| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08514441B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof, in which an address for image data depends on whether the image data is input via a detachable image processing device
To provide an image processing apparatus that changes methods of storage to a memory depending on image data to be input and improves overall image processing performance, as well as a control method of the image processing apparatus. To accomplish this, the present image processing apparatus changes methods in which input image data is stored depending on whether scanner image processing is to be performed by a system control unit that comprehensively controls the image processing apparatus or performed outside of the system control unit. Specifically, when performing scanner image processing in the system control unit, since input image data is to be input directly from a CCD, the image data is stored frame-sequentially in a memory. On the other hand, when performing scanner image processing outside of the system control unit, input image data is stored dot-sequentially in a memory. |
| US08514438B2 |
Print control device, method, system and recording medium for communicating with plurality of types of printers
The present invention provides a printer control device that includes a storage device, a printer searching section, a print preview creation section and a display control section. The printer searching section searches for printers connected to a network, acquires pieces of print setup information on print setups set in extracted printers, correlates the pieces of acquired print setup information with the respective printers and stores the information in the storage device. The print preview creation section creates pieces of print preview data of designated data for respective printers, and the display control section causes an identical display device to simultaneously be displayed as a print preview. Utilizing the present invention it possible to arrange and display, on the identical display device, a plurality print previews each schematically showing a print result brought by a plurality of printing apparatuses so that a user can easily select a desired print apparatus. |
| US08514437B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus including a main body having an image forming unit forming an image to a printing medium; and a plurality of mail box modules which are disposed to an output side of the printing medium in the main body, each mail box module respectively including a driving unit selectively outputting the printing medium from the main body, and a control circuit unit controlling the driving unit. The control circuit unit includes a shift register having channels corresponding to the total number of the plurality of mail box modules, and, if receiving an identifying ID information of the mail box module from the main body, turns on one channel of the channels corresponding to the identifying ID information; and a multiplexer which outputs an active signal to the driving unit if the channel turned on by the shift register corresponds to a predetermined identifying ID. |
| US08514436B2 |
Image forming apparatus and print control method, and program product
A printer includes a first receiving unit that receives a print job containing a printing requirement, where the printing requirement is set as either an indispensable requirement that is indispensable for executing the print job or a desired requirement that is desirable for executing the print job; a second receiving unit that receives, from each of external image forming apparatuses connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, a printability level indicating whether the external image forming apparatus has a printing function satisfying the indispensable requirement or a printing function satisfying the desired requirement; a selecting unit that selects an image forming apparatus that executes the print job from the external image forming apparatuses by checking the printability level; and a print-operation control unit that sends the print job to the selected image forming apparatus and causes the selected image forming apparatus to execute the print job. |
| US08514435B2 |
Communication system having a plurality of communication modes
A communication system including a communication box connected to a public communication line and capable of data communication with a child unit through a digital cordless (DCL) wave and with a multi-function device through a wires LAN (WLAN) wave, and wherein each of the child unit and multi-function device has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for optical communication between the child unit and multi-function device. The communication box and multi-function device have respective WLAN communication control portions which are normally placed in a non-operating state, and when the communication box receives facsimile data from the public communication line, the communication box commands the child unit to require the multi-function device to start its WLAN communication control portion, starts its own WLAN communication control portion, and transmit the facsimile data to the multi-function device through the WLAN wave. |
| US08514433B2 |
Print and release print control system and method
A print and release print control system and method for optimizing network transmission and processing of rendering jobs. A document for rendering can be sent to a print driver and a print server specially programmed for performing a print and release operation. The print server includes a personal profile, a print job profile, and a profile associated with a network of rendering devices. The print server can send a job placeholder cover page to each of the designated rendering devices based on user preferences. The job placeholder cover page can be released from a selected rendering device by entering a secure release code. The print server can then detect the selected rendering device in which the cover page has been rendered and send the document to the selected printer. The print server can then clean up the cover pages sent to other printers if the submitted document is rendered. |
| US08514432B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium
With reprinting of a print job, in the case that a job ticket strictly defining the output article form is not transmitted, the output article at the time of a first printing and the output article at the time of reprinting may differ, whereby the client may not be able to obtain the desired output article. The present invention provides control to execute reprinting processing employing a setting value used for the actual printing processing. |
| US08514430B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for processing image in network environment based on local protocol
An image processing system includes a first image processing apparatus and a second image processing apparatus that are connected via a network in which communication is performed based on a local protocol. The cooperative processing is performed between the first and second image forming apparatuses via the network. |
| US08514428B2 |
Printing apparatus for processing document application data when direct-print is permitted or temporarily permitted, control method thereof, and computer program
Application data is extracted based on a read document image. A license for a function of printing the application data is permitted in accordance with a license key based on the read document image. After permission, the extracted application data is printed. |
| US08514421B2 |
Apparatus for determining allowable recording density to reduce image show-through
An image recording apparatus including: a head; a feeding mechanism; an image reading portion; a test recording controller which controls the head such that a test pattern is recorded on a first area of a first surface of a recording medium and is recorded on a second area of a second surface of the medium; a test pattern reading section which reads the test patterns recorded on the first area and the second area respectively from the second surface and the first surface; a determining section which determines allowable recording densities for the first surface and the second surface; and an image recording controller which controls the head such that, in a two-sided recording, the images are recorded on the first and second surfaces at respective densities equal to or lower than the allowable recording densities respectively for the first and second surfaces. |
| US08514416B2 |
Information processing method and information processing apparatus
The data conversion unit of a printer driver makes a copy of a spool file in PDF and stores it as PDF data 1 in an external storage device. The raster data creation unit of the printer driver acquires PDF data 1 stored by the data conversion unit, and creates new PDF data 2 in which a target object is drawn in accordance with an object contained in PDF data 1. The raster data creation unit of the OS then converts PDF data 2 into raster data 2. The raster data creation unit specifies a target object of the raster data created from the spool file by referring to created raster data 2, and creates print data by performing necessary processing for the target object. |
| US08514415B2 |
Method and program to be implemented by print setting device which sets print setting item
When the printer selected by a user is judged to be one that has been searched out with using functional conditions, a PC as a print setting device reflects the functional conditions used as the search condition in the initial values of the print setting items for that printer. |
| US08514410B2 |
Displacement detection device and method
According to one embodiment, a displacement detection device includes a light source, objective lens, beam splitter, aperture limiting element, and detection device. The beam splitter may separate reflected light into portions. The reflected light may be reflected by the medium and then transmitted through the objective lens. The aperture limiting element may include an aperture limited so as to block a portion of the reflected light. The detection device may detect displacement of the medium in a direction of the optical axis based on the reflected light having passed through the aperture limiting element. |
| US08514408B2 |
Method and apparatus for real-time determination of curvature and azimuthal asymmetry of a surface
An apparatus for measuring a curvature of a surface (1), comprising means for irradiating a first light beam (S1), a second light beam (S2) and a third light beam (S3) onto a surface (1) of a sample (12), a detector (5) comprising at least one detector plane and being adapted to detect a first position of the reflected first light beam (S1), a second position of the reflected second light beam (S2) and a third position of the reflected third light beam (S3) in the at least one detector plane, means for determining a first distance between the first position of the first light beam (S1) and the third position of the third light beam (S3) and a second distance between the second position of the second light beam (S2) and the third position of the third light beam (S3), and means for determining a mean curvature of the surface from the first distance and the second distance. The first light beam (S1), the second light beam (S2) and the third light beam (S3) are parallel to each other and the first light beam (S1) is spaced apart from a plane defined be the second light beam (S2) and the third light beam (S3). |
| US08514407B2 |
Surface shape measurement apparatus
An apparatus for measuring a shape of a surface, comprises a measurement head which measures a distance between a reference point and the surface by detecting interference between test light obtained when light that passes through the reference point is emitted, is reflected by the surface, and returns to the reference point, and reference light, a scanning mechanism which scans the measurement head, and a processor which calculates the shape of the surface based on the distance measured using the measurement head and coordinates of the reference point. |
| US08514405B2 |
Tracking type laser gauge interferometer with rotation mechanism correction
A tracking type laser gauge interferometer includes: a first recursive reflector configured to reflect light parallel to incident light; a second recursive reflector attached to a measurement object; a main body part configured to guide light emitted from a laser light source to the first recursive reflector; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the main body part; and a control unit configured to control the rotating mechanism based on the light emergent from the main body part and reflected at the second recursive reflector, wherein: the main body part includes a light receiving element configured to receive the light reflected at the first recursive reflector and detect a position of the received light; and the control device includes: an angle acquisition unit configured to acquire a rotational angle of the rotating mechanism; and an correction unit configured to correct a motion error of the rotating mechanism. |
| US08514403B2 |
Sample analysis method
A sample analysis method is provided for analyzing a sample having a permeability to terahertz radiation and accurately measure the composition, physical properties, mass and dimensions of a very small sample or a minute amount of sample by irradiating the sample with terahertz radiation. In the method, a reflective member is provided adjoining a first principal surface of the sample, an entrance member is provided adjoining a second principal surface of the sample, terahertz radiation is delivered from outside of entrance member towards the sample, and the sample is analyzed using an interference wave generated from a first-surface reflected wave at the interface between the first principal surface of the sample and the reflective member and a second-surface reflected wave at the interface between the second principal surface of the sample and the entrance member. |
| US08514394B2 |
Spectrograph having multiple wavelength ranges for high resolution raman spectroscopy
A spectrograph having multiple excitation wavelength ranges is disclosed. The spectrograph can include a wavelength switching mechanism to switch between different wavelength ranges in accordance with the wavelength of an incoming light signal. The wavelength switching mechanism can include multiple optical assemblies (or elements) corresponding to the different wavelength ranges for processing the incoming light signal. The mechanism can also include a switching component for switching the optical assemblies to align the appropriate assembly with the incoming light signal. Each optical assembly can include one or more transmission gratings to disperse the incoming light signal into multiple wavelengths within a particular wavelength range and a reflecting mirror proximate to the grating(s) to reflect the wavelengths of light back through the grating(s) to photodetectors for measuring to wavelengths to generate a light spectrum. The spectrograph can be used in Raman spectroscopy. |
| US08514391B2 |
Resonant waveguide-grating devices and methods for using same
Waveguide gratings, biosensors, and methods of using a waveguide grating, including as a biosensor. |
| US08514386B2 |
Technique for verifying the microstructure of lead-free interconnects in semiconductor assemblies
A method for verifying the internal microstructure of interconnects in flip-chip applications includes providing a microelectronic assembly comprising the following: a substrate hosting an array of flip-chip attach pads and one or more process control pads; a flip chip having an array of solder bumps in contact with the array of flip-chip attach pads; and one or more representative solder bumps contacting the one or more process control pads. The representative solder bumps have a substantially similar or identical chemical composition as the array of solder bumps. A reflow cycle is then applied to the microelectronic assembly to melt and solidify the array of solder bumps on the flip-chip attach pads and melt and solidify the representative solder bumps on the process control pads. The surface texture of the representative solder bumps is then optically inspected to determine an internal microstructure of the array of solder bumps. |
| US08514383B2 |
System and method for providing a polarized RF reference system with scanning polarized RF reference sources and their self-alignment for munitions
Arbitrarily deploying scanning polarized RF reference sources and using them to establish a full position and angular orientation reference coordinate system or a full angular orientation reference coordinate system that objects property equipped with polarized RF sensors could use to determine their angular position and/or orientation relative to the reference coordinate system. |
| US08514380B2 |
Polarization imaging apparatus with auto-calibration
A polarization imaging apparatus measures the Stokes image of a sample. The apparatus consists of an optical lens set, a first variable phase retarder (VPR) with its optical axis aligned 22.5°, a second variable phase retarder with its optical axis aligned 45°, a linear polarizer, a imaging sensor for sensing the intensity images of the sample, a controller and a computer. Two variable phase retarders were controlled independently by a computer through a controller unit which generates a sequential of voltages to control the phase retardations of the first and second variable phase retarders. A auto-calibration procedure was incorporated into the polarization imaging apparatus to correct the misalignment of first and second VPRs, as well as the half-wave voltage of the VPRs. A set of four intensity images, I0, I1, I2 and I3 of the sample were captured by imaging sensor when the phase retardations of VPRs were set at (0,0), (π,0), (π,π) and (π/2,π), respectively. Then four Stokes components of a Stokes image, S0, S1, S2 and S3 were calculated using the four intensity images. |
| US08514379B2 |
Automated document processing system and method
A document processing system includes an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner operates to obtain images of the documents and further operates to obtain images of selected portions of the documents, and further can obtain information contained in the selected portions. The discrimination unit operates to determine document authenticity. A system controller directs the flow of documents over the transport mechanism. |
| US08514378B2 |
Method of optical teledetection of compounds in a medium
A method and device for optical teledetection of compounds in a medium includes a detection measurement carried out by emitting into the medium, short pulses of light at least 3 nm wide, and detecting a part of the light back-scattered by the medium by means of a detection unit with temporal resolution. A reference measurement in which the light emitted or the light back-scattered is filtered by virtue of addressable filters, simulating the optical spectrum of the light at the working wavelengths of at least one given compound to be searched for. A comparison of the detection and reference measurements is made to deduce therefrom the possible presence of the compound or compound(s) searched for in the medium. The addressable filters are modified dynamically, and a series of reference measurements and corresponding comparisons are performed for a series of various compounds liable to be present in the medium. |
| US08514377B2 |
Detection of chemical vapor deposition grown diamond
Diamonds may be identified as grown by the use of chemical vapor deposition. One or more diamonds may be placed on a surface and exposed to short wavelength light. Diamonds that fluoresce red may be identified as grown by the use of chemical vapor deposition. In some embodiments, the diamonds are cooled prior to exposure to the short wavelength light. |
| US08514376B2 |
Distance measuring
A distance measuring method includes: emitting a pulse of measuring light towards an object; receiving a pulse measuring light from the object and generating a pulse signal corresponding to the pulse of measuring light received from the object; delaying a first portion of the generated pulse signal for a predetermined time; generating an intensity signal indicative of an intensity of the generated pulse signal, while delaying the first portion of the generated pulse signal; amplifying the delayed first portion of the generated pulse signal using a gain dependent on the generated intensity signal; and determining a value representing a distance based on the amplified delayed first portion of the generated pulse signal. |
| US08514374B2 |
Alignment method for semiconductor processing
A method provides improved alignment for a photolithographic exposure. In such method, a first exposure tool and a first chuck used in a reference photolithographic exposure of a first material layer on a substrate can be identified. The substrate typically includes at least a semiconductor layer. The first chuck typically is one of a plurality of chucks usable with the first exposure tool. The method may further include identifying a second exposure tool and a second chuck used in a current photolithographic exposure of a second material layer on the substrate. In one embodiment, alignment correction information specific to each of the identified first exposure tool, the first chuck, the second exposure tool and the second chuck can be used in aligning the semiconductor substrate to a second exposure tool and a second chuck. In one embodiment, such method can compensate for alignment error caused by differences between the first and second exposure tools, between the first and second chucks, or between the first and second exposure tools and between the first and second chucks. |
| US08514372B1 |
Method for setting an illumination geometry for an illumination optical unit for EUV projection lithography
A method for setting an illumination geometry for an illumination optical unit for EUV projection lithography is disclosed. The method includes defining a desired illumination geometry, followed by varying tilting angles of individual mirrors of the a facet mirror within one and the same individual-mirror group. In a first tilting position, the individual mirrors are assigned via a first group-mirror illumination channel to a first facet of a second facet mirror. In at least one further tilting position, the individual mirrors are assigned either via a further illumination channel to a further facet of the second facet mirror or to a switch-off illumination channel. The tilting angle variation is carried out until an actual illumination geometry corresponds to the desired illumination geometry within predefined tolerances. |
| US08514370B2 |
Substrate support structure, clamp preparation unit, and lithography system
A substrate support structure for clamping a substrate on a surface by means of a capillary layer of a liquid. The surface has an outer edge and includes one or more substrate supporting elements for receiving the substrate to be clamped, wherein the one or more substrate supporting elements are arranged to provide support for the substrate at a plurality of support locations. The substrate support structure further includes a sealing structure circumscribing the surface and having a top surface or edge forming a sealing rim. A distance between the outer edge of the surface and an outermost of the support locations is greater than a distance between the outer edge and the sealing rim. |
| US08514368B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, method for levelling an object, and lithographic projection method
A lithographic apparatus configured to project a patterned radiation beam onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a support configured to hold a patterned object, and a measurement system configured to detect orientations and/or densities of user area structures that are present on a user area of the patterned object. |
| US08514365B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus is described with a drain configured to remove liquid from a gap between an edge of the substrate and the substrate table on which the substrate is supported. The drain is provided with a means to provide liquid to the drain irrespective of the position of the substrate table and/or a means to saturate gas within the drain. Those measures reduce the variations in heat load due to evaporation of liquid in the drain. |
| US08514363B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel that can maintain sufficient adhesiveness between substrates. A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, circuit lines disposed in the first substrate, the circuit lines including a color filter common voltage line, and a sealing member interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The circuit lines are disposed in a first area including the color filter common voltage line and a second area that does not include the color filter common voltage line, and the sealing member is disposed closer to the edge of the first substrate than to the second area of the circuit lines. |
| US08514361B2 |
Liquid crystal having common electrode
A liquid crystal display device comprises a first substrate, a thin film transistor over an upper surface the first substrate, an interlayer insulating film formed over the thin film transistor, a first insulating layer formed over the interlayer insulating film, a second insulating layer formed over the interlayer insulating film, an electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor wherein a portion of the electrode is formed on at least side surfaces of the first insulating layer, a common electrode formed over the interlayer insulating film wherein a portion of the common electrode is formed on at least side surfaces of the second insulating layer such that an electric field is produced by the common electrode and the electrode, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, and a mixture containing a polymer and a liquid crystal between the first substrate and the second substrate. The electric field is applied to the mixture. |
| US08514359B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method therefor
Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a liquid crystal layer filled between a first and a second substrate; two polymer structures; and a plurality of pixels each including a first and a second electrode, one of the first and the second electrode being a pixel electrode, in which: each of the plurality of pixels is provided within a region surrounded by a signal line, a part of the signal line being formed between adjacent two of the plurality of pixels; each of the two polymer structures, which extends along the part of the signal line so as to sandwich the part of the signal line in plan view and is formed from one of the first and the second substrate toward another thereof, is formed so as to overlap with any of the region; and the two adjacent polymer structures has the liquid crystal layer provided therebetween. |
| US08514354B2 |
Patterned birefringent product
A product comprising a patterned optically anisotropic layer having two or more regions of different birefringence in the form of a pattern, comprising at least an intensity gradation-type pixel of approximately uniform birefringence and an area gradation-type pixel comprising two or more of drawing units of different birefringence, and each region of a single birefringence in the patterned optically anisotropic layer comprising a plurality of the drawing units is provided. The product permits the formation of full-color images (latent images) and includes delicate color representation, such as the densities of particular colors. |
| US08514353B2 |
Color filter and electronic display device
A color filter including a red (R) pixel, a green (G) pixel and a blue (B) pixel, wherein at least one of the red (R) pixel, the green (G) pixel and the blue (B) pixel includes one or more kinds of dyes and one or more kinds of pigments and wherein areas of the red (R) pixel, the green (G) pixel and the blue (B) pixel are not the same. |
| US08514349B2 |
Image display apparatus and backlight apparatus used therefor
A plurality of backlight blocks are aligned, each block includes light sources and a unit light guide plate for guiding light from the light sources to the side of a liquid crystal panel, unit diffusion patterns are formed in a zigzag alignment on the unit light guide plate and another diffusion pattern is formed on the back of the unit light guide plate. One side of the unit light guide plate is defined as a light entrance surface and LEDs as the light sources are aligned along the light entrance surface to satisfy p≧a≧c where a indicates the size of the unit diffusion pattern in a direction orthogonal to an exit optical axis of the LEDs, c indicates the size of an LED emission surface in the direction of alignment of the LEDs, and p indicates the pitch of alignment of the light sources. |
| US08514340B2 |
Method of fabricating array substrate having double-layered patterns
An array substrate having double-layered metal patterns for use in a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The array substrate includes a gate electrode and a gate line each having a molybdenum alloy (Mo-alloy) layer and a copper (Cu) layer configured sequentially on a substrate; a gate insulation layer on the substrate to cover the gate electrode and the gate line; an active layer arranged on the gate insulation layer in a portion over the gate electrode; an ohmic contact layer on the active layer; a data line on the gate insulation layer, the data line crossing the gate line and defining a pixel region; source and drain electrodes on the ohmic contact layer, the source electrode extending from the data line, and the drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode; a passivation layer on the gate insulation layer covering the data line and the source and drain electrode, the passivation layer having a drain contact hole exposing a portion of the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode configured on the passivation layer in the pixel region, the pixel electrode electrically contacting the drain electrode through the drain contact hole. |
| US08514335B2 |
Transceiver
The present invention provides a method for providing an optimal wireless communication method according to a change in a wireless communication environment. When the reception status is degraded while an HD stream signal, which uses a first wireless method, is transmitted and received, the method scans channels for which radar wave monitoring is not required and switches the transmission/reception to a second wireless method using free channel A. The method further scans channels for which radar wave monitoring is required and, if free channel B has a bandwidth wider than that of channel A is found, monitors channel B and if channel B is not used by a radar wave, switches the channel from channel A to channel B. |
| US08514334B2 |
Image display device for displaying color image on color display unit
An image display device such as an LCD television comprises a microcomputer and LUTs (look-up tables) which are tables of correction data for correcting color balance of an image to be displayed. The microcomputer recalculates correction data in the LUTs and updates the correction data to the recalculated correction data based on: an input value InL of image data of a Low side white balance adjustment image; an input value InH of image data of a High side white balance adjustment image; and a gain value GainL and a gain value GainH which are provided to the input value InL and the input value InH, respectively, to bring color balance of the Low side white balance adjustment image and the High side white balance adjustment image to a predetermined color balance, respectively. |
| US08514331B2 |
De-rotation adaptor and method for enabling interface of handheld multi-media device with external display
Methods, systems and circuit elements that enable improved interface between a source electronic devices that generate rotatable image frames and an external sink device. In particular, aspects of the invention enable image de-rotation and/or improved speed in horizontal and V-scaling of image data supplied to an external sink device. |
| US08514329B2 |
Jitter estimation for MPEG receivers
A method is disclosed for estimating jitter in an MPEG receiver. An MPEG transport stream is received, including a plurality of packets. At least one of the plurality of packets includes a program clock reference (PCR) value. For each PCR value received, a current packet delay is calculated by subtracting a system time clock (STC) value of the MPEG receiver from the PCR value. If the current packet delay is greater than an upper boundary value or less than a lower boundary value, one or more of an upper and a lower boundary impact density is updated, and based on a comparison of the upper boundary impact density to the lower boundary impact density, one or more of the upper boundary value and the lower boundary value is updated. A current jitter value is calculated using the difference between the upper and the lower boundary value. |
| US08514326B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system
Provided is an information processing apparatus including an image acquisition unit for acquiring a real space image including an image of another apparatus, a coordinate system generation unit for generating a spatial coordinate system of the real space image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and a transmission unit for transmitting spatial information constituting the spatial coordinate system generated by the coordinate system generation unit to the other apparatus sharing the spatial coordinate system. |
| US08514325B2 |
Shutter arrangement for covering a camera lens
A shutter arrangement for covering a camera lens includes a camera lens cover that is movable in a plane along a first direction between a first closed position and a second opened position. In the first closed position, the camera lens cover substantially covers the camera lens and in the second opened position, the camera lens is substantially uncovered. The shutter arrangement also includes a movable cover that moves between a first position and a second position which displaces the movable cover from the plane. |
| US08514323B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging method
An imaging unit obtains image data. An imaging controller controls the imaging unit to obtain a plurality of pieces of image data having different exposure values. A standard image decision unit decides the image data with the shortest length of exposure time of the plurality of pieces of image data as standard image data. A correlation quantity detection unit detects a correlation quantity between the standard image data and the plurality of pieces of image data. A first combination processing unit generates first combined image data by combining the plurality of pieces of image data in accordance with the correlation quantity. A second combination processing unit combines the standard image data and the first combined image data. |
| US08514322B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive control and dynamic range extension of image sensors
Systems and methods are provided for obtaining adaptive exposure control and dynamic range extension of image sensors. In some embodiments, an image sensor of an image system can include a pixel array with one or more clear pixels. The image system can separately control the amount of time that pixels in different lines of the pixel array are exposed to light. As a result, the image system can adjust the exposure times to prevent over-saturation of the clear pixels, while also allowing color pixels of the pixel array to be exposed to light for a longer period of time. In some embodiments, the dynamic range of the image system can be extended through a reconstruction and interpolation process. For example, a signal reconstruction module can extend the dynamic range of one or more green pixels by combining signals associated with green pixels in different lines of the pixel array. |
| US08514320B2 |
Electronic camera and focus control method which minimizes the time required for adjusting a focus
An electronic camera includes a shutter button. When the shutter button is half-depressed, a focal level of an object is determined on the basis of an image signal outputted from an imaging device, and a moving start position of a focus lens is settled on the basis of the determination result. More specifically, a correction amount of the moving start position is settled in accordance with the determination result of the focal level, and a position that subtracts the correction amount from a lens position at a time the shutter button being half-depressed is settled as the moving start position. The higher the focal level, the more reduced the correction amount. The focus lens gradually moves toward the imaging device from the settled moving start position, and a focal position is specified on the basis of the image signal outputted from the imaging device at each step. |
| US08514317B2 |
Compact camera module
A camera module includes a lens holder, a lens module, an image sensor chip, and a printed circuit board. The lens module is received in the lens holder. The lens module includes a lens barrel and at least one lens received in the lens barrel. The image sensor chip has a photosensitive area configured for receiving light transmitted through the lens module. The printed circuit board defines a top surface for receiving both the image sensor chip and the lens barrel thereon and an opposite bottom surface thereon. The bottom surface defines a plurality of recesses thereon for receiving the corresponding electronic elements therein by adhesives. |
| US08514315B2 |
Method for processing image data in portable electronic device, and portable electronic device having camera thereof
The present disclosure is related to a method for processing image data in the portable electronic device, the method including obtaining an image through an image obtaining unit of the electronic device having a plurality of shot modes; determining each good-to-fit score of the plurality of shot modes for the obtained image; and displaying the each good-to-fit score of the plurality of shot modes for the obtained image along with the obtained image. |
| US08514314B2 |
Camera system
A camera system 100 has an imaging optical system L, an imaging component 45, a liquid crystal monitor 16, a body microprocessor 12, an aperture setting component 29, and an image display controller 15. The body microprocessor 12 allows a target aperture value and a reference aperture value to be set as set conditions and determines the reference aperture value on the basis of the target aperture value. The aperture setting component 29 adjusts a photography condition on the basis of the set conditions. The image display controller 15 displays part of a reference image a1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the reference aperture value as a reference display image A1 in a first display region R131 and displays part of a target image b1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the target aperture value a1 as a target display image B1 in a second display region R132. |
| US08514310B2 |
Increasing readout speed in CMOS APS sensors through group readout
A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped and provided with group signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected group significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Group signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications. |
| US08514309B2 |
Solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor comprises a pixel unit having a substrate including therein a photoelectric conversion section and an optical waveguide arranged on a light incident side of the substrate so as to guide an incident light converted into a guided mode of the optical waveguide and being propagated through the optical waveguide to the photoelectric conversion section. The optical waveguide has a mode conversion section for changing a propagation state of the incident light such that the incident light being propagated through the optical waveguide has an electric field amplitude distributed with the same sign at a light incident surface of the substrate. |
| US08514307B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, imaging module, and imaging system
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to perform photoelectric conversion on incident light. The device also includes a color filter array including at least three kinds of color filters different in filtering wavelength region. Any of the color filters is placed for each of the photoelectric conversion elements to filter the incident light. The spectral transmittances of the color filters are equal to each other in a predetermined wavelength region. |
| US08514305B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device configured to convert an optical image generated via an optical system to an image signal, an extracting unit configured to extract a characteristic area including a predetermined characteristic from an image which is based on the image signal, an aperture correction unit configured to perform an aperture correction based on an aperture correction characteristic determined for each of predetermined positions on the image based on the image signal, and a controller configured to determine the aperture correction characteristic based on a position of the characteristic area on the image based on the image signal. |
| US08514304B2 |
Image processing device and image pickup device using the same
An image processing device capable of obtaining a high precision image while aberration asymmetry is corrected.An image processing device includes image obtaining means configured to obtain an input image, image restoration means configured to restore the input image using a generated or selected image restoration filter in accordance with a transfer function of an image pickup system used for forming the input image from an object image. The image restoration filter makes a difference between absolute values of transfer functions of two azimuthal directions at a time when the restoration image is obtained from an object smaller than a difference between absolute values of transfer functions of the two azimuthal directions of the image pickup system. |
| US08514302B2 |
Image processing equipment and digital camera that filter noise
An image processing equipment generates a reduced image corresponding to an obtained image in parallel with a processing of storing the generated reduced image in a reduced image storing part, and pipelines a processing of extracting a low-frequency noise component of each of pixels included in the obtained image and a processing of sequentially subtracting the low-frequency being extracted from pixel data corresponding to one of the obtained image stored in the image storing part and an adjusted image generated from the obtained, so as to achieve a pipeline processing of a multi-resolution noise filtering with a few line memories. |
| US08514290B2 |
Camera-shake correction apparatus and imaging apparatus including the same
A camera-shake correction apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an object image, a camera-shake detection unit configured to detect a camera-shake applied to the camera-shake correction apparatus, a correction unit configured to correct the camera-shake of the object image by moving a correction member based on a camera-shake signal detected by the camera-shake detection unit, and a control unit configured to measure an amplitude of the camera-shake or a frequency of the camera-shake, or both the amplitude of the camera-shake and the frequency of the camera-shake, based on the camera-shake signal supplied from the camera-shake detection unit, and the control unit further configured to control to hold the correction member at a latest position if it is determined that the measured amplitude is smaller than a predetermined amplitude or if it is determined that the measured frequency is lower than a predetermined frequency, or if it is determined that the measured amplitude is smaller than the predetermined amplitude and the measured frequency is lower than the predetermined frequency. |
| US08514286B2 |
Image transmission apparatus and image reception apparatus
An image transmission apparatus includes: a deletion unit that deletes an image file recorded in a storage medium; an identifying unit that identifies an image file booked for transmission by an external image reception apparatus; a prohibiting unit that prohibits the deletion unit from deleting the image file recorded in the storage medium, which has been identified by the identifying unit; and a transmission control unit that reads the image file recorded in the storage medium, which has been identified by the identifying unit, and transmits the image file to the image reception apparatus. |
| US08514283B2 |
Automatic vision sensor placement apparatus and method
There are provided an automatic vision sensor placement apparatus and method which analyze static spatial information in various aspects, calculate priorities of spaces using an agent that models the movement pattern of a user, suggest a method of effectively covering a given space, provide a camera placement method to appropriately install cameras with various levels of performance in a specified space, and calculate the optimal number of cameras to be installed based on installation cost. |
| US08514280B2 |
Method and system for detecting an individual by means of passive infrared sensors
The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting an individual in a given observation zone by means of N passive infrared sensors (1) each consisting of an optical device (2) provided with a matrix of cells focusing the infrared energy (IR) received onto a single pyro-electric component (3) linked to a calculation unit (4) able to interpret the information received. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it consists, in order to detect an individual in the observation zone, in employing a limited number of N similar infrared sensors (1) centered on the same observation zone, each provided with 2N−1 cells (2C), and hence beams (F), which for each of the latter are masked, according to a different combination in such a way as to provide the calculation unit with the information enabling the individual to be located in terms of position and displacement. |
| US08514278B2 |
Inspection apparatus having illumination assembly
An inspection apparatus can comprise at least one light source for illuminating a target. The at least one light source can be disposed and/or controlled in such manner as to reduce a heat generation by the at least one light source and in such manner as to reduce a power consumption of the at least one light source. |
| US08514277B2 |
Video infrared retinal image scanner
A method of scanning a retinal image includes providing a light source, emitting radiation from the light source toward a beam splitter, focusing the radiation with a focusing lens on a retina, collecting radiation reflected by the retina with a camera, producing an image signal representative of a plurality of images of the retina based on the collected radiation, selecting one of the plurality of images of the retina for display from the image signal, displaying the selected image of the retina on a display, comparing the selected image of the retina to at least one of a plurality of images of retinas stored in a database, selecting one of the plurality of images of retinas stored in the database that matches the selected image of the retina, and displaying the one of the matching image of the retina on the display along with the selected image of the retina. |
| US08514275B2 |
Three-dimensional (3D) display method and system
A method is provided for a three-dimensional (3D) display system. The method includes obtaining a plurality of original images of a plurality of viewpoints in a 3D image for display, and adjusting an average parallax value between at least two of the plurality of original images based on a current size of a display window on a display device configured to display the 3D image. The method also includes reconstructing 3D scene information of the 3D image, and obtaining an image for each of the plurality of viewpoints and at least one new viewpoint based on the reconstructed 3D scene information. Further, the method includes combining the image of each viewpoint into a new 3D image with a desired average parallax, and sending the new 3D image to the display device for 3D display. |
| US08514271B2 |
Stereoscopic camera module and electronic device using the same
A stereoscopic camera module includes two lens modules, a light guide assembly, an image sensor, and a processor. Each lens module includes a shutter and at least one lens. The light guide assembly includes two inlets and an outlet, the two inlets are hermetically sealed by the two lens modules. External light rays enter into the two inlets from the two lens modules respectively and project from the outlet. The image sensor is position at the outlet of the light guide assembly and configured for capturing images. The processor is configured for controlling the shutters to open in quick succession and composing a left image and a right image alternately captured by the image sensor to a stereoscopic image. |
| US08514268B2 |
Method and device for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging which obtains camera pose using defocusing
A method and device for high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) imaging which obtains camera pose using defocusing is disclosed. The device comprises a lens obstructed by a mask having two sets of apertures. The first set of apertures produces a plurality of defocused images of the object, which are used to obtain camera pose. The second set of optical filters produces a plurality of defocused images of a projected pattern of markers on the object. The images produced by the second set of apertures are differentiable from the images used to determine pose, and are used to construct a detailed 3-D image of the object. Using the known change in camera pose between captured images, the 3-D images produced can be overlaid to produce a high-resolution 3-D image of the object. |
| US08514266B2 |
Orthorectifying stitched oblique imagery to a nadir view, and applications thereof
Embodiments of this invention relates to orthorectifying oblique imagery to a nadir view. In an embodiment, a method orthorectifies oblique photographic imagery. An oblique photographic image is projected onto a three-dimensional model of terrain. Points are sampled from the projected photographic image at the intersection of the three-dimensional model of terrain and parallel rays extended from a virtual viewport having a nadir perspective. The sampled points are assembled into an orthorectified image. Finally, the orthorectified image or the sampled points are adjusted approximately according to a difference in tilt angle between a camera that captured the oblique photographic image and the viewport having the nadir perspective to generate a foreshortened orthorectified image. Each location in the foreshortened orthorectified image corresponds linearly to a corresponding location in a two-dimensional map. |
| US08514262B2 |
Information processing apparatus and network conference system
An information processing apparatus is connected with at least one external apparatus via a network. An input image of a first user related to the information processing apparatus is accepted while displaying a plurality of target images on a display. The plurality of target images includes an image of a second user related to the external apparatus. A gaze of the first user is detected from the input image. A target image looked by the first user is recognized from the plurality of target images, based on the gaze. A first head model as a head model of the first user, and a first texture to be projected onto the first head model, are generated. A first ID to identify a subject of the target image, the first head model and the first texture, are transmitted to the external apparatus. |
| US08514261B2 |
Information processing system
In an information processing system provided with a camera and a microphone, for transmitting and receiving information of a user to and from another information processing system through a transmission lime, image data of the user obtained by a camera is stored in a memory in advance. When one user communicates another user, image data of the one user is obtained by the camera and is synthesized with the image data stored in the memory in advance by image-processing. The clothes, hair, background, make-up etc. of the one user are made different to reality and the image data are transmitted to the another user in the communication. |
| US08514260B2 |
Establishing eye contact in video conferencing
A video-conferencing system includes a display panel configured to form a display image for viewing by a local video conferencer, a camera configured to acquire a facial image of the local video conferencer and having an aperture oriented toward the display panel, and an array of partly reflective facets aligned in parallel against a plane disposed parallel to and forward of the display panel, each facet positioned to transmit a portion of the display image from the display panel through that facet to the local video conferencer, and to reflect a portion of the facial image of the local video conferencer to the aperture. |
| US08514255B2 |
Information storage medium, image control device, and image control method
An image control device includes a display control section that performs a normal display control process that controls an image based on a first designation position, and controls the image based on a second designation position, and performs a special display control process that controls the image based on the first designation position and the second designation position based on a given condition. |
| US08514252B1 |
Feedback during crossing of zoom levels
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to zooming into or out of image content. A user may request to zoom into or out of image content by inputting a multi-touch gesture. The request may reach one or more discrete zoom levels of a plurality of discrete zoom levels. Discrete zoom levels may indicate specific magnification factors for which a device may be able to clearly render image content. The device may output an indication when the request reaches the one or more discrete zoom levels. |
| US08514251B2 |
Enhanced character input using recognized gestures
Enhanced character input using recognized gestures, in which a user's first and second gestures are recognized, and a control including radially disposed interaction elements is output. At least a portion of the interaction elements are associated with clusters of characters. When an interaction element is selected, the characters associated with the selected interaction element are disposed radially in relation to the selected interaction element. Using the control, the interaction element and a character associated with the selected interaction element are selected based on the user's recognized first and second gestures, respectively, and the selected character is output. |
| US08514250B2 |
Display generation system
A display generation system that is able to generate display signals for an underlay image with at least one embedded safety pattern and display images for an overlay image. The display generation system and method are able to determine whether there are any anomalies or graphical errors when an overlay display generated by the system or generated by some other system is displayed simultaneously with the underlay image with the embedded safety pattern. The display generation system uses the embedded safety pattern to detect the occurrence of anomalies in the simultaneous display and uses information from its own generated overlay image to detect graphical errors in the simultaneous display. Flight display systems for aircraft can use the display generation system and method of the present invention to display an underlay image depicting geographical scenery in the vicinity of the aircraft while on the ground, during takeoff or in flight. The underlay image is displayed simultaneously with an overlay image depicting standard graphics of a flight display system. |
| US08514249B2 |
Collapsing areas of a region in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources
Described herein are processes and devices that coalesced and/or collapse areas in a region of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. Some embodiments are directed to detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe and, in response, determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe. In some embodiments, the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects. Some embodiments are further directed to selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area, coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area, and, in response, collapsing the first area of the virtual universe. |
| US08514247B1 |
Object trees for multiprocessor systems
A system includes a memory, a specialized processing unit and a processor. The processor receives data from a user and creates a first set of objects in a first structure based on the data. The system further creates, contemporaneously with the creation of the first set of objects and based on the first set of objects in the first structure, a second set of objects in a second structure, where the second set of objects is optimized for use by the specialized processing unit, and stores the first and second sets of objects in the memory. The specialized processing unit executes an algorithm based on the second set of objects. |
| US08514245B2 |
Image selection device and control method thereof
An image is selected from a plurality of non-selected images, an evaluation value is stored for each value of attribute information of a selected image (cluster) which is selected by the selection unit, and when an image is selected by the selection unit, a presentation priority of the non-selected images is determined based on a value of the attribute information of the non-selected images not selected by the selection unit so that the evaluation values are even. |
| US08514244B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method therefore
Method in a mobile communications device, comprising: providing foreground picture data, providing background picture data, displaying the background and foreground picture data according to determined first positions and amounts on said display unit, receiving direction data, determining, based on the received direction data, a second position and amount of the background picture data and foreground picture data to display, respectively, wherein the relative change of position of the background picture data is different from the relative change of position of the foreground picture data. Also disclosed is a mobile communications device. |
| US08514243B2 |
Methods, systems, and programming for producing and displaying subpixel-optimized font bitmaps using non-linear color balancing
The invention relates to methods, systems, and programming for producing and drawing subpixel-optimized bitmap images of shapes, such as fonts, by using non-linear color balancing. Some embodiments associate a luminosity with each subpixel of such an image as a function of (a) the percent of the subpixel's area covered by the shape and (b) the distribution to nearby subpixels of portions of the subpixel's resulting coverage value that cause color imbalance. Some embodiments distribute a subpixel's coverage value as a function of its difference from coverage values of other subpixels in the same pixel. Some embodiments draw a image comprised of pure foreground and background color pixels, as well as intermediary pixels in which subpixels are determined as a function of both foreground and background colors and color balancing. The intermediary pixels can, but need not, separate the foreground and background pixels along the direction of color balancing. |
| US08514234B2 |
Method of displaying an operating system's graphical user interface on a large multi-projector display
The display of a Windows Desktop is modified using one or more processors (e.g. CPUs and/or GPUs) that re-direct drawing of the Desktop to mirrored swap chain buffers; modify the contents of the a front buffer of the mirrored swap chain buffers; and draw the Desktop using the modified contents of the front buffer of the mirrored swap chain buffers. To modify the displayed Desktop, Windows needs to draw into these mirrored swap chains instead of its own. To accomplish this, all Direct3D functions that use a swap chain are hooked so that they return the mirrored swap chain, and any function that uses the contents of the swap chain are hooked. Basically any function that takes a Direct3D surface or texture is hooked and the respective item from the mirrored swap chains is returned if it is in the mirrored swap chain data structures. |
| US08514229B2 |
Simplifying a polygon
Processes, machines, and computer-readable media are provided for expanding and simplifying a polygon or reducing and simplifying a polygon. Polygon expanding or reducing logic receives information that represents a polygon having a set of vertices. The polygon expanding or reducing logic determines another polygon having another set of vertices, such that the other polygon encompasses or is encompassed by the polygon, by determining, for each vertex of the set of vertices, a new set of vertices that are derived from the vertex and are at least a particular distance outside or inside the polygon. The vertex reducing logic determines whether an intermediate vertex is within the particular distance of a proposed segment between two other vertices of the other set of vertices, even though the intermediate vertex is not on the proposed segment, and, if so, removing the intermediate vertex from the other set of vertices. |
| US08514228B2 |
Method for the visual display of the quality of power transmitted on a power transmission system
In a visual display of power transmission quality, at least three display regions are displayed. The display regions are a time-related, a location-related and a control-related display region. The time-related display region enables a selection of the time interval on the part of the user that is to be examined for a violation of one or more predetermined power quality rules. |
| US08514227B2 |
Electronic computer and method of controlling the same
A display that displays a graph corresponding to a function expression, an input unit that specifies a plurality of point positions on the graph displayed on the display unit, a processor that performs display control of a graph corresponding to a function expression on the display unit, does a specific calculation on the basis of positional information on a plurality of pointers displayed on the display unit and the function expression of the graph and performs display control of a result of calculation on the display unit, performs movement display control on the graph of an arbitrary one of the plurality of pointers displayed on the display unit according to an input from the input unit, and does the calculation again, updates the result of calculation, and performs display control of the updated result on the display unit, an storage area, and a work storage area, are provided. |
| US08514226B2 |
Methods and systems of graphically conveying a strength of communication between users
An exemplary method includes generating a graphic configured to represent a strength of communication between a user and another user and modifying the graphic based on at least one factor associated with one or more communications between the users. An exemplary system includes a storage facility configured to maintain data associated with a strength of communication between a user and another user and a strength of communication facility configured to generate a graphic configured to graphically represent the strength of communication in accordance with the data. The strength of communication facility is further configured to modify the graphic based on a change in at least one factor associated with one or more communications between the users. |
| US08514225B2 |
Scaling pixel depth values of user-controlled virtual object in three-dimensional scene
Pixel depth values of a user-controlled virtual object in a three-dimensional scene may be re-scaled to avoid artifacts when the scene is displayed. Minimum and maximum threshold values can be determined for the three-dimensional scene. Each pixel depth value of the user-controlled virtual object can be compared to the minimum threshold value and the maximum threshold value. A depth value of each pixel of the user-controlled virtual object that falls below the minimum threshold value can be set to a corresponding low value. Each pixel depth value of the user-controlled virtual object that exceeds the maximum threshold value can be set to a corresponding high value. |
| US08514224B2 |
Three-dimensional modeling apparatus and method using grid structure
Three-dimensional modeling apparatus and method, the three-dimensional modeling apparatus including: an input curved surface; an input point arrangement unit; a representative point determining unit; a polygon generating unit; a curved surface model generating unit; and a curved surface model combining unit. A plurality of curved surface models is combined with one another to generate a three-dimensional image so that a three-dimensional shape that is similar to an actual shape of an object to be modeled may be easily generated. |
| US08514223B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating three-dimensional model data
A three-dimensional model data generation apparatus generates and stores a three-dimensional model expressing a three-dimensional object that includes a first element having a first surface region and a second element having a second surface region. The apparatus includes a generation unit generating surface shape data on the first and second elements; a detection unit detecting a contact region on which the first surface region and the second surface region are in contact with each other; a storage unit storing, in a storage device, the surface shape data generated by the generation unit; and a discard unit discarding the surface shape data on the contact region in the second surface region. |
| US08514222B2 |
Device, system, and method of computer aided design (CAD)
Device, system, and method of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD). A system of CAD may include a client application to communicate with a server and to render to a user a viewport including at least a portion of a CAD model based on data received from the server, wherein the client application is capable of receiving section information from the server, wherein the section information defines a plurality of geometric sections of the CAD model; selecting at least one section of the plurality of sections based on a relationship between the viewport and the boundaries of the plurality of geometric sections; requesting from the server one or more files corresponding to the at least one selected section; receiving the one or more files corresponding to the at least one selected section; and rendering the viewport based on the one or more files. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08514220B2 |
Product modeling system and method
A product modeling system and method are provided. On one embodiment, the product modeling system is used to model a piece of apparel, such as a shirt, with a design wherein the model with the design is used to display the piece of apparel with the design to a consumer. |
| US08514219B2 |
3D image special effects apparatus and a method for creating 3D image special effects
A 3D image special effects apparatus for creating special effects on a 3D image including a first image and a second image having disparity. The 3D image special effects apparatus includes: a range specification receiving unit capable of receiving an input of a specified range of the first image on which the special effects are created; a first block division unit capable of dividing the specified range into a plurality of first image blocks; a first special effects unit capable of creating the special effects on each of the plurality of the first image blocks; a block matching unit capable of determining an image from the second image which corresponds to an image of the each of the plurality of the first image blocks, and deriving a parallax vector which represents a directionality and a magnitude of parallax between the first image blocks and the corresponding image; a second block division unit capable of determining a plurality of second image blocks on the second image in accordance with the parallax vector, the second image blocks corresponding to the plurality of first image blocks; and a second special effects unit capable of creating the special effects on the determined plurality of second image blocks. |
| US08514217B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving light scanner
An apparatus for driving a light scanner and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes an apparatus for driving a light scanner, which scans an image on a screen, the apparatus comprising the light scanner driven by a drive signal, a sensing unit sensing a driving of the light scanner, a pixel clock signal generating unit generating a pixel clock signal by detecting a 90-degree phase difference between the drive signal and a sensing signal sensed by the sensing unit, a sync signal adjusting unit adjusting vertical and horizontal sync signals of an input video according to the pixel clock signal and a driving unit driving the light scanner according to the adjusted horizontal and vertical sync signals. |
| US08514216B2 |
Power consumption detection apparatus, power consumption control apparatus, image processing apparatus, self-luminous display apparatus, electronic device, power consumption detection method, power consumption control method, and computer program
Disclosed herein is a power consumption detection apparatus including: a line current calculation section configured to calculate, based on an image signal, a value of a line current consumed by each of horizontal lines; and a power consumption calculation section configured to calculate, on a horizontal line cycle, power consumed by an entire display panel based on the most recent values of the line currents, the values corresponding in number to a vertical resolution. |
| US08514207B2 |
Display apparatus and method
Image processing and corresponding apparatus, methods and systems. The image processing includes controlling n number of data-line driver circuits included in a display apparatus, the data-line driver circuit driving n number of subpixels. Such controlling causes to display a moving picture image such that frame information of the moving picture image with first frame rate is displayed at a second frame rate, which is 1/n of the first frame rate, and the n number of subpixels included in each pixel are sequentially driven with a time shift, the time shift being 1/n of display period of single frame with the second frame rate. |
| US08514206B2 |
Display processing device and timing controller thereof
A timing controller for a display processing device includes: a plurality of predetermined pins for receiving an image signal by a pin-share method, wherein the image signal is a first format image signal or a second format image signal; a detector coupled to the predetermined pins and for detecting at least one of the predetermined pins to determine whether the image signal is the first format image signal or the second format image signal and outputting a detection result; and a processor coupled to the detector and for processing the image signal according to the detection result to generate and output a timing control signal. |
| US08514203B2 |
Flexible calibration device for touch sensor panel calibration
The efficient calibration of multi-touch sensor panels that have non-flat surfaces is disclosed. The calibration of the sensor panels can be accomplished using a calibration device with a flexible calibration surface. The flexible calibration surface is particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. The flexible apparatus can conform to the non-flat touch sensor panel and apply the equivalent of a conductive touch over most or all of the pixels. |
| US08514202B2 |
Optical touch apparatus and operating method thereof
An optical touch apparatus is disclosed. The optical touch apparatus comprises a light source emitting module, an optical module, a light sensing module, and a processing module. The optical module and the light sensing module are set around a surface of the optical touch apparatus. The light source emitting module sequentially emits scanning lights uniformly distributed above a direct scanned region of the surface according to a time sequence. When an object forms a touch point on the surface, the object will block the scanning lights and reflected lights reflected by the optical module. The light sensing module generates a sensing result according to the condition the light sensing module receives the scanning lights and the reflected lights. The processing module determines the position of the touch point according to the time sequence and the sensing result. |
| US08514198B2 |
Electro-optical device, electronic apparatus, and contact detection method
An electro-optical device is provided and includes a driving section that supplies an electric potential to a third electrode and supplies an electric potential to a fourth electrode; and a controlling section that controls the operation of writing into a first memorizing section and a second memorizing section and the operation of reading out of the first memorizing section and the second memorizing section. A contact detection method that utilizes an electro-optical device is also provided. |
| US08514197B2 |
Multimodal portable communication interface for accessing video content
A portable communication device has a touch screen display that receives tactile input and a microphone that receives audio input. The portable communication device initiates a query for media based at least in part on tactile input and audio input. The touch screen display is a multi-touch screen. The portable communication device sends an initiated query and receives a text response indicative of a speech to text conversion of the query. The portable communication device then displays video in response to tactile input and audio input. |
| US08514191B2 |
Touch panel sensing circuit
A touch panel sensing circuit senses a voltage variation of a coupling capacitor formed between a first directional signal line and a second directional signal line separated from the first directional signal line by a dielectric when an object approaches. The sensing circuit eliminates the parasitic capacitance effect on the signal lines and rapidly accumulates charges for an amplifier in sensing to thereby increase the operational speed of the sensing circuit. |
| US08514188B2 |
Hand posture mode constraints on touch input
A method of controlling a virtual object within a virtual workspace includes recognizing a hand posture of an initial touch gesture directed to a touch-input receptor, and a mode constraint is set based on the hand posture. The mode constraint specifies a constrained parameter of a virtual object that is to be maintained responsive to a subsequent touch gesture. The method further includes recognizing a subsequent touch gesture directed to the touch-input receptor. An unconstrained parameter of the virtual object is modulated responsive to the subsequent touch gesture while the constrained parameter of the virtual object is maintained in accordance with the mode constraint. |
| US08514185B2 |
Mutual capacitance touch sensing device
A mutual capacitive touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes a mutual capacitive sensing controller having a plurality of distinct drive lines and a plurality of distinct sense lines; a source for driving a current or voltage separately though each drive line; and a mutual capacitance sensing circuit that monitors the capacitance at the sensing lines. The touch sensing device also includes a plurality of independent and spatially distinct mutual capacitive sensing nodes set up in a non two dimensional array. Each node includes a drive electrode that is spatially separated from a sense electrode. The drive electrode is coupled to one of the drive lines and the sense electrode is coupled to one of the sense lines. Each node is set up with a different combination of drive and sense line coupled thereto. |
| US08514184B2 |
Operating element and method of inputting values into a medical apparatus
The present invention relates to an operating element and a method of inputting values into a medical apparatus (1), having a touch-sensitive sensor (19) and an operating surface (22), the sensor (19) being mounted below a cover (20) forming the operating surface (22), which detects the presence or absence of an operating means (11) and generates a contact value (17). A display (14) of the operating element shows a current value (16), which is variable by means of the contact value (17) of the sensor (19) to a value (15) to be set. Advantageously, the current value (16) can be varied by means of contact of the operating surface (22) to any point or to a point which corresponds to the value (15) to be set, respectively depending on the manner of contact of the operating surface (22). |
| US08514181B2 |
Pressure sensitive and luminous keyboard
A pressure sensitive and luminous keyboard includes at least one key, a pressure detecting circuit, an illumination module and a controlling unit. When one of the plural keys is depressed in response to a first pressure, the pressure detecting circuit generates a pressure-strength sensing voltage. According to the pressure-strength sensing voltage, the controlling unit will judge the strength of the first pressure and control the illumination module to emit either the first light beam or the second light beam. |
| US08514180B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to dynamically determining entered telephone numbers
As keys of the keyboard of a portable communication device are asserted, the device dynamically determines at least a portion of a corresponding telephone number to present on the device's display by, at least in part, considering likelihoods of differing explicit and implicit interpretations of these key assertions. By one approach this can comprise according a likelihood advantage to an explicit interpretation of one or more of the key assertions and/or implicit interpretations of such key assertions. These likelihood advantages need not be necessarily dispositive with respect to the resultant interpretation. |
| US08514178B2 |
Method for inputting a string of characters and apparatus thereof
Provided herein is a method and apparatus for more effectively and accurately inputting a character string through a gesture input, and the apparatus for inputting a character string associated with an embodiment of the present invention may include a keypad for inputting a gesture generated by touch motion; a memory configured to store at least one of a gesture, character string information corresponding to the gesture, and a gesture input from the keypad; a controller configured to identify a character string corresponding to the gesture input from the keypad to extract a character string corresponding to the identified character string or including the identified character string among the character strings previously stored in the memory; and a display unit configured to display the extracted character string under a control of the controller. |
| US08514169B2 |
Apparatus and system for writing data to electromechanical display elements
Charge balanced display data writing systems, apparatuses, and methods use write and hold cycles of opposite polarity during selected frame update periods. A release cycle may be provided to reduce the chance that a given display element will become stuck in an actuated state. |
| US08514166B2 |
LCD backlight dimming, LCD/image signal compensation and method of controlling an LCD display
A method of reducing power consumption in a liquid crystal display illuminated by a backlight device includes dimming the backlight and adjusting the intensity of the image to compensate for the dimmed backlight. A dimming factor for the backlight is based on a clipping point determining from the pixel intensity distribution of the image signal. The intensity of the image is adjusted based on the dimming factor, wherein a first tone mapping function is used to adjust pixel intensities below an intensity threshold and a second tone mapping function is used to adjust pixel intensities above the intensity threshold. |
| US08514165B2 |
Semiconductor device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a light detection circuit which includes an optical sensor to output a current signal corresponding to illuminance and a current-voltage conversion circuit to convert the current signal output from the optical sensor into a voltage signal; an amplifier to amplify the voltage signal output from the light detection circuit; a comparison circuit to compare voltage output from the amplifier and reference voltage and output the result to a control circuit; and the control circuit to determine an illuminance range to be detected depending on the output from the comparison circuit and output a control signal to the light detection circuit. The current-voltage conversion circuit has a function of changing a resistance value in accordance with the control signal. |
| US08514157B2 |
Differential amplifier
A differential amplifier has first and second input terminals (T1, T2), an output terminal, a differential stage connected to the first and second input terminals, and an amplification stage having an input terminal thereof connected to an output terminal of the differential stage and an output terminal thereof connected to the output terminal. The differential stage includes a first differential pair with one of an input pair thereof connected to the first input terminal (T1) and the other connected to the output terminal, a second differential pair with one of an input pair thereof connected to the first input terminal (T1) and the other connected to the second input terminal (T2), a first current source for supplying current to the first differential pair, a second current source for supplying current to the second differential pair, and a load circuit connected to the output pairs of the first and second differential pairs. One of the output pair of the first differential pair is connected in common to one of the output pair of the second differential pair, and their common connection node constitutes the output terminal of the differential stage. |
| US08514150B2 |
Plasma display apparatus
A plasma display apparatus according to the present invention can drive a panel at a high speed, and reduce a brightness difference which may be generated in block driving, to thereby improve picture quality of a display image. |
| US08514148B2 |
Head mount display
In a head mount display, an imaging unit detects hands of a user in such a manner by imaging a range which includes at least a display region displayed by a display unit out of a field of view of a user. In displaying a reference image which is used as a reference when a user performs a predetermined operation, the head mount display reduces visibility of the reference image for the user in a region defined between one hand and the other hand of the user. |
| US08514143B2 |
Electronic device with antenna switch and antenna switching method thereof
An electronic device with antenna switch comprises a first antenna, a first proximity sensor, a second antenna, a detection module, a determination module and a control module. The first proximity sensor is located with the first antenna at a first side portion of the electronic device. The detection module detects an approach signal from the first proximity sensor. The determination module determines whether the strength of the approach signal is stronger than a threshold value in real time. The control module initiate the second antenna to receive signals through the switch if the strength of the approach signal is stronger then the strength of the threshold value. |
| US08514141B2 |
Low-frequency tag with separate transmit and receive antennas
A low frequency inductive two-way radio transceiver tag is provided that has separate antennas for transmitting and receiving signals within a reading volume. Thus, the tag of the invention includes both a transmit antenna and a receiving antenna, either separately or as a single antenna tuneable between two functional states with different impedances. The impedance of the receiving antenna is greater than the impedance of the transmitting antenna. For example, the impedance of the receiving antenna may be greater than the impedance of the transmitting antenna by a factor of 103. |
| US08514135B2 |
Protective circuit module and secondary battery pack including the same
A protective circuit module including: an insulating substrate including a plurality of layers; first and second printed circuit patterns disposed between the plurality of layers of the insulating substrate; a loop antenna electrically coupled to the first printed circuit pattern; and a wireless charging portion spaced apart from the loop antenna and electrically coupled to the second printed circuit pattern, wherein ends of the loop antenna and ends of the wireless charging portion are between the plurality of layers of the insulating substrate. |
| US08514134B2 |
MIMO antenna having parasitic elements
A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna having parasitic elements is provided. The MIMO antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of parasitic elements, and a bridge. The plurality of antenna elements is symmetrically disposed on one side surface of a board while maintaining a predetermined distance therebetween. The plurality of parasitic elements is disposed on the other side surface of the board in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of antenna elements. The bridge is formed of a metal pattern line, and is configured to connect the plurality of parasitic elements to each other. |
| US08514129B1 |
Buffering techniques for rapid processing of samples of signals modulated with periodic waveforms
Apparatus having corresponding methods and non-transitory computer-readable media comprise: a sampler configured to sample a signal, wherein the signal is modulated with a waveform having a known period, wherein the sampler obtains K samples in each period, and wherein each of the samples is N bits long, wherein K is an integer greater than 0, and N is an integer greater than 1; a memory bank, wherein the memory bank has M columns and K rows, wherein each column is N bits wide, and wherein M is an integer greater than 0; a write controller configured to write the samples to the memory bank in column order; a read controller configured to read the samples from the memory bank in row order; and an integrator configured to integrate the samples read from the memory bank, wherein the integrator provides a respective integration result for each row. |
| US08514127B2 |
Method and system of calculation for the evaluation of the precision performance of a satellite navigation system
A method and a system calculates the low probability events for the evaluation of the precision performance of a satellite navigation system, and makes it possible to certify the precision performance of a satellite navigation system for high levels of requirement by modelling events of low probability on the basis of the implementation of the theory of extreme values conjointly with the use of a chart for evaluating precision performance. |
| US08514126B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring the integrity of satellite tracking data used by a remote receiver
A method and apparatus for monitoring the integrity of satellite tracking data used by a remote receiver is described. In one example, a first set of satellite tracking data is received at a server. Integrity data for a second set of satellite tracking data is generated using the first set of satellite tracking data. The integrity data is then transmitted to at least one remote receiver having the second set of satellite tracking data. |
| US08514125B2 |
Distance measurement
A distance measurement arrangement provides a distance indication based on a delay between an electromagnetic signal, transmitted in a transmission mode, and a reflection of the electromagnetic signal, received in a reception mode. The distance measurement arrangement includes an antenna module having a plurality of antennas for transmitting the electromagnetic signal and for receiving the reflection. A beam-forming module defines respective magnitude and phase relationships with respect to respective antennas so as to cause the antenna module to provide a directional antenna pattern in at least one the two modes. A beam-forming and steering control module controls the respective magnitude and phase relationships as a function of a direction command. A 3-D picture can be formed by applying respective direction commands so as to obtain respective distance indications for respective portion in a two-dimensional picture. |
| US08514124B2 |
Method for operating a radar system in the event of possible concealment of the target object and radar system for performing the method
In a method for operating a radar system and a radar system for performing the method, in particular a microwave radar system for applications in or on motor vehicles, in which at least one target object and at least one possible concealing object are detected using radar technology, it is provided in particular that a detection is made of whether a concealment situation of the at least one target object by the at least one concealing object exists, and in the case of a detected concealment situation a loss of the target object is not automatically assumed. |
| US08514115B2 |
Optical analogue to digital converter
An analogue to digital converter is arranged to receive and process an analogue optical input signal to produce an N bit digital optical output signal quantised to 2N levels, where N is greater than or equal to 2. The converter has an input for receiving the optical input signal and N processing channels which are each coupled to the input, at least one of said processing channels comprising an optical processing circuit arranged to generate a plurality of digital optical output signals. The optical processing circuit is arranged to change the state of each digital optical output signal corresponding to a respective different value of the analogue optical input signal, and an optical combining circuit for combining the optical output signals in order to generate one bit of the N-bit digital optical signal. |
| US08514114B2 |
Measurement method and apparatus for ADC calibration
An uncalibrated converter element in an analog-digital converter may be replaced with two or more smaller elements having an effective total net value that is equal to that of the uncalibrated converter element. In an exemplary case where the element is capacitor, one or more of these smaller capacitors may be independently calibrated by switching the smaller capacitor between two voltages, such as a reference voltage and ground, and then calculating a difference of corresponding digital output codes generated by the backend ADC with previously calibrated capacitors associated with lesser significant bits. The total capacitance of the uncalibrated capacitor may be apportioned between the smaller capacitors so that the individual maximum charge contribution of each smaller capacitor to the converter output together with any expected manufacturing variance does not exceed the aggregated contribution of the previously calibrated capacitors. |
| US08514112B2 |
Programmable linearity correction circuit for digital-to-analog converter
The invention provides a systematic error correction network coupled to a converter. The converter may display a systematic non-linearity error, and the systematic error correction network shapes a correction transform function that acts like counter distortion function for the non-linearity error. The systematic error correction network then scales the correction transform function according to a reference variable, where the magnitude of non-linearity error is related to the reference variable. The scaled correction transform function is then applied to the converter path in order to generate a corrected analog output signal. |
| US08514111B1 |
Hybrid digital-to-synchro converter unit
A digital-to-synchro converter (“DSC”) is a device that converts digital signals to analog signals suitable for use by a synchro device. A conventional DSC implements complex circuitry to take digital input and generate [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ)] and [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Cos(Φ)] analog signals, and a Scott-T transformer to transform these analog signals into [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ)], [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+120)], and [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+240)] analog signals. An inventive DSC, as typically embodied, implements a microcontroller to take digital input and generate [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ)] and [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+120)] digital signals, a digital-to-analog converter to convert these digital signals to [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ)] and [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+120)] analog signals, and a regular transformer (i.e., non-Scott-T transformer) to transform these analog signals (typically, in amplified voltage form) into [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ)], [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+120)], and [V Sin({acute over (ω)}t) Sin(Φ+240)] analog signals. Inventive practice is accurate, versatile, and economical. |
| US08514110B2 |
Resolver digital converter
This resolver digital converter 10 includes a band pass processing unit that is disposed between a conversion unit and a multiplication unit and passes only a signal of a predetermined band through processing performed with a period that is shorter than the sampling period of an analog-to-digital converter and corrects the gains of digital signals before being input to the multiplication unit by using gain correction values that are set based on the maximum value and the minimum value of each one of digital signals passing through the band pass processing unit. |
| US08514101B2 |
Driving maneuver assist on full windshield head-up display
A method to dynamically register a graphic on a driving scene of a source vehicle utilizing a graphic projection display includes monitoring source vehicle information and monitoring road information. A preferred driving maneuver and a driving scene location of the preferred driving maneuver are identified based on the monitored source vehicle information and the monitored road information. A graphic exemplifying the preferred driving maneuver is determined and a location of the graphic is dynamically registering upon the graphic projection display corresponding to the driving scene. The dynamically registered location is based on the driving scene location of the preferred driving maneuver. The graphic is displayed upon the graphic projection display. |
| US08514100B2 |
Vehicle approach warning system
A control unit detects presence of a person and a direction of his/her face based on image information inputted from an imaging device, and determines that a warning need be provided to notify the person of vehicle approach if the person is detected but his/her face is not detected. The control unit checks a determination result as to whether the warning should be provided to a warning sound output device. The warning sound output device generates warning sound in response to the determination result indicating that sound warning is needed. |
| US08514091B2 |
Multiple alarm system with low battery detection for controlling transmission and reception of an alarm signal
The alarm device of the present invention includes a battery power supply; a sensor section that outputs an anomaly detection signal in the case of detecting an anomaly; an alert section that outputs an alarm based on the anomaly detection signal; a reception circuit section that discontinuously receives an event signal from another alarm device at every predetermined reception cycle; a transmission circuit section that transmits an event signal to the other alarm device in a transmission time that is at least the predetermined reception cycle; an anomaly monitoring section that, when the sensor section has detected an anomaly, causes the alert section to output the anomaly alarm based on the anomaly detection signal and causes the transmission of an event signal relating to the anomaly of the alarm device to the other alarm device by the transmission circuit section, and on the other hand, when the reception circuit section has received from the other alarm device an event signal relating to an anomaly of the other alarm device, causes the alert section to output the anomaly alarm; and a low battery monitoring section that, upon detecting a voltage drop of the battery power supply, causes a low battery alarm of the alarm device to be output by the alert section, and stops the transmission and reception of event signals in the transmission circuit section and the reception circuit section. |
| US08514090B2 |
Dust level sensor arrangement for dust collection system
A level detector or sensor for a dust collection system has a threaded housing that seats in a penetration in the lid of a dust collection drum or other container, and can be adjusted mechanically in its mounting. The sensor has an adjustment to control the distance at which it picks up light off the collected material. An elongated flexible cable connects the sensor with an alarm strobe, which may be a low-power LED device, and can be positioned at a convenient location remote from the drum. |
| US08514089B2 |
Temperature monitoring circuit
A temperature monitoring circuit includes a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor, a zener diode, an alarm, a silicon controlled rectifier. A first terminal of the NTC resistor is connected to a power supply through a first resistor. A second terminal of the NTC resistor is grounded. A cathode of the zener diode is connected to a node between the NTC resistor and the first resistor. An anode is grounded through a second resistor. A first terminal of the alarm is connected to the cathode of the zener diode, and is grounded through a third and fourth resistors in series. A cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier is connected to the anode of the zener diode. An anode of the silicon controlled rectifier is connected to a second terminal of the alarm. A control terminal of the silicon controlled rectifier is connected to a node between the third and fourth resistors. |
| US08514086B2 |
Displays for a medical device
Embodiments described herein relate to an analyte monitoring device having a user interface with a display and a plurality of actuators. The display is configured to render a plurality of display screens, including a home screen and an alert screen. The home screen is divided into a plurality of simultaneously displayed panels, with a first panel displays a rate of change of continuously monitored analyte levels in interstitial fluid, a second panel simultaneously displays a current analyte level and an analyte trend indicator, and a third panel displays status information of a plurality of components of the device. When an alarm condition is detected, the display renders the alert screen in place of the home screen, the alert screen displaying information corresponding to the detected alarm condition. Furthermore, the actuators are configured to affect further output of the analyte monitoring device corresponding to the detected condition. |
| US08514080B2 |
RFID tag with occupancy status recall
An RFID tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area. In an embodiment the tag has memory for storage of said tag status and the user input can be used to cause the tag to indicate a stored tag status. In a further embodiment, the tag reverts to a default status after a predetermined period of time. |
| US08514077B2 |
Security assembly for use with disposable displays
A system and method for displaying merchandise item is presented. A disposable merchandise display includes a disposable display stand, an alarm unit and tethers. The disposable display stand is interchangeable with other disposable display stands and the alarm unit. The disposable display stand further includes one or more display areas for displaying merchandise items and allowing for the handling of the merchandise times. The alarm unit is configured to be placed inside the disposable display stand. Each of the tethers can be connected between the alarm unit and a corresponding merchandise item. The alarm unit is configured to generate an alarm when a merchandise item displayed at the merchandise display is moved away from the disposable merchandise display or a tether is cut. |
| US08514076B2 |
Entrance security system
An entrance denial security system comprises an entrance barrier closing an entrance into a secured area having a plurality of structural tubular elements with hollow cores forming a rigid integral barrier. At least one optical fiber sensor line is laced through the hollow cores of the structural elements for detecting a fault condition signifying an unauthorized intrusion attempt. A processor in communication with the fiber sensor line generates a fault signal in response to the occurrence of a fault condition and identifying the entrance where the fault condition occurred. A communication device operatively associated with the processor communicates the fault signal and an alarm so that a proper security response can be made to the fault condition. The system further comprises a plurality of intrusion sensors disposed at certain locations. Preferably primary and secondary optical fiber sensor lines are routed through the structural elements and intrusion sensors, and primary and secondary scanning units pulse signals along the sensor lines and receive reflected signals back from the sensor lines. In the event of a cut through in the sensor lines, the primary sensor line monitors the barrier and sensors downstream of the break, and the secondary sensor line is activated to monitor the barriers and sensors downstream of the break. |
| US08514075B1 |
Ultrasonic receiving circuit
An ultrasonic occupancy sensor for detecting presence or absence of an occupant in a space includes an ultrasonic receiving circuit having a synchronous rectifier that allows the circuit to detect small-magnitude ultrasonic waves having a Doppler shift. The sensor comprises an ultrasonic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic waves at an ultrasonic operating frequency, and a controller that drives the transmitting circuit with complementary drive signals to control the ultrasonic operating frequency. The synchronous rectifier receives the drive signals from the controller and rectifies an amplified input signal to generate a rectified signal, which is filtered by a filter to generate a filtered signal. The controller receives the filtered signal and determines that the space is occupied if the magnitude of the filtered signal exceeds a threshold. The ultrasonic occupancy sensor may also include a low phase-noise oscillator circuit coupled to the controller for setting an internal operating frequency of the controller. |
| US08514073B2 |
Aquatic product transportation monitoring system and method thereof
The present invention illustrates an aquatic product transport monitoring system and method thereof. The aquatic product transport monitoring system includes a test terminal and a control terminal. Also, the test terminal tests a liquid having at least one aquatic product held therein to obtain a test value. When the test value does not fall within a preset value range built in the control terminal, a warning signal is transmitted. |
| US08514071B2 |
Real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment
A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of data to obtain a modulated first signal and transmitting the first signal. The first signal contains the first packet and has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The steps of modulating and transmitting are repeated until a modulated second signal is received within a time period after the step of transmitting. The second signal contains a second packet including a second set of data and has a second precision and a second range within the environment. The second signal is demodulated to obtain the second packet. Location is determined within the environment based on the second packet. |
| US08514069B2 |
Tracking passengers on cruise ships
A system for tracking the locations of passengers on a vessel includes a portable tag configured to be assigned to a passenger, the tag encoded with a tag identifier. The system further includes a plurality of tag readers configured to be positioned at predetermined locations on a vessel, each tag reader configured to read the tag identifier of the tag when the tag reader receives a signal from the tag. A tracking component is configured to communicate with the tag readers, the tracking component configured to receive, from a detecting tag reader, an indication that the signal has been received from the tag, the tracking component configured to determine a detected location of the tag based at least in part on the predetermined location of the detecting tag reader. A notification component is configured to send towards a user device, a notification including the detected location, and a tag reader in the plurality of tag readers is configured with a first and second operating mode, the first operating mode is used when the vessel is at least a predetermined distance from land, and the second operating mode is used when the vessel is less than the predetermined distance from land. |
| US08514066B2 |
Accelerometer based extended display
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for displaying data on a portable electronic device. In one embodiment, a first portion of accessed data is displayed on a portable electronic device. A motion detector responsive to motion in at least a single direction then detects a movement of the portable electronic device from a first position to a second position. In response to the motion detector detecting the movement, a second portion of the accessed data is automatically displayed by the portable electronic device. |
| US08514056B2 |
System and method for real time asset location and tracking
A system for estimating the current position of an asset within a location that includes a transponder associated with the asset, a plurality of wireless interface devices provided within the location, and a central computer system in electronic communication with the wireless interface devices. The central computer system is adapted to: (i) identify a particular one or more of the wireless interface devices that have received a wireless signal from the transponder, and (ii) determine an estimate of the current position based on the identified particular one or more of the wireless interface devices. |
| US08514051B2 |
Sulfuration resistant chip resistor and method for making same
A chip resistor includes an insulating substrate 11, top terminal electrodes 12 formed on top surface of the substrate using silver-based cermet, bottom electrodes 13, resistive element 14 that is situated between the top terminal electrodes 12 and overlaps them partially, an optional internal protective coating 15 that covers resistive element 14 completely or partially, an external protective coating 16 that covers completely the internal protection coating 15 and partially covers top terminal electrodes 12, a plated layer of nickel 17 that covers face sides of the substrate, top 12 and bottom 13 electrodes, and overlaps partially external protective coating 16, finishing plated layer 18 that covers nickel layer 17. The overlap of nickel layer 17 and external protective layer 16 possesses a sealing property because of metallization of the edges of external protective layer 16 prior to the nickel plating process. |
| US08514047B2 |
Magnetic arrays with increased magnetic flux
The embodiments of the invention generally relate to a novel magnet arrangement to further enhance the performance of the array. The new arrangement of magnets (for example, five configurations) can result in significantly much higher percentage gain in magnetic flux with respect to the largest magnetic flux of a component magnet, as compared to Halbach array configurations. |
| US08514046B1 |
Method for detachment of two objects
A method is described herein for detachment of two objects. The method comprising the steps of: (a) associating a bias field source with a first magnetic structure associated with a first object, the first magnetic structure comprising one or more magnetic field sources, the first magnetic structure being magnetically attached to a second magnetic structure associated with a second object, the second magnetic structure comprising one or more magnetic field sources; and (b) using the bias field source to produce a repel force large enough to cause detachment of the first magnetic structure from the second magnetic structure thereby causing detachment of the first object from the second object. |
| US08514045B2 |
Magnetic arrays with increased magnetic flux
The embodiments of the invention generally relate to a novel magnet arrangement to further enhance the performance of the array. The new arrangement of magnets (for example, five configurations) can result in significantly much higher percentage gain in magnetic flux with respect to the largest magnetic flux of a component magnet, as compared to Halbach array configurations. |
| US08514044B2 |
Medical examination or treatment device
A medical examination or treatment device including a C-arm that is guided movably along an arc path on a bracket via a mechanical guidance device is provided. Magnet elements are provided on the C-arm. Magnetic field generation elements on the bracket interact together to create a magnetic field that moves the C-arm along the arc path. |
| US08514042B2 |
Magnetic attachment system
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device. |
| US08514039B1 |
Electric relay
An electric relay can easily conform to a specification change so as to improve layouting and at the same time to avoid an increase in cost. An electric relay (30) is composed of a relay main body (1), which is provided with caps (7) which is formed of a non-conductive member, and in the interior of which an electrical contact and an exciting coil are arranged, and a connector (20), which is provided with a terminal connection part (25) and a bush (24) which are integrally molded with a non-conductive member (21), wherein the terminal connection part (25) and the bush (24) of the connector (20) are mounted on an exciting terminal (2) and a main terminal (3) of the relay main body (1). |
| US08514038B2 |
Starter relay of a starter device for internal combustion engines
The invention relates to a starter relay (19) for internal combustion engines, comprising a relay coil (27) and an armature (20), which interacts with a fork lever (21) by way of a driver (24) so as to toe-in a starter pinion, and comprising a contact bridge (34) which is to be actuated by the armature by way of a switch axis (32) and interacts with switch contacts (23a), wherein a coupling (33b) connects the switch axis and the armature such that they can be displaced with respect to each other to a limited extent. In order to ensure that welded contacts tear open and the neutral position of the fork lever is achieved when the relay is shut off, a pretensioned compression spring (26) is inserted between the armature (20) and the end of the fork lever (21). |
| US08514032B1 |
Broad band compact load for use in multifunction phased array testing
The present invention is directed to a matched load. The matched load may include a stripline section and multiple resist material sections. The multiple resist material sections may be connected to the stripline section and may each include a resist material. The resist material may be a metal alloy film. Further, the load may be configured for operating over a frequency band ranging from 9 GHz to 18 GHz. Still further, the load may be configured for providing a return loss of less than −25 dB at each operating frequency included in the 9 GHz to 18 GHz frequency band. Still further, the load is compact, such that multiple loads may fit into a dual polarized radiating element cell. |
| US08514031B2 |
Integrated circulators sharing a continuous circuit
The present invention is directed to a circuit assembly that includes an integrated circulator assembly. The circuit assembly has a first substrate, which contains a continuous circuit trace that includes a circulator component from the circulator assembly and at least one electrical component from the circuit assembly. A second substrate is disposed beneath the first substrate and includes a cladding on one surface. The second substrate contains an aperture that accepts a ferrite element, which is axially aligned with the circulator component of the circuit trace. A conductive material is placed across the ferrite element so that it forms a continuous ground plane with the cladding, which is common to the entire circuit trace. The circulator assembly also contains a magnet bonded to the ferrite element. The circulator assembly may also include a yoke disposed below the magnet to shield the circulator from external magnetic fields. |
| US08514030B2 |
Oven-controlled crystal oscillator and manufacturing method of the same
Provided are an oven controlled crystal oscillator in which in a case where a metal lead is soldered to a substrate, even if cracks occur in the solder, its reliability is not reduced, and a production method. That is, an oven controlled crystal oscillator in which pre-tinning solders are formed around openings on a front surface and a rear surface of a substrate in which of a through hole for passing a metal lead therethrough is formed; and in a state where a metal lead including a solder layer (a pre-tinning solder) formed on its surface is inserted into the through hole of the substrate, the metal lead extending from the openings is soldered to the openings on the front surface and the rear surface of the substrate, so as to form a main solder, and a production method of the oven controlled crystal oscillator are provided. |
| US08514025B2 |
Amplifier circuit and method of amplifying a signal in an amplifier circuit
An amplifier circuit, comprising: an input, for receiving an input signal to be amplified; a power amplifier, for amplifying the input signal; a switched power supply, having a switching frequency, for providing at least one supply voltage to the power amplifier; and a dither block, for dithering the switching frequency of the switched power supply. The dither block is controlled based on the input signal. Another aspect of the invention involves using first and second switches, each having different capacitances and resistances, and using the first or second switch depending on the input signal or volume signal. Another aspect of the invention involves controlling a bias signal provided to one or more components in the signal path based on the input signal or volume signal. |
| US08514023B2 |
Accurate bias tracking for process variation and supply modulation
A current mirror includes a bias branch, which includes first and second transistors in series between a voltage source and ground, a voltage divider coupled between the voltage source and ground, an op-amp configured to receive a divided voltage of the voltage divider and a voltage of a node between the first and second transistors, and drive a gate of the second transistor to pull the node to the divided voltage. The current mirror further includes a power amplifier core coupled to the bias branch. The power amplifier core includes first and second drive transistors configured in series between the voltage source and ground. Gates of the first transistor and the first drive transistor are coupled, and gates of the second transistor and the second drive transistor are coupled. |
| US08514022B2 |
RF power amplifier
A reduction is achieved in the primary-side input impedance of a transformer (voltage transformer) as an output matching circuit without involving a reduction in Q-factor. An RF power amplifier includes transistors, and a transformer as the output matching circuit. The transformer has a primary coil and a secondary coil which are magnetically coupled to each other. To the input terminals of the transistors, respective input signals are supplied. The primary coil is coupled to each of the output terminals of the transistors. From the secondary coil, an output signal is generated. The primary coil includes a first coil and a second coil which are coupled in parallel between the respective output terminals of the transistors, and each magnetically coupled to the secondary coil. By the parallel coupling of the first and second coils of the primary coil, the input impedance of the primary coil is reduced. |
| US08514015B2 |
Amplifier with programmable off voltage
An amplifier with multiple stages and having improved reliability is described. The multiple amplifier stages are coupled in parallel and include at least one switchable amplifier stage. Each switchable amplifier stage may be operated in an on state or an off state and includes a gain transistor and a cascode transistor. The gain transistor amplifies an input signal and provides an amplified signal in the on state and is disabled in the off state. The cascode transistor buffers the amplified signal and provides an output signal in the on state and is disabled based on an off voltage in the off state. The off voltage may be greater than zero volts or may have one of multiple possible values. The off voltage may be generated based on an output signal level, e.g., may be set to different values for different ranges of output signal level. |
| US08514014B2 |
Reset and resettable circuits
An amplifier system can include a feedback amplifier circuit having an amplifier, a feedback capacitor connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier by at least one first switch, and a reset capacitor connected across the feedback capacitor by at least one second switch and between a pair of reference voltages by at least one third switch. During an input-signal processing phase of operation, a control circuit may close the at least one first switch and open the at least one second switch to electrically connect the feedback capacitor between the input and output terminals to engage feedback processing by the feedback amplifier circuit, and close the third switch to electrically connect the reset capacitor between the first and second voltages to charge the reset capacitor to a selectable voltage difference. During a reset phase of operation, the control circuit may open the at least one third switch, close the at least one second switch and open the at least one first switch to electrically connect the reset capacitor across the feedback capacitor to reset the feedback capacitor using the reset capacitor. The amplifier system can optionally include a plurality of the feedback amplifier circuits. |
| US08514012B2 |
Pulse shaper circuit with reduced electromagnetic emission
In one embodiment, a circuit-based apparatus that operates on an input data stream includes delay-line circuitry that characterizes the input data stream, modified over time. A plurality of integrators provide a plurality of integrated signals in response to the delay-line circuitry, and a plurality of weighting amplifiers amplify the plurality of integrated signals by a plurality of respective time-varying weighting factors to provide weighted signals. A signal-combining circuit combines the weighted signals. The circuit-based apparatus also includes a plurality of parallel signal-processing circuit paths that couple the weighted signals to the signal-combining circuit. By combining the weighted signals from the parallel signal-processing circuit paths, the signal-combining circuit provides a signal representative of the input data stream. |
| US08514009B2 |
Current sensing circuit
A current sensing circuit can prevent operation error due to a rush current and/or a shifted sense ratio. The circuit includes a power MOSFET, a series combination of a sense resistor and a sense MOSFET, which are connected in parallel to the power MOSFET Qph, a delay circuit for delaying the edges of drive signal, by first delay time, a delay circuit for delaying the edges of the drive signal by a second delay time, logic for combining signals and a current sensing circuit for sensing an electric current of the sense MOSFET based on an electric current of the sense resistor. |
| US08514008B2 |
RF isolation switch circuit
In a first aspect, an RF switch includes a main transistor and a gate-to-source shorting circuit. When the RF switch is turned off, the gate-to-source shorting circuit is turned on to short the source and gate of the main transistor together, thereby preventing a Vgs from developing that would cause the main transistor to leak. When the RF switch is turned on, the gate-to-source shorting circuit is turned off to decouple the source from the gate. The gate is supplied with a digital logic high voltage to turn on the main transistor. In a second aspect, an RF switch includes a main transistor that has a bulk terminal. When the RF switch is turned off, the bulk is connected to ground through a high resistance. When the RF switch is turned on, the source and bulk are shorted together thereby reducing the threshold voltage of the main transistor. |
| US08514007B1 |
Adjustable power splitter and corresponding methods and apparatus
An adjustable power splitter includes: a power divider with an input and a first and second divider output; a first adjustable phase shifter and first adjustable attenuator series coupled to the first divider output and providing a first power output; and a second adjustable phase shifter and second adjustable attenuator series coupled to the second divider output and providing a second power output. |
| US08514000B1 |
Meta-hardened flip-flop
Some embodiments relate to a flip-flop having a data input terminal, a data output terminal and a clock terminal. The flip-flop includes a master latch, a slave latch, and an isolation element coupled between the master latch output and slave latch. The isolation element is arranged to isolate capacitive loading seen by the output of the master latch that comes from the slave latch. In some embodiments, the master latch includes one or more drive enhancement elements on its feedforward and feedback paths. The slave latch can also include one or more drive enhancement elements on its feedforward and feedback paths. These drive enhancement elements, particularly in combination with the isolation element, may help to reduce the setup and hold times and enhance meta-stability resistance of the flip-flop relative to conventional implementations. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08513998B2 |
Provision of an AC signal
A circuit for providing an AC signal includes an amplifier having an input and an output. A sinusoidal signal is applicable at the input of the amplifier. The output of the amplifier is connected to the input via a lowpass filter or via a part of the lowpass filter. |
| US08513993B2 |
DLL circuit and semiconductor device having the DLL circuit
To include a phase-difference-amount detecting circuit that detects an amount of phase difference between an external clock signal and a replica clock signal, a variable delay circuit that delays the external clock signal based on the amount of phase difference to generate an internal clock signal, and a replica buffer that delays the internal clock signal to generate the replica clock signal. According to the present invention, the variable delay circuit is controlled based on the amount of phase difference, instead of being controlled based on whether the phase of the replica clock signal is advanced or delayed with respect to the external clock signal. Accordingly, even when the amount of phase difference is large, a DLL circuit can be locked at a high speed. |
| US08513990B2 |
PLL frequency synthesizer
In a PLL frequency synthesizer, a loop is constituted by a phase comparison unit, a gate unit, a charge pump, a capacitive element, a potential adjustment unit, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a feedback division unit. In this loop, the gate unit and the charge pump are provided in parallel with the potential adjustment unit. A charging/discharging current is input from the charge pump to the capacitive element and the potential of a first end of the capacitive element is adjusted by the potential adjustment unit, so that a phase difference between a reference oscillation signal and a feedback oscillation signal input to the phase comparison unit is small. |
| US08513989B1 |
Integrated circuit, micro-controller unit, and method including a synchronous sampling controller
A micro-controller unit (MCU) includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) including an input, a timing input, and an output. The input of the ADC is configurable to couple to an output of a peripheral module. The MCU further includes a synchronous sampling controller configured to provide a clock signal to a clock output terminal configurable to couple to a clock input of the peripheral module. The synchronous sampling controller is further configured to provide a timing signal to the timing input of the ADC to synchronize sampling of a signal at the input of the ADC to timing of the peripheral module. |
| US08513985B2 |
Drive circuit for semiconductor switching element
A drive circuit for a semiconductor switching element is disclosed. The drive circuit includes a power supply, a capacitor, a connection changeover unit for switching a connection form between the power supply and the capacitor, a resistor connected to a control terminal of the semiconductor switching element, first and second switching elements whose common connection point is connected to the resistor, a positive-side diode whose cathode is connected to the first switching element, a negative-side diode whose anode is connected to the second switching element, and a current conduction control circuit for controlling the connection changeover unit, and the first and second switching elements to form (i) a first path for charging the capacitor, (ii) a second path for charging the control terminal of the semiconductor switching element, and (iii) a third path for discharging the control terminal of the semiconductor switching element. |
| US08513981B2 |
Squelch detection method and circuit using rectifying circuit for detecting out-of-band signal
A circuit for detecting out-of-band signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a first differential circuit configured to level shift and positively rectify a differential input signal to produce a first output component of a differential output signal. The first differential circuit is further configured to generate and provide a common mode voltage of the differential input signal as a second component of the differential output signal. The circuit further includes a second differential circuit configured to level shift and output first and second fixed voltages based on an input reference voltage and a ground voltage. The circuit is configured to provide the differential output signal and the first and second fixed voltages to an indicator circuit configured to assert an indication responsive to detecting that a differential voltage of the differential output signal is greater than a differential voltage of the first and second fixed voltages. |
| US08513979B2 |
Integrated circuit and related controlling method
An integrated circuit includes: a circuit pin; a detecting circuit coupled to the circuit pin, and arranged to detect a signal level value of the circuit pin when the integrated circuit operates in a first operational mode; a storage circuit coupled to the detecting circuit, and arranged to store the signal level value; and a controlling circuit coupled to the storage circuit, and arranged to set a voltage level of the circuit pin according the signal level value when a processing circuit of the integrated circuit operates in a second operational mode. |
| US08513978B2 |
Power routing in standard cell designs
A cell-based architecture for an integrated circuit. A row of cell instances borders a first adjacent row of cell instances along a first boundary and a second adjacent row of cell instances along a second boundary. A first power rail (e.g., carrying an auxiliary voltage) extends along the first boundary. A second power rail (e.g., VSS) extends along the second boundary. The second power rail is wider than the first power rail. Additionally, a third power rail (e.g., VDD) extends across the interior of the second row of cells. |
| US08513975B2 |
Device and method for enabling multi-value digital computation and control
Hardware and processes are provided for efficient interpretation of multi-value signals. The multi-value signals have a first voltage range with is used to indicate multiple numerical or logical values, and a second voltage range that is used to provide control functions. In one example, the multi-value circuitry is arranged as a set of rows and columns, which may be cascaded together. The control function can be implemented to cause portions of rows, columns, or cascaded connections to be powered off, thereby saving power and enabling more efficient operation. |
| US08513973B2 |
Mitigating side effects of impedance transformation circuits
Implementations to mitigating side effects of impedance transformation circuits are described. In particular, mitigation circuitry may be coupled to a high impedance circuit to minimize or eliminate non-linear output of the high impedance circuit in order to provide a well-defined bias voltage to the input of a buffer or amplifier device coupled to a capacitive sensor. Additionally, the mitigation circuitry may be coupled to the high impedance circuit to reduce or eliminate rectifying effects of the high impedance circuit. Accordingly, a bias voltage can be utilized to provide a stable operating point of the buffer or amplifier device via a high impedance circuit utilizing one or more impedance transformations. |
| US08513966B2 |
Probes formed from semiconductor region vias
Embodiments of the invention describe forming a set of probes using semiconductor regions each including a plurality of vias. A first set of probe segments may be formed from a first set of vias on a first semiconductor region. A second set of probe segments may be formed from a second set of vias on a second semiconductor region and bonded to the first set of probe segments. At least one spring comprising a dielectric material may be formed to couple the first set of probe segments, while a set of metal tips disposed on the second set of probe segments. |
| US08513964B2 |
Circuit interrupter device with self-test function
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device with self-test function includes: hot and neutral conducting circuits; an fault detection circuit responsive to a fault in the hot and neutral conducting circuits to generate a fault detection signal; a signal driving circuit responsive to the fault detection signal to generate a drive signal; a disconnecting mechanism for disconnecting electrical connections in the hot and the neutral conducting circuits when the drive signal exceeds a predetermined level; a self-test circuit for generating a self-test signal according to a predetermined time period and when an alternating current of the power source passes zero points, generating an evaluation result based on the self-test signal and a feedback signal of a fault detection signal corresponding to the self-test signal, and generating error signals if the evaluation result indicates a circuit error; and a device-state indicator circuit for generating alarms based on the error signals. |
| US08513960B2 |
Probe for a capacitive sensor device and gap-measuring system
A probe for a capacitive sensor device, and a gap measuring system using the probe, is disclosed. The probe has a probe head including a measuring element with at least one measuring and front face, a first electrically non-conductive isolator element, and a first partial element of a first shield. The measuring and front face, the first isolator element, and the first partial element of the first shield are adhesively connected to one another and configured as a multilayer, where the first isolator element is disposed between the measuring element with its measuring and front face and the first partial element. |
| US08513954B2 |
Test circuit for resistor capacitor circuits
An RC test circuit includes an RC circuit, a digital rheostat, a control chip, and an oscillograph. The RC circuit includes a plurality of positive terminals and a plurality of negative terminals. The digital rheostat includes a plurality of rheostats each including a sliding terminal and a fixed terminal. The sliding terminals are correspondingly connected to the positive terminals while the fixed terminals are correspondingly connected to the negative terminals. The control chip is connected to the digital rheostat, and configured for controlling the digital rheostat to change the resistance of each rheostat. The oscillograph is connected to the RC circuit for displaying a waveform of the RC circuit. |
| US08513947B2 |
Detection of tool in pipe
Methods and systems for determining whether a tool has been deployed below a drill pipe are provided. A downhole tool can measure various characteristics, which then can be analyzed to determine the likelihood of a tool having been deployed below the drill pipe. For example, density and porosity measurements can be affected by the presence of casing or drill pipe, and thus such measurements can provide an indication of whether the tool has been deployed below the drill pipe. |
| US08513946B2 |
Movable table for magnetic resonance imaging
In MR imaging, the patient is placed on the table in a configuration convenient for a surgical procedure and while in the configuration the patient is moved into the field of view by moving the magnet longitudinally and the table is moved in the bore relative to the magnet so as to optimize the part to be imaged within the field of view of the magnet. After imaging the table is moved back to the preset position and removed from the magnet for the surgical procedure to commence or continue. The movement includes movement along the longitudinal axis; transverse movement side to side; rolling movement about a longitudinal axis; tilting movement about a transverse axis and bending movement of the table relative to at least one transverse hinge line in the table at a position spaced from the ends of the table. |
| US08513945B2 |
System, method and computer-accessible medium for providing breath-hold multi-echo fast spin-echo pulse sequence for accurate R2 measurement
Exemplary embodiments of system, method and computer-accessible medium can be provided in accordance with the present disclosure can be provided for generating a plurality of images associated with at least one anatomical structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. For example, using such exemplary embodiments, it is possible to obtain at least one multi-echo fast spin-echo (FSE) pulse sequence based on the MRI data, which can include, e.g., hardware specifications of the MRI system. Further, it is possible to generate each of the images based on a particular arrangement of multiple echoes produced by the multi-echo FSE pulse sequence(s). |
| US08513934B2 |
Switching device compensation circuit
A switching device compensation circuit performs switching control by applying a control pulse to a control terminal of a switching device. The switching device compensation circuit includes a first threshold voltage change detection unit, a first control signal generating unit, and an amplitude control unit. The first threshold voltage change detection unit detects a change in threshold voltage of the switching device from an output voltage controlled via the switching device. The first control signal generating unit generates a first control signal in accordance with an output of the first threshold voltage change detection unit. The amplitude control unit controls the amplitude of the control pulse in accordance with an output of the first control signal generating unit. |
| US08513933B2 |
DC-DC converter with low side switch control
Methods and apparatus for control of DC-DC converters. The DC-DC converter is operable so that the low side supply switch may be inhibited from turning on in a cycle following the high side supply switch turning off. Turn on of the low side switch is inhibited if the time between turn off of the high side switch and the inductor (L) current reaching zero is less than a predetermined duration. Inhibiting the low side switch from turning on can prevent the inductor current from going negative, which would reduce the efficiency of the converter. When turn on of the low side switch is inhibited the inductor current flows through a parallel path, such as a parasitic body diode associated with the low side switch, which allows current flow in one direction only. |
| US08513930B2 |
Active power switch topology for switching regulators
Embodiments of an active power switch topology for a switching regulator are provided herein. The embodiments of the active power switch topology use two or more active power switches in parallel instead of a single active power switch, as found in conventional implementations. The active power switches are controlled such that they turn-on and -off in a manner that reduces parasitic voltage spikes associated with conventional switching regulators, while not degrading efficiency or other parameters associated with the switching regulator. The active power switch topology can be beneficially used within many switching regulators (e.g., buck, boost, or buck-boost) and, in particular, within hard-switched switching regulators that include active power switches integrated on chip. |
| US08513921B2 |
Method and circuitry to adaptively charge a battery/cell
The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt the charging of a battery/cell using data which is representative of an overpotential of the battery/cell. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of an overpotential of the battery/cell. |
| US08513920B2 |
Charge current reduction for current limited switched power supply
Circuits and methods for a switched power converter providing charge power for at least one battery and at the same time delivering current to operate an electronic device, wherein the converter is enabled to operate out of current limit mode, for the maximum possible range of system load requirements, have been achieved. The input current of the power converter is measured within each cycle-by-cycle, i.e. within each cycle of an external clock reference and the charge current is reduced if the input current exceeds a defined portion, e.g. 80% of the maximum allowable input current. The power converter may only enter current limited operation after the charge current has been already reduced to zero. Operating out of current limit mode ensures a maximum efficiency of the converter, maximize the current deliverable to a given load and minimizes subharmonics in the output current and voltage, thereby minimizing interference with other system component. |
| US08513918B2 |
Vehicle battery control system having a voltage sensor that measures a voltage between a contactor and an inverter equipment
A vehicle battery control system includes: a battery module that is constituted with a plurality of cells that are connected in series; a cell controller that detects each voltage at the plurality of cells; and a battery control unit that detects a total voltage of the battery module based on a signal from a voltage sensor disposed between a contactor connected to the battery module and an inverter equipment connected to the contactor and calculates a battery state of the battery module based upon the detected total voltage. And the battery control unit calculates the battery state based upon a total value of voltages at the plurality of cells detected by the cell controller in place of the total voltage when the contactor is in an open state. |
| US08513916B2 |
Wireless charging system
A wireless charging system includes a charger and an electronic device. The charger includes a power input port including two input terminals for connecting to a power source and a power output port including two first metal sheets respectively connected to the two input terminals. The electronic device includes a power input port including two second metal sheets, a voltage conversion circuit connected to the two second metal sheets, a rectifier and filter circuit, and a battery. When the power output port of the charger is close to and faces the power input port of the electronic device. The two first metal sheets and the two second metal sheets form two capacitors, the power source provides power to the electronic device via the two capacitors and charges the battery after the power is processed by the voltage conversion circuit and the rectifier and filter circuit. |
| US08513915B2 |
Vehicle alignment for inductive charging
Vehicle alignment for inductive charging includes a control system and logic configured to execute on the control system. The logic is configured to define a first orientation for a first antenna and a second antenna, which are disposed on a vehicle. The logic is also configured to define a second orientation specifying a location of a vehicle charging device disposed on the vehicle relative to the first and second antennae. The logic is further configured to determine a location of an inductive charging device relative to the vehicle by performing triangulation analysis using data from the first and second orientations in conjunction with signals received from the first and second antennae. The logic is also configured to calculate a direction to the location using voltage values from the signals, such that movement of the vehicle in the direction brings the vehicle charging device closer to the inductive charging device. |
| US08513907B2 |
Power converter for electric rotating machine
A power converter for an electric rotating machine is provided which is designed to ensure a desired length of a current flywheel duration in which current is permitted to freewheel from the electric rotating machine even if the power converter is in a transient state or subjected to an unexpected change. The power converter is equipped with a controller and a switching circuit which is disposed between a power supply and windings of the electric rotating machine. The switching circuit has switches grouped into an upper and a lower arm. The controller works to control an off-operation of one of the switches of one of the upper and lower arm so as to produce a desired length of the current flywheel duration following turning off of the one of the switches, thereby minimizing a loss of rectification and avoiding the backflow of current from the power supply to the windings. |
| US08513906B2 |
Base vibration attenuation and load tracking in mechanical systems
A hybrid controller for a mechanical system includes an actuator configured to position a load. A vibration attenuation controller produces a vibration attenuation control signal in response to an input signal for the mechanical system. A tracking controller configured produces a tracking control signal in response to the input signal. In response to an output signal from the mechanical system, either the vibration attenuation control signal or the tracking control signal is switched as a control signal for the mechanical system to reduce both vibration in the mechanical system and improve tracking the load. |
| US08513904B2 |
Step-down hysteretic current LED driver implementing frequency regulation
A step-down hysteretic current LED driver circuit implements frequency regulation to adjust the hysteresis levels of a hysteretic comparator in the control circuit of the LED driver to keep the switching frequency of the inductor current constant. More specifically, the switching frequency of the inductor current is kept constant by increasing or decreasing the hysteresis window of the hysteretic comparator. In this manner, the switching frequency of the LED driver is kept constant or predictable. In one embodiment, the control circuit of the LED driver includes a frequency regulator to monitor the switching frequency and adjusts the hysteresis window accordingly to maintain a constant switching frequency. |
| US08513901B2 |
Method and apparatus to control LED brightness
Method and apparatus to control LED brightness are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a dimmer control signal; determining a cutoff point of the dimmer control signal; determining the position of a rising edge signal within the dimmer control signal; determining if the rising edge signal occurred before the cutoff point; and outputting an LED brightness signal indicating full brightness when the rising edge signal occurred before the cutoff point, and indicating a scaled brightness when the rising edge signal did not occur before the cutoff point. |
| US08513899B2 |
Light emitting device and driving circuit thereof
A light emitting device comprises a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit connected in series with each other, and a PTF unit connected in parallel with the first light emitting unit and in series with the second light emitting unit. Each of the first light emitting unit and second light emitting unit comprises at least one LED. The PTF unit allows the second light emitting unit to be operated before operation of the first light emitting unit upon application of an AC voltage source. The light emitting device reduces total harmonic distortion and flickering, and improves power factor and optical efficiency. A driving circuit of the light emitting device is also disclosed. |
| US08513897B2 |
OLED display with a current stabilizing device and its driving method
An OLED display with a current stabilizing device employs a current stabilizing device which is coupled between the driving-voltage line of the data driver and the data-power-supply wires to produce an output voltage higher than the driving voltage by boosting the driving voltage of the data driver, and then to maintain the current of the OLEDs at a constant level by performing current limiting, so that the problem of the current-ununiformity caused uneven luminance of the conventional OLED display can be solved, and the possibility that the luminance of the OLED panel will decay in a short period of time is reduce. |
| US08513894B2 |
LED bulb, light emitting device control method, and light emitting device controller circuit with dimming function adjustable by AC signal
The present invention discloses a light emitting device control method for adjusting the brightness of the light emitting device by an AC signal, comprising: receiving a signal having a turn ON angle and converting the signal to a DC signal; obtaining an average of the DC signal level, the average being a function of the turn ON angle; determining a reference voltage of a current source circuit according to the average of the DC signal level; and controlling a current flow through the light emitting device by the current source circuit. |
| US08513889B2 |
Methods and apparatus for tuning matching networks
Methods and apparatus for tuning matching networks are provided herein. A method of tuning a matching network includes providing a matching network coupling an RF source to a load, the matching network having a tunable element disposed at a first set point; increasing a value of the tunable element by a first step above the first set point; sensing a first adjusted value of a reflected RF power; decreasing the value of the tunable element by the first step below the first set point; sensing a second adjusted value of the reflected RF power; comparing the first and the second adjusted values of the reflected RF power; and moving the tunable element to a second set point that corresponds to a position having a lowest adjusted value of the reflected RF power. The method may be repeated until the reflected RF power falls within an acceptable reflected RF power range. |
| US08513888B2 |
Plasma display panel
PDP (1) includes front plate (2) and rear plate (10). Front plate (2) has protective layer (9). Rear plate (10) has phosphor layers (15). Protective layer (9) includes a base layer. On the base layer, aggregated particles are dispersed and disposed. The underlying layer includes a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide. In X-ray diffraction analysis, a peak of the base layer lies between a first peak of the first metal oxide and a second peak of the second metal oxide. The first and second metal oxides are two selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO. The base layer further contains sodium and potassium. |
| US08513886B1 |
Light emitting diode device
A light emitting diode device is provided. The light emitting diode device comprises a light emitting diode component and an encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer is disposed surrounding the light emitting diode component. The encapsulation layer comprises an encapsulation gel layer and a plurality of micro-particles distributed in the encapsulation gel layer. The difference between the refractive index of the encapsulation gel layer and the refractive index of the micro-particles is smaller than or equal to 0.05. |
| US08513883B2 |
Electroluminescent device having piezoelectric component
An example embodiment there is provided an electroluminescent device comprising: an electroluminescent component, a first piezoelectric component, an alpha electrode and a first beta electrode, the electroluminescent component being located between the alpha electrode and the first piezoelectric component, the first beta electrode being in electrical contact with the alpha electrode and in electrical contact with the first piezoelectric component, the alpha electrode, first beta electrode, first piezoelectric component, and electroluminescent component being configured to generate a potential difference across the electroluminescent component responsive to a mechanical stress applied to the first piezoelectric component. |
| US08513880B2 |
Display apparatus
A high-definition, high-intensity display apparatus having a plurality of semiconductor thin film light emitting elements and a plurality of linear electrodes connecting a power source to the light emitting elements, the linear electrodes being disposed so as to minimize the voltage drop across the linear electrodes. |
| US08513874B2 |
Light emitting element and display apparatus
A light emitting element includes a resonator structure which has a first reflecting member, a second reflecting member, and a light emission layer placed between the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member, part of light resonated between the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member being transmitted through the first reflecting member or the second reflecting member in the resonator structure, and a band absorption filter transmitting the part of the light transmitted through the first reflecting member or the second reflecting member, wherein a wavelength at which the transmission of the band absorption filter has a minimum value is located between a wavelength at which a resonator output spectrum from the resonator structure has a maximum value and a wavelength at which relative luminous efficiency has a maximum value. |
| US08513871B2 |
Apparatus and methods for combining light emitters
Provided are methods and apparatus for combining light emitters and devices including the same. Embodiments include methods of selecting combinations of multiple light emitters that are grouped into multiple bins. The multiple bins correspond to multiple emitter group regions in a multiple axis color space and multiple luminosity ranges. Such methods may include prioritizing multiple combinations of light emitters from at least two of the bins, each of the combinations including chromaticity values corresponding to a desired color region and a luminosity value corresponding to a specified luminosity range. |
| US08513866B2 |
Semiconductor lamp
In various embodiments, a semiconductor lamp may include at least one semiconductor light source; a driver for operating the at least one semiconductor light source and at least one heat sink for cooling the at least one semiconductor light source and the driver; wherein the at least one heat sink may include a first heat sink, which is thermally connected to the at least one semiconductor light source and a second heat sink, which is thermally connected to the driver; wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink are thermally insulated from one another. |
| US08513859B2 |
Interactive panel comprising a substrate and at least two piezoelectric transduction devices
An interactive panel including a substrate, wherein a seismic wave is intended to propagate, and at least two piezoelectric transduction devices each including two piezoelectric transducers. Each piezoelectric transducer includes two piezoelectric elements each with two surfaces each covered by an electrode. The four electrodes of each piezoelectric transducer are interconnected to supply, when opposing stresses are applied to the piezoelectric elements of the transducer, an electrical measurement signal that depends on the angle between a main plane and an opposite stress-separation plane. Two piezoelectric transducers of a same device have a same central axis and their respective main planes form a non-zero angle thereinbetween. Each piezoelectric transduction device is attached to the substrate such that movement of the substrate during passage of the seismic wave causes stress on the piezoelectric elements, in opposite directions on either side of the stress-separation plane. |
| US08513857B2 |
Vibrational wave motor, lens barrel and camera
A vibrational wave motor which can realize a suitable drive performance and can be driven quietly. The vibrational wave motor includes: an electromechanical-conversion element excited by a driving signal; a vibrating element joined with the electromechanical-conversion element, and having a drive surface where a progressive vibrational wave is generated by the excitation; a relative motion member having a sliding surface pressure-contacting the drive surface of the vibrating element, and which is driven by the wave; and a driving device for providing the driving signal to the electromechanical-conversion element, wherein: the driving device provides the driving signal to the electromechanical-conversion element, the driving signal generating the wave satisfying a-value/λ≦0.00025 in the drive surface, where a vibration amplitude generated in the drive surface of the vibrating element is a-value, and a wavelength generated in the drive surface of the vibrating element is λ. |
| US08513853B2 |
Brush design for slip ring contacts
The present embodiments relate to a device for establishing an electrical contact between two device elements moving relative to each other. The device includes a plurality of brushes that may be arranged on one of the device elements and establishes contact on the relative movement of the device elements along a slideway provided on the other device element. The brushes are arranged staggered one behind the other relative to a direction of movement determined by the relative movement. The brush arrangement according to the present embodiments is more robust than conventional arrangements with respect to wear and ageing. |
| US08513848B2 |
Aquarium having improved filtration system with neutral buoyancy substrate, pump and sediment removal system
An aquarium which includes a tank having a pump and an under gravel filter disposed in the tank below the pump and a sediment removal system for collecting and removing sediment which passes through the under gravel filter. The under gravel filter includes a hollow bubble dispersing base plate having a perforated top surface and an overlying substrate. An air conduit is provided for introducing air into the pump. The pump is connected to the plate such as to pump water and air into the interior of the plate to thereby cause oxygenated water and bubbles to exit upwardly through the perforated top surface of the plate and into and through the substrate. The pump includes a free floating magnetic impeller. A rotational torque generating unit is provided to rotate the impeller. The rotational torque generating unit includes a magnetic drive disk and a motor for rotating the magnetic drive disk. The pump and rotational torque generating unit are aligned with each other such that a magnetic field is established between the magnetic drive disk and the magnetic impeller, the magnetic field rotating upon rotation of the magnetic drive disk to thereby rotate the impeller. |
| US08513844B2 |
Motor
In the invention, in order for a brush assembly to be easily built in a motor, the motor includes an aligning means for aligning a main body portion of the brush assembly relative to a lower case engaging the main body portion with the lower case and a guide means for guiding the brush assembly in a direction which is at right angles to a rotational axis L after the main body portion has been aligned relative to the lower case. |
| US08513842B2 |
Heat radiation structure for rotary electromotor
There is disclosed a rotary electromotor including a stator, a stator winding on the stator, a stator frame, a rotator, end covers, and a highly heat-conductive member. The stator has a plurality of magnetic poles. The stator frame supports the stator. The rotator is supported by the stator with a gap therefrom such that the rotator is rotatable. The end covers close opposite ends of the stator frame. The highly heat-conductive member is fixed by a resin material in a space defined inside the stator, the stator frame, and the end covers. |
| US08513840B2 |
Electric machine cooling system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module including a module housing, which can at least partially define a machine cavity. In some embodiments, an electric machine can include a stator assembly and a rotor assembly and can be positioned in the machine cavity. In some embodiments, the module housing can include a coolant transport network, which can include at least one passage in fluid communication with at least one first annulus and at least one second annulus. In some embodiments, the first annulus can be substantially axially adjacent to an axial end of the stator assembly and the second annulus can be substantially axially adjacent to an axial end of the rotor assembly. In some embodiments, the annuli can include a plurality of annulus apertures. |
| US08513834B2 |
Power supply apparatus and image forming apparatus
The power supply apparatus includes a plurality of voltage rising circuits each of which can be driven at a different duty ratio so as to convert and output a voltage output from a direct current power source according to a plurality of loads; and a control circuit which controls an input voltage from the direct current power source to each voltage rising circuit according to drive condition of the voltage rising circuit having the highest duty ratio of the plurality of voltage rising circuits. This configuration can provide a highly productive power supply apparatus capable of reducing a ripple voltage. |
| US08513832B2 |
Power supply unit
A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system. |
| US08513829B1 |
Electrical accumulator unit for providing auxiliary power to an electrical network
An electrical accumulator unit wherein an energy storage device is utilized in conjunction with an actively controlled bidirectional power converter to provide auxiliary power to an electrical network is disclosed. |
| US08513825B2 |
Engine starting system with high- and low-speed modes of motor operation
An engine starting apparatus includes a first and a second power supply path extending from a battery to an electric motor to start an engine. An electromagnetic switch has main contacts disposed in the first power supply path. A resistor is disposed in the second power supply path. A motor relay has relay contacts disposed in series with the resistor. A controller delays the time when the main contacts are closed to apply a full voltage of the battery to the motor until a given time lag has elapsed after the relay contacts are closed to supply electric current to the electric motor through the resistor. Specifically, when it is required to apply the full voltage to the motor to run the motor at a rated speed, the current does not pass through the relay contacts, thus resulting in no voltage drop, which ensures the stability in starting the engine. |
| US08513824B2 |
Suspension system for vehicle
Disclosed are an apparatus, a system, and a method for suspension of a vehicle. An electromagnetic generator generates an electrical energy in response to a relative movement between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly. A storage device stores the electrical energy generated from the electromagnetic generator. |
| US08513822B1 |
Thin overlay mark for imaging based metrology
A thin overlay structure for use in imaging based metrology is disclosed. The thin overlay structure may include a first structure and second structure, the first and second structures designed to have a common center of symmetry, both structures being invariant to a 180 degree rotation about the common center of symmetry, wherein a mark region defining the extent of the structures is characterized by a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a length of the mark region along the first direction being greater than a length of the mark region along the second direction. |
| US08513814B2 |
Buffer pad in solder bump connections and methods of manufacture
Structures are provided with raised buffer pads for solder bumps. Methods are also provided for forming the raised buffer pads for solder bumps. The method includes forming a raised localized buffer pad structure on a tensile side of a last metal layer of a solder bump connection. The raised localized buffer pad structure increases a height of a portion of a pad structure of the solder bump connection with respect to a compressive side of the last metal layer. |
| US08513812B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming integrated passive device
An IPD semiconductor device has a capacitor formed over and electrically connected to a semiconductor die. An encapsulant is deposited over the capacitor and around the semiconductor die. A first interconnect structure is formed over a first surface of the encapsulant by forming a first conductive layer, forming a first insulating layer over the first conductive layer, and forming a second conductive layer over the first insulating layer. The second conductive layer has a portion formed over the encapsulant at least 50 micrometer away from a footprint of the semiconductor die and wound to operate as an inductor. The portion of the second conductive layer is electrically connected to the capacitor by the first conductive layer. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the encapsulant. A conductive pillar is formed within the encapsulant between the first and second interconnect structures. |
| US08513810B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing same
There is provided a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor, the semiconductor device requiring flip-chip mounting of a fine pitch electrode, wherein the fine electrode is easily manufactured, resin sealing is not required, and reliability can be improved. In the semiconductor device, one or more LSI chips (1), having an insulating layer (3) surface and an electrode (2) surface on one side, and a substrate (4), having an insulating layer (6) surface and an electrode (5) surface on one side, are bonded by having surfaces of the electrodes and surfaces of the insulating layers face each other via a bonding layer (7) made in a thin film form, in a region excluding the surfaces of the electrodes (2, 5) and the surfaces of the insulating layers (3, 6) in areas surrounding the electrodes. |
| US08513806B2 |
Laminated high melting point soldering layer formed by TLP bonding and fabrication method for the same, and semiconductor device
The laminated high melting point soldering layer includes: a laminated structure which laminated a plurality of three-layered structures, the respective three-layered structures including a low melting point metal thin film layer and a high melting point metal thin film layers disposed on a surface and a back side surface of the low melting point metal thin film layer; a first high melting point metal layer disposed on the surface of the laminated structure; and a second high melting point metal layer disposed on the back side surface of the laminated structure. The low melting point metal thin film layer and the high melting point metal thin film layer are mutually alloyed by TLP, and the laminated structure, and the first high melting point metal layer and the second high melting point metal layer are mutually alloyed by the TLP bonding. |
| US08513803B2 |
Semiconductor device and stacked semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to one embodiment has a wiring circuit board, a semiconductor chip, a die attach material and bumps. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the wiring circuit board. The die attach material is provided between the wiring circuit board and the semiconductor chip. A wiring layer is provided on one surface of the wiring circuit board. Leads are extended from the wiring layer and connected to the semiconductor chip. The bumps are provided at outer positions relative to the region where the semiconductor chip of the wiring circuit board is mounted. The wiring layer in the wiring circuit board is formed on the surface opposite from the surface on which the semiconductor chip is mounted. |
| US08513802B2 |
Multi-chip package having semiconductor chips of different thicknesses from each other and related device
A semiconductor device having semiconductor chips of different thicknesses is provided. The semiconductor device may include a first semiconductor chip, a sub-board on a first side of the first semiconductor chip, at least one second semiconductor chip on a second side of the first semiconductor chip, at least one external contact terminal on the at least one second semiconductor chip. In example embodiments the at least one second semiconductor chip may include a plurality of through silicon vias and the at least one external contact terminal may be in electrical contact with the first semiconductor chip and the at least one second semiconductor chip via the plurality of through silicon vias. In example embodiments, the at least one second semiconductor chip may be thinner than the first semiconductor chip. |
| US08513799B2 |
Method of electrically connecting a microelectronic component
A microelectronic unit can include a support structure including a dielectric having oppositely-directed first and second surfaces. A plurality of substantially rigid posts can protrude parallel to one another in a direction beyond the first surface of the support structure. Each post may have a top surface remote from the support structure, and the top surfaces can be substantially coplanar with one another. A microelectronic device having a surface with bond pads can overlie the second surface of the support structure with the bond pad-bearing surface of the microelectronic device facing toward the support structure. Connections can electrically connect the posts with the bond pads. |
| US08513797B2 |
Stacked semiconductor component having through wire interconnect (TWI) with compressed wire
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor substrate having a substrate contact, and a through wire interconnect (TWI) bonded to the substrate contact. The through wire interconnect (TWI) includes a via through the substrate contact and the substrate, a compressed wire in the via bonded to the substrate contact, and a contact on the wire. A stacked semiconductor component includes the semiconductor substrate, and a second semiconductor substrate stacked on the substrate and bonded to a through wire interconnect on the substrate. |
| US08513794B2 |
Stacked assembly including plurality of stacked microelectronic elements
A method is provided for fabricating a stacked microelectronic assembly by steps including stacking and joining first and second like microelectronic substrates, each including a plurality of like microelectronic elements attached together at dicing lanes. Each microelectronic element has boundaries defined by edges including a first edge and a second edge. The first and second microelectronic substrates can be joined in different orientations, such that first edges of microelectronic elements of the first microelectronic substrate are aligned with second edges of microelectronic elements of the second microelectronic substrate. After exposing traces at the first and second edges of the microelectronic elements of the stacked microelectronic substrates, first and second leads can be formed which are connected to the exposed traces of the first and second microelectronic substrates, respectively. The second leads can be electrically isolated from the first leads. |
| US08513793B2 |
Stacked semiconductor package and method of fabricating the same
A stacked semiconductor package and an electronic system, the stacked semiconductor package including a plurality of semiconductor chips, a set of the semiconductor chips being stacked such that an extension region of a top surface of each semiconductor chip of the set extends beyond an end of a semiconductor chip stacked thereon to form a plurality of extension regions; and a plurality of protection layers on the extension regions and on an uppermost semiconductor chip of the plurality of semiconductor chips. |
| US08513791B2 |
Compact multi-port CAM cell implemented in 3D vertical integration
A multi-ported CAM cell in which the negative effects of increased travel distance have been substantially reduced is provided. The multi-ported CAM cell is achieved in the present invention by utilizing three-dimensional integration in which multiple active circuit layers are vertically stack and vertically aligned interconnects are employed to connect a device from one of the stacked layers to another device in another stack layer. By vertically stacking multiple active circuit layers with vertically aligned interconnects, each compare port of the multi-port CAM can be implemented on a separate layer above or below the primary data storage cell. This allows the multi-port CAM structure to be implemented within the same area footprint as a standard Random Access Memory (RAM) cell, minimizing data access and match compare delays. Each compare match line and data bit line has the length associated with a simple two-dimensional Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell array. |
| US08513790B2 |
Package-base structure of luminescent diode
A package-base structure of a luminescent diode and its fabricating process. The package-base structure includes a substrate having thereon a holding space; an insulating layer extending from a bottom surface of the holding space to the bottom of the substrate; an through hole defined in the insulating layer; and a conductive layer disposed over the insulating layer. The insulating layer decouples the current flow and heat flow to increase the lifetime of the package-base structure together with the luminescent diode. In the fabricating process, the insulating layer is formed by anodic etching to allow the insulating layer have a porous structure. |
| US08513788B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with pad and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a peripheral lead having a peripheral lead bottom side, a peripheral lead top side, a peripheral lead non-horizontal side, and a peripheral lead horizontal ridge protruding from the peripheral lead non-horizontal side; forming a first top distribution layer on the peripheral lead top side; connecting an integrated circuit to the first top distribution layer; and applying an insulation layer directly on a distribution layer bottom extent of the first top distribution layer and a peripheral lead ridge lower side of the peripheral lead horizontal ridge with a cavity in the portion of the insulation layer directly below the integrated circuit. |
| US08513786B2 |
Pre-bonded substrate for integrated circuit package and method of making the same
A substrate and a method of making thereof are disclosed. The substrate comprises an electrically conductive leadframe, the leadframe having a plurality of lands on a first side of the leadframe with a first recessed portion between the lands, and a plurality of routing leads on an opposing second side of the leadframe with a second recessed portion between the routing leads. The substrate also comprises a first bonding compound filling the first recessed portion. In one embodiment, the substrate also comprises a support material attached to the first bonding compound for holding the leadframe together. In another embodiment, the substrate comprises a second bonding compound filling the second recessed portion. |
| US08513781B2 |
Device for removing electromagnetic interference and semiconductor package including the same
Provided is an electromagnetic interference (EMI) removing device for active reduction of electromagnetic interference and a semiconductor package including the same. The EMI removing device may include a film substrate having an antenna pattern configured to generate a second electromagnetic wave, which may have substantially the same frequency band, modulation mode, and directivity as a first electromagnetic wave generated by a first semiconductor chip and a phase opposite to a phase of the first electromagnetic wave. |
| US08513777B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating reticle data
A method for generating reticle data for forming a reticle. The method includes recognizing a non-layout region free from main chips in a process pattern, dividing the non-layout region into a plurality of rectangular non-layout regions, generating scribe data using the plurality of divided rectangular non-layout region as a plurality of dummy chips, and generating a dummy pattern for each of the dummy chips. |
| US08513776B2 |
Semiconductor device and method capable of scribing chips with high yield
A semiconductor device comprising scribe areas that include dicing areas for separating chip areas, a groove forming area surrounding each chip area, and includes interlayer insulating lamination disposed above the semiconductor wafer; a multilayer wiring structure formed in the interlayer insulating lamination, the multilayer wiring structure including wiring layers disposed in the chip area, and dummy wirings disposed in the chip area and the scribe area, the wiring layers and the dummy wirings being formed from same mother layers; a cover layer including a passivation layer, the cover layer covering the multilayer wiring structure; and a groove formed in each groove forming area, the groove surrounding the chip areas and extending from a surface of the semiconductor wafer and at least through the passivation layer; wherein the multilayer wiring structure includes no dummy wirings in the groove forming area at least in an uppermost wiring layer. |
| US08513775B2 |
CdTe semiconductor substrate for epitaxial growth and substrate container
Provided is a CdTe-based semiconductor substrate for epitaxial growth, which is capable of growing good-quality epitaxial crystals without urging a substrate user to implement etching treatment before the epitaxial growth.A CdTe-based semiconductor substrate, in which tracks of linear polishing damage with a depth of 1 nm or more are not observed within a viewing range of 10 μm×10 μm when a surface of the substrate is observed by an atomic force microscope, and orange peel defects are not observed when the surface of the substrate is visually observed under a fluorescent lamp, can grow the good-quality epitaxial crystals. |
| US08513764B2 |
Schottky diode
A Schottky diode including a semiconductor region, a first terminal comprising a metal or a metal silicide or being metallic, and a second terminal comprising at least a portion of the semiconductor region. The diode further includes an at least partly conductive material or a material capable of holding a charge in close proximity to, or in contact with, or surrounding one of the first and second terminals, a field insulator located at least partly in the semiconductor region, a dielectric region located over the semiconductor region between the field insulator and the one of the first and second terminals for isolating the conductive or charge-holding material from the semiconductor region, and wherein the dielectric region comprises insulating regions of different thicknesses. |
| US08513762B2 |
Backside illuminated imaging sensor with vertical pixel sensor
A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a vertical stacked sensor that reduces cross talk by using different silicon layers to form photodiodes at separate levels within a stack (or separate stacks) to detect different colors. Blue light-, green light-, and red light-detection silicon layers are formed, with the blue light detection layer positioned closest to the backside of the sensor and the red light detection layer positioned farthest from the backside of the sensor. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer can be inserted in between the red and green light detection layers to reduce the optical cross talk captured by the red light detection layer. Amorphous polysilicon can be used to form the red light detection layer to boost the efficiency of detecting red light. |
| US08513760B2 |
Image sensor
An image sensor includes a plurality of unit pixels. Each unit pixel has a photo diode for sensing external light to generate photo charges. A transfer transistor is connected to the photo diode for storing the photo charges generated in the photo diode into a floating diffusion region when being turned-on. An amplification transistor amplifies the photo charges stored into the floating diffusion region. A select transistor, connected to the amplification transistor, performs a switching operation. An output line, extended in a column direction, outputs the photo charges in accordance with the switching operation of the select transistor. The photo diode may be formed in such a manner to share the output line with its adjacent photo diode in a horizontal direction, so that the photo charges generated in the photo diode and its adjacent photo diode are outputted through the output line. |
| US08513759B2 |
Photodiode array
A photodiode array for near infrared rays that includes photodiodes having a uniform size and a uniform shape, has high selectivity for the wavelength of received light between the photodiodes, and has high sensitivity with the aid of a high-quality semiconducting crystal containing a large amount of nitrogen, a method for manufacturing the photodiode array, and an optical measurement system are provided. The steps of forming a mask layer 2 having a plurality of openings on a first-conductive-type or semi-insulating semiconductor substrate 1, the openings being arranged in one dimension or two dimensions, and selectively growing a plurality of semiconductor layers 3a, 3b, and 3c including an absorption layer 3b in the openings are included. |
| US08513758B2 |
Materials, systems and methods for optoelectronic devices
A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer. |
| US08513756B2 |
Semiconductor package and manufacturing method for a semiconductor package as well as optical module
A semiconductor package includes: a supporting substrate; a functioning element and a first joining element formed on a first principal surface of the supporting substrate; a sealing substrate disposed in an opposing relationship to the supporting substrate with the functioning element and the first joining element interposed therebetween; a second joining element provided on a second principal surface of the supporting substrate; a through-electrode provided in and extending through the supporting substrate and adapted to electrically connect the first and second joining elements; and a first electromagnetic shield film coated in an overall area of a side face of the supporting substrate which extends perpendicularly to the first and second principal surfaces. |
| US08513755B2 |
Avalanche photodiode having controlled breakdown voltage
Avalanche photodiodes and methods for forming them are disclosed. The breakdown voltage of an avalanche photodiode is controlled through the inclusion of a diffusion sink that is formed at the same time as the device region of the photodiode. The device region and diffusion sink are formed by diffusing a dopant into a semiconductor to form a p-n junction in the device region. The dopant is diffused through a first diffusion window to form the device region and a second diffusion window to form the diffusion sink. The depth of the p-n junction is based on an attribute of the second diffusion window. |
| US08513752B2 |
Magnetic tunnel junction having coherent tunneling structure
A magnetic tunnel junction includes an amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer having a first reference layer side and an opposing second reference layer side. The first reference layer side has a greater concentration of boron than the second reference layer side. A magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer is disposed on the second side of the amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer. The magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer has a crystal structure. An amorphous ferromagnetic free layer is disposed on the magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer. |
| US08513750B2 |
Forming inductor and transformer structures with magnetic materials using damascene processing for integrated circuits
Methods and associated structures of forming microelectronic devices are described. Those methods may include forming a first layer of magnetic material and at least one via structure disposed in a first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, forming at least one conductive structure disposed in the second dielectric layer, forming a third layer of dielectric material disposed on the conductive structure, forming a second layer of magnetic material disposed in the third layer of dielectric material and in the second layer of dielectric material, wherein the first and second layers of the magnetic material are coupled to one another. |
| US08513747B1 |
Integrated MEMS devices with controlled pressure environments by means of enclosed volumes
An integrated MEMS device comprises a wafer where the wafer contains two or more cavities of different depths. The MEMS device includes one movable structure within a first cavity of a first depth and a second movable structure within a second cavity of a second depth. The cavities are sealed to maintain different pressures for the different movable structures for optimal operation. MEMS stops can be formed in the same multiple cavity depth processing flow. The MEMS device can be integrated with a CMOS wafer. |
| US08513745B2 |
MEMS switch and fabrication method
A MEMS switch (1, 81), and methods of fabricating thereof, the switch comprising: a sealed cavity (24); and a membrane (26); wherein the sealed cavity (24) is defined in part by the membrane (26); and the membrane is a 5 metallic membrane (26), for example consisting of a single type of metal or metal alloy. The MEMS switch (1, 81) may comprise a top electrode (30), for example extending into the cavity (24), located in a hole (32) in the metallic membrane (26). Fabrication may include providing a sacrificial layer (22) in a partly defined cavity (24). The bending stiffness of the membrane (26) may be 10 higher along an RF line (102) than along a line (104) perpendicular to the RF line (102), for example by virtue of the cavity (24) being elliptical. |
| US08513743B2 |
Field effect transistor with channel region having portions with different band structures for suppressed corner leakage
Disclosed are embodiments of field effect transistors (FETs) having suppressed sub-threshold corner leakage, as a function of channel material band-edge modulation. Specifically, the FET channel region is formed with different materials at the edges as compared to the center. Different materials with different band structures and specific locations of those materials are selected in order to effectively raise the threshold voltage (Vt) at the edges of the channel region relative to the Vt at the center of the channel region and, thereby to suppress of sub-threshold corner leakage. Also disclosed are design structures for such FETs and method embodiments for forming such FETs. |
| US08513740B2 |
Complementary metal oxide semiconductor device having metal gate stack structure and method of manufacturing the same
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device including: a semiconductor substrate including a NMOS region and a PMOS region; a NMOS metal gate stack structure on the NMOS region and including a first high dielectric layer, a first barrier metal gate on the first high dielectric layer and including a metal oxide nitride layer, and a first metal gate on the first barrier metal gate; and a PMOS metal gate stack structure on the PMOS region and including a second high dielectric layer, a second barrier metal gate on the second high dielectric layer and including a metal oxide nitride layer, and a second metal gate on the second barrier metal gate. |
| US08513739B2 |
Metal-gate high-k reference structure
Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit structure that incorporates at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that have the same conductivity type and essentially identical semiconductor bodies (i.e., the same semiconductor material and, thereby the same conduction and valence band energies, the same source, drain, and channel dopant profiles, the same channel widths and lengths, etc.). However, due to different gate structures with different effective work functions, at least one of which is between the conduction and valence band energies of the semiconductor bodies, these FETs have selectively different threshold voltages, which are independent of process variables. Furthermore, through the use of different high-k dielectric materials and/or metal gate conductor materials, the embodiments allow threshold voltage differences of less than 700 mV to be achieved so that the integrated circuit structure can function at power supply voltages below 1.0V. Also disclosed are method embodiments for forming the integrated circuit structure. |
| US08513736B2 |
Semiconductor device
A field-effect transistor (142) includes a lowly p-doped region 110 formed on a surface of a substrate (102), an n-doped drain region 112 and n-doped source region 114 arranged on a surface of the lowly p-doped region 110, and a device isolation insulating film 132 and device isolation insulating film 134. Here, the device isolation insulating film 132 is formed greater in film thickness than the device isolation insulating film 134; and in the n-doped source region 114, the peak concentration section having a highest dopant concentration is formed in a deeper position than in the n-doped drain region 112. |
| US08513732B2 |
High voltage power MOSFET having low on-resistance
A power MOSFET is provided that includes a substrate of a first conductivity type. An epitaxial layer also of the first conductivity type is deposited on the substrate. First and second body regions are located in the epitaxial layer and define a drift region between them. The body regions have a second conductivity type. First and second source regions of the first conductivity type are respectively located in the first and second body regions. A plurality of trenches are located below the body regions in the drift region of the epitaxial layer. The trenches, which extend toward the substrate from the first and second body regions, are filled with a material that includes a dopant of the second conductivity type. The dopant is diffused from the trenches into portions of the epitaxial layer adjacent the trenches. |
| US08513730B2 |
Semiconductor component with vertical structures having a high aspect ratio and method
A semiconductor component with vertical structures having a high aspect ratio and method. In one embodiment, a drift zone is arranged between a first and a second component zone. A drift control zone is arranged adjacent to the drift zone in a first direction. A dielectric layer is arranged between the drift zone and the drift control zone wherein the drift zone has a varying doping and/or a varying material composition at least in sections proceeding from the dielectric. |
| US08513728B2 |
Array of split gate non-volatile floating gate memory cells having improved strapping of the coupling gates
An array of non-volatile memory cells with spaced apart first regions extending in a row direction and second regions extending in a column direction, with a channel region defined between each second region and its associated first region. A plurality of spaced apart word line gates each extending in the row direction and positioned over a first portion of a channel region. A plurality of spaced apart floating gates are positioned over second portions of the channel regions. A plurality of spaced apart coupling gates each extending in the row direction and over the floating gates. A plurality of spaced apart metal strapping lines each extending in the row direction and overlying a coupling gate. A plurality of spaced apart erase gates each extending in the row direction and positioned over a first region and adjacent to a floating gate and coupling gate. |
| US08513727B2 |
Surrounding stacked gate multi-gate FET structure nonvolatile memory device
Nonvolatile memory devices having a low off state leakage current and an excellent data retention time characteristics. The present invention provides a surrounding stacked gate fin field effect transistor nonvolatile memory structure comprising a silicon-on-insulator substrate of a first conductivity type and a fin active region projecting from an upper surface of the insulator. The structure further includes a tunnel oxide layer formed on the fin active region and a first gate electrode disposed on the tunnel oxide layer and upper surface of the insulator. Additionally, the structure includes an oxide/nitride/oxide (ONO) composite layer formed on the first gate electrode, a second gate electrode formed on the ONO composite layer and patterned so as to define a predetermined area of the ONO composite layer. The structure further includes a dielectric spacer formed on a sidewall of the second gate electrode and source/drain regions formed in the fin active region on both sides of the second gate electrode. |
| US08513723B2 |
Method and structure for forming high performance MOS capacitor along with fully depleted semiconductor on insulator devices on the same chip
An integrated circuit is provided that includes a fully depleted semiconductor device and a capacitor present on a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate. The fully depleted semiconductor device may be a finFET semiconductor device or a planar semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes a substrate having a first device region and a second device region. The first device region of the substrate includes a first semiconductor layer that is present on a buried insulating layer. The buried insulating layer that is in the first device region is present on a second semiconductor layer of the substrate. The second device region includes the second semiconductor layer, but the first semiconductor layer and the buried insulating layer are not present in the second device region. The first device region includes the fully depleted semiconductor device. A capacitor is present in the second device region. |
| US08513716B2 |
Semiconductor device
A MOS transistor includes a gate electrode formed in a grid pattern, source regions and drain regions each surrounded by the gate electrode, and a source metal wiring connected to the source regions via source contacts and a drain metal wiring connected to the drain regions via drain contacts. The source metal wiring and the drain metal wiring are disposed along one direction of the grid of the gate electrode. Each of the source regions and the drain regions is a rectangular form having its long side along the length direction of each metal wiring. The source metal wiring and the drain metal wiring are each formed in a zigzag manner in the length direction and are respectively connected to the source contacts and the drain contacts. |
| US08513714B2 |
Electric contacting of semiconductor components having low contact resistance
The present invention relates to a semiconductor component which comprises at least one electric contact surface for the electric contacting of a semiconductor region (1) with a metal material (3). To this end, the electric contact surface is configured by a surface of a semiconductor layer that is structured in terms of the depth thereof and preferably silicidated. By configuring a three-dimensional surface topography of the semiconductor layer, an enlargement of the electric contact surface is achieved, without enlarging the surface required for the semiconductor component and without the use of additional materials. In this way, the invention can advantageously be used to reduce parasitic contact resistance in semiconductor components which are produced using standard CMOS processes. |
| US08513712B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming a semiconductor gate
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for fabricating a semiconductor gate. The apparatus includes, a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; a gate electrode located above a portion of the active region and a portion of the dielectric region; and a dielectric material disposed within the gate electrode, the dielectric material being disposed near the interface between the active region and the dielectric region. The method includes, providing a substrate having an active region and a dielectric region that forms an interface with the active region; forming a gate electrode over the substrate, the gate electrode having an opening near a region of the gate electrode that is above the interface; and filling the opening with a dielectric material. |
| US08513706B2 |
Heterojunction bipolar transistors with reduced base resistance
Heterojunction bipolar transistors with reduced base resistance, as well as fabrication methods for heterojunction bipolar transistors and design structures for BiCMOS integrated circuits. The heterojunction bipolar transistor includes a conductive layer between the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base. The conductive layer is comprised of a conductive material, such as a silicide, having a lower resistivity than the materials forming the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base. |
| US08513704B2 |
Method for manufacturing a photodiode and corresponding photodiode and electromagnetic radiation detector
A photodiode capable of interacting with incident photons includes at least: a stack of three layers including an intermediate layer placed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type; and a region that is in contact with at least the intermediate layer and the second layer and extends transversely relative to the planes of the three layers, the region having a conductivity type that is opposite to the first conductivity type. The intermediate layer is made of a semiconductor material having a second conductivity type and is capable of having a conductivity type that is opposite to the second conductivity type so as to form a P-N junction with the region, inversion of the conductivity type of the intermediate layer being induced by dopants of the first conductivity type that are present in the first and second layers. |
| US08513696B2 |
Lateral thermal dissipation LED and fabrication method thereof
A lateral thermal dissipation LED and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The lateral thermal dissipation LED utilizes a patterned metal layer and a lateral heat spreading layer to transfer heat out of the LED. The thermal dissipation efficiency of the LED is increased, and the lighting emitting efficiency is accordingly improved. |
| US08513694B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the device
A nitride semiconductor device includes a first nitride semiconductor layer having a C-plane as a growth surface, and unevenness in an upper surface; and a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer to be in contact with the unevenness, and having p-type conductivity. The second nitride semiconductor layer located directly on a sidewall of the unevenness has a p-type carrier concentration of 1×1018/cm3 or more. |
| US08513690B2 |
Light emitting diode structure having two lighting structures stacked together and driven by alternating current
A light emitting diode structure includes an electrically conductive substrate, a first lighting structure having a first n-type semiconductor layer, a first active layer and a first p-type semiconductor layer and a second lighting structure having a second n-type semiconductor layer, a second active layer and a second p-type semiconductor layer. The first n-type semiconductor layer is electrically connected with the second p-type semiconductor layer and the first p-type semiconductor layer is electrically connected with the second n-type semiconductor layer. A first transparent, conductive layer is formed on the first lighting structure and a second transparent, conductive layer is formed on the second lighting structure. The first transparent, conductive layer and the second transparent, conductive layer are connected together to combine the first lighting structure with the second lighting structure. |
| US08513687B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and semiconductor light emitting apparatus
A semiconductor light emitting device, includes: a stacked structure unit including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a light emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode provided on a first major surface of the stacked structure unit on the second semiconductor layer side to connect to the first semiconductor layer; and a second electrode provided on the first major surface of the stacked structure unit to connect to the second semiconductor layer. The second electrode includes: a first film provided on the second semiconductor layer; and a second film provided on a rim of the first film on the second semiconductor layer. The first film has a relatively low contact resistance with the second semiconductor layer. The second film has a relatively high contact resistance with the second semiconductor layer. A distance from an outer edge of the second film to the first film is smaller at a central portion than at a peripheral portion of the first major surface. |
| US08513685B2 |
Electrically pixelated luminescent device incorporating optical elements
Electrically pixelated luminescent devices incorporating optical elements, methods for forming electrically pixelated luminescent devices incorporating optical elements, and systems including electrically pixelated luminescent devices incorporating optical elements are described. |
| US08513683B2 |
Optical integrated semiconductor light emitting device
An optical integrated semiconductor light emitting device with improved light emitting efficiency is provided by preventing leak current from flowing through a high defect region of the substrate. The optical integrated semiconductor light emitting device includes: a substrate, in which in a low defect region made of crystal having a first average dislocation density, one or more high defect regions having a second average dislocation density higher than the first average dislocation density are included; and a Group III-V nitride semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate, has a plurality of light emitting device structures, and has a groove in the region including the region corresponding to the high defect region (high defect region). |
| US08513681B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package and lighting system including the same
A light emitting device including a second conductive type semiconductor layer; an active layer over the second conductive type semiconductor layer; a first conductive type semiconductor layer over the active layer; a second electrode in a first region under the second conductive type semiconductor layer; a current blocking layer including a metal; and a first electrode over the first conductive type semiconductor layer. Further, the first electrode has at least one portion that vertically overlaps the current blocking layer. |
| US08513677B2 |
Display device having an aluminum complex oxide on metal layer for improving corrosion resistance
A thin film transistor substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a metal layer on the substrate, and an aluminum complex oxide layer on the metal layer. The aluminum complex oxide layer comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconium, tungsten, chromium and molybdenum. A passivation layer is formed on the aluminum complex oxide layer through a dipping process. |
| US08513676B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate made of silicon carbide and having a main surface having an off angle of not less than −3° and not more than +5° relative to a (0-33-8) plane in a <01-10> direction; a p type layer made of silicon carbide and formed on the main surface of the substrate by means of epitaxial growth; and an oxide film formed in contact with a surface of the p type layer. A maximum value of nitrogen atom concentration is 1×1021 cm−3 or greater in a region within 10 nm from an interface between the p type layer and the oxide film. |
| US08513675B2 |
Vertical junction field effect transistors having sloped sidewalls and methods of making
Semiconductor devices and methods of making the devices are described. The devices can be junction field-effect transistors (JFETs). The devices have raised regions with sloped sidewalls which taper inward. The sidewalls can form an angle of 5° or more from vertical to the substrate surface. The devices can have dual-sloped sidewalls in which a lower portion of the sidewalls forms an angle of 5° or more from vertical and an upper portion of the sidewalls forms an angle of <5° from vertical. The devices can be made using normal (i.e., 0°) or near normal incident ion implantation. The devices have relatively uniform sidewall doping and can be made without angled implantation. |
| US08513672B2 |
Wafer precursor prepared for group III nitride epitaxial growth on a composite substrate having diamond and silicon carbide layers, and semiconductor laser formed thereon
A high power, wide-bandgap device is disclosed that exhibits reduced junction temperature and higher power density during operation and improved reliability at a rated power density. The device includes a diamond substrate for providing a heat sink with a thermal conductivity greater than silicon carbide, a single crystal silicon carbide layer on the diamond substrate for providing a supporting crystal lattice match for wide-bandgap material structures that is better than the crystal lattice match of diamond, and a Group III nitride heterostructure on the single crystal silicon carbide layer for providing device characteristics. |
| US08513668B2 |
Thin film transistor device and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor device includes a first conductivity type thin film transistor and a second conductivity type thin film transistor. The first conductivity type thin film transistor includes a first patterned doped layer, a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, a first drain electrode and a first semiconductor pattern. The second conductivity type thin film transistor includes a second patterned doped layer, a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, a second drain electrode and a second semiconductor pattern. The first semiconductor pattern and the second semiconductor pattern form a patterned semiconductor layer. The first patterned doped layer is disposed under the first semiconductor pattern, and the second patterned doped layer is disposed on the second semiconductor pattern. |
| US08513663B2 |
Signal repowering chip for 3-dimensional integrated circuit
A signal repowering chip comprises an input; at least one inverter connected in series to the input; and at least one switch connected to a test enable signal, the at least one switch configured to allow a signal connected to the input to propagate through the at least one inverter in the event that the test enable signal is on. A 3-dimensional integrated circuit comprises a first chip, the first chip comprising a default voltage level and a plurality of wiring layers; and a second chip, the second chip comprising at least one repeater, the repeater being connected to the default voltage level. |
| US08513662B2 |
Semiconductor device and display apparatus
Provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element including at least a semiconductor as a component characterized by including: a mechanism for irradiating the semiconductor with light having a wavelength longer than an absorption edge wavelength of the semiconductor; and a dimming mechanism, provided in a part of an optical path through which the light passes, for adjusting at least one factor selected from an intensity, irradiation time and the wavelength of the light, wherein a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element is varied by the light adjusted by the dimming mechanism. |
| US08513661B2 |
Thin film transistor having specified transmittance to light
A first gate electrode (2) is formed on a substrate (1); a first gate insulating layer (3) is formed so as to cover the first gate electrode (2); a semiconductor layer (4) including an oxide semiconductor is formed on the first gate insulating layer (3); a second gate insulating layer (7) is formed on the semiconductor layer (4); a second gate electrode (8) having a thickness equal to or larger than a thickness of the first gate electrode (2) is formed on the second gate insulating layer (7); and a drain electrode (6) and a source electrode (5) are formed so as to be connected to the semiconductor layer (4). |
| US08513653B2 |
Electronic device using a two-dimensional sheet material, transparent display and methods of fabricating the same
An electronic device, a transparent display and methods for fabricating the same are provided, the electronic device including a first, a second and a third element each formed of a two-dimensional (2D) sheet material. The first, second, and third elements are stacked in a sequential order or in a reverse order. The second element is positioned between the first element and the third element. The second element has an insulator property, the first and third elements have a metal property or a semiconductor property. |
| US08513650B2 |
Dielectric layer for an electronic device
A dielectric layer for an electronic device, such as a thin-film transistor, is provided. The dielectric layer comprises a molecular glass. The resulting dielectric layer is very thin, pure, and stable. Processes and compositions for fabricating such a dielectric layer are also disclosed. |
| US08513648B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device and electronic equipment having a long life at a low electric power consumption are provided. A hole transporting region composed of a hole transporting material, an electron transporting region composed of an electron transporting material, and a mixture region in which both the hole transporting material and the electron transporting material are mixed at a fixed ratio are formed within an organic compound film. Regions having a concentration gradient are formed between the mixture region and carrier transporting regions until the fixed ratio is achieved. In addition, by doping a light emitting material into the mixture region, functions of hole transportation, electron transportation, and light emission can be respectively expressed while all of the interfaces existing between layers of a conventional lamination structure are removed. Organic light emitting elements having low electric power consumption and a long life can thus be provided, and light emitting devices and electronic equipment can be manufactured using the organic light emitting elements. |
| US08513646B2 |
Solution-processed high mobility inorganic thin-film transistors
Thin film transistor devices comprising a dielectric component and an inorganic semiconductor component coupled thereto, wherein said coupled inorganic semiconductor component is obtainable by a process that comprises contact of said dielectric component and a fluid medium comprising said inorganic semiconductor component. |
| US08513641B2 |
Core-shell nanowire comprising silicon rich oxide core and silica shell
Disclosed herein is a nanowire including silicon rich oxide and a method for producing the same. The nanowire exhibits excellent electrically conducting properties and optical characteristics, and therefore is effectively used in a variety of applications including, for example, solar cells, sensors, photodetectors, light emitting diodes, laser diodes, EL devices, PL devices, CL devices, FETs, CTFs, surface plasmon waveguides, MOS capacitors and the like. |
| US08513640B2 |
Semiconductor device
On the same semiconductor substrate 1, a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory elements R having a chalcogenide-material storage layer 22 storing a high-resistance state with a high electric resistance value and a low-resistance state with a low electric resistance value by a change of an atom arrangement are disposed in a matrix is formed in a memory cell region mmry, and a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed in a logic circuit region lgc. This chalcogenide-material storage layer 22 is made of a chalcogenide material containing at least either one of Ga or In of 10.5 atom % or larger to 40 atom % or smaller, Ge of 5 atom % or larger to 35 atom % or smaller, Sb of 5 atom % or larger to 25 atom % or smaller, and Te of 40 atom % or larger to 65 atom % or smaller. |
| US08513638B2 |
Semiconductor device including a phase-change memory element
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to: a first insulating film; a second insulating film over the first insulating film; a first memory structure between the first and second insulating films; and a third insulating film between the first and second insulating films. The first memory structure may include, but is not limited to: a heater electrode; and a phase-change memory element between the heater electrode and the second insulating film. The phase-change memory element contacts the heater electrode. The third insulating film covers at least a side surface of the phase-change memory element. Empty space is positioned adjacent to at least one of the heater electrode and the third insulating film. |
| US08513636B2 |
Vertical diodes for non-volatile memory device
A steering device. The steering device includes an n-type impurity region comprising a zinc oxide material and a p-type impurity region comprising a silicon germanium material. A pn junction region formed from the zinc oxide material and the silicon germanium material. The steering device is a serially coupled to a resistive switching device to provide rectification for the resistive switching device to form a non-volatile memory device. |
| US08513633B2 |
Electronic cassette for radiographic imaging
An electronic cassette for radiographic imaging has an enclosure, an imaging detection panel disposed in the enclosure and configured to convert an amount of radiation into an electric signal, a circuit unit disposed in the enclosure and configured to read an electric signal from the imaging detection panel by supplying a driving signal to the imaging detection panel, and a holding base disposed in the enclosure and configured to support the imaging detection panel. The holding base supports the imaging detection panel on a first surface as a radiation incident side and supports the circuit unit on a second surface on an opposite side to the first surface. The holding base includes a carbon fiber laminated plate having a metal layer inserted in lamination layer, and the metal layer is electrically connected to ground of the circuit unit. |
| US08513630B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
In an extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus generating an extreme ultraviolet light from a plasma generated by irradiating a target, which is a droplet D of molten Sn, with a laser light, and controlling the flow direction of ion generated at the generation of the extreme ultraviolet light by a magnetic field or an electric field, an ion collection cylinder 20 is arranged for collecting the ion, and ion collision surfaces Sa and Sb of the ion collection cylinder 20 are provided with or coated with Si, which is a metal whose sputtering rate with respect to the ion is less than one atom/ion. |
| US08513628B2 |
EUV illumination system with a system for measuring fluctuations of the light source
The disclosure relates to an EUV (extreme ultraviolet) illumination system. The system can include at least one EUV light source, and an aperture stop and sensor arrangement for the measurement of intensity fluctuations and/or position changes of the EUV light source, in particular in the range of the effectively utilized wavelengths, or of one of the intermediate images of the EUV light source. The aperture stop and sensor arrangement can include an aperture stop and an EUV position sensor. The aperture stop and sensor arrangement can be arranged in such a way that the aperture stop allows a certain solid angle range of the radiation originating from the EUV light source or from one of its intermediate images to fall on the EUV position sensor. |
| US08513618B2 |
Radioactive anomaly discrimination from spectral ratios
A method for discriminating a radioactive anomaly from naturally occurring radioactive materials includes detecting a first number of gamma photons having energies in a first range of energy values within a predetermined period of time and detecting a second number of gamma photons having energies in a second range of energy values within the predetermined period of time. The method further includes determining, in a controller, a ratio of the first number of gamma photons having energies in the first range and the second number of gamma photons having energies in the second range, and determining that a radioactive anomaly is present when the ratio exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08513616B2 |
Radiographic imaging device and a detector for a radiographic imaging device
A radiographic imaging device includes a gas avalanche detector detecting and locating X-ray or gamma ray ionizing radiation. The detector has a gas enclosure with an admission window for admitting incident X-ray photons; an intermediate plane electrode in the enclosure between and parallel to two end plane electrodes thereby forming an amplification space constituting a conversion space where the photons are convertible into electrical charges made up of primary electrons and corresponding ions; the intermediate electrode being operable at an electrical potential relative to the electrical potentials of the end electrodes suitable for generating an electric field causing multiplication of the electrons by the avalanche phenomenon in the amplification space near the intermediate electrode; one of the end electrodes being a collector electrode for picking up the electrical signals induced by the ions; and said window being level with the amplification space and between the intermediate plane and collector electrodes. |
| US08513609B2 |
Management device, storage medium stored with program and imaging device
A management device that includes an acquiring component and a numericalizetion component is provided. The acquiring component acquires correlation information that correlates with a degree of deterioration of a radiation detection component from plurality of imaging devices, each of the plurality of imaging devices comprising a radiation detection component that detects radiation that has passed through respective investigation subjects, and each of the plurality of imaging devices performing image capture by generating image data representing a radiographic image according to the amount of radiation detected by the radiation detection component, and storing the image data in a predetermined storage region. The numericalization component numericalizes the degree of deterioration of each of the respective radiation detection components of the plurality of imaging devices based on the correlation information acquired by the acquiring component. |
| US08513601B2 |
Systems for detecting charged particles in object inspection
Techniques, apparatus and systems for detecting particles such as muons. In one implementation, a monitoring system has a cosmic ray-produced charged particle tracker with a plurality of drift cells. The drift cells, which can be for example aluminum drift tubes, can be arranged at least above and below a volume to be scanned to thereby track incoming and outgoing charged particles, such as cosmic ray-produced muons, while also detecting gamma rays. The system can selectively detect devices or materials, such as iron, lead, gold and/or tungsten, occupying the volume from multiple scattering of the charged particles passing through the volume and can also detect any radioactive sources occupying the volume from gamma rays emitted therefrom. If necessary, the drift tubes can be sealed to eliminate the need for a gas handling system. The system can be employed to inspect occupied vehicles at border crossings for nuclear threat objects. |
| US08513600B2 |
Method and system for vacuum driven mass spectrometer interface with adjustable resolution and selectivity
A mass spectrometer system and method of operating same are provided. The system comprises an ion conduit for receiving ions; a boundary member defining a curtain gas chamber containing the ion conduit; a curtain gas supply for providing a curtain gas to an inlet of the ion conduit to provide a gas flow into the conduit, and a curtain gas outflow out of a curtain gas chamber inlet; a mass spectrometer at least partially sealed to, and in fluid communication with, the conduit for receiving the ions from the conduit; a vacuum chamber surrounding the mass spectrometer operable to draw the gas flow including the ions through the conduit and into the vacuum chamber; and, a gas outlet for drawing a gas outflow from the gas flow located between the conduit and the mass spectrometer to increase the gas flow rate through the conduit. |
| US08513599B2 |
Guiding spray droplets into an inlet capillary of a mass spectrometer
Charged droplets are guided along a defined path from a droplet source to a droplet sink. A focusing pseudopotential distribution generated by audio frequencies on electrodes of a guiding device guide the charged droplets from the droplet source to the droplet sink with low loss. The droplets can be driven along the droplet guide by a gas flow, an axial electric field or a combination of both. For example, charged droplets from a spray capillary of an electrospray ion source at atmospheric pressure may be introduced into the inlet capillary leading to the vacuum system of ion analyzers, a procedure similar to that used up to now in nanoelectrospraying, but with substantially higher flow rates. In the guiding device, the droplets can be manipulated in different ways, for example evaporated down to a desired size. The introduction of small droplets into gas-aspirating capillaries is of interest because it is possible to keep the droplets on axis by Bernoulli focusing and to guide them in large quantities and with low loss through the capillary. The ability to guide the droplets makes it also possible to install a segmented inlet capillary with intermediate pumping, which allows pumping capacity to be saved. Advantageously, the sensitivity of ion analyzers such as mass spectrometers or ion mobility spectrometers by at least one order of magnitude. |
| US08513597B2 |
Atom probe
Aspects of the present invention are directed generally toward atom probe and three-dimensional atom probe microscopes. For example, certain aspects of the invention are directed -toward an atom probe or a three-dimensional atom probe that includes a sub-nanosecond laser to evaporate ions from a specimen under analysis and a reflectron for reflecting the ions. In further aspects of the invention, the reflectron can include a front electrode and a back electrode. At least one of the front and back electrodes can be capable of generating a curved electric field. Additionally, the front electrode and back electrodes can be configured to perform time focusing and resolve an image of a specimen. |
| US08513594B2 |
Mass spectrometer with ion storage device
A method of mass spectrometry having steps of, in a first cycle: storing sample ions in a first ion storage device, the first ion storage device having an exit aperture and a spatially separate ion transport aperture; ejecting the stored ions out of the exit aperture; transporting the ejected ions into an ion selection device which is spatially separated from the said first ion storage device; carrying out ion selection within the spatially separated ion selection device; returning at least some of the ions ejected from the first ion storage device, or their derivatives, back from the spatially separate ion selection device to the first ion storage device, following the step of ion selection; receiving the said returned ions through the ion transport aperture of the first ion storage device; and storing the received ions in the first ion storage device. |
| US08513591B2 |
Ion mobility spectrometer instrument and method of operation
An ion mobility spectrometer instrument has a drift tube that is partitioned into a plurality of cascaded drift tube segments. A number of electric field activation sources may each be coupled to one or more of the plurality of drift tube segments. A control circuit is configured to control operation of the number of electric field activation sources in a manner that sequentially applies electric fields to the drift tube segments to allow only ions having a predefined ion mobility or range of ion mobilities to travel through the drift tube. The drift tube segments may define a linear drift tube or a closed drift tube with a continuous ion travel path. Techniques are disclosed for operating the ion mobility spectrometer to produce highly resolved ion mobility spectra. |
| US08513588B2 |
Electronic camera having multiple sensors for capturing high dynamic range images and related methods
An electronic camera comprises two or more image sensor arrays. At least one of the image sensor arrays has a high dynamic range. The camera also comprises a shutter for selectively allowing light to reach the two or more image sensor arrays, readout circuitry for selectively reading out pixel data from the image sensor arrays, and, a controller configured to control the shutter and the readout circuitry. The controller comprises a processor and a memory having computer-readable code embodied therein which, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to open the shutter for an image capture period to allow the two or more image sensor arrays to capture pixel data, and, read out pixel data from the two or more image sensor arrays. |
| US08513587B2 |
Image sensor with anti-reflection layer and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor the image sensor comprising an absorption layer disposed on a silicon substrate, the absorption layer having at least one of SiGe or Ge, and an antireflection layer disposed directly thereon. |
| US08513584B2 |
Photovoltaic array with angular adjustment
Apparatus are provided for use in photovoltaic systems. A photovoltaic array includes a rigid transparent material supporting a flexible material there beneath. Numerous photovoltaic cells are supported by the flexible material and are electrically coupled to circuit pathways borne there on. A positioner operates to shift the flexible material thus adjusting respective angular relationships between the photovoltaic cells and the overlying transparent material. Photovoltaic cells are reoriented in accordance with daily or seasonal variations in the suns position by way of the present teachings. |
| US08513579B2 |
Heater assembly for microwave oven and microwave oven having the same
A heater assembly for a microwave oven is provided. The heater assembly includes a ceramic heater and a halogen heater that provides heat used to cook food in a cooking chamber provided in a cavity assembly; a heater supporter fixed to a side of the cavity assembly, with the ceramic and halogen heaters fixed to the heater supporter; and a reflection plate provided above the ceramic and halogen heaters to reflect heat of the ceramic and halogen heaters to the cooking chamber, wherein a portion of the reflection plate corresponding to the ceramic heater is open in its longitudinal direction. With this structure, contact between a heating wire of the ceramic heater and the reflection plate is prevented and the heat dissipation of the ceramic and halogen heaters is obtained by means of airflow that is generated by a cooling fan assembly to cool electric parts. |
| US08513578B2 |
Electromagnetic wave processing apparatus
A processing apparatus using an electromagnetic wave is provided to perform a heat treatment on a target object. The processing apparatus includes a metallic processing chamber; a loading/unloading opening provided in one end of the processing chamber; a closing body capable of closing and opening the loading/unloading opening; a holding unit loaded and unloaded into and from the inside of the processing chamber through the loading/unloading opening, holding target objects at a predetermined interval, the holding unit being made of a material allowing the electromagnetic wave to transmit therethrough; an electromagnetic wave supply unit for introducing the electromagnetic wave into the processing chamber; a gas introducing unit for introducing a gas into the processing chamber; and a gas exhaust unit for exhausting an atmosphere in the processing chamber. |
| US08513576B2 |
Dual resistance heater for phase change devices and manufacturing method thereof
A dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is formed by depositing a resistive material. The heater material is then exposed to an implantation or plasma which increases the resistance of the surface of the heater material relative to the remainder of the heater material. As a result, the portion of the heater material approximate to the phase change material region is a highly effective heater because of its high resistance, but the bulk of the heater material is not as resistive and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and the current usage of the device. |
| US08513575B2 |
Utilization of overvoltage and overcurrent compensation to extend the usable operating range of electronic devices
A method induces augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The method further includes reliably initializing the system by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure. Once the component is operational, the method includes maintaining the component's temperature above the minimum operating threshold via continued self-heating, continued augmentation of the applied DC voltage, or both, where required. |
| US08513573B2 |
Oven with improved functionality during grilling
An oven comprising a box housing with an internal cavity bounded by walls, and provided on one side with an opening closable by a movable door, at least one of the walls there being provided a browning or grilling member comprising an electrical resistance element, and presenting a first side facing the wall and a second side, opposite the first side, facing the interior of the oven cavity in which at least one food item is positioned to be subjected to cooking and/or grilling, this latter function being obtained by activating the member. In a position corresponding with first side of the grilling member a flat element is provided presenting two opposing flat faces, a first face presenting high emissivity and the second face presenting high reflectivity or reflective power, the element being able to be moved relative to the member such that this latter can be faced by the first face or the second face, depending on the type of cooking required for the food item positioned within the oven cavity. |
| US08513572B2 |
Modular paint oven using radiant and convection heat
An oven apparatus 24 having a modular construction for curing paint on the surface of a vehicle body 26 using radiant and convection heat. The oven apparatus 24 includes a plurality of oven modules, each extending along an axis A along a length B. Each oven module 30 includes an interior shell 52, an outer shell 54 and a wall cavity 56 therebetween. A plurality of Z-shaped rails 84 are disposed in the cavity 56, wherein a rail leg 86 of each Z-shaped rail fixedly engages the outer shell 54. Further, a plurality of support clips 90 are disposed in the wall cavity 56 and fixedly engage the interior shell 52. The support clips 90 each have a clip cavity 96 for receiving a rail leg 88 of a Z-shaped rail 84 for allowing axial movement between the interior and outer shells 52, 54 while restricting transverse movement between the interior and outer shells 52, 54. |
| US08513571B2 |
Tortilla conveying system for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to be warmed
An improved tortilla conveying system, for sequentially conveying a plurality of tortillas to be warmed, is disclosed. The conveying system provides a stack of tortillas and automatically conveys tortillas sequentially through a tortilla warmer. The tortillas are stored in a container. A dragger at least frictionally engages the top side of the top tortilla, dragging the tortilla off of the top of the container for subsequent heating by a heating element of the tortilla warmer. In some embodiments, the tortilla container can automatically elevate the stack of tortillas, so a top tortilla always remains exposed at the top of the container. In other embodiments, an extractor delivers the tortilla outside of the heating system once the tortilla is sufficiently warmed. The tortillas are warmed in sequence by a heating element, via conduction, convection, and/or radiation. In some embodiments, various components of the conveyer are synchronized, via a gearbox for example. |
| US08513570B2 |
Ceramic glow plug
The present invention refers to a glow plug comprising a ceramic glow pencil (1), a protective tube (2) enclosing the glow pencil (1), a plug body (3) from which the protective tube (2) projects and a sleeve (4), which encloses the protective tube (2) and which is welded to the protective tube (2), is fitted in the plug body (3). |
| US08513569B2 |
Arc energy regulation in drawn arc fastener welding process
A drawn arc welding process that includes the steps of providing a work piece, providing a welding tool holding a metal object onto the work piece, providing a power supply outputting a preset current, providing an arc voltage sensing device, lifting the metal object and drawing a pilot arc current, energizing a welding current locally melting the metal object and forming a weld pool in the work piece, measuring an arc voltage, predicting the arc voltage for a remaining time of the welding process, regulating the time of the welding process wherein the measured arc voltage and predicted arc voltage are utilized to control a desired energy input set point, and plunging the fastener into the locally melted work piece forming a weld between the metal object and the work piece. |
| US08513567B2 |
Laser processing method for forming a modified region for cutting in an object
In the laser processing method, the cross-sectional form of laser light L at a converging point P is such that the maximum length in a direction perpendicular to a line to cut 5 is shorter than the maximum length in a direction parallel to the line to cut 5. Therefore, when seen from the incident direction of the laser light L, a modified region 7 formed within a silicon wafer 11 has such a shape that the maximum length in the direction perpendicular to the line to cut 5 is shorter than the maximum length in the direction parallel to the line to cut 5. Forming the modified region 7 having such a shape within the object 1 can restrain twist hackles from occurring on cut surfaces when cutting the object 1 from the modified region 7 acting as a cutting start point, thereby making it possible to improve the flatness of the cut surfaces. |
| US08513563B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method
In a plasma processing apparatus, a first electrode is attached to a grounded evacuable processing chamber via an insulating material or a space and a second electrode disposed in parallel with the first electrode spaced apart therefrom in the processing chamber, the second electrode supporting a target substrate to face the first electrode. A first radio frequency power supply unit applies a first radio frequency power of a first frequency to the second electrode, and a second radio frequency power supply unit applies a second radio frequency power of a second frequency lower than the first frequency to the second electrode. Further, a processing gas supply unit supplies a processing gas to a processing space formed by the first and the second electrode and a sidewall of the processing chamber. Moreover, an inductor electrically is connected between the first electrode and a ground potential. |
| US08513555B2 |
Power button and electronic device using same
A power button includes a holder and a push-button. The holder includes an assembling hole defined therein, an annular groove defined on a top portion of an inner wall of the assembling hole, and a latching slot defined in the inner wall of the assembling hole located adjacent to and apart from the annular groove. The push-button includes a cover body in the shape of conical frustum, a plurality of hook portions formed on the cover body. A shape of the annular groove allows it to mesh with the cover body, the cover body is movably received in the annular groove, and the hook portions engage with the latching slot. |
| US08513554B2 |
Waterproof switch structure
A waterproof switch structure includes a circuit control device and a waterproof casing. The circuit control device includes a clip member, a power cord, a controller, and a circuit breaker. The waterproof casing is used to cover the controller and the circuit breaker. The waterproof casing includes an upper lid and a lower lid. The screw is screwed to the upper and lower posts to lock the upper and lower lids. The upper and lower notches of the upper and lower lids clip the power cord. The engaging grooves and the engaging ribs engage with each other. The engaging recess of the resilient cap engages with the engaging ring. The resilient cap is pressed to control operation of the press switch. |
| US08513549B2 |
Illuminated keyboard
An illuminated keyboard includes a main circuit board, a membrane switch circuit module and an illumination circuit board. The membrane switch circuit module includes a first connecting zone and a bus bar. Through the bus bar, the membrane switch circuit module is connected with the main circuit board. The illumination circuit board includes a second connecting zone. The second connecting zone and the first connecting zone are connected with each other. Consequently, the illumination circuit board is electrically connected with the main circuit board through the second connecting zone, the first connecting zone and the bus bar. |
| US08513548B2 |
Keypad having tamper-resistant keys
A tamper resistant keypad includes one or more key assemblies having a resilient key member and a contact. The resilient key member is configured to flex when the key assembly is depressed to allow the contact to close a key press detection circuit on a circuit board to register a key press. A tamper detection switch assembly at least partially surrounds the resilient key member. The tamper detection switch assembly is configured to detect attempts to access the key assembly. |
| US08513545B2 |
Built-in weight lifting and lowering device
A device that adds and removes a load of a built-in weight to and from a load measuring mechanism of a weighing apparatus built-in weight latched in a weight holder that performs a lifting and lowering operation to a fixed portion. During calibration, gas is supplied from a gas supply and exhaust portion to a bag to increase volume of the air bag. At this point, the weight holder is lowered against the repulsive force of a coil spring, and the built-in weight is latched in the load receiver, thereby performing the calibration. After the calibration, an electromagnetic valve is opened to exhaust the gas from the bag. As a result, the weight holder is lifted by the repulsive force of the coil spring, and the weighing apparatus enters a usual weighing mode. |
| US08513543B1 |
Water-proofing cable connector
A cable connector has a hollow housing, an input cap, an output cap, a wire separating base, a cable sealing assembly and a wire sealing assembly. The hollow housing has an input end and an output end. The input cap is mounted on the input end of the housing. The output cap is mounted on the output end of the housing so as to define a sealed space between the housing, the input cap and the output cap to hold the wire separating base, the cable sealing assembly and the wire sealing assembly inside. The wire separating base is mounted in the housing and has a first end and a second end. The cable sealing assembly is connected to the first end of the wire separating base. The wire sealing assembly is connected to the second end of the wire separating base. |
| US08513542B2 |
Integrated circuit leaded stacked package system
An integrated circuit leaded stacked package system includes forming a no-lead integrated circuit package having a mold cap, and attaching a mold cap of an extended-lead integrated circuit package facing the mold cap of the no-lead integrated circuit package. |
| US08513539B2 |
Wiring board and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring board has a base substrate, a conductive pattern formed on the base substrate, an insulation layer formed on the conductive pattern and the base substrate and including a resin-impregnated inorganic cloth, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, a via formed in the insulation layer and connecting the conductive pattern formed on the base substrate and the conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a through-hole connected to the conductive pattern formed on the base substrate, penetrating through the base substrate and having a hole diameter in a range of 10 μm to 150 μm. |
| US08513538B2 |
Television apparatus, electronic device, and circuit board structure
According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a circuit board, a pad, a heat-transfer layer, and a block. The circuit board is mounted with an electronic component. The pad is provided on a surface of the circuit board. The heat-transfer layer is formed on the inner surface of a through hole in the circuit board. The through hole has an opening on the pad. The block contains a resin material and is located inside the heat-transfer layer to block the through hole. |
| US08513535B2 |
Circuit board and structure using the same
A circuit board includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer. The insulating layer contains a resin with high heat resistance. The conductive layer includes a metal carbide layer bonded to the insulating layer and containing a carbide of a first metal in group IV, V, or VI of the periodic table, and a first metal layer bonded to the metal carbide layer and containing the first metal. |
| US08513530B2 |
Package carrier and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a package carrier is provided. A substrate having a first surface, a second surface, and an opening communicating the first and second surfaces opposite to each other is provided. A first adhesive layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The first adhesive layer and the substrate define a notch. A thermal-conductive element is configured in the notch and fixed into the notch via the first adhesive layer. A second adhesive layer and a metal layer located on the second adhesive layer are formed on the second surface of the substrate. The metal layer is connected to a bottom surface of the thermal-conductive element. The thermal-conductive element is located between the metal layer and the first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is removed to expose the first surface of the substrate. |
| US08513526B2 |
Wiring harness
A wiring harness 1 includes: an electric wire 2; and a connector 3. The electric wire 2 includes: a conductive core wire 21; and an insulating cover 22 for covering the core wire 21. The connector 3 is attached to an end 2a of the electric wire 2, and receives the end 2a of the electric wire 2. A first marker 6 and a second marker 7 are formed on an outer surface 22a of the cover 22 of the electric wire 2. The first marker 6 is formed by coloring a part of the outer surface 22a of the cover 22 of the electric wire 2 received in the connector 3 in a color A. The second marker 7 is formed by coloring a part of the outer surface 22a of the cover 22 of the electric wire 2 exposed to an outside of the connector 3. |
| US08513525B2 |
Strippable semiconductive composition comprising low melt temperature polyolefin
The present invention relates to a semiconductive polymer composition having easily controllable stripping characteristics, especially for an electric power cable. The semiconductive polymer composition has an ethylene copolymer having polar co-monomer units, wherein the amount of the polar co-monomer units in the ethylene copolymer is 10 wt. % or more, based on the total weight of the ethylene copolymer; an olefin copolymer having propylene monomer units and monomer units of an alpha-olefin having at least 4 carbon atoms, wherein the olefin copolymer has a melting point of 110 ° C. or less, and carbon black in an amount of from 10 to 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the semiconductive polymer composition, wherein the olefin copolymer (B) is prepared by using a metallocene polymerization catalyst. |
| US08513523B2 |
Relay terminal member, circuit structure including the same, and electronic unit
A terminal relay member includes a plurality of relay terminals, each of which has a body section in which an opening is formed so as to penetrate the body section, and a terminal section to be connected to the circuit board; and a covering section for covering the body sections. The covering section includes holes corresponding to the openings. The opening is configured so that, by inserting a terminal pin of a connector to the opening, a part of the body section around the opening is deformed toward an inner wall of the hole of the covering section to contact the terminal pin. |
| US08513521B2 |
Electronic device enclosure having a cable holding device
An electronic device enclosure includes a main enclosure, a cable holding device received in the main enclosure, and a cable which held by the cable holding device in different orientations. A first positioning slot and a second positioning slot are defined in the cable holding device. The cable is guided out of the cable holding device in one or more predetermined directions. |
| US08513519B2 |
Use of exfoliated clay nanoplatelets and method for encapsulating cations
This invention relates to a method for making an electrolyte composition of a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising utilizing exfoliated clay nanoplatelets and the method for rapidly encapsulating cations. The electrolyte composition mainly includes exfoliated clay nanoplatelets, an ionic liquid and iodine. The method for rapidly encapsulating cation comprises adding the exfoliated clay nanoplatelets into a cationic solution, wherein the exfoliated clay nanoplatelets encapsulates cations and recovers into a layered structure such that phase separation of the solution occurs; and filtrating the solution to separate the clay nanoplatelets encapsulating the cations. The exfoliated clay nanoplatelets have a unique property of encapsulation for the cations, is suitable for use in an electrolyte composition for dye-sensitized solar cells, cationic drug encapsulation and environmental protection. |
| US08513515B1 |
Generating alternating current from concentrated sunlight
An alternating current (AC, or ac) solar electric power generation system includes a primary concentrator to concentrate sunlight, one optional reflector to redirect the concentrated sunlight, a concentrating solar PV (CPV) module, a rotary electric connector, and a motor with an optional gearbox to spin the CPV module. The photovoltaic cells produce a varying electric output that is transmitted to the stationary contact by the rotary connector. Two groups of solar cells installed in the opposite direction with a phase difference of 180 degrees generate the one-phase AC electric power. An air and water mist, or other coolant system may cool the solar cells. |
| US08513512B2 |
Personalized music remixing
A personal music mixing system with an embodiment providing beats and vocals configured using a web browser and musical compositions generated from said beats and vocals. Said embodiment provides a plurality of beats and vocals that a user may suitably mix to create a new musical composition and make such composition available for future playback by the user or by others. In some embodiments, the user advantageously may hear a sample musical composition having beats and vocals with particular user-configured parameter settings and may adjust said settings until the user deems the musical composition complete. |
| US08513510B1 |
Marching drum assembly
A marching drum assembly of the present invention includes a supporter, at least an engaging element, at least a drum body, and a carrier. The engaging element includes a first and a second clipper boards which are parallel to each other, and a clipper trough is formed therebetween to receive a board-shape frame of the supporter. The engaging element also has a positioning element which is able to pivot relatively to the second clipper board. The positioning element is able to be fixed to the first clipper board after being pivoted toward the first clipper board. Thus, the two clipper boards are clamped tightly. Besides, one of the clipper boards connects with the drum body, and the carrier is capable of bearing the supporter. Thereby, the drum can be positioned at any preferred position on the frame, and easy adjustment and fixation can be achieved. |
| US08513507B2 |
Plants and seeds of common wheat cultivar WB-700
A wheat cultivar, designated WB-700, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds, plants, and hybrids of wheat cultivar WB-700, and to methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing plants from wheat cultivar WB-700 with themselves or with plants from another wheat variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a wheat plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic wheat plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to wheat varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-700, to methods for producing other wheat varieties, lines or plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-700, and to the wheat plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing wheat cultivar WB-700 with another wheat cultivar. |
| US08513505B2 |
Plants and seeds of common wheat cultivar WB-196
A wheat cultivar, designated WB-196, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds, plants, and hybrids of wheat cultivar WB-196, and to methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing plants from wheat cultivar WB-196 with themselves or with plants from another wheat variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a wheat plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic wheat plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to wheat varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-196, to methods for producing other wheat varieties, lines or plant parts derived from wheat cultivar WB-196, and to the wheat plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing wheat cultivar WB-196 with another wheat cultivar. |
| US08513502B2 |
Wheat variety W000350I1
A wheat variety designated W000350I1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W000350I1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W000350I1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W000350I1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W000350I1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W000350I1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08513501B1 |
Maize variety inbred PH13HC
A novel maize variety designated PH13HC and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13HC with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13HC 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 PH13HC or a locus conversion of PH13HC with another maize variety. |
| US08513500B1 |
Maize variety hybrid 10146900
A novel maize variety designated 10146900 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 maize variety 10146900 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10146900 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10146900, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10146900. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10146900. |
| US08513493B2 |
Hemipteran and coleopteran active toxin proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
A novel Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein exhibiting insect inhibitory activity is disclosed. Growth of Lygus insects is significantly inhibited by providing the novel crystal protein in Lygus insect diet. Polynucleotides encoding the crystal protein, transgenic plants and microorganisms that contain the polynucleotides, isolated peptides derived from the crystal protein, and antibodies directed against the crystal protein are also provided. Methods of using the crystal protein and polynucleotides encoding the crystal protein to control Hemipteran insects are also disclosed. |
| US08513491B2 |
Dehydrin genes and promoters from coffee
Dehydrin- and late embryogenic abundant (LEA) protein-encoding polynucleotides from coffee plants are disclosed. Also disclosed are a promoter sequence from a coffee dehydrin gene, and methods for using these polynucleotides and promoter sequences for gene regulation and manipulation of flavor, aroma, stress tolerance and other features of coffee beans. |
| US08513486B2 |
Cell nuclear transfer
The present invention discloses methods for cell nuclear transfer that comprise for example modification of zona pellucida of an oocyte, and/or sectioning of oocytes into several parts. The present invention also discloses methods for producing a genetically modified non-human mammal. Genetically modified non-human mammals obtainable by the disclosed methods are also within the scope of the present invention. Disclosed are also methods for cryopreservation of cells. |
| US08513485B2 |
Non human transgenic mammal comprising a transgene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a ribosomal protein fused to a peptide tag
The invention provides methods for isolating cell-type specific mRNAs by selectively isolating ribosomes or proteins that bind mRNA in a cell type specific manner, and, thereby, the mRNA hound to the ribosomes or proteins that bind mRNA. Ribosomes, which are riboprotein complexes, bind mRNA that is being actively translated in cells. According to the methods of the invention, cells are engineered to express a molecularly tagged ribosomal protein or protein that binds mRNA by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a ribosomal protein or protein that binds mRNA fused to a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide tag. The tagged ribosome or mRNA binding protein can then be isolated, along with the mRNA bound to the tagged ribosome or mRNA binding protein, and the mRNA isolated and further used for gene expression analysis. The methods of the invention facilitate the analysis and quantification of gene expression in the selected cell type present within a heterogeneous cell mixture, without the need to isolate the cells of that cell type as a preliminary step. |
| US08513483B2 |
Hydrophobic surface coated material for use in absorbent articles
An improved barrier member for an absorbent article that includes a nonwoven treated with a hydrophobic surface coating. The hydrophobic surface coating includes a non-aqueous, solventless, multicomponent silicone composition. The hydrophobic surface coating may be substantially free of aminosilicones. |
| US08513476B2 |
Process for producing light olefins from a feed containing triglycerides
The process combines hydroconversion and catalytic cracking starting from a feed containing triglycerides, at concentrations of fatty acids above 85%, which maximizes the yields of light olefins, chiefly ethylene and propylene, while reducing the yield of gasoline, with conversion greater than 80 wt. %. |
| US08513475B2 |
Method for making hydrocarbons by using a lipid derived from a biological organism and hydrotalcite
The present invention relates to a method in which a catalytic reaction is used in order to produce hydrocarbons from renewable starting material derived from biological organisms such as vegetable lipids, animal lipids, and lipids extracted from macroalgae and microalgae, and more specifically relates to a method for selectively making a hydrocarbon, which is suitable for making gasoline or diesel, by removing the oxygen contained in the starting material without consuming hydrogen. In the present invention, the production takes place by bringing the starting material into contact with hydrotalcite, which constitutes a catalyst, thereby removing oxygen via a decarboxylation or decarbonylation reaction; and the starting material is one or more such material selected from triglycerides, fatty acids, and fatty acid derivatives obtained from a renewable source of supply originating from a biological organism. |
| US08513474B2 |
Process for the manufacture of fluorinated olefins
Provided are methods for producing fluorinated organic compounds, which preferably comprises converting at least one compound of formula (I) CH2XCHZCF3 to at least one compound of formula (II) CHX═CZCF3 where X and Z are independently H or F, with the proviso that X and Z are not the same. The converting step comprises catalytically reacting at least one compound of formula (I), preferably via dehydrogenation or oxidative dehydrogenation. In another aspect, the inventive method of preparing fluorinated organic compounds comprises converting a reaction stream comprising at least one pentafluoropropene to a product stream comprising at least one pentafluoropropane and at least one compound of formula (I), separating out the compound of formula (I) from the product stream, and converting the compound of formula (I) separated from the product stream to at least one compound of formula (II), wherein the conversion the compound of formula (I) to 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne is substantially limited. |
| US08513470B2 |
Process for oxidation on fixed catalytic bed of methanol to formaldehyde
A process for the fixed bed oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde wherein the bed comprises at least two layers having different catalytic activity, wherein the layer of lower activity is comprised in the part of the bed from which the reactant gas mixture enters and its activity is calibrated so that the maximum hot spot temperature in the layer is comprised between 350° C. and 430° C. and is higher than the maximum hot spot temperature of the layer of greater activity formed by pure catalyst, and wherein during the period in which the situation of the maximum hot spot temperature of the layer of lower activity remains at the values cited above, the conversion of methanol is higher than 96% by mols. |
| US08513469B2 |
Hydroformylation process with doubly open-ended bisphosphite ligand
A continuous hydroformylation process for producing at least one aldehyde product by utilizing a transition metal and a ligand mixture comprising an organopolyphosphite and an organomonophosphine, with improved stability of the organopolyphosphite ligand. The process involves reacting one or more olefinically-unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of an organopolyphosphite ligand and an organomonophosphine ligand, at least one of such ligands being bonded to a transition metal to form a transition metal-ligand complex hydroformylation catalyst. Surprisingly the addition of the organomonophosphine to a Rh/organopolyphosphite catalyst system did not result in a significant loss of reaction rate. |
| US08513467B2 |
Production of 2,4-diones from 4-hydroxy-6-substituted-2-pyrones
Described is a method of making 2,4-diones via acid catalyzed or thermally induced ring-opening of a 4-hydroxy-6-substituted-2-pyrone to yield a 2,4-dione. |
| US08513466B2 |
Class of soluble, photooxidatively resistant acene derivatives
The present invention is directed towards a new class of semi-conducting acene derivatives. These compounds are all soluble species and they all possess superior resistance to photooxidation as compared to their counterparts that lack the substitution patterns disclosed herein. |
| US08513465B2 |
Potassium organotrifluoroborate derivative and a production method therefor
Provided are a production method for a potassium organotrifluoroborate compound having a hydroxyl group, and a novel potassium organotrifluoroborate compound having a hydroxyl group. The production method is advantageous in that a potassium organotrifluoroborate compound can be produced in a single reaction without recourse to a process of isolating and purifying an intermediate. The novel potassium organotrifluoroborate compound having a hydroxyl group is useful as a reactant which is widely used in the total synthesis of physiologically active natural products and diverse organic synthesis reactions including halogen substitution reactions, 1,2- and 1,4-addition reactions using a rhodium (Rh) catalyst, and Suzuki coupling reactions using a palladium (Pd) catalyst. |
| US08513463B2 |
Process for the production of nitrogen or phosphorus containing compounds from synthesis gas
A process is described for the production of one or more of linear nitriles, amides and formamides which includes reacting a nitrogen containing compound, such as ammonia or NOx, and a synthesis gas over a catalyst at a temperature of between 160° C. and 400° C. and a pressure of between 1 bar and 50 bar. A further process for the production of one or more of linear phosphorous containing compounds is also described, which includes reacting a phosphorous containing compound, such as a phosphine, and a synthesis gas over a catalyst at a temperature of between 160° C. and 400° C. and a pressure of between 1 bar and 50 bar. A supported cobalt, iron, ruthenium or rhodium catalyst or an unsupported (bulk) promoted iron catalyst, modified with a promoter is used. The synthesis gas is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in a ratio from 0.5:1 to 5:1; or a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide; or a mixture of water and carbon monoxide. The suppression of the formation of oxygenates in the process is a feature of the invention and oxygenates may even be included in the feed to become converted to corresponding nitrogen containing compounds in the process. |
| US08513459B2 |
Process for producing perfluoropolyether carboxylic acid fluoride
Perfluoropolyether carboxylic acid fluoride having the following general formula: F(CF2CF2CF2O)nCF2CF2COF (n: 2-200, preferably 35-70) can be produced by starting fluorination reaction of polyfluoropolyether carboxylic acid having the general formula as a tetrafluorooxetane polymer: F(CH2CF2CF2O)nCH2CF2COF (n: 2-200) in a dispersed state in a perfluoropolyether-based solvent with a fluorine gas at 50°-80° C., then slowly elevating the fluorination reaction temperature, and finally completing the fluorination reaction at 100°-120° C., where even in the case of fluorination reaction of the starting material with a high degree of polymerization the desired product can be produced in high yield, while suppressing the decomposition and keeping the high degree of polymerization substantially. |
| US08513456B2 |
Method for producing a carnosic acid-rich plant extract
A carnosic acid-rich plant extract can be produced by extracting a dried and comminuted plant material containing carnosic acid with supercritical CO2 at a pressure of at least 200 bar and at a temperature of at most 100° C. In a first step, supercritical CO2 in a quantity of 10 to 50 kg of CO2 per kg of plant material is passed through the plant material to obtain a first CO2 extract. In a second step, additional supercritical CO2 is passed through the plant material to obtain a second CO2 extract, and a carnosic acid-rich plant extract is separated from the second CO2 extract by lowering the pressure. |
| US08513454B2 |
Preparation of (phosphonyl) aromatic diesters and acids
The composition of a (phosphonyl) aromatic compound represented by is provided. In this composition, R1(a) and R1(b) are each independently H, CnH2n+1, phenyl or benzyl; R2(a) and R2(b) are each independently H, CnH2n+1, phenyl or benzyl with the proviso that no more than one R2(a) and no more than one R2(b) can be phenyl or benzyl; R3(a) and R3(b) are each independently CnH2n+1, phenyl or benzyl; and, n is an integer of 1-10; and p is an integer of 1-10. The disclosed composition can find utility in improving flame retardancy of polyesters, aramids and nylons. |
| US08513452B1 |
Brønsted acid-catalyzed asymmetric allylation and propargylation of aldehydes
A method synthesizing homoallylic or homopropargylic alcohols was developed to react aldehydes with allyl boronates, such as allylboronic acid pinacol ester, or allenylborates in the presence of a catalytic amount of a chiral binaphthyl-derived chiral phosphoric acid. The method showed enhanced enantiocontrol and chemical yield, which increased with lower temperatures. A large series of aldehydes were tested under these catalytic conditions and wide successful substrate scope was found, including aryl, heteroaryl, aromatic aldehydes, heteroaryl aldehydes, α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and aliphatic aldehydes, and alkyl aldehydes. Likewise, the use of crotyl boronates (E and Z) were successfully reacted with aryl aldehydes under the conditions to allow for highly enantio- and diasteo-selective crotylation. |
| US08513448B2 |
Cyclic siloxane compound, a material for forming Si-containing film, and its use
The present invention has the objects to provide a novel material for forming Si-containing film, especially a material containing a cyclic siloxane compound suitable to a PECVD equipment for low dielectric constant insulating film, and to provide an Si-containing film using the same, and a semiconductor device containing those films. The present invention relates to a material for forming Si-containing film, containing a cyclic siloxane compound represented by the following general formula (1) (In the formula, A represents a group containing at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a boron atom and a nitrogen atom, n is 1 or 2, and x is an integer of from 2 to 10.), and its use. |
| US08513441B2 |
Prostaglandin synthesis and intermediates for use therein
Fused cyclopentane-4-substituted 3,5-dioxalane lactone compounds useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of prostaglandin analogs are provided. The compounds have the formula A: wherein R represents an aryl group such as p-methoxyphenyl. This compound can be reacted with a lower alkyl aluminum compound to open the dioxalane ring and reduce the lactone to lactol, without over-reducing to diol. The resulting compound can be functionalized to insert chemical side groups of target prostaglandins, adding the required α-side chain and then the required ω-side chain sequentially and independently of each other. The compounds and process are particularly suitable for preparing lubiprostone. |
| US08513438B2 |
Process for the preparation of (6S)-(-)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-[propyl-(2-thienyl)ethyl]amino-1-naphthol (Rotigotine)
The present invention describes a novel process for the preparation of (6S)-(−)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-[propyl-(2-thienyl)ethyl]amino-1-naphthol (Rotigotine) comprising: (a) acetylating (S)-(−)-5-hydroxy-N-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline to afford the acetate; (b) reacting this acetate, (−)-5-acetoxy-N-n-propyl-2-aminotetraline, with 2-(2-thienyl)ethanol 2-nitrobenzenesulfonate; (d) hydrolyzing (6S)-(−)-1-acetoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-[propyl-(2-thienyl)ethyl]amino-1-naphthalene to afford (6S)-(−)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-[propyl-(2-thienyl)ethyl]amino-1-naphthol (Rotigotine) and (d) purifying rotigotine either by the acetylation reaction and subsequent hydrolysis of the formed acetate or by salification of rotigotine through hydrochloride or hydrobromide formation and subsequent base release. Rotigotine is a dopamine agonist and is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. |
| US08513437B2 |
Pyrrolidino-1,4-naphthoquinone deriviatives and their use for treating malignancies and cardiovascular diseases
The invention provides pyrrolidino-substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives that modulate the activity of protein kinases, and it relates to the use of the derivatives in pharmaceutical compositions for treating cardiovascular disorders and malignancies. The invention particularly provides medicaments for treating disorders associated with MAPKs signaling, ERKs signaling, p38 signaling, and JNKs signaling. |
| US08513436B2 |
Pyrazolyl and pyrimidinyl tricyclic enones as antioxidant inflammation modulators
Disclosed herein are novel antioxidant inflammation modulators, including those of the formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds. Methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions thereof are also provided. |
| US08513435B2 |
Method for preparing aminoethyl imidazolidinone or the thiocarbonyl thereof
The present invention relates to a method for preparing 1-(2-aminoethyl)imidazolidin-2-one or the thiocarbonyl thereof, and also to the product that can be obtained according to this method, and which has a purity of at least 98%, and to the uses thereof. |
| US08513433B2 |
Small molecule inhibitors of PARP activity
Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are provided that inhibit the activity of poly ADP-ribose synthetase (PARP). Such compounds are useful in the treatment of various diseases, conditions and injuries such as stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemia-perfusion injury in various organs, traumatic brain injury, atherosclerosis, inflammatory diseases and cancer. |
| US08513429B2 |
Synthesis of epothilones, intermediates thereto and analogues thereof
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein. The present invention additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and provides methods of treating cancer comprising administering a compound of formula (I). |
| US08513428B2 |
Process for preparing atazanavir bisulfate and novel forms
A process is provided for preparing the HIV protease inhibitor atazanavir bisulfate wherein a solution of atazanavir free base is reacted with concentrated sulfuric acid in an amount to react with less than about 15% by weight of the free base, seeds of Form A crystals of atazanavir bisulfate are added to the reaction mixture, and as crystals of the bisulfate form, additional concentrated sulfuric acid is added in multiple stages at increasing rates according to a cubic equation, to effect formation of Form A crystals of atazanavir bisulfate.A process is also provided for preparing atazanavir bisulfate as Pattern C material. A novel form of atazanavir bisulfate is also provided which is Form E3 which is a highly crystalline triethanolate solvate of the bisulfate salt from ethanol. |
| US08513423B2 |
Piperidin-4-yl-azetidine diamides as monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds, and enantiomers, diastereomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are represented by Formula (I) as follows: wherein Y, Z, and R are defined herein. |
| US08513422B2 |
Piperidine derivative
As a result of studies on compounds having a selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5, the present inventors have confirmed that a {1-[(indol-2-yl)carbonyl]piperidyl}alkanol derivative has a potent selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5. The invention has been completed based on these findings. The compound of the present invention can be used as an agent for treating and/or an agent for preventing diseases associated with 17βHSD type 5, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, without accompanying adverse effects due to a decrease in testosterone. |
| US08513421B2 |
Substituted hydroxamic acids and uses thereof
This invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein R1a, R1, R2a, and R2b have values as described in the specification, useful as inhibitors of HDAC6. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative, inflammatory, infectious, neurological or cardiovascular diseases or disorders. |
| US08513420B2 |
Amino-naphthyridine derivatives
The present invention relates to new compounds having an amino-naphthyridine group. In particular, the present invention relates to new compounds, its stereoisomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof having a first unit (moiety) selected from the group of a phenyl derivative, a biphenyl derivative or a diphenyl alkane derivative and at least one amino-naphthyridine group linked with the first unit via a linking group. In specific embodiments, the present invention relates to compounds having a phenyl derivative unit and three amino-naphthyridine groups bound to the phenyl derivative unit via a linking group as well as salts or solvates thereof, in particular, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof. Further, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds. The compounds are particularly useful for treating or preventing infections, like viral infections. |
| US08513416B2 |
Bisamide-zinc bases
The present invention relates to zinc amide bases of the general formula (I) (R1R2N)2—Zn.aMgX12.bLiX2 (I) wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or silyl derivatives thereof, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl, and wherein R1 and R2 can form together a ring structure, or R1 and/or R2 can be part of a polymer structure; X12 is a divalent anion or two monovalent anions that are independent from each other; X2 is a monovalent anion; a is >0; and b is >0. The zinc amide bases can be used, amongst other things, for deprotonation and metallization of aromatics. |
| US08513415B2 |
Preparation of C-pyrazine-methylamines
A process for preparing a compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof: (I) wherein R1 is H or optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl; comprising reacting 2,3-dichloropyrazine with a suitable diaryl imine followed by hydrolysis. |
| US08513413B2 |
Process for the preparation of nitroorotic acid
Subject of the present invention is a new improved process for the preparation of nitroorotic acid via nitration of orotic acid. |
| US08513406B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising forms of 5-azacytidine
The invention provides novel polymorphic and pseudopolymorphic crystalline forms of 5-azacytidine, along with methods for preparing said forms, wherein 5-azacytidine is represented by the formula: The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising said forms. |
| US08513403B2 |
Modified siRNA molecules and uses thereof
The present invention provides chemically modified siRNA molecules and methods of using such siRNA molecules to silence target gene expression. Advantageously, the modified siRNA of the present invention is less immunostimulatory than its corresponding unmodified siRNA sequence and retains RNAi activity against the target sequence. The present invention also provides nucleic acid-lipid particles comprising a modified siRNA, a cationic lipid, and a non-cationic lipid, which can further comprise a conjugated lipid that inhibits aggregation of particles. The present invention further provides methods of silencing gene expression by administering a modified siRNA to a mammalian subject. Methods for identifying and/or modifying an siRNA having immunostimulatory properties are also provided. |
| US08513400B2 |
Modulation of HIF1α and HIF2α expression
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of HIF1α and/or HIF2α. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding HIF1α and HIF2α. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of HIF1α and/or HIF2α expression and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with expression of HIF1α and/or HIF2α are provided. |
| US08513398B2 |
Human papilloma virus probes for the diagnosis of cancer
In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of detecting cervical cancer, and other types of cancer, using a combination of at least three genomic clones, or fragments thereof, of high risk Human Papilloma Virus. For example, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least three full length genomic clones, or fragments thereof, of high risk Human Papilloma Viruses. |
| US08513392B2 |
Conjugation of streptococcal capsular saccharides
Three conjugation methods for use with the capsular saccharide of Streptococcus agalactiae. In the first method, reductive animation of oxidized sialic acid residue side chains is used, but the aldehyde groups are first aminated, and then the amine is coupled to a carrier via a linker. In the second method, sialic acid residues and/or N-acetyl-glucosamine residues are de-N-acetylated to give amine groups, and the amine groups are coupled to a carrier protein via a linker. In the third method, linkage is via galactose residues in the capsular saccharide rather than sialic acid residues, which can conveniently be achieved using galactose oxidase. |
| US08513391B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies for Ebola and Marburg viruses
Described herein are a number of Ebola and Marburg monoclonal antibodies. |
| US08513387B2 |
Methods and compositions for detecting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The invention provides binding proteins that bind to misfolded or monomeric SOD1, and not to native homodimeric SOD1. The invention also includes methods of diagnosing, detecting or monitoring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a subject. In addition, the invention provides methods of identifying substances for the treatment or prevention of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and kits using the binding proteins of the invention. |
| US08513385B2 |
Selective extraction of glutelin proteins from freshwater or saltwater algae
Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels. |
| US08513383B2 |
Selective extraction of proteins from saltwater algae
Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels. |
| US08513379B2 |
Depolymerization method for polymer containing ester bond in main chain and method for producing polymer containing ester bond in main chain from depolymerization product
The invention provides a depolymerization method for a polymer containing an ester bond in a main chain, by causing a solid acid catalyst to act on a polymer containing an ester bond in a main chain to depolymerize the polymer, thereby obtaining a re-polymerizable monomer and/or oligomer as a depolymerization product, and a method for producing a polymer containing an ester bond in a main chain, by polymerizing the re-polymerizable monomer and/or oligomer obtained by the depolymerization method. |
| US08513377B2 |
Selenium-based monomers and conjugated polymers, methods of making, and use thereof
Substituted selenophene monomers, and polymers and copolymers having units derived from a substituted selenophene are disclosed. Also provided are methods of making and using the same. |
| US08513376B2 |
Polyamides and amidoamines from selectively modified amine amines
The present disclosure provides polyamides and amidoamine curing agents including the reaction product of (1) a modified amine component comprising at least one multifunctional amine of structure 1: wherein R1 is selected from C1-C16 linear, cyclic, and branched alkyl, alkenyl, and alkaryl groups; R2 and R4 are hydrogen, R3 is R1 or hydrogen, X, Y, and Z are independently selected from C2-C10 alkylene, hexylene and cycloalkylene groups, n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7; and (2) a fatty acid component. Exemplary fatty acid components include at least one of monomer fatty acids, dimer fatty acids, trimer fatty acids, polymer fatty acids, esters of monomer, dimer, trimer, and polymer fatty acids and combinations thereof. The method for making the curing agents and articles formed therefrom are also disclosed. |
| US08513372B2 |
Asymmetric photo-patternable sol-gel precursors and their methods of preparation
Described herein are photo-patternable sol-gel precursors and their methods of preparation. The sol-gel precursors are thermally stable and form compositions that have high refractive indices and low optical loss values. The precursors can be used to make sol-gel compositions that are ideally suited toward optical waveguide applications in the realm of telecommunications wavelengths. |
| US08513371B2 |
Amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes and method of preparation
An amino alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane (AMS) comprising one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of an amino AMS, an amino/mercaptan co-AMS, an amino/blocked mercaptan co-AMS, mixtures thereof, and a weak acid-neutralized solid or aqueous solution thereof, and a method of making the amino AMS, are presented. The compounds are useful in compounding, processing, cure and storage of silica-reinforced rubbers because they contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC). |
| US08513369B2 |
Long chain-branched ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer
The present invention relates to an ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer comprising long chain branches (LCB), while having a narrow molecular weight distribution. The ethylene-alpha olefin copolymer can be prepared by a continuous solution polymerization process using an activated catalyst composition containing a Group 4 transition metal compound having a monocyclopentadienyl ligand, to which a quinoline amino group is introduced. |
| US08513365B2 |
Polymerization process with improved polymer homogeneity
The present invention relates to a process for the polymerization of an olefin monomer. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the polymerization of an olefin monomer and one or more optional comonomers in presence of a polymerization catalyst and hydrogen, said process being characterized by an improved control of the hydrogen concentration in the polymerization reactor. In addition, the present invention provides for an improved hydrogen feeding system to a polymerization reactor. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a polymerization reactor comprising such an improved hydrogen feeding system. |
| US08513364B2 |
Production method of water-absorbent resin
A production method of a water-absorbent resin includes the steps of: obtaining a hydrogel by supplying monomer liquid to a reaction device so that the monomer liquid is polymerized; and detaching the hydrogel from the reaction device, wherein the reaction device's surface in contact with the monomer liquid at a position where polymerization occurs is made of a fluororesin having a melt viscosity of less than 1×108 poise at 380° C. On this account, it is possible to obtain a water-absorbent resin having less amounts of an extractable content with high productivity and it is possible to carry out continuous production for an extended period of time. |
| US08513358B2 |
Composition of (Meth)acrylate resin and hydroxy group-containing aromatic resin
The present invention relates to a transparent resin composition which comprises (a) a (meth)acrylate based resin comprising one or more (meth)acrylate based derivatives; and (b) an aromatic based resin having a chain having the hydroxy group containing portion and an aromatic moiety. |
| US08513356B1 |
Diblock copolymer blend composition
A diblock copolymer blend containing a unique combination of an ordered poly(styrene)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer and a disordered poly(styrene)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer is provided. Also provided are substrates treated with the diblock copolymer blend. |
| US08513355B2 |
Graft copolymer improving adhesion resistance and impact strength, method of preparing the same, and PVC composition comprising the same
Disclosed is a graft copolymer highly improving the adhesion resistance and impact strength, a method of preparing the same, and PVC composition containing the same, wherein the graft copolymer comprises i) 55 to 85 wt % of a conjugated diene-based rubber core; and ii) 15 to 45 wt % of a graft shell surrounding the rubber core, and formed by comprising a (meth)acrylate-based monomer, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a vinyl-based monomer having a polyalkylene oxide group represented by the following Formula 1; in which the graft copolymer includes 0.1 to 5 wt % of the vinyl-based monomer having the polyalkylene oxide group represented by the following Formula 1: wherein R is independently hydrogen, or C1 to C4 alkyl group, and n is independently 3 to 14. |
| US08513353B2 |
Forming copolymer from bicontinuous microemulsion comprising monomers of different hydrophilicity
A copolymer defines interconnected pores and comprises polymerized monomers. The monomers comprise a first monomer more hydrophilic than 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and a second monomer as hydrophilic as, or less hydrophilic than, HEMA. In a method of forming a polymer, a bicontinuous microemulsion comprising water, a surfactant, and a combination of monomers copolymerizable for forming a porous copolymer is provided. The combination of monomers comprises the first and second monomers. The monomers in the bicontinuous microemulsion are polymerized to form the porous copolymer. The first monomer may comprise N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) or methacrylic acid (MAA). The second monomer may comprise HEMA or methyl methacrylate (MMA). |
| US08513350B2 |
Positive type photosensitive resin composition
A positive type photosensitive resin composition for forming patterned resin film is provided. The patterned resin film has high transparency, low dielectric constant, high solvent resistance, high water resistance, high acid resistance, high alkali resistance, high heat resistance, and excellent adhesive properties with the substrate, which is obtained by developing with an alkali solution. The positive type photosensitive resin composition contains copolymer of compound of formula (I) and 1,2-quinonediazido compound, or further mixes with other alkali-soluble polymers, in formula (I), R1 is hydrogen or alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms in which any hydrogen may be replaced by fluorine; and R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydroxyl group, alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms, alkoxyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms or —O(Si(ClH2l+1)2O)mSi(CpH2p+1)3, 1 is an integer of 1-5, m is 0 or an integer of 1-10, n is an integer of 1-5, and p is an integer of 1-5. |
| US08513345B2 |
Exoergic filler composition, resin composition, exoergic grease and exoergic coating composition
The present disclosure provides an exoergic filler composition which is able to exert superior exoergic property, and a resin composition, a grease, and a coating composition which having superior exoergic property, respectively, by using the above-mentioned exoergic filler composition. The exoergic filler composition contains 1 to 50 volume % of a needle-shaped zinc oxide having an average long diameter of 0.1 to 10 μm, an average short diameter of 0.025 to 2.5 μm, aspect ratio defined by (average long diameter)/(average short diameter) of 4 or more and specific surface area according to BET method of 50 m2/g or less, and 50 to 99 volume % of other exoergic filler. |
| US08513342B2 |
Durable superhydrophobic coatings
Durable superhydrophobic coating composition having a composition ranging from about 10 to about 80 w.t. % of an acrylic polymer resin, from about 5 to about 40 w.t. % of a polysiloxane oil, from about 1 to about 50 w.t. % of hydrophobic particles, from about 0.1 to about 10 w.t. % metal oxides, and the remainder being one or more solvents and optionally other additives. Methods of making the coating, as well as coated substrates, are also provided. |
| US08513341B2 |
Polylactic acid resin composition and molded article thereof
A polylactic acid resin composition containing 100 parts by weight of a polylactic acid compound (A) having a specific moiety represented by the formula (1): —X1—R1—X2— and having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 5,000 to 500,000, 5 to 2,000 parts by weight of a lactic acid resin (B) and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of at least one kind of a transparent nucleating agent (C) selected from carboxylic acid amides, aliphatic alcohols and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters. In the formula (1), X1, X2 and R1 are defined. The resin composition can exhibit improved heat resistance (high crystallinity) and transparency without impairing the rigidity of the polylactic acid resin. A molded article composed of the resin composition is also provided. |
| US08513340B2 |
Method of reducing chatter
A method for reducing chatter in an extrusion process, which includes the steps of preparing an extrusion composition by combining a polymer composition with a chatter-reducing formulation, and extruding the extrusion composition to provide a substantially continuous extrudate. The chatter-reducing formulation comprises an alkyltin mercaptide and dibutyltin dilaurate. The resultant extrudate exhibits reduced chatter, which is categorized according to the Reed Scale as less than or equal to 2. |
| US08513332B2 |
Ink composition for color filter, method for preparing a color filter using the same, and color filter
Disclosed is a color filter ink composition that includes an acrylic-based copolymer resin including repeating units represented by a particular chemical formula, a polymerizable monomer, a pigment, and a solvent. According to the present invention, the color filter ink composition can have excellent ejection properties and ejection stability by using a new acrylic-based copolymer resin as a binder resin, and also can have excellent storage stability, so that it can be used for a long period. In addition, a pattern formed using the color filter ink composition can have improved heat resistance, chemical resistance, and film strength. |
| US08513327B2 |
Adhesive composition for dental use
An adhesive composition for dental use exhibiting acidic property, including a mixture of a polymerizable monomer component (A) containing a phosphoric acid-type polymerizable monomer having an acidic group derived from phosphoric acid, and a multivalent metal ion-releasing component (B), wherein the multivalent metal ion-releasing component (B) is capable of releasing at least earth metal ions, and in the composition, earth metal ions stemming from the component (B) are present together with the phosphoric acid-type polymerizable monomer in such an amount that a total valency ratio (RE) defined by the following formula (1) is in a range of 0.2 to 3.0. The adhesive composition is capable of strongly adhering and fixing a composite resin or a prosthetic material to a tooth for extended periods of time maintaining stability. RE=TVE/TVA (1) wherein TVE is a total valency of the earth metal ions contained in said composition, and TVA is a total valency of the acidic groups of the phosphoric acid-type polymerizable monomer contained in said composition. |
| US08513326B2 |
Carbamate-methacrylate monomers and their use in dental applications
The present invention relates, generally, to monomers containing carbamate-methacrylates or derivatives of carbamate-methacrylates, processes for making the monomers, and compositions comprising the monomers. The present invention also relates to methods of using the monomers, such as in dental applications, and in particular, dental restorative resins. |
| US08513324B2 |
Polymeric articles comprising oxygen permeability enhancing particles
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a hydrogel polymer having less than 100% haze, and distributed therein an oxygen enhancing effective amount of oxygen permeable particles having an oxygen permeability of at least about 100 barrer, average particle size less than about 5000 nm. |
| US08513319B2 |
Mesoporous carbon materials
The invention is directed to a method for fabricating a mesoporous carbon material, the method comprising subjecting a precursor composition to a curing step followed by a carbonization step, the precursor composition comprising: (i) a templating component comprised of a block copolymer, (ii) a phenolic compound or material, (iii) a crosslinkable aldehyde component, and (iv) at least 0.5 M concentration of a strong acid having a pKa of or less than −2, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating the precursor composition at a carbonizing temperature for sufficient time to convert the precursor composition to a mesoporous carbon material. The invention is also directed to a mesoporous carbon material having an improved thermal stability, preferably produced according to the above method. |
| US08513317B2 |
Process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles and expanded polyolefin resin particles
Provided is a process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles whose cells are not made nonuniform or extremely smaller as seen in conventional expanded particles, whose cell diameter and expansion ratio can be easily controlled independently, and which, when subjected to in-mold expansion molding, give in-mold expanded molded products satisfactory in fusibility and excellent in surface properties. The process is a process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles by: dispersing polyolefin resin particles together with an aqueous dispersion medium into a closed vessel; heating the polyolefin resin particles up to or above a softening temperature of the polyolefin resin particles; and releasing the polyolefin resin particles into a zone whose pressure is lower than an internal pressure of the closed vessel, with use as a foaming agent of water serving as the dispersion medium, the polyolefin resin particles being composed of a polyolefin resin composition including: polyolefin resin; a substance selected from among polyethylene glycol, polyvalent alcohol having a carbon number of not less than 3 to not more than 6, and a water-absorbing substance having no function of forming foaming nuclei; and a foam nucleating agent. |
| US08513312B2 |
Hydrocarbon synthesis process
This invention relates to a Fischer Tropsch process using a catalyst activated in accordance with the invention. More particularly the invention relates to a three phase Low Temperature Fischer Tropsch process wherein CO and H2 are converted to hydrocarbons and possibly oxygenates thereof by contacting syngas including CO and H2 in the presence of an iron based Fischer Tropsch catalyst, wherein the ratio of H2:CO in the feed is between 2.5 and 1, and wherein the iron based Fischer Tropsch catalyst is activated according to the steps of: (a) providing an iron catalyst including iron in a positive oxidation state; and (b) contacting the iron catalyst in a reactor with a reducing gas selected from CO and a combination of H2 and CO; at a temperature of at least 245° C. and below 280° C.; at a reducing gas pressure of above 0.5 MPa and not more than 2.2 MPa; and at a GHSV of total gas fed to the reactor of at least 6000 ml(N)/g cat/h, thereby reducing the iron that is in a positive oxidation step in the catalyst. |
| US08513310B2 |
Cosmetic use of phytosphingosine as slimming agent and cosmetic compositions comprising phytosphingosine
The invention relates to novel cosmetic uses of phytosphingosine or of one of its cosmetically acceptable salts, particularly its hydrochloride, as a slimming agent and/or as an active agent which stimulates the synthesis of leptin by adipocytes, for preparing a cosmetic composition intended for reducing subcutaneous excess fat.The invention also relates to a method of cosmetic treatment intended for obtaining a slimming effect on the human body according to which a cosmetic composition containing phytosphingosine or one of its cosmetically acceptable salts, particularly its hydrochloride, is applied on the parts of the body to be treated.The invention also relates to novel cosmetic compositions containing phytosphingosine or one of its cosmetically acceptable salts, particularly its hydrochloride, in combination with a lipolytic agent selected from the group consisting of CAMP and its derivatives, adenylate cyclase enzyme activating agents and phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibiting agents. |
| US08513308B2 |
PAK1 agonists and methods of use
The present invention is directed to Pak1 agonists and methods of use. |
| US08513307B2 |
N-phenylacetamide inhibitors of the enzyme SOAT-1 and pharmaceutical/cosmetic compositions comprised thereof
Novel N-phenylacetamide compounds of formula (I): and cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions containing same are useful for treating disorders of the sebaceous gland, e.g., acne, or have cosmetic applications. |
| US08513306B2 |
Enhancement of urogenital function
A method of treating nocturia in a human individual includes administering dosages of creatine to the individual; and reducing the dosages of creatine to the individual responsive to an increase in difficulty of the individual to initiate urination. Another example method includes reducing the dosages of creatine to the individual responsive to an increase in nocturnal urination frequency of the individual. A dosing system includes doses of creatine for treating nocturia in a human individual and is configured for reduced doses for administration in response to an increase in one or more nocturia symptoms. Various other methods as well as compositions, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08513304B2 |
Topical formulation
It has been discovered that certain combinations of compounds are excellent penetration enhancers and, as such, can be incorporated in a topical formulation to facilitate administration of active agents. The increased penetration enhancement can also lead to a reduction in the total concentration of skin irritants in the formulation. There is described herein a topical formulation comprising (i) an active agent selected from at least one of lidocaine and tetracaine; (ii) a first compound, and (iii) a second compound, wherein the first compound and second compound are different, and each is selected from the group consisting of N-lauroyl sarcosine, sodium octyl sulfate, methyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, oleic acid, glyceryl oleate and sodium lauryl sulfoacetate. |
| US08513292B2 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer
The present invention relates to pyrrolidine-2,5-dione compounds, and methods of preparation of these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising pyrrolidine-2,5-dione compounds. The present invention provides methods of treating a cell proliferative disorder, such as a cancer, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or pyrrolidine-2,5-dione compound of the present invention. (Ia) (Ib) (IIa) (IIIb) Where U is independently selected from: (I) or (II) where U is independently selected from: |
| US08513291B2 |
Cytochrome P450 inhibitors and uses thereof
The present invention provides compounds having the general structural formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of conditions or diseases involving fibrosis and proliferation, and where anti-fibrotic or anti-proliferative activity is beneficial. |
| US08513286B2 |
Iminipyridine derivatives and their uses as microbiocides
Compounds of the formula (I) in which the substituents are as defined in claim 1 are suitable for use as microbiocides. |
| US08513285B2 |
3 or 4-substituted piperidine compounds
There are disclosed racemic or enantiomerically enriched 3- or 4-substituted piperidine compounds represented by the following structural formula (I): or any of their isomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the subject compounds. The subject compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, particularly depression, anxiety and pain disorder. |
| US08513282B2 |
Modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
The present invention relates to modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”), compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using modulators of CFTR. |
| US08513276B2 |
Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine compounds for use in treating cancer
The invention relates to new bicyclic heterocyclic derivative compounds of Formula (I), to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds in the treatment of diseases, e.g. cancer. The compounds of Formula (I) are inhibitors of FGFR, VEGFR or PDGFR. |
| US08513275B2 |
Forms of rifaximin and uses thereof
The present invention relates to new rifaximin forms kappa, theta, rifaximin:piperazine cocrystal 1 and rifaximin:piperazine cocrystal 2, methods of making same and to their use in medicinal preparations and therapeutic methods. |
| US08513273B2 |
Arylethynyl derivatives
The present invention relates to ethynyl compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, R2′, R3, R3′, R4, R4′, U, V, W, Y, m, and n are as defined herein and to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts, to a racemic mixtures, or to its corresponding enantiomers and/or optical isomers and/or stereoisomers thereof. Compounds of formula I are allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). |
| US08513269B2 |
Preparation for external use
A compound represented by the formula (I), salt thereof, or hydrate thereof has an excellent anti-pruritic effect and an excellent effect in terms of metabolism. The topical formulation of the present invention has excellent skin absorption properties of the compound represented by the formula (I), salt thereof, or hydrate thereof. Furthermore, the topical formulation of the present invention is excellent in stability because ingredients are hardly bled after long-term storage. wherein R represents hydroxyl, C1-6 alkoxy optionally substituted with C1-6 alkoxy, or amino optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl. |
| US08513267B2 |
4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives with adenosine-kinase inhibitor properties
The present invention relates to the use of 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives as adenosine-kinase inhibitors. The present invention also relates to a method for protecting tissues and organs like heart, brain and kidneys affected by ischemia, and for treating heart insufficiency, myocardium infarct, arrhythmia, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery restenosis after angioplasty, chronic renal insufficiency, cerebral vascular accident, and chronic inflanunatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis). The present invention also relates to the compound 6,7-dimethoxy-4-(3′-N′,N′-dimethylaminoanilino)quinazoline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, pharmaceutical composition comprising it and use of such compound in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing diseases or conditions that are benefited from the adenosine-kinase inhibition. |
| US08513264B2 |
Combination therapy for the treatment of diabetes and related conditions
The present invention relates to combinations of DPP-4 inhibitors with GPR119 agonists, as well as to the use of these combinations for treating and/or preventing metabolic diseases, particularly diabetes (especially type 2 diabetes mellitus) and conditions related thereto. |
| US08513262B2 |
Bicyclic heteroaromatic compounds as protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) comprising the steps: (a) reacting a compound of formula (II) wherein L and L′ are suitable leaving groups, with a compound of formula (III) UNH2 (III) to prepare a compound of formula (IV) and subsequently (b) substituting the group R1 by replacement of the leaving group L′. |
| US08513255B2 |
Substituted dihydroquinazolines
The invention relates to substituted dihydroquinazolines and to processes for their preparation and also to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for use as antiviral agents, in particular against cytomegalo viruses. |
| US08513245B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for reducing the area of myocardial infarction and its use
This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and curing myocardium ischemia and reducing area of myocardial infarction, its pharmaceutical preparation and applications. The composition includes (a) levocarnitine or its derivatives, and (b) trimetazidine or its medicative salts. The quantity of levocarnitine or its derivatives, and trimetazidine or its medicative salts in the composition is effective amount for treating myocardial ischemia and reducing the area of myocardial infarction. |
| US08513242B2 |
Pyrimidine compounds and methods of making and using same
Disclosed herein are pyrimidinyl compounds that are contemplated to be modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulators (CFTR), and methods of making and using same. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating disorders associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulators, such as airway inflammation, cystic fibrosis, and the like. |
| US08513240B2 |
Micronized tanaproget and compositions containing same
The present invention provides compositions, desirably pharmaceutical compositions, containing micronized tanaproget. The compositions can also contain microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, anhydrous lactose, and magnesium stearate; or can contain microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, sodium lauryl sulfate, povidone, and magnesium stearate. The compositions are useful in contraception and hormone replacement therapy and in the treatment and/or prevention of uterine myometrial fibroids, benign prostatic hypertrophy, benign and malignant neoplastic disease, dysfunctional bleeding, uterine leiomyomata, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the pituitary, endometrium, kidney, ovary, breast, colon, and prostate and other hormone-dependent tumors, and in the preparation of medicaments useful therefor. Additional uses include stimulation of food intake. |
| US08513239B2 |
Chiral cis-imidazolines
There are provided compounds of the formula or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X, Y, Z, V1, V2, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are herein described. These compounds are useful as anticancer agents. |
| US08513235B2 |
Homocysteine synthase inhibitor
The invention provides a homocysteine synthase inhibitor useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases involving homocysteine synthase. The homocysteine synthase inhibitor is a compound of the formula (I) wherein each symbol is as defined herein, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof. |
| US08513233B2 |
Pyrimidinyl-propionic acid derivatives and their use as PPAR agonists
The present invention disclosed compounds of Structural Formula (I), and enantiomer, racemic body, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or hydrates thereof, wherein variable groups are as defined within, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. The compounds are useful as PPARγ agonist, through activating PPAR-RXR heterodimers that interacts with specific DNA response elements within promoter regions of target gene, particularly in the treatment and prevention of polycystic kidney and cancer. |
| US08513229B2 |
4-Azetidinyl-1-phenyl-cyclohexane antagonists of CCR2
The present invention comprises compounds of Formula (I): wherein: X, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the specification. The invention also comprises a method of preventing, treating or ameliorating a syndrome, disorder or disease, wherein said syndrome, disorder or disease is type II diabetes, obesity and asthma. The invention also comprises a method of inhibiting CCR2 activity in a mammal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula (I). |
| US08513224B2 |
Crystalline form C of tigecycline dihydrochloride and methods for its preparation
The present invention relates to crystalline form C of Tigecycline dihydrochloride and to methods for the preparation of the same. Furthermore the present invention relates to the use of crystalline form C of Tigecycline dihydrochloride as an intermediate for the preparation of an anti-infective medicament. Moreover the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising crystalline form C of Tigecycline dihydrochloride in an effective amount and to the use of crystalline form C of Tigecycline dihydrochloride as an anti-infective medicament. |
| US08513223B2 |
Substituted tetracycline compounds for treatment of inflammatory skin disorders
Methods and compositions for the treatment of skin disorders (e.g., acne, rosacea) are described. |
| US08513217B2 |
Biopolymer system for tissue sealing
A tissue sealant for use in surgical and medical procedures for sealing the tissues of a living mammal is provided. The tissue sealant comprises a hydrogel which is formed by gelation of a premix disposed on the tissue to be sealed. The premix comprises alkylated chitosan or a gelatin, and a polybasic carboxylic acid or an oxidized polysaccharide, in an aqueous medium. The premix can also include a dehydrating reagent, a carboxyl activating reagent, or both. A specific use of the tissue sealant is in the repair of the dura mater after brain surgery to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The tissue sealant may include a therapeutic or protective agent such as an antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug. |
| US08513216B2 |
Polysaccharide gel formulation having increased longevity
Described herein are polysaccharide gel formulations including at least one inhibitor of polysaccharide degradation and methods of making the same. The methods described herein involve the steps of providing at least one polysaccharide and incorporating at least one inhibitor of degradation into the polysaccharide. In some embodiments, the incorporating step comprises 1) mixing the at least one inhibitor with the at least one polysaccharide at a highly hydrated state thereby encapsulating the at least one inhibitor in a polysaccharide network, and 2) dehydrating the polysaccharide network thereby controlling release kinetics or final swell ratio. In another embodiment, the incorporating step comprises 1) encapsulating at least one inhibitor into a biocompatible or biodegradable vessel and 2) combining the polysaccharide and the vessel into a gel formulation. The polysaccharide gel formulations described herein can be used for a variety of cosmetic applications. |
| US08513215B2 |
Compositions for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections
A compound of the general formula (III): wherein X is O, S, NH or CH2; Y is O, S or NH; Z is O, S or CH2; R1 is C1-8 alkyl, especially C1-6 alkyl, preferably n-alkyl, e.g., n-pentyl or n-hexyl; at least one of R2 and R3 is H—[R4-R5]n—R6—, in which: H—[R4-R5]n— comprises an oligopeptide, R4 being an amino acid and R5 being an amino acid selected from proline, alanine, hydroxyproline, dihydroxyproline, thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (thioproline), dehydroproline, pipecolic acid (L-homoproline), azetidinecarboxylic acid, aziridinecarboxylic acid, glycine, serine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and threonine, R6 is a neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety that is bonded to R5 by a peptide bond, and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; and the other of R3 and R2 is H—[R4-R5]n-R6— or H; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US08513214B2 |
C4′-substituted-2-deoxyadenosine analogs and methods of treating HIV
The invention provides for novel 2-Deoxyadenosine compounds, which can treat HIV infection at low cytotoxicity values. Substitution at the 4′-position provided compounds which demonstrated low cytotoxicity values in an ATP-based cytotoxicity assay. |
| US08513213B2 |
SDF-1 delivery for treating ischemic tissue
A method of treating a cardiomyopathy in a subject includes administering directly to or expressing locally in a weakened, ischemic, and/or peri-infarct region of myocardial tissue of the subject an amount of SDF-1 effective to cause functional improvement in at least one of the following parameters: left ventricular volume, left ventricular area, left ventricular dimension, cardiac function, 6-minute walk test, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. |
| US08513212B2 |
Bruton's tyrosine kinase as anti-cancer drug target
Receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RPTKs) transmit extracellular signals across the plasma membrane to cytosolic proteins, stimulating formation of complexes that regulate key cellular functions. Over half of the known tyrosine kinases are implicated in human cancers and are therefore highly promising drug targets. A large-scale loss-of-function analysis of the tyrosine kinases using RNA interference in the clinically relevant Erb-B2 positive, BT474 breast cancer cell line showed that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a cytosolic, non-receptor tyrosine kinase that has been extensively studied for its role in B cell development, is required, in altered form, for BT474 breast cancer cell survival. This alternative form contains an amino-terminal extension that is also present in tumorigenic breast cells at significantly higher levels than in normal breast cells. |
| US08513208B2 |
Transient expression of immunomodulatory polypeptides for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune disease, allergy and transplant rejection
A method is provided for treating or preventing an undesired immune response in a patient, comprising: administering to said patient, cells that transiently express, and/or that are transfected with mRNA encoding, one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of an IL-4 receptor agonist, an IFN-γ receptor antagonist, an IFN-α receptor antagonist, an IL-12 receptor antagonist, an IL-23 receptor antagonist, and a TNF antagonist. Preferably, the cells selectively accumulate in one or more secondary lymphoid tissues at or proximate to the site of the undesired immune response. Related compositions are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for the treatment or prevention of undesired immune responses including, but not limited to, transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, allergy and immune responses directed against therapeutic compositions. |
| US08513202B2 |
Crystalline form of 1-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-methyl-3-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-thienylmethyl]benzene hemihydrate
A novel crystal form of 1-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-methyl-3-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-thienylmethyl]benzene hemihydrate, and having favorable characteristics, is characterized by its x-ray powder diffraction pattern and/or by its infra-red spectrum. |
| US08513201B2 |
Modified chaperonin 10
The present invention relates to isolated Chaperonin 10 polypeptides possessing immunomodulatory activity, but lacking, or substantially lacking, protein folding activity. |
| US08513198B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulation for reducing pain
The present invention is directed to a method of producing analgesia in a mammalian subject. The method includes administering to the subject an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and sufentanil, or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the ω-conopeptide retains its potency and is physically and chemically compatible with the analgesic compound. A preferred route of administration is intrathecal administration, particularly continuous intrathecal infusion. The present invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an omega conopeptide, preferably ziconotide, an antioxidant, in combination with an analgesic selected from the group consisting of morphine, bupivacaine, clonidine, hydromorphone, baclofen, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and sufentanil. |
| US08513195B2 |
Treatment of mood and anxiety disorders
The invention relates to a selective inhibitor of Elk-1 or MSK-1 activation for use in the prevention and/or treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. |
| US08513190B2 |
Method of regulating glucose metabolism, and reagents related thereto
The present invention provides methods for modification and regulation of type II diabetes by administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPIV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where the inhibitor has a Ki for inhibition of DPIV of 10 nM or less; and the inhibitor is administered in an amount sufficient to treat type II diabetes but not sufficient to suppress the immune system of the animal. |
| US08513188B2 |
Formulations comprising cyclic compounds
This invention relates to the use of a cyclic compound of formula (I) wherein A, B independently in each occurrence is alkane-i,j-diyl having k carbon atoms, i and independently j being less than or equal k and k being selected from 1 to 10, wherein said alkane-i,j-diyl (i) may comprise one or more double bonds; (ii) is optionally substituted; and/or (iii) comprises a cycle, wherein the total number of cycles being cyclic sugars in said compound is selected from 0 to 4 and is less than p·(n+m); X,Y independently in each occurrence is a biocompatible functional group comprising at least one oxygen atom or two sulphur atoms; n, m independently of each other are selected from 0 to 20; p is selected from 1 to 10; n+m is equal or greater than 1; and p·(n+m) is selected from 3 to 30; wherein said compound is capable of forming a complex with a protonated primary and/or protonated secondary amino group and/or a protonated guanidinium group for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical or diagnostic composition. |
| US08513185B2 |
Inhibition of TREM receptor signaling with peptide variants
Peptides are provided consisting of L- and/or D-amino acids and combinations thereof, which affect myeloid cells by action on the triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells (TREMs), including TREM-1 and TREM-2. The peptides act on the TREM/DAP-12 signaling complex. Also provided are lipid and sugar conjugated peptides comprising L- or D-amino acids. A method is provided of designing the peptides and lipid- and/or sugar-conjugated peptides comprising L- or D-amino acids. The disclosure relates to the therapy of various myeloid cell-related disease states involving the use of these peptides and compounds. The peptides and compounds are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of a disease or condition where myeloid cells are involved or recruited. The peptides of the present invention also are useful in the production of medical devices comprising peptide matrices (for example, medical implants and implantable devices). |
| US08513182B2 |
Natural polypeptides for oral health care
The present invention relates generally to dental diseases, caries and periodontal disease. More specifically, the invention relates to Lactoferrin and Statherin fusion proteins (STAT-LF) along with therapeutic, diagnostic and research uses for these polypeptides. The present invention also provides methods of treating dental diseases, caries and periodontal disease. |
| US08513175B2 |
Alpha-amylase mutants
The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylase, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to the parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca2+ dependency and specific activity. |
| US08513174B2 |
Cleanser
The present invention provides a cleanser which is excellent in both of the foaming property and the cleansing capability. The cleanser comprises an organosiloxane derivative salt represented by the following formula (1) or (3) and one or more anionic surfactants selected from a group consisting of carboxylate salt with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, sulfate salt with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, sulfonate salt with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and phosphate salt with an alkyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms. |
| US08513172B2 |
Process for preparing polymers and compositions thereof
The present invention provides a process for preparing a polymer, employing the steps of: (1) contacting a free radical initiator; a chain transfer agent containing a thiocarbonyl thio group and a free radical leaving group; and a radically polymerisable monomer, to form a polymer chain; and (2) contacting the polymer chain of step (1) with at least one of a polyvalent coupling agent, a polymerization inhibitor, a grafting acylating agent, an amine and an oil of lubricating viscosity. The invention further provides compositions and uses for the polymer. |
| US08513171B2 |
Lubricant composition, speed reduction gear, and electric power steering apparatus
A lubricant composition, which is low in friction, does not have an attacking property against polyamide resin, etc., is excellent in heat resistance, and especially does not undergo deterioration or loss of the respective characteristics in a short term when used under a high temperature environment, is provided along with a speed reduction gear and an electric power steering apparatus that use the lubricant composition. The lubricant composition has blended therein a synthetic hydrocarbon oil, a urea thickener, zinc stearate, and a sulfur-based antioxidant. A speed reduction gear has a portion of engagement of a small gear and a large gear filled with the lubricant composition. In an electric power steering apparatus, an output of a steering assisting electric motor is speed reduced and transmitted to a steering mechanism via the speed reduction gear. |
| US08513170B2 |
Solid lubricant and production method thereof
A method for producing a solid lubricant includes steps of preparing and coating. A phosphate aqueous solution prepared by the step of preparing is an aqueous solution containing at least one of aluminum dihydrogen phosphate and magnesium dihydrogen phosphate in an amount of 0.5 to 10% by mass. A graphite material is coated with a phosphate using the phosphate aqueous solution. The graphite material is used at a ratio of 40 to 50 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the aqueous solution. |
| US08513166B2 |
Low temperature hydrocarbon gel
A composition useful for crosslinking phosphate esters in hydrocarbon gels used in formation fracturing performs especially well in cold temperatures, such as temperatures lower than (−)20° C. Methods of making the crosslinking composition and the gel are described; also methods of fracturing subterranean formations. Specific forms of ferric sulfate and ferric ammonium citrate are useful as ingredients of the crosslinking composition. |
| US08513164B2 |
Protein (poly)peptides libraries
The present invention relates to a method of identifying one or more genes encoding one or more proteins having an optimized property. In particular, the method comprises expressing a collection of genes and screening for a desired property, identifying a plurality of genes having the desired property, and replacing one or more one or more sub-sequences of each of said genes with a different, compatible genetic sub-sequence, and screening again in order to identify genes encoding proteins having an optimized property. |
| US08513163B2 |
Substrate for a superconducting thin-film strip conductor
A high-temperature superconducting thin-film strip conductor (HTSL-CC) includes a metal substrate, a buffer layer chemically generated thereon and grown crystallographically unrotated in relation to the metal substrate, and a chemically generated superconducting coating thereon. The HTSL-CC possesses high texturing of the buffer layer since the metal substrate has a surface roughness RMS<50 nm, and since and the buffer layer is grown directly onto its surface, without an intermediate layer, crystallographically unrotated in relation to the crystalline structure of the metal substrate. |
| US08513160B2 |
Heat-sensitive recording material and method for producing same
The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material that has high gloss and excellent absorption and scratch off properties against sebum soiling; and a method for producing the heat-sensitive recording material. More specifically, the present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material containing a heat-sensitive recording layer, an intermediate layer, and a protective layer, which are sequentially formed in this order on a support. The heat-sensitive recording layer contains a leuco dye and a developer; the intermediate layer contains an aqueous adhesive; and the protective layer is cured by irradiation of an ultraviolet- or electron-beam-curable resin composition with ultraviolet light or an electron beam. The heat-sensitive recording material additionally contains, on the protective layer, an uppermost layer which contains an aqueous adhesive and a pigment having a mean particle diameter of not more than 100 nm. The uppermost layer-side surface of the heat-sensitive recording material has a gloss at 75° of not less than 90% and a gloss at 20° of not less than 35% in accordance with JIS P 8142-1993. The present invention further provides a method for producing the heat-sensitive recording material. |
| US08513157B2 |
Deactivation resistant photocatalysts
The present disclosure relates to a fluid purification device that has a deactivation resistant photocatalyst having nanocrystallites of less than 14 nanometers (nm) in diameter with at least 200 m2 surface area/cm3 of skeletal volume in cylindrical pores of 5 nm in diameter or larger, with the mode of the pore size distribution 10 nm or more. |
| US08513153B2 |
Fuel additive
Described are catalyst compositions and methods for their preparation and use. Certain catalyst compositions can include at least one reduction catalyst and at least one oxidation catalyst. A catalyst composition as described herein is useful in providing certain benefits to a combustible fuel, such as, for example, reducing harmful emissions and/or improving overall fuel economy. |
| US08513150B2 |
Extra mesoporous Y zeolite
This invention relates to the composition and synthesis of an Extra Mesoporous Y (or “EMY”) zeolite and its use in the catalytic conversion of organic compounds. In particular, this invention relates to a Y-type framework zeolite possessing a high large mesopore pore volume to small mesopore pore volume ratio. The novel zeolite obtained provides beneficial structural features for use in petroleum refining and petrochemical processes. |
| US08513147B2 |
Nonwovens produced from multicomponent fibers
A water non-dispersible polymer microfiber is provided comprising at least one water non-dispersible polymer wherein the water non-dispersible polymer microfiber has an equivalent diameter of less than 5 microns and length of less than 25 millimeters. A process for producing water non-dispersible polymer microfibers is also provided, the process comprising: a) cutting a multicomponent fiber into cut multicomponent fibers; b) contacting a fiber-containing feedstock with water to produce a fiber mix slurry; wherein the fiber-containing feedstock comprises cut multicomponent fibers; c) heating the fiber mix slurry to produce a heated fiber mix slurry; d) optionally, mixing the fiber mix slurry in a shearing zone; e) removing at least a portion of the sulfopolyester from the multicomponent fiber to produce a slurry mixture comprising a sulfopolyester dispersion and water non-dispersible polymer microfibers; and f) separating the water non-dispersible polymer microfibers from the slurry mixture. A process for producing a nonwoven article is also provided. |
| US08513146B2 |
Scalloped oval bicomponent fibers with good wicking, and high uniformity spun yarns comprising such fibers
The invention provides a polyester bicomponent staple fiber comprising poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(trimethylene terephthalate), and poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) or a combination of such members, said bicomponent staple fiber having: a) a scalloped oval cross-section shape having an aspect ratio a:b of about 2:1 to about 5:1 wherein ‘a’ is a fiber cross-section major axis length and ‘b’ is a fiber cross-section minor axis length; b) a polymer interface substantially perpendicular to the major axis; c) a cross-section configuration selected from the group consisting of side-by-side and eccentric sheath-core; d) a plurality of longitudinal grooves; and e) a groove ratio of about 1.05:1 to about 1.9:1. Additionally, the invention provides a spun yarn comprising cotton and the polyester bicomponent staple fiber of the invention, as well as fabrics and garments comprising the spun yarn of the invention. |
| US08513143B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing
The present application discloses a method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure. According to at least one embodiment, a first etch stop layer is formed over a conductive feature and a substrate, and the conductive feature is positioned over the substrate. A second etch stop layer is formed over the first etch stop layer. A first etch is performed to form an opening in the second etch stop layer, and the opening exposes a portion of the first etch stop layer. A second etch is performed to extend the opening downwardly by removing a portion of the exposed first etch stop layer, and the extended opening exposes a portion of the conductive feature. |
| US08513142B2 |
Method of manufacturing non-photosensitive polyimide passivation layer
A method of manufacturing non-photosensitive polyimide passivation layer is disclosed. The method includes: spin-coating a non-photosensitive polyimide layer over a wafer and baking it; depositing a silicon dioxide thin film thereon; spin-coating a photoresist layer over the silicon dioxide thin film and baking it; exposing and developing the photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern; etching the silicon dioxide thin film by using the photoresist pattern as a mask; removing the patterned photoresist layer; dry etching the non-photosensitive polyimide layer by using the patterned silicon dioxide thin film as a mask; removing the patterned silicon dioxide thin film; and curing to form a imidized polyimide passivation layer. The method addresses issues of the traditional non-photosensitive polyimide process, including aluminum corrosion by developer, tapered profile of non-photosensitive polyimide layer and generation of photoresist residues. |
| US08513139B2 |
Etching agent, etching method and liquid for preparing etching agent
The present invention is directed to provide an etching agent for a semiconductor substrate, which is capable of etching a titanium (Ti)-based metal film or a tungsten (W)-based metal film on a semiconductor substrate and an etching method using relevant etching agent, and relates to a liquid for preparing the etching agent for a semiconductor substrate composed of a solution comprising (A) hydrogen peroxide, (B) a phosphonic acid chelating agent having a hydroxyl group, (C) a basic compound, and (D-1) a copper anticorrosive and/or (D-2) 0.01 to 3% by weight of two or more kinds of anion species other than phosphonic acid chelating agents having a hydroxyl group, in which anion species have no oxidizing power, an etching method characterized by etching a titanium (Ti)-based metal film or a tungsten (W)-based metal film on a semiconductor substrate using relevant etching agent for a semiconductor substrate, further, a solution comprising (B) a phosphonic acid chelating agent having a hydroxyl group, (C) a basic compound, and (D-1) a copper anticorrosive and/or (D-2) anion species other than phosphonic acid chelating agents having a hydroxyl group, in which anion species have no oxidizing power. |
| US08513135B2 |
Methods of modifying oxide spacers
Methods for reducing line roughness of spacers and other features utilizing a non-plasma and non-wet etch fluoride processing technology are provided. Embodiments of the methods can be used for spacer or line reduction and/or smoothing the surfaces along the edges of such features through the reaction and subsequent removal of material. |
| US08513133B2 |
Composition for forming resist underlayer film and method for forming pattern
A resist underlayer film-forming composition includes (A) a polymer that includes a repeating unit shown by a formula (1), and has a polystyrene-reduced weight average molecular weight of 3000 to 10,000, and (B) a solvent, wherein R3 to R8 individually represent a group shown by the following formula (2) or the like, —O—R1≡R2 (2) wherein R1 represents a single bond or the like, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or the like. |
| US08513129B2 |
Planarizing etch hardmask to increase pattern density and aspect ratio
Methods for manufacturing a semiconductor device are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a base material having a first film stack deposited thereon, wherein the base material is formed over the substrate and has a first set of interconnect features. The first film stack comprises a first amorphous carbon layer deposited on a surface of the base material, a first anti-reflective coating layer deposited on the first amorphous carbon layer, and a first photoresist layer deposited on the first anti-reflective coating layer. The first photoresist layer is patterned by shifting laterally a projection of a mask on the first photoresist layer relative to the substrate a desired distance, thereby introducing into the first photoresist layer a first feature pattern to be transferred to the underlying base material, wherein the first feature pattern is not aligned with the first set of interconnect features. |
| US08513126B2 |
Slurry composition having tunable dielectric polishing selectivity and method of polishing a substrate
A chemical mechanical polishing slurry composition is provided, having, as initial components: water; an abrasive, wherein the abrasive is colloidal silica abrasive; a halogenated quaternary ammonium compound according to formula (I); optionally, a diquaternary substance according to formula (II); and, optionally, a pH adjusting agent selected from phosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, ammonium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing slurry composition has a pH of 2 to <7. Also, provided are methods for making the chemical mechanical polishing slurry composition and for using the chemical mechanical polishing composition to polish a substrate. |
| US08513125B2 |
Manufacturing a microelectronic device comprising silicon and germanium nanowires integrated on a same substrate
A method for manufacturing a device comprising a structure with nanowires based on a semiconducting material such as Si and another structure with nanowires based on another semiconducting material such as SiGe, and is notably applied to the manufacturing of transistors. |
| US08513122B2 |
Method and structure for differential silicide and recessed or raised source/drain to improve field effect transistor
A method forms an integrated circuit structure. The method patterns a protective layer over a first-type field effect transistor and removes a stress liner from above a second-type field effect transistors. Then, the method removes a first-type silicide layer from source and drain regions of the second-type field effect transistor, but leaves at least a portion of the first-type silicide layer on the gate conductor of the second-type field effect transistor. The method forms a second-type silicide layer on the gate conductor and the source and drain regions of the second-type field effect transistor. The second-type silicide layer that is formed is different than the first-type silicide layer. For example, the first-type silicide layer and the second-type silicide layer can comprise different materials, different thicknesses, different crystal orientations, and/or different chemical phases, etc. |
| US08513120B2 |
Gold-tin etch using combination of halogen plasma and wet etch
The present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes a component comprising a first substrate bonded to a second substrate. A method for forming the component includes removing a first portion of tin (Sn) from gold tin (AuSn) through a halogen plasma. A first portion of gold (Au) is exposed in response to removing the first portion of the Sn. The first portion of the Au through a wet etch. A second portion of the Sn is exposed in response to removing the first portion of Au. |
| US08513116B2 |
Atomic layer deposition of tungsten materials
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for depositing tungsten-containing materials. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a tungsten nucleation layer over an underlayer disposed on the substrate while sequentially providing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas into a process chamber during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process and depositing a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten nucleation layer, wherein the reducing gas contains hydrogen gas and a hydride compound (e.g., diborane) and has a hydrogen/hydride flow rate ratio of about 500:1 or greater. In some examples, the method includes flowing the hydrogen gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 1 slm to about 20 slm and flowing a mixture of the hydride compound and a carrier gas into the process chamber at a flow rate within a range from about 50 sccm to about 500 sccm. |
| US08513115B2 |
Method of forming an interconnect structure having an enlarged region
A method of forming an interconnect structure that may reduce or eliminate stress induced voids is provided. In an embodiment, a via is formed below a conductive line to provide an electrical connection to an underlying conductive region. The conductive line includes a widened region above the via. The widened region serves to reduce or eliminate stress induced voids between the via and the underlying conductive region. In another embodiment, one or more redundant lines are formed extending from a conductive region, such as a contact pad, such that the redundant line does not electrically couple the conductive region to an underlying conductive region. In a preferred embodiment, the redundant lines extend from a conductive region on a side adjacent to a side having a conductive line coupled to a via. |
| US08513114B2 |
Method for forming a dual damascene interconnect structure
An improved method of forming a semiconductor device including an interconnect layer formed using multilayer hard mask comprising metal mask and dielectric mask is provided. To form the second opening pattern being aligned to the first pattern, after the multilayer hard mask is used at the first step, then the dielectric mask is used to form a damascene structure in an insulator layer at the second step followed by removing the metal mask. |
| US08513113B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor constructions and assemblies
The invention includes semiconductor assemblies having two or more dies. An exemplary assembly has circuitry associated with a first die front side electrically connected to circuitry associated with a second die front side. The front side of the second die is adjacent a back side of the first die, and a through wafer interconnect extends through the first die. The through wafer interconnect includes a conductive liner within a via extending through the first die. The conductive liner narrows the via, and the narrowed via is filled with insulative material. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor assemblies having two or more dies; and includes electronic systems containing assemblies with two or more dies. |
| US08513110B2 |
Processes and structures for beveled slope integrated circuits for interconnect fabrication
The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for the separations of IC fabrication and assembling of separated IC components to form complete IC structures. In an embodiment, the present fabrication separation of an IC structure into multiple discrete components can take advantages of dedicated IC fabrication facilities and achieve more cost effective products. In another embodiment, the present chip assembling provides high density interconnect wires between bond pads, enabling cost-effective assembling of small chip components. In an aspect, the present process provides a beveled slope of the components to facilitate interconnection bonding. |
| US08513109B2 |
Method of manufacturing an interconnect structure for a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing an interconnect structure for a semiconductor device having a device substrate is provided. The semiconductor device includes an electrically-conductive pad formed overlying the device substrate and an electrically-conductive platform formed overlying the electrically-conductive pad and enclosing a cavity. The electrically-conductive platform has a perimeter portion extending away from the electrically-conductive pad and a capping portion atop the perimeter portion. The semiconductor device also includes a cushioning material disposed in the cavity. |
| US08513107B2 |
Replacement gate FinFET devices and methods for forming the same
A structure and method for replacement metal gate technology is provided for use in conjunction with semiconductor fins or other devices. An opening is formed in a dielectric by removing a sacrificial gate material such as polysilicon. The surfaces of the semiconductor fin within which a transistor channel is formed, are exposed in the opening. A replacement metal gate is formed by forming a diffusion barrier layer within the opening and over a gate dielectric material, the diffusion barrier layer formation advantageously followed by an in-situ plasma treatment operation. The treatment operation utilizes at least one of argon and hydrogen and cures surface defects in the diffusion barrier layer enabling the diffusion barrier layer to be formed to a lesser thickness. The treatment operation decreases resistivity, densifies and alters the atomic ratio of the diffusion barrier layer, and is followed by metal deposition. |
| US08513103B2 |
Method for manufacturing vertical transistor having buried junction
A buried junction is formed in a vertical transistor of a semiconductor device. Wall bodies are formed from a semiconductor substrate, the wall bodies protruding while having a first side surface and a second side surface in the opposite side of the first side surface; forming a one side contact mask having an opening which selectively opens a portion of the first side surface of the wall body; and forming a first impurity layer and a second impurity layer surrounding the first impurity layer by diffusing impurities having different diffusivities into the portion of the first side surface exposed to the opening. |
| US08513102B2 |
Reduction of random telegraph signal (RTS) and 1/f noise in silicon MOS devices, circuits, and sensors
The effects of random telegraph noise signal (RTS) or equivalently 1/f noise on MOS devices, circuits, and sensors is described. Techniques are disclosed for minimizing this RTS and low frequency noise by minimizing the number of ionized impurity atoms in the wafer, substrate, well, pillar, or fin behind the channel of the MOS transistors. This noise reduction serves to reduce the errors in devices, sensors, and analog integrated circuits and error rates in digital integrated circuits and memories. |
| US08513101B2 |
Method of synthesizing nanowires
A method of synthesizing a nanowire. The method includes disposing a first oxide layer including germanium (Ge) on a substrate, forming a second oxide layer including a nucleus by annealing the first oxide layer, and growing a nanowire including Ge from the nucleus by a chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) method. |
| US08513100B2 |
Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device manufacturing method, an amorphous or microcrystalline metal oxide film is formed over a first metal film which is preferentially oriented along a predetermined crystal plane. After that, a ferroelectric film is formed by a MOCVD method. When the ferroelectric film is formed, the metal oxide film formed over the first metal film is reduced to a second metal film and the ferroelectric film is formed over the second metal film. When the ferroelectric film is formed, the amorphous or microcrystalline metal oxide film is apt to be reduced uniformly. As a result, the second metal film the orientation of which is good is obtained and the ferroelectric film the orientation of which is good is formed over the second metal film. After the ferroelectric film is formed, an upper electrode is formed over the ferroelectric film. |
| US08513091B2 |
Method for wafer bonding using gold and indium
Devices, methods, and systems for wafer bonding are described herein. One or more embodiments include forming a bond between a first wafer and a second wafer using a first material adjacent the first wafer and a second material adjacent the second wafer. The first material includes a layer of gold (Au) and a layer of indium (In), and the second material includes a layer of Au. Forming the bond between the first wafer and the second wafer includes combining the layer of Au in the first material, the layer of In in the first material, and a portion of the layer of Au in the second material, wherein an additional portion of the layer of Au in the second material is not combined with the layer of Au in the first material and the layer of In in the first material. |
| US08513090B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate, and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a novel manufacturing method of a semiconductor substrate containing silicon carbide, and another object is to provide a semiconductor device using silicon carbide. A semiconductor substrate is manufactured through the steps of: adding ions to a silicon carbide substrate to form an embrittlement region in the silicon carbide substrate; bonding the silicon carbide substrate to a base substrate with insulating layers interposed therebetween; heating the silicon carbide substrate and separating the silicon carbide substrate at the embrittlement region to form a silicon carbide layer over the base substrate with the insulating layers interposed between therebetween; and performing heat treatment on the silicon carbide layer at a temperature of 1000° C. to 1300° C. to reduce defects of the silicon carbide layer. A semiconductor device is manufactured using the semiconductor substrate formed as described above. |
| US08513089B2 |
Discontinuous thin semiconductor wafer surface features
A semiconductor wafer has a semiconductor substrate and films on the substrate. The substrate and/or the films have at least one etch line creating a discontinuous surface that reduces residual stress in the wafer. Reducing residual stress in the semiconductor wafer reduces warpage of the wafer when the wafer is thin. Additionally, isolation plugs may be used to fill a portion of the etch lines to prevent shorting of the layers. |
| US08513087B2 |
Processes for forming isolation structures for integrated circuit devices
Processes for forming isolation structures for semiconductor devices include forming a submerged floor isolation region and a filed trench which together enclose an isolated pocket of the substrate. One process aligns the trench to the floor isolation region. In another process a second, narrower trench is formed in the isolated pocket and filled with a dielectric material while the dielectric material is deposited so as to line the walls and floor of the first trench. The substrate does not contain an epitaxial layer, thereby overcoming the many problems associated with fabricating the same. |
| US08513084B2 |
Transistor structure with a sidewall-defined intrinsic base to extrinsic base link-up region and method of forming the transistor
Disclosed are embodiments of a bipolar or heterojunction bipolar transistor and a method of forming the transistor. The transistor can incorporate a dielectric layer sandwiched between an intrinsic base layer and a raised extrinsic base layer to reduce collector-base capacitance Ccb, a sidewall-defined conductive strap for an intrinsic base layer to extrinsic base layer link-up region to reduce base resistance Rb and a dielectric spacer between the extrinsic base layer and an emitter layer to reduce base-emitter Cbe capacitance. The method allows for self-aligning of the emitter to base regions and incorporates the use of a sacrificial dielectric layer, which must be thick enough to withstand etch and cleaning processes and still remain intact to function as an etch stop layer when the conductive strap is subsequently formed. A chemically enhanced high pressure, low temperature oxidation (HIPOX) process can be used to form such a sacrificial dielectric layer. |
| US08513080B2 |
Reducing contamination in a process flow of forming a channel semiconductor alloy in a semiconductor device
In sophisticated approaches for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing stage, a threshold adjusting semiconductor alloy may be deposited on the basis of a selective epitaxial growth process without affecting the back side of the substrates. Consequently, any negative effects, such as contamination of substrates and process tools, reduced surface quality of the back side and the like, may be suppressed or reduced by providing a mask material and preserving the material at least during the selective epitaxial growth process. |
| US08513075B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
A manufacturing method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a spacer material on a semiconductor substrate, the substrate includes an NMOS region and a PMOS region, each region has a gate formed thereon. The method further includes covering the NMOS region with a first mask, forming a spacer for the PMOS gate by etching the spacer material, forming a recess in the PMOS region by etching, and growing SiGe or SiGe with in-situ-doped B in the recess of the PMOS region to form a PMOS source/drain region. The method further includes performing an anisotropic wet etching on the recess. After growing SiGE or SiGe with in-situ-doped B, the method further includes covering the PMOS region with a second mask and forming a spacer for the NMOS gate by etching the spacer material. The spacer for the PMOS and NMOS gate has a different critical dimension. |
| US08513070B2 |
Methods of manufacturing wire, TFT, and flat panel display device
A method of manufacturing a wire may include forming a wire pattern, which at least includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer arranged in the order stated on a substrate. At least the second conductive layer may have higher etch selectivity than the first and third conductive layers. Side holes may be formed by removing portions of the second conductive layer at ends of the wire pattern, and fine wires may be formed by injecting a masking material into the side holes and patterning the wire pattern by using the masking material as a mask. |
| US08513069B2 |
Method for aligning elongated nanostructures
A method of depositing elongated nanostructures that allows accurate positioning and orientation is described. The method involves printing or otherwise depositing elongated nanostructures in a carrier solution. The deposited droplets are also elongated, usually by patterning the surface upon which the droplets are deposited. As the droplet evaporates, the fluid flow within the droplets is controlled such that the nanostructures are deposited either at the edge of the elongated droplet or the center of the elongated droplet. The described deposition technique has particular application in forming the active region of a transistor. |
| US08513068B2 |
Nanowire field effect transistors
A method for forming a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device including forming a first silicon on insulator (SOI) pad region, a second SOI pad region, a third SOI pad region, a first SOI portion connecting the first SOI pad region to the second SOI pad region, and a second SOI portion connecting the second SOI pad region to the third SOI pad region on a substrate, patterning a first hardmask layer over the second SOI portion, forming a first suspended nanowire over the semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate structure around a portion of the first suspended nanowire, patterning a second hardmask layer over the first gate structure and the first suspended nanowire, removing the first hardmask layer, forming a second suspended nanowire over the semiconductor substrate, forming a second gate structure around a portion of the second suspended nanowire, and removing the second hardmask layer. |
| US08513065B2 |
Method for manufacturing display device
A method of manufacturing a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: i) forming a semiconductor layer where a plurality of crystallized areas and a plurality of noncrystallized areas are alternately arranged on a substrate, ii) aligning the substrate based on a difference in contrast ratio between the crystallized and noncrystallized areas and iii) performing a photo process or a photolithography process. |
| US08513064B2 |
Methods of forming memory arrays
Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. A stack of semiconductor material plates may be patterned to subdivide the plates into pieces. Electrically conductive tiers may be formed along sidewall edges of the pieces. The pieces may then be patterned into an array of wires, with the array having vertical columns and horizontal rows. Individual wires may have first ends joining to the electrically conductive tiers, may have second ends in opposing relation to the first ends, and may have intermediate regions between the first and second ends. Gate material may be formed along the intermediate regions. Memory cell structures may be formed at the second ends of the wires. A plurality of vertically-extending electrical interconnects may be connected to the wires through the memory cell structures, with individual vertically-extending electrical interconnects being along individual columns of the array. Some embodiments include memory arrays incorporated into integrated circuitry. |
| US08513063B2 |
Method for encapsulating microelectronic devices
According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a microelectronic device to be encapsulated is built on, or alternatively in, a substrate. The device is then coated with a sacrificial layer. A lid layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer, and then appropriately perforated to optimize the removal of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is then removed using one of several etching or other processes. The perforations in the lid layer are then sealed using a viscous sealing material, thereby fixing the environment that encapsulates the device. The sealing material is then cured or hardened. An optional moisture barrier may be deposited over the cured sealing layer to provide further protection for the encapsulation if needed. |
| US08513062B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a carrier having a cavity and semiconductor device
A method includes providing a carrier having a first cavity, providing a dielectric foil with a metal layer attached to the dielectric foil, placing a first semiconductor chip in the first cavity of the carrier, and applying the dielectric foil to the carrier. |
| US08513060B2 |
Manufacturing method using multi-step adhesive curing for sealed semiconductor device
A method for forming a sealing body without cracks in manufacture of a semiconductor device having an external terminal formed through the use of an electrolysis plating method. A front surface of a semiconductor wafer is placed over a front surface of a first support heated to a first temperature. An adhesive sheet is then bonded to a back surface of the semiconductor wafer, after which the semiconductor wafer is subjected to heat treatment at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. After the semiconductor wafer and the adhesive sheet are cut along cutting regions, a plurality of semiconductor chips each having an adhesive patch bonded thereto are obtained. A mother substrate is placed over a front surface of a second support heated to a third temperature and the semiconductor chips are fixed to an upper surface of the mother substrate via the adhesive patch. |
| US08513051B2 |
Methods of forming phase-changeable memory devices including an adiabatic layer
Phase-changeable memory devices include a lower electrode electrically connected to an impurity region of a transistor in a substrate and a programming layer pattern including a first phase-changeable material on the lower electrode. An adiabatic layer pattern including a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the first phase-changeable material is on the programming layer pattern and an upper electrode is on the adiabatic layer pattern. |
| US08513048B2 |
Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A passivation layer on an interlayer dielectric layer has different thicknesses for neighboring pixels. Consequently, a phase of light incident on a pixel is out of phase with light incident on an adjacent pixel before it reaches a photodiode. As a result, diffraction of the incident light results in destructive interference between the pixels. Thus, cross talk between adjacent pixels can be prevented. |
| US08513044B2 |
Method for the manufacturing of thin film photovoltaic converter device
So as to improve efficiency of a thin-film photovoltaic converter device, during manufacturing of which an intermediate product module is manufactured, which comprises deposition of at least one positively doped, at least one intrinsic and at least one negatively doped silicon-based layer, the addressed intermediate product module is subjected to an annealing step during which the module is subjected to a temperature of between 100° C. to 200° C. during a time span of half an hour to four hours. |
| US08513039B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor lighting chip
A method for fabricating a semiconductor lighting chip includes steps of: providing a substrate; forming a first etching layer on the substrate; forming a connecting layer on the first etching layer; forming a second etching layer on the connecting layer; forming a lighting structure on the second etching layer; and etching the first etching layer, the connecting layer, the second etching layer and the lighting structure, wherein an etching rate of the first etching layer and the second etching layer is lager than that of the connecting layer and the lighting structure, thereby to form the connecting layer and the lighting structure each with an inverted frustum-shaped structure. |
| US08513037B2 |
Method of integrating slotted waveguide into CMOS process
A method for integrating a slotted waveguide into a CMOS process is disclosed. A slot can be patterned on a SOI wafer by etching a first pad hard mask deposited over the wafer. The slot is then filled with a nitride plug material by depositing a second pad hard mask over the first pad hard mask. A waveguide in association with one or more electronic and photonic devices can also be patterned on the SOI wafer. The trenches can be filled with an isolation material and then polished. Thereafter, the first and second pad hard masks can be stripped from the wafer. The slot can once again be filled with the nitride plug material and patterned. After forming one or more electronic and photonic devices on the wafer using a standard CMOS process, a via can be opened down to the nitride plug and the nitride plug can then be removed. |
| US08513036B2 |
Photonic quantum ring laser and fabrication method thereof
A photonic quantum ring (PQR) laser includes an active layer having a multi-quantum-well (MQW) structure and etched lateral face. The active layer is formed to be sandwiched between p-GaN and n-GaN layers epitaxially grown on a reflector disposed over a support substrate. A coating layer is formed over an outside of the lateral faces of the active layer, and upper electrode is electrically connected to an upper portion of the n-GaN layer, and a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) is formed over the n-GaN layer and the upper electrode. Accordingly, the PQR laser is capable of oscillating a power-saving vertically dominant 3D multi-mode laser suitable for a low power display device, prevent the light speckle phenomenon, and generate focus-adjusted 3D soft light. |
| US08513034B2 |
Method of manufacturing layered chip package
A method of manufacturing a layered chip package that includes a main body, and wiring disposed on a side surface of the main body. The main body includes a plurality of layer portions. The method includes fabricating a plurality of substructures, and completing the layered chip package by fabricating the main body using the plurality of substructures and by forming the wiring on the main body. Each substructure is fabricated through the steps of: fabricating a pre-substructure wafer including a plurality of pre-semiconductor-chip portions aligned; distinguishing between a normally functioning pre-semiconductor-chip portion and a malfunctioning pre-semiconductor-chip portion among the plurality of pre-semiconductor-chip portions included in the pre-substructure wafer; and forming electrodes connected to the normally functioning pre-semiconductor-chip portion and having respective end faces located in the side surface of the main body on which the wiring is disposed, without forming any electrode connected to the malfunctioning pre-semiconductor-chip portion. |
| US08513029B2 |
Discrete contact MR bio-sensor with magnetic label field alignment
The invention describes a family of sensors for assaying macro-molecules and/or biological cells in solution. Each sensor has the form of a well (a hollow cylinder having a floor but no lid) or a trench whose walls comprise a plurality of GMR or TMR devices. Suitably shaped magnets located below each well's floor pull labeled particles into the well/trench and up against the inner wall where a field gradient orients them for optimum detection. Any unattached labels that happen to also be in the well/trench are removed through suitably sized holes in the floor. |
| US08513021B2 |
Control method of measuring apparatus and measuring apparatus
A measuring apparatus has a master communication interface for sequentially transmitting an operation command issued by a CPU to a plurality of mechanism units used for measurement of an analyte. The measuring apparatus also has a slave communication interface, provided for each mechanism unit, for receiving the operation command and a plurality of driving circuits for deriving the mechanism units in accordance with the received operation command. The master communication interface broadcasts an operation start instructing signal to the plurality of mechanism units after sequentially transmitting operation commands respectively to the plurality of mechanism units, and triggered by the operation start instructing signal, the driving units of the plurality of mechanism units concurrently initiate execution of the operation commands. |
| US08513019B2 |
Apparatus and method for genetically transforming cells
A fluid containing cells and free genetic material is acoustically coupled to a propulsion surface of a diaphragm. A blast-receiving surface of the diaphragm is acoustically coupled to an explosion chamber in which an explosive material is disposed. An ignition system ignites the explosive material in the explosion chamber to create a blast wave. The diaphragm transfers momentum from the blast wave to the fluid containing cells and free genetic material sufficient to cause the cells to take up the free genetic material. |
| US08513015B2 |
Laminin-entactin complex and cell culture article and methods thereof
A cell culture system including: a substrate, a substrate coating, one or more live cells, and an overlay source. The substrate coating and overlay can be laminin, and laminin•entactin complex, respectively. Alternatively, the substrate coating and overlay can be laminin•entactin complex, and laminin, respectively. The cell culture system can further include liquid media and a protective cover. A method for making and using the system in cell culture articles and culture methods, as defined herein, is also disclosed. |
| US08513014B2 |
Method for fabricating foam scaffolds to culture cells
Methods and apparatuses for using microfluidics to generate bubbles and using the generated bubbles to construct scaffolds and cell-holding structures for culturing biological samples or analytes. In one implementation, a scaffold for growing cells is provided to include a matrix of interconnected cavities formed from mixing a gas and a liquid containing a cross linkable material to produce a matrix of gas bubbles of substantially the same size and cross linking the cross linkable material to form a structure in which cells are grown. In another implementation, a scaffold apparatus for growing cells includes a ball of a cross linked material forming an exterior shell that encloses to form a hollow interior inside the ball and biological samples embedded in the external shell. |