| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08531766B2 |
Polarization-separation device, optical scanning apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A polarization-separation device includes: a beam splitter that includes a beam-separating surface, on which a light beam that contains a first light beam and a second light beam impinges, wherein polarization direction of the first light beam and polarization direction of the second light beam are perpendicular to each other, and incident angle of the first light beam and incident angle of the second beam vary independently while incident into the beam-separating surface; a first polarizer arranged in an optical path of light beams having transmitted through the beam splitter, and allows the first light beam to transmit therethrough; and a second polarizer arranged in an optical path of light beams reflected from the beam splitter, and allows the second light beam to transmit therethrough. |
| US08531760B2 |
Semiconductor wavelength converting devices and light sources for generating infrared rays
It is provided a wavelength converting device oscillating an idler light having a wavelength of 5 to 10 μm from a pump light. The wavelength of the idler light is longer than that of the pump light. The wavelength converting device includes a wavelength converting layer 5 of a semiconductor non-linear optical crystal and having a thickness of 50 μm or smaller. The wavelength converting layer 5 includes a crystal orientation inversion structure wherein crystal orientation of the optical crystal is inverted at a predetermined period and at least one flat main face 5b. The device further includes a Peltier device 2 controlling a temperature of the wavelength converting layer 5; and a clad portion 4 joined with the flat main face 5b of the wavelength converting layer 5 and provided between the wavelength converting layer 5 and the Peltier device 2. The pump light, idler light and signal light satisfies a particular phase matching condition. |
| US08531758B2 |
Device comprising a multilayer structure and rollers
The invention relates to a device (35) comprising a multilayered structure (35a) with a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion is conceived to be rolled about a first roller (38), said device comprising a second roller (39) for receiving the second portion for at least partially counteracting the effects of mechanical strain induced in the multilayered structure upon said rolling. The first roller (38) is rotated in a first direction, whereby the second roller (39) is rotated in a second direction. Preferably, the diameters of the first roller (38) and the second roller (39) are equal. Alternatively, the edge portions A, B of the multilayer structure (34a) are suitably interconnected by stoppers (33a, 33b) for preventing creeping. |
| US08531752B2 |
Pivotable MEMS device
A tiltable MEMS device is disclosed having an asymmetric, electrostatically actuated tiltable platform and a reflector mounted on the platform so that the platform is hidden below the reflector, except for a portion of long side of the platform extending from under the reflector. An electrostatic stator actuator is mounted on the substrate under the long side of the tiltable platform. The range of a unidirectional tilt is increased by providing a recess in the substrate under the extended portion of the platform to accommodate the increased range of movement of the tiltable platform. |
| US08531749B2 |
Light deflection apparatus
A light deflection apparatus, including a stator section including a radial bearing having a first dynamic pressure generating groove, a thrust bearing having a second dynamic pressure generating groove, and a stator coil; and, a rotor section including a polygon minor, a magnet facing the stator coil, and a rotating body having a dynamic pressure surface facing the radial bearing and a dynamic pressure surface facing the thrust bearing, the rotor supporting the polygon minor and the magnet; wherein one end portion of the dynamic pressure bearing section included of the thrust bearing, the radial bearing and of the rotating body in the thrust direction is closed excluding a gap between the dynamic pressure bearing section of the radial bearing and the dynamic pressure bearing section of the rotating body. |
| US08531748B2 |
Lens system for common aperture holographic storage system
The present invention relates to a lens system for an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media, and more specifically to a lens system optimized for an apparatus with a coaxial common aperture arrangement of an object beam and a reference beam. According to the invention, the lens system, which Fourier transforms an object beam and focuses a reference beam into a hologram layer of a holographic storage medium, and which focuses a servo beam onto a servo area of the hologram layer, includes a moving part acting on the object beam, the reference beam and the servo beam, and a fixed part acting only on the servo beam. |
| US08531747B2 |
Hologram, hologram data generation method, and exposure apparatus
The present invention provides a hologram which forms a light intensity distribution on a predetermined plane by using an incident light. The hologram includes a plurality of cells configured to control both a phase of a first polarized light component of the incident light and a phase of a second polarized light component. The plurality of cells are designed to form a portion in an overlap region in which a first light intensity distribution region formed on the predetermined plane by the first polarized light component and a second light intensity distribution region formed on the predetermined plane by the second polarized light component are superposed on each other. The phase of the first polarized light component is diffused in the portion formed in the overlap region. |
| US08531744B2 |
Image defect diagnostic system, image forming apparatus, image defect diagnostic method and computer readable medium
An image defect diagnostic system includes: a memory that stores an image density threshold set for each of partial regions in a test target image being a test target for an image defect and set as a criteria for judging whether or not each of the partial regions has an image defect, and that stores a positional information piece indicating a position of corresponding one of the partial regions in the test target image, while associating the image density threshold and the positional information piece with each other; and a diagnostic unit that compares an image data piece of each of the partial regions generated by scanning the test target image with the image density threshold set for corresponding one of the partial regions stored in the memory, to diagnose whether or not an image defect occurs in the test target image. |
| US08531741B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a first conveying path, a curved conveying path, a second conveying path, a first image reading section facing the first conveying path, a pair of third conveying rollers having a third nip point P1, a pair of second conveying rollers having a second nip point P4, a second image reading section facing the second conveying path, a pair of first conveying rollers having a first nip point P3 and a pair of discharge rollers having a fourth nip point P2. A distance between P1 and P2 is larger than a distance between P3 and P4. P3 and P4 are positioned in a first area defined by imaginary lines extending upward from P1 and P2 respectively. |
| US08531736B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a high-resolution converting unit configured to use image data of a plurality of frames of images in which positions read by a sensor are shifted by less than one pixel in a main scanning direction and/or a sub-scanning direction to generate image data having resolution higher than resolution of the sensor, an image region information generating unit configured to generate image region information corresponding to the image data read by the sensor, and an image region information high-resolution converting unit configured to convert a format of the image region information generated by the image region information generating unit and to perform a high-resolution conversion on the image region information using the high-resolution converting unit in such a way as to cause the image region information to correspond to the image data having the resolution higher than the resolution of the sensor. |
| US08531731B2 |
Image quality performance for a color marking device
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining printer performance in terms of image quality defects over a large complex set of conditions based on measurements taken over a small simple set of conditions, thus reducing the amount of time, effort, and wasted paper required to obtain the data. The present system and method effectively utilizes a predictive model that predicts noise measurements of multi-separations from those of single-separation colors and/or a subset of the multi-separations. Because a model is used to comprehend color performance over the entire gamut, the number of patches is reduced. This reduction enables the method to be used within a machine to dynamically characterize the device's image quality performance. Various embodiments have been disclosed. |
| US08531729B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method thereof
Color values of output colors reproduced based on output values corresponding to input values of grid points in an input color space, which are obtained by sampling a range of the output values, are estimated. Changes between a color value estimated in correspondence with an input value of a grid point of interest and color values estimated in correspondence with input values of adjacent grid points, changes between an output value of the interest point and output values of the adjacent points, and changes between a plurality of color values estimated in correspondence with input values to the interest point in association with different light sources are evaluated. When the input value of the interest point, whose a sum of evaluation values of these evaluations is less than a threshold, is obtained, an output value corresponding to that input value is set in the interest point. |
| US08531723B2 |
Systems and methods for improving performance of trigonometric and distance function calculations during printing and display
Consistent with disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for optimizing printing of a print job comprising graphics by a printer are presented. In some embodiments, the method calculating optimal granularity for the print job, based on specified resolution and page size; generating at least one trigonometric table with the calculated granularity; determining if a job command in the print job comprises a trigonometric function; and, if so, obtaining at least one trigonometric value from the at least one trigonometric table based on information in the job command. A similar process may be used to optimize printing by reducing the number of distance calculations performed by using sub tables. |
| US08531721B2 |
Apparatus and method for printing a plurality of jobs without being interrupted by printing from another job
An apparatus allocates a value of page attribute to each page included in a job according to a job attribute set to the job in an intermediate code format that corresponds to data to be printed generated by an application. If a combining instruction is issued to combine a plurality of jobs whose specific job attributes in which only one attribute value can be allocated to one job are allocated different attribute values, the apparatus processes the intermediate code format data so that printing is performed according to the allocated page attribute values. The apparatus then generates a combined job and transmits the generated combined job as print data to the printing apparatus. |
| US08531720B2 |
Processing image data
A method of processing image data according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: setting a permissible pitch range for a distance between adjacent ink blots; arranging image data for the line pattern in an x-y coordinate system; selecting a first base point corresponding to one side of the image data for the line pattern; selecting a first determination point from the first base point, in which the first determination point is parallel to and separated from one side of the image data for the line pattern; determining whether a distance between the first base point and the first determination point is within the permissible pitch range; and storing a coordinate as print data if the distance between the first base point and the first determination point is within the permissible pitch range, in which the coordinate is located at a shortest distance from the first determination point. |
| US08531717B2 |
Image processing enabling reduction of processing time for data conversion
A reference level of data required for outputting (printing, sending and so on) in accordance with output configuration settings is set. It is determined whether or not a level of target data to be output which is stored in a storage is lower than the reference level. When the level of the target data is lower than the reference level, the data level is increased in stages. The data of the level raised to the reference level is output in accordance with the output configuration settings. |
| US08531711B2 |
Print server, control method thereof, client terminal, printing system, and computer-readable medium
A print server comprises: a list request receiving unit configured to receive, from a client terminal, a printer list request containing information indicating a printer capable of printing; an acquisition unit configured to send a request to a printer to acquire a status indicating whether the printer can print, thereby acquiring the status; and a sending unit configured to send, to the client terminal that has sent the printer list request, printer list data described in a format for display on a Web browser of the client terminal using the status of the printer that has been acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein when the acquisition unit cannot acquire the status of the printer, the sending unit sends the printer list data containing a command which allows the Web browser of the client terminal to inquire a status of a printer whose status cannot be acquired. |
| US08531710B2 |
Association of a portable scanner with input/output and storage devices
A device identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to a service provider. The service provider associates the device with the portable scanner. Information is scanned from a printed source and communicated to the service provider and subsequent information is received in response at a device identified by the device identifier. In some embodiments, a communication session identifier is scanned with a portable scanner and communicated to the service provider rather than (or in cooperation with) the device identifier. |
| US08531708B2 |
Bookbinding printing system in which a plurality of bound products are generated by a single job
An information processing apparatus comprises: a data determination unit configured to determine, using first received data as a reference, whether to add another received data to processing in a single job; a size determination unit configured, when the data determination unit determines to add the other received data in a bookbinding mode in which a plurality of bound products are generated by a single job, to regard, as single tentative image data, a plurality of image data which are generated from different received data and laid out on a single sheet of paper, and to determine whether the single tentative image data fits in the sheet of paper; and a job generation unit configured to generate a job for at least one received data corresponding to image data contained in the single tentative image data determined by the size determination unit to fit in the sheet of paper. |
| US08531707B2 |
Systems and methods for executing forms
Systems and methods for managing form data representing a form are disclosed. In one embodiment, an information-providing apparatus has a communication unit configured to communicate with an information-processing apparatus over a network, a storage unit storing a container, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive, via the communication unit, a request to access the container from the information-processing apparatus, to retrieve, from the container, form data representing a form, to send, via the communication unit, the form data to the information-processing apparatus, and to receive, via the communication unit, a form execution request from the information-processing apparatus, the form execution request including an identification of the container and user-supplied information added to the form date. The processing unit is further configured to execute the form execution request based on the identification of the container and on the user-supplied information. |
| US08531705B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system
An image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is communicably connected to an image monitoring apparatus, and can be remotely operated from the image monitoring apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes a display unit that is configured so that display content can be synchronized with a display unit of the image monitoring apparatus, and displays a trouble message when trouble occurs in the image processing apparatus. When the image processing apparatus is remotely operated while the display unit of the image processing apparatus is displaying the trouble message, simulation information is transmitted to the image monitoring apparatus such that the simulation information is displayed only on the display unit of the image monitoring apparatus, and display of the trouble message on the display unit of the image processing apparatus is continued. |
| US08531704B2 |
Image communication apparatus storing and displaying transmission destination address information according to a priority established by a current use or a post frequency of use of each destination address information and an image forming apparatus including the same
An image communication apparatus includes: a storage device storing an address identifier and frequency of use of an address as a transmission destination; an address display device displaying a plurality of addresses such that an address of high frequency of use is displayed with higher priority than an address of low frequency of use; a designating device allowing a user to designate a transmission destination from a plurality of displayed addresses; an image data transmitting device transmitting image data to a designated transmission destination; and a display changing device for changing, if an address having low frequency of use and displayed without priority among the addresses stored in the storage device is designated as a transmission destination, the manner of display to have the address displayed with priority. |
| US08531701B2 |
Controlling post-processing operations in an image forming apparatus based on recepton of an image forming instruction
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a print unit; an instruction unit for giving an instruction to start a printing operation; and a print control unit for controlling the printing operation according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, in which, when there is no instruction to start a subsequent printing operation after the executing of the printing operation to the recording medium according to the instruction to start the printing operation from the instruction unit, the print control unit executes a first post-processing operation for completing the printing operation, and the print control unit determines an operation to be performed after the executing of the first post-processing operation based on whether or not the instruction to start the subsequent printing operation is received during the executing of the first post-processing operation. |
| US08531697B2 |
Image forming system, groupware server, image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming program
An image forming system is disclosed that includes a groupware server and an image forming apparatus that functions as a groupware terminal. The groupware server includes a document database that stores document data and attribute information corresponding to the document data. The image forming apparatus includes a read unit that reads the document data and the attribute information corresponding to the document data stored in the document database, and a change unit that changes the attribute information read by the read unit into changed attribute information. In turn, the groupware server stores the read document data and the changed attribute information in the document database. |
| US08531693B2 |
Printer control device providing printer masquerading features and related methods
A computer network may include a network server, a network printer having a printer identifier associated therewith, and a plurality of network computers coupled to the network server for generating print jobs to be directed to the printer based upon the printer identifier. Each print job may have a printing permission level associated therewith. Moreover, the computer network may further include a printer control device coupled between the network server and the network printer and configured to determine the printer identifier associated with the network printer based upon printer communications, identify the printer control device to the network server using the printer identifier to access the print jobs from the network computers, and selectively enable printing of the print jobs by the network printer based upon the respective printing permission levels associated therewith. |
| US08531691B2 |
Server for connecting terminal device and printers
One of a plurality of setting screens corresponding to a plurality of printers may be generated based on original data stored in a server. Each of the plurality of setting screens may be for permitting designation of a content of each setting item matching a print condition that a corresponding printer is capable of performing. The server may acquire specific printer identification information for identifying a specific printer from a terminal device, store target data of a print target and supply specific data, which is for representing a specific setting screen corresponding to the specific printer, to the terminal device. The server may acquire setting information indicating a designated content of each setting item designated via the specific setting screen and supply to the specific printer print data according to the target data and the designated content of the each setting item indicated by the setting information. |
| US08531685B2 |
Display device, printing apparatus, method to display contents in storage devices and a computer usable medium therefor
A display device to display contents representing data files stored in at least one external memory device attached to the display device is provided. The display device includes at least one connection interface through which an external memory device is attached to the display device, a judging unit to judge as to whether an external memory device is attached to one of the at least one connection interface, a list creation unit to create a list of data files which are stored in the external memory device according to the judgment made by the judging unit, a timer to measure a predetermined period, and a display control unit to display the list created by the list creation unit based on the data files stored in the external memory device which is attached to the display device before the predetermined period elapses. |
| US08531684B2 |
Printing apparatus and control method therefor
In a printing apparatus having full-color and monochrome print processes and a method therefor, whether a page to be printed is color or monochrome is checked. The presence of an immediately preceding page which is successively printed before a page to be printed that is determined to be monochrome, and the attribute of the immediately preceding page are determined. The presence of a succeeding page which is successively printed after the page to be printed, and the attribute of the succeeding page are determined. The number of pages corresponding to the determination results is set. The print process of the page to be printed is decided on the basis of the presence of succeeding pages corresponding to the number of pages and their attributes. |
| US08531682B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium
An information processing apparatus which can be connected to a printing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus configured to perform post-processing on a sheet output from the printing apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify a size of the sheet to be changed by executing first post-processing to the sheet output from the printing apparatus, a designation unit configured to designate a position on which second post-processing is executed to the sheet to which the first post-processing has been executed, and a display control unit configured to display a preview image for identifying a position on which the second post-processing is executed with respect to the size of the sheet identified by the identification unit based on the size of the sheet identified by the identification unit and the position on which the second post-processing is executed. |
| US08531675B2 |
Compensated MEMS FTIR spectrometer architecture
A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) spectrometer architecture compensates for verticality and dispersion problems using balancing interfaces. A MEMS spectrometer/interferometer includes a beam splitter formed on a first surface of a first medium at an interface between the first medium and a second medium, a first mirror formed on a second surface of the first medium, a second mirror formed on a third surface of the first medium and balancing interfaces designed to minimize both a difference in tilt angles between the surfaces and a difference in phase errors between beams reflected from the first and second mirrors. |
| US08531672B2 |
Lubricant deterioration detector and bearing assembly equipped with such detector
A lubricant deterioration detecting device includes an arcuate optical fiber having one end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light emitting element and also having the opposite end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light receiving element, and a measuring gap for intervening a lubricating agent is provided in a portion of the arcuate optical fiber. In the vicinity of the measuring gap, a resistance element, the amount of deformation of which varies with change in state of lubrication performed with the lubricating agent, is provided for flowing of the lubricating agent within the measuring gap. |
| US08531671B1 |
Apparatus and methods for determining the concentration of black carbon particles in a combustion exhaust
Apparatus and methods are described for determining particulate concentrations in an exhaust gas. One embodiment provides a method of analyzing particles in a gas using an apparatus including a probe and an analyzer. The method includes obtaining a sample of particle laden gas through the probe; obtaining ambient air through the probe; diluting the sample with the ambient air; and providing the diluted sample to the analyzer. Another embodiment provides an apparatus for analyzing particles in a gas. The apparatus includes a probe adapted to accept a gas or ambient air; a volume to dilute the gas with the ambient air; an analyzer responsive to particles in the gas; and electronics to operate the apparatus. The electronics instructs a user to first provide a sample and then provide ambient air into the volume, and then analyzes substantially all of the sample and ambient air for particles. |
| US08531669B2 |
Air-driven shutter device and optical analyzer
An air-driven shutter device is used in an optical analyzer. The optical analyzer includes a measurement field to which a sample is supplied, a light-emitting unit measurement field for emitting measuring light to the sample, a light-receptive unit for receiving the measuring light that has passed through the sample, and a purge air supplying unit for supplying purge air. The air-driven shutter device includes a shutter and a shutter opening and closing mechanism. The shutter is disposed between the light-emitting unit and/or the light-receptive unit and the measurement field. The shutter opening and closing mechanism keeps the shutter open with pressure of the gas supplied from the purge air supplying unit, and closes the shutter when the pressure of the gas supplied from the purge air supplying unit becomes lower than a predetermined level. |
| US08531663B1 |
Particle diameter distribution measurement device
A dynamic scattering type particle diameter distribution measurement device comprising a light receiving part that receives scattered light emitted from the particle group and that outputs a pulse signal in accordance with a photon number of the received light, a plurality of multibit counters that receives the pulse signal while a gate is open and counts a pulse number, a correlator that obtains auto-correlation data from time series data of the pulse number, and a calculation part that calculates particle diameter distribution based on the auto-correlation data, a gate time changing part that changes gate time once or a plurality of times and a gate time judging part that compares mutually the differences between the maximum value and the minimum value of the auto-correlation data output every time the gate time is changed and judges the gate time corresponding to the maximum difference as a recommended value. |
| US08531656B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring exit angle of optical fiber
A measurement end of an optical fiber is passed through a through hole of a holder. While the optical fiber is being rotated by using the through hole as a guide, output light from the measurement end is received by light receiving means. Coordinates of at least three points on a locus circle of the output light are measured to calculate a size of the locus circle. On the basis of the calculated size, the exit angle of the optical fiber is measured. The through hole of the holder has a small-diameter portion on a front side and a large-diameter portion on a rear side. An inside diameter of the small-diameter portion is 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm larger than a diameter of a bare fiber, and an inside diameter of the large-diameter portion is larger than a diameter of a sheathed fiber. |
| US08531655B2 |
Compensating for non-ideal multi-core optical fiber structure
An interferometric measurement system includes a spun optical fiber including multiple optical waveguides configured in the fiber. Interferometric detection circuitry detects measurement interferometric pattern data associated with each of the multiple optical waveguides when the optical fiber is placed into a bend. Data processing circuitry determines compensation parameters that compensate for variations between an optimal configuration of the multiple optical waveguides in the fiber and an actual configuration of multiple optical waveguides in the fiber. The compensation parameters are stored in memory for compensating subsequently-obtained measurement interferometric pattern data for the fiber. The compensation parameters are applied to the subsequently-obtained measurement interferometric pattern data in order to distinguish between axial strain, bend strain, and twist strain on the fiber and to accurately determine one or more strain values for the fiber corresponding to one or more of the axial strain, bend strain, or twist strain on the fiber. |
| US08531652B2 |
Three way desktop UV counterfeit detector
A counterfeit detection apparatus is formed as a desktop currency detector which has a slim configuration and a small footprint on the order of about 175 mm×100 mm. The desktop counterfeit detector provides white light that can shine from below a currency bill that is placed on its translucent cover and also provides and overhead UV lamp which is situated approximately 30 mm above the translucent light table. The detector also provides a compartment for a counterfeit detector pen which contains a special ink formulation that can apply a color changing test mark to a currency bill to test its reaction with the paper to determine its genuineness. Thus, the detector provides a three-test opportunity to check the genuineness of a currency bill by white light, UV light and a specially formulated ink suitable for checking the paper stock. |
| US08531648B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, programmable patterning device and lithographic method
In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus is disclosed that includes a modulator configured to expose an exposure area of the substrate to a plurality of beams modulated according to a desired pattern and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the substrate. The modulator may be moveable with respect the exposure area and/or the projection system may have an array of lenses to receive the plurality of beams, the array of lenses moveable with respect to the exposure area. |
| US08531644B2 |
Optical device and display
According to one embodiment, an optical device includes an optically variable layer and first and second electrodes. The optically variable layer includes a material having dielectric anisotropy and a solvatochromic dye. The first and second electrodes are configured to apply a voltage to the optically variable layer. According to another embodiment, a display includes an optical device and a driving circuit. The optical device includes an optically variable layer and first and second electrodes. The optically variable layer includes a material having dielectric anisotropy and a solvatochromic dye. The first and second electrodes are configured to driving circuit is configured to put a drive voltage across the first and second electrodes. |
| US08531642B2 |
Display module and tiled display manufacturing method
A flat panel display device is presented. The device includes at least one display module in the form of a matrix of pixels formed by active media enclosed between two sets of conductors. The display module has a front side by which it is to be exposed to viewers and an opposite back side where an electronic control circuit is located, and comprises two sets of electrical conductors extending along two intersecting axes respectively to define a two-dimensional array of junctions forming said pixels, each of the conductors of at least one set of conductors being bent to extend from the front side to the opposite back side of the display module. |
| US08531640B2 |
Display apparatus having improved static discharge characteristics
A display apparatus includes a first substrate including a plurality of pixels, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each pixel includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor pattern, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first portion overlapping the drain electrode and a second portion outside the first portion, and the second electrode does not overlap the first portion of the first electrode. The first electrode or the second electrode is formed as a single unitary structure. |
| US08531637B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A flat, solid counter electrode is formed on an organic passivation film. Before forming an interlayer insulating film on the counter electrode, plasma ashing is performed. A surface of the organic passivation film is trimmed by the plasma ashing, forming an overhang. The plasma ashing not only trims a surface of the organic passivation film but also roughens a surface of the counter electrode. This increases a contact area between the interlayer insulating film and the organic passivation film or counter electrode, increasing the adhesiveness therebetween. Further, the plasma ashing eliminates the remainder of a resist on the counter electrode, increasing the adhesiveness of the interlayer insulating film. |
| US08531636B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate having a first electrode on one surface side, a second substrate having second electrode on one surface side and placed opposite to the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer having a pretilt angle of 89.7° or more and less than 90° is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes respectively form a pixel in opposing areas. The first electrode includes rectangularly shaped openings disposed with regularity in the pixel in a planar view. The openings include first and second openings with longitudinal directions respectively facing first and second directions, the second direction different from the first direction. The angle formed by the longitudinal directions of the first and second openings, and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules at the substantial center of the liquid crystal layer is 0° or more and less than 90°. |
| US08531632B2 |
Method of manufacturing a display device with transmissive and reflective regions
A display device formed by plural pixels that have reflective regions and transmissive regions is disclosed. The display device includes, in each of the pixels: an element layer formed on a substrate; a planarizing layer formed on the substrate to cover the element layer; and a gap adjusting layer formed on the planarizing layer on the element layer. In the display device, the reflective region is formed by an area including the element layer, the planarizing layer, the gap adjusting layer, and a reflection electrode formed on the gap adjusting layer, and the transmissive region is formed by an area including the planarizing layer formed on the substrate excluding an area in which the gap adjusting layer is formed. |
| US08531631B2 |
Color display apparatus
A color display apparatus includes a driving substrate, a color filter and a display layer. The driving substrate has a display region and a non-display region, and at least a first alignment mark is disposed on the non-display region. The color filter is opposite to the driving substrate. The color filter includes a substrate and a filter layer disposed on the substrate. The substrate has a first region corresponding to the display region and a second region corresponding to the non-display region. The filter layer includes color filter patterns located on the first region and at least a second alignment mark located on the second region and corresponding to the first alignment mark. The display layer is disposed between the driving substrate and the color filter. Alignment precision between the driving substrate and the color filter of the color display apparatus is improved. Besides, a color filter is also provided. |
| US08531629B2 |
Reflective display device including polymer-dispersed liquid crystals having particular light-absorbing member
According to example embodiments, a reflective display device includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the plurality of pixel units may include a reflective plate having at least one concave reflective surface, a first electrode on the reflective plate, a second electrode separate from the first electrode, at least one light-absorbing member corresponding to the at least one concave reflective surface, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal PDLC layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The PDLC layer includes a polymer and liquid crystals. The light-absorbing member may be at a focus position of the at least one concave reflective surface. |
| US08531628B2 |
Display device having improved contrast ratio
A display device comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate opposite the first substrate; an electrode unit formed on one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to form an electric field between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer located so as to correspond to the electric field formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and having a reflector configured to reflect light. |
| US08531626B2 |
Optical element, liquid crystal display and manufacture method thereof
An optical element adapted to be arranged between a white light source of a backlight and a color filter substrate of a liquid crystal display (LCD) in optical path, wherein the white light of the backlight is obtained by mixing blue light and yellow light by exciting yellow fluorescent powders with blue light, and wherein red particles are dispersed in the optical element. |
| US08531615B2 |
Image display device and projection device
An image display device includes an image display element that displays images, a light blocking member that includes a light blocking portion blocking light from reaching a peripheral portion of the image display element, and a dust-proof member that is provided to surround the outer peripheries of the image display element and the light blocking portion such that the image display element and the light blocking portion positioned inside the dust-proof member have a dust-proof structure, wherein the light blocking member includes a heat dissipation portion which is integrally formed with the light blocking portion and which releases heat from the light blocking portion to the outside of the dust-proof member. |
| US08531609B2 |
Method and apparatus for composition of subtitles
Embodiments of the invention include a subtitling format encompassing elements of enhanced syntax and semantic to provide improved animation capabilities. The disclosed elements improve subtitle performance without stressing the available subtitle bitrate. This will become essential for authoring content of high-end HDTV subtitles in pre-recorded format, which can be broadcast or stored on high capacity optical media, e.g. the Blue-ray Disc. Embodiments of the invention include abilities for improved authoring possibilities for the content production to animate subtitles. For subtitles that are separate from AV material, a method includes using one or more superimposed subtitle layers, and displaying only a selected part of the transferred subtitles at a time. Further, colors of a selected part of the displayed subtitles may be modified, e.g. highlighted. |
| US08531608B2 |
Object-based audio-visual terminal and bitstream structure
As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache. |
| US08531605B2 |
Method and apparatus for output setting in a portable terminal
An apparatus and method for providing an output setting in a portable terminal includes an external output setting unit and a controller. If a connection with an external device is determined, the external output setting unit determines an output format supported by the external device. The controller automatically changes system setting suitably to the determined output format of the external device. |
| US08531603B2 |
System and method for in-band A/V timing measurement of serial digital video signals
A system and method for characterizing the relative offset in time between audio and video signals and enables the receiver of the audio and video signals to resynchronize the audio and video signals. Signal characterization data is dynamically captured and encoded into frames of video and audio data that is output by a television origination facility. The signal characterization data is extracted by the receiver and signal characterization data is recomputed for the received frames. The extracted signal characterization data is compared with the recomputed signal characterization data to compute the relative offset in time between the video and one or more audio signals for a frame. The receiver may then resynchronize the video and audio signals using the computed relative offset. |
| US08531598B2 |
Image processing method and related apparatus for generating target image block
An image processing method of generating a target image block of a position to be currently interpolated in an interpolated frame between two frames includes: performing a motion estimation for generating a motion vector by referring to a plurality of image blocks of the two frames and generating a first image block according to the motion vector; generating a second image block according to two image blocks which are respectively in the two frames and both correspond to the position to be currently interpolated; and generating the target image block according to the first image block and the second image block. |
| US08531597B2 |
Video processing apparatus that stores input viewpoint information and control method thereof
A video processing apparatus stores input viewpoint information which indicates on a viewpoint of video to be displayed that of video content constituted by a plurality of videos captured at a plurality of respectively different viewpoint positions. At this time, the input viewpoint information is stored in association with at least one of identification information for identifying the video content and captured viewpoint information that includes information on the plurality of viewpoint positions at which the plurality of videos constituting the video content are captured. The viewpoint corresponding to the stored input viewpoint information is displayed as a selectable viewpoint based on at least one of the identification information and the captured viewpoint information of the video content, when viewing video content that is different from the video content for which the input viewpoint information is already registered. |
| US08531596B2 |
Camera apparatus and electronic device provided with the same
A camera apparatus (100) includes: a first housing (1) including a lens section (10); a second housing (2) including an image pickup section (20); and a connecting section (3) which connects the first and second housings (1) and (2). During image pickup, a focal length is specified by a contact between a bottom surface of a lens holder (12) which is exposed in the first housing (1) and a top surface of a transparent cover section (25) which is exposed in the second housing (2). This allows a realization of a camera apparatus in which a focal length is specified with high accuracy. |
| US08531593B2 |
Display panel with image capture module and assembling method of the same
A display panel and an assembling method of the same are described. An image capture module is electrically disposed on a substrate of a display module, such that the image capture module and the display module are combined into an integrated structure, so as to reduce the overall size of a display assembled by using the display panel. |
| US08531590B2 |
Camera with precise visual indicator to subject when within camera view
A camera may include a lens, an image sensor, an image detection system, a controllable light source, and a light source control system. The image detection system may be configured to generate electronic information representative of images generated by the lens by detecting sequential images sensed by the image sensor. The detecting may not be done during certain periods of time. The controllable light source may be behind the lens and configured to controllably project light through the lens and back onto a scene in front of the lens. While in at least one mode, the light source control system may be configured to activate the controllable light source only while the image detection system is not detecting an image from the image sensor. The light source control system may be configured to activate the controllable light source and to cause it to emit light at an intensity which is sufficient to be readily visible to a normal human looking at the lens while within the scene, but not sufficient to materially alter the electronic information generated by the image detection system. |
| US08531589B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup method
An image pickup device (100) wherein a target area, on which an exposure control is based, is accurately detected to perform the exposure control most favorably to the target. The image pickup device (100) comprises a feature detecting unit (111) that detects, based on the contour of the target, a target candidate from a picked-up image (S1); a block voting unit (112) that votes those ones of a plurality of blocks to which the target detected by the feature detecting unit (111) belong, the plurality of blocks being obtained by dividing the area of the picked-up image into the plurality of blocks; a vote compiling unit (114) that adds vote results (S3) together on a block-by-block basis over a plurality of frames, thereby compiling the vote results (S3); a significance determining unit (115) that select, based on a compilation result (S4), blocks to be used for controlling the exposure; and a control unit (116) that controls the exposure of an image pickup unit (101) based on the brightness of the blocks selected by the significance determining unit (115). |
| US08531585B2 |
Camera, camera system and lens apparatus
A camera on which a lens apparatus is mounted is disclosed. The camera includes a controller which performs a focusing control corresponding to the mounted lens apparatus; a display unit which performs display process corresponding to an output of the controller; and a storage section which stores correction information for correcting a calculation result in the focusing control by the controller, in association with the mounted lens apparatus. |
| US08531582B2 |
Imaging apparatus and method for controlling imaging apparatus
Light transmitted through the imaging lens 100 is divided into two light fluxes by the half mirror 202 fixed in the camera body 200, and two light fluxes are guided to the imaging element 201 and optical viewfinder, respectively. An image processing unit corrects aberration, which occurs due to the transmittance of light through the half mirror 202, of the image data generated after receiving light at the imaging element 201, by conversion processing based on a transfer function representing its optical transfer characteristics and restores the image data prior to the occurrence of aberration. |
| US08531580B2 |
Imaging device including a plurality of imaging units
An imaging device with a plurality of imaging units is provided. The imaging device includes a supporting substrate, a flexible substrate and a movable unit. The supporting substrate is formed with a hard material, and the flexible substrate includes a plurality of imaging units positioned at least in a width direction. The flexible substrate is fixed at a first edge portion with the supporting substrate, while an opposite second edge portion of the flexible substrate is connected with the movable unit. The movable unit moves the opposite second edge portion of the flexible substrate in the width direction and bends or flattens the flexible substrate. A degree of curvature at which the flexible substrate is bent may vary based on a distance by which the movable unit moves in the width direction, so that a field of view (FOV) of the plurality of imaging units may be adjusted. |
| US08531578B2 |
Wide angle optical system, imaging lens device, monitor camera, and digital apparatus
Provided are a wide angle optical system having better optical performance, low in cost, and compact in size, an imaging lens device having the wide angle optical system, a monitor camera, and a digital apparatus. The wide angle optical system (1) has, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens (11) having a negative optical power, a second lens (12) having a negative optical power, a third lens (13) having a positive optical power, an aperture (15), and a fourth lens (14) having a positive optical power. The wide angle optical system satisfies the conditional expression of 3 |
| US08531574B2 |
Display device and camera
A display device includes a liquid crystal layer between transparent first and second substrates. A transparent first segment electrode is formed on the first substrate so that a predetermined area becomes a positive pattern with respect to a predetermined display information, and a transparent second segment electrode is formed on the first substrate so that a predetermined area becomes a negative pattern with respect to the display information. The first and second segment electrodes are formed as a same first layer. A transparent common electrode is formed on the second substrate facing the first and second segment electrodes. A transparent auxiliary electrode is formed as a second layer on the first substrate along a gap between the first and second segment electrodes. The auxiliary electrode is connected to the second segment electrode via a contact hole in an insulating film interposed between the first and second layers. |
| US08531573B2 |
Digital camera and operating method thereof
A digital camera and an operating method thereof are disclosed. The digital camera includes an image sensing module, a display, an operating element, and a control module. The image sensing module consists of N pieces of image sensing elements. The display is used to show a first image. The operating element is used by a user to select a specific area in the first image and set correction parameters for the specific area. The control module is connected to the image sensing module and the display for obtaining information about a position of the specific area relative to the first image and the correction parameters, and uses the obtained position information and the correction parameters to control M pieces of the image sensing elements in the image sensing module corresponding to the specific area, so that a second image is obtained based on the correction parameters. |
| US08531572B2 |
Video screen with side opening and inner connections
The invention relates to a viewing screen device, including a casing (8, 18), itself including a first portion (18), a so-called front portion, and a second portion (8), a so-called rear portion, the front portion including a rear face (182) and the rear portion including a front face (82, 82′), a portion of this front face forming in the closed position a gap (90) internal to the device, delimited on one of its sides by a surface (80), a so-called connecting surface, including at least one connection (101, 102, 103) of a cable, means (830, 831) for closing or opening the casing, by moving said rear portion (8) away from or closer to said front portion (18), while maintaining both of these portions attached to each other, a side portion (83) of the casing further including at least one opening (101′, 102′, 103′) for letting through at least one cable (14, 14′, 14″) intended to be connected to one of the connections (101, 102, 103). |
| US08531571B1 |
System and method for browsing a large document on a portable electronic device
In one embodiment, a technique for browsing a document on a portable electronic device is disclosed. The document is opened and displayed in a document browsing application. A state of a user-selectable activation control disposed on the device is determined. In response to the activation control being in a selected state, orientation data is read from a sensor of the device. From the orientation data, it is determined if the device has rotated in a first predetermined direction about an axis that extends through a center of the device. If so, the application zooms in on a portion of the document being displayed. Further, from the orientation data, it is determined if the device has turned in reference to a fixed coordinate system. If so, the application pans up, down, left or right. In response to the activation control being in a released state, zooming and/or panning ceases. |
| US08531570B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing device and method for reducing the line memory consumption in an image processor is disclosed. The image processing device includes an imaging unit for acquiring image data by imaging a subject, an image memory to which a first part out of first and second parts of the image data output from the imaging unit is input, and an image processor for image-processing the first part received from the image memory, image-processing the second part received without passing it through the image memory, and generating a processed image corresponding to the image data by synthesizing the processed first and second parts. |
| US08531567B2 |
Image sensor with vertical transfer gate
An image sensor including a first pixel positioned between second and third pixels, each of the first, second and third pixels comprising a photodiode region surrounded by an isolation trench; a first charge transfer gate comprising a first column electrode surrounded by an insulating layer and positioned in an opening of the isolation trench between the first and second pixels, the first column electrode being configured to receive a first transfer voltage signal; and a second charge transfer gate including a second column electrode surrounded by an insulating layer and positioned in an opening of the isolation trench between the first and third pixels, the second column electrode being configured to receive a second transfer voltage signal. |
| US08531566B2 |
Image sensor and operating method
The present invention relates to an image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras, having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein all or at least some of the pixels of a column are connected to a respective common column line, and wherein the image sensor has a signal preprocessing device for one or more of the column lines to process a exposure signals generated by the pixels which can be applied to the respective column line. The image sensor is made selectively to apply one of at least two test input signals to the column lines. |
| US08531565B2 |
Front side implanted guard ring structure for backside illuminated image sensor
An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a guard ring structure in the substrate, and at least one pixel surrounded by the guard ring structure. The guard ring structure is implanted in the substrate by high-energy implantation. |
| US08531564B2 |
Capacitive element, manufacturing method of the same, solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus
A capacitive element, includes: an active region parted by an element isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a first electrode formed of a diffusion layer in the active region; an insulating layer formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on a planar surface of the first electrode via the insulating layer, wherein the second electrode is formed within the active region and within the first electrode in a planar layout. |
| US08531551B2 |
System and method for image sharing
A system and method for image sharing is disclosed. The method of the present invention discloses: receiving a set of images and a transmit images command in response to the transmit images command; selecting a subset of the images in response to the transmit images command; formatting the subset of images in response to the transmit images command; and transmitting the formatted images to a recipient in response to the transmit images command. The system of the present invention discloses means for performing the method. |
| US08531549B1 |
Camera that uses YUV to YUV table-based color correction for processing digital images
An apparatus having a circuit is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) process a digital image received from a camera sensor and (ii) color correct at least one pixel of the digital image after the processing. The color correction generally includes a lookup table-based conversion of the pixel from a first luminance-and-chrominance representation to a second luminance-and-chrominance representation. |
| US08531547B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus and method in which auto-selecting of an object to be prioritized from among a plurality of detected objects is capable more appropriately. A characteristic detecting unit detects a previously set characteristic portion of an object from an image signal constituting a moving image. A control unit sets a priority to each characteristic portion when a plurality of the characteristic portions are detected by the characteristic detecting unit and also sets a high priority to a characteristic portion being detected for a long period of time. |
| US08531544B2 |
Method for block-encoding of a raster image of pixels, corresponding computer program and image capture device
A method of block-encoding a raster image by successive two-dimensional decompositions of blocks of the image in a base of functions using a combined application of a one-dimensional kernel of vertical decomposition of n pixels and of a one-dimensional kernel of horizontal decomposition of p pixels. In the method the horizontal dimension P of each block is determined as a multiple of p, P=k·p, and a decomposition at logp(P) level(s) of resolution is accomplished using the horizontal decomposition kernel, and the vertical dimension N of each block is determined as a multiple of n, N=l·n, and a decomposition at logp(N) level(s) of resolution is accomplished using the vertical decomposition kernel. For given values of n and p, the values of k and l are chosen such that the vertical dimension N is strictly less than the horizontal dimension P. |
| US08531543B2 |
Camera system and image processing method
Disclosed herein is a camera system including: a camera section including a subband dividing section configured to resolve image data of a color whose pixel positions are alternately shifted from each other into subband images, and a first transmission interface section configured to convert the subband images into a predetermined image signal, and output the image signal via a transmission line; and a camera control section including a second transmission interface section configured to convert the image signal input via the transmission line into the subband images, and an image decompressing section configured to decompress the subband images into the image data and synthesize the subband images into the image data output from the image pickup element. |
| US08531540B2 |
Mobile terminal, control method of same, control program of same, and computer-readable storage medium storing the control program
A mobile terminal (1) of the present invention includes an image capturing section (19), an image obtaining section (22) for obtaining a subject image captured by the image capturing section (19), and an image capturing mode determination section (24) for determining which one of a plurality of image capturing modes is suitable for the subject image. The image capturing section (19) captures the subject in an image capturing mode determined to be suitable for the subject by the image capturing mode determination section (24). This makes it possible to provide a mobile terminal which makes it possible to switch to an image capturing mode suitable for a subject. |
| US08531539B2 |
Image capturing device, method for image capturing, and computer readable recording medium
A control unit controls an image capture unit to perform a plurality of image captures of an object and acquires a plurality of mutually different image data based on a positional change of an image capturing device. Then, the control unit extracts a specified object image common to each of the acquired plurality of image data. The control unit synthesizes the acquired plurality of image data using the extracted specified object image as a reference, and thereby creates synthesized image data. The synthesized image data is an image equivalent to a captured image having a shallow depth of field such that only the specified object image is clearly photographed and the other portions are blurred. |
| US08531536B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for selecting information delivery manner using facial recognition
An apparatus, and an associated method, selects a manner by which to deliver received information at a wireless, or other electronic, device. A facial recognition indication is obtained and analyzed. Responsive to the analysis of the facial recognition indication, selection is made of the manner by which to deliver the information. If the facial recognition indication indicates the recipient to exhibit a serious demeanor, the information is provided in aural form, thereby to permit delivery of the information without requiring the recipient to read, or otherwise view, the information. |
| US08531533B2 |
Image output apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium for connection or disconnection processing
There is provided an image output apparatus characterized by comprising: first communication control means for controlling communication using a first protocol; second communication control means for controlling communication relating to an image using a second protocol; image output means for executing image output processing based on an image supplied under the communication control by the second communication control means; and link control means for performing control relating to disconnection of the communication by each of the first communication control means and the second communication control means. When disconnection of the communication by the first communication control means is detected, the link control means holds disconnection processing of the communication by the second communication control means based on a state of the communication control relating to the image by the second communication control means. |
| US08531531B2 |
Audio-visual quality estimation
A method and an apparatus for estimating a quality of an audio-video signal includes calculating audio and video quality factors from audio and video technical characteristics. An audio-video quality factors interaction is computed from an interaction between the audio and video quality factors. At least one of an audio quality, a video quality and an audio-visual quality is computed using the audio and video quality factors and the audio-video quality factors interaction. |
| US08531530B2 |
Adjusting method for a lens unit, lens unit and image reading apparatus
An adjusting method for a lens unit used in an image reading apparatus which images image information of an original onto an image reading unit by the lens unit and reads the image information, the lens unit including rotationally-symmetrical lenses, a lens barrel including the rotationally-symmetrical lenses and an adjusting lens, the adjusting method including: performing rotational adjustment of the lens barrel with respect to the adjusting lens; and imaging an adjusted chart onto one-dimensional photoelectric transducers via the lens unit, obtaining contrast depth characteristics of images corresponding to at least three angles of field of the lens unit among images of the adjusted chart, and, according to the obtained contrast depth characteristics, performing position adjustment of the adjusting lens in at least one of an array direction of the one-dimensional photoelectric transducers, a direction orthogonal to the array direction and an optical axis direction of the lens unit. |
| US08531529B2 |
Dead pixel compensation testing apparatus
A dead pixel compensating apparatus includes, inter alia, a pattern generation unit generating a programmable test pattern including data with respect to at least one dead pixel; a register array storing the test pattern; a dead pixel compensation unit receiving the test pattern stored in the register array and performing a dead pixel compensation algorithm to output compensation data; and a determination unit comparing the test pattern and the compensation data to determine whether or not the dead pixel compensation algorithm has an error, wherein a dead pixel compensation algorithm for compensating for a dead pixel of an image sensor in image data supplied from the image sensor is tested. |
| US08531528B2 |
Image sensor capable of realizing night-photographing and functions of proximity sensor and illuminance sensor
An image sensor capable of realizing night-photographing and functions of a proximity sensor and an illuminance sensor. The image sensor includes a light source for emitting light toward a subject; a light source control section for controlling current applied to the light source; an illuminance sensor section for sensing an illuminance of surrounding environment; and a sensor section having an image sensor unit for sensing an image signal. |
| US08531527B2 |
Acoustic-wave sensor, acoustic-wave sensor array, and ultrasonic imaging apparatus
An acoustic-wave sensor (10) is constructed by a membrane (11) adapted to be displaced by an acoustic wave, a first waveguide (16a) for transmitting light therein, an optical coupling part (15) to which the light transmitted through the first waveguide (16a) is adapted to be optically coupled, and a second waveguide (16b) through which the light coupled from the optical coupling part (15) transmits. When the membrane (11) is displaced by its reception of the acoustic wave, at least one of an optical coupling coefficient between the first waveguide (16a) and the optical resonator (15) and an optical coupling coefficient between the second waveguide (16b) and the optical resonator (15) is changed to output a corresponding optical signal. |
| US08531523B2 |
Multi-sensor location and identification
By combining imaging systems with wireless location functionality, a subject's videometric signature can be linked to a public identity, thus enabling continuous surveillance outside or between the coverage area of video surveillance networks. In addition to extending the surveillance coverage area, the combination of computerized video surveillance with wireless location determination may also allow for identification of mobile device users via the existing mobile equipment and user identifiers used in the wireless network. |
| US08531521B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to improved surveillance using a smart camera
Methods and apparatus related to smart surveillance camera operation and implementation are described. A smart surveillance camera stores a map corresponding to an area subject to monitoring. The camera provides at least one image detected by said camera and at least a portion of the stored map in conjunction with the at least one image detected by said camera, e.g., to a wireless communications device of an emergency responder in its local vicinity. Current camera position and/or viewing controls such as camera angle setting and/or zoom, are sometimes used, to determine the portion of the overlay map to be communicated in conjunction with a video stream. Externally detectable trigger events, e.g., from a 911 call or from a gunshot audio detector, and/or internally detectable trigger events, e.g., a detected mob in the camera viewing area, are sometimes used to initiate transmission of a video stream and corresponding map overlay. |
| US08531520B2 |
System and method for traffic monitoring
The invention is directed to a system and method for acquiring image evidence of traffic violations. The system has a controller, an image acquisition system, and sensors. The controller acquires data from the sensors to determine the likelihood of a traffic violation. The controller determines a schedule for acquiring images associated with the violation. Multiple images may be acquired as evidence of the violation. The controller then directs the image acquisition to acquire images in compliance with the schedule. The controller may then package, encrypt, and authenticate data and images associated with the violation. The controller may then transfer the data to a remote location. The system may also determine a schedule to acquire images associated with multiple violations and/or traffic accidents. |
| US08531518B1 |
System and method for capturing videos with a mobile device
A system and method for capturing videos with a mobile device is provided. The method may include identifying, at a computing device, an intended target of a video recording, wherein the intended target is substantially centered within a display of the computing device. The method may include determining, in response to the intended target being out of position, that the intended target is not substantially centered within the display and outputting a non-visual indication that the intended target is not currently substantially centered within the display. |
| US08531517B2 |
IV monitoring by video and image processing
We describe a method and apparatus for monitoring the dripping speed in IV process, as well as detecting the its end. The apparatus includes a camera and a processing unit to analyze the information from the acquired video. Features from the image sequence are extracted and the dripping speed is computed accordingly by discrete Fourier transform. The apparatus is also capable of detecting the end of the dripping process by finding the location of liquid surface in the drip chamber. We also describe the use of barcode to provide information to the monitoring device and program. |
| US08531512B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
In an endoscope apparatus of the present invention, while observing a body cavity tissue under narrowband light via a second filter group of a rotating filter, a G2 filter section, B2 filter section, and shading filter section change illumination light to narrowband surface-sequential light of two bands of discrete spectral characteristics, and an image-capturing signal captured by a CCD via the B filter section constitutes a band image having superficial layer tissue information, and an image-capturing signal captured by a CCD via the G filter section constitutes a band image having intermediate layer tissue information. This produces tissue information of a desired depth in the vicinity of a superficial portion of a mucous membrane using an inexpensive and simple configuration. |
| US08531511B2 |
Diffractive optical element and endoscope
Provided is a diffractive optical element that is formed by laminating two optical material layers formed of different energy-cured resins; in which a relief pattern is formed at the interface between the two optical material layers; and that satisfies the following conditional expressions: 0.01 |
| US08531510B2 |
Endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus having a plurality of observation modes includes: an objective optical system including a moving lens; a CCD that picks up an image of an object via the objective optical system; a contour enhancement section that performs contour enhancement of the image outputted from the CCD and outputs contour component signals; a signal value comparison section that compares a maximum value of the contour component signals and a predetermined threshold value according to the observation mode; a focusing evaluation section that determines a focusing state by determining a signal distribution of the contour component signals; and an actuator drive section that controls movement of the moving lens based on the focusing state determined by the focusing evaluation section and a result of the comparison by the signal value comparison section. |
| US08531507B2 |
Enhancement of visual perception IV
A device and method for enhancement of a viewer's visual perception in a real physical (three spatial dimension) scene and/or a single two-dimensional image, which includes enhancement of a viewer's depth perception and perception of clarity in the real physical scene and/or the two-dimensional image, by alteration of a viewer's eye dominance with direction of greater attention to the viewer's non-dominant eye for contribution to the binocular view. |
| US08531501B2 |
System and method for assisting an agent in a contact center
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for assisting a service representative an enterprise. A device operated by an agent and a mobile communication device operated by an expert may be associated by a registration at a server. An indication of required assistance may be provided to the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may included in a session already including a device operated by the agent and a device operated by a customer. |
| US08531500B2 |
Communication terminal, display image control method, program and medium
A communication terminal, a display image control method using the communication terminal, a program and a medium are provided in order to display an opposite party's picture on a display part while executing a videophone communication even if it cannot keep sufficient communication quality.The communication terminal includes a videophone function, a voice communication function and the display part which displays a motion picture or a still picture. The communication terminal displays a picture acquired from an opposite party's communication terminal on a display part as a motion picture while executing the videophone communication. Further, it displays a picture acquired from the opposite party's communication terminal on the display part as a still picture after the videophone communication is switched to the voice communication when the videophone communication could not keep sufficient communication quality. |
| US08531499B2 |
Optical scanner and image forming apparatus including same
An optical scanner includes a light source, a scan-deflecting portion including a resonance mirror to scan and deflect along a scan line, a plurality of light receiving sensors for synchronous detection provided on the scan line, a phase controller, an amplitude controller, and an offset controller. The phase controller obtains a difference between a true phase and a target phase, and generates a drive signal incorporating the difference between the true phase and the target phase. The amplitude controller incorporates the difference between a value equivalent of a true amplitude and a value equivalent of a target amplitude into the drive signal generated by the phase controller. The offset controller calculates an offset value by obtaining the difference between each of the time intervals, incorporates the difference between the offset value and a target offset value in the amplitude-controlled drive signal, and supply the drive signal to a driving device. |
| US08531497B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a light beam output unit configured to output a light beam, a deflection unit for deflection scanning in a main scanning direction of a photosensitive member by reflecting the light beam from the light beam output unit, a timing information detection unit configured to detect timing information of the deflection scanning by the deflection unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate a correction amount of the main scanning direction for a next scan based on the timing information, a light beam modulation control unit configured to generate a light beam modulation signal based on image data and the correction amount, and a drive unit configured to drive the light beam output unit based on the light beam modulation signal. |
| US08531495B2 |
Printer, recording paper positioning method, and recording medium storing a program executed by a control unit that controls a printer
A printer detects black marks BM formed at a constant interval along the length of recording paper by a detector disposed to the recording paper conveyance path at a position upstream from a printing position, positions the recording paper to a printing start position for printing on the recording paper based on the detection results from the detector, and positions the recording paper to a cutting position downstream from the printing position in order to cut the recording paper based on detection of a black mark BM after printing ends. When a power-off command is input, the printer starts conveying the recording paper forward, stops conveying the recording paper when a black mark BM is detected by the detector after conveyance starts, and then turns the power off. |
| US08531494B2 |
Reducing processing latency in optical character recognition for portable reading machine
A portable reading device includes a computing device and a computer readable medium storing a computer program product to receive an image and select a section of the image to process. The product processes the section of the image with a first process and when the first process is finished processing the section of the image, process a result of the first process with a second process. While the second process is processing, repeats the first process on another section of the image. |
| US08531492B2 |
Custom PSFs using clustered light sources
Light sources of a backlight are configured to customize the shape of light emitted from the clusters. The clusters are activated as a unit and modulated as to brightness, but of the customized shape. All clusters can have a similar customized PSF, or the customization of each cluster may be varied in real time. Real time changes of a clusters PSF may be based, for example, an image or a region of the image to be displayed using the clusters. |
| US08531482B2 |
Use of handwritten notations from photographs
A method for detecting, scaling, and positioning handwritten information from hardcopy media, the method includes the steps of digitizing the media and detecting handwritten information; analyzing the media to determine an available location in the digitized image for placement; determining the orientation of the media and handwritten information; and orienting, scaling, and positioning the detected handwritten information. The method further includes storing or using the digitized image side with the handwritten information. |
| US08531481B2 |
Image display apparatus, image display method and program
There is provided an image display apparatus including an acquisition unit for acquiring image data of an original image and cut frame information for designating a range of a cut image cut from the original image, a calculation unit for calculating a length of a perpendicular line from a corner portion of the cut image to an outer frame serving as a reference facing the corner portion of the cut image among outer frames of the original image, based on the cut frame information, a creation unit for creating an implication line corresponding to the length of the perpendicular line as image data, and a display unit for displaying the implication line extending from the corner portion of the cut image to a side opposite to the outer frame serving as the reference of the original image, together with the cut image. |
| US08531478B2 |
Method of browsing photos based on people
To browse images grouped by person on a photo displaying system, a plurality of facial regions are generated from a plurality of images of a plurality of albums. The facial regions are grouped into a plurality of clusters of faces based on similarity between the facial regions. The clusters of faces are associated with the albums. A signal is received to select one of the facial regions. The selected facial region belongs to a specific cluster of faces and the specific cluster of faces is associated with a specific album of the albums. Images of the specific album and facial regions of the clusters of faces are displayed. |
| US08531473B2 |
Photogrammetric texture mapping using casual images
A method for photogrammetric texture mapping using casual images is provided. The method may include the following steps: estimating, for each vertex of at least a portion of a three dimensional (3D) mesh representing a model, projection parameters associated with a virtual camera that is unique for each vertex; mapping pixels from a two dimensional (2D) image to the vertices, such that each mapping of a pixel is based on the estimated respective virtual camera parameters; and texturing the portion of the mesh with corresponding mapped pixels wherein vertices on the textured portion are selected such that they are visible from a specified viewpoint associated with the 3D mesh. |
| US08531472B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid three-dimensional modeling with real façade texture
Methods are described for automatically generating a three-dimensional model of a structure including real façade textures obtained from geo-referenced oblique images. The geographical position of at least one real façade texture is located. Geo-referenced images containing the real façade texture are located. A base image having the real façade texture is selected from the geo-referenced images by analyzing image raster content. The real façade texture of the base image is applied to the three-dimensional model. Systems for generating the three-dimensional model are also described herein. |
| US08531470B2 |
Deferred deletion and cleanup for graphics resources
A method and an apparatus for maintaining separate information for graphics commands that have been sent to a graphics processing unit (GPU) and for graphics commands that have been processed by the GPU are described. The graphics commands may be associated with graphics resources. A manner to respond to a request for updating the graphics resources may be determined based on examining the separate information maintained for the graphics commands. The request may be received from a graphics API (application programming interface). Responding to the request may include at least one of notifying the graphics API regarding a status of the graphics resources and updating the graphics resources identified by the request. |
| US08531463B2 |
Method and apparatus for discrete element modeling with a virtual geometry object
One embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implemented method for discrete element modelling of a plurality of discrete elements corresponding to particles and physical geometry elements. The modelling performs a simulation through time of physical interactions of the particles with each other and with the physical geometry elements in a three-dimensional space. The method comprises providing a virtual geometry object comprising a user-defined shape. The virtual geometry object does not undergo physical interaction with the particles or physical geometry elements during the simulation. The method further comprises receiving user-defined parameters for determining the position, orientation and any movement of the virtual geometry object with respect to the three-dimensional space. The method further comprises locating the virtual geometry object in the three-dimensional space during the simulation in accordance with the user-defined parameters and identifying the particles, physical geometry elements and/or physical interactions having a particular relationship with respect to the virtual geometry object. The identified elements can then be analysed by the user, for example to determine the number of particles located at a given time within a specific region of the simulation space (as defined by the virtual geometry object). |
| US08531461B2 |
Portable electronic device and method of controlling same
A method of controlling a portable electronic device includes receiving a selection of a character of a string at the portable electronic device, rendering the character at a first font size on a display of the portable electronic device, and re-rendering the character at a second font size when a subsequent selection of a subsequent character of a new string is received. |
| US08531460B2 |
Character processing apparatus and method
A character processing apparatus and method, wherein the character processing apparatus includes an eyesight age determination module which determines an eyesight age, and a character transformation module which transforms an input character based on character property information of the input character according to the determined eyesight age. |
| US08531455B2 |
Parallax barrier filter
There is provided a parallax barrier filter realizing far higher brightness than a conventional barrier filter. A large number of apertures 12 are arranged obliquely and at equal intervals in a parallax barrier filter 10 of a five-parallax type. For a five-parallax type, the apertures 12 are rectangles with the same shape and the same area, and under the condition that an opening height is 8/7 times as large as a sub-pixel height, that is, the opening height Ht=8/7Hsp, an opening width is set to 2-2.5 times as large as a sub-pixel width. A positional relation between the adjacent apertures 12 is that based on expressions Pt=5·Wsp and Dtr=(5/7)·Wsp, where Pt is a pitch of the plural apertures 12 along a lateral direction X and Dtr is a deviation amount between the apertures 12 adjacent in a vertical direction Y. |
| US08531453B2 |
Augmenting virtual worlds simulation with enhanced assets
A system and method includes using a side simulation device for: receiving a scene description of a virtual world scene from a virtual world simulator, including a description of a special object that requires modification, and descriptions of other objects in an immediate vicinity of the special object; receiving a description of a desired modification to the special object; performing the modification of the special object to provide an enhanced special object such that the enhanced special object can be fully integrated with the other objects in the scene; transmitting the enhanced special object to a data store; and transmitting a proxy object signal to the simulator means to be placed in the virtual world scene to alert any viewers of the virtual world scene to refresh their view by adding the enhanced special object to their simulation by accessing the enhanced special object from the data store. |
| US08531449B2 |
System and method for producing multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images in an image dataset
Disclosed are a system and method for creating multi-angle views of an object-of-interest from images stored in a dataset. A user specifies the location of an object-of-interest. As the user virtually navigates through the locality represented by the image dataset, his current virtual position is determined. Using the user's virtual position and the location of the object-of-interest, images in the image dataset are selected and interpolated or stitched together, if necessary, to present to the user a view from his current virtual position looking toward the object-of-interest. The object-of-interest remains in the view no matter where the user virtually travels. From the same image dataset, another user can select a different object-of-interest and virtually navigate in a similar manner, with his own object-of-interest always in view. The object-of-interest also can be “virtual,” added by computer-animation techniques to the image dataset. For some image datasets, the user can virtually navigate through time as well as through space. |
| US08531448B2 |
Stereoscopic image display apparatus, text data processing apparatus, program, and storing medium
A deviation amount of a pictographic character portion of “G” is calculated based on a description of a file, and left eye-use display data (ABCDEF GIJK) and right eye-use display data (ABCDEG HIJKL) in a portion (b) in FIG. 3 are generated. A starting location of a description of “ABCDEFGHIJKL” is specified by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate described in the file. In addition, a process of alternately writing pixel data constituting the left eye-use display data (ABCDEF GIJK) and pixel data constituting the right eye-use display data (ABCDEG HIJKL) from a pixel data storing location of a VRAM corresponding to the coordinates (that is, one right eye-use pixel and one left eye-use pixel are alternately written one after another in a horizontal direction as a display image) is carried out. |
| US08531446B2 |
DC-DC converter and controlling method thereof, and display device using the same
A DC-DC converter comprises a burst mode circuit configured to work when a load connected to an output terminal of the DC-DC converter is a light load, and a PWM mode circuit configured to work when the load is a heavy load, wherein the burst mode circuit switches a voltage at the output terminal during a period of time when a feedback voltage from the output terminal reaches a high potential reference voltage, generates a switch start signal with frequencies divided by predetermined frequency division values, and switches the voltage at the output terminal in response to the switch start signal, and wherein the PWM mode circuit switches the voltage at the output terminal during a period of time when a ramp wave signal is greater than a difference voltage between the feedback voltage and a predetermined PWM mode reference voltage. |
| US08531434B2 |
Two-dimensional sensor array, display device, and electronics device
A display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix, and an optical sensor circuit configured by a photodiode (17), a NetA voltage-boosting capacitor, and an output AMP. A driving wiring (Vrwn) for supplying a driving signal to the NetA voltage-boosting capacitor is electrically connected to a power supply wiring (Vsm) for supplying power to the output AMP. This configuration reduces parasitic capacitance resulting from an increase in the number of wirings. This makes it possible to make a display device having a pixel including an optical sensor incorporated therein, the display device capable of avoiding deterioration in sensor accuracy in the optical sensor circuit and preventing a decrease in the aperture ratio of the pixel. |
| US08531431B2 |
High speed 3D multi touch sensitive device
Disclosed are a touch sensor and a method for determining a position, in three dimensions, of a conducting object with respect to a display device of the touch sensor. The determination of the position of the conducting object is done by performing at least one measurement of the capacitive load of at least one display electrode of the display wherein the measurement is performed by charging the capacitive load of the at least one display electrode by a predefined signal. The charging results in at least one charging curve, from which the capacitive load of the at least one display electrode may be determined by measuring the rise time of the charging curve of the charging, and calculating the position of the at least one conducting object, with respect to said display device based on the determined capacitive load. |
| US08531430B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a touch panel display with integrated keys
A touch screen touch screen display includes a bottom conductor layer coupled to a top conductor layer. The bottom conductor layer extends beyond the top conductor layer adjacent the top conductor layer, exposing a region of the bottom conductor layer. One or more manually actuatable components (e.g., buttons) are coupled to the region of the bottom conductor layer. The bottom conductor layer may include a substrate (such as a polycarbonate layer) and a polymer layer (such as polyethylene terephthalate) formed on the substrate. |
| US08531424B1 |
Transaction automation and archival system using electronic contract disclosure units
A system is provided for controlling, real-time logging, and archiving complex commercial transactions such as the purchase and financing of an automobile. An electronic contract disclosure unit or ECDU includes a digitizing display for imaging documents involved in the transaction and a digitizer for manual interaction with images on the display. A computer controls the transaction, and may for instance, control the order of presentation of documents to a vehicle purchaser, receive the purchaser's signature on the displayed documents when required, offer choices of various packages that can be accepted or declined by the purchaser, and insures that the entire transaction is carried out properly. The ECDU logs the transaction for future review and preferably records video and audio. Fingerprint readers allow participants to select between options by pressing their thumb or finger on the readers. |
| US08531423B2 |
Video manager for portable multifunction device
A video player for a portable multifunction device is disclosed. In some embodiments, a list of video items is displayed in a portrait orientation of a touch screen display of a portable electronic device. Upon user selection of a respective video item in the list, the user selected video item is automatically displayed in a landscape orientation of the touch screen display. |
| US08531418B2 |
Touch sensor having improved edge response
A sensor is provided. The sensor includes a planar sensing area including a sensor layout. The sensor layout includes an interior portion, an edge portion, and edges. The sensor layout also includes interior sensing elements, the interior sensing elements being located in the interior portion, and edge sensing elements, the edge sensing elements being located in the edge portion. The interior sensing elements are arranged in the sensor layout such that the interior sensing elements generally do not extend beyond a predetermined distance from the edges. Moreover, the edge sensing elements are arranged to extend beyond the predetermined distance and interlace with the interior sensing elements in the interior portion. The sensor further includes a controller and a connector, the connector coupling the planar sensing area to the controller. |
| US08531417B2 |
Location of a touch-sensitive control method and apparatus
A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display at a location not associated with a control, displaying, in association with the location, a displayed control, and activating the displayed control. |
| US08531414B2 |
Bump suppression
Apparatus and methods for reducing misinterpretation of gesture-based input to portable electronic devices are described. |
| US08531412B1 |
Method and system for processing touch input
A method and system for processing touch input. A computing device with a touch-sensing interface may maintain a stored size value for touch input by a known user. The computing device may detect and then determine a size of a touch input. The computing device may then compare the determined size of the detected touch input to the stored size value for the known user's tough input. Based on this comparison, the computing device may process the touch input. For example, in response to the touch input, the computing device may (a) take a first action if the determined size exceeds the stored size value by a first value, and (b) otherwise, take a second action. In one aspect, before using the stored size value for the known user's touch input, the computing device may identify a current user of the computing device as the known user. |
| US08531411B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device including: a rectangular display panel; a first film-like printed circuit board including a first terminal portion, the first film-like printed circuit board extending from one side of the rectangular display panel in a direction; a rectangular touch panel provided so as to be opposed to the rectangular display panel; and a second film-like printed circuit board including a second terminal portion, the second film-like printed circuit board extending from one side of the rectangular touch panel in the direction, the one side of the rectangular touch panel corresponding to a side parallel with and adjacent to the one side of the rectangular display panel, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion being provided so that a connecting direction of the first terminal portion is different from a connecting direction of the second terminal portion. |
| US08531402B2 |
Electronic device with separate cover having user interface
A multi-function electronic device is constructed in two parts. A communication part is a self sufficient device for providing multiple functions, such as, cellular phone, PDA, camera, and others. A cover part has a receptacle for receiving the communication part. The cover part includes a lid that is movable from an open position to a position extending over the receptacle. A keyboard is constructed in the lid for use when the lid is in the open position and the communication part is in the cover part. |
| US08531396B2 |
Control system for navigating a principal dimension of a data space
Systems and methods are described for navigating through a data space. The navigating comprises detecting a gesture of a body from gesture data received via a detector. The gesture data is absolute three-space location data of an instantaneous state of the body at a point in time and physical space. The detecting comprises identifying the gesture using the gesture data. The navigating comprises translating the gesture to a gesture signal, and navigating through the data space in response to the gesture signal. The data space is a data-representational space comprising a dataset represented in the physical space. |
| US08531392B2 |
Multifunctional scroll sensor
An apparatus and method for using a scroll sensor providing a touch sensitive control input surface for a plurality of control functions is provided. The input surface is divided into a plurality of regions. Each region is assigned to one of the plurality of control functions. At least one of these control functions accepts parametric control input. A first touch is received at one of the regions on the input surface. The control function assigned to the touched region is selected. If the selected control function is one of the control functions accepting parametric control input, a second touch on the input surface is received as parametric control input during an activation period for the selected control function. The second touch may be received as parametric control input at any point of the input surface. |
| US08531391B2 |
Input device and display input device using the same
An input device includes an upper sheet having a resistive film formed on a lower surface thereof and a lower substrate disposed in a co-planar relationship below the upper sheet and spaced apart from the upper sheet by a gap, where the lower substrate has a resistive film formed on an upper surface thereof. The lower substrate has opposite side edge portions disposed along a longitudinal axis of the lower substrate, and the side edge portions have an incline or taper along a thickness axis of the lower substrate. A pair of lower electrodes are formed on the resistive film of the lower substrate, and are disposed parallel to the side edge portions of the lower substrate, such that when pressure is applied to an operation portion of the upper sheet, the upper sheet flexes toward the lower substrate, and planar coordinates of the operation portion are determined based on a voltage between the pair of lower electrodes. |
| US08531388B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a data driving circuit, a gate driving circuit, a plurality of light sources, a light source control circuit configured to differently modulate a unit frame data depending on a display location of the unit frame data on the liquid crystal display panel and to control turn-on and turn-off operations of the light sources, a timing controller configured to divide a unit frame period into first and second sub-frame periods and to repeatedly supply the modulated unit frame data to the data driving circuit during the first and second sub-frame periods, and a light source driving circuit configured to turn off all the light sources during the first sub-frame period and turn on all the light sources at a turn-on time within the second sub-frame period. |
| US08531387B2 |
Display device
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a display device includes a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks and is driven by the divided blocks, and includes at least one optical assembly, a display panel positioned over the backlight unit, a controller that outputs local dimming values corresponding to brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit, in accordance with an image displayed in the display panel, and a BLU driver that controls brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit using the local dimming values. |
| US08531384B2 |
Driving method for local dimming of liquid crystal display device and apparatus using the same
A driving method for local dimming of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device and an apparatus using the same are disclosed. The driving method includes assigning a first block index to each of a plurality of blocks into which backlight unit is divided, detecting a connection order of the blocks in the backlight unit, arranging the first block indexes according to the block connection order, storing first block index ordering information that specifies the arranged first block indexes, retrieving the stored first block index ordering information, generating second block index information that specifies second block indexes corresponding to the first block indexes of the backlight unit, determining a local dimming value for each block by analyzing input data on a block basis according to the second block index information, rearranging the local dimming values arranged based on the second block index information according to the first block index ordering information, and driving the plurality of blocks respectively using the rearranged local dimming values of the plurality of blocks. |
| US08531381B2 |
Methods and systems for LED backlight white balance
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for performing white balance operations for an LED display backlight. Some aspects related to an iterative process wherein display backlight luminance and color are sampled at an intermediate resolution between the resolution of the LED backlight and the resolution of the LCD display. Some aspects relate to a process wherein r, g and b driving value differences are determined using a deconvolution technique. |
| US08531376B2 |
Bootstrap circuit, and shift register, scanning circuit, display device using the same
There is disclosed a shift register comprising a bootstrap circuit that outputs a voltage of the supply voltage to the output when the voltage of a first node becomes higher or lower than the supply voltage. The shift register comprises: two or more transistors connected in series to the first node; a device for supplying the voltage to a second node between the transistors such that the voltage between the drains and sources of the transistors becomes below the supply voltage; a first input transistor connected to the first node, and the gate electrode thereof is connected to a first input terminal as well; and an output transistor connected to the output terminal and the clock signal while having the gate electrode connected to the first node, wherein the gate electrode of the output transistor is not opened except for the bootstrap period. |
| US08531367B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method that increases trasmittance
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel including one or more pixel region partitioned into first, second and third sub-pixels; a backlight including first and second sources for projecting onto the one or more pixel region one of a first light having a first wavelength and a second light having a second wavelength; and a controller for partitioning a four-color pixel data corresponding to a period into first and second data to be applied to the first and second sub-pixels, respectively, during a first part of the period while the backlight projects the first light onto the one or more pixel region, and third and fourth data to be applied to the first and second sub-pixels, respectively, during a second part of the period while the backlight projects the second light onto the one or more pixel region, the controller applying a white data to the third sub-pixel during the first and second parts of the period. |
| US08531366B2 |
LCD driving device and method for driving the same
A liquid crystal display driving device, comprising a scanning driving unit; a data driving unit; gate lines; data lines; pixel regions defined by the gate lines and the data lines; and a compensation circuit connected to the gate lines, wherein the gate lines include gate scanning lines and a redundant gate line, the data lines includes data signal lines and a redundant data line, and the compensation circuit is used to compensate the gate scanning signals of the gate scanning lines, so as to reduce voltage delay over the gate scanning lines. |
| US08531363B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and method of driving the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device comprises a display panel including first and second substrates, an OLED disposed between the first and second substrates, and a heating controller, a heater configured to apply heat to the display panel, and a temperature controller. The display panel has a display area and a non-display area on which the second substrate does not overlap the first substrate. The first and second substrates and the OLED are arranged in the display area. The heating controller is arranged in the non-display area. A first side and a second side of the temperature controller are electrically connected to the heater and the heating controller, respectively. The heating controller supplies a voltage to the heater when it is determined that an image is not displayed on the display panel. The temperature controller cuts electrical connection with the heater at a predetermined temperature. |
| US08531362B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same
An organic light emitting display device and a method of driving the same. In a method of driving an organic light emitting display device including a second capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a gate electrode of a driving transistor and a first capacitor coupled between the gate electrode of the driving transistor and a first power source, the driving method includes supplying a threshold voltage of an organic light emitting diode to a second terminal of the second capacitor during a period when a first current is sunk via the driving transistor, and supplying a data signal to the second terminal of the second capacitor after a voltage corresponding to a difference between a voltage applied to the gate electrode of the driving transistor and the threshold voltage of the organic light emitting diode is charged in the second capacitor. |
| US08531360B2 |
Pixel circuit
A pixel circuit has an organic light emitting diode, a driving transistor, a capacitor and a first switch. The organic light emitting diode has a first end coupled to a first power source terminal. The driving transistor has a source and a drain respectively coupled to a second power source terminal and a second end of the light emitting diode. The capacitor couples a gate of the driving transistor to a reference voltage terminal. The first switch couples the second end of the light emitting diode to the capacitor, and couples the gate and the drain of the driving transistor together when a first scan signal is asserted. |
| US08531359B2 |
Pixel circuits and methods for driving pixels
A circuit according to one embodiment includes a data line; a select line; a storage node coupled to the select line; a first transistor with a gate coupled to the select line, a first electrode thereof coupled to the storage node, and a second electrode thereof coupled to the data line; a second transistor with a gate coupled to the storage node, a first electrode thereof coupled to the data line; and a light emitting diode coupled to a second electrode of the second transistor. Additional systems and methods are claimed. |
| US08531358B2 |
Organic light emitting display device having improved brightness
An organic light emitting display device compensates for a variation of the threshold voltage of a driving transistor. A scan driver and a data driver drive a plurality of pixels. A pixel of the pixels includes an organic light emitting diode, four transistors, and two capacitors. A first transistor controls a current to the organic light emitting diode. Second and third transistors are coupled between a data line from the data driver and a gate electrode of the first transistor. A fourth transistor is coupled between a reference power supply and the gate electrode of the first transistor. The two capacitors are coupled between the organic light emitting diode and respective electrodes of the third transistor. |
| US08531350B2 |
Display control apparatus, and setting method and program for display control apparatus
When a first display device displays image data, a display control apparatus reserves a memory space having the first horizontal pixel number in the storage unit, and sets the frequency of a clock signal supplied to the display control unit to a first frequency. When a second display device displays image data, a display control apparatus reserves a space of the second horizontal pixel number, which is higher than the first horizontal pixel number, and sets the frequency of a clock signal supplied to the display control unit to a second frequency which is higher than the first frequency. |
| US08531349B2 |
Dual display module and display apparatus having the same
A dual display module having a first display panel and a second display panel, the dual display module including a bezel arranged between the first display panel and the second display panel, and having a penetration area between the first display panel and the second display panel; and a supporting member arranged between the bezel and the second display panel and supporting the second display panel, the supporting member having at least one protrusion unit that protrudes through the penetration area to face the first display panel. |
| US08531348B2 |
Electronic device with embedded antenna
An electronic device with an embedded three-dimensional antenna is disclosed. The electronic device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and an embedded three-dimensional antenna. The embedded three-dimensional antenna includes a radiation element and a connection element. The connection element includes a first connection part and a second connection part. The first and second connection parts are coupled to the PCB, and utilized for transferring signals of the embedded three-dimensional antenna to the PCB. The first and second connection parts further clamp the PCB to attach the embedded three-dimensional antenna on the PCB. |
| US08531347B2 |
Nonconductive antenna mount
An antenna mount is disclosed. The antenna mount includes a mast and a foot that are substantially free of electrically conductive elements. The mast has a first end having a circular cross-section configured to be received by a mounting bracket of a satellite dish having a circular interior cross-section. The foot is configured to be secured to a stationary mounting surface and to be pivotally attached to a second end of the mast. |
| US08531343B1 |
Electromagnetic environment simulation method
An electromagnetic environment simulation method. Embodiments of the invention provide for nanosecond or better time resolution and milliradian angular resolution simulation of the dynamic electromagnetic environment of a wireless system under test. |
| US08531341B2 |
Antenna isolation for portable electronic devices
Portable electronic devices are provided with wireless circuitry that includes antennas and antenna isolation elements. The antennas may include antennas that have multiple arms and that are configured to handle communications in multiple frequency bands. The antennas may also include one or more antennas that are configured to handle communications in a single frequency band. The antennas may be coupled to different radio-frequency transceivers. For example, there may be first, second, and third antennas and first and second transceivers. The first and third antennas may be coupled to the first transceiver and the second antenna may be coupled to the second transceiver. The antenna isolation elements may be interposed between the antennas and may serve to reduce radio-frequency interference between the antennas. There may be a first antenna isolation element between the first and second antennas and a second antenna isolation element between the second and third antennas. |
| US08531340B2 |
Multi-band antenna module
A multi-band antenna module is disposed in a housing of an electronic device. The housing has a grounding plane disposed therein and includes a metal frame part having two ends electrically connected to opposite side edges of the grounding plane. The multi-band antenna module includes a conductor, a substrate, a grounding section, and a first radiator section. The conductor is to be coupled across the metal frame part and the grounding plane so as to cooperate with the grounding plane and a portion of the metal frame part to form a closed loop thereamong, in which the substrate is disposed. The first radiator section and the grounding section are disposed on the substrate, with the grounding section to be coupled electrically to the grounding plane. A portion of the first radiator section is disposed to cooperate with the closed loop to resonate in a first frequency band. Another portion of the first radiator section is disposed to cooperate with the grounding section to resonate in a second frequency band. |
| US08531339B2 |
Hand-held electronic device
An electronic device is provided, including a main body, a battery detachably received in the main body, a stopper disposed in a predetermined position to restrict the battery in the main body, an antenna disposed on the stopper, and a cover connected with the stopper and movable relative to the stopper between a first position and a second position. When the cover is in the first position, the cover is engaged with the main body and restricts the stopper in the predetermined position. When the cover is moved from the first position along a first direction to the second position, the cover is disengaged from the main body, and the stopper is releasable from the predetermined position along a second direction. |
| US08531333B2 |
Intermittent tracking for GNSS
A GNSS system operates intermittently and has adaptive activity and sleep time in order to reduce power consumption. The GNSS system provides an enhanced estimate of its position in the absence of GNSS signals of sufficient strength. The user's activity and behavior is modeled and used to improve performance, response time, and power consumption of the GNSS system. The user model is based, in part, on the received GNSS signals, a history of the user's positions, velocity, time, and inputs from other sensors disposed in the GNSS system, as well as data related to the network. During each activity time, the GNSS receiver performs either tracking, or acquisition followed by tracking. The GNSS receiver supports both normal acquisition as well as low-power acquisition. |
| US08531328B2 |
Analog digital converter
Provided is an analog digital converter (ADC). The ADC includes: a capacitor array generating a level voltage; a comparator outputting a compare signal by comparing the level voltage; and a logic circuit determining digital bits of an analog signal based on the compare signal, wherein the logic circuit determines at least one digital bit among digital bits of the analog signal while a sampling operation of the analog signal is performed in the capacitor array. |
| US08531325B2 |
Combined complex real mode delta-sigma ADC
A delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the delta-sigma ADC includes a dual mode resonator and a plurality of switches. The delta-sigma ADC is configured to operate in a real modulation mode or a complex modulation mode based on settings of the plurality of switches. |
| US08531324B2 |
Systems and methods for data conversion
Systems and methods are provided for converting analog data to digital data that can include performing N successive analog subtractions from an initial data charge Qin. The analog subtractions are performed using an amplifier coupled to a discharge capacitor and a divider circuit coupled to an input of the amplifier. The divider circuit includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a switch to alternately divide a remaining charge Q by 2N between the first and second capacitors until the remaining charge Qin at the amplifier is below a threshold value. A compensating circuit compensates for fluctuations in the charge held by the first and second capacitors due to operation of the switch. |
| US08531322B2 |
Time-to-digital converter
Embodiments of a time-to-digital converter are provided, comprising a delay stage matrix and a measurement circuit. The delay stage matrix comprises a first and a second delay lines coupled thereto, and is arranged to propagate a transition signal from a starting delay stage in the first and a second delay lines, wherein each of the first and second delay lines comprises a same number of delay stages coupled in series, each delay stage in one of the first and second delay lines is coupled to a corresponding delay stage in the other delay line and operative to generate a delayed signal. The measurement circuit is arranged to determine a time of the transition signal propagating along the delay stages by sampling the delayed signals using a measurement signal to generate and hold a digital representation of the time. |
| US08531321B1 |
Signal processing and inheritance in a tiered signal quality hierarchy
A signal processor is configured to encode a signal in a hierarchy including multiple levels of quality. The signal processor produces a rendition of the signal for at least a first level of quality. The signal processor generates sets of reconstruction data specifying how to convert the rendition of the signal at the first level of quality into a rendition of the signal at a second (higher) level of quality in the hierarchy, potentially leveraging on available reference signals. According to one arrangement, the signal processor utilizes an entropy encoder to encode the reconstruction data. Based on probability distribution information for one or more symbols in each set of reconstruction data and based on probability distribution information and/or other encoding parameters inherited from previous levels of quality, the entropy encoder encodes the reconstruction data into an encoded value or bit string. Using the probability distribution information, an entropy decoder converts the encoded value or bit string back into the reconstruction data. |
| US08531320B2 |
Systems and methods for memory efficient data decoding
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is disclosed that includes a data decoder circuit. The data decoder circuit is operable to: apply a decoding algorithm to a decoder input on a first decoder iteration to yield a first decoder output; compress an output derived from the first decoder output to yield a compressed decoder output; de-compress the compressed decoder output to yield a second decoder output; and apply the decoding algorithm to the second decoder output to yield a third decoder output. |
| US08531318B2 |
Data mining in a digital map database to identify intersections located at hill bottoms and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle
Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location. |
| US08531315B2 |
System and method for displaying runways and terrain in synthetic vision systems
A method and system for displaying three dimensional images of runways and terrain, as well as additional information, on one or more screens of an avionics display system is provided. The system merges elevation information for terrain points and elevation information for runway points by grouping runways together that are within a threshold distance of each other. For each group, a plane is calculated. The calculated plane is then projected onto all of the runways within the group. The plane may also be projected onto a subset of neighboring terrain points. The adjusted elevation created by the projection of the plane are then used in creating the images for display on the synthetic vision display. The result is that all of the runways within a group, along with their neighboring terrain, are displayed as being coplanar. |
| US08531314B2 |
Illuminated aircraft wheel chock indicator
A visual display used to indicate when aircraft wheel chocks have been inserted against the aircraft tires and the tarmac. The display is mounted on the exterior of an aircraft terminal at an elevation that is easily viewable by an aircraft operator. The indicator system contains illuminated characters operated from an electrical switch. The electrical switch is located remotely from the display where it is accessible by personnel standing on the tarmac. The switch positions include “OUT” and “IN”. When the switch is moved to the “IN” position, the arrow characters are illuminated. When the switch is moved to the “OUT” position, the arrow characters are not illuminated. This system provides a safe and efficient means for ground personnel to signal the aircraft operator that the wheel chocks are in place against the aircraft wheel assembly. |
| US08531311B2 |
Time-divided communications in a metering system
A method, system, and related apparatus for performing time-divided communications in a metering environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endpoint (e.g., ERT) is provided that implements a method for communicating messages with a remote device. Generally, the method includes causing the endpoint to transmit a standard meter reading message within a predefined frequency band. Then, after waiting a predetermined amount of time, a receiver on the endpoint is activated to listen for a message transmitted by the remote device. While the receiver on the endpoint is activated, the endpoint may receive a command from the remote device without being required to transmit an additional standard meter reading message. |
| US08531310B2 |
Electric function module assembly
An electric function module assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an electric switch box having a pair of electrical contacts adapted for slidable connective engagement with a respective pair of electrical contacts of a switch cover. The contacts of the switch cover are electrically connected to a function indicator to operate the function indicator. |
| US08531307B2 |
Patient support surface index control
A control system of a patient support surface calculates a surface performance index as a function of pressure and shear. The control system also receives information from an electronic medical record (EMR) corresponding to a person's susceptibility of developing at least one of a pressure ulcer and a superficial lesion and adjusts at least one of a component and a characteristic of the person support surface based on the information. |
| US08531302B2 |
Method and system for remotely monitoring a user
A subscription system and corresponding method of operation for monitoring user's well being is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing, at a user monitor module, a first indicator for the user well being; providing, at a receiving module operably coupled to the user monitor module, a first threshold for the first indicator; receiving, at the receiving module, the first indication; comparing the first indication and the first threshold; generating a secondary indication when the comparison indicates that the first indication equals or exceeds the first threshold; receiving, at a supervisory module coupled to the receiver module, the secondary indication; and informing a supervisor that the first threshold has been reached. |
| US08531301B2 |
Warning device and method for indicating that a part of the body is sticking out of a window of a vehicle
A warning device includes a sensing unit, a comparing unit, a controlling unit and a warning unit. The sensing unit sense whether a part of the body of a person is sticking out of the window and generates a sensing signal. The comparing unit detects if the sensing signal is at least a predetermined value. If it is determined that the sensing signal is at least the predetermined value, a part of the body of the person is sticking out of the window and the comparing unit generates a warning signal. The warning unit is used for generating the alarm, and is capable of alternating between an alarm state and standby state. The controlling unit responds to the warning signal to detect whether the warning unit is in the alarm state, and disables the warning unit to start generating the alarm when the warning unit is in the standby state. |
| US08531300B2 |
System and method for tracking a cotton module
A system and method for automatically identifying and locating a cotton module that has been transported prior to marking with an identifier, such system and method locating the cotton module as a function of a location of the cotton module and a heading of an unloading vehicle. |
| US08531289B2 |
Adaptable user interface for monitoring location tracking devices out of GPS monitoring range
A system for monitoring objects and individuals. In this system, a monitoring station is remotely accessible through a user interface. The interface is adapted to provide a visually cognizable rendering of an area and a tool useful for selecting at least a portion of said area, and to communicate a first request signal to provide location coordinates of a first tracking device. The first tracking device comprises a first transceiver adapted to receive the first request signal, and to transmit a first reply signal that comprises a first identification code. In addition, a second tracking device having a second transceiver is adapted to receive the first reply signal, compare the first identification code to a stored identification code, and communicate to the monitoring station a second reply signal that comprises location coordinates of the first tracking device in part responsive to verification of the first identification code. |
| US08531288B1 |
System and method for collaborative resource tracking
A system and method for locating, tracking, and monitoring resource in large-scale facilities is disclosed herein. The system is based on a sensor network and is efficient, scalable, and requires only short-range communication. The system allows for sensor-to-sensor communication as well as the traditional sensor-to-anchor communication to effectively eliminate long-range communications. In order to perform resource localization and tracking, the present invention pairs each resource with an inexpensive, low-powered sensor possessing minimal resources or anchors and those resources communicate with their nearby resources or anchors until a wireless, linked network of resources and anchors is formed. |
| US08531282B1 |
Vehicle bumper guard and monitoring assembly
A vehicle bumper guard and monitoring assembly is provided for protecting the bumper area of a vehicle, monitoring the surrounding area, and providing an alert upon detection of contact with the bumper guard. The assembly includes a sheet having opposed ends. The sheet is configured for conforming to a bumper of a vehicle. A plurality of hooks is coupled to and extends from the sheet. Each hook is configured for securing to the vehicle whereby the sheet is positioned over the bumper of the vehicle. A plurality of sensors is coupled to the sheet. Each sensor is configured to detect contact or imminent contact between an object and the bumper of the vehicle. A transmitter is operationally coupled to the sensors to transmit an alert signal when contact is detected between the object and the bumper of the vehicle. |
| US08531275B2 |
Remote control mode on-screen displays and methods for producing the same
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for notifying a user of a remote control regarding the mode of a remote control. An example method includes detecting a code from the remote control, comparing the detected code to a list of recognized codes, and informing the user of the mode the remote control is operating based on the detected code and/or that the current mode of the remote control is not programmed. |
| US08531273B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling serially connected RFID transmitters and receivers
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a plurality of RFID tags. A system includes a plurality of serially connected transmitters along a transmit path, where each of the serially connected transmitters are configured to relay a received transmitter selection signal when the transmitter selection signal identifies a selected transmitter as being further along the transmit path than the serially connected transmitter and transmit an identification impulse using a transmit antenna when the transmitter selection signal identifies the serially connected transmitter as being the selected transmitter. A system further includes a control unit responsive to a plurality of transmit paths, the control unit being configured to send the transmitter selection signal along a selected transmit path, where the transmitter selection signal identifies one of the plurality of serially connected transmitters along the selected transmit path as the selected transmitter for transmitting the identification impulse. |
| US08531270B2 |
Communication device and control method thereof
A communication device including a receiving unit and a signal processing module having a simulation unit and a decision unit is provided. The receiving unit receives a first burst of a paging message provided from a base station. Base on a reference burst code and an estimated channel impulse response of the communication channel, the simulation unit generates a simulation burst. The decision unit then determines if the paging message is a dummy message in accordance with the first burst and the simulation burst. The decision unit requests the receiving unit to stop receiving the paging message once the paging message is determined to be a dummy message. |
| US08531268B2 |
Passive entry system for an automotive vehicle
A passive entry system for an automotive vehicle may include a token capable of receiving a plurality of wireless signals. The token may generate a response signal to at least one of the plurality of wireless signals and reconfigure so that the token does not provide a response to at least one of the plurality of wireless signals. |
| US08531265B2 |
Module for wireless communication between electric or electronic equipment or systems, method for its control and method for creating generic platforms for user applications in area of wireless communications with those modules
A module for wireless communication between electric or electronic equipment or systems, in high frequency bands at least in the range of 300 MHz to 2.60 GHz, particularly for home and office automation systems, comprising a block (RF) for wireless communication, connected to an antenna interface (ANT) and a power supply interface (Uin) and also to a control block (RFCON). The module further contains a control unit (MCU) comprising a central processor unit (CPU), a memory (MOS) with the operational system control code to ensure the function of wireless communication and a memory (MAP) for storing or starting up a user-defined applicational control code, where the control unit (MCU) is connected to the control block (RFCON), to the communication interface (COM) of the module and to the power supply interface (Uin). |
| US08531264B2 |
Current sensing resistor and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a current sensing resistor made by an electrically conductive metal plate, and the current sensing resistor comprising: a middle portion; a first portion with a first slot located at one side of the middle portion; and a second portion with a second slot located at the other side of the middle portion opposite to the first portion; wherein each of the first and second portions is divided into a current terminal and a sensing terminal by the first and second slots respectively, and the current terminals of the first and second portions have a length greater than that of the sensing terminals of the first and second portions; characterized in that the middle portion has a middle slot and the length of the middle slot can be used for controlling the stability of resistance for the current sensing resistor. |
| US08531262B2 |
Multi-site spare 3-phase transformer
A three phase transformer circuit is provided that includes a supply side, wherein the supply side is selectably configurable, via the use of sets of terminal boards, between a delta connection and a wye connection at a time of use and, a load side, wherein the load side is selectably configurable between a delta connection and a wye connection at the time of use. The three-phase transformer also provides for selecting an input voltage, from multiple input voltages, via the sets of terminal boards, at the time of use, and for selecting an output voltage for the supply side, from multiple output voltage, at the time of use. |
| US08531260B2 |
Laminated ceramic electronic component
Provided is a laminated ceramic electronic component which has excellent mechanical characteristics, internal electrode corrosion resistance, high degree of ceramic material design freedom, low cost, low defective rate and various properties. It includes a laminate of a plurality of laminated ceramic layers and a plurality of internal electrodes at specific interfaces between ceramic layers. The internal electrodes contain an Al/Mg alloy in which the Al/Mg ratio is 65/35 or more. |
| US08531258B2 |
Electromagnetic switch
An electromagnetic switch is provided which includes: a coil generating magnetomotive force; a frame accommodating the coil and generating a flux path; a resin cover covering an opening of the frame; and a current-supply terminal member energizing the coil. The current-supply terminal member includes: a blade-shaped terminal whose end is connected to the coil and whose another end is drawn out of the resin cover in the axial direction of the electromagnetic switch; and a plate-shaped external connection terminal whose end is joined to an end of the blade-shaped terminal and whose another end is drawn out in the direction intersecting the axial direction. A portion between the ends of the external connection terminal is insert-molded in a terminal anchor block provided with the resin cover. A female terminal of a power supply connector provided at an electric supply line is fitted and electrically connected to the external connection terminal. |
| US08531257B2 |
Contactor and switch
A magnetically actuatable contactor has first and second magnetic material strips extending longitudinally. Each has a pad with a contact face parallel to the longitudinal direction. The pads face each other when an intersection of the one contact face and a projection in a transversal direction of the other contact face forms an overlap zone having a surface area. A pad is capable of being transversally shifted in response to a magnetic field between closed and opened positions. In closed position and open positions, the faces and respectively in contact and separated. At least one strip forms pairs of facing pads disposed consecutively along the longitudinal direction. A bridge links two consecutive pads. A cross-section of the bridge is reduced relative to a cross-section of the pads and a surface area of a smallest cross-section of the bridge. |
| US08531256B2 |
Tool and calibration machine for calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter, and improved method
An improved calibration machine for calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter employs a tool having an elongated shank and a pair of engagement elements. The engagement elements are engageable with a support that carried a bimetal element. The engagement elements can deform the support in opposite directions to either increase or decrease the thermal trip setting of the thermal trip apparatus. If the support is over-deformed in one direction, it can be deformed in an opposite direction to enable a circuit interrupter whose thermal trip apparatus has been deformed beyond a desired target thermal calibration setting to be deformed in an opposite direction to reach the desired target thermal calibration setting. |
| US08531251B2 |
Through-zero pulse-width modulation process with period-average-zero
New methods for generating through-zero pulse-width modulation are disclosed. In one approach, a periodic reference signal varies over time over at least one portion of the period. A pulse-width control signal varies linearly with time over at least one portion of the reference signal. The reference signal is compared with the pulse-width control value to produce a first pulse waveform. The value of a function of the control value is subtracted from the first pulse waveform to produce through-zero pulse-width modulation. In another approach, the difference in value between two ramp or sawtooth periodic waveforms is computed to produce a pulse waveform with a time-varying DC offset that varies linearly in time. The time-varying offset-term is retained with the pulse waveform, producing through-zero pulse-width modulation. |
| US08531250B1 |
Configuring a tunable inductor across multiple layers of an integrated circuit
A system and method for configuring a tunable inductor that minimizes Q factor are provided. The system and method comprise coupling a first inductance, a second inductance, a third inductance, a switch, and two port terminals. The first inductance and the third inductance are coupled between the switch and the port terminals. The second inductance is coupled between the port terminals or between the first and third inductance. The inductances are each disposed on at least one layer, wherein the first inductance is disposed beneath the second inductance and the third inductance is disposed on the same layer as the second inductance. The components are arranged such that toggling the switch tunes the inductance without adversely affecting the Q factor. |
| US08531249B2 |
Oscillator for generating output signal with adjustable frequency
An oscillator is provided and includes a resistance unit, a capacitance unit, a first inverter and a second inverter. The resistance unit is serially connected between a first reference point and a second reference point. The capacitance unit is coupled between the first reference point and an output point, and includes capacitors. One terminal of each of the capacitors is coupled to the output point, and the other terminal of each of the capacitors is coupled to the first reference point or a reference ground according to a control signal. The input terminal of the first inverter is coupled to the first reference point, and the output terminal of the first inverter is coupled to the second reference point. The input terminal of the second inverter is coupled to the output terminal of the first inverter, and the output terminal of the second inverter is coupled to the output point. |
| US08531247B2 |
Device and method for generating a random bit sequence
A device (1) for generating a random bit sequence has a digital ring oscillator circuit (2) having at least one first feedback path (R8) and one second feedback path (R14). To this end, a changeover is performed between the feedback paths (R8, R14) at times which can be predetermined, and a random signal (OS) having a random level history can be tapped at an output node (4) of the ring oscillator circuit (2). |
| US08531246B2 |
Direct digital interpolative synthesis
A clock synthesis circuit includes a delta sigma modulator that receives a divide ratio and generates an integer portion and a digital quantization error (a fractional portion). A fractional-N divider divides a received signal according to a divide control value corresponding to the integer portion and generates a divided signal. A phase interpolator adjusts a phase of the divided signal according to the digital quantization error to thereby reduce noise associated with the fractional-N divider. |
| US08531245B2 |
Temperature compensation in a PLL
A method and apparatus for compensating for temperature variation in a phase locked loop (PLL) includes receiving an error signal by a controller in which the error signal representative of an instantaneous frequency difference between a reference frequency signal and an output frequency signal of a voltage controlled oscillator of the PLL, and determining when a voltage of the error signal is outside of a predetermined voltage range. When the voltage is outside the predetermined voltage range, the method includes generating a new digital compensation signal based upon a previous digital compensation signal, and converting the new digital compensation signal to be an analog compensation signal. The method further includes filtering the analog compensation signal by a filter to produce a filtered analog compensation signal, and adjusting the output frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator in accordance with the filtered analog compensation signal. |
| US08531241B1 |
System and method for process, voltage, temperature (PVT) stable differential amplifier transfer function
A method is provided for process, voltage, temperature (PVT) stable transfer function calibration in a differential amplifier. The gain resistors of a differential amplifier are initially selected to achieve a flat amplitude transfer function in the first frequency band. After calibration, the degeneration capacitor is connected and tuned until a peaked amplitude transfer function is measured, which is resistant to variations in PVT. As an alternative, the degeneration capacitor is not disconnected during initial calibration. Then, the gain resistors and the degeneration capacitor values are selectively adjusted until the first peaked amplitude transfer function is obtained. The peaked amplitude transfer function remains even more stable to variations in PVT than the flat amplitude calibration method. |
| US08531240B2 |
Collector boost
Embodiments of power amplification devices are described with a power amplification circuit that has more than one amplifier stage and with at least a first voltage regulation circuit and a second voltage regulation circuit configured that provide regulated voltages to these amplifier stages. The power amplification device includes a threshold detection circuit to get better maximum output power performance while preserving power efficiency. The threshold detection circuit is configured to increase a first voltage adjustment gain of the first voltage regulation circuit when a regulated voltage level of a second voltage regulation circuit reaches a first threshold voltage level. In this manner, the first voltage adjustment gain can be initially set to be lower than the second voltage adjustment gain until the second voltage regulation circuit is close or has railed. The first voltage adjustment gain can then be increased to allow the first voltage regulation circuit to also rail. |
| US08531239B2 |
Differential amplifying apparatus
A differential amplifier amplifies the difference between a signal input to the non-inverting terminal via a capacitor and a signal input to the inverting terminal. A switch switches whether to input the signal to the non-inverting terminal via the capacitor. A resistance is connected between the non-inverting terminal and the inverting terminal. An offset voltage corrector corrects the offset voltage of the differential amplifier based on the output signal of the differential amplifier during a correction period in which the switch is controlled not to input the signal to the non-inverting terminal via the capacitor. |
| US08531237B2 |
Low-pass filter, constant voltage circuit, and semiconductor integrated circuit including same
A low-pass filter that filters an input signal input to a filter input terminal to output a filtered output signal to a filter output terminal includes a capacitor, a first field-effect transistor, a first resistor, and a first current source. The capacitor is connected between the filter output terminal and ground. The first field-effect transistor has a gate terminal, a first conduction terminal connected to the filter input terminal, and a second conduction terminal connected to the filter output terminal. The first resistor is connected between the gate and first conduction terminals of the first transistor. The first current source is connected to the first resistor to supply a first current to the first resistor. The first resistor generates a first voltage thereacross based on the supplied first current for electrically biasing the gate terminal of the first transistor. |
| US08531236B2 |
Current mirror arrangement and method for switching on a current
A current mirror arrangement comprises a switchable, adjustable current source (Q1, Q2) for providing an impression current (IP), a current mirror (SP) having an input (E) for feeding in an impression current (IP) and an output (A) for providing a current (I), and a step-up generator (AG) coupled to the current mirror (SP) such that the current (I) is switched on with an adjustable slew rate. In addition, a method for switching on a current is provided. |
| US08531234B2 |
Temperature detection device
Provided is a temperature detection device capable of attaining low current consumption at no expense of detection speed at around a temperature to be detected. The temperature detection device includes a control circuit for outputting a control signal for controlling ON/OFF of such internal circuits as a reference voltage circuit and a comparator. In the control circuit, in order to increase the detection speed at around the temperature to be detected, an oscillation frequency of an oscillation circuit has positive temperature characteristics. Further, the control circuit includes a waveform shaping circuit so as to optimize the waveform of the control signal for controlling ON of the internal circuits, to thereby attain low current consumption. |
| US08531231B2 |
Switching device and switching arrangements for switching at high operating voltage
A switching device for switching a high operating voltage is described. The switching device-includes a first switching arrangement with a first self-conducting switching element), which has a control connector and a first and second main connector for forming a switching section. The switching device may include a second switching arrangement having a first and a second connector for forming a switching section, which is wired serially in respect to the switching section of the first switching arrangement. The second switching arrangement includes an optically triggerable switching element for switching the switching section of the second switching arrangement so it becomes conductive. The second connector of the second switching arrangement is connected with the control connector of the first self-conducting switching element. |
| US08531228B2 |
Bidirectional input/output circuit
Level-shifting devices and methods allow signals to be passed between input/output (I/O) ports. One such device comprises a first output driver that drives a first I/O port in response to a first control signal. A second output driver drives a second I/O port in response to a second control signal. A first comparator circuit, responsive to a first reference voltage and a voltage at the first I/O port, generates the second control signal. A limiter circuit limits driving of the second I/O port, by the second driver, to a limiting voltage that responsive to a the second I/O port over a first range of signaling voltages, and constrained to a set value over a second range. A voltage reference generating circuit generates a second reference voltage. A second comparator circuit generates the first control signal in response to the second reference voltage and the second I/O port. |
| US08531226B2 |
Bridge circuit providing a polarity insensitive power connection
In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a polarity insensitive input coupled to a gate of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) device. The MOSFET device can have a gate dielectric rating greater than twenty-five volts. The apparatus can also include a fixed polarity output coupled to a source of the MOSFET device. |
| US08531222B1 |
Phase locked loop circuit with selectable feedback paths
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit is provided with selectable feedback paths. In one example, a method of operating a device includes passing a clock signal provided by a PLL circuit of the device through an internal feedback path of the PLL circuit to provide a first input signal to the PLL circuit while at least one external circuit of an external feedback path of the device is disabled during a low power operation mode of the device. The method also includes detecting a lock between the first input signal and a reference signal during the low power operation mode. The lock indicates that the clock signal is operating at a frequency used during a normal operation mode of the device. The method also includes passing the clock signal through the external feedback path to provide a second input signal to the PLL circuit. The method also includes switching from detecting a lock between the first input signal and the reference signal to detecting a lock between the second input signal and the reference signal if the external circuit is enabled for the normal operation mode. |
| US08531221B2 |
Delay lock loop circuit and method
A delay lock loop circuit includes a voltage controlled delay line for generating a plurality of specific phase differential signals and a feedback signal according to an input clock source and a control voltage, a detector for comparing at least one of phases and frequencies of the input clock source and the feedback signal to generate at least one detection signal, a charge pump for generating the control voltage according to the at least one detection signal, and a phase selection buffer for generating the output clock source according to the plurality of specific phase differential signals, wherein each of the plurality of specific phase differential signals includes at least a non-inversion signal and an inversion signal, and the feedback signal is the inversion signal of one of the plurality of specific phase differential signals. |
| US08531220B1 |
Loop filter
A delay lock loop includes a phase frequency detector, a loop filter, and a voltage controlled delay circuit. The phase frequency detector is used for outputting an upper switch signal or a lower switch signal according to a reference clock and a feedback clock. The loop filter includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a first switch. The first capacitor is charged or discharged and the first switch is turned off during a phase tracking period. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are charged or discharged and the first switch is turned on during a phase locking period. The voltage controlled delay circuit is used for outputting the feedback clock according to the reference clock and a control voltage outputted by the loop filter. |
| US08531219B1 |
Phase locked loop with digital compensation for analog integration
A method of performing modulation of a data signal at a phase-locked loop (PLL) includes generating, at an upper frequency port of the PLL, a digital loop signal based at least in part on the data signal. The method further includes differentiating the digital loop signal to generate a digital input signal and converting the digital input signal to an analog current signal. A first feedback signal is generated based on the analog current signal. The method further includes generating, at a lower frequency port of the PLL, a second feedback signal based on the first feedback signal and further based on the data signal. According to further embodiments, apparatuses and a computer-readable medium are disclosed. |
| US08531207B2 |
Lookup table, semiconductor integrated circuit, method for making lookup table and method for making semiconductor integrated circuit
A lookup table includes a single via layer having 2N via insertion portions corresponding to 2N input patterns provided from N input terminals; and a via inserted into at least one of the via insertion portions, the via connecting the input terminal and an output terminal. |
| US08531206B2 |
High resolution output driver
High resolution output drivers having a relatively small number of sub-driver branches or slices each having nominal impedances substantially larger than a quantization step and that incrementally differ from one another by an impedance step substantially smaller than a quantization step. In one implementation, such “differential” or “non-uniform” sub-driver slices implement respective elements of an n choose k equalizer, with each such differential sub-driver slice being implemented by a uniform-element impedance calibration DAC. In another implementation, each component of a uniform-slice equalizer is implemented by a differential-slice impedance calibration DAC, and in yet another implementation, each component of a differential-slice equalizer is implemented by a differential-slice impedance calibration DAC. In an additional set of implementations, equalization and impedance calibration functions are implemented bilaterally in respective parallel sets of driver branches, rather than in the nested “DAC within a DAC” arrangement of the hierarchical implementations. Through such bilateral arrangement, multiplication of the equalizer and calibrator quantizations is avoided, thereby lowering the total number of sub-driver slices required to meet the specified ranges and resolutions. |
| US08531205B1 |
Programmable output buffer
One embodiment relates to a programmable output buffer which includes first and second programmable variable-impedance single-ended driver circuits and first and second termination circuits. The first termination circuit is coupled to a first output pin which is driven by the first programmable variable-impedance single-ended driver circuit, and the second termination circuit is coupled to a second output pin which is driven by the second programmable variable-impedance single-ended driver circuit. The first and second termination circuits are programmable to either provide parallel termination for a differential signal or drive single-ended signals with the parallel termination turned off. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US08531202B2 |
Probe card test apparatus and method
A probe card analyzer mounts on a probe card in a wafer prober and a use a fixture in the wafer probe and switch electronics in place of an ATE head. Methods of testing can confirm that probe cards are operating within their specifications over large temperature ranges and the mechanical force ranges seen in real manufacturing environments. This reduces the cost and improves the accuracy and speed of analyzing probe cards and improves diagnosing problems with probe cards. |
| US08531201B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing a semiconductor device
The present disclosure provides a method for testing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a testing unit and an electronic circuit coupled to the testing unit and applying a first electrical signal to the testing unit. The method includes sweeping a second electrical signal across a range of values, the second electrical signal supplying power to the electronic circuit, wherein the sweeping is performed while a value of the first electrical signal remains the same. The method includes measuring a third electrical signal during the sweeping, the measured third electrical signal having a range of values that each correspond to one of the values of the second electrical signal. The method includes adopting an optimum value of the second electrical signal that yields a minimum value of the third electrical signal. The method includes testing the testing unit while the second electrical signal is set to the optimum value. |
| US08531197B2 |
Integrated circuit die, an integrated circuit package and a method for connecting an integrated circuit die to an external device
An integrated circuit die comprises an electronic circuit and one or more output ports for outputting signals from the die via an external impedance, to a load, external from the die. The output port is connected to the electronic circuit. The die is further provided with an on-die sampling oscilloscope circuit connected to the output port, for measuring a waveform of the outputted signals. |
| US08531195B2 |
Failure indicator seal for a rotary feedthrough
A failure indicator seal includes a nonmagnetic housing, a plurality of annular pole pieces having distal ends, the plurality of annular pole pieces disposed within the nonmagnetic housing, an annular, non-conducting magnet disposed between the pole pieces, a predefined quantity of magnetic fluid disposed between each of the distal ends of the plurality of annular pole pieces and the rotary shaft of a rotary feedthrough forming a plurality of magnetic fluid O-ring seals, and means for measuring resistance through the plurality of annular pole pieces, the plurality of magnetic fluid O-ring seals and the rotary shaft. |
| US08531189B2 |
Cement expansion measurement apparatus and method
An apparatus for measuring cement expansion comprises an expansion cell that comprises two nodes separated by a slit. The nodes are separated by a distance such that a change of the distance between the nodes may be correlated to a linear expansion of cement contained in the expansion cell. An electrical component is coupled to the two nodes, and the electrical component has an electrical property that may be correlated to the distance between the nodes. Measurement of the electrical-property change may be performed continuously and in real time. In addition, the expansion cell may be placed in a vessel equipped to simulate downhole pressure and temperature conditions. |
| US08531188B2 |
Detector of transformer interturn short circuit using voltage differential
An improved internturn short circuit detection device of transformer via differential voltage comprises a single-phase transformer (TM). The single-phase transformer (TM) comprises a high-voltage coil (K) and a low-voltage coil (N). A voltage transformer (PT) is positioned at the high voltage side of the single-phase transformer (TM). Two branches of a tap (K1) of the high-voltage coil (K) are connected with the input of a first converter (Q′), and a first voltage (U1′) is obtained. The secondary side of the voltage transformer (PT) is connected with the input of a second converter (Q), and a second voltage (U1) is obtained, and the first voltage (U1′) and the second voltage (U1) are compared, and when the voltage difference is above a predetermined primary threshold value, an interturn short circuit failure of the primary side is determined. A tap (N1) of the low-voltage coil (N) and one terminal of the low-voltage coil (N) are connected with the input of a third converter (M′), and a third voltage (U2′) is obtained, and two terminals of the low-voltage (N) are connected with the input of a fourth converter (M), and a fourth voltage (U2) is obtained, and the third voltage (U2′) and the fourth voltage (U2) are compared, and when the voltage difference is above a predetermine secondary threshold value, an interturn short circuit failure of the secondary side is determined. |
| US08531187B2 |
Compensation circuit and test apparatus
Provided is a correction circuit for generating an output signal emphasizing a predetermined signal component of a supplied input signal, including: a first detection section that detects a waveform of the input signal; an amplifying section that amplifies the waveform detected by the first detection section; a correction signal generating section that generates a correction signal by extracting an alternate current component from the waveform amplified by the amplifying section; and an output signal generating section that superimposes the correction signal on the waveform of the input signal, thereby generating the output signal. The first detection section detects the waveform of the input signal and an inverted waveform thereof, the amplifying section amplifies the waveform and the inverted waveform of the input signal, the correction signal generating section generates a correction signal and an inverted correction signal by extracting an alternate current component respectively of the waveform and the inverted waveform of the input signal amplified by the amplifying section, and the output signal generating section generates a pair of differential signals for the output signal, by superimposing the correction signal on the waveform of the input signal and superimposing the inverted correction signal on the inverted waveform of the input signal. |
| US08531185B2 |
Magnetic shield body and magnetic shielded room
A magnetic shield body comprises a cylindrical body unit configured by having a plurality of cylindrical bodies having permeability and mutually same longitudinal cross-sectional shapes arranged with a mutual interval such that central axes of the cylindrical bodies coincide with each other and side surfaces of the cylindrical bodies form a mutually same plane; and a supporting unit that supports a plurality of the cylindrical body units such that side surfaces of cylindrical bodies of the cylindrical body units face each other with a mutual interval. |
| US08531182B2 |
Control system and method for providing position measurement with redundancy for safety checking
A control system for use in safety critical human/machine control interfaces is described, more particularly a joystick type control system and particularly a joystick type control system utilizing magnetic positional sensing. The control system provides a control input device having a movable magnet, a pole-piece frame arrangement positioned about the magnet, at least three magnetic flux sensors being positioned in said pole-piece frame arrangement and a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the output signal of each of said at least three sensors. |
| US08531176B2 |
Driving an electronic instrument
Circuitry includes a pre-amplifier having a differential output, where the differential output corresponds to a common mode voltage; a multiplexer including sets of transistors, each of which has a control input; a comparator including input terminals, a first terminal of the input terminals to receive a signal that is based on an output of the multiplexer, and a second terminal of the input terminals to receive a threshold voltage; a compensation circuit to produce a divided voltage that varies in accordance with variations in the common mode voltage; and an amplifier to receive a predefined voltage and to use the divided voltage to affect the predefined voltage to produce the threshold voltage for the comparator. Signals in the differential output of the pre-amplifier are applicable to corresponding control inputs in the sets of transistors. |
| US08531175B2 |
Monitoring device for an electric power system
A monitoring device for an electric power system includes a detection unit and a display unit. The detection unit has a power module, a current detecting module and a transmission module. The power module includes positive and negative electrodes and is coupled to the current detecting module. The current detecting module includes a first switching unit and a second switching unit. The first and second switching units are coupled between the positive and negative electrodes to detect currents on detection points of the electric power system. The transmission module includes a micro-controller unit and a transmission device coupled to the micro-controller unit. The micro-controller unit includes a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the first switching unit and the second end is coupled to the second switching unit. The display unit is coupled to the transmission device for receiving signals from the detection unit. |
| US08531173B2 |
System and method for operating a tap changer
A method of operating a tap changer of a transformer or a voltage regulator in a power grid includes obtaining a load forecast for a time period. An average voltage profile is determined for the time period based on the load forecast. The method further includes estimating tap positions of the tap changer for leveling the average voltage profile during the time period. Switching signal commands are provided to the tap changer based on the estimated tap positions. |
| US08531165B2 |
Single-inductor multiple-output power converter
A single-inductor multiple-output power converter includes an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the inductor is coupled to a power input terminal, and the second terminal of the inductor is switched to either of the first terminal of the inductor, multiple power output terminals, and a ground terminal. By switching the second terminal of the inductor between the first terminal of the inductor, the power output terminals, and the ground terminal, the power converter may provide multiple output voltages at the power output terminals respectively, in a less loss and thereby higher efficiency manner. |
| US08531164B2 |
Operational transconductance amplifier feedback mechanism for fixed feedback voltage regulators
An operational transconductance amplifier used in conjunction with a multiple chip voltage feedback technique allows multiple strings of LEDs and current sinks to be efficiently powered by a simple feedback oriented voltage regulator within an appliance. A connected series of differential amplifiers or multiplexors are used to monitor the voltages between the connected LEDs and the current sinks, in order to progressively determine the lowest voltage. The operational transconductance amplifier compares this voltage to a reference voltage and injects or removes current from the feedback node of a voltage regulator, thereby altering the voltage present at the feedback node. This causes the voltage regulator to adjust its output, ensuring that the current sinks of the LED strings have adequate voltage with which to function, even as the LEDs have different forward voltages and the strings are asynchronously enabled and disabled. |
| US08531163B2 |
Switching power supply device, integrated circuit, and switching power supply device operation condition setting method
To provide a switching power supply device, and an operation condition setting method thereof, wherein it is possible to set an operation condition during an initialization period by adjusting the resistance value of a resistor that grounds an OUT terminal or IS terminal.A switching power supply device includes an oscillator circuit (3) that regulates the switching frequency of a switching element (Q1), a drive circuit (4) that turns (Q1) on and off based on an oscillation signal from the oscillator circuit (3), a condition setting circuit (6), disposed inside a power supply control IC (100) configured to include the oscillator circuit (3) and drive circuit (4), that outputs a condition indicating signal for indicating an operation condition of the switching power supply device, and a control circuit (1) that instructs the condition setting circuit (6) to determine a condition indicating signal within an initialization period immediately after the start of a supply of power to the power supply control IC (100), wherein a first resistor (R1) having an adjusted resistance value is connected to an external terminal of the power supply control IC (100) from which is output a drive signal to (Q1). |
| US08531160B2 |
Rechargeable battery management
Systems and methods for adjusting sampling and switching rates of a battery management system are provided. For example, a rate at which different battery cells of a battery cell stack are in communication with an analog to digital converter may be adjusted in response to conditions of a battery cell. |
| US08531156B2 |
Battery charger with retractable contacts
A battery charger includes a housing, at least two contacts, a transmission mechanism and a driving member. The housing defines a sliding slot and at least two guide holes. The at least two contacts are received in the housing and are operable to protrude out of the housing via the at least two guide holes. The transmission mechanism is received in the housing and is used for driving the at least two contacts to protrude out of the housing. The driving member is received in the housing and partially extends out of the housing after passing through the sliding slot. The driving member is coupled to the transmission mechanism, and is capable of sliding in the sliding slot to activate the transmission mechanism to drive the at least two contacts to protrude out of the housing. |
| US08531147B2 |
Electric machine having an integrated vibration sensor
An electric machine including a housing, a stator mounted within the housing, a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing relative to the stator, and a vibration sensor arranged within the housing. The vibration sensor includes a sensing member configured and disposed to detect vibrations of the electric machine. |
| US08531141B2 |
System for calibrating an electrical control system
A method calibrates a current sensing instant to latch a current value from a set of current signals. A current command including a magnitude at a Gamma angle is provided to control a motor when the motor is operating in a motoring mode at a shaft speed. A matching current command including a same magnitude at a same Gamma angle is provided to control the motor when the motor is operating in a braking mode at a same shaft speed. A first actual averaging rms current magnitude of three phase currents of the motor is monitored when the motor is controlled by the current command and operating in the motoring mode. A second actual averaging rms current magnitude of the three phase currents of the motor is monitored when the motor is controlled by the matching current command and operating in the braking mode. A current sensing instant is adjusted until an observed first actual averaging rms current magnitude in the motoring mode equals an observed second actual averaging rms current magnitude in the braking mode. |
| US08531140B2 |
Power transducer
The performance of a power transducer is improved while efficiently using a power semiconductor also by managing the permissible duty factor of the power semiconductor in the regenerative braking circuit provided in the power transducer. The user is allowed to set, through an operation panel provided on the power transducer, the resistance value of the regenerative braking resistor for thermally consuming the rotational energy generated during motor deceleration. The power transducer performs the steps of: calculating the current which flows in the regenerative braking circuit from the resistance value setting; obtaining the generation loss of the power semiconductor in the regenerative braking circuit with the calculated current value; and determining the permissible duty factor of the power semiconductor from the obtained generation loss. |
| US08531139B2 |
Drive control circuit for linear vibration motor
In a drive control circuit of a linear vibration motor, a differential amplifier circuit includes an operational amplifier in which an P-channel type transistor is used as a transistor that receives an input voltage, and the differential amplifier circuit detects an induced voltage occurring in a coil. Before the H-bridge circuit is controlled to a high impedance state, a drive signal generating unit turns on a first transistor and a second transistor, and delivers a regenerative current through the coil, the first transistor, the second transistor and the power supply potential. |
| US08531138B2 |
Dimmer decoder with improved efficiency for use with LED drivers
A method includes receiving a sense signal having multiple pulses, where the sense signal is based on an output of a dimmer. The method also includes, for each of multiple sampling periods, sampling a subset of the pulses in the sense signal during that sampling period. The method further includes generating a holding current for the dimmer during the sampling of the subset of pulses in at least one of the sampling periods. In addition, the method includes, for each of the sampling periods, generating an output value identifying a duty cycle for driving one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The subset of pulses in each of the sampling periods includes multiple pulses during that sampling period but not one or more initial pulses at a beginning of that sampling period. |
| US08531134B2 |
LED-based lighting methods, apparatus, and systems employing LED light bars, occupancy sensing, local state machine, and time-based tracking of operational modes
In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the LED light bars and control the LED light bars, and a mesh network connectivity to other fixtures. |
| US08531133B2 |
Integrated on-time extension for non-dissipative bleeding in a power supply
An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a comparator, a drive logic, and an on-time extension block. The comparator has an output indicating whether the current through a switch of the power supply exceeds a zero-crossing current threshold. The drive logic is to generate a drive logic output signal in response to the current sense signal and in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an on-time of the switch to regulate the output of the power supply. The on-time extension block is coupled to control switching of a switch and to extend the on-time until the output of the comparator indicates that the current sense signal reaches the zero-crossing current threshold or until the on-time of the switch reaches a zero-crossing time threshold. |
| US08531126B2 |
White light emitting apparatus and line illuminator using the same in image reading apparatus
A white light emitting apparatus includes a light source section in which a first white LED that emits white light whose chromaticity deviates to a blue side from a predetermined white region of a CIE chromaticity diagram and a second white LED that emits white light whose chromaticity deviates to a yellow side from the predetermined white region are adjacently disposed so as to emit light with optical axes in substantially the same direction, and a current regulator that independently drives the blue LED chip in the first and second white LEDs, respectively. A color mixture of lights emitted from the first and second white LEDs is adjusted to a chromaticity of the predetermined white region using the current regulator. |
| US08531125B2 |
Backlight assembly, and display apparatus and television comprising the same
A backlight assembly including: a power unit which outputs a current whose polarity is changed on a regular basis; a plurality of balancing units which is connected in parallel to the power unit; a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) modules each of which individually receives each current output by a corresponding balancing unit of the plurality of balancing units; and a driver which is connected between the plurality of balancing units and the plurality of LED modules, and forms a current route for each balancing unit included in the plurality of balancing units to balance a current supplied to two different LED modules during a single period where a polarity of a current output by the power unit is changed. |
| US08531121B2 |
Driver circuit particularly suited for lighting devices
Disclosed are various embodiments of driver circuits that operate to excite devices for light emissions therefrom regardless of the impedance ratings thereof. The driver circuits are particularly suited to service both low impedance light emitting diode lighting devices and high impedance halogen lamps. |
| US08531120B2 |
Intelligent user interface including a touch sensor device
The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch. |
| US08531118B2 |
AC light emitting diode and AC LED drive methods and apparatus
An LED device for use with an AC voltage power source configured such that at least one LED emits light during a positive phase of power provided from an AC power supply and at least one LED emits light during the negative phase of power provided from an AC power supply. The LED device includes a first power connection lead and a second power connection lead, both leads capable of being connected to and receiving power from an AC power supply. |
| US08531115B2 |
Apparatus and method for bypassing failed LEDs in lighting arrays
An apparatus, method and system for controlling one or multiple lighting sources such as those powered by driver circuits or voltage splitting methods, to provide an alternative current path around a failed lighting source when one or more individual lighting sources fail. |
| US08531113B2 |
Driving apparatus and driving method of LED device
A driving apparatus of an LED device is provided. The LED device includes a plurality of LED channels, and each LED channel includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series. A power converter has an output terminal connected to a first terminal of each LED channel, and converts an input voltage into an output voltage to output the output voltage to the output terminal. A plurality of current controllers correspond to the plurality of LED channels, respectively. Each current controller is connected to a second terminal of a corresponding LED channel, and controls a current of the corresponding LED channel. The voltage sensor outputs a sensed voltage corresponding to the output voltage of the output terminal. The fault controller determines whether to stop operation of the power converter by comparing the sensed voltage with a reference voltage. |
| US08531109B2 |
LED tube system
The invention relates to an LED tube system for driving at least one LED assembly comprising: an LED tube housing for containing the at least one LED assembly, two pairs of mains input terminals (A, B) provided at ends of the LED tube housing for receiving a mains supply voltage (Vmns) and for supplying the mains supply voltage (Vmns) to an internal part of the LED tube system for driving the at least one LED assembly, and further comprising a switching circuit being electrically connected with all mains input terminals (A, B, C, D) and being arranged for electrically connecting the pairs of mains input terminals together in a first state (2/ON) and electrically separating the pairs in a second state (1/OFF) of the switching circuit. The switching circuit being further arranged for providing a coupling capacitor (C10, C11) between the first pair and the second pair of input terminals in the first state (2/ON) and removing the coupling capacitor (C10, C11) in the second state (1/OFF) of the switching circuit. Due to the switching circuit the LED tube system in accordance with the invention can be used in lighting fixtures for parallel fluorescent tubes as well as in lighting fixtures for serial fluorescent tubes. The invention further relates to safety devices for the LED tube system. |
| US08531108B2 |
Headlamp for vehicle
A headlamp for a vehicle includes: a housing having a front opening; a lens cover arranged to cover the front opening of the housing; a lamp chamber defined by the housing and the lens cover; a light source provided in the lamp chamber; a lighting control circuit that controls lighting of the light source; and a heat dissipating member arranged in the lamp chamber. Further, the lighting control circuit is formed on a substrate. The heat dissipating member has a pillar portion and a plurality of heat dissipating fins. The pillar portion has the light source mounted thereto. The heat dissipating fins are provided on an outer periphery of the pillar portion so as to be spaced from one another. The pillar portion also has a recess formed therein. The substrate is received in the recess of the pillar portion. |
| US08531098B2 |
Phosphor blends for fluorescent lamps
A phosphor blend suitable for use in a fluorescent lamp for emitting white light is disclosed. The phosphor blend includes a first phosphor, a second phosphor and a third phosphor. The first phosphor is selected from a europium doped barium magnesium aluminate, a europium doped strontium aluminate, and a combination thereof; and the second phosphor has formula Y2O3:Eu3+. The third phosphor is selected from a phosphor of formula I: (A1-xMnx)E4O7, a phosphor of formula II: (L1-y-zMyMnz)2P2O7, and a combination thereof, where 0 |
| US08531097B2 |
Field emitter
Disclosed is a field emitter, including: a cathode electrode in a shape of a tip; an emitter having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the cathode electrode and formed on the cathode electrode; and a gate electrode having a single hole and located above the emitter while maintaining a predetermined distance from the emitter. |
| US08531085B2 |
Vibration actuator and electric device
A vibration actuator comprising: a vibration portion which contacts a relative movement portion, and produces necessary vibration for a relative movement of the relative movement portion; a first member provided to hold the relative movement portion between the first member and the vibration portion, and moves relative to the vibration portion in response to movement of the relative movement portion with respect to the vibration portion; a second member which faces the first member via a rolling member, and supports the first member so that the first member is movable relative to the vibration portion; and a pressing member which generate a pressing force between the second member and the vibration portion so that the vibration portion and the relative movement portion are in contact with each othercome in contact with each other; and wherein the first member comprises a plastic substance. |
| US08531084B2 |
Ultrasonic motor unit
According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic motor unit includes a piezoelectric element, a holder member, a pressing member, a pressing auxiliary member, a driven member, an ultrasonic motor accommodation member, a power extraction member. The piezoelectric element has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The holder member holds the piezoelectric element so as to cover an outer surface of a portion of the piezoelectric element. The pressing member applies a predetermined pressing force to the piezoelectric element. The pressing auxiliary member transfers a pressing force generated by the pressing member to the holder member. The driven member is in contact with one end face of the piezoelectric element. The power extraction member is coupled to the ultrasonic motor accommodation member to form a joint portion. The ultrasonic motor unit is formed by connecting a plurality of sections each formed by coupling the ultrasonic motor accommodation member to the power extraction member. |
| US08531075B1 |
Magnetic electrical contact system
A system for completing an electrical circuit includes first and second base contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion secured thereto, each magnetic portion having an opposite polarity, and each of said base contacts electrically connected to an electrical lead for transmitting an electrical signal through said base contacts. The system also includes first and second mating contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion of opposite polarity secured thereto. |
| US08531067B2 |
Alternator with synchronous rectification equipped with an improved electronic power module
An alternator includes a stator S, a rotor R and a transistor bridge, which form synchronous rectification. The synchronous rectification is in the form of an over-molded mechatronic housing (2), and the mechatronic housing includes an electronic power substrate (3) and power connection terminals (23), (24). Electronic chips (300A, 300B) are implanted on the electronic power substrate, and at least one of the power connection terminals is connected electrically to the electronic chip by means of at least a first soldered connection wire (300, 301, 302, 30B+, 30B−). According to one embodiment, the electronic power substrate is of the IMS, DBC or PCB type. |
| US08531063B2 |
Linear vibrator
A linear vibrator are disclosed, wherein the linear vibrator includes a housing having a bracket and a case coupled to the bracket to form a receiving space, a spring coupled to an inner face of the case, a vibration unit having a magnet, the magnet being coupled to the spring, a coil, which has a hollow-can shape, disposed over the bracket for vibrating the vibration unit by using a magnetic field generated from the magnet and a magnet field generated from the coil, and a substrate electrically connected to the coil and the substrate interposed between the coil and the bracket, the substrate having an air venting portion being communicated with an inner space of the coil and outside of the coil. |
| US08531059B2 |
Wireless power transfer system and a load apparatus in the same wireless power transfer system
In wireless power transfer with applying magnetic resonance therein, for suppressing deterioration of transfer efficiency, with lessening fluctuation of the resonance frequency when a distance between coils is close to, coils are so position that a supply-side power supply coil 101 and a load-side power supply coil 102 are inserted between a supply-side magnetic resonance coil 1 and a load-side magnetic resonance coil 2. |
| US08531057B1 |
Faraday electrical energy sink for a power bus
A power management technique for a power bus includes a method and apparatus employing a Faraday electrical energy sink for a power bus. In general, the technique powers a power bus from a fuel cell plant when the actual voltage of the power bus is less than or equal to a nominal voltage for the power bus and sinks power from the power bus into the fuel cell plant when the actual voltage exceeds the nominal voltage. |
| US08531056B2 |
Low dropout regulator with multiplexed power supplies
Generally, with low drop out (LDO) regulators that use multiplexed power supplies, the transistors within the regulator can use a substantial amount of area. Here, a regulator is provided that uses a multiplexer to commonly control the back-gates of multiple power transistors within the LDO. By doing this, the area overhead that would normally be present with these switches (of the multiplexer) can be dramatically reduced without sacrificing performance. |
| US08531053B2 |
Variable voltage control system and method for hybrid vehicle
A system for controlling voltage to be supplied to electronic devices in a hybrid vehicle that includes: a main battery for storing power to be supplied to a motor of the vehicle; a sub-battery for storing power to be supplied to electronic devices of the vehicle; a low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC) for converting a high voltage of the main battery into a low voltage and providing the low voltage to the sub-battery and the electronic devices; and a power controller for controlling power of the main battery, the LDC, and the sub-battery. The power controller controls the voltage to be supplied to the electronic devices with a low voltage, a reference voltage higher than the low voltage, and a high voltage higher than the reference voltage in accordance with an idle stop state, a constant velocity traveling state, an acceleration state, and a deceleration state of the vehicle. |
| US08531051B2 |
Engine start control system for hybrid electric vehicle
By avoiding an excessive cranking torque when starting the engine by a motor/generator and expanding a motor running region, fuel economy is improved. For a large required acceleration, cranking torque Tcr is maintained to hold an initial value, while, when the required acceleration is small, cranking torque Tcr will be adjusted to decrease. The time between an engine start command and the instant at which engine rotation speed Ne reaches a predetermined rotation speed Ne is measured as an engine start time TMst. When the TMst is below a limit value TMst_Lim that is capable of starting the engine and acceptable, as shown at instants t2 and t4, Tcr will be adjusted to decrease by a decrease amount, ΔTcr_dec and updated, while the expression Mst≧TMst_Lim is met, then Tcr will be adjusted by an increase amount ΔTcr_inc at instant t6 and updated. |
| US08531049B2 |
System for harvesting power and method thereof
A power harvesting device and method thereof are provided, wherein the power harvesting device is configured to harvest power from at least one falling object and transfer the harvested power. The power harvesting device includes a wheel configured to rotate when the at least one falling object contacts the wheel, wherein the wheel includes an axle, and at least one paddle surface extends radially from the axle. The power harvesting device further includes a linkage device operably connected to the wheel and configured to transfer the harvested power, and the linkage device is further configured to convert mechanical power from the wheel rotating to electrical power and an electrical load electrically connected to the linkage device. |
| US08531047B2 |
Energy converter, counter with energy converter, system with counter, method for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, and counting method
An energy converter is disclosed which is provided for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Also disclosed is a counter, which includes its operating energy and also the counting information or the counting pulses from the energy converter named above. A method is also disclosed for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Also disclosed is a method for operating the counter with the electrical energy obtained according to the method. Also disclosed is a system made from at least one or more of the counters named above. |
| US08531040B1 |
Controlled area solder bonding for dies
A method of fabricating a semiconductor comprises forming a plurality of stud bumps in a pattern having a geometrical shape on a surface of a substrate, the pattern defining a periphery of a bonding area on the surface of the substrate, and placing a solder material in the bonding area such that the solder material is surrounded by the stud bumps. The solder material is heated to a temperature where the solder material begins to flow within the bonding area. A bonding surface of a die is pressed onto the stud bumps with a sufficient pressure to crush the stud bumps a predetermined extent such that the solder material substantially evenly spreads between the stud bumps within the bonding area. The solder material is then solidified to form a final solder area that conforms to the geometrical shape of the pattern of stud bumps. |
| US08531039B2 |
Micro pin grid array with pin motion isolation
A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having faces and contacts, a flexible substrate overlying and spaced from a first face of the microelectronic element, and a plurality of conductive terminals exposed at a surface of the flexible substrate. The conductive terminals are electrically interconnected with the microelectronic element and the flexible substrate includes a gap extending at least partially around at least one of the conductive terminals. In certain embodiments, the package includes a support layer, such as a compliant layer, disposed between the first face of the microelectronic element and the flexible substrate. In other embodiments, the support layer includes at least one opening that is at least partially aligned with one of the conductive terminals. |
| US08531038B2 |
Top layers of metal for high performance IC's
A method of closely interconnecting integrated circuits contained within a semiconductor wafer to electrical circuits surrounding the semiconductor wafer. Electrical interconnects are held to a minimum in length by making efficient use of polyimide or polymer as an inter-metal dielectric thus enabling the integration of very small integrated circuits within a larger circuit environment at a minimum cost in electrical circuit performance. |
| US08531036B2 |
Via/contact and damascene structures
A semiconductor structure is provided and includes a dielectric layer disposed over a substrate. A first non-conductive barrier layer is formed over the dielectric layer. At least one opening is formed through the first non-conductive barrier layer and within the dielectric layer. A second non-conductive barrier layer is formed over the first non-conductive barrier layer and within the opening. At least a portion of the second non-conductive barrier layer is removed, thereby at least partially exposing a top surface of the first non-conductive barrier layer and a bottom surface of the opening, with the second non-conductive barrier layer remaining on sidewalls of the opening. A seed layer and conductive layer is disposed in the opening. |
| US08531032B2 |
Thermally enhanced structure for multi-chip device
A multi-chip semiconductor device comprises a thermally enhanced structure, a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, an encapsulation layer formed on top of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. The multi-chip semiconductor device further comprises a plurality of thermal vias formed in the encapsulation layer. The thermally enhanced structure comprises a heat sink block attached to a first semiconductor die. The heat sink block may further comprise a variety of thermal vias and thermal openings. By employing the thermal enhanced structure, the thermal performance of the multi-chip semiconductor device can be improved. |
| US08531027B2 |
Press-pack module with power overlay interconnection
Systems and methods for utilizing power overlay (POL) technology and semiconductor press-pack technology to produce semiconductor packages with higher reliability and power density are provided. A POL structure may interconnect semiconductor devices within a semiconductor package, and certain embodiments may be implemented to reduce the probability of damaging the semiconductor devices during the pressing of the conductive plates. In one embodiment, springs and/or spacers may be used to reduce or control the force applied by an emitter plate onto the semiconductor devices in the package. In another embodiment, the emitter plate may be recessed to exert force on the POL structure, rather than directly against the semiconductor devices. Further, in some embodiments, the conductive layer of the POL structure may be grown to function as an emitter plate, and regions of the conductive layer may be made porous to provide compliance. |
| US08531025B2 |
Thermal paste containment for semiconductor modules
A semiconductor module structure and a method of forming the semiconductor module structure are disclosed. The structure incorporates a die mounted on a substrate and covered by a lid. A thermal compound is disposed within a thermal gap between the die and the lid. A barrier around the periphery of the die extends between the lid and the substrate, contains the thermal compound, and flexes in response to expansion and contraction of both the substrate and the lid during cycling of the semiconductor module. More particularly, either the barrier is formed of a flexible material or has a flexible connection to the substrate and/or to the lid. The barrier effectively contains the thermal compound between the die and the lid and, thereby, provides acceptable and controlled coverage of the thermal compound over the die for heat removal. |
| US08531021B2 |
Package stack device and fabrication method thereof
A package stack device includes a first package structure having a plurality of first metal posts and a first electronic element disposed on a surface thereof, a second package structure having a plurality of second metal posts and a second electronic element disposed on opposite surfaces thereof, and an encapsulant formed between the first and second package structures for encapsulating the first electronic element. By connecting the first and second metal posts, the second package structure is stacked on the first package structure with the support of the metal posts and the encapsulant filling the gap therebetween so as to prevent warpage of the substrate. |
| US08531020B2 |
Stacked packaging improvements
A plurality of microelectronic assemblies are made by severing an in-process unit including an upper substrate and lower substrate with microelectronic elements disposed between the substrates. In a further embodiment, a lead frame is joined to a substrate so that the leads project from this substrate. Lead frame is joined to a further substrate with one or more microelectronic elements disposed between the substrates. |
| US08531017B2 |
Semiconductor packages having increased input/output capacity and related methods
A semiconductor package includes leads around the periphery of a chip and leads under the chip having connecting segments for increasing I/O capability. A filling material may be used under the chip, which may provide a lead locking function. Various methods of forming the semiconductor package are further provided. |
| US08531016B2 |
Thermally enhanced semiconductor package with exposed parallel conductive clip
One exemplary disclosed embodiment comprises a semiconductor package including an inside pad, a transistor, and a conductive clip coupled to the inside pad and a terminal of the transistor. A top surface of the conductive clip is substantially exposed at the top of the package, and a side surface of the conductive clip is exposed at a side of the package. By supporting the semiconductor package on an outside pad during the fabrication process and by removing the outside pad during singulation, the conductive clip may be kept substantially parallel and in alignment with the package substrate while optimizing the package form factor compared to conventional packages. The exposed top surface of the conductive clip may be further attached to a heat sink for enhanced thermal dissipation. |
| US08531015B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming a thin wafer without a carrier
A semiconductor device has a conductive via in a first surface of a substrate. A first interconnect structure is formed over the first surface of the substrate. A first bump is formed over the first interconnect structure. The first bump is formed over or offset from the conductive via. An encapsulant is deposited over the first bump and first interconnect structure. A portion of the encapsulant is removed to expose the first bump. A portion of a second surface of the substrate is removed to expose the conductive via. The encapsulant provides structural support and eliminates the need for a separate carrier wafer when thinning the substrate. A second interconnect structure is formed over the second surface of the substrate. A second bump is formed over the first bump. A plurality of semiconductor devices can be stacked and electrically connected through the conductive via. |
| US08531011B2 |
Protective structure having a semiconductor substrate
A protective structure is produced by providing a semiconductor substrate having doping of a first conductivity type. A semiconductor layer having doping of a second conductivity type is applied at a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A buried layer with doping of a second conductivity type is formed in a first region of the semiconductor layer, producing a layer at the junction between the semiconductor layer and semiconductor substrate. A first dopant zone having doping of a first conductivity type is formed in the first region of the semiconductor layer above the buried layer. A second dopant zone having doping of a second conductivity type is formed in a second region of the semiconductor layer. An electrical insulation is formed between the first and second regions of the semiconductor layer. A common connection device is formed for the first and second dopant zones. |
| US08531009B2 |
Package structure of three-dimensional stacking dice and method for manufacturing the same
This invention provides a package structure of three-dimensional stacking dice and its manufacturing method. This invention employs the Through-Silicon-Vias (TSVs) technology to establish vertical electrical connection of the three-dimensional stacking dice and a redistribution layer between a blind hole-on-pad and a vertical through hole formed by the TSVs technology to direct the electrical connection from a first surface to an opposite second surface of this structure. In addition, this invention employs a conductive bump completely covering the pads jointed together between the stacking dice to avoid breakage of the pads. The reliability of the three-dimensional stacking dice of the present invention is increased. |
| US08531008B2 |
Material structure in scribe line and method of separating chips
A method for manufacturing a chip is disclosed. The method comprises forming a material structure in a kerf adjacent the chip on a wafer. The method further comprises selectively removing the material structure in the kerf and dicing the wafer.A semiconductor wafer is disclosed. The semiconductor wafer comprises a plurality of chips and a plurality of kerfs. The kerfs separate the chips from each other. At least one kerf comprises a kerf framing. The kerf framing is arranged directly adjacent a side of the at least on chip. |
| US08531006B2 |
Memory capacitor made from field configurable ion-doped materials
A memory capacitor based on a field configurable ion-doped polymer is reported. The device can be dynamically and reversibly programmed to analog capacitances with low-voltage (<5 V) pulses. After the device is programmed to a specific value, its capacitance remains nonvolatile. The field configurable capacitance is attributed to the modification of ionic dopant concentrations in the polymer. The ion and dipole concentrations in the ion conductive layer can be modified when the voltage biases applied to the electrodes exceeds a threshold value and can operate as a conventional capacitor when a voltage less than the threshold value is applied. The ion conductive layer will remain at a stable value after the device is modified without applying external voltage. The device has a nonvolatile memory function even when the external voltage is turned off. The memory capacitors may be used for analog memory, nonlinear analog and neuromorphic circuits. |
| US08531004B1 |
Metal-on passivation resistor for current sensing in a chip-scale package
A current sense resistor integrated with an integrated circuit die where the integrated circuit die is housed in a chip-scale semiconductor package includes a metal layer formed over a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die where the metal layer has an array of metal pillars extending therefrom. The metal pillars are to be electrically connected to a first conductive trace portion and a second conductive trace portion formed on a printed circuit board where the first conductive trace portion and the second conductive trace portion are electrically isolated from each other and physically separated by a separation of a first distance. The current sense resistor is formed in a portion of the metal layer spanning the separation between the first and second metal trace portions, the first and second conductive trace portions forming terminals of the current sense resistor. |
| US08531001B2 |
Complementary bipolar inverter
An example embodiment is a complementary transistor inverter circuit. The circuit includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, a lateral PNP bipolar transistor fabricated on the SOI substrate, and a lateral NPN bipolar transistor fabricated on the SOI substrate. The lateral PNP bipolar transistor includes a PNP base, a PNP emitter, and a PNP collector. The lateral NPN bipolar transistor includes a NPN base, a NPN emitter, and a NPN collector. The PNP base, the PNP emitter, the PNP collector, the NPN base, the NPN emitter, and the NPN collector abut the buried insulator of the SOI substrate. |
| US08531000B2 |
SOI wafer, method for producing same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
An SOI wafer including: a supporting substrate 1; a BOX layer 2 provided above the supporting substrate 1, the BOX layer 2 being formed by a thermal oxidization; a gettering layer 3 provided immediately on the BOX layer 2 and mainly composed of a silicon which contains one or more of oxygen, carbon and nitrogen and contains at least oxygen; and an S layer 4 in which semiconductor devices are to be formed, the S layer 4 being mainly composed of a monocrystalline silicon. |
| US08530993B2 |
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. |
| US08530992B2 |
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. |
| US08530990B2 |
Optoelectronic device with heat spreader unit
Optoelectronic devices with heat spreader units are described. An optoelectronic device includes a back-contact optoelectronic cell including a plurality of back-contact metallization regions. One or more heat spreader units are disposed above the plurality of back-contact metallization regions. A heat sink is disposed above the one or more heat spreader units. |
| US08530987B2 |
Magnetic memory including a magnetoresistive element
A magnetic memory includes a magnetoresistive element. The magnetoresistive element includes a reference layer having an invariable magnetization direction, a storage layer having a variable magnetization direction, and a spacer layer provided between the reference layer and the storage layer. The storage layer has a multilayered structure including first and second magnetic layers, the second magnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the spacer layer and has a magnetic anisotropy energy lower than that of the first magnetic layer, and an exchange coupling constant Jex between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer is not more than 5 erg/cm2. |
| US08530981B2 |
Leadframe-based premolded package having acoustic air channel for micro-electro-mechanical system
A low-cost microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device has a mass-produced carrier fabricated as a pre-molded leadframe so that the space of the leadframe center is filled with compound and a two-tier stepped recess is created in the center. The first tier is filled by an inset with a first perforation and a second perforation. An integrated circuit chip with an opening and a membrane at the end of the opening, operable as a pressure sensor, microphone, speaker, etc., is assembled on the inset so that the chip opening is aligned with the first perforation. The chip is protected by a cover transected by a vent aligned with the second inset perforation. An air channel extends from the ambient exterior through the vent and the second perforation to the second tier recess, which acts as a channel and connects to the first perforation and the chip opening to the membrane. |
| US08530979B2 |
Semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a semiconductor package which includes: a semiconductor substrate; a functional element that is disposed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate; a protection substrate that is disposed in an opposite side of that surface of the semiconductor substrate with a predetermined gap from a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a junction member that is disposed to surround the functional element and bonds the semiconductor substrate and the protection substrate together, wherein the functional element has a shape different from a shape of a plane surrounded by the junction member in that surface of the semiconductor substrate, or is disposed in a region deviated from a central region of the plane surrounded by the junction member in that surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08530978B1 |
High current high voltage GaN field effect transistors and method of fabricating same
A field effect transistor (FET) having a source contact to a channel layer, a drain contact to the channel layer, and a gate contact on a barrier layer over the channel layer, the FET including a dielectric layer on the barrier layer between the source contact and the drain contact and over the gate contact, and a field plate on the dielectric layer, the field plate connected to the source contact and extending over a space between the gate contact and the drain contact and the field plate comprising a sloped sidewall in the space between the gate contact and the drain contact. |
| US08530975B2 |
Semiconductor device with gate edge protrusion
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having an active region and an isolation region, a gate pattern crossing both the active region and the isolation region of the substrate, and a protrusion having a surface higher than that of the substrate over at least an edge of the active region contacting a portion of the isolation region under the gate pattern. |
| US08530971B2 |
Borderless contacts for semiconductor devices
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method (e.g., to fabricate a semiconductor device having a borderless contact) including: forming a first gate structure on a substrate; depositing an interlevel dielectric over the first gate structure; planarizing the interlevel dielectric to expose a top surface of the first gate structure; removing at least a portion of the first gate structure; forming a second gate structure in place of the first gate structure; forming a contact area for the borderless contact by removing a portion of the interlevel dielectric; and forming the borderless contact by filling the contact area with a metal-containing material. |
| US08530967B2 |
Lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor and manufacturing method thereof
A lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor includes a buried insulation layer which opens only part of the collector ion implantation region and isolates the other regions, thereby reducing the loss by the turn-off time. The lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor further includes a deep ion implantation region formed to face towards the open part of the collector ion implantation region, thereby decreasing the hole current injected into a base region under an emitter ion implantation region, and thereby greatly increasing the latch-up current level by relatively increasing the hole current injected into the deep ion implantation region having no latch-up effect. |
| US08530960B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor memory device includes a static memory cell having six MOS transistors arranged on a substrate. The six MOS transistors include first and second NMOS access transistors, third and fourth NMOS driver transistors, and first and second PMOS load transistors. Each of the first and second NMOS access transistors has a first diffusion layer, a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a second diffusion layer arranged vertically on the substrate in a hierarchical manner. Each of the third and fourth NMOS driver transistors has a third diffusion layer, a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a fourth diffusion layer arranged vertically on the substrate in a hierarchical manner. The lengths between the upper ends of the third diffusion layers and the lower ends of the fourth diffusion layers are shorter than the lengths between the upper ends of the first diffusion layer and the lower ends of the second diffusion layers. |
| US08530956B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device including a memory string including a plurality of memory cells coupled in series. The non-volatile memory device includes the memory string including a first semiconductor layer and a second conductive layer with a memory gate insulation layer therebetween, a first selection transistor comprising a second semiconductor layer coupled with one end of the first semiconductor layer, a second selection transistor comprising a third semiconductor layer coupled with the other end of the first semiconductor layer, and a fourth semiconductor layer contacting the first semiconductor layer in a region where the second conductive layer is not disposed. |
| US08530951B2 |
Scalable multi-functional and multi-level nano-crystal non-volatile memory device
A multi-functional and multi-level memory cell comprises a tunnel layer formed over a substrate. In one embodiment, the tunnel layer comprises two layers such as HfO2 and LaAlO3. A charge blocking layer is formed over the tunnel layer. In one embodiment, this layer is formed from HfSiON. A control gate is formed over the charge blocking layer. A discrete trapping layer is embedded in either the tunnel layer or the charge blocking layer, depending on the desired level of non-volatility. The closer the discrete trapping layer is formed to the substrate/insulator interface, the lower the non-volatility of the device. The discrete trapping layer is formed from nano-crystals having a uniform size and distribution. |
| US08530947B2 |
Solid-state image sensor
A floating diffusion region is formed at an edge of a light-receiving surface of an embedded photodiode, with a transfer gate electrode located therebetween. A first region, with radially extending portions centered on the FD region, and a second region, located to the outside of the first region, are created in the substantially sector-shaped light-receiving surface. A dopant whose conductivity type is the same as the signal charges to be collected in the first region are introduced, whereby an electric field for moving the signal charges from the radially extending sections towards the center is created due to a three-dimensional field effect. As a result, the charge-transfer time is reduced. Additionally, since a circuit element in the subsequent stage can be placed adjacent to the floating diffusion region, the parasitic capacitance of the floating diffusion region can be reduced and a highly sensitive element can be obtained. |
| US08530945B2 |
Solid-state image pickup element, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state image pickup element includes: a photoelectric conversion region formed in a semiconductor substrate; an electric charge holding region formed in the semiconductor substrate for holding electric charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion region until the electric charges are read out; a transfer gate formed on the semiconductor substrate for transferring electric charges generated by photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion region to the electric charge holding region, and a light blocking film formed on an upper surface of the transfer gate. In this case, a portion between the semiconductor substrate and the light blocking film is thinly formed as a light made incident to the photoelectric conversion region has a longer wavelength in a wavelength region. |
| US08530939B2 |
Cross-point memory structures
Some embodiments include cross-point memory structures. The structures may include a line of first electrode material extending along a first horizontal direction, a multi-sided container of access device materials over the first electrode material, a memory element material within the multi-sided container, and a line of second electrode material over the memory element material and extending along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays. The methods may include forming a memory cell stack over a first electrode material, and then patterning the first electrode material and the memory cell stack into a first set of spaced lines extending along a first horizontal direction. Spaced lines of second electrode material may be formed over the first set of spaced lines, and may extend along a second horizontal direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction. |
| US08530938B2 |
Monolithic integrated composite group III-V and group IV semiconductor device and method for fabricating same
According to one disclosed embodiment, a method for fabricating a monolithic integrated composite device comprises forming a group III-V semiconductor body over a group IV semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the group III-V semiconductor body, and forming a group IV semiconductor body in the trench. The method also comprises fabricating at least one group IV semiconductor device in the group IV semiconductor body, and fabricating at least one group III-V semiconductor device in the group III-V semiconductor body. In one embodiment, the method further comprises planarizing an upper surface of the III-V semiconductor body and an upper surface of the group IV semiconductor body to render those respective upper surfaces substantially coplanar. In one embodiment, the method further comprises fabricating at least one passive device in a defective region of said group IV semiconductor body adjacent to a sidewall of the trench. |
| US08530936B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on an active region of the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the active region of the semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer and covering the gate electrode, the first insulating film having a step portion following a shape of the gate electrode, a first field plate formed on the insulating film and located between the gate electrode and the drain electrode and separated from the step portion, a second insulating film formed on the first insulating film to cover the step portion and the first field plate, and a shield electrode formed on the second insulating film, the shield electrode extending from a portion located above the first field plate and a portion located above the gate electrode. |
| US08530934B2 |
Integrated circuit structures containing a strain-compensated compound semiconductor layer and methods and systems related thereto
A method for pseudomorphic growth and integration of an in-situ doped, strain-compensated metastable compound base into an electronic device, such as, for example, a SiGe NPN HBT, by substitutional placement of strain-compensating atomic species. The invention also applies to strained layers in other electronic devices such as strained SiGe, Si in MOS applications, vertical thin film transistors (VTFT), and a variety of other electronic device types. Devices formed from compound semiconductors other than SiGe, such as, for example, GaAs, InP, and AlGaAs are also amenable to beneficial processes described herein. |
| US08530928B2 |
Encapsulated optoelectronic component and method for the production thereof
A method for encapsulating an optoelectronic component by depositing a diffusion barrier for protection against environmental influences by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma on at least one subarea of the surface of the optoelectronic component. |
| US08530927B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a semiconductor light-emitting stack; a current injected portion formed on the semiconductor light-emitting stack; an extension portion having a first branch radiating from the current injected portion and having a first width, and a first length greater than the first width, and a second branch extending from the first branch and having a second width larger than the first width, and a second length greater than the second width; and an electrical contact structure between the second branch and the semiconductor light-emitting stack. |
| US08530925B2 |
Light emitting device package and lighting system including the same
Provided are a light emitting device package and a lighting system including the same. The light emitting device package includes: a body, a plurality of electrode layers, a light emitting device, and a molding member. The body includes a plurality of pits. The electrode layers include first protrusions disposed in the pits, and second protrusions protruding in a direction opposite to the first protrusions. The light emitting device is disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrode layers. The molding member is disposed on the light emitting device. |
| US08530923B2 |
LED chip
A light-emitting diode chip (1) with a semiconductor layer sequence (2) is described, which is contacted electrically by contacts (5) via a current spreading layer (3). The contacts (5) cover around 1%-8% of the surface of the semiconductor layer sequence (2). The contacts (5) consist for example of separate contact points (51), which are arranged at the nodes of a regular grid (52) with a grid constant of 12 μm. The current spreading layer (3) contains for example indium-tin oxide, indium-zinc oxide or zinc oxide and has a thickness in the range from 15 nm to 60 nm. |
| US08530917B2 |
Optical semiconductor device having air gap forming reflective mirror and its manufacturing method
In an optical semiconductor device including an epitaxially-grown light emitting semiconductor layer and a reflective electrode layer provided at a counter face of the light emitting semiconductor layer opposing a light extracting face thereof, a support electrode layer is provided between the reflective electrode layer and the counter face of the light emitting semiconductor layer and is adapted to support the light emitting semiconductor layer and electrically connect the light emitting semiconductor layer to the reflective electrode layer. Also, a total area of the support electrode layer is smaller than an area of the reflective electrode layer. Further, an air gap at a periphery of the support electrode layer and the reflective electrode layer serves as a reflective mirror. |
| US08530913B2 |
Light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a light emitting layer, a first electrode, a first and second layers, and a cladding layer. The first layer has a first impurity concentration of a first conductivity type, and allows a carrier to be diffused in the light emitting layer. The second layer has a second impurity concentration of the first conductivity type higher than the first impurity concentration, and includes a first and second surfaces. The first surface is with the first layer. The second surface has a formation region and a non-formation region of the first electrode. The non-formation region includes convex structures with an average pitch not more than a wavelength of the emission light. The cladding layer is provided between the first layer and the light emitting layer and has an impurity concentration of the first conductivity type. |
| US08530910B2 |
Organic light emitting display device including transmitting regions between pixel regions
A transparent organic light emitting display device having an improved transmittance, in which transmittance of external light is increased, the organic light emitting display device including: a substrate having transmitting regions interposed between pixel regions; thin film transistors positioned on a first surface of the substrate and respectively disposed in the pixel regions of the substrate; a passivation layer covering thin film transistors; pixel electrodes formed on the passivation layer and respectively electrically connected to the thin film transistors, the pixel electrodes are respectively located in an area corresponding to the pixel regions, and are disposed to respectively overlap and cover the thin film transistors; an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrodes and formed to be able to transmit light, the opposite electrode is located in the transmitting regions and the pixel regions and includes a first opening formed on a location corresponding to at least a portion of respective ones of the transmitting regions; and an organic emission layer interposed between respective ones of the pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode to emit light. |
| US08530909B2 |
Array assemblies with high voltage solid state lighting dies
Various embodiments of solid state lighting (“SSL”) assemblies with high voltage SSL dies and methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, an array assembly of SSL dies includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an input voltage (Vo). The array assembly also includes a plurality of SSL dies coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, at least some of which are high voltage SSL dies coupled in parallel. |
| US08530908B2 |
Organic EL element
An organic EL element includes: an organic EL layer including a transparent electrode, a reflective electrode, and a light-emitting layer; a transparent layer disposed on a light-exiting side of the transparent electrode; and a light extraction structure disposed on a light-exiting side of the transparent layer and having a protruding shape with inclined portions. The transparent layer and the light extraction structure have a larger refractive index than the light-emitting layer. The inclined portions of the light extraction structure satisfy Condition 1 or 2 for extracting guided wave light emitted from the light-emitting layer and incident on the light extraction structure from the light extraction structure to the outside of the organic EL element, in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the reflective electrode, where two inclination angles φ1 and φ2 formed between the reflective electrode and the inclined portions are the largest. |
| US08530907B2 |
Room temperature silicon-compatible LED/laser with electrically pumped field emission device
A light source includes a hot electron source comprising a cathode that generates an electron beam and an anode comprising a germanium containing material positioned adjacent to the cathode. The anode is biased so that the electron beam accelerates towards the anode where some electrons are absorbed and then relax to both direct energy bands and indirect energy bands causing stimulation of low energy electrons from the indirect energy band to the direct energy band, thereby creating electroluminescence. |
| US08530896B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising a pixel unit including an auxiliary capacitor
A p channel TFT of a driving circuit has a single drain structure and its n channel TFT, an LDD structure. A pixel TFT has the LDD structure. A pixel electrode disposed in a pixel unit is connected to the pixel TFT through a hole bored in at least a protective insulation film formed of an inorganic insulating material and formed above a gate electrode of the pixel TFT, and in an inter-layer insulation film disposed on the insulation film in close contact therewith. These process steps use 6 to 8 photo-masks. |
| US08530890B2 |
Aligned nanotube bearing composite material
A composite material including an arrangement of approximately aligned nanofilaments overlying at least another arrangement of approximately aligned nanofilaments, the longitudinal axis of the nanotubes of the first arrangement being approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanotubes of the other arrangement, and the arrangements forming at least one array. A resin material having nanoparticles dispersed throughout is disposed among the array(s) of nanofilaments, and cured, and openings may be formed into or through the composite material corresponding to spaces provided in the array of nanofilaments. A composite material according to embodiments forms a microelectronic substrate or some portion thereof, such as a substrate core. |
| US08530887B2 |
Magnetoresistive element, method of manufacturing the same, and magnetic memory
A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes: a first magnetic layer; a tunnel barrier layer on the first magnetic layer; a second magnetic layer placed on the tunnel barrier layer and containing CoFe; and a nonmagnetic layer placed on the second magnetic layer, and containing nitrogen and at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, Ta, Zr, Al, and Ce. |
| US08530886B2 |
Nitride gate dielectric for graphene MOSFET
A semiconductor structure which includes a substrate; a graphene layer on the substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode on the graphene layer, the source electrode and drain electrode being spaced apart by a predetermined dimension; a nitride layer on the graphene layer between the source electrode and drain electrode; and a gate electrode on the nitride layer, wherein the nitride layer is a gate dielectric for the gate electrode. |
| US08530885B1 |
Graphene-based conductive, lossless photonic bandgap method and apparatus
A system includes a substrate having a plurality of three-dimensional photonic crystal elements directly coupled thereto. The photonic crystal elements may each partially or substantially coated with oriented graphene and may comprise undoped silicon. The graphene may be oriented in a direction parallel to or normal to the photonic crystal element and may comprise graphene flakes contained within a composite thin film. The system may also include at least one optical component, such as a waveguide, contained within the plurality of three-dimensional photonic crystal elements. A method is also provided for preparing the graphene and coating the photonic crystal elements with the graphene. |
| US08530884B2 |
Strain inducing semiconductor regions
A method to form a strain-inducing semiconductor region is described. In one embodiment, formation of a strain-inducing semiconductor region laterally adjacent to a crystalline substrate results in a uniaxial strain imparted to the crystalline substrate, providing a strained crystalline substrate. In another embodiment, a semiconductor region with a crystalline lattice of one or more species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms imparts a strain to a crystalline substrate, wherein the lattice constant of the semiconductor region is different from that of the crystalline substrate, and wherein all species of charge-neutral lattice-forming atoms of the semiconductor region are contained in the crystalline substrate. |
| US08530883B2 |
Manufacture of quantum dot-enabled solid-state light emitters
Light emitting devices comprise excitation sources arranged to excite quantum dots which fluoresce to emit light. In an embodiment, a device is manufactured by a process which involves applying an acoustic field is applied to a fluid containing quantum dots, to cause the quantum dots to accumulate at locations which are adjacent to excitation sources, and then initiating a phase transition of the fluid to trap the quantum dots in the locations adjacent to the excitation sources. The quantum dots are illuminated during the process and the resulting fluorescence is optically monitored to provide indicators of quantum dot distribution in the fluid. These indicators are used as feedback for controlling aspects of the process, such as initiating the phase transition. |
| US08530882B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package and lighting system
A light emitting device may include a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer. A first electrode including a plurality of openings may be provided on the light emitting structure. A filling factor, which is an area ratio of the first electrode relative to an area of a top surface of the light emitting structure, may be 20% or less. |
| US08530881B2 |
Optical device and method for its manufacture
An optical device which can operate as a single photon emitter 1, comprising a three dimensional optical cavity 7 which spatially confines a photon to the order of the photon wavelength in all three dimensions. The cavity 7 is configured to define preferred emission direction for photons entering the cavity. A photon can be supplied to the cavity using a quantum dot 5. Strong coupling can occur between the cavity 7 and the quantum dot 5 which causes the formation of two hybridised modes. Switching on an off the coupling by irradiating the device with radiation having an energy equal to that of one of the hybridised modes allows the device to act as an optical switch. |
| US08530875B1 |
Phase change memory including ovonic threshold switch with layered electrode and methods for forming same
Erosion of chalcogenides in phase change memories using ovonic threshold switch selectors can be reduced by controlling columnar morphology in electrodes used in the ovonic threshold switch. The columnar morphology may cause cracks to occur which allow etchants used to etch the ovonic threshold switch to sneak through the ovonic threshold switch and to attack chalcogenides, either in the switch or in the memory element. In one embodiment, the electrode may be split into two metal nitride layers separated by an intervening metal layer. |
| US08530873B2 |
Electroforming free memristor and method for fabricating thereof
An electroforming free memristor includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and a switching layer positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The switching layer is formed of a matrix of a switching material and reactive particles that are to react with the switching material during a fabrication process of the memristor to form one or more conductance channels in the switching layer. |
| US08530870B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus in which a target material is irradiated with a laser beam and turned into plasma and extreme ultraviolet light is emitted from the plasma may include: a chamber in which the extreme ultraviolet light is generated; an electromagnetic field generation unit for generating at least one of an electric field and a magnetic field inside the chamber; and a cleaning unit for charging and separating debris adhered to an optical element inside the chamber. |
| US08530869B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus comprises a target supply unit supplying a target into a vacuum chamber, a laser oscillator outputting a laser light into the vacuum chamber, a collector mirror outputting an extreme ultraviolet light outside by reflecting the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the target being ionized as a plasma by irradiation with the laser light at a plasma luminescence point in the vacuum chamber, and an ion debris removal unit at least a part of which is located in an obscuration region including the plasma luminescence point. |
| US08530868B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation generating element, electromagnetic radiation generating device, and method of generating electromagnetic radiation
An electromagnetic radiation generating device is a device that generates electromagnetic wave pulses from a plane surface. The electromagnetic radiation generating device includes an electromagnetic radiation generating element, a light irradiating unit. The electromagnetic radiation generating element includes: a depletion layer forming body formed by stacking a p-type silicon layer and an n-type silicon layer in a planar pattern; a light receiving surface electrode formed on one surface of the depletion layer forming body, the light receiving surface electrode including a plurality of parallel electrode parts that are equally spaced while a forming distance is maintained between the parallel electrode parts, the forming distance corresponding to the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave pulses generated from the depletion layer forming body; and a rear surface electrode formed on the opposite surface of the depletion layer forming body. |
| US08530867B1 |
Electron generation and delivery system for contamination sensitive emitters
Contamination may be removed from a field emitter unit during operation of the emitter unit in an environment at a pressure that lies within a range between 10−6 torr and 10−8 torr. At regular predetermined intervals an electron beam from an emitter tip may be deflected away from a path through a beam defining aperture and onto an electron collector. An electron beam current to the electron collector may be determined and the emitter unit may be flash heated if the current to the electron collector is below a threshold. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08530866B2 |
Pattern observation method
The pattern observation method for observing a pattern which is formed on an insulating film, includes: irradiating an entirety of the pattern with a charged particle beam, to obtain a temporary image of the pattern which has region information of a convex pattern and a concave pattern; irradiating the convex and concave patterns with the charged particle beam having a first and second voltages based on the region information, to thereby form an electric field between a top surface of the convex pattern and a bottom surface of the concave pattern so that charged particles emitted from the bottom surface of the concave pattern may be drawn out to an outside of the pattern; and irradiating the entirety of the pattern with the charged particle beam to obtain an image of the pattern having the information of the bottom surface of the concave pattern. |
| US08530861B1 |
Detectably-labeled carbon fiber
Compositions and methods for labeling carbon fiber with a detectable tag are disclosed. A composition includes at least one tag affixed to carbon fiber. The tag includes a plurality of detectable labels selected from quantum dots and organic fluorophores arranged in a detectable pattern. In addition, methods for the facile detection of the source, type, and/or physical condition of carbon fiber labeled with a detectable tag are disclosed. |
| US08530853B2 |
Charged particle source from a photoionized cold atom beam
A system for producing a charged particle beam from a photoionized cold atom beam. A vapor of neutral atoms is generated. From these atoms, an atom beam having axial and transverse velocity distributions controlled by the application of laser light is produced. The produced atom beam is spatially compressed along each transverse axis, thus reducing the cross-sectional area of the produced beam and reducing a velocity spread of the produced beam along directions transverse to the beam's direction of propagation. Laser light is directed onto at least a portion of the neutral atoms in the atom beam, thereby producing ions and electrons. An electric field is generated at the location of the produced ions and electrons, thereby producing a beam of ions traveling in a first direction and electrons traveling in substantially the opposite direction. A vacuum chamber contains the atom beam, the ion beam and the electron beam. |
| US08530847B2 |
Scintillation article
According to one embodiment, a scintillation article includes a detector housing having a window cavity and a window disposed within the window cavity. The window cavity defining a window opening at an external surface of the housing that has a greater width than a width of the window, and wherein a surface of the window is directly bonded to an interior surface of the detector housing at a bond joint comprising a diffusion bond region. |
| US08530841B2 |
Infrared sensor, electronic device, and manufacturing method of infrared sensor
The present invention aims to reduce a size and improve quality of an infrared sensor. An infrared sensor (203) according to the present invention includes a substrate (202) and an infrared detection element (201). A principal surface of the substrate (202) includes a convex shape. The infrared detection element (201) is formed over the principal surface including the convex shape of the substrate (202). Further, as for the infrared detection element (201), an entire light-receiving surface includes a planar shape. Then, it can be the small-sized infrared sensor (203) with improved quality. |
| US08530839B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring pungency of red pepper powder
An apparatus for measuring pungency of red pepper powder includes a near infrared measuring unit; a reference spectrum measuring unit; a red pepper powder injecting unit; a red pepper powder height equalizing unit; a red pepper powder transferring unit; a red pepper powder ejecting unit; a display unit; a button unit; and a measurement controller for, if a reference spectrum measurement opening signal is detected, operating a reference spectrum measurement opening and closing unit, injecting the reference material, measuring the spectrum of the reference material, if the reference spectrum measurement closing signal is detected, operating the opening and closing unit, removing the reference material, closing the opening and closing unit, injecting the red pepper powder, and measuring the near infrared spectrum of red pepper powder, correcting near infrared spectrum data to the spectrum of the reference material, calculating a degree of pungency, and displaying the degree of pungency. |
| US08530834B2 |
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry methodology
A method of enhanced speciation of both positive and negatives species in an analyte is disclosed. The method can include producing a first analyte solution comprising an analyte composition and an effective amount of silver triflate, and analyzing the first analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The method can also include producing a second analyte solution comprising a portion of the analyte composition and an effective amount of a compound of formula I, and analyzing the second analyte solution with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer. The compound of formula I is [NX+][OH−], where X is a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C10 alkane; an aryl; a heterocyclic aromatic; or a heterocyclic moiety. |
| US08530830B2 |
Sensing techniques for on-farm analysis of milk components
A method of analyzing milk components having the steps of collecting a milk sample, ionizing the milk sample, and using an ion mobility spectrometer to detect predetermined components within the ionized milk sample, wherein the ion mobility spectrometer is positioned within a milking system from which the milk sample is taken. |
| US08530829B2 |
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy apparatus and measured data processing method in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy apparatus
A method of determining a coefficient for converting an analog current value into a pulse count value in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy apparatus (ICP-MS) is described. The ICP-MS is configured to generate the pulse count value and the analog current value as a signal intensity indicating a density of an element in a sample to be measured. |
| US08530826B2 |
Automated shutter for dark acclimating samples
An automated shutter for dark acclimating a sample, comprising a base and a head mounted to the base and movable between an open and closed position. The automated shutter further comprises one or more artificial light sources and one or more optical detectors disposed in said head or base, and wherein the head is contiguous with the sample when moved into the closed position. Another embodiment comprises an enclosure placed over a sample to be dark acclimatized, with one or more artificial light sources and optical detectors disposed within or closely adjacent to said enclosure which is configured to be transformed between an optically transparent state and an optically opaque state. |
| US08530825B1 |
Pixel structure and image array sensors using same
A pixel structure having a cladding and tapered core waveguide, the core dimensioned to refract EM radiation through the cladding at differing depth dependent on the wavelength of the radiation, and a plurality of detectors disposed to convert the band of radiation they receive into electrical signals. In some embodiments the detectors are disposed within lateral waveguides, and in some embodiments below the tapered core waveguide. Further disclosed is an image array sensor comprising a plurality of such pixel structures. Further disclosed is an array comprising stacked layered waveguides having detectors disposed therewithin, and a plurality of refractors to refract different bands of EM radiation into differing waveguides. |
| US08530823B2 |
Tool setting or analysis device with backup or repeated trigger signal for detecting a tool
A tool setting or tool analysis device for a machine tool comprises a light source for producing a light beam. A light receiver receives the light beam and produces a signal indicative of the amount of light received. This is analyzed by a main analysis circuit to generate a trigger signal to a machine controller when the beam is at least partially occluded. To provide fail-safe operation should the main circuit not recognize the tool, a back-up trigger signal is produced after a delay by a delay circuit. In one preferred form, the back-up trigger signal may oscillate, providing repeated edges which can ensure fail-safe operation even if the machine controller suffers from a blind window and therefore misses the initial trigger signal. |
| US08530821B2 |
Low distortion high bandwidth adaptive transmission line for integrated photonics applications
A transmission line and method for implementing includes a plurality of segments forming an electrical path and a continuous optical path passing through the segments. Discrete inductors are formed between and connect adjacent segments. The inductors are formed in a plurality of metal layers of an integrated circuit to balance capacitance of an optical modulator which includes the transmission line to achieve a characteristic impedance for the transmission line. |
| US08530819B2 |
Direct current (DC) correction circuit for a time of flight (TOF) photodiode front end
A system and method that compensates for the effects of ambient light in a time of flight (TOF) sensor front end is provided. Moreover, a direct current (DC) correction loop is utilized at the front end, which removes a DC component from a current generated by the TOF sensor and accordingly prevents saturating the front end. The DC correction loop attenuates the DC component without adding significant thermal noise at a modulation frequency and provides a corrected signal to the front end circuitry. The corrected signal is processed and utilized to detect a position of an object within the optical field of the sensor. |
| US08530818B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for providing reflection of an optical signal
Techniques and architectures for providing a reflective target area of an integrated circuit die assembly. In an embodiment, a reflective bevel surface of a die allows an optical signal to be received from the direction of a side surface of a die assembly for reflection into a photodetector. In another embodiment, one or more grooves in a coupling surface of the die provide respective leverage points for aligning a target area of the bevel surface with a detecting surface of the photodetector. |
| US08530814B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with a planarized lens layer method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a light sensing portion which is formed on a substrate and generates a signal electric charge according to incident light; a rectangular or gradient-index on-chip micro lens formed on a light incident side above the light sensing portion; and a planarized lens layer which covers the on-chip micro lens and is formed in such a manner that a light incident surface is planarized. |
| US08530813B2 |
Image detecting device
Static electricity generated in each data line 3 at the time of manufacturing a TFT active matrix substrate 10 is discharged to a common line 110 through a bidirectional diode 30A. Since the bidirectional diode 30A is configured to have a first allowable level higher than a second allowable level of a protection circuit 112, a leak current that are generated in each data line 3 when being driven is discharged to common lines 111A, 111B through the protection circuit 112. |
| US08530811B2 |
Light field image sensor, method and applications
An angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) device that uses the Talbot effect to detect the local intensity and incident angle of light includes two local diffraction gratings stacked above a photodiode. When illuminated by a plane wave, the upper grating generates a self-image at a selected Talbot depth. The second grating, placed at this depth, blocks or passes light depending upon incident angle. Several such structures, tuned to different incident angles, are sufficient to extract local incident angle and intensity. Arrays of such structures are sufficient to localize light sources in three dimensions without any additional optics. |
| US08530810B2 |
Laser scanning microscope having variable light intensity and control method for the same
A laser scanning microscope (LSM) having variable light intensity and a control method for the same. The light intensity of a laser beam in an LSM has been controlled to date with high accuracy, but also high costs by means of an acousto-optic component (AOM, AOTF). According to the invention, such a component for beam modulation is to be omitted, without reducing the exposure accuracy of the sample. In an LSM, a directly modulated laser diode (10) is used with an electric control (12) for direct modulation. Said laser diode (10) has a turn-on delay of the light intensity that is dependent on the amount of the control variable when subjected to an electric control variable. The control (12) is designed such that the fluctuation width (ΔΔtV) of the occurring turn-on delay (ΔtV) is smaller than 1 μs, particularly smaller than 0.5 μs. Thus highly exact modulation without an acousto-optic component is possible. A quick direct modulation is achieved particularly by the following steps: a) identifying that an intensity to be achieved or achieved with the laser diode (10) falls below a lower threshold value or is below the lower threshold value, b) de-energizing the laser diode (10), c) providing an electric intermediate current, d) identifying that the intensity to be achieved exceeds an upper threshold value, e) flowing the intermediate current through the laser diode (10), and f) setting the diode current according to the intensity to be achieved. |
| US08530809B2 |
Ring gear control actuation system for air-breathing rocket motors
A control actuation system for an air-breathing rocket motor propelled guided missile positions the drive motors and input gears in an inlet fairing extending aft of the air inlet towards the tail of the missile. The output gears are positioned coincident with and mechanically coupled to their respective tail fins spaced around the circumference of the missile. At least one of the tail fins is offset in a circumferential direction of the missile from its corresponding input gear and the inlet fairing. At least one ring gear is positioned around the exhaust tube to rotate in the circumferential direction of the missile. The ring gear comprises input and output teeth that engage the input and output gears, respectively, to actuate the tail fin. |
| US08530808B2 |
Microwave-assisted heating and processing techniques
Apparatus are provided which include a specimen vessel holding at least one biological sample. A histological agent is in the specimen vessel so as to come into contact with the tissue sample. A microwave susceptor is provided in, near, or integral to the specimen vessel. |
| US08530807B2 |
Microwave oven and related method
A method of operating a microwave oven and a microwave oven are disclosed. The microwave oven comprises a magnetron for providing microwave power to heat a load placed in the microwave oven, and a solid-state microwave generator for providing microwave power to sense presence and/or determine nature of the load in the microwave oven. |
| US08530805B2 |
Method for controlling an induction heating system of a cooking appliance
A method for controlling an induction heating system of a cooking appliance provided with an induction coil, particularly for controlling it in connection with a predetermined working condition, comprises measuring the value of one electrical parameter of the induction heating system, feeding a computing model with actual switching frequency signals in order to estimate a temperature indicative of the thermal status of the heating system and to provide an estimated value of the electrical parameter, and comparing the measured electrical parameter with the estimated one and tuning the computing model on the basis of such comparison. |
| US08530804B2 |
Method and device for producing glass products from a glass melt
A method and a device for the continuous production of glass and glass ceramic products from a glass melt is provided, which simplifies the changing between two kinds of glass. The device includes a melting crucible and an induction coil, which preferably extends around the melting crucible in order to heat a glass melt by means of an induction field generated by the induction coil. The wall elements, which form the side wall of the crucible, have cooling channels, through which a cooling fluid can be conducted, so that the glass melt solidifies on the side wall and forms a skull layer. The interior side of the wall elements is formed at least in part by an aluminum nitride-containing ceramic. |
| US08530802B2 |
Ceramic heater and mold
A ceramic heater includes a heating resistor including a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion which face each other and a ceramic base in which the heating resistor is embedded. The first conducting portion includes a first burr which extends from the first conducting portion and is located between the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion. The second conducting portion includes a second burr which extends from the second conducting portion and is located between the second conducting portion and the first conducting portion. At least a part of the first and second burrs is spaced apart from the line linking a starting point of the first burr and a starting point of the second burr in a cross-section perpendicular to a conduction direction of the first and second conducting portions. |
| US08530800B2 |
Heater control device, image forming apparatus, and computer program product
A heater control device includes a temperature detector that detects a temperature of a heated object heated by a heater; an alternating-current power supply for applying an alternating current voltage to the heater; a turn-on ratio decision unit that determines a turn-on ratio of the heater based on the temperature and a target temperature; a turn-on pattern decision unit that determines a partial turn-on pattern, as the turn-on pattern of the heater, which is a pattern of a turn-on ratio higher than the determined turn-on ratio in terms of a control-period, and to which a partial turn-on instead of a full turn-on is allocated on a half-wavelength basis of the alternating current voltage within the control period based on the turn-on ratio of the heater; and a turn-on controller that controls turn-on of the heater based on the determined turn-on pattern. |
| US08530798B2 |
Hob having a temperature sensor
A hob includes at least one heating zone, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a cookware element placed on the heating zone, and a control unit for operating the heating zone. The control unit is constructed to heat up the cookware element in a heat-up phase and to control the temperature of the cookware element to a target temperature in a holding phase in at least one operating mode. In order to enable an energy-saving simmer operation, the control unit detects a boiling point of the liquid contained in the cookware element during the heat-up phase and determines the target temperature as a function of the boiling point. |
| US08530797B2 |
Cooking appliance
A cooking appliance (1) includes a lower casing (2), a lower food-contacting heating plate (3), and an upper bell-shaped body (4) which is movably mounted on the lower casing (2) so as to be movable to and from a closed position. An upper food-contacting heating plate (5) is located inside the bell-shaped body (4) so as to be positioned, when the bell-shaped body (4) is in the closed position, over the lower heating plate (3). The upper food-contacting heating plate (5) is connected to the bell-shaped body (4) to move freely inside the bell-shaped body (4) in a direction (d0) substantially perpendicular to the reference laying plane of the upper heating plate (5). A heating-plate locking device (14) selectively impairs movement of the upper heating plate (5) in the moving direction (d0), and a control unit (9) controls the heating-plate locking device (14). |
| US08530796B2 |
Cooking device
A cooking device comprises a cooking device body comprising a heating chamber for heating an object; a fan, comprising a bladed wheel and a casing having the bladed wheel in rotatable manner, to discharge air in the heating chamber; and an exhaust duct comprising an exhaust guide plane to guide the air blown out by the fan to the outside of the cooking device body. The casing comprises an arc-shaped guide plane to guide an air flow generated by a rotation of the bladed wheel in a rotation direction of the bladed wheel, and an outlet port opened from a part of the arc-shaped guide plane to one side in a tangent direction of the arc-shaped guide plane. The rotation direction of the bladed wheel is a direction opposite to the opening direction of the outlet port, and turbulence is generated in the exhaust duct. |
| US08530794B2 |
Hair iron
A hair iron apparatus preferably includes an upper housing pivotally associated with a lower housing. A first heat transfer plate is associated with the upper housing and a second heat transfer plate is associated with the lower housing. A first heater is affixed to the first heat transfer plate by a first adhesive, and a second heater is affixed to the second heat transfer plate by a second adhesive. |
| US08530792B2 |
Heated side window glass
A heatable side window assembly for an automobile, wherein the automobile includes a sideview mirror mounted generally adjacent the heatable side window assembly. The heatable side window assembly includes a glass sheet having an interior surface and an exterior surface and one or more continuous, electrical conductor strips mounted to the interior surface of the glass sheet. The conductor strip outputs radiant heat in response to an electrical current flow therethrough. The conductor strip is positioned such that it generally bounds, but does not enter, an area defined by an operator's line of sight to the sideview mirror of the vehicle. A pair of conductor pads are electrically coupled to the ends of the conductor strip. A switch is provided for selectively outputting a control signal and a controller is electrically coupled between a power supply and the pair of conductor pads. The controller provides electrical current to the conductor strip in response to the control signal so as to heat the area of the glass sheet generally adjacent to the sideview mirror. |
| US08530790B2 |
Method for extracting non-metallic weld metal inclusions
A method for analyzing non-metallic inclusions in a weld metal. The method includes etching a weld bead or weld bead sample to at least partially expose a plurality of non-metal inclusions in the weld bead or weld bead sample, applying a conductive tape to and then removing the conductive tape from at least a portion of the etched weld bead or weld bead sample, and analyzing the non-metal inclusions on the conductive tape. |
| US08530786B2 |
Transparent material processing with an ultrashort pulse laser
Methods for ultrashort pulse laser processing of optically transparent materials. A method for scribing transparent materials uses ultrashort laser pulses to create multiple scribe features with a single pass of the laser beam across the material, with at least one of the scribe features being formed below the surface of the material. This enables clean breaking of transparent materials at a higher speed than conventional techniques. Slightly modifying the ultrashort pulse laser processing conditions produces sub-surface marks. When properly arranged, these marks are clearly visible with side-illumination and not clearly visible without side-illumination. In addition, a method for welding transparent materials uses ultrashort laser pulses to create a bond through localized heating. The ultrashort pulse duration causes nonlinear absorption of the laser radiation, and the high repetition rate of the laser causes pulse-to-pulse accumulation of heat within the materials. The laser is focused near the interface of the materials, generating a high energy fluence at the region to be welded. This minimizes damage to the rest of the material and enables fine weld lines. |
| US08530782B2 |
Laser welding method, laser-welded joint, outside sheathing panel, and body structure for rolling stock
A body structure for rolling stock is disclosed. The body structure may include an outside sheathing of a side construction, and a plurality of reinforcement members joined to said outside sheathing interiorly of said outside sheathing. Each of said plurality of reinforcement members may include a U-shaped part which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and two fitting flange parts extending continuously from end edges of the U-shaped part in opposite directions. The fitting flange parts may be joined to said outside sheathing by laser welding, and the U-shaped part of at least one of said plurality of reinforcement members may be smaller in width than the U-shaped part of another of said plurality of reinforcement members provided on another part of said outside sheathing. |
| US08530781B2 |
Processing apparatus
An processing apparatus comprises a laser oscillator, an overall control device which controls an operation of the laser oscillator, and a plurality of processing units. The processing unit comprises a holding part which movably holds a processed object, an optical system which guides the laser beam, oscillated from the laser oscillator, toward the processed object, a shutter which selectively prevents the laser beam from reaching the processed object, and an individual control device which controls an operation of the holding part, and transmits a laser request signal to the overall control device. When at least one of the plurality of individual control devices transmits the request signal, the overall control device controls the shutter of the processing unit, which has transmitted the laser request signal, to enable the laser beam to reach the processed object, and drives the laser oscillator to allow the laser oscillator to oscillate the laser beam. |
| US08530780B2 |
Direct current steam plasma torch and method for reducing the erosion of electrodes thereof
A DC steam plasma torch includes front, middle and rear sections. The front section includes a first amount and a first electrode attached to the first amount, thus defining co-axial first internal and external coolant channels. The middle section includes a second mount and a second electrode co-axially connected to the second mount, thus defining co-axial second internal and external coolant channels. The rear section includes an insulating transient element connected to the second electrode, a window frame connected to the insulating transient element and a window provided in the window frame. A first swirl generator is provided between the first and second sections to receive primary working gas and generating a swirl in the same. A second swirl generator is provided between the middle and rear sections to receive auxiliary working gas and generating a swirl in the same. |
| US08530779B2 |
Disc spring and process of manufacturing the same
A metal strip 10 is bent to form a ring and end parts 12 and 14 are connected to each other. An electron beam 26 may be defocused and emitted to a welded section 20 along a crosswise direction of the metal strip 10. Next, a focal point 28 of the electron beam 26 may be focused onto a weld-melted portion 25 to execute electron beam welding. Subsequently, the electron beam 26 may be defocused emitted to the welded section 20 along the crosswise direction of the metal strip 10, and the welded section 20 may be further cooled. The average of the dendrite secondary arm spacing of the weld-melted portion may fall within a range of 7 to 30 μm. |
| US08530775B2 |
Pole part of a medium-voltage switching device
The present disclosure provides a pole part of a low-voltage, medium-voltage and/or high-voltage switching device. The pole part includes a vacuum interrupter chamber having a fixed contact and a movable contact, which includes an electrical contact piece. The vacuum interrupt chamber is cast into an insulating material. The insulating material has opening at the bottom in at least one of a region of the movable contact and a drive rod driving that drives the movable contact. To reduce the heating of the pole part to enable production of a higher rated current carrying capacity, in the region of the movable contact and/or the articulation point of the drive rod, at least one ventilation opening is formed to pass through at least one of an exterior wall of the insulation, a boundary zone between the insulation and the electrical connection piece, and the electrical connection piece. |
| US08530773B2 |
Gas insulated apparatus
When electric discharging occurs inside a gas insulated apparatus in which sulfur hexafluoride is filled, hydrogen-fluoride gas is generated, which abrades a part formed of glass fiber reinforced plastics included in the apparatus. Previously, resin for preventing the abrasion has been coated on the surface of the part; however, a problem has occurred that the coating film peels off. Organic fiber woven cloth woven using organic fiber such as aramid fiber or the like having hydrogen fluoride resistance and mechanical toughness is wrapped around the surface of glass fiber reinforced plastics, and thermosetting resin is wettably impregnated into weave patterns of the organic fiber woven cloth and then heat cured; thereby, an abrasion-preventing protection layer that does not peel off is formed. |
| US08530770B2 |
Switch apparatus
A switch apparatus includes first, second, third, and fourth movable contacts held by a slider and sliding on a circuit board in conjunction with the rotational operation of an operation knob, and a belt-like common fixed contact, an auto fixed contact, a down fixed contact, and an up fixed contact provided on the circuit board. The auto fixed contact, down fixed contact, and up fixed contact are distributed on a straight line parallel to the common fixed contact. The third and fourth movable contacts are normally in sliding contact with the common fixed contact. |
| US08530768B2 |
Thin illuminated keyboard
A thin illuminated keyboard comprises at least one keycap, an upper light guide plate and a lower light guide plate. The upper and lower light guide plates have respectively a first light guide layer and a second light guide layer opposing each other. The first and second light guide layers have respectively a first circuit layer and a second circuit layer laid on the opposing surfaces thereof. The first and second light guide layers also have respectively a first mask layer and a second reflection layer on the sides opposite to the first and second circuit layers to form an optical passage therebetween. The first mask layer has at least one light penetration zone receiving light from the optical passage. The light is transmitted and confined in the optical passage between the first and second light guide layers, and condensed to project to the keycap through the light penetration zone. |
| US08530762B2 |
Flatbed weigh system with vacuum capstan roller
A flatbed weigh system and methods for weighing substantially flat articles such as mail flats while they are moving. A weigh system has an intake plate (2102) and an accelerator assembly (2100) that receives an article (2150) and accelerates it to a selected velocity. Acceleration is controlled by a servo motor (2112) which in turn is driven by a precision closed-loop servo system (FIG. 12) that accumulates motor torque data to determine the article weight. The accelerator assembly uses vacuum pressure (2130, 2132) to hold the moving article in engagement with a cylindrical capstan roller (2110) while it is being weighed. This vacuum-driven concept eliminates the need for a pinch roller to hold the moving article against a capstan roller as in other designs. Because the pinch roller is eliminated, there is essentially no “bouncing” to address, so dampen is obviated. Further, the vacuum design is not adversely affected by variations in thickness of the article under test as in the pinch roller designs. |
| US08530752B2 |
Multilayer circuit board and method for manufacturing the same
A multilayer circuit board comprises core layers 101 and 102 made of a core material impregnated with resin, resin layers 111 and 112 interposed between the core layers 101 and 102, a wiring pattern 140 embedded in the resin layers 111 and 112. The core layers 101 and 102 have a thickness of 100 μm or smaller, whereby the entire board can significantly be thinned. Furthermore, the less strong resin layers 111 and 112 are interposed between the hard core layers 101 and 102, whereby the entire board has increased strength. |
| US08530751B2 |
Multilayer wiring substrate
A multilayer wiring substrate includes a laminate structure in which resin insulation layers and conductor layers are alternately laminated. The resin insulation layers include first-type resin insulation layers, and second-type resin insulation layers, each of which contains an inorganic material in a larger amount and is smaller in thermal expansion coefficient as compared with first-type resin insulation layers. On a cross section of the laminate structure taken along a thickness direction thereof, the ratio of a total thickness of the second-type resin insulation layers located in an area A2 to a thickness corresponding to the area A2 is greater than the ratio of a total thickness of the second-type resin insulation layers located in an area A1 to a thickness corresponding to the area A1. The laminate structure is warped such that the laminate structure is convex toward the side where the second main face is present. |
| US08530748B2 |
Substrate with through-holes for grid-like auxiliary wiring pattern
A substrate includes an auxiliary wiring pattern formed on a first main surface of a glass substrate in a grid-like pattern arranged horizontally and vertically, and a translucent glass layer formed on a surface of the glass substrate to cover the first main surface and the auxiliary wiring pattern. Through-holes exposing the auxiliary wiring pattern are formed in a portion of the translucent glass layer formed on the auxiliary wiring pattern, in each side of each grid of the grid-like pattern at uniform intervals. The substrate may be used in an electronic device having a long-life and a high reliability in which exfoliation or deterioration of a wiring is inhibited by embedding the wiring therein while maintaining smoothness of the surface. |
| US08530747B2 |
Method for manufacturing multilayered flexible circuit board
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a multilayered flexible circuit board. The method of manufacturing a multilayered flexible circuit board may include integrally forming a first flexible printed circuit board and a second flexible printed circuit board divided in a symmetrical shape with respect to a reference line on the same plane to provide an original plate; attaching the first flexible printed circuit board to the second flexible printed circuit board by folding the original plate with respect to the reference line; and electrically connecting the first flexible printed circuit board to the second flexible printed circuit board. |
| US08530745B2 |
Cable including elemental wires with different angles
A cable includes an insulated electric wire, a lateral winding layer formed by spirally winding an elemental wire having conductivity on a periphery of the insulated electric wire, a reversal lateral winding layer formed by spirally winding an elemental wire having conductivity in a direction intersecting with the winding direction of the lateral winding layer, a buffer layer formed between the lateral winding layer and the reversal lateral winding layer, and a sheath formed on a periphery of the reversal lateral winding layer. Each of a winding angle θ1 of the elemental wire forming the lateral winding layer and a winding angle θ2 of the elemental wire forming the reversal lateral winding layer is an acute angle, and an absolute value of difference between the winding angle θ1 and the winding angle θ2 is not more than 20 degrees. |
| US08530743B2 |
Water drain structure for wire harness
To improve water discharging performance of a wire harness, and to protect a water discharging structure of the wire harness, an electric wire group is exposed from an outer cover material at a lower end portion (B) where the wire harness (10) is arranged, one side of the exposed portion is surrounded by a first waterproof material, the other side of the exposed portion is surrounded by a second waterproof material, the first waterproof material (I) forms an opening (27) at the lower end portion (B), the end of the second waterproof material is inserted into the first waterproof material (I) from the opening (27) so as to overlap on the first waterproof material, and a water discharging gap (28) is formed at a wrapped portion (C). |
| US08530738B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell
There is provided a tandem-type dye-sensitized solar cell having a novel structure whereby optical absorption efficiency is improved and which can be manufactured at low cost.A dye-sensitized solar cell 10 comprises an anode substrate 12, a first dye-carrying porous oxide semiconductor layer 14, an electrolytic solution layer 16a, a porous support layer 18, a second dye-carrying porous oxide semiconductor layer 20, an electrolytic solution layer 16b, and a cathode substrate 22, arranged in order from an optical incidence side. The porous support layer 18 supports an iodine redox catalyst layer 19. Electrons derived by a conductor from a conductor layer 12b are introduced to the cathode substrate 22, thereby configuring, for example, a battery circuit for lighting purposes. |
| US08530731B1 |
Inbred sunflower (Helianthus annuus) line, designated ON2343A/B
The present invention relates to an inbred sunflower line, designated ON2343A/B. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred sunflower line ON2343A/B, to the plants of inbred sunflower line ON2343A/B and to the methods for producing a sunflower plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line ON2343A/B with itself or another sunflower line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sunflower plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred sunflower lines derived from the inbred ON2343A/B. |
| US08530725B2 |
Lettuce cultivar reliant
A lettuce cultivar, designated Reliant, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Reliant, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Reliant and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Reliant with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Reliant, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Reliant and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Reliant with another lettuce cultivar. |
| US08530724B2 |
Altering the fatty acid composition of rice
The present invention relates to rice oil, rice bran and rice seeds which have altered levels of oleic acid, palmitic acid and/or linoleic acid. The present invention also provides methods for genetically modifying rice plants such that rice oil, rice bran and rice seeds produced therefrom have altered levels of oleic acid, palmitic acid and/or linoleic acid. Specifically this is achieved through modulation of Fad2 and/or FatB expression. |
| US08530721B2 |
Resilient tampon and method for making
A method of making a resilient tampon includes the steps of providing binder fibers having an average fiber length of at least 35 mm; combining the binder fibers to form a loose fleece; activating the binder fibers; and compressing a portion of the loose fleece into a pledget after activating the binder fibers.A resilient tampon includes 70 wt % to 95 wt % absorbent fibers and 5 wt % to 30 wt % bicomponent binder fibers. The binder fibers have an average fiber length greater than 35 mm. |
| US08530720B2 |
Thermally conductive, metal-based bandages to aid in medical healing and methods of use
The inventive disclosure contained herein is generally directed to a class of medical bandages that in many embodiments are effective in the treatment of various types of tissue burns, whether be burns due to thermal burns, sun exposure, or rashes. Such products can include a plurality of specialized bandages and wraps that incorporate an extremely thin layer of thermally conductive metal (often aluminum) at the base of a substrate adapted to be in direct contact with a burn wound, while manufacturing the top side of the aluminum substrate to have a heat-dissipation-enhancing topography to help cool burns faster by enhancing thermal-convection properties. The bandage can also feature a thermochromic indicator for users to realize the thermal-cooling status of a burn to which a bandage has been applied. |
| US08530716B2 |
Melt-crystallization separation and purification process
Processes for separating a solid from a solids-liquids slurry under conditions that prevent ingress of molecular oxygen are advantageous where the presence of molecular oxygen would otherwise reduce efficiencies, contribute to limited product yields, and potentially compromise safe operation of the process or downstream unit operations. Among the various embodiments disclosed herein, is a process utilizing filter columns as solid-liquid separators in combination with crystallization and reslurry unit operations to recover a product component from an initial feed mixture of miscible components. Embodiments of the disclosed processes may include the separation and purification of a product component using a crystallizer in series with a filter column followed by a chemical reactor, using a reslurry drum in series with a filter column, and using a combination of crystallizers and/or reslurry drums in series with at least one filter column. The use of filter columns in such processes is particularly attractive because these columns, when operated under the conditions disclosed herein, limit the undesirable ingress of molecular oxygen into the various process streams, and further improve process efficiencies related to both product component recovery and operating costs. |
| US08530715B2 |
Process for the conversion of renewable oils to liquid transportation fuels
The present invention relates to production of fuels or fuel blendstocks from renewable sources. Various embodiments provide a method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock including at least one of a renewable triacylglyceride (TAG), renewable free fatty acid (FFA), and renewable fatty acid C1-C5 alkyl ester (C1-C5 FAE) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product including hydrocarbons. In some examples, the first product can be subjected to further chemical transformations such as aromatization, cracking, or isomerization to produce a second product including hydrocarbons. In various embodiments, the first or second hydrocarbon product with minimal or substantially no further processing can be suitable as a liquid transportation fuel or fuel blendstock, including fuels such as gasoline, naptha, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels. |
| US08530708B2 |
Processes for selective dehydrohalogenation of halogenated alkanes
Disclosed are processes for producing halogenated olefins, and preferably tetrafluorinated propene(s), from one or more alkanes having both fluorine substituents and non-fluorine substituents, preferably with a high degree of conversion and selectivity. Preferably the process comprises the use of a catalyzed reaction in which the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of activated carbons, halogentated mono- and di-valent metal oxides, mono- and di-valent Lewis acid metal halides, zero-valent metals, and combinations of these. |
| US08530707B2 |
Selective hydrogenation catalyst comprising palladium on porous silica glass and the use thereof
The present invention is directed to a catalyst comprising palladium on a porous Silica glass as carrier, as well as to the use of such catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of alkines to alkenes. |
| US08530703B2 |
Multihydric compound dehydration systems, catalyst compositions, and methods
The present disclosure relates to facilities, systems, methods and/or catalysts for use in chemical production. In particular, the disclosure provides innovations relating to dehydration of multihydric compounds such as glycerol to form acrolein. Some of these innovations include continuous reaction systems as well as system parameters that allow for long term production. |
| US08530699B2 |
Process for production of (meth) acrylic acid
The objective of the present invention is to provide a process for producing highly pure (meth) acrylic acid stably and efficiently with crystallization. The process for production of (meth)acrylic acid according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of cooling a crude (meth)acrylic acid solution in a crystallization apparatus until the temperature of a cooling medium discharged from the crystallization apparatus is stabilized in the range of higher than the solidification point of the crude (meth)acrylic acid solution in the crystallization apparatus and not more than the solidification point plus 5° C.; then bringing the crude (meth)acrylic acid solution in the crystallization apparatus to a supercooled condition by setting the temperature of a cooling medium supplied to the crystallization apparatus at the temperature of not more than the solidification point of the crude (meth)acrylic acid solution minus 1° C.; and crystallizing (meth)acrylic acid from the crude (meth)acrylic acid solution. |
| US08530697B2 |
Method for the reactive vaporization of glycerol
The subject of the present invention is a method for the reactive vaporization of aqueous solutions of glycerol in a fluidized bed containing a reactive solid. The method of the invention makes it possible to simultaneously vaporize an aqueous solution of glycerol, to remove the impurities that are present in this solution or that are generated during the evaporation, and to carry out the dehydration reaction of the glycerol to acrolein and/or the oxydehydration reaction of the glycerol to acrylic acid. |
| US08530696B2 |
Pump around reactor for production of acetic acid
The present invention relates to improved processes for the manufacture of acetic acid. A pump around reactor is used to produce additional heat for the production of steam. The pump around reactor receives a portion of the reaction solution produced by the carbonylation reactor and further reacts that portion with additional carbon monoxide and/or reactants. |
| US08530695B2 |
Process for recovery of formic acid
The invention relates to a process for the recovery of concentrated high purity formic acid having a concentration of at least 50%, most preferably at least 95%, from biomass wherein an aqueous liquid mixture containing levulinic acid and possibly furfural is subjected to a liquid-liquid extraction step, followed by the recovery of furfural, formic acid and levulinic acid. |
| US08530694B2 |
Proteasome inhibitors
The present invention provides novel compounds useful as proteasome inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various diseases. |
| US08530693B1 |
Liquid cyanate esters
A method for making liquid cyanate esters and liquid cyanate esters. Embodiments of the invention address the problems with solid cyanate esters by creating new cyanate ester structures that are liquid at room temperature. These liquid cyanate esters may be useful for the typical composite fabrication methods including, but not limited to, infusion molding, prepeg consolidation, resin and vacuum transfer molding. |
| US08530692B2 |
Compound, fluorine-containing polymer, radiation-sensitive resin composition and method for producing compound
A compound has a following general formula (1). R0 represents an (n+1)-valent linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or the like. R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group. R2 represents a single bond or the like. R3 represent a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or the like. X represents a linear or branched fluoroalkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from 1 to 5. |
| US08530686B2 |
Organic molybdenum compounds and lubricating compositions which contain said compounds
Dicyclopentadienyl molybdenum crosslinked complexes which can be represented by general formula (1) below are provided, the use thereof as friction-modifiers and lubricating compositions which contain these compounds are also provided In this formula X is the element oxygen or the element sulphur, Y is the element oxygen or Y is absent, and R1 to R10 are groups selected individually from the group comprising hydrogen, the methyl group and the ethyl group. |
| US08530685B1 |
Monodentate gold ethynyl complexes
Monodentate gold ethynyl complexes having a gold-carbon bond and a gold-phosphorous bond, specifically, of formula I, may be useful in optoelectric devices, wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are independently monocyclic or polycyclic aryl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, fluoro, fluoroalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl; and R is substituted or unsubstituted aryl. |
| US08530681B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions of O-nitro compounds
The present invention provides O-nitro compounds, pharmaceutical compositions of O-nitro compounds and methods of using O-nitro compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease. |
| US08530676B2 |
Process for producing vinylene carbonate
The present invention relates to the industrial production of vinylene carbonate (VC) by elimination of hydrogen chloride from chloroethylene glycol carbonate (CGC) with tertiary amines in the absence of relatively large amounts of additional solvent. |
| US08530675B2 |
Process for the synthesis of 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-3′,6′-dihydroxy-2′,4′,5′,7′-tetraiodo-3H-spiro[isobenzofuran-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one (rose bengal) and related xanthenes
A new process for the manufacture of iodinated xanthenes in high purity includes a cyclization step followed by an iodination step. No extraction, chromatographic or solvent concentration steps are required, and the intermediate as well as final compounds are isolated via filtration or similar means. The process requires a single organic solvent, and the steps are completed at temperatures below 100° C. The exclusion of chloride ions, of chloride free-radicals, hypochlorite ions, or hypochlorous acid as reagents or from reagents that may generate these species in situ in the presence of oxidants, prevents undesirable impurity formation. Several new compounds have been conceived and isolated using these methods. These new compounds are also formed into new medicaments. |
| US08530673B2 |
Tetrathiafulvalene derivative, and organic film and organic transistor using the same
A tetrathiafulvalene derivative expressed by General Formula (I): General Formula (I) in General Formula (I), X represents an atom selected from a carbon atom, a sulfur atom, and a nitrogen atom, and Xs may be the same or different; provided that when X is the carbon atom or the nitrogen atom, R1 to R8 each represent one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted thioalkoxy group, and may be the same or different; and Y1 and Y2 each represent one of structures expressed by General Formulas (II) and (III), and may be the same or different: General Formula (II) General Formula (III). |
| US08530671B2 |
Method for preparing a material formed from arborescent-branched molecules comprising associative groups
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a material formed from arborescent-branched molecules comprising associative groups that includes the following successive steps: (a) the reaction of at least one at least trifunctional compound (A) bearing first and second functional groups with at least one bifunctional compound (B), the functional groups of which are capable of reacting with the first functional groups of the compound (A); and (b) the reaction of the compound(s) obtained in step (a) with at least one compound (C) bearing, on the one hand, at least one reactive group capable of reacting with the second functional groups of (A) and, on the other hand, at least one given associative group. |
| US08530668B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition containing optically active compound having thrombopoietin receptor agonist activity, and intermediate therefor
An optically active 4-phenylthiazole derivative having a thrombopoietin receptor agonist activity and a pharmaceutical composition containing the present compound as an active ingredient are created, and a platelet production regulating agent which can be orally administered is provided.Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition containing, as an active ingredient, an optically active compound represented by the formula: wherein, R1 is a halogen atom or C1-C3 alkyloxy; R2 is C1-C8 alkyl; R3 is C1-C8 alkyl; R4 and R5 are each independently a fluorine atom or chlorine atom; R6 is C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 alkyloxy; * indicates that a carbon atom marked with an asterisk is an asymmetric carbon, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof. |
| US08530667B2 |
Herbicides
Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as herbicides. |
| US08530664B2 |
Catalysts for the preparation of methylpyridine
Subject of the invention is a dehydrogenation catalyst for dehydrogenating methylpiperidine to methylpyridine. Subject of the invention are also methods for preparing the catalysts obtained thereby and methods, in which the catalysts are used. |
| US08530663B2 |
1-(2-phenoxymethylheteroaryl)piperidine and piperazine compounds
The invention relates to compounds of formula I: where X, HAr, a, and R1 through R6 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US08530661B2 |
Process for the manufacture of pharmaceutically active compounds
The present invention further relates to a process for the manufacture of compound (I), wherein X is —Br or —Cl. |
| US08530656B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibition of the JAK pathway
Disclosed are compounds of formula I, compositions containing them, and methods of use for the compounds and compositions in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK 2 and JAK3, are therapeutically useful. |
| US08530654B2 |
Crystals, amorphous substances or salts of methyl N-[3-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methylaminoquinazolin-4-yl) phenyl] terephthalamic acid
Crystals, amorphous substances, salts, and hydrates of a salt of methyl N-[3-(6,7-dimethoxy-2-methylaminoquinazolin-4-yl)phenyl]terephthalamic acid having PDE4 inhibitory action are provided. These compounds are useful for treating allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis. |
| US08530651B2 |
Process for the preparation of anagrelide and analogues
The present invention relates to a novel process for producing quinazoline compounds which are useful in therapy. More specifically, the compounds produced by the process of the invention are useful in the treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases. The process of the invention provides 6,7-dichloro-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin 2(3H)-one, more commonly known as anagrelide and its analogues in a clean and efficient manner. |
| US08530645B2 |
Method for producing amide compound
This invention relates to a process for producing an amide compound by Beckmann rearrangement of an oxime compound using a compound having at least two electron-withdrawing leaving groups as a rearrangement catalyst, the process comprising a pre-preparation step in which the rearrangement catalyst and at least a part of the oxime compound are mixed and reacted; and a rearrangement reaction step in which the oxime compound is rearranged at a temperature higher than that in the pre-preparation step. |
| US08530644B2 |
Method for removing impurities from biopolymer material
The present invention relates to a method for removing impurities from biopolymer material, e.g. polysaccharides, polypeptides or polynucleotides. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of reducing lipopolysaccharide levels in a lipopolysaccharide containing biopolymer material, comprising the successive steps of: a) providing an aqueous solution containing 0.05-50 wt. % of dissolved lipopolysaccharide-containing biopolymer material; 0.001-10 wt.% of a surfactant; 0.05-15 wt. % of solid adsorbent; and at least 50 wt. % of water; b) allowing the adsorbent to adsorb lipopolysaccharides; c) separating the solid adsorbent containing adsorbed lipopolysaccharides from the remaining aqueous solution; and d) recovering the biopolymer material containing a reduced level of lipopolysaccharide from the separated aqueous solution. |
| US08530640B2 |
Bicyclic cyclohexitol nucleic acid analogs
The present disclosure provides bicyclic cyclohexitol nucleoside analogs of formula I and oligomeric compounds comprising these nucleoside analogs. These bicyclic nucleoside analogs are expected to be useful for enhancing properties of oligomeric compounds including for example nuclease resistance. |
| US08530633B2 |
Development of sensitive FRET sensors and methods of using the same
Intramolecular biosensors are disclosed, including PBP-based biosensors, comprising a ligand binding domain fused to donor and fluorescent moieties that permit detection and measurement of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer upon binding ligand. At least one of the donor and fluorescent moieties may be internally fused to the biosensor such that both ends of the internally fused fluorophore are fixed. In addition, methods of improving the sensitivity of terminally fused biosensors are provided. The biosensors of the invention are useful for the detection and quantification of ligands in vivo and in culture. |
| US08530625B2 |
Silk-based drug delivery system
The present invention provides for novel sustained release silk-based delivery systems. The invention further provides methods for producing such formulations. In general, a silk fibroin solution is combined with a therapeutic agent to form a silk fibroin article. The article is then treated in such a way as to alter its conformation. The change in conformation increases its crytallinity or liquid crystallinity, thus controlling the release of a therapeutic agent from the formulation. This can be accomplished as single material carriers or in a layer-by-layer fashion to load different therapeutic agents or different concentrations of these agents in each layer. |
| US08530617B2 |
Silicon-containing particle, process for producing the same, organic-polymer composition, ceramic, and process for producing the same
A process for producing silicon-containing particles having an extremely small particle diameter by a simple process without using surface-active agents or the like. The process is characterized by forming silicon-containing particles as a result of phase separation from an organic polymer, wherein the phase separation is achieved by an addition reaction, condensation reaction, ring-opening reaction, or a radical reaction of a curable silicon-containing compound or a curable composition that contains said compound, and the silicon-containing compound or the composition is maintained in a uniform liquid, fused, or dissolved phase with the organic polymer that is free of silicon and does not participate in the curing reaction of the silicon-containing compound or the composition. |
| US08530615B2 |
Process for producing polycarbonates and a coordination complex used therefor
The complex of the present invention containing an onium salt and a central Lewis acidic metal has a high catalytic activity at a high temperature for the copolymerization of an epoxide and carbon dioxide to produce a high molecular weight polycarbonate. |
| US08530610B2 |
Process for preparing a polymer polyol
The invention relates to a process for preparing a polymer polyol, comprising mixing in a reactor vessel, a base polyol, one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, a polymerization initiator, optionally a macromer, and optionally a chain transfer agent, and polymerizing the mixture thus obtained at a temperature of 50 to 200° C., wherein after discharging the reactor vessel content, the interior surface of the reactor vessel walls and/or any internals present in the reactor vessel are blasted with round media. |
| US08530607B2 |
Aromatic ether and alkynyl containing phthalonitriles
Compounds having the formulas below. R is an aromatic-containing group. Each M is an alkali metal. Each m is a positive integer. The value of n is a positive integer. The value p is 0 or 1. If p is 0 then n is 1. A thermoset made by curing a composition containing the below phthalonitrile monomers. A method of reacting a diphenyl acetylene compound with an excess of an aromatic diol in the presence of an alkali metal carbonate to form the above oligomer. A method of reacting a phenoxyphthalonitrile with an acetylene compound to form the phthalonitrile monomer below. |
| US08530605B2 |
Poly(arylene sulfide) and production process thereof
The invention provides a production process of a poly(arylene sulfide), comprising a polymerization step of subjecting at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound to a polymerization reaction in an organic amide solvent; a reaction step of adding a hydroxyl group-containing organic compound containing no bonded halogen atom in a proportion of 0.001 to 20 mol per 100 mol of the charged sulfur source into the polymerization reaction system containing the organic amide solvent and a formed polymer after the polymerization step to cause the formed polymer to react with the hydroxyl group-containing organic compound; and a collecting step of collecting a polymer from the polymerization reaction system after the reaction step, and the poly(arylene sulfide). |
| US08530597B2 |
High molecular weight compact structured polymers, methods of making and using
A structured water soluble polymer produced by polymerization of amine-containing monomers or pre-formed polymers is described. Various structured polymers are prepared and characterized. The structured polymers are particularly valued in the papermaking industry. |
| US08530596B2 |
Polymer for forming insulating film, composition for forming insulating film, insulating film, and electronic device having same
A polymer and composition useful in forming an insulating film provided with a low permittivity, a high heat resistance, and a high mechanical strength and an insulating film obtained from these and an electronic device having the same are provided. The polymer for forming an insulating film according to the present invention is characterized by being obtained by polymerizing a reactive compound represented by Formula (1). The insulating film according to the present invention is formed using a composition for forming an insulating film including that polymer, has molecular spaces having an average space size of 0.7 nm to 5 nm, and has a permittivity of 2.3 or less. The electronic device according to the present invention has the insulating film. (wherein R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different from each other and respectively represent an organic group having a ring structure; X and Y are the same or different from each other and respectively represent an aromatic organic group having a reactive group; and n represents 0 or 1). |
| US08530594B2 |
Copolymers of alkoxythiophene
The synthesis, characterization, optical and electrochemical properties of a regioregular copolymer, poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl-co-3-decyloxythiophene-2,5-diyl) (POT-co-DOT), and an alternating regioregular copolymer poly{(9,9-dioctylfluorene)-2,7-diyl-alt-[4,7-bis(3-decyloxythien-2-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole]-5′,5″-diyl} (PF-co-DTB) is disclosed. The incorporation of 3-alkoxythiophene units onto the conjugated backbones enhances the electron-donating property of the polymer and lowers its bandgap. The fabrication and performance of photovoltaic cells with bulk heterojunction architecture based on blends of these copolymers with PCBM are also described. |
| US08530592B2 |
Catalyst components based on fulvene complexes
The present invention discloses metallic complexes based on hydroxyl-carbonyl fulvene ligands, their method of preparation and their use in the oligomerization or polymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefins. |
| US08530591B2 |
Emulsion polymers having increased chalky substrate adhesion
The present invention relates to a latex composition containing polymer particles that are polymerized in at least two stages including a first phase polymer having a relatively high molecular weight and a relatively high glass transition temperature, and a second phase polymer having a relatively low molecular weight, a relatively high glass transition temperature, and polymerized from constituent monomers that include a crosslinkable monomer. Paint compositions and architectural coatings containing the latex composition according to the invention are also described herein, as well as substrates coated therewith. |
| US08530590B2 |
Soft silicone materials for ophthalmic applications
Described herein are silicone fluids and silicone materials that posses high glass transition temperatures (Tgs) when compared to conventional silicone materials. In one embodiment, an increased Tg allows the formation of objects and materials by cryogenic lathing. The fluids and materials can be formed by curing silicone fluid with a cross-linker mixture comprising a cross-linker and a monofunctional hydride compound. Upon formation, the silicone materials can be extracted over long periods of time without loss of optical quality. The silicone materials can be sufficiently soft allowing folding and insertion through small incisions in the eye. Additionally, methods of forming optical silicone materials, lenses and silicone materials in general are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the method of forming a silicone based lens using cryogenic lathing techniques is described. |
| US08530585B2 |
Crosslinker, crosslinked polymer material, and production method of the crosslinked polymer material
The present invention provides a crosslinker used for crosslinking a polymer material having, in the molecule thereof, a multiple bond reactable with a nitrile oxide, the crosslinker including a bifunctional nitrile oxide having an aromatic nitrile oxide derivative structure in which one hydrogen atom of an aromatic ring is substituted with a nitrile oxide group and all hydrogen atoms at an ortho-position of the nitrile oxide group are substituted with a substituent other than a nitrile oxide group, wherein two such aromatic nitrile oxide derivative structures are bonded to either two oxy groups of a di-oxy structure having the two oxy groups or two carbonyl groups of a di-carbonyl structure having the two carbonyl groups. |
| US08530577B2 |
Compatibilized polypropylene heterophasic copolymer and polylactic acid blends for injection molding applications
Injection molded articles and process of forming the same are described herein. The processes generally include providing a polyolefin including one or more propylene heterophasic copolymers, the polyolefin having an ethylene content of at least 10 wt. % based on the total weight of the polyolefin; contacting the polyolefin with a polylactic acid and a reactive modifier to form a compatiblized polymeric blend, wherein the reactive modifier is produced by contacting a polypropylene, a multifunctional acrylate comonomer, and an initiator under conditions suitable for the formation of a glycidyl methacrylate grafted polypropylene (PP-g-GMA) having a grafting yield in a range from 1 wt. % to 15 wt. %; and injection molding the compatibilized polymeric blend into an article. |
| US08530574B2 |
Aqueous polymer dispersion and use thereof as binder for coating substrates
The present invention provides aqueous finely divided polymer dispersions which at low temperatures are film-forming, exhibit good blocking resistance in a formulation, even at elevated temperatures, and display a low foam tendency, processes for preparing them, and their use as binders for coating substrates. |
| US08530568B2 |
Flowable polyamides with hyperbranched polyesters/polycarbonates
Thermoplastic molding compositions, comprising A) from 10 to 99% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polyamide, B) from 0.01 to 50% by weight of B1) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polycarbonate with an OH number of from 1 to 600 mg KOH/g of polycarbonate (to DIN 53240, Part 2), or B2) at least one highly branched or hyperbranched polyester of AxBy type, where x is at least 1.1 and y is at least 2.1, or a mixture of these, C) from 0 to 60% by weight of other additives, where the total of the percentages by weight of components A) to C) is 100%. |
| US08530561B2 |
Nonmetal material modified thermoplastic resin composite and a method for preparing products using said composite
The invention relates to nonmetal material modified thermoplastic resin composite, comprising the following materials by weight percentages: 50-70% of filling, 25-40% of polypropylene, 3-6% of maleic anhydride modified polypropylene, 1-3% of titanium dioxide and 1-2% antioxidant. Said filling has been modified by stearic acid. The invention also provides a method for producing products like sanitary wares, hardware of sanitary wares, outdoor products, decorative pipes of external walls and decorations of public scenes using the nonmetal material modified thermoplastic resin composite. The raw materials are widely available and the preparation does not require long-time burning with high energy consumption, thus possessing the advantages such as low energy consumption, high mechanical automation degree, low labor intensity, and high yield, which is applicable to industrial mass production. The invented nonmetal material modified thermoplastic resin composite is applicable to the production of sanitary wares, hardware of sanitary wares, outdoor products, decorative pipes of external walls and decorations of public scenes. |
| US08530554B1 |
Precursors for the polymer-assisted deposition of films
A polymer assisted deposition process for deposition of metal oxide films is presented. The process includes solutions of one or more metal precursor and soluble polymers having binding properties for the one or more metal precursor. After a coating operation, the resultant coating is heated at high temperatures to yield metal oxide films. Such films can be epitaxial in structure and can be of optical quality. The process can be organic solvent-free. |
| US08530553B2 |
Binder composition for spray
A binder composition for spray used for interior materials is disclosed to provide glass wool or rock wool with an adhesive force by simultaneously spraying two solutions onto the glass wool or rock wool so that the glass wool or rock wool is adhered to steel or concrete to enhance effects of heat insulation and sound insulation. The binder composition contains a first solution of 200 to 400 parts by weight consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, preservative, antifoaming agent and purified water, and a second solution of 100 parts by weight consisting of boric acid, basic compound, glycerin and purified water. |
| US08530552B1 |
Poly(phenylene ether) composition, article, and method
A composition includes specific amounts of poly(phenylene ether), polymerized styrene residue, and polymerized acrylonitrile residue. The composition can be prepared using a recycled homopolystyrene that includes an acrylonitrile copolymer as an impurity. The composition largely preserves the desirable properties of a corresponding composition prepared from virgin resins without requiring chemical compatibilization of the poly(phenylene ether) and the acrylonitrile copolymer. |
| US08530551B2 |
Flame-retardant impact-modified battery boxes based on polycarbonate I
Battery box comprising compositions containing A) 70.0 to 90.0 parts by weight of linear and/or branched aromatic polycarbonate and/or aromatic polyester carbonate, B) 6.0 to 15.0 parts by weight of at least one graft polymer, C) 2.0 to 15.0 parts by weight of one or more phosphorus compounds, D) 0 to 3.0 parts by weight of antidripping agents, E) 0 to 3.0 parts by weight of thermoplastic vinyl (co)polymer (E.1) and/or polyalkylene terephthalate (E.2), and F) 0 to 20.0 parts by weight of further additives, wherein the compositions are optionally free from rubber-free polyalkyl(alkyl)acrylate. |
| US08530547B2 |
Chloroprene rubber composition and its application
To provide a chloroprene rubber composition with which a vulcanized rubber having further improved heat resistance without impairing mechanical properties, the compression set and the tension fatigue can be obtained, and a rubber member for an automobile, a hose, a rubber molded article and a rubber vibration insulator comprising the vulcanized rubber.A chloroprene rubber composition, which comprises 100 parts by mass of at least one chloroprene rubber selected from the group consisting of a xanthogen-modified chloroprene rubber and a mercaptan-modified chloroprene rubber, and from 15 to 200 parts by mass of carbon black having a number average particle size of from 70 nm to 600 nm and having a DBP oil absorption of from 15 ml/100 g to 60 ml/100 g by oil absorption method A of JIS K6221. |
| US08530546B2 |
Curable composition comprising inorganic oxide microparticles that are surface-modified with maleimide groups
This invention is drawn to a curable composition that has excellent smoothness when a plastic substrate is coated therewith. Also disclosed are active energy beam curable compositions, such as actinically curable compositions, that can be cured without using a photopolymerization initiator, or with the use of a small amount thereof. This object is achieved by the presence of surface treated inorganic oxide microparticles. Such particles are obtained by reacting an alkoxysilane compound (a1) represented by the Formula (1) below and inorganic oxide microparticles (a2) in the presence of water and an organic solvent: (P—SiO3/2)1-a(P—Si(R0)O2/2)a(O1/2R3)z (1) in which P denotes a maleimide containing group, R3 denotes a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, R0 denotes a monovalent organic group, a is 0 or a positive number and satisfies 0≦a <1, and z is a positive number and satisfies 0.1 ≦z ≦2. |
| US08530537B2 |
Black photosensitive resin composition and light blocking layer using the same
Disclosed are a black photosensitive resin composition that includes (A) an organic binder resin, (B) a reactive unsaturated compound, (C) a photopolymerization initiator, (D) a black pigment including carbon black and a silver-tin-containing alloy, and (E) a solvent, and a light blocking layer using the same. |
| US08530534B2 |
Trimerization catalysts from sterically hindered salts
The present invention provides trimerization catalyst compositions having a sterically hindered carboxylate salt and methods to produce a polyisocyanurate/-polyurethane foam using such trimerization catalyst compositions. |
| US08530533B2 |
Water-blown rigid foams for the insulation of liquefied natural gas tanks
The present invention relates to a rigid polyurethane foam comprising reinforcing materials which can be obtained by mixing (a) isocyanates which have a viscosity at 25° C. of less than 500 mPas with (b) compounds having groups which are reactive toward isocyanates, (c) blowing agents comprising water, (d) catalysts and, if appropriate, (e) further additives to form a reaction mixture and applying the reaction mixture to a reinforcing material, wherein the compounds (b) having groups which are reactive toward isocyanates comprise a polyetherol (b1) having a functionality of 4 or more and a viscosity at 25° C. of 10 000 mPas or less and a polyetherol (b2) having a functionality of 3 or less and a viscosity at 25° C. of 500 mPas or less. The present invention further relates to a process for producing such rigid polyurethane foams and the use of the rigid polyurethane foams for the insulation of liquefied natural gas tanks. |
| US08530532B2 |
Hydrogel contact lenses having improved wettability
The present invention relates to a hydrogel contact lens having improved wettability, and particularly to a hydrogel contact lens of a complex membrane having an IPN (interpenetrating polymer network) intra structure, which is prepared by crosslinking composition for a contact lens comprising, as a main ingredient, an acryl monomer and an oligosaccharide and optionally a silicone compound. Due to the presence of an oligosaccharide in a contact lens herein, tensile strength and wettability can be maximized to provide a superior wearing feeling and maintain wettability even after a long-term storage in a care solution such as a washing solution, a storage solution and a protein-removing solution. |
| US08530531B2 |
Method for the recycling of polyvinyl butyral
Method for the recycling of polyvinyl butyral based on obtaining recycled polyvinyl butyral (PVB) from laminated glass which is shattered and the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is separated. The sheet obtained is cut into pieces and cleaned to eliminate dirt and foreign matter. The solid state PVB is subjected to a first polyvinyl butyral (PVB) purification stage with a chemical treatment with a first reagent and a final chemical treatment with a second reagent. The obtained purified polyvinyl butyral is suitable to be used in the manufacture of laminated glass. |
| US08530527B2 |
Food ingredients from Stevia rebaudiana
Various ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. |
| US08530526B2 |
Biobeneficial coating compositions and methods of making and using thereof
A biobeneficial coating composition for coating an implantable device, such as a drug eluting stent, a method of coating the device with the composition, and an implantable device coated with the composition are provided. |
| US08530518B2 |
Salts of dihydrojasmonic acid and use thereof in agriculture
A compound comprising a water soluble salt of formula (I) wherein R1 is a C1-10alkyl group; or a C2-10alkenyl group; M is a cation of valency n, provided that when R1 is a pent-2-enyl group, Mn+ is other than sodium or potassium. These salts are particularly suitable for use in agricultural formulations. The formulations may further comprise benzoic acid derivatives and/or antioxidants. |
| US08530516B2 |
Promoting cycling of ApoE4 isoform
Cycling of ApoE4 isoform is promoted in a person in need thereof by contacting the person with an effective amount of a pharmaceutically-acceptable modulator of intracellular ApoE4 transport vesicle pH. |
| US08530511B2 |
Administration of dithiolane compounds for photoprotecting the skin
Dithiolane compounds having the structural formula (I): are useful for reinforcing and/or preserving the natural antioxidant protection of the skin against oxidative stress caused, especially, by UV radiation, e.g., by increasing the level of intracellular glutathione. |
| US08530509B2 |
Compounds, compositions and methods for treatment and prevention of orthopoxvirus infections and associated diseases
Methods of using di, tri, and tetracyclic acylhydrazide derivatives and analogs, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections and diseases associated therewith, particularly those viral infections and associated diseases caused by the orthopoxvirus. |
| US08530506B2 |
Process for production of biphenyl derivative
The invention provides a production method of a biaryltetrazole derivative useful as an intermediate for an angiotensin II receptor antagonist.The method comprises reacting an aryltetrazole derivative with a benzene derivative, deprotecting or reducing the resulting compound and halogenating the deprotected or reduced compound. |
| US08530505B2 |
Substituted oxazolidinones and their use in the field of blood coagulation
The invention relates to the field of blood coagulation. Novel oxazolidinone derivatives of the general formula (I) processes for their preparation and their use as medicinally active compounds for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of disorders are described. |
| US08530501B2 |
Salts and crystalline forms of a factor Xa inhibitor
The present invention provides salts and crystalline forms of the compound 5-chloro-N-((1-(4-(2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl)phenyl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)thiophene-2-carboxamide, and pharmaceutical compositions and method of use thereof. |
| US08530500B2 |
Stable pharmaceutical omeprazole formulation for oral administration
The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical solution or syrup formulation for oral administration comprising; omeprazole, a solubilizing agent, a sweetening agent, a flavoring agent, and an antioxidant. |
| US08530499B2 |
Glucokinase activators
Compounds of the following formula are provided for use with glucokinase: wherein the variables are as 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 said compounds. |
| US08530495B2 |
Nalmefene hydrochloride dihydrate
The present invention relates to the Nalmefene hydrochloride dihydrate, methods of manufacturing Nalmefene hydrochloride dihydrate, a pharmaceutical composition comprising Nalmefene hydrochloride dihydrate and a method of treatment comprising administering Nalmefene hydrochloride dihydrate. |
| US08530491B2 |
Antimalarial compounds with flexible side-chains
The present invention relates to novel compounds that are inhibitors of wild type and mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of Plasmodium falciparum, which are useful for the treatment of malaria. It also relates to processes of making and using such compounds. The antimalarial compounds of the present invention have low toxicity to a host infected with the malarial parasite, and are potent when administered in pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US08530487B1 |
Compounds useful for treating disorders related to TRPA1
Compounds and compositions for treating disorders related to TRPA1 are described herein. |
| US08530486B2 |
Quinazolines and related heterocyclic compounds, and their therapeutic use
A compound of the formula (I) wherein X is CR1 or N; Y is CR3 or N; R1, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, or a hydrocarbon group which optionally contains one or more heteroatoms; R7 is a heterocyclic group including one or more N atoms; R′ is Rx or NRyRz wherein Rx, Ry and Rz are each H or the same or different groups, including cyclic groups formed by Ry and Rz with the N atom, of up to 20 C atoms and optionally including up to 3 further heteroatoms selected from N, O and S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or solvate thereof. |
| US08530480B2 |
Substituted pyrimidinyl-amines as protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides novel substituted pyrimidinyl-amines that are useful as inhibitors of protein kinases, especially c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of using the same for treating conditions responsive to the inhibition of the JNK pathway. |
| US08530478B2 |
Piperazine derivatives used as CAV2.2 calcium channel modulators
The present invention relates to novel piperazine derivatives (I); to processes for their preparation; to pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatives; and to the use of the derivatives in therapy to treat diseases for which blocking the Cav2.2 calcium channels is beneficial. |
| US08530477B2 |
Tropane urea derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic application thereof as modulators of the activity of 11betaHSD1
The invention relates to tropane urea derivatives of general formula (I) and to the application thereof as modulators of the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenose type 1 (11βHSD1). |
| US08530476B2 |
Piperazinyl and piperidinyl ureas as modulators of fatty acid amide hydrolase
Certain piperazinyl and piperidinyl urea compounds are useful as FAAH inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activity. Thus, the compounds may be administered to treat, e.g., anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or movement disorders (such as multiple sclerosis). |
| US08530474B2 |
Substituted 6-(1-piperazinyl)-pyridazines as 5-HT6 receptor antagonists
The present invention is concerned with novel substituted 6-(1-piperazinyl)-pyridazines of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and X have the meaning defined in the claims, having 5-HT6-antagonistic properties. The invention further relates to processes for preparing such novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said novel compound as an active ingredient as well as the use of said compounds as a medicine. |
| US08530473B2 |
Tetrahydroquinoxaline urea derivatives as modulators of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1
The invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I), as defined herein which is useful in modulating the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) and are useful for treating pathologies in which such modulation is beneficial, as in the case of metabolic syndrome or of noninsulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical preparations containing such a compound, processes for preparing and intermediates useful in the preparation of a such a compound. |
| US08530467B2 |
Benzoimidazole compounds and uses thereof
This invention generally relates to substituted benzoimidazole compounds, particularly methyl 2-((2-(2,6-difluoro-4-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl)-5-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate and salts thereof. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such a compound, uses of such a compound (including, for example, treatment methods and medicament preparations), processes for making such a compound, and intermediates used in such processes. |
| US08530465B2 |
1, 2-disubstituted amido-anthraquinone derivatives, preparation method and application thereof
The invention provides a series of novel 1,2-disubstituted amido-anthraquinone derivatives. Further, the invention also provides the preparation method and application of said derivatives, said application comprises: said derivatives with therapeutically effective amount are prepared into pharmaceutical compositions for inhibition of cancer cell growth, further treating cancer. |
| US08530461B2 |
Azetidine derivatives
Azetidine derivatives of which the following is exemplary and their use in the treatment of obesity, diabetes or dyslipidemia. |
| US08530456B2 |
Sonic hedgehog modulators
The present invention relates to macrocyclic small molecule inhibitors of the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway, syntheses thereof, and intermediates thereto. Such small molecule modulators of the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases (e.g., basal cell carcinoma, Gorlin syndrome, medulloblastoma, or pancreatic cancer), pulmonary diseases (e.g., interstitial pnuemonitis or interstitial pulmonary fibrosis), and developmental disorders (e.g., phocomelia or cyclopia). Novel non-natural macrocycles are provided that inhibit Sonic Hedgehog induced-protein transcription. |
| US08530452B2 |
Tricyclic boron compounds for antimicrobial therapy
Provided herein are antimicrobial tricyclic boron compounds of the following formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, complexes, or tautomers thereof that are antibacterial agents, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, methods for their use, and methods for preparing these compounds. |
| US08530446B2 |
Oral composition containing difructose anhydride
An oral composition for increasing equol production by inner-intestinal bacteria, wherein such composition contains difructose anhydride as an active ingredient to activate the equol production function of inner-intestinal bacteria. |
| US08530444B2 |
Pharmaceutical compounds
Novel compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are provided. In one aspect of the invention the compounds may be utilized in medical practice, for example, in treatment of cancer and immune disorders. |
| US08530443B2 |
miR-150 for the treatment of blood disorders
The invention provides methods of treating certain blood related disorders, in particular, thrombocytopenia and anemia comprising increasing miR-150 expression or inhibiting miR-150 in progenitor cells respectively. |
| US08530441B2 |
Transgene delivering retrovirus targeting collagen exposed at site of tissue injury
A viral or non-viral vector particle having a modified viral surface protein wherein the viral surface protein is modified to include a targeting polypeptide including a binding region which binds to an extracellular matrix component. Such vector particles are useful in delivering genes encoding therapeutic agents to cells located at the site of an exposed extracellular matrix component. |
| US08530438B2 |
Vivo production of small interfering RNAs that mediate gene silencing
The invention provides engineered RNA precursors that when expressed in a cell are processed by the cell to produce targeted small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that selectively silence targeted genes (by cleaving specific mRNAs) using the cell's own RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. By introducing nucleic acid molecules that encode these engineered RNA precursors into cells in vivo with appropriate regulatory sequences, expression of the engineered RNA precursors can be selectively controlled both temporally and spatially, i.e., at particular times and/or in particular tissues, organs, or cells. |
| US08530434B2 |
Nitroxide free radical synergized antineoplastic agents
Nitroxide free radicals attached to antineoplastic agents can synergize their potencies to cancer cells. This invention relates to any antineoplastic agents and their derivatives chemically attached with nitroxide free radicals, such as TEMPO and its radical derivatives. This invention also relates to precursors of such compounds, as well as the products formed from the adducts after administration. |
| US08530433B2 |
Use of icariside II in manufacture of products for preventing or treating male or female sexual dysfunction
The present invention provides the use of icariside II or extract comprising thereof in manufacture of products for preventing or treating male or female sexual dysfunction, in particular, the use for improving pathological or organical changes in erectile tissues of patients with erectile dysfunction. |
| US08530432B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating conditions
The invention relates to compositions comprising of SEQ NO: 1-244, 248-249, and any homologs, analogs, and fragments thereof. Such compositions can be used to treat, prevent, and modulate pain, inflammation, and metabolic processes in various organisms including plants and animals. Such compositions can be formulated with an acceptable pharmaceutical excipient for administration to a human or a plant. The compositions can be administered topically or for systemic use. |
| US08530428B2 |
Treating cancer with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor
Methods for treating cancer (e.g., metastatic cancer to the lung or chronic lymphocytic leukemia) in patients are described that include administrating an aerosolized granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor to the patients. Methods for stimulating an immune response in patients also are described. |
| US08530426B2 |
Cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition comprising at least one UDP glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) enzymes inducer
The invention relates to topical use of at least one UGT inducer for the preparation of a cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical composition comprising a dermatologically acceptable carrier to protect and/or enhance the state of the skin and prevent and/or treat imperfections of the skin. |
| US08530424B2 |
System and method to improve sensory function
A system and method to improve sensory functions in the hand or foot by dermal topical application of a local anaesthetic substance to adjacent skin areas, using a tailored application device or kit specially designed to fit the size and anatomical shape of the body part which is to be anesthetized. The concept is to block sensory input from the anesthetized skin area hereby inducing a functional reorganization in sensory brain cortex resulting in enhanced sensory functions in body parts adjacent to the anesthetized area with focus on the hand and sole of the foot. |
| US08530421B2 |
Isolated polypeptides used for treatment of inflammatory diseases and inhibiting cancer metastasis
The present invention relates to a polypeptide derived from a highly conserved region (HCR) I-III of an extracellular region of a CD99 and CD99 family such as CD99L2 and PBDX(or XG), which are a kind of transmembrane protein, or a fused protein thereof. The polypeptide or the fused protein thereof has an activating function of inhibiting the extravasation of white blood cells, or inhibiting the growth and/or metastasis of cancer cells. The present invention also provides a polynucleotide coding the polypeptide, a vector including same, and a transformant transformed by the vector. In addition, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition including the polypeptide or the fused protein thereof for preventing or treating inflammatory diseases. Further, the present invention provides a is pharmaceutical composition including the polypeptide or the fused protein thereof inhibiting the growth and/or metastasis of cancer cells, i.e., a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer. |
| US08530420B2 |
Treatment of arthritis with parathyroid hormone
A method for treating and/or inhibiting arthritis is provided. The method includes administering an effective amount of a composition including a parathyroid hormone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or salt to a subject with arthritis. Additionally, a method for inhibiting and/or rescuing terminal differentiation of cells is also provided. |
| US08530414B2 |
Antibodies to PCSK9 and uses thereof
The present invention relates to antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), or antigen-binding fragments thereof, compositions comprising such PCSK9 antibodies or antigen-binding fragments, and methods of using the same for the treatment of hyperlipidemia or hypercholesterolemia. |
| US08530412B2 |
Ejection liquid, ejection method, method of making droplets from liquid, cartridge and ejection device
The present invention provides a liquid composition, as an ejection liquid used for stably ejecting liquid droplets, including at least one kind of a protein and a peptide, and a compound having a betaine skeleton by application of thermal energy to the liquid; a method of making droplets form the liquid; and an ejection method and an ejection device suitable for utilizing protein liquid droplets. By adding a compound having a betaine skeleton to an aqueous solution of at least one kind of a protein and a peptide, the liquid composition is improved in stability for ejection by application of thermal energy. Further, a surfactant may be further added to the liquid composition containing the compound having a betaine skeleton, and in this case the effect of stable ejection can be obtained. |
| US08530410B2 |
Method for treating a keloid with a botulinum toxin
Methods for treating melanin related afflictions by local administration of a Clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum toxin, to a patient with a melanin related affliction. |
| US08530403B2 |
Solidification matrix using a maleic-containing terpolymer binding agent
A solidification matrix includes a maleic-containing terpolymer, sodium carbonate, and water. The maleic-containing terpolymer, sodium carbonate, and water interact to form a hydrate solid. The solidification matrix may be used, for example, in a solid detergent composition. |
| US08530402B2 |
Cleaning solvent with nanofabricated particles
A cleaning apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an article to be cleaned, a cleaning solvent dispenser configured to supply a cleaning solvent to the container, an energy generator configured to provide thermal energy to an interior of the container; and a control device in communication with the energy generator and configured to select thermal energy sufficient to sublimate the particles. The cleaning solvent comprises a solvent and nanofabricated particles dispersed therein. The control device controls the energy generator to provide thermal energy to the cleaning solvent in container in which the article is submerged in order to cause sublimation of the particles. |
| US08530400B2 |
Maintenance liquid for inkjet printers
Provided is a maintenance liquid for inkjet printers, which comprises at least one of glycol ethers and glycol esters represented by the following general formulas (1) to (3), and 45 to 10 mg/L of dissolved oxygen: R1CO(OR2)xOR3 General formula (1) R4CO(OR5)YOCOR6 General formula (2) R7(OR8)ZOR9 General formula (3) wherein R2, R5, and R8 each independently represent an ethylene group or a propylene group, R1, R3, R4, and R6 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R7 and R9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and X, Y, and Z each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4. |
| US08530398B2 |
Aqueous hair cleansing agent
The aqueous hair cleansing agent of the present invention contains components (A), (B), (C), and (D) below: (A) a sulfate type anionic surfactant represented by the general formula (1) below R1O(CH2CH2O)nSO3M (1); (B) a polyoxypropylene alkyl ether type nonionic surfactant represented by the general formula (2) below R2O(CH2CH(CH3)O)mH (2); (C) a monoalkyl glyceryl ether or monoalkenyl glyceryl ether type nonionic surfactant having an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms; and (D) an alkylhydroxysulfobetaine type amphoteric surfactant represented by the general formula (3) below the mass ratio of components (B) and (D) being (B)/(D) =3/2 to 1/4. |
| US08530393B2 |
Methods to characterize fracture plugging efficiency for drilling fluids
Of the many compositions and methods provided herein, one method includes providing a drilling fluid comprising a base drilling fluid and a plurality of particulates, wherein the base drilling fluid without the particulates is characterized by N1(B) and wherein the base drilling fluid with the particulates is characterized by N1(A); and adjusting a concentration of the particulates in the drilling fluid by comparing the value of ΔN1(F) to ΔN1(P) so that ΔN1(F)≧ΔN1(P), wherein ΔN1(F)=|N1(A)|−|N1(B)|. |
| US08530390B2 |
Mechanical decoupling in high-temperature superconducting tapes
A novel method and structure for creating a high-temperature superconducting tape. The concept of the invention is to use a conductor insulation which not only electrically insulates the conductors of the coil windings from each other, but also mechanically insulates them from the much stronger encapsulant. The insulation material mechanically decouples the conductor from the encapsulant at the boundary between them, thereby preventing damage as a result of thermal and electromagnetic shearing forces. The proposed structure allows the encapsulant to continue performing its functions of preventing coarse motion and stabilizing the coil as a whole, while allowing fine relative displacements of individual coil windings caused by radial stress gradients. |
| US08530385B2 |
Herbicidal formulations for combinations of dimethylamine and potassium salts of glyphosate
A high strength herbicidal composition including: water; glyphosate, predominantly in the form of a combination of dimethylamine salt and potassium salt, in solution in the water in an amount of about 350 grams or greater of acid equivalent per liter of the composition, wherein the composition is formulated to include dimethylamine in an amount to form a salt with about 5% or greater, by weight, of total glyphosate and to include potassium in an amount to form a salt with a percentage of total glyphosate so that the combined sum of glyphosate in dimethylamine and potassium salts is at least 45% of total glyphosate; and optionally, one or more surfactants and/or one or more humectants. |
| US08530381B2 |
Active compound combinations
The invention relates to active compound combinations, in particular within a composition, which comprises (A) an amidine compound of formula (I) and a further fungicidally (B-1), insecticidally (B-2) active or plant growth regulating compound (B-3). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants or reducing the mycotoxin contamination of plant or plant parts, to the use of a combination according to the invention for the treatment of seed, to a method for protecting a seed and not at least to the treated seed. |
| US08530378B2 |
Apparatus and method for destroying confidential medical information on labels for medicines
The present disclosure provides a microwaveable information destruction apparatus for rendering unreadable indicia printed on a label. In various embodiments the apparatus comprises an attachable information destruction strip structured and operable to be adhered to a substrate having disposed thereon a thermally responsive label with indicia printed thereon and/or the thermally responsive label. The information destruction is attachable such that the information destruction strip is in a thermally conductive relationship with the thermally responsive label. The information destruction strip is sized to cover at least the indicia printed on the thermally responsive label. Additionally, the information destruction strip comprises a microwave activated material operable to generate heat when exposed to microwave energy. The generated heat is of sufficient intensity to heat the thermally responsive label to a temperature sufficient to cause the thermally responsive label to react and render the indicia unreadable. |
| US08530374B2 |
Catalyst body for production of brush-shaped carbon nanostructure
It is intended to highly efficiently produce a high-density brush shaped carbon nanostructure useful in the production of CNT assembly, such as rope-shaped CNTs, and provide a catalyst body for production of brush-shaped carbon nanostructure that enables the production. The catalyst body for production of brush-shaped carbon nanostructure is one comprising a substrate (32), an aggregation suppressive layer (34) superimposed on a surface thereof and a catalyst layer superimposed on the aggregation suppressive layer (34). The catalyst layer is a catalyst particle layer (44) consisting of metallic catalyst particles (42) composed mainly of a catalytic metal. The metallic catalyst particles (42) have an average particle diameter, D, satisfying the relationship 0.5 nm≦D≦80 nm, and individual particles of the metallic catalyst particles (42) have a diameter, d, falling within the range of the above average particle diameter (D). Further, there are disclosed a process for producing the catalyst body, a brush-shaped carbon nanostructure and a process for producing the same. |
| US08530373B2 |
Catalyst and process for the manufacture of ultra-low sulfur distillate product
Described is a catalyst and process useful in the hydrodesulfurization of a distillate feedstock to manufacture a low-sulfur distillate product. The catalyst comprises a calcined mixture of inorganic oxide material, a high concentration of a molybdenum component, and a high concentration of a Group VIII metal component. The mixture that is calcined to form the calcined mixture comprises molybdenum trioxide, a Group VIII metal compound, and an inorganic oxide material. The catalyst is made by mixing the aforementioned starting materials and forming therefrom an agglomerate that is calcined to yield the calcined mixture that may be used as the catalyst or catalyst precursor. |
| US08530372B2 |
Oxygen storage catalyst with decreased ceria reduction temperature
Catalysts, systems and methods for abating emissions in an exhaust stream are provided. Systems comprising a transition metal oxide stabilized oxygen storage catalyst are described. The emissions treatment system is advantageously used for the treatment of exhaust streams from lean burn engines including diesel engines and lean burn gasoline engines. |
| US08530365B2 |
Composition for improving the stability and operational performance and reducing the environmental impact of asphalt mixes
A composition useful as an additive for asphalt mixes, such as stone matrix asphalt and porous asphalt, comprising the mineral porcelanite and either an activating agent or amorphous silica, and asphalt mixes comprising the composition. The asphalt mixes are stable and meet performance requirements according to national standards. The asphalt mixes require less bitumen than fiber-stabilized mixes, and can be mixed for less time at a lower temperature. The asphalt mixes comprising the inventive composition are thus more economical and environmentally friendly than existing asphalt mixes. |
| US08530364B2 |
Material mixture for producing a fireproof material, fireproof molded body and method for the manufacturing thereof
A material mixture for producing a fireproof material, including spinel and zirconium oxide and a coarse-grained fraction with a weight fraction of greater than 50% and a fine-grained fraction, wherein the coarse-grained fraction includes coarse grains with dimensions larger than 20 μm and the fine-grained fraction includes fine grains with dimensions smaller than 20 μm. |
| US08530363B2 |
Cermets from molten metal infiltration processing
New cermets with improved properties and applications are provided. These new cermets have lower density and/or higher hardness than B4C cermet. By incorporating other new ceramics into B4C powders or as a substitute for B4C, lower densities and/or higher hardness cermets result. The ceramic powders have much finer particle size than those previously used which significantly reduces grain size of the cermet microstructure and improves the cermet properties. |
| US08530362B2 |
Leather coating compositions having improved embossability
The present invention provides aqueous compositions of one or more divalent metal crosslinked aqueous carboxylic acid group containing acrylic polymer having a Tg of ≦10° C. and one or more acrylic oligomer of a molecular weight of 20,000 or less and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of equal to or lower than the Tg of the aqueous carboxylic acid group containing acrylic polymer. IN addition, the present invention provides methods of forming such compositions by polymerizing the aqueous carboxylic acid group containing acrylic polymer as a first stage of a multi-stage polymerization, followed by polymerizing the acrylic oligomer in the second or a subsequent stage by polymerizing the monomers in the in second or a subsequent stage in the presence of a chain transfer agent. Preferably, the compositions are used in soft feel applications to coat leather for, for example, furniture for home use and upholstery for automotive use. |
| US08530361B2 |
Process for producing silicon and oxide films from organoaminosilane precursors
A method for depositing a silicon containing film on a substrate using an organoaminosilane is described herein. The organoaminosilanes are represented by the formulas: wherein R is selected from a C1-C10 linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with or without substituents; a C5-C10 aromatic group with or without substituents, a C3-C10 heterocyclic group with or without substituents, or a silyl group in formula C with or without substituents, R1 is selected from a C3-C10 linear, branched, cyclic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with or without substituents; a C6-C10 aromatic group with or without substituents, a C3-C10 heterocyclic group with or without substituents, a hydrogen atom, a silyl group with substituents and wherein R and R1 in formula A can be combined into a cyclic group and R2 representing a single bond, (CH2)n chain, a ring, C3-C10 branched alkyl, SiR2, or SiH2. |
| US08530358B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a manufacturing method of vertical cavity surface emitting laser. The method includes following steps: providing a substrate; forming an epitaxial layer stack including an aluminum-rich layer; forming an ion-doping mask including a ring-shaped opening; doping ions in the epitaxial layer stack through the ring-shaped opening and forming a ring-shaped ion-doped region over the aluminum-rich layer; forming an etching mask on the ion-doping mask for covering the ring-shaped opening of the ion-doping mask; etching the epitaxial layer stack through the etching mask and ion-doping mask for forming an island platform; oxidizing the aluminum-rich layer for forming a ring-shaped oxidized region. In addition, the present invention also discloses a vertical cavity surface emitting laser manufactured by the above mentioned method. |
| US08530356B2 |
Method of BARC removal in semiconductor device manufacturing
A method of removing a high molecular weight organic-comprising hard mask or BARC from a surface of a porous low k dielectric material, where a change in the dielectric constant of the low k dielectric material is less than about 5% after application of the method. The method comprises exposing the organic-comprising hard mask or BARC to nitric acid vapor which contains at least 68% by mass HNO3. |
| US08530354B2 |
Substrate processing method
The present invention provides a substrate processing method to process a substrate including at least a process layer, an intermediate layer, and a mask layer which are stacked in this order. The mask layer includes an aperture configured to expose a portion of the intermediate layer. The substrate processing method includes a material deposition step of depositing a material on a side surface of the aperture and exposing a portion of the process layer by etching the exposed portion of the intermediate layer by plasma generated from a deposit gas, and an etching step of etching the exposed portion of the process layer. |
| US08530352B2 |
Methods of patterning a material
Some embodiments include methods of forming openings. For instance, a construction may have a material over a plurality of electrically conductive lines. A plurality of annular features may be formed over the material, with the annular features crossing the lines. A patterned mask may be formed over the annular features, with the patterned mask leaving segments of the annular features exposed through a window in the patterned mask. The exposed segments of the annular features may define a plurality of openings, and such openings may be transferred into the material to form openings extending to the electrically conductive lines. |
| US08530350B2 |
Apparatuses including stair-step structures and methods of forming the same
Methods for forming semiconductor structures are disclosed, including a method that involves forming sets of conductive material and insulating material, forming a first mask over the sets, forming a first number of contact regions, forming a second mask over a first region of the sets, and removing material from of the sets in a second, exposed region laterally adjacent the first region to form a second number of contact regions. Another method includes forming first and second contact regions on portions of sets of conductive materials and insulating materials, each of the second contact regions more proximal to an underlying substrate than each of the first contact regions. Apparatuses such as memory devices including laterally adjacent first and second regions each including contact regions of a different portion of a plurality of conductive materials and related methods of forming such devices are also disclosed. |
| US08530348B1 |
Integration of non-noble DRAM electrode
A method for forming a capacitor stack is described. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first electrode structure is comprised of multiple materials. A first material is formed above the substrate. A portion of the first material is etched. A second material is formed above the first material. A portion of the second material is etched. Optionally, the first electrode structure receives an anneal treatment. A dielectric material is formed above the first electrode structure. Optionally, the dielectric material receives an anneal treatment. A second electrode material is formed above the dielectric material. Typically, the capacitor stack receives an anneal treatment. |
| US08530347B2 |
Electronic device including interconnects with a cavity therebetween and a process of forming the same
A process of forming an electronic device can include providing a first interconnect over a substrate having a primary surface, depositing a first insulating layer over the first interconnect, and patterning the first insulating layer to define an opening extending towards the first interconnect. The process can also include depositing a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer to seal the opening and form a cavity within the first opening, and forming a second interconnect over the first and second insulating layers. The cavity can be disposed between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. In another aspect, an electronic device can include a first interconnect, a first insulating layer defining a cavity, and a second interconnect. The cavity can be disposed between the first interconnect and the second interconnect, and a via may not be exposed within the cavity. |
| US08530345B2 |
Electrical contact alignment posts
An electronic apparatus and method of fabrication of the apparatus, the apparatus including a first electronic device having an interconnection surface with a first plurality of interconnection pads extending from the surface by a first distance and a second plurality of alignment posts extending from the surface by a second distance greater than the first distance, and a second electrical device having an interconnection surface with a first plurality of electrical interconnection pads, each pad arranged to contact a corresponding first electronic device interconnection surface pad upon assembly of the first electronic device interconnection surface upon the second electronic device interconnection surface, the second electronic device interconnection surface including a third plurality of alignment posts, each located to be adjacent to at least one of the first electronic device alignment posts upon assembly. |
| US08530342B2 |
Method of integrating epitaxial film onto assembly substrate
A method of growing an epitaxial film and transferring it to an assembly substrate is disclosed. The film growth and transfer are made using an epitaxy lateral overgrowth technique. The formed epitaxial film on an assembly substrate can be further processed to form devices such as solar cell, light emitting diode, and other devices and assembled into higher integration of desired applications. |
| US08530340B2 |
Epitaxial semiconductor deposition methods and structures
Methods for depositing epitaxial films such as epitaxial Ge and SiGe films. During cooling from high temperature processing to lower deposition temperatures for Ge-containing layers, Si or Ge compounds are provided to the substrate. Smooth, thin, relatively defect-free Ge or SiGe layers result. Retrograded relaxed SiGe is also provided between a relaxed, high Ge-content seed layer and an overlying strained layer. |
| US08530338B2 |
Structures of and methods for forming vertically aligned Si wire arrays
A structure consisting of vertically aligned wire arrays on a Si substrate and a method for producing such wire arrays. The wire arrays are fabricated and positioned on a substrate with an orientation and density particularly adapted for conversion of received light to energy. A patterned oxide layer is used to provide for wire arrays that exhibit narrow diameter and length distribution and provide for controlled wire position. |
| US08530334B2 |
Process of treating defects during the bonding of wafers
The invention concerns a process of preparing a thin layer to be transferred onto a substrate having a surface topology and, therefore, variations in altitude or level, in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the thin layer, this process comprising the formation on the thin layer of a layer of adhesive material, the thickness of which enables carrying out a plurality of polishing steps of its surface in order to eliminate any defect or void or almost any defect or void, in preparation for an assembly via a molecular kind of bonding with the substrate. |
| US08530330B2 |
Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of preventing the decrease of the width of an active region
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that can prevent the loss of an isolation structure and that can also stably form epi-silicon layers is described. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes defining trenches in a semiconductor substrate having active regions and isolation regions. The trenches are partially filled with a first insulation layer. An etch protection layer is formed on the surfaces of the trenches that are filled with the first insulation layer. A second insulation layer is filled in the trenches formed with the etch protection layer to form an isolation structure in the isolation regions of the semiconductor substrate. Finally, portions of the active regions of the semiconductor substrate are recessed such that the isolation structure has a height higher than the active regions of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08530315B2 |
finFET with fully silicided gate
A method is provided for fabricating a finFET device. Multiple fin structures are formed over a BOX layer, and a gate stack is formed on the BOX layer. The fin structures each include a semiconductor layer and extend in a first direction, and the gate stack is formed over the fin structures and extends in a second direction. The gate stack includes dielectric and polysilicon layers. Gate spacers are formed on vertical sidewalls of the gate stack, and an epi layer is deposited over the fin structures. Ions are implanted to form source and drain regions, and the gate spacers are etched so that their upper surface is below an upper surface of the gate stack. After etching the gate spacers, silicidation is performed to fully silicide the polysilicon layer of the gate stack and to form silicide regions in an upper surface of the source and drain regions. |
| US08530313B2 |
Method of manufacturing trench MOSFET structures using three masks process
In according with the present invention, a semiconductor device is formed as follows. A contact insulation layer is deposited on the top surface of said silicon layer. A contact mask is applied and following with a dry oxide etching to remove the contact insulation layer from contact open areas. The silicon layer is implanted with a source dopant through the contact open areas and the source dopant is diffused to form source regions, thereby a source mask is saved. A dry silicon etch is carried out to form trenched source-body contacts in the contact open areas, penetrating through the source regions and extending into the body regions. |
| US08530310B2 |
Memory cell with improved retention
A method for forming a device is presented. A substrate prepared with a feature having first and second adjacent surfaces is provided. A device layer is formed on the first and second adjacent surfaces of the feature. A first portion of the device layer over the first adjacent surface includes nano-crystals, whereas a second portion of the device layer over the second adjacent surface is devoid of nano-crystals. |