelerator having wide energy control range
A particle accelerator system for producing a charged particle beam having pulses of charged particles that have different energy levels from pulse to pulse. The system enables independent adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof without adjustment of the RF power generated by an RF source. Such independent adjustment enables the RF power provided to the first accelerating section to be maintained at a level appropriate for optimal particle capturing therein and for producing a tightly bunched beam of particles having different energy levels from pulse to pulse, while enabling the RF power provided to the second accelerating section to be varied in order to vary the energy levels of the charged particles of the charged particle beam from pulse to pulse.
US08339070B2 Light emitting diode lamp
An LED lamp includes first and second LED strings connected in parallel to each other and a variable resistor interconnected therebetween. The variable resistor includes a resistance track with resistance coils wound thereon and a slider moveable along the resistance track. One portion of resistance of the variable resistor is connected in series with the first LED string, and the other portion of the resistance of the variable resistor is connected in series with the second LED string. When a position of the slider of the variable resistor is changed, a first electric current flowing through one of the first and second strings is increased, while a second electric current flowing through the other one of the first and second strings is decreased, such that the color temperature of the LED lamp is changed accordingly.
US08339062B2 Method for dimming non-linear loads using an AC phase control scheme and a universal dimmer using the method
A universal dimmer has a switching element, a load current measurement element, a current evaluator for evaluating the current passing through the load, and a firing angle adjuster such as a regulator or transforming element. The current passing through the load is measured and evaluated so as to direct the firing angle adjuster to adapt firing angles of the switching element so that a load RMS current is proportional to a dimmer input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled. The universal dimmer is capable of dimming the output from linear and non-linear loads using AC power line phase angle control to vary output power of linear and non-linear loads, ranging from regular linear loads such as incandescent lamps, to non-linear loads, such as LED lamps, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs'), etc. as well as linear loads with large phase shift, that is, inductive and capacitive loads.
US08339059B2 Light emitting device for AC operation
An AC light emitting device is disclosed. The AC light emitting device includes at least four substrates. Serial arrays each of which has a plurality of light emitting cells connected in series are positioned on the substrates, respectively. Meanwhile, first connector means electrically connect the serial arrays formed on respective different substrates. At least two array groups each of which has at least two of the serial arrays connected in series by the first connector means are formed. The at least two array groups are connected in reverse parallel to operate. Accordingly, there is provided an AC light emitting device capable of being driven under an AC power source.
US08339048B2 Hybrid light source
A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The discrete-spectrum lamp is turned off and the continuous-spectrum lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer.
US08339047B2 Electrode for a plasma generator
The invention relates to an electrode for a plasma generator for generating plasmas at atmospheric pressure or near-atmospheric pressures by means of excitation using microwaves. The invention provides an electrode made of a sheet metal strip (1), in the longitudinal direction of which at least one slot (2) is introduced at a length that is one time or multiple times that of a quarter of the wavelength of the open-circuit voltage of the microwave such that at least two partial electrodes (3) are formed, wherein the voltage supply line is provided on the partial electrodes (3) in the region of the closed slot end or ends.
US08339046B2 Lighting control device of lighting device for vehicle
A lighting control device of a lighting device for a vehicle includes a switching regulator for supplying a driving current to a semiconductor light source. The lighting control device also includes control means having a current detecting portion for detecting the driving current and serving to control dimming of the semiconductor light source in order to reduce a mean current of the driving current by repeating driving and stopping operations of the switching regulator at a high speed upon receipt of a dimming control signal. The current detecting portion has a current holding portion for holding the driving current, detected for a driving period of the switching regulator, for a stopping period after a passage of the driving period.
US08339044B2 Mercury-free ceramic metal halide lamp with improved lumen run-up
Disclosed herein are mercury free ceramic metal halide high intensity discharge lamps of specified arc tube geometry and composition of ionizable fill. Embodiments herein generally employ a discharge vessel formed of a ceramic material having an aspect ratio satisfied by 1
US08339041B1 Plasma-shell gas discharge device with combined organic and inorganic luminescent substances
A gas discharge device constructed out of one or more plasma-shells with an organic luminescent substance(s) located in close proximity to each plasma-shell. Each plasma-shell is a hollow geometric body filled with an ionizable gas. Photons from the gas discharge inside the plasma-shell excite the luminescent substance. In one embodiment the luminescent substance is located on the external surface of the plasma-shell. In another embodiment, the luminescent substance is located inside the plasma-shell. The plasma-shell may be made of an inorganic luminescent material with organic luminescent material located on the inside or outside of the plasma-shell. The plasma-shell is of any suitable geometric shape and includes plasma-sphere, plasma-disc, and plasma-dome. A plasma-shell may be used in combination with a plasma-tube.
US08339032B2 Light source with luminophore layer
The invention relates to a light source comprising a primary radiation source and a luminescent substance, and to a method for producing this light source. The invention relates, in particular, to a method for producing an electric light source using one or more luminescent substances emitting in the visible spectrum range, and at least one primary source emitting preferably in the UV range, and which is preferably, but not exclusively, an LED.
US08339030B2 Method of manufacturing an electric optical device in which external connection terminals are formed
An electro-optical device includes an effective display region including a pixel, the pixel including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wiring line connected to the second electrode at a position to the periphery of the effective display region, the wiring line including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer that are electrically connected to each other and that overlap each other, the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer both extending in a direction in which an edge of the effective display region extends, the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer extending in the direction a distance that is longer than a distance in which the edge of the effective display region extends in the direction.
US08339025B2 Luminescent ceramic and light-emitting device using the same
Some embodiments provide luminescent ceramics which have a lower amount of dopant than conventional luminescent ceramics. In some embodiments, the luminescent ceramic comprises a host material comprising a rare earth element and at least one rare earth dopant, wherein the rare earth dopant may be about 0.01% to 0.5% of the rare earth atoms present in the material. Some embodiments provide luminescent ceramic comprising: a polycrystalline phosphor represented by the formula (A1-xEx)3B5O12. Some embodiments provide a light-emitting device comprising a luminescent ceramic disclosed herein.
US08339024B2 Methods and apparatuses for reducing heat on an emitter exit window
An exit window can include an exit window foil, and a support grid contacting and supporting the exit window foil. The support grid can have first and second grids, each having respective first and second grid portions that are positioned in an alignment and thermally isolated from each other. The first and second grid portions can each have a series of apertures that are aligned for allowing the passage of a beam therethrough to reach and pass through the exit window foil. The second grid portion can contact the exit window foil. The first grid portion can mask the second grid portion and the exit window foil from heat caused by the beam striking the first grid portion.
US08339023B2 Discharge lamp
A discharge lamp includes an airtight tube including a light-emitting unit in which a space is formed and seal portions formed at least on one end of the light-emitting unit, a discharge medium including a metal halide and a rare gas sealed in the light-emitting unit, a metal foil sealed into the seal portion, and a pair of electrodes one ends of which are overlapped and connected to the metal foil and the other ends of which are provided such that they are led into the space of the light-emitting unit and arranged in opposition to each other. A concavity is formed on at least a portion of the back surface side of the metal foil on which the electrode is overlapped, and a compression distortion is formed on the seal portion in the vicinity of the concavity.
US08339022B2 Field emission electron source having carbon nanotubes
A field emission electron source having carbon nanotubes includes a CNT string and a conductive base. The CNT string has an end portion and a broken end portion. The end portion is contacted with and electrically connected to the surface of the conductive base. The CNTs at the broken end portion form a tooth-shape structure, wherein some CNTs protrude and higher than the adjacent CNTs. Each protruded CNT functions as an electron emitter.
US08339019B1 Structure for an electromagnetic machine having compression and tension members
A structure of an electromagnetic machine includes an outer support member configured to support a conductive winding or a magnet. The structure further includes an inner support member, a first elongate compression member, a second elongate compression member, and an elongate tension member. The first elongate compression member and the second elongate compression member each include a first end portion coupled to the outer support member and a second end portion coupled to the inner support member to resist radial and axial deflection of the outer support member relative inner support member. The elongate tension member includes a first end portion coupled to the first compression member and a second end portion coupled to one of the inner support or the second elongate compression member to resist rotational deflection of the outer support member relative to the inner support member.
US08339017B2 Multi-layer piezoelectric element and injection apparatus using the same
To provide a multi-layer piezoelectric element having high strength against breakage, high insulation and excellent displacement performance, and an injection apparatus that incorporates the same.The multi-layer piezoelectric element comprising a stack 4 constituted from a plurality of piezoelectric layers 1 stacked one on another via internal electrode layers 2, wherein at least a part of peripheral areas 31, that are disposed between two piezoelectric layers 1, 1 located adjacently in the stacking direction and are located between an edge 2a of the internal electrode layer 2 and side face 4a of the stack 4, is dispersed areas where a plurality of metallic regions are dispersed via voids 21.
US08339013B2 Semiconductor device and method of controlling electrostatic actuator
A semiconductor device controls an electrostatic actuator having first and second electrodes formed so as to come close to each other when transition occurs from opened state to closed state by electrostatic attraction against elastic force. The semiconductor device includes: a voltage generation unit generating different applied voltages to be applied to the first and second electrodes; a control unit controlling the voltage generation unit to switch the applied voltages; and a detection unit detecting voltage of the first or second electrode or a rate of change in the voltage. The control unit controls a target voltage of the voltage generation unit to be switched from a first voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage according to a detection output by the detection unit.
US08339009B2 Magnetic flux conducting unit
The present invention relates to a magnetic flux conducting unit (10) for electromagnetic apparatus, the electromagnetic apparatus being operative to convert one of mechanical energy and electrical energy into the other of mechanical energy and electrical energy. The magnetic flux conducting unit comprises at least one magnetic flux conducting element (12a, 12b) formed of a magnetically permeable material. Also, the at least one magnetic flux conducting element defines: a coil receiving space (18) for receiving a coil assembly (32) of the electromagnetic apparatus; and at least one material receiving space (16, 30a, 30b), which accommodates a substantially magnetically impermeable material.
US08339006B2 Permanent magnet arrangement for generator rotor
An electric generator rotor having one or more permanent magnets coupled thereon. The permanent magnets provide a constant magnetic field in the rotor at all times, therein minimizing the effect of rotor residual magnetism on the start-up characteristics of the electric generator. The type and placement of the one or more permanent magnets on the rotor and/or magnetic field confinement techniques may be utilized to control spatial distribution of magnetic field within the rotor.
US08339005B2 Assembly and method for mounting magnets on a steel sheet rotor pack
An assembly for mounting magnets on a steel sheet rotor pack, the assembly including a plurality of baseplates made of a magnetic material and fixed to the rotor pack, and a plurality of magnets being in turn fitted to each baseplate. In one embodiment, the baseplates are fixed to the rotor pack by means of inner locking bars housed in axial ducts provided inside said rotor pack. The baseplates are fitted to the inner locking bars by fixing means passing through longitudinal channels connecting the axial ducts and the outer surface of the rotor pack.
US08339004B2 Control box for motor
A motor, including a body, including a housing, a stator, and a rotor, and a controller, including a control box, and a control circuit board. The body is disposed at the top of the motor. The controller is disposed at the bottom of the motor. The control circuit board is disposed in the control box. A rotary dip switch is disposed at the bottom of the control box. The control circuit board includes a power board, and a control board. The rotary dip switch is electrically connected to the control board. The rotary dip switch controls different functions of the motor.
US08339002B2 End winding for an electrical machine, and method for its production
An end winding is described for a stator of an electrical machine. The end winding includes at least two round connectors via which the current is passed out from the winding bars of the stator, as well as a plurality of supporting brackets, via which the end winding is attached to the stator. The end winding has at least two round connectors having a radial section at whose end a phase connection block is in each case arranged. At least two phase connection blocks of one phase are arranged alongside one another in the circumferential direction. The adjacent phase connection blocks are connected via at least one pin element and is mounted at least partially integrally in recesses in the mutually facing side surfaces of the phase connection blocks. A method for fitting an end winding such as this is also described.
US08338998B2 Electronic circuit-integrated motor apparatus
An electronic circuit including semiconductor modules and capacitors is positioned in the axial direction of a motor. Each semiconductor module is longitudinally positioned in contact with a heat sink. More specifically, a line perpendicular to the surface of a semiconductor chip included in the semiconductor module is perpendicular to the axis line of the motor. Consequently, each capacitor is positioned so that at least a part of the positional range of the capacitor in the axial direction of the motor coincides with the positional ranges of the semiconductor module and the heat sink in the axial direction.
US08338996B2 Scavenging concept for a hydrogen cooled generator
A hydrogen cooled generator assembly includes a hydrogen cooled generator and a fundament, wherein the generator is mounted on the fundament, and wherein the fundament includes at least one cavity underneath the generator. The at least one cavity includes at least one terminal box disposed adjacent to the generator and extending downward from the generator for collection of a plurality of electrical links from the generator; at least one collection box disposed beneath the at least one terminal box having a top wall and a first and a second side wall and configured to guide the plurality of electrical links from the at least one terminal box in a further downward direction; a lateral space; and a seal plate covering the lateral space at an upper end of the lateral space.
US08338995B2 Cooling fluid path structure for superconduction rotating machine
Disclosed is a cooling fluid path structure for a superconducting rotating machine, which includes: a fixed inlet fluid path fixed together with the fluid supply means; a rotating inlet fluid path adjacently connected to an outlet of the fixed inlet fluid path, which is for transferring the cooling fluid transferred from the fixed inlet fluid path to a cooling fluid path inlet provided in the rotor while rotating together with the rotor; a rotating outlet fluid path rotating together with the rotor, to which the cooling fluid discharged from a cooling fluid path outlet of the rotor is transferred; and a fixed outlet fluid path adjacently connected to the rotating outlet fluid path, which is for transferring the cooling fluid transferred from the rotating outlet fluid path to the fluid supply means while being fixed together with the fluid supply means, wherein the rotating outlet fluid path and the fixed outlet fluid path are disposed in such a manner that they surround outside of the rotating inlet fluid path and the fixed inlet fluid path.
US08338994B2 Power tool
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a power tool including: a commutator motor including a rotor and a stator having a substantially cylindrical stator core; a fan provided to face one axial end of the stator core so as to be rotatable coaxially with the rotor; and a stator coil bundle fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the stator core, the stator coil bundle having a coil end portion that protrudes more than the stator core in a rotational axis direction of the rotor, wherein a minimum internal diameter of the coil end portion is smaller than a maximum external diameter of the fan, and wherein the coil end portion has a fan facing portion that faces the fan along a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction.
US08338993B2 Actuator using magnetic force, and drive device and sensor using the same
To provide an actuator that can flexibly and softly move like muscles, can maintain a stable operation over a long period of time, can generate a strong driving force, has a rapid input response, has a favorable sensitivity, has a high energy conversion efficiency, and can be accurately controlled, a coil is embedded in a magnetic elastomer obtained by mixing a powder-like ferromagnetic or highly magnetic permeable material with an elastomer, so that the coil can be electrically connected. By electrically connecting the coil, a magnetic field generates in the coil and around the coil. The magnetic field penetrates the magnetic elastomer. When the magnetic field generates in the magnetic elastomer, deformation force acts on the magnetic elastomer by the magnetic force acting on each portion in the magnetic elastomer. Thus, driving force can be obtained.
US08338992B2 Transmission device using a plurality of elementary return conductors
The invention relates to a device for pseudo-differential transmission through interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals.An interconnection comprises 4 transmission conductors and 5 elementary return conductors which are distinct from the reference conductor. One end of the interconnection is connected to a termination circuit. A transmitting circuit receives at its input the signals from the 4 channels of a source, and is connected to the conductors of the interconnection. Each output signal of a receiving circuit is mainly determined by one or more of the voltages between one of its signal terminals connected to the transmission conductors and its common terminal connected to the elementary return conductors. The signals of the 4 channels of the source are sent to the four channels of the destinations without noticeable external crosstalk.
US08338991B2 Adaptive impedance tuning in wireless power transmission
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A wireless power receiver includes a receive antenna for coupling with near field radiation in a coupling-mode region generated by a transmit antenna operating at a resonant frequency. The receive antenna generates an RF signal when coupled to the near field radiation and a rectifier converts the RF signal to a DC input signal. A direct current-to-direct current (DC-to-DC) converter coupled to the DC input signal generates a DC output signal. A pulse modulator generates a pulse-width modulation signal to the DC-to-DC converter to adjust a DC impedance of the wireless power receiver by modifying a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal responsive to at least one of a voltage of the DC input signal, a current of the DC input signal, a voltage of the DC output signal, and a current of the DC output signal.
US08338990B2 Inductive power supply system with multiple coil primary
An inductive power supply including multiple tank circuits and a controller for selecting at least one of the tank circuits in order to wirelessly transfer power based on received power demand information. In addition, a magnet may be used to align multiple remote devices with the inductive power supply. In one embodiment, different communication systems are employed depending on which coil is being used to transfer wireless power.
US08338989B2 Inverter power system
A photovoltaic system may include a DC to AC inverter, a voltage sensor configured to measure an input voltage from a photovoltaic array, and a controller configured to calculate a voltage differential.
US08338974B2 Wind turbine
A wind turbine for generating an electric voltage from mechanical energy derived from wind is provided. The invention includes a specially designed turbine enclosure through which the wind passes. The enclosure has a Venturi area which results in movement of the wind at a rapid speed through the turbine. An electric generator with a rotable blade also is provided within the Venturi area in order to take advantage of the faster moving wind. The faster the wind moves, the more energy can be converted by the generator. The generator can be constructed with a plurality of electric coils and magnets which can be arranged in series/parallel combinations depending on the power requirements of a particular application.
US08338971B2 Engine-driven generator speed control system and method
A system and method are provided for controlling an internal combustion engine driving a generator/welder or a stand-alone generator. Controlling the engine may include altering the engine speed based upon a detected demand on the generator and/or operating parameters of a welder. For example, the engine speed may be increased based on a detected draw on the generator and/or the operating parameters of the welder. In addition, the engine speed may be automatically decreased to a non-standard idle speed or the engine may be automatically turned off if no demand is detected for a period of time. Additionally, the engine speed may be increased if only frequency-insensitive demands are detected on the generator. Combinations of these and further methods may be executed. Various devices are provided for implementing the above methods.
US08338970B2 Integrated circuit with adjusting elements and method for its manufacture
An integrated circuit is disclosed with adjusting elements, which in a first manufacturing stage are connected via tracks to terminal pads lying outside the integrated circuit. At least one of the tracks of the integrated circuit lies on a surface of a region, which includes semiconductor material and in a second manufacturing stage is isolated by a pn junction from additional semiconductor material, which is adjacent to the region. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing this type of integrated circuit is also disclosed.
US08338969B2 Serial advanced technology attachment interface storage device
A serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface storage device. The SATA interface storage device can be used in cooperation with an electrical apparatus and comprises a substrate, a chip set, a SATA interface and a shell. The substrate has a first surface, a second surface corresponding to the first surface and a plurality of connectors between the first surface and the second surface. The chip set is disposed on the first surface. The SATA interface is disposed on the second surface and is electrically connected to the chip set via a part of the connectors so that the electrical apparatus may be electrically connected to the chip set via the SATA interface to access the chip set. The shell has a width and a thickness and defines a receiving space for receiving the substrate, the chip set and the SATA interface, where the width and the thickness conform to a micro-memory card standard.
US08338967B2 Stress buffering package for a semiconductor component
The present invention relates to a stress buffering package for a semiconductor component, wherein a stress buffering means comprises individual stress buffering elements that do not influence the stress buffering effect from each other. Furthermore the invention relates a method for manufacturing a stress buffering package for a semiconductor component.
US08338966B2 Joint structure, joining material, and method for producing joining material containing bismuth
The present invention provides a semiconductor component having a joint structure including a semiconductor device, an electrode disposed opposite the semiconductor device, and a joining material which contains Bi as main component and connects the semiconductor device to the electrode. Since the joining material contains a carbon compound, joint failure due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient between the semiconductor device and the electrode can be reduced compared with conventional materials. The joining material which contains Bi as main component enables provision of a joint structure in which a semiconductor device and an electrode are joined by a joint more reliable than a conventional joint.
US08338965B2 Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor chip is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate on which an integrated circuit is formed. The semiconductor chip, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate in an area array, further comprises a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled with the inside of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the electrodes are arranged into a plurality of first groups respectively lined along a plurality of paralleling first straight lines and, further, into a plurality of second groups respectively lined along a plurality of second straight lines which extend so as to intersect with the first straight lines.
US08338964B2 Stacked-chip device
A stacked-chip device includes a first inductive chip having a first function, a second inductive chip having a second function different from the first function, which is stacked on the first inductive chip, and a third inductive chip having the second function, which is stacked on the second inductive chip. Each of the first, second and third inductive chips has transmitting inductors which transmit data and receiving inductors which receive data. The transmitting inductors and the receiving inductors are disposed in line symmetry to an axis of symmetry. The axes of symmetry of the first, second and third inductive chips are overlapped. Each of the second and third inductive chips is disposed in upside-down or back to front to the first inductive chip.
US08338963B2 Multiple die face-down stacking for two or more die
A microelectronic assembly is disclosed that comprises a substrate having first and second openings, a first microelectronic element and a second microelectronic element in a face-down position. The first element has an active surface facing the front surface of the substrate and bond pads aligned with the first opening, a rear surface remote therefrom, and an edge extending between the front and rear surfaces. The second microelectronic element has a front surface facing the first microelectronic element and projecting beyond an edge of the first microelectronic element, and bond pads at the front surface of the second microelectronic element aligned with the second opening.
US08338960B2 Method of manufacturing photomask and method of repairing optical proximity correction
A method of manufacturing a photomask is described. The graphic data of the photomask are provided, and than an optical proximity correction is performed to the graphic data. A process rule check is then performed to the graphic data with the optical proximity correction. When at least one failed pattern not passing the process rule check is found in the graphic data, a repair procedure is performed only to the failed pattern so that the failed pattern can pass the process rule check. The patterns of the photomask are then formed according to the corrected and repaired graphic data.
US08338957B2 Low resistance through-wafer via
The present invention provides a wafer (3) comprising a through-wafer via (7) through the wafer (3) formed by a through-wafer via hole (9) and at least a first conductive coating (25). A substantially vertical sidewall (11) of the through-wafer via hole (9) except for a constriction (23) provides a reliable through-wafer via (7) occupying a small area on the wafer. The wafer (3) is preferably made of a semiconductor material, such as silicon, or a glass ceramic. A method for manufacturing such a wafer (3) is described.
US08338951B2 Metal line of semiconductor device having a diffusion barrier with an amorphous TaBN layer and method for forming the same
A metal line in a semiconductor device includes an insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metal line forming region is formed in the insulation layer. A metal line is formed to fill the metal line forming region of the insulation layer. And a diffusion barrier that includes an amorphous TaBN layer is formed between the metal line and the insulation layer. The amorphous TaBN layer prevents a copper component from diffusing into the semiconductor substrate, thereby improving upon the characteristics and the reliability of a device.
US08338947B2 Solder interconnect pads with current spreading layers
Structure and methods of making the structures. The structures include a structure, comprising: an organic dielectric passivation layer extending over a substrate; an electrically conductive current spreading pad on a top surface of the organic dielectric passivation layer; an electrically conductive solder bump pad comprising one or more layers on a top surface of the current spreading pad; and an electrically conductive solder bump containing tin, the solder bump on a top surface of the solder bump pad, the current spreading pad comprising one or more layers, at least one of the one or more layers consisting of a material that will not form an intermetallic with tin or at least one of the one or more layers is a material that is a diffusion barrier to tin and adjacent to the solder bump pad.
US08338944B2 Semiconductor device, semiconductor module, radiating fin and fitting portions
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module that has a joint surface, a first fitting portion and a second fitting portion provided on the joint surface of the semiconductor module, the second fitting portion having a shape different from the first fitting portion; and a radiating fin that has a joint surface, a third fitting portion and a fourth fitting portion provided on the joint surface of the radiating fin, the fourth fitting portion having a shape different from the third fitting portion. The semiconductor module is bonded to the radiating fin so that the first fitting portion is fitted into the third fitting portion or the third fitting portion is fitted into the first fitting portion, and the second fitting portion is fitted into the fourth fitting portion or the fourth fitting portion is fitted into the second fitting portion.
US08338937B2 Flange package for a semiconductor device
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flange package comprises a flange and an interposer having two or more fingers disposed in an interposer trench. The flange has a mold lock formed about a periphery of the interposer trench. A dielectric ring comprising a dielectric material is formed in the interposer trench, and in and around the periphery of the mold lock. A semiconductor die is disposed within the dielectric ring having gate pads and source pads formed on a first side, and having drain pads disposed on a second side of the die. The gate pads are coupled to the interposer and the source pads are coupled to the flange. A gate lead is coupled to the interposer and a drain lead is coupled to the drain pads. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08338936B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method. One embodiment provides a semiconductor chip. An encapsulating material covers the semiconductor chip. A metal layer is over the semiconductor chip and the encapsulating material. At least one of a voltage generating unit and a display unit are rigidly attached to at least one of the encapsulating material and the metal layer.
US08338935B2 Thermally enhanced electronic package utilizing carbon nanocapsules and method of manufacturing the same
A thermally enhanced electronic package comprises a chip, a substrate, an adhesive, and an encapsulation. The adhesive or the encapsulation is mixed with carbon nanocapsules. The substrate includes an insulation layer and a wiring layer formed on the substrate. The adhesive covers the chip and the substrate. The chip is electrically connected to the wiring layer. The encapsulation covers the chip and the substrate.
US08338930B2 Integrated circuit with electromagnetic intrachip communication and methods for use therewith
An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a first integrated circuit die having a first circuit coupled to the substrate via a first bonding wire, the first circuit having a first intra-chip interface. A second integrated circuit die has a second circuit coupled to the substrate via a second bonding wire, the second circuit having a second intra-chip interface, the second bonding wire electrically isolated from the first bonding wire. The first circuit communicates with the second circuit via the first intra-chip interface and the second intra-chip interface, and wherein the first intra-chip interface and the second intra-chip interface communicate via a first electromagnetic coupling between the first bonding wire and the second bonding wire.
US08338929B2 Stacked-type chip package structure and fabrication method thereof
A stacked-type chip package structure in which stacked chips and stacked flexible circuit boards are disposed on a substrate. A plurality of spacer layers is respectively sandwiched between two adjacent chips and stacked on top of each other. In addition, conductive bumps are disposed on the substrate and between the stacked flexible circuit boards, such that the stacked flexible circuit boards are electrically connected to the substrate. Besides, conductive wires are electrically connected between the flexible circuit boards and the chips, so as to form a package structure with multi-layer chips on the substrate. Thereby, electrical performance and reliability of the chips are improved.
US08338926B2 Lead frame for optical semiconductor devices, method of producing the same, and optical semiconductor device
A lead frame for optical semiconductor devices in which a layer 2 composed of silver or a silver alloy is formed on an electrically-conductive substrate 1, having: a surface layer 4 composed of a metal or alloy thereof excellent in corrosion resistance as an outermost layer, wherein a concentration of a metallic component excellent in corrosion resistance of the surface layer is 50% by mass or more at the uppermost portion of the surface layer, and wherein a solid-solution layer 3 of silver and a metallic material which is a main component of the surface layer is formed between the surface layer and the layer composed of silver or a silver alloy.
US08338923B1 Package structure of multi-layer array type LED device
A package structure of multi-layer array type LED device is disclosed, wherein a peripheral area of a substrate and a surface of lead frame are respectively installed with a convex/concave surface structure. The convex/concave surface structure increases the surface roughness of the peripheral area of the substrate and the surface of the lead frame, so a liquid package material can be filled in cavities and concave parts; thus a package member formed through the package material being solidified can be firmly combined with the substrate and the lead frame as one piece. In addition, the bottom of a lens is provided with a binder for increasing the sealing level of the lens. Moreover, the present invention adopted a soldering paste added with material having good heat conductivity, so heat generated by LED dices can be rapidly dissipated to the exterior.
US08338911B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device including a substrate provided with a semiconductor element, and first and second interconnects provided above the substrate, each of the first and second interconnects having a line shape in a plan view, and the first and second interconnects being substantially parallel to each other. The device further includes a first via plug provided above the substrate, electrically connected to a lower surface of the first interconnect on a second interconnect side, and including a first recess part at an upper end of the first via plug under a first region between interconnects, the first region between interconnects being a region between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The device further includes a via layer insulator provided above the substrate and including the first via plug, and a first trench under the first region between interconnects, the first trench including a region adjacent to the first via plug in a width direction of the first and second interconnects. Furthermore, an air gap is included in the first region between interconnects and in the first trench.
US08338908B2 Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate in which, on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a buried layer of a second conductivity type and a semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type are stacked; trench that define an element forming region in the substrate; element isolation insulation film formed in the trench; and a semiconductor element formed in the element forming region. The trench include first trench formed from the surface of the substrate to boundary depth and second trench formed from the boundary depth to the bottom and having a diameter smaller than that of the first trench. First diffusion layers connected to the buried layer are formed around the first or second trench according to inter-element breakdown voltage required of the semiconductor element.
US08338905B2 Photodiode and photodiode array with improved performance characteristics
The present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array, having a p+ diffused area that is smaller than the area of a mounted scintillator crystal, designed and manufactured with improved device characteristics, and more particularly, has relatively low dark current, low capacitance and improved signal-to-noise ratio characteristics. More specifically, the present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array that includes a metal shield for reflecting light back into a scintillator crystal, thus allowing for a relatively small p+ diffused area.
US08338903B2 Photoelectric transducer and manufacturing method therefor
The surrounding length of a junction separation portion can be shortened to improve an insulating resistance in order to provide a solar cell with highly efficiency.In a photoelectric transducer of the type where a light-receiving surface electrode is wired to another electrode on a back surface via a through electrode passing through a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type, the photoelectric transducer comprises: a junction separation portion made around the through electrode on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer formed for covering the junction separation portion, the through electrode penetrating the dielectric layer; and a back electrode provided on the dielectric layer and coupled to the through electrode which is connected to the light-receiving surface electrode.
US08338900B2 Image sensor having curved micro-mirrors over the sensing photodiode and method for fabricating
The invention involves the integration of curved micro-mirrors over a photodiode active area (collection area) in a CMOS image sensor (CIS) process. The curved micro-mirrors reflect light that has passed through the collection area back into the photo diode. The curved micro-mirrors are best implemented in a backside illuminated device (BSI).
US08338898B2 Micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) microphone having a thin-film construction
An MEMS microphone is bonded onto the surface of an IC component containing at least one integrated circuit suitable for the conditioning and processing of the electrical signal supplied by the MEMS microphone. The entire component is simple to produce and has a compact and space-saving construction. Production is accomplished in a simple and reliable manner.
US08338894B2 Increased depth of drain and source regions in complementary transistors by forming a deep drain and source region prior to a cavity etch
Deep drain and source regions of an N-channel transistor may be formed through corresponding cavities, which may be formed together with cavities of a P-channel transistor, wherein the lateral offsets of the cavities may be adjusted on the basis of an appropriate reverse spacer regime. Consequently, the dopant species in the N-channel transistor extends down to a specific depth, for instance down to the buried insulating layer of an SOI device, while at the same time providing an efficient strain-inducing mechanism for the P-channel transistor with a highly efficient overall manufacturing process flow.
US08338891B2 Arrangement of MOSFET's for controlling same
An arrangement of a plurality of MOSFET's on a chip that includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal is provided, the arrangement having at least one first MOSFET used as a first control cell and at least one second MOSFET used as a second control cell, each MOSFET having respectively a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal. The source terminals of all the MOSFET's are connected to one another and contacting the first terminal of the chip. The drain terminal of the at least one second MOSFET, which is used as a power cell, contacts the second terminal of the chip. The gate terminals of all the MOSFET's are connected to one another and contact the third terminal of the chip. The gate terminal and the drain terminal of the at least one first MOSFET, which is used as the first control cell, are connected to one another.
US08338890B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of external terminals; a plurality of semiconductor substrates that are layered; a through electrode penetrating through at least one of the semiconductor substrates and electrically connected with any of the external terminals; and a plurality of electrostatic discharge protection circuits provided on any one of the semiconductor substrates. In the device, the through electrode is electrically connected with the plurality of electrostatic discharge protection circuits.
US08338886B2 Semiconductor device with (110)-oriented silicon
A vertical semiconductor device includes a bottom metal layer and a first P-type semiconductor layer overlying the bottom metal layer. The first P-type semiconductor layer is characterized by a surface crystal orientation of (110) and a first conductivity. The first P-type semiconductor layer is heavily doped. The vertical semiconductor device also includes a second P-type semiconductor layer overlying the first P-type semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a surface crystal orientation of (110) and is characterized by a lower conductivity than the first conductivity. The vertical semiconductor device also has a top metal layer overlying the second P-type semiconductor layer. A current conduction from the top metal layer to the bottom metal layer and through the second p-type semiconductor layer is characterized by a hole mobility along a <110> crystalline orientation and on (110) crystalline plane.
US08338871B2 Field effect transistor with electric field and space-charge control contact
A group III nitride-based transistor capable of achieving terahertz-range cutoff and maximum frequencies of operation at relatively high drain voltages is provided. In an embodiment, two additional independently biased electrodes are used to control the electric field and space-charge close to the gate edges.
US08338868B2 Shared photodiode image sensor
An image sensor with a shared photodiode is provided. The image sensor includes at least two unit pixels, each of which includes a photodiode, a diffusion region which gathers electrons from the photodiode, a transfer transistor which connects the photodiode with the diffusion region, and a readout circuit which reads out a signal from the diffusion region. Photodiodes of neighboring unit pixels are disposed symmetrically to be adjacent to one another to form a shared photodiode. The image sensor does not have a STI region which causes a dark current restricting its performance and does not require a basic minimum design factor (a distance or an area) related to a STI region. A region corresponding to a STI region may be used as a region of a photodiode or for additional pixel scaling. Therefore, a limitation in scaling of a photodiode is overcome, and pixel performance is improved in spite of pixel scaling.
US08338866B2 Microwave semiconductor device using compound semiconductor and method for manufacturing the same
An undoped AlGaN layer 13 is formed on a buffer layer composed of a GaN series material formed on a semiconductor substrate, a drain electrode 15 and a source electrode 16 forming ohmic junction with the undoped AlGaN layer 13 are formed separately from each other on the undoped AlGaN layer 13. A gate electrode 17 composed of metal Ni and Au laminated in this order is formed between the drain electrodes 15 and the source electrode 16 on the undoped AlGaN layer 13. The end portion 17-2 of the gate electrode 17 is formed on the underlying metal 18 formed by a metal containing Ti via an insulating film 14 on a GaN buffer layer 12 surrounding the undoped AlGaN layer 13.
US08338861B2 III-nitride semiconductor device with stepped gate trench and process for its manufacture
A III-nitride heterojunction power semiconductor device that includes a passivation body with a gate well having a top mouth that is wider than the bottom mouth thereof, and a method of fabrication for the same.
US08338860B2 Normally off gallium nitride field effect transistors (FET)
A heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor power device comprises a hetero-junction structure comprises a first semiconductor layer interfacing a second semiconductor layer of two different band gaps thus generating an interface layer as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer. The power device further comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on two opposite sides of a gate electrode disposed on top of the hetero-junction structure for controlling a current flow between the source and drain electrodes in the 2DEG layer. The power device further includes a floating gate located between the gate electrode and hetero-junction structure, wherein the gate electrode is insulated from the floating gate with an insulation layer and wherein the floating gate is disposed above and padded with a thin insulation layer from the hetero-junction structure and wherein the floating gate is charged for continuously applying a voltage to the 2DEG layer to pinch off the current flowing in the 2DEG layer between the source and drain electrodes whereby the HFET semiconductor power device is a normally off device.
US08338855B2 Voltage-controlled bidirectional switch
A voltage-controlled vertical bi-directional monolithic switch, referenced with respect to the rear surface of the switch, formed from a lightly-doped N-type semiconductor substrate, in which the control structure includes, on the front surface side, a first P-type well in which is formed an N-type region, and a second P-type well in which is formed a MOS transistor, the first P-type well and the gate of the MOS transistor being connected to a control terminal, said N-type region being connected to a main terminal of the MOS transistor, and the second main terminal of the MOS transistor being connected to the rear surface voltage of the switch.
US08338853B2 Substrate for forming light-emitting layer, light emitter and light-emitting substance
Light emitters and substrates for light emitters are provided to improve light-emitting efficiency and achieve improvement in crystal quality. A light emitter includes a single-crystal substrate, an oriented microcrystal layer, and a light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer is made of a nitride semiconductor by means of a vapor-phase growth method. In the oriented microcrystal layer, the proportion of crystals, in which one of crystal axes is oriented with respect to the single-crystal substrate, is 5-9 out of 10 crystals. An average diameter of the crystal grains of the respective crystals, contained in the oriented microcrystal layer, is 1-1,000 nm. A light emitter may be equipped with an intermediate layer, a light-emitting layer, and a clad layer. These layers are formed on the oriented microcrystal layer by a vapor-phase growth method. The light-emitting layer contains microcrystal grains whose average grain diameter is 1-1,000 nm.
US08338846B2 Wavelength converted light emitting diode with reduced emission of unconverted light
A method for the manufacture of a wavelength converted light emitting device is provided. A light curable coating material is arranged on the outer surface of a wavelength converted light emitting diode. The light curable coating material is cured, in positions where a high intensity of unconverted LED-light encounters the curable coating material. The method can be used to selectively stop unconverted light from exiting the device, leading to a wavelength converted LED essentially only emitting converted light.
US08338844B2 Semiconductor light emitting apparatus having stacked reflective dielectric films
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes causing a semiconductor light emitting device and a mounting member to face each other. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a stacked structure unit including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a light emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, a first electrode provided on a major surface of the stacked structure unit to connect to the first semiconductor layer, a second electrode provided on the major surface of the stacked structure unit to connect to the second semiconductor layer, and a dielectric stacked film provided on the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer of the major surface not covered by the first electrode and the second electrode, formed of stacked dielectric films having different refractive indexes, and including a protruding portion erected on at least a portion of a rim of at least one of the first and second electrodes. The mounting member includes a connection member connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes. The method further includes causing the connection member to contact and join to the at least one of the first and second electrodes using the protruding portion as a guide.
US08338840B2 Solid state light sheet or strip having cavities formed in bottom substrate
A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. A transparent top substrate is then formed over the bottom substrate. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. In one method, the top substrate contains a conductor pattern that connects to LED electrodes and conductors on the bottom substrate.
US08338834B2 Diamond semiconductor device
The diamond semiconductor device is a diamond semiconductor device where a pair of electrodes are fixed on a diamond substrate, and wherein at least one interface to the electrode on the surface of the diamond substrate has a hydrogen termination and at least the surface of the substrate between the pair of two electrodes is controlled to have a larger electric resistivity value than inside the substrate. Accordingly, a diamond semiconductor device can be realized, capable of attaining the device work stability, especially the device work stability in severe environments such as high temperature with exhibiting the function of the hydrogen termination thereof to the utmost extent.
US08338831B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Recesses are formed in a pMOS region 2, and a SiGe layer is then formed so as to cover a bottom surface and a side surface of each of the recesses. Next, a SiGe layer containing Ge at a lower content than that in the SiGe layer is formed on each of the SiGe layers.
US08338830B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, which is able to improve on-current and mobility of a polycrystal TFT without disturbing a high integration level, and also provide a semiconductor device obtained in accordance with the manufacturing method. The manufacturing method comprises steps of adding a catalytic element to a semiconductor film and heating the semiconductor film to form a more crystallized first region; forming a less crystallized second region than the first region; irradiating first laser light to the first region to form a more crystallized third region than the first region; irradiating second laser light to the second region to form a more crystallized fourth region than the second region; and patterning the third region to form a first island-shaped region and the fourth region to form a second island-shaped region, wherein the first laser light has the same energy density from the second laser light, and a scan speed of the first laser light is faster than that of the second laser light.
US08338828B2 Semiconductor package and method of testing same
A packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having a wire layout pattern and a solder mask layer. An integrated circuit attached to a surface of the substrate is electrically connected to the wire layout pattern. An encapsulation material covers at least the integrated circuit and the solder mask layer. One or more crack seal rings are disposed on the solder mask surface. The crack seal rings are copper traces with terminals that allow current to be applied to the traces. A broken trace (open circuit condition) is indicative of a crack in the package. Thus, electrical testing is performed to detect physical defects.
US08338827B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In a thin film transistor which uses an oxide semiconductor, buffer layers containing indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and nitrogen are provided between the oxide semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers.
US08338826B2 Suspension or solution for making organic optoelectronic device, making method thereof, and applications
A suspension or solution for an organic optoelectronic device is disclosed. The composition of the suspension or solution includes at least one kind of micro/nano transition metal oxide and a solvent. The composition of the suspension or solution can selectively include at least one kind of transition metal oxide ions or a precursor of transition metal oxide. Moreover, the method of making and applications of the suspension or solution are also disclosed.
US08338821B2 Pressure detection apparatus, Josephson device, and superconducting quantum interference device that include superconductor thin film that undergoes transition from superconductor to insulator by pressure
A pressure detection apparatus (30) detects, among a plurality of superconductor thin films (11 to 14) having different critical pressures at which a transition from a superconductor to an insulator occurs, the superconductor thin films (12 to 14) that have undergone the transition to the insulator with ammeters (242, 252, 262); and to detect, as an internal pressure of a housing (10), the maximum critical pressure among the critical pressures of the detected superconductor thin films (12 to 14).
US08338820B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer. The first conductivity type layer has a superlattice structure. First semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately provided in the superlattice structure. The first semiconductor layers include a first nitride semiconductor and the second semiconductor layers include a second nitride semiconductor having a larger lattice constant than the first nitride semiconductor. The light emitting layer has a multi-quantum well structure. Quantum well layers and barrier layers are alternately provided in the multi-quantum well structure. The quantum well layers include a third nitride semiconductor having a smaller lattice constant than the second nitride semiconductor and the barrier layers include a fourth nitride semiconductor having a smaller lattice constant than the third nitride semiconductor. At least one of the quantum well layers has lattice spacing equal to the lattice constant of the third nitride semiconductor.
US08338817B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Any of a plurality of contact plugs which reaches a diffusion layer serving as a drain layer of an MOS transistor has an end provided in contact with a lower surface of a thin insulating film provided selectively on an interlayer insulating film. A phase change film constituted by GST to be a chalcogenide compound based phase change material is provided on the thin insulating film, and an upper electrode is provided thereon. Any of the plurality of contact plugs which reaches the diffusion layer serving as a source layer has an end connected directly to an end of a contact plug penetrating an interlayer insulating film.
US08338815B2 Memory units and related semiconductor devices including nanowires
Methods of fabricating a memory unit are provided including forming a plurality of first nanowire structures, each of which includes a first nanowire extending in a first direction parallel to the first substrate and a first electrode layer enclosing the first nanowire, on a first substrate. The first electrode layers are partially removed to form first electrodes beneath the first nanowires. A first insulation layer filling up spaces between structures, each of which includes the first nanowire and the first electrode, is formed on the first substrate. A second electrode layer is formed on the first nanowires and the first insulation layer. A plurality of second nanowires is formed on the second electrode layer, each of which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second electrode layer is partially etched using the second nanowires as an etching mask to form a plurality of second electrodes. Related memory units, methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices are also provided.
US08338813B2 Bit-erasing architecture for seek-scan probe (SSP) memory storage
An apparatus comprising a substrate, a heater formed on the substrate, and a phase-change layer formed on the heater. The heater comprises a heater layer and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to the heater layer. A process comprising forming a heater on a substrate and forming a phase-change layer on the heater. The heater comprises a heater layer and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to the heater layer.
US08338806B2 Gas cluster ion beam system with rapid gas switching apparatus
A processing system is provided for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). The system includes a nozzle for forming and emitting gas cluster beams through a nozzle outlet, and a stagnation chamber that is located upstream of and adjacent the nozzle. The stagnation chamber has an inlet, and the nozzle is configured to direct a single gas cluster beam toward the substrate. An ionizer is positioned downstream of the outlet and is configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB. The system also includes a gas supply that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber, and which includes a gas source and a valve located between the gas source and the nozzle for controlling flow of a gas between the gas source and the nozzle.
US08338805B2 Reticle manufacturing method, surface shape measuring apparatus and signal processor
A reticle manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the steps of holding a reference mask blank by a reference chuck to measure a surface shape of the reference mask blank as a first surface shape, holding the reference mask blank by a reticle chuck of the exposure apparatus to measure a surface shape of the reference mask blank as a second surface shape, holding the electron beam drawing mask blank by the reference chuck to measure a surface shape of the electron beam drawing mask blank as a third surface shape, calculating a difference between the measurement values of the first surface shape and the second surface shape as a first deference value, calculating, as a forth surface shape, a surface shape of the electron beam drawing mask blank held by the reticle chuck on the basis of the first deference value and the measurement value of the third surface shape, and drawing the pattern on the electron beam drawing mask blank on the basis of the forth surface shape.
US08338797B2 Debris mitigation device with rotating foil trap and drive assembly
The present invention relates to a debris mitigation device for use with a radiation source (2) generating optical radiation, in particular extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) or soft x-rays, and emitting undesired substances and/or particles which can deposit on optical surfaces in a radiation path of said radiation source (2), and to a corresponding drive assembly. The debris mitigation device comprises at least one rotating foil trap (5) and the drive assembly. The drive assembly comprises a driving motor (14) and a driving axis (10), to which the rotating foil trap (5) is fixed. The driving motor (14) and bearings (13) supporting the driving axis (10) are enclosed in a casing (20) having an aperture for the driving axis (10) and at least one outlet opening (21) for a sealing gas. The outlet opening (21) is connectable to a pump for pumping out the sealing gas. The aperture is designed to define a gap (23) between the driving axis (10) and the casing (20), wherein said gap (23) is connected to a supply pipe (19) for supplying the sealing gas through said gap (23) into said casing (20). The proposed debris mitigation device allows the use of conventional driving motors and oiled or lubricated bearings without the risk of contamination of the vacuum chamber in which the debris mitigation device is used. This results in an enhanced service life of the driving assembly.
US08338795B1 Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera
An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of neutron detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned either much closer together or further apart. However, by doubling the separation distance between the 2 planes from 20 cm to a distance of 40 cm we improved the angular resolution of the detector from about 12° to about 10°. A further doubling of the separation distance to 80 cm provided an addition improvement in angular resolution of the detector to about 6° without adding additional detectors or ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration, therefore, is increased at the expanse of detection sensitivity. However, the diminished sensitivity may be acceptable for those applications where the detector is able to interrogate a particular site for an extended period.
US08338794B2 Detection device
A detection device with at least one detector and a processing unit for processing signals of the detector is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the detection device includes at least one cooling unit for cooling the detector and the processing unit. A shielding is provided for the detector and the processing unit. The shielding includes at least two linked sections, of which a first section has a higher electrical conductivity than a second section, the second section being in thermal contact with the cooling unit.
US08338790B2 Radiation-sensitive detector with a scintillator in a composite resin
A radiation-sensitive detector includes a photosensor elements (122) and a scintillator (116) optically coupled to the photosensor element (122). The scintillator (116) includes a powdered scintillator and a resin mixed with the powdered scintillator. The refractive index mismatch between the powdered scintillator and the resin is less than 7%. In one non-limiting instance, the composite scintillator material may be used to form fiber optic leaves arranged as a high-resolution detector array in conventional or spectral CT.
US08338788B2 Method and system of optimized volumetric imaging
A system of performing a volumetric scan. The system comprises a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto, a plurality of extendable detector arms each the detector arm having a detection unit having at least one radiation detector, and an actuator which moves the detection unit along a linear path, and a gantry which supports the plurality of extendable detector arms around the surface so that each the linear path of each respective the extendable detector arm being directed toward the space.
US08338787B1 System and method for resin thickness measurement
A system for surface resin thickness measurement on a fiber reinforced polmer composite includes a holding fixture configured to match a contour of a composite part in which a resin thickness is to be measured, a plurality of infrared measurement sensors in the holding fixture which can be moved along the surface to create a map of the surface to be measured, a computer-based data acquisition system interfacing with the plurality of infrared measurement sensors and calibration software supporting the data acquisition system.
US08338785B2 Apparatus and method for detecting aircraft icing conditions
An apparatus for detecting icing conditions on an aircraft includes a laser system configured to direct a light signal into a cloud, a lens component configured to collect echo signals from a cloud caused by the light signal directed into the cloud, a beam splitter component configured to redirect signals received and passing through the lens component into at least first and second paths and a supercooled large droplet (SLD) detector to receive the redirected signals. The SLD includes a first signal detector component configured to perform a first color measurement on the first redirected signal, and a second signal detector component configured to perform a second color measurement on the second redirected signal. The SLD detector is configured to use the first and second color measurements to determine liquid water content and droplet diameter distribution for the cloud.
US08338777B2 Apparatus and method for well logging utilizing associate particle imaging
An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a borehole tool and a neutron source within the borehole tool that emits neutron-alpha particles pairs as the result of a nuclear reaction. The apparatus also includes an alpha particle detector within the borehole tool arranged to detect when an alpha particle emitted by the neutron source strikes it and a gamma ray detector to detect gamma rays produced as a result of interactions between neutrons produced by the neutron source and at least one material in an area of interest outside of the borehole. The apparatus also includes a processing system that determines a characteristic of the area of interest based on a time difference between when the alpha particle strikes the alpha particle detector and a time when one or more gamma rays strikes the gamma ray detector.
US08338771B2 Apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of sliding type
There is provided an apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of a sliding type which tracks a direction of sunlight according to variations of an altitude or orbit of the sun pivots a solar module plate to maximize condensing efficiency, and strengthens a fixing structure on an inclined ground or inclined building surface by suing a frame structure on the bottom without using a concrete base harmful to natural environment.
US08338768B2 Actuation assembly
An actuation assembly is provided. The actuation assembly includes a casing, a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the casing, each of the linear actuators having first and second components and being configured to move the second component thereof relative to the first component thereof along a respective first axis, and a plurality of translational member sets, each being coupled to the second component of a respective one of the linear actuators and the casing and being configured such that when the second component of the respective linear actuator moves along the respective first axis, a selected portion of the translational member set moves substantially along a respective second axis.
US08338767B2 Hinge mechanism for a home appliance providing door motion in a non-circular path
A cooking appliance includes a housing forming a food handling compartment, a door positioned at the front of the housing that is configured to rotate about a vertical axis, and a hinge assembly secured to the door. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin extending along the vertical axis and a double slider-crank mechanism that is coupled to the hinge pin. As the door rotates about the vertical axis, the hinge assembly moves the vertical axis along an elliptical path.
US08338765B2 Microwave field director structure having vanes with outer ends wrapped with a conductive wrapper
A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material and an electrically conductive wrapper that wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially outer end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.
US08338764B2 Microwave field director structure having vanes covered with a conductive sheath
A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, and an electrically conductive sheath encasing the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered by an electrically conductive material. The sheath is arranged on the substrate in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane.
US08338762B2 Power control apparatus for high-frequency dielectric heating and power control method for the same
A power control method for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided. The method includes detecting input current and input voltage from an AC power supply. Input current waveform information and input voltage waveform information are acquired. It is determined whether the magnetron is being oscillated. If so, the input voltage waveform information is added to the input current waveform information until oscillation of the magnetron is detected, and the addition result is converted into the drive signal of a switching transistor of an inverter circuit. If not, the input current waveform, without addition of the input voltage waveform, is converted into the drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit.
US08338761B2 Microwave heating device
A microwave heating device comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load to be heated and a feeding structure for feeding microwaves in the cavity. The feeding structure comprises a transmission line for transmitting microwave energy generated by a microwave source and a resonator arranged at the junction between the transmission line and the cavity for operating as a feeding port of the cavity. The dielectric constant of the material constituting the interior of the resonator and the dimensions of the resonator are selected such that a resonance condition is established in the resonator for the microwaves generated by the source and impedance matching is established between the transmission line, the resonator and the cavity. In addition, the present invention provides a microwave heating device comprising a plurality of feeding ports with reduced crosstalk.
US08338755B2 On-vehicle heater and its manufacturing method
An on-vehicle heater according to the invention includes: a heating body unit including a heater element; an electrode member overlapped in contact with the heater element; an insulating sheet enveloping the heater element and the electrode member; and a tube housing the heater element and the electrode member enveloped in the insulating sheet; a radiator unit stacked on the heating body unit; and a cap mounted on an end portion of the heating body unit, the electrode member having a terminal portion being led out of the tube from an end opening of the tube, bent to pass through the cap, and led out of the cap.
US08338753B2 Contact tip and diffuser
A contact tip includes a first threaded section and a first non-threaded section. The length of the first non-threaded section is at least a fifth of the length of the first threaded section along a longitudinal axis. The contact tip further includes a first contact surface. A diffuser includes a second non-threaded section and a second threaded section configured to mate with the first threaded section of the contact tip. The diffuser further includes a second contact surface. The first non-threaded section is configured to elongate along the longitudinal axis as the first threaded section is screwed into the second threaded section past a point where the first contact surface and the second contact surface have established contact.
US08338748B2 Tandem welding carriage with changeable wheel configuration and modular construction
An invention is provided which comprises a tandem welding carriage having at least two welding carriages coupled to each other. Each of the welding carriages having a base, rear wheel assemblies disposed at one end of the base, and welding attachment portions. The two welding carriages are coupled to each other using a coupling member, and each welding carriage is carrying an arc welding device and/or spool to allow for tandem arc welding.
US08338741B2 Ground indicating device
A device and method are provided for determining whether sufficient ground exists to perform processes such requiring the establishment of an electrical arc such arc welding or plasma cutting. The device is capable of fastening to at least one object placed in between a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The contact surfaces are composed of conductive material but separated by non-conductive material. The device further includes at least one light bulb coupled with an electrical circuit such that the electrical circuit coupled to the light bulb, broken only by non-conductive material separating the first contact surface and the second contact surface. A method of determining whether such sufficient ground exists by connecting an electrical circuit, coupled with a light bulb and broken only by the object, is also provided.
US08338730B2 Lighting guide keypad and lighting guide keypad assembly
The present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and a light guiding keypad assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and light guiding keypad assembly which can reduce the number of components of mobile phones by forming line type or surface type of key character patterns on one surface of a light guiding plate of a mobile phone that receives lights through its side surface and thus making the light guiding plate perform as keypad. The key character patterns are formed by printing paste having diffusion and reflection features.
US08338726B2 Two-stage switch for cordless hand-held ultrasonic cautery cutting device
An ultrasonic, self-powered surgical device includes a handle, a self-contained power supply associated with the handle, and a control circuit disposed within the handle and/or the power supply. The control circuit is operable to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device. A two-stage switch is electrically connected to the control circuit and effects the at least two operational conditions of the surgical device. A first stage of the switch effects a first of the at least two operational conditions and a second stage of the switch effects a second of the at least two operational conditions that is different from the first operational condition.
US08338724B2 Methods and systems for detecting a position-based attribute of an object using digital codes
Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.
US08338717B2 Circuit substrate and structure using the same
A circuit substrate includes a base and conductive layers disposed on lower and upper surfaces of the substrate. The base includes resin layers and the conductive layers overlapping with each other in a plan view. The resin layers include first resin layers and a second resin layer interposed between the first resin layers. The first resin layer has a filler and the second resin layer has no filler or a filler whose amount is 1 volume % or less and smaller than an amount of the filler in the first resin layer.
US08338716B2 Circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
A circuit board includes: an insulating substrate; and a circuit formed on the insulating substrate. The circuit includes: a undercoat layer with a circuit pattern formed by irradiating a metal thin film covering a surface of the insulating substrate with a laser along an outer shape of the circuit so as to partly remove the metal thin film along the outer shape of the circuit; a Cu plating layer, a Ni plating layer and a Au plating layer formed by metal plating and sequentially provided on a surface of the undercoat layer. A first middle plating layer and a second middle plating layer are provided between the Ni plating layer and the Au plating layer. The first middle plating layer includes metal with a less noble standard electrode potential with respect to Au and is in contact with the Au plating layer. The second middle plating layer includes metal with a noble standard electrode potential with respect to the metal in the first middle plating layer and is in contact with the first middle plating layer.
US08338715B2 PCB with soldering pad projections forming fillet solder joints and method of production thereof
A printed circuit board provided with board electrodes, wherein each board electrode is provided with a board electrode base, for carrying by soldering a bottom electrode arranged at a bottom of an electronic device inside from outer edges of the electronic device, arranged inside from the outer edges of the electronic device and a projection projecting out from the board electrode base, narrower in width than the board electrode base, and connected to an interconnect of the printed circuit board.
US08338714B2 Heat-radiating substrate and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed herein is a heat-radiating substrate. The heat-radiating substrate includes: a metal core layer; a first insulating layer that is formed on one side or both sides of the metal core layer, includes a bather layer contacting with the metal core layer, first and second pores having different diameters, and a porous layer connected with the bather layer; a first circuit layer that is embedded in the first insulating layer, filled in the second pores of the porous layer, and connected to the sides of the second pores; and a second insulating layer that is formed on the porous layer of the first insulating layer. Further, in the heat-radiating substrate of the present embodiment, the first circuit layer is partially filled in the second pores and the second insulating layer is filled in the second pores to make a plane the first insulating layer. In addition, disclosed is a method of manufacturing the heat-radiating substrate.
US08338707B2 Cord seal for swimming pool and spa light niches
Embodiments of the invention provide a cord seal for use in a niche that houses an underwater light. The cord seal includes a main seal with a cord receiving passage including a split for a power cord. The cord seal includes a seal support positioned adjacent to the main seal and a seal cap positioned adjacent to the seal support. The seal cap secures the main seal and the seal support substantially within a hub of the niche. The seal cap deforms the main seal to provide a water-tight seal around the power cord within the hub.
US08338702B2 Sensor lead sealing and strain relief
A sensor system may include a wiring harness including at least one wire, a grommet, a nugget, a sensor, and a harness sleeve. The grommet may include at least one passageway configured to receive the wire. The nugget may include at least one terminal molded into the nugget and coupled to the wire. A mineral insulated cable may be coupled to the sensor and to the terminal. The harness sleeve may define at least one cavity configured to receive the nugget and at least a portion of the grommet. The harness sleeve may be coupled to the mineral insulated cable and may include a first crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the grommet. The exterior surface of the nugget may also include at least one radially disposed groove. The harness sleeve may also include a second crimp coupling the harness sleeve to the nugget, for example, about the radial groove. The first crimp may be configured to compress the grommet to provide a seal between the harness sleeve and the grommet and a seal between the grommet and the at least one wire of the harness wire. The second crimp and the molding of the terminal within the nugget may be configured to provide strain relief for the wiring harness.
US08338696B2 Benzoindole-based compound and dye-sensitized solar cell using the same
A benzoindole-based compound represented by Formula 1 below, a dye including the benzoindole-based compound, and a dye-sensitized solar cell including the dye: is prepared at a low cost, has a high molar absorption coefficient, and high photoelectron conversion efficiency, as compared to a conventional ruthenium dye. The benzoindole-based dye is an organic dye including an N-aryl electron donor and an acidic functional group an electron acceptor.
US08338692B2 Electrolyte for photoelectric conversion elements, and photoelectric conversion element and dye-sensitized solar cell using the electrolyte
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte for photoelectric conversion elements, and a photoelectric conversion element and a dye-sensitized solar cell using the electrolyte, wherein high energy conversion efficiency can be achieved while substantially not including iodine. The electrolyte for a photoelectric conversion element of the present invention includes an ionic liquid (A) and a carbon material (B) having a specific surface area of from 1,000 to 3,500 m2/g, wherein a content of the carbon material (B) is from 10 to 50 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the ionic liquid (A).
US08338686B2 System and method for producing a harmonious musical accompaniment
An apparatus for enhancing audio comprising a first interface and a harmonizing module is disclosed. The first interface receive a first audio segment from a first source. The harmonizing module is coupled to the first interface. The harmonizing module is configured to identify at least one musical property of the first audio segment; calculate a subset of notes that are harmonious with the first audio segment based on the at least one musical property; and select from the subset of notes to generate an audio track to be played substantially synchronously with the first audio segment. A second interface may also be provided to receive a second audio segment from a second source. In this case, the harmonizing module may be configured to generate the audio track by transforming one or more notes of the second audio segment. A method is also provided.
US08338684B2 Musical instruction and assessment systems
The invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for assessing a musical performance. The musical performance can include a user's performance of a musical instrument. MIDI or audio notes are input and compared to the notes of a music track. An indication is provided to assess the musical performance. The assessment can be on the basis of timing and/or pitch errors.
US08338683B2 Polyphonic tuner
The present invention relates to a musical instrument tuner, e.g. a guitar tuner, featuring tuning as a part of a user session.
US08338677B1 Inbred maize variety PH13C9
A novel maize variety designated PH13C9 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13C9 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13C9 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH13C9 or a locus conversion of PH13C9 with another maize variety.
US08338664B2 Nucleic acid molecules encoding plant proteins in the C3HC4 family and methods for the alteration of plant cellulose and lignin content
Polynucleotides, nucleic acid constructs, and methods are disclosed for the modification of cellulose and/or lignin content in plant tissues. Plants are genetically engineered with a gene encoding a C3HC4 protein, which leads to increased cellulose content when over-expressed in the plant vascular system. Plant transformants harboring the C3HC4 protein gene show increased content of cellulose and/or decreased lignin content, traits that are thought to improve hardwood trees for cellulose extraction during pulping and papermaking.
US08338657B1 Medical dressing
A medical dressing for an open wound includes a base, and a raised flexible therapeutic cover formed with base. The base has opposing inside and outside major surfaces, and continuous inside and outside peripheral edges. The inside peripheral edge defines a wound site opening and designed to surround the open wound. The raised-flexible therapeutic cover extends over and above the wound site opening defined by the inside peripheral edge. A compression spring resiliently spaces the therapeutic cover from the open wound.
US08338651B2 Preparation of halogen and hydrogen containing alkenes over metal fluoride catalysts
Halogenated alkenes, especially fluorinated alkenes can be prepared from halogenated and fluorinated alkanes, respectively, by dehydrohalogenation or dehydrofluorination in the presence of a high-surface metal fluoride or oxifluoride. Preferably, trifluoroethylene, pentafluoropropene, tetrafluorobutenes or trifluorobutadiene are prepared. Aluminum fluoride is highly suitable. The metal fluoride or oxifluoride can be applied supported on a carrier.
US08338646B2 Modafinil compositions
Polymorphs and solvates of racemic, enantiomerically pure, and enantiomerically mixed modafinil are formed and discussed. In addition, said forms are described as useful for the treatment of many conditions including, but not limited to, narcolepsy.
US08338641B2 Method for treating atypical facial pain
The present invention is directed to the use of a class of peptide compounds for treating pain in trigeminal neuralgia.
US08338634B2 Catalyst for the synthesis of alkyl carbamates, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof
The present invention pertains to a catalyst for the synthesis of organic alkyl carbamates, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof. The catalyst comprises a catalytically active component and a catalyst support, and the catalytically active component being carried by the catalyst support, wherein the catalytically active component comprises a transition metal oxide, and the general formula of the transition metal oxide is EOx, wherein E is selected from transition metal element and x is in the range of 0.5-4.
US08338632B2 Cycloalkylmethylamines
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.
US08338631B2 Process for preparing dialkyl carbonates from alkylene carbonates and alcohols
The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing lower dialkyl carbonates as main product and alkylene glycol as by-product by catalyzed transesterification of a cyclic alkylene carbonate (e.g. ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate) with lower alcohols, where the reaction of the alkylene carbonate is carried out with an alcohol containing dialkyl carbonate in countercurrent, characterized in that introduction of a stream containing at least 99.5% by weight of alcohol takes place below the point of introduction for the alcohol containing dialkyl carbonate in a particular spacing ratio between the abovementioned points of introduction.
US08338626B2 Method for the synthesis of 5-alkoxymethyl furfural ethers and their use
Method for the manufacture of 5-alkoxymethylfurfural derivatives by reacting a fructose and/or glucose-containing starting material with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic or sub-stoechiometric amount of heterogeneous acid catalyst. The catalysts may be employed in a continuous flow fixed bed or catalytic distillation reactor. The ethers can be applied as a fuel or fuel additive.
US08338625B2 Process for production of benzaldehyde compound
A method of producing a corresponding acetal compound which comprises reacting a benzal halide compound represented by formula (1) (wherein, Q represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, X represents a halogen atom, and Ar represents a phenyl group optionally substituted with at least one group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogen atoms.) and an alcohol compound in the presence of at least one alkaline earth metal compound selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal oxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides and alkaline earth metal carbonates.
US08338624B2 Isoflavone derivatives and uses thereof
Isoflavone derivatives are provided comprising a carboxyalkylene moiety linked via its alkylene chain to the aromatic ring and via its carboxy group to an aminoalkyleneamino residue, which, in turn, is covalently linked to a functional group B. The isoflavone derivatives are preferably derived from biochanin A, genistein, and daidzein, and the functional group B is preferably an amino protecting group. These isoflavone derivatives are useful for treating or preventing diseases or disorders associated with estrogen receptor functioning.
US08338622B2 Heterocyclic compound
The present invention relates to a compound represented by wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, a salt thereof and the like.
US08338620B2 Methods for the production of C-8 lactam lactone compounds
The invention related to a novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, especially renin inhibitors, such as Aliskiren, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a compound of the formula I, or a salt thereof, wherein R1 as well as Act are as defined in the specification, and processes of manufacturing this compound as well as intermediates in this process.
US08338619B2 Crystalline form of the zoledronic acid, a process to obtain it and the pharmaceutical composition comprising it
A method to obtain a new crystalline form of the Zoledronic acid, characterized by its X-rays diffractogram as well as by its spatial atomic distribution in the red crystalline and its curves of thermal analysis. There is also included a method to obtain this crystalline form, which includes the synthesis of the corresponding acid and the pharmaceutical composition this crystalline form comprises.
US08338616B2 Thiazoliums and their use for treating protein aging associated diseases
The present invention relates to a composition of a thiazolium compound of formula I or a solvate thereof, wherein the definitions of groups in the formula I are as those given in the claims:
US08338613B2 Process for the preparation of bidentate schiff base ruthenium catalysts containing a salicylaldimine-type ligand
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of bidentate Schiff base catalysts containing a salicylaldimine-type ligand.
US08338611B2 Opioid receptor antagonists
A compound of the formula (I) wherein the variables X1, X2, B, D, R1 to R7 including R3′, p, y, q, and z, are as defined or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, enantiomer, racemate, diastereomer or mixtures thereof, useful for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of obesity and Related Diseases is disclosed.
US08338610B2 Pyridinyl compounds useful as intermediates
Disclosed are compounds of the formula (I), useful for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are mediated or sustained through the activity of CCR1 including autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Also disclosed are intermediates thereof, and methods of making and methods of using same.
US08338609B2 Ligand, metal complex compound containing the same, and method for producing the same, and method for producing molecular device
A ligand contains: a benzimidazole skeleton; and functional groups at the 5-position and the 6-position of the benzimidazole skeleton. The functional group is capable of forming a coordinate bond with a metal, and contains a nitrogen atom.
US08338607B2 Cyclic amine compounds and agents for pest control
Agents for pest control comprising cyclic amine compounds represented by the formula (1) or salts thereof or N-oxides thereof as an active ingredient, wherein Cy1 represents an unsubstituted or substituted 5-membered heterocycle or unsubstituted or substituted group represented by the formula (a) below, wherein Y1 and Y2 each independently represents nitrogen or carbon and symbol * represents the bonding positions.
US08338606B2 Crystalline forms of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-methyl-L-valyl-(4R)-4-((7-chloro-4-methoxy-1-isoquinolinyl)oxy)-N-((1R,2S)-1-((cyclopropylsulfonyl)carbamoyl)-2-vinylcyclopropyl)-L-prolinamide
The present disclosure generally relates to crystalline forms of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-methyl-L-valyl-(4R)-4-((7-chloro-4-methoxy-1-isoquinolinyl)oxy)-N-((1R,2S)-1-((cyclopropylsulfonyl)carbamoyl)-2-vinylcyclopropyl)-L-prolinamide. The present disclosure also generally relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the crystalline forms, as well of methods of using the crystalline forms in the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and methods for obtaining such crystalline forms.
US08338604B2 Imidazopyridine and imidazopyrazine compounds useful as kinase inhibitors
A compound of Formula (I) or Formula (II) and enantiomers, diastereomers and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of Formula (I) or Formula (II), and methods of treating conditions associated with the activity of p38 kinase.
US08338601B2 Slow release of organoboronic acids in cross-coupling reactions
A method of performing a chemical reaction includes reacting a compound selected from the group consisting of an organohalide and an organo-pseudohalide, and a protected organoboronic acid represented by formula (I) in a reaction mixture: R1—B-T  (I); where R1 represents an organic group, T represents a conformationally rigid protecting group, and B represents boron having sp3 hybridization. When unprotected, the corresponding organoboronic acid is unstable by the boronic acid neat stability test. The reaction mixture further includes a base having a pKB of at least 1 and a palladium catalyst. The method further includes forming a cross-coupled product in the reaction mixture.
US08338598B2 Herbicidal pyrido[2,3-B]pyrazines and their use as herbicides
The present invention relates to a method of controlling plants or inhibiting plant growth which comprises applying to the plants or to the locus thereof a herbicidally effective amount of a compound of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in claim 1; or a salt or TV-oxide thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes for preparing compounds of formula (I), to intermediates used in the preparation of compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and to certain novel pyridopyridines.
US08338591B2 3-aryl-5,6-disubstituted pyridazines
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) or (II) salt form or prodrug thereof, wherein variables are defined herein, that are modulators of metalloproteases such as matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and ADAMs. The compounds or compositions described herein can be used to treat diseases associated with metalloprotease activity including, for example, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, skin disorders, inflammation or allergic conditions.
US08338585B2 Parallel preparation of high fidelity probes in an array format
The present invention provides massively parallel oligonucleotide synthesis and purification for applications that utilize large collections of defined high-fidelity oligonucleotides (e.g., from about 101 to about 105 different sequences, generally between 25-160 bases in length).
US08338583B2 Snornai-small nucleolar RNA degradation by RNA interference in trypanosomatids
Polynucleotides and a method suitable for downregulation of small nuclear RNA which can be used to treat diseases associated with activity of small nuclear RNA are provided. Specifically, the present invention can be used to downregulate snoRNA molecules or box H/ACA-containing RNA molecules which are involved in diseases such as cancer.
US08338580B2 Fluorescent protein molecules
The present invention relates to novel fluorescent proteins and to methods of making these proteins and the uses thereof.
US08338579B2 Homogeneous analyte detection
The present invention provides novel binding pair compositions of defined and limited stability comprising nucleic acid detection markers useful for the homogeneous, sensitive detection of analytes. Also provided are methods for the sensitive homogeneous detection of analytes, particularly analytes of clinical relevance. Kits for preparing binding pairs of the invention and for performing the methods of the invention are also provided.
US08338578B1 Cystic fibrosis gene mutations
The present invention provides novel mutations of the CFTR gene related to cystic fibrosis or to conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. Also provided are probes for detecting the mutant sequences. Methods of identifying if an individual has a genotype containing one or more mutations in the CFTR gene are further provided.
US08338575B2 IL-7 fusion proteins
The invention is directed to a fusion protein which includes a first portion including an immunoglobulin (Ig) chain and a second portion including interleukin-7 (IL-7).
US08338574B2 FC variants with altered binding to FCRN
The present application relates to a variant Fc region comprising at least one modification relative to a wild-type human Fc region, where the modification selected from the group consisting of 434S, 252Y/428L, 252Y/434S, and 428L/434S, and the numbering is according to the EU index.
US08338566B2 Characterization of BBK07 antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi and methods of use
In this application is described the characterization Borrelia burgdorferi lipoprotein BBK07, an in vivo expressed and surface-exposed immunogen. BBK07 expression in the infected hose can be detected at the RNA and protein level as early as the first week of infection. Therefore, described is the use of BBK07 antigen and immunogenic epitopes as well as bbk07 nucleotides in methods and kits for the diagnosis of Lyme disease.
US08338565B2 Macrocyclic compounds for inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha
Disclosed herein are macrocyclic compounds and methods for their synthesis and use. In particular, macrocyclic compounds are disclosed that modulate the activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha and/or are useful in the treatment of medical conditions, such as, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and asthma.
US08338564B2 Method for the preparation of phytosterols from tall oil pitch
A method of preparing phytosterols from tall oil pitch containing steryl esters comprises the steps of converting the steryl esters to free phytosterols while in the pitch to produce a modified pitch containing the free phytosterols; removing light ends from the modified pitch by evaporation to produce a bottom fraction containing the free phytosterols; evaporating the bottom fraction to produce a light phase distillate containing the free phytosterols; dissolving the light phase distillate in a solvent comprising an alcohol to produce a solution containing the free phytosterols; cooling the solution to produce a slurry with the free phytosterols crystallized in the slurry; and, washing and filtering the slurry to isolate the crystallized phytosterols.
US08338563B2 Method for purifying a plastic solution
Method for purifying a solution of at least one plastic in a solvent, the said solution comprising insolubles, whereby the solution is purified using a centrifugal settler.
US08338562B2 Biocompatible, non-biodegradable, non-toxic polymer useful for nanoparticle pharmaceutical compositions
The invention relates to a biocompatible, non-biodegradable, and non-toxic polymer of formula (I), comprising of three monomeric units, selected from 1-Vinylpyrrolidone (VP), N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and ester of Maleic anhydride and Polyethylene glycol (MPEG), cross-linked with a bi-functional vinyl derivative, of high purity and substantially free of respective toxic monomeric contaminants, and a process for preparation thereof. The invention further relates to nanoparticulate pharmaceutical compositions of poorly water-soluble drugs or compounds comprising the polymer of the invention, which are safe, less-toxic and convenient for bedside administration to patients in need thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to a highly selective method for preparation of nanoparticulate pharmaceutical compositions of poorly water-soluble drugs or compounds.
US08338561B2 High melting point polyamide
Polyamide having a melting point between 330° C. and 370° C., said polyamide comprising: a diamine component (a) comprising between 0 and 55 mole %, based on the total number of moles of the diamine component (a), of at least one aliphatic diamine having more than 6 carbon atoms, and between 45 and 100 mole %, based on the total number of moles of the diamine component (a), of at least one aliphatic diamine having at most 6 carbon atoms, and a dicarboxylic acid component (b) comprising more than 50 mole %, based on the total number of moles of the dicarboxylic acid component (b), of terephthalic acid, with the exception of a certain specific polyamide (P*).
US08338558B2 Polyurethane based pigment dispersants which contain reactive double bonds
Polymeric urethane dispersants with solubilizing polymer chains and with reactive carbon to carbon double bonds are described. The reactive double bonds facilitate molecular weight build-up of the dispersant on dispersed particles (enhancing colloidal stability) or enhance the ability of the dispersants to be crosslinked into a matrix material.
US08338557B2 Olefin polymer and process for preparing the same
Olefin polymer with narrow molecular weight distribution and specific molecular weight, olefin polymer having functional group introduced at terminal, tapered polymer containing segment wherein monomer composition continuously changes in the polymer chain, olefin polymer having different segments bonded to each other, and process for preparing these polymers. The olefin polymers are polymers of C2-20 carbon atom olefins and have a number-average molecular weight of ≧500 and Mw/Mn of ≦1.5. In syntheses, an olefin of 2-20 carbon atoms is polymerized in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal compound represented by the formula LmMXn wherein M is a transition metal atom of Group 3-11, m is 1-5, n is a number satisfying a valence of M, L is a ligand—coordinated to the central metal M—which contains a heteroatom having no direct bond to the central metal, and X is e.g. halogen or a hydrocarbon.
US08338556B1 Patterned ferroelectric layer on a substrate
A patterned composite ferroelectric layer, having ferroelectric electronic properties, on a substrate. Individual layers are each made of metal acrylate compounds, a photoinitiator compound and an acrylate crosslinking compound. The individual layers are stacked on the substrate to form a composite layer. A photomask is formed on the composite layer. Unmasked areas of the composite layer are irradiated with ultraviolet light. A solvent removes non-irradiated areas of the composite layer from the substrate. The patterned composite layer is heated in an oxygen atmosphere to cause a chemical reaction among the metal acrylate compounds and oxygen, a patterned composite ferroelectric layer being formed on the substrate.
US08338554B2 Hyperbranched polymer and method for producing the same
Disclosed is a novel optically stable hyperbranched polymer whose molecular terminal can be derivatized with various compounds; and a method for producing such a polymer. Specifically disclosed is a hyperbranched polymer having a structure represented by Formula (1) wherein a halogen atom is at a molecular terminal. The hyperbranched polymer can be obtained by substituting the molecular terminal dithiocarbamate group of a hyperbranched polymer having a dithiocarbamate group at a molecular terminal, which is obtained by living radical polymerization of a dithiocarbamate compound having a vinyl group structure, with a halogen atom. Also disclosed is a hyperbranched polymer wherein an amino group or an ammonium group is at a molecular terminal instead of a halogen atom.
US08338550B2 Olefin metathesis polymerisation
A ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction is disclosed in which a cyclic alkene compound is subjected to ROMP using a ruthenium ROMP catalyst having heterocyclic ligands in the presence of a compound from which such ligands may be derived. The process includes the step of adding sufficient of an acyclic alkene having a carbon-carbon double bond capable of reacting with the catalytic metal moieties attached to the living end of each of the polymer chains generated in the ROMP reaction to end cap the polymer chains and to generate a olefin metathesis catalyst. The process includes reiterating the polymerization steps by adding further amounts of a cyclic alkene compound. The catalyst may be generated in situ from a precursor compound by the addition of a compound from which heterocyclic ligands may be derived by interaction with the precursor compound.
US08338549B2 Polyolefin derived from renewable resources, and method for producing same
The invention relates to a polymer obtained by polymerizing olefins having 6 to 9 carbon atoms and partially derived from renewable resources. In particular, the polymer according to the invention can be derived from vegetable oil or animal fat. The invention also relates to the method for producing the polymer.
US08338548B2 Process for the gas-phase polymerization of olefins
A process for the gas-phase polymerization of one or more alpha-olefins in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the process comprising: at least a polymerization step wherein the polymer particles flow downward in densified form under the action of gravity so as to form a densified polymer bed; metering an anti-fouling agent in said polymerization step by means of at least N feeding lines placed at different heights of said densified polymer bed, N being the integer number satisfying the equation N≧(1+0.08·H), where H is the height (expressed in meters) of the polymer bed.
US08338544B2 Polymers functionalized with polyoxime compounds and methods for their manufacture
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of polymerizing monomer to form a reactive polymer, and reacting the reactive polymer with a protected polyoxime compound.
US08338543B2 Polyolefin thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomers
Thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomer obtained by dynamic vulcanization of a heterophasic polyolefin composition in presence of at least (i) an alkenyl-substituted alkoxysilane grafting agent and (ii) water; wherein said heterophasic polyolefin composition has flexural modulus equal to or lower than 150 MPa, and comprises: (a) a crystalline propylene homopolymer or copolymer of propylene with up to 15% of ethylene or other alpha-olefin comonomer(s), or their combinations, and (b) a copolymer or a composition of copolymers of ethylene with other alpha-olefins, containing from 15% to 40% of ethylene, said thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomer having compression set values in the range from 45-65%, the ratio of elongation at break to compression set values over 10 and hardness shore A values below 90.
US08338542B1 Curable fluoroelastomer composition
Fluoroelastomer compositions comprising fluoroelastomers having copolymerized units of a nitrile-containing cure site monomer are cured with a phthalhydrazide hydrazine or hydroxylamine salt curative.
US08338541B2 Medical devices having improved performance
In accordance with various aspects of the invention, implantable and insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions. In one aspect, the polymeric regions comprise (a) a block copolymer that comprises a polyaromatic block and a polyalkene block admixed with (b) a sulfonated high Tg polymer. In another aspect, the polymeric regions comprise a block copolymer that comprises (a) a sulfonated polymer block and (b) fluorinated polymer block.
US08338535B2 Epoxy resins, curing agent and (Co)poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymer
The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition comprising the following [A], [A′], [B], and [C]: [A] a bisphenol-type epoxy resin having a glass transition temperature or melting point of 50° C. or higher; [A′] an epoxy resin which is in a liquid state at 25° C.; [B] an epoxy resin curing agent; and [C] at least one block copolymer selected from the group consisting of S-B-M, B-M, and M-B-M, wherein the blocks are linked to each other by a covalent bond or by an intermediate molecule bound to one of the blocks via one covalent bond formation and to the other block via another covalent bond formation; the block M is a methyl methacrylate homopolymer or a copolymer comprising at least 50% by weight of methyl methacrylate; the block B is incompatible with the block M and has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or lower; and the block S is incompatible with the blocks B and M and has a glass transition temperature higher than that of the block B, a prepreg obtained by impregnating a fiber base with the epoxy resin composition, and a fiber-reinforced composite material obtained by curing the prepreg.
US08338532B2 Conjugated polymers for use in homogeneous and solid state assays
The invention further relates to multichromophores, which may be conjugated polymers, and methods, articles and compositions employing them as described herein. In some aspects, the invention relates to methods, articles and compositions for the detection and analysis of biomolecules in a sample. Provided assays include those determining the presence of a target biomolecule in a sample or its relative amount, or the assays may be quantitative or semi-quantitative. The methods can be performed on a substrate. The methods can be performed in an array format on a substrate, which can be a sensor. In some embodiments, detection assays are provided employing sensor biomolecules that do not comprise a fluorophore that can exchange energy with the cationic multichromophore. In some aspects biological assays are provided in which energy is transferred between one or more of the multichromophore, a label on the target biomolecule, a label on the sensor biomolecule, and/or a fluorescent dye specific for a polynucleotide, in all permutations. The multichromophore may interact at least in part electrostatically with the sensor and/or the target, and an increase in energy transfer with the polymer may occur upon binding of the sensor and the target. Other variations of the inventions are described further herein.
US08338531B2 Epoxy silane oligomer and coating composition containing same
A process for producing an epoxy silane oligomer including a reaction glycidoxy silane and/or cycloaliphatic epoxy silane having 2 or 3 alkoxy groups and, optionally, a copolymerizable silane other than glycidoxy and cycloaliphatic epoxy silane, with less than 1.5 equivalents of water in the presence of a catalyst, wherein said water is continuously fed during the reaction.
US08338529B2 Oil repellent copolymer, method for its production and oil repellent treatment solution
To provide an oil repellent copolymer capable of forming an oil repellent film which is excellent in durability. An oil repellent copolymer characterized by comprising a repeating unit (A) having a polyfluoroalkyl group, a repeating unit (B) having a fluorescent functional group, and a repeating unit (C) having an ester bond other than an ester bond derived from acrylic acid, and/or a hydroxyl group.
US08338528B2 RTV two-component silicone rubber
RTV two-component silicone rubber which contains structurally modified hydrophobic fumed silicas which have vinyl groups fixed on the surface, further hydrophobic groups, such as trimethylsilyl and/or dimethylsilyl and/or monomethylsilyl groups, additionally being fixed on the surface.
US08338526B2 Curable resin composition, surface protection method, temporary fixation method, and separation method
To provide an environmentally-friendly curable resin composition for surface protection, having a high adhesive strength and being capable of forming a protective film which will readily be removed in the film form without adhesive residue in water on a member to be processed, a photocurable adhesive using it, a method for temporarily fixing a member, and a method for removing a protective film.A curable resin composition for surface protection, comprising (A) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate, and (C) a resin having a cyclopentadiene skeleton. Further, a curable resin composition for surface protection, comprising (A) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate, (C) a resin having a cyclopentadiene skeleton, and (D) a photopolymerization initiator. Still further, a curable resin composition for surface protection, comprising (A) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate, (C) a resin having a cyclopentadiene skeleton, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a polar organic solvent.
US08338523B2 Thermoplastic molding material and molded body made of the material
A thermoplastic molding material contains between 10% and 35% by weight of an ethylene copolymer wax with hydrophilic groups, with a melting point between 75° C. and 110° C. and cellulose containing fibers with a share of between 45% and 90% by weight relative to the dry mass of the fibers. Molded bodies may be formed from the molding material, such as pencil casings.
US08338520B2 Fluororubber composition and production method of cross-linked fluororubber product
A fluororubber composition which (1) is clean, (2) achieves a higher specific gravity, (3) achieves a better physical property in terms of breaking elongation, (4) is free of halogen substance (chlorine), and (5) provides a rubber surface which is non-tacky to metal(s); and a method for producing a crosslinked fluororubber product. The fluororubber composition includes a peroxide-crosslinkable fluororubber comprising a terfluoropolymer; barium sulfate; a peroxide crosslinking agent; and a salt having BF4− as a counter ion; wherein the barium sulfate is included in an amount of 50 to 180 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fluoropolymer; and wherein the salt having BF4− as a counter ion is included in an amount of 0.7 to 1.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the fluoropolymer.
US08338519B2 PTFE resin composition
A PTFE resin composition, which comprises PTFE resin, and metal carbide powder having a Vickers hardness of 1,200 HV, or more, and which preferably further contains an inorganic filler other than the metal carbide powder, for example, carbon fibers, glass fibers, etc., has an improved abrasion resistance, when molded into resin seal rings, etc., by reducing a self-abrasion amount of the resin against hard mating metals having a rough surface (Rz of about 6.3 to about 9.0 according to JIS B0601-1994), and by polishing the mating material roughness rapidly.
US08338518B2 Aqueous process for making a stable fluoropolymer dispersion
A novel aqueous polymerization process for making fluoropolymer dispersions is disclosed in which non-ionic non-fluorinated emulsifier is used to produce fluoropolymer emulsions. The emulsifiers used in the invention are those that contain segments of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and/or polytetamethylene glycol with repeating units of 3 to 100. The process and fluoropolymer produced contain no fluorinated surfactant.
US08338517B2 Aqueous compositions of fluorinated surfactants and methods of using the same
Aqueous compositions comprising surfactant represented by a formula selected from the group consisting of: [Rf—(O)t—CHF—(CF2)n—COO−]iXi+; {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—COO−}iXi+; {[Rf—(O)t—CQH—CF2—O]m—R—SO3−}iXi+; and [CF3CFH—O—(CF2)p—COO−]iXi+; wherein Rf represents a partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group optionally interrupted with at least one oxygen atom; Q is selected from the group consisting of F and CF3; R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and arylene; Xi+ represents a cation having a valence i, wherein i is 1, 2 or 3; t is 0 or 1; m is 1, 2, or 3; n is 0 or 1; and p is an integer from 1 to 6. The aqueous composition comprises a non-fluorinated polymer and is essentially free of fluoropolymers. Methods of coating a surface and an article having a surface in contact with the composition are provided.
US08338515B1 Silicone-modified tackifier and use thereof in pressure sensitive adhesive compositions and laminates with improved guillotinability
A pressure sensitive adhesive composition including silicone-modified tackifier. The silicone-modified tackifier is produced by reacting reactive silicone with tackifier. Laminates made with the pressure sensitive adhesive have improved guillotinability.
US08338514B2 Polyolefin antimicrobial compositions and melt-processing methods
A melt-processed polyolefin composition or composite includes a polyolefin compounded with a hindered amine light stabilizer, an organodisulfide antioxidant, and silver sulfate as an antimicrobial agent. A process of preparing such a composite includes compounding all of the compounds in various orders as long as the silver sulfate is added after the hindered amine light stabilizer is added to the polymer.
US08338511B2 Thermoplastic polyester resin composition
Disclosed is a thermoplastic polyester resin composition excellent in flame resistance, mechanical strength, and laser printability. The thermoplastic resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polyester resin (A), 5 to 60 parts by weight of a phosphinate (B) represented by the following formula (1) or (2), 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of an organosiloxane (C), and 0.01 to 30 parts by weight of a colemanite (D), wherein the organosiloxane (C) is an organosiloxane compound (C-a) comprising organic groups bonding to a silicon atom directly or through an oxygen atom, wherein 40 mole % or more of the organic groups are an aryl group, and/or an organosiloxane polymer (C-b) in the form of solid at 25° C.
US08338506B2 Method for producing improved rubberized concrete using waste rubber tires
Partial oxidation of crumb rubber derived from environmental hazardous waste tires yields surface treated crumb rubber and a gas condensate which are used as blending stocks for making rubberized concrete with substantially improved mechanical strength as compared to the conventional rubberized concrete. The chemically more active rubber surface becomes hydrophilic, so it interacts with the hydrophilic surface of surrounding cement matrix much stronger. The gas condensate co-produced in the partial oxidation reactor consists of mainly active sulfur oxides (R—SOx—R) and serves as an excellent bonding agent to further enhance the bonding strength between the partially oxidized rubber particles and the cement mixes. The mechanically improved rubberized concrete is more versatile than conventional rubberized concrete.
US08338499B2 Amine co-initiators for radiation curable compositions
A radiation curable composition comprising a curable compound, a photo-initiator and a co-initiator characterized in that said co-initiator is represented by Formula I, wherein MA is the residue of a mono- or oligofunctional Michael acceptor; L is a divalent linking group positioning the two tertiary amines in a 1-3 to 1-10 position, with the proviso that both amines are aliphatic; R1, R2 and R3 independently represent an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group , an optionally substituted alkynyl group or an optionally substituted (hetero) alkaryl group; any two of R1, R2 and R3 may represent the necessary atoms to form a ring; any two of R1, R2 and R3 may represent the necessary atoms to form a ring with any of the atoms of the linking group L; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 6.
US08338496B2 Method of making macroporous cation exchange resins
Methods of making macroporous cation exchange resins are described. The macroporous cation exchange resins are in the form of particles such as beads that contain a hydrophilic, crosslinked, (meth)acrylic-type polymeric material. Additionally, methods of purifying a positively charged material using the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making chromatographic columns that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making filter elements that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, and methods of making porous composite materials that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins are described.
US08338491B2 Antimicrobial compositions
Antimicrobial compositions are provided that include a hydroalcoholic solvent system comprising a lower C2-C5 alcohol and water; a cationic antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate; a fatty component containing at least one free hydroxyl group, such as a C12-C21 fatty alcohol, a C12-C21 fatty ester, a C12-C21 fatty ether, a C12-C21 fatty amide, and combinations thereof; and optionally an emollient ester such as diesters of bibasic acids and triesters of citric acid. The compositions described herein display improved antimicrobial efficacy and improved cosmetic elegance.
US08338490B2 Composition for repelling and deterring vermin
The invention describes essentially a non-therapeutical process for deterring vermin, which is based on the usage of the largely known beta amino-alcohol derivatives of formula (I), as defined herein before. Furthermore, it describes the corresponding vermin-deterring compositions which contain these substances as the active ingredient, compounds of the formula (I) for the preparation of vermin-deterring compositions, and the use of compounds of formula (I) in the defense against vermin. Thus, the invention describes how and in which form the compounds of the formula (I) or their acid addition salts are used to deter vermin from materials, places or warm-blooded animals.
US08338485B2 Compositions for the treatment of CNS-related conditions
The invention provides compositions comprising extended release memantine in combination with immediate release donepezil to a subject. Memantine in an extended release form containing 22.5 to 30 mg memantine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with donepezil achieves particular pharmacokinetic criteria such as change in plasma concentration of memantine over time and ratio of maximum memantine plasma concentration to mean memantine plasma concentration.
US08338484B2 N,N-disubstituted aminoalkylbiphenyl antagonists of prostaglandin D2 receptors
Described herein are compounds that are antagonists of PGD2 receptors. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds described herein, and methods of using such antagonists of PGD2 receptors, alone or in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other PGD2-dependent or PGD2-mediated conditions or diseases.
US08338482B2 Modulating notch1 signaling pathway for treating neuroendocrine tumors
Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for treating or suppressing symptoms of neuroendocrine (NE) tumors comprising increasing the levels or activities of Notch1 protein or other components of the Notch1 signaling pathway of the cancer cells. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for the methods.
US08338479B2 Enhanced bimatoprost ophthalmic solution
A composition comprising from 0.005% to 0.02% bimatoprost by weight and from 100 ppm to 250 ppm benzalkonium chloride, wherein said composition is an aqueous liquid which is formulated for ophthalmic administration is disclosed herein.A method which is useful in treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension related thereto is also disclosed herein.
US08338477B2 Tetracycline derivatives with reduced antibiotic activity and neuroprotective benefits
The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods which utilize the tetracycline scaffold, preferably the scaffold of tetracycline or minocycline, and which significantly lack antibiotic activity. The compounds have neuroprotective attributes without interfering with the drugs capacity to pass through the blood brain barrier. These compounds have neuroprotective activity because of their inhibition of neuronal cell cycle progression. The compounds are characterized in part by a fifth ring joining positions 9 and 10.
US08338476B2 Compositions and methods of sensitizing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus to beta-lactam antibiotics
Contemplated methods and compositions further increase susceptibility of sensitized MRSA against various antibiotic drugs. Most preferably, the MRSA is already sensitized with a galloylated catechin (e.g., ECG), and further sensitization is achieved by exposure to a non-galloylated catechin (e.g., EC), and most preferably the corresponding non-galloylated catechin.
US08338471B2 (2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-i-yl)-n-hydroxy-acetamides as metalloproteinase inhibitors
The invention provides compounds of the formula (I) wherein the variables are as defined in the specification.The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of metalloproteinase MMP-12 and are among other things useful for the treatment of obstructive airway diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
US08338468B2 Microbicidal composition
The invention relates to a microbicidal composition which comprises a mixture of at least two components, the first component being 2-methyl-3-isothiazolone (MIT) and the second component being at least one active compound selected from the following groups of active compounds: a) compound having activated methylol groups b) quats or polyquats c) carbamates d) organic acids e) aromatic alcohols.
US08338462B2 1-heterocyclylsulfonyl, 3-aminomethyl, 5- (hetero-) aryl substituted 1-H-pyrrole derivatives as acid secretion inhibitors
The present invention provides a compound having a superior acid secretion inhibitory effect and showing an antiulcer activity and the like. The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R1 is a nitrogen-containing monocyclic heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle, the nitrogen-containing monocyclic heterocyclic group optionally condensed with a benzene ring or a heterocycle optionally has substituent(s), R2 is an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group, an optionally substituted thienyl group or an optionally substituted pyridyl group, R3 and R4 are each a hydrogen atom, or one of R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an optionally substituted lower alkyl pup, an acyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a nitro group, and R5 is an alkyl group or a salt thereof.
US08338456B2 Cut-point in PTEN protein expression that accurately identifies tumors and is predictive of drug response to a pan-ErbB inhibitor
A cut-point in the quantitative measurement of PTEN protein expression that accurately identifies tumors with two inactivated alleles of the PTEN gene. Patients with a normalized PTEN score of PTEN null will be treated with a pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor. A normalized PTEN protein expression score is obtained by comparing the tumor PTEN OD expression value with the non-malignant PTEN OD expression value.
US08338454B2 Nitrile derivatives and their pharmaceutical use and compositions
Disclosed are nitrile derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions comprising nitrile derivatives. The pharmaceutical compositions comprise compounds of the formula I and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds. Also disclosed are processes for the preparation of such compounds, intermediates used in the preparation of such compounds, and the uses of such compounds in treating hyperproliferative diseases, inflammatory diseases and viral and bacterial infections and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.
US08338449B2 Isoquinolinone potassium channel inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds having the structure useful as potassium channel inhibitors to treat cardiac arrhythmias, and the like.
US08338444B1 Opioid salts and formulations exhibiting anti-abuse and anti-dose dumping properties
A drug substance with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an opioid wherein said organic acid is selected from Structure A: wherein R1-R4 are independently selected from H, alkyl or substituted alkyl of 1-6 carbons, adjacent groups may be taken together to form a cyclic alkyl, cyclic alkyl-aryl, or cyclic aryl moiety; R5 is selected from H, or an alkali earth cation; R6 and R7 are independently selected from H, alkyl of 1-6 carbons, an alkali earth cation, and aryl of 6 to 12 carbons, in a number sufficient to complete the valence bonding of X, and wherein X is selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; and wherein the drug substance has a morphology selected from amorphous and crystalline.
US08338438B2 Polymorph forms of 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives, the preparation methods and uses thereof
The present invention relates to polymorphic forms of N-{4-[3-chloro-4-(3-fluoro-benzyloxy)phenylamino]-quinazolin-6-yl}-acrylamide p-toluenesulfonate with the characteristic X-ray powder diffraction data as stated in the description, preparation methods thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and the use thereof.
US08338436B2 Amorphous form of N-{2-fluoro-5-[3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-phenyl}-N-methyl-acetamide
The present invention relates to an amorphous form of N-{2-Fluoro-5-[3-(thiophene-2-carbonyl)-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-yl]-phenyl}-N-methyl-acetamide, methods for its preparation, its use as a therapeutically active agent and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel form.
US08338435B2 Substituted pyrido(3,2-D) pyrimidines and pharmaceutical compositions for treating viral infections
This invention provides di-, tri- and tetra-substituted pyrido(3,2-d)pyrimidine derivatives with specific substituting patterns, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, N-oxides, solvates, pro-drugs and enantiomers, possessing unexpectedly desirable pharmaceutical properties, in particular being highly active antiviral agents. The invention also provides use of such derivatives in the treatment of viral infections and pathologic conditions associated therewith, including hepatitis C.
US08338431B2 Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
The present invention relates to a compound according to formula I, wherein X, A, G, E, R1, R2, R3 are as shown herein; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, N-oxides or solvates hereof. The invention further relates to said compounds for use in therapy, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds, to methods of treating diseases, e.g. dermal diseases, with said compounds, and to the use of said compounds in the manufacture of medicaments.
US08338425B2 Heterocyclic kinase inhibitors
This invention relates to novel 2-{6-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-methyl-pyrimidin-4-ylamino}-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (2-chloro-6-methyl-phenyl)-amide derivatives, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions beneficially treated by the inhibition of kinases including Src-kinase and Bcr-Abl kinase.
US08338423B2 Compositions for the treatment of hyperphenylalaninemia
The present invention relates to the use of specific types of compounds acting as pharmacological chaperones having a stabilizing activity on the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and phenylketonuria PKU) and diseases, disorders and conditions related thereto. Further, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds according to the present invention as well as to methods of treatment of HPA, in particular, PKU and diseases, disorders and conditions related thereto.
US08338417B2 Compounds and compositions as c-kit and PDGFR kinase inhibitors
The invention provides a novel class of compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of c-kit, PDGFR and PDGFR kinases.
US08338416B2 Indole derivatives as inhibitors of histone deacetylase
Described herein are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, which inhibit the activity of histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8). Also described herein are methods of using such HDAC8 inhibitors, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating diseases or conditions that would benefit from inhibition of HDAC8 activity.
US08338415B2 Substituted 3-(5-membered unsaturated heterocyclyl-1, 3-dihydro-indol-2-one's and derivatives thereof as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to a compound of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as disclosed herein. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and to methods of using said compounds and compositions for modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.
US08338414B2 Immunosuppressive agent and anti-tumor agent comprising heterocyclic compound as active ingredient
A novel method for immunosuppressive in a mammal suffering from an immune disease, including administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (I) (wherein X or other variables are as defined in the specification) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is disclosed. A novel heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (II) (wherein X or other variables are as defined in the specification) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is also disclosed.
US08338411B2 Compounds
The present invention relates to the adenosine A3 receptor ligands of the general formula (I), within them favourably to the antagonists, to their salts, solvates, N-oxides and isomers, to the pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of the general formula (I), their salts, solvates, N-oxides and isomers, to the use of the compounds of the general formula (I), their salts, solvates, N-oxides and isomers, to the preparation of the compounds of the general formula (I), their salts, solvates, N-oxides and isomers, as well as to the new intermediates of the general formula (II), (VI), (XI), (XII) and (XV), and to the preparation thereof.
US08338407B2 Fused aminodihydrothiazine derivatives
The present invention relates to a fused aminodihydrothiazine derivative of formula (I): wherein X is hydrogen or fluorine; A is CH or N; Y is methyl, ethyl, monofluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoroethyl, methoxy, ethoxy, methoxymethyl or —C≡N; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; which compound has an Aβ production inhibitory effect or a BACE1 inhibitory effect and is useful as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a neurodegenerative disease caused by Aβ and typified by Alzheimer-type dementia.
US08338405B2 Therapeutic piperazines
The invention includes a compound of formula I: wherein R1, X, Z, n, and m have any of the values described herein, as well as salts of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods that comprise the administration of such compounds. The compounds are inhibitors of PDE4 function and are useful for improving cognitive function in animals.
US08338404B2 Composition and method for reducing allergen
This invention relates to an allergen-reducing composition comprising a hydroxyproline derivative, a polymer thereof, or a salt of such a derivative or polymer, which is capable of reducing the allergenicity of mites, pollens, or other allergens and is capable of imparting functions of reducing allergenicity to fibers or textiles such as a carpet, a tatami mat, a bed cloth, a curtain, clothing, a stuffed animal, a mask, a filter material, or a dust bag for an electric vacuum cleaner without discoloration; and a method for reducing allergens using such composition.
US08338401B2 Coumarin-amide derivatives and its preparation, said drug composition and its use
The present invention relates to novel coumarin derivatives, their carboxamides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their uses as drugs for kidney protection, treating drugs of hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, non-insulin dependent diabetes, tumor, pre-cancerous lesion, and edemas.
US08338395B2 Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for reliable achievement of acceptable serum testosterone levels
Described are methods for providing prolonged physiologically acceptable steady state serum testosterone levels in a patient deficient in endogenous testosterone levels, methods for male contraception and methods for treating a disease or symptom associated with deficient endogenous levels of testosterone in a man, by intramuscularly administering testosterone esters in a vehicle.
US08338394B2 Methods for treating metabolic diseases
A pharmaceutical composition for treating a metabolic disease in a mammalian subject includes a therapeutically effective amount of all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid, all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative, or agent capable of modulating the level of at least one all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid or all-trans-13,14-dihydroretinoid derivative in the subject.
US08338390B2 Multifunctional and biologically active matrices from multicomponent polymeric solutions
A functionalized electrospun matrix for the controlled-release of biologically active agents, such as growth factors, is presented. The functionalized matrix comprises a matrix polymer, a compatibilizing polymer and a biomolecule or other small functioning molecule. In certain aspects the electrospun polymer fibers comprise at least one biologically active molecule functionalized with low molecular weight heparin.
US08338389B2 Agent for preventing or ameliorating obesity
The present invention provides a method for preventing or ameliorating obesity, for inhibiting accumulation of visceral fat, for inhibiting accumulation of liver lipid, for preventing or ameliorating fatty liver, including using a material for a pharmaceutical product or food, which has inhibitory actions on body weight increase, accumulation of visceral fat and accumulation of liver lipid. The present invention is also directed to a method for preventing or ameliorating obesity, a method for inhibiting accumulation of visceral fat, a method for inhibiting accumulation of liver lipid, and a method for preventing or ameliorating fatty liver, which methods include administering potassium alginate to a subject in need thereof or having the subject take potassium alginate.
US08338388B2 Cross-linking of low-molecular weight and high-molecular weight polysaccharides, preparation of injectable monophase hydrogels, polysaccharides and hydrogels obtained
A process for the crosslinking of at least one polymer selected from polysaccharides and derivatives thereof, which is carried out in an aqueous solvent by the action of an effective and non-excessive amount of at least one crosslinking agent, characterized in that it is carried out on a mixture containing at least one low-molecular weight polymer and at least one high-molecular weight polymer. A process for the preparation of an injectable monophase hydrogel of at least one crosslinked polymer selected from polysaccharides and derivatives thereof. Crosslinked polymers and injectable monophase hydrogels respectively obtainable by each of said processes.
US08338385B2 Hybrid hepatocyte growth factor gene having high expression efficiency of two heterotypes of hepatocyte growth factor
The present invention relates to a hybrid Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) gene which is prepared by inserting an inherent or foreign intron between exons 4 and 5 in HGF cDNA, which has a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. The gene has high expression efficiency and simultaneously expresses two heterotypes of HGF and dHGF (deleted variant HGF). Further the gene may be used for treating or preventing ischemic or liver diseases.
US08338382B2 Method of treating impaired mitochondrial function
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a sugar; a Krebs cycle intermediate, precursor of a Krebs cycle intermediate, salt thereof, or combination thereof; and a component selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated lipid, phenylethylamine, a soluble calcium compound, or a combination thereof.
US08338381B2 Composition and method for the treatment of eye disease
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to compositions comprising carnosine and N-acetyl-histitidine in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Other embodiments disclosed herein relate to preventing and/or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with an eye disease such as dry eye syndrome, cataracts of the eye and nuclear sclerosis of the eye lens. Kits for preventing and/or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with an eye disease by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising N-acetyl-histidine are also disclosed.
US08338375B2 Packaged product
The present invention discloses collagen cross-linked in a micro to non-fibrillar form and at a high concentration. The cross-linked collagen gel has improved volume stability or persistence than collagen cross-linked at a neutral pH. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the inventive cross-linked collagen and using such for augmenting soft tissues in mammals.
US08338362B2 Methods for controlling SR protein phosphorylation, and antiviral agents whose active ingredients comprise agents that control SR protein activity
The present invention provides: (1) antiviral agents that act by reducing or inhibiting the activity of SR proteins, more specifically, (i) antiviral agents that act by enhancing dephosphorylation of SR proteins, and (ii) antiviral agents that act by inhibiting proteins that phosphorylate SR proteins; (2) antiviral agents that act by inhibiting the expression of SR proteins, and (3) antiviral agents that act by activating proteins that antagonize SR proteins. The present invention also provides compounds that inhibit SRPKs, which phosphorylate SR proteins. Such compounds inhibit the activity of SR proteins and have antiviral activities. Various new viruses including SARS have emerged, and thus the present invention provides long-lasting broad-spectrum antiviral agents applicable to new viruses.
US08338356B2 Surfactant compositions with wide pH stability
Provided is a surfactant composition having wide pH stability. The composition is useful for various applications, including textile processing. The composition comprises: a nonionic surfactant of formula (I): R1—O—[(CH2CH(R2)—O)x(CH2CH2O)y]z—H, wherein R1, R2, x, y, and z are defined herein, together with an anionic surfactant.
US08338355B2 Azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-methoxyethane
There is provided an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition containing (A) 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-methoxyethane and (B) a compound formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and (E)-2-bromo-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US08338352B2 Solidification matrix
A cleaning composition includes methacrylate, sodium carbonate, and water. The methacrylate, sodium carbonate, and water interact to form a hydrate solid having a growth exponent of less than about 3% when heated. The composition may also include one or more functional ingredients such as surfactants, builders and alkaline sources, but is generally substantially free of phosphorous.
US08338351B2 Coating compositions for producing transparent super-hydrophobic surfaces
A coating composition and process for generating transparent, near-transparent, and semi-transparent super-hydrophobic coatings on surfaces having a contact angle of greater than 165 degrees. The composition comprises hydrophobic nanoparticles of silsesquioxanes containing adhesion promoter groups and low surface energy groups.
US08338348B2 Skin cleansing compositions with polyglycerol esters and hydrophobically modified polymers
The methods and compositions of this invention relate to compositions containing polyglyceryl esters of fatty acids, low molecular weight hydrophobically-modified polymers and anionic and/or amphoteric surfactants having low irritation characteristics in combination with one or more additional characteristics, for example, relatively high clarity, relatively high foaming, and/or combinations thereof, as well as methods of making and using such compositions. These compositions have low pH values and are useful in cleansing the skin.
US08338345B2 Water-based metalworking fluid
Water-based metalworking fluid contains: (A) alkanolamine represented by the following formula (1) and/or (B) alkanolamine represented by the following formula (2); and (C) 2-pyridylthio-1-oxide salt. In the formula (1): each R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; n represents 2 or 3; and plural R1 may be mutually the same or different on condition that not all R1 represent hydrogen. In the formula (2): R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and Z1 and Z2 each represent an alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
US08338342B2 Lubricant composition
A lubricating oil composition according to the present invention is used in an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine uses a fuel that contains at least one fat and oil selected from a group consisting of natural fat and oil, hydrotreated natural fat and oil, transesterified natural fat and oil and hydrotreated transesterified natural fat and oil. The lubricating oil composition contains a component (A) that is an alkaline earth metal-based detergent. The component (A) is contained by a content of more than 0.35 mass % and 2 mass % or less of the total amount of the composition in terms of alkaline earth metal.
US08338339B2 Process for inhibition of proteolytic activity during the ensiling of forages
A means for producing ensiled crops with reduced proteolysis by supplying an o-diphenol compound and ensuring a supply of polyphenol oxidase in the material at the time of ensilaging.
US08338335B2 Synergistic herbicidal composition containing fluroxypyr and penoxsulam, halosulfuron-methyl, imazamox or imazethapyr
An herbicidal synergistic composition containing (a) fluoroxypyr and (b) an ALS inhibitor herbicide, in which the ALS inhibitor herbicide is penoxsulam, halosulfuron-methyl, imazamox or imazethapyr, provides improved post-emergence weed control in rice, cereal and grain crops, pastures, rangelands, IVM and turf.
US08338333B1 Methods for controlling weeds including kudzu
A method for killing weeds (e.g., kudzu) involving applying to weeds a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicidal composition comprising glyphosate and at least one acetolactate synthase inhibitor (e.g., trifluxosulfuron, pyrithiobac, flumetsulam).
US08338330B2 Chemical bridges for enhancing hydrogen storage by spillover and methods for forming the same
A composition for hydrogen storage includes a source of hydrogen atoms, a receptor, and a chemical bridge formed between the source and the receptor. The chemical bridge is formed from a precursor material. The receptor is adapted to receive hydrogen spillover from the source.
US08338325B2 Tethered catalyst processes in microchannel reactors and systems containing a tethered catalyst or tethered chiral auxiliary
The invention provides systems and methods for conducting reactions in which a reactant contacts a tethered catalyst and/or tethered chiral auxiliary in a microchannel and is converted to product.
US08338324B2 Activating supports based on phosphonium complexes
The present invention relates to the covalent anchorage of non-coordinating anions on mineral supports to prepare activating supports for the polymerisation of ethylene and alpha-olefins and wherein the activating species is provided by a phosphonium-borate or phosphonium alane pair. The invention also discloses the concomitant covalent anchorage of zwitterionic systems containing both the non-coordinating anion and the counter cation parts of the activating supports.
US08338322B2 Transparent ceramics and methods of preparation thereof
A method for forming a transparent ceramic preform in one embodiment includes forming a suspension of oxide particles in a solvent, wherein the suspension includes a dispersant, with the proviso that the suspension does not include a gelling agent; and uniformly curing the suspension for forming a preform of gelled suspension. A method according to another embodiment includes creating a mixture of inorganic particles, a solvent and a dispersant, the inorganic particles having a mean diameter of less than about 2000 nm; agitating the mixture; adding the mixture to a mold; and curing the mixture in the mold for gelling the mixture, with the proviso that no gelling agent is added to the mixture.
US08338316B2 Low temperature process for depositing a high extinction coefficient non-peeling optical absorber for a scanning laser surface anneal of implanted dopants
A plasma enhanced physical vapor deposition process deposits an amorphous carbon layer on an ion-implanted wafer for use in dynamic surface annealing of the wafer with an intense line beam of a laser wavelength. The deposition process is carried out at a wafer temperature below the dopant clustering threshold temperature, and includes introducing the wafer into a chamber having a carbon-containing target overlying the wafer, and furnishing a carrier gas into the chamber. The process further includes generating a wafer bias voltage and applying target source power to the carbon-containing target sufficient to produce ion bombardment of the carbon-containing target. The wafer bias voltage is set to a level at which the amorphous carbon layer that is deposited has a desired extinction coefficient at the laser wavelength.
US08338315B2 Processes for curing silicon based low-k dielectric materials
Processes for curing silicon based low k dielectric materials generally includes exposing the silicon based low k dielectric material to ultraviolet radiation in an inert atmosphere having an oxidant in an amount of about 10 to about 500 parts per million for a period of time and intensity effective to cure the silicon based low k dielectric material so to change a selected one of chemical, physical, mechanical, and electrical properties and combinations thereof relative to the silicon based low k dielectric material prior to the ultraviolet radiation exposure. Also disclosed herein are silicon base low k dielectric materials substantially free of sub-oxidized SiO species.
US08338314B2 Technique for reducing topography-related irregularities during the patterning of a dielectric material in a contact level of closely spaced transistors
In a dual stress liner approach, the surface conditions after the patterning of a first stress-inducing layer may be enhanced by appropriately designing an etch sequence for substantially completely removing an etch stop material, which may be used for the patterning of the second stress-inducing dielectric material, while, in other cases, the etch stop material may be selectively formed after the patterning of the first stress-inducing dielectric material. Hence, the dual stress liner approach may be efficiently applied to semiconductor devices of the 45 nm technology and beyond.
US08338310B2 Method of forming line/space patterns
A method of forming a line/space pattern includes forming a plurality of first pattern structures on a layer of hard mask material disposed on a substrate, forming a plurality of second pattern structures along sidewalls of the first pattern structures, removing the first pattern structures such that the second pattern structures stand alone on the layer of hard mask material, forming a first mask that exposes a location where a space of the line/space pattern to be formed is to have a width greater than the distance between adjacent ones of the second pattern structures, removing those of the second pattern structures which are exposed by the first mask such that others of the second pattern structures remain on the layer of hard mask material, forming a second mask that covers a location where a line of the line/space pattern to be formed is to have a width that is greater than the widths of the second pattern structures, forming a hard mask by etching the hard mask material layer using the second mask and the remaining second pattern structures as an etch mask, and etching the substrate using the hard mask as an etch mask.
US08338308B2 Method of plasma etching Ga-based compound semiconductors
A method of plasma etching Ga-based compound semiconductors includes providing a process chamber and a source electrode adjacent to the process chamber. The process chamber contains a sample comprising a Ga-based compound semiconductor. The sample is in contact with a platen which is electrically connected to a first power supply, and the source electrode is electrically connected to a second power supply. The method includes flowing SiCl4 gas into the chamber, flowing Ar gas into the chamber, and flowing H2 gas into the chamber. RF power is supplied independently to the source electrode and the platen. A plasma is generated based on the gases in the process chamber, and regions of a surface of the sample adjacent to one or more masked portions of the surface are etched to create a substantially smooth etched surface including features having substantially vertical walls beneath the masked portions.
US08338306B2 Forming semiconductor resistors in a semiconductor device comprising metal gates by increasing etch resistivity of the resistors
In a replacement gate approach, the polysilicon material may be efficiently removed during a wet chemical etch process, while the semiconductor material in the resistive structures may be substantially preserved. For this purpose, a species such as xenon may be incorporated into the semiconductor material of the resistive structure, thereby imparting a significantly increased etch resistivity to the semiconductor material. The xenon may be incorporated at any appropriate manufacturing stage.
US08338303B2 Polishing liquid
A polishing liquid for a chemical mechanical polishing of a semiconductor device includes (a) a carboxylic acid compound having one or more carboxy groups, (b) colloidal silica particles having a ζ potential of −10 mV to −35 mV when used in the polishing liquid, (c) a benzotriazole derivative, (d) an anionic surfactant, and (e) an oxidizing agent, and the polishing liquid has a pH of from 5.0 to 8.0.
US08338301B1 Slurry-free chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of engineered germanium-on-silicon wafers
Exemplary embodiments provide methods for planarizing a semiconductor surface. In embodiments, the disclosed planarizing methods can include a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process using a slurry-free solution that includes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but is free of particles such as oxide particles. A semiconductor surface (e.g., germanium) can then be planarized to provide a desirable surface roughness. In embodiments, high-quality Group III-V materials can be formed on the planarized semiconductor surface.
US08338300B2 Slurry composition for chemical-mechanical polishing and method of chemical-mechanical polishing with the same
Provided may be a slurry composition for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) and a CMP method using the same. For example, the slurry composition may include a first polishing inhibitor including at least one of PO43− or HPO42− and a second polishing inhibitor, which may be a C2-C10 hydrocarbon compound having —SO3H or —OSO3H. By using the slurry composition for CMP and a CMP method using the same, increased selectivity to SiN may be obtained.
US08338298B2 Method and apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuit device
The present inventors have found that a wafer process of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) has the following problem, that is, generation of foreign matters due to moisture from a wafer as a result of degassing when a barrier metal film or a first-level metal interconnect layer is formed by sputtering as a preliminary step for the formation of a tungsten plug in a pre-metal step. To overcome the problem, the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device including, in a plasma process, in-situ monitoring of moisture in a processing chamber by receiving an electromagnetic wave generated from plasma.
US08338296B2 Method for forming a catalyst suitable for growth of carbon nanotubes
The present disclosure is related to a method for forming a catalyst nanoparticle on a metal surface, the nanoparticle being suitable for growing a single nanostructure, in particular a carbon nanotube, the method comprising at least the steps of: providing a substrate, having a metal layer on at least a portion of the substrate surface, depositing a sacrificial layer at least on the metal layer, producing a small hole in the sacrificial layer, thereby exposing the metal layer, providing a single catalyst nanoparticle into the hole, removing the sacrificial layer. The disclosure is further related to growing a carbon nanotube from the catalyst nanoparticle.
US08338295B2 Method of fabricating metal interconnection and method of fabricating image sensor using the same
A method of fabricating a metal interconnection and a method of fabricating image sensor using the same are provided. The method of fabricating a metal interconnection including forming a interlayer dielectric layer on a substrate, forming an interconnection formation region in the interlayer dielectric layer, performing an ultraviolet (UV) treatment on the substrate after the interconnection formation region is formed and forming a metal interconnection in the interconnection formation region.
US08338294B2 Methods of forming bonded semiconductor structures including two or more processed semiconductor structures carried by a common substrate, and semiconductor structures formed by such methods
Methods of forming semiconductor devices include providing a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material on a layer of electrically insulating material. A first metallization layer is formed over a first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Through wafer interconnects are formed at least partially through the substrate. A second metallization layer is formed over a second side of the layer of semiconductor material opposite the first side thereof. An electrical pathway is provided that extends through the first metallization layer, the substrate, and the second metallization layer between a first processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material and a second processed semiconductor structure carried by the substrate on the first side of the layer of semiconductor material. Semiconductor structures are fabricated using such methods.
US08338277B2 Method for manufacturing SOI substrate
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate including at least: an oxygen ion implantation step of ion-implanting oxygen ions from one main surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate to form an oxygen ion implanted layer; and a heat treatment step of performing a heat treatment with respect to the single-crystal silicon substrate having the oxygen ion implanted layer formed therein to change the oxygen ion implanted layer into a buried oxide film layer, wherein acceleration energy for the oxygen ion implantation is previously determined from a thickness of the buried oxide film layer to be obtained, and the oxygen ion implantation step is carried out with the determined acceleration energy to manufacture the SOI substrate. Thereby, it is possible to provide an SOI substrate manufacturing method that enables efficiently manufacturing an SOI substrate having a continuous and uniform thin buried oxide film layer.
US08338273B2 Pulsed selective area lateral epitaxy for growth of III-nitride materials over non-polar and semi-polar substrates
An epitaxy procedure for growing extremely low defect density non-polar and semi-polar III-nitride layers over a base layer, and the resulting structures, is generally described. In particular, a pulsed selective area lateral overgrowth of a group III nitride layer can be achieved on a non-polar and semi-polar base layer. By utilizing the novel P-MOCVD or PALE and lateral over growth over selected area, very high lateral growth conditions can be achieved at relatively lower growth temperature which does not affect the III-N surfaces.
US08338269B2 Methods and apparatus for producing semiconductor on insulator structures using directed exfoliation
Methods and apparatus provide for forming a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure, including subjecting a implantation surface of a donor semiconductor wafer to an ion implantation step to create a weakened slice in cross-section defining an exfoliation layer of the donor semiconductor wafer; and subjecting the donor semiconductor wafer to a spatial variation step, either before, during or after the ion implantation step, such that at least one parameter of the weakened slice varies spatially across the weakened slice in at least one of X- and Y- axial directions.
US08338268B2 Transfer method for thin film nanomembrane structures
A transfer process for silicon nanomembranes (SiNM) may involve treating a recipient substrate with a polymer structural support. After treating the recipient substrate, a substrate containing the intended transferable devices may be brought in direct contact with the aforementioned polymer layer. The two substrates may then go through a Deep Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) to remove at least a portion of the substrate containing the devices. Oxide may be selectively removed with a buffered oxide wet etch, leaving the transferred SiNM on the recipient substrate with the Underlying polymer layer.
US08338265B2 Silicided trench contact to buried conductive layer
A trench contact silicide is formed on an inner wall of a contact trench that reaches to a buried conductive layer in a semiconductor substrate to reduce parasitic resistance of a reachthrough structure. The trench contact silicide is formed at the bottom, on the sidewalls of the trench, and on a portion of the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The trench is subsequently filled with a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric. A contact via may be formed on the trench contact silicide. The trench contact silicide may be formed through a single silicidation reaction with a metal layer or through multiple silicidation reactions with multiple metal layers.
US08338262B2 Dual wavelength exposure method and system for semiconductor device manufacturing
A dual wavelength exposure system provides for patterning a resist layer formed on a wafer for forming semiconductor devices, using two exposure operations, one including a first radiation having a first wavelength and the other including a second radiation including a second wavelength. Different or the same lithography tool may be used to generate the first and second radiation. For each die formed on the semiconductor device, a critical portion of the pattern is exposed using a first exposure operation that uses a first radiation with a first wavelength and a non-critical portion of the pattern is exposed using a second exposure operation utilizing the second radiation at a second wavelength. The resist material is chosen to be sensitive to both the first radiation having a first wavelength and the second radiation having the second wavelength.
US08338261B2 Semiconductor device including field effect transistor and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes a gate insulator and a gate electrode stacked on a substrate, a source/drain pattern which fills a recess region formed at opposite sides adjacent to the gate electrode, the source/drain pattern being made of silicon-germanium doped with dopants and a metal germanosilicide layer disposed on the source/drain pattern. The metal germanosilicide layer is electrically connected to the source/drain pattern. Moreover, a proportion of germanium amount to the sum of the germanium amount and silicon amount in the metal germanosilicide layer is lower than that of germanium amount to the sum of the germanium amount and silicon amount in the source/drain pattern.
US08338255B2 Methods of making vertical junction field effect transistors and bipolar junction transistors without ion implantation
Methods of making semiconductor devices such as vertical junction field effect transistors (VJFETs) or bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are described. The methods do not require ion implantation. The VJFET device has an epitaxially regrown n-type channel layer and an epitaxially regrown p-type gate layer as well as an epitaxially grown buried gate layer. Devices made by the methods are also described.
US08338246B2 Method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a device isolation trench
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor substrate to have a SOI structure by an epitaxial process for forming a gate while forming an insulating film pattern in a bottom where a device isolation trench is formed. The method thereby increases the process margin for forming a device isolation film and prevents the punch-through phenomenon to improve electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices and increase product yield.
US08338243B2 Semiconductor device with reliable high-voltage gate oxide and method of manufacture thereof
A semiconductor device including a capacitor and a proximate high-voltage gate having a boron-barrier layer that ideally serves as part of both the capacitor dielectric and the (high voltage) HV gate oxide. The boron-barrier layer is preferably formed over a poly oxide layer that is in turn deposited on a substrate infused to create a neighboring wells, and N-well over which the capacitor will be formed, and P-well to be overlaid by the HV gate. The boron-barrier helps to reduce or eliminate the harmful effects of boron diffusion from the P-well during TEOS deposition of the gate oxide material.
US08338235B2 Package process of stacked type semiconductor device package structure
A package process is provided. The package process includes: disposing a semiconductor substrate on a carrier, wherein the semiconductor substrate has plural contacts at a side facing the carrier; thinning the semiconductor substrate from a back side of the semiconductor substrate and then forming plural through silicon vias in the thinned semiconductor substrate; forming plural first pads on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first pads respectively connected to the through silicon vias; bonding plural chips to the semiconductor substrate, wherein the chips are electrically connected to the corresponding pads; forming a molding compound on the semiconductor substrate to cover the chips and the first pads; separating the semiconductor substrate and the carrier and then forming plural solder balls on the semiconductor substrate; and sawing the molding compound and the semiconductor substrate.
US08338234B2 Hybrid integrated circuit device and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a hybrid integrated circuit device of the present invention includes the steps of preparing a lead frame which constituted by units each having a plurality of leads, and fixing a circuit substrate on each unit of the lead frame by fixing pads which are formed on the surface of the circuit substrate to the leads, where a space between a first pad which is formed at an end edge of the circuit substrate and a second pad which is adjacent to the first pad is set narrower than a space between the pads themselves.
US08338232B2 Power semiconductor device package method
Preparation methods of forming packaged semiconductor device, specifically for flip-chip vertical power device, are disclosed. In these methods, a vertical semiconductor chip is flip-chip attached to a lead frame and then encapsulated with plastic packing materials. Encapsulated chip is then thinned to a predetermined thickness. Contact terminals connecting the chip with external circuit are formed by etching at least a bottom portion of the lead frame connected.
US08338223B2 Fabrication method for organic electronic device and organic electronic device fabricated by the same method
The present invention provides a fabrication method for an organic electronic device comprising a step of stacking sequentially a first electrode made of a metal, one or more organic material layers, and a second electrode on a substrate, wherein the method comprises the steps of: 1) forming a layer on the first electrode using a metal having a higher oxidation rate than the first electrode before forming the organic material layer, 2) treating the layer formed using a metal having a higher oxidation rate than the first electrode with oxygen plasma to form a metal oxide layer, and 3) treating the metal oxide layer with inert gas plasma to remove a native oxide layer on the first electrode, and an organic electronic device fabricated by the same method.
US08338220B2 Negatively charged passivation layer in a photovoltaic cell
Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for processing of a solar substrate for making a photovoltaic device. In particular, methods and apparatus for creating a negatively charged passivation layer by are provided.
US08338215B2 Solar cell module and method for manufacturing the same
A solar cell module and a method of manufacturing the solar cell module are disclosed. The method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes forming a conductive bump on a conductive pad formed on one surface of a solar cell, forming a circuit pattern on one surface of a transparent substrate, in which the circuit pattern corresponds to a position of the conductive bump, adhering the solar cell to the transparent substrate in such a way that the conductive bump is in direct contact with the circuit pattern, and forming a protective resin layer on one surface of the transparent substrate in such a way that the solar cell is covered. By using the above steps, a thinner solar cell module can be implemented while improving the manufacturing efficiency.
US08338214B2 Sodium salt containing CIG targets, methods of making and methods of use thereof
A sputtering target includes at least one metal selected from copper, indium and gallium and a sodium containing compound.
US08338212B2 Method of forming mask for lithography, method of forming mask data for lithography, method of manufacturing back-illuminated solid-state imaging device, back-illuminated solid-state imaging device and electronic device
A method of forming a mask for lithography includes the step of forming the mask by using reverse data in which positions of at least part of output terminals are reversed, when forming the mask for lithography used for manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device which takes incident light from the side of a surface opposite to the side of a surface on which wiring of a device region in which photoelectric conversion elements are formed is formed.
US08338211B2 Systems and methods for charging solar cell layers
Systems and methods of the present invention can be used to charge a charge-holding layer (such as a passivation layer and/or antireflective layer) of a solar cell with a positive or negative charge as desired. The charge-holding layer(s) of such a cell can include any suitable dielectric material capable of holding either a negative or a positive charge, and can be charged at any suitable point during manufacture of the cell, including during or after deposition of the passivation layer(s). A method according to one aspect of the invention includes disposing a solar cell in electrical communication with an electrode inside a chamber. The solar cell includes an emitter, a base, a first passivation layer adjacent the emitter, and a second passivation layer adjacent the base. Gas is injected into the chamber and a plasma (with photons having an energy level of at least about 3.1 eV) is generated using the gas. One or more of the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer is charged to a predetermined polarity, wherein the charging includes applying a direct current voltage pulse to the electrode for a predetermined period of time.
US08338209B2 Photovoltaic cell comprising a thin lamina having a rear junction and method of making
Fabrication of a photovoltaic cell comprising a thin semiconductor lamina may require additional processing after the semiconductor lamina is bonded to a receiver. To minimize high-temperature steps after bonding, the p−n junction is formed at the back of the cell, at the bonded surface. In some embodiments, the front surface of the semiconductor lamina is not doped or is locally doped using low-temperature methods. The base resistivity of the photovoltaic cell may be reduced, allowing a front surface field to be reduced or omitted.
US08338208B2 Micro-electro-mechanical system having movable element integrated into leadframe-based package
A MEMS may integrate movable MEMS parts, such as mechanical elements, flexible membranes, and sensors, with the low-cost device package, leaving the electronics and signal-processing parts in the integrated circuitry of the semiconductor chip. The package may be a leadframe-based plastic molded body having an opening through the thickness of the body. The movable part may be anchored in the body and extend at least partially across the opening. The chip may be flip-assembled to the leads to span across the foil, and may be separated from the foil by a gap. The leadframe may be a prefabricated piece part, or may be fabricated in a process flow with metal deposition on a sacrificial carrier and patterning of the metal layer. The resulting leadframe may be flat or may have an offset structure useful for stacked package-on-package devices.
US08338204B2 Light emitting element, a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing a light emitting element and a method of manufacturing a light emitting device
The present invention provides a light-emitting element, a method of manufacturing the light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and a method of manufacturing the light-emitting device. A method of manufacturing a light-emitting element includes: forming a first conductive layer of a first conductive type, a light-emitting layer, and a second conductive layer of a second conductive type on at least one first substrate, forming an ohmic layer on the second conductive layer and bonding the at least one first substrate to a second substrate. The second substrate being larger than the first substrate. The method further includes etching portions of the ohmic layer, the second conductive layer, and the light-emitting layer to expose a portion of the first conductive layer.
US08338199B2 Solid state light sheet for general illumination
A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare blue-light LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. In one embodiment, an intermediate sheet having holes is then affixed to the bottom substrate, with the LEDs passing through the holes. A transparent top substrate having conductors is then laminated over the intermediate sheet. In another embodiment, no intermediate sheet is used. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. The light sheet provides a practical substitute for a standard 2×4 foot fluorescent ceiling fixture. A phosphor is used to generate white light.
US08338197B2 LED chip-based lighting products and methods of building
A method of building a light-emitting diode (LED) based lighting product includes mounting a plurality of unpackaged LED chips or LEDs directly on conductors on a surface of a two-sided panel, integrating the panel with support structure to form the lighting product such that at least one surface of the panel forms an external surface of the lighting product, and coupling a diffuser, with a distance from the diffuser to the surface of the LED chips or LEDs being at least twice an average spacing between adjacent LED chips or LEDs. A method of building a an LED chip-based lighting product includes mounting unpackaged LED chips directly on conductors formed on a surface of a two-sided panel, and mounting a cover plate to the LED chips such that light emitted from the LED chips passes through the cover plate.
US08338195B2 Method for manufacturing a liquid-ejection head
A method for manufacturing a liquid-ejection head having a plurality of nozzles arranged to eject liquid includes: preparing a substrate having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer stacked in this order, the second layer more resistant than the third layer to etching by an etching method to be used on the third layer; partially etching the third layer by the etching method to expose the second layer; and removing the exposed second layer at least in part to expose some area on the top surface of the first layer, opening a first one of the nozzles down from the exposed area of the top surface, and opening a second one of the nozzles down from the top surface of the third layer.
US08338188B2 Methods and kits for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
The present invention relates to the identification and use of proteins with clinical relevance to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In particular, the invention provides the identity of marker proteins that specifically react with RA-associated autoantibodies. Also provided are methods, arrays and kits for using these proteins in the diagnosis of RA, and in the selection and/or monitoring of treatment regimens.
US08338186B2 Method and system for fluid purification and analysis
A system and method for purifying an aqueous contaminated fluid from colloidal contaminants using a closed-loop feedback control system are disclosed. Contaminated fluid flows into a mixer and mixed with a purifying agent, such as diatomaceous earth, to facilitate metathesis reaction between the purifying agent and the contaminants. The purifying agent entraps the contaminants, and is subsequently removed in a separator into sediments. An estimation of the amount of the purifying agent to dispense is performed using pre-defined equations or look-up tables stored in the database, including relationship between the concentration of contaminants in the fluid and the concentration of the added purifying agent. An automated feedback control is applied to fine tune the purification process into compliance with regulations. High accuracy of measurements is ensured by selecting the same material for both the purifying agent and the trapping medium of analyzers, and additionally by the design of the analyzers.
US08338185B2 Methods of determining potency of chemically-synthesized oligonucleotides
Provided herein are methods for determining potency of RNAi agents. Such methods include, but are not limited to, cell-based and cell-free assays that measure binding of an RNAi agent with Ago2 or that measure Ago2 activity in the presence of such RNAi agents. Also provided are assays that determine potency of RNAi agents by assessing their ability to compete with other RNAi agents, including control RNAi agents, for binding and/or activation of Ago2.
US08338183B2 Electrochemical determination system of glycated proteins
Disclosed relates to an electrochemical determination system of glycated proteins, the system comprising: a filtering means for filtering labeled compounds bound to glycated proteins and non-glycated proteins after adding labeling compounds, capable of selectively binding to the glycated proteins to a solution, in which glycated/non-glycated proteins coexist, to be bound all to the glycated proteins; and a quantifying means for quantifying the filtered labeling compounds, not bound to the glycated proteins. The system of the present invention filters the residual labeled compounds left after binding to glycated proteins to quantify, instead of directly quantifying glycated proteins via the known glycated protein determination methods, thus simplifying the configuration of the system that can provide exact determinations with a low cost. Moreover, the electrochemical determination system of glycated proteins of the present invention minimizes the interference that the proteins are absorbed to an analysis device and a sensor in the system, not using immune antibodies that are expensive and have limited lives and, furthermore, not modifying the electrodes of the electrode sensor with antibodies or enzymes, thus facilitating mass production, quality control and circulation of the products.
US08338181B2 Plants having altered agronomic characteristics under nitrogen limiting conditions and related constructs and methods involving genes encoding LNT2 polypeptides and homologs thereof
Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and recombinant DNA constructs particularly useful for altering agronomic characteristics of plants under nitrogen limiting conditions, compositions (such as plants or seeds) comprising these recombinant DNA constructs, and methods utilizing these recombinant DNA constructs. The recombinant DNA construct comprises a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter functional in a plant, wherein said polynucleotide encodes an LNT2 polypeptide.
US08338177B2 Cell culture medium
A method for culturing cells in the presence of an alcanoic acid for enhancing protein production.
US08338174B2 Material for ameliorating skin tissue and method for producing the same
A material for ameliorating skin tissue provided by the invention comprises, as a main component, a culture obtained by culturing cells or tissue fragments derived from human or other mammalian alveolar mucosa. Typically, 50% or more of the cells contained in the culture are fibroblasts, and having a high growth rate and a high productivity in vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEDF) and/or keratinocyte growth factor (KGF).
US08338173B2 Preparation of antigen-presenting human γδ T cells and use in immunotherapy
Cytotoxic αβ T cells form an essential component in immunity to infections and tumors, and are also implicated in host defense against these challenges. The present disclosure demonstrates the ability of activated γδ T cells to cross-present exogenous antigens to CD8+ αβ T cells, a process previously thought to be mediated best by dendritic cells. In particular, the present disclosure provides a method for cross-presentation of antigen derived from tumor cell or microbial organisms such as viruses, bacteria, yeasts, parasites, and the like, or from cells infected with such organisms, to a CD8+ αβ T cell. Still further, the present disclosure provides a method for treatment of a tumor or a chronic or recurrent infectious disease, comprising delivering an antigen-presenting autologous γδ T cell population above into a patient requiring such treatment. Still yet further, a method is described for preparing a peptide-specific effector T cell.
US08338170B2 Methods for purifying endoderm and pancreatic endoderm cells derived from human embryonic stem cells
The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods comprising cell surface markers for hES-derived cells, in particular, endoderm lineage cells including pancreatic endoderm-type cells, derived from hES cells.
US08338167B2 Pressure controllable incubation system
A pressure controllable incubation system is provided for constantly maintaining a concentration of carbon dioxide while keeping a pressure chamber, in which living organisms to be cultured are placed, at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. The pressure controllable incubation system comprise a cylinder that stores air containing high-concentration carbon dioxide to be injected into a pressure chamber and supplies the air into the pressure chamber, and a heat controller that constantly maintains temperature in the pressure chamber. The pressure controllable incubation system constantly maintains culture conditions such as pressure, temperature, and concentration of carbon dioxide which the user wants for a long time, so that it can be effectively applied to the culture of various living organisms.
US08338166B2 Sorting, amplification, detection, and identification of nucleic acid subsequences in a complex mixture
A system for identifying all of the known and unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in a sample. A droplet generator creates droplets from the sample. The droplets constitute sub-nanoliter volume reactors containing the organism sized particles. A lysis device performs lysis of the organisms to release the nucleic acids. An amplifier amplifies the nucleic acids. A fractionater releases the nucleic acids from the droplets. A parallel analyzer identifies all of the known and unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in the sample.
US08338162B2 Obligately anaerobic mutant lactic acid bacterium and preparation method therefor, and expression vector functioning in obligately anaerobic lactic acid bacterium
The present invention provides an obligately anaerobic lactic acid bacterium having no risk of causing side effects in normal tissue and promising as a safe therapeutic agent and a gene transporter for a disease that is in an anaerobic environment such as a solid tumor, a preparation method therefor, and an expression vector useful in the preparation method. The obligately anaerobic lactic acid bacterium of the present invention has been artificially mutated from being facultatively anaerobic to being obligately anaerobic and, furthermore, is capable of being transformed by an expression vector having introduced thereinto a gene for expressing an active protein useful for the treatment of a disease that is in an anaerobic environment. Furthermore, the expression vector of the present invention functions in an obligately anaerobic lactic acid bacterium and contains a Lactobacillus-derived plasmid replication protein gene (Rep), a secretion signal sequence (PslpA-SSartP) comprising a Lactobacillus-derived s-layer gene promoter and a Lactobacillus-derived PrtP protein secretion signal, and one or more selection marker genes. The expression vector of the present invention enables producing an extremely safe and excellent therapeutic agent and gene transporting microorganism for a disease that is in an anaerobic environment.
US08338159B2 Chicken virus vaccine and diagnostic
A novel astrovirus designated chicken astrovirus type 3 has been isolated and characterized. Nucleotide sequences and polypeptide sequences of this astrovirus are provided with uses of the same and the isolated astrovirus in assay kits and vaccines.
US08338154B2 Mutant glycoprotein resistant to modification with asparagine-linked sugar chain
To obtain a mutant protein of an asparagine-linked glycoprotein, which has no N-linked sugar chain under ordinary circumstance, and remains a physiological activity of the glycoprotein before the mutation was introduced, at least one of the amino acids contained in the amino acid sequence motif (I) and/or (II) in the polypeptide of the asparagine-linked glycoprotein is substituted into another amino acid: (I) Asn Xa1 Xa2 (II) Xa3 Val Gly Asn Xa1 Xa2. In amino acid sequence motif (I) and (II), Xa1 represents an amino acid other than Pro, Xa2 represents Thr or Ser and Xa3 represents His or Asp.
US08338151B2 Method for creating intracellular artificial nanostructures in situ
A method of creating intracellular artificial nanostructures in situ, which employees a chemical precursor. The precursor does not self-assemble due to the presence of a cleavable motif linked to it. When the precursor comes inside live cells by an uptaking mechanism on the cell membrane, the cleavable motif is then to be removed by an enzymatic action of a first enzyme. Without the cleavable motif, the precursor now engages in a self-assembling process to form nanostructures within the live cells, which may cause formation of a hydrogel. Furthermore, the self-assembling process can be made reversible by employing a second enzyme which puts the cleavable motif back to the precursor, whereby dissolving the nanostructures into solution.
US08338149B2 Ethanol production process and yeast for ethanol production
According to the present invention, ethanol production is carried out with the use of cellulose or cellobiose as a starting material at low cost. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of culturing a microorganism that is classified as a species selected from the group consisting of Ogataea dorogensis, Ogataea pini, Ogataea glucozyma, Ogataea neopini, and Ogataea corticis in a medium containing cellobiose; and collecting ethanol from the medium.
US08338144B2 Microbial production of L-ascorbic acid
The present invention discloses an isolated polynucleotide molecule derived from a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having L-sorbosone dehydrogenase activity comprising a partial nucleotide sequence of at least 20 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1. The present invention further relates to a process for the production of L-ascorbic acid in high yield, in particular a process using resting cells of a microorganism able to convert given carbon sources into vitamin C. The thus obtained vitamin C may be further processed by purification and/or separation steps.
US08338143B2 Enhanced production of paclitaxel and taxanes by cell cultures of Taxus species
This invention provides methods whereby taxol, baccatin III, and other taxol-like compounds, or taxanes, can be produced in very high yield from all known Taxus species, e.g., brevifolia, canadensis, cuspidata, baccata, globosa, floridana, wallichiana, media and chinensis. Particular modifications of culture conditions (i.e., media composition and operating modes) have been discovered to enhance the yield of various taxanes from cell culture of all species of Taxus. Particularly preferred enhancement agents include silver ion or complex, jasmonic acid (especially the methyl ester), auxin-related growth regulators, and inhibitors of the phenylpropanoid pathway, such as 3,4-methylenedioxy-6-nitrocinnamic acid. These enhancement agents may be used alone or in combination with one another or other yield-enhancing conditions. While the yield of taxanes from plant cell culture of T. chinensis is particularly enhanced by use of one or more of these conditions, yield of taxanes for all Taxus species has been found to benefit from use of these conditions.
US08338136B2 Method of producing a paralytic peptide
The invention relates to a low molecular weight peptide (or suite of related peptides) isolated from the submaxiliary saliva glands of shrews of the species Blarina as a paralytic agent. This novel paralytic agent is useful as a neuromuscular blocker and analgesic or as an insecticide.
US08338135B2 High affinity human antibodies to human IL-4 receptor
An isolated human antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which binds to human interleukin-4 receptor alpha (hIL-4Rα) with an affinity constant (KD) of less than 200 pM, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, is provided.
US08338133B2 DNA encoding glyceroglycolipid lipase
A glyceroglycolipid lipase which is highly safe, hydrolyzes a neutral fat, a glycerophospholipid or a glyceroglycolipid at about pH 6, is thermally stable, hydrolyzes lecithin, does not hydrolyze lysolecithin, can rise a bread when used singly in the production of the bread, and has no unpleasant odor. Specifically disclosed is a glyceroglycolipid lipase derived from a filamentous bacterium Aspergillus japonicus.
US08338128B2 Microbial detection and quantification
Suitable dyes are used herein to indicate the presence of microbial contamination by spraying them onto surfaces in the form of an aqueous solution. The dye solution may also be allowed to dry, thus producing the dried residue of an aqueous solution. It's believed that these dyes change color in response to a change in polarity of the environment. Since water is a polar solvent and most bacteria are made from non-polar substances, the presence of bacteria changes the polarity of the environment, triggering a change visible by the unaided eye.
US08338126B2 Kit for detecting and measuring element tagged kinases and phosphatases by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Methods and kits for enzymes involved in post-translational modifications are provided. The methods employ elemental analysis, including ICP-MS. The methods allow for the convenient and accurate analysis of post-translation modifications of substrates by enzymes involved in post-translational modifications, including kinase and phosphatase enyzmes.
US08338125B2 Kit for measuring nitric oxide synthase activity
The present invention relates to kits for measuring nitric oxide synthase activity.
US08338122B2 Method for determining the amino acid sequence of peptides
The invention is in the field of analytical methods suitable for biochemical applications and provides a method for determining the amino acid sequence of a peptide. The determination of amino acid sequences of proteins and peptides is useful in the study of biological systems. The invention relates to a method for determining at least part of the amino acid sequence of a protein comprising the steps of cleaving the protein into proteolytic peptides, ionizing the proteolytic peptides to generate peptide precursor ions, dissociating these peptide precursor ions using tandem mass spectrometry in order to obtain peptide fragment ions, followed by determining the amino acid sequence of a selected proteolytic peptide wherein the cleaving step generates at least one proteolytic peptide with an N-terminal lysine residue and wherein the dissociation of the peptide precursor ions is initiated by electron transfer.
US08338121B2 Methods for determining cellulolytic enhancing activity of a polypeptide
The present invention relates to methods for determining cellulolytic enhancing activity of a polypeptide, comprising: (a) incubating a cellulosic material with an enzyme composition comprising a cellobiose dehydrogenase and one or more cellulolytic enzymes in the presence and absence of the polypeptide; and (b) measuring the release of sugar from the cellulosic material in the presence and absence of the polypeptide.
US08338120B2 Method of treating inflammation with glutaminyl cyclase inhibitors
Provided herein are methods for the treatment and/or prevention of an inflammatory disease or disorder through administration of an inhibitor of a glutaminyl peptide cyclotransferase. Inflammatory diseases or disorders treated or prevented by methods disclosed herein include mild cognitive impairment (MCI), rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, restenosis and pancreatitis.
US08338118B2 Fluorescence spectropscopy in absorbing media
The invention relates to processes and devices for detecting an analyte in a sample by fluorescence measurement of a fluorophore, wherein the detection medium which contains a fluorophore or a precursor of the fluorophore is admixed with an absorber whose absorbance spectrum superimposes the fluorescence excitation range of the fluorophore. The system consisting of the fluorophore and the absorber, which is produced in the detection medium, has an altered effective fluorescence excitation range with an altered fluorescence excitation maximum. Illumination with fluorescence excitation light can take place within the range of this altered excitation maximum. The measured signal obtained from determining fluorescence emission exhibits only low dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light.
US08338115B2 Assays for detecting T2R76 taste modulatory compounds
Isolated nucleic acids encoding T2R76 polypeptides, recombinantly expressed T2R76 polypeptides, heterologous expression systems for recombinant expression of T2R76 polypeptides, assay methods employing the same, and methods for altering taste perception via administration of a T2R76 modulator. These T22R76 polypeptides can be expressed alone or co-expressed with another T2R polypeptide, preferably a different human T2R polypeptide.
US08338113B2 Methods for detecting fetal cells in the maternal blood
Provided is a method of identifying a trophoblast by detecting in cells of a biological sample, with the proviso that the biological sample does not comprise a placental tissue, expression of a trophoblast marker selected from the group consisting of an annexin IV, a cytokeratin-7, a cytokeratin-8 and a cytokeratin-19; and classifying cells exhibiting expression of the trophoblast marker as trophoblasts. Also provided are methods of detecting a pregnancy in a subject, isolating trophoblasts from biological samples and prenatally diagnosing a conceptus using the identified trophoblasts.
US08338112B1 Anti-hedgehog antibodies
The invention relates to anti-hedgehog antibodies, their use in the detection of hedgehog expression in tissue, and to the use of such detection in the treatment of cancer.
US08338105B2 Method of diagnosing poor survival prognosis colon cancer using miR-203
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. In particular, the present invention provides diagnostics and prognostics for colon (including colon adenocarcinoma) cancer patients, wherein the methods related to measuring miR levels can predict poor survival. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
US08338104B2 Method of diagnosing poor survival prognosis colon cancer using miR-103-2
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. In particular, the present invention provides diagnostics and prognostics for colon (including colon adenocarcinoma) cancer patients, wherein the methods related to measuring miR levels can predict poor survival. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
US08338096B2 Markers of acute kidney failure
The present invention relates to the method of determining the risk of acute kidney injury comprising determining the amount of a marker selected from VCAN, NRP1, CCL2, CCL19, COL3A1, GZMM or any combination thereof in a sample.
US08338089B2 Method of inhibiting lentiviral infectivity utilizing zinc chelation to inhibit Vif activity
The present invention relates, e.g., to a method for inhibiting infectivity of a lentivirus (e.g., a lentivirus which expresses a Viral infectivity factor (Vif) protein), such as, e.g., SIV, SHIV and/or HIV, comprising contacting a cell which is producing the virus with an antiviral-effective amount of a membrane-permeable Zinc (Zn) chelator, wherein the antiviral-effective amount of the Zn chelator does not substantially inhibit proteins in the cell which contain Zn-binding motifs other than lentivirus Vif. Kits and pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed, as is a method for identifying inhibitors of lentiviruses that target a specific zinc-binding motif of the lentivirus Vif protein.
US08338088B2 Methods related to cell surface glycosylation
The present disclosure provides methods for assessing the glycosylation of a target glycoprotein produced by a cell through analysis of cell-surface glycans on the cell. The present disclosure therefore teaches that glycosylation of cell surface proteins can serve as a proxy for glycosylation of other proteins.
US08338087B2 Composition and process for post-etch removal of photoresist and/or sacrificial anti-reflective material deposited on a substrate
A composition and process for removing photoresist and/or sacrificial anti-reflective coating (SARC) materials from a substrate having such material(s) thereon. The composition includes a base component, such as a quaternary ammonium base in combination with an alkali or alkaline earth base, or alternatively a strong base in combination with an oxidant. The composition may be utilized in aqueous medium, e.g., with chelator, surfactant, and/or co-solvent species, to achieve high-efficiency removal of photoresist and/or SARC materials in the manufacture of integrated circuitry, without adverse effect on metal species on the substrate, such as copper, aluminum and/or cobalt alloys, and without damage to SiOC-based dielectric materials employed in the semiconductor architecture.
US08338083B2 Methods of forming electronic devices
Methods of forming electronic devices are provided. The methods involve alkaline treatment of photoresist patterns and allow for the formation of high density resist patterns. The methods find particular applicability in semiconductor device manufacture.
US08338081B2 Alkali-developable photosensitive resin composition and β-diketone compound
An alkali developable photosensitive resin composition contains (J) a photopolymerizable unsaturated compound having a structure resulting from the addition reaction of (B) a compound having a β-diketone moiety or a compound having a β-ketoester group to the (meth)acryloyl group of (A) a compound having at least two (meth)acryloyl groups and a hydroxyl group and subsequent esterification of the hydroxyl group of the resulting addition product with (C) a polybasic acid anhydride. The compound having a β-diketone moiety is preferably a novel β-diketone compound represented by general formula (I): wherein R1 is a C1-C20 alkyl group; R2 represents R11, OR11, COR11, SR11, CONR12R13, or CN; R11, R12, and R13 are each hydrogen, a C1-C20 alkyl group, etc.; a is 0 to 3; and b is 0 to 4.
US08338080B2 Process for forming resist pattern, semiconductor device and fabrication thereof
To thicken a resist pattern to be thickened to thereby easily form a fine pattern exceeding an exposure limit of optical source of conventional exposure devices, a process forms a resist pattern to be thickened by patterning a resist on an underlying object; applying a surfactant composition containing at least a surfactant on the resist pattern to be thickened; and applying a resist pattern thickening material containing at least a resin and a surfactant thereonto. The resist pattern to be thickened is thus thickened to form a fine pattern having a narrowed pitch.
US08338077B2 Photoacid generators and photoresists comprising same
This invention relates to new photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions that comprise such compounds. In particular, the invention relates to photoacid generator compounds that comprise a multi cyclic lactone moiety.
US08338070B2 Continuous process for producing toner using an oscillatory flow continuous reactor
The present disclosure provides for oscillatory flow continuous reactors suitable for use in forming emulsion aggregation toners. The reactor may include at least one receptacle being a flexible, tubular member. The reactor may also include a plurality of baffles disposed, at spaced apart intervals, along an interior space of the tubular member, each of the plurality of baffles including one or more orifices. Additionally, one or more fluids may flow through the tubular member. The oscillatory flow continuous reactor may be used in an emulsion aggregation process to produce toner particles.
US08338067B2 Electrostatic image developer, developer cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method
An electrostatic image developer is provided, the electrostatic image developer including: a carrier for an electrostatic image developer, the carrier including a core particle which has a plurality of projections on a surface of the core particle; and electrostatic image developing toners, wherein the electrostatic image developer satisfies following relationships of formulae (1) and (2): 0.5t
US08338066B2 Toner, process cartridge and method of forming image
A toner including a resin having a polyester skeleton, a coloring agent, a vinyl based copolymer resin, and a releasing agent, wherein the toner is manufactured by dissolving or dispersing a resin including the resin having a polyester skeleton and a mixture of the vinyl based copolymer resin and the releasing agent in an organic solvent to obtain a lysate and/or a dispersion material, dispersing the lysate and/or the dispersion material in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid dispersion and removing the organic solvent from the liquid dispersion.
US08338065B2 Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming apparatus provided with the same
An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: a conductive support, a photosensitive layer and an intermediate layer interposed between the conductive support and the photosensitive layer, wherein the intermediate layer contains metal oxide microparticles surface-treated with silicon dioxide anhydride and a binder resin; and the binder resin contains a polyamide resin containing a piperazine-based compound.
US08338063B2 Photolithography method including technique of determining distribution of energy of exposure light passing through slit of exposure apparatus
The energy distribution of exposure light directed passing through the slit of an exposure apparatus is determined. A photoresist layer on a substrate is exposed over a plurality of shots while changing the intensity of the exposure light for each shot. Then the photoresist layer is developed to form a sample photoresist layer. An image of the developed sample photoresist layer is analyzed for color intensity. Values of the color intensity across a selected one of the shots are correlated with values of the intensity of the exposure light to produce an energy distribution of the exposure light along the length of the slit. The energy distribution is used to change the slit so that a more desirable energy distribution may be realized when the slit is used in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
US08338062B2 Colored curable composition, method for producing color filter, color filter, solid-state image pickup device, and liquid crystal display device
A colored curable composition including at least (A-1) a complex including a compound represented by the following formula (I) and a metal atom or a metal compound, (A-2) a phthalocyanine pigment, (B) a dispersing agent, (C) a polymerizable compound, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) an organic solvent: wherein R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
US08338060B2 Pellicle for lithography and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a pellicle for lithography includes steps of providing a pellicle frame having one pair of long sides and one pair of short sides, each of the long sides 11 having a linear shape and each of the short sides 12 including a central portion projecting outwardly, intermediate regions positioned on the opposite sides of the central region and having a re-entrant arcuate shape and end proximity regions each having a linear shape, and adhering a pellicle membrane whose tensile force distribution is adjusted so that a tensile force along the pair of long sides of the pellicle frame is larger than a tensile force along the pair of short sides of the pellicle frame, thereby transforming the one of short sides of the pellicle frame to which the pellicle membrane is adhered to have a linear shape.
US08338057B2 Gaskets for fuel cells
A gasket for sealing internal surfaces of a fuel cell and formed of compressible material, the gasket comprising a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface for providing a fluid seal against opposing faces of a first fluid flow field plate and a second fluid flow field plate respectively, the gasket further comprising a third sealing surface for sealing against an outer perimeter region of a first surface of a membrane electrode assembly, the third sealing surface being entirely enclosed within a boundary defined by an inner perimeter of the second sealing surface.
US08338056B2 Tubular fuel cell
A tubular fuel cell includes an inner current collector, a membrane-electrode assembly, and seal portions provided at the axial end portions of the membrane-electrode assembly, respectively. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an inner catalyst layer provided on the inner current collector, an electrolyte membrane provided on the inner catalyst layer, and an outer catalyst layer provided on the electrolyte membrane. The axial length of the outer catalyst layer is shorter than the axial lengths of the electrolyte membrane and the outer catalyst layer. The axial end face of the outer catalyst layer and the axial end face of the inner catalyst layer are located on the opposite sides of the seal portion in each side of the tubular fuel cell.
US08338055B2 System and method for electrochemical energy conversion and storage
An electrochemical energy conversion and storage system comprises an electrochemical energy conversion device, in fluid communication with a source of an organic liquid carrier of hydrogen and an oxidant, for receiving, catalyzing and electrochemically oxidizing at least a portion of the hydrogen to generate electricity, a hydrogen depleted liquid, and water; and a vessel for receiving the hydrogen depleted liquid; wherein the organic liquid carrier of hydrogen comprises at least two secondary hydroxy groups is provided.
US08338054B2 Proton transporting material, starting material thereof, ion exchange membrane, membrane electrolyte assembly, and fuel cell using the same
There are provided: a proton transporting material that improves mechanical characteristics of a sulfonated liquid crystalline polymer material, can be kept as a membrane even though it is made a solid state while maintaining a molecular arrangement of a liquid crystalline state, and is suitable for electrolyte membranes of fuel cells etc.; an ion exchange membrane, a membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), and a fuel cell that use the proton transporting material; a starting material for the proton transporting material. The proton transporting material has a molecular structure produced by crosslinking the sulfonated liquid crystalline polymer material with a crosslinking agent having two or more functional groups in sites except that of the sulfonic acid group.
US08338049B2 Monocrystalline silicon flow connector and microfluidic system modularly built thereon for feeding a fuel solution to an energy converting device
A microfluidic system through which a solution of at least an oxidable compound is fed to a feed manifold of an energy converting electrochemical device includes a flow connector. The flow connector includes a silicon platform having a bottom side and an opposing top side, and through holes extending therethough. The silicon platform includes first and second channels defined on the bottom side for communicating with the through holes. The second channel forms an inlet for the feed manifold of the energy converting electrochemical device when the bottom side of the silicon platform is coupled to a flat coupling area of the device. A micropump module is coupled to the top side of the silicon platform for communicating with the through holes in the first and second channels. First and second supply cartridges are coupled to the top side of the silicon platform for communicating with the through holes in the first channel.