Document Document Title
US08537557B2 Mounting apparatus for expansion card
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, an expansion member attached to a first end of the expansion card and a mounting tray. The chassis includes a front plate and a rear plate opposite to the front plate. The expansion member is engaged with the rear plate. The mounting tray includes a first section and a second section connected to the first section. A retaining slot is defined in the first section. An engaging portion is disposed on the second section, and a positioning slot defined in the engaging portion. The positioning slot and the retaining slot are located in a longitudinal line. The first section is engaged with the front plate, and the retaining slot and the positioning slot receive a second end of the expansion card.
US08537556B2 Holding apparatus
The invention specifies a holding apparatus comprising a support element and a circuit board. A trench for receiving the circuit board is embodied in the support element. At least one first clamping element is arranged on one or both longitudinal sides of the circuit board and/or at least one second clamping element is arranged in the trench. As a result, the circuit board received by the trench is fixed in the trench in a clearance-free fashion.
US08537553B2 Devices having anisotropic conductivity heatsinks, and methods of making thereof
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a device includes a circuit board with a thermally conductive core layer and a chip disposed over the circuit board. The device further includes a heat sink disposed over the chip. The thermal conductivity of the heat sink along a first direction is larger than a thermal conductivity along a second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive core layer.
US08537552B2 Heat sink interface having three-dimensional tolerance compensation
A thermal interface includes a plurality of elevated regions and a plurality of mechanical tolerance circuits coupled to the plurality of elevated regions. The thermal interface is configured to be disposed between an array of heat generating elements and a heat sink with each of the plurality of elevated regions thermally coupled to a corresponding one or more of the array of heat generating elements. In one embodiment, the thermal interface provides a thermal path between a printed wiring board having a plurality of flip-chip circuit components disposed on an external surface thereof and a heat sink disposed over the flip-chip circuit components.
US08537551B2 Semiconductor device including semiconductor packages stacked on one another
The semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor packages stacked on one another. Each semiconductor package includes a main current electrode terminal disposed in a case section of the semiconductor package, the main current electrode terminal being exposed outside the case section to be electrically connected to an external power supply. The main current electrode terminal extends in the stack direction of the semiconductor packages, and embedded in the case section at a surface portion thereof facing an external surface of the case section. Both end surface portions of the main current electrode terminal in the stack direction respectively reach end surface portions of the case section in the stack direction so that the main current electrode terminals of each adjacent two of the semiconductor packages are in contact with each other when the semiconductor packages are stacked on one another in the stack direction.
US08537549B2 Housing for electronic device
A housing for an electronic device. The housing includes a first shell at least partly enclosing the electronic device, a second shell, and at least a first fan. The first shell is arranged to allow a gaseous fluid to surround the electronic device. The second shell at least partly encloses the first shell, and is arranged in relation to the first shell such that the gaseous fluid may be present between the shells. The at least first fan is arranged in an opening of the first shell such that it is capable of providing a flow of the gaseous fluid through the opening in the first shell of the gaseous fluid to the second shell and thereby provide heat transport from the electronic device to the second shell.
US08537547B2 Repair apparatus and method for circuit board assembly
A repair apparatus for a circuit board assembly includes a cooling device for a surface of the circuit board assembly opposite to the surface to be repaired. The cooling device defines a chamber for receiving the circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly is disposed within the chamber to define a heat exchange space between the circuit board assembly and the bottom of the chamber. A method for repairing a circuit board assembly is also provided.
US08537546B2 Housing with foot pads and couplers
A housing includes a cover, a plurality of foot pads and a plurality of couplers. Each of the plurality of foot pads is fixed on a corresponding one of the couplers and each of the couplers is pivotable about the cover. The cover defines a plurality of first receiving portions and a plurality of second receiving portions for receiving the plurality of couplers and the plurality of foot pads. Each of the plurality of foot pads and each of the plurality of couplers rotates relative to the cover to selectively receive the foot pad and the coupler in the first receiving portion and in the second receiving portion, so as to suspend the housing from a wall and to place the housing on a supporting surface.
US08537543B2 Portable electronic device housing structures
Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket.
US08537533B2 Electronic device with support assembly
An electronic device includes a main body and a support assembly. The support assembly includes four support components arranged at four sides of the main body. Each support component includes a first arm and a second arm. A first arm includes a first end portion rotatably connected to one end of one of the four sides of the main body, and a second end portion extending from an end of the first arm. The second arm includes a third end portion rotatably connected to the other end of the side of the main body and defines a sliding groove. A pin is connected to the second end portion and slidably received in the sliding groove. The pin is capable of being held in various positions by friction between the pin and the sliding groove, allowing the support components to maintain at a desired orientation for supporting the main body.
US08537530B2 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device incorporates a housing, and a keyboard unit attached to the housing. The keyboard unit includes a plate-like base, a plurality of keys mounted on the base, a base cover including a plurality of through holes through which the keys are inserted, and a plurality of peripheral surfaces defining four sides of each of the through holes, and a hook portion provided in one of the peripheral surfaces of the base cover, and used to detach the keyboard unit from the housing.
US08537527B2 Mounting board and display device
A mounting board includes two or more metal layers including the outermost metal layer, and a plurality of metal portions, both of which are formed on a substrate. The plurality of metal portions are formed between a first metal layer of the two or more metal layers and a second metal layer of the two or more metal layers, the first metal layer being the outermost metal layer and the second metal layer being different from the outermost metal layer. The second metal layer includes a plurality of first wiring layers extending in a first direction in a plane. The first metal layer is arranged in zigzags in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and includes a plurality of contact pads connected correspondingly to the plurality of first wiring layers through the metal portions.
US08537523B1 Method and apparatus for implementing a metal capacitor with L-shaped fingers
A metal capacitor includes a plurality of interconnect segments. A first plurality of L-shaped fingers is driven to a first voltage level by a first interconnect segment. A second plurality of L-shaped fingers is driven to a second voltage level by a second interconnect segment. Each of the L-shaped fingers from a set of the first plurality of L-shaped fingers is adjacent to at least one of the L-shaped fingers from a set of the second plurality of L-shaped fingers.
US08537519B2 Semiconductor device and method of electrostatic discharge protection therefor
A semiconductor device comprises at least one switching element. The at least one switching element comprises a first channel terminal, a second channel terminal and a switching terminal, the switching element being arranged such that an impedance of the switching element between the first and second channel terminals is dependant upon a voltage across the switching terminal and the first channel terminal. The semiconductor device further comprises a resistance element operably coupled between the first channel terminal of the at least one switching element and a reference node, and a clamping structure operably coupled between the switching terminal of the switching element and the reference node. The resistance element and the clamping structure are arranged such that, when current flowing through the at least one switching element, between the first and second channel terminals, exceeds a threshold current value, a voltage drop across the resistance element exceeds a difference between (i) a clamping voltage of the clamping structure and (ii) a switching voltage threshold of the at least one switching element, causing the impedance between the first and second channel terminals of the at least one switching component to increase.
US08537515B2 Driving circuit and semiconductor device with the driving circuit
A driving circuit is placed on an IC chip, and which drives a semiconductor switching element. The driving circuit includes: a power supply circuit for receiving a first voltage supplied from a single power supply provided outside the IC chip, generating a second voltage based on the first voltage, and applying the second voltage to a reference terminal of the semiconductor switching element; and a driving part for driving the semiconductor switching element by applying the first voltage or stopping application of the first voltage to a control terminal of the semiconductor switching element in response to an input signal given from outside the IC chip.
US08537512B2 ESD protection using isolated diodes
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit (40) is coupled across input-output (I/O) pads (21) and common terminals (24) of a core circuit (22) to protect it from ESD events. The circuit (40) comprises, a unidirectional ESD clamp (23) and two or more floating diodes (42, 44) arranged in parallel opposed configuration in series with the ESD clamp (23), the combination coupled between the I/O pads (21) and the reference terminals (24). In a preferred arrangement, the two strings of opposed parallel coupled diodes (42, 44) are used with different numbers of diodes in each string. These diodes (42, 44) operate in forward conduction (43, 45), so the energy dissipated therein during an ESD event is much reduced compared to a reverse biased diode and they can have smaller area. Signal clipping at the I/O pad (21) is reduced, less power is dissipated and less chip area is utilized.
US08537510B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring the isolation of an IT-Grid
For monitoring the isolation of an IT-grid with respect to ground, an inverter connecting a direct current side with an alternating current side of the IT-grid and a photovoltaic device on the direct current side of the IT-grid, at least one isolation resistance of the direct current side with respect to ground is monitored for falling below a resistance threshold value while the inverter is running, and additionally a leakage current via the inverter towards ground is monitored for exceeding a current threshold value.
US08537506B2 Information storage device with domain wall moving unit and magneto-resistive device magnetization arrangement
An information storage device includes a magnetic track and a magnetic domain wall moving unit. The magnetic track has a plurality of magnetic domains and a magnetic domain wall between each pair of adjacent magnetic domains. The magnetic domain wall moving unit is configured to move at least the magnetic domain wall. The information storage device further includes a magneto-resistive device configured to read information recorded on the magnetic track. The magneto-resistive device includes a pinned layer, a free layer and a separation layer arranged there between. The pinned layer has a fixed magnetization direction. The free layer is disposed between the pinned layer and the magnetic track, and has a magnetization easy axis, which is non-parallel to the magnetization direction of the pinned layer.
US08537502B1 Method and system for providing a magnetic transducer having improved shield-to-shield spacing
A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a magnetic structural barrier layer and a crystalline magnetic layer on the magnetic structural barrier layer. The magnetic structural barrier layer may reside on a shield. The method and system also include providing a nonmagnetic layer on the crystalline magnetic layer. A pinning layer is provided on the nonmagnetic layer. Similarly, a pinned layer is provided on the pinning layer. The pinning layer is magnetically coupled with the pinned layer. The method and system also include providing a free layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the pinned layer and the free layer.
US08537500B2 Magnetic disk device
A magnetic disk device including a disk, a spindle motor, a base for supporting the spindle motor and the disk, a slider includes a head element. The device also includes an actuator including arms for supporting the slider and a coil of a voice coil motor for rotating the arms, wherein a first natural bending frequency of the coil is less than a first natural bending frequency of the arms.
US08537498B2 Baseplate for disk drive suspension and method for manufacturing baseplate
A cylindrical boss portion is press-formed on a baseplate of a disk drive suspension. The boss portion is penetrated by a ball insertion hole relative to the thickness of the baseplate. The baseplate is formed of stainless steel. A chemically-polished surface is formed on an inner circumferential wall of the ball insertion hole by chemically polishing the baseplate after heat-treating it. The boss portion is inserted into a mounting hole of an actuator arm. A ball having a diameter larger than the inside diameter of the ball insertion hole is passed through the ball insertion hole. As the diameter of the boss portion is enlarged by the ball, the boss portion is fixed to the actuator arm.
US08537497B2 Magnetic recording head and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
In high frequency magnetic assisted recording technique, a spin torque oscillator that stably oscillates at a low current and a magnetic recording head with high recording density are provided. In a magnetic recording head including an oscillator that generates a high frequency magnetic field, a spin injection layer structure of two laminated magnetic layers which are coupled to be anti-parallel is adopted. A product Ms×t of the saturated magnetization Ms and the film thickness t of the first magnetic layer close to a field generation layer is smaller than a product Ms×t of the second magnetic layer remote from the field generation layer.
US08537493B2 Magnetic head for perpendicular recording
According to one embodiment, a magnetic head for perpendicular recording includes a main pole, a first soft magnetic film disposed on a trailing side of the main pole, and a first nonmagnetic film interposed between the main pole and the first soft magnetic film. A thickness of the main pole is increased in a depth direction from an air bearing surface using an inclination, and a thickness of the first nonmagnetic film increases in the depth direction from the air bearing surface. In another embodiment, an angle from a horizontal plane of an upper surface of the first nonmagnetic film is greater than an angle from a horizontal plane of a lower surface of the first nonmagnetic film in contact with the main pole. Other heads, methods, and systems are described according to more embodiments.
US08537492B2 Securing apparatus
The invention relates to apparatus such as a broadcast data receiver which can selectively receive a data storage item therewith to allow the passage of data therebetween and/or storage of data thereon. The invention provides the apparatus with a recess into which the storage item can be placed and connected and a securing member which can be moved into position to secure and retain the data storage item in location with the apparatus.
US08537490B2 Method and system for determining access sequence of data stored on a tape medium
For determining an access sequence of a plurality of data groups stored on a tape medium, a first data group in the access sequence is selected based on which data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest to a current position of the tape medium. A second data group in the access sequence is selected based on which remaining data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest to an end of the first data group in the access sequence.
US08537487B2 Magnetic storage device with chirped write head degaussing waveform
A circuit for use with a memory storage device including a magnetic storage medium and a write head operative to subject the magnetic storage medium to a magnetic field in response to an application of current to the write head, includes a write circuit operative to generate a write current supplied to the write head. The write current is characterized by a current waveform that reverses polarity in accordance with data to be stored on the magnetic medium. The circuit for use with the memory storage device further includes a degauss circuit operative to generate a degaussing current supplied to the write head. The degaussing current is characterized by a current waveform that oscillates between opposite polarities with an amplitude and a frequency that change over time.
US08537484B2 Tape data assessment
A method for certifying data on tape cartridges for a library with a first tape cartridge that possesses a medium auxiliary memory device, a medium auxiliary memory reader/writer, a first tape drive and a second tape drive, a shelf system, and access to a memory device containing a media lifecycle management data base. After a period of time from when data was originally stored on the tape first cartridge, a portion of data residing on the first tape cartridge is read. The portion of data is assessed as to whether a percentage of the portion contains an expected data structure and if the percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold, a data recovery sequence is initiated.
US08537483B1 Method and apparatus for adjusting a sampling frequency of a data signal read from a storage medium
A system including a mark module, an estimation module and an adjustment module. The mark module is configured to generate a first indicator for a first mark on a storage medium detected when first servo data is read from the storage medium, and a second indicator for a second mark on the storage medium detected when second servo data is read from the storage medium. The estimation module is configured to, based on i) a first location of a center of the storage medium about which the storage medium is rotated, and ii) a period between times when the first indicator and the second indicator are generated, estimate a first distance or an offset angle relative to the first location. The adjustment module is configured to, based on the first distance or the offset angle, adjust a sampling frequency at which user data is read from the storage medium.
US08537481B1 Shingled magnetic recording disk drive with minimization of the effect of far track erasure on adjacent data bands
A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) essentially eliminates the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing in the boundary regions of adjacent annular data bands. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained for all the tracks in the range. For every writing to a track in a boundary region, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for the adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.
US08537480B1 Hard drive testing
A method for testing a hard drive includes determining a first partial bit error rate (PBERT) value of a hard drive at a first temperature and a second PBERT value of the hard drive at a second temperature. The method includes determining a PBERT minimum based on the first and second PBERT values, and comparing the PBERT minimum to a first PBERT minimum limit. The method includes determining a PBERT ratio based on the first and second PBERT values if the PBERT minimum is greater than or equal to the first PBERT minimum limit. The method includes comparing the PBERT ratio to a PBERT ratio limit, and comparing the PBERT minimum to a second PBERT minimum limit if the PBERT ratio is greater than the PBERT ratio limit. The method includes generating a failure indicator if the PBERT minimum is less than the first and/or second PBERT minimum limit.
US08537474B1 Imaging lens system
This invention provides an imaging lens system in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens element with positive refractive power; a plastic second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a plastic third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, both surfaces thereof being aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof. Additionally, the central thickness of the second lens element is controlled favorably for the efficient spatial arrangement of the lens assembly and the simpler individual lens production while maintaining suitable thickness of the second lens element, thereby assuring image quality and improving yield rate of the product.
US08537473B2 Lens module with low chromatic aberration
Provided is a lens module for imaging an object on an image plane. In the order from the object side to the image side of the lens module, the lens module includes a first lens made of glass and having positive refraction power, a second lens made of plastic and having negative refraction power, a aperture stopper, a third lens having positive refraction power, and a fourth lens having negative refraction power. The lens module satisfies the following formula: Vd1−Vd2≧35; wherein, Vd1 is the Abbe number of the first lens in d light and Vd2 is the Abbe number of the second lens in the d light.
US08537472B2 Photographing optical lens system
A photographing optical lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point formed on at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof.
US08537471B2 Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a front unit and a rear unit, wherein the rear unit, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a subsequent first lens unit and a subsequent second lens unit having negative optical power and being a focusing lens unit which moves along an optical axis at the time of focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-object in-focus condition, the subsequent first lens unit comprises a first-N sub lens unit having negative optical power and a first-P sub lens unit having positive optical power, and the first-N sub lens unit or the first-P sub lens unit is an image blur compensating lens unit which moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis in order to optically compensate image blur; an interchangeable lens apparatus; and a camera system are provided.
US08537467B2 Antiglare film, antiglare sheet, process for producing them, and image display apparatus using them
An antiglare film and an antiglare sheet with which an image display apparatus excelling in contrast while maintaining excellent antiglare performance is obtained, and a simple process for producing them are provided. In the antiglare film of the present invention, a rugged shape in a first direction is substantially different from a rugged shape in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Preferably, an average gradient angle θa1 of the rugged shape in the first direction is larger than an average gradient angle θa2 of the rugged shape in the second direction. More preferably, a difference Δθa=θa1−θa2 between the average gradient angle θa1 and the average gradient angle θa2 is 0.5° to 30°.
US08537465B2 Apparatus for changing diffraction gratings
An apparatus usable with a laser resonator has a generally stationary base, a positioning slide carried on the guide and shiftable thereon in an adjustment direction, and two (or more) holders carried on the slide and each having a platform adapted to secure a respective diffraction grating. Each of the platforms can be shifted on the respective holder with at least two degrees of freedom relative to the slide. The positioning slide can also be shifted relative to the base for moving each of the gratings into a working position.
US08537457B1 Plasmonic correlation spectrometer
A correlation spectrometer can include a sample cell, a plasmonic array, a light source that can be used to illuminate both the plasmonic array and the sample cell, and an infrared (IR) detector that is connected to the plasmonic array, and that is configured to receive and detect surface plasmons. The plasmonic array is modulated to transmit a surface plasmon at a predetermined resonance peaks that correspond to resonant peaks for a compound of interest (COI). If the COI is present in the sample cell, a surface plasmon having resonant peaks corresponding to the COI resonant peaks is generated in the plasmonic array and detected by the IR detector. The plasmonic can be formed with a plurality of nanoholes with different periodicities and fill factors, in order to detect multiple COI.
US08537456B1 Photonic crystal apparatus and associated method
A photonic crystal apparatus and method are provided. The photonic crystal apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal source configured to provide electromagnetic signals. The photonic crystal apparatus also includes a photonic crystal configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic signal source and to direct the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted. The photonic crystal apparatus may also include a driver configured to selectively cause a portion of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state. In instances in which the photonic crystal is in the distorted state, the photonic crystal is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals in a different direction than the predefined path.
US08537452B2 System and method for generating optical radiation of controllable spectral content
An optical spectrum generator is disclosed, which is based on generating conjugate optical frequencies via the use of two or more nonlinear interactions, where filters are used to select the conjugate output of the preceding nonlinear interaction as the input to the following nonlinear interaction. The cascaded nonlinear interaction is seeded with an incoming optical beam and pumped with multiple pump beams. The conjugate output of the last nonlinear interaction can be fed-back to the input of the first nonlinear interaction thus creating a recirculating path. An add-drop multiplexer is implemented for efficiently combining the pump beams with conjugate beams. The generated output frequencies are related to the difference in frequency between the pumps which can be changed as a function of time to create a time-varying output frequency. The magnitude of the variation in output frequency can be magnified by recirculating the signal through the system multiple times.
US08537448B2 Mirror actuator and beam irradiation device
A mirror actuator has a first pivot portion which is pivotally supported on a base member, and a second pivot portion which is pivotally supported on the first pivot portion. A mirror is disposed in the second pivot portion. A first coil is disposed in the first pivot portion, and a second coil is disposed in the second pivot portion. A first elastic member connects between the base member and the first pivot portion. A second elastic member connects between the first pivot portion and the second pivot portion. The first elastic member and the second elastic member are connected by a circuit pattern. With the provision of the first elastic member, the second elastic member and the circuit pattern, a current is supplied to the first coil and to the second coil.
US08537447B2 Actuator, optical scanner and image forming apparatus
An actuator includes a mass section; a support section; a coupling section for coupling the mass section rotatably to the support section so as to support the mass section with cantilever structure; and a pair of driving sources including a piezoelectric element for rotating the mass section, wherein the pair of driving sources are provided separately from each other with respect to a central axis of rotation of the mass section, each of the driving sources is provided slidably with respect to the coupling section or the support section, and the actuator is structured such that it causes the pair of piezoelectric elements to expand and contract in phases opposite to each other, so as to rotate at least a part of the coupling section while torsionally deforming the mass section.
US08537446B2 Multi-axis, large tilt angle, wafer level micromirror array for large scale beam steering applications
A system (120) for reflecting or redirecting incident light, microwave or sound energy includes a first substrate (144) configured to support an array of reflective elements (130) that can be angularly displaced through a range of substantially (90) degrees in response to a reflector angle control signal and a controller programmed to generate the reflector angle control signal to achieve desired incident energy, beam or wavefront redirection. The reflective elements (130) preferably comprise MEMS micro-reflector elements hingedly or movably attached to the first substrate (130) and define a reflective surface that is aimed at the source of incident light, microwave or sound energy.
US08537444B2 System and method for projection lithography with immersed image-aligned diffractive element
A system and method and computer program product for exposing a photoresist film with patterns of finer resolution than can physically be projected onto the film in an ordinary image formed at the same wavelength. A hologram structure containing a set of resolvable spatial frequencies is first formed above the photoresist film. An illuminating wavefront containing a second set of resolvable spatial frequencies is projected through the hologram, forming a new set of transmitted spatial frequencies that expose the photoresist. The transmitted spatial frequencies include sum frequencies of higher frequency than is present in the hologram or illuminating wavefront, increasing the resolution of the exposing pattern. Designing lithographic masks further includes fabricating the hologram and projecting the illuminating wavefront. A simple personalization based on Talbot fringes and plasmonic interference is further performed.
US08537435B2 Image scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image scanning apparatus includes a document glass, a substrate, a first semiconductor light emitting element, a second semiconductor light emitting element, a light guiding section, and a light receiving section. The substrate is provided below and obliquely opposed to the document glass. The first semiconductor light emitting element is mounted on a first surface of the substrate opposed to the document glass and emits light to an original document via the document glass. The second semiconductor light emitting element is mounted on a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface and emits light. The light guiding section receives incidence of the light emitted from the second semiconductor light emitting element and emits the light to the original document from a position where a normal of the document glass is present between the light guide section and the first semiconductor light emitting element.
US08537433B2 Forward facing scanner
An ergonomic, compact scanner operation is achieved by providing a flatbed scanner and a sheet fed scanner in a space efficient arrangement with optimal access features for users. Documents traverse the sheet fed scanner along a path that allows inclusion of an easily accessible flat bed scanner.
US08537430B2 Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus for forming an image by performing exposure scanning of an image carrier is provided. The apparatus includes: a unit for storing image data having a height in a sub-scanning direction equivalent to a certain number of amounts of the image data obtained by a single main scan; a unit for, in a case where a block in which is located a scan line of image data that is the scanning target has moved in a sub-scanning direction, storing a block position and a moving direction; a unit for, based on the skew information, converting image data of the main scan line and outputting an amount of image data that is obtained by a single main scan; and a unit for, when a block unit has been processed, replacing the processed block unit with another block unit.
US08537428B2 Image reading apparatus, control method thereof, and image forming apparatus
An apparatus includes a white reference member, an exposure lamp, a CCD sensor including a plurality of linear sensors connected in series, and a plurality of gain amplifiers which amplifies the outputs of the linear sensors, respectively. The apparatus selects one linear sensor, adjusts the gain of the gain amplifier corresponding to the selected linear sensor, adjusts the gain of the gain amplifier corresponding to the linear sensor existing to the left side of the selected linear sensor, and adjusts the gain of the gain amplifier corresponding to the linear sensor existing to the right side of the selected linear sensor. A difference in output at connecting positions among the line sensors is removed by adjusting the gains of gain amplifiers.
US08537427B2 Method of adjusting line data and image forming apparatus
A method of adjusting line data is provided, where a dot pattern for one line is represented by dot data indicative of dot formation and blank data indicative of no dot formation. The method includes: determining whether X or more blank data are arranged consecutively, the X or more blank data including adjacent blank data adjacent to dot data on at least one side of the dot data, where X is an integer greater than or equal to one (X≧1); and converting Y consecutive blank data including the adjacent blank data into dot data if it is determined that the X or more blank data are arranged consecutively in the determining step, where Y is an integer greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to X (X≧Y≧1).
US08537421B2 Image processing apparatus, method, and program product removing show-through from density image using mask image generated from gloss image
An image processing apparatus includes a scanning unit configured to scan at least one of two surfaces of a printed material on both of which information is printed and to obtain a density image representing intensity distribution of diffuse reflection light from the scanned surface and a gloss image representing intensity distribution of specular reflection light from the scanned surface, a mask image generating unit configured to generate a mask image for the scanned surface based on the obtained gloss image, and a show-through removing unit configured to perform mask processing on the density image using the generated mask image to generate a show-through-removed image that does not include show-through information for the scanned surface.
US08537420B2 Method for gray balance correction of a printing process
In printing processes, even when a process calibration under predefined printing conditions is used, it is possible for deviations in the gray balance to occur. Attempts have been made to correct the deviations, for example by changing the layer thickness of the printing inks in the printing process, but that can lead to color deviations in other regions. A gray balance correction method with which wastage that regularly occurs can be reduced and an occurrence of undesired color fluctuations can be avoided, is achieved by using differences between black and chromatic gray areas in gray balance areas to replace the measured values from a first process calibration with corrected measured values and carrying out a new process calibration.
US08537419B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image based on a processing batch, a measurement unit, which interrupts the processing batch to form a density pattern by controlling the image forming unit, and which obtains density adjustment data by measuring the density pattern, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the density of the image based on the density adjustment data. When the measurement unit performs a density measurement before formation of a first color page of a processing batch, which includes monochrome and color pages, the adjustment unit adjusts the density of each color page using new density adjustment data obtained through the density measurement performed before the formation of the first color page, and the adjustment unit adjusts the density of each monochrome page using old density adjustment data obtained before the density measurement performed before the formation of the first color page.
US08537417B2 Method for improved printer characterization
A method is disclosed for improving printer characterization tables to best reproduce desired colors on a destination device given the ambient illumination at that device's location. The user determines viewing illumination using a target preferably provided with the printer or alternatively printed directly from the characterized printer. The target comprises metameric color pairs allows which users to quickly determine their approximate viewing illumination by selecting the matching pair. A metameric match of color pairs (metamers) is defined to have equal colorimetric values, XYZ or LAB, for one illumination and differing reflectance spectra. Each color pair corresponds to a different illumination condition. All pairs of metamers which comprise the target are examined to determine which pair is the best match. Targets could be bipartite patches, half-and-half images, readability tasks, or images. The appropriate color-correction transform for the selected illumination is applied. Alternatively the color-correction transform for the selected illumination is modified directly.
US08537416B2 Rotor optics imaging method and system with variable dose during sweep
The technology disclosed relates to translating between a Cartesian grid and a curved scanning path that produces varying exposure doses as the scanning head traces the curved scanning path. It can be applied to writing to or reading from a workpiece. In particular, we teach use of varying exposure dose that compensates for the time it takes for the curved scan path to transit a straight axis. This simplifies either modulation of a modulator, from which data is projected onto the workpiece, or analysis of data collected by a detector, onto which partial images of the workpiece are projected.
US08537412B2 Printing control device
A printing control device includes an input image data acquiring unit, a threshold acquiring unit, a determining unit, and a generating unit. The input image data acquiring unit acquires input image data. The input image data includes a plurality of input pixel data. Each input pixel data has an input value. The determining unit determines, for each input pixel data, a difference related value based on a difference between the input value and a threshold value corresponding to the input value. The generating unit generates print data by generating, for each input pixel data, output pixel data based on the difference related value. The output pixel data expresses density corresponding to the difference related value.
US08537402B2 Apparatus and method for metering and monitoring print usage at non-network printers
The invention relates to a printer component for monitoring usage on non-network printers. The printer component includes a desktop component installed on a network computer to which a non-network printer is attached. The desktop component is for obtaining printer status information from each non-network printer attached to the network computer. The printer component also includes a server component installed on an external server. A job listener is attached to the network computer to obtain printer status information for each non-network printer. The server component mergers information obtained from the desktop component with previously stored printer information to provide printer status information for all network and non-network printers within an enterprise.
US08537401B2 Print workflow automation
Illustrative systems and methods provide a graphical user interface for establishing parameters for printing and finishing print jobs. In an illustrative system and method, print job parameters are defined, for example: by establishing print parameters corresponding to the position of a document in a print job and/or the position of a page in document; by establishing associations between values of fields in file names and print parameters; and by establishing associations between text at a particular position on a page of a document and print parameters. The user's inputs defining the printing and finishing parameters are stored in a file such as, for example, an XML file. The system retrieves the printing and finishing parameters and formats PDL and JCL commands which can be forwarded onto the printing and finishing system.
US08537398B2 Methods and systems for tracking and managing print device inventory information using a cloud administration system
A cloud administration system for managing inventory information for one or more remote print devices may include a processing module in communication with a plurality of print devices. The processing module may be located remotely from each of the plurality of print devices. The cloud administration system may include a storage module in communication with the processing module. The processing module may be configured to receive inventory information associated with a print device inventory item associated with a print device of the plurality of print devices, store the inventory information in the storage module, and enable an application computing device to access the inventory information from the storage module. The cloud administration system may operate as a shared resource for each of the plurality of print devices and the application computing device.
US08537395B2 Image processing system, image processing apparatus, recording medium and data communication establishing method
An image processing apparatus associates application information to connect to a server device and a client certificate to transmit to the server device with each other and stores therein the associated application information and client certificate. An application managing part activates a browser with designating transmission of the client certificate which is associated with the application information. The browser transmits the client certificate identified by the application managing part to the server device when a request for transmission of the client certificate is received from the server device. As the result, the image processing apparatus reduces operation load placed on a user to transmit the client certificate to the server device. Moreover, the appropriate client certificate may be transmitted to the server device without lowering efficiency in processing. So, data communication between the image processing apparatus and the server device may be established rapidly.
US08537389B2 DLNA device and image forming method thereof
A DLNA device includes a communication interface to receive at least one of content and content information through the Internet or receive at least one of content and content information which are stored in a device within the DLNA network, a storage unit to store the received content and content information, a user interface to display the content based on the content information and receive a printing command for the content from a user, a printing job generation unit to generate printing data for the content, based on the content information and the printing command from the user, and a controller to control the communication interface such that the generated printing data is printed by the image forming apparatus.
US08537387B2 Image forming method and apparatus
An image forming method and apparatus, the image forming method including: requesting networked image forming apparatuses to perform a user authorization; receiving account information corresponding to the user authorization request, from one of the image forming apparatuses; determining whether to perform an image forming operation, based on the received account information; and performing the predetermined image forming operation, according to the determination.
US08537382B2 Image forming apparatus that delays communication during an abnormal communication state of a data signal computer readable medium storing program and method for image forming
An image forming apparatus includes: a monitor that monitors a state of communication performed in the image forming apparatus; and a controller that, when the monitor monitors that the state of the communication is abnormal, controls the communication based on an operation of the image forming apparatus in which a state has been changed within previously determined time including a time point at which the state of the communication has become abnormal.
US08537376B2 Enhanced position detector in laser tracker
A device sends a first light beam to a target which returns a portion of the first beam as a second beam. First and second motors direct the first light beam to a first direction determined by first and second angles of rotation about first and second axes. First and second angle measuring devices measure first and second angles of rotation. A distance meter measures a first distance between device and target. A second portion of the second beam passes through a diffuser and onto a position detector which produces a first signal in response. A control system sends a second signal to the first motor and a third signal to the second motor, the second and third signals based on the first signal. The control system adjusts the first direction of the first beam to the target position. A processor provides a 3D coordinate of the target.
US08537374B2 Coordinate measuring machine having an illuminated probe end and method of operation
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) is provided. The AACMM includes a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends. The arm includes a plurality of connected arm segments, each of the arm segments including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. A measurement device is attached to a first end of the AACMM. An electronic circuit is provided for receiving the position signals from the transducers and for providing data corresponding to a position of the measurement device. A light source is coupled to the arm and disposed to emit light adjacent the measurement device.
US08537371B2 Method and apparatus for using gestures to control a laser tracker
A method for mechanically communicating, from a user to a laser tracker, a command to control operation of the laser tracker includes providing the tracker with an angular encoder, providing a rule of correspondence between each command and each rotational pattern of a portion of a tracker, and selecting a first command. Also, rotating by the user, between first and second times, the portion of the tracker in a first rotational pattern, the first rotational pattern corresponds to the first command, and obtaining a collection of first angular readings from the angular encoder, wherein the angular readings are obtained between the first and second times. Also, determining the first command based at least in part on processing the first angular readings according to the rule of correspondence, and executing the first command with the tracker.
US08537366B2 Systems and methods for endoscopic angle-resolved low coherence interferometry
Fourier domain a/LCI (faLCI) system and method which enables in vivo data acquisition at rapid rates using a single scan. Angle-resolved and depth-resolved spectra information is obtained with one scan. The reference arm can remain fixed with respect to the sample due to only one scan required. A reference signal and a reflected sample signal are cross-correlated and dispersed at a multitude of reflected angles off of the sample, thereby representing reflections from a multitude of points on the sample at the same time in parallel. Information about all depths of the sample at each of the multitude of different points on the sample can be obtained with one scan on the order of approximately 40 milliseconds. From the spatial, cross-correlated reference signal, structural (size) information can also be obtained using techniques that allow size information of scatterers to be obtained from angle-resolved data.
US08537365B1 Mass gauging demonstrator for any gravitational conditions
The present invention is a mass gauging interferometry system used to determine the volume contained within a tank. By using an optical interferometric technique to determine gas density and/or pressure a much smaller compression volume or higher fidelity measurement is possible. The mass gauging interferometer system is comprised of an optical source, a component that splits the optical source into a plurality of beams, a component that recombines the split beams, an optical cell operatively coupled to a tank, a detector for detecting fringes, and a means for compression. A portion of the beam travels through the optical cell operatively coupled to the tank, while the other beam(s) is a reference.
US08537363B2 Picosecond ultrasonic system incorporating an optical cavity
A method for characterizing a sample is described. The method includes applying a first pulse of electromagnetic radiation to the surface of the sample and thus creating a propagating strain pulse within the sample. A second pulse of second electromagnetic radiation is applied to the surface of the sample so as to intercept the propagating strain pulse. The first and second pulses are applied through a structure, such as a reflector, that is disposed over the surface of the sample at a distance predetermined to form an optical cavity; the cavity having a width related to a wavelength of the second electromagnetic radiation. The method includes detecting at least one optical property of a reflection of the second pulse from the sample. The detected optical property(ies) of the reflection are associated with a characteristic of the sample. An apparatus, computer-readable medium and structure are also described.
US08537358B2 Multilayer colorimetric sensor arrays
Herein are disclosed methods and devices for detecting the presence of an analyte. Such methods and devices may comprise an array comprising at least two sensing elements that differ in their response to an analyte of interest. The sensing elements each comprise at least an optically responsive layer that comprises at least a highly analyte-responsive sublayer. At least one sensing element of the array further contains a minimally analyte-responsive sublayer that comprises part of the thickness of the optically responsive layer. Methods of making and using such arrays of sensing elements are also disclosed.
US08537357B2 System for distributing and controlling color reproduction at multiple sites
In a color imaging system, multiple rendering devices are provided at different nodes along a network. Each rendering device has a color measurement instrument for calibrating the color presented by the rendering device. A rendering device may be a printer in which the measuring of color samples on a sheet rendered by the printer is provided by a sensor coupled to a transport mechanism which moves the sensor and sheet relative to each other, where the sensor provides light from the samples to a spectrograph. A rendering device may also be a display having a member supporting a color measuring instrument for receiving light from an area of the screen. The color measuring instruments provide for non-contact measurements of color samples rendered on a display or a sheet, and are self calibrating by the use of calibration references.
US08537354B2 System and method for instrument response correction based on independent measurement of the sample
A system and method for providing an instrument response correction. A sample is illuminated to generate a first plurality and a second plurality of interacted photons. The first plurality of interacted photons may be detected by a dispersive spectrometer to generate a reference spectrum representative of the sample. The second plurality of interacted photons may be passed through a tunable filter and detected using an imaging detector to generate at least one hyperspectral image. This hyperspectral image may comprise a Raman hyperspectral image or an infrared hyperspectral image. A system may comprise an illumination source, a collection optics, a dispersive spectrometer, a fiber optic, a tunable filter, and an imaging detector.
US08537347B1 Vehicle tire changing system with tool positioning sensor
A vehicle tire changing system is configured with sensors to acquire measurements associated with the relative spatial positions of tire service tools and a vehicle wheel assembly, and dimensions of the vehicle wheel assembly to automate and monitor the movement of an associated tire service tool and optionally, to store or convey the acquired dimensional information for use by other vehicle service systems.
US08537342B2 Polariscope stress measurement tool and method of use
The present invention provides a tool for and method of using an infrared transmission technique to extract the full stress components of the in-plane residual stresses in thin, multi crystalline silicon wafers including in situ measurement of residual stress for large cast wafers. The shear difference method is used to obtain full stress components by integrating the shear stress map from the boundaries. System ambiguity at the boundaries is resolved completely by introducing a new analytical function. A new anisotropic stress optic law is provided, and stress optic coefficients are calibrated for different crystal grain orientations and stress orientations.
US08537340B2 Optical distance-measuring device
An optical distance-measuring device includes a light source, and an interferometer unit having a measuring retroreflector, stationary reference retroreflector, beam-splitter element, beam-recombiner unit, and detection unit. The beam of rays emitted by the light source swivels about the center of the reference retroreflector. The beam of rays arriving from the light source splits via the beam-splitter element into a measuring beam and reference beam. The measuring beam propagates in the direction of the measuring retroreflector, and the reference beam propagates collinearly with the measuring beam in the direction of the reference retroreflector. The measuring beam is reflected back by the measuring retroreflector and the reference beam is reflected back by the reference retroreflector in the direction of the beam-recombiner unit, the measuring beam traveling symmetrically relative to the reference retroreflector prior to and after reflection at the measuring retroreflector.
US08537339B2 Distance measurement system and method thereof
A light source transmits detecting light toward an object. The object reflects the detecting light and forms a reflected light. A sensor is used for sensing the reflected light. Then, an exposure control unit coupled to the sensor performs luminance convergence on the reflected light according to luminance of the reflected light sensed by the sensor. And a distance measurement device coupled to the sensor detects a distance between the object and the light source and/or the sensor according to an image position of the reflected light on the sensor.
US08537326B2 Liquid crystal composition, device and method thereof
The invention provides a liquid crystal (LC) composition, a LC device such as a liquid crystal display and a phase modulator, and a method thereof. The liquid crystal composition comprises a liquid crystal and a polymer. The liquid crystal exhibits a macroscopic anisotropic property such as optical property in the absence of the polymer under a condition such as certain temperature. The polymer in the composition stabilizes the liquid crystal so that the liquid crystal exhibits a macroscopic isotropic property under the same condition, and the liquid crystal stabilized by the polymer exhibits the macroscopic anisotropic property when an electrical field is applied thereon. The devices exhibit technical merits such as large viewing angle, fast response time, better contrast ratio, easy manufacturability of large size display with improved dark state, easy manufacturing process with wider temperature region, and polarization-insensitivity of PSI phase modulator, among others.
US08537322B2 LCD device, LCD module and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display (LCD) module is disclosed, which comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter (CF) substrate disposed opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. The TFT substrate comprises a plurality of transmission test units and a plurality of wires. The CF substrate comprises a plurality of curing test units insulated from each other, and each of the curing test units is electrically connected to one of the wires via one of the transmission test units. An LCD device and a manufacturing method of an LCD module are further disclosed. The LCD device, the LCD module and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present disclosure can avoid occurrence of arcing in the TFT substrate during the CVD process, thereby improving the product yield and reducing the manufacturing cost.
US08537321B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising an electric power supply pad arranged at a corner portion of a substrate and a connection electrode having a slit that crosses signal lines
In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate opposing the first insulating substrate. An electric power supply line formed along a perimeter of the first insulating substrate, and an electric power supply pad is arranged at a corner portion of the first insulating substrate apart from the electric power supply line. A plurality of signal lines are formed crossing between the electric power supply line and the electric power supply pad. An insulating layer covers the signal lines, and a connection electrode is arranged on the insulating layer for connecting the electric power supply line and the electric power supply pad. At least one slit is formed in the connection electrode extending in a direction so as to cross the signal lines. An electrically conductive element connects the electric power supply pad with a counter electrode.
US08537314B2 Display device and manufacturing method thereof
A display device includes a first panel having a pixel electrode, a second panel having a common electrode facing the first panel, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first panel and the second panel and having vertically-aligned liquid crystal molecules, a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode, and a second alignment layer disposed on the common electrode. At least one of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer divides the pixel electrode into a plurality of domains and is formed to have a plurality of pretilt directions which pretilt the vertically-aligned liquid crystal molecules in a domain of the plurality of domains. A sum of horizontal component directions of a pretilt direction of the plurality of pretilt directions is substantially equivalent to a sum of horizontal component directions of a fringe field at a peripheral boundary of the pixel electrode in the domain.
US08537313B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and color filter substrate
The invention discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus and a color filter substrate. The color filter substrate can be used in a display module. The color filter substrate may include a glass substrate, a light-shielding matrix, a color layer and one or multiple transparent conductive films disposed on the same side of the glass substrate. There is at least one slit structure formed on one of the transparent conductive films. Each slit structure corresponds to the color layer respectively. The one or multiple transparent conductive films can be used for shielding a liquid crystal layer of the display module.
US08537308B2 Method of forming polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film including dichroic dye
In a method of forming a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film, the presence of dichroic dye in a polymer may be prevented or reduced by diffusing dichroic dye into a PDLC layer, and a PDLC display device having improved visibility may be formed.
US08537307B2 Display panel having first and second liquid crystal layers and first and second active device arrays
A display panel including a first substrate having a first panel area and a second panel area, a second substrate disposed above the first panel area, a third substrate disposed above the second panel area, a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a second liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the third substrate, a first active device array disposed on the first substrate to drive the first liquid crystal layer, a second active device array disposed on the third substrate to drive the second liquid crystal layer, an integrated circuit (IC), and a conductive element is provided. The IC is disposed on the third substrate. The conductive element is disposed between the first substrate and the third substrate to electrically connect the IC to the first active device array.
US08537305B2 Liquid crystal display with narrow angular range of incident light
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel in the pixel electrode and common electrodes formed within a pixel comprise repeating structures. The angular range of light incident from the light source is narrower along a direction of the repeating structures than along an orthogonal direction.
US08537304B2 Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method therefor
The liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is held in a cell between a first substrate and second substrate opposed to each other, an illumination device which is placed on a side of the first substrate of the liquid crystal panel; a polarization layer containing a dichroic dye that has lyotropic liquid crystal properties which is formed by application on a surface of the first substrate of the liquid crystal panel that is opposite from the liquid crystal; and a condenser lens which condenses light from the illumination device to an interior of the cell, and/or a resin layer which protects the polarization layer, which are disposed on a top surface of the polarization layer.
US08537299B2 Liquid crystal display comprising first and second control thin film transistors and wherein first and second thin film transistors of adjacent rows within a same column are connected to a same column of data lines
An array substrate comprises a plurality of pixel units defined by interacting of a plurality of gate lines along a row direction and a plurality of data lines along a column direction, and a pixel electrode formed within each of the pixel units. Each row of the pixel units are provide with a first gate line and a second gate line in the gate lines, and each of the pixel units is provides with a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor; the first thin film transistor is connected with the first gate line, and the second thin film transistor is connected with the second gate line; the first thin film transistor is connected with the data line at one side of the pixel unit, and the second thin film transistor is connected with the data line at the other side of the pixel unit, and the second thin film transistors of the pixel units in one row and the first thin film transistors of the pixel units in an adjacent row within the same columns are connected to the same column of the data lines.
US08537298B2 Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device of IPS mode with a smaller number of layers, a gate electrode is formed on a TFT substrate. A gate insulating film is formed to cover the gate electrode, on which a semiconductor layer is formed. A drain electrode and a source electrode are placed on the semiconductor layer. A planar pixel electrode is formed from ITO on the gate insulating film prior to the formation of the drain electrode, source electrode, image signal line, and the like. This process is performed to prevent the image signal line, the drain electrode, the source electrode, and the like, from being consumed by the cell reaction through a developer during the patterning of the ITO when a pin hole is present in the ITO, in order not to cause disconnection. As a result, it is possible to improve the production yield and achieve high reliability.
US08537297B2 Thin-film transistor array substrate, method of manufacturing same and liquid crystal display device
A vertically aligned thin-film transistor array substrate in which there is no reduction in aperture ratio includes an etching-stop layer formed on an insulating layer; a passivation layer formed on the insulating layer that includes the etching-stop layer; a depression formed in the passivation layer and hollowing the passivation layer to the surface of the etching-stop layer; and a pixel electrode, which is recessed in conformity with the depression, formed on the passivation layer that includes the depression; wherein the etching-stop layer comprises a transparent semiconductor.
US08537296B2 Display device wherein a thickness of a first insulating layer is greater than a thickness of a first conductor and wherein the first insulating layer completely covers lateral side surfaces of the first conductor
The present invention relates to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The display device includes a substrate, a first conductor disposed on the substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on the first conductor, a second insulating layer disposed on the first insulating layer, a semiconductor disposed on the second insulating layer, and a second conductor disposed on the semiconductor. A thickness of the first insulating layer is greater than a thickness of the first conductor, and the first insulating layer includes a first opening exposing the first conductor.
US08537290B2 Projector apparatus
A projector apparatus includes: a polarization beam splitter block assuming a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that includes two end surfaces and four side surfaces; a light source opposed to one of the side surfaces; an illumination optical system disposed between the light source and the polarization beam splitter block, which converts illuminating light to substantially parallel light so that is directed to the polarization beam splitter block; a reflection-type liquid crystal display element opposed to an illuminating light output surface, through which an illuminating light undergone polarization separation is output, and that includes a rectangular display area through which the illuminating light is modulated to modulated light output to the polarization beam splitter block; and a projection optical system that forms a projection image with the modulated light undergone polarization separation, wherein: shorter borders of the rectangular display area is set parallel to the end surfaces.
US08537289B2 Projector
A projector includes an illumination optical system capable of emitting first light and second light of a wavelength longer than that of the first light; a first liquid crystal panel constituted so as to include a first liquid crystal layer and capable of modulating the first light emitted from the illumination optical system; a second liquid crystal panel constituted so as to include a second liquid crystal layer having a transition temperature from a liquid crystal phase to an isotropic phase higher than that of the first liquid crystal layer and capable of modulating the second light emitted from the illumination optical system; a projection optical system projecting the first light modulated by the first liquid crystal panel and the second light modulated by the second liquid crystal panel; and a cooling mechanism for cooling the first liquid crystal layer.
US08537288B2 Projector comprising an expanding and contracting member having a temperature coefficient that counters the increase and decrease of a focal distance of a projection lens caused by temperature changes
A projector includes: a display device which modulates illumination light; a projection lens which projects modulation light produced by the display device; and a holding device which has a holder member supporting the display device, a frame member supporting the projection lens and functions as a base capable of supporting the holder member, and an expanding and contracting member disposed between the frame member and the display device, wherein a temperature coefficient for the expansion and contraction of the expanding and contracting member in the direction of the optical axis of the projection lens corresponds to a temperature coefficient for the increase and decrease of the focal distance of the projection lens.
US08537279B2 Digital microform imaging apparatus
A microform imaging apparatus comprising a chassis including a microform media support structure configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to a first optical axis, a fold mirror supported along the first optical axis to reflect light along a second optical axis that is angled with respect to the first optical axis, a lens supported along one of the first and second optical axis, an area sensor supported along the second optical axis, a first adjuster for moving the area sensor along at least a portion of the second optical axis and a second adjuster for moving the lens along at least a portion of the one of the first and second optical axis.
US08537277B2 Deinterlacing and film and video detection with configurable downsampling
A system having a memory and a processor is disclosed. The memory may be arranged as (i) a first pipeline to buffer a plurality of full resolution fields and (ii) a second pipeline to buffer a plurality of low resolution fields. The processor is generally configured to (i) receive a particular one or more of the full resolution fields and a particular one or more of the low resolution fields from the memory and (ii) generate a film mode signal based on the particular low resolution fields, the film mode signal indicating a current mode among a plurality of pull-down modes related to a current field being deinterlaced.
US08537276B2 Image displaying device and method, and image processing device and method for preventing image deterioration
Deterioration in image quality of a moving image obtained by special reproduction caused by frame rate conversion (FRC) processing of a motion compensation type is prevented. An image displaying device includes an FRC portion 10 that converts the number of frames of the input image signal by interpolating an image signal to which motion compensation processing has been performed between frames of an input image signal, a special reproduction determining portion 14 that determines whether or not the input image signal is an image signal relating to a predetermined genre, and a controlling portion 15. The FRC portion 10 includes a motion vector detecting portion lie that detects a motion vector between frames of the input image signal, an interpolation vector evaluating portion 11f that assigns an interpolation vector between frames based on the motion vector information, and an interpolation frame generating portion 12d that generates an interpolation frame from the interpolation vector. When the input image signal is an image signal obtained by special reproduction including “fast forward reproduction” and “rewind reproduction”, the controlling portion 15 makes the motion compensation processing in the FRC portion 10 ineffective by making the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting portion 11e to zero-vector.
US08537275B2 Image pickup apparatus capable of releasing heat efficiently
An image pickup apparatus capable of efficiently releasing heat generated by an image pickup element disposed close to an exterior of a grip portion, and thereby prevent a local temperature rise in the grip portion. A lens barrel bends a light flux incident from an object by a prism to guide the light flux toward the grip portion. The lens barrel is fixed to a chassis member. A front cover covers a portion of the lens barrel and is disposed such that the lens barrel is positioned between the chassis member and the front cover. An image pickup element is disposed toward the grip side. A heat conductive member is coupled to the chassis member and the front cover. Side covers cover the heat conductive member. The thermal conductivity of the side covers is smaller than that of the front cover.
US08537274B2 Image capture apparatus
An image capture apparatus includes an imaging-unit storing portion, a memory-card storing portion, and a lid. The imaging-unit storing portion stores an imaging unit capturing an image. The memory-card storing portion is arranged in the rear of the imaging-unit storing portion and includes a card slot for loading a memory card that stores an image signal obtained by capturing the image in the imaging unit. The lid covers the card slot arranged to the memory-card storing portion, and opens and closes by sliding along a side surface of a body of the image capture apparatus from a position covered therewith.
US08537271B2 Mechanical camera shutter mechanism
A camera shutter mechanism for covering and exposing an imaging sensor array is disclosed. The camera shutter mechanism includes a rotary motor, a crank mechanism, a cover, a guide, and a drive circuit. The rotary motor is coupled to the crank mechanism to rotate the crank mechanism about a central axis. The cover is coupled to the crank mechanism at a point away from the central axis. The drive circuit controls the rotary motor so that the cover moves back and forth repeatedly in a substantially linear motion along the guide between a shutter closed position and a shutter open position over the imaging sensor array. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08537269B2 Method, medium, and apparatus for setting exposure time
A method, medium, and apparatus for setting an exposure time is provided. The apparatus includes a section setting module which sets one or more luminance sections based on a luminance distribution of an input image, an image division module which divides the input image into two or more regions, a region classification module which classifies the regions into the luminance sections, and an exposure-time setting module which sets an exposure time for each of the regions with reference to a target luminance value, the target luminance value being set based on the results of the classification performed by the region classification module.
US08537266B2 Apparatus for processing digital image and method of controlling the same
Provided are a digital image processing apparatus for determining a focused portion in an image and showing the focused portion to a user and a method of controlling the same. The digital image processing apparatus includes a digital signal processor (DSP) which extracts the intensity of edges from an image and displays the combination of the extracted intensity of edges on the image. A user may determine whether a region of interest is successfully focused or not without additionally operating the digital image processing apparatus.
US08537265B2 Imaging apparatus and method of setting in-focus condition
An imaging apparatus that determines in-focus conditions according to a user's taste by using auto-focus (AF). The imaging apparatus including an AF unit, that allows the user to input an in-focus operation start command, and that allows the user to input a main photographing start command. The imaging apparatus includes a photographing environment storing unit that stores photographing stop and start data, an assumed in-focus condition group generating unit that generates an assumed in-focus condition group based on at least the photographing stop data, an assumption confirming unit that confirms the assumed in-focus condition group, and an in-focus condition group changing unit that, if an in-focus success rate for the assumed in-focus condition group is higher than for the default in-focus condition group, changes the default in-focus condition group to the assumed in-focus condition group.
US08537262B2 Binocular viewing device
An optical device for viewing distant objects. The device includes an objective system and at least one ocular and achieves a magnifying power of greater than 0.6 mm−1 times the entrance pupil diameter in millimeters with an exit pupil of at least 2 mm. Images from the objective system are detected by a sensor, processed and recorded. The images are displayed on a display which is observed by the user through one or more oculars. The optical device works well at low light levels. The device also has a slide mechanism for adjusting the interpupillary distance between the oculars.
US08537260B2 Apparatus and method for low noise imaging
An apparatus and method for low noise imaging uses an image sensor, such as an EMCCD in which charges are accumulated and shifted out using analog clock signals. A sensor controller generates the clock signals from digital waveforms stored in memory units that provide outputs to digital-to-analog converters that, in turn, convert the signals to analog form. The analog signals are then amplified and applied to the sensor. The specific waveforms are determined by a digital signal processor and stored in the memories, and the desired waveforms are read out the memories using addressing provided by a field-programmable gate array. The clock signals may be sinusoids, or may be more complex waveform shapes, and the waveform shapes may be varied by a user. The clock signal rise times may be made gradual so as to minimize noise contributions.
US08537258B2 Solid-state imaging device with transimpedance and integrating circuits
A solid-state imaging device 1 includes N pixel sections 101 to 10N, transimpedance circuits 20a and 20b, integrating circuits 30a and 30b, and a difference arithmetic circuit 40. Each pixel section 10n includes a photoelectric converting circuit including a photodiode, and a first holding circuit and a second holding circuit which hold an output voltage of the photoelectric converting circuit. A voltage held by the first holding circuit of each pixel section 10n is input into the difference arithmetic circuit 40 through a common wire 50a, the transimpedance circuit 20a, and the integrating circuit 30a. A voltage held by the second holding circuit of each pixel section 10n is input into the difference arithmetic circuit 40 through a common wire 50b, the transimpedance circuit 20b, and the integrating circuit 30b. A voltage corresponding to a difference between the voltages output from the integrating circuits 30a and 30b, respectively, is output from the difference arithmetic circuit 40.
US08537252B2 Solid-state imaging device and camera system which performs clamp processing
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which pixels that perform photoelectric conversion are arranged in an optical black region and a valid pixel region; a readout processing unit that applies, to a readout signal of the pixel unit, readout processing corresponding to a reference signal subjected to clamp processing; and a clamp processing unit that clamps, referring to a readout signal level in the optical black region, a reference signal in the valid pixel region with an acquired clamp value, which is a value with which the signal level is reduced to zero. The clamp processing unit acquires, when information concerning readout is changed, a clamp value predicted from the clamp value before the change and a ratio of charge accumulation times before and after the change, and the readout processing unit performs first signal readout processing after the change with a reference signal clamped by the predicted clamp value.
US08537250B2 Zoom lens and photographing apparatus
A zoom lens according to the invention includes in order starting from an object side a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power and selectively moveable along an optical axis for zooming; an aperture stop; a third lens group having a positive refractive power and including a third-A lens group including a doublet lens including a positive lens and a negative lens and having at least one aspherical surface, selectively moveable along the optical axis for image blur compensation, and having a positive refractive power, and a third-B lens group including a positive lens and a negative lens; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power and selectively moveable along the optical axis to compensate for a variation in an image plane caused by the zooming and to perform focusing.
US08537249B2 Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system of lens units, the system including, in object-side-to-image-side order: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit; an aperture diaphragm; one or more additional lens units, with a first of the additional lens units being a first focusing-lens unit having negative optical power and moving along the optical axis in the zoom lens system focusing; an image blur compensating lens unit, adjacent the first focusing-lens unit and movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis in order to optically compensate image blur; with the lens system satisfying: 0.1<(T1+T2)/H<2.0 (T1 being the axial thickness of the first lens unit, T2 being the axial thickness of the second lens unit, and H being the height of an image the zoom lens system forms on an image surface on the image-side end of the zoom lens system).
US08537247B2 Photographing device which measures azimuth during photographing
Disclosed is a photographing device comprising: a photographing unit; a shutter operating unit; a geomagnetic sensor which detects geomagnetism; an electric actuator unit which is electrically driven to generate magnetic field; a drive control unit which turns the electric actuator unit into a non-driven state, within a predetermined period after an operation is entered through the shutter operating unit; and a shooting azimuth calculation unit which captures an output from the geomagnetic sensor within the predetermined period, and calculates azimuth based on the captured output.
US08537246B2 View angle feedback device and method
The present invention provides a portable device that includes at least one view angle sensor for collecting sensor information about the view angle of the portable device. It also includes a view angle determination component for determining (1) the view angle of the portable device engaged in a videoconference session and (2) whether the view angle is within a predefined range for the videoconference session. The portable device also includes a feedback component, wherein responsive to the determination that the view angle is out of range, providing user feedback.
US08537241B2 Image sensor with sensitivity control and sensitivity based wide dynamic range
In one embodiment, a method for sensing an image of a scene includes receiving incident light at a image sensing device including an array of at least two regions of pixel elements, providing one or more control parameters where each of the control parameters modifies the sensitivity of the pixel elements, generating control signals for the one or more control parameter for each region of pixel elements where the sensitivity of the pixel elements is varied on a region by region basis. In another embodiment, method for sensing an image of a scene includes generating control signals for controlling two or more control parameters for controlling the pixel elements of an entire array to provide continuous fine grain control of the sensitivity of the pixel elements.
US08537239B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus and image processing program
The image processing apparatus includes an image inputting part configured to acquire a captured image produced by an image pickup system including an optical system and an image sensor, a filter producing part configured to produce an image restoration filter, and a restoration processing part configured to perform an image restoration process on the captured image by using the image restoration filter to produce a restored image. The filter producing part is configured to set amplification factors for respective frequency components in the image restoration filter according to a frequency characteristic of an alias signal that may be generated in the image sensor.
US08537237B2 Real-time digital image processing architecture
A digital image processing device processes digital images provided by a camera of biosensor reader. The device includes a pixel processing unit for evaluating a stream of image values with respect to a given set of processing spots in the image area, thus determining characteristic parameters like the integral of pixel values in the processing spots. The pixel processing unit communicates with a higher-level digital control unit that sets the processing spots to be evaluated and that reads out and post-processes the results of the pixel processing unit.
US08537234B2 Image restoration with enhanced filtering
A method for imaging includes receiving an input image that includes a matrix of pixels (32) having input pixel values. The input pixel values are processed so as to detect a region of saturation in the input image. A first image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are outside the region of saturation, so as to generate first filtered pixel values. A second image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are within the region of saturation, so as to generate second filtered pixel value. An enhanced output image is generated by stitching together the first and second filtered pixel values.
US08537233B1 Preventing color artifacts in overexposed regions and preserving maximum signals in near-overexposed regions of digital images
Distortions in digital image data, for example, radial falloff and improper white balance, are corrected without introducing artifacts in saturated regions or causing near-saturated regions to become saturated. The approach avoids pushing near-saturated colors into saturation by assuring that the total gain applied to a pixel channel is always less than 1. A spatially adaptive clamp threshold is used to clamp color values for a pixel after the color channel color values have been gain-adjusted. In this manner, saturated pixel color values that have been shifted-down into non-saturated regions are clamped to a maximum valid value and are presented as white in images generated from the gain-adjusted image data. One example embodiment may calculate an adaptive clamp threshold for each pixel in the image data. Another example embodiment may calculate an adaptive clamp threshold for each pixel in a row of pixels in the image data.
US08537228B2 Electronic device and method for controlling cameras
An electronic device and method for controlling a plurality of cameras includes determining a selected camera though a control system, displaying a route map of the selected camera, and calculating motion parameters of a touch motion on a touch panel of the electronic device. The motion parameters are sent to the control system to control the selected camera according to the motion parameters. The touch panel displays acquired video images from the selected camera.
US08537226B2 Voice coil motor and camera module having same
A voice coil motor includes an outer shell, a moveable frame, a coil of wire, a number of magnetic members and a first elastic member. The outer shell includes a number of sidewalls connected to each other end-to-end. The moveable frame is moveably received in the outer shell. The coil of wire is wrapped around the moveable frame and is received in the outer shell. Each of the magnetic members is attached to a corner formed by two inner surfaces of two adjacent sidewalls. The magnetic members and the coil of wire are configured for cooperating to drive the movable frame to move in the outer shell. The first elastic member is attached to the moveable frame and received in the outer shell. The first elastic member is configured for providing an elastic restoring force.
US08537220B2 Surveillance camera having lens controller waterproofing member
A surveillance camera has waterproofing members detachably fitted into guide holes for focus control and zoom control. The camera has a lens controller waterproofing member, a focus controller and a zoom controller and includes a housing having a first guide hole and a second guide hole; a first rod fixing part combined with the focus controller outer surface and including a first extended part with a first rod fitting hole; a second rod fixing part combined with the outer surface of the zoom controller and including a second extended part with a second rod fitting hole; first and second waterproofing members sealing the first and second guide holes; a focus control rod fastened through the first waterproofing member; and a zoom control rod fastened through the second waterproofing member.
US08537218B2 Distance image sensor and method for generating image signal by time-of-flight method
A distance image sensor capable of enlarging the distance measurement range without reducing the distance resolution is provided. A radiation source 13 provides first to fifth pulse trains PT1 to PT5 which are irradiated to the object as radiation pulses in the first to fifth frames arranged in order on a time axis. In each of the frames, imaging times TPU1 to TPU5 are prescribed at points of predetermined time ΔTPD from the start point of each frame, also the pulses PT1 to PT5 are shifted respectively by shift amounts different from each other from the start point of the first to fifth frames. A pixel array 23 generates element image signals SE1 to SE5 each of which has distance information of an object in distance ranges different from each other using imaging windows A and B in each of five frames. A processing unit 17 generates an image signal SIMAGE by combining the element image signals. Since five times-of-flight measurement are used, the width of the radiation pulse does not have to be increased to obtain distance information of the object in a wide distance range, and the distance resolution is not reduced.
US08537216B2 Leveling apparatus and method
A leveling apparatus for optically detecting a height difference relative to a leveling staff includes an objective, a two-dimensional detector, a mount for rotating both the objective and the detector about a fixed vertical axis of the apparatus, and a processor. The detector is arranged such that its rows are inclined to an image of a vertical axis of the object by an acute angle. A method of detecting a height difference of an apparatus relative to a leveling staff includes imaging the leveling staff onto an array of detectors such that the image of a vertical axis of the staff is inclined to detector rows at an acute angle.
US08537214B2 Method of regulating a harmonization compensation between video sensor and head up display device, and corresponding devices
The invention relates to a method for adjustment of a harmonization compensation applied to alleviate a discrepancy of conformity between a video image transmitted by a video transducer (1) and projected by a head-up display device (5, 6), of an aircraft, and an external scene ahead of the aircraft. At least one equipment item of the aircraft—preferably the said HUD device—equipped with at least one control element accessible in the cockpit, is programmed to be able to function according to a nominal mode and according to a maintenance mode, in which at least one of its control elements, known as a redirected control element, is used to define the applied harmonization compensation. An operator activates the maintenance mode and starts an adjustment operation, in which he modifies in real time the applied harmonization compensation, by manipulating at least one redirected control element, until the video image is matched with the external scene.
US08537213B2 Method for measuring via bottom profile
A method for measuring a via bottom profile is disclosed for obtaining a profile of a bottom of a via in a front side of a substrate. In this method, an infrared (IR) light source is transmitted from the back of the substrate to the bottom of the via through an objective by using an IR-microscope, and lights scattered from the bottom of the via are acquired by an image capturing device to generate an image, where the image displays a diameter (2Ea) of the via bottom profile and a diameter (2Ec) of a maximum receivable base area of the via for the IR-microscope. Thereafter, by using an elliptic equation, a minor axis radius thereof (Eb) is obtained, and thus the via bottom profile is obtained from a radius (Ea) of the via bottom profile and the minor axis radius (Eb) of the elliptic equation.
US08537202B2 Video processing apparatus and video processing method
According to one embodiment, a histogram generator configured to generate a histogram based on luminance levels of pixels represented by video signals; and a determination module configured to determine whether the video signals represent a stereoscopic video based on the histogram.
US08537198B2 Dichroic cut filter for wide-angle imaging
An image device for wide-angle imaging may include an integrated optical system with a wide-angle dichroic cut filter. The dichroic cut filter may be an ultra-violet/infrared (UV/IR) cut filter to block UV and IR wavelengths of light and to transmit visible light. The dichroic cut filter is positioned adjacent to a surface of a lens in the optical system that receives rays of light at a substantially uniform angle of incidence along its surface. For example, the lens having the dichroic cut filter may receive all rays of light at an angle of incidence normal to the lens surface. The passband characteristics of the dichroic cut filter thus remain consistent for all rays of light. The dichroic cut filter may also be positioned near an aperture of the image device so as to direct retroreflected light away from the image sensor.
US08537191B2 Lens holding unit, optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, a lens holding unit includes a laser diode to irradiate laser beam, a lens through which the laser beam passes, a sheet metal having a bottom surface to hold a bottom portion of the lens and a sidewall which uprises from the bottom surface at a right angle and holds a side portion of the lens, and a first resin member fixed to the bottom surface of the sheet metal to hold a side portion at the other side of the lens which is held on the sheet metal.
US08537188B2 Portable thermal printer
According to one embodiment, a portable thermal printer is disclosed. The portable thermal printer comprises: a housing provided with a thermal printer head; a cover openably attached to an opening portion of the housing by a pivotal shaft, the cover being provided with a platen roller arranged to make contact with the thermal printer head when the opening portion of the housing is closed by the cover; and a drive power source provided within the housing. The drive power source, the pivotal shaft and the platen roller are connected by a belt mechanism.
US08537186B2 Adhesive label and apparatus for producing the same
An adhesive label includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent layer formed on one surface of a support. A non-adhesive heat-reactive layer is positioned above the adhesive agent layer and in which openings are formed by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. An intermediate layer is positioned between the heat-reactive layer and the adhesive agent layer. The intermediate layer and the heat-reactive layer are each formed thinner than the adhesive agent layer. The intermediate layer facilitates the formation of the openings in the heat-reactive layer with good heat energy efficiency and allows the intermediate layer or the adhesive agent layer to be exposed through the openings.
US08537184B2 Linerless labels
Linerless labels are presented. A label includes a specific pattern or set of patterns of adhesive applied to one side of the label. The adhesive pattern(s) reduces contact between a cutter blade of a printer and the adhesive on the one side of the label. Moreover, the adhesive patterns reduce buildup of adhesive on the cutter blade and reduce buildup at specific locations on the cutter blade. That is, the adhesive patterns more evenly distribute adhesive buildup across the cutter blade. Consequently, the cutter blade can be used for a longer period of time before the cutter blade needs to be cleaned of the adhesive.
US08537183B2 Printing device and data writing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a printing device includes a printing unit configured to print on a recording medium including a wireless tag and a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium to the printing unit along a conveying path. The printing device further includes an antenna unit configured to write data on the wireless tag by radiating an electromagnetic wave, a moving unit configured to move the antenna unit along the conveying path, and a control unit configured to control the moving unit to move the antenna unit so that the antenna unit is capable of writing data on the wireless tag, while the conveying unit is conveying the recording medium to the printing unit.
US08537182B2 Light emitting period setting method, driving method for display panel, driving method for backlight, light emitting period setting apparatus, semiconductor device, display panel and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a light emitting period setting method for a display panel wherein the peak luminance level is varied through control of a total light emitting period length which is the sum total of period lengths of light emitting periods arranged in a one-field period, including a step of setting period lengths of N light emitting periods, which are arranged in a one-field period, in response to the total light emitting period length such that the period lengths of the light emitting periods continue to keep a fixed ratio thereamong, N being equal to or higher than 3.
US08537181B2 Modes and interfaces for observation, and manipulation of digital images on computer screen in support of pathologist's workflow
Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of manipulating a microscopy slide image. Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of panning across the entire width and height of a microscopy slide image. Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of changing the magnification of a microscopy slide image.
US08537180B1 System and method for viewing content
A system and method for viewing content on a mobile device may include outputting, at a display coupled to a mobile computing device, content viewable at the display, and receiving a first gesture indicative of scroll input having a first velocity. The content may be scrolled at a first effective scroll rate based on the first velocity. A size of the content may be altered by a first zoom factor that is based on the first effective scroll rate. A second gesture indicative of scroll input may be received while the content has a residual zoom factor, the second gesture having a second velocity. The content may be scrolled at a second effective scroll rate based on the second velocity and the residual zoom factor. A size of the content may be altered by a second zoom factor that is based on the second effective scroll rate.
US08537177B2 System and methods for gamut bounded saturation adaptive color enhancement
System and methods for gamut bounded saturation adaptive color enhancement are provided. Color enhancement incorporating gamut bounded saturation enhances colors of an pixel from a source color gamut such that the resulting color is within a target color gamut. This resulting color may, for example, take advantage of an expanded target color gamut of a display. Gamut bounded saturation may be implemented independently or in combination with RGB bounded saturation.
US08537174B2 Techniques for adaptive brightness control of a display
Techniques for adaptive brightness control of a display are described. A apparatus may comprise a display and a display control module communicatively coupled to the display. The display control module may be arranged to modify brightness levels for the display based on ambient light level measurements and changes in pupil size of a human eye. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08537172B2 Method and system for processing an image according to deterministic and stochastic fields
A method of assembling an image. The method comprises receiving an image depicting a pattern, identifying a stochastic field and a deterministic field of the pattern, separately increasing resolution of each the stochastic and deterministic fields, and assembling the resolution increased stochastic and deterministic fields to create an additional image of the pattern. The pattern in the additional image having a higher spatial resolution than in the image.
US08537171B2 Piecewise non-causal compression and subsequent decompression of quantized data for processing of decompressed data in higher precision processing space
Nonlinear compression of high precision image data (e.g., 12-bits per subpixel) conventionally calls for a large sized lookup table (LUT). A smaller sized and tunable circuit that performs compression with piecewise linear compressing segments is disclosed. The piecewise linear data compressing process is organized so that lumping together of plural ‘used’ high precision value points into one corresponding low precision data value point is avoided or at least minimized. In one embodiment, the compressed data is image defining data being processed for display on a nonconventional display screen where the piecewise linearly compressed data can be stored adjacent to other image data in a frame buffer where a composite image is assembled.
US08537161B2 Graphical display with integrated recent period zoom and historical period context data
A system and method are provided for displaying a data series. In one embodiment, a graphical interface is provided including at least one axis that is divided into a plurality of axis regions. Preferably, each axis region uses a different linear scale, and the plurality of axis regions forms a continuous non-linear scale. The graphical interface also displays the data series in relation to the plurality of axis regions, and the data series is plotted in relation to each axis region based on a scale resolution corresponding to each respective axis region.
US08537160B2 Generating distributed dataflow graphs
Systems and methods for generating distributed dataflow graphs and processing data elements in parallel utilizing the distributed dataflow graphs are provided. A sequential dataflow graph is formed from incoming data elements, and a variety of heuristics is applied to the sequential dataflow graph to determine which of the data transformation steps within the graph are capable of being processed multiple times in parallel. Once determined, the sequential dataflow graph is divided into subgraphs, which are then replicated, e.g., based on available resources and.or external constraints. The resulting subgraphs are connected, based on the semantics of each vertex, and a distributed dataflow graph is generated, which can efficiently process data elements, for instance, for data warehousing and the like.
US08537155B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may generate a texture by synthesizing a facial area of an input color image and a template texture, generate a mesh model by matching a template mesh model corresponding to the template texture and a depth image corresponding to the input color image, and generate a three-dimensional (3D) facial model based on the texture and the mesh model.
US08537152B2 Semiconductor circuit, driving circuit of electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor circuit includes a first circuit block, a second circuit block, and power wiring lines that supply a plurality of reference potentials. The first circuit block and the second circuit block are connected to a common power wiring line that is one of the power wiring lines and supplies a common reference potential. A width of the common power wiring line in the first circuit block is smaller than a width of the common power wiring line in the second circuit block.
US08537148B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
According to one embodiment, an image display apparatus comprises a detector configured to detect an illuminance of surroundings, an upper and lower limit calculator configured to calculate an upper limit and a lower limit of luminance based on the detection result of the illuminance, a luminance calculator configured to calculate the luminance of each of light sources to display an image based on an input image signal in the range of the upper limit to the lower limit, a correction module configured to correct the input image signal based on the calculated luminance, a light emitter configured to emit light based on the calculated luminance, the light emitter includes the light sources, and a light modulator configured to display an image by modulating light from each of the light sources based on the corrected input image signal.
US08537145B2 System for automatically locating visibility zones
According to the invention, the system automatically locates effective visibility zones from which an element to be viewed is visible. For this purpose, for this purpose, the inventive system makes use of the location of potential visibility zones (obtained from data such as sitting, morphology and orientation of the element to be viewed, potential visibility distance assigned to said element, etc.) and the morphology of the region in which the effective visibility zones are to be located. Said system avails of means of appraising the degree of visibility of different visibility zones according to the level of compliance achieved in relation to the criteria for locating visibility zones. By means of a sample practical application, the element to be viewed could be an advertising medium and the effective visibility zones could be defined by effective visibility axes that correspond to the streets of an urban environment in which other parameters can also be considered, such as the number of individuals and the transport means that pass through said streets, the direction of traffic, the time, etc.
US08537142B2 Stylus
A stylus is disclosed including a main barrel, a main body receiving the main barrel, a stylus cover covering the main body, and a sliding rod assembled to the main barrel. The main body is slidably assembled to the sliding rod to transfer between being latched inside the main barrel and being exposed out of the main barrel.
US08537141B2 Digital signature collection and authentication
A digital signature collection and authentication system includes an ink pen having an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits ultrasonic energy to a plurality of ultrasonic receivers. A computer triangulates the location of the pen versus time to generate the signature shape, and to generate velocity and acceleration data. The pen also includes a pressure sensitive tip to record pressure applied to the pen tip. The pen also includes a higher frequency burst transmitter useful to generate a time reference, and to transmit the pressure information. The computer packetizes the shape, velocity, acceleration, and pressure data with a time stamp and an IP address or phone number, encrypts the packet and sends it to a host computer for authentication.
US08537138B2 Optical touch apparatus having a light guide with scattering particles
An optical touch apparatus includes a light source capable of emitting a beam, a light guide unit disposed in a transmission path of the beam, and an optical detector. The light guide unit includes a light guide body having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, and a scattering structure disposed on at least one of the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface. The beam is capable of entering the light guide body, being scattered to the first surface by the scattering structure, and then being transmitted to a sensing space. The scattering structure includes separated scattering patterns including a resin composition and scattering particles dispersed in the resin composition. The ratio of the weight percentage of the scattering particles to the weight percentage of the resin composition is equal to or greater than 0.1.
US08537135B2 Sensory structure of touch panel
A two-dimensional sensory structure for the capacitive touch panel is provided. The provided two-dimensional sensory structure includes a substrate having plural first metal structures and second metal structures on a first surface thereof, a dot-like insulating layer located on the substrate and composed of plural insulating dots, and an electrode layer located on the dot-like insulating layer and composed of plural conductive traces. The insulating dots are each corresponding to the first metal structures respectively, and thereby a first portion of the conductive traces arranged along a first direction are electrically connected to each other, and the conductive traces that are arranged along a second direction are electrically insulated therefrom. The thickness of the touch panel according to the invention is effectively reduced.
US08537134B2 Size/scale and orientation determination of a pointer in a camera-based touch system
A touch system includes a touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and having overlapping fields of view. A digital signal processor is associated with each camera. The digital signal processors process pixel data acquired by selected pixel subsets of the at least two digital cameras to generate pointer characteristic data when a pointer exists in the acquired images. The pointer characteristic data identifies edges of the pointer. A master digital signal processor triangulates the edge information in the pointer characteristic data to determine a bounding area that represents a pointer perimeter.
US08537125B2 Electrostatic capacity touch panel having a plurality of first, second and third electrodes
A display device having an electrostatic capacity touch panel includes: X electrodes XP and Y electrodes YP which intersect each other via a first insulating layer; and a plurality of Z electrodes disposed in a floating state via a second insulating layer. For the second insulating layer, a material such as an elastic insulating material which changes in thickness by pressing of touch is used. The Z electrode is disposed so as to overlap both one of the X electrodes and one of the Y electrodes. A pad part of the X electrode has a largest area in the vicinity of a thin line part of the X electrode, and a smallest area in the vicinity of the thin line part of the adjacent X electrode. An area of the pad part is reduced as the pad part departs from the thin line part of the X electrode.
US08537124B2 Touch sensor, liquid crystal display panel having the same and driving method for the same
A touch sensor is installed inside a liquid crystal display panel to sense a touch operation and includes a light sensing part including a photodiode, a capacitance sensing part including a liquid crystal capacitor, and a sensing signal output part. The light sensing part generates a control signal corresponding to a variation in the amount of external light when the liquid crystal display panel is touched. The capacitance sensing part varies the control signal based on a variation in the capacitance of the liquid crystal capacitor when the liquid crystal display panel is touched. The sensing signal output part generates a sensing signal in response to the control signal and determines an output timing of the sensing signal.
US08537121B2 Multi-function slider in touchpad
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for providing a touch-sensor device. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data indicative of movement of a conductive object on a first area of a touch-sensor device. The method further includes detecting data indicative of a presence of the conductive object in one of a plurality of one dimensional positions on a second area of the touch-sensor device, the second area being different than the first area, and determining in which one of the plurality of one dimensional positions is the presence detected.
US08537116B2 Computer mouse having remote control
An exemplary computer mouse includes a main body and a remote control. The main body includes a receiving cavity for receiving the remote control. The receiving cavity has two opposite sidewalls. Each of the two opposite sidewalls defines a first recess, a second recess, and a third recess. The first recess is located between the second recess and the third recess and is separated from the second recess and the third recess. The remote control includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. Each of the first and second sidewalls of the remote control includes a first protruding post and a second protruding post. Each of the first protruding posts is latched in the corresponding second recess or the corresponding third recess to fix the remote control in the receiving cavity. Each of the second protruding posts slides in the corresponding first recess to make the remote control rotatable.
US08537115B2 Ambidextrous mouse
An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.
US08537109B2 System and method for automatically adjusting light source drive current during optical navigation operation
A system and method for automatically adjusting a drive current to a light source during an optical navigation operation uses brightness characteristics of captured frames of image data to determine whether each of the frames of image data belongs to one of at least first and second types of frames of image data. The drive current is adjusted depending on counts of the frames of image data belonging to the first and second types of frames of image data.
US08537108B2 Navigation tool with audible feedback on a handheld communication device having a full alphabetic keyboard
System and method that provides tactical feedback through a speaker of a handheld electronic device having a full alphabetic keyboard upon activation of a navigation tool. The audible feedback produced by the speaker is capable of being modified based on upon the location, speed, and other characteristics of the movement of a cursor on the display of a handheld electronic device. The sound produced by the speaker can originate from an audio file stored or otherwise available on the handheld electronic device.
US08537107B1 Discriminating among activation of multiple buttons
An apparatus and method for discrimination of activation of multiple buttons are described. To discriminate among the activations, a processing device detects multiple activated touch-sensor buttons on a touch-sensor array. The processing device determines a difference value corresponding to a difference between activation signal values for each of the activated touch-sensor buttons and compares the difference value to a difference threshold. If the difference value is above the difference threshold, the processing device determines which of the activated touch-sensor buttons has a greater activation signal value and triggers an operation associated with that touch-sensor button.
US08537106B2 Operation panel structure
An operation panel structure for an image forming apparatus, said operation panel structure having an operation panel protruding from a front side of the image forming apparatus. The operation panel structure has a first support unit for supporting the operation panel such that the operation panel is capable of pivoting in a first direction along a vertical direction and a second support unit for supporting the operation panel such that the operation panel is capable of pivoting in a second direction along a horizontal direction. A lock claw is capable of selectively engaging with a plural number of lock holes so that the operation panel can be locked in the plural number of locked positions while the operation panel is pivoting in the first direction.
US08537104B2 Variable common electrode
A display device (100) includes a row driver (520) configured to provide a row voltage, and a row electrode (320) connected to the row driver (520). A column driver (530) is configured to provide N column voltage levels to a column electrode (330). Further, a common electrode driver (570) is configured to provide M common voltage levels to a common electrode (170). A pixel (CDE) is connected between the column electrode (330) and the common electrode (170); and a controller (515) is configured to control timing of application of the N column voltage levels relative the M common voltage levels to provide NM effective pixel voltage levels across the pixel (CDE).
US08537103B2 Electrophoresis display device and electronic equipments using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide an active matrix type electrophoresis display device whose number of the times of writings is further smaller. In an electrophoresis display device which performs the display of picture using a n-bit digital picture signal, the respective pixels are divided into a plurality of sub-pixels, the respective sub-pixels have a 1-bit memory circuit. Since an electrophoresis element is stable in once written state, upon the display of static picture, the picture is retained by the digital picture signal retained in a memory circuit, therefore, a periodic refresh operation which is conventionally considered to be required are capable of being omitted.
US08537102B2 Backlight control apparatus and control method thereof
A backlight control apparatus for controlling luminance of a backlight panel includes an image information memory and a detection and automatic switching circuit. The image information memory is for storing the image information. The detection and automatic switching circuit is for detecting the updated frequency of the updated image information and then sets a displaying mode for adjusting the luminance of the backlight panel according to the updated frequency.
US08537101B2 Three-dimensional image display device
A three-dimensional image display device includes a luminance controller receiving a three-dimensional enable signal, a backlight data signal and at least one starting signal of a scan starting signal, a vertical blank starting signal and a backlight starting signal. The luminance controller outputs a backlight control signal and a backlight unit is operated based on the backlight control signal and is coupled to the luminance controller. The backlight data signal is based on a previous pulse of the starting signal and is applied from a first time when a current pulse of the starting signal starts to a second time when a next pulse of the starting signal starts.
US08537097B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having an LED drive circuit which can control a dimming control signal even with a pulse width of several tens μsec or less. The LED drive circuit includes a booster circuit, a first stage current mirror circuit generating a reference current, a second stage current mirror circuit generating a driving current from the reference current, a light-emitting diode column having a light-emitting diode supplied with the driving current, and a dimming control circuit controlling the turning on and off of the light-emitting diode based on a dimming control signal.
US08537095B2 Display apparatus and method of driving the same
A display apparatus includes a gate driver which sequentially outputs a gate signal at a high state in response to a gate control signal and a data driver which converts image data into a data signal in response to a data control signal. The display apparatus further includes a display panel which includes a plurality of gate lines which sequentially receive the gate signal, a plurality of data lines which receive the data signal and a plurality of pixels connected to the gate and data lines and which receive the data signal in response to the gate signal to display an image. The polarity of the data signal is inverted after the gate signal transitions to a low state.
US08537091B2 Flat panel display
A flat panel display includes a display screen, a first flexible printed circuit, and a second flexible printed circuit. The second flexible printed circuit has a plurality of pads and is electrically connected to the display screen. The first flexible printed circuit is electrically connected between the display screen and the second flexible printed circuit and has a plurality of pins corresponding to the pads. The pins are divided into a plurality of groups, and each the group is respectively located at the different sides of the first flexible.
US08537082B2 Display and electronic apparatus
A display is provided. The display includes at least one display cell having a display circuit; at least one light receiving cell including a light receiving element; a light emitting section operative to radiate light to the side of a display surface; and a polarizing plate disposed on the front side in the display relative to a region in which the light emitting section is disposed and regions in which the display cell and the light receiving cell are formed, wherein a phase difference plate is disposed at a position which is on the front side relative to the light receiving cell and in either of an emitting optical path of the light emitting section and a reflecting optical path toward the light receiving cell.
US08537073B1 Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems
Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed.
US08537072B2 Antenna for mobile terminal unit
An antenna (201) is provided comprising at least one antenna radiator (201) molded with a non-conductive cover (203) of a mobile terminal unit. The connection to electronic circuits of the mobile terminal unit is made non-galvanic through dielectric interfaces (209) being integrated in the cover.
US08537071B2 Antenna devices
An antenna device is provided with a first connecting electrode, a first tunnel diode, a first antenna member and a fixed electrode. The first connecting electrode is configured to be connected to a fixed potential via a load. The first tunnel diode has a pair of electrodes. One of the electrodes of the first tunnel diode is connected to the first connecting electrode, and the other electrode of the first tunnel diode is connected to the first antenna member. The first antenna member has a conductive property and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the first antenna member is connected to the other electrode of the first tunnel diode. The fixed electrode is connected to the second portion of the first antenna member. The fixed electrode is configured to be connected to the fixed potential.
US08537068B2 Method and apparatus for tri-band feed with pseudo-monopulse tracking
Methods and apparatus for a feed assembly for a reflector antenna including an aperture common to low, mid, and high frequency bands, a polyrod design to launch signals in the mid and high frequency bands, a horn to launch signals in the low frequency band, a co-located phase center for launching signals in the low, mid, and high frequency bands, and a low-band monopulse array located on a surface about the aperture to track a satellite.
US08537067B2 Small aperture interrogator antenna system employing sum difference azimuth discrimination techniques
An antenna system comprising a first antenna corresponding to a horn antenna, a second antenna corresponding to a horn antenna disposed such that the E-plane of the second antenna is co-planar with the E-plane of the first antenna an such that an aperture of the first antenna and an aperture of the second antenna are substantially in a common plane; and a third antenna corresponding to a horn antenna disposed such that the E-plane of the third antenna is substantially co-planar with the E-plane of the first antenna and such that an aperture of said third antenna is substantially in the same plane as the aperture of the first and second antennas and wherein the second and third antennas are canted toward each other.
US08537066B2 Truncated biconical dipole antenna with dielectric separators and associated methods
The antenna assembly includes first and second adjacent antenna elements each having a tapered or conical antenna body with a base and an apex opposite the base. An elongated or cylindrical antenna body extends from the base of the conical antenna body, and includes a plurality of adjacent elongated or cylindrical antenna body portions, and a respective dielectric member separating adjacent cylindrical antenna body portions. Each of the first and second adjacent antenna elements are aligned along a common longitudinal axis with respective apexes in opposing relation to define a dipole antenna. Increased radiation pattern bandwidth and satisfactory pattern on the horizon may be achieved in such a biconical-type antenna.
US08537059B2 Cooling system for panel array antenna
The present invention relates to panel array antennas, and more particularly to a cooling system for an antenna such as a jet stream conformal panel array antenna. In one embodiment, a panel array antenna for an aircraft includes a closed-loop fluid flow path that passes through the panel array assembly and dissipates heat to the jet stream outside the aircraft. A fluid such as pressurized air passes through this closed-loop path, flowing through strategically-placed openings in the layers of the panel array assembly and flowing over and around the hot electrical components in the panel assembly. The air is heated by these electrical components, and the heated air then flows through the flow path under the top sheet, dissipating the heat to the jet stream outside. In one embodiment, a panel array antenna includes a panel assembly having a top layer through which the antenna radiates or receives a signal, and a fluid flow path through the panel assembly. A first portion of the fluid flow path is disposed below the top layer such that a fluid passing through the first portion of the fluid flow path is in heat transfer proximity to the top layer.
US08537056B2 Antenna and portable device employing the same
A portable device includes a main body and an antenna mounted on the main body. The main body includes a printed circuit board (PCB). A first guide pole and a second guide pole are configured on the PCB. The antenna includes a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion and an insulated portion. The first conductor portion includes a first connecting end electrically connected to the PCB via the first guide pole. The first connecting end acts as a feed portion of the antenna. The second conductor portion is disposed between the first conductor portion and the PCB and includes a second connecting end electrically connected to the PCB via the second guide pole. The insulated portion is sandwiched between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion to insulate the first conductor portion from the second conductor portion.
US08537054B2 Antenna with multiple resonating conditions
An antenna with multiple resonating conditions includes a grounding element electrically connected to a ground, a radiating element, a connection element electrically connected between the grounding element and the radiating element, a feed-in element electrically connected between the connection element and the grounding element for receiving feed-in signals, and a radiating-condition generating element electrically connected to the grounding element and extending from the grounding element to the radiating element.
US08537052B2 Antenna and electronic device equipped with the same
An antenna includes a dielectric substrate, a ground electrode provided on a first surface of the dielectric substrate, a first antenna element and a second antenna elements provided to a second surface of the dielectric substrate, the first and second antenna elements having an identical resonance frequency and an identical Q value, a transmission line connecting the first and second antenna elements, and a feed part provided in the transmission line.
US08537051B1 Three-dimensional imaging system employing fast-scanned antenna array
A phased array antenna includes an array of antenna elements configured to transmit signals that form an antenna beam. A corresponding set of amplifiers supplies a respective set of continuous wave (CW) signals to the antenna elements for transmission. The CW signals having respective different frequencies that are offset from each other by incremental offset frequencies such that the different frequencies are spaced over a frequency range at intervals. Phases of the set of CW signals are aligned such that, at periodic instants, all of the CW signals have simultaneous zero crossings. The frequency and phase relationships among the set of CW signals cause the antenna elements to radiate an antenna beam that scans a field of view in a raster pattern. The resulting ultra-fast scan rate effectively delivers short pulses to any given point within the field of view, making the radiated signal suitable for three-dimensional imaging.
US08537044B2 Interleaved analog to digital converter with digital equalization
An interleaved analog to digital converter with digital equalization includes a conversion-measurement-equalization unit and residual distortions reduction unit, and is operative in a calibration mode and converter mode. The conversion-measurement-equalization unit includes a composite ADC containing N sub-ADCs, equalizer, responses measurement unit and a coefficients calculator. The residual distortions reduction unit uses received measured frequency responses and equalizer coefficients, both from the conversion-measurement-equalization unit, as a base to calculate corrected frequency responses that are applied to the coefficients calculator for generation of equalizer coefficients for application to the equalizer. A residual distortions calculator of the residual distortions reduction unit, is responsive to measured frequency responses from the composite ADC and a current set of equalizer coefficients applied to the equalizer, to calculate residual frequency distortions that should have been expected to appear in the output signal of the ADC system if the current equalizer coefficients remain applied to the equalizer.
US08537043B1 Digital-to-analog converter with controlled gate voltages
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a resistor leg that is switchably connected to a first voltage reference via an n-channel MOSFET and to a second voltage reference via a p-channel MOSFET, and a generator circuit. The generator circuit further includes a first sub-circuit for generating a drive voltage (Vgn) and a second sub-circuit for a) offsetting the first drive voltage by an offset voltage to generate a second drive voltage, and b) supplying the second drive voltage to a gate of one of the first NMOS and the first PMOS.
US08537041B2 Interpolation-based digital pre-distortion architecture
A non-linear amplifier is linearized using interpolation-based digital pre-distortion (DPD). In one embodiment, the digital input signal is interpolated to generate a higher-sample-rate signal that is then pre-distorted. The resulting higher-sample-rate pre-distorted signal is then decimated to generate a final pre-distorted digital signal that is converted into an analog pre-distorted signal by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) before being applied to the amplifier. In a polyphase embodiment, different versions of the original input digital signal are generated, where each version is then pre-distorted using a different DPD module to generate a different intermediate pre-distorted digital signal. The intermediate pre-distorted signals are filtered and combined to generate the final pre-distorted digital signal. In both embodiments, better linearization (e.g., less aliasing) can be achieved without increasing the sample rate of the DAC and, in the polyphase embodiment, without increasing the processing speed of the DPD modules.
US08537040B2 Data converter current sources using thin-oxide core devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data conversion by matching current sources using a thin oxide device; and minimizing voltage stress on the thin oxide device during operation or power down.
US08537038B1 Efficient compression method for sorted data representations
A method of compressing sorted data representation symbols sequentially. Steps include determining whether a symbol currently being encoded is identical to an immediately preceding symbol; encoding the result as a binary event; if the symbols are identical, encoding the symbol ends; if the symbols are different and there is a constant difference between several previous pairs of symbols, determining whether the difference between the current symbol a and the symbol immediately preceding it b is the same as the difference between the symbol b and the symbol immediately preceding it c, and encoding the determination result as another binary event; in the case of positive result of the latest determination, encoding the symbol ends; otherwise, encoding the symbol using a bitwise operation in which bits of the symbol's binary representation are processed sequentially from the most significant bit to the least significant bit. A corresponding decompression method is provided.
US08537037B2 Adaptive control for efficient HARQ memory usage
There is determined an amount of available memory that is allocated for automatic repeat-request data. Then for each of a plurality of received data transmissions, an nth compression level is selected, in dependence at least in part on the amount of available memory, from among N possible compression levels for storing the respective received data transmission. In one specific embodiment each of the received data transmissions represents one HARQ process, and the nth compression level is selected from comparing an amount of memory needed to store the respective received data transmission and all other received data transmissions representing parallel HARQ processes as compressed according to the nth compression level against the determined amount of available memory. An algorithm iteratively checks the amount of memory needed for each of the N possible compression levels, from least compressed to most compressed in this specific embodiment.
US08537035B2 Aircraft control cabin with avionics display device
This aircraft control cabin comprises an avionics display device with multiple fixed screens (10a-10d) and at least one screen (15, 16) as an accessory, designed to be a replacement screen or extra screen for the avionics display system. The screen (15, 16) is a touch screen housed in a retractable tablet which slides underneath an instrument panel in the control cabin, the touch screen (15, 16) being designed to occupy a stowed position underneath the instrument panel, a first position of use in the retractable tablet in which the touch screen (15, 16) acts as a means of interaction for controlling various items in the control cabin and a second position of use in which the touch screen (15, 16) is put in a position in which it replaces or supplements a screen (10a-10d) belonging to the avionics display system. Use in an aircraft.
US08537034B2 Obstacle detection and notification system
A power line warning system for a helicopter, comprising a positioning system operable to determine the coordinates of the helicopter, an obstacle coordinate database comprising the coordinates of at least a portion of a first power line, a sensor operable to detect electromagnetic radiation from the first power line, and a visual display operable to represent a position of the first power line relative to the helicopter is described. When the coordinates of the first power line are within a predetermined distance of the coordinates of the helicopter, wherein the representation of the position of the first power line is modified when the sensor detects electromagnetic radiation from the first power line.
US08537032B2 On-vehicle information processing device, information providing device, and vehicle information processing system
A road-side support device which provides support information to a vehicle includes a device-side receiver unit that receives equipment information on equipment of the vehicle or detectable information detectable by a sensor unit of the vehicle, a priority calculating unit that calculates a priority of a support using the support information on the basis of the equipment information or the detectable information, and a device-side transmitter unit that transmits the support information to the vehicle on the basis of the priority. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the efficiency of processes necessary for vehicle control, driving support, or the like in the road-side support device and the vehicle.
US08537031B2 Audible blind spot indicator
An audible blind spot indicator for a motor vehicle having a blind spot detection system is provided. The audible blind spot indicator can include an audible module that has a first tone generator operable to generate a first tone frequency and a second tone generator operable to generate a second tone frequency that is different than the first tone frequency.
US08537028B2 Utility meter with virtual shut-off function
An electronic electric meter for use in a networked automatic meter reading environment. The meter includes a meter microcontroller, a measurement microcontroller, a communication microcontroller and spread spectrum processor, and a plurality of other communication interface modules for communicating commodity utilization and power quality data to a utility. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility over a spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located gateway node. The gateway node transmits this data to the utility over a commercially available fixed wide area network (WAN). The meter also provides direct communication to the utility over a commercially available network interface that plugs into the meter's backplane or bus system, bypassing the local area network communication link and gateway node.
US08537022B2 Method and device for configurable ground monitoring of a workbench
The invention provides a method for configurable ground monitoring of a workbench, and the method comprises the steps as follows. The step of detecting if each of monitored objects of a monitor device is enable should be performed first. A digital value of each of the monitored objects according to detecting result is then calculated and accumulated. The step of detecting if each of the monitored objects reaches a predetermined number of samples is performed, and the step of calculating an average value of each of the monitored objects according to detecting result is followed. The average measured value is compared with a predetermined digital limit-value of each of the monitored objects; furthermore, a corresponding alarm will be sounded when the average measured value exceeds the predetermined digital limit-value. The digital value and a compared result are then sent, and then the step of detecting if the operator ground connection is enabled is performed. A timer counter is then renewed according to detecting result, and an alarm will be sounded when the operator did not maintain ground connection and is exceeding a predetermined time period. A device using the abovementioned method is also disclosed in the present invention.
US08537020B2 Visual indicator of gas sensor impairment
A gas detector includes at least one gas sensing element and a calorimetric sensing material for detection of a different, potentially contaminating gas which can impair the function of the gas sensing element disposed within the detector. The sensing material provides a visual indication of the presence of the potentially contaminating gas.
US08537018B2 Refrigeration system management and information display
Embodiments of the invention provide methods of displaying information associated with a refrigeration system, methods for managing a refrigeration system, refrigeration systems, methods of providing redundancy to a refrigeration system, and injector systems. A refrigeration system and method for displaying information associated with a refrigeration system includes monitoring a temperature associated with the refrigeration system, detecting events associated with the refrigeration system, and displaying the temperature and at least one event associated with the refrigeration system occurring during a predetermined period of time, including displaying the temperature occurring during the predetermined period of time and displaying a user interface element associated with at least one event occurring during the predetermined period of time.
US08537017B2 Head impact event display
Systems and methods for evaluating and displaying an impact. A computer implemented method for interacting with a sports impact sensing and reporting system. The computer implemented method receives sensor data from one or more player modules configured to detect a force experienced by a player. A user interface is configured to graphically display a model of the received sensor data generated based on acceleration and rotational information within the received sensor data, a magnitude of the received sensor data, and a plotted representation of the received sensor data. Assessment tools are presented for a caregiver to assess the player for a medical condition. The received sensor data and a result of the presented medical assessment are stored.
US08537013B2 Display assembly with interchangeable head devices
Methods and other embodiments associated with a display stand with interchangeable head devices are presented. In one embodiment, a display assembly comprises a base, an interchangeable head device, a mounting member, a tether, and a sensor. The interchangeable head device is mounted to the base. The interchangeable head device is one of a plurality of different base head devices configured to be interchangeably mounted to the base. The mounting member is adapted for mounting thereon a display item and is movable between a mounted position in contact with one of the base head devices mounted to the base. The mounting can be removed from the base to facilitate viewing and handling of the display item. The tether is attached to the mounting member. The sensor transmits a signal to an alarm system when the mounting member is removed from the base head device mounted to the base.
US08537012B2 Display assembly with cable stop
Methods and other embodiments associated with a display stand with a tether stop are presented. In the preferred embodiment, a display stand includes a base, a mounting member, a tether, a recoiler, and a cable stop. The mounting member is adapted for mounting thereon a display item and is movable between a mounted position in contact with the base. The mounting member is configured to be removed from the base to facilitate viewing and handling of the display item. The tether includes a connector located at one end of the tether to attach the tether to the mounting member. The recoiler recoils the tether. The cable stop moves to a first position to allow the connector to pass through an opening in the base and to a second position to prevent the connector from passing through the opening.
US08537008B2 Bed status indicators
A bed includes bed status indicators, such as a pair of spaced lamp modules that are illuminated to signify a satisfactory status or an unsatisfactory status of the bed.
US08537006B2 Data storage device and method
A portable, high-capacity data storage device for storage, transport, and retrieval of multi-terabyte-level data sets comprises a plurality of individual main data storage units coupled to a data bus and a controller isolated from the data bus. The data storage device can be coupled to an external system to establish data access connections between the external system and the individual main data storage units via a first communication path comprising the data bus, with the controller and external system communicating with one another via a second communication path logically isolated from the first communication path. The data storage device can be provided with sensors that enable the controller to monitor the surrounding environment, and can be provided with a non-volatile display.
US08537003B2 Geographic reminders
Described is a technology by which a mobile device outputs an alert for a reminder based upon a current location of the mobile device with respect to an entity (person, place or thing) associated with the reminder. The reminders may be maintained and provided by a service. Each reminder includes a reference to target-related information. When the device moves to within a threshold proximity of the target, and other criteria (e.g., time of day) is satisfied, an alert is output by the device. A user may gesture with a device towards an entity to set a reminder associated with that entity, or to get any reminder associated with that entity. A device may also get reminders by scanning or image processing, e.g., by reading a barcode associated with a product to get any reminders associated with that product.
US08536996B2 Vehicle information display and method
An information display system for a vehicle includes an information display for displaying a plurality of selectable information display levels according to an information display hierarchy. Each selectable information display level may include one or more visual gauges for conveying vehicle information. Each successive selectable information display level may include additional and/or alternative vehicle information when compared to the preceding selectable information display level. The information display system further includes a controller configured to display the plurality of selectable information display levels according to an at least one driver input. In this way, the information display can display a particular selectable information display level best suited to a driver's individual preferences or understanding of the vehicle's operations.
US08536995B2 Information display apparatus and information display method
An aspect of the invention provides an information display apparatus and an information display method which allow a driver to easily recognize the display information without discomfort, regardless of the traveling state of a vehicle. It includes an attention object detecting unit (32) which detects information to be displayed to the driver, a symbol image selecting unit (33) which sets a symbol image to be displayed for the driver, an optical flow calculating unit (34a) which detects an optical flow of a foreground of the own vehicle, a motion effect determining unit (35) which sets a motion effect to be added to the symbol image, a display image generating unit (36) which generates a display image in which the motion effect added by the motion effect determining unit is combined with the symbol image, and a display control unit (37) which displays the generated display image for the driver. The motion effect determining unit (35) changes the motion effect to be added to the symbol image in accordance with the traveling state of the vehicle.
US08536992B2 Apparatus and method of reproducing content in mobile terminal
Content reproducing apparatus and method of a mobile terminal are disclosed. During the reproduction of content, vibration pattern corresponding to content is detect or generated. The vibration pattern is synchronized with an audio signal during the reproduction of content.
US08536991B2 Wireless decorative doorbell device
A decorative doorbell device is provided that includes a base unit attachable to a door and an ornamental housing unit rotatably lockable to the base unit. A doorbell ringer may be attached to the ornamental housing unit with a wireless activator so that a sound-producing unit is remotely activated by the wireless activator. The ornamental housing unit may be formed in the shape of a football helmet and decorated with a particular team's logo and colors on in any other desired ornamentation and shape.
US08536986B2 Medical examination or treatment device, in particular x-ray or CT device
Medical examination or treatment device, in particular x-ray or CT device, comprising a control device controlling the operation of one or a number of device elements, as well as at least one mobile control element assigned to the control device, the control element communicating wirelessly with the control device for operating the examination or treatment device to issue control signals, with a detector element for detecting an item of information which can be read out or sent by a control element assigned to the control device during a movement of the control element from the room containing the medical examination or treatment device, the room communicating with the control device which disables the control operation as a function of the detection result.
US08536985B1 Data isolation
There is disclosed a system, method, and apparatus for a truck or like vehicle wherein a power source is split and/or divided into a plurality of branch power lines and wherein there is data and power transmitted over the power lines to selected systems and/or subsystems. An intelligent isolation module is provided for selectively transmitting, blocking, and/or altering data and/or power on any branch, sub-branch, and/or selected segment of a branch.
US08536984B2 Method of semi-automatic ballast replacement
The present invention relates to a semi-automatic method of replacing a ballast within a lighting control system, such that the new replacement ballast can operate in the same manner as the ballast that was replaced. If multiple ballasts in a lighting control system are removed from the system and multiple new ballasts are installed to replace those ballasts, any operational configurations such as group configurations or area information associated with each removed (missing) ballast must be assigned to the proper new replacement ballast. The semi-automatic replacement method relies upon the operational configurations of the removed ballast to help a user identify which new ballast should replace each missing ballast.
US08536983B2 Underwater RFID arrangement for optimizing underwater operations
A method and system to optimize underwater operations utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) arrangement. The RFID arrangement includes a plurality of RFID tags positioned on an underwater surface, with each of the plurality of tags coded with unique information related to each tag's location on the underwater surface. The RFID system also includes an RFID reader/interrogator attached to an underwater explorer. When the underwater explorer is within a reading range of a tag, the reader/interrogator reads the unique tag information. The tag information is used to optimize underwater operations performed by the explorer, which may be a diver or a water vessel.
US08536976B2 Single-channel multi-factor authentication
Systems and methods for authenticating electronic transactions are provided. The authentication methods employ a combination of security features. These security features can be based, for example, on unique knowledge of the person being authenticated, unique personal features and attributes of the person, the ability of the person to respond, and to do so in a fashion that a machine cannot, and so forth. Methods for enrolling the person prior to authentication are also provided, as well as systems for enrollment and authentication.
US08536973B2 Over-current protection device
An over-current protection device includes two metal foils and a PTC material layer. The PTC material layer is laminated between the two metal foils and has a resistivity less than 0.4 Ω-cm. The PTC material layer includes crystalline polymer and electrically conductive ceramic filler dispersed in the crystalline polymer. The conductive ceramic filler is of HCP structure and includes 70-95% by weight of the PTC material layer. The trip jump value of the over-current protection device after 300 times trip is less than or equal to 25. The resistance repeatability of the device can be effectively improved by adding the conductive ceramic filler.
US08536972B2 Temperature-dependent switch
A temperature-dependent switch 10 has, on the outside on its housing, a first and at least a second connecting surface 22, 23 for directly connecting feed lines and, in the housing, a temperature-dependent switching mechanism, which depending on its temperature produces or opens an electrically conducting connection between the two connecting surfaces 22, 23. The feed lines are directly connected, at their inner ends 27, 28, to the connecting surfaces 22, 23, the switch 10 being encased by an insulating protective layer 32, and the feed lines, at their free ends 29, 31 which are remote from the inner ends 27, 28, are free of the protective layer 32. The feed lines are in the form of connecting lugs 25, 26, which are connected in material-connecting engagement, at their inner ends 27, 28, to the connecting surfaces 22, 23 and, at their free ends 29, 31, are directly forms as plug-type connections. The insulating protective layer 32 is configured such that it brings about a structurally stable connection between the housing, the connecting surfaces 22, 23 and the inner ends 27, 28 of the connecting lugs 25, 26.
US08536970B2 Multilayered miniature coil component
A multilayered miniature coil component, comprising a plurality of coil layers and insulating layers, the plurality of coil layers and insulating layers being alternately overlapped on each other. Each of the plurality of coil layers includes a plurality of coils and wires, each of the coils has a first and a second end, and a plurality of first conductive portions is disposed on each of the coil layers, at least one second conductive portion is disposed on at least one of the coil layers, and each of the plurality of insulating layers has a plurality of conductive through holes disposed correspondingly to the first conductive portions and the second conductive portions, thus through the plurality of wires, the first and the second conductive portions and the conductive through holes, the plurality of coils in each of the coil layers are composed as a circuit loop.
US08536968B1 Magnetic component structure
An improved magnetic component structure, wherein the structure comprises a base and two iron cores, in which the base includes a centrally through winding axle tube and the openings at both the left and right ends of the winding axle tube individually extend out a baffle. Additionally, the two iron cores are caps, in which a core column extends out from the center of the iron core toward the opening of the winding axle tube, and the core column can be inserted to the centrally through part of the winding axle tube. Therefore, the two iron cores can be clip installed between the two sets of pin parts of the base and left and right assembled to the base such that the base combined with the two iron cores can be installed upright on one side having the notch of a drive circuit board in an LED light tube.
US08536965B2 Analog pointing key structure
An analog pointing key structure includes a rigid body key top; a surrounding member having a hole for exposing the key top; a support member, to which the key top is fixed, having an elastic returning part that permits the key top to move in a direction along a surface thereof and to cancel the movement; a ring-form magnetic member fixed to the support member on a back surface of the surrounding member so as to be interposed between the key top and the returning part; a magnetic sensor that measures a change in magnetic flux density due to displacement of the magnetic member which moves together with the key top; a ring-form screen plate provided on a surface of the magnetic member so that an inner-peripheral part of the plate is positioned within the above hole; a key top support plate, to which the key top is attached, an outer-peripheral part of the support plate being positioned on a back surface of the screen plate, and the support plate having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the screen plate, and; an elastic member, fixed to a back surface of the support member, permitting the key top to move in a thickness direction of the support member and to cancel the movement.
US08536963B2 Electronic device and method of manufacturing the same
An electronic device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode provided above the substrate, a movable electrode that is provided to face the stationary electrode, a wall portion that is provided on the substrate and surrounds the movable electrode and the stationary electrode, a film member that is fixed to the wall portion and seals space including the movable electrode and the stationary electrode, and a support portion that is provided, on an inner side of the wall portion on the substrate, in addition to the movable electrode and the stationary electrode to support the film member from within the space.
US08536962B2 Bistable magnetic nanoswitch
A nanoswitch device comprising: at least one stationary element (52) and at least one element (50) which is at least partially made of a magnetic material and which is movable with respect to the stationary element, means of activating the movable element, comprising: and at least one first and one second magnetic means (30, 30′, 40, 40′) each having a planar shape, defining a first and a second plane, in order to generate remanent magnetization in a direction contained within said first plane or perpendicular to this first plane, means (36, 36′) for reversing the direction of the remanent magnetization of at least one of said first and second magnetic means.
US08536961B2 Reversible electromagnetic contactor
A reversible unit (20) has a pair of interlock plates (21, 22) detachably connected to operation indication pieces (4a, 4b) of a pair of electromagnetic contactors (1a, 1b) and moving in the same direction as the moving direction of the operation indication pieces, a lock piece (23) connecting with the pair of interlock plates (21, 22), a first normally-closed contact (24), and a second normally-closed contact (25). In a closing operation of one of the electromagnetic contactors (1a), the lock piece (23) moves one of the interlock plates (21) and prohibits the movement of the other interlock plate (22). The first normally-closed contact (24) is connected in series in a power supply circuit to an exciting coil (6b) of the other electromagnetic contactor (1b). One of the interlock plates (21) has a first opening operation engagement portion (34) releasing the first normally-closed contact (24) when the interlock plate (21) moves.
US08536955B2 Integrated microwave waveguide block with tapered impedance transition sections
A microwave waveguide, and a system and method related to a microwave waveguide, is described. One embodiment includes an integrated microwave waveguide comprising a waveguide block, a first waveguide section in the waveguide block, a second waveguide section in the waveguide block, a first impedance transition section integrated with the first waveguide section in the waveguide block, wherein the first impedance section comprises a first conduit with a first end and a second end, wherein the first conduit is tapered from the first end to the second end, and a second impedance transition section integrated with the second waveguide section in the waveguide block, wherein the second impedance section comprises a second conduit with a third end and a fourth end, wherein the second conduit is tapered from the third end to the fourth end, and wherein the second end of the first impedance transition section and the fourth end of the second impedance transition section are connected at an antenna stub.
US08536953B1 Quartz oscillator module
A quartz oscillator module includes a first quartz oscillator, a second quartz oscillator, a first electronic switch, and a second electronic switch. The first and second quartz oscillators provide two different clock signals. When the first electronic switch is turned on, the first quartz oscillator is activated. When the second electronic switch is turned on, the second quartz oscillator is activated.
US08536950B2 Multi-stage impedance matching
Exemplary techniques for performing impedance matching are described. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus may include an amplifier (e.g., a power amplifier) coupled to first and second matching circuits. The first matching circuit may include multiple stages coupled to a first node and may provide input impedance matching for the amplifier. The second matching circuit may include multiple stages coupled to a second node and may provide output impedance matching for the amplifier. At least one switch may be coupled between the first and second nodes and may bypass or select the amplifier. The first and second nodes may have a common impedance. The apparatus may further include a second amplifier coupled in parallel with the amplifier and further to the matching circuits. The second matching circuit may include a first input stage coupled to the amplifier, a second input stage coupled to the second amplifier, and a second stage coupled to the two input stages via switches.
US08536947B2 Class AB amplifier with resistive level-shifting circuitry
A class AB amplifier with resistive level-shifting circuitry is described. In one exemplary design, the class AB amplifier includes an input stage, a resistive level-shifting stage, a class AB output stage, and a bias circuit. The input stage receives an input signal and provides a first drive signal. The resistive level-shifting stage receives the first drive signal and provides a second drive signal. The output stage receives the first and second drive signals and provides an output signal. The bias circuit generates a bias voltage for the resistive level-shifting stage to obtain a desired quiescent current for the output stage. In one exemplary design, the resistive level-shifting stage includes a transistor and a resistor. The transistor receives the bias voltage and provides the second drive signal. The resistor is coupled to the transistor and provides a voltage drop between the first and second drive signals.
US08536946B2 Multi-input operational amplifier and output voltage compensation method thereof
An output error compensation method adapted to a multi-input operational amplifier is disclosed. The output error compensation method includes following steps. A plurality of original transconductances of a plurality of differential pairs is obtained regarding a specific combination of input voltages received by the differential pairs. Transconductance differences of a plurality of adjustable differential pairs among the differential pairs are obtained according to the original transconductances. Adjusted transconductance of the adjustable differential pairs are obtained according to the original transconductances and the transconductance differences. Transconductances of the adjustable differential pairs are respectively adjusted according to the adjusted transconductances, so that an output voltage can match an expected value when each of a plurality of combinations of the input voltages is received.
US08536943B2 Selective narrowband feedback for a digital predistorter
A method and apparatus is provided for linearizing the output of a non-linear device, such as a power amplifier. The input signal to the non-linear device is predistorted based on a predistortion model to compensate for distortion introduced by a non-linear device. A wideband feedback signal is generated from the output signal of the non-linear device, and the wideband feedback signal is filtered to generate two or more narrowband distortion signals with predetermined frequencies corresponding to anticipated distortion components in the output signal. Model parameters of the predistortion model are adapted based on the narrowband distortion signals.
US08536938B2 Output circuits with class D amplifier
Output circuits using pulse width modulation (PWM) and/or pulse density modulation (PDM) are described. In one aspect, a PWM output circuit includes a PWM modulator that operates based on a square wave signal instead of a sawtooth or triangular wave signal. In another aspect, a PDM output circuit includes a PDM modulator that uses variable reference voltages to reduce variations in switching frequency. In yet another aspect, a dual-mode output circuit supports both PWM and PDM and includes a pulse modulator and a class D amplifier. The pulse modulator performs PWM on an input signal if a PWM mode is selected and performs PDM on the input signal if a PDM mode is selected. The class D amplifier receives a driver signal from the pulse modulator and generates an output signal.
US08536936B2 Power source controller and semiconductor integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a power source controller has a first power source line supplied with a reference power source voltage, a second power source line connected to an internal circuit, a control circuit configured to control a connection between the first power source line and the second power source line, a control signal line connected to the control circuit, and configured to provide a control signal for controlling the connection, a transistor comprising a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal in the control circuit, the control terminal of the transistor being connected to the control signal line, a semiconductor substrate on which the transistor is formed, and first through third wires.
US08536935B1 Uniform power regulation for integrated circuits
A system for uniform power regulation of an integrated circuit is disclosed. In each of a plurality of regions, the system includes a comparison circuit having a first input coupled to receive a reference voltage and a second input coupled to receive a feedback voltage. The comparison circuit provides a gating voltage to a driver circuit that is coupled to a first supply voltage. The driver circuit is configured to provide a regulated voltage responsive to the gating voltage. A feedback adjustment circuit is configured to trim the regulated voltage by a region-specific trim value and output the trimmed regulated voltage as the feedback voltage on the output.
US08536934B1 Linear voltage regulator generating sub-reference output voltages
A linear voltage regulator includes a pair of amplifiers. A first amplifier of the pair is used in conventional fashion to generate a regulated output voltage by controlling an impedance of a pass transistor in the linear voltage regulator, the controlling being based on a difference between a reference voltage and a voltage at a first node in a voltage divider network connected between the output terminal of the voltage regulator and a ground terminal. The second amplifier of the pair compares the regulated output voltage and a voltage at a second node in the voltage divider network, and injects a proportional current into the first node. Generation of a regulated output voltage lesser than the reference voltage is thereby enabled.
US08536932B2 Temperature compensation circuit
A temperature compensation circuit may include a temperature coefficient generator configured to generate a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is proportional-to-absolute-temperature (ptat) and the second signal in negatively-proportional-to-absolute temperature (ntat), a first programmable element configured to multiply at a first programmable ratio an amplitude of a third signal having a negative temperature coefficient from a first temperature to a second temperature, and a second programmable element configured to multiply at a second programmable ratio an amplitude of a fourth signal having a positive temperature coefficient from the second temperature to a third temperature.
US08536931B2 BI-FET cascode power switch
Power switch devices for high-speed applications are disclosed. The power switch device includes a depletion mode field effect transistor (D-FET), an enhancement mode field effect transistor (E-FET) and a bipolar transistor. In one embodiment, the E-FET is coupled in cascode with the D-FET such that turning off the E-FET turns off the D-FET and turning on the E-FET turns on the D-FET. Furthermore, the bipolar transistor is operably associated with the D-FET and the E-FET such that turning on the bipolar transistor drives current from the D-FET through the bipolar transistor to the E-FET to provide a charge that turns on the E-FET. The bipolar transistor provides several advantages such as a higher Schottky breakdown voltage for the E-FET and faster current switching speed for the power switch device.
US08536925B2 Voltage level translator circuit
A voltage translator circuit (320) includes an input stage (322) adapted for receiving an input signal referenced to a first voltage supply (VDD core), a latch (326) adapted for connection to a second voltage supply (VDD33) and operative to at least temporarily store a logic state of the input signal, and a voltage clamp (324) coupled between the input stage (322) and the latch (326). The voltage clamp (322) is operative to set a maximum voltage across the latch (326) to a first prescribed level and to set a maximum voltage across the input stage to a second prescribed level. The voltage translator circuit (320) generates a first output signal (II) at a junction between the latch (326) and the voltage clamp (324). The voltage translator circuit generates a second output signal (15) at a junction between the voltage clamp (324) and the input stage (322).
US08536924B2 High-impedance network
Apparatus and methods for an integrated circuit, high-impedance network are provided. In an example, the network can include an anti-parallel diode pair coupled between first and second nodes. The anti-parallel diode pair can include a first diode including a P+/NWELL junction and a second diode including N+/PWELL junction. In an example, the first diode and the second diode can include a common substrate.
US08536923B2 Integrator distortion correction circuit
A system and method for reducing gain error and distortion in an operational amplifier due to errors in the second or integrator stage. A correction circuit may replicate an error current and insert the current into the signal stream to preempt the induction of an error at the amplifier's input. A capacitor may sample the error voltage at the input of the integrator stage of the amplifier and generate a replica of the error current in the integration capacitor to feed it into the input of the integrator stage. This eliminates any nonlinearity errors created by error currents in the compensation or integration capacitor at the second or integrator stage of the two-stage amplifier. Feeding the error current to the integrator stage may be facilitated with a unity gain buffer and a current mirror.
US08536915B1 Low-noise and low-reference spur frequency multiplying delay lock-loop
A delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit is disclosed that can generate an output oscillation signal having a frequency that is an integer multiple of an input oscillation signal. The DLL includes a phase detector, a charge pump, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The phase detector generates UP and DN control signals in response to a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal. The charge pump generates a control voltage in response to the UP and DN control signals. The VCO adjusts the frequency of the output oscillation signal in response to the control voltage, generates the reference signal in response to the input oscillation signal, and generates the feedback signal in response to the output oscillation signal.
US08536908B2 Apparatus and method for smart VCC trip point design for testability
An apparatus and method for testing is provided. An integrated circuit includes a comparison circuit that is arranged to trip based on a power supply signal reaching a trip point. The integrated circuit also includes an analog-to-digital converter that is arranged to convert the power supply signal into a digital signal. The integrated circuit also includes a storage component that stores a digital value associated with the digital signal, and provides the power supply value at an output pin of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a latch that is coupled between the analog-to-digital converter and the storage component. The latch is arranged to open when the comparison circuit trips, such that, when the comparison circuit trips, the storage component continues to store a digital value such that the digital value corresponds to the voltage associated with the power supply signal when the comparison circuit tripped.
US08536904B2 Command buffer circuit of semiconductor apparatus
A command buffer circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a first buffer configured to receive a first command signal and generate a first command control signal, a second buffer configured to receive a second command signal and generate a second command control signal, a second block configured to select and output the first command control signal or the second command control signal in response to a rank control signal, and a control signal generation block configured to generate the rank control signal in response to a single rank signal and a chip select signal.
US08536903B2 Output stage circuit for outputting a driving current varying with a process
An output stage circuit includes a first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, a second P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, an N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a current source. A voltage of a third terminal of the first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is a first voltage minus a voltage drop between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor. The N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is coupled between the third terminal of the first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and the current source. A second terminal of the second P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is coupled to the third terminal of the first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor. When a second terminal of the N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor receives a kick signal, a driving current flowing through the second P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is relevant to the voltage of the third terminal of the first P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
US08536901B2 Wireless bio-interface data transmission system
A method and an apparatus to drive an analog signal into a sensory tissue. The apparatus includes an analog-to-digital converter converting an original analog signal to a digital signal at an analog-to-digital converter sample rate. The apparatus includes a digital transceiver communicating wirelessly with the analog-to-digital converter to receive the digital signal. The apparatus includes a digital data buffer receiving the digital signal from the digital transceiver. The apparatus includes a digital-to-analog converter communicating with the digital data buffer and converting the digital signal into a reconstructed analog signal at a digital-to-analog converter sample rate faster than the analog-to-digital converter sample rate, the analog signal comprising a plurality of intensity values. The apparatus includes a pixel clock matching the digital-to-analog converter sample rate. The apparatus includes a bio-interface array comprising a plurality of electrodes and operably proximate to the sensory tissue.
US08536898B2 SRAM sense amplifier
A sense amplifier for use in a memory array having a plurality of memory cells is provided. The sense amplifier provides low power dissipation, rapid sensing and high yield sensing operation. The inputs to the sense amplifier are the differential bitlines of an SRAM column, which are coupled to the sense amplifier via the sources of two PMOS transistors. A CMOS latching element comprised of two NMOS transistors and the aforementioned PMOS transistors act to amplify any difference between the differential bitline voltages and resolve the output nodes of the sense amplifier to a full swing value. The latching element is gated with two additional PMOS transistors which act to block the latching operation until the sense amplifier is enabled. One or more equalization transistors ensure the latch remains in the metastable state until it is enabled. Once the latch has resolved it consumes no DC power, aside from leakage.
US08536891B2 Inspection method for inspecting electric characteristics of devices formed on target object
An inspection method for inspecting electric characteristics of devices formed on a target object using an apparatus including a vertical drive mechanism for lifting and lowering a movable mounting table and a control unit for controlling the vertical drive mechanism. The vertical drive mechanism includes an elevation shaft connected to the mounting table and a servo motor for driving the elevation shaft to lift and lower the mounting table. The control unit has a servo driver including a position control part for controlling a position of the motor, a torque control part for controlling a torque of the motor as a probe card is expanded or contracted by a change in temperature and a switching part for switching the position control part and the torque control part. The method includes heating or cooling the target object, controlling a position of the motor, and controlling a torque of the motor.
US08536888B2 Built in self test for transceiver
An integrated circuit (IC), comprises a receiver on an IC substrate. The receiver is configured to receive a stressed input signal. A built in self test (BIST) circuit is provided on the IC substrate for testing the receiver. The BIST circuit comprises an encoder configured for receiving an input signal and identifying whether a first condition is present, in which two or more consecutive input data bits have the same polarity as each other. An output driver circuit provides the stressed input signal corresponding to the two or more consecutive input data bits. The stressed input signal has an amplitude that is larger when the encoder identifies that the first condition is present and smaller when the encoder identifies that two or more consecutive input data bits have different polarity from each other.
US08536887B2 Probe circuit, multi-probe circuit, test apparatus, and electric device
A probe circuit is provided in an electronic device that includes a circuit which is under test and outputs a response signal corresponding to an input signal in synchronization with an operation clock. The probe circuit includes a sampling clock supplying section that outputs a sampling clock having a predetermined frequency, and a sampling section that outputs, outside the electronic device, a probe output signal of which frequency is lower than a frequency of the response signal and which corresponds to a sampling result obtained by sampling the response signal using the sampling clock. The response signal has a prescribed signal pattern repeated with a predetermined recurrence period, and the sampling clock supplying section outputs the sampling clock of which relative phase with respect to the signal pattern sequentially changes in each recurrence period.
US08536886B2 Integrated circuit chip identification element
Wheatstone bridges, each formed of four identical resistors, are used as integrated circuit identification elements. An identification circuit including an assembly of Wheatstone bridges and comparators is formed in a substrate. Since the resistors forming the bridges are sensitive to technological dispersions, the output voltages of the bridges are not identical. Each comparator compares the outputs of two bridges and provides a bit of an identification number of the chip. Preferably, the resistors are covered with insulator only, at least up to a second interconnect level from the substrate.
US08536883B2 Method of measuring a multiphase flow
A method of measuring the permittivity and/or conductivity of a multiphase fluid flowing through a conduit is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring the signal from a first electromagnetic transmitter to a first electromagnetic receiver separated by a first distance, measuring the signal from the first electromagnetic transmitter to a second electromagnetic receiver separated by a second distance, measuring the signal from a second electromagnetic transmitter to the first electromagnetic receiver separated by a distance substantially equal to the second distance, measuring the signal from the second electromagnetic transmitter to the second electromagnetic receiver separated by a distance substantially equal to the first distance, and wherein the first and second distances are substantially different. This is followed by the step of combining the four signals to obtain a measurement of the phase-shift and amplitude-attenuation substantially independent of the gain values applied to the receivers and transmitters to provide an estimate of the mixture permittivity and/or conductivity of the multiphase fluid.
US08536881B2 Touch sensing system, capacitance sensing circuit and capacitance sensing method thereof
A touch sensing system which includes a touch input interface and a capacitance sensing circuit is provided. The touch input interface includes a plurality of sensing capacitors which output at least one waveform under test and at least one reference waveform. The capacitance sensing circuit includes a difference comparing unit. The difference comparing unit receives the waveform under test and the reference waveform and outputs a differential signal according to at least one positive edge difference and at least one negative edge difference between the waveform under test and the reference waveform. Furthermore, a capacitance sensing method is also provided.
US08536880B2 Capacitive sensor with additional noise-registering electrode
A capacitive touch sensor employing adjacent drive and sense electrodes, in which an additional sense electrode is provided as well as a conventional drive electrode and sense electrode. The drive and two sense electrodes are arranged on the bottom side of a dielectric panel, the top side providing a sensing surface to be touched by a user's finger or a stylus. The additional sense electrode is positioned on the underside of the dielectric panel so that it is shielded from the drive electrode by the conventional sense electrode. The signal collected from the additional sense electrode is subtracted from the signal collected from the conventional sense electrode to cancel noise.
US08536878B2 Automated sensor specific calibration through sensor parameter download
A sensor system for measuring a clearance parameter between a stationary component and a rotating component of a rotating machine is provided. The system includes a clearance sensor to output a clearance measurement signal. A sensor memory is attached to the sensor for storing a first sensor information. A second sensor information is stored in a electronics interface memory. The first and the second sensor information are read and the clearance sensor is matched with a respective plurality of calibration data by an electronic interface based on the first and the second sensor information.
US08536877B2 Power cable breaking detection method of motor
A power cable breaking detection method for a vehicle includes detecting currents of respective phases supplied to a three-phase motor from an inverter through at least a power cable, and a driving speed of the motor, determining whether the respective currents and the driving speed of the motor satisfy power cable breaking detection conditions, determining whether various conditions are satisfied with respect to a cable breaking sensing reference value of a current command performing cable breaking timer counting when the conditions are satisfied, and determining whether a predetermined period has elapsed such that a cable is considered broken when the predetermined period has elapsed.
US08536873B2 Substance detection method and substance detection device
A detection method of detecting a target substance, the method includes exciting the target substance by irradiating an atmosphere of a detection space with light having a first wavelength that excites the target substance from a ground state to an excited state on the basis of the energy level structure of the target substance; ionizing the target substance by irradiating the atmosphere of the detection space with light having a second wavelength that excites the target substance from the excited state to an energy state substantially equal to or higher than a vacuum level; making the ionized target substance adsorb to a detector by electric field acceleration; and detecting the amount of adsorption of the target substance.
US08536871B2 Method of correcting resistivity measurements for toll bending effects
A method for correcting subterranean resistivity measurements to account for tool bending includes processing at least one coupling component and at least one cross-coupling component in combination with a tool bending angle. Such processing may, for example, remove one or more coupling components from a cross-coupling component. Removal of the coupling component(s) tends to increase the sensitivity of directional resistivity measurements to remote boundaries.
US08536867B2 Multi-channel method and device to evaluate magnetic resonance signals, with reduced number of channels
An optimized processing of data of multiple local coils is enabled by a device and a method to evaluate signals received with coils of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, wherein first signals are generated by means of coils via magnetic fields coming from a body, wherein a region in the body is defined, wherein weighting factors are calculated with the use of the first signals, wherein second signals are generated with the coils from magnetic fields coming from a body, wherein signals weighted with the use of the weighting factors are calculated from the second signals, wherein the weighted signals are processed further.
US08536866B2 Frequency referencing for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI
A water saturation shift referencing (WASSR) technique performed using a magnetic resonance scanner comprises: acquiring a spatial map of Z spectra that encompass the water center frequency using sufficiently low saturation power and sufficiently short duration selected such that symmetry of the Z spectra is not obscured by magnetization transfer but dominated by direct water saturation effects so that the spectrum is substantially symmetric; and performing a symmetry analysis on the substantially symmetric Z spectra to generate a spatial map of the water center frequency. WASSR-corrected chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging is disclosed as an illustrative example.
US08536864B2 Method for the releasable fastening of a component to an apparatus and correspondingly configured fastening system
A method and a fastening system for the releasable fastening of a component to an apparatus are described. Here the fastening system comprises a detent spring arranged on the apparatus, a detent pin with a groove arranged on the component and a Bowden cable arranged on the apparatus. If the component is fastened to the apparatus, the detent spring locks in the groove in a locking position. The Bowden cable is connected to the detent spring such that when pulling on the Bowden cable, the detent spring releases from the locking position in the groove, as a result of which the fastening of the component to the apparatus is released.
US08536857B2 Power line takeoff clamp assembly
In a power line takeoff clamp assembly and method of use thereof an electrical power distribution line is clamped to a body of the clamp assembly. A power takeoff supported by the body clamped to the power line generates direct current from alternating current flowing in the power line. One or more sensors supported by the body clamped to the power line sense one or more values related to an electrical current flowing in a power line. A wireless transceiver supported by the body clamped to the power line communicates data regarding the one or more sensed values. Each sensor and the wireless transceiver utilize direct current generated by the power takeoff for the operation thereof.
US08536853B2 Data retention secondary voltage regulator
An integrated circuit device has a primary voltage regulator and an ultra-low power secondary voltage regulator. The ultra-low power secondary voltage regulator supplies voltage to certain circuits used for providing data retention and dynamic operation, e.g., a real time clock and calendar (RTCC) when the integrated circuit device is in a low power sleep mode. The primary voltage regulator provides power to these same certain circuits when the integrated circuit is in an operational mode.
US08536851B2 Quasi-resonant systems and methods with multi-mode control
Switch-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The switch-mode power conversion system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more other components, generate an output signal. Additionally, the switch-mode power conversion system includes a feedback component configured to receive the output signal and generate a feedback signal based on at least information associated with the output signal, and a voltage detector configured to receive the input voltage and output a detection signal. Moreover, the switch-mode power conversion system includes a mode controller configured to receive the detection signal and the feedback signal and generate a switch signal based on at least information associated with the detection signal and the feedback signal, and a switch configured to receive the switch signal and affect a first current flowing through the primary winding.
US08536850B2 High side controller capable of sensing input voltage and ouput voltage of a power conversion circuit
A high side controller capable of sensing input voltage and output voltage of a power conversion circuit, including: a first switch, having a control end and two channel ends, the control end being coupled to a gate signal, and one of the two channel ends being coupled to a voltage signal, wherein the voltage signal is proportional to a negative version of the input voltage when the gate signal is active; an inverting amplification circuit, having an input end coupled to the other one of the two channel ends, and an output end for providing a first processed voltage; and a first sample and hold circuit, having a control input end coupled to the gate signal, an input end coupled to the first processed voltage, and an output end for providing a first sample voltage.
US08536847B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes high-side and low-side switching elements totem-pole-connected between high-voltage-side and low-voltage-side potentials; a high-side drive circuit, having high-voltage and low-voltage terminals which are connected to a floating power supply, which supplies either a voltage at the high-voltage terminal or a voltage at the low-voltage terminal for driving the high-side switching element; and a low-side drive circuit driving the low-side switching element and a reference voltage circuit generating a reference voltage between the voltages at high-voltage and low-voltage terminals of the high-side drive circuit. The reference voltage circuit supplies the reference voltage to a connection point between the high-side and low-side switching elements. The semiconductor device includes a charging switching element having a control terminal, a first terminal connected to the low-voltage terminal of the high-side drive circuit, and a grounded second terminal.
US08536846B2 Converter arrangement and method for preparing a converted signal
A converter arrangement includes a converter device (200) with a clocked operating mode and a non-clocked operating mode, having a signal input (Si), a control input (Se), and a signal output (So), and a control device (100) for controlling the converter device (200) with a control signal of a constant frequency and at least minimal pulse length in the clocked operating mode. The control device (100) is coupled to the control input (Se) of the converter device (200), and an input of the control device (100) is coupled to the signal output (So) of the converter device (200). An input (1) of the converter arrangement supplies a signal to be converted, that is coupled to the signal input (Si) of the converter device (200). For providing a converted signal, the converter arrangement has an output (2) that is coupled to the signal output (So). Furthermore, a corresponding method for preparing a converted signal is disclosed.
US08536839B2 Device and method for monitoring and/or analyzing rotors of electric machines in operation
A method is provided for monitoring and/or analysis of electrical machines during operation. An electrical machine has at least one generator with a shaft, an exciter system and drive device that drives the shaft. In this case, a first signal, which describes a voltage across a rotor winding, and a second signal, which describes a current flowing through the rotor winding, are measured simultaneously. The two signals are supplied to an analysis unit. The signals are split into individual frequency components in the analysis unit. The impedance of the rotor winding is then determined in order to identify fault states in the electrical machine.
US08536836B2 Method for determining the end-of-discharge threshold of a rechargeable battery
The method for determining the end-of-discharge voltage threshold of a rechargeable battery includes discharging the battery up to a predefined end-of-discharge voltage threshold, at least partially charging the battery, determining, while at least partially charging the battery, an electrical parameter representative of a coup de fouet effect, which coup de fouet effect appears during the partial charging, comparing said electrical parameter with a predetermined characteristic and updating the end-of-discharge voltage threshold to be used for subsequent discharging according to the result of said comparison.
US08536835B2 Supply and demand control apparatus for electric power system, and storage medium storing supply and demand control program
According to one embodiment, the economical load dispatcher calculates a discharging threshold value and a charging threshold value based on a discharging unit price of and a charging and discharging efficiency of the secondary battery and further calculates output allocations of the generators and secondary battery such that the secondary battery is discharged when incremental fuel costs of the generators are higher than the discharging threshold value, whereas the secondary battery is charged when incremental fuel costs of the generators are lower than the charging threshold value.
US08536834B2 Mobile environment-controlled unit and method of operating a mobile environment-controlled unit
A mobile environment-controlled unit having a structure, a compartment supported by the structure, and an environmental-control system in environmental communication with the compartment. The environmental-control system is configured to control an environmental parameter of the compartment. The environmental-control system includes an internal combustion engine, having a starter, powering the environmental-control system; a battery powering the starter; and a controller. The controller monitors battery health status, predicts battery failure, and communicates the predicted battery failure. Also, described is a method of operating the mobile environment-controlled unit and a controller for controlling the mobile environment-controlled unit.
US08536830B2 Inductive charging system for an electric vehicle
An electric vehicle includes a charging receiver unit. The charging receiver unit includes a plurality of core members, a plurality of biasing devices, and a receiver wire. The plurality of core members are disposed in spaced relationship to one another. Each of the plurality of core members is configured for alignment with a plurality of magnetic elements. The plurality of biasing devices longitudinally bias a respective one of the plurality of core members toward a respective one of the plurality of magnetic elements such that magnetic flux is transmitted between each of the plurality of magnetic elements and the respective one of the plurality of core members. The receiver wire is disposed in electrical communication with each of the plurality of core members. Magnetic flux in the plurality of core members induces electrical current in the receiver wire.
US08536829B2 Charging system
A charging system conveniently allows an electric device to be quickly disconnected and taken by a user. The charging system comprises at least one adapter unit and a power supply unit, wherein the adapter unit and the power supply unit utilize magnetic attraction to achieve a desire junction effect. It does not only form a power transmission between the power supply unit and the electronic product, but also separates the electronic product from the power supply unit by slightly imposing forces such that the electronic product can be quickly taken without influencing the operation of the electronic product.
US08536824B2 Lossless dynamic battery equalizer system and method
A system and method dynamically equalizes battery voltages with low inherent power losses in a string of series connected electrochemical batteries. The method includes charging/discharging a group of batteries using magnetic storage in a transformer with bipolar magnetic excursion, individually isolated circuits and pulsed energy transfer. A method also exchanges current between batteries using direct current transfer between them and limiting inductance. Using this method, battery voltage may be measured from an isolated circuit, thus enabling information transfer to a central monitoring system. The method also has the benefit of providing an estimation of battery internal resistance from isolated circuits in the series of batteries.
US08536823B2 Driving method and driving device for driving a polyphase inverter
A driving method for driving a polyphase inverter includes: receiving a reference input that includes a fundamental frequency component, and a previously generated feedback signal; generating an error signal that corresponds to a difference between the reference input and the previously generated feedback signal; attenuating the error signal to the minimum; generating an optimum signal; quantizing the optimum signal; and generating driving signals that correspond to the quantized optimum signal. A driving device that implements the driving method is also disclosed.
US08536821B2 Redundant interface for a stepper motor
A multi-channel stepper motor controller has at least a first and second stepper motor control channel. Each of the control channels has a solid state switching circuit operable to connect the control channel to a stepper motor.
US08536818B2 Control of a traction power inverter module in a vehicle having an electric traction motor
A method for controlling a traction power inverter module (TPIM) in a vehicle includes determining a commanded output torque of the motor using a controller. The method further includes controlling the TPIM and motor using a discontinuous pulse width modulated (DPWM) signal when the commanded output torque is less than a calibrated torque threshold. A continuous pulse width modulated (CPWM) signal is used when the commanded output torque is greater than the threshold. The method may include determining a direction of a change in the commanded output torque, and controlling the TPIM, via the controller, using the DPWM signal only when the commanded output torque drops below a predetermined hysteresis level. A vehicle includes a traction motor producing a motor torque for propelling the vehicle, an ESS, a TPIM, and a controller configured as noted above.
US08536815B2 Methods and systems involving electric machine controllers
A method for operating a controller includes receiving a first accumulated thermal value of an electrical machine and an associated first time stamp from a memory, initializing a processor of the controller with the first accumulated thermal value and the associated first time stamp, determining whether a second time stamp has been received, calculating a difference between the second time stamp and the first time stamp responsive to determining that the second time stamp has been received, calculating a second accumulated thermal value as a function of the first accumulated thermal value, the first time stamp, and the second time stamp, and updating the first accumulated thermal value with the second accumulated thermal value.
US08536810B2 Control device and control method for alternating-current motor
When performing PWM control in accordance with an overmodulation mode, an ECU variably sets a switching determination value, which is used for determination of switching control modes between the overmodulation mode and a sinusoidal wave modulation mode, based on a switching state of an inverter at present. Then, the ECU compares the degree of modulation, which is calculated from voltage command values, with the switching determination value so as to determine whether to switch to the sinusoidal wave modulation mode or to maintain the overmodulation mode. In particular, when an influence of a dead time is likely to cause generation of a voltage command that requires switching to the overmodulation mode just after switching to the sinusoidal wave modulation mode, the switching determination value is variably set to prevent the transition from the overmodulation mode to the sinusoidal wave modulation mode. This prevents chattering in which the control modes are frequently switched therebetween.
US08536807B2 LED bulb
The invention relates to the technical field of illumination lamps, in particular to an LED bulb. The invention comprises a lamp cap, a lampshade, LEDS and a circuit board, wherein the bottom end of the lampshade is mounted and fixed at the top end of the lamp cap; the circuit board is mounted and fixed in the lampshade and also electrically connected with the lamp cap; and the lampshade is filled with a mixed gas which transfers heat produced by the LEDS outside the bulb. The invention transfers heat produced by the LEDS by a mixed gas; the LED bulb has such advantages to as small weight, small volume and low production cost; besides, by using the mixed gas as heat transfer medium, the invention can radiate heat produced by the LEDS outside the bulb rapidly so as to effectively solve the heat radiation issue of the LEDS and prolong the service life of the LEDS.
US08536806B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit and operation method thereof
A DC-DC converter supplies an output voltage to a plurality of channels of a light emitting device array in common. A current driver has a plurality of driver units which drive the channels. Each of the driver units includes a drive transistor and a detector which detects an abnormality of a drive current. A logic unit generates digital data in response to a plurality of detection signals and supplies the same to a D/A converter. An analog reference voltage of the D/A converter is supplied to the DC-DC converter. The logic unit executes a calibration operation which determines digital data for setting the minimum output DC voltage at the normal operation of all the channels by sequential updating of the digital data.
US08536805B2 Illumination device and fixture
Technologies are described herein for an illumination device and a corresponding fixture device. The illumination device includes a luminary module for the emission of light and an identification circuit containing identifying data, while the fixture device includes a driver module for supplying power to the illumination device and a controller module. When the illumination device is connected to the fixture device, the controller module communicates with the identification circuit of the illumination device to retrieve the identifying data and causes the driver module to supply the appropriate power to the luminary module of the illumination device.
US08536804B2 Converting controller
A converting controller is provided and comprises a first comparing unit, a second comparing unit, a duty cycle operating unit and a reference voltage supplying unit. The first comparing unit receives a detecting signal representing a state of the load and a first reference signal, and generates a first comparing signal accordingly. The duty cycle operating unit controls power conversion of the converting circuit according to the first comparing signal. The second comparing unit receives the detecting signal and a second reference signal, and generates a second comparing signal accordingly. The reference voltage supplying unit supplies the first reference signal and adjusts a level of the first reference signal in response to the second comparing signal.
US08536802B2 LED-based lighting methods, apparatus, and systems employing LED light bars, occupancy sensing, and local state machine
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.
US08536791B2 Solar power supply device
A solar power supply device includes a solar panel and a rechargeable battery. The solar panel is configured to collect and convert optical energy to electrical energy. The solar power supply device further includes an e-paper display unit, a charging connection connecting to a rechargeable device. A detecting unit detecting the charging state information of the rechargeable device via the charging connection, a light-operated unit detecting ambient illumination intensity, and a processing unit for controlling the e-paper display unit to display charging states information obtained from the detecting unit and the ambient illumination intensity detected by the light-operated unit.
US08536790B2 LED lighting device and head lamp LED lighting device
When a current which is conducted from a direct current power supply 8 to a choke coil L1 after a switching transistor 7 is turned on has a predetermined value, an LED lighting device. lights up an LED series circuit by conducting a pulse-shaped current which occurs by turning off the switching transistor 7 to the LED series circuit. A cycle period at which the pulse-shaped current is generated is determined according to the average value of the current flowing through the LED series circuit by using an oscillator (VCO) 4. The LED lighting device controls each of the pulse-shaped current value and the average current value arbitrarily.
US08536787B2 Glass composition, light source device and illumination device
A glass composition including, in oxide-based mol %: (a) at least 30% and at most 50% P2O5, (b) at least 10% and at most 50% ZnO, (c) at least 0.1% and at most 10% Al2O3, (d) at least 0% and at most 50% Li2O, (e) at least 0% and at most 50% Na2O, (f) at least 0% and at most 50% K2O, (g) at least 0% and at most 20% MgO, (h) at least 0% and at most 20% CaO, (i) at least 0% and at most 20% SrO, (j) at least 0% and at most 20% BaO, (k) at least 0% and at most 20% SnO, and (l) at least 0% and at most 5% B2O3, substantially not comprising ZrO2 and Ag2O, and (a)/(b), the ratio of (a) and (b), being at least 0.2 and at most 2.0.
US08536779B2 Electroluminescent device with protective means for divide areas
The invention discloses an electroluminescent device (10), comprising a substrate (40) and on top of the substrate (40) a substrate electrode (20), a counter electrode (30) and an electroluminescent layer stack with at least one organic electroluminescent layer (50) arranged between the substrate electrode (20) and the counter electrode (30), and an encapsulation means (90) at least encapsulates the electroluminescent layer stack, at least one divide (80,80′) dividing at least the counter electrode (30) into a plurality of electrically separated counter-electrode-segments (110,110′,110″), below the divide (80,80′) an electrically non-conductive protective means (70) is arranged on the substrate electrode (20) exceeding the divide (80, 80′) and the protective means (70) is arranged on the substrate electrode (20) with a shape suitable to prevent the emergence of a shadowing edge.
US08536778B2 Dual panel type organic electroluminescent display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic electroluminescent device including a switching element and a driving element connected to the switching element on a substrate including a pixel region, a cathode connected to the driving element, in which the cathode includes molybdenum (Mo), an emitting layer on the cathode, and an anode on the emitting layer.
US08536777B2 Oxycarbidonitride based phosphors and LED lighting devices
A red phosphor is provided. Also provided is a lighting apparatus containing a red phosphor.
US08536776B2 Light emitting device including semiconductor nanocrystals
A light emitting device including semiconductor nanocrystals can have a unipolar construction. The semiconductor nanocrystals emit light during device operation. The size and chemical composition of the semiconductor nanocrystals can be chosen to provide desired emission characteristics. Devices that share a substrate and emit more than one color may be conveniently made.
US08536773B2 Electron beam source and method of manufacturing the same
An electron beam source includes a base and a tip fixed to the base and extending from the base. The tip includes a core and a coating applied to the core. The core has a surface that includes a first material. The coating includes a second material which is different from the first material. The second material forms a surface of the tip, and the second coating includes more than 30% by weight of a lanthanide element.
US08536772B2 OLED tile for illumination
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) tile device for illumination includes: a rear surface cover having a plurality of conductive rear surface cover magnets which are electrically connected to an anode layer and a cathode layer of an OLED tile for illumination and pass a current to the OLED tile, and coupled to a rear surface of the OLED tile; and a front surface cover having a plurality of front surface cover magnets and integrally coupled to the rear surface cover and the OLED tile for illumination.
US08536771B2 Surface for supporting a sheet packing in a spark plug
A spark plug comprised of an insulator having a stepped portion on an outer circumferential portion thereof, the stepped portion tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, an annular sheet packing and a metallic shell having a taper portion provided on an inner circumferential portion thereof and tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, the metallic shell holding the insulator through a rear end portion thereof being crimped, the stepped portion being seated on the taper portion via the sheet packing, and the taper portion having a groove therein.
US08536770B2 Plasma jet spark plug
A plasma jet spark plug capable of preventing a channeling progress and having excellent heat conduction. The plasma jet spark plug comprised of: a ceramic insulator having a small diameter portion which assumes a linear shape in an axial direction, and a center electrode has an outer diameter increasing in the order of a frontmost portion, a step portion, a front end portion and a body portion.
US08536769B2 Prechamber spark plug
The invention refers to a prechamber spark plug comprising an ignition electrode with several electrode arms. The ignition electrode is made of a cross-shaped blank that is cut out of sheet metal and then the electrode arms are set upright by bending. The sheet metal is made of iridium or an iridium-based alloy by rolling in a rolling direction and the ignition electrode blank is cut out in such a way that an angle of 50° or less is present between each of the electrode arms and the rolling direction (W).
US08536768B2 System for heat conduction between two connectable members
A system for detachably connecting a first member (1) to a second member (2). The first member (1) comprises a portion (4) that is surrounded by a portion (5) of the second member (2). Said portions (4,5) have surfaces of heat conductive materials for contacting each other in order to transfer heat between the two members (1,2). The coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the surrounded portion (4) of the first member (1) is larger than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the surrounding portion (5) of the second member (2).
US08536767B2 Electrostrictive composite and electrostrictive element using the same
An electrostrictive composite includes a flexible polymer matrix and a carbon nanotube film structure. The carbon nanotube film structure is located on a surface of the flexible polymer matrix, and at least partly embedded into the flexible polymer matrix through the first surface. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes combined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween.
US08536764B2 Arrangement of a piezoacoustic resonator on an acoustic mirror of a substrate, method for producing the arrangement and use of the arrangement
In an arrangement of at least one piezoacoustic resonator on a substrate surface, the resonator has an piezoelectric layer, an electrode and a further electrode arranged such that activation of the electrodes leads to a resonance oscillation, the substrate surface is formed by an acoustic mirror integrated in the substrate for acoustically insulating substrate and resonator, and with a resonance frequency evaluation device being connected to the electrodes by tracks being routed through a mirror opening. The acoustic mirror has a Bragg reflector having λ/4-thick layers of different acoustic impedance. The topmost layer is made of silicon dioxide acting as an insulation layer in the mirror opening for electrically insulating the conductor track and the electrically conductive Bragg reflector layers. The arrangement is used as a physical transducer of a device for detecting a substance of a fluid, in particular of a fluid in the form of a liquid (biosensor).
US08536758B2 Electric rotary machine
An electric machine including a rotor (R) with a shaft (4) having a longitudinal axis (x-x) and a stator (S1; S2) with two stator units coaxially disposed one inside and the other outside the rotor (R). The inner stator (S1) having an annular part from which a plurality of teeth (D1) emerge radially and centrifugally. The external stator (S2) having an annular part from which a plurality of teeth (D2) emerge radially and centripetally. The said rotor (R) includes a rotor ring (1) formed by a plurality of parallelepiped permanent magnets (2) having predetermined width, height and length (W2, H2, P2).
US08536757B2 Three-phase brushless DC motor
An object of the present invention is to provide a three-phase brushless DC motor providing a high torque and performs stable operations which can be used even when an installation space is restricted. To achieve the object, the present invention adopts an inner rotor-type three-phase brushless DC motor in which an inner rotor-type three-phase brushless DC motor comprising a rotor provided with a plurality of magnetic poles divided equally in a circumferential direction at an outer peripheral of the rotor and a stator separately arranged along an outer peripheral of the rotor, wherein the stator is provided with M−n (wherein, n is an integer equal to or larger than 1) of stator sections each provided with three stator poles each having different phases, and the relationship between number of magnetic poles provided in the rotor and the total number of stator poles is made different from the conventional one.
US08536750B2 Electric motor with axially movable rotor assembly
A mechanical structure (16) for enabling a rotor (28) in a permanent magnet electric motor A to be moved axially relative to a stator (14) under an actuating force, without experiencing frictional sliding during such a movement. As the rotor (28) is moved away from the stator (14), the motor magnetic field is weakened, enabling the motor A to operate efficiently at elevated speeds, extending speed coverage under constant power.
US08536749B2 Motor
A motor having a rotor and a stator is disclosed. The rotor is a consequent-pole rotor having a rotor core, a plurality of magnets, and a plurality of salient poles. The stator includes a stator core and multiphase coils. Each coil is wound about the teeth by distributed winding, in such a manner as to wind two or more consecutive teeth in single winding. The opening degree each of salient pole opposed to the distal ends of the teeth is set greater than or equal to twice the opening angle of the distal end of each tooth.
US08536747B1 Direct current multi-stage motor
A three phase brushless direct current multi-stage motor, that is of the pancake type. The direct current multi-stage motor comprises a continuous and additive magnetic flux field loop with a plurality of flux paths that flow across the vertically wound stators sandwiched between the rotors. The rotors are embedded with a plurality of permanent magnets which are alternately spaced near the outer radius.
US08536744B2 Traction motor
According to one embodiment, a traction motor includes a stator core, a rotor core, a first bearing, a second bearing, a rotor shaft, a first ventilation passage made at an outer circumference portion of the stator core, a first fan, and a second ventilation passage to introduce external air. And, in the motor, a first minute gap is provided between an end portion of a first fan main plate and an inner circumference portion of the first bracket, cooling wind is discharged to the motor outside via the second ventilation passage, an outer circumference portion of the first fan, a ventilation portion in the first bracket and the first ventilation passage, and the second ventilation passage is made so that the cooling wind entered from the first air intake port flows around the rotor shaft portion between the first ventilation fan and the first bearing.
US08536740B2 Variable frequency drive with dielectric fluid-immersed transformer
A variable frequency drive system for controlling the frequency of a high-voltage power source supplied to a first electric motor includes a transformer section that includes a motorized loadbreak switch system, control power transformers, a controller programmed with control logic to ensure that the motorized loadbreak switch system opens contacts between the high-voltage power source and the variable frequency drive system once the power source is removed, and a tank containing a dielectric fluid, wherein the tank also contains, within the dielectric fluid, a manual isolation switch to supply or remove power to the transformer section, an impedance for use in soft-starting the variable frequency drive system, a primary winding, and a plurality of phase-shifted secondary windings.
US08536738B2 System for transferring energy wirelessly
There is disclosed a system for transferring energy wirelessly by an evanescent electromagnetic field. The system includes a housing including electrically conducting walls defining a space and an injector configured to inject electromagnetic waves into the space. A wall of the housing is configured to be placed adjacent to an electromagnetic energy reception device and includes one or more apertures. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves is lower than the cutoff frequency of the housing, and the one or more apertures have a size smaller than the waves wavelength so that an evanescent electromagnetic field is emitted from the one or more apertures of the wall and may reach the energy reception device.
US08536733B2 Master and slave power outlet system
This invention provides a master and slave power outlet system with a master outlet and a slave outlet, wherein the master outlet includes a current detecting unit and a first wireless module, and the slave outlet includes a second wireless module. When an operating state of a master device connected to the master outlet changes, an output current may change accordingly. The current detecting unit of the master outlet detects the change in the output current and generates a detecting signal, and the master outlet emits a wireless signal through the wireless module according to the detecting signal. The slave outlet receives the wireless signal and provides a power supply or stops providing the power supply to the slave device connected to the slave outlet.
US08536732B2 Power supply system
A power supply system drives a plurality of loads, and includes a power stage circuit, a pulse width modulation controller, a first isolation transformer, at least two second transformers, and at least two rectifier circuits. The power supply system converts external power signals into first alternating current (AC) power signals, and converts the first AC power signals into second AC power signals. The second transformers either boost or buck the second AC power signals, and each has a primary winding connected to a secondary winding of the first isolation transformer in parallel and a center tap grounded. Each of the rectifier circuits is connected to two ends of a secondary winding of a corresponding one of the second transformers, and rectifies the boosted or bucked second AC power signals to output direct current (DC) power signals to a corresponding one of the plurality of loads.
US08536729B2 Hybrid electric power architecture for a vehicle
An electric architecture for use on a vehicle has a collector bus for receiving power from a plurality of power sources. The collector bus distributes power to at least a pair of subsystems which are operable at different frequency levels. Each subsystem is provided with a global bus and a local bus, and is utilized to power at least one motor.
US08536728B2 Machine support for receiving a rotor/generator assembly of a gearless wind energy plant
Disclosed is a mainframe for receiving a rotor-generator assembly of a gearless wind turbine, wherein the mainframe connects the rotor-generator assembly to the tower of the wind turbine; is rotatably mounted on the tower; and comprises pipe sections arranged at an angle to each other, one of which can be connected to the rotor-generator assembly and the other of which can be connected to the tower. The pipe section that can be connected to the rotor-generator assembly is connected to the lateral surface of the other pipe section by way of an end edge surface facing away from the rotor-generator assembly, and the lateral surface of the other pipe section extends into the region surrounded by the connection.
US08536715B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes temporarily fixing a semiconductor chip to a supporting member to direct a connection electrode toward the supporting member side, forming an insulating layer for preventing resin-permeation covering the semiconductor chip, on the supporting member and the semiconductor chip, forming a resin substrate sealing a periphery and a back surface side of the semiconductor chip, on the insulating layer, and removing the supporting member to expose the connection electrode of the semiconductor chip. A build-up wiring is connected directly to the connection electrode of the semiconductor chip.
US08536710B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes: an insulating layer formed on a substrate; a plurality of interlayer insulating films which are formed on the insulating layer and comprise an opening window; a multilayer wiring which is formed with a plurality of wiring layers and a plurality of vias formed in the plurality of interlayer insulating films; a metal pad connected with the multilayer wiring, an upper surface part of the metal pad being a bottom part of the opening window, the metal pad formed closer to the substrate than a wiring layer of a lowermost layer of the plurality of wiring layers and is; and a pad ring provided on the metal pad, the pad ring penetrating the plurality of interlayer insulating films and the pad ring surrounding the opening window.
US08536705B2 Integrated circuit system with through silicon via and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a substrate including an active device; forming a through-silicon-via into the substrate; forming an insulation layer over the through-silicon-via to protect the through-silicon-via; forming a contact to the active device after forming the insulation layer; and removing the insulation layer.
US08536704B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
An interlayer insulating film containing oxygen and carbon is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A groove is formed in the interlayer insulating film. An auxiliary film containing predetermined first and second metallic elements is formed on a bottom surface and a sidewall of the formed groove. Then, an interconnect body layer containing copper is formed to fill the groove. By performing a thermal treatment, a first barrier film containing a compound of the first metallic element and an oxygen element of the interlayer insulating film, and a second barrier film containing a compound of the second metallic element and carbon element of the interlayer insulating film are formed on the interlayer insulating film on the bottom surface and the sidewall of the groove.
US08536702B2 Microelectronic die packages with metal leads, including metal leads for stacked die packages, and associated systems and methods
Microelectronic die packages, stacked systems of die packages, and methods of manufacturing them are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system of stacked packages includes a first die package having a bottom side, a first dielectric casing, and first metal leads; a second die package having a top side attached to the bottom side of the first package, a dielectric casing with a lateral side, and second metal leads aligned with and projecting towards the first metal leads and including an exterior surface and an interior surface region that generally faces the lateral side; and metal solder connectors coupling individual first leads to individual second leads. In a further embodiment, the individual second leads have an “L” shape and physically contact corresponding individual first leads. In another embodiment, the individual second leads have a “C” shape and include a tiered portion that projects towards the lateral side of the second casing.
US08536699B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus
In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device by forming a structure film on a substrate in a reaction chamber of a manufacturing apparatus, cleaning inside the reaction chamber is performed. That is, a precoat film made of a silicon nitride film containing boron is deposited on an inner wall of the reaction chamber, a silicon nitride film not containing boron is formed as the structure film on the substrate in the reaction chamber, and the inner wall of the reaction chamber is dry etched to be cleaned. At this time, the dry etching is terminated after boron is detected in a gas exhausted from the reaction chamber.
US08536691B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device including a metal frame having a penetrating opening; a semiconductor chip provided in the opening; an insulating layer provided on the upper surface of the metal frame such that the insulating layer covers the upper surface, which is the circuit-formed surface of the semiconductor chip; an interconnect layer provided only on the upper-surface side of the metal frame with intervention of the insulating material and electrically connected to a circuit of the semiconductor chip; a via conductor provided on the upper surface of said semiconductor chip to electrically connect the circuit of the semiconductor chip and the interconnect layer; and a resin layer provided on the lower surface of the metal frame.
US08536684B2 Method of assembling shielded integrated circuit device
A method of assembling an integrated circuit (IC) device includes the steps of providing a lead frame or substrate panel, attaching a semiconductor die to the lead frame or substrate panel and electrically coupling the die to the lead frame or substrate panel. The method further includes encapsulating the die with a first encapsulant, and the encapsulating the first encapsulant with a second encapsulant where the second encapsulant includes a material that provides electromagnetic shielding.
US08536678B2 Through substrate via with embedded decoupling capacitor
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor die having a substrate with a front side and a back side includes fabricating openings for through substrate vias on the front side of the semiconductor die. The method also includes depositing a first conductor in the through substrate vias, depositing a dielectric on the first conductor and depositing a second conductor on the dielectric. The method further includes depositing a protective insulator layer on the back side of the substrate covering the through substrate vias.
US08536677B2 Capacitor structure
One or more embodiments relate to a capacitor structure comprising a first and second capacitor electrode. The first electrode may include a conductive strip having at least one wider portion and at least one narrower portion. The second electrode may include a conductive strip having at least one wider portion and at least one narrower portion.
US08536674B2 Integrated circuit and method of fabricating same
A method includes providing a substrate with at least one semiconducting layer. The method also includes forming a plurality of isolation barriers within the at least one semiconducting layer, thereby forming a plurality of device islands. The method further includes inserting a plurality of electronic devices into a portion of the at least one semiconducting layer such that each electronic device is substantially isolated from each other electronic device by the device islands.
US08536670B2 Semiconductor device, manufacturing method therefor, and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor chip; and a second semiconductor chip that is stacked on the first semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a first wiring portion of which a side surface is exposed at a side portion of the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip includes a second wiring portion of which a side surface is exposed at a side portion of the second semiconductor chip. The respective side surfaces of the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion, which are exposed at the side portions of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip, are covered by a conductive layer, and the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion are electrically connected to each other through the conductive layer.
US08536669B2 Magnetic element with storage layer materials
According to an embodiment of the invention, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element includes a reference ferromagnetic layer, a storage ferromagnetic layer, and an insulating layer. The storage ferromagnetic layer includes a CoFeB sub-layer coupled to a CoFe sub-layer and/or a NiFe sub-layer through a non-magnetic sub-layer. The insulating layer is disposed between the reference and storage ferromagnetic layers.
US08536666B2 Silicon microphone with integrated back side cavity
An integrated circuit containing a capacitive microphone with a back side cavity located within the substrate of the integrated circuit. Access holes may be formed through a dielectric support layer at the surface of the substrate to provide access for etchants to the substrate to form the back side cavity. The back side cavity may be etched after a fixed plate and permeable membrane of the capacitive microphone are formed by providing etchants through the permeable membrane and through the access holes to the substrate.
US08536662B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor devices resulting therefrom
A method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including providing a substrate comprising a main surface with a non flat topography, the surface comprising at least one substantial topography variation, forming a first capping layer over the main surface such that, during formation of the first capping layer, local defects in the first capping layer are introduced, the local defects being positioned at locations corresponding to the substantial topography variations and the local defects being suitable for allowing a predetermined fluid to pass through. Associated membrane layers, capping layers, and microelectronic devices are also disclosed.
US08536659B2 Semiconductor device with integrated channel stop and body contact
A channel stop is provided for a semiconductor device that includes at least one active region. The channel stop is configured to surround the semiconductor device, to abut the at least one active region at a periphery of the semiconductor device, and to share an electrical connection with the at least one active region.
US08536657B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and process of manufacturing the same
In device isolation trenches, a first device-isolation insulator film is formed to have recesses thereon and a second device-isolation insulator film is formed in the recesses. The uppermost portions at both ends of the first device-isolation insulator film are located higher than the uppermost portions at both ends of the second device-isolation insulator film.
US08536651B2 Multi-gate transistor having sidewall contacts
A multi-gate transistor having a plurality of sidewall contacts and a fabrication method that includes forming a semiconductor fin on a semiconductor substrate and etching a trench within the semiconductor fin, depositing an oxide material within the etched trench, and etching the oxide material to form a dummy oxide layer along exposed walls within the etched trench; and forming a spacer dielectric layer along vertical sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer. The method further includes removing exposed dummy oxide layer in a channel region in the semiconductor fin and beneath the spacer dielectric layer, forming a high-k material liner along sidewalls of the channel region in the semiconductor fin, forming a metal gate stack within the etched trench, and forming a plurality of sidewall contacts within the semiconductor fin along adjacent sidewalls of the dummy oxide layer.
US08536646B2 Trench type power transistor device
The present invention provides a trench type power transistor device including a semiconductor substrate, at least one transistor cell, a gate metal layer, a source metal layer, and a second gate conductive layer. The semiconductor substrate has at least one trench. The transistor cell includes a first gate conductive layer disposed in the trench. The gate metal layer and the source metal layer are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The second gate conductive layer is disposed between the first gate conductive layer and the source metal layer. The second gate conductive layer electrically connects the first gate conductive layer to the gate metal layer, and the second gate conductive layer is electrically insulated from the source metal layer and the semiconductor substrate.
US08536645B2 Trench MOSFET and method for fabricating same
According to an exemplary embodiment, a trench field-effect transistor (trench FET) includes a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, the trench including a gate dielectric disposed therein. A source region is disposed adjacent the trench. The trench FET also has a gate electrode including a lower portion disposed in the trench and a proud portion extending laterally over the source region. A silicide source contact can extend vertically along a sidewall of the source region. Also, a portion of the gate dielectric can extend laterally over the semiconductor substrate. The trench FET can further include a silicide gate contact formed over the proud portion of the gate electrode.
US08536643B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode GE electrically connected to a gate portion which is made of a polysilicon film provided in the inside of a plurality of grooves formed in a striped form along the direction of T of a chip region CA wherein the gate electrode GE is formed as a film at the same layer level as a source electrode SE electrically connected to a source region formed between adjacent stripe-shaped grooves and the gate electrode GE is constituted of a gate electrode portion G1 formed along a periphery of the chip region CA and a gate finger portion G2 arranged so that the chip region CA is divided into halves along the direction of X. The source electrode SE is constituted of an upper portion and a lower portion, both relative to the gate finger portion G2, and the gate electrode GE and the source electrode SE are connected to a lead frame via a bump electrode.
US08536641B1 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate comprising a semiconductor material. The substrate has a surface that defines a surface normal direction and includes a P-N junction comprising an interface between a first region and a second region, where the first (second) region includes a first (second) dopant type, so as to have a first (second) conductivity type. The substrate includes a termination extension region disposed adjacent to the P-N junction and having an effective concentration of the second dopant type that is generally the effective concentration of the second dopant type in the second doped region. The substrate includes an adjust region disposed adjacent to the surface and between the surface and at least part of the termination extension region, where the effective concentration of the second dopant type generally decreases when moving from the termination extension region into the adjust region along the surface normal direction.
US08536626B2 Electronic pH sensor die packaging
A pH sensor is provided. The pH sensor comprises a substrate and an ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) die comprising an ion sensing part that responds to pH, wherein the ISFET die is located over the substrate. The pH sensor also comprises a protective layer formed over at least a portion of an outer surface of the ISFET die and at least a portion of the substrate. Further, the pH sensor comprises a cover member mechanically coupled to the protective layer, wherein the cover member houses the ISFET die and the substrate, and wherein the cover member defines an opening proximate to the ion sensing part.
US08536620B2 Integrated circuit including a hetero-interface and self adjusted diffusion method for manufacturing the same
An integrated circuit including a hetero-interface and a manufacturing method thereof is disclosed. One embodiment includes forming a hetero-structure including a hetero-interface at a junction between a first region and a second region, and, thereafter introducing a material into the first region and at least up to the hetero-interface, wherein a diffusion constant of the material is higher in the first region than in the second region.
US08536617B2 Optically triggered semiconductor device and method for making the same
A thyristor device includes a semiconductor body and a conductive anode. The semiconductor body has a plurality of doped layers forming a plurality of dopant junctions and includes an optical thyristor, a first amplifying thyristor, and a switching thyristor. The conductive anode is disposed on a first side of the semiconductor body. The optical thyristor is configured to receive incident radiation to generate a first electric current, and the first amplifying thyristor is configured to increase the first electric current from the optical thyristor to at least a threshold current. The switching thyristor switches to the conducting state in order to conduct a second electric current from the anode and through the semiconductor body.
US08536612B2 Light emitting device having a pluralilty of light emitting cells and package mounting the same
Disclosed is a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells and a package having the same mounted thereon. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting cells which are formed on a substrate and each of which has an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer located on a portion of the N-type semiconductor layer. The plurality of light emitting cells are bonded to a submount substrate. Accordingly, heat generated from the light emitting cells can be easily dissipated, so that a thermal load on the light emitting device can be reduced. Meanwhile, since the plurality of light emitting cells are electrically connected using connection electrodes or electrode layers formed on the submount substrate, it is possible to provide light emitting cell arrays connected to each other in series. Further, it is possible to provide a light emitting device capable of being directly driven by an AC power source by connecting the serially connected light emitting cell arrays in reverse parallel to each other.
US08536611B2 Organic light-emitting element, method for manufacturing the organic light-emitting element, apparatus for manufacturing the organic light-emitting element, and organic light-emitting device using the organic light-emitting element
An organic light-emitting display device is provided that has prolonged service life, lowered wiring resistance that can lower power consumption, and that is easy to manufacture. In a first embodiment, a moisture capturing layer is provided between an upper electrode and a lower electrode. A second embodiment includes a metal substrate, an organic light-emitting element on the substrate and an upper transparent electrode connected to the substrate through a contact hole. In a third embodiment, a method is provided for forming a first organic compound including a light-emitting layer, heating the first organic compound in vacuo, and forming a second organic compound.
US08536608B2 LED with remote phosphor layer and reflective submount
A light emitting device comprises a flip-chip light emitting diode (LED) die mounted on a submount. The top surface of the submount has a reflective layer. Over the LED die is molded a hemispherical first transparent layer. A low index of refraction layer is then provided over the first transparent layer to provide TIR of phosphor light. A hemispherical phosphor layer is then provided over the low index layer. A lens is then molded over the phosphor layer. The reflection achieved by the reflective submount layer, combined with the TIR at the interface of the high index phosphor layer and the underlying low index layer, greatly improves the efficiency of the lamp. Other material may be used. The low index layer may be an air gap or a molded layer. Instead of a low index layer, a distributed Bragg reflector may be sputtered over the first transparent layer.
US08536602B2 Light emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, light emitting device package, and lighting system
Disclosed is a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure layer including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer, a first light extracting structure formed on an outer portion of the first conductive type semiconductor layer and having a plurality of side surfaces and a plurality of upper surfaces formed in a step structure, and a transmissive layer on the first light extracting structure of the first conductive type semiconductor layer.
US08536601B2 Thin-film LED with P and N contacts electrically isolated from the substrate
A thin-film LED includes an insulating substrate, an electrode on the insulating substrate, and an epitaxial structure on the electrode.
US08536600B2 Photonic crystal LED
A semiconductor light emitting diode (1, LED), comprising a first and a second electrode (40, 11) for applying a voltage across an active region (4) for generation of light, a light emitting surface (6), and a plurality of photonic crystals (101, 102). Further, at least two photonic crystals (101, 102) of a first and a second type are adapted to extract light from the active region (4) and differ from each other with respect to at least one lattice parameter. Each of said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102) are associated with a respective far field pattern, wherein an arrangement of said plurality of photonic crystals (101, 102) is provided to arrange said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102). In this manner, a far field pattern is created by combining the respective far field patterns associated with each of said at least two photonic crystals (101, 102).
US08536594B2 Solid state lighting devices with reduced dimensions and methods of manufacturing
Solid state lighting (SSL) devices (e.g., devices with light emitting diodes) with reduced dimensions (e.g., thicknesses) and methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SSL device includes an SSL structure having a first region and a second region laterally spaced apart from the first region and an insulating material between and electrically isolating the first and second regions. The SSL device also includes a conductive material between the first and second regions and adjacent the insulating material to electrically couple the first and second regions in series.
US08536593B2 LED device having two LED dies separated by a dam
An LED device comprises a substrate, a circuit, two LED dies, a dam and a reflector. The dam divides the substrate into a first area and a second area, wherein one of the two LED dies is disposed on the first area and the other is disposed on the second area. The dam insulates radiant lights emitted from the two LED dies, whereby interference between the radiant lights can be prevented. Four separate electrodes are provided on the substrate, wherein one LED die is connected to two electrodes and the other LED die is electrically connected to the other two electrodes.
US08536582B2 Stable power devices on low-angle off-cut silicon carbide crystals
A silicon carbide-based power device includes a silicon carbide drift layer having a planar surface that forms an off-axis angle with a <0001> direction of less than 8°.
US08536580B2 Organic light-emitting display device
An organic light-emitting display device may include a substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) on the substrate; a plurality of first electrodes respectively on the TFTs; a pixel-defining layer between the first electrodes, the pixel-defining layer including a covered portion and an uncovered portion; a plurality of organic layers respectively on the first electrodes, each organic layer including an emission layer; a second electrode covering at least a part of the organic layers and the pixel-defining layer, a portion of the pixel-defining layer covered by the second electrode defining the covered portion, wherein at least one outgassing hole is in the uncovered portion of the pixel-defining layer, the uncovered portion being an exposed area of the pixel-defining layer.
US08536578B2 Thin film transistor comprising nanowires and fabrication method thereof
A thin film transistor includes nanowires. More specifically, the thin film transistor includes nanowires aligned between and extending to opposite facing lateral surfaces of source/drain electrodes on a substrate. The nanowires extend in a direction parallel to a major surface defining the substrate to form a semiconductor channel layer. Also disclosed herein is a method for fabricating the thin film transistor.
US08536575B2 Pixel structure of display panel and method of fabricating the same
A pixel structure of a display panel includes a substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT), a first transparent connecting pad, a passivation layer and a transparent pixel electrode. The TFT disposed on the substrate includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The gate insulating layer is disposed on the gate electrode, the semiconductor layer is disposed on the gate insulating layer, and the source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the semiconductor layer. The first transparent connecting pad disposed on the drain electrode partially overlaps and is electrically connected to the drain electrode. The passivation layer disposed on the first transparent connecting pad includes at least a contact hole. Furthermore, the transparent pixel electrode disposed on the passivation layer is electrically connected to the first transparent connecting pad through the contact hole of the passivation layer.
US08536570B2 Composition for oxide thin film, preparation method of the composition, methods for forming the oxide thin film using the composition, and electronic device using the composition
Provided are a composition for an oxide semiconductor, a preparation method of the composition, a method for forming an oxide semiconductor thin film using the composition, and a method for forming an electronic device using the composition. The composition for an oxide semiconductor includes a compound for an oxide thin film and a stabilizer for adjusting conductivity of the oxide thin film. The stabilizer is included with the mole number of two to twelve times larger than the total mole number of the compound.
US08536564B1 Integrated field emission array for ion desorption
An integrated field emission array for ion desorption includes an electrically conductive substrate; a dielectric layer lying over the electrically conductive substrate comprising a plurality of laterally separated cavities extending through the dielectric layer; a like plurality of conically-shaped emitter tips on posts, each emitter tip/post disposed concentrically within a laterally separated cavity and electrically contacting the substrate; and a gate electrode structure lying over the dielectric layer, including a like plurality of circular gate apertures, each gate aperture disposed concentrically above an emitter tip/post to provide a like plurality of annular gate electrodes and wherein the lower edge of each annular gate electrode proximate the like emitter tip/post is rounded. Also disclosed herein are methods for fabricating an integrated field emission array.
US08536563B2 Nanowire field effect transistors
A method for forming a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device including forming a first silicon on insulator (SOI) pad region, a second SOI pad region, a third SOI pad region, a first SOI portion connecting the first SOI pad region to the second SOI pad region, and a second SOI portion connecting the second SOI pad region to the third SOI pad region on a substrate, patterning a first hardmask layer over the second SOI portion, forming a first suspended nanowire over the semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate structure around a portion of the first suspended nanowire, patterning a second hardmask layer over the first gate structure and the first suspended nanowire, removing the first hardmask layer, forming a second suspended nanowire over the semiconductor substrate, forming a second gate structure around a portion of the second suspended nanowire, and removing the second hardmask layer.
US08536561B2 Memory cells and memory cell arrays
Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
US08536560B2 Semiconductor memory device with three dimensional solid electrolyte structure, and manufacturing method thereof
The semiconductor memory device includes a variable resistance device having a solid electrolyte in a three-dimensional structure. The variable resistance device includes a first electrode; the solid electrolyte, which has at least two regions with different heights, formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode made of a conductive material formed on the solid electrolyte to cover the regions with different heights. In addition, a multibit semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a bias circuit that can control the intensity of a current and time the current is supplied to the variable resistance device inside a memory cell in multiple steps to configure multibits.
US08536555B2 Voltage sensitive resistor (VSR) read only memory
A method to form a voltage sensitive resistor (VSR) read only memory (ROM) device on a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor device including depositing by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) a titanium nitride layer having residual titanium-carbon bonding such that the VSR is resistive as formed and can become less resistive by at least an order of 102 when a predetermined voltage and current are applied to the VSR; and applying a predetermined voltage and current so as to make the CVD titanium nitride less resistive by at least an order of 102.
US08536552B2 Collimator for a radiation detector and method for manufacturing such a collimator as well as method for manufacturing a radiation detector comprising collimators
A collimator is disclosed for a radiation detector including at least three spacing elements arranged on a radiation exit face of the collimator. In at least one embodiment, they are embodied so as to mount the collimator in a stable manner with respect to a radiation converter of the radiation detector. The at least three spacing elements enable a very precise and stable alignment of the collimator in respect of the radiation converter despite manufacturing-related curves or unevennesses in the radiation exit face and/or the mounting surface on the part of the radiation converter. At least one embodiment of the invention also relates to a manufacturing method for such a collimator, as well as a method for manufacturing a radiation detector.
US08536543B2 Super-resolution microscope
Provided is a super-resolution microscope for observing a specimen containing a substance having two or more excited quantum state, which includes: a light source section that outputs a first illumination light for exciting the substance from a stable state to a first quantum state, and a second illumination light for further transitioning the substance to other quantum state; an optical system including a microscope objective lens and condensing the first illumination light and the second illumination light, each outputted from the light source section, onto the specimen in a manner that these lights are partially overlapped with each other; a detection section that detects an optical response signal emitted from the specimen in response to condensing of the first illumination light and the second illumination light; and, a polarization controlling element provided with a polarizing member that converts a polarization state of the first illumination light or the second illumination light, and a phase modulation section integrally formed with the polarizing member and spatially modulating a phase of the second illumination light.
US08536539B2 Ion beam generator, and substrate processing apparatus and production method of electronic device using the ion beam generator
An ion beam generator includes a discharge tank for generating plasma that includes ions. A lead-out electrode has an annular grid portion provided with openings for leading out the ions generated in the discharge tank, while accelerating the generated ions as an annular ion beam. A deflecting electrode deflects the annular ion beam, which is led out of the lead-out electrode, in an annular center direction.
US08536538B2 Multiple-pole electrostatic deflector for improving throughput of focused electron beam instruments
One embodiment relates to a focused electron beam imaging apparatus. The apparatus includes an electron beam column, an electron source, a gun lens, a pre-scanning deflector, a main scanning deflector, an objective lens, and a detector. The pre-scanning deflector comprises a 12-pole electrostatic deflector which is configured to controllably deflect the electron beam away from the optical axis of the electron beam column. Another embodiment relates to a method of scanning an electron beam over a target substrate in a focused electron beam imaging instrument. The electron beam is controllably deflected, without third-order deflection aberrations, away from an optical axis of an electron beam column using a pre-scanning deflector. The electron beam is then controllably deflected back towards the optical axis using a main scanning deflector so that the electron beam passes through a center of an objective electron lens. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08536535B2 Radiation image capturing system
In a radiation image capturing system, prior to radiation image capturing operation, the radiation image capturing apparatus repeats on an alternate basis, a step of reading leak data and a step of resetting each of the radiation detection elements, wherein the step of reading leak data is performed by turning off all switch units, allowing a reading circuit to perform cyclic reading operations under this condition and converting electric charge leaking out of radiation detection elements through the switch units into the leak data, thereby detecting a start of irradiation based on the leak data having been read out. The image processing apparatus analyzes a profile of image data along the extension of signal lines of the radiation image capturing apparatus, and identifies a range of the image data where a defect has occurred, whereby the image data in the identified range is corrected.
US08536530B2 Terahertz wave transceiver and tomographic image acquisition apparatus
A terahertz wave transceiver configured to generate and detect terahertz waves based on time-domain spectroscopy includes a photoconductive device having a photoconductive film, a first electrode, and a second electrode. An excitation light illumination region is formed between the first and second electrodes. A bias applying unit applies a bias between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate the terahertz wave in the excitation light illumination region. A current detection unit detects a terahertz-wave current that is a component of a current generated in the excitation light illumination region and that is generated by an electric field of a received terahertz wave arriving from the outside. A current drawing unit draws a current originating from the bias applied by the bias applying unit. An adjustment unit determines the amount of the current drawn, based on the amount of the bias applied by the bias applying unit.
US08536526B2 Methods of operating a nanoprober to electrically probe a device structure of an integrated circuit
Methods for nanoprobing a device structure of an integrated circuit. The method may include scanning a primary charged particle beam across a first region of the device structure with at least one probe proximate to the first region and a second region of the device structure is masked from the primary charged particle beam. The method may further include collecting secondary electrons emitted from the first region of the device structure and the at least one probe to form a secondary electron image. The secondary electron image includes the first region and the at least one probe as imaged portions and the second region as a non-imaged portion. Alternatively, the second region may be scanned by the charged particle beam at a faster scan rate than the first region so that the second region is also an imaged portion of the secondary electron image.
US08536518B2 Ion mobility spectrometer to mass spectrometer interface
A method and apparatus are described herein for the interface of an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) to a mass spectrometer (MS) that utilizes collisional focusing, through internal modification. Commercial standalone IMS instrumentation cannot be combined in tandem with a commercially available MS that utilizes collisional focusing due to the physics of the differentially pumped interface of the MS being an unsuitable environment for an IMS measurement. The invention provides for transfer of the ion beam from the IMS to the MS without distortion of the chemical species or temporal profile due to large scale collisions in the differentially pumped interface, by increasing the electric field strength between the orifice and skimmer, and decreasing the pressure in the differentially pumped interface, thereby reducing the number of background gas collisions encountered by the ion beam during transit from the IMS to the MS.
US08536514B2 Method and apparatus for measuring the temperature of a sheet material
A method of measuring the temperature of a sheet material in which the sheet material is arranged such that it forms at least one side of a cavity so as to enhance the effective emissivity of the sheet material in the vicinity of the cavity. The method involves a) generating a thermal image of at least part of the inside of the cavity using a thermal imaging device to detect radiation emitted by the cavity, the thermal image comprising a plurality of pixels each having a pixel value representative of radiation emitted by a respective region of the cavity; b) identifying a first subset of the plurality of pixels whose pixel values meet predetermined criteria; c) using the identified first subset of pixels to determine a line on the thermal image representative of optimal emissivity enhancement in the cavity; and d) selecting a second subset of the plurality of pixels based on the determined line and generating a temperature profile along the determined line derived from the pixel values associated with each of the second subset of pixels.
US08536501B2 Virtually attached node
The present invention provides a position control system for a remote-controlled vehicle, a vehicle operated by the control system, and a method for operating a remote-controlled vehicle. An electromagnetic energy receiver is configured to receive an electromagnetic beam. The electromagnetic energy receiver is further configured to determine a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam. The vehicle is directed to maneuver to track the position of the electromagnetic beam.
US08536496B2 Adaptable layered heater system
A layered heater is provided that comprises at least one resistive layer defining a circuit configuration, the circuit configuration comprising at least one resistive trace oriented relative to a heating target and comprising a material having temperature coefficient characteristics such that the resistive trace provides power commensurate with demands of the heating target. In one form, resistive traces of the resistive layer are a PTC material having a relatively high TCR and are oriented approximately perpendicular to a primary heating direction. In another form, resistive traces of the resistive layer are an NTC material having a relatively high BETA coefficient and are oriented approximately parallel to a primary heating direction.
US08536491B2 Rotatable and tunable heaters for semiconductor furnace
A semiconductor furnace suitable for chemical vapor deposition processing of wafers. The furnace includes a thermal reaction chamber having a top, a bottom, a sidewall, and an internal cavity for removably holding a batch of vertically stacked wafers. A heating system is provided that includes a plurality of rotatable heaters arranged and operative to heat the chamber. In one embodiment, spacing between the sidewall heaters is adjustable. The heating system controls temperature variations within the chamber and promotes uniform film deposit thickness on the wafers.
US08536487B2 Arc welding method
A consumable electrode type arc welding method for generating arc between a plate-shaped work and a welding wire by a mixed shield gas including argon gas to weld the plate-shaped work, includes: making a state of reverse polarity in which the polarity of the welding wire is positive at the welding start time, and switching at least once to a state of positive polarity in which the polarity of the welding wire is negative.
US08536486B2 Method of dividing workpiece using laser beam
A workpiece including an irregularly shaped portion on a dividing line is divided along the dividing line by detecting the location of the irregularly shaped portion, applying a detecting laser beam to an area of the workpiece except for the detected location, along the dividing line to detect the height of a surface of the workpiece except for the location, applying and focusing a machining laser beam having a wavelength which permeates the workpiece within the workpiece while moving a focused spot of the machining laser beam based on the detected height of the surface of the workpiece to form a modified layer in an area of the workpiece except for at least the location of the irregularly shaped portion along the dividing line, and applying an external force to the modified layer to divide the workpiece along the dividing line.
US08536485B2 Systems and methods for forming apertures in microfeature workpieces
Systems and methods for forming apertures in microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes directing a laser beam toward a microfeature workpiece to form an aperture and sensing the laser beam pass through the microfeature workpiece in real time. The method can further include determining a number of pulses of the laser beam and/or an elapsed time to form the aperture and controlling the laser beam based on the determined number of pulses and/or the determined elapsed time to form a second aperture in the microfeature workpiece.
US08536482B2 Laser processing machines
A laser processing machine is provided which has a machine frame and a laser generator fastened to the machine frame. The laser generator is movable relative to the machine frame.
US08536478B2 Slidable button and electronic device using the same
An exemplary electronic device includes a casing with a slot defined in an outer face of the casing, a through holed defined in the slot, and a switch module. The switch module includes a switch received in the casing, and a slidable button embedded in the slot. The slidable button includes an operating portion received in the slot and abutting an outer face of the casing, a holding portion extending outwardly from the operating portion and through the through hole, and two elastic arms respectively extending outwardly from two lateral sides of the holding portion. Each elastic arm includes a connecting section extending outwardly from the holding portion and a locking section protruding outwardly from the connecting section towards the operating portion. The locking sections of the elastic arms abut an inner face of the casing, whereby the slidable button is fixed to the casing.
US08536473B2 Method and apparatus for a combination light pipe and air gap switch
An electrical switch device includes a housing, faceplate, and a light pipe assembly that includes a light transmissive channel, a position stop, and a cam. The device also includes an air gap switch having a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly. The movable contact assembly includes a cam follower that engages the cam of the light pipe assembly. The light pipe assembly is configured to pulled outward from the outer surface of the faceplate. Movement of the light pipe assembly cause the cam follower of the movable contact assembly to move along the cam and separate the movable contact from the stationary contact, shorting the circuit. Pushing the light pipe assembly in a direction back into the faceplate causes the cam follower to move in the opposite direction along the cam and allows the movable contact to engage the stationary contact and close the circuit.
US08536472B2 Rotary switch mechanism
A rotary switch mechanism includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, a push button and a triggered switch. By rotating the first rotatable member, a first rotation command is executed. By rotating the second rotatable member, a second rotation command is executed. By moving a user's finger on the push button, a motion command is executed. By pressing down the push button to trigger the push switch, a pushing command is executed. In such way, the rotary switch mechanism may be used to input plural commands.
US08536471B2 Pressure sensitive stylus for a digitizer
A pressure sensitive stylus, comprises a movable tip that recedes within a housing of the stylus in response to user applied contact pressure, wherein a displacement of the tip along an axis on which it recedes is a function of the applied contact pressure, and an optical sensor enclosed within the housing for optically sensing the displacement of the tip and for providing output in response to the sensing.
US08536470B2 Body composition monitor that corrects a body composition evaluation by comparing it with a user's change in weight reading to cancel errors caused by dryness of hands and way of gripping
A body composition monitor of the present invention includes means for measuring a body composition, means for storing a measured body composition value, and body composition comparison means for comparing the measured body composition value and a stored body composition value, in which the body composition monitor further includes means for inputting a body weight value, means for storing an inputted body weight, body weight comparison means for comparing the inputted body weight and stored body weight, body composition change determination means for determining a change degree of the body composition value with using a comparison result of the body composition comparison means and a comparison result of the body weight comparison means, and display means for displaying a determination result determined by the body composition change determination means.
US08536469B2 Body composition monitor determining a degree of change relative to a past body composition value wherein the favorable stage on the display is obtained even with a slight change at the start of dieting, so that a motivation level of the user is increased
A body composition monitor of the present invention includes means for inputting a reference value of a body composition component, means for inputting a measurement value of the body composition component, body composition comparison means for comparing the reference value and the measurement value so as to determine a body composition component change amount of the measurement value relative to the reference value, display means provided with a plurality of stages for displaying one of the stages corresponding to the body composition component change amount, and stage determination means provided with a plurality of determination widths respectively corresponding to the plurality of stages for determining one of the stages corresponding to the body composition component change amount with using the plurality of determination widths, wherein the plurality of determination widths are not identical to each other.
US08536468B2 Electrical feedthrough, in particular for medical implants
An electrical feedthrough, in particular for use in an electro-medical implant, having a flange enclosing at least one feedthrough bushing and at least one terminal pin enclosed by the at least one feedthrough bushing, the terminal pin having at least one section which can be joined at a lower energy in the interior of the implant.
US08536465B2 Electrochemical device
Provided is an electrochemical device compatible with high-temperature reflow soldering using a lead-free solder. An electrical double layer capacitor 10-1 includes a package 14 that is constructed with a film or films and has sealed parts 14a1 to 14a3 formed by sealing parts, in which films are superimposed on each other, by, for example, heat sealing. The entireties of the sealed parts 14a1 to 14a3 of the package 14 are covered in a close-contact state with a support 16 that has higher rigidity than the film(s) constructing the package 14.
US08536463B2 Printed-circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing a printed-circuit board including: a capacitive element forming step of embedding a capacitive element in a substrate resin layer inside a substrate that includes a plurality of wiring layers laminated with the substrate resin layer interposed in between, the capacitive element forming step including forming a lower electrode using a conductive layer on one of the plurality of wiring layers, or using one of the plurality of wiring layers; forming a crystalline metal oxide-containing capacitor dielectric film at a temperature at or below a heat-resistant temperature of the substrate resin layer, and at or above room temperature; and forming an upper electrode on an upper surface of the capacitor dielectric film on the side opposite to the lower electrode.
US08536462B1 Flex circuit package and method
A flex circuit package includes a package body enclosing an electronic component and a first surface of the substrate. Columns are physically and electrically connected to first traces of the substrate, the columns extending through the package body. A flexible circuit connector has first terminals connected to the columns. The flexible circuit connector further includes second terminals that provide an electrical interconnection structure for electrical connection to a second electronic component structure. By connecting the flexible circuit connector to the columns extending through the package body, special routing of traces of the substrate of the flex circuit package to provide an interface for the flexible circuit connector is avoided.
US08536459B2 Coreless layer buildup structure with LGA
A substrate for use in a PCB or PWB board having a coreless buildup layer and at least one metal and at least one dielectric layer. The coreless buildup dielectric layers can consist of at least partially cured thermoset resin and thermoplastic resin. The substrate may also contain land grid array (LGA) packaging.
US08536453B2 Waterproof device
A waterproof device for receiving an electronic device is disclosed. The waterproof device includes a housing including an outer surface. A receiving case including a body and covering portion extends from the body. The body is inside of the housing, and the covering portion abuts the outer surface of the housing. The body receives an object to be waterproofed. A cover is secured to the covering portion. A first installation washer is secured between the covering portion and the outer surface of the housing, the first installation washer seals a first gap between the housing and the covering portion. A second installation washer is secured to the cover and abuts each edges of the body, the second installation washer seals a second gap between the cover and the body.
US08536451B2 High-voltage connection and electric rail vehicle having a high-voltage connection
A high-voltage connection between two post insulators which can be moved relative to one another. In order to be able to implement such a high-voltage connection in the most compact form possible with regard to insulating air gaps, the high-voltage connection has a current conduction rod, which is surrounded by an insulating body and mounted at one end thereof on the one post insulator at an adjustable distance and at the other end thereof is held on the other post insulator. Outgoing current leads are connected to each end of the current conduction rod. An electric rail vehicle has at least two cars, each having a high-voltage line run in the roof and each having a post insulator on the roof in the area of the mutually facing ends of the cars. The high-voltage connection according to the invention is used in order to achieve an aerodynamically favorable design in the bridging area of the roof area of the cars.
US08536449B2 Insulated wires for use in electronic equipment
Insulated wires for use in electronic equipment have an electrically conductive core and an insulating layer and/or a insulating jacket formed of a flame retardant thermoplastic composition surrounding the electrically conductive core. The flame retardant thermoplastic composition includes (A) a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer and/or a copolyamide elastomer as a thermoplastic polymer component, (B) a metal salt of a phosphinic acid and/or a diphosphinic acid and/or a polymer thereof, (C) a nitrogen containing flame retardant synergist and/or a phosphor/nitrogen containing flame retardant as a flame retardant component, and (D) an inorganic compound chosen from basic and amphoteric oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, silicates, borates, stannates, mixed oxide-hydroxides, oxide-hydroxide-carbonates, hydroxide-silicates and hydroxide-borates, and mixtures thereof.
US08536448B2 Zener diode within a diode structure providing shunt protection
A structure to provide a Zener diode to avoid shunt formation is disclosed. An undoped or lightly doped monocrystalline thin semiconductor lamina is cleaved from a donor body which is not permanently affixed to a support element. The lamina may be annealed at high temperature to remove damage from a prior implant. At least one aperture is formed through the lamina, either due to flaws in the cleaving process, or intentionally following cleaving. Heavily doped amorphous silicon layers having opposite conductivity types are deposited on opposite faces of the lamina, one forming the emitter and one a base contact to a photovoltaic cell, while the lamina forms the base of the cell. The heavily doped layers contact in the aperture, forming a Zener diode. This Zener diode prevents formation of shunts, and may behave as a bypass diode if the cell is placed under heavy reverse bias, as when one cell in a series string is shaded while the rest of the string is exposed to sun.
US08536443B2 Back sheet for solar cell and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a back sheet for solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The back sheet for solar cell comprises a substrate and a fluoropolymer layer, wherein the components by weight of the fluoropolymer layer are as follows: 25˜45 parts of fluororesin; 1.5˜3 parts of modified resin; 0.5˜3 parts of polymeric filler; 0.1˜1 parts of inorganic filler; and 50˜70 parts of solvent. The back sheet for solar cell provided by the present invention has low cost and excellent performances, such as high peeling strength, good waterproof performance, and good weathering resistance. The method of manufacturing the back sheet for solar cell provided by the present invention is simple in process, and thus can achieve continuous industrial production.
US08536435B2 Support structure and process for percussion instruments
A support structure for a percussion instrument has a support member configured to suppress the transfer of vibrations to the floor surface, and provide stability during performance. The entire percussion instrument and a portion or all of the pedal device are elastically supported above the floor, on the support member through the first vibration isolating members. Vibrations from the percussion instrument member and the pedal device are dampened by the first vibration isolating members. The first vibration isolating members are provided between the support member and the percussion instrument member, to suppress the transfer of vibrations to the floor surface, while the support member is stably supported on the floor surface.
US08536433B1 Waist belt rigid frame equipment support harness
The present invention describes a harness apparatus for supporting objects, specifically stringed musical instruments, such as guitars, that allows the weight of the object to be borne by the hips and waist of the wearer and not the wearer's back, shoulders, and/or neck. The apparatus possesses a shapeable, padded rigid frame component that is associated with and rises from a padded waist belt component. The apparatus is profoundly adjustable and can be used by males, females, left-handed and right-handed persons. Advantages to an apparatus such as this include a reduction in back, shoulder, and/or neck strain, discomfort and fatigue that is normally associated with load supporting devices that bear the load's weight from the wearer's upper body. An equipment strap support loop is located on top of the inverted T frame. This support loop functions to replace the human neck and shoulders to support the equipment support strap.
US08536424B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH780680
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH780680. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH780680, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH780680 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH780680.
US08536423B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH097839
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH097839. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH097839, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH097839 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH097839.
US08536418B1 Soybean cultivar SJ0912733
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety SJ0912733 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety SJ0912733 and its progeny, and methods of making SJ0912733.
US08536415B1 Soybean variety XB58Y11
A novel soybean variety, designated XB58Y11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB58Y11, cells from soybean variety XB58Y11, plants of soybean XB58Y11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB58Y11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB58Y11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB58Y11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB58Y11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB58Y11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB58Y11 are further provided.
US08536408B2 Expression cassette encoding a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) and herbicide-tolerant plants containing it
The present invention relates to a novel expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an EPSPS. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel expression cassette comprising, in the direction of transcription, functionally linked to one another, a promoter regulatory sequence which is functional in plant cells or plants, a nucleic acid sequence encoding an EPSPS and a terminator sequence which is functional in plant cells or plants, characterized in that the promoter regulatory sequence is a nucleic acid sequence chosen from the promoter regulatory sequences of the CsVMV (Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus) plant virus.
US08536404B2 Plant root-specific nematode resistance
The invention provides expression vectors comprising root-specific promoters in operative association with polynucleotides that are down-regulated in syncytia of nematode-infected plants, for use in methods of producing transgenic plants with increased resistance to nematode infestation. The invention also provides nematode-resistant transgenic plants and seeds comprising such expression vectors.
US08536403B2 Wheat plants with immunity to wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV)
The present invention provides a transgenic wheat cell or wheat plant, the wheat cell or wheat plant comprising a chimeric DNA molecule which encodes a dsRNA molecule which is capable of inhibiting wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) replication, wherein the wheat cell or plant is immune to WSMV. The present invention also provides a chimeric DNA, the chimeric DNA comprising (i) a wheat expressible promoter; (ii) a region which encodes a dsRNA which is capable of inhibiting WSMV replication; and (iii) a transcription termination and polyadenylation signal. Finally, the present invention provides a process for producing the aforementioned transgenic wheat cell or plant, comprising (i) introducing a chimeric DNA molecule comprising (a) a wheat expressible promoter; (b) a region which encodes a dsRNA which is capable of inhibiting WSMV replication; and (c) a transcription termination and polyadenylation signal into a parental wheat cell; and optionally (ii) regenerating a wheat plant from the wheat cell comprising the chimeric DNA molecule; and (iii) identifying and/or selecting a plant which is immune to WSMV.
US08536400B2 Absorbent article
An absorbent article 1 including a blood separating member 4 capable of separating blood into blood cells and plasma. The blood separating member 4 preferably has pores with a diameter of 6 μm or smaller in a proportion of 20% to 90% in a pore size distribution measured in accordance with ASTM F361-86. A nonwoven fabric obtained by calendering a fiber aggregate can be used as the blood separating member.
US08536399B2 Method of reducing urine odor and article functioning to reduce urine odor
The object of the present invention is to provide a method of reducing the odor of urine; and an article functioning to reduce the odor of urine. The present invention relates to the method comprising using a compound(s) reactive with aldehydes to thereby reduce the urine odor. Moreover, the present invention relates to the article, especially one for body fluid absorption, which functions to reduce the odor of urine by having compounds reactive with aldehydes to be present in absorption articles. As the compounds reactive with aldehydes, organic amines, organic amine salts, compounds producing organic amines by the reaction with discharges, organic amines, amide compounds, and compounds having a mercapto group can be used.
US08536391B2 Oligomerization of alpha olefins using metallocene-SSA catalyst systems and use of the resultant polyalphaolefins to prepare lubricant blends
This disclosure provides for alpha olefin oligomers and polyalphaolefins (or PAOs) and methods of making the alpha olefin oligomers and PAOs. This disclosure encompasses metallocene-based alpha olefin oligomerization catalyst systems, including those that include at least one metallocene and an activator comprising a solid oxide chemically-treated with an electron withdrawing anion. The alpha olefin oligomers and PAOs prepared with these catalyst systems can have a high viscosity index combined with a low pour point, making them particularly useful in lubricant compositions and as viscosity modifiers.
US08536389B2 Fuel composition
Unleaded blend composition having a Motor Octane Number (MON) of at least 80 having less than 42% of aromatic compounds, and at least 2% by volume of the total composition of component (a′), which is a substantially aliphatic hydrocarbon refinery stream of MON value of at least 85. At least 70% in total of the stream is branched chain alkanes, the stream being obtained by distillation from a refinery material as a cut having Initial Boiling Point of at least 15° C. and Final Boiling Point of at most 160° C. The Boiling Points are measured according to ASTMID2892. At least 5% of at least one paraffin, aromatic hydrocarbon compound or olefinic hydrocarbon has a bp 60-160° C., with not more than 5% of the total composition of hydrocarbon having a bp more than 160° C. Less than 5% 2,2,3-trimethylbutane or 2,2,3-trimethylpentane is present.
US08536388B2 Process for preparing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf)
The present invention provides a process for its preparation comprising (a) converting 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,3-dichloropropane (243db) to 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-chloro-prop-1-ene (CF3CCI═CH2) in the presence of a first catalyst in a first reactor, (b) contacting CF3CCI═CH2 with a fluorinating agent in the presence of a second catalyst in a second reactor to produce a compound of formula CF3CFXCH3, wherein X═Cl or F, and (c) dehydrohalogenating the compound of formula CF3CFXCH3 to produce 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf).
US08536387B2 Process for the synthesis of perfluorobutadiene
Process for preparing perfluoro-1,3-butadiene, comprising the following steps: A) preparation of fluoro-halo-butanes of formula: CF2YI—CFYII—CFYII—CF2YI  (V) in which YI and YII, which may be identical or different, may be H, Cl or Br, with the condition that YI and YII are not simultaneously hydrogen; starting with a chloroolefin having the formula: CY″Y═CY′Cl  (II) in which Y, Y′, Y″, which may be identical or different, are H, Cl or Br, with the condition that Y, Y′, Y″ are not simultaneously hydrogen; and performing the following steps: a fluorodimerization, and a fluorination with elemental fluorine, the order of the two steps also possibly being inverted, a dehalogenation or dehydrohalogenation step being performed between the two steps, B) dehalogenation or dehydrohalogenation of the fluoro-halo compounds of formula (V) to give the compound perfluoro-1,3-butadiene.
US08536381B2 Process for purifying hydrogen chloride
Process for purifying hydrogen chloride, comprising at least one step of bringing said hydrogen chloride into contact with a scrubbing agent containing at least one chlorohydrin.
US08536379B2 Manufacture of tertiobutyl hydroperoxyde from renewable materials, tertiobutyl hydroperoxide thus obtained, and uses thereof
The present application relates to a method for manufacturing tert-butyl hydroperoxide that includes the following steps: a) fermenting renewable raw materials and optionally purifying the same to produce a mixture containing at least butanol; b) dehydrating the butanol into butane; c) converting the butane into isobutene and optionally hydrating the isobutene to produce tert-butanol; d) reacting the product of step c) with hydrogen peroxide so as to produce tert-butyl hydroperoxide; and e) isolating the tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The invention also relates to tert-butyl hydroperoxide containing carbon atoms from renewable resources, to the compositions containing said tert-butyl hydroperoxide, and also relates to the use thereof as a polymerization initiator.
US08536378B2 Prostratin and structural or functional analogs thereof
This invention concerns product and process to convert a hydroxyl group (bold in R3C—OH) in a tigliane-type compound to a hydrogen (bold in R3C—H) to obtain deoxytigliane-type compounds or structural or functional analogs thereof. The process has wide application particularly to produce specific biologically active compounds in quantity for use as pharmaceuticals. In particular the process can be used to convert phorbol to a 12-deoxytigliane (prostratin), which is a therapeutic lead for the treatment of AIDS. New compositions of matter are also disclosed.
US08536377B2 Method for producing N,N-substituted-3-aminopropan-1-ols
The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N-substituted 3-aminopropan-1-ols by a) reacting secondary amine with acrolein at a temperature of (−50) to 100° C. and a pressure of 0.01 to 300 bar, and b) reacting the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a pressure of 1 to 400 bar, wherein the molar ratio of secondary amine to acrolein in stage a) is 1:1 or more and the temperature in stage b) is in the range from (−50) to 70° C. In a preferred embodiment, acrolein which has been obtained from glycerol based on renewable raw materials is used. The invention further relates to the use of an N,N-dimethyl-3-aminopropan-1-ol (DMAPOL) based on renewable raw materials as a catalyst for polyurethane preparation, as a scrubbing fluid in gas scrubbing, in the electronics chemicals and electroplating sectors, as a feedstock in organic synthesis, and as an intermediate in the production of pharmaceuticals and crop protection compositions.
US08536372B2 Procatalyst composition with substituted 1,2-phenylene aromatic diester internal donor and method
Disclosed are procatalyst compositions having an internal electron donor which include a substituted phenylene aromatic diester and optionally an electron donor component. Ziegler-Natta catalyst compositions containing the present procatalyst compositions exhibit high activity and produce propylene-based olefins with broad molecular weight distribution.
US08536370B2 Low chlorine, multi-staged method for producing cycloaliphatic disocyanates
Low chlorine, multi-staged method for producing cycloaliphatic diisocyanates. The invention relates to a multi-staged method for the continuous low-chlorine production of cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, comprising the synthesis of diaminodipheynl alkanes, the hydration thereof into the corresponding cycloaliphatic diamines and the subsequent conversion of cycloaliphatic diamines to the corresponding cycloalkylene biscarbamates and the thermal cleaving of the latter into the cycloaliphatic diisocyanates and alcohol.
US08536369B2 Process for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether
Process for producing methyl acetate by carbonylating a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a mordenite catalyst which has been ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with at least one of silver and copper. The mordenite is also ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with platinum in an amount in the range 0.05 to 10 mol % relative to aluminum.
US08536368B2 Processes for the production of acrylic acids and acrylates from a trioxane feed
In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent composition under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The alkylenating agent composition comprises at least 1 wt % of a ring-structured compound comprising at least two oxygen atoms and at least one carbon atom, e.g., trioxane and/or tetraoxane. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.
US08536367B2 Vinyl ester production from acetylene and carboxylic acid utilizing homogeneous catalyst
A process for the selective production of vinyl ester by the reaction of a carboxylic acid with acetylene with a homogeneous catalyst is disclosed and claimed. In one aspect, esters of neoacids are provided.
US08536365B2 Process for the resolution of enantiomers of (3,4-dimethoxy-bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-yl) nitrile and application in the synthesis of ivabradine
Process for the optical resolution of the compound of formula (I): by chiral chromatography. Application in the synthesis of ivabradine, of its addition salts with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and of their hydrates.
US08536364B2 Method for producing sulfur-containing carboxylic acid esters
The present invention provides a method for producing sulfur-containing carboxylic acid esters that are useful for aromatizing and flavoring purpose and can cater to the needs for diversified aromatized and/or flavored products, and to further provide a fragrance and/or flavor composition comprising the ester producible by the method and an aromatized and/or flavored product comprising the same.The sulfur-containing carboxylic acid ester is represented by the following formula (3): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an optionally substituted phenyl group (wherein the substituent thereof is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms), R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 together form an alkylene group, and R4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US08536355B2 Process for producing N,N-dialkyl substituted fatty acids amides
Disclosed herein is a process for producing Dialkyl substituted fatty acids amides. More particularly the present invention provides a process for producing pure form of N,N-dimethylamide of aliphatic carboxylic acids, wherein the aliphatic carboxylic acid is Octanoic Acid and Hexanoic Acid. The disclosed process comprises condensing Alkanoyl Chloride with dilute solution of Dialkylamine at a temperature of about 8 to 12° C. and isolating the crude by salting out the reaction mixture employing Sodium Chloride and distilling the same under vacuum.
US08536345B2 Process for making substituted 2-amino-thiazolones
The present invention relates to methods of making compounds that inhibit 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11-β HSD1). One method comprises (a) contacting a compound of formula (II) with a chiral base, deprotonating agent, and an alkylating agent R3-LG, (b) contacting the product of (a) with an acid to form a salt, and (c) reacting the salt with a base to form the compound of formula (I); wherein Z, R1, R2, and R3 are defined herein.
US08536344B2 Metathesis catalysts
There is disclosed compounds of formula 1, their preparation, intermediates for the preparation and the use of the compounds of the formula 1 as catalysts in various metathesis reactions. The novel metathesis catalysts, which are obtained from readily available precursors, have a high activity and can be used for any type of metathesis reaction.
US08536342B2 Process for producing thiabenzoazulene-propionic acid derivative
Disclosed is a process for producing a thiabenzoazulene-propionic acid derivative which is useful as an active ingredient of an antihistaminic agent or the like. According to the producing process of the present invention, it is possible to produce a thiabenzoazulene-propionic acid derivative where the 2-position of the thiabenzoazulene skeleton is substituted with propionic acid. The thiabenzoazulene propionic-acid derivative thus synthesized has excellent antagonistic action to histamine H1 receptor and low intracerebral transmigration and, therefore, is useful as an active ingredient of the pharmaceutical composition such as an antihistaminic agent.
US08536340B2 Cross-linked cyclic amine compounds and agents for pest control
Cyclic amine compounds represented by formula (1) or salts thereof or N-oxides thereof, wherein Cy1 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic ring; X represents oxygen, sulfur, unsubstituted or substituted nitrogen, sulfinyl, or sulfonyl; R1a and R2a, R1a and R4a, R2a and R3a, or R3a and R4a form saturated rings together; R1a, R1b, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4a, R4b, and R5 which do not form the saturated rings are each independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted amino, nitro, or an organic group; Cy2 represents an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic ring with a proviso that Cy2 is an unsubstituted or substituted heteroaromatic ring when R1a and R2a form a saturated ring together and Cy1 is an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, and Cy2 is a substituted pyridin-2-yl having one or more cyano as a substituent when Cy1 is an unsubstituted or substituted phenyl and Cy2 is a pyridin-2-yl.
US08536338B2 Compounds for the treatment of hepatitis C
The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, II, III, IV, and V, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08536329B2 Reactive dye
A reactive dye is disclosed. The reactive dye has the structure of formula (I): wherein X, R1, R2, R3, n, Q1, Q2 and (HO3S)1-3 are defined in the specification. The reactive dye of the present invention has great build-up property, reproducibility and fastness.
US08536327B2 Epothilone derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula where the variables are as defined in the disclosure.
US08536323B2 Modified nucleotides
Modified nucleotides, and methods to modify nucleotides with a moiety or label, such as biotin, that permits their detection and results in a modified nucleotide, and methods of use of the modified nucleotide in quantitative and qualitative assays.
US08536319B2 Compounds and methods for detecting ricin and uses thereof
This application provides fluorescent probes, substrates, kits and methods for detecting the presence or absence of an enzyme, such as ricin, that catalyzes the release of adenine from a GAGA RNA tetraloop.
US08536314B2 Fluorescent proteins, their production and use
The present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, which are improved with regard to their properties for use as reporter proteins and/or in analytics. In particular, variants of fluorescent proteins are provided, which fluoresce brighter, show improved quantum yield and/or have shifted excitation or emission spectra. The fluorescent proteins according to the invention comprise in their LOV domain besides the substitution of a cysteine with an amino acid that does not covalently bind FMN at least one further point mutation.
US08536311B2 Inhibitor protein of the wnt signal pathway
The present invention relates to an inhibitor protein of the wnt signal path, a DNA encoding such a protein and a process for the preparation of such a protein. In addition, this invention concerns the use of the DNA and the protein as well as antibodies directed against the protein.
US08536310B2 Antibodies to CLL-1
Anti-CLL-1 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such antibodies and antigen-binding fragments are described. Also described are methods of using such antibodies and antigen-binding regions to bind CLL-1 and treat diseases, such as hematologic malignancies, which are characterized by expression of CLL-1.
US08536308B2 Antibodies to interleukin-6
The present invention provides an isolated IL-6 antagonist including an antibody variable region that prevents IL-6 from binding to gp130. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for treating IL-6 related diseases based on the IL-6 antagonists of the invention.
US08536304B2 Tumour-associated peptides that bind to MHC molecules
The invention relates to a tumor-associated peptide containing an amino sequence, which is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:79 of the enclosed listing. The peptide has the ability to bind to a molecule of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I. The invention also relates to the use of the peptides for manufacture of a medicament and for treating tumorous diseases. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition, which comprises at least one of the peptides.
US08536302B2 Dockerin polypeptide and method of purifying recombinant fused protein using the same
The purpose of the invention is to provide a novel purification system allowing the efficient and economical production and purification of a recombinant fused protein, whereby the elution time at a low temperature can be reduced, since it has been a problem to be solved in the existing purification method using dockerin and cohesin. In this purification system, a dockerin polypeptide characterized in that the 14th amino acid in the subdomain 2 of dockerin originating from Clostridium josui is substituted with another amino acid, and a method for purification of a recombinant fused protein are provided.
US08536301B2 Engineered integrin binding peptides
Engineered peptides that bind with high affinity (low equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd)) to the cell surface receptors of fibronectin (α5β1) or vitronectin (αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins) are disclosed. These peptides are based on a molecular scaffold into which a subsequence containing the RGD integrin-binding motif has been inserted. The subsequence (RGD mimic) comprises about 9-13 amino acids, and the RGD contained within the subsequence can be flanked by a variety of amino acids, the sequence of which was determined by sequential rounds of selection (in vitro evolution). The molecular scaffold is preferably based on a knottin, e.g., EETI (Trypsin inhibitor 2 (Trypsin inhibitor II) (EETI-II) [Ecballium elaterium (Jumping cucumber)], AgRP (Agouti-related protein), and Agatoxin IVB, which peptides have a rigidly defined three-dimensional conformation. It is demonstrated that EETI tolerates mutations in other loops and that the present peptides may be used as imaging agents.
US08536296B2 Emulsions of high viscosity silicone polyethers
A process is disclosed for making an aqueous emulsion of a silicone polyether having a viscosity greater than 10 kPa-s at 25 QC by combining; an SiH terminated silicone polyether copolymer having an HLB of less than 7, an organopolysiloxane having terminal unsaturated groups, a hydrosilylation catalyst, and an emulsifier to form an oil phase, and then admixing water to the oil phase to form an emulsion.
US08536294B2 Adhesive composition
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adhesive composition which is moisture-curable, has excellent adhesive properties and resistance to moist heat, and exhibits excellent durability even when used for joining materials having different coefficients of linear expansion. The present invention provides an adhesive composition having: a reactive silicon-containing group-bearing compound (A) which includes a compound (c) formed by reacting a silane coupling agent (a) having a reactive silicon-containing group and a functional group with a compound (b) having at least one reactive group to react with the functional group and at least one aromatic ring, wherein the reactive silicon-containing group-bearing compound (A) has a number-average molecular weight per reactive silicon-containing group of 800 or less.
US08536288B2 Protein-adsorbing material and method for producing the same
An object of the invention is to provide a protein-adsorbing material having both adsorption capacity and high-speed treatment performance applicable to not only analysis use but also industrial use, in balance, and to provide a method for producing the same. The present invention provides a protein-adsorbing material comprising a polymer base-material, a polymer side-chain immobilized to the surface of the polymer base-material and a functional group having protein adsorption ability and immobilized to the polymer side-chain, in which the mass of the polymer side-chain is 5 to 30% relative to the mass of the polymer base-material.
US08536287B2 Fibres and nonwoven prepared from polypropylene having a large dispersity index
The present invention relates to a process for the production of fibres and filaments with polypropylene having a broad polydispersity index. The present invention also relates to high elongation nonwoven prepared from such fibres and filaments. It further relates to films and laminates prepared from high elongation nonwoven.
US08536284B2 N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymer as epoxy resin curing agent
The present invention provides N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymers including methylamine-terminated poly-(N-methylazetidine) and methylamine-terminated poly-(N-methylazacycloheptane). Amine compositions and amine-epoxy compositions comprising N,N′-dimethyl secondary diamine polymers are also disclosed.
US08536279B2 Phase-separating block or graft copolymers comprising incompatible hard blocks and moulding compositions having a high stiffness
A block copolymer or graft copolymer with weight-average molar mass Mw of at least 100 000 g/mol, comprising a) at least one block S composed of from 95 to 100% by weight of vinylaromatic monomers and from 0 to 5% by weight of dienes, and b) at least one copolymer block (S/B)A composed of from 63 to 80% by weight of vinylaromatic monomers and from 20 to 37% by weight of dienes, with glass transition temperature TgA in the range from 5 to 30° C., where the proportion by weight of the entirety of all of the blocks S is in the range from 50 to 70% by weight, based on the block copolymer or graft copolymer, and also mixtures thereof, and their use.
US08536276B2 Pressure-sensitive adhesives and process for preparing them
The invention relates to a process for preparing a pressure-sensitive adhesive based on at least one polymer, in the course of which said at least one polymer is crosslinked, the polymer having functional groups Y and having been admixed, further, with at least one kind of functionalized particles which have at least one nonpolymeric base unit, wherein the particles having a surface modification of the base unit, the surface modification of the particles having at least one kind of functional groups Z, which can not undergo any reaction with the functional group Y and is converted into group X by thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy and the crosslinking of the polymer being brought about at least in part by a reaction of the functional groups X of the particles and the functional groups Y of the polymer, and further to pressure-sensitive adhesives based on at least one crosslinked polymer component, the crosslinking of the polymer component being brought about at least in part by incorporation of the functionalized particles, the particles having at least one nonpolymeric base unit and also a surface modification of this base unit, and the surface modification of the particles having at least one kind of functional groups Z which, after conversion to group X by way of thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, particulate radiation and/or sound energy, are capable of reacting with functional groups Y present in the polymer component, and also to the use of surface-modified functionalized particles having a nonpolymeric base unit as crosslinking reagents for crosslinking polymers for preparing pressure-sensitive adhesives.
US08536275B2 Acryl-based copolymers and optical film including the same
The present invention relates to acryl-based copolymers including an alkyl(meth)acrylate-based monomer; a (meth)acrylate-based monomer containing an aromatic ring; and a maleimide-based monomer, a resin composition including the same, and an optical film prepared by using the same.
US08536274B2 Paint composition and painted objects
Disclosed herein is a clear paint composition, comprising (A) an acrylic copolymer comprising from 35 to 50 wt % ε-caprolactone structural units, based on the resin solid fraction, and wherein the hydroxyl number is from 200 to 340 mgKOH/g and the weight average molecular weight is from 5,000 to 15,000 and (B) a non-yellowing type polyisocyanate compound, wherein the isocyanate group of the (B) component is included in a proportion of from 0.5 to 2 equivalents per 1 equivalent of hydroxyl group of the (A) component, wherein the Young's modulus of the hardened paint film obtained from said paint composition is not more than 1.5 Pa, wherein the molecular weight of intercrosslinking of the cured coating film (Mc) is not more than 350 g/mol, and wherein the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the hardened paint film is at least 65° C.
US08536272B2 Thermoplastic poly(arylene ether)/polyester blends and method of making
Disclosed herein is a polymer composition comprising: a poly(arylene ether); a polyester; and an impact modifier. The composition has a continuous phase comprising polyester and a disperse phase comprising poly(arylene ether). The amount of the disperse phase is less than 35 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition.
US08536269B2 Peroxidic fluoropolyether and its use in emulsion polymerization of fluorin-containing monomer
The present invention provides peroxidic fluoropolyether and a fluorine-containing dispersion obtained from polymerization of fluorine-containing monomers in the presence of peroxidic fluoropolyether as a surfactant. The peroxidic fluoropolyether can be used as surfactant for producing aqueous dispersion of fluorine-containing monomer in place of PFOA or the salts thereof. Thus the amount of PFOA or the salts thereof is reduced and the natural environment is protected. In addition, applying peroxidic fluoropolyether as surfactant and combining it with adjuvants, such as initiator, can induce the reaction moderate and can be beneficial to the polymerization control, thus reducing the amount of initiator or shortening the reaction time.
US08536263B2 Polyurethane-acrylic polymer dispersions and uses thereof
Compositions for coating roofs, facades, floors or vertical facings including at least one acrylic polymer and at least one polyurethane polymer and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate emulsion. The compositions combine the advantages of the excellent features of polyurethane compositions with the reduced cost of acrylic compositions in such a manner that a balance between both characteristics is shown. Methods for covering a roof, facade, floor or vertical facing with these compositions and the use thereof as a coating for roofs, facades, floors or vertical facings.
US08536257B2 Defoaming coalescents
A defoaming coalescent for a water-based composition including a coalescent carrier; and one or more defoamer-active components is provided. A method for making a defoaming coalescent including the steps of: providing a coalescent carrier and one or more defoamer-active components; and combining the carrier and defoamer-active components is also provided. A water-based composition including a polymer latex or a polymer dispersion; and a defoaming coalescent is also provided.
US08536252B2 Semi continuously operated method for producing copolymers
A process for the preparation of a copolymer in semicontinuous operation in a polymerization apparatus, comprising a polymerization reactor connected to a metering device, acid monomer being initially taken in the metering device and polyether macromonomer, acid monomer and water in the polymerization reactor, acid monomer being metered from the metering device into the polymerization reactor, the metering of the acid monomer being effected with the proviso that at least 70 mol % of the acid monomer metered in altogether are metered in the course of 5 to 19 minutes at a metering rate that is constant or varies to a limited extent.
US08536251B2 Copolymer containing acid building blocks and various types of polyether building blocks
The invention relates to a copolymer comprising i) 3 to 40 mol % of an isoprenolpolyether derivative structural unit α ii) 3 to 40 mol % of a vinyloxypolyether derivative structural unit β and iii) 35 to 93 mol % of an acid structural unit γ, the structural units of the copolymer which belong to the vinyloxypolyether derivative structural unit β having longer side chains than the structural units which belong to the isoprenolpolyether derivative structural unit α.
US08536245B2 Ink composition, recording method using the same, and recorded matter
An ink composition comprises a pigment coated with a water-insoluble polymer as a coloring material, a resin emulsion as an additive, water, and a water-soluble organic compound. The weight average molecular weight of the water-insoluble polymer is from 50,000 to 150,000. The resin emulsion comprises a resin comprising a monomer component of the same kind as the monomer component constituting the water-insoluble polymer and has a weight average molecular weight of 1.5 to 4 times that of the water-insoluble polymer. The average particle size of the resin emulsion is from 20 to 200 nm, and the average particle size of pigment particles in the ink composition ranges from 50 to 150 nm.
US08536238B2 Process for preparing insulation sheets from unseparated mixtures of post-consumer plastic articles
A process for the preparation of thermal insulation sheets fashioned from certain unseparated mixtures of post-consumer plastic articles is disclosed. The mixtures of such articles contain polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) and optionally also articles made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). An unseparated mixture of such articles is provided. This mixture is crushed and shredded to form plastic flakes, and these plastic flakes are then homogenized. Homogenization of the flakes can be carried out either by melt-blending them or by further comminution to produce very fine particles of the mixed plastics. The resulting homogenized mixture of plastic types is then compression molded into sheets.
US08536236B2 Shaped eggshell catalyst containing cobalt, use and preparation thereof
A method for the preparation of an eggshell catalyst is described comprising the steps of i) immersing shaped units of an oxidic support having a smallest unit dimension ≧0.5 mm in a solution of cobalt ammine carbonate, ii) heating the solution to a temperature between 60 and 120° C. to precipitate cobalt compounds onto the surface of the shaped units, iii) separating the resulting supported cobalt compounds from the remaining solution, and iv) drying the supported cobalt compounds. The cobalt compounds may be reduced to provide catalysts suitable for the hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds or the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons.
US08536232B2 Omega-3 diglyceride emulsions
The present invention relates to omega-3 diglyceride emulsions characterized in that the lipid phase comprises at least about 40 wt.-% of diglycerides. Preferably about 70 wt.-% of the acyl-groups of said diglycerides, are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) groups and/or docosahexaenoic (DHA) groups. The invention further relates to methods of treatment using the omega-3 diglyceride emulsions.
US08536231B2 Methods for treating diabetic foot ulcers
The present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical formulations for treating diabetic foot ulcers.
US08536229B2 Acetylene derivatives having MGluR 5 antagonistic activity
The invention provides compounds of formula I wherein n, A, R, R′, R″, RO, X and Y are as defined in the description, and their preparation. The compounds of formula I are useful as pharmaceuticals.
US08536226B2 Methods for the treatment of dermatological disorders
The present invention is directed to the use of a compound of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the treatment of disorders mediated by the melanocortin-5 receptor, particularly dermatological disorders; and further directed to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08536223B2 Use of PUFAs for treating skin inflammation
The present invention provides a compound which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) derivative of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, for use in treating various skin disorders.
US08536219B2 Chroman-derived anti-androgens for treatment of androgen mediated disorders
Methods for the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders treatable by administering a chroman-derived anti-androgen compound are provided by the present invention. The invention further provides pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions containing chroman-derived anti-androgen compounds useful in the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders, particularly prostate cancer.
US08536215B2 Pyrazole microbiocides
Compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C4alkyl or C1-C4haloalkyl; R2 is C1-C4alkyl; R3 is hydrogen or halogen; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl or C1-C4haloalkyl; R5 is hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4alkyl or C1-C4haloalkyl; G1 is a cyclohexenyl group which is mono- or polysubstituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C3-C6cycloalkyl and phenyl; said cyclohexenyl group can form together with a C1-C4 alkylene group a bicyclic system which can be mono- or poly-substituted by substituents selected from the group consisting of C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, C3-C6cycloalkyl and phenyl; are suitable for use as microbiocides.
US08536205B2 Photochromic and electrochromic compounds and synthesis and use thereof
Photochromic and electrochromic hexadiene compounds that are reversibly convertible between ring-open and ring-closed isomeric forms. The conversion between the different isomeric forms may be induced by light or electricity. The compounds may include a charge transfer moiety including electron donor and acceptor groups. The electron donor and acceptor are linearly conjugated in the ring-open form to enable electron transfer but are electrically insulated in the ring-closed form. Photoresponsive compounds may be synthesized by any of several methods disclosed, e.g., by reacting diene precursors with dienophiles in a condensation reaction. The compounds may be utilized in reactivity-gated photochromic or electrochromic applications. Compounds may be used in a method to selectively release a releasable agent, such as a small molecule.
US08536201B2 Pesticidal arylpyrrolidines
The present invention relates to novel pesticidal arylpyrrolidine compounds (arylpyrrolidines) having the general formula (I) wherein A, X1, X2, X3, X4, R1, R2, R3, R4, and G are as defined in the application and their use as pesticide, in particular for combating animal pests which occur in the agricultural and/or the veterinary field, as well as to a preparation methods for preparing such compounds.
US08536200B2 Pyridinone compounds
The invention is directed to pyridinone compounds useful for modulating Met kinase, having the following structure: and is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound; and methods for treating proliferative diseases, such as cancer by the administration of this compound.
US08536197B2 Imidazole carbonyl compound
An antibiotic compound having a novel mechanism of action, weak cytotoxicity, high solubility in water, effective in inhibiting both DNA gyrase GyrB and topoisomerase IV ParE subunits, and having antibacterial activity.
US08536194B2 Pyrazolopyridine derivates
New compounds of formula (I) and the salts thereof, wherein the meanings for the various substituents are as disclosed in the description, are useful as p38 kinase inhibitors.
US08536178B2 Pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating diseases associated with beta-amyloid accumulation containing morpholin or piperazine based compounds having SO3H or COOH as active ingredient
Disclosed herein is a method for treating diseases associated with beta amyloid accumulation, including administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of morpholine or piperazine based compounds including a sulfuric or carboxylic acid structure represented by the following chemical formula 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: (wherein Z, R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification).
US08536176B2 GPR119 agonist
A cyclic amine derivative represented by the formula (II) is a GPR119 agonist, and is used as an agent for treating diabetes. wherein Ar0 is phenyl or phenyl having a substituent such as C1-8 alkylsulfonyl or the like, pyridyl, or pyridyl having a substituent such as C1-8 alkylsulfonyl; A0 is (CH2)p, O, or the like; B0 is (CH2)q, or the like, provided that B0 is neither O nor NR25 when A0 is O or NR24; one of U0 and V0 is N, and the other is N or CR26; each of X0 and Y0 is C1-3 alkylene or C1-3 alkylene having a substituent; R23 is a C1-8 alkyl group or the like; each of R21 and R22 is hydrogen, a halogen atom, or the like.
US08536173B2 Tetrahydroquinoxaline urea derivatives as modulators of 11-B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), where A, Ar1, Ar2, R1a, R1b, R1c, R2a, R2b, R2c, R3, R4 and R8 are as described herein, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods of preparation thereof, and methods of use thereof.
US08536169B2 Compounds
The invention is directed to certain novel compounds directed to compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof. The compounds of the invention are inhibitors of PI3-kinase activity.
US08536165B2 Azabiphenylaminobenzoic acid derivatives as DHODH inhibitors
The present disclosure relates to new azabiphenylaminobenzoic acid derivatives of formula (I); as well as processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use in therapy as inhibitors of the dehydroorotate dihydrogenase (DHODH).
US08536163B2 Therapeutic compositions
Ingenol angelate is a potent anticancer agent, and can be stabilized by dissolving it in an aprotic solvent in the presence of an acidic buffer.
US08536159B2 Organic compounds
Optionally substituted 3-(thio, sulfonyl or sulfonyl)-7,8-dihydro-(1H or 2H)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one or a substituted 3-(thio, sulfinyl or sulfonyl)-7,8,9-trihydro-(1H or 2H)-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one compounds or Compounds of Formula (I), processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08536158B2 Compounds having CRTH2 antagonist activity
Compounds of general formula (I) wherein W is chloro or fluoro; R1 is phenyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents, selected from halo, —CN, —C1-C6 alkyl, —SOR3, —SO2R3, —SO2N(R2)2, —N(R2)2, —NR2C(O)R3, —CO2R2, —CONR2R3, —NO2, —OR2, —SR2, —O(CH2)pOR2, or —O(CH2)pO(CH2)qOR2 wherein each R2 is independently hydrogen, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; each R3 is independently, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; p and q are each independently an integer from 1 to 3; and R4 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkyl substituted with aryl, aryl, (CH2)mOC(═O)C1-C6alkyl, ((CH2)mO)nCH2CH2X, (CH2)mN(R5)2 or CH((CH2)mO(C═O)R6)2; m is 1 or 2; n is 1-4; X is OR5 or N(R5)2; R5 is hydrogen or methyl; and R6 is C1-C18 alkyl; and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, complexes or prodrugs are useful in orally administrable compositions for the treatment of allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.
US08536157B2 Non-steroidal compounds
The present invention relates to non-steroidal compounds useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. A representative example of these compounds is
US08536155B2 Process for preparing malathion for pharmaceutical use
The present invention provides a process for preparing a highly pure form of malathion having a reduced level of toxic impurities. In addition, the malathion prepared by the process of this invention is storage stable. The level of toxic impurities in the malathion, e.g., isomalathion, O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (MeOOSPS), O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (MeOOSPO), O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate (MeOSSPO), malaoxon, isomalathion, diethyl fumarate, methyl malathion, dimethyl malathion, O,O-methyl,ethyl-S-(1,2-dicarboethoxy)ethyl-phosphorodithioate are lower than that of any other commercial preparation of malathion that may be used for pharmaceutical purposes.
US08536152B2 Methods of using diacerein as an adjunctive therapy for diabetes
The present invention provides methods of treating type II diabetes using combinations of diacerein or its derivatives with other antidiabetic agents. The methods may also allow improving glycemic control of type II diabetes patients and/or reducing side effects and/or cardiovascular risks of antidiabetic agents.
US08536150B2 Methods of myocardial perfusion imaging
The present invention provides a method of myocardial perfusion imaging using reduced doses of (1-{9-[(4S,2R,3R,5R)3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-6-aminopurin-2-yl}pyrazol-4-yl)-N-methylcarboxamide.
US08536143B2 Compositions to treat bacterial and inflammatory affections in pet animals dosage form and method to treat pet animals
Compositions comprising at least one bactericidal antibiotic from the group of macrolides and a non-steroid anti-inflammatory with selective inhibiting activity for cycloxygenase 2 (COX-2). The present invention also refers to a dosage form of said compositions, as well as a method to treat pet animals, particularly dogs and cats. Compositions of the present invention are particularly useful for administration to provide animals with dosages of about 1.0 to 50 mg of compound A/kg of body weight of the animal and about 0.05 to 5.0 mg of compound B/kg of body weight of the animal, being compound A preferably azithromycin and compound B, meloxicam.
US08536141B2 Polyacetylenic compounds for protecting against pancreatic islet atrophy
Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for protecting against atrophy of pancreatic islets in a mammal with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or diabetes are disclosed. The method comprises administering to the mammal a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound having a chemical structure of formula (I) in an effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier: wherein R is H or COCH2COOH; m=3 or 4; n=0 or 1; o=2; and p=1 or 2.
US08536140B2 Methods for treating inflammatory bowel disease
A method is described for treating inflammatory bowel disease in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises administering a formulation comprising at least one ganglioside to the subject, wherein the formulation comprises at least about 50% GD3 by weight of total ganglioside content.
US08536137B2 Methods for treating nucleoside-induced pain
The present invention is directed to the use of a class of peptide compounds for treating tumor pain, in particular bone cancer pain, for treating chemotherapy-induced pain and for treating nucleoside-induced pain.
US08536135B2 Adaptive biochemical signatures
The present invention is related to methods of generating adaptive biochemical signatures in live cells and the use of said signatures to identify diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for human disease. The methods described herein comprise contacting a provocative agent to live cells and measuring and analyzing adaptive readouts. The methods of the invention may be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
US08536134B2 Cyclosporin compositions
A composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of cyclosporin A, a blend of oils having a specific gravity of from 0.90 to 1.07, and a surfactant is disclosed herein.
US08536133B2 Selective high-affinity polydentate ligands and methods of making such
This invention provides polydentate selective high affinity ligands (SHALs) that can be used in a variety of applications in a manner analogous to the use of antibodies. SHALs typically comprise a multiplicity of ligands that each binds different regions on the target molecule. The ligands are joined directly or through a linker thereby forming a polydentate moiety that typically binds the target molecule with high selectivity and avidity.
US08536127B2 Protein stabilization in solution
Provided are storage containers for proteinaceous pharmaceutical compositions which are characterized in, among other things, comprising (i) a wall portion, wherein an inner wall material thereof is selected from silica-coated glass, silicone-coated glass, polymers of non-cyclic olefins, cycloolefin polymers and cycloolefin/linear olefin copolymers and (ii) one or more closure portions not constituting part of the wall portion, and which contains a formulation of a protein. Also provided are new methods of storing proteinaceous compositions. In one aspect, the stored protein is characterized as having an amino-terminal γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain with 9-12 Gla residues.
US08536123B2 Use of blood flow parameters to monitor or control the dosing of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
A method that includes a measurement of hemoglobin or hematocrit with a measurement of hemodynamic parameters to monitor and/or control a modality of treatment of a patient suffering from anemia.
US08536121B2 Methods and reagents for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of insulin resistance using beta-arrestin2 and its up-regulators
The present invention provides the use of βarrestin2 protein or its up-regulators for manufacturing a composition for the prevention or treatment of insulin resistance or related disease in mammals. The reagents and the kits for the specific identification of βarrestin2 protein or its coding gene or transcript are also provided which can be used in diagnosis of insulin resistance or related diseases.
US08536119B2 Synthesis of fluorescent metal nanoclusters
Fluorescent metal nanoclusters were prepared.
US08536113B2 EGFR binding peptides and uses thereof
Short oligopeptides are provided which are capable of binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor on the surface of human tumor cells. Methods for using the peptides as targeting moieties in more complex compositions, such as conjugates of cytoxins, and/or structures, such as liposomal structures, for the purposes of drug delivery are also provided.
US08536111B2 Hydrophilicity-restoring agent and method for restoring hydrophilicity
The present invention provides a hydrophilicity-restoring agent for removing inorganic matter from a hydrophilic surface whose hydrophilicity has been reduced by the adhesion of the inorganic matter to thereby restore the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic surface, and provides a method for restoring the hydrophilicity of a hydrophilic surface using the hydrophilicity-restoring agent. A gel of a hydrophilicity-restoring agent is prepared by mixing a thickener such as polyethylene glycol and xanthan gum with an aqueous solution in which a ligand such as citric acid to form a chelate complex is dissolved. The hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic surface is restored by applying the hydrophilicity-restoring agent to the hydrophilic surface with a reduced hydrophilicity and removing the hydrophilicity-restoring agent after an appropriate lapse of time.
US08536103B2 Liquid extreme pressure additive
A liquid extreme pressure agent for use in lubricating compositions where the lubricating compositions comprise an oil of lubricating viscosity and the reaction product of: (a) a thiazole; (b) a composition comprising a carboxylic acid, a phosphorus containing acid or salt, or combinations thereof; and (c) an amine containing one or more branched hydrocarbyl groups. The invention also provides an additive composition comprising the reaction product described above and a process for making lubricating compositions, including greases, from the reaction product.
US08536101B2 Expoxy acid based biodegradable set retarder for a cement composition
A cement composition or method of using the cement composition in a subterranean formation, the composition having: (A) cement; (B) water; and (C) a polymer, wherein the polymer: (i) comprises a monomer or monomers selected from the group consisting of epoxysuccinic acid, a substituted epoxysuccinic acid, and an alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt, or ammonium salt of any of the foregoing, and any combination of any of the foregoing; (ii) has the following characteristics: (a) is water soluble; and (b) is biodegradable; and (iii) is capable of providing: (a) a thickening time of at least 2 hours for a test composition at a temperature of 190° F. and a pressure of 5,160 psi; and (b) an initial setting time of less than 24 hours for the test composition at a temperature of 217° F. and a pressure of 3,000 psi.
US08536099B2 Methods of bead manipulation and forming bead arrays
According to various embodiments, a method is provided that comprises washing an array of DNA-coated beads on a substrate, with a wash solution to remove stacked beads from the substrate. The wash solution can include inert solid beads in a carrier. The DNA-coated beads can have an average diameter and the solid beads in the wash solution can have an average diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the DNA-coated beads. The washing can form dislodged DNA-coated beads and a monolayer of DNA-coated beads. In some embodiments, first beads for forming an array are contacted with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution comprising a PEG having a molecular weight of about 350 Da or less. In some embodiments, slides for forming bead arrays are provided as are systems for imaging the same.
US08536096B2 Method for controlling coniferous plants
The present invention relates to a method for controlling coniferous plants, in particular naturally seeded coniferous plants (wildling conifers), wherein an effective amount of at least one herbicide selected from the group consisting of sulfentrazone, carfentrazone, their agriculturally acceptable salts and their agriculturally acceptable derivatives is applied to the coniferous plants to be controlled or to their parts, such as roots, leaves, seeds or germinants.
US08536095B2 Combinations of derivatized saccharide surfactants and etheramine oxide surfactants as herbicide adjuvants
Efficacious herbicidal compositions comprising a derivatized saccharide surfactant and an amine oxide surfactant are described. The compositions are characterized as having low toxicity and are readily biodegradable.
US08536094B2 Herbicidal compositions for tolerant or resistant rice crops
Herbicide combinations (A)+(B), if appropriate in the presence of safeners, with an effective content of(A) broad-spectrum herbicides from the group (A1) glufosinate (salts) and related compounds (A2) glyphosate (salts) and related compounds such as sulfosate, (A3) imidazolinones such as imazethapyr, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazamox or their salts and (A4) herbicidal azoles from the group of the protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors (PPO inhibitors) and (B) one or more herbicides from the group consisting of (B0) one or more structurally different herbicides from the abovementioned group (A) or (B1) foliar- and soil-acting herbicides effective against selectively in rice monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous harmful plants (residual action) or (B2) herbicides which are effective selectively in rice against dicotyledonous harmful plants and/or sedges, and/or (B3) foliar-acting herbicides which are effective selectively in rice against monocotyledonous harmful plants, and/or (B4) foliar- and soil-acting herbicides which are effective selectively in rice against monocotyledonous harmful plants, herbicides from several of groups (B0) to (B4) are suitable for controlling harmful plants in rice which consists of tolerant or resistant mutants or transgenic rice plants and the rice crops are tolerant to the herbicides (A) and (B), if appropriate in the presence of safeners, which are contained in the combination.
US08536093B2 Method for controlling noxious organisms
A method for controlling noxious organisms in a field of soybean or corn, comprising the steps of: treating soybean or corn seeds with at least one neonicotinoid compound selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid, and treating the field with at least one PPO inhibitor compound selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, saflufenacil, oxyfluorfen, and 3-(4-chloro-6-fluoro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazol-7-yl)-1-methyl-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4-(1H,3H)pyrimidinedione before or after the soybean or corn seeds treated with the neonicotinoid compound are sown in the field.
US08536092B2 Anthranilic acid diamide derivative with hetero-aromatic and hetero-cyclic substituents
The present invention relates to new insecticides of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, A, Q and n can have the definitions stated in the description, to a number of processes for preparing them and to their use as active compounds, more particularly to their use as pest control compositions.
US08536086B2 Thermosensitive recording medium and image processing method using the same
A thermosensitive recording medium including a support; a layer containing a photothermal conversion material, formed over a surface of the support; and an oxygen blocking layer formed over a surface of the layer opposite to a surface thereof over which the support is formed, wherein the layer further contains a resin, which is in a cross-linked state, and the photothermal conversion material absorbs a light having a specific wavelength and converts the light into heat, and wherein the oxygen blocking layer has an oxygen permeability of 0.5 mL/(m2·24 hr·atm) or less at 25° C. and 80% RH.
US08536080B2 Boron carbide ceramic fibers
A metal carbide ceramic fiber having improved mechanical properties and characteristics and improved processes and chemical routes for manufacturing metal carbide ceramic fiber. Metal carbide ceramic fibers may be formed via reaction bonding of a metal-based material (e.g. boron) with the inherent carbon of a carrier medium. One embodiment includes a method of making a metal carbide ceramic fiber using VSSP to produce high yield boron carbide fiber. Embodiments of the improved method allow high volume production of high density boron carbide fiber. The chemical routes may include a direct production of boron carbide fiber from boron carbide powder (B4C) and precursor (e.g. rayon fiber) having a carbon component to form a B4C/rayon fiber that may be processed at high temperature to form boron carbide fiber, and that may be subsequently undergo a hot isostatic pressing to improve fiber purity. Another route may include a carbothermal method comprising combining boron powder (B) with a precursor (e.g., rayon fiber) having a carbon component to form a B/rayon fiber, carbonizing and a chemical reaction of boron (B) and carbon (C) to form boron carbide fiber. Another carbothermal method may comprise combining boron oxide powder (B2O3) with a precursor (e.g., rayon fiber) having a carbon component to form a B2O3/rayon fiber, carbonizing and a chemical reaction of boron oxide (B2O3) and carbon (C) to form boron carbide (B4C) fiber.
US08536078B2 Lithium silicate glass ceramic and glass with ZrO2 content
Lithium silicate glass ceramics and glasses containing at least 6.1 wt.-% ZrO2 are provided which can advantageously be applied to zirconium oxide ceramics in particular by pressing-on in the viscous state and forming a solid bond with the zirconium oxide ceramics.
US08536077B2 Flooring underlayment membrane
Disclosed herein is a flooring underlayment membrane, and associated methods of manufacturing and installing such a membrane, comprising upper and lower nonwoven fiber layers. In one embodiment, the flooring underlayment membrane constructed as disclosed herein may comprise a first nonwoven fiber material, and a second nonwoven fiber material and at least one layer of extrudable thermoplastic resin disposed between and bonding the first and second nonwoven fiber materials.
US08536073B2 Hardmask materials
Hardmask films having high hardness and low stress are provided. In some embodiments a film has a stress of between about −600 MPa and 600 MPa and hardness of at least about 12 GPa. In some embodiments, a hardmask film is prepared by depositing multiple sub-layers of doped or undoped silicon carbide using multiple densifying plasma post-treatments in a PECVD process chamber. In some embodiments, a hardmask film includes a high-hardness boron-containing film selected from the group consisting of SixByCz, SixByNz, SixByCzNw, BxCy, and BxNy. In some embodiments, a hardmask film includes a germanium-rich GeNx material comprising at least about 60 atomic % of germanium. These hardmasks can be used in a number of back-end and front-end processing schemes in integrated circuit fabrication.
US08536072B2 Semiconductor process
A semiconductor process is provided, including following steps. A polysilicon layer is formed on a substrate. An asymmetric dual-side heating treatment is performed to the polysilicon layer, wherein a power for a front-side heating is different from a power for a backside heating.
US08536065B2 Ultra high selectivity doped amorphous carbon strippable hardmask development and integration
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits and particularly to the deposition of a boron containing amorphous carbon layer on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a method of processing a substrate in a processing chamber is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate in a processing volume, flowing a hydrocarbon containing gas mixture into the processing volume, generating a plasma of the hydrocarbon containing gas mixture by applying power from an RF source, flowing a boron containing gas mixture into the processing volume, and depositing a boron containing amorphous carbon film on the substrate in the presence of the plasma, wherein the boron containing amorphous carbon film contains from about 30 to about 60 atomic percentage of boron.
US08536062B2 Chemical removal of oxide layer from chip pads
Methods are provided for removing an oxide layer from a metal pad on an integrated circuit in order to reduce contact resistance. In one embodiment, aluminum oxide, on the surface of a bond pad substantially comprised of aluminum, is reacted with a first chemical agent to form an inorganic salt, and the inorganic salt is then reacted with a second chemical agent leaving a substantially bare, that is, unoxidized, aluminum surface.
US08536059B2 Equipment and methods for etching of MEMS
Etching equipment and methods are disclosed herein for more efficient etching of sacrificial material from between permanent MEMS structures. An etching head includes an elongate etchant inlet structure, which may be slot-shaped or an elongate distribution of inlet holes. A substrate is supported in proximity to the etching head in a manner that defines a flow path substantially parallel to the substrate face, and permits relative motion for the etching head to scan across the substrate.
US08536058B2 Method of growing electrical conductors
A method for forming a conductive thin film includes depositing a metal oxide thin film on a substrate by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further includes at least partially reducing the metal oxide thin film by exposing the metal oxide thin film to a reducing agent, thereby forming a seed layer. In one arrangement, the reducing agent comprises one or more organic compounds that contain at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of —OH, —CHO, and —COOH. In another arrangement, the reducing agent comprises an electric current.
US08536056B2 Method of forming conductive pattern
A method of forming conductive pattern is provided. A seeding layer is formed on an underlayer. By using an energy ray, an irradiation treatment is performed on a portion of a surface of the seeding layer. The seeding layer thus includes a plurality of irradiated regions and a plurality of unirradiated regions. A conversion treatment is performed on the irradiated regions of the seeding layer. A selective growth process is performed, so as to form a conductive pattern on each unirradiated region of the seeding layer. The irradiated regions of the seeding layer are removed, so that the conductive patterns are insulated from each other.
US08536054B2 Laser polishing of a solar cell substrate
Provided herein are methods of polishing and texturing surfaces thin-film photovoltaic cell substrates. The methods involve laser irradiation of a surface having a high frequency roughness in an area of 5-200 microns to form a shallow and rapidly expanding melt pool, followed by rapid cooling of the material surface. The minimization of surface tension causes the surface to re-solidify in a locally smooth surface. the high frequency roughness drops over the surface with a lower frequency bump or texture pattern remaining from the re-solidification.
US08536050B2 Selective shrinkage of contact elements in a semiconductor device
In sophisticated semiconductor devices, the contact elements connecting to active semiconductor regions having formed thereabove closely spaced gate electrode structures may be provided on the basis of a liner material so as to reduce the lateral width of the contact opening, while, on the other hand, non-critical contact elements may be formed on the basis of non-reduced lateral dimensions. To this end, at least a first portion of the critical contact element is formed and provided with a liner material prior to forming the non-critical contact element.
US08536047B2 Methods and systems for material bonding
A device and a method for realizing reliable electrical contacts at low temperature and low pressure between conducting materials on, for example, different substrates are disclosed. In one aspect, a rough and brittle intermetallic layer is formed on a conducting material on a first substrate. A soft solder material layer on the other substrate is used for contacting the brittle and rough intermetallic layer that will break. As the solder material is relatively soft, contact between the broken intermetallic layer and the solder material can be realized over a large portion of the surface area. At that stage, a second intermetallic layer is formed between the solder material and the first intermetallic layer realizing electrical contact.
US08536028B1 Self alignment and assembly fabrication method for stacking multiple material layers
The present invention relates to a self alignment and assembly fabrication method for stacking multiple material layers, wherein a variety of homogeneous/heterogeneous materials can be stacked on a substrate by this self alignment and assembly fabrication method, without using any epitaxial buffer layers or gradient buffer layers; Moreover, these stacked materials can be single crystal, polycrystalline or non-crystalline phase materials. So that, by applying this self alignment and assembly fabrication method to fabricate a multi-layer device, not only the material cost can be effectively reduced, but the wafer alignment problem existing in the conventional wafer bonding process can also be solved. In addition, in the present invention, rapid melting growth (RMG) is used for growing the multiple crystallized materials laterally and rapidly from the substrate surface by liquid phase epitaxy, therefore the thermal budget can be largely reduced when fabricating the multi-layer device.
US08536026B2 Selective growth method, nitride semiconductor light emitting device and manufacturing method of the same
A method for selectively growing a nitride semiconductor, in which a mask is formed, with an opening formed therein, on a nitride semiconductor layer. A nitride semiconductor crystal is selectively grown on a portion of the nitride semiconductor layer exposed through the opening in the mask, the nitride semiconductor crystal shaped as a hexagonal pyramid and having crystal planes inclined with respect to a top surface of the nitride semiconductor. Here, the nitride semiconductor crystal has at least one intermediate stress-relieving area having crystal planes inclined at a greater angle than those of upper and lower areas of the nitride semiconductor crystal, the intermediate stress-relieving area relieving stress which occurs from continuity in the inclined crystal planes.
US08536025B2 Resized wafer with a negative photoresist ring and design structures thereof
A resized wafer using a negative photoresist ring, methods of manufacture and design structures thereof are disclosed. The method includes forming a ring within a radius of a wafer. The method also includes patterning a photoresist formed on the wafer, by exposing the photoresist to energy. Additionally, the method includes forming troughs in a substrate of the wafer based on the patterning of the photoresist, wherein the ring blocks formation of the troughs underneath the ring. The method also includes filling the troughs with a metal and resizing the wafer at an area of the ring.
US08536018B1 Maskless inter-well deep trench isolation structure and methods of manufacture
A low power maskless inter-well deep trench isolation structure and methods of manufacture such structure are provided. A method includes depositing a plurality of layers over a substrate, and forming a layer over the plurality of layers. The method also includes forming well structures in the substrate, and forming sidewall spacers at opposing sides of the layer. The method further includes forming a self-aligned deep trench in the substrate to below the well structures, by removing the sidewall spacers and portions of the substrate aligned with an opening formed by the removal of the sidewall spacers. The method also includes forming a shallow trench in alignment with the deep trench. The method further includes forming shallow trench isolation structures and deep trench isolation structures by filling the shallow trench and the deep trench with insulator material.
US08536016B2 Integrated circuit system with hierarchical capacitor and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a substrate including front-end-of-line circuitry; forming a first group of metal layers including a first finger and a second finger over the substrate utilizing a first design rule, the first group of metal layers being formed without a finger via; forming a second group of metal layers including a first finger, a second finger, and a finger via over the first group of metal layers utilizing a second design rule that is larger than the first design rule; and interconnecting the first group of metal layers, including interconnecting a first cluster adjacent to a second cluster, to form a capacitor.
US08536015B2 Memory cell that includes a carbon-based memory element and methods of forming the same
In accordance with aspects of the invention, a method of forming a metal-insulator-metal stack is provided. The method includes forming a first conducting layer, forming a resistivity-switching carbon-based material above the first conducting layer, and forming a second conducting layer above the carbon-based material, wherein the carbon-based material has a thickness of not more than ten atomic layers. Other aspects are also described.
US08536014B2 Self aligned silicide device fabrication
A method for fabricating a device includes forming a silicide layer on a substrate, forming a conductive layer over exposed portions of the substrate and the silicide layer, patterning and removing exposed portions of the conductive layer and the silicide layer with a first process, and patterning and removing exposed portions of the conductive layer with a second process.
US08536012B2 Bipolar junction transistors with a link region connecting the intrinsic and extrinsic bases
Methods for fabricating bipolar junction transistors, bipolar junction transistors made by the methods, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. The bipolar junction transistor includes a dielectric layer on an intrinsic base and an extrinsic base at least partially separated from the intrinsic base by the dielectric layer. An emitter opening extends through the extrinsic base and the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is recessed laterally relative to the emitter opening to define a cavity between the intrinsic base and the extrinsic base. The cavity is filled with a semiconductor layer that physically links the extrinsic base and the intrinsic base together.
US08536011B2 Junction leakage suppression in memory devices
A memory device includes a substrate and source and drain regions formed in the substrate. The source and drain regions include both phosphorous and arsenic and the phosphorous may be implanted prior to the arsenic. The memory device also includes a first dielectric layer formed over the substrate and a charge storage element formed over the first dielectric layer. The memory device may further include a second dielectric layer formed over the charge storage element and a control gate formed over the second dielectric layer.
US08536004B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor power device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor power device includes the following steps. First, a substrate having at least a semiconductor layer and a pad layer thereon is provided. At least a trench is etched into the pad layer and the semiconductor layer. Then, a dopant source layer is deposited in the trench and on the pad layer followed by thermally driving in dopants of the dopant source layer into the semiconductor layer. A polishing process is performed to remove the dopant source layer from a surface of the pad layer and a thermal oxidation process is performed to eliminate micro-scratches formed during the polishing process. Finally, the pad layer is removed to expose the semiconductor layer.
US08536002B2 Bipolar transistor in bipolar-CMOS technology
A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a bipolar transistor and an MOS transistor, by forming a base layer of the bipolar transistor using a non-selective epitaxial process so that the base layer has a single crystalline region on a collector active area and a polycrystalline region on adjacent field oxide, and concurrently implanting the MOS gate layer and the polycrystalline region of the base layer, so that the base-collector junction extends into the substrate less than one-third of the depth of the field oxide, and vertically cumulative doping density of the polycrystalline region of the base layer is between 80 percent and 125 percent of a vertically cumulative doping density of the MOS gate. An integrated circuit containing a bipolar transistor and an MOS transistor formed by the described process.