| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08400898B2 |
Optical recording and reproducing apparatus
The present invention achieves an optical recording and reproducing apparatus focusing two opposed beams of light at a same place in an optical recording medium to record a standing wave generated by interference of the two beams of light. In the apparatus, phase information is recorded in the optical recording medium by a phase modulating means for modulating phase of one of the two beams of light. The reproduction reference light generated from a light source is allowed to interfere with reproduced light generated by projecting one of the two beams of light onto the optical recording medium to generate three or more beams of interfering light having different interference phases are simultaneously generated. The three or more beams of interfering light are then detected, and the phase modulated by the phase modulating means is demodulated from an output of the detector. |
| US08400897B2 |
Migrating data from one recording medium to another
Provided is a storage mechanism that readably migrates a content of data from one recording medium to another over generations in a readable manner and provides the contents of the records from a current recording medium. A read/write controller comprises a mechanism for preparing an archive recording medium of a first generation having a plurality of records recorded therein and a mechanism for migrating the records from the recording medium of the first generation to a recording medium of the next generation (the third generation subsequent to the first generation) and further to recording media of following generations one by one. The migration mechanism generates migration information including a mapping table between record numbers of the first generation and a current generation and holds the migration information as data in the recording medium of the current generation. |
| US08400896B2 |
Information recording and reproducing apparatus, program for controlling same, computer-readable storage medium, method for controlling information recording and reproducing apparatus, and information storage medium
An invention disclosed includes a layer number obtaining section (222) for determining which information storage layer (L1) has been accessed and a layer type identifying section (223) for identifying a type of the information storage layer (L1) determined by the layer number obtaining section (222). With the configuration, even in a case where an information recording and reproducing apparatus accesses an information storage layer different from an intended information storage layer by false operation or the like, it is still possible to dissolve mismatching between a recording or reproduction control scheme being set up and a recording or reproduction control scheme suitable for the information storage layer thus accessed. |
| US08400892B2 |
Information reproduction device, reproduction starting method and reproduction starting program
An information reproduction device sets, from among a plurality of estimated rotation speeds previously estimated, a set rotation speed in accordance with request-specification information specifying a piece of data requested by an external device and a specified rotation speed specified by the external device for a disc-shaped storage medium storing data, rotates the storage medium at the set rotation speed, reads out data from the storage medium at a readout speed that is determined by the set rotation speed of the storage medium, stores the data in a data storage section, and supplies, from among the stored data, the piece of data corresponding to the request-specification information to the external device. |
| US08400891B2 |
Delay line on a movable substrate accessing data storage media
An apparatus includes a read/write head disposed on a slider, a control circuit disposed on the slider, and an adjustable delay line disposed on the slider. The adjustable delay line delays transmission of aligned write data to the read/write head by an adjustable delay. The adjustable delay is controlled by the control circuit a function of read synchronization data provided by the read/write head. |
| US08400888B2 |
Personal digital stereo player having controllable touch screen
Disclosed is a music jukebox which is configured for storing a music library therein. The music jukebox includes a housing, audio input structure on the housing for receiving audio signals, audio output structure on the housing for outputting audio signals, and a data storage structure in the housing for storing audio signals. The music jukebox is configured such that a music library of sound tracks is storable in the data storage structure. The music jukebox includes means for selecting a sound track from the music library stored in the data storage structure to play through the audio output structure, and the housing includes a display thereon which identifies sound tracks in the music library. Preferably, the music jukebox is configured such that the sound tracks stored in the data storage structure are editable before being played through the audio output structure. |
| US08400885B2 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, head gimbal assembly and magnetic recording device
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a part of an air bearing surface that opposes a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide that propagates light to excite surface plasmon; and a plasmon generator that is provided between the pole and the waveguide and that generates near-field light from a near-field light generating end surface that forms a part of the air bearing surface by coupling with the light in a surface plasmon mode. The plasmon generator includes a flat plate part and a projection part that projects from the flat plate part to the waveguide side and is provided closer to a trailing side than the pole is. |
| US08400884B1 |
Method of manufacturing plasmon generator
A method of manufacturing a plasmon generator includes the steps of forming an accommodation part and forming the plasmon generator to be accommodated in the accommodation part. The step of forming the accommodation part includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer having an upper surface; etching the dielectric layer by using an etching mask and thereby forming a groove in the dielectric layer; and forming a dielectric film in the groove. The groove has first and second sidewalls and a bottom. Each of the first and second sidewalls forms an angle in the range of 0° to 15° relative to the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the dielectric layer. The dielectric film includes a first portion interposed between the first sidewall and the first side surface, and a second portion interposed between the second sidewall and the second side surface. |
| US08400883B2 |
Timepiece
A timepiece includes twelve first light sources spaced in a ring around a 360 degree range on a clock body. The first light sources are controlled to illuminate successively one at a time in a clockwise direction to indicate the hour. The timepiece may include either a minute hand connected with a clock mechanism, or 60 minute strips disposed in radiating directions and evenly spaced around a 360 degree range on the clock body. A plurality of second light sources are distributed along the minute hand or the minute strips. The minute hand is controlled to rotate 360 degrees clockwise. The minute strips are controlled to illuminate alternately in a clockwise direction to indicate the minute. The amount or the position of the illuminated second light sources indicates the second. |
| US08400882B2 |
Memento timepiece systems
A memento timepiece system adapted to assist an individual in the daily observance of at least one daily event memorable to the individual. Many individuals have within their experience, a person, life event, or other occasion that they wish to remember daily, weekly or monthly. The present invention comprises a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, having a factory preset alarm time to mark a daily act of remembrance. Business methods relating to the manufacture and distribution of the memento timepiece systems are also disclosed. |
| US08400881B2 |
Maintaining date and time with time zone rule changes
A method and system for maintaining date and time information correctly across rule changes for time zones is provided. A time maintenance system provides rules for converting dates and times between various time zones and a common time zone. When the time maintenance system receives a date and time in a designated time zone, it converts the date and time to a date and time in the common time zone based on a provided rule. The time maintenance system then stores the converted date and time along with an identification of the rule used to convert the date and time to the common time zone. The time maintenance system may then receive an indication of an overriding rule that overrides an existing rule for converting a date and time between the designated time zone and the current time zone. The time maintenance system then updates the stored date and time when the rule has been overridden in such a way as to indicate that the original date and time is no longer correct and to indicate the new rule. |
| US08400877B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring position of the object using microphone
Provided is a method and device for measuring a position of an ultrasonic generating device for generating ultrasonic signals and inputting information by using position measurement values of the ultrasonic generating device. Accordingly, a plurality of broadband microphones that can be used as general microphones provided to an electronic device are used in a case where information is input by using an ultrasonic generating device. In this case, a position of the ultrasonic generating device is measured by extracting an ultrasonic signal generated by the ultrasonic generating device from signals received by the broadband microphones, and information is input by using the position of the ultrasonic generating device and a trajectory of the moving ultrasonic generating device. |
| US08400876B2 |
Method and system for sensing objects in a scene using transducer arrays and coherent wideband ultrasound pulses
Pulses are transmitted into a scene by an array of the transducers, wherein each pulse has wideband ultrasound frequency, wherein the pulses are transmitted simultaneously, and wherein a pattern of the wideband ultrasound frequencies in each pulse is unique with respect to the patterns of each other pulse. The pulses as received when the pulse are reflected by the scene and objects in the scene. Each received pulse is sampled and decomposed using a Fourier transform to produce frequency coefficients, which are stacked to produce a linear system modeling a reflectivity of the scene and the objects. Then, a recovery method is applied to the linear system to recover the reflectivity of the scene and the objects. |
| US08400867B2 |
Non-volatile memory with stray magnetic field compensation
A method and apparatus for stray magnetic field compensation in a non-volatile memory cell, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM). In some embodiments, a first tunneling barrier is coupled to a reference structure that has a perpendicular anisotropy and a first magnetization direction. A recording structure that has a perpendicular anisotropy is coupled to the first tunneling barrier and a nonmagnetic spacer layer. A compensation layer that has a perpendicular anisotropy and a second magnetization direction in substantial opposition to the first magnetization direction is coupled to the nonmagnetic spacer layer. Further, the memory cell is programmable to a selected resistance state with application of a current to the recording structure. |
| US08400866B2 |
Voltage boosting in MRAM current drivers
A current driving mechanism for a magnetic memory device, comprising: a) a current driver circuit; and b) a current decoding block coupled to the current driver circuit, wherein the current decoding block comprises a transistor (M18) to control driver currents from the current driver circuit, and wherein the transistor (M18) has a smaller form factor then otherwise possible by virtue of maintaining a gate thereof at a negative voltage. |
| US08400863B1 |
Configurable memory block
Circuits for a memory array and a method of operating a configurable memory block are disclosed. An embodiment of the disclosed memory circuits includes a first memory block coupled to a second memory block to form an array of memory blocks. Each of the memory blocks has multiple bit lines with a dedicated address decoder coupled to the bit lines from each of the memory blocks. Switches are placed in between the first and second memory blocks such that each of the bit lines from the first memory block is connected to a corresponding bitline from the second memory block through one of the switches. The switches may be used to either connect the second memory block to the first memory block or disconnect the second memory block from the first memory block. |
| US08400862B2 |
Wake-up control circuit for power-gated IC
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a power-gating switch circuit. The power-gating switch circuit may comprise a first switch to connect a power supply to a virtual power supply and a second switch to connect the power supply to the virtual power supply in parallel to the first switch. The first switch may have a higher impedance than the second switch. When a wake up signal is received, the first switch may be turned on first and the second switch may be turned on after the virtual power supply reaches a predetermined voltage level. |
| US08400861B2 |
Power supply control circuit and semiconductor apparatus including the same
A power supply control circuit includes a power supply control unit configured to receive a rank mode signal and generate a plurality of power supply enable signals based on a rank mode designated by the rank mode signal, a chip selection signals and bank address signals; and a plurality of power blocks configured to supply power to a plurality of memory banks of a plurality of chips based on the plurality of power supply enable signals. |
| US08400859B2 |
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) refresh
A method for refreshing a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) includes performing a refresh on at least a portion of the DRAM at a first refresh rate, and performing a refresh on a second portion of the DRAM at a second refresh rate. The second portion includes one or more rows of the DRAM which do not meet a data retention criteria at the first refresh rate, and the second refresh rate is greater than the first refresh rate. |
| US08400857B2 |
Circuit for sensing the content of a semiconductor memory cell
A sensing circuit (100) for sensing the content of a memory cell (101), wherein the sensing circuit comprises a sense node (103) connectable to the memory cell (101) so that a signal indicative of the content of the memory cell (101) is providable to the sense node (103). The sensing circuit (100) further comprises a logic gate (102) having a first input, a second input and an output, wherein a reference signal (105) is providable to the first input and wherein the sense node (103) is coupled to the second input. The sensing circuit (100) further comprises a feedback loop (104) for coupling the output of the logic gate (102) to the second input of the logic gate (102) so that, during sensing the content of the memory cell (101), an electrical potential at the sense node (103) is used to make a decision but after a result is obtained, the memory and sense amplifier combination are configured so that the result is held indefinitely and so that no static current continues to flow. |
| US08400853B2 |
Semiconductor chip and method of repair design of the same
A repair circuit achieving “group repair of mixed multiple repair methods” and a repair design method for making a product margin suitable are provided. In a chip mounting multiple RAMs, a repair circuit and a repair design method in consideration of a trade-off of chip yield and area increase along with mounting a repair circuit are provided. A repair circuit achieving “group repair of mixed multiple repair methods” which can select existence of a repair circuit, and one or more repair methods from I/O, column, and row repairs on the RAMS in the chip, respectively, when a repair circuit is mounted. The repair circuit performs repair per RAM group by sorting the RAMs mounting a repair circuit into a plurality of RAM groups. Also, a repair method which makes a number of acquired good chips in a wafer and an estimation method of the RAM grouping method are provided. |
| US08400852B2 |
Circuit with remote amplifier
A circuit comprises a first driver, a second driver, and a remote sense amplifier. The first driver is configured to generate a first data signal on a first data line. The second driver is configured to generate a control signal on a control signal line. An RC delay of the control signal line is less than an RC delay of the first data line. The remote sense amplifier is configured to receive the first data signal, a second data signal on a second data line, and the control signal. The control signal line is configured for the control signal to enable the remote sense amplifier to amplify the voltage difference between the first data signal and the second data signal at inputs of the remote sense amplifier, if the voltage difference reaches a predetermined value. |
| US08400845B2 |
Column address strobe write latency (CWL) calibration in a memory system
Column address strobe write latency (CWL) calibration including a method for calibrating a memory system. The method includes entering a test mode at a memory device and measuring a CWL at the memory device. A difference between the measured CWL and a programmed CWL is calculated. The calculated difference is transmitted to a memory controller that uses the calculated difference for adjusting a timing delay to match the measured CWL. |
| US08400842B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory unit and a control unit. The memory unit includes a charge storage film, a first insulating film provided adjacent to one surface of the charge storage film, a second insulating film provided adjacent to one other surface of the charge storage film, a semiconductor portion provided adjacent to the first insulating film and a plurality of electrode portions provided adjacent to the second insulating film. The control unit performs a control of applying a first voltage to electrode portions adjacent to each other in one direction at different timing respectively, in an erasing. The erasing is performed by at least one selected from injecting electron holes into the charge storage film and removing electrons from the charge storage film. The first voltage is applied from one of the electrode portions to the charge storage film to be erased. |
| US08400838B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and boosting circuit
A boosting circuit includes a clock control circuit which outputs a first reference clock signal by controlling the clock signal, and which outputs a second reference clock signal having a same period as that of the first reference clock signal, the second reference clock signal shifted in phase from the first reference clock signal. The boosting circuit includes a first pump clock generation circuit which outputs the first reference clock signal which is input thereto, as a first pump clock signal in accordance with a first pump flag signal. The boosting circuit includes a second pump clock generation circuit which outputs the second reference clock signal which is input thereto, as a second pump clock signal in accordance with a second pump flag signal. The boosting circuit includes a first charge pump which boosts an input voltage in accordance with the first pump clock signal. The boosting circuit includes a second charge pump which boosts an input voltage in accordance with the second pump clock signal. |
| US08400834B2 |
E/P durability by using a sub-range of a full programming range
A NAND Flash memory controller is used to perform an erase operation on a NAND Flash memory chip including to a cell on the NAND Flash memory chip; the cell is configured to store a first number of bits. It is determined whether the erase operation performed on the NAND Flash memory chip is successful. In the event it is determined that the erase operation performed on the NAND Flash memory chip is unsuccessful, the number of bits stored by the cell is reduced from the first number of bits to a second number of bits; the second number of bits is strictly less than the first number of bits. |
| US08400832B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first circuit unit having first and second interconnects, a second circuit unit having third and fourth interconnects, and an intermediate unit provided therebetween and having first and second transistors juxtaposed to each other along a direction perpendicular to a direction from the first circuit unit toward the second circuit unit. A high impurity concentration region in a first connection region of one diffusion layer of the first transistor is connected to the first interconnect, and other diffusion layer is connected to the third interconnect. A distance from the first connection region to a gate is longer than a distance from the second connection region to a gate. An midpoint region with a narrower width than the first connection region is provided between the gate and the first connection region of the one diffusion layer of the first transistor. |
| US08400830B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and driving method therefor
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a memory cell life can be prolonged while making it possible to perform writing in units of bits. When command information represents writing, a comparing unit 37 compares written data in a target memory cell with write target data to give a comparison result to a write/read control unit 40, when the comparison result represents matching, the write/read control unit 40 does not instruct a decoder unit (51A, 51B, and 53) to perform writing in the target memory cell, and when the comparison result represents mismatching, the write/read control unit 40 instructs the decoder unit to write the write target data in the target memory cell. |
| US08400825B2 |
Magnetic field assisted stram cells
Memory units that have a magnetic tunnel junction cell that utilizes spin torque and a current induced magnetic field to assist in the switching of the magnetization orientation of the free layer of the magnetic tunnel junction cell. The memory unit includes a spin torque current source for passing a current through the magnetic tunnel junction cell, the spin torque current source having a direction perpendicular to the magnetization orientations, and also includes a magnetic ampere field current source is oriented in a direction orthogonal or at some angles to the magnetization orientations. |
| US08400822B2 |
Multi-port non-volatile memory that includes a resistive memory element
A system and method to access a multi-port non-volatile memory that includes a resistive memory element is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a multi-port non-volatile memory device is disclosed that includes a resistive memory cell and multiple ports coupled to the resistive memory cell. |
| US08400821B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a dummy cell simulates an operation of a memory cell. A main dummy bit line transmits a signal read out from the dummy cell. An inverter makes a sense amplifier circuit to operate based on a potential of the main dummy bit line. n (n is a positive integer) number of auxiliary dummy bit lines are provided. A switching element connects at least one of the n number of auxiliary dummy bit lines to the main dummy bit line. |
| US08400820B2 |
Adjustable impedance SRAM memory device
An embodiment of a memory device includes a plurality of memory cells; each memory cell includes a latch adapted to store an information bit. Said latch includes a first logic gate including a first input terminal and a first output terminal and a second logic gate including a second input terminal and a second output terminal. Said first input terminal is connected to said second output terminal and said first output terminal is connected to said second input terminal. The memory device further includes reading and writing means adapted to perform a read operation or a write operation of the information bit. Said first logic gate includes a pull-up branch coupled between a terminal for providing a supply voltage and the first output terminal, and a pull-down branch coupled between the first output terminal and a terminal for providing a reference voltage. Said second logic gate includes a pull-up branch coupled between a terminal for providing the supply voltage and the second output terminal, and a pull-down branch coupled between the second output terminal and a terminal for providing the reference voltage. Said memory device includes variation means adapted to selectively vary a gain factor of at least one between the pull-down branch and the pull-up branch of said first logic gate and second logic gate depending on the operation performed by the reading and writing means. |
| US08400819B2 |
Integrated circuit having variable memory array power supply voltage
An integrated circuit comprises a memory array and a bias circuit. The memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells arranged in a grid of rows and columns. A first conductor is coupled to a power supply voltage terminal of each of the plurality of memory cells. A second conductor is coupled to receive a power supply voltage. The memory array also includes a plurality of dummy cells. A transistor of one or more of the plurality of dummy cells has a first current electrode coupled to the first conductor, a second current electrode coupled to the second conductor, and a control electrode. The bias circuit is coupled to the control electrode of the transistor. |
| US08400815B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of first lines and second lines intersecting each other and a plurality of memory cells connected at intersections of the plurality of first lines and second lines; and a first line control circuit and a second line control circuit configured to select the first lines and the second lines respectively to supply a voltage or current necessary for a resetting operation or a setting operation on the memory cells. The first line control circuit supplies unselected ones of the first lines with an unselecting voltage corresponding to the distance between the unselected first lines and the second line control circuit. |
| US08400813B2 |
One-time programmable fuse with ultra low programming current
A method of operating a FinFET fuse includes providing the FinFET fuse including a drain, a gate, a source, and a channel between the drain and the source; and applying a program voltage to one of the source and the drain of the FinFET fuse to cause a punch-through in the channel of the FinFET fuse. The method further includes determining a program state of the FinFET fuse. |
| US08400812B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory array and a peripheral circuit. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells, word lines, and bit lines, in which a first, second, and third blocks are set in the order along the bit line. The peripheral circuit has a transistor group. The transistor group includes a first transfer transistor belonging to the first block, a second transfer transistor belonging to the second block, and a third transfer transistor belonging to the third block. The first, second, and third transfer transistors share the other of a source and a drain of each. With regard to a direction in which either of the source and the drain is connected to the other in each of the first, second, and third transfer transistors, the directions of the adjacent transfer transistors are different from each other by 90° or 180°. |
| US08400811B2 |
Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device having ganged carrier injection lines
Techniques for providing a direct injection semiconductor memory device having ganged carrier injection lines are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus including a first region coupled to a bit line and a second region coupled to a source line. The apparatus may also comprise a body region spaced apart from and capacitively coupled to a word line, wherein the body region is electrically floating and disposed between the first region and the second region. The apparatus may further comprise a third region coupled to a constant voltage source via a carrier injection line configured to inject charges into the body region through the second region. |
| US08400808B2 |
Phase interpolators and push-pull buffers
Interpolator systems are described utilizing one or more push-pull buffers to generate output clock signals that may be provided as inputs to a phase interpolator. The more linear slope on the output of the push-pull buffer may improve the linearity of a phase interpolator using the clock signals output from the push-pull buffers. |
| US08400806B2 |
Semiconductor device
A technology that makes it possible to reduce fluctuation in operating voltage for operating the circuits formed in the core region of a semiconductor device is provided. This semiconductor device is so arranged that the core region is divided into multiple functional blocks and power can be supplied and this power supply can be interrupted with respect to each of the divided functional blocks. The core region formed in the semiconductor chip is divided into multiple functional blocks. A power switch row in which multiple power switches are arranged is disposed in the boundaries between the divided functional blocks. These power switches have a function of controlling the supply of reference potential to each of functional blocks and the interruption of this supply. A feature of the invention is that reference pads are disposed directly above the power switch rows. This shortens the wires coupling together the reference pads and the power switches. |
| US08400799B2 |
Inverter circuit with controller for controlling switching elements based on a magnitude of output power
This inverter circuit includes first and second switching elements and an output transformer which is provided with a first primary winding connected in series between said first and second switching elements, and also with a secondary winding for obtaining an output voltage. The inverter circuit is further provided with a first voltage supply, a second voltage supply, and a control unit. The first voltage supply applies voltage to said first switching element via said first primary winding. And the second voltage supply applies voltage to said second switching element via said second primary winding. The control unit turns said first switching element and said second switching element alternatingly ON and OFF. This inverter circuit also includes first and second regeneration snubber circuits for regenerating the charge charged into snubber capacitors. |
| US08400797B2 |
Power conversion system with zero-voltage start-up mechanism, and zero-voltage start-up device
A power conversion system with zero-voltage start-up mechanism and a zero-voltage start-up device are disclosed. The system includes a power conversion circuit, a power factor correction unit, a storage capacitor, a storage switching unit, and a zero-voltage detection module. The storage switching unit is serially connected with the storage capacitor, and particularly controlled by the zero-voltage detection module. The zero-voltage detection module detects a timing as an input voltage is at low level, and then outputs a control signal to turn on the storage switching unit. Therefore, the present invention assures that the power conversion system is turned on when the input voltage is at the low level, in order to suppress the system from a surge current. |
| US08400796B2 |
Power converter with distributed cell control
A device for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage and vice versa comprises a control system to control the voltage conversion and at least one phase leg (1) with a first (Uvp1) voltage source connected in series between a first DC terminal (4) and a first AC terminal (6) and with a second (Uvn1) voltage source connected in series between the first AC terminal (6) and a second DC terminal (5). Each of the voltage sources comprises at least a first and a second submodule (15) in series-connection, where each submodule (15) comprises at least two power electronic switches (16) connected in parallel with at least one capacitor (17). The control system comprises a central control unit (19) and at least two subunits (20), where the central control unit (19) transmits to each subunit (20) a reference AC voltage (ua_ref) and a switching carrier signal (s_sw) and where each subunit (20) controls the switching of the power electronic switches (16) of one of the submodules (15) according to a PWM pattern so that each time the switching carrier signal (s_sw) crosses the reference AC voltage (ua_ref) either the voltage across the capacitor (17) or a zero voltage are applied to output terminals (26, 27) of the corresponding submodule (15). |
| US08400794B2 |
Power system
A power system is disclosed. The power system comprises a plurality of power supply units, a voltage sharing bus, and a current sharing bus. The sharing bus is used to transmit a sharing voltage, and the current sharing bus is used to transmit a first current reference value. Each of the power supply units comprises: a power converter, a feed-forward control (FFC) circuit, and a feedback control (FBC) circuit. The feed-forward control circuit is used to generate a second current reference value according to a difference between an input voltage of the power converter and the sharing voltage. The feedback control circuit is used to generate a current compensation value according to the second current reference value and the first current reference value. The power converter can adjusts the output current thereof in accordance with the current compensation value. |
| US08400791B2 |
Power layer generation of inverter gate drive signals
Techniques include systems and methods of synchronizing multiple parallel inverters in a power converter system. In one embodiment, control circuitry is connected to a power layer interface circuitry at each of the parallel inverters, via an optical fiber interface. The system is synchronized by transmitting a synchronizing pulse to each of the inverters. Depending on the operational mode of the system, different data exchanges may occur in response to the pulse. In an off mode, power up and power down data may be exchanged between the control circuitry and the inverters. In an initiating mode, identification data may be transmitted from the inverters to the control circuitry. In an active mode, control data may be sent from the control circuitry to the inverters. In some embodiments, the inverters also transmit feedback data and/or acknowledgement signals to the control circuitry. Power layer circuitry of the inverter adjusts a local clock based upon sampled data from the control circuitry to maintain synchronicity of the inverters between synchronization pulses. |
| US08400790B2 |
Latch-off of real time synchronous rectification for light load control
The present invention discloses a light load control circuit and the method accordingly where the synchronous rectification is latched off selectively according to the gate voltage of the synchronous rectifier. |
| US08400788B2 |
Power supply apparatus for a capacitive load
The invention provides a power supply apparatus for supplying electric power to a capacitive load. The apparatus has a transformer, a positive half-period driver and a negative half-period driver supplying positive and negative half-periods of voltage to the first coil. The second coil forms an electric resonance circuit and supplies electric voltage to the load. Zero crossings of the voltage supplied to the first coil are determined from a third coil on the transformer, and alternation between positive and negative half-periods of voltage supplied to the first coil is done at the zero crossings of the voltage supplied to the first coil. |
| US08400784B2 |
Flip chip package for monolithic switching regulator
Methods and apparatuses related to packaging a monolithic voltage regulator are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: (i) a monolithic voltage regulator with a transistor arranged as parallel transistor devices; (ii) bumps on the monolithic voltage regulator to form connections to source and drain terminals of the transistor; (iii) a single layer lead frame with a plurality of interleaving lead fingers coupled to the monolithic voltage regulator via the bumps, where the single layer lead frame includes first and second surfaces, where the first surface includes a first pattern to form connections to the bumps, and where the second surface includes a second pattern that is different from the first pattern; and (iv) a flip-chip package encapsulating the monolithic voltage regulator, the bumps, and the single layer lead frame, where the flip-chip package has external connectors of the monolithic voltage regulator at the second surface of the single layer lead frame. |
| US08400780B2 |
Stacked microfeature devices
Stacked microfeature devices and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed. A package in accordance with one embodiment includes first and second microfeature devices having corresponding first and second bond pad surfaces that face toward each other. First bond pads can be positioned at least proximate to the first bond pad surface and second bond pads can be positioned at least proximate to the second bond pad surface. A package connection site can provide electrical communication between the first microfeature device and components external to the package. A wirebond can be coupled between at least one of the first bond pads and the package connection site, and an electrically conductive link can be coupled between the first microfeature device and at least one of the second bond pads of the second microfeature device. Accordingly, the first microfeature device can form a portion of an electrical link to the second microfeature device. |
| US08400779B2 |
Semiconductor package having multi pitch ball land
A semiconductor device having a printed circuit board and a semiconductor chip. The printed circuit board includes a chip region, a plurality of first ball lands adjacent to the chip region, and at least one second ball land adjacent to the first ball lands. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the chip region. The first ball lands are arranged to have a first pitch. One of the first ball lands which is nearest to the second ball land, and the second ball land have a second pitch greater than the first pitch. |
| US08400770B2 |
Heat spreader, electronic apparatus, and heat spreader manufacturing method
According to an embodiment, there is provided a heat spreader including a condenser portion formed of a nanomaterial. The heat spreader further includes a first plate member, a second plate member, and a support portion. The first plate member includes a first surface, the first surface including a first area provided with the condenser portion. The second plate member includes a second surface and is arranged such that the second surface faces the first surface. The support portion protrudes from the first area of the first plate member to the second plate member, and has an end portion that is free from the nanomaterial and is in contact with the second surface of the second plate member. |
| US08400769B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing provided with air intake holes, a circuit board contained in the housing, with a heat producing component mounted on the circuit board, a heat sink contained in the housing, and a fan which sends cooling air to the heat sink in the housing, and includes a fan casing and an impeller contained in the fan casing. The fan casing includes a first suction port and a second suction port which face each other with the impeller inserted therebetween, and an exhaust port which faces the heat sink. The first suction port communicates with the air intake holes of the housing. The second suction port comprises an open area which faces the heat producing component in the housing, and another open area which is open to inside of the housing at a position deviated from the circuit board. |
| US08400768B2 |
Computer case
The invention relates to a computer case, comprising a case top, a case base, two lateral walls, a rear wall and a front cover, the case top being detachably retained at least on the rear wall and a power supply unit being arranged on one of the lateral walls. The computer case according to the invention is characterized in that the lateral wall on which the power supply unit is arranged is swiveled to the case base. |
| US08400766B2 |
Dust eliminator for computer and control method thereof
The present invention relates to a device for eliminating dust for a computer and a control method thereof. A control unit and a heat-radiating fan controlled by the control unit are provided in the main body. In addition, there is provided a cooling fin through which air stream formed by the heat-radiating fan passes. While the air stream formed by the heat-radiating fan passes through the cooling fan, heat is exchanged between the air stream and the cooling fin and the air stream is then exhausted to the outside of the main body. A vibration-generating element for generating vibration supplied with power is provided at one side of the cooling fin. The control unit controls the driving of the vibration-generating element. Vibration of the vibration-generating element is transmitted to the cooling fin to shake off dust accumulated on the cooling fin. Then, the air stream formed by the heat-radiating fan is exhausted to the outside of the main body together with the dust. Further, the driving of the vibration-generating element cooperates with the driving of the heat-radiating fan. According to the present invention so configured, the dust accumulated on the cooling fin is automatically eliminated by the vibration-generating element, whereby a cooling efficiency is enhanced and convenience in use is increased. |
| US08400765B2 |
System with air flow under data storage devices
A computer system includes a chassis, one or more hard disk drives coupled to the chassis, and one or more air passages under at least one of the hard disk drives. The air passages include one or more air inlets and one or more air outlets. The inlets direct at least a portion of the air downwardly into the passages. The passages allow air to move from the air inlets to the air outlets. |
| US08400764B1 |
Display unit with storage feature
A device includes a display unit, a first coupler, and a second coupler. The display unit is configured to provide a visual display to a user of the device. The display unit has a first side portion and a second side portion. The first coupler is disposed on the first side portion of the display unit. The first coupler is configured to removably couple a filter to the first side portion of the display unit. The second coupler is disposed on the second side portion of the display unit. The second coupler is configured to removably couple the filter to the second side portion of the display unit. |
| US08400763B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a front frame, a panel module, a main back cover, a sub-back cover, a circuit device and a stand set, wherein the main back cover includes a recess portion sinking from the main back cover toward the panel module. An inner space is formed between the recess portion and the sub-back cover. The circuit device is disposed in the inner space and connected to the recess portion. In different embodiments, the display device includes a reinforcing rib for grounding purpose. The reinforcing rib is disposed on the panel module and is located between the panel module and the main back cover. Furthermore, a through-hole is formed on the recess portion for the reinforcing rib to pass through and electrically couples with the circuit device. |
| US08400760B2 |
Power distribution device
A power distribution device may include an input port configured to receive power form a power source, a plurality of sockets arranged along a first plane to from a matrix, each of the plurality of sockets including first and second terminals, the first terminals coupled to the input port, the first and second terminals of each of the plurality of sockets configured to deliver the power therebetween upon coupling to a connection device, and a plurality of output ports aligned along a second plane, each of the plurality of output ports coupled to the second terminal of one of the plurality of sockets, the plurality of output ports configured to distribute the power to one or more power loads. |
| US08400759B2 |
High-voltage switchgear assembly
The invention relates to a gas-insulated high-voltage switchgear, comprising at least one bus bar with three phase conductors, whereby each phase conductor is connected to the input of a respectively provided bus bar section. The phase conductor and the bus bar section are arranged in a three-phase bus bar module with three single-phase power switches, each arranged in a separate power switch housing and each bus bar section is connected at the output therefrom to a respectively provided power switch. |
| US08400758B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor and a method for manufacturing the same
A solid electrolytic capacitor according to the present invention includes a solid electrolyte type capacitor element including a dielectric layer intervening between an anode section and a cathode section, an anode terminal connected electrically to the anode section of the capacitor element through a pad member, and a cathode terminal connected electrically to the cathode section of the capacitor element. Here, on facing surfaces of the pad member and the anode terminal, a joint part which joins the pad member and the anode terminal electrically is formed at a position adjacent to a first lateral surface of the pad member located on the cathode terminal side, and a second lateral surface of the pad member on the opposite side to the first lateral surface and a partial area of a lateral end surface of the anode terminal are flush with each other. |
| US08400753B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor, including: a multilayer body having a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of internal electrode layers alternately laminated; wherein each internal electrode layer has a width gradually decreases from a center thereof towards both ends thereof in a length direction; and when a width of each internal electrode layer at the ends thereof in the length direction is defined as a minimum width L2 and a width of a portion of a margin portion M in each dielectric layer is defined as a maximum width M2, the portion of the margin portion M having no internal electrode layer present thereon and corresponding to the ends of each internal electrode layer in the length direction, a ratio of M2 to L2 (M2/L2) ranges from 0.2 to 0.3. |
| US08400750B2 |
Particle charger with sheath air flow for enhancing charging efficiency
A particle charger with sheath air flow for enhancing charging efficiency includes a housing and a discharge wire. The housing has a charging chamber for accommodating the discharge wire, a particle inlet, a sheath air inlet, an outlet and an accelerating channel. A clean sheath air is guided through the sheath air inlet into the charging chamber to surround charged particles, reducing deposition of charged particles on the inside wall of the housing. A relatively small annular gap of accelerating channel accelerates the charged particles to exit the particle charger, and therefore minimized the particle electrostatic loss due to depositing on the inner surface of the housing. Additionally, uncharged particles approach the discharge wire axially, and charged particles move away radially. It is helpful for the charged particles to diffuse rapidly and uniformly, thereby enhancing the charging efficiency. |
| US08400749B2 |
Aircraft joint and bonding lead
A joint on an aircraft, the joint comprising: a first component; a second component; and a bonding lead which provides an electrical pathway between the first and second components. The bonding lead comprises a conductive core and a sheath which covers a substantial length of the core and has a lower electrical conductivity than the core. The path of least electrical resistance between the first component and the core of the bonding lead comprises the sheath, typically with an electrical resistance between 50 kΩ and 50 MΩ. By making the electrical resistance of the core much smaller than that of the sheath, the total resistance of the bonding lead remains substantially the same regardless of its length. |
| US08400743B2 |
Electrostatic discharge circuit
An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The IC includes a first global voltage node and a second global voltage node. The IC further includes two or more power domains each coupled to the first global voltage node. Each of the two or more power domains includes a functional unit and a local voltage node coupled to the functional unit. Each of the plurality of power domains further includes a power-gating transistor coupled between the local voltage node and the second global voltage node, and an ESD (electrostatic discharge) circuit configured to detect an occurrence of an ESD event and further configured to cause activation of the transistor responsive to detecting the ESD event. |
| US08400735B2 |
Magnetic recording medium
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium (100). The invention finds a particularly interesting application in the field of data stored on hard disks. The medium (100) comprises an assembly of magnetic zones disposed on a substrate (102), each magnetic zone comprising at least one first (C′1) and one second (C′2) stacked magnetic layers separated from each other by a non-magnetic layer (NM′). In addition, said first magnetic layer (C′1) presents magnetization substantially oriented parallel to the plane of said substrate (102) and said second magnetic layer (C′2) presents magnetization substantially oriented perpendicular to the plane of said substrate (102). |
| US08400731B1 |
Write head with variable side shield gaps
A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole including a throat region with a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, and first and second side edges opposite one another. The magnetic recording head further comprises a first side wall gap layer disposed alongside the first side edge of the throat region, and a second side wall gap layer disposed alongside the second side edge of the throat region. Each of the first and second side wall gap layers has a first width at the leading edge of the throat region smaller than a second width at the trailing edge of the throat region. |
| US08400729B1 |
Method of manufacturing motor, motor, and disk drive apparatus
A method of manufacturing a motor including a rotating portion and a stationary portion including a stator, a base portion, and a circuit board preferably includes the steps of: a) arranging the stator at a predetermined position on the base portion, and arranging a lead wire of a coil of the stator at a position on a far side of an imaginary cylindrical surface centered on a central axis and which touches top surfaces of teeth of a stator core with respect to the top surfaces; b) arranging a shield between a land portion of the circuit board and the top surfaces; c) soldering the lead wire to the land portion, the lead wire extending along an upper surface of the circuit board through a gap between the shield and the circuit board; d) removing the shield; and e) attaching the rotating portion to the stationary portion. |
| US08400724B2 |
Movable lens assembly and associated methods
A lens assembly is provided for use with a camera having a camera body. The lens assembly in accordance with one embodiment comprises a lens body portion having camera mount configured to be connected to the camera body. A lens body is connected to the camera mount, and an adapter is connected to the lens body. An optic assembly is removably connected to the adapter and is axially moveable relative to the lens body. The optic assembly has a housing connectable to the adapter, and an optic is carried by the housing. The optic assembly is removable from the lens body portion while the lens body portion remains on the camera body. A focus assembly is coupled to the adapter and configured to axially adjust a position of the optic assembly relative to the lens body to control focus of the lens assembly when the optic assembly is installed in the lens body. |
| US08400722B2 |
Interchangeable lens, camera body, and electronic device
An interchangeable lens to be detachably attached to a camera body, that includes a holding unit at which a plurality of contacts is arranged, the interchangeable lens includes: a first communication contact system arranged at the holding unit; and a second communication contact system different from the first communication contact system, arranged at the holding unit at a position different from a position at which the first communication contact system is arranged. The fourth contact is arranged at a position closer to the second communication contact system than the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are, and the seventh contact and the eighth contact are arranged at positions closer to the first communication contact system than the fifth contact and the sixth contact are. |
| US08400716B2 |
Imaging lens
Provided is an imaging lens, including a first lens having positive (+) refractive power; a second lens having negative (−) refractive power; a third lens having negative (−) refractive power; a fourth lens having negative (−) refractive power; and a fifth lens having positive (+) refractive power in order from an object side, where the third lens is formed concavely at an object side. |
| US08400707B2 |
Medium for photon energy up-conversion
The present invention relates to a medium for photon energy up-conversion, a photon-energy up-conversion device comprising said medium and to uses of said medium. The present invention also relates to a method of photon energy up-conversion using said medium or said device. |
| US08400704B2 |
Interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle
An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly including an electrochromic reflective element. A transflective mirror reflector is established at a third surface of a rear substrate of the mirror assembly. The mirror reflector has at least three layers, including a metallic layer, a transparent conductive metal oxide layer and a transparent dielectric metal oxide layer. The metallic layer is closer to the electrochromic medium than the transparent conductive metal oxide layer and the transparent dielectric metal oxide layer, and the transparent conductive metal oxide layer and the transparent dielectric metal oxide layer are disposed between the metallic layer and the third surface of the rear substrate. The at least three layers of the mirror reflector are established at the third surface of the rear substrate by a vacuum deposition process that includes sputtering from multiple sputtering targets in a single vacuum deposition chamber. |
| US08400698B2 |
Oscillator device, optical deflecting device and method of controlling the same
Disclosed is an oscillator device that includes an oscillating system having a first oscillator, a second oscillator, a first torsion spring for connecting the first and second oscillators each other, and a second torsion spring being connected to the second oscillator and having a common torsional axis with the first torsion spring; a supporting system for supporting the oscillating system; a driving system for driving the oscillating system so that at least one of the first and second oscillators produces oscillation as can be expressed by an equation that contains a sum of a plurality of time functions; a signal producing system for producing an output signal corresponding to displacement of at least one of the first and second oscillators; and a drive control system for controlling the driving system on the basis of the output signal of the signal producing system so that at least one of amplitude and phase of the time function takes a predetermined value. |
| US08400697B2 |
Scanner apparatus having electromagnetic radiation devices coupled to MEMS actuators
A disclosed optical scanner apparatus can include a member having spaced apart proximal and distal portions. An optical scanning device can be configured to direct optical radiation, which is moveably coupled to the proximal portion of the member and can be configured to rotate in a plane of movement to a first position to direct the optical radiation along a first path and can be configured to rotate in the plane of movement to a second position to direct the optical radiation along a second path. A MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator can be coupled to the optical scanning device, where the MEMS actuator can be configured to move in a first direction to move the optical scanning device to the first position and can be configured to move in a second direction to move the optical scanning device to the second position. The MEMS actuator can have proximal and distal portions, where the distal portion of the MEMS actuator is coupled to the proximal portion of the member and the proximal portion of the MEMS actuator is coupled to the optical scanning device. Other scanner apparatus are disclosed. |
| US08400695B2 |
Compact holographic display device
A holographic display device comprises an OLED array writing onto an OASLM, the OLED array and OASLM forming adjacent layers. The OASLM encodes a hologram and a holographic reconstruction is then generated by the device when an array of read beams illuminates the OASLM. The OASLM is suitably controlled by the OLED array. An advantage of the device is that it lends itself to compactness. |
| US08400692B2 |
Systems and methods for embedding metadata in a color measurement target
Systems and methods for utilizing metadata embedded in a color measurement target to uniquely identify the target through color measurement. A color measurement target is used for color calibration, color characterization, color adjustment and/or color correction of a color output device and includes a collection of color patches imaged by the output device, wherein metadata is embedded directly into the color patches of the color measurement target to uniquely identify the target through color measurement. The metadata-bearing patches in the target are used to communicate information through color measurement, and can contribute to the color characterization. |
| US08400691B2 |
Image forming apparatus generating color image data with varying emphasis
An image-processing apparatus includes: a memory that stores a red color range occurring within a color space; an acquiring unit that acquires image data representing an image containing text; and a generating unit that generates, based on the image data acquired by the acquiring unit, image data in which a pattern image is disposed in a region containing text whose color is within the red color range, the pattern image having a first transmittance in a case that a size of the region is greater than or equal to a threshold, the pattern image having a second transmittance that is smaller than the first transmittance in a case that the size of the region is smaller than the threshold. |
| US08400681B1 |
Enhanced halftone screening method for the dry offset printing process
A method of file preparation, ripping and plate making for high end graphics printed on cylindrical products utilizing Dry Offset printing presses. While utilizing two inverse angle techniques and one fixed angle on the Black, with virtually unlimited color pluralities, encompassing a majority of all open areas of the common printing blanket without any ink overlap. The nesting of the halftone dots at even coarse line screen rulings eliminating a dot rosette pattern and creating a continuous tone appearance. Print contrast is increased to that of offset printing quality and ink contamination over the course of the run length is virtually eliminated. This current invention also increases the ability to print white with colors as opposed to needing white coating done in advanced to transparent plastics and metallic surfaces. |
| US08400678B2 |
FIFO methods, systems and apparatus for electronically registering image data
Disclosed are FIFO type methods, systems and apparatus for electronically registering image data relative to a raster or other marking device. According to an exemplary method, a FIFO type data queuing configuration is provided, where the length of data memory segments associated with the FIFO are selected to correspond to the number of raster lines from the most upstream point of the physical raster to the point where the given pixel column intersects the physical raster. |
| US08400674B2 |
Print control apparatus and print control method for the same
A PDL controller divides a print job of providing instructions to perform printing using color toners and a clear toner into a print job using the color toners and a print job using the clear toner in accordance with a ratio in an entire image formed on the basis of the print job of an image area when a sum of a total amount of the color toners used and a predetermined amount of the special toner used exceeds an upper limit of an amount of toner used in printing, and transmits the print jobs to a printing apparatus. Also, when printing based on the print job using the clear toner is to be performed, the PDL controller allows a display unit to display a guide to set a printout generated on the basis of the print job using the color toners to a paper feeder. |
| US08400670B2 |
Image down-sampling with fine detail enhancement
A method for resizing an input digital image having input pixel values to produce an output digital image having output pixel values, wherein the output digital image has a lower resolution and wherein single pixel width details in the input digital image are preserved, the method being performed by a processor and comprising: determining an output pixel value for the output digital image by interpolating within a corresponding neighborhood of image pixels in the input digital image; detecting whether the input digital image contains a fine detail within the corresponding neighborhood of image pixels; adjusting the output pixel value when a fine detail is detected; and repeating steps a)-c) for a plurality of output pixels. |
| US08400668B2 |
Apparatus and method of scanning and/or printing an image
A scanning apparatus and a method thereof include a scanning unit scanning a document and outputting a scanned result, at least one external storage unit detachably attached to the apparatus, at least one internal storage unit, and a controller detecting an attachment state of the external storage unit and storing the scanned result in one of the external storage unit and the internal storage unit according to the attachment state of the external storage unit. The scanning unit of the scanning apparatus is combined with a user scanning unit and a user printing unit into a combination apparatus, and the scanned result is printed in a printing apparatus spaced-apart from the scanning apparatus by a distance, thereby removing cables between the scanning or printing apparatus and a personal computer. Regardless of an attachment state of the external storage unit, the document is scanned in the real time, and the scanning apparatus is commonly used with a plurality of personal computers which are not connected to the scanning apparatus. |
| US08400660B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, computer readable medium, and computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave
An information processing device includes a memory that stores instruction data describing a content of processing to be executed on document data and a sequence of the processing, in association with a storing area for storing the document data; and a processing executing unit that executes a first processing on the document data stored in the storing area according to the instruction data associated with the storing area, when the document data is stored in the storing area, and executes a second processing on the document data according to the instruction data set for an upper storing area when the upper storing area is set for the storing area. |
| US08400659B2 |
Image forming apparatus with dedictated transmission line that connects the control unit and the engine unit and features a power mode signal
In an MFP, a system controller is connected to an engine via a universal transmission line and a dedicated transmission line. When MFP is powered, the system controller sends a mode signal to the engine via the dedicated signal line. If the mode signal indicates that the power mode is to be set to a normal mode, the engine activates predetermined components. The system controller and the engine then establish communication via the universal bus. After establishing the communication, if the mode signal indicates that the power mode is to be set to a mode other than the normal mode, the system controller sends a setting command to the engine via the bus to set the power mode to any of a plurality of power-saving modes. |
| US08400658B2 |
Network device and workflow processing system
A system which executes a workflow without a management apparatus immediately notifies the user of an error which has occurred in a device. When an error occurs in a job in a device which is executing the workflow, the device which shares the workflow with other devices transmits the log of the error to a device of the end stage of the workflow in accordance with the flow of the workflow. |
| US08400656B2 |
Image communication apparatus
The invention relates to an image communication apparatus that allows e-mail transmission with excellent versatility. Based on a result of detection provided by a document detecting section (3) for detecting the presence or absence of a document, it is determined whether or not an e-mail is transmitted with use of an attachment file by an e-mail transmitting section (7). For example, when the presence of a document is detected by the document detecting section (3), a control section (2) acts to create an e-mail with document image data read by a reading section (4) in attachment-file form, and to transmit the created e-mail. When the absence of a document is detected by the document detecting section (3), the control section acts to create an e-mail without using an attachment file of image data, and to transmit the created e-mail. |
| US08400652B2 |
Portable terminal apparatus, and printing system and method for determining printable image data
A portable terminal apparatus confirms whether it conforms to an image data sending and receiving method to which an image forming apparatus for printing image data can be adapted, and receives data of the printable image format from the image forming apparatus. The portable terminal apparatus displays image identification data for identifying each piece of stored image data, and determines whether each piece of the image data is printable, based on at least one of a result of the confirmation with respect to the sending and receiving method, the image format information, and the image data. Based on a result of the determination, the display is controlled so that the user can distinguish whether each piece of the image data is printable. Among image data selected by the user, printable image data due to the determination is sent to the image forming device. |
| US08400650B2 |
Network printer and network printing method of restricting host from using network printer
A network printer and a network printing method of restricting a host from using the network printer. The network printing method includes, if identification information of a host and a print job request signal are received from the host, receiving print data from the host and processing the received print data into a printable signal, determining whether an error exists in a print job during the processing of the print data into the printable signal, if the error exists, automatically registering the identification information of the host in a use restriction list to prevent execution of the print job, and if no error exists in the print job, executing the print job with respect to the print data. |
| US08400639B2 |
Methods and devices for measurements using pump-probe spectroscopy in high-Q microcavities
The use of optical microcavities, high-Q resonators and slow-light structures as tools for detecting molecules and probing conformations and measuring polarizability and anisotropy of molecules and molecular assemblies using a pump-probe approach is described. Resonances are excited simultaneously or sequentially with pump and probe beams coupled to the same microcavity, so that a pump beam wavelength can be chosen to interact with molecules adsorbed to the microcavity surface, whereas a probe beam wavelength can be chosen to non-invasively measure pump-induced perturbations. The induced perturbations are manifest due to changes of resonance conditions and measured from changes in transfer characteristics or from changes of the scattering spectra of a microcavity-waveguide system. The perturbations induced by the pump beam may be due to polarizability changes, changes in molecular conformation, breakage or formation of chemical bonds, triggering of excited states, and formation of new chemical species. |
| US08400638B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of a consumable
The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus. |
| US08400636B2 |
Blast injury dosimeter
A method for detecting blast induced pressure changes includes exposing a material, a contained solution, a membrane-bound solution, or a photonic crystal material, having a first optical property, to a pressure wave having a blast level. A change in the first optical property to a second optical property of the exposed material, contained solution, membrane-bound solution, or photonic crystal material is determined, and the extent of change corresponds to the blast level. |
| US08400635B2 |
Equipment and method for measuring dental shade
The invention relates to a device for measuring dental shade comprising: —illumination means (24, 40, 42, 44, 48, 50), for successively illuminating at least one part of a tooth (D) with light of various spectral ranges, —at least one sensor (26) sensitive to light coming from said tooth part, in response to the illumination, to generate for each different color of illumination, at least one measurement signal, —means (30, 32) for converting the measurement signals corresponding to said tooth part, into the coordinates of a measurement point (202), in a shade space in which “reference” points (320, 410, 540) are also defined, corresponding to the preset shades of a dental shade guide, and—search means (114), for the tooth part, for a shade corresponding to the reference point closest to the measurement point, in the shade space. |
| US08400634B2 |
Semiconductor wafer alignment markers, and associated systems and methods
Semiconductor wafer alignment markers and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A wafer in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a wafer substrate having an alignment marker that includes a first structure and a second structure, each having a pitch, with first features and second features positioned within the pitch. The first features are positioned to generate first phase portions of an interference pattern, with at least one of the first features having a width different than another of the first features in the pitch, and with the second features positioned to generate second phase portions of the interference pattern, with the second phase portions having a second phase opposite the first phase, and with at least one of the second features having a width different than that of another of the second features in the pitch. The pitch for the first structure is different than the pitch for the second structure. |
| US08400632B2 |
Method and apparatus for rapidly counting and identifying biological particles in a flow stream
A method for increasing the throughput and/or the precision of a flow cytometer, or a hematology analyzer employing a flow cytometer, and for further reducing the complexity of such a cytometer or analyzer. The system and method includes utilizing the technique of laser rastering in combination with a lysis-free single-dilution method. |
| US08400631B2 |
Method for measuring and method for viewing a wave surface using spectrophotometry
A method for measuring a wave surface of an optical component formed of a stack of at least two layers of different refraction indices from reflection or transmission measurements of points located on a face of the said optical component. |
| US08400630B2 |
Method and device for the detection of defects in an object
A method for detecting defects in an object includes a step of locally illuminating the object by radiating in light having a wavelength to which the object is transparent. Multiply reflected components of the incident light are detected while the detection of directly transmitted components of the incident light is at least partly avoided and the detection of singly reflected components of the incident light is at least partly avoided. Defects are identified by evaluating intensity differences in the detected components of the incident light. There is also disclosed a device for carrying out the method. |
| US08400624B2 |
Non contact wheel alignment sensor and method
A method of determining alignment characteristics of a tire and wheel assembly mounted on a vehicle comprises projecting a light plane onto the tire and wheel assembly to form a reference illumination line, receiving a reflected image of the reference illumination line with a photo electric device, and determining a reference distance from the reference illumination line to a noncontact wheel alignment sensor including the photo electric device. The method also includes projecting a plurality of light planes onto the tire and wheel assembly to form a plurality of generally parallel illumination lines, receiving a reflected image of at least some of the generally parallel illumination lines with the photo electric device, and identifying which generally parallel illumination lines are imaged at the receiving step using the reference distance, and determining the orientation of the tire and wheel assembly based on the reflected image of the generally parallel illumination lines. |
| US08400620B2 |
Registration of an extended reference for parameter measurement in an optical sensing system
An interferometric measurement system measures a parameter using at least one optical waveguide. A memory stores reference interferometric pattern data associated with a segment of the optical waveguide. Interferometric detection circuitry detects and stores measurement interferometric pattern data associated with the segment of the optical waveguide during a measurement operation. A spectral range of the reference interferometric pattern of the optical waveguide is greater than a spectral range of the measurement interferometric pattern of the optical waveguide. A processor shifts one or both of the measurement interferometric pattern data and the reference interferometric pattern data relative to the other to obtain a match and to use the match to measure the parameter. An example parameter is strain. |
| US08400618B2 |
Method for arranging an optical module in a measuring apparatus and a measuring apparatus
A method for arranging an optical module in a measuring apparatus includes: providing the measuring apparatus with an irradiation system for irradiating the optical module with electromagnetic radiation, a reference component, and a detection element defining a detection surface, the detection element being disposed in a defined position in relation to the reference component, disposing the optical module in the measuring apparatus such that the radiation emitted by the irradiation system passes through the optical module and impinges onto the detection surface as an exit beam, measuring a position of the exit beam in relation to the detection surface, adjusting the position of the optical module within the measuring apparatus such that the position of the exit beam in relation to the detection surface is brought to correspond to a predetermined position, and establishing position parameters defining the position of the optical module in relation to the reference component. |
| US08400617B2 |
Lithographic apparatus having a substrate support with open cell plastic foam parts
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate support constructed to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, wherein the substrate support includes parts that are made of an open cell plastic foam material. |
| US08400616B2 |
Laser interference lithography apparatus capable of stitching small exposed areas into large exposed area
A laser interference lithography apparatus capable of stitching small exposed areas into a large exposed area includes a body, a laser beam supplying unit, a reflecting mechanism, an L-shaped fixing mechanism and a substrate stage. The laser beam supplying unit fixed onto the body provides a laser beam. The reflecting mechanism is movably and rotatably mounted on the body. The L-shaped fixing mechanism mounted on the body includes a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat. An upright first reflecting mirror is fixed to the first mounting seat. The second mounting seat connected to the first mounting seat fixes a horizontal mask, and is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting seat. The substrate stage, movably mounted on the body and disposed below the second mounting seat, supports a substrate. Thus, a large-area pattern formed by stitching small-area patterns may be obtained. |
| US08400613B2 |
Optical element driving apparatus, projection optical system, exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An outer ring (21) is arranged in a barrel unit (14c). A driving mechanism (25) provided on the outer ring shifts an optical element (M), and adjusts the position and the tilt of the optical element. A damper mechanism (31) for suppressing propagation of vibration to the optical element is attached to the outer ring. |
| US08400604B2 |
Array substrate for IPS-mode LCD device being capable of preventing wavy noise
Provided is an array substrate for an IPS-mode LCD device and method of fabricating the same that prevents a problem referred to as wavy noise. The IPS-mode LCD device and method have a shorter processing time and low error rate without an increase in fabrication and production costs. |
| US08400600B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes in a first mask process, forming a first mask pattern group including a gate line, a gate electrode connected to the gate line and a common line parallel to the gate line that have a first conductive layer group structure having at least double conductive layers. A second mask process forms a gate insulating film on the first mask pattern group and a semiconductor pattern thereon. A third mask process forms a third mask pattern group including a data line, a source electrode connected to the data line and a drain electrode opposite the source electrode that have a second conductive layer group structure having at least double conductive layers, and a protective film interfacing with the third mask pattern group on the gate insulating film. |
| US08400598B2 |
Liquid crystal display having wide viewing angle
A tetragonal ring shape aperture is formed in the common electrode on one substrate and a cross shape aperture is formed at the position corresponding to the center of the tetragonal ring shape aperture in the pixel electrode on the other substrate. A liquid crystal layer between two electrodes are divided to four domains where the directors of the liquid crystal layer have different angles when a voltage is applied to the electrodes. The directors in adjacent domains make a right angle. The tetragonal ring shape aperture is broken at midpoint of each side of the tetragon, and the width of the aperture decreases as goes from the bent point to the edge. Wide viewing angle is obtained by four domains where the directors of the liquid crystal layer indicate different directions, disclination is removed and luminance increases. |
| US08400595B2 |
Liquid crystal display device treated by UV irradiation
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal between substrates and alignment layers disposed on the inner surface sides of the substrates. The alignment layer is made from a material including polyamic acid containing a diamine component and polyimide containing a diamine component different from the diamine component of the polyamic acid. The alignment layer is subjected to alignment treatment by irradiation of light. UV light can be irradiated in the oblique direction onto the alignment layer through a mask having openings. A reflecting plate can be arranged between a UV light source and the mask. Also, bank structures having a thickness from 0.1 to 0.15 μm can be provided on the alignment layer of the TFT substrate. |
| US08400593B2 |
Electro-optical device
An electro-optical device includes a body of fluid, a lower conductor layer disposed below the body of fluid, and a dielectric layer disposed between the body of fluid and the lower conductor layer, connected to the lower conductor layer and supporting the body of fluid. The dielectric layer includes a matrix and a liquid crystal material disposed in the matrix and including liquid crystal molecules. The dielectric layer has a segment disposed adjacent to the fluid. When the segment of the dielectric layer is exposed to an electric field, the body of fluid undergoes electrowetting or dielectrophoresis mechanism, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules that are disposed in the segment of the dielectric layer is changed. |
| US08400592B2 |
Polarizing plate and liquid crystal display
A polarizing plate for a liquid crystal display is provided and includes a first protective film, a polarizer, a second protective film and a light diffusion layer in order. The light diffusion layer is a layer including a translucent resin and translucent particles having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the translucent resin. The internal haze of the light diffusion layer is 45% to 80%. |
| US08400590B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
To provide a liquid crystal display device having high visibility and high image quality by relieving color phase irregularity. A light-shielding layer is selectively provided so as to overlap with a contact hole for electrical connection to a source region or a drain region of a thin film transistor. Alternatively, by providing an opening portion of a colored layer (color filter) with an opening so as to overlap with a contact hole, uneven alignment of liquid crystal molecules does not influence display, and a liquid crystal display having high image quality can be provided. |
| US08400587B2 |
Liquid crystal display device capable of realizing both a wide viewing angle and a narrow viewing angle
A liquid crystal display device, in which a plurality of pixels are defined in a matrix form and each pixel includes red, green, blue, and white sub-pixels adjacent to one another vertically and horizontally, is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes first, second, and third substrates sequentially stacked from the bottom, a thin-film transistor array formed on the first substrate, a black matrix formed on the second substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate at the boundary of the respective sub-pixels, a color filter layer formed on the second substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate at the respective sub-pixels, and a barrier layer formed on the third substrate over each white sub-pixel. An opening in the white sub-pixel has a smaller size than that of openings in the red, green, and blue sub-pixels. Also, an angle defined between a normal line of the second substrate and a line that connects an edge of the barrier layer with an edge of the black matrix formed below the barrier layer is larger than a value calculated by subtracting 5 degrees from an angle causing the total reflection of light to be passed through the second substrate. |
| US08400586B2 |
Polarizing plate, and image display device having polarizing plate
The present invention provides a polarizing plate excellent in adherence (particularly, under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions) between a polarizer and a protective film. The polarizing plate of the present invention includes: a polarizer; an adhesive layer; an easy-adhesion layer formed of an easy-adhesive composition containing a urethane resin having a carboxyl group and a cross-linking agent; and a protective film containing a (meth)acrylic resin. |
| US08400585B2 |
Surface light source device and liquid crystal display device
A surface light source device includes a point source of light and a light guide plate causing light from the point source of light introduced from a light incident end face and emitted from a light emission surface to outside. The light guide plate is formed of a light introducing portion provided at an end of a light guide plate body. The point source of light is placed facing the light incident end face positioned at an end face of the light introducing portion. Along a region of the light introducing portion adjacent to the light guide plate body, a directivity converting portion is provided. The directivity converting portion is configured by arranging V-grooved directivity conversion patterns in an arc shape. A region of the light introducing portion has a thickness equal to that of the light guide plate body and has a surface positioned in the same plane. |
| US08400583B2 |
Light source apparatus and display apparatus using light source apparatus
A light source apparatus include a light guide plate, a plurality of optical sheets and a frame, wherein one of the optical sheets is a prism sheet having a plurality of prisms on one surface and one or more integrally formed dark part suppressing projecting pieces engaging the frame. A pair of dark part suppressing sides adjoin the dark part suppressing projecting piece and form a first angle equal to or smaller than a dark part suppressing angle. Second angles making a pair of angles formed with a straight line and each of dark part suppressing sides are equal to or smaller than half of the dark part suppressing angle. The straight line passes through a region formed between the pair of dark part suppressing sides, passes through an intersection point of the pair of dark part suppressing sides and is parallel or perpendicular to ridge lines of the prisms. |
| US08400574B2 |
Short wave infrared multi-conjugate liquid crystal tunable filter
A SWIR hyperspectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path with angularly distributed birefringent retarders and polarizers. The retarders can include active retarders such as tunable liquid crystal birefringent elements, passive retarders such as fixed retarders, and/or combinations thereof. Distinctly different periodic transmission spectra are provided by different filter stages, each having multiple retarders, in particular with some stages having broad bandpass peaks at wide spectral spacing and other stages have very narrow closely spaced peaks. The respective spectra include at least one tunably selectable band at which the transmission spectra of the filter stages coincide, whereby the salutary narrow bandpass and wide spectral spacing ranges of different stages apply together, resulting in a high finesse wavelength filter suitable for spectral imaging. The filter may be configured to provide faster switching speed and increased angle of acceptance and may operate in the rage of approximately 850-1700 nm. |
| US08400571B2 |
Television and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a casing, a display module, a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion. The casing includes a first inner face and a second inner face. The display module includes a base portion arranged on the first inner face, and a panel laid over the base portion and opposed to the second inner face. The first receiving portion protrudes from the first inner face along a side face of the display module. The first receiving portion is opposed to a side face of the base portion and includes a distal end located away from a side face of the panel in a direction toward the first inner face. The second receiving portion is located more away from the display module than the first receiving portion is. The second receiving portion is opposed to the side face of the panel. |
| US08400570B2 |
System and method for displaying multiple images/videos on a single display
A system and method for displaying multiple images on a single display. A plurality of unique video sources may be provided where each video source provides video frames having a plurality of vertical lines. A portion of the vertical lines are captured for each video source and transmitted to the display. The partial video frames may then be re-assembled into a single video frame which can be shown on the display. The display contains a masking where only certain vertical lines are viewable at certain angles. The masking may allow two or three images to be simultaneously visible to the observer, depending on the angle of viewing the display. Wireless or wired transmission may be used. Some embodiments also use a sound focusing device which may be synced with the video source so that separate sound messages can also be observed depending on the angle of viewing the display. |
| US08400565B2 |
Video scan converter for performing interlaced to progressive scan conversion
A video scan converter processes a video stream including a first coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of fields N1 and N2 that has come from a first frame of film video, and a second coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of a field N3 that has also come from the first frame and a field M1 that has come from a second frame, not the first frame. The video scan converter includes: a decoder, which receives the video stream, decodes the first and second coding units, and sequentially outputs the data of the respective fields N1, N2, N3 and M1; and a scan converter, which generates a frame based on associated two of those fields that have been supplied from the decoder. In outputting a frame associated with the field N3, the scan converter generates the frame based on the fields N1 and N2 without using the data of the field N3. |
| US08400560B1 |
Viewing angle adjustable vehicle camera device
A viewing angle adjustable vehicle camera device comprises a housing, a camera module and an adjustment tenon. The adjustment tenon is disposed behind the camera module to adjust the viewing angle of the camera. The housing is formed with an adjustment slot and a mounting unit for mounting of the adjustment tenon, and the adjustment tenon is movable along the adjustment slot and capable of being fixed to the mounting unit, so that the position of the camera module can be adjusted easily to obtain an optimum viewing angle. |
| US08400558B2 |
Image stabilization circuitry for liquid lens
A method of controlling a liquid lens in an imaging device, the liquid lens including a liquid-liquid interface between first and second immiscible liquids deformable by electrowetting; a chamber containing the first and second liquids, the first liquid being an insulating liquid and the second liquid being a conducting liquid; and a first electrode in contact with the second liquid and at least one second electrode insulated from the second liquid by an insulating layer, the first and second electrodes being arranged to allow a plurality of voltages levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes to control the curvature of the liquid-liquid interface, the method including: determining motion data representative of a movement of the imaging device; determining focusing data representative of a desired focus of the imaging device; determining the plurality of voltage levels to be applied between the first and second electrodes, wherein each of the voltage levels is a function of the motion data, the focusing data and at least one parameter relating to the liquid lens and preliminary determined in a calibration phase. |
| US08400557B2 |
Apparatus for detecting focus
An apparatus that detects an in-focus state has a plurality of line sensors and an image signal output processor. The plurality of line sensors is arranged on a projection area. The image signal output processor outputs image signals of an object on the basis of electric charges accumulated in the plurality of line sensors. Each line sensor is equipped with a plurality of pairs of photoelectric converters, which are arrayed along the longitudinal direction of the line sensor, and a plurality of image-pixel signal-reading circuits. Each image-pixel signal-reading circuit reads electric charges from a corresponding pair of photoelectric converters. Also, each image-pixel signal-reading circuit has a first circuit that reads electric charges accumulated in one photoelectric converter and a second circuit that reads electric charges accumulated in the other photoelectric converter. Each image-pixel signal-reading circuit is positioned between the corresponding pair of photoelectric converters and segments of the first and second circuits being shared. |
| US08400556B2 |
Display control of imaging apparatus and camera body at focus operation
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system to change a focus state of an image of a subject, an imaging unit to capture the image of the subject formed by the optical system and generate image data, an auto focus controller to control the optical system to focus on a partial area in the image indicated by the image data generated by the imaging unit, a manual focus changing unit to be operated manually by a user to change the focus state of the optical system, a display unit to display the image based on the image data generated by the imaging unit, and a display controller to control the display unit. When detecting that the manual focus changing unit is operated by the user while a focus state is maintained after the autofocus controller controls the optical system to the focus state, the display controller determines, as an enlarged area, an area including a partial area in the focused image by the autofocus controller and controls the display unit to display the image of the determined enlarged area. |
| US08400550B2 |
Camera-equipped electronic device
A camera-equipped electronic device comprises a photographic unit that stores in a storage medium (12) an image obtained by photographing a subject via an imaging unit (14, 15) a non-photographic unit that executes non-photographing processing different from photographing processing executed in the photographic unit and requires electric power greater than the electric power consumed in the photographing processing, a decision-making unit (19) that makes a decision as to whether or not a current state of use is such that if the non-photographic unit is engaged in operation over a predetermined length of time, the remaining capacity in a battery (13) will become depleted to a level equal to or less than a predetermined value and a restricting unit (19) that restricts the use of the non-photographic unit with regard to the consumption of electric power based upon the results of the decision made by the decision-making unit. |
| US08400545B2 |
Amplifying circuit and imaging device imaging device
This invention is an amplification circuit which limits increased power consumption and circuit surface area use and an imaging device including this amplification circuit. After initially discharging a capacitor, a signal charge corresponding to the difference between pixel signals is transferred repeatedly to the capacitor during an integration phase storing a signal charge proportional to the number of repetitions. The output of amplification is the signal charge accumulated in the capacitor. The gain is independent of the capacitor capacitance ratio. Thus the capacitor size can be smaller than conventional amplification circuits. |
| US08400542B2 |
Image sensor and image capture apparatus
An image sensor having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a row direction and a column direction, comprises a plurality of pixel amplifiers which are arranged in the row direction for each column, and one of which is shared by at least two pixels of each column; two output lines arranged for each column, to either of which signals are output from the plurality of pixel amplifiers arranged in the row direction for each column; and an averaging unit which averages signals output from the two output lines arranged for the same column. |
| US08400540B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device may include a plurality of A/D converters each of which receives a pixel signal from a pixel array that includes pixels arranged two-dimensionally. Each of the pixels may have a photoelectric conversion element. The pixel array may output the pixel signal in accordance with an incident light amount to the photoelectric conversion element. The plurality of A/D converters may convert the pixel signal to a digital value based on a reference voltage. The plurality of A/D converters may output the digital value. A reference voltage wire, which supplies the reference voltage to each of the plurality of A/D converters, may be branched into a plurality of branched reference voltage wires each of which is corresponding to one of the plurality of A/D converters. Each of the plurality of branched reference voltage wires may be connected only to constituent components in a corresponding A/D converter. |
| US08400539B2 |
High density composite focal plane array
A composite focal plane assembly with an expandable architecture has a multi-layer, double-sided aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate and vertical architecture to achieve the dual function of focal plane and electronics backplane. Imaging dice and other electrical components are mounted and wire bonded to one surface and then direct backplane connectivity is provided on the opposing surface through a matrix of electrical contacts. In one embodiment, a flexible connector is sandwiched between the AlN focal plane and a FR-4 backplane is used to compensate for differences in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the AlN and commercially available high density circuit card connectors that are commonly manufactured from materials with CTE properties more closely approximating FR-4. In an alternate embodiment, the FR-4 and flexible connectors are eliminated by using high density circuit card connectors that are fabricated out of materials more closely matching the CTE of AlN. |
| US08400538B2 |
Apparatus and method for capturing images
Provided are an apparatus and a method for capturing images by applying different color filters to two pixel regions with IR blocking filters removed so that optical signals in the visible band and IR signals can be received. The apparatus includes a filter unit having a plurality of filters having different wavelength bands; a sensor unit sensing optical signals passing through the filters; and a signal-extraction unit extracting detailed optical signals in respective wavelength bands by using the difference between the sensed optical signals. |
| US08400537B2 |
Image sensors having gratings for color separation
An image sensor includes an array of pixels comprising a plurality of kernels that repeat periodically and each kernel includes n photosensitive regions for collecting charge in response to light, n is equal to or greater than 2; and a transparent layer spanning the photosensitive regions having n optical paths, at least two of which are different, wherein each optical path directs light of a predetermined spectral band into specific photosensitive regions. |
| US08400534B2 |
Noise reduction methods and systems for imaging devices
Embodiments describe noise reduction methods and systems for imaging devices having a pixel array having a plurality of pixels, each pixel representing one of a plurality of captured colors and having an associated captured pixel value. Noise reduction methods filter a captured pixel value for a respective pixel based on the captured pixel values associated with pixels in a window of pixels surrounding the respective pixel. Disclosed embodiments provide a low cost noise reduction filtering process that takes advantage of the correlations among the red, green and blue color channels to efficiently remove noise while retaining image sharpness. A noise model can be used to derive a parameter of the noise reduction methods. |
| US08400533B1 |
Methods of reducing aberrations in a digital image
A method of reducing aberrations in a digital image comprises capturing input samples associated with a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel is associated with a color defining the digital image; establishing vertical chrominance groups associated with columns of the matrix and horizontal chrominance groups associated with rows of the matrix; determining chrominance values for the chrominance groups; determining, for each chrominance group, a mean value and, a sum of absolute differences between the chrominance values and the mean value for the chrominance values of the chrominance group; calculating, by a signal processing device, a plurality of weights comprising vertical weights associated with the vertical chrominance groups and horizontal weights associated with the horizontal chrominance groups based upon the sums of absolute differences; and determining a missing color component for a predetermined pixel of the plurality of pixels using the plurality of weights. |
| US08400531B2 |
Digital image filtration methods
A multi-functional digital imaging system is described that controls and manages digital image filtration processes. The camera CPU and DSP are used to filter digital sensor files using algorithms to correct optical and digital aberrations. |
| US08400530B2 |
Communication device, communication system, image presentation method, and program
A communication device that can simplify various settings of a display device, such as a TV, that provides information regarding an object (communication device) is provided. An image capturing device (1) has a RF-ID unit (47) for performing proximity wireless communication with a RF-ID reader/writer (46) connected via an infrared communication path to a TV (45). The image capturing device (1) includes: an antenna (21) for the proximity wireless communication; a data receiving unit (105) receiving an input signal from the RF-ID reader/writer (46); a nonvolatile second memory (52) storing at least UID (75) and an execution program (116); and a data transmission unit (108) transmitting the UID (75) and the execution program (116) to the RF-ID reader/writer (46) via the antenna (21) according to the input signal. The UID (75) is used to identify the communication device, and the execution program (116) is executed by the TV (45) with reference to the UID (75). The transmitted UID (75) and execution program (116) are transferred to the TV (45) via the RF-ID reader/writer (46). |
| US08400527B2 |
Image capture apparatus
An image capture apparatus has an image capture unit to capture an object image, an acquisition unit to acquire a developing parameter for image data captured by the image capture unit, an analysis unit to analyze RAW image data generated by the image capture unit, an image composition unit to compose a plurality of RAW image data generated by the image capture unit and generate composite RAW image data, a composition ratio determination unit to determine a composition ratio for a plurality of developing parameters respectively for development of the plurality of RAW image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a parameter composition unit to compose the plurality of developing parameters and generate one composite developing parameter, and a development unit to develop the composite RAW image data using the composite developing parameter. |
| US08400526B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and control method thereof
An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing unit that outputs an image signal in accordance with incident light through an optical system including a zoom lens. The apparatus performs photographing by exposing the image sensing unit while driving the zoom lens, and stores attached information relating to photography at a predetermined timing after driving of the zoom lens has started during photographing. After the end of exposure of the image sensing unit, an image signal output from the image sensing unit is recorded in association with the stored attached information. |
| US08400508B2 |
Monitoring system
In a monitoring system, a plurality of monitoring devices for performing a sequence operation of sequentially switching images output from a plurality of cameras are connected. Each of the monitoring devices includes: an address information collection unit configured to collect address information of other cascaded monitoring devices when the sequence operation of an own device is started; a storage unit configured to store the address information collected by the address information collection unit; and a command transmission unit configured to determine a next address from the address information stored in the storage unit and to transmit a command for starting the sequence operation to one of the other monitoring devices which has the determined next address when the sequence operation of the own device is terminated. |
| US08400507B2 |
Scene selection in a vehicle-to-vehicle network
In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, a participant can select a particular video feed for display. The participant has the option of selecting or locking onto a particular camera so that the display continues to show scenes captured by that camera without regard to what appears in those scenes. As an alternative, the participant may select or lock onto a particular scene. If a scene is selected, the current video feed is analyzed to identify key features. The video feed is monitored. If the key features disappear from the video feed, video feeds available from other cameras are analyzed for the presence of the key features. A new video feed (i.e., camera) is selected from the set of video feeds currently generating images including the key features. |
| US08400503B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic application and monitoring of a structure to be applied onto a substrate
A method and apparatus are provided for automatic application and monitoring of a structure to be applied onto substrate. A plurality of cameras positioned around an application facility are utilized to monitor the automatic application of a structure on a substrate by means of a stereometry procedure. Three-dimensional recognition of a reference contour position results in the overlapping area to be used for gross adjustment of the application facility prior to applying the structure. |
| US08400502B2 |
Detection and recognition of fog presence within an aircraft compartment using video images
Detecting video phenomena, such as fire in an aircraft cargo bay, includes receiving a plurality of video images from a plurality of sources, compensating the images to provide enhanced images, extracting features from the enhanced images, and combining the features from the plurality of sources to detect the video phenomena. Extracting features may include determining an energy indicator for each of a subset of the plurality of frames. Detecting video phenomena may also include comparing energy indicators for each of the subset of the plurality of frames to a reference frame. The reference frame corresponds to a video frame taken when no fire is present, video frame immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames, or a video frame immediately preceding a frame that is immediately preceding each of the subset of the plurality of frames. Image-based and non-image based techniques are described herein in connection with fire detection and/or verification and other applications. |
| US08400498B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope having a color space conversion circuit performs a matrix calculation according to RGB signals and matrix data respectively corresponding to signals in wavelength ranges is provided with a wavelength memory section having a default data memory area, which stores a default value representing a wavelength range selected by a wavelength selection section, and a changed-wavelength saving area that stores a wavelength range selected by the wavelength selection section after changed from the wavelength range represented by the default value. Subsequently, at least a part of the wavelength range stored in the changed-wavelength saving area is rewritten by a reset section into the default value stored in the default data memory area. |
| US08400497B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating stereoscopic file
A method and apparatus for generating a stereoscopic file defined based on a conventional International Standardization Organization (ISO) based media file format. The apparatus includes an encoder encoding first video data and second video data that are included in three-dimensional (3D) video data; and a file generating unit arranging the encoded first video data and second video data according to the information of a stereoscopic file format including boxes that are selected from boxes included in a conventional International Standardization Organization (ISO) based media file format in order to store and generate the stereoscopic file, and generating the stereoscopic file. |
| US08400495B2 |
Security element
The present invention relates to a security element for security papers, value documents and the like, having a microoptical moiré magnification arrangement (30) for depicting a three-dimensional moiré image (40) that includes, in at least two moiré image planes spaced apart in a direction normal to the moiré magnification arrangement, image components (42, 44), having a motif image that includes two or more periodic or at least locally periodic lattice cell arrangements having different lattice periods and/or different lattice orientations that are each allocated to one moiré image plane and that include micromotif image components for depicting the image component (42, 44) of the allocated moiré image plane, for the moiré-magnified viewing of the motif image, a focusing element grid that is arranged spaced apart from the motif image and that includes a periodic or at least locally periodic arrangement of a plurality of lattice cells having one microfocusing element each, wherein, for almost all tilt directions ({right arrow over (k)}), upon tilting the security element, the magnified, three-dimensional moiré image (40) moves in a moiré movement direction ({right arrow over (v)}) that differs from the tilt direction. |
| US08400494B2 |
Method and system for object reconstruction
A system and method are presented for use in the object reconstruction. The system comprises an illuminating unit, and an imaging unit (see FIG. 1). The illuminating unit comprises a coherent light source and a generator of a random speckle pattern accommodated in the optical path of illuminating light propagating from the light source towards an object, thereby projecting onto the object a coherent random speckle pattern. The imaging unit is configured for detecting a light response of an illuminated region and generating image data. The image data is indicative of the object with the projected speckles pattern and thus indicative of a shift of the pattern in the image of the object relative to a reference image of said pattern. This enables real-time reconstruction of a three-dimensional map of the object. |
| US08400485B2 |
Thermal transfer printer
A thermal transfer printer includes a printing unit for thermal transfer printing with a print head via a ribbon having a dye layer; a first bending member having at least one curved surface that is aligned perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the ribbon and protrudes toward a surface of the ribbon for bending the ribbon after thermal transfer, a second bending member disposed at a distance from the first bending member having at least one acute apex that is aligned perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the ribbon and protrudes toward the surface of the ribbon, the apex causing a bend line to be formed in the used ribbon conveyed from the first bending member; a folder for folding the ribbon conveyed from the second bending member along the bend line; and a heater for fusing opposing dye layers of the folded ribbon together. |
| US08400471B2 |
Interpretation of constrained objects in augmented reality
Technologies are generally described for interpretation of constrained objects in augmented reality. An example system may comprise a processor, a memory arranged in communication with the processor, and a display arranged in communication with the processor. An example system may further comprise a sensor arranged in communication with the processor. The sensor may be effective to detect measurement data regarding a constrained object. The sensor may be configured to send the measurement data to the processor. The processor may be effective to receive the measurement data, determine a model for the object, and process the measurement data to produce weighted measurement data. The processor may also be effective to apply a filter to the model and to the weighted measurement data to produce position information regarding the object, which may be utilized to generate an image based on the position information. The display may be effective to display the image. |
| US08400470B2 |
Client side multi-component image composition
A method is provided for displaying a client-side multi-component image. A plurality of image component channels derived from captured images of a sample are stored in a server, the plurality of image component channels being stored in the form of a plurality of image data records. A client then requests one or more of the plurality of image data records and the server transmits to the client the one or more of the plurality of image data records requested. At the client, the client-side multi-component image is composited from the image data records transmitted the composited client-side multi-component image is displayed. |
| US08400469B2 |
Coordinated operation method and communication terminal device
During execution of an engine application by an engine unit, a host unit determines a region for host display upon a display screen, wherein the host unit determines the display contents, according to the usage direction of the display screen employed. Subsequently, the unit creates a host image; the unit generates an engine application image, when the operation of the engine application starts. A display image generation means then generates an image during engine application execution wherein the host image and the engine application image are overlapped, so that, in the region wherein the region for host display and the region for engine display are superimposed, priority is given to the engine application image. Thus, along with it being possible to build the device as a whole in a more compact manner, it is also possible to ensure the convenience from the point of view of the user. |
| US08400468B2 |
Projector masks for calibrating projector-based display systems
Methods having corresponding apparatus and tangible computer-readable media comprise: capturing a first image of ambient light upon a surface; generating a first grayscale image based on a selected color channel of the first image; projecting a primary color of light upon the surface; capturing a second image of the primary color of light projected upon the surface; generating a second grayscale image based on the selected color channel of the second image; generating a difference image, comprising subtracting the first grayscale image from the second grayscale image; and generating a projector mask, comprising detecting edges of a shape in the difference image, and reproducing the shape based upon the edges of the shape. |
| US08400466B2 |
Image retrieval apparatus, image retrieving method, and storage medium for performing the image retrieving method in the image retrieval apparatus
An image retrieval apparatus, which is included in an image forming apparatus and has a storage medium storing a machine-readable program to perform an image retrieving method, includes a retrieving unit configured to search and retrieve a target image similar to specified image data in a storage unit storing a distinctive feature area image stored in association with the target image as a key image, an extracting unit configured to extract the distinctive feature area image associated with the target image retrieved by the retrieving unit, and a display control unit configured to control a display unit having a display screen to display the distinctive feature area image or multiple distinctive feature area images on the display screen in a given time interval in an order according to distinctive feature area image type. |
| US08400460B2 |
Image data processing method, program for image data processing method, recording medium with recorded program for image data processing method and image date processing device
The present invention is applied to a coding device and a decoding device for moving image data in compliance with, for example, an MPEG-4AVC/ITU-T H. 264 system, in which address data is issued to specify an area that is a plurality of read units in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, respectively, and reference image data is stored in a cache memory. |
| US08400459B2 |
Multi-thread graphics processing system
A graphics processing system comprises at least one memory device storing a plurality of pixel command threads and a plurality of vertex command threads. An arbiter coupled to the at least one memory device is provided that selects a pixel command thread from the plurality of pixel command threads and a vertex command thread from the plurality of vertex command threads. The arbiter further selects a command thread from the previously selected pixel command thread and the vertex command thread, which command thread is provided to a command processing engine capable of processing pixel command threads and vertex command threads. |
| US08400453B2 |
Rendering a text image following a line
A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, receives image data from an image database in the form of vector data that defines various image objects, such as roads, geographical boundaries, etc., and textures defining text strings to be displayed on the image to provide, for example, labels for the image objects. The imaging rendering system renders the images such that the individual characters of the text strings are placed on the image following a multi-segmented or curved line. This rendering system enables text strings to be placed on a map image so that the text follows the center line of a curved or angled road or other image feature without knowing the specifics of the curvature of the line along which the text will be placed when creating the texture that stores the text string information. This feature provides enhanced visual properties within a map image as it allows, for example, road names to be placed anywhere inside a road following the curvature of the road, thus providing a pleasing visual effect within the map image. |
| US08400451B2 |
Close-packed, uniformly adjacent multiresolutional, overlapping spatial data ordering
A method, apparatus, system and data structure is disclosed for mapping of spatial data to linear indexing for efficient computational storage, retrieval, integration, transmission, visual display, analysis, fusion, and modeling. These inventions are based on space being decomposed into uniform discrete closely packed (hexagonal) cell areas (85). Each resolution of close-packed cells can be further divided into incongruent but denser clusters of close-packed cells. The spatial indexing (86) is applied in such a manner as to build a relationship with the spatially close cells of any resolution. |
| US08400450B2 |
Method and system for displaying stereoscopic detail-in-context presentations
A method for generating a stereoscopic presentation of a region-of-interest in a monoscopic information representation. The method includes the steps of: (a) selecting first and second viewpoints for the region-of-interest; (b) creating a lens surface having a predetermined lens surface shape for the region-of-interest, the lens surface having a plurality of polygonal surfaces constructed from a plurality of points sampled from the lens surface shape; (c) creating first and second transformed presentations by overlaying the representation on the lens surface and perspectively projecting the lens surface with the overlaid representation onto a plane spaced from the first and second viewpoints, respectively; and, (d) displaying the first and second transformed presentations on a display screen to generate the stereoscopic presentation. |
| US08400448B1 |
Real-time lines-of-sight and viewsheds determination system
A method for processing three-dimensional data that defines a three-dimensional scene, and determining and displaying lines-of-sight (LOS) and viewsheds on all visible surfaces of the scene, includes: i) assigning at a user-selected location at least one viewpoint in the scene; ii) applying ray tracing from locations in the scene to the viewpoint to determine locations in the scene that are in a line of sight (LOS) and outside the LOS of the viewpoint, thus determining the viewshed relative to the viewpoint while generating a set of color-coding information; iv) saving the set of color-coding information as a 2D texture image in graphics hardware memory; and v) compositing the 2D texture image over the 3D scene in a 3D window at a frame rate that enables real-time updating of the color coding as the scene is translated or rotated or the viewpoint is changed. |
| US08400445B2 |
Image processing program and image processing apparatus
Optical reflection and refraction are expressed of an object extending through a water surface by rather light load processing without using any cut models prepared in advance. A photographing angle of a virtual camera for displaying the object OB is set. Virtual cameras A, B and C are generated for photographing reflected and refracted object. The image processing is executed by projecting texture value of transparent degree for each of media different from texture for other media. Parameters are defined concerning the virtual cameras A, B and C, in order to achieve a desired visual expression of an object extending through various media. |
| US08400436B1 |
Intelligent interface display system relating real-time data with compiled data
A software application program that intelligently interfaces with a statistical data recording program, mass data storage devices and programmable electronic display devices to monitor the situational current state of a real-time event or activity such as a sporting contest and to identify, select, compile, organize, prioritize, present and recommend a plurality of relevant data items compiled from a plurality of recorded data sources to provide visual display content for selection by an operator for display on one or more electronic display boards. The intelligent interface software application program enables an operator of a programmable electronic display device instantly to review and select relevant data items corresponding to a given situational current state of a real-time event or activity and transmit selected data items for display on electronic display boards to a viewing party or public. |
| US08400435B2 |
Circuit arrangement for a display device which can be operated in a partial mode
A circuit arrangement for controlling a display device which can be operated in a partial mode, the circuit arrangement including a row drive circuit for driving n rows of the display device and a column drive circuit for driving m columns of the display device. The row drive circuit controls the n rows of display device sequentially from 1 to n, and the column drive circuit supplies column voltages to the m columns. The column voltages corresponding to the picture data to be displayed of pixels of the controlled row. A logic function is connected in front of at least one output of the row drive circuit, and a first control signal is supplied to the logic function. The first control signal achieving a deactivation/activation of the at least one output of the row drive circuit in dependence on the partial mode of the display device. |
| US08400433B2 |
Handheld electronic device having facilitated telephone dialing with audible sound tags, and associated method
An improved hand held electronic device and an associated method provide facilitated telephone dialing by providing audible sound tags in the form of spoken words representative of numbers that can be selected by a user for dialing. The handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus that can generate a plurality of navigational inputs and at least a first selecting input. The input apparatus may include a rotatable dial, the rotation of which provides navigational inputs, and the dial may be translatable, with the translation generating a selecting input. When a processor of the handheld electronic device detects one of the navigational inputs, the handheld electronic device outputs an audible sound in the form of a spoken word of the digit that corresponds with that navigational input. |
| US08400432B2 |
Writing device and image display apparatus
A writing device includes: a voltage application unit that applies a voltage to a display medium including a first display layer, second display layer and a photoconductive layer; a first obtaining unit that obtains image data showing an original image; a controller that controls the voltage application unit and the irradiating unit to cause the display medium to show an overlapped image including the obtained original image and an overwritten image overwritten on the original image, the overwritten image including a point corresponding to the location shown by the location information stored in the storage unit. |
| US08400430B2 |
Display device with integral touch panel surface
A touch panel is integrated into a flat panel display device having a visual display surface with a front polarizer layer, particularly a liquid crystal display device. The touch panel comprises a flexible transparent membrane containing the front polarizer layer and having a first transparent conductive layer on a lower surface of the flexible transparent membrane and a rigid base comprising the flat panel display device and having a second transparent conductive layer on an upper surface of the rigid base. At least one spacer separates the flexible transparent membrane from the rigid base, keeping the first and second transparent conductive layers in spaced-apart facing relationship. A bus bar and tail communicate a signal from the touch panel to the flat panel display device. |
| US08400426B2 |
Capacitive touchpad and toy incorporating the same
Capacitive touchpad assemblies, toys including capacitive touchpad assemblies and integral card readers, and methods for detecting contact with a capacitive touch surface are provided. A capacitive touch surface may have a capacity that varies depending on whether it is being contacted by an object such as a human finger. A voltage of the capacitive touch surface may be altered during each of a predetermined number of recurring time intervals. The capacitance of the capacitive touch surface will determine the amount of time required to alter its voltage to a threshold voltage within each time interval. The sum amount of time required for the voltage of the capacitive touch surface to reach the threshold voltage in a predetermined number of time intervals may be used to determine whether the capacitive touch surface is being touched. |
| US08400423B2 |
Method and device for analyzing positions
A method and device for analyzing positions are disclosed. In sensing information, at least one position is determined according to a first characteristic of a touch related sensing information. The sensing information also has a touch related sensing information with a second characteristic, which is opposite to the first characteristic. The touch related sensing information with the second characteristic is neglected or filtered. In addition, another method and device for analyzing positions are disclosed. An AC signal is provided through a pen, and a first characteristic of a touch related sensing information corresponding to a finger is opposite to the second characteristic of the touch related sensing information corresponding to the pen. The first characteristic and the second characteristic can be used to distinguish the touch of the finger from the touch of the pen or for palm rejection. |
| US08400420B2 |
Image display system and method for controlling a touch panel thereof
The present invention provides an image display system including a display device. The display device further includes a capacitive touch panel and a power supply. In operation, the display device has a common electrode. The touch panel includes a sensing capacitor module and a sampling capacitor. The sensing capacitor module is connected to the common electrode, and has a variable capacitance. The sampling capacitor is selectively electrically connected to the sensing capacitor and the common electrode. |
| US08400414B2 |
Method for displaying data and mobile terminal thereof
A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes displaying, via a display, a plurality of items on a touch screen of the mobile terminal; receiving, via a controller on the mobile terminal, a first touching signal indicating a first item of the plurality of items has been touched and held for a predetermined amount of time; displaying, via the display, a first preview screen corresponding to the selected first item when the first item has been touched and held for the predetermined amount of time; receiving, via the controller, a second touching signal indicating a flicking operation has been performed on the touch screen while the first touching signal is still being received; and displaying, via the display, a second preview screen of a next-priority item among the plurality of item instead of the first preview screen based on the received first and second touching signals. |
| US08400412B2 |
Sensitivity touch display panel and manufacturing method of the same
Provided are a display panel which can detect a touch position derived from a user's touch and can prevent erroneous touch position data from being generated even when an erroneous connection to a position sensing line is present due a processing deviation or a cell gap deviation, and a manufacturing method of the same. The display panel includes a first substrate, a first sensor pad that is formed on the first substrate, a second sensor pad that is spaced apart from the first sensor pad, a second substrate that is disposed to face the first substrate, a first sensor spacer that is formed on the second substrate to overlap the first sensor pad and protrudes toward the first substrate, a second sensor spacer that is formed on the second substrate to overlap the second sensor pad and protrudes toward the first substrate, and a sensor electrode that is formed on the first sensor spacer and the second sensor spacer to overlap the first sensor pad and the second sensor pad, wherein the second sensor spacer protrudes toward the first substrate more than the first sensor spacer does. |
| US08400410B2 |
Ferromagnetic user interfaces
Ferromagnetic user interfaces are described. In embodiments, user interface devices are described that can detect the location of movement on a user-touchable portion by sensing movement of a ferromagnetic material. In some embodiments sensors are arranged in a two dimensional array, and the user interface device can determine the location of the movement in a plane substantially parallel to the two-dimensional array and the acceleration of movement substantially perpendicular to the two-dimensional array. In other embodiments, user interface devices are described that can cause a raised surface region to be formed on a ferrofluid layer of a user-touchable portion, which is detectable by the touch of a user. Embodiments describe how the raised surface region can be moved on the ferrofluid layer. Embodiments also describe how the raised surface region can be caused to vibrate. |
| US08400408B2 |
Touch screens with transparent conductive material resistors
Systems and methods for touch screens with integrated transparent conductive material resistors are provided. Metal traces on the surface of a touch screen may be subject to radio-frequency interference (RFI) that can adversely affect the performance of the touch screen. Transparent conductive material resistors inserted within the metal trace paths can be used to form low-pass filters which can reduce the affect of the RFI. |
| US08400404B2 |
Controlling user input devices based upon detected attitude of a handheld electronic device
A wireless handheld electronic device configured to send and receive text messages. A microprocessor for receiving, processing and outputting data is located within the handheld device. A display screen in data-communication with the microprocessor presents information for user observation based upon data output from the microprocessor. A sensor is provided within the handheld device that detects the attitude of the device as held by the user. The sensor communicates data that is indicative of the detected attitude of the device to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is further enable to disable a user input device when the detected attitude of the device matches a predetermined attitude criteria. |
| US08400402B2 |
Electronic device housing with integrated user input capability
An electronic device housing with a seemless user input zone that measures the level of force applied by the user is described. It is particularly advantageous when used with small hand-held consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, game—and media players. A housing for an electronic device includes a seamless user input zone defining a contact force-sensitive deformable area. A capacitance sensor is formed between the conductive inside surface of the housing and the electrode of the rigid base facing that inside surface. Linear support elements such as columns support the housing away from the rigid base defining an air gap. Capacitance measurement circuit is deployed to detect the location and progressively increasing levels of force applied by the user onto the housing and send a user input signal to the electronic device. |
| US08400401B2 |
Operating device and image forming apparatus
An operating device for controlling an apparatus as an object of control, in accordance with an instruction by a user includes a panel having a main surface, a hardware key provided on the main surface, and a display unit formed of electronic paper, provided in relation to the hardware key on the main surface of the panel or on the hardware key, allowing rewriting of displayed contents. |
| US08400400B2 |
Raised rail enhanced reduced keyboard upon a handheld electronic device
A handheld wireless communication device is disclosed that has a housing, display, and keyboard. The keyboard consists of a plurality of keys having a right-hand keyfield located on a right-hand side of at least one elongate raised rail and a left-hand keyfield located on a left-hand side of at least one elongate raised rail. The keys of the keyfield have letters and numbers associated therewith. Each of the keyfields has an engagement surface configured for digital engagement by a user. Each of the at least one elongate raised rail has an upper fixed surface positioned above at least a portion of each keyfield located adjacent thereto so that each of the at least one elongate raised rails constitutes a tactile divider between adjacently located keyfields. |
| US08400396B2 |
Liquid crystal display with modulation for colored backlight
A method of backlighting a liquid crystal display so as to improve the quality of the image displayed by the liquid crystal display. The method may vary the luminance of a light source illuminating a plurality of displayed pixels and vary the transmittance of a light valve of the display. |
| US08400384B2 |
Display device and liquid crystal display panel
A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed. |
| US08400382B2 |
D/A converter circuit, liquid crystal driving circuit, and liquid crystal device
A digital-to-analog converter circuit is configured to convert an m-bit digital signal into an analog signal. The circuit includes a bit voltage generator convert each bit of segmented n-bit units of the digital signal into a first voltage or a second voltage, first capacitors each configured to store the voltage for each bit output from the bit voltage generator, switches connected to the first capacitors, a second capacitor connected to the switches, an output unit configured to output the voltage stored in the second capacitor as an analog signal, and a control unit configured to control the switches, connect in parallel the first capacitors with the second capacitor, and adjust the voltage stored in the second capacitor. |
| US08400378B2 |
Electro-luminescence pixel, panel with the pixel, and device and method for driving the panel
An electro-luminescence display having a plurality of pixels is disclosed. One of the pixels of the electro-luminescence display includes an electro-luminescence diode electrically connected between first and second voltage sources; first and second thin film transistors adjusting an amount of current flowing to the electro-luminescence diode; and a control circuit complementarily operating the first and second thin film transistors in an active mode and a refresh mode. |
| US08400375B2 |
Processing method of flat panel display apparatus
A processing method of a flat panel display apparatus in which a cathode panel having electron emitting regions and an anode panel having phosphor regions and an anode electrode are joined is provided. A predetermined voltage is applied to each electron emitting region, thereby allowing electrons to be emitted therefrom. In a predetermined row, initial electron emitting states in the electron emitting regions are measured. After that, a voltage higher than that of the electron emitting region in a row showing the low initial electron emitting state is applied to the electron emitting region in the row showing the high initial electron emitting state for a predetermined time, thereby performing aging. |
| US08400363B2 |
In-mold type RF antenna, device including the same, and associated methods
An in-mold type RF antenna, a device including the same, and associated methods, a method including stacking a copper foil on a base film, forming an antenna film by processing the copper foil to form an RF antenna pattern thereon, the antenna film being configured to be accommodated in a case of a device, disposing the antenna film in a mold for forming the case of the device, and forming the case having the antenna film integrally formed therewith by injecting a resin into the mold. |
| US08400359B2 |
Method and system for indoor positioning
A method and a system for indoor positioning are provided. In the present method, a default positioning weight is defined at first. Then, a plurality of neighboring ranging devices near a target device is obtained from all wireless ranging devices deployed in an indoor space, and a current positioning weight of each of the neighboring ranging devices is calculated. Next, the current positioning weight of each of the neighboring ranging devices is respectively compared with the default positioning weight, so as to obtain a plurality of reference ranging devices from the neighboring ranging devices. After calculating at least one candidate coordinate according to a deploy coordinate of each of the reference ranging devices, a positioned coordinate represents the current location of the target device is estimated according to the at least one candidate coordinate. |
| US08400358B2 |
Method to modify calibration data used to locate a mobile unit
A method of modifying calibration data used to geo-locate a mobile station located in an indoor environment is disclosed. When a mobile station is located indoors, the signal strength of signals received and/or transmitted by the mobile station have the tendency to be lower than the strength of the signals received by a mobile station located outdoors. As a result of these lower signal strengths, geo-location efforts which rely on signal strengths may result in unsatisfactory location accuracy. Modifying pre-existing calibration data obtained outdoors may provide a way to simulate indoor calibration data characteristics. |
| US08400356B2 |
Directive spatial interference beam control
The invention, in its various aspects and embodiments, comprises a variety methods and apparatuses. The methods variously determine the delay (or phase shift) in each element of a phased array to simultaneously form, steer and/or combine a set of beam shapes. The apparatuses include apparatuses that implement the methods as well as apparatuses that employ such methods. The invention also includes a beam controlled by such methods. |
| US08400355B1 |
Passive photonic dense wavelength-division multiplexing true-time-delay system
A photonic true time delay system for steering one or more radio frequency beams from an electronically scanned array antenna incorporates passive optical true time delay modules for the entire array based upon dense-wavelength-division multiplexed encoding of optical time delays. In addition, electronic selection of time delays allows for elimination of optical filter tuning and optical switching, and can function in either or both transmit and receive modes of the antenna array. |
| US08400353B2 |
Apparatus and method for use in global position measurements
Apparatus and methods are provided for use in a receiver that receives global positioning data from one or more satellites above the Earth's surface. The apparatus and methods involve detecting a change in at least one parameter associated with the receiver and determining if the change in the at least one parameter is to be treated as erroneous. As a result of determining if the change in the at least one parameter is to be treated as erroneous, a further action may be performed. Determining if the change is to be treated as erroneous may include, for example, detecting changes in more than one parameter and determining if the changes are coincident. Detecting a change in at least one parameter may also enable the receiver to predict the presence and magnitude of multipath components of signals, predict changes in an environment local to the receiver, predict large errors in position estimates determined by the receiver and modify an acquisition and tracking strategy used by the receiver. |
| US08400346B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating a golf ball with doppler radar
A method comprises transmitting a radar signal into an target area, receiving reflected portions of the radar signal from the target area, and processing the reflected portions of the radar signal. The step of processing comprises windowing analog signals representative of the reflected portions of the radar signal, performing a fast Fourier transform on the windowed analog signals to produce an FFT result for each window, and obtaining the average of the FFT results from consecutive windows. In accordance with the method, a user receives indication from an indicator that a golf ball is present in the target area when the average of the FFT results corresponds to characteristics of the golf ball. The system comprises a radar transceiver, a processor for processing reflected portions of the radar signal, and an indicator indicating to the user a golf ball present in the target area. |
| US08400343B1 |
Pipeline analog to digital converter with split-path level shifting technique
A stage of a pipeline analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The stage of the present invention has double-amplifier architecture and uses level-shifting technique to generate a residue of the stage. The amplifiers of the stage are implemented in two different split paths, thereby to generate a relatively coarse amplification result and a relative fine amplification result. The relatively coarse amplification result is used to level-shift the output level of the amplifier. As a result, the stage of the present invention can have a correct residual by using amplifiers of moderate quality. |
| US08400342B2 |
Explosion proof electro-mechanical joystick
A joystick comprising a housing, a ball supported and held within the housing, and a joystick handle attached to the ball. The joystick also includes a first device held within the housing, and a second device held within the housing. The joystick also includes a first engagement shaft extending from the first device to the ball, the first engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball, and a second engagement shaft extending from the second device to the ball, the second engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball. |
| US08400340B2 |
Achieving high dynamic range in a sigma delta analog to digital converter
A continuous-time sigma-delta analog to digital converter (CTSD ADC) includes a comparator that samples the time integral of an analog signal at each rising edge and falling edge of a sampling clock. A feedback block, operating as a digital to analog converter, receives the outputs of the comparator and generates corresponding analog signals also at each rising and falling edge of the sampling clock. The feedback blocks are implemented as either switched-resistor or switched-current circuits. High signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is achieved in the CTSD ADC without the need to use very high sampling clock frequencies. Compensation for excess loop delay is provided using a local feedback technique. In an embodiment, the sigma delta modulator in the CTSD ADC is implemented as a second order loop, and the comparator as a two-level comparator. |
| US08400336B2 |
Methods and devices for reordered parallel entropy coding and decoding
A method for parallel context modeling through reordering the bits of an input sequence to form groups of bits in accordance with a context model-specific reordering schedule. The reordering schedule is developed such that the groups of bits are formed to satisfy two conditions: first, that the context for each of the bits in a group of bits is different from the context of each of the other bits in that group, and the context of each of the bits in that group is determined independently from each of the other bits in that group. The parallel context modeling may be used in encoding or decoding operations. |
| US08400334B2 |
Asymmetric dictionary-based compression/decompression useful for broadcast or multicast unidirectional communication channels
An asymmetric approach for compressing digital data, or digitized analog data, uses dictionary-based compression for a transmitter and receiver communicating over a lossy unidirectional communication channel. The transmitter is responsible for generating active dictionaries, selecting appropriate dictionaries for compressing data, retiring old dictionaries, and sending new dictionaries to the receiver. The receiver passively stores the dictionaries from the transmitter and uses the right stored dictionary to decompress data received from the transmitter, as indicated by instructions in the compressed data set. |
| US08400329B2 |
Image display apparatus for vehicle
According to one embodiment, an imaging unit inputs a camera image of surroundings of a vehicle. The surroundings include at least one of a front side and a back side of the vehicle. A first image generation unit generates a mask image to conceal a protection region of personal information included in a region of a first vehicle on the camera image. The first vehicle exists at the front side or the back side of the user's vehicle. A surroundings-monitoring unit decides whether a second vehicle exists at a front side or a back side of the first vehicle by monitoring the camera image. A second image generation unit generates an identification image of the second vehicle when the second vehicle exists. A processing unit generates a composite image by combining the mask image and the identification image with the camera image, and displays the composite image to present to a user of the vehicle. |
| US08400328B2 |
Brake warning device
A device and method for providing a warning to an operator of a truck/tractor and trailer unit of a potential loss or reduction of brakes. The invention provides a pressure differential sensor (12) which bridges between an air supply line (13, 16) to the spring brakes (17) of a truck/tractor and an air supply line (14) to the trailer. An audible and/or visual warning device (31, 33) coupled to the sensor (12) is activated upon a differential between the pressures in the respective supply lines (13, 16 and 14) being sensed. |
| US08400327B2 |
Method for querying a measurement value
A method for querying a measurement value, wherein the measurement value is converted into a modulation signal that influences the reflective properties of a sensor antenna. A signal is emitted via a query device, wherein the signal is returned in an altered fashion by the sensor antenna and then received again by the query device. The measurement value is determined from the altered signal received. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of measurement values are detected by sensors and the query device is moved past a plurality of sensor antennas in a vehicle or by a person. Thus, a plurality of sensors detect measurement values on a railroad line, for example. The vehicle is, for example, a rail vehicle traveling on the track of the railroad line. |
| US08400326B2 |
Instrumentation of appraisal well for telemetry
A telemetry system for use in developing a field of wells has a first downhole device capable of transmitting and/or receiving signals disposed in an appraisal well, an electronics control system located at or near the top of the appraisal, a cable disposed in the appraisal well that provides signal communication between the first downhole device and the electronics control system, and a second downhole device capable of transmitting and/or receiving signals disposed in a second wellbore. The signal is passed through the cable between the first downhole device and the electronics control system. From there, the signal may be re-transmitted to a desired location. |
| US08400322B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for scalable media output
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for scalable media output. The apparatus includes a proximity sensor module to detect the presence and proximity of a user, and to generate presence and proximity data in response to the location of the user with respect to the proximity sensor module. The sensor control module is configured to scale the media output of a media device. The system includes the apparatus and a display module configured to output visual information and an audio module configured to output aural information. The method includes detecting the presence and proximity of a user, generating presence and proximity data in response to the location of the user with respect to a proximity sensor module, communicating the presence and proximity data with a sensor control module, and scaling the media output of a media device in response to the presence and proximity data. |
| US08400316B2 |
Electronic thermometer
An electronic thermometer has a probe having a temperature measuring unit at its end, a temperature sensor arranged in the temperature measuring unit of the probe, a contact sensor arranged in a position shifter from the temperature measuring unit of the probe toward a thermometer body, a determining unit for determining whether a state of contact between the temperature measuring unit and a measurement target portion of a user is good or not, based on outputs of both the temperature sensor and the contact sensor, and a notifying unit for providing a notification according to a result of the determination by the determining unit. |
| US08400312B2 |
Operation assisting system
An operation assisting system. When an operator manipulates an operation instrument to perform an operation for a joint surgery including a hip replacement, the operation assisting system provides the operator with information on the orientation of a bone such as a pelvis and an appropriate direction of the operation instrument relative to the bone to assist the operator so as to complete the operation in an easy and accurate manner, which ensures a high degree of operation accuracy and reduces the cost of the system. |
| US08400311B2 |
Hospital bed having alert light
A bed includes a frame, a controller coupled to the frame, and a patient position detection system coupled to the frame and coupled to the controller. The patient position detection system has at least three modes of operation of varying sensitivities for determining whether a person supported on the frame has moved by a sufficient amount to activate an alarm. |
| US08400310B2 |
Automated hand cleaning reminder system for an entranceway
The present invention relates to an improved an automated hand cleaning reminder system having a disinfectant dispenser mounted proximate to an entranceway. When approaching the entranceway the visitor must first utilize a disinfectant dispenser to gain unalarmed entry or exit through the entranceway. When the disinfectant dispenser is utilized the disinfectant dispenser transmits a signal to a processor which then deactivates temporarily a motion/presence detector scanning an area immediately adjacent or close to the entranceway, and thus permits entry or exit for the visitor. At the same time, processor activates a light emitter to provide a visual indication to the visitor that passage is permitted, and, simultaneously also activates the access allowed audio tone to be played through a message conveying apparatus. If the dispenser has not been utilized, the proximity detector will remain armed and the processor then issues an access denied audio tone to be played through the message conveying apparatus, and, simultaneously also activates a flashing light emitter to provide a visual indication to the visitor that passage is not permitted. |
| US08400306B2 |
Laboratory device, laboratory rack assembly and method for coupling an RFID chip
Devices and methods for the identification of test tubes in a test tube rack having a RFID chip, and including an antenna structure elements for wireless coupling with the RFID chip, such that the location of the RFID chip determines the orientation of the test tube rack and the position of the test tube, and coupling of the RFID chips attached to the test tube racks is independent of the direction of insertion of the test tube rack. |
| US08400305B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining range information of a node in a wireless system
A method and apparatus for determining a range within a wireless communication system is provided herein. The range information can then be used to locate a node (e.g., an asset tag). During operation, the minimum transmission power of a source transceiver (e.g., an RFID reader) that enables a tag to be detected will be used to indicate distance. Changes in transmit power will be used to indicate relative changes in distance to a particular node. The reader will be configured to always operate at a transmission power that will result in a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) detection rate for a target transceiver (e.g., an RFID asset tag). As the reader moves closer to the tag, the minimum detection power will decrease; as it moves farther from the tag, the minimum detection power will increase. This information is displayed to give a general change in range information between the RFID reader and the asset tag (e.g., increasing range or decreasing range). An individual will be able to easily locate the asset tag by using the displayed information. |
| US08400303B2 |
Information processing system, information processing device, and information processing method
An information processing system includes an information processing device arranged in a vehicle, a portable device storing unique information, a specification information recording unit configured to record specification information having a predetermined relationship with the unique information, a first transmission unit configured to transmit a request signal requesting transmission of the unique information, a first reception unit configured to receive the unique information transmitted from the portable device, a position specifying unit configured to compare the received unique information with the specification information and specify whether or not the portable device is inside the vehicle, a detection unit configured to detect a human inside the vehicle, an alarm unit configured to set off an alarm, and an alarm control unit. |
| US08400302B2 |
Electric field sensing device
A sensing system is disclosed that uses at least one conductive plate and associated electronic circuitry to provide an output that is indicative of an object's position in relation to the at least one conductive plate. The sensing system is provided with a high impedance drive signal that varies as a result of the location of an object relative to the at least one conductive plate. The electronic circuitry receives a high impedance drive signal value as an input and a processor uses the value to calculate a digital output indicative of the object's position. The high impedance drive signal value is monitored over time enabling the objects position, displacement, pressure, movement, impact and energy to be determined. This data is output to a display and may also be transmitted to a person located remotely from the object being monitored. |
| US08400301B1 |
Window safety and security device
A window safety and security device detects unauthorized movement of a double-hung window, sliding window, or door upon which the safety and security device is installed and communicates an alarm in response to the detecting. The device includes a housing, a suction cup affixed to or integral with the housing configured to be removably attached to an inside glass pane of a first sash of a double-hung window, sliding window or door. An electrical switch is disposed in, on or affixed to the housing for contacting a portion of a second sash when the second sash is slid to a fixed position to actuate the switch. A light or a buzzer or both communicates a detected window or door movement sufficient to cause a change of state in the switch. |
| US08400296B2 |
Method and apparatus to automate data collection during a mandatory inspection
A system and method for verifying that an operator was sufficiently close to one or more items to be inspected during an inspection to actually inspect the components, and storing an indication to that effect in a memory accessible via a computer network. In addition to the indication, the memory can store other inspection related data, such as a starting time or ending time of the inspection, or maintenance information about the item that was input during the inspection. The system and method enable a third party application, such as an accounting program or a maintenance program, to access any of the inspection related data. |
| US08400294B2 |
Transit stop detection
Techniques are described that may be implemented in a portable electronic device to provide automatic detection of transit stops made by mass transit system vehicle in which a user of the device is a passenger. In an implementation, the portable electronic device includes an inertial sensor assembly to sense motion of the vehicle and generate a signal indicative of the vehicle motion. The inertial sensor assembly signal is used to detect the occurrence of a transit stop made by the vehicle. The portable electronic device can then display a prompt in response to detection of the transit stop. In embodiments, other measured data (e.g., elapsed time from a prior event, location information, direction, sound, and so on) may be used to verify the occurrence of the transit stop. |
| US08400291B2 |
Information display apparatus and computer readable medium having information display program
An information display apparatus includes a display unit including a non-volatile display medium. The information display apparatus further includes: a temperature detecting unit configured to detect a display unit temperature which is temperature of the display unit; a temperature determining unit configured to determine whether the display unit temperature is outside of a set temperature range which is predetermined based on characteristics of the display unit; and a display control unit configured to perform on the display unit a burn prevention display which is predetermined based on the characteristics, when the display unit temperature is outside of the set temperature range. |
| US08400289B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring system and method for the allocation of tire modules in a tire pressure monitoring system
Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring system for motor vehicles, including a central unit (2, 7) with at least one trigger module (4), which is integrated into the central unit or connects through control lines (3) to the central unit, and with at least one tire module (6) arranged in a vehicle wheel (5), with the tire module being in communication with the central unit and the trigger module by means of wireless transmission technology, and with the tire pressure monitoring system including fewer trigger modules than tire modules. |
| US08400287B2 |
Method for assisting high-performance driving of a vehicle
An assistance method for performance driving of a vehicle; the assistance method includes the steps of: identifying a route used by the vehicle; on each section of the route, identifying the optimum point for the operation of an accelerator command, a brake command, a steering command and/or a gearbox command; identifying the current position of the vehicle along the route; identifying the next optimum point for the operation of a command; identifying a warning advance in accordance with an estimate of the reaction time of the driver and in accordance with the current speed and acceleration of the vehicle; and signalling to the driver to operate the command using the previously identified warning advance so that the driver actually operates the command at the optimum point of operation. |
| US08400284B2 |
System and method for controlling headlights on a vehicle in response to wiper operation
A method for controlling headlights on a vehicle includes detecting for a wiper switch state for a wiper switch on a vehicle, detecting wiper operations, incrementing a counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight ON threshold, counting toward a time threshold, decrementing the counter value by x until the counter value reaches a headlight OFF threshold value, and changing a state of the headlights based on the counter value reaching one of the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. Incrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each detected wiper operation. Counting toward the time threshold can occur in response to detecting a wiper switch OFF state. Decrementing the counter value by x can occur in response to each instance of the time threshold elapsing with no change from the wiper switch OFF state. A plurality of intermediate counter values can be found between the headlight ON threshold and the headlight OFF threshold. A control system is also disclosed. |
| US08400282B2 |
Multi-function vibration actuator
A magnetic circuit including a pole piece, a magnet, and a yoke is supported by using a suspension where outer and inner circumferential portions thereof are connected to each other with a supporting member, and the outer circumferential portion of the suspension is fixed to protrude from a housing or an inner wall of a cover provided with a stepped portion in a direction passing over the magnetic circuit toward an inner portion, so that it is possible to limit a movable range of the magnetic circuit by using the outer circumferential portion of the suspension and to prevent inner components of a main body of the multi-function vibration actuator from being destructed at the time of being impacted due to falling. |
| US08400281B2 |
Wireless identification system using a directed-energy device as a tag reader
A wireless identification system can include a directed-energy device configured as a reader. The reader can include a charged particle generator configured to generate energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the energized particles that include charged particles from the charged particle generator and to output a wavefront including energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The system can also include an identification tag configured to be activated when impinged by the wavefront from the reader so as to transmit a signal configured to be used by the reader. A method of using a directed-energy device as a tag reader in a wireless identification system can include generating a wavefront that includes particles at substantially zero charge, impinging an identification tag with the wavefront so as to activate the identification tag so as to send a signal and detecting a signal transmitted by the identification tag. |
| US08400275B2 |
Method and system of utilizing RFID tags for jointly processing task
A method of utilizing RFID tags for jointly processing a task and an associated system are provided. The method includes causing a plurality of RFID tags to enter a ready state, causing the RFID tags to enter an accessible state in turn, transmitting the task to the RFID tags, utilizing the RFID tags to jointly process the task, and reading a result from the RFID tags having processed the task. |
| US08400274B2 |
Accurate persistent nodes
A timing circuit that can function as an accurate persistent node in an RFID tag includes a power capture circuit for capturing power from a power source, and a counter circuit that provides a count representing a progression of time. The count can then be compared to a reference value representing a time constant of the circuit. |
| US08400272B2 |
Method and device for improving the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a backscatter signal received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag
A method and device enables improving a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a backscatter signal received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The method includes generating a continuous wave (CW) carrier signal at the reader device (step 505). An amplitude modulation (AM) noise component of the CW carrier signal is then detected (step 510). The AM noise component is inverted to an inverted noise signal (step 515), and the inverted noise signal is summed with the CW carrier signal to provide an AM noise cancelled carrier signal (step 520). The AM noise cancelled carrier signal is then transmitted from an antenna of the reader device (step 525), and the backscatter signal is received at the reader device in response to transmission of the AM noise cancelled carrier signal (step 530). |
| US08400270B2 |
Systems and methods for determining an operating state using RFID
Systems and methods for determining a binary status of a device are provided. A method for detecting an operating status of a device using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided. The method includes coupling a first portion of the RFID tag to a first portion of the device and coupling a second portion of the RFID tag to a second portion of the device, wherein the first portion of the device is moveable with respect to the second portion of the device, changing a position of the first portion of the device with respect to a position of the second portion of the device, detecting the change in position of the first device portion based on the movement of the first RFID tag portion, wherein the movement causes a change in a status of an RFID signal emitted by the RFID tag, and determining the status of the device based on the change in the RFID signal status. |
| US08400269B2 |
Methods and systems using polarization modulated electromagnetic waves
Methods and systems using polarization modulated electromagnetic waves. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a RFID tag (the RFID tag communicatively coupled to the RFID reader),. The RFID tag is configured to transmit data to the RFID reader with data encoded in polarization of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the RFID tag. |
| US08400264B2 |
System and methods for automatically moving access barriers initiated by mobile transmitter devices
An operator system and related methods for automatically controlling access barriers which includes a base controller associated with at least one access barrier and at least one base receiver associated with the base controller. The system also includes at least one mobile transmitter that automatically and periodically generates at least one mobile signal detectable by the base receiver. The base controller selectively generates barrier movement commands upon receipt of the at least one mobile signal. Timers may be used to block receipt of any mobile signals for a period of time to prevent any further door movement. Such a system allows for hands-free operation of the access barrier. A discrete processing system may also be used to retrofit existing barrier operator systems for use in hands-free operation. |
| US08400262B2 |
Keyless entry device of vehicle
A keyless entry device of a vehicle includes: a transmission unit installed in the vehicle that transmits a search signal to a search range including an area inside the vehicle and a vicinity area outside the vehicle; a reply unit installed in a portable device carried by a user that transmits a reply signal when receiving the search signal at several locations within the search range; a determination unit that individually determines whether the portable device is present in the area inside the vehicle and the vicinity area outside the vehicle within the search range on the basis of the reply signal transmitted from the portable device; and a control unit that controls locking or unlocking of a door of the vehicle on the basis of the determination result of the determination unit. |
| US08400258B2 |
Method of remotely configuring a controller responsive to wireless signals
A method of remotely configuring a controller responsive to wireless signals includes entering a controller programming mode from a regular mode in response to at least one wireless signal corresponding to a first click pattern from a switch. The controller provides a first notification to indicate a first selected configurable feature of the controller. Each of a plurality of configurable features of the controller has a different assigned notification. The controller provides a second notification to indicate a second selected configurable feature in response to at least one wireless signal corresponding to a second click pattern from the switch. The method also includes exiting the programming mode. The notification may be a flashing of lights, a dimming of lights, an audible sound, an adjustment of a damper position, or a combination of these things. |
| US08400255B2 |
Oxygen-barrier packaged surface mount device
A method for producing a surface mount device includes providing a plurality of layers including a B-staged top layer and bottom layer, and a C-staged middle layer with an opening. A core device is inserted into the openings, and then the top and bottom layers are placed over and under, respectively, the middle layer. The layers are cured until the layers become C-staged. The core device is substantially surrounded by an oxygen-barrier material with an oxygen permeability of less than approximately 0.4 cm3·mm/m2·atm·day. |
| US08400251B2 |
Electronic component and method for manufacturing the same
An electronic component includes a multilayer composite including first insulating layers, second insulating layers, and a helical coil. The helical coil is disposed within the multilayer composite and includes a plurality of coil conductors connected to each other with a plurality of via hole conductors. The coil is located corresponding to the region defined by the second insulating layers when viewed in a stacking direction of the first and second insulating layers. The second insulating layers are located in the region coinciding with the locus of the coil without covering the via hole conductors when viewed in the stacking direction. |
| US08400250B2 |
Composite transformer
A composite (combined type of) transformer includes: a transformer core including a plurality of transformer magnetic leg portions, a transformer magnetic leg portion, and a pair of transformer bases; a plurality of inductor cores each including an inductor magnetic leg portions, inductor outer magnetic leg portions, and a pair of inductor bases; and a plurality of windings wound around the transformer magnetic leg portion and the inductor magnetic leg portions. The windings are wound to generate magnetic fluxes in such directions as to be cancelled out in a magnetic closed circuit in the transformer core. |
| US08400242B2 |
Park lock solenoid
A solenoid for a park lock mechanism wherein an annular frame has a reduced diameter at one end and receives a bobbin with a coil wound thereon with the bobbin projecting outward of the coil at one end and defining an integral bearing positioned in the one end of the annular frame. A magnetic permeable sintered metal bushing is interposed between the integrated bearing of the bobbin and the one end of the annular frame. A plunger is received in the bobbin for sliding movement relative thereto. The plunger has a first reduced section at one end that includes an element for connecting to a shifter and a second reduce section at its other end that projects out of said bobbin. The solenoid has two operating conditions, a first condition in which no magnetic force is applied to the plunger and a connected shifter is locked, and a second condition in which magnetic force is applied to the plunger and a connected shifter is unlocked for shifting. A manual release is provided for coacting with the plunger for putting the solenoid into the second condition in the absence of power. |
| US08400237B2 |
Circuit device including a nano-composite dielectric film
A circuit device includes a substrate 11, and a transmission line 10. The transmission line 10 includes a dielectric film 13 formed on the substrate 11, and a signal line formed on the dielectric film 13. The dielectric film 13 includes a nano-composite film in which particles of a first material are dispersed in a second material. |
| US08400236B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component includes a laminated body including an insulating material layer made of a first dielectric material and a second insulating material layer made of a second dielectric material having a relative dielectric constant greater than that of the first dielectric material that are laminated to one another. An LC filter is defined by a coil included in the laminated body and a capacitor. The coil includes a coil conductor layer provided on the insulating material layer. The coil conductor layer is provided within a region including the insulating material layer. |
| US08400235B2 |
Active hybrids for antenna systems
In an exemplary embodiment, a fully monolithic active hybrid architecture can be configured to replace a ring hybrid, magic tee, branchline coupler, or 180° hybrid by providing similar functionality in an integrated monolithic solution. Exemplary embodiments of the active hybrids combine active implementations of power splitters, power combiners, and phase shifting elements in a novel fashion allowing for ultra-compact size and broadband performance. In an exemplary embodiment, the active hybrid replaces the typical hybrid couplers with active splitters and active combiners. Similarly, the delay lines and amplitude adjustment elements are replaced by active vector generators. Vector generators are magnitude and phase control circuits. The active hybrid results in certain advantages including being size independent of the operating frequency, wide frequency range of operation, and RF signals undergo a neutral or slight positive power gain, rather than power losses that occur in the passive prior art systems. |
| US08400234B2 |
Apparatus for removing leakage signal
An apparatus for removing a leakage signal includes a coupler including a transmission port through which a transmission signal is input, an antenna port through which the transmission signal is output to an antenna and a receiving signal is input from the antenna, and a receiving port through which the receiving signal is output; and a removing unit which outputs, to the receiving port, a leakage removing signal having a same magnitude as one of or a sum of a magnitude of a first leakage signal of the transmission signal, which is generated at the transmission port and input to the receiving port, and a magnitude of a second leakage signal of the transmission signal which is input to the receiving port through the antenna port, the leakage removing signal having an opposite phase to one of the phases or an aggregate phase of the first and second leakage signals. |
| US08400228B2 |
Redundancy system for a telecommunication system and related methods
A redundancy system for a co-channel telecommunication system and related methods. Implementations of the redundancy system may include at least a first modulator and a second modulator having a symbol mapper coupled to a parallel bit signal. The symbol mapper may be configured to route each of a plurality of parallel bits received through the parallel bit signal to a plurality of significant bit signals. In a first implementation, a plurality of significant bit signal multiplexers may be used to switch the plurality of parallel bit signals to allow the first and second modulators to operate in either a redundant or operating mode. In a second implementation, a premapped symbol (PMSI) encoder and a PMSI decoder may be used to transmit the plurality of significant bit signals across an interface bus as a real dual-data rate (DDR) signal and an imaginary DDR signal. |
| US08400227B2 |
Clock generator
A clock generator is provided, capable of automatically adjusting an output clock when process, voltage, or temperature variation occurs. The clock generator includes a current generator, for generating a first current and a second current according to a bias signal, an oscillator, coupled to the current generator, for generating a clock signal according to the first current, a frequency detector, coupled to the oscillator, for generating a control signal according to the clock signal and a reference signal, and a bias voltage adjuster, coupled to the current generator and the frequency detector, for adjusting the bias signal according to the control signal. When the signal frequency of the clock signal changes, the bias signal corresponds to the bias voltage adjuster, to adjust the first current and the second current. |
| US08400224B1 |
Programmable low noise amplifier and methods for use therewith
A low noise amplifier includes a programmable input stage, having a first gain that is programmable based on a first control signal. A programmable cascode stage, has a second gain that is programmable based on a second control signal. A programmable resistor stage controls the quality of a resonant tank circuit, based on a third control signal. |
| US08400221B2 |
Method and apparatus for biasing an amplifier
An apparatus and method for biasing each amplifier of an amplification stage provides that the voltage across each current sensing element of each amplifier of the amplification stage is measured. For each pair of voltage measurements taken, a sum and difference is calculated, where the sum is processed to determine minima peaks and the difference is averaged. A portion of the sum term and the average of the difference term are summed to yield the individual bias current conducted by a first amplifier of the amplification stage. The difference between a portion of the sum term and the average of the difference term is calculated to yield the individual bias current conducted by the second amplifier of the amplification stage. The bias current conducted by the first and second amplifiers may then be individually modified manually, or conversely, may be modified automatically based upon the bias current measurements taken. |
| US08400215B2 |
Power amplification device for satellite communication device
A power amplification device for a satellite communication device with a redundant configuration, in which a plurality of power amplifiers including a standby power amplifier are connected in a ring shape, and which easily switches connection to the standby power amplifier in a case of a failure in active power amplifiers without closing a detour route. The power amplification device for the satellite communication device includes a plurality of basic units each including: a plurality of power amplifiers including at least one standby power amplifier, which are arranged in parallel; a plurality of switches provided to input ends and output ends of the plurality of power amplifiers for switching connection paths; and bypass connection lines for connecting the plurality of switches in a ring shape, and the plurality of basic units are connected in cascade. |
| US08400214B2 |
Class AB output stage
This disclosure describes at least one class AB amplifier output stage circuit arrangement that can operate at low supply voltages, with minimum current generated. Furthermore, at least one class AB amplifier stage circuit arrangement described herein reacts favorably to a supply voltage, that is, exhibits a good power supply rejection ratio. Moreover, this disclosure describes class AB amplifier output stage circuit arrangements that include a negative channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor current mirror arrangement and a positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor current mirror arrangement. In some implementations, a monitoring circuit may be coupled to a class AB amplifier output stage circuit arrangement to offset mismatch that may occur in the class AB amplifier output stage. |
| US08400213B2 |
Complementary band-gap voltage reference circuit
A complementary band-gap voltage reference circuit comprising first and second groups of transistors, each group containing a first transistor of npn type and a second transistor of pnp type and the transistors of different types in the same group having different emitter current conduction areas. The emitter-collector paths of the first transistors of each group are connected in parallel so as to present differential base-emitter voltages. The second transistors of each group are connected with their emitter-collector paths in parallel with a base-emitter junction of the first transistor of the same group so as to present differential base-emitter voltages of the second transistors across the first and second groups of transistors. The output regulated voltage is an additive function of the differential base-emitter voltages and of additive base-emitter voltages of transistors with smaller emitter current conduction area and different type. |
| US08400211B2 |
Integrated circuits with reduced voltage across gate dielectric and operating methods thereof
An integrated circuit includes a first pass gate and a first receiver electrically coupled with the first pass gate. The first receiver includes a first N-type transistor. A first gate of the first N-type transistor is electrically coupled with the first pass gate. A first P-type bulk of the first N-type transistor is surrounded by a first N-type doped region. The first N-type doped region is surrounded by a first N-type well. The first N-type doped region has a dopant concentration higher than that of the first N-type well. |
| US08400210B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes an individual chip designating code setting block configured to generate a plurality of individual chip designating codes which have different code values or at least two of which have the same code value, in response to a plurality of chip fuse signals; and an individual chip activation block configured to compare the plurality of individual chip designating codes with chip selection address in response to the plurality of chip fuse signals, and enable one of a plurality of individual chip activation signals based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08400209B2 |
Proximity detection
For proximity detection, capacitance of a sensing element to ground is measured as one or more objects move into or out of proximity to the sensing element. |
| US08400203B1 |
Integrated circuit with delay circuitry
The delay circuit, such as a clock circuit, of an integrated circuit operates with tolerance of variation in temperature. For example, the delay circuit has a temperature dependent current generator that has an adjustable temperature coefficient, such that a range of temperature coefficients is selectable at a particular current output. Also, the clock circuit of an integrated circuit operates with multiple versions of a current that controls a discharging rate and/or a charging rate between reference signals of timing circuitry. |
| US08400201B2 |
Delay signal generator
A delay clock generator includes a plurality of delay element arrays arranged in parallel; a feed side transfer line and a return side transfer line provided in each of the delay elements which make up the delay element arrays, and that transfer a clock signal in a feed direction and a return direction; a selector selecting a first transfer route that couples the feed side transfer lines to each other along the preceding and succeeding delay elements and a third transfer route that couples the return side transfer lines to each other along the preceding and succeeding delay elements, and a second transfer route that couples the feed side transfer lines and the return side transfer lines of each of the delay elements; and a decoder causing the selector to select the second transfer route for one of the delay elements in the delay element array. |
| US08400194B2 |
Interface system for a cog application
A current driving type transmitter using independent current signals, which can independently generate and transmit differential current indicating a logic state of data to be transmitted, using a difference between positive data current and negative data current without using external current, so that magnitudes of current applied to a pair of transmission lines can be kept constant without being influenced by the design of current sources and processing factors, a current driving type receiver using independent current signals, which can simultaneously convert a difference in levels of current, received through the transmission lines, into a voltage level by a single I-V converter, so that errors of a true line and a bar line can be lessened, and an interface system for COG application, which adopts the transmitter and receiver, so that distortion of transmitted signals can be reduced. |
| US08400190B2 |
Apparatus and method to tolerate floating input pin for input buffer
An integrated circuit device includes a pad adapted to receive a signal from an internal or external driver, and an input buffer circuit including an input terminal coupled to the pad. The input buffer circuit includes a pass transistor having a control terminal, a first conduction terminal connected to the pad, and a second conduction terminal connected to a first voltage. The input buffer circuit also includes a latch having a terminal electrically coupled to the control terminal of the pass transistor. The input buffer circuit further includes circuitry coupled to the latch, the circuitry including a feedback transistor having a control terminal electrically coupled to the pad, a first conduction terminal electrically coupled to a second voltage, and a second conduction terminal coupled to the latch. |
| US08400188B2 |
Methods, systems and arrangements for edge detection
A variety of edge-detection related devices, methods and systems are implemented in various fashions. One implementation is directed to an edge detector circuit for detecting an edge of an input signal and producing an output level-sensitive signal that is synchronous to a clock signal having an active edge corresponding to a transition from a first-signal level to a second-signal level. A first flip-flop has the input signal as a clock input and produces an internal level-sensitive signal and is reset by the output level-sensitive signal. Logic passes the level-sensitive signal when the clock signal is at the second-signal level and blocks the internal level-sensitive signal when the clock signal is at the first-signal level. A second flip-flop is set by the passed internal level-sensitive signal to produce the output level-sensitive signal. The second flip-flop is cleared in response to the output level-sensitive signal, a reset input and the clock signal. |
| US08400185B2 |
Driving circuit with zero current shutdown and a driving method thereof
Methods and circuits related to a driving circuit with zero current shutdown are disclosed. In one embodiment, a driving circuit with zero current shutdown can include: a linear regulating circuit that receives an input voltage source, and outputs an output voltage; a start-up circuit having a threshold voltage, the start-up circuit receiving an external enable signal; a first power switch receiving both the output voltage of the linear regulating circuit and the external enable signal, and that generates an internal enable signal, the internal enable signal being configured to drive a logic circuit; when the external enable signal is lower than a threshold voltage, the driving circuit is not effective; when the external enable signal is higher than the threshold voltage, the start-up circuit outputs a first current; and where the output voltage at the first output terminal is generated by the linear regulating circuit based on the first current. |
| US08400184B2 |
Semiconductor device and level shift circuit using the same
A level shift circuit includes: a pair of first and second P-channel transistors which are connected in a flip-flop manner and whose sources connected to a first power supply line; a pair of first and second N-channel transistors with the first N-channel transistor provided between the first P-channel transistor and a second power supply line and the second N-channel transistor provided between the second P-channel transistor and the second power supply line, in which input signals complementary to each other are inputted to their gates; and a current supply circuit provided between the first power supply line and a drain of the first N-channel transistor and between the first power supply line and a drain of the second N-channel transistor, respectively. The current supply circuit includes third and fourth N-channel transistors with their sources connected to drains of the first and second N-channel transistors and third and fourth P-channel transistors serving as current limiting elements with their one ends connected to the first power supply line and the other ends connected to drains of the third and fourth P-channel transistors. |
| US08400182B2 |
Wafer inspection device and semiconductor wafer inspection method using the same
A wafer inspection device, which inspects the electrical properties of a semiconductor wafer on which a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed, and the wafer inspection device has: a holding mechanism for holding a probe card; a wafer stage that holds the semiconductor wafer on the upper surface and is movably provided; and a pressing mechanism that are held and press the wafer stage against the probe card. The wafer stage is provided on the outer periphery with a seal ring. The seal ring forms a sealed space in a state where the wafer and the probe card are brought close to each other by contacting the probe card and is provided in such a manner as to reduce the pressure of the sealed space. |
| US08400169B2 |
Active discharge of electrode
The disclosure is directed to a capacitive sensor for measuring a small biomedical electrical charge originating from an object under test comprising input circuit elements having an electrode for sensing the charge to provide an output signal that is a function of the charge being measured, wherein the electrode has no electrical contact with the object; amplification circuit elements (A) connected to the input circuit elements; processing circuit elements configured for receiving and processing the amplified output signal and to provide the measurement; and conditioning and monitoring circuit elements coupled to at least the input circuit elements comprising monitoring circuit elements and conditioning circuit elements; (R1) wherein the monitoring circuit elements are configured for monitoring the amplified output signal to detect an error in a measurement that is greater than a preset value caused by charge buildup on the electrode; and wherein the conditioning circuit elements are configured to be activated for. discharging the electrode when the error in the measurement is detected by the monitoring circuit elements and the conditioning circuit elements are configured to be deactivated, when the error in the measurement is no longer detected. |
| US08400168B2 |
Pavement material microwave density measurement methods and apparatuses
A method of obtaining a material property of a pavement material from a microwave field generally includes generating a microwave frequency electromagnetic field of a first mode about the pavement material. The frequency response of the pavement material in the electromagnetic field can be measured, such as by a network analyzer. The measurement of the frequency response permits correlating the frequency response to a material property of the pavement material sample, such as the density. A method of correcting for the roughness of a pavement material divides the pavement into a shallow layer and a deep layer. Two planar microwave circuits measure the permittivity of the shallow and deep layer. The permittivities are correlated to correct for roughness. An apparatus for obtaining the density of a pavement sample includes a microwave circuit and a network analyzer. The network analyzer measures the frequency response to determine the density of the pavement material. |
| US08400164B2 |
Calibration and compensation for errors in position measurement
Methods and systems method for sensing a position of an object in a body include positioning a probe in the body, making measurements of mapping electrical currents passing between at least a first electrode on the probe and a plurality of second electrodes on a surface of the body, calibrating the measurements so as to compensate for one or more non-ideal features of the measurements including effects of system-dependent electrical coupling to one or more devices other than the first electrode and the second electrodes, and computing the position of the probe in the body using the calibrated measurements. |
| US08400163B2 |
Voltage detecting circuit
A voltage detecting circuit includes a switch group that selects any one of a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a sampling capacitor that maintains a potential difference between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell selected by the switch group, a measuring part that outputs a detected voltage value signal corresponding to the potential difference between ends of the sampling capacitor, a transfer switch that transfers, to the measuring part, the potential difference caused between the ends of the sampling capacitor, a correction capacitor provided in parallel to input terminals of the measuring part, and between the transfer switch and the measuring part, and a discharge switch provided in parallel to the correction capacitor, and controlled so that a switching condition of the discharge switch is mutually exclusive with that of the transfer switch. |
| US08400162B1 |
Power management system and method
A method of monitoring battery capacity comprises determining a starting capacity of a battery; determining an activity coefficient for a device connected to the battery; determining a voltage and current profile for the battery using the starting capacity; determining a voltage and current operating point for the device using the activity value for the device; and determining an updated capacity of the battery using the voltage and current profile for the battery and the voltage and current operating point for the device. |
| US08400160B2 |
Combined propagation and lateral resistivity downhole tool
A combined resistivity tool incorporating both induction/propagation antennas and lateral resistivity antennas disposed in recesses of downhole tubulars, in which a lateral resistivity antenna includes an insulating base layer disposed in the recess; a toroidal antenna disposed over the insulating base layer; and a shield disposed over the recess. |
| US08400159B2 |
Casing correction in non-magnetic casing by the measurement of the impedance of a transmitter or receiver
Methods and related systems are described for determining the casing attenuation factor for various frequencies from measurements of the impedance of the transmitting or receiving coil of wire of. The compensation is based on two relationships. The first relationship is between one or more measured impedance parameters and the product of casing conductivity, casing thickness and electromagnetic frequency. The second relationship is between the casing correction factor and the product of casing conductivity, casing thickness and electromagnetic frequency. |
| US08400152B2 |
Method for k-space reconstruction in magnetic resonance inverse imaging
A method for parallel magnetic resonance imaging (“pMRI”) that does not require the explicit estimation of a coil sensitivity map is provided. Individual coil images are reconstructed from undersampled scan data that is acquired with a radio frequency (RF) coil array having multiple coil channels. An inverse operator is formed from autocalibration scan (ACS) data, and is applied to the acquired scan data in order to produce reconstruction coefficients. Missing k-space lines in the undersampled scan data are synthesized by interpolating k-space lines in the acquired scan data using the reconstruction coefficients. From the acquired scan data and the synthesized missing k-space lines, individual coil images are reconstructed and combined to form an image of the subject. |
| US08400151B2 |
Calibration method
A method for calibration of a magnetic resonance imaging system having a bore, a body coil mounted in the bore, a patient mat, a number of local coils mounted in the patient mat, an upconversion stage having a number of upconverters, and a processing stage, includes the steps of generating a calibration signal in the body coil; receiving the calibration signal at the local coils, upconverting the signal from the local coils in the upconversion stage, transmitting the upconverted signal to the processing stage, synchronously downconverting the signal in the processing stage using the calibration signal generated in the body coil, and processing the downconverted signal to generate an overall path complex gain. |
| US08400150B2 |
Magnetic resonance system and method for control thereof
A method to control a magnetic resonance system includes at least one protocol step for measurement data acquisition with the magnetic resonance system, and at least one operator interaction step which allows an operator to enter information that affects at least one subsequent step in the control of the magnetic resonance system. |
| US08400148B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus enabling highly precise spectrum measurement even when resonance frequency changes during MRS or MRSI measurement. When a pulse sequence for suppressing water signals, and an MRS or MRSI pulse sequence are sequentially executed to carry out measurement using repetitive measurement for signal integration or repetitive measurement for phase encoding, signal Sig0 from water is measured with the pulse sequence for suppressing water signals in every repetitive measurement. When the resonance frequency of water deviates from an excitation band region, nuclear magnetization included in water molecules is not excited, so that water signal strength deceases, and therefore change of static magnetic field intensity can be detected by monitoring change of signal Sig0.When water signal strength decreases below a predetermined value, it is determined that resonance frequency has shifted, preliminary measurement for detecting water resonance frequency is performed, and various frequencies are corrected during the repetitive measurement. |
| US08400146B2 |
Stray field collector pad, and bio-molecule sensing module or biochip using the same
Provided is a stray field collector (SFC) pad and a bio-molecule sensing module or a biochip using the same, and more particularly, a SFC pad, in which probe or detection molecules are attached to a plurality of magnetic labels (magnetic particles or beads) and they are bonded to complementary molecules to enhance a stray field sensor signal of the magnetic labels remaining in the vicinity of the sensor, and a bio-molecule sensing module and a biochip using the same.The provided is related to qualitative as well as quantitative detection of magnetic labels, and the SFC pad which can increase an effective surface area sensitive to the magnetic labels by probe-detection molecular bond in a magnetic biosensor and collect the resultant stray field can enhance sensitivity, accuracy and resolution of the magnetic biosensor. |
| US08400144B2 |
Rotational position sensor having axially central sensor unit
A rotational position sensor includes a rotating body rotatably supported around a predetermined axis line by a bearing portion of a housing and a sensor unit having a movable sensor element arranged at the rotating body to detect a rotational angle position of the rotating body and a fixed sensor element arranged at the housing. The rotating body includes a tapered annular contact face defining a part of a virtual cone face with a vertex on the axis line and the bearing portion includes a tapered annular bearing face rotatably supporting the annular contact face on the virtual cone face. Accordingly, the rotating body is consistently located on the axis line due to an automatic alignment effect. Therefore, the rotational angle position of the rotating body can be detected with high accuracy even with occurrence of aging variation such as wearing at a bearing area. |
| US08400143B2 |
Signal processing circuit of rotation detector and rotation angle detector
A signal processing circuit for a rotation detector includes a rotational direction determining portion, an effective edge determining portion, a normal-rotation pulse request holding portion, a reverse-rotation pulse request holding portion, an output request signal outputting portion, a pulse outputting portion, a first resetting portion, and a second resetting portion. When one of the holding portions holds an output request signal, the pulse outputting portion outputs a pulse based on the output request signal. When the other one of the holding portions holds an output request signal and then a condition for holding the output request signal that is already held by the one of the holding portions is satisfied in a state where the one of the holding portions holds the output request signal, the second resetting portion resets the output request signal held by the other one of the holding portion. |
| US08400142B2 |
Linear position sensor with anti-rotation device
An anti-rotation device or assembly for preventing the rotation of a magnet in a linear position sensor and eliminating the risk of undesired magnetic field measurements and incorrect sensor signal outputs. In one embodiment, the anti-rotation device is an anti-rotation plate which is fixed to the housing of the linear position sensor and a magnet carrier which includes at least one finger extending into a receptacle defined in either the edge or the body of the magnet carrier to prevent the magnet carrier from rotating relative to the plate. In another embodiment, the magnet carrier includes a key and the magnet includes a groove. The key extends into the groove for preventing the rotation of the magnet in the magnet carrier. |
| US08400141B2 |
Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a process variable
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one process variable. The apparatus includes: at least one energy input, via which the apparatus receives energy for operation of the apparatus. The invention includes features that: at least one measuring unit is provided, which measures energy applied to the energy input; and at least one control unit is provided, which, based on comparison of the measured energy with a desired value of the energy requirement, controls at least one unit of the apparatus. |
| US08400137B2 |
Reference voltage generation circuit, drive circuit, light emitting diode head, and image forming apparatus
A reference voltage generation circuit includes a current-mirror circuit formed of a plurality of MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors each having a source terminal connected to a power source and a gate terminal connected to with each other; and a plurality of transistors each connected to a drain terminal of each of the MOS transistors of the current-mirror circuit for controlling the current-mirror circuit, so that an output current of the current-mirror circuit is converted to a voltage to be output as a reference voltage. Each of the MOS transistors of the current-mirror circuit has the drain terminal connected to a collector terminal of each of the transistors. Accordingly, when a voltage of the power source varies, it is possible to maintain a collector voltage of each of the transistors at a specific level and a collector current of each of the transistors constant. |
| US08400136B2 |
Current mirror semiconductor device and a layout method of the same
A semiconductor device and a layout method of the same reduce a mismatch in a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor unit providing a first path of current and a second transistor unit designed in a mirror structure to the first transistor unit and providing a second path of current. The layout of the second transistor unit has a shape identical to the first transistor unit and shifted in a first direction. The layout of the semiconductor device reduces a mismatch of the transistors occurring when masks are combined, and thereby reduces their offset. |
| US08400134B2 |
Apparatus and methodology for maximum power point tracking for a solar panel
Circuitry and methodology for tracking the maximum power point (MPP) of a solar panel is disclosed. The voltage and current generated by the solar panel are monitored and used to generate a pulse signal for charging a capacitor. The changes in the voltage and current generated by the solar panel are also monitored, and that information is used to generate a pulse signal for discharging the capacitor. The charging and the discharging pulse signals are used to charge and discharge the capacitor. A reference signal indicative of the charge level of the capacitor is generated. As the current and voltage generated by the solar panel approach the maximum power point (MPP), the frequency of the discharging pulse signal becomes progressively higher, so that the capacitor charging occurs in progressively smaller increments. When the MPP is reached, the reference signal level becomes steady because the charge level of the capacitor becomes steady. |
| US08400133B2 |
Output current detection of a voltage regulator
For output current detection of a voltage regulator, a sensing circuit is coupled to a high-side element of the regulator and detects the current therein to generate a sensing current. A simulation circuit is coupled to the sensing circuit and generates a summed current by simulation with the sensing current. A setting resistor is coupled to the simulation circuit and receives the summed current to provide an output for feedback control of the voltage regulator. |
| US08400132B2 |
Method of switching a PWM multi-phase voltage converter
A circuit may generate a clock signal with a variable period given by a ratio between an initial switching period and a number of phase circuits through which a current of a multi-phase PWM voltage converter flows. The circuit may include an adjustable current generator driven by a signal representing the number of phase circuits through which the current flows and configured to generate a current proportional to the number of phase circuits through which the current flows, and a tank capacitor charged by the adjustable current generator. The circuit may include a comparator of a voltage on the tank capacitor with a threshold value configured to generate a pulse of the clock signal when the threshold value is attained, and a discharge path of the tank capacitor, the discharge path being enabled during the pulses of the clock signal. |
| US08400131B2 |
Voltage converter and LED driver circuits with progressive boost, skip, and linear mode operation
A voltage converter circuit can include a boost converter having a switching transistor and configured to receive an input voltage, produce an output voltage and selectively operate in one of a boost mode, a skip mode and a linear mode. In the boost and skip modes, the boost converter can switch on and off the switching transistor at a switching frequency to produce an output voltage at magnitudes greater than input voltage magnitudes. In the linear mode, the boost converter can turn off the switching transistor at all times to pass the input voltage unboosted to produce an output voltage at magnitudes less than input voltage magnitudes. The boost converter can be configured to operate in the boost mode for input voltage magnitudes less than a first predetermined input voltage magnitude, in the skip mode for input voltage magnitudes between the first predetermined magnitude and a second predetermined input voltage magnitude greater than the first predetermined input voltage magnitude, and in the linear mode for input voltage magnitudes greater than the second predetermined input voltage magnitude. |
| US08400123B2 |
Voltage converter and voltage conversion method
A voltage converter includes input terminals configured to receive an input voltage, and output terminals configured to provide an output voltage and an output current. At least one first converter stage is connected between the input terminals and the output terminals, having at least one unipolar transistor, and configured to provide a first output current. At least one second converter stage is connected between the input terminals and the output terminals, having at least one bipolar transistor, and configured to provide a second output current. A control circuit is configured to control the first output current and the second output current such that there is a first output current range in which the first output current is higher than the second output current. |
| US08400117B2 |
Method for controlling the progressive charge of a motor vehicle alternator
A method for controlling the progressive charge of a motor vehicle alternator. The alternator comprises a stator, a rotor which is provided with an excitation coil, a voltage regulator which acts on an excitation current which is supplied to the excitation coil in order to regulate an output voltage of the alternator, and a device for controlling the progressive charge which, by means of limitation of the excitation current to a maximum value, determines a maximum mechanical torque which the alternator can collect on a thermal engine of the vehicle. The maximum mechanical torque is determined according to a speed of rotation (NALT) of the alternator, and the progressive charge control device comprises a so-called progressive charge return (PCR) signal which indicates the maximum value which the excitation current (lexc) can assume. When the excitation current assumes a stabilized value (G), the progressive charge return (PCR) signal is updated (H) so as to indicate a maximum current value of the excitation current which is equal to the stabilized value. |
| US08400116B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating power-off duration time and state of charging of battery
An apparatus for controlling a battery includes a capacitor for charging a voltage when the apparatus is on and discharging a voltage when the apparatus is off, a discharging circuit for discharging the voltage charged in the capacitor; a first switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from a predetermined power source for the purpose of charging of the capacitor; a second switching unit for connecting or disconnecting the capacitor to/from the discharging unit; a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage charged in the capacitor; and a controller for calculating a power-off duration time according to the measured voltage. This apparatus may continuously calculate a power-off duration time of a battery pack. |
| US08400112B2 |
Method for managing power limits for a battery
A method for managing power limits for a battery includes the step of increasing a minimum operating state of charge after an initial power capability has decreased to the point where a predefined full discharge power is not available at an initial minimum operating state of charge. The increased minimum operating state of charge can be chosen such that the full discharge power is available. The increased minimum state of charge may not be chosen to provide the full discharge power if the increased minimum state of charge is greater than a maximum low limit state of charge. |
| US08400109B2 |
Flashlight charger
A flashlight charger includes a bottom plate provided with a pressing element and an electrically conducting part fixedly connected to a top plate that partially covers the pressing element and the electrically conducting part. A flashlight to be charged is aligned and connected with the flashlight charger and then pushed backward relative to the flashlight charger to allow the charging terminals at one end of the flashlight charger to make good electrical contact with the corresponding charging ends of the flashlight while the flashlight is securely fastened with the flashlight charger. When charging is completed, the flashlight can be removed from the flashlight charger rapidly and conveniently. The flashlight charger features good and stable electrical contact in use. |
| US08400108B2 |
Method of charging and using an aseptic battery assembly with a removable battery pack
A battery assembly with a housing that contains a removable battery pack. The housing, which is sterilzable, has a head designed to couple to a power consuming device. The battery pack, which is not sterlizable, contains at least one rechargeable cell. The battery pack has a head dimensioned to fit the same charger socket that can receive a sterlizable battery. The battery pack has contacts that abut charger contacts. The housing has internal contacts. Collectively, the housing and battery pack are shaped so that, when the battery pack seats in the housing, the battery pack contacts abut the housing internal contacts. The housing internal contacts are connected to the housing external contacts for supply power to the power consuming device. A cover selectively holds the battery pack in the housing chamber. |
| US08400107B2 |
Charge status display apparatus and electric power supply control apparatus
When a user performs a short-press manipulation to A button or B button, a vehicle ID associated with either A button or B button having received the short-press manipulation is specified based on a button-vehicle correspondence table. Charge status information of a battery of a vehicle corresponding to the above associated vehicle ID is acquired from the vehicle. Thereby, the display device displays the acquired charge status information or the electric power supply is started to the battery of the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle ID. |
| US08400106B2 |
Recharging station and related electric vehicle
The invention relates to a recharging station (10) for recharging an electric vehicle (50) powered by energy storage means (52), said vehicle (50) being designed to follow a route via a point at which the recharging station (10) is situated, said station (10) including recharging means (12) suitable for recharging the storage means (52) of the electric vehicle (50) while said vehicle is in the vicinity of the station. The invention is characterized in that the recharging means (12) comprise a storage device (14) suitable for storing electrical energy delivered by an electrical energy source (16), and connection means (18) for electrically connecting the storage device (14) of the station (10) to the storage means (52) of the vehicle (50), and for transferring the energy stored in the storage device (14) of the station (10) to the storage means (52) of the electric vehicle (50). |
| US08400104B2 |
Gangable inductive battery charger
Gangable inductive battery chargers with integrated inductive coils are provided. A gangable inductive battery charger has at least one power supply module and at least one inductive charging cup module. The power supply module and the inductive charging cup module are interlockingly connectable through rail and slot mechanical connectors and an electrical connector. The inductive charging cup module has one or more charging cups that are capable of receiving a battery. A primary inductive coil embedded in the inductive charging cup module transfers power from the power supply module to a battery received by one of the one or more charging cups. The battery contains a secondary inductive coil for receiving power from the embedded primary coil. Multiple power supply and inductive charging cup modules may be interlockingly connected as needed. |
| US08400102B2 |
Assembled battery unit and vehicle
According to one of the embodiment, an assembled battery has a plurality of cells electrically connected in series. A charge amount difference detection circuit detects charge amount difference of the cells. Wherein, while a charging or discharge current is being applied to the cells, the charge amount difference detection circuit detects charge amount differences greater than a charge amount of a reference cell having a minimum charge amount, the charge amount differences of the cells are determined by addition of the charging or discharge currents during a period corresponding to the time differences between the reference cell and the other cells reaching a predetermined specific voltage, discharge switches are controlled by a switch controller, based on the charging amount differences. |
| US08400092B2 |
Motor drive component verification system and method
A technique is provided for verifying the proper selection, installation, communication and operability of components in power electronic systems, such as motor drives. A processing circuit is coupled to multiple components or subsystems that identify themselves to the processing system. An identification code is stored that is compared to a similar code built based upon the information reported by the components at the time of commissioning, operation or servicing. If the comparison indicates that all components are properly installed, and communicating and operative, operation may continue. The technique may be applied in parallel motor drives at a power layer level to allow separate and parallel verification of component and component operation in the parallel drives. |
| US08400091B2 |
Voltage regulator and cooling control integrated circuit
According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided which includes a microprocessor, and a built-in temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the microprocessor as a reference temperature. The apparatus further includes external temperature sensors, where at least one of the external temperature sensors is configured to measure the temperature of the microprocessor. The microprocessor is configured to make an external temperature calibration using the reference temperature measured by the built-in temperature monitor. Each of the external temperature sensors is configured to monitor temperature information of a component and provide the temperature information to the microprocessor. |
| US08400089B2 |
Control electronics for brushless motors
An electronic control circuit for a brushless motor has an input power circuit providing a DC voltage and a microcontroller integrated circuit receiving the DC voltage. The microcontroller integrated circuit provides three-phase control signals according to a space vector control method. A microprocessor connected to the microcontroller integrated circuit executes supervisory control over the electronic control circuit. An inverter circuit receives the three-phase control signals from the microcontroller integrated circuit and provides driving signals to the brushless motor based on the three-phase control signals received from the microcontroller integrated circuit. |
| US08400083B2 |
Current detecting device, air conditioning apparatus, correction constant calculating system and correction constant calculating method
A current detecting device includes a current leveling unit, a first wire and a current detecting unit. The current leveling unit is configured to level a drive current that is passed through a motor drive unit to drive a motor. The first wire is configured and arranged to carry flow of a motor current that has been passed through the motor and the drive current that has been leveled by the current leveling unit. The current detecting unit is configured to detect a sum of the motor current flowing on the first wire and the drive current that has been leveled flowing on the first wire. |
| US08400081B2 |
Light emitting diode replacement lamp
Thermal management and control techniques for light emitting diode and other incandescent replacement light technologies using a current controller are disclosed. |
| US08400079B2 |
LED drive circuit, dimming device, LED illumination fixture, LED illumination device, and LED illumination system
An LED drive circuit in which an alternating voltage from a phase control dimmer is input and an LED is driven. The LED drive circuit comprises a phase angle detector for detecting the phase angle at which a phase control element inside the phase control dimmer switches from off to on; a switching power supply for feeding a current to the LED; a switching element connected in series to the LED; and a controller for controlling the switching power supply and the switching element in accordance with the output of the phase angle detector; wherein the controller places the switching element in an always-on state in a case in which the phase angle detected by the phase angle detector is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the controller pulse-drives the switching element in a case in which the phase angle detected by the phase angle detector is greater than the predetermined value. |
| US08400075B2 |
Illumination circuit having bypass circuit controllable according to voltage change of series circuit thereof
An illumination circuit includes a series circuit including light sources connected in series between a high voltage node and a low voltage node, and break-protecting circuits. Each break-protecting circuit includes a control circuit and a bypass circuit. The bypass circuit is connected in parallel to at least one corresponding light source of the light sources. The control circuit is connected to the series circuit and the bypass circuit to detect a voltage change of the series circuit and control the bypass circuit to be in a conduct state or a blocked state according to the voltage change |
| US08400073B2 |
Backlight unit with controlled power consumption and display apparatus having the same
In a display apparatus having a backlight unit, a light unit includes plural light source strings commonly connected to an output terminal of a boosting circuit to generate light in response to a light source driving voltage. The light source strings are grouped into plural light generating groups. Plural driving circuits are respectively connected to the light generating groups, and each driving circuit sequentially outputs feedback voltages from the light source strings of a corresponding light generating group. A minimum voltage detecting circuit compares the feedback voltages with each other from the driving circuits to detect a minimum voltage and outputs a control signal according to the detected minimum voltage. A voltage control circuit controls a voltage level of the light source driving voltage in response to the control signal. Accordingly, although the number of the driving circuits increases, power consumption used in each driving circuit may be reduced. |
| US08400072B2 |
Light emitting device driver circuit driving light emitting device by positive and negative voltages and method for driving light emitting device by positive and negative voltages
The present invention discloses a light emitting device driver circuit and a method for driving a light emitting device. In the present invention, the secondary windings of a transformer provide positive and negative secondary voltages, so as to generate positive and negative output voltages. A light emitting device circuit is coupled between the positive and negative output voltages. As such, the specification to withstand high voltage for a device in the circuit is reduced. |
| US08400071B2 |
LED lamp power management system and method
An LED lamp power management system and method including an LED lamp having an LED controller 58; a plurality of LED channels 60 operably connected to the LED controller 58, each of the plurality of LED channels 60 having a channel switch 62 in series with at least one shunted LED circuit 83, the shunted LED circuit 83 having a shunt switch 68 in parallel with an LED source 80. The LED controller 58 reduces power loss in one of the channel switch 62 and the shunt switch 68 when LED lamp electronics power loss (Ploss) exceeds an LED lamp electronics power loss limit (Plim); and each of the channel switches 62 receives a channel switch control signal 63 from the LED controller 58 and each of the shunt switches 68 receives a shunt switch control signal 69 from the LED controller 58. |
| US08400067B2 |
Element substrate and light emitting device
A light emitting device and an element substrate which are capable of suppressing variations in the luminance intensity of a light emitting element among pixels due to characteristic variations of a driving transistor without suppressing off-current of a switching transistor low and increasing storage capacity of a capacitor. According to the invention, a depletion mode transistor is used as a driving transistor. The gate of the driving transistor is fixed in its potential or connected to the source or drain thereof to operate in a saturation region with a constant current flow. A current controlling transistor which operates in a linear region is connected in series to the driving transistor, and a video signal for transmitting a light emission or non-emission of a pixel is inputted to the gate of the current controlling transistor through a switching transistor. |
| US08400066B1 |
Magnetic logic circuits and systems incorporating same
Logic circuits based, at least in part, on use of spin-torque transfer (STT) to switch the magnetization—and hence the logic state—of a magnetic material are disclosed. Aspects of the invention include novel STT-based switching devices, new configurations of known STT-based devices into useful logic circuits, common logic circuits and system building blocks based on these new devices and configurations, as well as methods for inexpensively mass-producing such devices and circuits. |
| US08400063B2 |
Plasma sources
This invention relates to a plasma source in the form of plasma generator (13) which utilizes an antenna (11) and an RF source (12). The generated plasma flows into a chamber (14) and ions are accelerated out of the chamber (14) by grid (15). A body 16 is located in the volume for creating local losses and thereby reducing local plasma density. |
| US08400054B2 |
Organic optoelectronic component
An organic optoelectronic component comprises a substrate (1) with a first electrode (2) on the substrate (1), at least one first organic layer sequence (31) on the first electrode (2) which is suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation during operation, an electrically conductive inorganic protective layer (4) on the at least one organic layer sequence (31) and a second electrode (5) on the protective layer (4). At least one of the first and second electrodes (2, 5) has a layer sequence (21, 22, 23) comprising a layer (21) comprising a transparent oxide and a layer (22) comprising a transparent metal. |
| US08400053B2 |
Carbon nanotube films, layers, fabrics, ribbons, elements and articles
Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. To make various articles, certain embodiments provide a substrate. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. To make a nanofabric, a substrate is provided. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes wherein the non-woven fabric is substantially uniform density. The nanofabrics and articles have characteristics desirable for various electrical systems such as memory circuits and conductive traces and pads. |
| US08400050B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrator having a restriction portion for restricting scattering of a getter material, oscillator, electronic equipment and radio-controlled timepiece
A piezoelectric vibrator includes a base substrate and a lid substrate which are bonded to each other with a cavity formed therebetween; a piezoelectric vibrating reed which has a pair of vibration arm portions extending in parallel and is mounted on the base substrate within the cavity; and a getter material of a metallic film that is formed on the base substrate or the lid substrate so as to be arranged within the cavity and improve a degree of vacuum within the cavity by being heated. A restriction portion, which is arranged in the cavity and restricts a scattering direction of the getter material evaporated by the heating to suppress a scattering amount scattering toward the vibration arm portion, is formed in the base substrate or the lid substrate. |
| US08400039B2 |
Outer rotor motor and method of manufacturing the same
An outer rotor motor comprises a rotor rotating about an axis, and a fixed stator. Provided over the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical part of a fan connecting resin member are a ring-shaped yoke, a ring-shaped rotor magnet fixed to a fixing slot defined in the radially inner surface of the yoke, and yokes fixed to fixing slots defined in a radially inner surface of the rotor magnet. The rotor magnet is so magnetized that magnetic poles alternately change in a circumferential direction. The yoke covers a radially outer surface of the rotor magnet, and parts on a radially outer side of an axially upper surface and an axially lower surface of the rotor magnet. |
| US08400033B2 |
Unlocking actuator
An unlocking actuator for automatic unlocking of vehicle seat and manual unlocking of vehicle seat. Rotary torque generated by an electric motor in order to unlock a vehicle seat is transmitted to a rotary gear which is thereby rotated. A substantially sectorial insertion hole is formed in a pulley along the rotational direction and an abutting surface is formed on one end side of the insertion hole. A first inner cable has one end fixed to a first groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the first groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking mechanism. A second inner cable has one end fitted idly in a second groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the second groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking operation rod. |
| US08400030B1 |
Hybrid electric transmission fluid
A dispersant additive composition, a lubricant composition containing the dispersant additive, a transmission containing the dispersant additive, and a method of providing a versatile lubricating fluid. The dispersant includes a reaction product of a hydrocarbyl substituted carboxylic acid or anhydride and an amine. The reaction product has a nitrogen content up to 10,000 ppm by weight, and a boron plus phosphorus to nitrogen ((B+P)/N) weight ratio of from 0:1 to about 0.8:1. The dispersant additive composition is effective to provide an electrical conductivity to a lubricant composition containing the dispersant additive composition and a metal detergent of less than about 1700 pS/m. |
| US08400029B2 |
Rotating electrical machine having a plurality of cooling medium paths
A rotating electrical machine includes: a stator that includes a cylindrical stator core and a stator winding wire wound around the stator core; and a rotor disposed facing the stator via a gap; wherein at least one cooling medium path extending in a direction of a central axis of the stator core is provided in the stator; and the cooling medium path is inclined relative to the central axis of the stator core. |
| US08400026B2 |
Circuits and methods for controlling supercapacitors and kits for providing the same
A circuit can include a supercapacitor switch including first and second terminals, that is configured to electrically couple the terminals to one another in a closed position and to electrically de-couple the terminals from one another in an open position responsive to a supercapacitor switch control signal. A first supercapacitor has a first terminal that is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the supercapacitor switch and has a second terminal that is electrically coupled to a reference voltage. A second supercapacitor has a first terminal that is electrically coupled to the second terminal of the supercapacitor switch and has a second terminal that is electrically coupled to the reference voltage. |
| US08400021B2 |
Wireless energy transfer with high-Q sub-wavelength resonators
Described herein are embodiments of transferring electromagnetic energy that includes a first electromagnetic resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure may have a first mode with a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and a first Q-factor Q1=ω1L1/R1ohm+R1rad). A second electromagnetic resonator structure being positioned distal from said first resonator structure and not electrically wired to the first resonator structure, said second resonator structure having a second mode with a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and a second Q-factor Q2=ω2L2/(R2ohm+R2rad). The electromagnetic energy may be transferred from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure over a distance D that is smaller than each of the resonant wavelengths λ1 and λ2 corresponding to the resonant frequencies ω1 and ω2, respectively, where the characteristic sizes of the resonator structures are less than the resonant wavelengths and where Q1>100, Q2>100, R1ohm>R1rad, and R2ohm>R2rad. |
| US08400018B2 |
Wireless energy transfer with high-Q at high efficiency
Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator optionally coupled to an energy source, and a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and the second resonator may be coupled to provide κ/sqrt(Γ1Γ2)>0.2 via near-field wireless energy transfer among the source resonator and the second resonator. |
| US08400015B2 |
Highly available node redundancy power architecture
According to one embodiment, an apparatus for providing node redundant power to a system includes a plurality of devices, with each device including a power supply. Each power supply includes a first direct current (DC) input coupled to a first input of an OR logic gate, and a second DC input representing by an alternating current (AC) input. The second DC input is coupled to a second input of the OR logic gate, and at least one DC output is coupled to an output of the OR logic gate. Each power supply also includes a backup power supply for supplying a voltage coupled to a common node. The OR logic gate provides DC voltage to the DC output to power the system from the first DC input only when voltage from the AC input is not available. |
| US08400006B2 |
Hydrodynamic array
There are a large number of sites in the world's oceans and rivers that can provide a significant, viable, and cost effective source of renewable energy. Many are strategically located close to populated areas where these sites can be used to harness energy using ecologically benign hydrodynamic technology. A hydrodynamic array comprises multiple hydrodynamic elements for producing electricity by the motion of ocean tides or river currents and forces acting on the hydrodynamic array, which is immersed in ocean tides or river currents and which is in motion relative to the ocean tides or river currents. |
| US08400005B2 |
Generating energy from fluid expansion
A turbine wheel is rotatable in response to expansion of a working fluid flowing from near an inlet side towards an outlet side of the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel may receive the working fluid radially into the inlet side of the turbine wheel and output the working fluid axially from its outlet side. A generator has a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be coupled to the turbine wheel and may rotate at the same speed as the turbine wheel when the turbine wheel rotates. In certain instances, the generator is adjacent the inlet side of the turbine wheel. |
| US08399993B2 |
Embedded package and method for manufacturing the same
An embedded package includes a first semiconductor chip having a first conductive line which has a first sunken area, a second semiconductor chip having a second conductive line which has a second sunken area, wherein the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip are arranged facing each other, and wherein the first sunken area and the second sunken area are arranged facing each other, a core layer surrounding the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, wherein the core layer has a first circuit pattern coupled to an external terminal; and a bump formed in the first and second sunken areas, wherein the bump is coupled to the first circuit pattern. |
| US08399989B2 |
Metal pad or metal bump over pad exposed by passivation layer
A circuitry component comprising a semiconductor substrate, a pad over said semiconductor substrate, a tantalum-containing layer on a side wall and a bottom surface of said pad, a passivation layer over said semiconductor substrate, an opening in said passivation layer exposing said pad, a titanium-containing layer over said pad exposed by said opening, and a gold layer over said titanium-containing layer. |
| US08399988B2 |
High performance sub-system design and assembly
A multiple integrated circuit chip structure provides interchip communication between integrated circuit chips of the structure with no ESD protection circuits and no input/output circuitry. The interchip communication is between internal circuits of the integrated circuit chips. The multiple integrated circuit chip structure has an interchip interface circuit to selectively connect internal circuits of the integrated circuits to test interface circuits having ESD protection circuits and input/output circuitry designed to communicate with external test systems during test and burn-in procedures. The multiple interconnected integrated circuit chip structure has a first integrated circuit chip mounted to one or more second integrated circuit chips to physically and electrically connect the integrated circuit chips to one another. The first integrated circuit chips have interchip interface circuits connected each other to selectively communicate between internal circuits of the each other integrated circuit chips or test interface circuits, connected to the internal circuits of each integrated circuit chip to provide stimulus and response to said internal circuits during testing procedures. A mode selector receives a signal external to the chip to determine whether the communication is to be with one of the other connected integrated circuit chips or in single chip mode, such as with the test interface circuits. ESD protection is added to the mode selector circuitry. |
| US08399987B2 |
Microelectronic devices including conductive vias, conductive caps and variable thickness insulating layers
Microelectronic devices include a conductive via that extends into a substrate face and that also protrudes beyond the substrate face to define a conductive via end surface and a conductive via sidewall that extends from the end surface towards the substrate face. A conductive cap is provided on the end surface, the conductive cap including a conductive cap body that extends across the end surface and a flange that extends from the conductive cap body along the conductive via sidewall towards the substrate face. Related fabrication methods are also described. |
| US08399984B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip, through electrodes and cooling parts. The semiconductor chip has bonding pads on an upper surface thereof. The through-electrodes are formed in the semiconductor chip. The cooling parts are formed in the semiconductor chip and on the upper surface of the semiconductor chip in order to dissipate heat. |
| US08399983B1 |
Semiconductor assembly with integrated circuit and companion device
A semiconductor assembly with an integrated circuit (IC) and a companion device. An exemplary semiconductor assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and first and second ICs. The PCB has first contacts on a top surface and second contacts on a bottom surface. The first contacts are vertically aligned with the second contacts and are electrically coupled by vias in the PCB. The first IC has first terminals respectively coupled to the first contacts of the PCB, the first terminals including first input/output (IO) terminals. The second IC includes at least one die, and second terminals coupled to at least a portion of the second contacts of the PCB. The second terminals include second IO terminals of the companion die, and are respectively coupled to those of the second contacts that are vertically aligned with those of the first contacts respectively coupled to the first IO terminals. |
| US08399982B2 |
Nanotube-based directionally-conductive adhesive
A tape adhesive type material is directionally conductive. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, carbon nanotubes (212, 214, 216, 218) are configured in a generally parallel arrangement in a tape base type material (210). The carbon nanotubes conduct (e.g., electrically and/or thermally) in their generally parallel direction and the tape base type material inhibits conduction in a generally lateral direction. In some implementations, the tape base material is arranged between integrated circuit components (220, 230), with the carbon nanotubes making a conductive connection there between. This approach is applicable to coupling a variety of components together, such as integrated circuit dies (flip chip and conventional dies) to package substrates, to each other and/or to leadframes. |
| US08399981B2 |
Ball grid array with improved single-ended and differential signal performance
An improved system and method for assigning power and ground pins and single ended or differential signal pairs for a ball grid array semiconductor package. In certain embodiments, the system uses a hexagonal pattern where the grid may be represented by a multiplicity of nested hexagonal patterns. |
| US08399980B2 |
Electronic component used for wiring and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring electronic component of the present invention is incorporated into an electronic device package in which a circuit element including a semiconductor chip is disposed and in which the circuit element is connected to a wiring pattern on the back face and also connected, via vertical wiring, to external electrodes located on the front face opposite the wiring pattern. The wiring electronic component is composed of an electrically conductive support portion, which serves as an electroforming mother die, and a plurality of vertical wiring portions formed through electroforming such that they are integrally connected to the support portion. |
| US08399978B2 |
Power semiconductor chip package
A device includes a vertical power semiconductor chip having an epitaxial layer and a bulk semiconductor layer. A first contact pad is arranged on a first main face of the power semiconductor chip and a second contact pad is arranged on a second main face of the power semiconductor chip opposite to the first main face. The device further comprises an electrically conducting carrier attached to the second contact pad. |
| US08399977B2 |
Resin-sealed package and method of producing the same
A method of producing a resin-sealed package is provided with: providing an electronic component which has a plurality of terminals on one face, a first support member and a second support member; temporarily fixing said electronic component to a surface of said first support member by a first adhesive agent layer, to face said terminals with said first support member; fixing said second support member having a second adhesive agent layer to said electronic component while interposing said electronic component between said first support member and said second support member to face said second adhesive agent layer with a back face side of said electronic component; resin sealing said electronic component between said first support member and said second support member; peeling said first support member and said first adhesive agent layer from said electronic component and a sealing resin; and stacking an insulating resin layer and a wiring layer which is electrically connected to said terminals of said electronic component, on said electronic component and said sealing resin. |
| US08399975B2 |
Stacked semiconductor package
A stacked semiconductor package includes a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, and divided into a first region and a second region that adjoins the first region; a support member formed in the second region on the upper surface of the substrate; and a semiconductor chip module including a plurality of semiconductor chips each of which is bent and has bonding pads near one lower edge of a declining slope of a first surface thereof and which are stacked on the support member in a step-like shape such that their bonding pads face the first region and are electrically connected with the substrate. |
| US08399972B2 |
Overmolded semiconductor package with a wirebond cage for EMI shielding
According to one exemplary embodiment, an overmolded package includes a component situated on a substrate. The overmolded package further includes an overmold situated over the component and the substrate. The overmolded package further includes a wirebond cage situated over the substrate and in the overmold, where the wirebond cage surrounds the component, and where the wirebond cage includes a number of wirebonds. The wirebond cage forms an EMI shield around the component. According to this exemplary embodiment, the overmolded package further includes a conductive layer situated on a top surface of the overmold and connected to the wirebond cage, where the conductive layer forms an EMI shield over the component. |
| US08399971B2 |
Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices
Packaged microelectronic devices and methods of manufacturing packaged microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device includes forming a stand-off layer over a plurality of microelectronic dies on a semiconductor workpiece, and removing selected portions of the stand-off layer to form a plurality of stand-offs with the individual stand-offs positioned on a backside of a corresponding die. The method further includes cutting the semiconductor workpiece to singulate the dies, and attaching the stand-off on a first singulated die to a second die. |
| US08399968B2 |
Non-leaded integrated circuit package system
A non-leaded integrated circuit package system is provided providing a die paddle of a lead frame, forming a dual row of terminals including outer terminal pads and inner terminal pads, and selectively fusing an extension between the die paddle and instances of the inner terminal pads. |
| US08399966B2 |
Inserts for directing molding compound flow and semiconductor die assemblies
Flow diverting structures for preferentially impeding, redirecting or both impeding and redirecting the flow of flowable encapsulant material, such as molding compound, proximate a selected surface or surfaces of a semiconductor die or dice during encapsulation are disclosed. Flow diverting structures may be included in or associated with one or more portions of a lead frame, such as a paddle, tie bars, or lead fingers. Flow diverting structures may also be inserted into a mold in association with semiconductor dice carried on non-lead frame substrates, such as interposers and circuit boards, to preferentially impede, redirect or both impede and redirect the flow of molding compound flowing between and over the semiconductor dice. |
| US08399965B2 |
Layer structure with EMI shielding effect
A layer structure with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effect is applicable for reducing an EMI effect caused by signal transmission between through silicon vias, so as to effectively provide the EMI shielding effect between electrical interconnections of a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit. By forming EMI-shielding through silicon vias at predetermined positions between the through silicon vias used for signal transmission, a good EMI shielding effect can be attended, and signal distortion possibly caused by the EMI effect can be reduced between different chips or substrates. |
| US08399964B2 |
Multilayer structures for magnetic shielding
A magnetic shield is presented. The shield may be used to protect a microelectronic device from stray magnetic fields. The shield includes at least two layers. A first layer includes a magnetic material that may be used to block DC magnetic fields. A second layer includes a conductive material that may be used to block AC magnetic fields. Depending on the type of material that the first and second layers include, a third layer may be inserted in between the first and second layers. The third layer may include a non-conductive material that may be used to ensure that separate eddy current regions form in the first and second layers. |
| US08399963B2 |
Chip package and fabrication method thereof
A chip package includes a substrate having a pad region, a device region, and a remained scribe region located at a periphery of the substrate; a signal and an EMI ground pads disposed on the pad region; a first and a second openings penetrating into the substrate to expose the signal and the EMI ground pads, respectively; a first and a second conducting layers located in the first and the second openings and electrically connecting the signal and the EMI ground pads, respectively, wherein the first conducting layer and the signal pad are separated from a periphery of the remained scribe region, and wherein a portion of the second conducting layer and/or the EMI ground pad extend(s) to a periphery of the remained scribe region; and a third conducting layer surrounding the periphery of the remained scribe region to electrically connect the second conducting layer and/or the EMI ground pad. |
| US08399961B2 |
Tuning the efficiency in the transmission of radio-frequency signals using micro-bumps
A device includes a die including a main circuit and a first pad coupled to the main circuit. A work piece including a second pad is bonded to the die. A first plurality of micro-bumps is electrically coupled in series between the first and the second pads. Each of the plurality of micro-bumps includes a first end joining the die and a second end joining the work piece. A micro-bump is bonded to the die and the work piece. The second pad is electrically coupled to the micro-bump. |
| US08399959B2 |
Programmable poly fuse
According to one exemplary embodiment, a programmable poly fuse includes a P type resistive poly segment forming a P-N junction with an adjacent N type resistive poly segment. The programmable poly fuse further includes a P side silicided poly line contiguous with the P type resistive poly segment and coupled to a P side terminal of the poly fuse. The programmable poly fuse further includes an N side silicided poly line contiguous with the N type resistive poly segment and coupled to an N side terminal of the poly fuse. During a normal operating mode, a voltage less than or equal to approximately 2.5 volts is applied to the N side terminal of the programmable poly fuse. A voltage higher than approximately 3.5 volts is required at the N side terminal of the poly fuse to break down the P-N junction. |
| US08399949B2 |
Photonic systems and methods of forming photonic systems
Some embodiments include photonic systems. The systems may include a silicon-containing waveguide configured to direct light along a path, and a detector proximate the silicon-containing waveguide. The detector may comprise a detector material which has a lower region and an upper region, with the lower region having a higher concentration of defects than the upper region. The detector material may comprise germanium in some embodiments. Some embodiments include methods of forming photonic systems. |
| US08399945B2 |
Semiconductor light receiving element
A semiconductor light detecting element includes: a semiconductor substrate; and a distributed Bragg reflector layer of a first conductivity type, an optical absorption layer, and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, sequentially laminated on the semiconductor substrate. The distributed Bragg reflector layer includes first and second alternately laminated semiconductor layers with different band-gap wavelengths, sandwiching the wavelength of detected incident light. The sum of thicknesses a first and a second semiconductor layer is approximately one-half the wavelength of the incident light detected. |
| US08399940B2 |
Package structure having MEMS elements and fabrication method thereof
A package structure having MEMS elements includes: a wafer having MEMS elements, electrical contacts and second alignment keys; a plate disposed over the MEMS elements and packaged airtight; transparent bodies disposed over the second alignment keys via an adhesive; an encapsulant disposed on the wafer to encapsulate the plate, the electrical contacts and the transparent bodies; bonding wires embedded in the encapsulant and each having one end connecting a corresponding one of the electrical contacts and the other end exposed from a top surface of the encapsulant; and metal traces disposed on the encapsulant and electrically connected to the electrical contacts via the bonding wires. The present invention eliminates the need to form through holes in a silicon substrate as in the prior art so as to reduce fabrication costs. Further, the present invention accomplishes wiring processes by using a common alignment device to thereby reduce equipment costs. |
| US08399939B2 |
Color selective photodetector and methods of making
A photoelectric device, such as a photodetector, can include a semiconductor nanowire electrostatically associated with a J-aggregate. The J-aggregate can facilitate absorption of a desired wavelength of light, and the semiconductor nanowire can facilitate charge transport. The color of light detected by the device can be chosen by selecting a J-aggregate with a corresponding peak absorption wavelength. |
| US08399936B2 |
Through substrate via semiconductor components
A structure and method of forming through substrate vias in forming semiconductor components are described. In one embodiment, the invention describes a method of forming a through substrate via by partially filling an opening with a fill material, and forming a first insulating layer over the first fill material thereby forming a gap over the opening. The method further includes forming a second insulating layer to close the gap thereby forming an enclosed cavity within the opening. |
| US08399930B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a contact plug
There is provided a semiconductor device that includes: a transistor having a gate electrode, a source region, and a drain region; a first inter-layer insulation film covering the transistor; a first contact plug formed penetrating through the first inter-layer insulation film and connected to either the source region or the drain region; a second inter-layer insulation film covering the first contact plug; a groove extending in the second inter-layer insulation film in a same direction as an extending direction of the gate electrode and exposing a top surface of the first contact plug at a bottom thereof; a second contact plug connected to the first contact plug and formed in the groove; and a wiring pattern extending on the second inter-layer insulation film so as to traverse the groove and integrated with the second contact plug. |
| US08399925B2 |
Termination structure with multiple embedded potential spreading capacitive structures for trench MOSFET and method
A termination structure with multiple embedded potential spreading capacitive structures (TSMEC) and method are disclosed for terminating an adjacent trench MOSFET atop a bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) with bottom drain electrode. The BSL has a proximal bulk semiconductor wall (PBSW) supporting drain-source voltage (DSV) and separating TSMEC from trench MOSFET. The TSMEC has oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) bounded by PBSW and a distal bulk semiconductor wall (DBSW). The OFLDT includes a large deep oxide trench into the BSL and embedded capacitive structures (EBCS) located inside the large deep oxide trench and between PBSW and DBSW for spatially spreading the DSV across them. In one embodiment, the EBCS contains interleaved conductive embedded polycrystalline semiconductor regions (EPSR) and oxide columns (OXC) of the OFLDT, a proximal EPSR next to PBSW is connected to an active upper source region and a distal EPSR next to DBSW is connected to the DBSW. |
| US08399919B2 |
Unit block circuit of semiconductor device
A unit block circuit of a semiconductor device includes a first well, a first pickup unit configured to form a closed loop over the first well, a first transistor including a first gate and a first active region, and formed within the first pickup unit, and a first reservoir capacitor formed in a spare within the first pickup unit and arranged in a major-axis direction of the first gate of the first transistor, wherein the first reservoir capacitor comprises a second active region and a second gate, the second gate being formed over the second active region. |
| US08399918B2 |
Electronic device including a tunnel structure
An electronic device can include a tunnel structure that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and tunnel dielectric layer disposed between the electrodes. In a particular embodiment, the tunnel structure may or may not include an intermediate doped region that is at the primary surface, abuts a lightly doped region, and has a second conductivity type opposite from and a dopant concentration greater than the lightly doped region. In another embodiment, the electrodes have opposite conductivity types. In a further embodiment, an electrode can be formed from a portion of a substrate or well region, and the other electrode can be formed over such portion of the substrate or well region. |
| US08399915B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device which can reduce on-resistance by improving hole mobility of a channel region. A trench gate type MOSFET (semiconductor device) is provided with a p+-type silicon substrate whose crystal plane of a main surface is a (110) plane; an epitaxial layer formed on the silicon substrate; a trench, which is formed on the epitaxial layer and includes a side wall parallel to the thickness direction (Z direction) of the silicon substrate; a gate electrode formed inside the trench through a gate dielectric film; an n-type channel region formed along the side wall of the trench; and a p+-type source region and a p−-type drain region which are formed to sandwich the channel region in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the silicon substrate. The trench is formed to have the crystal plane of the side wall as a (110) plane. |
| US08399913B2 |
Monolithic integrated circuit
A field-effect semiconductor device such as a HEMT or MESFET is monolithically integrated with a Schottky diode for feedback, regeneration, or protection purposes. The field-effect semiconductor device includes a main semiconductor region having formed thereon a source, a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain. Also formed on the main semiconductor region, preferably between gate and drain, is a Schottky electrode electrically coupled to the source. The Schottky electrode provides a Schottky diode in combination with the main semiconductor region. A current flow is assured from Schottky electrode to drain without interruption by a depletion region expanding from the gate. |
| US08399912B2 |
III-nitride power device with solderable front metal
Some exemplary embodiments of a III-nitride power device including a HEMT with multiple interconnect metal layers and a solderable front metal structure using solder bars for external circuit connections have been disclosed. The solderable front metal structure may comprise a tri-metal such as TiNiAg, and may be configured to expose source and drain contacts of the HEMT as alternating elongated digits or bars. Additionally, a single package may integrate multiple such HEMTs wherein the front metal structures expose alternating interdigitated source and drain contacts, which may be advantageous for DC-DC power conversion circuit designs using III-nitride devices. By using solder bars for external circuit connections, lateral conduction is enabled, thereby advantageously reducing device Rdson. |
| US08399909B2 |
Tetra-lateral position sensing detector
The present invention is directed to a position sensing detector made of a photodiode having a semi insulating substrate layer; a buffered layer that is formed directly atop the semi-insulating substrate layer, an absorption layer that is formed directly atop the buffered layer substrate layer, a cap layer that is formed directly atop the absorption layer, a plurality of cathode electrodes electrically coupled to the buffered layer or directly to the cap layer, and at least one anode electrode electrically coupled to a p-type region in the cap layer. The position sensing detector has a photo-response non-uniformity of less than 2% and a position detection error of less than 10 μm across the active area. |
| US08399908B2 |
Programmable metallization memory cells via selective channel forming
Methods for making a programmable metallization memory cell are disclosed. |
| US08399904B2 |
Light emitting device and lighting system having the same
Provided is a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a plurality of metal layers including first and second metal layers spaced from each other, a first insulation film disposed on a top surface of the plurality of metal layers, the first insulation film having a width wider than an interval between the plurality of metal layers, a light emitting chip disposed on the first metal layer of the plurality of metal layers, and a resin layer disposed on the first metal layer, the first insulation film, and the light emitting chip. The first metal layer includes a first base part dispose on the light emitting chip and a first side part bent from the first base part on an outer portion of the first base part. |
| US08399903B2 |
LED lamps
A high power LED lamp has a GaN chip placed over an AlGaInP chip. A reflector is placed between the two chips. Each of the chips has trenches diverting light for output. The chip pair can be arranged to produce white light having a spectral distribution in the red to blue region that is close to that of daylight. Also, the chip pair can be used to provide an RGB lamp or a red-amber-green traffic lamp. The active regions of both chips can be less than 50 microns away from a heat sink. |
| US08399902B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode chip, and a first lead terminal in which a bottom portion including a mounting region for the light emitting diode chip is formed, and a side wall continuing to the bottom portion and having an inner surface serving as a reflecting surface for light emitted from the light emitting diode chip is continuously formed. Further, the light emitting device includes a second lead terminal provided to be spaced from the first lead terminal. Furthermore, the light emitting device includes a resin portion which supports the first lead terminal and the second lead terminal, and in which a cavity exposing a portion of the second lead terminal and the mounting region in the first lead terminal is formed. |
| US08399897B2 |
Optical device package
An optical device package includes a substrate having an upper surface, a distal end, a proximal end, and distal and proximal longitudinally extending notches co-linearly aligned with each other. A structure is mounted to the substrate and has at least one recessed portion. The structure can be a lid or a frame to which a lid is bonded. An optical fiber is positioned within at least one of the proximal longitudinally extending notch and the distal longitudinally extending notch and within the recessed portion of the structure mounted to the substrate. The optical device package can also include conductive legs extending upwardly from bonding pads on the upper surface of the substrate to facilitate flip mounting of the optical device package onto a circuit board or other such platform. |
| US08399894B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A wiring electrode is provided on a mount substrate. A light emitting element is provided on the wiring electrode to connect electrically with the wiring electrode and is configured to emit a blue to ultraviolet light. A reflective film is provided above the light emitting element to cover the light emitting element so that a space is interposed between the reflective film and the light emitting element. The reflective film is capable of transmitting the blue to ultraviolet light. A fluorescent material layer is provided above the light emitting element to cover the light emitting element so that the reflective film is located between the fluorescent material layer and the light emitting element. A light from the fluorescent material layer is reflected by the reflective film. |
| US08399893B2 |
Luminous means
A luminous means includes a first group of semiconductor chips and a second group of semiconductor chips, each group includes at least one semiconductor chip, wherein the first and second groups of semiconductor chips are arranged laterally alongside one another at least in part with respect to a main emission direction of the luminous means, and a third group of semiconductor chips which includes at least one semiconductor chip and is disposed downstream of the first and the second group with respect to the main emission direction, wherein each group of semiconductor chips emits electromagnetic radiation in wavelength ranges that differ from one another in pairs, radiation emitted by the third group of semiconductor chips has the shortest-wave wavelength range, radiation emitted by the first and second group of semiconductor chips at least partly passes into the at least one semiconductor chip of the third group, and mixed radiation is emitted by an emission area of the luminous means. |
| US08399891B2 |
Active device array substrate and method for fabricating the same
An active device array substrate and a fabricating method thereof are provided. A first patterned conductive layer including separated scan line patterns is formed on a substrate. Each scan line pattern includes a first and second scan lines adjacent to each other. Both the first and the second scan lines have first and second contacts. An open inspection on the scan line patterns is performed. Channel layers are formed on the substrate. A second patterned conductive layer including data lines interlaced with the first and second scan lines, sources and drains located above the channel layers, and connectors is formed on the substrate. The sources electrically connect the data lines correspondingly. At least one of the connectors electrically connects the first and second scan lines, so as to form a loop in each scan line pattern. Pixel electrodes electrically connected to the drains are formed. |
| US08399890B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and light emitting apparatus having thereof
Embodiments relate to a semiconductor light emitting device and a light emitting apparatus comprising the same. The semiconductor light emitting device according to embodiments comprises a plurality of light emitting cells comprising a plurality of compound semiconductor layers; a plurality of ohmic contact layers on the light emitting cells; a first insulating layer on the ohmic contact layer; a second electrode layer electrically connected to a first light emitting cell of the light emitting cells; and a plurality of interconnection layers connecting the light emitting cells in series. |
| US08399889B2 |
Organic light emitting diode and organic solar cell stack
This disclosure relates to an organic solar cell and an organic light emitting diode stack. The stack comprises a solar cell portion having a substrate, an electrode, an active layer, and a second electrode. The stack also comprises a light emitting diode portion having a substrate, an electrode, an active layer, and a second electrode. The solar cell portion is laminated to the light emitting diode portion to form a stack. In a variation, the stack comprises a solar cell portion that includes a substrate, an electrode and an active layer. In this variation, there is a connection portion that includes a second substrate, having, a second electrode on one side and a third electrode on the other side of the second substrate. Also in this variation, there is also a light emitting diode portion, which includes a third substrate, an electrode on the third substrate and a second active layer. The solar cell portion is laminated to the connection portion and the connection portion is laminated to the light emitting diode portion to form a stack. |
| US08399887B2 |
Thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a structure of the TFT in which a current-voltage characteristic can be improved. The present invention refers to a thin film transistor comprising a lamination layer wherein a first conductive film, a first insulating film and a second conductive film are sequentially laminated, a semiconductor film formed so as to be in contact with the side surface of the lamination layer, and a third conductive film covering the semiconductor film through a second insulating film. The first conductive film and the second conductive film are a source electrode and a drain electrode, and a region which is in contact with the first insulating film and the third conductive film is a channel forming region in semiconductor film, and the third conductive film is a gate electrode. |
| US08399885B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and flat panel display apparatus
A thin film transistor substrate including a plurality of thin film transistors, and a flat panel display apparatus. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors includes an active layer comprising a first channel region having a first plurality of protrusion lines arranged therein and a second channel region and having a second plurality of protrusion lines arranged therein, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the active layer and a gate electrode insulated from the active layer, wherein the first and second plurality of protrusion lines extend in a first direction, wherein a edges of the first channel region that extend in the first direction and are offset sideways by a distance in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction from corresponding edges of the second channel region that extend in the first direction. |
| US08399882B2 |
Oxide semiconductor transistors and methods of manufacturing the same
Transistors and methods of manufacturing the same. A transistor may be an oxide thin film transistor (TFT) with a self-aligned top gate structure. The transistor may include a gate insulating layer between a channel region and a gate electrode that extends from two sides of the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer may cover at least a portion of source and drain regions. |
| US08399874B2 |
Vertical nonvolatile memory device including a selective diode
Provided are a vertical nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the vertical nonvolatile memory device. The vertical nonvolatile memory device can be integrated more highly as compared with a nonvolatile memory device of the related art. In addition, since the vertical nonvolatile memory device includes a selective diode, reading errors can be prevented. |
| US08399869B2 |
UV luminaire having a plurality of UV lamps, particularly for technical product processing
In various embodiments, a UV luminaire may include a housing which is designed for accommodating a plurality of UV lamps and a protective atmosphere, wherein the housing is subdivided in such a manner into chambers respectively containing some of the UV lamps and can be opened in such a manner that each of the UV lamps can be replaced with detriment to the protective atmosphere only of the respective chamber. |
| US08399860B2 |
Method for preventing deterioration of edible oil or industrial oil and apparatus therefor
A fluororesin-coated electric wire cable is wound around a ring-shaped groove defined by an outer periphery of a cylinder and two flange edges immersed in an edible oil in a tank, forming each oscillating unit having a coil part; and the oscillating units are connected to an electromagnetic wave generator through a relay unit. Electromagnetic waves are irradiated from the coil parts based on an alternating current having a single frequency, an alternating current having a plurality of single frequencies different from one another, or an alternating current having a timewise varying frequency, the alternating currents each being within a frequency band of 4 kHz to 25 kHz, and a treatment based on a far-infrared heater or far-infrared ceramic is used combinedly therewith, to prevent deterioration of an edible oil or industrial oil. |
| US08399855B2 |
Photodiode for detection within molecular diagnostics
A photodiode (200), for instance a PN or a PIN photodiode, is disclosed. The photodiode receives incident radiation having first and second spectral distributions, where the first spectral distribution is spectrally shifted from the second spectral distribution. The photodiode has a first semiconductor layer (211) capable of absorbing incident radiation (231) having a first spectral distribution without generating a photocurrent, while simultaneously transmitting incident radiation having a second spectral distribution to the intrinsic layer (212) for generating a photocurrent (213). The photodiode may be used in connection with detecting the presence of target molecules that has been labeled with labeling agents, such as fluorophores or quantum dots. The labeling agents are characterized by the Stokes shift and, therefore, they emit fluorescent radiation having the second spectral distribution that is spectrally shifted from the illumination radiation having the first spectral distribution. |
| US08399849B1 |
Fast neutron detector
An activation detector for fast-neutrons has a yttrium target exposed to a neutron source. Fast-neutrons which have energy in excess of 1 MeV (above a threshold energy level) generate gamma rays from a nuclear reaction with the yttrium, the gamma rays having an energy level of 908.96 keV, and the resultant gamma rays are coupled to a scintillator which generates an optical response, the optical response of the scintillator is coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates an electrical response. The number of counts from the photomultiplier tube provides an accurate indication of the fast-neutron flux, and the detector is exclusively sensitive to fast-neutrons with an energy level over 1 MeV, thereby providing a fast-neutron detector which does not require calibration or the setting of a threshold. |
| US08399847B2 |
Ruggedized enclosure for a radiographic device
In one embodiment, a portable X-ray detector assembly is provided comprising a detector array and a housing for the detector array. The housing is provided as a multi-layer structure in which at least one layer improves or increases the structural integrity of other layers of the housing. In certain embodiments, the structural integrity layer also acts to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference that might otherwise affect the detector or other electronics in the vicinity of the detector. |
| US08399844B2 |
Detector assembly
A detector made of a detector assembly including a detector housing comprising a reflective interior surface relative to a wavelength of fluoresced electromagnetic radiation, and a scintillator contained within the detector housing. The detector further including a photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled to the detector housing, wherein a portion of the PMT is contained within the detector housing. |
| US08399842B2 |
Digital radiographic detector with bonded phosphor layer
A digital radiographic detector having a radiation sensing element with a particulate material dispersed within a binder composition, wherein the binder composition includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive, wherein the particulate material, upon receiving radiation of a first energy level, is excitable to emit radiation of a second energy level, either spontaneously or in response to a stimulating energy of a third energy level. There is an array of photosensors, each photosensor in the array energizable to provide an output signal indicative of the level of emitted radiation of the second energy level that is received. The radiation sensing element bonds directly to, and in optical contact with, either the array of photosensors or an array of optical fibers that guide light to the array of photosensors. |
| US08399840B2 |
Rare-earth halide scintillator coated with a light absorber or light reflector
A scintillator material comprises a rare-earth halide coated with a layer comprising a resin and a pigment. In an embodiment, the scintillator material is used in an ionizing-radiation detector, and in particular embodiment, a gamma camera. The layer can adhere well and act as an absorbent or reflector depending on the color of the pigment. |
| US08399839B2 |
Infrared optical gas-measuring device
A first, upper slotted disk (10) and a second, lower slotted disk (20) are arranged as a gas inlet (11) in a gas-measuring device (1). The first, upper slotted disk (10) and the second, lower slotted disk (20) are connected to one another and to a sensor housing (2) via a spacer element (29). The arrangement of the slotted disks (10, 20) in relation to one another is selected to be such that reduced propagation of light of an infrared radiation source (43) through both slotted disks (10, 20) into the measuring environment is achieved. |
| US08399836B2 |
Infrared ray transmissive optical member and manufacturing method thereof, optical device, and optical apparatus
An optical member made of polycrystalline silicon formed from high-purity trichlorosilane as a raw material, and that absorbs and scatters an infrared ray in a wavelength region of 4 μm or less. In the optical member, a ratio A/B between a transmittance A of an infrared ray having a wavelength of 4 μm and a transmittance B of an infrared ray having a wavelength of 10 μm is 0.9 or less, and an average crystal grain size of the polycrystalline silicon is 5 μm or less. This polycrystalline silicon is produced by hydrogen reducing SiHCI3 by heating a base material to 800 to 900° C. using a chemical vapor deposition method. In this way, an infrared ray transmissive optical member, a manufacturing method thereof, an optical device, an infrared detector, and an optical apparatus capable of sensing a human body with high sensitivity and accuracy are realized. |
| US08399830B2 |
Means and method for field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry combined with mass spectrometry
Analyte ions are analyzed first by field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) before being analyzed by a mass analyzer. Analyte ions are produced at near atmospheric pressure and transferred via a dielectric capillary into the vacuum system of the mass analyzer. While passing through the capillary, the ions are analyzed by FAIMS via electrodes on the interior wall of the capillary. Improved ion transmission is achieved by providing smooth geometric transitions between the channel in FAIMS analyzer and the channel in the remainder of the capillary. |
| US08399828B2 |
Merged ion beam tandem TOF-TOF mass spectrometer
A tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a first pulsed ion source that produces ions with a first mass and charge that directs the ions into a first stage of a tandem TOF mass spectrometer. In addition, a second pulsed ion source produces ions with a second mass and an opposite charge directs the ions into the first stage of the tandem TOF mass spectrometer. A field-free reaction region is positioned in the ion flight path so that ions from first and second pulsed ion source arrive at the entrance of the field-free reaction region substantially simultaneously in at least one of time and space. At least some of the ions from the first and second pulsed ion source are fragmented by ion-ion collision between positive and negative ions. A second stage of the tandem mass spectrometer separates fragment ions produced in the reaction region according to their mass-to-charge ratio. |
| US08399824B2 |
Beam power with multipoint broadcast
A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request. |
| US08399819B2 |
Current source to drive a light source in an optical sensor system
A current source circuit to drive a light source in an optical sensor system is disclosed. The current source includes an inductor connected in series with a resistor, and a diode coupled in parallel with the inductor and resistor. The current source is configured to receive a regulated direct current (DC) voltage and to provide the current through the inductor to the light source when a switch is closed, and to divert current through the inductor to the diode when the switch is open. |
| US08399815B2 |
Apparatus and method for hardening bearing surfaces of a crankshaft
An apparatus and method for hardening the concentric main bearing surfaces and orbital pin bearing surfaces of a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes an inductor that is connected to a high frequency power source with a power controller to cause the power source to direct a given power to the inductor at given rotational heating positions of the crankshaft. A master controller creates output signals to control the power controller. The apparatus and method includes a first multi-surface hardening station with inductors for all of the main bearing surfaces, a second multi-surface hardening station with inductors for some of the orbital pins and a third multi-surface hardening station with inductors for the remaining orbital pins. Total indicator run out (TIR) is measured after the first station to adjust the heating process in the third station to produce a straight crankshaft. |
| US08399811B2 |
Stage for substrate temperature control apparatus
A stage for a substrate temperature control apparatus having high reliability at low cost by preventing thermal deformation of a plate while employing a material other than ceramics as a material of the plate. The stage is used for mounting a substrate in the substrate temperature control apparatus for controlling a temperature of the substrate, and the stage includes: a plate having a first surface facing the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a planar heater bonded to the second surface of the plate, wherein surface treatment is performed in a first thickness on the first surface of the plate, and the surface treatment is performed in a second thickness thinner than the first thickness or no surface treatment is performed on a predetermined area of the second surface of the plate. |
| US08399810B2 |
Electric patio bistro
A grilling apparatus comprising: a base housing; a cooking grate positionable on or in an upper portion of the base housing; a radiant heat cavity within the base housing below the cooking grate; at least one electric heating element within the radiant heat cavity; and a reflective surface within the radiant heat cavity which diverges outwardly in an upward direction at an angle of from 20° to 60° from horizontal. |
| US08399809B1 |
Load chamber with heater for a disk sputtering system
A disk processing system having a plurality of processing chambers, a load chamber comprising a heater, and a disk transport system coupled to the plurality of processing chambers and the load chamber to transport a disk there among. |
| US08399808B2 |
Systems and methods for forming a time-averaged line image
Systems and methods for forming a time-average line image are disclosed. The method includes forming a line image with a first amount of intensity non-uniformity. The method also includes forming and scanning a secondary image over at least a portion of the line image to form a time-averaged modified line image having a second amount of intensity non-uniformity that is less than the first amount. Wafer emissivity is measured in real time to control the intensity of the secondary image. Temperature is also measured in real time based on the wafer emissivity and reflectivity of the secondary image, and can be used to control the intensity of the secondary image. |
| US08399807B2 |
Glow plug and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a glow plug capable of preventing a deformation or eccentricity of the coil, thereby improving a durability of the coil and preventing a variation in temperature-rising characteristic. Also, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing the glow plug. |
| US08399806B2 |
Built-in type cooker
Provided is a built-in type cooker including a heat dissipation part connected to an electronic component and exposed to the outside of the cabinet. The built-in type cooker include a cabinet having an upwardly opened polyhedral shape, a top plate covering a top surface of the cabinet, the electronic component installed within the cabinet, and the heat dissipation part in which at least portion thereof is exposed to the side of the cabinet, the heat dissipation part being connected to the electronic component. |
| US08399805B2 |
Anti-fogging device and anti-fogging viewing member
An anti-fogging device has a substantially transparent or optically clear plastic layer with a heater element formed of etched metallic foil bonded to it. The device has an adhesive element disposed at the periphery of the device for sticking to a viewing member such as a motorcycle helmet visor, surgical mask or rear windscreen for a convertible car, to leave a gap between the heater element and the viewing member. |
| US08399804B2 |
Method for manufacturing prismatic battery, and laser welding jig and laser welding device for manufacturing the same
A laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 of the invention has a pair of jigs 12A, 12B for securing a prismatic battery outer can B1, a gas supply section for supplying inert gas to welding points of a sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1, and a laser unit 11 for irradiating laser beam. Each of the jigs 12A, 12B is provided with a slit-shaped blower outlet and the blower outlet is positioned below the welding points. The inert gas is supplied to the blower outlet from the gas supply section and is blown from the blower outlet to the welding points from below. The laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 can obtain a laser welding device that welds the sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1 fast, preventing weld droops and allowing uniform welding. |
| US08399799B2 |
Method for manufacturing spark plug
A method for manufacturing a spark plug is a method for manufacturing the spark plug having an electrode base member and a noble metal tip welded thereto by means of a laser or an electrode base member, a tip base member joined thereto, and a noble metal tip welded to the tip bases material by means of a laser, and the method includes a laser welding process of welding the electrode base member or the tip base member to the noble metal tip by means of a laser and through use of a laser beam whose BBP value assumes 25 mm·mrad (a radius·a half angle) or less at a time point when a laser beam enters a transfer optical system for guiding the laser beam to areas to be welded where laser welding is to be performed. |
| US08399793B2 |
Methods and materials for hard-facing
In a hard facing process, a core material is applied to the base material of an article, which may incorporate metal components. An additive is introduced into a molten puddle generated by the hard facing process. The additive functions to increase the wear resistant capabilities of the hard faced article. In one embodiment, the additive comprises mineral particulates, which may consist of diamond granules. |
| US08399792B2 |
Welding device and method
A welding device includes an electrode head adapted to concurrently house an array of associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes in a spaced apart configuration for concurrently depositing cladding material on the surface of a workpiece. The electrode head may be actuatable through a welding trajectory. The welding device may also include a welding power source adapted to provide power for simultaneously establishing a welding arc between each of the multiple, continuous-feed electrodes and the workpiece. |
| US08399790B1 |
Methods and systems for recovering alluvial gold
Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for mining alluvial gold deposits. The methods can comprise collecting feed from alluvium and washing the feed at high pressure. The feed can be separated into a plurality of separate fractions. At least one fraction is transferred to a metal sensor system using a conveyer, wherein when gold is detected in a piece of the fraction, an air blast can be targeted and delivered at the piece, with the air blast diverting the piece to a receiving container. |
| US08399787B2 |
Switch lever for vehicle
A switch lever for a vehicle including: knobs that perform a rotation manipulation in order to turn on, turn on or off a light of a vehicle, or to adjust a wiping interval of a windshield wiper of the vehicle; a pair of lever arms that are disposed within and rotate with the knobs according to a rotation of the knobs; a pair of contact terminals each that is installed at an end part of one side of the lever arms to move according to a rotation of the lever arms; a guide member having guide grooves for receiving the pair of contact terminals therein; and an insulation part having a fixed terminal that contacts with each of the contact terminals to generate an operation signal. |
| US08399782B2 |
Variable proportionate beam scale for proportioning baking recipes
A pivot assembly (24) is movably connected to a balance beam (22) between a first and second balancing area (34, 36). The pivot assembly (24) defines a pivot axis (B) being movable relative to a center axis (A0) to define a first variable pivot distance (Pd1) and a second variable pivot distance (Pd2) for proportioning a first and second component according to the concurrently and inversely variable first and second pivot distances (Pd1, Pd2). The balance beam (22) presents a proportioning scale (60) which includes a plurality of identical ratios (62) in scale of the first variable pivot distance (Pd1) to the second variable pivot distance (Pd2) for aligning the pivot assembly (24) with a desired ratio of the first and second components. A first and second pair of retainer walls (38, 40) extend upwardly from the respective balancing areas (34, 36) and diverge from one another for abutting and centering a variety of container sizes on the respective balancing areas (34, 36). |
| US08399781B1 |
Anti-tamper mesh
An electronic device includes at least one terminal formed on the electronic device. The electronic device also includes at least one of a semiconductor device, an integrated circuit chip, and a computer. A seamless conductive mesh is formed on at least one surface of the electronic device. The conductive mesh is in electrical contact with the terminal. The terminal facilitates electrical conduction between the conductive mesh and an electrical detection circuit. The electronic device also may include a pattern having traces formed on at least two surfaces where each of the traces includes a continuous loop of conductive material is formed on at least two surfaces. The electronic device also may include a first plurality of conductive loops formed on the electronic device that are continuous and surround the electronic device in a first direction and a second plurality of conductive loops formed on the electronic device that are continuous and surround the electronic device in a second direction. |
| US08399779B2 |
Wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes a pad exposed from an opening portion of an outermost insulating layer. The pad includes: a first metal layer a surface of which is exposed from the wiring board; a second metal layer provided on the first metal layer and formed of a material effective in preventing a metal contained in a via inside the board from diffusing into the first metal layer; and a third metal layer provided between the second metal layer and the via, and formed of a material harder to be oxidized than that of the second metal layer. The thickness of the third metal layer is relatively thick, and is preferably selected to be three times or greater than a thickness of the second metal layer. A side surface of the third metal layer and a surface of the third metal layer to which the via is to be connected are roughed. |
| US08399776B2 |
Substrate having single patterned metal layer, and package applied with the substrate , and methods of manufacturing of the substrate and package
A substrate having single patterned metal layer includes a patterned base having at least a plurality of apertures, the patterned metal layer disposed on the patterned base, and a first surface finish layer. Parts of the lower surface of the patterned metal layer are exposed by the apertures of the patterned base to form a plurality of first contact pads for downward electrical connection externally, and parts of the upper surface of the patterned metal layer function as a plurality of second contact pads for upward electrical connection externally. The first surface finish layer is disposed at least on one or more surfaces of the second contact pads, and the first surface finish layer is wider than the second contact pad beneath. A package applied with the substrate disclosed herein further comprises at least a die conductively connected to the second contact pads of the substrate. |
| US08399775B2 |
Flex-rigid wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A flex-rigid wiring board includes a first rigid substrate, a second rigid substrate arranged at a distance from the first rigid substrate to provide a space between the first and second rigid substrates and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate includes a first tip portion connected to the first rigid substrate, and a second tip portion connected to the second rigid substrate such that the first and second rigid substrates are connected to each other by way of the flexible substrate. At least one bending portion is formed between the first and second tip portions of the flexible substrate, each of the at least one bending portions is provided in the space between the first and second rigid substrates. |
| US08399773B2 |
Substrates having voltage switchable dielectric materials
Various aspects provide for incorporating a VSDM into a substrate to create an ESD-protected substrate. In some cases, a VSDM is incorporated in a manner that results in the ESD-protected substrate meeting one or more specifications (e.g., thickness, planarity, and the like) for various subsequent processes or applications. Various aspects provide for designing a substrate (e.g., a PCB) incorporating a VSDM, and adjusting one or more aspects of the substrate to design a balanced, ESD-protected substrate. Certain embodiments include molding a substrate having a VSDM layer into a first shape. |
| US08399771B2 |
Visual latching indicator arrangement for an electrical bushing and terminator
An elbow terminator has a socket in which an electrical probe is disposed. The terminator is insertable onto an electrical bushing such that a tongue of the bushing is received in the socket of the terminator, and the probe of the terminator is electrically coupled to a contact sleeve disposed within the tongue. A latching mechanism produces positive latching between the tongue and socket when the tongue has been inserted to a predescribed depth within the socket. In order to enable an operator to visually observe that the tongue has been inserted to the prescribed depth, the bushing carries a color band which becomes completely disposed (invisible) in the socket when positive latching occurs. Alternatively, the bushing can be provided with gauge tabs which become aligned with a witness line formed on the terminator when positive latching occurs. |
| US08399762B2 |
Electrical feed-through
The present invention provides an electrical feed-through (200) for making a durable and reliable electrical connection through a wall (227) of a vacuum chamber (225). The electrical feed-through (200) comprises a tubular member having an open end (217) and a closed end (219). At least one conductor (201) extends through the closed end (217) and is fixed thereto by a vacuum sealing joint (214). The joint (214) is arranged so that it is not in line-of-sight from the open end (217). In this way impinging elements (220) and direct heat radiation (221) is prevented from directly reaching the joint (214), thereby extending the time it takes for contamination of the joint (214) to cause problems. |
| US08399754B2 |
Musical instrument with a head tensioned over a shell by a rim using an axially oriented grain structure
A musical instrument comprising a shell and a rim for tensioning a head across an open end of the shell, for example a drum, is improved by forming one or both of the shell and the rim using a primary material having an axially oriented grain structure together with an auxiliary layer of secondary material having greater hoop strength than the primary material. The primary material can be a natural plant material, such as hardwood with the naturally occurring grain structure being oriented in an axial direction by assembling the annular rim using a stave construction. The secondary material can comprises a composite material including carbon fiber to reinforce the stave construction. |
| US08399753B2 |
Slide for use with fretted instruments
A tubular shaped slide having first and second spaced ends for use with a fretted musical instrument, the first end having a diameter greater than the second end. The slide is positioned on the finger of a wearer such that the wearer's fingertip extends beyond the second end of the slide; the second end of the slide being formed at an angle to the vertical. A sizing slot extends along the length of the slide. |
| US08399747B1 |
Soybean cultivar 1446437
A soybean cultivar designated 1446437 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 1446437, to the plants of soybean cultivar 1446437, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 1446437, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 1446437. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 1446437. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 1446437, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 1446437 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08399744B2 |
Soybean variety A1023486
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023486. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023486. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023486 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023486 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08399743B2 |
Soybean variety A1024305
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024305. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024305. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024305 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024305 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08399742B2 |
Squash hybrid PX 13067464
The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid PX 13067464 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid PX 13067464 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08399740B2 |
Cucumber hybrid ‘corinto’
A hybrid cucumber designated ‘Corinto’ is disclosed having resistance to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), cucumber mosaic virus and cucumber vein yellowing virus. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto,’ to the plants of hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto’ and to methods for producing a cucumber plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid ‘Corinto’ with itself or another cucumber plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a cucumber plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other cucumber lines, cultivars or hybrids derived from the hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto.’ |
| US08399738B2 |
Fructan biosynthetic enzymes
This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding fructosyltransferases. More specifically, this invention relates to polynucleotides encoding 1-FFTs, 6-SFTs, or 1-SSTs. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA constructs encoding all or a portion of the fructosyltransferases, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels of the fructosyltransferases in a transformed host cell. |
| US08399734B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X8K869
A novel maize variety designated X8K869 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 X8K869 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8K869 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8K869, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8K869. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8K869. |
| US08399732B2 |
Adhesive patch
An adhesive patch configured to attach an ostomy appliance to a patient includes a peripheral rim disposed around a central hole that is attachable to a stoma of the patient; and a band of adhesive extending from the peripheral rim to an inner border of the adhesive patch and having a pattern of curvilinear indentations extending to the peripheral rim of the patch. |
| US08399726B2 |
Reactors and processes for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons
A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The reactor surfaces that contact the reactants and products do not provide a significant detrimental catalyzing effect. In an embodiment the reactor contains an inert lining or a portion of the reactor inner surface is treated to reduce the detrimental catalytic effects. In an embodiment the reactor contains a lining that includes an oxidative catalyst. |
| US08399718B2 |
Promoted copper/zinc catalyst for hydrogenating aldehydes to alcohols
A catalyst for hydrogenating aldehydes to alcohols includes a combination of copper oxide and zinc oxide and promoters including one or more alkaline earth metal promoters and/or one or more transition metal promoters. The promoters may be combined with copper oxide and zinc oxide after formation of a copper/zinc precursor material. |
| US08399714B2 |
Process for the synthesis of polyhydroxystilbene compounds
The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of stilbene derivatives of formula (I)-(E) or (I)-(Z) in which R represents hydrogen or an OH group, by deprotection in the presence of an aluminum halide and of a tertiary amine of a compound of formula (II)-(E) or (II)-(Z) in which A represents hydrogen or an OR′1 group, and R1, R2, R3 and R′1 independently represent an alkyl or aralkyl group. |
| US08399713B2 |
Alkyl perfluoroalkene ethers
Disclosed are compositions comprising a compound having the formula CF3(CF2)xCF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)yCF3, wherein R is CH3 or C2H5 or mixtures thereof, and wherein x and y are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein x+y=1, 2 or 3. Also disclosed are unsaturated fluoroethers selected from the group consisting of CF3(CF2)xCF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)yCF3, CF3(CF2)xC(OR)═CFCF2(CF2)yCF3, CF3CF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)x(CF2)yCF3, CF3(CF2)xCF═C(OR)CF2(CF2)yCF3, and mixtures thereof, wherein R can be either CH3, C2H5 or mixtures thereof, and wherein x and y are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein x+y=0, 1, 2 or 3. Also disclosed herein are novel methods of using a composition comprising at least one of the compounds described above as novel solvents, carrier fluids, dewatering agents, degreasing solvents or defluxing solvents. |
| US08399712B2 |
Pterostilbene cocrystals
Cocrystals of pterostilbene are disclosed, including: pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal, pterostilbene:carbamazepine cocrystal, pterostilbene:glutaric acid cocrystal, and pterostilbene:piperazine cocrystal. The pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal is polymorphic. Forms I and II of the pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal are disclosed. The therapeutic uses of the pterostilbene cocrystals and of pharmaceutical/nutraceutical compositions containing them are also disclosed. The disclosure sets out various methods of making and characterizing the pterostilbene cocrystals. |
| US08399709B2 |
Method for the sulfonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound
The subject of the present invention is a method for the sulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound. The invention relates more particularly to a method for the trifluoromethanesulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound. The invention is especially intended for perfluorinated aliphatic hydroxylated compounds. The method of the invention for the sulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound is characterized in that it comprises reacting said compound with a sulphonylation agent in an organic medium and in the presence of a heterogeneous inorganic base. |
| US08399708B2 |
Compounds useful for treating bipolar disorders
The invention relates to the use of valnoctamide (VCD) for the treatment of bipolar disorder and in particular for the treatment of the manic phase of the bipolar disorder. |
| US08399706B2 |
Chiral tetraaminophosphonium salts, catalyst for asymmetric synthesis and method for producing chiral β-nitroalcohol
A chiral tetraaminophosphonium salt represented by formula (1) and a method for producing chiral β-nitroalcohol comprising reacting an aldehyde or a ketone and a nitroalkane in the presence of the chiral tetraaminophosphonium salt represented by formula (1) and a base, or in the presence of a conjugated base of the chiral tetraaminophosphonium salt represented by formula (1): wherein R1 to R4 are independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and, R1 and R2 are different groups or R3 and R4 are different groups. |
| US08399705B2 |
Alkali metal salt of glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid, a process to prepare such salt, and the use thereof
The present invention relates to an alkalimetal salt of glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA) of the formula NaxKyHzGLDA, wherein x is equal to or more than 2 and lower than 4 and y is more than 0 and equal to or lower than 2, x+y is 3.5-4, and x+y+z=4, to processes to prepare such salt and the use thereof. |
| US08399704B2 |
Methods for salt production
The present invention provides methods to produce arginine bicarbonate more rapidly and efficiently than conventional methods. |
| US08399697B2 |
Process for preparing polyol esters
The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyol esters by reacting polyols with linear or branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the presence of an adsorbent and subsequent steam treatment in the course of workup of the crude ester. |
| US08399695B2 |
Organometallic precursor compounds
This invention relates to organometallic precursor compounds represented by the formula (H)mM(R)n wherein M is a metal or metalloid, R is the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, heterocyclic radical containing at least one nitrogen atom, m is from 0 to a value less than the oxidation state of M, n is from 1 to a value equal to the oxidation state of M, and m+n is a value equal to the oxidation state of M, a process for producing the organometallic precursor compounds, and a method for producing a film or coating from the organometallic precursor compounds. |
| US08399690B2 |
4,5-dihydro-6-oxa-3-thia-1-aza-benzo[e]azulene compounds
Benzopyran and benzoxepin compounds of Formulas I and II, and including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, solvates, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for inhibiting lipid kinases including p110 alpha and other isoforms of PI3K, and for treating disorders such as cancer mediated by lipid kinases. Methods of using compounds of Formulas I and II for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed. |
| US08399688B2 |
Production of levulinic acid, furfural, and gamma valerolactone from C5 and C6 carbohydrates in mono- and biphasic systems using gamma-valerolactone as a solvent
A method to make levulinic acid (LA), furfural, or gamma-valerolactone (GVL). React cellulose (and/or other C6 carbohydrates) or xylose (and/or other C5 carbohydrates) or combinations thereof in a monophasic reaction medium comprising GVL and an acid; or (ii) a biphasic reaction system comprising an organic layer comprising GVL, and a substantially immiscible aqueous layer. At least a portion of the cellulose (and/or other C6 carbohydrates), if present, is converted to LA and at least a portion of the xylose (and/or other C5 carbohydrates), if present, is converted into furfural. |
| US08399687B2 |
Processes for the production of hydrogenated products
A process for making a hydrogenated product includes providing a clarified DAS-containing fermentation broth, distilling the broth to form an overhead that includes water and ammonia, and a liquid bottoms that includes MAS, at least some DAS, and at least about 20 wt % water, cooling and/or evaporating the bottoms, and optionally adding an antisolvent to the bottoms, to attain a temperature and composition sufficient to cause the bottoms to separate into a DAS-containing liquid portion and a MAS-containing solid portion that is substantially free of DAS, separating the solid portion from the liquid portion, recovering the solid portion, hydrogenating the second solid portion in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to produce the hydrogenated product comprising at least one of THF, GBL or BDO, and recovering the hydrogenated product. |
| US08399685B2 |
Process for producing thiophene compound and intermediate thereof
To provide a novel process for producing a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound or an intermediate thereof useful as an intermediate for production of medicines and agricultural chemicals.A 2-aryl acetate compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is an aryl group or the like, R4 is a C1-3 alkyl group or the like, and X is a leaving group, is reacted with a thioacetic acid compound to form a thioacetyl compound (3), the thioacetyl compound (3) is reacted with a vinyl ketone compound to form a γ-ketosulfide compound (5), which is cyclized under basic conditions to form a dihydrothiophene compound (6), and the dihydrothiophene compound (6) is oxidized by using an oxidizing agent to produce a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound (7). |
| US08399684B2 |
Sulfonamide-based organocatalysts and method for their use
Organocatalysts, particularly proline sulfonamide organocatalysts, having a first general formula as follows are disclosed. Embodiments of a method for using these organocatalysts also are disclosed. The method comprises providing a disclosed organocatalyst, and performing a reaction, often an enantioselective or diastereoselective reaction, using the organocatalyst. Solely by way of example, disclosed catalysts can be used to perform aldol reactions, conjugate additions, Michael additions, Robinson annulations, Mannich reactions, α-aminooxylations, α-hydroxyaminations, α-aminations and alkylation reactions. Certain of such reactions are intramolecular cyclizations used to form cyclic compounds, such as 5-or 6-membered rings, having one or more chiral centers Disclosed organocatalysts generally are much more soluble in typical solvents used for organic synthesis than are known compounds. Moreover, the reaction yield is generally quite good with disclosed compounds, as is their enantioselective and diastereoselective effectiveness. |
| US08399683B2 |
IAP inhibitors
The present invention describes compounds, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in therapy. |
| US08399682B2 |
Substituted (pyrazolylcarbonyl)imidazolidinones and their use
The present invention relates to novel substituted (pyrazolylcarbonyl)imidazolidinones, methods for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, as well as their use for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially of retroviral diseases, in humans and/or animals. |
| US08399677B2 |
Method for the preparation of fentanyl
The invention provides a method for the preparation of fentanyl comprising: (a) reacting 4-piperidone hydrochloride monohydrate with aniline in presence of reducing environment to produce 4-anilinopiperidine (4-AP), (b) reacting the 4-AP as obtained from step (a) with phenethyl halide under reflux conditions in highly alkaline medium to give 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine, and (c) converting the 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine to fentanyl by reacting with propionyl chloride in presence of halogenated hydrocarbons, then isolating fentanyl by solvent extraction and purifying by crystallization from petroleum ether at a temperature ranging from 60-80° C. |
| US08399676B2 |
Piperidine derivatives
Compounds of formula (I) as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof can be used in the form of pharmaceutical compositions, wherein A1, A2, R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the significance given in claim 1. |
| US08399674B2 |
Quinolines
The present invention relates to 2-aminoquinolines of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification, as 5-HT5A receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use for the treatment of CNS disorders. |
| US08399667B2 |
4-anilino quinazoline derivatives as antiproliferative agents
The invention concerns quinazoline derivatives of Formula (I) wherein each of Q1, Z, R1 and Q2 have any of the meanings defined in the description; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the manufacture of a medicament for use as an antiproliferative agent in the prevention or treatment of tumours which are sensitive to inhibition of erbB receptor tyrosine kinases. |
| US08399652B2 |
Primers and probes for detecting genital HPV genotypes
The invention relates to oligonucleotides, which are suited as primers for amplifying DNA of genital human papilloma viruses (HPV), to oligonucleotides, which are suited for use as probes for typifying genital HPV genotypes, to methods for amplifying the DNA of genital human papilloma viruses (HPV), to methods for detecting and/or identifying genital HPV genotypes, to nucleotide microarrays containing the oligonucleotides, to kits and to the use of the oligonucleotides for amplifying or typifying genital HPV genotypes, for the diagnosis and/or early diagnosis of diseases and for producing agents for diagnosing diseases. |
| US08399651B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding GAS57 mutant antigens
The invention provides mutants of GAS57 (Spy0416) which are unable to cleave IL-8 and similar substrates but which still maintain the ability to induce protection against S. pyogenes. The invention also provides antibodies which specifically bind to GAS57 and which inhibit its ability to cleave IL-8 and similar substrates. The mutants are useful, inter alia, in vaccine compositions to induce protection against S. pyogenes. The antibodies are useful, e.g., as therapeutics for treating S. pyogenes infections. |
| US08399647B2 |
Alpha5-beta1 antibodies and their uses
The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, that specifically bind to integrin α5β1 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the disclosure, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the disclosure are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof are also provided. The disclosure also provides methods for treating various cancers using the anti-α5β1 antibodies or antigen binding portions thereof described herein. |
| US08399645B2 |
Chimeric receptors with 4-1BB stimulatory signaling domain
The present invention relates to a chimeric receptor capable of signaling both a primary and a co-stimulatory pathway, thus allowing activation of the co-stimulatory pathway without binding to the natural ligand. The cytoplasmic domain of the receptor contains a portion of the 4-1BB signaling domain. Embodiments of the invention relate to polynucleotides that encode the receptor, vectors and host cells encoding a chimeric receptor, particularly including T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and methods of use. |
| US08399643B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding hyperactive PiggyBac transposases
The present invention provides PiggyBac transposase proteins, nucleic acids encoding the same, compositions comprising the same, kits comprising the same, non-human transgenic animals comprising the same, and methods of using the same. |
| US08399642B2 |
Isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human ribosomal protein L26 (RIBO26)
Provided herein are isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human ribosomal protein L26 (RIBO26) and methods of use. |
| US08399639B2 |
Isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human achaete-scute homolog 2 (HASH2)
Provided herein are isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the p15 arm of chromosome 11 encoding HASH2 and methods of use. |
| US08399636B2 |
Purification of a triple helix formation with an immobilized obligonucleotide
A method for double-stranded DNA purification, by which a solution containing DNA in a mixture with other components is passed over a support on which is covalently coupled an oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing with a specific sequence present on the DNA to form a triple helix. |
| US08399626B2 |
Antibodies against human angiopoietin 2
The present invention relates to antibodies against human Angiopoietin 2 (anti-ANG-2 antibodies), methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof. |
| US08399622B2 |
Reagents and methods for use in cancer diagnosis, classification and therapy
Methods and reagents for classifying tumors and for identifying new tumor classes and subclasses. Methods for correlating tumor class or subclass with therapeutic regimen or outcome, for identifying appropriate (new or known) therapies for particular classes or subclasses, and for predicting outcomes based on class or subclass. New therapeutic agents and methods for the treatment of cancer. |
| US08399616B2 |
Fusion protein having luminescence activity
The fusion protein comprising (1) a first region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and (2) a second region comprising an amino acid sequence for a polypeptide containing at least one cysteine residue for binding to other useful compound via the thiol group can be modified by chemical modification, and thus has a high catalytic ability for a luminescence activity and is highly available for general purposes. |
| US08399610B2 |
HPV vaccine comprising peptides from host cell proteins
The present invention relates to an immunogenic composition for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that comprises BAX peptides from BAX host cell proteins and more particularly, a vaccine including those peptides that is directed against cancers that are associated with HPV infections, such as cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and skin cancers. The BAX peptides comprise fragments of BAX host cell proteins that have been targeted for degradation by HPV proteins, such as E6 and E7 and are presented on the surface of HPV infected cells in relatively large amounts. These peptides can be recognised by CTL and elicit an immune response, and are therefore ideal tumour-specific markers. The invention also relates to novel peptide: peptide complexes such as BAX peptide/HLA complexes and their use in a tumour-specific vaccine. |
| US08399609B2 |
Treating or preventing extracellular matrix build-up
A method of treatment for treating, preventing, inhibiting or reducing extracellular matrix build-up in a body tissue or a bodily fluid transport vessel, in a subject, includes administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a composition including a peptide agent including amino acid sequence LKKTET, a conservative variant thereof, or a peptide agent that stimulates production of an LKKTET peptide, or a conservative variant thereof, in the tissue. |
| US08399602B2 |
Polymerisation reactor, polymerisation device, method for producing bio-degradeable polyester and uses
The present invention relates to a polymerization reactor for continuous polymerization, the reactor being constructed in two stages and comprising a prepolymerization stage which is configured as a stirred vessel or as a loop-type bubble column and also a main polymerization stage which is configured as a tubular reactor. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for the production of biodegradable polyester, in particular polylactide, the reactor according to the invention being used. Likewise, the invention relates to a polymerization device which comprises further components in addition to the polymerization reactor. |
| US08399600B2 |
Preparation of low molecular weight polylysine and polyornithine in high yield
The present invention generally relates to the large-scale (e.g., greater than 1 kg scale) preparation of low molecular weight polylysine or polyornithine in high yield by preparing a polylysine or polyornithine having a weight average molecular weight from about 12,500 Daltons to about 22,000 Daltons and hydrolyzing it to produce a polylysine or polyornithine having a weight average molecular weight from about 5,500 Daltons to about 12,000 Daltons. In preferred embodiments, the polymer is a homopolymer of poly-L-lysine. |
| US08399599B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing of plastic material
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the processing of plastic material, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1) into which the material to be treated can be introduced, in the lower region of which a discharge opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be ejected from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11). According to the invention, the receptacle (1) is divided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ) separated from each other by an intermediate base (2′, 2″, . . . ), wherein at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a, 7b, 7c, . . . ) is arranged which acts upon the material in each chamber (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ), with which the material can be converted into a softened but permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and not melted state and wherein means (5′, 5″, . . . ) are provided which effect or permit an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, not melted material between each directly adjacent chamber (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ). |
| US08399598B2 |
Copolycarbonate and process for producing the same
The object of this invention is to provide a copolycarbonate that is excellent in heat resistance, thermal stability and moldability and that uses a renewable resource as a raw material. This invention is a copolycarbonate including 50 to 99 mol % of a carbonate constituent unit (1) of the following formula and 50 to 1 mol% of a carbonate constituent unit (2) derived from an aliphatic diol having a boiling point of 180° C. or higher under reduced pressure of 4×10−3 MPa. |
| US08399597B2 |
Phenolic resin formulation and coatings for abrasive products
A resorcinol-modified phenolic resin composition is formed by reacting a basic catalyst, formaldehyde, water and a benzene-ol to form an intermediate composition to which resorcinol is subsequently added to reduce the presence of free formaldehyde. Optionally, an alkanolamine can be combined and reacted with the resorcinol-modified phenolic resin composition to form a resorcinol-alkanolamine-modified phenolic resin composition. The resorcinol-modified phenolic resin and the resorcinol-alkanolamine-modified phenolic resin compositions can be employed to coat abrasive products having a relatively low free formaldehyde content. |
| US08399596B2 |
Epoxy resin compositions and process for preparing them
The preparation of epoxy resin compositions which comprise glycidyl ethers comprising cyclohexyl groups and have a low oligomer content is carried out by distillation of compositions which are obtainable by ring hydrogenation of compounds of the general formula (I) where —X— is —CR2—, —CO—, —O, —S—, —SO2—, the radicals R are each, independently of one another, H, C1-6-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl, in which one or more H atoms can be replaced by halogen, the radicals R′ are each, independently of one another, C1-4-alkyl, halogen, the indices n are each, independently of one another, 0, 1, 2 or 3, and subsequent reaction of the hydroxyl groups with epichlorohydrin, in thin film evaporators or short path evaporators at a temperature in the range from 150 to 270° C. and a pressure in the range from 0.001 to 1 mbar. |
| US08399595B2 |
Two part polyurethane curable composition having substantially consistent G-modulus across the range of use temperatures
The invention is a two part composition comprising: A. an isocyanate functional group containing component comprising one or more polyisocyanates and one or more isocyanate functional group containing prepolymers having in its backbone the residue of one or more chains derived from polypropylene oxide, copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or mixtures thereof wherein equivalent weight of the chains are predominantly about 780 or greater; B. an isocyanate reactive component comprising one or more polypropylene oxide, copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or mixtures thereof having equivalent weights predominantly about 960 or greater and terminal groups which are reactive with isocyanate groups; C. one or more low molecular weight compounds having two or more isocyanate reactive groups and a molecular weight of 120 or less wherein the low molecular weight compounds are present as a residue in the isocyanate functional group containing prepolymer, as a component of the isocyanate reactive component or both; D. one or more catalysts for the reaction of isocyanate functional groups with isocyanate reactive groups wherein the catalyst may be located in the isocyanate functional group containing component or the isocyanate reactive component. |
| US08399593B2 |
Polymer, and composition and film including the same
A polymer including a structure represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a composition and a film including the same are provided. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is as defined in the detailed description. |
| US08399591B2 |
Amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes
An organopolysiloxane containing both an amino functional organic group and a mercapto functional organic group is disclosed. A method of making such amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes is by reacting (A) a silanol-functional polysiloxane, (B) an amino functional alkoxy silane, and (C) a mercapto functional alkoxy silane, via a condensation reaction. The amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes products are useful in textile and fabric treatments. |
| US08399590B2 |
Superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymers and processes for making the same
A superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer and process for making the superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer includes a low molecular weight polysaccharide modified with a hydrophobic reagent, such as substituted succinic anhydride. The superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer system generates stable foam for use in applications, such as healthcare formulations, with low irritation of the eyes and skin. |
| US08399588B1 |
Methods of constructing alkene-based copolymer polyolefins having reduced crystallinity
The invention is a novel family of polyolefins characterized by chain-walking defects of the type that add extra backbone carbons per monomer. These polyolefins display a large decrease in crystallinity relative to polyolefins known in the art. Specifically, the reduction in crystallinity is much greater than for earlier polypropylenes with a matched content of stereo or 1-alkene type defects. The claimed polyolefins can be an alkene-based copolymer. The defects in the polyolefin backbone are generated by a chain walking mechanism in which three or more carbons per monomer are added to the polymer backbone instead of two, as in conventional polymerization or copolymerization methods of alpha olefins. The novel polyolefins can be used in applications such as plastic wrapping, thin films, co-extrusion layers or molded parts in the absence of polymer blending or copolymerization. The cost of materials production can be reduced. |
| US08399585B2 |
Process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with improved blood absorbance by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with improved blood absorbence by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding gas phase, wherein the monomer solution comprises a surfactant. |
| US08399584B2 |
Copolymers having zwitterionic moieties and dihydroxyphenyl moieties and medical devices coated with the copolymers
Copolymers are manufactured to include a zwitterionic monomer (e.g., methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine monomer), a dihydroxyphenyl derivatized monomer, and optionally one or more additional monomers. The dihydroxyphenyl derivatized monomer gives the copolymers excellent adhesion properties. Optional monomers include a cationic amino monomer, a hydrocarbon monomer, and/or a hydrophilic monomer. The copolymers are biocompatible and can be used with medical devices. |
| US08399583B2 |
Polymer, curable resin composition, cured product, and article
A polymer which has a radical polymerizable unsaturated group in a side chain and can be made a molecular design suitable for the purpose; a curable resin composition containing the polymer, which provides a cured product having high surface hardness after curing and hardly suffering from scratch; the cured product; and an article obtained by laminating the cured product are provided. The polymer (A) of the present invention is obtained by polymerizing, at least, a vinyl monomer represented by the following general formula (1) and a cyclic ether compound represented by the following general formula (2). The polymer (A) of the present invention is preferably obtained by polymerization of 1 wt % or more and 99.9 wt % or less of a vinyl monomer represented by the general formula (1), 0.1 wt % or more and 99 wt % or less of a cyclic ether compound represented by the general formula (2) and 0 wt % or more and 98.9 wt % or less of the other cationic polymerizable monomer. [wherein R1 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and m represents a positive integer] [wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 5]. |
| US08399582B2 |
Polymerisation of ethylene and alpha-olefins with pyridino-iminophenol complexes
The present invention relates to the field of single site catalyst systems based on pyridine-iminophenol, pyridine-iminoalcohol or pyridine-iminoamine complexes and suitable for oligomerising or homo- or co-polymerising ethylene and alpha-olefins. |
| US08399581B2 |
Polyethylene films with improved physical properties
Metallocene catalyzed polyethylenes are found to have improved physical properties, improved processability and improved balance of properties. Surprisingly, there is a direct relationship between MD shrinkage, and MD tear. Additionally, MD tear is greater than TD tear, and MD tear is also greater than intrinsic tear. MD tear to TD tear ratios are above 0.9, and dart drop impact is above 500 g/mil. The polyethylenes have a relatively broad composition distribution and relatively broad molecular weight distribution. |
| US08399579B2 |
Process for preparing an aqueous composite-particle dispersion
A process for preparing stable aqueous dispersions of composite particles. |
| US08399577B2 |
Curable epoxy resin composition
A curable epoxy resin composition including at least an epoxy resin component and a hardener component, and optionally further additives, wherein: (a) the epoxy resin component is an epoxy resin compound or a mixture of such compounds; (b) the hardener component includes (b1) an aliphatic and cycloaliphatic or aromatic polycarbonic acid anhydride; and (b2) a polyether-amine of the general formula (I), H2N—(CnH2n—O)m—CnH2n—NH2, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 8; and m is from about 3 to about 100; (c) the polycarbonic acid anhydride [component (b1)] is present in the curable epoxy resin composition in a concentration of 0.60 Mol to 0.93 Mol; and (d) the polyether-amine of the general formula (I) [component (b2)] is present in the curable epoxy resin composition in a concentration of about 0.02 Mol to about 0.1 Mol. |
| US08399576B2 |
Phosphorus containing novalac phenol resins, methods for manufacturing the same, and formulae containing the same
Disclosed is a phosphorous containing phenol novolac resin, having a structure as below: In the above formula, Z is selected from — or —CH2—. Each Y is independently selected from —, —CH2—, —C(CH3)2—, —S—, —SO2—, —O—, —CO—, or —N═N—. Each X is independently selected from a hydrogen or phosphorous containing group, wherein the hydrogen and phosphorous containing group have a molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 0.1:1. Each R1 is independently selected from a hydrogen or C1-5 alkyl group. Each R2 is independently selected from a C1-5 alkyl group. m is an integer of 1 to 10, and n is 0 or 1. |
| US08399574B2 |
Resin powder composition for slush molding and molded articles
The present invention provides a resin powder composition for slush molding which can give slush molded articles with more excellent hydrolysis resistance. The present invention relates to a resin powder composition for slush molding which is characterized by comprising as the main component a thermoplastic polyurethane resin powder, preferably a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer powder, and containing a polycarbodiimide prepared by polymerizing tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, alkoxy terminated one having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 30,000. |
| US08399571B2 |
Silane-modified polyolefins having a high degree of functionalization
The present invention relates to modified polyolefins having a propylene content of at least 50 ma-% and a maximum of 75 ma-%, being determined by means of 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and having a poly(ethylene) triad content of a maximum of 2.5 ma-%, being determined by means of 13C-NMR spectroscopy, relative to the total detected ethylene content, a melting heat of at least 9 and a maximum of 20 J/g, determined by means of differential calorimetry, and a solubility in xylol at ambient temperature of at least 96 ma-%, and a solubility in THF at ambient temperature of at least 67 ma-%, wherein one or multiple silanes are grafted onto the polymer. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the polyolefins, and to the use thereof, particularly in or as an adhesive. |
| US08399570B2 |
Functionalized polymers and improved tires therefrom
A tire component comprising a vulcanized residue of a functionalized polymer defined by the formula I where π is a rubbery polymer chain, B is a boron atom, R1 is a bond or a divalent organic group, and each υ is independently selected from thioalkoxy groups (—SR), amino groups (—NR2), or phosphino groups (—PR2), where each R is independently selected from monovalent organic groups or two R groups form a divalent organic group, which forms a cyclic structure. |
| US08399568B2 |
Resin composition and molded article using the same
This invention provides a resin composition comprising a polyolefin-based polymer and an aliphatic polyester-based polymer, which has an excellent balance of impact resistance and rigidity and excellent properties, such as processability. The resin composition comprises a polyolefin-based polymer (A), an aliphatic polyester-based polymer (B), an elastomer (C), which has a melt flow rate (MFR), measured at 190° C. under a load of 21N, of 0.5 to 3.0 g/10 minutes, and an epoxy group-containing polyolefin-based polymer (D). |
| US08399567B2 |
Optical film and liquid crystal display device comprising the same
The present invention relates to an optical film comprising: a blended resin including 1) an acrylic copolymer resin containing an alkyl methacrylate monomer and a (metha) acrylic monomer containing an alicyclic or an aromatic ring, 2) a copolymer resin containing an alkyl methacrylate monomer, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and an acid anhydride monomer, and 3) a resin containing an aromatic or an alicyclic ring in the main chain of a polymer. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the optical film, and a liquid crystal display device comprising the optical film. The optical film according to the present invention is excellent in heat resistance, optical transparency, mechanical strength, durability, and the like. |
| US08399566B2 |
Modified ionomer composition
The present invention relates to golf balls and golf ball components comprising a blend of one or more ionomers mixed with one or more metal or ammonium salts of chelating agent. The resulting modified ionomer compositions have improved processability as shown by the increase in melt flow index (I2) as compared to the unmodified ionomer analogs while demonstrating an increase in resiliency or speed as shown by increasing COR, while maintaining or showing only a slight increase in hardness as measured by Shore D. |
| US08399563B2 |
Golf ball
An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the durability at the normal and low temperatures, flight distance, and shot feeling on the shots. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a direction stability on the shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of at least one layer; and a cover covering the core and having a thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition that contains as a resin component, (A) a highly elastic polyamide resin (B) a metal-neutralized product of binary copolymer and/or ternary copolymer, and (C) a resin having a polar functional group in a specific amount, and wherein the cover composition has a slab hardness ranging from 65 to 75 in Shore D hardness. |
| US08399558B2 |
Inorganic-organic hybrid composition and use thereof
The present disclosure provides an inorganic-organic hybrid film which is excellent in transparency, adhesion, heat resistance, weatherability, and anti-rust property, whose refractive index may be controlled easily, and which is also excellent in hardness. Also provided are an inorganic-organic hybrid composition as a starting material for the film, and a hard coating material, an optical material, an anti-rust coating material, and a conductive coating material, all utilizing the composition. The composition is characterized by containing organic component (A) composed of monomer component (a1) containing a particular diol (meth)acrylate compound (U) having a urethane bond, or polymer component (a2) containing polymer (P) obtained by polymerization of monomer component (a1), and inorganic component (B), wherein the ratio of the organic component (A) to the inorganic component (B) is 1:99 to 99:1 by mass. |
| US08399545B2 |
Azo pigment-containing aqueous ink for inkjet recording
An aqueous ink for inkjet recording is provided. The aqueous ink ensures that the ejection accuracy in inkjet recording is excellent and helps suppress generation of density unevenness and streak unevenness, even after storage for a long period of time or exposure to high temperatures. The aqueous ink for inkjet recording contains vinyl polymer particles containing components A and B and a water-soluble solvent. Component A is an azo pigment having a specific structure, its tautomer, or a salt or hydrate thereof; and Component B is a vinyl polymer containing (a) a hydrophobic structural unit having an aromatic ring bonded to the polymer main chain through a linking group and (b) a hydrophilic structural unit. |
| US08399540B2 |
Ink-jet ink composition, ink set, and image forming method
An ink-jet ink composition comprising: a pigment, a polymer pigment dispersion, polymer particles, a hydrophilic organic solvent, water, and at least one of a water-soluble acidic compound having a molecular weight of 200 or less or a salt thereof in an amount of from 50 ppm to 1,000 ppm; an ink set that includes the ink-jet ink composition and a treatment liquid that forms an aggregate when contacted with the ink-jet ink composition; and an image forming method using the ink set. |
| US08399534B2 |
EC coating and inks having improved resistance
Energy curable inks formulations are disclosed having improved resistance properties. |
| US08399533B2 |
Photocurable compositions containing N-oxyazinium salt photoinitiators
A photocurable composition includes at least one N-oxyazinium salt photoinitiator, a photosensitizer for the N-oxyazinium salt photoinitiator, an N-oxyazinium salt efficiency amplifier, and one or more photocurable acrylates. This composition can be cured using irradiation under high efficiency. Curing can be carried out in oxygen-containing environment. |
| US08399529B2 |
Method of homogenization and, optionally, analysis for processing moist noble metal-containing recycling materials with an unknown noble metal content
For processing of noble metal-containing, moist recycling materials with an unknown noble metal content (hereinafter called “batch”), a moisture-binding agent is added for homogenisation and the batch is mixed with comminution of optionally pre-sent agglomerates to form a free-flowing and homogenous powder. Optionally, the following takes place subsequently for analysis: A at least one representative, volume-reduced sample is taken first of all, B the sample is dried, C the sample is optionally divided further and D the sample is analyzed and the noble metal content of the batch is calculated on the basis of the data a previously known or pre-calculated quantity of the moisture-binding agent being added before sampling (step A). |
| US08399528B2 |
Method for improved removal of cations by means of chelating resins
The present invention relates to a method for improved removal of cations, preferably alkaline earth metals, in particular calcium and barium, from aqueous solutions using chelating resins having acetic acid and/or iminodiacetic acid groups having high dynamic absorption capacity for cations at a low residual content of the cations and high regeneration efficiency, to the chelating exchangers themselves, and also to uses thereof. |
| US08399525B2 |
Treatment of gaucher disease with specific pharmacological chaperones and monitoring treatment using surrogate markers
Provided is a method of monitoring the treatment of Gaucher disease with specific pharmacological chaperones using systemic and/or cellular surrogate markers. Also provided is a new biomarker that may be used to monitor the progress of such treatment. |
| US08399523B2 |
Quarternization of the additive amino alkylmethacrylate copolymer E for improving permeability and solubility of pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to a strategy for improving the permeability and solubility of pharmaceuticals, based on adding a chemically modified amino alkyl methacrylate copolymer E, wherein the chemical modification is the quaternization of a fraction of the existing amino alkyl groups. |
| US08399522B2 |
3.2.1-bicyclo-octane compounds
The present invention pertains to a method of counteracting a malodor by introducing a malodor counteracting effective amount of a novel 3.2.1-bicyclo-octane compound represented by formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl and [1,3]dioxolane; R′ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and allyl; or R and R′ taken together represent |
| US08399518B2 |
Administration of 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid for stimulating weight loss, and/or lowering triglyceride levels, and/or treatment of metabolic syndrome
Methods and compositions are disclosed for stimulating weight loss and/or lowering triglyceride levels in an individual mammal in need thereof. In an exemplary method, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of DITPA, and optionally one or more lipid-reducing agents, is administered to an individual mammal to stimulate weight loss, and/or reduce levels of triglyceride and/or lipoprotein in the mammal. |
| US08399514B2 |
Treatment for multiple sclerosis
Provided are certain methods of screening, identifying, and evaluating neuroprotective compounds useful for treatment of neurological diseases, such as, e.g., multiple sclerosis (MS). The compounds described upregulate the cellular cytoprotective pathway regulated by Nrf2. Also provided are certain methods of utilizing such compounds in therapy for neurological disease, particularly, for slowing or reducing demyelination, axonal loss, or neuronal and oligodendrocyte death. |
| US08399513B2 |
Levodopa prodrug mesylate hydrate
Crystalline (2R)-2-phenylcarbonyloxypropyl (2S)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoate mesylate, hydrate, methods of making the hydrate, pharmaceutical compositions containing the hydrate, and methods of using the hydrate to treat diseases or disorders such as Parkinson's disease are provided. |
| US08399511B2 |
Two types of crystalline of pinocembrin, their preparation and their use for manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions
Two crystalline forms of pinocembrin of formula (I): α and β, their preparation and their use for manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions. There exists difference between them in bioavailability. They are used for treating and preventing cerebral ischemic diseases by protective action of neurovascular unit, and enhancing blood drug level in vivo. |
| US08399507B2 |
Antidiabetic tricyclic compounds
Tricyclic compounds containing a cyclopropanecarboxylic acid fused to a bicyclic ring, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts, are agonists of G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and are useful as therapeutic compounds, particularly in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, and of conditions that are often associated with this disease, including obesity and lipid disorders, such as mixed or diabetic dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. |
| US08399499B2 |
3- to 7-membered 1,3-diaza-4-OXO-heterocyclic derivatives capable of releasing active aldehydes or ketones
The present invention provides 3- to 7-membered 1,3-diaza-4-oxo-heterocyclic derivatives, such as imidazolidinone O derivatives, capable of releasing in a controlled manner a biologically active aldehyde or ketone in the surrounding. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as perfuming or flavoring ingredients, as well as to the perfuming compositions and consumer articles containing such derivatives. It also provides a process for preparing said derivatives of the invention. |
| US08399497B2 |
Thiazole derivatives and use thereof
The present invention is related to thiazole derivatives of Formula (I) in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, transplantation, graft rejection or lung injuries. |
| US08399496B2 |
Inhalable aztreonam lysinate formulation for treatment and prevention of pulmonary bacterial infections
A method and a composition for treatment of pulmonary bacterial infections caused by gram-negative bacteria suitable for treatment of infection caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens as well as those caused by Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, and multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using a concentrated formulation of aztreonam lysinate delivered as an aerosol or dry powder formulation. |
| US08399490B2 |
Insecticides
An insecticidal compound of formula (I) in which G1, G2, and G3 together with the two carbon atoms to which G1 and G3 are attached, form a non-aromatic 4- or 5-membered ring system; wherein G1 is sulfur, SO, SO2, oxygen, a direct bond, NRa or CR5aR5b; G2 is sulfur, SO, SO2, oxygen, a direct bond, NRb or CR5cR5d; G3 is sulfur, SO, SO2, oxygen, a direct bond, NRc or CR5eR5f; with the provisos that a) not more than 1 group G can be a direct bond, b) not more than 2 G groups can be oxygen, sulfur, SO or SO2 and c) when 2 G groups are oxygen, SO, SO2 and/or sulfur the two groups are separated by a carbon atom; each of Z1 and Z2, which may be the same or different, represents oxygen or sulfur; D is phenyl or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring and R1a, R1b, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d, R5e, R5f, Ra, Rb Rc, R2, R3 and R20 are specified organic groups and agronomically acceptable salts/isomers/enantiomers/tautomers/N-oxides of those compounds. |
| US08399487B2 |
Pyrazole compounds and uses thereof
The invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein R1-R6, X, Y, and B have any of the values described herein, as well as salts of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods that comprise the administration of such compounds. The compounds are inhibitors of MAO-B enzyme function and are useful for improving cognitive function and for treating psychiatric disorders in animals. |
| US08399478B2 |
Thiophene-carboxamides useful as inhibitors of protein kinases
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase represented by formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions. |
| US08399474B2 |
Method of restoring the incretin effect
The present invention relates to methods of treating metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherogenic dyslipidemia and/or obesity. The present invention also relates to methods of restoring the incretin effect, to restoring physiologic control of glucagon levels, to restoring first-phase insulin secretion, and to restoring the physiologic glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The methods of the present invention comprise administration of a selective κ-receptor antagonist, such as guanidinylated naltrindole (GNTI), or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof to a subject in need thereof. |
| US08399470B2 |
Inhibitors of bruton's tyrosine kinase
Disclosed herein are pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also described are irreversible inhibitors of Btk. Methods for the preparation of the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions. |
| US08399469B2 |
Low hygroscopic aripiprazole drug substance and processes for the preparation thereof
The present invention provides low hygroscopic forms of aripiprazole and processes for the preparation thereof which will not convert to a hydrate or lose their original solubility even when a medicinal preparation containing the anhydrous aripiprazole crystals is stored for an extended period. |
| US08399468B2 |
Octahydro-pyrrolo[3,4-B]pyrrole derivatives
Octahydro-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrrole derivatives are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by histamine-3 receptor ligands. Octahydro-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrrole compounds, methods for using such compounds, compositions for making them, and processes for preparing such compounds are disclosed herein. |
| US08399461B2 |
Bicyclic heterocycles, medicaments containing said compounds, use thereof, and method for production of same
The present invention relates to bicyclic heterocycles of general formula the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for treating diseases, particularly tumoral diseases, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, and the preparation thereof. |
| US08399460B2 |
Chromenone derivatives
The invention concerns chromenone derivatives of Formula I or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, n and R9 has any of the meanings defined hereinbefore in the description; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders. |
| US08399456B2 |
2,5-disubstituted arylsulfonamide CCR3 antagonists
Provided herein are 2,5-disubstituted arylsulfonamides that are useful for modulating CCR3 activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a CCR3-mediated disorder, disease, or condition. |
| US08399454B2 |
Azetidinyl diamides as monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I) as follows: wherein Y, Z, R1, and s are defined herein. |
| US08399443B2 |
Treatment of hypertension by renal vascular delivery of guanethidine
Sympathetic nerves run through the adventitia surrounding renal arteries and are critical in the modulation of systemic hypertension. Hyperactivity of these nerves can cause renal hypertension, a disease prevalent in 30-40% of the adult population. Hypertension can be treated with neuromodulating agents (such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors, or aldosterone receptor blockers), but requires adherence to strict regimens and often does not reach target blood pressure threshold to reduce risk of major cardiovascular events. A minimally invasive solution is presented here to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal artery by locally delivering neurotoxic or sympathetic nerve-blocking agents into the adventitia. Extended elution of these agents may also be accomplished in order to tailor the therapy to the patient. |
| US08399437B2 |
Methods for treating spinal muscular atrophy using tetracycline compounds
Methods for using tetracycline compounds for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy are described. |
| US08399436B2 |
N-pyrazolyl carboxamides as CRAC channel inhibitors
The present invention relates to amide compounds, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and to their use in the treatment of disorders, conditions or disorders such as allergic disorders, inflammatory disorders and disorders of the immune system. |
| US08399431B2 |
Cyclodextrin-based polymers for therapeutics delivery
The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein. |
| US08399430B2 |
Alkylated semi synthetic glycosaminoglycosan ethers, and methods for making and using thereof
Described herein is the synthesis of alkylated and semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycosan ethers, referred to herein as “SAGEs.” The synthesis of sulfated alkylated SAGEs is also described. The compounds described herein are useful in a number of applications including wound healing, drug delivery, and the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases and skin disorders. |
| US08399428B2 |
Nucleosides with antiviral and anticancer activity
The invention provides a compound of formula (I), wherein R1-R6 and X have any of the values described, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and therapeutic methods comprising the administration of such compounds. |
| US08399427B2 |
Reagents, methods and systems to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines
The present invention relates to reagents, methods and systems to treat inflammation and pain in a subject using small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules targeted to either TNFα, IL1, IL6 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. |
| US08399425B2 |
Alleviating neuropathic pain with EETs and sEH inhibitors
The invention discloses methods of using cis-epoxyeicosantrienoic acids (“EETs”), inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (“sEH”), or a combination of an EET and an inhibitor of sEH, to alleviate neuropathic pain in subjects suffering from such pain. |
| US08399424B2 |
Method for controlling the amount of gene product, and agent for controlling the amount of gene product
The invention relates to a method of intracellularly controlling amounts of gene products, which can increase an amount of gene product intracellularly, comprising a step of introducing into the cell a substance having a sequence complementary to the base sequence of mRNA corresponding to the gene product, its precursor or another substance which can have equivalent action in the cell. |
| US08399423B2 |
Immune regulatory oligonucleotide (IRO) compounds to modulate toll-like receptor based immune response
The invention provides the use of immune regulatory oligonucleotides (IRO) as antagonist of TLRs in the prevention and treatment of a disease caused by a pathogen, for example, a DNA or RNA virus. |
| US08399421B2 |
Treatment for neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury
The present invention is drawn to treatment of neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury. In this regard, the present invention discloses methods and composition to treat neuropathic pain. |
| US08399420B2 |
Azacytidine analogues and uses thereof
The present invention is directed toward compounds of Formula (I) as follows: wherein, R is H, R5C(O), R5CH2OC(O), or R5CH2NHC(O); R1 is where the crossing dashed line illustrates the bond formed joining R1 to the molecule of Formula (I); R2 and R3 are independently OH or H, provided that R2 and R3 are not simultaneously OH; R4 is H, R5C(O), R5CH2OC(O), or R5CH2NHC(O), provided that R and R4 are not simultaneously H; and R5 has the general formula: CH3—(CH2)n—(CH═CH—CH2)m—CH═CH—(CH2)k—; k is an integer from 0 to 7; m is an integer from 0 to 2; and n is an integer from 0 to 10, or a pharmaceutical salt thereof. Methods of making and using these compounds are also disclosed. |
| US08399419B2 |
Antibacterial aminoglycoside analogs
Compounds having antibacterial activity are disclosed. The compounds have the following structure (I): including stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed. |
| US08399414B2 |
Analgesics
The object of this invention is to provide a novel pharmaceutical composition for getting rid of pains and anxiety in patients. This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing lactoferrin as an active ingredient. The composition of this invention is useful for treatment of at least one disease or condition selected from the group consisting of pains, including the phase 1 pain and the phase 2 pain, anxiety and stress. The composition is particularly beneficial to alleviating or getting rid of the pain and anxiety which significantly lower quality of life of patients with end-stage cancer. The composition of this invention is also useful for treatment of pains, including the phase 1 pain and the phase 2 pain, and inflammation which accompany arthritis or diseases in the junctions of bones (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, sports injuries such as tennis elbow and baseball shoulder, and low back pain). |