Document | Document Title |
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US08493737B2 |
Pressing member, pressing structure for heat receiving block of substrate, and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a pressing member includes: a band-like pressing portion placed on a heat receiving block arranged on an element mounted on a substrate, the pressing portion configured to press the heat receiving block against the element; a first arm, one end of the first arm being connected to one longitudinal end of the pressing portion, other end of the first arm being connected to the substrate; and a second arm, one end of the second arm being connected to other longitudinal end of the pressing portion, other end of the second arm being connected to the substrate, wherein the first arm and the second arm are connected to the pressing portion in a bent shape as seen in a planar view from above a surface of the substrate. |
US08493731B2 |
Forced-air-cooled vehicle control device
There is provided a first accommodating chamber that accommodates a cooling unit frame that supports a cooling unit. The cooling unit includes a cooler that cools heat generated from a snubber circuit component and a semiconductor device utilizing cooling air from an air blower, a conductor bar that electrically connects the semiconductor device and a capacitor with each other, the snubber circuit component, and the semiconductor device. There is also provided a second accommodating chamber that accommodates the capacitor. The cooling unit and the capacitor can be separated from each other by detaching one of a connecting portion between a laminated bus bar and the conductor bar and a connecting portion between the laminated bus bar and the capacitor. |
US08493729B2 |
Computer chassis with hard disk drawers
A computer chassis is provided. The computer chassis includes a housing, an elastic element, a scissor structure fixed to the housing, and two hard disk drawers slidably connected to the housing and capable of being drawn out from the housing. The scissor is set between the two hard disk drawers. When both of the two hard disk drawers are not drawn out, the scissor structure is sandwiched between the two adjacent hard disk drawers, and the elastic element is deformed. When one of the two hard disk drawer is drawn out, the scissor structure engages the hard disk drawer being not drawn out under the elastic force generated by the elastic element. |
US08493726B2 |
Electronic device comprising a flexible display with edge protectors
The invention relates to an electronic device 60 comprising a flexible display arranged to be alternated between a collapsed state and an extended state, said flexible display comprising edge portions, the flexible display being further provided with an edge protector cooperating with the edge portions, wherein the edge protector is conceived to be alternated between a collapsed state and an extended state. In the electronic device 60a the flexible display 65 is conceived to be wound about a roller 61. The edge protector comprises rigid segments 63a, 63b, 63c, 62a, 62b, 62c, 62c interconnected by suitable means 64a, 64b, 64c. Wiring, pins, bars may be used for interconnecting means 64a, 64b, 64c. In the embodiment 60a an extended position of the edge protector is shown. In the embodiment 60b a collapsed state of the edge protector is shown comprising aggregations of segments 62′, 62″. The bars 64a, 64b, 64c partly protect the back surface of the display. The invention further relates to the electronic device comprising a flexible display wherein the flexible display is provided with an edge protector attached at least partially to the edge portions of the flexible display. |
US08493722B2 |
Vibratile display device
A vibratile display device includes a back plate, a panel assembly and at least one flexible pin. The back plate has a plurality of first fixing holes. The panel assembly is fixed to the back plate and includes a base and a display panel. The base has a carrier portion and a plurality of lugs extending outward from the carrier portion. Each lug has at least one second fixing hole corresponding to the first fixing holes. The display panel is disposed on the carrier portion of the base. An insert portion of the flexible pin is inserted into the first fixing hole of the back plate, and a neck portion of the flexible pin is inserted into the corresponding second fixing hole. A lean portion of the flexible pin is located between the base and the back plate. A top portion of the flexible pin protrudes a surface of the lugs. |
US08493719B2 |
Electronic device enclosure
An electronic device enclosure includes a convex bottom plate, a first side plate connected to a first side of the convex bottom plate, and a second side plate connected to a second side of the convex bottom plate. An electronic component is attached to the convex bottom plate. A horizontal plane is defined by connecting bottom edges of the first side plate and the second side plate, and a distance is defined between a highest point of the convex bottom plate and the horizontal plane. The distance is in a range of about 0.7 mm to about 1.4 mm. |
US08493717B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, a note PC has a disk drive connected to a system board via a connector. A power receive coil is attached to the disk drive. Power produced by the power receive coil as a result of excitation of a power feed coil is fed to a power supply control circuit via an unused pin of the connector. |
US08493711B2 |
Monolithic electrode, related material, process for production, and use thereof
An electrode material is created by forming a thin conformal coating of metal oxide on a highly porous monolithic carbon structure. The highly porous carbon structure performs a role in the synthesis of the oxide coating and in providing a three-dimensional, electronically conductive substrate supporting the thin coating of metal oxide. The metal oxide includes one or more metal oxides. The electrode material, a process for producing said electrode material, an electrochemical capacitor and an electrochemical secondary (rechargeable) battery using said electrode material is disclosed. |
US08493710B2 |
Multilayer capacitor with improved adhesiveness between the layers
A multilayer capacitor is provided with improved adhesiveness of layers of an element body and improved reliability. Outer edge of a second principal-surface electrode portion are respectively separated from an end surface and lateral surfaces, and are respectively arranged so as to surround the forefront portion of a third principal-surface electrode portion at one end side when viewed from a lamination direction. Outer edges of a fourth principal-surface electrode portion are respectively separated from an end surface and lateral surfaces, and are arranged so as to surround the forefront portion of a first principal-surface electrode portion in the width direction at the other end side when viewed from the lamination direction. |
US08493706B2 |
Semiconductor module and data memory module having the same
A semiconductor module and a data memory module having the same are provided. The semiconductor module includes a substrate having a semiconductor device, a ground terminal, a protection pattern, and a switching element. The ground terminal and the protection pattern are formed on the substrate. The switching element connects the ground terminal and the protection pattern in series. The switching element electrically connects the protection pattern and the ground terminal when a voltage applied to the substrate is beyond a set voltage range. |
US08493705B2 |
Electrostatic discharge circuit for radio frequency transmitters
A representative electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) that is electrically coupled to the output of a power amplifier; an ESD detection circuit that triggers the SCR responsive to detect an electrostatic discharge on an ESD bus; and an ESD clamp circuit that is coupled to the first voltage line. |
US08493703B2 |
Integrated circuit arrangement for safety critical regulation systems
An integrated circuit arrangement on a common chip or chip support, for safety critical applications, in particular for use in control and regulation units for a motor vehicle braking system, including at least one microprocessor system module, which has at least one core processor, provided with at least one ROM and at least one RAM, at least one power module for controlling external users and at least one monitoring module for monitoring at least parts and/or part systems of the circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including at least one temperature sensor for recording a chip temperature. |
US08493702B2 |
Current limiting circuit
An exemplary aspect of the present invention is a current limiting circuit including: an output transistor that controls a current flowing to a load from a power supply; a current sense transistor through which a current dependent on a current flowing through the output transistor flows; a sense resistor connected in series with the current sense transistor; a potential difference detection unit that detects a potential difference generated between both ends of the sense resistor; a constant current generation unit that supplies a constant current to the potential difference detection unit; and a control unit that controls a conduction state of the output transistor based on a control voltage generated based on the potential difference and the constant current, in which the sense resistor is disposed so as to surround the potential difference detection unit. |
US08493701B2 |
Overvoltage protection circuit
An overvoltage protection circuit includes a connection jack, a path connection module, a voltage response module, and a control module. The connection jack is connected to a power supply. The path connection module is connected between the connection jack and a load. The voltage response module is to output a first signal in response to an overvoltage, and output a second signal in response to a constant voltage. The control module is to output a corresponding potential according to the first signal to turn off the path connection module, and output a corresponding potential according to the second signal to turn on the path connection module. When the path connection module is turned off, the connection between the connection jack and the load is disabled, when the path connection module is turned on, the connection between the connection jack and the load is enabled. |
US08493696B2 |
Uninterruptible power supply and method for tripping thereof
Performance failure in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is determined independently by itself. A selective tripping can be done within a shorter time than one cycle of an AC output. A UPS converts a DC voltage to an AC voltage and supplies the AC voltage to a load device. A UPS has a control unit conducting a failure determination by using an instantaneous value of an internal voltage and current. It is preferred that a UPS includes an inverter unit and a trip switch. The inverter unit includes a semiconductor bridge circuit generating a sinusoidal AC voltage by modulating a DC voltage with voltage instruction values, and a filter circuit inserted between the semiconductor bridge circuit and the load device. The trip switch connects and trips a connection between the inverter unit and the load device according to the failure determination of the control unit. |
US08493695B1 |
Method and system for providing a magnetic read transducer having an improved signal to noise ratio
A method and system for providing a magnetic read transducer is described. The magnetic read transducer includes a magnetoresistive sensor a shield, and a spin pumping barrier layer. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a pinned layer, a spacer layer, and a free layer. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is between the pinned layer and the shield. The spin pumping barrier layer is between the shield and the free layer. |
US08493691B2 |
Tape drive system
A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a support for engaging a tape; and a head directly opposing the tape engaging portion of the support, the head being for performing at least one of reading from a tape and writing to a tape. During an operation period, the head is positioned such that at least one of the following occurs: the head does not contact the tape for a majority of the operation period; the head does not contact the tape for at least a portion of the operation period; and the head engages the tape for at least a portion of the operation period when the tape is lifted from the support by a cushion of air formed between the support and the tape, the head pressing the tape into the air cushion when engaging the tape. |
US08493683B2 |
Measuring method of a magnetic head and measuring apparatus thereof
Measuring method of a magnetic head includes (a) placing the magnetic head at normal position, defining a first direction parallel to an air bearing surface and two shielding layers of the magnetic head, and defining a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; (b) tilting the magnetic head at an angle to the second direction, applying a plurality of first magnetic fields with different intensities in the first direction, and measuring out a first output parameter curve; (c) repeating the step (b) with different angles and measuring out a plurality of first output parameter curves; (d) calculating a plurality of pinned direction tilt ratios that a pinned direction of a pinned layer of the magnetic head tilts towards the second direction according to the parameter curves; and (e) calculating a pinned direction tilt angle that the pinned direction tilts towards the second direction according to the pinned direction tilting ratios. |
US08493680B2 |
IC protection circuit, method for protecting IC, and apparatuses having the IC protection circuit
An electronic device includes a power supply line connected between a DC power supply and an integrated circuit, and a first electronic element and a second electronic element serially connected between the power supply line and ground. The second electronic element is open when the first electronic element is short-circuited due to an overvoltage induced in the power supply line. When the overvoltage exceeds a breakdown voltage of the first electronic element, the first electronic element supplies an overcurrent induced in the power supply line to the second electronic element. |
US08493675B2 |
Oscillator holding mechanism, oscillation motor, and lens driving device
An oscillator holding mechanism capable of generating a stable vibration in an oscillator and an oscillation motor having the oscillator holding mechanism are disclosed. The oscillator holding mechanism present within an oscillation motor includes an oscillator that has a protruding output section on one end that generates a predetermined movement in the output section by vibration, a holding member that holds and accommodates the oscillator, and a buffer member that is made of an elastic material and is provided between the oscillator and the holding member. The buffer member has a first surface in contact with the holding member having a larger area than a second surface in contact with the oscillator and a cross sectional shape including a center axis that connects a center point of the first surface and a center point of the second surface that is axisymmetric with respect to the center axis. |
US08493671B2 |
Three-piece optical lens system
A three-piece optical lens system comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a stop, a second lens element with a positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a third lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric. A refractive index of the third lens element is N3, an Abbe number of the third lens element is V3, and they satisfy the relations: N3>1.57; V3<40. Such arrangements can reduce the volume of the three-piece optical lens system and improve the image quality of the periphery of the image. |
US08493669B2 |
Focusing and sensing apparatus, methods, and systems
Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial. |
US08493666B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus with zoom lens
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. In the zoom lens, during zooming, each lens unit is configured to move such that distances among the lens units vary. The first lens unit consists of three lenses. A relative partial dispersion θgF and an Abbe number νd of a material of the positive lens included in the first lens unit are appropriately set by satisfying predetermined mathematical conditions. |
US08493663B2 |
Optical system and optical apparatus having the same
An optical system includes, in order from an enlargement conjugate side to a reduction conjugate side via a largest air gap, a front unit having a negative power, and a rear unit having positive power. The optical system satisfies 1.75 |
US08493652B2 |
Method for controlling an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and amplifier arrangement
The invention refers to a method for operating an amplifier with a first amplifier stage (A1) and a second amplifier stage (A2), pumped by a single pump light source (11) generating a primary pump signal (SPUMP), which is split into first pump signal (S1) and a second pump signal (S2) according to a variable splitting factor (α) for pumping the first amplifier stage (A1) and the second amplifier stage (A2) respectively. The splitting factor (α) is varied to achieve an optimized noise figure. |
US08493648B2 |
Method of fabricating electrophoretic ink, electrophoretic ink formed using the method, and electrophoretic display having the same
Provided are a method of fabricating an electrophoretic ink, the electrophoretic ink formed using the method, and an electrophoretic display having the same. The method of fabricating an electrophoretic ink includes dispersing pigment particles into a dielectric fluid; adding at least one monomer and an initiator into the dielectric fluid; and forming polymeric membranes surrounding the pigment particles in the dielectric fluid. Since the pigment particle surrounded by the polymeric membrane and the dielectric fluid in which the pigment particle is dispersed can be utilized as the electrophoretic ink as they are without a follow-up cleaning process, the method of fabricating the electrophoretic ink is simplified. |
US08493646B2 |
Series connected electrochromic devices
An electrochromic device includes a first electrochromic region interconnected with a second electrochromic region by a plurality of conductive links disposed between sides of a substrate on which the material layers of the electrochromic device are formed. The plurality of conductive links interconnects a first isolated conductive region of the first electrochromic region with a first isolated conductive region of the second electrochromic region. A sequence of a counter electrode layer, an ion conductor layer and an electrochromic layer is sandwiched between the first conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions and respective second isolated conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions. The second conductive regions of the first and second electrochromic regions are connected to respective first and second bus bars which are for connection to a low voltage electrical source. |
US08493643B2 |
Multi-beam light scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same
A multi-beam light scanning apparatus includes incident optical systems each of which allows a light beam to enter a deflection surface of a rotational polygon mirror in a sub scanning section from above and below directions obliquely with respect to a surface perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotational polygon mirror at a finite angle, and a light source unit which is disposed for each of the incident optical systems and has light emitting portions. A light emitting portion corresponding to printing of a head line in the sub scanning direction among the light emitting portions of the light source unit that are disposed obliquely in the upward direction, and a light emitting portion corresponding to the printing of the head line in the sub scanning direction, that are disposed obliquely in the downward direction are different from each other in the sub scanning direction. |
US08493637B2 |
Image forming optical element, image forming optical array, and image reading device
An image forming optical element is provided, in which a first lens, a second lens, and a light guiding unit that leads the light input from the first lens, to the second lens, the light guiding unit has a curved shape of a first curve portion and a second curve portion from the first lens to the second lens, a first reflection face that reflects the light input from the first lens, to the second curve portion, is formed on an outer peripheral face of the first curve portion, a second reflection face that reflects the reflected light to the second lens is formed on an outer peripheral face of the second curve portion, the light input to the first lens travels in the transparent medium until reading the second lens, is output from the second lens, and then forms an image at magnification of erection equal-magnification. |
US08493636B2 |
Motion tracking method using scanning device
The motion tracking method disclosed herein suggests a method for precisely tracking the motion of a scanning device by correcting the surrounding information distortedly recognized due to the time differences between pieces of information regarding the surroundings of the device over one scanning cycle. The method, as a motion tracking method of a scanning device collecting the surrounding information corresponding to a plurality of the points of the surroundings, includes collecting the surrounding information, obtaining the displacement data of the scanning device using the surrounding information, updating the velocity of the scanning device using the displacement data of the scanning device, correcting the surrounding information using the updated velocity of the scanning device, and determining location and position information of the scanning device using the corrected surrounding information. According to the method herein, the motion of the scanning device may be more precisely tracked because the surrounding information is corrected based on the velocity of the scanning device. |
US08493633B2 |
Media handling and uniformity calibration for an image scanner
A system for media handling and uniformity calibration for an image scanner includes an optical window, an assist roller, an adjustment mechanism, and a calibration strip. The assist roller receives and guides media through a gap between the assist roller and the optical window. The adjustment mechanism is integrated with the assist roller for controlling the distance between the assist roller and the optical window for smooth passage of media. The controlled reflectivity calibration strip connected to the adjustment mechanism facilitates sensor calibration, such as flat field correction. The adjustment mechanism moves to position the calibration strip in alignment with the optical window whenever sensor calibration is desired. |
US08493632B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a gain setting section that sets a gain of a signal from image sensor, a reference data reading section that reads white and black reference data, an image reading section, a correction data generation section that generates correction data by synthesizing a substring extracted from white reference data with a substring extracted from black reference data, and a correction section that performs shading correction of image data using the correction data, wherein in a case where the black reference data is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the gain setting section performs resetting to lower the set gain, the reference data reading section rereads the black reference data by the reset gain, and the correction data generation section generates correction data by synthesizing the substring of the white reference data with the substring of the black reference data that has been reread. |
US08493631B2 |
Image forming apparatus with pivoting operation panel control method therefor, and operation apparatus of equipment
An image forming apparatus having improved installability and operability. The image forming apparatus has an operation unit thereof disposed on an arm extending from the apparatus and pivotable around a support member in substantially the horizontal direction, and has sensors for detecting the pivot position of the operation unit. An initial-screen setting screen determined based on the pivot position of the operation unit detected by the sensors is displayed on the operation unit. |
US08493630B2 |
Identification reader
A passport and identification card reader minimizes the time and effort required for an operator to read/scan a passport or piece of identification. An immigration official, for example, can slide a passport into place with one hand while tending to other important security activities with the other hand. Once in place, the passport will be automatically detected and read. Numerous passports bound together by a traveler with multiple visas can be held flat in place and accurately read, even with one hand, despite the natural tendency of the passport(s) to return to a closed position. |
US08493626B2 |
Binarization-use-pattern generating method and printing apparatus
In the present invention, tetragons are generated, each of the tetragons being formed of four points of a point A(c, 1), a point B(a+c, b+1), a point C(0, d+1), and a point D(a, b+d+1) specified with arbitrary parameters satisfying the specified number of pixels n=2(ad+bc). From among the generated tetragons, a tetragon having an angle closest to a specified angle is selected, and two of the selected tetragons are placed adjacently to each other to generate the basic pattern. A lighting order is determined so that, continuously from a lighting order of pixels forming a first tetragon of the tetragons of the basic pattern in order of increasing distance from a specific point of the first tetragon, pixels are lit in order of decreasing distance from the specific point, and a rectangular pattern functioning as a binarization-use pattern is generated. |
US08493625B2 |
Determining composite color for dithered object and contone object
Methods (200), apparatuses, and computer readable storage mediums for determining a composite color for a region of overlap between a dithered object and a contone object (210) are disclosed. A reconstructed contone object is determined from the dithered object (202). Errors are corrected for (205) in the reconstructed contone color of the dithered object. The corrected contone object and the contone object are composited (206) to determine the composite color for the region of overlap. |
US08493624B2 |
Determination of optimum merge line locations
A method for forming a halftone image on recording media includes providing a recording head comprising a plurality of individually addressable recording channels. The recording head forms a plurality of image swaths, with each swath formed during a separate scan. A plurality of locations is identified within a representative unit cell of the halftone image. A quantified value for each location is determined based on a sub-scan misalignment associated with a proposed merging of two image swaths at the location corresponding to the quantified value. A merge location is selected from the plurality of locations, corresponding to a desired quantified values. The recording head forms the halftone image on the recording media while merging a first image swath and a second image swath at the selected merge location within a first unit cell of the halftone image. |
US08493623B2 |
Adaptive exposure printing and printing system
One or more printers or printing systems are connected to a scanning device. Each printer includes one or more color modules that are used during a printing operation. A printer prints a target for each color module or color channel. The printed targets are then scanned by the scanning device. The printed targets may be rotated to any angle and then scanned by the scanning device. The scanned raster data is processed by a controller to detect non-uniformities in at least one density image and to generate one or more correction profiles for the printer. When an image is to be printed, one or more controllers receive the image data and use the one or more correction profiles to correct or compensate for the non-uniformities during the exposure process. |
US08493621B2 |
Optimal patch code design via device characterization
A method for optimally using color patch codes or color barcodes for transmitting machine-readable information, via device characterization, is disclosed to comprise characterizing a printing device and optionally a sensing device for identifying a number of recognizably spaced printer output colors; deriving a code book, by relating the printer output colors and their corresponding input values to information elements; and using the code book for encoding and decoding the information to be transmitted. The recognizably spaced printer output colors are in terms of a color space relevant to a color patch code or color barcode sensing device, and are related to the corresponding marking device input values. |
US08493618B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method that calculate and combine color data of diffuse reflection in a line-of-sight direction and color data of specular reflection in a line-of-sight direction, and that convert the combined color data to color data in a color space of a monitor
A color processing apparatus configured to simulate a print product output by a printer on a monitor. The apparatus includes a first conversion unit configured to convert color data representing an image of the simulation object into color data in a printer color space, a first calculation unit configured to calculate color data of diffuse reflection in a line-of-sight direction from color data in the printer color space, a second calculation unit configured to calculate color data in the printer color space and specular reflection color data, a third calculation unit configured to calculate color data of specular reflection in a line-of-sight direction from color data of specular reflection calculated using a parameter representing an exitance of the glossiness and colorless light-source color data, a combination unit configured to combine the color data of diffuse reflection and color data of specular reflection, and a second conversion unit configured to convert the combined color data to color data in the monitor color space. |
US08493616B2 |
Method for identifying a media type and selecting a print mode based on the media type
A method for printing an image, the method includes the steps of defining a media support surface; advancing a print medium onto the support surface; emitting light from a first side of the print medium toward the defined surface; moving a sensor on a second side of the print medium along a scan direction; monitoring the position of the sensor as it moves along the scan direction; sensing the light on the second side of the print medium which is opposite the first side as the light passes through the print medium to a sensor; providing memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; providing a processor for comparing signals from the sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type; identifying the print medium type; selecting a print mode based on the identified print medium type; processing an image according to the selected print mode; and printing the image on the print medium. |
US08493606B2 |
Integrated document delivery method and apparatus
A document delivery network server having a set of integrated functions including sending, receiving, routing and filing of FAXes and e-mails to other users which achieves numerous advantages over the prior art. The document delivery system is based on a client/server model having both analog and digital Fax line capabilities. The server side provides very highly integrated systems functionality based on industry standard, commercially available hardware and a mix of industry standard and proprietary software components including integrated FAX/modem modules, an embedded OS, embedded plug-and-play driver sets, embedded e-mail gateways, an embedded FAX archive, embedded back-up/restore, proprietary high efficiency line utilization and highly efficient load balancing. |
US08493604B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
When execution of a job requiring user authentication included in an application program is reserved, a job identifier of the job and stored user identification information are linked to each other and registered. Then, upon execution of the reserved job, the user identification information linked to the registered job identifier is referred to, and authentication is performed as to whether or not the job is executed. When the authentication is successful, the job is executed. Further, it is determined whether or not an unexecuted job exists among registered reserved jobs. When it is determined that an unexecuted job exists, control is performed so as to maintain the linkage between the identifier of the registered unexecuted job and the stored user identification information. |
US08493603B2 |
Printing apparatus printing method for controlling to stop executing print job and storage medium storing program thereof
A job processing method in a printing system having a printing apparatus which can accept a plurality of kinds of print jobs, wherein a print stop request of a print job which is to be printed by the printing apparatus is enabled by a user via a user interface section; and if a print job which is an object of a print stop is a print job which requires printing for a plurality of copies, the print stop processing of the print job is enabled by the printing apparatus in the print stop processing method based on a request from a user inputted via said user interface section in a plurality of kinds of print stop processing methods which can be executed in the printing apparatus. |
US08493602B2 |
Management system, monitoring apparatus and method thereof
A management system includes an image forming apparatus and a monitoring apparatus. The monitoring apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether the image forming apparatus has a transmission control function for performing change of a transmission destination of collected operational information, a transmission unit configured to transmit to the image forming apparatus having the transmission control function, a command for setting the monitoring apparatus as a transmission destination of the operational information, and transmission setting in which a scheme for acquiring counter information related to charging is set, and a scheme for acquiring failure information is set, and a verification unit configured to verify matching in the counter information. The image forming apparatus is configured to perform transmission of the operational information to the monitoring apparatus in accordance with the command and the transmission setting. |
US08493600B2 |
Multi-layered printer driver model
Embodiments of the invention provide a layered printer driver model in which, at the “bottom layer,” a rendering component provides rendering functionality to format information constituting a print job initiated according to a page description language that a printer device is designed to process, and one or more other components that provide configuration and/or user experience functionality may “sit atop” the bottom layer. Any or all of these higher-level components may support not just a single printer device, but a class of printer devices defined by one or more shared characteristics. |
US08493598B2 |
System and method for automated handling of document processing workload
A system for controlling flow of a plurality of raw print jobs from at least one user to at least one printer in a print-shop, the system including: a print job queue adapted to received the plurality of raw print jobs; a controller adapted to monitor the plurality of raw print jobs; an estimation module comprising at least one of an estimated execution time module and an estimated network overhead module, wherein the estimation module is adapted to estimate a time to process each of the plurality of raw print jobs and the estimated network overhead module is adapted to estimate a time to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to an external cloud and receive each of the plurality of raw print jobs from the external cloud; a scheduler adapted to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to the external cloud or the internal cloud based upon at least one of the time to process each of the plurality of raw print jobs and the time to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to the external cloud and to receive each of the plurality of raw print jobs from the external cloud, wherein the external and internal clouds are each adapted to process the plurality of raw print jobs to a plurality of processed print jobs; and, a print ready queue adapted to receive the plurality of processed print jobs and to send the plurality of processed print jobs to a printer. |
US08493592B2 |
Image forming apparatus with display apparatus mounted
In an image forming apparatus serving as one embodiment, a large-format display that has a display screen visible from a rear face or a side face is disposed on at least one side face of a case of the image forming apparatus, and is formed such that the large-format display and the image forming apparatus are separable. The large-format display is provided with a pair of legs disposed so as to have a predetermined space L between the legs, and this space between the legs is formed so as to be no more than the lateral width of the image forming apparatus, and no more than the depth-wise width of the image forming apparatus. |
US08493591B2 |
Job-submission-request apparatus and method for making a request from a plurality of apparatuses
Under circumstances where each of a plurality of servers controls print jobs submitted to at least one output apparatus, jobs intended for the same printer are submitted to the output apparatus in the order of requests made by a user. If there is a print server performing print processing for a printer specified as the submission destination of a print job, the print server is instructed to execute printing. Consequently, under circumstances where each of plural print servers controls print jobs submitted to printers, print jobs intended for the same printer can be submitted to the printer in the order of requests made by client PCs. |
US08493586B2 |
Work flow system for deciding whether to execute the work flow based on function restriction information
An image processing apparatus capable of executing a work flow according to setting information indicating a processing content for combining a plurality of functions and executing the functions as a series of processings, includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain function restriction information indicating a function whose execution is restricted among a plurality of functions provided to the image processing apparatus; a function identification unit configured to identify a function executed by the image processing apparatus and a function executed by the other apparatus on the basis of the setting information; and a decision unit configured to decide whether execution of the work flow based on the setting information is restricted on the basis of the function restriction information and the function executed by the image processing apparatus and the function executed by the other apparatus identified by the function identification unit. |
US08493584B2 |
Information processing apparatus for performing printing and determining whether a conflict resolution of the setting values in a complex print setting is required
An information processing apparatus configured to transmit print data to a printing apparatus to perform printing includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a selected complex print setting including a plurality of setting values requires resolution of a conflict of setting values, and an execution unit configured to execute print processing using the setting values without performing conflict resolution of the setting values, if the determination unit determines that the complex setting does not require the conflict resolution of the setting values, and execute print processing using the setting values that have undergone the conflict resolution of the setting values, if the determination unit determines that the complex setting requires the conflict resolution of the setting values. |
US08493582B2 |
Image processor, an image processing system, and a method of executing jobs
An image processor comprising: a user information storage unit for storing information of a plurality of users; a plurality of different user information input units for inputting user information; a user information matching unit for determining whether or not user information inputted by said respective user information input units matches any of the user information registered in said user information storage unit; a job processing unit for executing jobs instructed by a user, whose user information is determined to match any of the registered user information by said user information matching unit; and a job processing control unit for restricting jobs that are processed by said job processing unit, depending on which user information input unit is used. |
US08493576B2 |
Multifunctional device with automatic switching mode
The multifunction device includes a first mode device, a second mode device, an operating unit, a detecting unit, and a switching unit. The first mode device provides a reading mode that reads image information with using a first type medium. The second mode device provides a writing mode that writes image information with using a second type medium. The operating unit provides each operating environment corresponding to each mode. The detecting unit detects either the first type medium or the second type medium used. The switching unit automatically switches the operating environment provided by the operating unit based on the type of the medium detected by the detecting unit. |
US08493575B2 |
Method of forming characters for microprint and image forming apparatus using the same
Disclosed is a method of forming characters for microprint and an image forming apparatus using the same. The method of forming characters for microprint includes determining for every image character a size font taking into account the rules to create small prints, rasterizing a character into a bitmap, skeletonizing the bitmap, reformatting the bitmap maintaining a character legibility, storing the bitmap, and forming halftoning cells from the reformatted bitmap. |
US08493573B2 |
High-resolution optical position sensing with sparse, low-resolution detectors
High-resolution optical position sensing is disclosed using sparse, low-resolution detectors. Precise location of two-dimensional position or angular orientation of an optical beam at the focal plane of a sensor system is made possible using sparse low-resolution detectors. The beam may be emitted directly from a source, or scattered from a remote target. The high precision in determining the beam or focal spot location is the result of a novel data processing and analysis method for the signals from the low-resolution detectors. |
US08493572B2 |
Optical encoder having contamination and defect resistant signal processing
An encoder configuration comprises an illumination portion, a scale comprising a scale track, and a signal processing electronics. The signal processing electronics may include a detector comprising a first set of three detector sub-portions that provide a first set of signals comprising three respective sub-portion signal subsets that have nominally the same signal characteristics when the scale track is not contaminated or defective. The processing electronics analyze the first set of signals and identify a least-similar sub-portion signal subset that has a corresponding signal characteristic value that is least similar to comparable signal characteristic values associated with more-similar sub-portion signal subsets of the first set of signals. Position measurements are based on valid signals including a plurality of the more-similar sub-portion signal subsets and not including the least-similar sub-portion signal subset if it is significantly different. Accurate measurement may be provided despite significant scale contamination or defects. |
US08493570B2 |
Three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus
The three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a light source; a beam splitter to split illumination light from the light source; a target object to be measured, having a height difference between the highest point and the lowest point; a reference mirror, on which another beam emitted from the beam splitter is irradiated; a light detecting element to detect an interference pattern generated by the interference of an object beam reflected by the surface of the target object and a reference beam reflected by the surface of the reference mirror; and a control computer to process an image detected by the light detecting element, wherein a subsidiary reference beam generating unit to change the optical path of the beam from the beam splitter to generate a subsidiary reference beam is provided between the beam splitter and the reference mirror. |
US08493568B2 |
Optical imaging apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an optical imaging apparatus and a method, and more particularly to an optical imaging apparatus and a method with short coherence length optical source. The apparatus comprises an optical source with a plurality of outputs for providing a reference light and a sample light; a sample probe module for leading the sample light to a sample, and leading an information light out; an interference module for leading the reference light to a photo detector, and leading the information light to the photo detector; and a signal processing unit electrically coupled to the photo detector; wherein the reference light and the information light are superimposed on the photo detector, an interference light pattern is detected by the photo detector, and a signal that represents the interference light pattern is transmitted to said signal processing unit for analyzing the spatial information of the sample. |
US08493567B2 |
Optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus and method of acquiring optical tomographic image which adjusts reference position that acquires optical tomographic image based on sheath interference signal
An optical tomographic image acquisition apparatus comprises a light source unit emitting light; a light dividing device dividing the light from the unit into measurement light and reference light; a projecting device arranged inside a tubular sheath to project the measurement light onto an object; a combining device combining reflected light reflected from the object or the sheath and the reference light; an interference light detecting device detecting interference light between the reflected light and the reference light; an interference signal acquiring device acquiring an interference signal; a tomographic image acquiring device acquiring an optical tomographic image; and a reference position adjustment section detecting a sheath interference signal that is an interference signal of the reflected light reflected from the sheath from the interference signals and adjusts an optical tomographic image reference position as a reference to acquire the optical tomographic image based on the detected sheath interference signal. |
US08493564B2 |
Light emitting diode illumination system
In various embodiments of the invention, a unique construction for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with at least one luminescent rod and extracting optical elements is used to generate a variety of high brightness light sources with different emission spectra. In an embodiment of the invention, forced air cooling is used to cool the luminescent rod. In an embodiment of the invention, totally internal reflected light can be redirected outward and refocused. In another embodiment of the invention, light emitted by the luminescent rod is out-coupled for use in a variety of applications. In various embodiments of the invention, a plurality of independent narrow band colors can be coaxially combined. |
US08493559B2 |
Cuvette
A cuvette is shaped cylindrically at one end in order to be placed in a standard microfuge and is designed to specifically remove unwanted contaminates by centrifugation. The lower part of the cuvette is shaped substantially smaller to collect liquids for direct analysis and has a shape that will conform to a variety of spectrophotometers for the measurement of the absorption of irradiation and at times the subsequent scattering of light from the liquid samples which at least in the regions of the windows or desired shape is of a transparent plastic or glass with an inner space. The upper opening of the cuvette is for filling and removing sample fluid and sample preparation in a centrifuge and the lower part projects downwards towards the floor of the measuring chamber and which comprises a smaller cross section than the upper part. A cuvette holder is designed to conform to the shape of the cuvette with an outer surface to conform to the specific measuring device. |
US08493558B2 |
Surface inspection apparatus
A surface inspection apparatus includes an irradiating unit that has a plurality of light sources that respectively emit a plurality of illumination light beams having different wavelength ranges, and irradiates an inspection surface as a surface of a body to be inspected with the illumination light beams, in a condition where the light sources are located adjacent to each other and arranged in a given order along the inspection surface, an imaging unit that images reflected light when the illumination light beams are reflected by the inspection surface, so as to obtain a plurality of items of image data corresponding to the respective wavelength ranges, and a control unit that detects a detection object on the inspection surface, based on the items of image data corresponding to the respective wavelength ranges which are obtained by the imaging unit. |
US08493557B2 |
Surface inspecting apparatus and surface inspecting method
A surface inspecting apparatus rotates a semiconductor wafer 100 (inspection object) as a main scan while translating the semiconductor wafer 100 as an auxiliary scan, illuminates the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 with illuminating light 21, thereby forms an illumination spot 3 as the illumination area of the illuminating light 21, detects scattered or diffracted or reflected light from the illumination spot, and detects a foreign object existing on the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 or in a part of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the vicinity of the surface based on the result of the detection. In the surface inspecting apparatus, the translation speed of the auxiliary scan is controlled according to the distance from the rotation center of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the main scan to the illumination spot. With this control, the inspection time can be shortened while the deterioration in the detection sensitivity and the increase in the thermal damage during the surface inspection are suppressed. |
US08493554B2 |
Structural element for a fuselage cell structure of an aircraft, comprising at least one positioning aid
A structural element for a fuselage cell structure of an aircraft, in particular a stringer profile or an annular former segment, the structural element being made from a composite material, in particular from a carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin. The structural element comprises at least one positioning aid for facilitating position determination by means of a measuring system. A laser measuring system and/or a tactile measuring system may be used as a measuring system. As a result of the reflector which can be attached to the positioning aid without clearance as a target for the laser measuring system, which is preferably a laser tracker, a spatial position of the structural element in relation to a further component can be determined very precisely and without contact. Following position determination and orientation of the structural element, the reflector can be removed from the positioning aid. |
US08493553B2 |
Lithographic apparatus having a feed forward pressure pulse compensation for the metrology frame
A lithographic apparatus including a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate; a metrology frame supported by a vibration isolation support device; an object movable with respect to the metrology frame; and a displacement determining unit to determine positions, speeds and/or accelerations of the object with respect to the metrology frame and/or the projection system. At least one actuator is provided for applying correcting forces and/or torques on the metrology frame, and a controller is provided which is configured to calculate the correcting forces and/or torques to be applied to the metrology frame based on the determined positions, speeds and/or accelerations of the object in order to compensate for pressure pulses exerted on the metrology frame due to movements of the object with respect to the metrology frame. |
US08493546B2 |
Plasma as a band pass filter for photo lithography
A band pass filter includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plasma generated by the first and second electrode. The plasma is confined to a region of space through which electromagnetic waves having a frequency above an intrinsic plasma frequency are transmitted, and electromagnetic waves having a frequency below the intrinsic plasma frequency are reflected. The band pass filter may be implemented in a photo lithography tool between a source module and an exposure module. The plasma of the band pass filter may be adapted to reduce IR radiation (or other out of band radiation) exposure to the exposure module by reflecting IR radiation back to the radiation source. In an extreme ultraviolet photo lithography tool, the plasma of the band pass filter may be adapted to transmit EUV radiation. |
US08493536B2 |
Bend alignment type liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate opposed to each other. Inner surfaces of the first and second substrates have been subjected to aligning treatment to splay-align liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal display further includes electrodes formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates to generate an alignment transition electric field to cause the liquid crystal molecules to transit from splay alignment to bend alignment. The alignment transition electric field includes a vertical electric field in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, and a horizontal electric field in a direction parallel to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates to twist the liquid crystal molecules between the substrates. |
US08493534B2 |
Substrate for liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display having the same and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer therebetween. The device also includes a plurality of gate bus lines, and a plurality of drain bus lines that intersect the gate bus lines, as well as a plurality of pixel regions defined by the gate and drain bus lines. Additionally, the device includes a thin film transistor and a resin color filter layer formed in each of the pixel regions. There is a pixel electrode formed in each of the pixel regions on the resin color filter layer that includes a slit extending in parallel with an edge of the pixel region and a plurality of finer slits diagonally extending from the slit. Finally, the device includes a common electrode formed on the second substrate, and a vertical alignment film applied to each of surfaces of the substrates. |
US08493531B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
A display device is provided which includes a base body having a pixel area in which pixels are disposed in a matrix, an organic planarizing film composed of an organic film and provided on the base body, a dry-etched film provided on the organic planarizing film and formed by dry etching, a conductive film provided on the dry-etched film, and an organic film-removed area in which the organic planarizing film is removed outside the periphery of the pixel area. In the above display device, the dry-etched film or a film provided before the dry-etched film is formed is terminated in the organic film-removed area. |
US08493527B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display apparatus
The liquid crystal panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal cell, a first polarizing plate placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell, a second polarizing plate and a third polarizing plate placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell in an order starting from a side of the liquid crystal cell, and a retardation plate (A) placed between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizing plate, wherein a refractive index ellipsoid of the retardation plate (A) has a relationship of nx≧ny>nz, a difference (ΔT2−1=T2−T1) between a transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate and a transmittance (T1) of the first polarizing plate is larger than 0%, a difference (ΔT3−2=T3−T2) between a transmittance (T3) of the third polarizing plate and a transmittance (T2) of the second polarizing plate is 4.0% to 7.5%, and the third polarizing plate is a linearly polarized light separation type reflective polarizing plate. |
US08493526B2 |
Lighting device and display device
A lighting device includes: a light guide plate; a light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; and a light modulation element disposed on a surface or in the inside of the light guide plate and adhered to the light guide plate. The light modulation element has a pair of transparent substrates disposed separately and oppositely, a pair of electrodes provided on respective surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates, and a light modulation layer provided in a gap between the pair of transparent substrates. The light modulation layer includes a first region, having optical anisotropy, responsive to an electric field, and a second region, having optical anisotropy, unresponsive to an electric field. The second region has a striped structure with average striped texture size of 0.05 μm to 10 μm both inclusive in a short axis direction. |
US08493524B2 |
Array substrate having a gate driving circuit with an improved output characteristic and a display apparatus having the same
An array substrate and a display apparatus including the array substrate are provided. The array substrate includes a substrate divided into a display area and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area. A pixel array is formed on the substrate corresponding to the display area and receives a driving signal. A driving circuit includes a plurality of stages and is formed on the substrate corresponding to the peripheral area. Each of the stages includes a first transistor having a source electrode connected to an output terminal to output the driving signal, a channel layer formed between a gate insulating layer and the source electrode, the channel layer having an opening to facilitate contact between a portion of the gate insulating layer and the source electrode, and a capacitor defined by a gate electrode of the first transistor, the source electrode, and the gate insulating layer contacting the source electrode. |
US08493523B2 |
Liquid crystal display with two sub-pixel regions and a storage capacitor
In a high-resolution liquid crystal display with improved side visibility having a color filter on array, a unit pixel includes first and second sub-pixels in which liquid crystals are continuously aligned and electrically isolated. A first pixel electrode for implementing the first sub-pixel is formed on a color filter layer and a second protective layer, and a second pixel electrode for implementing the second sub-pixel is formed between the color filter layer and the second protective layer. The second protective layer the second protective layer formed on the second pixel electrode lowers the electric field of the second sub-pixel, so that a liquid crystal application voltage applied to the second sub-pixel is lower than the voltage applied to the first sub-pixel. Accordingly, the transmittances of the first and second sub-pixels in the unit pixel are different from each other, to improve side visibility. |
US08493522B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display device and manufacturing method thereof
Image display device having an electrode forming layer which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of switching elements and the a plurality of pixel electrodes, and having reference electrode layer between the electrode forming layer and a substrate where the electrode forming layer formed thereon, and the reference electrode layer and the electrode forming layer are insulated by insulating layer. |
US08493508B2 |
Image processor and image processing method
According to one embodiment, an image processor includes a generator, a high-resolution image generator, a separator, a texture generator, and a combiner. The generator compresses an input image to generate a low-resolution image. The high-resolution image generator generates, from the input image, a high-resolution image that is higher in resolution than the input image. The separator separates the low-resolution image generated by the generator into a texture component image and a frame component image. The texture generator generates texture component from the texture component image and the frame component image separated by the separator. The combiner combines the texture component generated by the texture generator with the high-resolution image generated by the high-resolution image generator to generate an output image. |
US08493507B2 |
Glare blocking camcorder/camera stabilizing eye level viewfinder device and method
A glare blocking viewfinder device includes a shadow box with a lens at a first end and an attachment mechanism at a second end adapted to detachably mount the device on a monitor screen of a camera. This enables a user to observe an image-bearing surface of the screen by looking at the image-bearing surface through the lens. The lens has a predetermined focal length and the depth dimension of the shadow box is substantially equal to this focal length. The attachment mechanism upon mounting the device to the monitor screen provides a substantially rigid structure. The user presses his or her eye against the lens to view the monitor screen through the lens and shadow box and points the camera at a subject, keeping the camera on the subject by using the device as a viewfinder. The user holds the camera with one hand and the attached device with the other hand. The device is collapsible and conveniently fits into a pocket of the user when not being used. |
US08493504B2 |
Camera module
A camera module according to one embodiment of this invention has a sensor substrate, a lens holder, and a shield being fixed to the lens holder. The lens holder is composed of a tubular portion including a lens and a top board having an opening. The lens holder is fixed by a second adhesive provided more inside than an edge of the sensor substrate. The shield has a tubular portion and a top board. The tubular portion is composed of a small-diameter portion, a step portion, and a large-diameter portion. The shield is disposed so that the step portion is in contact with a portion between the edge of the sensor substrate and the second adhesive, and, at the same time, the top board of the lens holder is located in an opening formed in the top board of the shield. |
US08493503B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion element package, a chassis member arranged at a position opposite a rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, a wiring member electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member has an opening that exposes the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member is arranged between the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package and the chassis member. The imaging apparatus further includes a heat conduction member configured to contact the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, exposed by the opening, and the chassis member. |
US08493502B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, image pickup method, and storage medium storing program
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a light emission unit, an image acquisition unit configured to drive the image pickup unit and the light emission unit to acquire an image while the light emission unit is emitting light and acquire images while the light emission unit is emitting no light at substantially the same view angle, a difference acquisition unit configured to acquire a luminance difference between the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light and one of the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light, and an image composing unit configured to compose a composite image from the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light and the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light, using the luminance difference acquired by the difference acquisition unit as transmission intensity data. |
US08493498B2 |
Image apparatus system, camera body and interchangeable lens
An imaging apparatus system includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 includes an optical system configured to generate an optical image of a subject, a first communication unit 106, and a lens controller 105 configured to control driving of the optical system in synchronization with a reference signal received through the first communication unit. The camera body 200 includes a second communication unit 201 that can communicate with the first communication unit 106, and a body controller 203 configured to send the reference signal to the lens controller 105 through the second communication unit 201. The body controller 203 sends announcement information preliminarily announcing switching of the cycle of the reference signal, to the lens controller 105. The lens controller 105, when receiving the announcement information from the camera body, performs a preparation operation for switching the cycle of the reference signal. |
US08493492B2 |
Method of producing an image with pixel signals produced by an image sensor that includes multiple output channels
An image sensor includes multiple output channels, a non-destructive charge sensing output channel having an associated gain value of G1 and a charge multiplying output channel having an associated gain value G3. The image sensor can also include a charge bypass output channel having an associated gain value G2. For each charge packet, a pixel signal produced by either the charge sensing output channel, the charge multiplying output channel or the charge bypass output channel is selected. If the pixel signal produced by the charge sensing output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G1) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. If the pixel signal produced by the charge bypass output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G2) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. The pixel signals are combined to produce an image. |
US08493491B2 |
Methods for processing an image captured by an image sensor having multiple output channels
Charge packets are transferred from a pixel array in an image sensor to a horizontal shift register. Each charge packet is shifted to a non-destructive sense node. Each charge packet is non-destructively sensed and a signal representative of a number of charge carriers in the charge packet is produced. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge multiplying output channel when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will not saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge bypass output channel or an amplifier when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. |
US08493485B2 |
Image pickup device, image pickup apparatus, control method, and program
An image pickup device which makes it possible to expand the dynamic range of photometry. The image pickup device comprises a pixel array, a pixel reader, a row selector, a column selector, a gain circuit, a gain selector. The pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements and arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The pixel reader reads out selected pixel signals from the pixel array. The gain circuit is capable of having at least two gains set therein, and amplifies and outputs the pixel signals read out from the pixel array by the pixel reader. The gain selector sets different gains in the gain circuit such that pixel signals amplified by the different gains can be obtained for one-time read-out from the pixel array by the pixel reader. |
US08493482B2 |
Dual image sensor image processing system and method
Various techniques are provided for processing image data acquired using a digital image sensor. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one such technique may relate to the processing of image data in a system that supports multiple image sensors. In one embodiment, the image processing system may include control circuitry configured to determine whether a device is operating in a single sensor mode (one active sensor) or a dual sensor mode (two active sensors). When operating in the single sensor mode, data may be provided directly to a front-end pixel processing unit from the sensor interface of the active sensor. When operating in a dual sensor mode, the image frames from the first and second sensors are provided to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. For instance, in one embodiment, the image frames from the first and second sensors are written to a memory, and then read out to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. |
US08493478B2 |
Detecting red eye filter and apparatus using meta-data
A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information. |
US08493474B2 |
Memory-enhanced image sensor
An image sensor IC may have a non-volatile memory for several functions. The functions may include storing control parameters for a camera autofocus module, part tracking data, and data for defect correction or color science. The non-volatile memory can in particular be an antifuse non-volatile memory, which may not need special light shielding. |
US08493469B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a camera module to compensate for the color spectrum of a white LED
A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained. |
US08493468B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup element to acquire a short-exposure-image data and a long-exposure-image data; a white balance evaluation value acquiring device to acquire white balance evaluation value for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction range setting device to set a white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction device to extract white extraction result on the basis of the white balance evaluation value and the white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a correction factor calculating device to calculate corrected white extraction results from the white extraction result on the basis of the white extraction range and calculate correction factor for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white balance correcting device to correct the short-exposure-image data and the long-exposure-image data to form white balance corrected short-exposure-image data and white balance corrected long-exposure-image data by using the correction factors; and a synthesizing device configured to synthesize the white balance corrected short-exposure-image data and the white balance corrected long-exposure-image data. |
US08493467B2 |
Camera control apparatus, camera control method, and camera system
A camera control apparatus comprises a processor adapted to control a display to display a plurality of sensed images respectively obtained from a plurality of cameras and a transmitter adapted to transmit a command to control another camera to execute color adjustment based on an image signal of a reference region of an image of a reference camera of the images displayed as a list by the processor. |
US08493465B2 |
Color processing method, program therefor, and image pickup apparatus
A color processing method which sets viewing conditions easily and properly from shooting conditions added to an image. Shot image data and shooting conditions of the image data are obtained. Input side viewing conditions from the obtained shooting conditions are set. The image data with a color appearance model based on the set input side viewing conditions are converted. |
US08493464B2 |
Resolution adjusting method
A method for adjusting resolution is applicable to an image capturing device, such that the image capturing device can analyze an amount of objects in the image captured thereby and determine a resolution for storing the image according to the amount of objects in the image, thereby making use of storage resources effectively. It is determined whether to zoom in/out the captured image or to lower the resolution of the image capturing device by analyzing the amount of the objects in the captured image and comparing the analyzed amount of the objects with one or more threshold values. |
US08493463B2 |
Spectral characteristic correction apparatus, spectral characteristic correction method and recording medium on which spectral characteristic correction program is recorded
A spectral characteristic correction apparatus correcting a spectral characteristic characterizing a color signal including a plurality of chrominance signals includes: a correction coefficient calculating unit calculating, on the basis of a basic color signal corresponding to each of a plurality of basic colors calculated from a color signal obtained by photographing a plurality of color patches, for example, and on a predetermined reference color signal corresponding to the basic color signal, a correction coefficient for performing correction for approximating the basic color signal to the reference color signal; and a spectral characteristic correcting unit correcting a spectral characteristic characterizing the basic color signal by using the correction coefficient calculated by the correction coefficient calculating unit. |
US08493461B2 |
Moving imager camera for track and range capture
A precision motion platform carrying an imaging device under a large-field-coverage lens enables capture of high resolution imagery over the full field in an instantaneous telephoto mode and wide-angle coverage through temporal integration. The device permits automated tracking and scanning without movement of a camera body or lens. Coupled use of two or more devices enables automated range computation without the need for subsequent epipolar rectification. The imager motion enables sample integration for resolution enhancement. The control methods for imager positioning enable decreasing the blur caused by both the motion of the moving imager or the motion of an object's image that the imager is intended to capture. |
US08493459B2 |
Registration of distorted images
An image registration method involves computing horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors for first and second distorted or partially distorted images or distortion-corrected images, or both. The images are registered by applying a translation, rotation and/or scale factor estimation between the first and second images on the horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors. |
US08493457B2 |
Managing device with recalculation, image formation processing system, computer readable medium storing program, and image forming method
A managing device includes a request receiver that receives a request for use of an image forming apparatus, the request containing information concerning a user; an upper limit value determining unit that, upon receiving the request for use by the request receiver, determines an upper limit value for image formation processing on the basis of limiting information of a user group to which the user belongs; and a transmitter that transmits information providing an instruction to inhibit the image formation processing to an image forming apparatus whose image formation processing cannot be limited based on the upper limit value determined by the upper limit value determining unit when the processing upper limit value is less than a threshold value. |
US08493456B2 |
Video still camera
A digital still camera has a cylindrical image pick up portion with a lens, a strobe unit, and a display. The image pick up unit is cylindrical and is rotatably held at each end, so that the lens and strobe unit move in concert. The image pick up unit can be rotated to face the rear of the camera, where the display is located, so that the user can do self-images. |
US08493451B2 |
Imaging devices operable with multiple aspect ratios
Imaging devices including a novel imaging system wherein a 2-dimensional pixel array has a diagonal dimension larger than the diameter measurement of the image circle, thereby being capable of handling rectangular images with multiple aspect ratios. These new imaging devices can be used in various electronic imaging apparatus with or without a lens system. |
US08493449B2 |
Method of estimating video quality at any resolution
Method of estimating the perceived quality of a video sequence at a maximum spatial resolution and a maximum temporal resolution, and at a lower spatial resolution and/or temporal resolution, said method including filtering said video sequence at the lower temporal resolution and/or the lower spatial resolution so as to produce a filtered video sequence at the maximum spatial and temporal resolutions; determining a reference sequence that is, at most, equal to the content of said video sequence at the maximum spatial and temporal resolutions; and calculating a metric of perceived quality of said video sequence at the lower temporal resolution and/or the lower spatial resolution. |
US08493446B2 |
Intelligent headlight control using camera sensors
A system and method for intelligently controlling headlights receive a multiplicity of images that represent frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle. At least one bright spot, or blob, is found that stands out from a dark background of the external environment within each frame of the multiplicity of images. A multiplicity of features is extracted from a found blob. A type is recognized of a found blob that is selected from a multiplicity of types of blobs. A determination is then made whether to turn on a high beam light or a low beam light based at least on the recognized type of the found blob and a set of rules. Finally, an action based on such decision is performed. |
US08493445B2 |
Scanner/optical system for three-dimensional lidar imaging and polarimetry
An optical scanner system for contiguous three-dimensional topographic or volumetric imaging of a surface from an aircraft or spacecraft is disclosed. A servo controller synchronizes the rotation rates of a pair of wedge scanners with high precision to the multi-kilohertz laser fire rate producing an infinite variety of well-controlled scan patterns. This causes the beam pattern to be laid down in precisely the same way on each scan cycle, eliminating the need to record the orientations of the wedges accurately on every laser fire, thereby reducing ancillary data storage or transmission requirements by two to three orders of magnitude and greatly simplifying data preprocessing and analysis. The described system also uses a holographic element to split the laser beam into an array that is then scanned in an arbitrary pattern. This provides more uniform signal strength to the various imaging detector channels and reduces the level of optical crosstalk between channels, resulting in a higher fidelity three-dimensional image. |
US08493443B2 |
Methods and apparatus for location determination and asserting and maintaining privacy
A method of and apparatus for maintaining the privacy of a subject of a recording are disclosed. The location of at least one subject is determined. The location of the subject is stored in a database. The location of a recording device when a recording is made is determined. The location of the recording device is provided to the database. |
US08493441B2 |
Absorbance measurements using portable electronic devices with built-in camera
A method comprising obtaining a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, exposing a sample to light having a predetermined optical path-length between a light source and the color sensitive light-sensor, and measuring the amount of light transmitted though the sample with the color sensitive light sensor. Also a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, the mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored liquids. Additionally, a system comprising a mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored samples, the mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics and a light source. |
US08493437B2 |
Methods and systems for marking stereo pairs of images
Systems and methods for marking stereo pairs of images include an imaging device for retrieving a collection of images that are representative of a volume, where the images can be representative of a physical volume or a volumetric set of data. A computing machine identifies image elements within the retrieved collection of images representative of a volumetric set of data, and further generates image element values that are based in part on the identified image elements. The computing machine further generates a stereoscopic pair of projection images having two members, where each member of the pair is based in part on at least one image element value generated by the computing machine. A viewing apparatus displays either the calculated stereoscopic pair of projection images or a pair of stereo images selected from images representative of a physical volume, such that when the pair of images are viewed through a portion of the viewing apparatus, the resultant display is a perceived three dimensional image. An input device or computer application is further used to position a marker within the stereoscopic pair of projection images to identify a location within the stereo pair of images. |
US08493433B2 |
Shuttering eyewear for use with stereoscopic liquid crystal display
An active eyewear method and system for viewing stereoscopic images is provided. The eyewear comprises polarization altering elements, such as twisted nematics or super twisted nematics, configured to receive light energy and rotate the polarization of light energy passing therethrough, and linear polarizers having polarization axes oriented in substantially identical orientations orthogonal to the first axis of polarization. The linear polarizers receive light energy from the polarization altering elements. The method comprises transmitting light energy through a sheet polarizer having an first axis of polarization, receiving the light energy with two polarization altering elements, each polarization altering operating out of phase with the other and in synchrony with a video field rate associated with the transmitting, and passing the light energy through two linear polarizers having substantially identical axes of polarization orthogonal to the first axis of polarization. |
US08493427B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
The present invention is an optical scanning apparatus that is positioned and fixed to a metal frame of an image forming apparatus, in which a rotating polygon mirror being a deflection means and a drive motor rotationally driving the rotating polygon mirror are accommodated inside a housing made of resin. In the present invention, a bearing of the drive motor and a positioning member provided upright to the metal frame are inserted into and fitted with each other from opposite directions in a positioning boss formed in the housing, and the bearing is in contact with the positioning member. |
US08493424B2 |
Printer
A printer includes a platen roller, a motor configured to rotate the platen roller, and a frame configured to rotatably support the platen roller, the motor being mounted to the frame, wherein the motor has a shaft and a face that is in contact with the frame, and the face has a flange at a periphery thereof and a boss around the shaft, wherein the frame has a U-letter-shape opening into which the boss of the motor is insertable in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft, and also has a fitting part in which the flange of the motor is engaged, and wherein the motor is fixedly positioned by the boss being inserted into the U-letter-shape opening of the frame and by the flange being engaged in the fitting part. |
US08493423B2 |
Thermal recording head and thermal recording apparatus comprising the same
[Problem] There are provided a thermal recording head capable of making proper operation of a converter, and a thermal recording apparatus including the same.[Solution] A thermal recording head (10) of the invention is driven on a basis of a first control signal and includes a head substrate (20) including heat generating elements (23a), a wiring substrate (30) including, on its surface, a wiring pattern (312) for transmission of the first control signal, and a mount substrate (40) disposed facing a back surface of the head substrate (20) and a back surface of the wiring substrate (30) and configured to mount the head substrate (20) and the wiring substrate (30). On the surface of the head substrate (20) is placed a control element (27) electrically connected to the heat generating elements (23a) and configured to control driving of the heat generating elements (23a). On the surface of the wiring substrate (30) is placed a converter (323) electrically connected to the wiring pattern (312) and configured to convert the first control signal into a second control signal. The mount substrate (41) is spaced away from a corresponding region at the back surface of the wiring substrate (30) that corresponds to a fourth placement area (40d) bearing the converter (323) on the surface of the wiring substrate (30). |
US08493418B2 |
Liquid crystal display
An LCD has a drive power supply structure simplified to simplify manufacturing processes of LCDs and to reduce manufacturing costs thereof. The LCD includes a liquid crystal panel, a drive unit, a controller, a backlight drive unit, and a drive voltage generator. The liquid crystal panel includes image display regions. The drive unit drives gate and data lines in the panel. The controller controls the drive unit using image data and synchronization signals from outside. The drive voltage generator is provided on a system or at least one source printed circuit board on which at least one of the drive unit or the controller is formed and converts a voltage level of a drive power provided from outside to generate drive powers of different voltage levels and provides the drive powers to the drive unit, the controller, and the backlight drive unit. |
US08493415B2 |
Graphics display system with video scaler
A method for processing video data includes performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a video processing device, the one or more processors and/or circuits including a video scaler, a memory, and a scaler engine, functions including receiving a video image by the video processing device. The functions also include determining whether the video scaler requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory or after reading the video image from the memory, and scaling the video image based on the determination. If the video scaler requires less memory bandwidth to scale the video image before writing the video image to the memory, performing by the one or more processors and/or circuits scaling of the video image in the video scaler using a video input clock of the video scaler to generate a first scaled video image. |
US08493410B2 |
Simulation method and system
A simulation method and system. A computing system receives a first audio and/or video data stream. The first audio and/or video data stream includes data associated with a first person. The computing system monitors the first audio and/or video data stream. The computing system identifies emotional attributes comprised by the first audio and/or video data stream. The computing system generates a second audio and/or video data stream associated with the first audio and/or video data stream. The second audio and/or video data stream includes the data without the emotional attributes. The computing system stores the second audio and/or video data stream. |
US08493408B2 |
Techniques for manipulating panoramas
A multi-step animation sequence for smoothly transitioning from a map view to a panorama view of a specified location is disclosed. An orientation overlay can be displayed on the panorama, showing a direction and angular extent of the field of view of the panorama. An initial specified location and a current location of the panorama can also be displayed on the orientation overlay. A navigable placeholder panorama to be displayed in place of a panorama at the specified location when panorama data is not available is disclosed. A perspective view of a street name annotation can be laid on the surface of a street in the panorama. |
US08493405B2 |
Image control device and image display system for generating an image to be displayed from received imaged data, generating display information based on the received image data and outputting the image and the display information to a display
An image control device, which achieves energy saving effects without degradation of an image to be displayed, even if image data includes a fault, is configured to decode received image data into an image, generate display information based on the received image data, and output a decoded image and display information. The image control device receives image data, detects errors from the image data. For each error detected, the image control device specifies a fault image region containing an error from an entire image region of the image data, and inhibits use of the fault image region for generating display information that defines an image display condition according to which the display device performs the image display. |
US08493404B2 |
Pixel rendering on display
This disclosure describes techniques for rendering pixels on a display. A processing unit may receive pixel values for surface pixels of each surface of a plurality of surface. The processing unit may also receive an order of the plurality of surfaces. Based on at least the location and order of the plurality surfaces, the processing unit may blend pixel values for co-located surface pixels. The processing unit may also accumulate opaqueness values for co-located surface pixels and/or opaqueness values for surfaces with co-located surface pixels. |
US08493402B2 |
System, method and computer program product for color processing of point-of-interest color
Methods and systems to manipulate color processing parameters to allow the detection of an arbitrary color of interest. Such reconfigurations may enable general point-of-interest color processing. Color mapping curves may also be configured, to accomplish the tasks of color correction, enhancement, de-saturation, and color compression. |
US08493401B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image displaying apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus for correcting image signals corresponding to a plurality of color images constituting an image, includes: a correction table storage unit storing one or more correction tables; and an image signal correcting unit independently correcting the image signals of the color images on the basis of one or more correction tables stored in the correction table storage unit, wherein the image signal correcting unit makes a geometric correction of a display image corresponding to the image such that display color images each corresponding to the color images superpose each other, independently among the color image. |
US08493398B2 |
Dynamic data type aligned cache optimized for misaligned packed structures
A method and apparatus for processing vector data is provided. A processing core may have a data cache and a relatively smaller vector data cache. The vector data cache may be optimally sized to store vector data structures that are smaller than full data cache lines. |
US08493397B1 |
State machine control for a pipelined L2 cache to implement memory transfers for a video processor
A method for using a state machine to control a pipelined L2 cache to implement memory transfers for a video processor. The method includes accessing a queue of read requests from a video processor, and tracking each of a plurality of cache lines stored within the cache using a least recently used variable. For each a cache line hit out of the plurality of cache lines and corresponding to one of the read requests, the least recently used variable is adjusted for a remainder of the plurality of cache lines. A replacement cache line is determined by examining the least recently used variables for each of the plurality of cache lines. For each cache line miss, a cache line slot corresponding to the replacement cache line is allocated to store a new cache line responsive to the cache line miss. |
US08493395B2 |
Hardware override of application programming interface programmed state
A method and system for overriding state information programmed into a processor using an application programming interface (API) avoids introducing error conditions in the processor. An override monitor unit within the processor stores the programmed state for any setting that is overridden so that the programmed state can be restored when the error condition no longer exists. The override monitor unit overrides the programmed state by forcing the setting to a legal value that does not cause an error condition. The processor is able to continue operating without notifying a device driver that an error condition has occurred since the error condition is avoided. |
US08493393B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying graphics
An apparatus for displaying graphics includes a memory to store graphics data and output the graphics data to the bus in series, and a plurality of transform modules, wherein, each transform module, based on a type of the graphics outputted to the bus and employing a feedback signal provided by each transform module after a transform operation is executed therein, transforms the corresponding graphics data into image information for the display memory in turn. |
US08493387B2 |
Accelerated statistical rendering methods and apparatus
A method for a computer system includes performing rendering operations for a plurality of scenes to form a plurality of intermediate rendering data in response to a plurality of scene descriptor data associated with the plurality of scenes, processing the plurality of intermediate rendering data to form a model for the plurality of intermediate rendering data, and determining a higher quality plurality of intermediate rendering data in response to the model for the plurality of intermediate rendering data. |
US08493386B2 |
Systems and methods of managed script execution
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction, operation, implementation, instantiation, creation, and other functions related to virtual worlds (note that where the term “virtual world” is used herein, it is to be understood as referring to virtual world systems, virtual environments reflecting real, simulated, fantasy, or other structures, and includes information systems that utilize interaction within a 3D environment). Various embodiments facilitate interoperation between and within virtual worlds, and may provide consistent structures for operating virtual worlds. The disclosed embodiments may further enable individuals to build new virtual worlds within a framework, and allow third party users to better interact with those worlds. |
US08493380B2 |
Method and system for constructing virtual space
A method, computer program product and system for constructing a virtual space in which simple, time sequential photographs are taken by one or more image capturing systems, including their positional and other pertinent data which are efficiently stored in an image database system. Based upon selective view points, images and image data are retrieved from the database, processed for visualization referenced to desired viewing positions and conditions and are then displayed in real time in response to user interaction and movement within the virtual space presentation. |
US08493377B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a digital board upon which a video signal processing circuit is formed, a driver board upon which a driver circuit is formed, and a power supply board upon which a power supply circuit is formed. The video signal processing circuit generates one screen of image data on the basis of a video signal that is inputted from an input source. And the driver circuit displays an image based upon this image data upon a display. Moreover, the power supply circuit produces a power supply voltage from a commercial power supply. The power supply board supplies the power supply voltage to the digital board via a first power supply cable, and also supplies the power supply voltage to the driver board via a second power supply cable. |
US08493374B2 |
Codec control
A method and system for a software driver of a graphics controller to work with a display codec. The software driver may be configured to work with different display codecs at different periods of time while using a default configuration. Other embodiments are also described. |
US08493372B2 |
Image display apparatus and electronic apparatus
An image display apparatus includes: a circuit board integrally formed with a driving element for driving a display element and a light receiving sensor for receiving light; a light change structure provided in a region of the circuit board, in which the light receiving sensor is formed, and includes a light change material that selectively changes a light receiving amount of the light receiving sensor by moving by itself according to an attitude with respect to a direction of gravitational force; and an attitude determining unit that determines the attitude based on the light receiving amount of the light receiving sensor. |
US08493368B2 |
Stylus fixing assembly and electronic device using the same
An electronic device includes a main body, a stylus and a stylus fixing assembly fixed on the main body for seating the stylus. The stylus fixing assembly includes a cover, a fixing element fixed on the cover, a guide element, a rotation element, a clasping element rotatably fixed on the cover, a first spring and a second spring. The fixing element includes three guide grooves and a convex stage disposed on the inner wall therein. The guide element includes several first teeth and three first guide ribs. The rotation element includes a cylindrical portion, a resisting portion, several second teeth and three second guide ribs. Two ends of the first spring are fixed on the sidewall of the cover and the resisting portion separately. Two ends of the second spring are connected with the cover and the clasping element. |
US08493367B2 |
Inputting device for handwriting system
An embodiment of the present invention provides a stylus as an inputting device of a handwriting system. The stylus comprises a jog ball, a signal emitting circuit for emitting electromagnetic waves, an resonant circuit for determining the frequencies of the emitting electromagnetic waves, and a button and ball circuit that comprises a pair of sensing units respectively arranged at up and down side of the jog ball for tracking the rolling of the jog ball. |
US08493366B2 |
Dynamic projected user interface
A dynamic projected user interface device is disclosed, that includes a projector, a projection controller, and an imaging sensor. The projection controller is configured to receive instructions from a computing device, and to provide display images via the projector onto display surfaces. The display images are indicative of a first set of input controls when the computing device is in a first operating context, and a second set of input controls when the computing device is in a second operating context. The imaging sensor is configured to optically detect physical contacts with the one or more display surfaces. |
US08493363B2 |
Touch device and touch method
A touch method is applied in a touch device. The touch device includes a display unit, first infrared receivers, first infrared emitters, second infrared receivers, second infrared emitters, a storage unit, and motors. The first infrared receivers and the first infrared emitters are arranged on a first side of the display unit, and the second infrared receivers and the second infrared emitters are arranged on a second side of the display unit. The storage unit stores a table recording a relationship between identification and set of coordinates of the infrared receivers. The method includes: controlling motors to drive infrared emitters and infrared receivers to rotate; determining whether electrical signals comprising the identification of one first infrared receiver and one second infrared receiver are simultaneously received; if yes, determining the set of coordinates of the touch spot; determining an icon and determining the corresponding function corresponding to the touch spot. |
US08493362B2 |
Image-based coordinate input apparatus and method utilizing buffered images
The invention provides an image-based coordinate input apparatus and method for detecting positions of N objects on a coordinate input region at a detecting interval where N equals to 1 or 2. According to the invention, starting at the start of the detecting interval, successive first images at a first view and successive second images at a second view relative to the N objects and a background of the perimeter of the coordinate input region are captured and buffered. The apparatus and method according to the invention judges the number of the N objects and calculates the positions of the N objects on the coordinate input region at the detecting interval in accordance with the buffered successive first images and the buffered successive second images. |
US08493360B2 |
Quadrature signal receiver using synchronized oscillator
A system comprises a processing device, a signal generator to generate a first signal and a single receiver to receive a second signal from a capacitive sense array. The single receiver is configured to process the second signal for stylus sensing of a stylus proximate to the capacitive sense array in a first mode of operation and to process the second signal for touch sensing of a passive touch object proximate to the capacitive sense array in a second mode of operation. The second signal is unsynchronized with the first signal. |
US08493358B2 |
High speed low power multi-touch touch device and controller therefor
A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that that is used to accumulate charge in a charge accumulator to provide an accumulated signal. The accumulated signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node. |
US08493357B2 |
Mechanical means for providing haptic feedback in connection with capacitive sensing mechanisms
Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback in connection with a capacitive sensing mechanism are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a convex, non-metallic structure arranged so as to maintain physical separation between an activator and the capacitive sensing mechanism until sufficient force is applied by the activator. The structure does not form a part of an electrical circuit comprising the capacitive sensing mechanism. |
US08493355B2 |
Systems and methods for assessing locations of multiple touch inputs
Matrix-based touch input systems assess touch locations of two or more temporally overlapping touch inputs by forming valid x-y coordinate pairs from independently determined x- and y-coordinates. Valid x-y pairs are formed based on comparing one or more signal parameters such as signal magnitude, signal strength, signal width, and signal rates of change. In matrix capacitive systems where capacitance-to-ground signals are used to determine the x- and y-coordinates, the determined coordinates may be formed into valid x-y pairs using mutual capacitance measurements. When resolving more than two temporally overlapping touches, information gained by resolving a valid x-y coordinate pair of at least one of the touches may be used to resolve the remaining touches. |
US08493350B2 |
Touch panel using a light sensing method, method for detecting a touch location, and recording medium storing program to execute the method
A touch panel comprises light sensing circuits configured to generate light sensing data, scan lines, a scan driving unit configured to sequentially apply scan pulses to the light sensing circuits via the scan lines, data lines, a data receiving unit configured to receive the light sensing data transmitted via the data lines in a first/second data receiving state, and generate touch data including first and second touch data, and a location calculation unit configured to determine a touch location using the touch data. In the first/second data receiving state, two neighboring data lines in each first/second combination are electrically coupled to each other, and light sensing data from the data lines in each first/second combination are combined so as to generate a first/second data. The first/second touch data includes the first/second data from each of the first/second combinations. The second combinations are different from the first combinations. |
US08493343B2 |
Touch panel and noise reducing method therefor
A method for reducing noise of a touch panel includes: generating a detection signal including at least one contact region; generating a combination noise region including at least a portion of the at least one contact region; and generating a final detection signal. The generating the final detection signal includes removing the combination noise region from the detection signal. |
US08493342B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying graphical user interface depending on a user's contact pattern
A graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed on a display unit in an apparatus which may include a tactile sensor unit. When a contact by a user is detected at the tactile sensor unit, a control unit may receive a contact detection signal therefrom. Based on the contact detection signal, the control unit may determine a contact pattern and may then display the GUI corresponding to the contact pattern. The GUI may be displayed and modified depending on the location and pressure of contacts by a user's manipulating fingers. Therefore, a user can manipulate the apparatus without any inconvenience or accidental touches. |
US08493341B2 |
Optical touch display device and method thereof
The invention provides an optical touch display device. The optical touch display device comprises a display module, a first image capturing module, a second image capturing module and a processing module. The display module generates N touch points according to a touch gesture, the touch gesture has a specific moving model, and N is a positive integer. The first image capturing module retrieves a first image relating to N touch points. The second image capturing module retrieves a second image relating to N touch points. The processing module determines correspondingly a specific touch chord of N touch points according to the first image and the second image, and determines correspondingly a specific function of the touch gesture according to the specific touch chord and the specific moving mode. |
US08493339B1 |
Multi-region interactive display
A multi-region interactive display is provided. In some embodiments, a multi-region interactive display includes a display including a plurality of display regions, the display configured to provide content in at least a first display region and a second display region; a processor configured to select content for display in at least one of the display regions; and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions, in which the first display region and second display region are configured so that when a first user interacts with the first display region, a second user's view of the second display region is at least partially visible. |
US08493338B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided with a touch screen for displaying and inputting data, a detection unit for detecting the input path of the diagonal line upon input through the touch screen, a set unit for setting the user's operating hand based on the input path, and the display control unit for displaying the display mode determined based on the operating hand. |
US08493332B2 |
Method and system for calibrating an acoustic touchscreen
A method for calibrating an Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR) touchscreen comprises touching an APR touchscreen at N comparison touch points. N audio profiles are acquired, and each of the N audio profiles are associated with one of the N comparison touch points. A predetermined calibration file is selected based on the N audio profiles. The predetermined calibration file comprises audio profiles associated with coordinate locations on the touchscreen. |
US08493330B2 |
Individual channel phase delay scheme
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to processing an incoming signal by using a demodulation signal, while controlling the phase of the demodulation signal in relation to the incoming signal. The incoming signal can be processed by being mixed with the modulation signal at a mixer. The mixing may thus cause various beneficial modifications of the incoming signal, such as noise suppression of the incoming signal, rectification of the incoming signal, demodulation of the incoming signal, etc. |
US08493329B2 |
Keypad assembly using optical shutter and light guide panel and portable terminal having the same
A keypad assembly includes an optical shutter configured to shield or transmit light according to a voltage applied thereto; a light guide panel configured to guide an internal light generated inside of the keypad assembly and coupled to the interior of the light guide panel; and a symbol pattern layer including at least one symbol pattern illuminated by both the internal light irradiated from the light guide panel and an external light from outside of the keypad assembly that has passed through the optical shutter. |
US08493326B2 |
Controller with removably attachable text input device
A small-sized text input device is attachable to and removable from a game controller. The text input device can be sized and configured to fit between grip portions of the game controller, and can be attachable to the game controller with a separate attachment bracket. Different brackets can be used to attach the text input device to different types of game controllers. A game player holding the game controller can access the text keys of the text input device with his or her thumbs, and by making only minor (or no) adjustment to the position of his or her hands on the grip portions. |
US08493325B2 |
Reconfigurable user input device for both left and right handed users
A reconfigurable user input device for use with an electronic video apparatus, such as a video game console, educational console or computer suitable for use by both left and right handed users. The multifunction user device further includes a base housing, a first input device and a second input device separated by a rotatable arm member mounted upon the base housing. A rotation mechanism is affixed between the rotatable arm member and the base housing permitting the arm member to rotate about a center axis to, in turn, permit the first input device and second input device to be respectively located alternatively to the left side or the right side of the housing. |
US08493322B2 |
Hand-held electronic device
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device. |
US08493313B2 |
Temporal filtering of video signals
A process for reducing noise and temporal artifacts (e.g. walking LEDs) on a dual modulation display system by applying temporal filtering to rear modulation signals of a sequence of video frames. Flare and dimming rates are calculated for a current frame in the video. If a flare rate threshold is exceeded, an intensity of the backlight is limited to a predetermined flare rate. If a dimming rate threshold is exceeded, the backlight intensity is limited to a predetermined dimming rate. The limitations are applied, for example, on an element-by-element basis. In the event of a scene change, the limitations do not need to be applied. A forward modulation signal is calculated by taking into account any applied backlight limitations. |
US08493311B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a plurality of shift register sections, each being configured to sequentially generate a sampling pulse for writing a video signal into a pixel, wherein each of the plurality of shift register sections includes an even number of shift registers, and wherein one sampling pulse is generated by each of the plurality of shift register sections, and substantially all of the sampling pulses are generated on the basis of either the rising edges of a clock signal or the falling edges of a clock signal, whichever is selected in advance. |
US08493308B2 |
Source driver having charge sharing function for reducing power consumption and driving method thereof
A source driver includes a plurality of first data channel pairs, a plurality of second data channel pairs, a first switch group, a second switch group, a third switch group, and a fourth switch group. Each of the first data channel pairs includes a first odd channel and a first even channel. The channels outputting voltages having the same polarity are short circuited together through the switch groups during a charge sharing period. As a result, the swings of the voltages of data lines coupled the corresponding channel are reduced, and further power consumption in the source driver could be reduced as compared with the related art. |
US08493300B2 |
Architecture and technique for inter-chip communication
The present invention involves an electrical system in which an analog signal channel passes through various integrated circuit chips (ICs). The channel can carry one or more analog signals. Each IC can modify the signal(s) passing through it and pass it on to another IC or system component. The channel can be programmable. Each IC can include a comparator or a multiplexor to receive the channel signal from another IC or system component and to modify the received signal before transmitting it to another IC or system component. The comparator or the multiplexor can be programmable and can be selectively configured to compare the incoming signal from the channel with a variety of other signals and thresholds, or to simply act as a flow through gate and allow the signal to pass without any modification. The comparison can determine the output of the comparator. The operation and programming of the comparators, the multiplexors and the channel can be centrally controlled by a system controller, can be independently controlled by the ICs, or a combination thereof. |
US08493298B2 |
Video display system
A video display system includes an image processing unit receives continuously an input video signal including input frame signals for generating an output video signal including output frame signals having a higher frame rate than the input frame signals; and a display unit for displaying a video image in accordance with the output frame signals, wherein each of the input frame signals has 2^M gray scale levels for each pixel, the image processing unit further generates the output frame signals including at least a first output frame signal having 2^N gray scale levels with N |
US08493297B2 |
OLED driver, lighting apparatus equipped with the driver and an adjustment method of the apparatus
An OLED driver for driving at least one organic electroluminescence element, lighting apparatus equipped with the driver and an adjustment method of the apparatus. The driver has a square-wave voltage source and a controller. The source generates square-wave voltage and applies the voltage to the element. The controller controls the source so as to change the frequency of the voltage to change and adjust light output of the element. |
US08493287B2 |
Head mounted display device and image display device
To improve a small image display device of the type to be attached to glasses so that positioning thereof can be made easily during use.An image display device 100 comprises a body assembly 110 which can be fixed to a temple 210 of glasses 200, and an image display section 120 adapted to move from a standby position that is located close to the body assembly 110 to a service position just in front of lenses 220. The service position for the image display section 120 is previously determined, and the image display section 120 is automatically moved from the standby position to the service position. This allows the image display section 120 to be positioned at a proper position. The image display section 120 contains a display 125 and a free curved surface prism 126 therein. A user can view images enlarged from the images produced on the display 125 when the image display section 120 is at the service position. |
US08493284B2 |
Composite screens formed by tiled light-emitting screens
Techniques and display devices that provide a composite display screen made up by placing multiple smaller constituent screens based on a light-emitting screen technology to minimize the gap between two adjacent constituent screens. |
US08493280B2 |
Antenna structure for a wireless device with a ground plane shaped as a loop
This invention refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device comprising a ground plane and an antenna element, wherein the ground plane has the shape of an open loop. The invention further refers to an antenna structure for a wireless device, such as alight switch or a wristsensor or wristwatch, comprising an open loop ground plane having a first end portion and a second end portion, the open loop ground plane defining an opening between the first end portion and the second end portion; and an antenna component positioned within the opening defined between the first end portion and the second end portion and overlapping at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion. Further the invention refers to a corresponding wireless device and to a method for integrating such an antenna structure in a wireless device. |
US08493278B2 |
Antennas and methods to provide adaptable omnidirectional ground nulls
GPS reception on helicopters and ground vehicles may be subject to varying near-ground interference. A compact antenna includes vertically spaced arrays of radiating elements. The first array provides a basic reception pattern. The second array provides a pattern having a distinctive low elevation angle phase reversal. By combining signals for these patterns an antenna pattern with a low angle onmidirectional elevation null characteristic is provided to suppress near-ground interference. Prior to combining, signals from the second array may be modified in amplitude or phase, or both, on a semi-permanent basis, or may be adaptively modified on an active basis, in order to adjust the null characteristic. Antennas and methods are described. |
US08493275B2 |
Waveguide radiator, especially for synthetic aperture radar systems
The invention relates to a waveguide radiator comprising: A slotted waveguide (10) with a plurality of slots (14) inserted in the waveguide (10); and An additional inner conductor (12) installed inside the waveguide (10), which inner conductor is shaped in a polarization-dependent manner such that all of the slots (14) of the waveguide (10) can be excited with identical phase and amplitude. |
US08493272B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program for wireless communication
An apparatus including a radiator having an electrical length; a first conductive element; an interconnector, connected to the radiator and to the first conductive element, having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the radiator has a first electrical length when the interconnector is in the first configuration and a second electrical length, different to the first electrical length, when the interconnector is in the second configuration. |
US08493271B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation measuring device for electronic devices
An electromagnetic radiation measuring device includes a test antenna module and a main processor electrically connected to the test antenna module. The test antenna module includes a plurality of pre-test antennas and at least one final test antenna, which have predetermined polarities and are positioned at predetermined heights, respectively. The pre-test antennas and the final test antenna respectively receive wireless signals sent from an electronic device. The main processor measures and records a frequency of the strongest wireless signal received by selected ones of the pre-test antennas that have the same polarity, and further determines whether power of wireless signals at the recorded frequency received by the final test antenna polarized to have the same polarity as that of the selected ones of the pre-test antennas exceeds a predetermined acceptable range. |
US08493268B2 |
Method and system for integrated glonass and GPS processing
An integrated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver may be operable to decompose GNSS IF signals associated with GPS satellites and/or GLONASS satellites into a constituent narrowband GPS data stream and/or a plurality of constituent narrowband GLONASS data streams utilizing, for example, a GPS IF tuner and/or one or more GLONASS IF tuners. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be processed at reduced sampling rates utilizing a shared sample memory in the integrated GNSS receiver. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be stored in allocated sections of the shared sample memory. The stored narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the stored narrowband GPS data stream may be processed using a correlation such as a fast Fourier transform (FFT) correlation. |
US08493266B2 |
Global positioning system (GPS) receiver and method of determining location of GPS receiver
A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver includes a GPS receiving unit configured to receive navigation data from at least one visible satellite, a decoder configured to decode the received navigation data to extract time and almanac information from the decoded navigation data and a database configured to store satellite disposition information. A satellite location determining unit is configured to select at least one visible satellite candidate using the time information and the satellite disposition information, and to determine locations-in-space of the at least one visible satellite candidate with the almanac information. Also, a navigation filter is configured to calculate pseudo-ranges from the at least one visible satellite and the selected at least one visible satellite candidate using the corresponding locations-in-space, and to determine a location of the GPS receiver using the calculated pseudo-ranges. |
US08493263B2 |
Short baseline helicopter positioning radar for low visibility using combined phased array and phase difference array receivers
A helicopter position location system includes a receiver located substantially in a center of an array of receivers. A first array of receivers is located in a selected pattern separated from the center receiver by a first distance. Selected receivers in the first array are spaced apart from each other by at most one half wavelength of a base frequency of a locator signal transmitted from a helicopter. A second array of receivers is located in a selected pattern by a second distance larger than the first distance. A transmitter on the transmits a signal having a base frequency and a plurality of hop frequencies A processor in signal communication with the receivers is configured to determine phase difference with respect to frequency between any pair of receivers, to determine time delay of arrival based on the phase difference with respect to frequency, to beam steer response of the selected receivers, and to use the beam steered response and time delay of arrival between pairs of receivers to determine a position of the helicopter. |
US08493262B2 |
Synthetic aperture radar image formation system and method
A saturated input signal acquired by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system is processed by estimating a reconstruction that generated the input signal, reproducing an input signal from an estimated reconstruction to generate a reproduced signal, comparing the reproduced signal with the input signal; adjusting an estimated reconstruction based on the comparison; and iterating from the reproducing step until a termination condition is reached. |
US08493260B2 |
Successive approximation analog to digital converter
A SAR ADC, used for converting an analog input into an N-bit digital output in a conversion phase, includes: three comparators, each two capacitor sub-arrays, coupled to the three comparators respectively, wherein the two capacitor sub-arrays are used for sampling the analog input and providing two inputs for the corresponding comparator; and an SAR logic, coupled to the three comparators and the three capacitor arrays, for, in each conversion sub-phase, coupling two selected capacitors of each capacitor sub-array to a set of determined reference levels, coupling two capacitors, which were selected in a preceding conversion sub-phase, of each capacitor sub-array to a set of adjusted reference levels obtained based on a set of data outputted from the three comparators in a preceding conversion sub-phase, and then generating two bits of the N-bit digital output by encoding a set of data outputted from the three comparators. |
US08493259B2 |
Pipeline analog-to-digital converter
A pipelined ADC includes a first, second, and third pairs of comparators. The first pair of comparators compare an input voltage to a first positive reference voltage and to a first negative reference voltage. The second pair of comparators compare the input voltage to a second positive reference voltage and to a second negative reference voltage. Each comparator of the first and second pairs of comparators outputs a digital signal to an encoder. A third pair of comparators compares the input voltage to a third positive reference voltage and to a third negative reference voltage, and a comparator compares the input voltage to ground. The comparator and each comparator of the third pair of comparators is configured to output respective digital signals to an encoder. A multiplying digital-to-analog converter outputs a voltage based on the input voltage, an output from the encoder, and an output of the random number generator. |
US08493257B2 |
Current-switching cell and digital-to-analog converter
Two D flip-flops (D-FFMA, D-FFMB) output two half-rate signals (DMR-A, DMR-B) by dividing a digital input signal (DM) into two signals and retiming them based on a clock signal (CLK) and a negative-phase clock signal (CLKB). First and second switches (SM1, SM2) are driven by the two half-rate signals (DMR-A, DMR-B). Third and fourth switches (SM3, SM4) are driven by a select signal SW and a negative-phase select signal SWB that have the same frequency as that of the clock signal (CLK) but a different phase from that of the clock signal (CLK). The current supplied from a current source (1) to a load (4) thus becomes a current signal corresponding to a conversion frequency twice the frequency of the clock signal (CLK). |
US08493256B2 |
Input converter for a hearing aid and signal conversion method
In order to minimize noise and current consumption in a hearing aid, an input converter comprising a first voltage transformer and an analog-to-digital converter of the delta-sigma type for a hearing aid is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage comprises an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). The first voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage and is placed in the input converter upstream of the input stage. A second voltage transformer (OT) having a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, is optionally placed in the feedback loop of the converter. The voltage transformers (IT, OT) are switched-capacitor voltage transformers, each transformer (IT, OT) having at least two capacitors (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal. |
US08493254B2 |
AD converter and AD converter circuit voltage control method
There is provided an AD converter including an AGC circuit that changes an input amplitude of an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to an AD converter circuit that converts the analog signal to a digital signal, and a first detection portion that compares an output range of the analog signal output by the AGC circuit with a predetermined voltage range and, based on a comparison result, controls the output range of the analog signal output by the AGC circuit. |
US08493249B2 |
Compression match enumeration
In embodiments of compression match enumeration, a suffix array can be generated that is representative of data sequences stored in a memory buffer. The suffix array can then be converted into a trie structure that overwrites the suffix array in the memory buffer as the trie structure is generated in-place of the suffix array. The trie structure includes nodes that each represent one or more suffixes of the suffix array, where each consecutive suffix is either grouped with an existing node in the trie structure or added as a new node of the trie structure. Data sequence matches can then be enumerated as determined from the trie structure. |
US08493247B2 |
Methods and systems for decoding data
A method of decoding is presented. The method includes the steps of receiving a coded bit stream that is generated by encoding source information using a Non Return to Zero Inverted (NRZI) code, selecting an NRZI decoding method based on one or more parameters associated with noise in the received coded bit stream, and generating a plurality of decisions by processing the received coded bit stream using the selected NRZI decoding method, wherein the received coded bit stream comprises a plurality of coded bits, and the plurality of decisions are estimates of a plurality of source bits in the source information. |
US08493244B2 |
Vector quantization device, vector inverse-quantization device, and methods of same
An LSP vector quantization device able to improve the precision of quantization in vector quantization where a codebook for first stage vector quantization is switched according to the type of a feature that has a correlation with the quantization target vector. In this device, a classifier (101) selects, from a plurality of code vectors for classifying, the code vector for classifying that indicates the type of the feature that has a correlation with the quantization target vector; a switch (102) selects, from among a plurality of first codebooks, the first codebook corresponding to the abovementioned type; an error minimizing unit (105) selects, from the plurality of first code vectors constituting the selected first codebook, the first code vector closest to the quantization target vector; a matrix determining unit (106) selects, from a plurality of matrices, the matrix corresponding to the abovementioned type; and the error minimizing unit (105) uses the selected matrix to select, from a plurality of second code vectors, the one that is closest to the residual vector between the selected first code vector and the quantization target vector. |
US08493243B2 |
Radio frequency identification interface devices and methods
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is described. In one implementation, there is provided a keyboard emulator; a first keyboard interface configured to receive an operative connection to a host computer, and operatively connected to the keyboard emulator; and a controller configured to receive data from at least one RFID tag; and transfer the data through the keyboard emulator and then the first keyboard interface in response to a user-initiated route instruction received by the controller, wherein the keyboard emulator converts the data to corresponding keystroke codes. |
US08493237B2 |
Parking arrangement with an automatic vehicle detection system, and method for putting into operation and managing a parking arrangement
A parking arrangement with parking places for vehicles and with an automatic vehicle detection system which comprises a central computer system and a wirelessly operating parking sensor module for determining the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking place, which parking sensor module comprises at least one vehicle sensor, which provides measuring values which are representative of the presence or absence of a vehicle, provided with calibration means for determining the quiescent value, representing the absence of a vehicle, of the measuring values from the vehicle sensor, which calibration means by a self-organizing map method divide the measuring values into clusters of mutually close values, wherein the cluster having the largest number of measuring values is selected as representative of the quiescent value of the measuring values at a parking place, wherein each time an adjusted quiescent value is determined, and wherein a measuring value which differs from the quiescent value by more than a predetermined threshold value indicates that a vehicle is situated in the parking place. |
US08493233B2 |
Information display system for vehicle
The present invention provides an information display system for a vehicle displaying a vehicle image overlapped with a panorama view image, and the information display system provides information around the vehicle, condition of the vehicle or information for a dangerous place to the driver with easy understand. |
US08493226B2 |
Battery charger loss prevention adaptor having a notification module
A reminder system for a portable-device charger is designed for determining when it is likely that the charger is about to be left behind. Detection which may be in real time can pertain, depending on the embodiment, to disconnection of a portable device from the charger, and/or movement of a portable device out of wireless range of the charger or a charger adaptor. In some versions, the onset of reminding is, upon detecting disconnection, tentatively postponed until a predetermined criterion is met, such as expiry of a predetermined time period. Or the criterion can be detection of an out-of-range condition based on distance between the portable device and an adaptor or charger. In some embodiments detection and reminder issuance are incorporated in a unit, such as a plug-in wall adaptor or the charger itself. The adaptor can be generalized rather than specialized for a charger of a particular make or model. The system can be unobtrusive, and sensitive to the charger connection status, power saving and power outages. |
US08493225B2 |
Impact detector and packaging container
An impact detector includes a weight having a circular periphery, a case in which the weight is contained, an interior of which defines a transition path that connects an initial position and an impact detection position, and a restriction portion projecting from the interior of the case into the transition path. The weight moves through the transition path to the impact detection position with a circumferential surface of the weight in contact with the interior of the case when the case receives an impact in a predetermined direction, and the restriction portion restricts movement of the weight toward the impact detection position when the case receives impact in a direction other than the predetermined direction. |
US08493223B2 |
Safety monitoring system
A method is disclosed for monitoring personnel operating at a workplace within a confined space. The method involves providing a mobile workplace module comprising a video registration device producing video data, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas sensor to produce gas sensor data. The workplace module is mounted at least partially within the confined space and a mobile monitoring unit comprising a display for displaying video data from the workplace module, an audio interface for emitting and receiving audio data and a gas data receiver for receiving gas sensor data is located outside the confined space. The workplace module and the monitoring unit are connected by a mobile umbilical cable for data transmission so that personnel at the workplace may easily be monitored from the monitoring unit. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed including a mobile monitoring system, a workplace module, a video camera mount, an extractive gas detector and a computer system. |
US08493219B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive monitoring and tracking of a target having a learning period
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for adaptive monitoring of physical movement. As one example, a method for adaptive initialization of a monitoring system is discussed. The method includes associating a monitor device with a monitor target; receiving information indicating movement of the monitor target from the monitor device; plotting or defining one or more paths corresponding to the movement of the monitor target during a learning period; and based at least in part on the one or more paths, identifying one or more exclusion zones where movement of the monitor target is restricted. |
US08493215B2 |
Communication antenna, RFID tag, non-contact communication device, and non-contact communication method
A communication antenna has a rectangular radiating section, and has a structure that emits an electric field of linear polarized waves only in a vicinity of the radiating section of the antenna. An RFID tag has an IC chip and a tag antenna that is long in a predetermined direction. The tag antenna has a main antenna portion that is rectilinear and extends over substantially an entire length in a longitudinal direction of the tag antenna, and folded-over antenna portions at which currents induced by an external electric field offset one another due to portions that extend in mutually different orientations in the longitudinal direction. A parallel interval between the main antenna portion and a first folded-over antenna portion exceeds a width of the radiating section of the communication antenna. |
US08493211B2 |
Providing event indications to prevent indication storms in an event model
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing event indications in an event model in a manner so that indication storms resulting from excessive indication generation and delivery is prevented. An object behavior change in an information model corresponds to an event. An indication of interest is sent to a listener process when the detected object behavior change corresponds to a specified top level indication class in an indication class hierarchy. |
US08493209B2 |
Distributed lighting control of a corridor or open areas
Methods and apparatuses of distributed lighting control are disclosed. One method includes a sensor sensing a change of light intensity per unit of time greater than a sense threshold. If a light associated with the sensor is within a corridor and the sensed change of light intensity per unit of time is greater than the sense threshold, then the light is activated at a preselected corridor light intensity. If the light associated with the sensor is not within a corridor and the sensed change of light per unit of time is greater than the sense threshold, then the light is activated at a preselected non-corridor light intensity. For an embodiment, the preselected corridor light intensity is greater than the preselected non-corridor light intensity. |
US08493204B2 |
Displaying sound indications on a wearable computing system
Example methods and systems for displaying one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of a source of sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound are disclosed. A method may involve receiving audio data corresponding to sound detected by a wearable computing system. Further, the method may involve analyzing the audio data to determine both (i) a direction from the wearable computing system of a source of the sound and (ii) an intensity level of the sound. Still further, the method may involve causing the wearable computing system to display one or more indications that indicate (i) the direction of the source of the sound and (ii) the intensity level of the sound. |
US08493200B2 |
Apparatus for estimating tire wear amount and a vehicle on which the apparatus for estimating tire wear is mounted
A vehicle velocity detector 15 is provided, velocity V is detected from position data of the vehicle calculated by using signal from satellites, which is received by a GPS receiver 11 installed to a vehicle body, wheel rotation velocity Vw0 detected by a wheel velocity sensor 12 is corrected in accordance with tire inner pressure detected by a pressure sensor 13 so as to obtain wheel rotation velocity (correction value) Vw, velocity ratio R=(Vw/V), which is ratio of the corrected wheel rotation velocity Vw and the detected wheel velocity V, is calculated and tire wear amount is estimated in accordance with velocity ratio R so that tire wear amount can be measured precisely without processing the tire tread portion. |
US08493199B2 |
Device and method for approving automatic guidance of a vehicle
A device for approving automatic guidance of a vehicle, having an interface to a monitoring apparatus for at least partially monitoring a vehicle driver located in the vehicle, having an interface to an apparatus for automatically guiding the vehicle and for ascertaining a travel direction of the vehicle when automatic guidance is to be performed, and having an analysis unit for comparing a field of vision of the driver, which is determined from the monitoring of the driver, to the travel direction of the vehicle during the automatic guidance, automatic guidance only being approved if the travel direction of the vehicle during the automatic guidance is in the field of vision of the driver. |
US08493198B1 |
Vehicle and mobile device traffic hazard warning techniques
A computer-implemented method includes monitoring an environment external to a vehicle via a sensor of the vehicle or a mobile device. The monitoring includes recording audio or video signals based on an output of the sensor. Audio or image recognition is performed via the mobile device based on the audio or video signals. Based on results of the audio or image recognition, objects in an area through which the vehicle is to pass are detected. The method includes determining which ones of the detected objects satisfy a predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria includes object features that are indiscernible or marginally discernible to a vehicle operator with a perception deficiency. Selected ones of the detected objects that satisfy the predetermined criteria are monitored. The vehicle operator is alerted of the selected ones of the detected objects with an alert predetermined to be discernible to the vehicle operator. |
US08493193B2 |
Anti theft locking system
An anti theft locking system for the cargo carrying portion of a truck, trailer, shipping container, and/or railcar having at least one access door. The anti theft locking mechanism and associated signal processing means for locking the access door are all located entirely within the cargo carrying portion and cannot be accessed from outside. The locking mechanism can be locked in response to a coded locking signal generated from the exterior of the cargo carrying portion. The locking mechanism can be unlocked in response to a coded unlocking signal generated from a remote location. |
US08493190B2 |
Haptic interface with increased braking force
A haptic interface including an element that interacts with a user; a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation; a fluid interaction element, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type, a system generating magnetic field in the fluid; and a control unit capable of generating orders to magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field. The interaction element includes a cylindrical wall of revolution with a longitudinal axis, including through openings and/or patterns in relief. |
US08493188B2 |
Haptic motion feedback device
Embodiments of the present invention include a device and a method for providing a haptic motion feedback to user interacting with a simulated three-dimensional (“3D”) environment. In one embodiment, the device includes a base and a belt assembly, coupled to the base. The belt assembly includes a housing having an opening and a belt adapted to rotate within the housing for conveying a motion of an object moving in the simulated 3D environment. To indicate a horizontal component of object's motion, in one embodiment, the base is rotated, thus causing the belt assembly to rotate around its central axis. To indicate a vertical component of the object's motion, in one embodiment, the belt assembly is tilted. Optionally, the belt may include a plurality of protrusions and/or indentations on its surface for indicating to the user distances covered by the object within the simulated 3D environment. |
US08493181B2 |
Sensor tag, sensor tag device, power receiving circuit, and sensor tag device power supply method
There is provided a sensor tag device capable of detecting event data by a sensor tag all the time even when no radio wave is received, saving power supply for a microprocessor, and enlarging the radio communication distance. The sensor tag device includes generation means 6 and 7 using one or more environmental changes, power supply voltage rise control means 8, and power supply synthesis means 9, and power is supplied to a microprocessor 12 and event data is stored in the microprocessor 12 when an event, i.e., an environmental change has occurred. A power receiving circuit having a transmission/reception antenna, a built-in power receiving circuit, and the microprocessor and capable of bi-directional communication by radio waves is combined with a stab resonance RF boost circuit and a ladder boost rectification circuit. |
US08493180B2 |
Radio system for sensing applications
A radio system for sensing the spatial configuration of a physical object comprising a transmitter (102) which sends a query message to a transponder (104) having at least one antenna (106). A radio frequency shield (108) is moveably interposable between the transmitter and one or more antennas and thereby attenuates the signal strength of the query message received at an antenna. In any state of spatial configuration of the physical object, the transponder is able to receive the query message and, in reply, send a response message containing data determined according to the signal strength of the query message received at the one or more antennas. |
US08493178B2 |
Forged face detecting method and apparatus thereof
A forged face detecting method includes: acquiring a photorealistic image and an infrared image of a subject on which line beams are projected; extracting face features from the infrared image based on characteristics of a pattern of the line beams projected on the acquired infrared image; and detecting whether or not the infrared image is a forged face based on the extracted face features. Said detecting whether or not the infrared image is a forged face includes: checking whether the extracted face features falls within a preset permission range of face features; determining the infrared image to have the forged face if the extracted face features fall out of the range to acquire an infrared image of the subject again; and determining the infrared image to have a non-forged face if the extracted face features falls within the range to perform face recognition for the photorealistic image. |
US08493175B2 |
Vehicle authentication control device
A vehicle authentication control device has a first, second, and third determination units, and a registration unit. When identification information unique to a vehicle is registered in both a portable device and an authentication device on the vehicle, the first determination unit matches first identification information returned from the portable device in response to a request from the authentication device and second identification information registered in the authentication device to determine whether a combination of the portable device and the authentication device is legitimate. When third identification information is registered in a part different from the authentication device, the part performing a predetermined operation when the first determination unit is legitimate, the second determination unit matches the third identification information registered in the part and the second identification information registered in the authentication device to determine whether a combination of the part and the authentication device is legitimate. The second determination unit determines that the part is a non-used article if the third identification information is not registered in the part. If the determination results of the first determination unit and the second determination unit are both positive, then the third determination unit determines that a combination of the part, the portable device, and the authentication device is legitimate. If the second determination unit determines that the part is a non-used vehicle, the registration unit registers the second identification information registered in the authentication device as third identification information. |
US08493169B2 |
Transformer and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein are a transformer and a method of manufacturing the same. The transformer includes: a primary side winding having a loop shape; a secondary side winding formed on the same plane as that of the primary side winding in a remaining section except for at least a section at which it intersects with the primary side winding and having the same loop shape as that of the primary side winding so as to be electromagnetically coupled to the primary side winding; and an intersecting section formed so that the primary side and secondary side windings having the sum of the turn numbers of 3 or more intersect with each other in a two-layer structure, wherein the intersecting section includes at least one point of intermediate node having one side connected in a first layer and the other side connected in a second layer. |
US08493163B2 |
Bandpass filter, wireless communication module and wireless communication device
A bandpass filter for a wide frequency band such as UWB is disclosed. The bandpass filter can receive a pair of signals, namely a balanced signal, and output a pair of signals. The bandpass filter comprises a plurality of ½ wavelength resonance electrodes, a plurality of ¼ wavelength resonance electrodes and a plurality of coupling electrodes. A transmission characteristic of the bandpass filter having flat and low loss over the entire region of the broad pass band can be achieved. |
US08493159B2 |
Radio frequency device
A radio frequency device is disclosed, which includes an isolation substrate, a ground layer, a first signal end, a second signal end, a radio frequency circuit, and an impedance unit. The isolation substrate includes a first plane and a second plane. The ground layer is disposed on the second plane of the isolation substrate for providing grounding. The first signal end is formed on the first plane of the isolation substrate. The second signal end is formed on the first plane of the isolation substrate and coupled to the ground layer. The radio frequency circuit is disposed on the first plane of the isolation substrate and coupled to the first signal end. The impedance unit is disposed on the first plane of the isolation substrate and coupled to the first signal end and the second signal end. |
US08493154B1 |
Linearity enhancement on cascode gain block amplifier
A cascode amplifier circuit having substantial linearity, while maintaining other advantages of cascode amplifiers such as relatively high input-to-output isolation and relatively high gain. The cascode amplifier circuit also provides substantially matched impedance between input and output, at least within a selected frequency band, with the effect of providing a circuit that is well-suited for use in a communication system. The cascode amplifier circuit includes feedback loops, such as for example DC feedback loops and AC feedback loops, and bias optimization, with the effect of improving linearity, maintaining gain, minimizing return loss, and providing a relatively high dynamic range. |
US08493153B2 |
Narrowband amplifier with improved interference suppression
A radio signal is input to a first terminal and output after amplification at a second terminal. There is a third terminal which is common to both the first and the second terminal. There is an inductance interfacing the second terminal to a direct current power supply; and a radio frequency filter connected in shunt with the inductance. In an exemplary embodiment the first, second and third terminals are respective base, collector and emitter terminals of a bipolar transistor. Such a bipolar transistor is characterized in that voltage from the power supply passes to the second terminal through the inductance but not through the radio frequency filter; and the signal output passes from the second terminal through the radio frequency filter but not through the inductance. The illustrated embodiments show the radio frequency filter as a surface acoustic wave filter in direct connection with the second terminal. |
US08493152B2 |
Power amplifier
A power amplifier comprises a plurality of primary inductors provided on a substrate in a circular geometry as a whole; a plurality of amplifier pairs; a secondary inductor; and a connection wiring. Each amplifier pair is coupled to two ends of a corresponding primary inductor, and amplifies and output to the corresponding primary inductor a pair of first and second signals given as differential input signals, respectively. The secondary inductor is provided adjacent to the primary inductors in a circular geometry, further combines and outputs signals made by combining first and second signals in each primary inductor. The connection wiring is provided inside the primary inductors on the substrate and electrically couples middle points of respective primary inductors with each other. |
US08493146B2 |
Amplifier using fast discharging reference
Techniques are disclosed relating to charging and discharging a gate of transistor. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a driver configured to discharge a gate of a transistor. The driver is configured to discharge the gate at a first rate until reaching a Miller plateau for the transistor, and to discharge the gate at a second rate after reaching the Miller plateau. In such an embodiment, the first rate is greater than the second rate. In some embodiments, the driver is also configured to charge the gate of the transistor at a third rate until reaching a Miller plateau for the transistor, and to charge the gate at a fourth rate after reaching the Miller plateau, the third rate being greater than the fourth rate. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a class D amplifier. |
US08493141B2 |
Pseudo-envelope following power management system
Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description relate to a pseudo-envelope follower power management system used to manage the power delivered to a linear RF power amplifier. |
US08493140B2 |
Output coupling capacitor free audio power amplifier dynamically configured for speakers and headphones with excellent click and pop performance
First and second channel bridge amplifiers are dynamically configured to drive either speakers or headphones. The first channel bridge amplifier includes a first amplifier driving one end of a first speaker through a mechanical switch in a headphone-jack, and a second amplifier driving another end of the first speaker. The second channel bridge amplifier includes third and fourth amplifiers driving respective ends of a second speaker. To suppress click and pop, an amplifier control circuit maintains certain amplifiers (depending on headphone or speaker mode) tri-stated until input coupling capacitors have fully charged and an input signal exceeding a predetermined amount is detected. |
US08493139B2 |
Low noise auto-zero circuits for amplifiers
An amplifier may include a low noise auto-zero circuit with auto-zero capacitors and switch-controlled auxiliary capacitors that function as switched-capacitor low-pass filters. In an acquisition phase of the auto-zero operation, the inputs of an amplifier may be shorted to a common voltage, and a representation of the offset voltage may be acquired by the auto-zero capacitors. In a hold phase of the auto-zero operation, the auto-zero capacitors may be connected to the auxiliary capacitors, and the resulting voltages may be applied to the circuit such that the original offset voltage is cancelled. Moreover, the switched-capacitor filters may reduce the effective sampling noise while maintaining high acquisition bandwidth. |
US08493138B2 |
Memcapacitive devices
A memcapacitive device includes a first electrode having a first end and a second end and a second electrode. The device has a memcapacitive matrix interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix has a non-linear capacitance with respect to a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix is configured to alter a signal applied on the first end by at least one of a) changing at least one of a rise-time and a fall-time of the signal and b) delaying the transmission of the signal based on the application of a programming voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. |
US08493134B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide a clock signal to a charge pump
A method and apparatus for providing a clock signal to a charge pump is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes providing a first clock signal to a first charge pump unit of a charge pump. The method further includes providing a second clock signal to a second charge pump unit of the charge pump. A low-to-high transition of the first clock signal occurs substantially concurrently with a high-to-low transition of the second clock signal. Only one clock signal may be at a logic high voltage level at any given time. |
US08493133B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus that generates a voltage by performing a pumping operation in response to an oscillator signal includes a driving voltage detecting unit configured to control the cycle of the oscillator signal in accordance with the level of a driving voltage that is used to perform the pumping operation. |
US08493129B2 |
Inductive load power switching circuits
Power switching circuits including an inductive load and a switching device are described. The switches devices can be either low-side or high-side switches. Some of the switches are transistors that are able to block voltages or prevent substantial current from flowing through the transistor when voltage is applied across the transistor. |
US08493127B1 |
System and method for linearization of a mixer
A mixer may include a linearization circuit. The linearization circuit may include and operation amplifier, a first pass device, a second pass device, a first feedback resistor, and a second feedback resistor. Each of the first pass device and the second pass device may have a gate terminal, a first non-gate terminal, and a second non-gate terminal and coupled to its gate terminal to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and configured to be coupled at its first non-gate terminal to a high potential source. Each of the first feedback resistor and the second feedback resistor may have a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal coupled to the positive input terminal of the operational amplifier and the second terminal coupled to the second non-gate terminal of an associated pass device and the positive polarity of the differential baseband output. |
US08493125B2 |
Level shift circuit
A level shift circuit of the invention includes a CMOS inverter circuit that receives an input pulse signal having a crest value of a first potential, a latch circuit that operates on a power supply of a second potential which is higher than the first potential, and a power supply circuit that supplies a power supply of not less than the first potential and less than the second potential to the CMOS inverter circuit. The latch circuit has one end thereof connected to an output end of the CMOS inverter circuit and outputs from the other end thereof an output pulse signal having a crest value of the second potential and a same phase as the input pulse signal. The power supply circuit functions to limit the power supply when the input pulse signal assumes at least the ground level. |
US08493122B1 |
Voltage clamping circuit
A voltage clamping circuit for protecting an input/output (I/O) terminal of an integrated circuit from over shoot and under shoot voltages includes transistors connected to form a current conducting path. A voltage at the I/O pin is detected using a voltage detection circuit. The current conducting path is switched on when the voltage at the I/O pin exceeds a predetermined value. |
US08493115B2 |
Phase locked loop circuit and system having the same
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit and a system including such a PLL that may at least compensate for leakage current in a loop filter. The PLL circuit may include a voltage adjusting unit configured to pump charges based on a phase difference between an oscillation clock signal and a reference clock signal, a loop filter configured to generate a frequency control voltage, a level of which is shifted by the charge pumping of the voltage adjusting unit, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to output the oscillation clock signal having a frequency corresponding to the frequency control voltage, and a current control circuit configured to generate a compensation current corresponding to a leakage current generated by the loop filter and allow the compensation current and the leakage current to substantially and/or completely counterbalance each other. |
US08493109B2 |
System and method to control a power on reset signal
A system and method to control a power on reset signal is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a power on reset circuit includes a first linear feedback shift register and a second linear feedback shift register. The first linear feedback shift register is configured to operate at least partially in parallel with the second linear feedback shift register. |
US08493108B2 |
Synchronizer with high reliability
A system and method for synchronizing asynchronous input signals with reliability. Each of a first and a second storage element in a synchronizer receives a first clock signal in a first clock domain. The second storage element may also receive a first reset signal generated by a second clock signal in the first clock domain different from the first clock signal. The first storage element receives a combination of an asynchronous data input signal and the first reset signal. The data input signal may be generated from circuitry utilizing a second clock domain different from the first clock domain. The second storage element additionally receives an output of a second combination of a stored output value of the first storage element and a second reset signal generated from the first clock signal. The second storage element stores a stable output value based at least on the asynchronous data input signal. |
US08493104B2 |
Clock signal generators having a reduced power feedback clock path and methods for generating clocks
Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by a adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. |
US08493100B2 |
Output driver
An output driver includes a control signal generation unit configured to generate a control signal in response to a driving strength signal and a power supply voltage level, and a driving signal generation unit configured to buffer a pre-driving signal and generate a driving signal for driving an output data, wherein a driving strength of the driving signal is adjusted in response to the control signal. |
US08493096B1 |
Method for performing a tri-state comparison of two input signals in a window comparator circuit, and window comparator circuit for implementing the method
A method performs a comparison of input signals in a window comparator circuit. In a first phase, input, ground and offset voltages are stored on capacitors. A comparison is performed between a first adapted input voltage and a second adapted input voltage added to an adapted offset voltage, to provide a first output signal. In a second phase, the voltages are stored on the capacitors in a different manner. A comparison is performed between the first adapted input voltage added to the adapted offset voltage and the second adapted input voltage, to provide a second output signal. Finally, a control of the state of the output signals is performed to determine if the comparison is in a low or high state if the output signals have a same low or high output level, or in an intermediate state if the output signals have a different output level. |
US08493095B2 |
Semiconductor device with clock stop detection
A stop of a detection object clock is detected by inverting a signal level of an output signal of a level output unit at a count completion time at a counter unit operated by a detection clock and of which count value is changeable, and by determining whether or not a signal level change passes through a clock detection unit operated by the detection object clock by comparing signal levels of an output signal of a level output unit and an output signal of a clock detection unit. |
US08493093B1 |
Time division multiplexed limited switch dynamic logic
A limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit and a static logic circuit. The dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first evaluation clock signal and a second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second logic value in response to one or more second input signals during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A static logic circuit is configured to provide an output of the LSDL circuit in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal. |
US08493092B2 |
Linear equalizer
A linear equalizer (LEQ) includes a first transconductance device coupled to an input node of the LEQ and a second transconductance device AC coupled to the input node of the LEQ to increase a gain of the LEQ for data signals above a predetermined frequency. The first transconductance device and the second transconductance device are of complimentary types. A bimodal LEQ includes inputs to control operation of the bimodal LEQ in a current mode or a voltage mode. The bimodal LEQ includes first and second transconductance devices. One of the first and second transconductance devices is AC coupled to an input node to increase the gain for data signals above a predetermined frequency. |
US08493091B2 |
Programmable logic device
A programmable logic device includes: a logic block unit including logic blocks which are programmably connectable and perform a logical operation on an input data stream; and a configuration control circuit configured to control a logical operation configuration of the logic blocks in response to configuration information, wherein the configuration control circuit controls the logical operation configuration of the logic blocks based on first configuration information for a logical operation of a first input data stream included in the input data stream, receives second configuration information for a logical operation of a second input data stream included in the input data stream, while the first input data stream is supplied to the logic block unit, and controls a logical operation configuration of the second data stream based on the second configuration information in response to termination of the logical operation of the first input data stream. |
US08493090B1 |
Multiplexer-based interconnection network
A multiplexer-based network provides the routing equivalent to a non-blocking crossbar network having a plurality of crossbar switches making up an ingress, middle, and egress stages. The non-blocking crossbar network includes crossbar rows, each including outbound and inbound internal connections to another crossbar row. The multiplexer-based network includes multiplexer-based network rows. Each multiplexer-based network row corresponds to a crossbar row of the crossbar network and includes at least one global input, at least one global output, internal inputs, internal outputs, and a corresponding set of multiplexers. Each set of multiplexers includes an internal multiplexer for each respective outbound internal connection of the respective crossbar row. The internal multiplexer includes inputs for signals routable to the respective outbound internal connection. At least one global multiplexer provides a signal to a global output of the multiplexer-based network row. The global multiplexer includes a set of inputs that includes each input of the respective crossbar row. |
US08493089B2 |
Programmable logic circuit using three-dimensional stacking techniques
A configurable die stack arrangement including a first configurable integrated circuit die located on a first substrate. The first configurable integrated circuit die includes a first array and a first configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the first array. The first array includes a first logic element and a first configuration memory. The configurable die stack arrangement also includes a second configurable integrated circuit die located on a second substrate that is different than the first substrate. The second configurable integrated circuit die includes a second array and a second configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the second array. The second array includes a second logic element and a second configuration memory. A signal is coupled to the first configuration management circuit and to the second configuration management circuit, and the first configuration memory management circuit includes circuitry to control the signal. |
US08493087B2 |
Probe card, and apparatus and method for testing semiconductor device using the probe card
A probe card transmitting electrical test signals between a tester and a semiconductor device includes a main circuit board configured to receive and transmit electrical signals from the tester, an interface unit electrically connected to the main circuit board, the interface unit including a signal line and a signal connection terminal, and at least one probe unit connected to the interface unit, the probe unit being detachable and including a plurality of probe needles arranged in a pattern corresponding to a pattern of electrode pads of the semiconductor device. |
US08493075B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing circuit failure
An embedded decoupling capacitor wearout monitor for power transmission line, which can be integrated and fabricated in any standard CMOS or BiCMOS circuits. The embedded noise monitor is employed to detect the degraded capacitor and disable it from further operation, which will extend the operation lifetime of the circuit system and prevent subsequent catastrophic failure as a result of hard-breakdown (or capacitor short). In one aspect, the monitor circuit and method detects early degradation signal before catastrophic decoupling capacitor failure and, further can pin-point a degraded decoupling capacitor and disable it, avoiding impact from decoupling capacitor breakdown failure. The monitor circuit and method provides for decoupling capacitor redundancy and includes an embedded and self-diagnostic circuit for functionality and reliability. |
US08493073B2 |
Insulation resistance detecting apparatus
An insulation resistance detecting apparatus is provided to detect an insulation resistance of a load circuit. The insulation resistance detecting apparatus includes a coupling capacitor of which a first end is connected to the load circuit; a periodic waveform output section which is connected to a second end of the coupling capacitor, and outputs a periodic waveform to the second end; a waveform shaping section which extracts and amplifies a part of the periodic waveform including a peak point; and an arithmetic operation section which determines the insulation resistance of the load circuit on the basis of a first wave height as a wave height value of a waveform outputted from the waveform shaping section and a second wave height value as a wave height value of the periodic waveform. |
US08493069B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying state of current consumption of a battery in portable terminal
A method and apparatus for displaying a state of current consumption of a battery in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes measuring a value of consumed current at a preset period, supplying the measured current value to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) through an ADC port, confirming battery compensation offset values by the ADC, determining whether values corresponding to the battery compensation offset values are present in a preset table, and if it is determined that the values are present, calculating a battery voltage level compensation value with reference to the table, applying the battery voltage level compensation value to an actual detected voltage, and displaying a remaining amount of the battery according to the compensation value applied voltage. |
US08493067B2 |
Magnetic resonance system and method to create a magnetic resonance image data set by radial scanning of a magnetic resonance system
In a magnetic resonance apparatus and method to generate an image data set by means of a radial scanning of a raw data set, at least one calibration measurement is implemented for at least one predetermined spoke of the radial scan, and a gradient moment difference between an assumed gradient moment and an actually applied gradient moment is determined along the at least one predetermined spoke. Readout of all spokes of the predetermined raw data set ensues by activating multiple magnetic field gradients in spatial directions in order to respectively read out scan points of a respective spoke. The position of each scan point of each spoke is corrected depending on the gradient moment difference, by the position of the respective scan point that is assumed based on the respective activated magnetic field gradients being shifted by the gradient moment difference. |
US08493062B2 |
Method for determining coercivity of coercivity distribution magnet
According to the present invention, a method for determining coercivity of a coercivity distribution magnet, whereby coercivity of each portion in the coercivity distribution magnet can be determined with good accuracy without, for example, cutting the coercivity distribution magnet into pieces and thus quality assurance can be achieved with good accuracy, is provided.The coercivity determination method of the present invention comprises the following steps: a step of dividing a plane of a coercivity distribution magnet into a plurality of virtual plane segmented regions, placing the coercivity distribution magnet in a demagnetization-field-applying device, providing detectors for the plane segmented regions, and creating a demagnetization loss curve for each plane segmented region; a step of determining the minimum coercivity and the mean coercivity; a step of creating a coercivity distribution graph based on three hypotheses; and a step of determining the coercivity at an arbitrary position on the plane of the coercivity distribution magnet with the use of the coercivity distribution graph based on which the coercivity for each plane segmented region is determined. |
US08493061B2 |
Cycle meter adjustment device
An example cycle meter adjusting device includes a circuit configured to provide voltage pulses and an adjustable potentiometer configured to vary the frequency of the voltage pulses provided by the circuit. A coupling interface is configured to selectively communicate the voltage pulses provided by the circuit to a cycle meter having a display. The voltage pulses adjust a number of cycles shown on the display. Another example cycle meter adjuster includes a circuit configured to provide voltage pulses. A controller is configured to selectively adjust a frequency of the voltage pulses. A connection interface is configured to communicate the voltage pulses to a cycle meter. |
US08493060B1 |
Electronic circuit tester and method of use
An electrical circuit tester including a resistive load and a testing station for detecting the variable load. The testing station includes at least one electrical current transducer capable of detecting the variable load in an adjacent electrical power circuit. The detection of the variable load is communicated to the testing station and a variable load detection function. |
US08493058B2 |
Circuit arrangement for frequency determination
A device and a method for frequency analysis. The frequency of an output signal is divided, and an auxiliary signal with a known frequency is subtracted from the low-frequency signal to define a low-frequency differential signal. The output frequency is determined on the basis of the frequency of the low-frequency differential signal. |
US08493056B2 |
AC voltage measurement circuit
A voltage measurement circuit is operative to measure a high voltage AC signal and includes a capacitive divider circuit and a compensator circuit. The capacitive divider circuit includes first and second inputs, across which, in use, is received a high voltage AC signal and also includes second and third capacitors. First and second plates of each of the first, second and third capacitors are defined by conductive layers of a printed circuit board and the dielectric of each of the first, second and third capacitors being defined by a non-conducting part of the printed circuit board. A compensator circuit has a configurable transfer function and includes an input connected across the first and second plates of the third capacitor and an output. The compensator circuit is operative to change a voltage received at its input in accordance with the transfer function and to provide the changed voltage at its output. |
US08493053B2 |
System and device for measuring voltage in a conductor
A system and device for measuring voltage in a conductor having a voltage provides a first electrode surrounding and spaced from the conductor, and a second electrode surrounding and spaced from both the conductor and the first electrode such that there is no contact between the conductor and the electrodes or between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode is connected to a first input of a differential amplifier circuit and the second electrode is connected to the other input of the differential amplifier circuit. The output of the differential amplifier circuit provides a voltage signal in proportion to the voltage of the conductor, thus providing a non-contact means for measuring the voltage of a conductor without requiring a connection to ground while simultaneously providing a high level of rejection of external interference. |
US08493042B2 |
Switching regulator
A switching regulator includes: switching transistors configured to perform switching according to a control signal; an inductor connected to the switching transistors; a control mode switch unit configured to switch between a first control mode and a second control mode based on a direction in which a current flows through the inductor; an amplifier configured to operate as an error amplifier or a comparator; and a phase compensation unit connected to the amplifier by a switch unit, wherein, in the first control mode, the control mode switch unit connects the amplifier and the phase compensation unit by turning on the switch unit so as to cause the amplifier to operate as the error amplifier, and in the second control mode, the control mode switch unit turns off the switch unit so as to cause the amplifier to operate as the comparator. |
US08493041B2 |
System and method for termination powered differential interface periphery
An apparatus and method for supplying power to the peripheral circuits of a transmitter circuit, especially an HDMI transmitter circuit, is disclosed. In an HDMI transmitter, the termination resistors of the output driver are part of the receiver. DC power for the driver is supplied through these termination resistors. In prior art implementations, power supplied by the receiver circuit is wasted in the DC set-up circuit of the differential line driver. In various embodiments, this wasted power may be recovered from the remote termination to power selected peripheral circuits of the transmitter. The use of this wasted power may reduce the total system power consumption. |
US08493039B2 |
Cascade-connected boost circuit
A cascade-connected boost circuit is disclosed. The cascade-connected boost circuit includes a first-stage boost circuit, a second-stage boost circuit, an output terminal and a regulation filtering capacitor. The first-stage boost circuit includes an input terminal, a PWM generator, a first inductor and a first switch. The second-stage boost circuit includes a second inductor and a second switch. The PWM generator controls the first switch and the second switch to turn on or turn off simultaneously. A power supply from the input terminal respectively charges the two inductors via two paths when the two switches are turned on. The two inductors release energy when the two switches are turned off. The two switches share the voltage of the output terminal. The cascade-connected boost circuit according to the present invention solves the issues that the withstand voltage limit of a single switch and the limit of a duty cycle. |
US08493038B2 |
Vehicle-use power generation control apparatus and vehicle-use power generation control system
The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus includes a first section to control an excitation current of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine such that a power generation voltage of the vehicle generator is kept at a first set value, a second section to perform gradual excitation control in order to gradually increase the excitation current, a third section configured to inhibit the gradual excitation control when the power generation voltage falls below a second set value lower than the first set value while the gradual excitation control is performed, a fourth section to detect a rotational speed of the vehicle engine or the vehicle generator, a fifth section to determine a limit value of the excitation current based on the detected rotational speed, and a sixth section configured to limit the excitation current below the limit value when the power generation voltage falls below the second set value. |
US08493037B2 |
Energy capture circuit
An energy capture circuit for capturing energy in response to an input pulse. The circuit is constructed and arranged to transfer input energy in time divided portions among subcircuits. This includes a storage means, a clock means, at least two subcircuits, and at least one transfer circuit. Each subcircuit includes a first inductive means in operative communication with the input source, a rectifying means for producing a positive current in operative communication with the first inductive means, a capacitive means in operative communication with the rectifying means, and a switch means in operative communication with the capacitive means. At least one transfer circuit is in operative communication with each of the switch means of the at least two subcircuits. The output of the clock means is in operative communication with both a first switch means and an inverter means, the inverter means having an output in operative communication with a second switch means. |
US08493035B2 |
Charging method and circuit using indirect current sensing
The present invention relates to a charging circuit and method for generating a charging current supplied to an output terminal (15) to which a battery (40) to be charged is connected. The charging current is indirectly sensed to generate a sensing current having a predetermined relation to the charging current. This sensing current is then compared to a generated predetermined reference current, wherein the charging current is controlled in response to the result of the comparison. Thereby, accuracy, system costs and power efficiency can be increased as a low-ohmic precision resistor is no longer required in the charge current branch of the circuit. Furthermore, the proposed solution enables a simple implementation of the circuit as an integrated circuit. |
US08493030B2 |
Method for operating an energy storage system
The present disclosure is concerned with operation of an energy storage system (ESS) connectable to an electric power system. The charging-discharging schedule of the ESS can be determined through application of a time-dependent forecast of ESS and power system states based on historical data. Exemplary embodiments can include ESSs which have been historically activated with a certain periodicity, for example, for power system load leveling, frequency regulation, arbitrage, peak load shaving and/or integration of renewable power generation. |
US08493028B2 |
Power management circuit for rechargeable battery stack
A charge-balancing system includes N circuits and a control module, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Each of the N circuits includes first and second switches connected in series and an inductance having a first end connected between the first and second switches. The control module outputs control signals to control the first and second switches. A second end of the inductance of a first one of the N circuits is connected between two cells of a first pair of 2N series-connected cells of a battery stack. The first and second switches of the first one of the N circuits are connected in parallel to the first pair of 2N series-connected cells. |
US08493025B2 |
Electric vehicle charging station advertising systems
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems relating to electric vehicle charging stations (“EVCSs”) and electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”) that are configured to display advertisements to a user. For example, in one embodiment, advertisements are displayed on a display device of the EVCS or EVSE as the EVCS or EVSE awaits user interaction. An indication is received of user interaction with the EVCS or EVSE. A transaction is facilitated between a user and the EVCS or EVSE by which the user indicates that one or more electric vehicle batteries of an electric vehicle are to be charged via one of one or more charging ports of the EVCS or EVSE. A charging operation is performed that provides an electric charge to the one or more electric vehicle batteries of the electric vehicle via the one of the one or more charging ports. |
US08493024B2 |
Apparatus for pulse charging electric vehicles
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage devices. One storage device is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other storage device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge. |
US08493016B2 |
Semiconductor circuit device including switching element
A semiconductor circuit device includes a semiconductor circuit including a switching element, a temperature monitoring unit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring unit detects or estimates a temperature of a component connected to an inside or an outside of the semiconductor circuit. Here, the temperature of the component changes in accordance with a frequency of a current flowing through the component, and the frequency of the current flowing through the component changes in accordance with a switching frequency of the switching element. The control unit adjusts the switching frequency of the switching element such that the temperature of the component is equal to a target temperature. |
US08493015B2 |
Door drive
The present invention relates to a door drive comprising electrically operated components which are supplied with electrical energy via a mains connection. In accordance with the invention, a control and an electrical energy store are provided, with the control separating the door drive from the mains and the electrical energy store providing the electrical energy in a first operating mode and with the control connecting the door drive to the mains in a second operating mode. |
US08493013B2 |
Electric motor control algorithm with bypass relay
Aspects of the present invention pertain to a method of power control for an electrical motor using a control bypass feature that allows for the delivery of full supply voltage to a motor when it is operating at or above a certain load threshold level. Advantages of the present invention include the ability to provide power savings at low loads while still a motor to operate at full rated capacity under high load conditions. Also, a load sensor and an override unit that are independent of the phase lag compensation portion of power control allows for faster response to rapid load changes. |
US08493010B2 |
Quiet motor control system
A quiet motor control system is described. This system digitally determines modulated voltages applied to motor phases in a manner that compensates for winding torque distortions, which reduces acoustic emissions. |
US08493006B2 |
Drive unit
A drive unit includes an ultrasonic actuator having an actuator body formed using a piezoelectric element, and a driving element provided on the actuator body and configured to output a driving force by moving according to the vibration of the actuator body, and a control section configured to induce the vibration in the actuator body by applying a first and a second AC voltages having a same frequency and different phases to the piezoelectric element. The control section adjusts the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage so that the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage have different voltage values from each other. |
US08493003B2 |
Serial cascade of minimium tail voltages of subsets of LED strings for dynamic power control in LED displays
A light emitting diode (LED) system implements a power management technique. The LED system includes a plurality of LED drivers connected in series, each LED driver configured to regulate the current flowing through a corresponding subset of a plurality of LED strings. Each LED driver determines the tail voltages of the one or more LED strings of the corresponding subset. Each LED driver, except for the first LED driver in the series, also receives a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the other subsets regulated by the upstream LED drivers. Each LED driver then provides the lowest of the voltage received from the upstream LED driver and the one or more tail voltages of the corresponding subset to the downstream LED driver. In this manner a voltage representative of the minimum tail voltage of the plurality of LED strings is cascaded through the series. A feedback controller monitors the minimum tail voltage represented by this cascaded voltage and accordingly adjusts an output voltage provided to the head ends of the plurality of LED strings. |
US08493002B2 |
Driver for cooperating with a wall dimmer
A driver (100; 200) for driving a dimmable load (L) is powered from phase-cut mains (U1) and determines the dimming state of the load on the basis of the phase of the cutting of the mains. The driver comprises: a load current generating device (130; 230) generating load current; a controllable auxiliary load (170; 270) connected to an input (131; 231) of the load current generating device; a control device (140; 240) controlling the auxiliary load. The control device has an input (141; 241) receiving a signal indicating the momentary voltage at the driver input. The load current generating device generates interrupted current pulses, so that the average output current corresponds to the dim command reflected by the phase cutting angle of the input mains. The control device switches the auxiliary load on during those time periods when the output current generated by the load current generating device is zero. |
US08493000B2 |
Method and system for driving light emitting elements
A system topology and circuit design for efficiently and stably driving currents through strings of solid state light emitting elements by providing current sources that are controlled by a stable voltage reference. |
US08492998B2 |
Driver circuit for driving light-emitting elements including a power switching element
A driver circuit is configured to drive light-emitting elements. The driver circuit includes a light-emitting element, a power switching element, a control circuit, and a charge pump circuit. The power switching element includes a first terminal connected to the light-emitting element and turns on and off the light-emitting element. The control circuit is connected to a second terminal of the power switching element and controls a switching operation of the power switching element. The charge pump circuit is connected between the control circuit and a power source for the light-emitting element and supplies current to the control circuit for driving the control circuit. |
US08492993B2 |
LED driving circuit and power converting circuit
A power converting circuit having the function of circuit detecting is provided. The power converting circuit has a transistor, a controller and a detecting circuit. The transistor receives an input voltage. The controller is coupled to a control end of the transistor to control the conducting state of the transistor so as to stabilize the output of the power converting circuit. The detecting circuit detects at least one of the control end and the low voltage end of the transistor, and generates a state signal when the detected voltage of any one of the control end and the low voltage end does not fall within a corresponding predetermined voltage range. The state signal is utilized for stopping a power circuit which provides the input voltage providing the input voltage. In addition, a light emitting diode driving circuit having the function of circuit detecting is also provided. |
US08492991B2 |
Lighting fixture system for illumination using cold cathode fluorescent lamps
A lighting system for illuminating a chamber in a building includes a lighting fixture suitable for being mounted onto a surface of the chamber, so that light emitted by at least one CCFL device mechanically supported by the fixture illuminates the chamber. |
US08492985B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting apparatus
A discharge lamp lighting apparatus has a configuration including a control unit which discriminates, for each polarity of an AC rectangular wave output, the output voltage detected with an output voltage detector for detecting the voltage applied to a discharge lamp, and carries out constant power control for each polarity separately. By thus detecting the output voltage for each polarity separately and by outputting a target current for each identical polarity, it can carry out constant power control positively even if the output voltage varies for each polarity, thereby being able to prevent current feedback to a different polarity, and to prevent power oscillation and partial reduction of electrodes due to an increase of the output voltage difference for each polarity. |
US08492984B2 |
Dimmer control circuit for selecting between step dimming mode and phase-cut dimming mode
The present invention relates to a dimmer control circuit (100) capable to detect whether a phase-cut dimmer is connected using an average signal (VDCI) derived from the mains voltage. The average signal (VDCI) or a signal (VDCI_ls) derived from (VDCI), ranging from a minimum value to a maximum value, is compared to a dimming threshold (Vdim_th) through a phase-cut detecting unit (20). The comparison result is used to control the state diagram of a dimmer control logic (40) by selecting the step dimming mode (STD) or the phase-cut dimming mode (PCD). The output (OUT) of a switching unit (30) is determined by the state diagram of the dimmer control logic (40) in such a manner that the phase-cut dimming mode (PCD) is prioritized above the step-dimming mode (STD) and the maximum level of the STD states is depending on the mains voltage and application adjustable. |
US08492977B2 |
Lighting unit using a retro-formed component
An LED lighting system using a retro-formed component is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention make use of a component that has an external form factor of a structural element of a pre-existing light fixture. The component, for example, can be a power supply, or a heat sink with a connector. The component allows an LED lighting unit to be used without having the power supply and/or a heat sink take up space within what a consumer would normally see as the light bulb. In some embodiments the form factor is that of a screw-in socket such as an Edison E-26 socket. A connector or connectors can allow removal of the power supply portion of the lighting unit, or of the LED and possibly an optical element from the power supply. |
US08492974B2 |
Flat panel display device and method of manufacturing the same
In a flat panel display device and a method of manufacturing the same, the flat panel display device is manufactured by forming a display unit on a substrate, forming a hydrophobic barrier layer for preventing a material of an organic layer from flowing around the display unit, and forming a thin film sealing layer by alternately stacking an inorganic layer and the organic layer on the display unit. Accordingly, formation of an edge tail of the organic layer is prevented, thereby preventing penetration of external moisture. |
US08492972B2 |
Light emitting element, light emitting device, manufacturing method of light emitting device, and sheet-like sealing material
A method to improve light extraction efficiency of a light emitting element such as an electroluminescent element is disclosed. Over a substrate, a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode are sequentially stacked. The first electrode is a reflective electrode. The second electrode is an electrode which transmits visible light, and light emitted from the light emitting layer is extracted from the second electrode. In contact with a surface of the second electrode, many fine particles are provided. The fine particles have a refractive index which is equal to or higher than that of the second electrode. Light which passes through the second electrode is scattered and refracted by the fine particles. Accordingly, the amount of light which is totally reflected at an interface between the second electrode and a gas is reduced, and light extraction efficiency is improved. |
US08492965B2 |
Spark plug with enhanced breakage resistance for the ground electrode
In a spark plug in which one end of a ground electrode 9 is welded to a front end surface (7a) of a tubular metallic shell (7), the following relations (1) and (2) are satisfied: K≧1.1A (1) K≧(D−d)/2 (2) where A represents the wall thickness of the metallic shell in the radial direction measured on the front end surface at a position where the wall thickness becomes the minimum; d represents the maximum inner diameter of the front end surface; D represents the minimum outer diameter of the front end surface; and K represents the wall thickness in a region of the front end surface where the ground electrode is welded to the front end surface. |
US08492962B2 |
Spark plug for internal combustion engine
Provided is a spark plug which allows a predetermined resistance to be imparted to a resistor with restraint of variation in resistance of the resistor and in turn, enables enhancement of yield. The spark plug includes a ceramic insulator having an axial hole extending in the direction of an axis CL1, a center electrode, and a terminal electrode. A resistor is provided in the axial hole through sintering of a resistor composition which contains a conductive material such as carbon black, glass powder, and ceramic particles other than glass. As viewed on a section of the resistor taken along a direction orthogonal to the axis CL1, 50% or more of sintered glass powder formed through sintering of the glass powder has a circularity of 0.8 or greater. |
US08492955B2 |
Piezoelectric component comprising security layer and method for the production thereof
A piezoelectric component with a monolithic stack has piezoceramic layers and electrode layers arranged alternately one on top of the other, at least one porous security layer arranged in the stack for the formation of a crack if mechanical overload of the stack occurs, at least one outer electrode arranged at a lateral surface section for electric contacting of the electrode layers and a plastic sheath of the stack for protecting the stack, wherein the plastic sheath has silicon. The piezoelectric component is characterized in that a coating of the outer electrode, has silicon-free polymer, is arranged between the outer electrode and the plastic sheath. By coating the plating of the outer electrode, the area of the security layer present directly under the plating is protected from silicon component deposits. The piezoelectric component is used for the control of valves, particularly of injection valves of internal combustion engines. |
US08492953B2 |
Lamination
A small PMDC motor has a wound salient pole armature. The armature 22 has a winding guide 38 disposed within each winding tunnel 36 formed between adjacent salient poles of the armature. The winding guide 38 is arranged to separate the radially inner portion of the respective winding tunnel whereby windings 30 wound about the adjacent salient poles of the armature are restrained from entering into the opposite radially inner portion of the winding tunnel 36. |
US08492952B2 |
Coolant channels for electric machine stator
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including an electric machine with a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a plurality of stator laminations and the plurality of stator laminations include a plurality of different outer diameters. The plurality of stator laminations are positioned relative to one another to form radially-extending fins. At least one circumferential coolant channel is defined along the circumference of the stator assembly by the plurality of stator laminations at least partially between the radially-extending fins. |
US08492948B2 |
End caps for stator segments of segmented stator assemblies
An example end cap of a stator segment is provided for use in locating wires in a segmented stator assembly in desired positions. The end cap generally includes a body and an inboard wall. An identifier is defined by the inboard wall of the end cap for use in determining wire sizes to be used with the end cap. Terminal pockets are provided in the body for receiving the wires and making desired electrical connections, and steps located in the terminal pockets help secure the connectors in the terminal pockets. Plateaus, and troughs defined in the plateaus, are located outside the terminal pockets for use in trimming wires received in the terminal pockets as desired. And, retaining structures are located around the end cap to help with locating the wires in the desired positions. |
US08492947B2 |
Terminal module for rotating electric machine having a guide portion, rotating electric machine, and manufacturing method thereof
A terminal module includes a ring-shaped rail having a groove extending in a circumferential direction, a bus bar fitted into the groove, and a connector portion having a connector terminal connecting the bus bar with an external wire. The rail has a phase determining hole for determining a phase of rotation of the rail about an axial direction. |
US08492946B2 |
Device for mounting a resolver in an electric machine
An electric machine with a resolver for a system for autocontrol of the machine includes a machine stator, a machine rotor mounted for rotation in the stator, the rotor being mounted on a shaft, and a casing enclosing this assembly. The resolver includes a fixed resolver stator centered axially in a housing inside the casing and a resolver rotor mounted on the shaft of the machine rotor inside the resolver stator. The resolver stator is locked in an axially and angularly fixed position in the housing. A mounting device is included for mounting the resolver. The mounting device includes a bearing for rotational adjustment of an angular position of the resolver rotor on the shaft of the machine rotor and a device for clamping the resolver rotor and the shaft with respect to one another in a chosen angular position. The device may include a friction race. |
US08492942B2 |
Spindle motor
A spindle motor is provided, the motor including a bearing assembly including an upper surface-opened cylindrical bearing housing and a bearing accommodated in the bearing housing and formed with a rotation shaft hole; a stator including a core coupled to a periphery of the bearing housing and a coil wound on the core; a rotation shaft inserted into the rotation shaft hole; a rotor including a disk-shaped yoke coupled to the rotation shaft and a magnet coupled to the yoke to face the core; and a suction magnet arranged at the yoke facing the core, wherein the bearing housing includes a body coupled to the core and a core fixture bent from the body to face the core, and the suction magnet is so arranged as to face the core fixture corresponding to an external side of a bent unit bent from the body for forming the core fixture. |
US08492941B2 |
Rotating electric machine with improved rotor shaft coolant channel structure
A motor generator serving as a rotating electric machine includes: a rotor; a rotor shaft rotating with the rotor; and end plates and provided at opposite ends, respectively, of the rotor. The rotor shaft has oil channels and provided independently of each other and passing oil therethrough. The end plates and have oil channels and communicating with the oil channels and, respectively, and guiding oil to the rotor. The oil channels and are formed so as to avoid passing oil in a stream having vector components facing one another, as seen in the axial direction of a center axis, on the route of the channels. The oil channels and are formed so as to avoid passing oil in a stream having vector components facing one another, as seen in the axial direction of the center axis, on the route of the channels. The rotating electric machine thus allows the rotor to be cooled uniformly. |
US08492936B1 |
Harvesting rotational energy using linear-based energy harvesters
A rotational energy harvesting apparatus includes a rotor of magnets and a ring of linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The rotor of magnets is fixed to a rotational source and is caused to sweep past the linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The rotating magnets compel kinetic energy to be induced in the linear-based kinetic energy harvesters. The kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy. |
US08492933B2 |
Power supply equipment providing a data signal, identification information and power to an electronic device
Power supply equipment includes an adapter to convert power from a power source to a DC power for powering an electronic device. The adapter includes circuitry for producing an analog data signal for use by the electronic device to control an amount of power drawn by the device. A cable has an output connector with a plurality of conductors to transfer the DC power and the analog data signal to the electronic device. The connector further includes circuitry to receive a data request from the electronic device and in response transmit a data output which identifies the power supply equipment to the electronic device. |
US08492932B1 |
Method and apparatus for improved burst mode during power conversion
A method and apparatus for converting DC input power to AC output power. The apparatus comprises an input capacitor, a DC-AC inverter, a burst mode controller for causing energy to be stored in the input capacitor during at least one storage period and the energy to be drawn from the input capacitor during at least one burst period, wherein the AC output power is greater than the DC input power during the at least one burst period; a first feedback loop for determining a maximum power point (MPP) and operating the DC-AC inverter proximate the MPP; and a second feedback loop for determining a difference in a first power measurement and a second power measurement, producing an error signal indicative of the difference, and coupling the error signal to the first feedback loop to adjust at least one operating parameter of the DC-AC inverter to drive toward the MPP. |
US08492931B2 |
Selecting structure for device
Disclosed is a device selection structure for selecting one or more devices, comprising: a plurality of devices each having an input port and an output port; and a device module including a movement plate installed movably in conjunction with the plurality of devices, an input connector, and an output connector, wherein the input and output ports of the plurality of devices and the input and output connectors of the device module are installed so that during movement of the movement plate, the input and output ports of the plurality of devices are sequentially connected, at predetermined positions, to the input and output connectors of the device module. |
US08492926B2 |
Photovoltaic power plant output
A photovoltaic power system can include a photovoltaic array, an inverter, and a battery. |
US08492923B2 |
Lamp circuit with simplified circuitry complexity
A lamp circuit is disclosed, comprising a direct current (DC) power supplier adapted to provide a supply voltage, a driving unit coupled to the DC power supplier so as to receive the supply voltage, and a light-radiating module coupled to the driving unit and having a DC output side. The driving unit generates a constant DC current that passes through the light-radiating module such that a DC voltage to be supplied to a DC load is built at the DC output side. |
US08492920B2 |
Apparatus for generating power from a turbine engine
An electrical architecture for an aircraft providing power for the aircraft by generating power from a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool of a turbine engine. The spools can be used to drive corresponding generators; the power from which can be used to supply the various loads of the aircraft. |
US08492918B1 |
Hybrid water pressure energy accumulating tower(s) connected to a wind turbine or power plants
A hybrid water pressure energy accumulating, tower assembly used to directly propel water pumps to raise water from low elevation reservoir(s) to high elevation reservoir(s) where it is used as a potential energy. The tower is electrically connected and positioned next to or close to a wind turbine or a wind or solar power plant. The tower includes in-tower storage reservoirs configured for storing water. The in-tower storage reservoirs could be defined by lower and upper water storage containers attached to the inner or outer surface of the tower that might be connected to other neighboring reservoir(s). The lifted water is used to generate electricity utilizing a hydropower generator. |
US08492917B2 |
Electrical power generating system
An electrical system for generating electrical energy from the wave motion in a body of water includes a lower tower disposed in a body in a body of water and an adjustable upper portion rising upwardly above the surface of the body of water. A rotatable fuselage includes a floating base fixed to the upper portion of the tower and rotatable about a vertical axis for facing into the wind. A downwardly extending arm is fastened to the fuselage and moves back and forth in response to wave motion. The system also includes a mechanism for raising and lowering the fuselage to accommodate tidal changes. In addition, the forward and backward motion of the downwardly projecting arm rotates a pair of generators for generating electrical energy and transmitting it to a land station. |
US08492916B2 |
Switching apparatus for starter
There is disclosed a switching apparatus for a starter comprising a resistor for suppressing a startup current of a motor when an engine is started, an electromagnetic relay for bypassing the resistor to energize the motor after the motor is started, a function for pushing a pinion of the starter toward a ring gear, an electromagnetic switch for opening and closing a main contact of the motor circuit. The resistor, the electromagnetic relay, and the electromagnetic switch are integrally accommodated inside a housing formed of a metallic bottomed frame and a contact cover, and are connected to the motor circuit via two external connection terminals fixed to the contact cover. The apparatus can facilitate connectivity to the vehicle side by reducing the number of cables and can enhance an installation property. |
US08492914B2 |
Crank-web mounted linearly segmented starter generator system
Featured is a starter/generator to start a reciprocating engine or generate electrical energy using the engine. The starter/generator includes a plurality of magnetic elements that establish a magnetic flux, each magnetic element being attached to a surface of the crankshaft so the element moves in a prescribed path as the crankshaft rotates; a plurality of stator elements being arranged within the engine so as to be maintained in fixed relation to a corresponding magnetic element as it moves in the prescribed path, and control circuitry being configured and arranged to control the functionality of each stator element. In one mode a stator element is controlled so that movement of the magnetic element by the stator element cause electrical energy to be generated in the respective stator element and so in another mode each stator element/magnetic element combination operates the motor/generator as a motor. |
US08492913B2 |
Power generation systems
A power generation system is provided that includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational mechanical energy. A generator is configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy and generate electrical power in response to the rotational mechanical energy. A fluid medium is provided to the internal combustion engine and to the generator for removing thermal energy from the internal combustion engine and from the generator. |
US08492907B2 |
Film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface, dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, process for producing semiconductor device, and flip chip type semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element flip chip-connected onto an adherend, the film having a light transmittance at a wavelength of 532 nm or 1064 nm of 20% or less, and having a contrast between a marking part and a part other than the marking part after laser marking of 20% or more. |
US08492903B2 |
Through silicon via direct FET signal gating
A system comprises a first integrated circuit (IC) chip that includes a first electronic component; a second IC chip that includes a second electronic component; a through silicon via (TSV) in the second IC chip that electrically couples the first electronic component to the second electronic component; and a signal gating transistor that fully occludes the TSV. |
US08492902B2 |
Multi-layer TSV insulation and methods of fabricating the same
Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a substrate and a stacked insulation layer on a sidewall of an opening which penetrates the substrate. The stacked insulation layer can include at least one first insulation layer and at least one second insulation layer whose dielectric constant is different than that of the first insulation layer. One insulation layer may be a polymer and one insulation layer may be a silicon based insulation layer. The insulation layers may be uniform in thickness or may vary as a distance from the substrate changes. |
US08492901B2 |
Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-compatible high-aspect ratio through-wafer vias and low-stress configuration thereof
A structure includes a wafer having a top wafer surface. The wafer defines an opening. The top wafer surface defines a first reference direction perpendicular to the top wafer surface. The wafer has a thickness in the first reference direction. The structure also includes a through-wafer via formed in the opening. The through-wafer via has a shape, when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the first reference direction and parallel to the top wafer surface, of at least one of a spiral and a C-shape. The through-wafer via has a height in the first reference direction essentially equal to the thickness of the wafer in the first reference direction. Manufacturing techniques are also disclosed. |
US08492900B2 |
Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of IC chip
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate. |
US08492894B2 |
Bump, method for forming the bump, and method for mounting substrate having the bump thereon
A two-layer structure bump including a first bump layer of a bulk body of a first conductive metal, which is any of gold, copper, and nickel, formed on a substrate and a second bump layer of a sintered body of a powder of a second conductive metal, which is any of gold and silver, formed on the first bump layer. The bulk body composing the first bump layer is formed through any of plating, sputtering, or CVD. The sintered body composing the second bump layer is formed by sintering the powder of the second conductive metal having a purity of not lower than 99.9 wt % and an average particle diameter of 0.005 μm to 1.0 μm. The second bump layer has a Young's modulus 0.1 to 0.4 times that of the first bump layer. |
US08492892B2 |
Solder bump connections
Solder bump connections and methods for fabricating solder bump connections. The method includes forming a layer stack containing first and second conductive layers, forming a dielectric passivation layer on a top surface of the second conductive layer, and forming a via opening extending through the dielectric passivation layer to the top surface of the second conductive layer. The method further includes forming a conductive plug in the via opening. The solder bump connection includes first and second conductive layers comprised of different conductors, a dielectric passivation layer on a top surface of the second conductive layer, a via opening extending through the dielectric passivation layer to the top surface of the second conductive layer, and a conductive plug in the via opening. |
US08492879B2 |
Semiconductor substrate and semiconductor device
On a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of terraces formed stepwise by an atomic step are formed in the substantially same direction. Using the semiconductor substrate, a MOS transistor is formed so that no step exists in a carrier traveling direction (source-drain direction). |
US08492877B2 |
Semiconductor structure with smoothed surface and process for obtaining such a structure
The present invention relates to a process for smoothing the surface of a semiconductor wafer by fusion. The process includes defining a reference length which dimensions wafer surface roughness that is to be reduced or removed, and scanning the surface with a fusion beam while adjusting parameters of the fusion beam so as to fuse, during the scanning of the surface, a local surface zone of the wafer whose length is greater than or equal to the reference length, with the scanning continued to smooth the entire surface of the wafer by eliminating surface roughnesses of period lower than the reference length. The present invention also relates to a semiconductor wafer having a surface layer made of a semiconducting material that is smoothed by the process and that does not exhibit any roughness of period lower than the reference length. |
US08492875B2 |
Nonvolatile memory element having a tantalum oxide variable resistance layer
A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a variable resistance layer, a resistance value of the variable resistance layer reversibly varying between a plurality of resistance states based on an electric signal applied between the electrodes. The variable resistance layer includes at least a tantalum oxide, and is configured to satisfy 0 |
US08492870B2 |
Semiconductor package with interconnect layers
A chip package comprising a glass substrate, wherein a first opening in the glass substrate passes vertically through the glass substrate, a semiconductor chip, a wiring structure comprising a first portion in the first opening and a second portion over the glass substrate, wherein the first portion is connected to the semiconductor chip, wherein the wiring structure comprises a passive device, wherein the wiring structure comprises copper, and a dielectric layer over the glass substrate and on the wiring structure, wherein a second opening in the dielectric layer is over a contact point of the wiring structure, and the contact point is at a bottom of the second opening. |
US08492869B2 |
3D integrated circuit device having lower-cost active circuitry layers stacked before higher-cost active circuitry layer
A 3D integrated circuit structure is provided. The 3D integrated circuit structure includes an interface wafer including a first wiring layer, a first active circuitry layer including active circuitry, and a wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer is bonded face down to the interface wafer, and the wafer is bonded face down to the first active circuitry layer. The first active circuitry layer is lower-cost than the wafer. |
US08492868B2 |
Method, apparatus, and design structure for silicon-on-insulator high-bandwidth circuitry with reduced charge layer
A method, integrated circuit and design structure includes a silicon substrate layer having trench structures and an ion impurity implant. An insulator layer is positioned on and contacts the silicon substrate layer. The insulator layer fills the trench structures. A circuitry layer is positioned on and contacts the buried insulator layer. The circuitry layer comprises groups of active circuits separated by passive structures. The trench structures are positioned between the groups of active circuits when the integrated circuit structure is viewed from the top view. Thus, the trench structures are below the passive structures and are not below the groups of circuits when the integrated circuit structure is viewed from the top view. |
US08492867B2 |
Semiconductor device including cell region and peripheral region having high breakdown voltage structure
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an electric field terminal part. The semiconductor substrate includes a substrate, a drift layer disposed on a surface of the substrate, and a base layer disposed on a surface of the drift layer. The semiconductor substrate is divided into a cell region in which a semiconductor element is disposed and a peripheral region that surrounds the cell region. The base region has a bottom face located on a same plane throughout the cell region and the peripheral region and provides an electric field relaxing layer located in the peripheral region. The electric field terminal part surrounds the cell region and a portion of the electric field relaxing layer and penetrates the electric field relaxing layer from a surface of the electric field relaxing layer to the drift layer. |
US08492860B2 |
Magnetic random access memory with switching assist layer
A STTMRAM element includes a magnetization layer made of a first free layer and a second free layer, separated by a non-magnetic separation layer (NMSL), with the first and second free layers each having in-plane magnetizations that act on each other through anti-parallel coupling. The direction of the magnetization of the first and second free layers each is in-plane prior to the application of electrical current to the STTMRAM element and thereafter, the direction of magnetization of the second free layer becomes substantially titled out-of-plane and the direction of magnetization of the first free layer switches. Upon electrical current being discontinued to the STTMRAM element, the direction of magnetization of the second free layer remains in a direction that is substantially opposite to that of the first free layer. |
US08492856B2 |
Sealed electric element package
An electronic component includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface; a trans-substrate conductive plug that penetrates the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface; an electronic element provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the semiconductor; and a sealing member that seals the electronic element between the sealing member and the first surface, wherein the electronic element is electrically connected to the trans-substrate conductive plug. |
US08492855B2 |
Micromechanical capacitive pressure transducer and production method
The present invention describes a method for producing a micromechanical capacitive pressure transducer and a micromechanical component produced by this method. First, a first electrode is produced in a doped semiconductor substrate.In a further method step, a diaphragm with a second electrode is produced at the surface of the semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, it is provided to apply a first layer, which preferably is made of dielectric material, on the diaphragm and the semiconductor substrate. With the aid of this first layer, the diaphragm and the semiconductor substrate of the finished micromechanical capacitive pressure transducer are mechanically connected to one another directly or indirectly. Furthermore, a buried cavity is produced in the semiconductor substrate between the first and second electrode. In a following etching step, the diaphragm is finally dissolved out of the semiconductor substrate through openings in the first layer, the mechanical connection from the diaphragm to the semiconductor substrate being accomplished with the aid of the first layer. Due to this mechanical connection the diaphragm or the second electrode is able to be movably suspended above the first electrode. |
US08492851B2 |
Structures including an at least partially reoxidized oxide material
Oxidation methods and resulting structures including providing an oxide layer on a substrate and then reoxidizing the oxide layer by vertical ion bombardment of the oxide layer in an atmosphere containing at least one oxidant. The oxide layer may be provided over diffusion regions, such as source and drain regions, in a substrate. The oxide layer may overlie the substrate and is proximate a gate structure on the substrate. The at least one oxidant may be oxygen, water, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide, or a mixture thereof. These oxidation methods provide a low-temperature oxidation process, less oxidation of the sidewalls of conductive layers in the gate structure, and less current leakage to the substrate from the gate structure. |
US08492842B2 |
Method for forming retrograded well for MOSFET
A method of forming an electrical device is provided that includes forming at least one semiconductor device on a first semiconductor layer of the SOI substrate. A handling structure is formed contacting the at least one semiconductor device and the first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer and at least a portion of the dielectric layer of the SOI substrate are removed to provide a substantially exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer. A retrograded well may be formed by implanting dopant through the substantially exposed surface of the first semiconductor layer into a first thickness of the semiconductor layer that extends from the substantially exposed surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein a remaining thickness of the semiconductor layer is substantially free of the retrograded well dopant. The retrograded well may be laser annealed. |
US08492841B2 |
Trench-generated transistor structures, device structures, and design structures
Trench-generated transistor structures, design structures for a trench-generated transistor, and other trench-generated device structures. The source and drain of the transistor are defined by doped regions in the semiconductor material of the handle substrate of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The gate electrode may be defined from the semiconductor layer of the SOI wafer, which is separated from the handle wafer by an insulating layer. Alternatively, the gate electrode may be defined as a conventional gate stack on a shallow trench isolation region in the semiconductor layer or as a conventional gate stack in one of the BEOL interconnect levels. |
US08492839B2 |
Same-chip multicharacteristic semiconductor structures
In one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate with a top semiconductor layer overlying an insulation layer and the insulation layer overlies a bottom substrate layer; at least one first device at least partially overlying and disposed upon a first portion of the top semiconductor layer, where the first portion has a first thickness, a first width and a first depth; and at least one second device at least partially overlying and disposed upon a second portion of the top semiconductor layer, where the second portion has a second thickness, a second width and a second depth, where at least one of the following holds: the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, the first width is greater than the second width and the first depth is greater than the second depth. |
US08492837B2 |
Reduced process sensitivity of electrode-semiconductor rectifiers
Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion. |
US08492834B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device and applications thereof
An electrostatic discharge protection device comprises a substrate with a first conductivity, a gate, a drain structure and a source structure. The gate is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The drain structure with a second conductivity type comprises a first doping region with a first doping concentration disposed adjacent to the gate and extending into the substrate from the surface of the substrate, a second doping region extending into and stooped at the first doping region from the surface of the substrate and having a second doping concentration substantially greater than the first doping concentration, and a third doping region disposed in the substrate beneath the second doping region and having a third doping concentration substantially greater than the first doping concentration. The source structure with the second conductivity is disposed in the substrate and adjacent to the gate electrode. |
US08492825B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes each of memory cells including a floating electrode above a semiconductor substrate via the gate insulator, a control gate electrode above the floating gate electrode via a first inter-gate insulator, first diffusion layers as source or drain, a contact electrode portion including a bottom electrode with an opening and a top electrode on the bottom electrode, the bottom electrode being arranged on the first gate insulator having the opening, the top electrode being electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate via the first opening, and a connection diffusion layer formed in the semiconductor substrate below the first opening. |
US08492822B2 |
Method of manufacturing LC circuit and LC circuit
A method for manufacturing an LC circuit, including forming a first conductive layer pattern serving as a lower electrode of a capacitor on a first interlayer insulating layer, forming a dielectric layer pattern storing electric charges on the first conductive layer pattern, forming a second conductive layer pattern serving as an upper electrode of the capacitor on the dielectric layer pattern, forming a second interlayer insulating layer on the second conductive layer pattern, forming a contact via exposing one of the first or second conductive layer pattern in the second interlayer insulating layer, and filling the contact via with a contact plug, and forming a third conductive layer pattern on the second interlayer insulating layer having the contact plug, wherein the third conductive layer pattern is electrically connected to the contact plug, and is etched in a metal interconnection type layer and functions as an inductor. |
US08492821B2 |
Enhanced capacitance trench capacitor
An integrated circuit including a trench capacitor has a semiconductor region in which a material composition varies in a quantity of at least one component therein such that the quantity alternates with depth a plurality of times between at least two different values. For example, a concentration of a dopant or a weight percentage of a second semiconductor material, such as germanium, in a semiconductor alloy can alternate between with depth a plurality of times between higher and lower values. The trench capacitor has an undulating capacitor dielectric layer, wherein the undulations of the capacitor dielectric layer are at least partly determined by the undulating interior surface of the trench. Such trench capacitor can provide enhanced capacitance, and can be incorporated in a memory cell such as a dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) cell, for example. |
US08492816B2 |
Deep trench decoupling capacitor
Solutions for forming a silicided deep trench decoupling capacitor are disclosed. In one aspect, a semiconductor structure includes a trench capacitor within a silicon substrate, the trench capacitor including: an outer trench extending into the silicon substrate; a dielectric liner layer in contact with the outer trench; a doped polysilicon layer over the dielectric liner layer, the doped polysilicon layer forming an inner trench within the outer trench; and a silicide layer over a portion of the doped polysilicon layer, the silicide layer separating at least a portion of the contact from at least a portion of the doped polysilicon layer; and a contact having a lower surface abutting the trench capacitor, a portion of the lower surface not abutting the silicide layer. |
US08492808B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In MRAM, a write wiring clad in a ferromagnetic film has been used to reduce a write current or avoid disturbances. Besides, a CuAl wiring obtained by adding a trace of Al to a Cu wiring has been used widely to secure reliability of a high reliability product. There is a high possibility of MRAM being mounted in high reliability products so that reliability is important. Clad wiring however increases the resistance of the CuAl wiring, which is originally high, so that using both may fail to satisfy the specification of the wiring resistance. In the semiconductor device of the invention having plural copper-embedded wiring layers, copper wiring films of plural copper-embedded clad wirings configuring a memory cell matrix region of MRAM are made of relatively pure copper, while a CuAl wiring film is used as copper wiring films of copper-embedded non-clad wirings below these wiring layers. |
US08492807B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical system tiltable lens
A tiltable micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) system lens comprises a microscopic lens located on a front surface of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a semiconductor rim surrounding the periphery of the microscopic lens. Two horizontal semiconductor beams located at different heights are provided within a top semiconductor layer. The microscopic lens may be tilted by applying an electrical bias between the lens rim and one of the two semiconductor beams, thereby altering the path of an optical beam through the microscopic lens. An array of tiltable microscopic lenses may be employed to form a composite lens having a variable focal length may be formed. A design structure for such a tiltable MEMS lens is also provided. |
US08492806B2 |
Non-linear element, display device including non-linear element, and electronic device including display device
A non-linear element, such as a diode, in which an oxide semiconductor is used and a rectification property is favorable is provided. In a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor in which the hydrogen concentration is less than or equal to 5×1019/cm3, the work function φms of a source electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, the work function φmd of a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, and electron affinity χ of the oxide semiconductor satisfy φms≦χ<φmd. By electrically connecting a gate electrode and the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, a non-linear element with a more favorable rectification property can be achieved. |
US08492798B1 |
Electrical fuse with sacrificial contact
The electrical fuse includes a cathode pad, an anode pad and a fuse link connecting the cathode pad to the anode pad. The cathode pad includes a group of multiple electrical contacts and a solitary electrical contact disposed a predetermined distance from the group and near the fuse link, i.e., between the group of multiple electrical contacts and the fuse link. The cathode and anode pads as well as the fuse link include a polysilicon layer and a silicide layer. |
US08492795B1 |
Integrated circuit having input/output cell array having single gate orientation
An integrated circuit (IC) including a core area containing active devices and at least one input/output (I/O) cell configured to transfer signals into and out of the core area. The at least one I/O cell includes a gate orientation, a pre-driver module, and at least one post-driver module. The pre-driver module and the at least one post-driver module are offset from each other by an angle between zero and ninety degrees with respect to the gate orientation. The gate orientation for every one of the at least one I/O cell is substantially the same. |
US08492794B2 |
Vertical polysilicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor
A vertical heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) includes doped polysilicon having a doping of a first conductivity type as a wide-gap-emitter with an energy bandgap of about 1.12 eV and doped single crystalline Ge having a doping of the second conductivity type as the base having the energy bandgap of about 0.66 eV. Doped single crystalline Ge having of doping of the first conductivity type is employed as the collector. Because the base and the collector include the same semiconductor material, i.e., Ge, having the same lattice constant, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the collector and the base. Further, because the emitter is polycrystalline and the base is single crystalline, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the base and the emitter. |
US08492792B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device 10 includes forming a plurality of second conductive second semiconductor regions at specific intervals on one main surface of a first conductive first semiconductor region, the plurality of second conductive second semiconductor regions being opposite to the first conductive first semiconductor region, forming a plurality of the first conductive third semiconductor regions on a main surface of the second semiconductor region, the plurality of the first conductive third regions being separated from each other, forming a plurality of holes at specific intervals on an another main surface which faces the one main surface of the first semiconductor region, the plurality of holes being separated from each other, forming a pair of adjacent second conductive fourth semiconductor regions which are alternately connected at a bottom part of the hole within the first semiconductor region, and burying an electrode within the hole. |
US08492789B2 |
Light emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
A light-emitting diode comprises a light-emitting diode chip having a first semiconductor layer, a first electrode, an active layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer formed on the active layer and a second electrode formed on the second semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, the second semiconductor layer and the second electrode sequentially compose a stacked multilayer. A blind hole penetrates the second electrode, the second semiconductor layer, the active layer and inside the first semiconductor layer. The first electrode is disposed on the first semiconductor layer inside the blind hole. A first supporting layer and a second supporting layer are respectively disposed on the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first supporting layer and the second supporting layer are separated from each other. A method for manufacturing the light-emitting diode is also provided in the disclosure. |
US08492785B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting element and semiconductor light-emitting device
In a FC-mounted semiconductor light-emitting element, rise of a forward voltage is suppressed and light emission output is increased. A semiconductor light-emitting element includes: a laminated semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor layer having a first conduction type, a light-emitting layer and a second semiconductor layer having a second conduction type opposite to the first conduction type; a first electrode connected to the first semiconductor layer; and a second electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer, the second electrode including: a transparent conductive layer having thick portions and transparent to light from the light-emitting layer; an insulation layer laminated on the transparent conductive layer with a lower refractive index than the transparent conductive layer; a conductive metal reflecting layer laminated on the insulation layer; and a conductor portion provided through the insulation layer, which is electrically connected to one of the thick portions and the metal reflecting layer. |
US08492776B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device, illumination module, illumination apparatus, method for manufacturing semiconductor light emitting device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor light emitting element
A semiconductor light emitting device (10) is provided with a base substrate (12) and three LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) disposed on the base substrate (12). Each LED chip (14A, 14B, and 14C) includes a semiconductor multilayer structure (20) and has a rhombus shape with interior angles of approximately 60° and approximately 120° in plan view. Each semiconductor multilayer structure (20) has an HCP single crystal structure and includes a light emission layer (24). The LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) are arranged on the base substrate (12) so as to face one another at a vertex forming the larger interior angle in plan view. With this arrangement, the LED chips (14A, 14B, and 14C) as a whole form a substantially regular hexagonal shape. |
US08492769B2 |
Transistor including multi-layer reentrant profile
A transistor includes a substrate. A first electrically conductive material layer is positioned on the substrate. A second electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the first electrically conductive material layer. A third electrically conductive material layer is in contact with and positioned on the second electrically conductive material layer. The third electrically conductive material layer overhangs the second electrically conductive material layer. |
US08492764B2 |
Light-emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
A light-emitting device in which plural kinds of circuits are formed over one substrate and plural kinds of thin film transistors in accordance with characteristics of the plural kinds of circuits are included. An inverted-coplanar thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer which overlaps a source and drain electrode layers is used as a thin film transistor for a pixel, a channel-stop thin film transistor is used as a thin film transistor for a driver circuit, and a color filter layer is provided between the thin film transistor for a pixel and a light-emitting element so as to overlap the light-emitting element which is electrically connected to the thin film transistor for a pixel. |
US08492763B2 |
Semiconductor device including an edge seal and plural pad pieces
According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate, an edge seal, a plurality of pad pieces, and an insulating film pattern. The semiconductor substrate includes a chip area formed at an inward side of the semiconductor substrate when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The edge seal is disposed around the chip area on the surface to protect the chip area. The plurality of pad pieces are disposed on an edge region on the surface. The insulating film pattern covers edge portions of the plurality of pad pieces at a side of the edge seal, at least at one side of the chip area on the surface in a first direction and at least at one side of the chip area on the surface in a second direction. |
US08492756B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer and has high electric characteristics. An oxide semiconductor layer including SiOx is used in a channel formation region, and in order to reduce contact resistance with source and drain electrode layers formed using a metal material with low electric resistance, source and drain regions are provided between the source and drain electrode layers and the oxide semiconductor layer including SiOx. The source and drain regions are formed using an oxide semiconductor layer which does not include SiOx or an oxynitride film. |
US08492754B2 |
Organic light-emitting display panel, display device, and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display panel
An organic light-emitting display panel is provided that improves luminous efficiency and luminescent color by adjusting the difference in film thickness between layers of different luminescent colors, such as intermediate layers, when the intermediate layer and light-emitting layers are formed by a wet method. By varying the film thickness of an interlayer insulation film, which is a lower layer of an organic light-emitting element, the volume of a contact hole is varied by color, thereby adjusting the volume of a concavity in each anode plate. When ink that includes material for the intermediate layer, or like, is sprayed by an inkjet method, the film thickness of the intermediate layer, or like, changes in accordance with the amount of ink filing the concavity. Therefore, by adjusting the difference in volume between concavities of different colors, the difference in film thickness between the intermediate layers, or like, is finely adjusted. |
US08492753B2 |
Directionally recrystallized graphene growth substrates
Implementations and techniques for producing substrates suitable for growing graphene monolayers are generally disclosed. |
US08492750B2 |
Organic semiconductor composition, organic thin film and organic thin film element provided with organic thin film
An object of the present invention is to provide an organic semiconductor composition capable of forming an organic film having high carrier transportability. A preferable organic semiconductor composition contains a lower molecular weight compound and a higher molecular weight compound having carrier transportability, and the solubility parameter of the higher molecular weight compound and the solubility parameter of the lower molecular weight compound differ by 0.6 to 1.5. |
US08492748B2 |
Collapsable gate for deposited nanostructures
A disposable material layer is first deposited on a graphene layer or a carbon nanotube (CNT). The disposable material layer includes a material that is less inert than graphene or CNT so that a contiguous dielectric material layer can be deposited at a target dielectric thickness without pinholes therein. A gate stack is formed by patterning the contiguous dielectric material layer and a gate conductor layer deposited thereupon. The disposable material layer shields and protects the graphene layer or the CNT during formation of the gate stack. The disposable material layer is then removed by a selective etch, releasing a free-standing gate structure. The free-standing gate structure is collapsed onto the graphene layer or the CNT below at the end of the selective etch so that the bottom surface of the contiguous dielectric material layer contacts an upper surface of the graphene layer or the CNT. |
US08492741B2 |
Resistive random access memory device and memory array including the same
A resistive random access memory (RRAM) includes a resistive memory layer of a transition metal oxide, such as Ni oxide, and is doped with a metal material. The RRAM may include at least one first electrode, a resistive memory layer on the at least one first electrode, the resistive memory layer including a Ni oxide layer doped with at least one element selected from a group consisting of Fe, Co, and Sn, and at least one second electrode on the resistive memory layer. The RRAM device may include a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, and the resistive memory layer may be between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes. |
US08492737B2 |
Tunable infrared emitter
Provided are methods of tuning the emission wavelength from a tunable infrared plasmonic emitting structure, which structure comprises: (a) a perforated or patterned first conductive layer having a plurality of relief features provided in a periodic spatial configuration, wherein the relief features are separated from each other by adjacent recessed features, wherein the distance between features is between 1-15 μm; (b) a dielectric layer underlying the first conductive layer; (c) a second conductive layer underlying the dielectric film; and (d) a substrate underlying the second conductive layer; wherein the emission wavelength is tuned by applying a force in a biaxial direction parallel to the substrate, changing the distance between relief features, or changing the resistivity and dielectric constant of the dielectric layer. |
US08492736B2 |
Ozone plenum as UV shutter or tunable UV filter for cleaning semiconductor substrates
A quartz window with an interior plenum is operable as a shutter or UV filter in a degas chamber by supplying the plenum with an ozone-containing gas. Pressure in the plenum can be adjusted to block UV light transmission into the degas chamber or adjust transmittance of UV light through the window. When the plenum is evacuated, the plenum allows maximum transmission of UV light into the degas chamber. |
US08492735B2 |
Method for optimization radiotherapy particle beams
Radiation doses are optimized by providing a model of the set of beams and a target dose in normalized forms. A Gram matrix is determined from the model. The target dose is subsampled to determine initial intensity values for the set of beams. Then, the following steps are iterated until convergence. A very small positive value, 0<ε<<1, is added to each intensity value to ensure the intensity value is greater than zero. Each intensity value is multiplied by the Gram matrix to determine a product, which is divided element-wise into the normalized target dose to determine corresponding ratios. If the ratios are all close to 1, within a numerical error tolerance, the intensity values of the set of beam are output. Otherwise, the intensity values are multiplied by the ratios before a next iteration. |
US08492733B1 |
Multi-sectional linear ionizing bar and ionization cell
A multi-sectional linear ionizing bar with at least four elements is disclosed. First, disclosed bars may include at least one ionization cell with at least one axis-defining linear ion emitter for establishing an ion cloud along the length thereof. Second, disclosed bars may include at least one reference electrode. Third, disclosed bars may include a manifold for receiving gas or air from a source and for delivering same past the linear emitter(s) such that substantially none of the gas/air flows into the ion cloud. Fourth, disclosed bars may include means for receiving the ionizing voltage and for delivering same to the linear emitter(s) to thereby establish the ion cloud. In this way, disclosed ionizing bars may transportions from the plasma region toward a charge neutralization target without inducing substantial vibration of the linear emitter and without substantial contaminants from the gas/air flow reaching the linear emitter. |
US08492729B2 |
Ultraviolet ray detection apparatus using nanocrystal quantum dot
An ultraviolet rays detection apparatus according to the present invention includes a color converting unit including nanocrystal quantum dots and having a color that is changed by irradiation of ultraviolet rays, and a non-color-converting unit disposed closer to the color converting unit and having a color that is not changed by the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays, thereby easily detecting the ultraviolet rays. |
US08492728B2 |
Photodiode and other sensor structures in flat-panel X-ray imagers and method for improving topological uniformity of the photodiode and other sensor structures in flat-panel X-ray imagers based on thin-film electronics
A radiation sensor including a scintillation layer configured to emit photons upon interaction with ionizing radiation and a photodetector including in order a first electrode, a photosensitive layer, and a photon-transmissive second electrode disposed in proximity to the scintillation layer. The photosensitive layer is configured to generate electron-hole pairs upon interaction with a part of the photons. The radiation sensor includes pixel circuitry electrically connected to the first electrode and configured to measure an imaging signal indicative of the electron-hole pairs generated in the photosensitive layer and a planarization layer disposed on the pixel circuitry between the first electrode and the pixel circuitry such that the first electrode is above a plane including the pixel circuitry. A surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode at least partially overlaps the pixel circuitry and has a surface inflection above features of the pixel circuitry. The surface inflection has a radius of curvature greater than one half micron. |
US08492717B2 |
Portable radiographic image capture device
A portable radiographic image capture device including a radiation detector for capturing a radiographic image representing irradiated radiation and outputting an electrical signal representing the captured radiographic image; a control board that controls the image capture operation of the radiation detector; and a casing formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, housing the radiation detector and the control board such that they are superimposed on each other. The casing has a flat image capture region for capturing a radiographic image with the radiation detector, is sloped such that the thickness at an end section at least one edge of the casing gradually decreases, and is capable of disposing at least a portion of at least one of the radiation detector and/or the control board inside the angled sloping region of the casing. |
US08492716B2 |
Vacuumed device and a scanning electron microscope
A vacuumed device that includes: a sealed housing, an electron beam source, an electron optic component, a thin membrane, and a detector. The thin membrane seals an aperture of the sealed housing. The sealed housing defines a vacuumed space in which vacuum is maintained. The electron beam source is configured to generate an electron beam that propagates within the vacuumed space, interacts with the electron optic component and passes through the thin membrane. A first portion of the sealed housing is shaped to fit a space defined by non-vacuumed scanning electron microscope components that are maintained in a non-vacuum environment. |
US08492713B2 |
Multipole assembly and method for its fabrication
A multipole rod assembly, such as used as mass analyzer, is fabricated using rods adhesively attached to shoes, which are then attached to isolation rings. A fixture is used in conjunction with precision-made spacers to precisely assemble the ion mass analyzer. The rods and shoes can be made of metal, while the isolation rings are preferably made of insulator, such as ceramic. The shoes and isolation rings need not be made to high precision, as the spacer ensures high accuracy in alignment and symmetry of the rods. Consequently, the rods are the only precision machined parts in the ion mass analyzer assembly. |
US08492711B2 |
Multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer creates, an accurate mass spectrum of a wide mass range, with the smallest number of measurements. Deflecting electrodes are provided on an ejection path through which ions deviating from a loop orbit fly to a detector having two-dimensional array elements. A varying voltage applied to the deflecting electrodes creates an electric field. When two ions having different mass-to-charge ratios simultaneously arrive at the detector, these ions are affected with differing strengths since they pass through the deflecting electric field at different times. This results in arrival for the ions on a detection surface. The time an ion passing through the deflecting electric field can be calculated from the displacement of the arrival position of that ion. Then the flight speed of the ion is obtained and its number of turns is roughly deduced to arrive at its mass-to-charge ratio. |
US08492707B2 |
Method of detecting pneumocandin compounds
The present invention concerns a method of detecting the antifungal cyclic hexapeptides Pneumocandin B0 and/or Pneumocandin C0 specific fragment is/are detected using MS in negative mode. |
US08492699B2 |
Photodetectors useful as ambient light sensors having an optical filter rejecting a portion of infrared light
A photodetector includes one or more first photodiode regions that are covered by an optical filter configured to reject infrared (IR) light and that produce a first current (I1). The photodetector also includes one or more second photodiode regions that are covered by a light blocking material configured to reject visible and infrared light and that produce a second current (I2). The photodetector also includes one or more third photodiode regions that are not covered by the optical filter and are not covered by the light blocking material and that produce a third current (I3). Additionally, the photodetector includes circuitry configured to produce an output indicative of the first current (I1) or a scaled version of the first current (I1), minus the second current (I2) or a scaled version of the second current (I2), minus the third current (I3) or a scaled version of the third current (I3). The optical filter configured to reject IR light can be, e.g., a dielectric reflective optical coating filter, an IR absorption optical coating filter, or a combination thereof. |
US08492691B1 |
Portable container for steaming food in the microwave
A portable and microwave safe container for steaming food. The container includes a lid, having an upper and lower portion, for coupling over a substantially circular food chamber. The upper and lower lid portions are connected together for holding water and creating steam therebetween when microwaved. The lower lid portion includes a middle portion and an outwardly extending sloped channel for holding water therein. The middle portion includes a plurality of steam holes for allowing steam to escape after the water is heated and move into the food chamber for heating the food contained therein. The food chamber has a lip for allowing the lower lid portion to securely rest thereon and cover the food chamber. A pivoting handle is affixed to the lid for locking the lid to the food chamber. |
US08492690B1 |
Microwave susceptor system
A microwave susceptor system for cooking food in a microwave. The microwave susceptor system generally includes a platform having a support layer and a susceptor layer, sidewalls foldably connected to a first and second side of the platform and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom, and end walls foldably connected to a third and fourth side of the platform and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom. Each of the sidewalls and end walls have a support layer and a susceptor layer. Extending from each sidewall opposite the platform is a support leg. The support leg is foldably connected to the sidewall and extends downwardly from the sidewall below the platform to elevate the platform above the microwave cooking surface. The support legs are retained in position by outwardly extending flaps that connect to an adjacent end wall via a slot within the end wall. |
US08492689B2 |
Microwaveable package having a steam source
A pre-packaged microwavable food having a steam emitting source integral to the package permitting preparation of the food product in a broad range of microwave ovens. A food product is placed into a package. A steam emitting source is placed in porous communication with the food product inside the package. When the package is heated, steam blankets the food product. Steam has a positive effect on cooking performance and cooking time. The steam emitting source can be made from an absorbent material or a gel. The food product can be a half-product, pellet, or other microwavable food or snack product. |
US08492681B2 |
Oven control system with operating stage indication
A cooking appliance includes a cabinet defining an oven cavity, a door attached to the cabinet for selectively exposing and sealing the oven cavity, a cooking element mounted to the cabinet for heating the oven cavity, a control system for controlling the cooking appliance and a display. The display is adapted to show a first series of images corresponding to a first operating stage and a second series of images corresponding to a second operating stage, wherein the first series of images is distinct from the second series of images such that a user may readily identify a current operating stage of the cooking appliance, even from a distance, based on the series of images being displayed. |
US08492678B2 |
Method and apparatus for short-circuit welding utilizing cycle history
A method and apparatus for short circuit welding includes providing welding power suitable for short circuit welding, sensing the stick out length, and adjusting the welding speed, such as wire feed speed or travel speed, adjusting a welding parameter, or adjusting the gas mixture in response thereto. Stick out is preferably determined by measuring a welding parameter, and performing an FFT on the parameter, and then calculating stick out, in one embodiment. Stick out can be either CTTWD or CPTPD. The system can determine when a short is about to clear by calculating a value Vc defined by Vc=d/dt(k1*dp/dt), and comparing Vc to a Vthreshold, which varies in response to welding cycle history. |
US08492677B2 |
Process for laser cutting a metal plate
The present invention provides a process for laser cutting a metal plate that comprises a) providing at least a laser cutting device, b) providing a metal plate to be cut from a metal coil, c) providing at least a holding apparatus holding and maintaining the metal plate, d) cutting said metal plate by means of at least a laser beam delivered by said at least one laser cutting device In this process, during step d), the metal plate is first cut by a first line comprising at least a first cutting machine, into at least one peripheral blank, and at least one peripheral blank is subsequently fed to at least a second line comprising at least a second cutting machine, to be cut into several smaller individual final blanks. With regard to this process, the first line produces peripheral blanks faster than at least one second cutting machine of the second line can cut them into several smaller individual final blanks. During laser cutting in the second line, said peripheral blank is held and maintained in position by said at least one holding apparatus. |
US08492663B2 |
Electronic part housing box
In an electronic part housing box 1 which includes a capacitor 2 having lead wires 2b protruded from the capacitor main body 2a, a base member 10 having a part housing chamber 11 for housing the capacitor main body 2a, a part housing cover 20 attached to the base member 10 to thereby cover the opening of the part housing chamber 11, and a bracket 40 attached to the base member 10 to thereby fix the lead wires 2b, the base member 10 is integrally provided with a first spring portion 14 for biasing the capacitor main body 2a toward the opening side of the part housing chamber 11 and the part housing cover 20 is integrally provided with a second spring portion 21 for biasing the capacitor main body 2a toward the bottom surface side of the part housing chamber 11. |
US08492662B2 |
Arc-resistant dry type transformer enclosure having arc fault damper apparatus
Arc resistant enclosures for dry-type transformers. More particularly, transformer enclosures having one or more arc-resistant features, including arc channels, arc fault dampers, and arc fault plenums, and methods for providing same. |
US08492660B2 |
ADA compliant RF shielded door systems and related methods
Radio-frequency (RF) leakage from shielded enclosures is minimized while ensuring applicable RF attenuation standards and access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by attaching an inflatable bladder to a door of an enclosure. Substantially surrounding the bladder is an electrically conductive material. When the bladder is inflated it makes contact with conductive material which in turn makes conductive contact with the door frame to create an RF seal. The use of the bladder and conductive material provides an improved RF seal and allows for the use of a low-profile threshold that permits ADA access to, and from, the enclosure. |
US08492659B2 |
Printed wiring board and manufacturing method therefor
The present invention provides a printed wiring board which can prevent a plating failure in a connection hole such as a via to be formed in the printed wiring board, thereby can enhance the connection reliability and a manufacturing method therefor. The printed wiring board 100 includes a thermosetting resin sheet 16 (insulation layer) having a via hole 20 (through hole) constituted by inner wall parts having different taper angles from each other, a copper foil 17 (conductor layer) provided on the thermosetting resin sheet 16, and a wiring pattern 13 (wiring layer) which is provided so as to be exposed from the via hole 20 and is electrically connected with the copper foil 17 through the via hole 20. |
US08492658B2 |
Laminate capacitor stack inside a printed circuit board for electromagnetic compatibility capacitance
An apparatus comprises a multi-layer printed circuit board having at least three conductor layers, a dielectric material layer between each of the conductor layers, and a laminate capacitor stack arranged transversely through the printed circuit board. The laminate capacitor stack comprises: (a) a plurality of conducting patches including a patch in a plurality of the conductor layers, wherein the plurality of patches are aligned in a stack with the dielectric material filling the space between adjacent patches; (b) a first conducting via interconnecting each patch in a first subset of the plurality of patches, wherein the first subset of the plurality of patches are coupled to one of the conductor layers that is at ground potential; and (c) a second conducting via interconnecting each patch in a second subset of the plurality of patches, wherein the second subset of the plurality of patches are coupled to one of the conductor layers that is at power potential, wherein the patches in the first subset are disposed in an alternating pattern with the patches in the second subset. |
US08492656B2 |
High voltage bushing
A high voltage bushing assembly includes an insulator shell adapted to enclose an electrical conductor. An annular flange is slidably received over the insulator shell, the annular sleeve formed with a radially outwardly directed flange at an upper end and a radially inwardly directed flange at a lower end, with a sleeve portion extending axially therebetween. The insulator shell has an outside diameter and the sleeve portion has an inside diameter sized to create an annular, radial gap therebetween filled with a high thermal endurance fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin. |
US08492654B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector for connecting the conductors of two cables together includes a longitudinally extending triangular-shaped inner body and three A-shaped outer body members with one of the body members' integral with an outer end of each of the radially extending walls. The connector also includes an outer tubular housing extending around the triangular inner body member and A-shaped outer members. In addition, the connector includes three pair of clamps at each end for fixing and positioning the conductors in place and in contact with two longitudinally extending conductors. |
US08492653B2 |
Connector for establishing an electrical connection with conductive tape
Provided is a connector (200; 700) for establishing an electrical connection with a conductive tape (100). The conductive tape comprises at least a first conducting layer (104) and an insulating layer (102). The connector comprises a first conductive region (204; 710) and a first connection region (712). The first connection region (712) is adapted to establish an electrical connection between the first conducting layer (104) of the conducting tape and the first conductive region (204; 110) when a perturbation is applied. The perturbation may be the application of pressure or temperature to the connector. |
US08492650B2 |
Partitioned electrical junction box
A partitioned electrical junction box includes at least three partitioned junction box main bodies slidingly joined together to form a main cover, a lower cover and upper cover fitted into the main cover. The lower cover is fitted into a recess groove of the main cover, and the upper cover is fitted into an outside of the main cover. The three partitioned junction box main bodies respectively receive different functional components. First fitting parts are adjacently provided on any two of the partitioned junction box main bodies, and a first bracket is slidingly fitted into the first fitting parts simultaneously to join the two partitioned junction box main bodies. |
US08492649B2 |
Tension balancer for overhead wire and tension balancer installation auxiliary device for overhead wire
A tension balancer installation auxiliary device is provided including a fixing pipe which includes two open ends, a slit and a pair of first apertures, and a yoke, wherein one end of the fixing pipe is arranged to contact with a casing of the tension balancer, and the yoke is attached by passing through a pair of first through holes of a pair of shackle shaped connecting parts of the tension balancer and the pair of first apertures. |
US08492639B2 |
Audio processing apparatus and method
Phase setting section sets virtual phases in a frequency series of an audio signal. Unit wave extraction section extracts, from the frequency series, a unit wave of one cyclic period defined by the set virtual phases, for each of a plurality of time points. First generation section generates velocity information corresponding to a degree of compression/expansion, to a predetermined length, of the unit wave. Second generation section generates shape information indicative of a shape of a frequency spectrum of the unit wave having been adjusted. Variation component impartment section generates a variation component by use of the velocity information and shape information generated for the individual time points. |
US08492637B2 |
Information processing apparatus, musical composition section extracting method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes: a musical composition section extracting unit which extracts musical composition sections with tempos which are close to a preset reference tempo based on tempo information indicating a tempo of each section constituting musical compositions; a harmonization level calculating unit which calculates a harmonization degree for a pair of musical composition sections extracted by the musical composition section extracting unit, based on chord progression information indicating chord progression of each section constituting musical compositions; and a harmonization section extracting unit which extracts a pair of sections with a high harmonization degree for the musical compositions calculated by the harmonization level calculating unit from among sections extracted by the musical composition section extracting unit, wherein the harmonization level calculating unit weights the harmonization degree for the musical compositions such that a large value is set to the harmonization degree between musical compositions with a predetermined relationship. |
US08492636B2 |
Chord detection apparatus, chord detection method, and program therefor
A chord detection apparatus capable of detecting a wide variety of chords musically related to realtime performance. Degree name candidates each having a function that can come next are extracted in a first extraction process, degree name candidates corresponding to an interrupted cadence are extracted in a second extraction process, and degree name candidates corresponding to a non-functional chord progression technique are extracted in a third extraction process. The degree name candidates extracted in these extraction processes are developed into chord names according to a current tonality, and one of chords represented by the chord names is selected according to performance data and output to an automatic accompaniment apparatus for sound production. |
US08492635B2 |
Music sound generation apparatus, music sound generation system, and music sound generation method
A music sound generation apparatus generates music-sound data based on sound source data, and outputs the music-sound data in synchronization with audio data obtained separately from the music-sound data. A channel assigner assigns a predetermined number of channels to the audio data and the music-sound data. A read control unit reads the audio data and the music-sound data in accordance with their assigned channels. A signal processing unit generates predetermined music by controlling the sound level of the read audio data and the read music-sound data on each assigned channel and mixing the audio data and the music-sound data. When detecting no unoccupied channel, the channel assigner determines, as an unoccupied channel, a channel selected from channels excluding the channel to which the audio data has been assigned. The signal processing unit performs sound elimination on the unoccupied channel. |
US08492634B2 |
System and method for generating a musical compilation track from multiple takes
An apparatus for creating a musical composition comprising an audio interface, and audio converter module, and a multi-track compositor module is disclosed. The audio interface operably receives audio from an audio input device and outputting audio to an audio output device. The audio converter module is operably connected to the audio interface to convert audio received via the audio interface into an audio track having one or more partitions. The multi-track compositor module is configured to receive a first audio track and a second audio track and automatically score each partition of the first and second audio tracks based on one or more criteria. The multi-track compositor module is then configured to construct a third audio track from the partitions of the first and second audio tracks based on the scores for each partition. A method is also provided. |
US08492632B1 |
Tuned bell harmonic musical instrument
Disclosed is a tuned harmonic bell musical instrument. The harmonic bell consists of a thin walled circular base, and a contiguous dome. The base is open at the bottom. The dome has a plurality of tongues cut into the surface thereof, thereby enabling notes with bell like harmonics to be generated when the tongues are struck with a mallet or other device. |
US08492631B1 |
Stringed instrument plectrum
A stringed instrument plectrum that includes a second edge disposed perpendicularly with respect to a first edge, a rounded top portion disposed endwise opposite the first edge, a protruding pick portion disposed over a third edge, and a plurality of indentations disposed along the third edge, whereby said stringed instrument plectrum is more easily grasped within the hand of a musician, while yet enabling dexterous manipulation of a striking edge disposed upon a tip of the protruding pick portion, for rendering melody upon the relevant strings of a stringed instrument to which the present stringed instrument plectrum is applied when making music. |
US08492628B2 |
Violin shoulder cradle
A violin shoulder cradle is provided which provides for compact storage and for adjustment of the position of the violin to which the cradle is clamped relative to the shoulder of the wearer. The shoulder cradle hereof includes a base including a pair of clamping legs which are pivotally mounted to the base for movement between a retracted storage position and an extended violin-clamping position. It further includes a connection between the base which may include an array of studs and a corresponding grid pattern or matrix of tubes in a receiver, and/or at least one magnet which magnetically holds the foundation to the base. |
US08492626B2 |
Wheat variety W000850B1
A wheat variety designated W000850B1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W000850B1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W000850B1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W000850B1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W000850B1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W000850B1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
US08492625B2 |
Wheat variety 25R40
A wheat variety designated 25R40, the plants and seeds of wheat variety 25R40, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety 25R40 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 25R40 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 25R40. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety 25R40 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
US08492624B1 |
Maize variety PHETG
A novel maize variety designated PHETG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHETG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHETG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHETG or a trait conversion of PHETG with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHETG, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHETG and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
US08492623B1 |
Hybrid corn variety 570076
The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 570076. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 570076, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 570076 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 570076. |
US08492621B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH12JY
A novel maize variety designated PH12JY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12JY with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12JY through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12JY or a locus conversion of PH12JY with another maize variety. |
US08492620B1 |
Variety corn line NPAA3676
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated NPAA3676, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPAA3676 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line NPAA3676, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line NPAA3676, and plants produced according to these methods. |
US08492617B2 |
Soybean variety A1015881
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015881. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015881. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015881 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015881 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
US08492616B2 |
Broccoli hybrid PS05151639
The invention provides seed and plants of broccoli hybrid PS05151639 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of broccoli hybrid PS05151639 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a broccoli plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another broccoli 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. |
US08492612B2 |
Sugar and lipid metabolism regulators in plants III
Isolated nucleic acids and proteins associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana are provided. The nucleic acids and proteins are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins. |
US08492611B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X13B633
A novel maize variety designated X13B633 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 X13B633 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13B633 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13B633, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13B633. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13B633. |
US08492603B2 |
Selectivated isoolefin dimerization using metalized resins
A process for the dimerization of isoolefins, including: contacting an isoolefin with a solid catalyst composition passivated with at least one of an ether, an alcohol, and water; wherein the solid catalyst composition comprises at least one of a solid phosphoric acid catalyst and a resin of a macroporous matrix of polyvinyl aromatic compound crosslinked with a divinyl compound and having thereon from about 3 to 5 milli equivalents of sulfonic acid groups per gram of dry resin; and wherein at least 50% to less than 100% of acid groups in the solid catalyst composition are neutralized with a metal of Al, Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, or mixtures thereof. The catalyst may be metalized prior to placement in a reactor or may be metalized in situ. |
US08492602B2 |
Catalyst composition and its use thereof in aromatics alkylation
This disclosure relates to a process for alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated aromatic product, said process comprising contacting said aromatic hydrocarbon and said alkylating agent with a catalyst composition under alkylation conditions effective to alkylate said aromatic hydrocarbon with said alkylating agent to form an effluent comprising said alkylated aromatic product, wherein said catalyst composition comprising (a) MCM-22 family material; and (b) a binder comprising at least 1 wt. % of a titanium compound based on the weight of said catalyst composition, wherein said titanium compound was anatase and rutile phases. |
US08492597B2 |
Production of propylene glycol from glycerine
The present invention describes a process for the production of propylene glycol from glycerol, the transformation of purified glycerol to propylene glycol being carried out by means of a reaction of hydrogenolysis, in the liquid phase, where the two stages of the reaction take place simultaneously and in one and the same reactor (1) under specified conditions of temperature and pressure, and the effluent from the fixed-bed reactor (1) is led to subsequent process stages that comprise separation and purification. |
US08492594B2 |
Multireaction bifunctional polymeric catalyst
A polymeric catalyst, and methods of using the catalyst, comprising at least one of a monosulfonated ion exchange resin, monosulfonated gel, and macroreticular resin having a particle size of less than 560 μm and metal impregnated within the resin, where the metal is palladium, platinum, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, copper, gold, and/or silver. |
US08492593B2 |
Amido-fluorophosphite compounds and catalysts
Amido-fluorophosphite compounds and catalyst systems comprising at least one amido-fluorophosphite ligand compound in combination with a transition metal are described. Moreover, the use of amido-fluorophosphite containing catalysts for transition metal catalyzed processes, especially to the hydroformylation of various olefins to produce aldehydes are also described. |
US08492592B2 |
Low metal loaded, catalyst compositions including acidic mixed metal oxide as support
The invention provides a method of transaminating a reactant with a catalyst composition comprising support and catalyst portions. The support includes an acidic mixed metal oxide including a transitional alumina and a second metal oxide. The transitional alumina can comprise delta or theta alumina, in combination with other transitional phases, or an alpha or gamma alumina. The second metal oxide has a weight percentage less than the weight percentage of alumina. The catalyst portion is 25 weight percent or less of the catalyst composition and is composed of nickel and rhenium. The catalyst portion includes nickel in an amount in the range of 2 to 20 weight percent, based upon total catalyst composition weight, and there is no boron in the catalyst portion. The method provides high activity and selectivity for reactant transamination to a desired product while minimizing the formation of unwanted cyclic products. |
US08492591B2 |
Highly selective 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists that show anti-psychotic effects with antagonist activity at the 5-HT(2B) receptor
Highly selective 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists receptors are disclosed. The 5-HT(2C) receptor agonists are used in the treatments of disease and conditions wherein modulation of 5-HT(2C) receptors provides a benefit, such as obesity and psychiatric disorders. |
US08492588B2 |
Benzyloxy anilide derivatives useful as potassium channel modulators
The present invention relates to benzyloxyanilide derivatives having the following structural formula: The compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders which are affected by activation or modulation of potassium ion channels. One such condition is seizure disorders. |
US08492587B2 |
Reactor and process for preparing phosgene
A reactor (1) for preparing phosgene by gas-phase reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine in the presence of a solid-state catalyst, which is provided in the catalyst tubes (2) of a bundle of catalyst tubes (2) which are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the reactor (1) and are welded at each of their two ends into a tube plate (3), with introduction of the starting materials at the upper end of the catalyst tubes (2) and discharge of the gaseous reaction mixture at the lower end of the catalyst tubes (2), in each case via a cap, and also with introduction and discharge facilities for a liquid heat transfer medium (6) in the intermediate space (4) between the catalyst tubes (2) , where the flow of the heat transfer medium (6) in the space (4) between the catalyst tubes (2) is guided by deflection plates (5), which leave alternating openings (7) free on opposite sides at the interior wall of the reactor, in which openings the deflection plates (5) have cutouts having the shape of a segment of a circle, and the reactor (1) has no tubes in the region of the openings (7), wherein the heat transfer coefficients at the interface between the catalyst tubes (2) and the heat transfer medium (6) are equalized over each reactor cross section by the flow paths of the heat transfer medium (6) in each reactor cross section, in each case measured from the first to last catalyst tube (2) in the flow direction of the heat transfer medium (6), being matched to one another by means of an altered arrangement of the catalyst tubes (2), is proposed. |
US08492581B2 |
Sulfonation of polyhydroxyaromatics
The present invention provides improved process for the sulfonation of hydroxyaromatics amenable to direct isolation of the sulfonylated hydroxyaromatics in their free-acid forms. The process allows for the recyclization of sulfuric acid and minimizes waste. The starting materials are from a renewal resource, e.g., biomass, and contain detectable 14C up to a 14C content of 0.0000000001% (one part per trillion). The products made include sulfonated catechol, disulfonated pyrogallol and sulfonated protocatechuic acid. |
US08492580B2 |
Process for preparing isocyanates
The invention relates to an improved multistage process for the continuous preparation of diisocyanates by reaction of the corresponding diamines with carbonic acid derivatives and alcohols to form low molecular weight monomeric urethanes and thermal dissociation of the latter. |
US08492578B2 |
Compounds useful in therapeutic and cosmetic methods
The present invention relates to photosensitizer compounds for use in cosmetic and therapeutic applications of photodynamic therapy. The compounds of the present invention are designed for topical application and are characterized by a low permeability to the stratum corneum (the outer skin layer of an individual) and/or a low allergenic potential. Surprisingly, such compounds have beneficial properties in the treatment of certain diseases and lack the undesired damages to healthy skin entailed by prior art compounds. ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid)-esters of body-owned, natural compound such as aminoacids, steroids, carbohydrates, alcohols are preferred examples of photosensitizers of the present invention. The compounds of the present invention are used in the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, sebaceous glands related conditions including acne, seborrhoic dermatitis, rosacea, skin cancer and precancer, as well as in cosmetic hair removal. |
US08492576B2 |
Hydroxyl-terminated thiocarbonate containing compounds, polymers, and copolymers, and polyurethanes and urethane acrylics made therefrom
Carboxylate terminated thiocarbonates are reacted with a polyfunctional alcohol to form a hydroxyl-terminated thiocarbonate compound. |
US08492572B2 |
Liquid fatty amine carboxylate salt composition
A composition comprising 40 to 90 wt % of at least one fatty amine carboxylate salt, water, and the carboxylic acid corresponding to said carboxylate is provided. In the composition, the weight:weight ratio of carboxylic acid:water is in the range of from 20:1 to 1:1. The inventive compositions have a pour point at a temperature of below 30° C. |
US08492567B2 |
(Poly)Aminoalkylaminoalkylamide, alkyl-urea, or alkyl-sulfonamide derivatives of epipodophyllotoxin, a process for preparing them, and application thereof in therapy as anticancer agents
The present invention relates to new derivatives of epipodophyllotoxin 4-substituted with an optionally substituted (poly)aminoalkylaminoalkylamide, or alkyl-urea or alkyl-sulfonamide chain, a process for preparing them and their use as a medicine as an anticancer agent. |
US08492564B2 |
Salvinorin derivatives and uses thereof
The invention features salvinorin compositions that are selective for kappa opioid receptors; methods of treating mania by using a selective kappa receptor agonist; and methods of treating mood disorders, such as depressive disorders and manic disorders, using salvinorin compositions. |
US08492555B2 |
Salts of isobutyric acid (1 R*, 2R*, 4R*)-2-(2-{[3-(4,7-dimethoxy-1 H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-methyl-amino}-ethyl)-5-phenyl-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-yl ester
The invention relates to crystalline salts of isobutyric acid (1R*,2R*,4R*)-2-(2-{[3-(4,7 -dimethoxy-1H-benzoimidazol-2-yl)-propyl]-methyl-amino}-ethyl)-5-phenyl-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-yl ester, processes for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing said crystalline salts, and their use as medicaments, especially as calcium channel blockers. |
US08492550B2 |
Hydroxyalkanyl amides as modulators of chemokine receptor activity
The application describes modulators of MIP-1α or CCR-1 of the formula (I) or stereoisomers or prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein ring A, T, V, R1, R2 and R5, are defined herein. In addition, methods of treating and preventing inflammatory diseases such as asthma and allergic diseases, as well as autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis and transplant rejection using modulators of formula (I) are disclosed. |
US08492548B2 |
Alkaloid aminoester derivatives and medicinal compositions thereof
The present invention relates to alkaloid aminoester compounds which act as muscarinic receptor antagonists, processes for their preparation, compositions comprising them, and therapeutic uses thereof. |
US08492547B2 |
Method for the enrichment of buprenorphine using chromatographic techniques
The present invention provides processes for the enrichment of buprenorphine in a product. In particular, the present invention provides processes for the enrichment of buprenorphine in a product using chromatographic techniques. |
US08492546B2 |
Co-crystals and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same
The invention relates to co-crystals and compositions each comprising VX-950 and a co-crystal former selected from the group consisting of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Also within the scope of this invention are methods of making and using the same. |
US08492545B2 |
Aminothiazole compounds as kinase inhibitors and methods of using the same
The present invention relates to an industrial process of preparing pharmaceutical compounds having the formula I: which are useful as certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors and more particularly as c-kit and bcr-abl inhibitors. The groups R1 and R2, identical or different, represent each a hydrogen, halogen atom, an alkyl, an alkoxy, a trifluoromethyl, an amino, an alkylamino, a dialkylamino, a solubilising group; m is 0-5 and n is 0-4; the group R3 represents an aryl or an heteroaryl group as described in claims herein. |
US08492544B2 |
Process for preparing methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-B]pyridin-3-yl]pyrimidin-5-yl}Methylcarbamate and its purification for use as pharmaceutically active compound
The present invention relates to a process for preparing methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]pyrimidin-5-yl}methylcarbamate of the formula (I) and to a process for purifying the crude product of the compound of the formula (I) for use as pharmaceutically active compound, where, for purification, methyl {4,6-diamino-2-[1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]pyrimidin-5-yl}methylcarbamate sulphinyldimethane (1:1), i.e. a compound of the formula (II), is isolated as intermediate or is generated as intermediate in this purification process, if appropriate present in a mixture. |
US08492537B2 |
Nucleosides for suppressing or reducing the development of resistance in cytostatic therapy
The invention relates to special nucleosides, for example, a nucleoside of the formula I, wherein R1-R5 are as described herein, and also to drugs which contain these nucleosides. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such nucleosides in a method for suppressing or reducing the formation of resistance in the case of cytotstatic treatment of a cancer patient. |
US08492528B2 |
IL-B30 antibodies
Purified genes encoding interleukin-B30 from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided. |
US08492524B2 |
Method for extracting a protein from milk
The invention relates to a method for extracting a protein from milk, having at least one hydrophobic pocket and a negative charge to the natural pH of milk, that comprises the following steps: a) skimming and delipidation of the milk; b) passing the delipidated and skimmed fraction containing the protein on a chromatographic substrate on which is grafted a ligand having both a hydrophobic characteristic and an ionic characteristic in pH conditions enabling the protein to be retained on the substrate, the pH being higher than 4.6; c) elution of the protein; d) purification of the eluted fraction by removing the milk proteins from the eluted fraction; and e) recovering the protein. |
US08492521B2 |
Oxidative stress responsive apoptosis inducing protein eIF5A
Provided is an agent which is useful for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various diseases induced by an oxidative stress. Disclosed are secreted eIF5A protein and a pharmaceutical containing the same. |
US08492519B2 |
Protease-stable, cell wall-lysing enzymes
The present invention relates to a modified polypeptide with a biological activity to lyse cell walls of bacteria, wherein the polypeptide has no caspase, clostripain, enterokinase, factor Xa, granzyme B, staphylococcus peptidase I (V8 Protease), plasmin, streptopain, bacillolysin and/or thrombin cleavage site. The invention further relates to nucleic acids with a sequence encoding a polypeptide according to the present invention. |
US08492518B2 |
Mucin hypersecretion inhibitors and methods of use
Peptides are provided that comprise less than 24 amino acids. The peptides have an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) an amino acid sequence having from 4 to 6 contiguous amino acids of a reference sequence PEPTIDE 1; (b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a); and (c) a variant of the amino acid sequence defined in (a). Also provided is a non-myristoylated MANS peptide. Various methods of using the peptides are also provided. |
US08492515B2 |
Antibacterial peptides active in systemic infections
Antimicrobial peptides of the formula are provided: X1—X2—PrO—X3—X4—PrO-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Leu-Pro-X5-Pro-Arg-Pro-Pro-Arg-Pro-Y, wherein X1 is a natural or non-natural amino acid having a free amino group or 1-amino-cyclohexyl carboxylic acid, X2 is Arg or N-methyl-Arg, X3 is Asp or GIu, X4 is Arg or Lys, X5 is Arg or Lys, and Y is Arg, Arg-NH2, N-methyl-Arg, N-methyl-Arg-NH2, Val-Arg, Val-Arg-NH2, Val-(N-methyl-Arg), or Val-(N-methyl)-Arg-NH2, and salts thereof. |
US08492514B2 |
PRAME derived peptides and immunogenic compositions comprising these
The invention relates to a peptide having a length of no more than 100 amino acids and comprising at least 19 contiguous amino acids from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein, wherein the peptide comprises at least one HLA class II epitope and at least one HLA class I epitope from the amino acid sequence of the human PRAME protein and to its use as such or in a composition as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer. |
US08492513B2 |
Method for enhancing water content of silicone hydrogel contact lens
The present invention provides a method for producing a silicone hydrogel having a high water content. The method comprises the following steps: (a) polymerizing a monomer mixture to form the silicone hydrogel, wherein the monomer mixture comprises at least one silicon-containing monomer and at least one ionic monomer; and (b) placing the silicone hydrogel in an alkaline solution for at least 20 minutes, wherein the alkaline solution has a pH not less than 7.5 and the ionic monomer is present in an amount not less than 0.7 wt % based on the total dry weight of the silicone hydrogel. |
US08492511B2 |
Process for the preparation of crosslinked nitroxide polymers
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of crosslinked polymers bearing nitroxide groups, which are prepared by a method frequently called atom transfer radical addition polymerization (ATRA). A further aspect of the invention is the use of such polymeric crosslinked nitroxides as stabilizers for polymers against the detrimental influences of heat and UV light, as stabilizers against premature polymerization of vinyl aromatic monomers and as active electrode materials in secondary batteries. |
US08492509B2 |
Sulfur functionalized polymers for separation of metals from gas and liquid and methods for preparation thereof
Methods of preparation and application of sulfur functionalized polymers. More particularly, triazine, cyclotriphosphazene and/or phenyl derivatives can be polymerized to form sulfur functionalized polymers. The materials can be used for separating heavy metals from gas and liquid. The invention is a solid extractant or sorbent that upon exposure or contact with a gas and/or liquid can remove contaminates or impurities. The material can be employed as a solid agent to remove mercury and other heavy metal from combustion, calcinations and/or industrial gases. Also, the material can be applied as extracting agent for removing mercury and other heavy metal from a liquid phase. Further, the material can be used for removing/recovering hazardous elements from radioactive nuclear waste; or can be used for removing organic compounds from gases and liquids. |
US08492508B2 |
Nitro compound, amine compound, polyimide and polyimide copolymer derived therefrom
A polyimide represented by formula (6) is provided. The polyimide is fabricated by performing a polycondensation reaction with a amine compound shown in formula (4) and a dianhydride compound shown in formula (5) as monomers. In formulas (5) and (6), Ar represents aromatic group, and n represents a positive integer. |
US08492507B2 |
Acetylenic polyamide
Disclosed is an acetylenic polyamide and a composition comprising said acetylenic polyamide, which acetylenic polyamide. Said acetylenic group is suitably obtained by subjecting at least one acetylenic compound to reaction with either at least one polyamide, or at least one amino functional monomer and/or carboxylic acid, yielding a corresponding acetylenic amide monomer, oligoamide or polyamide. Amide monomers and/or oligoamides can subsequently be used in production of the acetylenic polyamide. |
US08492503B2 |
Polymeric alpha-hydroxy aldehyde and ketone reagents and conjugation method
Provided herein are polymeric α-hydroxy aldehyde or α-hydroxy ketone reagents which can be conjugated to amine-containing compounds to form stable conjugates in a single-step reaction. In selected embodiments, the polymeric reagent itself incorporates an internal proton-abstracting (basic) functional group, to promote more efficient reaction. The substituent is appropriately situated, via a linker if necessary, to position the group for proton abstraction, preferably providing a 4- or 5-bond spacing between the abstracting atom and the hydrogen atom on the α-carbon. Also provided are methods of using the reagents and stable, solubilized conjugates of the reagents with biologically active compounds. In preferred embodiments, the polymeric component of the reagent or conjugate is a polyethylene glycol. |
US08492498B2 |
Polymer compositions for rotational molding applications
A polymer having a density of from about 0.94 g/cm3 to about 0.96 g/cm3 and a primary structure parameter 2 (PSP2 value) of greater than about 8.5, wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of equal to or greater than about 1000 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition A. A polymer having at least one lower molecular weight component and at least one higher molecular weight component and having a PSP2 value of equal to or greater than about 8.5, wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of greater than about 1000 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition A. |
US08492496B2 |
Copolymers of nanoparticles, vinyl monomers and silicone
A copolymer comprises the reaction product of (a) (meth)acrylate functionalized nanoparticles, (b) vinyl monomer, and (c) silicone macromer. The (meth)acrylate functionalize nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of silica nanoparticles, zirconia nanoparticles, titania nanoparticles, and combinations thereof. |
US08492495B2 |
Polymeric additives obtained by salification of copolymers
The present invention relates to a salified copolymer that can be obtained by salification, in an aqueous medium, using at least one amine containing at least one nitrogenous heterocyclic group, of a copolymer obtained from at least one cyclic anhydride-based or carboxylic acid-based monomer and from at least one styrene-based monomer, such as a styrene/maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer. It also relates to the process for producing this salified copolymer, to a composition containing same, and also to the use of this composition for surface-treating, in particular coating, sizing and finishing, paper or cardboard. |
US08492494B2 |
Ethylene copolymer with improved impact resistance
Provided are ethylene copolymers with excellent impact resistance. More specifically, provided are ethylene copolymers satisfying certain correlation between the falling dart impact strength (F) or high rate impact resistant breakage energy (E) and Vicat softening point. The ethylene copolymers with improved impact properties are applicable to film, injection, compound, sheet, roto, pipe or blow molding. |
US08492491B2 |
Methods for producing telechelic polyolefins from terpene initiators
Provided herein are methods for the preparation of telechelic polyolefins via polymerization reaction with a terpene initiator. |
US08492488B2 |
Stabilized polymeric thiol reagents
Disclosed are water soluble polymeric conjugates comprising the structure POLY-[Y—S—S-A]x, where POLY is a water soluble polymer; Y is a hydrocarbon-based spacer group, x is 1 to 25, S—S is a disulfide group attached to an sp3 hybridized carbon of Y; and A is a covalently linked residue of a pharmacologically active molecule. Preferably, the water soluble polymer is a PEG polymer. Also disclosed are polymeric reagents useful to prepare such conjugates, and methods of their formation and use. |
US08492485B2 |
Polycarbonate resin composition for sliding use and molded article using the resin composition
Provided is a polycarbonate-based resin composition for sliding use including 0.01 to 1 part by mass of an antioxidant with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer which has structural units represented by a general formula (A) and structural units represented by a general formula (B), which contains a polyorganosiloxane block moiety containing the structural units represented by the general formula (B) at a content of 1 to 30 mass %, and which has an average repetition number of the structural units represented by the general formula (B) of 110 to 1000. The polycarbonate-based resin composition for sliding use has a specific structure having improved wear resistance, in particular, improved sliding property. Also provided is a molded article using the resin composition, and excellent in wear resistance and sliding property. |
US08492484B2 |
Medical devices comprising a co-polymer of a polyamide and a polycarbonate diamine
The present invention refers to medical devices comprising a modified Co-Polymer or to the modified Co-Polymer itself having high flexibility and high stress resistance, especially tensile strength or tear resistance, in addition to the good physical characteristics of a Block-Co-Polymers of a polyamide and a polycarbonate diamine. |
US08492482B2 |
Acrylic-based rubber modified thermoset composition
The invention relates to a liquid rubber acrylic block copolymer, and its use in modifying a thermoset composition. The liquid rubber acrylic block copolymer adds toughness and flexibility to a thermoset composition. The acrylic block copolymers are especially useful for modifying epoxy compositions. |
US08492479B2 |
Process for preparing a diene copolymer comprising a polyether block, diene copolymer comprising a polyether block, reinforced rubber composition and tire
A process for preparing a functionalized or unfunctionalized diene block copolymer comprising at least one polyether block of number-average molecular weight approximately from 150 to 5000 g/mol linked to at least one block constituted of a diene elastomer via at least one silicon atom. The process allows a high degree of grafting of the polyether to the polymer chains. Also disclosed is a reinforced rubber composition, especially intended for the manufacture of tires, comprising such a diene block copolymer which is intended to interact with the reinforcing filler. Such a rubber composition has improved hysteresis properties in the vulcanized state, while retaining satisfactory processing properties in the non-vulcanized state. |
US08492478B2 |
Curable perfluoropolyether gel composition and gel product produced by using cured perfluoropolyether gel composition
A curable perfluoropolyether gel composition is provided. The composition comprises (A) a straight chain fluorine-containing polymer represented by the following formula (1): (B) a polyfluoromonoalkenyl compound containing one alkenyl group per molecule and having a perfluoropolyether structure in its backbone, (C) an organosilicon compound containing at least two hydrogen atoms bonded to the silicon atom per molecule, and (D) a hydrosilylation catalyst. The composition can be produced into a cured product having excellent heat resistance, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, weatherability, releasability, water repellency, oil repellency, and the like as well as an improved acid resistance. |
US08492475B2 |
Rubber composition for tire comprising an organosiloxane coupling agent
A subject-matter of the present invention is a rubber composition intended for the manufacture of tires or of tire semi-finished products, based on at least one isoprene elastomer, an inorganic filler as reinforcing filler and a polyfunctional organosiloxane coupling agent capable of providing the bonding between the reinforcing inorganic filler and the isoprene elastomer, comprising per molecule, grafted to its silicon atoms, on the one hand at least one hydroxyl or hydrolysable functional group allowing it to be grafted to the reinforcing inorganic filler and, on the other hand, at least one group bearing at least one azodicarbonyl functional group —CO—N═N—CO— allowing it to be grafted to the isoprene elastomer. |
US08492474B2 |
Methods of making polymer blend compositions
Methods of making miscible and compatible immiscible polymer blends are disclosed. The polymer blends have a polyimide as a component. The miscible polymer blends have a single glass transition temperature. The compatible polymer blends have two glass transition temperatures. The polymer blends may optionally include one or more fillers. |
US08492465B2 |
Substituted alkoxylated phenols and branched sulfates for use in emulsion polymer latexes
The present technology generally relates to emulsion polymer latexes, particularly those used in pressure sensitive adhesives, paints and coatings. Surfactant compositions of the present technology for use in forming at least one emulsion polymer latex comprise at least one branched surfactant, at least one sterically bulky surfactant, or a mixture of branched and sterically bulky surfactants. One preferred surfactant composition comprises at least one alkoxylated polyaryl substituted aromatic compound or at least one alkoxylated polyalkyl substituted aromatic compound. Another preferred surfactant composition comprises a mixture of at least one branched-alkyl sulfate and at least one ethoxylated polystyrylphenol. Another preferred surfactant composition comprises at least one sulfated polystyrylphenol. |
US08492462B2 |
Colour stable thermoplastic composition
The present invention relates to a color stable thermoplastic composition comprising a copolyester elastomer; and a stabilizer comprising (i) an aromatic amine; and (ii) a di-substituted imidazoline, wherein the color lightness (L*) of the composition is greater than 50. The invention also relates to the molded articles produced from the color stable thermoplastic compositions and the use thereof in automotive applications. |
US08492461B2 |
Liquid hardening
Curing agents for air-drying alkyd-based resins, coatings, such as paint, varnish or wood stain, inks and linoleum floor coverings, based on an iron/manganese complex containing tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate nitrogen donor ligands are disclosed. |
US08492460B2 |
Fluorinated polymer blocks for PEM applications
A fluorine-containing polymer segment includes at least one substituent for proton transfer that has one or more fluorine atoms. The fluorine-containing polymer segment is useful for forming hydrophilic polymer blocks that are used in block copolymers. Block copolymers useful for fuel cell applications incorporate the hydrophilic polymer blocks formed from the fluorine containing polymer segments. |
US08492457B2 |
Method of preparing pigment compositions
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a pigment composition comprising the steps of combining a polymer and a pigment to form a mixture and heating the mixture to a temperature of between about 70° C. and 250° C. to form the pigment composition. The method may further comprise the step of dispersing the pigment composition in an aqueous medium to form an aqueous pigment dispersion. The pigment compositions and aqueous pigment compositions can be used in an inkjet ink composition, which is also disclosed. |
US08492451B2 |
Ultraviolet ink for surface printing
This patent application relates to an ultraviolet ink for surface printing. The ultraviolet ink includes: between 10% to 30% by weight of n-butyl acetate, between 10% to 30% by weight of acrylic resin, between 20% to 40% by weight of polyvinyl chloride urethane resin, between 15% to 35% by weight of monomer and between 3% to 8% by weight of photoinitiator. The advantages of using the ultraviolet ink made by the above-mentioned formula for plastic UV spraying surface printing include high wear resistance, hard to fall off, simplified preparation process and lower production cost. |
US08492447B2 |
Closed cell propylene-ethylene foam
A closed cell foam material contains a propylene based polymer comprising from about 5% to about 32% by weight α-olefin units. The propylene based polymer has a heat of fusion, as determined by DSC, of less than 80 J/g. The material also contains 0.5 to 5 phr peroxide, 1.0 to 5.0 phr blowing agent, and 0.1 to 10 phr co-agent. The cells of closed cell foam material have a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. |
US08492445B2 |
Emulsifying compositions based on alkyl polyglycosides and esters
An emulsifying composition, characterised in that it contains by weight, excluding impurities, (i) 1 to 98% by weight of a mixture of alkyl glycosides R1O(G1)g1(G2)g2(G3)g3(G4)g4(G5)g5, (ii) 1 to 90% by weight of a mixture of alcohol esters R2OZ, (iii) 1 to 90% of an alcohol R3OH, and (iv) 4 to 90% of a mixture of alkyl glycoside esters R4O(X1)x1(Z)z1(X2)x2(Z)z2(X3)x3(Z)z3(X4)x4(Z)z4(X5)x5(Z)z5, is disclosed In accordance with the composition, R1 is a hydrocarbon radical, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, having 10 to 22 carbon atoms. G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 are identical or different residues of -oses selected from glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, ribose, xylose and arabinose, g1, g2, g3, g4 and g5 being equal to 0 or 1, the sum of g1, g2, g3, g4 and g5 being at least equal to 1. The composition has emulsifying capacity in the presence of electrolytes or in the case of paraffin-based emulsions. |
US08492439B2 |
L-ornithine phenyl acetate and methods of making thereof
Disclosed herein are forms of L-ornithine phenyl acetate and methods of making the same. A crystalline form may, in some embodiments, be Forms I, II, III and V, or mixtures thereof. The crystalline forms may be formulated for treating subjects with liver disorders, such as hepatic encephalopathy. Accordingly, some embodiments include formulations and methods of administering L-ornithine phenyl acetate. |
US08492437B2 |
4-substituted phenoxyphenylacetic acid derivatives
Compounds of formula (I): in which R1, R2, R7, R8, R9, R10 and A have the meanings given in the specification, are DP2 receptor modulators useful in the treatment of immunologic diseases. |
US08492435B2 |
Composition for treating a dermal anomaly
An improved composition for treatment of ulcer-type skin conditions. The composition is primarily characterized by a combination of nitroglycerin and arginine. Other embodiments comprise emollient cream, mineral oil, tumeric powder, folic acid, vitamin B12, and zinc citrate. The composition is particularly effective in improving blood flow in the underlying capillary bed about the wound, improving nerve growth about the wound, increasing circulation, and having a standardized and more predictable therapeutic characteristic. |
US08492433B2 |
Glycerol levulinate ketals and their use in the manufacture of polyurethanes, and polyurethanes formed therefrom
The present disclosure relates to the preparation of ketal compounds from glycerol and levulinic acid and esters, and uses thereof, in particular the manufacture of polyurethanes. |
US08492429B2 |
Combination of IAP inhibitors and FLT3 inhibitors
The present invention relates to methods of treating hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), comprising the combination of a compound that inhibits the binding of the Smac protein to IAPs (“IAP inhibitor”) and one or more pharmaceutically active agents; pharmaceutical compositions comprising said combination; and a commercial package comprising said combination. The present invention also relates to the use of IAP inhibitors in combination with one or more pharmaceutically active agents for the preparation of a medicament to treat hematological malignancies, including AML. |
US08492428B2 |
Small-molecule botulinum toxin inhibitors
Small-molecule inhibitors of Botulinum toxin, including BoNTA, BoNTD and BoNTE are provided, as well as methods of using the inhibitors. |
US08492426B1 |
Use of carvedilol for treatment of diabetes mellitus
A method of treating diabetes by administering Carvedilol in patients and diabetes mellitus. This method of treatment will eliminate the need for insulin and other blood sugar controlling agents in hypertensive patients with Type II diabetes mellitus, and will significantly reduce the required dosage of insulin and eliminate the need for other blood controlling agents in patients with Type I diabetes mellitus. This method will also delay and/or prevent the progression of non-insulin dependent Type II diabetes mellitus to insulin-dependent Type II diabetes mellitus. Moreover, this method has been shown to preserve improve insulin receptor sensitivity such that patient's HbA1c level reaches and is maintained at or near 7% or less. |
US08492425B2 |
5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazoles useful as sigma receptor inhibitors
The invention relates to compounds having the formula (I): wherein the dashed line (represented by - - - ) represents an optional double bond; R1 is hydrogen and R2 is hydroxyethyl; or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a morpholinyl ring optionally substituted with one or two hydroxy groups; each R3 is independently hydroxy or C1-6alkoxy; n is selected from 0, 1, and 2; or a N-oxide, salt, prodrug, solvate or stereoisomer thereof; with the proviso that the compound where the dashed line represents a double bond, R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a morpholinyl ring, and n is 0, is excluded. Also provided are methods for the preparation of compounds of formula (I); their uses as a medicaments, particularly for the treatment or prophylaxis of a sigma receptor mediated diseases or conditions. |
US08492424B2 |
Compounds act at multiple prostaglandin receptors giving a general anti-inflammatory response
The present invention provides a compound, that is a 1-[(2-{[(alkyl or aryl)methyl]oxy}halo or haloalkyl substituted-phenyl)alkyl]-5-hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl-1H-pyrazole carboxylic acid or alkylenylcarboxylic acid or a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl sulfonamide of said carboxylic acid or said alkylenylcarboxylic acid, provided however said compound is not a 3-carboxylic acid, a sulfonamide thereof, or a 3-methylenylcarboxylic acid. The compound may be represented by the following formula Wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X, W, X and Y are as defined in the specification. The compounds may be administered to treat DP1, FP, EP1, TP and/or EP4 receptor mediated diseases or conditions. |
US08492423B2 |
Pharmaceutical propylene glycol solvate compositions
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising propylene glycol solvates of APIs. |
US08492421B2 |
Agent for fungal dermatitis
The invention relates to a therapeutic agent for fungal dermatitis, containing luliconazole or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient, and a composition for the treatment of fungal dermatitis, containing luliconazole or lanoconazole in a substantially dissolved state as an active ingredient. |
US08492419B2 |
Multifunctional solid formulations for water conditioning
Solid formulations for use in water conditioning of circulating reservoirs, processes of preparing same and methods for water conditioning utilizing same are disclosed. The solid formulations combine a sanitizer with a bath salt and/or an odoriferous substance. |
US08492418B2 |
Method of treating schizophrenia prodrome
The present invention relates to a method of treating schizophrenia prodrome in human subjects using a NMDA glycine site agonist, a glycine transporter-1 inhibitor or mixtures thereof, optionally in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable additive, carrier or excipient. |
US08492417B2 |
Topical use of thiazolidine derivatives against consequences of oxidative stress of skin
The invention concerns a cosmetic care method for opposing destructive effects of oxidative stress and its toxic by-products, comprising administering topically to a patient in need thereof, a derivative of formula (I): in which X is oxygen or sulphur. The invention especially applies to the domain of skin protection and more especially against cutaneous consequences of oxidative stress. |
US08492416B2 |
2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives, processes for preparing them and their uses
The invention concerns 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine derivatives of formula I, wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification, as well as their use as pharmaceuticals. The compounds of the invention are particularly suited for treating neurological disorders such as epilepsy. |
US08492415B2 |
Azoles and related derivatives as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in antiviral therapy (HIV)
The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds, including oxadiazole compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and their use in the inhibition of reverse transcriptase and the treatment of HIV (1 and 2) infections, AIDS and ARC and other viral infections. |
US08492412B2 |
Gel containing pirfenidone
The invention relates to a gel composition containing pirfenidone, which is advantageous over other cutaneously administered pharmaceutical forms known in the prior art and which can be used in treatment for the restoration of tissues with fibrotic lesions and for the prevention of fibrotic lesions. |
US08492411B2 |
5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiazole derivatives for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases
A compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug and/or solvate thereof, and a method for the treatment of an acute or chronic inflammatory disease by inhibiting the production of at least one pro-inflammatory cytokine selected from TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-8 and IL-10, involving administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as defined above. |
US08492409B2 |
1-substituted pyridyl-pyrazolyl amide compounds and uses thereof
The present invention discloses a kind of 1-substituted pyridyl-pyrazolyl amide compounds and uses thereof. The compounds have structures as represented by the general formula I, wherein the definitions of each substituent showed in the specification. The compounds of formula I are novel and have excellent insecticidal and fungicidal activities and can be used for controlling insect pest and diseases. |
US08492408B2 |
Benzimidazole derivatives and their use for modulating the GABAA receptor complex
The present application discloses novel benzimidazole derivatives and their use as modulators of the GABAA receptor complex. In other aspects the application discloses the use of these compounds, in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. |
US08492406B2 |
Methods for treatment of follicular lymphoma using 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed. |
US08492400B2 |
Stable formulations, and methods of their preparation and use
Described herein are formulations comprising therapeutic agents, including but not limited to formulations comprising rapamycin, pharmaceutical formulations, unit dose forms, kits, methods of preparing formulations, and methods of using formulations. Such formulations and methods have increased stability. |
US08492398B2 |
Spiroazaindoles
The present invention relates to spiroazaindole compounds useful as HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia and like conditions. |
US08492397B2 |
Aminopyridine derivatives having Aurora A selective inhibitory action
The present invention relates to a compound of Formula (I): wherein R1 is H or C1-2 alkyl; R2 is H or C1-3 alkyl; R3 and R4 are each independently H or C1-2 alkyl, where the alkyl may be substituted with one to three of the same or different substituents selected from R10; R5 is H, hydroxy, C1-2 alkyl, or OCH3; and R10 is F or Cl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. |
US08492396B2 |
Therapeutic uses of adrenergic α-1 receptor antagonists
The disclosure relates to methods of using an adrenergic α-1 receptor antagonist or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts for treating and/or preventing interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder or detrusor overactivity. |
US08492394B2 |
(3-aryl-piperazin-1-yl), (2-aryl-morpholin-4-yl) and (2-aryl-thiomorpholin-4-yl) derivatives of 6,7-dialkoxy-quinazoline, 6,7-dialkoxyphtalazine and 6,7-dialkoxyisoquinoline as PDE10A enzyme inhibitors
This invention is directed to compounds, which are PDE10A enzyme inhibitors. The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the compounds of formula I. The present invention further provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. The present invention further provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a psychiatric disorder comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. |
US08492393B2 |
Heterobicyclic carboxamides as inhibitors for kinases
The invention relates to novel organic compounds of formula (I) and their use in the treatment of the animal or human body, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of protein kinase dependent diseases, especially of proliferative diseases, such as in the treatment of tumour diseases and ocular neovascular diseases. |
US08492391B2 |
Substituted 6-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)purine derivatives, their use as medicaments and compositions containing these derivatives
The invention relates to substituted 6-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)purines of general formula I, to their activity as cyclin-dependent kinases 2, 5, 7 and 9 inhibitors and to their use as medicaments, particularly in the treatment of disorders involving cell proliferation or inflammation. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions containing the substituted 6-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)purines. |
US08492387B2 |
2-aminoimidazole beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of alzheimer's disease
The present invention is directed to 2-aminoimidazole compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved. |
US08492382B2 |
Method of treatment or prophylaxis
The present invention is directed to methods and agents that are useful in the prevention and amelioration of signs and symptoms associated with neuropathic conditions. More particularly, the present invention discloses the use of angiotensin II receptor 2 (AT2 receptor) antagonists for the treatment, prophylaxis, reversal and/or symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain, including mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal or mechanical allodynia, diabetic pain and entrapment pain, in vertebrate animals and particularly in human subjects. The AT2 receptor antagonists may be provided alone or in combination with other compounds such as those that are useful in the control of neuropathic conditions. |
US08492378B2 |
GSK-3β inhibitor
For the purpose of providing a GSK-3β inhibitor containing an oxadiazole compound or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of a GSK-3β-related pathology or disease, the present invention provides a GSK-3β inhibitor containing a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof. |
US08492376B2 |
Heteroaryl-cyclohexyl-tetraazabenzo[e]azulenes
The present invention is concerned with heteroaryl-cyclohexyl-tetraazabenzo[e]azulenes of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as described herein. The compounds according to the invention act as V1a receptor modulators, and in particular as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments. The active compounds of the present invention are useful as therapeutics acting peripherally and centrally in the conditions of dysmenorrhea, male or female sexual dysfunction, hypertension, chronic heart failure, inappropriate secretion of vasopressin, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, anxiety, depressive disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and aggressive behavior. |
US08492375B2 |
1-benzoyl substituted diazepine derivatives as selective histamine H3 receptor agonists
The present invention relates to novel diazepanyl derivatives having pharmacological activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. |
US08492369B2 |
Oral testosterone ester formulations and methods of treating testosterone deficiency comprising same
A pharmaceutical formulation of testosterone undecanoate is provided. Methods of treating a testosterone deficiency or its symptoms with the inventive formulations are also provided. |
US08492367B2 |
Use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzene compounds and derivatives for the treatment of rosacea
The present invention relates to the use of a 2,5-dihydroxybenzene derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, isomer, or prodrug thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of, inter alia, rosacea. |
US08492365B2 |
7-substituted tetracycline compounds
The present invention pertains, at least in part, to novel 7-substituted tetracycline compounds. These tetracycline compounds can be used to treat numerous tetracycline compound-responsive states, such as bacterial infections and neoplasms, as well as other known applications for minocycline and tetracycline compounds in general, such as blocking tetracycline efflux and modulation of gene expression. |
US08492361B2 |
Methods for treating non-small cell lung cancer using 5-azacytidine
The present disclosure provides methods for treating subjects having non-small cell lung cancer, wherein the methods comprise administering to the subject a cytidine analog, such as 5-azacytidine. Also provided are methods relating to identification and treatment of particular non-small cell lung cancer types sensitive to particular cytidine analogs. |
US08492359B2 |
Lipid formulations for nucleic acid delivery
The present invention provides novel, stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (such as one or more interfering RNA), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP. |
US08492358B2 |
Agonists of toll-like receptor 3 and methods of their use
TLR3 agonist compounds, compositions and methods are provided for stimulating the activity of TLR3. The compositions comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3. The compositions may also comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3 in combination with other therapeutic and/or prophylactic compounds and/or compositions. Methods of using these compounds and compositions for stimulation of TLR3 activity and for prevention or treatment of diseases wherein modulation of TLR3 activity would be beneficial are provided. |
US08492354B2 |
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, Q3, R11 and R12 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, are also disclosed. |
US08492351B2 |
Anti-cholesterolemic compounds and methods of use
The present invention provides novel compounds with hypocholesteremic activity from crude Embilica officinialis (EO) extracts and methods of use. The invention also provides nutraceuticals. |
US08492350B2 |
Therapeutic agent for pain disease
A method for treating neuropathic pain by administering a pharmaceutical preparation containing N-acetylneuraminic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a person in need of treatment of neuropathic pain. Examples of neuropathic pain include trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, strangulated neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), diabetic neuropathy, neuropathy caused by trauma, phantom limb pain, central pain, and neuropathic pain caused by drug therapy or radiation therapy. |
US08492349B2 |
Analgesia with minimal tolerance and dependence by a mu opioid receptor agonist that also binds filamin A
A composition and method are disclosed that utilize an isolated polypeptide or analog thereof to inhibit the interaction of a mu-opioid receptor with filamin A. A contemplated polypeptide has an amino acid residue sequence illustrated by the formula: W—[X1X2X3− . . . X43X44X45]nValAlaX48GlyLeu[X51X52X53 . . . X94X95X96]m—Y, wherein the various elements are defined elsewhere. A contemplated method can be used to select a VAKGL-binding compound. |
US08492342B2 |
Preprocalcitonin antigen T epitopes
The present invention is related to Preprocalcitonin antigen T epitopes, presented by the Major Histocompatibility Complex I (MHC I). These peptides can be used in cancer immunotherapy. |
US08492339B2 |
Angiogenesis promoted by caged growth factors
The present disclosure relates to controlling the release of growth factors for the promotion of angiogenesis. The growth factors or a polymer matrix are modified by photoactive compounds, such that the growth factors are not released into an active form until they are irradiated with light. The disclosure also relates to tissue engineering scaffolds comprising one or more polymers and at least two growth factors. |
US08492338B2 |
Targeted therapeutic proteins
Targeted therapeutics that localize to a specific subcellular compartment such as the lysosome are provided. The targeted therapeutics include a therapeutic agent and a targeting moiety that binds a receptor on an exterior surface of the cell, permitting proper subcellular localization of the targeted therapeutic upon internalization of the receptor. Nucleic acids, cells, and methods relating to the practice of the invention are also provided. |
US08492335B2 |
Platelet-derived growth factor compositions and methods for the treatment of tendinopathies
Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of tendinopathies, such as tenosynovitis, tendinosis or tendinitis, including Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis or “tennis elbow,” medial epicondylitis or “golfer's elbow,” plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff tendinopathy, and in particular to methods for the treatment of tendinopathies by administering compositions comprising platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). |
US08492327B2 |
Azeotrope-like compositions of difluoromethane and trifluoroiodomethane
Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising difluoromethane and trifluoroiodomethane and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants. |
US08492325B2 |
Dual-usage liquid laundry detergents comprising a silicone anti-foam
Dual-usage aqueous liquid detergent compositions having suds compatability and improved cleaning, said composition containing from about 1% to about 60%, by weight of the composition, of a surfactant system wherein said surfactant system contains at least 35%, by weight of the surfactant system, of alkylethoxysulfate; from 0% to about 10%, by weight of the surfactant system, of nonionic surfactant; from 0% to about 10%, by weight of the surfactant system, of soap; further contains from about 0.001% to about 4.0%, by weight of the composition, of an anti-foam selected from organomodified silicone polymers with aryl or alkylaryl substituents combined with silicone resin and the primary filler is modified silica; and mixtures thereof; and contains from about 0.01% to about 2.5%, by weight of the composition, of a structurant.Methods of using such detergent compositions for laundering textiles. |
US08492323B2 |
Toilet soap with improved lather
The present invention relates to soap bars having improved lather. Specifically, by limiting amounts of myristic acid and keeping specifically defined ratios of sum of C8-C10 fatty acids to C12 fatty acid bars having substantially improved lather and unexpectedly obtained. |
US08492320B2 |
Lubricant composition
A lubricant composition which is suitable as a fluorine oil, fluorine grease, and which is excellent in stabilizability, as well as a lubricant composition which is suitable as a fluorine oil, fluorine grease, and which has excellent rust prevention properties while keeping a heat resistance. |
US08492315B2 |
Method of providing a pattern of biological-binding areas for biological testing
The present invention provides a method of forming one or more biological-binding areas on a substrate for biological-testing. The method includes activating at least a portion of a glass-ceramic substrate comprising glass and one or more metal containing compounds. The one or more metal containing compounds have a range of diameters that are less than about 300 nanometers in diameter and are spaced an average distance of at least one-half the midpoint of the diameter range apart. The one or more metals include compounds selected from metal oxides, metal nanoparticles, metal alloys, and atomic metals. The glass-ceramic substrate is heated to a temperature near the glass transformation temperature to form one or more metal nanoparticles in one or more ceramic biological-binding areas. The glass-ceramic substrate is etched to expose one or more metal. One or more biological molecules are contacted with one or more ceramic biological-binding areas to provide one or more biological testing areas with an increased binding area as compared to un-activated areas. |
US08492314B2 |
Agricultural composition with PH colour indicators
The present invention provides a concentrate for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals. The concentrate is recommended for use with agricultural chemicals whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. It comprises an active ingredient and a combination of pH indicators for coloring the water, the pH indicators being selected so as to indicate different colors of spray water at different pH levels. The proportions of active ingredient and pH indicators are selected so that when the concentrate is added to water, the pH indicators indicate visually upper and lower pH limits for optimum activity of the agricultural chemical. |
US08492313B2 |
Synergistic herbicidal combinations comprising tembotrione
A description is given of herbicidal compositions comprising A) tembotrione and B) at least one additional herbicide. These compositions exhibit a superior action in comparison with the herbicides applied separately. |
US08492311B2 |
Isoxazoline-substituted benzamide compound and pesticide
A substituted alkenylbenzene compound of formula (4): wherein X1 is a halogen atom, —SF5, C1-C6haloalkyl, hydroxy C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C6alkoxy C1-C6haloalkyl, C3-C8halocycloalkyl, C1-C6haloalkoxy, C1-C3haloalkoxy C1-C3haloalkoxy, C1-C6haloalkylthio, C1-C6haloalkylsulfinyl or C1-C6haloalkylsulfonyl; X3 is a hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C6alkoxy or C1-C6alkylthio; X4 is a hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy or C1-C4haloalkoxy; R3 is —C(R3a)(R3b)R3c, where R3a and R3b are a halogen, or R3a and R3b together form a 3- to 6-membered ring together with the carbon bonding them by forming a C2-C5haloalkylene chain, and R3c is a hydrogen, halogen, C1-C5alkyl, C1-C5haloalkyl, C1-C4haloalkoxy or C1-C4haloalkylthio, with a proviso that where X1 is a fluorine, chlorine or trifluoromethyl, and X2 and X3 are hydrogen, where X1 and X2 are fluorine and X3 is a hydrogen, or where X1 and X2 are trifluoromethyl and X3 is a hydrogen, R3c is a hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, C1-C5alkyl, C1-C5haloalkyl, C1-C4haloalkoxy or C1-C4haloalkylthio. |
US08492308B2 |
Thermosensitive recording medium
The present invention provides a thermosensitive recording medium with excellent color developing sensitivity, moist heat resistance and plasticizer resistance, as well as excellent heat resistance, background coloring, light resistance and the like in the printed image.A diphenyl sulfone derivative containing a hydroxyl group on one end and an alkoxy group on the other end has a higher melting point than the one containing hydroxyl groups on both ends. As a result, the thermosensitive recording medium obtained using the diphenyl sulfone derivative as the color developing agent in the thermosensitive color developing layer has excellent heat resistance. However the color developing sensitivity of the thermosensitive recording medium generally declines simultaneously, when a color developing agent with a high melting point is ordinarily used. The thermosensitive recording medium of the present invention that uses a combination of the diphenyl sulfone derivative and a specific phenol derivative in the thermosensitive color developing layer has a good color developing sensitivity and an improved balance among the properties such as moist heat resistance, plasticizer resistance and the like. |
US08492304B2 |
Iron complex, manufacturing method thereof and supported iron oxide catalyst constructed thereby
A manufacturing method of an iron complex is mixing ferric chloride and at least one chelating agent with a solvent, wherein Fe3+ ions of ferric chloride is reacted with the at least one chelating agent to form an iron complex Fe[R1]a[R2]b[H2O]c3+ or Fe[R1]a[H2O]c3+, wherein the at least one chelating agent is selected from a group including ethylenediamine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-Bipyridine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, phenanthroline, or bipyridine. Moreover, a method for producing an iron oxide catalyst is mixing ferric chloride, at least one chelating agent and the support with a solvent to form an iron complex, which is incorporated with the support. Following, a drying step and a heat treatment step are processed to get the iron oxide catalyst. |
US08492300B2 |
Insert and cutting tool
An insert includes a silicon nitride sintered body including β-Si3N4 as a main component, Mg, and a rare-earth element Re (Y, La, Ce, Er, Dy, Yb). A content of Mg in terms of MgO is 1.0-7.0 mol %, a content of Re in terms of an oxide thereof is 0.4-1.0 mol %, and a total content of Mg and Re is from 1.7 to less than 7.5 mol %. The insert has a graded composition in which oxygen content increases from a surface of the sintered body toward an inside thereof such that 0.8-1.5 mass % of oxygen is contained in a region of less than 0.5 mm inside from the surface, 1.1-2.3 mass % of oxygen is contained in a region of 0.5 mm or more inside from the surface, and a difference in oxygen content between the regions is 0.1-1.0 mass %. |
US08492295B2 |
On-chip cooling for integrated circuits
A semiconductor structure fabrication method. A provided structure includes: a semiconductor substrate, a transistor on the semiconductor substrate, N interconnect layers on the semiconductor substrate, and a temporary filling region within the N layers. N is at least 2. The temporary filling region is heated at a high temperature sufficiently high to result in the temporary filling material being replaced by a cooling pipes system that does not include any solid or liquid material. A first portion and a second portion of the cooling pipes system are each in direct physical contact with a surrounding ambient at a first interface and a second interface respectively such that a first direction perpendicular to the first interface is perpendicular to a second direction perpendicular to the second interface. A totality of interfaces between the cooling pipes system and the ambient consists of the first interface and the second interface. |
US08492294B2 |
Semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and structure including multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region
A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure. |
US08492284B2 |
Low temperature etchant for treatment of silicon-containing surfaces
Embodiments provide methods for etching and depositing silicon materials on a substrate. In one example, the method includes heating a substrate containing a silicon-containing material to a temperature of about 800° C. or less and removing a portion of the silicon-containing material and a contaminant to reveal an exposed surface of the silicon-containing material during an etching process and depositing a silicon-containing layer on the exposed surface of the silicon-containing material during a deposition process. The method further provides conducting the etching and deposition processes in the same chamber and utilizing chlorine gas and a silicon source gas during the etching and deposition processes. In some examples, the silicon-containing material is removed at a rate within a range from about 2 Å per minute to about 20 Å per minute during the etching process. |
US08492283B2 |
Method and structure for automated inert gas charging in a reticle stocker
At least a first reticle is stored in a housing of a stocker. A first gas is delivered to the housing. At least one reticle pod having an additional reticle is delivered into a enclosure within the housing of the stocker. A second gas different from the first gas is delivered to the enclosure. The reticle pod is automatically retrieved from the enclosure. The delivery and retrieval of the reticle pod and delivery of the first gas and the second gas are automatically controlled. |
US08492281B2 |
Liquid composition, method of producing silicon substrate, and method of producing liquid discharge head substrate
A liquid composition used to carry out crystal anisotropic etching of a silicon substrate provided with an etching mask formed of a silicon oxide film with the silicon oxide film used as a mask includes cesium hydroxide, an alkaline organic compound, and water. |
US08492278B2 |
Method of forming a plurality of spaced features
A method of forming a plurality of spaced features includes forming sacrificial hardmask material over underlying material. The sacrificial hardmask material has at least two layers of different composition. Portions of the sacrificial hardmask material are removed to form a mask over the underlying material. Individual features of the mask have at least two layers of different composition, with one of the layers of each of the individual features having a tensile intrinsic stress of at least 400.0 MPa. The individual features have a total tensile intrinsic stress greater than 0.0 MPa. The mask is used while etching into the underlying material to form a plurality of spaced features comprising the underlying material. Other implementations are disclosed. |
US08492275B2 |
Method to form uniform silicide by selective implantation
Methods form an integrated circuit structure by forming at least a portion of a plurality of devices within and/or on a substrate and patterning trenches in an inter-layer dielectric layer on the substrate adjacent the devices. The patterning forms relatively narrow trenches and relatively wide trenches. The methods then perform an angled implant of a compensating material into the trenches. The angle of the angled implant implants a greater concentration of the compensating material in the regions of the substrate at the bottom of the wider trenches relative to an amount of compensating material implanted in the regions of the substrate at the bottom of the narrower trenches. The methods then deposit a metallic material within the trenches and heat the metallic material to form silicide from the metallic material. |
US08492271B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the invention is to fully fill a wiring material in via holes formed in a low-hardness interlayer insulating film and a high-hardness interlayer insulating film, respectively, upon forming a Cu wiring in interlayer insulating films by using the dual damascene process. According to the invention, a second interlayer insulating film has therein both a wiring trench and a via hole. The via hole has, at the opening portion thereof, a recess portion having a tapered cross-sectional shape. It is formed by causing the second interlayer insulating film to retreat obliquely downward. The diameter of the opening portion of the via hole therefore becomes greater than the diameter of a region below the opening portion and it becomes possible to fully fill a wiring material in the via hole even if the via hole has a fine diameter. |
US08492269B2 |
Hybrid contact structure with low aspect ratio contacts in a semiconductor device
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, superior contact resistivity may be accomplished for a given contact configuration by providing hybrid contact elements, at least a portion of which may be comprised of a highly conductive material, such as copper. To this end, a well-established contact material, such as tungsten, may be used as buffer material in order to preserve integrity of sensitive device areas upon depositing the highly conductive metal. |
US08492268B2 |
IC having viabar interconnection and related method
An IC including first metal layer having wiring running in a first direction; a second metal layer having wiring running in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a first via layer between the first metal layer and the second metal layer, the first via layer including a viabar interconnecting the first metal layer to the second metal layer at a first location where the first metal layer vertically coincides with the second metal layer and, at a second location, connecting to wiring of the first metal layer but not wiring of the second metal layer. |
US08492267B1 |
Pillar interconnect chip to package and global wiring structure
Pillar interconnect chip to package and global wiring structures and methods of manufacturing are discloses. The method includes forming a resist directly over at least one landing pad and at least one wiring layer, and forming a first pattern in the resist over the landing pad and a second pattern over the wiring layer, using a single lithography step. The method further includes forming metal in the first pattern in electrical contact with the landing pad. The method further includes removing remaining resist over the wiring layer to deepen the second pattern. The method further includes forming a pillar interconnect in the first pattern and a wiring in the second pattern by adding additional metal on the metal in the first pattern and over the at least one wiring layer in the second pattern, respectively. The method further includes removing any remaining resist. |
US08492263B2 |
Protected solder ball joints in wafer level chip-scale packaging
Protection of a solder ball joint is disclosed in which the solder ball joint is located below the surface level of the encapsulating buffer layer. The buffering layer is etched to expose one or more electrode posts, each of which may be made up of a single column or multiple columns. A top layer resulting either from a top conductive cap or a plating layer around the electrode posts also lies below the buffer layer. When the solder ball is placed onto the posts, the solder/ball joint is protected in a position below the surface of the buffer layer, while still maintaining an electrical connection between the various solder balls and their associated or capping/plating material, electrode posts, wiring layers, and circuit layers. Therefore, the entire ball joint is protected from direct stress. |