Document Document Title
US08542618B2 Systems and methods of improving protocol performance
Devices, systems, and methods of improving protocol performance are disclosed. One method includes transmitting a block of frames to another communication device, and upon completion of the transmitting, requesting an acknowledgement of the transmitted block from the another communication device. The method further includes receiving the acknowledgement and adjusting the number of frames in the block based on information from the received acknowledgement.
US08542617B2 Adaptive operational full-duplex and half-duplex FDD modes in wireless networks
Methods and apparatus that enable a wireless network system to dynamically change between full-duplex FDD operation and half-duplex FDD operation in order to take advantage of operational aspects of both modes. In one embodiment, an alternative duplex mode of operation is disclosed (semi-static half duplex FDD operation) that enables coordination between the client device (e.g., UMTS UE) and the base station in order to centralize control of radio resource control (RRC) to the base station. The disclosed methods and apparatus may also advantageously incorporate hybrid ARQ (HARQ) or comparable timing requirements into their operation.
US08542612B1 Method and apparatus for providing a wide area network infrastructure
A method and apparatus for providing a wide area network infrastructure for providing services on IP networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, an enterprise customer may subscribe to a service for obtaining a reliable wide area network infrastructure for communicating among two or more customer locations. The network service provider creates a virtual private network in the public domain and another virtual private network in the private domain to interconnect the customer locations. It then connects each customer edge router to two provider edge routers one in each domain and/or instances of provider edge functionality in each domain. Routes are then advertised via two control planes to both virtual private networks.
US08542611B1 Wireless communication system for routing emergency calls from a VoIP network
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) emergency calls via a wireless communication network. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving an emergency call request from a VoIP communication network initiated by a VoIP communication client operating on the VoIP communication network. The method further provides processing the emergency call request to determine a wireless device associated with the VoIP communication client. The method further provides determining a location of the wireless device and determining a public safety answering point (PSAP) based on the location of the wireless device. The method further provides establishing an emergency call between the VoIP communication client and the PSAP via the wireless communication system and the VoIP communication network based on the location of the wireless device.
US08542609B2 Multicast rate optimization
This invention relates to multicast rate optimization, particularly a method for controlling an encoder (1) in a communications system (3) including a plurality of receivers (2). The method includes partitioning the receivers (2) into at least one cell, and associating each cell with a specific rate that may be used to transmit signals to a receiver (2). According to the inventive method, uncertainties in estimates of conditions of the communications system (3) are taken into account by modelling the conditions, such as the average distortion perceived by the receivers (2), as the outcome of a stochastic variable, thereby accounting for uncertainties in the estimates of the conditions of the communications system (3). The invention also relates to an encoder associated with the method.
US08542606B2 Method and device for predicting message recipients
A method and communications device is provided for determining a list of possible additional recipients to add to an electronic message that is composed by a user of the communications device for transmission to another communications device. Once the user indicates that there is an additional recipient for the distribution list of the electronic message, the device employs the method to create the list of possible additional recipients. The method may be implemented on a computer program product.
US08542604B2 Wireless communication apparatus and transmission control method
A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver, and determines a modulation and error correction coding scheme used by the transmitter. The apparatus estimates a degree of channel variation, transmits, by the transmitter, a first frame for requesting response information necessary to select the modulation and error correction coding scheme, measures a response time between a instant when the transmitter transmits the first frame and a instant when the receiver receives a second frame including the response information, determines a threshold value of the response time for determining reliability of the response information, based on the degree of channel variation, and determines the modulation and error correction coding scheme selected based on the response information included in the second frame received by the receiver in the response time shorter than the threshold value.
US08542599B1 Location based services in a situational network
A method of providing location based service information in a situational network includes establishing the situational network linking a plurality of individuals in response to an indication of an occurrence of a situation. Information related to availability of a service at a plurality of service locations affected by the situation is received, where the service is provided by one or more of a plurality of service providers An individual location associated with each of the plurality of individuals is determined. The available service locations that are in closest proximity to the individual location of the respective individuals is transmitting to each of the individuals based on the availability of the service.
US08542597B2 Soft error recovery for converged networks
Detecting and recovering from soft errors in a network comprising a first device. A first device receives a first data packet. Responsive to receiving a second data packet, the first device determines whether the two data packets are identical. Responsive to the determination that the two data packets are not identical, the first device discards the two data packets, and requests retransmission of the two data packets.
US08542591B2 Communication network design
A communication network design circuit can derive a path and a necessary link capacity for multiple point communication service permitting arbitrary communication within a predetermined range of communication amount by providing traffic amount of data in-flowing through an ingress node and traffic amount of data flowing out through an egress node. The communication network designing circuit has setting means for setting a mathematical programming problem for deriving the multiple point communication service and optimizing means for solving the mathematical programming problem set by the setting means and obtaining the path for the multiple point communication service.
US08542590B2 Bi-directional load balancing
A method may include receiving, from a user device, a request to access a long term evolution (LTE) network; sending, to one or more servers of a group of servers, a query to obtain information associated with a respective traffic condition and processing capacity; identifying a particular server via which to establish a communication session with the user device based on a determination that the particular server has a reserve processing capacity that is greater than a respective reserve processing capacity associated with other ones of the servers, where the reserve processing capacity is based on a traffic condition and processing capacity associated with the particular server; and sending, to the particular server, an instruction to establish the communication session, where sending the instruction enables the particular server to establish the communication session via which the user device is to access the network.
US08542587B2 Policy control method and system for accessing fixed broadband access network
The disclosure provides a policy control method and a policy control system for accessing a fixed broadband access network. The policy control method includes: a FMC PF used for sensing the access of UE to a fixed broadband access network is set in a mobile network which a user requests to be accessed to; after the FMC PF receives a trigger message from an ePDG, the FMC PF requests a BPCF to establish a policy session, and the BPCF performs, policy control according to the information of the fixed broadband access network accessed by the UE. It can be seen from the method of the disclosure that when the UE is accessed to the 3GPP through the fixed broadband access network, the FMC PF senses a gateway control session establishment request message or a DHCP request message from the ePDG, so that a PCRF of the 3GPP access network accessed by the UE is triggered to send a policy session request to the BPCF. In this way, in the case that the fixed broadband access network fails to sense the access of the UE or that the fixed broadband access network does not support 3GPP-based access authentication in the conventional art where the UE is accessed to a 3GPP core network through the fixed broadband access network, QoS control is achieved for the access of the UE, and thus QoS guarantee is provided to the entire transmission path of data.
US08542580B2 Method and system for transporting service flow securely in an IP network
The present invention provides a method for transporting a service flow securely in an Internet Protocol (IP) network, which includes the following steps: a service server sends a first request to a resource manager, requesting to build a service flow path between a calling user and a called user in a logical bearing network; the resource manager chooses a service flow path between a first Provider Edge Router (PE) that the calling user belongs to and a second PE that the called user belongs to in the logical bearing network; the resource manage sends a configuration request message to the first and second PEs; the first and second PEs build flow classification table items including the service flow path according to the configuration request message, respectively, and forward only the service flow matching one of the flow classification table items to corresponding service flow path in the logical bearing network.
US08542575B2 Multiple-input multiple-output transmission system
In a multiple-input multiple-output transmission system (MIMO system), a receive station detects whether or not there is an error in each data stream, estimates the state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna and reports, to the transmitting side, re-transmission necessary/unnecessary information, for every data stream, created based upon whether or not there is an error, and the state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna. A transmit station decides a transmit antenna that transmits a data stream requiring re-transmission, based upon the reported state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna, and re-transmits the data stream requiring re-transmission from the transmit antenna decided.
US08542572B2 Method for resource unit allocation for wireless communication, subscriber station and base station
A method for wireless communication between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations is described wherein a communication capacity is partitioned in resource units at least by code multiplexing, which resource units are distributed by the base station over said devices, wherein data from each subscriber station is spread by means of a signature sequence, characterized in that multiple resource units assigned to a common subscriber station have the same signature sequence.
US08542570B2 Apparatus and method for transceiving signals using frame structure in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transceiving signals using a predetermined frame structure in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit for transceiving a signal through a frame according to the predetermined frame structure. The frame includes 5 subframes, the 5 subframe comprise type-1 subframes including 6 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access (OFDMA) symbols and type-2 subframes including 7 OFDMA symbols, and a Cyclic Prefix (CP) length of the frame corresponds to ⅛ of an effective symbol length.
US08542568B2 Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium includes an organic dye material which records information with a light beam having a wavelength equal to or smaller than 620 nm.
US08542566B2 Holographic recording method detecting displacement of a holographic recording medium, and recording and reproduction apparatus
A method for recording information in form of a hologram. The method can generate a displacement signal by detecting a displacement of a holographic recording medium. The method can perform an exposure control operation that, if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls within an allowable displacement range, records the information item in the holographic recording medium, and if the sampling value of the displacement signal falls outside the allowable displacement range, blocks or reduces at least one of the information light and the reference light to a light intensity with which the information item is not recorded in the holographic recording medium.
US08542562B2 Optical disc drive and recording method
An optical disc drive includes a memory stored a write strategy, a converting unit which converts a recording data into a recording pulse based on the write strategy stored in the memory, an inspection unit which inspects a state of the recording data from a reproducing signal, a recording controller which executes a recording operation to record the recording data by applying a laser beam corresponding to the recording pulse to an optical disc, suspends the recording operation, judges whether correction of the write strategy according to an inspection result of the inspection unit is necessary, and restarts the recording operation after the write strategy saved in the memory is collected, and a correction unit which corrects the write strategy saved in the memory when the correction of the write strategy according to an inspection result of the inspection unit is necessary.
US08542561B1 Method and apparatus for reading a storage medium
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes receiving regional quality information of a region on a storage medium, and adjusting a fill level threshold of a buffer based on the regional quality information. The fill level threshold is used to trigger filling the buffer with data read from the region.
US08542559B2 Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having photoelectric wiring lines integrally formed on waveguide
An information recording and reproduction apparatus has a magnetic recording medium and a carriage that undergoes rotational movement about a pivot shaft and has a base portion and an arm portion extending from the base portion and along a surface of the medium. A light source that emits a light beam to heat the medium is mounted on the base portion and is disposed closer to the pivot shaft than the arm portion. The arm portion supports a slider confronting the surface of the medium and being configured to receive a light beam from the light source. The slider has an optical system which condenses the light beam and a spot light generating element which generates from the condensed light beam spot light that heats the medium for recording information on the medium while causing magnetization reversal by applying a recording magnetic field to the medium.
US08542557B2 Before/after specific weekday determination device, program media, method, daylight saving time determination device, and timepiece
A before/after specific weekday determination device that determines if an evaluation date is before or after a specific date that is identified as an n-th (where n is an integer of 1 or more) specific weekday from the beginning or the end of a specific month. The before/after specific weekday determination device is utilized in a daylight saving time determination device, and in a timepiece.
US08542556B2 Directional seismic sensor array
A vibration sensor system for contacting the surface of a solid medium for detecting horizontally polarized shear waves and compressional waves. At least two contact points interface between a vibration sensor array and the solid medium to provide uninterrupted contact with the medium during detection of dynamic motions in the medium. A single vibration sensor is mounted on at least two adjacent contact points to convert detected dynamic motions to corresponding electrical signals. The single vibration sensor mounted on the two adjacent contact points forms a sub-array. The vibration sensor system has at least two sub-arrays. A conditioning and combining member treats sensor electrical signals from at least two sub-arrays to form a composite output signal for the system.
US08542550B2 Sensor node enabled to manage power individually
A sensor node is provided. The sensor node regulates the power supplied to memories of a memory unit individually and the power supplied to a transmitter and a receiver of an RF transceiver individually. Thus, the sensor node can minimize its power consumption.
US08542549B2 Electrical fuse bit cell
An electrical fuse (eFuse) bit cell includes a program transistor, a read transistor, and an eFuse. The program transistor has a first program terminal, a second program terminal, and a third program terminal. The read transistor has a first read terminal, a second read terminal, and a third read terminal. The eFuse has a first end and a second end. The first end, the first program terminal, and the second read terminal are coupled together. The read transistor is configured to be off and the program transistor is configured to be on when the eFuse bit cell is in a program mode. The program transistor is configured to be off and the read transistor is configured to be on when the eFuse bit cell is in a read mode.
US08542547B2 Semiconductor device and data processing system
A semiconductor device comprises a first sense amplifier, first to third transmission lines, and first to third switches. The first and second transmission lines are connected to the first sense amplifier. The first and third switches control connections of the first to third transmission lines, and the second switch controls a connection between a fixed potential and third transmission line. When the second transmission line is not accessed, the first and third switches are brought into a non-conductive state and the second switch is brought into a conductive state, and the fixed potential is supplied to the third transmission line, thereby suppressing influence of the coupling noise between the transmission lines.
US08542546B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for testing same
A semiconductor memory device includes data input/output terminals (DQ0 to DQ31), a memory cell array 122, and a data latch circuit 111 for temporarily latching data captured from the data input/output terminals and writing the data in the memory cell array with a delay in a normal write operation. The device also includes a test mode in which the data latch circuit latches data read to the data input/output terminals in a read operation and writes previously latched data in the memory cell array without newly latching data from the data input/output terminals in a write operation.
US08542544B2 Semiconductor device having a plurality of memory regions and method of testing the same
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, first and second memory regions, and first to fifth control circuits. The first and second memory regions are mutually exclusive at the same time. The first control circuit performs a first access to the first memory region. The second control circuit performs a second access to the second memory region. The third control circuit controls activation and deactivation of the first and second control circuits based on a first logic received from a plurality of first external terminals. The fourth control circuit switches between the first and second accesses based on at least a second logic received from a second external terminal. The fifth control circuit controls validation and invalidation of the fourth control circuit.
US08542543B2 Variable resistance memory device having equal resistances between signal paths regardless of location of memory cells within the memory array
A memory device including variable resistance elements comprises a plurality of memory cells configured to store data; a first signal transmission/reception unit and a second signal transmission/reception unit configured to transmit a signal to the memory cells or receive a signal from the memory cells; a first transmission line arranged to couple first ends of the memory cells to the first signal transmission/reception unit; and a second transmission line configured to couple second ends of the memory cells to the second signal transmission/reception unit, wherein a first resistance of a first signal path coupled between the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a first memory cell of the memory cells is substantially equal to a second electrical resistance of a second signal path coupled between a second memory cell and the first and second signal transmission/reception units through a second memory cell of the memory cells.
US08542541B2 Memory architecture having two independently controlled voltage pumps
In embodiments described herein, a memory architecture has an array of non-volatile memory cells and a pair of independently controlled voltage pumps. The pair of voltage pumps is coupled for supplying both positive and negative voltage biases to the memory array during program and erase operations, such that a sum of the magnitudes of the positive and negative voltage biases is applied across a storage node of an accessed memory cell.
US08542532B2 Memory access method and flash memory using the same
A memory access method is applied in a memory controller for accessing an NAND memory array, including a number of respective select switches globally controlled with a string select signal. The memory access method includes the following steps. A stream bias signal and a selected word line signal are respectively provided on a selected stream and on a selected cell of the selected stream, and the rest of memory cells are turned on as pass transistors, in the setup phase. A discharge path is provided to eliminate coupling charge presented on unselected streams, in the setup phase. Then, the string select signal is enabled to have the selected stream connected to a sense unit via a metal bit line and according read the selected cell in a voltage sensing scheme, in a read phase, which does not overlap with the setup phase.
US08542531B2 Charge equilibrium acceleration in a floating gate memory device via a reverse field pulse
Methods for accelerating charge equilibrium in a non-volatile memory device using floating gate memory cells are disclosed. Memory devices and storage systems using charge equilibrium acceleration are also disclosed. In one such method, a programming pulse is applied to the word line to change an amount of charge stored on the floating gate of the memory cells being programmed. A reverse field pulse is then applied to the memory cell using only voltages greater than or equal to about 0 volts. The reverse field pulse accelerates charge equilibrium by moving any electrons trapped in the insulating oxide layers to a stable location so that the threshold voltage is stabilized. After the reverse field pulse, a program verify operation is performed and additional programming pulses and reverse field pulses are applied as needed to properly program the memory cell.
US08542530B2 Apparatus for reducing the impact of program disturb
The unintentional programming of an unselected (or inhibited) non-volatile storage element during a program operation that intends to program another non-volatile storage element is referred to as “program disturb.” A system is proposed for programming and/or reading non-volatile storage that reduces the effect of program disturb. In one embodiment, different verify levels are used for a particular word line (or other grouping of storage elements) during a programming process. In another embodiment, different compare levels are used for a particular word (or other grouping of storage elements) during a read process.
US08542526B2 Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) manufacturing process for a small magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) design with a low programming current requirement
A method of making a magnetic random access memory cell includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) on top of a wafer, depositing oxide on top of the MTJ, depositing a photo-resist layer on top of the oxide layer, forming a trench in the photo-resist layer and oxide layer where the trench has a width that is substantially the same as that of the MTJ. Then, the photo-resist layer is removed and a hard mask layer is deposited on top of the oxide layer in the trench and the wafer is planarized to remove the portion of the hard mask layer that is not in the trench to substantially level the top of oxide layer and the hard layer on the wafer. The remaining oxide layer is etched and the MTJ is etched to remove the portion of the MTJ which is not covered by the hard mask layer.
US08542524B2 Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) manufacturing process for a small magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) design with a low programming current requirement
A method of making a magnetic random access memory cell includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) on top of a wafer, depositing oxide on top of the MTJ, depositing a photo-resist layer on top of the oxide layer, forming a trench in the photo-resist layer and oxide layer where the trench has a width that is substantially the same as that of the MTJ. Then, the photo-resist layer is removed and a hard mask layer is deposited on top of the oxide layer in the trench and the wafer is planarized to remove the portion of the hard mask layer that is not in the trench to substantially level the top of oxide layer and the hard layer on the wafer. The remaining oxide layer is etched and the MTJ is etched to remove the portion of the MTJ which is not covered by the hard mask layer.
US08542522B2 Non-volatile data-storage latch
One embodiments of the present invention is directed to a single-bit memory cell comprising transistor-based bit latch having a data state and a memristor, coupled to the transistor-based bit latch, in which the data state of the transistor-based bit latch is stored by a store operation and from which a previously-stored data state is retrieved and restored into the transistor-based bit latch by a restore operation. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a single-bit memory cell comprising a master-slave flip flop and a slave flip flop, and a power input, a memristor, a memory-cell power input, a first memory-cell clock input, a second memory-cell clock input, a memory-cell data input, a memory-cell data output, and two or more memory-cell control inputs.
US08542520B2 Resistive memory element and use thereof
A resistive memory element that includes an element body and at least a pair of electrodes opposed to each other with at least a portion of the element body interposed therebetween. The element body is made of an oxide semiconductor as a polycrystalline body, which has a composition represented by the general formula: Ti1-xMxO2, wherein M is selected from at least one of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu; and 0.005≦x≦0.05. The first electrode of the pair of electrodes is made of a material which can form a Schottky barrier which can develop a rectifying property and resistance change characteristics in an interface region between the first electrode and the element body. The second electrode is made of a material which provides a more ohmic junction to the element body as compared to that with the first electrode.
US08542515B2 Connection and addressing of multi-plane crosspoint devices
A multi-plane circuit structure has at least a first circuit plane and a second circuit plane, and each circuit plane has a plurality of row wire segments, a plurality of column wire segments, and a plurality of crosspoint devices formed at intersections of the row wire segments and the column wire segments. The row and column wire segments have a segment length for forming a preselected number of crosspoint devices thereon. Each row wire segment in the second circuit plane is connected to a row wire segment in the first circuit plane with no offset in a row direction and in a column direction, and each column wire segment in the second circuit plane is connected to a column wire segment in the first circuit plane with an offset length in both the row direction and the column direction. The offset length corresponds to half of the preselected number of crosspoint devices.
US08542511B2 Single-phase voltage source AC/DC converter and interconnection system
A single-phase voltage source AC/DC converter according to the present invention generates a second axis voltage command from difference between a DC voltage detection value at a DC terminal and a DC voltage command value and controls a DC voltage by increasing and decreasing active power with the second axis voltage command. For example, the voltage at the DC terminal is increased by decreasing active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is lower than the DC voltage command, while the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is decreased by increasing the active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is higher than the DC voltage command.
US08542507B2 Adaptive synchronous rectification control method and apparatus
An adaptive synchronous rectification control circuit and a control method are developed. The control circuit comprises an adaptive circuit that generates a reference signal in response to a detection signal of a power converter. A clamped circuit clamps the reference signal at a threshold voltage if the reference signal equals or is greater than the threshold voltage. A switching circuit generates a control signal to control a synchronous switch of the power converter in response to the detection signal and the reference signal. The control method generates the reference signal in response to the detection signal. The reference signal is clamped at the threshold voltage if the reference signal equals or is greater than the threshold voltage. The method further generates the control signal to control the synchronous switch of the power converter in response to the detection signal and the reference signal.
US08542506B2 Method and apparatus for controlling the power of a transformer using a soft start circuit
A power isolation system and method is disclosed. The system includes a transformer suitable for use in the power isolation system, and a semiconductor device electrically connected to the transformer to provide a reduction of the inrush current associated with powering the transformer, wherein the semiconductor device is activated upon power up based upon the previous shutdown state of the power isolation system to provide a soft start to the transformer, and after activation of the transformer, the semiconductor device is shorted in the system.
US08542500B2 Resonant power converting circuit
A resonant power converting circuit is provided, which includes a resonant converting unit, a control unit, a current detecting unit and a frequency modulation unit. The control unit outputs switching signals to the resonant converting unit to adjust an output thereof. The current detecting unit is configured to detect an output current of the resonant converting unit. The frequency modulation unit may adjust a lowest switching frequency of the control unit according to the detected output current so as to increase a gain of the resonant converting unit and an output stability of the resonant converting unit.
US08542499B2 Multi-position mount for electronic display
A multi position mount for an electronic display providing an adjustable display interface including a mounting assembly providing adjustable movement in at least one direction as determined by a plurality of follower members disposed within slots for slideable movement, and includes a mounting bracket having flanges configured the receive the adjustable display interface in at least two distinct locations. A plurality of mounting positions are possible for quick and easy engagement and disengagement, where at least one position provides mounting of a flat panel device in very close proximity to a mounting surface, and at least one position provides for angled adjustment of a flat panel display.
US08542496B2 Mounting device for expansion card
A mounting device for mounting an expansion card which forms a fixing piece at an end includes a rack and a frame detachably mounted to the rack. The rack defines two spaced recessed portions. Each recessed portion includes two opposite sidewalls and a bottom wall connected between the sidewalls. A resilient member is formed on each of the bottom walls. Two parallel tabs and a connection portion connected between the tabs are formed on the frame. The tabs are respectively received in the recessed portions and each abuts against one of the sidewalls of the corresponding recessed portion. The fixing piece of the expansion card is sandwiched between one of the tabs and the corresponding resilient member.
US08542494B2 Circuit board having holes to increase resonant frequency of via stubs
A circuit board includes layers, a pair of vias filled with a conductive material and extending through the layers, first and second pairs of conductive signal paths, and holes extending at least partially through the layers and located between the pair of vias. The first pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a first layer; the second pair of conductive paths is connected to the pair of vias within a second layer. The pair of vias has a pair of via stubs defined between the second layer and a bottom layer. A differential signal is to be transmitted between the first and second pairs of conductive signal paths via the pair of vias. The holes have a lower dielectric constant than the layers to increase a resonant frequency of the pair of via stubs beyond the frequency of the differential signal.
US08542492B2 Scalable up and down nesting integrated electronic enclosures with form factors including asteroids and/or dumbbells and/or approximated tessellation(s)/tiling(s) or combinations thereof with thermal management, wiring, sliding fit, manual and/or automated full range vertical to horizontal positioning, access and structural systems for individual modules and intra-and inter-planar stacks, columns, rows, arrays and associated infrastructures
Scalable up and down nesting integrated electronic enclosures with form factors including asteroids and/or dumbbells and/or approximated tessellation(s)/tiling(s) or combinations thereof with thermal management, wiring, sliding fit, manual and/or automated full range vertical to horizontal positioning, access and structural systems for individual modules and intra- and inter-planar stacks, columns, rows, arrays and associated infrastructures.
US08542487B2 Mounting device and an air flow control device
A mounting device includes a housing for accommodating electronic units, a fan for sending cooling air to the electronic units and air flow control devices for controlling flow of the cooling air. Each air flow control device includes a first panel having at least one opening for the cooling air to pass therethrough, a second panel, slidably provided to overlap the first panel, for opening or closing the opening of the first panel, a driving force generation mechanism provided in the airflow path for cooling air and having an air receiving member for receiving an air pressure of the cooling air, the driving force generation mechanism for generating a driving force corresponding to the air pressure received by the air receiving member and a link mechanism, for receiving the driving force generated by the driving force generation mechanism and for providing a driving force that slides the second panel.
US08542480B2 Stand to support an element of a computing system
A stand for a computing system includes a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel. The first panel, second panel, and third panel may be pivoted to provide support in a low-angle orientation, a high-angle orientation, and a flat orientation.
US08542476B2 Multilayer ceramic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic capacitor and a method of manufacturing the same. The multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body having a first side and a second side opposed to each other and having a third side and a fourth side connecting the first side to the second side; a plurality of inner electrodes formed within the ceramic body and having respective one ends exposed to the third side and the fourth side; and outer electrodes formed on the third side and the fourth side and electrically connected to the inner electrodes. A shortest distance from distal edges of an outermost inner electrode among the plurality of inner electrodes to the first side or the second side is smaller than a shortest distance from distal edges of a central inner electrode to the first side or the second side.
US08542471B2 Power supply device for plasma processing
A power supply device for plasma processing, wherein electric arcs may occur, comprises a power supply circuit for generating a voltage across output terminals, and a first switch connected between the power supply circuit and one of the output terminals. According to a first aspect the power supply device comprises a recovery energy circuit connected to the output terminals and to the power supply circuit. According to a second aspect the power supply device comprises an inductance circuit including an inductor and a second switch connected parallel to the inductor. According to a third aspect the power supply device comprises a controller for causing the power supply circuit and the first switch to be switched on and off. The controller is configured to determine a quenching time interval by means of a self-adaptive process. The quenching time interval defines the time interval during which, in an event of an arc, no voltage is generated across the output terminals.
US08542470B2 Circuit configurations to reduce snapback of a transient voltage suppressor
This invention discloses a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit that includes a triggering Zener diode connected between an emitter and a collector of a bipolar-junction transistor (BJT) wherein the Zener diode having a reverse breakdown voltage BV less than or equal to a BVceo of the BJT where BVceo stands for a collector to emitter breakdown voltage with base left open. The TVS circuit further includes a rectifier connected in parallel to the BJT for triggering a rectified current through the rectifier for further limiting an increase of a reverse blocking voltage. The triggering Zener diode, the BJT and the rectifier are formed in a semiconductor substrate by implanting and configuring dopant regions of a first and a second conductivity types in an N-well and a P-well whereby the TVS can be formed in parallel as part of the manufacturing processes of the electronic device.
US08542468B2 Fault condition protection
A switched mode power supply includes a transformer and an integrated circuit regulator. The integrated circuit regulator is coupled to the transformer and includes switching regulator logic, a counter, and a switching transistor. The regulator logic generates a switching signal in response to the feedback signal. The counter receives the feedback signal, where the feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the switched mode power supply operates normally. An output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count due to a fault condition. The switching transistor is coupled to be turned on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and is disabled when the output of the counter indicates the auto-restart mode.
US08542464B2 Write head having recessed magnetic material in gap region
As track densities increase, it becomes increasingly important, while writing in a given track, not to inadvertently write data in adjoining tracks. This problem has been overcome by limiting the width of material in the ABS plane to what it is at the write gap. The part of the lower pole that is wider than this is recessed back away from the ABS, thereby greatly reducing its magnetic influence on adjacent tracks. Four different embodiments of write heads that incorporate this notion are described together with a description of a general process for their manufacture.
US08542462B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head having a non-magnetic film recessed from the air bearing surface for improved high-density magnetic recording
According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having a trailing side and two lateral sides, a magnetic shield near the trailing side and both lateral sides of the main magnetic pole, the magnetic shield comprising: a first soft magnetic film with a relatively high saturation flux density positioned facing depthwise from a floating surface side thereof, a second soft magnetic film with a relatively low saturation flux density, and a first non-magnetic film. The head also includes a non-magnetic film interposed between the magnetic shield and the main magnetic pole, a first magnetic film magnetically coupled to the magnetic shield and the main magnetic pole on a side opposite a floating surface side thereof, and a coil surrounding a magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit comprising the main magnetic pole and the first magnetic film. Other systems and methods are also described.
US08542461B2 Writer shields with modified shapes for reduced flux shunting
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a configuration of leading edge shields and trailing edge shields that reduce the leakage of flux between the main pole and the shields. The reduction of leakage is achieved by eliminating the sharp 90° corner between the backside surfaces of the shields and the surfaces adjacent to the main pole. In one embodiment the corner is replaced by two successive acute angles, in another embodiment it is replaced by a rounded surface. In a final embodiment, leakage between the pole and trailing edge shield is achieved by shortening the length of the write gap by forming the shield with a double taper.
US08542459B2 Spindle motor and storage disk drive
A motor includes a seal cap and a tubular portion. The seal cap includes a first seal cap lower surface which is an annular surface facing axially downward, and a second seal cap lower surface which is an annular surface facing axially downward and arranged radially outward of the first seal cap lower surface. The tubular portion includes a first tubular portion upper surface which is an annular surface arranged axially opposite to the first seal cap lower surface, and a second tubular portion upper surface which is an annular surface arranged radially outward of the first tubular portion upper surface and in contact with the second seal cap lower surface. The first tubular portion upper surface includes an oil-repellent film region covered with an oil-repellent film. A substantially annular radially extending gap is defined between the first tubular portion upper surface and the first seal cap lower surface.
US08542445B2 Optical device with membrane that can be deformed by electrostatic actuation
An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchoring area on a support helping to contain a constant volume of liquid in contact with one of its faces, a substantially central area, configured to be deformed reversibly from a rest position, and an actuation mechanism displacing the liquid in the central area stressing the membrane in at least one area situated strictly between the central area and the anchoring area. The actuation mechanism is electrostatic and includes at least one pair of opposing electrodes, one of the electrodes of the pair being at the level of the membrane, the other being at the level of the support, the electrodes being separated by dielectric, the dielectric being formed at least by the liquid.
US08542444B2 Image pickup optical system for capsule endoscope
A capsule endoscope includes an image pickup optical system for imaging an object. The image pickup optical system satisfies a condition expressed by −5≦ΔZr/ΔZp≦5. Assuming ωmax is a maximum half angle of view, ΔZr is a difference between a position of a real image surface with respect to light flux of 2ωmax and that with respect to light flux of ωmax, and ΔZp is a difference between a paraxial image forming position of a first virtual object plane surface and that of a second virtual object plane surface. The first virtual object plane surface passes through an intersection point P1 of the object and principal rays of 2ωmax. The second virtual object plane surface passes through an intersection point of the object and principal rays of ωmax. The first and second virtual object planes are vertical to the optical axis.
US08542443B2 Light reflector and planar light source device
A light reflector of which the bidirectional reflectance R1 is from 90 to 120% when the light entrance angle is 15° and the light acceptance angle is 0°, and the bidirectional reflectance R2 is from 85 to 110% when the light entrance angle is 75° and the light acceptance angle is 0°. The light reflector has high reflectivity, and attains brightness improvement even in underlight-type backlights.
US08542442B2 Isotropic zero-order diffractive filter
The present invention relates to an isotropic zero-order diffractive color filter, to a method to manufacture an embossing tool and to a method to manufacture such a filter. The zero-order diffractive color filter comprises diffractive microstructures and a wave-guiding layer, wherein the diffractive microstructures possess a short range ordering over at least four times the period of the microstructures, and the diffractive microstructures possess a long range disordering over length scales of more than 100 μm.
US08542441B2 High durability color combiner
Optical elements, color combiners using the optical elements, and image projectors using the color combiners are described. The optical elements can be configured as color combiners that receive different wavelength spectrums of light and produce a combined light output that includes the different wavelength spectrums of light. The optical elements include a wavelength selective dichroic mirror that reflects a major portion of actinic light that can damage a reflective polarizer within the optical element. The wavelength selective dichroic mirror transmits a major portion of other wavelengths of light. The resulting color combiners using the optical element may have improved durability compared to a color combiner lacking the wavelength selective dichroic mirror. Image projectors using the color combiners can include reflective (including digital micro-mirror) or polarization (including liquid crystal) imaging modules.
US08542436B2 Optical fiber amplifier, light source device, exposure device, object inspection device, and treatment device
A polarization state adjusting optical element is formed by a ½ wavelength plate and a ¼ wavelength plate and its polarization direction and elliptic degree are adjusted. By adjusting the polarization state adjusting optical element in advance, even if the output of a pump light source is changed, the polarization characteristic (polarization direction and elliptic degree) of the output light of an FDFA amplifier will not change or the change is sufficiently small. In this state, a polarization state adjusting optical element adjusts the polarization state of the laser beam coming into a wavelength conversion optical system so that the wavelength conversion optical system has the maximum conversion efficiency. Thus, it is possible to provide an FDFA having a small change of the polarization state of the output light even if the pump light intensity is changed.
US08542435B2 Nested-cavity optical parametric oscillator for fast frequency tuning
Nested-cavity optical parametric oscillator for fast frequency tuning including a source of pump radiation (fp), a non linear crystal situated within two resonant cavities for the signal and complementary radiations of respective optical lengths ls and lc. A doubly resonant resonator for a single pair of longitudinal signal and complementary modes is formed having a crystal of prismatic shape, the crystal (7) being moveable within the plane xz along a direction forming a non zero angle β with respect to the direction x. The value of β is fixed so that the movement of the crystal is accompanied by a change in the respective optical lengths ls and lc of the two resonant cavities in a ratio such that the double resonance condition between the longitudinal modes of each cavity is maintained.
US08542434B2 Optical waveguide devices and harmonic wave generating devices
An optical waveguide device includes a ferroelectric layer having a thickness of 4 μm-7 μm; a supporting body; and an adhesive layer adhering a bottom face of the ferroelectric layer and supporting body. The ferroelectric layer includes a ridge comprising a channel optical waveguide, first and second protuberances on opposite sides of the ridge, inner grooves between the ridge and protuberances, respectively, and outer grooves outside of the protuberances, respectively. The outer groove is deeper than the inner groove. The ridge portion has a width of 6.6 μm-8.5 μm, a distance of an outer edge of the first protuberance and an outer edge of the second protuberance is 8.6 μm-20 μm, the inner groove has a depth of 2.0 μm-2.9 μm, and the outer groove has a depth of 2.5 μm-3.5 μm.
US08542431B2 Electrophoretic device, display unit, and electronic unit
An electrophoretic device includes an electrophoretic particle, a porous layer formed of a fibrous structure containing a non-electrophoretic particle having optical reflection characteristics different from optical reflection characteristics of the electrophoretic particle, and a pair of electrodes arranged with the porous layer in between. The porous layer is adjacent to one or both of the pair of electrodes.
US08542430B2 Electrophoretic device, display unit, and electronic unit
An electrophoretic device includes: an electrophoretic particle; a porous layer formed of a fibrous structure containing a non-electrophoretic particle having optical reflection characteristics different from those of the electrophoretic particle; and a dividing wall adjacent to the porous layer. The electrophoretic particle, the porous layer, and the dividing wall are in an insulating liquid. Volume resistivity of the fibrous structure is larger than volume resistivity of the insulating liquid, and volume resistivity of the dividing wall is larger than the volume resistivity of the insulating liquid.
US08542426B2 Transparent electrochromic system with a plurality of pairs of supply electrodes
The invention relates to a transparent electrochromic system (100) which includes two pairs of transparent supply electrodes (1-4), which are intended for being electrically connected to variable power sources (20, 21). The electrodes of the two pairs are supported by separate outer walls (10, 11) of the system, on either side of a closed volume which contains electroactive substances. The electrochromic system has superior dynamics and switching rate. Various embodiments of the invention correspond to various modes for connecting the electrodes to the power sources, and to various partitions of the closed volume into separate cells (13).
US08542425B2 Wavelength tunable light source
A wavelength tunable light source includes: an optical gain medium generating light; a wavelength tunable filter positioned on a optical path and transmitting or reflecting only a predetermined wavelength generated from and injected into the optical gain medium; a first housing where the optical gain medium and the wavelength tunable filter are mounted; and an optical fiber block providing the optical wave having the predetermined wavelength come from the wavelength tunable filter, wherein the wavelength tunable filter comprised of a dielectric thin-film filter formed by alternately stacking a first dielectric thin film layer and a second dielectric thin film layer having different refractive index.
US08542424B2 Black coating film and production method therefor, black light shading plate, and diaphragm, diaphragm device for light intensity adjustment, shutter using the same, and heat resistant light shading tape
A heat resistant black coating film which is capable of making the surface of optical members to be low reflection property and black property, a black light shading plate having a resin film using the same as a base substrate, and a diaphragm, a diaphragm device for light intensity adjustment and a shutter using the same, and heat resistant light shading tape. They are provided by a black coating film (A), where a titanium oxide film containing titanium and oxygen as main components, and having an oxygen content of from 0.7 to 1.4, as atomicity ratio O/Ti, is formed on an opaque or translucent substrate, characterized in that the titanium oxide film takes a constitution of fine columnar crystals assembled, where the longitudinal direction of the crystal extends in a film thickness direction, has protrusions at the film surface, and has a film thickness of equal to or thicker than 50 nm; and a black light shading plate, wherein the metallic light shading film (B), having a film thickness of equal to or thicker than 40 nm, is formed onto at least one surface of the substrate, and still more the black coating film (A) is laminated and formed on the surface of the metallic light shading film (B), or the like.
US08542422B2 Optical flip-flop
An optical flip-flop comprises first (102) and second (104) flip-flop elements arranged to respectively provide first (output 1) and second (output 3) optical outputs. Each output is in one of a plurality of states, wherein switching the output from a relatively high power state to a relatively low power state has an associated falling edge transition time, and switching the output from a relatively low power state to a relatively high power state has an associated rising edge transition time. The rising edge transition time is greater than the falling edge transition time. The optical flip-flop also comprises a processor (106) arranged to process the first and second outputs to provide an optical flip-flop output, being one of a plurality of state outputs, wherein switching the flip-flop output from a relatively high power state to a relatively low power state has an associated falling edge transition time, and switching the flip-flop output from a relatively low power state to a relatively high power state has an associated rising edge transition time. The processor is arranged to process the first and second outputs such that both the falling edge transition time and the rising edge transition time of the flip-flop output are independent of the rising edge transition times of both the first and second flip-flop elements. The invention also provides a method of operating the flip-flop, an optical switching arrangement and an optical switching method.
US08542420B2 Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus and method
Certain embodiments provide an image reading apparatus including: a monochrome CCD sensor including a first photo-diode array; plural color CCD sensors each including a second photodiode array; an AD converter configured to apply analog-to-digital conversion to each of analog outputs from the second photodiode array and the first photodiode array; a delay processing unit configured to delay at least one of color image data of plural colors from the AD converter and interpolate, with delayed any one or more of the color image data, a blank of image data that is to be read on a line in a sub-scanning direction; and an inter-line correction unit configured to correct, by the intervals and a set reduction magnification, a positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction between the monochrome image data and the color image data, respective timings of which are aligned on the line by the delay processing unit.
US08542419B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes: a first image processing unit that carries out first image processing on image data depicting a first image; a first determination unit that determines whether the first image is a chromatic image or an achromatic image; a determination control unit that determines whether the second image is a chromatic image or an achromatic image based on at least one of two results, between which one is a result of a determination whether a second image serving as a target of second image processing to be performed after the first image processing is a chromatic image or an achromatic image, and the other is a determination result determined by the first determination unit; and a second image processing unit that carries out the second image processing on the second image based on a result of the determination control unit.
US08542418B2 Printer calibration for printers with fixed print array structures
The systems and methods presented herein provide for calibrating a print engine of a printing system. The printing system prints image data on a print medium and scans the printed image data. Color values of the scanned image data are then measured and various tints of color values and their transition locations are identified. A calibration module estimates the original optical densities of the identified color value tints and generates a target optical density for each of the identified color value tints using the estimated original optical densities to determine print irregularities in the color values of the scanned image data. The calibration module then generates a halftone screen based on the mean optical densities and applies the generated halftone screen to the print engine to calibrate the print engine.
US08542413B2 Laser scanner assembly
A laser scanner assembly for obtaining data to generate one or more three-dimensional clouds of data describing one or more submerged surfaces. The laser scanner assembly includes a housing subassembly with one or more body elements defining one or more cavities therein and comprising at least one window element therein at least partially defining the cavity, a light-generating subassembly positioned in the cavity having a laser source for generating laser light and a means for configuring the laser light into a fan configuration, and one or more optical sensors positioned in the cavity. The laser scanner assembly also includes means for moving the light-generating subassembly relative to the submerged surface, for illuminating illuminated points respectively, and means for determining the data for locating each illuminated point respectively utilizable for generating the three-dimensional cloud of data by using a baseline distance and first and second angles for each illuminated point respectively.
US08542412B2 Two-dimensional CMOS sensor array to image documents and other flat objects
A flatbed scanner includes a housing, a transparent platen atop the housing for receiving an object to be scanned, and a carriage operable to travel along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The carriage includes a light source for illuminating the object and a rectangular photodetector array for simultaneously detecting light intensity of multiple scan lines.
US08542410B2 Least squares based exposure modulation for banding compensation
A method, system, and computer program product for estimating exposure modulation in an image printing system is disclosed. The method includes determining a banding profile for an image printing system by a processor; determining an adjusted exposure modulation profile based on the banding profile using a least squares estimation by the processor; and printing an output based on the adjusted exposure profile.
US08542409B2 Printing apparatus, printing method and method of generating dither mask
A printing apparatus is provided with a halftone unit performing a halftone process in which a possibility of dot formation is determined for each pixel based on a dot occurrence rate of the pixel constituting image data, and a printing unit forming dots on a recording medium based on the possibility of dot formation. The halftone unit predicts the occurrence of dot overlap in which a plurality of dots overlaps on the printing medium and performs the halftone process based on an evaluation index according to the dot overlap.
US08542400B2 Printing system
A printing system includes a printing unit and a print controlling unit. The printing unit is configured to print a primary image and a secondary image on a recording medium and that is capable of switching between a multicolor printing mode and a monochrome printing mode. The print controlling unit includes a determining unit and a color restricting unit. The determining unit determines whether the secondary image has an attribute indicating the monochrome printing mode. The color restricting unit controls the printing unit to print the primary image and the secondary image in the monochrome printing mode if the determining unit determines that the secondary image has the attribute indicating the monochrome printing mode.
US08542399B2 Printing medium movement amount detection device, and error information production method
With a printing device in which a printing medium is moved relatively, and which prints on the printing medium, the surface of the medium is illuminated, a plurality of illuminated regions of the medium moving in this illuminated state are imaged to acquire a plurality of images. A region to be matched having a characteristic region within a first image is set out of the images, a similar region having the highest similarity to the characteristic region is determined within a second image that is different from the first image. The estimated movement amount of the medium is calculated from the positional relation between the region to be matched and the similar region. Error information indicating error in the estimated movement amount of the medium attributable to the angle of light directed at the medium is acquired, and the estimated movement amount is corrected.
US08542394B2 Image processing apparatus for recording and managing image data input/output therein, and its control method
An image processing apparatus includes a job execution unit configured to execute at least one of an input job accompanied by inputting of image data and an output job unaccompanied by inputting of image data, an image data storage unit configured to store image data in a predetermined memory, a reference information storage unit configured to store reference information to the image data stored in the memory in the same memory, and a control unit configured to control the image data storage unit to newly store image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an input job, and the reference information storage unit to store the reference information to the image data stored in the memory without newly storing image data in the memory when the job executed by the job execution unit is an output job.
US08542391B2 Print control method and apparatus
Upon designating bookbinding print, preview images are displayed in a layout after bookbinding. When “store” of intermediate data is designated in a print process, a spooler (302) stores intermediate data and an output job setup file in a spool file (303). When the stored job is selected, a previewer (306) displays a list of jobs, and displays a print preview image. In this case, upon setting bookbinding print, pages are displayed in a spread state, and order after bookbinding. Also, the open direction (right or left open), and the bookbinding unit are also expressed on preview images.
US08542389B2 Location-based information
In response to a positional relationship (distance, or a combination of distance and angle) between an information output unit and a user who uses information displayed in the display unit, a control unit changes the amount of information to be displayed in the display unit based on an information level, the number of pieces of information, a scrolling speed or a cycle. In some aspects, the control unit controls the information output unit to increase the amount of information to be output when the user is close to the display unit.
US08542385B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and computer-readable recording medium thereof
An image processing apparatus is disclosed, including: a managing part, a use amount storing part, a setting part, and a determining part. The managing part manages a group threshold of a group including multiple members allowed to use the function for a use amount of the function. The use amount storing part stores a value of the use amount for each member. The setting part allocates the group threshold to the multiple members based on a value of a priority for each member in the group, and sets a member threshold for each member. The determining part determines whether a restriction concerning a use of the function is applied to a process of a use request, based on a result from comparing the value of the use amount with the member threshold for the request originator in response to the use request of the function.
US08542379B2 Printing cost charging method
A printing cost charging method of a printing system wherein the printing system includes a mobile terminal, an image forming apparatus capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal, and a server capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal via a wireless communication network. The printing cost charging method comprises the steps of transmitting printing data from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus, transmitting printing information relating to the printing data from the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal, transmitting the printing information from the mobile terminal to the server, and controlling the server to charge a printing cost to the mobile terminal based on the printing information. Costly equipment and potential errors are reduced as the server of the printing system which charges the printing cost interfaces with the mobile terminal without the Internet.
US08542372B2 Processing apparatus
A multifunctional apparatus comprises a main power board, electricity feed switching section, operating panel and control section. The main power board supplies electric power to a plurality of processing units. The electricity feed switching section allows a user to switch electricity feed status between the main power board and the respective processing units separately. The operating panel displays an icon depicting the apparatus and electricity feed status of the processing units of the apparatus. The control section controls the electricity feed switching section so as to switch electricity feed status to the processing unit of which icon a user touches, and causes to display on the operation panel modes of operation associated with the processing unit. The control section controls the electricity feed switching section so as to switch the electricity feed status to one or more processing units associated with the mode of operation that a user has selected.
US08542365B2 Optical MEMS chemical sensor array
A change in mass of a microbridge in a mass sensor can be sensed by applying a time-varying amplitude modulated electrostatic force to excite the microbridge into resonance at the frequency of amplitude modulation. An optical energy is then transmitted at a wavelength close to a resonant wavelength of a Fabry-Perot microcavity, which is formed by etching a movable reflective mirror into a region of the microbridge and by etching a fixed reflective minor in a region spaced apart from the microbridge. The two mirrors are interconnected by an optical waveguide. The movable mirror and fixed mirror reflect the optical energy to a receiver, and a change in the Fabry-Perot microcavity's reflectivity is interferometrically determined. The change in reflectivity indicates a change in the microbridge's resonant frequency due to increased mass of the microbridge resulting from sorption of a target chemical by a layer of chemoselective material deposited on the microbridge.
US08542362B2 Light absorbance measurement method and apparatus
Methods and apparatuses for measuring a light absorbance are provided. The method measures light absorbance of at least one detection chamber of a microfluidic device, including the detection chamber and at least one reference chamber. The detection chamber may accommodate a test subject. The method includes detecting a plurality of reference transmitted light intensities for the at least one reference chamber and estimating a value between the plurality of reference transmitted light intensities through nonlinear approximation. The estimated value is then applied to light absorbance measurement of the detection chamber to reduce a light absorbance error of the detection chamber.
US08542359B2 Digital filter spectrum sensor
A spectrum sensing method includes (a) receiving an incident radiation simultaneously through a filter array composed of multiple bandpass filters, (b) digitizing spectral responses of the filter array, and (c) generating an estimate of spectral profile of the incident radiation based on digitized spectral responses of the filter array.
US08542357B2 Method and device for measuring circular dichroism spectra
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems by using an optical arrangement that is totally different from the conventional CD spectra measuring method, and to provide a method and device for measuring circular dichroism spectra, which can measure the CD spectrum in much shorter time even with the use of a small light source. The method for measuring circular dichroism spectra according to the present invention comprising the steps of irradiating a white light projected from a white light source to a sample without dispersing the light into a monochromatic light, dispersing the light output from the sample, detecting a light intensity of the dispersed light by a detector having a sensor consisting of a charge-coupled device, and then measuring a circular dichroism spectrum of the sample on the basis of a result of the detection by the detector (FIG. 1).
US08542356B2 Measurement method and measurement system for measuring birefringence
A method measuring the birefringence of an object. A measurement beam having a defined input polarization state is generated, the measurement beam being directed onto the object. Polarization properties of the measurement beam after interaction with the object are detected in order to generate polarization measurement values representing an output polarization state of the measurement beam after interaction with the object. The input polarization state of the measurement beam is modulated into at least four different measurement states in accordance with a periodic modulation function of an angle parameter α, and the polarization measurement values associated with the at least four measurement states are processed to form a measurement function dependent on the angle parameter α. A two-wave portion of the measurement function is determined and analysed in order to derive at least one birefringence parameter describing the birefringence, preferably by double Fourier transformation of the measurement function.
US08542354B2 Inspection apparatus
The present invention provides an inspection apparatus having a high throughput and high sensitivity with respect to a number of various manufacturing processes and defects of interest in inspection of a specimen such as a semiconductor wafer on which a pattern is formed. The apparatus illuminates with light the specimen having the pattern formed thereon, forms an image of the specimen on an image sensor through a reflective optics, and determines the existence/nonexistence of a defect. The reflective optics has a conjugate pair of Fourier transform optics. An aberration of the reflective optics is corrected off-axis. The reflective optics has a field of view in non-straight-line slit form on the specimen surface. Also, the optics is of a reflection type, includes a conjugate pair of Fourier transform optics and has a field of view in non-straight-line slit form. An optimum wavelength band is selected according to the specimen (FIG. 1).
US08542352B1 Protection factor rating system for protective eyewear
A method of rating eyewear includes providing eyewear to be rated, measuring a physical property of the eyewear selected from a group that includes ultraviolet radiation absorption, blue light radiation absorption, infrared radiation absorption, and light blocking capability, transforming the physical property into a rating value, and informing a prospective consumer of the rating value.
US08542349B2 Arrangement and a method for controlling a measurement head of an optical measurement instrument
An optical measurement instrument includes a measurement head and mechanical support elements arranged to support a sample well plate. The measurement head is moved towards the sample well plate and, after the measurement head has touched the sample well plate, the measurement head is moved backwards away from the sample well plate so as to provide a desired distance between the measurement head and the sample well plate. A sensor device is attached to the mechanical support elements and arranged detect a mechanical effect occurring in the mechanical support elements due to force directed by the measurement head to the sample well plate. Hence, the situation in which the measurement head touches the sample well plate can be detected without a need to provide the measurement head with a force sensor. This is advantageous because the measurement head can be a changeable module of the optical measurement instrument.
US08542347B2 Super resolution telescope
A super-resolution telescope. A target is illuminated with at least three laser beams, each beam having a slightly different frequency so as to produce an illumination pattern comprised of several sets of straight interference fringes which sweep across the target. The frequencies of the illumination beams are chosen so that each pair of beams has a unique beat frequency, and the corresponding fringe pattern for each pair sweeps over the target at a unique speed. By collecting a series of images, and demodulating them at the various beat frequencies, the downshifted spatial frequencies can be identified, correctly up-shifted, and fitted together with a set of special Fourier transform based algorithms to reconstruct high-resolution images. Applicants have performed laboratory experiments that this invention can provide resolution substantially better than diffraction limited resolution.
US08542342B2 Method of manufacturing a miniaturized device
A lithographic method of manufacturing a miniaturized device using a projection exposure system involves illuminating the object plane of an imaging optics of the projection exposure system with measuring light; detecting, for each of a plurality of locations on an image plane of the imaging optics, an angular distribution of an intensity of the measuring light traversing the image plane at the respective location; adjusting a telecentricity of the projection exposure system based on a selected patterning structure to be imaged and on the plurality of the detected angular distributions; disposing the selected pattern structure to be imaged in a region of the object plane of the imaging optics; disposing a substrate carrying a resist in a region of the image plane of the imaging optics and exposing the resist with imaging light using the projection exposure system with the adjusted telecentricity; and developing the exposed resist and processing the substrate with the developed resist.
US08542338B2 In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device including multi-layer electrode
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other, a gate line and a data line arranged on the first substrate crossing each other and defining a pixel region, a switching device at a crossing of the gate line and the data line, a common electrode and a pixel electrode alternately disposed in the pixel region, at least one of the common electrode and the pixel electrode including a multi-layer having a conductor layer and a reflectance reducing layer, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates.
US08542337B2 Pixel structure of active matrix organic light emitting display and manufacturing thereof
An embodiment of the invention provides a pixel structure of an active matrix organic light emitting display comprising a gate line, a common electrode line, a signal line, a power line, a first thin film transistor which is used as an addressing element, and a second thin film transistor which controls the organic light emitting display. A short-circuit-ring structure is connected between the common electrode line and the signal line and the short-circuit-ring structure communicates the signal line and the common electrode line in the case where a large current flows.
US08542336B2 Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes: a first panel; a second panel facing the first panel; a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the first panel; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first panel and the second panel; and a first alignment layer formed on the first panel and contacting the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment layer includes a first alignment base layer and a first alignment control agent, the first alignment base layer represents a material for vertically aligning liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer, and the first alignment control agent comes out of the first alignment base layer and provides alignment force to the liquid crystal. Accordingly, when the liquid crystal of the IPS mode liquid crystal display has a pretilt, the liquid crystal that is near the facing panel on which a linear common electrode and a linear pixel electrode are not provided is immediately tilted according to the pretilt, and hence, the response speed is very fast and the afterimage problem of video is solved.
US08542326B2 3D shutter glasses for use with LCD displays
A viewing system for viewing video displays having the appearance of a three dimensional image.
US08542322B2 Motion compensated interpolation system using combination of full and intermediate frame occlusion
In one embodiment of the present invention, motion compensated interpolation is performed by locating full frame conceal and reveal areas, determining intermediate frame occlusion areas of an interpolated frame of the displayable output by locating intermediate frame conceal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame conceal areas using primary forward motion vectors and information about a time slot for the interpolated frame, and by locating intermediate frame reveal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame reveal areas using primary backward motion vectors and information about the time slot for the interpolated frame. The intermediate frame conceal areas are then modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary forward motion vectors and the intermediate frame reveal areas are modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary backward motion vectors.
US08542321B2 TV set and TV program processing method thereof
A TV set and a TV program processing method thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The TV set includes a control code receiving unit for receiving a control code and a TV program multiple-picture displaying unit for displaying TV program multiple-pictures according to the received control code. The TV program processing method includes the following steps: receiving a control code by a TV set, wherein the control code comprises an instruction of displaying current TV programs in a multiple-picture format; and displaying the current TV programs in the multiple-picture format according to the control code received. The TV set and the TV program processing method thereof of the present disclosure allow for displaying three or more TV programs on a same TV screen simultaneously, and also allow for displaying TV programs according to classifications of contents thereof, making it convenient to watch and use the TV set.
US08542313B2 Depth from defocus calibration
A device and methods are provided for calculating depth estimation for a digital imaging device are disclosed and claimed. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a first image associated with a first focus parameter, detecting a second image associated with a second focus parameter, calculating a statistical representation of a region of interest in the first and second images, and determining a ratio for the region of interest based on the statistical representation. The method may further include determining one or more focus characteristics using a memory table based on the determined ratio for the region of interest, and calculating a focus depth for capture of image data based on the determined one or more focus characteristics associated with the memory table.
US08542309B2 Wafer-level lens array, method of manufacturing wafer-level lens array, lens module and imaging unit
Disclosed are a wafer-level lens array, a method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array, a lens module, and an imaging unit that can prevent the influence of, for example, the shrinkage of a forming material, prevent the positional deviation between lenses when the wafer-level lens arrays overlap each other or when the wafer-level lens array overlaps an imaging element array, and be easily designed.A method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array including a substrate unit and a plurality of lens units that is arranged on the substrate unit includes: forming the substrate unit; and integrally forming the lens units that are made of a resin having substantially the same optical characteristics as a material forming the substrate unit with the substrate unit.
US08542304B2 Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes first and second pixel portions, first and second transfer transistors, first and second accumulation portions, an element isolation region, first and second amplifier transistors, and a first and second signal lines. The first and second pixel portions include photoelectric conversion elements, respectively. The first and second transfer transistors transfer first and second charges photoelectrically converted by the first and second pixel portions, respectively. The first and second accumulation portions are interposed between the first and second pixel portions, and accumulate the first and second charges, respectively. The element isolation region is interposed between the first and second accumulation portions. The first and second amplifier transistors amplify voltages generated in accordance with the first and second charges accumulated in the first and second accumulation portions, respectively. The first and second signal lines output signal voltages amplify by the amplifier transistors, respectively.
US08542300B2 Method for real-time removal of vertical scan streaks in a CCD
Methods are disclosed for correcting vertical line streaks in an interline or full-frame CCD. The method includes the step of subtracting an overscan row from each row of a previous image or from each row of a next image, such that each row of the final image contains the same readout smear effect and such that readout overscan rows contain the same smear information as each row of the final image. The method is also described for use with frame transfer CCDs.
US08542298B2 Image processing device and image processing method
There is provided an imaging device including a detection section which detects motion of the image processing device, a blend ratio calculation section which calculates a blend ratio of a first motion compensation image to a second motion compensation image, the first motion compensation image and the second motion compensation image being determined from a first motion vector and a second motion vector each indicating motion between frames, respectively, based on the motion of the image processing device detected by the detection section, a blend section which generates a motion compensation image by blending the first motion compensation image and the second motion compensation image in accordance with the blend ratio calculated by the blend ratio calculation section, and an addition section which adds the motion compensation image generated by the blend section to a target image.
US08542297B2 Method for automatically adjusting the levels of illumination sources in an optical measurement machine
A process for pre-calibrating illumination sources permits illumination light intensities to be set to a near optimal level during training of an optical inspection system. Applicants have found that the illumination source intensities for a category of illuminators are sufficiently constant from machine to machine that the data collected during calibration of an illumination source on a machine using a particular type of source may be used on other machines of the same type using the same type of illumination source when combined with the reticle light intensity data for different zoom magnification's of the particular machine being used. That is, using known data for particular machine and the illumination source light intensity data for the same type of machine and illumination source permits accurate presetting of an illumination source.
US08542295B2 Imaging device, information processing method, and computer program
An imaging device includes a data processor configured to execute processing for selecting picture portions corresponding to important scenes from captured picture data, on the basis of input information that is input during a period of taking a picture. The data processor generates highlight point information that allows identification of the picture portions corresponding to the important scenes, the picture portions being selected on the basis of the input information, and records the highlight point information on a recording medium as information associated with the captured picture data.
US08542291B2 Imaging apparatus and image playing apparatus having a control device that determines whether an image plane is within a range
An imaging apparatus includes: a light receiving device having a micro lens array in which a plurality of micro lenses are arrayed two-dimensionally, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are provided for the plurality of micro lenses, and that outputs a plurality of photoreception signals that are obtained by receiving optical flux from an optical system via the micro lenses; a detection device that, based on the photoreception signals, detects an amount of displacement between an image plane obtained from the optical system and an image plane obtained from the light receiving device; a focal point adjustment device that performs focal point adjustment on the optical system based on the displacement amount; and a control device that, when an image plane that corresponds to the displacement amount is contained within an image plane range within which it is possible to create an image that is based on the photoreception signal, creates an image of the image plane that corresponds to the displacement amount based on a photoreception signal which is selected in accordance with the displacement amount from among the plurality of photoreception signals, and then displays this image.
US08542290B2 Camera module, image processing apparatus, and image recording method
According to one embodiment, a camera module includes a plurality of sub-camera modules. The sub-camera modules include imaging elements and imaging lenses. At least two of the sub-camera modules include the imaging lenses, subject distances of which when best-focused are set different from each other.
US08542289B1 Mapping a two-dimensional image to a cylindrical surface using a tuned distortion curve
In a typical two-dimensional rectilinear image, all pixel widths are constant across the image. If the two-dimensional rectilinear image is mapped to a cylindrical surface, the pixels at the edge of the image are viewed at an angle, making the effective width of the pixels at the edge smaller than the effective width of the pixels in the interior of the image. This problem may be solved by applying a tuned distortion curve to the two-dimensional rectilinear image, which makes the pixels near the edge of the image wider than pixels in the interior of the image. When pixels that have been distorted in this manner are mapped to a cylindrical surface, the effective pixel width is uniform. A lens with a tuned distortion curve built into its optical profile captures at least a portion of the surrounding imagery such that the resultant image has uniform resolution when projected onto a virtual cylinder centered around a viewer.
US08542280B2 Difference degree evaluation device, difference degree evaluation method and program product
A difference degree evaluation device includes a signal acquisition unit which acquires at least two signals which are objects of matching, a memory unit which stores one of the two signals, which are acquired by the signal acquisition unit, as a reference signal, and stores the other of the two signals as an object signal, a sample extraction unit which extracts sample points in a predetermined block from the reference signal that is stored in the memory unit, and extracts sample points corresponding to the sample points of the reference signal from the object signal, and an arithmetic process unit which finds absolute difference values between the sample points of the reference signal and the sample points of the object signal, which are extracted by the sample extraction unit, and calculates a maximum value of the absolute difference values as an evaluation value.
US08542279B2 Image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus includes an acceleration sensor having a first measurement axis and a second measurement axis that intersect each other, and arranged on a plane that intersects the imaging optical axis of the image capturing apparatus while inclining the first and second measurement axes by about 45° in the vertical direction, and a calculation unit that calculates the arc tangent of the ratio of the detection result of an acceleration due to gravity by the first measurement axis and the detection result of an acceleration due to gravity by the second measurement axis, thereby obtaining the inclination degree of the image capturing apparatus in the rolling direction.
US08542275B2 Method and apparatus for cross-section processing and observation
A cross-section processing and observation method includes: forming a first cross section in a sample by etching processing using a focused ion beam; obtaining image information of the first cross section by irradiating the focused ion beam to the first cross section; forming a second cross section by performing etching processing on the first cross section; obtaining image information of the second cross section by irradiating the focused ion beam to an irradiation region including the second cross section; displaying image information of a part of a display region of the irradiation region from the image information of the second cross section; displaying the image information of the first cross section by superimposing it on the image information being displayed; and moving the display region within the irradiation region. Observation images in which display regions are aligned can be obtained while reducing damage to the sample.
US08542273B2 Arrangement and method for generating images with expanded dynamics
An ophthalmic device and an arrangement for generating images with expanded dynamic range and a corresponding method for generating images with expanded dynamic range have at least one beamsplitter, in particular with an asymmetric splitting ratio, and at least two image sensors, wherein the image sensors are reflected into a common imaging beam path by the at least one beamsplitter.
US08542272B2 Image generating apparatus
An image generating apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source unit that emits light in a first wavelength band to a subject; a second light source unit that emits light in a second wavelength band, which is a part of the first wavelength band, to the subject; an image pickup unit that picks up an image of the subject and outputs the image as an image pickup signal; a light cut filter unit that cuts light in the second wavelength band reflected from the subject; and a complementary processing unit that applies complementary processing to a component equivalent to the second wavelength band cut by the light cut filter unit in the image of the subject picked up by the image pickup unit in a state in which the subject is illuminated by the light in the first wavelength band.
US08542271B2 Monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus
A monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus, which has first and second display modes. In the first display mode, the monitor device displays, in real time, any image transmitted in a normal radio communication state. In the second display mode, the monitor device displays a noise-free image in real time, if a radio communication error occurs. If one-frame (or one-field) image data is not received within the frame (or field) time due to a communication error, the monitor device displays, in the second display mode, the image data received in a normal state immediately before the one-frame (or one-field) image data, and informs the operator of the communication error.
US08542265B1 Video chat encoding pipeline
Implementations relate to a system for video encoding and conversion including an image resolution conversion component operable to convert a resolution of a source image frame from a first resolution to a second resolution to produce a first intermediate image frame at the second resolution; an image conversion component operable to receive the first intermediate image frame and convert an image size of the first intermediate image frame to another image frame size to produce a first viewable image frame; an image viewer component operable to display the first viewable image on a first display; a color space conversion component comprising a luminance conversion component and a chrominance operable to receive the first viewable image frame and convent a first luminance value and a first chrominance value of the first viewable image frame to a second intermediate image frame having a second luminance value and a second chrominance value.
US08542260B2 Device detecting curl of sheet and image erasing device
There is provided a device detecting curling of a sheet, the device including a first guide member carrying the sheet; a second guide member including a carriage path that is broader than the carriage path of the first guide member and accepting the curling of the sheet; and sensors with detection ranges into which a portion of the curling of the sheet enters, in the carriage path of the second guide member.
US08542256B2 Digital gamma correction system and method
A digital gamma correction system for detecting a brightness of a liquid crystal panel, and correcting a gamma voltage, based on the detected brightness, includes an offset setter for setting the number of detection gray levels and a first detection area, for the detection of the brightness of the liquid crystal panel, a plurality of brightness detectors for detecting brightness values output from the first detection area for the detection gray levels, a controller for processing the brightness values detected by the brightness detectors, a non-linear interpolation data processor for processing a brightness value supplied from the controller, thereby generating non-linear interpolation data as a brightness variation rate according to the gray levels, a brightness corrector for generating gamma correction data for brightness values obtained by interpolating brightness values detected in a second detection area of another liquid crystal panel for a second number of detection gray levels, based on the non-linear interpolation data, and a memory for storing the gamma correction data generated from the brightness corrector.
US08542254B2 Graph display control apparatus and graph display control method
A graph arbitrarily input by the user is displayed on a dot-matrix display screen. When an instruction to determine any one of the characteristic points, such as intersections, local maxima, or local minima, is given, an characteristic point to be determined is calculated and the result is pointed by pointer P and, at the same time, the coordinates (X, Y) of the characteristic point are displayed. Depending on whether there is one other graph which overlaps or makes contact with the characteristic point of the graph and displayed dots of the graph near the characteristic point, it is determined whether a locus of the graph near the characteristic point is displayed unclearly. If the condition for unclear display has been satisfied, the graph including the characteristic point is enlarged repeatedly at the enlargement factor set by the user until the condition for unclear display is not fulfilled.
US08542253B2 Magnification engine
An improved graphics processing system and method are described for magnifying visual output information for printing, display, or other output. A graphics engine transforms display information so as to magnify one or more components or areas of an output image for display via output hardware such as a screen or printer. Magnification parameters are supplied to the graphics engine by one or more magnification applications. In an embodiment of the invention, the graphics engine performs compositing of magnified and unmagnified content for display. In an alternative embodiment, the graphics engine outputs corresponding scaled image material to the appropriate magnification application for rendering. In a further embodiment, the graphics engine may operate in both modes. The magnified output according to various embodiments of the invention enhances the accessibility of the computer system for visually handicapped or impaired users by providing high quality magnification and increased system and application stability.
US08542250B2 Entertainment device, system, and method
An entertainment device for combining virtual images with real images captured by a video camera so as to generate augmented reality images. The device comprises receiving means operable to receive a sequence of video images from the video camera via a communications link. The device further comprises detecting means operable to detect an augmented reality marker within the received video images, and processing means operable to generate a virtual image plane in dependence upon the detection of the augmented reality marker by the detecting means. The virtual image plane is arranged to be substantially coplanar with a real surface upon which the augmented reality marker is placed so that virtual images may be generated with respect to the real surface. The processing means is operable to generate the virtual image plane within the captured video images such that the virtual image plane is defined with respect to the detected augmented reality marker, and the virtual image plane has an area which is greater than an area which corresponds to the augmented reality marker.
US08542248B2 X-ray detection apparatus and information processing method
An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus allows setting information indicating an object direction in a radiographed image without any errors. This invention is an X-ray detection apparatus which detects X-rays applied to an object and generates a radiographed image of the object. This apparatus includes a unit to display, in a display area, a symbol which has a form corresponding to the object and for which a vector representing a direction as a reference for the symbol is defined, a button to change the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area, and a unit to output information concerning the direction of the vector in association with a radiographed image of the object, when the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area is changed to match the direction of the object with the direction of the symbol displayed in the display area.
US08542247B1 Cull before vertex attribute fetch and vertex lighting
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for compiling a vertex shader program into two portions, a culling portion and a shading portion. The culling portion of the compiled vertex shader program specifies vertex attributes and instructions of the vertex shader program needed to determine whether early vertex culling operations should be performed on a batch of vertices associated with one or more primitives of a graphics scene. The shading portion of the compiled vertex shader program specifies the remaining vertex attributes and instructions of the vertex shader program for performing vertex lighting and performing other operations on the vertices in the batch of vertices. When the compiled vertex shader program is executed by graphics processing hardware, the shading portion of the compiled vertex shader is executed only when early vertex culling operations are not performed on the batch of vertices.
US08542245B2 Image feature detection apparatus, image feature detection method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes: an amount-of-feature detection section configured to determine an amount of features of a first image and an amount of features of a second image, the first image and the second image containing the same subject; an elimination-area detection section configured to eliminate, from the second image, an area in which the amount of features extracted by the amount-of-feature detection section is larger than a predetermined threshold and to provide the second image in which the eliminated area is transparent; and an image combination section configured to superimpose the second image in which the eliminated area is transparent on the first image.
US08542244B2 System and method to generate multiprimary signals
System and method for generating multiprimary signals with optimization for bit depth for use in display devices. A preferred embodiment comprises converting an input color signal into an output color signal, wherein the number of colors in the output color signal is less than a number of colors used in a display system, when a weighting of the input color signal is less than a specified threshold, and converting the input color signal into an output color signal, wherein the number of colors in the output color signal is equal to the number of colors used in the display system, when the weighting of the input color signal is greater than the specified threshold. The use of fewer colors eliminates low bit depth colors, allowing increased dither quality in dimmer images.
US08542242B2 Projection system, image processor, image processing method, image processing program, and recording medium having image processing program recorded thereon
Provided is a projection system including an image processor processing image data, the image processor acquires subsequent image data having an object included in an image temporarily subsequent to an image currently displayed by the projector. The projector stores the image data and the subsequent image data and updates the currently displayed image into the subsequent image on the basis of the subsequent image data when the update information received by the projector reception unit indicates that the currently displayed image is updated into the subsequent image.
US08542235B2 System and method for displaying complex scripts with a cloud computing architecture
A system and method for displaying complex scripts with a cloud computing architecture may include a client device and a cloud computing server. The client device accesses a web application via the internet and transmits a request containing complex scripts to the cloud computing server. The cloud computing server parses the text and breaks the text down to a sequence of characters of a particular script, and maps the Unicode of each character to a particular glyph to obtain a glyph ID for each character making a one to one relationship. The cloud computing server analyzes each character, assigns, and applies specific font related operations to each glyph. The cloud computing server optimizes and compresses the glyph ID and positioning data, and transmit the compressed data back to the client device to be rendered on the display of the client device.
US08542233B2 Systems and methods for photogrammetric rendering
Systems and methods are provided for producing a rendered drawing or rendering from a detailed image of an object (e.g. photograph) resulting in a rendering that is photogrammetric and that preserves detail in the said image of said object. The combination of the metric nature and image detail preservation in a rendering resulting from the process enhances the usefulness of the rendering to users. The invention is useful in particular for large format renderings such as wire frame style drawings used for blueprints in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC industry) when used for existing structures. The processes combine graphic arts techniques with photogrammetric techniques to preserve, fully or partially, information about an object as captured in image detail of said object and to present said information in photogrammetrically correct rendering, which rendering may be incorporated into drawings useful to and/or familiar to end users of said drawings.
US08542232B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring user attention with a computer-generated virtual environment
Avatars focal points are monitored as the Avatars move within a virtual environment to determine, statistically, where users are looking at in the virtual environment. The Avatar's focal point may be used to control a virtual brush that may paint the virtual environment in an attention monitoring function. A statistical distribution about the focal point is used to affect the coloration, and other known information about the virtual environment may be used to affect the statistics. As attention records from multiple users are collected, they may be overlaid to obtain a very accurate picture of how users are interacting with the virtual environment and with objects in the virtual environment. The attention monitoring function may generate a thermal overlay to the virtual environment to visually show where users tend to focus within the virtual environment. Users' attention on three dimensional and graphic objects may be monitored as well.
US08542230B2 Method for preparing CT image displays, and an arithmetic logic unit for carrying out this method
A method is disclosed for preparing CT image displays. In at least one embodiment, the method includes compiling N≧2 CT image data records of an area of a patient on the basis of N different X-ray energy spectra, each pixel or voxel being assigned an N-tuple CT numbers, each CT number of the N-tuple being assigned to the absorption value of one of the N X-ray energy spectra; carrying out material destruction over at least one predetermined subarea of the area of the patient represented in the CT image data records with reference to at least three materials including at least bone mineral, yellow bone marrow and red bone marrow; and outputting and/or displaying at least one CT image data record at least with reference to the predetermined subarea with absorption values relating to one of the N X-ray energy spectra or to a mathematically simulated spectrum from which the bone mineral content is extracted.
US08542229B2 Identification method of data point distribution area on coordinate plane and recording medium
A disclosed identification method of identifying a data point distribution area on a coordinate plane includes selecting a data point as a first representative point, setting the first representative point as an initial reference point, setting a direction passing through the initial reference point as an initial representative point selection direction, selecting an initial data point direction having a smallest angle relative to the initial representative point selection direction in a predetermined rotation direction when viewed from the initial representative point selection direction, selecting a data point corresponding to the initial data point direction as a second representative point of the data point distribution area, and determining whether there is an overlapping area where a distribution representative point area overlaps a determination area.
US08542228B2 Liquid crystal display, liquid crystal display driving method, and television receiver utilizing a preliminary potential
In a liquid crystal display, a first data signal line and a second data signal line are provided for each pixel column. In at least one embodiment, in a case where every two pixels in the pixel column are paired, one of two pixels in each pair is connected with the first data signal line and the other of the two pixels is connected with the second data signal line, two scanning signal lines respectively connected with the two pixels are simultaneously selected during one horizontal scanning period so that signal potentials are written into the two pixels from the first data signal line and the second data signal line, respectively, during each horizontal scanning period, supply of the signal potentials to the first data signal line and the second data signal line is performed after supply of preliminary potentials to the first data signal line and the second data signal line. This allows improving the display quality of a liquid crystal display in which a larger size, higher definition, or higher-speed driving etc. makes full charging of pixels difficult even when simultaneous scanning.
US08542227B2 Display apparatus and method for driving the same
In a display apparatus, pixels are arranged in a matrix defined by gate lines and data lines, and each pixel includes a first sub pixel charged to a first pixel voltage and a second sub pixel charged to a second pixel voltage having a same voltage level as the first pixel voltage. A voltage controller controls a voltage level of the first and second pixel voltages charged in the pixels corresponding to the first through penultimate pixel rows in response to a next gate signal. A dummy voltage controller controls a voltage level of the first and second pixel voltages charged in the pixels corresponding to the last pixel row in response to a dummy gate signal. Where a dummy voltage controller is not included, a black matrix partially covers the efficient display area of the pixels corresponding to the last pixel row.
US08542224B2 Display clip system and timing clip control method thereof
A display clip system and a timing clip control method thereof are provided. The clip system is connected to a gate driver circuit, and includes a timing controller and a clip module. According to a system input signal and its frame rates, the timing controller generates an enable signal, a clip trigger signal, and a base working signal. The clip module adjusts the base working signal by using the enable signal and the clip trigger signal. Then, the base working signal carries a first clip voltage to output to the gate driver circuit. When the frame rate changes, the timing controller adjusts trigger points and trigger time lengths of the enable signal and the clip trigger signal, and the clip module adjusts the base working signal. Then, the base working signal carries a second clip voltage equal to the first clip voltage to output to the gate driver circuit.
US08542221B1 Method and system for optimizing display power reduction through a continuously variable refresh rate adjustment
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for continuously adjusting a variable refresh rate to reduce the power consumption of a display device. The refresh rate of the display device tracks the effective frame rate of the content being displayed. As the effective frame rate of the content decreases, the refresh rate is lowered until a minimum value is reached. When the effective frame rate of the content equals the refresh rate, the refresh rate is increased until the refresh rate exceeds the effective frame rate of the content or until a maximum value is reached.
US08542217B2 Optical touch detection using input and output beam scanners
An apparatus is controlled to detect a location of an object on a touch surface of a panel. An input scanner arrangement introduces at least two beams of radiation into the panel for propagation by internal reflection, and sweeps the beams inside the panel across a sensing area. An output scanner arrangement is synchronized with the input scanner arrangement so as to receive the beams from the input scanner arrangement while they are swept across the sensing area and to direct the beams onto at least one radiation detector. Thereby, each beam is introduced and received on opposite ends of the sensing area. A data processor is connected to the radiation detector and operated to identify the location based on an attenuation of the beams caused by the object touching the touch surface within the sensing area.
US08542216B2 Multi-touch device having dynamic haptic effects
A system for generating haptic effects senses at least two generally simultaneous touches on a touchscreen and, in response, generates a dynamic haptic effect.
US08542215B2 Mutual capacitance measurement in a multi-touch input device
Systems and methods for determining multiple touch events in a multi-touch sensor system are provided. The system may include a capacitance measurement unit, a pulse drive unit, and a touch sensor having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of electrodes comprising at least two sets of electrodes. The method may include connecting a first electrode in a first set to the capacitance measurement unit, the pulse drive unit driving a voltage or current pulse onto a second electrode in a second set of electrodes. The method may further include the capacitance measurement unit measuring the mutual capacitance at a node corresponding to the first and second electrodes. The method may include comparing the measured mutual capacitance at the node with a previously measured mutual capacitance for the node, and reporting that the node has been touched if there has been a deviation from the previously measured mutual capacitance.
US08542210B2 Multi-touch input discrimination
Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different input patterns to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. By way of example, large objects hovering a short distance from the touch-surface (e.g., a cheek, thigh or chest) may be identified and distinguished from physical contacts to the surface. In addition, rough contacts due to, for example, ears and earlobes, may be similarly identified and distinguished from contacts due to fingers, thumbs, palms and finger clasps.
US08542208B2 Multi-touch auto scanning
A system and method for autonomously scanning a sensor panel device is disclosed. A sensor panel processor can be disabled after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the sensor panel device sensing any events. One or more system clocks can also be disabled to conserve power. While the processor and one or more system clocks are disabled, the sensor panel device can periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel for touch activity. If one or more results from the autonomous scans exceed a threshold, the sensor panel device re-enables the processor and one or more clocks to actively scan the sensor panel. If the threshold is not exceeded, the sensor panel device continues to periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel without intervention from the processor. The sensor panel device can periodically perform calibration functions to account for any drift that may be present in the system.
US08542207B1 Pencil eraser gesture and gesture recognition method for touch-enabled user interfaces
Methods and systems for receiving an erasure gesture input and accordingly deleting content in a viewable area of a multi-touch input display device are disclosed. A touch gesture can be detected on a touch screen. One or more direction changes associated with the touch gesture can be detected and the angle of each of the direction changes can be determined to meet a predetermined threshold. The touch gesture can be detected as no longer touching the touch screen and a polygon can be generated based on each of the direction changes associated with the touch gesture.
US08542205B1 Refining search results based on touch gestures
Techniques for outputting different content on a touch-sensitive display of a device based at least in part on an amount of force applied to the touch-sensitive display. For instance, when a user reads an electronic book (eBook) on a device having a touch-sensitive display, the user may select a word and the device may accordingly display information associated with the selected word. Thereafter, the user may apply a greater or lesser amount of force to the selected word and, in response, the device may output other instances or uses of the selected word. This document also describes techniques for refining search results associated with a particular word or phrase based at least in part on a measured amount of force associated with a selection. For instance, the device may refine (e.g., expand or narrow) illustrated search results based on the user providing greater or lesser force on the touch-sensitive display.
US08542204B2 Method, system, and program product for no-look digit entry in a multi-touch device
A method, device, and program product are provided for no-look entry of digits in a multi-touch device. A multi-touch screen of the multi-touch device senses an initializing combination of at least one touch. A no-look digit entry application assigns a binary value to each touched location. The multi-touch screen detects at least one combination of at least one touch of the touch screen. The no-look digit entry application determines the locations touched and enters digit inputs corresponding to the sum of the binary values assigned to the locations for each detected combination of touches.
US08542201B2 Inputting apparatus
An inputting apparatus including: a detecting portion which detects a movement of an input object; a first judging section which judges that the movement of the detected input object is a first-directional movement in which the input object is moved in a first direction, and that the movement of the input object is a second-directional movement in which the input object is moved in the first direction after being moved in a second direction; a first performing section which performs a processing according to the movement in the first direction where the movement of the input object is the first-directional movement; and a second performing section which regards the movement in the first direction in the second-directional movement as the movement in the second direction and performs a processing according to the movement in the second direction, where the movement of the input object is the second-directional movement.
US08542195B2 Method for optimization of soft keyboards for multiple languages
A method, and program product for optimizing soft keyboards with multiple languages is disclosed. The text of multiple languages may be analyzed for optimization. Constraints may be chosen for key positions on the keyboard. A mean time of inputting a character in each of the multiple languages may be calculated, which may result in mean times for inputting the character in the languages. The average of the mean times may be determined and minimized. The keys on a soft keyboard may be arranged in a manner for optimal input on the soft keyboard for the multiple languages.
US08542193B2 One button remote control with haptic feedback
An input system for a TV remote control or other system has a single touch surface with a deformable haptic assembly below the touch surface such that a user placing a finger on the touch surface can feel deformation of the haptic, assembly. A pressure sensing assembly is below the haptic assembly and sensing motion of a finger on the touch surface, with a processor receiving input from the pressure sensing assembly and providing output to the haptic assembly in response. Also, a display receives input sent by the processor in response to input from the pressure sensing assembly to cause the display to present a changing image of a keypad as a user moves a finger on the touch surface.
US08542188B2 Pointing input device, pointing control device, pointing control system, and pointing control method
An input apparatus is provided, and includes: a main body operated by a user in a first operation form of pointing a predetermined position on a screen using a pointer on the screen and a second operation form different from the first operation form. The input apparatus includes an operation form detection section to detect which of the first operation form and the second operation form an operation form of the main body is; a movement detection section to detect a movement of the mail body. The input apparatus includes an operational section to switch a first operational mode corresponding to the first operation form and a second operational mode corresponding to the second operation form therebetween according to the operation form of the main body, and calculating a corresponding movement value corresponding to the movement of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the detected movement of the main body.
US08542187B2 Handheld electronic device with text disambiguation
A method for disambiguating user inputs through a handheld mobile device is disclosed. According to the method, an ambiguous input sequence is received from an input device. A list including one or more disambiguated character sequences is generated on a display device corresponding to the ambiguous input sequence. An additional input is received from the input device. A processor determines that the additional input is an operational input associated with one of a plurality of operations on the disambiguated character sequences. The processor processes the disambiguated character sequences according the one of the plurality of operations associated with the operational input.
US08542185B2 Method and apparatus for operating mobile terminal
A method for operating a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a pressure sensor and an orientation sensor. While a pressure event is detected by the pressure sensor, functions related to content classification, content storage, content display, and menu navigation can be executed in response to a direction event detected by the orientation sensor. Hence, the mobile terminal is capable of operating in a dynamic and a flexible manner.
US08542183B2 Display device, signal line driver, and data transfer method
A liquid crystal display device includes a timing controller, a liquid crystal display panel, multiple data drivers, and gate drivers. The timing controller supplies control data to specified drivers among the data drivers. The specified drivers generate gate driver control signals to control gate drivers in response to the control data, and supply gate driver control signals to the gate drivers.
US08542182B2 Video display apparatus and video display method
According to an aspect of the invention, a video display apparatus includes: a sensor that measures an external environment to output the external environment; a storing unit that stores a correction value associated with the measured value; a adjusting unit that changes the correction value based on a given operation by a user; and a processor that adjusts a picture quality of a picture to be displayed on a display based on the measured value and the correction value.
US08542181B2 Flat panel display device, controller, and method for displaying images
A flat panel display device, LCD controller and associated method is provided. The flat panel display device includes a display panel, a lamp for providing a backlight source for the display panel, a power transformation module for providing a power source for the lamp, a non-volatile storage unit for storing program code, and a display controller. The display controller includes an image processing module for processing image data and outputting processed results to the display panel, and a digital pulse width modulation module for adjusting on and off time of the power transformation module according to a synchronization signal.
US08542178B2 Display driving circuit gate driver with shift register stages
A display driving circuit is provided. The display driving circuit, in which a gate driver shifting and outputting an input signal is embedded, includes an input portion receiving a pulse input signal consisting of a high-level signal and a low-level signal and transferring the pulse input signal to a boosting node, an inverter portion connected with the input portion, and inverting the pulse input signal to output the inverted signal, and a pull-up/pull-down portion consisting of a pull-up portion connected to the input portion, receiving a boosting voltage from the boosting node, and outputting a pull-up output signal, and a pull-down portion connected to the inverter portion, receiving the inverted signal, and outputting a pull-down output signal. Here, the inverter portion outputs a signal having a lower level than the low-level signal for a predetermined time period in which the pull-up output signal is output. Accordingly, the display driving circuit exhibits excellent output characteristics due to improved performance and also has excellent reliability.
US08542176B2 Timing controller, error detection method of the timing controller, and display device having the timing controller
A timing controller includes a control unit, an error signal generating unit, and an operation detecting unit. The control unit transfers a plurality of input data and outputs a plurality of completion signals according to transfer states of the respective data. The error signal generating unit generates a plurality of error signals with different waveforms, and the operation detecting unit selectively outputs one of the plurality of error signals in response to the plurality of completion signals.
US08542175B2 Flexible control of charge share in display panel
A source driver of a display panel includes a channel state signal generator, first switches, and second switches. The channel state signal generator generates first and second channel state signals that are each activated for a respective time period depending on adjustable state length data. The first switches are opened for uncoupling channel output signals from source lines of the display panel when the first channel state signal is activated. The second switches are closed for coupling together the source lines of the display panel for charge sharing when the second channel state signal is activated.
US08542173B2 Display panel and driving method thereof
Display panels buffering display data from a data driver. The display panel comprises a first signal line, a first data line, a first scan line interlaced with the first data line, a first pixel coupled to the first data line and the first scan line, a first switching element comprising a first terminal coupled to the first data line, a first storage capacitor coupled between a second terminal of the first switching element and a ground, and a second switching element coupled to the first storage capacitor and the first signal line.
US08542172B2 Driving of electro-optic displays
A method of operating an electro-optic display apparatus, wherein the display apparatus includes a display device having image regions and a display driving system having a data input for selecting image regions. The data input is connected to the input of a distributor for providing signals for driving the image regions. Each image region has an active display state in which the image region is driven with an active voltage signal. The active voltage signal includes a first signal level which sets an image region to the active display state and a second signal level different from said first signal level and which is applied for a shorter duration than said first signal level. The method comprises the following three steps: (1) applying the first signal level to one of said image regions in response to receiving data on said data input indicating that said image region is to be set to the active display state, (2) applying the second signal level to said image region after said first signal level has been applied; and (3) reapplying said first signal level before receipt of further data for said image region on said data input.
US08542170B2 Display device having data driver adjusting setup time and hold time
A display device includes a display panel having an adjustable refresh frequency, a data driver for receiving display data, generating driving voltages based on the display data, and driving the display panel to display images using the driving voltages, and a timing controller providing a timing control signal to the data driver. The timing control signal is generated according to the refresh frequency of the display panel. The data driver dynamically adjusts a setup time and a hold time of the data driver according to the timing control signal.
US08542169B2 DC/DC converter and liquid crystal display
A DC/DC converter of a liquid crystal display includes a charge pump having a thin film transistor, a capacitor and a diode. The thin film transistor is formed on an insulating substrate. A first main electrode of the thin film transistor is connected to an output terminal and a control electrode of the thin film transistor receives a control signal. The thin film transistor includes a non-monocrystal semiconductor. The capacitor has a first electrode connected to a second main electrode of the thin film transistor and a second electrode receiving a variable voltage. The diode is electrically connected between the second main electrode of the thin film transistor, the first electrode of the capacitor, and a power terminal in series. The diode includes a mono-crystal semiconductor.
US08542160B2 Medical image diagnosis apparatus having a plurality of monitors
A medical image diagnosis apparatus, comprises an image generator, a display, and a mechanism. The image generator is configured to generate a medical image. The display comprises a plurality of monitors and is configured to display the medical image. The mechanism is configured to change an arrangement of the plurality of monitors with respect to each of the monitors.
US08542157B2 Antenna module
An antenna module includes an antenna, a tunable matching circuit, a power detector and a control unit. The antenna comprises a feeding point. The tunable matching circuit, electrically connected between the antenna and the power detector and configured to provide a loading impedance, comprises a plurality of tunable impedance elements connected to each other and electrically connected to the feeding point as well. The power detector is electrically connected between the tunable matching circuit and a power amplifier and configured to detect a power indicator. The control unit, electrically connected to the tunable matching circuit and the power detector, is configured to read the power indicator and RSSI to generate a control signal for the tunable matching circuit, which consistently changes the loading impedance to achieve impedance matching.
US08542154B2 Portable terminal
A portable terminal comprises a ground portion mounted in a body of the portable terminal, and configured to form electrical ground of a circuit board which controls the portable terminal, a conductive member mounted to a case which forms appearance of the body, and formed of a conductive material, a first radiator electrically connected to the ground portion so as to be fed by the ground portion, and configured to transmit and receive radio electromagnetic waves, a second radiator formed of a conductive material, and connected to the conductive member so as to form an antenna pattern together with the ground portion and the conductive member, the antenna pattern consecutive with a feed point of the first radiator, and a connection member configured to electrically connect edges of the ground portion to the conductive member such that the first radiator and the antenna pattern form a dipole antenna.
US08542151B2 Antenna module and antenna unit thereof
An antenna unit is provided. The antenna unit includes a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a plurality of conductive vias, a feed conductor and a patch. The first substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface. The first conductive layer is disposed on the first surface. The second conductive layer is disposed on the second surface, wherein an opening is formed on the second conductive layer, and the opening has an opening edge. The conductive vias are formed in the first substrate and connect the first conductive layer to the second conductive layer, wherein the conductive vias surround the opening to define a cavity. The feed conductor extends above the opening to feed a wireless signal to the antenna unit. The patch is disposed above the opening and is separated from the feed conductor.
US08542145B2 Locating system based on noisy type waveforms
The present invention relates to a system for locating non-cooperating objects by means of a random or pseudo-random noisy type waveform generator, an amplifier, of said waveforms and an antenna which radiates them towards the object, which object generates an electromagnetic echo which is detected by a passive subsystem of antennas and receivers. The time delay and Doppler shift values are determined in the latter subsystem and in turn forwarded from encoding and modulating blocks to a central processor which estimates the position and the speed of the object. The passive subsystem receives, through a transmission channel or storage element, the reference signal which represents the transmitted noisy type waveform and uses it for calculating the bi-dimensional cross correlation (ambiguity function), which permits to estimate the time delay and the Doppler shift.
US08542144B2 Analog to digital converter
An analog to digital converter converts an input analog signal to a digital representation using successive approximation logic to generate a plurality of digital values approximating the analog signal. Evaluation logic evaluates each of the digital values by converting each of the digital values in a digital to analog converter (DAC) to a DAC analog signal and comparing the DAC analog signal to the input analog signal to determine a comparison result used by the successive approximation logic to generate a next one of the digital values. An evaluation time period for one or more bits of the digital representation is longer than for one or more other bits in the digital representation. The DAC includes a resistor ladder. Reference voltages of the DAC are increased for evaluation of the least significant bit (LSB) to obtain more accurate results without increasing a number of resistors.
US08542143B1 Pipelined ADC stage filters
A pipelined Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) stage includes a main sampling path having a first filter in series with a first sample and hold circuit and a sub-ADC sampling path having a second filter in series with a second sample and hold circuit driving a sub-ADC connected to a sub-Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). The frequency response of the main sampling path is matched to a frequency response of the sub-ADC sampling path such that a residue signal of the pipelined ADC stage stays within range.
US08542141B2 Analog-to-digital conversion device and analog-to-digital conversion method
An analog-to-digital conversion device which converts an analog input signal into a digital signal and output it includes a signal characteristic detection unit for detecting a predetermined characteristic of the input signal; a control signal generation unit for setting a resolution based on the signal characteristic detected by the signal characteristic detection unit, generating a control signal that indicates only an operation required for performing the analog-to-digital conversion at the resolution, and outputting it; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit for restricting the operation based on the control signal and converting the input signal into the digital signal at the set resolution.
US08542137B2 Decoding encoded data
Data encoded by replacing each of a plurality of characters with bit strings is received. On the basis of definition information, at least one of the characters is recorded as corresponding to each of the bit lengths, and decode information is generated based on the number of characters, wherein the decode information includes bit string information for sorting the bit strings in a bit length order that is a predetermined order associated with bit lengths. In response to receiving a particular bit length, character information in which the characters are sorted in the bit length order is generated by inserting a character corresponding to the particular bit length into a position corresponding to the particular bit length in an array in which at least one of the bit lengths.
US08542132B2 Handheld electronic device and associated method employing a multiple-axis input device and using non-edited characters as context in text disambiguation
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.
US08542130B2 Integration of global positioning system and active parking assist functionalities
A vehicle has a global positioning system and an active parking assist system. The global positioning system is configured for providing information designating a present location of the vehicle and for providing information designating configuration of a target parking location proximate to the present location of the vehicle. The active parking assist system is configured to affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location. The active parking assist system is coupled to the global positioning system for acquiring the present location information therefrom and the target parking location information therefrom. The active parking assist system determines a type of assisted parking functionality to implement for affect maneuvering of the vehicle into the target parking location dependent upon the present location information and the target parking location information.
US08542127B1 Apparatus for the non-contact metallic constructions assessment
A device and method for discovering, identification and monitoring of mechanical flaws in metallic structures is disclosed, based on magneto-graphic/magnetic tomography technique to identify stress-related defects. The technique is specifically optimized for extended, not-accessible underground and underwater metallic structures quality control, emergency alarms as well as timeline planning for structural repairs and maintenance work. Examples of the technique implementation include pipes for oil and gas industry, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships, reservoirs, etc. It is especially important for loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention and environment protection.
US08542126B2 Optical network terminal backup battery centralized monitoring and voltage alert
An optical network terminal (ONT) battery backup unit (BBU) battery voltage alert system (BVAS). This alert is provided as a supplement to an audio alarm which sounds when the backup battery is discharging because that alarm may not be heard in sufficient time if the alarm is remotely located relative to its customer, e.g., in the customer's basement or outside. A battery monitoring facility, located in a telecommunication service provider's centralized serving office, or remotely located elsewhere, monitors the voltage of each of a plurality of batteries deployed in customers' premises within the geographical area served by that centralized serving office. That battery monitoring facility receives packets via a communication network from each such customer's premises, each of those packets representing a battery voltage measurement. That battery monitoring facility stores these on-going measurements thereby creating a trending database to point to any potential future battery failures. The battery monitoring facility alerts a particular customer via the communication network when its battery is about to fail by email/text, fax, telephone or other similar mechanism.
US08542124B2 Acoustic leak detector
An acoustic detector assembly for detecting a leak of a pressurized mixture of liquids and gases in a pipeline or pressurized vessel that includes an ultrasonic acoustic transducer generating an output in response to receiving an acoustical signal associated with the leaking mixture of liquids and gases, a detector connected with the acoustic transducer. The detector may include a band pass filter reducing the non-ultrasonic component of the acoustic transducer output to produce a filtered output, a loudness level detector receiving the filtered output and transmitting a “start” signal if the filtered acoustic signal reaches a specified loudness level, a time bridging module receiving the “start” signal, the time bridging module transmitting a continuous “count” signal while the “start” signal is received and for a predetermined time after the “start” signal is no longer received, and a time delay module transmitting an alarm signal if the time bridging module transmits the “count” signal for a predetermined duration.
US08542121B2 Systems and methods for identifying and collecting banned waste
Systems and methods for authorizing a waste item to be removed from a site. In one embodiment, a waste collection vehicle includes a reader configured to obtain identification information from an identification tag associated with the waste item. A transceiver associated with the vehicle is configured to: receive the identification information from the reader, wirelessly transmit the identification information to a remote computer for processing, and wirelessly receive an indication of whether the waste item should be collected and removed by the waste collection. The received indication is based on at least one hazardous characteristic associated with the identified waste item, a determination that the waste collection vehicle is authorized to collect the waste item having the at least one hazardous characteristic, and a determination that a driver of the waste collection vehicle is authorized to collect the waste item having the at least one hazardous characteristic.
US08542115B2 Environmental sensor with webserver and email notification
A detector is described. The detector includes one or more environmental sensors that measures a predetermined environmental parameter, a processor that compares the measured parameter with a plurality of threshold values and detects that the measured parameter exceeds one of the plurality of threshold values and constructs a message to a person associated with the exceeded threshold value and an Internet protocol network interface that forwards the constructed message to the person.
US08542114B2 Cap-lamp and communications support system
An underground radio communications and personnel tracking system uses a cap-lamp worn by a miner when underground in a mine. A cap-lamp transceiver provides voice and text communication on ultra-low frequency (ULF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) carrier frequencies and modulation adapted by programming of a software defined radio to making selective and agile radio contacts via through-the-earth, conductor/lifeline, coal seam, tunnel, and ionosphere/earth-surface waveguides for transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waveguides comprise layered earth coal and mineral deposits, and manmade mining complex infrastructures which serendipitously form efficient waveguides. Ultra-Low Frequency F1/F1 repeaters are placed underground in the mine, and providing for extended range of communication of the cap-lamp transceiver with radios and tracking devices above ground of the mine.
US08542111B2 Programmable communicator
A programmable communicator device is disclosed having a wireless communications circuit, including an antenna, configured to receive a transmission, and an identity module having a unique identifier. The programmable communicator further includes a processing module including program code configured to determine if the transmission is from an authenticated caller by determining whether a received transmission contains the unique identifier, and memory configured to store telephone numbers or IP addresses received in transmissions from an authenticated caller.
US08542107B2 Vapor alarm in flotation fob
An apparatus includes an alarm device, enclosed in a water tight container adapted to buoyantly support the alarm device and a wireless receiver, the water tight container adapted to couple with a key ring, including hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory to receive information from a remote vapor sensor and to activate the alarm if the information indicates a hazardous vapor condition.
US08542105B2 Handheld computer interface with haptic feedback
Various systems, devices, and methods are provided for generating an impact and/or surface haptic effect for a handheld computer interface such as a video game controller. For example, the handheld computer interface may include a handle coupled to an impact actuator. The impact actuator includes a movable mass and an end stop. The impact actuator may receive a haptic effect signal and in response cause the mass to contact the end stop to generate a haptic effect. A smart material that outputs a surface haptic effect may be coupled to a surface of the handle such that the surface haptic effect is output substantially from the smart material rather than the handle. The handle may be coupled to an end piece having a shape that simulates an object such as a tennis racket, golf club, or other object.
US08542104B2 RFID edge server having a programmable logic controller API
An RFID edge server is adapted to receive RFID data from RFID readers. The RFID edge server can have a PLC API to allow the RFID edge server to control and receive data from devices.
US08542102B2 Method for operating an RFID network
The invention relates to a method for operating an RFID network consisting of a number of read-write stations (1, 2, 3, 11, N0-N17), for which a reader service signal (9, 105) is modulated onto a read-write signal that is required to process a number of electronic labels (6). According to the invention, the following steps are carried out: at least one read-write station (1 2, 3, 11, N0-N17) is entrusted with the function of a master (100) that has stored a network structure (110) comprising structure data and a co-ordination plan containing co-ordination data; the master or masters transmit(s) (100) at least corresponding data for an organized synchronous network operation to the read-write stations (1, 2, 3, 11, N0-N17) periodically and/or on demand, so that the read-write stations (1, 2, 3, 11, N0-N17) do not interfere with one another during the read-write operation. This is achieved using a number of time slots (21, 31, 41) and a number of frequency channels (20, 30, 40), a service frequency channel (reader service channel, RSK) and/or a service time slot (reader service time, RST) being available and used to synchronize and modify the structure and co-ordination data between the master (100) and the read-write stations (1, 2, 3, 11, N0-N17).
US08542098B2 Location determination and guidance using radio frequency identification
A method and system for location determination and guidance using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. A location of a mobile RFID reader can be determined by detecting stationary RFID tags located at fixed locations. Each RFID tag stores location information associated with its position as well as location information of at least one other RFID tag. The location information stored by each RFID tag can be used to direct a user from one RFID tag to another. Thus, RFID technology is also used to guide mobile RFID reader between the fixed locations of the stationary RFID tags.
US08542097B2 Systems and methods for transmitting information, alerts, and/or comments to participants based on location information
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for sharing information related to a location also referred to herein as a “spot,” such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on recipient mobile electronic devices proximately located to such location (e.g., spot). Users of the system can create spot alerts in which designated recipients can receive messages, such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on respective recipient mobile electronic devices, when located within a proximity of a defined location (e.g., spot).
US08542092B2 Keyless-go ignition switch with fault backup
A vehicle ignition system includes a fob for transmitting an identification code. The fob includes a low frequency transceiver circuit and low frequency antenna. An ignition module is provided including, a housing, switch contacts and a push button slidably mounted in the housing and arranged so that pushing of said button closes said switch contacts. A LF coil is provided and is axially stationary within the housing and is located inside of the push button. An ignition module circuit provides power to the fob and establishes low frequency communications with the fob via the LF coil. An immobilizer circuit is operatively coupled to the ignition module for permitting or preventing actuation of the ignition system in response to the low frequency communications with the fob and the ignition module.
US08542089B1 Electrical control system
An electrical control system.
US08542083B2 Collapsible mechanism for circuit breakers
A device can be installed inside a circuit breaker assembly to reduce friction between an armature and a cradle, which in turn, allows the circuit breaker to trip without requiring significant force. Such device can be a collapsible mechanism configured to swivel about its hinged connection to the armature.
US08542079B2 Coaxial transmission line microstructure including an enlarged coaxial structure for transitioning to an electrical connector
Provided are coaxial transmission line microstructures formed by a sequential build process, and methods of forming such microstructures. The microstructures include a transition structure for transitioning between the coaxial transmission line and an electrical connector. The microstructures have particular applicability to devices for transmitting electromagnetic energy and other electronic signals.
US08542078B2 Dynamic impedance matching network and method for matching an impedance between a source and a load
An impedance matching network includes an impedance matching circuit for dynamically matching an impedance between a source and a load. Matching is done by varying the real part and the imaginary part of the impedance of the impedance matching circuit independently.
US08542076B2 Impedance matching
In an impedance matching circuit selectively operable in a normal matching mode and a protection mode, the impedance matching circuit includes a set of reactances in a first reactance arrangement configured to transform an impedance of a load to an impedance within a range of a nominal impedance of an HF generator in the normal matching mode, and a PIN diode switch having a first invariable switching state in the normal matching mode and a second switchomg state that reconfigures the set of reactances into a second reactance arrangement in the protection mode, such that the second reactance arrangement is configured to transform the impedance of the load to prevent damage to the HF generator or to transmission circuitry arranged between the HF generator and the load.
US08542074B2 MEMS resonator
A MEMS resonator including: an input port which is applied with an input voltage; an output port which outputs an output current; and N MEMS resonating units (N being an integer greater than or equal to 2), the MEMS resonating unit each including a vibrator and being connected to the input port and output port, in which the N MEMS resonating units are serially connected to the input port.
US08542073B2 Variable-capacitance device
A variable-capacitance device includes a first capacitance element coupled between a first power supply terminal and an output terminal, a capacitance selection switch that is turned on and off in accordance with a capacitance switching signal, a second capacitance element coupled in parallel to the first capacitance element and in series to the capacitance selection switch, and an error correction circuit configured to operate such that in a state in which the capacitance selection switch is in an OFF state, in response to a charge reset signal that causes a voltage at the output terminal to be reset to a reset voltage, the error correction circuit substantially eliminates a difference between the voltage at the output terminal and a voltage at a capacitance switching node at which the second capacitance element is coupled to the capacitance selection switch.
US08542066B2 Apparatus and methods for reducing output noise of a signal channel
Apparatus and methods for reducing output noise of a signal channel are provided. In one embodiment, a signal channel includes an amplifier for amplifying an input signal to generate an amplified signal. The amplifier includes a bias circuit that controls a bias current of the amplifier based on a voltage across a biasing capacitor. The apparatus further includes a sampling circuit for sampling the amplified signal. The sampling circuit generates an output signal based on a difference between a first sample of the amplified signal taken at a first time instance and a second sample of the amplified signal taken at a second time instance. The bias circuit samples a bias voltage onto the biasing capacitor before the first time instance and holds the voltage across the biasing capacitor substantially constant between the first time instance and the second time instance to reduce noise of the output signal.
US08542065B2 Trans-impedance amplifier for optical receiver
A trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an optical receiver is disclosed, where the TIA stabilizes the cross point in the output thereof independent of the variation of the power supply. The TIA of the invention includes an amplifier section, a source follower, and a bias generator. A transistor in the source follower to define the current flowing in the source follower and another transistor in the bias generator constitute a current-mirror circuit. The operating point of the other transistor in the bias generator depends on the variation of the power supply. The output level of the amplifier section follows the variation of the power supply.
US08542063B2 Adaptive amplification circuit
An adaptive amplification circuit is disclosed, which includes an operational amplifier including a variable bias current source for providing a variable bias current for the operational amplifier, a simulation unit for simulating operational characteristics of the operational amplifier and transforming a simulation input voltage to a simulation output voltage, and a bias control unit for generating a bias control signal to the variable bias current source according to the simulation output voltage so as to adjust the variable bias current.
US08542062B2 Adaptive digital pre-distortion method and device to enhance the power utility of power amplifiers in wireless digital communication applications
The present invention concerns the field of power amplifiers and in particular the enhancement of the performance of the amplifier by a feedback loop acting on the input signal. It describes a method for linearizing a power amplifier circuit having a digital base-band input signal, a power output signal, a power amplifier and a linearizer module (LM), this method comprising the steps of: extracting a feedback signal from the power amplifier (PA) output signal, down-converting the feedback RF-signal to feedback IF-signal, filtering the feedback IF-signal with a band-pass filter, A/D converting the filtered feedback IF-signal into a feedback digital signal, converting the feedback digital signal into frequency-domain using fast-Fourier transform FFT on a block of n-samples to obtain a feedback FB-FFT block, converting the input base-band digital signal into frequency-domain using fast-Fourier transform FFT on a block of n-samples to obtain a input FF-FFT block, dividing the input FF-FFT block with the feedback FB-FFT block to obtain FFT correction samples blocks, averaging at least two blocks of FFT correction samples to obtain FFT correction coefficient values, applying the FFT correction coefficient values to a digital complex multiplier, converting the output of the multiplier from frequency domain into time domain with an inverse FFT module to obtain a corrected digital input signal, converting the corrected digital input signal to analog IF signal with a digital to analog converter to obtain a corrected IF input signal, applying the band-pass filter to the corrected IF input signal, up-converting the filtered corrected IF input signal to obtain a corrected RF input signal, applying the corrected RF input signal to the power amplifier.
US08542059B2 Ultra-low-power power supply system for an IC chip
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a power supply system that uses a capacitive voltage divider to selectively monitor various power supplies on an IC chip. The power supply system may sample a monitored power supply to a capacitor and select certain capacitors from a set of switched capacitors to divide down the sampled voltage. The resulting voltage may be compared to a voltage reference. Using different selections of switched capacitors, the monitored power supply may be compared for different voltage levels. The ratio of the sampling capacitor to the selected capacitors may determine a voltage level the comparator will trigger. Further, based on the monitored power supply level, the power supply system may turn on a switch between an external power supply and a regulated digital power supply to charge the regulated digital power supply while a main LDO is turned off.
US08542058B2 Semiconductor device including body connected FETs
A semiconductor device includes: a first field-effect transistor (FET); and a second FET of similar polarity to the first FET, wherein a body of the first FET is electrically coupled to a body of the second FET, and a source of the first FET is electrically coupled to a source of the second FET, such that a body voltage of the second FET controls a body voltage of the first FET.
US08542057B2 Circuit arrangement and method for temperature measurement
A circuit arrangement for temperature measurement comprises an input for connecting a temperature-sensitive element, a that is connected to a first input of a comparator. A reference voltage is connected to a second input of the comparator. Furthermore, the arrangement comprises a sequential logic, that is coupled to the output of the comparator that comprises a first output and a second output. A digitally controllable switch element for providing a superposition signal is connected to the output of the sequential logic and the first input of the comparator.
US08542055B2 Multi-level control for pass transistor gate voltage
A circuit for selectively providing a signal from a source to a sink is provided. The circuit includes a field effect transistor having a conducting state and a non-conducting state, the field effect transistor having a gate, a source, and a drain. The circuit also includes a first comparator configured to provide a first output based on a difference between a source voltage at the source of the field effect transistor and a first reference voltage. Finally, the circuit includes a switching amplifier configured to apply a first gate voltage to the gate of the field effect transistor as a function of the first output of the first comparator.
US08542054B2 Power switch acceleration scheme for fast wakeup
A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup.
US08542053B2 High-linearity testing stimulus signal generator
A high-linearity testing stimulus signal generator comprises a signal collection unit receiving an input current signal, a waveform conversion unit connecting with the signal collection unit, a first voltage-to-current conversion unit connecting with the waveform conversion unit, a delay unit connecting with the waveform conversion unit, a second voltage-to-current conversion unit connecting with the delay unit, a current comparison unit connecting respectively with the first voltage-to-current conversion unit and the second voltage-to-current conversion unit, an error calculation unit connecting with the current comparison unit, and a compensation unit connecting with the error calculation unit. The above-mentioned structure forms a feedback mechanism to perform compensation adjustment to promote the linearity of the output signals. Thus, the present invention can generate high-accuracy testing stimulus signals.
US08542052B2 Integrated circuit capacitor
An electrical circuit for emulating a capacitance, comprises a physical capacitor which is charged by charge flow from the input of the electrical circuit. An amplifier amplifies the voltage at the input of the electrical circuit such that the physical capacitor is charged with a larger change in voltage than the change in voltage at the input. This implements an effective multiplication of capacitance. A reset system resets the physical capacitor without drawing charge from the input of the electrical circuit. This extends the voltages which can be provided to the input.
US08542049B1 Methods and delay circuits for generating a plurality of delays in delay lines
Various embodiments of a method of configuring a delay circuit for generating a plurality of delays in a delay line and a delay circuit configurable for generating plurality of delays are provided. The method includes determining, through a control circuit coupled with a delay line set, a first number of delay steps corresponding to an intrinsic delay of a delay line from among a plurality of delay lines of the delay line set. The intrinsic delay is a minimum delay contributed by the delay line. The method also includes determining, through the control circuit, a second number of delay steps to provide a delay through the delay line based on the first number of delay steps. The method further includes configuring, through a configuration circuit coupled with the delay line set, the delay line for generating the delay corresponding to the second number of delay steps through the delay line.
US08542047B2 Electronic device and method for low power reset
An electronic device and a method for operating an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a reset stage which is configured to have a power down threshold and a power cycle threshold. The voltage level of the power cycle threshold is lower than the voltage level of the power down threshold. The two threshold levels define a first and second interval for a supply voltage of the electronic device. A first interval is between the power cycle threshold and the power down threshold. A second interval is above the power down threshold. The reset stage is further configured to provide the control signal having a defined first state in the first interval and a defined second state in the second interval. The electronic device is set to a low power reset mode if the control signal is in the first state and the electronic device is enabled to enter an active mode if the control signal is in the second state.
US08542046B2 Apparatus, system, and method for voltage swing and duty cycle adjustment
Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for compensating voltage swing and duty cycle of a signal on an input-output (I/O) pad of a processor by adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal. The apparatus comprises a driver to transmit a signal on an I/O pad, the signal on the I/O pad having a voltage swing and a duty cycle; and an adjustment unit, coupled to the driver, to receive the signal from the I/O pad transmitted by the driver and to generate voltage swing and duty cycle control signals for adjusting the voltage swing and duty cycle of the signal on the I/O pad respectively. Described herein is also an analog-to-digital (A2D) converter for measuring and/or calibrating various signal attributes including current, voltage, and time.
US08542045B2 Duty correcting circuit, delay-locked loop circuit and method of correcting duty
The duty correcting circuit includes a duty cycle corrector, a duty detector and a duty correction code generator. The duty cycle corrector corrects a duty cycle of an input clock signal to generate an output clock signal. The duty detector adjusts a delay time of the output clock signal to generate a sampling clock signal, samples the output clock signal in response to the sampling clock signal to generate sample data, and detects a duty of the output clock signal based on logic states of the sample data. Therefore, the duty correcting circuit precisely detects and corrects a duty of the output clock signal.
US08542043B2 High speed DLL offset cancellation
In an embodiment, a primary charge pump and replica charge pump may be coupled to matching control mechanisms and loads. In an embodiment, the replica charge pump may produce an error current originating from charge pump timing mismatches in a steady locked loop state. The error current produced by the replica charge pump may be measured by a difference amplifier to adjust at least one current source to compensate for the error current originating from the timing mismatches. To adjust the current sources, the amplifier may cause the current source to produce an equal but opposite current to cancel the effects of the error current, resulting in a constant output voltage.
US08542041B2 Semiconductor device and system
A first transistor has one end and a gate coupled to a first power supply line and other end coupled to a first node. A second transistor has a gate coupled to a second node, one end coupled to the first node, and other end coupled to a third node. A third transistor has one end coupled to a second power supply line, a gate coupled to a fourth node, and other end coupled to the third node. A first bias voltage generation circuit supplies a first bias voltage to the second node. A second bias voltage generation circuit supplies a second bias voltage to the fourth node. Accordingly, the power supply voltage at which the third node is changed from a certain level to another level is set high, and an internal node in a semiconductor device is securely initialized when the power supply voltage is decreased.
US08542040B1 Reconfigurable divider circuits with hybrid structure
An integrated circuit includes a first variable divider circuit configured to receive a clock signal and to apply a lower range of integer division factors thereto responsive to a first control input to generate a first divided clock signal and a second variable divider circuit configured to receive the clock signal and to apply an upper range of integer division factors thereto responsive to a second control input to generate a second divided clock signal. The integrated circuit further includes a multiplexer circuit configured to selectively pass the first and second divided clock signals responsive to a third control input.
US08542032B1 Integrated circuits with interconnect selection circuitry
Integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits may include programmable logic regions that can be configured to perform custom user functions. The programmable logic regions may produce output signals. The integrated circuit may include interconnects that route selected output signals throughout the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include output selection circuitry having output selection and interconnect selection stages. The output selection circuitry may be configured to select which of the output signals produced by the programmable logic regions are provided to the interconnects for routing. The interconnect selection stage may be formed using multiplexing circuits or tristate drivers. Logic design system computing equipment may be used to generate configuration data that can be used to program the output selection circuitry to reduce crosstalk by routing signals away from critical interconnects or by double-driving critical interconnects.
US08542031B2 Method and apparatus for regulating a power supply of an integrated circuit
Disclosed is a circuit for adjusting a voltage supplied to an IC by a power supply circuit that produces a regulated-output voltage based on an output-control signal generated by a resistive voltage divider. The circuit includes a PVT detector configured to generate an interface control signal and an interface circuit (i) connected to PVT detector and to the resistive voltage divider and (ii) configured to adjust its resistance in response to the interface control signal. Adjusting the resistance of the interface circuit causes the voltage of the output-control signal to be adjusted, thus causing the power supply circuit to adjust the regulated output voltage.
US08542025B2 Embeddable moisture sensor, measurement device and method of use thereof
Disclosed herein is a method of interrogating a resonant circuit that includes embedding a resonant circuit into a material, wherein a dielectric of a capacitor of the resonant circuit is the material. The method includes remotely determining the resonant frequency of the electrical circuit with a measurement device, wherein the determining is accomplished automatically. Finally, the method includes remotely automatically determining at least one of an estimated or precise resistance of the resonant circuit, an estimated or precise quality factor of the resonant circuit, and an estimated or precise voltage ratio of the resonant circuit, wherein the voltage ratio is a ratio of a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at resonance and a voltage of the energy absorbed by the receiver at a fixed frequency shift from resonance.
US08542021B2 Multi-pole arcing fault circuit breaker including a neutral current sensor
A fault detection system is provided for a power distribution system having at least first and second line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other from a source to a load, and a common neutral conductor. The system includes an arcing fault current sensor comprising a coil wound on a hollow core and coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the hollow core, thus inducing in the coil an output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. A neutral current sensor produces an output signal representing the magnitude and phase direction of current in the neutral conductor. An arcing fault detection circuit includes a processor programmed to (1) respond to a change in the first output signal to analyze the second output signal to determine whether the change in the first output signal is attributable at least in part to current in a line-to-line circuit, (2) if the answer is affirmative, determine a scaling factor to be used to adjust the value of the first output signal, and (3) analyze the adjusted first output signal to determine whether an arcing fault has occurred and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault.
US08542017B2 System and method for measuring the shape of an organ of a patient using a magnetic induction radio sensor integrated in a stretchable strap
A system and method for measuring the shape of an object using a magnetic induction radio sensor involves at least partially enclosing the object with a magnetic loop antenna of the magnetic induction radio sensor, where the inductance of the magnetic loop antenna depends on the shape of the object, and providing a particular capacitance at an antenna matching circuit coupled to the magnetic loop antenna in response to the inductance of the magnetic loop antenna such that the magnetic loop antenna and the antenna matching circuit form a resonant circuit and the resonant circuit has a fixed resonant frequency, where the particular capacitance is used to measure the shape of the object.
US08542015B2 Apparatus and method for protecting a magnetic resonance imaging magnet during quench
A superconducting magnet assembly comprising a plurality of superconducting magnet coil portions forming a coil series circuit to provide a magnetic field, a power supply to supply power to the plurality of superconducting magnet coil portions during a magnet ramp mode of operation, and a ramp switch coupled to the superconducting magnet coil portions, wherein the ramp switch is configured to be open during a magnet ramp mode and closed during a persistent mode. A dump resistor is disposed externally to the vessel and is connectable by the ramp switch to the superconducting magnet coil portions. Further, a controller is coupled to at least one superconducting magnet coil portion and the ramp switch and is configured to detect a quench onset condition in the at least one superconducting magnet coil portion and to open the ramp switch upon detection of the quench onset condition in order to dump magnet energy.
US08542011B2 Apparatus and method for reducing a transient signal in a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor.
US08542010B2 Circuits and methods for generating a diagnostic mode of operation in a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
US08542007B2 Inductive position sensor
In an inductive position sensor for determining the position, particularly the rotation angle, of a movable element, at least two subsystems are provided, which each have second transmitting units with an actuating unit, an oscillating circuit on the movable element, and a receiving unit with an evaluating unit. According to the invention, it is provided that the operation of the individual subsystems is carried out alternately. Thus, if one subsystem is operating, all other subsystems are deactivated. In this way, all subsystems are individually operated in a consecutive manner. The synchronization required to do so is provided by a non-galvanic coupling of the subsystems, and in particular by an inductive coupling by way of preferably existing inductances of the subsystems.
US08542006B2 Movement detection circuit of solenoid shear seal valve on subsea pressure control system and method of detecting movement of solenoid actuator
A solenoid current monitoring circuit of a solenoid actuator includes a solenoid drive board configured to receive a control signal, a sensing resistor configured to detect a current signal of a solenoid coil of the actuator resulting from the control signal, and a differentiator configured to differentiate the current signal. The solenoid current monitoring circuit detects the movement of the solenoid actuator based on a change in the differentiated current signal caused by a change in inductance of the solenoid coil.
US08542000B1 Curvature compensated band-gap design
A bandgap reference circuit is compensated for temperature dependent curvature in its output. A voltage across a diode with a fixed current is subtracted from a voltage across a diode with a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current. The resultant voltage is then magnified and added to a PTAT voltage and a diode's voltage that has a complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) characteristic, resulting in a curvature corrected bandgap voltage.
US08541999B2 Controlling power loss in a switched-capacitor power converter
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that implements a switched-capacitor power converter which is configured to actively control power loss while converting an input voltage to an output voltage. This system includes one or more switched-capacitor blocks (SCBs), wherein each SCB includes a first capacitor and a set of switching devices configured to couple a constant-potential terminal and a time-varying-potential terminal of the first capacitor between the input voltage, the output voltage and a reference voltage. The system also includes a clocking circuit which produces gate drive signals for switching transistors in the one or more SCBs. The system additionally includes a controller configured to actively control the gate drive signals from the clocking circuit to substantially minimize the power loss for the switched-capacitor power converter.
US08541997B2 Current sensing signal comparing device, and current sensing signal comparing method
Provided is a current sensing signal comparing device and current sensing signal comparing method. The current sensing signal comparing device includes a current sensing circuit for detecting a current signal of a switching circuit and thereby generating a current sensing signal, a control unit for outputting a control signal, and a compensating circuit for compensating the current sensing signal according to the control signal. The compensated current sensing signal is compared with a constant current reference signal in order to issue a constant current control signal. The device can also be provided to configure the compensating circuit to compensate the constant current reference signal, such that the current sensing signal is compared with the compensated constant current reference signal in order to issue a constant current control signal.
US08541994B2 Switched-mode power supply
A switched-mode power supply (SMPS) uses an equivalent inductor of bonding wire(s) and lead frame(s) to replace a traditional external inductor. A current-controlled pulse width modulation (PWM) modulator and a current-controlled pulse frequency modulation (PFM) modulator are optionally employed for high frequency switching, so as to mate a low inductance value of the bonding wire(s) and lead frame(s) and achieve reduced cost, low power consumption and low complexity.
US08541991B2 Power converter with controller operable in selected modes of operation
A power converter and method of controlling the same for selected modes of operation. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a first power switch coupled to a source of electrical power and a second power switch coupled to the first power switch and to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control an operation of the first and second power switches during selected modes of operation.
US08541990B2 Power conversion controller having a novel power factor correction mechanism using line voltage normalization
A power conversion controller having a novel power factor correction mechanism, including: a normalization unit, used to generate a normalized signal according to a line voltage by multiplying the line voltage with a normalizing gain, wherein the normalizing gain is proportional to the reciprocal of the amplitude of the line voltage; a reference current generation unit, coupled to the normalization unit to generate a reference current signal by performing an arithmetic operation, wherein the arithmetic operation involves the normalized signal; and a gate drive signal generation unit, used to generate a gate drive signal, wherein the duty of the gate drive signal is determined by a voltage comparison of the reference current signal and a current sensing signal.
US08541984B2 Charging systems capable of determining the kind of coupled device and related methods thereof
Disclosed is a method for controlling charging current to a battery of a charging system, performed by a control unit of the charging system. The method includes: (a) detecting that a device is coupled to the charging system and determining what kind of the device the charging system is coupled to; (b) adjusting the charging current to a level according to the coupled device. The charging current is generated by the coupled device.
US08541983B2 Circuit and method of operation for an electrical power supply
A battery charging circuit comprising: a semiconductor switch having an output connected to a rechargeable battery; a battery charge controller for receiving power from an external source, and supplying output power to a portable device and the input of the semiconductor switch, the current output of the battery charge controller being controllable; and a voltage sensing circuit for: measuring the voltage drop across the battery charge controller; and responding to the voltage drop across the battery charge controller by modulating the semiconductor switch to reduce the quantity of current supplied to the rechargeable battery when the voltage drop is too great; whereby the total power dissipated by the battery charge controller is controlled, the portable device receiving the power it needs to operate and the rechargeable battery receiving any additional available power.
US08541981B2 Low-voltage dual-power-path management architecture for rechargeable battery monitoring solutions
A control circuit of a battery power-path management circuit establishes a first power path between a battery input node and an output node when the input node voltage is larger than a charger input node voltage and a second power path between the charger input node and the output node when the voltage on the charger input node is larger than the battery input node voltage. It controls the second power path to provide power to the output node, enabling battery charging and protection over a battery voltage range from about zero volts. It has low power consumption and can support wide-swing power supply voltage from as low as one volt to as high as maximum allowed Vds of drain-extended devices. It can use smaller device sizes because the PMOS switch gate voltage is 0V when the power supply is not too high.
US08541975B2 System and method for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal. The method includes detecting the mobile terminal by a charging apparatus, receiving a unique identifier of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and determining if the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, when the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, applying a direct voltage to a first coil of the charging apparatus and arranging the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal, and terminating an application of the direct voltage and then applying an alternating voltage, to supply charging power required for the mobile terminal.
US08541974B2 Movable magnetically resonant antenna for wireless charging
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may include reorienting at least one transmit antenna to reduce orthogonality with a receive antenna of at least one chargeable electronic device in response to receiving the at least one electronic device in a holder. The method may further include wirelessly transferring power from the at least one transmit antenna to the receive antenna.
US08541969B2 Method and device for pulse width modulated activation of an electrical drive motor of an adjustment arrangement
In a method and a device for pulse width modulated (PWM-) activation of an electrical drive motor (2) of an adjustment arrangement based on a reference of the mechanical system of the adjustment arrangement that corresponds to a relationship between the force (F) on the drive motor (2) and the adjustment path (s) or the adjustment time (t) of the adjustment arrangement stored in a memory (9), an anticipated future force value (F(t+t0)) is determined based on the reference of the mechanical system in order to adjust the PWM activation in advance by utilizing this future force value such that motor synchronization fluctuations can be prevented upon anticipated mechanical fluctuations in the adjustment arrangement.
US08541967B2 Steering control apparatus
A steering control apparatus includes a direct current power source, a three-phase alternating current motor, and a motor driving circuit. An emergency switching element is provided on at least two phases of a three-phase power supply line connected to the three-phase alternating current motor within the motor driving circuit, and the emergency switching element is turned off when an abnormality occurs such that the motor driving circuit is disconnected from the three-phase alternating current motor. The emergency switching element is a MOSFET, and the MOSFETs are provided in pairs in each of the two phases of the three-phase power supply line. Further, parasitic diodes of the pairs of MOSFETs are disposed in opposite orientations to each other.
US08541966B2 PWM control circuit and PWM control method
The PWM control circuit includes a polarity determination unit, a full wave rectification unit, an adjustment unit that generates an adjusted waveform signal by adjusting waveform of the full wave rectification signal, and a carrier signal generating unit that generates a fixed frequency carrier signal. The PWM control circuit further includes a comparator that generates an original PWM signal by comparing the adjusted waveform signal and the carrier signal, and a PWM waveform shaping unit that generates a first PWM signal for the positive polarity section and a second PWM signal for the negative polarity section, by shaping the original PWM signal according to the polarity signal.
US08541964B2 Brushless motor rotation-position detection system
A rotation-position detection system according to the present invention is configured with a resolver mounted in a brushless motor and a motor controller. The motor controller outputs an excitation signal to the resolver and an A/D converter thereof alternately applies analogue/digital conversion to a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal outputted from the resolver so that a rotation position of the motor is calculated.
US08541961B2 Electron beam switch
The present invention is directed to an electron beam crossbar switch for interconnection between communication units. The crossbar switch includes an array of electrically charged particle emitter source devices with an input connected to a slow wave structure coupled to the emitter source. An array of detectors is positioned relative to the array of emitter devices for receiving charged particles from various of the emitter devices. X and y deflection means are positioned adjacent each of the emitters for directing the charged particles from each of the emitters to at least one of the detectors to provide more signal output and a reduction in deflection accuracy.
US08541958B2 LED light with thermoelectric generator
An LED based light and a method of providing power to the LED are disclosed. The LED based light includes at least one LED and at least one thermoelectric generator having a first side and a second side. The first side is thermally coupled to the at least one LED such that heat generated by the at least one LED is conducted to the at least one thermoelectric generator, producing a temperature differential between the first side and second side. The at least one thermoelectric generator is configured to produce electrical energy from the temperature differential.
US08541953B2 LED driving device
Disclosed herein is a light emitting diode (LED) driving device for driving a multi-channel LED element or an LED array for each channel, the LED driving device including: a constant current driver driving currents flowing in each channel; a first switching unit selectively feeding-back voltage levels of each channel; and a switching controller controlling the turn on/off of the first switching unit, wherein matching characteristics of currents flowing in each channel is improved and a size of an integrated circuit (IC) chip is also reduced as compared to a case according to the related art, thereby making it possible to reduce a production cost and satisfy the trend of miniaturization of the chip, while solving a performance deterioration problem due to degradation of the matching of the currents between the channels.
US08541946B2 Variable electric field strength metal and metal oxide microplasma lamps and fabrication
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide microcavity plasma lamps having a plurality of metal and metal oxide layers defining a plurality of arrays of microcavities and encapsulated thin metal electrodes. Packaging encloses the plurality of metal and metal oxide layers in plasma medium. The metal and metal oxide layers are configured and arranged to vary the electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) in the lamp. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing a microcavity plasma lamp that simultaneously evacuate the volume within the packaging and a volume surrounding the packaging to maintain an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging. The packaging is backfilled with a plasma medium while also maintaining an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging.
US08541944B2 Display apparatus using oxide semiconductor and production thereof
A transistor includes a source terminal and a drain terminal, an active layer having an oxide containing In, a gate electrode, and a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and the active layer. The gate insulating layer contains hydrogen in an amount of less than 3×1021 atoms/cm3, and an electron carrier concentration of the active layer is less than 1018/cm3.
US08541942B2 Transparent conductive articles and methods of making same
A lightweight, flexible, plastic substrate is coated with at least one layer, such that the substrate has desired barrier and electrode characteristics useful in constructing OLED displays. The layer has both a low enough resistance to function as an electrode for the display, and low oxygen and moisture permeability. The display is thereby protected from oxygen and moisture degradation. For lower permeability and/or higher conductivity, multiple alternating layers of barrier materials and conductive materials may be applied. The barrier material includes at least one of a thin metallic film, an organic polymer, a thin transparent dielectric, a thin transparent metal nitride, and a thin transparent conductive oxide. The conductive material includes at least one of a thin transparent conductive oxide, a thin transparent metallic film, and a thin transparent metal nitride. Preferably, a multilayer polymer base coat is deposited over the substrate to exclude moisture and atmospheric gases.
US08541936B2 Composite layer containing a layer of phosphors and related electroluminescent device
Solutions to improve the properties of the phosphors and electroluminescent devices are described, using phosphors in combination with zeolites for converting UV or Blue radiation into visible radiation.
US08541935B2 Color filter and light-emitting display element
A color filter for use in a light-emitting display element which emits at least white light, the color filter including a circularly polarizing layer which includes a polarizing layer, the polarizing layer having an orientation layer and a liquid crystal compound layer, wherein the circularly polarizing layer is formed only in an optical path of the white light.
US08541932B2 Lamp with heat dissipater
A lamp includes a heat dissipater having a base and an engaging member. The base includes a first air guiding portion and a fixing portion. The engaging member is mounted to an outer periphery of the base. A second air guiding portion is formed between the engaging member and the base. A lighting element is mounted to the base of the heat dissipater. A housing is engaged with the engaging member of the heat dissipater. The housing and the heat dissipater together define a compartment in communication with the first and second air guiding portions. A cooling fan is mounted to the fixing portion of the base. A circuit board is mounted in the compartment and electrically connected to the lighting element and the cooling fan. The circuit board is electrically connected to an electrically conductive member having an end extending out from the housing.
US08541928B2 Quartz-crystal devices exhibiting reduced crystal impedance
Quartz-crystal devices are disclosed, of which the CI value is reduced by adjusting the shortest distance between an edge of electrically conductive adhesive and an edge of the excitation electrode. The device has a quartz-crystal plate having long-edges and short-edges. Excitation electrodes are on first and second surfaces of the plate. Conductive pads are electrically connected to respective excitation electrodes and extend to the short-edge of the quartz-crystal plate. A package having a pair of external mounting terminals and respective connecting electrodes are situated on opposing sides of the mounting terminals for making electrical connections to the mounting terminals. An electrically conductive adhesive bonds the connecting terminals and respective conductive pads together, and the quartz-crystal plate onto the package. The shortest distance between an edge of the adhesive and an edge of the excitation electrode is 10%-15% the length of the quartz-crystal plate in the long-edge direction.
US08541925B2 Piezoelectric element driving circuit
A transformer T1 receives a sinusoidal signal on the primary side. The transformer T1 is provided with a terminal 3, a terminal 5, and a center tap 4 on the secondary side. The center tap 4 is connected to the anode of a diode D1. The cathode of the diode D1 is connected to the cathode of a diode D2 and one electrode of a capacitor C1. The other electrode of the capacitor C1 is connected to the anode of a diode D3 and a connection point of the second electrode of a piezoelectric element C2 and the first electrode of a piezoelectric element C3. The second electrode of the piezoelectric element C3 is connected to the terminal 3. The first electrode of the piezoelectric element C2 is connected to the cathode of the diode D3, the anode of the diode D2, and the terminal 5.
US08541924B2 Stator assembly having a phase-to-phase insulator, and a method of assembling a stator assembly
An insulator assembly for a stator assembly of an electric machine includes an annular ring attached to a stator core, and a plurality of coil separators supported by the annular ring and extending from the annular ring axially along a longitudinal axis. One of the coil separators is disposed between each adjacent pair of the coils to prevent contact between adjacent coils having a different electrical phase. The coil separators are slideably inserted between the adjacent pairs of coils, with the annular ring positioning and supporting the coil separators.
US08541921B2 Stator for motor
The present invention relates to a stator for a motor having a stator core having an annular back yoke and teeth protruded annularly in a radial direction from the back yoke, a plurality of coils adapted to be wound on the teeth, and an insulator adapted to cover the stator core and the coils for insulation and having supporting ends formed sequentially to have different heights so as to support the plurality of coils thereon, thereby preventing the plurality of coils from being in contact with one another and locking projections formed at both sides or one side of the supporting ends so as to prevent the coils from escaping from the supporting ends, wherein each of the supporting ends has a stepped groove formed at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the locking projections so as to allow the nozzle of the coil winding machine to be accessed thereto, and a total of the depth of the stepped groove and the height of each of the locking projections is larger than the radius of the nozzle.
US08541917B2 Rotary electrical machine
A stator assembly structure of a rotary electrical machine for assembling a stator on a case includes the stator including a stator holder and a stator core, the stator holder including a flange portion that includes a plurality of positioning bores arranged at intervals and a fixing portion fixing the stator to the case, the case including a positioning pin having an outer diameter smaller than a diameter of each of the positioning bores and being engageable with each of the positioning bores, the case further including a fixing seat, and each of the positioning bores including at least three bending portions that extend from a peripheral edge of the positioning bore towards a radially inward side, each of the bending portions being formed to be bent at a portion in a length direction from the peripheral edge towards the radially inward side relative to the flange portion.
US08541915B2 Drive module and manifold for electric motor drive assembly
A coolant fluid distributing manifold for a drive module in an electric motor drive assembly includes a body and passageways in the body for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module. The passageways define a delivery conduit and a return conduit.
US08541914B2 Liquid cooled electrical machine
Flow control apparatus for an electrical machine and comprising an arrangement of shaped chambers and passages for conveying a liquid coolant. The rate of heat transfer from certain portions of the machine to the coolant is determined by the varying velocity of the liquid through the chambers, resulting in a generally uniform cooling of those portions of the machine.
US08541911B2 Magnetic actor and a method for its installation
The invention relates to a magnetic actor in which the permanent magnets are arranged in a Halbach configuration and inserted into a slide-in frame.
US08541910B1 MEMS microgenerator cell and microgenerator cell array
A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) microgenerator cell and array is disclosed. The MEMS microgenerator cell of the present invention is effective in the conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy. In accordance with the present invention, an explosive material is loaded into a chamber. A diaphragm seals the chamber, containing a plasma material. The explosive material is subsequently heated to its ignition temperature thereby raising the pressure in the chamber until the diaphragm ruptures. The rupture of the diaphragm results in the flow of plasma out of the chamber. Upon exiting the chamber, the plasma is forced to flow between two parallel rectangular electrodes. A magnetic field is applied in a direction orthogonal to both the plasma flow and the electrodes, thereby generating an electromagnetic field sufficient to a power source for MEMS devices.
US08541906B2 Polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus
A polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus having sets of outputs for each phase of power and monitors for each phase of power disposed in the housing. Each monitor provides a visible display of current for an associated phase of power and an audible alarm for each phase of power if the current exceeds a predetermined value or falls below a predetermined value. In three-phase wye power systems, the apparatus preferably includes a neutral line monitor, including a neutral line current display and audio alarm, for the neutral line of the wye power circuit. The apparatus preferably is lightweight, elongated, portable, and mountable to the side of an electronic equipment rack. It may also include additional power monitoring systems such as network power monitoring tools for remotely monitoring the apparatus.
US08541905B2 Bi-directional battery voltage converter
A method of balancing current in a vehicle electric system having a system bus, a first battery, a first bi-directional battery voltage converter selectively transferring a first current between the first battery and the system bus, a second battery, a second bi-directional battery voltage converter selectively transferring a second current between the second battery and the system bus, and a controller controlling the first bi-directional battery voltage converter and the second bi-directional battery voltage converter. The method includes sensing the first current and sensing the second current. The first bi-directional battery voltage converter and the second bi-directional battery voltage converter are controlled so that the first current and the second current are equal portions of a load current supplied to an electrical load connected to the system bus.
US08541900B2 Fluid turbine
A fluid turbine includes stator fitted with fluid inlet and outlet, and a rolling rotor installed inside the confusor part of the stator at one end of a shaft, with the other end fixed in a clamp of a clamping mechanism on the stator. The shaft of the rolling rotor is fixed in the clamp of the clamping mechanism non-rotationally with the possibility of angular deflection in all directions. A generator is connected to the shaft.
US08541892B2 Bonding connection between a bonding wire and a power semiconductor chip
A bonding connection between a bonding wire and a power semiconductor chip is disclosed. The power semiconductor chip has a semiconductor body arranged in which is an active cell region with a multiplicity of cells arranged one following the other in a lateral direction and connected electrically in parallel. The semiconductor body has a surface portion arranged above the active cell region in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. Applied to the surface portion is a metallization layer onto which a bonding wire is bonded. The bonding wire comprises an alloy containing at least 99% by weight aluminum and at least one further alloying constituent. The aluminum has a grain structure with a mean grain size which is less than 2 μm.
US08541886B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with via and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a stacking carrier having a cavity; placing a base integrated circuit in the cavity, the base integrated circuit having a base interconnect facing the cavity; mounting a stack integrated circuit to the base integrated circuit; and picking the stack integrated circuit mounted to the base integrated circuit out of the stacking carrier.
US08541884B2 Through-substrate via having a strip-shaped through-hole signal conductor
A TSV structure suitable for high speed signal transmission includes a metal strip portion that extends through a long and small diameter hole in a substrate. In one example, the metal strip portion is formed by laser ablating away portions of a metal sheath that lines a cylindrical sidewall of the hole, thereby leaving a longitudinal section of metal that is the metal strip portion. A second metal strip portion, that extends in a direction perpendicular to the hole axis, is contiguous with the metal strip portion that extends through the hole such that the two metal strip portions together form a single metal strip. Throughout its length, the single metal strip has a uniform width and thickness and therefore can have a controlled and uniform impedance. In some embodiments, multiple metal strips pass through the same TSV hole. In some embodiments, the structure is a coaxial TSV.
US08541883B2 Semiconductor device having shielded conductive vias
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a shielding layer. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an inner metal layer, a shielding layer, an insulation material, a metal layer, a passivation layer and a redistribution layer. The inner metal layer is disposed in a through hole of the substrate. The shielding layer surrounds the inner annular metal. The insulation material is disposed between the inner metal layer and the shielding layer. The metal layer is disposed on a surface of the substrate, contacts the shielding layer and does not contact the inner metal layer. The redistribution layer is disposed in an opening of the passivation layer so as to contact the inner metal layer.
US08541882B2 Stacked IC device with recessed conductive layers adjacent to interlevel conductors
An IC device comprises a stack of contact levels, each including conductive layer and an insulation layer. A dielectric liner surrounds an interlevel conductor within an opening in the stack of contact levels. The opening passes through a portion of the stack of contact levels. The interlevel conductor is electrically insulated from the conductive layers of each of the contact levels through the dielectric liner. A portion of the conductive layer at the opening is recessed relative to adjacent insulation layers. The dielectric liner may have portions extending between adjacent insulation layers.
US08541881B2 Package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a package structure is provided. A seed layer is formed on a upper surface of a metal substrate. A patterned dry film layer is formed on a lower surface of the metal substrate and the seed layer. A portion of the seed layer is exposed by the patterned dry film layer. The patterned dry film layer is used as an electroplating mask to electroplate a circuit layer on the portion of the seed layer exposed by the patterned dry film layer. A chip is bonded to and electrically connected to the circuit layer. A molding compound is formed on the metal substrate. The molding compound encapsulates the chip, the circuit layer and the portion of the seed layer. A portion of the metal substrate and a portion of the seed layer are removed so as to expose a portion of the molding compound.
US08541880B2 Method and system to reduce area of standard cells
A signal routing grid. A first metal layer has wires running in a first direction. A second metal layer, spaced from and substantially parallel to the first metal layer, has wires running in a second direction different to the first direction, such that the wires of the first and second metal layers appear from above or below to form virtual intersections. Vias or contacts are coupled between the first and second metal layers and configured to route signals between the first and second metal layers. Pins are coupled to the first metal layer and configured to provide input signals or receive output signals from a standard cell, the pins being positioned along the wires in the first metal layer so as to be spaced from the virtual intersections.
US08541873B2 Microelectronic packages having cavities for receiving microelectronic elements
Packaged microelectronic elements are provided which include a dielectric element, a cavity, a plurality of chip contacts and a plurality of package contacts, and microelectronic elements having a plurality of bond pads connected to the chip contacts.
US08541872B2 Integrated circuit package system with package stacking and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit package system includes: forming a non-inverted internal stacking module including: fabricating an internal stacking module (ISM) substrate having an ISM component side and an ISM coupling side, coupling an internal stacking module integrated circuit to the ISM component side, coupling stacking structures, adjacent to the internal stacking module integrated circuit, on the ISM component side, and molding a stacking module body having a top surface that is coplanar with and exposes the stacking structures; forming a base package substrate under the non-inverted internal stacking module; coupling middle structures between the base package substrate and the ISM coupling side; and forming a base package body on the base package substrate, the middle structures, and the non-inverted internal stacking module including exposing the top surface of the stacking module body to be coplanar with the base package body.
US08541870B1 Semiconductor package utilizing tape to reinforce fixing of leads to die pad
Disclosed is a semiconductor package utilizing a tape to reinforce fixing of leads to a die pad having a through hole. The package primarily comprises a leadframe having the plurality of leads and the die pad, a tape, at least a chip, and an encapsulant. The die pad. The tape is attached beneath the leadframe adjacent to the inner fingers of the leads to fix the leads and the die pad for wire-bonding. Additionally, the tape does not completely cover the through hole. The chip is disposed on the leads and the die pad and electrically connected to the inner fingers. The encapsulant encapsulates the die pad, the tape and the chip with the leads being insulatedly bonded where the encapsulant further completely fills into the through hole through its opening without completely covered by the tape.
US08541868B2 Top electrode templating for DRAM capacitor
A method for forming a DRAM MIM capacitor stack having low leakage current involves the use of a first electrode that serves as a template for promoting the high k phase of a subsequently deposited dielectric layer. The high k dielectric layer comprises a doped material that can be crystallized after a subsequent annealing treatment. A metal oxide second electrode layer is formed above the dielectric layer. The metal oxide second electrode layer has a crystal structure that is compatible with the crystal structure of the dielectric layer. Optionally, a second electrode bulk layer is formed above the metal oxide second electrode layer.
US08541862B2 Semiconductor device with self-biased isolation
A device includes a semiconductor substrate including a surface, a drain region in the semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, a well region in the semiconductor substrate on which the drain region is disposed, the well region having the first conductivity type, a buried isolation layer in the semiconductor substrate extending across the well region, the buried isolation layer having the first conductivity type, a reduced surface field (RESURF) region disposed between the well region and the buried isolation layer, the RESURF region having a second conductivity type, and a plug region in the semiconductor substrate extending from the surface of the substrate to the RESURF region, the plug region having the second conductivity type.
US08541861B2 Infrared detection device
According to one embodiment, an infrared detection device includes a detection element. The detection element includes a semiconductor substrate, a signal interconnect section, a detection cell and a support section. The semiconductor substrate is provided with a cavity on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The signal interconnect section is provided in a region surrounding the cavity of the semiconductor substrate. The detection cell spaced from the semiconductor substrate above the cavity includes a thermoelectric conversion layer, and an absorption layer. The absorption layer is laminated with the thermoelectric conversion layer, and provided with a plurality of holes each having a shape whose upper portion is widened. The support section holds the detection cell above the cavity and connects the signal interconnect section and the detection cell.
US08541860B2 Antireflective coating
Device and method for an antireflective coating to improve image quality in an image display system. A preferred embodiment comprises a first high refractive index layer overlying a reflective surface of an integrated circuit, a first low refractive index layer overlying the first high refractive index layer, a second high refractive index layer overlying the first low refractive index layer, and a second low refractive index layer overlying the second high refractive index layer. The alternating layers of high refractive index material and low refractive index material form an optical trap, allowing light to readily pass through in one direction, but not so easily in a reverse direction. The dual alternating layer topology improves the antireflective properties of the antireflective layer and permits a wide range of adjustments for manipulating reflectivity and color point.
US08541856B2 Optical touch-screen imager
Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a CMOS image sensor including a pixel array formed in a substrate and a light guide formed on the substrate to receive light traveling in a plane parallel to a plane of the pixel array and incident on the edge of the image sensor and to re-direct the incident light into at least one pixel of the pixel array. Embodiments of an optical touch-screen imager comprising a substantially planar touch area and a detector positioned adjacent to the touch area, the detector comprising a CMOS image sensor as described above.
US08541853B1 High frequency CMUT
A high-frequency capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) has a silicon membrane and an overlying metal silicide layer that together form a conductive structure which can vibrate over a cavity. The CMUT also has a metal structure that touches a group of conductive structures. The metal structure has an opening that extends completely through the metal structure to expose the conductive structure.
US08541848B2 High-voltage MOSFETs having current diversion region in substrate near fieldplate
To limit or prevent current crowding, various HV-MOSFET embodiments include a current diversion region disposed near a drain region of an HV-MOSFET and near an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is disposed near a field plate of the HV-MOSFET, wherein the field plate can also help to reduce or “smooth” electric fields near the drain to help limit current crowding. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is a p-doped, n-doped, or intrinsic region that is at a floating voltage potential. This current diversion region can push current deeper into the substrate of the HV-MOSFET (relative to conventional HV-MOSFETs), thereby reducing current crowding during ESD events. By reducing current crowding, the current diversion region makes the HV-MOSFETs disclosed herein more impervious to ESD events and, therefore, more reliable in real-world applications.
US08541839B2 Semiconductor component and method for producing it
A semiconductor component having differently structured cell regions, and a method for producing it. For this purpose, the semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body. A first electrode on the top side of the semiconductor body is electrically connected to a first zone near the surface of the semiconductor body. A second electrode is electrically connected to a second zone of the semiconductor body. Furthermore, the semiconductor body has a drift path region, which is arranged in the semiconductor body between the first electrode and the second electrode. A cell region of the semiconductor component is subdivided into a main cell region and an auxiliary cell region, wherein the breakdown voltage of the auxiliary cells is greater than the breakdown voltage of the main cells.
US08541834B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a control electrode, a first main electrode, an internal electrode, and an insulating region. The control electrode is provided inside a trench. The first main electrode is in conduction with the third semiconductor region. The internal electrode is provided in the trench and in conduction with the first main electrode. The insulating region is provided between an inner wall of the trench and the internal electrode. The internal electrode includes a first internal electrode part included in a first region of the trench and a second internal electrode part included in a second region between the first region and the first main electrode. A spacing between the first internal electrode part and the inner wall is wider than a spacing between the second internal electrode part and the inner wall.
US08541832B2 Integrated circuit memory devices having vertical transistor arrays therein and methods of forming same
An integrated circuit device includes a transistor array having a vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes therein. A first semiconductor channel region is provided, which extends on a first sidewall of the vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes. A first electrically insulating layer is also provided, which extends between the first semiconductor channel region and the first sidewall of the vertical stack of independently controllable gate electrodes. Source and drain regions are provided, which are electrically coupled to first and second ends of the first semiconductor channel region, respectively.
US08541831B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same include a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of active pillars, a plurality of gate electrodes, and a plurality of supporters. The semiconductor substrate includes a memory cell region and a contact region. The active pillars extend in the memory cell region perpendicularly to the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrodes intersect the active pillars, extend from the memory cell region to the contact region and are stacked on the semiconductor substrate. The supporters extend in the contact region perpendicularly to the semiconductor substrate to penetrate at least one or more of the gate electrodes.
US08541830B1 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of cell array layers, each cell array layer including: a plurality of semiconductor layers that extends in a first direction; gate insulating layers; a plurality of floating gates arranged in the first direction; inter-gate insulating layers; and a plurality of control gates that extends in a second direction intersecting semiconductor layers, and faces the floating gates via the inter-gate insulating layers, in which, in the cell array layers adjacent each other in a stacking direction, the control gates of a lower cell array layer and the control gates of the an upper cell array layer are intersecting each other, and the floating gates within the lower cell array layer and the semiconductor layers within the upper cell array layer are aligned in position with each other.
US08541829B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and fabrication method for the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a memory cell transistor including a first floating gate electrode layer formed on a first tunneling insulating film, a first inter-gate insulating film, first and second control gate electrode layers, and a first metallic silicide film; a high voltage transistor including a high voltage gate electrode layer formed on a high voltage gate insulating film, a second inter-gate insulating film having an aperture, third and fourth control gate electrode layers, and a second metallic silicide film; a low voltage transistor including a second floating gate electrode layer formed on a second tunneling insulating film, a third inter-gate insulating film having an aperture, fifth and sixth control gate electrode layers, and a third metallic silicide film; and a liner insulating film directly disposed on source and drain regions of each of the memory cell transistor, the low voltage transistor, and the high voltage transistor.
US08541828B2 Methods for depositing high-K dielectrics
Methods for depositing high-K dielectrics are described, including depositing a first electrode on a substrate, wherein the first electrode is chosen from the group consisting of platinum and ruthenium, applying an oxygen plasma treatment to the exposed metal to reduce the contact angle of a surface of the metal, and depositing a titanium oxide layer on the exposed metal using at least one of a chemical vapor deposition process and an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the titanium oxide layer includes at least a portion of rutile titanium oxide.
US08541825B2 Image sensor with improved charge transfer efficiency and method for fabricating the same
An image sensor includes: a first impurity region of the first conductive type aligned with one side of the gate structure and extending to a first depth from a surface portion of the semiconductor layer; a first spacer formed on each sidewall of the gate structure; a second impurity region of the first conductive type, aligned with the first spacer and extending to a second depth that is larger than the first depth from the surface portion of the semiconductor layer; a second spacer formed on each sidewall of the first spacer; a third impurity region of the first conductive type aligned with the second spacer and extending to a third depth that is larger than the second depth from the surface portion of the semiconductor layer; and a fourth impurity region of a second conductive type beneath the third impurity region.
US08541823B2 Field effect transistor
A transistor. The transistor including: a well region in a substrate; a gate dielectric layer on a top surface of the well region; a polysilicon gate electrode on a top surface of the gate dielectric layer; spacers formed on opposite sidewalls of the polysilicon gate electrode; source/drain regions formed on opposite sides of the polysilicon gate electrode in the well region; a first doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode, the first doped region extending into the polysilicon gate electrode from a top surface of the polysilicon gate electrode; and a buried second doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode.
US08541819B1 Semiconductor device and structure
A semiconductor device including: a first mono-crystal layer and a second mono-crystal layer and at least one conductive layer in-between; where the at least one conductive layer includes a first conductive layer overlaying a second conductive layer overlying a third conductive layer, and where the second conductive layer having a predetermined second layer current carrying capacity greater than the current carrying capacity of the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer current carrying capacity being greater than the current carrying capacity of the third conductive layer.
US08541818B2 Semiconductor heterostructure diodes
Planar Schottky diodes for which the semiconductor material includes a heterojunction which induces a 2 DEG in at least one of the semiconductor layers. A metal anode contact is on top of the upper semiconductor layer and forms a Schottky contact with that layer. A metal cathode contact is connected to the 2 DEG, forming an ohmic contact with the layer containing the 2 DEG.
US08541813B1 Homojunction type high-speed photodiode
A homojunction type high-speed photodiode has an active area of greater than at least 50 microns (μm) or preferably greater than 60 microns (μm) in diameter, which has an p-i-n junction epitaxial layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a first ohmic contact layer, an absorption layer, a collector layer and a second ohmic contact layer. No more absorbance occurs in the collector layer of InGaAs, by means of completely absorbing the photon energy in advance by the absorption layer in which the absorption layer has powerful optical absorption constant. Not only can the prior art problems be solved, such as surface absorbance, but also improved electron transport can be achieved by using InGaAs as the constructing material, compared to other materials. The resistance capacitance (RC) for the entire structure can be significantly reduced, and the limitations to the bandwidth resulted from the carrier transport time can be improved.
US08541812B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof
A semiconductor device (10) comprising a bipolar transistor and a field effect transistor within a semiconductor body (1) comprising a projecting mesa (5) within which are at least a portion of a collector region (22d and 22e) and a base region (33d) of the bipolar transistor. The bipolar transistor is provided with a first insulating cavity (92) provided in the collector region (22d and 22e). The base region (33d) is narrower in the plane of the substrate than the collector region (22d and 22e) due to a second insulating cavity (94) provided around the base region (33d) and between the collector region (22d and 22e) and the emitter region (4). By blocking diffusion from the base region the first insulating cavity (92) provides a reduction in the base collector capacitance and can be described as defining the base contact.
US08541811B2 TFT with improved light sensing and TFT substrate using the same and liquid crystal display
There are provided a TFT, a TFT substrate using the TFT, a method of fabricating the TFT substrate, and an LCD. The TFT includes a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode having an opening. The opening of the gate electrode is to enhance the light sensing ability of the TFT when it is used as a light sensor, since light is incident into a region where the opening is formed. The TFT including the gate having the opening can be used in a substrate of a flat display or an LCD using such a substrate. The above TFT can sense light incident from outside the display to adjust the brightness of the screen according to the external illumination.
US08541810B2 Blue light emitting semiconductor nanocrystal materials
A semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core including a first semiconductor material and an overcoating including a second semiconductor material. A monodisperse population of the nanocrystals emits blue light over a narrow range of wavelengths with a high quantum efficiency.
US08541809B2 Light-emitting surface element and method for producing a light-emitting surface element
A light-emitting surface element includes a connection device, a light-generating element having at least two electrical connections electrically conductively connected to assigned connection lines on the connection device, and at least one planar light-guiding element formed by injection-molding in a manner at least partly embedding an arrangement composed of connection device and light-generating element in the planar light-guiding element.
US08541804B2 Electro-optical device
An object of the present invention is to realize a numerical aperture higher than that of a pixel having a conventional construction by using a pixel circuit having a novel construction in an electro-optical device. Therefore, it is utilized that the electric potential of a gate signal line in a row except for an i-th row is set to a constant electric potential in a period except for when a gate signal line (106) in the i-th row is selected. A gate signal line 111 in an (i−1)-th row is also used as an electric current supply line for an EL element (103) controlled by the gate signal line (106) in the i-th row. Thus, wiring number is reduced and high numerical aperture is realized.
US08541802B2 Phosphor placement in white light emitting diode assemblies
A white LED assembly includes a blue LED die attached to a substrate. A first volume of a first luminescent material surrounds the blue LED die in a lateral dimension such that none of the first luminescent material is disposed directly over the blue LED die. The first luminescent material includes a relatively inefficient phosphor having a peak emission wavelength longer than 620 nm and includes substantially no phosphor having a peak emission wavelength shorter than 620 nm. A second volume of a second luminescent material is disposed over the first volume and the blue LED die. The second luminescent material includes a relatively efficient phosphor having a peak emission wavelength shorter than 620 nm and includes substantially no phosphor having a peak emission wavelength longer than 620 nm. Placement of the first and second luminescent materials in this way promotes removal of heat from the inefficient phosphor and reduces the likelihood of interabsorption.
US08541801B2 Light-emitting-device package and a method for producing the same
A light emitting device package includes: a substrate with a mounting surface; a light emitting device bonded to the mounting surface of the substrate; a light reflecting resin part containing a high reflective material, filled on the substrate around the light emitting device so as to extend in a space between the light emitting device and the substrate; and a packing resin part hermetically sealed to cover the light emitting device and the light reflection resin part.
US08541798B2 Semiconductor light emitting device, and backlight and display device comprising the semiconductor light emitting device
The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device comprising a light intensity difference reducing layer provided between an ultraviolet semiconductor light emitting element and a wavelength converting material layer, and a backlight and a display device comprising the semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device is an LED light emitting device which has improved uniformity of emitted light and reduced non-uniformity of brightness and chromaticity of emitted light. The light emitting device according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use in various display devices, preferably, for example, in display devices in equipment where a reduction in size, a reduction in weight, a reduction in thickness, electric power saving, high brightness, and excellent color rendering properties are particularly required, for example, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, electronic dictionaries, digital cameras, computers, liquid crystal televisions (TVs), and peripheral devices of these devices.
US08541796B2 Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating nitride semiconductor laser device
There is provided a nitride semiconductor light emitting device having a light emitting portion coated with a coating film, the light emitting portion being formed of a nitride semiconductor, the coating film in contact with the light emitting portion being formed of an oxynitride film deposited adjacent to the light emitting portion and an oxide film deposited on the oxynitride film. There is also provided a method of fabricating a nitride semiconductor laser device having a cavity with a facet coated with a coating film, including the steps of: providing cleavage to form the facet of the cavity; and coating the facet of the cavity with a coating film formed of an oxynitride film deposited adjacent to the facet of the cavity and an oxide film deposited on the oxynitride film.
US08541795B2 Side-emitting optical coupling device
An LED package includes a LED structure that outputs light in a pattern about an axis and an optical coupling device with a central axis. The coupling device is positioned relative to the LED structure and accepts light from the LED. The coupling device includes a first dielectric interface surface that is substantially cylindrical with respect to the central axis, and a reflecting surface. The first dielectric interface surface accepts a first portion of light from the LED structure and directs it toward the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface accepts the light from the first dielectric interface surface and directs it toward the first dielectric interface surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
US08541792B2 Method of treating the surface of a soda lime silica glass substrate, surface-treated glass substrate, and device incorporating the same
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to methods of treating the surface of a soda lime silica glass substrate, e.g., a soda lime silica alkali ion glass substrate, and the resulting surface-treated glass articles. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to methods of removing a top surface portion of a glass substrate using ion sources. During or after removal of this portion, the glass may then be coated with another layer, to be used as a capping layer. In certain example embodiments, the glass substrate coated with a capping layer may be used as a color filter and/or TFT substrate in an electronic device. In other example embodiments, the glass substrate with the capping layer thereon may be used in a variety of display devices.
US08541790B2 Lighting device
An object of the invention is to provide a lighting device which can suppress luminance nonuniformity in a light emitting region when the lighting device has large area. A layer including a light emitting material is formed between a first electrode and a second electrode, and a third electrode is formed to connect to the first electrode through an opening formed in the second electrode and the layer including a light emitting material. An effect of voltage drop due to relatively high resistivity of the first electrode can be reduced by electrically connecting the third electrode to the first electrode through the opening.
US08541789B2 Light-emitting device with patterned current diffusion layer
Disclosed is a light-emitting device including a permanent substrate, an adhesive layer on the permanent substrate, a current diffusion layer on the adhesive layer, and a semiconductor stack layer on the current diffusion layer. The current diffusion layer has an etched portion and an unetched portion, wherein the etched and unetched portions have a horizontal height difference. The horizontal height difference and the current diffusion layer thickness have a ratio of 20:100 to 70:100.
US08541786B2 Packaged semiconductor device having improved locking properties
The invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing. In certain embodiments, a semiconductor device can include: a) a contact pad with pre-shaped sidewalls; b) a semiconductor chip having a terminal that is electrically connected to the contact pad, and c) a protective compound covering the semiconductor chip and at least part of the sidewalls. The sidewall can be rough or the sidewall can be tapered to facilitate locking of the contact pad into the compound.
US08541784B2 Organic light-emitting display
An organic light-emitting display and a method of manufacturing the display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the organic light-emitting display includes a thin film transistor comprising: i) a gate electrode, ii) an active layer electrically insulated from the gate electrode, iii) a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically insulated from the gate electrode, and contacting the active layer and iv) an insulating layer formed between i) the source and drain electrodes and ii) the active layer. The display further includes an organic light-emitting device electrically connected to the thin film transistor. In one embodiment, the source electrode comprises a first source electrode and a second source electrode that are separated from each other, and a third source electrode electrically connecting the first and second source electrodes. Moreover, the drain electrode comprises a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode that are separated from each other, and a third drain electrode electrically connecting the first and second drain electrodes.
US08541782B2 Method for evaluating oxide semiconductor and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Many of the principles of an oxide semiconductor are still unclear and therefore there is no established method for evaluating an oxide semiconductor. Thus, an object is to provide a novel method for evaluating an oxide semiconductor. Carrier density is evaluated, and hydrogen concentration is also evaluated. Specifically, a MOS capacitor (a diode or a triode) is manufactured, and the C-V characteristics of the MOS capacitor are obtained. Then, the carrier density is estimated from the C-V characteristics obtained.
US08541781B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film including a pair of first regions, a pair of second regions, and a third region; a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode provided between the pair of electrodes with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The pair of first regions overlap with the pair of electrodes, the third region overlaps with the gate electrode, and the pair of second regions are formed between the pair of first regions and the third region. The pair of second regions and the third region each contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or arsenic. The pair of second regions have a higher element concentration than the third region.
US08541778B2 Diffraction grating, organic EL element using the same, and manufacturing methods thereof
A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 μm−1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 μm−1 or less.
US08541776B2 Nanostructure-based memory
Improved memory devices that include one or more nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures, as well as systems and devices incorporating such improved memory devices, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the improved memory device is of a nonvolatile type such as a flash memory device, and employs a pair of triodes that form a memory cell, where each triode employs at least one carbon nanotube. Also disclosed are methods of operating and fabricating such improved memory devices.
US08541773B2 Vertical tunneling negative differential resistance devices
The present disclosure relates to the fabrication of microelectronic devices having at least one negative differential resistance device formed therein. In at least one embodiment, the negative differential resistance devices may be formed utilizing quantum wells. Embodiments of negative differential resistance devices of present description may achieve high peak drive current to enable high performance and a high peak-to-valley current ratio to enable low power dissipation and noise margins, which allows for their use in logic and/or memory integrated circuitry.
US08541771B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a pre-seeding layer and a nucleation layer. The pre-seeding layer may include a first material for pre-seeding and a second material for masking so as to reduce tensile stress.
US08541770B2 Select devices including an open volume, memory devices and systems including same, and methods for forming same
Select devices including an open volume that functions as a high bandgap material having a low dielectric constant are disclosed. The open volume may provide a more nonlinear, asymmetric I-V curve and enhanced rectifying behavior in the select devices. The select devices may comprise, for example, a metal-insulator-insulator-metal (MIIM) diode. Various methods may be used to form select devices and memory systems including such select devices. Memory devices and electronic systems include such select devices.
US08541769B2 Formation of a graphene layer on a large substrate
A single crystalline silicon carbide layer can be grown on a single crystalline sapphire substrate. Subsequently, a graphene layer can be formed by conversion of a surface layer of the single crystalline silicon layer during an anneal at an elevated temperature in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. Alternately, a graphene layer can be deposited on an exposed surface of the single crystalline silicon carbide layer. A graphene layer can also be formed directly on a surface of a sapphire substrate or directly on a surface of a silicon carbide substrate. Still alternately, a graphene layer can be formed on a silicon carbide layer on a semiconductor substrate. The commercial availability of sapphire substrates and semiconductor substrates with a diameter of six inches or more allows formation of a graphene layer on a commercially scalable substrate for low cost manufacturing of devices employing a graphene layer.
US08541768B2 Semiconductor device having stacked structural bodies and method for manufacturing the same
A technique used for a semiconductor device formed by stacking multiple structural bodies each having a semiconductor device, for preventing generation of thermal load on a structural body at a lower layer which is caused by a laser used in a step of forming a structural body at an upper layer. In a phase-change memory including multiple stacked memory matrices, a metal film is disposed between a memory matrix at a lower layer and a memory matrix at an upper layer formed over the memory matrix at the lower layer, in which the laser used for forming the memory matrix is reflected at the metal film and prevented from transmitting the metal film, thereby preventing the phase-change material layer, etc. in the memory matrix at the lower layer from being directly heated excessively by the laser.
US08541766B2 Nonvolatile memory device and nonvolatile memory apparatus
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a recording layer and a conductive first layer. The recording layer includes a main group element, a transition element, and oxygen. The recording layer is capable of recording information by changing reversibly between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The first layer is made of at least one selected from a metal, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, and a metal carbide. The first layer is provided adjacent to the recording layer. The first layer includes the main group element with a concentration lower than a concentration of the main group element of the recording layer.
US08541764B2 Method of utilizing an implant for targeting external beam radiation
A method of partial breast radiation therapy includes placing within a breast cavity a substantially radio-opaque implant constructed of biocompatible material, said substantially radio-opaque implant supporting the tissue surrounding the breast cavity; and directing a radiation beam to said substantially radio-opaque implant serving as a target for delivery of radiation therapy to margins around the breast cavity, such that the radiation beam does not materially irradiate the whole of the breast.
US08541763B2 Modifiable layered shield assembly
A shield for absorbing radiation emitted by a target during operation of a cyclotron. The shield includes an inner box structure having a recess for receiving the target. In addition, the shield includes a first plurality of shield elements arranged in a layered configuration about the inner box structure. The shield also includes an outer box structure for receiving the inner box structure and the first plurality of shield elements. Further, a second plurality of shield elements is arranged in a layered configuration about the outer box structure. The shield elements are arranged in both horizontal and vertical orientations and are removable.
US08541757B1 Accelerator on a chip having a cold ion source
An assembly includes a cold ion source and a chip. The cold ion source is fixed to the chip so that ions from the ion source can enter an acceleration channel in the chip. In one specific example, the ion source includes an ion exchange membrane that produces cold ions in that the ions as produced have an energy of less than 30 eV. The chip includes a substrate (such as a semiconductor substrate or a glass substrate) and a dielectric layer disposed on substrate, where the acceleration channel is a channel formed into the dielectric layer. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
US08541754B2 Imaging system, image processing method therefor, and program therefor
An imaging system includes a detector (104) having a first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (A) and a second area other than the first area where irradiation occurs in a radiation field (B) and configured to output image data, and an image processing unit (601) that performs image processing on the image data. The image processing unit (601) includes a storage unit (602) that stores dark output information, a measurement unit (607) that measures the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the first area and the integral dose of the radiation or light applied to a pixel in the second area, and a correction unit (610) that corrects the image data, based on the dark output information obtained from the storage unit (602) and the integral doses measured by the measurement unit (607), when changing of the radiation field has occurred.
US08541749B2 Portable reader for a dosimeter
Described is a dosimeter reader for reading a plurality of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensors of a dosimeter sled and for reading an RFID tag on the dosimeter sled.
US08541747B2 Solid-state image sensor and image sensing apparatus
A solid-state image sensor, comprises: a photoelectric conversion layer on which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged; and an wiring layer including at least one layer of a metal film, and an interlayer insulating film which fills a surrounding portion of the metal film, wherein the wiring layer is arranged at a position deeper than the photoelectric conversion layer on a side opposite to a light incidence side with respect to the photoelectric conversion layer, and at least a first metal film arranged at a position closest to the photoelectric conversion layer of the metal film of the wiring layer is arranged on a region which is not irradiated with light rays in a predetermined wavelength range, which light has passed through the photoelectric conversion layer.
US08541742B2 Bolometer-type THz wave detector
The bolometer-type THz wave detector according to the present invention has a thermal isolation structure in which a temperature detecting portion including a bolometer thin film connected to electrical wirings is supported in a state of being raised from the substrate by a supporting portion including the electrical wirings connected to a Read-out integrated circuit formed in a substrate, and the detector comprises a reflective film formed on the substrate, an absorbing film formed on the front surface or back surface or at an inner position in the temperature detecting portion , whereby an optical resonant structure is formed by the reflective film and the absorbing film, and a dielectric film formed on the reflective film. The dielectric film thickness f is set so that air gap between an upper surface of the dielectric film and a lower surface of the temperature detecting portion is smaller than 8 μm.
US08541740B2 Device and method for electron beam energy verification
The present invention is directed to a device and system for verifying the electron beam kinetic energy spectrum and determining changes in kinetic electron beam energy spectrum that comprises a radiation-absorbing mass defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and side walls, said mass having at least four separate slots containing one or more of dosimeter strips, wherein said slots are located at different depths within the mass as measured from the top surface of the mass, and said slots are positioned substantially parallel to the top surface of the mass. The present invention also relates to a method of determining and comparing changes in a kinetic electron energy spectrum.
US08541737B2 System and method for collisional activation of charged particles
A collision cell is disclosed that provides ion activation in various selective modes. Ion activation is performed inside selected segments of a segmented quadrupole that provides maximum optimum capture and collection of fragmentation products. The invention provides collisional cooling of precursor ions as well as product fragments and further allows effective transmission of ions through a high pressure interface into a coupled mass analysis instrument.
US08541736B2 Photoelectric conversion module having dual circuit board and dual dust proofing member
A photoelectric conversion module includes a housing including a first wall and a second wall parallel to each other, a first circuit board and a second circuit board arranged between the first wall and the second wall, a spacer disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, a first dust proofing member for sealing a gap between the first wall and the first circuit board and a gap between the spacer and the first circuit board, and a second dust proofing member for sealing a gap between the second wall and the second circuit board and a gap between the spacer and the second circuit board. The first circuit board includes a first holding portion for holding the first dust proofing member. The second circuit board includes a second holding portion for holding the second dust proofing member.
US08541735B2 Inlaid optical material and method of manufacture
An optical material is inlaid into a supporting substrate, with the top surface of the optical material flush with the top surface of the substrate, wherein the optical element is used to shape a beam of light travelling substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate, but with the central axis of the beam below the top surface of the substrate. The optical elements serve to shape the beam of light for delivery to or from a microfabricated structure within the device.
US08541728B1 Signal monitoring and control system for an optical navigation sensor
A circuit and method are provided to control the strength of signals from an array of photo-detectors in an optical navigation sensor. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a current signal from an automatic gain control (AGC) photo-detector and generating an AGC signal in response thereto; generating an illumination control signal in response to the AGC signal; and coupling the illumination control signal to an illuminator configured to illuminate at least a portion of an array of photo-detectors with light reflected from a surface to sense displacement of the optical navigation sensor relative to a surface, and adjusting illumination from the illuminator. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08541727B1 Signal monitoring and control system for an optical navigation sensor
A circuit and method are provided to control the strength of signals from an array of photo-detectors (PDs) in an optical navigation sensor. The circuit includes a number of transimpedance-amplifiers (TIAs) each coupled to an output of at least one PD to receive a current signal therefrom and generate a signal in response thereto. A controller coupled to outputs of the TIAs receives the signals and executes an algorithm to adjust gain of a signal processor coupled to the array. In one embodiment, the signal processor includes differential transimpedance-amplifiers (DIFF-TIAs) each including inputs coupled to receive current signals from the array, and the controller outputs a control signal to adjust a time over which the DIFF-TIAs and the TIAs integrate the current signals. Optionally, the signal processor includes gain-amplifiers coupled to the DIFF-TIAs and TIAs, and the controller outputs a signal to adjust gain thereof.
US08541726B2 Diodeless terrestrial photovoltaic solar power array
A method and device are disclosed for diodeless terrestrial photovoltaic solar power arrays. In one or more embodiments, the method and device involve a solar power array device without blocking diodes and/or without bypass diodes. The method comprises providing a solar module, a solar array tracker, a power bus, a controller, and an inverter. In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises providing a circuit breaker and/or a bi-position switch. When the controller senses that the solar module power is below a threshold level, the controller commands the solar tracker to vary the solar module's pointing until the solar module is operating at its maximum power point for the solar module's level of illumination. In some embodiments, when the controller senses that the solar module power is less than a minimum bypass threshold level, the controller commands a bi-position switch to bypass current around the solar module.
US08541723B2 Induction heat cooking device
An induction heat cooking device is provided that finishes preheating in a short time and maintains the temperature obtained at the finish of the preheating. The induction heat cooking device includes a heating coil for heating a cooking container by induction, an inverter circuit for providing a high frequency current to the heating coil, an operation unit including an operation mode setting unit for setting an operation mode of the inverter circuit, an infrared sensor for detecting an infrared light that is emitted from a bottom surface of the cooking container, a control unit for controlling an output of the inverter circuit based on an output of the infrared sensor and a setting inputted to the operation unit, and a notification unit.
US08541712B2 Electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch and contact start plasma arc torch employing such electrodes
An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch includes an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material. The electrode body is movable relative to the torch. The electrode and torch can include a contact element having a first surface in electrical communication with the power contact and a second surface characterized by (i) physical contact with the electrode body during transferred arc mode and (ii) absence of physical contact with the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc.
US08541711B2 Internal part feature cutting method and apparatus
A method for cutting an internal feature in a workpiece using a plasma cutting system can include cutting in a first zone using at least one cutting parameter from a first cutting parameter set, which can include a first cutting current and/or a first speed. The method can include cutting in a second zone using at least one cutting parameter from a second cutting parameter set that can be different from the first cutting parameter set. The second cutting parameter set can include a second cutting current and/or a second speed. The method can also include cutting in a third zone using at least one cutting parameter from a third cutting parameter set, which can be different from the first cutting parameter set or the second cutting parameter set. The third cutting parameter set can include a third cutting current and/or a third speed.
US08541707B2 Keypad with long key travel and improved touch feeling
A keypad includes at least one push-button switch and a key to operate the switch along a translational axis. The geometric dispersions of the keypad are accounted for, to the lengthening of the travel of the key and to the enhancement of the tactile sensation when the key is pressed to operate the switch. The keypad includes a plunger, interposed between the key and the switch, of which a stiffness along the translational axis increases continuously with an increase in the compression of the plunger. A slight stiffness at the beginning of compression allows a long travel of the key, while a greater stiffness at the end of compression gives a good tactile sensation with an assured contact even when there are off-center pressures on the key.
US08541705B2 Electronic communication device and method
An electronic communications device such as a key fob is provided, and in some embodiments comprises a flexible film and a spacer layer defining at least one aperture. The flexible film can cover at least a portion of the spacer layer, and defines an exterior surface of the key fob. The flexible film includes at least one contact surface and a surface adjacent to the at least one contact surface. The at least one contact surface flexes when a force is applied in order to actuate at least one switch.
US08541702B2 Folding high voltage electric power switch
A folding high voltage electric power switch that can be fully assembled, tested and adjusted at the factory and then folded for shipping on a road truck with minimal disassembly. The switch can then be readied for installation with minimal field assembly largely limited to unfolding and securing support beams and struts. The switch includes a number of phase insulators (i.e., two phase insulators for a 2-way switch and three phase insulators for a three-way switch), a central switch insulator and a number of blade arms, each selectively connecting an electric power tap at the central insulator to an electric power tap at a respective phase insulator. The platform includes structural beams and struts that easily fold for transportation and unfold for installation in the field while the beams, struts, insulators and blade arms remain attached together.
US08541700B2 Weight scale
A weight scale includes weight measurement means, storage means for storing a weight measurement value along with a measurement day and time, determination means for determining whether a fluctuation range of the weight measurement value in the same day is within a predetermined reference range, and display means for displaying a percentage of days determined that the daily weight fluctuation is within the reference range. In this manner, a trend in weight change can be grasped even with the measurement of a relatively short period.
US08541698B2 Base plate with sealing blocks
The invention relates to a base plate (2) in a cable distribution cabinet. The base plate (2) is divided into two. The rear half (2a) can be folded down and the other half (2b) can also be inserted from the direction of the lower base chamber (3). The base plate (2) is sealed from the cables (15) with the help of sealing blocks (5) of a closed-cell foam and not by means of rubber grommets. The sealing blocks (5) have a height of several centimeters and, with that, a high sealing length. Any shifting of the sealing blocks (5) is prevented by threading them on guide rods (14).
US08541695B2 Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes a substrate having first and second surfaces, a first penetrating hole penetrating through the substrate, a first through-hole conductor formed on the inner wall of the first hole, a filler filled inside the first conductor and forming a second penetrating hole, and a second through-hole conductor formed in the second hole, a first conductive circuit on the first surface of the substrate, a second conductive circuit on the second surface of the substrate, a first conductive portion on one end of the second hole, and a second conductive portion on the opposite end of the second penetrating hole. The first conductor is connecting the first circuit and the second circuit. The second conductor is made of a conductive material filled in the second hole and is connecting the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
US08541693B2 Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes a core substrate, a first laminated structure formed on a surface of the substrate and including conductive and insulation layers, and a second laminated structure formed on the opposite surface of the substrate and including conductive and insulation layers. The substrate has a connection conductor made of a plating. The insulation layers of the first laminated structure have connection conductors stacked one over another and made of platings. The insulation layers of the second laminated structure have connection conductors stacked one over another and made of platings. The connection conductors of the laminated structures are stacked on the connection conductor of the substrate. The connection conductors of the laminated structures include outer-layer connection conductors which have positions shifted in a substantially same direction from the position of the connection conductor of the substrate.
US08541690B2 Method for fixing an electronic component on a printed circuit board and system comprising a printed circuit board and at least one electronic component
A method for fixing an electronic component on a printed circuit board, and contact-connecting the electronic component to the printed circuit board, the following steps are provided:—providing the printed circuit board having a plurality of contact and connection pads,—providing the electronic component having a number of contact and connection locations corresponding to the plurality of contact and connection pads, with a mutual spacing reduced in comparison with the spacing of the contact and connection pads, and—arranging or forming at least one interlayer for routing the contact and connection locations of the electronic component between the contact and connection pads and the contact and connection locations of the electronic component. A method for producing an interlayer for routing and a system having a printed circuit board and an electronic component using the interlayer for routing are also provided.
US08541684B2 Visual latching indicator arrangement for an electrical bushing and terminator
An elbow terminator has a socket in which an electrical probe is disposed. The terminator is insertable onto an electrical bushing such that a tongue of the bushing is received in the socket of the terminator, and the probe of the terminator is electrically coupled to a contact sleeve disposed within the tongue. A latching mechanism produces positive latching between the tongue and socket when the tongue has been inserted to a predescribed depth within the socket. In order to enable an operator to visually observe that the tongue has been inserted to the prescribed depth, the bushing carries a color band which becomes completely disposed (invisible) in the socket when positive latching occurs. Alternatively, the bushing can be provided with gauge tabs which become aligned with a witness line formed on the terminator when positive latching occurs.
US08541679B2 Photo-voltaic power generation equipment that can automatically track the sun
This invention relates to a type of solar energy photo-voltaic power generation equipment that can automatically track the sun. This device includes a pedestal installed on a mounting platform. On the pedestal, a main support frame is provided. On the support frame, a solar cell panel platform is provided. On this platform, a solar energy photo-voltaic assembly is installed. The pedestal is connected to the mounting platform and can rotate relative to the mounting platform. On the pedestal, a circumferentially driven planet reduction gear is installed. On the main support frame, a platform elevation angle adjustment lifter is installed. The end of the telescopic link on the lifter is hinged to the solar cell panel platform. The circumferentially driven planet reduction gear and platform elevation angle adjustment lifter are connected to an electric control device.
US08541678B2 Thermionic/thermotunneling thermo-electrical converter
A thermionic or thermotunneling converter consisting of two electrodes maintained at a desired distance from one another by means of spacers in which the electrodes comprise silicon coated with a hard material, or comprise a ceramic or other refractory material. The spacers are formed by oxidizing one electrode, protecting certain oxidized areas and removing the remainder of the oxidized layer. The protected oxidized areas remain as spacers. These spacers have the effect of maintaining the electrodes at a desired distance without the need for active elements, thus greatly reducing costs.
US08541674B2 Support bridge
A support bridge includes a support platform having a top surface and a bottom surface and a holder attached to the top surface of the support platform. The holder includes a first set of support members separated by a first gap, a first material free region, in the first support member, that provides access from outside of the first member through the first member to the first gap, and a first securing member on a surface of the first support member bounding the first material free region, and a first plug configured to physically engage the first securing member to secure a first object disposed between the first members in the first gap to the holder and the support platform.
US08541664B1 Soybean cultivar 15115139
A soybean cultivar designated 15115139 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 15115139, to the plants of soybean cultivar 15115139, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 15115139, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 15115139. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 15115139. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 15115139, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 15115139 with another soybean cultivar.
US08541657B2 Canola cultivar CL117235H
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated CL117235H. Also included are seeds of canola CL117235H, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola CL117235H and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola CL117235H with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola CL117235H.
US08541653B2 Transformation of soybean
The present invention relates to improved methods for the incorporation of DNA into the genome of a soybean (Glycine max) plant utilizing meristematic cells of primary or higher leaf nodes as target tissue by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and subsequent regeneration of the transformed cells into a whole plant.
US08541651B2 Cellobiohydrolase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to variants of a parent cellobiohydrolase II. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.
US08541648B1 Maize variety hybrid X13A488
A novel maize variety designated X13A488 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13A488 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13A488 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13A488, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13A488. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13A488.
US08541647B2 Papaver somniferum with high concentration of codeine
The present invention is directed to an improved poppy straw, concentrate of poppy straw and opium of Papaver somniferum for the production of codeine containing little or no oripavine, morphine or thebaine. The present invention also provides plants, stands and seeds of Papaver somniferum and methods for the production of codeine.
US08541644B2 Absorbent body for an absorbent article and method of producing an absorbent body
A method of producing an absorbent body for an absorbent article having an absorbent body disposed generally centrally of the article and adapted for absorbing liquid body waste released by the wearer includes passing a first cut-out from a first web material through a nip, passing a second web material through the nip whereby the cut-out from the first web material overlays the second web material as the cut-out and the second web material pass through the nip, and performing one of the following as the cut-out from the first web material and the second material together pass through the nip: forming a fold line in the second web material at the peripheral edge of the cut-out of the first web material and forming a second cut-out from the second web material having substantially the same shape as the first cut-out from the first web material.
US08541643B2 Superabsorbents, nanofiber nonwovens finished therewith and use thereof
The invention relates to a superabsorbent powder consisting of polymer particles which have a core swelling in the presence of water and a superficially postcured shell, in which the powder is a screening fraction of such polymer particles which have not been crushed after the superficial postcure of their shell. This superabsorbent powder is especially suitable for the finishing of textile webs made of super-fine fibers or filaments with a diameter of less than 10 μm, in particular for the finishing of sanitary products. There is further proposed the use of a nanofiber nonwoven, finished with a superabsorbent for the absorption and retention of hydrophilic fluids, for the absorption and/or sustained release of at least one of the following fluids: body fluids, sweat of humans and animals, water, including cooling water, condensation water and water vapor, chemicals, including agrochemicals and pesticides, pharmaceuticals, biocides, germicides and fungicides, diagnostics, fire protection and fire extinguishing agents, cleaning agents, hydraulic fluids, heating and cooling fluids, sewage, including radioactively contaminated fluids, perfumes.
US08541640B2 Process for the destruction of toxic residues via oxidation in presence of water and oxygen and continuous mobile unit to treat hazardous compounds
Process for the destruction of toxic residues via oxidation in the presence of water and oxygen developed in homogenous phase at temperatures over 374° C. and pressure of at least 220 atmospheres and a continuous mobile unit easily transferred to treat effluents or contaminated media. This mobile unit is composed of a reactor, which includes pressurization, reaction, cooling, depressurization and sampling zones for the destruction of toxic residues like polychloride biphenyls (PCBs), pyridines, and other hazardous compounds.
US08541637B2 Process and system for thermochemical conversion of biomass
A system and method for converting biomass into fluid hydrocarbon products to minimize the use of fossil fuels, provide energy and chemical feedstock security, and sustainable and/or carbon neutral electric power, are disclosed. For example, fast pyrolysis can be performed on biomass to produce pygas and char using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The pygas is provided to an independent reactor without the addition of an oxidizing agent for catalytically converting the pygas to hydrocarbons using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. A system comprising fast pyrolysis means producing a pygas and char, independent catalytic conversion means downstream of the fast pyrolysis for converting the pygas to hydrocarbons, and a hydrogen source, external to the system and/or produced by a steam reformer by steam reformation of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons, coupled to catalytic conversion means, also are described.
US08541633B2 Processes for producing anhydrous ethanol compositions
In one embodiment, the present invention is to a process for producing a anhydrous ethanol composition comprising hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to form a crude ethanol product; separating in a first column at least a portion of the crude ethanol product into a first distillate comprising ethanol, water and ethyl acetate, and a first residue comprising acetic acid; separating in a second column at least a portion of the first distillate into a second distillate comprising ethyl acetate and a second residue comprising ethanol and water; separating in a third column at least a portion of the second residue into a third distillate comprising ethanol and residual water and a third residue comprising separated water; and dehydrating at least a portion of the third distillate to form the anhydrous ethanol composition. The anhydrous ethanol composition, as formed, comprises less than 1 wt. % water, based on the total weight of the anhydrous ethanol composition.
US08541632B2 Process and apparatus for producing chlorohydrin
A process and apparatus for producing chlorohydrin comprising reacting a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon-containing stream with a stream of a first effluent exiting from a hydrochlorination reactor in at least one vessel wherein the vessel exhibits a plug flow residence time characteristic, under conditions such that at least a portion of any unreacted HCl component present in the first effluent is reacted with the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon present in the multihydroxylated aliphatic hydrogen-containing stream to from an amount of monochlorohydrin in a stream of a second effluent exiting from the plug flow vessel; recovering said second effluent; and then optionally using the second effluent from the plug flow reactor in a subsequent processing operation.
US08541628B2 Complex cationic lipids having quaternary nitrogens therein
Cationic lipids having a derivatized quaternary ammonium head group that provide improved cell targeting ability and enhanced transfective efficacy for introducing molecules into cells are provided.
US08541623B2 Oxidation method and reactor
A method and apparatus for increasing the concentration of oxygen in the reaction medium present in the oxidation reactor. A volume of aqueous medium from the oxidation reactor is removed and pressurized and oxygen is added to it. The oxygen-rich volume of aqueous medium is then reintroduced into the oxidation reactor at an increased pressure to ensure adequate mixing with the aqueous medium having a lower content of oxygen.
US08541621B2 Polymerization initiator having aryl azide and surface modification method of cyclic olefin copolymer using the same
Provided is a method for modifying a surface of a cyclic olefin copolymer, comprising: coating a compound of the following Chemical Formula 1 on the surface of a cyclic olefin copolymer substrate, irradiating UV light on the cyclic olefin copolymer substrate, and polymerizing a monomer on the cyclic olefin where X is H or F, and n is an integer of 1 to 6.
US08541615B2 Method for producing biphenyltetracarboxylic acid tetraester
Disclosed is a method for producing a biphenyltetracarboxylic acid ester by oxidative coupling a phthalic acid ester by using a catalyst comprising at least a palladium salt, a copper salt and a β-dicarbonyl compound in the presence of a molecular oxygen, wherein the β-dicarbonyl compound is supplied into a reaction mixture liquid intermittently at an interval of less than 30 minutes, or continuously. This method allows, in particular, the selective and economical production of an asymmetric biphenyltetracarboxylic acid tetraester such as 2,3,3′,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid tetraester.
US08541612B2 Unsaturated diphosphine monoxides
The present invention relates to unsaturated diphosphine monoxides, to a process for preparation thereof and to the use thereof as flame retardants.
US08541608B2 Method for preparing a polymer conjugate
Provided herein is a straightforward and efficient method for covalently attaching a polyethylene glycol polymer to a taxane. The method involves, among other things, a step of reacting a taxame with a polyethylene glycol polymer comprising a functional group reactive with a functional group within said taxane in the presence of a coupling reagent and DPTS. The result of the reacting step is the formation of a polyethylene glycol-taxane conjugate.
US08541607B2 Disulfide, sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone derivatives of cyclic sugars and uses thereof
In the present invention there are disclosed new derivatives of dianhydrohexite mononitrate corresponding to formula (I), tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof: as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and uses thereof.
US08541604B2 Process for the functionalization of biological molecules
The present invention is targeted at a novel coupling method of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition type which is of particular use for the functionalization of biological molecules, such as, for example, proteins, enzymes or nucleic acids, insofar as it can be carried out in an aqueous medium and at ambient temperature.
US08541603B2 Substituted cyclopentanes or cyclopentanones as therapeutic agents
Therapeutic compounds, methods, and compositions are disclosed herein for treating glaucoma and baldness in mammals. The specific compounds are described herein and are modified prostaglandin derivates.
US08541602B2 Compound, organic semiconductor material, and semiconductor device
A compound is represented by the following formula: In the formula (1), X is a chalcogen atom. Z is carbon or an aromatic ring structure having at least one sulfur, at least one oxygen, or at least one nitrogen in an aromatic ring to which a substituent is attached. n is an integer of 1 to 3. R1 and R2 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a straight, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, a straight, branched, or cyclic alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.
US08541596B2 Inhibitors
Novel heterocyclic derivatives as inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclase (QC, EC 2.3.2.5). QC catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamine residues into pyroglutamic acid (5-oxo-prolyl, pGlu*) under liberation of ammonia and the intramolecular cyclization of N-terminal glutamate residues into pyroglutamic acid under liberation of water.
US08541593B2 Process for making substituted 2-amino-thiazolones
The present invention relates to methods of making compounds that inhibit 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11-HSD1). One method comprises (a) contacting a compound of formula (II) sequentially with a chiral base in the presence of an amine, 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.
US08541591B2 Nanoparticle/dispersant complex, nanoparticle dispersion liquid, and nanoparticle/matrix-material complex
Provided are a nanoparticle/dispersant complex having excellent dispersibility and long-term stability in a dispersion medium, a production method therefor, and a nanoparticle dispersion liquid and a nanoparticle/matrix-material complex which are colorless and transparent even at high concentrations. In the nanoparticle/dispersant complex, a nanoparticle is covered with a dispersant containing a heterocyclic cationic group and one of an oxo acid group containing a sulfur atom or a phosphorus atom and an anion moiety of the oxo acid group; in the nanoparticle dispersion liquid, the nanoparticle/dispersant complex is dispersed into a dispersion medium; in the nanoparticle/matrix-material complex, the nanoparticle/dispersant complex is dispersed into a matrix material; and the production method for a nanoparticle/dispersant complex comprises forming, under a presence of the dispersant, a nanoparticle covered with the dispersant from a nanoparticle precursor.
US08541588B2 Sulfonamide derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or tautomers thereof, to processes for the preparation of, intermediates used in the preparation of, and compositions containing such compounds, and the uses of such compounds, in particular for the treatment of pain.
US08541582B2 Phenyl bicyclic methyl amine derivatives as sphingosine-1 phosphate receptors modulators
The present invention relates to novel phenyl bicyclic methyl amine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08541581B2 Inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase
Provided herein are compounds of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof or mixtures thereof, wherein Z1, Z2, X1, X2, X3, R1, R2, R3, R4, m and n are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutically acceptable compositions that include a compound of formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Also provided are methods for treating an FAAH-mediated disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition of the present invention.
US08541578B2 Process for the production of n-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-piperazin-1-yl-acetamide
The present invention relates to a novel process, suitable for industrial exploitation for the production of N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-piperazin-1-yl-acetamide, also known as N-lidocaine, obtained from the reaction of piperazine with N-haloacetyl-2,6-xylidine. The process comprises the consecutive steps a) through f) a) reacting piperazine with N-haloacetyl-2,6-xylidine in a molar ratio between about 1/1 and about 6/1 in an aqueous solvent in which has been dissolved an equimolar amount of HCl; b) separating the solid formed in step a) from the reaction mixture; c) neutralizing the filtrate; d) extracting the filtrate with a solvent which is not or only to a small extent miscible with the aqueous solvent mentioned in step a); e) crystallizing the N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-piperazin-1-yl-acetamide from the solvent mentioned in step d) and f) separating the solid obtained in step e) from the solvent mentioned in step d).
US08541577B2 Aryl urea derivatives as N-formyl peptide receptors like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor modulators
The present invention relates to novel aryl urea derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of the N-formyl peptide receptor like-1 (FPRL-1) receptor.
US08541576B2 Substituted pyrazolo-quinazoline derivatives as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazolo[4,3-h]quinazoline compounds which modulate the activity of protein kinases and are therefore useful in treating diseases caused by dysregulated protein kinase activity, in particular PIM kinases. The present invention also provides methods for preparing these compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of treating diseases utilizing such these compounds or the pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08541574B2 Organometallic complex, and light-emitting element, light-emitting device and electronic device using the organometallic complex
According to the present invention, a wider variation of organometallic complexes that can emit phosphorescence can be provided by applying, as a ligand, an organic compound from which a variety of derivatives can be easily synthesized. In particular, an organometallic complex having a sharp emission spectrum is provided. Further, an organometallic complex having high emission efficiency is provided. An organometallic complex represented by the general formula (G1) is provided. In the formula, Ar represents an aryl group, R represents an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 individually represent either hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US08541568B2 Compositions and methods using siRNA molecules for treatment of gliomas
The present invention provides small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, compositions containing the molecules, and methods of using the compositions to treat gliomas.
US08541567B2 Transition state structure of 5′-methylthioadenosine/s-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidases
Provided are methods of designing a putative inhibitor of a 5′-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase. The methods comprise designing a chemically stable compound that resembles the charge and geometry of the 5′-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase transition state. Also provided are methods of inhibiting 5′-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidases using the inhibitors found by the above methods.
US08541559B2 Process for producing aggregated oligonucleotides
The invention provides processes for the producing compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle. The invention further provides processes for producing nucleotide compositions comprising oligonucleotides suitable to be used in the processes mentioned before. The invention further provides nucleotide compositions obtainable by the processes of the invention and uses thereof. The invention further provides compositions comprising (i) a virus-like particle, wherein said virus-like particle is a virus-like particle of an RNA bacteriophage, and (ii) an oligonucleotide, wherein said oligonucleotide is packaged into said virus-like particle, wherein said compositions are obtainable by the processes of the invention and wherein said compositions preferably comprises a purity of at least 98%, most preferably of at least 99%.
US08541558B2 Fluorescent proteins and uses thereof
A fluorescent sensor and methods for producing and using the fluorescent sensor. Such fluorescent sensors have broad applicability in characterizing cells and organisms, in detecting or measuring various cellular parameters, and in detecting or measuring protein-protein/peptide interactions.
US08541552B2 Antibodies to lymphotoxin-α
The invention provides various antibodies that bind to lymphotoxin-α, methods for making such antibodies, compositions and articles incorporating such antibodies, and their uses in treating, for example, an autoimmune disorder. The antibodies include murine, chimeric, and humanized antibodies.
US08541550B2 Methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides
Methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides are provided. One embodiment provides a non-viral vector comprising a recombinant polynucleotide-binding protein comprising a protein transduction domain operably linked to a targeting signal. Methods for modifying the genome of non-nuclear organelles are also provided.
US08541546B2 WDRPUH epitope peptides and vaccines containing the same
The present invention provides peptides containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 45, 49, 55, 57 and 61, as well as peptides containing the above-mentioned amino acid sequences in which 1, 2, or several amino acid(s) are substituted, deleted, inserted or added, but still have cytotoxic T cell inducibility. The present invention also provides drugs for treating or preventing tumors, which drugs containing these peptides. The peptides of the present invention can also be used as vaccines.
US08541543B2 Peptides specific for hepatocellular carcinoma cells and applications thereof
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Novel treatment strategies derived from increased knowledge of molecular oncology are constantly being developed to cure this disease. Here, we used phage display to identify novel peptides, including (SP94), which binds specifically to HCC cells. In vitro, the phage clone PC94 binds to HCC cell lines. In vivo, PC94 homed specifically to tumor tissues but not to normal visceral organs in SCID mice bearing human HCC xenografts. The homing ability could be competitively inhibited by synthetic peptide, SP94. PC94 localized to tumor tissues but could not be detected in SP94-competed tumor tissues or in normal organs. In addition, PC94 recognized the tumor tissue but not non-tumor tissue in surgical specimens from HCC patients, with a positive rate of 61.3% (19/31). With the conjugation of SP94 and liposomal doxorubicin, a targeted drug delivery system enhanced the therapeutic efficacy against HCC xenografts through enhanced tumor apoptosis and decreased tumor angiogenesis. Our results indicate that SP94 can improve the systemic treatment of patients with advanced HCC.
US08541540B2 Continuous process for the extraction of polyamide-6
A continuous process is disclosed for the extraction of monomeric caprolactam and its oligomers as the raw polymer product obtained in the polymerization of polyamide-6 in which no fresh water, but processing water or previously used extraction water is used for the granulation.
US08541539B2 Method for preparing a water-soluble polyamide
A method for preparing a water-soluble polyamide, includes copolymerizing reactive monomers including caprolactam; ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl)ether or ethylene glycol bis(3-aminopropyl)ether; and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt, wherein a molar ratio of caprolactam:ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl)ether or ethylene glycol bis(3 -aminopropyl)ether:5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt is about 0:1:1 to about 5:1:1, advantageously about 1.85:1:1. Copolymerizing takes place at a copolymerization temperature of about 222-250° C. and a copolymerization pressure of about 3 Bar. The method further includes maintaining a temperature of about 222-250° C. for about 2-3 hours under normal pressure after the copolymerization step. The water-soluble polyamide has a solubility in water of about 10-70%.
US08541534B2 Resin composition for laser engraving, relief printing plate precursor for laser engraving, relief printing plate and method for producing relief printing plate
A resin composition for laser engraving, including: a compound (A) having at least one of a hydrolyzable silyl group or a silanol group; and a binder polymer (B) having a functional group capable of forming a crosslinked structure by reacting with at least one of a hydrolyzable silyl group or a silanol group.
US08541531B2 Anti-bleed compounds, compositions and methods for use thereof
The invention is based on the discovery that addition of certain carboxylic acid derivatives of siloxanes to thermosetting adhesive compositions and die-attach pastes renders such compositions and pastes extremely resistant to resin bleed. The present invention provides siloxane-carboxylic acid compounds useful as anti-bleed additives. Also provided are adhesive compositions and pastes containing the compounds of the invention, which are particularly useful in applications that require little to no resin bleed prior to curing of the compositions (such as e.g., electronic packaging applications).
US08541528B2 Process for producing water-absorbing particles
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein an aqueous polymer gel is dried in a forced-air belt drier on a circulating conveyor belt and the surface of the conveyor belt has a multitude of elevations or depressions which are suitable for restricting the mobility of the aqueous polymer gel in transverse direction.
US08541526B2 Tinted lenses that correct for high order aberrations
Disclosed herein are photopolymerizable compositions and formulations that comprise photochromic dyes, photochromic blue light blocking dyes, permanent dyes, permanent blue blocking dyes, and/or their combinations. In some variations, these formulations are suited for example, for sandwiching between lens blanks to form semi-finished lens assemblies to form a tinted lens useful in sunglasses. The formulations are also suitable for correcting optical aberrations, and may provide a photochromic effect when exposed to sunlight.
US08541520B1 Method of making high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers
The method of making high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers involves mixing a TiO2/Fe titania-iron nanofiller with a vanadium (III) complex bearing salicylaldiminato ligands polymerization catalyst in a reactor. The reactor is then charged with toluene and heated to a temperature of about 30° C. Following heating, ethylene is fed into the reactor at a fixed pressure, and a methyl aluminum dichloride cocatalyst is added to initiate in situ polymerization. Polymerization is quenched to yield high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers, which is then washed and dried. Through the addition of a TiO2/Fe nanofiller, the molecular weight, the crystallinity and the melting temperature of high-density polyethylene are all increased, while the polydispersity index (PDI) is decreased.
US08541514B2 Branched polyglycols and branched polyether functional organopolysiloxanes and coatings containing same
Branched polyglycols and branched polyether functional organopolysiloxanes are disclosed as is a process for making branched polyether functional organopolysiloxanes by reacting an organohydrogensiloxane and a branched polyglycol having an unsaturated group via a hydrosilylation reaction, as well as coating compositions containing branched polyether functional organopolysiloxanes and a binder are disclosed. Coatings resulting from these compositions were more hydrophilic and had improved dirt release properties as compared to coatings containing similar, but un-branched, polyether functional organopolysiloxanes.
US08541512B2 Epoxy resin-based composition modified for impact resistance
A resin component for a one- or two-component adhesive, a matrix resin, or a structural foam, comprising: C1) at least one epoxy resin, having an average of more than one epoxy group per molecule, that does not correspond to the definition of component C2); C2) at least one oligomeric or polymeric urethane-group-free polyether compound. A one- or two-component epoxy adhesive, structural foam, or matrix material for composites, comprising the aforesaid resin components.
US08541511B2 Amphiphilic block copolymer formulations
The invention relates to an amphiphilic block copolymer having an increased speed of water adsorption. The non-water soluble copolymer, having a hydrophilic middle block and hydrophobic endblocks, has a high rate water transmission and/or permeation. The increase in rate is due to neutralization, or partial neutralization of the hydrophilic block of the copolymer. Furthermore, the absorption rate can be controlled by the extent of the neutralization. Another aspect of the invention is the use of co-monomers and/or additives to further increase or tailor the water absorption properties. The use of additives and comonomers is also shown to enhance the processability of the disclosed polymer composition.
US08541510B2 Thermosetting composition
This invention relates to a thermosetting composition having an excellent thermosetting property, and more particularly to a thermosetting composition comprising (A) a diene-based polymer having two or more unsaturated bonds, (B) a polythiol derived from a mercaptocarboxylic acid, and (c) a thermally radical-generating agent.
US08541509B2 Polymers functionalized with protected oxime compounds
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a protected oxime compound.
US08541508B2 Epoxy group-containing copolymer, epoxy (meth)acrylate copolymer using the same and their production processes
According to the present invention, a novel epoxy group-containing copolymer, including a production process thereof, and an epoxy (meth)acrylate copolymer starting from the epoxy group-containing copolymer, including a production process thereof are provided. The epoxy group-containing copolymer of the present invention contains a specific epoxy group-containing repeating unit and an olefin-based repeating unit. A novel epoxy (meth)acrylate copolymer of the present invention is produced by reacting the epoxy group-containing copolymer with (meth)acrylic acid.
US08541491B2 In-situ methods of generating water through the dehydration of metal salt hydrates for moisture crosslinking of polyolefins
Compositions comprising a polymer resin comprising at least one copolymer with hydrolyzable groups, a water-generating metal salt hydrate, and a catalyst that comprises a metal atom and at least two ligands taken from the set alkyloxy and carboxylate are used to form articles that moisture-cure through in-situ generation of water via dehydration of the metal hydrate. The compositions are melt mixed to promote the dehydration and start the cure process during the mixing step. The curing compositions are formed and allowed to harden.
US08541488B2 Formed resin article and polymer film
A formed resin article, containing a compound and a polymer substance, wherein the compound has a maximum absorption wavelength in a range of 400 nm or less, measured in a solution of the compound, wherein the compound is contained in the polymer substance in a quantity of 5 g/m2 or less, and wherein a light transmittance of the article at a wavelength of 410 nm is 5% or less.
US08541483B2 Silicone (meth)acrylamide monomer, polymer, ophthalmic lens, and contact lens
The present invention relates to a silicone (meth)acrylamide monomer, and this silicone (meth)acrylamide monomer is particularly suitable for use in contact lenses, intraocular lenses, artificial cornea, and the like.
US08541478B2 Rigid polyurethane foam and system and method for making the same
An embodiment of a closed-cell polymeric rigid foam may be made using a one-shot method and a reaction system that includes a hydrofluoroalkene physical blowing agent and a polyol mixture having an aminic polyol. The hydrofluoroalkene blowing agent has 3 to 5 carbon atoms and a boiling point between 10° C. and 40° C. at 1 atmosphere pressure. Embodiments of rigid foams may have high closed cell content and are particularly well suited for thermal insulation.
US08541475B2 MAO-B inhibitors useful for treating obesity
The invention provides novel compounds of formulae I and II: that are monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors, which can be useful in treating obesity, diabetes, and/or cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemias, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance).
US08541472B2 Antiseptic compositions, methods and systems
Antiseptic compositions comprising at least one salt of EDTA are disclosed. These compositions have broad spectrum antimicrobial and antifungal activity and they also have anticoagulant properties. The antiseptic compositions have also demonstrated activity in penetrating and breaking down microbial slime, or biofilms. They are safe for human and medical uses and may be used as prophylactic preparations to prevent infection, or to reduce the proliferation of and/or eliminate existing or established infections.
US08541469B2 Treatment of cell-mediated immune diseases
9-cis retinoic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable hydrolyzable esters thereof, 9-cis retinal and pharmaceutically acceptable acetals thereof, and 9-cis retinol and pharmaceutically acceptable hydrolyzable esters thereof as well as metabolites of 9-cis retinoic acid have been found to be efficacious in treating T-helper cell type 1 mediated immune diseases in well tolerated doses. Preferably, the active ingredient is formulated as a medicament for oral or topical administration.
US08541465B2 Docetaxel formulations with lipoic acid and/or dihydrolipoic acid
Formulations comprising docetaxel or a salt thereof in combination with α-lipoic acid and/or dihydrolipoic acid and/or salts thereof in narrow concentration ranges have improved stability as concentrate liquid formulations and permit longer times between dilution from higher concentrations through completion of infusions prepared therefrom allowing for lesser waste and more efficient use of personnel in infusion preparation.
US08541459B2 Pharmaceutical composition
To provide a pharmaceutical composition which can enhance the storage stability of 1-(1-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydroxypropyloxymethyl)-2-nitroimidazole without impairing the effect of the compound.The pharmaceutical composition includes 1-(1-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydroxypropyloxymethyl)-2-nitroimidazole, which is represented by formula (1): and a compound having chelating ability.
US08541456B2 Roflumilast for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2
The application relates to specific combinations of Roflumilast and/or Roflumilast N-Oxide and a PPAR-agonist, as well as their use in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2.
US08541450B2 Process for the preparation of chiral 8-(3-aminopiperidin-1yl)-xanthines
The invention relates to enantiomerically pure 3-(phthalimido)piperidines and processes for preparing enantiomerically pure 3-(phthalimido)piperidines.
US08541446B2 (2S,3R)-N-(2-((3-pyridinyl)methyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)benzofurn-2-carboxamide, novel salt forms, and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to (2S,3R)—N-(2-((3-pyridinyl)methyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)benzofuran-2-carboxamide, novel salt forms thereof, methods for its preparation, novel intermediates, and methods for treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including those associated with dysfunction of the central and autonomic nervous systems.
US08541445B2 Pyrazolopyridines
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08541444B2 Triazolopyridine 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors
Novel compounds are provided which are 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors. 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitor therapy. These novel compounds of formula I: or stereoisomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein G, Q, X, Y, R3, R3a, and R3b are defined herein.
US08541441B2 Selective glycosidase inhibitors and uses thereof
The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.
US08541437B2 Substituted 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles, methods for the production and use thereof
The invention relates to antagonists of serotonin 5-HT6 receptors simultaneously regulating homeostasis of Ca+2 ions in cells, representing substituted 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles of the general formula 1, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or hydrate thereof. In the general formula 1: R1 represents amino group substituent selected from optionally substituted C1-C5 alkyl; R2i is one or more substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C3 alkyl, CF3, OCF3; Ar is phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, substituted amino group, or CF3; or optionally substituted aromatic 6-membered heterocycle comprising 1-2 nitrogen atoms in the cycle; W represents ethylene group —CH2—CH2—, ethenyl group —CH═CH—, or ethynyl group —C≡C—. The invention also relates to the novel compounds selected from the compounds of the general formula 1, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of their use.
US08541435B2 Niacin compositions for reduction of amyloid beta peptide 42 (abeta 42) production and for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD)
The present invention discloses (1) phenolic ester hybrids of niacin with m-methoxy-p-hydroxy phenyl compounds like eugenol, vanillin, apocynin, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid and eugenol epoxide and (2) cocrystals of hybrids as above, particularly cocrystal of niacin-eugenol hybrid with cocrystal former like eugenol and oxalic acid (3) novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of niacin and one or more small molecule/potentiating agent like eugenol, curcumin, cinnamic acid, meclofenamic acid, and their use in the treatment of a disorder or a disease caused by excess production of amyloid beta peptide-42 (Aβ42), its deposition, accumulation, and plaque formation including Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and mild cognitive impairment as well as other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and ischemic stroke.
US08541429B2 Pyrazolo quinazoline derivatives, process for their preparation and their use as kinase inhibitors
Pyrazolo-quinazoline derivatives of formula (Ia) or (Ib) as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; the compounds of the invention may be useful, in therapy, in the treatment of diseases associated with a disregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.
US08541428B2 Heterocyclic derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to novel quinoxaline, quinazoline and phthalazine derivatives as well as multimeric derivatives, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions including such compounds, and methods of using these compounds for the treatment and prevention of brain damage resulting from brain injury, especially secondary brain damage due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The compounds of the invention are also useful in treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
US08541424B2 Anti-viral compounds
Compounds effective in inhibiting replication of Hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) are described. This invention also relates to processes of making such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds to treat HCV infection.
US08541422B2 Methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of thrombosis or embolism
The present invention relates to a method of ameliorating the drawbacks of anti-platelet drug named clopidogrel. The method of the present invention comprises administration of an (S)oxo-clopidogrel or its derivative of the Formula IIA in its free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form for alleviating the symptoms of thrombosis or embolism by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation. Compositions for use in such methods are also provided.
US08541419B2 Isotopically enriched pyrimidin-5-yl acetic acid derivatives as CRTH2 antagonists
Provided herein are 2H- and 13C-enriched compounds of formula (I) or (II); wherein R is as defined herein, and wherein at least one hydrogen atom, in certain embodiments, three or more hydrogen atoms, are deuterium atoms or at least one carbon atom is a carbon-13 atom. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods using the 2H- and 13C-enriched compounds, useful for treating CRTH2-related diseases or disorders such as, for example, asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjuvatitis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, sinusitis, basophilic leukemia, chronic urticaria or basophilic leukocytosis.
US08541417B2 Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors
Compounds of the following formula are provided for use with PARP: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds.
US08541415B2 Targeting an HIV-1 nef-host cell kinase complex
Drug candidates for inhibition of HIV-I replication can target Src family kinases (SFK), such as Hck, that interact with Nef protein of the virus. Compounds characterized by such inhibitory activity were identified via an assay for kinase activity of an SFK in a Nef:SFK complex. Illustrative of inhibitors identified using the kinase assay are various 2,3-diaminoquinaxolines and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. The inventive inhibitors were found to arrest HIV-I viral replication in vitro.
US08541414B2 Pyridazinone compound and use thereof as herbicides
A pyridazinone compound represented by the formula (I) has excellent effect on weed control and is useful as an active ingredient of herbicides.
US08541411B2 Benzimidazole derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors
This invention relates to the use of benzimidazole derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide 3′ OH kinase family (hereinafter PI3 kinases), suitably, PI3Kα, PI3Kδ, PI3Kβ, and/or PI3Kγ. Suitably, the present invention relates to the use of benzimidazoles in the treatment of one or more disease states selected from: autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multiorgan failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, transplantation rejection, graft rejection and lung injuries. More suitably, the present invention relates to PI3Kβ selective benzimidazoles compounds for treating cancer.
US08541409B2 Carbamoyloxy arylalkanoyl arylpiperazine analgesics
There is provided a novel carbamoyloxy arylalkanoyl arylpiperazine derivative compound having abundant racemic or enantiomeric characteristics, represented by the Formula 1, and pharmaceutically available salts or hydrates thereof. Also, there are provided a pharmaceutical composition for treating pain, anxiety or depression including an effective amount of the compound, and a method for treating pain, anxiety or depression in mammals by administering an effective amount of the compound to the mammals in need of treatment thereof.
US08541408B2 Aminodihydrothiazine derivatives substituted with a cyclic group
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein the ring A is an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R1 is optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted lower alkynyl; R2a and R2b are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl or optionally substituted acyl; R3a, R3b, R3c and R3d are each independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy or optionally substituted lower alkyl etc.; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, which is useful for treating diseases induced by production, secretion and/or deposition of amyloid β protein.
US08541406B2 Thiadiazole derivatives for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
This invention provides specifically substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives for use in the treatment of an α-synucleopathy such as Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Niemann-Pick disease, Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, Down syndrome, neuroaxonal dystrophy, multiple system atrophy and Alzheimer's disease. This invention also provides various methods for producing such substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives.
US08541402B2 Viral polymerase inhibitors
Compounds of formula I: wherein X, R2, R3, R3a, R3b, R5 and R6 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase.
US08541401B2 Flavorant ester salts of polycarboxylic acids and methods for immobilizing and delivering flavorants containing hydroxyl groups
Compositions are provided which contain immobilized flavorants for flavor delivery. In particular, smoking compositions are provided which contain flavorant ester salts of polycarboxylic acids.
US08541400B2 Compositions forming non-lamellar dispersions
The present invention relates to compositions containing a) at least one monoacyl lipid; b) at least one diacyl glycerol and/or tochopherol; and c) at least one fragmentation agent; and optionally an active agent. The compositions are capable of self-dispersing to provide colloidal non-lamellar particles upon contact with an aqueous fluid. The invention additionally provides a method for forming non-lamellar particles from such compositions, and pharmaceutical formulations containing the compositions, plus non-lamellar particles formable from the compositions.
US08541397B2 Alkyne and alkene derivatives as sphingosine 1-phosphate-1 receptor modulators
The present invention relates to novel alkyne and alkene derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08541390B2 Treatment of cancer by inhibition of IGFBPs and clusterin
Agents that reduce the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that are known to be useful in the treatment of cancer result in increased expression of the protein clusterin. Since clusterin can provide protection against apoptosis, this secondary effect detracts from the efficacy of the therapeutic agent. In overcoming this, the present invention provides a combination of therapeutic agents that is useful in the treatment of cancer. The combination includes an agent that reduces the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that stimulates expression of clusterin as a secondary effect, and an oligonucleotide that is effective to reduce the amount of clusterin in cancer cells. In some embodiments of the invention, the agent that reduces IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 is a bispecific antisense species. The oligonucleotide may be an antisense oligonucleotide or an RNAi oligonucleotide.
US08541385B2 Chemically modified oligonucleotides for use in modulation micro RNA and uses thereof
This invention relates generally to chemically modified oligonuceotides useful for modulating expression of microRNAs and pre-microRNAs. More particularly, the invention relates to single stranded chemically modified oligonuceotides for inhibiting microRNA and pre-microRNA expression and to methods of making and using the modified oligonucleotides. Also included in the invention are compositions and methods for silencing microRNAs in the central nervous system.
US08541383B2 Synergistic phytochemical composition for the treatment of obesity
Synergistic anti-adipogenic and pro-lipolytic compositions for the prevention and amelioration of adipogenesis and lipolysis mediated diseases, comprising at least two extracts selected from enriched demethylated curcuminoids obtained from Curcuma longa, Moringa oleifera and Murraya koenigii. The anti-adipogenic and pro-lipolytic compositions optionally contain one or more anti-obesic agents. These compositions are useful for preventing anti-inflammatory and free radical mediated diseases.
US08541381B2 Process for producing enriched fractions containing up to 100% of bacopasaponins from the plant materials of bacopa species
This invention describes a process for producing a fraction enriched with jujubogenin and psudojujubogenin lycosides from Bacopa species, wherein the total Bacopa saponin concentration is up to 100% when estimated by HPLC method of analysis. The present invention also describes the processes for the enrichment of new compositions and individual saponin compounds from Bacopa monnieri to more than 95% purity. It further describes an analytical HPLC method for the estimation of total Bacopa saponin fraction and its use in therapeutic applications. This invention also includes two Bacopa saponin 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] jujubogenin and 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl] pseudojujubogenin herein referred to as bacopaside N1 of general formula (1) and bacopaside N2 of general formula (2) respectively.
US08541376B2 Composition comprising and method of using angiopoietin-like protein 3 ANGPTL3
The present invention is directed to methods and means for making and using Angptl3 polypeptides. The invention specifically concerns the use of Angptl3 polypeptides in inducing liver regeneration and angiogenesis. Further methods include the use of Angptl3 polypeptides in the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. Also provided herein are antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention.
US08541373B2 BChE albumin fusions for the treatment of cocaine abuse
A method of attenuating a biological effect of cocaine exposure in a primate. Such method includes administering to the primate an amount of a BChE-albumin fusion protein comprising the amino acid substitutions A227S, S315G, A356W, and Y360G, wherein the amount of the fusion protein is effective to cause attenuation of the biological effect of cocaine exposure in the primate.
US08541370B2 Use of matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) for thrombolytic treatments
The present invention relates to the use of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-10 in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition useful for thrombolytic therapy, it also being possible for said composition to contain a plasminogen activator. Additionally, the present invention relates to said pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.
US08541366B2 Synthetic AXMI-004 delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided, particularly synthetically-derived coding sequences. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:9, 11, 13, 15, or 18, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 17, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08541363B2 Pyruvamide compounds as inhibitors of dust mite group 1 peptidase allergen and their use
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds and more specifically to certain pyruvamide compounds of the formula (X) (for convenience, collectively referred to herein as “PVA compounds”), which, inter alia, inhibit a dust mite Group 1 peptidase allergen (e.g., Der p 1, Der f 1, Eur m 1). The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit a dust mite Group 1 peptidase allergen, and in the treatment of diseases and disorders that are mediated by a dust mite Group 1 peptidase allergen; that are ameliorated by the inhibition of a dust mite Group 1 peptidase allergen; asthma; rhinitis; allergic conjunctivitis; atopic dermatitis; an allergic condition which is triggered by dust mites; an allergic condition which is triggered by a dust mite Group 1 peptidase allergen; and canine atopy.
US08541362B2 Cyclopropyl compounds and compositions for delivering active agents
Compounds and compositions for the delivery of active agents are provided. Methods of administration and preparation are provided as well.
US08541361B2 Composition
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a peptide with 2-12 amino acids substituted with a lipophilic moiety and a water soluble salt of an alkali, earth alkaline metal or transition metal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a container comprising such compositions. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of a water soluble salt of an alkali, earth alkaline metal or transition metal for reducing the adhesion of a peptide with 2-12 amino acids substituted with a lipophilic moiety to a surface.
US08541360B2 Parenteral formulations comprising sugar-based esters and ethers
The present invention relates to formulations for the parenteral administration of therapeutic agents, which contain sugar-based esters and ethers of fatty acids and fatty alcohols as surfactants. The formulations are advantageous for therapeutic agents which are insoluble or poorly soluble in water, and for reducing toxicity associated with common surfactants used in pharmaceutical formulations.
US08541358B2 Fragrant gel polymer with water
The fragrant gel polymer system is a process where a fragrance formulation is divided and blended with a polymer and a cross-linking agent. The polymer is then liquefied and made homogenous with a solvent, including esters. The solvent modifies viscosity and later eases the mixing of the polymer with the cross-linking agent. The cross linking agent is then liquefied and blended with water and aliphatic alcohol reducing steric hindrance. Mixing of the fragrance carrying polymer and the cross linking agent results in a gel that sets in less time and with less syneresis than existing processes. The resulting gel achieves a near transparent form and receives dyes while attaining various molded shapes.
US08541356B2 Water-activated “green” multi-functional wipe
Multi-functional wipes with desirable ecological profiles and improved performances are disclosed. The wipes may include a substrate and a cleaning composition, a disinfecting/sanitizing composition, and an optional fragrance composition releasably associated with the substrate. The compositions may be separated from one another and may be impregnated in or coated on distinct sections of the substrate. Unlike “wet” wipes preloaded with a dilute cleaning liquid, the disclosed wipes may be substantially dry and water-activated just prior to its application on a target surface.
US08541355B2 Process to produce stable suspending system
A process that degasses a structured surfactant composition that comprises at least one surfactant, water, and at least one suspending agent chosen from polysaccharides, gums, and celluloses. By degassing the composition, the suspending agent can form a structured system. Gas, such as air bubbles, disrupts the formation of the structuring system, which reduces the ability of the composition to suspend materials.
US08541352B2 Surface treatment compositions including poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and sheilding salts
Surface treatment compositions comprising certain cationic polymer(s), anionic surfactant, one or more shielding salts and hydrophobic association disruptor. The surface treatment compositions comprise at least about 6% by weight of cationic polymer, at least about 6% by weight anionic surfactant, and at least about 4% by weight of the shielding salt. The weight ratio of anionic surfactant to cationic polymer is between about 0.5:1 and about 4:1. The composition may also have a weight ratio of shielding salt to cationic polymer of between about 0.3:1 and about 3:1.
US08541350B2 Dry-film, anti-corrosive cold forming lubricant
The invention provides a lubricant composition for generating a combined passivate and lubricating coating on a metal substrate with which the composition is brought into contact. The lubricant composition comprises an organic polymer and/or a wax dispersion; phosphates, preferably acid phosphate salts, and/or phosphoric acid; and optionally, a surfactant, a thickening aid, an anti-wear additive, a defoaming agent; a corrosion inhibitor; and/or a linear or branched hydrocarbon.
US08541349B2 Lubricant-hard-ductile nanocomposite coatings and methods of making
Lubricant-hard-ductile composite coating compositions and methods of making the same are provided. In embodiment, a composite coating composition comprises: a lubricant phase for providing lubrication to a surface; a hard ceramic phase for providing structural integrity and wear resistance to the surface; and a ductile metal phase for providing ductility to the surface.
US08541348B2 Stabilization of emulsions containing resinous material for use in the field of oil or gas well treatments
Emulsions for use in a well including: (a) a water-insoluble resinous material; (b) water; and (c) an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier comprises a non-ionic, a cationic, or a zwitterionic emulsifier; wherein the continuous phase of the emulsion comprises the water; wherein a dispersed phase of the emulsion comprises the resinous material; wherein the dispersed phase is in the form of droplets having a size distribution range such that at least 50% of the droplets have a size of 0.5 micrometers-500 micrometers; wherein the resinous material of the droplets is in a concentration of at least 5% by weight of the water; and wherein the composition of the droplets has a viscosity of less than 2,000 Poise measured at 20° F. Methods include the steps of: (a) forming an emulsion described above; and (b) introducing the emulsion into a portion of a subterranean formation.
US08541346B2 Methods of degrading subterranean filter cakes
The present invention relates to bridging agents for use in subterranean formations, to well drill-in and servicing fluids comprising such bridging agents, and to methods of using such bridging agents and well drill-in and servicing fluids in subterranean drilling operations. An example of a well drill-in and servicing fluid of the present invention comprises a viscosified fluid, a fluid loss control additive, and a bridging agent comprising a degradable material.
US08541340B2 Thermal transfer sheet
A thermal transfer sheet includes a thermal transfer dye layer containing a dye on one surface of a base material sheet and a heat-resistant lubricating layer on the other surface, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer contains a compound represented by Chemical formula 1 described below, (in the formula, n represents an integer of 15 or more).
US08541338B2 Highly porous activated carbon with controlled oxygen content
Nanoporous activated carbon material having a high specific capacitance in EDLCs and controlled oxygen content, and methods for making such activated carbon material. Reduction of oxygen content is achieved by (a) curing a carbon precursor/additive mixture in an inert or reducing environment, and/or (b) refining (heating) activated carbon material after synthesis in an inert or reducing environment. The inert or reducing environment used for curing or refining is preferably substantially free of oxygen.
US08541333B2 Catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst comprising the same
A catalyst component for olefin polymerization comprising an α-cyanosuccinate compound as an internal electron donor, a catalyst comprising the catalyst component, and use of the catalyst in olefin polymerization. When used in propylene polymerization, the catalyst can exhibit good catalytic activity and good hydrogen response, and the resulting polymer can have a good isotacticity and a good molecular weight distribution.
US08541327B1 Barium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesia, and alkali oxide free glass
A glass composition consisting essentially of about 10-45 mole percent of SrO; about 35-75 mole percent SiO2; one or more compounds from the group of compounds consisting of La2O3, Al2O3, B2O3, and Ni; the La2O3 less than about 20 mole percent; the Al2O3 less than about 25 mole percent; the B2O3 less than about 15 mole percent; and the Ni less than about 5 mole percent. Preferably, the glass is substantially free of barium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesia, and alkali oxide.Preferably, the glass is used as a seal in a solid oxide fuel/electrolyzer cell (SOFC) stack. The SOFC stack comprises a plurality of SOFCs connected by one or more interconnect and manifold materials and sealed by the glass. Preferably, each SOFC comprises an anode, a cathode, and a solid electrolyte.
US08541325B2 Low expansivity, high transmission titania doped silica glass
In one embodiment the present disclosure is directed to a silica-titania glass with an internal transmission of >90%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment the internal transmission is >93%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the internal transmission is >95%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment the disclosure is directed to a silica-titania glass with an overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >84% at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >86% at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >88% at wavelengths from 330 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the silica-titania glass has a Ti+3 concentration level [Ti3+] less than 3 ppm by weight.
US08541323B2 Splittable conjugate fiber, aggregate thereof, and fibrous form made from splittable conjugate fibers
A splittable conjugate fiber comprising a polyester segment and a polyolefin segment, wherein the splittable conjugate fiber comprises two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from a center of the fiber toward an outer edge of the fiber in a cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, in which at least one of the two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from the center of the fiber toward the outer edge of the fiber is exposed at the outer edge of the fiber and at least one of the two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from the center of the fiber toward the outer edge of the fiber is unexposed at the outer edge of the fiber.
US08541322B2 Sidewall functionalization of carbon nanotubes with organosilanes for polymer composites
The present invention is directed to methods of functionalizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs), particularly single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), with organosilane species, wherein such functionalization enables fabrication of advanced polymer composites. The present invention is also directed toward the functionalized CNTs, advanced CNT-polymer composites made with such functionalized CNTs, and methods of making such advanced CNT-polymer composites.
US08541320B2 Silylated amino resins
The present invention relates to silylated amino resins, to processes for preparing them, to their use, and to coating compositions comprising them.
US08541319B2 Laser processing method
A laser processing method comprises a laser light converging step of converging a laser light at a sheet-like object to be processed made of silicon so as to form a modified region within the object, and an etching step of anisotropically etching the object so as to thin the object to a target thickness and advancing the etching selectively along the modified region so as to form the object with a through hole tilted with respect to a thickness direction of the object after the laser light converging step, wherein the laser light converging step forms a first modified region as the modified region in a part corresponding to the through hole in the object and a second modified region as the modified region extending parallel to the thickness direction and joining with the first modified region in a part to be removed upon thinning by the anisotropic etching in the object, and wherein the etching step advances the etching selectively along the second modified region and then along the first modified region while thinning the object and completes forming the through hole when the object is at the target thickness.
US08541315B2 High throughput epitaxial lift off for flexible electronics
A method of removing a semiconductor device layer from an underlying base substrate is provided in which a sacrificial phosphide-containing layer is formed between a semiconductor device layer and a base substrate. In some embodiments, a semiconductor buffer layer can be formed on an upper surface of the base substrate prior to forming the sacrificial phosphide-buffer layer. The resultant structure is then etched utilizing a non-HF etchant to release the semiconductor device layer from the base semiconductor substrate. After releasing the semiconductor device layer from the base substrate, the base substrate can be re-used.
US08541309B2 Processing assembly for semiconductor workpiece and methods of processing same
A processing assembly for a semiconductor workpiece generally includes a rotor assembly capable of spinning a workpiece, a chemistry delivery assembly for delivering chemistry to the workpiece, and a chemistry collection assembly for collecting spent chemistry from the workpiece. The chemistry collection assembly includes a weir assembly surrounding the rotor assembly and having a plurality of weirs. Methods for processing a semiconductor workpiece generally include moving at least one of the rotor assembly and the weir assembly.
US08541308B2 Polishing method and method for forming a gate
A polishing method and a method for forming a gate are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate on a semiconductor substrate including a sacrificial oxide layer and a polysilicon layer which covers the sacrificial oxide layer, forming spacers around the dummy gate, and successively forming a silicon nitride layer and a dielectric layer covering the silicon nitride layer. The method further includes polishing the dielectric layer until the silicon nitride layer is exposed, polishing the silicon nitride layer on a fixed abrasive pad until the polysilicon layer is exposed by using a polishing slurry with a PH value ranging from 10.5 to 11 and comprising an anionic surfactant or a zwitterionic surfactant. Additionally, the method includes forming an opening after removing the dummy gate, and forming a gate in the opening. The method eliminates potential erosion and dishing caused in the polishing of the silicon nitride layer.
US08541305B2 3D integrated circuit and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a 3D integrated circuit and a manufacturing method thereof. The circuit structure comprises: a semiconductor substrate; at least one semiconductor device formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a through-Si-via through the semiconductor substrate and comprising an insulating layer covering sidewalls of the through-Si-via and conductive material filled in the insulating layer; an interconnection structure connecting the at least one semiconductor device and the through-Si-via; and a diffusion trapping region formed on the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. The present invention is applicable in manufacture of the 3D integrated circuit.
US08541302B2 Electronic device including a trench with a facet and a conductive structure therein and a process of forming the same
An electronic device can include a transistor structure including a semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and a trench extending into the semiconductor layer having a tapered shape. In an embodiment, the tapered shape includes a facet. The transistor structure can include a source region and a drain region wherein different portions of the drain regions are disposed adjacent to the primary surface and within the trench. In another embodiment, different facets may be spaced apart from each other. Processes of forming the tapered etch can be tailored based on the needs or desires of a fabricator.
US08541299B2 Electrical interconnect forming method
An electrical interconnect forming method. The electrical interconnect includes a first substrate comprising a first electrically conductive pad, a second substrate comprising a second electrically conductive pad, and an interconnect structure electrically and mechanically connecting the first electrically conductive pad to the second electrically conductive pad. The interconnect structure comprises a non-solder metallic core structure, a first solder structure, and a second solder structure. The first solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a first portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the first electrically conductive pad. The second solder structure electrically and mechanically connects a second portion of the non-solder metallic core structure to the second electrically conductive pad.
US08541297B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device wherein a metal silicide layer is formed through a salicide process. A metal silicide layer is formed over the surfaces of first and second gate electrodes, n+-type semiconductor regions, and p+-type semiconductor regions through a salicide process of a partial reaction type without the use of a salicide process of a whole reaction type. In a heat treatment for forming the metal silicide layer, by heat-treating a semiconductor wafer not with an annealing apparatus using lamps or lasers but with a thermal conductive annealing apparatus using carbon heaters, a thin metal silicide layer is formed with a small thermal budget and a high degree of accuracy and microcrystals of NiSi are formed in the metal silicide layer through a first heat treatment.
US08541295B2 Pad-less gate-all around semiconductor nanowire FETs on bulk semiconductor wafers
A non-planar semiconductor device is provided including at least one semiconductor nanowire suspended above a semiconductor oxide layer present within a portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor oxide layer has a topmost surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A gate surrounds a portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, a source region located on a first side of the gate, and a drain region located on a second side of the gate. The source region is in direct contact with an exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, and the drain region is in direct contact with another exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire. The source and drain regions have an epitaxial relationship with the exposed end portions of the suspended semiconductor nanowire.
US08541275B2 Single metal gate CMOS integration by intermixing polarity specific capping layers
A method for forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor device includes forming a first capping layer on a dielectric layer, blocking portions in the capping layer in regions where the capping layer is to be preserved using a block mask. Exposed portions of the first capping layer are intermixed with the dielectric layer to form a first intermixed layer. The block mask is removed. The first capping layer and the first intermixed layer are etched such that the first capping layer is removed to re-expose the dielectric layer in regions without removing the first intermixed layer.
US08541272B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device with offset sidewall structure
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with NMOS and PMOS transistors is provided. The semiconductor device can lessen a short channel effect, can reduce gate-drain current leakage, and can reduce parasitic capacitance due to gate overlaps, thereby inhibiting a reduction in the operating speed of circuits. An N-type impurity such as arsenic is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of a silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage NMOS region (LNR) thereby to form extension layers (61). Then, a silicon oxide film (OX2) is formed to cover the whole surface of the silicon substrate (1). The silicon oxide film (OX2) on the side surfaces of gate electrodes (51-54) is used as an offset sidewall. Then, boron is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of the silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage PMOS region (LPR) thereby to form P-type impurity layers (621) later to be extension layers (62).
US08541269B2 Native devices having improved device characteristics and methods for fabrication
A method for fabricating a native device is presented. The method includes forming a gate structure over a substrate starting at an outer edge of an inner marker region, where the gate structure extends in a longitudinal direction, and performing MDD implants, where each implant is performed using a different orientation with respect to the gate structure, performing pocket implants, where each implant is performed using a different orientation with respect to the gate structure, and concentrations of the pocket implants vary based upon the orientations. A transistor fabricated as a native device, is presented, which includes an inner marker region, an active outer region which surrounds the inner marker region, a gate structure coupled to the inner marker region, and first and second source/drain implants located within the active outer region and interposed between the first source/drain implant and the second source/drain implant.
US08541268B2 Method for manufacturing thin film transistor
A thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A top-gate thin film transistor is fabricated by a process using two gray-tone photomasks and a lift-off method. Therefore, the method can save cost of photomasks and processes comparing to a conventional fabrication method.
US08541261B2 Method for manufacturing a package-on-package type semiconductor device
Bump electrodes (conductive members) bonded onto lands disposed at a peripheral portion side than terminals (bonding leads) electrically coupled to pads (electrode pads) of a microcomputer chip (semiconductor chip) are sealed with sealing resin (a sealing body). Thereafter, the sealing resin is ground (removed) partially such that a part of each of the bump electrodes is exposed. The step of protruding the part of each of the bump electrodes from a front surface of the sealing resin is performed, after the grinding step.
US08541259B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A disclosed semiconductor device includes a wiring board, a semiconductor element mounted on a principal surface of the wiring board with flip chip mounting, a first conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along at least an edge portion of the semiconductor element, a second conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along the first conductive pattern and away from the first conductive pattern, a passive element bridging between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board, and a resin layer filling a space between the wiring board and the semiconductor chip, wherein the resin layer extends between the semiconductor element and the first conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board.
US08541258B2 Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing the same and flat panel display device having the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) using an oxide semiconductor as an active layer, a method of manufacturing the TFT, and a flat panel display device having the TFT include source and drain electrodes formed on a substrate; an active layer formed of an oxide semiconductor disposed on the source and drain electrodes; a gate electrode; and an interfacial stability layer formed on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the active layer. In the TFT, the interfacial stability layer is formed of an oxide having a band gap of 3.0 to 8.0 eV. Since the interfacial stability layer has the same characteristics as a gate insulating layer and a passivation layer, chemically high interface stability is maintained. Since the interfacial stability layer has a band gap equal to or greater than that of the active layer, charge trapping is physically prevented.
US08541252B2 Abbreviated epitaxial growth mode (AGM) method for reducing cost and improving quality of LEDs and lasers
The use of an abbreviated GaN growth mode on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire substrates, which utilizes a process of using 15 nm low temperature GaN buffer and bypassing etch-back and recovery processes during epitaxy, enables the growth of high-quality GaN template on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire. The GaN template grown on nano-patterned AGOG sapphire by employing abbreviated growth mode has two orders of magnitude lower threading dislocation density than that of conventional GaN template grown on planar sapphire. The use of abbreviated growth mode also leads to significant reduction in cost of the epitaxy. The growths and characteristics of InGaN quantum wells (QWs) light emitting diodes (LEDs) on both templates were compared. The InGaN QWs LEDs grown on the nano-patterned AGOG sapphire demonstrated at least a 24% enhancement of output power enhancement over that of LEDs grown on conventional GaN templates.
US08541241B2 Fluid-specimen collecting and testing device and method for recording chromatographic assay test results
A fluid specimen testing device having a removable lid which carries at least one testing strip behind a transparent top viewing window. Testing is initiated by tilting the device into a stable sideways orientation to allow the specimen to contact the sampling pad portion of the strip. The device is adapted to provide stability in the upright, tilted and inverted orientations. A roll-inhibiting feature also acts as an indicator for proper roll positioning in the tilted configuration. The strips are also oriented in the lid so that they are substantially vertical when the device is in the tilted position thereby enhancing a condition for proper capillarity. The strip is carried close to the upper surface which allows it to be copied on a flat glass copier providing for more objective recordation of the test results.
US08541240B2 Colorimetric and fluorimetric fluoride sensing
The present invention generally relates to fluoride receptor reagent compounds that are derived from one or more N-aryl or heteroaryl substituted 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxydiimide (NDI) units. The invention also relates to associated methods for the detection of fluoride in a composition. π-electron orbitals present in the NDI unit of the reagents form a complex with fluoride anions. It is believed that the anion-π interaction results in a charge transfer process between the fluoride anion and the NDI unit, resulting in a number of measurable effects (e.g., colorimetric response).
US08541237B2 Method for diagnosing disease using adenovirus harboring trans-splicing ribozyme by molecular imaging
Disclosed herein is a composition for molecular imaging comprising a trans-splicing ribozyme coupled with an imaging reporter gene. The trans-splicing ribozyme targets a specific gene associated with a disease. Also disclosed is a molecular imaging method using the composition.
US08541236B2 Mutant apolipoprotein A-1 polypeptide with increased resistance to oxidation and reactive carbonyls
In one aspect, the present invention provides isolated oxidation resistant mutant apoA-I polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence substantially homologous to SEQ ID NO:4, the mutant apoA-I polypeptide comprising a combination of: (1) a conservative amino acid substitution at residue Tyr192; and (2) at least one conservative amino acid substitution at residue Met86, Met112, or Met148, wherein the mutant apoA-I polypeptide is resistant to modification by an oxidizing agent. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of promoting cholesterol efflux activity in a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method comprising the step of administering an effective amount of an oxidation resistant apoA-I agonist to the subject to promote cholesterol efflux.
US08541233B2 Methods for collecting and processing autografts, processed autografts, kits for collecting and transporting autografts, and tools for preparing autografts
The present invention is directed to methods for collecting and processing autografts, processed autografts, kits for collecting and transporting autografts, and tools for preparing autografts. It is also directed to autologous bone grafts, and methods of preparing them.
US08541231B2 Elimination of N-glycolylneuraminic acid from animal products for human use
The application is in the field of transgenic (non-human) organisms, sialic acid chemistry, metabolism and antigenicity. More particularly, the invention is related to a method to produce Neu5Gc-free animals and products therefrom comprising disrupting the CMAH gene and thereby reducing or eliminating Neu5Gc from biological material of non-humans.
US08541229B2 Plasmids and phages for homologous recombination and methods of use
Lambda phages that can be used to introduce recombineering functions into host cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are plasmids that can be used to confer recombineering functions to a variety of strains of E. coli and to other bacteria, including Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Cyanobacteria, Spirochaetes. These plasmids and phages can be isolated in vitro and can be used to transform bacterial cells, such as gram negative bacteria.
US08541222B2 Modified microorganisms with inactivated lactate dehydrogenase gene
Modified microorganisms are prepared by inactivation of the endogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene. The microorganisms are deposited under NCIMB Accession Nos. 41277, 41278, 41279, 41280 or 41281.
US08541219B2 High fidelity reverse transcriptases and the uses thereof
The invention relates to reverse transcriptases which have increased fidelity (or reduced misincorporation rate) and/or terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity. In particular, the invention relates to a method of making such reverse transcriptases by modifying or mutating specified positions in the reverse transcriptases. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules containing the genes encoding the reverse trancriptases of the invention, to host cells containing such nucleic acid molecules and to methods to make the reverse trancriptases using the host cells. The reverse transcriptases of the invention are particularly suited for nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing, amplification and cDNA synthesis.
US08541218B2 High fidelity thermostable ligase and uses thereof
The present invention is directed to a mutant thermostable ligase having substantially higher fidelity than either T4 ligase or Thermus thermophilus ligase. The ligase of the present invention is a mutant of a wild-type thermostable ligase having a histidine adjacent a KXDG motif, where the mutant thermostable ligase has a mutation in its amino sequence where the histidine adjacent the KXDG motif in the wild-type thermostable ligase is replaced with an arginine, and wherein X is any amino acid. The DNA molecule encoding this enzyme as well as expression systems and host cells containing it are also disclosed. The thermostable ligase of the present invention is useful in carrying out a ligase detection reaction process and a ligase chain reaction process.
US08541215B2 Microorganisms, selenium acid compound-reducing agent, method for reducing and method for removing selenium acid compound, and process for producing metallic selenium
Disclosed are novel microorganisms having an excellent ability to reduce selenium acid compounds, a selenium acid compound-reducing agent comprising such microorganism(s) as an active ingredient, a method for reducing and a method for removing a selenium acid compound with use of such microorganism(s), and a process for producing metallic selenium. The microorganisms of the present invention are Aeromonas sp. strain JPCC SEP JP-1, Klebsiella sp. strain JPCC SEP JP-2, and Sulfurospirillum sp. strain JPCCY SEP-3. Also disclosed are a method for reducing a selenium acid compound comprising the step of co-culturing these microorganisms under the presence of a selenium acid compound, and a process for producing metallic selenium comprising the steps of: co-culturing these microorganisms under the presence of a selenium acid compound; and separating the thus produced culture product.
US08541210B2 Producing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from biodiesel-derived crude glycerol
Pythium, when cultured with crude glycerol as a carbon source, produces useful polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The crude glycerol is pretreated to remove soaps and methanol. An exemplary Pythium species for use in the production of EPA is Pythium irregulare.
US08541207B2 Preservation of information related to genomic DNA methylation
The present invention relates to compositions, methods and systems for analyzing the methylation state of nucleic acids. Some embodiments relate to a compositions, methods and systems for analyzing the methylation state of DNA with a gene array.
US08541206B2 Differential amplification of mutant nucleic acids by PCR in a mixture of nucleic acids
A method for enriching a mutant nucleic acid in a mixture of nucleic acids, wherein the method comprises: (a) providing a nucleic acid mixture comprising a parental nucleic acid and a mutant nucleic acid of the parental nucleic acid; and (b) amplifying the nucleic acids in the nucleic acid mixture by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); wherein the mutant nucleic acid is a G→A mutant of the parental nucleic acid, which pairs with a fully complementary nucleic acid sequence to form an AT-rich nucleic acid variant of the parental nucleic acid; and wherein the AT-rich nucleic acid variant is denatured and selectively amplified by carrying out PCR using a denaturation temperature 1-3° C. lower than the lowest denaturation temperature (Tp) that allows amplification of the parental nucleic acid to thereby enrich the mutant nucleic acid in the nucleic acid mixture.
US08541205B2 Variant forms of urate oxidase and use thereof
Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.
US08541200B2 Cleavage of fusion proteins using Granzyme B protease
A method for the preparation of a polypeptide of interest in authentic form by enzymatic cleavage of fusion proteins using Granzyme B protease (EC 3.4.21.79). There is also provided fusion proteins comprising a polypeptide of interest and a fusion partner, wherein the junction region between the polypeptide of interest and the fusion partner comprises a Granzyme B protease cleavage site adjacent to the polypeptide of interest, and a human Granzyme B protease variant wherein the Cystein residue no. 228 (chymotrypsinogen numbering) is mutated to Phenylalanine.
US08541197B2 Targets, including Yap1, for antifungal drug discovery and therapy
The present invention is based on the discovery of a two organism model system that can be used to identify virulence factors. The system is also useful in the process of drug delivery. More specifically, we have established valid fungal infection in caenorhabditis elegans with an invading pathogen, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Because both species are genetic model organisms, the assay can be used to identify host and virulence factors involved in such interactions.
US08541196B2 Method for activating a self-contained biological indicator
The present invention provides a device for activating a self-contained biological indicator. The biological indicator includes a casing, an ampule having a growth-promoting medium disposed therein and microorganisms. The ampule and microorganisms are disposed within the casing. The device is comprised of a first lever arm having a cavity formed therein. The cavity is dimensioned to receive a biological indicator. A second lever arm has a protrusion extending from a surface thereof and is moveable relative to the first lever arm to deform a casing of the biological indicator thereby fracturing an ampule in the casing and exposing microorganisms in the casing to a growth-promoting medium in the ampule of the biological indicator.
US08541194B2 Detecting micro-organisms in an electrocoating process
Use of a micro-organism detection device to rapidly evaluate the presence of microorganisms in an electrocoating process.
US08541191B2 Hydrolases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for biocatalytic synthesis of structured lipids
Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
US08541190B2 Methods and materials for in vitro analysis and/or use of membrane-associated proteins, portions thereof or variants thereof
Methods and materials use template-directed assembly of polypeptides and optionally additional reagents to analyze the functionality of membrane-associated proteins, such as, for example, portions of transmembrane proteins, membrane-associated proteins, and others proteins that bind to transmembrane proteins and membrane-associated proteins, and to analyze the effect of test compounds or mutations on the functionality of same. The methods and materials of the present application provide a more native-like environment for analyzing the functionality of membrane-associated proteins, and thus provide effective tools for studies involving the detection of the level of enzyme activity of such proteins in an environment that closely resembles the native environment in the cell, and for novel manufacturing processes.
US08541187B2 Systems and methods for detecting animal pregnancy
Testing systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a pregnancy marker of an animal. A test kit may include a first standard with a first concentration of the marker, a second standard with a second concentration of the marker lower than the first concentration, and at least three test surfaces coated with a biomolecular recognition element selected to bind with the marker. The test may also include a reagent solution with a conjugated biomolecular recognition element that binds with the marker, and a visual indicator that produces a visually detectable change when reacting with the conjugated biomolecular recognition element bound to each test surface. A detectable change generated by the marker from the sample with an intensity greater than the first concentration yields a pregnant result, lower than the second concentration yields a not pregnant result, and between the first and second concentrations yields a retest result.
US08541186B2 Cancer detection methods and techniques
A method is provided for detecting and/or measuring the occurrence of an enzyme in the form of CYP1B1 in a patient for the detection of cancer in said patient. The method includes the steps of administering a reporter substrate to a patient; taking a bodily fluid and/or tissue sample from the patient after one or more pre-determined periods of time; and analyzing the bodily fluid and/or tissue sample in vitro for the occurrence and/or measurement of a metabolite of the reporter substrate caused as a result of metabolism of the reporter substrate by said enzyme in said patient during said pre-determined period of time.
US08541181B2 Myosin-IIA S1943 phosphorylation as a marker of tumor invasion
Methods and kits are provided for determining if cells of a tumor in an organ or a tissue in a subject are likely to invade another organ or tissue in the subject and for determining if a cancer in a subject is likely to metastasize.
US08541177B2 Treatment and diagnosis of abnormal bone density with an inhibitor of the glypican-sclerostin interaction
Compositions and methods of treatment for abnormal bone density are disclosed based upon the finding that sclerostin must be bound to glypican in order to inhibit bone deposition. Methods for identifying agents that inhibit the glypican-sclerostin interaction are disclosed for treatment of bone deposition disorders. Diagnostic methods are also disclosed.
US08541176B2 Droplet-based surface modification and washing
The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of modifying a surface on a droplet microactuator is provided, wherein the method includes executing one or more droplet operations to bring a droplet comprising a surface-modifying agent into contact with the surface. According to another embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes a sample or reagent immobilized on a surface thereof and arranged such that a droplet on the droplet microactuator may contact the surface. According to yet another embodiment, a method of removing a substance from a surface to which the substance is bound is provided, the method including conducting one or more droplet operations to contact a droplet with the surface, the droplet comprising a solution for eluting the substance from the surface
US08541172B2 Method for sequencing a polynucelotide template
Improved compositions, methods, apparatus, and kits for high-throughput nucleic acid amplification, detection and sequencing are disclosed. A nucleic acid cluster having an identifiable center is produced by generating on a solid support an immobilized nucleic acid complement from a template, one of which comprises a detectable label; and amplifying the complement and the template to obtain a nucleic acid cluster on the support, the cluster having a substantially central location marked by the detectable label and a surrounding region comprising immobilized copies. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequence determination in nucleic acid clusters so produced, center position annotation in the clusters, assignment of sequence information to overlapping clusters, and related compositions and methods.
US08541170B2 Methods and compositions of molecular profiling for disease diagnostics
The present invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for molecular profiling and cancer diagnostics, including but not limited to gene expression product markers, alternative exon usage markers, and DNA polymorphisms associated with cancer. In particular, the present invention provides molecular profiles associated with thyroid cancer, methods of determining molecular profiles, and methods of analyzing results to provide a diagnosis.
US08541165B2 Resin film forming method
A resin film forming method for forming a resin film on a substrate includes forming an intermediate layer on the substrate which includes an inorganic composition as a main component to chemically bond the resin film to be formed on the substrate to the substrate, carrying out a treatment on the substrate to remove an edge of the intermediate layer from an edge of the substrate, forming the resin film on the substrate by spin coating, chemically bonding the resin film to the substrate and hardening the resin film, and removing an edge of the resin film from the edge of the substrate by applying vibrations to the hardened resin film.