Document Document Title
US08355410B2 Location-based mobile gaming application and method for implementing the same using a scalable tiered geocast protocol
A method is disclosed for initiating real-time geo-game using geocast messaging according to a scalable tiered geocast protocol. The method includes a first wireless terminal (WT), programmed with a geo-gaming application and the scalable tiered geocast protocol, geocasting a game declaration to a destination geocast region containing potential participants. The method also includes a second WT, of one of the potential participants, and programmed with the geo-gaming application and the scalable tiered geocast protocol, receiving the game declaration in the destination geocast region and responding by geocasting a response message indicating interest in participating in the real-time geo-game.
US08355405B2 Selective session interception method
A method for intercepting data of a network session passing between a first node and a second node on a data network, comprising the steps of: (i) providing an interceptor on a third node of the network; (ii) monitoring data passing between the first node and the second node; (iii) synchronizing the network data between the interceptor and the first and second nodes; (iv) creating a first socket on the interceptor for communicating with the first node and a second socket on the interceptor for communicating with the second node, and (v) intercepting the data so that data flowing between first and second nodes passes through the interceptor.
US08355402B2 Enhancement of path quality of service in multi-hop packet communication networks
Techniques and systems for enhancing quality of service (QoS) in communication networks, including wired and wireless communication networks. Implementations of described techniques and systems can be used to provide path-based QoS with distributed per-hop scheduling for carrying traffic over a multi-hop packet communication network.
US08355401B2 Controlling access to a destination in a data processing network
Access to a device is controlled in a data processing network by receiving a first request from a client to connect to a device where the device is limited to a fixed number of client connections and connecting the client to an available client connection of the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would not be exceeded by connecting the client. Access is further controlled by testing liveness of a current client connection on the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would be exceeded by connecting the client and dropping the current client connection if the liveness testing indicates that the current client connection is not live.
US08355396B1 Customized network congestion messaging for terminal adapters
A terminal adapter such as a residential gateway or an eMTA is configured to receive a set of signals such as a 403 message from network devices operating in a VoIP network. In response to receiving the signals, the terminal adapter provides audio information to a caller at a telephone. For example, when the caller attempts to make a call, the terminal adapter receives a 403 message which causes the terminal adapter to play an audio file to the caller.
US08355395B2 Controlling registration floods in VoIP networks via DNS
A mechanism controls global synchronization, or registration floods, that may result when a large number of endpoints in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network such as an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) come online simultaneously after a catastrophic failure. The mechanism allows the Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure to efficiently control the overload condition by registering user end points with backup border elements, and by staggering and by randomizing the time-to-live (TTL) parameter in registrations with backup border elements.
US08355393B1 Method and apparatus to process a call request by establishing calls among devices
A communication system includes a packet-based data network coupled to various network entities. The communications system includes a community that has a call processing system and various other devices, such as an integrated voice response (IVR) system and plural agent systems. The call processing system includes a combination of logical entities that perform call processing tasks. As an example, the logical entities may include a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy, a SIP client, and a SIP server. In response to a call request from outside the community, the call processing system, under control of the server, sends back responses to the originating system. The call processing system also establishes a call with a network element inside the community, such as the IVR system. The IVR system is capable of receiving input data from the originating system. Based on the received input data, the call processing system can reconnect or forward the call to one of the agent systems.
US08355391B2 Wireless communication apparatus, mobile terminal and wireless communication method
Wireless communication with a communicating apparatus that is a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies. A frequency channel allocating section allocates frequency channels, a terminal reception quality information processing section calculates an optimal modulation rate and required transmit power for each subcarrier, a subcarrier power control section controls a level of transmit power for each subcarrier, and a determining section checks a reception bandwidth of a communicating apparatus, while determining whether the communicating apparatus is a full band terminal capable of receiving all the frequency channels in the system band or a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies. When the communicating apparatus is the limited band terminal, the transmit power of all or part of subcarriers is decreased in a frequency channel that is adjacent to a reception band allocated to the communicating apparatus and that is allocated to another communicating apparatus.
US08355386B2 Optimized estimation of power for the transport format selection of a UMTS handset
The invention concerns a method for optimizing the Transport Format Combination (TFC) selection procedure processed by a user equipment UE in an uplink communication in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein the TFC procedure during the current TTI (Time Transport Interval) at instant t+1 is performed in function of: a—the remaining power (2) measured after the TFC procedure performed in the past TTI at instant t, b—the power (4) for transmitting the E-DCH channels in the past TTI at instant t, and, c—a minimum specified power (6) for transmitting the E-DCH channels in the next TTI.
US08355374B2 Method for signaling uplink system configuration information
A method for transmitting system configuration information about uplink multiplexing of a 16m mobile station (MS) and a 16e MS is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting the system configuration information every super frame comprised of a plurality of radio frames. The system configuration information comprises an uplink configuration of time division multiplexing (TDM) and frequency division multiplexing (FDM) of the 16m MS and the 16m MS for each of the plurality of radio frames.
US08355370B2 Wireless communication systems
A wireless communication method used in a system comprising a base station and a plurality of fixed or mobile subscriber stations, the base station maintaining connections with each of the subscriber stations by performing wireless communication in units of frames, and within each frame, allocating resources for data transmissions and signalling in the wireless communication system. The method involves providing, in each frame, a new dedicated shared channel for use by the subscriber stations to report a connection quality to the base station. To save bandwidth in the system, the resources allocated to the shared channel are less than the total resources needed for every subscriber station to report individually within the same frame. The method includes, in the base station, allocating resources to the shared channel, dividing the shared channel into a plurality of reporting opportunities, and transmitting requests for reports to the subscriber stations; and in the subscriber stations, responding to said requests by randomly selecting one of said reporting opportunities and sending a report on the channel quality. Preferably, the responding step is conditional upon the channel quality experienced by each subscriber station meeting a threshold condition set by the base station and included in the requests.
US08355366B2 Wireless communications node used in AD HOC network and method thereof
A wireless communications node, being included in a multi-hop route starting from a source node and terminating at a destination node, has a receiving part configured to receive signals including transmission data prepared by the source node and transferring the received signals to a succeeding node, a preparing part configured to prepare source node data including at least identification data of the source node based on a predetermined portion of the transmission data, and a reporting part configured to report the source node data and relay data to a management node that manages cost data of plural nodes included in an ad hoc network. The relay data include the cost data and station data including at least identification data of the wireless communications node.
US08355362B2 Channel management for mobile multimedia terminal
A method for managing channels in a mobile multimedia terminal comprises receiving ensemble information associated with a multimedia channel, and identifying the multimedia channel into a plurality of services based on the ensemble information. The method also comprises identifying service components required for reception of the plurality of services. The method also comprises determining a service type of each of the plurality of services, and organizing the plurality of services based on service types. The organizing of the plurality of services based on the service types may further comprise receiving user service preference input from a user, and organizing the plurality of services based on the user service preference input.
US08355361B2 Control of network relay device to reduce standby power consumption
The Ethernet converter includes a LAN switch, an RF device and an antenna, a wired device monitoring module, and an RF device controller. The RF device and the antenna carry out communication with wireless network devices. The wired device monitoring module monitors the operation state of the wired network devices via the LAN switch. The RF device controller controls the operation of the RF device on the basis of the operating state of the wired network devices. If the result of monitoring is that the wired network devices are not operating, the RF device controller stops the operation of the RF device so that power consumption by the RF device is less than when the wired network devices are operating.
US08355360B2 Method and apparatus for allocating downlink power in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system
In an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system, a radio access network allocates a transmit power for a downlink transmission to a mobile station based on a mean channel quality metric and a channel quality metric second order statistic, in various embodiments a channel quality metric variance or standard deviation, reported by the mobile station.
US08355348B1 Joining multiple spanning tree networks across ring network
In general, this disclosure describes techniques that may allow multiple spanning tree networks to be joined across a ring network. In a ring topology, e.g., an Ethernet ring topology, there are multiple nodes connected one to another to form a ring. Subtending from the ring network are customer devices that may joined together to form networks, e.g., Ethernet networks. Providing only a single connection between a subtending network and the ring network risks isolating the subtending network from the ring network if a fault occurs on the connecting link. Providing two links between a subtending network and the ring network, however, may create an undesirable traffic loop. One example protocol used by the customer devices to communicate with one another in a network and prevent looping paths is Spanning Tree Protocol.
US08355347B2 Creating multipoint-to-multipoint MPLS trees in an inter-domain environment
In one embodiment, a method is provided. A first root node of a first Multipoint-to-Multipoint (MP2MP) Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) tree, advertises to a second root node of a second MP2MP MPLS tree a first label for the second root node to use to send multicast traffic to the first MP2MP MPLS tree. The first root node receives a second label from the second root node for the first root node to use to send multicast traffic to the second MP2MP MPLS tree. Communications are carried out between the first MP2MP MPLS tree and the second MP2MP MPLS tree using the first label and the second label. In another embodiment, apparatus are also provided.
US08355346B2 Mobile communication method, mobile communication system and access entity
An embodiment of the invention provides a communication system. The communication system includes a user equipment which is moving within a coverage of a first network and a second network and is configured to send a location update request to a third access entity of the second network; and the third access entity which is configured to receive the location update request from the user equipment, acquire information of a first access entity of the first network from the location update request and determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the user equipment is paged through the first access entity, and if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the user equipment is not paged through the first access entity. As such, the situation that the UE is paged in an area where it is unlikely to appear can be avoided.
US08355345B2 Apparatus, system, and method for establishing point to point connections in FCOE
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for establishing a point-to-point connection using Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The point-to-point connection is established as part of the FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP). A first computing device sends a FIP discovery solicitation to a predefined address such as ALL-FCF-MACs. The first computing device also listens to the local ALL-FCF-MACs address and determines whether or not there are any switches in the fabric connecting the first computing device and the second computing device. If there are no switches, the first computing device sends a second FIP discovery solicitation with a point-to-point indicator. If the first computing device receives a similar FIP discovery solicitation from the second computing device, it sends a FIP discovery advertisement with the point-to-point indicator. The first computing device and second computing device then perform fabric login and establish a point to point connection.
US08355336B2 Methods and apparatus for formatting headers in a communication frame
Methods and apparatus for formatting headers for data packets within a communication frame for use in a wireless communication system are presented. Formatting headers includes determining the size of a wireless communication frame, and formatting the payloads and associated headers within the communication frame according to the determined size. This formatting includes placing headers at the beginning of the frame before the data packets corresponding to the headers to optimize processing of the headers at a receiver. Formatting may also include formatting the headers according to a first format within the frame when the determined frame size is below a predetermined size to optimize the size of the headers, and formatting according to a second format within the frame size of the data packet is equal to or greater than the predetermined size to optimize processing for frames having large data packets.
US08355334B2 Speech codec selection for improved voice quality in a packet based network
A method of improving voice quality in a packet based network. The method includes receiving an incoming call from a first endpoint and matching capabilities between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The method also includes completing the incoming call if the capabilities match and tracking the packet loss associated with the network. The method also includes negotiating the voice quality based on the tracking and the capabilities. Also described is a devices and system for a similar method.
US08355333B2 Methods and systems for session initiation protocol control of network equipment
A network method utilizing Session Initiation Protocol to establish a network path between network elements in a network includes generating a request for a network service in Session Initiation Protocol, wherein the request is one of manually and automatically configured, and wherein the request is directed to the network; obtaining network resources responsive to the request, wherein the network resources comprise network parameters required to obtain and provision the network path; and configuring the network resources responsive to the request. The network includes a plurality of network elements operable to receive Session Initiation Protocol requests. Optionally, the plurality of network elements include a plurality of optical network elements, wherein the network route includes wavelengths between a first and second optical network element in the network. The network parameters include one or more of available wavelengths, available bandwidth, available regeneration points, available circuits, intermediate network elements, and combinations thereof.
US08355324B2 Method and apparatus for filtering data packets
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for filtering received data packets. A hierarchical tree is maintained. The tree includes nodes organized in a plurality of levels. Each level above a root node of the tree has one or more of the nodes, with each of the one or more of the nodes corresponding to a particular value of a segment of an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The segment is the same for each node of a particular level of the tree. Each node at a particular level of the tree stores a number representative of the number of received packets having the same value for the segment of the IP address associated with the particular level. Some of the received data packets are filtered out based on the hierarchical tree.
US08355323B2 Interactive voice response and secure media system integration
In one embodiment, a method is provided, including: initiating an interactive voice response (IVR) session between a first endpoint and an IVR system over an IP network; establishing a first media path between the first endpoint and a second endpoint; establishing a second media path between the first endpoint and the IVR system; and receiving at the IVR system a notice of a telephony event from the first endpoint. In another embodiment, a method is provided, including: initiating an interactive voice response (IVR) session between a first endpoint and an IVR system over an IP network; establishing a secure media path between the first endpoint and a second endpoint; and receiving an unsecured notice of a telephony event from the first endpoint.
US08355315B2 Failure protection for P2MP tunnel tail-end node
In one embodiment, a primary tail-end node (PTE) of a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tunnel selects a backup tail-end node (BTE) from one or more BTEs that are configured to forward traffic to a same multicast network as the PTE. The PTE then determines a branching node of the P2MP tunnel to reach the PTE and the selected BTE, and notifies the branching node of the selected BTE. In response, the branching node establishes a backup tunnel to the selected BTE, and redirects P2MP traffic onto the backup tunnel to the selected BTE in response to a detected failure of the PTE.
US08355314B2 Method and apparatus for re-routing calls in a packet network during failures
Method and apparatus for re-routing a call in a packet network during failures is described. In one example, a failure condition is detected for a destination endpoint for the call. At least one alternative endpoint address is identified from an alternative routing plan registered with the packet network in response to the failure condition. For example, various alternative routing plans may be registered with the packet network and stored in a database. Each of the alternative routing plans may include alternative endpoint address data for a plurality of endpoint devices. The database may be queried using the destination endpoint as an index value and the at least one alternative endpoint address may be retrieved. The call is then routed to the at least one alternative endpoint address.
US08355310B2 Optical information recording method
To solve the problem of deterioration in recording quality due to a change of a write waveform caused by changes of temperature and recording powers, aged deterioration and the like. A driver having a function of controlling rise/fall times and an overshoot amount of an optical waveform is used to optimize an optical waveform that changes in recording under the influence of a component of a laser and the like. Specifically, the rise/fall times and the overshoot amount of the optical waveform are optimized by obtaining a waveform control register value from test recording or a table.
US08355307B2 Optical recording method, optical recording device, master medium exposure device, optical information recording medium, and reproducing method
An optical recording method includes the steps of: encoding record data to generate encoded data which is a combination of marks and spaces; classifying the encoded data according to a combination of a mark length of the mark, a space length of a first space that immediately precedes the mark, and a space length of a second space that immediately succeeds the mark; generating a write pulse train for forming the mark, in which at least one of a leading end edge position, a trailing end edge position and a pulse width of the write pulse train is changed according to a classification result; and irradiating the optical disc medium with the write pulse train generated to form the plurality of marks on the optical disc medium.
US08355306B2 Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method
According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US08355305B1 System and method for initialization of media asset modules for improved execution sequence on a playback environment
There is provided a system and method for initialization of media asset modules for an improved execution sequence on a playback environment. The system includes a player application configured to segment media assets associated with a primary media content into a plurality of asset modules, assemble the plurality of asset modules into a media file, identify a first subset of asset modules from the plurality of asset modules for loading in a first loading process, determine a loading sequence for the first subset of asset modules, and load the first subset of asset modules according to the loading sequence before beginning playback of the primary media content. The player application may be further configured to identify, determine another loading sequence for, and load additional asset modules after playback of the primary media content has begun.
US08355296B2 Apparatus for relating time to activity
An apparatus for relating time to activity is disclosed. The apparatus discloses an analog clock and a display board having one or more activities where a chosen activity begins at a time indicated by an hour indicator and a minute indicator.
US08355295B1 Underwater mobile sensing/communications node and network of such nodes
An underwater sensing and communications node includes an underwater vehicle, target sensing capability mounted on a forward portion of the underwater vehicle, at least three passive acoustic sensors evenly distributed about a first circumferential region of the underwater vehicle, and at least three transceiving hydrophones evenly distributed about a second circumferential region of the underwater vehicle. A controller governs collection of sensed data and transmission of the sensed data into the underwater environment.
US08355291B2 Resistive memory device and method of controlling refresh operation of resistive memory device
A resistive memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory units. The memory device performs a refresh read operation to check a condition of each of the memory units. Then, it determines whether to refresh each memory unit based on data read by performing the refresh read operation, and refreshes the memory unit according to a result of the determination. The refresh read operation uses a reference resistance with a smaller margin from a resistance distribution than a normal read operation.
US08355290B2 Semiconductor memory and system
A semiconductor memory includes a plurality of memory cells, a refresh request generator circuit for generating a refresh request signal to refresh the plurality of memory cells based on a number of clock cycles elapsed in a clock signal, a clock cycle detector circuit for detecting the clock cycle of the clock signal, and a refresh controller circuit for controlling a number of memory cells to refresh from among the plurality of memory cells, in accordance with the detected clock cycle.
US08355288B2 Semiconductor memory device with temperature sensing device capable of minimizing power consumption in refresh
A semiconductor memory device capable of measuring a temperature without the influence of noise includes a temperature sensing device for sensing a current temperature in response to a control signal, wherein the semiconductor memory device enters a power save mode for a predetermined time starting from an activation of the control signal and wherein the power save mode has substantially no power consumption. A method for driving a semiconductor memory device in accordance with the present invention includes sensing a current temperature in response to a control signal and entering a power save mode for a predetermined time starting from an activation of the control signal, wherein the power save mode has substantially no power consumption.
US08355286B2 Method of operating nonvolatile memory device controlled by controlling coupling resistance value between a bit line and a page buffer
A method of operating a nonvolatile memory device includes determining whether a program operation is performed on even memory cells coupled to even bit lines of a selected page, setting a coupling resistance value between odd bit lines of the selected page and page buffers depending on whether the program operation for the even memory cells is performed, performing a program operation on the odd memory cells coupled to the odd bit lines, and coupling the odd bit line to the page buffer based on the set coupling resistance value and performing an verification operation for verifying whether threshold voltages of the odd memory cells on which the program operation is performed are a target voltage or more.
US08355279B2 Nonvolatile memory device and system, and method of programming a nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory includes a plurality of N-bit multi-level cell (MLC) memory cells and a controller. The plurality of N-bit MLC memory cells are for storing N pages of data, each of the MLC memory cells programmable into any one of 2N threshold voltage distributions, where N is a positive number. The controller is configured to program the N pages of data into the MLC memory cells, and to execute a partial interleave process in which the N pages of data are divided into M page groups, where M is a positive number and where each page group includes at least one of the N pages of data, and in which each of the M page groups is applied to an error correction code (ECC) circuit to generate parity bits for the respective M page groups, where a bit-error rate (BER) among the pages within each of the M groups is equalized by the partial interleave process.
US08355278B2 Reducing effects of program disturb in a memory device
The programming disturb effects in a semiconductor non-volatile memory device can be mitigated by biasing unselected memory cells with a negative voltage while a well containing the memory cells receives a positive voltage. A selected memory cell in the well can be biased with a negative voltage while the well is at the positive voltage then the selected memory cell bias transitions to a positive programming voltage when the well returns to a ground potential.
US08355275B2 Resistance change memory
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a memory cell including a resistance change element and a stacked layer structure which are connected in series, a control circuit configured to control a first operation of changing the resistance change element from a first resistance value to a second resistance value lower than the first resistance value, and a voltage pulse generating circuit configured to generate a first voltage pulse to be applied to the memory cell in the first operation. The stacked layer structure includes two conductive layers and an insulating layer formed between the two conductive layers. Amplitude of the first voltage pulse is in a first voltage area in which the stacked layer structure functions as a capacitor. The first voltage pulse satisfies Ron×C
US08355273B2 Variable-resistance material memories, processes of forming same, and methods of using same
A variable-resistance material memory array includes a series of variable-resistance material memory cells. The series of variable-resistance material memory cells can be arranged in parallel with a corresponding series of control gates. A select gate can also be disposed in series with the variable-resistance material memory cells. Writing/reading/erasing to a given variable-resistance material memory cell can include turning off the corresponding control gate, while turning on all other control gates. Various devices can include such a variable-resistance material memory array.
US08355272B2 Memory array having local source lines
A memory is provided that simplifies a fabrication process and structure by reducing the number of source lines and bitlines accessible to circuitry outside of the memory array. The memory has first and second row groups comprising a plurality of memory elements each coupled to one each of a plurality of M bit lines; first and second local source lines and first and second word lines, each coupled to each of the plurality of memory elements; and circuitry coupled to the first and second word lines and configured to select one of the first and second row groups, and coupled to the plurality of M bit lines and configured to apply current of magnitude N through the memory element in the selected row group coupled to one of the plurality of M bit lines by applying current of magnitude less than N to two or more of the remaining M-1 bit lines.
US08355271B2 Memory system with reversible resistivity-switching using pulses of alternate polarity
A memory system includes a plurality of non-volatile storage elements that each comprise a diode (or other steering device) in series with reversible resistance-switching material. One or more circuits in the memory system program the non-volatile storage elements by changing the reversible resistance-switching material of one or more non-volatile storage elements to a first resistance state. The memory system can also change the reversible resistance-switching material of one or more of the non-volatile storage elements from the first resistance state to a second resistance state by applying one or more pairs of opposite polarity voltage conditions (e.g., pulses) to the respective diodes (or other steering devices) such that current flows in the diodes (or other steering devices) without operating the diodes (or other steering devices) in breakdown condition.
US08355268B2 Electronic driver circuit and method
The present invention relates to an electronic driver circuit and a corresponding method for supplying an electronic load (LED1, LED2, . . . , LEDn) with a DC current or voltage (Vload). To achieve a high efficiency and a low thermal stress on the electronic load, the proposed driver circuit comprises: —an AC input (L, N) for receiving an AC input voltage (Vmains), two buck-boost converters (10, 20) for alternately operating as rectifier for rectifying said AC input voltage (Vmains) and as DC/DC converter for DC conversion of said rectified AC input voltage, a control unit (11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23; 40) for monitoring the zero crossing of the AC input voltage (Vmains) and for controlling said two buck-boost converters (10, 20) to change their modes of operation upon detection of a zero crossing, such that during all periods one buck-boost converter operates as rectifier and the other buck-boost converter operates as DC/DC converter.
US08355264B2 Mounting plate for a notification appliance
A mounting plate assembly for a notification appliance is disclosed. For example, a mounting plate is designed with at least one aperture for receiving a plurality of leads, e.g., from a backbox. In turn, these leads can be received by a plurality of contacts that are deployed on the mounting plate. In one embodiment, at least two of these contacts are in physical contact with each other at a juncture, thereby providing connectivity between these two contacts. However, the physical contact at the juncture is non-resettable, i.e., if a force is applied to the juncture, then the connectivity is severed and the physical contact between the two contacts cannot be easily re-established even if the force is removed.
US08355259B2 Demountable dry connection for flexible circuits to circuit boards
Substrates are connected by demountable coupling by connecting an electronic module to a substrate. An electronic module and a substrate carrying electrical and/or optical circuits are provided. A connector electrical circuit is connected between the substrate and the electronic module. The connector electrical circuit is electrically demountable dry connected to the electronic module.
US08355255B2 Cooling of coplanar active circuits
In one aspect, a system includes a first circuit board that includes integrated circuits, a first thermal spreader coupled to the integrated circuits of the first circuit board, a first compliant board coupled to the first circuit board, a second circuit board that includes integrated circuits and a second thermal spreader coupled to the integrated circuits of the second circuit board. The first circuit board and the first thermal spreader have a first thickness. The second daughter board and the second thermal spreader have a second thickness. The system further includes a second compliant board coupled to the second circuit board, a board assembly coupled to first and second compliant boards and a cold-plate assembly in contact with the first and second thermal spreaders. Either of the first or the second compliant boards is configured to expand or contract to account for the differences between the first and second thicknesses.
US08355254B2 Electronic control unit
An electronic control unit includes a circuit board, multiple circuit patterns, multiple semiconductor devices, multiple leads, and at least one thermal-conduction limiting portion. Each of the semiconductor devices is installed to the corresponding circuit pattern formed on the circuit board. Each of the leads electrically and mechanically connects each of the semiconductor devices to the corresponding circuit pattern. The thermal-conduction limiting portion, which can limit conduction of heat generated from the semiconductor devices, is placed between corresponding two of the circuit patterns.
US08355252B2 Server rack and electronic system incorporating the same
An exemplary server rack includes a box adapted for receiving a plurality of servers therein, a plurality of pivoting members pivotally connected to the box; and a plurality of covers fixed to the pivoting members respectively. The box includes a front board and a back board opposite to the front board. The front board and the back board both define a plurality of though holes adapted for airflow to pass therethrough. Each cover is operable to pivot relative to the box via the corresponding pivoting member, and thereby cover some of the through holes of the front board of the box.
US08355250B2 Latch mechanism and portable computer
A latch mechanism includes a first housing, a second housing, at least one guiding column, a hook whereon a fourth hole is formed, a fastening component, a latching component, and a first magnetic component for attracting the hook when a display pivots close to a host, so that the hook slides on the guiding column in a first direction to pass through the second housing, the fastening component, and the first housing. The first magnetic component drives the latching component to slide in a second direction simultaneously, so that an end of the latching component is inserted into the fourth hole on the hook, for fixing the display and the host. The latch mechanism further includes a pushing component for separating the latching component from the fourth hole on the hook when being pushed in a direction opposite to the second direction.
US08355249B2 Protective cover mechanism
A protective cover mechanism includes a housing, a protective cover and a latching pole. The housing includes an opening defined therethrough. The protective cover is configured for covering the opening of the housing and includes a latching slot defined therethrough. The latching slot includes a first latching end and an opposite second latching end. The latching pole is integrally formed on the housing adjacent to the opening and is penetrated through the latching slot of the protective cover for slidably or rotatably assembling the protective cover to the housing. The latching pole is latchable to the first latching end or the second latching end of the latching slot to expose or cover the opening of the housing.
US08355244B2 Electric power converter
An electric power converter has a semiconductor module having a semiconductor element integrally and at least a pair of semiconductor terminals, a capacitor electrically connected to the semiconductor module, and a cooler that thermally contacts to at least one of a plurality of capacitor terminals provided in the capacitor. The capacitor terminals that thermally contact the cooler are arranged between the cooler and the capacitor.
US08355243B2 Closed door circuit breaker racking extension
A closed door circuit breaker racking extension assembly is provided which enables a circuit breaker contained within a cell of a switchgear enclosure to be racked-in or racked-out without opening the cell door and without fear of explosive gases and debris being discharged from the cell through the extension assembly of this invention in the event of an arc-fault explosion.
US08355242B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor element
A solid electrolytic capacitor element that is capable of withstanding laser welding without a significant deterioration in its electrical performance is provided. The capacitor element contains an anode body, dielectric, and solid electrolyte. To help shield the solid electrolyte from damage that might otherwise occur during manufacture of the capacitor, a multi-layered protective coating is employed in the present invention that overlies at least a portion of the solid electrolyte. More particularly, the protective coating includes a light reflective layer overlying the solid electrolyte and a stress dissipation layer overlying the light reflective layer. The light reflective layer can help reflect any light that inadvertently travels toward the capacitor during, for example, laser welding. This results in reduced contact of the solid electrolyte with the laser and thus minimizes defects in the electrolyte that would have otherwise been formed by carbonization. The stress dissipation layer can likewise help to dissipate stresses experienced by the capacitor (e.g., during encapsulation, reflow, etc.) so that they are not as likely to cause damage to the solid electrolyte. The stress dissipation layer can also be relatively porous in nature so that humidity trapped in the capacitor can escape and diminish the pressure that might otherwise be transferred to the solid electrolyte.
US08355240B2 Multilayer capacitor and method for adjusting equivalent series impedance of same
A multilayer capacitor operable to allow adjustment of its equivalent series resistance substantially independent of its equivalent series inductance is disclosed. The multilayer capacitor can be used in decoupling circuits such as power supply decoupling circuits. The equivalent series resistance of the multilayer capacitor can be increased while suppressing an increase in the equivalent series inductance resulting in improved noise grounding.
US08355239B2 Predictive phase locked loop system
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a first signal detector having a first input terminal configured to receive a varying first input signal, a second input terminal configured to receive a feedback signal that corresponds to the center of the input frequency, and an output terminal configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a phase difference between the first input and feedback signals. A delay estimator has an input terminal configured to receive the output signal from the first phase detector and in response thereto, output a phase difference estimation signal. A variable delay circuit has an input terminal configured to receive the phase difference estimation signal and in response thereto, phase shift the second input signal.
US08355236B2 Connector and power supply unit with safety mechanism
A female connector for supplying electric power from a power supply to an electric device includes two power supply terminals to supply the electric power, two relays connected to the two power supply terminals, respectively, to control supply of the electric power, and two control electrodes configured to control opening and, closing of the two relays, wherein the two relays are driven by the power supply, and the two control electrodes are electrically coupled to each other through a control terminal of a male connector upon mating between the female connector and the male connector, the electrical coupling of the two control electrodes causing the two relays to be closed to supply the electric power to the two power supply terminals.
US08355234B2 Condition monitor for an electrical distribution device
The invention is a condition monitor for a switchgear device in an electrical power distribution system. The switchgear device is arranged with an electrically powered actuator for operating a moveable part of the switchgear device, for example, operating the opening and/or closing of a circuit breaker. The switchgear device has a control unit with means to receive state information from the actuator, and panel means to present information via an HMI. The HMI may be accessed remotely. In other aspects of the invention a method, a human-machine interface and a computer program for carrying out the method are described.
US08355233B2 Short-circuit protection for an electric vehicle battery
Device for electrically protecting an electric vehicle. To protect high voltage batteries of electric vehicles in the event of floods, a disconnecting device 6 for electrically disconnecting a vehicle battery 2 from an electric distribution system 8 within the vehicle and a detection device 4 for determining wetness are provided such that the detection device 4 activates the disconnecting device 6 if wetness 12 is detected, so that the vehicle battery 2 is electrically disconnected from the electric distribution system 8.
US08355232B2 Solar module with bimetal breaker
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a solar module with a bimetal breaker, which comprises a solar module with terminal ribbons deposited on both sides of the solar module and inter-connecting ribbons extended and connected to the terminal ribbons, and a bimetal breaker being deposited on a joint of the terminal ribbon and the inter-connecting ribbon of the solar module. The bimetal breaker comprises a bimetal unit that is composed of two metal layers, and when the bimetal unit is heated, the bimetal unit will bend because of different thermal expansion coefficients and push the conducting terminals to separate from each other, so as to prevent the solar module from being damaged due to high temperature.
US08355224B2 Sensor shape of a CPP magnetic head for improving the MR ratio
Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent a head characteristic from being deteriorated by re-deposition or damage which occurs when a sensor film is etched, a track width is narrowed, and the head characteristic is stabilized. According to one embodiment, when it is assumed that the thickness of the sensor film on an air bearing surface is T, and a distance between an end of a medium layer that is interposed between a free layer and a pinned layer which comprise the sensor film and an end of the sensor film lowest portion, a relationship of 1.2×T≦X≦2.5×T is satisfied, and the ends of a pair of magnetic films which are in contact with both sides in the track-width direction through an insulator do not exist in the track central portion from the free layer end. The sensor film is etched while an incident angle of an etching beam is changed over, and when it is assumed that a direction normal to the sensor film surface is the incident angle of 0, etching is conducted under the condition where the incident angle of the etching beam becomes smaller with time.
US08355223B2 Magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium that has sufficient recording/reproducing characteristics and good write characteristics and can correspond to high recording density, and a method of manufacturing the same. A magnetic recording medium 1 includes a plurality of magnetic recording patterns 2 that is magnetically separated from each other. Each of the magnetic recording patterns 2 includes a low-coercivity region 2a and a high-coercivity region 2b having a coercivity higher than the low-coercivity region, and the high-coercivity region 2b is arranged at the center of the low-coercivity region 2a in a plan view.
US08355222B2 Perpendicular magnetic write head including high magnetic moment seed layer for trailing shield therein and/or method of making the same
A perpendicular magnetic write head includes: a magnetic pole; a pair of nonmagnetic side gap layers provided on both sides in a track-width direction of the magnetic pole; a nonmagnetic trailing gap layer provided on a trailing side of the magnetic pole; a magnetic shield layer so provided as to surround the magnetic pole with both of the nonmagnetic side gap layer and the nonmagnetic trailing gap layer in between; and a magnetic seed layer formed between the nonmagnetic trailing gap layer and the magnetic shield layer, and having a saturation magnetic flux density higher than that of the magnetic shield layer. The magnetic seed layer is not formed between the nonmagnetic side gap layer and the magnetic shield layer.
US08355221B1 Thermal solution for drive systems such as hard disk drives and digital versatile discs
A drive system including: a printed circuit board; a first integrated circuit mounted onto the printed circuit board; a drive assembly case that is connected to the printed circuit board; and a first thermal interface material thermally coupled between i) the printed circuit board and ii) the drive assembly case. Thermal energy generated by the first integrated circuit is dissipatable by the drive assembly case through the first interface material.
US08355217B2 Aligning structure for optical actuator
An aligning structure for an optical actuator is disclosed. The optical actuator includes a main structure, a base and an optical element disposed on the base. The aligning structure includes a bracket and an adjusting element. The bracket has a first extending portion disposed corresponding to a second extending portion of the main structure. The adjusting element connects to the first extending portion and the second extending portion and is capable of adjusting the position of the second extending portion relative to the first extending portion.
US08355215B2 Image pickup lens and image pickup apparatus
Disclosed is an image pickup lens having the following disposed from an object side in the order listed below: a first lens having a negative power and a meniscus shape with a concave surface on an image side; a second lens having a positive power; a third lens having a negative power; a fourth lens having a positive power; a fifth lens having a positive power; and a sixth lens having a negative power and a meniscus shape with a concave surface on the object side. The image pickup lens satisfies Conditional Expression (1) given below when a focal length of the first lens is taken as f1 and a focal length of the second lens is taken as f2 −3.0
US08355210B2 Zoom camera module
A zooming camera module includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group is implemented on an optical axis at a fixed position, and has a negative total optical power. The second lens group is implemented on the optical axis and can be moved back and forth along the optical axis, to achieve zooming and focusing. The second lens group has a positive total optical power, and includes a liquid lens unit and at least one lens with non-zero optical power, wherein the at least one lens and the liquid lens are separately or integrally configured. The third lens group is implemented on the optical axis at a fixed position, and has a non-zero total optical power.
US08355209B2 Liquid lens
A liquid lens in which are contained an insulating first liquid and a conductive second liquid having non-miscibility and different refractive indexes, optical characteristics being changed by a change of an interface shape of the first and second liquids by applying a voltage to an electrode, the lens including: in a surface in contact with an edge of an interface of the first and second liquids, a first region having an affinity for the first liquid; a second region having an affinity different from that of the first liquid; and a voltage applying unit, wherein when the interface shape is changed, by an affinity force to hold the first liquid within the first region and a force to move the edge to the second region by electro-wetting, the edge can be stably held at an edge of the first region.
US08355205B2 Optical element and optical system including the same
Provided are an optical element in which a thickness of a refractive optical portion having an extraordinary partial dispersion characteristic is suitably specified to minimize flare generated by a diffraction optical portion, to thereby sufficiently correct chromatic aberrations to obtain excellent optical performance, and an optical system including the optical element. The optical system includes a cemented portion in which the refractive optical portion made of a solid material and has a refractive action is brought into intimate contact with at least one of light incident and exiting surfaces of the diffraction optical portion having a plurality of diffraction gratings which are layered. An Abbe (νd), a partial dispersion ratio (θgF), and an extraordinary partial dispersion ratio (ΔθgF) of the solid material are suitably set.
US08355203B2 Optical functional film, retardation film, composition for forming optical functional layer and producing method of optical functional film
An optical functional film which exhibits excellent optical characteristics without using an alignment film, and having the excellent adhesion property between layers. The optical functional film includes: a substrate having a property as an optically negative C-plate, and an optical functional layer formed on the substrate and having a rodlike compound. The optical functional layer is formed directly on the substrate, and the rodlike compound forms a random homogeneous alignment in the optical functional layer.
US08355202B2 Accessory for attenuated total internal reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy
An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.
US08355196B2 Electrophoretic display device
An electrophoretic display device includes a common electrode, an electrophoresis layer, and pixel electrodes. The electrophoretic layer includes cavities, with each cavity arranged between one of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, and comprises suspension fluid, first type charged particles, and second type charged particles. The first type charged particles and the second type charged particles are dispersed in the suspension fluid. Three cavities constitute a pixel unit. The first type charged particles and the second type charged particles in each of the three cavities constituting the pixel unit are one of red, green, and blue particles, and one of yellow, magenta, and cyan particles, respectively.
US08355195B2 Electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate, an electrophoretic element arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the surface of the electrophoretic element side of the first substrate; an opposing electrode formed on the surface of the electrophoretic element side of the second substrate and facing the plurality of pixel electrodes; a voltage line formed on the surface of the electrophoretic element side of the first substrate; and a partition wall having conductivity which is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and electrically connected to the voltage line.
US08355189B2 Reducing the visibility of color changes caused by color plane registration variations in halftone color printing
A set of screens is provided for use in printing respective color separations in a halftone color printing process. This set of screens comprises at least two clustered-dot screens and the frequency and angle parameter values of the screens is such that the lowest frequency moiré produced by any combination of at least two frequency components, taken from the group comprising the first and second screen harmonics, for which the sum of the harmonic orders of the frequency components in the combination is less than a predetermined value, is of a sufficiently high frequency as to be substantially unperceivable to the human visual system; other moirés are also substantially unperceivable to the human visual system. The lowest frequency moiré serves to reduce the visibility of color changes caused by color plane registration variations. A printing system and method employing the screen set are also provided.
US08355188B2 Document guiding mechanism
A document guiding mechanism includes a document supporting tray, a gearwheel coupled to the document supporting tray, a right guiding unit, a left guiding unit and a single-way latch means. The right guiding unit includes a right guiding wall positioned on the document supporting tray and a right linear gear extended from the right guiding wall and engaged with the gearwheel. The left guiding unit includes a left guiding wall positioned on the document supporting tray and opposite to and parallel to the right guiding wall, and a left linear gear extended from the left guiding wall and engaged with the gearwheel. The single-way latch means interconnects the document supporting tray and at least one of the right guiding unit and the left guiding unit. The right guiding wall and the left guiding wall can be kept at a suitable position by the single-way latch means.
US08355187B2 Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a timing predicting unit that predicts a reading-start-timing by detecting a front-end and predicts a reading-end-timing by detecting a back-end, an image reading unit that generates density data, a line density data classification unit, a first, second and third specific density data storage units, a determination unit that determines whether or not a foreign substance is attached to a reading position, and a peak density position specifying unit.
US08355184B2 Image reading device, image forming device, and image reading method
An image reading device includes a light source part in which plural point light sources are arrayed in parallel to a main scanning direction, a line sensor part in which plural light quantity sensors are arrayed in parallel to the main scanning direction, a reduction optical system containing a lens and focusing a reflected light beam indicating image information of a document irradiated by a light beam from the light source part, on the line sensor part to read the image information, and a control part configured to control a quantity of irradiating light of each point light source of the light source part in accordance with an optical characteristic of the lens of the reduction optical system.
US08355182B2 Image scanner and copier
An image scanner of the present invention includes a document feeder, a first scanning section, a start reception section, and a single mode execution section. The document feeder is configured to feed a sheet of document. The first scanning section is configured to scan an image on the document during movement of the document. The start reception section is configured to receive an instruction to start scanning the image on the document from a user. The single mode execution section is configured to execute a single mode to cause the document feeder and the first scanning section to perform scanning of an image on the document every time the start reception section receives the start instruction.
US08355174B1 Automated mechanical approval of advertisement copy
Methods, systems, and apparatus for evaluating an advertisement. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an electronic file comprising an advertisement; receiving one or more ad space parameters associated with a publication; comparing one or more attributes of the advertisement with the one or more ad space parameters; generating results based on the comparison of the one or more attributes of the advertisement with the one or more ad space parameters; determining whether to accept the advertisement for publication based on the generated results; and altering at least one of the one or more attributes of an unaccepted advertisement such that it conforms with a corresponding ad space parameter.
US08355173B2 Color processing apparatus and control method thereof
The number of color patches is reduced to attain high-precision color estimation. Hence, the colorimetric values of a plurality of color patches of at least one primary color output by an output device are input. Based on the colorimetric value of first color patches corresponding to a part of the plurality of color patches, colorimetric values corresponding to second color patches other than the first color patches of the plurality of color patches are estimated. Errors between the input colorimetric values of the second color patches and the estimated colorimetric values corresponding to the second color patches are calculated. A plurality of color patches corresponding to the output device is determined based on the calculated errors.
US08355170B2 Methods and systems to provide scan services to an image forming device
Systems and methods are disclosed for scanning devices to exchange scan messages with external devices, where the scan messages comprise WS-Scan protocol message and DSM protocol messages. A determination is made if a scan message comprises a WS-Scan protocol message or a DSM protocol message. A response is made to the WS-Scan protocol message if the scan message is a WS-Scan protocol message. Further, a response is made to the DSM protocol message if the scan message is a DSM protocol message. A user interface of the scanning device hides the distinctions between WS-Scan and DSM to permit a user to seamlessly select scanning to either or both WS-Scan and DSM destinations.
US08355161B2 Image ordering system
An image ordering system includes an order management apparatus and an image providing apparatus. The order management apparatus includes a first image storage section, an order receiving section which receives an order for electronic-album-output of images, and an order information transmitting section which transmits order information to a contact address associated with ordered images. The image providing apparatus includes a second image storage section, an order information receiving section which receives the order information, an image searching section which searches the images stored in the second image storage section for images related to images indicated by the order information, and an image releasing section which releases the images found as a result of the search upon receiving a release permission.
US08355156B2 Image forming apparatus and method for controlling the order of execution of print jobs
An image forming apparatus includes a job memory which stores each of image formation jobs, which are received from terminals, in association with a user identifier which identifies a user of a corresponding terminal, an image forming unit which executes the image formation jobs which are stored in the job memory, a user detector which detects a user identifier of each approaching user, and a controller which calculates, upon detection of plural user identifiers by the user detector, elapsed times from reception times of image formation jobs which are stored in the job memory in association with the user identifiers, compares the elapsed times, and controls the image forming unit to preferentially execute the image formation job with a shortest one of the elapsed times.
US08355152B2 Image forming apparatus, setting operation support method and setting operation support program
The present invention provides a technique to support a setting operation as to a processing performed using identification information of a communication terminal on an associated network, in the communication terminal connected via the network.The present invention enables a processor to conduct a collecting of identification information for individually identifying communication terminals communicably connected via a network, on the network; obtains identification information collected by the collecting; and registers the obtained identification information as identification information of communication terminals which are management targets.
US08355146B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form images based on image data transmitted from information processing apparatus of users including registered users and unregistered users; a setting unit configured to set permission information for each user based on a log of the image forming and limit information; a first judging unit configured to determine whether user identification information is attached to image data; a second judging unit configured to determine, based on the permission information that is set for an unregistered user, whether to permit execution of image forming of the image data, when the first judging unit determines that the user identification information is not attached to the image data.
US08355143B2 Continuous paper duplex printer and printing method
In a continuous paper duplex printer, during duplex printing, a printer controller provides image data for odd-numbered and even numbered pages to front surface and back surface image processing apparatuses respectively, and a printing engine prints an image of an odd-numbered page on the front of continuous paper and parallelly forms an image of an even-numbered page different from an even-numbered page subsequent to the odd-numbered page on the back of the front of the continuous paper based on the image data processed by the processing apparatuses. In the continuous paper duplex printer, during single sided printing, the printer controller provides image data for odd-numbered and even numbered pages to the processing apparatuses, but when the image data is provided to one of the processing apparatuses, blank page image data or a blank page instruction is provided to another one of the processing apparatuses.
US08355142B2 Mounting position measuring device
For work in which reflecting mirrors (or facets (31)) to be mounted on a heliostat 3 coincide with a pseudo toroid (53), an adjustment method of, and a mounting posture measuring device for, accurately measuring mounting postures of the respective facets (31) are provided for performing mounting adjustment efficiently and simply. In a method of installing the reflecting mirrors (or the facets (31)) constituting the heliostat 3 for sunlight condensation, each facet (31) is installed in such so that a reflected laser beam (52) reflected by the facet 31 can reach a virtual passage point (52b) in a laser point measuring unit (12).
US08355135B2 Surface plasmon resonance measuring device, sample cell, and measuring method
A surface plasmon resonance measuring device includes a light source (2) which irradiates, with condensed light, a sample cell (10) having the characteristic structure of the reflectance of light that is formed in advance as a code from at least either of a substance film to be measured and a substance film different from the substance film to be measured, from a surface opposite to one on which the substance film to be measured is immobilized to a metal thin film, a CCD camera (5) which detects light reflected by the sample cell (10), and a data processing device (6) which extracts the identification code of the sample cell (10) from the feature of an image sensed by the camera (5).
US08355134B2 Localized plasmon resonance sensing device and fiber optic structure
The present invention discloses a localized plasmon resonance sensing device and a fiber optic structure. The device comprises an optical fiber and a noble metal nanoparticle layer. The optical fiber has a plurality of notches, and such notches are located on the side surface of the optical fiber. The noble metal nanoparticle layer is located at the notch. As a result, when a light is launched into the optical fiber, a detecting unit can be used to detect a localized plasmon resonance signal which is generated by the interaction between the noble metal nanoparticle layer and the light.
US08355129B2 Device and method to measure bulk unconfined yield strength of powders using minimal material
A method bulk strength of powders uses acceleration forces to compact the powder into a small conical test cell that is rotated at high speed. Once the material is consolidated to a prescribed condition, the rotation is stopped, the outlet of the cell is exposed, and the cell is rotated again at increasing acceleration until material freely exits the cell. The forces generated on the powder in the cell are determined and used to compute the cohesive strength of the bulk material.
US08355128B2 Polarization controller
A feedforward controller for controlling the polarization state of an optical signal. The feedforward controller includes an optical input for receiving an optical input signal having an input polarization state, an optical output for transmitting an optical output signal having an output polarization state, a polarization controller coupled to the optical input and the optical output, and a transfer function determiner for determining a characteristic polarization transfer function of the feedforward controller from the input and output polarization states. The polarization controller is adapted to modify the polarization state of light passing therethrough in dependence on the characteristic polarization transfer function of the feedforward controller.
US08355125B2 All reflective apparatus for injecting excitation light and collecting in-elastically scattered light from a sample
An apparatus is disclosed wherein laser radiation illuminates a sample using all reflective optics and wherein in-elastically scattered light from the sample is collected using the identical elements. The apparatus obviates the problem of contaminating the laser radiation with unwanted spectra from transmissive optics while providing very high rejection of the laser radiation with respect to the in-elastically scattered light. In addition, the apparatus can collect and launch light with high numerical aperture and large field of view.
US08355116B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
Positional information of each of wafer stages during exposure and during alignment is measured directly under a projection optical system and directly under a primary alignment system, respectively, by a plurality of encoder heads, Z heads and the like, which a measurement bar placed below surface plates has, using gratings placed on the lower surfaces of fine movement stages. Consequently, high-precision measurement of the positional information of the wafer stages can be performed.
US08355113B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus restricts reduction in throughput. The exposure apparatus controls movement such that, (1) when a substrate is moving in one direction, a first pattern is moved in a specified direction to expose a first shot region using a first exposure light, then movement of the substrate in the one direction continues while moving the second pattern in the specified direction to expose a second shot region, and (2) then the respective movement directions of the substrate and the second pattern are reversed to expose a third shot region using the second exposure light, then movement of the substrate in the reverse direction continues while moving the first pattern in a direction that is the reverse of the specified direction to expose a fourth shot region using the first exposure light.
US08355112B2 Methods and systems for strengthening LCD modules
Systems and methods for improving strength of thin displays, such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) displays, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display can use an asymmetrical arrangement of layers (e.g., glass layers) where one layer is thicker than another layer. Different scribing techniques can also be used in singulating the different layers. The asymmetrical arrangement and/or scribing techniques can facilitate displays that are not only thin but also adequately strong to limit susceptibility to damage.
US08355110B2 Method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display panel
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel by providing a first substrate and providing a first alignment film, providing a second substrate and providing a second alignment film; interposing a liquid crystal compound and at least two reactive mesogens between the first and second substrates, where the two reactive mesogens are selected from Chemical Formulas 1 and 2; curing the reactive mesogens to form a first mesogen layer; and a second mesogen layer, wherein wherein in Chemical Formula 1 A and B are each independently selected from the group consisting of and wherein at least one hydrogen atom of a naphthalene group is independently replaced with at least one of F and Cl and wherein in Chemical Formula 2, D is selected from at least one of and a single bond, wherein E and G are each independently selected from at least one of and wherein at least one hydrogen atom of a phenyl group are independently replaced with at least one of F and Cl.
US08355109B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase and a structure body projecting into the liquid crystal layer
An object is to provide a liquid crystal display device which includes a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase and enables higher contrast. In the liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase, the liquid crystal layer exhibiting a blue phase is interposed between a pixel electrode layer having an opening pattern (slit) and first and second common electrode layers which face each other and have opening patterns. The pixel electrode layer is formed over a structure body which projects into the liquid crystal layer from a surface of a first substrate on the liquid crystal layer side, and the pixel electrode layer is positioned between the first common electrode layer and the second common electrode layer in the liquid crystal layer. The cell gap of the liquid crystal display device is less than 5 μm (preferably 1 μm or more).
US08355105B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal panel
An array substrate for a liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to a plurality of pixels, and a common electrode provided common to the plurality of pixel electrodes. An alignment of liquid crystal is controlled by each electric field between each of the plurality of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. The array substrate further includes a pixel selecting circuit, a line group for pixel selecting circuit, a potential applying circuit, a line group for potential applying circuit, and a common electrode line. The pixel selecting circuit sequentially selects pixels among the plurality of pixels. The line group for pixel selecting circuit is connected to input terminals of the pixel selecting circuit. The potential applying circuit applies a potential to the pixel electrode of a selected pixel. The line group for potential applying circuit is connected to input terminals of the potential applying circuit. The common electrode line is connected to the common electrode. The common electrode line extends in a region between the pixel selecting circuit and the potential applying circuit and in a region between the line group for pixel selecting circuit and the line group for potential applying circuit.
US08355102B2 Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display apparatus
There is provided a liquid crystal panel exhibiting a high contrast ratio and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention includes a first polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, a liquid crystal cell, a second optical compensation layer, and a second polarizer in the stated order from a viewer side. The first optical compensation layer and the second optical compensation layer have a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz, and a light transmittance (T2) of the second polarizer is larger than a light transmittance (T1) of the first polarizer.
US08355101B2 Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, an aligning film which is disposed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of the second substrate and on which a rubbing processing is performed, a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in planar regions of the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate and which generate an electric field therebetween, in which the second electrode includes a plurality of electrode line-shaped portions arranged in parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other, each sub-pixel includes a reflective display region in which a light reflective film is disposed and a transmissive display region in which a light reflective film is not disposed.
US08355099B2 Plasmonic device tuned using liquid crystal molecule dipole control
A plasmonic display device is provided with liquid crystal dipole molecule control. The device is made from a first set of electrodes including at least one electrically conductive top electrode and at least one electrically conductive bottom electrode capable of generating a first electric field in a first direction. A second set of electrodes, including an electrically conductive right electrode and an electrically conductive left electrode, is capable of generating a second electric field in a second first direction. A dielectric layer overlies the bottom electrode, made from a liquid crystal material with molecules having dipoles responsive to an electric field. A plasmonic layer, including a plurality of discrete plasmonic particles, is interposed between the first and second set of electrodes and in contact with the dielectric layer. In one aspect, the plasmonic layer is embedded in the dielectric layer.
US08355094B2 Liquid crystal display unit and gaming device
The present invention includes a primary display region (15a) capable of being directly viewed by a primary viewer of a first liquid crystal display element (2); and a secondary display region (15b) incapable of being directly viewed by the viewer; a backlight device (3) provided so as to face only a portion of a back surface (2b) of the first liquid crystal display element (2) which portion corresponds to the secondary display region (15b); and a reflecting section (4, 5, 6, 7) configured to cause light emitted from the secondary display region (15b) in a forward direction to be emitted from the back surface (2b) of the primary display region (15a) in the forward direction again. This arrangement enables production of a liquid crystal display unit (1) which can carry out, with a simple arrangement, a display that provides viewers with perception of depth.
US08355093B2 Backlight unit and display device
A light generating device which may be used as a backlight unit and a display device including the light generating device are discussed. According to an embodiment, the light generating device can include a first layer; a plurality of light source devices disposed on the first layer and configured to emit light, each at least one of the light source devices including a light emitting unit diode for generating the light; a second layer covering the light source devices; and first and second light shielding layers disposed on the second layer and configure to selectively control transmit a propagation of the light emitted from the light source devices, the first and second light shielding layers being composed of a same material or different materials, the first and second light shielding layers being disposed to correspond with the light source devices.
US08355088B2 Thin film transistor array panel for liquid crystal display having pixel electrode overlaping data and gate lines with different widths and areas
A TFT array panel includes an insulating substrate, a gate line, a storage electrode line, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor island formed on the gate insulating layer, and a data line and a drain electrode formed thereon. The data line and drain electrode are covered with a passivation layer. A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode through a contact hole. The TFT array panel is covered with an alignment layer rubbed approximately in a direction from the upper left corner to lower right corner of the TFT array panel or the pixel electrodes. The pixel electrode overlaps the gate line and data line and has an expansion located near the upper left corner of the pixel electrode to increase the width of the corresponding overlapping area between the pixel electrode and the gate line and/or data line.
US08355083B2 Image processing method and device for instant replay
What is disclosed is a computer-implemented image-processing system and method for the automatic generation of video sequences that can be associated with a televised event. The methods can include the steps of: Defining a reference keyframe from a reference view from a source image sequence; From one or more keyframes, automatically computing one or more sets of virtual camera parameters; Generating a virtual camera flight path, which is described by a change of virtual camera parameters over time, and which defines a movement of a virtual camera and a corresponding change of a virtual view; and Rendering and storing a virtual video stream defined by the virtual camera flight path.
US08355082B2 Method of controlling first information apparatus connectable to second information apparatus
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of controlling a first information apparatus connectable to a second information apparatus having a display, the second information apparatus being capable of reproducing video image based on video information obtained from a remote source independently from the first information apparatus, the method has storing command code information of the second information apparatus in association with identification information of the second information apparatus, receiving a command indicating a power-on operation of the second information apparatus while the second information apparatus is connected to the first information apparatus, executing a software program upon confirmation of the command indicating the power-on operation of the second information apparatus in reference to the command code information and outputting image data produced by the software program to the second information apparatus so as to display an image corresponding to the image data on the display.
US08355081B2 Digital display control device and method thereof
The invention discloses a display control device and method thereof. The display control device and method thereof utilize the phase deviation and the frequency deviation between the output signal and the input signal caused during channel switching to provide converting time acceptable by a display device and to achieve the objective of balancing the data stream transmission.
US08355079B2 Temporally consistent caption detection on videos using a 3D spatiotemporal method
A caption detection system wherein all detected caption boxes over time for one caption area are identical, thereby reducing temporal instability and inconsistency. This is achieved by grouping candidate pixels in the 3D spatiotemporal space and generating a 3D bounding box for one caption area. 2D bounding boxes are obtained by slicing the 3D bounding boxes, thereby reducing temporal instability as all 2D bounding boxes corresponding to a caption area are sliced from one 3D bounding box and are therefore identical over time.
US08355075B2 Camera module and mobile terminal unit
A camera module of the present invention includes a wiring substrate having a connection pad, and on which an imaging device is mounted, on an upper surface side thereof, and a lens unit provided on the wiring substrate and equipped with a lens portion arranged over the imaging device, an actuator (voice coil motor) for driving the lens portion, and projected connection terminal protruding downward and connected to the actuator. The projected connection terminal of the lens unit is arranged on the connection pad of the wiring substrate, and the connection pad and the projected connection terminal are joined mutually by a conductive adhesive agent.
US08355073B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a luminance value calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance average value and a luminance peak value from an image obtained by image-capturing for each of frames formed by dividing one screen, a first calculation unit configured to combine the luminance average value and the luminance peak value obtained for each of the frames, a second calculation unit configured to calculate an average value of composite values equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value among composite values obtained by the first calculation unit, and a setting unit configured to set knee strength based on the average value of the composite values obtained by the second calculation unit.
US08355071B2 Optical system
An optical system of the present invention includes a storage unit which stores an operated position of an operation unit and a position of an optical member. When the power supply to the optical system terminates and then restarts, a control unit compares the stored operated position and the operated position detected by a first sensing unit upon restart. If they are different, the control unit controls a driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by a second sensing unit can be a target position. If they are the same, the control unit controls the driving unit such that the position of the optical member detected by the second sensing unit can be the stored position of the optical member.
US08355067B2 Solid state imaging device and imaging apparatus
A solid state imaging device is provided and includes: a semiconductor substrate a photoelectric conversion element including a pair of electrodes and a photoelectric conversion layer sandwiched between the pair of electrodes; a signal output circuit including an MOS transistor for outputting a signal responsive to an electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion layer; a first electric charge storage section which is provided in the semiconductor substrate and in which the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion layer is directly stored; a second electric charge storage section provided in the semiconductor substrate and connected to a gate of an output transistor in the signal output circuit; and an electric charge transfer section that transfers the electric charge, stored in the first electric charge storage section, to the second electric charge storage section.
US08355062B2 Method and apparatus for processing image
A method for processing an image includes: obtaining depth values of an image including a target region and a non-target region; obtaining a scaling ratio of the target region; obtaining a scaling ratio of the non-target region according to the depth values of the image and the scaling ratio of the target region; scaling respectively the target region and the non-target region according to the scaling ratio of the target region and the scaling ratio of the non-target region, and obtaining a scaled image.
US08355058B2 Image pickup apparatus capable of correcting image quality degradation due to optical member, method of controlling image pickup apparatus, and nonvolatile storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of forming a corrected image which does not give a feeling of wrongness to a user. In the apparatus, an image pickup element photoelectrically converts an optical image to output the same as image data. A target correction value is calculated for correcting image quality degradation due to a lens unit, based on lens characteristic information and a status of the lens unit. A system controller sets a rate of change to stepwise make the current correction value closer to the target correction value, and repeatedly calculates the correction value according to the target correction value and the rate of change. The image data is corrected based on the repeatedly calculated correction value. The rate of change is changed depending on the relationship between a preceding value of the correction value calculated in the past and the target correction value.
US08355056B2 Image processing device, imaging device, and image processing program
An image processing device includes: an input unit that inputs an image obtained by imaging; a resize processing unit that performs one of enlargement and reduction processing for the image input by the input unit as a category decision target image, so as to obtain a first image equivalent of a predetermined camera-to-subject distance; a feature amount calculation unit that calculates a first feature amount that indicates a feature of the first image resized by the resize processing unit; and a decision unit that makes a category decision on the category decision target image based upon the first feature amount, the category decision being to make a decision as to which of a plurality of categories the category target image corresponds to.
US08355048B2 Subject tracking computer program product, subject tracking device and camera
A subject tracking computer program product containing a subject tracking program executed by a computer in order to track movement of a subject through a plurality of input images input in time series. The subject tracking program enables the computer to execute: a template matching step through which each input image is matched with a plurality of template images at various magnification factors through template matching, a template image among the plurality of template images achieving a highest level of similarity to an image within a specific area in the input image is selected as a chosen template image and the specific are in the input image is extracted as a match-up are; a decision step through which a decision is made as to whether or not matching results obtained through the template matching step satisfy an update condition for updating the plurality of template images; and an update step through which at least one of the plurality of template images is updated upon deciding through the decision step that the update condition is satisfied.
US08355046B2 Object tracing device, object tracing system, and object tracing method
An object tracing device, an object tracing system and an object tracing method are disclosed, which traces a truly suspicious object even when a new suspicious object comes into an area to be monitored after a suspicious object has been started to be traced. In the object tracing device, an object-identifying part identifies a plurality of objects in a wide-angle picture taken by a first picture-taking device; a chronological-information-creating part creates chronological information of the identified objects; an object-selecting part selects an object having a selecting condition identical with that of the object defined as the object to be traced; and a control part drives a second picture-taking device taking a picture of a narrower angle than a first picture-taking device does and controls the picture-taking device in taking a picture of the selected object.
US08355045B2 Monitor recording device
The monitor recording device (10) can allow an operator to identify an object with ease by comprising a frame control unit (11) for receiving a video signal of a monitor area at a specific frame rate such as for example one frame per second. A compression/expansion unit (12) compresses video data indicative of the video signal. A moving object area detecting unit (15) receives an image of a monitor area at sixty frames per second, dividing the image into a plurality of sections, and detecting one or more sections including an image of a person going in and out of the monitor area. A person extracting unit (16) extracts an image of his/her face from the sections. An optimum image judging unit (17) determines an optimum image of his/her face. A picture-in-picture synthesizing unit (20) synthesizes the optimum image and the video data.
US08355039B2 Scene background blurring including range measurement
Different distances of two or more objects in a scene being captured in a video conference are determined by determining a sharpest of two or more color channels and calculating distances based on the determining of the sharpest of the two or more color channels. At least one of the objects is identified as a foreground object or a background object, or one or more of each, based on the determining of the different distances. The technique involves blurring or otherwise rendering unclear at least one background object or one or more portions of the scene other than the at least one foreground object, or combinations thereof, also based on the determining of distances.
US08355038B2 Systems for capturing images through a display
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a visual-collaborative system enabling geographically distributed groups to engage in face-to-face, interactive collaborative video conferences. In one aspect, a visual-collaborative system (400) comprises a display screen, a camera system, and a projector. The display screen (402) has a first surface (410) and a second surface (416), and the camera system is positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen. The projector (404,602,702) is positioned to project images onto the first surface that can be observed by viewing the second surface. The wavelengths of light used to produce the projected images are different from with the wavelengths of light used to capture images.
US08355036B2 Recording system, recording apparatus, and record control signal generating apparatus using an exposure beam
A signal generating unit of a formatter inputs a misalignment amount δ unique to an individual recording apparatus and record data into a record signal compensation unit, and in accordance with these the record signal compensation unit generates a compensated beam deflection signal and substrate velocity signal to a beam unit and rotation and movement drive unit. With this arrangement, it is possible to perform compensation which matches errors in individual unit, in response to the errors (mechanical errors) in assembly dimension precision of parts and control precision of control devices which can vary among individual unit of the recording apparatus.
US08355034B2 Driving method for local dimming of liquid crystal display device and apparatus using the same
A driving method for local dimming of a LCD device includes dividing a frame into a plurality of blocks corresponding to a plurality of dimming blocks of a backlight unit, calculating an average value of each color in a block by analyzing image data of the block and determining, for the block, a local dimming value of each color corresponding to the average value of the color, detecting a maximum value among the average values of respective colors in the block determining a luminance local dimming value corresponding to the maximum value in the block, driving a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the block in the backlight unit on a color basis according to the local dimming value of each color in the block, or a color basis using the same luminance local dimming value according to whether the block is a chromatic color area or an achromatic color area.
US08355033B2 Method of adjusting the light output of a projector system, and system for adjusting the light output of a projector system
Disclosed is a method for adjusting light output of a projector that includes compiling a switching sequence having long and short segments for the controllable elements of a display unit, a long segment being of a duration greater than or equal to a threshold and a short segment being of a duration less than the threshold; obtaining a light output adjustment measure by which the light output is to be adjusted; generating a light pulse sequence such that the duration of a light pulse corresponds to the light output adjustment measure; and arranging the light pulse relative to the switching sequence such that the activation of the light pulse does not occur during a short segment, wherein the predefined threshold is a time duration of the light pulse at a lowest dimming level such that the light pulse has settled by the time the long segment ends.
US08355032B2 Displaying apparatus, displaying panel driver and displaying panel driving method
A display apparatus includes a display panel; and a display panel driver configured to drive signal lines of the display panel. The display panel driver includes: a color reducing circuit configured to be possible to generate a first color reduction image data from a first input image data by executing an error diffusion process by using a first error value, and to generate a second color reduction image data from the first input image data by executing the error diffusion process by using a second error value which is different from the first error value; and a driving section configured to drive a first pixel positioned on a horizontal line of the display panel in response to the first color reduction image data, and drive a second pixel positioned on the horizontal line and adjacent to a the first pixel in a horizontal direction, in response to the second color reduction image data.
US08355026B2 System, method, and program for displaying multiple windows having different resolutions
To allow a resolution to be changed by a single drawing command for each window instead of using different drawing commands in an application program depending on resolutions, in order to display a plurality of windows having different resolutions on a single display screen by use of a drawing facility for drawing a window specified by a drawing command from an application program with a resolution selected from a plurality of resolutions, first, windows to be drawn are registered in a list. The list is accessed in response to a drawing command from an application program to determine the resolution of a window to be drawn. The drawing facility is instructed to draw the window with the determined resolution. The image of the window drawn by the drawing facility is written into a frame buffer. The image is read from the frame buffer and displayed on a screen.
US08355024B2 Lightweight three-dimensional display
A computer-implemented imaging process method includes generating a progression of images of a three-dimensional model and saving the images at a determined location, generating mark-up code for displaying image manipulation controls and for permitting display of the progression of images in response to user interaction with the image manipulation controls, and providing the images and mark-up code for use by a third-party application.
US08355020B1 Refining quilts of patches representing three dimensional structures
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for refining quilts of patches representing three dimensional structures. A method is provided that includes generating a first quilt representation of a three-dimensional structure, adding information to the first quilt representation, and generating a second quilt representation based on the first quilt representation. The first quilt representation is based on a model and associated with a first display level of detail. The second quilt representation is associated with a second display level of detail higher than the first display level of detail.
US08355019B2 3D optical illusions from off-axis displays
A 3D viewing system captures offset images from off-axis camera perspectives inclined to a normal of base plane of a scene that includes one or more objects projecting from the base plane. The offset images, which take a planar form, are displayed from a display surface at an off-axis viewing perspective that is inclined to a normal of the display surface similar to the inclination of the off-axis camera perspective to the normal of the base plane. The offset images undergo a distortion to counteract a keystone distortion associated with the off-axis viewing perspective. The base plane of the scene is oriented parallel to the display surface, and the objects projecting from the base plane appear to project from the display surface.
US08355015B2 Semiconductor device, display device and electronic device including a diode electrically connected to a signal line
When writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, noise occurs in some cases in a wiring through which a current flows, which may cause a potential of the wiring to be outside the normal range. As the potential does not turn back within the normal range easily at this time, writing to the current source circuit is delayed. According to the invention, when the potential becomes outside the normal range due to noise occurring in a wiring through which a current flows when writing a signal current from a current source to a current source circuit, a current is supplied from other than the current source, thereby the potential of the wiring can turn back within the normal range rapidly.
US08355009B2 Method and apparatus for determining coordinates of simultaneous touches on a touch sensor pad
Apparatuses and methods are provided for determining coordinates of simultaneous touches on a touch sensor pad. A touch sensor pad includes a first plurality of resistive sensor strips on a first resistive sheet and a second plurality of resistive sensor strips on a second resistive sheet. A user touches the touch sensor pad at multiple locations simultaneously. A controller of the touch sensor pad determines coordinates of each of the multiple locations of touch independently of other touches. To determine coordinates for a touch, the controller identifies a first strip of the first plurality of resistive sensor strips of the first resistive sheet making contact with a second strip of the second plurality of resistive sensor strips of the second resistive sheet in response to the touch. The controller measures voltages of the strips to determine coordinates of the touch and measures resistance shifts in the strips due to touches to determine contact area of the touch which correlates to the types of objects causing the touch and the pressure of the touch.
US08355004B2 Keyboard device and electronic equipment using same
There is provided a keyboard device with a lamination body, the lamination body comprising: a translucent touch panel; a symbol printing film on which arbitrary symbols are printed; a surface emission layer that illuminates the symbol printing film, wherein the touch panel is arranged on an upper surface side of the symbol printing film, the surface emission layer is arranged on a lower surface side of the symbol printing film, and an input operation surface that is placed on the outermost surface of the keyboard device is flat.
US08355003B2 Controller lighting activation by proximity and motion
Mechanisms for controlling lighting activation by taking into account proximity and motion data are disclosed. Controllers can have cosmetic and/or functional lighting that can be controlled by proximity detectors and/or motion detectors, and such lighting can vary in color, intensity, and/or pattern. Proximity detectors can use capacitance, lighting, and/or sound data to determine the proximity of objects to the controllers, and motion detectors can use accelerometers and/or gyroscopes to determine the motion of such controllers. Additionally, controllers can start radio frequency communications with gaming consoles based on proximity and/or motion data. One benefit of such proximity and/or motion light control is battery conservation.
US08355000B2 Tumbler mouse
A tumbler mouse includes a housing including a swaying portion and a balancing weight secured in the housing. When the tumbler mouse is stood vertically on a support surface, it can sway as a tumbler.
US08354995B2 Information storage system
A system for storing information includes a computing device having a display and a processor for controlling the display. The system includes a portable storage device configured to communicate with the computing device. The portable storage device includes a PSD display, a PSD processor configured to control the PSD display, and a PSD memory. The system also includes an input mechanism configured to enable selection of information displayed on at least a portion of the display and to activate an information capture application. In addition, the information capture application is configured to assign a visual cue to the selected information. The information capture application is further configured to store the selected information and the assigned visual cue in the PSD memory in response to activation of the input mechanism.
US08354994B2 Electrophoretic display device that executes refresh operation at appropriate timing
A dispersion medium is filled in a display section and is dispersed with charged particles that migrates in accordance with a direction of an electric field. An image forming section applies, upon receiving an image forming request, an electric voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode to generate the electric field in the dispersion medium, thereby performing an image forming operation. A refresh controlling section switches, before the image forming section performs the image forming operation, the direction of the electric field alternately at predetermined timing to uniformly disperse the charged particles in the dispersion medium, thereby performing a refresh operation. An image-formation-elapsed-time measuring section measures a first elapsed time from a previous image forming operation performed by the image forming section until the image forming request. A refresh determining section determines whether the refresh controlling section performs the refresh operation based on the first elapsed time.
US08354992B2 Appearance improvement for zone backlit LCD displays
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel having an active image display region, a non-image display region surrounding the active image display region, and a border area disposed between the active image display region and the non-image display region, and a backlight device adjacent to the display panel and having a plurality of light producing elements corresponding to the active image display region, wherein the border area is disposed between the active image display region and the non-image display region to diffuse light produced by the light producing elements transmitted through the display panel within the border area.
US08354991B2 Active matrix liquid crystal device
In one embodiment of the present invention, an active matrix liquid crystal device includes an active matrix substrate and a counter electrode substrate separated by a layer of liquid crystal material. A temperature sensing capacitor includes electrodes on the substrates separated by the liquid crystal layer, which thus forms the dielectric of the capacitor. A reference capacitor and a calibration capacitor are also provided and have nominally the same capacitance. These capacitors form part of charge-transfer capacitance measuring branches within a sample/hold circuit. During a calibration cycle, the sample/hold circuit provides a signal dependent on the difference between the capacitances of the calibration capacitor and the reference capacitor and this is supplied to an analog/digital converter, which forms a reference voltage. During subsequent parts of the measurement cycle, the converter converts the output of the sample/hold circuit using the reference voltage in order to improve the accuracy of measurement of the liquid crystal capacitor, and hence the temperature of the liquid crystal material. This temperature measurement may be used, for example, to compensate the AMLCD for the effects of temperature variation in the liquid crystal properties.
US08354989B2 Liquid crystal display panel and display apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes n-number of gate lines, (m+1)-number of data lines and (m×n)-number of pixels, wherein the ‘n’ and ‘m’ are natural numbers. The gate lines are extended in a first direction. The data lines are extended in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first and last data lines are electrically connected to each other. The pixels are arranged in a matrix shape. M-number of the pixels is arranged along the first direction, and n-number of the pixels is arranged along the second direction. A pixel electrode of the pixels arranged in the second direction are electrically connected to left and right data lines alternately to enhance a display quality and reduce power consumption.
US08354979B2 Logic gate, scan driver and organic light emitting diode display using the same
An organic light emitting diode display, including pixel circuits coupled to respective data lines and scan lines, a data driver configured to supply data signals to the data lines, and a scan driver configured to provide scan signals to the scan lines, wherein the scan driver includes at least one decoder including a plurality of NOR gates, the decoder configured to provide a first plurality of signals, and a plurality of NAND gates coupled to respective scan lines, the NAND gates being configured to perform a NAND operation on the first plurality of signals and to provide scan signals to the scan lines, wherein all transistors in each of the NOR gates and each of the NAND gates are a same type of MOS transistor.
US08354973B2 Antenna
A phased array antenna is disclosed where the transmit/receive modules are replaced by a series of separately packaged components. The components include, for example, a vector control component, a high power amplifier component, a low noise amplifier component, a transmit/receive duplexing component and ancillary supporting components. An advantage of this arrangement is that cheaper antenna arrays can be constructed without limiting the capability and/or performance of a system incorporating such an array when compared to known solutions.
US08354969B2 Polarizer and waveguide antenna apparatus using the same
A polarizer includes a waveguide channel having a substantially square cross section and a septum disposed within the waveguide channel. The septum includes a stepped edge and two opposite stepped surfaces. The stepped surfaces are sectionally recessed toward each other along the direction pointing toward the interior of the waveguide channel, wherein the number of the steps of the stepped surface is greater than two, but smaller than the number of the steps of the stepped edge. In one embodiment, the square cross section may include a plurality of rounded corners and a plurality of edges extending correspondingly between the rounded corners, wherein the ratio of the radius of the rounded corner to the distance between two opposite edges is in a range of from 0.05 to 0.3.
US08354967B2 Antenna array with capacitive coupled upper and lower antenna elements and a peak radiation pattern directed toward the lower antenna element
An antenna system includes a planar substrate, a conductive ground plane, and an upper antenna element. The conductive ground plane is on the substrate. A slot that is free of conductive material extends through the ground plane to define a lower antenna element from a portion of the ground plane. The upper antenna element is spaced apart and overlies at least a portion of the lower antenna element. A first location of the upper antenna element is electrically connected to the ground plane and a spaced apart second location of the upper antenna element is electrically connected to an antenna feed element. The upper antenna element is configured to electrically resonate responsive to a defined RF signal. The lower antenna element is configured to resonate through capacitive coupling to the resonating upper antenna element.
US08354962B2 Antenna and manufacturing method thereof, semiconductor device including antenna and manufacturing method thereof, and radio communication system
An antenna includes a first substrate, a first pattern, a second substrate, a second pattern, and an anisotropic conductive material. The first substrate has an insulating surface. The first pattern is formed over the insulating surface of the first substrate, and made of a conductive material. The second substrate is provided so as to face the surface over which the first pattern of the first substrate is formed and has an insulating surface. The second pattern is formed over the insulating surface facing the first substrate of the second substrate, and made of a conductive material. The anisotropic conductive material electrically connects the first pattern and the second pattern. The whole region of the first pattern overlaps with the second pattern with the anisotropic conductive material interposed therebetween.
US08354960B2 Method for low sidelobe operation of a phased array antenna having failed antenna elements
Described is a method of modifying an antenna pattern for a phased array antenna having at least one failed antenna element. A number of proximate beamformers in a proximate angular region about a beamformer at an angle of interest are determined. Each of the proximate beamformers has a proximate beamformer weight vector. A corrected beamformer weight vector is determined for the angle of interest as a linear combination of the proximate beamformer weight vectors. Each element of the corrected beamformer weight vector that corresponds to one of the failed antenna elements has a value of zero. The method enables computation of low spatial sidelobe antenna patterns without requiring a recalibration of the antenna thereby enabling uninterrupted operation of systems that employ phased array antennas. The method can also be used to control taper loss or sidelobe level for phased array antennas that have no failed antenna elements.
US08354959B2 Control system for controlling the electrical tilt of an antenna
An improved control system for controlling the electrical tilt, i.e. the electrically controlled inclination of a radiated beam, of a base station antenna (70) with a vertical row of antenna elements is disclosed. The antenna includes a phase shifting device (73) including a tilt adjusting mechanism with a displaceable mechanical element for adjusting an electrical tilt setting of the antenna lobe being radiated from the antenna. The control system is divided into two parts, namely a first part, including the entire tilt adjusting mechanism (73), an electrical motor (75) and a position sensor (74), these elements constituting internal components being arranged inside the antenna casing (70), and a second part, including the remaining components of the control system, including an electrical motor control circuit (51; 61), and a logic circuit (56; 66) determining the electrical tilt setting. The external components are disposed in a separate, external control unit (50; 60) located outside but in the vicinity of the antenna casing (70), and are adapted for operative coupling, by way of a direct electric wire connection or a capacitive coupling, to the internal components (73,74,75) located inside the antenna casing.
US08354952B2 System and method for phase retrieval for radio telescope and antenna control
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for radio phase retrieval. A system practicing the method gathers first data from radio waves associated with an object observed via a first aperture, gathers second data from radio waves associated with the object observed via an introduced second aperture associated with the first aperture, generates reduced noise data by incoherently subtracting the second data from the first data, and performs phase retrieval for the radio waves by modeling the reduced noise data using a single Fourier transform. The first and second apertures are at different positions, such as side by side. This approach can include determining a value Q which represents a ratio of wavelength times a focal ratio divided by pixel spacing. This information can be used to accurately measure and correct alignment errors or other optical system flaws in the apertures.
US08354950B2 Method for characterizing an atmospheric turbulence using representative parameters measured by radar
The present invention relates to a method for characterizing an atmospheric turbulence by representative parameters measured by a radar. The emission beam of the radar carried by an aircraft scanning the zone of the turbulence, a measured parameter being the total variance of the velocity of the turbulence σU, this total variance at a point x0 inside the turbulence is the sum of the spatial variance of the spectral moment of order 1 of the signals received by the radar Var[M1({right arrow over (x)})] and of the spatial mean of the spectral moment of order 2 of the signals received Mean[M2({right arrow over (x)})], the moments being distributed as a vector {right arrow over (x)} sweeping an atmospheric domain around the point x0. The invention applies notably in respect of meteorological radars fitted to aircraft such as airliners for example.
US08354949B2 Remote control codes
An apparatus, such as a database or a processor/memory combination of a remote control system, for supplying for example infrared codes defining functions for remotely controlling devices wherein code-sets include function-code-combinations for each one of two/more different functions. By distinguishing main-functions such as power on/off and sub-functions such as channel up/down and volume up/down, code-sets may be allocated to a group of code-sets for a target device in case a code of a function-code-combination for the main-function is valid for the target device. This increases an efficiency of the apparatus. The group of code-sets may form a tree, whereby the main-function and its code(s) form root of the tree, whereby a sub-function forms a branch of the tree and a code or cedes defining this sub-function form a leaf or leaves of the branch. The group of code-sets may be defined for device-types and/or device-brands.
US08354945B2 Motherboard having a key combination input function by pressing a single key
A keyboard includes a number of first keys, a control circuit, a switch circuit, and a second key. The switch circuit includes a number of switches. The second key is connected to first terminals of two switches of the switch circuit via the control circuit. A second terminal of each of the switches is connected to a first key. When a second key is pressed, the control circuit controls the switches corresponding to the pressed second key to be turned on, to activate the first keys which are connected to the switches.
US08354939B2 Wellbore casing mounted device for determination of fracture geometry and method for using same
A logging system and method for measuring propped fractures and down-hole subterranean formation conditions including: a radar source; an optical source; an optical modulator for modulating an optical signal from the optical source according to a signal from the radar source; a photodiode for converting the modulated optical signal output from the optical modulator to the source radar signal. A transmitter and receiver unit receives the source radar signal from the photodiode and transmits the source radar signal via at least one antenna attached to the casing and in communication with at least one photodiode into the formation and receives a reflected radar signal. A mixer mixes the reflected radar signal with the source radar signal to provide an output. This can describe fractures connected to the wellbore and differentiate between the dimensions of the two vertical wings of a propped fracture.
US08354938B2 Safety warning system and method
An appliance warning system comprises a floor pad which has a switch movable between an open position when no weight pressure is detected and a closed position when activated by weight pressure. A transmitter transmits a signal depending upon whether the switch is in the open or closed position. A remotely located module has a receiver for the signal from the transmitter. A control circuit is operational between a ready state before the switch is activated to the closed position and a monitoring state after the switch is activated. A warning device is activated by the control circuit when in the monitoring state when the switch has been in the open position for a preselected period of time after having been in the closed position. A reset switch resets the control circuit from the monitoring state to the ready state.
US08354937B2 Motion-based disabling of messaging on a wireless communications device
When a wireless communications device is traveling a speed exceeding a first predetermined threshold but less than a second predetermined threshold, the device is presumed traveling in a motor vehicle. In order to inhibit operation of the wireless communication device when traveling, access to certain device functions or applications such as e-mail, text messaging, etc. are limited by requiring the user of the device to respond correctly to a randomly generated visual challenge, such as, for example, a CAPTCHA (in which a user is prompted to recognize the characters in a visually distorted string of text). This visual challenge presents a sufficient obstacle that the user will be less likely to use the wireless communications device for e-mailing or texting while operating a motor vehicle.
US08354933B2 Trigger system for monitoring and/or control devices and/or early warning systems for nascent and/or occurring cyclones
An automated trigger device and a corresponding method for dynamic triggering of developing and/or imminent tropical storms for integrated monitoring devices and/or control devices and/or early warning systems. The trigger device includes a trigger module, and measurement devices arranged in cellular, geographically and/or topologically definable units or zones. Geophysical measurement parameters can be transmitted from the measurement devices to the trigger module. By a Monte Carlo module—and based on the measurement parameters—data records can be dynamically generated for definable future time intervals. By an extrapolation module track distribution parameters of a track distribution integrable over the plurality of data records are generated for each of the definable future time intervals. By an activating device—and based on the generated track distribution parameters and/or the trigger parameters—a corresponding control signal is transmitted to the monitoring device.
US08354929B2 Intruder detector and classifier
A method and system for detecting and classifying intruders is provided. A noise threshold can be determined and set based on background noise. A seismic sensor can be configured to receive a plurality of seismic data signals. A microcontroller can be configured to count the number of times the noise threshold is exceeded over a defined time interval by the plurality of seismic data signals, and then detect and classify the presence of an intruder based on the count. Additionally, an amplitude evaluation module can be configured to determine a signal amplitude for the seismic data signals associated with the detected intruder and compare the detected intruder signal amplitude to known signal amplitudes in order to determine a sub-type of the intruder. Finally, a transmission source can be configured to transmit intruder detection and classification information to a remote location.
US08354927B2 Shipping container monitoring based on door status
Remotely monitorable shipping container assembly including a shipping container including at least one door, a door status sensor for monitoring the open or closed status of the door(s) and a communications device mounted on the container and wirelessly transmitting information to one or more remote facilities including the status of the door(s) as monitored by the door status sensor. The remote facility may be for example, a facility interested in ensuring the integrity of the contents of the container, a facility which is charged with preventing theft of the contents of the containers, a law enforcement facility which is responsible for preventing transport of illegal cargo, and the like. A positioning system may be arranged on the container for determining a position thereof. The communications device is coupled to the positioning system and transmits the determined position of the container with the open or closed status of the door(s).
US08354926B2 Systems and methods for business process monitoring
The present invention is a method to ensure business processes are followed, comprising the steps of capturing sensory data from one or more sensors; storing the sensory data from the one or more sensors in a data storage device; processing the sensory data from the sensors to detect primitive events in the sensory data using a computer processor; correlating two or more primitive events, weighted by attribute data representing information about the sensors used to sense the primitive events, to determine one or more correlated events using the computer processor; and performing one or more actions to ensure business processes are followed based on the correlation performed in the correlating step.
US08354925B1 Monitoring using RF communication technology
Systems and methods for detecting change in an environment are provided. In one aspect, a system for detecting change in an environment includes an RF noise source configured to transmit an RF noise signal into the environment and to vary a parameter of the RF noise signal, and an interrogator configured to communicate with a plurality of communication devices distributed in the environment over a plurality of communication channels. The system also includes a detection system configured to receive information related to performances of the plurality of communication channels from the interrogator, to generate a fingerprint of the environment for each of the plurality of communication channels based on the performance of the communication channel at different values of the parameter of the RF noise signal, and to detect a change in the environment when one or more of the fingerprints deviates from a respective baseline fingerprint by a certain amount.
US08354923B2 Location mechanism for mobile device
A location mechanism for a mobile device, in which an electronic communication including a code is received at the mobile device and the code is parsed from within the received electronic communication. The code parsed from within the electronic communication is used to determine whether to classify the received electronic communication as a coded electronic communication, and the received electronic communication is classified as a coded electronic communication based on results of the determination. In response to classification of the electronic communication as a coded electronic communication, a process is initiated that facilitates location of the mobile device. For instance, volume control settings at the mobile device may be overridden and an audible alert at the device may be invoked, and/or a response electronic communication that includes location information indicative of a current location of the communication device may be generated and sent.
US08354918B2 Light, sound, and motion receiver devices
A method to elicit a behavior in response to a simplex communication signal comprises receiving, at a receiver device, an encoded simplex communication signal from a transmitter device, the simplex communication signal including an identifier. The method further comprises referencing a stored program in the receiver device to a stored program block corresponding to the identifier. The receiver device then initiates execution of the program block and renders a behavior in accordance with or corresponding to the program block corresponding to the simplex communication signal. The receiver device includes a program database, wherein the receiver is programmed to reference a stored program block of the program database corresponding to the identifier. The receiver device also includes mechanisms to enable a behavior in accordance with the program block to be audibly and visibly perceived.
US08354915B2 Multi-channel passive entry system for vehicles
A method and system for determining whether or not passive entry of a vehicle is permitted, includes allocating separate channels for each authorized key FOB for the vehicle. An indication of manual entry of the vehicle is detected. Upon such detection, a challenge from a transmitter of a passive entry system is output. The challenge is received by more than one key FOB in a vicinity of the vehicle, and outputting a respective remote keyless entry response at an assigned frequency channel for each respective key FOB. The remote keyless entry responses are received at a receiver of the passive entry system, at each respective channel allocated for the respective key FOBs. A determination is then made as to whether or not any of the respective key FOBs are assigned to authorized users of the vehicle, and if so, a vehicle door is set in an unlocked state to allow entry into the vehicle.
US08354914B2 Reduced power electronic lock system
An electronic lock system including an electronic lock disposed in a door and a device external to the door disposed for wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.
US08354913B2 Authorization in a networked electric vehicle charging system
Networked electric vehicle charging stations for charging electric vehicles are coupled with an electric vehicle charging station network server that performs authorization for charging session requests while the communication connection between the charging stations and the server are operating correctly. When the communication connection is not operating correctly, the networked electric vehicle charging stations enter into a local authorization mode to perform a local authorization process for incoming charging session requests.
US08354912B2 Chip resistor and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a chip resistor includes the following steps. A resistor layer is formed on an obverse surface of a material substrate. A plurality of substrate sections are defined in the material substrate by forming, in the obverse surface of the material substrate, a plurality of first grooves each of which is elongated in a first direction. A conductor layer is formed in each of the first grooves. The substrate sections are cut along lines extending in a second direction different from the first direction.
US08354908B2 Cylindrical magnetic levitation stage
The present invention provides a cylindrical magnetic levitation stage which includes a cylindrical substrate used to form micro-patterns of various arbitrary shapes on a large-area semiconductor substrate or display panel substrate, a cylindrical substrate, a combination of a first permanent magnet array and a first coil array and a combination of a first permanent magnet array and a first coil array, which are coupled to the cylindrical substrate, so that levitation, axial translation and rotation of the cylindrical substrate can be made finely through the control of a magnetic force generated by the interaction between a magnetic field generated by electric current applied to the coil arrays and a magnetic field generated from the permanent magnet arrays corresponding to the coil arrays.
US08354904B2 Mechanical override device
A mechanical override device which is suitable for an undervoltage coil of a switching unit, is comprised of a first portion suitable for urging a plunger of the undervoltage coil in a first position which is taken by the plunger when the undervoltage coil is energized, and a second portion suitable for receiving an external movement command for imposing an operating movement to the first portion. The override device further comprises movement control means for controlling one or more cinematic parameters of the first portion so as to make the operating movement independent from the external movement command.
US08354903B1 Meter disconnect relay
In one aspect, a meter disconnect relay is described that is comprised of a base, an actuator, a shuttle and one or more disconnect switches. The shuttle is operably connected to and moved by a plunger of the actuator. The one or more disconnect switches can be opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein each disconnect switch is comprised of a rigid, conductive bridging section comprising at least two contacts; a conductive source portion having a source contact and a conductive load portion having a load contact.
US08354900B2 Microelectromechanical device provided with an anti-stiction structure, and corresponding anti-stiction method
An embodiment of a microelectromechanical device having a first structural element, a second structural element, which is mobile with respect to the first structural element, and an elastic supporting structure, which extends between the first and second structural elements to enable a relative movement between the first and second structural elements. The microelectromechanical device moreover possesses an anti-stiction structure, which includes at least one flexible element, which is fixed only with respect to the first structural element and, in a condition of rest, is set at a first distance from the second structural element. The anti-stiction structure is designed to generate a repulsive force between the first and second structural elements in the case of relative movement by an amount greater than the first distance.
US08354896B2 Acoustic wave device, transmission apparatus, and acoustic wave device manufacturing method
An acoustic wave device includes a plurality of acoustic wave devices each including a substrate made of a piezoelectric material, a pair of interdigital electrodes formed on the substrate, each of the interdigital electrodes including a plurality of electrode fingers, and an adjustment medium. The adjustment medium includes at least a single layer and is formed on at least a part of the pair of the interdigital electrodes. The adjustment medium further includes at least one thick portion and a thin portion, the thin portion being null or thinner than the thick portion, a total area of the at least one thick portion in a region covering the pair of interdigital electrodes being determined according to a predetermined characteristic value, wherein the plurality of acoustic wave devices include at least two acoustic wave devices that differ from each other with respect to the size of the total area of the at least one thick portion of the adjustment medium.
US08354891B2 Nonreciprocal circuit element
A nonreciprocal circuit element includes first and second center electrodes. On a ferrite to which a direct-current magnetic field is applied from a permanent magnet, the first and second center electrodes are insulated and intersect. First and second ends of the first center electrode are connected to an input port and an output port, respectively. First and second ends of the second center electrode are connected to the output port and a ground port, respectively. A first matching capacitor and a resistor are connected between the input port and the output port. A second matching capacitor is connected between the output port and the ground port. A parallel resonant circuit is connected in parallel to the resistor. A coupling element is connected between the parallel resonant circuit and another parallel resonant circuit including the first center electrode and the first matching capacitor so as to the parallel resonant circuits.
US08354889B2 Power amplifier with dynamically added supply voltages
An amplifier for amplifying a radio signal to a defined power output level is presented, wherein the amplifier comprises an amplifier input port, an amplifier output port, a first transistor for amplifying the radio signal received at a first transistor control input, wherein a first transistor output of the first transistor is supplied by a first power source; a at least second transistor for supplying the first transistor from a at least second power supply source. The at least second power supply source is added by the at least second transistor as a function of the power output level of the amplifier.
US08354884B2 Measurement and correction of residual nonlinearities in a digitally predistorted power amplifier
A reduced cost method for the measurement and correction of residual nonlinearities in a digitally predistorted transmitter is disclosed. Systems employing predistorters and power amplifiers are calibrated by processing actual input and output signals during the normal operation of the systems. The systems correct memoryless nonlinearities as well as both memoryless and memory based nonlinearities.
US08354880B2 Op-R, a solid state filter
The device described herein proposes an electronic active filter void of capacitors and inductors. The circuit utilizes only operational amplifiers (Op-Amps) and resistors, hence the name Op-R. Although capable of being constructed of lumped circuit elements this filter is intended for integrated circuit (IC) applications. Filtering of signals can be accommodated sub-audio through the video frequency range depending on the selected op-amp ICs. Low pass, band pass, high pass, as well as ban reject frequency responses are achievable. Although the circuits described herein are single input-single output, multiple inputs and outputs present no difficulty, being limited only by chip space. Temperature and production spread variations are also considered within the realm of tenability.
US08354877B2 Current limit circuit and semiconductor memory device
A current limit circuit comprising: a current limit element for limiting an output current level to within a predetermined range of a limiting current and including a first PMOS transistor having a source to which a predetermined voltage is applied and a drain through which the output current is supplied; and a gate voltage generating circuit for generating a gate voltage by a feedback control such that a difference between the predetermined voltage and a gate voltage of the first PMOS transistor coincides with a threshold voltage of a second PMOS transistor having approximately the same characteristic as that of the first PMOS transistor in a state in which a predetermined current is flowing through the second PMOS transistor.
US08354873B2 Transmission gate and semiconductor device
Provided is a transmission gate capable of adapting to various input voltages to attain high S/N characteristics. The transmission gate includes: a PMOS transistor (11) which includes a drain to which an input voltage (Vin) is input, is turned ON when a voltage (Vin−Vs1) is input to a gate thereof, and includes a source from which the input voltage (Vin) is output as an output voltage (Vout); and an NMOS transistor (12) which has a gate length, a gate width, a gate oxide thickness, and an absolute value of a threshold voltage which are the same as those of the PMOS transistor (11), includes a drain to which the input voltage (Vin) is input, is turned ON when a voltage (Vin+Vs1) is input to a gate thereof, and includes a source from which the input voltage (Vin) is output as the output voltage (Vout).
US08354868B2 Clock circuit for a microprocessor
A mobile communication device includes an analog clock and a digital clock circuit. The analog clock circuit is configured to generate an oscillating output. The digital clock circuit is configured to generate a digital clock output having a frequency that is substantially equal to the frequency of the oscillating output.
US08354865B1 Method and apparatus for sampling
A sampling circuit can include a switch having a control terminal, a first channel terminal and a second channel terminal. The first channel terminal can be configured to receive an input signal, and the control terminal can be configured to have a control voltage that varies with regard to the input signal, such that a conducting channel can be formed between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal to enable an output voltage on the second channel terminal to track the input signal. Further, the sampling circuit can include a bootstrap module coupled to the control terminal of the switch. The bootstrap module can be configured to change the control voltage by a substantially constant value to turn off the conducting channel between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal in order to hold the output voltage as a sample of the input signal.
US08354863B2 Control signal generation circuit and sense amplifier circuit using the same
A control signal generation circuit includes a voltage detection unit which detects a level of an external voltage and generates first and second detection signals and a control signal control unit which delays a sense amplifier enable signal in response to the first and second detection signals and generates first through third control signals. The enable period of the first and second control signals are controlled based on the levels of the first and second detection signals.
US08354862B2 Phase-lock assistant circuitry
A circuit including a first circuit configured to receive an input signal and first, third and fifth phase clocks of a clock, and generate a first early signal indicating the clock is earlier than the input signal and a first late signal indicating the clock is later than the input signal. The circuit further includes a second circuit configured to receive an input signal and second, a fourth and sixth phase clocks of the clock, and generate a second early signal indicating the clock is earlier than the input signal and a second late signal indicating the clock is later than the input signal. The circuit further includes a third circuit configured to generate a first increase signal. The circuit further includes a fourth circuit configured to generate a first decrease signal.
US08354861B2 Magnetoresistive element, logic gate and method of operating logic gate
A logic gate has a magnetoresistive element, a magnetization state control unit and an output unit. The magnetoresistive element has a laminated structure having N (N is an integer not smaller than 3) magnetic layers and N−1 nonmagnetic layers that are alternately laminated. A resistance value of the magnetoresistive element varies depending on magnetization states of the N magnetic layers. The magnetization state control unit sets the respective magnetization states of the N magnetic layers depending on N input data. The output unit outputs output data that varies depending on the resistance value of the magnetoresistive element.
US08354854B2 Microcircuit testing interface having kelvin and signal contacts within a single slot
In a first slot of a plurality of adjacent slots in alignment with traces on a load board of a tester, first and second conductor layers, each to make electrical contact with both a load board trace and a DUT lead. Each of the first and second contacts receives force from a resilient element extending across the slots and that urges a contact point on the contact against at least one trace and a DUT lead. Insulation between said first and second contacts in the first slot electrically insulates the first and second contacts from each other within the first slot.
US08354852B1 Wireless soil sensor utilizing a RF frequency for performing soil measurements
A wireless soil sensor for using a RF frequency for performing soil moisture measurements is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a sensing component integrated directly with a radio and a microcontroller. The wireless soil sensor is designed to be buried underground and to transmit to above ground receivers.
US08354851B2 Production method for a capacitive sensor unit
An apparatus and production method for a watertight capacitive sensor unit is provided. Accordingly, a carrier, approximately U-shaped in cross section, is made from a water-impermeable material. At least one electrode strip is placed in an interior space of the carrier along the longitudinal extension of the carrier. The interior space is filled with a hardening filler material in such a way that the electrode strip is sealed outwardly watertight.
US08354849B2 Method and device for humidity and/or density measurement
A method for the measurement of humidity and/or density in a measurement target. The phase and the amplitude of the microwave radiation transmitted through the measurement target is determined for a number of frequencies. The complex-valued transmission function of the measurement target is calculated from the determined values using the complex-valued transfer function of the measurement arrangement, and transformed into the time domain as a complex-valued time domain function. The point in time at which the amount of the main pulse has its maximum value is determined as a characteristic variable A from the time domain function. From the time domain function, the width of the main pulse is determined as a characteristic variable B, and/or the amplitude value of the main pulse as a characteristic variable H. A humidity and/or density of the measurement target is determined depending on the characteristic variable A and the characteristic variables B and/or H.
US08354848B2 Obstacle detecting system and obstacle detecting device
An obstacle detecting system having leakage coaxial cables laid on at both the sides of an obstacle monitoring district and an obstacle detecting device for emitting electrical waves from one of the leakage coaxial cables laid on at both the sides to the other leakage coaxial cable and detecting an obstacle in the obstacle monitoring district on the basis of the electrical waves incident to the other leakage coaxial cable is further equipped with an electrical wave transmitting unit for transmitting the electrical waves to the one leakage coaxial cable in the obstacle detecting device, an electrical wave receiving unit for receiving the electrical waves incident to the other leakage coaxial cable, and a connecting unit for connecting the electrical wave transmitting unit and the electrical wave receiving unit.
US08354844B2 Method for data acquisition acceleration in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with N-dimensional spatial encoding using two or more receiver coil arrays and non-linear phase distributions
A method for accelerating data acquisition in MRI with N-dimensional spatial encoding has a first method step in which a transverse magnetization within an imaged object volume is prepared having a non-linear phase distribution. Primary spatial encoding is thereby effected through application of switched magnetic fields. Two or more RF receivers are used to simultaneously record MR signals originating from the imaged object volume, wherein, for each RF receiver, an N-dimensional data matrix is recorded which is undersampled by a factor Ri per selected k-space direction. Data points belonging to a k-space matrix which were not recoded by a selected acquisition schema are reconstructed using a parallel imaging method, wherein reference information concerning receiver coil sensitivities is extracted from a phase-scrambled reconstruction of the undersampled data matrix. The method generates a high-resolution image free of artifacts in a time-efficient manner by improving data sampling efficiency and thereby reducing overall data acquisition time.
US08354839B2 Portable terminal device and position detection method used therein
A portable terminal device is disclosed that includes a movable part having a display part; an arm part supporting the movable part so that the movable part is rotatable at least ±90° with reference to a rotation center position around a rotation center; and a position detection part detecting the position of the movable part relative to the arm part. The position detection part includes magnets, magnetic sensors detecting the magnetic fields thereof, and a calculation part determining the position of the movable part based on sensor outputs. The magnets are provided in one of the arm part and the movable part so as to be 90° apart from each other around the rotation center. The magnetic sensors are provided in the other one of the arm part and the movable part so as to oppose the corresponding magnets when the movable part is positioned at the rotation center position.
US08354837B2 System and method for electromagnetic tracking operable with multiple coil architectures
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for software configurable electromagnetic tracking. Certain embodiments of the system include a transmitter and/or a receiver for measuring a position in a coordinate system. The system also includes tracker electronics for determining position of the transmitter and/or receiver using information from the transmitter and/or receiver. The tracker electronics are configurable for a plurality of tracking system architectures. The tracker electronics may generate a processing scheme for a tracking system architecture. Additionally, the tracker electronics may simultaneously support a plurality of tracking system architectures. The tracker electronics may be modular, configurable tracker electronics. The tracker electronics may use software to generate support for a plurality of tracking system architectures.
US08354836B2 Device and process for detecting particles in a flowing liquid
A device for detecting electrically conductive particles in a liquid flowing in a pipe section, with a transmitter coil surrounding the pipe section for inducing eddy currents in the particles, at least one first inductive receiver coil surrounding the pipe section and a second inductive receiver coil which is spaced axially to the first receiver coil and which surrounds the pipe section, the first and the second receiver coils being located in the region of the transmitter coil and being subtractively connected, in order to output a difference signal according to the eddy currents induced by the transmitter coil, and the transmitter coil forming the primary side and the receiver coils forming the secondary side of a transformer arrangement. An evaluation unit evaluates the difference signal in order to detect passage of electrically conductive particles in the pipe section.
US08354835B2 Wide range current sensing
A current sense circuit, including a voltage regulator, for detecting current conducted by a device under test (DUT) for a wide range of currents, while still providing fine granularity for detecting low/small currents. Two current branches/paths may be established to the supply terminal of the DUT. A switching device, e.g. a transistor device, may be operated to enable a first current branch of the two current branches, or both current branches to conduct current, responsive to the size of the current flowing in the first current branch. The total current conducted by the DUT may be equivalent to a sum of the respective currents flowing in the two current branches. When the switching device is turned off, very small currents conducted by the DUT may be measured with fine granularity. When the switching device is turned on, substantially larger currents conducted by the DUT may be measured.
US08354833B2 Method for characterizing dielectric loss tangent
A method for characterizing dielectric loss tangent of a dielectric material. The method includes: introducing an incident wave in a mismatched transmission line; measuring a first insertion loss from a first resulting standing wave, at a given frequency; augmenting the mismatched transmission line with the dielectric material; introducing the incident wave in the transmission line augmented with the dielectric material; measuring a second insertion loss from a second resulting standing wave, at the given frequency; and calculating the dielectric loss tangent based on the differences between the first and second measured insertion losses.
US08354832B2 Power supply noise injection
A method for reducing noise in an output of a voltage regulator at frequencies above a closed loop bandwidth, by providing a noise injection path for injecting external noise into the voltage regulator, where the noise injection path becomes active at the frequencies above the closed loop bandwidth, where the noise injection path reduces the noise in the output of the voltage regulator.
US08354831B2 Reverse current comparator circuit and method for switching regulators
A reverse current comparator for use in switching regulators includes a differential stage configured to encode the difference in voltage between an N and a P input. The differential stage feeds one or more gain stages. At least one of the gain stages includes one or more hysteresis devices. When the voltage of the N input exceeds the voltage of the P input by a predetermined margin, the hysteresis device causes the regulator to enter a triggered state in which it outputs a non-zero output voltage. Subsequent changes to the N and P inputs do not change the regulator output until a RESET input is asserted and which point the regulator enters a reset state and is ready to be triggered.
US08354830B2 Systems and methods for self-recycling power
A power system includes a switch, a capacitor and a comparator circuit. The power system receives a signal to turn off power supplied to the power system, turns off the switch that is used to supply power to the system and discharges the capacitor. The power system also compares a voltage across the discharging capacitor to a threshold voltage value, and turns on the switch to allow power to be supplied to the power system when the compared voltage across the discharging capacitor equals the threshold voltage value.
US08354829B2 Apparatus, method and system for control of AC/AC conversion
A method, system and apparatus for controlling a pulse width modulator (PMW) converter for direct AC/AC conversion and/or AC voltage regulation. According to some embodiments of the invention, an output voltage may be provided, independent of the input voltage quality, thereby avoiding or minimizing power company irregularities, brownouts and the like. Embodiments of the present invention may be useful, for example, for use in connection with motors and motored devices or other applications.
US08354828B2 Power supply with synchronized clocks and related DC-DC converter
A power supply with synchronized clocks includes a transformer for transforming an AC input voltage into a DC input voltage, a delay unit for delaying phase of a standard clock signal to generate a plurality of synchronization clock signals, a major DC-DC converter for adjusting voltage level and phase of the DC input voltage according to one of the plurality of synchronization clock signals to generate a major output voltage, and a plurality of parallel DC-DC converters each for adjusting voltage level and phase of the major output voltage according to one of the plurality of synchronization clock signals to generate a minor output voltage.
US08354823B2 Charger
A charger includes a base, a frame, a cover, and at least one spring. The base defines a groove. The frame defines at least one positioning member. The cover is capable of moving between a latched position and a unlatched position. The cover includes a latching tab and at least one limiting protrusion. The at least one spring provides a rebound force to the frame. When the cover is in the latched position, the latching tab is received in the groove, the at least one positioning member engages the at least one limiting protrusion, and the at least one spring is compressed by the frame. When the cover moves to the unlatched position, the latching tab disengages from the groove, the at least one positioning member disengages from the at least one limiting protrusion, causing the frame to be ejected upwardly by the at least one spring.
US08354821B2 Contact-less power transfer
A unit for transferring power in an inductive manner to at least one power-receiving device, and a system comprising such a unit and such a device. The unit includes at least one coil structure configured to allow various degrees of translational and rotational freedom of movement of the power-receiving device relative thereto. This provides increased ease of use, since it is not necessary for a user to place the power-receiving device in mechanical or other registration with the unit.
US08354805B2 Device for driving a load
Devices (10) for driving loads (20) such as organic/inorganic light emitting diodes are provided with drivers (11) for driving the loads (20), with converters (12) for converting first parameter signals defining parameters of the loads (20) into second parameter signals each being defined by one bit per time interval, and with digital controllers (13) for controlling the drivers (11) in response to the second parameter signals. The converter (12) may comprise a comparator circuit (40) and a timer circuit (41) for comparing the first parameter signal with a reference signal and for generating the second parameter signal having a respective first or second value of two possible values in case of a respective first or second comparison result. The parameter may be a current flowing through or light emitted by at least a part of the load (20). The driver (11) may be a buck/boost/buck boost/fly back converter.
US08354802B2 Solid state device controller
A solid state device controller is provided that includes a first electrical connector configured to be in electrical communication with an alternating current (AC) electrical power source and a second electrical connector in electrical communication with the first electrical connector, wherein the second electrical connector is configured to be in electrical communication with a direct current (DC) electrically powered device. The controller further includes circuitry in communication between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, wherein the circuitry is configured to convert the supplied AC electrical power to DC electrical power, and a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector, and the circuitry, wherein the housing is further configured to be removably received by a service panel assembly.
US08354800B2 Lighting source with low total harmonic distortion
A low THD lighting system is disclosed. The lighting system includes a first lighting module and a second lighting module connected parallel to the first lighting module. During each AC cycle the first lighting module conducts current for a first portion of the cycle and the second lighting module conducts current for a second portion of the cycle. When combined, the total current drawn from the power source substantially tracks the shape of the applied AC voltage. Accordingly, there is minimal distortion, and low total harmonic distortion level is achieved.
US08354796B2 Reverse polarity series type led and drive circuit
The present invention of a reverse polarity series type LED is formed by two sets of LED and diode assemblies in reverse polarity series connection wherein the first set is consisted of at least one or multiple homopolar series or parallel connected or series and parallel connected LED's, and the second set consisting of at least one or more homopolar parallel or series connected or series and parallel connected LED's for further connection to the drive circuit formed by current-limiting impedance and/or power storage and discharging devices and/or voltage-limit circuit devices in order to produce the required operational characteristics.
US08354795B1 Program start ballast with true parallel lamp operation
A program start ballast powers multiple lamps coupled in parallel. A first inverter and a primary winding of a first transformer form a main circuit. A second inverter and a primary winding of a second transformer form a preheat circuit. One or more lamps are coupled in parallel across a secondary winding of the first transformer, and secondary windings of the second transformer are coupled across filaments at either end of the one or more lamps. The main circuit is configured to disable power across the first transformer during a preheat mode of operation and to provide power across the first transformer during a steady-state mode of operation. The preheat circuit is configured to provide power across the second transformer during the preheat mode of operation and to disable power across the second transformer during the steady-state mode of operation.
US08354792B2 Fused joint structure in a lamp tube and forming method therefor
A fused joint structure comprises a metallic foil; and a conductive member made of high melting point metal, wherein a concave portion is formed in the metallic foil and the conductive member on an area where the metallic foil is put together on a surface of the conductive member, and wherein a circumferential edge of the concave portion is covered with the conductive member.
US08354785B2 Nanocrystals including a group IIIA element and a group VA element, method, composition, device and other products
A nanocrystal comprising a semiconductor material comprising one or more elements of Group IIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements and one or more elements of Group VA of the Periodic Table of Elements, wherein the nanocrystal is capable of emitting light having a photoluminescence quantum efficiency of at least about 30% upon excitation. Also disclosed is a nanocrystal including a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising one or more elements of Group IIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements and one or more elements of Group VA of the Periodic Table of Elements, and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the nanocrystal is capable of emitting light having a photoluminescence quantum efficiency of at least about 30% upon excitation. Also disclosed is a nanocrystal comprising a nanocrystal core and a shell comprising a semiconductor material disposed on at least a portion of the nanocrystal core, wherein the semiconductor material comprises at least three chemical elements and is obtainable by a process comprising adding a precursor for at least one of the chemical elements of the semiconductor material from a separate source to a nanocrystal core while simultaneously adding amounts of precursors for the other chemical elements of the semiconductor material. A population of nanocrystals, method for preparing nanocrystals, compositions, and devices including nanocrystals are also disclosed.
US08354784B2 Solid-state light emitting devices with photoluminescence wavelength conversion
A light emitting device comprises at least one light emitter, typically an LED, operable to generate blue light and a wavelength conversion component. The wavelength conversion component can be light transmissive or light reflective and comprises at least two phosphor materials that are operable to absorb at least a portion of said blue light and emit light of different colors and wherein the emission product of the device comprises the combined light generated by the LED(s) and the phosphor materials. The phosphor materials are configured as a pattern of non-overlapping areas on a surface of the component.
US08354783B2 Light-emitting device.having a frame member surrounding light-emitting elements and illumination device utilizing light-emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting device includes a substrate including power-supply conductors, a frame member, and a sealing member. The power-supply conductors are formed on the substrate. A plurality of light-emitting elements including electrodes are mounted on the substrate. The electrodes of the light-emitting elements adjacent to the power-supply conductors are electrically connected to the power-supply conductors by a plurality of bonding wires. The frame member is made of resin which is coated on the substrate so as to surround the light-emitting elements and the bonding wires. The sealing member is filled in an area surrounded by the frame member and seals the light-emitting elements and the bonding wires.
US08354781B2 Asymmetric LED bulb optic
An LED lamp assembly with a central light guide supplying light to a primary reflector where the reflective surface has a circular cross section in the horizontal medial plane and has a parabolic cross section in the vertical plane medial plane and regular combinations of the two planar sections in rotating round the axis from the vertical to the horizontal.
US08354776B2 Apparatus for generating electrical energy and method for manufacturing the same
An apparatus for generating electrical energy may include; a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, the second electrode having a substantially planar flat plate shape, a conductor which electrically connects the first and second electrodes, and a nanowire disposed on the first electrode, the nanowire including a deformable piezoelectric material, wherein a Schottky contact is formed between the nanowire and the second electrode as the nanowires is deformed.
US08354775B2 Ultrasonic transducer
An ultrasonic transducer includes a case, a reflective portion, and a piezoelectric body. The case has a substantially cylindrical shape including one closed end in the center axis direction that defines a top. The piezoelectric body is disposed on the inner surface of the top of the case. The reflective portion is arranged to oppose and be spaced apart from the piezoelectric body. The distance between the piezoelectric body and the reflective portion is greater than the maximum displacement of the piezoelectric body and is substantially an odd number multiple of a ¼ wavelength of sound waves or less than or equal to the ¼ wavelength.
US08354773B2 Composite acoustic absorber for ultrasound transducer backing material
A backing block composite is provided. A transducer is manufactured to include the backing block of composite material. One constituent material provides a skeleton or matrix for enclosing volumes or pockets of another material. The materials are incompatible for bonding, so do not adhere to each other. For example, silicone microspheres are mixed with a nonsilicone resin, forming silicone pockets within the resin. Since the silicone does not adhere to the resin, the silicone may vibrate or otherwise move relative to the cured resin matrix, causing friction between the two materials. As acoustic energy propagates into the backing material, the composite structure of incompatible materials attenuates the acoustic energy as frictionally generated heat between the two material, or through other processes.
US08354767B2 Permanent magnet rotor with flux concentrating pole pieces
A permanent magnet machine is provided comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotor being adapted to rotate relative to the stator, the rotor comprising a plurality of permanent magnets separated in the circumferential direction from each other by axially extending rotor pole pieces for concentrating the magnetic flux from the permanent magnets, the stator having a structure that defines axial limits of an air gap between the stator and the rotor for communicating magnetic flux between the stator and the rotor, wherein that at least some of the permanent magnets extend axially outside the axial limits of the air gap as defined by the stator structure.
US08354763B2 Magnet generator
In a flywheel-type magnet generator, a heat dissipation member which has no relation with a magnetic circuit is fitted into a space formed by cutting a bulk of a laminated core used for configuring the magnetic circuit, a cooling tube installed to be inserted into or penetrate the heat dissipation member is provided, and by supplying a cooling medium to the cooling tube, cooling performance of the stator is enhanced.
US08354760B2 Power supply equipment to simultaneously power multiple electronic device
Power supply equipment includes low power assemblies and high power assemblies, each of which is detachably mateable to either one of two power ports. To simultaneously power two low power devices, low power assemblies are respectively mated to each of the power ports. To simultaneously power one low power and one high power device, a low power assembly is mated to one of the power ports and a high power assembly is mated to the other power port. The low power assemblies transfer a low DC voltage, but not a high DC voltage, to low power devices. The high power assemblies transfer a high DC voltage, but not a low DC voltage, to high power devices. If a high power assembly is mated to each of the power ports, power flow is interrupted without putting the power supply in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.
US08354755B2 Cogeneration system
In a cogeneration system having three generation units each equipped with a generator and an internal combustion engine, a single hot water tank is prepared for the three generation units to contain hot water heated by exhaust heat of the engine. The temperature of the hot water contained in the tank and a power demand of an electrical load are detected. Then, the number of the generation unit or units to be operated is determined based on the detected power demand when the detected hot water temperature is equal to or less than a first predetermined value, and operation of the generation unit or units determined to be operated is controlled, thereby reducing a space for the installment of the tank and heat loss from the tank.
US08354744B2 Stacked semiconductor package having reduced height
A stacked semiconductor package includes an upper unit package and a lower unit package. The lower unit package includes a substrate, a semiconductor chip disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, terminal pads arranged on an upper surface of the semiconductor chip, protrusions formed on the terminal pads, a protective layer formed on the substrate and covering the semiconductor chip and the protrusions, and openings formed in the protective layer and exposing the protrusions. The upper unit package includes a substrate, ball lands provided on a lower surface of the substrate, and solder balls formed on the ball lands. The solder balls of the upper unit package are inserted into the openings of the lower unit package to be connected to the protrusions of the lower unit package.
US08354742B2 Method and apparatus for a package having multiple stacked die
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package involves providing a substrate having a window. The substrate may include a leadframe having half-etched leads. First and second semiconductor devices are mounted to a top surface of the substrate on either side of the window using an adhesive. A third semiconductor device is mounted to the first and second semiconductor devices using an adhesive. The third semiconductor device is disposed over the window of the substrate. A wirebond or other electrical interconnect is formed between the third semiconductor device and a contact pad formed over a bottom surface of the substrate opposite the top surface of the substrate. The wirebond or other electrical interconnect passes through the window of the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the first, second, and third semiconductor devices.
US08354741B2 Lead frame manufactured from low-priced material and not requiring strict process control, semiconductor package including the same, and method of manufacturing the lead frame and the semiconductor package
Provided are a lead frame, a semiconductor package, and a method of manufacturing the lead frame and the semiconductor package. The lead frame includes: a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is installable; a plurality of lead patterns formed around a circumference of the die pad; an insulating organic material filling etching spaces interposed between the die pad and the lead patterns and structurally supporting the die pad and the lead patterns; and a pre-plating layer formed on both upper and lower surfaces of the die pad and the lead patterns.
US08354739B2 Thin semiconductor package and method for manufacturing same
A method for manufacturing a thin semiconductor package includes providing a lead frame with a removable substrate that has an attaching surface attached to a first surface of the lead frame. The lead frame is formed from an electrically conductive sheet and has leads that extend inwardly from a lead frame boundary towards a central region of the lead frame. A semiconductor die is mounted on the removable substrate at the central region. The semiconductor die has a connection pad surface with die pads on it, and the connection pad surface is attached to the attaching surface of the removable substrate. The lead frame and die are encapsulated with a first encapsulant so that the lead frame is sandwiched between the first encapsulant and the removable substrate. The removable substrate is removed from the lead frame to expose the first surface of the lead frame and then the die pads are electrically connected to respective ones of the leads. The die and lead frame then are encapsulated with a second encapsulant so that the lead frame and die are sandwiched between the first and second encapsulants. Part of the first encapsulant is then removed to reduce the thickness of the package and expose the leads.
US08354735B2 Semiconductor chips having guard rings and methods of fabricating the same
Provided is a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate including a main chip region and a scribe lane region surrounding the main chip region. An insulating layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. A guard ring is disposed in the insulating layer in the scribe lane region. The guard ring surrounds at least a portion of the main chip region. The guard ring has a brittleness greater than a brittleness of the insulating layer.
US08354734B2 Semiconductor device with crack prevention ring
A crack prevention ring at the exterior edge of an integrated circuit prevents delamination and cracking during the separation of the integrated circuits into individual die. The crack prevention ring extends vertically into a semiconductor workpiece to at least a metallization layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be formed simultaneously with the formation of test pads of the integrated circuits. The crack prevention ring may be partially or completely filled with conductive material. An air pocket may be formed within the crack prevention ring beneath a passivation layer of the integrated circuit. The crack prevention ring may be removed during the singulation process.
US08354727B2 Semiconductor device and process for producing the same
A semiconductor device of high reliability and element-integrating performance, has a substrate (silicon substrate), a first trench made in the silicon substrate, a passive element layer buried in the first trench, and a first insulating film (silicon nitride film) arranged between the first trench and the passive element layer. The passive element layer projects upwardly relative to the substrate, and so too preferably the adjacent insulating film. An active element is formed such that its gate electrode, which is preferably fully silicided, has an upper end at a level higher than the upper surface of the passive element film.
US08354724B2 Semiconductor device and electronic device
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which includes a photoelectric conversion layer; an amplifier circuit amplifying an output current of the photoelectric conversion layer and including two thin film transistors; a first terminal supplying a high-potential power supply voltage; a second terminal supplying a low-potential power supply voltage; an electrode electrically connecting the two thin film transistors and the photoelectric conversion layer; a first wiring electrically connecting the first terminal and a first thin film transistor which is one of the two thin film transistors; and a second wiring electrically connecting the second terminal and a second thin film transistor which is the other of the two thin film transistors. In the semiconductor device, the value of voltage drop of the first wiring and the second wiring are increased by bending the first wiring and the second wiring.
US08354723B2 Electro-static discharge protection device, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing electro-static discharge protection device
An electrostatic discharge protection device including a gate electrode formed on a substrate. First and second diffusion regions of a first conductivity type are formed in the substrate with the gate electrode located in between. A first silicide layer is formed in the first diffusion region. A silicide block region is formed between the gate electrode and the first suicide layer. A third diffusion region is formed below the first silicide layer to partially overlap the first diffusion region. The third diffusion region and first silicide layer have substantially the same shapes and dimensions. The third diffusion region and a portion below the gate electrode located at the same depth as the third diffusion region contain impurities of a second conductivity type. The third diffusion region has an impurity concentration that is higher than that of the portion below the gate electrode.
US08354720B2 Embedded stressor for semiconductor structures
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of spacers disposed on laterally opposing sides of the gate stack; source and drain regions proximate to the spacers, and a channel region subjacent to the gate stack and disposed between the source and drain regions; and a stressor subjacent to the channel region, and embedded within the semiconductor substrate, the embedded stressor being formed of a triangular-shape.
US08354716B2 Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device for use in a relatively high voltage application that comprises a substrate, a first n-type well region in the substrate to serve as a high voltage n-well (HVNW) for the semiconductor device, a pair of second n-type well regions in the first n-type well region, a p-type region in the first n-type well region between the second n-type well regions, a pair of conductive regions on the substrate between the second n-type well regions, and a number of n-type regions to serve as n-type buried layers (NBLs) for the semiconductor device, wherein the NBLs are located below the first n-type region and dispersed in the substrate.
US08354715B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
According to the embodiments, a semiconductor device using SiC and having a high breakdown voltage, a low on-resistance, and excellent reliability is provided. The semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide substrate having first and second main surfaces; a first silicon carbide layer of a first conductive type provided on the first main surface of the silicon carbide substrate; first silicon carbide regions of a second conductive type formed on a surface of the first silicon carbide layer; second silicon carbide regions of the first conductive type formed on respective surfaces of the first silicon carbide regions; third silicon carbide regions of the second conductive type formed on the respective surfaces of the first silicon carbide regions; a fourth silicon carbide region of the second conductive type formed between the facing first silicon carbide regions with the first silicon carbide layer therebetween; a gate insulating film formed continuously on surfaces of the first silicon carbide regions, the first silicon carbide layer, and the fourth silicon carbide region; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; an interlayer insulating film which covers the gate electrode; a first electrode which is electrically connected to the second silicon carbide regions and the third silicon carbide regions; and a second electrode formed on the second main surface of the silicon carbide substrate.
US08354714B2 SOI MOS device having BTS structure and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a SOI MOS device having BTS structure and manufacturing method thereof. The source region of the SOI MOS device comprises: two heavily doped N-type regions, a heavily doped P-type region formed between the two heavily doped N-type regions, a silicide formed above the heavily doped N-type regions and the heavily doped P-type region, and a shallow N-type region which is contact to the silicide; an ohmic contact is formed between the heavily doped P-type region and the silicide thereon to release the holes accumulated in body region of the SOI MOS device and eliminate floating body effects thereof without increasing the chip area and also overcome the disadvantages such as decreased effective channel width of the devices in the BTS structure of the prior art. The manufacturing method comprises steps of: forming a heavily doped P-type region via ion implantation, forming a metal layer above the source region and forming a silicide via the heat treatment between the metal layer and the Si underneath. The device in the present invention could be fabricated via simplified fabricating process with great compatibility with traditional CMOS technology.
US08354710B2 Field-effect device and manufacturing method thereof
Embodiments relate to a field-effect transistor that includes a body region, a first source/drain region of a first conductivity type, a second source/drain region of the first conductivity type, and a pocket implant region adjacent to the first source/drain region, the pocket implant region being of a second conductivity type, wherein the second conductivity type is different from the first conductivity type. The body region physically contacts the pocket implant region.
US08354708B2 Methods of forming and operating semiconductor device
Provided are a semiconductor device and a methods of forming and operating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include active pillars extending from a semiconductor substrate and disposed two dimensionally disposed on the semiconductor substrate, upper interconnections connecting the active pillars along one direction, lower interconnections crossing the upper interconnections and disposed between the active pillars, word lines crossing the upper interconnections and disposed between the active pillars, and data storage patterns disposed between the word lines and the active pillars.
US08354704B2 Method for fabricating an enlarged oxide-nitride-oxide structure for NAND flash memory semiconductor devices
A method of processing a flash memory device provides a semiconductor substrate including a surface region and forming a gate dielectric layer overlying the surface region. The method forms a floating gate layer having a thickness and including a first floating gate structure overlying a first portion of the gate dielectric layer and a second floating gate structure overlying a second portion of the gate dielectric layer. The method forms a trench region interposed between the first and second floating gate structures and extending through the entire thickness and through a portion of the surface region into a depth of the substrate. The method fills the entire depth of the trench region in the substrate and a portion of the trench region over the substrate using a dielectric fill material. The method forms an oxide on nitride on oxide (ONO) layer overlying the first and second floating gate structures and the dielectric material and a control gate overlying the ONO layer.
US08354703B2 Semiconductor capacitor
A semiconductor capacitor and its method of fabrication are disclosed. A non-linear nitride layer is used to increase the surface area of a capacitor plate, resulting in increased capacitance without increase in chip area used for the capacitor.
US08354702B1 Inexpensive electrode materials to facilitate rutile phase titanium oxide
This disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor stack and associated device, such as a capacitor and DRAM cell. In particular, a bottom electrode has a material selected for lattice matching characteristics. This material may be created from a relatively inexpensive metal oxide which is processed to adopt a conductive, but difficult-to-produce oxide state, with specific crystalline form; to provide one example, specific materials are disclosed that are compatible with the growth of rutile phase titanium dioxide (TiO2) for use as a dielectric, thereby leading to predictable and reproducible higher dielectric constant and lower effective oxide thickness and, thus, greater part density at lower cost.
US08354701B2 Ferroelectric memory device and fabrication process thereof, fabrication process of a semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a ferroelectric memory device, including terminating a surface of the interlayer insulation film and a surface of the contact plug with an OH group; forming a layer containing Si, oxygen and a CH group on the surface of the interlayer insulation film and the contact hole terminated with the OH group by coating a Si compound containing a Si atom and a CH group in a molecule thereof; converting the layer containing Si, oxygen and the CH group to a layer containing nitrogen at a surface thereof, by substituting the CH group in the layer containing Si, oxygen and the CH group at least at a surface part thereof with nitrogen atoms; and forming a layer showing self-orientation on the surface containing nitrogen.
US08354695B2 Tunnel field-effect transistor with narrow band-gap channel and strong gate coupling
A semiconductor device and the methods of forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a low energy band-gap layer comprising a semiconductor material; a gate dielectric on the low energy band-gap layer; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; a first source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric, wherein the first source/drain region is of a first conductivity type; and a second source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric. The second source/drain region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The low energy band-gap layer is located between the first and the second source/drain regions.
US08354694B2 CMOS transistors with stressed high mobility channels
A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) having a compressively stressed channel and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) having a tensilely stressed channel are formed. In one embodiment, a silicon-germanium alloy is employed as a device layer, and the source and drain regions of the PFET are formed employing embedded germanium-containing regions, and source and drain regions of the NFET are formed employing embedded silicon-containing regions. In another embodiment, a germanium layer is employed as a device layer, and the source and drain regions of the PFET are formed by implanting a Group IIIA element having an atomic radius greater than the atomic radius of germanium into portions of the germanium layer, and source and drain regions of the NFET are formed employing embedded silicon-germanium alloy regions. The compressive stress and the tensile stress enhance the mobility of charge carriers in the PFET and the NFET, respectively.
US08354692B2 Vertical semiconductor power switch, electronic component and methods of producing the same
A vertical semiconductor power switch has a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface. At least one anode and one control electrode are positioned on the first surface and at least one cathode is positioned on the second surface. The cathode comprises a multi-layer contact structure which comprises an inner contact layer positioned directly on the second surface of the semiconductor body, and an outermost layer consisting essentially of a Ni-alloy.
US08354687B1 Efficient thermal management and packaging for group III nitride based UV devices
A high efficiency light emitting diode with an ultraviolet light-emitting structure. The structure has a first layer with a first conductivity comprising Al1-x-yInyGaxN wherein 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1; a second layer with a second conductivity comprising Al1-x-yInyGaxN wherein 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1; and a light emitting quantum well region between said first layer and said second layer comprising Al1-x-yInyGaxN wherein 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1. The diode also has a carrier bonded to said first layer and said second layer wherein said carrier has a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mK and said carrier is resistive between a bonding location of said first layer and a second bonding location of said second layer.
US08354684B2 Packaging photon building blocks having only top side connections in an interconnect structure
Standardized photon building blocks are used to make both discrete light emitters as well as array products. Each photon building block has one or more LED chips mounted on a substrate. No electrical conductors pass between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. The photon building blocks are supported by an interconnect structure that is attached to a heat sink. Landing pads on the top surface of the substrate of each photon building block are attached to contact pads disposed on the underside of a lip of the interconnect structure. In a solder reflow process, the photon building blocks self-align within the interconnect structure. Conductors on the interconnect structure are electrically coupled to the LED dice in the photon building blocks through the contact pads and landing pads. The bottom surface of the interconnect structure is coplanar with the bottom surfaces of the substrates of the photon building blocks.
US08354680B2 AC light emitting diode having full-wave light emitting cell and half-wave light emitting cell
The present invention discloses an alternating current (AC) light emitting diode (LED) having half-wave light emitting cells and full-wave light emitting cells. The AC LED has a plurality of light emitting cells electrically connected between bonding pads on a single substrate. The AC LED includes a first row of half-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, a second row of full-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, and a third row of half-wave light emitting cells each having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal. In the AC LED, the second row is arranged between the first row and the third row, and the third row includes a pair of light emitting cells that share a cathode terminal with each other. The cathode terminal shared by the pair of light emitting cells in the third row is electrically connected to the anode terminal of a corresponding light emitting cell of the half-wave light emitting cells in the first row through a conductor that is electrically insulated from the full-wave light emitting cells in the second row.
US08354673B2 Semiconductor component
A semiconductor component is provided having a substrate and at least one semiconductor layer realized to be polycrystalline on one side of the substrate. The polycrystalline semiconductor layer contains the crystal nuclei.
US08354672B2 Thin film transistor array panel
A thin film transistor array panel can include: a substrate; a gate line formed on the substrate; a gate pad formed at an end of the gate line; a gate identification member corresponding to the gate pad and formed in the same layer as the gate pad; a gate insulating layer covering the gate line and the gate identification member; a data line formed on the gate insulating layer; a passivation layer formed on the gate insulating layer and the data line; a gate contact assistant formed on the passivation layer; and a gate driving chip electrically connected to the gate contact assistant, wherein the gate contact assistant at least partially overlaps the gate identification member. The gate identification member is formed without producing a step in the gate contact assistant, reducing the risk of defects when wires or other objects are pressed onto the gate pad.
US08354667B2 Organic electroluminescence manufacturing method and image display system having the same
An organic electroluminescence device manufacturing method and an image display system having the organic electroluminescence device are provided. The manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a substrate, forming a first electrode on the substrate, forming an organic layer having a plurality of crystals on the first electrode, and forming a second electrode on the organic layer. Each of the crystals comprises a particle.
US08354663B2 Micro-pixel ultraviolet light emitting diode
An ultra-violet light-emitting diode (LED) array, 12, and method for fabricating same with an AlInGaN multiple-quantum-well active region, 500, exhibiting stable cw-powers. The LED includes a template, 10, with an ultraviolet light-emitting array structure on it. The template includes a first buffer layer, 321, then a second buffer layer, 421, on the first preferably with a strain-relieving layer in both buffer layers. Next there is a semiconductor layer having a first type of conductivity, 500, followed by a layer providing a quantum-well region, 600, with an emission spectrum ranging from 190 nm to 369 nm. Another semiconductor layer having a second type of conductivity is applied next, 800. A first metal contact, 980, is a charge spreading layer in electrical contact with the first layer and between the array of LED's. A second contact, 990, is applied to the semiconductor layer having the second type of conductivity, to complete the LED.
US08354661B2 Variable resistance memory device having reduced bottom contact area and method of forming the same
A variable resistance memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes a substrate supporting a bottom electrode having a small bottom contact area. A variable resistance material is formed over the bottom electrodes such that the variable resistance material has a surface that is in electrical communication with the bottom electrode and a top electrode is formed over the variable resistance material. The small bottom electrode contact area reduces the reset current requirement which in turn reduces the write transistor size for each bit.
US08354659B2 Post deposition method for regrowth of crystalline phase change material
Techniques for forming a phase change memory cell. An example apparatus includes a substrate and a bottom electrode carried by the substrate. The bottom electrode is a thermal conductor. A phase change layer, including phase change material, is disposed over the bottom electrode. A thermal insulating layer is disposed above the phase change layer. A heater is configured to temporarily melt the phase change material such that the phase change material crystallizes without voids within a switching region after melting.
US08354657B2 Extreme ultra violet light source apparatus
In an extreme ultra violet light source apparatus of a laser produced plasma type, charged particles such as ions emitted from plasma are promptly ejected to the outside of a chamber. The apparatus includes a chamber, a target supply unit for supplying a target material into the chamber, a collector mirror for collecting extreme ultra violet light radiated from plasma generated by irradiating the target material with a laser beam to output the extreme ultra violet light, an electromagnet arranged outside of the chamber, and a charged particle collection mechanism provided on at least one of two surfaces of the chamber to which lines of magnetic force generated by the electromagnet extend.
US08354656B2 Configuration management and retrieval system for proton beam therapy system
In a complex, multi-processor software controlled system, such as proton beam therapy system (PBTS), it may be important to provide treatment configurable parameters that are easily modified by an authorized user to prepare the software controlled systems for various modes of operation. This particular invention relates to a configuration management system for the PBTS that utilizes a database to maintain data and configuration parameters and also to generate and distribute system control files that can be used by the PBTS for treatment delivery. The use of system control files reduces the adverse effects of single point failures in the database by allowing the PBTS to function independently from the database. The PBTS accesses the data, parameters, and control settings from the database through the system control files, which insures that the data and configuration parameters are accessible when and if single point failures occur with respect to the database.
US08354652B2 Ion source including separate support systems for accelerator grids
This invention relates to an Ion gun (10) which comprises of plasma generator (11) driven from an RF source (12), a plasma or source chamber (13), having an outlet (14), across which is mounted an accelerator grid (15). The accelerator grid (15) comprises four individual grids. The first grid (16), which is closest to the outlet (14), is maintained at a positive voltage by a DC source (16a), the second grid (17) is maintained strongly negative by DC source (17a). The third grid (18) is maintained at a negative voltage, which is much lower than that of the second grid (17), by DC source (18a) and the fourth grid is grounded. Means of mounting these grids are also described.
US08354651B2 Positron emission imaging device and method of using the same
An imaging system and method of imaging are disclosed. The imaging system can include an external radiation source producing pairs of substantially simultaneous radiation emissions of a picturization emission and a verification emissions at an emission angle. The imaging system can also include a plurality of picturization sensors and at least one verification sensor for detecting the picturization and verification emissions, respectively. The imaging system also includes an object stage is arranged such that a picturization emission can pass through an object supported on said object stage before being detected by one of said plurality of picturization sensors. A coincidence system and a reconstruction system can also be included. The coincidence can receive information from the picturization and verification sensors and determine whether a detected picturization emission is direct radiation or scattered radiation. The reconstruction system can produce a multi-dimensional representation of an object imaged with the imaging system.
US08354650B2 Multi-window signal processing electronics architecture for photon counting with multi-element sensors
A radiation detection and counting system (2) includes a radiation detector element (5) for outputting a signal related to an energy of a radiation event received thereby and an amplifier (8) for amplifying the signal output by the detector element (5). A gain equalization circuit (10) adjusts the gain of the amplified output signal and a plurality of comparators (12) compare the gain adjusted amplified output signal to a like plurality of different valued threshold signals that are independently adjustable of each other A plurality of counters (20) is operative whereupon only the counter associated with the one comparator (12) that changes state in response to the peak of the gain adjusted amplified output signal exceeding the value of the trigger threshold signal thereof is incremented. A storage (24) stores the incremented value of each counter (20) accumulated over a sample time interval and data output logic circuit (26) transfers the stored accumulated counts out of the storage.
US08354648B2 Device for locating and imaging gamma or X-radiation sources
Device for locating and imaging gamma or X-radiation sources, comprising: (a) a detection assembly comprising at least two gamma or X-radiation detectors sensitive to position, as well as a coded mask made of a radiation opaque material; and (b) electronic means for processing the electrical pulses provided by said detectors, so as to locate the source and form a bi- or tri- dimensional image thereof. The device is characterized in that the electronic means are suitable for reconstructing a bi- or tri- dimensional image of an X or gamma radiation source by applying a data processing method which combines the principles of Compton imaging and coded-mask imaging.
US08354640B2 Optically based planar scanner
Apparatus and methods for providing an optically based planar scanner for generating an image are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a switchable Bragg grating. An area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct light to a platen. The platen is configured to reflect the light to a waveguide or to refract the light. The light reflected to the waveguide is guided to a light detector. By activating a number of the areas of the switchable Bragg grating and measuring the intensity of the light with a light detector, an image of an object contacting the platen may be formed.
US08354638B2 Electron detection device and scanning electron microscope
An electron detection device including: one scintillator 31 having an opening through which an electron beam emitted from an electron gun passes; a plurality of photoguides 22 of the same shape, which are bonded to the scintillator and disposed symmetrically about an optical axis; and a photomultiplier tube which is connected to one side of each of the photoguides 22, the side opposing to the optical axis side, and converts light into electrical signals, the light being emitted by the scintillator 31 receiving light through the photoguide 22. The photoguides 22 are joined so as to equally divide the scintillator 31 symmetrically about the optical axis. Moreover, a position and an area of a portion bonded to the scintillator 31, in each of the photoguides 22, are the same among the photoguides 22.
US08354635B2 Mass spectrometer
Ions originating from sample components are made to fly along a loop orbit (P) multiple times, and are deviated from the loop orbit (P) when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the ejection of the ions. A time-of-flight spectrum recording unit (81) creates a time-of-flight spectrum based on the detected signal. If an overtaking of ions occurs on the loop orbit (P), the number of turns of peaks (ions) appearing on the spectrum cannot be determined. Given this factor, an isotopic peak detector (82) finds an isotopic peak group based on the time intervals and intensity ratio of a plurality of peaks appearing on the spectrum. A flight distance computation unit 83 uses the fact that the mass difference between adjacent peaks belonging to an isotopic peak group is 1 Da when ions are singly-charged, and computes the flight distance based on a predetermined formula. From the flight distance, a mass computation unit (84) computes the number of turns, and recomputes the flight distance which is structurally determined from this number of turns. Then, the mass computation unit (84) computes the mass of the target component. This enables an acquisition of the accurate mass free of the influence of an overtaking of ions and other factors.
US08354629B2 Computer keyboard having illuminated keys with a sensed light condition
An illuminated keyboard includes optical sensors and units each comprising an optically transmissive key member; a scissors-shaped structure having a top secured to the key member; a light guide diaphragm under the scissors-shaped structure; an insulating diaphragm under the light guide diaphragm and including a light source on a top surface, a positive conductor connected to a positive terminal of the light source and on the top surface, a negative conductor connected to a negative terminal of the light source and on a bottom surface, and a bus having one end interconnecting the positive and negative conductors, and the other end connected to the sensor; a film circuit board under the insulating diaphragm and including a holed rubber dome with the key member positioned therein; and a base board with the scissors-shaped structure retained thereon. Brightness is adjusted in response to light condition as sensed by the sensor.
US08354627B2 Torsion stop deployment system for airborne object
Embodiments of a torsion stop deployment system for utilization onboard an airborne object are provided. In one embodiment, the torsion stop deployment system includes a deployable element hingedly coupled to the airborne object and rotatable from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. The torsion stop deployment system further includes a torsion bar member, which is fixedly coupled to the airborne object and which resiliently resists the rotation of the deployable element to reduce shock to the airborne object during deployment of the deployable element.
US08354622B2 Electric hot wedge
The invention relates to an electric hot wedge (1) for a welding device for the seam-like connecting of plastic webs, having a welding wedge (2) and a welding wedge attachment (3) made of metal, wherein the welding wedge (2) comprises at least one electric heating resistor (13) having a heating conductor (16), which is bonded to a ceramic carrier (15) as a conductive layer (12) and is preferably protected by a ceramic cover layer. According to the invention, the welding wedge attachment (2) has a support structure (28) made of metal on the side thereof, which substantially extends across the entire length and/or width of the electric heating resistor (16) and which mechanically stabilizes the carrier (15) of the heating resistor (16).
US08354621B2 Glass-ceramic plates, their manufacturing process, and cooktops equipped with these plates
A glass-ceramic plate, and production methods and apparatuses in relation to the plate. The plate is designed for example to equip a cooktop, and includes, on at least one of its faces, a differentiated surface finish formed in the body of the bare glass-ceramic plate.
US08354619B2 Method of fabricating an electric wire having a PTFE-based sheath, said electric wire, and a corresponding lubricant evaporation and sintering line
An electric wire comprises a non-oxidized conductor of copper alloy having no outer coating and in direct contact with a PTFE-based sheath. It is fabricated as follows: providing a copper alloy conductor without an outer coating; forming a sheath of a PTFE-based material around the conductor; and heating the wire in order to evaporate the lubricant and sinter the sheath. In order to avoid oxidizing the copper during the heating step, the wire is heated mainly in an atmosphere having a low oxygen content. The lubricant evaporation and/or sintering line for stabilizing the sheath of the electric wire comprises one or more ovens, each having an enclosure in which an atmosphere having a low oxygen content is maintained.
US08354618B1 Load chamber with dual heaters
A disk processing system with a load chamber having a stationary heater and a movable heater.
US08354617B2 Coolant temperature control apparatus for a wet saw
A coolant temperature control apparatus for a wet saw is provided, in which a coolant temperature controller is mounted on the wet saw to heighten the temperature of the coolant to a set temperature, and thus a tile cutting work can be efficiently performed even in cold weather below zero with the work continuity heightened. The coolant temperature control apparatus for a wet saw includes a support member on which a material to be cut is arranged, an electric cutting device cutting the material arranged on the support member, a coolant supply device cooling heat generated during operation of the electric cutting device, and a coolant temperature controller heightening the temperature of coolant stored in the coolant supply device.
US08354612B2 Laser processing apparatus
A laser processing apparatus for cutting substrates comprises a laser head for generating a laser beam and first and second work holders on which substrates are mountable. A diverter positioned along a path of the laser beam is operative to selectively direct the laser beam towards a first substrate mounted on the first work holder to cut the first substrate, or towards a second substrate mounted on the second work holder to cut the second substrate, so that contemporaneous operations may be conducted on one substrate while the other substrate is being cut.
US08354607B2 Switchgear having main circuit switches disposed in separate vacuum chambers
A multi circuit type vacuum switchgear with improved ground isolation reliability. The multi circuit type vacuum switchgear has plural main circuit switches in a chamber. The respective main circuit switches, each having a fixed electrode and a movable electrode open/close to the fixed electrode, are respectively accommodated in a non-earthed type vacuum chamber. The respective movable electrodes are connected with flexible conductors. Operating rods are introduced into the non-earthed type vacuum chamber and respectively connected to the respective movable electrodes via insulators. The vacuum switchgear has a molded part having a first insulating member to insulate the main circuit switches and a second insulating member, integrally formed with the first insulating member, to insulate the movable electrode side and the movable operating rod side. The molded part is provided on the periphery of the vacuum chamber.
US08354605B2 Input device for in-vehicle device
A technique of preventing permeation of liquid and dust to electronic parts within a housing of an input device for an in-vehicle device.An input device of an in-vehicle device comprises a housing and a substrate stored in the housing. The housing comprises a button, a rod hole for guiding vertically a rod positioned under the button, taking the top of the button as an upper side, and the rod inserted in the rod hole. The substrate comprises an input element positioned under the rod. The rod is fitted with a covering member that covers the rod hole from above.
US08354602B2 Method and system for weighting material storage units based on current output from one or more load sensors
Methods and systems for accurate measurement of forces to determine the amount of materials in a container are disclosed. A weighing assembly is disclosed which includes a base plate, a plurality of bearing plates coupled to the base plate and a plurality of load sensors. Each of the plurality of load sensors is coupled to one of the plurality of bearing plates. A mounting block is symmetrically supported by the plurality of load sensors and a current measurement device measures a sum of currents output from the plurality of load sensors.
US08354601B2 Method and structure for coaxial via routing in printed circuit boards for improved signal integrity
A method and a structure for a coaxial via that extend along the entire length of a signal via in a printed circuit board. Signal integrity is improved by providing ground shield for the entire length of the coaxial via. The ground shielding can be implemented by either providing ground cage vias around a signal via and routing a trace to the signal via on a built up layer or by providing a semi circle ground trench through a build up layer to permit a trace access to the signal via.
US08354599B2 Connection structure between printed circuit board and electronic component
Each wiring pattern is composed of a conductor layer and a tin plating layer, and includes a tip portion, a connection portion and a signal transmission portion. The width of the tip portion is equal to the width of the signal transmission portion, and the width of the connection portion is smaller than the widths of the tip portion and the signal transmission portion. The connection portions of wiring patterns and bumps of an electronic component are connected to one another, respectively, by heat-sealing when the electronic component is mounted. Respective distances A1, A2 are set to not less than 0.5 μm. Respective distances B1, B2 are set to not less than 20 μm. The thickness of the tin plating layer is set to not less than 0.07 μm and not more than 0.25 μm.
US08354598B2 Packaging substrate and fabrication method thereof
A method for fabricating a packaging substrate includes: stacking two metal layers; encapsulating the two metal layers with assistant dielectric layers; forming built-up structures on the assistant dielectric layers, respectively; and separating the built-up structures along the interface between the two metal layers so as to form two packaging substrates. Owing to the adhesive characteristic of the assistant dielectric layers, the two metal layers are unlikely to separate from each other during formation of the built-up structures. But after portions of the dielectric layer around the periphery of the metal layers are cut and removed, the two metal layers can be readily separated from each other. The two metal layers can be patterned to form wiring layers, metal bumps, or supporting structures to avoid waste of materials. A packaging substrate and a fabrication method thereof are provided.
US08354596B2 Multilayer wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board including a main substrate including a base material and having an opening portion, and a flex-rigid printed wiring board connected to the main substrate in the opening portion of the main substrate and including a rigid substrate and a flexible substrate, the rigid substrate including a non-flexible base material, the flexible substrate including a flexible base material.
US08354593B2 Hybrid conductors and method of making same
One method of fabricating hybrid conductors includes complexing conductive metal elements (e.g., silver, gold, copper), transition metal elements, alloys, wires, or combinations thereof, with carbon nanotube materials. In the alternative, the hybrid conductors may be formed by doping the carbon nanotube materials in salt solutions.
US08354592B2 Super-conducting cable device
Provided is a superconducting cable device including: a first superconducting cable and a second superconducting cable; an intermediate connection box which connects the first and second superconducting cables to each other; and a cooling device which causes a coolant to flow inside the intermediate connection box in a lengthwise direction of the intermediate connection box, wherein a cable connection portion for connecting the first and second superconducting cables to each other is provided in the intermediate connection box. In an uncooled state, the cable connection portion is disposed to be eccentric from a center line in the lengthwise direction of the intermediate connection box in a direction in which the coolant flows.
US08354591B2 Superconducting cable
Provided is a superconducting cable capable of maintaining a predetermined thermal insulation property without having a vacuum thermal insulation structure. The superconducting cable of the present invention includes: a cable unit 100, in which a core having a superconductor layer and an electrical insulation layer is housed in a core-housing pipe; a thermal insulation member 200 which is provided outside the cable unit and maintained in a non-vacuum state; and a sealing member for preventing the permeation of moisture into the thermal insulation member. By equipping the outside of the cable unit with the thermal insulation member 200 which is maintained in a non-vacuum state, it is made possible to maintain the predetermined thermal insulation property without having a vacuum thermal insulation structure.
US08354588B2 Covering for a separable connection
A covering for a plug and socket connection mounted in a housing is provided with a cover that covers the plug and socket connection in closed position and which is pivotable from the closed position into an open position in which it releases the plug and socket connection. The cover is mounted pivotable at a guide component. The guide component is mounted displaceable in a receptacle of the housing. In its open position, the cover is aligned with the guide component and can be inserted together with it into the receptacle.
US08354586B2 Transparent conductor film stack with cadmium stannate, corresponding photovoltaic device, and method of making same
Certain example embodiments relate to a transparent conductor film stack with cadmium stannate used as a front contact layer and/or a buffer layer in a photovoltaic device or the like. The cadmium stannate-based layers may be provided between the front glass substrate and the semiconductor absorber film in a photovoltaic device (e.g., a CdS and/or CdTe based photovoltaic device). In certain example embodiments, the buffer layer based on cadmium stannate may have a higher resistivity than the transparent conductive oxide layer based on cadmium stannate. In certain example embodiments, one or more index matching layer(s) may be provided between the glass substrate and the layer(s) comprising cadmium stannate, e.g., to help overcome the optical mismatch between the glass substrate and the CdSnOx.
US08354585B2 Solar cell and method of fabricating the same
A solar cell includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; uneven patterns disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor substrate; a first impurity layer disposed on the uneven patterns and which includes a first part having a first doping concentration and a second part having a second doping concentration greater than the first doping concentration; and a first electrode which contacts the second part of the first impurity layer and does not contact the first part of the first impurity layer.
US08354583B2 Solar cells arrangement
A solar energy conversion system is presented. The system comprises at least one waveguide arrangement having at least one light input respectively. The waveguide arrangement comprises a core unit for passing input solar radiation therethrough and a cladding material arrangement interfacing with the core therealong. The cladding material arrangement is configured as an array of spaced-apart solar cells arranged along the core unit and having different optical absorption ranges, such that an interface between the waveguide core and the cladding arrangement spectrally splits the photons of the input solar radiation by causing the photons of different wavelengths, while passing through the core unit, to be successively absorbed and thereby converted into electricity by the successive solar cells of said array.
US08354582B2 Solar home electrification with grid connection
A means of providing solar powered electricity for day and nighttime use supported in part by power from the grid to allow a small generator to electrify the home or business with a small generator operating with much larger capacity. Excess solar energy is provided to the power company as needed.
US08354578B2 Intonated nut with locking mechanism for musical instruments and methods of use
The present invention provides in combination, an intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism for a musical string instrument with a fingerboard where the combination intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism includes a string-nut fulcrum and a string-locking means, where each string-nut fulcrum may have a varying linear position in relation to each individual string in order to provide the optimum compensation amount for improving the consistency and production of in-tune musical notes during play for musical string instruments with fingerboards. Also disclosed are methods of use of various embodiments for the intonated string nut and string-locking mechanism.
US08354577B1 Maize variety hybrid X8K867
A novel maize variety designated X8K867 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8K867 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8K867 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8K867, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8K867. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8K867.
US08354575B1 Maize variety hybrid X03A160
A novel maize variety designated X03A160 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X03A160 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03A160 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03A160, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03A160. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03A160.
US08354572B2 Potato cultivar ‘madingley’
A potato cultivar designated ‘Madingley’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’, to the seeds of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’, to the plants of potato ‘Madingley’, to the plant parts of potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety ‘Madingley’, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar ‘Madingley’ with another potato cultivar.
US08354567B2 Destruction of mixed radioactive waste by catalyzed chemical oxidation
Described are method of treating a radioactive organic waste stream comprising: (a) mixing a radioactive organic waste stream comprising organic compounds and radionuclides with phosphoric acid to form a reaction mixture; (b) heating the reaction mixture to a desired temperature in the presence of an oxidant to oxidize organic compounds present in the waste stream, and removing oxidized organic compounds from the reaction mixture; (c) optionally, adding a reducing agent to the reaction mixture to form insoluble radioactive metal phosphate compounds comprising one or more of the radionuclides, and separating the insoluble radioactive metal phosphate compounds from the reaction mixture; (d) optionally, adding a fluorine compound to the reaction mixture to react with uranium that may be present in the reaction mixture to form uranium hexafluoride, and removing uranium hexafluoride from the reaction mixture; (e) adding ammonia to the reaction mixture to neutralize phosphoric acid and to form ammonium phosphate complexes comprising one or more of the radionuclides, and separating the ammonium phosphate complexes from the reaction mixture to yield an ammonium phosphate liquor, wherein the method includes performing at least one of steps (c) and (d).
US08354564B2 Production of dry alcohol
A process for producing dry alcohol (including ethanol) that comprises at least one stage wherein a gaseous feedstock, which includes alcohol and water, is contacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a water-gas shift catalyst, at a temperature sufficiently high so that carbon monoxide and water are consumed and carbon dioxide and hydrogen are produced, thereby removing a portion of the water. The process may include multiple stages; the dry alcohol produced contains 99.5 wt. % or greater of alcohol and 0.5 wt. % or less of water.
US08354560B2 Process for producing nitroalcohols
Nitroaldol (“Henry”) reactions between nitroalkanes and aldehydes in the presence of a catalyst and a two-phase reaction medium produce nitroalcohols at increased reaction rates compared to single-phase organic solvent systems, and do not require use of surfactants as is typical of single-phase aqueous solvent systems and solventless systems. The reaction medium comprises an organic solvent phase and an aqueous solvent phase. The aqueous solvent may be 100% water.
US08354558B2 Process for diastereoselective conversion of chiral imines
Diastereoselective conversion of chiral imines of the formula I to amines of the formula II where the R1 to R4 radicals are each as defined in the description and R1 and R2 are different than one another, by converting the imine of the formula I in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous copper-containing catalyst.
US08354557B2 Synthesis of deuterated morpholine derivatives
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a 2,26,6-d4-morpholine derivative represented by Structural Formula (I): or a salt thereof.
US08354553B2 Preparation method of organic-transition metal hydride complexes containing aryl group or alkyl group as hydrogen storage materials
The present invention relates to an improved preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride as a hydrogen storage material, especially an improved preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride containing aryl or alkyl group that facilitates safe and reversible storage of a massive amount of hydrogen. The present invention also relates to a preparation method of an organic-transition metal hydride comprising the steps of: preparing a complex reducing agent composition by reacting alkali metal, alkali earth metal or a mixture thereof and a C10 to C20 aromatic compound in aprotic polar solvent; and preparing the organic-transition metal hydride by reacting the prepared complex reducing agent composition with an organic-transition metal halide in the absence of a hydrogen source. The method has the advantages of minimizing the number and amount of byproducts by using a complex reducing agent and producing an organic-transition metal hydride safely without denaturation under more moderate reaction conditions.
US08354552B2 Method of surface modification of metallic hydride forming materials
The invention discloses a method of modifying the surface of a metallic hydride-forming material, through functionalization treating the surface of the metallic hydride-forming material with aminosilane to deposit self-assembled monolayers onto the surface. Thereafter at least one Platinum Group Metal is deposited onto the treated surface of the metallic hydride-forming material to allow chemical bonding to occur between the Platinum Group Metal(s) and the self-assembled monolayers.
US08354551B1 Process for producing esterified propoxylated glycerin
Highly pure esterified propoxylated glycerin suitable for use as a fat substitute in various foodstuffs may be efficiently manufactured using a process involving direct esterification of propoxylated glycerin with excess fatty acid, bleaching, deacidification/deodorization, and treatment with activated carbon.
US08354549B2 Method for preparing a polymer conjugate
Provided herein is a straightforward and efficient method for covalently attaching a polyethylene glycol polymer to docetaxel. The method involves, among other things, a step of reacting docetaxel with a polyethylene glycol polymer comprising a functional group reactive with a hydroxyl group within docetaxel in the presence of a coupling reagent and DPTS. The result of the reacting step is the formation of a polyethylene glycol-docetaxel conjugate having a single polyethylene glycol covalently attached, via an ester linkage, to the hydroxyl group within docetaxel.
US08354545B2 3,4-substituted pyrrolidine beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of alzheimer's disease
The present invention is directed to 3,4-substituted pyrrolidine compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US08354542B2 Heterocyclic compound, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device and lighting device
Objects of the present invention are to provide the following: a novel heterocyclic compound which can be used as a material in which a light-emitting substance of a light-emitting layer in a light-emitting element is dispersed; a novel heterocyclic compound having a high electron-transport property; a light-emitting element having high current efficiency; and a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption. Provided are a heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1-1) or (G1-2) below, and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each including the heterocyclic compound. Such use of the heterocyclic compound represented by General Formula (G1-1) or (G1-2) makes it possible to provide a light-emitting element having high current efficiency, and a light-emitting device, an electronic device and a lighting device each having reduced power consumption.
US08354540B2 2-aminopyridine analogs as glucokinase activators
Provided are compounds that are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases mediated by deficient levels of glucokinase activity, such as diabetes mellitus. Also provided are methods of treating or preventing diseases and disorders characterized by underactivity of glucokinase or which can be treated by activating glucokinase.
US08354523B2 Oligonucleotide probes and uses thereof
The present invention provides a dually labeled oligonucleotide probe, methods of preparing and using the same. The subject probes are particularly useful for high-sensitive nucleic acid detection via hybridization assays including but not limited to template-directed polymerization reactions.
US08354521B2 Compositions and methods for inhibiting adipogenesis by inhibition of constitutive coactivator of ppargamma
This invention relates generally to compositions and methods which utilization nuclear receptors for regulating adipogenesis in cells. Specifically, the invention is directed to compositions which regulate transcription factor PPARγ, and enhance or inhibit the transcription of genes responsible for directing cell differentiation towards a pathway of adipogenesis. More specifically, disclosed herein is a novel polypeptide coactivator of PPARγ, and fragments thereof, which possess coactivator or corepressor activity. Also related are nucleotide sequences which express these polypeptides. Also disclosed is an interfering RNA that may be used to inhibit adipogenesis.
US08354518B2 HCV replicons containing NS5B from genotype 2B
The present invention features methods for enhancing the ability of a genotype 2b NS5B sequence to function in a replicon, for producing replicons containing a functional genotype 2b NS5B, and for using replicons to measure the ability of a compound to affect HCV replication that is sustained with the genotype 2b polymerase. Also featured is a genotype 1b NS4B adaptive mutation. The ability to produce replicons containing a functional genotype 2b NS5B is illustrated by the production of chimeric replicons based on HCV genotype 1b where substantially all the NS5B sequence is replaced with a genotype 2b NS5B.
US08354517B2 Thermophilic and thermoacidophilic sugar transporter genes and enzymes from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and related organisms, methods
Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius are provided. Further provided are methods for transporting sugars across cell membranes using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.
US08354516B2 Polypeptide producing cells
The current invention describes a nucleic acid comprising in a 5′ to 3′ direction a) a first nucleic acid encoding a heterologous polypeptide without an in frame stop codon, b) a second nucleic acid beginning with a 5′ splice donor site and terminated by a 3′ splice acceptor site comprising an in frame translational stop codon and a polyadenylation signal, and c) a nucleic acid encoding i) at least a fragment of a transmembrane domain, or ii) a signal peptide for a GPI-anchor.
US08354513B2 Polynucleotides encoding BSL2vcvc-lg
The present invention provides nucleic acids encoding B7-related factors that modulate the activation of immune or inflammatory response cells, such as T-cells. Also provided are expression vectors and fusion constructs comprising nucleic acids encoding B7-related polypeptides, including BSL1, BSL2, and BSL3. The present invention further provides isolated B7-related polypeptides, isolated fusion proteins comprising B7-related polypeptides, and antibodies that are specifically reactive with B7-related polypeptides, or portions thereof. In addition, the present invention provides assays utilizing B7-related nucleic acids, polypeptides, or peptides. The present invention further provides compositions of B7-related nucleic acids, polypeptides, fusion proteins, or antibodies that are useful for the immunomodulation of a human or animal subject.
US08354510B2 Mutant protein
The present invention relates to an immunoglobulin-binding protein, wherein at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine or aspartic acid, which mutation confers an increased chemical stability at pH-values of up to about 13-14 compared to the parental molecule. The protein can for example be derived from a protein capable of binding to other regions of the immunoglobulin molecule than the complementarity determining regions (CDR), such as protein A, and preferably the B-domain of Staphylococcal protein A. The invention also relates to a matrix for affinity separation, which comprises an immunoglobulin-binding protein as ligand coupled to a solid support, in which protein ligand at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine.
US08354506B2 Antibodies for the selective determination of procalcitonin 1-116
The present invention provides an immunodiagnostic method for determining procalcitonin and procalcitonin derivatives in a biological sample of a patient for diagnostic purposes, in particular in the monitoring and control of treatment and the monitoring of the progression of a local or systemic bacterial infection, inflammation, sepsis or neurodegenerative disease. In particular, the method detects molecular forms of procalcitonin, or procalcitonin partial peptides derived therefrom, having the amino acids alanine and proline (Ala-Pro, AP) in positions 1 and 2 of the amino terminus of the complete procalcitonin 1-116 (SEQ ID NO: 1.) Also disclosed are antibodies and kits for carrying out such a method.
US08354505B2 Process for obtaining a concentrate of Von Willebrand factor or a complex of factor VII/Von Willebrand factor and use of the same
A concentrate of Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) or a complex of Factor VIII/VWF is prepared by creating a solution of VWF or a complex of Factor VIII/VWF containing VWF at a concentration of up to 12 IU VWF:RCo/ml and a VWF/Factor VIII ratio of 0.4 or more; and nanofiltering that starting solution through a filter of pore size of 35 nanometers or smaller. The resulting VWF retains high molecular weight multimers.
US08354504B2 Chimeric isoprenoid synthases and uses thereof
Provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including a first domain from a first isoprenoid synthase joined to a second domain from a second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced in the absence of the second domain of the second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase. Also provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including an asymmetrically positioned heterologous domain, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced when the domain is positioned at its naturally-occurring site in the isoprenoid synthase polypeptide.
US08354500B2 Cytolethal distending toxins and detection of campylobacter bacteria using the same as a target
The present inventors succeeded in cloning the CDT genes of C. coli and C. fetus, which were previously unknown, and in determining their sequences. In addition, the inventors also developed specific primers and primers common to the two species by comparing the CDTs of C. jejuni and C. fetus. Furthermore, the inventors demonstrated that these primers were applicable to multiplex PCR that simultaneously allows for the rapid and convenient determination of the presence of Campylobacter CDT and identification of species, and that they can also be used in PCR-RFLP-based typing.
US08354497B2 Peptide binding to methylated DNA
The present invention aims to provide a tool etc. capable of detecting a methylated region of a DNA in a short time, in a labor-saving manner and without being limited by nucleotide sequences, and further capable of quantifying the methylation. The present invention provides a peptide containing a metal finger motif and a tyrosine derivative in a helix forming part of the motif, which recognizes and binds to a methylated region of a double stranded DNA.
US08354496B2 Isoforms of brain natriuretic peptide
Methods and materials for diagnosing and treating heart conditions (e.g., heart failure) and kidney conditions (e.g., kidney failure) are described.
US08354494B2 Polymerizable liquid crystal composition
A cholesteric polymerizable liquid crystal composition excellent in UV curing property and alignment property is provided. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains at least one liquid crystal compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (1-1) and Formula (1-2), at least one liquid crystal compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (2), and 5 to 15% by weight of at least one optically active compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (4) and may contain at least one liquid crystal compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (3). The meanings of the symbols in the Formulae are described in the specification.
US08354485B2 Aluminoxane catalyst activators derived from dialkylaluminum cation precursor agents, processes for making same, and use thereof in catalysts and polymerization of olefins
Compositions useful for activating catalysts for olefin polymerization, and methods for making same, are provided. Such compositions can be derived from at least: an organoaluminum compound, a carrier, an oxygen source, and, optionally, a Lewis base.
US08354484B2 High temperature solution polymerization process
A catalyst composition comprising one or more metal complexes of a multifunctional Lewis base ligand comprising a bulky, planar, aromatic- or substituted aromatic-group and polymerization processes employing the same, especially continuous, solution polymerization of one or more α-olefins at high catalyst efficiencies are disclosed.
US08354482B2 Multi-metal oxide catalyst and method for producing (meth)acrylic acid by using the same
The present invention provides a Mo—Bi—Nb based composite metal oxide (with the proviso that Te is not included); a method for producing (meth)acrylic acid from at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of propylene, propane, isobutylene, t-butyl alcohol and methyl-t-butyl ether, in which a Mo—Bi—Nb based composite metal oxide (with the proviso that Te is not included) is used as a catalyst; and a reactor used for producing (meth)acrylic acid from at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of propylene, propane, isobutylene, t-butyl alcohol and methyl-t-butyl ether, in which a Mo—Bi—Nb based composite metal oxide (with the proviso that Te is not included) is used as a catalyst. Further, the present invention provides a method for producing the (meth)acrylic acid without any additional process of converting (meth)acrolein into (meth)acrylic acid.
US08354477B2 Multi-armed, monofunctional, and hydrolytically stable derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol) and related polymers for modification of surfaces and molecules
Multi-armed, monofunctional, and hydrolytically stable polymers are described having the structure wherein Z is a moiety that can be activated for attachment to biologically active molecules such as proteins and wherein P and Q represent linkage fragments that join polymer arms polya and polyb, respectively, to central carbon atom, C, by hydrolytically stable linkages in the absence of aromatic rings in the linkage fragments. R typically is hydrogen or methyl, but can be a linkage fragment that includes another polymer arm. A specific example is an mPEG disubstituted lysine having the structure where mPEGa and mPEGb have the structure CH3O—(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2— wherein n may be the same or different for polya- and polyb- and can be from 1 to about 1,150 to provide molecular weights of from about 100 to 100,000.
US08354475B2 Epoxy-phenolic resins co-dispersions
An organic solvent free process to make an aqueous co-dispersion of epoxy resins and at least phenolic novolac resins is reported. The compositions of such co-dispersions are based on blends of epoxy resins and at least a phenolic novolac resin within the profile viscosity versus temperature in the ranges from 1 500 000 to 300 mPas at 80° C. and 10 000 to 20 mPas at 120° C.
US08354474B2 Cross-linking compound
The presently disclosed embodiments are directed generally to a composition that forms a cross-linked protective outer coating or layer able to withstand high temperatures and which maintains integrity in such conditions. The protective coating may be used in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrostatographic, including digital, apparatuses. Particular embodiments pertain to a fuser component having an outer coating comprised of a cross-linking composition that improves resistance to thermal degradation and extends the service life of the fuser component.
US08354470B2 Olefin polymer wax-containing resin composition
Resin compositions of the invention contain an olefin polymer wax having higher heat resistance than achieved heretofore, high compatibility with resins and excellent mold-releasing properties.A resin composition (X) of the invention is obtained by blending a resin (A) having a melting point Tm of not less than 200° C. and an olefin polymer wax component (B), the olefin polymer wax component (B) including a cyclic olefin polymer wax (B-1) having structural units (a) and (b) described below, the cyclic olefin polymer wax (B-1) containing the structural units (b) at 0.05 to 50 mol % based on all the structural units in the polymer; (a) units derived from ethylene (b) units derived from a cyclic olefin.
US08354467B2 Underfill formulation and method of increasing an adhesion property of same
An underfill formulation includes a solvent (110), a plurality of amphiphilic block copolymers (120) in the solvent, and an adhesion promoter (130) in the solvent. Groups of the plurality of amphiphilic block copolymers form a plurality of micelles (140) in the solvent, with the micelles including a core (141) and a shell (142) surrounding the core, and the adhesion promoter is in the core of at least some of the plurality of micelles.
US08354462B2 Heat stabilizers containing hydrotalcite particles with specific zeta potentials that demonstrate improved processing and performance in molded vinyl compounds
Particulate solid heat stabilizer compositions for vinyl halide polymers are provided having about 30% to 90% by weight hydrotalcite particles represented by a sigmoidal curve on a cartesian coordinate plot of zeta potential (mV) versus pH. The curve has negative zeta potential values balanced against positive zeta potential values over a pH range and an inflection point between a pH of about 3 about 6 representing the isoelectric point (IEP) between said negative and positive zeta potential values. The stabilizer compositions are essentially free flowing, storage stable, and processable upon mixing components of the composition for blending with a vinyl halide polymer in effective amounts to confer heat stabilizing effectiveness upon said polymer.
US08354460B2 Matte clear coat enamel and substrates coated therewith
The present invention relates to a clear coat enamel composition comprising: a) at least one film-forming resin with at least two functional groups, b) at least one colorless particulate inorganic material having an average particle size of 1-500 nm before being introduced into the coating composition, c) at least one polysiloxane having at least one functional group, d) at least one colorless particulate inorganic material having an average particle size of 1-10 μm which is preferably not surface-modified, before being introduced into the coating composition, e) at least one crosslinking agent with at least two functional groups, which are reactive with the functional groups of the film-forming resin (a) and/or with the functional groups of the polysiloxane (c), f) optionally a component based on polyurea, wherein the components (a), (c), (e) and (f) are each different, composite coatings comprising a base coat enamel containing colored pigments and/or effect pigments and a clear coat enamel which is applied from this clear coat enamel composition to at least a portion of the base coat enamel layer, and substrates coated therewith.
US08354458B2 Polyester polyol acrylate containing intermediate transfer members
A UV curable intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes for example, a first supporting substrate, such as a polyimide substrate layer, and a second surface layer of a mixture of a dendritic, crosslinked, or branched polyester polyol acrylate, an acrylate, an optional vinyl monomer, and a photoinitiator component.
US08354454B2 Prodrugs of oxazolidinone CETP inhibitors
The compounds of Formula I are pro-drugs of CETP inhibitors having a central oxazolidinone ring. The compounds cyclize by the elimination of HX to form an oxazolidinone ring after administration to a patient.
US08354452B2 Compositions and methods for treating diabetes and neuropsychological dysfunction
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diabetes mellitus, neuropsychological and neurological disorders in a particular group of patient. More specifically, the invention relates to methods of treating diabetes mellitus, neuropsychological and neurological disorders in patients having defective potassium channels. The invention may be used in human subjects, particularly adults or children, and is appropriate to treat various neurological disorders.
US08354450B2 Creatine oral supplementation using creatine hydrochloride salt
The present invention is directed to a third generation form of creatine, specifically a creatine hydrochloride salt, that drives significant improvements in muscle development and recovery due to its enhanced bio-availability, while causing fewer negative side effects compared to previous forms of creatine.
US08354449B2 N-acetylcysteine amide (NAC amide) for the treatment of diseases and conditions associated with oxidative stress
Methods and compositions comprising N-acetylcysteine amide (NAC amide) and derivatives thereof are used in treatments and therapies for human and non-human mammalian diseases, disorders, conditions and pathologies. Pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable compositions of NAC amide or derivatives thereof are administered alone, or in combination with other suitable agents, to reduce, prevent, or counteract oxidative stress and free radical oxidant formation and overproduction in cells and tissues, as well as to provide a new source of glutathione.
US08354447B2 mGLU receptors antagonists for treating disorders associated with mGLU receptors including addiction and depression
Methods are provided for treating disorders associated with mGlu receptors by simultaneously inhibiting at least two mGluRs belonging to at least two different groups. In one embodiment, there are provided methods for treating a disorder associated with mGlu receptors 2, 3, and 5, including administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of at least one antagonist which modulates mGluR2, mGluR3, and mGluRS. The disorders treated by the method include, for example, nicotine addiction, cocaine addiction, and depression.
US08354446B2 Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) and uses thereof
Provided herein are compounds of formulae I to II that bind to androgen receptors and/or modulate activity of androgen receptors; and to methods for making and using such compounds. Also provided are compositions including such compounds and methods for making and using such compositions.
US08354445B2 Inhibitors of histone deacetylase
The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions. One aspect of the invention provides compounds of formula (1): in which T, A and X are as described herein.
US08354444B2 Substituted pyrrolidine-2-carboxamides
There are provided compounds of the formula wherein X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as described herein and enantiomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. The compounds are useful as anticancer agents.
US08354441B2 Oxazoline derivatives
The invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein the definitions of X, R and R1 are as defined herein. The compounds of formula I have a good affinity to the trace amine associated receptors (TAARs), especially for TAAR1. The compounds can be used for the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stress-related disorders, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraine, hypertension, substance abuse and metabolic disorders such as eating disorders, diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity, dyslipidemia, disorders of energy consumption and assimilation, disorders and malfunction of body temperature homeostasis, disorders of sleep and circadian rhythm, and cardiovascular disorders.
US08354433B2 Anti-inflammatory agents as virostatic compounds
The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) and salts and physiologically functional derivatives thereof, for the use as a medicament.
US08354427B2 Modulators of ATP-binding cassette transporters
The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using such modulators.
US08354426B2 Naphthyridine derivative monohydrate and method for producing the same
Disclosed is 1-(2-(4-((2,3-dihydro(1,4)dioxino(2,3-c)pyridin-7-ylmethyl)amino)piperidin-1-yl)ethyl)-7-fluoro-1,5-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one monohydrate, which has strong antibacterial activity. The compound is highly safe and useful as an original drug for pharmaceutical preparations. Also disclosed is a method which is useful for producing 1-(2-(4-((2,3-dihydro(1,4)dioxino(2,3-c)pyridin-7-ylmethyl)amino)piperidin-1-yl)ethyl)-7-fluoro-1,5-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one monohydrate.
US08354424B2 Method of treating actinic keratosis
A method of treating actinic keratosis including applying topically to an actinic keratosis lesion twice per week for a duration of 8 weeks a formulation comprising 2-methyl-1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c][1,5]naphthyridin-4-amine.
US08354422B2 Pyrimidine inhibitors of kinase activity
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) or pharmaceutical acceptable salts or solvates thereof, wherein G1, R2, R3, R4, R5, n, p, q, Ar1, and Ar2 are defined in the description. The present invention relates also to methods of making said compounds, and compositions comprising said compounds which are useful for inhibiting kinases such as IGF-1R.
US08354421B2 HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors
The invention is related to compounds of Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, and/or phosphonate thereof, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds.
US08354419B2 Benzimidazole analogues for the treatment or prevention of flavivirus infections
Compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein A, B, B′, X, Y, R1, R1′, R2, R2′, R3, R3′, R5, R5′, R6, m, n, or p are as defined herein, are useful for treating flaviviridae viral infections.
US08354418B2 Thiazolyl-dihydro-quinazolines
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I), wherein the groups A, R1, R2, Ra and Rb have the meanings given in the claims and specification, the tautomers, racemates, enantiomers, diastereomers and the mixtures thereof, and optionally the pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts, solvates and hydrates thereof, and processes for preparing these thiazolyl-dihydro-quinazolines and the use thereof as pharmaceutical compositions.
US08354416B2 7,8-dihydropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl substituted compounds as inhibitors of p38 kinase
Novel substituted 2,4,8-trisubstituted 8H-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one containing compounds and compositions, and their use in therapy as CSBP/RK/p38 kinase inhibitors.
US08354411B2 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolylpyridazin-4(1H)-one compound
The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as a medicament for preventing or treating schizophrenia or so on. A compound of formula (I0), wherein R1 represents a substituent; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent; Ring A represents an aromatic ring which can be substituted, and Ring B represents a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring which can be substituted, or a salt thereof.
US08354406B2 Chemical compounds
The invention is directed to novel indole carboxamide derivatives. Specifically, the invention is directed to compounds according to formula I: where R1, R2, R3, U and V are defined below and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of IKK2 and can be useful in the treatment of disorders associated with inappropriate IKK2 (also known as IKKβ) activity, such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Accordingly, the invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the invention. The invention is still further directed to methods of inhibiting IKK2 activity and treatment of disorders associated therewith using a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention.
US08354405B2 6-cycloamino-3-(pyrid-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof
The invention relates to the 6-cycloamino-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[I,2-b]pyridazine derivatives corresponding to general formula (I): Wherein R2, R3, R7, R8, A, L and B are as defined herein. Also disclosed are the preparative methods and therapeutic use thereof.
US08354404B2 Apoptosis promoters
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic protein family members, compositions containing the compounds and uses of the compounds for preparing medicaments for treating diseases during which occurs expression one or more than one of an anti-apoptotic protein family member.
US08354403B2 Pyrrolidine derived beta 3 adrenergic receptor agonists
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and method of using the same in the treatment or prevention of diseases mediated by the activation of β3-adrenoceptor.
US08354391B2 Anti-WSSV and/or TSV nucleic acid drug
An anti-WSSV and/or TSV nucleic acid drug, the active ingredients of which are five nucleic acids whose nucleotide sequences are sequence 1, sequence 2, sequence 3, sequence 4 and sequence 5 in the sequence list, respectively. The nucleic acid drug of the present invention has no toxic or side effect or drug tolerance, and can directly kill WSSV and/or TSV with fine antiviral effect and no drug residues.
US08354387B2 Methods and compositions for delivering siRNA into mammalian cells
Complex comprising a peptide carrier of SEQ ID NO:1 GALFLGFLGAAGSTMGAWSQPKR1KRKVR2 and an appropriate siRNA, wherein R1 represents any amino acid residue and more preferably K or S, R2 is null or represents one of the following groups: cysteamide, cysteine, thiol, amide, linear or ramified C1-C6 alkyl optionally substituted, primary or secondary amine, osidic derivative, lipid, phospholipid or cholesterol and said siRNA is selected to silence a target mRNA.
US08354386B2 Pharmaceutical composition for treating malignant tumors containing human p31 genes
A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of malignant tumors comprising a human p31comet gene encoding protein represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4 as an effective component is provided. The pharmaceutical composition can suppress cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis and kill cells by overexpressing p31comet in the solid malignant tumor cells. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition can be effectively used for gene therapy.
US08354384B2 Anti-aging micrornas
Methods and compositions for modulating aging genes or their targets for the treatment or prevention of senescence or symptoms thereof have been developed based on the discovery of naturally occurring inhibitory nucleic acids, in particular lin-4 miRNA, that downregulate genes involved in senescence, lifespan, or age-related disorders. Representative aging genes include, but are not limited to lin-4, lin-14, let-7, lin-28, egl-35 and lin-42. Methods for identifying modulators of aging genes and targets of aging genes are also provided. The disclosed compositions are useful as diagnostics. These can be used in assays to compare genes in normal individuals, with those who are aging well or who demonstrate early senescence, and with those who have age-related disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The genes can be used to study the pathways and mechanisms involved in aging and age-related disorders. These genes can be used as drug targets, or in drug design, to develop drugs that can inhibit one or more characteristics of senescence or age-related disorders. These compositions should be effective therapies for treating or slowing the effects of one or more symptoms or characteristics of age-related disorders resulting from activation or over-expression of aging genes. Compositions that alter the expression of particular aging genes affecting the insulin-like signal pathway are described. Suitable compositions described herein include, inhibitory nucleic acids and small molecules, in particular miRNA.
US08354379B2 Peptides that enhance acetylcholinesterase expression
The present invention provides novel chimeric peptides and novel methods for treating animals including humans by administering the novel chimeric peptides. In particular, the invention is useful for enhancing endogenous acetylcholinesterase expression in individuals exposed to organophosphate compounds, such as nerve gases and pesticides.
US08354374B2 Peptides having pharmacological activity for treating disorders associated with altered cell migration, such as cancer
Peptides and their functionally equivalent derivatives, in salt form or non-salt form, effective in the treatment and prevention of tumor, with the general formula L1-X1-X2-X3-X4, wherein: L1 is H, or acyl, or any natural or non-natural amino acid; X2 is any natural or non-natural amino acid, optionally N-alkylated and/or Cα-alkylated; X4 is any natural or non-natural hydrophobic amino acid, optionally Cα-alkylated and/or amidated at the C-terminal end, or any hydrophobic amino alcohol, or a hydrophobic gem-diamine, optionally N′-alkylated or N′-acylated.
US08354372B2 Cyclised alpha-conotoxin peptides
This invention relates to an oral or enteral pharmaceutical preparation comprising at least one synthetically cyclised alpha-conotoxin peptide having an amide cyclised backbone such that the peptide has no free N- or C-terminus, said peptide having the ability to inhibit a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and comprising four cysteine residues bonded in pairs to form two disulfide bonds, wherein the N-terminus of the corresponding linear/non-cyclised conotoxin peptide is linked to the C-terminus by a peptide linker, in a vehicle which is pharmaceutically suitable for oral or enteral administration.
US08354371B2 Cadherin receptor peptide for potentiating Bt biopesticides
Disclosed is a novel cadherin peptide that enhances the toxicity of Cry proteins. A novel insecticide composition comprising an effective amount of cadherin peptide having SEQ. ID. NO:2 and an effective amount of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry protein wherein the cadherin peptide comprises a Cry3Aa toxin binding region from the full-length T. molitor cadherin and has synergistic characteristics of a binary toxin potentiating Cry3 and Cry1 toxins against coleopterans and lepidopteran species, respectively.
US08354357B2 Cobalt-molybdenum sulfide catalyst materials and methods for stable alcohol production from syngas
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the chemical conversion of syngas to alcohols. The invention includes catalyst compositions, methods of making the catalysts, and methods of using the catalysts including techniques to maintain catalyst stability. Certain embodiments teach compositions for catalyzing the conversion of syngas into products comprising at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol. These compositions generally include cobalt, molybdenum, and sulfur, and avoid metal carbides both initially and during reactor operation.
US08354354B2 Anti-alumina-buildup refractories for casting nozzles
Disclosed is anti-alumina-buildup refractories for casting nozzles, which comprises a refractory aggregate including 20 mass % or more of CaO component, and 10 mass % or more of clinker particles each containing CaO as a mineral phase, on the basis of 100 mass % of the entire composition. At least a part of the surfaces of the CaO exposed from the surfaces of the corresponding clinker particles is formed with a CaCO3 film. The CaCO3 film releases CO2 gas through thermal decomposition to smooth an operative surface of the nozzle so as to prevent the accretion of metal thereon, so that CaO is continuously supplied to alumina attached on the operative surface to prevent alumina buildup. In addition, the CaCO3 film effectively prevents the hydration of CaO due to a hydration reaction.
US08354352B2 Optical glass, preform for press forming, optical element, and processes for producing these
Provided is a low-dispersion optical glass that is formed of a fluorophosphate glass in which the molar ratio of the content of O2− to the content of P5+, O2−/P5+, is 3.5 or more and that has an Abbe's number (νd) of over 70 or has an F− content of 65 anionic % or more, and the optical glass enables the suppression of the volatilization of a glass component when an optical glass formed of a fluorophosphate glass is produced or when an obtained glass in a molten state is caused to flow out to shape it into a glass shaped material, so that the variation of properties such as a refractive index, etc., involved in the fluctuations of a glass composition and the variation of quality such as the occurrence of striae can be suppressed.
US08354348B2 Method for reprocessing semiconductor substrate, method for manufacturing reprocessed semiconductor substrate, and method for manufacturing SOI substrate
An object is to provide a method suitable for reprocessing a semiconductor substrate which is reused to manufacture an SOI substrate. A semiconductor substrate is reprocessed in the following manner: etching treatment is performed on a semiconductor substrate in which a projection including a damaged semiconductor region and an insulating layer exists in a peripheral portion, whereby the insulating layer is removed; and etching treatment is performed on the semiconductor substrate with the use of a mixed solution including a substance that oxidizes a semiconductor material included in the semiconductor substrate, a substance that dissolves the oxidized semiconductor material, and a substance that controls oxidation speed of the semiconductor material and dissolution speed of the oxidized semiconductor material, whereby the damaged semiconductor region is selectively removed with a non-damaged semiconductor region left.
US08354342B2 Semiconductor device with side-junction and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of bodies that are each isolated from another by a trench and each include a diffusion barrier region with a sidewall exposed to the trench, forming a doped layer gap-filling the trench, forming a sidewall junction at the exposed sidewall of the diffusion barrier region by annealing the doped layer, and forming a conductive line coupled with the sidewall junction to fill the trench.
US08354330B2 Method of fabricating SOI super-junction LDMOS structure capable of completely eliminating substrate-assisted depletion effects
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an SOI SJ LDMOS structure that can completely eliminate the substrate-assisted depletion effects, comprising the following steps: step one: a conducting layer is prepared below the SOI BOX layer using the bonding technique; the conducting layer is prepared in the following way: depositing a barrier layer on a first bulk silicon wafer, and then depositing a charge conducting layer, thereby obtaining a first intermediate structure; forming a silicon dioxide layer on a second bulk silicon wafer via thermal oxidation, then depositing a barrier layer, and finally depositing a charge conducting layer, thereby obtaining a second intermediate structure; bonding the first intermediate structure and the second intermediate structure using the metal bonding technology to arrange the conducting layer below the SOI BOX layer; step two: a SJ LDMOS structure is fabricated on the SOI substrate having a conducting layer. The present invention is capable of releasing the charge accumulated at the lower interface of the BOX layer, eliminating the effect of the vertical charge on the charge balance between the p-type pillar and the n-type pillar, and therefore completely eliminating the substrate-assisted depletion effects and elevating the breakdown voltage of the device.
US08354329B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method, semiconductor device and display apparatus
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: a first step of forming a base layer, which includes an element portion having a gate electrode and a flat interlayer insulating film formed so as to cover the gate electrode; a second step of ion implanting a delamination material into the base layer to form a delamination layer; a third step of bonding the base layer to a substrate; and a fourth step of separating and removing a part of the base layer along the delamination layer. An implantation depth of the delamination material in the gate electrode is substantially the same as that of the delamination material in the interlayer insulating film.
US08354324B2 Mesa heterojunction phototransistor and method for making same
A two-terminal mesa phototransistor and a method for making it are disclosed. The photo transistor has a mesa structure having a substantially planar semiconductor surface. In the mesa structure is a first semiconductor region of a first doping type, and a second semiconductor region of a second doping type opposite to that of the first semiconductor region, forming a first semiconductor junction with the first region. In addition, a third semiconductor region of the first doping type forms a second semiconductor junction with the second region. The structure also includes a dielectric layer. The second semiconductor region, first semiconductor junction, and second semiconductor junction each has an intersection with the substantially planar semiconductor surface. The dielectric covers, and is in physical contact with, all of the intersections.
US08354320B1 Methods of controlling fin height of FinFET devices by performing a directional deposition process
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes a forming plurality of trenches in a substrate to thereby define a fin structure for a FinFET device, forming a first region of a first insulating material within each of the trenches, wherein the as-deposited surface of the first insulating material is positioned below an upper surface of the fin, forming a layer of a second material that contacts the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material and overfills the trenches, performing at least one process operation to remove at least a portion of the layer of the second material from above the fin structure, and, after performing the at least one process operation, performing a second process operation to selectively remove the second material from above the first region of the first insulating material and thereby expose the as-deposited surface of the first region of the first insulating material.
US08354315B2 Fabrication method of a power semicondutor structure with schottky diode
A power semiconductor structure with schottky diode is provided. In the step of forming the gate structure, a separated first polysilicon structure is also formed on the silicon substrate. Then, the silicon substrate is implanted with dopants by using the first polysilicon structure as a mask to form a body and a source region. Afterward, a dielectric layer is deposited on the silicon substrate and an open penetrating the dielectric layer and the first polysilicon structure is formed so as to expose the source region and the drain region below the body. The depth of the open is smaller than the greatest depth of the body. Then, a metal layer is filled into the open to electrically connect to the source region and the drain region.
US08354313B2 Method to optimize work function in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) structures
In one embodiment, the method for forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device includes providing a semiconductor substrate including a first device region and a second device region. An n-type conductivity semiconductor device is formed in one of the first device region or the second device region using a gate structure first process, in which the n-type conductivity semiconductor device includes a gate structure having an n-type work function metal layer. A p-type conductivity semiconductor device is formed in the other of the first device region or the second device region using a gate structure last process, in which the p-type conductivity semiconductor device includes a gate structure including a p-type work function metal layer.
US08354309B2 Method of providing threshold voltage adjustment through gate dielectric stack modification
Multiple types of gate stacks are formed on a doped semiconductor well. A high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric is formed on the doped semiconductor well. A metal gate layer is formed in one device area, while the high-k gate dielectric is exposed in other device areas. Threshold voltage adjustment oxide layers having different thicknesses are formed in the other device areas. A conductive gate material layer is then formed over the threshold voltage adjustment oxide layers. One type of field effect transistors includes a gate dielectric including a high-k gate dielectric portion. Other types of field effect transistors include a gate dielectric including a high-k gate dielectric portion and a first threshold voltage adjustment oxide portions having different thicknesses. Field effect transistors having different threshold voltages are provided by employing different gate dielectric stacks and doped semiconductor wells having the same dopant concentration.
US08354307B2 Method for detecting biomolecules electrically and biochip therefor
The present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence and/or the reaction of a biomolecule by monitoring changes of electrical property accurately according to the biological, biochemical or chemical reaction of the biomolecule, and a biochip provided for this purpose. The present invention provides a method for detecting the presence and/or the reaction of a biomolecule in a target sample, wherein the reaction of the target sample is performed under known reaction solution, in which a reference fluid having a high dielectric constant such as water is filled into a reaction chamber before the reaction to measure an impedance value or a capacitance value, after completing the reaction, the reaction solution is removed and said reference fluid having a high dielectric constant is refilled to measure an impedance value or a capacitance value, and then the impedance value or the capacitance value measured before and after the reaction is compared with each other.
US08354306B2 Method of fabricating organic light emitting diode display
A method of fabricating an organic light emitting diode display device includes: sequentially forming a thin film transistor (TFT) array, a first electrode, a bank pattern, a spacer, and a first relevant layer on an acceptor substrate; sequentially forming a metal pattern and an organic light emission material layer on a doner substrate; aligning and attaching the acceptor substrate and the doner substrate, and forming the light emission layer by transferring the organic light emission material onto the acceptor substrate by applying power to the metal pattern; and sequentially forming the second relevant layer and the second electrode on the light emission layer-formed acceptor substrate.
US08354301B2 Packaged microdevices and methods for manufacturing packaged microdevices
Microdevices and methods for packaging microdevices. One embodiment of a packaged microdevice includes a substrate having a mounting area, contacts in the mounting area, and external connectors electrically coupled to corresponding contacts. The microdevice also includes a die located across from the mounting area and spaced apart from the substrate by a gap. The die has an integrated circuit and pads electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The microdevice further includes first and second conductive elements in the gap that form interconnects between the contacts of the substrate and corresponding pads of the die. The first conductive elements are electrically connected to contacts on the substrate, and the second conductive elements are electrically coupled to corresponding pads of the die. The first conductive elements are attached to the second conductive elements at corresponding interfaces such that the interconnects connect the contacts of the substrate directly to corresponding pads on the die within the gap.
US08354299B2 Semiconductor component having a stack of semiconductor chips and method for producing the same
A semiconductor component including a stack of semiconductor chips, the semiconductor chips being fixed cohesively one on top of another, is disclosed. The contact areas of the semiconductor chips are led as far as the edges of the semiconductor chips and conductor portions extend at least from an upper edge to a lower edge of the edge sides of the semiconductor chips in order to electrically connect the contact area of the stacked semiconductor chips to one another.
US08354290B2 Ultrananocrystalline diamond films with optimized dielectric properties for advanced RF MEMS capacitive switches
An efficient deposition process is provided for fabricating reliable RF MEMS capacitive switches with multilayer ultrananocrystalline (UNCD) films for more rapid recovery, charging and discharging that is effective for more than a billion cycles of operation. Significantly, the deposition process is compatible for integration with CMOS electronics and thereby can provide monolithically integrated RF MEMS capacitive switches for use with CMOS electronic devices, such as for insertion into phase array antennas for radars and other RF communication systems.
US08354289B2 Method for manufacturing gallium nitride wafer
A method for manufacturing a gallium nitride (GaN) wafer is provided. In the method for manufacturing the GaN wafer according to an embodiment, an etch stop layer is formed on a substrate, and a first GaN layer is formed on the etch stop layer. A portion of the first GaN layer is etched with a silane gas, and a second GaN layer is formed on the etched first GaN layer. A third GaN layer is formed on the second GaN layer.
US08354285B2 Light emitting panel and manufacturing method of light emitting panel
Disclosed is a light emitting panel including: a light blocking section formed above a substrate, the light blocking section including an opening; a first electrode formed above the opening of the light blocking section; a dividing wall including an opening so that at least a portion of the first electrode is exposed, the opening corresponding to a shape of the opening of the light blocking section; a second electrode formed above the first electrode; and a carrier transport layer composed of at least one layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08354283B2 Method of making a semiconductor chip assembly with a bump/base/ledge heat spreader, dual adhesives and a cavity in the bump
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a bump and a ledge, mounting a first adhesive on the ledge including inserting the bump into an opening in the first adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the first adhesive including aligning the bump with an aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the first adhesive between the bump and the conductive layer, solidifying the first adhesive, then providing a heat spreader that includes the bump, a base and the ledge, then mounting a second adhesive on the ledge, mounting a conductive trace that includes a pad and a terminal on the second adhesive, then mounting a semiconductor device on the bump in a cavity in the bump, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08354281B2 Method of manufacturing back-surface electrode type solar cell
There is provided a method of manufacturing a back-surface electrode type solar cell. The method may include: forming a conductive metal thin film on a crystalline silicon wafer; forming plate-resistant partition walls on a top surface of the conductive metal thin film; forming a metal layer in a space between the plate-resistant partition walls and then removing the plate-resistant partition walls; and removing the conductive metal thin film that is exposed by removing the plate-resistant partition walls so as to expose the crystalline silicon wafer.
US08354272B2 Zinc-regulated prokaryotic expression cassettes
An expression cassette comprising: a) a bacterial promoter, pZn, containing a binding site for the Lactococcus lactis ZitR protein, which site comprises the following sequence: AAAAATAANGTNNNNNNNTTGACATTATTTTT,(SEQ ID NO: 1) in which TTGACA is the −35 box of said promoter, and N represents A, C, G or T; b) a sequence encoding a polypeptide with at least 80% identity with the Lactococcus lactis ZitR protein, placed under the transcriptional control of said promoter; and wherein the polypeptide is obtained from Lactococcus; and c) at least one restriction site allowing the insertion of a nucleotide sequence of interest under the transcriptional control of said promoter, and wherein the expression cassette does not comprise any part of the sequence encoding the L. lactis ZitS protein.
US08354268B2 Protein glycosylation modification in methylotrophic yeast
The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichiacapable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an α-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
US08354263B2 Family 44 xyloglucanases
The present invention relates to xyloglucanases belonging to family 44 of glycosyl hydrolases and having a relative xyloglucanase activity of at least 30% between pH 5 and pH 8 are derived from the genus Paenibacillus, especially from a strain of Paenibacillus polymyxa or Paenibacillus sp. The xyloglucanases exhibit high performance in conventional detergent compositions.
US08354258B2 Diatom device
Diatom devices are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The diatom structures are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08354257B2 Integrated process for production of alcohol from syngas and removal of CO2
A process for producing alcohol from syngas integrates the alcohol recovery with the removal of CO2 from syngas. A syngas feed containing CO, H2, and CO2 contacts an aqueous alcohol stream to remove CO2 from the syngas that then passes to bioreactor containing microorganisms for conversion to alcohol and other liquid products. Flashing of the scrubbing liquid releases the CO2 and simultaneously concentrates alcohol in the overhead flash vapor. Condensation of the flash vapor provides an enriched alcohol stream for enhanced recovery of the ethanol product in a product separation zone. The remainder of the scrubbing liquid along with make-up alcohol and water from the process gets returned for continued contact with the syngas feed.
US08354256B2 Glucoamylase and Buttiauxiella phytase during saccharification
Described are compositions and methods relating to the use of a glucoamylase in combination with a phytase in starch processing to reduce the levels of phytic acid in end-products.
US08354254B2 Method for producing an L-amino acid
An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing a processed product of a microalga which promotes production and accumulation of the L-amino acid by the bacterium. The process product is produced by disrupting the culture of the microalga, and/or extracting the culture of the microalga, or fractionating the culture of the microalga or the disrupted culture. The processed product contains a mixture of organic substances produced by the microalga, a hydrolysate of the disrupted microalga culture, and/or an extract or fractionation product of the microalga culture. The processed product can also contain a saccarification product of starch or a hydrolysate of fats and oils. The bacterium is cultured to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in culture, and the L-amino acid is collected from the culture.
US08354252B2 Labeled reactants and their uses
Labeled reactant compositions, and particularly labeled nucleic acid reaction compositions, that include structural components that maintain potentially damaging labeling components sufficiently distal from the reactant portion of the molecule such that damaging effects of the label group on other reaction components, such as enzymes, are reduced, minimized and/or eliminated.
US08354248B2 Promoter-encoding DNA fragment, recombinant vector, recombiant transformant, and uses thereof
A DNA fragment containing a gene which encodes a specific gene regulatory region alone or the gene regulatory region together with a signal peptide; a recombinant vector containing the DNA fragment; a transformant containing the recombinant vector; and a method of producing a recombinant protein by using the transformant. According to the invention, it is possible to produce a protein in a large amount at a high efficiency regardless of the kind of the recombinant protein.
US08354246B2 Non-MCCJ25-related lariat-peptide inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase
The invention provides a method of inhibiting a bacterial RNA polymerases. The invention has applications in control of bacterial RNA polymerase activity, control of bacterial gene expression, control of bacterial growth, antibacterial chemistry, and antibacterial therapy.
US08354239B2 Fluorescent methods and materials for directed biomarker signal amplification
Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.
US08354237B2 Anti-methylation-controlled j protein antibodies and uses thereof
This application includes, in part, methods of preparing antibodies that specifically bind to methylation-controlling J (MCJ) polypeptide. In some aspects, the application also includes, hybridoma cell lines that produce antibodies that specifically MCJ polypeptide; antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof produced with the methods of the application, and methods of using antibodies and antigen-binding fragments that specifically bind MCJ polypeptide for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
US08354226B2 Assay for detection of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid
Nucleic acid oligomers specific for human parvovirus B19 genomic DNA are disclosed. An assay for amplifying and detecting human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in biological specimens is disclosed. Compositions for detecting the presence of parvovirus B19 genomic DNA in human biological specimens are disclosed.
US08354222B2 Method for detecting cancer and reagents for use therein
A method for detecting cancer uses a first detection reagent containing a first adsorbent, which is physically adsorbed by biomedical sample. The first adsorbent comprises a long-chain ester wax containing 16-46 carbon atoms or a long-chain alkane wax containing 21-30 carbon atoms and a concentration of the first adsorbent is between 5% to 10% w/w. The present invention could be widely applied for detecting various cancers based on the differential physisorption of adsorbent. The present invention can provide a method for rapidly and non-invasively detecting cancers.
US08354221B2 Methods and compositions for the preservation of cells and tissues
Disclosed are methods for the preservation and storage of living biological tissues, organs, and populations of isolated cells. Also disclosed are compositions and methods to permit biological samples (including e.g., cells, cell cultures, tissues, and organs) to be harvested from suitable donor animals, stored for prolonged periods under refrigerated, cryogenic, or near-freezing, and then transported and implanted into a site within the body of a selected recipient animal, all without significant loss of cellular viability, tissue integrity, and/or biochemical function of the stored biological sample.
US08354220B2 Resist ink and method of forming pattern using the same
Disclosed is a resist ink having superior acid-resistance and coupling property, the resist ink composed of 70% or less by weight of solvent, 10-15% by weight of base polymer, 10-15% by weight of tacktifier, 3% or less by weight of additive, and 1-10% by weight of coupling agent.
US08354216B2 Negative-working imaging elements and methods of use
Negative-working imageable elements such as lithographic printing plate precursors, include a free-radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition that is capable of generating free radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization of the free-radically polymerizable component upon exposure to imaging radiation in the presence of a radiation absorbing compound, a radiation absorbing compound, an aerobic free radical inhibitor, optionally a polymeric binder that is not a free radically polymerizable component, and an anaerobic free radical inhibitor. The molar ratio of the anaerobic free radical inhibitor to the aerobic free radical inhibitor is at least 1:1. This combination of inhibitors provides increased shelf life and good latent image stability particularly when the element includes a polymeric topcoat layer that functions as an oxygen barrier.
US08354211B2 Electrophotographic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a layered-type photosensitive layer in which a charge generating layer containing a charge generating material and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transporting material are stacked, formed on a conductive supporting member made of a conductive material, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor has high sensitive characteristics to a semiconductor laser beam having a wavelength ranging from 380 to 500 nm; the charge transporting layer of the layered-type photosensitive layer contains as the charge transporting material, a triarylamine dimer compound represented by the general formula (1): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 may be the same or different, and represent an unsubstituted or substituted arylene group or heterocyclic derivative bivalent group, Ar3 and Ar4 may be the same or different, and represent an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group or heterocyclic group, R1 and R2 may be the same or different, and represent an alkyl group, m and n represent an integer of 1 to 4, a and b may be the same of different, and represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, alkoxy group or amino group; and a film thickness of the photosensitive layer is 30 μm or less.
US08354210B2 Electrophotographic photoconductor and a method of manufacturing the same
An electrophotographic photoconductor that stabilizes electrical performances and prevents generation of image faults such as memories, irrespective of types of organic materials of resin binder and charge transport material, and variation of temperature and humidity of the operation environment. An electrophotographic photoconductor includes at least a photosensitive layer formed over a conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a cyclohexane dimethanol-diaryl ester compound represented by the formula (I): in formula (I), each of R1 through R10 represents independently, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of carbon number of from 1 to 5, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group of carbon number of from 1 to 5.
US08354208B2 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, but R1 and R6 do not bond to each other to form a ring structure; and R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group.
US08354205B2 Mask blank, transfer mask, and methods of manufacturing the same
A mask blank for producing a transfer mask adapted to ArF excimer laser exposure light. The mask blank has a light-shielding film on a transparent substrate. The light-shielding film has a structure in which a light-shielding layer and a front-surface antireflection layer are laminated in this order from the transparent substrate. The light-shielding layer is made of a material containing tantalum and nitrogen. The front-surface antireflection layer is made of material containing tantalum and silicon and further containing one or more elements selected from oxygen and nitrogen.
US08354204B2 Hologram recording material and hologram recording medium
The present invention provides a hologram recording material which attains high refractive index change, high flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimensional change and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording. Also, the present invention provides a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising: an organometallic compound at least containing at least two kinds of metals, oxygen, and an aromatic group and having an organometallic unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one metal; and a photopolymerizable compound. One of the at least two kinds of metals is Si, and the metal(s) other than Si is/are preferably selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Ge, Sn, Al and Zn. The organometallic unit is preferably a unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one Si atom. A hologram recording medium (11) has a hologram recording material layer (21).
US08354203B2 Bipolar plate for fuel cells
The invention relates to bipolar plates for fuel cell systems. According to the invention, the component sheets of a bipolar plate (1) are formed for a welded joint (4, 5), such that between the profile regions (6) of the channel ducts (2), only small local surfaces remain as welding zones (10). The above is achieved by means of a corresponding shape of the profile molding (8, 9) of the component sheets. As a result of said reduction of the welding zones to small regions of the total surface, a larger proportion of the area is available for the channels (2), in other words, the channel cross-section and hence the coolant flow can be increased. At the same time the structure for the use of gas diffusion layers made from non-wovens, textiles or paper can be optimized.
US08354198B2 Electrochemical device including a binding layer having a spinel-type crystal structure
The present invention provides an electrochemical device including electrodes of an electrochemical cell and conductive connection members, wherein sufficient bonding strength is achieved between each of the electrodes and the corresponding conductive connection member through thermal treatment carried out at a temperature lower than 1,000° C. The electrochemical cell includes a solid electrolyte membrane and a pair of electrodes provided on the electrolyte membrane. The conductive connection members are electrically connected to the respective electrodes by means of a bonding layer. The bonding layer contains a transition metal oxide having a spinel-type crystal structure.
US08354196B2 Fuel cell unit including a storage unit for storing and providing liquid water coolant
A fuel cell unit is provided having at least one fuel cell to which is connected a coolant circuit associated with a storage unit for storing and providing liquid water coolant at the fuel cell both under normal operating conditions and under frost conditions. The storage unit is set to provide a smaller amount of liquid water coolant under frost conditions than under normal operating conditions.
US08354185B2 Microporous polyethylene film with good property of strength and permeability at high temperature
The present invention relates to a microporous polyethylene film for use as battery separator. The microporous polyethylene film according to the present invention is characterized by having a film thickness of 5-40 μm, a porosity of 35-55%, a permeability from 2.5×10−5 to 10.0 10−5 Darcy, a puncture strength of at least 0.10 N/μm at 90° C., a puncture angle of at least 30° at 90° C., and a permeability from 2.0 10−5 to 8.0 10−5 Darcy after shrinking freely at 120° C. for 1 hour. The microporous polyethylene film in accordance with the present invention has very superior puncture strength and thermal stability at high temperature and takes place of less decrease of permeability due to low thermal shrinkage at high temperature, as well as superior permeability. Therefore, it can be usefully applied in a high-capacity, high-power battery to improve thermal stability and long-term stability of the battery.
US08354179B2 Secondary battery
A side case coupled to a secondary battery in a sliding manner to cover sides of the secondary battery. The secondary battery includes: a rectangular prism battery body; a guide member arranged in a lengthwise direction of one of the pair of the sides of the battery body; a first side case that includes a horizontal portion that is coupled to the guide member to cover one of the horizontal sides of the battery body and a vertical portion that is connected to one end of the horizontal portion to cover at least a portion of an adjacent side of the battery body; and a second side case that is coupled to the battery body, and includes vertical and horizontal portions that are generally symmetric to the vertical portion and the horizontal portion of the first side case and a plurality of terminal holes formed in the horizontal portion.
US08354177B2 Surface-coated cutting tool
This invention provides a surface-coated cutting tool which exhibits excellent fracture resistance and wear resistance in high-speed cutting, such as high-speed gear cutting, high-speed milling, and high-speed drilling. The surface-coated cutting tool includes a hard coating layer composed of an alternately laminated layer structure of at least a thin layer A and a thin layer B formed on the surface of a tool substrate, such as a cemented carbide substrate, a cermet substrate, and a high-speed tool steel substrate. The thin layer A is an (Al, Cr, Si)N layer which satisfies a compositional formula: [AlXCrYSiZ]N (0.2≦X≦0.45, 0.4≦Y≦0.75, 0.01≦Z≦0.2, and X+Y+Z=1 in terms of atomic ratio). The thin layer B is an (Al, Ti, Si)N layer which satisfies a compositional formula: [AlUTiVSiW]N (0.05≦U≦0.75, 0.15≦V≦0.94, 0.01≦W≦0.1, and U+V+W=1 in terms of atomic ratio).
US08354173B2 Powder coating fluoropolymer compositions containing mono-hydroxy aromatic materials
Provided are compositions comprising a) a fluoroplastic; b) an aromatic material having exactly one hydroxyl group, wherein the aromatic material is free of thiol groups, and wherein the hydroxyl group is bonded to an aromatic carbon; c) a salt former compound capable of forming a salt with the aromatic material; and d) optionally a phase transfer catalyst. Also provided are reaction products of the described compositions, multi-layer articles comprising the compositions and reaction products, and methods for making the compositions, reaction products, and articles.
US08354172B2 Process for encapsulating a water insoluble active
A process for encapsulating a water insoluble active including forming a solution by polymerizing one or more hydrophobic monomers and one or more water-soluble acid-containing monomers in the presence of water and one or more water-miscible solvents and one or more neutralizing agents, adding the water insoluble active, and removing the one or more water-miscible solvents from the solution.
US08354171B2 Biaxially oriented polyester film for molded part
A biaxially oriented polyester film is provided, in particular, a biaxially oriented polyester film for molded part capable of being used suitably as a metallic molded part processed after metal deposition on a film surface and a surface protection film in forming a decorative sheet. Provided is a biaxially oriented polyester film for molded part, which is a polyester film that at least two layers of A layer composed of polyester A and B layer composed of polyester B are laminated, wherein interlayer adhesion between A layer and B layer is 5 (N/15 mm) or more, and stress at 100% elongation (F100 value, unit: MPa) at 200° C. and 150° C. in the longitudinal direction and transverse direction of a film is 1 to 50.
US08354170B1 Elastomeric matrix composites
An engineered microstructure composite having an elastic or elastomeric matrix with distributed rigid reinforcements. One embodiment of the invention provides an elastomeric composite including an elastomeric matrix, a plurality of rigid reinforcements embedded within the elastomeric matrix, and a plurality of attachments (or ligaments) connected to the reinforcements to interconnect the rigid reinforcements to each other. Here, in this embodiment, the elastomeric composite has a composite reversible strain limit greater than 3 percent (%) (or, in one embodiment, greater than 5%) due to kinematics of the rigid reinforcements interconnected by the attachments and embedded within the elastomeric matrix.
US08354168B2 Epoxy anticorrosive coating composition, anticorrosive coating film, antifouling organopolysiloxane composite coating film, and ship and underwater structure covered by such composite coating film
Disclosed is an epoxy anticorrosive coating composition used for forming an epoxy anticorrosive coating film in an antifouling composite coating film comprising an epoxy anticorrosive coating film and an organopolysiloxane antifouling coating film which are laminated in order on a surface of a base, said epoxy anticorrosive coating composition comprising (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent for epoxy resins, and (C) a modifier which is either (i) a modifier comprising a hydroxyl group-containing petroleum resin (c1) or a hydroxyl group-containing terpenephenol resin (c2), or (ii) a modifier comprising a hydroxyl group-containing petroleum resin (c1) or a hydroxyl group-containing terpenephenol resin (c2) and a coumarone resin (c3).
US08354166B2 Coated polymer dielectric film
Present invention provides a film and an article including the film. The film includes first layer, second layer and third layer. The first layer includes a polymer dielectric material. The second layer is disposed on at least one surface of the first layer and includes inorganic oxide dielectric material. The third layer is disposed on the first or second layer and includes a nitride or oxynitride material.
US08354165B2 Substrates supplied with a dust and aerosol-repellent coating, method for the production thereof and materials for this purpose
The present invention relates to a coating material containing (a) first oxidic particles formed by hydrolytic condensation, in a size range of 5-20 nm, (b) second particles with a diameter in the size range of 80-300 nm, (c) a first aqueous solvent in which the source material for the oxidic particles formed by hydrolytic condensation can be dissolved and which allows or promotes the hydrolysis and condensation thereof, and (d) at least one second solvent, selected among specifically defined alcohols, ethers, organic acids, esters, ketones, amines and amic acids and mixtures thereof. The invention relates in addition to a substrate supplied with a coating, particularly a glass suitable for the photovoltaic and warm water collector domain, wherein the coating is composed of at least two particle fractions, wherein the particles of the first fraction have a diameter in the size range of 5-20 nm, and the particles of the second fraction have a diameter in the size range of 80-300 nm, wherein the particles of the second fraction have an average distance from each other, measured from cone to cone of these particles, of on average 20-200 nm, and wherein the particles of the first particle fraction have pores with a pore radius distribution of which the maximum is between 1 and 6 nm. The coating of the substrate can be achieved by means of the named coating material.
US08354157B2 Support plate, method for producing the same, and method for processing substrate
This invention provides a support plate which makes it possible to stably perform a step for separating from a support plate a wafer which has been processed while preventing delay in time taken for this step. The support plate of this invention is a support plate for supporting a substrate via an adhesive, including: a plate-shaped part having a surface which is in contact with the adhesive; and at least one spacer provided on the surface which is in contact with the adhesive.
US08354156B2 Prepreg base material, layered base material, fiber-reinforced plastic, process for producing prepreg base material, and process for producing fiber-reinforced plastic
A prepreg base material includes reinforcing fibers arranged substantially in one direction and a matrix resin between the reinforcing fibers, wherein the prepreg base material has substantially throughout its entire surface incisions, each incision extending in a direction substantially crossing the reinforcing fibers, wherein substantially all of the reinforcing fibers are divided by the incisions, a length (L) of each of reinforcing fiber segments formed by the incisions is in the range of 10 to 100 mm, a thickness H of the prepreg base material is in the range of 30 to 300 μm, and a fiber volume content by Vf of the reinforcing fibers is in the range of 45 to 65%.
US08354153B2 Pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet with release liner
Provided is a release-lined pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprising a release liner 10 and a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 20. The release liner 10 has an average linear expansion coefficient of at most 7×10−5/° C. between 25° C. and 40° C. A layer 12 to constitute a surface 10A on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer side of the release liner 10 is formed of a polyolefin-based resin composition containing none or at most 0.01 mass % of a phosphorous-based antioxidant. The surface 10A is divided into a plurality of sections 124 by a plurality of ridges 2A and 2B with each ridge having a height of 5 μm to 50 μm. At least one of the sections 124 inscribes a circle of a diameter greater than 500 μm.
US08354150B2 Web and method for making fluid filled units
An elongate flattened thermoplastic tube has an inflation edge and an opposite edge. The tube includes spaced transverse seals that define sides of pouches. The tube includes lines of weakness that allow adjacent dunnage units to be separated. A frangible line of connection is disposed in one two superposed layers of the tube proximate to the inflation edge. This frangible connection may be broken to permit inflation of the inflatable pouches.
US08354144B2 Thermofusible textile fabric
A method for forming a thermofusible sheet material includes providing a backing ply including a textile material and applying a mixture of a binder and a thermoplastic polymer to selected areal regions of the backing ply so as to form a two-layer bonding compound structure. The method further includes thermally treating the backing ply so as to dry the mixture and to sinter the thermoplastic polymer onto a surface of the backing ply.
US08354143B2 Capacitive touch screen and method of making same
A capacitive touch screen and method of manufacturing such a touch screen includes providing a substrate and coating a surface of the substrate with a transparent conductive coating. An uncured conductive electrode material, such as an uncured silver epoxy material or an uncured silver or equivalent conducting metallic paste material, is disposed at least over a portion of the transparent conductive coating to establish a precursor of at least one metallic electrode at the substrate surface. A precursor of a protective hardcoat is established at least over the transparent conductive coating and/or the metallic electrode. Such precursor/undercured/uncured layers are then cured via a single common curing/firing process, which may heat the substrate and coatings to an elevated temperature, such as at about 500 degrees Celsius or above.
US08354141B2 Liquid treatment apparatus, mounting and dismounting method of a cup body, and storage medium
A liquid treatment apparatus treating a surface of a substrate held generally horizontally on a stage in a housing by supplying a treating liquid to said surface from a supply nozzle. The liquid treatment apparatus includes a cup body provided so as to surround the substrate held in the substrate holding part laterally, the cup body being mounted detachably to a base inside the housing from an upward direction thereof; a cup body holding part holding the cup body detachably; and an elevating mechanism moving the cup body holding part up and down between a first position at which the cup body is mounted upon the base body and a second position located above the first position.
US08354140B2 Barrier coating corrosion control methods and systems for interior piping systems
Methods and process steps for mapping, cleaning and providing barrier coatings to interior walls of piping systems. An entire piping system can be cleaned in one single pass by dry particulates forced by air and the piping system coated in one single pass. Pipes can be protected from water corrosion, erosion and electrolysis. Pipes having diameters of approximately ⅜″ up to approximately 6″ are treatable. Piping systems such as potable water lines, natural gas lines, HVAC , drains , and fire sprinkler systems in homes, apartments, high-rise hotel/resorts, office towers, high-rise apartment and condominiums and schools, can be treated. The coating forms an approximately 4 mils or greater covering inside the pipes. Buildings can return to service within approximately 24 to approximately 96 hours.
US08354137B2 Manufacturing method of electrode catalyst layer for fuel cell
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electrode catalyst layer for a fuel cell which includes a polymer electrolyte, a catalyst material and carbon particles, wherein the electrode catalyst layer employs a non-precious metal catalyst and has a high level of power generation performance. The electrode catalyst layer is used as a pair of electrode catalyst layers in a fuel cell in which a polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the pair of the electrode catalyst layers which are further interposed between a pair of gas diffusion layers. The method of the present invention has such a feature that the catalyst material or the carbon particles are preliminarily embedded in the polymer electrolyte.
US08354134B2 Rheologically balanced high fiber ingredient for food products
The present invention is a high fiber blend which includes a stiffening agent and a plasiticizing agent. The blend replaces part of the flour in a dough without substantially affecting the dough's rheological properties. High fiber food products can then be made from the dough, using conventional commercial manufacturing equipment and processes. The blend can be used to produce food products that meet FDA requirements for fiber-related health claims. The present invention is also a method of making the high fiber blend. This method involves measuring a rheological property of the stiffening agent and the plasticizing agent. The stiffening agent and plasticizing agent are then combined, in amounts that will allow the resulting blend to provide a high level of fiber to a food product without substantially affecting the rheological properties of the dough.
US08354126B1 Composition for prostate health
The present invention provides an effective, all-natural, non-toxic, non-hormonal composition consisting of vitamin D3, vitamin E, selenium, green tea extract, saw palmetto berry extract, isoflavanoids, and lycopene for prostate health. The invention provides compositions and methods to prevent, alleviate, and/or treat symptoms associated with prostate conditions and diseases. The prostate health composition may be used to supplement medical treatment such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
US08354121B2 Tape preparation
It is intended to provide a preparation for percutaneous administration of 2-(4-ethyl-1-piperazinyl)-4-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine (Compound A), which inhibits the generation of a metabolite and is capable of continuously maintaining a blood drug level. Specifically, a tape preparation comprising an adhesive layer formed on one surface of a support, characterized in that the adhesive layer contains (1) Compound A or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, and (2) an acrylic adhesive, or (1) Compound A or a physiologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, (2) an acrylic adhesive, and (3) a permeation enhancer is provided.
US08354118B2 Methods for controlling molluscs
Novel materials for controlling molluscs, such as snails and slugs, using carbohydrates including celluloses, hemicellulose complexes, and/or lignin, for inducing death in molluscs. The materials are non-toxic, will not contaminate a drinking water supply, will not harm fish, birds or wild life, will not cause any harmful effects if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, will not harm children or pets, and can be safely eaten by domestic animals and livestock that may consume such dead molluscs. The materials may be applied in various formulations at various water contents. The materials do not provide nutrition to the molluscs, and disrupt normal bodily functions resulting in death. An attractant may be included to encourage ingestion by the molluscs.
US08354112B2 Glucose dehydrogenase/cytochrome fusion protein
A fusion protein of pyrroloquinoline quinone glucose dehydrogenase (PQQGDH) and a cytochrome is disclosed. PQQGDH is, for example, a water-soluble PQQGDH derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. The cytochrome is, for example, an electron transfer domain of quinohemoprotein ethanol dehydrogenase from Comamonas testosteroni. The fusion protein of the present invention shows intramolecular electron transfer from PQQ, a redox center, to the cytochrome, which allow construction of a direct electron transfer-type glucose sensor which requires no electron mediators.
US08354107B2 Method of treating amykloidosis comprising administering an anti-HMGB-1 antibody
Previously, it was difficult to obtain high-affinity antibodies that specifically bind to HMGB-1 but not to HMGB-2. Under this circumstance, the present inventors successfully obtained antibodies that are more reactive to HMGB-1 than to HMGB-2 by using specific peptides as an antigen. The present inventors also demonstrated that the antibodies had a HMGB-1-neutralizing activity. The present inventors administered the antibodies to amyloidosis model animals, and as a result, successfully demonstrated that the antibodies produced a significant therapeutic effect.
US08354105B2 Methods for modulating mannose content of recombinant proteins
The present invention relates to methods of modulating (e.g., reducing) the mannose content, particularly high-mannose content of recombinant glycoproteins.
US08354104B2 Monoclonal antibodies for treatment of cancer
The present invention provides antibodies useful as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with cells expressing GT468, including tumor-related diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, and hepatocellular cancer.
US08354103B2 Human antibodies to human angiopoietin-like protein 4
A fully human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of a human antibody that specifically binds and inhibits human angiopoietin-like protein 4 (hANGPTL4) is provided. The human anti-hANGPTL4 antibodies are useful in treating diseases or disorders associated with ANGPTL4, such as hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipidemia, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, chylomicronemia, and so forth. Furthermore, the anti-hANGPTL4 antibodies can be administered to a subject in need thereof to prevent or treat diseases or disorders, for which abnormal lipid metabolism is a risk factor. Such diseases or disorders include cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases; acute pancreatitis; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); diabetes; obesity; and the like.
US08354101B2 Pullulanase variants with increased productivity
The invention relates to novel variants of the enzymatic peptide pullulanase, the gene sequences encoding said novel peptides, expression vectors comprising those gene sequences as well as organisms expressing the novel pullulanase variants. The novel pullulanase variants of the present invention were made empirically by the use of codon-optimization procedures, selective truncation of “wild-type” molecules and through the replacement of selected amino acid residues. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of these novel pullulanase peptides in the textile, fermentation, food and other industries.
US08354097B2 Cosmetic composition forming after application a supramolecular polymer
The present invention relates to a care, and/or treatment, and/or make-up cosmetic composition for keratin materials, comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium, an efficient amount of at least one linear, branched or cyclic polymer, or dendrimer, comprising: a -POL- polymeric backbone comprising at least two repeating patterns, and at least two binding groups (A), attached on the polymeric backbone and adapted to create H links with one ore more partner binding groups, of an identical or different chemical nature, each coupling of two binding groups involving at least three H links.
US08354095B2 Compositions and methods for treating conditions of the nail unit
The biodegradable drug delivery systems described here are formulated for implantation into the nail unit and its surrounding tissues for the treatment of various nail unit conditions. The systems include greater than 30% by weight of the active agent, and may be formulated as solutions, solids, semisolids, microparticles, or crystals. Methods related to the implantation and use of the biodegradable drug delivery systems for treating nail unit conditions are also described.
US08354090B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing quantum dot
Disclosed is a technique of producing that a technique of producing quantum dots that are nano-size semiconducting crystals. An apparatus of producing quantum dots includes a mixer to mix different kinds of precursor solutions uniformly in a channel by diverging each precursor solution into a plurality of micro streams and joining the diverging micro streams individually with different kinds of micro streams, and a heating furnace to pass the precursor mixture solution discharged from the mixer therethrough to create and grow quantum dot nucleuses, thus producing quantum dots. The mixer may further include a heating unit allowing temperature adjustment. In addition, a buffer which is maintained at a relatively low-temperature is provided between the mixer and the heating furnace in order to prevent additional nucleation. Accordingly, quantum dots may be produced even at a high flow rate, which leads to mass-production of quantum dots.
US08354087B2 Method for removal of hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam and condensate
A method for scavenging hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam in a condenser under vacuum. A fine curtain of atomized acrolein-water droplets may be sprayed into geothermal steam condensers in an amount of approximately 2:1 molar ratio of acrolein to H2S based on hydrogen sulfide in the incoming steam from the turbine. The range being approximately 0.1 ppm to 500 ppm of sulfide. The acrolein is allowed to react with the gas phase H2S to form non-volatile aldehyde byproducts which partition into the water phase, are returned to the cooling tower and ultimately removed by normal cooling-tower blow down.
US08354086B2 Captured CO2 from atmospheric, industrial and vehicle combustion waste
A CO2 control device and method for capturing CO2 from fluid flow, including: a flow-through apparatus and an CO2 absorbing filter treated with an alkaline material which is housed within the flow-through apparatus. The flow-through apparatus receives fluid flow and the CO2 from the fluid flow is absorbed by the CO2 absorbing filter. The absorbed CO2 is converted into CaCO3 which is combined with volcanic ash to form a useful cement material.
US08354082B2 System for heat integration with methanation system
In an embodiment, a system includes a methanation section generally including a fuel inlet configured to receive a first fuel, a fuel outlet configured to output methane, and a first fuel path configured to route a first flow of the first fuel from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The first fuel path includes a first methanator configured to generate the methane from the first fuel in an exothermic methanation region. The system also includes a second fuel path configured to route a second flow of a second fuel without conversion to methane. The second fuel path is also configured to receive heat from the exothermic methanation region.
US08354079B2 Pipetting device
The invention relates to a sealing assembly for a metering device, in particular a multi-channel metering device. The sealing assembly serves to seal pipette tips with respect to the metering device. A multi-channel metering device comprises a multiplicity of openings arranged in one plane. A sealing plate with holes in the grid of the openings abuts this plane. Each pipette tip is provided with an annular collar which has an abutting face and is pressed against the sealing plate by force closure so as to enclose one hole.
US08354075B1 Streamline-based microfluidic device
The present invention provides a streamline-based device and a method for using the device for continuous separation of particles including cells in biological fluids. The device includes a main microchannel and an array of side microchannels disposed on a substrate. The main microchannel has a plurality of stagnation points with a predetermined geometric design, for example, each of the stagnation points has a predetermined distance from the upstream edge of each of the side microchannels. The particles are separated and collected in the side microchannels.
US08354073B2 Inspection chip equipped with a light amplifier element
The present invention provides an inspection chip using light, which is able to provide an irradiation of light at a high precision. The present invention further provides an inspection chip capable of carrying out the inspection of a sample in a simple manner by using a plurality of lights.The inspection chip of the present invention comprises a light amplifier element and a sample holding section for holding a sample, in which the light amplifier element is oriented so as to face to the sample holding section, so that the light emitted from the light amplifier element can irradiate the sample held in the sample holding section.
US08354071B2 Steriliser
A sterilizing device is described, for sterilizing items through steam sterilization. The device has a base and a cover that couple to form an enclosed space, with an item mount provided within the enclosed space. A portion of water is provided in the base portion, which can be converted to steam in a microwave to sterilize any items placed on the mount. The device further employs several downward-facing valves to provide for the release of steam and the draining of excess or heated water.
US08354066B2 Artificial receptors
Antibodies are provided. For as example, an antibody capable of binding an artificial receptor which comprises a hydroquinone monolayer and is incapable of binding the artificial receptor when comprising a benzoquinone monolayer. Also provided are methods and systems using same for control delivery of a molecule-of-interest into a tissue.
US08354064B2 Apparatus for producing liposomes and method of producing liposomes
Disclosed herein are an apparatus for producing liposomes and a method of producing liposomes by which it is made possible to produce liposomes under sterile conditions during the manufacturing process while monitoring in line the particle diameter of liposomes. The apparatus for producing liposomes includes a unit for regulating the particle diameter of liposomes, a supply flow channel for supplying the particle diameter regulating unit with a solution under processing containing a liposome-forming lipid, and a discharge flow channel for discharging from the particle diameter regulating unit a solution under processing containing liposomes, the supply flow channel having an input port through which the solution under processing containing the liposome-forming lipid is put into the supply flow channel, wherein the discharge flow channel has a first light transmitting part at least a portion of which is made of material transparent to light, and also has at least a first light transmittance measuring unit which measures the light transmittance of the solution under processing containing liposomes by directing light to the first light-transmitting part from the outside of the first light-transmitting part. A method of producing liposomes by use of the apparatus.
US08354059B2 Cell analysis cartridge
Not only a downsized cartridge but also an aperture constituted simply and at low cost using a downsized configuration of the cartridge is provided. A measurement channel includes a front-surface-side channel unit provided on a front surface of a cartridge main body; a rear-surface-side channel unit provided on a rear surface of the cartridge main body; and a connection channel unit connecting the front-surface-side channel unit to the rear-surface-side channel unit. An aperture is formed in the connection channel unit, a fluid contact unit of one electrode is arranged in the front-surface-side channel unit, and a fluid contact unit of the other electrode is arranged in the rear-surface-side channel unit.
US08354057B2 Apparatus and method for using ozone as a disinfectant
A method of sterilizing a closed environment is provided in which a disinfection apparatus is placed into the closed environment; it then generates ozone to a predetermined ozone concentration, following which the humidity of the closed environment is rapidly increased. A catalytic converter then reduces the ozone concentration to safe levels. When the ozone concentration is reduced to a predetermined safe level, the disinfection apparatus signals.
US08354056B2 Refractory component with locking surface and method of forming the same
A method of securing a precast refractory shape within a refractory structure, comprising the steps of forming a precast refractory shape by casting a refractory shape to have a plurality of spaced-apart cavities formed in an outer surface thereof; positioning the precast refractory within a refractory structure; and casting a refractory material around the precast refractory shape such that the refractory material covers the outer surface of the precast refractory and fills the cavities.
US08354052B1 Process for manufacturing microconduit networks formed by electrospinning techniques
A microconduit network structure and methods for making the same. One aspect of the invention relates to a microconduit network structure, including: a solid or semi-solid matrix having at least one interconnected web of filaments formed within the matrix; and wherein at least one interconnected web of filaments having diameters of about 10 nm to about 1 mm.
US08354048B2 Fiberglass lawn edging
A system of fiberglass lawn edging materials. The pultruded fiberglass system provides a lawn edging that is durable and easy to install. The fiberglass edging material comes in a long, flat shape that can be rolled up for ease of display and transport. The system includes metal or pultruded fiberglass stakes. The system includes a integral veil that allows for a variety of surface treatments.
US08354046B2 Germanium films by polymer-assisted deposition
Highly ordered Ge films are prepared directly on single crystal Si substrates by applying an aqueous coating solution having Ge-bound polymer onto the substrate and then heating in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. A coating solution was prepared by mixing water, a germanium compound, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and polyethyleneimine to form a first aqueous solution and then subjecting the first aqueous solution to ultrafiltration.
US08354045B2 Ink composition and pattern forming method
An ink composition includes a metal microparticle, a dispersion medium having water as a main ingredient, a dispersant for dispersing the metal microparticle into the dispersion medium, and a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol that is trivalent to hexavalent and solid under normal conditions, and whose concentration is 5 to 20 weight % relative to a total weight of the ink composition.
US08354039B2 Process for the manufacture fluorocarbons
Halocarbons of the structure CF3CF2CH2X, wherein X is either F or Cl or mixtures thereof prepared by: contacting at least one 2-fluorochloropropane with hydrogen fluoride in a first fluorination step in the gas phase or liquid phase under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the absence of added catalyst to partially fluorinate said 2-fluorochloropropane; contacting said partially fluorinated 2-fluorochloropropane with at least the stoichiometric molar equivalent of hydrogen fluoride under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the presence of at least one fluorination catalyst in a second fluorination step; removing said reaction products from contact with said catalyst, and isolating a substantial yield of at least 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluoropropane or 1,1,1,2,2, penta-3-chloropropane, or mixtures thereof, respectively.
US08354038B2 Piezoelectric ceramic, and piezoelectric, dielectric or pyroelectric element using the same
A piezoelectric solid solution composition containing, as a main component, a composition represented by the following general formula: {Mx(NayLizK1-y-z)1-x}1-m{(Ti1-u-vZruHfv)x(Nb1-wTaw)1-x}O3 is disclosed. In the formula, M represents a combination of at least one member selected from the group consisting of (Bi0.5K0.5), (Bi0.5Na0.5) and (Bi0.5Li0.5) and at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca and Mg; and in the formula, x, y, z, u, v, w and m are in the following ranges: 0.06
US08354037B2 High-frequency magnetic material and method of manufacturing the same
To provide a high-frequency magnetic material having a superior radio wave absorption property in a high frequency region and a method of manufacturing the same. The high-frequency magnetic material and the method of manufacturing the same includes a magnetic substance containing metal nanoparticles, the metal nanoparticles are magnetic metals containing at least one kind of Fe, Co, and Ni, an average particle diameter of the metal nanoparticles is equal to or less than 200 nm, first clusters having network-like structures with continuous metal nanoparticles and the average diameter equal to or less than 10 μm are formed, second clusters having network-like structures with the continuous first clusters and the average diameter equal to or less than 100 μm are formed, and the entire magnetic substance has a network-like structure with the continuous second clusters.
US08354033B2 Method for producing porous microneedles and their use
A method for producing porous microneedles (10) situated in an array on a silicon substrate includes: providing a silicon substrate, applying a first etching mask, patterning microneedles using a DRIE process (“deep reactive ion etching”), removing the first etching mask, at least partially porosifying the Si substrate, the porosification beginning on the front side of the Si substrate and a porous reservoir being formed.
US08354029B2 Controls of a filtration system
A control device for a filtration unit for filtering a fluid, the control device comprising an integrity test unit for performing an integrity test for checking the functional integrity of the filtration unit, and a reaction unit for determining a reaction based on a result of the integrity test.
US08354022B2 Adsorbent, method for recovering an organic matter and method for recovering an oil
An adsorbent includes: at least one of an inorganic particle and a metallic particle as a core; at least two kinds of polymers, which cover a surface of the core, with respective different surface tensions; and a convex-concave surface structure formed due to a difference in surface tension between the at least two kinds of polymers.
US08354020B2 Fouling reduction in a paraffinic froth treatment process by solubility control
The disclosure relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. In particular, the disclosure teaches processes and systems for recovering heavy crude oil while avoiding fouling of equipment by recycling at least a portion of a product bitumen from a solvent recovery unit for mixing with an overhead bitumen stream that may be a diluted bitumen stream containing solvent and bitumen. The overhead bitumen stream is a near-incompatible stream and the stream of mixed overhead bitumen stream and the treated bitumen stream is a compatible stream that will not foul equipment upon heating.
US08354018B2 Process for recovering products from two reactors
A process is disclosed for catalytically converting two feed streams. The feed to a first catalytic reactor may be contacted with product from a second catalytic reactor to effect heat exchange between the two streams and to transfer catalyst from the product stream to the feed stream. The feed to the second catalytic reactor may be a portion of the product from the first catalytic reactor.
US08354016B2 Dual mode oxygen sensor
A method for sensing an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gasses from an engine of a vehicle using a sensor is provided. The method may comprise pumping a current in a pumping cell during; reducing said pumping during a set of operating conditions; and adjusting a fuel injection amount or an air amount into the engine to maintain a desired air-fuel ratio based on the sensor. In this way, a reference voltage can be driven by chemical reactions to equilibrate and provide an accurate indication of stoichiometry, similar to a HEGO sensor. Likewise, outside of stoichiometry, the reference voltage is controlled in a one-sided fashion via positive and negative pumping current at respective voltage limits to provide an indication of air-fuel ratio over a wide range.
US08354011B2 Efficient reversible electrodes for solid oxide electrolyzer cells
An electrolyzer cell is disclosed which includes a cathode to reduce an oxygen-containing molecule, such as H2O, CO2, or a combination thereof, to produce an oxygen ion and a fuel molecule, such as H2, CO, or a combination thereof. An electrolyte is coupled to the cathode to transport the oxygen ion to an anode. The anode is coupled to the electrolyte to receive the oxygen ion and produce oxygen gas therewith. In one embodiment, the anode may be fabricated to include an electron-conducting phase having a perovskite crystalline structure or structure similar thereto. This perovskite may have a chemical formula of substantially (Pr(1-x)Lax)(z-y)A′yBO(3-∂), wherein 0
US08354002B2 Method for evaporating components of a liquid
Mixtures containing high boiling and low boiling components, at least one component being dissociatable into ions, are separated effectively by heating by passing an alternating electrical current through the mixture. The process is particularly effective in the workup of crude alkylchlorosilanes from the direct synthesis.
US08353998B1 Auto-applied labeling methods
Auto-applied packing list and upper label methods. A carrier material with an upper label and a lower label removably adhered thereto is provided. The lower label and upper label are dispensed in sequence onto a label applicator apparatus. The label applicator apparatus applies the upper label and the lower label to a surface simultaneously, whereby after application the underside of the lower label is in contact with the surface and the undersurface of the upper label is in contact with the top side of the lower label.
US08353997B2 Method for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced material
The invention relates a method for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced material, wherein a fibrous preform which consists of fibers and an uncured polymer matrix is positioned on a mold, and a thermoelectric film is positioned on the fibrous preform and/or on the mold, and said thermoelectric film is heated up by exposure to microwaves when a negative pressure or vacuum is applied and, as a consequence of this, heats up the fibrous preform while curing the polymer matrix.
US08353996B2 System and method for manufacture of information handling system laminated housings
An information handling system housing is manufactured from a laminate material having a stainless steel exterior and magnesium interior that are encapsulated with injection molding. A thin sheet of stainless steel is formed to have a lip that meets against the magnesium and is secured in place with injection molding material. In one embodiment, an injection molding tool holds the laminate material in place to encapsulate the perimeter of the material with injection molding material and also activates an adhesive that holds the laminate material together, such as by applying pressure and heat to the laminate material.
US08353990B2 Process for chemically decontaminating radioactively contaminated surfaces of a nuclear plant cooling system using an organic acid followed by an anionic surfactant
A process is provided for chemically decontaminating the surface of a metallic component. In a first treatment step, an oxide layer formed on the component by corrosion of the material of the component is detached from the surface of the component with a first aqueous treatment solution containing an organic decontamination acid. In a subsequent second treatment step, the surface which is at least partially freed of the oxide layer is treated with an aqueous solution containing an active component for removing particles which adhere to the surface. The active component is formed of at least one anionic surfactant from the group including sulphonic acids, phosphonic acids, carboxylic acids and salts of those acids.
US08353989B2 Apparatus and method for treating, pressing and washing biomass
A biomass cooking device including: a treatment vessel having an biomass inlet adapted to receive biomass material to a processing chamber of the vessel, a biomass outlet adapted to discharge from the processing chamber the biomass material processed in the vessel, an extraction region of the vessel and a liquids outlet to the extraction region to discharge dissolved hemi-cellulosic material extracted from the biomass material in the processing chamber; a piston press in the cooking vessel defining a moveable wall of the processing chamber, wherein the piston press moves to reduce the processing chamber and thereby compress the biomass material; and a screen plate in the vessel forming a barrier between the processing chamber and an extraction region of the vessel, the screen plate having apertures to pass the dissolved hemi-cellulosic material through the screen plate from the processing chamber to the extraction region.
US08353986B2 Substrate processing apparatus
In a substrate processing apparatus comprising a processing unit where a specific type of processing is executed on a wafer and a transfer chamber through which a wafer is carried into/out of the processing unit, the transfer chamber includes an air intake unit through which external air is drawn into the transfer chamber, a discharge unit disposed so as to face opposite the air intake unit, through which the discharge gas in the transfer chamber is discharged and a discharge gas filtering means disposed at the discharge unit and constituted with a harmful constituent eliminating filter through which a harmful constituent contained in the discharge gas, at least, is eliminated.
US08353985B2 Process for producing colloidal crystals immobilized with a polymer and colloidal crystals immobilized with a polymer
A process for producing colloidal crystals immobilized with a polymer, comprising the steps of: preparing a monomer-dispersion in which colloidal crystals having a three-dimensionally ordered array state are formed by adding, to a monomer-containing liquid containing at least one kind of monomers, colloidal particles having an average particle size in a range from 0.01 μm to 10 μm and a degree of monodispersity expressed by a following equation (1) of 20% or below, [Degree of monodispersity (unit: %)]=([Standard deviation of particle size]/[Average particle size])×100  (1) and then by dispersing the colloidal particles so as to arrange the colloidal particles in a three-dimensionally ordered array state at which a reflection spectrum thereof exhibits a reflection peak; and obtaining the colloidal crystals immobilized with a polymer by polymerizing the monomers in the monomer-dispersion.
US08353984B2 Compressive strength improvement of cement and gypsum products
The invention relates generally to a cement or gypsum composition having improved properties, which is prepared by incorporating an enzyme into a cement material such as a cement, mortar, or concrete, or into a gypsum product. The invention also relates to methods of manufacturing improved cement compositions and gypsum products, methods of improving the compressive strength of cement compositions and gypsum products, and methods of reducing the cost of such compositions by enabling the use of less expensive aggregates in the manufacturing process. More specifically, the invention relates to a cement composition or a gypsum composition, optionally including at least one aggregate and optionally including at least one pozzolan, comprising a cement material or gypsum optionally including aggregate(s) and pozzolan(s) having blended therein an enzyme.
US08353982B2 Image forming method
The invention provides an ink set having at least: a magenta ink containing at least a pigment; and a cyan ink containing at least a pigment. A ratio of M/C, in which M is the concentration of the pigment in the magenta ink, and C is the concentration of the pigment in the cyan ink, is 1.6 or more. A ratio of S2/S1, in which S2 is the solid content of an ink that has the largest solid content among the inks included in the ink set, and S1 is the solid content of an ink that has the smallest solid content among the inks included in the ink set, is 1.2 or less. The invention further provides an image forming method having applying the inks of the ink set onto a recording medium.
US08353977B2 Hydrogen separator and method of operating hydrogen separator
A hydrogen separator exhibits excellent hydrogen separation performance and durability and prevents scattering of an iron-containing substance that causes defects of a selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane in a first passage by covering an iron-containing metal surface that is exposed in the first passage and forms at least part of the first passage and a member disposed in the first passage with an iron component scattering prevention film at least in an area positioned on an upstream side with respect to a downstream end of a permeable section of the selective hydrogen permeable metal membrane in a flow direction of a fluid that flows through the first passage.
US08353973B2 Apparatus, system, and method for producing bio-fuel utilizing concentric-chambered pyrolysis
An apparatus, system, and method for subjecting biomass to pyrolysis to extract energy products using a pyrolysis unit comprising generally concentric chambers including a combustion chamber and at least one pyrolysis chamber. Each chamber is in communication with an adjacent chamber such that a directed, generally-deoxygenated heated gas stream passes through the combustion chamber to each of the pyrolysis chambers in turn. Additionally, each pair of adjacent chambers shares a heat-conducting wall, further promoting heat transfer throughout the unit. A heat source, which can be a burn enclosure configured as part of the pyrolysis unit, produces the heated gas stream. Biomass introduced into the pyrolysis unit is pyrolysized by the gas stream, resulting in exhaust containing non-condensing gases, bio-oil vapor, and entrained char. The exhaust is directed from the pyrolysis unit to other parts of the system where the bio-oil and char can be separated from the exhaust and collected.
US08353969B2 Methods for crystallization by controlled evaporation
Methods and devices for controlled evaporation of solvent from a solution are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlled evaporation of solvent from at least one solution includes filling a selected first set of wells in a multi-well plate with a first solution comprising at least one first solvent. The method also includes attaching an inlet manifold to the plate, the inlet manifold comprising an inlet port connected to and in fluid communication only with each of the wells in the selected first set of wells. The method further includes attaching an exhaust manifold to the plate, the exhaust manifold comprising an exhaust port connected to and in fluid communication only with each of the wells in the selected first set of wells. The method also includes introducing a gas into the inlet port and removing solvent vapor from the selected first set of wells.
US08353968B2 Spring orthotic device
A spring orthotic device comprising a cradle for contacting the foot of a user, a spring plate underneath the cradle, a ventral pivot beneath the spring plate, and a dorsal pivot above the spring plate and below the cradle located proximally of the ventral pivot.
US08353967B2 Self-supporting collagen tunnel for guided tissue regeneration and method of using same
A biocompatible, self-supporting, curved, collagen membrane adapted to be secured by bone tacks or bone screws over exposed bone at a desired bone graft site in the alveolar ridge of a patient such that the membrane defines a space having a predetermined height and width over the exposed bone, in which the membrane maintains its structural integrity for at least 4 months after implantation at the bone graft site and then naturally breaks down and is resorbed by the patient's body, a method of making such a membrane, and a method of using such a membrane for vertical augmentation of the alveolar ridge of the patient.
US08353955B2 Prosthetic implant
Prosthetic implant of the type comprising: a tubular support (12) of axis X, which can be deformed between a compressed state with a small diameter and a dilated state with a larger diameter, the tubular support comprising a lattice comprising rhombus-shaped meshes (26), each mesh having a first diagonal (28) parallel to the axis X and a second diagonal (32) perpendicular to the axis X; and at least one resilient membrane (14A, 14B) arranged inside the tubular support. The membrane comprises a fixing portion (48, 52), the fixing portion being fixed to a fixing section (65, 66) delimited by a strand (20A, 20B) of the tubular support, the fixing section being oriented substantially parallel to the axis X.
US08353954B2 Prosthetic heart valve including stent structure and tissue leaflets, and related methods
A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular stent having annularly spaced commissure portions. The tips of the commissure portions are preferably covered with fabric, and then additional fabric covers that fabric and the remainder of the stent, both inside and out (possibly also including a sewing ring insert at or near the base or inflow edge). The fabric is then covered by a layer of tissue, again both inside and out. A single sheet of additional tissue is mounted around the outside of the previously assembled components. This additional tissue forms the leaflet portions of the valve. The leaflet portions of the additional tissue are shaped by contact with a shaped mandrel, and the tissue of the structure is subjected to fixation (e.g., cross-linking) to produce a completed valve.
US08353952B2 Stent with therapeutic substance
A stent includes a wave form that includes a cable including a plurality of strands. The wave form has a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns, with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent includes a filler located within the cable. The filler includes a therapeutic substance.
US08353951B2 Radio-opaque endoprosthesis
Radio-opaque endoprosthesis An endoprosthesis furnished with an armature made of metal wires visible in X-ray medical imaging in which the armature is formed of at least two layers of wires, the wires forming the armature comprising a core made of a radio-opaque material, the interaction between the cores of the wires of the various layers improving the visibility of the said endoprosthesis in X-ray medical imaging.
US08353949B2 Medical devices with drug-eluting coating
Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and methods of making the devices are described. In one embodiment, a medical device having a body of interconnected bands and connectors forming an elongated tubular structure having an inner luminal wall surface, an outer abluminal wall surface and a side wall surface, and defining a central lumen or passageway, wherein said inner luminal wall surface and side wall surface of the bands and connectors form transverse passageways through the elongated tubular structure is described. One or more wall surfaces of the tubular structure can bear a coating whose selected regions define at least one depression. The coating can further include at least one biologically active substance.
US08353946B2 Bifurcated medical appliance delivery apparatus and method
The present invention, in preferred embodiments, provides delivery and deployment apparatuses for bifurcated stents capable of comfortably cradling the corina of bifurcated target tissue between the arms of the bifurcated stent as each arm of the bifurcated stent is delivered to a respective side branch. In particular, a family of apparatuses is provided that may be indicated for vascular and non-vascular intervention.Additionally, these apparatuses do not require the use of an ancillary means, such as one or more balloon catheters to achieve complete and precise deployment. In preferred embodiments, delivery and deployment devices in accordance with the present invention also provide, direct visualization, deployment safety features and enhanced physician control.
US08353942B2 Cooling guide catheter and associated method of use
A catheter apparatus configured to provide a delivery system for standard intervention devices typically used during emergency angioplasty and to provide rapid localized cooling to organs at risk of ischemic and reperfusion injury. The catheter apparatus including a catheter shaft having an inner core defining at least two coolant flow lumens adjacent to a blood conveyance lumen. Each coolant flow lumen in thermal contact with the blood conveyance lumen and thermally insulated from each other and the exterior surfaces of the catheter shaft.
US08353941B2 Sleeve
The invention relates to a sleeve (1), for a bone fixation element, in particular, a wire (10), comprising A) two tubular elements (3; 4), having a common longitudinal axis (2), each with a central drilling (8) of the same diameter (D), an external end (20; 21) and an intermediate end (22; 23) with a front face (28; 29) and B) a shearable connector web (5), fixed to the two tubular elements (3; 4), outside the central drilling (8), by means of which the two tubular elements (3; 4) are axially connected to each other.
US08353940B2 System and method for securing implants to soft tissue
Self-anchoring slings and deployment mechanisms for use therewith in selectively positioning a sling into position within the body. According to a preferred embodiment, a system is provided for securing a sling into fixed position within a target site of soft tissue within the body. The system includes an implantable sling having an elongate segment of material with an anchor mechanism formed on the ends thereof. The system also includes a non-mechanically assisted deployment mechanism for positioning the anchor mechanisms within the target site. The deployment mechanism has a manually operable handle having a deployment member extending distally therefrom, the deployment member being detachably fastenable to a respective one of said anchor mechanisms of said implantable sling. The deployment member is configured to guide the anchor mechanism through the soft tissue to the target site, and insert said anchor mechanism into said tissue at said target site.
US08353939B2 Anchor retaining mechanisms for bone plates
A system involving anchor retaining mechanisms for a bone plate includes a plate with at least a first hole therethrough between an upper surface and a lower surface of the plate to receive an anchor for engaging a bony segment. The system also includes a partially annular retaining member engageable to the plate and positionable in the hole of the plate to prevent anchor backout while allowing insertion of the anchor through the plate hole and removal of the anchor from the plate hole.
US08353938B2 Annulus repair systems, instruments and techniques
Systems and methods for repairing annulus defects include at least one blocking member positionable in or adjacent to the annulus defect, and at least one anchor for securing the blocking member to adjacent tissue recessed into the adjacent vertebrae. The blocking member extends at least partially across the annulus defect for repair of the defect and/or retention of nucleus material, one or more implants, bio-compatible materials or device, and/or other objects positioned in the disc space. Instruments are provided to facilitate preparation of the implantation site of the annulus repair system.
US08353936B2 Rod connection in a surgical device and rod-shaped bone stabilization device comprising the same
A rod connection for fixing a rod part in a surgical device within a bore of a rod receiving member includes the rod receiving member having a bore having an inner diameter, the rod part having an outer diameter, the rod part being introduced into the bore, wherein the inner diameter of the bore and the outer diameter of the rod part are selected, such that the rod part is press-fitted into the bore of the rod receiving member. The bore has an inner wall surface opposing an outer wall surface of the rod part, the inner wall surface or the outer wall surface being provided with at least one recess in order to reduce a contact surface area between the rod part and the rod receiving member.
US08353935B2 Flexible spine components having a concentric slot
The invention relates to a flexible spine stabilization and/or vertebral replacement system and having one or more flexible segments within a spinal element. The flexibility is created through the use of at least one circumferential slot formed in the spinal element. One or more fasteners are connected to the distal and proximal attachments and secured to the vertebra. The spinal element can have an elastomeric material in any or all of the following combinations: filling at least one of the at least one slot; at least a portion of the inside core; encompass at least a portion of the exterior diameter. Vertebral replacement is achieved by securing the spinal element to healthy inferior and superior vertebra through use of securing members.
US08353934B2 Crosslink interconnection of bone attachment devices
An apparatus comprises a pair of bone attachment devices and a crosslink device for a spinal fixation system or other implant arrangement. The bone attachment devices include a head with socket to receive a spinal rod or other elongate element and the crosslink device includes a pair of bridging members each having an end section for connecting with the bone attachment devices. An interconnection device situated between the bridging members receives the bridging members and allows translational and rotational freedom therebetween while being operable to secure the bridging members in position relative to one another. A pair of engaging members are structured to engage the head of the respective bone attachment device and bear against the respective adjacent end of crosslink device to lock the crosslink and the bone attachment device in a rigid construct are also included.
US08353933B2 Facet joint replacement
A facet joint replacement system includes an inferior implant with an inferior articular surface, and a superior implant with a superior articular surface. The inferior implant may comprise an inferior strut, and a polyaxially adjustable, lockable mechanism which couples the inferior articular surface with a first end of the inferior strut. A second end of the inferior strut may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable, lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. The first end of the inferior strut may be post-shaped, and the second end ring-shaped, and vice versa. The superior implant may be secured to a polyaxially adjustable lockable fixation assembly securable in a vertebra. Inferior and superior implants may be implanted individually, paired on one lateral vertebral side, bi-laterally, and/or in multiple vertebral levels. A crosslink may be secured to one implant and extend across a vertebral sagittal plane to a second implant. A clip may align the articular surfaces during implantation.
US08353932B2 Polyaxial bone anchor assembly with one-piece closure, pressure insert and plastic elongate member
A medical implant assembly includes a polyaxial bone anchor having a shank, a receiver, a lower compression insert with planar surfaces for closely receiving an elongate connecting member with planar surfaces and a one-piece closure structure. The connecting member is made from a polymer. The closure structure engages both the connecting member and the insert with the engagement between the closure structure and the insert securely locking the polyaxial mechanism even if the connecting member exhibits creep.
US08353925B2 Devices and methods for treatment of obesity
Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.
US08353924B2 Single use lancet assembly
A single use lancet device having a housing, with an open interior and an access opening defined therein, a lancet, with a body and a piercing tip, and disposed in the open interior of the housing so as to move between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation, and a restrictor assembly having a shoulder element and a restrictor panel operatively associated with the lancet and the housing and structured to pass over the restrictor panel upon the lancet moving from its cocked orientation to its piercing orientation, and to abut the restrictor panel upon attempted movement of the lancet back into its cocked orientation after movement into the piercing orientation, thereby preventing the lancet from moving back into the cocked orientation and preventing re-use of a contaminated piercing tip.
US08353923B2 Rotational device with eccentric abrasive element and method of use
A rotational device for removing an occlusion from inside a tubular structure, the device comprising a drive shaft for insertion over a guidewire into a tubular structure and an abrasive element on the drive shaft having its centre of mass offset from a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A solid counterweight is disposed on the drive shaft spaced from the abrasive element and having its centre of mass offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft so that the abrasive element moves in an orbital path around said axis to abrade an occlusion from inside the tubular structure when the drive shaft rotates around the guidewire.
US08353919B2 Wound closure assisting and maintaining apparatus
Provided is a wound closure assisting and maintaining apparatus that can be attached to a wide open wound of a patient and can stretch skin around the wound gradually to achieve the wound closure and maintain the wound closure during most critical postoperative period. The apparatus includes: a loop suture being threaded through skin; a tightening member for gathering both ends of the threaded loop suture at one point and for exerting a pressure of wound tightening force evenly on skin; a pulling member for pulling the loop suture in order to tighten the threaded loop suture; a housing member for housing the pulling member and making the loop suture tightened by transformation of a pulling force to a wound tightening force when pulling member pulls the loop suture out of skin; and a locking member for fixing a position of the pulling member to maintain the tightened status.
US08353917B2 Apparatus and method to deliver a microchip
Provided are methods and apparatus including an injector system adapted for injecting a microchip comprising: an inserter comprising a rod or tube having a proximal and distal end and having a point at the distal end that defines a skin-piercing side of the inserter; a means for engaging the microchip near the distal end of the inserter, but removed in the proximal direction from the distal tip of the inserter, which means prevents rotation of an engaged microchip in two or three axes of rotation; and means for releasing the microchip from the inserter once the inserter has been inserted into a perforatable substrate.
US08353912B2 Ultrasonic spinal surgery method
In a discectomy method one removes at least a substantial portion of a spinal disc. Thereafter one operates an ultrasonic instrument to level opposing faces of vertebrae on opposite sides of the removed spinal disc. Graft or synthetic disc material is inserted between the vertebrae so that the graft or synthetic disc material is in contact with the leveled opposing faces. In an associated nucleotomy, a cannulated probe is inserted into a spinal disc and used to remove the nucleus pulposus. A synthetic or substitute nucleus material may then be inserted into the evacuated annulus.
US08353911B2 Extendable cutting member
Provided is a minimally invasive cavity formation instrument for forming tissue cavities. The instrument includes an end effector having an aperture through which a cutting element is laterally extended and retracted. The cutting element may be retracted for minimally invasive insertion into a tissue region and extended to form a tissue cavity. The end effector of the instrument may be articulated or rotated to facilitate cavity formation.
US08353910B2 Hip helical implant
An intramedullary osteosynthetic device includes an intramedullary nail, a hip helical implant, a sliding sleeve, a lateral set screw, and a distal locking screw. The intramedullary nail includes an oblique slotted bore that receives the sliding sleeve and in communication with a cannulation that is partially threaded to receive a coaxial set screw and a threaded notch compatible with the lateral set screw. The hip helical implant includes a frontal helical portion, at least two helical twisted blades attached to the frontal helical portion, and a rear smooth shaft having an external flat surface. The sliding sleeve includes a tube having an internal flat corresponding to the external flat and has external threads at the rear of the sleeve engaging the lateral set screw. The coaxial set screw fixes the sliding sleeve to the intramedullary nail by tightening the sliding sleeve inside the oblique bore.
US08353905B2 System and method for transmission of combined data stream
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electro surgical instrument configured to generate a first and second data streams and a transmission circuit configured to convert the first and second data streams into a pulsed transmission signal. The first signal property of the transmission signal is representative of the first data stream and the second signal property of the transmission signal is representative of the second data stream. The transmission circuit is further configured to process the transmission signal to decode the first signal property into the first data stream and the second signal property into the second data stream.
US08353898B2 Surgical instrument
A surgical instrument is provided, comprising proximal and distal end sections each comprising an area of articulation, as well as a flexurally rigid central section arranged therebetween. The proximal end section can be connected to an actuating device. A tool which can be driven by means of a drive element can be connected to the distal end section. To provide greater flexibility and a greater working area, the instrument further comprises outer and inner hollow cylindrical shafts and a control element which is arranged between the shafts. Two or more longitudinal elements extend at least substantially from the proximal to the distal area of articulation of the instrument and transfer traction and/or pressure forces. The longitudinal elements are arranged at essentially regular angular distances in a circumferential direction of the instrument and are connected to one another in the circumferential direction at their proximal and distal ends.
US08353897B2 Surgical tool kit
A tool kit for interchanging tools within an at least partially closed area is provided. The tool kit includes at least one tool, each tool being preferably provided within a tubular housing, and adapted to pivot out from the tool kit so that they can be attached to a receiving tool. The tool is designed to be returned to the tool kit after use, and if desired, switched with a different tool. In one embodiment, a surgical system permitting surgical tools to be interchanged within a patient's body is provided. A method of interchanging surgical tools within a patient's body is also provided.
US08353895B2 Closed system irrigation connector for urinary catheters
A closed system irrigation connector for use with both 3-way and 2-way urinary catheters is disclosed. The connector fits all urinary catheters and accepts continuous irrigation sets as well as all bulb, piston, and Toomey catheter tip irrigation syringes. The connector eliminates the use of catheter plugs and reduces the mess and leakage often associated with present urinary catheter irrigation procedures. The connector converts an open procedure to a closed system procedure protecting the patient from outside contamination to reduce urinary tract infections as well as the clinician from potentially infectious body fluids. It comprises an assembly of a plastic housing with an internal silicone diaphragm slit valve and a plastic entrance port that are unitized in assembly by sonic welding. The entrance port forms a tapered wedge lock engagement with irrigation sets as well as catheter tip irrigation syringes.
US08353894B2 Catheter platform and method of manufacture
A catheter shaft design facilitates allows for simultaneous stringing of wires and maintains a desired spacing and separation of the wires. In one implementation, a catheter shaft (504) and a core structure (500) are formed in separate manufacturing sequences. The core structure (500) includes a number of receptacles (506) formed in an external surface thereof and may further include a central lumen (508). Wires (501a,b, and 502a,b) are placed into the receptacles (506) and the core structure (500) with wires (501a,b and 502a,b) are inserted into the lumen of the catheter shaft (504). The wires (501a,b, and 502a,b,) can then be connected to electrodes or attached to a catheter tip so as to permit steering of the tip. The design can serve as a platform for various types of catheter.
US08353889B2 Hygienic article with temporarily attached side panels
A hygienic article having side panels extending outward in a lateral direction from either of said front or back waist region. Each side panel comprises at least two material segments which are connected to each other by a lap seam wherein said material segments define a distal segment and a proximal segment in the lateral direction. On the distal edge of each side panel a fastening member is placed which is capable of securing said side panels to the front or back waist region such that the hygienic article assumes a pant like shape. The material segments which form the side panels are attached to each other by the lap seam in such a way that when the side panels are folded back towards the longitudinal centerline of the hygienic article, the materials are attached to each other in the lap seam such that the most distal material segment is placed closer towards the inner or outer surface of the hygienic article than the more proximal material segment attached to said most distal segment. Furthermore, at least one temporary attachment is situated on the lap seam or between the lap seam and the longitudinal outer edge of the chassis.
US08353888B2 Multilayer absorbent article
An article has a body facing engagement surface for contacting a wearer's tissue layer. The body facing engagement surface has a first state adapted to inhibit movement of the article with respect to the wearer's tissue layer, and a second state adapted to enhance movement of the article with respect to the tissue layer. The body facing engagement surface is adapted to transform from the first state to the second state upon application of a force greater than a threshold force. The body facing engagement surface has a gripping component that overlies a sliding component in the first state. The gripping component is disposed for engaging and gripping the tissue layer in the first state until a force greater than the threshold force is encountered which transforms the engagement surface to promote relative sliding motion between the engagement surface and the tissue layer.
US08353887B2 Sperm collection device
A sperm collection device includes an open/close unit including two open/close members openably and closably supported about a hinge and core pieces supported by the open/close members. The core pieces are configured to open and close with the open/close members and to form an insertion space when the open/close members are closed.
US08353886B2 Male hygienic article and dispenser therefor
A hygienic article for personal wear by a male includes an elongate fabric sleeve having a first end, a longitudinally opposite second end, and a central passage extending longitudinally between the first and second ends of the sleeve. The first end of the sleeve is open to the central passage to permit the wearer's penis to extend through the open first end into the central passage of the sleeve with the first end of the sleeve nearer to the base of the wearer's penis than the second end of the sleeve. The second end of the sleeve is also open to the central passage to permit the wearer to urinate through the open second end. A dispenser is adapted for holding a plurality of such hygienic articles and facilitating sequential dispensing of the hygienic articles, one at a time, from the dispenser.